Find info on your childrens health » Bowel Movements

Teething Without Biting Your Nails

admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 06:33:59 +0000

For some babies, teething is a simple affair, with few noticeable side effects. For others, it takes months of pain and anguish to get those first teeth to pop in. Here is some information to help you get through the teething stage, without spending too much time biting your nails.

When will it happen?
Well, that largely depends on when it happened for you and your husband. The timing of the appearance of that first tooth is largely hereditary. The average age is about seven months, though the first tooth can appear as early as three months, or as late as after the first birthday. However, teething symptoms can begin two or three months before the appearance of the tooth, so your child can seem to be teething for months on end. For many children, the painful symptoms are much more pronounced in the first two or three teeth, but then subside somewhat on subsequent teeth.

How do I alleviate the pain?
There are many remedies to help with teething, without resulting to over the counter pain medicines. Homeopathic teething tablets, which dissolve on the childs tongue, were a godsend when my children were teething. I also took those little baby washcloths, wet them down, twisted them into a sort of stick shape and froze them. They are easy to chew on this way, and are colder than a traditional teething ring put in the refrigerator, though these work great for some babies. When things get extreme, a little acetaminophen or ibuprofen before bedtime can help your child sleep better.

Are there other symptoms?
In some babies, there can be other symptoms that accompany the pain of teething. The most common is a stomach ache and diarrhea. This is thought to be caused by the extra saliva that a baby produces during teething. Many babies also run a low grade fever. Another, less common symptom is what we referred to as teething poop. Whenever my daughter was going through a bout of teething, her bowel movements would burn the skin on her bottom, as though it was very acidic. So, in addition to being in pain from the teething, she had a sore bottom, too. We alleviated this pain with oatmeal baths, and with being more diligent about changing her diaper immediately after a bowel movement.

Teething is a normal part of babyhood, and, even if it is painful, it is temporary. Keep on top of the symptoms, and soon youll be seeing a big toothy grin on your baby!

Potty Training: Dealing with Constipation

admin — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:04:34 +0000

Some children dont like having bowel movements, perhaps because they have felt pain before, and now resist going. This resistance can cause constipation as the faeces become hard and compacted, making bowel movements even more painful.

Here are some questions you can ask to determine whether your child is constipated or not.

have they had a bowel movement in the past few days?
have they had less than their normal amount of bowel movements this week?
were their stools hard and dry?
was it painful for them to pass?
do they have stomach cramps or a distended stomach?
are they complaining of being nauseous?
are they losing weight?
have they been vomiting for no apparent reason?
are their underpants regularly soiled with claylike or liquid faeces?

If you have answered yes to several of the above then youll know you need to take action and help your child. You cant make your child have a bowel movement so what can you do?

Get your child to drink more fluids, preferably water.

If they are severely constipated and over nine months of age then some prune juice mixed with water should sort them out overnight.
Make sure their diet is high in fibre try giving them some dried fruit or grapes and reduce the amount of dairy they have.
Reduce their sugar intake
Licorice can have a laxative effect and is a better option than medication which should only be given with your physicians approval.
Make sure they are getting enough exercise it may be reflection of a sluggish metabolism.
Encourage them to go as soon as they feel the need.
If they just dont like it then talk about the importance of having regular bowel movements and how everyone does it.
Encourage your child to sit on the potty for ten minutes an hour or so after each meal to see if you can encourage some regularity.
Make sure your child can rest their feet on a stool or the floor so that they feel stable and balanced and can easily push.
Try to make having a bowel movement more pleasant for your child by encouraging them to read a book or listen to music while they sit.

If the constipation doesnt go away then it is best to see your family doctor for advice as it may be indicative of something more serious.

Colic How Granny Smith Nearly Took My Life

admin — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:06:47 +0000

The good news for all colic sufferers is that it is only temporary but the bad news, just how long is temporary.

I am not sure what kind of pain comes with dying but if ever there was a feeling of the end nearing it was in the temporary moment of my own experience where the excruciating agony was to leave me fearing for my life.

Approx 15% of children suffer from colic and the alarming thing about it is our medical world is baffled by what exactly triggers the condition. Doctors can not agree on most theories that have been raised therefore making matters more difficult when suggesting and prescribing treatment and medicines.
One of those theories to give reason why this sort of cramp flares up is said to be that a childs intestines are working overtime (hard) another theory raised by the medical profession for colic has us to believe it can be caused by laid back bowel movements (slow) thus allowing air into the bowel causing the intestine to swell giving cause for pain.

Within 2/4 weeks after giving birth this stomach upset can start and can run for a 3 month spell.
If baby is a sufferer then he/she may cry for up to 3-4 hours very loudly. No dummy or mothers TLC can take the pain away but it will certainly help in comforting them. Spasms usually kick in about the same time twice daily, this can vary.

Bowel pains can give cause for baby to scrunch the body pulling the feet up to the chest with clenched fists. Stomach rumbles burping or passing wind can be evident also.
As a parent you know your child better than anyone so if you notice any change in your infants health giving you reason for concern, colic related or not please consult a doctor. Symptoms can be identified to other ailments so it is best to make sure.

Babies are a lot stronger than you could imagine and will outgrow spasms of colic. Any doubts you may have where it interferes with babys development then I suggest you put them thoughts to the back of your head.

Colic in babies can prove to be an ordeal for parents who have tried every thing possible to comfort the infant. Lack of sleep is the main cause behind the enormous amount of stress laid upon the parents at this trying time. Mum and dads have been known to lose control of their temper and intend to bawl and shout, thus frightening the baby. (Unintentional in most cases) What we have to remember, baby is also tired and is the one in pain.

PS
If ever I thought the last rights was in order was the night I suffered a bout of colic. The doctors theory was down to the consumption of a citrus fruit or drink on an empty stomach, and how right he was.

Granny Smith in the form of a juicy green apple was the culprit behind this vicious assault that was to leave me living in fear of the forbidden fruit.
I was lucky to find the answer for my suffering but where do the answers lie for the newborn whose only connection with a granny is one who will love them till there dying day.

Let’s Use The Potty-Potty Training

admin — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:03:58 +0000

Potty training is a major milestone for a toddler. We had bought a book called Once Upon a Potty for his first birthday and he enjoyed reading about Joshua using the potty. My mother bought him a DVD called I Gotta Go! which he enjoyed watching and singing along. My mother bought my son a potty when he was around 1.5 years old and I started sitting him on it from time to time.

But none of those things got him to use the potty everytime. The trick with him was M & Ms. I had talked to another mom at Kindermusik about how she got her son to go to the potty (he was a year younger than my son). She said she started giving him M & Ms everytime he went to the potty. When we got home, I started using her suggestion. You know what, my son started using the potty everytime the same day. Amazing! Within a couple of weeks, I stopped using the M & Ms and he kept using the potty.

Every child is different and they are all ready when theyre ready. Here is a small list of some of the signs they are ready:

1. 1. Able to understand and follow simple directions.
2. 2. Has bowel movements at regular times every day.
3. 3. Able to remain dry for about two hours at a time.
4. 4. Has a name for urine and bowel movement.

Most articles I read said that most toddlers are ready between 18 and 24 months, but it is not uncommon for some children to still be in diapers until they are 3 years old. And really, they dont have to be in diapers. There are training underwear available for toddlers that are more like underwear, but have diaper protection. Thats what we used with our son until he would tell us everytime he had to go potty.

Of course, he is no longer using his potty; he has graduated to the big potty with a potty seat. He feels like such a big kid using the big potty and no longer wears training underwear at night. He wakes himself up to go potty. He is always proud of himself when he doesnt have any accidents at night.

Potty training is not easy, and it takes alot of patience and understanding from us parents to help our little ones reach this milestone. Just take it slow and youll find the magic trick to help your toddler too.

Breast Feeding And Jaundice

admin — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:10:47 +0000

Jaundice is a result of buildup in the blood of the
bilirubin, a yellow pigment that comes from the
breakdown of older red blood cells. It’s normal
for the red blood cells to break down, although
the bilirubin formed doesn’t normally cause jaundice
because the liver will metabolize it and then get
rid of it in the gut.

However, the newborn baby will often become
jaundiced during the first few days due to the
liver enzyme that metabolizes the bilirubin becoming
relatively immature. Therefore, newborn babies
will have more red blood cells than adults, and
thus more will break down at any given time.

Breast milk jaundice
There is a condition that’s commonly referred to
as breast milk jaundice, although no one knows
what actually causes it. In order to diagnose it,
the baby should be at least a week old. The baby
should also be gaining well with breast feeding
alone, having lots of bowel movements with the
passing of clean urine.

In this type of setting, the baby has what is
referred to as breast milk jaundice. On occasion,
infections of the urine or an under functioning
of the baby’s thyroid gland, as well as other
rare illnesses that may cause the same types of
problems.

Breast milk jaundice will peak at 10 – 21 days,
although it can last for 2 – 3 months. Contrary
to what you may think, breast milk jaundice is
normal. Rarely, if at all ever, does breast
feeding need to be stopped for even a brief
period of time.

If the baby is doing well on breast milk, there
is no reason at all to stop or supplement with
a lactation aid.

8 Simple Tips On Potty Training Your Child

admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:03:03 +0000

Have you tried potty training your child and it just isnt going well? Some children fight every potty training attempt you will make, while other children are interested in potty training. You as a parent will be able to tell when your child is ready to start potty training. Two or three years of age is the average age for your child to start the potty training process. Here are some simple methods to help make it easier on both you and your child.

1. Start practicing using the toilet around the age of two. Go out and purchase a small potty chair or a potty seat that fits over the regular sized toilet. If you are potty training a boy make it has a shield in front so they do not make a mess. Bring the potty chair into the room that your child spends most of their time in on a day or weekend when you have some free time. Let your child run around in just a shirt with their diaper off. If this nudity bothers you then have your son or daughter wear underwear. If you have them in a diaper they will never get the idea that when they urinate it will run down their legs and make a mess.

2. Clear your schedule before starting to potty train your child. Pick a time when you know that you and your familys routine it least likely to be disturbed with vacations, guests, moving to a new house and so on. Long holiday weekends are a great time to start potty training your little one.

3. Decide what words you will use to describe body parts, urine and bowel movements. Try not to use words like dirty, stinky, or naughty. Using these negative terms can make your child feel self-conscience and ashamed. Talk about urination and bowel movements in a simple, matter-of-fact way.

4. Use your childs favorite action figure or doll on a pretend potty, explaining the baby is going pee in the potty. Put diapers on their favorite stuffed bear and then eventually graduate the bear to underwear.

5. Discuss with your child the advantages of being potty trained. Talk to them about not having diaper rashes anymore, not having to take time away from playing to have their diaper changed and the wonderful feeling of being clean and dry. Help them understand that potty training is an important stage of growing up.

6. Use books and videos to help your child understand the process of potty training and see other children learning to use the potty. There are lots of books and videos available online or in your local bookstore. Let your child look at their favorite book while sitting on the potty to help the minutes pass by.

7. Get out your calendar and declare a potty day. This is the day that your child would like to start potty training. Use a bright color and circle that date. Keep reminding them that potty day is almost here.

8. Does your son or daughter like to unroll the toliet paper? Try squashing the roll so that the cardboard roll inside is no longer round. This way, it will not unroll as quickly. Also, little ones who are potty training will not get too much paper per pull on the roll.

Usually it takes several practice sessions for a child to understand what they are supposed to be doing and be totally potty trained. Just remember to keep trying, your child will eventually understand and be successful.

A Guide to Baby Scales

admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:56:36 +0000

Baby scales are used to measure breast milk and the weight of babies.

When baby arrives early or has medical problems, health care providers turn to the Medela Baby Weigh Scale for measuring breast milk intake. The baby is weighed before and after breastfeeding, and with a touch of a button, the Baby Weight Scale calculates the baby’s intake. For small babies, the Baby Weight Scale can measure the difference of one-half teaspoon of breast milk.

Lack of weight gain in an infant should always be taken seriously. Be sure to check that your baby is being weighed properly. Weighing should always be done on the same scale because of the slight differences between scales. It is best to use a baby scale to weigh an infant.. You also should weigh your baby once a week, because of the daily weight variation due to feedings, urination, bowel movements, etc. If the weight remains accurate and you know that your baby is either gaining no weight or losing weight, baby should be seen and evaluated by a doctor immediately.

If baby’s weight increases but does not seem adequate, consider if your baby’s feeding is appropriate. Are you offering food five or six times a day? Are you feeding breast milk or infant formula to the baby? If you’re using breast milk, does your baby seem full after a feeding is complete? If you’re using formula, are you mixing it properly? At 6 months old, infants need supplementary calories from solid foods. Are you offering solid foods several times a day? Is your baby keeping all the food down? If everything appears normal, you still might want to get your baby examined, just to be sure that baby’s weight is okay. All doctors will use special baby scales to monitor the babys weight.

If a baby has a “congenital heart defect”, it means the heart or blood vessels near the heart didn’t develop normally before birth. Often the term “congenital heart disease” is used to mean the same thing.

Healthy babies usually double their birth weight between four and five months of age. A baby with a congenital heart defect may grow more slowly during infancy and childhood, although the growth often varies according to the type and severity of the condition. An eight-ounce to one-pound gain in a month may be an acceptable weight gain for a baby with a heart defect. You will need to weigh your baby, and the pediatrician can do so for this or any other condition. The baby is usually weighed every month, and the measurements will show how well your baby is growing.

5 Tips On Raising Your Newborn Child

admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:02:33 +0000

Having a baby is one of the most beautiful things that could happen in a parents life. Yet, it is also challenging. Raising your newborn child is not easy. It takes a lot of effort and patience to nurture your child until he or she reaches the stage of complete development. Though some of the time this task is can be quite challenging, the joys certainly outweigh any negatives. Here are some suggestions for successful baby nurturing:

1. Feeding

Breast milk is recommended for the first year of a newborns life. This is to give the baby the optimum sustenance to grow and progress. Generally speaking, the newborn child should be breastfed about 8 to 10 times a day during the babys first few weeks. As a parent, it is necessary that you know when your baby is getting the proper nourishment needed. Some indications that your baby is feeding well is when he or she is having four or more wet diapers a day or having a bowel movements 3 times or more a day.

2. Sleep

Dont be surprised if your newborn child spends the majority of their time sleeping. It is common for infants to sleep most of the time, around 12 to 20 hours a day. When putting your baby to rest, it is advised by most doctors that you put your baby on his/her back, on a firm mattress. During cold weather, it is best that you dress your baby with warm pajamas to keep him warm rather than using a bedspread.

3. Bowel movements

Determining if your newborn child is having a bowel movement is easy. It is usually apparent when he starts to become quite hard to please, his face turns red, and he starts to cry and tends to move his legs. It is natural for newborn babies to pass a lot of gas so dont be surprised if this happens often. If your baby is breastfeeding, it is quite normal that he will pass stools a couple of times a day. On the other hand, babies that are formula fed do not pass stools quite as frequently. Should you ever see any signs of blood in the stool of your baby, immediately give your babys physician a call.

4. Dressing your newborn

Providing your baby with the proper clothing is very important. Keep in mind that you should use clothing that is comfortable and appropriate. During cold season, you should clothe your baby with knit caps and booties. Though parents often want their baby to look fashionable, it is better not to overdress your newborn. Babies struggle to regulate their body temperature and therefore rely on layers of clothing to stay the right temperature.

5. Babys day out

Taking your newborn child can be fun. However, you need to consider when and where you can take your baby. Limit outings to nice days. It is important to keep your baby away from people with colds or any other form of illness. Also, avoid direct sunlight for this may harm your babys skin. In addition, avoid taking your baby to crowded places while your baby is only a couple of months old.

To sum it up, proper nurturing of your newborn child is a rewarding experience. Youre not only able to personally attend to your childs needs, but you also get to enjoy quality time where you and your baby can bond together.

Find info on your childrens health » Bowel Movements

Teething Without Biting Your Nails

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Potty Training: Dealing with Constipation

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Colic How Granny Smith Nearly Took My Life

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8 Simple Tips On Potty Training Your Child

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