Moms R Us

YouTube - How to Make Homemade Baby Wipes

2010-11-18T13:23:00.000-08:00

This is a fantastic idea! Especially for those babies with sensitive skin!

Support is the Key!

2010-09-06T13:02:00.000-07:00

Every new mom worries that they won't be a good enough mom or that they will make mistakes! And guess what? You will make mistakes and you will learn from them. That's what mistakes are for! It is always good to remember your are the only mom your child has had and they will not know when you make a mistake.

Whether you are a new mom or have been a mom many times over you still need to have a support system in place. This can be your spouse, your mom, your best friend, or the moms you meet at the park every week for playtime. You need to have someone who will listen! Listen to your worries, problems and your complaints. And you will have complaints - life never goes as planned and with your support person you can work on making things a little easier.

You need to remember to take time for you. So you can re-energize. Even if this means grabbing a cup of tea and heading to the bathroom for 5 minutes of peace. When you have had a chance to re-energize things don't seem quite so stressful!

Watch this video and know that every mom worries and feels inadequate at times.

Live and learn in the moment! Enjoy your precious time with your child as they too, live and learn and grow!

What message would you give to new moms?

Why is my baby crying?

2010-08-16T18:07:00.000-07:00

A new mom often asks, “Why is my baby crying? I’ve feed her, changed her, burped her, nothing seems to help.” Crying is the only way your little one can let you know she is unhappy or sick. You will, through trial and error, learn to decipher which cry means what.

Here are some reasons why your baby may cry:
Hunger: Your little one may be thumb sucking, lip smacking and head bobbing or nudging to give you clues. Newborns need to be fed often. They have small digestive systems that need to be constantly refueled and each day’s feeding pattern can be different depending on the environment, how your child is feeling and sleeping.

Sleepy: Your newborn does not know how to sooth himself to sleep yet and may need your help.

Uncomfortable: Your baby needs a diaper change or some interaction that includes eye contact with mom or dad, singing or talking, being carried around for visual stimulation. He may need burping, has gas and/or is working on a bowel movement.

Illness: Check your baby for symptoms, such as flushed faced, feverish, diarrhea or constipated for a day or two, stopped eating, seems lethargic…. If you are unsure why your little one is sick and have not seen a doctor please do so to make sure there is nothing seriously wrong.

Colic: Colic is uncontrollable crying or fussing for more than 3 hours a day for at least 3 days a week. Most colic babies begin crying in the late afternoon and continue into the evening and cannot be easily consoled.

If you have feed your newborn, changed her diaper, burped her and assured yourself that she is not sick, here are some comforting techniques that may help:

1. Holding your baby, particularly over your heart, gives him that one on one close contact that they have gotten use to in the womb, especially if you use the same type of movement such as walking or rocking.
2. He may also quiet down when experiencing the rhythmic motion of going for a car ride, out in the stroller or being put in an infant swing.
3. Put a soft article of your clothing (just worn) into the crib. Your personal smell can be very comforting.
4. Swaddling your baby like you did in the hospital, wrapping his arms and legs snugly in a lightweight blanket.
5. Lullabies and soft classical music can be very soothing as well as appliances that create white noise such as a vacuum cleaner, air conditioner or even running bath water. You could even try sneaking in that shower while your baby is soothed, in view, by the running water.
6. Try using a soother, sometimes your little one needs to suckle but is not hungry.
7. A gentle massage from head to toe before bedtime can be very soothing.

Infants are so in tune with mom, after living as one for nine months, that if you feel stressed, so does your baby. So, if possible, before you go to your baby, take a few seconds and take a calming breath and relax.

You will find times, however, when your baby just needs to cry. If you are satisfied that all his needs are met and he is healthy you may just have to let him cry (no more than 10-15 minutes – which can seem like a lifetime) to use up that left over energy of the day.

Being a new parent is not easy! You will make mistakes, but your baby has nothing to compare you to so he will never know and in his eyes, you are perfect!

Potty Training

2010-07-07T16:11:00.000-07:00

Potty training usually starts with toddlers between 12 months and 30 months – but this is an average number. Your child may be ready to start training sooner or maybe later. But if you are like most of us moms we cannot wait to get rid of those diapers for good!

Watch for the signs:

- Your child is aware when he needs to have a bowel movement (grunting, squatting), often around the same time every day.

- The diaper stays dry for longer periods (2 hours)

- Able to pull up and down easily removable clothing and diaper

- Your child can follow/understand simple instructions;

o Help put your toys away.

o Can you bring mommy her shoe?

o can you show me your ears?

- Understands words like wet, dry, potty, big girl/boy

- Started the “I can do it” phase.

- Toddler asks for their diaper to be changed immediately after filling it or removes the diaper themselves.

How to start:

Go shopping with your child and together pick out a potty chair. If you use the toilet attachment you will need a stool for easier access and comfort.
Show your child how the potty works –makes a noise when wet, how to flush and how to wash his hands after using the potty.
Read him a book about going potty – e.g. Potty time with ElmoPurchase or watch videos online (e.g. Baby Signs Potty Training Video or Elmo’s Potty Time).

Once training has started:

Be consistent and patient – it is important to use the same method all the time, changing from one to the other because you do not feel your child is learning fast enough is only going to confuse your child.
When you have success make some noise; blow a whistle, cheer, sing a song or do a happy dance.
Make sure to put your child on the potty before you go out for an outing and before you head home; before nap time and bedtime as well as when he first wakes up. Since we too often use the toilet at these times it is a great habit forming opportunity for you both to work on his training.
Empty any poop and pee accidents (and they will happen many, many times) into the toilet or potty chair. Explaining that they are a big boy/girl now and this is where the poop and pee go.
Let your child call a family member or friend when they have success on the potty; this is great positive reinforcement.
Keep a potty chair in the trunk of your car for emergency roadside use.
Remain relaxed, keep a positive attitude and constantly encourage (even if it is 'Wow, you stayed sitting on the potty chair a whole 10 seconds longer than last time!')
Start an incentive sticker chart to celebrate the successes.

Potty problems:

* Too much pressure on success (patience and more patience is extremely important).

* Events such as divorce, illness in the family or a new baby in the family, constipation or diarrhea, bladder infection, Christmas, moving – it is wise to wait until these events have passed and you are back in to a routine

* Afraid of the flushing sound or that he will fall in and be flushed too (this is where a potty chair might work better than a potty attachment for a toilet)

* Your child cannot touch the floor and needs a stool.

* Parent/child power struggle – “no, no, no” –Ask questions where you child cannot say ‘No’. Instead ask:

- Which book would you like to read when you go potty?

- Do you need to go poop or pee?

- Did you want your Bear or Froggy to come and watch you use the potty?

- Would you like apple or banana for a snack after you go potty?

Night Training

Night time potty training takes a lot longer to accomplish (often around the age of 5 years old) and shouldn’t be worried about until the day time training has been accomplished and your child no longer needs that night time bottle. If your child’s diaper is dry most mornings then it may be time to start night time training and move to training pants or pull ups at night.

Mattress protectors are a must when you start night time training. There are plastic crib mattress covers and mattress pads. Mattress pads are often preferable because they stay on top of the sheets and only they need to be replaced if there is a night time accident. This way there is no middle of the night bed stripping and remaking allowing you and your child to go back to sleep sooner.

No matter how frustrated you may become it is important to remain calm and comforting during your child’s potty training. If you are not having any success after a few months perhaps your child is not quite ready. Wait a few months and try again.

What potty training tips do you have?

Signing With Your Baby

2010-05-18T17:32:00.000-07:00

Baby Sign Language has grown in popularity over the last few decades. Communicating with your child during the first few years can be difficult and frustrating for you and your child. In the early months, through trial and error, we learn which cry means I’m hungry, I need a diaper change, or I’m tired. But with baby sign language your child will be able to communicate these things to you and more long before he or she is able to speak. Your child is able to control hand movements long before they can control their vocal chords. With signing, you are giving your child the ability to communicate his or her wants and needs, which will lower the frustration level of not being understood. Learning sign language can also help with potty training your little one earlier. A child can sign potty, poop, etc a lot earlier than he or she can say it.

Over 20 years ago, psychology professors Linda Acredolo and Susan Goodwyn created one of the leading sign language systems. This Baby Signs program is specifically tailored for children from 6 months to 30+ months. (You can start earlier if your baby can make and keep eye contact for 5 seconds or more.) Acredolo and Goodwyn also started the Baby Signs Institute and wrote the best-selling book, "Baby Signs: How To Talk With Your Baby Before Your Baby Can Talk", which is now published in 14 languages.

Why teach Baby Signs to your Baby?

1) Children who are shown signs in their earliest years often communicate earlier with their parents

2) Your child will have a more extensive vocabulary

3) Increase your child’s IQ up to 12%

4) Helps create a stronger bond by encouraging mom, dad, siblings and even grandparents to use this form of communication

5) Reduces parent’s and baby’s frustration, baby’s crying and temper tantrums

6) Uses left and right hemisphere of the brain at the same time, which stimulates intellectual development

My daughter and her son started signing when he was about 9 months old and she is amazed at how quickly he has picked up the signs. She is planning on starting even earlier with her daughter. The myth ‘signing babies start talking late’ is just that, a myth! My grandson, at 17 months, has a vocabulary of 60+ words and has started combining them into 2 to 3 word sentences in the last month or so. Every time you sign a word to your child you also say it and this repetition is what helps your child to speak sooner.

Signs you may already know – bye-bye (waving good-bye), sleep (putting your palms together and resting your head on them), baby (pretending to rock a baby in your arms), eat (bring your thumb and fingertips to your mouth), stop (holding your hand up palm facing out as if to stop a car).

Deciding to sign with your baby can be a little overwhelming at first as it may be hard to decide where to start, but as with anything, you start with the basics. Eventually you and your child will have a huge repertoire of signs and communication will be easier than you ever thought. When a baby or child knows they are being understood it is a great feeling for both them and their parent(s).

Breastfeeding Your Newborn

2010-05-14T18:03:00.000-07:00

Within the next few weeks Lisa will be having her second child so breastfeeding has been on our minds lately - So we did a little research!

Breastfeeding can be difficult because new moms often are not given the help they need to get started correctly.

It is a good idea for new mothers to contact a certified lactation consultant near the end of their last trimester and continue that contact for the first few weeks after their baby is born. The lactation consultant can help guide you through the process of correctly feeding your newborn.

It is said that children who are breastfed are less susceptible to diarrhea, fewer colds, ear infections, obesity problems, respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. They are also less likely to die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or develop Lymphoma later in life. For mothers, the risk of breast and ovarian cancer is lowered and they will most likely lose weight faster than a mother who bottle feeds.

Breastfeeding Complications

Expecting and new moms are often told stories of sore bleeding nipples, milk supply problems, babies not wanting to nurse, slow weight gain, pumping horror tales, and more.

Lactation problems do occur, even among women who have breast fed before. Problems may involve the mother's nipples or her health and other times breastfeeding difficulties involve the baby or the baby's health. There are some problems that are caused by circumstances outside of our control, while others are may be the result of not enough knowledge and/or confidence, improper technique, or just plain wrong information.

Stress - can stop your milk from letting down – it is very important to create a stress-free environment when you plan to nurse.
Mastitis - infection in your milk ducts - if you have sore breasts and flu-like symptoms, fever, chills, a hard or red area of the breast, or red streaks on your breast – Please see your doctor, so he or she can prescribe antibiotics for you.
Yeast (or thrush) infection - shooting or burning breast pain either during or after feedings, pain deep within your breast, strong pain in the breasts or nipples that doesn't get better after properly latching on and positioning your baby, nipples that are cracked, itchy, burning, or are pink, red, shiny, flaky, or have a rash with little blisters. If you have these symptoms you need to see a doctor as soon as possible to treat with antibiotics. (Thrush - oral thrush - can be passed on to your baby – symptoms – cracked skin in the corners of the mouth, and whitish or yellowish patches on the lips, tongue, or inside the cheeks; this can also be treated with antibiotics.)
Plugged milk duct - sore breasts with a lump – use a manual (hand) or electric pump for a few minutes to help pull out the blocked milk; have warm showers or place warm compresses on the area, then massage the area immediately before each breastfeeding.
Engorged breasts – it is normal for breasts to become engorged (swollen and hard) when the milk first comes in but it should only last a few days. Breast feeding or pumping will reduce the swollen breasts. The sooner you breastfeed or pump, the less painful and engorged your breasts will be.

Helpful Ideas

o Breastfeed on the least sore side first.
o Ensure your baby latches onto your breasts properly every time.
o Use a breastfeeding lotion to put on your nipples in between feedings to help with the dryness.
o Preparing your nipples & areola prior to birth is helpful. To prepare gently massage and pull your nipples & areola, gradually increasing the pressure imitating a baby’s sucking motion.
o Try nursing more often, but for shorter periods of time.
o Vary breastfeeding positions to help drain all areas of your breast.
o Gently break suction and remove your baby from your breast. To do this: slide your finger in the side of your baby's mouth, in between the gums, and turn your finger slightly to break the suction.
o Try pumping for 2 to 3 days to allow your cracked or sore nipples to heal.

Practice, patience, plenty of rest and fluids are the keys to successful breastfeeding. The first 4 weeks are the hardest, but once you are past this mile stone you and your baby will be able to enjoy this special time together.

Please note – breastfeeding is not for everyone! Some women cannot or choose not to breastfeed. With the complete nutritional infant formulas that are now available your baby can grow up to be a happy, healthy, formula fed child.