Pacifiers work because sucking calms babies. However, you may want to consider some of the downsides to pacifiers. If the baby gets used to having a pacifier, they may not learn how to ‘self-soothe’. Who will be picking that soother off the floor in the middle of the night to return it to baby’s mouth? (Incidentally, this is how I convinced my husband that we wouldn’t be using a soother).
Irritated skin may be a sign that your baby has sensitive skin. Perhaps your laundry detergent or baby soap is not mild enough and / or your baths are too hot. Maybe your baby is reacting to something in your breast milk or has an intolerance to cow based formula? It is possible that they are sensitive to new foods if you have started feeding them solids. Giving isolated foods for three to five days in a row should help you to pinpoint if it is a new food that is bothering your baby.
Circumcision of baby boys is a surgical procedure to remove the foreskin of the penis, often done during the first few days of life. Not medically necessary, circumcision is a ‘non-therapeutic’ procedure and therefore not an insurable expense. Parents who opt for circumcision often do so for cultural or religious reasons.
In order to make the right decision, parents should be fully informed of the risks and benefits of the surgery, and therefore should speak to their medical professional. The Canadian Pediatric Society does not recommend routine circumcision for newborn boys, and many pediatricians no longer perform them.
Although serious complications from surgery are rare, newborn circumcision has been associated with surgical mistakes including having too much skin removed. Other things to consider are that too much bleeding or infection may occur in the area, or urinary tract infections before the age of one.
Urinary tract infections can also occur in babies who are not circumcised, and some require circumcision later in life for medical reasons due to reoccurring infections. Older children who are circumcised may have more complications than newborns.
When baby just can’t be soothed there are a few tricks to try. Here’s what we found effective:
- swaddling
- football hold (2 thumbs up!)
- walk in a sling or baby carrier or holding baby close
- tummy or back rubs
- take a shower together, warm water may be comforting
- pacifier – sucking is calming to a baby
- white noise – babies like lulling sounds created by vacuums, clothes dryers, TVs or driving in a car
- colic drops or gripe water – perhaps there is a burp that needs to come out!
- Infacol is available to relieve trapped wind
Colic is a mysterious catchall phrase for generally unsettled babies.The definition of colic is a baby that cries for more than three days a week for more than three hours at a time. It is not considered serious, but presents as extended and uncontrollable crying in any baby that is otherwise healthy. It can happen at around two to four weeks of age and can last for three months or longer.
Sleep issues are one of the perennial hot topics at Mom Group. Getting enough sleep with a newborn (or two!) in the house is one of the hardest things you will face during the first year. In theory babies who weigh over 11lbs are heavy enough and getting enough nutrients throughout the day to allow them to sleep through the night. Some practitioners state that parents should let their child ‘cry it out’ after six months of age; or at least explore changing baby’s expectation that you will rush in a pick them up at the slightest whimper.
There are a number of factors to consider when choosing a type of bottle that works best for you and your baby. You should think about convenience, ease of cleaning (if it’s dishwasher or sterilizer safe), if the bottle helps to reduce gas/colic/spit up, the breast milk storage system, whether it is easy to use on long trips, and finally if it is economical.
Lots of babies have trouble transitioning from breast to bottle. If you have this problem here are a few tricks that you could consider:
- try giving the milk/formula in a cup
- if someone else is feeding the baby, he/she could wear something you’ve worn recently so the baby is calmed by the familiar smell
- don’t be anxious, baby can sense this
- try a different, harder or easier nipple
Don’t underestimate the importance of lactation consultants and don’t leave the hospital until you feel comfortable breastfeeding!
Growing up, we swear we won’t be like our parents. We tell ourselves we’ll never raise our kids doing the same things they did to us. Then, when we have kids, we justify everything we do saying “Well I did that growing up and I turned out okay.” So I guess our upbringing wasn’t all that bad. Sometimes we go to our parents for advice on how to raise our own babies—other times, we tell them to butt out or follow our rules. I propose that moms and dads need to go easy on our parents. For one thing, we should be pretty grateful that they’re around to experience this with us —and also because, while this may not be their first time on the parent merry-go-round, the grandparent one is just as perplexing. They’re learning the ropes, just like we are, so let’s cut them some slack!
If you are someone who is used to being self-sufficient, get prepared to receive help.If you have friends and family who want to be there for you, make a list of things that you need and see if they are prepared to help you do these things for a short while whilst you get used to your new role as parents.