EWG RANKS CLEANING PRODUCTS FOR BABIES

Every parent knows that caring for a new baby requires lots and lots of cleaning. But can washing up the milk and spit-up introduce your baby to potentially harmful chemicals?

For its spring 2016 update, EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning analyzed more than 400 new cleaning products and formulations, including ones marketed for new parents and their babies’ needs.

The guide looks closely at product ingredients, labels and online transparency, then ranks products with a letter grade from A (best) to F (worst). Of course, some of the products are better than others. Click here to view the list of cleaning products for babies.

Products that score poorly contain such hazardous ingredients as the allergenic preservative methylisothiazolinone (MIT) or sodium borate (borax), which can disrupt hormones and harm the reproductive system.

Poorly rated products use sparse or vague terminology – such as “biodegradable surfactants,” “fragrance” and “fabric brighteners” (also known as optical brighteners) – but do not disclose specific ingredients on the label. Visit the guide’s Label Decoder to learn more about what these terms mean.

Almost half of the products EWG analyzed failed to display a complete list of specific ingredients anywhere. Manufacturers can get away with this legally, since virtually no federal or state laws require manufacturers to disclose their cleaning products ingredients.

Products with better scores contain ingredients with fewer health hazards and make more ingredient disclosure on the package and on the company website.

The cleaning products for babies are among 406 new products from 85 brands just added to EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning. The new products were available in stores from October 2015 to February 2016 or were submitted directly to EWG by manufacturers. EWG evaluated and rated the products according to the Guide to Healthy Cleaning methodology.

For more information on the cleaning products for babies – as well as those for your whole household – visit EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning.

How to tell how much formula your baby needs

The amount of milk formula you should give your baby depends on your age, weight, and only if you are feeding with formula or if you give it in combination with food or milk solids . It is important to note that breast milk is the ideal food for a baby if the mother can breastfeed. If you plan to use the formula to give your child some extra bottles, you should bear in mind that the more you breastfeed the more milk you produce, and therefore, to give many additional bottles can you produce less milk, and you have to leave the breastfeeding sooner than you think. If you feed your baby exclusively with formula, here are some guidelines that can be useful to know how much to give:

Note to the signs of your baby

The most important guideline is your baby's behavior. Babies eat when hungry and stop eating when satisfied. Do not expect a newborn - or any baby, as the case is the same - follow a routine schedule or mathematical rule. needs and appetite vary in each child, and most babies change from day to day and month to month. The most important thing for you is that you learn to understand the signs of your baby. Note that sometimes babies go through a period of rapid growth may be hungrier than usual and, after a few days, re-stabilize and be satisfied with a smaller amount of formula. While it is easy to answer the Your baby needs, for example, a bottle, how convenient is to make sure he is not crying for no other reason. Some signs that your baby may be hungry to make a noise with his lips, looking for food (turning your head to your hand when you touch the cheek) and to bring her hands to her mouth. You will notice if your baby was hungry when you finish eating quickly and start looking around and trying to get more. (If you think you are still not satisfied after your first bottle, just prepare some additional ounce at a time [30 mL], because if you give a larger amount, you may not finish it and be wasted.)

Multiply the weight of your baby at 2.5 ounces (74 ml)

If your baby is not eating solid food (he should not before 4 to 6 months of age), according to the general rule, you should offer 2.5 ounces (74 ml) of formula per pound (0.45 kg ) of body weight per day. So if your baby weighs 6 pounds (2.7 kg), you will give about 15 ounces of formula (445 ml) over a period of 24 hours. If weighed 10 lbs (4.5 kg), should eat 25 ounces (740 ml) over a period of 24 hours. Recommend Story: Similac Sensitive For Spit up

Please note the age of your baby

The amount of formula your baby needs depends not only on its weight but also their age. If you start giving formula to a newborn, try to give only an ounce or two (30 or 59 ml) for food during the first week. Be guided by your hunger. When you have about 1 month, probably in 3 or 4 ounces (89 or 118 ml) per meal and consume 18 to 32 ounces (532 ml to 947 ml) per day. From 2 to 6 months, you should give 4 to 6 ounces (118 to 178 ml) for food, which means they ingest from 23 to 32 ounces (680 ml ​​to 947 ml) per day. Some parents find that an increase of about one ounce per month (30 ml) works quite well. Once your baby is 6 months, you give 6 to 8 ounces (178 to 237 ml) per meal, up to about 32 ounces (947 ml) of formula per day. At this point you should start adding solid foods to your diet if you have not already done so. Find that, as your baby grows, take less bottles of formula. In any case, the amount of formula should never exceed 32 oz. in 24 hours. When you reach this amount, you can add more volume by introducing rice cereal, but be careful because not enter any food is good too soon.

Author,

bestpricehunter

Tips For Treating Diaper Rash Naturally

No parent likes to see their little one in pain and unfortunately, diaper rashes can cause your baby to cry, scratch and complain. Many conventional diaper rash creams offer little or no treatment, and can actually cause the rash to become worse, especially if they contain questionable ingredients that are inappropriate for baby skin. If there is broken skin, the diaper rash ointment can get under the skin and irritate it. It also masks the problem and leaves the bottom area still moist under the diaper. Instead, the rash should be taken care of in a natural manner that is safe for baby and gentle.

When you change the baby's diaper, switch to using a moist (with water only) baby washcloth to cleanse your baby's bottom instead of baby wipes, which often contain drying and irritating ingredients. If you're on the run, you can carry some wet washcloths in a baggie. Look for washcloths made with unbleached, organic cotton, if possible. If this is too difficult, then at least look for hypoallergenic wipes that are unscented and that do not have preservatives and alcohols but that use essential oils and botanicals.

Prepare a bath with colloidal oatmeal. You can make your own oatmeal bath by grinding oats finely in the blender or Vita-Mix and then putting them in the bath either straight up or in a muslin tea bag (less mess). You can also find products at the health food store that contain colloidal oatmeal that helps reduce the inflammation and itchiness of the rash. Make sure the bath is nice and warm, but not too hot. Let your baby play in the water about 10-15 minutes.

In the bath, be sure to only use unscented products with no perfumes or dyes. You want to be gentle with baby's skin and only use products that won't irritate the skin with fragrances and dyes. When the bath is done, rinse your baby off with warm water and pat dry carefully.

After the bath, and after each diaper change until the rash has healed, allow your baby to be naked for as long as possible. This allows the rash to be exposed to air and begin the healing process, naturally. When the diaper is on, it only blocks bacteria and moisture back into the skin, which doesn't allow the skin to breathe.

During this "naked time" you can do several things. You can either leave your baby naked, or if you are afraid of him or her peeing on furniture, you can use a clean, cotton cloth to create your own diaper, the way diapers used to be put on. Or if you happen to have reusable cotton diapers, use one of those instead. At the end of the naked time, apply a diaper rash cream made from botanical ingredients. Put on the diaper loosely and check often to see if they need to be changed.

Depending on the severeness of the rash, you should see a visible improvement within one to three days time. If you are concerned the diaper rash has worsened or is not diaper rash at all, be sure to call the baby's health care provider to see what steps must be taken next.

If the diaper rash is constantly reoccurring, consider switching to chlorine-free, fragrance-free and hypoallergenic diapers instead, or cloth diapers. Incidentally cloth diapered babies get fewer episodes of diaper rash in the first place. If you're already using cloth, try removing the waterproof cover for as long as possible and simply letting baby wear a pinned on prefold for maximum air circulation.

Author,

Carrie Lauth

Safety Considerations in the Nursery

If you thought that the baby nursery was the safest place for baby, it might surprise you to know that as many as 125 children per week are injured by nursery products. Unfortunately, some even die from their injuries. The actual furniture causes at least 20% of these injuries, so it is important to make sure your nursery furniture complies with Australian safety regulations. Furniture that is labelled AS/NZ 2172 is the safest.

A well-fitting mattress that is both firm and clean is also necessary. Babies don't need a pillow until they go into a big bed. Following guidelines for linen etc put out by Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) experts will help keep your baby safe. Cots should be placed out of reach of anything that could harm an inquisitive baby. It might surprise you to know that as many as 125 children per week are injured by nursery products. Unfortunately, some even die from their injuries. The actual furniture causes at least 20% of these injuries, so it is important to make sure your nursery furniture complies with Australian safety regulations. Furniture that is labelled AS/NZ 2172 is the safest. Blind cords or curtains should not be within reach.

Babies soon learn to climb, so anything near the cot that they might fall onto should be moved. It's better to fall onto soft carpet than the edge or corner of a toy box or chair. Storage areas should be lockable and the lid of that toy box should not be a lift-up one hinged on one side; it can fall down and trap baby's hands or bang her head.

Author,

Melanie Click

Best 6 Pacifier Safety Tips

Not all babies need or like to have pacifiers but for some, a pacifier can be a source of comfort. In any case, if you do choose to get a pacifier for your baby, there are a couple of safety tips that you need to consider.

Don't Accessorize

Most pacifiers that have been directly released by companies have been made with an eye on safety features. The worst mistake that any parent could do would be to accessorize pacifiers or buy ones that have been modified or accessorized.

Pacifiers with unnecessary decorations and accessories would include those with dangling chains, jewels and decorative sticks protruding from the handle. Pacifiers of this kind being sold by merchants have already been recalled but some parents might still attempt to do the decorating themselves. Decorations on a pacifier could become detached and mayExamples of these decorated pacifiers are those with decorative stick on jewels or dangling attachments on the pacifier guard or handle. become choking hazards.

Don't Attach on Baby

Some parents find it inconvenient that pacifiers get lost or fall off so easily and are thus tempted to attach them on their babies with either a pin or string. Resist the urge to do this. Your baby could find a way to open a regular pin and get injured or worse, he might just ingest a detached pin. A string or ribbon on the other hand could become entangled and could strangle your baby.

Check the Pieces

Pacifiers can have multiple pieces. In such cases, make sure that you've checked all its assembled pieces together and that they're properly and firmly attached. You should test the nipple in particular by tugging at it. A teething baby might suck too aggressively and detach the nipple, thus making it a choking hazard. Watch out for recalled models especially among multiple piece pacifiers.

Do Not Make Your Own

Just as it is not safe to attach decorations to your pacifier, it is also not safe to modify anything into a pacifier. Do not attempt to reconfigure old nipples or pacifier parts into another pacifier. Your creation might not hold together well enough, and you may thus end up with a bunch of choking hazards. Store sold pacifiers have been carefully designed and tested to withstand repeated sucking and biting and should therefore be the only items that can be safely used.

Steer Clear of Liquid-Filled Pacifiers

Although it happens rarely with liquid-filled pacifiers, still, your baby could bite through the nipple and get all the liquid out. You should also avoid coating pacifiers with sugar, honey or anything sweet. This would encourage your baby to gnaw harder on a pacifier and may bite through it or develop an attachment for it.

Buy Standard Size

Standard-sized pacifiers usually have a stopper or shield that is more than one inch across an average baby's mouth. This is to prevent your baby from ingesting the whole pacifier and choking on it. The shield however should have small holes on each side to allow moisture out and air onto your baby's skin.

Author,

Jb Anthony

Ways To Care For Your New Born Baby.

So you are a first time parent! Congratulations! You may already be dreading those loud cries in the middle of the night and the nappy changing hassles, don't worry as we list a few things which you need to be sure of, as a first time parent.

This one is a short, quick and to-the-point- guide that can help you deal with every mood your baby shows.

To make your baby sleep 

 

This is the most difficult, dreadful and traumatic experiences of first time parents. According to experts, an infant needs at least 16 hours of sleep per day to be counted as healthy and active. Some of the things you can do-

• Keep him engaged in activities in the day, so that he would get good sleep in the night. Else, you can reduce the day time sleep. 

• Get him accustomed to a bedtime routine, so that his body performs the task automatically when it is time for it. 

• Ensure he is comfortable when it is bedtime. Ensure to change nappies, feed him milk, and clothe him right and off the lights. When his stomach is full, he will sleep better. 

• Don't rush to your baby the moment you hear a sound from the bedroom, he may simply be squirming in his sleep, but if you he cries or shows inconvenience, gently reassure him of your presence.

To massage your baby

 

Your mum still remembers the aged maid who specialized in giving body massages to kids, including you. And now, the same maid, has been called to massage your baby, this comforts you as she is tried and tested.

Yes, as baby massage is important for healthy growth and nourishment, it is important that you get it done who knows it best. But at home, too, you can give your baby a gentle massage -

• Find a carpeted floor in a warm room. Simply lay baby on a soft fabric and warm a little baby oil and gently massage the baby's chest and tummy -- stroking across the shoulders, downward movement on the arms and legs and upward movements on the back. 

• Be gentle, yet firm. 

• Sing or speak to your baby while you are at it, so that the baby's mind gets diverted from the massage to your lip movement. 

• Do not oil baby's palms or fingers for the fear of the kid putting them in their mouths or eyes. 

• Do not massage the baby just before or after feeding, or when the baby is ill. Do not wake the baby up for a massage. Avoid rashes, wounds or areas where the baby has got his injections or vaccines as it may hurt.

To change nappies

 

Diapers are a boon, for parents, for babies and for all others who are close to both of them! But though diapers have made life easier for all, these can sometimes be a cause of worry for parents, especially when a diaper becomes the cause of skin problems, including rashes and eczema in infants.

But most of the diaper rashes can be treated at home, just remember to-

• Switch to dye-free diapers as an allergy to dyes in the diapers can cause a reaction. 

•  Check and change diapers frequently, especially if they are wet or soiled.

• Dry the diaper area properly after a bath. Wash the diaper area with mild fragrance-free cleanser or plain water. If the rash is severe, use a squirt bottle to cleanse without rubbing. 

• Let the diaper area air-dry fully before putting on a fresh diaper. Apply powder.

To stop you baby from crying 

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This is a problem every parent faces. And you try everything possible to ensure your baby stops crying. You have tried all that you could, you feeded your baby, rocked and rolled, talked and sang to him/her, changed the wet and soiled nappy with a dry one, yet, no difference? Try these-

• Burp- For the first three or four months, you want to make sure you can get your baby to expel any gas they may have - even if they are breast fed. Gently pat and stroke the back upwards, walk up and down the stairs while trying to burp them. 

• Set a routine- this will make the baby's body clock set, and will not confuse the bay with regard to his/her sleep times and feed times, play times and other times! A good amount of daytime and night time sleep will not make the baby irritable. 

• Try Music- Some babies may be distracted from crying with music, even just the sound of a rattle may be enough. 

• Show visuals- taking a round around the house, showing stars, showing pictures from an ‘animal book', showing mobiles or other electronic items can divert attention 

• Massage your baby - Try stroking your baby using rhythmical movements. Many babies enjoy their backs or heads being touched. 

• Let go- There are opinions, that say that babies cry to vent out things from their past birth and hence, if everything else fails one should let them cry for a few minutes, after which they would become quiet. See, if this works for you too!

To bathe your baby

 

Chances for your baby to become dirty, besides the diaper changes, are mild. Moreover, natural oils protect a new born baby's skin, but too frequent bathing removes the natural oils leaving the baby's skin vulnerable to any potential allergen, thereby triggering a reaction like eczema. For the first month or so, a sponge bath two or three times a week will keep your baby safely clean. And you can keep cleaning the baby's mouth and diaper area in between bathing days. Limit your use of baby skin products. If necessary, use only a small amount of lotion on dry skin areas.To read more about Ways to Care for your New Born Baby

Author,

Medimanage

Infant Chiropractic: Biking with Baby!

Parents today are able to keep fit and bond with their children at the same time by biking or jogging together. Due to the products unheard of a generation ago (like baby carriers, joggers and trailers), even infants can now enjoy the outdoors with mom or dad. Used properly, these items make life easier and more enjoyable for both parent and child. While biking with your baby, exercise caution and good judgment in how you do it. Don't let these activities become the cause of pain and injury, making it necessary to seek the services of infant chiropractic care because of an emergency situation.

Biking is a popular activity for most families. Keep in mind that to bike safely with your baby, use a trailer (a rolling ride-along that hitches to the back end of a bike) rather than a carrier (a "passenger" seat that sits directly on the bile). Because they are more stable, trailers are a much safer option. Carriers can decrease a bike's stability, possibly causing it to topple and injure both the parent and child.

Consider the tips below to increase the safety of your baby while biking:

• The trailer should be equipped with a harness that can be placed over the child's body and one that the child cannot unhook or wiggle out of it.

• A screen that covers the front of the trailer adds an extra line of protection against stray pebbles and other flying objects.

• A trailer with large, bicycle-style tires will add stability and ease to your ride.

• A sturdy, adjustable helmet will further protect your child's head.

• For the best control, bike only on smooth surfaces.

• Practice before actually biking with your child. Get a feel for the strength and coordination necessary to maneuver the bike with an attached trailer.

Infant Chiropractic Care Can Help

   

If you or your baby experiences any pain or discomfort resulting from any outdoor activities, call your doctor of infant chiropractic. They will be happy to provide you with more health tips that will make enjoying outdoor activities safer and more enjoyable.

If you have a newborn baby and would like more information about infant chiropractic care, our doctors of chiropractic will be happy to help you. Call McKim Chiropractic today or go to http://www.mckimchiropractic.com for more information and to schedule an appointment. Our licensed and certified staff is committed to helping the newborn babies of Boise, ID, Nampa, ID, and Caldwell, ID get a head-start for a healthy life!

Author,

McKim Clinics

4D Baby Scan: Detect Physical Birth Defects before the Baby's Birth

4d baby scan is a safe form of technology which most mothers would like to try because of the satisfaction the results give them. This process is really appreciated by parents who are too curious to know what their little one is like. Like 3d scan, this type of ultrasound is recommended for those who are really excited to see their baby's face and body positions.

4D Scan is designed so mums don't feel disappointed in their pregnancy. For 38 weeks children exist in the tummy with the absence of the idea about what is happening outside the dark world they are in. They listen and begin to get accustomed to the mothers' voice. Whether or not they wonder about their parent's appearance, their mother always does. Creative mums will even try to outline their unborn baby. A few mothers would make believe that their little one resembles them more than their husband. So how do you reckon would that mother feel if the baby is delivered with incomplete body parts?


4d baby scan services are used for the following reasons:

• to check the gestational age of the fetus

•  to make sure the baby in the mom's tummy is alive

•  to know the gender of the baby

•  to check if the fetus is not in the fallopian tube

•  to determine when the placenta is

•  to know the number of babies

•  to identify physical problems

•  to assess the development of the fetus

To prevent disappointment in case the baby isn't anything like in your imagination, it's best if you can see your baby's face and know how your baby is doing inside your womb. In the fewer weeks, a 2D scan (also 4d baby scan) is advised to verify the number of beats the baby's heart do per minute. 

Doctors also use this data to check the baby's development in relation to his or her gestational age. 

This 4d scan will reveal if the mother has placental problems (when there are any).

Pregnancy scans like 4d baby scan are the some of the first steps recommended by gynecologists when the mother has some dilemmas. When a mother tumbles on something, falls from the bed, slips in the shower room or falls from the stairs, she has to make sure the baby in her womb is okay. The baby's situation inside has to be checked to see that his or her mother's fall didn't shake him or her too much. This is done because accidents that happen to the mother might cause the baby some damage.

Parents' lives become brighter when shared with their family, especially with their children. The earlier they start with the bond among them (either by early accepting the fact that there is a baby growing inside them or singing to their tummy), the closer the babies will feel towards their parents. 

Because another option to do this is now available, all they need to do is go to the nearest hospital or clinic and have the 4d scan.

Author,

 

Rizabelgira

Baby Yeast Infection

Not just can adults with skin folds get a yeast infection, but so can those wondrously-pinchable chunky babies and toddlers. When working as a toddler teacher, I had near opposite both sexes of children with yeast infections. One of my tot girls had a huge rash under her armpit. When I fine this out to her mother, she was brought to the physician that identical day. The next morning, her mother came to us with a cream - it was a cream to kill the yeast infection under her armpit! It is truly worried to have a infant who cannot talk, ultimately approach down with a yeast infection.

On a baby, the merely link of signs you get from a girl is just as unnerving to the son as to the mother. If your daughter cries every time she urinates into her diaper, and has a lot of redness and swelling in her vaginal area, then it may be time to take her to the pediatrician. I also had a tot boy end up with a yeast infection. This daughter happened to have his foreskin attached to his penis still. If you do not know, abundance children at present take place to have the foreskin extracted within a few days after birth - whether for antiseptic purposes or religious reasons.

If the foreskin is not pulled back from the head of the penis and cleaned properly, then a yeast infection can occur. One this child, the reocurring yeast infections became so much that his parents finally decided to put the child by way of surgery (at 21 months of age) to have the foreskin extracted. Now, this does not mean that an uncircumcised boy will always get yeast infections, but the parents do require to make reliable that they are properly cleaning the area. This also property that the infant must be taught to do this as a young man, or, as an adult, that man can get a yeast infection on all sides the head of his penis.

 

Infants can also be impressionable to a form of yeast infection in the mouth, called thrush. Thrush is seen in the mouth a small, white patches on the insides of the cheeks, and the roof of an infant's mouth. It is normally painless, but can suit strained enough for an infant to deny to breastfeed. That being said, a mother can covenant a yeast infection in her breasts if her infant has had thrush. Both the infant and the mother would demand to be treated for the infection.

On the mother, minute red or white patches can show on the breast, as well as red or purple discolored nipples. During breastfeeding, the mother may experience shooting pain in the breast, or even a more sensitized mamilla area. Many antibiotics to treat yeast infections can be passed by way of breast milk, so doctors truly indigence to display precaution when treating this type of infection. Some mothers testify by food more yogurts that contains suitable bacteria, and lessening ingestion of yeasty foods.

Author,

Ben Johnson

The Harmful Effects Of Plastic Feeding Bottles To Our Babies

As consumers, we trust that all the products we bought in any store are safe and harmless. If you check out the baby bottles in malls and department store, you will see a large variation of it with different brands. Have you ever thought what and how these baby bottles are made of? Or what substances or chemicals are used to create plastic feeding bottles? When we heat the plastic bottles for sterilization or put some hot milk, have you ever thought what happens to the substances in it?

Most manufacturers of plastic feeding bottles use Bisphenol to complete these things. Recent studies show that whenever you apply heat to plastic feeding bottles, about three to seven parts per billion of bisphenol leach into the baby formula. Although the long term effects of plastic in our baby's health has not been established yet, but would you risk any long term side effect for your child just for the reason of convenience and affordability? As parents, what should we do to keep this from happening?

Apparently, we should try to keep from using these plastic feeding bottles and start using glass feeding bottles again. Bisphenol has been linked to several health problems such as cancer, miscarriage, sex hormone effects, and early puberty. As of the moment there is no scientific proof on how bisphenol affects the health and development of babies, but scientist and health professionals are already working on it.

A friend of mine would always run to kiss her father, when she was still a child, every time his father came home from work at the Asbestos factory. This happened way back in 1940. It never occur to her that a simple kiss for her father would lead to some serious respiratory problem called Mesothelioma, which she to live with for the rest of her life. Studies show that there is a strong link between asbestos and mesothelioma. I believe that if her father knew of this harmful effect, he wouldn't have exposed his daughter to asbestos dust which is found on his clothes.

Now as a parent, we wouldn't know if we are exposing our babies to the harmful effects of bisphenol basically because we have no idea of its long term effects. But would you really take that risk for your child? Your decision will form a great impact on your child's health several years from now. So make decisions wisely.

I do agree that traditional glass feeding bottles can be a bit of inconvenience, but there are now plastic feeding bottles that are free from bisphenol and are being sold in to health shops. However, as they are delicately and specially made for the safety of babies, we can expect that these items can really be expensive.

Conclusively, it is still up to us to make the decision for our children. With all the harmful environmental problems in the air such as certain chemicals that we have to deal with everyday, we definitely don't want to think about bisphenols in our baby's formula. This only adds up to the continuous stress we are dealing with everyday. So now I'll leave you with this thought to ponder on. 

Whatever you decide on, make sure to make a smart decision.

Author,

Christina Taylor

The Importance of Baby Bottle Hygiene for Your Baby's Health

It is extremely important to always sterilize your baby's bottle and the teat every time you use the bottle. Baby's need their bottles to be absolutely sterile, as they are not as robust as older children. No parent wants to see their child suffer with colic or any other stomach upset, especially diarrhea, and one way of avoiding these complaints is to sterilize baby bottles and the pacifier you might use. Don't lick either the teat of the bottle or the pacifier and then put it in your baby's mouth. You might think it doesn't matter, but your germs are as dangerous to your baby as a stranger's.

Whatever you do, if the baby has thrown the bottle or pacifier on the ground, don't then wipe them and give them back to your baby until they have been properly sterilized. Your baby's health is more important than the embarrassment you might feel because it is crying. It is better to be safe than sorry in this instance. You can easily sterilize you baby's item with boiling water, or you can buy a sterilization unit for bottles etc.

If your baby cries a lot and seems to have stomach pains, this may well be because of lack of sterilization. You may think that babies are resilient, but babies, especially newborns, need extra care and attention if they are to be happy and healthy. The importance of a hygienic environment for a baby cannot be stressed enough. It's quite simple to boil water and leave the baby's bottle submersed in it for a few minutes, and it will save the baby a lot of discomfort if you just spend a few minutes doing this to ensure your baby stays healthy.

Some people may tell you that you are wasting your time doing these things, but they are wrong. Ignore them or explain why you are doing it. You might be helping their baby too. Babies need to build up immunity to germs that do not necessarily affect older children and adults. They are new to this world which is full of germs and viruses and need to be protected from them as much as possible in the early stages of their development.

Your baby relies on you for its well-being, so don't let your baby down.

Author,

ArticleX

Lets know about baby teeth, s health tips

The start of baby teeth growth brings different physical and emotional changes to the baby,s health. 

The irritation of the gums of baby needs to be managed carefully, at this stage, so as to make the baby satisfactory and the discomfort can be countered. The uncmfortable baby makes the whole family uncomfortable and restless. The opinion of dental care professional should be taken into consideration, while dealing with baby,s teeth.

Developing a dental care regimen earlier may make sure an eternity associated with wholesome huge smiles for the kid. Infant the teeth are essential the teeth, as well as hole avoidance begins actually prior to the very first teeth seems. Through training your kids the advantages of cleaning as well as flossing, you're placing all of them on the program to become Mouth area Wholesome for a lifetime.

The kid's main the teeth, occasionally known as "baby the teeth, inch tend to be because essential since the long term grownup the teeth. Main the teeth usually start to seem whenever a infant is actually in between grow older six months as well as 12 months. Main the teeth assist kids gnaw as well as talk. Additionally they maintain room within the teeth with regard to long term the teeth which are developing underneath the gums.

 

Kid displaying their own infant teethThe ADA suggests that the dental professional look at a young child inside 6 months following the very first teeth is available in with no later on compared to very first birthday celebration. The dental care go to while very young is really a "well-baby checkup" for that the teeth. Apart from looking at with regard to teeth rot along with other difficulties, the actual dental professional may demonstrate how you can thoroughly clean the actual kid's the teeth correctly as well as how you can assess any kind of undesirable routines for example thumbsucking.

Whenever the teeth very first are available in, a few infants might have aching or even sensitive gums. Lightly massaging your son or daughter's gums having a thoroughly clean hand, a little, awesome tea spoon or perhaps a moist gauze mat could be calming. You may also provide the infant the thoroughly clean teething diamond ring in order to gnaw upon. In case your kid continues to be cranky as well as within discomfort, seek advice from your own dental professional or even doctor. 

The majority of kids possess a complete group of 20 main the teeth through the period they're 3.

Author,

Noor. Jan

Worm Infestation And Baby Health

Babies are prone to worm infestation. It is very likely and have subtle reasons. At their growing stage, they tend to move around alone. It is not possible for the family members to look after the baby constantly round the clock. Babies do not take chance. But they start putting dirties into their mouth that go directly to their stomach.For proper newborn baby care, you need to take care of this issue.

The germs of worms that babies put inside the stomach find the environment heavily favorable. So they start multiplying their numbers. Your task is to give your baby the proper medicine. Medicine will try increasing the temperature inside the stomach and create such an environment that worms will pass thru our body system. They will come out of it by defecation. On many occasions some babies are really reactionary to this even. Therefore worms come out of their mouth with vomiting instead of defecation. You should understand that the worms inside very dangerously attack the baby. 

Help this baby immediately. There are few signs of worm infestation. Babies will spend more time with dirties and dusts. They will try to scratch the itching feelings and sensations on their back. They will do the scratching repeatedly. Their belly will grow bigger, enlarged and vivid.

It is not heavy food that causes the situation but the worms inside. You simply need to give them two dozes of chewable tablets. These days, strong tablets with fragrance are available that help in rapid reduction of worms. Worms eat away the nutrition supply you give to your boy. Therefore baby health suffer, they do not grow. There are other bad effects of worm infestation.

Author,

Imran ali

Baby Health And Growth Monitoring

Growth monitoring is one of the best methods for assessing health Baby Health and is essential for newborn baby care. It is widely used in all over the world. Parents want to know about the growth and development of their baby. Through this assessment parent can understand whether their baby’s growth are taking place as per desired schedule or not.  Through the assessment findings necessary steps or actions could be taken for maintaining gradual growth of the baby.

In order to growth monitoring of the baby some instrument and materials is essential. These are weighing scale, growth monitoring chart/card and color pencil. There are three colors in growth monitoring card, which are green, yellow and red sections. If the weight of the baby is within the range of green section, then you think that your baby’s growth is taking place as per schedule. Again, if the Baby’s weight is correspondence with the yellow section, then you aware that the growth of baby is moderately taking place. But, if your baby’s weight is within the red section, then you have to think that your growth is not at all taking place as per schedule. There is something wrong. The baby may be suffering from serious mal-nutrition and some infection. From this assessment you have take necessary steps for solve these problems. Apart from giving regular foods to your baby, you need to check how effectively the goods are helping the baby to gain sound health.

Therefore growth monitoring is your responsibility. If you find any abnormalities you can quick take the assistance of doctors. Do not wait to consult doctors to let any abnormalities grow in serious worsening condition.

Author,

Imran ali

Baby Care: Tips for Caring for a Newborn

Taking care of a newborn baby can be an overwhelming experience for any mom. The tasks involved in baby care – from feeding to diapering to getting your baby to sleep – can be both an emotional and stressful time. However, following some simple tips can help you and provide you with what you know about how to take care of your newborn.

Baby Care Tips

The most important thing to remember is that even if you're a first time mom, you should always trust your instincts when it comes to taking care of your infant. If you are in doubt about something, whether it be your child's sleep patterns or how often you should feed your baby, do not hesitate to contact your health care provider.

While it may not seem like it at first, know that eventually you will be able to establish a normal routine with your baby. Feeding and sleep time will take place at more or less set times, although it will probably be unlikely that you will be able to have a fixed schedule. This can be especially helpful for stay at home moms who may also have other children to care for and household duties to which to attend.

Feeding is a central component of infant care and is essential to your baby's health. Make sure not to restrict the length and frequency of feedings, as your baby needs proper nutrition in order to grow at a healthy rate. If you are breastfeeding, follow these helpful breastfeeding tips:

• nurse your baby as soon as possible after birth
  
  
• use a pillow to support your baby as well as for your comfort
  
  
• establish proper latch on (make sure your baby's mouth completely covers your nipple)
  
  

Working moms can also speak to their employers about breastfeeding policies at the workplace, as well as make alternative arrangements, such as pumping milk beforehand, so that baby gets the nutrition he needs while you're on the job.

If you experience any pain during breastfeeding, or if your baby is having trouble latching on, talk to your health care provider.

New moms are also concerned about baby sleep safety. Your newborn might sleep for up to 16 hours each day, generally sleeping for 3 to 4 hours at a time.

The following tips can help encourage healthy sleep in your newborn, as proper sleep is essential to baby care:

• always put your baby in her crib for sleep time; this will help her associate sleeping with her crib and help to establish a routine
  
  
• put your baby to sleep on her back; this reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
  
  
• reduce stimulation at night; dim the lights prior to bedtime and stay silent or speak in only soothing voices to help lull your baby to sleep. It can also be helpful to establish a bedtime routine; for example, make bath time prior to bed time.
  
  
• make sure there's nothing in or near your baby's crib, including bedding, stuffed animals and drapes; these objects could pose a hazard to your newborn

Author,

Stephanie Roberts

Use Any New Baby Health Product With Care

Every baby health product that is available in the market should be carefully checked out before you use it for your baby. Whether it is a nutritional baby health product, a toy or a cosmetic article, it should be double-checked before using it on your baby. The delicate skin and the low immunity of the baby require you to be extra careful before using any baby health product.

Food Products

Before using any of the ready-made food products check out the baby health information on the website. When buying an edible baby health product, all the ingredients should be listed on the packet in detail, so that you know what you are giving your baby.

Naturally, if the baby has certain allergies, or is not permitted certain food products, look out that they are not present in the foodstuff that you are buying. The food product should be manufactured by a reliable company, whose credentials are easily available on the net.

Simple pacifiers or nipples and teats for the feeding bottle can also be considered baby health products. Their reliability is of utmost importance, because the baby puts these things into his mouth, and if there are some unhealthy elements in it, or the quality of the pacifier is poor, the infectious bacteria is swallowed by the baby.

Natural Products 

Baby health information is available on all websites which sell baby health products. Special creams, powders, diapers and even soft comfortable clothing is sold on these websites. Try and use natural products as much as possible, because the risk of any infection is the lowest.

Besides, it is advisable to check out the manufacturing companies for such products and then buy them in a store near your house. Sometimes you can use the baby health product on a trial period, and return it if it does not suit your baby.

Baby health products are expensive and could make a hole in your pocket. But the quantity that you need is so little, that it is worth the price. Look out for the quality of the products, because that is the most important factor. Buy less, but buy the best.

It is better for you not to experiment with a baby health product. Recommendations from the pediatrician are ideal, especially if the product is medicinal, like a special milk formula or a tonic which contains vitamins. But it is common to use a baby health product after it has been recommended by a friend or a family member, who has had a previous experience with it.

Author,

Gene B. Pineda

Ways to Stimulate your Baby's Senses

From the time a human embryo forms in the womb of its mother, the development of its senses begins. This article provides some insights into ways in which you can stimulate your baby's senses in preparation for a long life of discovering the world through these senses, sensations and perceptions.

Did you know that a fetus develops its first sensitivity to touch by eight weeks of gestational age? By fifteen weeks, a human fetus has an adult's taste buds and may even begin to savor the taste of the amniotic fluid! It is no wonder then that even the most ancient wisdom prods a mother-to-be to be careful about her health and maintain a relaxed and peaceful state of mind at all times. By 25 weeks of gestational age, your baby is able to hear your voice and perhaps your partner's (if the sound is close enough to the womb) and by 27 weeks, the baby is even known to recognize the mother's voice. Yes, mind your language around your womb!

Fun Activities to Induce Your Baby's Senses

On a more serious note, here are some practical ways in which you can make use of the above knowledge and begin to stimulate your baby's developing senses of hearing, smell, sight, touch and taste. You can start your interactions with your child and begin the first lessons in life while it's still in the womb! Of course, once the baby is born, you can take over from where you left off the womb lessons and continue stimulating the senses further, especially its sense of sight (which develops the most after the baby is born in the first few weeks). Let us explore some fun ways to stimulate your baby's senses.

Sense of Touch

Prenatal Stimulation

Stroking the pregnant belly is a common form of stimulation. It comes naturally to the mother from early pregnancy.

In response to the kicking and nudging felt inside the womb, you may even try to gently massage the belly using coconut oil or olive oil.

Experts suggest that gently caressing your pregnant belly regularly and patting it in a rhythmic fashion, especially before bedtime can have a soothing effect on the baby. In fact, the baby will continue to associate these touching and calming activities with sleep time even after birth, making it easier for you to put the baby to sleep.

Encourage your partner and even your other children to engage in this most basic form of interacting with the baby through stroking of your belly. There's a great likelihood of the baby remembering these interactions even after birth.

Stimulation After Birth

Make your newborn baby feel safe and secure by gently caressing the face and limbs.

About two months after birth, you may start massages with some pressure and in a kneading motion. 

 

Bath time can provide great moments to introduce your baby to the world of cold water, warm water, water droplets and foam, etc.

Rubbing the muscles on the limbs helps develop your baby's body language.

Expose your baby to different textures using creams, oils, paper, cloth, sprays, soap bubbles, etc. Let your baby feel these substances with bare hands and explore his/her sense of touch!

Gradually, let your baby play with toys and objects of different shapes and textures. Just leave soft-edged toys or empty, colorful cardboard or plastic boxes with the baby on an activity mat and watch the fun. Don't prod too much except when objects start moving towards their mouths!

Sense of Hearing

Prenatal Stimulation

Sound stimulation is the easiest form of fetal stimulation, even though the baby's ears are filled with amniotic fluid inside the womb. The baby constantly hears the mother's heartbeat, her digestive gurgling and blood whooshing through her body. So go ahead and talk to your baby.

The mother's voice is known to be very soothing to the baby. You may indulge in reading stories aloud and even singing to your baby. Do not talk around the baby but to the baby (the hearing is not that well-developed yet). Silly as it may seem, stroke your belly while reading and talking to your baby in the womb.

Even the deeper voice of a father may be audible to the baby if it is close enough to the belly.

Low sound frequencies are known to travel through liquids. Go ahead and play the low notes on the piano or the bass and percussion instruments. If your baby is awake and active, you may witness jigging responses to the music.

The mother's heartbeat is perhaps the most rhythmic and familiar sound recognized by a fetus.

You might want to turn the music down if you feel rapid, disorderly movements from your womb. High-pitched sounds and noise are not positive stimulations.

Stimulation After Birth

Again, in conformance with ancient wisdom, lullabies and soft, comforting voices of its parents are a baby's favorite sounds. Indulging in a sleep time routine of soft music and rhythmic rocking usually puts most babies to sleep.

About five months after birth, the baby is aware of the source of the sound. You will notice that your baby instantly turns towards the source of sound and tries to "face" the music! Encourage this behavior and try to indicate to the baby what object is making the sound.

Imitating the sounds of animals is mostly a sure shot way of making a baby smile or laugh. They love repetitive and funny noises.

There's a reason why a noisy rattle is a baby's best friend. It engages the baby's senses of touch and sound and the baby knows the source of the sound. By learning to play the rattle or even objects like spoons, etc., the baby tries to control the source of sound and discovers that he/she can actually make the sound and stop it too! It is a small achievement but a big developmental milestone for the little one.

Use bath time to let your baby discover the various sounds of water (pouring, splashing, squirting, etc.).

Sense of

Smell and Taste

Prenatal Stimulation

Inside the uterus, the nose of the fetus develops by the fifteenth week of gestation. The amniotic fluid that fills the nasal cavities and mouth of the fetus is believed to be its first tryst with odors and taste.

Maintaining a healthy diet and incorporating many flavors is perhaps the only stimulation you can provide. In fact, pregnancy cravings could be your baby's way of telling you what it likes!

Irrespective of conscious stimulation; however, the sense of smell is strongest at birth.

The fetus is shown to swallow more amniotic fluid when it has a sweeter taste than when it's bitter or sour. This seems to be in preparation to instinctively seek out and savor breast milk as soon as it is born. Sounds like your baby can have a sweet tooth even before its teeth start to emerge!

Stimulation After Birth

Your baby might just love your regular perfume. Anything that constitutes a mother's scent is stimulating for the baby.

Let your baby be carried around by other members of your family. This will help expose them to scents other than the mother's.

Yet again, bath time is the best opportunity to expose your baby to other pleasant smells. The scents of soap, shampoos and fresh towels can be a fun experience.

Keep your baby away from the strong smells of smoke and burning. Not only will these smells seem obnoxious and uncomfortable for the baby, prolonged exposure will affect the baby's sense of smell.

Chewy toys in different flavors make babies salivate helping them to explore different tastes.

Do not bombard your baby with the taste of flavors, gradually move from bland to intense flavors of mashed vegetables and fruits in the daily diet. Don't overdo the use of spices and condiments.

When the baby has developed its teeth, include food with different textures (soft, grainy, sticky, watery, etc.).

With these stimulation methods, your baby will slowly learn to associate colors, flavors, odors and consistencies, thus putting into use all the senses at once.

Sense of Sight

Prenatal Stimulation

The sense of sight is the last to develop; the eyelids remain closed until twenty six weeks of gestational age. Subsequently, until birth the eyes open and the blinking reflex develops.

Want to show a flashlight towards your pregnant belly? Experts suggest it could harm your baby. 

 

Refrain from doing so until the last month of pregnancy and do it only when you're absolutely sure the baby is active and not asleep. It is recommended not to show very intensely bright light.

You may attempt to time this activity to tune the sleep cycle. Sometimes it works, when the baby is awake as long as the light shows and dozes off soon after the light is turned away. You will notice the responses and most mothers are able to tell if this technique works for them. Be careful not to expose your belly to bright lights for a prolonged period, it might result in retinal damage to the fetus!

Natural light penetrating the mother's tissue enlightens the womb just enough for the baby to see in shades of black, white and gray. Color vision develops only about two months after birth.

Stimulation After Birth

Are you putting on a lot of makeup to look nice when your baby first sees you? Don't worry, you will be the most beautiful mother in the world anyway! Your baby has very blurred vision at birth and certainly cannot distinguish colors. For the same reason, keep the baby in a dimly lit environment for the first few weeks. Bright lights may affect the vision of a newborn so don't open those window curtains yet!

When your baby is around four months old, he/she will be able to distinguish a sad face from a happy face. This is a good time to mime, mimic and make faces at your baby. But be warned, you may get some nasty responses to your actions from your baby!

Time to bring out the mirror! Let your baby face the mirror and discover the most entertaining reality show ever. Discontinue temporarily if your baby expresses any discontent, mirror reflections tend to scare some babies.

Games like peekaboo are very stimulating for a baby. Include objects in the game, as appearance and disappearance of objects are very fascinating to babies. You might witness some strong reactions to momentary disappearances of mothers and favorite toys.

Wish to intrigue your baby some more? Bring out the photo album or play a photo slide show on your laptop. Guess which faces the baby is sure to recognize and observe the hilarious and adorable responses. Now that's a natural stress buster!

Colorful stacking blocks and hoops, toys that move back and forth and bob about the floor are all objects that fully engage the vision of a baby.

Why is there so much stress on stimulating a baby's senses, now even extending the concept to the womb? Isn't that taking things a bit too far? Well, a lot depends on your perspective of whether you want to educate your child just a few weeks into conception or soon after birth. There is growing scientific evidence that unlike previously believed, babies are conscious and develop feelings even while inside the womb. There is clear evidence that a baby's senses develop quite a bit even in the fetal stage. Surely, you already have a natural instinct to interact and communicate with your baby, unborn as well as newborn. In addition, there are several books published by doctors and researchers about ways to engage with your baby to sharpen its senses and sensations. In fact, if you keep all the science and the educational perspective apart, the above methods are really just fun ways to reach out to your baby and strengthen the sacred bond even further!

Disclaimer: Please be aware that this article is for informative purposes only. You are encouraged to seek medical advice before employing these methods of stimulation.

Growth Spurts in Babies

When do growth spurts occur in babies? The following article will definitely whet your appetite if you are looking for information on growth spurts in babies. Read on, to know what disrupts the breastfeeding schedule and why do infants demand frequent feeds, sometimes.

The sure sign of your baby going through a growth spurt is that he suddenly starts eating every hour. 

 

He will be crankier and fussier than usual. Though he's done, he would still act like he's ready to have more, making you wonder if he is getting enough milk. But don't worry, he's not starving even though he's acting like it! About five baby growth spurts can happen anytime during the first year, and perhaps, he's just hit his first growth spurt. Here is how to recognize growth spurts in babies.

Signs of Growth Spurts

Doctors say that growth spurts happen soon after the birth, the first one between one and three weeks, and the next one between six and eight weeks. After that, you can expect your baby's growth spurts at three months, six months, and nine months. But a baby may have more growth spurts than that. The time and duration of the growth spurt may vary from baby to baby.

During the first year, the baby grows fast. Your baby might triple his body weight by the time he celebrates his first birthday. Do you know that a lot of that growth happens in short, intense bursts? The growth spurts account for drastic changes in the height and weight of the baby; and have the greatest impact on a nursing mom. The good news is that infant growth spurts usually last only 2-3 days, so your baby (and your life) should get back to normal soon. Here are the signs and symptoms of growth spurts in infants.

Your baby may want to eat nonstop. It may happen that the well set breastfeeding schedule is disrupted due to the growth spurt in your baby.

Changed sleeping patterns may affect your routine. Your baby may howl for a midnight snack, then perhaps after every two hours, at 2 A.M., 4 A.M., and so on. Older babies too wake up earlier from their naps.
Your baby may start clamoring for frequent feeds. All those late nights disturb his moods and he might be extra fussy at the breast. Latching and unlatching can be noticed and you might be wondering why he is acting so. But he is expecting more milk and perhaps he might not be getting it, as the production might not be up to speed yet. The baby wants to feed for longer periods and more frequently.

How to Deal with Growth Spurts in Babies

Insufficient sleep may affect your mood; but remember, babies also have a hard time settling in. I can understand how exhausting it must be to have a newborn who suddenly treats breastfeeding like a 24 X 7 all-you-can-eat buffet. But don't give up on breast-feeding now. According to the nature's law, breastfeeding itself stimulates the production of milk. So to keep up with the growing appetite of the baby, you should breastfeed your baby as many times as possible. In case of older babies who can eat solid food, you need to take extra care regarding baby feeding. Don't introduce baby formula to the newborn, thinking that the milk supply is insufficient. Continue feeding, the supply will be increased according to the demand.

You should drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. You should follow a healthy diet. You may recruit help from your partner or a friend to do household chores. You should have enough rest, otherwise you won't be able to feed your baby frequently.

If your baby is gaining weight and you need to change his diapers five or six times a day, he's doing just fine and there is nothing to worry. Baby growth spurts end soon. His hunger pangs will also be over then and things can settle back to normal. As growth spurts end within 2-3 days, you can easily find out if 'low milk supply' is upsetting the baby. Just be patient and stay focused on baby's needs at this stage. If you think that the baby is not hungry and is being fussier, then you may take a walk outside. If the baby is not hungry, he will fall asleep as soon as he gets fresh air.

Growth spurts in babies are natural and essential part of physical development. In some cases, growth spurts last for more than a week or even longer. You can adjust your feeding schedule accordingly. It is your responsibility to feed your baby whenever he gives out hunger cues.

Author,

Leena Palande

Gripe Water Pros and Cons

ripe water for babies has been a tradition since time immemorial. But do you know what some gripe water pros and cons are? Read this article to know all about it.

Gripe water has been given to babies for several centuries as an accepted tradition, and society seems to have taken that as a natural course of order. I'm positive that many of us rarely stop to think about the pros and cons of giving gripe water to babies. For example, the ingredients that are used in its making or whether there are any harmful side effects of the same or other similar details. But, is that the right way to go about it? If you're pregnant and about to have a baby soon, then it would do you good to read the article because it focuses on the gripe water pros and cons and helps you in taking an informed decision for your baby.

Gripe Water for Babies: Pros and Cons

All mothers are every bit careful when it comes to their babies, especially newborns. Then being skeptical about gripe water or having thorough knowledge about the pros and cons of gripe water is not a bad idea at all. In fact, it should be encouraged. If there are any gripe water problems then they should be brought out in the open.

Gripe water for babies helps to relieve them of colic, i.e., extended periods of crying (over 3 hours or more), in an otherwise healthy baby, believed to be caused by a digestive system that is not mature enough. It is said that the gripe water ingredients provide the much-needed relief that massages or any other medication cannot provide. These gripe water ingredients include ginger, fennel, dill, peppermint, cinnamon, cardamom, angelica, caraway, catnip, fructose, and chamomile. Although these herbs are used in gripe water, the most common ingredients that are found in all gripe waters include fennel, ginger, peppermint, and chamomile.

Gripe Water: Pros

Natural Ingredients

Gripe water contains natural ingredients like fennel, chamomile, and more (as is mentioned above). So that makes it a very healthy drink to have.

Aids Digestion

Colic usually affects 25% of the babies and starts around the period of 3 weeks after birth. It is said that this comes about because the digestive system of the baby is not fully developed at this time and, therefore, they develop gas in their stomachs. This gas is what makes them cry out in pain. Gripe water is known to convert the tiny bubbles of gas into one whole gas bubble, which becomes easier to burp out and leads to relief. That is how gripe water aids in digestion.

Teething Pains

Some parents have reported that gripe water also helps to soothe the pain that comes with baby teething.

No Side Effects

Another gripe water advantage is that it has no side effects on the baby. Being made out of all natural ingredients like, fennel and peppermint-which if taken individually, would also help the baby-do not lead to any untoward effect on babies. This is a major advantage.

Easy Availability

Gripe water is easily available at all medical shops and the price is very affordable as well. So it's not like one has to struggle to get it. And, therefore, it can be easily given to colicky babies.

Gripe Water: Cons

Alcohol Content

One has to be very careful when giving their baby gripe water. It has been known that some gripe water brands have alcohol in them (probably to induce sleep). Which is not good for an infant. Make sure that you read the contents and ingredients on the label of the bottle before purchasing it.

Time period

Gripe water, it is said, should not be given to infants who are less than a month old. Their systems are still fragile and might not be able to deal with the influx of so many ingredients. So if a baby becomes colicky, one cannot do anything but try and deal with it in other ways, even though gripe water might act as the perfect pacifier.

Trial and Error

The thing with gripe water is that, one can never be sure that one particular product will be best suited for their baby. One has to undergo a process of trial and error to see which brand is the most effective. It is possible that while one product might not work for the baby, the other might be just perfect. So until the time one keys in on the most effective product, the trial and error method has to be taken as a natural course. Many times, one might find that gripe water does not work at all, as one might have hoped it would.

Hiccups

Quite often infants are affected by hiccups along with suffering from colic. It is said that gripe water does nothing for hiccups in babies. However, there have been other cases which report otherwise. So, one needs to test it for themselves to ensure the same.

These were some of the gripe water pros and cons that I have listed and explained through this article. 

 

Choose a product well and hope that your baby is not troubled by these niggling problems anymore. 

 

All the best!

Author,

Rujuta Borkar

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