November 29, 2011
Filed under: Baby health — Alan @ 7:24 am
A rare condition that can affect babies means that if they fall asleep they can stop breathing and die. These babies often have to spend the vast majority of the day on ventilators to ensure that they get enough oxygen to live. The condition that affects these babies is called congenital central hypoventilation syndrome which means that babies do not breath themselves while unconscious.
For the parents of these children this can be a very challenging condition as if the baby is not in hospital the parents will always have to make sure that a ventilator is nearby so that if the baby does fall asleep they can use it very quickly.
Chris Wyse has recently had a daughter who was born with the condition and he has commented, “When we were first told what was wrong with our daughter we were very scared about how she would be able to live. She was premature and it was clear that she was struggling with her breathing from the start.
This was something that wasn’t so unusual but it quickly became clear that something was very wrong. We are constantly afraid that she will fall asleep and stop breathing so we have to pay constant attention to her.”
November 25, 2011
Filed under: Baby health — Alan @ 9:56 am
There are generally no set rules when it comes to the best ways to get your baby to drift off to sleep. Many parents are likely to find that their baby will be able to fall asleep without too much trouble. However, some parents might find that their child is struggling to drift off, this can even continue for several months after the baby is born. Many babies will refuse to go to sleep without you having sung them a few lullabies or breastfed them.
Parents also have different needs and ways that they want to deal with how the baby sleeps. Some parents hate being sleep deprived and will be very keen to get their baby into good sleeping patterns very quickly, other parents won’t mind so much and will be happy to wait for their baby to work out how to sleep by themselves.
There are plenty of different strategies that you can adopt depending on how you want to handle your baby’s sleeping. Whether you want to comfort them or let them cry it out until they sleep is up to you. There are also many issues to consider once the baby has drifted off to sleep, such as whether she is safe and comfortable in her cot.
November 24, 2011
Filed under: baby development — Alan @ 3:23 pm
Recent research has revealed that some babies have a fat build-up around their abdomen that is also seen in some adults who are in their 50s. The study was conducted at a hospital in West London and was intended to investigate links between obesity in the mother and her baby.
Professor Neena Modi led the study which found that being overweight during pregnancy might be dangerous to your baby as its fat levels might become dangerously high. Professor Modi is one of the leading experts in the UK about health risks to newborn babies and she found that one in every three babies in the study had more fat than expected.
Over 100 babies were involved in the study and around 30% of these have more fat in their abdomen than is normal. This is the first study that has examined the link between the mother’s weight and that of the babies, Professor Modi has stated, “To see such a clear effect transferred from the mother to the baby is very surprising. This study is going to open the door to many more that will examine the effect that a mother’s metabolism has on her baby.”
The normal amount of fat tissue for a baby to be born with is 700 g but the study found that for every unit above the normal BMI the mother was, an extra 7 g of fat was present in the baby’s liver – which is potentially dangerous.
Professor Modi has said that all women should be aware of the risks of becoming pregnant when you are obese and the potential consequences that can have on a child. Women who want to become pregnant should work out their BMI before considering whether they should have a baby, anyone with a BMI of over 30 is considered obese.
November 18, 2011
Filed under: Baby health — Alan @ 8:31 am
By the time your baby is six months old they should be eating three meals a day of solid food. Some babies at this point are still feeding at night but it is important to start weaning them off this habit. Often when a baby wakes at night the first reaction would be to feed it but it is important to stop doing this and you should try to see if the baby will settle by themselves.
Instead of a bottle try giving the baby a dummy to suck on as this will let them know that it is not a time for feeding but a time for sleeping. If your baby seems genuinely hungry before going to bed, or in the night-time, then you might want to consider whether they are getting enough to eat during the day. Any baby that consumes enough food throughout the day should not need extra food at night.
Routine is important to making sure that your baby knows when it is time to go to bed. If the routine changes they will become confused and they may end up needing to be fed when they’re supposed to be going to sleep. Also, babies may want to play when you want to be putting them in their cot. Establish a strict routine that always ends in bed to make sure that your baby knows when it is time for them to go to sleep.
One problem that prevents babies from sleeping might be concerns for their safety. Some babies will have trouble falling asleep if the environment they are in is not soothing enough. Make sure that their cot is secure and introduce soothing music if they still struggle to get to sleep. If you continue to have problems consider looking in to sleep training for your baby.
You might think that if your baby were to nap during the day then this would mean that they might struggle to sleep at night. Unlike adults, for babies this is not true and it is most likely that if the baby does not nap they will be overtired at bedtime. This can mean they can wake up in the night and will require your assistance in getting to sleep again.
If you start doing all of these things then it is very likely that your baby will quickly learn when it is time to go to sleep and that they have to remain asleep through the night. Sleep training is always an option for babies who do not take to sleeping easily. Unfortunately, there is no rule that will be true for all babies so you will need to experiment and see what is right to yours. Look around the different sleep training techniques until you discover what that suits your baby.
Finally, it is important that once you have achieved something, such as getting your baby to sleep at a regular time, but you don’t undo the progress made. Stick with the routine so that your baby knows that this is a permanent change.
November 14, 2011
Filed under: Baby items — Alan @ 12:26 pm
The new BEABA 360° weaning spoon .jog
The perfect spoon for weaning and keeping mess free!
The new spoon from BEABA which has a handle that rotates through a whole 360° ensures that the food will always stay on the spoon, and it will also remain horizontal, regardless of the position that the handle is in.
The innovative design of this 360° Spoon prevents your little ones from spilling their food, even when they are holding it in those positions that only kids do. This inspires confidence and gives them the support they need to be able to feed themselves proficiently.
Once the child is accomplished at feeding themselves, the handle is easily locked into position, this allowing it to be used just as any other regular spoon.
November 10, 2011
Filed under: Baby health — Alan @ 10:03 am
Breast milk is certainly a miraculous substance as it helps babies through the first part of their lives. However, it seems that human breast milk won’t be just limited to babies in the near future. A recent study has shown that breast milk can be used to kill many different types of cancer cells.
Currently, human breast milk is being tested to see what effect it has on cancer patients. There is a lot of information on the Internet about how breast milk can be used to treat everyday conditions. This article is going to look at some of the problems that can potentially be healed with breast milk.
It can be used as an immunity booster which should help the body fight off the onset of cold or flu, drinking a little bit of breast milk when you feel a cold coming on can help keep it at bay.
It can also be used as a way to treat various injuries and skin problems. If you have cut or scratched yourself it can be applied to the skin with a cotton swab to help in the prevention of infection. Breast milk is an incredibly gentle cleanser and it can even be used as a contact lens cleaning solution. It can also be used on an area of skin which has been bitten by an insect; this will help heal the affected area in a quicker time.
Another way it can be used is as a way to relieve allergies and help clear a stuffy nose. If you squeeze a little breast milk into your nose and then breath through it heavily the milk will be brought into your sinuses and this can help clear the infection.
If you have a cracked nipple after breastfeeding it can be a good idea to rub a little breast milk on it as this will help heal any soreness or cracks. Once you have put the breast milk on the nipple leave it to dry and repeat this until the soreness is gone.
If you are continuing to suffer from sore and cracked nipples check how the baby is latching on and make sure they are doing it correctly. If you continue to have problems it would be a good idea to seek medical advice as there are many treatments for the condition.
November 7, 2011
Filed under: Celebrity babies — Alan @ 8:44 am
It is potentially a criminal offence not to register within 42 days a childs birth. Hugh Grant has recently become a father and is facing a fine after he failed to register his newly born son within the 42 day limit. The actor has had the child with his former girlfriend, Tonglan Hong, a Chinese actress.
It has just recently passed the 45 day mark since the child was born and the registry office has confirmed that neither of the parents have come to register the child and have not yet made an appointment to do so.
While technically a law, it is very unlikely that Grant will actually be fined. A member of staff from the registry office joked, “it’s hardly as if were going to call the police to chase them. It’s not uncommon that parents to take a long time registering their child and we have seen cases where it has been three months until they have done so. There are plenty of reasons why people take their time registering, but all do come in eventually.”
After a three-month period, the liability passes to the registrar and then a fine of up to £200 in can be imposed. There is currently no information as to whether Ms Hong or Hugh Grant have been in contact with the registry office.
November 5, 2011
Filed under: Baby health — Alan @ 8:00 am
Once you have given birth, your baby will be taken by a nurse to something called a warming table. This is an area where they will clean the baby, measure him, and weight him. Something else that they do which most people are unaware of is that they also give the baby eyedrops. Most people also don’t know why these eyedrops are given.
The eyedrops are administered in order to prevent eye infections that the baby may have picked up while travelling down the birth canal. In children, eye infections are one of the most common causes of blindness and these can easily be picked up if the woman has an infection such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea.
Giving a baby eyedrops is a practice that is conducted internationally and in some countries it is actually a law. The drops are antibiotics and they have been used on babies after the birth for over 200 years, although a longer time ago they used something called silver nitrate rather than modern antibiotics.
There is a debate over whether these eyedrops are necessary for babies that have been delivered through Caesarean section. Some people argue that because the baby did not come through the birth canal there is no risk of infection, however if the water has broken there is still a chance, albeit reduced, that the baby will get an eye infection. Parents should view it as a standard part of post birth treatment, such as a hepatitis shot or a hearing test.
If you do have any concerns over the administration of eyedrops to your baby than just talk to your doctor before you deliver. If you wish you can write your preference and concerns on your birth plan so that on the day of delivery your wishes will be carried out. In some places you cannot opt out of your baby having eyedrops.
One concern that some parents have over the administration of eyedrops is that it can hamper the bonding process that takes place between parent and child immediately after birth. The eyedrops can make the baby’s eyes blurry and this can mean that they don’t see the parents as well as they normally would. Some people therefore ask the doctors to not administer the eyedrops until an hour after birth. This ensures that the baby has time to see the parents and bonds with them in those first moments before ensuring that they don’t get an eye infection.
In those areas where eyedrops are mandatory you are able to ask for their administration to be delayed. Most laws only require that they are administered at some point after birth, be this a minute after, or an hour. Again, if you want to have the administration of the eyedrops delayed then write it in your birth plan before you give birth.
November 4, 2011
Filed under: Baby items — Alan @ 1:55 pm
New mums, both celebrity and otherwise, are clamouring for the fabulous and innovative new product known as GUMIGEM . This high fashion yet practical item was a finalist in the recent awards for best new innovative product for under £30 held by Practical Pregnancy and Parenting Magazines. For those who don’t know, GUMIGEM is a necklace that mums wear and their babies chew on whilst teething.
Celebrities such as Michelle Heaton, and Denise Van Outen have already given their seal of approval as a great way of pacifying teething babies stylishly, and Michelle appeared in a photo shoot with her baby wearing her GUMIGEM as it was so pretty and matched her dress.
This amazing new item that enables mums to look good and calm their teething baby at the same time is the brainwave of Jenny McLauchlan, a mum from Dundee and this product is set to be a must have item for all new mums.
A mother herself, Jenny found it impossible to wear a necklace around her baby. Her little nipper would pull and bite on anything that hung from her neck, but instead of resigning herself to a life without accessories, and constantly picking up teething rings off the floor, Jenny had a brain wave. What if she could create a pendant that was safe for baby to put in its mouth but also looked attractive? That’s when GUMIGEM was born.
Featured in her regular column in Prima magazine, Denise Van Outen said: “…I’m loving this GUMIGEM teething necklace. Betsy’s really been suffering with her molars coming through and this is just the right size for her to chomp down on. Great for keeping little hands occupied when I’m holding her, too genius!”
Made of silicone, the GUMIGEM is baby safe, non toxic, and suitable for sterilisation or a dishwasher – basically meeting the same standards as any other teething item. Plus, with a breakaway clasp, even the strongest of little people won’t end-up strangling their mummies.
Also featured in regional national press, some examples include the Scottish Sunday Express, Scottish Televisions The Hour, Insights Magazine and Real People Magazine. Plus Gumigem got a retweet from Theo Paphitis on twitter during his Small Business Sunday session. A recent exhibitor in The Baby Show for Trades Innovation zone, Michelle Heaton chose a Gumigem and said ‘its so pretty and matches my dress!’ we have a beautiful picture of Michelle and her chosen Gumigem
Another market for these necklaces has also emerged, children with sensory processing disorders often need to chew to calm themselves and concentrate. These children love the necklaces as they are discreet and parents love them because they are safe, as such Gumigems little sister Chewigem was born.
With a new Christmas limited edition rage coming soon too!
GUMIGEM necklaces come in a range of designs and are affordably priced between GBP10 and GBP12.50.
Visit Gumigem
A rare condition that can affect babies means that if they fall asleep they can stop breathing and die. These babies often have to spend the vast majority of the day on ventilators to ensure that they get enough oxygen to live. The condition that affects these babies is called congenital central hypoventilation syndrome which means that babies do not breath themselves while unconscious.
