Baby Stair

Lascal KiddyGuard Safety ...

How to Settle a Colicky Crying Baby

Author: C.L. Hendricks

To know how to settle a colicky crying baby, one must first understand that there is a real reason for the baby crying.  According to the American Heritage Dictionary Online colic is:  Severe abdominal pain caused by spasm, obstruction, or distention of any of the hollow viscera, such as the intestines; or a condition of unknown cause seen in infants less than three months old, marked by periods of inconsolable crying lasting for hours at a time for at least three weeks.

It’s the second type of colic that can be a trial for parents of newborns. There is nothing more frustrating than to have your baby crying continually. Not only does your baby’s distress tear at your heart, but it can be mentally and physically draining.

We asked a group of parents who had experienced a colicky crying baby. Here, sometimes in their own words, they share the various methods of settling a crying baby.

Remain Calm

a€œOne of the most important things and often the most difficult is for the parent or caregiver to try to stay calm, as the baby can feed off of the tension or negative vibes from the parent. If it gets to be too much, see if you can take a break (even a few minutes can help you refocus).a€

White Noise

Many parents have found that soft background sound seemed to have the most effect; not only does it soothe the baby, but it also helps calm the parents. Often soft soothing music combined with the movement of a rocker or baby swing worked perfectly to settle a colicky crying baby.

Some parents discovered that running the vacuum cleaner was the perfect noise to quiet their crying baby. Another woman discovered that if she would place her baby in a baby seat and then set it on top of the clothes dryer. Then keeping the heat off, she would turn on the dryer. The combination of sound and vibration worked every time.

Keep Moving

a€œBabies can detect up/down, left/right and forward/back and are comforted when some combination of two of these movements. Rocking the baby in your arms while cradling him/her and going up and down on your toes will activate all three. This seems to soothe them, but be prepared to be doing this for a long time!a€

Another mother found that it helps to sit on one of those exercise balls and gently bounce up and down, especially when the baby is naked and has skin-to-skin contact with you. Other parents swear by the rocking chair, a drive in a car, the baby swing or being pushed in the stroller.

Holding or Swaddling

Swaddling is done by wrapping a small blanket firmly, but not too tightly, around the body, this seems to comfort the baby.  Another type of swaddling is accomplished by holding the baby close against your chest.

Massage/Warmth on the Tummy

Gently massaging the baby’s belly with a little almond oil in a clockwise motion has proven to sooth the baby. It also serves to relax the overstressed parents as well.

As one parent reported, a€œI have found from dealing with a colicky crying baby, that warmth on the tummy works wonders. I have done the warm rice pillows and a swing at the same time. He slept so wonderfully. It lasted until the swing stopped anyway.a€

Peppermint

One parent suggested: a€œGive them peppermint water. Put one peppermint candy in a baby bottle filled with water. Then let the baby drink it. This works very well.a€

Of course, before trying any of the suggestions above, one would want to make sure that the baby’s basic needs of a dry diaper and a full tummy have been taken care of.  If those don’t settle a colicky crying baby, then try one, or all, of the suggestions above.  Just remember you must be calm first. If it’s been going on too long, get someone to watch the baby and get away for an hour or two. Not only will the break help you, but it will help the baby to have a relaxed parent.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/how-to-settle-a-colicky-crying-baby-462915.html

About the Author

C.L. Hendricks is a “jill-of-all-trades” and an expert in some. She writes on a variety of subjects for several websites, including InvitingSmiles and Survival Homestead, to name a few.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. QUESTION:
    How wide apart can stair banisters be and be safe for a baby?
    What width would be safe (i.e. baby couldn’t stick their head through and get stuck) to have stair banisters apart for a crawling baby? They are currently 10cm apart in width along the corridor at the top of the stairs. Does anyone know if this is safe?

    • ANSWER:
      10cm is the Building Regulation maximum spacing between the ‘faces’ of the banisters.

      If you are really worried about baby, screw some solid boards on the inside of your banisters, along the stairs and landing, till he grows bigger.

  2. QUESTION:
    Do any baby gates exist for stair cases where the banisters are not aligned?
    I am unsure if this makes sense, but basically the bottom two wooden banisters of our staircase are not aligned – so we cannot use a normal baby gate, as they are usually created only for banisters that are parallel to one another. Has anyone encountered this problem? Any brands out there offering a solution?

    • ANSWER:
      You can get a custom baby gate that has several parts to extend further or at different angles. These are available on website or some children’s furniture stores. I’m sending a link of baby gates and on there are two:
      Summer Infant Secure Wide Custom Fit
      &
      Northstates Superyard

      http://www.simplybabyfurniture.com/nursery-accessories-safety-gates.html

      Happy shopping =)

  3. QUESTION:
    24 weeks pregnant and i fell down stair. Is Baby alright?
    I just fell down a flight of stairs. I hit every step extremely hard with my butt and my back is in alot of pain, however, i’m concerned about the baby. I’m trying to eat something to get baby to move. Has anyone ever had this happen to them? Was baby alright?

    • ANSWER:
      The baby is most likely fine. A lot of first-time mothers get scared when they fall. The baby is surrounded by both you and amniotic fluid, that’s a lot of protection. If you’re really worried though, there’s never anything wrong with seeing your obstetrician.

      This excerpt came from Beyond Fertility, “The truth is many pregnant women fall and go on to delivery full-term healthy babies. A baby is very cushioned by the amniotic fluid within the uterus. It would take a very hard blow to the lower abdomen to cause the bag of waters to bust. I even personally know a woman who fell down a flight of steps at seven months pregnant and she and the baby were unharmed, except for a few bruises on the mom’s arms and legs. The mother did go immediately to her physician to be checked out.”

  4. QUESTION:
    Baby gate or something for a stair case with a rail on one side? ?
    I have a 15 month old who I am constantly keeping away from the stairs! ;) I would love to be able to but a gate up, but with my staircase, there is a wall on one side, and the spokes of the rail on the other, so the gate I have won’t adhere to the other side. What can I use to keep him off the stairs? Any suggestions. . . ? Thanks in advance :)
    It will be for the bottom of the stairs.
    And wooden rails

    • ANSWER:
      Just a couple questions before I make a suggestion. Are you looking to gate the bottom or the top of the stairs and is your railing metal or wood?

      Here’s a pretty good gate that has an installation kit for use with a banister: http://www.kidsmartliving.com/newrolkidgua.html
      banister installation kit: http://www.kidsmartliving.com/kidguarsafga1.html

      Or here’s a baby gate installation kit for spindles that allows you to use virtually any gate against a stairway railing: http://www.kidsmartliving.com/negainkitfor.html

  5. QUESTION:
    Baby gate and stair railing?
    I need to get a baby gate for our stair case. The problem is, the only ones I can find are made to fit in doorways or they will attach to one railing and the other side is meant to be put against a wall. I need to find a gate that attaches to the rails on a stair case. Anyone else have this problem? Any suggestions would be great.
    I thought about just buying a regular gate and attaching it with zip ties, but then realized that if I did that, we wouldn’t be able to get downstairs, lol!!

    • ANSWER:
      I know it sounds crazy,but try a dog gate.Most are made for areas like that,and open and close to making it better than jumping over.
      You can also try flex-gate,or kid Co…are just a few.Good luck.
      I actually had to call and order extension parts to fit my stair well since it is much larger than the normal fitting.

  6. QUESTION:
    What are the best stair safety gates for a baby/toddler?

    • ANSWER:

  7. QUESTION:
    Stair gates & baby gates?
    I am in the middle of moving house this week, going from a ranch style to a two-story home and I am on the hunt for baby gates. I am having trouble finding baby gates wide enough and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions or recommendations on gates that they like and what gates I should try to avoid.

    I need one stair gate for the top of the stairs that needs to fit 41″ wide, I want one the opens easily with a door or something. I also need an extra wide gate dividing the family room from the kitchen, which is 101.5″ wide and the third gate needs to fit a 53″ space.

    This move is proving to be quit costly so I don’t have 0 to throw down on a super gate with a superdooper extension (especially seeing as I need three of them), I am trying to stay within a reasonable budget. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

    • ANSWER:

  8. QUESTION:
    Stairs w/ a baby and a stair-savy kiddo…?
    Any thoughts on how to handle keeping stairs safe for a baby while also NOT locking an older child out (or in) the upstairs where all their stuff is? She’s old enough to handle stairs just fine, but not old enough to manage the child-proof latches on gates…
    Thoughts?
    (Putting the kid stuff downstairs isn’t an option as there is not room! The bedrooms & play rooms are all upstairs…)

    • ANSWER:
      Here is an idea. If your older one cant open the gate herself …DO IT FOR HER

      My 16 month old son learned long ago how to undo the gate on the stairs and goes up and down them just fine (standing up) so we have to watch him closely(but the gate is always in place). I also have a SD who seems to think shes a baby and acts like she cant undo the gate(shes 7) so I have to undo it for her. Rule is do not go up and down the stairs if your going up stairs FINE but dont make a game out of it ..UP OR DOWN


Baby Jumpers Safety

When I was researching this ...

Activity Equipment for your Baby’s First Year

Author: Rick Ferguson

With all the options out there, it can be overwhelming trying to select activity equipment such as baby swings for your child’s first year. Plus, if this is your first child, you may wonder what your baby will play with most during his or her first year and which baby activity equipment options will give you the most bang for your buck.

Baby’s first year

Your baby’s vision, coordination, muscle tone and intellect all increase at an amazing rate during his or her first year of life, but for many children, it’s not fast enough. Play equipment can help your child experience new sensations and develop muscles. Plus, items such as baby swings or bouncers help give parents a nice break and allow them to focus on other household responsibilities without having to worry about their baby’s safety.

Activity Equipment Options:

There are several baby activity equipment options to choose from including bouncers, swings, activity centers and doorway jumpers. Below you’ll find the details on each.

Baby Bouncers

A bouncer is a versatile, relatively inexpensive piece of baby equipment that your baby can enjoy from day one. You can put a newborn in a bouncer and continue to use it until your child reaches 25 lbs.

Bouncers provide safe and soothing motion for your baby and free you up to do other things. Plus, your baby is exercising and developing muscles while he or she plays. Just make sure to always supervise your baby while in the bouncer. Never put the bouncer on a table or on anything that your baby could bounce off of and keep it out of range of furniture and dangerous objects such as cords, hot surfaces and curtain pulls.

Baby Swings

Swings are one of many parents’ favorite ways to sooth a crying baby. You can usually begin using a swing when your baby is 6 to 8 weeks old, but you should check with your pediatrician first. Swings typically hold babies up to 15 to 25 lbs.

Look for a swing with safety straps and a comfortable seat. You’ll also need to choose between a wind-up model and a battery-operated model. The battery-operated models are nice because you don’t have to worry about periodically winding up the swing, but some parents like the slow winding down of the manual models.

Be sure to keep swings and all other action equipment on a level surface away from stairs.

Activity Centers

Exersaucers just may be the final frontier in baby action equipment. They swivel, rock, bounce, and turn a full 360 degrees, and they come fully loaded with toys to stimulate your baby’s hand-eye coordination, focus, and perception. Plus, exersaucers are safer than walkers because they are stationary, but they provide plenty of entertainment for your child.

Exersaucers are suitable for any child who’s old enough to sit up and control head movement, and most exersaucers can adjust to accommodate a toddler’s height.

Doorway Jumpers

Jumpers enable babies to experience the exciting possibilities of standing up straight and using their legs to stand up control movement. Baby jumpers are designed for children 6 months and older who are comfortable supporting weight on their legs.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/activity-equipment-for-your-babys-first-year-195138.html

About the Author

Rick LeBlanc

Baby Activity Equipment

BabyCenter Store

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. QUESTION:
    What is the age to put a baby in a JumperRoo or Johnny Jumper thing -or Bouncer -whatever they are called??LOL
    I have one of those Jumper thingys -that my cousin gave me for my babygirl to use- but he didn’t give me the box or the papers that come with it – Its the kind you hang up in the doorway -anyway she will be 4 months next week and weighs
    17-Lbs already -she is big for her age and can already stand on her feet for long periods of time (when I am holding her -ofcourse) so I’m thinking she is ready for the jumper -but I would like to hear other parents input first on what you know about jumpers -and if there are any safety concerns as well- thanks

    • ANSWER:
      My son sounds like he is growing as fast as your daughter…he’s pretty tall too. We’ve tried him in the bouncer (my hubby likes to call it Sir Bounce A Lot LOL) off and on since he was 3 months. Every time we need to support him with stuffing blankets in there so he can be a little upright. He is really strong now (he’s almost 5 months)…strong neck and can stand with assistance really well too like your baby but still leans in the bouncer. We tried it a couple days ago and he did a lot better with it, used his legs more and looked like he was enjoying himself.

  2. QUESTION:
    For people who already have had a baby :] Do I have everything I need?
    My baby boy is due in May, here’s a list of what I have so far, am I missing anything?

    .Clothes (onsies, sleepers, socks, mittens, sweaters, pants, hats, soft shoes)
    .Blankets, bath towels, wash cloths
    .Baby products (oil, wipes, lotion, soap, powder, cream, q tips etc.)
    .Carseat
    .Stroller
    .Diaper bag (already packed :])
    .Crib (sheets, mobile, positioner…)
    .Changing table
    .Bouncer
    .Swing
    .Jumper
    .Car mirror and shades
    .Baby safety set (nail clippers, thermometer, baby medicine…)
    .Baby book and photo albums
    .Bassinet
    .Baby bathtub
    .Toy chest (full of toys)
    .Bottles and breast pump

    Things I haven’t bought yet and are pretty sure I am going to are:
    .High chair
    .Gates for his playroom
    .Pillow for breastfeeding
    .Contents for overnight bag for the hospital, I have the bag with a few things in it…but not everything yet.

    Am I forgetting anything? I thinks that’s everything..

    Thanks :]
    Oh yeah the baby carrier, I almost forgot! Thanks :]

    • ANSWER:
      I agree with everything Arlene G said. It sounds like you have pretty much everything covered for the baby so don’t forget about yourself. This is coming from experience because no one even told me to take any of those things for myself. My poor husband was always having to run to the store for extra things.

      I would suggest bringing something to keep all the paperwork in. You will have lots and it’s so easy to just put them in one place so you aren’t worried about losing or forgetting them.

      Also have some healthy snacks for when the baby comes home because I know I wasn’t able to eat for more than 5 mins at a time :) . Escpecially because she had colic.

      You might want to get some baby gas drops just in case.

      And this is a personal choice but I now have a wrap for the baby and wish I had looked into them sooner so maybe you could check out those. But other than that it seems as if you are all set. Congratulations!

  3. QUESTION:
    How many of you babysat in the 1970′s and 1980′s?
    If you did, what do you remember most about those years as a babysitter? For me I remember the fact that 99% of all the babies I babysat wore regular old-fashioned cloth diapers with safety pins and rubber pants. Glass baby bottles were still popular and always used. Baby walkers with casters were still the in thing to put your crawling baby into, as were Jolly Jumpers. Spanking was still acceptable, and outdoor clotheslines with diapers drying on them was a common everyday sight.

    • ANSWER:
      I was born in 1980, I wore cloth diapers and my mom LOVED that jumper. She did breast feed but I’m sure when bottles came into play they were glass. I can even remember my aunt having glass bottles for her son when I was young. I got spanked. I grew up fine. I look forward to having an outdoor clothesline-with our without the diapers. I’ll spank my kids, even if I have to do it under the cover of darkness, in the basement, 5 miles from any prying eyes.

      We were also discussing the other day (since we were on the topic because I’m 15 weeks and shopping for strollers), carseats and how they weren’t mandatory when I was born. I didn’t have one until about 9 months. She just held me on her lap and my father drove. The seat my grandmother had for my uncle was a bucket with leg holes that hung on the back of the front seat (of course then seat belts werent’ even mandatory in cars, so how else were you supposed to secure a baby seat in the car?). Ah, the days.

      Yes, things change because we want convenience for ourselves and safety for our kids. But look how many hundreds of thousands of kids grew up just fine without our “modern conveniences”-refer to bucket carseat above. Parents don’t carry their kids anymore, they lug around a carseat. My mom carried me everywhere until I was big enough to walk, and then I walked-oh the tragedy. And yes, they did sell seats and strollers back then. Most of these things were created and designed for the sole purpose of making children less of a burden to their parents. As for safety, if a 3 year old sits his little ass down in the car and puts on his seatbelt, he’s no less safe than if he were strapped into a carseat the size of a Volvo.

  4. QUESTION:
    Attachment Parents, what baby gear did you use?
    Trying to figure out how much of this is just ‘fluff’. Sorry so much is listed. If its easier you can just copy/paste the list and delete out the entries you didn’t use. Also, if you have the time, please list reasons why you used or didn’t use certain items. THANK YOU!! You can also add to the list if you feel the need.

    Infant car seat
    Convertible car seat
    Basic stroller
    “Snap-on” stroller frame
    Jogging stroller
    Play yard
    Baby backpack
    Front carrier
    Sling or wrap carrier
    Diaper bag
    Activity Equipment
    Swing
    Bouncer/bouncy seat
    Activity center
    Play mat/gym
    Doorway jumper
    Crib
    Changing table
    Glider or rocker
    Bassinet
    Co-sleeper
    Hamper
    Coordinated crib bedding set
    Mobile
    Baby Dresser
    Decorations
    Baby monitor
    Bottles and nipples
    Highchair
    Utensils
    Plates and bowls
    Cups and sippy cups
    Burp cloths
    Bottle brush
    Bibs
    Electric breast pump
    Manual breast pump
    Nursing bras
    Nursing pillow
    Baby towel with hood
    Infant bathtub
    Tub for older baby
    Baby washcloths
    Brush and comb
    Baby nail clippers
    Safety gates
    Diaper pail
    Diaper pail refills
    Pacifiers
    Humidifier
    Birth announcements
    Baby book or scrapbook

    • ANSWER:
      I don’t know if I’m an attachment parent or not, but from the very little I know about AP I can safely say that I at least share similar views on most things.

      These are things we use regularly, if not daily:
      Infant car seat
      Play yard (although not so much now that my son has outgrown the bassinet part and isn’t quite mobile enough to need it again yet)
      Sling or wrap carrier (this has been absolutely invaluable to us, we wouldn’t want to live without at least one)
      Diaper bag; admittedly a small one, and mostly just for daycare and day long trips
      Crib, Bassinet; we used the bassinet for the first four months, after that he moved into the crib
      Swing, Bouncer/bouncy seat; we only have a travel swing at home, but he does seem to enjoy the bouncy seat at daycare
      Bottles and nipples, Bottle brush; I really wanted to breastfeed but was unable to, plus he needs to take a bottle at daycare while I’m at work
      Hamper
      Baby towel with hood, Baby washcloths, Infant bathtub; admittedly a regular towel would work just as well, but we got a bunch of hooded towels as gifts
      Diaper pail; we use a reusable liner (cloth diapers)
      Humidifier; this is really more for us than the baby, we’ve always had to use one during winter
      Safety gates; currently being used mostly for the dogs, but I would consider these essential for any house once the baby is mobile
      Pacifiers; we use these on and off, he goes through stages where he really likes them and stages where he won’t take them
      Baby nail clippers; probably not essential, but I do find them easier to control than regular clippers
      Changing table; a lot of people say it’s a waste of money, but I use mine every single day and it doubles as storage for diapers, wipes, burp rags, and blankets
      Glider or rocker; again, not essential, but I LOVE mine and found it very worth the money (we bought it used for about )
      Bibs; we didn’t use them much until we started solids, but now we go through several a day.

      Birth announcements, Baby book or scrapbook, Coordinated crib bedding set, Mobile; these are all just fluff, but they are things I wanted and enjoy anyway. And my son really enjoys “talking” to his mobile. We also have a soft-bristled baby brush that we do use occasionally, but if we suddenly lost it I don’t think I’d worry about replacing it.

      We don’t have a dresser because our nursery is just too small. Instead we either hang his clothes or put them in canvas baskets on shelves in the closet.

      We do have a stroller that works with the car seat. But since we have the slings we generally find it easier to use that than fight with the stroller. The sling is more maneuverable (I can go anywhere with it) and takes up no space in the car. I do anticipate using it more when our son is older and when I have more than one child. But for now it’s just sitting in his closet.

  5. QUESTION:
    What are essential/best baby items to have as a new parent? What’s junk? What’s invaluable? Hints? Tips?
    (Sorry this is so long! Many thanks in advance to those who reply!)

    We are at week 34 awaiting the arrival of our Babygirl. Gifts and hand-me-downs are starting to come in that we’re marking off the “need to get” list (per Babies R Us).

    We still have lots we need to get, so I wanted to ask for your opinions. For all those moms and dads out there, I have attached, below, the Babies R Us “Parents Checklist.” What is necessary? What is not? What is invaluable? What did you get on a whim and are eternally grateful for having? What turned out to be nothing but junk? What brands are the best (i.e., I hear that Boudreaux’s “Butt Paste” is the best there is)?

    I’m starting to scout out Craigslist and eBay for deals (who the heck knew breast pumps were unbelievably expensive??? At least I can get new, in box items from eBay and save a few if I watch like a hawk!). If any of you have insights that you would share, we would be very grateful. Thanks!

    THE LIST

    Infant Care
    Safety

Baby Safety First

Baby safety first plastic ...

Baby Crib Bedding Sets And The Safety Concerns When Arranging Your Baby Nursery

Author: Liz Hanson

First time mothers never forget planning and buying all the necessities for their baby nursery. It’s such a wonderful and memorable time in their lives. However, one of the most important decisions new mothers make is the baby crib bedding set and the safety concerns when choosing one. New or expectant parents should educate themselves on all matters concerning safety before even considering the purchase of nursery items. 

Choosing a firm mattress with tight sheets prevents the newborn from being uncomfortable. As well, never put too many pillows, stuffed animals, toys, or similar items in the crib while the baby is tucked into bed. These are a cause for concern for babies that nibble on things a lot since it could get caught in their mouth. Blankets should never cover the baby’s head, it’s always best to place the arms on top of the blankets to prevent your baby from covering his or her head as well.

New parents should make sure they buy a standard size crib to make sure they bedding will fit properly. Most crib bedding is sized to fit a standard crib, so this will make things easy for you. The fabric should be durable, yet soft to the touch and comfortable for the baby to sleep on for 18 hours a day. Yes, babies under one year of age sleep the vast majority of the time, so a comfortable bedding set will save you from many trips to the nursery to tend to your crying baby. 

Buying a bedding set is favorable to buying separates when it comes to color coordinating the nursery. Not to mention the choice is made much easier. Just remember that the baby crib bedding set will give the room a base look and feel to work with when decorating.  Don’t be overwhelmed the choice of nursery decorations, and just stick to your budget while buying only the necessities if needed. You can always make additions in the coming months after your newborn is introduced to his or her new home.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/baby-crib-bedding-sets-and-the-safety-concerns-when-arranging-your-baby-nursery-902192.html

About the Author

For a large selection of the highest quality baby crib bedding sets and baby nursery decor, visit http://www.BabyNurseryAndBeyond.com

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. QUESTION:
    Has anyone bought a safety first z80 travel system or a safety first “traveler” travel system? First baby!?
    Has anyone bought a safety first z80 travel system or a safety first “traveler” travel system?
    Just wondering if anyone has any comments or concerns about these two strollers or if there are any other strollers recommended? We are having our first baby in November and are trying to find a stroller that will be good for around that time.

    • ANSWER:
      What I’d recommend is getting your infant carseat, and getting the Snap-N-Go stroller. It’s just a stroller frame that fits most carseat brands. It’s so much easier to use. It’s light weight and doesn’t take up a lot of room in your car trunk or cargo area. Then once your baby begins to outgrow the infant carseat, you can shop for a stroller you really like that doesn’t have you limited to just a travel system and you’ll probably save money in the process. I did this with my twins. I HATED the big bulky travel system, then found a used double snap-n-go on craigslist for half the cost of new, then sold it when I was done with it and got some of my money back in the process.

      It’s truly the way to go!

      http://www.walmart.com/ip/Baby-Trend-Snap-N-Go-Single-Stroller/5246102

  2. QUESTION:
    What are the toxic-free brands of baby toys? Are brands such as Safety First and The First Years safe?
    Are these brands free of pthalates? My baby is 7 months old and she needs some toys to stimulate her. Any suggestions. Safe toys, of course.

    • ANSWER:
      No, most of the toys you will find at regular commercial toy stores do contain pthalates. The FDA and other regulatory agencies do now acknowledge any dangers in pthalates, parabens, dioxins, SLS, sodium polyacrylate, etc., so the manufacturers don’t see a need to change to more expensive materials. If you want non-toxic toys, shop at natural baby stores. Some good online stores are:

      www.cottonbabies.com
      www.wilddill.com
      www.melissaanddoug.com

  3. QUESTION:
    Do you ladies use the locks for baby safety?
    Okay, I’m pregnant with my first baby, and I want to put locks on the cabinets that young children can open (for safety). I was wondering if you have used them, and what brands you like?

    Are they easily breakable or strudy? :) Thanks to everyone who answers.

    • ANSWER:
      I used a brand called ~ Safety 1st ~

      I’d wait til bub is clawing around to put them on!! I also put on the corner covers too!! (for the coffee table) and used a broom upside down for the drawers!!

      They worked well and would recommend them to any new mum!!
      here a link to the safety 1st web to have a look!!

      http://www.safety1st.com/

      Here is another site I’ve found help full too!!

      http://www.readysetsafe.com.au/child-safety-tips-&-tricks.html

      Best of luck <3 k x

  4. QUESTION:
    Which brand is the best to use for baby safety?
    I’m trying to stop my little one from opening doors, and drawers. I have the brand safety first, using their cabinet
    & drawer latches, and the ones with the tension release strap, but i find the sticky stuff holding them in place, just fails…everytime. I sick of wasting money on a product that doesn’t work. What can I use to stop my child opening drawers, cupboards, shower doors……if you know something that definately works let me know..

    • ANSWER:
      I believe I have the same kind of cabinet locks and you are supposed to screw them in. The adhesive tape on them is so they stay in place while you screw them into the cabinet.

      If you have cabinet doors with the handle together, I suggest just getting the slide locks. They had them that looked like a U shape and you just slid the end on and then pushed buttons on the top and bottom to slide them off. I cant find them anymore though :( BUT now they have these ones that look like a diamond and 2 zip tie looking things that you loop through the center diamond piece… they are mommy proof too though LOL! I bought both of these at walmart.

      For the doors, they have door knob covers at walmart too. OR you can buy a gate and not let him or her in the kitchen and close the bathroom door…

  5. QUESTION:
    I will be having a first baby soon. Do I need to get rid of my cat and Labrador for safety reasons?

    Change that to “My wife…”

    • ANSWER:
      No, unless your dog has a bad temperment. You can keep both cats and dogs. Pregnant women should not clean litterboxes, but whoever said that you should get rid of your cat should be sent away. We have two cats and they are curious but very gentle with our baby. Just always watch them when they are together. Also, get a crib tent because your cats may want to snuggle with baby when sleeping and that is not safe as heavier cats can make it difficult for baby to breathe if they jump on top of the baby. Please do not abandon your beloved animals. There are always ways to make living situations work for all.

      One thing we did is that when my baby was born, my husband would go back and forth from the hospital to home to feed the cats, etc. Each time he went, I sent him with a blanket or clothing item that smelled like the baby. When I came home, my husband carried the baby in and I went straight for the cats so that they knew I stilled loved them. Apparently, cats can get jealous. My cats love the baby and I think they think she is theirs too because they try to groom her and run to her when she cries.

  6. QUESTION:
    Does anybody have the safety first high definition baby monitor?
    This monitor was recommended to me by several people as it doesn’t interfere with wireless networks, cell signals etc. and from what I have observed from seeing it in use at my sister’s house it is great. However, I can’t seem to get a charge on the parent unit. Has anybody else had this problem. I’m going to call the company tomorrow during business hours, but wanted to check to see if anybody else had a solution for me.
    I’ve pulled out the plastic tab to make the connection available to the battery and have opened up the back to make sure the rechargable batteries are properly aligned and that the plastic tab was fully removed.

    • ANSWER:
      No i dont have that monitor, just take it back to the store you bought it, dont even bother ringing they should replace/refund for you

  7. QUESTION:
    Does your baby monitor pick up weird noises?
    I have a safety first baby monitor and it’s been quiet all night and then about 5 minutes ago there was this loud static noise that lasted about .5 seconds.

    Seriously made me jump out of my skin. I can’t help but think there’s something lurking around here that I can’t see!

    Does the static on your monitor ever freak you out?

    • ANSWER:
      I used to have a Safety 1st monitor and got an angel care one because I had the same problem, but even then it still happens so I also think that there is something lurking around here too.

      I think it has to do with the plug in, but I could be wrong.

  8. QUESTION:
    When to know the safety of the baby?
    Hello I am 9weeks pregnant. And this is our first baby. Can I ask until how many weeks should I need to wait to confirm the safety of the baby until his/her birth? I was afraid to all of the story I heard regarding my friends on their first born child.. Can you give me more advices on how to be more aware on everything to ensure the safety of my baby?

    thanks. more power to all.

    • ANSWER:
      There is no way to say that a baby will be good until birth. Problems can arise at any point in pregnancy. Things you can do to help the baby have the best gestation possible include: Eat a healthy diet, do not consume any alcohol or smoke. Avoid any stress. Try to avoid fattening food and beverages as your health directly effects the baby. I am sure your baby will be ok, good luck. :)


Everyday Baby Care Tips

Caring for a new baby can be overwhelming at first. Just keep these essentials in mind as you learn to meet herneeds:

1.    Give your baby sponge baths until her umbilical cord falls off.

Read more on Baby Sleeping Method and Indian Dishes and Karwa Chauth

2.    Bathe her every two or three days unless she really needs or likes a daily bath.

3.    Help to prevent diaper rashes by changing diapers frequently and soon after she has a wet or soiled diaper.

4.    Wait to use a pacifier until your baby is breastfeeding well.

5.    Expect your baby’s stools to change within the first week from large, black, tarry meconium to green/yellow transitional stools to the more regular yellow bowel movements of an older baby.

6.    Trim your baby’s fingernails when needed with a baby nail clipper or a nail file, so that she doesn’t scratch her face or eye.

7.    Don’t prepare baby formula using hot water from the tap. Instead, run the water for 15 to 30 seconds first; using cold water will reduce your baby’s exposure to lead from tap water.

8.    Be prepared to cope with a crying baby for two or three hours a day, which is how long the average baby cries.

Baby Health Tips

1.    Keeping your baby healthy is a priority — start with these tips:

2.    Choose a pediatrician before your baby is born.

3.    Plan your first visit to the pediatrician to be within your baby’s first three to five days and then again when he is two weeks old.

4.    Expect your baby to lose between five to ten percent of his birth weight during his first week; he should return to his birth weight by the time he is two weeks old.

5.    Watch for common newborn problems such as jaundice, thrush, reflux, cradle cap, heat rashes, and baby acne.

6.    Avoid letting your baby stay in the same position for too long when on his back to avoid getting a flat head (positional plagiocephaly) and learn about the importance of tummy time.

7.    Don’t expose your baby to second hand smoke.

8.    Until your baby’s immune system is stronger (at least two to three months old) it is probably best to keep him from large groups of people (including daycare, malls, sporting events, etc.) or other sick children to minimize his exposure to infections.

9.    Know the signs and symptoms of illness: fever (Call your pediatrician right away if your baby has a temperature at or above 100.4 before he is 2 to 3 months old), decreased appetite, vomiting, irritability, and lethargy.

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About the Author:
Read more on Baby Sleeping Method and Indian Dishes and Karwa Chauth
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Crying baby

Crying is a normal event in the lives of all babies.When a baby comes out of the woomb the first thing to do is crying.By the first cry he will take some air in to the lungs for the first time in their life.After delivery if the baby doesnot cry then it should be initiated by slightly pinching or gently strocking the feet.From this it is clear that the healthy baby should cry and it is a normal physiological event ,still some times it can upset the mother or family members.

We all know that a baby can’t tell his needs or troubles in words. The only way for him  to communicate with others is by crying.Babies show some other signs like feet kicking,hand waving and head turning ect.But the best way to take the attention of others is by crying.

Excessive crying may not have a firm definition because the crying habit changes from baby to baby and some babies can be calmed easily but some are difficult to sooth.If crying is distressing for the mother and home nurse it can be called excessive.Many a times baby become quiet by giving breast milk or by carrying with a gentle rocking.Sudden onset of excessive crying means baby is distressed and needs attention.The causes of crying extends from simple reasons to life threatening conditions.Hence crying of a baby should not be ignored.

 
Most of the time it is difficult to find the cause of the cry .Common causes are discussed here for awareness.

Common reasons for crying:
                
1,Hunger:–

A hungry baby will cry till he gets  the milk. Here the old saying comes true’crying baby gets the milk’.

2,Wetting:–

Urination and defecation causes some discomfort and results in crying till his parts are cleaned and made dry .

3,Company:–

Majority of the kids need somebody near.  If they feel lonely they cry.When their favourite doll slips away from the grip they cry for help.
           
4,Tired:–

When the baby is tired after a journey and unable to sleep just cry simply.They feel tired in uncomfortable sourroundings and due to unhealthy climate.

5,Heat & cold:–

If they feel too hot or too cold they become restless and cry. Child is comfortable in a room with good ventilation.

6,Tight cloathing:–

Tight cloaths especially during warm climate is intolerable for kids.Tight elastic of the the dress can also produce soreness in the hip region.                                                                                   

7,Dark room:–

When the baby wakes up from sleep he needs some dim light.If there is darkness he will disturb the sleep of parents by crying.Ofcourse he will be irritated by strong light resulting in cry.

 http://www.baby.moneybizhome.com/

8,Mosquito:–

Yes,these creatures disturb the sleep by their blood sucking and make the baby to cry.

9,Nasal blocking:–

Child may not be able to sleep when there is a cold and go on crying till the passage is open.

10, Phlegm in throat:–

This also causes difficult breathing resulting in cry.Often a typical sound can be heard with each breath.

11,General aching:–

Generalised body ache with restlessness is seen in flu and prodromal stages of some infectious diseases can result in continuous cry.

12,Habitual cry:—Some babies cry without any real cause ending the parents in agony.Many a times doctor is called for help.

13,Nappy rash:– If a tight and wet nappy is kept for a long time results in this conditon.
  Rash can also be due to some allergic reaction to the elastic material of the nappy.  When the rash appears it causes soreness and baby become sleepless and cry.  All other skin lesions like eczema,ecthyma ,candidiasis ect also causes same problems.      http://www.babies-toddler.moneybizhome.com/                                           

14,Earache:–

Ear infection is common in wet climate.The infection may spread from the throat.Ear infection can result in rupture of ear drum causing discharge of pus.Eareache usually becomes worse at night when lying down.Child will become restless with cry and may not allow you to touch the ear.Some children with earache rub the affected ear frequently.

15,Colic:–

When the baby cry continuously most of us diagnose it as colic.This roblem is still a topic for debate because exact cause for colic is not known and diagnosis is also difficult to confirm.Colic may be associated with rumbling and distention of abdomen.Child often feels better when lying on abdomen.Some children may not allow you to touch the abdomen.If the child cries continuously doctors help is needed.

16,Infections:–

All infections causes some kind of pain or irritation resulting in cry.Infection may be anywhere in the body.Usually it is associated with fever, redness and swelling.

17,Reactions to certain food:–

It is said that one man’s food is another man’s poison. Some food articles can produce some allergic reactions.Allergy  is manifested in the form of redness, breathlessness,gastric symptons and continuous cry.
       
18,Hard stools:–

Constipated babies with hard stools may cry when they get the urge for stool.Some children hesitate to pass stool because of pain .

19,Gastro esophagial reflex:–

Here baby cries with spilling of food after feeding.If this continues it may be due to gastroesophageal reflex.This is due to failure of the lower part of esophagus to close after food causing regurgitation from the stomach.It is difficult to diagnose this condition and can be confirmed by giving antireflex medicines.,
 
20, Dentition:–

During dentition child becomes restless with crying.Often associated with gastric troubles and diarrhoea.
                               
Some rare reasons
—————–

1,Bowel obstruction:–

Bowel obstruction is associated with severe pain and vomiting.Abdomen is distended with rumbling sound.Baby is constipated with absence of flatus.

2,Septicemia:–

Invasion of pathogenic micro organisms in to the blood is called septicemia.Fever is associated with this condition.

3,Torsion of testes in male kids:–

When a male baby cries continuously his scrotum should be examined.Torsion of the testes produce severe pain which will be worse by touching the affected testes.When the testes is pressed upwards pain is releived.If this is not treated properly it can damage the affected  testes due to lack of blood supply.

4,Meningitis:–

Initially there may not be fever,hence crying baby with alternate vacant stare and irritability should not be ignored.Fontanel is bulging. Neck rigidity and seizures may appear later.

5,Retention of urine:–

Children with retention of urine will have agonising pain making them   restless.                                               

7,Major injuries:–

Major injury to any parts of the body causes pain.Occasionally children will fall while arrying and results in head injury.Head injury is associated with reflex vomiting and convulsions.

 

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About the Author:
Oli works full time as a Market Analyst.He graduated in Management.He can help you to grow your computer consulting. For more on teaching and education, be sure to check out the website. Involved in FREE advertisement for all kind of online businesses. Everyone needs business exposure. There’s FREE advertising gift for your business.
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Is Gripe Water Safe For Babies?

If you are on this site and glancing at this article, then you probably have just had a delightful new infant. Does your baby suffer from colic, indigestion or flatulence? I am positive you have been exposed to the impressive results of gripe water for baby colic. Look no further, everything you need to understand about gripe water and is gripe water safe?

How do you know if gripe water works and if it really does ease colic? The aim is to provide with all the facts you need, indifferent information, for you to be able to make the very best decision for your newborn.

The make gripe water comes from its original use as a stomach ache or as it was known then gripe pain remedy. Gripe water is now a well known make across the world.

Are you confused with the many different kinds of gripe water available? The 1st ever gripe water for babies contained dill, fennel, sodium bicarbonate and alcohol-which some believe was actually the problem solver.

Think of the label gripe water as a category of product and not a specific product to avoid confusion. With so many alternative kinds available the most reasonable thing to do is to stick to the 100% herbal remedies and avoid any which list other ingredients.

The common ingredients found in gripe water are Fennel, Caraway, Lemon Balm, Ginger, Peppermint, Chamomile, Aloe vera, Blackthorn, Dill, Angelica and Cinnamon. Although these are purely herbal and natural products they can cause allergic reactions in babies who are sensitive. Newborns below the age of one month are considered too sensitive to be exposed to these mixtures.  

Perhaps, the more important question is, how effective is gripe water for treating colic? After all if this method is really not going to work there is not point exposing your child to any unnecessary harm. So does gripe water work?

Can gripe water treat colic and soothe the symptoms of a crying baby? Colic is in actually fact a baby that cries a lot without a known cause making it very difficult to treat.

Most babies suffer from indigestion, reflux and wind. The question is what causes these symptoms?

Depending on the sort of symptoms that your baby has, gripe water may be able to soothe it but will not be able to cure the cause of the pain. It is not possible to treat colic by soothing the symptoms. Treat the cause not the symptoms!

Find out what the underlying cause of colic is and how to treat it Now!

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About the Author:
FREE Report-’The Truth About Colic’-What Causes Colic and How To Cure It.
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Being a new mom or dad can be very tough.  You have a lot of things to worry about, not the least of which is your baby’s health and well being.  You may also be sleep deprived, which can add to your own annoyance when things don’t go right.  That is why it can be especially frustrating when your baby continues to cry for an extended period of time.  If you can’t get your baby to stop crying, this article provides some helpful tips on what you can do.

1. The most important thing you can do is stay calm.  Remember, a baby does not know when he is doing something wrong or that he is bothering you.  Crying is their natural reaction to just about everything, because they have no other way to communicate with you.  Getting upset or irritated by your baby’s crying doesn’t solve the problem or make it get any better.  In fact, your baby may sense your frustration, so  It’s better to stay calm for both yourself and your baby.

2. You might want to make your first attempt to get the baby to stop crying by picking him up and walking him around the house.  A calming physical touch is probably the most powerful tool that you have to comfort a child.  While you’re holding them and walking around, the child may calm down from just the movement alone.  The fact that you now have your child up and moving will be something different and he will likely react positively to it.

3. The next thing that you should realize is that your baby may be hungry.  Crying is the way your infant tells you he is hungry and needs to eat.  When your baby starts to cry, you should think about the last time that you fed them.  If you have fed them recently and they will not take to a bottle or your breast, then your next stop would be a pacifier.  

4. Giving a pacifier to a crying baby another great solution that often quiets a crying child.  However, your physical contact with them is still an important part of comforting your infant, so hold your baby while you hold the pacifier in his mouth.

In conclusion, it’s important that you remember that babies can cry for a very long time for a number of different reasons, some of which may not be all that apparent to you.  Once you understand how to handle a crying baby, you really need to stick with it and avoiding getting frustrated when your child cries.

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About the Author:
The author is a successful online marketer who writes articles on a variety of different subjects, including 3 phase transformers.  Learn more about 3 phase rotary transformers at Rotary Phase Converter website.
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Children often have sleep problems during the first year of life, including trouble getting to sleep, waking up in the middle of the night and having irregular sleep patterns. Remember that there are no definite rights or wrong ways to put your child to sleep and that if you and your baby are happy with your current routine then you should stick to it. However, it is not good if it is a struggle to put your child to bed, if he gets overly frustrated in the process, strongly resists being put to bed or if he is waking up so much that he or other family members end up not getting adequate sleep.

Parents who don’t want to leave their baby while she is still awake may opt for the gradual removal method. According to this technique, sit in a chair next to your baby’s bed and wait there until she falls asleep. Do this for two nights. Then move your chair two feet away on the third and fourth nights and five feet away from the bed on the fifth and sixth nights. By the seventh night, sit in the doorway, and on the ninth night, stay in the hallway. Shortly after this, by the 10th night or by the end of the second week, the baby should be able to fall asleep by himself.

Put the baby down and let her cry herself to sleep without any additional comforting. Experts caution, though, that parents using this method might ignore their crying baby when she has some other real, not sleep-related, and problem.

This method can also be a great test of parents’ will. It is difficult to do nothing while your baby wails away. But by giving in after 15 minutes, a half-hour, or even more, the baby learns that her parents will come and get her if she persists, making sleep training more difficult.

With the scheduled awakenings method, observe and record your baby’s natural waking times during the night for a week. A pattern of regular waking times should emerge. Then, following this schedule, wake the baby 15 minutes before each of those natural awakening times and soothe the baby back to sleep each time.

The baby’s “unscheduled” awakenings, those that don’t follow the regular pattern, should gradually stop. At that point, over a period of weeks, cut back gradually on the number of times you wake your baby before his “scheduled” awakenings until he is able to sleep through the night.

Desperate times can call for desperate measures, but don’t even bother with some popular but ineffective ways to get your baby to sleep through the night. Giving your baby solid foods at an early age in the belief that she is waking during the night because she is hungry. There’s no research to support this, and you’ll just condition her to want to eat during the night.

Eliminating naps during the daytime. Don’t do it. This risks making your baby overtired, which will make it harder for her to fall and stay asleep putting your baby to bed later. Like eliminating naps, this will likely make your baby overly tired, making it harder for her to fall asleep.

Baby sleep through the night is the task all parents to look into.

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About the Author:
Simly, a friendly easy going person who enjoys meeting people and socializing. I enjoy dining out especially ethnic restaurants and going to live concerts shows. Sells shows tickets online. Equally happy at home watching a comedy, as I love to laugh. I love meeting new people with great sense of humour. I love life and enjoy everything that goes with it.
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Don't Shake Babies

In the days after May 11, 2006 it was clear that Shaken Baby Syndrome took another little angel to the heaven above. Hannah Rose Juceam was shaken by her nanny in a senseless act of rage from the lack of proper education and training on how to handle stress when watching infants and toddlers.

There are many ways one can seek help if they are concerned about how to handle the pressure of a crying baby. When the phone is ringing, the bills are piling up and there is limited income one can imagine the frustrations of life can take a toll on parents, caregivers, babysitters and or anyone who is watching or caring for an infant or toddler. There is no excuse for harming a child for any reason. As an advocate and national speaker for children across the United States I have found a prevention program that can reduce the cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome.

In Sacramento California the Child Abuse Prevention Center launched a hospital based prevention program that uses materials to educate new parents BEFORE they leave the hospital after giving birth. The materials include a door hanger for the nursery that will be a reminder to the new parents to be careful and not to shake their new baby. In addition to the door hanger the materials include a Pledge form that the child’s footprint is placed on that the parents will sign promising that they will not shake their baby. These are simply extra tools that nurses and prevention specialists can use to educate new parents. Since the launch of the prevention program there has been almost 70 % decrease in the cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome around the entire Sacramento region.

I have become a fierce advocate since my daughter Hannah was killed in the hands of a caregiver we trusted with our life. I urge everyone to help out and spread the word about the dangers of shaking babies. Please let everyone know don’t shake babies.

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About the Author:

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Understanding The Nighttime Crying Of A Baby?

 

Dark.

I don’t know that word, but I must communicate. 

I am afraid of the dark.  I don’t know that word “afraid” either, but the story will go on as though I am literate.  I am afraid of the dark, and the night, and of being alone.

They leave me in a cage that has no top.  The cage is in their room.  I know because I hear their breathing.  I smell their body soap.  They are near, yet far away.  Are they angry with me?

A dim sheen of light seeps in through a nearby window, but it only makes the shadows spooky.  There is comfort beneath me, and warmth around me.  But I am alone, and the light is far from being enough.  I cry out my fear.

The big one comes to me, the one they call “da”.  His hands are huge, larger even than my chest.   When he lifts my arm and holds out my hand to touch it, I stop crying.  I smile.

“Ooowwww.”  It hurts.  Sometimes he hits my hand.  I don’t know why.  It is a strange manner of touching.  Now he shakes me, and roars in the thunder tone.  I am very quiet.  At least he is near.  I am no longer alone in the dark.

But he won’t stay.  He never does.  Before leaving, his thunder softens.  He tucks the covers back around my sides and neck. 

I am afraid of the dark.  I don’t want to be alone.  I cry out my fear.

When he returns, his thunder is awesome.  He no longer touches my hand.  But he pulls the cover back and roles me over.  It is a joy to feel his presence. 

He roars and makes mighty sounds as he suddenly pounds his big hands against my backside.  He strikes hard.  It jars my teeth, shakes my insides.  Perhaps he thinks the diaper keeps me from feeling his touch.  I go quiet and remain so.  He scares me, so big, so loud.  But at least I am not alone.

But it doesn’t last.  Before I can find sleep, he is gone. 

My side is hurting.  Something is bruised.  I don’t know what’s wrong.  And I’m still afraid.  I need someone to touch me, comfort me.  I cry out my fear.

The cage is moving.  I feel it, but I can also see the shadows on the ceiling shifting.  Ah.  There.  His hand is on the bars.  I sense that I am closer to where he sleeps.

The hand comes through between the bars.  With one finger, he touches my cheek.  Oh, it feels so good.  I smile.  Then his hand goes still, not moving and touching and striking, but rather resting near me on the mattress.  The fear fades.  The comfort comes.  I begin to drift off into sleep.

How did he come to understand my need?

 

   

 

    

 

 


The articles of Rmharrington have appeared in various paperback magazine slicks, and on many online writer sites.
Read about thirsty diggers in a dry land, or  a peaceful journey down a county road.
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