Myths of Teething in Babies

Myths of Teething in Babies

Today, we will talk of an interesting topic on Myths about Teething

We parents often think that teething is responsible for practically every cough, sneeze, and cry in a baby's first years. But health experts now say that if your baby has a fever, appears ill, or suffers from any symptoms more severe than crankiness, drooling, and biting, it's best to have the pediatrician examine him to rule out something more serious, like an ear infection.

The Pediatrics study found that there was no correlation between teething and congestion, sleep disturbance, coughs, vomiting, or fevers over 102F.

Another misconception is that teething causes diarrhea. Babies may have loose stools from swallowing extra saliva. But remember if the stools are explosive, numerous, or accompanied by blood or mucus, she needs to be evaluated for something else.

Teething causes grumpiness in babies- Teething babies may be edgy or hard to settle at naptime and bedtime because of throbbing gums, but it's a dull pain, not a poking pain. Generally the pain from an ear infection is intense. I, often, used to think that my daughter was suffering from teething symptoms; but actually she was infected by viral or other bacterial infections during her initial years. So it’s always better to consult pediatrician if your baby does not seem alright.

Food factors- Another factor affecting your little one's mood and health is his diet. Because this is a stage when your baby may be trying a different new food every few days, allergies or gas could be the cause of his grouchiness. "Look at the big picture," he says. "There are a lot of things other than teething going on at this time in a baby's life."

Remedies to ease teething pain

1.  Begin a regimen of massaging and cleaning the baby's gums as soon as he is born," Dr. Hanna suggests. Whether you breast- or bottlefeed, clean his mouth out after feedings whenever possible. "Using a clean piece of gauze or a washcloth, rub your finger along the gum pads, cleaning out any leftover milk," he says.

2.  Massaging the gums will make teething just a little less painful.

3.  Some babies and toddlers instinctively soothe themselves by grabbing anything within reach and biting on it, but biting on hard toys can sometimes damage incoming teeth. As an alternative, offer your baby a chilled (not frozen) plastic teething ring and check it every day to make sure she hasn't bitten through.

4.  If she relieves pressure by chewing on you, pull her off you. Sternly say, "No biting!" and offer something else to chew on.

5.  At nighttime, you can give them infant Tylenol to help them sleep through the night.

Teething is hyped too much on internet and social media. Relax! Your baby will be able to pass through this phase easily. Don’t worry too much. Once your baby gets her new set of teeth, I am sure you will love to see them and your baby’s ear to ear grin will all be worthwhile!!!!

Enjoy parenting and have a great time!!!!

Biting in babies

Today, we will talk of an interesting topic that causes curiosity as well as discomfort among parents, that’s baby infant’s biting. Every infant experiments with biting. It’s all a part of growing up. Don’t worry or ponder too much. Babies bite their teething toys, their mommy’s breast, their pacifier, or the fingers or shoulders of their parents. Usually, the parent’s immediate flinch or cry of surprise communicates to the child that biting hurts, and after a few experiments, the child has learned enough about biting to move on. The experiments cease. There’s nothing bad or wrong with these biting experiments: the baby is doing what he or she must do to learn.

Why Children Bite

Kids bite for a number of reasons -- and most of them aren't intentionally malicious.

They're in pain. When babies bite, typically it's because they're teething. They're just doing it to relieve the pain of their swollen, tender gums.

They're exploring their world. Very young children use their mouths to explore, just as they use their hands. Just about everything infants or toddlers pick up eventually winds up in their mouths. Kids this age aren't yet able to prevent themselves from biting the object of their interest.

They're looking for a reaction. Part of exploration is curiosity. They're craving attention. They're frustrated.To your child, biting is a way to get back a favorite toy, tell you that he or she is unhappy, or let another child know that he or she wants to be left alone.

Biting in toddlers

By the time a child has reached toddler age, he has learned that biting hurts. Seldom is a bite from a toddler an experiment. You might think, “Well, if he knows it hurts, why does he decide to do it?”

A toddler bites because a big wave of emotion has suddenly flooded his brain. He doesn’t plan this, and he doesn’t know how to stop it. One of the main reasons toddlers bite is because they are feeling afraid or frustrated. When they haven’t had their fill of close, relaxed time with their parents or caregivers, or when stress has risen in their lives, they may not express the fears or frustrations through natural outlets like crying and tantrums. To them, the situation doesn’t feel favorable for expressing lots of feelings. But the feelings rumble nevertheless, and when they become intolerable, biting can occur. Toddlers want attention. He keeps yearning for his mommy and daddy to be with him always. If the child is at the daycare, he wants his caregiver to give him utmost attention. The tensions that drive toddlers to bite can arise from things that have recently happened. The birth of a sibling, the absence of a parent, witnessing violence on TV, a change in caregivers, or moving from one apartment to another are the kinds of things that can cause a child to bite.

What should the parents do?

Don’t blame, give lecture or punish your baby. It often helps if you say “Ouch, please don’t ite me, it hurts.” Parents must guard their own safety with an infant who is exploring biting. For instance, it doesn’t make sense to put your finger in the mouth of a baby who is exploring biting, if he has teeth!

Practice prevention so that your child will be less likely to bite in the first place.

If your baby is teething, make sure to always have a cool teething ring or washcloth on hand so he or she will be less likely to sink teeth into someone's arm.

Avoid situations in which your child can get irritable enough to bite. Make sure that all of your child's needs -- including eating and nap time -- are taken care of before you go out to play. Bring along a snack to soothe your child if he or she gets cranky from being hungry.

As soon as your child is old enough, encourage the use of words ("I'm angry with you" or "That's my toy") instead of biting. Other ways to express frustration or anger include hugging a stuffed animal or punching a pillow. Sometimes, shortening activities or giving your child a break can help prevent the rising frustration that can lead to biting and other bad behaviors.

Give your child enough of your time throughout the day (for example, by reading or playing together), so he or she doesn't bite just to get attention. Extra attention is especially important when your child is going through a major life change, such as a move or welcoming a baby sibling. 

When your child bites, firmly let your child know that this behavior is not acceptable by saying, "No. We don't bite!" Explain that biting hurts the other person. Then remove your child from the situation and give the child time to calm down.

If you are unable to get your child to stop biting, the behavior could begin to have an impact on school and relationships. You or another adult might have to closely supervise interactions between your child and other kids. When biting becomes a habit or continues past age 4 or 5, it might stem from a more serious emotional problem. Talk to your child's health care provider, or enlist the help of a child psychologist. 

Enjoy parenting and have a great time!!!

Weaning your baby

1.  A child should be offered food at routine meal times along with other family members. This has several advantages. Children learn to eat food by imitation. Hence eating with family promotes learning process. Mealtime provides an opportunity to strengthen family bonds and provides necessary emotional experience for the child.

2.  Keep the TV set off during meals

3.  Offer food preferably at a fixed place.

4.  Do not force feed.

5.  Before feeding, wash your hands.

6.  If the baby refuses the complementary food, do not get disheartened. Just relax for one week and restart from the next week.

7.  Add one new item at a time during a week or 10 days till baby develops the taste. Do not confuse the baby with too many new items at a time.

8.  Do not make any special food for the baby as far as possible. Choose items from the family food. If the family food happens to be very spicy, then less spicy foods should be separately cooked for the baby.

9.  Homemade food is best for your baby. Avoid tinned food.

Foods to boost breastmilk supply

Being a mother, you have to carry a lot of responsibilities on your shoulder. As we all know, mother’s breastmilk is the best milk for the baby and no formula or outside milk can replace it. It helps the baby to fight infections and survive in the crucial initial days of his life. As advised by the doctors across the globe, baby should be breastfed at least till he is 1 year old.

It's quite normal to worry about your milk supply when you start breastfeeding your baby. You may be wondering if your body is producing enough milk to meet your baby's growing needs or if there is anything else you can do to boost your milk supply.

List of foods that tends to increase milk supply

·        Fenugreek seeds (methi): Methi seeds have been used for ages to increase breastmilk supply. Besides, fenugreek seeds are a great source of iron, calcium, vitamins and minerals. But always remember that anything in moderation is always best. Do not consume too much methi seeds as there is a tendency for the body to lose water.

·        Drink lots of water and keep yourself hydrated. Always keep a bottle of water besides you, when you are nursing your baby. You might tend to feel thirsty while you are breastfeeding your baby.

·        Studies have found that fennel seeds increase milk supply. Some doctors also say that fennel seeds help prevent colic in your baby. They are rich in vitamin C. Besides, they are a good mouth freshener and aid digestion.

·        Green and gourd vegetables: Eat lots of green vegetables. They are pumped with nutrients and vitamins. Vegetables from the gourd family like bottle gourd , apple gourd  and sponge gourd are  traditional foods that may help improve milk supply. Not only are these vegetables nutritious, they are also easy to digest.

·        Green vegetables like French beans, spinach , fenugreek  and asparagus  are an excellent source of minerals and vitamins as well as phytoestrogen which is believed to enhance lactation.

·        Studies have shown that the infants of mothers who eat garlic tend to feed for a longer time. You can add garlic in dals, meats, and vegetables.

·        Cumin seeds (jeera): As well as stimulating milk supply, cumin seeds are said to improve digestion and provide relief from constipation, acidity and bloating. They are also a source of iron to help you gain strength after birth. Cumin seeds are an integral part of many Indian dishes. You can roast them and add them even to snacks, raitas and chutneys or drink cumin water (jeere ka pani)

·        Holy basil : Tulsi has been traditionally used to help cure a number of ailments. It's a great source of vitamin K. In addition to improving your milk supply, it is believed to have a calming effect, improve bowel movement and promote a healthy appetite. Add the leaves to cooked vegetables and soups. Or you can make a hot drink out of them by boiling them in water and drinking the tulsi tea (tulsi ki chai) with honey.

·        Carom seeds (ajwain):Carom seeds are believed to help in cleansing the stomach and aiding digestion.Carom seeds can be used while cooking vegetables, in raitas, stuffed pooris and paranthas or making ajwain ka pani. A drink made of carom and fennel seeds (saunf aur ajwain ka pani) is believed to increase lactation and improve digestion.

·        Red vegetables: Carrots, sweet potatoes and beetroot for example are high in beta-carotene, which is beneficial for your baby if you are breastfeeding. Beets and sweet potatoes are high in iron and help to maintain the liver. Carrot seeds have been known to improve milk supply. You can include them in salads, soups, porridge, meat dishes or desserts like gajjar ka halwa.

·        Nuts and dried fruits : Almonds and cashews  are believed to boost breastmilk production. They make an excellent snack and easily available or you could blend them with milk to make delicious badaam milk or kaju milk.You can also add them to sweet and savoury dishes to boost their flavour. Some dried fruits and nuts are also used to make traditional foods such as panjiri, laddoos and halwa for breastfeeding mums.

·        Oats and porridge (daliya): Oats are a great source of iron, calcium and fibre and are popular with nursing mums. Broken wheat (daliya) is another nutritious option. They are commonly eaten as porridge and you may choose to add nuts, milk, spices or fruits to improve the nutritional value.

·        Breastfeed your baby regularly - your body adapts milk production to the amount being demanded. So if you start supplementing your milk with formula or other supplements, your milk supply will go down. The more you feed your baby, the more milk your body will produce. You may find that milk production is best when you develop a feeding routine for your baby and feed at regular intervals. This gives your body the time to produce the needed amount again.

·        Get enough rest - if you are too tired, your body will not have the energy to produce milk properly. So try to catch up on your sleep and rest during the day if you are up a lot at night.

·        Try to relax - getting used to your new life as a mom can be stressful at times. Stress is known to affect the let-down reflex that secretes milk and even milk production. So for your and your baby's sake, it’s a good idea to try to relax. Try to arrange for help in the house whether it is from family members or hired help.

Enjoy nursing and have a great time!!!

Baby diaper change

How should you prepare?

Wash your hands and dry them thoroughly. You can also clean your hands with a hand gel or baby wipe.

Set up a warm, clean area in which to change your baby. If you're not using a changing table, consider laying a blanket, towel or changing mat on the bed or the floor.

If you change your baby's nappy on an elevated surface, keep one hand on your baby at all times. Whether your bay is strapped in or not, don't leave him unattended for even a second. Babies of any age can wriggle off unexpectedly.

Gather everything you need together

·         A clean disposable nappy.

·         Cloth wipes, washcloths, or disposable wipes for cleaning your baby. Dampen the cloth or washcloth with warm water, or a homemade solution of warm water and a little unperfumed soap.

·         A dry wipe or washcloth, to dry your baby's bottom if you're not able to let your baby air-dry.

·         If your baby is prone to nappy rash, keep rash cream to hand.

·         A plastic bag (nappy sack) in which to put the dirty nappy, if required.

  

How do I put a new disposable nappy on my baby?

·        Open up a new, clean nappy and place the back half (with tabs on either side) under your baby. The top of the back half should come up to your baby's waist.

·        Pull the front half of the clean nappy up to your baby's tummy. If your baby is a boy, point his penis down so he's less likely to wee over the top of the nappy.

·        Make sure that the part of the nappy between your baby's legs is spread as wide as seems comfortable. Too much bunching in that area can cause chafing and discomfort.

·        Fasten the nappy on both sides with the tabs. The nappy should be snug, but not so tight that it pinches. Make sure the tabs aren't sticking to your baby's skin.

Now it’s all done. Enjoy parenting and have a great time folks!!!

Colic in babies

Colic in babies

As you and your spouse begin to adjust and take responsibility as first time parents after arrival of your angelic baby, there are few sudden things that occur in your life. You might feel all the space, freedom has wiped off in your life. It’s not so. You just need to move along with the flow of time and keep adjusting to ensure that you, your spouse and baby enjoy every moment of life.

Today we are going to talk about colic in babies. For many parents, there is nothing more stressful than listening to an inconsolably crying newborn.

Colic facts

·        Colic is self-limited and episodic.

·        Overfeeding, undiluted juices, food allergies, and emotional stress can aggravate colic.

·        It is important for a baby with new abdominal pain and crying to be evaluated by a doctor who can exclude other more serious conditions.

·        Don't give medications or other treatments to an infant unless they've been approved by the child's medical practitioner.

What is colic?

Dr. Morris Wessel, a well-known New Haven pediatrician, has defined infantile colic an infant with colic as "one who, otherwise healthy and well-fed, had paroxysms of irritability, fussing, or crying lasting for a total of three hours a day and occurring on more than three days in any one week for a period of three weeks." It is also important to remember that not all fussy babies suffer from colic. Most infants normally cry two to three hours per day, but this is usually spread out during the 24-hour period. Infantile colic typically begins at about 2 to 3 weeks of age, reaches its peak at 2 months, begins to subside by 3 months, and is gone by 3½ to 4 months of age.

It is certainly known that amongst all colicky babies, there are factors that may worsen the colic symptoms:

·        Overfeeding in an attempt to lessen the crying

·        Feeding certain foods, especially those with high sugar content (for example, undiluted juices), may increase the amount of gas in the intestine and worsen the situation. Remember infants don’t require to be fed juices or water. Breast milk has all the nutrients required for the growth of your baby. Don’t experiment with your child.

Solutions to relax colicky baby

·        Do not overfeed! Stick to the baby's regular feeding schedule of timing and amount of milk taken, as measured in ounces in the bottle-fed baby or in minutes on the breast in the breastfed baby.

·        Breastfeeding mothers should avoid too many milk products, caffeine, onions, cabbage, beans, broccoli, and other gas-producing, irritating foods.

·        Take a break! When the anxiety, fear, and tension get to be too much. Try to have someone else watch the baby, even for an hour, and leave the house. Try to keep a positive attitude.

·        Try walking the baby in a front-pouch-style carrier with his legs drawn up and pressure off of his belly.

·        Some babies seem to be soothed by rhythmic, steady movements, like rocking gently or by rhythmic sounds.

·        Wrap the baby firmly in a comfortable blanket ("swaddling").

·        Consult your child’s pediatrician and give medicine.

·        Try to avoid using gripe water, unless recommended specifically by the pediatrician.

·        You can always try to put asafetida powder in slight warm water and gently apply on the infant’s navel area.

All stress and emotional drain in managing your baby will make its way for happy moments. Don’t worry. I, being a mother of 3 year old daughter, have gone through all the worries and stressful events while nurturing my baby.

Enjoy Parenting and have a great time!!!

Fever in babies

BABY FEVER

Don’t panic, if your child gets fever. It's heartbreaking to witness any kind of discomfort in your baby, but don’t overreact. High temperatures have been known to cause such fear among parents that it has its own catch-phrase among medical professionals: "fever phobia."

If your baby is under 3 months old, your fever phobia is warranted. A temperature of 100.4 or higher in a baby this young is considered a medical emergency. Call your baby's doctor immediately, and make sure he or she understands that your baby is younger than 3 months. If medical advice is unavailable, go to the emergency room, even if it's the middle of the night.

A fever isn't an illness but a symptom of one. A fever usually indicates that the body is fighting an illness. If your baby has a fever, in most instances, it means baby has picked up a cold or other viral infection. It could be also a reaction to a vaccination. Your baby may be crankier and fussier than usual. Poor sleeping, poor eating, lack of interest in play and being less active are some of the symptoms associated with fever.

Simple steps to follow at home

Always keep your child hydrated by giving enough fluids

Never over dress your baby

Consult your doctor and give medication. You can give your baby children's Tylenol or ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) or crocin baby drops. 

Remember the dosage of the medicine is always according to baby’s weight and not due to his age.

Don’t try to check the body temperature of your baby without thermometer. Generally baby’s forehead is warm. Don’t get scared. Illness is a part of growing up in kids. Please note that generally fever or other infections may trouble your baby in the middle of the night when doctors generally are unavailable. So always be prepared to face it. Whenever you go for a regular check up for your baby, always check with your pediatrician what medicines one can offer on urgency.

Enjoy parenting and have a great time!