The terrible twos – Even the most dignified parent has been left red-faced and wanting to be swallowed into the ground while their toddler is having a public meltdown. Tantrums at home can be just as frustrating, so here are a few easy ideas for stopping them or preventing them altogether:
Don’t Let Them Get Over Tired – Don’t let your toddler become too tired. Set a regular nap routine and try to stick to it, and make sure he goes to bed at a reasonable time and gets enough sleep during the night. Tiredness is often the first reason for a tantrum.
Keep Sugar Levels Stable – Don’t let your toddler’s blood sugar levels dip too low. This will make him irritable and tired, the tantrum will soon follow. Make sure he has plenty of small nutritious snacks throughout the day to provide him with a steady source of energy to avoid blood sugar dips.
Give Them Time – Allow enough time for activities like getting dressed, brushing their hair and getting in and out of the car. Your toddler will want to do a lot of these things on his own and rushing him is a sure way to start a tantrum. Give him a little extra time and let him try to be independent by allowing him to do certain things for himself.
Distractions – Many times a toddler’s screams and shouts can be stopped short by distracting them with something else. Offer to read them a book, color with them, or watch a video. They’ll soon forget what they were screaming about.
Put it Away – Is there a certain item that always causes your toddler to have a tantrum? A food that’s only for after dinner or an item he shouldn’t have. Then put it where he can’t see it. Out of sight, out of mind, is a great way of avoiding tantrums.
Don’t Give In – It may be tempting to give in to tantrums just to avoid a confrontation, but you’ll only encourage more similar behavior in the future. Don’t confuse your toddler by being inconsistent. Once he realizes he won’t get his way, he’ll stop playing the tantrum game.
Ignore It – This is easier said than done and of course it depends where your child is having his tantrum. If you’re in the middle of the supermarket you can’t just walk away or ignore your child especially if they’re grabbing or breaking things. In this instance it may be best to gently pick up your child and take him outside or to an area away from people and noise. Give him a few minutes to calm down and a big hug.
If your child is having a tantrum in a safe place like at home, then it’s best to walk away until he calms down. Make sure he can’t hurt himself or anything or anyone else and just walk away. Once he’s finished give him a hug and talk about what he’s feeling.
Give Him a Hug – Many times your child just needs to be held and needs you to help him control his emotions. If he’s in the middle of a tantrum try gently hugging him and just hold him. A lot of the times this will completely diffuse the tantrum. Be sensitive to his reactions and if you see your hug is only making him more upset then give him a little space instead or try a different approach.
My Daughter
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
Teething Tips
When your baby starts to teeth, it can be a frustrating time for you both. Along with teething comes drool rash, diarrhea, fussiness and biting.
Thankfully, there are some tips and tricks for teething babies that can help sooth your baby AND you.
Drool Rash From Teething
During teething time, many babies develop a drool rash due to excess saliva. When your baby drools, their sensitive skin can become red and bumpy, like a rash.
If baby develops a drool rash while they’re teething, keep a towel or cotton cloth under their bed sheet to soak up the drool. When they drool in their sleep, their sensitive faces rub against the wet sheet and causes a rash.
During the day, keep their faces dry by patting their face gently with a cloth to prevent further irritation. If a drool rash is bothering your baby, try using vaseline to keep their skin moist.
I’ve written a bit more about drool rash here, including a picture of my son when he had his first case of drool rash from teething.
Diarrhea caused by teething
One of the tell-tale signs of teething is diarrhea. Baby’s bum can become red and sore just before a tooth comes through. Make sure to change your baby as soon as they pass a loose stool to minimize diaper rash. This should hopefully only last a few days until the tooth breaks through the gums. If a fever accompanies diarrhea, contact your family physician.
Biting during teething
Usually, biting is a sign of teething. Don’t get upset with your baby if they bite you – instead, give them something else to gnaw on. Here are some ideas:
Popsicle – Some moms like to freeze juice so it provides comfort and nutrition at the same time.
Frozen bagel or banana – Always supervise to prevent your baby from choking on a large piece.
Chicken Leg Bone – Kids like chewing on a bone, just like a dog does. But make sure there aren’t any slivers of bone left on it.
Teething Biscuits – Teething biscuits can be a life saver, but don’t give your baby too many as they can cause tooth decay.
Cold bottle of water – The cool water is good for them and numbs their pain at the same time.
Cold spoon – Babies like the feeling of a cold spoon, but bend the handle so they can’t injure themselves.
Teething Ring – Teething rings are great for sore gums, especially if kept in the fridge. Try to find one that is textured and only contains water. Make sure their sharp little teeth can’t puncture it.
Washcloth – Keep some wet washcloths in the freezer in a baggie, then when your baby is teething, just take the washcloths out and let them chew on them for fast relief.
Teething Necklace - I wear necklaces all the time, and when my babies were both teething, they’d chew on my necklaces the entire time I was holding them.
Other remedies for teething babies
If the items listed above don’t help, try these solutions:
Rub your fingers along their sore gums if they let you. They might not be willing at first, but soon they’ll realize the counter pressure feels good.
Try to keep your baby entertained with new toys or a change of scenery for distraction.
There are non-toxic organic toys specifically for baby to chew on. My babies would slobber on every toy they could reach, so it’s a relief to know that there are safe things for them to stick in their mouths!
Thankfully, there are some tips and tricks for teething babies that can help sooth your baby AND you.
Drool Rash From Teething
During teething time, many babies develop a drool rash due to excess saliva. When your baby drools, their sensitive skin can become red and bumpy, like a rash.
If baby develops a drool rash while they’re teething, keep a towel or cotton cloth under their bed sheet to soak up the drool. When they drool in their sleep, their sensitive faces rub against the wet sheet and causes a rash.
During the day, keep their faces dry by patting their face gently with a cloth to prevent further irritation. If a drool rash is bothering your baby, try using vaseline to keep their skin moist.
I’ve written a bit more about drool rash here, including a picture of my son when he had his first case of drool rash from teething.
Diarrhea caused by teething
One of the tell-tale signs of teething is diarrhea. Baby’s bum can become red and sore just before a tooth comes through. Make sure to change your baby as soon as they pass a loose stool to minimize diaper rash. This should hopefully only last a few days until the tooth breaks through the gums. If a fever accompanies diarrhea, contact your family physician.
Biting during teething
Usually, biting is a sign of teething. Don’t get upset with your baby if they bite you – instead, give them something else to gnaw on. Here are some ideas:
Popsicle – Some moms like to freeze juice so it provides comfort and nutrition at the same time.
Frozen bagel or banana – Always supervise to prevent your baby from choking on a large piece.
Chicken Leg Bone – Kids like chewing on a bone, just like a dog does. But make sure there aren’t any slivers of bone left on it.
Teething Biscuits – Teething biscuits can be a life saver, but don’t give your baby too many as they can cause tooth decay.
Cold bottle of water – The cool water is good for them and numbs their pain at the same time.
Cold spoon – Babies like the feeling of a cold spoon, but bend the handle so they can’t injure themselves.
Teething Ring – Teething rings are great for sore gums, especially if kept in the fridge. Try to find one that is textured and only contains water. Make sure their sharp little teeth can’t puncture it.
Washcloth – Keep some wet washcloths in the freezer in a baggie, then when your baby is teething, just take the washcloths out and let them chew on them for fast relief.
Teething Necklace - I wear necklaces all the time, and when my babies were both teething, they’d chew on my necklaces the entire time I was holding them.
Other remedies for teething babies
If the items listed above don’t help, try these solutions:
Rub your fingers along their sore gums if they let you. They might not be willing at first, but soon they’ll realize the counter pressure feels good.
Try to keep your baby entertained with new toys or a change of scenery for distraction.
There are non-toxic organic toys specifically for baby to chew on. My babies would slobber on every toy they could reach, so it’s a relief to know that there are safe things for them to stick in their mouths!
Sunday, July 4, 2010
What Moms should eat while breastfeeding a newborn infant or baby
After having your baby, you may want to try to get your figure back as fast as possible, and breastfeeding is one way to do that. Mothers who are nursing use up more calories—about 500 calories a day more—than mothers who aren't breast feeding, and some new mothers are delighted to find that they lose the post-baby weight more quickly and with less effort than they had ever imagined.
But it's important to realize that you could be depriving your child if you start a stringent diet while breastfeeding. Diets like the Atkins diet or the South beach diet recommend that women who are pregnant or nursing skip the strict, no-carb phases of the diets and move right to the maintenance phases—the ones that give you more carbohydrates. Fad or one-item diets like the cabbage soup diet aren't healthy for you under any circumstances, and particularly when your body is dealing with the hormonal, metabolic and caloric requirements of pregnancy or post-pregnancy.
The better your nutrition, the better you'll provide your infant with healthy milk, so avoid highly prepared foods full of additives, food colors and other weird, non-food substances.
If you're concerned about your weight and want to get your pre-baby jeans back on, skip the stringent dieting and turn instead to exercise. With your body burning more calories to start with, you'll get more bang for your metabolic buck by starting a schedule of walking, strength training and stretching.
Now, unless you're one of the few people who need a high calorie diet to maintain a normal weight, you don't need to eat more food when nursing; just bear in mind that you're burning up the equivalent of a pound every week simply by breastfeeding your child. There might not ever be a better time for eating extra chocolate!
But it's important to realize that you could be depriving your child if you start a stringent diet while breastfeeding. Diets like the Atkins diet or the South beach diet recommend that women who are pregnant or nursing skip the strict, no-carb phases of the diets and move right to the maintenance phases—the ones that give you more carbohydrates. Fad or one-item diets like the cabbage soup diet aren't healthy for you under any circumstances, and particularly when your body is dealing with the hormonal, metabolic and caloric requirements of pregnancy or post-pregnancy.
The better your nutrition, the better you'll provide your infant with healthy milk, so avoid highly prepared foods full of additives, food colors and other weird, non-food substances.
If you're concerned about your weight and want to get your pre-baby jeans back on, skip the stringent dieting and turn instead to exercise. With your body burning more calories to start with, you'll get more bang for your metabolic buck by starting a schedule of walking, strength training and stretching.
Now, unless you're one of the few people who need a high calorie diet to maintain a normal weight, you don't need to eat more food when nursing; just bear in mind that you're burning up the equivalent of a pound every week simply by breastfeeding your child. There might not ever be a better time for eating extra chocolate!
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