Understanding and caring babies at all stages

How to Lose Weight after Pregnancy

2008-06-03T22:13:00.004-05:00

How to Lose Weight after Pregnancy is a serious topic for moms who just delivered a baby. Pregnancy puts on a lot of weight and to get back the fitness levels, Fitness expert Michele Warsa demonstrates exercises the new mother can do with and without her baby. She also provides tips on nutrition and how to keep the weight off.

Tags for this video : Lose weight, Pregnancy, Baby, Mom, Mommy, Gym, Workout, Home, Exercise, Nutrition, Weights, Body, Strength, Training, Cardio, Food, Eating habits, Routine, Healthy mom.

About the expert :
Michele Warsa has made whole-body fitness and life coaching her passion. She strongly believes that the daily pursuit of a fit body will give you the clarity of thought, energy, and discipline to take deliberate action in other areas of your life. Her 20 years of experience combined with contagious energy, acumen and a positive approach, blend together in finding personal well-being through fitness and mindful affirmations.

Michele has a Masters of Science degree in biology and organic chemistry. Her certifications are: Training with the Pregnant and Postpartum Client, ACE, ACSM, YogaFit, FitPilates, Johnny G Spin, Reebok Spin, Idea Fitness, AFAA, Burris LifeCoach and Idea Workshops.

Michele is a motivational speaker, group fitness instructor and personal trainer. A professional and a mother herself, she inspires other moms who have the postpartum body blues by showing them how to get their bodies back.

Her programs blend strength training with mindful meditative movements. This powerful combination succeeds in getting the new mom fit, beautiful, and most importantly, physically and mentally powerful.

Michele's workout includes the recommendations from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) for exercise during the pregnant and postpartum periods.

Now enjoy the video of How to Lose Weight after Pregnancy. Once the video is over, keep clicking PLAY NEXT VIDEO on the player to watch more videos in this series.

Low Sugar Drink Picks for Kids

2008-05-07T13:38:00.008-05:00

For kids of all ages, water and milk are the best choices, So though your kid likes juice, never replace water with juice.
Kids who drink more sugar sweetened drinks between meals - even just once a day are more likely to become overweight. These sugary drinks even causes the tooth decay.
Let your child drink as much as flavored water as he likes and limit juice to one serving daily.

Make sure you serve your kids 100% juice which usually has less sugar and more vitamins and nutrients than other fruit drinks. Keep in mind that even 100% fruit juice has a lot of sugar in it, there is just no extra sugar added, and they can have almost 100 calories per 6 ounce serving.
Also follow these recommended limits.

* upto 6 months old : No juice
* 6 - 12 months old : no more than 2-4 ounces per day always served in a cup.
* 1 - 6 years old : 4-6 ounces of juice per day
* 7 - 18 years old : 8-12 ounces of juice per day.

This table lists some low sugar drinks which you can serve your kids.

Drinks	Sugar
Hint Strawberry-Kiwi Essence Water	0 g
Waterros All-Natural Grape Flavored Water	0g
R.W.Knudsen Sensible Sippers Organic Mixed Berry	9 g
First Juice Banana & Carrot	12 g
Mott's for Tots Fruit Punch	13 g

Instead of serving fruit juices, it's always good to make your kids eat whole fruits.

Say No to Soda Drinks :

These carbonated soda beverages have no nutritional value and are very high in sugar. Drinking soda and other sugared drinks can also result in tooth decay. Colas and other sodas contain caffeine which kids don't need and if the soda habits start when the kids are little, chances are they will drink more amounts when they get older and it might also replace the recommended intake of milk. Though kids like soda and ask for it, never serve it to toddlers or preschoolers. With older kids, let them know it's a once a while beverage. But make sure you don't ban it entirely which increases their curiosity and makes them to overdo it when they get a chance.

Second Birthday

2008-04-16T14:05:00.005-05:00

My daughter just turned 2 and a small poem to make her day special.

'Happy Birthday Sweetheart

You were born two years ago today

You are the sweetest thing that

Happened close to our heart

Time has flown so fast

As we reminsced the past

It seems like just yesterday

We held you for the first time

Oh! How have you grown sweetie,

We are so happy for you

Happy Birthday Cutie Pie !'

Luv,

Mom & Dad

Money Saving Tips for Baby Shopping

2008-04-16T13:19:00.005-05:00

The new little addition to the family not only doubles the joy for the parents but also their expenses. With the long baby shopping list of diapers, furniture, clothing, health care, etc..Sometimes it might be difficult trying to make ends meet on one income.

Here are a few saving tips for new parents wondering how to save and where to start.

Coupons :

Baby Coupons are available in many manufacturer's website including gerber, pampers, huggies etc. All you have to do is to sign up in the each and every website giving your baby's information like date of birth or due date, name, address etc. You get printable coupons or coupons in your mailbox whichever option you choose.

Also, sign up your mom or a friend so that you have extra coupons using which you can save more.

Baby Formula Savings :
For Baby formulas, make sure you register in all manufacturer's website like similac, enfamil, nestle good start etc. They send you baby checks which you can avail in any of your favorite store on your formula purchase.

Baby Samples:
Many manufacturers offer free samples of baby items including diapers, baby bathing products, formula samples, etc. Do an internet search for free baby samples and try to make use of them.

Baby Shopping :
Every store sends out a weekly flyer which lists out all the products which is on sale for that week. Once you shop the sale items along with the manufacturer coupons , you get the lowest possible price which we can call a good 'deal'.

Baby Clothing :
Thrift stores are the best place to buy baby dresses. Children don't wear clothes for very long as they grow fast, So, try to save a bundle by buying clothes in thrift store or even Walmart. Walmart offers the best for the lowest price.

'Babies R us', the one stop Baby Shop and the 'Toys R us'that offers variety of toys for kids , Both the stores maintain a mailing list and send out coupon books on a regular time intervals. Once you add your address to the mailing list, You start receiving the coupon books which has a good number of coupons which amounts to your savings.

Whole Sale Shopping:
There are 3 main whole sale stores, Costco, BJ's and Sam's Club. Buying wholesale definitely saves you a bunch of dollars. All the whole sale stores send out their coupon book once a month, try to use those coupons along with the wholesale price to get the best deal.

Online Shopping
The best option for new parents whose hands are packed with baby chores can do the online shopping for baby products. Ebay works out really cheap and the best for some baby items like diapers.

Having a baby should be the joyous time for new parents, Don't let the excitement diminish by calculating the annual costs of raising a baby. Whatever you shop, look for the best deal you can get. Best deal is nothing but the lowest price for the item. By digging a little using clearance and Sale tags, you can save a few cents here and there , Even that can make a big difference at the end of the month.

Elmo Birthday Party

2008-04-14T14:17:00.009-05:00

My daughter loves elmo and so we had chosen that as a theme when we planned to throw a party for her second birthday. For the invitations, I took a picture of her wearing elmo dress and used it in the invitations.The invitation said , "la-la-la elmo's world, elmo's friend shreya is turning 2, come ,let's celebrate it with Elmo", then I listed the date and time with our address on it. I found this site through google search, "http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/cartoons/sesamestreet.html" which also has some printable elmo invitations and thank you notes. I printed few door signs having welcome message and elmo picture on it and used it in the entrance door. I also decorated the door with elmo stickers.

I ordered all the party supplies from "http://www.allaboardtoys.com/", a site which had a good deal of free shipping and some good collection of elmo party supplies. I chose a nice elmo tablecloth to decorate the table and a cute cookie monster figurine to add beauty to our cake. I decorated my house using elmo baloons, birthday banners, elmo streamers. Me and my husband drew some elmo and cookie monster charts and hung it on the wall. I also prepared a chart that said "Guess what elmo is thinking about today - Shreya's birthday Party" and asked my daughter to color it. Since we did our party on our basement, it had a pole which i could use to hang my sesame street sign. I used a green construction paper and used paint colors and wrote 123 sesame street and stick it on the top of the pole. I also placed few elmo plush toys here and there. Since my daughter loves costume character and is not scared, I had arranged the Elmo Costume Character from this site rhk entertainment to dress up as elmo and dance with the kids. She was so excited to see the elmo walk in and started hugging and kissing the elmo. All the kids had a wonderful time dancing and taking pictures with elmo.The guy did baloon twisting, face painting and sand arts for 30 minutes and the rest dressed up as Elmo and did the dancing. It was really worth the money as all the kids even the older ones had fun. And finally for party favors , I had ordered online some elmo whistles, elmo watches,sesame street photo frames, elmo stickers and tatoos. And i took printable sheets from sesame street website and made coloring books by using the colored construction paper for front and back covers. The front cover had a thank you card which said "This party was brought to you by the letter 'S' and the number '2. The party favors also had a set of crayons along with the coloring book. The party was a big hit that all the guests would be reminded of this party whenever they hear the word "Elmo".

ElmoParty

Toddler Misbehavior - A Challenge

2008-04-03T14:56:00.006-05:00

A toddler misbehaving by screaming and rolling on a public place especially a grocery store or a restaurant can be the worse nightmare for any parent. Being a mom of a 2 year old toddler, I myself am experiencing this a lot nowadays.

Why do toddlers scream ?

Your toddler can scream for 2 reasons

1. They want something which they can't or should'nt have and they get upset if the parent says 'NO'.
2. To seek attention through their misbehaviour.

My daughter just turned 2 and she has entered this screaming phase i guess. On the other day, I had to cut my shopping trip and rush home as she felt sleepy and started rolling on the floor and crying. I was so embarassed as people starting staring at me as though i am not fit to be a parent. I know lots of moms have been part of this show but here are some tips i have listed for parents based on my experience.

Distraction :
Distraction is the best weapon to use against your screaming toddler. Try to distract her with some toys if she is crying for a candy, or you can even try to point out some healthy snacks instead. In my daughter's case,it's always easy to distract her and show her new things,name them and make her repeat the names.

Shopping after Naptime :
Make sure, your child has rested properly and taken her nap before you take her out. A child behaves like a maniac if he/she feels sleepy. To avoid such behaviours, plan your shopping after the child's naptime.

Good Preparation :
I always pack some snacks, fruits or juice of my daughter's choice before going for shopping. If it's going to be a long day, you can even have some special toys just for outings.We have some toys on our car which she gets to play with during outings. Those toys are always special and interesting.

Get them involved:
Getting your kids involve in what you do is also a nice way to avoid screaming. I always involve my kid while shopping for dresses by asking for her color choice, she even loves holding the money saving coupons, and picking out the groceries. This keeps her occupied and there is less chance of screaming or misbehaving.

Choose kid friendly Places:
If you plan for an eatout, it's good to choose some family friendly restaurants rather than a quiet formal place. In that way, if the kids start screaming, nobody will notice as the place itself is quite noisy and packed with kids.

Remain Calm :
Don't raise your voice though your child makes you to. Believe me, shouting at them doesn't do any good. It just results in a competition to see whose voice is much louder and may be few more tears. Staying calm, and mainting a neutral tone will prevent the situation from getting worser. This can be extremely hard to achieve, but it's really worth at the end. Your child is screaming because she is upset about something. Try to acknowledge their feelings and help them work through it. Instead if you scream back at them, they become more upset and it is only going to make things worser.

Remember this is just a stage, and it will pass. Your toddler will soon grow old and these incidents will just be memories.

Diaper Rash

2008-04-03T14:00:00.009-05:00

Diaper Rash :

The baby's skin is softer and smoother when born, but can be very sensitive, As the diapers rub against the body, they can sometimes cause redness or skin irritation. The rash can cause blisters and small red patches in and around the diaper area. Don't panic if you notice your baby's bottom is suddenly red and irritated and he cries nonstop for diaper change. Having a diaper rash is normal but the parents can take extra care in limiting the amount of rash.

What causes diaper rash ? Diapers or Parents ?

Babies have ultra sensitive skin, as you cover the bottom with diaper which rubs back and forth along with the moisture of the urine and stools causes diaper rash. This irritated skin is also susceptible to the invasion of bacteria and yeast which can make the rash even worse. Diaper rash can always be minimized by changing the diapers frequently. Parents also have a part in causing the rash by not changing their baby's dirty diaper right away.

More than 60% of parents have argument in taking turns for changing diapers. Nowadays some dads are ready to lend a helping hand by changing the diapers, there are still some who pass the baby to the moms pretending as if they didnt notice the poopy diapers. Diaper changes are boring and smelly, but when it comes to your baby's health and skin, we got to do it whether we want to or not.

Here are some preventive measures to fight the diaper rash.

1.Change diapers frequently.
Some babies cry for wet diapers, some don't. Don't wait for them to signal you, change their diapers especially for newborns every 2 to 3 hours.

2.Change poopy diapers immediately. Poopy diapers are worser than wet ones.

3. Try different brands of diapers .
Some babies are allergical to some brands of diapers, keep changing the brands and select the one that does'nt give your baby any rash.

4. Use unscented wipes or just plain water.
For the first few months, it is advisable to use the paper towel soaked with plain warm water to wipe the diaper area. Or you can even try unscented wipes.
As the baby grows, you can always switch to scented wipes. Using a squirt bottle to clean without rubbing can also help.

5. Diaper Rash cream
Always apply the petroleum ointment(Vaseline petroleum jelly) in each diaper change.
And if you see even slight redness, you got to apply the diaper rash ointment. You have many good ones in the market like balmex, Destin, A&D ointment, Boudreaux's Butt Paste.

6. Clean the diaper area well
Changing the diaper especially during the night can be awful. Some parents take extra care in not losing their sleep by just closing their eyes and changing the diaper. It's the nose they have to block not the eyes. They forget that it is important to wipe all the stool and urine away from the diaper area to prevent the diaper rash.

7. Cloth diapers
Rinse cloth diaper by adding half cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle. This removes all alkaline irritants.

8. Remove the diaper, apply diaper rash cream, spread out some absorbent sheets and place the baby for a while, and let the air pass through the bottom. You can have this as a daily routine atleast till they are 6 months old.

9. Finally, Better get your kid potty trained as soon as possible. This is the only way to prevent the diaper rash 100%.

Child fighting the Cobra

2008-04-01T13:43:00.007-05:00

I was so shocked to see this Bizarre video where a small 1 year old baby is forced to battle a Cobra during a snake-charming festival at Kasimkota in Andhra Pradesh state of India.
The poor baby is playing and fighting the cobra, and inorder to prevent harming the Baby from Snake Bites, the snake has had its mouth stitched up and its fangs removed for the amusement of spectators. This video was considered child as well as animal abuse.
I think this video is disgusting rather than amusing. I can't believe the parents would put their baby into such a situation. Especially can't digest the ending of the video. What happens if the child remembers this and tries to grab a wild snake ?
Some bad parents are so weird that they risk their babies to any extent just to get attention.

Baby Shower Tips

2008-03-31T09:57:00.003-05:00

While it was once traditional to have a baby shower party for the first baby, nowadays we have baby shower for every baby. After all every baby is very special. Baby shower party is usually held in the final trimester say in the last few months of pregnancy. Sometimes if the baby shower party is planned too late, the babies would be lucky to attend their own showers. So, the best time would be 2-3 months before the due date.

Baby Shower - Showering the mom with baby gifts.

For any couple, the most exciting news to hear would be that they are going to become parents, especially for the mom-to-be. For expecting mothers, it's a difficult task to search and shop for all right stuffs and the things that a newborn will need. Moms-to-be have to list down a big shopping list and it's pretty challenging to go for shopping as they near the due date. So, the easiest way would be to arrange a baby shower party for friends and families. Just prepare a menu of food for the party and pass on the burden of searching and looking for baby stuff to the invitees. You have the option of registering for the baby in most of the stores, especially babies r us. Once you add the list and send them to invitees, you make sure the presents don't get repeated and you get all the items needed for the baby based on your taste.

Who are the invitees of the baby shower?

This depends on how you plan the party, sometimes it's a surprise baby shower for the mom, and in that case you can invite people very close to mom and surprise her. In some cases, it can be a family or couple baby shower or a workplace baby shower. Whatever the case, the main purpose is to make the mom happy and welcome the little one to the world. It's important to add here that it's good to be mindful while inviting friends or relatives who have experienced recent baby losses or facing infertility problems. They might either feel left out if not invited, or feel bad if invited. So, the best solution would be to ask them personally if they would like to attend the party.

What to do in a baby shower?

Once you had sent out invitations for the baby shower, you can establish a theme for the party. Sometimes the theme can be with colors if you know the gender of the baby, or it can be nursery decor themes. You can also organize some games taking in mind the audience and the mother-to-be. Be careful you don't play "girly" games, if you invite lots of guys. If the mom-to-be feels awkward with the 'weight-guessing' or 'waist-guessing' game, you can leave that too. You can have games like drawing pregnant women, tasting the baby food, guessing the baby names etc. There are some ideas for baby shower games here.The baby shower differs from each and every culture. Some people believe the baby shower brings bad luck and do it after the baby is born. In Indian Culture, they have the bangle ceremony as the main event for baby shower where the mom-to-be wears lots of bangles and do some pooja for the God that the baby should be born in a normal and safe way. The belief is that the baby will enjoy the sound of bangles when the mom-to-be does the household chores.

However you do the baby shower, having a baby shower party is fun and creates sweet memories for the mom-to-be and to share it with their kids later.

Baby's Rectal temperature

2008-03-29T17:22:00.002-05:00

How to find the rectal temperature ?

Generally, we come to hear the term "rectal temperature" only after giving birth to a child. Rectal temperature is taken for babies and young children until they are 5 years old.

When you suspect your little one has a fever, the first thing to do is to measure her temperature using a thermometer. A rectal temperature is taken by putting the thermometer gently in your child's rectum. The rectum is the end of the bowel. The opening into the rectum is called the anus. The anus is the hole in your child's bottom where a bowel movement (BM) is passed from the body. Make sure you follow directions for taking a rectal temperature very carefully .

Why rectal temperature?
A temperature taken in the rectum is the closest way to finding the body's true temperature. Rectal temperatures run higher than those taken in the mouth or armpit because the rectum is warmer. The normal rectal temperature of a child is between 97° and 100° F (36.0 to 37.7° Whenever you call your pediatrician , they prefer to know the baby's temperature measured rectally.

Steps to take the rectal temperature :

Take the thermometer out of its holder and clean the probe (pointed end) of the thermometer with rubbing alcohol or soap and then rinse it in cool water.

Slide a probe cover over the pointed end of the thermometer. If your thermometer did not come with a probe cover then you can use it without one.

Lubricate the end of the probe with a small amount of lubricating jelly.

Place your child on his stomach across a firm surface or your lap before taking his temperature.

Gently slide the probe of the thermometer into the rectum about a 1/2 inch. Stop inserting the thermometer if it becomes difficult to insert. Never force the thermometer into the rectum.

Continue to hold the thermometer the entire time you are taking the temperature.Always stay with your child while taking the temperature.

Keep the thermometer in place until it beeps.

Remove the thermometer.

Read the numbers in the window. These numbers are your child's temperature.

Your child's caregiver may want you to keep a temperature record. Write down the time and temperature each time you take it. Wash the probe of the thermometer with soap, water and rubbing alcohol when you are done. Though the above steps may frighten you for the first time, you get used to it when you measure your baby's temperature often.

Ain't this baby cute?

2008-03-28T14:30:00.004-05:00

There is nothing more precious in this world than a baby's laugh. Here is a video that I came across, this laughing baby makes us laugh no matter how sad or occupied you are.

Baby's Bedding

2008-03-27T15:28:00.008-05:00

Having a baby is the most wonderuful experience for any woman. It's always a better idea to make a shopping list of items that your baby will need. And one important thing is to choose a bedding the baby will use. After all, your baby will spend a lot of time snoozing--up to 18 hours a day initially--so it's essential to select the best-quality mattress you can afford. Size and firmness are the main concerns. If a mattress is too small, it can leave gaps in the crib that could trap and endanger your baby. If a mattress is too soft, it can conform to your baby's shape, causing a risk of suffocation or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

SIDS happens when the baby's mattress is too soft that his nose and mouth gets covered and the air he exhales is the air he breathes. This is dangerous as he would breathe the carbon di oxide instead of oxygen and the effects would lead to drowsiness, coma or even death. There are lots of makes and styles for baby's bedding.

The three major selections are Bassinet, Crib and a Cradle.

Bassinet :
Bassinet is an oblong-shaped basket that serves asa bed for an infant. Bassinets can be used for around 4 months and there are basinnet beds which fits the bassinet exactly to give the baby enough space to roll from side to side. Bassinets come with a storage space at the bottom to store the baby's things and they are portable which makes them convenient. Once the baby grows, they need more space to turn and that's the right time to transfer from bassinet to cribs.

Crib :
The crib is usually square, thus the mattresses can be fitted to the size of the crib. Mosts cribs come under the standard size, so you don't need to worry if the mattresses fits the crib. Be sure you select a firm mattress taking the factors like coil count, waterproof, convertible mattress etc. High Coil Count and low Steel gauge is one of the most important factor to choose a good crib mattress. But a generous coil count doesn't always mean a firmer mattress. The cheapest innerspring baby mattresses may have fewer than 80 coils and more expensive models may have more than 280 coils, but a model with 150 coils could be firmer than one with 200. How? The gauge of steel in those 150 coils may be thicker than the steel in the 200-coil mattress. Steel gauge for mattress coils ranges from 12.5 to 19; the lower the number, the thicker the steel. Thicker is stronger. So look for a moderate to high coil count--135 to 150 coils is a good midrange--and a lower coil steel gauge, 15.5 or below. There are waterproof mattresses , but instead you can buy a mattress pad which serves the purpose of preventing the leak to get into the mattress.Incase, if you want to convert your crib to toddler bed, you have convertible mattress which are quite expensive but still serves as a toddler bed.

Cradle :
Cradle comes in various shapes and sizes. Some moms prefer cradle as babies can be calmed down by rocking the cradle. The baby bedding should follow the shape of the cradle. The most preferred bedding equipment among the three will be the crib as it's safe and long lasting. You don't have to spend a fortune to get a good-quality mattress, but don't skimp, either. A mattress that costs between $90 and $200 will generally serve your baby well. The best material would be cotton as it's absorbent and cool to the baby's skin. Different designs can be used to stimulate the baby's color and pattern recognition. The parents have to make sure they select a good quality mattress to keep the baby happy, safe and healthy.

Newborn Temperature

2008-03-27T14:58:00.008-05:00

Most of the new parents would have experienced this scenario: you wake up in the mid of the night, you find your little one hot and sweaty in the bed, you kiss her forehead, and suspect a fever, you are frightened to the core, but not sure what to do next.

If you feel your baby is hotter than normal, then you can use a thermometer and measure the temperature. One of the most important things on the baby's shopping list is the thermometer. Though we have variety of ways to measure a baby's temperature, the rectal temperature is the most accurate one. The ear or auxiliary thermometer will give out a number 2 or 3 degrees less than the actual temperature.

I still remember my first experience of measuring my baby's temperature rectally. If cutting the baby's nail is a nerve-wracking experience, here is another one which scares me out of my mind. But once you start taking the rectal temperature often, you get used to that and become an expert of thermometers.

What is a fever?

Newborn Babies and younger children normally have higher temperatures than adults. Normally the temperature rises in the late evenings and nights and drops down between midnight and early mornings. In healthy kids, fevers usually don't indicate anything serious. Although it can be frightening when your child's temperature rises, fever itself causes no harm and can actually be a good thing — it's often the body's way of fighting off infections. And not all fevers need to be treated. High fever, however, can make a child uncomfortable and aggravate problems such as dehydration.

When to call your pediatrician? Call your doctor if:

1. Your baby is less than 3 months old, and the temperature is 100.4 degrees or higher.
2. For a baby between 3 and 6 months old, call if the temperature reaches 101 degrees or higher.
3. If your baby is 6 months or older, call if her fever reaches 103 degrees or higher

Don't judge the illness of the baby just by considering the temperature alone. Other factors like your baby's age, how active she is, her appetite must also be taken into account.

When you call the doctor, the doctor will ask for questions like how your baby's activities, are, has she lost her appetite and are there any changes in behavior and appearance. You got to look out for symptoms like cold, cough or ear pain which you can tell the doctor to make the treatment easier. Remember whatever the thermometer shows, you are the best person to judge how ill your baby is. If you feel she is not normal, you can always take her to the doctor.

Over the Counter Medications

2007-10-18T10:51:00.010-05:00

Facing an FDA hearing on the safety of children’s decongestants, the makers of several leading over-the-counter cold medications announced they are voluntarily withdrawing all over-the-counter cough and cold medicines available nationwide for children aged 2 and under. The four manufacturers voluntarily withdrew the 14 cough and cold medications for infants ages 2 and under not because they were tainted or had been tampered with. They withdrew them because of increased scrutiny by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Below is the list of Withdrawn Medicines

Dimetapp
Decongestant Plus Cough Infant Drops
Decongestant Infant DropsLittle Colds
Decongestant Plus Cough
Multi-Symptom Cold Formula

Pediacare
Infant Drops Decongestant (containing pseudoephedrine)
Infant Drops Decongestant & Cough (containing pseudoephedrine)
Infant Dropper Decongestant (containing phenylephrine)
Infant Dropper Long-Acting Cough
Infant Dropper Decongestant & Cough (containing phenylephrine)Robitussin
Infant Cough DM Drops

Triaminic
Infant & Toddler Thin Strips Decongestant
Infant & Toddler Thin Strips Decongestant Plus Cough

Tylenol
Concentrated Infants' Drops Plus Cold
Concentrated Infants' Drops Plus Cold & Cough

Tiny tooth

2007-05-21T11:57:00.010-05:00

My little daughter cut her first tooth today. Yeeeh.

First thing in the morning, when she smiled at me waving her hands (said 'good morning'), i could see a little white glitter inside her mouth. I looked keenly, and yessssss..finally.. a tooth, I said to myself. She is now 13 months old and for the past few months I was kind of worried she had not started teething and may be that makes her a poor eater. Mothers are meant to carry those unwanted negative thoughts and i was no different :-). Though some of my friends convinced me that some babies get their first tooth even after 18 months, I was not fully convinced. My hubby used to convince saying there is no one in this world born and brought up with no teeth (LOL). Every morning when I get up and brush her teeth(i mean gums), it was like starting the day with something thats missing. Now, that day has arrived. I am not sure if teething is a milestone, but for me it is.

You got any teething stories out there. Let me know if you had/have similar teething worries :-)

Breastfeeding Positions

2007-02-10T19:21:00.001-05:00

When it comes to breastfeeding, being comfortable and being able to get your baby to breast easily are the two things that really count. Learning to breastfeed takes time and practice for both you and your baby.

Make sure that you are comfortable and relaxed and the baby is correctly latched on. This makes your feeding more enjoyable and easy. Try to feed in a chair or bed with a good back support, using cushions or pillows if necessary. Rest your feet on a ottoman or a footstool.

At first, you should experiment with different feeding positions, until you find the one that works for you and your baby. Here are the three most common positions you may want to give it a try.

"Cradle" Hold :
Place your baby across your stomach with face and knees close-in facing your body. Babies head should be in the bend of your elbow; mouth in front of your nipple. Tuck babies lower arm around your waist.

"Cross Cradle" Hold :
Cross Cradle hold is similar to cradle hold except that your baby is lying in the opposite direction, with head in your hand, rather than in crook of your arm. This is a good position when first learning to breastfeed because it gives you good control of your baby's head, which really helps when you are trying to get your nipple in baby's mouth.

"Football " Hold :
This position is easier if you had a C-section delivery as this doesn't put pressure on your incision. Place pillows on your side to support your elbow and your baby's bottom. Tuck the baby into the side of your waist, cradled under your arm. Place baby's head in the palm of your hand at the level of your breast. Support the base of baby's head between your thumb and forefinger.

Lying down Position :
This is also particulary good for moms who had a caesarean devliery or if your bottom is sore after birth. Lie on your side, using a pillow to support your head and neck, and another along your back. You may also want to put a small rolled blanket behind your baby's back. Lay your baby next to you so that the baby's mouth is opposite your nipple. When the baby opens the mouth wide, the baby is ready to latch on.

Hope these breat feeding tips were helpful.

Storing Breast Milk

2007-02-10T18:52:00.001-05:00

I have always had this question in my mind when I started breastfeeding my baby ; How long can I store my pumped breastmilk in the refrigerator ? Whoever I ask this question gives varied answers which led to a confusion. Here is a clear fact on storing your freshly expressed Breast Milk . Have this in mind, No more confusions :)

IN REFRIGERATOR :

Use within 24 hours if possible
Discard after 72 hours

IN FREEZER :

Upto 1 month in freezer compartment of refrigerator
3-6 months in deep freezer (0 degrees or less)
Store in the back of freezer.
Label and use oldest first.
Best if used within 3 months.

Previously frozen breast milk can be stored in refrigerator for 24 hours. But NEVER refreeze it.

Baby Monitors

2007-02-02T20:35:00.002-05:00

Baby Monitors help to keep a watch on your baby when you are not with her. The idea behind this great invention is that you can move around the house or your yard and still be able to keep tabs on your baby by listening or viewing your baby. This alerts you when your baby cries or needs your help.

Do you really need a baby monitor ? This was our question too when we had our baby , we thought we don't need monitors as we just live in an apartment with all rooms on the same floor, and Monitors are just for houses which has stairs. But our bedroom where we put our baby to sleep has a soundproof door and we could'nt hear her crying especially when we were watching TV or hearing songs in the living room. Then we decided to go for a monitor,and we bought a monitor from Safety 1st which was of reasonable cost and works great.

The base unit plugs into the wall wherever the baby is sleeping and the receiver can be plug in or mobile. The mobility option is great as you can carry the receiver wherever you go, to the basement or to the yard.You also have multiple receiver option if mom and dad both want to carry one incase you have a very big home.

Visual Monitors :
Some monitors even offer you the ability to actualy watch your baby. The Visual monitors enables you to watch your baby if she is covering her face with her blanket or your toddler removing the diaper quietly in the crib. These monitors are a little expensive compared to sound monitors.

Walkie Talkie Features :
You also have baby monitors that allow you to talk to the baby, play music for the baby which is especially great for calming your waking baby and making her go back to sleep. And once your child is old enough to talk back, you can have conversations with your child. The most important quality of your monitor will be the quality of reception you get. Those that use a 49 MHz transmission frequency have been around for years,those are cheap and works great but tend to have a lot of static interfere with one another. Choose a monitor with good threshold value and look for the distance guidelines too. Baby monitors have gotten a bit fancier from sensing movement, sound and watching your newborn baby. I would definitely recommend one for your baby, as it gives you peace of mind while you can relax watching a movie when your baby sleeps.

Breastfeeding tips

2007-01-26T17:44:00.003-05:00

A few breastfeeding tips for a new mom :

Nurse as soon as possible after your baby's birth.
Establish proper latchon. This will eliminate much of the pain and soreness associated with breastfeeding.
Avoid artificial nipples.
Donot restrict the frequency or length of breastfeeding.
Sleep when your baby sleeps.
Have a glass of cold water or juice everytime you site down to nurse, this will make sure you drink enough fluids.
Avoid bras and tight-fitting clothing in the first few weeks of birth if you have sore nipples.
Shop for a good nursing pillow to support you and your baby while breastfeeding.
If you experience pain during breastfeeding, don't hesitate to seek help from your doctor or a lactation consultant.

Breastfeeding - A right Start

2007-01-26T17:23:00.001-05:00

When you first hold your newborn to nurse, remember this is a learning experience for both of you. It's natural for newborns to show more interest in sleeping that sucking for first few days of life. Don't let this discourage you. There is no rigid schedule that needs to be followed while nursing your baby for the first few weeks. Try to nurse her frequently, atleast 8-10 times a day, the more you nurse, the more milk supply you get. If the labor and delivery goes on well, you can start nursing your newborn within 2 hours of the birth. Although your mature milk hasn't developed yet, your breasts are still producing a substance known as colostrum that helps to protect your baby from infections.

Two main factors to remember while breastfeeding are POSITIONING and LATCHING. How you hold your baby is called positioning, How your baby takes your breast is referred as Latching or attaching.

Positioning :
There are several effective positions in which you can hold your baby to nurse. Your comfort is very important, and can be affected by factors such as whether or not you've had a c-section. Don't hesitate to try different holding positions to find which works best for you.Whatever position you choose, remember not to hold the back of your baby's head pressed against your breast and make sure your baby's nostrils aren't covered by your breast as she nurses.

Latching :
When you start breastfeeding, you should focus your attention on getting your baby to latch on correctly. Many babies become sleepy in the day or two after delivery and may not nurse particularly vigorously. You can help your baby open her mouth wide enough to get the areola in her mouth (not just the nipple) by expressing a bit of colostrum from your nipple and touching it to the side of her mouth. Breastfeeding should not hurt, If it hurts, you are doing it in a wrong way. If your nipple becomes cracked or sore, then your baby is just sucking the nipple and not getting enough milk which makes her frustrated and suck harder causing blistered nipples. If your baby latches on incorrectly, do not hesitate to take her off the breast and try again. To do this, insert your finger in the corner of her mouth to "break the seal" before pulling your breast away. Remember, Breastfeeding is an art, It takes lots of patience and practice to ensure a successfuly breastfeeding relationship with your baby.

Figuring out Nutrition Labels

2007-01-26T16:51:00.002-05:00

Have you noticed how a book comes with table of contents ? Nutrition Label is similar to that for any food item.

The Nutrition Facts food label located on each and every food item, will tell you all the information about the nutrients that are in the food. Your body needs the right combination of nutrients, such as vitamins, to work properly and grow.

The Nutrition Facts food label is printed somewhere on the outside of packaged food, and you usually don't have to look hard to find it. Fresh food that doesn't come prepackaged sometimes has nutrition facts, too. For some however, this information isn't exactly that readerfriendly. Fear not, as it's actually easier than you think.

Serving Size:
This size is based on the amount people eat, such as 1 bowl of cereal, two cookies, four pretzzels. Serving Size also makes people to understand how much they eat. For example, if you eat four cookies, that counts as two servings.

Servings per Container or Package:
The label also tells you how many servings are contained in that package of food. If there are 15 servings in a box of cookies and each serving is 2 cookies, then you have enough for all 30 kids in your class to have one cookie each. Math comes in handy with food labels.

Calories and Calories From Fat:
The number of calories in a single serving of the food is listed on the left of the label. This number tells you the amount of energy in the food. People pay attention to calories because if you eat more calories than your body uses, you might gain weight. Another important part of the label is the number of calories that come from fat. People check this because it's good to limit fat intake. The calories in a food can come from fat, protein, or carbohydrate.

% Daily Value:
This indicates how food will fit in a 2,000 caloriediet. This will help you to understand if the foodhas a lot, or just a little of the important nutrients.For instance, there's a recommended daily allowance for fat, so the food label might say that one serving of this food meets 10% of the daily value. The daily values are based on an adult's needs, not a kids' needs. These are often similar, but kids need may need more or less of certain nutrients, depending on their age and size.
Some percent daily values are based on the amount of calories and energy a person needs. These include carbohydrates, proteins, and fat. Other percent daily values - like those for sodium, potassium, vitamins, and minerals - stay the same no matter how many calories a person eats.

Total Fat :
The total fat is the number of fat grams contained in one serving of the food. Fat is an important nutrient that your body uses for growth and development, but you don't want to eat too much. The different kinds of fat, such as saturated, unsaturated, and trans fat, will be listed separately on the label. Saturated fats can raise your blood cholestrol and have been linked to heart disease. So , It's better to minimize foods high in saturated fats such as meats, cheese, butter, eggs, milk, palm oil, palm kernel oil and coconut oil, and baked goods like cookies, crackers, and pastries.

Cholesterol and Sodium :
These numbers tell you how much cholesterol and sodium (salt) are in a single serving of the food. They are included on the label because some people need to limit cholesterol or salt in their diets. Cholesterol and sodium are usually measured in milligrams.

Now that you know what the nutrition label actually means, it'll be a lot easy to eat healthy. Eating healthy is a great thing - especially when you use the nutrition label to assist you with your food choices.

Why do babies cry ?

2007-01-24T21:59:00.001-05:00

All Babies cry sometimes, They have to. Babies cry to communicate their needs and discomforts that require help from outside. This stress mechanism of crying can allow them to heal from the effects of a frustrating day or any fearful moment or difficult situation. Initially, the crying can be upsetting as you have not learned to work out what your baby needs, but gradually, you will begin to recognise your baby's different crying patterns and will be able to anticipate her needs and soothe a
crying baby.

Here are some reasons for a baby's cry :

Baby is hungry or thirsty : Try feeding your baby a bottle of warm milk or formula
Baby needs a diaper :Check your baby's diaper for any wetness
Baby is too warm or too cold : Make sure your baby's attire is appropriate for the weather
Baby is overtired or missed a regular nap : Try rocking your baby to sleep
Baby feels scared or bored : Try making eye contact with your baby and try playing games like peekaboo, or read any story.
Baby is teething : Try giving a teething ring or any chewable food.
Baby is colicky or needs to be burped : Place your baby over your shoulder and gently rub or pat your baby's back.

Sometimes babies need a great deal of cuddling and reassurance. They need physical contact for comfort. If you have fed and changed your baby, you may find that she cries because simply wants to be held.

If you have tried all the above and still your baby keeps crying constantly, Don't feel frustrated and blame yourselves that you are incapable of calming down your baby. That's not the case. If you know that your baby's needs have been met, that there is nothing physically wrong causing your baby to cry, you have tried everything you can do to calm her, but nothing's worked, then it's time to take care of yourself so that you don't become overwhelmed.

Take deep breaths, relax hearing any music, give yourself a break and let someonelese take over for a while. Remind yourself it's just a phase and it will pass. Being the parent of a newborn who cries a great deal is a harder work, get help and support and take comfort of the fact that each day as your baby grows, she learns new ways of being able to communicate her needs to you. Gradually, as she does so, her crying will stop.

Is your baby ready for solid food ?

2007-01-24T10:26:00.002-05:00

Breast milk or formula is all your baby will need until atleast 4 months of age. There does come a time, when milk alone will no longer supply all of your baby's nutrition needs. Many health professionals suggest starting solid foods at four to five months of age. The ideal time to start your baby on solids when she/he show signs of interest in solids,. The best advice while considering starting solids for your baby is "WATCH THE BABY, NOT THE CALENDAR".

Starting solids too early can cause your baby to develop food allergies. Your baby's intestinal tract is not as fully developed during the first few months and solids are too much to handle. Another reason is your baby's inability to swallow solids correctly before 4 to 6 months of age, and this can cause choking.

Most babies are ready to try solid food when they're about six months old. However, each baby is unique and your baby's weight or age alone does not determine her readiness for solid food. Contrary to the popular myth, that starting solids early will not help your baby to sleep throughout the night. Follow the baby's cues, Some signs that your baby is ready for solid food include

the ability to hold her head steady and sit with support;
She/He may try to reach out and grab your food;
opening her mouth when she sees food;
no longer thrusting her tongue out during feeding, a clue she's able to keep food in her mouth and swallow it.

How to Start with solid foods in babies ?
The first time you try to feed your baby, it may not go well, but here are some things to remember to make it easier.

Pick a time when both you and baby are in a good mood and he/she is not too tired or too hungry.
Hold your baby on your lap or have the baby sit up in an infant seat. Start with rice cereal. This is easiest on the baby's stomach. A tablespoon mixed with 3 or 4 tablespoons of formula or breast milk is all you need at first.
Keep the cereal very thin. Use a small baby spoon and put cereal only on the tip. If the baby has trouble swallowing, he/she may not be ready for solids yet. Wait a few days and try again.
Feed the baby the same cereal for one week before changing to another flavor.

Moving On

After your baby is used to cereal, you can begin adding vegetables, fruits, meat, and bread.
Try one new food at a time, for several days, to make sure the baby is not allergic to any foods.
Stick to single foods first, then try mixed foods and dinners.
When the baby starts getting teeth, add finely chopped or mashed foods. Texture helps sore gums.
At 6 months, start offering juice in a cup only. NEVER put juice in a bottle. An infant, put to bed or naps with a bottle containing juice, is at risk for developing baby bottle tooth decay.
If your baby will not eat a particular food, try it again later. The more you offer a food a child, the better chance he/she has of liking it.
Babies do not need sugar or salt added to their food.
Do not limit the amount of fat in a baby's diet. Fat is needed for the brain to grow.
Around 9-12 months, give finger foods. Ripe, peeled fruit, or soft, cooked vegetables are good choices.

Finding Dr.Right for your baby

2007-01-19T22:24:00.003-05:00

Choosing a good pediatrician is a challenging job for any new parent. You will be at the pediatrician's office atleast six times in your baby's first year alone. That means you want to find someone you can really trust and feel comfortable with. As a new parent, you should be able to ask them anything, no matter how trivial it may seem.

Pediatrician Basics :
Some of us are confused with the difference between pediatricians and regular doctors . Pediatricians are graduates of 4 year medical schools with 3 additional years of training (known as residency)solely in pediatrics. They are specially trained to prevent and manage health problems in infants,children and teens. Most pediatricians take a comprehensive test given by the American Academy of Pediatrics ; once they have passed, they are considered 'Board Certified'. It's better to start searching for a pediatrician in the final months of your pregnancy so the doctor you choose can see your baby as soon as she/he is born. A good place to start looking for a pediatrician is by asking your trusted friends for a recommendation. As a parent, they will tell you the truth if they are really happy with their pediatrician. You can also search for board certified doctors near you at the AAP's online Pediatrician Referral service at aap.org. Cross-Check your results with your health insurance plan.Once you get a list of finalists, you can schedule interviews with them. If they are accepting new patients, pediatricians are usually happy to fit such visits into their schedules and to get to know you.

Items to look for in a Pediatrician :

Enquire about the doctor , if he/she is board certified through the American Board of Pediatrics. Talk to him, check out his view on parenting topics like breastfeeding, vaccines, colic etc. You may also want to meet the doctor who 'covers' for the doctor you have chosen during his/her absence.
Office hours and emergency coverage. Some offices are open during evenings and on weekends which makes appointments easy for working parents. Most important thing is the best time to call with your questions and who answers those questions, to which hospital does the doctor admits patients. As a new parent, you will have lots of questions and doubts about your baby that you need to clarify with the doctor.
Visit the office , Make sure it is clean and they have a separate waiting area for "sick" and "well" kids. Some offices have just one waiting area which causes causes "sick" kids to be in mixed the same waiting area as "well" kids who had come for their regular monthly checkups, vaccinations etc… Young kids are always putting toys in their mouths, and having sick patients play with a toy that "well" patient plays with is a very easy way for germs to spread.
While at the office, talk to the staff. See if they are friendly and accomodating. As a parent, you will be dealing with the pediatrican staff on a regular basis for appointments and other questions especially in the first couple years of your child's life. Check out if the doctor's office has ample parking space nearby. This would be of great help when you want to carry the baby to the office especially in winter.

Once you get over with the interview, ask yourself these questions.
Did the doctor listen to your questions, and seem interested ? Did you like and feel comfortable with the doctor ? Did you like the atmosphere of the office ? If your instincts say "yes" then Hey ! you have Chosen Dr.Right for your baby !!

Yogurt treats diarrhea

2007-01-18T22:08:00.002-05:00

Conventional wisdom says that there is no effective treatment for most infectious diarrhea: some medicines may relieve symptoms, but they don’t help the child to get over the infection faster. Not so! Yogurt treats diarrhea if it's the right kind, that has 'active cultures' or 'lactobacillus', a good bacteria that the digestive system uses to abosorb food. (poor absorption is what causes diarrhea).

The April 2002 issue of Pediatrics contains a meta-analysis of eleven separate, well-designed scientific studies of treating diarrhea with Lactobacillus (the beneficial bacteria found in yogurt). The pooled results are impressive. Eating Lactobacillus- containing food such as yogurt, or taking Lactobacillus supplements (10 billion colony forming units over 48 hours), does treat diarrhea and is safe. Yogurt also helps if your baby is on antibiotics which may cause loose stools.

BabyShower for Dads

2007-01-18T09:14:00.001-05:00

'BabyShower' , When we hear this word, immediately what comes to our mind is 'new mom' not 'new dad' ! Fathers are not usually invited to baby showers nor they really care to attend. Baby shower is a tradition which kickstarts parenting, There is no reason why expectant fathers can't be given showers. Not inviting dad-to-be's sends a distinct message to dads "Parenting details are only for moms, you don't need to worry about diapers, baby clothes, pacifiers , teething rings..etc.."

Nowadays, dads play a very important role in raising a baby, So they do deserve a dad style baby shower.

Here is how you do it ,'A daddy baby shower'.

#1. Send out a formal invitation to show the guys that it's a serious baby shower. If you think your friends would never attend a baby shower,even for dads, then send an email saying " FREE BEER, My house, Sunday 8.00 P.M. , Bring some diapers or a baby toy or no FREE BEER. Trust me, they will never stay at home after seeing this.

#2. Decorations : Anything that is tastefully done, in a deep-dish pizza and chicken wings. Don't forget the coke cans and poker chips.

#3. Games:
Any Baby shower should have good games, So why not this one ? Turn on ESPN , or better yet play Nintendo. Okay, Okay, Let's come out of some baby shower games for new dad. I can recommend " Guess the Poopy diaper". Traditionally what you do is buy a dozen or so different types of candy bars and a package of diapers. Melt the chocolate in the microwave and dump each messy candy-bar glob in a diaper. The game is everyone should guess the candy bar in each 'dirty' diaper. Or, you can leave the microwave and diaper part, Just eat the candy bars.

And one more interesting game, "Who took my wallet". The dad-to-be counts to 100, while guests hide his wallet (ofcourse after using his debit card to order pizzas and coke). The expectant father will be amused as he searches the living room, kichen , laundry room, basement..all over the house until he finally finds it crammed into his DVD player. This game gets the dad used to the idea that the prying little hands will place valuable items in unexpected places.

#4. Gifts :
Tools would be a great gift, The dad to be has a great project coming up, to assemble the changing table, crib and baby swing. Think cheap but helpful
You can also gift him with Knee pads , As all the time he is going to spend on the floor searching for missing screws, a magnifying glass for reading the instruction manuals, and a bottle of Advil for the headaches he will have after reading the instructions.

Gag gifts are fun too, get him a pair of ear plugs and suggest that he slip him in the night so he can honestly tell his wife he did'nt hear the baby crying. You can fake a doctor's note, saying dad's skin allergies to infant urine and feces, absolving him of ever changing diapers.

Keeping the fun part aside, I really think men should be included in the baby-shower tradition. Dads are parents too, after all. They deserve to celebrate their child's birth.

CarSeat Safety

2007-01-16T18:50:00.001-05:00

Most parents understand the importance of putting their children in car seats, especially their younger kids, but reports still show that 80% of kids aren't secured correctly in a car seat. Carseat safety is simply not a joke and it has to be attended with maximum caution.

Among the easiest mistakes to avoid is to just make sure that your child is in the correct car seat for his age and that he is facing the right direction.

Here are some car seat safety directions :

Infants should be in a rear facing infant only seat or convertible seat until they are 1 year old AND twenty pounds. Children who reach twenty pounds before their first birthday still need to face backwards and can be moved into a rear facing convertible seat.

Smaller infants who don't reach 20 pounds until after their first birthday should also continue to face backwards. This is more a minimum though. Many people advocate continuing to sit toddlers rear facing in a convertible seat until they outgrow it for added safety. After they are twenty pounds and have passed their first birthday, toddlers can use a forward facing car seat (either a convertible, combination or forward facing seat) until they are about 40 pounds.
Children over forty pounds should be placed into a belt positioning booster seat (either a combination seat or booster seat) and they will usually stay in it until they are at least 8 years old. You should not use your car's regular seat belts until they fit correctly when your child is about 80 pounds and is 4ft 9 inches tall.

Remember that your child will not be ready to use regular seat belts until the shoulder strap fits across his shoulder and not his neck, and the lap belt fits across his hips and not his stomach. All children under 12 years of age should be placed in the back seat of the car, especially if you have passenger side air bags.

H2O for Babies

2007-01-10T09:27:00.002-05:00

Can I give my baby drinking water ?

The answer to this question is 'yes' as well as 'No'. Babies actually don't need to drink water until they are 6 months old. They get their water needs met by drinking breastmilk or formula, both of which are mostly water. Infact, pediatricians advise mothers not to give drinking water until they have mixed diet or about 6 months old.

If your baby seems interested in taking a few sips of water then and there before 6 months of age, it's not going to hurt him. Infact, a little bit of water may keep your baby hydrated in very hot weather. The reason that the doctors advise against giving water to babies below 6 months of age is that few ounces of water easily fills up baby's stomach, and that causes the babies to refuse to nurse or take his bottle. Once your baby has been teething , he or she will need fluoride to support the new teeth, so giving drinking water is a good way to meet that need. Until then, let your baby get water from the usual feedings of mother's milk or formula.

Smoking while nursing

2007-01-05T18:28:00.002-05:00

A lot of mothers try hard to give up on smoking when they are pregnant just to reduce the harmful effects for the fetus. But once the baby is born, they are eager to return to the habit.

Unfortunately quiting cigarettes after the baby is born may be hard as along with this new bundle of joy also comes postpartum depression, baby blues, and guaranteed exhaustion and stress. These new demands can lead many women to desire to pick up the habit again, even if they managed to quit previously. Babies exposed to cigarette smoke may experience more colds, lung problems, and ear infections. Woman should not smoke while breast feeding because the chemicals in cigarette smoke can enter the breast milk.

Researchers tested the urine of two-week old infants for levels of cotinine, the form of nicotine when it is broken down in the body. Extremely high levels of cotinine were found in infants that were breastfed by mothers who also smoke. The levels were so high in the infants's urine, it was almost as high as an adult who smokes nearly 20 cigarettes a day which is quite frightening.

Nicotine is a dangerous drug and women who smoke while breastfeeding or may subject their baby to the risk of ear infections, colic crying, chronic depression, SIDS. Studies suggest it may cause destruction of brain cells and even decrease your child's ability to learn or memorize.

Not only breastfeeding while smoking but also second hand smoking for the baby can also cause respiratory problems . Infact those parents who smoke with the baby are infact creating a child that is predetermined to be addicted to cigarettes and smoking.

Another recent study discovered that children exposed to second-hand smoke in the home are more likely to take up smoking.

Mothers need to understand the potential risks of resuming smoking after pregnancy . Breastfeeding your baby is good but Smoking is bad. Don't combine the two. Smoking is an anxiety-related activity. Encourage yourselves to find other ways to reduce stress.

Cow's milk for babies ?

2007-01-05T17:40:00.001-05:00

Babies under 9 to 12 months of age should not be given cow’s milk. It could cause iron deficiency anemia. Cow’s milk has a low iron content and babies can’t absorb the iron properly.

Milk is an important source of energy, protein, calcium, riboflavin and vitamin A. Milk fat is also the major source of essential fatty acids for infants and toddlers. Partially skimmed (1% and 2 %) and skim milks are not recommended during the child’s first two years.

A friend of mine weaned her baby from breastfeeding and was proudly saying that she has started giving cow’s milk for her 7 month old just to save on formulas . I was horrified hearing that , Some parents are not aware of the fact that cow’s milk for babies can cause iron deficiency and some though they know just don’t care. The pediatrics guide says : no cow’s milk before age one, whole milk until age two, low fat or non-fat milk after that.

You should delay the introduction of cow’s milk into your baby’s diet until 9 to 12 months of age. Your baby’s stomach is still too immature to properly digest cow’s milk and it may cause a small amount of intestinal bleeding that shows up in the stool.
Pasteurized, whole cow’s milk (3.25%) can be introduced at 9 to 12 months and continued until a child is 2 years old to provide all essential fatty acids necessary for brain development and adequate energy.
Skim milk should not be given to children under 2 years.

Healthy eating

2007-01-05T12:17:00.002-05:00

Fast food is a big part of modern life these days, making it very hard to teach a child how he or she should eat healthy. The cheapest and easiest foods are those that are normally the least healthy. If you give your child the choice between healthy food and junk food, you normally won't like the results.

Even though it isn't possible to get a child to like all nutritous foods, there are some ways to get your child to try and hopefully like at least a few of them. You can be as creative as you like, as getting kids to eat healthy foods can be a little harder than you may think. Sneak the healthy food in. Even though it would be great if your kid understood the importance of fruits and vegetables, this isn't always possible.If you can't get them to eat good food willingly, there are ways to sneak them in, such as making muffins out of bananas or apples, or pizza with spinach on it.

Call fruits and vegetables by funny names. You can refer to broccoli as "trees", making them more fun to eat. There are many different names you can call fruits and vegetables, even making up your own if you prefer. Most kids prefer to eat foods that sound fun.

Make the foods taste better. Ranch dressing is great for broccoli, while peanut butter is a great topping for celery. There are several combinations for vegetables that can make them taste much better. You can let your child pick a topping for a vegetable, even if it's something you wouldn't normally like yourself.

Dress the vegetables up. Just as much as calling them names help kids eat healthy foods, making them look funny also helps. You can do this by making funny designs on the plate, or setting them up to look like people. Although some parents don't like their kids playing with their food, sometimes it helps to get them to eat healthier.

Finally, we need to eat healthy food. A house where you get a fruit as a snack will no doubt have kids eating healthy foods. Kids don't do what you say, they do what you do. So, make sure you eat lots of veggies and fruits especially while they notice.

There are several ways to make your kids eat healthier, but to make them enjoy it while they are at it, has to be a hard task. It can however, be done with a bit of creativity.Hopefully, doing this will help your child develop a love of healthy foods for the rest of their lives.

Funny Baby Jokes - 2

2007-01-04T21:21:00.002-05:00

A little boy was waiting for his mom to pick him up from school.

As he waited, he was approached by a man who asked, "Son, can you tell me where the post office is?"

The little boy replied, "Sure, just go straight down the street a couple of blocks and turn to your right."

The man thanked the boy kindly and said, "I'm the new pastor in town, and I'd like for you to come to church on Sunday. I'll show you how to get to Heaven."

The little boy replied with a chuckle, "Awww, come on; you don't even know the way to the post office!"
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Lucy was taking two of her grandsons on their very first train ride ...

A vendor came down the corridor selling Pop Rocks, something neither had ever seen before. Cassie bought each grandson a bag.

The first one eagerly tore open the bag and popped one into his mouth just as the train went into a tunnel. When the train emerged from the tunnel, he looked across to his brother and said: "I wouldn't eat that if I were you."

"Why not?" replied the curious brother "I took one bite and went blind for half a minute."
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An 8-year-old girl went to her dad, who was working in the yard.
She asked him, "Daddy, what is sex?"

The father was surprised that she would ask such a question, but decides that if she is old enough to ask the question, then she is old enough to get a straight answer. He proceeded to tell her all about the "birds and the bees."

When he finished explaining, the little girl was looking at him with her mouth hanging open. The father asked her, "Why did you ask this question?"

The little girl replied, "Mom told me to tell you that dinner would be ready in just a couple of secs."
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The minister called on a seldom-seen parishoner, asking if she was in good health, and generally enquiring why she rarely attended services.

"Oh," she said, "it's difficult to get out of the house these days, but, reverend, I still keep up my bible study and prayers, don't I darling?" she said, turning to her five-year-old daughter - who looked rather blankly at her.

"Darling," she went on, "Run and fetch mummy's favourite book, there's a good girl."

A few moments later she returned holding out the Sears catalogue.
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A woman invited some people to dinner.
At the table, she turned to her six-year-old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing, darling?"

"I wouldn't know what to say," she replied.
"Just say what you hear mummy say," she said encouragingly.
The girl bowed her head and said "Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?"
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On the way to preschool, the doctor had left her stethoscope on the car seat, and her little girl picked it up and began playing with it. She was so proud thinking her daughter wants to follow in her footsteps! Then the child spoke into the instrument: "Welcome to Wendy's. May I take you order?"

Choking Hazard

2007-01-04T21:16:00.001-05:00

Little children tend to experiment with anything that they can get their hands on. Small objects lying on the floor often find their way into the mouths of crawling babies and are spitted out only if they taste unpleasant. Chewing on objects often lead to choking. Younger children are more prone to choking as their airway passage and gastrointestinal tract have smaller diameters.
Your little one can potentially choke on any object that is more than a half inch in diameter.

Many foods pose a choking hazard. Any food that is hard and round can get stuck in a small airway and should be avoided, A child has immature chewing and swallowing skills. It's important to avoid feeding your baby whole grapes, raw carrots, chunks of celery, raisins, apples,hot dogs, popcorn , hard candies, nuts and thick foods such as peanut butter. Hard foods such as carrots and apples can be served if they are soft cooked.

Stay close and supervise your baby while she eats. Make sure she does'nt put too much food into his mouth. Cut larger food into smaller pieces and then feed her.

Babies and Kids are unaware of the dangers that are caused by certain foods or toys. It's our own responsibility to be careful and alert.

Baby Talk

2007-01-04T18:37:00.002-05:00

At a young age your baby will start to talk by producing babbling sounds or even sentences. Although they are not able to pronounce real sounding words, your baby is trying to communicate with you. Talk back and answer them as you would an older child.

Most of the adults are not comfortable talking to babies , they don't know what to say. Babies love interaction , The fact is babies do not need baby talk,it is better for them to be talked like adults. This paves the way for their future language skills.

For people who don't know what to say to babies - here are few suggestions :

Interact with your baby giving a detailed account of what you are doing, while you are doing it. ( say for eg: "when you are going for a walk with the baby, point out things you see on the way like flowers, leaves to them and tell them what they are. e.g. look at the pretty flowers - as you show them the flowers.) Even if you think that they are too young to understand what you are saying - they will start to associate words with situations and things & will soon start trying to pronounce them.

Recite him the nursery rhymes you remember from your childhood or sing a song. Babies don't know the mistakes you make while singing but definitely loves the sing tone of your voice.

If you are busy cooking in the kitchen, you can tell out the recipes of the dish you are making , you might look like a fool to others but does'nt matter. Your baby is enjoying, that's what you want.

If you are away from the baby during the day, share him the events of your day , read him a story in the night.

Talk anything but keep talking. That's your goal .

Jaundice in newborns

2007-01-04T17:08:00.001-05:00

When our daughter was born, i was alarmed seeing her cute little eyes turning yellow the day after she was born. After the doctor's checkup, I came to know that she had jaundice and the doctor advised me to feed as often as possible. He even said they can't send the baby home with me as she has to be exposed to ultraviolet light rays in the form of phototherapy to bring down the bilirubin levels.

I was so disappointed like any other mom, I was not willing to go home without my baby. By God's grace, the day i was discharged, her bilirubin levels came down and the doctor gave consent to take our baby home with us, but advised us to expose her to indirect sunlight for 3 days and come back for checkup.

About 6 out of 10 babies have jaundice in varying degrees. It is a condition caused because your baby's liver is not mature enough to remove a pigment called bilirubin from blood. It usually clears up after a few days or a week and this can be aided by exposing your baby to indirect sunlight through a window.

Baby Shower

2006-12-31T17:17:00.000-05:00

A baby shower is definitely unforgettable event for any mom. Just an imagination poem from the baby's voice.

I'm really glad that you could come

to help surprise my mother

Sit down, relax, enjoy yourselves
and chat with one another.

Special people all around
Love and happiness abound
Babies, presents, cake, flower
Thank you for the baby shower

Sorry I can't be with you
to share in Mommy's shower.
but you see I'm very busy
cause I'm growing more each hour.

Though I'm not here to thank you
for the special gift you brought
My family and I are grateful...
We appreciate the thought.

With tiny hands and tiny feet
I hope that very soon we'll meet.
Make sure you will stay a while
And make my mommy (and daddy) smile.

Although I can't be there today
There's something that I'd like to say,
Thank you for your gifts and wishes
And please help mommy with the dishes.

I'd like to shower you with kisses

I feel shy as I am without dresses :)
I hope to see you very soon,
Because in here there ain't much room.

Funny Baby Stories

2006-12-29T17:15:00.002-05:00

Babies are cute and what they do and speak are funny to look at.

Here are some funny baby incidents that forms sweet memories , whenever I think of them, I laugh aloud forgetting all my worries.

Right after our daughter was born, we went out to a restaurant for a treat with my sister's family and couple of friends. I sat next to Sunil, my best friend's husband. He always loves to joke around with everyone and grab everybody's attention to him. We all ordered food and drinks. As we were waiting for our food to come, Sunil started playing with my daughter, and all of a sudden grabbed her bottle and squirted it into his coffee. All the women around the table burst out in laughter ! Sunil was so happy that every women thought he is funny. but actually what made them laugh is that they knew that I only fed my daughter breastmilk which Sunil did'nt.
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My husband hates to change diapers, I have heard him say many times that he would change not even a single diaper, Having a baby changes everything..! ofcourse it changed him too ! He started changing our daughter's diaper. It's a great challenging task to successfully change a baby's diaper without getting anything on your fingers. When our daughter was three months old, One day, she had diarrhea. I was busy in the kitchen and my husband had to do it. He held up my daughter's two little feet to clean her hips. With a loud sound of farting, her pieces of s*** burst out suddenly, just right towards the face of my husband. With a surprise, he had kept his mouth wide open and s*** ran directly into his mouth ! Consequence : She is now 1 year old and to this day, my husband never changes our daughter's diaper.
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We used to play a music CD for our daughter before she takes a nap daily from about 4 to 5 months old. She has been hearing the same song daily about 3 to 4 times for a month or so. When she was around 7 months old, she has been used to the same songs very much. When we switch on the CD, she knows that she has to sleep and immediately starts sucking her thumb. So funny to look at.

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My nephew "Rahul" who is 36 months old used to spell out his name as "Lolly" as he can't pronounce the syllabel "ra". One day my sister had taken him out for shopping and as usual he demanded a candy and she got him 2 lollipops one for her and one for him. When they both were enjoying their lollipops, she said " this is called lollipop". He immediately replied " No, this is lollipop , what you are having is "ammapop" (:-)

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My sister is trying to potty-train her son who is going to celebrate his 3rd birthday next month.

She bought him a new potty-seat and advised him to go on that whenever he feels the urge to go.

Sister : Koushik, you should not pee on your diaper , go on that potty-seat whenever you feel like going ok.

Koushik : potty-seat ? Then where is thatha-seat ? And I need a Koushik-seat to go. ( 'potty' in tamil means grandma, 'thatha' means grandpa)

She bursted into laughter forgetting she is potty training him.

Funny Baby Jokes - 1

2006-12-28T16:41:00.001-05:00

The meeting went on for quite a while, toward the end the junior executive couldn't quite cover up a huge yawn. "Jones, you're never going to get ahead in this company on less than a full night's sleep," snapped the chairman. "You're absolutely right, sir," replied the fellow wearily, "but you try getting that across to my 2 month old baby."
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The room was full of pregnant women and their partners, and the Lamaze class was in full swing. The instructor was teaching the women how to breathe properly, along with informing the men how to give the necessary assurances at this stage of the plan. The teacher then announced, "Ladies, exercise is good for you. Walking is especially beneficial. And, gentlemen, it wouldn't hurt you to take the time to go walking with your partner!"
The room really got quiet. Finally, a man in the middle of the group raised his hand. "Yes?" replied the teacher. "Is it all right if she carries my golf bag while we walk?"
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A midwife called at our home recently as my wife was about to give birth and I was out doing some shopping..Suddenly there was a power cut and all the lights went out. The midwife,looking somewhat perplexed at not being able to see what was going on, found a torch and asked my three year old to hold it. She told her where to point it and over the next few minutes my wife gave birth to our baby. The midwife wrapped the baby up and asked my daughter what she thought of her new brother. She looked up at the midwife and said casually, "The baby shouldn't've crawled in there and got lost in the first place!"

A child's perspective ?? Oh ! Yes
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A woman goes to her doctor who verifies that she is pregnant. This is her first pregnancy. The doctor asks her if she has any questions. She replies, "Well, I'm a little worried about the pain. How much will childbirth hurt?". The doctor answered, "Well, that varies from woman to woman and pregnancy to pregnancy and besides, it's difficult to describe pain."
"I know, but can't you give me some idea?" she asks.
"Grab your upper lip and pull it out a little..."
"Like this?"
"A little more..."
"Like this?"
"No. A little more...""Like this?"
"Yes. Does that hurt?""A little bit."
"Now stretch it over your head!"
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A boy was assigned a paper on childbirth and asked his parents, "How was I born?"
"Well honey..." said the slightly prudish parent, "the stork brought you to us."
"Oh," said the boy.
"Well, how did you and daddy get born?" he asked.
"Oh, the stork brought us too."
"Well how were grandpa and grandma born?" he persisted.
"Well darling, the stork brought them too!" said the parent, by now starting to squirm a little in the Lazy Boy recliner.
Several days later, the boy handed in his paper to the teacher who read with confusion the opening sentence:"This report has been very difficult to write due to the fact that there hasn't been a natural childbirth in my family for three generations."
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At a big cocktail party, an obstetrician's wife noticed another guest, a big, oversexed blonde, was making overtures at her husband. Since it was a large, informal gathering, she tried to laugh it off, until she saw them disappear into a bedroom together.
At once she rushed into the room, pulled the two apart and screamed, "Look, lady! My husband just delivers babies, he doesn't INSTALL them!"

Diapering Your Baby

2006-12-28T16:17:00.001-05:00

The daily activities of new parents like diapering, bathing, feeding a baby provide wonderful opportunities for parents to interact with their baby. These are no longer considered as 'women's work' but are ways to express your love.

For many parents, just holding the baby is nerve-wracking ; they are so tiny and fragile-looking ! Your newborn may need 8 to 10 diapers a day. Diaper changing may seem complicated & messy at first. But with a little practice, you can change your baby with ease and confidence.

Getting Ready :

Before you begin, gather a few supplies:

Diaper

fasteners (if you are using cloth diapers)

a container of warm water and cotton balls (for newborns or babies with sensitive skin) or

a clean washcloth or diaper wipes (for older babies or those who aren't sensitive to wipes)

diaper ointment or petroleum jelly (for rashes)

a changing pad or cloth diaper for placing under your baby if you are not using a changing table

Make sure your supplies are all within reach. Never leave your baby unattended in the changing table even for a second.

Wiping

Using the wet washcloth, cotton balls, or baby wipes, gently wipe your baby clean from the front to the back (never wipe from back to front, especially on girls, or you could spread the bacteria that can cause urinary tract infections forward from the rectum). You may want to lift the baby's legs to get a better reach.
For boys, it's a good idea to lay an extra one over your baby during changings to avoide being squirted as you change him.

Once you've finished wiping, pat your baby dry with a clean washcloth and apply diaper ointment if needed.

If you're using disposable diapers:

Open the diaper and slide it under your baby while gently lifting his legs and feet. The back part with the adhesive strips should be about level with your baby's belly button.
Bring the front part of the diaper up between your baby's legs and onto his belly.
Bring the adhesive strips around and fasten snugly. Be careful not to stick the tape onto your baby's skin.

Here are a few extra tips to keep in mind:

Any bowel movements should be disposed of in the toilet, and garbage should be emptied regularly (about once a day) if you're using disposables. Not only does this prevent a stinky diaper pail but also prevents the growth of bacteria.
If you find any marks around your baby's legs and waist, the diaper is too tight. Go for a looser fit next time.
If a rash develops at the diaper openings around your baby's leg and waist, change the brand of diaper you're using. Sometimes babies become sensitive to certain brands of diapers.
If diapering a boy, place the penis in a downward position before fastening the diaper. This will help prevent leaks from creeping up above the waistline.
Fold down the waistline of the diaper if your baby's umbilical cord has not fallen off yet to keep that area dry.
Always wash your hands well after changing your baby's diaper to prevent the spread of germs.

Cloth Diapers

Although most parents choose disposable diapers because of their convenience, some parents opt for cloth diapers, which can be more affordable. Some believe that cloth diapers are more environmentally friendly, but there's some debate over whether this is actually true.

Cloth diapers come in many shapes and sizes. Traditional cloth diapers usually come prefolded or in a square and require pinning. More modern types are fitted or contoured like disposable diapers, and come with Velcro closures or snaps. Other cloth-diapering accessories inlcude absorbent liners (some are flushable), diaper doublers for extra protection at night, and diaper covers to help prevent leaks.

If you're using traditional cloth diapers, there are two ways to fasten them. The first is the triangular fold:

Fold the square in half to form a triangle. (For newborns or smaller babies, you might need to fold the long side of the triangle down a few inches so it fits your baby better). Place your baby in the diaper by gently lifting the baby's feet and legs and sliding the diaper under. The longest side of the triangle should be behind your baby's back, with the opposite corner pointing down toward his feet.

Bring the front part of the diaper up between your baby's legs and onto his belly.
Bring one side around so it overlaps the center part.
Bring the other side around so it overlaps the other two parts. Fasten all three parts together with a safety pin.

The second, the rectangular fold, is similar to the fold of disposable diapers:
Fold the diaper into a rectangle.
Position the diaper under your baby, with the long sides facing the same direction as your baby.
Bring the bottom up onto your baby's belly.
Bring one side around and fasten with a safety pin, then do the same on the other side.
Here are some tips to keep in mind when using cloth diapers:

If using diapers that require pinning, use oversize pins with plastic safety heads. To prevent pricking the baby, keep your hand between the pin and his skin. If this makes you nervous, use diaper tape that comes in a dispenser.
Wet diapers can be tossed right into the diaper pail, but soiled diapers should be emptied into the toilet first - especially if your baby is formula-fed or is on solids. It's not really necessary to rinse the diaper before washing, though some people do (breastfed babies usually have looser stools that don't need to be rinsed).You may also choose to spray the diapers with water and baking soda for better odor control.
If you're washing the diapers yourself, wash them separately from other laundry, using a mild detergent that is hypoallergenic or recommended for infant clothing. Don't use fabric softener or antistatic products, which can cause rashes on babies' sensitive skin. Use hot water and double rinse each wash.

Preventing Diaper Rash

It's common for babies to have some diaper rash. But if the rash is persistent and lasts for more than 3 days, it may be time to call a doctor. To prevent and heal diaper rash, keep in mind a few tips:

1. Change diapers frequently, especially after bowel movements.
2. Use a diaper ointment to prevent and heal rashes. Look for one with zinc oxide, which acts as a barrier against moisture. A&D ointment is also soothing for minor rashes.
3. Let your baby go undiapered for part of the day. Let your baby lay on top of a few diapering cloths.
4. If you use cloth diapers, wash them in dye and fragrance-free detergents, and avoid drying them with scented drying sheets.

Have these basics in mind , then diapering a baby is a piece of cake !

Feeding your baby

2006-12-28T13:23:00.001-05:00

Feeding your baby is the one of the most important things you will do during the first few weeks of her/his birth. Your baby will show signs of hunger by fussing, putting her hands in her mouth.Most newborn babies will eat every 2-4 hours and you can feed them at regular intervals to set a schedule for your baby.

Stick with breast milk or formula
Breast milk or formula is the only food your newborn needs. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breast-feeding for about the first six months. Newborns don't need water, and introducing juice or other fluids too early may cause diarrhea or lead to allergies. You can gradually begin introducing solid foods when your pediatrician instructs you to do so, often by age 4-6 months.

Feed your baby on demand
Most newborns breast-feed eight to 12 times a day — about every two to three hours. Within two to three months, your baby may be satisfied with six to eight feedings a day. Eventually your baby will fall into a fairly predictable feeding schedule, taking in more milk in less time at each feeding.

Follow your baby's feeding cues
Look for early signs of hunger, such as stirring and stretching, sucking motions and lip movements. Fussing and crying are later cues. The sooner you begin each feeding, the less likely you'll need to soothe a frantic baby. Of course, not every cry means hunger. Sometimes your baby may simply need a clean diaper, a change of scenery or some cuddle time.
When your baby stops sucking, closes his or her mouth, or turns away from the nipple, he or she may be full — or simply taking a break. Try burping your baby or waiting a minute before offering your breast or the bottle again. If your baby is ready to end the feeding, he or she will resist more vigorously.

Expect variations in your baby's eating patterns
Your baby won't necessarily eat the same amount every day. During growth spurts — often at 10 to 14 days after birth, as well as at three weeks, six weeks, three months and six months — your baby may take more at each feeding or want to feed more often. After a few days, the pattern should become more predictable. When your baby begins to drop middle-of-the-night feedings, he or she may want a morning "catch-up" feeding.

Consider each feeding a time to bond with your baby
For babies, feeding is as much a social activity as a nutritional one. Your baby's growth and development are based, in part, on the powerful bond that forms during feedings. Hold your baby close during each feeding. Look him or her in the eye. Speak with a gentle voice. If you're using a bottle, resist the temptation to prop it in your baby's mouth while you do other things. This could lead to choking or tooth decay — and a missed opportunity to build your baby's sense of security, trust and comfort.

Trust your instincts
Every baby is unique. Soon you'll become familiar with your baby's eating habits and recognize when they're disrupted. Don't worry about how much, how often and how regularly your baby eats. Instead, look for steady weight gain and contentment between feedings. Your baby's doctor will monitor your baby's growth as well. If you're concerned about your baby's eating patterns, contact your baby's doctor.

Time to laugh

2006-12-22T21:23:00.002-05:00

A pregnant lady met with an accident and when she opened her eyes, she noticed she was not pregnant anymore. When she asked the nurse what happened to her baby, the nurse said "You have two healthy babies, a boy and a girl". The lady said, "Oh, Cool, I must name them " but the nurse said, "Since you were unconcious, we called your brother, and he named them !"

The lady said ," Oh. no. But he's a dumb fellow, what did he name them ?"

The nurse said , " The girl is called "Denise". The woman replied , " Well, that's a pretty name, what about the boy?" The nurse replied, "Denephew"!
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Four expectant fathers were in a Minneapolis hospital waiting room, while their wives were in labor. The nurse arrived and announced to the first man, "Congratulations sir, you're the father of twins."
"What a coincidence!" the man said with some obvious pride. "I work for the Minnesota Twins baseball team."
The nurse returned in a little while and turned to the second man, "You, sir, are the father of triplets."
"Wow, that's really an incredible coincidence," he answered. "I work for the 3M Corporation. My buddies at work will never let me live this one down."
An hour later, while the other two men were passing cigars around, the nurse came back. This time, she turned to the third man, who had been quiet in the corner. She announced that his wife had just given birth to quadruplets. Stunned, he barely could reply.

"Don't tell me another coincidence?" asked the nurse.
After finally regaining his composure, he said, "I don't believe it, I work for the Four Seasons Hotel."
After hearing this, everybody's attention turned to the fourth guy, who had just fainted, flat out on the floor. The nurse rushed to his side and, after some time, he slowly gained back his consciousness.
The nurse asked, "Sir, are you all right?"
"Yes" says the man, "I'm o.k. now. I just had a shocking thought. I work for 7Eleven."
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A lady just boarded a bus holding her baby, the bus driver saw the baby and commented "Oooo, that's the ugliest baby I have ever seen". The lady got angry, starring at him took her seat. She told the man who was sitting nearby that the driver insulted her.

He replied , " Oh is it ? Don't leave him, Go and ask him why he did so , Till then let me hold your monkey for you "
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A woman was pregnant with triplets and they were insideof her talking amounst each other. The first one said, " when i get out of here and grow up, i want to be a cave explorer because i want to know why it’s so dark in here." The second one said, " when i get out of here and grow up, i want to be a aqua diver because i want to know why it’s so wet in here." "Well," said the third one," when i get out of here and grow up, i want to be a private detective because i want to find out who that bald headed guy is that keeps coming in and out of here!"

Baby Hiccups

2006-12-22T09:31:00.001-05:00

Why do babies hiccup so much ?

Many moms can remember feeling their babies hiccuping even before birth. Hiccups are quite common in newborns.

Infants are prone to hiccups because of a common and temporary malfunction of their diaphragm.The diaphragm is a large muscle that sits between you chest and abdomen. Normally, it expands on the inhale and contracts on the exhale, but in some newborns, the oposite happens - the diaphragm contracts as they breathe in and expands as they breathe out, this can trigger hiccups but they don't bother them.

A session of hiccups lasts for minutes and they does'nt interfere with the eating. So,don't delay feeding your baby just because he/she has hiccups. As babies mature physiologically, hiccuping becomes less frequent.

Hiccups are harmless,So,we don't have to do anything to get rid of them but sometimes they seem to bother parents much more than they do babies.If you feel like stopping it,You can try burping the baby or try blowing on their face or taking them out into the cold air. The sudden inhale may correct the movement of her diaphragm. Feeding baby may also reset the diaphragm.

Don't Say it !

2006-12-21T16:59:00.001-05:00

Things that a husband is not supposed to say to his wife during Childbirth :

Before the Baby is born :
1. Gosh ! You are lucky ! I wish men could experience this miracle !
2. Do you think the baby will come before the football match starts ?
3. You don't need epidural honey. Just relax and enjoy the moment.
4. If you think this is paining, I should have told you about the time when I twisted my arm playing basketball.
5. Here comes the camera, Say 'cheese'.
6. Remember what we learned in Lamaze Class. 'Hee hee huu huu'. You

are using the wrong words sweety.
7. Did you pack any sandwich for us to eat ? I hate

hospital food.
8. While you lay down there, I could see how much

weight you have put on.

After the Baby is Born :
1. Oops ! Which cord am I supposed to cut ?
2. Honey ! Your stomach looks like there's another baby in there.

Never shake a baby

2006-12-21T16:24:00.001-05:00

Shaking a baby forcefully can cause severe brain injury, death. or lifelong complications. It is considered as child abuse.

What is SBS ?
SBS stands for "Shaken Baby Syndrome". It is a form of head injury that can be caused by direct blows to the head, or shaking the baby vigorously.Each year, 1,000,000 children in the United States are victims of child abuse and 3000 children die because of Shaken Baby Syndrome.The vast majority of incidents occur in infants who are younger than 1 year old. The average age of victims is between 3 and 8 months.

How does SBS happen ?
When someone forcefully shakes a baby, the child's head rotates uncontrollably as the infant's neck muscles are not fully devloped and has little support for their heads.This violent movement causes the baby's brain to rebound against his or her skull. This rebounding may cause bruising, swelling and bleeding of the brain which may lead to permanent, severe brain damage or death.

Why do people shake the baby ?

The perpetrators in most of the SBS cases are either parents or caregivers. Some people are just abusive but others are just angry and frustrated when they are not able to console their baby and stop him/her from crying.

To prevent SBS, parents and caregivers of infants need help with responding to their own stress. It's important that they know the dangers of shaking a baby and try alternative methods to calm down the baby with a little more patience.

Tough Choices

2006-12-21T15:49:00.001-05:00

Working parents have to rely on either daycare or a nanny to take care of their child in their absence. Their intention is with a nanny, their child can get individualized attention and the child can play in their own home and neighbourhood during the day.

Though they are aware of the fact that with a nanny taking care of the child, their child misses the social and natural interaction that takes place in a place like daycare where there are more children to move and play with , the only thing that makes them to choose a nanny is that their child will get one-to-one care which we don't have in average daycares. But some nannies don't provide care and affection as they are expected to do. Few cases where the nannies have been arrested for the child abuse.

We all are familiar about the Boston Nanny murder case which generated more media attention than any other trial where a nanny 'Louis Woodward' was convicted in 1997 for a second degree shaking & murder of a 8-month old Matthew Eapen. Here is a conversation between the prosecutor attorney and the nanny

A Hollywood couple noticed that their infant daughter seemed unsettled near her nanny, the couple had a suspicion and installed a nanny-cam and noticed some very disturbing videos of the nanny shaking the child and snapping her head back and forth. The police released the video tape that clearly shows the nanny shaking and slamming the baby in the kitchen floor. The nanny was arrested and spent 2 years in jail but earlier this year, the case was thrown out and the prosecutors declared the video evidence was worthless and set the nanny free.

In another case , a nanny was sentenced to four years in prison for shaking and injuring a 2 month old under her care. The newborn suffered a multiple skull fractures and massive brain damage. These incidents must caution other parents who have their children in someone else's care. Nanny or daycare , nothing can be compared to a mom's care and affection . Remember a nanny is an acting mother not a real mother. Note one point, I am not judging parents who hire a nanny or daycare, I know everybody has their own financial needs, career goals but these scary video tapes make 'stay-at-home' vs 'work outside home' an issue to discuss.

There are expensive daycares available where you have more caring eyes on your child and lots of children to play with. Nowadays some daycares even have cameras through which we can watch our baby from work area which gives you a peace of mind.

Working from home can be an option especially when your baby is an infant. I know this is not an option for everyone but Thanks to the computer & internet technology, you can work as well as spending time with your baby.

Before hiring any nanny, the parents have to spend more time doing background checks to know more about their history. They can also spend some more time with the nanny and their child together to build a trusting relationship with the nanny and make sure your child gets good care from them.

A nanny or a day care, whichever you choose, it's a tough choice for any mom.

Laughing Babies

2006-12-21T08:44:00.001-05:00

What could be cuter than these pretty laughing babies in the whole world ?

Forgetting babies ?

2006-12-20T11:59:00.001-05:00

I have heard of stories in the past of parents "forgetting" their babies in grocery stores and parks and it really blows my mind. We can misplace our keys or cellphones, we can even forget our wallet, but I can't imagine the possibility of forgetting our baby at any cost.

A couple in Texas did just that, leaving their 3-month old baby unattended in a shopping cart. They drove home unaware, in two different cars, until they got home and found out that nobody had the baby. They had left their baby in a cart in the 'Toys r us' store for an hour or so, but he was unharmed.

http://www.localnewsleader.com/brocktown/stories/index.php?action=fullnews&id=36244

Trimming Baby Nails

2006-12-20T11:21:00.001-05:00

Though trimming those tiny little baby nails is a bit unnerving especially at first, it's important to keep your baby nails short for their safety.

Cut your baby nails :

With baby nail clipper which comes with rounded tips for safety.
When your baby is asleep.
After a bath as the nails become softer
If you are a bit hesitant to use nail clippers, you can use Emery boards to remove the sharpness of the nails.

Having a baby...

2006-12-19T11:41:00.001-05:00

"Having a baby Changes Everything "

Whenever I hear this Johnson & Johnsons advertising campaign, I used to wonder what big change a tiny creature could create in our life.

When I became a mom, I realized how insightful that saying is & how those two little hands and two tiny toes changed my life for me.

1. I started to look at my mother in a different way with all due respect. They say "You learn to appreciate your mom when you become a mother yourself". That's 100% true. I realized how difficult it is to bring up a child.

2. I started celebrating "Mother's day" which I thought "Just another day" before becoming a mom.

3. I have started watching all those kids programme "Boohbah","Teletubbies", Barney","Sesame Street". Previously, I hated that fat purple color doll "Barney" , but now he is like a boon to me, as without watching him dance , my little girl never opens her mouth to eat.

4. I could see my life has totally changed. I have become more responsible , could feel a new meaning to my life & when i see, there is a life totally depending on me to take care of, i feel proud and happy.

5. A year back, i could'nt imagine my life in US without TV & a computer, but now I cannot imagine my life without that sweet smile & soft touch of my little angel.

She is my dawn

She is my dusk;

She is my beginning,

She is my end;

She is my joy,

She is my sorrow;

She is my music,

She is my silence;

She is everything for me.

"Motherhood" - can't be expressed in words, has to be experienced by oneself.