Infant | From Childhood to Adulthood

Tips for New Parents

Image via Wikipedia

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.

Filed Under: Child Development, Infant Care, Parenting Tagged With: Child, Family, Infant, Parent

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.

Filed Under: Infant Care, Parenting Tagged With: Baby, Children, Infant, Shopping

Swaddle Me, Baby!

Image via Wikipedia

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!

Filed Under: Infant Care, Parenting Tagged With: Blanket, Children, Infant, Swaddling

Having a Baby and Paying for It

Having a baby is an exciting time in a couple’s life. Many couples join together in the hopes that someday they may start a family of their own together. There is something special about being able to open your hearts to a child, but with every child comes the responsibility to care for them as well. That can put quite a strain on the family finances.

If you are thinking about bringing a child into the world, you should be prepared for the cost of caring for a baby. First you need to ensure that you are able to care for the baby and his or her day-to-day financial needs. This means that you have to be freeing up the most money possible, so start by seeing what your available income is each month.

You want to factor in money for savings and all other fixed expenses. Fixed expenses are expenses that you currently pay each month, and they do not vary much. Once you compare that to your income, you should have a clearer picture of where you are at in regards to caring for the baby.

Of course, then you have to consider how to reduce those monthly expenses so you have the money free for your child. The first place is to try car refinancing. This option is a great way to reduce the monthly payments and even reduce the months you’ll have to pay for it.

If you have done that and are looking for additional savings, cutting back on your phone or cable bill is an easy place to start. Many people have unlimited cell phone use, but they pay far more for it when they don’t really need it. The same can be said of the cable bill. Cutting back on these expenses could be a healthy way to start building for your family. Having a baby is worth every penny you’ll spend caring for it.

Filed Under: Budgeting, Parenting Tagged With: Child, Family, Infant

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.

Filed Under: Child Development, Infant Care Tagged With: Fine motor skill, Infant

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.

Filed Under: Child Development, Infant Care Tagged With: Infant, Tooth

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.

Filed Under: Child Development, Infant Care Tagged With: Infant, Motor skill

Your Baby’s First Year — Birth to Three Months

Being a first-time mom can be a scary prospect, but learning more about what to expect ahead of time can relieve some of the apprehension you may be feeling. Your new baby will go through a lot of changes in the first year of his/her life. In the first three months of life your baby will go from being a newborn that mostly eats and sleeps to a baby that is beginning to discover things around him/her. The changes your baby will go through will happen quickly and it will be an exciting time for you as the parents as well as for your baby.

Newborn babies require frequent feedings, diapering, and comforting. Enjoy this time with your infant because he/she will grow and develop quickly. At first your baby’s head is wobbly and needs extra support before he/she develops the muscles to properly control the head. In the beginning your baby may try to focus on your face and may turn his/her head towards sounds, etc.

As your baby develops many changes will take place. Your baby will begin to develop more head control and will begin to hold his/her head up when placed on the belly. By the third month your baby may even be pushing up slightly on his/her hands. Your baby’s kicking and movements will become more vigorous. Within the first couple of months of your baby’s life he/she will begin to smile and may even make cooing noises when content. He/she will begin to recognize people in his/her daily life. You may notice your baby reaching for you during feeding or when wanting to be comforted.

Enjoy every minute with your newborn baby. This time will go quickly and your infant will be learning and growing at the fastest developmental rate of his/her entire life during this time. Capture these memories through journals and pictures. You are with your child every day and may not even notice how quickly your baby is growing!

Filed Under: Infant Care Tagged With: Diaper, Infant

Pregnancy: Know What to Expect

There are many old wives’ tales about pregnancy. These stories and superstitions are handed down from one generation to the next. In the age of the Internet, expectant moms can be their own mythbusters, using online tools to sort facts from fairy tales and become knowledgeable.

There are many websites that offer accurate and dependable pregnancy information. You’ll want to pay particular attention to information on diet and exercise. Giving your body the appropriate doses of vitamins is incredibly important for your baby’s development because whatever goes into your body also goes into your baby’s body. Likewise, eating the right foods and achieving a balanced intake of nutrients are strategies that help your baby grow. Knowing how to eat well during pregnancy can stave off potential health threats such as gestational diabetes and toxemia (preeclampsia). There are also guidelines for the exercises and level of exertion that are appropriate throughout pregnancy. Women need to know what they can do to keep their bodies active during pregnancy without harming their baby.

One of the biggest areas of concern for pregnant women is how the pregnancy will impact their bodies. Give yourself time each week to do some online research, finding pregnancy information about how your body is changing as the baby grows. Throughout pregnancy, there are changes in your body’s hormone levels, appearance, stamina, mobility, weight, and metabolism. Being clued in to what is normal and what isn’t will help you identify potential health problems early so you and your doctor can address them before they progress too far.

Of course, doing this kind of research during pregnancy is just the start of being a good mom. Once the baby arrives, you’ll find yourself hopping online after the little one is asleep to learn more about colic, fevers, and other questions and common issues that cause concerns for new parents. Find those resources now, before your baby arrives, so you’ll be prepared.

Filed Under: Infant Care, Parenting Tagged With: Gestational diabetes, Infant, Pregnancy

Sleeping and Your Newborn

Of course it is your instinct and desire to want to hold your baby every minute you possibly can. It is advisable, however, that whenever your baby is sleeping that you let your baby sleep and do not disturb the baby unless it is necessary to wake your baby to feed him/her. The reasoning behind this is that when you spend the majority of your time holding, caressing, and cuddling your baby you are not getting the rest you need and are training the baby that they need to be held all the time.

It is natural to want to love and cuddle your baby as much as possible, but at the same time you want to train your baby to sleep without being held and that it is okay to spend some time out of mother’s arms too. There are plenty of opportunities while your baby is awake to cuddle and get to know each other better. In fact, during the first month of your baby’s life you will spend the majority of your time feeding and changing your baby’s diapers.

One of the things you will want to start working on right away when you bring your newborn home is to train your baby in his/her sleeping pattern. It takes several weeks to work through this, but it is well worth the time and effort. While your baby was in the womb there was no real night and day pattern. Your baby woke and slept whenever it was most convenient, in fact your baby probably slept during the day when you were up and moving because of the rocking action of movement.

Now that your baby is on the outside they continue to desire that rocking motion for sleep. You cannot always be available to rock your baby yourself and you honestly should not get your baby in the habit of doing so. Therefore, you may decide that you want to offer other solutions such as a swing or bassinet that has a rocking motion.

Filed Under: Infant Care, Parenting Tagged With: Infant, Parent, Sleep