First Time Parents Guide on Diapering and Diapers

Diapers should be changed when wet to soiled to prevent skin rashes. You may find that changing your baby just before or after each feeding will probably be sufficient to keep him comfortable and prevent diaper rash. Some babies have particularly sensitive skin and may require more frequent changes.

Place the baby on a towel and remove his diaper. Using warm water, wash the genital area gently from front to back, then pat dry with a towel. If the baby has had a bowel movement, fold the soiled portion of the diaper under and wipe the buttocks with cotton or toilet tissue. The baby's behind should then be washed with mid soap and water, rinsed and patted dry. You can apply lotion or oil to the area with cotton, being attentive to skin folds and creases.

Holding his ankles between your thumbs and middle finger (with your index finger between his ankles), raise his hips and slide a clean, folder diaper under hum. The diaper should be folded so that there is an area of extra thickness where it can absorb the most urine -  in front for boys and in back for girls. Then pull the diaper between baby's legs and pin it on each other side. Remember to keep your finger between the pin and the baby to avoid pricking him. Plastic or rubber pants may be put on over the diaper to keep outer clothing and bedding dry. However, they may lead to diaper rash or other skin irritations in sensitive babies, and therefore it may be better to use them only when going out.

Wet diapers should be rinsed immediately and placed in a covered pail containing water. A mild soap thoroughly dissolved in the water will help remove stains. Diapers must be washed each day, separately from all other clothes. They should be rinsed thoroughly in at least four changes of clear water to make sure all traces of soap or detergent have been removed. If your baby is subject to diaper rash or has particularly sensitive skin, it may be necessary to boil his diapers to kill any stubborn bacteria. You can also sterilize diapers by adding a diaper antiseptic to the final water rinse. Your doctor may be able to recommend such an antiseptic. If possible, it is best to dry your baby's diapers in the sun, since sunlight destroys many bacteria. 

Today, more and more parents use disposable diapers for convenience. Available in a number of sizes and thicknesses, disposable diapers require no safety pins or rubber pants. Although more expensive than cloth diapers, they require no washing and are particularly handy when you travel with your baby.

Parenting Guide on Food for the First Year of your Baby

A DAILY FOOD PLAN. In the interest of meeting individual needs, babies' diets should not be rigidly standardized. However, the first year should see a gradual transition to the following broad pattern. This means working toward including in the diet,daily, suitable portions of foods selected from each of the following groups:

Milk group, including cheese and ice cream

Meat group, including beef, veal, pork, lamb, poultry, fish, eggs (dry beans, peas and nuts as occasional alternates for older children and adults).

Vegetable-Fruit group, including a dark green or deep yellow vegetable (for vitamin A value) and citrus fruit or other good vitamin C source, daily.

Bread-Cereal group, emphasizing the whole grain, enriched or restored varieties.

This daily food plan is a practical one to follow. It's so general, it can be used for persons of all ages, and in accordance with national, regional or social food patterns and individual likes and dislikes. It is a simple, flexible and enjoyable way of consuming an adequate diet without worrying about individual nutrients.

Milk. Traditionally, milk is the principal food of babies and plays a major role in the diets of young children. This food, provided by Nature of young mammals, furnishes a wide variety of important nutrients. Whole milk contains significant amounts of vitamin A, riboflavin and thiamine. It is the best practical source of calcium and a good source of phosphorous. The proteins in milk are present in liberal amounts and are of excellent quality, well utilized in the growth of infants and children. Milk contributes many trace minerals and several of the lesser known vitamins.

It would be difficult to argue against the "rightness" of human milk for human babies. Most mothers who wish to can breast feed but many factors can influence this personal choice. It is well to make a tentative choice between breast and formula feeding well before the baby is born. Either methods gets off to a better start with advance preparation. The final decision for or against breast feeding should rest with the mother and her doctor.

Today. most babies can be expected to thrive on formula feeding if that choice is made. The availability of "clean" milk and improved standards of food handling in homes have made it safe from a sanitary standpoint.

Your baby's doctor should prescribed and approximate schedule for artificial feeding. His directions will be based on your baby's own nutritional and digestive needs. He might prescribe a formula made by mixing definite proportions of evaporated or fresh milk, water and sugar. But he is more likely to specify one of the convenient "premodified" milk formulas on the market today, which for most babies only need diluting with an equal amount of boiled water. Many physicians today prefer the formulas with added iron for routine use.

Despite its nutritional excellence, plain cow's milk doesn't qualify as a "perfect food". Even in the generous quantities usually fed babies, it fails to supply sufficient vitamin D, vitamin C, thiamine and iron. That's why doctors recommend the introduction of "supplementary foods" before a baby's body stores of these nutrients are depleted. 

Parenting Guide on your Babies Yardstick of Growth

Baby will follow his own pattern of growth and development, not according to a fixed set of standards. Do not be surprised or dismayed, therefore, if the activities listed are reached before this yardstick says he might or if Baby appears backwards compared with other babies of the same age.

FIRST MONTH

Hearing is fully developed, but eyes do not focus and may appear crossed. Yawns a lot, hiccups, sneezes. Hands tightly curled, head needs support. Sleeps most of the time when not feeding.

SECOND MONTH

Turns head to voices. Cries vary for food, discomfort, and excitement. May begin to sleep through the night. Settles into regular routine.

THIRD MONTH

Smiles, babbles and finds that crying gets results. Can turn from side to back, holds up head. Enjoys bright colors and can hold rattle if put in hand.

FOURTH MONTH

Holds up head without support. Coos and smiles in response. Reaches for toes. Plays with hands and can grasp toys.

FIFTH MONTH

Birth weight usually doubled by now. Reaches for objects. Carries everything to mouth. Can turn from back to side. More selective in taste. Raises hands to be lifted.

SIXTH MONTH

Eyes and hands work together. Sits with some propping. Definite emotions. Makes sounds like "mamma," "dadda." First teeth may appear, usually the lower ones.

SEVEN TO EIGHT MONTHS

Sits without support. may start crawling. Transfers toys from hand to hand. Associates ideas with words.

NONE TO TWELVE MONTHS

Crawls. Stands with support. May even take first steps. Can say word or two, understands many. Probably has 6 to 8 teeth. Triples birth weight.

Newbie Parents Guide on Teething in Baby's

Although the average baby gets his first tooth between the sixth and eight month, Baby may get his, earlier or later. There is no need to worry because there are such wide variations in the ages when the first tooth comes through. Some babies will be over a year before they have any.

There are some discomforts during teething even for a normal baby.Also teething sometimes lowers resistance and if the baby gets sick or develops fever, you should consult your doctor.

Taking Baby's Temperature Using a Rectal Thermometer

Here's a great article I found about using a Rectal Thermometer that are made of glass and contained mercury. I know this things are considered unsafe now a days. But in some remote areas, some people do still use this kind of things.

So here are some important guides if you are still using this mercury contained glass rectal thermometer.

If baby seems unduly listless, cries as though  in pain or gives other indications of possible illness, take his temperature rectally. A baby's normal rectal temperature ranges between 36.7º C and 37.5º C (98.6 and 99.6º F). A rectal temperature of 37.8º C(100º F) does not necessarily mean that he is ill. However, a temperature over that is a good indication that he is not well. Being able to take his temperature is, therefore, important, and you should always have a rectal thermometer on hand. A rectal thermometer has a large bulb, and if you are not already familiar with thermometers, be sure to have a druggist or your doctor show you how to read it and how to shake the mercury down.

The mercury should be well down below normal before taking Baby's temperature. Shake it down if it isn't. Put baby oil or petroleum jelly on the bulb end for easier insertion. Your physician will advice you which of the following methods he wishes you to use.

A. Lay Baby on his back on a table or bed. Hold him by his ankles with one hand, raising him slightly. Slip the bulb end of the thermometer in to his rectum about an inch.

B. With a towel on your lap, lay Baby on his stomach. Holding his legs gently but firmly, press the buttocks apart and insert the bulb end of the thermometer about an inch.

DO NOT LEAVE BABY ALONE OR LET GO OF THE THERMOMETER WHILE IT IS IN HIS RECTUM. Hold it there for three minutes, then take it out. The mercury wont slip down in the thermometer, so you can put it in a safe place while you put Baby back to bed.

Even if the thermometer used in the article is a Rectal Thermometer that are made of glass and contained mercury. You can still apply some of the guide in the article with a Rectal Thermometer that are digital.

Parenting Tips on Baby's Thumbsucking

It is believed that babies have an instinctive need to thumb-suck to some extent. It is further believed that the underlying cause is the need for more food or more love.

Sucking is the baby's means of satisfying hunger; the baby who suck his thumb may not be getting enough food; or he may be suffering from another type of hunger - he may not be getting sufficient affection.

Using mechanical restraints or bitter-tasting applications on his fingers won't correct either of these basic needs. The important remedy is to remove the under lying cause - whether its the need for more food or more love. Make sure that Baby is well nourished, comfortable and happy. It's likely that he'll stop his thumb-sucking sooner than you expect.

Parenting Guide On Baby's Exercise

The natural movements of Baby's arms and legs are his form of exercise and this should be encourages even during his bath and at changing time.

Clothing and bedding should therefore be loose to give him freedom of movement. Of course, his exercise will increase as he grow older. Crawling, which starts at about 7 to 10 months of age, is important for strengthening Baby's spinal column.

Newbie Parents Guide on What To Do When Your Baby Cries

The only way Baby can tell you he is hungry or uncomfortable is by crying. You'll learn soon enough to distinguish his hunger cry from the cry of discomfort or pain.

To be sure, always make Baby comfortable. Sometimes all the air he has sucked while feeding is not brought out so try bubbling him. Perhaps he may feel too warm, so take off some of his clothes or cover. Or perhaps he may feel cold - his flesh will feel cold to your touch so put on more clothes or cover. If he is wet or has a soiled diaper, change to a fresh one. If he has skin irritation or diaper rash, bring him to the doctor. If he seem to be hungry, give him his bottle. If there seems to be no reason at all for his crying, he may just want to be cuddled for a few minutes. See that he gets enough attention and tender snuggling when you feed him.

Guide on Burping Baby

Babies tend to swallow air when they cry and also suck in air while feeding. The swallowed air makes the baby uncomfortable and may cause regurgitation or vomiting after feeding.

To relieve baby of this discomfort, burp him by holding him firmly against your shoulder with your hands securely supporting his back and head then pat or rub his back gently. Another position is to lay him on his stomach on your hand supporting his back. Some babies have to be burped halfway through their feeding, other can complete a feeding without being burped.

A Simple Guide For Feeding Baby a Prepared Formula

Breast feeding may not be possible at all or there may be time when a bottle of prepared formula is necessary or desired. The following are general instructions for feeding baby a prepared formula. Your physician will tell you if there are special instructions for your baby.

It is recommended that the normal infant be fed as much formula as he desires, thus paralleling the dietary habit of breast fed infants.

Remember that each baby is an individual and may not adhere strictly to a feeding schedule. The time of feeding should be regulated to the baby's appetite, not to strict rule. The average length of feeding time ranges from 15 to 25 minutes, depending on the vigor of the infant. Sterile water may be given in between feedings.

Sit in a comfortable chair and hold Baby close to you so that he has a feeling of warmth and security. Hold Baby semi upright in your arms, as though you were breast feeding.

Raise the bottom of the bottle so that the nipple is full of milk. This prevents Baby from sucking air. If the nipple collapses, it may be necessary to take the nipple from Baby's mouth to let air into the bottle.

Nipple hole must be right. It should be just large enough to permit the milk to drop out freely without flowing in a steady stream. If the hole is too large, discard nipple and replace with a new one. If the hole is too small, enlarge with a hot needle held firmly with a cork.

How To Take Care of Your Baby's Diapers

Use a 2 gallon covered plastic pail half filled with water. After changing Baby, rinse the wet diaper in clean water and drop it in the pail.

Rinse soiled diapers or scrape the contents off into the toilet before you flush and drop the diaper in the pail. Diapers should be washed each day. They should be rinsed thoroughly, at least four rinses in clear water.

Guide on How to Dress Your Baby

Your baby's clothes should be simple and comfortable.

To put on Baby's shirt, insert your fingers in one of the sleeves and guide his had through. His shirt goes on one arm at a time. (if the shirt is close and sleeveless, pull it over his head first, then insert the arms). Smooth the shirt under his back by rolling Baby on his side. Fasten the shirt, then fold it up in back so it doesn't reach below hip line. Put a fresh diaper on and pin it, taking care it is not too tight or too loose.

A Guide on Diapering Your Baby

Various ways of folding Baby's diaper, whether oblong or square make it possible to have just one size that will fit Baby at every stage of his development. If rubber panties used over regular diapers chafe your baby's skin, they should not be used except for outings. To make trips and outing easier, there are fitted ones which fasten with tapes and also several types of disposable ones.

Place your Baby on a quilted pad and remove the soiled diaper. Wash genitals from front to back with moistened cotton and pat dry with a towel. If Baby has had a bowel movement, do not remove diaper at once but fold the soiled portion under. This procedure can protect the quilt if Baby wiggles around. Wipe his buttocks with moistened cotton and wash with soap and water, rinse and pat dry.

Apply lotion or oil to the genital area and buttocks with a piece of cotton, making certain to apply it in the creases and folds of the skin, then powder lightly.

Holding the Baby's ankles between your thumb and middle finger, with your index finger between his ankles, raise his ankles high enough to slide a clean folded diaper under him. Pull the diaper up between the legs, with extra thickness in back for girls and in front for boys.

With the back overlapping the front, pin the diaper on each side, being careful to keep your finger next to Baby to avoid pricking him. You may pin the shirt between the front and back fold of the diaper at the sides, but fold the shirt up in back to keep it dry.

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.

How to Give Baby a Sponge Bath

1. Cover Baby with a large bath towel in a manner that secures both his hands and legs. Hold baby's head and wash his eyelids with sterile cotton balls. Clean his nose and mouth with cotton balls dipped in sterile water. Next clean his ears with moistened swabs (never insert cotton swabs farther than you can see) and wash face with cotton or soft cloth dipped in warm water. Dry his face with the small soft towel (never soap baby's face.)
2. Support Baby's head and back carefully with one arm and hand. Shampoo his scalp gently with baby soap or shampoo, then rinse well and pat dry. (If scales form on the scalp, apply oil and leave overnight).
3. Soap and rinse the rest of Baby's body. Be sure to get all soap out of creases, or his skin may chafe. Pat him dry with soft towel - never rub. Never touch Baby's navel unless extremely necessary; simply change the binder. If the navel becomes wet, clean it with sterile cotton balls dipped in alcohol. Then cover it with sterile gauze and binder. Apply oil or lotion, powder lightly and put on Baby's 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

Keona's First Picture

I had to find where I put this file, when Keona was born I had no digital camera during that time, all I had is my cell phone Sony Ericsson K310i with a built in camera that has a very low resolution. But I'm still glad I had it than having nothing to take pictures of Keona.

Here are Keona's very first photos:

Simple Ways To Stimulate and Bond With Your Unborn Baby

Though most moms to be just read to their babies all day or set their classical playlist on repeat, there are more fun and creative ways you can stimulate and bond with your unborn baby. Here are some ideas.

1. Stage a concert. Instead of playing a CD or cranking up the volume for your tiny iPod earphones, why not invite your friends and family members who play musical instruments to jam and perform for your baby bump? If you could play an instrument, that would be even better! Don't forget to record the performance so you can play it over and over again when everyone has gone home.

2. Curtain call. Invite Daddy to join in the fun and act out a play for your baby. Do different voices, too! If more friends and family members want to join in, why not? You can try simple one act plays or be ambitious and bring out the Shakespearean comedies (the tragedies might be too gory for your delicate prenatal sensibilities).

3. We are family. Record your family members giving different messages to your baby. You can even play it for him after he's born. See if he remembers and recognizes their voices! This works best for relatives who live far away.

4. Paint a picture with words. when you're alone, start describing what you see to your little one. Include colors, smells and textures. This is great practice for when he's born and you'll want to work on his language acquisition skills. By then, a one sided conversation will be second nature to you!

5. Play drummer. But a gentle one. Play music and start tapping away on your belly. Ask daddy to try it, too. Try this when your baby is awake and movie around. You'll be amazed at how he can already respond to you! Bring out the video camera, and film the ripples and waves your belly will make as your baby reacts to your drumbeats.

It's never too early to start letting your baby know how much you love him. Even if you can't hold him in your arms, communicating with him while he's still inside you is a great way to begin.

Why Does Your Baby Suck Their Toes or Toe Sucking

Your little one learns about the objects around her by putting them in her mouth. Nerve fibers in the mouth are more sensitive than those in the fingers, so babies can experience many wonderful touch sensations when they suck on their body parts. While babies love to suck anything they can get their lips on - toys, the remote - many four and five moth olds find it easy to put their feet in their mouth simply because they're so flexible.

Tips For Preventing Diaper Rash

A diaper rash refers to rashes in baby's diaper area caused by skin disorders, organisms or irritants. Dampness in the diaper area contributes to the rash, leading to bacterial or fungal infections. Other kinds of rashes are seborrheic dermatitis, which shows up as oily, thick, yellowish scales in the inguinal folds, and atopic dermatitis (eczema), which is due to an allergic reaction.

You can apply over the counter diaper creams on the area. Petroleum jelly or zinc oxide based ointments and, in extreme cases, anti fungal creams may also be used. If the rash persists and becomes beefy in appearance, consult a pediatrician.

Here are more tip for preventing diaper rash.

1. Change soiled diapers immediately
2. Slightly wet diapers do not need to be replaced at once. Urine itself is not irritating.
3. Carefully clean baby's bottom between diaper changes. Use plain warm (not hot) water, with or without a very mild soap.
4. Make sure baby's skin is completely dry before putting on another diaper.
5. Don't apply unnecessary products on baby's bottom.