Tag Archives: infant

Books For Babies

Ah, has this happened to you? You scour the shelves in your local bookstore and find the “perfect” book for your baby. It’s sweet, it’s sentimental—heck, it even brought tears to your eyes. You wrap it up, take it home, and present it to your baby, only to have them: A. Throw it B. Rip it C. Show no interest in it at all This happened to me with both of my kids. Reading to a baby is important. It promotes early language skills, and instills and early joy of books, which is so important in today’s media-frenzied society. But … Continue reading →

Buck Toothed Baby — The Truth About Thumb Sucking

If your baby sucks his or her thumb, you’re not alone. Many babies suck their thumbs, often before they are even born! We’ve all seen the ultrasound photos of the baby in utero sucking away. All infants have the desire to suck. This desire goes beyond feeding time. It’s natural and it’s normal. Many parents give their babies pacifiers to help with this need; others opt not to. Many of these babies eventually find their thumbs to meet their sucking needs and sometimes, to calm themselves. If you observe your baby, you’ll likely notice increased thumb sucking when he or … Continue reading →

Danger! Foods For Your Baby to Avoid

With first babies, parents are generally more restrictive. They often don’t allow grandma to give baby that first bit of chocolate before he’s ready, etc. But with second and subsequent babies, parents are often more relaxed. After all, what didn’t hurt the first one won’t hurt the second, right? Not always. Choking and allergies are serious business for babies. No parent would purposely do something that would hurt their child. But every day parents make choices regarding what to feed their baby. Some of the simplest foods are considered danger foods because they pose choking or allergy risks, but they … Continue reading →

Taking Your Newborn out–Too Soon?

I recently had a discussion with a mom-to-be regarding taking the baby out after he or she is born. The question arose, when is it too soon to take the baby out? One week? One month? I did some research and found answers that were based more on common sense than strict protocol. If you deliver in a hospital, your baby’s first trip “out” will be when he or she is brought home. So inevitably, all babies will have been “out” within the first few days of life. It’s easy, especially as a first time parent, to want to show … Continue reading →

Choosing the Perfect Crib

Your baby’s safety and comfort are primary concerns when choosing a crib. After all, a crib is the one place where you leave your child unattended for significant periods of time. Aside from safety concerns, style and long-term use are also factors parents consider when choosing the perfect crib. If you are in the market for a new crib, here are some tips you may want to keep in mind: Look at the crib’s overall durability. Get up close and personal with the floor model. Shake, tug, and pull at it to see if it can withstand the stress of … Continue reading →

Creating Your Baby’s Haven

It seems like it was just yesterday that I was pregnant and trying to decide on a nursery theme. But the reality is, I just got done giving my now two-year-old daughter’s room a major makeover. As I described in previous articles, the decorations and furniture in her room are now more age-appropriate. Of course, I couldn’t help but sigh as I pulled down the Baby Snoopy wall hangings. Yes, I chose to decorate her nursery with a mass-market theme (Baby Snoopy EVERYTHING from lamps to rugs). However, if you are looking to steer away from the commercially popular nursery … Continue reading →

Choosing a Car Seat

When you are pregnant, you will definitely need to purchase a car seat. You may include an infant seat on your baby registry for your shower. You won’t be able to bring the baby home from the hospital without one. The car seat is one of the most important purchases you will make for your newborn. When selecting a car seat, make sure it will fit your newborn infant. Also, be sure the seat you choose will fit in your car. You will want a seat that will be easy to install and operate once installed. Consider all these factors … Continue reading →

Flying With An Infant

A posting in the “Family Travel” forum asked for tips in regards to flying long distances with an infant. Coincidentally, in just a couple of weeks, a good friend of mine from high school will be taking his 4-month-old daughter on her first flight from Chicago to Hawaii. Knowing that I have flown a lot with my young daughter, he also asked for advice. The best tip I can give anyone flying with a “lap child” (that’s airline lingo for any child under the age of two traveling without a ticket) is this: find out what type of aircraft you … Continue reading →

The Family Bed – Part 4: Making the “Right” Choice

We’ve discussed the risk factors for co-sleeping, have explained SIDS and SUID, and now it’s time to make a choice. But what is the “right” choice? We all want to do what is best for our children. As parents, this protective nature begins before the baby is born. As a mother who co-slept with both of my babies, for different lengths of time, I advocate the concept of The Family Bed. For me, it provided a safe, comfortable haven for both my children and myself throughout their fragile first year of life. My daughter slept in our bed until four … Continue reading →

The Family Bed – Part 3: Sudden Unexplained Infant Death (SUID)

Many people are familiar with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, also called SIDS. But many people are not aware of Sudden Unexplained Infant Death, or SUID. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is just one cause of Sudden Unexplained Infant Death, or SUID. Ruling out SIDS in the death of an infant requires a thorough investigation, including a complete autopsy and the gathering of information regarding the infant’s medical and personal history. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to diagnose whether or not a death was SIDS related or caused by another form of SUID. Other circumstances that can be classified as a … Continue reading →