Article: 3 - 6 Months
Cold and Flu Season, Hear It Comes!
If our little one has a cold it is heart breaking and they will for sure need a little more extra loving. In addition to some TLC there are a few remedies that can help your little one get through their cold.
- Saline their nose: this will help clear them up by loosening and softening up the mucus and keeping their inner nose moist. Try saline-ing their nose 5-10 minutes before you aspirate.
- Aspirate: You can use a suction bulb like they gave you at the hospital or actually "suck" it out with the nose frida. Babies are nose breathers so it’s important to keep their noses clear.
- Humidifier: A cool mist humidifier for their room. Clean it every 3 days.
- Baby Vicks (for a cough): Use this on their chest and feet. Put it on the bottom of their feet and cover it with socks to help it absorb. We don't know why this actually works, but their are key pressure points on the feet used in Chinese medicine which most believe this to be the reason.
- Steam showers: Bring your baby in the shower with you and stand there and let the steam do its job!
- Elevate the child while sleeping: You can do this safely for an infant by putting a pillow under the mattress in the crib. This only works for babies that aren't mobile yet. This enables the mucus to drain easily.
- Eucalyptus oil in a bath: This relaxing aroma will help clear them up. And probably relax mommy too :)
- Vicks on the bed: Take some Baby Vicks in your hands, rub your hands together then pat the mattress lightly. This will make your mattress have a light aroma of the Vicks, which will allow them to sleep better. Always test it first and put your head on the mattress first to make sure it is just a slight aroma and not too heavy.
- Keep their nose happy: Put some Vaseline or Aquaphor around their nose to avoid chapping. Make sure it’s just a little and none gets inside because that can block their airway.
- Fluids Fluids Fluids!: Keep your baby hydrated, this is the most important. You can offer pedialite, water, and extra feedings on the breast/bottle or if they are on solids good old fashioned chicken soup!
If your little one is over 1, you can give them a teaspoon of honey day if they have a cough. Just try to keep that mucus clean and out of them so they can heal fast and to avoid an ear infection! Good luck mamas!
Happy Mommying!
Get Them On Their Tummy! But Why??
As a mom we come home from the hospital and we are told we have to do tummy time, but why? What, if any benefits does tummy time provide? Today I am going to let you in on some of the amazing things tummy time does for your little one!
Tummy time adds the following benefits:
- Helps strengthen their back and neck muscles reducing their risk for SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). These strong muscles will also aid your little one in rolling, crawling, standing and eventually walking.
- Helps keep your baby's head round. We lay our babies down on their back to sleep so giving them time on their belly will keep them off the back of their heads and avoid a flat spot in the back of their head.
- Helps them sleep better. Yes that’s right, helps them sleep better! Tummy time actually sends a signal to their brain that helps them sleep better. Oh and it wears them out a little, making them tired and ready for some sleep.
- Helps relieve gas, which can also help them sleep better. The pressure on their belly gets that extra gas out of their belly.
- Develops their motor skills. As they get up on their hands, they want to be part of the action around them. They want to touch different fabrics, reach for toys and develop their strength to move more.
Tummy is very important and you can start it immediately when you get home from the hospital. The umbilical cord may still be on and that is ok. If they don't like it just do a minute or two and increase it each time. Enjoy watching your little one work out and let them enjoy a new view of the world from their bellies!
Happy Mommying!
Sleep Training: Cry it out or not?
Cry it out can be hard. It’s very hard to hear your child cry, but then we remember we are not neglecting our child, we are actually giving them the skills to sleep and stay asleep and most importantly, the ability to self-sooth. A skill that is priceless throughout life.
A little about my personal experience; In my home my girls sleep 11-12 hours each night, nap well- we are all well rested, smiles on our faces and feeling great! My child's connection to me didn't diminish and they aren't scarred. In fact it’s the opposite, we are more in love than ever and are happy and smiling more as we are all well rested and always in a good mood.
As a mom we face many decisions, and this is one road we cross around 4-6 mos. It’s a rough 3-5 nights to encounter but after those 3-5 nights it’s a lifetime of good sleeps. I asked one mom that I recently worked with why she did the cry it out method and these are her exact words...
"Well, we weren't getting any sleep and I could see it was affecting his health. He had bags/dark circles under his eyes from being awake so much. And the other thing was my mental health. Waking up so often and being so exhausted was stressing me out to the point that I was getting angry over little things, sad a lot of the time. And I knew that wasn't healthy for either of us. I wish I would've done it sooner so we didn't get into that rut."
-Caitlin Scantland
It is a road we all cross and we all struggle with. No one can tell a mother what decisions to make. You are the mother and you should do what you are comfortable with. The one thing I wanted to share with you is that you aren't any less of a mother nor do you love your child any less if you decide to go with cry it out. In fact, it’s this exact action of giving your child the tools to sleep properly and self-sooth that makes you an amazing mom!
What is a Lovey and why do I want one?
We see and hear about a Lovey and as a new mom we sit there and say, “What is this thing I got as a gift?” I know as a new mom I said the same thing! Loveys will be your babies and a mommy’s best friend! It is a security object for your baby. In the first few months feed every time with the baby and lovey, put it in your shirt when you are home and walk around with it, and at night your baby will sleep with it. Now why do all of that? You want this lovely to smell like mommy and at 4am when your baby wakes up and they want mommy, they reach for their lovey and snuggle that instead… and mommy doesn’t get woken up! You want your little one to form a great bond with this lovey so they use it to cling too when they wake up. Even as a toddler my child loves her to comfort her at nighttime if she wakes up from a nightmare. It is a great tool to use to help establish elongated sleep and undisturbed sleep for mommy. In order to make this go well use the same one each time for your child, so keep 3 of the same one at home for them. You can use one on the go, one to stay in bed and one just incase the other ones get lost! Another thing to keep in mind when you are choosing a lovey is that it is safe for your child, “breathable”. Put it up to your mouth and see if you can breath, this is a great way to test. Angel Dear is an amazing brand that makes soft and snuggly breathable loveys. Another choice would be a small little breathable blanket, some babies prefer a blankie style lovey. Aden and Anais make mini square blankies with satin edges. As long as they form a connection to the object it doesn’t matter which one they like, just that they love it and snuggle with it. You will look at your monitor at night and your baby is sleeping soundly with this little lovey snuggled with them…. It is one of the cutest things ever!
The poop says it all: the 411 on your babies poop!
Meconium: In the first few days your baby will have a tar-like look to it, it is called meconium. It is this color because the baby is expelling amniotic fluid since that is all they have been eating for the past 9 months.
Grainy green or yellowish brown: This is the transitional poop from meconium to either breast/formula milk fed baby.
Mustard yellow seedy: This is normal breast milk poop.
A brighter green frothy: This usually means the baby is getting too much foremilk and not enough hind milk, so try to empty one breast fully in a feeding before moving to the next.
Soft brownish or dark green: Normal formula poop.
Very frequent watery greener than usual: Diarrhea. This can be a sign of infection or allergy so contact your pediatrician to discuss this with them.
Very dark green blackish: This is an iron-fortified baby.
Brownish Mushy: When you little on starts solids, what comes in must come out and therefore the look, smell and color changes. When you give finger foods you may even notice some food still solid in the poop, this is also normal. Sometimes our little ones just don’t chew it enough. For example, raisins will show up whole.
Hard, pellit-like: This means your little one is constipated. It may even have some mucous or blood streaks in it from the straining. Try giving them prune juice if they aren’t on solids or if they are on solids prunes for breakfast.
Greenish with mucous streaks: This can mean your little one has a cold or has an excess of mucous (i.e. teething). In some cases this can also be an allergy so if it occurs more than 2 days call your pediatrician to discuss with them.
Bloody: Normal color with blood in it is normally a sign there is a milk allergy. If your child has been constipated the blood can be hemorrhoids or rectal fissures. Either one you should call your pediatrician.
Blood is poop but blackish: This means your child digested this blood and if they are breastfed they most likely got this from your breast from bleeding nipples.
POOPS YOU MUST CALL PEDIATRICIAN RIGHT AWAY: 1) Thick black poop made up mostly of digested blood (called melena). It's dark and tarry like meconium but a bit firmer and less sticky. 2) Poop consisting almost entirely of red blood, this can be severe intestinal problems. 3) Whitish color, can signal liver or gallbladder failure. With any of these your baby will be unhappy as well, call the doctor a.s.a.p.
Their poop really does say it all! It can tell us whether our little one is healthy or sick, so pay attention to the look and color everyday. Welcome to motherhood!
Why won't my baby nap!
Another useful thing is making sure they know its naptime. Imagine you are just sitting at your desk working and someone just picks you up and puts you in your bed. They don’t say anything; they just pick you up. It is the same thing while you are baby, they are just sitting there playing with their toys and all of a sudden we just take them and put them in their bed. So it is very good to establish a mini routine for naptime, even the simplest thing. For example, I don’t do a full routine but I always say before I put either of my kids down, “its sleepy time, you look tired angel, time for nap-nap, have a great sleep, I love you” and give them a big kiss! This way they know when I tell them this its time to sleep. I also say nap-nap so it distinguishes it from night-night time.
Lastly, letting them sleep in an appropriate setting. If you child is always napping on the go in the car seat they won’t get the good elongated sleep they need. As a general rule, it’s advised for the majority of their sleeps to give them the proper environment to sleep. Putting them down in their crib for their regular nap will help establish a routine for their bedtime. With that said, there are always going to be times where we need be on the go, and that’s ok, as long as we make that the exception, not the rule.
So if you read your babies signs to sleep, let them know its time for sleep, and give them the right place to sleep for nap they will nap much better! And what’s even better is mommy gets a good break in the middle of the day to have some alone time, which every mom can agree is valuable. This way, mommy and baby are smiling J! Happy naptime!
5 am, Really? Why won't you sleep later?
It is very common for babies when they are in cognitive or physical developmental surges to wake up early or in the middle of the night and practice their skills. Especially when they learn to babble a lot, especially around 8 or 9 months. You’ll here “mama mama mama,” “dada dada,” and possibly even “dog, duck, nana.” So what should you do? Just say ‘oh well its time to get up’ or leave them. The answer is leaving them. Let them be and this way they know its still not time to get up. They may sit there for 30-45 minutes babbling but eventually fall back asleep.
After about a week your child will get the hint and will know its still not time to get up. Having black out curtains and keeping the room very dark for nighttime sleep can help your baby get this hint even better. So if they aren’t screaming at the top of their lungs crying, leave them there!
So what happens if you go in? You little one immediately thinks its time to wake up eat and play. In addition their little minds think sleep 7pm-5am, that’s enough, its time to get up. And after all that your 7am baby will now be a 5am baby. So give your baby a chance to figure it out and let them practice but also let them know its still sleep time.
If you just let your little one surprise you then they will! Happy sleep mommies!
Flying with my baby. Oh no!
Eventually we all cross the road of travelling with our little one. At that moment we become frazzled, scared and lost. It’s something we have never tackled before, questions like ‘what are we suppose to do to keep their ears happy? What are we suppose to pack? What do we dress our baby in? Start becoming a reality of our upcoming trip. These are all very good questions, and after reading this hopefully your mind will be at ease and you can travel anywhere!
Where will your baby sleep? If you are traveling to a hotel call them in advance and request a pack n’ play for your child to sleep in, most hotels do have them. Pack a pack n’ play sheet from home that smells like home. Bring two loveys or security blankets, just incase you lose one. If you are traveling to a friend or family’s home, ask around to see if there is a pack n’ play you can borrow. If there isn’t amazon sells a Cosco brand one that is around $45 and will do the job great. (http://www.amazon.com/Cosco-Juvenile-Funsport-Play-Kontiki/dp/B006ZISTS6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1361777173&sr=8-2&keywords=cosco+pack+n+play)
How will the baby travel? Bringing a stroller can be very helpful, it not only will carry your baby but also carry your diaper bag, water and whatever else you need it to. You can gate check it or a car seat free of charge. In fact you can even check these items free of charge, airlines do not charge for baby items. If you want to bring your car seat, bring a snap n go and you can put the car seat in the car with out a base or put the base in luggage. This becomes super convenient for when you arrive at your destination and are either being picked up or renting a car. If your baby is too big for the snap n go, bring an easy and foldable stroller to gate check.
Where will the baby sleep on the plane? A carrier is perfect for this. It gives you your hands free and your baby is comfortable. My personal favorite is the Ergo Carrier (http://www.amazon.com/Ergo-Carrier-Black-Camel-Lining/dp/B0010PW3A4/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1361777200&sr=1-1&keywords=ergo+baby+carrier) and I know a lot of people love the Moby Wrap (http://www.amazon.com/Moby-Wrap-Original-Cotton-Carrier/dp/B004VB0GRG/ref=sr_1_2?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1361777228&sr=1-2&keywords=moby+wrap)
What to do about their ears? This actually isn’t as scary as people think. Here are a few techniques to help: 1) Feed on the way up and down; 2) I personally always did pacifiers and that worked fine. It is really just the sucking that helps their ears.
What to bring on the plane for the baby? Keep in mind that you have to carry it all, so keep it light and in an easy to access bag. Bring 2 books, toys that are not loud and not messy. The smaller ones are better and easier to carry. You don't need much on the plane with you and no need to over pack, planes already have enough for them to play with and be stimulated by like tray tables.
Where should you sit? Benefits of window seat: You aren't being asked to get up especially with your little one is sleeping. The window is fun and a bit more private to feed. On the other hand, benefits of aisle: you can get up easily to walk up and down aisles. You can choose the one that best suites you.
What should I dress my little one in? No snap outfits. Zip up one pieces or bottoms and tops-these are the easiest to manage. Use footie pants or shoes that stay on well, socks will fall off easily and then their little toes are cold. I say no snap outfits because when you are changing a diaper in that small little bathroom that last thing you want is 15 snaps after! FYI: most babies poop on planes from the pressure. So be prepared.
What should I bring in my diaper bag? Bring a change of shirt for you and your baby. They inevitably will decide to spit up on you right at the start of your tripJ Diapers for every hour of the flight (i.e. a 4 hour air time flight = 4 diapers) this way you have extra incase you are delayed. Bottles and formula if you bottle feed, baby food if your baby is on solids, wipes, burp cloth, arm and hammer plastic bags for stinky diapers. It’s the strangest thing but most airports don’t sell baby supplies. As a little extra, if you are travelling during bad weather and there is a chance of a delay, make sure you have ample food and diapers.
Do I need a change mat? You don't really need a change mat; just put some paper towels down on the bathroom change table. If you feel more comfortable with it, bring it, its not too heavy.
What about diapers when I get there? Ship everything you need to the your final destination from amazon or diapers.com, diapers, wipes etc. You don’t need to bring these along or go out and buy them, just order and ship. You can even do this to hotels; it makes life easy! I think I may be Amazon’s best customerJ If you are going overseas check to see what brands they have but they will have diapers so don’t worry J.
Can I get an open seat on the plane for my baby? You can see if the flight is full and see if there are any empty seats, they may just give you one for him, and that is where that car seat may come in handy, so call in advance and always ask at the gate.
Can I bring unlimited baby supplies of milk and food? Yes, you can bring as much pumped milk, formula, baby food etc. you need for a baby on the plane, and they just check it during X-ray so bring what you need. Always have extra incase you are delayed; remember, most airports don’t sell baby supplies.
How can I make changing a diaper easier on a plane? Putting a change of clothes, diaper and a few wipes in a big Ziploc bag and put this in the diaper bag. Make a few of these, and just have this by your seat because it's much easier to just grab a ready-made pack of stuff to bring to the bathroom than to dig through the diaper bag.
The key is to keep it to the necessities, pre packed and easy access. You will be surprised of what you actually need and what you packed and never used. Happy Traveling mommiesJ!
Breast Milk For More Than Just Feeding
Just when we thought our bodies couldn’t do anymore after having our little one form and grow inside of us, it produces milk for our little one. This amazing stuff doesn’t just nourish and give our little on what it needs to grow but it can help various other conditions. Here are some breast milk home remedies for your little one:
- Baby Acne
- Common Cold
- Cracked or Sore Nipples
- Clogged Tear Duct
- Eczema
- Diaper Rash
- A Cut or Scrape
- Cradle Cap
- Dry Skin
- Chapped Lips
- Clearing up Congestion
- Eye Infection/Pink Eye
This amazing stuff that is produced in our body has many uses! So when you bring your little one home from the hospital and there is some cradle cap or a clogged duct, just use some breast milk and this will help it clear up and heal fast! Happy Mommying!
Do You Pick Up Your Baby Too Quickly?
The first three months of our baby’s life we tend to their every need. They rely on us for everything; we make their food, we feed them, we nurture them, we love them unconditionally and when they need to be held, we hold them. But at what point do we not run to pick them up for their every need and whimper?
Usually between six to nine months babies begin to move on their own usually by crawling. But playing “baby taxi” and carrying your baby everywhere because they fuss can be exhausting on a mother’s body. So when and what can we do to make this easier upon us?
First would be to figure out if they are whining is because they want to be picked up or there is a specific need. Maybe they are just bored and need a new toy or environment to be in. Ask yourself if you spent enough time one on one with your baby today? Or were you cooking while they sat on the floor all morning? If you were cooking, they do need and want your attention badly as you don’t want them to feel neglecting, but after you soothe them with a quick hold, place them down and read some books and do some play time together. Now what if you have already tended to them all day and they still are whining for you? Maybe they are sick of the toys they have, maybe they pooped, maybe they are tired… go through your list of possible solutions to see what you can do to make them happy with out constantly picking them up and holding them.
One of the main reasons why you shouldn’t constantly hold your baby is it won’t allow them to develop the skills they need. If they aren’t crawling, this could be deferring it and not giving them the time and environment to develop this skill.
Most importantly, it can let your baby know “when I whine mommy picks me up,” and once they know this, they will whine all the time because they know what the response is that they will get. Babies are brilliant like this, they figure out very quickly that whine= cuddles and babies love cuddles! So is this so bad? Well, on the surface no, but pretty quickly parents can become servants to their babies every whine because that little genius figured out how to control two grown adults just by making a little noise.
So next time your little one starts to fuss don’t rush to pick them up so quickly. Trouble shoot why they are doing this to fix it easier. If they do need you then of course tend to them, play with them, read to them, sing to them, and laugh with them- you can bond in so many ways other than holding your baby. This will give your body a break once in a while and let them develop their skills and confidence.
Happy Mommying!
Solids: Some yummy mixtures! Try some of these mixtures to spice up their repertoire.
- Avocado and Egg yolk
- Peas and Pears
- Apples and Carrots
- Sweet Potatoes and Peas
- Black beans and Mango
- Black Beans and Carrots
- Bell Pepper and Corn
- Bell Pepper and Lentils
- Broccoli and Peas
- Eggplant and Bell Peppers
- Lentils, Carrots and Celery
- Black Beans and Banana
- Butternut Squash and Peas
- Banana and Avocado
- Carrots and Sweet Potato
Happy Feeding!
Baby Sleep Guidelines:
How many of hours does your baby really need??? I know as moms we constantly doubt ourselves and we aren’t sure if our little one is getting enough sleep or too much sleep? Here are some basic total hours of sleep guidelines by age to go by.
*0-3 mos: The beginning first month a baby can sleep anywhere from 16-20 hours of sleep. The second and third month your little one will start to slowly decrease to be 15-16 hours of sleep in the full day.
*3-6 mos: Over these next few months your babies nighttime sleep should become more elongated and your baby will have 3 afternoon naps and 1 long night time sleep, total ranging in 14-15 total in the full day.
*6-9 mos: By now most babies can sleep a long 12 hour stretch through the night and take two afternoon naps, totaling to14-15 hours in the full day.
*9-12 mos: Your baby now sleeps 12 hours at night and takes two afternoon naps anywhere from 1hr to 1.5 hours each, totally 14-15 hours in a full day.
*The minimum amount of nighttime sleep needed from 6 mos and up is 11 hours.
*As your child gets into the toddler years they will consolidate the two naps into one afternoon nap and will sleep anywhere from 11-14 hours total in a day depending on the child.
Just always remember every child is different and there is always a little error for margin everywhere.
Happy Baby Sleeping!
Early Play Tips:
- Do lots of belly time play.
- Use bright colored toys with shapes
- Don’t overwhelm your baby with too many toys at once.
- Alternate toys: take the toys from this week, put them away for a week or two then reintroduce them. It will be like Christmas every week!
- Add untraditional toys into the mix of things. i.e. a mixing bowl
- Mirrors! Babies love mirrors!
- Music, to listen to and sing
- Don’t forget to kiss your little one for doing a good job!
Happy Playtime!
Feeding Questions:
I get asked a lot how often and how much we should feed out little ones a bottle or breast.
How often: Most babies need to feed every 3 hours during the day when they are very young. Most breastfed babies even need every 2 hours in the early weeks. At night they may stretch longer but not in the early weeks. Your little one will eventually stretch out to feed every four hours or even longer with months as they get older. Especially with good habits established early on.
How much: If you are breastfeeding your little one will regulate how much they eat on their own. Breastfeeding babies are very good at this, just make sure they empty one full breast so they get the hind milk then top it off with the second breast. With age they will become more efficient and nurse for shorter periods. If you formula feed your baby can eat half their body weight in ounces. So if they weigh 8lbs they can eat up to 4 ounces. Will they at first? Probably not, but you can work up to it. The ounces will increase each month, and then they will decrease as solids are introduced and they get older.
Happy Feeding!
10 Early Play Activities With Your Baby:
We just got our new bundle of joy home and they are starting to need more interaction and play. So what can we do with them? Here are a few early play tips you can follow and keep your baby engaged.
- Play mat: you can do belly time on a play mat with mirrors and toys in front of your child or place them on their back and let them look at the toys hanging above.
- Bouncy chair: There are great bouncy chairs out there that light up, vibrate, and play music that will keep your baby happy.
- Singing: Babies love music. It could be you sing to them when you change their diaper or while you bathe them. At any point of the day babies love singing especially from their mommy!
- Narrate: tell your little one what you are doing while you carry them around a bit. Show them around the house and point and describe everything and anything. J
- Outside: bring them up to the window and let them look outside, it’s amazing how exciting a tree blowing in the wind, rain drops or snow can be.
- Park: Everyone loves the park, even a newborn! Lay them on a blanket with some toys. They will probably end up ignoring the toys and be so intrigued by the trees, leaves, grass or kids that are already there. I try to take my girls to the park 5 times a week, everyone has such a great time!
- Reading: It is never too early to start reading to your child. Repeatedly reading the same books begins to provide familiarity and routine.
- Use their senses: Look, Touch, Listen, Smell and Taste. This is good at any age.
- Rattles: Help your baby practice their milestones. Place a rattle in their hands and let them grasp it.
- Puppets: At any age puppets are fun! You can do little puppet shows for your baby and let them touch and feel the puppets.
Happy Playtime Mommies!
My Baby Stays Awake For Hours, Is This Ok?
As new mothers we think a baby is just like us, that the longer they are awake, the more they will sleep because it will exhaust them but this is the complete opposite. The longer your baby is awake the more overtired they get and trying to put an overtired baby to bed is almost near impossible, especially in the early months. So in order to keep your new little one not overtired make sure they are only awake for the appropriate wakeful period for their age.
Newborns: 50-60 minutes
1 month: 60 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes
2 months: 1 hour and 20 minutes
3 months: 1 hour and 30 minutes
4 months: 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours
5 months: 2 hours
6 months: 2 hours to 2 hours and 30 minutes
7-8 months: 2 hours and 30 minutes
9-10 months: 3 to 4 hours
11-12 months: 3 hours and 30 minutes to 4 hours and 30 minutes
So when you bring your little one home, read their cues that they are sleepy and don’t miss their sleep window. When it comes to sleep, timing is everything!
Happy Timing!
Stimulation overload!
Is your baby over stimulated? Babies get fussy it they are tired, hungry or just over stimulated. My husband and I always joke and say babies are so unpredictable one second they are happy and you blink your eye and they are crying, its just nuts! I am sure many parents out there have experienced this and feel the same. One of the main reasons this behavior occurs is overstimulation. This could be in big groups of people, older siblings, too many toys, or just too many electronics on in the home. If you see your baby is acting this way and you know they are not hungry or tired, they are over stimulated. Try taking the stimulation down a notch and cuddling up on the couch and reading a book in a soft voice or singing some soft music. Overstimulation can also be one of the leading causes to bad nappers. We always think, “more play will make them sleep better,” and this is correct as long as the stimulation level is correct as well. So read your babies signs and make sure they are not being overstimulation so the stay happy and sleep well.
Happy Playing Mommies!
Diaper Rash: Help, What To Do!!!
You bring your adorable little one home from the hospital and they are just perfect! There is nothing that you love more right now. It is a different kind of love that you thought was never possible. The one thing you want is for nothing to hurt your child. Then one day could be weeks or months later, you are changing their diaper and they are crying. As you look down they are all red and irritated. Oh no, they have a diaper rash, what now!
Diaper rash is very common for babies to have. If you just started solids or there was a recent diet change this could be the reason. Some babies have sensitive skin, or maybe they have diarrhea. Whatever the reason is, the main goal is to stop the pain for your little on.
In order to clear up a rash quickly: Change the diaper more frequently, use a wash cloth with warm water to clean their skin gently, use natural diapers, make sure all the moisture is gone after cleaning them, use an over the counter diaper rash cream and diaper free time. All of these can help reduce the rash and clear it up quickly. If you are using clothe diapers, make sure the plastic cover over the diaper is allowing air in and air is able to circulate. If the rash is not getting better with in 72 hours consult your pediatrician and have them take a look to make sure it is not yeast.
Happy Mommying!
Oh No My Baby's Finger Is Puffy- Could It Be An Infection?
Does your baby love to suck their fingers or maybe their thumb all the time? Is their fingernail red, puffy, and looks infected? Is this common? What is this and how can it be treated? Yes, this is in fact very common and it is called Paronychia. Paronychia is an infection of the skin around the fingernail or toenail. If your baby has these symptoms call your pediatrician immediately to the appropriate plan of action to heal it as soon as possible. Your pediatrician may recommend antibiotic ointment, drainage of any abscess (looks like a pimple), and antiseptic soaks. Whatever the plan is that they lay out for you, just follow it and you will see a huge improvement quickly.
Happy Healing Mommies!
When Should I Stop Swaddling?
Most babies stop being swaddled around 4-5 months. The rule for safety is once you see that your baby can roll from back to belly the swaddle must go. If a baby can roll they need the usage of their hands, and safety is always #1. After 3 months the startle reflex is gone but as long as they are not rolling you can continue to swaddle if they are happy sleeping in the swaddle. Look for signs in their wakeful period of them practicing rolling from back to belly so you know it is time and can begin to wean them off the swaddle.
After a baby can roll from belly to back they can sleep on their belly if they do it themselves. It is recommended to always lay your baby on their back to sleep and whichever position they choose and are happy in, they can sleep in. Just always remember nothing in the crib in the first year of life; safety is always first!
Happy Swaddling!
The Middle Months….3-6 mos
My Baby Won't Take A Bottle, HELP!
Motherhood has many struggles and if you are a breastfeeding mom, trying to get your baby to take a bottle could be one of your many challenges. Some babies take to the bottle with no problem and others tend to give mommy some extra fussing and this can be very frustrating. The first thing to know is,you are not alone. Not every baby takes the bottle right away so while this can be frustrating, here are a few things that can help. Most of all: Remember to keep on trying and don’t give up.
- Nipple flow: If the nipple flow is too slow your baby could be getting frustrated and equally, if the nipple flow is too fast your baby can choke easily. Either way, the correct nipple flow can help things run smoother! General rule of thumb is, if it is taking longer than 15 minutes for baby to finish a bottle, it's time to 'upgrade' the nipple flow to a faster one.
- Temperature: Breast milk is actually rather warm and not just room temperature. So if you have to use defrosted milk make sure it is a suitable temperature, preferably on the warmer side.
- Pump: The best breast milk to give is your fresh breast milk, so pump and give it to baby fresh for it to be the perfect temperature AND taste.
- Bottle: Babies do have a preference of bottle early on. Find the one that works for them. Maybe they like a wide nipple bottle or maybe they take to a standard nipple better?
- Nipple: You can try to warm or cool the nipple to the bottle.
- Nipple Shield: If you are having extreme trouble and you want to try something new, we suggest using a nipple shield for a day or two then try a bottle. Your baby will get used to the “plastic feel” of the shield this way and it can be used as a stepping-stone.
- Trick your baby: Yes just trick them, pretend as if you are going to breastfeed and quickly slip the bottle nipple in their mouth instead.
- Breast milk on the nipple: Try putting some breast milk on the outside of the nipple, just like you do with your breast to let your baby know there is food in there.
- Timing: Make sure you are catching your baby when they are hungry enough to eat. This is usually every 3 hours in the first 3 months of a baby’s life.
- Not Mommy: Try having a grandmother, daddy, or caregiver give the bottle. There will be a higher chance your baby will take the bottle from someone that doesn’t already smell like mommy who is full of yummy milk!
Happy Mommying!
My Baby Has Teeth Now What?
Prior to teeth we could just wipe down the baby’s gums with a washcloth and clean them gently but now you need a whole new list of items. First you need an infant toothbrush. One of my favorite products for the first few teeth is the rubber-like brush that actually goes on your finger so brushing teeth is easy. As your child gets more teeth an actual toothbrush is needed. The most important thing is to buy an age appropriate and safe toothbrush. A perfect example of this is a toothbrush commonly knows as a “safety tooth brush” because its handle is wide and not long with a short head, and handles for your child to hold onto letting them practice easily.
After you get the right toothbrush now you need the right toothpaste. Fluoride free toothpaste that is safe to swallow is the only one your child can use until they are old enough to brush and spit, which usually is around 3 years old. There are many baby safe brands on the market to choose from. Most importantly have fun with it. It’s the start of a whole new routine for your baby and first impressions last! J Try brushing with them to make it a mommy and me time.
Happy Mommying!
Build Your Baby's IQ With Food
Happy Exploring!
Soft Spot: What Is It & When Does It Close Up?
Happy Mommying!
Controlled Crying is one of the most commonly used methods for sleep training babies. Your baby needs to be the right age and weight to use this method and it's best to have the go ahead from your pediatrician before too. Here are some hidden truths to know going into your sleep training process.
- Be Consistent: have a solid daytime routine and nighttime routine before bed. Most important thing is to be consistent! I.e. do the exact same things at the same times.
- Crying escalates: After you do your check in with your child, their crying does escalate. This is normal and natural to happen so don’t be thrown off by this, again consistency is key!
- Benefits of sleep: remember you are not just doing this for you and your own sleep needs, your baby needs their sleep to grow cognitively and physically too. Therefore your whole household will benefit.
- It's important to follow through with both nighttime & nap times: Again, be consistent!
Happy Mommying!
*They generally will talk sooner and are definitely more understandable
*These babies have better social skills (eg. sharing, following instructions, etc). Which is important especially as they grow older
*They seem to have better large motor skills. (Remember they are watching and learning what the other kids are doing.)
There is really great benefit to socializing children young and we strongly encourage it! So go out there and find local meet-ups, join a kid’s gym like gymboree, have several play dates a week and have fun with your little one and friends!
Happy Mommying!
My Baby And I Need HELP Now!
Uh oh! Baby is not happy and mommy is ready to pull her hair out!! Have no fear, we are here to help.
If you need urgent assistance in any baby matter, be it sleep, routine, new baby on the way, integrating a baby into a pet home, or anything else, we have you covered. Reach out, let’s schedule a consultation yesterday and let us change the uh oh in to a simple ahhhh.
Socialization For Your Baby!