During the hot summer months, you want your preemie or newborn to be comfortable and healthy, especially if you find yourself without air conditioning. Maybe consider purchasing some fans to help keep your rooms nice and cool while your little one adjusts to their new environment. While the temperatures could reach a scorching level, how can you be sure your preemie will be safe? 

Here are some summer safety tips that may help you with caring for your preemie or newborn.

Summer Safety Tips

- If all possible, keep your sweet little one out of the sun. Shade is of utmost importance including a summer hat that will completely shade their face. If you must be in the sun be sure to apply sunscreen (baby safe) to avoid sun damage. If possible, consult your preemie’s pediatrician regarding the usage of sunscreen on preemies.

- Be sure your preemie or newborn is staying hydrated. Water is not the answer. Consider feeding your baby more frequently since babies under 6 months of age should not consume water.

- Be sure there is proper air circulation in your vehicle. 

- Never leave a baby unattended in a carrier for even a minute. Heat temperatures can double very quickly inside a closed vehicle.

- Keep your preemie or newborn protected from insects. It is suggested to cover carriers and strollers with a special netting to avoid bug bites such as mosquitoes.

For more summer safety tips for caring for your little one check out summer tips on madeformums.com.

Source: About

Image: Life123.com

Remember the big, bulky high chairs that would take up too much space in the corner of a kitchen? Not anymore, as today’s high chairs are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Their space-saving properties allow them to take up little space, and some of the newest versions will even blend in well with stainless steel appliances!

Here’s what to look for in your new high chair that will maximize space and function, while giving your little one a cozy place to eat.

Removable Trays – The high chair should have a large removable tray that can be tossed in the dishwasher. This makes it easy to keep clean, and the size offers plenty of room for food and a few toys.

Reclining Positions – High chairs don’t have to be for eating anymore. Look for those that have added features, such as relaxing tunes and different chair settings that allow baby to relax. Some high chairs can even convert to a swing so baby can have his cake and eat it, too – in the terms of a snack and quick snooze that is!

Conversion Chairs – Spending the dough on a chair that your child will only use for a short time can be hard. So why not invest in something that will last a little longer? Conversion high chairs can convert from a standard high chair, to an infant booster, toddler booster and then a young child’s chair.

Swinging Trays – If you’re tired of the gliding trays that seem to get stuck all the time, opt for the contemporary swinging style. These trays lift up and swing open, so it doesn’t matter where you place them. In an effort to streamline the design, these chairs often come with an easy carry handle for portable use.

Easy Cleaning Properties – No one likes a dirty high chair – not even your messy baby. So look for streamlined designs that won’t allow food to get stuck in every groove. Also look for waterproof and tear-resistant materials if the high chair isn’t made from plastic.

Five-Point Harness – Five-point harnesses are commonplace in infant products, but not so much in toddler ones. Yet at the rate that kids grow into toddler products and the squirmy nature of their bodies, a five-point harness is never a bad idea. Look for high chairs that offer these harnesses in the toddler position as well.

Comfort – And finally, you want your little one to enjoy sitting and eating, so choose a seat that’s comfy for him or her. With reclining positions and a cushiony seat, you can find the optimal position for your little one at his or her stage of eating.

Image: highchairsforbabiesguide.com

For many parents, adding a baby to the home may feel like a new family is moving in. Between new furniture and oversized toys, you’ll soon find yourself limited on space. Fortunately, there are many simple ways to maximize space without compromising the look and function of the nursery.

First, make a plan for how you intend to arrange your baby’s nursery. You can do this online or by drawing a sketch on graph paper. This will serve as a guide when you shop for baby’s furniture. Prepare the space for your little one by cleaning out the room and closet.

Next, you’ll need to start shopping for baby’s furniture. Look for versatile pieces such as cribs with drawers underneath or combo dressers that have a changing table attached. Many cribs are convertible style, which means they can convert to toddler and day beds. These furniture choices are ideal, as they maximize the years your child can use them.

Remember that when it comes to furniture, it’s always best to start with the essentials. Although some furniture sets may appear attractive in price and design, your baby’s nursery may not be able to fit 4 or 5 pieces. Instead, start with the basic crib, changing table/dresser and rocking chair. Then you can add additional pieces if you choose such as an armoire or hutch.

The closet is another place you’ll have to tackle, as not only will it be storing your baby’s clothes, but blankets, swaddles and crib sheets. Purchase inexpensive bins and hanging shelves to place in the closet, which are great for storing these types of items. Shoe holders work great too.

For storing baby’s essentials such as Q-tips, cotton balls and nail clippers, use small clear containers or decorative mugs to place near the changing table. A small table is also ideal next to the rocking chair for feedings. Install two lights; a dim one over the feeding area and a brighter one for the center of the room.

Thanks to modern decorating, you can enjoy simple furniture and accessories that will keep the nursery looking clean and simple. Toys can be kept in wicker baskets and books placed on shelves.

With a little smart planning, your baby’s space, no matter how limited, can go a long way!

Image: thesweetestoccasion.com

All while carrying your precious baby in your belly, you have been advised and encouraged about breastfeeding.  Because it sounds wonderful and the benefits are amazing, you make the decision to do it before your baby is even born.  This is great news.  Of course it is easier said than done for a lot of new moms.  I remember being on board with the decision, thinking it was going to be a breeze and absolute bliss.  Boy was I wrong!

The first few days of breastfeeding I became so discouraged I wanted to give up.  My milk wasn’t coming in as fast as I would have liked it to and my sweet baby wasn’t latching on very easily.  I felt alone and like I couldn’t do it and just thought it would be easier to simply bottle feed.  A friend of mine who nursed 4 of her children gave me endless tips and encouragement.  Finally, it became very easy and was a joy.  The key is to not give up.  Here are some of those tips that I learned and used on all my babies:

Breastfeeding Tips

• It’s important to make yourself as comfortable as possible before breastfeeding.  If you are uncomfortable, then it will become difficult to achieve the proper milk flow and your baby will sense you are not comfortable and will also become uncomfortable.
• After you achieve your comfortable place of nursing, make sure your baby is latching on correctly.  You want his mouth to be completely covering the nipple and areola.  If you hear a gulping sound, it is working swimmingly!
• Be sure to drink lots of water throughout the day to prevent dehydration.  I learned that water helps with your milk supply!
• Refrain from pacifiers or bottles for at least the first month of breastfeeding.  You want your newborn or preemie to adjust to one nipple – your own.
• There are special lotions you can apply to your nipples since they can become cracked, raw and sometimes bleed.  Taking care of yourself will help everything become easier than you could have imagined.
• Hang in there for at least 6 weeks.  If it doesn’t become better after those six weeks, consider another method, but at least try pumping before giving up altogether.

After breastfeeding became easy for the first three months, I was very frustrated! Why?  My sweet babies, all three of them (different ages), decided to completely stop at three months.  Strange isn’t it?  They preferred bottles after that, so I pumped my milk for 6 months and gave it to them in the bottle.  At least they were still getting the best milk a mom could ever give them, mother’s milk! 

So, hang in there!  You can do it!  You are never alone in the breastfeeding world.  You can always talk to a friend or a family member who is experienced or search for online support groups.  There are even books that make it so much easier.

If you have any breastfeeding tips that worked for you that you would like to share, we would love to hear from you!

Image: 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.

A new mother’s best friend

Sometimes it seems that there are an infinite number of infant products on the market, especially blankets. With so many different types of blankets, and often with so many names for the same blanket, it is easy to get a little confused and overwhelmed. One type of blanket that is particularly important and useful is the receiving blanket.

These blankets are the ones used to “receive” a newborn infant after he or she is born. As infants have been in the womb for the previous nine months, they can initially have a little trouble regulating their own body temperature after birth.

Purpose of the receiving blanket

A blanket helps keep them warm as they adjust to life outside of their mother’s body. Often, hospitals will offer new mothers their own blankets so that the newborn is wrapped in something sterile and appropriate. However, some hospitals will allow the parents to use their own blanket. In either case, receiving blankets are used throughout the infant’s first months, usually until he or she outgrows them.

Receiving blankets can be differentiated from other blankets by the following characteristics:

• They are soft and lightweight
• They are usually square shaped to make swaddling easier, although some are rectangular instead
• They are smaller than other baby blankets because they are intended to wrap the infant without being overly cumbersome
• They are thin to facilitate layering so that the baby will be comfortable in a range of temperatures.

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.

Many women notice that they experience severe hiccups during pregnancy, often during the first trimester. There are two explanations for noticing these hiccups during this time.

Reason #1 – Taking in more air

First, the pregnancy puts greater demands on your body, and one of the ways that your body accommodates these increased demands is by increasing the amount of air taken in with each breath. On average, a woman inhales 30 to 40% more air with each breath while she is pregnant as compared to the way she breathes the rest of the time. This brings more oxygen into your body and allows your body to function more efficiently, but it also may result in hiccups as you adjust to new breathing patterns.

Reason #2 – You are paying closer attention

The second explanation for these hiccups during the first trimester is that women often start paying more attention to their bodies and feelings when they realize they are pregnant. The concern they feel for their growing child and having a healthy pregnancy leads women to notice things they may have overlooked otherwise, such as hiccups. You may have had hiccups before, but you worry that these are different or more severe than usual because you are hyper-aware of everything that is happening to your body.

Don’t worry, be happy

The good news is that whichever cause is at the heart of your hiccups, or even if both causes can be blamed, hiccups are harmless. They are certainly annoying but they do not indicate anything is wrong with you or with your baby, and they will go away on their own.

Changes in the first – third trimesters

Pregnancy is a truly miraculous event. The ability to conceive and carry a baby as it develops is an amazing process, and in order to facilitate this process, your body goes through a number of changes. As there are an almost infinite number of discussions that can take place on this topic, we will cover some of the basics in two posts, starting with what happens to your body during the first two trimesters of pregnancy.

First Trimester

During the first 12 weeks of your pregnancy, it may not be apparent to others that you are actually carrying a child. Due to the vomiting and nausea that accompany morning sickness for many pregnant women, you may not gain very much weight or you may even lose weight! However, you will probably notice that your breasts feel tender and swollen. Additionally, although you may not be able to feel it, your uterus wall is thickening and your cervix is softening.

Second Trimester

The next three months will bring changes that are apparent to both you and others. You will experience weight gain and your stomach will protrude to accommodate the growing uterus and child, although when this occurs exactly varies from one woman to another. Your breasts will become even larger as the milk glands begin to function and will continue to feel tender. You may notice that your skin is glowing. This is a pleasant result of the increased circulation of blood throughout your system.

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.