Showing posts with label Baby Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baby Tips. Show all posts

Choosing the Right Daycare

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Once you’ve made the decision to return to work after your baby has been born, it’s time to start searching for a daycare center. This can be an emotional time for you, and sometimes overwhelming especially if there are numerous daycare centers to choose from.
Here are a few tips you can use to help you choose a daycare provider that’s right for you and your child:
  • The first step is to get a list of daycare centers in your area. Check your local yellow pages, online, or get some recommendations from other parents.
  • Find out of there are any openings available for you to enroll your child.
  • Are there any age restrictions?
  • Write down the locations and hours of operation for each daycare center on your list.
  • What is the cost to enroll your child?
  • How many other children are currently attending and what are their ages?
  • Are healthy meals and snacks supplied by the daycare center?
Once you’ve narrowed your search down to a few daycare centers, it’s time to ask some important questions to ensure that you’re choosing the right daycare for your child. Here are some questions to keep in mind when visiting or speaking with each daycare center.
  • Is it clean and safe for your child?
  • What is the ratio of caregivers to children?
  • Are the children at the daycare actively engaged in activities and do they seem happy and well taken care of?
  • Are there plenty of educational toys and activities for the children?
  • Are the caregivers warm and friendly? How do they interact with the children?
  • Ask the daycare administrator for some background information on the staff, especially regarding licenses or degrees.
  • Ensure that the daycare staff have received the proper training and have good credentials and experience.
  • Are there safety exits in case of a fire or other emergency?
Once you’re satisfied that you have the answers to these questions, you should be able to determine which daycare center is the best choice for your child. The closest daycare may not always be the best, and the most inexpensive option may not always be the best either.
You’ll know what’s best for your child, and which daycare center will be the most suitable environment for him to be in while you’re working.

The Scoop on Giving your Baby Juice

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Many moms like to think that as soon as their baby turns 6 months of age, they should start giving them juice. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, juice is not necessary for an infant.

Here’s why:
Because of the sugars in juice, it can cause diarrhea.
Too much juice can cause a child to be overweight or obese.
Juice contains sugars and acids that can cause tooth decay.
Giving your baby too much juice can hinder growth and development, and can cause malnutrition and anemia due to lack of nutrients like proteins and complex carbohydrates.
If you are still breastfeeding, juice can cause your baby to nurse less.
If You Must Give Your Baby Juice…

Although juice contains Vitamin C and other nutrients, you don’t want to give them too much. It should never be considered a supplement. If you must give your baby juice, consider these guidelines. Choose juices that are 100% juice and not fruit medleys or cocktails. Check the nutritional labels to make sure.

Wait until your baby is at least 6 months old. But even then, babies at this age still do not require it.
Dilute juice by at least half and half with water. Most grocery stores have a baby aisle with juice specially diluted for babies. These juices also contain more Vitamin C than regular juices, but are also more expensive.
Never give your baby juice from a bottle. And never give them juice from a cup to suck on all day. This can cause tooth decay.

Don’t give your baby juice at bedtime.
Babies shouldn’t have more than 150ml (one half cup) of juice a day.
Instead of giving fruits in liquid form, try giving them real fruit!
If your baby is thirsty, give them water instead. If your baby doesn’t like water, try flavoring the water with a little bit of juice. If you start feeding your baby water from the beginning, they won’t naturally prefer juice instead of water.

The Thinkbaby Trainer Cup with Handles is one of the best sippy cups for picky babies who refuse to drink out of any other sippy cup.

Most importantly is that these sippy cups are BPA free!

Tips for Bathing Baby

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Baby’s First Baths

Your baby’s first bath can be a special moment for you. It could also be scary. Newborns are so tiny and slippery, it’s hard to hold on to them while they squirm, especially when they’re wet and soapy. You may also have plenty of questions about your baby’s first baths, like where do you wash them? Do you put them in a tub, or do you give them a sponge bath? How do you clean their umbilical cord area? How warm should the water be? What things do you need to have on hand while bathing your baby? First of all, deciding to give your baby a tub bath or sponge bath while their umbilical cord is still attached is ultimately up to you. Some hospitals suggest sponge baths, while others say it is perfectly fine to give them a tub bath. If you’re unsure, ask your baby’s doctor to see what she recommends.

Sponge baths

You may decide to sponge bathe your baby until the umbilical cord falls off. Make sure you bathe your baby in a warm room without any drafts. Have a soft washcloth and a pail of lukewarm water ready. Also have some towels or blankets handy to cover the areas of your baby that aren’t being washed.

Tub baths

It can be awkward to bath your baby in a big tub, so many parents use the sink or a plastic tub to bath their baby for the first few months. I chose to bath my baby in the tub after I purchased a Baby Bath Seat. You should never, ever leave your baby alone in the tub, even with the bath seat. If your baby is left in less than an inch of water, he can still drown.

Bathing Your Baby

Have everything ready before you put your baby in the tub. Soap, lotion, washclothes, toys, towels and a clean diaper and change of clothes should be within reach while bathing your baby. Fill the tub or sink with about 2-3 inches of lukewarm water. To be on the safe side, you can test the water temperature with a thermometer. It should be about 90 degrees Fahrenheit. You can get a bath seat with temperature strip built in.

Some babies love being bathed, others not so much. If your baby fusses at bath time, ease him slowly into the water feet first. Once in the water, keep a wet washcloth on his stomach so he doesn’t get cold, and regularly pour more bath water on his tummy to keep him warm.

Before you get any soap in the bath water, wash baby’s face with a washcloth. Use one corner for one eye, and another corner for the other eye. For the rest of his body, use a mild soap. Make sure to get in the creases of his neck, armpits and genital area. His hair can be washed with a mild soap as well. Don’t forget to wash behind his ears. 

Before lifting your baby out of the tub, make sure you have a good grip on him. Their soft skin is especially slippery when it’s wet and soapy. Dry him off with a soft towel and apply a little baby lotion if you like. Now get a diaper on as soon as possible before he gets pee everywhere!
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