Baby Care

Archive for December, 2009

These Christmas baby food ideas and tips for the holiday season will help you make baby’s first Christmas extra special!

Your baby’s first Christmas is simply a magical time – for him AND for you! It’s a time to introduce your little one to the wonderful traditions you grew up with and an opportunity for you to re-create wonderful memories from your own childhood.

Christmas dinner for baby can be put together quite easily from your meal, which is traditionally full of healthy veggies – but exactly what you give your baby depends, of course, on his age and stage of development.

Remember: Your baby should be at least 6 months of age before you introduce him to solid foods, unless your doctor has recommended starting earlier.

And, even though it’s Christmas and you’re anxious to include your baby at the Christmas meal, you should still introduce new foods separately and with the consent of his doctor.

This is to prevent and identify food allergies and digestive problems.

Here are some recipes.

1.Turkey

Turkey can be given to your baby from 7 months of age. Here’s a simple Christmas baby food recipe using turkey – remember to cook your baby’s veggies without salt.

1 large turkey slice
1 cooked potato
1 medium cooked carrot
2 cooked broccoli florets

Blend the turkey in a food processor with water or homemade stock until fairly thin. Then add the potato (which will thicken the mixture) and the remaining veggies and puree to the desired consistency. Older babies, already comfortable with finger foods, can be given this meal cut up into bite-sized pieces.

2.Gravy

Commercial gravies tend to be high in salt and are unsuitable for babies. If you would like to create a healthier gravy to accompany these Christmas baby food recipes, then simply take 4 oz (about 1/2 cup) of your cooked veggies and puree with 8 to 12 fl oz (around 1 to 1/2 cups) of the meat juices from the pan (assuming that your meat was not heavily seasoned with salt). Puree them together and serve – you can adjust these quantities to create a thinner or thicker gravy if you prefer.
Another option is to combine arrowroot with homemade chicken stock (1 tbsp arrowroot per 8 fl oz (1 cup) of stock). Pour into a small saucepan and heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens. For a more robust flavour, stir in 1/2 tsp tomato puree.

3. Cranberry Sauce

If your baby has already been introduced to a wide range of solid foods, then it should be fine to add a little cranberry sauce to his holiday meal. But don’t overdo it, as cranberries can upset a sensitive tummy.

4. Potatoes

Depending on where you are in the world, the way in which potatoes are cooked for the Christmas dinner can vary. In the UK, roasted potatoes are common – whereas in the US, most families serve mashed potatoes.

In either case, make sure that any potato you give your baby is free from salt.

5. Chipolatas In Bacon

Also known as ‘Pigs in Blankets”, these are almost a staple of the British Christmas dinner. But they are not suitable for young babies, as these processed meats contain too much salt.

6. Bread Sauce

Bread sauce cooked to a traditional recipe will contain milk, so it would not be suitable if your baby is sensitive to cow’s milk or if a family history of dairy allergy exists. Otherwise, a little creamy bread sauce with baby’s Christmas dinner would be fine and would make a lovely dip for veggies if he is finger-feeding.

The Christmas holiday period is a time when for millions of families the daily routine is likely to change, sometimes drastically or sometimes just a little. If you have a new born, or very young, baby in the house, do not believe that they will not be aware of what’s going on just because they are lazing around in their crib sleeping most of the time. They will be aware of differences in their environment, so it is a good idea to think about the well being of the baby in advance, and plan your Christmas period accordingly.

Probably the first sign that something different is going on in the home will be the Christmas decorations and ornaments going up. While the baby may seem oblivious to all commotion and activity as the decorations go up all around, there is a good chance that a baby who has lived in the house for a few months will be very aware of them, even if they cannot focus on the detail of the decorations themselves. This is a good time to get the baby involved in Christmas, right at the start, by letting them lie in the room being decorated while they are awake. Let them watch the rest of the family as they hang the Christmas tree decorations and lights, and all the other ornaments. Once in a while, take over an ornament that is bright and let her see it up close; find some that make a noise, and let her hear the gentle sounds up close. Nothing too noisy, of course, that will scare the baby, just the gentle sounds. Also, pick her up and take her up close to hanging ornaments. That will help the baby feel a part of what is going on, even if they do not have a clue what it is all about.

If your Christmas holiday is being spent at home, then the routine with the baby need not change too much. If you are expecting a lot of guests, though, then it may be rather different, so try not to forget to plan for the baby too. If you are getting caught up in a frenzy of cooking and other preparation in the days before Christmas, and on Christmas morning, then try to involve the baby just a bit, by allowing her to lie in the kitchen with you, or in whatever room the preparation may be going on. Remember, your baby will sense stress and anxiety in the parents, so it is best to allow plenty of time for your preparation so that you are not too rushed and stressed out.

If the baby is used to having a lot of people around, then she will probably not be too disturbed by the sudden influx of visitors. Even then, remember she needs peaceful periods, and when she joins the throng while awake it is worth keeping an eye on whether she is becoming overwhelmed by too much boisterous attention, especially as the alcohol may flow later in the day, or sooner in some cases. Always remember, your baby just needs love, warmth, care, food and security, so as long as you remain conscious of those things at all times, then your baby can enjoy Christmas as much as you, even though she may not be able to tell you so.

If you are going away, then the routine upset will be greater, so it may not be quite so easy for baby or parents. Everything mentioned above for staying at home still applies, and the travel preparation should be no different than for an ordinary trip away. However, take extra care and ensure you have everything that you will need for the baby while travelling and away, listed well in advance and organised in plenty of time. Depending on where you live, there may not be shops open on Christmas Day, and Christmas Eve shopping may be a stressful nightmare for you and the baby. So, it is well worth getting yourself, and your baby’s, things well organized in advance.

Christmas should be a great time for you, your family and your baby. Much will be just as normal, but it is always worth remembering that she will be aware of anything that is different, whether in surroundings, tension levels, or sounds. If you are breastfeeding, you should be aware that what you eat and drink will provide her milk.

So long as you remain aware of those things, and act accordingly, your baby will be happy, and have a good grounding for getting more involved next Christmas.

Baby’s first Christmas is certainly an event to be treasured. Here are some creative ways to record your first holiday together.

1. Make or buy a personalized ornament. Hang an ornament painted with your baby’s name and birthdate. Every year you can take out this ornament and remember your baby’s first Christmas.

2. Create your first annual photo ornament. Place your baby’s picture in a tiny frame and hang from your Christmas tree. Do the same thing next year and hang the two ornaments next to each other. As the years go by, you’ll have pictures of your baby from each Christmas.

3. Make a Christmas stocking from your baby’s sock. Hang an adorable miniature Christmas stocking next to yours. Decorate it with your baby’s name and the year of his first Christmas.

4. Save your baby’s first Christmas outfit. Dress her in adorable green and red Christmas clothes. These can get stored away and revisited whenever you feel like reminiscing. When you come across it again next year, you’ll realize just how much your child has grown.

5. Give your child a Christmas-themed stuffed animal. There are miniature Santas, reindeers, angels, and elves. As your child grows, you’ll always have it around reminding you of your baby’s first Christmas. It might even become your child’s best friend for a while.

6. Make or buy a personalized Christmas blanket. You can store this with your child’s first Christmas clothes and or hang it on the wall in your baby’s room — assuming you can persuade her to let go of it.

7. Give your baby a Christmas music box. These are treasures that can last a lifetime. He’ll want to fall asleep every night to the peaceful Christmas music.

8. Take plenty of pictures. Get pictures of your child’s face when he first sees the Christmas lights or when he gets his first present. Make sure to also get pictures of your newly formed family.

9. Write a letter to your child. Even though it’ll be a while before your child can read it, this letter can mean a lot to you for years to come. In your letter, tell your child how happy you are to be celebrating your first Christmas with her. Thank her for her first Christmas present to you–being born.

10. Start a Christmas scrapbook. Decorate the cover with your child’s name and birthdate. Fill it with some of your Christmas pictures and any Christmas cards to your baby. You can also write a short description of your baby’s first Christmas — what you gave him, what he ate, or what he found scary — and add it to your scrapbook.

Christmas is approaching nearer and people are concerned about Christmas gifts they are going to give their nearest and dearest. Nowadays when the market is overloaded with different products it becomes quite a challenge to make a good and appropriate choice, especially for those who want to please little children. Very often you find yourself in a difficult situation trying to choose a gift for a little one though you know it has to be a toy or the like, some adorable items that a baby can play with and have fun. It is wrong to think that any bright toy given to a baby can delight him or her. This can sound incredibly but some children can be very picky and even express their dissatisfaction if they don’t like the gift. Children are perfectly frank and they are far from saying “Oh? It’s lovely, I could not even dream of it” if they really don’t like it.

And now, on this Christmas Day your lovely little children are looking forward to receiving outright baby Christmas gifts.

How to cope with the exacting task
Let us think over what baby gifts our children are looking forward to getting from you. Your child’s nursery is certainly overfilled with different kinds of toys and now you have to find something stunningly interesting to make your darling really happy not only that day but the days after. This gift should be interesting to the child and at the same time help to develop the baby’s activities. It is very important to choose a toy or a game according to your child’s age and interest. For example newborns and toddlers do best with the bright coloured toys and the combination of black, white, and red is recommended for holding a baby’s attention. Toys with melody or motion can delight little ones very much. Any of the toys chosen for a baby should encourage physical activity. So think of the baby’s safety, the toy should be of high quality it should not contain choking hazards and sharp or pointed detail. 

Choosing gifts for children a bit bigger you have to know exactly what they want, at least what they are interested in. If your daughter does not play with dolls but prefer cuddly toys, do not try to change her buying a doll. In this case the doll can be looked all over and put aside. Piles of unnecessary toys do not help your child to develop. There is nothing more disappointing for children than getting wrong gifts.

Diapers and Baby clothes
Frankly speaking giving a child baby clothes will not impress him or her very much but the parents can be very thankful for such baby Christmas gifts. If you made up your mind to give baby clothes you have to be forward-looking too. Here are some gift suggestions.

It would be very nice if you know exactly what item of clothing the baby needs but if not you will never go wrong giving diapers, the reason is simple; diapers are always in use and relatively expensive that is why many parents would appreciate the gift of diapers. Diapers can be given to the baby in her or his current size, or in a larger size that parents can use them when the baby grows a bit. As babies grow quickly and are in and out of clothes in no time. Consider buying some baby clothes for the following season. For example, if it’s currently winter, buy some cute spring outfits.

During the first year of life, your baby will spend up to 70% of his or her time in the baby crib you choose. The baby crib is one of the most important investments you will make before your baby’s arrival.

Here are several useful tips to help you choose the best crib for your baby.

1. Safety

What to look for:

* The distance between slats must be no more than 2 3/8 inches (6 centimeters) to protect infants from falling out and toddlers from trapping their heads between the slats.
* The side rails that lower should have at least two locking devices to prevent older babies from releasing them.
* When a side rail is lowered, its top should be at least 9 inches (23 centimeters) above the mattress support. To protect older babies, the top of the raised side rail must be at least 26 inches (66 centimeters) above the mattress support at its lowest position.
* If the crib has corner posts, they must be either flush with the top of the headboard and footboard or very tall – over 16 inches (41 centimeters). Anything in between is a potential strangulation hazard.
* Get the firmest mattress you can find. Don’t rely on manufacturers’ labels – test it yourself. This is extremely important because soft mattresses may play a role in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
* Be sure that the mattress fits snugly in the crib. This keeps a baby from slipping in between the mattress and the crib sides.

* Evaluate a used crib with extra care. There may be too much space between slats, or elaborate cut-outs in the headboard and footboard that can trap a baby’s head. A crib made before 1978 may have a finish that contains lead, so a crib that has been in the family for generations may not be the best one to use!

2. Convenience

You will spend a great deal of energy lifting your baby in and out of the crib. Look for a crib with a drop-side and adjustable mattress height to make this task easier. You may also want to look for a crib with rolling casters. These will allow you to move the crib around easily should you wish to do so.

3. Where Will Baby Sleep

Baby’s intended sleep location is a big factor in determining which crib is right for you. If you want baby to sleep in your room you may want to consider a small baby bed. Your options include a bassinet, moses basket or cradle, all of which can be used until baby is four months old. Alternatively there are longer-term options such as the Amby bed or the co-sleeper (bedside crib).

If you want baby to sleep in a separate nursery room, a good idea is to place a moses basket inside the full size crib. This way baby gets the security of a small baby bed while getting used to his own space.

4. Size and Shape Count

If you have a small baby nursery to work with, you may want to consider a mini crib or a corner crib instead of a regular rectangular one. Both of these options save a considerable amount of space. On the other hand, if you have a large nursery room, a round crib placed in the center can be more interesting than a standard crib against the wall.

5. Right Price

A good baby crib needn’t cost you an arm and a leg. Your baby budget will be stretched thin enough over the coming months without paying too much for your crib. There are great ways to save money when you go shopping. Here are some examples:
* Shop the sales by signing up for newsletters at your local stores and online retailers.
* Think e-Bay. You can often get a brand new crib straight out of the box at a highly discounted price.
* If you shop online look for free shipping options.

6. Take Baby’s Growth Into Account

It may seem like a long way off now, but it won’t be long before your baby becomes a toddler and needs to move out of the crib into a bed. Will you be having another baby to take over the crib? If not, consider a convertible crib that will grow with your child.

7. Choose Your Finish Carefully

Make sure you have a plan for your baby nursery before you decide on the finish for your crib so that it forms part of the overall design. Here are a few more tips:
* If you have a small baby nursery, stay away from dark furniture, as it will make the room feel smaller.
* If you will be passing this crib on to a second baby, stick with neutral, unisex colors that will go with any theme or color scheme.
* If you choose a convertible crib, consider what finish will go well in a toddler and a teenager’s room.

Have fun! Baby Shopping is one of the perks of being pregnant!

Winter can be a very harsh time for an adult’s skin but for babies it can be extra harsh.

Your baby’s skin is very sensitive and you will need to take extra care for your baby if you live in a cold environment.

Winter time weather could cause irritation and your baby’s skin to dry out. It is easy for the moisture in their soft skin to disappear.

Cold wind has a way of depleting skin of its moisture and elasticity. There are certain things that you will want to do to prevent this from happening.

Baby bathing and Moisturizing during Winter Months - You will not want to take your baby out into the cold weather directly after giving them their bath. This can chaff their skin. Make sure that you apply enough moisturizer after their bath to keep the moisture in your baby’s skin.

Baby lotion is a good moisturizer to use and it will make your baby smell extra good, too. You will want to moisturize from head to toe without getting lotion in their mouth or eyes.

Ask your physician to recommend a good type of moisturizer if what you are using does not seem to moisturize good enough.

Winter Clothing for Baby – It is a good idea to have the proper clothing for your baby during the winter months. He or she will need a warm coat, hat, and gloves but not so warm that your baby will sweat.

Soft clothing is always best for a baby’s skin because it is so tender especially in the winter months. If you have a little girl make sure you put tights under her little dresses to prevent her legs from becoming dry and chaffed.

Little boys usually wear pants in the winter so this should keep their legs warm and away from the cold.

Socks should always be worn under your little boy’s pants though for extra warmth and protection. If it is snowing you can always bundle them up in a snow suit made especially for babies to protect their skin.

Tips for Prevention:

Try products that are rich in vitamins A and also D to soothe your baby’s skin if it is chapped or red looking. You should use products that are formulated for babies not adults. These products can come in lotions, creams, or ointments.

Also to stop your baby’s face from chapping you may need to cover your baby’s carrier when you go out with a loosely weaved thin blanket.

Make sure that it is loose over your baby’s carrier and that your baby is able to breath through the light blanket. This is very important! To keep moisture in your baby’s room you may want to run a humidifier during the winter months. This will not only help to keep moisture in your baby’s skin but will also help your baby if he or she has a cold and the skin under their nose is chapped from constantly wiping or blowing.

With a little preventive help your baby should have a very comfortable and enjoyable winter.

Is your baby out of newborn stage? Now it’s the time to provide stimulation for your baby so that they will not experience boredom.

When your baby was in newborn stage, they’ll mostly cry when they are hungry.

But, once when they’ve crossed that stage, they’ll tend to cry out of boredom. So, how do you entertain your baby to avoid boredom?

Easy ways to entertain baby:

1. Involve them in your activities and take them wherever you move in your home. For instance, a large bowl and few colorful spoons or blocks will be perfect activity for your baby when you are cooking.
2. One year old babies begin to understand language and pictures slowly so they’ll absolutely love big board books with pictures of fruits, flowers and animals. This way your baby will enjoy learning things.
3. Little babies love outdoors. So, if you are free and if weather permits, take your baby for a walk. Your baby will definitely love to walk with your assistance, particularly if they are 12 months old.
4. Your little one may not like loud sounds, but they’ll definitely love to hear different sounds, so you can play musical instruments or many DVDs are available to entertain your baby with different sounds. You can use them to provide entertainment for your baby.

There is no doubt whatsoever that all babies need diapers! How does one go about choosing the best one for the baby?

What are the criterion? Remember; diapers do not come cheap, they can be expensive and they have to be changed any number of times everyday.

No number of diapers can therefore be “too many”!

Here are some tips for choosing baby diapers:

* First, decide whether you want to use disposable diapers, or the cloth ones that can be washed and reused over and over again. Of course, both have their own advantages and disadvantages: while disposable diapers may be hard on your budget, they offer you a convenience that cloth diapers do not.
* Cloth diapers on the other hand are good for your baby, and he will feel more comfortable in them than in the disposable ones, especially if those don’t fit him too well. However, keep the environment in mind: even though disposable diapers pollute the environment, cloth diapers need to be bleached, washed, and dried, and they tend to deplete our precious natural resources.
* Choosing the wrong diaper will leave you with more mess than you can handle, especially during the first few weeks of the baby’s arrival. Of course, disposable diapers come in all sorts of sizes to suit your baby, while cloth diapers can be adjusted according to your baby’s weight and body shape.
* There is a type of diaper called “G-string diaper” that combines environment friendly as well as the convenience of a disposable diaper. It comes with a plastic belt, through which you insert the pad-like diaper. It neither leaks nor messes up the place.
* If you have opted for cloth diapers, be aware that there are several different folds that you can make while making up the nappy to fit your baby. These are prefold, bird’s eye and gauze. Try them all and then decide which one will suit your baby the best. Most of these can be fitted with a strip of absorbent sponge to absorb the liquid. However, if you are using cloth, make sure you have an area where they can be sun dried.
* There are cloth diapers available today known as “PUL”, which means “polyurethane laminated”. This is a soft and stretchable fabric that is water proof, and will provide great comfort to your baby.
* Hemp fibres are used today to make cloth diapers. Hemp is a highly absorbent material, and is more durable than the traditional cotton. It will also not mildew too quickly.
* Make sure the diaper you have chosen has a proper cover. This will prevent leakage.

Most of the mothers buy videos and baby music CDs for babies.

Apart from the human voice, baby music is the original interactive medium and is most beneficial learning resource for newborns, infants and babies today.

Millions of babies in more than 80 countries have benefited from the music.

There are some premises that classical music can make your baby smarter or intelligent and exposure to baby music is part of what you do to introduce your baby to all sights and sounds of their world.

Only play the high quality baby music that is age appropriate and effective. It is the best to give a baby proper start in life.
Benefits of listening to baby music:

* Baby music can definitely helps to calm your baby and put your baby in a restful state at bedtime or naptime.
* Listening to baby music has the power to increase the thinking ability by stimulating electrical responses in the brain, promoting creativity, increasing receptivity to learning by inducing a relaxed state and capitalizing on instinctive body rhythms which stimulate conceptual ability.
* There is some good collection of music such as Mozart or Bach for bedtime. It has been discovered that listening to Mozart music can helps to develop speech, improve motor skills and helps for memory development. Enya music can be very soothing. Georgia Kelly’s harp music is also relaxing and peaceful.
* Religious and soft gospel music is also good choice that helps your baby to go to sleep.
* Listening to music gives relaxation to not only to babies, but also for soothing the entire family.
* Baby music affects the children in many ways. These include increased self esteem and confidence, increased mutually rewarding interactions, learning new ways of managing cognitive and behavior skills, an improvement in the children’s social skills, learning about supporting speech and language and singing songs and playing the musical games at home that they learn in the sessions.
* It promotes the development of reading skills. Nurtures the imagination. By listening to music babies stop crying.

After your baby awakens, you can stimulate your baby’s sense by playing nursery rhymes or music from kids’ movies. By listening to minimalist Phillip Glass’s baby music, your baby will respond and as they get older, they will dance with it.

White noises in the form a fan or from sound machines that creates the sound of an ocean or sound from rain fall can be restful as well and these noises can block out the noises from the home.

You don’t need to create an artificially silent environment for the baby. If you do like that, it can make it harder for your baby to get to sleep when the home’s rhythms and noises get back to normal.

The baby music helps both of you to get to sleep and also helps to soothe your own nerves. It provides a wonderful time of bonding and restfulness for you and your baby together.

It is a fact that even the youngest of babies are busy learning how to communicate with their parents or guardians, and even though they may not be familiar with language, they are learning, and learning fast!

The better you respond to her, the faster her communication and language skills will improve.

Have you noticed, for instance, that your baby has already started waiting for her turn at communicating with you when you are playing with her or simply holding her?

Have you noticed that she says “oo” and looks intently at your face to see what your reaction will be? When you “oo” back at her, she understands that these are the basic rules of a conversation, and that she will wait for her turn when the other person is saying something, and only then she will be able to understand the conversation.

If you are a concerned parent who wants to improve your baby’s language skills, then read on for tips on how to go about it:

* Talk constantly and naturally to her when you are with her. This will help her absorb the language, even if she hasn’t learned to speak as yet. A language rich household does wonders for a growing child.
* Model your language; do not use incorrect grammar or slang when you are talking to your baby. This is so that at a later time, you will not have to correct her language; she would have learned the correct language from you when she was but a toddler!
* When you are communicating with your baby, you can describe what she is doing to her. For instance, when she reaches out to touch your face, you could say to her, “That’s my nose! Are you trying to touch it?” or, when she sees your family pet approaching, you could say, “I see you are excited! Are you happy that Rexxx has come to play with you?” These sentences and many others like them will make her understand what she is doing, and help her connect her ideas together in a coherent manner.
* Similarly, you could describe for her what you are doing, like for instance, “I am going to pick you up”, or “Mommy is going to change your diaper!” This will make your baby learn her language in the context of experience.
* Read books, or tell her stories, even if you feel she is too young. This will help her develop her concentration and language skills, and you will be surprised at what you have achieved through these simple acts, at the end of the day!