To make feeding time pleasant for you and baby, here’s how to get the most milk in and the most air up, and to do it safely. Giving the bottle: Most babies enjoy their formula slightly warmed; run warm tap water over the bottle for several minutes. Shake a few drops on your inner wrist […]
8 Tools For Toddler Discipline
Toddler discipline can be challenging, but is essential. It can be a trying time while trying to implement toddler discipline. Teaching right from wrong at such a young age is difficult, but essential. I have eight tools to help you through this process. 1. Guide little hands Exploring hands are always looking for […]
Encourage Good Behavior in Toddlers
13 Ways to Encourage Good Behavior in Toddlers In addition to keeping the “don’t touch” items out of the way, consider positive steps you can take to encourage good behavior in toddlers. 1. Give Him His Own Drawer In The Kitchen Fill it with interesting items to pull out, sort and study: things like measuring […]
Shape Children’s Behavior
10 Techniques to Shape Children’s Behavior Shaping children’s behavior means providing the child with cues and reinforcements that direct them toward desirable behavior. As you shape children’s behavior, the child’s personality tags along and also changes and improves. Best Ways to Shape Children’s Behavior praise selective ignoring time-out consequences motivators reminders negotiation withdrawing privileges humor […]
Breastfeeding and Natural Childspacing
“I’ve heard that breastfeeding can keep me from getting pregnant. Is this true?” Yes, as long as you nurse according to the rules of natural child spacing. The same hormones that make milk suppress the release of reproductive hormones. While breastfeeding full-time most mothers do not ovulate and do not have menstrual periods. This means […]
Breastfeeding Before Baby’s Surgery
Breastfeeding Before Baby’s Surgery Food and liquid intake is restricted before a person has general anesthesia because of the risk of vomiting and then having the vomitus get into the lungs. In adults, “nothing by mouth” orders often mean no food or drink after midnight on the night before surgery. However, an eight-hour (or longer) […]
Babies with Jaundice
Babies with Jaundice Around 60% of newborns develop jaundice within a few days after birth. Jaundice tends to be more common in breastfed babies and to last a bit longer. In most cases, it’s harmless, but jaundice phobia on the part of parents and healthcare providers often creates obstacles to successful breastfeeding. Here’s some background […]
Babies with Hypoglycemia
If you’ve been told that your newborn baby has hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or is at risk of developing this condition, you should also know that there are ways that breastfeeding can help the situation. Low blood sugar occurs when the body’s demand for glucose (a simple sugar) is greater than its supply. Infants get […]
Timing The Dosage
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for any information about the medicine that would help you time the dosage and the baby’s feedings to get the most medicine into you, but the least into your milk. If the medication is one that should be used with caution, it may help to take the medication right after […]
Antibiotics and Cold Medicines
Antibiotics and Cold Medicines I get lots of colds during the winter months. Sometime they progress to bronchitis and I need antibiotics. What medicine can I safely take? All of the commonly used antibiotics as well as both prescription and over-the-counter cold remedies (decongestants, antihistamines, and cough remedies) are safe to take while breastfeeding. Even […]
Analgesics
Is it okay to take medication for fever and aches and pains while breastfeeding? Yes, nearly all pain and fever-relieving medications are safe. Acetaminophen (Tylenol and other brands) is the safest medication for relieving pain and fever, since only a tiny amount enters the breastmilk. Ibuprofen is also considered safe. Narcotic analgesics (codeine, Demerol, and […]
Working and Breastfeeding
Working and Breastfeeding is Nothing New Women have always worked and breastfed. The pioneer mother on the prairie had lots to do besides nurse her babies, and even modern mothers who are at home during the day struggle with the work of running busy households while responding to the needs of their infants. Combining working and […]