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Tips for New Parents

An infant

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The experience of new parents after having a first child is often a rough one. While these individuals love and adore their children, the adjustment to little or no sleep at night, increased noise levels, and constant messes may be difficult for some. Before the baby comes, there are a few tips to remember in order to make the process a bit easier.

The first tip is for parents to remember to take care of themselves. While a baby does demand a lot of attention and care, a sick parent is going to be little help to the child. Making sure to rotate shifts of care between both parents, so that the mother is able to get some sleep will be helpful. New moms may also find themselves grabbing snacks during feedings or while the baby is asleep, but good nutrition is crucial for nursing mothers.

Another smart idea is to accept assistance from friends and family members. Those who are skilled in baby care may offer guidance that new parents may not understand. New moms often feel very protective of their children and skills as a parent, but accepting help is not the same as admitting defeat. Taking time for personal hobbies and to spend with a spouse is also important to remain sane. New parents should remember that a little time apart from the child may be more beneficial in the long run, although it may be difficult to leave the baby initially.

Spending time together as a family is important. New parents are making the adjustment to infant care, and taking time to enjoy it is a great way to bond.

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When is the Right Time to Switch to Formula?

Breastfeeding offers benefits for both mother ...

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Breastfeeding is a beautiful act that helps to nourish your baby with what you created with your own body and helps to bring you and your baby closer together. However, there may come a time when breastfeeding isn’t practical. How do you decide when it’s the right time to switch to formula?

  1. When your child becomes dependent on you and you have decided that the breastfeeding has become a crutch. If your baby reaches to breastfeed in an effort to be comforted – before he goes to sleep, when he wakes up or when he’s upset in any way, that’s an indication that your baby may be using breastfeeding not just for nourishment, but also for comfort.
  2. Breastfeeding becomes an inconvenience that negatively affects your life. This inconvenience or negativity can take many forms, depending on each mother and child’s personal situation – from fatigue or illness or embarrassment or even time constraints. It’s also the reason to switch to formula feeding that seems to garner the most negative attention from mothers who feel guilt over putting themselves over the perceived health or happiness of your child. However, keep in mind that your child is going to have a hard time being happy if you’re not and it’s hard enough with a new baby without added stresses.
  3. Your child has expressed interest in a bottle or cup. Some mommies want to extend the closeness they feel when they breastfeed their baby, so they ignore the signs that their child is ready to grow up. While you can certainly pump milk to provide, don’t be scared to make the switch to formula.
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Safety measures for the newborn

There are lots of things that are extremely essential to keep the newborns absolutely safe and secured. Mothers always do take care of their babies but for those mothers, who are yet to overcome their weaknesses, either allow the close relatives or hire nurses to take care of their babies. Whoever is handling a baby must realize that babies require some extra care and the special touch that can make them comfortable in this world which is very new to them.
baby
The first and foremost fact is that one must get the best crib or cradle for her baby that must be solid and smooth. It is necessary to check whether the cribs have any sharp edges or points, before buying one. One must always consult a doctor or follow the prescription while feeding the newborn. It is better to feed the newborns mainly with the liquid foods in a little portion at a time, so that the foods do not get chocked. While getting the baby a bath always use baby bathing elements like baby soaps, washes and shampoos or oils. Check the ingredients present in these bathing elements and make sure that they are absolutely safe for the baby. Any kind of electrical appliances must be kept at a safe distance during the bath.

Newborns must be kept in a temperature that will suit them. You can always ask the child specialists about various safety measures and all the procedures of handling a newborn. It is necessary to keep the household absolutely hygienic. There must be someone always available for the baby as the newborns must not be kept alone.

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Swaddle Me, Baby!

Swaddling (How to)

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The ancient art of swaddling has made a huge comeback. Pediatricians recommend it and new parent’s everywhere are raving about it.  Why? First and foremost, swaddling soothes and calms the new baby, allowing her to get to sleep.  And second, it helps new parents get some needed sleep as well.   Ideally, prospective parents should practice before their baby arrives.  Practicing on an inanimate object, such as a doll or a teddy bear, helps new parents build the skill without the stress of a squirming, crying child.

Advantages of Swaddling

  • Increases feelings of calm and relaxation in the baby.
  • Regulates the baby’s temperature.
  • Smoothes the baby’s adjustment from the womb to the real world.
  • Creates a secure and comfortable environment for the baby.

The Technique

The swaddling technique is simple.  You’ll need a square cotton blanket and a baby (or a baby substitute.)

1.     Lay blanket on a flat surface.

2.     Fold down one corner. (About 4 to 6 inches)

3.     Place the baby on the blanket with the baby’s head on the fold.

4.     Take the right side of the blanket and pull it over the baby. Tuck it under the baby’s back, just beneath her left arm.

5.     Now take the left side of the blanket and pull it over the baby, tucking it under the baby’s back beneath her right arm.

Plain cotton receiving blankets work just fine for swaddling.  However, there are a number of swaddling blankets on the market, that do all of the work for you.  Either way,  swaddling is just what your new baby needs!

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Finding a Pediatrician for Your Child

It is essential to find a pediatrician for your child. Your pediatrician will be your source for advice on a number of issues as you go through motherhood, and it is important to have one that you and your child will trust. While you’re pregnant, or as early as possible, you should begin researching pediatricians to find one that is suitable.

Take advantage of all sources when it comes time to find a good pediatrician. If you have friends and family that know of good pediatricians, take their advice into consideration. Likewise, if you are in the same location where you grew up and your pediatrician is still practicing, that may be another way to go in your search.

Perform a search at Canada 411 for the pediatrician to find contact information and to schedule a visit. If you have not found leads for a pediatrician, you can also use a website like this to locate possibilities. It is also a good idea to interview more than one pediatrician.

When you arrive to the interview, take into account everything from the environment, working hours, and ease of getting appointments to the actual pediatrician; all of these factors will impact you and your child in regards to your decision. You’ll want to know all of these factors — from whether your insurance covers the pediatrician in question to the philosophies of the pediatrician — to make the decision.

Finding a pediatrician is a process. Do not rush into a decision as this is one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. With care and research, you can choose the right pediatrician for your child.

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Proper Care of the Umbilical Cord

When you bring your new baby home she will still have a stump of the umbilical cord remaining from where the doctor clamped and cut it during delivery. Generally this will fall off naturally in about two to three weeks. In the meantime there are several things you can do to ensure that it is cared for properly. Proper umbilical cord care is necessary to keep your baby healthy and happy.

When changing baby’s diaper, be sure to keep the diaper off the umbilical cord. This can be accomplished by purchasing diapers specifically designed with a cut out section for the umbilical cord. You may also want or need to fold the top of the diaper over to avoid it touching and rubbing on the cord.

The cord needs to be kept dry and clean at all times. One way to do this is to keep baby in diaper and a loose shirt to allow for proper air circulation which helps the cord to dry up and heal faster.

Never pull on the cord even if it looks as though it is ready to fall off. This can cause injury or infection. In rare cases the cord may not fall off on its own. In this situation you may need to contact your physician and have him remove it.

Give baby sponge baths and do not immerse the baby in water while the cord stump is still attached. This will help ensure that is dries and heals properly without introducing additional bacteria. If you notice discharge or a foul odor coming from the cord area you should take the baby into the doctor immediately to have the cord checked.

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Natural Pregnancy Care

There are many things you can do to ensure that you are getting the proper care and nutrition for yourself and your baby while you are pregnant. Consider staying away from all medications to treat pregnancy discomforts. There are many things you can do on your own to make your pregnancy more comfortable and healthier for you and your baby.

You can get the majority of the necessary vitamins and minerals that your body needs in the foods you eat. However, it is advisable to make certain that you have covered all of your nutritional needs with supplements. When choosing a supplement you will want to ensure that you are choosing a high quality one with the appropriate nutrients for pregnancy and that the ingredients are all natural and free of toxins.

For nausea try some deep breathing and relaxation exercises. Herbal teas can be helpful, although it is important to note if it is one that is recommended for pregnancy or not. Some of the most common ones include ginger, red raspberry, fennel seed, anise, or dried peach leaves. Increasing iron rich foods in your diet can also help. Aromatherapy using lavender, chamomile, or rose in massage oil can also be helpful.

Another common side effect of pregnancy is anemia or low iron levels. Many doctors tend to prescribe iron tablets to correct this issue. However, not only are these highly ineffective, but they can cause other problems. Instead, try some things on your own to correct your low iron levels. Eat foods rich in iron such as liver, oysters, beets, and leafy greens. Caffeine blocks the absorption of iron, so stay away from it. Vitamin C helps with the assimilation of iron in the system. Therefore, it is advisable to eat or drink something high in vitamin C along with your iron rich foods.

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Your Baby’s First Year — Ten to Twelve Months

Your baby has already been through major changes in the first nine months of his life. Within the next few months he may start walking and will continue to explore his surroundings and learn from them. His digestive system has developed to the point that he will be eating the same foods as the rest of the family soon.

Between ten and twelve months your baby will become an expert crawler! He will begin crawling up stairs and will learn how to move one arm with the opposite leg while crawling. Your baby has most likely already begun to pull himself up to furniture and may have already begun walking with assistance. Some babies will take their first steps on their own during this time period.

His fine motor skills will be developing to a point where he can pick things up with the thumb and forefinger in a pincher-type grasp. While his fine motor skills continue to develop over the next few months he will be able to hold a fork and spoon by himself. Once he has developed the skill of grasping he will learn to throw soon too. Of course, babies love to throw things so that you will pick them up again. This will quickly become a game to your baby. You will now notice that your baby has developed a preference for either the right or the left hand by now too.

Physically your baby has gone through drastic changes since he was a newborn. By the time your baby is one year old his birthweight has tripled and he will have added 10 to 12 inches in his height! Your baby’s digestive system has now developed to a point that you can add in foods such as wheat, eggs, meat, and fish. You still need to stay away from adding honey to your baby’s diet until after he is one year old.

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Your Baby’s First Year — Seven to Nine Months

Your baby has made many strides in his physical and social development up to this point. There are many more changes he will be experiencing over the next several months. During the time period from seven months to ninth months your baby will start developing his language skills and motor skills much more quickly now.

By now your baby is most likely sitting unaided. He may now begin to try to scoot or pull himself to get to objects he wants. Soon your baby will be getting up on his knees and will begin to crawl. Once your baby learns he can get around he will quickly develop other skills such as pulling himself up to furniture and may even begin taking steps while holding onto furniture or while holding someone’s hands.

Your baby’s first tooth will most likely come in around the seventh month. Some babies will get their first teeth sooner than this, but on an average you can expect it now. Once your baby’s first tooth pops through, many more will come in quickly. With your baby’s new teeth and the fact that his digestive tract is more developed now, you can begin introducing new foods and different textures to your baby’s diet.

Until now your baby’s vision has been about 20/40 at best but has now developed to the point where his clarity and depth perception are fully developed. By eight months he will be able to recognize people and objects from across the room.

Your baby will finally begin understanding that he is a fully independent person. Because of this your baby may develop some separation anxiety while learning that mommy will come back when she leaves even for a minute. At this point in a baby’s development they will begin to test your authority by refusing to do what he is told to do. This is not a matter of defiance, but rather exploration. He is simply curious and cannot remember things for more than a few seconds at a time.

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Your Baby’s First Year — Three to Six Months

During the first three months of your baby’s life she has gone through many changes but there are many more that will be happening over the next several months. Your baby will begin to develop more fine-tuned motor skills, verbal skills, and more over the next three months. During the first three months of your baby’s life she was adjusting to this new world and all of the sights, sounds, and smells that are new. Now your baby should be at a point where she has begun to settle into more of a routine.

During this time period you and your baby will start communicating more with each other. Your baby will respond to your body language as well as your speech. She will begin trying to mimic your facial expressions and the movement of your mouth. She will now begin to laugh out loud and may even squeal with excitement or delight while kicking her feet and giggling when happy or excited. Your baby will now start showing signs of enjoyment in activities such as bathing or games.

As she discovers how to use her body and make it do what she wants it to do, her motor skills will be improving and she will now start grasping at objects. Your baby will still have difficulty controlling her body well at this point, but she will be making more of an effort to learn. It will not take long for her to discover that she can roll over and will figure out how to roll back and forth. Soon she will be able to control her muscles well enough to balance herself and sit up.

An infant’s vision and hearing are developing more during this time period as well. The eye muscles have developed more fully and your baby should be able to follow movements with her eyes and is able to focus on small objects now too. Sounds are becoming more familiar to her as well, and she may turn towards specific sounds. By now your baby is learning the sounds of family member’s voices.

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