Archive for the ‘Parenting’ Category

How to Help Stop Your Baby from Biting

Monday, January 30th, 2012

Biting is an extremely common behavior in older infants and toddlers. The effects, however, are extremely painful for the victim and the behavior is unacceptable for the biter. Learn how you can curb biting in your child with these tips.

If you are the parent of a biting child, you may wonder how you can stop your baby from biting. While it is a normal developmental behavior, it is also an unacceptable behavior. Play dates can become embarrassing and frustrating. Play time at home can become stressful as well. If biting has become your baby’s communication method of choice, learn what you can do to help stop your baby from biting.

Start by Comforting the Victim

If you are not your child’s most recent victim, take a moment to comfort the bitten child. Addressing your child first can actually reinforce the behavior and it is one of the biggest mistakes you can make when trying to stop your baby from biting. Once the hurt child is calm, you can move on to the next step.

Calm but Firm Words

Talk to your child in a calm but firm voice. Use simple phrases that let them know that biting is not okay. “No biting,” or “biting hurts,” are some good choices. Avoid using lengthy explanations when talking to your young child about biting. For most children two and under, long discussions will cause the important message to be lost to your child, which will not help you as you try to help stop your baby from biting.

Comfort Your Child if Necessary

It may seem counterproductive to comfort your child when you are trying to stop your baby from biting. However, what many parents learn is that their baby wasn’t even aware of the fact that biting hurts. In fact, this is pretty much a given unless your child has been bitten by another child at some time or another. So, if your child is upset after being corrected, take a moment to comfort them. Don’t use phrases like “it’s okay.” Instead say, “I know,” and “I love you.”

Give Your Child Word Tools

If your child is biting out of aggression, then your baby needs some communication tools. Jump into an argument when you see your child getting frustrated or being treated unfairly. Teach them words like, “no,” “stop,” and “mine.” You will have time to help your child communicate and share when they get older, but right now, your focus is to stop your baby biting.

Posted in Baby Safety, Caring for Baby, Feeding, Parenting | No Comments »

Symptoms You Should Never Ignore in a Newborn

Thursday, January 19th, 2012

When you have your first baby, you may feel like an incessant worrier. You call your doctor for everything and you are constantly assured that everything is fine. For new parents, however, there are some symptoms that you should never ignore in a newborn. Find out what they are and what you should do here.

There are some symptoms you should never ignore in a newborn; this applies whether you have just had your first child or your twentieth child. In most cases, these symptoms are an indication of a serious health condition. Most of them require immediate medical attention. All of them require you to at least call your child’s pediatrician. Before you shrug off your baby’s symptoms, read over this list of symptoms you should never ignore in a newborn.

Red, Brown, or Bright Green Vomit

Babies spit up—a lot! But vomit that is red, brown, or bright green is one of the symptoms that you should never ignore in a newborn. Vomit with these colors can indicate intestinal bleeding or blockage and your baby should be evaluated by a health care professional immediately.

Not Enough Wet Diapers

At six days of age, your baby should have at least six wet diapers a day. A lack of wet diapers is an indication that your baby is dehydrated, making this another one of the symptoms that you should never ignore in a newborn. This symptom may not warrant a visit to the emergency room, but you should at least contact your infant’s pediatrician. More severe signs of dehydration can include sunken eyes, lethargy, and dry mouth. You should seek immediate medical help at this point, but counting wet diapers can help you catch dehydration before it reaches this point.

Labored Breathing

Because babies make funny sounds and their breathing still isn’t regulated, it may be hard to tell if your baby is having trouble breathing. If you suspect that your infant is struggling with their breathing, watch their nose. A nose that flares could be a sign of respiratory distress. Infants that are using their abdominal muscles are in respiratory distress and they should be seen by a health care professional immediately because this is also one of the symptoms that you should never ignore in a newborn.

Posted in Baby Safety, Caring for Baby, Feeding, Health, Parenting, Post Birth | No Comments »

Tips for Starting Your Baby on Solids

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

Not all babies are the same, and no two babies will start solids at the same time. No two babies will eat the same, either. Still, there are some important tips that apply to all infants when starting on solids. Find out more here.

While starting solids can be a fun milestone to celebrate, it is important to know some important tips for starting your baby on solids to ensure that this milestone is also safe. Starting solids too soon can present a choking hazard for your baby. It has also been linked to a higher chance of obesity.

When to Start Solid

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies start solids around four months of age. When considering starting your baby on solids, however, you should realize that all babies are different, so you will need to use some personal judgment to determine if your baby is really ready for solids. Some babies will need to wait a little longer. Things to look out for are difficulty in swallowing or a baby that doesn’t open their mouth when prompted with the spoon.

Foods to Offer

Another really important factor to keep in mind when considering starting your baby on solids is the type of foods you offer. Single grain, plain infant cereal should be offered first. You can mix this with a bit of breast milk or formula, but avoid adding sweet stuff, like fruits, for now. Also, be sure you offer the cereal in a runnier consistency to help baby adjust to swallowing solids.

Once your baby seems to be doing well with infant cereals, you can move on to more exciting foods. Making your baby’s food is both easy and fun, and by doing this, you know exactly what you are feeding your baby. Experts suggest using organic fruits and vegetables when possible because of fertilizers and pesticides. If you can’t find the time to make your own baby food, choose organic jarred baby food when you are ready to change your feeding routine and start your baby on solids.

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Posted in Feeding, Parenting | No Comments »

Angelic Baby Name Ideas for Your New Baby

Monday, November 14th, 2011

A new little angel is deserving of an angelic baby name! Here are some beautiful name ideas inspired by the angels themselves to help you find a name for your new baby boy or girl.

Angelic baby name ideas are plentiful, and choosing an angelic name is a great way to emphasize the essence of new life and happiness your bundle of joy will bring. Angels have long been prominent symbolic figures in many world religions, and their significance in art and culture around the globe has been and continues to be a fascinating phenomena.

Whether you choose an angel-inspired name because of your interest in the history of angels or you simply love the sound and meaning of an angelic name, any of the following angelic baby names are beautiful options:

Seraphim—This name is equally great for a boy or a girl and its meaning is just as majestic and mysterious as the name itself. The seraphim are considered the highest ranking of all of God’s angels. For example, they are above cherubim and archangels, which makes them pretty special in the heavenly realm.

Uriel—Do you love music? Do you want an angelic baby name that will have some musical influence as well as a heavenly symbolism? Uriel is the biblical name of the angel who is to blow the trumpet on Judgment Day and is a beautiful name for a new baby boy.

Solange—Solange is a very pretty baby girl name that means “angel of the sun.” It is French in origin and also means “dignified.” If you want an elegant, striking name for your baby girl, this is a good option.

Gabriel—This is a very popular boy’s name and has been for many years. It is especially significant in the realm of angelic baby name ideas. Gabriel is a biblical name that is packed with a lot of honorable significance. It means “God’s able-bodied one” or “hero of God.” It is Hebrew in origin and offers many female variants, including Gabriele, Gabbi, and Gabriella. This is one of the strongest, most versatile angelic baby name ideas you can choose.

Posted in Angelic Baby Names, Baby Name Themes, Parenting, Post Birth, Pre-Birth, Pregnancy | No Comments »

When is the Best Time to Have a Baby?

Thursday, July 28th, 2011

This classic question is one many women ask when they consider the idea of becoming a mother for the first time. If you’ve been asking yourself if it’s the right time to have a baby, read on.

Is there really such a thing as the best time to have a baby? Some women would emphatically say “no,” while others can tell you plenty of stories of why certain periods in life are better than others to welcome a child into the world. For years, doctors have been telling hopeful mothers that there is an ideal age when they should become pregnant due to health risks, yet living in the modern age allows us more options than ever before to have a baby much later in life.

With all of the health and scientific statistics aside, it’s safe to say that the best time to have a baby is really a personal decision. Every woman will tell you something different, but in the end you’ll have to decide the best time to have a baby on your own, regardless of what the doctors, your girlfriends, or older, been-there-done-that mothers have to say about it.

 

Financial and Career Stability

Today, less mothers are able to stay home with their children, so financial and career stability issues are often what sway women one way or another when determining the best time to have a baby. Remember, financial stability doesn’t necessarily mean making high figures each year, but it does mean living within your means, regardless of how modest your income. This goes for your career, too. Do you still plan on changing careers or want to move up in the company? How will the lifestyle that accompanies your career work with motherhood? Even if you didn’t plan your pregnancy, the matters of money and career and what you expect from them will need to be evaluated.

 

Mutual Feelings

As many women can testify, many pregnancies aren’t planned. However, whether you’ve carefully planned your pregnancy or not, it’s a good idea to determine your best time to have a baby by discussing it with your partner first. Whether you will be a single mom, you have a surrogate, or you are married, it’s helpful to both you and the baby to know where both parties stand. It is ideal to have a baby when both you and your partner feel emotionally, mentally, physically, and financially ready to take on parenthood. Keep all of this in mind as you begin contemplating the best time to have a baby.

Posted in general, Parenting, Pregnancy | No Comments »

Parenting isn’t Easy!

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

Ever heard of a couple having a baby to try and save their relationship?  Whenever I hear this, I just shudder.  Forget for a moment that if having a baby does not fix things, that the child grows up without two parents together…. who actually believes that having a child can make your relationship better?  With kids, you have less time for yourself, less time for each other…. everything takes much more work and relationships often suffer.  Children are fabulous, but they are not relationship restoration tools.

New mothers have the added challenge of contending with very powerful physical changes and hormonal shifts as their bodies’ transition back to a non-pregnant state.

Having a baby changes everything, including your relationship with your partner. While in an ideal world the ultimate in bonding, having a baby is also a major life altering experience and can cause strain in even the best of relationships. In the early, often overwhelming days of new parenthood, it’s easy to get so wrapped up in your fascinating newborn that other parts of your life are neglected. When it’s hard enough trying to work a shower into your daily routine, it always seems nearly impossible to worry about anything of less urgency than a hungry baby.

The great news is the hormonal shifts, physical fatigue, and blinding obsession with your newborn (well, at least the hormonal shifts and physical fatigue) are temporary. But in the meanwhile, how do you keep a close connection with your partner? And why is it so essential?

Make your relationship a Priority
Statistics show that better than half of all new parents experience a decline in marital satisfaction following the birth of a child, with nearly 1/3 of all divorces occurring within the first five years of a child’s life. Similar decline is reported following the birth of each subsequent child. Does that mean having children will be detrimental to your marriage? No. It does mean, however, many new parents develop unhealthy ways of relating, or not relating, after children come along.

The downside of blinding obsession with your children is the tendency to neglect other facets of your life, which might include your partner. Without communication and team work, mom may feel overwhelmed and unappreciated, whilst dad is left feeling the odd man out unnecessary except to give a break to mom’s tired arms. Neither of these are a prescription for closeness. The lack of relating that starts as a simple survival instinct can easily become habit as babies become toddlers and preschoolers making new demands on your time. In the absence of regular, conscious maintenance, parents may drift apart without even realizing what’s happened until they see the gulf between them.

Build fondness and affection for your partner.
Being aware of what is going on in your spouse’s life and being responsive to it. Approaching problems as something you and your partner have control of and something you can solve together as a couple.

Take Time to Date and Relate
Combat new parent stress by using the postpartum period to foster intimacy with your partner. Think a baby-sitter is a luxury? Think again. A happy marriage equals happy parents. By nurturing your connection with each other, you directly impact the future happiness and emotional well-being of your child.

Schedule a date with your partner to help rekindle those feelings that made you a couple before it made you mom and dad. Not ready to leave baby yet? You don’t have to. Hire a sitter to entertain your wee one, and stay home and spend an uninterrupted evening together with your partner. The object isn’t to get away from baby; it’s to spend quality time together as a couple.

Remember the things you liked to do together before you became parents. Laugh together. Have a conversation about something other than the colour of the contents of your baby’s last dirty nappy/diaper.

Most essentially? Throw out any preconceived notions you might have about life with your new baby. The realities of every day parenting often fall short of the blissful images cultivated by the media and our own minds. Both parenting and partnering are hard work. Unrealistic expectations of a utopian Gerber baby existence will prevent you from seeing the true joy of new parenthood, which, like childbirth itself, it as messy as it is beautiful.

Posted in Parenting | No Comments »