Good habits are most easily established young. If you want to save a lot of money on dentist visits and spare your child the pain of tooth decay, you will start them very young in the habit of taking care of their mouths. Brushing new teeth should become as routine as taking baths and washing hands.

First teeth begin erupting when a baby is between three and six months. Once or twice a day you can clean your babies gum ridges with a finger covered in a clean baby washcloth. A baby washcloth is better than an ordinary one because it is thinner and will be less material to cause your baby to gag.

When baby is starting on their first solid foods around the age of six months, you can follow up with sips of water. Drinking water is a good way to clean out a mouth, and it is also a great opportunity to begin to transition a child to drinking from a cup. Even if you plan to breastfeed your child into their toddler years, your child can still be introduced to water in a cup during meals of solid foods. If the drinking water in your home does not have fluoride you should consider a fluoride supplement for your child between the ages of 6 months and 16 years.

Once you have a few teeth in their mouth to brush, you can switch from the washcloth to a child’s or toddler’s toothbrush. Brush gently when you cannot avoid the gum area. You can do without the toothpaste until they are old enough to spit it out, which is around the age of three. There are also toddler toothpastes available to buy which are safe for children to swallow. If the family toothpaste is too strong in flavor for the child you can try a children’s toothpaste or milder-flavored toothpaste without artificial sweeteners that can be found in many health food stores.

You will probably need to give a large amount of supervision in the teeth brushing until a child is seven or eight years old. Before then you can let the child take the toothbrush in hand and try it themselves, but many children have difficulty with the up and down motion needed to clean teeth along the gum line. Check after they have brushed, make a visual spot check and follow up with the brush when food can be seen along the gum line or stuck in molars.

When children’s teeth first come in, there are usually plenty of spaces around them. As the teeth and especially the molars begin to touch, flossing needs to become an important part of the program. Parents will probably need to handle the floss until a child is seven or eight years old, but after that a child should be able to do it themselves using flossers. A flosser is usually easier than working with floss on a spool. A flosser is a U-shaped piece of plastic with a little floss strung between the open ends of the U.

Children should be flossing their teeth for about two minutes a session at least twice a day. One way to help a child brush long enough is to have a two-minute egg timer by the sink. Another way is to have a tradition of brushing one’s teeth for the length it takes to hum a certain song that is long enough.

Most of the prevention of tooth decay can be handled at home by the parents. However, any time one suspects dental problems in your baby or young child, see the dentist or speak to the pediatrician. Regular checkups with a dentist can begin around the age of three years.

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The established benefits of DHA, an essential omega 3 fatty acid, are growing by the day. It is now firmly established that over 90 percent of us have levels of omega 3 essential fatty acids that are too low and we can improve this by daily supplementation with capsules of fish oil. Breastfeeding mothers also have powerful reasons to supplement their diet with essential fatty acids known as omega 3 fats. There are numerous benefits of breastfeeding, and one of the most important breastfeeding tips is the importance of adequate DHA in your breastmilk.

It is now known that growing fetuses have a high demand for both DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)  and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), the 2 most important of the omega 3 essential fatty acids. However once the baby is born that demand for an adequate supply of DHA and EPA does not decrease. And of course for a fetus or for a baby that supply of DHA comes from the mother, certainly in cases where the mother is breastfeeding.

Studies have shown that babies of breastfeeding mothers who supplement with DHA, found in fish oil, show higher scores on psychomotor development at 30 months of age, have better visual development and improvements in IQ assessment.

These are powerful reasons for a breastfeeding mother to increase her intake of fish oil. Breastfeeding mothers, like the rest of our population, are generally deficient in the important omega 3 essential fatty acids.

If your intake of seafood products is adequate then this should not be the case, however studies show that for almost all of us our intake of seafoods is not adequate. There are a number of reasons for this. Fish is expensive and it is also generally recognized that most fish is contaminated with toxins such as mercury.

There are plant based sources of Omega3 fats however these are a different form of essential fatty acids and are nowhere near is beneficial to us or to our babies as the important omega 3 essential fatty acid called DHA.

Taking daily omega 3 capsules is the perfect way to supplement your diet with fish oil. Breastfeeding mothers can do this cost effectively and in perfect safety because the best fish oil capsules are entirely free of contamination and can be taken daily with confidence, and at a much lower cost than eating fish.

The jury is now in on the benefits of fish oil for babies of breastfeeding mothers. Powerful reasons are established for mothers to undertake omega 3 supplementation right from conception, through pregnancy, during breastfeeding and even thereafter for their own health.

Remember though, not all Omega 3 capsules are the same. It is important to know how to find fish oil capsules that represent the best value and the best effectiveness.

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As adults we all have our nightly routines to help us sleep. Some of us enjoy a long, hot soak in the tub, others read before going to sleep, have a cup of cocoa and a snack or spend time enjoying a hobby. It’s routine and it tells our bodies to prepare for sleep. Your baby can also benefit from a nightly routine. Just as your routine sends silent signals to your body so will an established routine for your baby.

Keep It Simple

The first thing to keep in mind when preparing a nighttime routine for your little one is to keep it simple. If it gets too long and drug out then it can have the opposite effect of what you want.

Bath time for Baby

Warm baths help everyone relax and a baby is no different. Incorporating a nightly bath into your baby’s evening schedule is not only relaxing but a fun way to spend time with him. There are herbal baby baths that you can purchase that induce sleep and relaxation.

Snuggle Time Together

After you bath the baby and he has been fed then make it snuggle time. A rocker is perfect for this. You might read a book to your baby before cuddling him in a soft blanket. No baby is to young to be read to by mom or dad. If you plan on rocking the baby to sleep make sure he is sound asleep before laying him down. Playing soft music while rocking your baby can help create a quiet sleep atmosphere as well. You might want to consider having soft lullaby music playing in the baby’s room for when he is put into bed.

Give Your Baby a Massage

Massages are so relaxing and gentle massage techniques can work on your baby too. Research some basic massage methods for infants and then practice on your little one. Gentle is the key here. He may object at first but you may find it’s both yours and his favorite time of evening.

Keep At It

Once you have decided on a good routine for you and your baby stick with it. It can take a week or more before you can determine what needs changed. Routine and structure is wonderful for babies and establishing a nightly routine can make your baby’s bedtime less hassle and more pleasant for both of you.

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