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Mar
07

Baby Video Monitors

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Baby monitors are designed to give parents peace of mind, and if used correctly they do just that. It is virtually impossible to stay with your new baby every moment of the day and night, and by having a baby monitor nearby you can hear your babys every breath and movement. The monitor operates much like a cordless cell phone and has multiple channels so there is always a clear frequency. Each monitor comes with a receiver that can go with you around the house, so where ever you, you can hear your baby. Baby monitors will not take away your worries and apprehensions as a new parent completely, but they sure do alleviate a lot of it, giving you more freedom as well.

There are many different baby monitors on the market, and all are very similar. Some baby monitors operate on AC and/or battery. Those models with a battery back up provide parents with added assurance in case of a power failure. Most baby monitors have a lighted display that coordinates with the level of sound the monitor picks up. The baby monitor is placed near the baby attached to the crib so that the sensitive transmitter picks up only the sounds of the baby, and not background noise. The babys sounds are then transmitted through the receiver to the parents as long as the receiver is within range of the monitor, which is usually conveyed to the parent by an out of range indicator light. Most models also come with a low battery indicator as well to let you know its time to change the batteries.

Baby monitors average $40 in price, some more, some less. It just depends on the manufacturer and what features the baby monitor has. You can shop online and compare prices and features of various baby monitors and buy there, or you can buy at most discount stores, or any store that carries baby products. There are also sights that compare models and are rated by consumer review which should help you decide which baby monitor is the best to buy. After all, you are entrusting the safety of your baby to the monitor when you are not right in the nursery, and you want to make sure that you purchase a reliable unit. Baby monitors make great gifts at baby showers also, you dont have to be the one expecting, but you can give the gift of added assurance to your friend or family member. Baby monitors can save babys lives.

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Mar
01

Is Your Babys Size Normal

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All mothers watch their childrens development closely. We get worried if theyre too small, or too big, too short or too tall. But, just like adults, babies come in all shapes and sizes. When you take your baby to the pediatrician for her well baby checkups, they will rank your babys size. Heres some idea of how it will work.

When your baby is weighed and measured, the pediatrician will tell you where your babys weight and length rank in terms of a percentile. This simply tells you how your baby compares to other babies of the same age. For example, if your babys weight falls into the 80th percentile, it means she weighs more than 80 percent of babies her age. Some people seem to think ranking in a high percentile is a good thing, because it means the baby is thriving. However, this is not necessarily the case. A baby in the 40th percentile might be thriving, but just destined to be a small person. For example, my daughter has consistently ranked in about the 50th percentile, and she is very healthy, and has plenty of meat on her bones. My husband and I are not very large people, and it seems that she has simply inherited our body size.

Your babys length will be ranked in exactly the same way, and can give you an idea of whether your baby will be tall, medium or average in height. If both you and your husband are short, dont expect a baby to rank in the 90th percentile in height, though it can happen.

One thing you do need to look for is a major difference between the height and weight percentiles. They should be pretty close. If your baby is in the 40th percentile in height, and 90th in weight, you might be feeding her a bit too much. On the other hand, a baby in the 90th percentile in height that ranks in the 30th percentile in weight is probably a bit on the thin side. Your doctor will advise you if your childs diet needs attention.

The most important thing you can do to monitor your childs development is to attend those well baby visits with your pediatrician. Your doctor will be monitoring your babys progress, and in the event that any area needs attention, he will be able to alert you to the issues. This first year of development is critical, and it is good to keep tabs on the progress.

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Diaper rash is a really annoying baby problem. It can get out of control easily, and can make your baby miserable. Luckily, it can be controlled with a little effort on your part. Following are some remedies that worked well with my children.

Some babies are just more prone to diaper rash than others, and if yours is prone, youll really have to keep on top of the problem. The most important thing you can do is change your babys diaper regularly. Diaper rash is caused by the skin being constantly exposed to wetness, so changing frequently can prevent the problem. Most of the diaper rash ointments on the market are designed simply to protect your babys skin from wetness, so they are great at preventing diaper rash. If your baby is diaper rash prone, you might want to use an ointment at every changing as a preventative measure.

But, what if your baby already has a raging case of diaper rash? As I said, most of the products labeled as diaper rash ointments are best at preventing diaper rash, not healing it. There are a few concoctions that can help cure a bad case of diaper rash.

The first is Maalox yes Maalox. Put some liquid Maalox on a cotton ball and apply to babys sore bottom. Let it dry a bit before diapering. For obvious reasons, dont buy the mint flavor, and dont use this bottle of Maalox for anything but treating diaper rash.

A second helpful treatment for diaper rash is an oatmeal bath. There are some good oatmeal bath products on the market, even some designed especially for baby. These work wonders on diaper rash. Usually one or two baths is all it takes.

Finally, I had great luck when I mixed diaper rash ointment with a little bit of hydrocortisone cream. About 3 parts diaper rash ointment to one part hydrocortisone. One caution here- check with your doctor before you try this one, since hydrocortisone cream is normally not recommended for use on children under the age of two years.

If these remedies dont work, check with your pediatrician. There may be some prescription products for extreme cases. But, the most important measure to take for diaper rash seems to be persistence. Keeping on top of the problem is your best bet for keeping the rash at bay.

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Be a Good Teacher for Your Baby

Babies learn by exploring the things around them. Show your baby how to look at, listen to, touch or smell something new or different. Hold your baby so she (or he) can see things. Help her hold objects like her socks or a rattle. As she grows, give her safe objects to feel, shake or put into her mouth.

Be your babys teacher. She (or he) will see how you react to things. When you get excited about a toy or object, shell get excited too. As she grows, show her how things workfor example, how doors open and close. Talk about what you are doing. For example, I am putting the food in the pot to cook it.

When a baby is learning something new, it helps her to try it again and again. With your help and support this can be fun, and your baby will like trying new things.

Protect your baby from harsh disapproval, teasing or punishment. A baby doesnt understand right from wrong. She doesnt know what things are dangerous for her to do. Watch her to keep her safe. Remove her from situations where she can be hurt or injured.

Talk and sing to your baby. Even before she is able to speak, this helps her develop language skills. Babies learn best when you talk to them.

Read to your baby from the earliest months of her life and continue this habit as she grows.

Babies Have People Skills, Too

From the start, your baby is interested in your face. She notices your expressions and tone of voice. She reacts to your emotions. For example, when you say something in a soft and loving way, she will relax and feel more secure.

Scientists have learned that babies show emotions as early as when they are one month old. Something else scientists have learned is that feeling good helps babies learn better.

Why? Happy babies are more alert, attentive and responsive. Babies remember things better when they are happy and at ease. The way you hold and talk to your baby can help her feel happy.

Babies who are alert and feeling good are more likely to look at things, explore and play. They will pay attention more. For example, they will try to make new things happen with toys or make sounds with people. This helps them learn and remember new things.

Brief periods of distress or difficulty will occur. These will not harm a child. Short periods of negative emotions can be helpful for your baby. You should do something quickly to help her feel better. From this she will learn you care about what she tries to tell you. Long periods of negative emotion, like crying, can do harm.

In the first month, the negative emotion that occurs is distress or a response to pain. Later, she will show sadness and anger. Next comes fear. All people have these emotions to protect themselves. Help your baby be at ease with having emotions. Respond to her emotions in a warm and loving way.

You can tell what your baby is feeling by changes in her facial expression. You can also see what she is feeling by her posture, movements and the sounds she makes.

Learning to Communicate

It will be months before your baby says her first word. But babies start learning about language much earlier.

Even in the first few weeks after birth, your baby is learning about language. Very young babies can tell the difference between speech and other sounds. They can tell the difference between the voices of men and the voices of women. They even know the voices of their own mothers. A baby can tell the voice of her mother from the voices of other women. Researchers think babies are able to do this because of the way specific parts of their brains work.

Babies can also communicate long before they speak. They use movements and sounds to let you know what they want or dont want. Some people refer to these as a babys signals.

Right now, your baby can tell you if she needs something by fussing or crying. She can also let you know when she likes something or someone by looking intently. Babies learn best how to tell parents what they like or dont like when they begin to see that parents respond to them in positive ways.

Even before she can speak, you need to talk to your baby. Even though there are differences among individuals, babies whose parents talk to them talk sooner. They also have larger vocabularies. Talking to babies gives them language skills that will help them learn more easily when they get to school. Hearing words on the radio or TV is not very helpful to babies learning language. Your baby benefits from having you up close smiling, talking and singing.

Babies Cry for Lots of Reasons

Crying is the way newborns communicate. Your new baby cries to let you know she needs or wants something.

The first thing to try when she cries is to feed her. By noticing when she wants to be fed and when she doesnt, you will learn which cries mean that she is hungry, uncomfortable or wants attention. Sometimes she will want to be held. Sometimes she wants a dry diaper. Sometimes she is tired or bored.

As you and your baby get to know each other, you will sometimes be able to tell the difference between each kind of crying. You can then try to give her what she needs.

Taking care of your baby when she cries will not spoil her. It will help your baby feel loved and secure.

Smile, touch and talk to your baby as often as possible. Do this when you feed her, change her diaper or give her a bath. Your baby will learn that she can rely on you to take care of her.

Ways to Soothe Your Baby

Sometimes babies cry even when they have been fed, have clean diapers and are healthy. If your baby is crying because she needs comfort, there are many things you can do. Every baby is different.

Here are things you can try to find out what calms your baby down.

- Rock your baby in your arms or while sitting in a rocking chair.

- Stroke your babys head very gently, or lightly pat her back or chest.

- Make soft noises to let your baby know you are there and you care.

- Talk to your baby.

- Softly sing to your baby or play soft music.

- Wrap her up in a baby blanket (but not too tightly).

If your baby keeps crying after you have tried everything, stay calm. Babies know when you are upset. No matter how stressed you are, never shake your baby. Shaking your baby can cause blindness, brain damage or even death.

If you need a break, call a relative, neighbour or friend to help. All babies cry. You will not be able to comfort your baby every time. That does not mean you are a bad parent. Do the best you can to soothe and comfort your baby.

Heres a simple tip to help your baby cry lesscarry her. Research shows that babies who are carried more often dont cry as much as other babies.

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It is a huge responsibility to plan for the babys nursery. Furniture must be selected; walls painted and most important is the criterion of safety measures. But the most interesting part of the entire planning is to select the theme of the nursery. Zeroing on the theme of the nursery would be the first step towards the planning process because it would set the basis on which you would decorate the entire nursery of the baby.

For the room of baby, you would never run of themes because of the sheer number of them available. You can select a theme that is masculine or feminine depending on the gender of the baby, or you could go for a neutral theme in case you plan to have more babies. This will ensure that you will not have to redecorate the room when the next baby arrives with a different gender. If your next baby is a girl then a blue based theme for your boy would not work for her. Similarly a boy would not be entertained in a nursery with a pink princess theme.

If you want to create a nursery that will cause stimulation to the babys mind as he or she grows, try going for geometric patterns and shapes and bright primary colors. Yellow, blue and red are the most common colors that provide stimulation to toddlers. And if the shapes and patterns are big enough, you can try using them on walls and bedding, it would be equally helpful. Since it takes a few months for a baby to fully realize his vision, the bright and huge patterns would be a welcome exercise for him.

No matter what theme you finally settle for, prepare yourself to be in it for some years. The majority of babies are not prepared for a room of a toddler until they reach the age of two or three. Because toddler beds utilize similar size bedding and mattress as does a crib, you can go on with the theme you chose for him as an infant if you so wish.

Enjoy yourself while planning the decoration of the nursery, irrespective of the theme chosen. This is one of the happiest moments of your life, moments that you would cherish all your life.

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Dec
18

Childproofing Your Home.

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There comes a time in the life of every parent when the relatively easy period of the newborn times makes way for the harder work as the baby becomes mobile. At this stage, it will no longer be possible to lay your child down on a blanket on the floor surrounded by her toys and be assured that she will remain safe. Her advanced abilities ensure that she is now well able to get into situations unforeseen a few short months before, and the consequence is that it is time to child proof your house.

Childproofing can occur in several stages, depending on the mobility of your little one. Most babies will start out there movement phase by rolling from location to location. This offers more reaction time for the parent, but do not be deceived into thinking that the next move on your babys part will be easily anticipated. Even this limited form of mobility can be deceptive in its range and speed. You will want to make sure that any stairways are closed through the use of some kind of barrier. Gates that lock into place, attached to the wall by hinges, are the safest route to go. Do not rely on gate brands that lock into place by a lever and push themselves into the wall; an active child will have no trouble in pushing it over eventually, and the period when they are developing the strength to do this will inevitably lull the parent into a state of false security.

During the initial stages of movement, you will also want to make sure that you frequently vacuum and check your floor for small objects that could present a choking hazard. Babies in this stage rely on taste as perhaps their main sense, so any object they find is liable to go straight into the mouth.

As your baby starts to crawl, you will want to take further measures in childproofing your home. Your baby will now be able to cover ground with increased speed, so it is best not to take any items that you usually would just leave on the floor for granted, even if it is just for the second it takes to grab the phone. The added height your child receives from this point will also mean that it is time to raise any house plants to a higher level. You can also count of the baby to figure out a way to open most lower cupboard doors, so make sure to buy child locks that prevent her from swinging them open.

Remember that with the crawling phase near, it will not be long until your baby is hauling herself up onto other objects. Make sure that ay hard surfaces such as fireplace mantle edges are well covered to avoid head injuries. Corners on coffee tables and other furniture should also be padded in order to prevent a bad bump.

Childproofing your house is essential in protecting both your baby and your belongings from harm. Remember, if your baby can get into it, the odds are pretty good that she will get into it. Curiosity is a natural part of development, and it is your responsibility to make sure your child develops in the safest environment possible.

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The crib is where your baby will spend a lot of their time and you want to be sure they are safe. Below are some of the questions (with the answers) that are asked about crib safety. Topics such as mattress position, how to place your baby in the crib, and general safety standards are discussed, as are other issues. If you need further information you can search the Internet and visit baby furniture stores.

Q. Are there safety standards for baby cribs?

Yes there are some very exact standards for your babys crib. In 1974 it was made law that cribs should no longer be painted with lead based paint. It was discovered that the ingestion of lead (from any source) could cause learning disabilities and other difficulties in young children. The slats of the crib must be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart, this is to prevent your baby from getting his body or head stuck between the bars causing injury or strangulation. The side bar should be 26 inches above the mattress when it is in its lowest position. If your child is more than an inch taller than the sidebar it is time to move him into a regular bed.

Q. Are there some hazards in my babys crib that I need to be aware of?

Your mattress must fit snugly in the crib; an ill-fitting mattress could cause your baby to slip between the mattress and the side bar causing suffocation. The mattress height should be able to be adjusted into at least three different levels. When your baby becomes more mobile you will want to put the mattress in the lowest position to prevent your baby from climbing or falling out. The slats should be tight, loose slats could pinch little fingers. Do not put the crib near a window to prevent your baby from possibly falling out or becoming tangled in Venetian blind cords.

Q. What are some historical facts about the crib?

Here is a short chronological time line of crib facts:

1973 – The standard for crib slats was to be no more than 2 3/8th inches apart to prevent your baby from slipping through or getting their head stuck. Also, double latches for drop-down sidebars were to become the norm.

1976 – The standard for cutouts in the crib end panels are presented. The end panels must not have any decorative cutout designs. Children were getting their limbs or heads caught causing serious injury or death.

1978 – Cribs must now be painted with non-toxic finish.

1981 – Two models of cribs with cutouts are recalled.

1988 – A voluntary standard addresses mattress support hardware, failure of glued or bolted connections, drop-side latch failure and loosened teething rails.

1990 – No corner posts or projections can be more than 1/16th of an inch above the drop-side.

1998 – California and Washington mandate that hotel cribs must meet the same standards
set for full-size cribs

1998 – Portable cribs must now meet the same standards as full-sized cribs.

Q. How can I tell when my baby is ready for a regular bed?

When your child stands more than a couple of inches taller than the sidebar with the mattress in the lowest position. If your child is climbing out of the crib, for his safety put him in a regular bed.

Q. How should I put my baby to sleep in his crib?

Place your baby on his back or on his side for sleeping. Use one piece sleepers rather than blankets. Your baby could slip under the blanket and possibly suffocate. Remove all pillows and toys as well, in order to prevent suffocation.

Q. Is it safe to cover my baby with a blanket?

A blanket sleeper will keep your baby sufficiently warm while sleeping. If you absolutely need to use a blanket, tuck it in around the bottom of the mattress. Place your baby with his feet toward the end-panel and the blanket should go no higher than his/her chest.

Q. Is a mesh sided crib safe to use for my baby?

Yes, a mesh crib is safe provided the mesh is less than 1/4 inch in size, smaller than a tiny button on babys clothes. The should be rips, tears, or loose threads. If staples are used to attach the mesh they must not be exposed and the mesh must be securely attached to the top rail and the floor plate.

Q. Can I safely use bumper pads in my babys crib?

While bumper pads are not necessary, they can safely be used. They must be very close the edge of the mattress and properly secured. The bumpers must be flat and not puffy, as your baby could get stuck between the bumper and the mattress and suffocate.

Q. What can I do to keep my babys crib safe?

In order to keep your babys a safe place, you should make sure to all connections are secure and that there are no broken or missing parts. Regularly, check the teething rail for splits or cracks. Make sure the mattress spring support and your crib will withstand your babys increasing mobility. The mattress itself should have no splits, tears, or holes.

Q. How can I tell when its time to lower the mattress?

When your baby becomes more active, when s/he begins to pull himself to a standing position or when he sits up alone it will be time to lower the mattress to prevent your little one from either climbing out or falling out.

Q. Can I hang a mobile over my babys crib?

Mobiles and crib gyms can be used to entertain your baby but when your child is able to get on to their hands and knees or pull themselves up. This will prevent your baby from becoming entangled in them.

In Conclusion

Making sure your babys crib is safe, is an ongoing to task. Proper positioning of the mattress, making sure all connections are secure and that there are no loose slats that could pinch little fingers will help to keep your babys crib a safe place for him to be.
Be sure to place him in the crib on his back or side and dress him in a sleeper rather than using a blanket. Keeping these tips in mind will help keep your baby safe and give you some peace of mind.

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First-time parents and even parents with several kids, regularly find that their young child isn’t sleeping as well as he or she should.

Many parents try to find the underlying cause of the problem, hoping to find a simple answer. This also leaves countless parents questioning if feeding might have something to do with the issue.

The aim of this article is to burrow deeper into the different aspects of feeding your small child and examine the effects that feeding could possibly have on a babys sleeping schedule and habits.

Initially, we should list the different feeding areas that we will be considering. These are:
Mixing Breast-feeding and Bottle Feedings
Feeding your child to sleep
What are YOU eating and will it affect your babys sleeping pattern?
Will solids help your baby sleep?

Mixing Breast-feeding and Bottle Feedings

It is believed that the mixture of bottle and breast in feedings could potentially sleeping problems. There are a number of different reasons for this when you are breast-feeding your young child. With each feeding, the breast is signaling to the brain that more milk needs to be produced for the coming feeding. When a bottle is incorporated into feedings, this process could be affected. The breast will start to produce less milk due to the less frequent breast feedings.

Furthermore, during the times when you do breast-feed your baby, he or she will not get as full with the breast-feeding because of the lessening of milk supply. This effectively means that your baby will need feeding more often, which will mean his or her sleep patterns will be interrupted by the need for feeding.

Feeding your baby to sleep

Feeding your child to sleep may be creating a problem with their sleep patterns. Your baby will soon begin to recognize that you feed him or her at bedtime. This will become something they depend on and expect. Generally, this will be the situation with each waking throughout the night as well.

There are of course, techniques you can use to avoid your baby from depending on feedings to fall asleep.

Initially, change the time or the length of time you feed your baby when nearing his or her bedtime. Doing so will gradually disconnect the association of bedtime with feeding.

Another option is feed your child earlier in the night instead of as a bedtime routine. When you do these things your child will not associate eating with bedtime. This will help your baby learn to fall asleep on his own accord.

What are YOU eating and will it affect your babys sleeping pattern?

The one word answer is yes. As a breast-feeding mom*, everything that you put into your body affects your breast milk. If you are not eating the appropriate amount of foods and calories each day, your breast milk is greatly affected. It is important that you eat the recommended three meals each day and perhaps a few snacks in between. Your milk needs to have enough calories in it in order for your baby to feel pleasantly full and satisfied. If it does not, he or she will continue to feed longer until he or she is full.

You need to eat healthier foods and try to eat them more often, as well as drinking fluids throughout the day. This will benefit your
milk supply, therefore helping your baby and his or her sleep patterns. The fuller your baby feels, the better he or she will sleep.

Will solids help your baby?

Many parents believe this will help, but numerous studies haven’t associated any change in those who were fed by the breast and / or bottle and those who are fed solids. This has not been proven to help the sleep patterns in babies at all. Doctors recommend not adding solid foods prior to six months of age.

Chris Towland

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Nov
04

About Babys Separation Anxiety

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How do I feel about my childs separation anxiety? Honestly, its absolutely one of the most delightful feelings I really enjoy as a mom.

I remember when my son was between 8-9 months old. Just like every mother, I couldnt forget those moments.

At that time, he often asked for more attention from me rather than from anybody in the house. No matter where he was or who was holding him, as soon as he saw me, he suddenly cried as if he was asking me to hold him.

When I came close to him, he abruptly opened his arms and looked so happy. His cry stopped in a moment. It was truly an unspoken feeling I had experienced.

But there was also time when he acted differently from what I had expected. When I went for work, I thought he would cry hard to see me leaving him. I hugged him tight and kissed his face again and again.

I told him, Baby, Mommy have to go to work now. Eat and drink a lot, okay? And have a good nap. Ill be back. Love you much. Bubye.

Sometimes he kept looking at me when I said so. I expected him to start weeping. But it didnt happen. I wondered why. I found out later that he was interested with the wheels of the car I traveled in everyday.

Whenever the car started to run, my son always kept his eyes on the wheels. Looking at them spinning must have been very exciting to him. I just smiled, though my heart broke a little. I soothed myself by thinking that it was good for him being curious of strange things.

My son is a baby who has sleeping problem. Throughout the night during his sleep, he often woke up several times. If he woke up and didnt find me nearby, he would cry out loud, making the whole house panic as if something really bad happen.

When I got into the bedroom, he would crawl toward me, and then I hugged him. Hed be calm afterward. Breastfeeding really worked to put him back to sleep.

Thank God I decided to breastfeed him so that I wouldnt be engaged with the rush of preparing formula during the night. Yes, I chose to breastfeed him in nighttimes, even though he still got formula in day times.

Maybe this breastfeeding activity had created the bond between us. I enjoyed it, and still until now. This might also what made my son didnt want to stay away from me.

If your baby or child has the same characteristic as my son has, Im sure you have the same feeling as I do. If you think that your babys cry (for being away from you) annoy you, just remember that it wont last forever.

Separation anxiety is a phase in your childs development during his early years of life. Almost all children go through this experience. What I can suggest you is just enjoy these intimate moments before theyre gone along with your childs growth.

From what Ive heard from my friends about this, youre gonna miss the moments. To me, even now, I really dont want the phase fade away.

Wait, wait. Theres one more thing Id like to share with you, which you may not think will make your child comfortable. I remember my friend told me that if youre going somewhere, dont forget to tell your child that youll be back. Instead of sneaking out of the house, waving your hand and saying that youll be back will soothe him somehow.

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