5 Signs of Baby Colic Every Mom Should Recognize

Bringing home a new baby can be a stressful time for parents, especially if the baby cries for unknown reasons. Baby colic is defined as a condition in which an infant under the age of four months frequently cries for more than three hours a day. Nobody knows why colic occurs, and it is not life threatening. However, it can be a terrifying feeling if you do not know what the problem is. Feel like your child may have colic? Take a look at these five signs of baby colic that every mom should recognize:

Excessive Crying

All babies cry. Whether it is from hunger, boredom, a dirty diaper, or a stimulant, most babies cry for a very specific reason. Once a baby's needs are met, she will generally cease crying. However, for a baby who suffers from colic, no amount of comforting will calm the child. Colicky babies are inconsolable. This can frighten and frustrate parents who must consistently comfort their screaming infants, with no clue as to why the child is crying.

Age

Baby colic is limited to those children who are usually between the ages of two weeks to four months. For most children who suffer from this, their symptoms will ease once they reach the age of three months. However, some children will continue to cry into their fourth month. If a child continues to cry excessively after five months, most doctors agree something more serious may be occurring.

Predictable Crying

Another telltale sign of baby colic includes not only inconsolable crying but also crying that occurs regularly and predictably. Most babies who suffer from colic have set times of fussiness. They usually begin in the late afternoon or early evenings and continue well into the morning hours. Colic is sometimes described as an episode of uncontrollable crying that lasts more than three hours and begins at relatively the same time each day.

High-Pitched Crying

Colicky crying, as you have probably noted, can be a very stressful situation. Often, the crying is very intense and high-pitched. Many babies scream for long periods of time, and their faces turn red. It is nearly impossible to comfort these infants who suffer from baby colic. However high-pitched the tone, true cases of colic are non-life threatening. Seek help if you are uncertain as to the cause of your child's fussiness, or if you feel you need help coping with the situation. If you are unsure as to what is causing your baby's fussiness, it is best to seek the advice of your pediatrician.

Arched Posture

While no one sign is an indication of baby colic, multiple symptoms together may be a basis for a colic diagnosis. Babies who experience colic generally tend to arch their back, tense their abdominal muscles, and clench their fists. Often times, a baby will pass a significant amount of gas or have a large bowel movement at the end of the episode. Experts generally do not agree gas causes colic in babies, but it can be an indicator.

Baby colic can be a very tense and nerve-racking condition to experience, both as an infant and as a parent. If you are still unsure or would like further information regarding baby colic, contact a reliable physician today.


Author,
Kaitlyn LaPenn

Different Maternity And Breastfeeding Tips For New Mothers

For new breastfeeding mothers, starting to breastfeed can be very overwhelming. But understanding some tips and pointers might help make nursing your newborn a rewarding as well as successful experience. Skin-to-skin contact with your baby is very important. Be reminded that holding him or her can help regulate his heart rate, breathing and temperature for an easier transition out of the womb.

Facts About First Milk

Immediately after delivery, your breast will certainly produce first milk. This is a liquid which is highly concentrated in colostrum. You must bear in mind that this can play a very significant role in your baby's first development since it passes on antibodies directly to your child in order to fight infection and sickness. In other words, this can strengthen his or her immune system.

Though you may feel that the amount of your first milk is low, it is very imperative for you to remember that colostrum is all about the nourishing quality of this liquid. Plenty of health professionals say that this precursor to breast milk is a superior option as opposed to other newborn feeding alternatives.

Fore And Hind Milk

Throughout the course of a feeding, milk changes and evolves. The milk that is produced during the onset of a feeding is known as foremilk. This has thin and watery appearance. This is also an indicator that hind milk (a richer, high-fat breast milk) is being produced for your baby.

It is very important for you to allow your child to drink as much as he wants as this will ensure that he or she gets as much nutrients as possible. Regardless of how you will feed him or her, always begin with the opposite breast than the one you started with the last time you fed him or her.

Other Breastfeeding Tips

Breastfeed as prompt as you can upon delivering your baby.

Do not offer water to your newborn.

As much as possible, engage in skin-to-skin contact with your child.

Know the proper way of holding your baby to conform proper latching.

Keep your baby by your bed so you can quickly respond to his or her needs.

Choosing The Right Clothing

Breastfeeding, especially in public, is somewhat embarrassing for new mums. Today, there are already maternity and breastfeeding tops and dresses that will allow you to feed your baby easily and conveniently, without showing off some of your flesh. With the advancement of technology, you can even purchase them online.

Many health professionals share some breastfeeding tips so new mums can take care of their newborn efficiently.

Author,
Holley K Edison

Baby Care Tips For You And For Baby

What baby care tips are essential for you and your newborn??

The mother of a baby is the busiest person on earth, and these baby care tips are designed to put a little order and routine back into your day to day routine. In no time at all, these baby care tips will become second nature for you and your baby helping you to get back to a somewhat 'normal' life.

Breastfeeding Baby Care

There is, has and always will be a lot of controversy on breastfeeding depending on where you live in the world. In some countries it's the norm and most people would not bat an eyelid if they saw a mother sit down in a restaurant and start to breastfeed her baby. In other countries such as the UK and the US, surprisingly and quite sadly, breastfeeding is frowned upon by many. I personally breastfed both my children and though I made a point of being discreet, I valued my right to feed my child where, when and how I chose to.

However, I also appreciated the fact that I was lucky to be able to breastfeed as I know many mothers want to but can't for whatever reason. Even those that choose not to breast feed should not be maligned. The majority of us live in a society where we have a freedom of choice and whatever our feelings or opinions on a matter, we should allow everyone the right to choose what is best for them and their baby.

That said it is common knowledge that there are huge health benefits to breastfeeding for both mom and baby so that's why this is key to baby care. Baby's first drink of breast milk is colostrum which is full of antibodies which help babies immune system and is full of fat and protein to help baby put on weight in their first few days. Breastfeeding also helps mom's uterus to contract more quickly. A weird sensation when it happens but utterly amazing when you think about it.

Then consider the other positives of breastfeeding to baby care. Milk is on tap, ready to go at the right temperature whatever the time of day and if baby emptied one 'bottle' or boob, there was another ready and waiting to go. I did co-sleeping with my second baby as I was concerned about waking the house up in the middle of the night for feeds which worked out well for all as most times throughout the night, she would latch on herself and feed without me being barely aware. Baby care doesn't really get any easier than that.

I did express so that my husband could also be involved and there were times that he did the night feeds with both children so that I could get a complete nights rest.

Bottle Feeding Baby Care

If you are bottle-feeding your baby then make sure that the bottles are well sterilized and clean. There are many makes of bottle sterilizers that are available. There are some that you can put in the microwave and some that will continually sterilize throughout the day so that you always have clean bottles and teats available to go when you need them.

Also consider your formula well. Check the ingredients and look for those that have the friendly bacteria for the gut. Make sure that you buy the formula appropriate for your baby's age. To rich and it may cause constipation, too thin and lacking in vitamins etc, and your baby may not gain weight as they should.

Baby Sleeping Baby Care

With your first child, you will have probably read numerous books about how to put your baby to bed and have bought a moses basket, then a cot or cot bed. Come your subsequent children, you then realise though nice to have, the most important thing is whether your baby is comfortable, safe and warm or cool enough. My first child went into his own cot bed when he was 3 weeks old as we couldn't stand anymore of his warthog snoring. He was also in a baby sleeping bag. Our daughter slept with me in our bed until she slept through most of the night before moving to her own bed. Especially as I was breast feeding both, I made sure that I didn't drink a lot (the odd glass of wine at a weekend is fine), I don't do drugs, they weren't too hot or cold and the room was well ventilated. Use your common sense here regarding baby care and use and do what's best for you.

Clothing Baby Care

Summer clothes should be light cotton ones. When baby is taken out, make sure that his head does not get the direct sun. Make the most of parasols or stroller sun covers. The covers in particular also help against wasps. An important baby care tip to remember for all - sun cream is essential even if your baby is dark skinned. My children are mixed race and even with factor 50, they still tan.

In winter, there may be sweaters, trousers and other woollens. Just bear in mind that if they are in nappies or diapers still, you need quick and easy access to change them especially when you are out and about. Some changing facilities are tiny or cramped and you don't really want to spend more time there than you should. Remember a change of clothes too. My son was the worst but they both had explosive poos the force of which sent their poo right up their backs and it was far easier to take the whole lot off than to try and clean around it!

Changing Baby Care

Changing of nappies or diapers whether disposable or not should take place regularly. Sometimes babies will let you know in their own particular way but it's best to get into the habit of checking their bottoms at least every 3 hours. That way you'll soon get to know baby's toilet habits and can adjust it accordingly.

Bathing Baby Care

I hope that I don't sound too patronising but the best advice here is common sense. Make sure that you have everything that you need BEFORE you start bathing. Have baby's towel ready on his changing mat, his nappy and night clothes all in place before you start.

Please ensure that the bath water is not too hot and not too cold - 9of or 32c is ideal. It should only be a couple of inches deep if it is in a family bath. At this age baby doesn't need bubble bath, just gentle no-tears formula soap should suffice.

Ensure that you support baby's head safely. Once washed and dried, massage a little moisturizing cream into baby's skin and get him dressed for bed.

Immunisation Baby Care

The baby should be immunized against Small Pox & Measles with BCG within 3 months of its age. The first DPT (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Psertussis, Polio, HIB, Meningitis C) is due within the first 2 months followed by the 2nd and the 3rd one at one month intervals. The MMR vaccination against Measles, Mumps and Rubella should be done within 1 years of age. The boosters should be taken after the baby is 4 years old.

Training and Education Baby Care

Babies learn by watching and listening. Yes I babble baby talk to my two but I also talked sensibly to them like an adult. When getting them dressed I would put their left arm in its sleeve and say to them, 'let's put your left arm in your sleeve'. By 18 months both children knew their right from their left, could say things like open door, shut door, roof, bus, sky drink, biscuit etc because I constantly read or pointed things like this out to them. Learning can and at this age, should be fun.

The most important baby care tip of all

The parents should find enough time to spend quality with the baby but also together and by themselves. Find time for baby time, couple time and me time!

Erin Costello was an industry executive but is now a mother of two.

She researches and writes from personal experience as well as on topics and issues that affect women such as breast, ovarian and cervical cancer, pregnancy and baby care, women's health and beauty, relationships amongst others.

Is Chiropractic Child Care Safe And Effective?

If you are not aware, pediatric chiropractors have been providing chiropractic child care for over a hundred years already. This is because parents are concerned about preventing early sickness or ailments in their child's life. What parents like about chiropractic is that it is a natural and safe method for health care. Because of its effectiveness, more and more parents are looking into chiropractic care for early prevention.

Chiropractic child care has the same principles as regular chiropractic. Putting into action the methods are a bit different because pediatric chiropractors work with smaller bodies. The bones of infants and children are more fragile so chiropractors have to practice extra caution when doing manipulations. Chiropractic for children centers on the important relationship of the spine and the central nervous system. The basic principle of chiropractic is that any subluxation or dysfunction in the spine leads to problems in the nervous system. Chiropractors focus on aligning the spine to prevent any health problems from developing.

Adults are not the only ones who experiences stress. Growing children experience physical stress as their muscles, bones, joints and ligaments changes. In fact, the first challenge on the spine occurs when the baby is inside the womb of the mother. Babies in a foetal position will cause spinal problems for the baby. In this position, the baby will have a more difficult time going down the birth canal. Thus, even a natural method of giving birth can cause spinal problems. The ceasarian section method is believed to make infants more susceptible to health problems in the future.

Parents opt to get their newborn baby's spine checked immediately to check if there is any spinal trauma. This is because spinal dysfunctions will affect the developmental milestones of the baby. Such milestones include crawling, walking, sitting and holding the head up. Newborn babies who are colicky, suffer from gastric reflux, have allergies, have chronic infections and have difficulties with breastfeeding are associated with problems in the central nervous system. There is an irritation in the nervous system, which is caused by spinal misalignment. When the baby grows older, physical stresses like sitting all day in school, carrying heavy school bags or playing in the playground can cause spinal subluxations.

One thing that parents are concerned about is if their child will experience pain in chiropractic child care. Chiropractic for children is painless except when there is an injury. The child may feel sensitivity in a part of the body but this will change once the spinal manipulation is made. Parents who have taken their children to the chiropractor are very satisfied with the results.

The number of visits to the pediatric chiropractor will depend on how the child responds to the treatment. A child's spine recovers and responds faster to spinal adjustment. Some may take only 1-3 sessions but it will be best to take your child to regular chiropractic child care to make sure that your child is strong, healthy and capable of healing itself when health problems arise.

Chiropractic helps traditional neck and back problems, but chiropractic has also produced wonderful results with a variety of organic and systemic problems. Chiropractic is safe for youngster, elder as well as children. Chiropractic is natural. Call at (425) 814-9644 to arrange a consultation today and find out if you're a good candidate for today's chiropractic care! For more visit www.meadowschiro.com


Author,

By Armanda Wehner 

Using Tap Water to Wash My Baby - Is This Safe?

Is it safe using tap water to wash my baby? This question is quite prevalent among first time mothers of a new born child. If you are also asking this question for yourself then it is a good sign that you are very concerned about the safety of your child, when it comes to using tap water for washing your baby.

To answer your question on using tap water to wash your baby, keep in mind that most tap water nowadays is contaminated with all sorts of things that may be harmful for both young ones and adults. In fact, these chemicals are usually in the form of chemical contaminants and various harmful microorganisms that can cause several health issues.

Consequently, the presence of various contaminants in the tap water has already caused many waterborne diseases. Research has shown that about 65% of adult health problems were traced to contamination in water; while around 85% of health issues in children are water-borne. This is due to the fact that most tap water today is already contaminated with various microorganism that are harmful to humans. This data alone should alert you on the safety of tap water in various uses like drinking, for mixing with baby formula, washing, and showering.

Bear in mind the fact that if tap water can cause various health illnesses and skin problem to adults, just think about how much damage it can do to the very fragile baby with a very weak immune system. You must observe extra precautionary measures when using water to clean and wash your infant by using only filtered or purified water for utmost safety of the child. This may be quite costly on your part; but it will also tend to become more cost-effective in the long run by preventing sicknesses and other water-borne health problems on the child which may usually require more expensive treatment.

But setting the cost aside, what is important is the health of your baby; even it may require you to spend a little bit just to make sure that the child is safe. In this case, it is best to use only purified or filtered water.

D Leveque has built his career installing and servicing water filtration systems and is offering his experience about reliable clean water for everyone. To learn more about these systems including, Reverse Osmosis, water ionizers, well and lake water systems visit Daves website, http://clean-water-store.com

Author,

D Leveque

Treating Children's Limb and Spine Deformities Through Pediatric Orthopedics

We are fortunate to have so many kinds of doctors who specialize in different areas, such as cardiologists, who specialize in the study and treatment of the heart, and neurologists, who work with the brain and determine treatments for illnesses such as Alzheimer's. The field of pediatric orthopedics is specifically important because it treats disorders related to growth and development of the skeleton, muscles, and joints in children. Because their bodies are still growing, children have different reactions to injuries, infections, and disorders. Here are a few of the limb and spine deformities that doctors in the field of pediatric orthopedics treat.

Clubfoot

Clubfoot is a deformity in which a baby's foot is turned inward, sideways, or upward. Although clubfoot is not painful during infancy, if it is not treated, the child will not be able to walk normally as he or she ages. Most cases of clubfoot can be corrected successfully with a nonsurgical treatment in which specialists use gentle stretching and casting to gradually correct the deformity. In some severe cases, however, surgery may be necessary to adjust the ligaments, tendons, and joints in the foot and ankle in order to correct clubfoot.

Scoliosis

A spine with scoliosis curves sideways instead of forming a straight line down the middle of the back. This condition is very common and is seen in many children and adolescents and is the most common form of scoliosis, idiopathic scoliosis, tends to be genetic. Treatment options for scoliosis include observation, bracing, and surgery. Children whose curves are mild will be observed to make sure that the condition does not worsen as they grow. Back braces are worn to prevent the enlarging of an existing curve as the child grows. Wearing the brace daily can prevent the curve from growing large enough to require surgery, however, in some cases the curve will continue to grow despite wearing the brace. In these cases, surgery is necessary to correct scoliosis.

Limb Length Discrepancy

Arms and legs that have differences in length are called limb length discrepancies. In most cases, arm length differences cause little to no difference in the function of the arms and the quality of life of the patient. However, extreme differences in leg length can greatly affect a patient's health. Some causes of limb length discrepancies in the legs are previous injuries to the leg, bone infections during growth, and bone diseases. This condition can make walking extremely difficult or even impossible depending on the severity. If the condition is not severe, a shoe lift is recommended to help the patient be able to walk more comfortably. However, if the condition is extreme, surgery must be performed to correct the discrepancy.

Doctors in the field of pediatric orthopedics are superheroes to children who depend on their knowledge and expertise to increase their health and give them the quality of life they deserve.

Author,

Anna Woodward

3 Ways Babies Can Teach Us How to Beat Fatigue

We've all experienced it at some point. Some days, exhaustion can feel like a way of life. Sometimes new parents have it the hardest. Middle of the night feedings disrupting your sleep, which interrupts a regular exercise routine, which compounds with an unpredictable diet. But for new parents and non-parents alike there are things we can all learn from the techniques of a baby's simple and natural way of living that will help us combat our own fatigue.

Here are 3 simple things you can do to easily beat fatigue:

1. Keep a Regular Schedule

Now of course I'm not suggesting you nap throughout the day like a baby, but with a consistent nightly sleeping schedule, your body's natural circadian rhythm is easily maintained. The circadian rhythm is a term that describes the natural sleep/wake/eating schedule that we all have and are supposed to follow. It's a complex system that is regulated by your exposure to light (or lack thereof) as well as a number of hormones, including melatonin and cortisol. These two hormones have a direct effect on core body temperature and blood sugar regulation, respectively.

The circadian rhythm is much like the sun which predictably rises and sets each day. Your body mimics this predictability to live effectively and efficiently. However, with our brilliant intellect and ingenuity, we've invented ways to live outside of this natural cycle. We have lights during darkness and food at our disposal any time of the day or night. Unfortunately, these wonderful conveniences make it easier to stray from a regular eating and sleeping pattern. Then, as a result of poor sleep and fluctuations to normal blood sugar levels the circadian rhythm is disrupted and fatigue begins to set in. Get at least 7-9 hours of sleep and do your best to go to bed at the same time every night. With this consistency, your body is able to maintain a normal circadian rhythm that will ultimately help you combat fatigue during waking hours.

2. The Most Important Meal

New babies can enjoy nature's perfect baby food: breast milk. Cleverly designed to contain the proper amounts of fats, carbohydrates and proteins in a great package which makes it available for easy feedings, breast milk provides all the nutrition babies need for at least the first six months of life. There is ample literature to suggest that feeding babies every 3-4 hours allows them to be more relaxed and easy going because they consciously know that food will be coming, plus their digestive systems will not be overtaxed with too frequent or too spread out of feedings.

Finding this proper nutritional balance for children and adults is also critical for good health. As with babies, you should eat smaller meals every 3-4 hours throughout the day to stabilize blood sugar and prevent tiredness.

And, when it comes to preventing fatigue during the day, breakfast truly is the most important meal. Our normal metabolic functions slow down throughout the night so we don't get hungry as we sleep. We wake each morning having not eaten anything for 8-12 hours, depending on what time we had dinner the night before. A healthy breakfast helps balance cortisol and therefore prevents you from a mid-morning energy crash from dropping blood sugar levels. A study published earlier this year demonstrated the cognitive benefit that test subjects had when they consumed at least a 450-calorie breakfast of both protein and fiber. Another group of scientists studied over 200 medical students and monitored their performance after skipping breakfast. Not surprisingly, those students who skipped breakfast had an overall increase in fatigue.

3. Belly Breathing

With the rhythmic movement of their little bellies and the innocent, gentle noises they make, there are few things in this world more peaceful than watching a baby sleep. Babies naturally take deep breaths that originate from their bellies, with both inhaling and exhaling taking on a slow and relaxed state. We average about 15,500 breaths a day and for every single one of them, we don't even have to think about it! It's a natural action. But unfortunately, as we move out of childhood and into adulthood, life gets busier and our breathing becomes more hurried and shallow, coming less from the muscles designed to facilitate breathing (i.e., the diaphragm) and causing an increase in accessory muscle tension. Because the lower third portion of your lungs has the most efficient oxygen exchange sites, this type of shallow breathing prevents you from getting all the necessary oxygen your body needs, causing fatigue.

It's important to get as much oxygen to those lower lungs as possible! A famous study done in the early 1980's demonstrated that adults who spent as little as 10 minutes a day focusing on their breathing had better energy and greater work performance. You can do that. Just take 10 minutes each day and focus on improving your belly breathing. Sit in a comfortable location, with your spine straight and shoulders back, breathe in deep through your nose for a count of seven seconds. Allow your belly to expand outwards as you inhale. Then hold your breath for a count of four seconds. Finally, exhale for a count of nine seconds, this time moving your belly inward. The exhale is a little longer than the inhale, which is done on purpose. When you move to the next inhale cycle, you'll notice some reflexive support from all the muscles that are necessary for proper belly breathing.

In summary:

*Get 7-9 hours of sleep and go to bed at the same time each night
*Eat a healthy breakfast of protein and fiber
*Spend 10 minutes a day belly breathing

Follow these simple steps, and you'll be as happy as a baby and smiling at the world with plenty of energy!

Author,

Phil Wazny, NMD

My Child Won't Eat - Healthy Eating Habits for Life

One of the most common concerns voiced by new parents is how to get their kids to eat healthy foods. Children need more than just calories. The rapidly developing brain needs protein; fatty acids; iron; zinc; copper; iodine; selenium; vitamin A; vitamin B6; choline and folate just to name a few essential ingredients that come from proper nutrition. In the long-term, proper eating habits from infancy will carry on to adulthood and protect us from disease and disability.

Taste Preferences

Babies are born with highly developed senses of taste and smell. A few drops of sugar water placed on the tongue will elicit lip licking and a happy expression in babies. At the same time, it is obvious if they are exposed to a bitter flavor and a clear dislike for it will be demonstrated by their reaction to it. This preference for certain tastes is influenced by what you eat and drink during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Studies have shown that mothers who eat healthy foods during pregnancy or breast-feeding on a consistent basis have babies with healthier eating tendencies. Parents should eat more healthy foods themselves. When children see you eating and enjoying healthy food, they will tend to mimic you and do the same.

Finicky Eaters

Around 2 years of age it is quite common for children to abruptly stop eating foods that they used to enjoy. The best way to overcome this natural instinct is quite simple: exposure. Children will ultimately eat like their parents and if you expose them to vegetables and the proper mix of good foods, they will acquire this same tendency over time. All of us are born with a natural craving for sweet things. Exposure to a nutritious food will increase your child's future desire for it. It is best that you ignore your child's facial expressions and general negative reactions to certain foods that you know are good for them. Over time, the brain will recognize the nutritional value of good foods and the natural craving for things that are good for us will eventually take over.

Introducing New Foods

If you want your child to start eating new food, don't present it alone. Serve it to your child along with some other things that he or she likes. Also, make sure your child is really hungry when you are introducing a new food. That way, they are more likely to taste it, eat it, and enjoy it. Their acceptance of the new food will be enhanced if he or she has a good appetite when it is introduced. First impressions are lasting impressions and this particularly applies to new foods.

Strategies to Avoid

Make sure that you don't introduce new or novel foods when a child is feeling ill. They may associate the new food with a bad experience going forward by doing so. Also, never pressure children to eat large quantities of things they don't want to eat. There are tremendous benefits from encouraging children to taste new and different foods in small quantities. This approach of sampling good foods and letting nature - and your child's brain - do the rest will serve you well.

Tips for Parents

1. Pair new foods with familiar foods. 

2. Encourage children to try new foods, but don't be harsh or forceful. 

3. Eat a variety of foods yourself in front of your children. 

4. Avoid filling children up with familiar food when you are trying to get them to taste something new. 

5. Be patient and have faith in your child's own taste and nutrition-seeking system. 

6. Don't introduce new foods when your child is ill or becoming ill.

When to call the doctor for your newborn

If it's your first time caring for a newborn, how can you tell what's normal and what's not? Here's a quick list of symptoms that may signal a problem in the first couple of days at home. If you spot one, call your doctor right away. If the doctor's office is closed, the answering service should direct you to an advice nurse, the doctor on call, or an urgent care clinic. And of course, if your baby has any other symptom that worries you, play it safe and make the call.

Dehydration

Signs that your newborn is not getting enough fluids include:

• Fewer than three wet diapers per day
• Acting excessively sleepy or lethargic
• Dry mouth and lips

Poop problems

• No bowel movement in the first 48 hours at home
• Whitish mucus in the stool
• Streaks or flecks of red, which are signs of blood in the stool

High or low temperature

• A rectal temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher or lower than 96.8 degrees F

Breathing problems

Signs of respiratory distress include:

• Grunting
• Flaring of the nostrils
• Chest retractions (sucking in the skin above the collarbone, between the ribs, or below the ribs)
• Consistently fast breathing
• Heavy, noisy breathing (audible wheezes, whistling sounds, or crackly sounds during inhalation and exhalation)

NOTE: If your baby is taking more than 60 breaths per minute or turning blue around the mouth, call 911.

Umbilical cord stump problems

• Any odor, pus, or persistent bleeding from the umbilical cord stump 
• Any redness or swelling around the navel, which could be a sign of an infection

Jaundice

• Yellow color in the eyes, chest, abdomen, arms, or legs

Prolonged crying

• Unconsolable crying for longer than half an hour

Extreme sleepiness

• A sleepy baby who will not wake up enough to feed three or four hours after the last feeding

Signs of illness

• Coughing, diarrhea, or paleness
• Forceful vomiting at more than two feedings in a row

Poor appetite or suck

• Feeding fewer than six times in a 24-hour period
• Sucking that becomes noticeably weaker

For more information:

• Find out when to call the doctor for your baby during the first year.
• Test your knowledge about when to call the doctor for your baby by taking our quiz.
• See our baby symptom guide to help determine what's making your child sick.

Why newborns look so funny

Few newborns look like beauty contest winners, which isn't surprising when you consider what they've been through. But is it really normal for their heads to be so pointy and their genitals so swollen? Here's the top-to-toe scoop on why newborns look so, well, strange.

Head
If you gave birth vaginally, you may take a look at your baby's head and think, "No wonder!" It's big compared to the rest of your baby's body!

Your baby's head may also look a little misshapen or kind of pointy. This is called molding, and it happens as babies squeeze through the birth canal (or when a vacuum extractor is used during delivery). Your baby's head should return to its original shape in a week or two.

C-section babies don't come through the birth canal, so they have an edge in the looks department. Their heads come out nice and round because they don't get squeezed, and their faces don't get swollen like many babies delivered vaginally.

The soft spots on your baby's head, called fontanels, are diamond-shaped openings in the skull covered by a thick layer of skin. These openings – one in front and one in back – allowed the bones of your baby's skull to compress during his trip through the birth canal, and now they allow for the quick growth of his brain.

The rear fontanel takes about six months to close. The front one takes between 12 and 24 months.

Newborns often develop cradle cap – a redness and flakiness on the scalp. It usually goes away in a few weeks or months and is rarely uncomfortable or itchy. If you notice cradle cap on your baby, try washing his hair a little more often with a mild baby shampoo and brushing it with a soft-bristled brush. Don't use medicated shampoos without checking with your baby's doctor because they can irritate tender skin.

Arms and legs
After spending so much time curled up in the tight space of your uterus, your baby needs time to adjust to her new freedom and stretch out a bit. Her arms and legs will uncurl in a week or two. When she does begin to stretch out, she'll probably appear a bit bowlegged until she starts walking.

Some babies find swaddling — being wrapped snugly in a blanket – to be comforting because it mimics the tight quarters of the uterus.

Belly
Your baby might lose a little weight in his first week, but he should regain it during the second week and continue to put on the ounces and pounds at a fast clip in the following months, quickly filling out his belly.

After ten to 21 days, your baby's umbilical cord stump falls off, leaving an adorable little belly button. Occasionally it also leaves a raw spot that may ooze a little blood-tinged fluid. Keep it dry and clean it with a cotton swab dipped in a little rubbing alcohol, and it should heal by itself. If the stump doesn't fall off after a month, talk to your baby's doctor

Genitals and breasts
The genitals and breasts of newborn boys and girls alike often appear swollen. This is caused by the extra dose of hormones just before birth.

A little milky substance may even leak from your baby's nipples. Don't try to squeeze out the liquid – it's harmless and will dry up on its own. Girls may have some white discharge or blood-tinged vaginal mucus.

All of this will go away in the first few weeks.

Skin
Newborn skin varies in appearance according to how far along your baby is at birth. Premature babies have thin, almost transparent skin that may be covered with a fine, downy hair called lanugo. You'll also see vernix, a cheesy, white substance that protects a baby's delicate skin from the amniotic fluid. The farther along your pregnancy is when you deliver, the less lanugo and vernix your baby will have.

Babies of all races and ethnicities are born with reddish-purple skin that changes to pinkish-red in a day or so. The pink tint comes from the red blood vessels that are visible through your baby's still-thin skin. Because your baby's blood circulation is still maturing, his hands and feet may be bluish for a few days. Over the next six months, your baby's skin will develop its permanent color.

If your baby's skin takes on a yellowish tinge in the first few days of life, he may have a slight case of jaundice. More than half of healthy newborns show signs of jaundice, which happens as the body breaks down extra red blood cells.

Jaundice usually goes away in a week or so for full-term babies, but often hangs around slightly longer in preemies. It's usually nothing to worry about, but mention it to your healthcare provider.

Jaundice that doesn't go away may be a sign of a metabolic disorder or a liver problem. Your provider can do a simple blood or skin test to determine whether your baby needs treatment. He may have to spend some time under special lights that help his body get rid of the jaundice.

About 40 percent of babies are born with milia, small white or yellow dots on their face that look like tiny pimples. They usually disappear without treatment in three or four weeks.

If your baby has small, pus-filled bumps that leave dark brown marks when they burst, it's probably pustular melanosis. This newborn rash is more common in African American babies. There's no need to treat this condition. The marks will disappear by the time your baby is 3 or 4 months old.

A hive-like rash made up of red blotches with pale or yellowish bumps in the center is harmless despite its scary-sounding name. Called erythema toxicum, it usually appears a day or two after birth and is gone within a week.

Acne isn't unusual in new babies, either. About a fifth of newborns have a case of acne during their first month, the result of maternal hormones that circulate in the baby's body after birth.

Newborn acne is most likely to show up on the forehead and cheeks. It can worsen if your baby lies on sheets that have been washed in harsh detergents or soiled with spit-up. Place a soft, clean receiving blanket under his head while he's awake, and wash his face gently once a day with a mild baby soap to remove detergent or milk residue.

Otherwise, normal baby acne should disappear on its own within a few months once excess hormones dissipate.

Birthmarks like Mongolian spots (flat patches that look like ink stains) and salmon patches (sometimes called angel kisses and stork bites) are also common. They come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and colors and can show up anywhere on a baby's body. Certain types of birthmarks may not appear for several days or weeks after birth.

Most birthmarks are harmless. Many go away on their own in the first few years of life, although some, such as flat, reddish-purple marks called port-wine stains, are permanent.

Hair
Be prepared for some surprises when it comes to your baby's hair. Dark-haired Caucasian couples have been thrown for a loop by children born with bright red or blond hair, and fair-haired couples have been presented with Elvis Presley look-alikes. And then there are the parents who wonder what color that peach fuzz is, exactly.

That said, newborn hair doesn't tend to have much bearing on what your child's hair will eventually look like. Even if your baby was born with a full head of hair, she may begin to lose some or all of it in the first few weeks or months. This often happens because babies spend so much time on their back.

Don't worry – the hair will come back, although it may not look the same when it does. Babies born redheads can turn into blonds, raven-haired newborns can sprout fair tresses, and blonds often turn into brunettes.

Hair texture frequently changes in the first six months, too. You may find coarser, tighter ringlets growing in place of your baby's loose, fine curls, for example.

Eyes
Most, though certainly not all, Caucasian babies are born with dark gray-blue eyes that can take months or years to reveal their permanent color. Many African American, Asian, and Hispanic babies are born with dark gray-brown eyes that don't change color significantly, but some may start out with hazel eyes that get darker as they approach 6 months.

Most often, the eye color you see at 6 to 9 months is the one that sticks around.

Sometimes newborns have red spots in the whites of their eyes. Though it may look alarming, it's a harmless side effect of the trauma of birth. It's called a subconjunctival hemorrhage and should go away within several days.

Ears
Your baby's ears may be soft and floppy, and one of the edges may be bent over a bit. As the cartilage in your baby's ears becomes harder, her ears will become more defined.

Nose
Your baby's nose may look swollen from the pressure on it during delivery. It may also be a little flattened or even off-kilter. (He'll look less like a prizefighter in just a few days.) Your baby's appearance and behavior will change quite a bit in his first year of life. For information about your baby's physical and emotional milestones,

Bonding with your newborn

What is bonding?

When experts talk about bonding, they're referring to the intense attachment you develop with your baby. It's the feeling that makes you want to shower him with love and affection, or throw yourself in front of a speeding truck to protect him.

For some parents, this takes place within the first few days – or even minutes – of birth. For others, it may take a little longer. In the past, researchers who studied the process thought it was crucial to spend a lot of time with your newborn during his first few days to seal the bond right away.

But now we know that bonding can take place over time. Parents who are separated from their babies soon after delivery for medical reasons or who adopt their children when they're several weeks or months old also develop enormously close, loving relationships.

What if I don't bond right away?

Breathe easy. Parent-baby bonding is complicated and often takes time to gel. As long as you take care of your baby's basic needs and cuddle with her regularly, she won't suffer if you don't feel a strong bond at first sight.

"There's so much discussion about bonding with a new baby that mothers often feel guilty if they don't feel some incredible attachment to their new baby immediately," says Edward Christophersen, a pediatric psychologist in Kansas City, Missouri. "But bonding is truly an individual experience, and it's just as reasonable to expect the bond to develop over a period of time as it is for it to develop instantaneously."

Give yourself a break: Being a new parent is exhausting, and you may feel stressed and overwhelmed at times. While nursing can help you bond with your baby, it also releases a flood of hormones that could leave you in an emotional whirlwind. And if you've had a long, difficult delivery, you may need to recover a bit before you can concentrate on bonding with your baby.

Your baby may be cute and cuddly, but she's also an entirely new person, one you'll have to get to know. A true parent-child bond is a byproduct of everyday caregiving. There's no magic formula, but a few things can help the process along.

• Have some skin-to-skin cuddle time – hold her and stroke her gently. Human touch is soothing for both you and your baby.
• Look into your baby's eyes and talk and sing to her regularly.
• If you’re planning a c-section, ask your practitioner about your options for a gentle c-section. This involves making a few small changes in the procedure -- such as placing the baby right on your chest after delivery -- to allow you and your partner to feel more a part of the birth.
• If your baby has to spend some time in intensive care and is hooked up to wires and monitors, ask the hospital staff to help you safely touch and hold your baby.

Over time, you'll get to know and enjoy your newborn, learn how to comfort her, and your feelings will deepen. And one day – maybe the first time you see her smile – you'll look at your baby and realize you're filled completely with love and joy.

When should I worry?

If, after a few weeks, you find that you don't feel more attached to and comfortable with your baby than you did the first day, or if you actually feel detached and resentful of him, talk about it. Your partner, family, and friends can help you feel less isolated and alone, and discussing your feelings with your baby's doctor and your own doctor or midwife is the key to getting help.

Postpartum depression is real and can hamper bonding. In this case, it's best to seek help as soon as possible.

Early intervention can prevent your relationship with your child from deteriorating. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to win back your baby's trust and affection.

Yoga for Toddleers and preschoolers

Yoga is SO important for toddlers and preschoolers. Most people know yoga is great for relaxation and emotional regulation, but they might not know that it is also crucial for brain growth. That’s right: Yoga will help your child learn to speak, read and write.

Brain cells, neurons, do not form neural pathways until exposed to environmental stimuli that our senses transmit to our brains. Each experience – listening to a story, smelling a rose, eating a piece of candy – stimulates brain cells to send out dendrites to join up other with brain cells to create neural networks (bridges, pathways, whatever you want to call them) through which information can be exchanged.

I could talk about neuroscience for days, it’s one of my favorite things to study, but suffice it to say for now that the more your child experiences, the more neural pathways there will be in her brain, and they will be strengthened and reinforced through continual stimulation and the greater the capacity for knowledge acquisition and retention. For the rest of their lives.

It shouldn’t surprise anyone that children need more positive than negative experiences. Positive experiences grow neural bridges while negative ones can delete, shrink or warp them.

The last 10 years of neuroscience research has shown us that the brain is plastic, meaning anyone can change and grow their brain at anytime. But, oh, those early years. You will never see such growth and plasticity as you do in the first seven years of life, and particularly years 0-3.

So how does yoga come into play by building the brain and making your kid smarter?  In two ways.

The first is the traditional way in which most people understand about yoga. Yoga turns on the parasympathetic nervous system. A quick way to remember what the parasympathetic system does is to remember two words: rest and digest. It’s what helps you digest your food, go to sleep, helps make you calm, rational choices and actions, and allows your pre-frontal cortex (our “new” brain) to be in charge. Little kids act like caveman maniacs and teenagers make such poor rational choices because their prefrontal cortex is still forming until age 25! Add stress into the mix, and boom! All calm, rational thought goes right out the window.

The sympathetic nervous system is your old brain – fight, flight or freeze. This is the part of your brain that is concerned with survival: Eat, mate, survive and repeat. That’s all it cares about. Any time you are stressed, your body is operating from that caveman brain and your whole body system is only concerned with the thought,Who or what is trying to kill me and should I fight it, run from it or play dead to hope for the best? When you operate in survival mode, your neurons are not making connections and neural pathways because your brain is too busy trying to keep you alive.

Not only do young children have underdeveloped pre-frontal cortexes, they get stressed just like adults.They need security and routine and loving care, and need to be taught how to relax and regulate their emotions so they can be happier and more peaceful. When they can give their brains time and space to learn and grow,they can reach their full potential.

Second, yoga is at its simplest, is movement linked to breath. Movement taps into the sensory-motor system and the brain makes connections. If there is one thing I have learned from Penelope’s Sensory Processing Disorder, it’s that the mind-body connection is real. If you are talking to a child, trying to teach them manners or their ABCs and there is no movement going along with the learning or very soon after, there is a good chance nothing will be retained.  You can yap yap yap all day long and it’s like Charlie Brown’s teacher, the wha wha wha wha trombone sound will be all the kid hears. Children’s brains are not going to make connections that allow them to remember what they’ve learned unless there is movement happening as well. That’s why playground time is SO important.

In a perfect world, we would teach then move, teach then move, teach then move. Teach them math then it’s time for PE. Language Arts then playground. Science lecture then….yoga! In a perfect world, right?

Mind then body. Mind then body. Mind then body.

All day long.

The other HUGE benefit of yoga with toddlers and preschoolers is that it builds their self esteem. Yoga is art. It doesn’t have to be perfect to be absolutely perfect. It may be the only physical activity they try that they get it “right” because no matter what their body does, no matter what their gross motor skills are, no matter what their body awareness levels are, the child gets the authentic internal praise”I did it!!!!” and external praise from a loved one who witnesses and says, “I see you! You did it!!!”

And lastly, it is amazing for bonding. A good relationship with a child, above all else should be the priority, of every parent and teacher. I am not a fan parents and teachers allowing permissiveness, or even extreme attachment parenting, in an attempt to not hurt a relationship, but I am a fan of building a solid, tight and deeply connected relationship BEFORE  firm and fair discipline and hard lines are drawn. And yoga is a great way to do that. Lots of praise, lots of quality attention, lots of eye contact, and lots of loving touch are all the ingredients for a deep and loving connection with a child.

 Author,

 Stephanie