Red little bottoms!

As a Mom, diaper rash is just one of those things we deal with. What do you do when it seems like your butt cream isn't helping the problem?! Perhaps you just took some antibiotics, or your baby did. Maybe your baby just got over diarrhea? Anytime you are having problems with diaper rash, you may have to consider that yeast could be the culprit. Yeast is a very common form of diaper rash, and it doesn't usually respond very well to your run of the mill butt creams! In fact, they can even make it worse. Yeast thrives in warm, moist environments.
How to tell? A yeast rash is going to look like little red spots around the diaper area. The number one, best possible treatment for this... AIRING IT OUT! Take your little one and lay him/her on the floor. Change baby's diaper as per usual, but instead of fastening up the new diaper, leave it open underneath their bottom (just in case nature calls!). You will be amazed at how much better that little red bottom will look after some fresh air exposure. If you have persistent yeast rashes, make sure that after each diaper change that baby's bottom is dry before you fasten up the clean diaper. Change baby frequently and promptly after every bowel movement.
Still having trouble? My favorite remedy for a yeast rash... Go to your local drugstore and purchase some cortisone 10 and some over the counter, antifungal cream (Lotrimin is usually the one I use). Purchase an empty lotion container (or wash out a used one from home really well). Dispense some cortisone and antifungal cream into your new container, you want to make a 50/50 mixture of the two. The cortisone takes down the redness and irritation, and the lotrimin kills the yeast! Works like a charm :)
Some prophylaxis for yeast? If you are breastfeeding, and need to take an antibiotic or if baby needs to start on antibiotics... It's a good idea for you and baby to take some probiotics, you can usually find probiotics for babies at your local health food store. Antibiotics are not specific to just the infection you are treating, they also kill off the good bacteria in other places of your body known as the "natural flora". This is particularly the case with the intestinal tract. When the natural flora is gone, it gives way to other things like yeast (Candida Albicans) to grow. This is what commonly causes your little one to experience diarrhea while taking antibiotics. Taking the probiotics helps to repopulate the natural flora. One important thing to remember when giving probiotics in conjunction with antibiotics is, if you give them too close together, the antibiotics will kill the live cultures in the probiotics. It is a good idea to keep at least a 2 hour window between the two, to give the probiotics a chance to do their job.

Starting Solid Foods

I would like to take some time to talk about delaying the introduction of solid foods in a breastfed infant. As a Mom you receive advice from many different people on many different issues. One thing that is commonly heard is about starting solids. So many people think that babies should start solid foods at 4 months or 4-6 months. I want to offer you some information I have come across during my research:


My favorite resource on this is: kellymom.com

I also like: askdrsears.com

Another interesting link: breastfeedingbasics.com

So in summation, delaying the introduction of solid foods until after 6 months of age is so important. After 6 months you need to be looking out for those developmental milestones as indications that your baby is ready. Please remember that when you do start introducing your baby to solid food that it is not as a replacement to breastmilk! Offer your baby solid food at mealtimes and offer it in minimal amounts as not to replace nursing. A good thing to remember is that your baby's tummy is only the size of his or her tightly clenched fist. So only a few spoonfuls is really necessary! The goal is to introduce your baby to different tastes and textures! Breastmilk is their main nutrition for the first 12 months!


Something else that might be worth thinking about is making your own baby food. It is quick, and easy! I always liked that idea better than feeding my baby something that has been in a jar sitting on a shelf, in the store for who knows how long! I like to use organic foods. A nice tip for making your own baby food is to use an ice cube tray and freeze your home made baby food. This makes convenient little serving size portions!


The AAP's new recommendation for solid foods is that you start out giving your baby meats, then vegetables, and fruits last. No rice cereals! With all the emerging research and the startling increase in childhood obesity and diabetes in children... This is so important!


I hope you will take the time to research the links I've provided as well as do your own research on the subject of solid foods :-) Comments are welcomed!

Breastfeeding & the working Mom

A lot of women feel like they need to give up breastfeeding when they go back to work. Whilst I will tell you that is certainly not easy, it is possible to continue to breastfeed your baby after you go back to work! I am currently a stay-at-home Mom, but when my first child was born I was working and going to school full time. Thru many sleepless nights and endless dedication, I did manage to breastfeed my son for a solid 13 months. It is possible! So let me go over some things that may help you!

Know your rights! There are laws in place to protect you as a breastfeeding Mom! Please check out these links for more information:

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs73.pdf

Breastfeeding State Laws

I do have some tips that worked for me as far as pumping while I was at work and school. Letting down to a pump is definitely an acquired skill. There are some things that can help you let down, and to maximize your amount of expressed milk. For some Mom's just thinking about their baby is all it takes, but with technology these days... You can do even better! I found that looking at a current picture of my baby definitely helped me let down, and also looking at a video of my baby was an even better trick! My video I made was of my son actually crying when he was hungry! It was right there on my cell phone whenever I would go to pump. I will tell you that this did have a funny side affect. I was so trained to let down at the sound of a hungry, crying baby that if I was in Walmart and someone else's baby cried... I would let down! Ha ha.

Something else to think about is investing in a good quality pump. If you only need to pump occasionally for the evening out with your spouse, then a hand pump may do just fine. However, if you are working and pumping on a regular basis you might want to consider getting a really good breast pump. I personally recommend Medela products. I used their Pump In Style, and really loved it! You can even rent a hospital grade pump, a lot of Hospitals offer their pumps for rent :)

I mentioned in a previous post that the best way to ensure a good milk supply is stimulation from your baby. So if you are away from your baby during the day and pumping, it is still very important to make sure you nurse baby as much as possible when you get home! Spending lots of skin-to-skin contact your baby will also help to maintain your milk supply. One way I did this was by wearing my son as much as possible when I was with him. A second way I got lots of skin-to-skin time with my son was when we shared sleep at night.

Please visit this kellymom.com link for more information on maintaining a good milk supply:
Establishing & Maintaing a Good Milk Supply

***I would like to invite any Mom's who have experience with pumping at work to please comment on this post with any other helpful tips!! Thank you!!

How to use the "Moby Wrap"

When I first purchased my wrap, it took me a few tries to really master getting it on and getting my baby into it comfortably. So I have made some tutorial videos on how to do just that! I hope you find this helpful! I have used other baby carriers and ring slings and I must say that the moby wrap really surpasses the rest! As a Mom of two, it is a necessity for me. I can have all the benefits of wearing my baby without missing out on any time with me 3 year old! 

Start here! Getting the moby wrap on:

The hug hold:

Getting baby out of your wrap:

***I have amended this post! If you want to face your child outwards, please visit this link for directions on using the "lotus hold" which is safer for your baby!

Lotus Hold

Babywearing

Let's talk about babywearing! As with sleep sharing, there has been some negative media about babywearing. There have been some really unfortunate incidences that has brought some criticism over babywearing. When practiced properly, babywearing is completely safe. So let me start this post off by reiterating some safety measures for wearing your baby. Make sure you pay attention to baby's breathing while you are wearing him, if his breathing becomes shallow or raspy, take him out of your sling/carrier and readjust the positioning. Be sure that baby's chin is not pressed to his chest as this will compress his airway. Dress baby lightly because your body heat will keep baby sufficiently warm, you don't want baby to become overheated. If baby begins to feel clammy or sweaty, take him out for a little while, maybe think about adjusting your thermostat or removing a layer of clothing. 

Here is my youngest child enjoying some time in our Moby Wrap. With more than one child, I find my baby carrier to be a necessity! My baby is always easily accessible but it also allows me to still do things like go the playground with my older child!

For more information on the many benefits of wearing your baby please take a look at this link:

Babywearing - Wikipedia

My favorite tips for soothing a "FUSSY" baby

Both of my children were what most would call a "fussy" or "colicky" babies. As one of my favorite parenting resources, Dr. Sears, puts it... I have been blessed with "high needs" children. LOL. I would like to share some of my favorite tricks and tips that I have found that worked for us!

• Breastfeeding on demand: Whilst very time consuming for Mommy, and sometimes tiring, I've found that offering the breast at every sign of fussiness really helps! It doesn't always work... But most breastfed babies find that comfort nursing is very, well... comforting! :)

• Babywearing: The best thing my husband every gave me, was my Moby Wrap! I swear, I could not live without it! There are so many proven benefits to babywearing! If you don't believe me... Try wearing your baby for a day and see how much happier he/she is! Not to mention that you can get so much more done with two free hands! You can even nurse with baby in a sling!

• Swaddling: With my first child, swaddling was something that I hadn't really figured out. Nowadays, they make most blankets too small for swaddling any baby over 7lbs! Ha ha. With my second baby, I am a pro! My favorite blankets for swaddling are sold at Target by Aden and Anais. They are really big, and a really thin, woven, cotton so baby doesn't get too overheated.

• Sleep Sharing: I found that with both my kids, I get much more sleep with baby in the bed with me. The second they stir, I have a breast ready and waiting! Much faster and easier for getting them right back to sleep! And "high needs" babies seem to do better when they know Mommy is close. Please see my post on SAFE sleep sharing!

• Reflux: Some babies who are fussy are simply suffering from reflux. Reflux babies don't like to lie flat, so try some of the tips that most of the parenting guru's recommend... 

1.  Make sure you properly position your baby during feedings, with their head elevated. This can sometimes be tricky while nursing. I found that using the "football" hold was helpful for this. If your baby does indeed suffer from reflux you may want to avoid a "side lying" hold as it is more difficult to prop baby's head. If you share sleep with baby and find it easier to use this position to nurse for nighttime feedings you may want to try propping your baby's head up on your arm (this takes some practice).
2.  Make sure you efficiently burp your baby after every feeding. Excess gas can make reflux worse for your baby!
3.  Hold your baby upright for 30 minutes after each and every feeding. This gives baby time to digest the milk beyond their stomach. In a baby under 6 months, the valve that seals the top of the stomach closed doesn't fully function yet, so the goal is keeping the milk down in baby's tummy!
4.  Invest in a Nap Nanny it is a great contraption! It is a piece of foam shaped into a baby sleeping device. It keeps baby's head elevated to a 30 degree angle, optimal for reflux baby's! Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions! It is only for use on the floor, not inside a crib or on elevated surfaces!

5.  If all else fails, try talking to your pediatrician about trying some medications for reflux. Both my kids spent some time on Zantac, which really helped!

• Routine: I found that with both my kids, trying to have some sort of a routine for them to rely on really helped. My daughter LOVES bath time. So I try to have a bedtime routine of playtime, bath time, massage, feeding... BED! She knows when we take a bath, sleep is not far off!

• Lay baby down when DROWSY, not when fully asleep! Starting at 6 weeks, you should make sure that you rock/nurse baby only until he/she is drowsy NOT when fully asleep. That way they learn how to fall asleep on their own. So they are not dependent on you every single time. It really works! For more sleep tips, you should really read "The No-Cry Sleep Solution" by Elizabeth Pantley. It's great!

SAFE Sleep Sharing

There has been a lot in the media lately about sleep sharing, formerly known as co-sleeping, that has cast a negative light on the issue. I fear that this negativity is taking something that many parents the world over practice, and outlawing it. Well you know what happens then? Parents are still doing it, but perhaps are doing it in an unsafe way! That is when terrible things happen. Instead, why don't we teach parents the SAFE way to share sleep with their infants?
I personally practiced sleep sharing with my son until he was 8 months old, and am currently sharing sleep with my 5 month old daughter. It is something that has worked well for our family and for many others as well. The only safe place to share sleep with your baby is in your bed! Not on your sofa, or couch. The bed should be free of fluffy bedding, pillows or anything else baby can become entangled in. Your clothing should also be free of any ties or strings baby could get entangled in. You should dress your baby warmly, but not too warm, keep in mind your body heat will also help to keep your baby warm. If your spouse is also in the bed, do not place baby in the middle! Dad's are not as physiologically in tune with baby as Mom's are and may roll over or thrash around too much. Same goes if you also share sleep with an older child (My 3 year old sleeps in the bed also from time to time). Never ever go to bed with your infant if you have been drinking or taking any medications that may alter your state of mind. That includes things like cough medicine that may make you drowsy. If you are a very heavy sleeper, you may want to consider a different sleeping arrangement.
The way I have slept with both my children is with myself laying on my side and my baby laying with their head in the crook of my arm. This is convenient for night time feedings and I always know where baby is during the night. A breastfeeding Mom is very connected with her baby and it has been proven that Mom's and baby's who share sleep on a regular basis tend to be on the same sleep cycle, entering light sleep at the same time so that when baby wakes, Mom is ready! It's quite incredible :) If it is possible, it helps to move your bed so that it is against the wall. That way you have: wall, baby, Mom, then Dad (if Dad still stays in the bed). You must however make certain that your mattress is flush with the wall so baby cannot get trapped in between. I have found that sharing sleep with my baby who is still young enough to need night time feedings enables both myself and baby to get more rest. I know the instant they stir so I can promptly respond instead of baby having to wake all the way up screaming before I realize what's going on. This means baby goes back to sleep more easily and I don't even have to get up and fully wake up myself in order to meet the needs of my baby.

Here is me and my first child, he was 2 months old:

For more information on safe sleep sharing please visit these links:

askdrsears.com - SAFE CO-SLEEPING
kellymom.com - The Family Bed