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If we let nature take its own course and do not meddle too much in its ways, it usually works to our benefit. Scientists have for long known that breastfed babies are healthier and happier than formula-fed babies. Formulaic preparations for babies came into vogue during World War II and became the norm because of the convenience they offered. However, as we know today the convenience came at a cost to the babies, who were more vulnerable to illnesses as compared to babies fed on breast milk.
Breast milk is healthy because –
• The very first milk, colustrum, which is produced for the first two three days is a nutrient-packed thick whitish liquid that benefits the baby’s guts by helping good bacteria achieve an ascendancy over harmful bacteria. This is crucial because a baby’s digestive system is sterile when he is born. Colustrum is low in fat and high in carbohydrates, protein, and antibodies. Also it is easily digested by the baby. Colustrum has a laxative effect which helps the baby to pass the first stools, meconium, which is thick and tarry. It also helps to clear the baby’s body of excess bilirubin and prevent jaundice. Colustrum provides the baby with antibodies and white blood cells thereby preparing it to face life outside the womb.
• The second stage begins on the fourth day when the breast milk changes consistency and becomes thinner. It is no longer densely packed with antibodies but is still full of nutrition for the baby.
• Breast-fed babies are less susceptible to illnesses such as ear infections, disorders of the digestive systems, allergies, colds, flu, pneumonia, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, etc. A huge benefit of breastfeeding is that offers a lifetime of protection against ulcerative colitis, insulin dependent diabetes, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, and Crohn’s disease.
• Women who breastfeed their babies for a period of around two years reduce their chances of contracting breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Breastfeeding is also a natural birth control mechanism as women who breastfeed their babies do not get their periods back till they have stopped breastfeeding the babies.
So, it is important to remember that breast milk is hugely beneficial to both the mother and the baby.
Communicating with your baby in sign language not only allows you to develop a bond with your baby and understand his requirements, it fast tracks your baby’s mental development. Not to mention, it is a wonderful means of having fun with your baby.
It’s an established fact that babies pick up sign language before they learn a spoken tongue and if they can be encouraged to communicate thus parents will be spared the tantrums of a frustrated baby. Gestures denoting hunger, sleepiness, and need for help are basic gestures and can be taught.
Babies can pick up visual gestures quite fast and with some training they will be able to relate a gesture to an activity or an object. If you can do it regularly, your baby will pick it up and when you accompany gestures with relevant words, your baby will pick those up too. Communication is learnt by imitation and therefore consistent correct training by the parents will do your baby a world of good as you are going to help him lay the foundation of good communication skills.
First time parents, especially those who live in a nuclear family without the support system that an extended family provides, often struggle for information and are faced with puzzling issues every day. This adds to the mirth and excitement of caring for a baby but also causes some helplessness if the parents don’t know how to react to a situation.
Do not worry if the first few bowel movements of your baby result in a greenish black and sticky discharge, this is called meconium. Later on the stools take on a runny consistency and a mustard yellow color. Babies can have bowel movement one to two times after every feed.
Lactating mothers should be aware that for the first two-three days after childbirth they produce colustrum which may not be much in quantity but is crucial for the life-long health of the baby. The colustrum initiates bowel movement that helps eliminate the meconium. Keep in mind that breastfeeding your baby during the beginning two-three days is very important. Also the more you suckle your baby the more it stimulates milk production in you.
Do not stress yourself if you find tiny white pimples on the baby’s face. These are termed milia and are caused by the baby’s oil glands getting clogged. They do not require any treatment and go away on their own in a few days.
Often you will find yellowish flakes collecting on the baby’s scalp. This is seborrhiec dermatitis and you can get rid of it using some baby oil or olive oil on the scalp. Follow the oil massage with a gentle shampoo bath and then use a gentle scrub to remove the scales.
Babies come with their own sweet joys and also bring exasperations to the new parents. It’s not uncommon to see bleary-eyed parents complaining about a lack of sleep. Babies function on a different biological clock, one that is programmed more to keep the parents awake at night rather than getting some sleep for the baby.
The sleep pattern of a baby gets set during the early days when they experience erratic sleep patterns. Parents rock them to sleep and babies come to expect being rocked to sleep every time they are in their parent’s arms or after a session of breastfeeding.
So, in order to cultivate a proper sleeping habit in your baby, do not allow him to fall asleep in your arms. The best place for your baby to get sleep is in his bed, so inculcate in him the habit to sleep independently. However, ensure that he does not get deprived of his mother’s touch and in fostering an independent sleeping habit the bond between mother and touch that is formed by togetherness and touch during the early days does not get strained. Place the baby on the cot sleepy but awake.
Set a routine for the baby, babies need a lot of sleep and if they can have a pattern or a routine then you can work out your schedule according to their routine. Place the baby to sleep at the same time every night; soon the baby will learn to fall asleep on his own at that particular time. Encourage the baby to fall asleep independently after around 3 months.
As far as possible put the baby to sleep on his back, it is the only known way to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Keep the baby’s sleeping area clear of soft toys and blankets. The baby’s cot should not be very soft, it should be firm and you should use a safety-approved crib mattress. Give the baby a good sleeping area and get him to follow a routine, soon you will be able to get back your night’s rest.
Baby clothes are an expensive proposition not only because they cost a lot but also because your bundle of joy will outgrow them before he’s had the chance to wear them enough number of times for you to show him off in his cute dress to all the neighbors.
Therefore, it will help if you approach the buying of clothes for your baby with some kind of a plan. What are the main requirements from a baby’s apparel? Well, the clothes should be comfortable, easy to wear and easy to wash. Keeping these factors in mind you should buy clothes with elastic waistbands or trousers that can be worn like pajamas that have cords. Skirts for the girl child should have shoulder straps that make it easy to adjust the dress according to height.
See if you can buy socks without shaped heels, this will let the socks take shape as your child grows. Also if you purchase socks of a particular brand you stand a better chance of getting a replacement should you lose one from the pair.
Give unbranded clothes a thought, if they look like they will provide the comfort, try them. Of course, a great thing would be to present your baby with garments lovingly stitched by you. This way you can also attach additional buttons to the shirt and add folds to trousers that can be opened as the baby grows. Keep in mind that whatever you purchase, cotton is king as far as drape, appeal, aesthetics, and comfort are concerned.
Ingenuity and ideas will help you a lot in getting the maximum out of the clothes that your baby outgrows. If the sleep suit is getting short you can snip away the feet to remove the constraining narrowness, if any and prolong wear of the night suit by a couple of months. Tiered skirts are easy to lengthen by adding another tier of the same or contrasting material. Denim trousers that may have become too short can be cut off at the knees and made into shorts. You could remove the sleeves and legs of your kid’s winter sleep dresses and turn them into summer sleep dresses. Similarly, a jacket that your kid has outgrown can be turned into a smart waistcoat by removing the sleeves.
Care, of course plays a large role in ensuring the longevity of your baby’s clothes. A simple thing such as following the manufacturer’s washing instructions can help you make the clothes last longer and retain good condition. Fabric protectors can be used to eliminate spills and stubborn grime from collars and cuffs. Cute baby socks can be made to shine and last longer if the cotton socks are washed in hot water with a slice of lime.
A video on tips for changing baby diapers.
Get Your Baby to Sleep the Night
By: Deborah Nelson
Getting sleep becomes all the more precious when you have a newborn who wakes roughly every two to three hours to eat. Some newborns sleep longer stretches; parents of those babies are fortunate.
If you have a baby who doesn’t sleep a long time and you’d like to improve how much sleep you and your baby get, try these ideas:
Baby Monitors Give Parents Peace Of Mind
By: Anne Morris
Years ago, parents kept track of their babies by waiting for them to cry out and then checking on them. At one time, it was even advised by the experts not to check in too often, but to stick to a rigid schedule.
Times have certainly changed. Now days there are monitors which will let parents listen in to the baby’s room so they will know if he is awake or asleep. They can also utilize a video monitor to keep the baby in sight while he is in his crib. They can even set up the monitors to spy on the babysitter.
