How to for Parents

Parents everywhere are wondering how to relieve teething pain. Teething can be a painful experience for babies and their parents. Cranky, crying babies, worried, stressed-out parents – somebody around here must be teething! Here are some simple ways to ease your baby’s teething pain.

As with any health issue, it is best to start with the simplest solutions and then work your way up to the more complicated solutions if the need still exists. For teething, the simplest solutions are often enough to resolve baby’s discomfort without having to resort to more involved methods.

Teething pain comes from the action of the new tooth cutting through the gums, as well as the movement of the tooth within the jaw. For some babies, this is so subtle that the only signs are some drooling and a little crankiness. For other babies, the pain is severe and they are so uncomfortable that they have trouble sleeping, eating, or drinking. They may be inconsolable for hours or days at a time, or so crabby that every little thing sets them off. For these babies and their parents, teething is a major problem.

For mild teething discomfort, gumming or chewing a teething biscuit or safe teething toy is enough to dull the pain. A cold teething ring or soft toy can provide hours of soothing. Natural teething toys are now available in wood or natural rubber so baby can chew safely without any fear of toxic chemicals in the toys. Be aware that older teething toys may not be safe, as in the past it was legal to use phthalates and other toxic chemicals in toys.

A cold washcloth can also act as a mild pain reliever for your little one. Try wetting a clean washcloth and putting it in the refrigerator. Don’t give your baby frozen teethers as the intense cold can cause even more discomfort.

Homeopathic teething remedies are available that are thought to help ease teething pain. Some parents swear by them, others don’t see any results.

Finally, if your doctor okays it, consider mild analgesics such as ibuprofen or aceteminophen to help you all to rest easy. While most parents hesitate to use medicine unless it is necessary, for severe teething pain it can make a frustrated family into a happy one. After all, if you take pain relievers for a headache – doesn’t your baby deserve some pain relief as well? Just be sure to follow dosing guidelines carefully. Overdoses are serious, so it is safest to write down the time and amount of every dose of medicine you give your baby. That way you can be sure of the timing and it is much less likely that there will be an accidental double dose.

No matter what methods you use to ease your baby’s teething pain, be extra patient and understanding with them during this time. They probably don’t feel well, and they need your comfort. Sometimes that means letting the housework go while you rock your baby. Let the cobwebs gather, this time with your baby will not last long! Before you know it they’ll be facing much tougher obstacles and how you handle these little situations will make all the difference in your relationship with them as they get older.

Treating baby’s sensitive skin can be tricky, but with some detective work it is often possible to find out what is causing the skin irritation. Sensitive skin can manifest as an all over rash that never seems to go away, or as regular outbreaks of eczema and other skin disorders. It is always wise to check with your doctor before treating skin irritation at home. Some serious health problems can show up on the skin – and staph or yeast infections need to be diagnosed by a doctor.

Once you are sure the problem is sensitive skin, you can start looking for ways to ease the discomfort and reduce the number of outbreaks. The first place to start is by looking at things that touch your baby’s skin. Laundry detergents abd fabric softeners are often the culprit. The perfumes and chemicals in these laundry products can lead to skin irritation.

Take a close look at soaps, shampoo, powders, creams and other skin care products as well. If the skin care items either you or your baby use contain fragrances or other things your baby is allergic to, they can cause redness and rashes.

Foods can cause irritation as well. If your baby is exclusively breast fed, your diet can impact their allergies. While only small amounts of food protein make it into breast milk, it can be enough to cause problems if your baby is sensitive. My daughter had stomach aches every time I had diary products while she was a baby. When I stopped eating dairy products, she felt much better!

If your little one is on formula or has started solid foods, talk with your doctor about an elimination diet. Top allergens include dairy, citrus, wheat, soy and corn – although it is possible to allergic to nearly any food. By progressively eliminating potential allergens from your baby’s diet you may be able to target a food or foods that cause a skin reaction.

If your baby is having constant diaper rashes, the culprit could be something they are eating – or it could be the diapers they are wearing. Most people don’t realize that disposable diapers are full of chemicals. From dyes and perfumes to super absorbent polymers, there are many substances in a disposable diaper that can cause severe diaper rashes. In addition, the plastic cover on the diaper can hold in heat and moisture, causing irritation.

For many babies with sensitive skin, cloth diapers are a welcome relief from diaper rash. Cloth diapers don’t contain dyes and perfumes, and they are more breathable than disposables. Simply by doing a few simple wash loads per weeek, you can save your family money and potentially reduce the rashes your baby is experiencing.

How much should your baby eat? Your baby is ready to start solid food – or they have been eating solids for a while now – how do you know how much food your baby should eat? In a time when the majority of Americans are overweight, portion size for everyone from babies to adults has come into question. How much food is enough? How much is too much? Generally speaking, you should let your baby’s appetite be the guide. Under normal circumstances babies will choose to eat the amount of food they need.

If you offer a variety of healthy foods, most of the time your baby will eat the right amount. For beginning eaters, around 6 months, this may be only a few teaspoons of food at each meal. For older babies and toddlers, the proper portion size is a couple of tablespoons for each food. This does not sound like a lot of food, but remember that your baby is very small. For babies from 6-12 months, the majority of their calories should come from breast milk or formula. At this age they simply can’t eat enough real food to meet the needs of their rapidly growing bodies.

Don’t push them to eat more than they are comfortable eating. This can lead them into a lifetime of ignoring the natural cues to stop eating when they are full. Unless your doctor has concerns about their growth – let them eat at their own pace. Once your little one is reliably eating a variety of foods, they will likely graduate to eating about 4 ounces of food at each meal. Again, don’t push. Just offer different healthy foods and let their natural appetite and body cycles control their eating.

It is especially important at this age to offer healthy foods. The tastes your baby becomes accustomed to now will dictate what they will like to eat for the rest of their lives. If they are eating whole grain bread and cereal, fruits, vegetables, and other whole foods they will develop a taste for delicious healthy foods. If they are eating nutritionally bankrupt foods like white bread, sugary cereals, fried foods and desserts – they will crave these foods as they grow into adulthood.

What you feed your child today could literally shape their entire future. Eating healthy doesn’t have to be expensive – and you don’t have to buy commercial baby food. It is easy to make homemade baby food. You can buy unsalted canned vegetables or steam your own and mash them for baby. Cook oatmeal or other whole grain cereal and blend it for a smoother texture. A jar of unsweetened apple sauce can feed your baby – with plenty for the rest of the family. A baby food grinder can make it even simpler to feed your baby right.

Remember, your example is going to impress your child more than anything you say to them. Don’t expect your little one to accept strained spinach if you are downing doughnuts. Limit the amount of juice your child drinks. The American Academy of Pediatricians suggests that toddlers and preschoolers have no more than 2-4 ounces of juice per day. Juice is mostly empty calories with very little nutrition. Instead, encourage them to drink water with just a splash of juice for flavor. Never give a baby soda – the corn syrup, dyes, and even caffeine in most sodas are just not good for their bodies or their teeth. Artificial sweeteners are not any better for them – and some might be dangerous. Letting your baby choose from a rainbow of healthy foods will let them choose healthy portion sizes on their own. They will be healthier for it – and less likely to join the ranks of the obesity epidemic.

Want to make your own baby wipes? It is simple and easy and you’ll save money. Baby wipes may seem like a small expense, buying a package here and a package there. Well, 2 or 3 packages of baby wipes per week add up to an average of about $400 per child. Making your own disposable or reusable cloth baby wipes can save your family money. You’ll also know exactly what chemicals are touching your baby’s sensitive skin.

Disposable diaper wipes are simple to make. You can make them with a roll of high quality paper towels. Simply remove the cardboard roll before preparing the wipes. This will make it possible for you to pull the towels from the center of the roll for self-dispensing wipes. Use a serrated knife to cut the roll into two shorter rolls.

Place one of the short rolls of paper towels into a waterproof container with a lid. You can use an old wipes container or am empty plastic food container.

Now, prepare a solution with 1 cup of distilled water (you can use boiled and then cooled water, just be sure it is cool before using it). Mic in 1 teaspoon of baby shampoo, 1/2 teaspoon of skin-safe oil. I like to use natural oils like almond oil rather than mineral oil (baby oil). Some people choose to add a few drops of lavender or tea tree oil. If you choose to add essential oils, use just a tiny amount and be sure that they are safe for baby first.

Pour the solution over the roll of paper towels and let it soak in. You may need to turn the roll after several minutes to be sure the solution soaks in evenly. Put a lid on the container. Use the wipes within a few days to a week to be sure they stay fresh.

Consider using cloth wipes. Baby wash cloths, flannel squares, or even pieces of old towels will do the trick. You’ll keep trash out of the landfills and save even more money. If you use cloth diapers, cloth wipes are even simpler to use than disposables. Just wash the cloth diaper wipes right along with the diapers.

Be sure to choose a fabric that has some texture to it, like flannel or terry cloth, so they have some wiping power. However, it is best to avoid very thick fabrics, as they are harder to use and clean. Cut the fabric into 8-9 inch squares. This size of wipe can be folded and put into a wipes container or wipes warmer. Either serge or zigzag the edges to reduce fraying. You can also cut them a little large (9 inches) and then sew two squares together, leaving a space to turn them inside out. Then topstitch the edges. If you use two layers, use a thin fabric so they will wash and dry easily.

For cloth wipes, you can use the same solution used for paper towel wipes.

There you are, your own homemade cloth diaper wipes. Just one more way to save money and reduce the chemicals that touch your baby.

Toddlers are curious, active and not so agile yet. This can lead to many accidents around the home and also when visiting family or traveling. Keeping your little one safe can be a challenge, but there are some tools that make it easier.

A booster high chair is a great way to keep your little one safe and secure while eating at home or while away from home. Since toddlers are often wiggly, having a simple way to securely strap them in during a meal is a good first step to meal time safety. Don’t forget that toddlers are not always good at chewing well before they swallow and many choking accidents happen to children under 4. For safety, cut food into tiny pieces, about the size of a pea. Avoid giving them any foods that are hard to chew such as hot dogs, nuts or hard candy.

Perhaps the most important safety tool is a good childs booster seat such as the Britax booster seats. Car accidents are a leading cause of death and injury to small children. Why risk their safety with an inferior car seat? Studies show that children are 5 times safer riding backwards, so keep them rear-facing as long as possible. Most Britax booster seats face backwards until 35 pounds.

Don’t forget to remain vigilant about all of the safety issues you worried about when they were tiny. Household poisonings increase between the ages of 3-5 because children are curious and able to get to chemicals that were out of reach when they were small. Keep those outlets covered and be aware that second floor windows represent a major fall hazard as well. Screens will not keep a child from falling – so secure the windows from opening far enough for a child to get their head or body through, or install a safety device that can be removed in case of a fire.