Sadly, nearly every baby experiences some sort of sickness the first year of life. Some of the more common illnesses your baby might experience are the flu, a cold, an earache or stomach ache. For parents, it’s very difficult to see your robust, active and happy baby turn miserable and limp. Of course the first thing you should do is contact your pediatrician’s office or even urgent care or a hospital depending on your baby’s symptoms for treatment advice. Following that, there likely will be a period of time that you have to just ride out the symptoms and wait for the medicine to kick in and your baby to regain her strength and vigor. Comforting a sick, miserable baby can be worrisome and perplexing for a new parent. There are several things you can do to soothe your baby and make the experience easier for you both.

For a stuffy nose, nasal spray works to loosen things up but your baby probably won’t like the experience one bit. I use a tweezers to pull out boogers that obstruct breathing, done while the baby is asleep. Also, elevate one end of the crib mattress by putting something under it so your baby can sleep with her head at the highest part of the incline. Pillows are not recommended for babies under two, so elevating the mattress works and is a good solution.

If your baby falls asleep in your arms and you find it difficult to move her to the crib, sliding her into an almost sitting position in a corner of the couch works well to make breathing easier. The down side is that you cannot leave your baby unattended in this position, however it’s a small price to pay for a little break from a fussy baby. Warm baths are helpful easing nasal congestion so don’t avoid them if your baby has a cold.

Humidifiers in baby’s room also helps relieve congestion. Baby wipes are a better choice than Kleenex to keep your baby’s nose clean or better yet, rotate between the two to keep baby’s nose free of obstructions and avoid chaffing. Some parents use bulb nasal extractors but they never worked for me.

To relax and calm your baby you can try a gentle back massage. Also likely touching her skin with the tips of your fingers is relaxing slowly going up and down her legs, head and arms. On her face use one finger barely touching her skin going over her forehead, eyebrows and cheeks. Avoid this on the tummy or neck as it might tickle your baby. Gentle pulling ¼ inch strands of your baby’s hair, like you are playing with it or twirling it works for some babies. Don’t ask me why, but it’s a distraction I suppose for them.

If your baby has gas, position them facing down with your hand supporting her head and her body laying along your arm with legs startled on either side. The upside down pressure usually works to relieve gas and you can walk around with your baby in this position. The different view and position might soothe your baby too.
If your baby has a temperature, and can drink cool water (in a sippy cup) offer water frequently to keep your baby hydrated. Your baby will likely enjoy more cold foods than usual, like yogurt, cold applesauce etc., so offer them freely. A cool washcloth on her forehead will feel good.

It’s always distressing when your baby’s sick but hopefully by following doctor’s orders and using soothing techniques to relax your baby will help make a difficult part of parenting easier.

In a moment, your child can be taken from you due to a preventable accident. It is happening everyday to parents all over the US. Auto accidents claim the most lives, followed by drowning. There are lots of lesser know threats to your children you need to know to keep you baby or young child safe. Alive Past 5 tracks the tragic deaths of children under 5 and the causes to keep you informed and alerted to these threats so you can take preventative action before tragedy strikes your family!

It used to be diapering was such a hassle: mothers had no choice but to use cloth diapers, clumsy pins, and annoying covers. Then they invented disposable diapers and most mothers thought it was a miracle. Now, about 80% of diapered babies use disposable diapers. But are plastic diapers really better? Before you go grab a pack of Pampers, catch up on some of the benefits of cloth diapers.

Figure out about how many diapers you use in a week and times it by 52. Next time you go to buy diapers, look at how much they cost. You’ll find that it’s a lot of diapers, translating to a lot of money. The average parent spends two to three thousand dollars diapering their child up to age three. Now go look at the cost of cloth diapers. Sure, they’re a little more expensive, but you don’t have to buy them every week at the grocery store. Cloth diapers have the added expense of doing extra laundry every week, but it still doesn’t compare to the cost of disposable diapers. [read more below]

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Now, go back to the number of diapers you calculated earlier and times that by how many other people in the world use disposable diapers every year. Pretty big number isn’t it? In the U.S. alone, 18 billion diapers are thrown into landfills every year. Not only do they take up tons of space, they don’t biodegrade. Plus, they’re just sitting there full of hazardous waste. Urine and feces can contain harmful bacteria; which can work their way into the environment and even your water supply. Sure, animals go to the bathroom in the wild, but all the animals in an area don’t go in one place like used diapers.

When I was a baby, my mom used cloth diapers. Not because they were cheaper or environmentally friendly, but because whenever she used disposables I’d break out in a horrible rash. If you switch to cloth diapers, you may find that some of your child’s diaper rash is actually caused by the irritation from plastic diapers. Even if your kids aren’t allergic, diapers contain toxic chemicals including Dioxin, which can cause cancer, birth defects, liver damage, skin diseases, and genetic disorders. And you know those absorbent crystals you see when you rip open up a diaper? Those are the same chemicals removed from tampons because they were linked with toxic shock syndrome in women. Sure, the chances these chemicals might harm your child is low, but why risk it?

Most moms choose disposables because they think are annoying and inconvenient. What they don’t realize is that cloth diapers have changed since we were kids. Diaper pins have been replaced with convenient snappies and Velcro-like materials (Velcro itself isn’t flexible enough). You can also get fitted diapers to help keep out leaks. If you don’t like those annoying plastic covers, you can get wool ones; these are especially fun because you can find them in great colors and pattern. Wool is also more comfortable than plastic covers, but works just as well. If you just like the convenience of disposable diapers, there are now all in one cloth diapers that require no folding, no liners, and can just be thrown straight in the wash.

So, why not save the environment, save some cash, and help your kids stay healthy by using good old, dependable cloth diapers?

When we were kids, our moms had one choice for cloth diapers. It involved folding, pins, plastic covers, and a lot of frustration. Many of us have simply switched to disposable diapers because they’re more convenient. Well, most cloth diapers today are not only convenient, they’re also more attractive and sometimes work better than disposable. The key to using and sticking with cloth diapers is choosing the one that works best for you. Here are some of the cloth diaper options on the market.

• All-in-Ones. These are basically cloth versions of disposable diapers. They come in once piece and require no inserts or outer coverings; they’re already built in. You can also get wool versions of these that have a softer cover layer. These diapers are great for busy parents, but you may have cleaning problems because you have to wash them as one piece.
• All-in-Twos. These are just like all-in-ones except the absorbent layer is an extra piece that fits in the diaper. They are almost as convenient, but they’re more hygienic because it’s easier to clean the inserts.
• Fitted Diapers. These look a lot like plastic diapers because they are fitted at the edges to prevent leaks. Unlike all in ones, they do require a diaper cover. You can also get contour diapers that are shaped to fit the baby, but not elasticized to fit tight.
• Flat and Prefold Diapers. These are basically old fashioned diapers. Many have been made more convenient using snaps instead of pins, but they still require folding and aren’t fitted. Prefold diapers provide extra layers of fabric for better absorption. While these may seem archaic, they’re the cheapest option for cloth diapering.
• Pocket Diapers. These diapers are similar to two-in-ones because you can add your own inserts, but instead of sitting in the diaper, the inserts are put into a special pocket. This is great if you need varying levels of protections and absorbency. Another great feature is that you can use almost any naturally absorbent material to put in the pocket, including old flat and prefold diapers.
• One-size Diapers. While most diapers need to be replaced as your child grows, one-size are exactly as they sound: one size fits all. This means you can not only use the same diapers from infancy up, but you can also use the same diapers for your older and younger kids and avoid tedious diaper sorting.

You may think that choosing a diaper type is a big enough decision for you to make, but there are other variables you must consider.

• Diaper Liners. This is what keeps excrement from getting into the main fabric of the diaper. These can be fabric, which you wash, or paper, which you can throw away or flush down the toilet.
• Diaper Covers. It used to be you have to cover cloth diapers in annoying plastic. Now there are new materials being used including wool. Wool offers the added benefit of being warm. You can also get wool covers in pant form for a great looking, easy outfit.
• Organics. You now have the option of getting your diaper, liners, soakers, and everything else, made from organic materials. They’re better for the environment and for your baby.

While sifting through the many diapering options can be overwhelming, it’s better to take the time. This way you can find cheap, environmentally friendly diapers that fit into your life.

Toddlers certainly have their own ideas about what they want or don’t want. Unfortunately, going to bed falls into the “don’t want” category. Getting a cranky toddler to go to bed is no walk in the park.

The best thing you can do is to establish a bedtime routine for your toddler. Toddlers need routine to feel safe and also to learn their boundaries. It will take a little patience and perseverance, but gradually your toddler will start to cooperate.

Here are a few ideas:

Give him soothing bath before bedtime – This could be considered one of the oldest and most successful bedtime routines for kids. A warm bath will soothe and help your toddler calm down before bed. You can add a little lavender or chamomile oil to help your little one relax. Try to keep things calm and don’t add too many toys to the bath. This is a time for your toddler to relax.

Toddlers love good story – Your toddler loves listening to the sound of your voice. Engage her in a bedtime story to help her drift off to sleep. Also try making up stories instead of reading. Include your child as one of the characters and talk about things your child will find interesting. Regular bedtime stories and reading to your child will help influence her interests and develop her creativity.

Sing a Lullaby – The long loved lullaby does just that, it helps lull babies and toddlers to sleep. Your voice and lulling rhythm of the song will give your toddler security and calm him down. You can also play soft music in their rooms. Just watch the reaction of your toddler. Sometimes even low music can stimulate or irritate very sleepy toddlers.

Don’t Surprise Him – Not when it comes to bedtime. About 15 minutes before you start your bedtime routine let your toddler know. Try not to say it’s time for bed in 15 minutes instead say it’s time for a story or a bath in 15 minutes. Some toddlers will automatically go into overdrive if they hear the word bed.

Remind him again about 5 minutes before the time. You can also get him to help you tidy up the toys as a way of preparing for the next activity, the bedtime routine. Once it’s time to go, gently tell him that it’s time for a story or bath and help him to the bedroom. Your toddler may try to think of a million excuses or things she needs to do at this time but remain calm and insist that it’s time to go.

Don’t Rush Him – Toddlers really don’t like being rushed. As a fully fledged parent of a toddler you already know the patience you need to exhibit doing the simplest things like getting your toddler in and out of the car. Bedtime is no different.

If you’re rushing and putting the emphasis on getting them to sleep then your toddler will pick up on that and lash out. Try to place the emphasis on spending quiet, quality time with your toddler. Allow yourself plenty of time so that you can get through the whole bedtime routine without rushing and be flexible and allow for little glitches in your routine.

Don’t Give In – Speak to your toddler before hand about your new bedtime routine, warn him soon before the time. When it’s time be firm and consistent. Even the most reasonable of toddlers, will push their boundaries when allowed. It’s a normal part of growing up and development. Remember your toddler looks to you to make all the grownup and important decisions for him.

Sleep is important for all of us and more so for young children. Be consistent in your bedtime routine and even if things don’t go well at first keep it up. If you’re consistent your toddler will eventually come around.

Most babies get acid reflux. It’s important for new parents to learn more in order to deal properly with the condition. Get to know just how many babies are affected by acid reflux, why they get it, and how the condition progresses if left untreated.

What Are The Statistics?

In babies with acid reflux, studies show that 50 percent of all infants have acid reflux during the first 2 to 3 months of life. Most of the time, infants experience the condition after feeding. In other cases however, an infant may experience reflux while crying, straining, or coughing.

Babies or infants with acid reflux are not necessarily irritated or unhappy. In fact, many infants who have acid reflux are healthy and happy. Almost all infants will no longer have acid reflux after 12 to 18 months. However, there are a few who may continue to show signs and symptoms of acid reflux after 18 months and so may require medical attention.

Why Do Infants Get Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux in general is often a natural occurrence. Our body will sometimes produce more acid in the stomach than needed, and this can be caused by several reasons. For instance, when we eat considerably more than usual in one sitting, our body will try to process the large amount of food we just consumed by secreting more acid. Acid may therefore build up in the stomach and cause us to regurgitate. Since babies tend to be lying down most of the time or fall asleep after feeding, some acid may end up in the esophagus.

What Happens If The Condition Isn’t Treated?

Acid reflux in both infant and in adult can worsen if left untreated. Acid reflux can continue to progress especially in infants that experience reflux after 18 months. Constant spitting and coughing often characterize common symptoms of infant acid reflux. Sometimes, your baby may also vomit, feed poorly and become irritated.

Left untreated, accumulation of acid in the stomach may become so bad that he or she will start to develop more serious complications. Since acid reflux involves the acid and enzymes in the stomach and travels up to the esophagus, the areas around those parts of the body can also be negatively affected.

For instance, your baby may start having breathing problems because acid can travel to the esophagus and affect the areas around it such as the breast area. Furthermore, your baby may have a bloody stool and experience blood loss due to poor digestive function. A lot of pain can be caused from infant acid reflux, and your baby may continuously show signs of irritability and develop poorly (mainly because of poor feeding).

If you are panicking as to why your baby keeps spitting up or unable to feed a lot of the time, you’re not alone. Many new parents actually experience this during the first few months of caring for their child. Now that you’re more familiar with acid reflux in infant, observe if your baby is experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned earlier and have him or her diagnosed by a doctor.

Bedtime for babies is not always easy. Many times, they will drift off to a mommy’s soothing voice, or the comfort of daddy’s hugs. But the moment mommy or daddy crosses the threshold of the room, the crying ensues.

It is not uncommon for babies and young children to have difficulty going to sleep. Many child therapists suggest creating a secure and comfortable environment so that babies and young children understand that falling asleep is a peaceful experience, not one to be feared.

Ways to do this include providing a gentle nightlight, a cozy blanket and/or a stuffed toy for company. Following are some award-winning products to help create that cozy, sleepy time feel.

miYim Organic Plush Sleepytime Collection – 12	Gund Tender Beginnings Comfy Cozy Giraffe Color: Pink	Large Cozy Baby Blanket in Monkee
Cloud b Twilight Constellation Night Light	Portable Night Light By Emphasis: Green	Munchkin Voice Activated Crib Light

Hiring baby sitters for your youngster can be a frightening prospect. There are hundreds of stories of caretakers who have neglected or worse yet abused the children in their care. Selecting a baby sitter does not have to be a challenging task however, and can be very safe, provided you consider a few key steps before hiring someone.

First and foremost, consider asking family members if they will consider baby sitting for short spells to give you and your partner some much needed relief in the early days or weeks after birth. Rest assured your newborn is likely safe with grandma, who has had several years experience raising children.

If you know many people with children, ask them if they have hired baby sitters in the past with any success. Better yet, see if you can begin a co-op with other parents, where you watch their kids one night in exchange for their services another.

No matter where you find someone, it is important that you leave your baby sitters with a checklist of vital information. This should include the following:

• Your cell phone number
• The number of your neighbor, close friend or family member in case your baby sitter can’t reach you
• The phone number of your baby’s pediatrician
• Contact information for your local poison control center
• 911 information
• Your address, so the baby sitter can give that information to anyone in case of an emergency
• A list of any food allergies or drug allergies your baby may have
• Feeding instructions
• The name and telephone of the restaurant you’ll be or the place where you’ll be for the evening/day/hour

Provide this information in an easy to find location should an emergency arrive. It might also be nice to provide your baby’s companion with some food to snack on and a movie or two to watch if the baby is young and likely to sleep the majority of time you are gone. If your baby is older, you might consider a children’s video and some toys.

Another great source for baby sitters is your local community center or YMCA. Consider joining one or two baby play groups. This will provide you some much needed relief, socialization and a chance to meet other parents/potential baby sitters. Many community centers also offer baby sitting services. For a small fee trained care providers will watch your little one for an hour or two while you work out.

A quick recap of the video:

• prepare by getting evertying you need to bathe the baby together, so you don’t need to leave him unattended
• if the umbilical stump is still attached, give the baby a sponge bath. Once it falls off, you can immerse the baby in water
• only use newborn baby on your little one

Nothing can be more nerve racking for a parent than the wail of a baby who can’t be comforted. You can lose a lot of sleep and at some points come close to losing your sanity. While everyone has their own ideas for raising children one of the best things you can do for your baby is calm them naturally. Here is some information to help you finally calm your baby.

Many parents and doctors will tell you to just leave your baby alone when they are crying. The philosophy is that if no one comes to help the baby, they will learn to “self soothe”. The truth is small babies don’t have the emotional capabilities to self soothe. Yes, the baby will stop crying eventually, but only because it feels it has been abandoned and has given up on seeking help. A baby who isn’t comforted when they cry believes their parents no longer care. This can destroy the parental bond and the child’s self esteem. Letting a baby “cry it out” may not always be the best option.

On the other hand, your psychological health matters too. There’s bound to be the occasional time that you can’t take it anymore and no one is around to help you. If you feel you’ve reached your breaking point, it’s all right to take a break from your child for a few minutes while you regroup. If your child knows you’re coming back eventually, they will be less likely to feel abandoned.

The best way to learn to soothe your crying baby is to get to know them. Most of the time, the child is crying because something is wrong: they’re hungry, tired, grumpy, sick, bored, or have one of a multitude of other needs, and every one of these problems has a different cry. If you spend time with your baby and listen carefully, you should be able to distinguish one cry from another. You should for other cues such as facial expressions and body language. The sooner you learn to interpret your child’s crying, the sooner you’ll be able to satisfy their needs.

Sometimes, babies don’t really have anything wrong with them and are just plain upset. Here are a few suggestions for calming a fussy baby:

• Play music. Many babies may also be soother by you singing to them or to simple white noise.
• Use Lavender. It is known to have natural calming properties: you could put it in their bath, bedroom, laundry, or almost anywhere that the soothing vapors will be able to comfort them.
• Use the 5 S’s. Swaddling, laying the baby on its Side or Stomach, Shhing, Swinging them in a mechanical swing or your arms, and offering a breast or pacifier to Suck on will trigger the baby’s natural calming reflex and help them relax.
• Distract them. Try to offer him his favorite toy or make quiet baby talk. You may be able to get him to forget he was upset in the first place.
• Give your baby a massage. A massage can be just as relaxing for your baby as it is for you. Be very gentle with your touch.

If you’ve tried these and other remedies, but your baby still won’t stop crying, you should take them to the pediatrician just in case. They may have something simple (but annoying), like colic, but it’s best to be sure that it’s not something more serious.

Parents of today’s toddlers can choose from numerous products designed to help with potty training. There are potty chairs, potty seats, potty books, and potty dolls. There are sticker charts, flushable wipes, and even alarm watches that remind your child that it’s time to go to the potty.

One of the most frequently used potty training aids is the pull-up: some have symbols on them that fade when wet, and some are made with tear-away sides in case of accidents. But there is some debate as to their effectiveness.

The problem with pull-ups and diapers is that they absorb too well. They pull moisture away from the child’s skin, and that is a good thing for babies. But toddlers who are potty training can benefit from the motivation that a wet diaper provides.

Advantages of Cloth Diapers

Moms who use cloth diapers have a bit of an advantage when it comes to potty training. Cloth diapers allow the child to feel the wetness and discomfort caused by urination and bowel movements. Most children find this quite unpleasant, and it provides a unique incentive to start using the potty.

Another good thing about cloth diapers when it comes to potty training is that they’re cheaper than disposable pull-ups. So if your toddler has a lot of accidents you will have to wash diapers more often, but that is cheaper than buying more pull-ups.

Disadvantages of Cloth Diapers

One problem with cloth diapers as opposed to pull-ups is that they are usually harder for the child to pull down on his own. So during the learning stages, he may need more help than he would otherwise when going to the potty.

Another disadvantage of cloth diapers is evidenced when traveling. If the child uses the diaper, you will have to find somewhere to store it until you get back home. If you’re not prepared, you could be in for a smelly car ride, especially if you’re on a long trip.

Cloth Diapers May Make Potty Training Quicker

Although they can be less convenient than disposables, many moms are choosing to use cloth diapers. Those who are attempting to potty train often find that their children learn quickly. In fact, statistics show that toddlers who wear cloth diapers are fully trained six months before those who wear disposable diapers or pull-ups.

Cloth diapers are inexpensive and better for the environment than disposable diapers. They also provide an advantage to moms who are attempting to potty train. So even though cloth diapers are less convenient than disposables in some ways, using them may result in less time in diapers for your child.