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Baby Bottoms July 7, 2008

Posted by artinshamrocks in New Moms, Toddlers, babies, health.
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As the weather heats up, so does diaper rash and yeast infections.

Infants are more vulnerable to diaper rash in the summer.  Heat, humidity and perspiration all can aggravate sensitive bottoms. 

Diaper rash is a red, spotty inflamed rash.  To prevent it change your child’s diapers frequently and let baby go diaper-free for 15 or 20 minutes.  A brief sun bath in a sunbeam can also help.  If its too late to prevent it use a squirt bottle with water to cleanse the area and avoid scented baby wipes.  Be gentle and apply a diaper ointment that contains zinc oxide.  This type of product soothes the skin and protects it from getting too moist.  A very light dusting of unscented talc or even corn starch is also good after the ointment is applied.  If the rash does not go away, talk to your doctor or if the rash includes blisters or pus-filled bumps you child might have a yeast infection or even a staph infection.

Candida (yeast infection) normally lives on our skins and usually does not cause a problem.  But in the hot months of summer, children in diapers are targets for yeast infections.  This rash is also red and usually bumpy.  It can itch, burn and ooze a clear liquid.  A child on antibiotics may also be more susceptible because these medications kill the good bacteria that keeps yeast in check.  The rash is usually found in the skin folds of the diaper area and baby girls are slightly more likely to have a yeast infection.  For treatment you can try an over-the-counter antifungal treatment such as Lamisil or Lotrimin AF but a call to your pediatrician is best.

Veggie Lovers? June 11, 2008

Posted by artinshamrocks in Food and Goodies, Food and Nutrition, New Moms, health.
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Do you have a picky eater?  A new study found that babies ate more vegetables after about eight days of tasting them.  Offer small amounts of a new food several times so your child gets use to the taste.  Model good eating habits.  Let your child see you enjoying your spinach and Brussels sprouts.  This same study found that breast-fed babies accepted fruits and veggies when their moms regularly ate them.

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.

Baby Talk June 1, 2008

Posted by artinshamrocks in New Moms, Toddlers, education.
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Babies start to understand the meaning of words as early as age 6 months, maybe even earlier.  When they begin talking at around 12 months, their average vocabulary consists of about six words.  This increases to a few hundred words rapidly-mostly nouns-by age 2.  Young toddlers learn words for tangible objects more easily than intangible objects.  For example, a toddler might reach for the cat’s tail and say “kitty”.  “Tail” is a more sophisticated concept.  My daughter thought all the zoo animals were “Yaks” and also included cows and horses in that category. It was cute but not very effective.  So how can you best help your child learn her complicated language skills?
 
First, when the child reaches to say kitty to the cat’s tail.  Use your hand and words to explain that the whole animal is kitty or the cat’s name and that the long twitching part is her tail.  When a child sees a clown’s face she might say “clown” while touching or pointing to the fascinating red shiny nose.  She thinks of the whole object as “clown”.  So to be clear, you need to first explicitly show the whole clown and say “clown”.  When she seems to grasp this idea, you can point to the clown’s nose and your nose and her nose and say “nose”. 
 
These distinctions matter and without them the child could be left with incorrect assumptions about what thing are and mean.  So every animals becomes a yak!  Luckily, kiddos learn very quickly and they can easily relearn misinformation. 
Another thing you can do is read, read, read!  Reading aloud is essential.  Even infants benefit from hearing the sound of the words as you show the pictures.  You can also play the naming game by pointing at objects wherever you are and labeling them for your child.  It’s not necessary to overdo this, just have fun with it.   It’s fascinating to watch a young child learn language and even in bilingual homes the child can quickly and easily grasp many concepts, words and meaning in more than one  language.   Work with your child a little and enjoy them as they discover a whole new world of language.  Too soon they will be chattering none stop. 
 

Separation Anxiety, How to Make It Easier For Baby AND You! May 12, 2008

Posted by artinshamrocks in New Moms, Toddlers.
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How a baby reacts to being separated from a parent varies dramatically from child to child. Some may pitch a real fit and some will take it all in stride. And some might do both at various times. Regardless of your child’s temperament or current mood, it’s a good idea to establish a short, upbeat guilt free good-bye routine and stick to it.

Here’s how:

*Always say good bye-it might be tempting to sneak out while the child is otherwise distracted but don’t! This will only upset your child and undermine his sense of security. Remember that security is everything to a small person. Always hug and kiss your baby before you leave and tell them you’ll be back soon. Even if a child is too young to comprehend these words, he’ll understand the tone and the mood-so be positive and cheerful.
*Keep the good-bye short and sweet-lengthy farewell’s or trips back into the house only make things harder on your baby, yourself and the caregiver.
*Have a happy reunion-greet him with enthusiasm and affection. Never say “I’m so sorry I had to leave you.” This will only lead your child to think that temporary separation is a bad thing.
Leaving your baby in the care of others and establishing a good-bye routine teaches valuable lessons. A baby learns to accept other trusted adults and he learns that you will always return. Later if you put your child in daycare this will be particularly helpful.