Babys First Year

A new report by the March of Dimes shows that nine out of 10 newborns are screened for 20 medical conditions.

Last year, only two-thirds of newborns were screened. Many of the conditions can be fatal or lead to mental retardation and other disabilities if not detected and treated early.

The number of screenings performed is designated by state laws. The March of Dimes recommends 29 tests. Currently, only 13 states and the District of Columbia test for all of them.

Parents can order testing for additional conditions through private labs.

Happy Babies

Like most disposable baby products, baby diaper wipes can be expensive. They also contain unnatural chemicals that may harm your baby. Instead of spending all that money, why not make your own, natural, safe baby wipes at home in just a few minutes?

PINK BROWN DOT Boutique Baby Wipe Case and Travel Case

HELLO KITTY Boutique Baby Wipe Case and Travel Case 2pc

To start out, you need to find a container to put your wipes in. Most people use Tupperware or some other sealed container. You can also put them in an old container of traditional baby wipes, which will give you the option of putting them in a wipe warmer. Once you have your container, you need to get a roll of Bounty paper towels (you’ll be sad if you use another brand, I promise), cut it in half, and remove the inner tube. This will give you two sets of rolls to use.

Once you have your other materials ready, it’s time to make your wipe solution. Now, if I were to give you all the recipes out there for natural baby wipes that are available, it would probably take me 100 pages. Recipes for baby wipes are similar to recipes for food: everyone has their own. Try different recipes and see which one works best for your baby. If you can’t find one you like, you can always come up with you own recipe. Most recipes contain water (boil then cool for sanitary reasons), baby shampoo or baby bath lotion, and some kind of oil, gel or lotion. You may also find herbal ingredients that are generally for special treatments (anti-fungal wipes) or for aromatherapy.

Once you’re done making your perfect solution, you’re going to put the paper towels in the container and pour the solution over them. Let sit for 10 minutes, then turn upside down and let sit for ten more. If you’re using a container that leaks, make them in a sealed container then transfer them to the one you want later. Once the 20 minutes is up, your towels should be soaked through and ready for use. Just pull the inside towel up, seal your container, and you’re ready to go.

Take the second half of the paper towel roll and store it. Take care not to make too many wipes at once, since homemade wipes don’t have preservatives and artificial chemicals like regular baby wipes they will get moldy and musty if left too long. If you’re constantly having the problem of wipes going bad before you’re done with a roll, simply mix smaller batches of the solution and add them to the paper towels when you use them instead of ahead of time. This can be done by putting it in a spray bottle and spraying some on a wipe, or by dipping the wipe in some solution just before you’re ready to use it.

After you make a batch of baby wipes, be sure to write down the recipe you used, especially if you’re trying several. This will let you know what works best and what may be too rough for your baby’s gentle skin. In no time, you’ll have the perfect homemade personalized baby wipes for your child.

Brown and Pink Diaper wipe Case Wet wipe Baby Girl Flowers

Texas Longhorns Baby Wipe Case

Pink W/ Flower Baby Wipe Case

Black with hearts and skulls Baby Wipe Case

Texas Longhorns Baby Wipe Case

turquoise and white polka dots baby wipe case

black with hot pink gem stone flowers baby wipe case

Leopard Print (cheetah) Baby Wipes Travel Case Makes Great Baby Shower Gift

Baby Care

We live in a bottle feeding society. Many mother’s not only find bottle feeding more convenient, they have also been led to believe that feeding formula is somehow better for them and their baby. This information is flat out wrong. The benefits of breastfeeding for you and your baby generally far outweigh any risks or problems you may face.

The most obvious and also most numerous benefits from breastfeeding are to the baby directly from breast milk. No only does breast milk contain the exact nutritional requirements for your baby, it has numerous other positives as well, including:

Boosts the immune system. Most of the immunities a baby has comes from the mother’s breast milk. Not only does the milk in general contain materials to help fight infection, it is actually tailored to what the mother is exposed to (i.e. what the baby is probably exposed to). This means your child gets custom protection from the diseases they face. Not only do breastfed babies get sick less, they are also less likely to develop immune disorders or allergy related diseases, including asthma.

Helps proper physical development. Breastfed babies gain more weight than formula fed babies at the beginning, but that tapers off. Studies have shown that breastfed babies are less likely to be obese.

Helps proper mental development. Breast milk helps to keep babies in a more alert state, which contributes to proper brain development.

While you may consider bottle feeding breast milk, you should be aware that the simple act of breast feeding also has benefits to your child, including:

Increased bonding. Being close and connected to your child makes them feel safer with you and bond to you more.

Promotes good oral health. Not only does breastfeeding prevent bottle tooth decay, it could also keep your child from having to wear braces in the future.

Improves hand eye coordination. This is especially true if you switch sides and positions regularly.

In addition to being beneficial to your baby, breastfeeding can provide benefits to you as well, including:

Less Hemorrhaging. Mothers who formula feed have to be given medicine after birth to shrink the uterus and prevent dangerous hemorrhaging. Nursing mother’s produce this chemical naturally.

Less stress. Breast feeding has been shown to decrease the incidence of illness in babies. Dealing with a healthy baby is much easier than having to deal with a sick baby.

Birth control. Consistent breast feeding has been shown to be effective in preventing ovulation. This effect may also help prevent breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers.

Weight loss. Producing breast milk burns up a lot of calories. Mothers who nurse have been shown to take off the pregnancy weight faster.

Increased bonding. In addition to helping your baby bond with you, breastfeeding produces hormones that help you bond better with your baby.

While best feeding is usually best, there are some instances where formula may be the better choice. The first of these is if you test positive for diseases that can be transmitted through breast milk. You should talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of breast feeding in these cases. The second reason for bottle feeding is if you take certain medications of illegal drugs. Again, you should speak to your doctor in this situation.

Overall, breastfeeding can be a rewarding and beneficial experience for you and your baby.

Breastfeeding