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Protect Your Little Ones from Mosquitos July 17, 2008

Posted by artinshamrocks in Infants- Sleeping and Napping, Nursery, Toddlers, active kids, babies, health, safety, summer fun.
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Mosquitos are an unpleasant nuisance and can ruin an enjoyable summer evening but they also carry West Nile which could be deadly especially to am infant.   An ounce of prevention is much better than a infant howling with itchy red welts.        Understanding what attracts mosquitoes is as important as understanding what repels them.  Mosquitos like humidity such as perspiration and moist plants, dark clothing, carbon dioxide, floral scents, still air, early mornings or evenings and lactic acid which is released after exercising or eating salty or high-potassium foods.  People who eat garlic are often not bothered by insects as much.  Avoid taking your infant out at night and dump all old standing water such as rain barrels and items that have accumulated water. 

You might want to try several of the suggestions below.

 -  Dress your infant or small child in long sleeves and long pants-even if it’s really hot you can easily choose a light fabric which will help cover their bare legs and arms. Mosquitos are attracted to bright colors.
 
- If you have mosquitos in your house your children and infants should wear loose long-sleeved pajamas and sleep under a light sheet.
 
- A moving fan may prevent mosquitoes from landing near a crib but be sure it is not within reach of the baby or small child.
 
- Children should never use a DEET concentration over 10% since beyond this concentration they can get systemic absorption and be more susceptible to the effect of DEET.   Read labels carefully! There are repellents made specifically for infants for purchase in drug stores.
 
-  Lemon eucalyptus mosquito repellent smells nice and has no DEET but you should check the label for suggestions for infants and toddlers.  Organic eucalyptus and lemon balm oils are also both natural and effect.  Two ounces of chopped garlic mixed into a cup of warm water makes a fairly reliable organic spray but it does smell bad. Soybean oil has also been known to be effective. Many parents say that Avon Skin-so-Soft can repel the majority of mosquitoes. Mosquitos may land but not bite.
- Use insect screen with fine mesh on windows and doors in the house and tents.  Use a mosquito net over beds if mosquitos cannot be kept out but be sure the net is secure so that a baby cannot get tangled in it.  A small net is great for a stroller when you have outside events-just drape over stroller and tuck in the edges.  Some strollers even come with a bug net.

 -  Never allow children to apply their own mosquito repellent since they may inadvertently apply too much.

 -  Apply insect repellent to children’s clothing too.
 
-  Plant marigolds around your patio area and places where children play.  Marigolds are a natural insect repellent.  Lemon grass is also a natural repellent.  These plants help but do not completely repel pesky mosquitoes.  Light citronella candles on your porch or patio too in the evenings when the family is out. Citronella candles reduced mosquito bites by 42% and citronella incense reduced bites by 24%.
 
-  Make sure to trim your child’s nails.  If the child has a bite it will keep  it from becoming infected if he or she does scratch.  Cold vinegar helps relieve the itch and sting.
 
 -  Check on the label to see if the makers of the repellent say that it is safe for young children.  If they do not say it is safe, avoid using it on babies and toddlers. Make sure that the bug repellant is DEET free!  DEET has been shown to be harmful to young children. 
 

How to Calm a Crying Baby June 9, 2008

Posted by artinshamrocks in Infants- Sleeping and Napping, New Moms, safety.
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Yep, they cry and sometimes they cry a lot!  Caring for a fussy baby can be frustrating and can leave even the most self-confident parent feeling alone. 

Babies cry to communicate-they have to cry because there is no other way for a baby to talk.  They cry to tell you they hungry or thirty, uncomfortable, ill, bored, tired, scared or even lonely.  Some babies cry before bed or nap time just because they are very tired.  Sometimes they may be teething, have gas or colic but sometimes the answer is as simple as a diaper change or being picked up and cuddled.  It’s normal for babies to cry sometimes and some people even think it’s good for them.

Here’s some ideas on How to Calm a Crying Baby:

Check first for any physical needs-is the baby hungry, thirsty, need to be burped, too hot or too cold or is the diaper wet or dirty.

Check for signs of illness or fever.  If you think your baby is sick, seek medical attention immediately.

Try rocking the baby or hold the baby close and sway or bounce him.

Sing or talk to the baby in a soothing voice.

Gently rub or stroke the baby’s back, chest, head or tummy.

Offer a pacifier or try to distract the baby with a favorite or even new toy.

Swaddle the baby with a soft blanket

Turn on some music or any noise-even a vacuum cleaner or clothes dryer might work.

Take the baby for ride outside in a stroller or drive her around in a car seat. 

Try each of these things for a few minutes or a combination of a few together.  If nothing seems to work, it is OK to leave the baby in a safe place (like a crib) and take time to calm down yourself.   Just leave the room and perhaps shut the door.  Take a few deep breaths and relax.  Call a friend or a family member for support or help.  Remember it’s entirely normal for a baby to cry and it’s entirely normal to feel frustrated that you can’t comfort her immediately.

The Baby Army Crawl, Wriggle, Shake and Rock Your Way To Moving April 22, 2008

Posted by artinshamrocks in Infants- Sleeping and Napping, New Moms.
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When my granddaughter was only a couple months old she learned to master the “army crawl.” I can describe this only as a moving forward in a wriggling sort-of motion. With the help of her knees and elbows, she would “wriggle’ her way little by little towards he goal destination. She was quite excited and so were we because now she could get to her favorite toys on her own.

The cats were less enthused.

Don’t worry how your baby chooses to move around, as long as it happens. Any type of crawling is just a “transitional skill” with the ultimate goal being able to walk. Some babies even crawl backwards before they can go the other way, and while this may seem and look a little humourous and odd, there is no need for concern.
Different babies do different things at different times, and your baby will not be like any other baby. (This I guarantee is true to all you moms out there, right?) So do not compare your first child walking at 9 months to your second child still crawling at 13 months.
Every baby has his own unique style of crawling-each finding his own solution to getting to that cat or toy. And they will go after the cat.
There are a number of things though that a parent can do to encourage movement:
*give the baby a long opportunity to be on his or her belly
*avoid restricting the child with layers of clothing or blankets
*let your baby know that movement is great and cheer him or her on
*get down on the floor with your baby to encourage her to experiment
*make these sessions short because for a baby this can be not only frustrating but tiring.
One very positive perk plus to this “tummy time,” is that babies who exercise often sleep well at night. Woo hoo! Floor work is really work, not only physically but mentally too. It takes a host of developmental stages for a baby to learn to get across the room. Some of these skills are spatial skills but also later they have to detect safe versus risky ground and sensitivity to the locations of things.
 Depth perception, navigational skills and decision-making all go into a good “army crawl” workout. No wonder my granddaughter sleeps well.

Is Your Child Attatched To a Stuffed Animal or Blanket Permanantly? Do You Worry About it? April 20, 2008

Posted by artinshamrocks in Infants- Sleeping and Napping.
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We have all had our favorite stuffed animal, blanket, or constant take-along companion with us at point or the other. (Even if you don’t remember it, I bet your parents do!) Children especially infants take comfort in familiarity of non-mommy-daddy objects and this can be a great way to make your child comfortable no matter where you are!

Studies actually say that children who sleep with a constant “lovie” or an array of stuffed animals feel safer and sleep better, especially after making the move from an in-room bassinet or bedside sleeper into a crib. This is especially important if the crib is in it’s own separate room from where they are familiar sleeping.

In the hospital a nurse told us to take the baby into each room of the house slowly when you first bring them slowly so that they have a basic idea of the layout of the house. If the baby has spent a lot of time in your room or sleeping with you, experts recommend a gradual move to their own room, as a sudden change of routine can cause fear, panic, and stress.

If you are planning on moving your baby (and they are old enough to safely) be able to sleep in their own room the best thing to do is spend time in the room with your baby during the day. Playing with your child in the room will get him or her comfortable to the look and feel of the room. You can put the baby down into the crib intermittently, but make sure that you are near so that the child does not feel abandoned.

After a while your child will begin to feel comfortable in the crib, especially is surrounded by their familiar toys and blankets and will begin to enjoy playing alone for periods of time, which is good for mental development and aids independence and creativity down the road.

And even if baby has become too big to sleep in her bassinet, don’t just sell it or give it away just yet. The basinet is a GREAT personalized up-close to television seat and play area. I also move the bassinet with me when I blog so she is by the bed so that feels involved in what I’m doing rather than being ignored.

The more comfortable and loved a child feels the more independent and happy they will be and the easier it will be for them to adjust to new situations. So pour on the love. Good thing love doesn’t put on pounds like those part-partum cravings huh?