Top Tips to Help Your Baby Sleep Better
* A bedtime routine
* Put baby in bed while awake
* Rock your baby's bed
* A lot of eating in the evening
* Stuffed animal or blanket that smells MOM
* A light cotton cloth over the eyes
* Slowly shorten nighttime feeding length
* Introduce a pacifier
* A sleep bag
* GET DAD INVOLVED!
1. A bedtime routine
This may seem as a laugh when your child is newborn. And it is. But at around two months according to my experience, it is possible to get into a routine that makes your baby want to goto sleep at around the same time every night.
Depending on how much time you want to allocate to this, you could give your baby a bath and a massage or both before putting him to bed. Or you can sing lullaby or read a story.
With three kids to put to bed, my routine for our baby was merely to wash him (no bath), put on a new diaper and a pyjamas, put the lights out and put him to bed with his stuffed animal and pacifier. I swaddled his lower body and one arm untli he was a few months old. I might have to go in and give him his pacifier a few times before he falls asleep, but that I can handle while helping my other kids to get ready for bed.
You need to introduce a morning routine too, getting up at about the same time every day, to make this work smoothly.
Do you think your baby wakes up too early in the morning? Here's some advice.
Other than having some free time in the evening, there is another great advantage with having your child falling asleep in his bed - he will not become terrified waking up in the middle ofthe night! If your baby always falls asleep in your arms, he will start believing that this is his bed, everything else must be terribly wrong.
Would you go back to sleep if you found yourself on the floor instead of in your bed waking up in the middle of the night? Probably not. The same thing goes for a baby.
Showing posts with label tips for babies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tips for babies. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Travel Advices (Babies and Toddlers)
Travel Tips:
This travel advice was collected from the list. It's about travel with a variety of different aged babies and toddlers. There are tips for flying, driving, and camping. In each tip, the person speaking is the person who originally posted it. The speaker changes from tip to tip. The tips are listed in random order.
* I've rented car seats from car rental places and from rental places that rent baby equipment such as cribs, strollers, etc. Both are very easy to do but in my experience the baby rental places had better car seats. Another mom on the list also said that the car seat they rented from the car rental place this week is a really cheap one and she's not thrilled with it.
* My baby has been on 11 plane rides in 14 months. Small, interesting toys also get dropped a lot so keep that in mind. I've had better luck with interactive books such as the Touch and Feel books. At this age, I bet crayons or Baby Magna Doodle would be very good too. But honestly my baby's favorite in-flight entertainments are looking at the safety information card, flipping pages and eventually ripping apart the in-flight magazine, playing with his seat belt, the window screen thingy, the plane phone on the seat in front of him and to look between the seats at the people behind us.
* Bring a backpack diaper bag if you have one to have your hands free.
* On international flights, for some weird reason, you may NOT get your stroller at the door of the plane when you get off, even if you brought it to the door of the plane when you got on. It will be where the of the luggage comes, and you might have to wait for it. Stupid. So if you are travelling alone (which I don't think you are) be prepared to carry both baby and diaper/stuff bag for quite a distance... I couldn't, luckily someone helped me. In that case you might want to travel light. BUT it is great not to have to, to have plenty of 'stuff'; change of clothes (or two) for baby, change for you, toys, food, blanket, sweater, WATER for you (I didn't have this), cup for baby (bowl/spoon if you want), maybe snacks (there is usually enough food but I often crave fresh food, i.e. fruit when travelling). Depending on your comfort level you might want to bring a blanket big enough to cover yourself when nursing (mine wasn't really big enough and also my baby kept pulling it off). Easy change outfits for baby and easy nurse outfit for you of course.... Tylenol in case he has trouble with his ears when landing/ taking off. (I don't think my baby did, maybe only once).
This travel advice was collected from the list. It's about travel with a variety of different aged babies and toddlers. There are tips for flying, driving, and camping. In each tip, the person speaking is the person who originally posted it. The speaker changes from tip to tip. The tips are listed in random order.
* I've rented car seats from car rental places and from rental places that rent baby equipment such as cribs, strollers, etc. Both are very easy to do but in my experience the baby rental places had better car seats. Another mom on the list also said that the car seat they rented from the car rental place this week is a really cheap one and she's not thrilled with it.
* My baby has been on 11 plane rides in 14 months. Small, interesting toys also get dropped a lot so keep that in mind. I've had better luck with interactive books such as the Touch and Feel books. At this age, I bet crayons or Baby Magna Doodle would be very good too. But honestly my baby's favorite in-flight entertainments are looking at the safety information card, flipping pages and eventually ripping apart the in-flight magazine, playing with his seat belt, the window screen thingy, the plane phone on the seat in front of him and to look between the seats at the people behind us.
* Bring a backpack diaper bag if you have one to have your hands free.
* On international flights, for some weird reason, you may NOT get your stroller at the door of the plane when you get off, even if you brought it to the door of the plane when you got on. It will be where the of the luggage comes, and you might have to wait for it. Stupid. So if you are travelling alone (which I don't think you are) be prepared to carry both baby and diaper/stuff bag for quite a distance... I couldn't, luckily someone helped me. In that case you might want to travel light. BUT it is great not to have to, to have plenty of 'stuff'; change of clothes (or two) for baby, change for you, toys, food, blanket, sweater, WATER for you (I didn't have this), cup for baby (bowl/spoon if you want), maybe snacks (there is usually enough food but I often crave fresh food, i.e. fruit when travelling). Depending on your comfort level you might want to bring a blanket big enough to cover yourself when nursing (mine wasn't really big enough and also my baby kept pulling it off). Easy change outfits for baby and easy nurse outfit for you of course.... Tylenol in case he has trouble with his ears when landing/ taking off. (I don't think my baby did, maybe only once).
How to Calm a Baby (Tips)
Checklist of what makes babies cry, and how to fix it:
* Baby is wet -- change diaper.
* Baby is hungry -- feed baby.
* Baby is hungry, but is too upset to nurse.
1. Something else is wrong. Fix that first, then try nursing again.
2. Put your small index finger in the baby's mouth, palm side up. Make sure your nail is trimmed short. It helps to wet the finger first. Rub the tip of your finger in the hollow in the top of the baby's mouth and your finger against baby's upper and lower lip. Once baby is calm, transfer to a real nipple. This is also a great way to temporarily placate a baby when food isn't available.
3. While you are trying to get the baby to latch on, put the palm of your hand on the baby's cheek.
4. While you are trying to get the baby to latch on, blow gently on the baby's face. This works really well on Hal -- he gets upset and hot and red from crying, and the hot face seems to keep him upset. He cools down when you blow gently on his face, and calms down enough to latch.
5. Let the baby grip the fingers of one hand (one of your fingers per baby hand). Your hands can't be wet or cold or this won't work.
* Baby is cold (or part of baby is cold) -- blanket, hold next to your skin.
* Baby is hot - cool off room.
* Baby's folds are itchy (red, irritated) -- wash them out.
* Baby's clothes are itchy/uncomfortable -- change the clothes.
* Baby is damp and clammy -- baby powder (Hal's big on this one).
* Baby is tired -- hold next to skin, and rock, sing to sleep. Or nurse to sleep. Or hold baby so that her head is on your throat and hum softly. Going "hmmmmm" for a few seconds with every breath works best for us, but some people can count slowly (works better if your voice is deep) or do other rhythmic voice things.
* Baby is wet -- change diaper.
* Baby is hungry -- feed baby.
* Baby is hungry, but is too upset to nurse.
1. Something else is wrong. Fix that first, then try nursing again.
2. Put your small index finger in the baby's mouth, palm side up. Make sure your nail is trimmed short. It helps to wet the finger first. Rub the tip of your finger in the hollow in the top of the baby's mouth and your finger against baby's upper and lower lip. Once baby is calm, transfer to a real nipple. This is also a great way to temporarily placate a baby when food isn't available.
3. While you are trying to get the baby to latch on, put the palm of your hand on the baby's cheek.
4. While you are trying to get the baby to latch on, blow gently on the baby's face. This works really well on Hal -- he gets upset and hot and red from crying, and the hot face seems to keep him upset. He cools down when you blow gently on his face, and calms down enough to latch.
5. Let the baby grip the fingers of one hand (one of your fingers per baby hand). Your hands can't be wet or cold or this won't work.
* Baby is cold (or part of baby is cold) -- blanket, hold next to your skin.
* Baby is hot - cool off room.
* Baby's folds are itchy (red, irritated) -- wash them out.
* Baby's clothes are itchy/uncomfortable -- change the clothes.
* Baby is damp and clammy -- baby powder (Hal's big on this one).
* Baby is tired -- hold next to skin, and rock, sing to sleep. Or nurse to sleep. Or hold baby so that her head is on your throat and hum softly. Going "hmmmmm" for a few seconds with every breath works best for us, but some people can count slowly (works better if your voice is deep) or do other rhythmic voice things.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Infant bathing tips
A newborn baby requires a special way of bathing especially if they still have the umbilical cord, a few simple steps is all you need to know to propery bathe a newborn.
As a new parent it can sometimes be intimidating to give your baby his or her first bath. If the baby still has the umbilical cord attached there are some steps that should be taken in order to care for the delicate cord.
Your newborn's first few baths will take place without being submerged in water. This is important so as not to get the belly button area where the umbilical cord is still attached wet. To prevent infection from taking place it is recommended that you clean the surface area around the cord with an alcohol soaked swab. This helps dry up the base of the cord and clean the surrounding area.
Until the cord is gone, usually about two weeks, you must give the baby a bath using a soft washcloth and a mild baby soap. It is important to make sure you get in all the little cracks, folds, and wrinkles where it is common to find the most residue. Under the neck is most likely the dirtiest area and should be payed close attention to.
After the initial two weeks are over and the umbilical cord has fallen off it is time to give baby a bath submerged in water. Some people find that using their sink works fine but for the sake of safety a baby bathtub with a rubber backing is recommended. First test your water temperature for a luke warm feel. Remember baby's skin is much more delicate than an adults so it will feel a bit cooler than you would anticipate. Fill the baby tub with water and baby soap. It does not need to be full, just enough to cover the bottom of baby so you can wash with a cloth. Be careful with your newborn as you will soon find out how slippery he or she can be.
After the washing is done and you have washed the head and hair being very careful to avoid the soft spot, have a towel ready to wrap the newborn in. It is best to have a helper at this point. You can gently pat the baby dry with the towel. This is a good time to apply a baby lotion and or powder. This prevents chapped and dry skin as well as making your baby smell clean and fresh.
Once these steps are mastered, before you know it the time will come when baby can take a bath with you or sit nicely in a tub ring. Remember, it is not important to bathe your newborn everyday, they are not that dirty and it risks giving them dry skin. Before long you will wonder why you were ever intimidated with bathing your baby.
As a new parent it can sometimes be intimidating to give your baby his or her first bath. If the baby still has the umbilical cord attached there are some steps that should be taken in order to care for the delicate cord.
Your newborn's first few baths will take place without being submerged in water. This is important so as not to get the belly button area where the umbilical cord is still attached wet. To prevent infection from taking place it is recommended that you clean the surface area around the cord with an alcohol soaked swab. This helps dry up the base of the cord and clean the surrounding area.
Until the cord is gone, usually about two weeks, you must give the baby a bath using a soft washcloth and a mild baby soap. It is important to make sure you get in all the little cracks, folds, and wrinkles where it is common to find the most residue. Under the neck is most likely the dirtiest area and should be payed close attention to.
After the initial two weeks are over and the umbilical cord has fallen off it is time to give baby a bath submerged in water. Some people find that using their sink works fine but for the sake of safety a baby bathtub with a rubber backing is recommended. First test your water temperature for a luke warm feel. Remember baby's skin is much more delicate than an adults so it will feel a bit cooler than you would anticipate. Fill the baby tub with water and baby soap. It does not need to be full, just enough to cover the bottom of baby so you can wash with a cloth. Be careful with your newborn as you will soon find out how slippery he or she can be.
After the washing is done and you have washed the head and hair being very careful to avoid the soft spot, have a towel ready to wrap the newborn in. It is best to have a helper at this point. You can gently pat the baby dry with the towel. This is a good time to apply a baby lotion and or powder. This prevents chapped and dry skin as well as making your baby smell clean and fresh.
Once these steps are mastered, before you know it the time will come when baby can take a bath with you or sit nicely in a tub ring. Remember, it is not important to bathe your newborn everyday, they are not that dirty and it risks giving them dry skin. Before long you will wonder why you were ever intimidated with bathing your baby.
How to prepare for bringing home a second baby
You are now becoming a mom for the second time, this might be a little scary because you are now remembering the lack of sleep. Plus you have an older child to take care of too. How do you prepare you , your husband and the first child for the newborn? Your family life will change considerably in the gap between the first and second child and the sooner you recognize that fact the easier it is for you.
More Responsibilities
With two kids comes more responsibilities, especially if the first child is still very young. Managing two children can be a rigorous task no matter how good you are with kids. Dealing with a second child is generally more demanding that dealing with your first, because with the first it was just want child. Your attention, time, energy were only focus on one person, now it is two.
So make sure you are ready for fluctuating eating and sleeping routines at least for the first eight weeks after your babys birth.
Taking care of "you"
You need all your energy, because after giving birth you become exhausted, especially if you have had a cesarean delivery or a traumatic childbirth. If in th efirst few weeks when you are at home, during the day try to get the baby on a schedule to take naps. Take naps with the baby, and if the second child is there too consider making that child take naps as well. There are nap times when you will be up, so during that time do your little chores, and also relax and take care of yourself.
Dealing with First Child
The arrival of a new baby is a big change for the first chil, which might deals the child experiencing plethora of emotions during this time. You have to pay close attention to the first child expecially if he/she is still young, look out for changes , such as withdrawal, not wanting to potty train or the child might start sucking his/her thumb. You now have to share your attention and assure the first child that mommy loves him/her.
Daddy also need to play an important role and share the responsibilities with mommy to care for both children. When mommy is tending to newborn , daddy is tending to first born and vica versa
When the first born is a little older there tends to be more trouble, as he/she is an attention seeker. Prepare yourself for intense sessions of mischief, unusual tantrums. You prevent this behavior talk to the child before the birth of his sibling. Also let the child help with the newborn, this help to create a sense of "belonging". Let the first child play and hold the baby , spend time with him/her, cuddle and in general fall in love with the little one. All this will help him/her get used to the new member in the family.
at 7:39 AM 0 comments
Labels: Babies and motherhood
Reactions:
How To Bathe Your Newborn Baby
When you give birth to your baby, the job of becoming a mom begins. Some newbie mothers are extremely scared to bathe their babies at first, as the task is not that easy. It takes skills and patience, but eventually it comes naturally.
Below are few steps to help you to give your baby a perfect warm and relaxing bathe.
Arrange all items
Arrange all the accessories, such as towel, wash cloth, changing mat, diapers, clean clothes, bath sponge, for the bath.
Right temperature
Determining the temperature of the water is very important, it cannot be too cold or too hot it has to be "just right". To make sure the temperature of the water is warm enough for the baby, you need to fill the tub with cold water, and then mix with hot water.
To test the water dip your elbow in the water, as the elbow-skin is quite sensitive.
Prepare baby
Undress the baby and wrap baby in a soft towel, then place baby bath sponge (this is one of the safe way to bathe the baby, so he/she does not slip from your hand). Try the bath sponge until you are comfortable enough to hold the baby in your hands.
Bathing Baby
Start running water with your hand gently over the baby’s head. In the first few weeks try to avoid shampooing the baby hair, as the chemical of shampoo might damage the baby scalp.
If have place the baby on the bath sponge just continue to put the water over the baby's body. The sponge will absorb the water, so do worry about any mess.
If you are not using a bath sponge, then lower the baby with care into the water by putting his/her neck in your elbows crook and your hand while holding one of his/her legs back.
Next continue scooping up water with you hand and sprinkle it on your baby's body. Do not run the baby's body as this is not necessary at this age, as newborn baby does not accumulate that much dirt.
Try to avoid long bathe as the baby might catch a cold. Pat and dry the baby with a clean cotton towel, then lotion baby with baby oil mix with lotion. Next dress your baby in comfortable clothing.
More Responsibilities
With two kids comes more responsibilities, especially if the first child is still very young. Managing two children can be a rigorous task no matter how good you are with kids. Dealing with a second child is generally more demanding that dealing with your first, because with the first it was just want child. Your attention, time, energy were only focus on one person, now it is two.
So make sure you are ready for fluctuating eating and sleeping routines at least for the first eight weeks after your babys birth.
Taking care of "you"
You need all your energy, because after giving birth you become exhausted, especially if you have had a cesarean delivery or a traumatic childbirth. If in th efirst few weeks when you are at home, during the day try to get the baby on a schedule to take naps. Take naps with the baby, and if the second child is there too consider making that child take naps as well. There are nap times when you will be up, so during that time do your little chores, and also relax and take care of yourself.
Dealing with First Child
The arrival of a new baby is a big change for the first chil, which might deals the child experiencing plethora of emotions during this time. You have to pay close attention to the first child expecially if he/she is still young, look out for changes , such as withdrawal, not wanting to potty train or the child might start sucking his/her thumb. You now have to share your attention and assure the first child that mommy loves him/her.
Daddy also need to play an important role and share the responsibilities with mommy to care for both children. When mommy is tending to newborn , daddy is tending to first born and vica versa
When the first born is a little older there tends to be more trouble, as he/she is an attention seeker. Prepare yourself for intense sessions of mischief, unusual tantrums. You prevent this behavior talk to the child before the birth of his sibling. Also let the child help with the newborn, this help to create a sense of "belonging". Let the first child play and hold the baby , spend time with him/her, cuddle and in general fall in love with the little one. All this will help him/her get used to the new member in the family.
at 7:39 AM 0 comments
Labels: Babies and motherhood
Reactions:
How To Bathe Your Newborn Baby
When you give birth to your baby, the job of becoming a mom begins. Some newbie mothers are extremely scared to bathe their babies at first, as the task is not that easy. It takes skills and patience, but eventually it comes naturally.
Below are few steps to help you to give your baby a perfect warm and relaxing bathe.
Arrange all items
Arrange all the accessories, such as towel, wash cloth, changing mat, diapers, clean clothes, bath sponge, for the bath.
Right temperature
Determining the temperature of the water is very important, it cannot be too cold or too hot it has to be "just right". To make sure the temperature of the water is warm enough for the baby, you need to fill the tub with cold water, and then mix with hot water.
To test the water dip your elbow in the water, as the elbow-skin is quite sensitive.
Prepare baby
Undress the baby and wrap baby in a soft towel, then place baby bath sponge (this is one of the safe way to bathe the baby, so he/she does not slip from your hand). Try the bath sponge until you are comfortable enough to hold the baby in your hands.
Bathing Baby
Start running water with your hand gently over the baby’s head. In the first few weeks try to avoid shampooing the baby hair, as the chemical of shampoo might damage the baby scalp.
If have place the baby on the bath sponge just continue to put the water over the baby's body. The sponge will absorb the water, so do worry about any mess.
If you are not using a bath sponge, then lower the baby with care into the water by putting his/her neck in your elbows crook and your hand while holding one of his/her legs back.
Next continue scooping up water with you hand and sprinkle it on your baby's body. Do not run the baby's body as this is not necessary at this age, as newborn baby does not accumulate that much dirt.
Try to avoid long bathe as the baby might catch a cold. Pat and dry the baby with a clean cotton towel, then lotion baby with baby oil mix with lotion. Next dress your baby in comfortable clothing.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
12 Most Creative Nursery Themes For a Boy, a Girl, Or Twins
There are many great reasons for creating a gender-neutral nursery for your new baby. Whether it is because you're waiting to find out your baby's gender, you want a theme that can suit whatever other children come along, you're having twins, or if you're just not into the "baby boy" or "baby girl" themes, here are some great ways to create fun nurseries that work perfectly for a boy, or a girl.
Stripes
Striped nurseries are very modern and can be suited with a great selection of colors to welcome a little boy or a little girl. Some great color themes include turquoise, brown and white; white, red, and taupe, or yellow, grey, and white.
Jungle
A jungle themed nursery is very fun to create. Think rainforest! Bright colors, trees, and exotic animals like toucans, monkeys, and tigers. Whether you buy pictures for the walls, or paint the animals directly onto the walls, it is sure to be quite the sight.
Black and White
Simple and stunning, black and white nurseries are very easy to create. Whether you use stripes, patchwork, or just a combination of black furniture and white furniture, your black and white nursery will be beautiful.
Teddy Bears
So classic, and traditional, a nursery filled with welcoming teddy bears is perfect for any baby. You can include teddy bear pictures, teddy bear blankets, and an array of bears that are small and large placed throughout the room.
Stars
Creating a star-themed nursery can be very versatile. Whether you choose to go for the modern-looking 3-D tin stars, classic yellow stars, or white stars, you can find star-shaped lighting, star-studded bedding, and great wall decorations to be sure your child will grow up...a star!
Patriotic
Whether you choose the true American red, white and blue, patriotic theme, or your native land's flag and colors, creating a patriotic-themed nursery allows your little one to grow up with a full sense of heritage and patriotism.
World
You could also do a slight variation of patriotic and go for a 'world traveler' theme, with décor such as maps, globes, and pictures of landmarks from throughout the world
Circles
Another fun variation of the classic stripes, circles are becoming a nursery hit. You may consider a circle crib, circle decorations, or colored circles painted on the wall, along with a bold circle area rug, this nursery variation is sure to be a hit.
Under the Sea
Another nursery that includes lots of bright colors! Create an underwater themed atmosphere in your nursery, and fill it with tropical fish, seaweed, starfish, and soothing ocean blue.
Artistic
Imagine a nursery complete with an easel, crayons, pallets, and great works of art. Whether it's modern bright-colored art, or Picassos and Monets, your artistic-themed nursery is sure to inspire an artistic little one.
Numbers
Inspire a little mathematician by creating a nursery full of numbers. Maybe include an abacus, numbers on the walls, and numbered bedding.
ABC's
A slight variation to the Numbers theme, an ABC theme is sure to inspire a new little writer. Complete with baby blocks, wooden letters painted on the walls, and famous literary works, you'll have lots of fun creating this nursery
Whatever theme you pick, your new baby's nursery is sure to be stunning and perfect for a little boy, a little girl, or twins for years to come!
Julie Hobby owns and operates PoshBabyCribs.com a website that provides nursery decor, baby cribs, and baby crib bedding. Check it out for great baby cribs, elegant baby bedding and more. Julie also maintains the blog PoshMamas.blogspot.com for new and expecting mothers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julie_Hobby
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Baby and Toddlers Symptom Guide
Find out what's ailing your child:
Symptom Guide (0-12 months)
1: Abdominal pain
2: Breathing difficulties
3: Cough
4: Diarrhea
5: Ear pain
6: Eye infections
7: Fever
8: Hair loss
9: Itching
10: Rash or skin condition
11: Runny or stuffy nose
12: Sore throat
13: Swollen glands
14: Vomiting
15: Wheezing
Symptom Guide (12-24 months)
1: Abdominal pain
2: Blood in urine
3: Breathing difficulties
4: Chest pain
5: Cough
6: Diarrhea
7: Ear pain
8: Eye infections
9: Fever
10: Hair loss
11: Itching
12: Leg or arm pain
13: Rash or skin condition
14: Runny or stuffy nose
15: Sore throat
16: Swollen glands
17: Vomiting
18: Wheezing
More info's about babies visit www.babycenter.com
Symptom Guide (0-12 months)
1: Abdominal pain
2: Breathing difficulties
3: Cough
4: Diarrhea
5: Ear pain
6: Eye infections
7: Fever
8: Hair loss
9: Itching
10: Rash or skin condition
11: Runny or stuffy nose
12: Sore throat
13: Swollen glands
14: Vomiting
15: Wheezing
Symptom Guide (12-24 months)
1: Abdominal pain
2: Blood in urine
3: Breathing difficulties
4: Chest pain
5: Cough
6: Diarrhea
7: Ear pain
8: Eye infections
9: Fever
10: Hair loss
11: Itching
12: Leg or arm pain
13: Rash or skin condition
14: Runny or stuffy nose
15: Sore throat
16: Swollen glands
17: Vomiting
18: Wheezing
More info's about babies visit www.babycenter.com
Why do babies cry?
Babies cry for the same reason adults talk to communicate. Crying is the only way for infants to tell us when something is wrong. But while the baby may know whats wrong, its often more difficult for new parents to decipher the meaning of their babys cries. As your baby grows, you will learn to recognize and differentiate among her various cries.
Newborns sometimes cry up to four hours a day, and each cry can send a different message.
*I have gas
Gas is very common in infants, affecting more than half of all newborns. Gas bubbles can cause discomfort, making baby cry. Many infants with gas will also pull their legs up, lying in a curled position to help relieve their discomfort. Infants' MYLICON Drops can provide safe, effective relief for your baby by gently breaking up the gas bubbles.
* I'm in pain
Generally unmistakably loud and sudden, with long high-pitched shrieks followed by a pause and then a wail. If you are unable to find a minor cause, you should call your healthcare provider immediately if this type of crying persists and the baby is inconsolable.
* I'm lonely or bored
Often your babys coos will turn to a wail if she doesnt get the attention she wants or needs. Rest assured that no amount of love, cuddling, hugging, and caring will spoil your baby in the first six months, so go ahead and pick her up.
* Im tired or uncomfortable
If your babys cries are whiny, nasal, and continuous, chances are shes overtired, about to have a bowel movement, too warm, too cold, or otherwise uncomfortable.
* I just need to cry
If your baby is "good" all day, sometimes she just needs to release energy by crying. This usually occurs at the end of the day, or the "witching hour."
* Im cranky
Some babies are just fussy by nature. Irritable crying varies in duration and occurs randomly, without an apparent cause.
More on: www.mylicon.com
Newborns sometimes cry up to four hours a day, and each cry can send a different message.
*I have gas
Gas is very common in infants, affecting more than half of all newborns. Gas bubbles can cause discomfort, making baby cry. Many infants with gas will also pull their legs up, lying in a curled position to help relieve their discomfort. Infants' MYLICON Drops can provide safe, effective relief for your baby by gently breaking up the gas bubbles.
* I'm in pain
Generally unmistakably loud and sudden, with long high-pitched shrieks followed by a pause and then a wail. If you are unable to find a minor cause, you should call your healthcare provider immediately if this type of crying persists and the baby is inconsolable.
* I'm lonely or bored
Often your babys coos will turn to a wail if she doesnt get the attention she wants or needs. Rest assured that no amount of love, cuddling, hugging, and caring will spoil your baby in the first six months, so go ahead and pick her up.
* Im tired or uncomfortable
If your babys cries are whiny, nasal, and continuous, chances are shes overtired, about to have a bowel movement, too warm, too cold, or otherwise uncomfortable.
* I just need to cry
If your baby is "good" all day, sometimes she just needs to release energy by crying. This usually occurs at the end of the day, or the "witching hour."
* Im cranky
Some babies are just fussy by nature. Irritable crying varies in duration and occurs randomly, without an apparent cause.
More on: www.mylicon.com
How your baby goes from Da-Da to Daddy
SEATTLE - It is one of the great wonders of humanity: A baby hears parents and others talking and learns to speak.
Now, with parents volunteering their infants, researchers at the University of Washington are learning just what happens in the babies' brain to make that miracle unfold.
A cap with electrodes on the baby's head painlessly records signals from the brain's nerve cells. It all happens in a sound-proof room, on mom's lap, with one of the researchers working to keep the child happy.
The scientists play sounds like "Ba" and "Da" key components of language.
As the child recognizes them, the machines record the brain pattern
"This is a technological tour de force," says Dr. Patricia Kuhl, who heads the project. "If you take a newborn a six-monther and a 12-monther dramatic changes are happening in the brain."
First, trillions of new nerve connections form in the part of the brain called Wernicke's Area, which is responsible for speech recognition. A few months later, neurons come alive in Broca's Area, the part responsible for speech.
"It's as though Broca's Area is saying, 'Oh, I recognize that. It's something that my mouth, and tongue, and lips can produce,'" says Kuhl.
The research has revealed that there can be enormous variation in how quickly the young brains respond. Researchers hope that by discovering how babies normally acquire language, they'll learn how to intervene if something is wrong and the process is not going properly
This could lead to better interventions to prevent autism, dyslexia and other problems.
But already it has reinforced what every parent knows that the more you talk and read to your child the faster the brain develops language.
Now, with parents volunteering their infants, researchers at the University of Washington are learning just what happens in the babies' brain to make that miracle unfold.
A cap with electrodes on the baby's head painlessly records signals from the brain's nerve cells. It all happens in a sound-proof room, on mom's lap, with one of the researchers working to keep the child happy.
The scientists play sounds like "Ba" and "Da" key components of language.
As the child recognizes them, the machines record the brain pattern
"This is a technological tour de force," says Dr. Patricia Kuhl, who heads the project. "If you take a newborn a six-monther and a 12-monther dramatic changes are happening in the brain."
First, trillions of new nerve connections form in the part of the brain called Wernicke's Area, which is responsible for speech recognition. A few months later, neurons come alive in Broca's Area, the part responsible for speech.
"It's as though Broca's Area is saying, 'Oh, I recognize that. It's something that my mouth, and tongue, and lips can produce,'" says Kuhl.
The research has revealed that there can be enormous variation in how quickly the young brains respond. Researchers hope that by discovering how babies normally acquire language, they'll learn how to intervene if something is wrong and the process is not going properly
This could lead to better interventions to prevent autism, dyslexia and other problems.
But already it has reinforced what every parent knows that the more you talk and read to your child the faster the brain develops language.
7 Signs of a bad babysitter
It's not always easy to know whether your child's caregiver is doing the job she's supposed to. To find out, you may have to do some sleuthing. Some parents who suspect something may be amiss rent surveillance equipment. But it's often possible to tell whether something's wrong without going to that extreme.
You may have trouble on your hands if:
Your baby isn't happy to see the sitter and has become anxious and withdrawn. A regular caregiver can never replace Mom or Dad, but a baby needs to trust and love his babysitter. Perhaps your child and caregiver haven't bonded, or the babysitter just isn't providing the kind of warmth and comfort your child needs. As in every human relationship, having the right chemistry is important. (If you suspect something more serious is wrong, educate yourself about the signs of child abuse.)
Your babysitter seems secretive about how they spent the day. How your baby and his caregiver spend their time shouldn't be a secret. When you come home, you're probably eager to hear about your child and what happened while you were apart. If your caregiver isn't forthcoming about it, either she's not good at communicating with you or she has something to hide. Even a caregiver whose English is limited should be able to convey the ups and downs of your baby's day, and will understand why you want to know.
Your baby has been in one too many easily avoidable accidents. A babysitter must keep her eye on your child and know what he's doing at all times to prevent injury. She may be leaving your child unattended as he sleeps or plays.
You notice your requests aren't followed. Both of you are working together to care for your child, so a caregiver shouldn't act as if she knows more about him and childrearing than you do.
Your babysitter often shows up late. An undependable caregiver will leave you in the lurch time and time again. Find someone who you know is committed to the job and considerate of your needs. Tardiness and unexplained absences may mean she's unreliable in other ways as well.
Your baby often looks unkempt and dirty. If your little one's caregiver can't take care of the basics, it may be a sign that she's not on the ball when it comes to meeting your child's needs.
Her stories don't add up. Never tolerate someone who steals, lies, or deceives you in any way. You have to be able to trust your caregiver for the relationship to work.
You may have trouble on your hands if:
Your baby isn't happy to see the sitter and has become anxious and withdrawn. A regular caregiver can never replace Mom or Dad, but a baby needs to trust and love his babysitter. Perhaps your child and caregiver haven't bonded, or the babysitter just isn't providing the kind of warmth and comfort your child needs. As in every human relationship, having the right chemistry is important. (If you suspect something more serious is wrong, educate yourself about the signs of child abuse.)
Your babysitter seems secretive about how they spent the day. How your baby and his caregiver spend their time shouldn't be a secret. When you come home, you're probably eager to hear about your child and what happened while you were apart. If your caregiver isn't forthcoming about it, either she's not good at communicating with you or she has something to hide. Even a caregiver whose English is limited should be able to convey the ups and downs of your baby's day, and will understand why you want to know.
Your baby has been in one too many easily avoidable accidents. A babysitter must keep her eye on your child and know what he's doing at all times to prevent injury. She may be leaving your child unattended as he sleeps or plays.
You notice your requests aren't followed. Both of you are working together to care for your child, so a caregiver shouldn't act as if she knows more about him and childrearing than you do.
Your babysitter often shows up late. An undependable caregiver will leave you in the lurch time and time again. Find someone who you know is committed to the job and considerate of your needs. Tardiness and unexplained absences may mean she's unreliable in other ways as well.
Your baby often looks unkempt and dirty. If your little one's caregiver can't take care of the basics, it may be a sign that she's not on the ball when it comes to meeting your child's needs.
Her stories don't add up. Never tolerate someone who steals, lies, or deceives you in any way. You have to be able to trust your caregiver for the relationship to work.
What Are Babies Thinking Before They Start Talking?
Babies as young as five months old make distinctions about categories of events that their parents do not, revealing new information about how language develops in humans. The research by Sue Hespos, assistant professor of psychology at Vanderbilt University, and Elizabeth Spelke, professor of psychology at Harvard University, was published in the July 22 issue of Nature in the article Conceptual precursors to language.
Its been shown in previous studies that adults actually categorize things differently based on what language they speak, Hespos said. So, if language is influencing adults thought, one of our questions was, whats going on with preverbal infants? Do children think before they speak?
Language capitalizes on a pre-existing system of I live in a 3-D world, I know how objects behave and interact, she continued. This pre-existing ability suggests that children do think before they speak.
Previous research has found that infants are sensitive to the acoustic variations that signal meanings in all the worlds languages that adults can no longer hear, even those variations that their own language does not use and that the adults around them no longer hear. For instance, an adult native-English speaker will not hear all of the sounds of Korean and vice versa. Infants hear these subtleties but lose this awareness as their language skills develop over the first year of life.
The languages of the world vary both in the sounds they require speakers to distinguish and in the meanings they require speakers to convey, and these differences influence what speakers of a language readily hear and think about, Spelke said. Our research asked how these differences arise: Does the experience of learning to speak English or Korean make you aware of the categories your language honors?
The example they used to explore this question was differences between how different languages describe space. For example, the distinction between a tight fit versus a loose fit is marked in Korean but not in English. A cap on a pen would be a tight fit relationship, while a pen on a table would be a loose fit relationship. English does not mark this distinction in the same way, instead emphasizing the containment versus support relationship, for example: the coffee is in the mug or the mug is on the table.
Hespos and Spelke tested whether five-month-old infants from native English-speaking homes noticed whether objects fit tightly or loosely. The tests were based on infants tendency to look at events that they find to be novel. Infants were shown an object being placed inside a container that fit either tightly or loosely until the time they looked at the object being placed inside the container decreased. They were then shown new tight and loose fit relationships. The researchers found that the babies looked at the objects longer when there was a change between tight or loose fit, illustrating that they were detecting the Korean concept.
Hespos and Spelke also conducted the experiment with adults to confirm that English-speaking adults do not spontaneously make the tight versus loose fit distinction.
Adults ignore tight fit versus loose fit and pay attention to in versus on, Hespos said. Adults were glossing over the distinction that the babies were actually detecting. These findings suggest that humans possess a rich set of concepts before we learn language, Spelke added.
Learning a particular language may lead us to favor some of these concepts over others, but the concepts already existed before we put them into words.
Hespos is a member of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development and the Vanderbilt Vision Research Center. Spelke is co-director of Harvards Mind/Brain/Behavior Initiative. The research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health.
Adapted from materials provided by http://www.sciencedaily.com
Its been shown in previous studies that adults actually categorize things differently based on what language they speak, Hespos said. So, if language is influencing adults thought, one of our questions was, whats going on with preverbal infants? Do children think before they speak?
Language capitalizes on a pre-existing system of I live in a 3-D world, I know how objects behave and interact, she continued. This pre-existing ability suggests that children do think before they speak.
Previous research has found that infants are sensitive to the acoustic variations that signal meanings in all the worlds languages that adults can no longer hear, even those variations that their own language does not use and that the adults around them no longer hear. For instance, an adult native-English speaker will not hear all of the sounds of Korean and vice versa. Infants hear these subtleties but lose this awareness as their language skills develop over the first year of life.
The languages of the world vary both in the sounds they require speakers to distinguish and in the meanings they require speakers to convey, and these differences influence what speakers of a language readily hear and think about, Spelke said. Our research asked how these differences arise: Does the experience of learning to speak English or Korean make you aware of the categories your language honors?
The example they used to explore this question was differences between how different languages describe space. For example, the distinction between a tight fit versus a loose fit is marked in Korean but not in English. A cap on a pen would be a tight fit relationship, while a pen on a table would be a loose fit relationship. English does not mark this distinction in the same way, instead emphasizing the containment versus support relationship, for example: the coffee is in the mug or the mug is on the table.
Hespos and Spelke tested whether five-month-old infants from native English-speaking homes noticed whether objects fit tightly or loosely. The tests were based on infants tendency to look at events that they find to be novel. Infants were shown an object being placed inside a container that fit either tightly or loosely until the time they looked at the object being placed inside the container decreased. They were then shown new tight and loose fit relationships. The researchers found that the babies looked at the objects longer when there was a change between tight or loose fit, illustrating that they were detecting the Korean concept.
Hespos and Spelke also conducted the experiment with adults to confirm that English-speaking adults do not spontaneously make the tight versus loose fit distinction.
Adults ignore tight fit versus loose fit and pay attention to in versus on, Hespos said. Adults were glossing over the distinction that the babies were actually detecting. These findings suggest that humans possess a rich set of concepts before we learn language, Spelke added.
Learning a particular language may lead us to favor some of these concepts over others, but the concepts already existed before we put them into words.
Hespos is a member of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development and the Vanderbilt Vision Research Center. Spelke is co-director of Harvards Mind/Brain/Behavior Initiative. The research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health.
Adapted from materials provided by http://www.sciencedaily.com
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