If your teething baby seems uncomfortable, consider these simple tips

Teething is something all babies will go through. It is a growth process of a baby like crawling, walking and talking. It’s an important milestone in your baby’s upbringing making you overwhelmed. Teething indicates that your baby is on the right path of development and growth.

Teething is no fun for your baby. It can erupt with no problems at all but sometimes teething can take long and painful process in your baby. You can notice teething in your baby by the following symptoms:

·       Visibility of a tooth on your baby’s gum

·       Baby’s grabbing ears

·       Swollen or red gums

·       Turning away from food

·       Urge to bite, chew or suck everything that comes in your baby’s hands

·       Irritability

 Here are some caring things you can do to care for your child’s mouth during the teething spell to give comfort to him:

·       Give your baby his own toothbrush, fit for smaller mouths, when he urges to put anything and everything in his mouth. It will allow baby to put the exact thing (toothbrush) in his tender mouth.

·       While opting for teethers for your baby consider natural teethers like wood toys. They perfectly find in your baby’s hand and mouth.

·       Use a wet cloth place it in the freezer for 30 minutes and give it to your baby. It will soothe your baby’s gums by its texture and coldness absorbed in it.

·       Try giving frozen bananas, melons, or apples to allow your baby to gum with their tender touch and taste. It’s the best tool in comforting the teething of your baby.

·       You can give teething tablets to your baby after consulting with the doctor. These tablets are supposed to relive irritability and teething discomfort of your baby.

·       Massage your baby’s gum by the counter pressure of your fingers. It will help in easing the teething pain of your baby by soothing his gums.

·       Try to give your baby foods like carrot or celery easily accessible in your home. These foods will help soothing your baby’s gum by putting pressure on. Make sure your baby doesn’t eat them.

Understanding your newborn baby world , Movements, needs, and reveal his likes and dislikes

Your baby is born ready to communicate with you. His movements may look random, but every action your baby makes has meaning. He'll tell you what he needs, and reveal his likes and dislikes through his behaviors. 

While understanding your newborn may seem overwhelming at first, you'll start to read your baby's signals in no time at all. Watch how he reacts to being undressed, talked to, held and fed. You'll soon start to understand the experiences he enjoys, and those he doesn't. 

Your baby may turn away, squirm or fuss to show you that he doesn't like something. On the other hand, if something appeals to him, he may show this by looking at it intently, and being still and quiet. 

Don't forget, your baby is learning about you too! He's watching your movements and facial expressions, and picking up on the tone of voice you use. It's a two-way learning process.

What are the benefits of understanding my newborn?

Learning to read your newborn's cues can help you both. Here’s how: 

It helps him relax. If you respond to your baby's signals quickly, he'll feel reassured, soothed and cared for.

It helps you to learn what responses he prefers. By watching your baby you'll get to know his individual pace, and whether he prefers slow, gentle handling or a brisker approach.

It helps your baby build trust in the people looking after him, and he'll find the predictability of his daily routine reassuring and comforting.

It teaches him about emotions. By observing your baby, you'll learn how he shows his emotions. Encourage him by matching your own facial expressions to your feelings, so he can learn to do the same.

It helps you feel more confident as a parent!

How can I tell what mood my newborn's in?

You can learn a lot about your baby's mood by how he responds to sights, sounds and touch. You'll probably notice that his behaviour falls into one of six different states at any given time: 

Deep sleep. Your baby's eyes will be closed and still. His breathing will be regular and he may make the occasional startle.

Light sleep. This is also known as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Your baby's eyes will be closed, but they may open briefly. He may move, startle and make the occasional sucking motion.

Drowsy. This is your baby's semi-dozing state. He's not fully asleep, but he's nearly there. His eyes open now and then, and his movements are smooth.

Alert. Your baby's eyes will be open. His attention will be focused and he'll be still.

Active and alert. Your baby will be bright-eyed. He'll move around and may make brief, fussy cries and startles.

Crying. Your baby will cry hard in this state. He may squirm around and be difficult to soothe.

You may notice that your baby can't do some things while in a certain state. For example, he may not feed well if he's in a light sleep. Or he may not want to play when he's crying. 

You'll soon recognise these patterns and be able to respond to your baby's behaviours. You may learn that you need to rouse your baby a little before a feed. Or that he needs to be in an alert state before he starts playing happily. As you begin to understand your baby's wants and needs, you'll quickly become an expert in understanding and reacting to his mood.

How do I know if my newborn wants something?

Does he want to be fed? 

Your baby is likely to make a particular sound or cry when he's hungry. If so, you'll soon learn to identify it. He may also suck on his hands, fingers or fists. 

You may notice your baby turning his head strongly to one side while opening his mouth. This is called rooting. 

Does he need to sleep? 

Your newborn will probably fuss or cry when he needs to sleep. He may stare with glazed eyes before drifting off, or he may suddenly look quite pale. Other signs to look out for include a lack of interest in playing and not responding to you or what's happening around him. 

Is he bored or lonely? 

While your newborn will be interested in playing with you from birth, he doesn't need constant entertainment. He'll tell you when he's ready to play by becoming calm and alert, and looking at you with wide eyes and raised eyebrows. 

If you notice him trying to find things to look at, this may be a sign that he's feeling bored or lonely. He may open his mouth into an "oo" shape or make noises as if to call you. 

In the first few weeks, the best toy for your baby is your face and voice. Try holding him about a foot away and sticking out your tongue. He may copy you! Give him plenty of time to respond before you change your expression. It may take him a while to work out what to do. 

Does he have wind? 

If your baby has wind, he may cry, fuss or seem agitated. He may screw up his face as though he's in pain, pull his knees up to his stomach or kick his legs. 

Is a wet or soiled nappy making him uncomfortable? 

Your baby may not mind having a wet or soiled nappy, but some babies really don't like it. If this is the case with your baby, he'll probably let you know by crying or being restless. He may also have more subtle ways of telling you such as becoming pale or red in the face, looking away or losing interest in playing. 

Is he too hot or too cold? 

You can check your baby's temperature by feeling the back of his neck. Look at his skin colour, too. If it's mottled with patches of red and blue, it may mean his body's trying to adjust to the right temperature. 

Your baby needs to wear enough clothes to feel warm, but not hot. Dress him in layers. If he becomes too hot you can remove a layer. If he is too cold, simply add one. 

Is he overstimulated? 

Some babies are easily overwhelmed, and can only cope with short bursts of play. Your baby may show you he's had enough stimulation by sneezing, yawning, looking pale or very red, or looking away. He may seem drowsy or start to fuss, cry, or push you away. 

While your baby was born with the ability to self-soothe, he may still find it hard to settle down when he's overwhelmed. When he was curled up in your womb (uterus), he probably found it easy to suck his hands or fingers and soothe himself to sleep. But after he's born it may not be as easy for him to reach them! 

By watching your baby's movements, you can tell if he likes to put his fist, hand or fingers near or into his mouth. You can also try holding him calmly in your arms or over your shoulder. Or put him down in a quiet place with your hand resting gently on his belly. 

You'll learn if he likes to lie in a particular way, or if it helps him to look at something. Once you know what works for him, you can help him to develop his natural self-soothing techniques.

How can I tell what sort of personality my newborn will have?

All babies have their own characteristics. You'll soon be able to tell if your baby has a personality like yours, your partner's or perhaps another relative. He may even develop a personality that's completely unique to him! 

You may find that your baby is relaxed about being handled, and copes well with change. He may manage to self-soothe, not be troubled much by wind, and seem to take things as they come. 

On the other hand, your baby may fuss and cry a lot, startle easily, and find being handled rather overwhelming. In this case, he'll benefit from a calm, gentle approach, and not too much stimulation at any one time. 

Try not to worry if you expected your baby to have a certain personality, but he seems to be the opposite. You'll soon learn to understand each other and what sort of approach he enjoys most.

My baby never seems to stop crying. What should I do?

If you find it difficult to hear your baby cry, you aren't alone. Most parents find it hard. But crying is simply your baby's main means of communicating. Responding to your baby is the best way to help him relax. 

Babies tend to cry more between the ages of three weeks and 12 weeks, usually in the late afternoon or early evening. While this is a normal, developmental phase, most parents worry about this end-of-day crying. But try to see it as a period of letting off steam. One study showed that babies who fussed a lot in the evenings usually slept better afterwards. 

You may find that a good approach is to run through the following basics just once, then pause. So, change your baby's nappy, give him a cuddle and burp him, and check that he's not hungry or in pain. Then put him down for about five minutes. You can attend to him if he's still fussing, but put him down again afterwards. Bear in mind this pattern may go on for quite a while, but some mums find it helpful to follow this routine. 

If your baby cries for more than three hours a day, three days a week for three weeks , then this may be classed as excessive crying. It's often referred to as colic and it can be stressful for you and your partner. Your baby may benefit from gentle, slow handling. And you may find he's more relaxed if you put him down with your hand on his belly, rather than holding him. Talk to your doctor or child health nurse if you feel like your baby is crying too much or if this interferes with his feeding. She may be able to rule out any other causes for the crying.

It can be hard to keep calm when your baby cries. You may find it helpful to get support from friends or family, if possible. But reminding yourself that your newborn's behaviour is normal may help you feel less anxious. Most babies cry less after about three months. 

Source: www.babycenter.com.au

12 Effective Tips On How To Take Care Of Baby In Winter

Why is Baby Care in Winter Essential?Problem Caused by Winter VirusesSymptoms of Winter Infections in BabiesUseful Tips for Infant Care in WinterWhat if Your Newborn Baby Falls Sick in Winter?

Once the sweaty summers are over and the moist monsoons have bid their goodbye, many welcome the winter with a happy smile on their face. The ideal picture for a new mother spending time with her kid in the winter is being snuggled in a blanket, cradling the child in one hand, a warm bowl of soup in the other, and reading a nice book to him. But this dreamy scenario can easily be shattered by the little one falling sick. Newborn baby care in winter is one of the prime responsibilities and your child requires all the help he can get to stay healthy throughout the months.

Why is Baby Care in Winter Essential?

Newborn babies require continued care and support until they reach a point where they can sustain themselves in a better way. But this need for care is increased when winter approaches. The reduced temperature of the atmosphere triggers various processes within the body to keep itself safe and the vital organs functioning well. Most of the energy is then used to maintain the body temperature appropriately, diverting it from other areas. This is where the immunity of the body takes a hit as well. Furthermore, winter is a gala time for different microbes and viruses to thrive and find hosts to infect. Combined with a decreased immunity, your baby becomes an easy target for diseases and increases the chances of the little one falling ill.

Problem Caused by Winter Viruses

Baby skin care in winter is just the tip of the iceberg. One of the key problems that take place in winter is the spread of various viruses that readily affect anyone in a matter of time. This gives rise to the typical winter diseases such as:

Influenza and bronchiolitis, both affecting the throat

Croup as well as rhinovirus, which can easily get quite severe if unattended

A variety of respiratory sensitive viruses, which affect the respiratory tract and can cause anything from a simple cough to severe breathing problems

Symptoms of Winter Infections in Babies

Most of the infections that occur in winter have strong symptoms, which make them easier to be spotted and action being taken right away. The major ones amongst them are:

Severe coughing that results in vomiting

Having trouble in taking breaths, causing the baby to gasp or take tiny breaths

Wheezing sounds while sleeping or even after coughing

Pain in the chest due to inflamed lungs as a result of a respiratory infection

Constantly runny nose, fever, cough, with a headache and fatigue

Useful Tips for Infant Care in Winter

To have a better understanding of how to take care of a baby’s skin in winter and ensure he stays healthy throughout the season, there are a few tips you can remember and put into action in order to keep your child safe.

1. Use a Humidifier

In certain areas, the temperature can plummet quite a bit, making it necessary to use heating systems or portable heaters next to your baby. In such a scenario, the heating apparatus could rob the room of water vapour, making the air dry as well as your child’s skin. Install a humidifier in the room as well so that the moisture levels are maintained optimally.

HUMIDIFIER

2. Use a Moisturizer

Your child’s skin is extremely sensitive and the harsh atmosphere of the winter does not treat it gently. To keep your child’s skin in the soft and lush way as it is, make use of skin creams specifically made for babies or even a nice skin lotion. Opt for those that are rich in milk cream and butter, or make use of actual milk cream as well, since it is a great natural way to maintain the glow and texture of your baby’s skin.

3. Don’t Use a Lot of Products

Tell parents to take care of their baby, and most of them will typically overdo it. Applying lotions and creams is fine. But in the attempt to keep your baby clean and safe for infection, you might give him numerous baths, which further exposes him to soaps and shampoos. These rob the little one’s skin from the existing moisture and make dry skin even worse. Water baths during winters are fine and opt for using soaps once in a week or so.

4. Massage Your Baby Well

No matter what season your baby has been born in, massaging your child is highly recommended by doctors and caretakers alike. The very act of massaging stimulates the blood flow within the body and increases the sense of well-being, which indirectly boosts the immunity within your kid as well. Maintain a warm atmosphere when massaging your baby and choose an appropriate time. Don’t hesitate to use natural oils, too.

5. Don’t Use Heavy Blankets

Laying a nice heavy blanket on your baby to keep him warm might seem the best way to comfort your child in winter. But that isn’t the safest way for your child. The inability of your child to shift the blanket and the chance of it pulling above his face could result in a sudden infant death. Use a light blanket and keep room temperature optimal.

6. Use Comfortable Clothing

Keeping your child constantly wrapped up in thick sweaters, gloves, socks and a cap could restrict him from moving easily and frankly make the entire getup quite irritating. Choose to clothe depending on the room temperature, and opt for clothes that fully cover his body but are not constricting. Gloves and socks are recommended as well since it is enough to make your child sleep peacefully.

COMFORTABLE CLOTHING

7. Maintain a Warm Temperature

Keeping your home and your baby’s room comfortable and warm is quite a challenge in the winters. It is best to keep the windows shut if you are in a place where cold air keeps blowing quite frequently. That being said, make sure there is a way that the air in the room stays ventilated. Use a heater, if required, so that your baby is comfortable by himself.

8. Stick to The Vaccination Schedule

Yes, winter is a time when babies tend to fall sick and their immunity levels are reduced as well. But that isn’t a reason to skip any vaccine for the fear that it might make your baby ill. On the contrary, it is highly important to give him the shot he needs at the right time, so that he doesn’t face problems ahead in life or even during the same winter, too. In case you do end up skipping it by chance, get the next date confirmed from your doctor and go for it without fail.

9. Don’t Stop Breastfeeding

Mother’s milk is known to contain a treasure trove of antibodies and nutrients that help the baby strengthen his own immunity and protect him from the usual diseases. Continuing to breastfeed during winter makes sure that this support from the mother remains undeterred. Furthermore, the warmth of your body and your milk can be quite relaxing for the child as well.

10. Maintaining Your Own Hygiene

You are going to be the first point of contact for your child. Which is why it is absolutely necessary for you to be clean and healthy as a protection for your own baby. Wash your hands and disinfect them with a sanitizer every time you attend to your child. Germs can find the smallest way of reaching your kid, so make sure you stop all paths right away. Inform any visitors or guests to do the same as well.

11. Taking Care Outdoors

Unless is absolutely freezing outdoors, it is fine to step out of the house once in a while to get some fresh air. Make sure your baby is protected from head to toe before taking him out. Any exposure of the skin to the cold wind could make him uncomfortable quickly. Make sure that your baby’s toes are a bit on the cooler side and the tummy is on the warmer side. This is the ideal sign that your baby’s body is at the right temperature.

12. Include Soup in The Diet

If your baby has reached the age where he can start going for solids, winter is a great time to introduce him to the world of soups. The cold atmosphere mixed with a warm soup can be absolutely enticing for anyone. Using chicken broths or vegetables by crushing them down to a fine puree and making soup from it, is the best option for your child. If possible, try including some garlic with the soup too, since it is known to be a natural remedy for treating winter ailments.

What if Your Newborn Baby Falls Sick in Winter?

At times, even taking the best precautions cannot help prevent an illness, and your baby will soon be at discomfort due to it. Having a newborn fall ill is quite an issue and having that in the winter is yet another challenge.

If it is the common flu or cold, use homemade saline solution or nasal drops to help relieve a blocked nose and get your baby to breathe properly. That could itself bring quite some relief.

Make sure your child stays hydrated. Keep breastfeeding him or giving him water separately. If he can drink soups or so, do alternate them appropriately to keep his taste interested and body fluids at a proper level.

Cuddling your baby lovingly and spending time with him is just as necessary along with other precautionary measures. Many times, the presence of safety and comfort can help the body combat the infection by itself. Although, if the signs and symptoms of the infection tend to start worsening, do contact your doctor right away.

Winter is a time of fun and family, but also a time that can bring forth numerous diseases. Knowing the right home remedies for baby skin care in winter along with the necessary precautions to prevent illness should be your first step in spending a safe winter. Stay in touch with your doctor to get a quick suggestion on any health issue. Maintain a proper atmosphere at home that is warm and hygienic, and your baby will enjoy his very first winter in all its glory.

Source: http://parenting.firstcry.com/

How to Take Care of a Newborn (with Pictures)

Taking care of your new born involves care and utmost hygiene, so that your tiny tot does not fall ill.

The most exciting and memorable day of your life was the day you brought your baby home. Even before the baby arrived, you spent all your time decorating the nursery and cleaning the house. And then your cleaning duties quadrupled after the baby arrived. Since the immune systems of infants are not quite developed, they can catch infections faster. There is no alternative but to keep the house as free of germs as possible.

Check out these simple tips for new born baby care:

Wash your hands often. The monsoon season brings with it cooling breezes and a whole lot of germs. The damp atmosphere encourages fungal and bacterial growth all over the house. You might inadvertently carry flu or common cold germs to your baby, so the best thing to do is wash your hands with Dettol antibacterial soap multiple times during the day. Wash your hands before you prepare the baby’s formula, give the baby a bath, handle the sippy cup or teething ring, and even when dressing or changing the baby. Wash all of baby’s things in antibacterial soap or detergent and let them air dry before use.

Keep away if you’re unwell. It is common to catch a cold during this season, and equally easy to pass it on to your baby. It is best to keep away from your baby if you have a fever or a runny nose. If you must handle the baby (for feeding or changing), wear latex gloves and don a clean set of clothes before picking up the child.

Store baby’s diapers in a dry place. All items that are left undisturbed for some period of time will attract mould and fungal growth. These can cause skin irritation for your baby. Always buy sealable diaper packets and keep naphthalene balls or silica gel packets in the diaper drawer to absorb moisture. Keep wipes, talcum powder and a changing flannel in the same drawer, so that you can change the baby quickly.

Disinfecting the house. New born care also includes keeping the house unconditionally clean. Apart from flies and mosquitoes flying in and spreading diseases, your house might attract cockroaches, germs, fungal and bacterial infections. Spraying all plastic, metal and glass surfaces with Dettol Multi-Use Hygiene antibacterial liquid cleaners, mopping the floors with disinfectant soap and using Dettol Multi-Purpose cleaning wipes on spills will keep germs and bacterial infections at bay. Focus your energies on keeping the kitchen, bathroom and wash basin clean and free of germs. Also get your house fumigated to keep flies and other insects away.

Be careful with baby’s clothes. You wash your hands before handling the baby and put several hygiene checks in place to keep your house clean. It is prudent to exercise similar precautions with the baby’s clothes and toys as well. The baby’s clothes should not be washed with the rest of your laundry load. Wash the baby’s clothes and intimates separately with fabric softener and mild anti-bacterial detergent. Air dry all the clothes and accessories, and steam dry any metal or rubber implements or toys. Also, even if your baby wears diapers and there is minimal chance of bedwetting, do change the baby’s bedding every two days to keep germs away.

Most Effective Newborn Baby Care Tips in First 30 Days

Parent-to-parent advice on feeding, soothing, and more during baby's first days at home.

Breastfeeding

It's been six weeks since our daughter, Clementine, was born. She's finally sleeping better and going longer between feedings. She's also becoming more alert when she's awake. My husband and I, on the other hand, feel like we've been hit by a truck. I'm amazed that we've muddled through. Here are tips from seasoned parents and baby experts to make your first month easier.

Hints for Nursing

Babies eat and eat and eat. Although nature has done a pretty good job of providing you and your baby with the right equipment, in the beginning it's almost guaranteed to be harder than you expected. From sore nipples to tough latch-ons, nursing can seem overwhelming.

1. Women who seek help have a higher success rate. "Think of ways to ensure success before you even give birth," suggests Stacey Brosnan, a lactation consultant in New York City. Talk with friends who had a good nursing experience, ask baby's pediatrician for a lactation consultant's number, or attend a La Leche League (nursing support group) meeting (see laleche.org to find one).

2. Use hospital resources. Kira Sexton, a Brooklyn, New York, mom, says, "I learned everything I could about breastfeeding before I left the hospital." Ask if there's a nursing class or a lactation consultant on staff. Push the nurse-call button each time you're ready to feed the baby, and ask a nurse to spot you and offer advice.

3. Prepare. At home, you'll want to drop everything to feed the baby the moment she cries for you. But Heather O'Donnell, a mom in New York City, suggests taking care of yourself first. "Get a glass of water and a book or magazine to read." And, because breastfeeding can take a while, she says, "pee first!"

4. Try a warm compress if your breasts are engorged or you have blocked ducts. A heating pad or a warm, wet washcloth works, but a flax pillow (often sold with natural beauty products) is even better. "Heat it in the microwave, and conform it to your breast," says Laura Kriska, a mom in Brooklyn, New York.

5. Heat helps the milk flow, but if your breasts are sore after nursing, try a cold pack. Amy Hooker, a San Diego mom, says, "A bag of frozen peas worked really well for me."

6. If you want baby to eventually take a bottle, introduce it after breastfeeding is established but before the 3-month mark. Many experts say 6 to 8 weeks is good, but "we started each of our kids on one bottle a day at 3 weeks," says Jill Sizemore, a mom in Pendleton, Indiana.

Sleeping

If your infant isn't eating, he's probably sleeping. Newborns log as many as 16 hours of sleep a day but only in short bursts. The result: You'll feel on constant alert and more exhausted than you ever thought possible. Even the best of us can come to resent the severe sleep deprivation.

7. Stop obsessing about being tired. There's only one goal right now: Care for your baby. "You're not going to get a full night's sleep, so you can either be tired and angry or just tired," says Vicki Lansky, author of Getting Your Child to Sleep...and Back to Sleep (Book Peddlers). "Just tired is easier."

8. Take shifts. One night it's Mom's turn to rock the cranky baby, the next it's Dad's turn. Amy Reichardt and her husband, Richard, parents in Denver, worked out a system for the weekends, when Richard was off from work. "I'd be up with the baby at night but got to sleep in. Richard did all the morning care, then got to nap later."

9. The old adage "Sleep when your baby sleeps" really is the best advice. "Take naps together and go to bed early," says Sarah Clark, a mom in Washington, D.C.

10. What if your infant has trouble sleeping? Do whatever it takes: Nurse or rock baby to sleep; let your newborn fall asleep on your chest or in the car seat. "Don't worry about bad habits yet. It's about survival -- yours!" says Jean Farnham, a Los Angeles mom.

Soothing

It's often hard to decipher exactly what baby wants in the first murky weeks. You'll learn, of course, by trial and error.

11. "The key to soothing fussy infants is to mimic the womb. Swaddling, shushing, and swinging, as well as allowing babies to suck and holding them on their sides, may trigger a calming reflex," says Harvey Karp, MD, creator of The Happiest Baby on the Block books, videos, and DVDs.

12. Play tunes. Forget the dubious theory that music makes a baby smarter, and concentrate on the fact that it's likely to calm him. "The Baby Einstein tapes saved us," says Kim Rich, a mom in Anchorage, Alaska.

13. Warm things up. Alexandra Komisaruk, a mom in Los Angeles, found that diaper changes triggered a meltdown. "I made warm wipes using paper towels and a pumpable thermos of warm water," she says. You can also buy an electric wipe warmer for a sensitive baby.

14. You'll need other tricks, too. "Doing deep knee bends and lunges while holding my daughter calmed her down," says Emily Earle, a mom in Brooklyn, New York. "And the upside was, I got my legs back in shape!"

15. Soak to soothe. If all else fails -- and baby's umbilical cord stub has fallen off -- try a warm bath together. "You'll relax, too, and a relaxed mommy can calm a baby," says Emily Franklin, a Boston mom.

Getting Dad Involved

Your husband, who helped you through your pregnancy, may seem at a loss now that baby's here. It's up to you, Mom, to hand the baby over and let Dad figure things out, just like you're doing.

16. Let him be. Many first-time dads hesitate to get involved for fear of doing something wrong and incurring the wrath of Mom. "Moms need to allow their husbands to make mistakes without criticizing them," says Armin Brott, author of The New Father: A Dad's Guide to the First Year (Abbeville Press).

17. Ask Dad to take time off from work -- after all the relatives leave. That's what Thad Calabrese, of Brooklyn, New York, did. "There was more for me to do, and I got some alone time with my son."

18. Divvy up duties. Mark DiStefano, a dad in Los Angeles, took over the cleaning and grocery shopping. "I also took Ben for a bit each afternoon so my wife could have a little time to herself."

19. Remember that Dad wants to do some fun stuff, too. "I used to take my shirt off and put the baby on my chest while we napped," say Bob Vonnegut, a dad in Islamorada, Florida. "I loved the rhythm of our hearts beating together."

Staying Sane

No matter how excited you are to be a mommy, the constant care an infant demands can drain you. Find ways to take care of yourself by lowering your expectations and stealing short breaks.

20. First, ignore unwanted or confusing advice. "In the end, you're the parents, so you decide what's best," says Julie Balis, a mom in Frankfort, Illinois.

21. "Forget about housework for the first couple of months," says Alison Mackonochie, author of 100 Tips for a Happy Baby (Barron's). "Concentrate on getting to know your baby. If anyone has anything to say about the dust piling up or the unwashed dishes, smile and hand them a duster or the dish detergent!"

22. Accept help from anyone who is nice -- or naive -- enough to offer. "If a neighbor wants to hold the baby while you shower, say yes!" says Jeanne Anzalone, a mom in Croton-on-Hudson, New York.

23. Got lots of people who want to help but don't know how? "Don't be afraid to tell people exactly what you need," says Abby Moskowitz, a Brooklyn mom. It's one of the few times in your life when you'll be able to order everyone around!

24. But don't give other people the small jobs. "Changing a diaper takes two minutes. You'll need others to do time-consuming work like cooking, sweeping floors, and buying diapers," says Catherine Park, a Cleveland mom.

25. Reconnect. To keep yourself from feeling detached from the world, Jacqueline Kelly, a mom in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, suggests: "Get outside on your own, even for five minutes."

Out and About with Baby

26. Enlist backup. Make your first journey to a big, public place with a veteran mom. "Having my sister with me for support kept me from becoming flustered the first time I went shopping with my newborn," says Suzanne Zook, a mom in Denver.

27. If you're on your own, "stick to places likely to welcome a baby, such as story hour at a library or bookstore," suggests Christin Gauss, a mom in Fishers, Indiana.

28. "Keep your diaper bag packed," says Fran Bowen, a mom in Brooklyn. There's nothing worse than finally getting the baby ready, only to find that you're not.

29. Stash a spare. Holland Brown, a mom in Long Beach, California, always keeps a change of adult clothes in her diaper bag. "You don't want to get stuck walking around with an adorable baby but mustard-colored poop all over you."

30. Finally, embrace the chaos. "Keep your plans simple and be prepared to abandon them at any time," says Margi Weeks, a mom in Tarrytown, New York.

If nothing else, remember that everyone makes it through, and so will you. Soon enough you'll be rewarded with your baby's first smile, and that will help make up for all the initial craziness.

Source: https://www.parents.com/baby/care/newborn/your-newborn-30-tips-for-the-first-30-days/

Becoming a Parent: A Dad’s Perspective

It’s probably fair to say that up until the birth, the mother of the baby plays a leading role, but a Dad’s perspective is equally as important. Becoming a parent is massive change of life for both Mum and Dad. It’s no secret that Mum and Baby are the priority, so it’s not unusual for the father to feel a little side-lined. After the birth, the baby takes the lead, with Mumma following in a close second.

We spoke to father of five, Leon McGaw, about ways to avoid being that third wheel, how you can help with all aspects of parenthood. He gives some great tips on how to help your partner, and equally important, how to bond with your baby.

On Being the Third Wheel

This feeling of being on the outer is real, as Leon explains. “The third wheel thing is real for us Dads, it occurs right through pregnancy when the Mum has this unbelievable miracle of a human life growing inside them. We, the Dads/partners, have to wait about six months to feel the tiniest of kicks. Sure we know what’s happening but it’s really difficult for us to get too excited until the birth.”

Once the baby is born, Leon explains that you need to try and make up for time your partner has had to bond as the baby grows inside her.  “Finally you get some time alone with this new perfect little person you helped create and for that hour or so, after the birth, it’s like the nine months of bonding all at once. But she [the baby] is not just yours and now Mum is back and it’s your time to take a back seat again, especially if she is breastfeeding.”

On Breastfeeding

There are lots of ways that Dads can help with feeding; while Mum’s the only one that can can feed, she’ll need plenty of support and Leon shares some of the ways you can help. “Get up with her for the middle of the night for feeds, even if it’s just to make her a cup of tea, tell her that the breastfeeding is going well and the baby is putting on weight and let her sleep her one hour between feeds, and basically step up.”

On Stepping Up

To be truly able to understand the ins and outs of caring for a baby you have to roll up your sleeves and get involved. Here are a few more no-nonsense hints from Leon.

“Clean the house, cook dinner and do the washing. Step up and do everything that she normally does, plus extra because you now have another person in the house that takes up so much time for someone so small. And you do this for as long as you can,  when you go back to work keep doing it before and after work. And do it because you get that break to be with grown-ups again. And then it gets easier. At around the four or five-month mark your little creation starts to wake up, she starts sleeping a little more, she starts trying food, she has a personality and most of all she starts playing and that’s when us Dads start to bond again.”

On Bonding With Your Baby

If you can establish a strong bond early on you’ll feel like you’re an equal part of it all, rather than a bit part. You may not be able to feed, but you can burp the baby, change their nappy and resettle them to sleep. These are all as equally as important.

Leon is a passionate father and has a final word of advice for new Dads. “Steal all the minutes you can to bond with your kids (and never stop doing it) be as supportive a partner as you can and love every minute of it in the knowledge that it is the hardest yet most rewarding job in the world, to be a father.”

Source: https://newbornbaby.com.au

My Baby is Frequently Breastfeeding – Is this normal????

In the first few days after birth it is very common for a baby to be frequently breastfeeding, probably around 12 or more times per 24 hours! Yes you heard that right! Your baby is not feeding ferociously often because there is not enough milk, your baby is doing this because this is what nature intends for all human babies to do!

Babies are designed to drink very small amounts very frequently in the first 1-2 days. Most babies only drink about a teaspoon (5-7ml) of colostrum at each feed:

Day one; which is just perfect as their tummy is about the size of a cherry and holds about 7mls at each feed on day one! Perfectly designed!

Day two; you start to make a little bit more colostrum at each feed and this gradual increase in milk each day stretches bub’s tummy allowing them to drink more. Colostrum is a sugary delicious drink but it is not jam packed with fat at this stage, which means baby needs to keep feeding very often to stay full up.

Day 3 on-wards as your milk increases in volume, you will notice your baby starts to have longer sleep periods of around 1.5-3 hours mostly.

The other important reason why babies feed so frequently is for your breasts. The breasts need to have frequent and regular stimulation where the baby removes milk from the breast.

Each time baby feeds it sends signals for the breast to make more milk for the next feed. The milk making cells increase how much milk they can make over the first 2-4 weeks. In that first month your breasts will make a total 24 hour volume of milk which your baby will drink each day for the next 6 months. That’s right, from month 1 to month 6 of age a baby drinks about the same volume every day, yet still gains weight. Babies actually double their weight in the first 6 months all while drinking about 800ml of breast milk every day!

1st Month

During the first month babies need to breastfeed on average 8-12 times every 24 hours to ensure they are getting enough milk and that you stimulate the breast enough to keep building your milk supply.

This is why it is important that if a baby is not yet able to breastfeed well in the first few weeks that a mum expresses her milk as well to keep the signals going to her breasts to increase the milk volume. For example, if her baby is only able to have 3 breastfeeds per day she would express about 5-6 times to keep her milk supply increasing.  Once baby is breastfeeding fully, she no longer needs to keep expressing.

Please Note: It is always important to discuss this with your midwife, maternal child health nurse or lactation consultant if your baby is not able to breastfeed well.  Also if you find that your milk supply is not increasing by day 3-4 after birth then you may be advised to express on top of doing breastfeeds, but again this will be a plan discussed with you and your breastfeeding support person.

Once you have established a good milk supply, in the first month you may find that your baby changes their feeding pattern again. Many mums report this happens around 6-8 weeks after birth.

After the first month, research has shown us that babies will breastfeed anywhere from 4-13 times every 24 hours.

Each mum and baby’s breastfeeding pattern is different and this is perfectly normal. It is just down to the levels of fat in your milk (fat levels change throughout the day) and the amount of milk your breast can hold at each feed. So do not compare yourself with another mum and baby’s feeding pattern, as it will most likely be completely different from yours.

Trying to force your baby into a strict routines often brings with it tears and stress for both mum and bub!

There are of course some mums and bubs who thrive on strict routines, but these are probably the babies who would’ve gotten themselves into a 4 hourly feeding pattern anyway.

Many mums say the first 6-8 weeks really are the hardest and that it all feels much easier after this point.

In the first few weeks not only is your baby learning how to feed and settle in this new outside world, your breasts are learning how to feed, make milk and send the right signals, and you are learning how to settle into your new role as a mum. All of this takes time. Do not try to do everything at once.

Just focus on what you can do right now:

1. feed baby
2. establish milk supply
3. cuddle and fall more in love with baby
4. rest.

Forget about what you can’t do right now. In a few months you will be able to do it all, but this new phase is a big learning curve for most of us. Give yourself a break and remember that feeding a baby for 40-60mins every 1-3 hours is more than a full time job…and that’s just the feeding. This will get easier in time, go with the flow and trust your instincts.

Source: newbornbaby.com.au

Newborn baby care rainy season as per Doctors Suggestion

The monsoon season provides some cool relief after a hot summer. But the rains also bring flooded roads, mosquitoes and often, water-borne diseases. 

To help you care for your baby in monsoon, we've put together some useful information to keep her cool and comfortable through the hot and humid months. 

How often should I bathe my baby during the monsoon?

Newborns don't move around much so a bath two to three times a week is considered good enough to keep them clean. But a bath is a good way of helping your baby cool down when it is very hot or humid. So whether you have a newborn or a crawling baby, if it suits your schedule, you can plan to give your little one a bath at the hottest time of the day. Don't use cold water, it might upset your baby. The temperature of the water should be comfortable to your skin when you dip the tip of your elbow into it.

If you notice that your baby's skin is dry or has a rash, don't give her a bath every day, unless she is dirty and needs it. When you do bathe her, keep baths as short as possible.

Should I use oil for my baby’s massage in the monsoon?

There's no harm using oil for your baby's massage when the weather is hot and humid, as long as you use an oil that is suitable for your baby's sensitive skin. 

Some experts however say that residual oil from a massage can trap sweat or block pores making a heat rash more likely. Although there is not much evidence to prove or disprove this, to be on the safe side, ensure you wash the massage oil off your baby well during her bath. 

What kind of clothes are best for my baby in monsoon?

During the monsoon, the weather can change a lot in a day. It could start out hot and humid and then get cool after some rain. To deal with these sudden and sometimes significant temperature changes, it is best to dress your baby in layers. Have a light cotton cardigan or a light cotton blanket handy that you can pop on your baby if suddenly the temperatures drop or remove if the sun shines bright and makes the day hot again. 

Choose light coloured clothes that cover your baby's arms and legs to protect her from mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colours and can bite at night or during the day. 

As a general rule of thumb, your baby will need one more layer of clothing than you. Observe your baby if in doubt. If you see her sweating, remove a layer of clothing or switch on the fan, cooler or AC. If on the other hand she seems uncomfortable and her tummy is cold to your touch, add on a layer. 

When shopping for your baby's clothes, keep in mind that they take longer to dry in the humid months when you wash them. So you might need an extra set of change or two than what you usually use in summer or winter. 

How do I make food and water safe for my baby during the monsoon?

The incidence of water-borne diseases usually goes up in the monsoon because it is common for sewers to flood and sometimes get mixed with the supply of clean water. Most water filters make water safe enough to drink. If you have a power cut and cannot get water from your filter, boil ordinary tap water and keep it at a rolling boil for three minutes to make it safe to drink. Once it is cooled, you can serve it to your baby. 

If you are exclusively breastfeeding your baby, you don't need to give her additional water in hot and humid weather, even if you feel that she sweats a lot. Just feed her as often as she asks for it to keep her well hydrated. You might notice that your baby asks for milk more often and feeds for less time at a go in the heat. This is because she is taking in more of the water-rich foremilk and less of the thick hindmilk. 

If your baby is on formula milk, or has started solid foods, you will need to give her water in between feeds or meals to keep her hydrated. Keep a sippy cup or glass of water handy at all times so that you can reach for it often. Even if your baby just has a sip at a time, it's enough. Offer fluids often and let her be your guide of how much water she needs. 

In humid weather, it is common for mould to get into your bottle steriliser or the teats of your bottle or sippy cup. Ensure you get rid of the mould well before using them again for your baby. 

Food can get spoilt faster in humid weather, so ensure the food is still good to eat before serving it to your baby. Power cuts are also common. If your fridge has been without power for a few hours, you will need to check the food carefully before giving it to your baby. Look for signs that the food has gone bad. These can include:

• a foul smell
• a change in colour or texture
• signs of fungus growing on the food
• an acid or fermented taste

Source: www.babycenter.in