Tuesday, 17 July 2012

Understanding Your Baby's Cries

Take a deep breath and embrace your little one. A baby's cries are hard to listen, especially for a new mother. It is just way too much to bear! Do you feel the same? I do. Most people think that leaving a baby to cry is a form of negligence and cruelty. However, think again. If we shut a baby's cries with a soother and expect them to quieten down, we would never be able to understand what they want.

When babies cries, the most common mistake that parents do is to scramble for milk bottles, diapers, soother, etc, without listening to what babies want. Parents just hope either one of the things would be what the baby needs. Well, parents do not need to resort to this every time.

Fear not, we are definitely not recommending that babies should cry and cry for the longest period of time, but instead, allow them to "talk" to us through crying and express what they want. Once their needs are satisfied, they would happily return back to their calm state. ^_^

Here is a list of common head to toe body languages that can help us understand our babies' cries.

Head
- moves from side to side = I am tired
- turns away from an object = I need a scenary change.
- turns to side and cranes neck back = I am hungry. Would you feed me please?

Eyes
- Red, bloodshot = I am tired
- slowly closes and spring open; repeatedly = tired
- "7-mile stare" without blinking = overtired, overstimulated

Mouth/Lips/Tongue
- Yawn = tired
- appearance of a scream but no sound comes out, finally a gasp with a wail = has gas or other pain
- sucks tongue = self-soothing, sometimes mistaken as hunger

Face
- exerting force, face scrunched up = has pain or other pain, or is having a bowel movement
- red; veins at temples may stand out = left to cry too long, caused by holding breath; blood vessels expand

Hands/Arms
- hands brought up to the mouth and trying to suck them = hungry, if baby hasn't been fed in 2.5-3hrs, otherwise, needs to suckle
- playing with fingers = need to change scenary
- failing and uncoordinated = overtired or has gas
- arms shaking, slight tremor = has gas or other pain

Torso
- arches back, looking for breast or bottle = hungry
- squirms, moving bottom from side to side = wet diaper or cold, or gas
- goes rigid = gas or other pain
- shivers = cold

Skin
- sweaty = overheated (maybe left to cry too long)
- tiny goose pimples = too cold

Legs
- strong, uncoordinated kicking = tired
- pulled up to chest = gas or other abdominal pain


Always remember that every baby is unique. It takes some time to interpret the needs of our little one, but as long as we SLOW down our pace, we should be able to comprehend their cries easily. SLOW also stands for "Stop", "Listen", "Observe" and "What's Up".

stop = don't hurry in at the very minute your baby cries. Give a minute or two before you go in.

Listen = Yes, the baby is crying. You need to listen to the type of cries your baby is expressing - high pitched, coughing a few times and cry, whinning, etc.

Observe = look at the hands, legs, face, eyes, and body languages. Is there any thing that the above list touched on?

What's Up = after what you have heard and seen, it is time to picture the scene altogether and figure out what your baby really needs.


We hope that in the time to come, you would be able to interpret your babies' cries more confidently.

With Love from
Simply Love Baby

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Thursday, 5 July 2012

Routine, Routine, and Routine

A Routine Is All That Matters
The below article is written by one of the co-founder of Fairy Angel Shop, and is purely based on her sleep training experience of a seven month old baby.

In the older days, babies are raised by baby-led schedules. We are brought up like this, sleep and feed as and when we want to. We call the shots. So, what does a baby-led schedule means?

A baby-led schedule simply means a baby decides themselves, when do they want to sleep, to feed, to play. Parents just need to go according to the baby's cues - put them down onto the bed when they are tired, feed them when they are hungry and play with them when they are wide awake.

A question to ponder - should the new generation babies be raised in this manner too? Is there a need to introduce a schedule?

The answer is "YES"! There is a need to introduce a routine for babies, and starting as early as 6 weeks old, if possible. The earlier, the better and never too late to start! I did not start a routine with my baby until she was nearly five months' old. Before this, she is cranky whenever it comes to nap time and bed time. She would not go to sleep even when she is tired. As she could not sleep well during the day and affecting the night sleep, she would have several night wakings. This is really exhausting for me and my husband to sleep less than 4 hours throughout the entire night. This lasted for more than four months.

Being a new mother, I am pretty much concern about my baby's sleep. I wanted her to nap and sleep well for development and growth. Hence, I decided, one day, to spent a few days and nights, observing her habits, and draft up a routine for her. My routine looks like this:

0630hrs/0700hrs: Wake up
0730hrs: Feed
0745hrs-0845hrs: Activity (read a book, tummy time, a stroll, etc)
0900hrs: Morning nap
1000hrs: Wake up
1000hrs-1100hrs: Activity
1100hrs: Bath time
1130hrs: Feed
1200hrs: Afternoon nap
1430hrs: Wake up
1430hrs-1530hrs: activity
1530hrs-1600hrs: Feed
1630hrs-1730hrs: Evening nap
1730hrs: take a stroll
1900hrs: Feed
1930hrs: Fetch baby home
2000hrs: reach home
2015hrs-2030hrs: wash up, change into pyjamas
2030hrs-2045hrs: read a story
2100hrs: Sleep

Having to make a baby stick to a routine is not an easy task, but all it takes is time and patience. Do the same activity at the same timing everyday would help a baby adapt to the routine. Babies like predictability. They like to know what would happen next instead of having surprises. Having said this, we need to incorporate some flexibility in the routine in order to work best. Cultivate the habit to talk "with" your baby, not "at" your baby everyday, on the things that you want to do with him, even though your baby cannot fully understand what you are saying. For instance, during change of diapers, do speak to your baby ,"We are going to change your diapers, and I am going to hold your legs up."

I have come across some parents who are strong advocates in imposing a very strict routine on their babies, that in my opinion, would cause back-fire. Why do I say this? Think about this - an older baby can be fed once every four hours. Given a routine, a baby would be fed four hours later starting from the previous feeding time. However, babies do get hungry earlier than the scheduled timing at times (adults too!), and the parents strictly only allow them to feed once the clock strikes the 4th hour! What do they get in the end? A resentful, upset, wailing and grouchy baby. So, it is important that parents who introduce a routine for their babies need to be flexible. Going too strict by the scheduled timing sometimes would do more harm than good for the little one. And, they are still little babies!

There are three types of routines - baby-led, parent-baby combination and parent-led. Baby-led schedules are preferred over the options for parents who have a hectic schedule to adhere to a routine. A combination routine allows more space of flexibility to fit and meet both the needs of the parents and baby. Lastly, the parent-led schedule is more of trying to train a baby to fit into the needs of the parent. I prefer the parent-baby combination routine. It works for me and my baby and we are all happy.

Then, where and how should we draft a plan? Do some logs for daily activities, nap time and bed time, for a period of 10 days. Observe how your little one eats, sleeps and play during the day. There has to be some patterns after some observations. From there, you can easily determine the time when your baby usually exhibit cues of sleepiness (i.e. yawns, 7-mile stare, rubbing the eyes). Always remember, activities within thirty minutes to an hour before nap or bed time has to be quiet, calm and relax. Over stimulation would only result in a more wakeful baby. Give a warm bath, read a story and a last milk feed. Repeat this every night. Over time, your baby would know that he has to go to sleep at that hour!

A piece of advice - when your baby yawns for the first time, try to slow things down and put him to bed. Missed the first yawn? Okay! At least the third yawn. There is a window period that a baby tells you that "Hey, I need to sleep." Ignoring or missing this window would make him wail, and perhaps, you need to wait for another hour or two before he is sleepy again. Putting down a baby at the first exhibit of sleepiness also helps him to drift off to sleep and encourages self-soothing.

Still sleep-deprived? Thinking of resorting to the Cry-It-Out method? Okay. Some parents have the mis-understanding of this method that it teaches them to leave the baby to cry to sleep. Wrong! The method refers to letting the baby cry for extended periods of time, but no more than 30 minutes. So how do we do this?

Put your baby down onto his crib after the last feed and diaper change, say goodnight to him, pat him a little, till he slowly drifts off to sleep. Leave the room. If he cries, do not go to him immediately. Wait for 5 minutes and enter the room. Pat him a little to calm him down, say goodnight. Leave the room. If he cries, wait for 7 minutes before you enter the room to calm him down. Repeat this for extended time each round. Slowly, your baby would eventually catch the hint and go to sleep. This needs weeks of training though. Be patient and you WILL see the results.

I shall stop here as the post is pretty long. Do you have any other questions or areas of concern on a baby's sleep? Leave a comment and I would try to answer them.

-----------
Simplyluvbb
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Sunday, 1 July 2012

Get Trust on Baby Care Products

Having a newborn soon or already have one? Getting ready all the essential baby care items but confused which brands to choose from? Yes, we feel you and it seems like all the brands are so good! We understand that all mothers want to give the best to their little ones, even before they are born. The author of this blog shares with you, which are some of the trusted brands that mums-to-be can try, so as to help you prepare better. Note that the products posted here have been tried for and currently still used by the author’s baby, and not meant to promote anything.

Bathing

All babies love water, but take care to use the purest, gentlest and mildest lotions, body wash and shampoo.

For hair and body, the author recommends the Johnsons & Johnsons Head-to-Toe Body Wash. Though there have been some articles on this product that it contains a certain ingredient that may cause harm to babies, it is still a rather trusted brand used by many mothers around. This can also help you with some savings without having to buy body and hair wash separately.

Loved by many is also the fragrance of this body wash that leaves on baby’s skin. It is non-drying and so mild that it cleanses and at the same time, helps retain the skin’s natural moisture. No rinse required too.
For newborn babies, fill the bath tub with quarter full of water with temperature between 36-38 degree Celsius, and enough to cover the bottoms. Give 2 pumps of Johnsons & Johnsons Head-to-Toe Body Wash into the water would be sufficient. As newborn skin is very delicate, it is advisable not to apply the body wash directly onto the skin. Anyway, a baby’s skin is never too dirty.
Johnson's Head-to-Toe Body Wash
Trusted also by the author is Baby Sebamed Baby Bubble Bath. It has a pH level of 5.5, which helps to maintain the skin’s moisture balance.
It has a refreshing fragrance, non-drying and no rinse required. As gentle as it can be to baby’s delicate and sensitive skin, this is one of the better choices around. Sebamed can also be used for older babies. Do give older babies who can sit with support some bath toys like rubber duckies. They are sure to enjoy bathing even more!
Sebamed Bubble Bath

After Bath Care
Be sure to wrap your little one with a big, clean towel to prevent him from exposure to cold air. Dry areas with crease thoroughly, as well as groin areas, belly button, underarms, neck, under the chin and behind the ears. The author takes care to clean the ears and nose especially using TollyJoy Cotton Buds. A baby’s ear canal is very short so it is advisable to only clean the outer part of any ear wax or fluids. Cleaning too deeply inside the ears would only cause injuries. For the nose, same rule applies. Clean on the external area only. Any dirt further inside the little nostrils would be flushed out through the baby’s sneezes.
TollyJoy Cotton Buds
Care for the bottoms is also an important part of after bath. Ensuring that the baby’s bottom is clean and dry, lotions/creams may be applied. The author uses California Baby Calendula Cream for daily use, as it is moisturizing and keeps the bottom away from sensitivity. This cream may also be applied on other parts of the body to aid healing of acne or skin issues.

Othe milder lotions include Drapolene that can be easily bought off the shelves.
California Baby Calendula Cream
Desitin Rapid Relief is one of the most recommended brands for diaper rash and bottom care in the market. So why the author did chose California Baby over Desitin for daily use? Here is her rationale.

A baby’s skin is delicate. Using a cream that is more incline for diaper rash relief on a daily basis though helps prevent rashes, over time, the skin may be used to the stronger ingredients of the product. Should diaper rash occur, an even stronger formula may be required. So, the author starts out with using a milder cream that prevents diaper rash, and leaves Desitin for just-in-case incidences. Well, the author proves that this method works for her daughter.
Desitin (Blue)
A bed time lotion is essential for a good night’s sleep. Johnson’s bedtime lotion definitely helps to soothe and calm tired skins of babies, as well as mothers. It releases Naturalcalm Essences to relax the body, and thus towards a better sleep at night.

It leaves the skin feeling refreshed and with a lingering fragrance that both mothers and babies adore.
Johnson's Bedtime Lotion
An optional item to have in the nursery. A massage helps a baby to relax and promotes better blood circulation. Through physical touch, massage enables a mother to bond better with her baby. The author’s daughter has the issue of moving bowels only once in a week. Through massaging the tummy in a clockwise circular motion, it aids in improving her baby’s bowel movement.

Johnson’s baby oil is easily absorbed into the baby’s skin and does not leave a greasy feeling.
Johnson's Massage Oil
After a nice warm bath, a baby would also feel cold once he leaves the water. Hence, it is important to keep him warm on the tummy to prevent too much wind from entering and causing upset.

Applying Yu Yee Oil is one of the Chinese methods to prevent or relieve tummy upsets in babies. Simply apply a small amount onto your palm and rub them to generate some heat. Then gently press onto the baby’s tummy to pass the heat onto the skin. Repeat this 2 to 3 times on the tummy. This can also be applied on the bottom of the feet before putting socks on.

Remember to wash your hands thoroughly after application.
Yu Yee Oil

Hygiene and Diapering
Many parents are fearful of trimming their newborn or older babies’ nails. They are often on the highest level of alert when executing this exercise, worrying of cutting the skin of the fingers or toes. Well, the author also shares the same worry. But, her worry disappeared after she used the Pigeon Brand safety nail clipper.

It is specially designed for babies and is easy to use and hold. The rounded contour of the cutter fits the baby’s fingernails nicely, and with one or two trims on each finger, you can easily complete this daunting task within minutes.
Pigeon Baby Nail Clipper
The author favors Pigeon Brand’s wet wipes as it contains no irritants, fragrance free and value for money. It comes in pocket size, holder size, and travel size. So, it is very convenient for all occasions.

Pigeon wet wipes can be found at any regular supermarkets, usually at a bundle pack at a promotional price. Other recommended brands are Huggies and Johnson's Baby.
Pigeon Baby Wipes
As a new working mother, the author swears by MamyPoko tape diapers for her baby. She has tried several brands of diapers but still prefers MamyPoko. Why? Reasons are simple.

Firstly, MamyPoko diapers are super absorbent, dry to the skin and no leakage. The author changes her baby’s diapers once every 3-4 hours and finds the skin still dry and smooth. Even when baby is outside, she does not have to worry about soiled diapers.
Besides, the design of the diaper is nicely fitted such that you do not have to worry about loose diapers or too tight. The Disney cartoons on the front also add on to the cuteness.

If you do not mind spending the extra dollar, Merries and G.oon are good too!
MamyPolo Extra Dry Diapers
TollyJoy Baby Laundry Detergent has been voted as one of the best laundry detergent by many mothers. A little amount would clean your baby’s clothes thoroughly. The author particularly likes the fragrance it leaves on the clothing after each wash, and not having to worry about any irritants the detergent may irritate her baby’s skin.

An advice to all mothers – regardless of which detergent you use, make sure all clothing is rinse at least 2 rounds with hot water to kill any bacteria or germs.
TollyJoy Laundry Detergent
This liquid cleanser is also loved by the author, where it effectively cleans the milk bottles and other baby feeding items. Easily rinsed off, this cleanser is also safe for washing fruits and vegetables.

It helps to save money too since a little amount would do a clean job!
TollyJoy Liquid Cleanser
There are just too many fantastic brands of electric sterilizers around in the market today that poses a great challenge to all the mothers out there. What makes the author choose Avent?

Avent Sterilizer though huge, it is light, and easy to clean. The round trays – top and bottom are adjustable to suit the size and height of the bottles. It can hold up to 6 bottles at a time (any type of bottles) on the bottom tray, and many teats on the top tray. It sterilizes fast, around 8 minutes.
Philips Avent Electric Sterilizer

We hope you have enjoyed this post and offers you some assurance on off the shelves baby products. Every baby is unique, so pick products that suits your baby best.

Do you have any good recommendations to share? Leave us a message.

Night Time Feeding

You may have heard of babies sleeping through the night from three months onwards,  without having to wake up to feed. When we assume that all babies should do this, many parents get discouraged when their babies are still waking up at least twice at night for feeding.

Many experts and sleep specialists who preach the toughest "Cry It Out" method, couldn't agree more that some children, up to twelve months of age, are truely hungry after sleeping for four hours. So, go up to your children promptly and feed them. There are also children up to eighteen months of age still waking up once or twice for feeds to set aside hunger for the next morning, and that is perfectly okay.


"I was so obsessed with training my baby to sleep when she was 4-5 months old back then, as her night wakings were so frequent that it has become very disruptive to both me and my husband. We became so sleep deprived. Upon 6 month old, my baby's sleep pattern became more settled in, though with once or twice wakings at night. We then realise night feedings are still necessary as we could hear baby's tummy growling when we fed her."
                                                                               --- Author of Blog of 7 month old Levanne

Babies and children thrives for growth and development during their first year, particularly during growth spurt where milk intake would increase tremendously. To all mummies and daddies reading this blog, please please do not worry that your little ones would continue to have night wakings forever. As their body's biological clock matures, their sleep spans would be consolidated and lengthened, and would not wake up during the night to feed. It is just a matter of time.

Some parents commented that their babies sleep better with lesser night wakings after their babies' started solids. However, there is actually not much co-relation to longer sleep hours. Moreover, babies who start too early on solids before 4 months tend to develop allergies.

In a nutshell, it stands to reason that a baby that wakes up after sleeping for four hours straight would wake up for a feed as they do appear hungry. Then, they would fall back to sleep for another four hours before waking up, and by the time you realise, it is already morning and wake time.

The author hopes the above article would encourage all parents who are disturbed by night feedings to gradually accept the fact that night wakings are indeed, all right.

Do you have any comments? Share your opinions with us and other readers!