Toddler Travel Made Tolerable

Toddlers have a very short attention span and hate to sit in one place for very long. Therefore, it is no surprise that most children this age don't like staying in their car seats, especially on longer rides. Try the following tips to make her ride (and yours) more pleasant:

Let Baby Choose - Some items you might want to include in the car are your baby's favorite CDs, a picture book, and a special toy that is quiet and not annoying to the driver or other passengers.

Food for the Road - Pack food and drinks for your baby such as juice boxes, rice cakes, bagels, cereal, granola bars, and pretzels for easy snacking.

Just in Case - Stock the car with wet wipes, diapers, flashlight, first-aid kit, bottled water, lightweight blanket, etc. for any little emergency.

Cover Up - To protect your car from inevitable spills and crumbs, cover the seat with a vinyl tablecloth or large blanket. You'll be able to relax and not worry about the mess.

Leave Early or Late - Take advantage of your child's normal sleeping schedule. For long car rides, leave early in the morning or late at night when your child is normally sleeping. Stop every two hours or so and let her get out of the car and burn off some energy. Look for playgrounds or stop at family-friendly restaurants.

Praise Pays - Reinforce good car behavior by praising your baby frequently, when appropriate

HOT TAP WATER DANGER

Hot tap water causes nearly one-fourth of all scald burns among children and is associated with more fatalities and hospitalizations than other hot liquid burns. Hot water burns usually happen in the bathroom and tend to be more severe and cover a larger portion of the body than other liquid burns. A child exposed to tap water at 140 degrees F for just three seconds will sustain a third-degree burn; severe enough to require hospitalization and skin grafts.

Turn down the temperature of your home's hot water heater to 120 degrees F to avoid hot water injuries, and always test your baby's bath water before putting her in.

CANNED FOOD EXPIRATION

Feeding your baby canned or jarred baby food after the expiration date has passed probably won't make her ill, but your baby will get fewer nutrients. Expiration dates on baby food are very conservative and are there mainly for quality purposes, not for safety; however, the nutrition and flavor of the food will deteriorate over time.

FOODS TO AVOID

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends you begin introducing solid foods to your baby around six months of age to ensure she receives proper nutrition. While you are preparing for this momentous milestone, keep in mind there are a number of foods you should not give your baby until she is older, including:

Wheat: Wheat is the most common grain allergen so you should not give your baby wheat or wheat products until she is six to eight months old and can handle rice and oats.

Honey: Honey can harbor spores of botulism, which can grow and produce life-threatening toxins in your baby's intestinal tract. Do not give your baby honey until she is older than one year.

Cow's Milk: Giving a baby cow's milk too early can cause childhood allergies. Wait to introduce cow's milk until she is one year old.

Eggs: Infants older than nine months can have egg yolks, but wait until your baby is older than one year to give her the protein-rich whites.

Citrus: Check with your pediatrician before giving citrus juice to your baby as it can cause allergies.

Peanuts: Peanuts and peanut butter can cause violent allergic reactions and shouldn't be given to children younger than 3 years old.

YOUR BABY IS ON THE MOVE!

Your baby may begin to crawl between six and nine months of age. However, if she does not start crawling, don't worry; she may have found another way of getting around, or may skip this stage entirely and just start walking. Many babies develop their own unique methods of movement. However, if you are concerned that she's not developing normally, have her pediatrician do an evaluation. To help your baby develop locomotion skills, place a toy just out of reach and let her try to get it. She may become frustrated when she can't quite reach it, but let her keep trying and figure it out for herself. This will help her development and self confidence.

WHAT IS ROSEOLA?

Roseola is one of the most common childhood infections.

If your baby contracts roseola she will develop a sudden high fever but exhibit no other symptoms, and she will not look or behave particularly sick. Three or four days later, the fever will break and only then she will develop a rose-colored rash that may last several hours or several days.

Roseola is spread by contact with the respiratory secretions of other infected children or adults. Although there are currently no laboratory tests to diagnose roseola and no treatment (besides fever management), you should always consult your pediatrician when symptoms appear.

BEWARE! - NITRATES IN VEGETABLES

Once your baby is eating some solid foods, remember fresh is usually best. However, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, beets, carrots, collard greens, and turnips packed in the bottle contains large amounts of nitrates in some parts of the country. Nitrates can cause a type of anemia in your baby.

Even though you can't personally test the vegetables in your area, rest assured that baby-food companies take precautions to avoid using vegetables high in nitrates. So if you want to feed these vegetables to your baby, make sure that you will prepare and cook fresh vegetables. So your baby will get more stronger and healthy.

IS YOUR BABY READY FOR SOLID FOOD?

Most babies are ready to try solid food when they're about six months old. However, each baby is unique and your baby's weight or age alone does not determine readiness for solid food. Some clues that your baby is ready for solid food include the ability to hold her head steady and sit with support; reaching for and showing interest in food; opening her mouth when she sees food; and no longer thrusting her tongue out during feeding, a sign your baby's able to keep food in her mouth and swallow it.

The first time you try solid food, mix some infant cereal with breast milk or formula. Do not use cow's milk or any other kind of milk or liquid. See if your baby will take half of a very small spoonful. If she turns her head or cries, she is not ready. Try again in a week or two.

DIAPER RASH

If your baby gets a diaper rash, the most effective treatment is to keep the diaper area clean and dry, so try to leave her bottom exposed to air as much as possible. Clean the diaper area with warm water and use a mild soap after a bowel movement if necessary, and always rinse well as any residual soap will further irritate the skin. Diaper wipes usually don't cause a rash, but they can irritate broken skin. Apply a soothing diaper cream to your baby's bottom to create a barrier between the skin and future stools.

If your baby's diaper rash persists and develops into a yeast infection, no amount of diaper rash ointment will make it go away. A yeast infection usually looks like a large reddened patch with several small red areas around it. Use an antifungal medication (the same medication used to treat athlete's foot) to kill the yeast. Your baby's pediatrician may also prescribe a steroid cream in certain cases. A yeast diaper rash will usually heal in about seven days with an antifungal medication.

USING A HIGH CHAIR FOR THE BABY

Always buckle your baby into the high chair and never leave her alone when she is in the chair. Here are some tips for using a high chair safely:


Be sure your baby's hands and arms are out of the way when you lock the tray
Be sure the tray is locked securely in place
Be sure there are no sharp edges on the tray that could cut your baby
Try giving your baby something to play with on the tray while you feed her

Pacifiers Reduce Risk of SIDS

Doctors now believe that babies should be given a pacifier at bedtime to reduce the risk of SIDS. Experts believe that the pacifier prevents the baby from sleeping too deeply - a problem with babies prone to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. However, you should not reinsert your baby's pacifier if it falls out during sleep, never coat the pacifier with any sweet substance, and don't force a pacifier on your baby if she refuses it.

Nearly 3,000 seemingly healthy babies die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, each year in the United States, making it the leading cause of death among infants who are between 1 month and 1 year old. The cause of SIDS remains a mystery, although recent scientific breakthroughs hold the hope of prevention.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is the sudden and unexplained death of an infant younger than one year old. It rarely occurs in babies younger than two weeks or older than six months - most deaths occur in infants between two and four months - and the incidence of SIDS is greatest during cold weather, according to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Often referred to as "crib death," SIDS is usually associated with sleeping and the infants often show no signs of trauma or suffering. African-American infants are two times more likely to die of SIDS than white infants, Native Americans are about three times more likely than whites, and more boys than girls fall victim to SIDS. Other potential risk factors include:

1. smoking, drinking, or drug use during pregnancy

2. poor prenatal care

3. premature birth or low birth weight (less than 4.4 pounds)

4. mother is younger than 20

5. infant's exposure to smoke

6. putting the infant to sleep on his stomach

7. a sibling of the infant's died of SIDS

BABY'S BESTFRIEND - - - DOG

There are several important safety issues to consider when introducing your dog and your baby. Make sure your dog is regularly de-wormed and is flea and tick free before allowing any contact with your baby. Put a gate at the door to your baby's room to prevent your dog from entering when you're not there to supervise. Remember that all dogs are capable of aggression when provoked, so take the following precautions to ensure your baby's safety:

* Teach your dog the command "gentle." Work with your dog to accept gentle squeezing and pulling of paws, ears and hair.
* Never play tug-of-war with your dog as it encourages aggressive behavior.
* Teach your baby not to bother the dog while he's sleeping or eating.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR BABY FROM SWINE FLU?

Everyone loves babies and they think that touching and kissing are so important. In a time when the swine flu is spreading and could soon be in your state, you have to know how to protect your infant from the swine flu. We always think that we are doing our best to keep the little ones safe, but the swine flu is not like any other flu. It can cause secondary health issues even in the healthiest adult or infant. Protect your infant from the airborne particles of the swine flu.

Step 1

Stop the touching and kissing. This means that if a stranger sees you out in public and feels the need to touch your babies hand, politely say please do not touch my baby. You can then explain your concerns about the swine flu and your baby's safety.

Step 2

Make family and friends that come to your home use a sanitized wipe before touching the baby. Moms and dads should also do this, especially if they work outside the house.

Step 3

Sanitize hands and face if you work in the health care or food service business before touching your baby. In many cases, you may also want to wear a surgical mask. Make a funny game out of it so you do not scare the baby.

Step 4

Avoid taking the baby out to crowded places. This is the number one issue. Crowded places have sick people. There is no one day in the world that someone is not outdoors when they are sick. Refrain from taking the baby to the stores or even childcare if possible.

Step 5

Find a surgical mask for the baby to wear if you must take them to a crowded place. Talk to your doctor for a recommendation.

Step 6

Stop other kids from playing with your babies toys. This takes some persistence, but you cannot allow other kids to spread germs to the toys. You may think that this is pushing it to far, but your babies health is at stake until the swine flu is brought under control and stopped.

this article is courtesy of http://www.ehow.com/how_4947732_protect-infant-swine-flu.html -- thanks for the information you've shared.

DAKTARIN CREAM - MICONAZOLE NITRATE

Each gram contains 20mg of the active substance miconazole nitrate. The Cream formulation consists of PEG-32 and GLYCOL stearate, oleoyl macrogolglycerides, liquid paraffin, benzoic acid, hydroxyanisole, purified water.

Indication:
Skin infections due to dermatophytes or yeast and other fungi such as Tinea capitis, corporis, manuum, barbae, cruris, pedis (athelete's foot).

Detecting Hearing-Impairment

Detecting a hearing impairment early is critical for corrective treatment. The following are signs that your child may have a hearing impairment. If you notice your baby exhibiting any of these, contact your pediatrician immediately.

1. Responds to speech only when he can see the speaker's face
2. Is not speaking or making sounds appropriate to his age level
3. Does not respond to sudden loud noises while awake

BABY'S SLEEPYTIME

Babies love consistency and establishing routines now will help your baby down the road. Bedtime is an especially important ritual around which to create a schedule. Put your baby down for bed at the same time each night.

Try giving her a bath, singing to her, or feeding or rocking her right before bedtime to relax her and ease the transition into bed. Whatever works, do that every night so your baby associates the routine with going to sleep. A baby cannot put herself to sleep or understand her own signs of fatigue, so learn to recognize the signs that she is sleepy and put her down as soon as she seems tired.

TRAVELING WITH YOUR BABY

Traveling with a baby takes special planning and preparation. One tip is to always bring an extra shirt in case of a spit-up or leak-through. A regurgitated milk stain may make for a more memorable visit, but it's also a lasting impression you'd probably rather not make.

TEACHING INDEPENDENCE

If you'd like to get your baby used to entertaining herself for small amount of time, the best time is just after your baby has eaten, when she's most content. Once she is done eating and burping, place her in a safe place (such as a swing or car seat) where you can still observe her (never leave your baby unattended) and give her a favorite toy. Your baby may play quietly for several minutes at a time at this age.

TOUGHEST JOB IN THE WORLD

...TAKING CARE OF YOUR BABY.

There's a reason parenting is called the toughest job in the world, and everyone has bad days. But if you feel as if you are at the end of your rope or you might lash out at your baby or your other children, take a break. Put your child(ren) in a safe place (such as the crib) and take a moment to calm down. Reach out to others if you are at your wit's end - never take your frustrations out on your child.

FREEZING BREAST MILK

If you want to express your milk but don't want to use it immediately, you can freeze it for later. The best storage containers are made of hard plastic or glass, but you can also use plastic freezer bags - just be sure to double bag to protect against freezer burn and leaks.

The length of time you may safely store your breast milk depends on how you freeze it. You can safely freeze your breast milk for up to two weeks in a freezer compartment within a refrigerator, three or four months in a self-contained freezer unit in a refrigerator, and six months in a separate deep freeze unit with a constant temperature.

FERLIN ORAL DROPS

For the prevention and treatment of iron-defiency anemia in infants.

Ferlin Oral Drops (Hematinic) Each ml contains:
Iron, elemental (as ferrous Sulfate, 74.64mg)--------15mg
Thiamine HCI (Vitamin B1)------------------------------10mg
Pyridoxine HCI (Vitamin B6)-----------------------------5mg
Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)--------------------------25mcg
Folic Acid----------------------------------------------------10mcg

BLISTERS ON BABY'S LIPS

If you notice a blister on your baby's upper lip, don't panic - these are known as sucking blisters and they may occur at any time while your baby is eating only milk. They will disappear on their own, usually within a day or so.

BABY'S PROPER CAR SEATS

Babies less than 20 pounds and younger than one year old should always sit in a rear-facing car seat to avoid serious and potentially life-threatening injuries in the event of a crash.
If you have a car with front airbags on the passenger side, do not place your baby's car seat in the passenger front seat. If the airbag deploys, your baby may be seriously injured by the impact. The safest place for your baby to ride is in the middle back seat. Never let your child ride in any car while not strapped into a car seat.

Baby's picture is courtesy of www.squidoo.com

BABY'S ORAL HYGIENE

Even when your baby is two months old and still toothless, you should keep her gums healthy and clean.
Gently wipe her gums with a wet, clean, soft cloth every day. When her teeth do start coming in, gently clean them using a soft, baby-sized toothbrush and only water. Avoid using toothpaste until your baby is three years old, or understands and is able to spit it out and not swallow it. A fingertip toothbrush may be much easier to use than a regular toothbrush, and your baby may be more inclined to let you put your finger in her mouth than a toothbrush. When two teeth come in next to each other, start flossing between them once a day.

CHANGING DIAPER TIPS

A newborn can have as many as eight to ten bowel movements a day, or as few as just one. Even going one day without a bowel movement is usually no reason to worry, unless she is uncomfortable or has a persistently swollen abdomen. Since changing diapers is probably one of your most frequent activities these days (second only to feeding), here are some tips:

To help deodorize the diaper pail, throw in a scented dryer sheet or two.
Create little mini-changing stations at several locations around your house so you don't have to run to the nursery for a quick change. Stock each station with a few diapers, wipes, a changing pad, and a few toys. Keep the items in a basket that can be stored under a table or bed.
Keep several diaper bags packed and ready to go with the basic necessities. This will save you from tracking down lotions, wipes, and diapers when you're trying to get out the door.

BABY'S CRADLE CAP

If your baby develops a yellow, hard crust on her scalp, don't worry - this is called cradle cap and it's very common.

To soften the flaky skin, try rubbing a small amount of vegetable oil (such as olive oil) on your baby's scalp, leave it on for about 15 minutes, and then use a fine-tooth comb or soft brush to gently brush the flakes off. However, be careful not to brush too harshly; your baby's scalp is delicate and can get sore and red if brushed in the same spot too long or too hard.

Make sure you wash your baby's scalp after applying the oil; leaving the oil on can cause the flakes to stick even more. To help dissolve all the oil, leave the shampoo on for a few minutes before rinsing off.

NEWBORN BABY TIPS

When I gave birth to my second baby boy named KYLE my doctor has advised me of this information which I really need to know for me to give the BEST CARE which my little angel needs... she texted me this information through my Mobile Phone and I posted it here for you to know also.

Here it is...

Rose,

Newborns will eat at least eight to twelve times in a 24 hour period, usually every one to two hours. If you are breastfeeding, be sure to drink enough water to ensure you remain well hydrated and help your body produce enough milk. Also, if you are breastfeeding, you will probably notice you are hungrier than usual; be sure to eat nutritious meals and avoid alcohol and caffeine, as these may be passed to your baby through your milk... take care and give my hugs to KYLE.

Thanks,
Doctor Pugay
Paediatrician

BEING A MOTHER....

Being a mother has been the most life changing event. It is filled with Love, Joys and challenges in our life. Others might say that the hardest part of being a mother is when she gets pregnant and experience the pain of labor and delivery. This is the reason why we are so protective and careful when it comes to our little angel that god has given us. Our babies are the most precious vulnerable person in our lives so we have to give them everything that we can do to protect them from harm.

Furthermore, Being a mother of two kids, I will share with you through this blog some baby tips on how we could comfort and protect more our little ones from the day that she/he was born while growing in this tremendous world.