January 27, 2012
Filed under: Baby health — Alan @ 3:14 am
Sleep is a very important aspect of a young child’s life given the fact that they spend most of their time sleeping during their infant months. In fact, proper sleep habits are very important for their development making it important that parents ensure they make their babies as comfortable as possible and set the temperature just right for the environment and time of year that they are sleeping in.
One great way to check both of these requirements off the list is to invest in baby sleeping bags. Baby sleeping bags are a safe bedding option that is available in many different formats. They are usually much more comfortable for the child since the baby fits snugly into the wrapped fabric and are considered much safer than traditional sheets and blankets.
Another perk of baby sleeping bags is the fact that they move with the baby so that the child stays at one constant temperature throughout the long night unlike blankets and sheets which will rearrange as the child sleeps at night.
Most baby sleeping bags come in a standard shape that is pretty much a bag that has shoulder straps to hold them onto the child and holes for the baby’s arms. The arms are not kept under the bag due to the fact that the goal of the sleeping bag is to keep the body of the child at the perfect temp. Some have zips that run down the side of the sleeping bag while others have a zip that runs down the middle. Both ways are safe since you can simply open up the bag and then secure the baby neatly inside of it.
The sleeping bags come in many different sizes with different weights so that every child can find the perfect fit for their size and to match the different temps that occur during different seasons. They tend to range in sizes that fit infants up to 36 month old babies with different tog ratings between 0.5 tog and 2.5 tog.
The 2.5 is the best one for year round use and will ideally keep a child warm when the temp measures between 10-20 C. The 1.0 tog is the best one for summer months as the temps tend to get a bit higher and the 0.5 tog is the right choice for extreme heat when it occurs.
The best part about baby sleeping bags is that if you choose to use the 2.5 tog option you can just dress the baby to match the weather. For example, during warm months a baby grow may be all that is needed while in colder temperatures you may want to dress the child in a thicker sleepsuit in order to increase their natural temps and adjust to the differences in the weather.
The best way to regulate your child’s temperature is to feel their chest for warmth as their hands will almost always be cold regardless of their actual temperature.
January 20, 2012
Filed under: Baby health — Alan @ 3:44 pm
If you have recently had a child then there are several things that you must remember to take with you if you are going on a trip away. There are many items that parents might forget at first when they are taking their new baby for a trip or holiday.
Taking the car seat is it something that you must do even if you are taking a flight to your destination. It is usually possible to check it in with the airlines for no cost. Normally there is a fee attached to checking extra items but often airlines will oblige to check a car seat with no extra charge. If you have purchased a separate ticket for your child then the airline will probably fit the car seat into the airplane seat for you.
Always remember in advance that despite your baby being very young, they all have to have their own passports and cannot travel on yours. This is an oversight many parents make and when they get to check in they find out that they cannot fly. A birth certificate will not do any good, so ensure that you order your child’s passport in plenty of time for it to arrive before you travel.
Clothing is something that most parents will certainly not forget to pack and it is important to remember about the climate you are travelling to. While you might be wearing shorts because it’s hot the chances are your baby will require long sleeved clothes because these help to protect t heir skin from the sun.
On the other hand, if you are travelling to a cold climate make sure that you have plenty of clothing to keep your baby warm. It is also important to make considerations about laundry facilities. If you know there is going to be a place to wash your babies clothes then take half as many as you might if there was not.
Toys are another consideration you should make, but if your baby is very young you will probably not need to bring the normal toys with you as you will be able to find something for them to play with at the destination. If your child is a little older the chances are they will have a couple of favourite toys, take the smallest one of these for them to play with while you are on holiday.
It is also important to make food considerations and if your baby is feeding on formula then remember to pack enough bottles to keep them satisfied. Remember that airlines restrict the amount of fluid you can have in your hand luggage so limit the amount of bottles of milk that you have with you and put them into clear plastic bags.
It can also be a good idea to pack enough of your baby’s favourite snacks and foods so that if you can’t find their regular food when you are away you’ll have plenty to keep you going. The great thing about taking food is that once it is used up you have plenty of space in your luggage for bringing back souvenirs for friends.
December 30, 2011
Filed under: Baby health — Alan @ 4:53 pm
When a young child is ill it can be hard to tell if they are suffering from a sinus infection or from an upper respiratory infection, but it is important to know the signs of both so that you can make sure that they get the appropriate aid. Signs of a sinus infection in a young child usually include a stuffy nose, coughing, a runny nose, crying in infants for no apparent reason, and a fever.
What is tricky is that upper respiratory infections often have the same symptoms although the mucus in the nose will slowly turn green or yellow and the rest of the symptoms will be accompanies by fatigue and headache. Most of the time an upper respiratory infection will run much longer and affect the child much worse, lasting anywhere from five to seven days and getting much worse before it starts to show signs of getting better.
It is important, however, for parents to know that green or yellow mucus does not always mean that the infection is bacteria based which is a common misconception because not every condition should be treated with antibiotics, otherwise a child can develop a resistance to this type of medication..
If a child is found to have a bacterial sinus infection than most of the time he or she will be given antibiotics that have been found useful for treating sinus infections, with the treatment course dependent on the age, size, and period of the sinus congestion.
It is important to realise that not all sinus infections need treatment with antibiotics and sometimes it is up to the parent to question if a child really needs a course of treatment, or if it would be better simply to let their own immune system battle the infection.
Filed under: Baby health — Alan @ 4:51 pm
Most parents are aware of the fact that their children are bound to get sick from time to time, and that this is necessary for building up a strong immune system, and therefore not quite as bad as it may seem at the time. In fact, it is healthy for a child to be ill as it helps them become immune to diseases during their later years and is a perfectly normal part of a child’s development. However, the question for parents is how often is too often for a child to be ill?
It is becoming evermore common for children to be what is deemed ‘chronically sick’ ; suffering from runny noses almost every day of the year and others taking medication every night before they go to bed. Other common issues include sinus problems and digestive problems. A lot of parents think nothing of this, stating that it’s normal for a child to be frequently ill often, but normal is being ill every couple of months, not every week or day.
In fact, if a child is poorly this much then there has to be something wrong with the way their system is working, which most of the time can be attributed to their diet. For instance, many children have a problem with cow’s milk and gluten that causes problems and can make a child feel sick on a frequent basis.
Gluten often causes digestive upset, pain, and skin problems whereas cow’s milk can cause post nasal drip or a chronic runny nose in children. Avoiding these foods for three weeks can help you determine if they may be causing the problems for your child.
Sugar is another problem food for children as many times it does not allow the immune system to work properly, causing a child to be ill a great deal of time. Sports drinks and juices loaded with sugar are often to blame for this and an avoidance of sugar can help keep a child healthier long term than they previously may have been.
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 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 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 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.
October 28, 2011
Filed under: Baby health — Alan @ 2:32 pm
The leading provider in the UK of clinically effective orthotics and prosthetics services, RSLSteeper, has launched their new Steeper Clinic. Located in Kingston upon Thames, this latest clinic is being dedicated to treating babies who are suffering from such head shape abnormalities as deformational plagiocephaly , or flat head syndrome.
The new clinic will now doubt follow on the great success of the Leeds Steeper Clinic, which has successfully treated hundreds of babies in the North of England since it opened in November last year. Steeper clinics offer parents a free consultation with no obligation and they have highly experienced teak of paediatric orthotists that are both HPC registered and CRB checked.
As well as advice and diagnoses, the clinics provide complete treatment services for the condition, which includes using repositioning techniques such as tummy time, as well as using the helmets known as Starband cranial remoulding orthoses.
Kate Chauhan is one of the clinical specialist Orthotists at the Steeper Clinic and she says that flat head syndrome is becoming increasingly common across the UK, and at present, the NHS doesn’t find treatment for this condition as they see it as cosmetic. This is despite the growing evidence a baby suffering from plagiocephaly has increased risks of developing later in life associated problems.
“At Steeper Clinic, we can offer advice as tothe best course of treatment for your baby, which depends on the severity ofthe condition.
“Treatments can range from the use of “tummy time” and repositioning techniques for younger babies and mild instances of the condition, to cranial remoulding orthoses, which significantly improves the shape of heads in babies who suffer from moderate to severe deformational plagiocephaly.”
STARband is the world’s leading orthotic treatment for deformational plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome) in babies aged between 4 and 18 months. Over 125,000 babies have been successfully treatedusing STARband worldwide.
For further information on Steeper Clinic, deformational plagiocephaly and head shape abnormalities, visit www.steeperclinic.com. The website includes a range of helpful guides for parents, in addition to information about STARband and RSLSteeper.
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Sleep is a very important aspect of a young child’s life given the fact that they spend most of their time sleeping during their infant months. In fact, proper sleep habits are very important for their development making it important that parents ensure they make their babies as comfortable as possible and set the temperature just right for the environment and time of year that they are sleeping in.
