Dealing with baby colds

Having a baby with the sniffles is no fun, especially when it is causing them to be up all night sneezing, coughing, and making sad little gurgling noises. Before rushing off to the doctor, there are a couple home remedies to try that may ease the common cold.

Start out by wiping the whole place down and shoving everything in the laundry machine and dishwasher. Getting everything cleaned up sparkly will stop the spread of any further nasty viruses and bacteria, keeping everyone else in the house – hopefully- from getting sick. Make sure to use HOT water to clean pacifiers, toys, baby bottles, and sippy cups. Launder sheets, blankets, and stuffed animals. Wipe off anything the baby puts their mouth on, which in most cases is just about everything.

Once you have a sparkling clean house, start hydrating that sniffling baby. Hydration will help break up the mucus and start moving that cold out of the system. A small amount of water is just fine for a stuffed up baby, or make some watered down formula for baby to suckle on. Stick to water, as fruit juice for babies isn’t recommended. Juice is mostly natural sugar, or added sugar, and can cause digestive issues such as constipation.

If your infant is eating cereal or munching on solid foods, add in some extra vitamin C. Don’t run for the oranges, grab the red peppers instead! Red peppers have huge amounts of vitamin C, and 1/2 cup has over 100 mg of the happy healthy cold fighting stuff. Don’t think your babe will like it? Mine couldn’t get enough when her nose was running. Steam small chunks of red pepper until soft and then puree. Let cool, and spoon away.

Set up baby’s room for success by investing in a humidifier. There is some discussion as to which works better for easing colds, but the main concern is that warm-mist humidifiers can cause burns if your baby touches them, which is not something any parent wants. Either only use warm-mist humidifiers when your baby is safe in the crib, or try a cool-mist humidifier. Whichever type you go with, turn it on and crank it when your wee one has the sniffles. It will help get the congestion clearing and moving out of baby.

Now, what to do with all that snot? It comes out when the baby sneezes, drips constantly from the nose, and causes raw red areas under the nose and chin. Help keep your baby’s face and nose happy by using soft items to wipe the nose. Cut up and old t-shirt into squares and use as hankies. Apply Calmoseptine to the nose, upper lip, and chin area to alleviate red irritated skin. Many of us have it hiding around from the beginnings of breastfeeding. Remember that? If you don’t have any Calmoseptine, some Vaseline will do nicely.

Yes, there is always the wonderful bulb syringe. This lovely little item can help suck the snot out of an infant’s nose like a turkey baster, but finding a baby that enjoys this process is almost impossible. If you can get your baby into a comfortable head tilted back position to attempt using a bulb syringe, start by dropping some saline solution into each nostril. Squeeze the air out of the syringe before placing it into your baby’s nose. Put the tip of the bulb syringe in one nostril and then release the bulb syringe allowing it to suck out all that nasty mucus. Go ahead and try the other side, that is if your baby is still sitting calmly on your lap complying with this atrocious nose sucking. If you are successful, make sure to clean out the bulb syringe with warm soapy water.

I don’t know about you, but I am exhausted just thinking about it all! Getting the crib ready for a good night’s sleep is beneficial to easing nighttime wakings from colds. By elevating one end of the crib, the baby will be on a slight incline when sleeping, which will alleviate the back of the throat drip drip dripping. Putting a pillow or blanket under one end of the crib bedding is another option. If your baby is into sleeping in their infant car carrier, try a night in it and see how it goes. They are in an almost upright sitting position, which allows the bothersome mucus to flow easily without causing irritation.

Lastly, take a look at yourself. How are you feeling? The best thing you can do for your baby is to stay healthy. Take some vitamin C, pop the baby in the stroller (even if it is in the middle of winter and cold – you and your baby can wear layers) and get some fresh air. Make sure to get some sleep. Keeping yourself healthy is the first step in keeping your baby healthy.

Make sure to contact your doctor if you are concerned about how your baby is breathing or if their symptoms get worse. Never feel like you are bothering your doctor with silly questions or concerns when it comes to your baby. Just like the saying goes, it is better to be safe than sorry!


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Teach Children How to Act Around Dogs and Other Animals

A child can learn some wonderful life lessons while caring for an animal, but there can be some potential hazards that accompany pets of any kind. A young child can harm your pet, and some pets can most certainly harm your child. Never leave a baby or young child alone with any pet and always supervise children around dogs, cats, ferrets and other animals. Even if your home doesn't have a pet, teach your children these important tips.


ALWAYS:

-Treat animals with kindness and respect

-Handle pets gently

-Wash your hands thoroughly after handling pets


NEVER:

-Approach any unfamiliar animal

-Disturb an animal that is eating, sleeping, caring for its young or guarding something

-Touch any pet before asking its owner if it is okay to do so

-Tease, chase, or stare at an animal

-Grab an animal by the feet, ears or tail

-Feed, touch, pick up or handle a wild or stray animal

-Try to break up animals fighting

-Play with a dog unless supervised by an adult

Also, show your child what to do if approached by an unfamiliar dog:

-Be still like a statue if a dog comes up to you

-If you are knocked down by a dog, roll into a ball and lie still like a rock


Lastly, if your child or any family member is bitten or scratched by any animal, act quickly. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for at least 5 minutes and seek medical attention immediately.


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What parents must know about babies' sleeping position to prevent SIDS

A study by pediatric specialists at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC, found that many magazines aimed at women in the 20-40 years of age group depicted babies sleeping in a position that may be unsafe for them. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies sleep on their backs (called the "supine" position) to minimized the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The magazines studied showed babies sleeping on their bellies (called the "prone" position).

Babies should NOT lie on their bellies for sleeping

SIDS is a condition where infants die in their sleep without any previous history of disease that may cause this. Even after investigating all probable causes of the death, nothing stands out as the culprit. In Maryland, there were 64 babies who were reported to have died from SIDS in 2006 (the year for the latest available data). In the United States, about 2,250 deaths attributable to SIDS are reported each year, according to CDC. Back in the 1980's, investigators began to notice that babies in cultures where they were placed to sleep on their back (like China) were less likely to die from SIDS. Further research backed up this observation thought he point that it is widely recommended all over the world that babies be placed on their back for sleeping.

Older children can sleep in any position... If they sleep at all.

It is not well known why babies on their back are less likely to die from SIDS, but theories abound. These theories include the positioning of the airway, where babies are better able to breathe on their backs. Another theory is that babies on their backs do not fall into a deep sleep and are easily aroused if their breathing is compromised. How would a baby's breathing be compromised during sleep? Infections of the respiratory system, allergies, and even heavy bedding around them may block their airway. So it is also recommended that babies with any respiratory problems be promptly seen by a health care provider. Furthermore, the baby's sleep area should be clear of excessive bedding, toys, or other objects that may crowd the baby and prevent the baby from breathing.

Top tips for dads on bonding with your baby

Most Dads are shy especially when taking care of the baby is concerned. They would assume that the everyday responsbilities of their baby only belong to the mother. Some if not most would delegate the changing of diapers or feeding the baby to their mothers for fear of hurting the baby or assuming if what they have been doing is the right thing. The secret of male-bonding with a baby is realizing that you're not supposed to try to be another mother. Your child already has one of those, and what she really needs is for you to be yourself. Still feeling a little awkward? Try these break-the-ice activities.

Give a midnight bottle

After I began to supplement breastfeeding with formula, my husband offered to get up for the middle-of-the-night banquet. Okay, so maybe I bullied him into it at first, but before long he told me he enjoyed having that time with the baby. No one else around, crickets chirping outside, and bizarre infomercials on TV. Once, I overheard my husband having a 3 a.m. conversation with a sound-asleep Kyle. "You know what, buddy?" he was saying. "We're the only two people in the universe who know that they aired that same show about Wilt Chamberlain four nights in a row."

Have a staring contest

Prowess is a guy thing, right? Lest you believe that little baby of yours is a pushover, engage her in a time-honored ritual of seeing who'll blink first. She may surprise you. Babies love to contemplate faces, and chances are that before she gets bored you'll have dropped your gaze, wondering where she got that incredible dimple, or whether her ears look like your mom's or your wife's.

Play kangaroo

My firstborn was a colicky baby who was never happy unless someone was holding him. At the end of the day, Tim used to come to the rescue by strapping on a Snugli and going about his business — raking leaves, setting the table, tossing a ball for the dog — all with Kyle cuddled against his belly.

Take a bath together

A new dad we know dreaded the nights when it was his turn to bathe his son — the combination of screaming baby and slippery skin made him nervous. One night, he simply stripped down himself and took the infant into the tub with him. Lo and behold, the baby was calm for the entire duration of the bath. Being snuggled against his father's chest made all the difference.

Read the sports page

Aloud. Let's face it: Goodnight Moon can get you only so far. After the 1,500th reading of the classic book, my husband finally threw in the towel. I walked by the nursery at bedtime to hear him very sweetly crooning the details of a Patriots game to Kyle. The baby loved every minute of it ... it didn't matter what his father was reading, just so long as he was.

Set a table for two

If your baby is old enough to be eating solid food, then you might as well be the maitre d'. It's entertaining — see the food go in, watch it come right back out!
Change a diaper

Talk about bonding at the earthiest level — with babies, the bottom line (no pun intended) often involves cleaning up a mess. During a change you get to touch the baby, and talk to him, but it's sometimes hard to see a silver lining when a soggy lining is so much more evident. Still, fair's fair. My friend Mary's husband once asked her what she did all day with the baby, so she lined up 18 dirty diapers in neat, plastic piles on the front stoop for him to see when he came home.

Be there for a cold or fever

Nobody wants their baby to get sick, but there's nothing like an illness to prove how much the little guy really needs you. A night spent rocking a sick child will make you painfully, preciously aware of what parenting is all about.

Bench press

The bad news is that once you're a parent, you don't have much time to get to the gym. The good news is that you have just acquired a fabulous set of hand weights, approximately 7 to 20 pounds. Once our kids' necks could support the weight of their heads, Tim would balance their bodies on his palms and then carefully curl them, bench them, whatever struck his fancy ... and both his biceps and the babies loved it.

Be a texture board

One of the greatest attributes of men is that they feel great (or they probably wouldn't be daddies in the first place). From the rough shadow of beard to a silky moustache to a crewcut hairdo, a father is a tactile delight. Beware: Little fingers can get a punishing grip on chest hair.

Take pictures

Nothing makes as flawless a subject as your own child. An added benefit? All the grandmas and grandpas and uncles and cousins who are the recipients of the prints can't help but notice what a great time you're having being a dad.

Roughhouse (within reason)

Studies have shown that mothers and fathers hold their babies in very different ways. Moms are more likely to cuddle; dads tend to get a little more physical. You should never shake a baby, but you can certainly stimulate her muscles. If your child is old enough to sit up, she might like being tossed gently in the air, or getting bounced on a knee, or being carried beneath the arm like a football ... things that Mom isn't as likely to do, but that are sure to bring squeals of delight.


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