Baby monitors are often one of the first items on a parent’s wishlist. But are they necessary? No, they are not.

Baby monitors are designed for reassurance and peace of mind. Some parents find themselves using monitors for a few short months, while others use them well into their child’s toddler years.

For me, I use a baby monitor but still find myself checking on my little one throughout her naps. Audio monitors simply pick up sound (and a little bit of movement), but if your child is a deep sleeper, you won’t hear much of anything. A video monitor on the other hand, shows your child sleeping, which can have added reassurance for deep sleepers.

Video monitors are much more expensive and are in the $150-$200 price range. If you choose to turn the picture off, you can use the monitor just like an audio monitor that has LED lights that react to the baby’s noise. Audio monitors are more economical and cost between $30 and $50. There are some monitors that can be placed underneath your child’s mattress, and an alarm will sound if movement or breathing isn’t detected for 15 seconds.

Since baby monitors aren’t a necessity, many moms depend on their 3rd ear that kicks in, and they know when their baby is up from a nap or having trouble sleeping without the use of a monitor. If you do choose to use a monitor, it’s up to you to choose when to stop. There is no right or wrong, although experts do recommend that around 6-12 months is a good time to stop relying on audio and video monitors.

Not only will this help you sleep better, but it may help your baby sleep better if you’re not rushing to him or her at every whimper. Once an infant reaches 12 months, the risk for SIDS is gone as well, giving parents more encouragement that their little one will be okay during sleep.

Image c/o: iggybiggyrentals.com

Bringing home a newborn is a challenging task in its own. However, bringing home a preemie… well, that poses a whole new set of worries for new parents. One of the most critical factors in caring for premature babies is paying close attention to their health and nutrition and making sure to take baby to the pediatrician often.

You may find yourself overwhelmed at the thought of selecting a pediatrician that you feel you can trust. Don’t worry – these doctors are highly trained in this field. Before selecting your pediatric care center, it is a good idea to visit several in your area so you canvrest assured you made the right decisions.

Here are a few things you may want to ask the staff (or even the doctor if he is available to speak):

• Do you have separate waiting rooms for children that are sick and healthy children? (This lowers your baby’s chance of becoming ill at a time when his immune system is not fully developed.)
• If I have an emergency after hours, how long will it take for me to get a response if I call your answering service?
• Do you put a strong emphasis on nutrition for premature babies?
• Does your office provide referrals to specialists or early-intervention programs?
• Will the same doctor be seeing my preemie at every visit?

It is always a good idea to ask your OBGYN if they know of any good pediatricians that they may be able to recommend. Also, check with your insurance company to get a list of providers in your area that are covered under your baby’s insurance.

Image c/o www.bakersfieldmom.com

If your baby was born prematurely, the first weeks and months ahead can be difficult. That is why it is so important that both parents are actively involved in the baby’s progress, even if you feel helpless. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways for you to be a hands-on dad, taking an active part in your child’s life and development. Remember that men and women cope differently, so be sure to be open and honest with your partner during this difficult time.

Accept your emotions. For the first time, you may be experiencing extreme emotions, such as anxiety, grief, resentment and fear. All of these feelings are normal and as your baby progresses, you’ll feel less of these emotions. You may also feel hope toward your baby’s future, as well as love, pride and amazement at how far your infant has come.

Spend time with your baby. Even though the NICU can seem unsettling at first, it won’t be long before you feel comfortable in the environment. Your baby’s stay will be made more positive if you form a good rapport with the staff, ask questions and be a part of the decision-making process. Hold and touch your baby as much as possible, and be sure to share news and updates with friends and family, just as you would with a full term infant.

Balance your responsibilities. Although you’re probably feeling very overwhelmed, it’s important to balance your work and family life. It won’t be long before you have to return to the office and you may have other children at home. Ask for help, accept help and try to maintain a good sense of humor.

Support your partner. Mom is scared too, and she may be spending more time at the hospital than you. Be sure to offer a supportive ear and listen when needed. This is also a good opportunity to be open and honest, sharing your own feelings with your partner. You two are the most powerful team for your infant and will continue to be his or her advocates throughout life.

Image c/o Wikimedia Commons

Swaddling – An old tradition with modern versatility

Swaddling is a tradition as old as recorded history. There are records of swaddling in texts written ancient Romans, ancient Greeks, and even the Bible. Today’s swaddle wraps are a far cry from the old ones, but they work in the same fashion.

How it works

Swaddling refers to a specific technique used to wrap a blanket around the infant. The blanket is wrapped tightly but not too tightly so that the baby is not pinned into position but his or her limbs are snugly tucked into their body.

This position accomplishes two things:

1. First, it emulates the feeling of being in the womb, making the baby more comfortable and keeping them warm.
2. Second, the blanket prevents the baby from waking up when they accidentally move their arms or legs. This allows for longer periods of uninterrupted rest.

Swaddling today

Today’s swaddling blankets are different from the older ones in several important ways. First of all, the best modern swaddle wraps are made from cotton muslin. It is softer than ancient fabrics so that it is more pleasant next to a baby’s sensitive skin. Additionally, it has a little stretch to it, allowing it to be used for swaddling more easily.  Finally, it is a thin material that provides insulation and ventilation so that the baby is warm without overheating.

These blankets come in a variety of colors and patterns, but they all are a great source of comfort to both mother and child during this special time.

If you have had the opportunity to look for baby or infant products recently, you were probably shocked by the sheer number of products available. This can make it challenging to by anything for your own baby as well as for anyone you know who might be expecting a child, even something as simple as a baby blanket.

One of the first things to consider when choosing a baby blanket is which fabric the blanket is made from as this is one of the most important characteristics of the blanket. Cotton muslin baby blankets are the best ones available for several reasons including cost, durability, appearance, and quality.

Your choices in fabrics

Here are some of the other popular materials and why they pale in comparison to cotton muslin for baby blankets:

-        Silk. Popular in Asia, this material is impractical as it stains easily and is difficult to clean.

-        Wool. Although there are over 200 types of wool on the market, they are usually too rough for a baby’s skin. Wool blankets can be good as layering blankets for babies who live in extremely cold and harsh environments.

-        Synthetic microfibers. Brightly colored, stain resistant, and cheap, these blankets have their strengths. However, many parents do not want synthetic fibers near their infants, preferring organic fibers such as those in cotton muslin instead.

-        Cashmere. The softest and most sumptuous of blankets, these are prohibitively expensive and difficult to clean, making them a poor choice.

-        Regular cotton.  Standard 100% cotton material is ok, but depending on the blanket it may lack the flexibility and breathability of muslin.

There has been much written on how to have a healthy pregnancy, and there are many opinions about what to eat and what not to eat while you are a pregnant. Here is a quick overview about nutrition during these nine months.

1.      Do eat lots of spinach, as it is rich in folate

2.      Do eat whole grains, fruits, and vegetables daily. These foods contain fiber to aid digestion and the vitamins and minerals you need to be healthy.

3.      Do drink lots of water. It will help with constipation and provide fluid as your blood volume increases and your body creates amniotic fluid for the baby.

4.      Do take a prenatal vitamin.

5.      Do drink milk for calcium and vitamin needs.

6.      Do eat a varied diet. This is the best way to ensure that you are getting a variety of nutrients and not too much of anything that may be harmful.

7.      Don’t eat unpasteurized dairy products such as soft cheeses as they may contain listeria, a bacteria that can cause illness in the baby and possibly lead to miscarriage

8.      Don’t eat raw smoked fish, as they can also contain listeria

9.      Don’t eat deli meats that contain listeria

10.  Don’t take a Vitamin A supplement or consume more than the daily recommended allowance of Vitamin A

11.  Don’t eat fish high in mercury, including shark and swordfish

12.  Don’t consume too much caffeine or artificial sweeteners. Limit yourself to 300mg a day and remember that caffeine is in coffee, tea, some soft drinks, and chocolate.

Almost every mother is concerned about having a healthy pregnancy, even if she was never concerned about being healthy before she became pregnant. Here are five tips to having a healthier pregnancy that will help both you and your growing baby during this exciting time.

5 tips for a healthy pregnancy

1. Get started before you get pregnant. The best way to have a healthy pregnancy is to plan ahead, whether it is starting an exercise regimen or eating a more balanced diet.
2. Take a prenatal vitamin with folic acid. Your normal vitamin probably doesn’t have all the vitamins you and your baby will need while your pregnant, so starting on a prenatal vitamin as soon as you start trying to conceive will ensure that your baby has all those nutrients from the first day of development. Plus, these vitamins may help with fertility.
3. Rest up. Get at least eight hours of sleep each day. If you are having trouble sleeping at night, take afternoon naps to get the rest you need.
4. Exercise daily. If not daily, then as many days a week as you can manage. The workouts should not be intense or exhausting – try a workout class aimed at pregnant women or just walk for 20-30 minutes a day.
5. Avoid dangerous toxins. Don’t drink while you’re pregnant and if you are a smoker, this is a great time to quit. Avoid areas where others are smoking as second hand smoke is also detrimental to both mother and child.

What every mother wants

Healthy moms and healthy pregnancies are the best way to get a healthy baby, so having a healthy pregnancy is something that is important to everyone during this incredibly exciting time in your life. Here are some ideas to help you have the healthiest pregnancy possible!

Educate yourself

The best thing you can do is to learn as much as possible about what is happening and what to expect during your pregnancy, childbirth, and infancy. Once you have this information, you will be able to discern between normal changes and ones that should be discussed with your health care professional. You can read books, check out websites (being careful to stick to reliable sources), and ask your doctor for advice and information to add to your knowledge base.

Good habits

Another way to stay healthy during this time is to establish habits that will help you be healthy and safe after your pregnancy as well. Remember to wear your seat belt and exercise regularly – these are things you know you should have been doing anyway, but with the baby growing inside of you, you have a better reason than ever to take especially good care of yourself.

Better diet

Eat a varied diet while you are expecting with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. This will help you get the nutrients both you and the baby need and the fiber in these foods will alleviate constipation issues that are common among pregnant women. Also, drink 6 to 8 glasses of water daily.

Third trimester to birth

In a previous post, we explored what happens to your body during the first two trimesters of your pregnancy. In this post, we talk about changes in your body during the third and final trimester as well as the changes you might notice after you give birth.

The Third Trimester

In the third trimester, you will see that the signs of pregnancy become more obvious to other people. As the baby continues to grow, your uterus continues to stretch to accommodate the growth and your stomach protrudes further. You may also see stretch marks on your breasts, stomach, thighs, hips, and/or buttocks as your body changes and grows.

Many women also notice that they are sweating more and attribute this to their larger size, but in reality the additional sweat production is probably a result of changing hormone levels and not physical growth.

After Pregnancy

In many ways, your body will begin to return to pre-pregnancy form almost immediately after childbirth. But the changes that took nine months to occur cannot be undone overnight, so you will notice gradual shifts in most cases.

Between the baby, the placenta, and the water weight lost during childbirth and the following five to seven days, you will see that you have lost a significant amount of weight.

However, it will take your uterus a little longer to begin contracting back to its normal size, so your stomach may appear pregnant for several weeks. Exercise (when doctor-approved) and breastfeeding have been shown to help the uterus contract more quickly.

• Read more about losing weight during breastfeeding

Every woman wants to know when!

When a woman is trying to get pregnant, it can be tempting to want to take a pregnancy test as soon as you think it might give a positive response. However, although today’s pregnancy tests are incredibly sensitive and can, in some cases, indicate a pregnancy several days before you miss a period, it is hard to know when you should take a pregnancy test.

The 5 main factors that influence when a test will give an accurate response:

1. Test sensitivity. Some of the tests on the market are more sensitive than others, and a more sensitive test will be able to detect pregnancy at an earlier stage than one that is less sensitive. Both are highly accurate, so a positive reading on one is just as reliable as a positive reading on another, but more sensitive tests can be done sooner.
2. Liquid Consumption. If you have had more fluids than normal when you take the pregnancy test, it will be harder for the test to detect the hormone that indicates pregnancy (hCG).
3. Time of day. Tests taken in the morning are less likely to be influenced by factors such as liquid consumption, but if you wait until later in the day the fetus may be producing more hCG as it grows.
4. Rate of hCG production. Some fetuses produce more hCG than others. If yours is a little slower, it will take longer to get a positive result on a pregnancy test.
5. Ovulation timing. Unless you know exactly when you ovulate each month, counting the days since your last ovulation can be an uncertain calculation.