Baby Care

Archive for June, 2009

Motherhood fundamentally changes lives of women – from the order of the day up to the distribution of finances. Motherhood also raises awareness of some issues of child health and baby care. Gradually, the young mother begins to realize what is normal, and what requires urgent attention, and perhaps even medical intervention.

Immediately after birth, or within a few weeks after this joyful event on the body of a baby appear birthmarks, which maintain for the entire life of a person. Some of them are typical for children, while others require some more attention and supervision.

If you notice that the child’s birthmark is red, pink or blue color, which is slightly above the skin, then you should inform the dermatologist or pediatrician. These birthmarks are called vascular naevus. In this case, the blood vessels are located very close to the skin, so the hemangioma may be a danger to the health of the child.

There are three types of vascular naevus: a salmon-colored birthmark, hemangioma and naevus flaming, which is also called the wine stain. Although birthmarks are usually harmless, it is better to have them examined and possibly use the latest methods of treatment that have emerged in recent times.

The most frequent type of birthmark is an orange-pink color stain (the color of salmon), which is a scattering of small red marks, located at the bottom of the neck, the bridge of nose or eyelids. These spots will never require treatment and usually disappear after the first year of life.

Hemangioma is a benign tumor, developed from the blood vessels. Hemangioma usually appears in a few weeks after birth. Hemangioma can appear in any part of the body, primarily in the form of a flat red spots, and continues to grow normally until the child is one year old. After that, hemangioma usually pales. By the time the child goes to kindergarten, a spot is almost imperceptible, and by nine years 90% of children permanently cure from this defect.

Although hemangioma is usually harmless, it is important to keep them under observation. If the birthmark begins to bleed or significantly alter the shape / color, consult with a doctor who specializes in pediatric dermatology as soon as possible.

Flaming naevus (Nevus Flammeus) or so called “wine stain” is a birthmark consisting of arachnids expanded blood vessels of skin. These flat, red spots usually occur on the face and on the skin of the head. As hemangioma, “wine stains” grow with your child, but do not become pale and do not become less noticeable.

Taking into consideration that “wine stains” are quite noticeable and in the future can become a serious cosmetic defect, it is recommended to treat them, as soon as possible. It is impossible to remove them surgically , so you should use laser therapy or infrared radiation. In most cases, the appearance of birthmark is improving after the first procedure, but in some cases multiple procedures may be required.

As the child gets older, he/she may be more shy and ashamed of birth stains. To avoid these unpleasant emotions, teach your child to mask or hide the defects of the skin with the help of cosmetics. Qualitative correcting pencil will help reduce the redness of a birthmark. In summer, use bronzing means if you want the skin to look dark and brown. Remember that natural tan only enhances the color of birthmarks, making the more visible. Beautiful make-up, which emphasizes the beauty of individuals, such as eyes or lips helps to divert attention from the birth-stains on the face.

Weaning is the process of introducing your baby to solids after being totally dependent on breast milk for her nutritional need for the first six months of life. You can gradually introduce your baby to minced or mashed foods and foods that need to be chewed. Of course, you may continue to breast or bottle-feed your baby alongside solid foods for as long as it’s comfortable for you and your baby.
As with breastfeeding on demand, Baby Weaning is a method of introducing solid foods that leaves it up to your baby to decide when and how much to eat.  While not necessarily a “hands off” approach, Baby Weaning does advocate allowing your baby to make all food choices for him or herself.
You are the best judge of when it’s time to wean, and you do not have to set a deadline unless you and your child are ready to do so. However, now the Department of Health recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months (26 weeks). Breast milk and formula milk are easy for your baby to digest and provide all the calories and nutrients your baby needs for healthy growth and development. Also, it is thought that the chances of developing allergies are greatest during infancy, so feeding your baby a diet of breast milk or formula until this time helps reduce the risk of introducing allergens. As your baby’s digestive system matures, he or she will be better able to handle different foods without an allergic reaction. Breast or formula milk will continue to be a very important source of nutrition whilst your baby adjusts to a mixed diet and for the first year or so of life. If you feel your baby needs to start solids before this, do talk to your health visitor. The Department of Health used to recommend that babies were started on solids between the ages of four and six months.

How to know when your baby is ready for weaning?
Don’t rush into weaning as a result of pressure from parents or friends, but be guided by the following signals from your baby:
• being unsatisfied after a full milk feed
• demanding increasing and more frequent milk feeds
• weight gain slowing or leveling out without a period of illness to explain why
• after a period of sleeping through the night, your baby begins waking because he/she is hungry

You may also notice your baby showing interest in your food and attempting to put things in his/her mouth.
If you are unsure or concerned about when your baby is ready to begin weaning, talk to your health visitor.

Play is natural, both for children and for adults. We never stop having a need to play; we just have other things to think about. And life tells us that, since these other things are serious, that therefore they are not games.

Suggest your child to «welcome to the sun» in the morning. Turn on a light and pleasant music. Lie down on the floor together with the baby. Then close your eyes. Ask your child to imagine the sky with white clouds and bright warm sun. Then try to imagine other beautiful and kind things, for example animals, or kids playing with the animals. This is such kind of a game that makes you closer with your kid.

Children learn to play primarily from their parents or other adults. Play often provides a training ground from which a child learns to develop skills that will be useful later in life. Although modern sports tend to have fixed rules, children generally prefer games that require less-specialized equipment, preparation, and playing area. Hopscotch, leapfrog, and marbles are particularly popular games, as are the various improvised games that involve running, chasing, and catching. Many games—primarily guessing games, quizzes, and games that test physical coordination—are played by children and adults together.

Share time together with your child; recognize what is most important; see the big picture. All of those other things you do, you do to spend time with your children; maybe you forgot that. Play helps a young mind grow. Every minute of play is a minute of rapt attention at learning something; if it’s not a new task or new information, it is learning that closeness and laughter are possible in this world.

Children crave time with parents.  It makes them feel special.  Parents are encouraged to find time to spend playing with their kids on a regular basis.  This should include one to one with each child and group time with all of the adults and kids in the home.  If you are a single parent or have an only child, occasionally invite family or friends over to play.

In pretend play, let the child develop the theme.  Get into their world.  Let them go with it.  Ask questions.  Play along.  Be silly along with them and have fun.  Avoid over-stimulation.  Know when it is time to stop.

Possible games:

• Play outdoors.  Throw balls.  Push kids on swings.  Make mud pies.  Go on a hike around the neighborhood.  Take a nature walk in your backyard.
• Play games – card games – board games – silly and wacky kids games.  Help them learn to take turns, how to win and how to lose.  Praise them.  Encourage them.  Laugh with them.
• Get involved in a craft project together.  Build a jigsaw puzzle as a family.  Bake cookies.  Paint a picture.
• Listen to music together.  Sing along.  Play rhythm instruments along with music.   Get out the guitar or keyboard and make music.
• Read a book together.  Ask questions.  Ask them to change the story or make up a new one.
• Watch a movie together.  Find out what they liked – how they felt.  Discover the child’s interests.  Comment on and discuss any bothersome content either words or actions.
• Play kid games like:  Follow the Leader – Guess What I Am? – Hide and Seek

Care items
You need to take care of baby’s daily hygiene procedures. To ensure that this is comfortable both for you and for your child, you must have all the necessary items.

• Baby bath chair and bath (when the child starts to sit)
• Thermometer for measuring water temperature.
• Thermometer for measuring air temperature
• Rattles and rings  for teeth
• Cotton sticks (with limiters)
• Comb hair brush (for small children)
• Scissors with blunt ends

Baby Care Products
In order to take care for a child you need toiletries, made specifically for children. They are safe for baby’s tender skin, do not cause irritation of mucous membranes and allergic reactions on the skin, and provide thorough care.

• Baby soap
• Children’s cream
• Baby oil
• Child Protective cream, baby cosmetic milk
• Children shampoo
• Children Bath Bubbles
• Wet wipes
• Sanitary napkins impregnated with oil
• Powder

Child kit
You also need to have medical supplies. You must buy all in advance in order to use it at the right moment.

• Manganese
• Sterile and non-sterile bandage, sterile cotton wool
• Brilliant green (antiseptic)
• Bactericidal plaster
• Hydrogen peroxide 3%
• Suction
• Enema: size-1 (2-3 pieces), one of them, with cut off pears, can be used as a vapor tube
• Thermometer for measuring body temperature (preferably electronic)
• Polyvinyl chloride film or a special children’s oilcloth

Clothes
Buy clothes for your child in sufficient quantities, but not to buy anything extra – the child grows too fast, and many things will change.

• Warm diaper – 4-5 pc.
• Cold diaper – 4-5 pc.
• Warm loose jacket – 3-4 pc.
• Cold loose jacket – 2-3 pc.
• Night cap – 2 pc.
• Warm Hat – 1 pc.
• Sliders – 5sht.
• Light Overall – 3 pc.
• Cloth for walking – light and warm – 3 pc.
• Panties, T-shirt, t-shirts, body – few sets.
• Bib – 2 pcs.
• Apron for feeding from polyvinyl chloride – 2 pcs.
• Socks – 4 pairs.
• Boots.
• Mittens for the smallest (without fingers) anti-scratching
• Overalls for walking – 1 pc.
• Bedding – 2 sets.
• Towel for swimming – 2 pcs.
• A warm woolen blanket – 1 pc.
• Blanket flannelette – 1 pc.
• Sleeping bag or envelope – 1 pc.

Necessary items
All that you buy for your child must be the most convenient and reliable.

• Baby bed with a hard mattress
• Pram (with removable basket, handles on the sides and rear, with the rain, with umbrella or sun visor)
• Swaddling table
• Closet or chest of drawers for child’s clothes
• Arena
• Children’s chair for feeding
• Backpack “kangaroo”
• Infant car seat
• Means to protect the child from the modern life

We already know how much infants need fresh air and sunlight. It is insufficient to confine with ventilation of the space, where the child is. Newborns must daily walk in the fresh air on the hands of the mother, in the sledge, or in a wheel chair. Until the child is still unable to walk, it is best to daily put him to sleep in the fresh air. Fresh air and sunlight enhance the child’s body and protects it from disease, especially from rickets. A child used to walk every day in summer and winter, catches cold much less. Daily walks improve appetite and strengthen the nervous system of the child, the child capricious less and sleep better. In winter, if there is no strong cold wind, you can walk with your child even with the cold of 10-15 degrees.

You can also put the child to sleep outdoors in the afternoon, children should dress in accordance with the seasons.

In winter, the child may sleep in a room with an open window, and it will be very useful for him. When doing so, it is necessary to dress the child as if going for a walk. Close the window about 15 – 20 minutes before the child wakes up. When the room warms up, the warm blanket, warm hat should be taken off the child, otherwise the baby will be hot, and can catch cold later.

You can start taking the baby for a walk when he is two weeks old. Initially, bring the child out for 15 – 20 minutes, then gradually extend the time of walking up to 1.5 – 3 hours. In winter, the child must walk 2 times a day, a total of at least 3 – 4 hours. In the warm season, it is desirable that the baby stays in the air all day.

For walks in the winter time the child should wear a warm hat, as well as a warm blouse. Wrap the baby in diaper, and then in a warm blanket, protecting it from wind. You should close the baby so as not to disturb him to breathe fresh air. In winter, during frosty days it is recommended to lubricate the face of the baby with some kind of fat before leaving for a walk.

Taking the child for a walk in spring and autumn, just turn it into flannelette blanket. In summer, on hot days, you can dress the baby in a light blouse, a white linen hat, protecting the head from overheating sunlight.

You had a bad day, you’re tired and want to relax, therefore, do not hesitate to sit your active baby in front of the TV – it just gives you a few hours of rest. Admit that such a situation is very usual? You can be sure, you are not alone. Recent studies have shown that most children over the age of two should watch TV for more than 10 hours per week (compare with the recommended hour a day for children of this age group). So, besides the responsibility for upbringing of a child, you still bear some blame. However, everything is not lost yet – you are able to reduce the time that your child spends in front of the TV. The principal is to set a simple and realistic goal, for example, limit the time to watching 2 cartoons a day.

Here are some ways how to fill your child’s free time.

• Realistic Assessment of Time which you spend in front of the TV
  How many hours a day your family spends in front of the TV? To answer this question, check (not interfering), how long children remain in front of the TV. This is not just about watching TV shows or cartoons which broadcasts the TV, but on watching video. Start the mini-diary for a week and write down the exact start and finish of TV watching. It is possible that the results will be surprising.
• Make a Plan
  Determine ahead which TV programs children are allowed to watch. Do not switch the TV set when you want to. Having a TV program on hand, make a family TV watching plan and do not deviate from it.
• Do not put the TV in the Centre of the Room
  According to psychological studies, children mostly watch TV when it is in the middle of the room, i.e., in view. Try to move the TV set close to the door for it not to attract your child’s attention.
• Do not forget to turn off the TV
  Studies have shown that about 50% of people do not shut down TV, even when they are not watching it, and go about their business.
• Teach Children to Live without TV
  Don’t allow to watch TV for some time. First don’t let watching TV during meals. Of course, you will meet some resistance, but in such an early age children adopt new rules of the game easily.
• Find Interesting Activities for Children
  Suggest your child drawing. Buy some coloring books, read a book, tell a fairy tale, or just play interactive games.
• Make Use of the Old Toys
  It’s a common knowledge that new toys quickly annoy children. Sometimes hide abandoned toys and then invisibly “throw” them to your child.
• Get Ready to Kindergarten
  Spend some time on preparing your child for kindergarten. Start learning the alphabet and numbers. Select a «letter of the day» and teach your child words beginning with that letter.
• Ask Your Child to Help You at Home
  Children are fond of helping their mother’s in washing dishes, cleaning rooms and in other household activities, so involve them in them. Feel free to trust the child the brush for washing vegetables or the dust cloth– he/she will be flattered by your confidence.
• Join in Singing!
  As a rule, children like songs and sing them with pleasure. Often sing with your child – it develops his speaking and listening skills. In addition, singing teaches to notice the difference between sounds of speech – this skill is very useful especially when children start learning to read.

The pregnancy and childbirth is behind. Best Mom understands that she has everything to be happy with, and a correction of the figure, which breaks moods of many people each day, is a matter of time. After birth the irreversible changes in the figure are taken as a normal fact, but you can and must fight with extra soft centimeters! At first you need positive mood, health feeding and physical activity.

Pregnancy, childbirth and the complexity of the figure. During the first days after birth a woman is going through a duality of feelings. On the one hand, they become accustomed to their round shape, and it is so quite naturally that she feels like flock. On the other hand, its obvious, all acquired problems. And when the old trousers’ fitting begins, the actual panic starts. Stop! A little correction of the figure is still required, but its effectiveness depends primarily on the willingness and efforts of the strong-willed woman.

At the initial stage you must simply bring the situation under complete control. After giving birth, in a few months with normal diet you will have a natural weight loss, maybe you will not have your previous forms, but the weight loss will come for sure. There is nothing unexpected to happen: woman’s body should have a reserve of energy for the normal development of the child and his birth. Alas, the human body can store energy in the form of extra kilos!

Of course, every woman is unique. But there are rules which are equally applicable to all. First – no panic, all is retrievable! The following relates to nutrition. Ideally, the mother feeding the baby with her breast, giving him the most delicious and healthy foods in the world. Her food must be healthy, of high quality and balanced, without the excesses and double servings. Women who, for various reasons do not apply breastfeeding, good nutrition is also needed for recuperation. Organism, during all nine months of has been working very hard, and fasting and trendy diets can be disastrous for him. All this kinds of things, like the time constraints of physical activity should be determined only by physician.

The third rule is the movement. You will need to accelerate weight loss through exercise s and active lifestyle. Swimming pool is ideal for correcting the figure. Note that the waist is the most affected area. Many women prefer Thai massage to effectively reduce its volume. It is wrong to count on a quick result: someone returns her normal figure in two months, someone in a year.

When caring for a child, first and foremost, it is necessary to observe cleanliness. The child, his clothes, bedding, dishes, toys should be clean. You need to thoroughly clean the room in which the child is.

This is necessary because there are a huge number of microbes all around us – in the air that we breathe, the dust, rising from the earth, not boiled water, and all items that we use.

Many types of microbes entering the human body are the reason for different, often very severe contagious diseases. Small children are also particularly susceptible to such diseases.

Microbes can get to a body of a newborn child through the tiny abrasions on his delicate thin skin, through the mouth, with food, with a dummy, through poorly washed dishes, through a toy that a child pulls in the mouth, through laundry.

When breathing, especially when coughing and sneezing, adults and older children, around the child, along with fine drops mucus and saliva emit a large number of microbes that can cause different diseases when a child breathes. The same happens when the surrounding and even his mother kiss the child on the face or the lips.

Therefore, it is necessary to avoid dust, do not allow outsiders close to stoop over the child, breathe on the baby, and kiss him/her.

The cause of contamination can often be dirty hands. We must always remember this and not allow anyone in the family took the child to the hands, play with him, fed him, without washing hands.

Mother is the one that is always with the baby and the closest to the child. Therefore, she should be especially careful to monitor the purity of her body and clothing.

Before we get close to the child or take him on hands, the mother should wash her hands thoroughly with soap and water. Nails on the hands should be short cut. In addition, before each feeding you must wash teat with warm boiled water, to prevent the disease from breast cancer, as well as to prevent the ingress of microbes in the mouth when feeding the child.

Flies play significant role in the spread of germs. The child, taking into his mouth dirty object, can get sick by various intestinal diseases. It is therefore necessary in every possible way to deal against flies and don’t let them fly into home.

A pregnant woman, even with all the desire cannot “drink alone” – she will always be accompanied with a fetus. Alcohol easily passes through the placenta and gets into his body. It doesn’t operate there in a better way. Mothers have long been told that alcohol is not safe for the growing baby. However, it appears that some mothers may be drinking some alcohol, but choosing to do it quietly. The truth is that any amount of alcohol may harm your baby. There is actually a range of problems that affects babies exposed to alcohol, otherwise known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. These effects can range from subtle learning disabilities to central nervous system disorders and facial anomalies. In some cases, alcohol effects may not be seen for years. Researchers from the UK in a 2001 study saw more behavioral problems with children ages 6-7 if their mothers consumed even small amounts of alcohol during their pregnancies in comparison to women who did not consume any alcohol. A new study that was published online in the International Journal of Epidemiology in October looked at the impact of low-levels of alcohol consumption by pregnant women, which they defined as no more than two drinks on any given day and on no more than two days per week. The study looked at more than 12,000 new moms. The moms were asked if they drank during pregnancy, how much, and followed the children through their early years to assess behavior. The result was a finding that moms who had a low-level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy actually had kids with fewer behavior and cognitive problems than moms who didn’t drink at all. There is no certain answer as to whether alcohol is safe or not during pregnancy. Medical professionals both in the US and abroad fall on both sides — some saying that occasional drinks are safe while others say that alcohol is never okay during conception or pregnancy. They all, however, agree that drinking a lot of alcohol is unacceptable.

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a serious health problem that tragically affects its victims and their families, but that is completely preventable. Causing a child to suffer from fetal alcohol syndrome is really nothing short of child abuse and it lasts for life. Babies born with FAS tend to weigh less and be shorter than normal.

They usually suffer from:
• smaller heads
• deformed facial features
• abnormal joints and limbs
• poor coordination
• problems with learning
• short memories

After learning about the pregnancy, a woman often panic and do not know whether it should completely change the habitual diet and move exclusively to a healthy and beneficial food. Well, there is truth – a balanced diet will benefit any woman, and if you adhere to a healthy diet before pregnancy, you need only make some minor changes.

First of all, we recommend that all women who are planning to conceive a child, regularly take folic acid supplement. Diet low in folic acid increases the risk of birth defects, child development, in particular, neural tube defects, i.e. defects of the spine and brain.  Pregnant woman should start taking folic acid at least one month before conception and continue to receive during the first three months of pregnancy. Another tip: drink more fluids, not waiting until you want to drink. In addition, you should not forget to take a sufficient quantity of minerals such as iron and calcium.

Diet during pregnancy: calorie foods

A healthy diet includes a variety of products with high content of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and fats. Pregnant woman is required to take 300 calories more  daily than usual. Moreover, the woman who bears twins, will have to switch to more calorie diet.

Typically, women with normal weight need to dial 12-16 kilograms during pregnancy. Thin woman will increase in weight for 13 – 19 kilograms. Even a fat  woman will have to complete a few extra kilos – a minimum of 7 – 11.

Forget about hot dogs

Of course, everyone knows that there are products that pregnant should now eat. First of all, it is alcohol, some drugs (discuss with your doctor, and gynecologist), and illegal drugs. Also, pregnant women should be excluded from the diet, some fish, such as fillet of shark, swordfish, barracudas and mackerel royal. This fish contains a large amount of mercury that can harm the child development. Mercury in large quantities may also contain canned tuna – Albacore. However, the fillet of tuna, which often can be found in stores, also contains high levels of mercury, but in small quantities, which is quite safe.

Do not drink unpasteurized milk, do not eat soft cheeses on the basis of unpasteurized milk, hot dogs, smoked meats and smoked seafood. Those women who still can not do without hot dogs and abandon smoked food, should make sure to warm up the food, because they may contain bacteria, dangerous both for the woman herself, and for the fetus.

Caffeine in reasonable quantities (for example, one – two cups of coffee) does not threaten the future health of mother and baby.