Monday, August 24, 2009
Quote of the Day
“A mother's love is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking, it never fails or falters, even though the heart is breaking” Helen Rice
Starting Solids - 6 months
I am sorry that I haven't been posting as often as before. Life gets busy with kids and a husband and taking care of a house. I am sure you all know how busy mothers can get. So forgive me and be patient with me. I will try better to stay on top of my posting.
I thought that I would help with what to feed your baby if you are staring solids. I got this wonderful book from my sister called "Super Baby Food." It helps you know what to feed your baby month by month and gives you a food schedule to work with your nursing schedule.
If you want to be efficient and make your own baby food this book also helps you with that. I personally don't like the baby food in the stores. I used them with my first baby and she is a very picky eater and it was expensive. So I decided not to use it with my second baby and it was so much easier. My son just ate what he could eat from the table. I did have to make the food liquidy thin so that he could eat it, but it was much cheaper. With this book, I knew what I could give him and what I had to wait to feed him. He to this day eats anything that is put before him.
Here is a list of the first foods to give your baby:
Homemade cereal or store rice or grain cereal (rich in iron)
Oatmeal
winter squash
papaya
mango
pears
bananas
In the baby section at the store, you will find fun snacks to give to your baby. They are big enough for a six month old to hold because your baby is still working on feeding itself. The snacks can't be small like cheerios because your baby is still to young to pick up the small things.
Here is a daily feeding schedule to follow to help incorporate the solid foods:
When your baby wakes up, just nurse your regular feeding. Then you can nurse your second feeding and add some food. At noon time or before a nap do your regular feeding. After the nap or afternoon feeding, you can add some solids. Then you proceed the rest of the day with your nursing times. Make sure when you do feed your baby solids to add some water with the meals. Try to find some sippy cups that your baby will like to help them learn to transition from breast to cup with the time comes. If your baby seems hungry at night after nursing time then you can offer a snack before bedtime. Make sure that your baby is still breastfeeding atleast 5 to 6 times a day. If they aren't nursing that often then you need to pull back some meal times to make sure that your baby gets enough breastmilk. Your breastmilk is still the most important food that your baby needs, so don't worry to much about how much solids he/she is eating.
When you do start solids, you need to make sure that you start each new food in the morning and long before a nap. You never know what your baby might be allergic to, so you want to make sure that you can find out before they go to sleep. You can add more food next month. If your baby has a hard time with solids don't worry. My little girl wouldn't take to solids until about 8 months. You do need to make sure that your baby gets used to solids before 10 months or they will struggle with food. Good luck with the solids
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Constipation
Most breastfeed babies don’t get constipated and should have regular bowel movements. Starting with the very first feeding, the colostrums will stimulate a bowel movement the same day and it will be black called meconium. It will be black for about three days after birth. Your baby will probably not have very many wet diapers because they are not getting much from the colostrum. Once your milk comes in, your baby should have at least six to eight wet diapers. As far as bowel movements, you baby should be having at least three to four a day. If your baby is having that many or more bowel movements a day, then that is a good sign that your baby is nursing well and getting enough milk.
About the third day after birth, your babies ‘poop’ will change to a color green and then a couple of days later it will be a mustard yellow. The ‘poop’ will be runny, but make sure that the amount or size of their ‘poop’ is at least the size of a quarter or bigger to help indicate that your baby is eating enough. Really pay attention to the color and consistency because if your baby’s ‘poop’ is still green and watery after about the fifth day after birth, then that means that your baby is not gaining weight well. You could be switching breasts to soon and your baby is not getting the high calorie hindmilk that is needs to put on weight.
As your baby gets older (4-6 weeks), he/she might not have as many bowel movements as they did when they were younger. Some babies will continue to have a bowel movement after every feeding, but some babies may have fewer. If your baby starts to have less then four bowel movements a day, it is nothing to worry about if your baby is continuing to gain weight. It is something to watch because it could be a sign that your baby is not getting enough hindmilk at feeding time. If your baby is not getting the hindmilk, then you need to make sure that your baby is emptying each breast at every feeding.
For babies from six months to a year to only have one bowel movement a week is not uncommon as long as your baby is on top of its weight. If your baby’s bowel movements are hard and dry, then he/she could be constipated. So you might need to talk to the baby’s doctors and also make sure that your baby is getting what it needs to help it have healthy bowel movements. If your baby is older and gets constipated, you can try molasses water or warm suger water to see if that will help get things moving. You don't need to much molasses to make it work. Just put enough in to make the water a light brown color. I also used this when my babies had upset stomachs.
I have never had to deal with constipation, but my sisters little girl was always constipated once she stopped nursing. For children two and older there is this stuff called liquid calcium that my sister used for her little girl. You get it at any health food store and it comes in flavors such as cherry or grape, etc. You need to start out giving them a small amount so if it works well it won't make their 'poop' to runny. My sister really liked and it helped her little girl out to where she could have regular bowel movements. If your babies or toddlers get constipated don't wait to long to help them out. They get in alot of pain and very uncomfortable. There is always suppositories, but make sure that you talk to your doctor before you use them.
About the third day after birth, your babies ‘poop’ will change to a color green and then a couple of days later it will be a mustard yellow. The ‘poop’ will be runny, but make sure that the amount or size of their ‘poop’ is at least the size of a quarter or bigger to help indicate that your baby is eating enough. Really pay attention to the color and consistency because if your baby’s ‘poop’ is still green and watery after about the fifth day after birth, then that means that your baby is not gaining weight well. You could be switching breasts to soon and your baby is not getting the high calorie hindmilk that is needs to put on weight.
As your baby gets older (4-6 weeks), he/she might not have as many bowel movements as they did when they were younger. Some babies will continue to have a bowel movement after every feeding, but some babies may have fewer. If your baby starts to have less then four bowel movements a day, it is nothing to worry about if your baby is continuing to gain weight. It is something to watch because it could be a sign that your baby is not getting enough hindmilk at feeding time. If your baby is not getting the hindmilk, then you need to make sure that your baby is emptying each breast at every feeding.
For babies from six months to a year to only have one bowel movement a week is not uncommon as long as your baby is on top of its weight. If your baby’s bowel movements are hard and dry, then he/she could be constipated. So you might need to talk to the baby’s doctors and also make sure that your baby is getting what it needs to help it have healthy bowel movements. If your baby is older and gets constipated, you can try molasses water or warm suger water to see if that will help get things moving. You don't need to much molasses to make it work. Just put enough in to make the water a light brown color. I also used this when my babies had upset stomachs.
I have never had to deal with constipation, but my sisters little girl was always constipated once she stopped nursing. For children two and older there is this stuff called liquid calcium that my sister used for her little girl. You get it at any health food store and it comes in flavors such as cherry or grape, etc. You need to start out giving them a small amount so if it works well it won't make their 'poop' to runny. My sister really liked and it helped her little girl out to where she could have regular bowel movements. If your babies or toddlers get constipated don't wait to long to help them out. They get in alot of pain and very uncomfortable. There is always suppositories, but make sure that you talk to your doctor before you use them.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Quote of the Day
"The mother's heart is the child's schoolroom." Henry Ward Beecher, US Congressional clergyman
Biting "Ouch"
Each baby is different when it comes to getting their teeth and biting. Some babies don’t get their teeth until 10 months to a year and some get them around four to five months. It takes teeth awhile to come through, but the baby may start to chew on his/her toys and start slobbering a lot. These are usually signs that the baby is feeling uncomfortable and needs to ease the pain of the teeth coming through.
When your baby does bite it is not to hurt you, but it may be out of play or to ease the pain of the teething. You will need to put a stop to it and let your baby know that it will not be acceptable.
Here are some ways to teach your baby not to bite during feedings.
*You can say,” Don’t bite Mama” in a firm voice to let your baby know that he/she can not do that.
*If your baby is smaller (2-5months) and your baby bites, put your finger in between the nipple and break the suction. Pull the baby away from the breast and say, “No biting” in your normal voice. It may take longer for younger babies to understand but they will learn.
*If your baby is older (6 months or older) and he/she bites, then break the latch and pull your baby away and firmly say, “No biting. It hurts Mommy. You can also tap the side of their cheek to make your baby aware that he/she hurt you. This sometimes makes them break the suction on their own. Put them down on the floor and give them a teething toy and tell you baby that he/she can nurse in a minute. Make sure that you have a finger ready to break the suction in case the baby suddenly turns its head or gets distracted. Sometimes your baby will want to take the nipple with them and that doesn’t feel good.
*If your baby bites you break the suction and them immediately put your baby back on the breast. If your baby bites again then you need to say, “No biting.” Try to put your baby back on your breast again and if your baby bites again, then you just keep taking the baby off and reminding the baby not to bite. Taking the baby off and on again and again teaches your baby that it is not ok to bite you.
If your baby is biting you often, then you will start to learn when he/she is about to bite. Some babies will bite at certain time of the day or at certain times of the feeding. If you baby is old enough to eat solids and keeps biting, then you can try to put off the feeding and try some food. You might have to put off feedings for a few minutes if your baby won’t stop biting. Be consistent and your baby will learn that he/she can’t bite you.
Here are some ideas to help you learn or sense when your baby might bite.
*Give your baby all of your attention during the feeding time. Make time to touch/massage, talk and hold your baby close, so your baby is not trying to get your attention. You will also be more aware that your baby is getting ready to latch off and is done nursing.
*Learn to recognize when your baby is almost done nursing. Most of the time the biting takes place at the end of the feeding to let you know that your baby is done nursing.
*Always check the holding position and the latch of the baby. When you have your baby correctly on the breast they are more likely not to bite. Your baby will not be able to bite your nipple with the correct latch-on.
*Make sure that you work hard to keep your milk supply up to make sure that your baby is getting enough and doesn’t have to work to hard at feedings. If your baby gets frustrated then that leads to more of a chance that he/she might bite.
*Try to recognize when your baby does bite, what is going on around you during the feeding. Is the baby in a playful mood or is there yelling around the house. If you are upset or yelling or tense, then that can make the baby more likely to nip at your nipple or bite.
I remember this happening only once with my little boy. After he bit me, I tapped my finger against his cheek and firmly said, “No, No, that hurts mommy.” He got very sad and started crying. He knew that I was upset and he never did it again. I was sad to know that I had hurt his feelings, but he had to learn that biting was not ok.
When your baby does bite it is not to hurt you, but it may be out of play or to ease the pain of the teething. You will need to put a stop to it and let your baby know that it will not be acceptable.
Here are some ways to teach your baby not to bite during feedings.
*You can say,” Don’t bite Mama” in a firm voice to let your baby know that he/she can not do that.
*If your baby is smaller (2-5months) and your baby bites, put your finger in between the nipple and break the suction. Pull the baby away from the breast and say, “No biting” in your normal voice. It may take longer for younger babies to understand but they will learn.
*If your baby is older (6 months or older) and he/she bites, then break the latch and pull your baby away and firmly say, “No biting. It hurts Mommy. You can also tap the side of their cheek to make your baby aware that he/she hurt you. This sometimes makes them break the suction on their own. Put them down on the floor and give them a teething toy and tell you baby that he/she can nurse in a minute. Make sure that you have a finger ready to break the suction in case the baby suddenly turns its head or gets distracted. Sometimes your baby will want to take the nipple with them and that doesn’t feel good.
*If your baby bites you break the suction and them immediately put your baby back on the breast. If your baby bites again then you need to say, “No biting.” Try to put your baby back on your breast again and if your baby bites again, then you just keep taking the baby off and reminding the baby not to bite. Taking the baby off and on again and again teaches your baby that it is not ok to bite you.
If your baby is biting you often, then you will start to learn when he/she is about to bite. Some babies will bite at certain time of the day or at certain times of the feeding. If you baby is old enough to eat solids and keeps biting, then you can try to put off the feeding and try some food. You might have to put off feedings for a few minutes if your baby won’t stop biting. Be consistent and your baby will learn that he/she can’t bite you.
Here are some ideas to help you learn or sense when your baby might bite.
*Give your baby all of your attention during the feeding time. Make time to touch/massage, talk and hold your baby close, so your baby is not trying to get your attention. You will also be more aware that your baby is getting ready to latch off and is done nursing.
*Learn to recognize when your baby is almost done nursing. Most of the time the biting takes place at the end of the feeding to let you know that your baby is done nursing.
*Always check the holding position and the latch of the baby. When you have your baby correctly on the breast they are more likely not to bite. Your baby will not be able to bite your nipple with the correct latch-on.
*Make sure that you work hard to keep your milk supply up to make sure that your baby is getting enough and doesn’t have to work to hard at feedings. If your baby gets frustrated then that leads to more of a chance that he/she might bite.
*Try to recognize when your baby does bite, what is going on around you during the feeding. Is the baby in a playful mood or is there yelling around the house. If you are upset or yelling or tense, then that can make the baby more likely to nip at your nipple or bite.
I remember this happening only once with my little boy. After he bit me, I tapped my finger against his cheek and firmly said, “No, No, that hurts mommy.” He got very sad and started crying. He knew that I was upset and he never did it again. I was sad to know that I had hurt his feelings, but he had to learn that biting was not ok.
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