FIND SAFER BABY FORMULA

Debating between breast feeding and formula feeding? Healthy Child recommends breastfeeding if possible for at least the first 12 months of life. We’re in good company here – the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization agree.

However, there are important and valid reasons a family might need to use formula.

It’s important to consult with your pediatrician to pick the best and safest option for your baby, especially in light of increasing recalls on infant formulas. The number one thing to keep in mind is to choose organic to avoid pesticide residues, synthetic hormones, and genetically modified ingredients, among other concerns.

Here are other considerations when shopping for baby formula and baby bottles:

When deciding between powdered and liquid, read up on the issues with either to make an informed choice. Powdered isn’t a sterile product and has been subject to recalls in the past due to contamination, so might not be the right choice for very young infants. (For best powdered formula preparation practices, turn to this World Health Organization guide.) If you opt for liquid formula, make sure it comes in a BPA-free container.

Use distilled or filtered water for preparing formula. There are many reasons to do this, including that fluoride found in municipal drinking water can harm rather than help baby’s teeth. The American Dental Association suggests mixing formula with water that either is fluoride-free or has low concentrations of fluoride.

Choose glass, stainless steel, or BPA-free bottles with silicone nipples.

Do not heat water or formula in plastic. If you’re using a plastic bottle, heat in glass first then transfer to the bottle.

If you’re using plastic, wash bottles with a mild plant-based detergent by hand to prevent degradation. Replace bottles and nipples when they become worn.

You may see DHA and ARA mentioned on product packaging. These fatty acids, vital for brain and eye development, are most efficacious as naturally occurring components of breast milk; artificial versions have not been shown to have the same developmental results. There has been some concern regarding the method used to extract them for use in formula, but they’re difficult to avoid as nearly all formulas are fortified with them. Still, these nutrients are vital for healthy development and manufacturers continue to look for natural, effective sources, so do a little research to see what the latest recommendations are from sources like the FDA and American Academy of Pediatricians.

Formula contains added sugar to help babies digest proteins. The FDA doesn’t set an amount of sugar per serving or specify which sugars can be used. Discuss with your pediatrician to determine how much is too much and which kind (i.e. sucrose or lactose) is preferable for your baby.

Baby Care Tips for New Moms

Taking care of a newborn baby is such a stressful thing to deal with, yet the joy still overcomes the tiredness you may feel. There are tricks and baby care tips you must know to make the burden lighter. These simple baby care tips can help you handle your baby properly while still being a beautiful wife to your husband.

Crying Can Mean Many Things

Specialists once thought that when a baby cries, it means they are experiencing stomach ache. Now, studies have shown that it may also be the cause of acid reflux. Experiencing this is painful for adults, let alone for babies. When your baby does constant screaming, back arching, and spitting up, these may be a sign of acid reflux. It's of utmost importance to go to a pediatrician to know what really causes your baby to cry.

It's Okay to Hold Your Baby

There has always been this rule that you can't hold your baby too much because he or she might get over dependent. Ignore this because you can't spoil a baby just by holding him or her. In fact, babies who are held often are more satisfied because their needs are met right away. They are more likely to have a higher self-esteem while growing up. It's the natural thing to do, so don't hesitate doing it.

Don't Depend On Baby Wipes

Baby wipes are costly and may cause irritations for sensitive bums. Instead of risking your baby's smooth skin, just use a damp cloth. Studies say that breastfed babies don't need baby wipes because their feces and urine are low in acid and bacteria. You can easily clean them off with a damp cloth.

Faster Sterilization

You might think that sterilizing the baby bottles is time-consuming and stressful, but it isn't anymore. Doing it the old-fashion way with an expensive home sterilizer is not the only way to do it anymore. Just toss everything inside your dishwasher, put some soap, and run it on a short and hot cycle.

Babies like Music

Although you might think that babies can't appreciate symphonies and melodies, they can. The sound of soothing instruments and a warm voice can calm your baby down. You can turn on the CD player while on the road and it can even put a baby to sleep.

No Rush for Shoes

You don't really need to put shoes on your toddler's feet until he or she can walk. Socks are the only feet accessory babies need just to prevent their feet from getting dirty. It's more practical to save the money until your baby really needs them.

With a little bit of pediatric help and online research for baby care tips, you can take care of your baby with ease and assurance. Don't make the task harder than it should be so you could enjoy a good night's sleep along with your newborn.


Author,
Kate Q Wills

Tips to Select a Baby Bottle Warmer

Getting up at night to place chilled baby bottles in hot water can be such a pain. Baby warmers gently heat the baby's milk, expressed milk, and baby food, making a parent's life much simpler. If you are planning to buy one, then these simple tips will help you make the right choice.
 

Tip to select a bottle warmer

Did You Know?

Yoomi has introduced the first self-warming baby bottle that heats the baby milk with a push of a button. All you need to do is charge the warmer, push the button, and wait for sixty seconds.

As parents of a newborn or infant, there may have been numerous times when you have woken up at night to heat the baby's bottle. Instead of having to heat pots of water or risk hot spots caused by heating the bottle in the microwave, a bottle warmer can really help in heating formula milk or breast milk quickly and evenly. This compact appliance not only saves precious time, but also prevents loss of nutrients caused by microwaving food. Whether you want to heat the baby's formula, milk, or liquid food, a baby bottle warmer helps you do all that. All you need to do is plug it in, place the bottle, and push a button.

There are many types of bottle warmers in the market, in a variety of styles and brands. Most of these warmers heat baby bottles as well as baby food jars and other containers. There are portable bottle warmers also, that allow you to heat baby food on the go. With so many options in the market, choosing the right one can be difficult. In this  article, we tell you how to choose a bottle warmer that will suit your needs.

Suits Your Needs

A standard warmer will heat a bottle of milk or a jar of baby food when you place the bottle in the central vessel of the warmer. Some standard warmers use heating elements or batteries, while others have a steam warming system to heat the milk. Apart from the standard bottle warmers, there are sophisticated warmers with a cooler section which keeps a couple of bottles chilled, or have extra baskets to steam sterilize pacifiers. There are portable in-car bottle warmers that can be plugged into the car's cigarette lighter or power socket. The choice of the bottle warmer depends on your needs and use. For example, if you wish to use the bottle warmer often, you would require a simple and durable warmer, while a frequent traveler would need a light and efficient portable bottle warmer.

Accommodates Different Baby Bottles

Choose a warmer that can accommodate any size and shape of baby bottle, magic cup, and baby food jar. No matter if you choose a standard, straight, narrow-neck bottle, the bottle warmer should work just fine with all these types. While you may be tempted to choose an inexpensive baby warmer that works only with standard bottles, you never know when you might have to switch to a fancier, modern baby bottle brand that the warmer may not be able to accommodate.

Heats Quickly and Evenly

Look for a bottle warmer that heats quickly and evenly without leaving hot spots or losing nutrients. 

 

The bottle warmer should warm breast milk and baby food gently, ensuring that the vitamins and nutrients are retained. It is important to note that milk, particularly breast milk, when exposed to high temperatures, may lose many of its beneficial and protective qualities. Hence, you need to avoid microwaving baby's milk.

Has Automatic Shut-off Feature

An automatic shut-off is a boon for a busy mom who can forget that she has left the warmer on, and ends up with a bottle that is too hot for the baby. Moreover, overheating expressed breast milk can completely ruin it. A warmer with a timer and stop signals is definitely the best option.

Is Portable

If you travel frequently, it is obvious that the warmer needs to be perfectly portable. It must be compact so that you can easily fit it in your diaper bag. Some can be plugged into your car while others have a sleeve, gel-like pack or bottle insert. Avoid warmers which are large and have too many extra parts.

Is Safe and Durable

Of course, you need to consider the safety and durability of the bottle warmer. The warmer should have safety features such as lights that indicate warming is complete or an audible alarm. It should be sturdy and durable so that you can use it regularly for a long period of time.

Is Easy to Clean

A bottle warmer with fewer removable compartments is easier to clean as opposed to ones with too many compartments in which fluid or food can accidentally leak into. The bottle warmer should have a simple interior, which can be wiped once for proper cleaning and sanitation. If the warmer uses steam for heating, then mineral buildup could be a problem. Check whether the water compartments are accessible and if it is easy to clean the residue from the inside.

Some good baby bottle warmers are:

★ Dr. Brown's Deluxe Bottle Warmer

★ Philips AVENT Electric Bottle and Baby Food Warmer

★ Munchkin High Speed Bottle Warmer

★ Kiinde Kozii Breastmilk Warmer & Bottle Warmer

As a mother, you know the importance of warm milk for the baby, which compared to cold or room temperature milk provides the comforting and secure feeling that they need. So take care and invest in a good quality bottle warmer that performs consistently and makes your life with baby just that much easier!

Author,

 

Parul Solanki

Which Used Baby Items are Safe to Buy

Buying used baby items can be a great way of curbing huge expenses that come with a baby. However, one must know what items are safe and what are absolute 'no-no' while buying secondhand stuffs for babies.

Parenting is a full-time job that involves a lot of responsibility. Caring for your little one is not just laborious but an expensive affair as well. However, one cute smile from your baby and you feel like everything is worth it. With little planning and wise decisions, you can bring smile on your baby's face a little too often.

 Besides, you too can be relieved of financial burden to some extent. So, what are these intelligent ideas to keep off unnecessary baby expenses? Well, for one, you can largely rely on 'hand-me-downs' and used stuff, which can greatly cut the cost of numerous baby items. However, checking out the safety quotient of used items is of utmost importance to secure your baby's health. Besides, it is not recommended to get anything and everything from the consignment shops as some things are best bought new.

Used Baby Items that are Absolutely Safe

If you are expecting a baby, you will get hand-me-downs from numerous friends and relatives. Some of these items can be extremely useful and save a lot of money. However, certain items may not be entirely safe for your baby and must be discarded without a second thought. Such items are listed at the end of this article. But before that, let us discuss baby essentials that are okay to buy as used or secondhand items.

Baby Clothes

Babies need a change of clothes at least 5 - 6 times a day. Besides, babies grow out of their old clothes pretty quickly. As a result, you have to keep buying clothes every month. You can imagine the amount of money wasted on clothes, that your baby will be wearing only for a short time. Hence, it is absolutely a great idea to ask your friends and family for hand-me-downs or buy them from consignment shops. Buying used clothes online is also a good and safe option. 

No matter where you buy used clothes from, just make sure that the clothes are in good condition and without drawstrings or other fancy accessories.

Socks and Shoes

Infants do not need shoes as much as toddlers do. You will be dressing your baby in shoes only once a while. Hence, it makes no sense to buy brand new shoes for your little one. Besides, she'll be outgrowing them sooner than you think. Thus, it makes perfect sense to get a pair or two of secondhand shoes. 

However, you will need quite a number of sock pairs to keep your baby's feet warm. Hence, investing in used socks is also a good idea.

Hats and Sweaters

Unless you live in a hot, arid desert, you will need to wrap your little bundle in warm clothes, especially, during chilly evenings. Again, your baby will outgrow all the coats and sweaters in no time. So, you might as well get them from secondhand stores.

Toys

Used toys are safe to buy only if they are in extremely good condition. Look for chips and peeled paint (especially, if it exposes hazardous parts) as well as missing hardware. Also consider choking hazards that may result from loose parts. Buying used toys is a good option considering the fact that babies quickly lose interest in their toys and look for something new. Thus, no point in buying expensive brand new toys.

Strollers

Baby strollers can be safely bought secondhand if they are manufactured after 2007. Those manufactured before 2007 do not adhere to revised standards for safety. While buying, make sure it is sturdy, stable and without any damage. Do not a buy stroller unless you can personally assess its condition. Thus, buying online may not be a good option.

Used Baby Items that Should be Bought with Caution

While some items can be bought secondhand without thinking much, there are certain baby items that are safe only when they meet certain specifications. Some of these items include:

Baby Cribs

Owing to a large number of crib accidents and several manufacturers recalling their products, buying baby crib has become a difficult task. Crib safety standards were revised in June 2011, hence cribs produced before this date can be considered unsafe. If you must buy a secondhand crib, you need to conduct a thorough examination, so that you end up with only the best crib for your baby. Check, if the crib is sturdy and its posts are secured in place. Avoid drop-side cribs at all costs, no matter how lucrative the deal. Also make sure the posts are high enough to prevent the baby from climbing out of it, as well as closely spaced, to avoid incidences of suffocation.

Baby Furniture

Baby furniture like high chair, play-pens can be bought used, only if it is gently used and in brand new condition. The high chair should have five-point harness and a crotch post for your child's safety. Avoid buying furniture that has been re-painted.

Car Seats

Car seats are an essential item to secure your baby's safety during car journeys. 

You must not compromise with the quality of the car seat at any cost. 

Secondhand car seats may have been damaged in crashes even though they may not show signs of it. This renders them useless for another such event. 

Hence, avoid buying car seats from unknown owners. If you must, buy them from friends and family or other reliable sources, so that you can be assured of your child's safety. Considering the low cost of car seats, you might even think of buying a brand new one.

Baby Bathtubs
Getting used baby bathtubs is a good idea as they are expensive and required only for a short while. However, secondhand bathtubs may raise certain hygiene issues, if you are not careful enough while buying. Avoid tubs that show signs of mold, mildew growth or other damages.

Baby Items that You Should Never Buy Secondhand

We have seen items that can be bought safely as well as ones that need caution while buying. However, there are certain baby items that you should never reuse for your baby, even if you are getting them for free. The list of such items is as follows:

Breast pumps

Baby bottles

Crib mattress

Blankets and bedding

Baby slings

Although, it's a good idea to buy used baby items in some cases, make sure you do not compromise on your baby's safety in any way. Always buy used items from reliable sources and inquire if the previous owner bought them new or used. Besides, plan your finances well so that you are not tempted to buy everything used and thereby, jeopardize your baby's safety.

Author,

Ashwini Kulkarni Sule