Friday, February 12, 2010

Babies

Just wishing you all a happy Valentine's Day. Enjoy and take care of your Babies.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Baby Stuff Outlet

Get your baby stuff from Baby Stuff Outlet. Baby Stuff Outlet is an online shop that provides users reviews and feedbacks that can help you decide the best product for your baby.

Enjoy.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

A New Year Welcome

A New Cuddly Year welcome to all. We wish you all the luck this new year will bring.

Monday, February 25, 2008

Breastpumping Information and Tips

By Amy Comstock

One topic new moms always have questions about is breastfeeding and pumping. I strictly pump for my newborn and also did so with my 3 year old who was a preemie, so I thought I would give some info & tips on how I do it.

First, you need a good pump. I use the backpack version of the Medela Advanced Pump in Style breastpump. I bought mine from BestBuyBaby.com for $225.00. Great pump. Shelling out a couple hundred for a good pump, in the end, is much cheaper than the few thousand you would spend on formula; and remember, breastmilk is a thousand times better for your baby than formula.

Next, you need to set up a schedule. It's very important you stick to the schedule and pump at approximately the same time every day. You should pump every 3 to 4 hours for at least 15 to 20 minutes. I pump about 25 to 30 minutes each time, except for the first pump of the day. That's closer to 45 minutes, just because I'm fuller from not pumping during the night and want to make sure they are emptied. Emptying your breasts fully at each pumping session will help you increase and maintain your milk supply. My pumping schedule is set up as follows:

The first pump time is whenever my son wakes up. Today it was 8am.

#2 is at 11am. This session is 3 to 4 hours after the first pump, no later than 11am though.
#3 is at 3pm. This session time does not vary.
#4 is at 6pm. This session time does not vary.
#5 is at 8:30pm. This session time does not vary.
#6 is at 11pm. This session time does not vary.

Note: my son eats 6 times a day, but if your baby eats during the night, you will need to pump then too. Basically, pump every time your baby eats, which should be every 3 to 4 hours. In order to get my son to sleep through the night, I feed him consistently every 3 to 4 hours during the day according to my schedule above and then let him go after his 11pm feeding. Each week, as he gets older, he sleeps a little bit longer. He's now 10 weeks and slept 8 hours straight last night.

I pump and feed my son at the same time, except for the 3pm session when he eats at 2pm. At that feeding, I eat lunch and feed him at the same time. When I pump and feed him at the same time, I put him in his LeapFrog Magic Moments Learning seat and sit on the floor in front of him. Works well.

The bottles I use are Dr. Brown's standard bottles. My review is here. They are supposed to reduce spit up and gas. My son currently averages 4 - 5 ounces at each feeding. Here's some general guidelines as to what amount to put in the bottle:

Age: avg amount per feeding:

1-2 wks: 2-3 oz
3-4 wks: 3-4 oz
1-2 mths: 4-5 oz
2-3 mths: 5-6 oz
3-4 mths: 6-7 oz
4-7 mths: 7-8 oz
7-9 mths: 7-8 oz
9-12 mths: 7-8 oz

The batch of milk he gets at each feeding is as follows:

AT THIS FEEDING : HE GETS THIS BATCH:

#1 at 8am : #1 at 8am from the previous day
#2 at 11am : #1 at 8am from today
#3 at 2pm : #2 at 11am
#4 at 6pm : #3 at 2pm
#5 at 8:30pm : #4 at 6pm
#6 at 11pm : #5 at 8:30pm

Note: My #6 at 11pm batch gets dumped so I can eat half a garlic clove at 9:30pm to keep me from getting too run down. Garlic works wonders. Unfortunately it gives my son a lot of gas.

My son is very sensitive to what I eat, so this schedule makes it a little easier to track down what foods I may need to avoid. This post gives more info on what foods to avoid when breastfeeding. My supply has been amazing so far, so whatever is left after I fill his bottle gets frozen.

Some tips to maximize your supply:

1. The hardest is try to get plenty of rest.

2. Pump at the same time every day. If your supply starts to decrease, add another pumping session.

3. Drink plenty of water. I drink a ton : 1-2 glasses every time I pump, 1-2 glasses at each meal/snack. I probably drink about 20 glasses pf water a day. I keep my water pitcher at room temperature. It's easier to drink the water when it's not cold. Water is good for, has no calories and keeps you healthy.

4. Get plenty to eat. I eat 6 times a day and try to eat as healthy as I can despite having to temporarily cut out some vegetables, fruit and milk due to my son's sensitivity.

5. Massage your breasts while you pump. That helps make sure all the milk gets out, which prevents clogged ducts that can lead to mastitis.

http://ice-princess-parent-talk.blogspot.com/2008/02/breastpumping-information-and-tips.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy_Comstock

Mum's Diet When Breastfeeding

By Tina Rychlik

During pregnancy it is important to be cautious about certain foods as the growing baby can not handle i.e. bacteria that can be found in unpasteurised milk products or alcohol. In contrast, breastfeeding does not require as much attention to one's diet as pregnancy; however, it is still necessary to keep an eye on the diet in order to feed the baby safely. Luckily, the human body is designed to make the best of what it gets. Even if a diet is deficient, studies carried out all over the world have shown that breast milk still has the right combination of nutrients in order to feed the baby effectively. If the mother's diet is poor the body's own stores of nutrients will replace what is lacking in the milk - for as long as the stores allow it.

However, for mother's and baby's sake it is important to eat healthily. A broad dietary variety is also beneficial in that babies experience different taste and smell of breast milk. It helps develop the taste buds and may also help to create the foundation for cultural preference in cuisine. This explains why a baby nursed on a bland diet may push away a bowl of curried food for instance. Studies have shown that mother's preference in food during pregnancy and breast feeding does affect the baby's palate in the same way.

On the other hand, a number of mothers have confirmed that there may also be some foods with an adverse effect on baby's health. They find that their babies get gassy after eating cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, onions or cauliflower. This view has not been scientifically proven. In addition, some babies may even show allergic reactions to the mother's diet, most commonly dairy products. There may also be more accounts of reactions; so every breast feeding mother has to find out what her baby can swallow easily and what not. It takes between 2 and 6 hours from the time a certain food was eaten until it affects the taste and odour of the milk. Thus, if baby shows signs of discomfort while digesting the milk it is worth eliminating the suspected food for a few days and to observe whether it makes any difference in the baby's symptoms.

What foods best to avoid

Nursing mothers should limit their alcoholic intake as much as possible. Ideally, they should drink no alcohol at all because it can be detected in the milk, though considerably less than what was drunk.

Caffeine in coffee and theine in tea should be kept to no more than a cup or two a day. If you drink too much it may affect your baby too. It should be noted that caffeine can not be passed through their bodies as efficiently as adults can and it may actually build up in their systems. It is worth considering caffeine-free alternatives while breastfeeding.

If a history of food allergies is known in the family, peanuts are best avoided. The consumption of peanuts has shown to leave traces of allergens in the breast milk and can add to baby's risk of developing allergies in later life.

Try to avoid processed foods that show long lists of additives. So-called e-numbers do affect the mother's and the baby's health and should be avoided at all times. However, some e-numbers have natural origins and are allowed (visit The Soil Association for more information)

It is important to keep the amount of fish to no more than 340g (12oz) per week in order to minimize the exposure to mercury. In addition, the FSA advises to limit canned tuna to 280g (drained) and fresh tuna to 170g per week.

Lastly, sweetener known as saccharin should be consumed very carefully because long-term effects are yet unknown. The better option is sucralose (Splenda) which offers a safe calorie-free sugar substitute.

Tina Rychlik is the proud mother of two, and the owner of BabysBest.co.uk, an online store dedicated to the preservation of our children's health. Offering only organic and all natural baby products, you can find guidelines and advice for baby and their parents by visiting http://www.babysbest.co.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tina_Rychlik

How Best To Bond With Baby

By Tina Rychlik

Baby bonding is a way of creating and enforcing the intense attachment between yourself and your baby which lasts a lifetime, enabling you to love and protect your child.

Our bodies are programmed to bond with our new baby sooner or later: research has shown whilst pregnant and during birth both mother and father are flooded with hormones which help bonding. Oxytocin is released during birth (the same hormone released at the point of orgasm) creating the feeling of euphoria, this hormone is also thought to be involved in the formation of trust between two people.

The first few hours are of course very important in the relationship between mother/father and baby but in no way do they determine the pattern of your future relationship. The bonding process is not timed and depends upon spending time together, building trust and getting to know your child. There is so much discussion about bonding with a new baby that parents often feel guilty if they don't feel some incredible attachment to their new baby immediately. This can be a factor in post-natal depression. There are many reasons why people may have difficulty in bonding with their babies:

• It is a sad fact that 1 in 8 babies in the UK are born prematurely or sick; this can leave parents feeling very detached and helpless. Neonatal care experts believe that physically caring for their new baby - although sometimes difficult in a hospital environment - makes parents more relaxed and confident about parenting and enables the bonding process

• Relationship worries

• Financial worries

• Death of someone close

• Difficulty breastfeeding

• Unexpected or traumatic pregnancy, difficult birth

• Crying colicky baby

• Parents who have experienced abuse or neglect in their own childhood often wonder how they can love their own baby

The most important thing is not to feel guilty about not bonding with your baby straight away. Many new parents feel an "emptiness" when first seeing or handling their newborn. Removing the pressure to bond is the first step towards building a relationship.

Fathers may feel worse especially if the baby is being exclusively breastfed. This removes a lot of opportunity for them to spend one on one time with their baby. Bathing, dressing and early morning play before leaving for work may be the only chances they get to bond with their child. After all the initial expectations fathers may have to resign to the fact that - at least for the first few months - a breastfed baby's desire is boobie and boobie alone.

Every parent with a sincere desire to bond with their child will eventually find their own unique way of doing so. The best way to get started is to listen to your natural instincts; research has shown that parents who rely on their instincts master their new found role very well: they are able to recognize their baby's signals and to respond to them. In addition to this there are many different techniques to encourage your bond with your baby:

- Relax with your baby. Try to get as much sleep as somehow possible. Forget household chores, if possible enlist help from your partner, family and friends. Being stressed out and tired certainly does not help the bonding process.

- Everyone wants to come round and see the new baby, however by limiting the number of visitors in the first few weeks this gives you the chance to relax, get in to a routine and get to know your new baby.

- When out and about carrying your baby in a sling will help you feel closer as well as keeping your hands free to get on with the shopping etc.

- Try and communicate a lot with your baby, through the eyes, skin contact, singing, talking, etc.

- Have lots of cuddles

- Play with your baby: mothers and fathers tend to specialise in different types of contact. The "mother role" is likely to involve more talking and quiet interaction; the "father role" tends to involve playfulness and "physical rough-housing".

- Write a journal of "letters" to your baby: let him know how you feel and how your feelings may change or what you think when you see him.

Tina Rychlik is the proud mother of two, and the owner of BabysBest.co.uk, an online store dedicated to the preservation of our children's health. Offering only organic and all natural baby products, you can find guidelines and advice for baby and their parents by visiting http://www.babysbest.co.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tina_Rychlik

The Hottest Trends in Baby Names and Their Meanings

By Benedict Manovill

You see them. You hear them. They are here among us. What are they? They are the hottest trends in baby names and their meanings. And today we are going to look at 3 of the hottest trends.

Baby girl names and baby boy names are filled with life. Baby names change from year to year. Just a few decades from now, baby names may be so different, we may think we are on another planet. Who knows - by 2060, people may have songs for names.

Trends in baby names are different from fads. Fads are here today and gone tomorrow. Trends, on the other hand, are lasting changes. They may go on for years or even forever.

Stay with me now, because we are about to look at 3 trends in baby names that are going like gangbusters.

The "Br" Trend - First names beginning with the letters "Br" are very popular right now. It is difficult to say when this trend began. Some "Br" names such as Brendon hit the popularity charts back in the 1960s. Others, such as Bridget, got a big boost in the 1970s.

Here are some names that are hitting it big in the 21st Century:

For boys - Braydon (English) meaning "Broad valley;" Brent (Norse) which means "Sword;" and Brett (English) meaning "Man from Brittany."

For girls - Brianna (English) meaning "Noble;" Brittany (English) which means "Brittany" (in northern France); and Brooke (English) meaning "Stream."

The "Aidan" Trend - Right now, parents are naming their babies names that rhyme with "Aidan." Usually, these are 2 syllable names such as Jaden, Caden, and Hayden.

Here are a few good ones:

For boys - Aiden (Gaelic) meaning "Firey;" Braydon (English) meaning "Broad valley;" and Caden (German) which comes from the place name "Kaden."

For girls - Hayden (English) meaning "Valley of hay;" Payton (English) which means "Pacca's town;" and Raven (English) meaning "Raven" (black bird).

The Place Name Trend - This trend came up upon us slowly and suddenly it was here. More and more parents, including movie stars, are naming their children after places. Names such as Brooklyn, Heaven, Asia, and China are becoming familiar to us as persons. For the moment, more baby girls are receiving these names than baby boys.

Here are several beloved names:

For boys - Preston (English) which means "Priest's town;" Ross (Welsh) means "Moor;" and Skye (Gaelic) meaning "Isle of Skye."

For girls - Asia (Greek) meaning "Land of the rising sun;" Jordan (Hebrew) meaning "Jordan River;" and Lindsey (English) which is an area in Lincolnshire, England.

I hope you had fun reading this article about the hottest trends in baby names and their meanings.

Uncover more gorgeous baby names at http://www.giftscrolls4u.com Benedict Manovill creates name scrolls for you. A leading name historian and calligrapher, his works are in collections around the world. Order your personalized name scroll and receive a free treasured gift. For more information, visit http://www.giftscrolls4u.com

(c) Benedict Manovill. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Benedict_Manovill