Understanding and caring babies at all stages

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.

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%.

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.

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.

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.

• 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.

• 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 !!

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.

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.

• 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.