Pacifiers & Bottles

During my breastfeeding class I learned that if you introduce a pacifier or bottle too early it can interfere with latching. This is what I understood. Well, I was determined to breastfeed so I didn't let a pacifier or bottle near my baby for 2 weeks! 

Every baby is different, but mine didn't have a problem and she took to breastfeeding right away.  She always latched fine and she never refused to nurse.  During her 2nd day, I remember allowing her to nurse as long as she wanted.  She nursed a total of 45 minutes on one side!

Even though I was so happy that we were on a good path of nursing, when I finally introduced her to a pacifier or bottle - she refused it!  I tried and tried, but nothing worked.  I even dipped the pacifier in Karo syrup, and she still didn't want it.

From my experience I suggest introducing either a pacifier or bottle sooner than 2 weeks.  If you are wanting to pump and feed, a bottle is the only way you'll be able to feed your baby.  Also, a pacifier can come in handy.  Especially in public when you need to "pacify" your baby until you can nurse them.  We never had this option.  On the bright side, we won't have to take it away from her.  Take it from me, introduce what you plan to use early.


Here she is with a pacifier.  I think this is the only time we took a picture with it in her mouth.

Yogurt for babies

Yogurt is a great snack and addition to a baby's diet.  You can start introducing yogurt after 6 months of age.  My little one loves it!  However, it's best to pay attention to the labels.  Some yogurts are packed full of sugar!

Always check the labels.  Gestational diabetes caused me to check all my labels so I am very used to it.  Watch out for aspartame.  It's very sneaky!  The package will say "light" or "sugar free" and aspartame is lurking in the ingredients. 

There's a lot of controversy about aspartame.  Personally, the endocrinologist told me not to ingest it during pregnancy.  She said that it was not healthy for my developing baby.  If it's not okay for an unborn baby, then I'd assume it's not okay for a growing baby.  I encourage you to do some research and make the decision for yourself. 

My husband and I eat Yoplait, but if you check the label it has 25 grams of sugar!

Stonyfield's YoBaby has only 12 grams of sugar.  It's also made with whole milk that is best for growing babies.

I recommend the brand Stonyfield.  They have yogurts called YoBaby, YoToddler, and YoKids.  Please visit their website for more information.  Fortunately, my community is organic friendly so my local grocery store carries Stonyfield.  If you cannot find it at your local store, you may want to try a health foods store.

Traveling with an infant

I've always been told that traveling with an infant isn't easy.  I thought that meant just packing the car, stopping for diaper changes, and being extra tired.   What I didn't realize is that there's a lot more to traveling with an infant than the obvious.

Children respond well to routine.  Their routine revolves around their environment.  They are used to their crib, room, toys, etc.  When you are traveling, all of these elements change.  They'll probably take their nap in a car seat rather than their crib.  They will be sleeping overnight in a portable crib rather than their own.  All of these elements shift their routine and ultimately their mood.

My little one takes her naps and goes to bed at the same time every night.  Sometimes we have to change those times to accomodate our schedule when we travel.  Unfortunately, changing her sleep patterns affects everything.  She's a little bit more cranky than usual and ultimately that affects my trip.

She has many distractions when we're away from home.  It's difficult to get her to sleep for her naps, and at bedtime if she's going down at a later time.  Hotels (or other homes) have different sounds and smells that contribute to her distraction.

Make sure to bring as many familiar items from home to make your little one feel comfortable.  Bring favorite toys and books.  Make sure to pack their favorite foods too.  I know it's difficult to stick to their routine, but it helps to try to keep it as close as possible.

Click this checklist for suggestions of what to pack when traveling.



 

Refusing to nap

As soon as you think you have it all figured out... babies change!  Each phase has its own quirks.  You'll master swaddling, then they don't need it anymore.  They'll look so cute in an outfit and it's your go-to, then they outgrow it.  The same thing happens with schedules.  You'll find a perfect time that works for your baby and then out of nowhere - they change!

After months of a good sleep schedule, my little one decided to refuse her nap!  This article I found was most helpful.  Here is what Baby Center says about toddlers refusing their naps:

The explanation is simple, though the solution may not be: Toddlers fight the urge to rest simply because they are so interested in what's going on around them. Your curious toddler has so much to see and do and she's afraid that if she naps, she'll miss out on something.

Also, just like other toddlers, your child is beginning to understand that she's separate from you and is her own person, so she asserts her independence whenever she can. Refusing to take a nap is one way she wrests control from you.
 

Swings & Bouncy Seats

Most of the books I've read about babies and sleep state that they are against using swings or bouncy seats.  The authors use the argument that the swinging motion (or vibration) restricts self-soothing.  I was already using both when I read these opinions.  At first, I was afraid that I was inhibiting my little one from falling asleep on her own.  I thought about discontinuing the use of these items, but then I learned to value my own mother's intuition above the opinions of others.

Mother's intuition, or your own connection with your baby, is priceless.  No one knows your baby the way you do.  There are many times that you will do something against the opinions of others.  That is okay!  There were many times when I needed relief from the endless rocking in my glider chair.  The swing did the trick!  I also needed the bouncy seat while cooking dinner, taking a shower, doing my hair and make-up, etc. 

In my opinion, these items are necessities!  And, you know what??  My baby has learned to self-soothe.  It comes with time, patience, and love.  In the meantime, I recommend using the swing and bouncy seat to have a little help.  They're also very entertaining for little babies :-)

 

No, that won't happen to me!

As soon as you think it won't happen to you, it does.  Children are unpredictable especially when you think you're in control.  There will always be surprises just around the corner.

Your child may scream in a restaurant and cause you to leave without eating.  They may have a poopy diaper in public and you don't have any clean ones.  You may have a planned day out with a friend and you wake up to a fever of 100 degrees.  Unexpected and embarassing moments are in your future with children.  The best thing to tell yourself is "it's all going to be okay."

Some of the memories I have are trying to cope with exploding newborn diapers and dare I say vomit in the crib.  Cleaning up messes can be nerve racking and gross at the same time.  After it was all over I felt as though I had accomplished a big task, and hopefully ready for more in the future.

I have learned that as soon as I say "that won't happen to me"... it does.  I hear comments from other experienced moms who tell me what to expect.  I hope and pray sometimes that my little girl won't do those things, but if she does I will tell myself "it's all going to be okay."

Sleep Training Your Baby

Sleep training. Anything that involves training involves time, effort, patience, practice, and a lot of love.  You will hear tons of advice on how to get your baby to sleep through the night.  When I was sleep deprived, all the advice was kind of irritating to me because nothing worked!  Here are a few facts and tips that helped me make it through the sleep training phase.

A child isn’t born with the understanding of night and day.  In my opinion, that’s why it is important to start “sleep training” as soon as they're born.  Train them by using bright lights and music during the day, and night lights and quiet time at night. 

Hunger is the biggest culprit.  Their tiny little bodies are growing fast and need a lot of nourishment.  Their stomachs are very small too, so no wonder they need to eat often.  Sometimes I experienced feedings every 2 hours in the beginning. 

Sleep promotes more sleep.  I learned this concept from the many books and online articles that I read.  The more long stretches of sleep they experience, the more their bodies learn how to sleep.  Naps are very important for this part of training.  If they miss a nap, they will not make it up at night.  Lost sleep is lost and never regained.  This is why many moms protect their children’s naps J  Click here to see how many hours per day your child should be sleeping.

As babies get older and pass the newborn stage, it’s important to start a bedtime routine.  Lots of books will suggest the routine begin with bath time.  The most important part is what time.  I learned that 8:00 pm is the magic time, and it has been for our daughter.  She responds well to an 8:00 pm bedtime. 

I will continue to elaborate on sleep training in future posts J

Breastfeeding... is your baby getting enough?

Breastfeeding hasn't always been popular.  Sometimes you will hear critics while you're breastfeeding.  The most common comment is that your baby isn't "getting enough".

When my grandmothers were having babies, doctors were not encouraging them to breastfeed. They were telling them that formula was the best option because it gave specific vitamins and nutrients.  They didn't have the technology to study breast milk like they do today.  They also didn't know that it contains the best nourishment.  Human milk is best for human babies.

Growing up, I heard the phrases: "the baby's not satisfied" or "she didn't produce enough milk".  Even though these situations do happen, it may not be the case for you.  In spite of it all, you'll still hear criticism from some learking individuals out there.  How to feel secure?  Here's how...

Your baby should be wetting around 5-6 diapers per day and having regular dirty diapers.  Some babies will have a dirty diaper with each feeding.  Mine came close, but she didn't have one every time.  Click here to learn more about what is normal for your baby's dirty diapers.

Your doctor will schedule regular check-ups where you can keep track of his or her weight.  As long as the doctor says your baby is progressing in weight, you're fine. 

Another way to tell is that you'll feel the "let down" of your milk and you will hear your baby drinking.  If you still feel insecure about your milk supply, you can always talk with a lactation consultant and schedule a visit.  They can measure the amount of milk during the feeding.  They will weigh the baby before and after each feeding to see how many ounces were received.  It's quite interesting!

Unlatching & No Pain

The last thing you want to do is pull your baby off without unlatching properly.  I remember talking to a friend who said that she just pulled her baby off and it hurt really bad.  Yes it would hurt!! Ouch!  I have a tip on how to unlatch without pain.

During my breastfeeding class I was taught to stick my finger in the corner of her mouth to release the suction.  I've also read this in many books and online.  However, I have long nails and it didn't seem that comfortable for me at first.  It's also impossible to constantly wash your hands and keep them clean, especially when you're breastfeeding every 2 hours.  I also thought about how clean (or not so clean) my hands were.

This is what I started to do... I would take my thumb or index finger and touch right above her lip, kind of like in the "mustache" area and lift up her lip.  This sounds funny, but make your baby do the "Elvis lip"  LOL!  This releases the suction without putting your finger in her mouth, and potentially scraping her gums with your nail.  This has worked for me every time!

Timing Feedings

Some breastfeeding books will tell you not to time your feedings, or in other words, look at the clock.  Personally, the clock has helped me tremendously.  This may sound crazy, but in the first months of sleep deprivation I couldn't tell the difference between 10 minutes or 20 minutes.  While breastfeeding, you don't specifically know how many ounces of milk your baby receives.  For me, I would measure it by the minutes. 

I conveniently had a digital clock nearby, so I would watch the clock.  In the beginning my baby would nurse about 20 minutes per side.  Sometimes it would be necessary to unlatch her or encourage her to keep nursing. Most newborns will fall asleep at the breast, so it's important to know how much longer they need to feed or if it's okay for them to stop.  If they've gone too long, then it's like you are now the baby's pacifier.  I'd rather switch to the other side when that happens :-)

After a while, I was so used to the clock that I would watch it while on road trips.  We would stop at a gas station or resting area for me to nurse.  I would watch the radio clock.  I would think to myself "as long as we can get at least 10 minutes on each side, we'll be okay".  If I am somewhere that doesn't have a clock nearby, I use my cell phone. 

This tip has helped me to not only measure each feeding, but also see the progression of weaning.  It has been interesting in these last few months because sometimes she'll only nurse 3 minutes per side.  It's amazing how weaning happens naturally.  What a beautiful thing! 

Vaccinations & Baby Tylenol

I wish I had known to give my baby Tylenol or baby acetaminophen before and after her first doctor visit.  We know that it is rough getting those first shots.  I think it was harder on me than her! However, I didn't know what was coming later.  A few hours afterwards she turned into a complete mess!  She was crying uncontrollably and it was impossible to calm her down. 

The doctor said "give your baby Tylenol if she gets a fever". The key word here is "if". I was waiting for a fever to arise and she never developed one.  Finally, without a fever, I gave her Tylenol and within 30 minutes she was back to normal.  Thank goodness!

All babies are different.  Your baby may not respond as mine did.  But just in case, this is what I learned... give her Tylenol at least 30 minutes before her appointment and 4-6 hours afterwards.  By the next morning the crankiness should go away.  Every appointment since has been okay for us. 

I use this acetaminophen chart as a dosage guide.  Keep in mind that not all droppers are the same.

Gripe Water

I had never heard of gripe water until a friend recommended it to me.  It is very helpful!  It helps to relieve discomfort with stomach upset, teething, and hiccups.  My baby never took a pacifier or a bottle, so gripe water is what I turned to many times.  The dispenser is easy to use, and it relieved her hiccups every time!  I used Mommy's Bliss Original Gripe Water.

Click here for more details.