by Sarah Veda

For a brand new mommy, or even a seasoned one, dealing with a colicky baby can be overwhelming. The constant crying is heartbreaking and nerve wracking, and leaves you with a sense of helplessness. But don’t lose heart; the only good thing I can tell you about colic is that it’s temporary. Here are a few ideas to keep you going.

First – Be sure it’s really colic. If you haven’t had the little one checked out by a doctor, do so. Sometimes what’s written off as colic is really a milk allergy or some other true gastric disorder, like acid reflux. If the baby is on formula, you should ask if making a change in brand might help.

Secondly, get help! If you have to deal with the colicky symptoms all by yourself every day, you’re bound to go nuts. Swap off with your spouse, another family member or a friend. My daughter had colic for the two longest weeks of my life, and it began every evening around 5:00pm. My husband and I took turns making dinner and eating with our other children while the other took care of the baby. It kept each of us somewhat sane to have a normal evening every other night, plus our other children didn’t feel so neglected.

Next, try some of those tricks everybody tells you about. A lot of them really do work! Take the baby for a drive (this worked wonders with my daughter). Vacuum, play music or sit with the baby on the washing machine during the spin cycle! Try to take the baby’s mind off her misery. For some babies a warm bath and a rock in the rocking chair is helpful. I don’t personally recommend the “crying it out” method for colic. Your baby is truly in pain and needs comfort during this time, and letting her cry for a long time will probably only escalate the situation. Mylicon Drops, an over the counter gas medication, might relieve symptoms on some babies. It’s perfectly safe, so it’s definitely worth a try. Otherwise, don’t medicate unless it’s something your doctor has told you to use. I’ve heard of moms giving the baby something to make them sleep. This is terribly unsafe.

Finally, if the colicky symptoms haven’t subsided within a few weeks, make a return trip to the doctor, just to be sure nothing has changed. Colic is a temporary condition, so just bear with it and look forward to better times.

About the Author
Sarah is a 41 year old wife and mother of two boys and one girl. She spent many years as a manager in the corporate world, and gave it up to be a stay at home mom. Go to http://www.infantresources.com now and get her incredible baby minicourse – absolutely free.

by James Aust

When a baby has colic, the family environment is stressful and many family members may become upset or on edge. This is most often seen in new parents. Some symptoms of colic may be that the baby cries loudly for three hours, the baby has bowel pains or the baby pulls their feet up under themselves and clenches their fists. New parents become alarmed and upset that their new baby may cry for hours, even though they have tried just about everything to comfort the the baby.

Causes of Colic
There is no known one cause of colic. Doctors have several theories of what causes infant colic. The most popular theory is that the child had ingested air along with either the mother’s milk or bottled milk. Drinking too fast or in gulps causes air to enter the baby’s stomach which leads to gastrointestinal pain, thus the baby becomes colic. Another theory some believe is that if the baby is breast fed and the mother is eating a lot of gas producing foods such as orange juice, vegetables, like onions and cabbage, apples, plums, spicy food and caffeinated products such as cola, chocolate and tea, the baby will receive the same result through breast milk. A third theory is that infants have an immature nervous system that is unable to cope with all the intense new stimulations of new life events. As the day progresses, the stress overcomes them and they cry for hours.

Solutions For a Colic Baby
Infant colic is very common in new born children. It is not the result of poor parenting skills. In fact, about 1/3 of all babies experience colic, so having a colic baby is not uncommon. In most cases infant colic will disappear in three months. But what can you do now? How can you reduce colic symptoms? There is no single treatment for a colic baby. Many parents have experienced success trying the following methods:

1. Hold your baby and rock it in your arms.
2. Put your baby in a swing and gently rock it back and fourth.
3. Take the baby for a car ride.
4. Carry the infant in a sling or take it for a carriage ride.
5. Try turning on a fan or vacuum, using them as white noise.
6. Try using a pacifier.
7. Give the baby a warm bath.
8. Try burping the baby.
9. Use Simethicone drops to reduce the baby’s gas pains.
10. If you are the mother, and you are breast feeding, vary your diet to see if you are eating some food which produces gas. The baby would receive this food through your breast milk.

Summary of Infant Colic
Most of the time newborn colic is nothing to worry about. Make sure you go over the possible solutions for a colic baby which are listed above. Ask neighbors and friends. They have often already been through infant colic. Consult your doctor if your baby screams constantly or if the infant colic is accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, constipation or absence of urine. These symptoms may indicate a more serious problem. If you are new parents, congratulations!

About the Author
Visit James M. Aust at www.AllWomensClothes.com/

With so many different aspects of a shower to plan, coming up with a baby shower favor idea is often the last consideration on a long list of planning.

There are several unique, exciting and interesting baby shower favor ideas that will work well for almost any shower. Whether traditional or alternative in nature, the following are popular baby shower favor ideas:

• Bath and Body Items

• Notepads

• Pictures

• Gift Certificates

• Coupons

• Gift Baskets

• Designer Candles

• Baby Bottles with Candy

No matter what baby shower favor idea you come up with, keep in mind that the majority of your guests are coming with one intention in mind, and that is to spoil and entertain the mom to be. Some important considerations when planning a shower include the food items, cake and games that will be played by visitors.

The mom to be or any friends of the family is likely to take an active interest in your planning efforts. If you are uncertain what favors might be well received, go over the guest list with your mom-to-be and try to get a feel for the personality of the ladies attending. You might find for example that a large majority of the moms that will be attending have children of their own. If this is the case don’t hesitate to include helpful childcare or baby items that any mom would be appreciative of.

Some baby shower favor ideas are generated from the party theme itself. For example, if the motif of a shower is a color, such as green, you might consider acquiring some melon, lime or pear flavored hand soaps and lotions (that will of course, be green in color). You might even consider some “gag” gift items as party favors including stickers (which are sure to be well received from the children of guests).

Planning a baby shower requires an investment in time and energy. There is no reason to spend the majority of your planning time attempting to find appropriate party favors. There is a vast selection of products available, and ideas are easily discovered when one takes a moment to consider the shower theme, guests and mom-to-be’s expectations.

About the Author
Corporate gift strategist Adriana Copaceanu specializes in helping entrepreneurs increase their referrals through the strategic use of gifts. She offers a customized worry free gift giving service to fit the budget of any size business to assist them in standing out from the crowd. See her gift basket gallery here: www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com

There is a lot of controversy on whether it is better to parent your baby by a set schedule or by demand. Sometimes your baby will make this decision easy for you as he sets up a schedule for himself. Other times he will want nothing to do with the idea.

What It Is?
When a parent has a set schedule for their baby it generally means that they know when there baby is going to do what throughout the day. Whether it is nursing, napping, playing or bath time, there is a routine that the baby will follow even if he doesn’t’ want to. The parent will do the same activities, everyday in the same order, and will plan their other jobs, such as grocery shopping and cleaning around the babies’ schedule. For some this plan works well.

What Are the Pros and Cons?
Some babies will need a schedule to be content. A baby learns quickly and his body may adapt to a schedule where it is fed and rested at the same time everyday. Your baby’s inner clock may take to a schedule well, making for a happier baby. With a happy baby comes a happy family.

In some cases though a strict schedule can be bad, especially if there is no flexibility for mom and dad. Babies hit growth spurts frequently and when this happens they need to be fed more, in order to keep up with the calories their body is burning. If a schedule is too tight and the baby isn’t fed he will probably become fussy and upset, leading to crying and stress in the house. A schedule can be nice, but it is important to remember to stay a little flexible and listen to your baby.

How Do You Get Your Baby on a Schedule?
If you want to place your baby on a schedule, start by keeping a daily journal of what he does and when he does it. Write down when he gets up, when he eats and when he naps to see if you can detect a pattern. As your baby gets older he will probably start falling into some sort of sketchy pattern on his own. If you notice that your baby is waking up at 630am, eating, playing for a while, eating again and then going back to sleep about 930am everyday, you will know to start watching for this and preparing. Watch your baby’s cues to see when he starts rooting, showing that he is hungry, or rubbing his eyes letting you know he is tired. Once you see a regular pattern emerging, you can plan your parenting around your baby’s schedule, and make the times you are doing chores much more enjoyable for both of you.

What If Your Baby Isn’t Cooperating?
Try as you might, some babies just may not want to cooperate with being put on a schedule. Maybe you have a stubborn baby, or a baby who just wants to relax and go-with-the-flow, napping and eating at different times throughout the day. Forcing your baby to adapt to a schedule you want him to have may only make your baby irritable, fussy, and extremely tired which will just cause him to cry more, however not necessarily nap. If you can’t get your baby on a schedule try to watch his cues and when possible keep flexibility in your schedule, while accepting that your baby may interrupt a shopping trip, or sleep through lunch with grandma. At this point it is your turn to “go-with-the-flow”.

Who doesn’t love a massage! One of the best ways to relax is getting a great massage from a loved one. If this is true, then why wouldn’t your baby enjoy a massage as well? Massaging your baby is a great idea and can help him wind down and possibly sleep better. It is a great way to bond with your baby or for your partner to have one-on-one time bonding with your baby if you are breastfeeding.

Step One
Pick a time when you and your baby are the most relaxed or calm. After your baby’s bath is a great time, while you are applying baby lotion. Make sure you are in a warm environment, especially if you are just pulling your baby out of the bath since his body temperature may be dropping already.

Step Two
Use baby lotion to keep your hands smooth and help them run evenly. There are various kinds of baby lotion out there from the classic pink bottles to night time lotion that includes lavender and is supposed to help calm your baby and help them sleep.

Step Three
When massaging your baby you should start with his head and work your way down. Be careful that you do not press on your baby’s soft spot if he still has one, but you can still lightly massage around the top of his head, his forehead, and behind the ears with your fingers. Massage your baby’s face including eyebrows, cheeks and chin. Move down to this neck, and shoulders, then his chest. Don’t forget his back! Massage his belly and down his legs, front and back, including his feet and toes. Bend and move his legs while massaging him helping him stretch his muscles.

Step Four
Don’t be afraid to look at, talk to and even sing to your baby while you are massaging him. This interaction is likely to build a very big, tight bond.

Step Five
Don’t stop with just one run through! Your baby will love how this feels so continue it two even three times, for as long as your baby is calm and enjoying it. Follow your baby’s cues. If he wants to change position let him, and if he seems to be frustrated, looking like he has had enough, stop the massage. Get your baby dressed and cuddle, feed, play with, or put your baby to bed, depending on your baby’s schedule and the time of day it is.

Once the umbilical cord has come off your baby you can start giving him baths! Some babies love baths, other babies detest them; if you are lucky yours will love his bath. What do you need to know before you start however and how can you make it easier?

Checklist:
What items do you need to have prepared before you put your baby in the bath in order to make your job go smoother?

____ A sparkling clean baby bath (or sink) with soft insert (towel or sponge, also clean)
____ Running water
____ Baby soap
____ A warm room
____ Wash cloth and small face washing cloth
____ Clean baby towel
____ Clean outfit
____ Two clean diapers (just in case)
____ A baby!

Tips:

• Have everything ready before you start the bathing process.
• Make sure the room is warm – if necessary, use a space heater to help warm it up.
• In a small bowl, mix a little baby soap with warm water. Use this solution for washing so you won’t have to worry about getting too much soap on an already slippery baby.
• Want to remember these early days? Get someone else to take a picture or two of your little one in the bath.

Step-by-step:
1. Choose a clean place to bathe your baby. The kitchen sink, since it’s higher it won’t strain your back as much, is a popular place for a baby to take their first bath. You can also use a baby bath. You will want to use a foam bath mat or washcloth at the bottom of your “tub” so that your baby doesn’t slip.

2. Make sure that the room is warm and draft-free and have everything – from soap to towel – ready.

3. Don’t plan on answering the phone or the door or using the facilities. Babies can drown quickly in as little as two inches of water so stay within arms reach of your baby at all times.

4. Fill the bath a few inches deep with warm water. Some babies don’t like the water running while they are in the bath. If this is your baby turn it off before you put him in.

5. Slowly get the baby undressed. Tell your baby what is going to be happening and make it sound like fun. Babies will learn what bath time is and get excited, often kicking and squealing if they know it is something you are excited about as well.

6. Slowly put your baby in the tub, supporting her neck and body the whole way as she gets used to it.

7. Start washing her face. Use a very small amount of soap. (We cut a soft towel into little strips for washing the baby’s face.) They really don’t like having their whole face covered, so just wash one small area at a time.

8. Some people will start with the head next and work their way down, but if your baby isn’t really dirty you may want to do the body first. Heat is lost through babies head so often if you wash their hair first and then wash their body they may get chilled. Don’t forget to get behind the ears, her neck and under the arms – all places where stuff can accumulate.

9. Wash your baby’s arms and legs. It’s amazing the lint that collects in their little fingers and toes, so make sure to rinse those areas well.

10. Clean around the belly button, and finally, the diaper zone. Remember to rinse this area thoroughly so that there isn’t soap left there that will irritate your baby’s sensitive skin.

11. Once you’ve washed the front of baby, it’s time to clean the back. Cup your hand around the baby’s neck and hold your little one up so that with the other hand, you can clean her back and rear.

12. Almost done! Lean your baby back and hold on tight, they are slippery! Place a hand under each arm, lean her slowly forward and pick her up out of the bath. Gently lay her down on the towel.

13. Dry off your baby thoroughly. Some babies like hooded towels (they are cute) and it’s comforting to them and keeps their wet heads warm. (Make sure the hood doesn’t descend into their eyes). Hood or no hood, make sure that you keep your little one’s head warm while you dry her.

14. Your baby’s clean! Time for a new diaper and a clean outfit.

Hiccups can be a big worry for many pregnant women and new moms. Why does their baby have them? Is their baby in pain from them? What can they do about them? Rest assured, most of the time the baby is not in pain, and the mother is more bothered by the fact that the hiccups have appeared, than the baby is having them.

Hiccups in Utero
Pregnant women often mention feeling their baby having hiccups while in the womb and wonder what causes this. These hiccups can start in the first trimester, but won’t be felt by mom until late in the second trimester or during the third trimester. Rarely do the hiccups bother the mother-to-be, however some moms might worry that it is hurting their baby.

The exact cause of your baby’s hiccups is unknown. However, many specialists believe that your baby’s hiccups may be helping to strengthen the diaphragm muscle in order to help the baby breathe both in the womb and once they are born. In many cases your baby will have the hiccups at the same time everyday.

Not only can hiccups be felt by the mom-to-be, but it can also be detected during an ultrasound and picked up on a Doppler while at the doctor’s office for a routine visit. After a woman has been assured that these hiccups are normal and are not bothering their baby, then they become something that can be looked forward to on a daily basis, much like their baby kicking.

Hiccups After Birth
If your baby had hiccups while in utero, it is very plausible that he will have the hiccups after he is born. Some babies that did not have them in utero may still have them after birth. Hiccups can start after birth as early as the day your baby is born. Like the hiccups your baby might have had in utero, these hiccups are generally not painful for your baby.

Hiccups after birth occur when the diaphragm muscle contracts causing your baby to take quick short breaths. Normally these hiccups go away after only a few minutes. If they are really bothering you, try burping your baby more often during feedings. To get them to stop you can try to feed your baby whether you are nursing or bottlefeeding. The constant sucking and swallowing can help that muscle relax and help the hiccups stop.

When you have water in your ears, or you feel that you need to clean them you will generally grab a q-tip and dig in. Many parents would think the same goes true for their baby. However the motto of many pediatricians now is, “If I can’t see in your baby’s ears, I will clean them out myself.”

86 the cotton swabs
Cotton swabs can be quite traumatic to the ear canal. More often than not the cotton swab forces old skin, wax and debris closer to the eardrum. The same goes true for other tools you could use to dig into your baby’s ear.

Your pediatrician will have a device that looks similar to a knitting needle that she uses in conjunction with her ear scope to gently pull out any wax buildup that your baby may have. This may be necessary to do during well-checks or if you take your baby in for a sick baby check up.

There are at home methods you can try as well after you get the okay from your pediatrician. A combination of half-and-half white vinegar and rubbing alcohol purges the old skin, excess wax and debris, and controls residual moisture.

You can apply the vinegar-alcohol solution while bathing your baby. Tilt your baby’s head to either side and apply two to three drops in each ear. After about two to three seconds, tilt your head in the opposite direction to empty the excess waste. Residual moisture will evaporate.

Be sure you okay this process with your baby’s pediatrician before you try it and make sure you only use a small amount of solution. If you have been told that your baby has a hole in his eardrum, don’t use the solution. Opt to let your pediatrician handle the wax.

Accidental deaths occur to children under the age of five more than most people realize all because their home is not safe or properly baby proofed. No one wants to watch their baby be hurt or killed by something that they could have prevented with just a couple of dollars and a few easy steps. There are several things you will want to remember and make sure that you do in order to guarantee that your home is safe for your baby.

Cooking
Never hold your baby in your arms when making a meal. Boiling water and oil from the foods you cook can quickly splash onto them. Use your back burners when possible and turn handles away from the front of the stove.

Pulling Up
Be prepared that before your baby starts walking he will start pulling himself up on your furniture. Be sure to have all heavy furniture, including the changing table, secured to the wall so it can not fall down on them.

Crib Safety
Double check that the crib is a safe place for your baby to lay. Slats should be no more than 2 3/8″ apart and bumpers should be removed by the age of five months or when your baby begins pulling herself up — whichever comes first. Never keep stuffed animals or loose bedding in the crib. If it is cold, put footed pajamas on your baby or put him in a wearable blanket.

Outlet Covers
Make sure all outlets are properly covered. Some believe that individual outlet covers come out easily and are a choking hazard, so you can now replace all electrical outlets with sliding outlet covers for added safety.

Bath Time
Never leave a child unattended in a bathtub. A baby can drown easily and quickly. If you are expecting a call that is that important, bring a cordless phone to the bathroom with you. In most cases the caller can leave a message. Prepare the towels, clothing, pajamas, diaper and lotions that you will need when your baby is done with his bath ahead of time so that you can stay by his side and keep him safe the entire time he is in water.

Windows
Do not place furniture that can be climbed on near windows. This is especially true in rooms that are not in your direct view, like your baby’s room, and during the summer when you might have your window open.

Medicines
Just because it is child resistant doesn’t mean that your baby can’t get it open. Remember to keep all medicines high up and out of your baby’s reach. For added security buy a lock to put on the cabinet.

Cleaners, etc.
Not only can medicines hurt your baby, but so can other products such as hair spray, mouthwash and your cleaning products. They should all be locked up or put up out of reach of your baby so that he does not accidentally get sick.

Car Seat
Your car seat is the one thing keeping your baby safe during an accident. Be sure to have a car seat inspection done by a member of the police department or someone certified in installing car seats. In a study completed by National Safe Kids Council, over 87 percent of car seats were installed improperly. Your child should always be in the back seat and rear-facing for an infant under one year and less than 20 pounds.

Infant Carrier’s
When your baby is in a carrier, never place it on a counter or high surface. She could easily wiggle and topple over, much faster than you will be able to react and catch it.

Clothing
Check baby’s clothing regularly for loose buttons, snaps, etc. Never use strings to attach the pacifier to baby’s crib or clothes and check that it is not getting old. If you sense there is something harmful in your baby’s clothing and you can not fix it, just throw it away. It is better safe than sorry.

When Kelli Weber recently gave birth to her first child, she envisioned calm, cuddling rays of bliss that never ended. She found plenty of these moments, but she also experienced 3 a.m. fussiness and 5 p.m. wailing sessions.

Kelli turned to the calming properties of natural lavender essential oil to make both her baby and herself tranquil again. “I use Aura Cacia’s lavender essential oil to calm my sweet baby, and to bring back my sanity,” says Weber. “It helped with the transition to my new motherhood lifestyle.”

Lavender’s relaxing properties have long been acknowledged. The use of lavender-based herbal sleep pillows, for example, goes back centuries. And now there’s growing scientific evidence supporting lavender’s soothing properties.

Medical journals have published research conducted at universities and hospitals around the world that suggest the aroma of lavender can affect our moods by altering our brain (EEG) activity. A classic study at the University of Miami School of Medicine in 1998, for example, found that subjects exposed to the aroma of lavender for just three minutes showed more positive moods, greater relaxation and increased drowsiness.

Mindy Seiffert, the mother of twin four-year-old boys and the aromatherapy manager for Aura Cacia, a leading U.S. manufacturer of aromatherapy products (www.auracacia.com), offers these tips on using lavender to enhance the experience of caring for a baby:

• Massages: Both baby and mom can benefit from a lavender massage. Ready-to-use lavender massage oils are available, or a few drops of lavender essential oil can be mixed with sweet almond oil or unscented lotion.
• Baths: A soaking bath with lavender is another way to relax. A variety of lavender bath products exist (be sure to use an all-natural product), or simply add a few drops of lavender essential oil to the bath water. For a baby’s bath, use just two or three drops; for Mom, use five to ten.
• Quick touch-up: No time for a bath today? Rub a few drops of lavender into a baby’s hair for a fresh, floral aroma, or add 2 to 3 drops of lavender to a bowl of warm water to enhance a quick sponging off.
• In baby’s room: Sprinkle a few drops onto a simple terra cotta diffuser, or use an electric diffuser to disperse the scent of lavender throughout the room during naps and bedtime. Another option is a lavender mister. And don’t just limit these to baby’s room — a lavender diffuser can help Mom relax during “down time.”
• Laundry: Add a few drops of lavender essential oil to the baby’s laundry (including the crib sheets), not only for the aromatherapy benefits, but also for the soft, clean aroma.
• In the car: Parents are usually excellent multitaskers, but trying to calm a fussy baby while negotiating traffic is never easy. To help keep calm in the car, try sprinkling a few drops of lavender onto the baby’s car seat or a handkerchief or use a special car diffuser (which plugs into the lighter) to spread the lavender aroma throughout the car.
• Diaper cream: Add a drop or two of lavender oil to diaper cream to help protect and soothe baby’s bottom after diaper changes.

Essential oils are extremely concentrated. Follow usage directions carefully and keep them tightly closed and out of the reach of children. For more information on lavender, essential oils and aromatherapy, visit the Aura Cacia Web site at www.auracacia.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content