Tips for Caring of Baby's Bottles and Nipples

After Baby finishes a feeding, discard any formula left in the bottle and rinse it thoroughly with cold water. Fill the bottle with water and then set it aside until you are ready to scrub it.

Scrub nipples and caps immediately with a hot soapy water, rinse well by forcing water through nipple holes, and store in a covered water filled jar until time to sterilize them.

Sterilizer or large pan with tight fitting cover should be used once a day to boil for at least 15 minutes all utensils used in making Baby's formula. Nipples and rubber caps should be boiled in a separate pan not longer than 3 minutes. Lift them out with tongs and drain on a sterile towel. Then either put them on bottles and cap or keep them in a covered sterile jar.

How to Give Your Baby a Tub Bath

As soon as Baby's navel and circumcision have healed, you can start giving Baby a tub bath, unless your doctor advises otherwise. It would be convenient to assemble the same equipment (List of Equipment for Sponge Bath) as for the sponge bath except that you will use a tub or bathinette in place of the basin water. Fill the tub or bathinette with about three inches of water that is comfortably warm to your elbow.

Place Baby on a large towel on top of the bathinette or table and clean his ears and nose particularly the creases around. Wash his face with water and his scalp with soap and water as you would during a sponge bath.

With your left arm supporting his head and shoulders, your left hand firmly holding the upper part of his left leg, and your right hand supporting his buttocks, gently lower Baby into the tub. Hold him firmly with one hand, supporting his head and back, then rinse him with wash cloth with other hand.

In cleansing genitals, if Baby is not circumcised ask your doctor if he wants you to clean under the foreskin, if baby is a girl, separate genital folds carefully and cleanse between them with a down ward stroke, using cotton dipped in water.

Lift Baby back on table or on top of bathinette, cover him with towel, and pat dry, paying careful attention to all creases and skin folds. Dress baby in clean clothes.

Tips on Bathing Your Baby

It is advisable to bathe your baby at a fairly regular time. Many mothers find it convenient to bathe baby usually before the mid morning feeding. (Don't give a bath immediately after feeding.) The room should be warm with no drafts. Water should be comfortably warm, test it with your elbow if no thermometer is available. Baby should be handled gently and securely.

Until baby's navel or circumcision is healed, baby's baths should be sponge baths. These should be his first baths and your doctor will tell you when you can start giving a full tub bath. It would be convenient to assemble the following supplies on a table before you start:

1. basin of warm water
2. soft washcloth
3. mild soap
4. cotton swabs or cotton balls (in jar with a cover)
5. baby lotion
6. baby oil
7. baby powder
8. large bath towel to cover baby
9. small soft towel with which to cover him
10. shirt
11. diaper
12. safety pins and binder

Simple Tips To Care For Your Child's Sore Throat

S0re throats can be caused by low humidity in your home, not enough fluids, seasonal dryness, smoke and allergies. Sore throats can also be caused by viral or bacteria infections, including strep throat.

Here are some simple tips for caring a child's sore throat:

• Have your child gargle with warm salt water every couple of hours. Use 1/4 teaspoon of table salt in an 8 ounce glass of water. This will help lessen the irritation that is causing his throat to feel sore.

• Have him suck on ice pops or other frozen desserts. They will feel good on his throat and help him get enough liquids. Older children can also suck on throat lozenges (cough drops), hard candy or ice and gargle with salt water.

• Give him a lot of liquids, up to 8 to 10 glasses each day. Juice and water are best. Warm liquids are soothing to the back of the throat.

• Give him paracetamol for fever or other aches. Do not give aspirin to children because it may increase their risk of Reye's syndrome.

• Let him rest. It will help his body get rid of the virus or bacteria that is causing the infection

What Causes Constipation in Children

A CHANGE IN SCHEDULE

Something in the child's daily rhythm could have changed such as yaya leaving, moving house, traveling, or even a change in the usual schedule. It can happen if there is a change in the child's routine or availability of an acceptable bathroom like when they go to school. They withhold stool during the time they normally go and the stool stay longer in the gut or colon.

It is important for your child to move her bowels when she feels the urge. It is the job of the colon to absorb water, and if the stool that is meant to come out is retained for whatever reason, the colon absorbs more water from the stool, making it drier and harder than usual. This starts a vicious cycle with the child withholding defecation and causing further stool retention.

NOT ENOUGH WATER OR FIBER

We need water to dilute the concentrated food we eat. We also need fiber for bulk to push the stools forward. If your child has a viral illness that leads to fever, diarrhea, or vomiting, he will need more fluid than usual. Many parents of constipated children clearly recall a viral illness heralding their child's constipation problem. If your child doesn't drink enough water, his stool will become hard. So when your child is sick, you must hydrate him even more.

TOO MUCH MILK FORMULA

There only a certain volume of milk our gut can take. Going above that means not giving the digestive tract the chance to digest. Milk cannot replace food. Protein in milk is very different from food. It can settle, ferment, and bubble inside.

How To Trim Your Little Girls Hair

If your little one screams mightily at the sight of a hair salon, why not give her a haircut yourself and save money.

Tools you need:

• Pair of scissors
• Plastic comb
• Soft brush
• Water sprayer
• Powder
• Blow dryer (optional)
• Cape (optional)
  

Heres how:

1. Wash hair then towel dry, or wet hair using water sprayer. Girls hair is usually fine and smooth, so scissor blades may slide easily as you snip. Avoid this by dampening the hair. Have your child wear a cape so snipped hairs won't fall on her neck and shoulder's, making her itch. Some girls, though, find cape suffocating, so don't force if she resists.

2 .Comb then section hair. Sectioning helps to keep snipping organized. With a comb, part hair in the middle into two sections, but leave hair around the forehead and nape unsectioned. Coil up the left and right sections, then clip in place.

3. Trim smaller sections. Work first with the unsectioned part near the nape. With a comb, gather a small section and hold securely between the index and middle fingers. Guiding the scissors with your fingers, trim hair to desired length. This technique also positions your hand between the scissors and child's head to shield her from the blades should she move. Finish off this part entirely before moving to another section of hair. Once done with the nape, unclip a section of hair on one side of the head. Use the same technique to trim this section. Use length of hair at the nape to guide how long the other sections should be. Comb hair down once in a while to check length against the finished sections.
For an even cut, remember

• Don't cut too much hair at once.

• Dampen hair with water sprayer once it begins to dry.

• Have someone hold the lass's head still to ensure a more accurate cut.

4. Trim bangs last. Comb bangs downward. Little by little, trim across, maintaining an even line. To keep bangs wispy, not too full and thick, fringe to 1/2 inch deep unless you want it longer. As a finish, you can blow dry the hair to add volume.

Post Delivery Facts

For soon to be mothers out there. Here's one article just for you:

1. Take a bath after delivery. Old wives tales would tell you not to do so, but being clean before you handle your baby is a must.

2. Whether you go through a normal or C- section delivery, you will experience bleeding six weeks after delivery. called lochia, this will gradually disappear over time. Maternity pads are a must during your two weeks after birth. Panty shields will do as the bleeding subsides.

3. It takes three weeks for the vagina to heal, and you will experience swelling after the first week of delivery. When cleaning yourself, opt for liquid soap for ease of use. Lukewarm water will also help in reducing the swelling.

4. An old wives tales no more: According to the Department of Health, bayabas leaves contain natural anti bacterial properties. The water used to boil the leaves may be used to wash the vaginal area.

5. Loose clothing will help, in providing comfort during the first week after delivery. The material of your undergarments should be cotton. Make sure they aren't too tight.

6. It might be tempting to do so, but using alcohol on your sutures os a definite no. It might provide a cool, refreshing feeling, but alcohol can actually lessen the strength of your stitches, causing a broken wound.

Baby Bath Basic

Bathing your baby can be such a nice experience, here are some basic tips to make it even more fun and comfortable for your baby.

1. Warm water is best for baby's first bath. If she still has the umbilical cord, make sure this area does not get wet. If you're hesitant, a sponge bath for baby would do. After the stump has fallen off, you can give her a full bath.

2. In your baby's bathtub, place a foam or rubber mat to avoid slipping. With your hand and arm, support your baby's head, neck and back. Ease her into the tub and sit down. Hold her at a 45 degree angle. The warm water should only reach up to her neck.

3. Liquid soap or body washes are best for baby. Make sure these items are mild and unscented because your baby's skin is still very sensitive to artificial additives. Have your baby's towel ready at your side so you can wrap her right after her bath.

4. Avoid getting soap and water into her eyes, mouth and ears. As you support her head, cover her ears with your thumb on one side and your index finger on the other. With a wet washcloth, clean the outer and back area of your baby's ears. If bath time comes after feeding time, gently wipe clean her tongue and the inside of her mouth.

5. After the bath, make sure your baby is dried and clothed immediately. Pat him dry with a soft towel; don't rub because his skin is quite fragile. Applying baby powder is usually considered as a post bath ritual, but do skip this instead because the tiny particles mights cause allergies to your little one.