Finger Food for your baby

Babies enjoy eating foods with their fingers, but be sure to supervise them at all times in case of choking.

By the time she/he is 6 months old,your baby will be able to manage the following finger foods.

*Pieces of fruit, steamed soft for babies from 6 to 9 months

*Toast, with or without butter, cut in fingers

*Lightly steam vegetable pieces, cooled before serving

By 9 months your baby will want to feed herself and she/he will be quiet capable of holding and eating the following foods in addition to those mentioned above:

*Dry biscuit wit avocado or cheese spread

*Cheese sticks (cut a mild full-fat cheese into thin sticks)

*Avocado and cottage cheese or shredded chicken, cream cheese or Vegemite sandwitches cut into small pieces

*Cold cooked pasta or filled pasta

*Strips of omellete with slice ham, chicken or turkey

*Raisin or wholemeal toast, lightly buttered, cut into small pieces

*Meatballs

*Toast or crumpets, topped with baked beans, cream cheese, cottage cheese or scrambled egg cut into bite sized pieces

 

*RECIPES, *ABOUT YOUR BABY Send feedback » • PermalinkPermalink

Understanding baby crying

Understanding why babies cry can make it easier for parents to stop the crying.

Newborn babies differ from older babies since they have not yet learned crying will get them the attention they need. Restated, newborn babies cry because they need something. For parents and caregivers, knowing some reasons why newborns cry can help them to calm baby. Here are some common causes:

* Hunger. Infants typically feed every 2 hours.
* Temperature. Check if your baby is too hot or cold.
* Discomfort. Perhaps a tag on baby's clothes is itching him or her.
* Fear. If your baby seems startled, hold close to your body for a feeling of security.
* Overstimulation. If there's too much going on (too much attention, music, etc.) allow baby some peace and quiet.
* Tired. It's very likely your baby just needs to sleep!

You can also calm your baby by:

* Holding them
* Talking to them
* Rocking them

If you suspect your baby is ill, check in with your doctor.

*ABOUT YOUR BABY Send feedback » • PermalinkPermalink

Giving baby a bath

What's the proper way to give baby a bath?
You're about to find out.

Baby bathing isn't as easy as it sounds. Much care is needed before a baby takes a bath. You'll need to consider:

* Temperature of water - The water should neither be hot or cold. Hot water can easily scald a baby's sensitive skin. Opt for warm water, and test the temperature on the inside of your wrist or your elbow.
* Where to give the bath - In the first few weeks, opt for sponge-bathing baby. Past these first weeks, most parents opt for a special infant tub or a sponge seat which is placed in a regular bath tub.
* What to wash with - Use a mild baby soap.
* Areas to wash - Start by washing baby's cleanest parts, and work your way to the dirtiest.
* How often to bathe - A baby needs a bath no more than twice a week. On off days, clean only baby's face, neck, hands and diaper area.
* When to bathe baby - Baths are best when baby is calm. It's best to wait if baby has been crying or has just eaten.
* Safety - Baby should be held the whole duration of the bath. Never leave baby alone in the tub.
* How to dry - After the bath, dry baby off with a soft towel.

Before baby's umbilical cord stump has fallen off, avoid tub bathing him or her.

*ABOUT YOUR BABY Send feedback » • PermalinkPermalink

Establishing a bed time routine for baby

Getting baby in on a regular sleep schedule can be hard, but we have a few tips to help you out.

For new and experienced parents, baby's sleep schedule can be tough to manage. From going to sleep very late to waking up during the night, baby's sleep schedule may be everything parents don't want. Luckily, we have a few helpful ideas for frustrated parents!

* Put baby to bed at the same time every night.
* Put baby to sleep in the same room that he or she will wake up in.
* Establish a bedtime routine. For example- give baby a bath, read him or her a story and cradle baby while rocking until he or she falls asleep. Babies respond well to established patterns.
* Use a nightlight in baby's room.

Keep in mind it might take weeks before a bedtime routine is effective. Some babies will try everything to get mom or dad back in their room. Some will throw objects on the floor, others will cry until someone comes to the rescue. Beware that if you start responding to these calls, baby will keep making them. It may be hard to ignore your baby, but this is an important step in establishing his or her new habit.

*ABOUT YOUR BABY Send feedback » • PermalinkPermalink

Getting baby to sleep through the night


Advice and strategies on getting your little wonder to sleep.

We've got great news for you! A newborn baby will sleep from 16 to 20 hour per day, allowing you ample time for recuperation and household chores. The bad news is the baby sleeps in 2 to 4 hour periods which means your night's sleep may be interrupted from 3-5 times. Here is some advice on getting your newborn to sleep through the night.

A key to getting baby to sleep is consistency in bedtime rituals. A baby should not be left to cry themselves to sleep one night while the baby is rocked to sleep another night. Maintaining consistent behaviors is your best way to signal to the baby it is time for a night of sleep.

The baby's sleep environment should be consistent. The most common environment is a quiet and dark room. However, on any given night a dishwasher or clothes dryer in the background may be enough stimulus to break the baby from establishing a sleep schedule. If a television is commonly on in another room, your baby is likely to acclimate to this background noise. Of course, a television noisily playing music would be inappropriate for the baby.

Pre-bedtime rituals should be established. The rituals should not be overstimulating to help transition the baby into their night of slumber. A common ritual may be rockng the baby to sleep, while another may be singing lullabies to the baby. Some parents may opt to give the baby a nice warm bath. Please keep in mind that at some time you will need to ween your child from these activities. There will come an age where you will not be rocking your child to sleep. In this case, you should gradually reduce the amount of rocking over a long period of time.

The room temperature of the nursery should be comfortable, not to exceed 75 degrees. Having a room temperature warmer than this can disturb the continuity of a baby's sleep.

One method which has helped parents get their baby to sleep is progressive ignoring, also known as the "five ten fifteen rule". Place the baby in its place of sleep at the beginning of the night. The baby is likely to cry at some point. The crying should be allowed to persist for 5 minutes, at which time you can pick up and nurture the baby. Each subsequent attempt to get the baby to cry should allow for an additional 5 minutes of crying time. Your second attempt might result in the baby crying for 10 minutes before the baby is picked up and calmed down. The third attempt should last for 15 minutes, and so on.

By the time your baby is 3 to 6 months old, their sleep pattern will shift to more of a day-night schedule. During this stage, it is very common for the baby to sleep throughout most of the night, while being awake for a larger part of the daylight hours.

By the time your baby is about 9 months old, 70 percent of kids are sleeping at least from midnight to five or six in the morning. When your baby reaches it's first birthday, the baby will be sleeping for around 14 hours, of which only 2 to 3 hours will during daytime naps.

Having realistic expectations about how long it will take your baby to sleep through the night is important for you and your baby. Some babies may sleep through the night after a month while others will require many additional months. But sticking to these guidelines will likely pay off for you in a big way - a full night's sleep when you deserve it the most!

*ABOUT YOUR BABY Send feedback » • PermalinkPermalink

Preparing for first baby steps

Learning to walk is a process. Your baby is ready for their first steps. Are you?

The process of learning to walk begins early on, when baby is learning how to use his or her arms and legs. After many attempts, falls and practice, babies take their first steps alone. This is a huge moment for baby and for parents!

Most babies start walking around 15 months; others start earlier, around 11 months. Although many parents wish for their babies to start walking very early, theres little evidence that early walkers have any sort of advantage over late walkers. In fact, we'd recommend for you to enjoy the time you have with your little stationary baby. Soon enough, you'll be chasing him or her all around the house!

What to expect as baby starts walking
Between 6 & 10 months, babies begin to pull themselves up into a standing position. Your baby will pull himself up by grabbing on to your pant leg or furniture.

The next phase babies enter into is called cruising. When baby grabs on to furniture and makes a sideways circle around your living room, he's in a critical phase of learning to walk.

In the final stage of learning to walk, babies attempt to move away from the safety of furniture and walk on their own. This is often very scary for baby, so make sure to offer support when baby is taking these steps.

To make the process a little bit easier for your baby:

* Watch for safety hazards: power cords, items of furniture that tip over, sharp objects, hanging tablecloths.
* Allow baby to practice barefoot or in socks.
* Encourage your baby with praises. If you're excited about these first steps, he or she will be too.
* Allow baby to practice on soft ground. Hey, if your little one is going to fall anyway, you might as well make the experience as comfortable as possible!

Before you know it, your baby will be walking all over the place!

*ABOUT YOUR BABY Send feedback » • PermalinkPermalink

Baby teething

Teething can be a difficult time for baby.

Here's how to help.

Babies' teeth start growing anytime between 3 months and 1 year. No matter when baby's teeth start coming, there's bound to be a bit of discomfort.

Teething pain is created when teeth push through the delicate gum. This will make your baby cranky and more irritable than usual. Babies often drool more when teething, and occasionally they experience episodes of diarrhea. It's no wonder babies seems crabbier than usual!

Although one can't make baby's pain disappear, there are certain things you can do to help:


* Offer baby a chilled teething ring
* Chill your baby's food before feeding it to him or her
* Give baby cold water
* Chill a clean, wet cloth and gently press against baby's gums
* Use your finger to gently apply pressure to baby's gums. This often counteracts the pressure caused by the teeth coming in.
* As a last resort, Baby Tylenol will help. Be sure to check with your doctor before giving your baby the recommended dose.

If baby seems extremely uncomfortable, or teething is accompanied by any unusual symptoms, be sure to contact your pediatrician. In the meantime, give your baby some help through this uncomfortable time!

How can you tell if your baby is teething?

  • She/he may seem desperate for something to chew on.
  • She/he may dribble more than usual.
  • A bright red patch may appear on one cheek.
  • Motion maybe runnier than usual.
  • She/he may develop nappy rash.

Teething does not cause:

  • Colds, ear infection or breathing difficulties.
  • Vomiting and diarrhoea.
  • Fits and comvultions.
  • Prolonged crying in a different way.

Usual order in which teeth appear

Age (month)

  • 6-10        two lower front teeth
  • 8-12        two upper front teeth
  • 9-13        upperside front teeth
  • 10-16      lower side front teeth
  • 12-18      upper first molars/lower first molars
  • 18-24      upper eye teeth/lower eye teeth
  • 24-36      second molars

By this age your baby has a full set of 20 milk teeth

 

*ABOUT YOUR BABY Send feedback » • PermalinkPermalink

The first duties of new mothers

Before leaving a delivery room, new mothers will assume these duties and responsibilities of motherhood.

While on the birthing table, a nine month pregnancy will culminate and become the beginning of one's motherhood. And with this newfound role, the first duties and responsibilities of motherhood will soon follow.

Your baby will soon be in your arms. You'll soon be giving your newborn a first dose of love, caring and warmth - gently nestling the little one in your arms. New mothers will soon be a source for a baby's nourishment. Your doctor will encourage you to breastfeed the baby soon after delivery. A new parent may be asked to make decisions on behalf of the little one.

The duties will soon expand to diapering, bathing and caring for other baby's needs. You'll likely assist in some of these roles while still in the hospital. Once home, a mom and dad will assume all of these duties.

The responsibilities of parenting will be quite an adjustment for new parents. But the care put into raising your child will pay dividends the rest of your life.

Take note: Don't you worry mum you'll know what the best for your baby, its natural mother instinct...

 And of course Dad is alwayz been there for a helping hand plus your family too...

 

*ABOUT YOUR BABY Send feedback » • PermalinkPermalink

Seeing your baby for the first time


Meeting your baby for the first time will be an anticipated moment - truly a moment to be cherished.
A pregnancy is a nine month bonding period between mother and child. Yet only at birth can the mother associate her intimate feelings with a face. Seeing your baby for the first time can be a surreal experience.

Many curiosities will be put to rest the moment parents meet their newborn. A first curiosity is the general well being of the child. Seeing them take little breaths and rub their nose will comfort the new parents. Many parents observe the features of the new child. Do they have mom's black hair or dad's big nose? Each detail of your blessed infant will fill a heart with warmth. Seeing your little one's small hand for the first time will be forever cherished.

There is a saying in life that first impressions are important. When it comes to meeting your child for the first time, that saying is very true!

*ABOUT YOUR BABY Send feedback » • PermalinkPermalink

Baby feeding chart

Suggested Daily "Milk" Intakes

* 0-3 Months of age:

Breast feed every 1-3 hours or Formula 18-40 ounces

* 4-5 Months of age:

Breast feed every 2-4 hours or Formula 24-45 ounces

* 6-8 Months of age:

Breast feed every 3-4 hours or Formula 24-37 ounces

* 9-12 Months of age:

Breast feed every 4-5 hours or Formula 24-31 ounces

* Whole Cow Milk should not be introduced until 12 months of age!

*ABOUT YOUR BABY Send feedback » • PermalinkPermalink