All About Baby

Baby Growth Spurts

2011-01-27T03:46:00.000-08:00

Parents know when something is “off” with their child. Baby suddenly gets extra fussy, or seems to be hungry all the time, or isn’t sleeping like he or she used to. Maybe it’s a combination of these factors. Either way, things are not quite right with your baby.

Before you panic and call the pediatrician, consider your child’s age. What you’re experiencing could simply be a growth spurt. When my nursing son hit the one month mark, it seemed like all he wanted to do was eat. Considering that that was all he had done for the first four weeks of his life, it was nearly unfathomable that he might want to eat even more than what he was already consuming. But he did! Because, as it turned out, it was a growth spurt.

Growth spurts can be sometimes difficult to identify but, in general, they occur around the first few days after arriving home from the hospital, then at about 1 week old, 2-3 weeks, 4-6 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 6 months and 9 months. In addition, after one year of age, growth spurts may occur again every few months or so until your child becomes a teenager. Of course, as with most things baby related, your timing may vary a bit. Growth spurts usually last two or three days.

Signs of a growth spurt include:

Baby is hungry all the time

He or she frequently wakes at night to eat

Baby is more fussy or cranky than usual

For nursing moms, if your baby seems to be hungry all the time, just go along with it and feed your baby when he or she wants to eat. Don’t worry about running out of milk; your milk supply will adjust to your baby’s needs. In addition, if you are nursing, you might also be hungrier or thirstier while your baby is experiencing a growth spurt. It’s nature’s way of telling you that you need to eat more for baby. Just eat or drink more each day (opting for healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables and plenty of water, of course.)

If bottle feeding, bring on the bottles! Remember that babies are simply incapable of overeating. If he or she is fussing and seems hungry, try giving a bottle.

www.babiesonline.com

Babies Going Swimming

2010-07-21T09:15:00.000-07:00

Our local public pool offers swimming classes for parents with babies. This sounds like fun, but I’m wondering: Is this something I can do safely with my eight-month-old baby?

Learn about it
Swimming classes can be a fun experience to share with your baby and with other parent-baby pairs. The term “class” in this context shouldn’t mean that your baby will “learn” anything. Until a child is over four years old, any swim program should be viewed as simply a pleasurable way to introduce your baby to the fun of being in the water.

At what age can you take a baby in a pool?
As long as the water and weather are warm enough, you can take any baby over a few weeks old into a pool while in your arms. The younger the baby, of course, the more closely you’ll need to monitor the reaction to the water, and the more careful you’ll need to be about the chill that can occur when wet skin hits cooler air. Keep in mind that your baby will chill before you do, and if your baby is shivering or his lips look blue, he should have been out of the water some time ago. Quickly wrap him up and warm him.

How can I make our swimming experience safe?
The one most important rule for swimming with a young baby is to always keep him in your arms when he’s in or near the water. Always.

How can I help my baby enjoy his first swimming experiences?
When taking your baby for a swim, make sure he isn’t hungry or tired so that he and you can both enjoy the water. Avoid taking a swim immediately after your baby has been fed. Very young babies don’t really need any floats or swimming aids, since they will not be out of your arms at any time (right?). If you decide to let your older baby float around in a baby boat or swim ring, always keep in mind that these are not designed for safety or protection; you should keep your hands and eyes on your baby at all times. Follow your baby’s lead. If he seems happy and curious, then move him around in the water. If he seems nervous or frightened, don’t push him beyond his comfort zone. Some babies take time to warm up to the idea of a big body of water, even if they love to splash in the bathtub at home. You may even find that your baby takes numerous trips to the pool or beach before he’s even willing to get wet. Be patient!

How do I choose a class?
Ideally, look for an instructor who has knowledge of child development in addition to swimming. A teacher like this can gear the class activities to the proper developmental abilities of the babies in the group. It’s important to work with a teacher who understands children and can be sensitive to a baby’s fear or uncertainty of the water, and who doesn’t expect a baby to do more than what he is comfortable doing ¾ even if that means just dangling his feet in the water for the first few lessons, or even just looking at it from a deck chair!

What should your baby wear?
At the beach, your baby can wear a diaper, a bathing suit, or a birthday suit ¾ whatever you and he are comfortable with. Many parents keep their babies in a t-shirt to protect against the sun. If your baby is a walker, you might want to invest in some aqua socks to protect little feet against sand, rocks, and shells and to prevent slipping while walking poolside. If you are in a pool, disposable or reusable swim diapers are a great option. These don’t swell up like a sponge, but they do retain the unmentionables that other swimmers would rather not see floating in the water!

Protect your baby from the sun and chemicals
If your swimming extravaganza is taking place outside, be certain that you protect your baby from the sun with a hat and (if the baby is older than six months) sunscreen. This is very important, since the sun’s rays are magnified when reflected off the water. Be cautious about emerging your baby in a pool that has a high level of chlorine as this may irritate his delicate skin.

Après swim
Remember, just like you, your baby will probably be ravenous after a swim so plan to feed him soon after you’re out of the water. A breastfeed, bottle-feed or snack will keep your baby happy. And a snuggly feed after a swim is extra warm and cozy for both mom and baby.

An important warning
No matter how many swim classes your baby has had, and no matter what his comfort and skill levels while in the water are, and no matter what kind of swimming float he is wearing, you should never, ever leave your baby unattended while in or near water ¾ not for even a second. Babies are unpredictable. They easily can fall into the water and drown even in water just a few inches deep. Swimming lessons for babies have nothing whatsoever to do with reducing the risk of water hazards. As a matter of fact, they can increase the risk of water accidents when parents are lulled into thinking their baby is safer because he has had swimming lessons ¾ which is not the case. Plus, swimming lessons, if they are successful, dispel your baby’s natural wariness about water and make it more likely that he’ll explore on his own if given but a second. You are many years away from watching your child swim independently while you sit on the beach in a lounge chair.

babbies online

2010-06-24T20:16:00.000-07:00

Moving From Bottle to a Sippy Cup

One of the hardest stepping stones for a mother and her baby is moving on from the bottle to only a sippy cup. It is hard to know when the “right” time is to make this change, however most experts say the earlier the better. As a child approaches their second and even third birthday, they have formed an attachment to the nipple that gets harder to break, and is based more on comfort than getting nutrition.

Chances are, if you introduce the sippy cup to your baby with anything but juice, or another sweet drink in it, he will not be in a hurry to drink from it. Nipples are much easier for the baby to get formula or breast milk from, than a sippy cup. Most pediatricians will tell you NOT to give the baby sweet drinks in a sippy as a way to get them to drink from it because it can lead to the baby ONLY wanting to drink juice from that sippy cup, making the switch to formula or breast milk that much harder.

One way to break your baby from their bottle is gradually. Cutting down the number of bottles you give during the day and only offering sippies. This works well for some mothers, if you have the patience and time to do it. Most will start by cutting out a bottle at a time for a week, normally starting with the morning bottle and offering just a sippy cup. Every few days or week cut out one more feeding till you only offer a bottle before nap and bedtime as a way to help their baby relax and fall asleep. Eventually cut out that nap time bottle, teaching your baby to fall asleep without the comfort of the bottle, hopefully making it easier to remove the bedtime bottle as well. Some mothers believe this it he kinder, easier way to wean from the nipple to the sippy cup.

The other way to break your baby’s habit is cold turkey. Cold turkey however requires a lot of patience and willpower on the part of the mother. When my daughter was 9 months old I decided to wean her off the bottle cold turkey. At that point she had no interest in the sippy cup. To avoid confusion I took away the pacifier at the same time.

If you are going to wean your baby cold turkey, you have to be prepared. Stock up on your baby’s favorite food and snacks. However, don’t be surprised if your baby doesn’t want them at first. Have a sippy of formula or milk waiting for your baby and available to your baby at all times throughout the day. Offer him the sippy, and food, but do not give in when he cries for the bottle. Don’t be surprised if the first and even if through the second day your baby refuses the sippy cup and all most of the food you are offering him. Remember, if your baby gets hungry enough he will eat. At this point it is a battle of wills between you and your baby. The first day will probably be very hard for both of you. There will be a lot of crying and screaming from your baby. By the end of the day you will be exhausted if not screaming to yourself as well.

The second day will go about the same, hopefully by the evening though your baby will have started to give in a bit and be willing to drink some from the sippy, and eat the other foods you offer. By the time the third day comes to a close, the worst is over and your baby has probably completely given in. The sippy is as welcome to them the morning of the forth day, as a bottle would have been, and they are back to eating and drinking as normal. This cold turkey method works well for most, if the mother has the willpower to stick to it.

There is no “right” way to wean your baby off of the bottle. It is best to make the decision based on your family and on their needs, planning appropriately ahead of time.

Sumber : Babbies Online

Child Photography Challenges

2009-11-11T05:25:00.001-08:00

When we use our children as photography subjects we are faced with a wide array of challenges. Maybe it’s those tricky toddlers or maybe it’s the weather that won’t comply? Whatever the challenge, though, there are ways to overcome various photography hurdles. Pictures don’t have to be perfect to be well received and treasured for years to come. It’s all about the emotion a photo evokes. Jumping the hurdles is easy, you just have to try.
• You have a child who just won’t smile or when he does smile it’s all forced and fake?
o How about capturing him when he’s not looking. Get him drawing on the sidewalk with chalk, blowing bubbles, or jumping on the trampoline.
• The rain is relentless and you haven’t taken a picture for days because you are most interested in naturally lit photographs.
o How about popping that flash and just snapping. You could be missing the best shots ever because you don’t want to use your flash.
• You have multiple children and there is always one who looks away or closes her eyes. You just want one great picture of all of them together.
o How about following them as they walk hand-in-hand on the beach, or you get them all playing together in the yard, or swimming in their kiddie pool? There aren’t any rules that say you must have them all looking and smiling.
• The tantrums are plentiful and your fear is that you won’t get a decent picture of your terribly terrific toddler.
o How about you put that bubble machine to use and capture some shots of your child playing amidst them, or maybe bath-time is a happy time and will yield some big smiles. Pick out times that your child is happy and get snappy!
Pictures that will be treasured don’t need to be posed. In this era of the digital camera we are afforded the option of taking as many pictures as our memory cards can hold. Keep those cameras within reach and start photographing the little moments, those ordinary –yet extraordinary– moments!

Sumber : Babies Online

The Science of Mother Love

2009-03-30T19:19:00.000-07:00

by Cori Young

A growing body of scientific evidence shows that the way babies are cared for by their mothers will determine not only their emotional development, but the biological development of the child’s brain and central nervous system as well. The nature of love, and how the capacity to love develops, has become the subject of scientific study over the last decade. New data is emerging from a multitude of disciplines including neurology, psychology, biology, ethology, anthropology and neurocardiology. Something scientific disciplines find in common when putting love under the microscope is that in addition to shaping the brains of infants, mother’s love acts as a template for love itself and has far reaching effects on her child’s ability to love throughout life.

To mothers holding their newborn babies it will come as little surprise that the decade of the brain’ has lead science to the wisdom of the mother’s heart.

According to Alan Schore, assistant clinical professor in the department of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at UCLA School of Medicine, a major conclusion of the last decade of developmental neuroscience research is that the infant brain is designed to be molded by the environment it encounters.1 In other words, babies are born with a certain set of genetics, but they must be activated by early experience and interaction. Schore believes the most crucial component of these earliest interactions is the primary caregiver - the mother. “The child’s first relationship, the one with the mother, acts as a template, as it permanently molds the individual’s capacities to enter into all later emotional relationships.” Others agree. The first months of an infant’s life constitute what is known as a critical period - a time when events are imprinted in the nervous system.

“Hugs and kisses during these critical periods make those neurons grow and connect properly with other neurons.” Says Dr. Arthur Janov, in his book Biology of Love. “You can kiss that brain into maturity.”

Hormones, The Language of Love
In his beautiful book, The Scientification of Love, French obstetrician Michel Odent explains how Oxytocin, a hormone released by the pituitary gland stimulates the release of chemical messengers in the heart. Oxytocin, which is essential during birth, stimulating contractions, and during lactation, stimulating the ‘milk ejection reflex’, is also involved in other ‘loving behaviors’. “It is noticeable that whatever the facet of love we consider, oxytocin is involved.’ Says Odent. “During intercourse both partners - female and male - release oxytocin.” One study even shows that the simple act of sharing a meal with other people increases our levels of this ‘love hormone’.2

The altruistic oxytocin is part of a complex hormonal balance. A sudden release of Oxytocin creates an urge toward loving which can be directed in different ways depending on the presence of other hormones, which is why there are different types of love. For example, with a high level of prolactin, a well-known mothering hormone, the urge to love is directed toward babies.

While Oxytocin is an altruistic hormone and prolactin a mothering hormone, endorphins represent our ‘reward system’. “Each time we mammals do something that benefits the survival of the species, we are rewarded by the secretion of these morphine-like substances.” Says Odent.

During birth there is also an increase in the level of endorphins in the fetus so that in the moments following birth both mother and baby are under the effects of opiates. The role of these hormones is to encourage dependency, which ensures a strong attachment between mother and infant. In situations of failed affectional bonding between mother and baby there will be a deficiency of the appropriate hormones, which could leave a child susceptible to substance abuse in later life as the system continually attempts to right itself.3 You can say no to drugs, but not to neurobiology. Human brains have evolved from earlier mammals. The first portion of our brain that evolved on top of its reptilian heritage is the limbic system, the seat of emotion. It is this portion of the brain that permits mothers and their babies to bond. Mothers and babies are hardwired for the experience of togetherness. The habits of breastfeeding, co-sleeping, and babywearing practiced by the majority of! mothers in non-industrialized cultures, and more and more in our own, facilitate two of the main components needed for optimal mother/child bonding: proximity and touch.

PROXIMITY, Between Mammals, the Nature of Love is Heart to Heart
In many ways it’s obvious why a helpless newborn would require continuous close proximity to a caregiver; they’re helpless and unable to provide for themselves. But science is unveiling other less obvious benefits of holding baby close. Mother/child bonding isn’t just for brains, but is also an affair of the heart. In his 1992 work, Evolution’s End, Joseph Chilton Pearce describes the dual role of the heart cell, saying that it not only contracts and expands rhythmically to pump blood, it communicates with its fellow cells. “If you isolate a cell from the heart, keep it alive and examine it through a microscope, you will see it lose it’s synchronous rhythm and begin to fibrillate until it dies. If you put another isolated heart cell on that microscopic slide it will also fibrillate . If you move the two cells within a certain proximity, however , they synchronize and beat in unison.” Perhaps this is why most mothers instinctively place their babies to their left breast, keep! ing those hearts in proximity. The heart produces the hormone, ANF that dramatically affects every major system of the body. “All evidence indicates that the mother’s developed heart stimulates the newborn heart, thereby activating a dialogue between the infant’s brain-mind and heart.” says Pearce who believes this heart to heart communication activates intelligences in the mother also. “On holding her infant in the left-breast position with its corresponding heart contact, a major block of dormant intelligences is activated in the mother, causing precise shifts of brain function and permanent behavior changes.” In this beautiful dynamic the infant’s system is activated by being held closely; and this proximity also stimulates a new intelligence in the mother, which helps her to respond to and nurture her infant. Pretty nifty plan - and another good reason to aim for a natural birth. If nature is handing out intelligence to help us in our role as mothers we want to be awake ! and alert!

Touch
“The easiest and quickest way to induce depression and alienation in an infant or child is not to touch it, hold it, or carry it on your body.” - James W. Prescott, PhD

Research in neuroscience has shown that touch is necessary for human development and that a lack of touch damages not only individuals, but our whole society. Human touch and love is essential to health. A lack of stimulus and touch very early on causes the stress hormone, cortisol to be released which creates a toxic brain environment and can damage certain brain structures. According to James W. Prescott, PhD, of the Institute of Humanistic Science, and former research scientist at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, sensory deprivation results in behavioral abnormalities such as depression, impulse dyscontrol, violence, substance abuse, and in impaired immunological functioning in mother deprived infants.4 For over a million years babies have enjoyed almost constant in-arms contact with their mothers or other caregivers, usually members of an extended family, receiving constant touch for the first year or so of life. “In nature’s nativity scene, ! mother’s arms have always been baby’s bed, breakfast, transportation, even entertainment, and, for most of the world’s babies, they still are.” says developmental psychologist, Sharon Heller in, The Vital Touch: How Intimate Contact With Your Baby Leads to Happier, Healthier Development.5

To babies,touch = love and fully loved babies develop healthy brains. During the critical period of development following birth the infant brain is undergoing a massive growth of neural connections. Synaptic connections in the cortex continue to proliferate for about two years, when they peak. During this period one of the most crucial things to survival and healthy development is touch. All mammal mothers seem to know this instinctively, and, if allowed to bond successfully with their babies they will provide continuous loving touch.

Touch deprivation in infant monkeys is so traumatic their whole system goes haywire, with an increase of stress hormones, increased heart rate, compromised immune system and sleep disturbances.6

With only 25% of our adult brain size, we are the least mature at birth of any mammal. Anthropologist, Ashley Montagu concluded that given our upright position and large brains, human infants are born prematurely while our heads can still fit through the birth canal, and that brain development must therefore extend into postnatal life. He believed the human gestation period to actually be eighteen months long - nine in the womb and another nine outside it, and that touch is absolutely vital to this time of “exterogestation.”7

Newborns are born expecting to be held, handled, cuddled, rubbed, kissed, and maybe even licked! All mammals lick their newborns vigorously, off and on, during the first hours and days after birth in order to activate their sensory nerve endings, which are involved in motor movements, spatial, and visual orientation. These nerve endings cannot be activated until after birth due to the insulation of the watery womb environment and the coating of vernix casseus on the baby’s skin.

Recall Dr. Janov’s claim that you can kiss a brain into maturity. Janov believes that very early touch is central to developing a healthy brain. “Irrespective of the neurojuices involved, it is clear that lack of love changes the chemicals in the brain and can eventually change the structure of that brain.”

Breastfeeding: Liquid Love
Breastfeeding neatly brings together nourishment for baby with the need for closeness shared by mother and child; and is another crucial way that mother’s love helps shape baby’s brain. Research shows that breastmilk is the perfect “brain food”, essential for normal brain development, particularly, those brain processes associated with depression, violence, and social and sexual behaviors.8

Mother’s milk, a living liquid, contains just the right amount of fatty acids, lactose, water, and amino acids for human digestion, brain development, and growth. It also contains many immunities a baby needs in early life while her own immune system is maturing. One more instance of mother extending her own power, (love) to her developing child.

Limbic Regulation: The Loop of Love
Another key to understanding how a mother’s love shapes the emerging capacities of her infant is what doctors Thomas Lewis, Fari Amini, and Richard Lannon , authors of A General Theory of Love, call limbic regulation; a mutually synchronizing hormonal exchange between mother and child which serves to regulate vital rhythms.

Human physiology, they say, does not direct all of its own functions; it is interdependent. It must be steadied by the physical presence of another to maintain both physical and emotional health. “Limbic regulation mandates interdependence for social mammals of all ages.” says Lewis, “But young mammals are in special need of it’s guidance: their neural systems are not only immature but also growing and changing. One of the physiologic processes that limbic regulation directs, in other words, is the development of the brain itself - and that means attachment determines the ultimate nature of a child’s mind.” A baby’s physiology is maximally open-loop: without limbic regulation, vital rhythms collapse posing great danger, even death.

The regulatory information required by infants can alter hormone levels, cardiovascular function, sleep rhythms, immune function, and more. Lewis, et al contend that , the steady piston of mother’s heart along with the regularity of her breathing coordinate the ebb and flow of an infant’s young internal rhythms. They believe sleep to be an intricate brain rhythm which the neurally immature infant must first borrow from parents. “Although it sounds outlandish to some American ears, exposure to parents can keep a sleeping baby alive.”

The Myth of Independence
This interdependence mandated by limbic regulation is vital during infancy, but it’s also something we need throughout the rest of childhood and on into adulthood. In many ways, humans cannot be stable on their own-we require others to survive. Recall that our nervous systems are not self-contained; they link with those of the people close to us in a silent rhythm that helps regulate our physiology. This is not a popular notion in a culture that values independence over interdependence. However, as a society that cherishes individual freedoms more than any other, we must respect the process whereby autonomy develops.

Children require ongoing neural synchrony from parents in order for their natural capacity for self-directedness to emerge. A mother’s love is a continuous shaping force throughout childhood and requires an adequate stage of dependency. The work of Mary Ainsworth has shown that maternal responsiveness and close bodily contact lead to the unfolding of self-reliance and self confidence.9 Because our culture does not sufficiently value interpersonal relationships, the mother/child bond is not recognized and supported as it could be.

The ability of a mother to read the emotional state of her child is older than our own species, and is essential to our survival, health and happiness. We are reminded of this each time a hurt child changes from sad/scared/angry to peaceful in our loving embrace. Warm human contact generates the internal release of opiates, making mother’s love a powerful anodyne. Even teenagers who sometimes behave as if they are ’so over’ the need for a mother’s affection must be kept in the limbic loop. Children at this age might be at special risk for falling through the emotional cracks. If they don’t get the emotional regulation that family relationships are designed to provide, their hungry brains may seek ineffectual substitutes like drugs and alcohol.

Children left too long under the electronic stewardship of television, video games, etc., are not receiving the steady limbic connection with a resonant parent. Without this a child cannot internalize emotional balance properly.

Our hearts and brains are hardwired for love, and from infancy to old age our health and happiness depend on receiving it.

As the research keeps coming in and we gain a gradually expanding vision of how mother love shapes our species, we see an obvious need to take steps to protect and provide for the mother/child bond. We can take heart knowing that all the while we carry in our genes over a million years of evolutionary refinements equipping us for our role as mothers. The answers sought by science beat steadily within our own hearts.

Sumber : www.babiesonline.com

New Mom....New Baby....New Debt ?

2009-02-26T23:24:00.000-08:00

by Susan Koiner ( babiesonline )

Ah, there is nothing like being an expectant mom. Along with your expanding waistline comes the ever growing list of products for you and your new bundle of joy. Preparing for a new baby can be a costly experience, especially in the areas of clothing and nursery furniture. The good news is that it does not have to be!

Let’s talk about buying baby clothes…think RESALE! Every new mom gushes over the adorable clothing available for babies, but they often come with a not so adorable price. Resale clothing costs a fraction of the retail price. Buying resale clothing does not equal buying trash! Moms sell their baby’s clothing to resale stores for a variety of reasons. Babies outgrow clothes so quickly (normally before they show any wear) they simply cannot use them anymore. Many precious newborns receive more clothes than they can wear in a season (everyone loves to buy baby clothes for shower gifts–they are just too cute!) that cannot be returned and they end up in resale stores with the tags still on! If you have the time and know what you are looking for, you can find plenty of designer and brand name clothing for a steal!

Buy now…save later! There is more beauty to the changing of the seasons than just the landscape! As the temperatures change, so do the prices of baby clothing! Most stores slash the price of their clothing up to 75% by the end of the season to make room for new clothes. Take advantage of this by buying a size or two larger than your baby’s current size for him/her to wear the next year. The savings are amazing!

Another large expense when you are preparing for a new baby is furniture for the nursery. A good place to start when considering which pieces to buy is determining how much room you have to work with? Do you have a large room or do you need multipurpose furniture? A crib is a necessity and a given; however, you can pick and choose other nursery pieces. Combination pieces such as dresser/changing table combos are available at some stores and can save you from buying two pieces. Cribs with attached drawer space that convert to toddler beds are also available and will save you a lot of space. Thinking ahead when buying nursery furniture will save you both time and money in the future. By buying a combination piece of furniture for your nursery, you eliminate having to sell furniture you no longer need, as well as spending time looking for and more money on new “big kid” furniture.

Now that you have decided what to buy, it is time to shop! Once again, think resale! There are many children’s resale stores that carry pre-owned nursery furniture for 50% or more off retail. They usually have several styles to choose from in different price ranges. If you find something you like, they will usually hold it for you (if you were not really prepared to take it home) and some stores may even have lay away plans.

Another great place to buy pre-owned furniture is the classified ads in your local newspaper. Seller’s usually place ads on Thursday or Friday so they can catch the weekend readers. If you find something you are interested in, call quickly! Good furniture does not last long! Make sure you ask the seller plenty of questions. It is important to know before heading out to look at furniture things like the manufacture name, the age, if they have pets (if you are buying cushioned items and allergies are an issue for your family) and the exact color (if it is not adequately described in the ad). Asking these questions may be uncomfortable, but they can save you a lot of time and gasoline looking at something you know you will not be interested in. When you do look at pre-owned furniture from the newspaper, take someone with you and know what you are looking at. Are the style and the manufacturer of the furniture worth what the seller is asking for it? Is the furniture reasonably priced for it’s age and condition? With a little knowledge, buying pre-owned nursery furniture can save you BIG money!

Awaiting the arrival of your new baby is an exhilarating time! Add to the excitement by saving money on quality gently worn (and sometimes new) clothing and pre-owned nursery furniture!

High Chair Hygiene

2009-02-20T01:26:00.000-08:00

Meal times are a time of learning and exploration for babies and toddlers. Not only are they exposed to a variety of new textures, but to tastes and smells as well. While your baby is still eating purees from the spoon, fewer messes are to be expected; once he or she graduates to finger or table foods, however, all bets are off.

When our daughter first began eating table foods, it was an adventure. Not only did she have the joy and frustration of discovering different tastes and textures, but she also was able to explore her food for the first time not only with her mouth, but with her hands as well. After meal time was over, we’d find crumbs and small pieces of food tucked away into her hair, down her shirt and even underneath her legs where she was sitting. The high chair fared no better – food would be found all around the padded seat cushion, including on, inside and underneath it, not to mention crusted onto the tray.

What’s a somewhat clean-freak parent to do? Before getting out the bleach and spraying down the entire high chair, my husband and I decided to take a more calm approach. After taking the tray and padded cushion off the chair, we read the manufacturers’ instructions and proceeded to clean the chair accordingly. The tray goes to the kitchen sink, where it’s washed with dish soap and warm water, then dried and returned to the eating area. Then we use a non-chemical all-purpose cleaner to spray down the vinyl seat cushion, the chair underneath, and the foot rests. For the straps that hold her in, we scrub those with the cleaner and a sponge and, when they get really bad, soak them in soapy water or run them through the washing machine.

As for our daughter, we’ve learned a few tricks to keeping her clean at meal time, too. We use a receiving blanket tucked around her neck and down over her chest to catch any crumbs that fall down from her hand or mouth, and try to wipe down her hands with a damp wash cloth before she gets a chance to rub her eyes, hair, face or anything else within reach.

It’s not a fool-proof method, but it usually keeps the messes to a minimum.

Written by: Juliet ( babiesonline )

Children’s Birthday Party Planning: When and When Not to Have a Big Party

2009-02-15T23:32:00.000-08:00

by: Kimberly Hargis ( www.babiesonline )

Age 1: Invite only family members and close friends only because this birthday is more for the parents than for the child. At age 1, a child doesn’t understand the concept of “Birthday Party.” He or she is getting a lot of attention—which is all a 1-year-old wants or understands anyway. You should not go overboard on presents because too much could scare or confuse a child. You should consider getting specialty items such as a plate that says “First Birthday,” a 1-year-old candle, and possible a table cover that everyone could sign with fabric paint to have as keepsakes that can someday be shown (or given to) to your grown child.

Age 2: 2-years-olds should have one or two playmates over for a small Birthday Play Day. Again I suggest you keep a birthday plate and other keepsakes for your 2-year-old.

Age 3: 3-year-olds should have three to four playmates over, and at this age you might have try a birthday game such as “Who can stack the blocks the highest?” I do not recommend having a clown or playing any games that require a blindfold over a child’s eyes such key due to the fact either can scare children at this age. Remember your child has just turned 3, and the playmates are around that age. They are still not able to understand fully structured games very well. They only know if they do something good or better than other children, everyone will give them attention. Again I suggest you collect keepsakes.

Age 4: At 4, children should now be ready for a “real” party. I suggest four or five playmates. 4-year-olds are ready now for party decorations, but I suggest you do less and save your money for the big number “5” birthday (or buy decorations that you can put away and use again). Games such as Musical Chairs, and carrying a hard boiled egg on a spoon to the finish line without dropping it relay race can be appropriate, but remember that games will be played and finished much sooner than you think. Consider having a few of your child’s favorite videos on hand. Even if the kids have seen them 100 times, they will enjoy them. After an hour or so, you will probably need a break and the children might be cranky. A movie they are all spellbound by will be a great way to relax the kids and you. You might want to consider spreading a couple of blankets on the floor and have some pillows handy for sleepyheads!

Age 5: 5-year-olds should have a big party, but remind them that this is because they are the big “5,” and either starting school or just in school, and having a “big” party will not happen every year. Explain to them that big parties are only for special birthdays such as 5 because they have started or are starting school, 10 because that is the first double-digit number, and of course 16 (“Sweet 16” for girls and “Driving Age” for boys). This will save you money in the long run. On the fifth birthday, I suggest you first decide if you want to do it yourself, rent a building or park area but still do it yourself, or call local businesses (like McDonalds) to see what party-planning packages they offer. I personally suggest renting a park area if weather permits because the kids will be just as happy playing on park equipment as they would if you spent a ton of money on a professionally planned party. Have several inexpensive disposable cameras on hand and let your Birthday Boy or Girl take pictures of his or her first “big” party!

Great games for 5-year-olds whether inside or outside are:

Hitting a Piñata that is full of candy.

Relay races, which can be held in a garage, carport, or park.

Water balloon fights if weather permits (and you have advised the parents that the children are likely to get wet).

Dancing to music and “freezing” when the music is stopped to see who looks the silliest (this is a great game and everyone should win a party favor).

Pin the tail on the donkey (consider a game that uses Velcro instead of pins).

You can also do face painting and movie time. As with the 4-year-olds, you need to over plan for games and activities and a movie is a great back up (or a much-needed rest time). Another helpful hint is to take enough large plastic trash bags to cover your kitchen floor and lightly throw all colors of paint on them. Allow for adequate drying time before the party. Then you can use these bags to cover your kitchen floor before cake time to catch cake droppings and milk or soda spills (which WILL happen).

Ages 6-9: Birthdays can be simple overnight parties (“slumber parties” for girls and “all nighters” for boys) filled with popcorn, junk food, movies, and video games. As long as you let the kids stay up all night and sleep in half the next day, this type of party can still be “cool”—what kid doesn’t love the idea of staying up all night (even if they don’t make it all night). If it is summer time, think about letting them sleep outside in a tent or on a screened-in porch (just be sure to let the parents know exactly where their children will be sleeping and you should plan to check in on them a few times during the night).

Age 10: This should be done about the same as age 5 in terms of it being a “special age” (and reminding your child that “big parties” like this will not be done every year. Ten is a good age to consider renting a facility such as:

Pool parties: most local pools offer after-hour times when you can rent the pool for birthday parties.

Roller- or ice-skating parties.

Local arcades or pizza parlors often have special birthday packages.

A day at the Zoo for your child and their friends.

(Hint: To save money, check with the place where you plan to hold the party to see if you can decorate, bring in the cake, and other party favors instead of buying the supplies from them.)

Ages 11-15: Do the same as ages 6-9 with a simple overnight party.

Age 16: At 16, if they even agree to let you have a “party,” then consider yourself lucky. If they do, then you need to let the teenager decide what kind of party it should be. Remember kids at that age are very “into” who is popular and who is not. Don’t push your child into inviting everyone you might think they should (because they might be afraid of being made fun of for having a party at home with their parents.) They know who to they can invite and who they can’t without fear of peer pressure. My best suggestion for this age is either a pizza party at home or at a pizza parlor or a pool party, depending on the teenager’s interest.

Any party that you give should be “Fun” for your child. Expect that your only reward will be the memories you create for yourself. If you happen to get a hug and a kiss from a very happy child at the end of the day, then it will be a bonus to remember!

Benefits of Reading to Your Baby

2009-02-04T17:39:00.000-08:00

The single most important way for children to develop the knowledge they need to become successful readers later on is for you to read aloud to them often-beginning when they are babies. When reading books is a regular part of family life, you send your child a message that books are important, enjoyable and full of new things to learn.
From the time your child is born, make reading aloud to your child a part of your daily routine. Pick a quiet time, such as just before you put him to bed. This will give him a chance to rest between play and sleep. If you can, read with him in your lap or snuggled next to you so that he feels close and safe. As he gets older, he may need to move around some as you read to him. If he gets tired or restless, stop reading. Make reading aloud a quiet and comfortable time that your child looks forward to.

Try to Read to Your Child Every Day
At first, read for no more than a few minutes at a time, several times a day. As your child grows older, you should be able to tell if she wants you to read for longer periods. Don’t be discouraged if you have to skip a day or don’t always keep to your schedule. Just get back to your daily routine as soon as you can. Most of all make sure that reading stays fun for both of you!

Pick the Right Books
Give your baby sturdy board books to look at, touch and hold. Allow him to turn the pages, look through the holes or lift the flaps. As your child grows older, have books on shelves or in baskets that are at his level. Encourage him to look through the books and talk about them. He may talk about the pictures and he may “pretend” to read a book that he has heard many times.
For a late toddler or early preschooler, use reading aloud to help him learn about books and print. As you read aloud, stop now and then and point to letters and words; then point to the pictures they stand for. Your child will begin to understand that the letters form words and that words name pictures. He will also start to learn that each letter has its own sound — one of the most important things your child can know when learning to read.

Ask Your Child for Feedback
Encourage her to ask questions and to talk about the story. Ask her to predict what will come next. Point to things in books that she can relate to in her own life: “Look at the picture of the penguin. Do you remember the penguin we saw at the zoo?”

Reread Favorite Books
Your child will probably ask you to read favorite books over and over. Even though you may become tired of the same books, he will enjoy and continue to learn from hearing them read again and again.
The books that you pick to read with your child are very important. If you aren’t sure what books are right for your child, ask a librarian to help you choose titles. Read “predictable” books to your child. Predictable books are books with words or actions that appear over and over. These books help children to predict or tell what happens next.

Encourage Your Child to Listen and Repeat
As you read, encourage your child to listen for and say repeating words and phrases, such as names for colors, numbers, letters, animals, objects and daily life activities. Your child will learn the repeated words or phrase and have fun joining in with you each time they show up in the story. Pretty soon, she will join in before you tell her.

Be Enthusiastic About Reading
Read the story with expression. Make it more interesting by talking as the characters would talk, making sound effects and using facial expressions and gestures.

Buy a Children’s Dictionary
If possible choose a dictionary that has pictures next to the words. Then start the “let’s look it up” habit.

Keep Materials Handy
Make writing materials such as crayons, pencils and paper available.

Go to the Library
Begin making weekly trips to the library when your child is very young. See that your child gets his own library card as soon as possible. Many libraries issue cards to children as soon as they can print their names (you’ll also have to sign for your child).

Show Your Child That You Read
When you take your child to the library, check out a book for yourself. Then set a good example by letting your child see you reading for yourself. Ask your child to get one of her books and sit with you as you read your book, magazine or newspaper. Don’t worry if you feel uncomfortable with your own reading ability. It’s the reading that counts. When your child sees that reading is important to you, she may decide that it is important to her, too.

Reading to Your Baby from Birth

2009-01-30T17:27:00.000-08:00

By Eriani Doyel [ babiesonlune]

If you are expecting your first child, or if you care for a young child, you should know that reading to them is one of the best gifts that you can give to them. Reading is the key that will open the door to knowledge and education for them for the rest of their lives. How early should you start to read to your baby? Although some try to read to their baby before they are born, if you start right after they are born, they will be given a head start on reading success and life.

What do you read to a baby? Although babies cannot see or focus very well for a few months after birth, they can see basic outlines, shapes and bright colors. There are many books designed specifically for reading to babies that have these features. The book does not even have to have any words. You can supply those as you look at the pictures and point to objects.

Where should you read to a baby? Reading should be a comforting, bonding moment for you and your baby. Put them right in your lap. This is not only good because you can both see the pictures, but the baby will feel close and secure.

How should you read to a baby? Reading should be much like speaking to a baby. Research has shown that babies respond best to “baby talk”-that high, sing-song voice that many people just use naturally when they are talking to a baby. Be animated and do not use a harsh, loud or monotone voice.

As you read, point to objects in the book and name them. You will find that soon the baby will also be able to point and name objects. Reading begins just like this. Let the baby turn the pages and handle the book. This is one reason that the books you buy or check out from the library for your baby are sturdy board books or cloth books.

To really encourage your baby to read you should make sure that you have books in a place where the baby can easily reach them and use them. It may frustrate you to see them pounding on them and eating them, but really this is the beginning of a love of books. Keep the “nice” books out of reach, but make sure there are selections that are never off limits. Your baby will thank you.

Teething Guide

2009-01-30T04:28:00.000-08:00

Teething is a routine part of child development which can be uncomfortable for both your baby and you. Here are a few pointers to help guide you through the process:

What to Expect
Most infants sprout their first tooth at six to eight months, with the the last of the molars appearing between 20 to 30 months. Due to the discomfort and swelling, your infant may experience increased drooling, sleep disturbance, and crankiness. Teething is often blamed for an onslaught of other problems -- coughing, diarrhea, rashes, fever -- but a recent study found those maladies are unrelated much of the time. "Teething symptoms should only happen during the few days surrounding the eruption of each tooth," says New York City pediatrician Paula Ebirt, M.D. So if they don't pass that quickly, your child may be sick with something else.

Pain Relief
To help soothe pain, try teething rings. Stiff plastic or silver ones may exacerbate the pain if clamped down on too aggressively. Some soft plastic or liquid-filled rings may be frozen for extra comfort, but avoid the kind with small objects floating inside. Even gnawing on a wet washcloth provides relief. You may also consider a child-specific teething gel, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen.

Tooth Care
Once your child's teeth break through the surface, wipe the gums off after feeding with a warm, wet washcloth -- particularly if your child is eating solid food. A swallow of water after a meal also helps prevent dental disease.

Possible Problems
If your baby hasn't cut a tooth on the usual timetable, don't be alarmed. Like other milestones such as walking and talking, every child has his own pace. It may be as late as 14 months before a tooth will poke through. A family history of cleft palate or ectodermal dysplasia, a hair and nail growth disorder, may prevent the growth of some or all of the primary teeth. In rare cases, delayed eruption may be the result of rickets, a vitamin D deficiency that has been linked to exclusive breastfeeding. If your child hasn't begun teething by 18 months, see your pediatrician to rule out these possibilities

How Long Should My Baby Be Sleeping?

2009-01-03T15:37:00.000-08:00

Your baby’s sleep patters definitely don’t match up with yours. Because of this, many new parents wonder exactly how much sleep their baby should be getting.

In the early weeks after birth, your baby will seem to sleep any time that you’re not sleeping, waking up just as you drift off to sleep. Fortunately, that doesn’t last forever. As your baby grows and changes, she needs less and less sleep. For many children, by the time they are 6 or 7 weeks old, they will be sleeping through the night. For other babies, they may not sleep through the night until they are 3 or 4 months old. Here is how their sleep needs generally progress:

- birth to 6 or 7 weeks. Newborns sleep between 16 and 20 hours a day.

- 1 month to 3 months. Babies at this stage will need to sleep around 8 hours at night, and another 8 hours during the day, for a total of around 16 hours.

- 3 months to 6 months. During this stage, nighttime sleep increases and daytime sleep decreases. Your baby will probably sleep for about 10 hours at night, and need between 3 and 5 hours during the day.

- 6 months to 9 months. Babies at this age will sleep even more at night. Nighttime sleep will be around 11 hours. Daytime sleep will drop down to between 2 and 3 1/2 hours.

- 9 months to 1 year. Nighttime sleep stays steady at 11 hours. Daytime sleep may drop off slightly, from 2 to 3 hours.

- 1 year to 18 months. Here, they may add a little time sleeping at night, around 11 1/2 hours total. Daytime sleep drops to between 1 and 2 hours, where it will stay until after they are around 4 years old (or whenever they stop taking naps).

- 18 months to 3 years. Nighttime sleep will drop around half an hour every six months, so that at 3 years your baby will be sleeping around 10 1/2 hours a night. Daytime sleep will stay around the same.

If your baby seems to be getting too much sleep (more than an hour or more beyond the guide above) it could be indicative of another problem. If your baby refuses to sleep, this too can be indicative of a problem. If you have any concerns, you should speak with your pediatric health care provider.

Preparing Baby for a Full-Time Sitter

2008-12-29T22:38:00.000-08:00

By Rebecca Geiger for Your Baby Today

Like it or not, it's time. You've used up nearly every hour of precious maternity leave, and are now poised to return to work. You've even hired a full-time sitter to come to your home. All that remains is to break the news to the baby. Sure. Right.

Actually, leaving your baby with a sitter doesn't have to be an overwhelming adaption for you or her. Consider the following tactics for making a smooth transition:

Before the sitter even walks through your door, experts recommend getting your child used to your being away. Start with relatively short periods of time -- 15 minutes or so -- and slowly work up to longer intervals. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), for a child seven months or younger, it may be particularly difficult for him to adjust since he's dealing with issues of separation anxiety. That's why it's best to let your child get to know the new person while you're there. Initially, if possible, you should be present the entire day, gradually reducing your presence over one to two weeks.
Make the first encounter with the sitter a positive one. When you're ready for the first meeting between baby and caregiver, the AAP recommends holding your child in your lap while talking with the sitter. This gives the sitter a chance to make eye contact with him. The sitter can start talking with your little one while you're still holding him, but she shouldn't try to touch him yet. If he seems at ease, put him down in front of you (along with a favorite toy), and let the sitter come closer and start playing with the toy. As your baby gets more and more comfortable, you can start backing away. Try leaving the room, and if he continues to play happily, then it's going well.
Once you're ready to head back to the office, consider starting on a Wednesday, rather than a Monday, so that your first week apart won't seem so long.
Try not to let your child pick up any apprehension that you may be feeling about being separated from her since that might make her anxious, too. For instance, don't make a big deal about the time you'll be away by drawing out a long good-bye. Act naturally to help your baby relax, and she'll soon figure out that there's no need to worry since you'll be back.
It's not uncommon for your baby to be clingy or withdrawn for the first few days of your returning to work. This stage typically doesn't last beyond two weeks. Babies and young kids often adapt to new situations much better than adults, and the AAP notes that infants usually adjust well with a consistent child care worker in almost any setting.
If your work situation allows for it, call home a few times a day, and let the nanny hold the phone to your baby's ear. You can also record your voice reading a story or singing a song. And if you work fairly close to home, have the sitter bring the baby by for weekly lunch dates so you can enjoy her company.

http://www.babyant.com

Help For Your Baby's Crying And Sleeping Problems

2008-12-18T17:29:00.000-08:00

Childhood sleep disorders are the cause of anxiety for both the child and for the parents, who may be unaware that their child is suffering from a sleeping disorder. Sleeping disorders can be caused by numerous problems, some of which are more obvious than others. It is even possible for a child with a sleep problem to go undiagnosed simply because new parents may think that certain behavioural patterns are normal.

One clear sign of a child with a sleeping disorder is that the parent is suffering from disturbed sleep as well. If you are concerned that your child may have problems sleeping, here are some signs and symptoms to look out for and some of the simple cures that can help ensure everyone has a good night's sleep.

There are some obvious thing that will cause baby crying and sleep problems, all of which are fairly common and easily curable. Bed-wetting is often responsible for waking a sleeping child. Another common problem is nightmares, or night terrors, which for a child can be a terrifying experience. A less common problem is sleepwalking, where the child gets up and wanders the house whilst still in a sleeping state.

All of the symptoms mentioned are easy to identify but unfortunately there are other more unusual causes of sleep disorder that can be stressful for the parent and the child alike. These symptoms may even go unnoticed entirely, but little indicators can point to sleep problems as the root cause. If your child becomes extremely irritable during the day then this may be a sign that you need to monitor your child's sleep patterns more closely. For a child less than two years of age, eight hours sleep may seem like a lot. However, eight hours may not be enough for some children, leaving them prone to irritability when awake.

Children who have difficulties falling asleep at night may also have a sleep problem even if they then sleep solidly throughout. Similarly children who awaken too early or too late may also be having problems settling into an adequate sleeping pattern. Again, a sure sign that a child may have difficulty actually getting to sleep is irritable or lethargic behaviour during the next day. Another sign that a child is having difficulties is if they are snoring loudly. This can be a sign that the child is having difficulties breathing. Loud snoring will also prevent the child from falling into a deep, refreshing sleep.

There are some products on the market that can help. Firstly you should buy yourself a good book on sleep problems that affect children. Often a sleep problem can be overcome by simply changing routine or through various other techniques. Another good idea may be to purchase an audio CD of relaxing music specifically created for children. There are also various herbal remedies that can be purchased and hung in the child's room.

If your child experiences sleep problems, the first thing that you should do is to try not to worry and remember that it is actually quite a common occurrence. Unfortunately a child's sleep problem can affect your own mood during the day and you can become increasingly irritable yourself. Try to remember that there are cures for sleep disorders and that with children it is usually just a matter of changing the child's bedtime routine.

A great invention on the market that promises to help your baby sleep is the automatic baby rocker device that can be placed under the child's mattress to help rock the child to sleep.

If you are still concerned then a visit to your GP will be able to set your mind at ease. Your family doctor will be able to recommend other solutions.

By: Mark Moon
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Colostrum

2008-12-16T21:58:00.000-08:00

During pregnancy your body starts creating colostrum as your breasts prepare to nurse your unborn baby. Some women begin leaking colostrum weeks or months before delivery. For first-time moms who are unaware of this process, it can be a bit frightening or worrisome until their doctor or midwife assure them it is normal. First-time moms may start leaking colostrum during the third trimester, while previous mothers may start leaking as early as the second trimester.
Colostrum is a thick, sticky, yellow-to-orange colored milk that is created by your breasts to give your baby the nutrition he needs immediately after birth. It is low in fat, high in carbohydrates and has a laxative effect on the baby which helps him pass the first meconium stools that are sitting in his intestines. Colostrum also helps get rid of the baby’s excess bile and helps lessen the chance of jaundice in your newborn.
Colostrum not only provides nutrition, but it also protects the infant from harmful viruses and bacteria. It also introduces beneficial bacteria in the baby’s digestive tract. The concentration of immune factors is much higher in colostrum than it is in the later mature milk that your baby will receive when your milk comes in.
It is important, if you plan on nursing to nurse frequently and often during the first few days of your baby’s life so that your baby not only gets all the colostrum and antibodies he needs, but also so that your milk comes in strong.
Colostrum is also a 100% safe vaccine for your baby. Many parents refuse to have the eye drops given by hospitals to babies after birth, and instead prefer to use the mother’s colostrum to rub on the baby’s eyes in hopes of killing bacteria and preventing infection. This natural vaccine is referred to as immunoglobulin A (IgA) and is different from the immunoglobulin G (IgG) that baby received from the placenta while in the uterus. IgG worked through the baby’s circulatory system, but IgA protects the baby in the places most likely to come under attack from germs, namely the mucous membranes in the throat, lungs, and intestines.
If you do not start leaking colostrum during your pregnancy, it is not a cause for concern. Not all pregnant women leak before their baby is born, and not producing colostrums has no effect on the success or failure of a mother nursing her newborn.

http://www.babiesonline.com

Colicky Babies Or Not, How Many Babies Are Unwittingly Damaged?

2008-12-14T19:26:00.000-08:00

A baby with colic is particularly at risk because of the hours spent crying and being lifted and carried around by a carer who is trying to pacify the child while being extremely tired and in despair.

It is not commonly known that newborn babies, up to the time they are able to crawl are at risk of sustaining some degree of damage due to the
way they are lifted and carried. This damage would be quite unintentional of course, and not immediately apparent because the damage would probably be minor and this does not apply only to babies with colic.

Supporting the baby’s head is critical and this advice – “Support the head” is always given to the new mother when she first takes her infant child in her arms, but the risks of disregarding the advice are not explained, possibly because nursing staff or not fully versed on this
subject. My own area of expertise is a baby colic remedy which cures
extremely fast and safely when used for a colicky breast fed baby, but my concern for tiny babies extends to any way at all that they can be protected.

The new parents are much more likely to take great care but the baby is at risk of being handled without the necessary support by members of the family or friends who volunteer to help with the colicky infant and my concern is this: It is not just a matter of whether the baby is uncomfortable, in fact it is very dangerous to lift or carry a baby with the head unsupported.

Even the most loving and well-meaning person can unwittingly cause some brain damage by lifting a crying baby improperly, when they are just intending to be some help to a tired new mother. The damage can range from slight to quite devastating and slight damage doesn’t become apparent until the child is older so the same unsupported lifting is likely to be repeated many times, particularly when a fussy baby is crying a lot.

How many people actually know that the weakness, or danger area, in a baby is where the brain and spinal cord meet? Even rocking a crying newborn gently without the head being supported can damage the part of the spinal cord that controls the baby’s breathing.

So a child born with perfect health, although possibly developing baby colic symptoms, can be injured in this way, perhaps repeatedly, without anyone knowing, resulting in a degree of brain damage and a harder life for the child from thereon.

A fussy baby who doesn’t settle to sleep easily is more at risk because there is likely to be far more lifting and carrying during the crying periods and anyone in the family is likely to pick the baby up, in an effort to help the mother out and in these cases, colic in babies needs to be researched so that the newborn can spend more time sleeping safely.

It was discovered by researchers when they examined the brains of children who were suspected to have been killed by violent shaking, most likely during a bout of crying due to baby colic, that even mild shaking can damage the nerve fibres that control breathing. The brain swells, due to lack of oxygen and this can cause some degree of brain damage, or even cause the death of the baby.

It does seem quite likely that baby colic is the main culprit that leads to a carer becoming exasperated and exhausted from trying to deal with the constant crying for hours, and then mild shaking is likely to happen.

Until someone experiences the colic scenario, night after night, it is difficult to imagine how awful it makes parents feel.

When we speak of brain damage it is usually the more extreme kind that comes to mind, but brain damage doesn’t always mean 24 hour care for life and the need for a wheelchair. It can be quite slight and just affect a child’s reaction speed, intelligence, speech, co-ordination or anything else the human brain is wonderfully designed to control, thus leaving the child a lesser person than they were born to be and giving the impression that they were born with those minor handicaps, when quite likely, what they were born with was a nutritional deficiency which caused them to suffer
from all the colic symptoms.

It is said that baby colic is not dangerous but I cannot completely agree with that. The danger lies not in the condition of colic, but in the increased risk of damage unintentionally caused to the fussy infant.

Aside from the problems baby colic causes, how many folk know that it’s extremely dangerous to play rough with a baby before the child can even crawl? Everyone involved with the care of a new baby needs to be warned of this fact. Also they need to be warned to always support the newborn’s head when walking about with them and it makes good sense to explain the reason clearly because rules which seem to be for no purpose tend to be ignored or forgotten. This is particularly true if it is an older sibling helping out and trying to pacify the colicky baby. Siblings are usually but children themselves.

I am concerned about this subject because several times in my own life I have needed to quickly say “Support the head” when people have not been taking the proper care with someone’s new baby and there must be thousands of babies who have no-one there to give this extremely important advice.

Would it not be an excellent thing, in order to keep helpless and dependent babies safer, to have warnings about supporting a baby’s head and ‘no rough play too soon’ printed on packs of diapers and baby formula, in the same way warnings are on cigarette and tobacco packs about the dangers to health? Surely, if smokers get this consideration, then babies, with or without colic symptoms, deserve the same care.

By: Anne V Agar

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Practical Tips for Parenting Your Children

2008-12-13T17:22:00.000-08:00

As out lined, parents of young children (pre-schools age) should have few expectation in terms of behavior and acquisition of knowledge due to the cognitive limitations at this age. This does not mean that children should be allowed to run about and to do as they please; they still require guidelines and boundaries. What it does mean is that era should be taken regarding the methods that are used to raise children and the values that are instilled from very beginning. It is interesting to note that the Arabic term tarbiyah, which is often to mean teaching or training, generally refers to growth, increase, nourishment, and cultivation. This relates to the physical, intellectual, emotional, psychological, and spiritual aspects of an individual. When thinking of growth and cultivation this implies that something has already been planted or is already present (natural fitrah). Tarbiyah then refers to the various methods that are used to watch over to a child until he or she prepared to take responsibility and behave in complete submission and worship of Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala. The following suggestions are techniques that may be used for tarbiyah for early childhood. Play, Play, Play: Play should be the primary emphasis during this time in a child’s life since this is the means through which they gain an understanding of the world around them. Pretend or imaginative play is the most common type of play during this stage and this direct-impacts cognitive, social, and psychological development. Children will often mimic or imitate the behavior of adults or other children around them in their play, which is their way of preparing for their particular roles in life. Girls will most often imitate their mothers, and their boys will follow in the footsteps of their fathers. You will see girls playing with dolls, dressing and feeding them and boys on more rough develop at an early age and are a natural part of Allah’s plan for the differentiation of responsibilities for men and women. Those and other type of play should be encouraged and fostered in young children. Prevention: The saying "Prevention is the best medicine" is true not only in the medical field, but also within psychology. There are many steps that parents can take to prevent misbehavior and avoid the disruption that this can cause within the family. First of all, children need predictability, structure, and guidelines because this gives them a sense of security and a feeling that there is order in the world. When this is present they are less likely to feel anxious or stressed which, in trun, will decrease the likelihood of inappropriate behavior. Children will sometimes act chaotic if they are in a chaotic environment. Secondly, probably the most common reason for misbehavior is to gain attention human is the need for social contact, approval, and attention that is already present at birth. When parents fulfill this need adequately, a child will feel content and be more likely to engage in solitary play. If a child is not able to obtain attention through positive behavior, he or she may utilize negative behavior for this purpose. Parents can fulfill this need by spending quality time with their child (e.g. talking, playing, reading, enjoying nature, and much more). Quality is often more important than quantity. Rewarding Positive Behavior: The concept of rewards and punishment is an integral part of Islamic Aqeedah as there are natural consequences for each of our actions. This same wisdom can be applied to the area of parenting, the Messenger of Allah , sallallaahu alayhe wa sallam, said that Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala, says, " Allah has written down the good deeds and the bad ones. Then He explained it ( by saying that) he who has intended a good deed and has not done it, Allah writes it down himself as a full good deed; but if he intended it and has done it, Allah writes it down with Himself as from ten good deeds to seven hundred times, or many times over. But if he has intended a bad deed and has not done it, Allah writes it down with Himself as a full good deed, but if he has intended it and has done it, Allah writes it down as one a bad deed." (Bukhari and Muslim). Allah’s mercy can be seen in this Hadeeth Qudsi and this should be reflected in a parent’s tarbiyah as well. Rewards are effective in only increasing the occurrence of positive behavior, but also in decreasing negative behavior and increasing a child’s self-esteem. The most effective rewards for children are those that are the easiest to give: praise, encouragement, hugs, thanks, etc. Ignoring Misbehavior: Many of the inappropriate behaviors of young children can simply be ignored or disregarded. The prophet, sallallaahu alayhe wa sallam, is our best example in this regard. Anas ibn Malik said, "The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu alayhe wa sallam, had the best disposition among people. One day he sent me on an errand and I said, "By Allah, I will not go.’ But it was in my mind that I would do as the Messenger of Allah had ordered me. I went until I came upon children playing in the street. Then the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu alayhe wa sallam, arrived and he caught me by the back of my neck from behind. As I looked at him. I found him smiling, and he said, ‘Unays (Anas’ nickname), did you go where I asked you to go?’ I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, yes, I am going . ‘’’ Anas said further, " I served him for nine years, but I do not know that he ever said me about anything I did, why I did that, or about anything I had neglected, why I had not done that." (Muslim). We may want to compare this to how we react to or interact with our own children. For young children, in particular, it is really counterproductive to berate, question, and reprimand when they really way. Simply ignoring the behavior may be the most appropriate response. Another related technique is to redirect the child to something else in the environment to draw attention away from the undesirable. It is important to realize that within these general guidelines there are about as many ways to parent as there are parents. Parents need to take into consideration the unique personalities, dispositions, and gifts of each child when deciding upon a particular approach. What may work with work one child may not necessarily be effective with another. It is also imperative to remember that our children are one of the greatest test that we have from Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala, and we need to contionually ask Him for assistance for ourselves and our children. This is the most effective and powerful tool for tarbiyah. " When My servants ask you (Muhammad) concerning Me, I am indeed near. I respond to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on Me. Let them also, with a will, listen to My call and believe in Me, that they may walk in the right way." [2:186]

http://www.namaislami.com

Ouch! My Breasts!

2008-12-10T20:31:00.000-08:00

An early sign of pregnancy, during the first trimester, are swollen or sore breasts. This can begin as early as a week after conception, often before a woman ever misses her period. The breasts might become larger, tender, and ache when they are touched. But what causes this tenderness?
A woman’s breasts are made up of fat, tissue, blood, and milk glands and their sole purpose is for breastfeeding. It is just a coincidence that the men seem to like women’s breasts as much as the babies do.
When a woman gets pregnant her breasts immediately start preparing to feed that baby nine months down the road. Extra blood begins to run through them and the milk glands grow, causing the swelling and pain that a woman might feel. A woman’s breasts will continue to grow throughout pregnancy, although the tenderness should fade after the first trimester. It is normal for a woman’s breasts to be 2-3 cup sizes bigger by the time her baby comes and she begins nursing.
Swollen and sore breasts do not necessarily mean that a woman is pregnant. Many women experience some swelling and tenderness in their breasts every month right before their period comes, or even at ovulation. Sore breasts can also be caused by a hormonal imbalance or starting, stopping, or changing birth control pills midway through a cycle. When in doubt, be sure to call your doctor.

From : http://www.babiesonline.com

When Does Your Body Start Producing Breast Milk?

2008-12-09T21:42:00.000-08:00

Breastfeeding is an amazing, natural occurrence that women have been practicing since the beginning of time as a way to feed their babies. A woman’s breasts have milk glands in them which are activated by pregnancy and begin the process of producing breast milk almost as soon as a woman gets pregnant.

One of the early signs of pregnancy is sore, painful breasts. For many women they will notice a dramatic increase in the size of their breasts early in the first trimester. The milk glands are a cluster of cells high up in your breast. When you have your baby and deliver the placenta, the estrogen and progesterone levels in your body decrease and the hormone prolactin will rise signaling these glands to produce and to send milk down to milk ducts.

However, some people report leakage from the areola prior to delivery of their baby. This yellowish leakage is called colostrum and can begin as early as the second trimester for some women, and not till after delivery for others. The colostrum is the first food your baby will get and the most important as it is full of antibodies to help protect and strengthen your baby’s immune system.

So when does your body actually start producing milk? It just depends on how you look at it. What do you consider the first step in production? If it is when the glands are triggered to start their job it is early in the first trimester. If it is when you first notice colostrum then it would occur at whatever point your body started leaking it, possibly in the second trimester, often not till birth. If it is when the white milk starts to flow then it happens within your baby’s first 72 hours of life. Have no fear though. Breasts were made for the sole purpose of feeding our children and in most cases will do their job and the milk will come when it is needed the most.

From : www.babiesonline.com