If you're seeing the signs — drooling, gnawing, fussiness — it's time to start thinking about solutions for your tiny teether. While some babies go through the process virtually pain-free, for others, it can be a miserable, and ongoing, phase. Teething rings and toys won't make the pain go away, but they will help to soothe your lil one's aching gums. Check out these ten options for satiating little chompers.
Nursing older children is a very touchy subject, even among moms who breastfeed their infants. But one thing's for sure: moms who do it, either in public or in private, are passionate about it. As Circle of Moms member Cynthia A. explains, "Extended nursing is not for everyone, but those of us who have nursed for longer than six months or a year have our reasons both for ourselves and for the physical and emotional health of our children."
Truth is, you might be surprised to find out how many "closet nursers" there are in your neighborhood, church, or preschool. Here's a look at the extended breastfeeding issue from three perspectives: physical, emotional, and societal.
If you've ever experienced the dreaded "diaper blowout," then you know that it can be . . . in a word . . . disastrous. Whether it's having a favorite outfit (yours or your baby's) destroyed, changing the crib sheets, or giving the car seat a seriously thorough cleanse and sterilization, explosive poop is one of those tiny details that most of the parenting books prefer not to talk about.
Enter the Blowout Blocker by Melzy. The diaper extender, designed by a mother of three, was created to "save parents from the stress and mess that a diaper blowout creates." The product, which sells for $13, tucks into a standard diaper and wraps around the baby's hips, securing an elongated back panel into place. Should a diaper explosion occur, the Blowout Blocker catches any leakage that might creep out on the sides or back.
If wetness (more common in toddlers) is your issue, then there's a product for that, as well. The Soaker Stopper ($13) features a front panel instead of a back one, absorbing leakage from the front or sides of the diaper.
Are exploding diapers enough of an issue for you that you'd consider either product?
Has your infant's scalp developed dry flakes or crusty yellowish scales? It's likely cradle cap. Known as seborrheic dermatitis when it appears elsewhere on the body, cradle cap is a noncontagious skin condition that commonly affects infants in the first few weeks and months of life.
Although the exact cause of cradle cap isn't known, some doctors believe one factor is a mother's hormonal changes during pregnancy, which stimulate the baby's oil glands. Unlike other common infant rashes such as eczema and diaper rash, cradle cap isn't itchy or uncomfortable for a baby. While cradle cap usually resolves itself within a few weeks or months, many parents prefer to try the following cradle cap treatments to hasten the healing process.
As a devout user of the Bugaboo Cameleon, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to spend a month "test-driving" the new Cameleon3 over the past four weeks. Since my son was born nine months ago, I've spent significantly more time behind the handle of our Cameleon than I have behind the wheel of my car. Having the 2012 edition parked literally side by side with the Cameleon3 for the past 30 days gave me the unique perspective of being able to compare and contrast every detail and feature. Here are the ins and outs of what I learned during my time with the new set of wheels:
What's Improved and Great
What's Improved and Unnoticeable
Which decade saw two spellings of the same name reach the top 10? Which boys' names never seem to go out of style? And what's the biggest difference between boys' and girls' names in the last 100 years?
We're sharing the answers to these questions and more with our look at the most popular baby names of the past 100 years. Using baby name data from the United States Social Security Administration, we've compiled the most common boys' and girls' names for each of the past decades.
Once your little ones are old enough to sit up on their own, it's time to entertain them with an array of new and more challenging playthings. Stacking toys are a must have when it comes to encouraging the development of baby's hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Check out these fun, educational, and oh-so-cute options to incorporate into your infant's stash of first-year toys.
I may be on my second child, but I'm a novice nurser. Having had broken boobs with my first, I'm learning how to nurse to begin with, let alone while balancing it with the energy of my rambunctious 2-year-old. I wish I was one of those hippie moms who could effortlessly swing her nursing babe around while doing one-handed laundry and cook dinner at the same time like it was nothing. I'm not. Edith and I like to sit quietly on the couch with the Boppy pillow and focus.
So I think it goes without saying that, while I'm not afraid to nurse in public, it's a struggle for me to do it effortlessly. I fall somewhere in the middle when it comes to the modesty vs. "my right to nurse in public" argument. I'm not going to not nurse while I'm out and about; but I wouldn't say I'm comfortable whipping my boob out in the middle of the mall.
Using a light blanket or nursing cover has been working fine for us; but I've got to say, sometimes it's hard to get set up without looking while remaining covered. I mean, put a nursing cover over me and it's like I've forgotten how to unhook a bra. I'm sure it's not as complicated as I'm making it; but after sweating under a cover while trying to balance baby and get my boob out of my shirt one too many times, I decided to begin a quest for the best shirts for nursing.
Is swaddling dangerous? As day care centers around the country start to ban the widely accepted practice, the jobs of caretakers are getting much more difficult. Unswaddled infants, they say, are harder to soothe, sleep less, and require more one-on-one attention.
The controversial ban stems from findings that improper swaddling, which can happen in institutional settings like day care centers, may cause hip dysplasia or put infants at risk for suffocation and is based on an advisory from several public health organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics. But not all experts are falling into line with it; Dr. Harvey Karp, author of The Happiest Baby on the Block, told the Huffington Post that a strong case against swaddling has not yet been proven.
Read more (The Huffington Post).
Do you (or did you) swaddle your babies?
Mealtime becomes a whole lot more exciting (and yes, messy) when your baby graduates to solid foods and makes the move to your dinner table. Where your little one's going to sit can be just as big a decision as what they're going to eat, and thankfully, today's high chair options are a lot more design-friendly and varied than they were in the past. Here are nine great options — from the traditional and classic to the mod and feature-heavy — to consider when the time comes to invite your tot to dinner.
