Baby Crying All the Time

     I should have know it was too good to be true.  For so many months we had a pleasant daughter and now that her one year birthday is approaching, she has become a cry baby.  Whenever she cannot have what she wants, she cries.  If we don't feed her fast enough she cries.  If I am looking in another direction she cries.  My husband asked me if she is like this all day.   Although I wanted to say "Yes Knucklehead,"  I kindly replied "Yes and it's wearing me thin.  Please ask your Mom to come and help out."  

     At this moment she is in her swing and enjoying some down time.  Each day I play a music or book CD so that she can swing quietly and spend time with herself.  She really enjoys it and so do I.  All the books say that this is part of separation anxiety, but I'm pretty sure it's her new way of communication.  Although I know that she is a baby and feels that crying is going to get her the best response, I need some help in teaching her other ways of communication before I go batty.  I'm thinking of teaching her some simple sign language.  Any suggestions?

From Bottle To Sippy Cup

Last week, I put away my daughter's bottle and she is now happy with a sippy cup. She was already drinking from a regular cup, but that can be VERY messy for an 11 month old if Mommy isn't holding the cup. I started introducing the sippy cup a few weeks ago but when she was sleepy she would still want her bottle. One night last week, she was so tired that she didn't realize she was drinking from her cup and not the bottle. That was my cue to put away nipple once and for all. The 2 days following this, she tried to hold out for her bottle and throw her sippy cup on the floor, but she finally realized it wasn't coming back. I didn't realize how fussy she would be, because at 7 months she would take her cup with no problem. However it has occurred to me that as the memory improves, an item can easily be remembered as an object of comfort. I have paid a range of prices for the cups that she has now, but she drinks from them all with no problem. The next time I have a child, I will try to wean him or her from the bottle at 6 months since they still have a relatively short memory then. LOL.

4 Baby Pegs (teeth)

My little 11 month old girl has 4 little pegs now. The diarrhea wasn't so bad when the last 2 came in. There was only a day of runny poop and a slight fever. She is biting every thing in site ESPECIALLY paper. I never knew paper tasted so good.

Baby's First Ear Infection

My 9 month old daughter survived her first ear infection. I first noticed that she had a fever hovering around around 102-F. She didn't have a runny nose, she wasn't pulling her ears, but she was eating less and seemed a bit unlike herself. After the third day of this, I decided to take her to the pediatrician and found that she had an infection in one of her ears. Once her prescription was filled, I just knew that things would be back to normal. Unfortunately that did not happen. The day after she took her medication, not only did she vomit and still refuse to drink her milk, she also developed a rash. This went on for another 3 days until I felt something had to be done. The doctor initially thought that it may have been the fever or an allergy to the dye in her Tylenol, but after a discussion, it was concluded that my daughter is allergic to a particular antibiotic. Luckily the ear infection was gone by then. After discontinuing the medication, my little girl was her happy go lucky self again.

Baby Diarrhea Part 2

Although the diarrhea has been over for several days now, I promised that I would update you. It left just as quickly as it came. It may have been a coincidence but I started missing her formula 2 parts soy based and 1 part milk based. By that evening things slowed down. The next day it was over. The best thing for you to do is stock up on baby Tylenol, Pedialyte, DIAPERS!!, and a lot of patience.

Baby Diarrhea

Last weekend I took my daughter to my sister's house so that she could spend time with her aunt and cousins. Every one played with her and she played with every thing she could get her hands on. That evening she seemed a little more "regular" than normal, but by Monday morning it was full blown diarrhea. The pediatrician told me to let the infection resolve itself as long as she is eating and doesn't have a fever. I called my sister to let her know what had happened and she casually says "Oh yeah the kids had the same things 2 weeks earlier and now me and the baby have it." It would have been nice to know before I came to your house. Any way, when my house keeper came over she instructed me to cut back on dairy, make sure she was hydrated, and let her eat a banana. I checked her suggestions with a few internet articles and every thing was consistent with what she said.
This morning I felt a little overwhelmed by the constant diaper changes and rash on my baby's bottom. I called my sister again and she said she took her grandson to the doctor for a second time and his pediatrician said "continue to let it run its course." She told me to keep applying the rash ointment the doctor prescribed and call our grandmother for an old time remedy. My grandmother has been on this earth for 80 years and she has never given me bad advice. Why I continue to use her as a last resort I will never know. The first thing she told me to do is give her pedialyte (if she will drink it). Then she proceeded to tell me what "they used to do." In the case of diarrhea her family gave babies rice milk. The "milk" is made by boiling a pot of starchy rice, pouring the frothy water into a container, and letting it cool. The odd part of this is that it's exactly what I drank one day to calm my upset stomach.
This afternoon I went to Walmart, purcahsed pedialyte, a banana, a small bag of rice, and soy milk. In addition to her regular diet, she ate a small piece of banana, drank a bottle of soy milk and a bottle of pedialyte. I have prepared the rice milk but I have not given it to her yet. So far her diarrhead has slowed down dramatically. Once it's over I will give you an update.

Sitting Up and Crawling

Something that adults take for granted is a miracle in the eyes of a parent. My little girl is sitting up and scooting her way around the house. It makes me giddy to see her make her way from the floor blanket over to the DVD player. But alas when she reaches it, she knows to keep pushing buttons until the disc player ejects itself. I'm not looking forward to her breaking my high end appliances, but I'm ecstatic that she is a healthy, normal child.

The End of Breastfeeding

This week I stopped breastfeeding. A recent trip and extended activities on Sunday have influenced my decision. Although I felt some guilt at first, I have already seen how much time was spent pumping and feeding. I am now spending that extra time continuing to grow my businesses, keeping my home organized, and socializing more. So far my daughter has not seemed to care as long as she continues to have a full stomach. She still has breast milk in the freezer, but she is also drinking formula, juice and eating solid food. There is no doubt that I will breastfeed my next child. It helped my baby stay healthy, kept my weight down and saved me an enormous amount of money. It was one of the best life choices I have ever made.

Baby Milestones

My daughter refuses to hold a bottle. She breastfeeds in the morning and during the day time I give her a bottle so that I can work around the house. She is able to hold the bottle with no problem but she simply does not want to do so. Each day after she holds her bottle for about 2 minutes she grins at me and spreads her arms like an eagle. Although it is not any reason to be worried or concerned this got me to thinking about what she is SUPPOSED to be able to do at 7 months.

Source: http://www.babycenter.com/0_milestone-chart-7-to-12-months_1496587.bc

Child's Age	Mastered Skills (most kids can do)	Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)	Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)
1 month	• Lifts head when lying on tummy • Responds to sound • Stares at faces	• Follows objects briefly with eyes • Vocalizes: oohs and aahs • Can see black-and-white patterns	• Smiles, laughs • Holds head at 45-degree angle
2 months	• Vocalizes: gurgles and coos • Follows objects across field of vision • Notices his hands • Holds head up for short periods	• Smiles, laughs • Holds head at 45-degree angle • Makes smoother movements	• Holds head steady • Can bear weight on legs • Lifts head and shoulders when lying on tummy (mini-pushup)
3 months	• Recognizes your face and scent • Holds head steady • Visually tracks moving objects	• Squeals, gurgles, coos • Blows bubbles • Recognizes your voice • Does mini-pushup	• Rolls over, from tummy to back • Turns toward loud sounds • Can bring hands together, bats at toys
4 months	• Smiles, laughs • Can bear weight on legs • Coos when you talk to him	• Can grasp a toy • Rolls over, from tummy to back	• Imitates sounds: "baba," "dada" • Cuts first tooth • May be ready for solid foods
5 months	• Distinguishes between bold colors • Plays with his hands and feet	• Recognizes own name • Turns toward new sounds • Rolls over in both directions	• Sits momentarily without support • Mouths objects • Separation anxiety may begin
6 months	• Turns toward sounds and voices • Imitates sounds • Rolls over in both directions	• Is ready for solid foods • Sits without support • Mouths objects • Passes objects from hand to hand	• Lunges forward or starts crawling • Jabbers or combines syllables • Drags objects toward himself

Child's Age	Mastered Skills (most kids can do)	Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)	Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)
7 months	• Sits without support • Drags objects toward herself	• Lunges forward or starts crawling • Jabbers or combines syllables • Starts to experience stranger anxiety	• Waves goodbye • Stands while holding onto something • Bangs objects together • Begins to understand object permanence

When Should you Feed Your Baby Food?

As most of you know my daughter started rice cereal at 2 weeks. She is now 6 months and has progressed to pureed foods. Breastmilk is still her main source of nutrition, but she definitely enjoys the satiating feeling of hardy solids. Today I made rice, baked chicken and italian beans for dinner. To prepare my daughter's food, I added water and pureed for 5 minutes. Although store bought baby food can be very convenient when you are tired or in a hurry, it only takes a few minutes to prepare food from your own kitchen. Every child is different due to health concerns and parental philosophy. Always consult your child's pediatrician if you are unsure of nutritional recommendations made by any one. Below are some general guidelines for beginning solids.

1. Start when baby can lift and hold head unsupported
2. Child has lost the tongue thrust reflex
3. Baby is 4 to 6 months
4. He/She stares at you and your plate during dinner time (LOL)
5. Baby grabs food from your plate and stuffs it in their mouth (My daughter did this to me)

Teething Remedies

* Please consult your child's pediatrician before trying any of these remedies

10 Teething Remedies

1. Wet 1/4 of a washcloth and allow it to chill in the refrigerator
2. Buy a gel or water filled teething ring and allow it to chill in the refrigerator
3. Infant Tylenol (Consult Pediatrician for dosage)
4. Teething Tablets
5. Teething Powder
6. Teething Pacifier
7. Chamomille
8. Baby Orajel
9. Rub your child's gum with your index finger until you hear them make a "squeaking" sound
10. If all else fails just let your little one eat the the sheets, your clothes and their clothes

Need help paying for baby milk formula?

I've been breastfeeding for 6 months now and do not have financial issues relating to the care of my child. However my neighbor recently stopped breastfeeding and realized that baby formula can be very expensive. Even with coupons powdered baby milk often costs $15 a can. Since she buys baby food and baby juice, the cost of feeding her child is skyrocketing. Her plight made me think about how many other women must be in her shoes. For those of you who may be struggling, a program named Women, Infants, and Children or WIC can be a life saver. Although my neighbor doesn't qualify for the benefit, I know many people who do. Not only do they receive formula, but they get gallons of milk, juice, cereal, peanut butter and other nutritious foods at no cost to them. I encourage every struggling mother to visit their local WIC office or the website to find out if you may qualify for the service.

Baby Monitors

My neighbor and I purchased very similar video baby monitors and discovered a very scary situation. She asked me the color my baby's crib sheets. After telling her she informed me that she could see my baby's crib. So last night I switched channels on my video monitor. To my surprise there was her baby boy looking snug as bug in his crib. The first thought that came to my mind was "What if a child molester can see our kids?" Yes I may be overreacting, but if we can see our babies and we are 2 homes apart, my fear is that someone else can see the babies. What do you think?

Teething

Patty has been on the teething pony for a while now and she has her moments where she cannot tolerate the pain. During those intolerable moments, I give her some baby Tylenol. At other times when her gums just seem itchy, I let her nibble on a cooled teething ring or a terry cloth. This stage is not as bad as my sister told me it would be (not yet) but every child is different I suppose. She definitely seems like a happy child and that is all that I can hope for :-)

Teething Baby

As of Wednesday May 7, 2008, 4 month old Patty is a teether. ARGH!!! I thought my poor baby was going to chew her fingers down to a stub. She has not sucked a pacifier since birth but on Wednesday I felt she might take it to soothe her itchy gums. Sure enough she sucked on it for about 5 minutes (the longest ever). Later I rubbed her gums with some Orajel and she was able to relax and take a nap. Something new every day... :-)

Help your baby sleep through the night

My neighbor was dying to know how I got my little girl to sleep through the night, so I gave her some simple tips. Within a week her little boy was sleeping through the night as well. Of course all of this can change at a moment's notice, but for now things are working out great. Below are a few tips for getting your little one to sleep as well.

In the evening I give Patti a bath, change her diaper, then feed her 4 ounces of breast milk with either cereal or baby food. I burp her, sing a lullaby, place her on her stomach and tell her good night. It takes her about 10 minutes to fall asleep on her own. At 11 PM I change her diaper, feed her a bottle of breast milk with cereal, and place her on her stomach. She sleeps until 6 AM. Of course she is going to move around and grunt during the night but she doesn't wake up. That's it. It's not a complicated process and I get a good night's rest. However, before placing your baby on his/her stomach you may want to consult your child's pediatrician. I felt comfortable because my daughter can roll from her back to stomach and turn her head from side to side. Until things change I will continue to follow our routine because it has been a life saver for me. As I tell every mom I talk to, "Do what works for you and your child!"

Baby Sleeping Through the Night

Last night was truly a mini miracle for me. Patty at the age 4 months and 2 weeks old has finally slept through the night. On a normal night she wakes up around 3:00AM-5:00AM for a sip of milk. Well when I heard her moving about I picked her up and put her to her breast and she turned her head away and grunted. I put her back down and I didn't hear a peep until 7AM this morning. This is the beginning of a beautiful life. LOL.

Is Warming your Baby's Bottle Necessary?

If you ask the average person why a baby bottle needs to be warmed you will most likely get a blank stare. A warm drink does help when someone is trying to sleep but is there a major health benefit that makes this task necessary? The answer is no. My family is appalled when they see my little girl guzzle down a bottle of cool breast milk on a warm day. They frown their faces and say "you can't give babies cold milk." When I ask why (especially since it is usually sweltering where we are) they reply "you just can't." My daughter has a preference for cool milk in the daytime and her 3:30AM nightly "sip." However she only wants it warm when she is extremely sleepy and preparing for a long nap. For those who are unsure about this concept I have posted a little bit of information below.


Articles
Source: http://www.storknet.com/cubbies/bottlefeeding/faq.htm#warm
"Many new parents believe the common misconception that a baby's bottle should always be heated. In actuality, there is no medical reason to heat bottles before serving them. Some infants may prefer warm bottles, but most will happily accept a lukewarm or cold bottle. Try starting your baby off with a cold bottle, straight from the refrigerator; if he takes it, you have saved yourself a lot of time! You will appreciate this for those late night feedings!..."

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=511158&in_page_id=1766&ito=1490
"Parents who warm up baby bottles could be putting their child at risk of "gender-bending" chemicals, scientists warn."

Source: http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/320/7229/235
"...The perceived need to warm milk for young children seems to vary from culture to culture. It has been reported that the temperature of milk feeds has no effect on gastric emptying,¹ and many paediatric and special care baby units in this country do not routinely warm milk... "

Treating Cradle Cap (Baby Dandruff)

Like other babies, Patty has a case of cradle cap. Each morning I massage her hair with oil, wait 15 minutes, brush the loose flakes and wash her hair. After discussing it with my neighbor, she told me that her son's pediatrician recommended Selsun blue. She said it cleared his condition in a week and she hasn't noticed it since. She also lays him on a satin blanket. I'll let you know if it works for my little girl.

Facts on Cradle Cap
(source: http://pediatrics.about.com/od/dermatologytopics/a/0307_cradle_cap.htm)

Cradle cap is usually easy to recognize, with symptoms that can include a scalp rash that:

• is dry and flaky
• has thick, greasy, yellow or brown scales
• has red patches with crust
• is sometimes itchy

Are you too "Particular" about your child?

Since the dawn of mankind parents have taken great pride in the fruit of their loins. However some of us enter into an elitist bourgeois mindset when it comes to our children. There is no child smarter than ours. Not one person is capable of giving our child the proper care. We are the best Mom and Dad ever. Parents with the preceding views often spend their money on children's designer clothing, purchase all the Baby Einstein products and consider every sound from their child's mouth as proof that their child is exceptional. I have found that the best thing to do is humor them. Smile and say "Oooo, Awww." It gives them a sense of self worth and importance. Continue to be friends with such parents because more likely than not, they do not have many left. If you are a proud mother and father remember that your baby is doing exactly what he/she is supposed to do. Junior may seemed advanced but more likely than not, he is just being a BABY :=)

Period While Breastfeeding :-(

Despite making 30 ounces of milk a day, my period returned. All the internet articles assured me that unless a lactating mother reduced the amount of breastfeedings and/or production of milk, the menstrual cycle would continue to be in an arrested state. At first I thought I was having a temporary response to the hormone adjustment in my body, but when I continued to get a big hello every 2 weeks, I called my OBGYN. I was given 3 choices. Take birth control pills to regulate my cycle, schedule a Mirena IUD implantation or deal with it. Although I'm still deciding, I will probably take the "wait and see" approach. My husband and I want to conceive at the end of 2008 and do not need any unnecessary obstacles. I say all of this to say, take every thing you read and learn with a philosophical "grain of salt." You may be one of the chosen few who experience the exception to the rule.

P.S. Your milk supply is going to drop dramatically during your period. Keeping pumping and/or breastfeeding, but you may also want to give your baby a bottle (breast milk or formula) to make sure they are getting enough nourishment. About 3 days after my period has stopped, my milk supply is back to normal.

Baby Dedication instead of Christening

Today Patti was dedicated back to the Lord. As Christian parents, my husband and I decided that Christening was not appropriate since it is synonymous with the Baptism. Today we made a vow to raise her by Christian principles until she is able to decide upon her own free will whether she will follow Christ or another path. Just as Hannah prayed for a child, so did we. Because He granted our request, we respectfully follow in her footsteps to give our daughter back to God.

Protect Your Child

We all love our children and want them to have the best care. As my grandmother says "It's best to stay home with your own kids." However in today's society that is difficult due to the financial demands of every day life. This is just a reminder that no matter how trustworthy a person may seem they could potentially abuse your child. Every one feels that these cases are isolated and that they have full confidence in their child care worker, but unfortunately the harsh reality is that it is happening every day every where. If you don't believe me type "babysitter abuses child (state name)." There is literally a case of a child care worker abusing a child in every US state.

1. Insist that the child is kept in your home
2. Install nanny cameras
3. Pay attention to a change in your child's behavior
4. Inspect your child daily for body marks
5. Trust your instincts

Why is my baby sucking her hand?

I know you are wondering if your baby is still hungry, teething, or if they have itchy gums. It could be all 3 or none. When your baby's physical needs have been met this is usually just a comfort mechanism. At least you don't have to worry about getting up to pop the pacifier back in her mouth :-)

Baby Reflux

I receive a lot of complements on how happy and easy going my baby is. I've also encountered a lot of people who are surprised that I don't place anything on my clothes when I burp her. I let them know that I have never had a problem with her reflux or vomiting. I burp her after every feeding and keep her in an upright position for at least an hour after eating. In fact she sits up just as much as my husband and I do because we hold her, prop her or place in her in the swing. I've had some serious problems with acid reflux in the past so I know from personal experience that eating and lying down are big no-no's. Not only will the food come back up, but it will burn your throat, and also make you feel nauseous. I hear my people talk about how the excessive amount of gas makes their baby fussy. My baby is very gassy, but she gets it all out. What do you expect? She is drinking milk all day. You would be gassy too :-)

It's not the gas that makes the baby cry; it's not getting the gas out. When I was pregnant, I went 3 days without passing gas or making a bowel movement. I was so miserable I just knew that I was going to die. I noticed that a change in position always help the pain go away momentarily. With my newborn daughter I make sure that she not only sits up, but that she spends some time on her stomach, on her back, on her side, and at different angles. I raise her legs throughout the day and give her stomach a firm press if it seems overly full. So moms and dads, before you change your baby's milk or ask the doctor for a miracle drug, try some common sense remedies to make sure that you are not missing the obvious.

Congested Baby

As any parent knows, babies seem to get stuffy noses regularly for no apparent reason. You go to the pharmacy and find that over the counter drugs are no longer suggested for infants. You call the pediatrician and discover that unless the baby has a fever, isn't eating, or showing signs of distress, this problem will not be treated with pharmaceuticals . What a dilemma!! The only option is to use a rubber suctioning device that looks like an ice cream cone. Despite the wailing and flailing of your little one, you have to extract the snot because you cannot bear the sounds of labored breathing or worse that they will choke in their sleep.

1. Place baby on his/her back onto a flat surface
2. Spray 2 drops of saline solution into each nostril
3. Wait 30 seconds for the nose to become moist
4. Use one finger to close the left/right nostril while slightly closing the baby's mouth (leave enough room for breathing and pay no attention to the screams). All of this is done with one hand.
5. With your other hand squeeze all the air from the nose bulb and gently insert it into the open nostril. (Don't jam it in there. It should be very close to the entrance.)
6. Slowly release the bulb and let it works its magic.
7. Repeat steps 1 through 6 for the other nostril.

Suctioning can be done whenever it is needed but don't irritate the baby too much. I usually do this in the morning, afternoon, and right before bed. I also just ordered an automatic suctioning device so hopefully there will be less theatrics during these sessions.

Separation Anxiety

Every time I leave Patty for a few hours, I have separation anxiety. I know that when I leave her with a friend or family member (including daddy) that she is in capable hands, but I constantly worry. What if she forgets me? Is she wondering where I have gone? Is her milk sitting on a table becoming spoiled? It doesn't help that a new nanny horror story was just featured on the local news. I need small breaks from her, but it's hard to be at peace when she is out of my sight. My husband is convinced that we will not have an opportunity to take a vacation this year if I continue to be a "worry wart." Hmmm. He could be right.............

2 Month Baby Checkup (Vaccines)

Today Patty went to her 2 month appointment. Since she was born small she is still small for her age but a very healthy little girl. Her weight and height are increasing at the appropriate rate. She is cooing, making good eye contact, and turning her head from side to side quite well. I was very worried that I would be nervous when she received her vaccines but it went smoothly. The nurse lined up the needles and boom, bam, bang it was over in less than a minute. Poor Patty didn't know what hit her. I know that there are many people who choose not to get vaccines because of various reasons, but for those of you that want to protect your children from life threatening illnesses, here is a list of what your baby may receive at their 2 month appointment:

• DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis) vaccine. This vaccine prevents diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough.



• Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b) vaccine. This vaccine prevents Hib infections such as brain infections (meningitis), bloodstream infections (bacteremia and sepsis), lung infections (pneumonia), and an infection of the throat that can completely block a child's ability to breathe (epiglottitis).



• IPV (inactivated polio vaccine). This vaccine prevents polio.



• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. This vaccine prevents infections caused by the pneumococcus including bloodstream infections, meningitis, and pneumonia.

At either the two- or four-month visit, your child will receive:

• Hepatitis B vaccine. This vaccine prevents a serious liver infection caused by hepatitis B.

(Source:http://www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,5413,00.html)

Mother's Milk Tea & More Breast Milk

I've been so busy taking care of Patty that I haven't been able to blog much. However I wanted to tell all you breastfeeding moms about Mother's Milk Tea. I was producing milk but I kept reading about women who could pump 8 ounces per session and I wanted to be one of them. After reading a few message boards I noticed that a lot of people recommended fenugreek along with other herbs. I'm not very good at taking pills so when I found out that a tea existed that contained a combination of different galactogues, I decided to try it. It was only $5 and I thought if it doesn't work at least I'll have some healthy tea to drink. I drank one cup and by the evening I was bursting with milk. It's been a couple of days and I can feed my daughter on one breast while pumping the other. Before I could only get 3 to 4 ounces per session from both breasts but since drinking the tea I can pump a new bottle ever 1.5 hrs. I can only speak on behalf of myself when I say this tea works wonders. I purchased mine from GNC but a link is below if you want to order it online.

The Happiest Baby on the Block

Patty had a doctor's appointment today. While one of the female assistants was checking her she began talking about her own child and asked if I had read the book "The Happiest Baby on the Block." She raved about how it saved her life. I was very intrigued because although I have a fairly calm child, I always look for ways to improve my parenting and new techniques that are more efficient. When I get home, I googled the book and what do I find....a bunch of basic concepts that you should have learned from your mother or received from the hospital staff. I sarcastically told my husband what the book recommends. He laughed and said "maybe she didn't go to those prenatal classes." So for those of you who missed the basics and are pulling your hair out, here are a few tips that should have you feeling better in no time:

Swaddle
Wrap your baby in her favorite blankie as if she was a caterpillar in a cocoon. My daughter is swaddled every night and placed on her back. This helps her calm down and get into a deep sleep.

Stomach
If your baby can roll over or turn his head from side to side without getting caught in the covers, let him sleep on his tummy. In the day time, I let my daughter sleep on her belly since she has excellent head control.

Swing
Rock your little one back and forth when it's time for a nap or consider using a mechanical swing when you are tired.

Suck
Babies have a natural reflex that makes them want to suck. Give them a bottle or a pacifier. If they take either then the problem has been addressed.

Shush
Now I do not do this because it does not work for me. However some people find that making the "shush" sound calms their baby.

One thing that I must add to the list is that my daughter needs a night light. From day one if we turned off the light at night time she woke up and screamed like a banshee. I soon learned that the tv must stay on with the volume turned down. I could buy a real night light but I like to wake up to the home shopping network's latest doo hickey. Other things that you can also do to help is changing the baby's diaper, walking the baby, letting the baby cry for a few minutes and massaging the baby's stomach. There are many techniques to help your baby relax, but ultimately you have to interpret your child's cries, coos, facial expressions, and body language to determine the best choice.

Support System with Newborn Child

I have always known that having a healthy support system of friends and family is a basic requirement of a successful life. However this did not hit me over the head so forcefully until this week. I grew up in a large family where having 5 or 6 children is the norm. There were always people available to help take care of the kids whether it was preparing a bottle, watching them while mom went to the store or just playing with child so dad could get a moment of peace. Now that I have my little girl I realize how important the concept of "it takes a village" truly is. I am with my baby 100% of the time with a few short breaks when her dad comes home. Every single friend and family member is over an hour away. Gone are the days when I could just hop in my car to go the store or take my time with eating. Using the bathroom when it is an emergency has taken a back seat the grunts and cries of the baby. My husband came home last night and said "Does she cry like this in the day time?" I smiled and replied "Yes." He is now saying that being home alone with her all day is a bit too much for anyone and that maybe I should put her in day care part time. Although that sounds like a good idea it exposes her to unnecessary illnesses and influences that can easily be avoided. I love my little girl with all my heart but I would be doing every mother a disservice by saying that I am never exhausted by caring for her. Oh well I guess I will have to pay $3/gal and start taking some long one hour drives every week.

Infant Baby Fever

It's the season for colds, flu, and every thing in between. I was on a disinfection mission last week as my husband sneezed his sickness into the air. I warned him about not taking the flu shot, but as a man he boasted that he has never had the flu. Well something had him in bed from Wednesday to Sunday and it definitely wasn't the common cold. As for me I'm doing great. However my little girl just developed a slight fever of 99.3 (Fahrenheit) today. I was a little panicked because they informed me that if she developed a fever before 2 months she would automatically be placed in the hospital for 48 hours of observation. I did a little internet search while waiting for the pediatrician to come back from her lunch break and I'm feeling a little less anxiety. Her pediatrician is taking a lunch break at the moment so I have to wait for a while. I checked out a few internet resources and I'm feeling better now.

The following information is from http://www.babycenter.com/0_fever_84.bc

"A temperature reading isn't the only indication of whether a fever is serious. Your baby's age is a factor (fever is more serious in babies under 3 months), as is his behavior (a high fever that doesn't stop him from playing and feeding normally may not be cause for alarm).
Keep in mind that everyone's temperature rises in the late afternoon and early evening and falls between midnight and early morning. The natural cycle of our internal thermostat explains why doctors get most of their phone calls about fever in the late afternoon and early evening.
Ask your baby's doctor when she'd like you to call if your baby has a fever. Common guidelines are:

• If your baby is less than 3 months old and has a temperature of 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C) or higher, call the doctor immediately. A baby this young needs to be checked for serious infection or disease.

•For a baby between 3 and 6 months old, call if his temperature reaches 101 degrees F (38.3 degrees C) or higher.

• If your baby is 6 months or older, call if his fever reaches 103 degrees F (39.4 degrees C) or higher."

Before I finished this article my daughter's fever was gone. LOL.

Understanding the Crying It Out Method

For some people, the Cry It Out method, means ignoring your babies needs and subjecting a child to unnecessary stress. However such beliefs are due to misinformation and lack of understanding. As all parents know, babies cry because that is their only form of communication. They cannot tell you if they are hungry, wet, hurting, or overstimulated. It is up to each mom and dad to address any sign of a child's distress. However once bedtime arises, each parent must determine if they have attended to all basic and emotional needs. If the answer to that question is yes then decide if the child simply wants to be held. This is where many people disagree. With an appropriate cry it out process, cries are not ignored. The parent checks on the child to make sure there is not a problem, but the child is NOT picked up. You may rub the baby's head or stomach. You can let the child hold your hand. You can even just stand there and look at the baby. However the key is not picking up the child when their needs have already been met. Eventually the baby will cry himself to sleep. After 3 nights, the crying usually subsides and the child learns to go to sleep on their on at the appropriate time. Whether you agree or disagree with this method, it is a personal choice that each parent must make to keep their peace of mind.

Start Saving for College at Birth

Do you have a college savings for your child? I don't mean your personal savings or 401K that you can dip into whenever there is an emergency. I'm talking about a 529 plan or a Coverdell ESA. Before my daughter was born this was on my mind quite often. As soon as I got her social security card, I filled out the paperwork and put it on automatic draft. I've noticed that I rarely miss those draft payments since I never see the money in my hand. Since it was so easy for me to set up, I mentioned the savings plans to several friends and family members. Oddly people do not seem very interested in doing this. I guess they feel the money will magically appear when their child turns 18. I'm sure that scholarships will still be around and the loan sharks will still be in business. However not every child takes tests well and starting life with a big debt over your head is no fun. Regardless of what anyone else is doing, my precious Patty is going to have a headstart in life even if she doesn't have a clue about the process.

RSV Respiratory Syncytial Virus

It's that time of year when our little ones are susceptible to all types of germs that cause cause illness. One of the worst conditions for newborns is Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). It's highly contagious and can live of the surface of common household items. Below is a small excerpt about this common but potentially fatal disease.

	Respiratory Syncytial Virus "Clinical features: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia among infants and children under 1 year of age. Illness begins most frequently with fever, runny nose, cough, and sometimes wheezing. During their first RSV infection, between 25% and 40% of infants and young children have signs or symptoms of bronchiolitis or pneumonia, and 0.5% to 2% require hospitalization. Most children recover from illness in 8 to 15 days. The majority of children hospitalized for RSV infection are under 6 months of age. RSV also causes repeated infections throughout life, usually associated with moderate-to-severe cold-like symptoms; however, severe lower respiratory tract disease may occur at any age, especially among the elderly or among those with compromised cardiac, pulmonary, or immune systems... Prevention: Development of an RSV vaccine is a high research priority, but none is yet available. Current prevention options include good infection-control practices, RSV-IGIV, and an anti-RSV humanized murine monoclonal antibody. RSV-IGIV or the anti-RSV humanized murine monoclonal antibody can be given during the RSV outbreak season to prevent serious complications of infection in some infants and children at high risk for serious RSV disease (e.g., those with chronic lung disease and prematurely born infants with or without chronic lung disease). Frequent handwashing and not sharing items such as cups, glasses, and utensils with persons who have RSV illness should decrease the spread of virus to others. Excluding children with colds or other respiratory illnesses (without fever) who are well enough to attend child care or school settings will probably not decrease the transmission of RSV, since it is often spread in the early stages of illness. In a hospital setting, RSV transmission can and should be prevented by strict attention to contact precautions, such as handwashing and wearing gowns and gloves..." Please visit http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/respiratory/rsvfeat.htm to read the entire article and obtain more information.

Snuggle up Baby

Patty has been a little fussy today. I took the advice of nice woman who told me to try using a snuggly or sling with her when she acts this way. It has worked wonders. I haven't heard a peep out of her the entire time and I've been all around the house. I guess she just feels better being close to mommy.

Baby Sleeping Schedule

My darling baby girl finally has a sleeping schedule during the day time. She wakes up with my husband before he goes to work. I change her diaper, feed her and she falls asleep again until 9:00 AM. She wakes up, I change her diaper, feed her and she sleeps until 11:30 AM. She wakes up I wash and dress her, then she goes to sleep until 2:30 PM. She wakes up, I change her, feed her and she sleeps until 5:00 PM. That is where the routine ends. When my husband gets home, he has the tv going, all the lights on, video games flashing and every thing else. He has the nerve to say, "she needs to be on a schedule." SHEESH!!

Fussy Baby Recipe

Patty loves this recipe. Not only does it eliminate gas, but it gets rid of watery stools without making her constipated. It also helps her sleep for approximately 3 hours. The recipe below is for moms still building their milk supply. If you can pump 4 ounces of breast milk then eliminate the formula and water. Enjoy.

Hot Patty Toddy
2 ounces of breast milk
1 scoop of formula
2 tablespoons of rice cereal
Fill 4 ounce bottle with warm water
Shake, remove all air bubbles, and serve

(To prevent gassiness and colic, I only use bottle drop in bags instead of the bottle alone)

Breast Pump & Breast Milk Problems

After much anticipation, I finally received my Medela New Pump In Style Original Breast Pump. Initially I could have cried because I was not able to get a single drop of milk. Fortunately my husband discovered that I did not have the tubing pushed all the way against the motor port. The first time I was able to get 2 ounces of milk. After calling the lactation specialist to find out why I wasn't pumping a full bottle, she informed me that this was normal and a very good amount. Well my little girl is 24 days old and already taking a hearty 4 ounces. As a result, I mix formula and rice cereal with her 2 ounces during each feeding. She is quite satisfied. Before doing this, I was feeding from the breast on demand and she would literally feed all day long. Luckily I work from home, but I was never told a small but a very important detail. Breast milk is easily digested, so a baby may feed up to 18 times a day whereas a formula fed baby eats every 2 to 3 hours (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breastfeeding). Initially I didn't know what was going on but after the first couple of days I started giving her cereal with her milk any way.

My Baby Eats (Drinks) Rice Cereal

Love me or hate but YES my newborn baby is already getting rice cereal once a day with her breast milk. She rests better and her "bowel movements" are not a watery mess. Thus far she is a very content and happy baby when her belly feels satiated. I'm from the old school of common sense that says if it isn't broke don't fix it. My mother and sisters all gave their children baby cereal in their bottles very early on. Even my pediatrician suggested this to settle my daughter's stomach. Contrary to popular belief (not hard science), none of my sisters and brothers became obese or developed food allergies from this practice. In addition, only 2 children out of my 12 nieces and nephews are overweight. Both cases are due to genetics and them sneaking food late at night. To collaborate what my family has known all along, a new report has been issued from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Source:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22527940/
"Earlier advice about restricting certain foods from moms’ and babies’ diets has been tossed out and the only surefire advice remaining is to breast-feed.

The report says:

• There is no convincing evidence that women who avoid peanuts or other foods during pregnancy or breast-feeding lower their child’s risk of allergies.
• For infants with a family history of allergies, exclusive breast-feeding for at least four months can lessen the risk of rashes and allergy to cow’s milk.
• Exclusive breast-feeding for at least three months protects against wheezing in babies, but whether it prevents asthma in older children is unclear.
• There is modest evidence for feeding hypoallergenic formulas to susceptible babies if they are not solely breast-fed.
• There is no good evidence that soy-based formulas prevent allergies.
• There is no convincing evidence that delaying the introduction of foods such as eggs, fish or peanut butter to children prevents allergies. Babies should not get solid food before 4 to 6 months of age, however.

The evidence for the earlier recommendations was weak and hasn’t been strengthened by new research."

FMLA over

After 3 weeks of being by my side, my wonderful husband went back to work today. I thought it would be very difficult because of all the support he provided, but Patty and I did very well. The housekeeper came and cleaned every thing from top to bottom and I've been able to do some online work. My daughter is definitely not a fussy baby. Even when she is awake, she seems very content. I'm supposed to wake her around 5PM, feed her, change her and put her down to sleep so I can have some quiet time with Dad. We will see if it works. I hope so.

Must Have Book for New moms

I absolutely love "Nursing: The First Two Months." I received it free during my hospital stay and have found a wealth of information. This book has helped me tremendously through my first few weeks at home with Patty. It's not just about nursing, but also gives information on uterine bleeding after childbirth, differences in what to expect from a vaginal vs. cesarean delivery and has great advice on dealing with fatigue. Most of the issues that I have dealt with thus far were succinctly addressed. The pamphlet is provided by Mead Johnson (makers of Enfamil) so it was included in my Enfamil diaper bag at the hospital. If you don't see it in your delivery room, just ask for it. I'm sure that one of the nurses will be able to get you one for no cost. If you want to order one, the book is extremely inexpensive compared to the information that is offered.

Pediatrician Appointment

Patty went to the pediatrician yesterday. During her examination the doctor gave me some good information. Since her crusty eye may be due to a clogged tear duct instead of conjunctivitis, she instructed me to use my pinky finger and gently press the corner of her eye that is closest to her nose a few times a day. The watery stools that I thought was diarrhea are normal for breastfed babies. However I'm going to continue to add a little bit of baby cereal to her milk because watery poop is too messy. Also she seems satiated and rests longer when she has more sustenance with her milk. There is one more issue that will have to be addressed with her feet, but I will get to that later. Overall she is a very healthy little girl.

Losing Pregnancy Weight

Today I weighed myself. To my surprise, not only have I lost all of my pregnancy weight, but an extra 5 pounds as well. I gained somewhere between 11 to 15 pounds during my pregnancy so there wasn't much to lose. Since I haven't been able to do much moving around due to the cesarean surgery, I know that breastfeeding has been the source of this silver lining. Ladies if you are able to breastfeed even a little, DO IT. It's beneficial to the baby and as you can see it's beneficial to mommy as well.

My Top 5 Reasons for Breastfeeding
5. Milk is ready and warm immediately
4. Minimizes uterine bleeding and may delay onset of period
3. Helps Mommy lose pregnancy weight
2. It's the most nutritious food for human infants
1. It's FREE

Treating Infant Diarrhea

Mommy and Baby Patty are sick today. We both have a case of diarrhea. Since Patty is only 2 weeks old, the pediatrician has directed me to mix my breast milk with rice cereal so that she does not become dehydrated. I finally realized that I wasn't going to be able to manually pump a bottle of milk, so I sent my husband to buy a dual breast pump. Not only will it allow me to give her the baby cereal right now, but it will allow my husband to feed her when I am tired. Here is the big question. Does any one have an extra $200 to spare? UGH