When to Start Your Baby on Baby Food?

The World Health Organization still recommends, that you breast feed your baby for up to two years. For many women this is not always possible, so discuss your options with your pediatrician. Usually, solids can be introduced between the ages of 4 to 6 months, when most babies are developed enough for their first taste of solids. Signs that your baby is ready for baby foods; is when your baby loses the extrusion reflex that is needed for sucking a breast; your baby can sit with some help, and hold their head and neck up well; the birth weight has doubled, and after the bottle or breast-feeding your baby cries for more.

4 to 6 months is when your baby's digestive system can handle solid food, and, possible allergies. Your baby may reject the texture of baby foods, if you wait until your baby is too much older than 6 months. Also, at 6 months, your baby's natural stores of iron begins to deplete, and iron-fortified cereal grains will help replace this loss. The iron in breast milk is more readily absorbed, even though, there is more iron in formula than breast milk.

Usually, the first baby food given is a cereal grain. The most commonly used cereal grains world-wide are wheat, barley, oats, rye, durum, spelt, triticale (a hybrid of wheat and rye), rice, corn, sorghum, quinoa, millet, buckwheat, fonio, amaranth, teff, kaniwa, einkom, emmer and kamut. Grind or process the grain to a powdery consistency before adding milk, formula or water. If you can, buy an iron-fortified single-grain cereal like rice, oatmeal or barley.

Give the same cereal for 3 to 4 days to see if there are any allergies. Allergic reactions can cause hives, a rash, or more serious reactions such as swelling or breathing problems. The more serious symptoms need immediate attention from a hospital or physician. Repeat this procedure for other cereals that you might try. Mix 1 Tbsp. cereal grain with 4 to 5 Tbsp. liquid (breast milk, formula, or water), and heat until warm to touch.

If you have a microwave, mix ¼ cup cereal grain with ¼ to ½ cup unheated liquid; warm at medium(50% power) for 15 to 30 seconds, stir, and test the temperature (microwave ovens can cause hot spots) before feeding. Invest in the spoons designed for your baby's smaller mouth. Keep a record of what you have given to your baby and when. Depending on how many cereal grains you try, gradually, start adding fruits or vegetables, one at a time for 3 to 4 days each; green beans, peas, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, apples, bananas, peaches, pears, prunes or whatever is available in your area.

To learn the likes and dislikes of your baby, do some trial and error; mix and match of cereal grains, fruits and vegetables. Steam or cook then puree or mash and add a little liquid until you have a gruel like consistency. Fix enough baby food at 2 to 3 ounces per serving 2 to 3 times daily to last 3 to 4 days, which would add up to a total of 24 ounces, and refrigerate or freeze.

Many experts say it doesn't really matter whether liquid or solid comes first in a meal. At bedtime the comfort of milk at the end of a meal might be preferred. Some mothers give the milk first then give the baby food as a treat. Others, try to have a set schedule of giving milk or formula at certain times of the day in between the baby food feedings. Just be flexible, and develop a routine that works best for you and your baby.

Be ready for an experience to remember, and a little, or a big mess. The way your baby opens their little mouth wide open, and lifts up their little chin is worthy of unlimited photo's, video or posting sessions!

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Pacifier Use or Not? That Is the Question

There are many different opinions about the use of pacifiers out there. I find myself somewhere in the middle of two somewhat opposing sides. One side feels that pacifiers interfere with breastfeeding and cause nipple confusion in the newborn and are strongly against them. The other side uses pacifiers at the drop of a hat to soothe a fussy infant. Here is my middle of the road viewpoint on the subject.

Newborns have a very strong suck reflex. Infants suck first to eat (survival instinct in full force) and secondly to soothe and calm themselves. Many a breastfeeding mom has felt like a human pacifier and struggled with wanting to soothe their baby and the problems that arise (i.e. sore, cracked and sometimes bleeding nipples) with constant nursing. Even though It is natural for a newborn to want to nurse very frequently, sometimes even every hour, there should also should be periods where the infant is sleeping quietly and calmly for 2-3 hours at a time.

Infants can sometimes have difficulty soothing themselves. If the infant has been fed and is nursing well and just still seems fussy, a pacifier is a good choice to help them calm and get to sleep. Pacifiers should not be used as the first line of defense for a crying baby. Find out what is wrong first. If he is hungry, don't use a pacifier to keep him calm until you can feed him. If he is always offered breastfeeding first, he will usually not develop nipple confusion. Try swaddling him first before you introduce the pacifier. Many times the swaddling alone will calm him.

Studies have been done that show a correlation with pacifier use and lowering the incidence of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)**. Some think that it's a good idea to not introduce a pacifier until 2-3 weeks after birth so that breastfeeding is well established. I agree with this as long as you don't have an extremely fussy and irritable baby on your hands. Sucking is one of Dr. Harvy Karp's 5 "s" that helps tremendously in the calming of a colicky baby.

Here are my recommendations for pacifier usage in a nutshell:

1. Always offer feeding first if infant is hungry.

2. Do not use a pacifier to soothe prior to a feeding

3. Swaddle first, then use a pacifier if the infant has not calmed

4. Limit pacifier use to soothing before sleep. Don't keep putting it back in the infant's mouth during sleep. Don't use a pacifier while the infant is playing or otherwise occupied.

5. Wean the infant off of the pacifier before 12 months (earlier if you can).

I believe that if you follow these general guidelines, there are no detrimental effects of pacifier usage. These guidelines are of course, my opinion. I would love to hear how others feel about pacifier use. How do you feel?

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Understanding the Different Kinds of Diaper Bags

Every mother knows that a good diaper bag is one of the must-have items if you want to keep your sanity while taking care of a baby. Just imagine how life would be if you had to leave the house with your child and you don't have a diaper bag to carry all the items she will need.

Therefore, it goes without saying that buying an adequate bag should be included in your to-do list as you prepare for your baby's birth. For some women, buying a diaper bag may seem like a no-brainer. After all, how complicated could it be? Most are basically the same anyway so you can just pick randomly and you can be done, right? Unfortunately, it's not that easy.

There are several different factors that you can to consider when choosing a bag. For instance, you have to figure out which size you need. You should also check whether it has enough pockets and compartments, which would be essential to keeping your baby's stuff organized while you travel.

You should also check the durability of the fabric used, and whether it is easy enough to clean. You might also want to look for optional features like matching changing pads, metal feet for when you have to put the bag down on the floor, stroller straps, built-in bottle heating devices, and so on. Last but not the least is that you have to pick a diaper bag that looks good, unless you don't mind carrying around an unsightly piece of luggage wherever you go with your baby.

Before you go out in search of some diaper bags, it would be helpful to know that these bags come in a few different kinds. If you think that all diaper bags look the same, they you're in for a nice surprise. These days, bags come in all shape and sizes, and the four most popular types are the tote bag, the messenger bag, the satchel bag, the hobo bag, and the backpack.

Tote Bag Tote bags are possibly the most popular diaper bags these days because they have a very simple and sensible design. On the average, they are also the largest, making them perfect for long trips outside the house. Totes have multiple pockets and compartments to keep the spacious interior well organized. Women are the ones usually seen carrying a tote because they are usually considered too feminine by most dads.

Messenger Bag When it comes to diaper bags for dads, messenger bags are definitely the bestsellers. They are definitely not girly and most of them don't even look like diaper bags, unless you look at the contents. Messengers are also great because while you carry them diagonally across your body, the weight of the bag is balanced evenly to different body parts, minimizing the pressure on your shoulders.

Satchel Bag Satchel bags are slightly similar in form to tote bags but they usually have much longer straps. Instead of being carried over one shoulder like a tote bag, these satchels can also be worn diagonally across the body like a messenger. However, there are also satchels with short straps like totes. These bags are designed mostly for women.

Hobo Bag Hobo bags are another type of large bag that comes in many stylish designs. In fact, these bags are a favorite of many Hollywood celebrity moms today. Hobo bags typically come in machine-washable fabric for easy cleaning. Some of the best hobos that you can find these days are those that are included in the Bumble Collection.

Backpack Backpacks are another type of bag that is rapidly growing in popularity in recent years, among both women and men. It's actually rather surprising why these bags were not created sooner because they really make a lot of sense. By freeing your hands, they enable you to attend to your baby or run after your toddler without too much hassle. Also, if the backpack straps are thickly padded, they are very convenient for balancing the weight across your back and shoulders.

Aside from these categories, there are also other types of diaper bags that you can choose from. Also, a new kind of trend these days is the convertible diaper bag, which can easily switch from one type of bag to another with the simple switching of a strap or two. Some of the most popular convertible bags are those that can be changed from a backpack to a messenger bag and vice versa.

Now that you understand the main differences between the various types of bags, you are now better equipped to pick the diaper bag that will work best for you and that will help you the most in caring for your baby.

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Basic Potty Training Guide

Parents look forward to the switch from changing soiled diapers to that joyful time when the baby uses the potty. The age varies however, in developing countries, learning the trick happens even after a few weeks from age, in the United States however, and other developed countries, the process takes place later, at 12-24 months, with some children wearing diapers up to ages 3 and 4. Whichever the case, it is up to the parent to keep an eye out for the telltale signs.

Infant Potty Training

In East Africa, Asia and mainland China, potty training commences at infancy (0-12 months). The constant interaction the parents have with the infants encourages early spotting of the telltale signs. Here the process is quiet simple. At 3-6 months, the parent will hold the baby over the potty, or sink, and as the baby eliminates, make a characteristic gesture or sound. This is mostly followed by a reward of some kind. The baby learns to associate this sound or gesture with a bathroom break. Most will often hold till the guardian makes such a gesture. this can help the child to develop restraint or better still,voice out intent to go to the bathroom.

Though this is not what most people consider conventional potty training, it has a number of benefits. The baby learns quite fast, avoids the diaper infections, and is more settled on the potty since they haven't learnt to crawl or walk yet.

Potty Training for Young Toddlers

Potty training for toddlers in the United States starts at 12-24 months. However, depending on the child's maturity and development, this presents a number of problems.

Toddlers at this age find it extremely difficult to break the diaper habit. Secondly, due to the found joys of crawling and walking, the children may be too frisky to sit still for even few minutes.

However, this has its benefits too. The need to please adults, a trait common in children at this age, and developed mental capability makes the whole potty training process easier.

Signs the Baby Is Ready

There are tell-tale signs that the baby is ready for the potty. These include;

• A developed curiosity to the bathroom, potty or items resembling such items. • An improved awareness to bowel movement and urine. • Acute discomfort when wet or soiled • Improved vocabulary especially with words like ″poop″ and ″peepee″. This shows a desire to be changed or just sit on the potty for fun. Before venturing out to buy the potty, the parent should plan the whole potty training process first. The decisions to make include • how to initiate the process • how to deal with failure or accidents • signs to back off

Patience and flexibility is vital for this activity. Just like walking, the baby may show wrong signs or develop interest later. Success will not necessarily assume a linear gradient. The child may take off late, earlier or start successfully then regress at later stages. However, don't wait for the baby to passively show the signs, this leads to late potty training which may delay other developmental milestones. Many of the signs can be taught or encouraged. The earlier, the better.

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10 Things You Need in Your Swim Bag

Summer is on the way! Trips to the beach are back in the mix of cheap, fun things to do with your kids. To get you ready, I've put together this handy list of things you'll need in your swim bag.

Swim nappy. If you have a baby, toddler, or child with disabilities, you'll probably be using a swim nappy, especially if you're going to a pool. Most public swimming pools require children to wear a swim nappy if they're not toilet trained. Many also offer disposable swim nappies for sale if you've forgotten to bring one. But why spend the extra money if you don't have to? Even if you're not a regular cloth nappy user, a reusable swim nappy is a great option for saving money and containing any accidents. Sunscreen. Especially if you're fair skinned like I am, you'll want to protect yourself from the sun. You can take your pick between all-natural sunscreens or conventional sunscreens. The right sunscreen is the one that works for your own skin. Most chemical sunscreens are not recommended during pregnancy & breastfeeding. Zinc oxide is a natural substance that many experts agree is safe at any stage of life. Water. This is a MUST. You can't drink the salt water without becoming more dehydrated, and you can't drink pool water because it's chlorinated. Bring your own spring or tap water to keep yourself hydrated. Snacks. This prevents you having to run off to buy food if you get hungry, and dragging the kids along with you to do so if you're the only adult. Fruit is great - it's tasty, doesn't spoil quickly, and has a high water content. Tip: take the messier fruits to the beach (peaches, nectarines, watermelon) and wash off the juices in the water! Sun hat. Again, the fair skinned won't want to forget these. I really like the ones made by Christine at Wispy Threads. Beach toys. What's a trip to the beach without a beach ball? Tip: deflate it when you go home to save space in the bag, then inflate again next trip. My son has a beach set with a sandcastle mould, train mould, shovel, rake, and watering can. Or use whatever water toys your kids like. The possibilities are endless. First aid kit. You don't need to buy a fancy one - just put a few things together in a Ziploc bag or plastic container. Things like bandages, antiseptic ointment and/or wipes, and tweezers are a few things you might find helpful. Towels. This is probably a no-brainer, but easy to forget! They're not just for drying yourself off - they're great for lying on at the beach if you don't want sand getting into every crevice. Wet bag. When you're finished swimming, you'll need something to carry your wet items home. Enter the wet bag - a bag made from laminated fabric to store wet items without leaking onto the rest of your things. At Little Para Pants we stock Bonnibuns wet bags - which are also great if you're a regular cloth user. They'll hold about 6 modern cloth nappies, or wet swimming gear for a family of four. Money for ice cream. I grew up overseas, but my Aussie husband says it's a very Australian thing to get ice cream after going to the beach. It's not surprising, then, that all the beaches I've been to in Adelaide have ice cream shops close by! And you can use it as an incentive if the kids don't want to leave. 'Who wants ice cream?' 'MEEEEEE!'

What else would you add to this list?

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Scrabble Strategy: Learning Words That Start With Q

Ever since the game Scrabble went online, more and more people have started playing the game. And while the game is inherently fun, especially for word aficionados, it can be frustrating for some as building words out of random letters isn't exactly easy. Of course, the object of playing the game IS to have fun. But winning is also a good motivation to keep on playing. For those who consider themselves in need of a performance boost when it comes to their Scrabble game, one of the best strategies to accomplish that is to add more words to your vocabulary. Now, learning new words is kind of a big task to undertake. Where would you start? Some would say that you need to learn all the 2-letter Scrabble words because it will enable you to build parallel words. Others would suggest 7-letter Scrabble words because it will aid you in forming more bingos. In my opinion, the ones that you should first focus on are the words that start with Q.

The letter Q causes most Scrabble players to quake in fear. This is because most of us only know a handful of words starting with Q and almost all of them require a U. If asked to come up with a Q-word that doesn't have a U, a lot of us, Scrabble pros aside, would be unable to think of any word off the top of our head. And should we be unlucky enough to draw that particular letter, most of us would probably leave it alone until we end up drawing the letter U. Now, playing with 6 tiles on your rack instead of 7 severely limits your gameplay because your options are limited. Some of us would even go so far as saving other letters because we plan to use them along with the Q. This kind of play will make any player lose potentially high scoring moves because he or she is only building words with what's left.

Another reason why words starting with Q are the best words to start learning is that a Q should never be left on your rack especially if the game is nearing the end. If you are ever unfortunate enough to have that Q on your rack when someone finishes off all his or her tiles, you will be penalized with a deduction of 20 points from your score. This greatly increases your chances of losing the game. Thus, the letter Q is a letter that should be played quickly and without qualm.

The last reason why these Q words are so important is that they have a high value attached to them. Playing a word that starts with Q allows you to potentially earn a high score while avoiding the risk of incurring any of the problems mentioned above. Of course, the side benefit of simply improving your vocabulary in general is also a great factor. After all, how many people do you know that can spout off numerous words that start with Q without straining their brain? Quack, quick, quad... It can cause quite a quandary.

So, if you're ever looking to improve your Scrabble game by increasing your vocabulary, I'd say you're better off with words that start with Q.

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