Plugged Ducts

For any nursing mother out there you may from time to time get a plugged duct. There is a lot of information out there on the internet about this and a good resource for me has been kellymom.com.

This website has some basic information about mastitis vs plugged ducts. So you can go read up on it for yourself if you're having any issues.

For me what I found useful was to use a WARM compress before nursing while massaging the lump toward the nipple and after nursing if the lump was still there to use a cold compress and continue massaging. This with frequent nursing/pumping usually got the duct unplugged. I also could take some ibuprofen as well to help with the pain and get the blood flow circulating better.

Fussy Time

Sometimes when talking to my mom on the phone in the evening, my little one would just be so fussy. My little one isn't normally fussy, she's an "angel baby" and is very happy go lucky! So this bout of evening fussing was quite unusual. My mom would often say - oh it's just her fussy time, lots of babies seem to have a fussy time in the early evening.

What can you do to combat this "fussy time"?

Keep to a schedule.
   We've discussed it before on here and every baby seems to thrive on a schedule.

Normally a fed baby is a happy baby
   Plan the schedule to have a feeding during the early evening.

Nap.
   My little one enjoys her naps. A friend suggested that I should try to keep her up through the evening and then she'll sleep through the night better/easier. This was not for my baby, she enjoys her naps too much to give one up. So if your baby needs a 45 minute "power snooze" in the evening, let 'em have it! My baby slept through the night with no issues even with this 45 min. nap.

Keep stimulation to a minimum.
  When Dad comes home we know that he loves to have his play time with baby. Which is great and endearing, but it can also be a little much for the baby. Show Dad more subtle ways to play with baby during this time. Keep TV and Radio to a minimum unless that is soothing!

Heat Rash

The combination of summer and a child with sensitive skin has brought about my education on heat rash. Since it's very common in hot and humid conditions I thought I'd share the love.

Heat rash is when sweat forms a barrier over the skin, clogging sweat ducts and trapping moisture. This causes red blisters and bumps to form which can also be itchy or painful. At first I thought that Vivi's eczema had gotten worse and I was putting lotion on her. Big mistake, lotions and creme block moisture even more causing the rash to worsen. Poor Vivi. Heat rash is most likely seen on the neck, chest, and in other places with creases. Vivi has it on the back of her neck, going up into her hairline and down onto her upper back, on her chest and chin, and in her left elbow crease. When I put her down for a nap today it must have been bothering her because when she got up her fingers were bloody and her neck was a mass of scratches. Broke my heart!

So here's some things that I found and am implementing to treat heat rash-
1. I'm having Vivi sleep on a cotton towel to absorb her sweat at night. I also put her to bed with just her diaper to see if that would cut down on how much she sweats at night.
2. I'm letting Vivi air-dry after pools, showers, baths, and water time. I'm not sure what this is supposed to do but I got that from babycenter.com.
3. I'm putting pure melaleuca oil on the rash where she scratches the most. It's a natural antiseptic so it should protect from infection plus, because it's clear, it shouldn't trap moisture. I'm going to try it and see how it goes.
4. She will get wiped down with cool washcloths several times a day, especially when outside. This will keep her cool, plus wash away the sweat on the outer layer of skin.

Hopefully this will clear up soon and hopefully none of you will have to deal with heat rash. But if you do, at least you won't make the same mistakes that I did.

Fingernail Infection

Children can get a variety of infections from a variety of places. Yesterday I noticed that the skin by my baby's fingernail was red and puffy. It looked sore. My little one does not seem to be one to complain all that much and she didn't treat it like it hurt. It didn't seem to change her behavior at all. Well, after some internet searching I did see that there is an infection called Paronychia.

If you notice that the finger is red and puffy, has a possible pimple and probably pus draining from the area then there is a probably bacterial infection. The infection is caused when there is a small cut or opening, usually from the skin cracking or a hangnail being torn off rather than cut off with fingernail clippers. The infection is normally caused by Staphylococcus bacteria that is normally found in your mouth or other water sources (such as a swimming pool). This is something to watch for if your baby enjoys sucking on their fingers!!

If there is pus causing a pimple on the skin, it will need to be drained and cleansed. An antibacterial soap is the best for cleaning. You may also want to soak the area a few times a day in water and antibacterial soap. The place a bandage over the area so that it can have time to heal without possible further infection. The infection should clear up within a week, if it doesn't you should seek further medical help. Also if the infection is accompanied with a fever - seek help right away!!

Book Review: The Girlfriends' Guide

I just recently finished up the book The Girlfriends' Guide to Surviving the First Year of Motherhood by Vicki Iovine.

This book is a quick, easy read with lots of witty commentary that brings humor to the rough few months of motherhood. I wish I would have read this book before I had Lily but better late than never at all.

One key message that is repeated over and over again in the book is that you are not alone. That you are not alone in your thoughts, stresses, baby illnesses, breastfeeding issues, post partum emotions, post partum sex and the ever ominous question - When to have the second baby?

Her topics include:

-In the hospital

-Going home

-Assessing the damage

-Baby euphoria

-Blue, baby, blue

-And the baby makes three

-I am soooo tired, I haven't slept a wink

-I want my old body back!

-Sex? What sex?

-Food, glorious food!

-Keeping everybody healthy

-Going back to work

-The second baby

I would recommend this book to help you feel apart of the 'Mommy community' not for fantastic, scientific information on babies.

Happy Mothers Day

Just like to wish all of you a happy Mom's day - we should all get more than just one day!!

Hello Readers!!

I know you're out there - so just click on the little follow button - and become a follower!!

And if you have any suggestions - just email us! We'd be happy to hear from you!

Wake Time/Activity Time

I am a follower of the Babywise/Baby Whisperer routines which are pretty much the same thing:

Baby wise: Wake/play/sleep routine
Baby Whisperer:  E(eat).A(activity).S(sleep).Y(you) routine

One of the trickiest elements of this type of routine is... when is my baby ready for a nap? How long should their wake time be? What happens when they have had too much play or activity?

When is she ready for a nap?
Look for sleepy cues, which vary from newborn to older babies. Note that some babies do not show sleepy cues so let the clock help you in deciding when your little one may become tired. Also, newborns until around 3 months can only use a head turn or yawning since they do not have control over their limbs - yet!

-Yawns
-Fidgeting/loss of coordination
-Involuntary movements
-Eye rubbing or red around the eye
-Unexplained fussiness (this can be the trickiest cue)
-Stare (as if they are looking 7 miles into the distance without wavering)
-Turns head away from objects
-If carried, burys head into your neck (as if they are trying to block out all things visual)

How long should their waketime be?
Waketime varies by age and temperment but always becomes increasingly longer the older the baby; note this includes feeding time as well.

-Newborn: 1 hour
-3 months: 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes
-6 months: 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours
-9 months: 2 hours
-12 months: 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes

*Note* These are averages and I have noticed that the first waketime of the day is the shortest and the following waketimes will be longer. Example: 1 hour, 1.25 hours, 1.5 hours, 2 hours)

What happens when they have too much play or activity?
In our society we are always filling our schedules to the maximum. Be very careful to not overstimulate your baby with toys the jiggle, bounce, sing, flash, light up or are too busy. Even though we may think 'There is no way you can be tired!' the little one may be!

-Overstimulation: most common result of too much anything. The length of wake time may be just right but the activity during the waketime may be too much. Lily can play in her jumperoo/exersaucer at the beginning of waketime but if I put her in them right before nap, she is too amped to settle down.
-Short naps: YUCK! 30-45 minutes naps are the bane of my existance! After the baby's first sleep cycle has concluded (around 40 minutes), the baby will awaken and will be unable to fall back asleep because she was too buzzed from her previous play time.
-Fussiness when waking: Around 3-5 months, your baby should be waking happy from naps. If they played too much/were up for too long during the past waketime, they will still be grumpy.
-Unable to fall asleep easily for nap or at all: You could rock, sing, hum, bounce and shh the little one until no end and they still won't want to nap! If I sense I have overstimulated Lily, I take her to a dark room with her blankie, rock her or sit with her until she sucks her thumb. Sometimes this is for 10-15 minutes.
-Meltdowns: This is the last resort for overstimulated babies. It seems as though they are done with life, forever. They scream, kick, cry, squirm and can become aggressive! This is the baby trying to tell you, 'Mom., please take note you kept me up too long and those hanging toys are too much.'

Learn from your baby, watch her. She will tell you in her banguage (baby language) that she is done with play time and is ready for some rest. Respect the fact that some waketimes will be shorter than others and that it may throw off your 3 or 4 hour schedule. For goodness sakes, listen to the baby when she is tired and act immeadiately instead of worrying about what time it is!

Feeding Baby Green

This book is supposed to be a plan for 36 months - beginning before pregnancy through toddler years. So I suggest picking it up before you're pregnant and reading through to see if you want to incorporate any of the ideas into your style of parenting. As in all cases - it's never too late to read and start trying as well so read away!

The book has steps for each growth period - Taking Charge, Windows of Opportunity, Engage all the Senses, Choose the right amount, Choose the Right Variety, Customize, and Exercise!

Here are some tips that I found interesting:

"Interestingly, babies tend to suck more vigorously when a new flavor is introduced into their mother's diet." Mothers eating a wide variety of foods can influence the taste buds of their children. Studies have shown that breastfed babies, when studied with solely formula-fed babies, tend to like pureed vegetables within a shorter amount of time. The formula-fed babies did like them as well, it just took more exposure to the flavor.

Studies of formula-fed babies have shown that they type of formula also influences their tastes later in life. So switching formula helps develop your baby's tastes for different flavors later on.


The Invisible Bouquet
Brian and I have recently been preparing our yard for a garden - which I need to plant soon! But this book presents a unique idea. Here's a link to what I'm talking about so you can read for yourself. I think it's a great idea to have your children help in the garden. I remember growing up with a garden and even seeing my grandpa's huge garden he did every year and enjoying fresh vegetables. If you don't have your own plot of land, see if someone who does is willing to garden with you. Or most cities have plots of land you can rent to plant a garden, you'll have to do some searching on your own for that. Anyway - the book suggests that introducing your children to growing plants helps "cultivate" their taste and enjoyment of the foods they help grow!

Take Charge
The author explains through each of the baby to toddler years about taking charge of what the baby eats. We are in control of that. It's important to find out about what you're giving the baby to eat. Store bought baby foods have a lot of additives in them that are unnecessary. Start feeding your baby what you eat on a daily basis - just in pureed form. It explains as a baby turns into a toddler that as you start to see resistance to the food that you're giving them to not "give up" and run to get processed toddler foods - aka chicken nuggets or french fries.


Windows of Opportunity
The author talks about this throughout the book - the section that I'm referring to is on page 157-158. The "window of opportunity" at this stage is when they start moving around (crawling/learning to walk) to the time that they are a full blown toddler. There's a window of opportunity where the baby is willing to taste anything - from rocks to lint to basically anything they get their hands on. They are especially willing to try anything that they see their parents eating, so now is the time to really introduce foods. It normally takes between six and sixteen experiences with a flavor before it becomes accepted - so don't loose hope when trying new flavors!

Engage
1. With Flavor
2. With Aroma
3. With Sight
4. With Sounds and Language
5. With touch
Basically let the baby be a part of the food process. Let the baby see what's happening - touch the food - smell it - see you eat it - etc... The baby is learning by leaps and bounds and if you want the baby to eat healthy, let the baby and kids see your preparation of the food and even be a part of it. This is of course referencing the fact that you are making your own baby food. Like a smashed banana, let the baby see you preparing the food.

Do's and Do Not's for shopping

I know a lot of the Moms who are a part of this blog are master bargain shoppers. So this post is for the random person that might come across and read this blog.

I recently shopped at a sale put together by the Columbus Mother of Twins Club, affectionately called the Twin Sale. This sale is twice a year and I have bought the majority of my baby items and my daughters' clothes there, beginning before my oldest was born. While shopping there this weekend I took note of some things. Most of these are specific to the twin sale but you might find some wisdom for other types of shopping. Maybe Black Friday?

1. When shopping, whether bargaining or not, try not to take your kids. Especially if you think that you will be standing in long lines. I waited for 2 hours in the twin sale line. Believe me, I am so glad that I did not have 2 girls clinging to my legs and, oh my gosh, whining. Whining kids will not make you happy nor your kids. Another reason not to take your kids- you spend more when they're around. There are so many great deals at garage sales and such that I would think nothing of buying a little trinket now and then. This is just multiplied by 10 if you have a cute little girl, staring at you with big eyes, and asking if she can buy the princess tea set for only $2.00.

2. If you are shopping at a place where it is going to be crowded and tables are close together, such as flea markets or the twin sale, do not bring your stroller. It is not going to save you time or muscle. It's just going to make everyone around you annoyed. Just bring 3 huge canvas bags. I met a lady in line who made her own oversized bags and they looked just like the ones that cost $40! I'm going to find that pattern and make a few.

3. Check things thoroughly. I did not do this and ended up buying a pair of shoes that were both left feet. Now they only cost $2.00 but still, this could have been avoided. It only takes a few seconds to check that there are no stains, rips, or that there are no essential pieces missing.

4. If you can, shop with a buddy. This was the first sale that I attended without Reed and I will never do that again. The great thing is that he can jump in line while I'm still looking at items and then we're not standing in line forever. It's also so nice to have another voice of reason telling me that I do not need to buy Lara 4 pairs of jean shorts, 2 will suffice. Even though they are a dollar each.

5. Power hours are worth it.

6. When shopping during a very crowded, first come first serve, winner take all, type deal, go in with a game plan. If I have big items I need to buy, I do that first. That's how I got all my car seats, strollers, and our bike trailer, each of which cost $50 or less.

Happy Shopping!

Book Review : The Baby Whisperer

As a suggestion from Hillary, I just finished reading The Baby Whisperer by Tracy Hogg. I really think that she has some good tips for moms and sounds like she's been doing this for quite some time.

A few things that I liked:

1. E.A.S.Y. I think that Molly and I fell into this type of routine without even knowing it. But it has reinforced my practice of helping Molly be the best baby she can be! Basically it's a baby routine - E = Eat, A = Activity, S = Sleep, Y = You time.

2. The sleep ritual. I sort of just did what I could ("accidental parenting") to get Molly to sleep. But I think that having a routine and a ritual is more important after reading this book. I also learned that patting and rocking aren't necessarily the best. I've found that just holding Molly still works really well in calming her down before rocking her.

3. It reinforced my knowledge of "baby crying." I think we moms have a tendency to project our feelings onto whatever we think the baby is saying and that's not necessarily the true baby feelings!

4. Communication. I am not just talking TO my baby - but WITH my baby. I've been really starting to have "conversations" with her and I think she's getting the hang of it! We were shopping the other day and she's not really doing much of anything while I look around but all of a sudden she giggled really loudly - I looked at her and started talking and she just kept giggling! So I feel like she's starting to understand that she can talk to me just as much as I can talk to her.

There are many many other tips in this book for helping you help your baby. I suggest reading it. I also picked up "Secrets of The Baby Whisperer" which is basically just a condensed version of the real book.

I recommend reading this book before you have your baby and the again while your baby is within it's first 3 months! By 3 months I think you would get most of the tips down for your little one, but if a review is needed than that's just fine as well!

Baby Temperments

One misconception I had about babies, was that there were only a couple of 'types'. I knew there were really easy babies, and then babies who were really difficult. I wondered, what type of baby will I have?

When it comes down to it, there are more than just easy and hard temperments.

I like Tracy Hogg's thoughts from her book The Baby Whisperer where she claims there are 5 main types of temperments for babies, with the chance that some babies may be a mix of two.

Angel: I think this is the baby type I hoped I would have ;) Angel babies are described by Hogg as 'Good as gold. Didn't even know I had a baby in the house. I could have five children like him. We were really lucky.'

Textbook: This is pretty much Lily as described by Hogg 'She's right on time with everything. She's mellow unless she needs something. A low maintenance child.'

Touchy: 'A real crybaby. The slightest thing sets him off. He's not good with other people. He always ends up in my lap or clinging to my leg.'

Spirited: I think Lily has a hint of this temperment in her as well. Hogg suggests this as a description for spirited babies 'A handful. Always into something. I don't have the energy to keep up with her. She's fearless.'

Grumpy: 'What a sourpuss. He seems to prefer playing on his own. I feel like I am always waiting for his next meltdown. He always has to have his way.'

Now, I think it's important to keep in mind that none of these types are good or bad. Some of these may be easier to parent than others; say an Angel baby versus a touchy baby. However, once we learn how to parent our specific baby's temperment, we can be more successful at giving them what I call a happy baby life.

What type is your baby? Take the quiz here that can also be found in The Baby Whisperer:

Basic Review Time

The last time I was certified in CPR was during high school... which was a long time ago :)

So here's some links to a basic review for CPR

Infant CPR

Child (1-8) CPR

Infant Choking help

Child choking

This website also gives you a quiz to help your CPR understanding!

Another Hairbow Giveaway!

The same girl from before is having another give away!

Check out her facebook group for entry details.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=161538661306

Contributor Valerie bought some bows from her and got them just in time for easter - Check out their cute hair on her blog!

Breast Feeding Problems

While breastfeeding can present many problems for both baby and Mom, one of the more serious complications can be a breast infection which is called mastitis.

Unfortunately, I just had the very unpleasant experience of this illness. It was tough. So let me share a few take-aways that I gained from this whole ordeal.

What is it?
Mastitis is a bacterial infection which inflames the breast tissue. The bacteria usually enters in through a cracked nipple (for me, I had a cyst burst and hence bacteria could easily come in).

What are the signs?
Swollen breast (mine swelled to almost 3 times the normal size)
Red patches on the skin
Breast pain
Burning/pain with milk let down and nursing
Skin hot to the touch
Fatigue
Flu-like symptoms

What can be done?
This is important - you must see your Obgyn asap. My family doctor would not see me beccause it's technically not his area of expertise. Your obgyn will know exactly what to do and will talk you most likely the day you call in. I called after about 12 hours of breast pain and I grew increasingly fatigued. Mastitis onsets rather quickly and can hospitalize you. This is not an exaggeration. You can become extremely dehydrated which leads to a lot of problems for the nursing mother.

The doctor will put you on antibiotics to rid your body on the infection. They may also suggest hot compresses to the area to stimulate milk production and the flow of milk.

What is the aftermath?
Antibiotics will help after about 24-36 hours, so the symptoms will gradually fade. Unfortunately, the milk supply of the infected breast will decrease significantly.

Hang in there, keep nursing on both sides. Your supply should return after the infection resloves itself and the swelling subsides. If you begin debating to end breastfeeding, wait. It will only make you more uncomfortable. Wait until after the infection subsides to make your decision.

And, as always, drink lots of water and rest as much as possible!

Things I've learned

Being a new mom is quite the adventure. There are so many things to learn. My mom said to me that instinct can only take you so far!

So from my experience here's what I've learned.

1. The rule of 2.
     This meaning - bring 2 of everything. 2 outfits, 2 binkis, 2 blankets, 2 diapers, (more than 2 wipes). Time and time again I've found that it's very useful to be well prepared for all situations. During my mission I carried around a mini swiss army knife. Why would a sister missionary need it? I don't know - but it was definitely used. Even the Elders knew I had it and would ask if they could use it. So - not only do I recommend carrying a mini swiss army knife, but 2 of everything that your baby may or may not need! Also carry a change of clothes - Hillary suggested to keep a change of clothes in your car.

2. Breastfeeding is mind over matter.
   Lots of moms get off to a difficult start with breastfeeding. In all the books I read pre-baby they all said that you have to be determined to make it work. I agree. It's not easy, it's hard if there are bumps in the road to feeding normally. So, if you're breastfeeding and running into issues, stick with it. You'll get there. Seek help if you need it. If you need encouragement, email me - call me - talk to your mom - someone! Don't think you are alone! Also for car trips - bring a pump. I pumped in the car while someone else drove and fed the baby with minimal stops. Unless of course you want the break in driving then taking some time to feed is ok.

3 Make sure that you're doing what's needed while baby's asleep.
  I've found that when baby is asleep I like to rest as well. But - there are dishes to be done, bathrooms to be cleaned, floors that need vacuuming. So keep a list of what needs to be done and make sure that you get enough rest in between. Especially since baby is a lot of work! If your partner is around, make sure that they know what needs to be done as well to help lighten the load.

4. A mildly supportive nighttime nursing bra has made all the difference.
   That's a link to the one I've been using. For some reason this bra has really helped during the night. I don't know why, but I would recommend getting one. I know that Babies - R - Us carries them, but that link takes you to the Amazon website.
 
5. Hydrate - which I think is pretty self explanatory.
  

Language Development

It's never too early to start with language development. Most babies will learn the cadence of language from their mothers. This started in the womb as the baby listened to Mommy talk.

*Your house is a great jumping off point for language and interactive development. You can take the baby on "tours" of your home. Go from room to room describing what you see, have the baby touch and interact with all different textures, sights, and colors. You can turn on the tap and have the baby feel the running water as you describe what you're doing.

*Every time you pass a mirror, tap on it, and your baby will turn their head toward it. Say "Look at the baby, what a cute baby!" This assists baby in self-awareness.

When you pass a picture, stop and describe it. Point out different things as baby follows your hand.

You can do this outside as well as summer comes, they can start to feel the wind, the sun, the texture of grass, etc...

If you're trying to teach your little one a foreign language, it is never too early to start. Teaching the child to be bilingual may initially seem as if the child is a "late" bloomer, but in all reality, they are just learning to separate the two languages in their mind.

In any case, children learn any language at an astonishing rate. The child's vocabulary often reflects what the child has been exposed to. So make sure to read to your child - I've already started reading to Molly and we're on a journey to incorporate the French language into our world as well. More to come!



*Some tips were taken from a book called "Mommy and Me" by Dr. Cindy Bunin Nurik

Sleep Ritual

Do you have a sleep ritual for your little one?

If you do, is it working well for you? Meaning, does your little one go down with minimal/no crying and stay down for over an hour?

If you don't have a sleep ritual or the one you're using now, is not working for you than this post is to help you!

Sleep is one of the biggest concerns that most parents have.

Tracey Hogg, from the book The Baby Whisperer and The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems suggests that every time your baby goes down for sleep, whether it be at night or during the day, there should be a sleep ritual.

She encourages that parents adopt the 4 Sleep Ritual S's:

1. Set the stage: make sure the environment for your baby is comfortable. This could mean: darkening the room, turning on some white noise (I use a vaporizer), ensuring she is dressed appropriately for the temperature in the room.

2. Swaddle: swaddle, swaddle, swaddle your baby! I know, some of you may be thinking - but my baby HATES being swaddled. Really? How do you know? Did the flailing arms/legs and screams tell you she hates it? That's what babies do - they flail an cry, they don't have control yet over those muscles. She is most likely flailing because she is tired. I prefer the velcro kind of swaddle so they can't get out. Some baby's like the hands tucked in, others don't.

3. Sit: After she is swaddled, sit with your baby in a calm, relaxed environment in an upright, vertical position with her head snuggled in your neck area. No jostling, no rocking, just sit still and let her body relax. Try this for about 5 minutes.

4. Shush-pat: Once your LO is in the zone, lay her down before she is asleep. If she is fussy or starts to cry when laid down, begin the shush-pat method. Pick her up (or you can keep her in the crib), and shhh in her ear while patting her back. The shhh should be like a wave not a train. Once she relaxes, place down in her crib, on her side so you can still pat if necessary.

Hogg claims that baby's can not hold more than 3 thoughts in their heads at once, so with the patting and the shhhing, she will begin to quiet.

Hairbow Giveaway!

My friend is having a give away on her blog - she makes the most fabulous bows! Here's just an example:

So go check out her blog and enter the giveaway!

jensBOWdaciousbows.blogspot.com

Follow up on Flying

The flight went off without a hitch! I read somewhere that it helps the baby to nurse during take-off so that they won't have an issue with the altitude adjustments. So I followed that plan and it worked very well. She didn't have a problem with the take off. During landing she didn't cry but you could tell that she was getting a little upset as her ears started to feel plugged. My sister and I just kept yawning while she looked at us, hoping that "yawns are contagious." It seemed to work and she yawned the whole way down.

Other things I learned:

1. The stroller has to be folded up and put on the belt to be scanned. Even if you have a 2 month old sleeping baby and the stroller obviously can't hide any sort of weapon. Once any mom or grandma sees you struggling - they offer to help so there are nice people out there.

2. Pack snacks. I don't care how long your flight is (ours was only 45 minutes), snacks would have been helpful.

3. Flight attendants are nice and will get you a snack, but the only thing they have are usually peanuts or pretzels. And if you're like me, you got sick and tired of eating pretzels during your first trimester and will never eat them again.

4. If you have someone travelling with you - make sure you are specific in your needs and that they know what help you need. Or they will leave you stranded at the security check in with a sleeping baby and a stroller that needs to be lifted onto the belt.

That's about all I can think of, a friend recently flew and her little one had to change messy diapers, so maybe I can get her to be a guest blogger and give us some advice on that. I didn't have to handle that situation!

Diapers at Night

Tracy Hogg, author of the best selling book series Baby Whisperer, gives a great tip for little ones to help them not be uncomfortable from a wet/dirty diaper.

Put diaper rash cream on their little bums right before you put them down for the night.

I know, why didn't I think of that?

Hogg also suggests that for night time feedings, to only change the diaper if it's dirty. If it's wet - just let it be as to not make the baby even more awake/aware.

Lily has never been terribly bothered by a wet diaper or even a dirty one for that matter. But I am sure she feels a little better having a protective layer down there to help her through the night.

11 hours of sleeping in pee does not sound fun to me so now we put Desitin on each night with a sturdy diaper (sometimes one size larger) to hold all the pee.

Awesome Diaper Clutch

Go here to see a tutorial for a really cute diaper clutch.

Epstein Pearls

During a period of time in Lily's life, she was so fussy and often! I started investigating what the issue could be.

At one point, I thought maybe she was sick?

Or maybe she was teething early? I did see these little white spots in her gum.

After figuring out that it was her daytime sleep that was the culprit, I still wanted to know what these little white bumps were in her mouth. Were they teeth? Did they hurt? Were they normal?

The answer is: epstein pearls. EP's are whitish-yellow cysts that form on the gums and the roof of a newborn's mouth. Or in Lily's case a 3 month old baby's mouth. They are normal, will go away in time and are NOT teeth.

So next time your little one is crying, take a peek at her gum's to see if she has any pearls!

Traveling with Baby

So if you've followed me at all, you know that Molly and I have done our fair share of traveling.

The car trip is probably the easiest method of travel with a baby. You're in control of your environment and can tend to baby's needs easily.

However we're planning an upcoming trip to Ohio by plane. Thank goodness my sister will be coming along to help but here's some information I've found helpful.

1. If you're flying with an infant under the age of 2 you can decide to fly them as a "lap" traveller. This way you don't have to buy an individual seat. However airlines offer an "infant fare." These however are a percentage of the normal fare and may not be worth purchasing. You can always buy a discounted fare for the car seat, this would most likely be the same price as your ticket.

2. If the child is under 2 you have to call the airline after you've booked your ticket to let them know that you will have an infant with you (this is if you're traveling with them as a lap traveler). They will ask for their name and add them to the flight list.

3. You must also have their birth certificate and/or a shot record with their date of birth. You must present this to the check in counter when you arrive at the airport for age verification.

4. The baby can have the stroller/car seat checked for travel as checked baggage but this does not count towards the number of bags checked. These are taken when you board the airplane and are ready once you're getting off the plane as well. Don't go to baggage pick up and expect them to be there.

5. When you arrive at the gate, make sure to talk to an agent about seating arrangements. You may be able to board early to avoid the crowd. You'll most likely want to wait until the plane is nearly empty to leave as well so that you, again, avoid the crowd. You can also see if there is a seat with an empty seat next to you so that you can have some extra room for the baby.

I'll let you know how it goes after we fly!

Diapers.com - anyone?

Has anyone used diapers.com? How was your experience?

Reflux

It's a fact of baby life.

Most babies spit up.

But what does it mean, what causes it and is it an issue?

Approx. 70% of babies have reflux which is caused when the sphincter between the stomach and the esophagus isn't strong enough to close completely. Thus, food travels right on up and out the mouth, unless it's swallowed (yuck!). Most little ones will outgrow this phase when their bodies grow and get stronger.

There are two types of spitter uppers: happy and sad ones. If your baby is happily spitting up, eating well at meals and gaining weight properly - then congrats! you have a happy spitter upper and there is no cause for concern. Rarely, is there ever a cause for concern with spit up, UNLESS you're baby is projectile, then you should talk to your doctor.

Now, if your baby is spitting up with a cry following, fussy at meals, arches back and cries during/after meals, has sleeping issues or seems to be in pain following a meal (anytime after 30 minutes) - then your baby may have GER - gastroesophageal reflux. Another indicator, maybe poor weight gain.

As for treatment there are two types of medicine:

1. Zantac - this is a histamine-2 blocker which reduces the amount of acid produced by your stomach.
-This medicine is taken orally twice a day and needs increased based on your baby's weight gain.

2. Prevacid - this is a proton pump inhibitor medicine which shuts off the production of acid in the stomach. This drug is much more effective at treating GER and is also more expensive.
-This medicien is taken orally once a day and the dosage remains the same, there is no change due to weight gain.

My personal opinion is to put the baby on meds for this condition. Sure, you can try to elevate the crib mattress, hold the baby upright for 30 minutes after eating and anything else you can google. BUT in the end, the baby has acid coming up it's esophagus and that equals no fun, for baby AND for Mom.

I have suffered from GERD my whole life, save during my pregnancy and my current breast feeding state. Heartburn sucks. Imagine how it must be for a little baby! No wonder she or he may not be able to sleep or eat well - his throat feels like it's on fire!

Awesome DIY changing table

I just found this link and for those with small spaces or small funds, this is a great idea!!

The Lighter side of being a mom

William Tell Overture for Moms @ Yahoo! Video

Her voice isn't the best, but I think it's pretty funny,

Sleeping Books

I know a lot of you are a fan of Babywise, as am I. It was recommended to Reed when we were pregnant with Lara and we started it right away after she was born. It worked like a charm and she was an awesome sleeper (for the first 2 years anyway). I am not a to-the-T follower of Babywise, though. I read a few other books and relied on my own experience and training to tweak Babywise to my liking. There are a lot of other books out there about sleep training and good sleep habits so if you don't totally agree with Babywise, here are some other options.

The Happiest Baby on the Block- There is also a sequel to this called The Happiest Toddler on the Block. I actually have not read either of these books all the way through but my mother-in-law tried some of the techniques on Vivi. The main idea of THBOTB is that babies need 3 things to sleep: something to suck, swaddled, and movement. She would swaddle Vivi, give her a pacifier, sit on the couch with Vivi placed on a cushion on her lap, and would bounce Vivi quite vigorously while "shhhhh"ing. Sounds weird but Vivi loved it and would fall asleep within minutes. This was a good alternative when we were out and about and not able to put Vivi to bed in her bassinet. As for The Happiest Toddler on the Block, I didn't agree with his ideas on "toddlerese" but that's a discussion for later.

No-Cry Sleep Solution- I picked this book up recently because Lara has started some other really bad sleep habits and I wanted to read up on other methods. This book is really nice because you can skip to chapters that specifically address the challenges that you need. Such as, Afraid of the Dark, Needing Mommy to go to Bed, or Not Wanting to Go to Bed. :)

Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child- I have a few friends who really like this book so I read it. I wasn't as impressed but it's another option. It's pretty much totally opposite of Babywise and they make that quite clear.

Babywise- I absolutely love Babywise and, like I said before, it's really flexible so you can tweak it if you want.

Happy Sleeping!

Pictures Galore!

I'm sure that all Mom's out there have taken about a gazillion pictures of their little ones so here are some quick tips:

1. Don't use flash. It can be really harsh and not just on the baby. Natural lighting is the best; take pictures in the morning or afternoon in the most well-lit room in the house.

2. Be patient. Babies can only do so much and waiting for that perfect face/situation can take a while. Also you may not have much time if you want the baby awake and happy so make sure to keep your finger on the button to snap as quickly as possible. Again lighting is important for quick pictures that will turn out well. The more light - the better the picture will be.

3. Use everyday blankets/sheets for backdrops. You don't need to go to portrait studios to get good backdrops - you may have them sitting in your linen closet!

4. Get a variety of angles. You never know what is going to turn out absolutely adorable.

5. Editing is possible, even for a novice photographer. Google has a program called Picasa and it is wonderful for quick edits. There are a variety of editing functions including turning photos black and white/sepia/soft focus. Then you can add text and even make collages. These are especially good for grandparents who want a variety of photos.

Only You Can Prevent Blow-outs :)

With any new mom- diapering to prevent accidents is a thought that is on the forefront of your mind.

With diapers such as Pampers/Huggies the most important tip would to be to make sure that the diaper fits properly. There are weight limits on the size of the diapers that are a general guide. But we all know that babies are not all made equally.

• If your baby is blowing out the back of the diaper (with most of the mess going up the back of the baby) then you might want to consider going up a size. Especially if your little one has quite the "milk belly."
• Make sure that the diaper and clothes aren't too tight. If the diaper is right up against the baby's bottom than the poo has no where to go but out! The same goes with clothing, if it's too tight then the diaper won't be able properly contain anything!
• Try changing the brand of diaper that you use. Not all diapers are made equal. Depending on what your baby needs you may need to change because of skin irritations or you may not like the feel/style. Some mom's use the cloth diapers if you're up for them!
• Your baby has a schedule, if you know when the baby is most likely to go. Sometimes even facial expressions can clue you in on what's about to happen. If the blowouts are still going out the back, you can hold the baby upright to prevent gravity from helping the blowout situation!

I'm sure there are many more tips, these are just a few to get you started to prevent unnecessary accidents!

Welcome!

I thought it would be a good idea to have a blog dedicated to Moms - and the tips and tricks we discover as we go along. I think it will be a great way to pass along deals and skills that we've learned to help others.

Here's my first contribution:

I found this blog that helps with the financial aspect of raising a baby. They help point out the deals in stores to get items discounted and sometimes even free!

http://babycheapskate.blogspot.com/

The most interesting post that I read is this one : It's a prediction of baby sales at stores that will be happening during the month of March!