Boxing Week Blowout at Dear-Born Baby

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BABY PLAY

You’ve bought your baby a new toy and you decide to free up some quality time to spend with her; but will you know how to create a pleasant and supportive play environment? Will you know how to interest and stimulate your baby’s curiosity? You can start by listening to your intuition and becoming familiar with your baby’s developmental stages, so you can adapt your play to her changing needs, and create the appropriate play environment for her age and development. Following are some basics to aid you in gaining maximum enjoyment from your play time together

The Right Time

Enjoyment – The First Requisite For Successful Learning

The first condition for successful learning is that the learning experience should be enjoyable. A positive play experience will make your baby feel “I am good, I am successful”, which will increases his motivation to look for new learning opportunities. But if the experience is repeatedly frustrating or if he is trying to learn when he is not physically or emotionally ready, he will develop unpleasant feelings that will suppress his desire to continue learning.

The Appropriate Time For Learning

Choose a time when your baby is alert and relaxed, and not when he is hungry and tired. Be receptive to any signs of discomfort, boredom or distress that he may express, so that he will feel that you understand him. This kind of sensitivity on your part will make him feel safe and want to dare to experience and learn more and more together with you.

The Convenient Time For You

It’s important that the time you choose is also convenient for you. If you decide to play with your baby when you come home tired and agitated from work and play with him by force and out of a sense of duty, you will no doubt transfer this feeling of apathy, frustration and even anger to your baby. Don’t force yourself to devote quality time to your baby when you are preoccupied, or not calm and relaxed.

Attention and Interest

Your Baby’s Attention Span

Remember that a newborn’s attention span is very short: After birth it will only be between a few seconds and a few minutes. Adapt yourself to this span, which is continually increasing as your baby grows. Activities of just a few minutes can be as valuable and as significant as longer activities. Be aware of your baby’s needs and abilities, and be sure to stop the game when she indicates that she has had enough.

What Interests Your Baby? Mostly – You!

Your role in the game changes from month to month. From motivating, navigating and activating your newborn baby, you become a supportive haven for your baby who is developing her personality and independence. During the first few months, much of the social game between you and your baby involves face-to-face interaction: face your baby up close, talk to her, smile at her, make noises and sing for her, and create a direct bond with her. Try following your baby’s actions and “bring” her the things that she shows a natural interest in. Control this interaction gently, slowly -- don’t continuously move from one activity to another.

The More She Grows, The More Active She Becomes

After several months, your baby will learn to control and direct her movements and she will become more active in her games with you. At about five months, you will notice that she is not satisfied with just looking at your face and hearing your voice. She is now more curious and wants to examine you using all her senses. A game involving sounds and different noises, played by the two of you, will allow your baby to experience cooperation and interrelationships and to learn her body’s boundaries. They also help her to begin developing her own identity as an individual, separate from you.

You As A Secure Base From Which Your Baby Can Go Exploring

During the final months of her first year, and afterwards, you continue having a significant role in your baby’s play. This role will sometimes be less active -- the role of companion, advisor, and supporter: a secure base for your child, from which she can go out and explore while returning from time to time for encouragement and comfort when she fails or is afraid. During this period it is important to allow your baby to act and experiment on her own, and not for you to solve all problems for her. Help her, when necessary, create a safe environment for her, and of course, watch her closely to prevent her from hurting herself or having accidents.

And What About Toys?

They Are Not “Just Toys”, They Are Baby’s Learning Aids

During the first few months, when your newborn is still totally dependent on you, and cannot yet control his movements, it is important to provide your baby with stimuli that are appropriate for his senses. In order to know which stimuli are suitable for the first few months, 

Once You Have Selected The Appropriate Toy

• Show the toy to your baby: Hang it above him, placing it in front of him when he is lying on his stomach, or put it next to him.
• Allow him to spend time exploring and examining the toy in his own way, at his own pace: Sometimes, he will stare at the toy for a long while before trying to touch it or play with it.
• Don’t overwhelm him with stimuli: Give him one toy at a time and try to remove unnecessary stimuli from the area. When he looses interest in that toy, you can give him another one.
• Try to draw his attention to the toy: Pass it in front of his eyes and place it in his hand. Allow him to explore the toy in his own special way. Let your baby choose and decide what to do with the toy.
• One toy, many uses: Over and above the specific task of a specific toy, it still has infinite, creative uses for your baby to try. Remember that each action or experience has developmental value. Don’t try to constantly direct him towards specific actions that interest you, he will get the message, directly or indirectly, that what he is doing is wrong and will develop feelings of failure.

Your Busy Little Explorer

After the age of six months your baby becomes a relentless explorer. He is not satisfied with only watching. He investigates every toy in every possible way. He grabs it with his hand, puts it in his mouth, he sucks and “chews” it and then feels it with his fingers. He rubs it, squashes it and squeezes it and throws it on the floor. It is very important to allow your baby to play this way with toys and with other household objects that are safe and suitable for this kind of exploration.

Note: Some parents try to stop their baby from putting things into his mouth. By doing this they prevent their baby from using one of his most important investigative tools for exploring the world available to him. So, don’t prevent your baby from putting things into his mouth. Just make sure that the objects within his reach are not hazardous.

Help Him Broaden His Experiences

At this stage it is possible to offer your baby more than one toy at a time, but it’s also important not to overwhelm him with stimuli. Make an effort to get to know your baby well and to broaden his experiences or to notice the stimuli that he spontaneously turns to. Express his experience in words. Describe what he is doing, expand on what he is doing and try to associate it with other experiences that he is already familiar with.

Alone, Together and In-Between

Let your baby decide when to be together with you and when to be on her own. Your baby needs to spend some time to learn on her own, freely, without your help. It allows her to learn about herself, to learn to solve problems and develop her independence

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TIPS GET YOUR BABY TO GO TO SLEEP EASIER

TIPS GET YOUR BABY TO GO TO SLEEP  EASIER

Over the years of putting our own children to sleep and keeping them asleep, and counseling thousands of other moms and dads on various styles of nighttime parenting, here are some time-tested, proven attitudes and techniques. Most of these are applicable to infants and toddlers of all ages.

NIGHTIME PARENTING DECISIONS

1. Develop a realistic attitude about nighttime parenting. Sleeping, like eating, is not a state you can force a baby into. Best you can do is to create a secure environment that allows sleep to overtake your baby. A realistic long- term goal is to help your baby develop a healthy attitude about sleep: that sleep is a pleasant state to enter and a secure state to remain in. Many sleep problems in older children and adults stem from children growing up with an unhealthy attitude about sleep—that sleep was not a pleasant state to enter and was a fearful state to remain in. Just as daytime parenting is a long-term investment, so is nighttime parenting. Teach your baby a restful attitude about sleep when they are young and both you and your children will sleep better when they are older.
2. Beware of sleep trainers. Ever since parenting books found their way into the nursery, sleep trainers have touted magic formulas promising to get babies to sleep through the night – for a price and at a risk. Most of these sleep-training techniques are just variations of the old cry-it-out method. And technology has found its way into nighttime babycare by providing tired parents with a variety of sleep-inducing gadgets designed to lull a baby off to sleep alone in her crib: oscillating cradles, crib vibrators that mimic a car ride, and teddy bears that "breathe." All promise to fill in for parents on night duty. Be discerning about using someone else's method to get your baby to sleep. Before trying any sleep-inducing program, you be the judge. Run these schemes through your inner sensitivity before trying them on your baby, especially if they involve leaving your baby alone to cry. Does this advice sound sensible? Does it fit your baby's temperament? Does it feel right to you?
   If your current daytime or nighttime routine is not working for you, think about what changes you can make in yourself and your lifestyle that will make it easier for you to meet your baby's needs. This is a better approach than immediately trying to change your baby. After all, you can control your own reactions to a situation. You can't control how your baby reacts. Use discernment about advice that promises a sleep-through-the-night more convenient baby, as these programs involve the risk of creating a distance between you and your baby and undermining the mutual trust between parent and child. On the surface, baby training sounds so liberating, but it's a short-term gain for a long-term loss. You lose the opportunity to get to know and become an expert in your baby. Baby loses the opportunity to build trust in his caregiving environment. You cease to value your own biological cues, your judgment, and instead follow the message of someone who has no biological attachment, nor investment, in your infant.
   Especially in the first six months, avoid sleep trainers who advise you to let your baby "cry-it-out." Only you can know what "it" is and how to respond appropriately to your baby. Using the rigid, insensitive "let-him-cry-it-out" method has several problems. First, it will undermine the trust your baby has for nighttime comfort. Second, it will prevent you from working at a style of nighttime parenting until you find the one that works best for you and your family and third, it may keep you and your doctor from uncovering hidden medical causes of nightwaking. Nightfeedings are normal; frequent, painful nightwaking is not.
   
   
3. Stay flexible. No single approach will work with all babies all the time or even all the time with the same baby. Don't persist with a failing experiment. If the "sleep program" isn't working for your family, drop it. Develop a nighttime parenting style that works for you. Babies have different nighttime temperaments and families have varied lifestyles. Keep working at a style of nighttime parenting that fits the temperament of your baby and your own lifestyle. If it's working, stick with it. If it's not, be open to trying other nighttime parenting styles. And, be prepared for one style of nighttime parenting to work at one stage of an infant's life, yet need a change as she enters another stage. Be open to trying different nighttime approaches. Follow your heart rather than some stranger's sleep-training advice, and you and your baby will eventually work out the right nighttime parenting style for your family.
4. Decide where baby sleeps best. There is no right or wrong place for babies to sleep. Wherever all family members sleep the best is the right arrangement for you and your baby. Some babies sleep best in their own crib in their own room, some sleep better in their own bassinet or crib in the parents' bedroom, other babies sleep best snuggled right next to mommy in the parents' bed. Many parents prefer a co-sleeper arrangement. Realistically, most parents use various sleeping arrangements at various stages during the infant's first two years. Be open to changing styles as baby's developmental needs and your family situation changes.
5. Sleep is not a state you can force your baby into. Sleep must naturally overtake your baby. Your nighttime parenting role is to set the conditions that make sleep attractive and to present cues that suggest to baby that sleep is expected. Try the following sleep tight tips, which may vary at different stages in your baby's development. What doesn't work one week may work the next.
6. Get baby used to a variety of sleep associations. The way an infant goes to sleep at night is the way she expects to go back to sleep when she awakens. So, if your infant is always rocked or nursed to sleep, she will expect to be rocked or nursed back to sleep. Sometimes nurse her off to sleep, sometimes rock her off to sleep, sometimes sing her off to sleep, and sometimes use tape recordings; and switch off with your spouse on putting her to bed. There are two schools of thought on the best way to put babies to sleep: the parent-soothing method and the self-soothing method. Both have advantages and possible disadvantages.
   
   1. Parent-soothing method. When baby is ready to sleep, a parent or other caregiver helps baby make a comfortable transition from being awake to falling asleep, usually by nursing, rocking, singing, or whatever comforting techniques work. Advantages:
      
      • Baby learns a healthy sleep attitude – that sleep is a pleasant state to enter and a secure state to remain in.
      • Creates fond memories about being parented to sleep.
      • Builds parent-infant trust
      So-called "Disadvantages": Because of the concept of sleep associations, baby learns to rely on an outside prop to get to sleep, so—as the theory goes—when baby awakens he will expect help to get back to sleep. This may exhaust the parents.
      
   2. Self-soothing method: Baby is put down awake and goes to sleep by himself. Parents offer intermittent comforting, but are not there when baby drifts off to sleep. So-called "Advantages": If baby learns to go to sleep by himself, he may be better able to put himself back to sleep without parental help, because he doesn't associate going to sleep with parents comforting. May be tough on baby, but eventually less exhausting for parents.
      Disadvantages:
      
      • Involves a few nights of let-baby-cry-it-out
      • Risks baby losing trust
      • Seldom works for high-need babies with persistent personalities
      • Overlooks medical reasons for nightwaking
      • Risks parents becoming less sensitive to baby's cries
   Remember, in working out your own parenting-to-sleep techniques and rituals, be sensitive to the nighttime needs of your individual baby and remember your ultimate goal: to create a healthy sleep attitude in your baby and to get all family members a restful night's sleep.
7. Daytime mellowing. A peaceful daytime is likely to lead to a restful night. The more attached you are to your baby during the day and the more baby is held and calmed during the day, the more likely this peacefulness is to carry through into the night. If your baby has a restless night, take inventory of unsettling circumstances that may occur during the day: Are you too busy? Are the daycare and the daycare provider the right match for your baby? Does your baby spend a lot of time being held and in-arms by a nurturant caregiver, or is he more of a "crib baby" during the day? We have noticed babies who are carried in baby slings for several hours a day settle better at night. Babywearing mellows the infant during the day, behavior that carries over into restfulness at night.
   
8. Set predictable and consistent nap routines. Pick out the times of the day that you are most tired, for example 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Lie down with your baby at these times every day for about a week to get your baby used to a daytime nap routine. This also sets you up to get some much-needed daytime rest rather than be tempted to "finally get something done" while baby is napping. Babies who have consistent nap routines during the day are more likely to sleep longer stretches at night.
9. Consistent bedtimes and rituals. Babies who enjoy consistent bedtimes and familiar going-to-sleep rituals usually go to sleep easier and stay asleep longer. Yet, because of modern lifestyles, consistent and early bedtimes are not as common, or realistic, as they used to be. Busy two- income parents often don't get home until six or seven o'clock in the evening, so it's common for older babies and toddlers to procrastinate the bedtime ritual. This is prime time with their parents and they are going to milk it for all they can get. In some families, a later afternoon nap and a later bedtime is more practical. Familiar bedtime rituals set the baby up for sleep. The sequence of a warm bath, rocking, nursing, lullabies, etc. set the baby up to feel that sleep is expected to follow. Capitalize on a principle of early infant development: patterns of association. Baby's developing brain is like a computer, storing thousands of sequences that become patterns. When baby clicks into the early part of the bedtime ritual, he is programmed for the whole pattern that results in drifting off to sleep.
10. Calming down. Give baby a warm bath followed by a soothing massage to relax tense muscles and busy minds. Be careful, though, because this will stimulate some babies.
11. Tank up your baby during the day. Babies need to learn that daytime is for eating and nighttime is mostly for sleeping. Some older babies and toddlers are so busy playing during the day that they forget to eat and make up for it during the night by waking frequently to feed. To reverse this habit, feed your baby at least every three hours during the day to cluster the baby's feedings during the waking hours. Upon baby's first night waking, attempt a full feeding, otherwise some babies, especially breastfed infants, get in the habit of nibbling all night.
    
    TRANSITIONING TECHNIQUES
    Many infants need help making the transition from being awake to falling asleep, which is really a prolongation of the bedtime ritual that conditions baby that sleep is expected to soon follow.
    
12. Nursing down. Nestle next to your baby and breastfeed or bottlefeed him off to sleep. The smooth continuum from warm bath, to warm arms, to warm breast, to warm bed is a recipe for sleep to soon follow.
13. Fathering down. Place baby in the neck nestle position (nestle baby's head against the front of your neck with your chin against the top of baby's head. The vibration of the deeper male voice lulls baby to sleep) and rock your baby to sleep. If baby doesn't drift off to sleep while rocking, lie down with your baby, still in the neck nestle position, and let baby temporarily fall asleep draped over your chest. Once baby is asleep, ease the sleeping baby into his bed and sneak away.
14. Rocking or walking down. Try rocking baby to sleep in a bedside rocking chair, or walk with baby, patting her back and singing or praying.
15. Nestling down. For some babies, the standard fall-to-sleep techniques are not enough. Baby just doesn't want to be put down to sleep alone. After rocking or feeding baby to sleep in your arms, lie down with your sleeping baby next to you and nestle close to her until she is sound asleep. We call this the "teddy- bear snuggle."
16. Wearing down. Some babies are so revved up during the day that they have trouble winding down at night. Place your baby in a baby sling and wear her around the house for a half-hour or so before the designated bedtime. When she is fully asleep (see limp-limb sign) in the sling, ease her out of the sling onto her bed. For babies who are used to nursing off to sleep in a mother's arms, fathers can wear their baby down to sleep and give mother a break.
    Wearing down is particularly useful for the reluctant napper. When baby falls asleep in the sling, snuggled with his tummy against your chest or draped over your chest once you lie down, you both can take a much-needed nap.
    
17. Swinging down. Wind-up swings for winding down babies are a boon to parents who have neither the time, energy or creativity to muster up rituals of their own. Tired parents will pay anything for a good night's sleep. Once in a while a moving plastic seat may be more sleep inducing than a familiar pair of arms. Sometimes high-need babies associate a parent's body with play and stimulation and will not drift off to sleep in a human swing. For them the mechanical one is less stimulating, if not downright boring, and therefore can be a useful part of a sleep-ritual repertoire. Yet remember, high-need babies are notoriously resistant to mechanical mother substitutes and will usually protest anything less than the real mom. Before you actually spend money on a swing, you might want to borrow one for a week or two to see if the spell of the swing will last. You may discover that you are uncomfortable with mechanical mothering and decide to get more creative. Still, swings have their moments.
18. Driving down. If you've tried all the above transitioning techniques and baby still resists falling asleep, place baby in a carseat and drive around until she falls asleep. When you return home and baby is in a deep sleep, carry the carseat (with the sleeping baby) into your bedroom and let baby remain in the carseat until the first nightwaking. If she is in a deep sleep (witness the limp-limb sign – hands unclenched, arms dangling loosely at her side, facial muscles still), you may be able to ease her out of the carseat into her own bed.
19. Mechanical mothers. Gadgets to put and keep baby asleep are becoming big business. Tired parents pay high prices for a good night's sleep. It's all right to use these as relief when the main comforter wears out, but a steady diet of these artificial sleep inducers may be unhealthy. We remember a newspaper article extolling the sleep-tight virtues of a teddy bear, with a tape player in his stuffing that sings or makes breathing sounds. Baby can snuggle up to the singing, breathing, synthetic bear. Personally, we are not keen on our babies going to sleep to someone else's canned voice. Why not use the real parent?
    
    STAY ASLEEP TECHNIQUES
    Now that you've learned all the tricks of the nighttime trade to get your baby to sleep, here are some ways to keep your baby asleep. Because of the characteristics of babies' sleep cycles and easy arousability from sleep, you will notice that we purposely omit what we call the "harden your heart" method: put your baby down to sleep awake in a crib in his own room, put cotton in your ears, and let him cry himself to sleep. When he awakens, don't go into him. He will soon learn to put himself to sleep and back to sleep. We believe that this method is unsafe, runs the risk of baby losing trust, and, for infants with persistent personalities, doesn't work. Try these tips to help your baby sleep increasingly longer stretches at night.
    
20. Dress for the occasion. Try various ways of swaddling your baby at night. In the early months, many babies like to "sleep tight," securely swaddled in a cotton baby blanket. Older infants like to sleep "loose," and may sleep longer stretches with loose coverings that allow them more freedom of movement. Oftentimes, dressing a baby loosely during the day, but swaddling him at night, conditions the baby to associate sleep with swaddling. A baby who gets too hot or too cold may become restless. Adjust the layering according to the temperature of the room and the sleep habits of your baby. Allergy-prone babies sleep better in 100 percent cotton sleepwear.
21. Quiet in the bedroom. Since most babies can block out disturbing noise, you don't have to create a noiseless sleeping environment, yet some babies startle and awaken easily with sudden noises. For these babies, oil the joints and springs of a squeaky crib, put out the dog before he barks and turn the ringer off on the phone.
22. Darkness in the bedroom. Use opaque shades to block out the light, which may get you an extra hour of sleep if you have one of those little roosters who awakens to the first ray of sunlight entering the bedroom.
23. Sounds to sleep by. Repetitive, nearly monotonous sounds that lull baby to sleep are known as white noise, such as the sounds of a fan, air conditioner, or even tape recordings of womb sounds or vacuum cleaner sounds. Also, try running water from a nearby faucet or shower, a bubbling fish tank, a loudly ticking clock, or a metronome set at sixty beats a minute. (These can all be tape-recorded.) Try music to sleep by, such as tape recordings of waterfalls or ocean sounds, or a medley of easy-listening lullabies on a continuous-play tape recorder. These sleep-inducing sounds remind baby of the sounds she was used to hearing in the womb. 
24. Music to sleep by. Try a continuous-play tape recording of your baby's favorite lullabies, so when she awakens she can resettle herself to the familiar sleep-inducing sound of the tape-recording. You can make a medley of your own lullabies that have been proven sleep-inducers.
25. Leave a little bit of mother behind. If you have a separation-sensitive baby, leave a breast pad in the cradle, or play a continuous tape recording of yourself singing a bedtime lullaby.
26. A full tummy (but not too full). While stuffing baby with a glob of cereal before bedtime seldom works, it may be worth a try. A tablespoon or two given to a baby over six months of age may get you an extra hour or two. Tiny babies have tiny tummies, a bit bigger than the size of their fist. So, your baby's digestive system was designed for small, frequent feedings, which is why, in the early months, babies feed at least every 3 to 4 hours at night and more often during the day.
27. Lessen physical discomforts. 1) Clear the nose. In the early months, babies need clear nasal passages to breathe. Later they can alternatively breathe through their mouth if their nose is blocked. Bedroom inhalant allergies are a common cause of stuffy noses and consequent nightwaking. Dust-free your baby's bedroom as much as possible. (Remove fuzzy blankets, down comforters, dust-collecting fuzzy toys, etc.) If your baby is particularly allergy-prone, a HEPA-type air filter will help. As an added nighttime perk, the "white noise" from the hum of the air filter may help baby stay asleep.
    
    2) Relieve teething pain. Even though you may not yet be able to feel baby's teeth, teething discomfort may start as early as three months and continue off and on all the way through the two-year molars. A wet bedsheet under baby's head, a drool rash on the cheeks and chin, swollen and tender gums, and a slight fever are telltale clues that teething is the nighttime culprit. What to do? With your doctor's permission, give appropriate doses of acetaminophen just before parenting your baby to sleep and again in four hours if baby awakens.
    
    3) Change wet or soiled diapers. Some babies are bothered by wet diapers at night, most are not. If your baby sleeps through wet diapers, there is no need to awaken her for a change – unless you're treating a persistent diaper rash. Nighttime bowel movements necessitate a change. Here's a nighttime changing tip: If possible, change the diapers just before a feeding, as baby is likely to fall asleep during or after feeding. Some breastfed babies, however, have a bowel movement during or immediately after a feeding and will need changing again. If you are using cloth diapers, putting two or three diapers on your baby before bedtime will decrease the sensation of wetness.
    
    4) Remove irritating sleepwear. Some babies cannot settle in synthetic sleepwear. A mother in our practice went through our whole checklist of nightwaking causes until she discovered her baby was sensitive to polyester sleepers. Once she changed to 100 percent cotton clothing, her baby slept better. Besides being restless, some babies show skin allergies to new clothing, detergents and fabric softeners by breaking out in a rash.
    
    5) Remove airborne irritants. Environmental irritants may cause congested breathing passages and awaken baby. Common household examples are cigarette smoke, baby powder, paint fumes, hair spray, animal dander (keep animals out of an allergic child's bedroom), plants, clothing (especially wool), stuffed animals, dust from a bed canopy, feather pillows, blankets, and fuzzy toys that collect lint and dust. If your baby consistently awakens with a stuffy nose, suspect irritants or allergens in the bedroom.
    
28. A warm bed. Placing a warm baby onto cold sheets can cause trouble. Especially in cold weather, use flannel sheets or place a warm towel on the sheets to warm them, and remove it before placing baby on the warmed sheets.
29. Create the right bedroom temperature and humidity. A consistent bedroom temperature of around 70 degrees F is preferable. Also, a relative humidity of around 50 percent is most conducive to sleep. Dry air may leave baby with a stuffy nose that awakens him. Yet, too high a humidity fosters allergy-producing molds. A warm-mist vaporizer in your baby's sleeping area helps maintain an adequate and consistent relative humidity, especially with central heating during the winter months. (And, the "white noise" of a consistent hum may help baby stay asleep.) WHAT TO DO WHEN BABY AWAKENSWHAT TO DO WHEN BABY AWAKENS When your baby awakens, develop a nighttime parenting approach that respects your baby's need for nighttime trust and comfort, in addition to the need for baby and parents to quickly get back to sleep. While some babies are self-soothers, being able to resettle easily and quickly without outside help, others (especially those high-need babies with more persistent personalities) need a helping hand (or breast, or whatever tool you can muster up at 3:00 a.m.). Try these back-to-sleep comforters:
    
30. Laying on of hands. Determine what your baby's nighttime temperament is. Is your baby a born self-soother who awakens, whimpers, squirms, and then resettles by herself? Or is your baby, if not promptly attended to, one whose cries escalate and becomes angry and difficult to resettle? If you can get to your baby quickly before she completely awakens, you may be able to resettle her back to sleep with a firm laying on of hands. To add the finishing touch, pat your baby's back or bottom rhythmically to match your heartbeat. Remove your hands gradually – first one and then the other – easing the pressure slowly so as not to startle baby awake. Sometimes fathers, perhaps because they have larger hands, are more successful in this hands-on ritual.
31. Honor your partner with his share of nighttime parenting. It's important for babies to get used to father's way of comforting and being put to sleep (and back to sleep) in father's arms, otherwise mothers burn out. A father's participation in nighttime parenting is especially important for the breastfeeding infant who assumes the luxury that "mom's diner" is open all night.Detect hidden medical causes of nightwaking. If you've tried all these techniques and your infant is still waking up frequently – and painfully – suspect there may be an underlying medical problem contributing to your baby's nightwaking. One of the most common hidden medical causes of nightwaking (and colicky behavior) in babies is a condition known as gastroesophageal reflux (GER). Due to a weakness of a circular band of muscle where the esophagus joins the stomach, irritating stomach acids are regurgitated into baby's esophagus, causing pain like adults would call heartburn. Clues that your baby may be suffering from GER are: painful bursts of nightwaking fussiness, particularly after eating; frequent spitting up (although not all babies with GER spit up regularly); frequent bouts of colicky, abdominal pain; frequent bouts of unexplained wheezing; and hearing throaty sounds after feeding. Another hidden medical cause of nightwaking is allergies to formula or dairy products, either in milk-based formulas or in dairy products in a breastfeeding mother's diet. Clues that milk allergies may be causing nightwaking (and colicky behavior) are bloating, diarrhea and a red rash around baby's anus, in addition to many of the signs described above under GER. If your baby is not only waking up frequently, but waking up "in pain," discuss these two medical possibilities with your doctor, since both can be diagnosed and treated, giving everyone in the family a more peaceful night's sleep.
    The above tools not only help your short-term goal of getting your baby to sleep, but, more importantly, create a healthy sleep attitude that lasts a lifetime. A baby who enjoys this style of nighttime parenting learns that sleep is a pleasant state to enter and a secure state to remain in. Therein lies the key to nighttime parenting. 
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TIPS FOR FATHER HOW TO CARE BABY

 TIPS FOR FATHER

It is always thrilling to know that you will become a new dad. It gives you the feeling of excitement and you will surely look forward to the day that you will finally see your precious baby. As a new father, there are new things that you must know for you to effectively care for your baby. You must know that you need to do your part effectively to render efficient care for your baby.
You need to talk with your wife on the things that you need to do for your baby. This will ensure that you will not feel left out in giving care for your little one. Try to learn to hold your baby safely. Do not be afraid. You can ask help from people to teach you on how to hold your precious baby.
Learn to be supportive and more understanding with your partner. You have to know that most women experience mood changes after they give birth. You have to widen your understanding of the situation. Try to support your wife in doing breastfeeding to make your baby healthier and more active.
Always try your best in doing some tasks at home. This will surely help your partner a lot. You have to help her unburden responsibilities that she used to do before giving birth. You can cook meals and help clean the house. You can also take care of your remaining kids so that your wife will have more time for the baby and for herself.

There are a lot of things that you can actually do to help in giving good care for your baby. Try to change his diapers so that you will learn on how to do it. You just need assistance if you cannot do it efficiently. You can also bathe him and make him feel comfortable.
You can also soothe your baby and make him calm if he gets irritable at times. Try to ask some people around you to help you become a better father. You can go to doctors for valuable advices. You can also ask advices from your friends and even from your parents to help you become a better dad for your precious baby.
There are a lot of things that you can do as a new father of a cute baby. You just need to learn the tasks carefully so that your baby will feel contented with your care. Do not limit yourself in doing things for your baby. Always remember that breastfeeding is the only task that you cannot do. Take more time in learning on how to take good care of a baby

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BABY DEVELOPMENT STAGE

 As newborn babies grow and develop, these are the various child development stages that they go through:

 

1-4 Months   

• Babies in this child development stage have an average length of 50.8 - 68.6 cm, with a growth rate of about 2.54 cm per month.
• The average weight is .7.9 – 16 lb and the growth rate is about 0.24 – 0.48 lb per week.
• The baby breathes using the abdominal muscles.
• The legs may be slightly bowed.
• The baby's eyes begin to move in unison with each other.
• While sucking reflexes are developed, swallowing is not perfect, which is why babies drool.
• The baby can grasp things with the entire hand.
• This stage in child development is marked by jerky, random, and uncoordinated movements.

 

4-8 Months

• In this stage of child development, the baby's average length is 69.8 – 73.7 cm, with a growth rate of 1.3 cm per month.
• The weight gain rate is about one lb per month.
• The breathing continues to be abdominal.
• Teeth begin to appear, with the lower and upper incisors sprouting first.
• The bowing of the legs gradually disappears during this stage of child development.
• Baby fat becomes visible on the thighs, arms, and neck.
• The true color of the eyes becomes established.
• The blinking reflex develops.
• The swallowing reflex becomes increasingly voluntary.
• The baby can use the finger and thumb grip to pick up objects.
• At this age, the baby develops the ability to transfer things from one hand to the other.
• The baby develops the tendency to put things in the mouth.
• At this age, the baby can sit without help using the arms for support.

8-12 Months 

• Babies in this stage of child development usually achieve almost one and half times the length at birth.
•  The average weight is 21.12 lb, which increases by about one lb per month.The baby continues to use abdominal muscles for breathing.
•  The baby shows cephalocaudal development where the arms and hands grow faster than the feet and legs.The legs may still appear somewhat bowed. 
• Baby fat continues to develop on the body.Both eyes can now function in unison and the child can see objects that are15 to 20 feet away..
• The baby reaches out to take objects with one hand.The child examines new things by using a finger to poke and press..
• The child starts to balance things in a pile or put things inside other things.It is at this stage of child development that babies start trying to stand..
• The child also starts crawling, using the hands.

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SAFE EXERCISE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN

Safe Exercise For Pregnant Women

When you are pregnant, it’s just as essential to acquire your on a daily basis dose of exercise, as it is to eat right and obtain plenty of rest. Do not fall into the old stigma of believing that you ought to lie close to throughout your pregnancy, for fear of harming your unborn kid. You will find lots of methods to acquire exercise for pregnant woman, which are beneficial for you and baby’s wellness — while presenting no additional risk to your babies wellness.

Back when we had been all hunters and gatherers; women didn’t have the choice of leading a sedentary life. There were no office buildings, take out establishments, or transportation to make their lives simpler. They had to gather food, work the farm, tend the crops, etc. all although carrying their unborn infants around.

Take a walk

The far better your body is working, the simpler it will be for the baby to get the nutrients they require to grow and eventually be born. A 20 minute walk is much more than adequate physical exercise for pregnant woman. Obviously, if you are feeling a lot more adventurous and wish to prevent excessive weight gain throughout your pregnancy — there are other techniques to explore when looking for a safe exercise for pregnant woman.

Aerobics

You will find lots of aerobics classes and videos that are made on the subject of fitness exercising during pregnancy. Find a program that suits your needs and run with it. Low-impact is a good idea as a precaution for your kid.

Consider water aerobics as an alternative, or method to break up your fit routine. Water is very soothing for your baby and the weightless environment created by the water will help reduce any impact created by the exercises.

Weight training

Weight training is perfectly fine physical exercise for pregnant woman, just try not to lift really heavy weights, as they place a tremendous strain on your abdomen. Just carry it simple and don’t push yourself to the limit.

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BOTTLE FEEDING

 

Bottle-feeding basics

         

• Do I need to sterilise my baby's bottles?

• How do I make up formula milk?

• How can I make sure my baby is drinking comfortably?
• How often should I feed my baby?
• How can I safely warm a bottle of milk?
• Can I make up a feed to store in the fridge for later?

If you're planning to formula feed your baby, you'll have plenty to think about. For a start, you'll need to learn how to sterilise the equipment and make up a bottle. You'll also need to know how to give your baby her bottle, and how often, and how to cope when you're out and about.

Our beginner's guide to bottle feeding will help to get you started.

Do I need to sterilise my baby's bottle

Yes, sterilise all your baby's feeding equipment before you make each feed. Sterilising will kill germs that can gather on your baby's bottle and in her milk. These germs could make your baby ill.

Before making your baby's feed, wash all bottles, teats, retaining rings and caps in clean, hot, soapy water, and then sterilise them. Do this each time you use them.

To sterilise your baby's feeding equipment, you will need an electric steam steriliser, or a microwave steriliser, or you can use sterilising solution. You can also boil the bottles and teats in a covered pan for at least 10 minutes to sterilise them .

How do I make up formula milk?

To make up a bottle of powdered formula, follow the instructions on the packet carefully. Here's what you'll need to do:

• Boil tap water and leave it to cool for no longer than half an hour.
• Pour the required amount of water into the bottle.
• Add the right number of scoops to the bottle with the scoop provided, using a clean knife to level it off.
• Put on the teat and cover and give the bottle a good shake until all the powder has dissolved.
• Test the temperature by tipping a little milk out of the teat onto the inside of your wrist. It should feel just warm, not hot.

Read our article on how to make up a bottle for more information.

How can I make sure my baby is drinking comfortably?

When you are giving your baby her feed, tilt the bottle slightly so the end of the teat is always full of milk, not air. You'll see bubbles inside the bottle as your baby feeds. She may feed in short bursts of sucking then rest in between. These breaks in feeding give her time to feel if she is full or not.

If you hear a lot of noisy sucking sounds while your baby drinks, she may be taking in too much air. To help your baby swallow less air, hold her so she's propped up a little. Take care to tilt the bottle so that the teat and neck are always filled with formula. 

 

How often should I feed my baby?

Your baby’s appetite will vary from day to day and month to month, so try to let her set the pace. Your baby will feed as often as she needs to, as long as you learn to spot her cues and respond to them.

If your baby is newborn she will need to feed little and often, so offer a bottle every two or three hours. Let her feed for as long as she wants to. If she's had enough of a bottle, don’t force her to drink more. As your baby grows she will manage larger feeds and be able to go for longer between bottles.

As a general rule of thumb, your baby will want between 150ml and 200ml of formula per kilogram of her body weight per day. So, if your baby weighs 3kg, she'll need between 450ml and 600ml of formula over a 24-hour period to satisfy her hunger. Read more about how much formula your baby needs.

How can I safely warm a bottle of milk?

If you are using expressed breastmilk or ready-made formula, you can warm a bottle in a pan, jug or bowl of hot water. Leave it in the water for no more than 15 minutes. You can also buy an electric bottle warmer, which takes around four to six minutes to heat a bottle to the perfect temperature for your baby.

It's best not to use a microwave to heat a bottle of breastmilk or ready-made formula milk. A microwave heats unevenly, so it can create hot pockets which could burn your baby's mouth.

Can I make up a feed to store in the fridge for later?

It's best to make a fresh bottle of formula each time your baby needs a feed. Milk powder is not sterile, and bacteria may survive in milk even though you use sterile water to mix it. Even if you store formula milk in the fridge, bacteria can build up over a few hours.

Having said that, there may be times when you just have to make up a feed in advance. This may be the case if you have twins, or if you're out shopping and you don't want to make a feed where there's lots of bacteria whizzing about. Ready-made cartons are expensive, so you may not want to rely on them each time you have to organise feeds ahead.

So, on those occasions when you really need to, prepare one feed in advance. Do this as safely as possible by putting the feed in the fridge or a cool bag as soon as you've made it. Make sure you use it within four hours if it's been stored in a cool bag, or within 12 hours if it's been in the fridge

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BREAST FEEDING

    

                        VIDEO BREAST FEEDING TIPS

WHY BREAST FEEDING

From the moment your BABY IS BORN, your body starts producing the perfect mix of NUTRIENTS in your breast milk for him. While formula contains essential VITAMINS and PROTEIN that a baby needs, it doesn't have all the benefits of breast milk, such as ANTIBODIES that strengthen your BABY"S IMMUNE SYSTEM.

It's good for your baby. Research shows that breastfed babies are significantly less likely to suffer from ear infections, VORMITING,DIARRHEA, PREUMONIA, ASTHMA, DIABETES, and urinary-tract infections, as well as from food allergies and ECZEMA if your family has a history of either. Nursing may also boost babies' brainpower. Mother's milk also helps protect babies from becoming obese later in life, and girls who are breastfed are also less likely to develop BREAST CANCER as adults.

It's good for you.OXYTOCIN, a HORMONES released during nursing, helps to return your uterus to its regular size more quickly and reduces POSTPARTUM BLEEDING. Breastfeeding also burns about 500 calories a day, which can help you lose your baby weight faster. And women who nurse are at lower risk of developing breast cancer,  RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, and possibly OSTEOPOROSIS. Not to mention that breastfeeding is convenient (no bottles to wash or formula to mix) and cheaper than formula (you need only a few nursing bras and a breast pump).

How milk adjusts for your baby's needs

At birth: Your first milk is COLOSTRUM, a thick, yellowish pre-milk that's high in the fats and PROTEINS your newborn needs and easy for her to digest. It's also extremely rich in the substances that protect her against infections.

Two to five days after birth: Your milk will begin to "come in" now. This transitional milk is thinner than colostrum but far more plentiful, and higher LACTOSE and fat, which help your baby's brain develop. Your breasts will feel their largest and firmest now. You'll begin to feel your milk "let down," or move through your breasts - often described as a pins-and-needles sensation.

Two weeks after birth: Your milk will become even thinner and more watery, but it's still rich in NUTRIENTS. Your breasts will probably feel smaller and softer now. Mature milk becomes fattier over the course of a feeding (the first part is mainly water), so allow your baby to drink for about ten minutes before you switch to the other breast.

When and how often should you feed

Day 1: Your first breastfeeding session should take place within an hour of your baby's birth, if possible. This timing takes best advantage of his instinct to suckle, kick-starts your milk, and is a great way to bond. It also helps your uterus contract, which reduces bleeding. Don't worry about getting the technique exactly right at this first feeding.

After that, make sure he's latching on correctly as early as possible. If he's not, he'll be hungry, your nipples will hurt (a lot), and both of you will get frustrated - and you may decide to throw in the towel. Signs that you're both doing it right:

• His mouth is open wide, with his lips curled out.
• His mouth covers the entire AREOLA, not just the nipple.
• He's swallowing regularly and seems content.
• It doesn't hurt you (except maybe for the first few suckles).
• If he doesn't seem to be latching on properly, ask to see the hospital's lactation consultant.

The first few weeks: Your baby may eat as often as once an hour. Some signs your baby is hungry: smacking his lips, suckling motions, moving his head around in search of your breast, kicking and squirming, and looking alert.

From around 1 month: Once a routine is established, most newborns feed every two to three hours during the day, and around every four hours at night. Your baby should have between 8 and 12 feedings a day - even if you have to wake him up.

Almost all moms worry that their babies aren't eating enough. But your baby's appetite will ebb and flow depending on his needs; the quantity of your milk will adjust in kind. He'll be hungrier during growth spurts, which often occur at 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months.

From 6 months on: Once he starts solids at around this age, he'll need less breast milk. But as long as you choose to breastfeed -even if it's in combination with food and/or formula - your milk will provide your baby with important nutrients and protection against illness.

Breastfeeding tips;

Information and advice to help you with breastfeeding, including what to expect in the first week, getting the position and attachment right, how to know if your baby's getting enough milk, and expressing your breast milk.

Skin-to-skin contact

All mothers and babies should have the opportunity to have skin-to-skin contact straight after birth. This will keep your baby close, warm and calm, and it will steady their breathing.

This can be a bonding experience for mum and baby. It's also a great time to start your first breastfeed because your baby will be alert and keen to feed. If you need any help, your midwife will offer support with positioning and attachment.

Your baby will be happier if you keep them near you and feed them whenever they’re hungry. This will remind your body to produce plenty of milk.

Skin-to-skin contact is good at any time. It will help to comfort you and your baby over the first few days and weeks as you get to know each other.

Skin-to-skin after casarean

If your baby is born by CASAREAN section, you should still be able to have skin-to-skin contact with your baby straight after the birth. Some births involve complications that mean skin-to-skin may be delayed. If this happens, it doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to breastfeed your baby. Your midwife will help you have skin-to-skin contact with your baby as soon as it's possible.

Premature and ill babies

If your baby is in a NEONATAL unit in hospital after the birth, you'll probably be encouraged to try KANGAROO CARE. This means that when your baby is ready, you can hold your baby against your skin regularly, usually under your clothes. This skin-to-skin contact helps you to bond with your PREMATURE BABY, and it increases your milk supply. Read more information about breastfeeding a premature baby.

What to expect in the first few days

In the first few days, you and your baby will be getting to know each other. It may take time for both of you to get the hang of breastfeeding.

Before the birth

It’s good to find out as much as you can about breastfeeding before the birth. Knowing what to expect should help you feel as confident as possible when you've just given birth and want to breastfeed your baby.

ANTENATAL SESSIONS, whether held by the NHS or another organisation, should cover the most important aspects of breastfeeding, such as positioning and attachment, expressing, common questions and concerns, and how to overcome them. You can find out more from your midwife

There are lots of groups and drop-ins, some specially designed for pregnant women who want to know more about breastfeeding. You can find out more by asking your midwife, health visitor, local peer supporter or GP. Or visit your local Children’s Centre.

Immediately after your baby is born

Having skin-to-skin contact with your baby straight after the birth will help to keep your body warm, calm your baby, and help with the first breastfeed.

Every pregnant woman makes milk for her baby, which is ready and available at birth. This milk is called colostrum and is sometimes a yellow colour. It's very concentrated, so your baby will only need a small amount at each feed (approximately a teaspoonful). Your baby may want to feed quite frequently, perhaps every hour. But they will begin to have longer feeds less often when your milk comes in, in a few days. The more you breastfeed the more milk you'll produce. The time between feeds will vary, and you and your baby will settle into a pattern, which may change from time to time.

How often will my baby feed?

All babies are different, and it may depend on the type of birth you've had. Your baby should feed within the first hour after birth to get off to a good start. Babies then sometimes have a sleep and will start to give you signs that they're ready for the next feed. These signs include:

• starting to move about as they wake up
• moving their head around
• finding something to suck, usually their fingers 

Building up your milk supply;

Around two to four days after birth you may notice that your breasts become fuller and warmer. This is often referred to as your milk ‘coming in’. Your milk will vary according to your baby’s needs. It will look thin compared with colostrum, but gets creamier as the feed goes on.

Each time your baby feeds, your body knows to make the next feed. The amount of milk you make will increase or decrease depending on how often your baby feeds. In the early days, ‘topping up’ with infant formula can decrease your milk supply.

Feed your baby as often as they want. This is called baby-led feeding (it's also known as 'on-demand'). Let your baby decide when they’ve had enough. It's not necessary to time the feeds. In the beginning, it can seem that you're doing nothing but feeding, but gradually, you and your baby will get into a pattern of feeding, and the amount of milk you produce will settle.

It's important to breastfeed at night because this is when you produce more hormones (PROLACTIN) to build up your milk supply. At night, your baby will be safest sleeping in a cot in the same room as you.

The let-down reflex;

Your baby’s sucking causes milk stored in your breasts to be squeezed down ducts towards your nipples. This is called the let-down reflex.

Some women get a tingling feeling, which can be quite strong. Others feel nothing at all. You'll see your baby respond, and their quick sucks will change to deep rhythmic swallows as the milk begins to flow. Babies often pause after the initial quick sucks while they wait for more milk to be delivered. If your baby seems to fall asleep before the deep swallowing stage check they’re effectively attached.

Sometimes you'll notice your milk flowing in response to your baby crying or when you have a warm bath or shower.

Leaking breast milk;

Sometimes, breast milk may leak unexpectedly from your nipples. Press your hand gently but firmly on your nipple when this happens. This usually helps very quickly. Wearing breast pads will stop your clothes becoming wet with breast mi

Positioning and attachment

Breastfeeding is a skill that needs to be learnt, and it can take time and practice to get the hang of it.

How to breastfeed

There are lots of different positions for breastfeeding. You just need to check the following points.

• Are you comfortable? It’s worth getting comfortable before a feed. Remember when you feed to relax your shoulders and arms. 
• Are your baby’s head and body in a straight line? If not, your baby might not be able to swallow easily.
• Are you holding your baby close to you, facing your breast? Support their neck, shoulders and back. They should be able to tilt their head back and swallow easily, and shouldn’t have to reach out to feed.
• Is your baby’s nose opposite your nipple? Your baby needs to get a big mouthful of breast from beneath the nipple. Placing your baby with their nose level with your nipple will allow them to reach up and attach to the breast well.

How should you attach your baby to your breast?

1. Hold your baby close to you with their nose level with the nipple.

2. Wait until your baby opens their mouth really wide with the tongue down. You can encourage them to do this by gently stroking their top lip.

3. Bring your baby on to your breast.

4. Your baby will tilt their head back and come to your breast chin first. They should take a large mouthful of breast. Your nipple should go towards the roof of their mouth.

How do you know that your baby is getting enough milk?

• Your baby will appear content and satisfied after most feeds.
• They should be healthy and gaining weight after the first two weeks.
• Your breasts and nipples should not be sore.
• After the first few days, your baby should have at least six wet nappies a day.
• After the first few days they should also pass at least two yellow stools every day. 

Is my baby getting enough milk?

All mums want to know that their baby is feeding well. When you first start breastfeeding, you may wonder if your baby is getting enough milk. There are clear signs that you can look out for. 

Signs that your baby is feeding well

• Your baby has a large mouthful of breast.
• Your baby's chin is touching your breast.
• It doesn't hurt you to feed (although the first few sucks may feel strong).
• If you can see the dark skin around your nipple, you should see more dark skin above your baby's top lip than below their bottom lip.
• Your baby's cheeks stay rounded during sucking.
• Your baby takes rhythmic, long sucks and swallows. It's normal for them to pause sometimes.
• Your baby finishes the feed and comes off the breast on their own.

Signs that your baby is getting enough milk

• Your baby will appear content and satisfied after most feeds.
• They should be gaining weight after the first two weeks.
• Your breasts and nipples should not be sore.
• In the first 48 hours, your baby is likely to have only two or three wet nappies.
• From day 5 onwards, wet nappies should start to become more frequent, with at least six wet nappies every 24 hours. 
• They should appear healthy and alert when they're awake

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