Baby Boy

Hiccups

admin — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 18:55:17 +0000

Some babies are not just born hiccupers, they sre hiccupers before they are even born. And if your little bundle of joy hiccuped a lot inside of you, most likely he will hiccup plenty in the firs few months on the outside, too. Newborn’s hiccups, unlike the adult ones, don’t have a known cause, but there are some theories around. One is that they are one of the babies reflexes, though they are frequently triggered by giggling later on. Another theory is that infants get hiccups when they gulp down for formula or breast milk and fill their tummies with air. Unlike adult hiccups, they don’t bother the baby. But if they bother you, try letting your little one nurse or ( if you are bottle feeding ) suck on a bottle, which may quell the attack.

Crossed Eyes

admin — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 18:09:17 +0000

Babies always give their parents something to new to worry about. And most parents get very worried when they notice that their babies’ eyes appear to be crossed. In most cases it is just extra folds of skin at the inner corners of the eyes that make the babies look cross-eyed. As baby grows, the folds retract and the eyes begin to seem more evenly matched. But for extra reassurance, it is a good idea to mention your concern at baby’s next check up.

During the early months, your baby’s eyes may also not work in perfect unison all the time. These random eye movements just mean that your little one is still learning to use his eyes and strengthening his eye muscles. When your baby is about three months coordination should be much improved. If it isn’t , talk to his doctor about the problem. If there is a possibility of true crossed eyes ( like strabismus, when the baby uses only one eye to focus on what he is looking at, and the other seems aimed anywhere), you should have a consultation with a pediatric ophthalmologist. Early treatment is very important, because ignoring crossed eyes could lead to “lazy” eye (amblyopia – in which the eye that isn’t being used becomes lazy and weaker from disuse). So much that a child learns he learns through his eyes.

Am I Spoiling My Baby By Picking Him Up When He Cries?

admin — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 03:51:52 +0000

Do you think you are spoiling your baby if you pick him up when he cries? Not at all. Studies show that pouring on the comfort he needs now, by picking him up within a couple of minutes whenever he cries and meeting all his needs, will not turn your baby into a spoiled brat, but will turn him into a happy, more self-reliant child who in the long run will cry less and demand less attention. He will also have a closer attachment and be more trusting to the person who is responding to him. And since your baby will be calm before breastfeeding or bottle feeding, without a bellyful of air swallowed while screaming, he will have better feeding sessions.

Realistically, you won’t always be able to pick up your baby the moment he starts crying. There will be times when you are in the bathroom, busy in the kitchen, or on the phone. But as long as you are responding to your little bundle of joy promptly most of the time there is no harm done.

Traveling With Baby By Air

admin — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 04:26:24 +0000

In the days before parenthood, any season was the season for a trip. But now even a two-day trip might seem too overwhelming to consider attempting. You can expect to spend more time planning a trip than taking one. Though vacations with baby will always be a challenge, they can be both feasible and enjoyable. You can find here a few tips to make your trip a little easier.

Make sure to update passports. You will not be able to take your baby abroad on your passport. Nowadays every traveler, no matter what age, needs her or his own. For travel information and info on how to obtain a passport for your baby, go to www.travel.state.gov.

Planes have the advantage for family travel, because it is usually the fastest way of getting from one point to another. Here are some suggestions on how to make a flying trip pleasant (at least relatively so) and comfortable:

Try to request bulkhead seats. They have more leg and maneuvering room and privacy, but less storage space. Another plus is that there will be no seat in front of you for your little one to bang on and no passengers for baby to annoy.
Try to arrive early enough so you can take care of luggage and seats, and get through security screenings, but not too early to have an uncomfortably long wait in the air terminal.
Some air lines offer preboarding to those traveling with children, allowing them to settle in before the rush. But if you think your baby won’t like it , since he or she won’t be able to walk the aisles while they are being used for boarding, you may want to board last. If you are traveling with another adult, it would be a good idea if one of you can board with the luggage while the other spends more time with baby in the open spaces of waiting area.
Coordinate feedings with take off and landing. Children are more prone than adults to the ear pressure, and sometimes pain, caused y cabin-air-pressure changes during ascent and descent. To help prevent the painful pressure buildup and crying offer finger foods, a pacifier or bottle feeding to encourage frequent swallowing. Nursing isn’t practical during these times , since baby should be buckled up for safety reasons.
If your baby does a lot of complaining , accept a kind hand from a friendly passengers if offered, and disregard the ones who give you dirty looks.
Air travel is dehydrating, so make sure to give your baby a lot to drink during the flight. If you are nursing, be sure to take extra fluids as well, but beverages with caffeine or alcohol don’t count.
You can ask flight attendants if it’s possible for them to warm bottles and baby food for you, if your little one prefers warmed feedings. Don’t forget to check the temperature before serving. Keep in mind that on busy flights attendants may not be able to help you with these services.
You can ask an attendant to hold your baby while you use the lavatory, if you are traveling alone.
Deplane last, so you can make sure you have enough time to gather up all your belongings and to avoid the squeeze.

Ear Pulling

admin — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 16:44:11 +0000

Babies have a lot of territory to conquer and some of it on their own bodies. The finger, hand, toes, feet, penis, vagina, and another curious appendage, the ear, will all be subject of exploration sooner or later. If your baby’s pulling and tugging at his ear is not accompanied by crying or discomfort, fever and/or other signs of illness, it is very likely that it is not a symptom of an ear infection, but a manifestation of his curiosity. Some babies may also fuss with their ears when they are teething or tired. If your little one has redness on the outside of the ear it is not a sign of infection, it’s just a result of constant manipulation. Always check with your doctor if you suspect a problem.

Peculiar mannerism such as ear pulling is common and fairly short lived. And each one is replaced by a newer and more exiting one when baby outgrows or grows tired of it.

You Know Your Baby Best

admin — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 03:36:03 +0000

You may not have a degree in child’s development, but when it comes to your baby’s development you are an expert. You spend more time interacting with your little one than anyone else. You probably notice a lot of things in your baby’s development that others might miss.
When you have a concern about your child’s development don’t keep it to yourself, even if it’s because a skill that was learned seems to have been forgotten, or you just have a feeling that something’s not quite right. Child development experts say that parents can be key in the early diagnosis of developmental disorders, such as autism. Early diagnosis can lead to early intervention that can make a huge difference in the long-term future of developing child with autism or other developmental disorders.
To help parents doctors have pointed out a number of developmental red flags to look out for as early as twelve months:

Your one-year-old doesn’t exchange back-and-forth sounds with you.
Doesn’t point or use gestures to get needs met.
Doesn’t enjoy playing social games (like peeka-boo or patty-cake).
Doesn’t smile or gesture with you.
Fails to establish and maintain eye contact.
Doesn’t look when you point at something.
Fails to respond when you call his or her name.

Make sure to let your doctor know when you notice that your little one shows these signs. It is possible that nothing is wrong with your bundle of joy. But further assessment can help determine if there is reason for concern.

Suitable For Cuddling

admin — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 21:10:08 +0000

Almost every stuffed animal your baby will encounter will be lovable and huggable. You just have to make sure those teddies, doggies, and giraffes are as safe as they are cute. Here are a few tips on that:

Make sure that there was no wire used to attach any part (like ears). If the wire is covered by fabric it still can be chewed off and cause a puncture hazard.
Make sure that eyes and noses on animals are not made of buttons or other small objects that could fall off and cause a choking hazard.
Make sure that there are no strings attached longer than 6 inches ( such as a leash on the dog, bows around toys neck ).
All stuffed animals should be washable. Make sure to wash your baby’s toy periodically so germs do not collect on it.
Periodically check your baby’s cuddle buddy for wear that could allow stuffing to come out.
Do not place stuffed animals in baby’s crib because they can pose a suffocation hazard.

Handle With Care

admin — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 02:45:21 +0000

You may be tempted to try out that favorite childhood activity, like holding hands (one parent on each side) and being swung through the air, when your toddler is already on two feet, or almost there. Resist. Young child still has rather loose joints and swinging him by the hands or suddenly twisting or tugging an arm can result in a very painful (if easy-to-repair) dislocated elbow or shoulder.

Never Shake A Baby

admin — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 16:38:45 +0000

Some parents assume that shaking a baby is a safer way to discipline (or to let their stem off when they are angry) than spanking. That is an extremely dangerous assumption to make. First of all, it is important to know that babies are too young to be disciplined effectively. Second of all, any kind of physical discipline (including spanking) is never appropriate. Most important of all, shaking a baby, in anger or fun, can cause serious injury or death.

Baby’s First Toothbrush

admin — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 16:14:07 +0000

When it comes to choosing a toothbrush for your baby, looks are not everything, but favorite characters and bright colors are always helpful. Quality is very important. Bristles should be soft so they don’t injure baby’s tender gums. If your little one likes to chomp down on them they will become rough around the edges pretty quickly and then it is time for a change. Even if the toothbrush still looks new, it should be changed after two to four months, because over time bacteria from the mouth accumulate on it.