News Moms Need

It’s official. My daughter’s a toddler. She got her walking papers last month and she’s taken over the house. We can’t turn our back on her for a second. She’s obsessed with trying to drown my cell phone in the toilet.  She rummages through my purse trying to locate the car keys.  She’s very proud of herself now that she’s discovered the panic button! While these antics are on some level amusing, I really do worry about her safety on a constant basis. She’s mastered climbing, too and has rightfully earned the nickname, “monkey”. Therefore we’ve retired the coffee table to the garage where it will mostly likely stay until she goes off to college (better to be safe than sorry). On top of that she’s teething up a storm and will attempt to put anything in her mouth including, but not limited to my husband’s running sneakers. On the one hand, I’m thrilled that she’s exploring her environment and becoming her own person, but it’s making my job as a parent that much harder. Actually…it’s a nightmare. I’ve done everything I can think of to make our home safe for her. She always seems to find trouble though. Are you in the same boat? I’d love to hear from you. Click here and here to read some helpful fact sheets on child safety.

I was spanked as a kid. Not excessively, but enough to remember it. My husband was, too. We’ve agreed not spank our daughter. It’s not something we’re comfortable with. I just read some information that reassured me of our decision. A recent study found that frequent spanking at age 3 increased the odds of higher levels of aggression at age 5. Researchers state that this study suggests that even minor forms of corporal punishment increase the risk for child aggressive behavior. What are your thoughts on this?

So there you have it. Last Friday I mentioned starting my daughter on cow’s milk and let’s just say it’s not going well. She turns her head and pushes the cup away every time we offer it to her. My husband has a knack for tricking her into taking a few sips, but she makes the most awful grimace and then lets it dribble down her chin. We’ll continue to encourage her and offer lots of praise though. She’ll get used to it at some point, right? If you have any advice on weaning or making this transition easier I’d love to hear from you.

As you already know a baby should turn one before they start cow’s milk, but do you know why? Well, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, younger babies simply can’t digest cow’s milk as easily as they digest breast milk or formula. Cow’s milk contains a lot of protein and minerals, which can put a lot of stress on a newborn’s kidneys. Also, cow’s milk lacks the proper amounts of fat, iron, vitamin C, and other nutrients that growing babies need.

Have a great weekend!

If your baby cries and cries, no matter how you try to comfort her, the cause may be colic. About one-in-five babies develop colic - usually between one and four months of age. They cry constantly, often extending or pulling up their legs, or passing gas. Sometimes their tummies are enlarged with air and gas from crying. There’s no one cause of colic, but there are many different ways to ease your baby’s discomfort. One way is to walk her in a soft-sided baby carrier that you strap to the front of your body. You can also try laying her tummy-down across your knees and gently rubbing her back. The pressure against her tummy may relieve her discomfort. Breastfeeding moms can ask their pediatricians about a change in diet or eliminating specific foods since your baby’s colic may stem from . Keep in mind that colic usually disappears by four months of age, no matter what treatments you try. For more information from American Academy of Pediatrics, click here .

It’s only natural to be concerned when your child’s temperature goes up. But not all fevers are a cause for worry. In fact, many fevers don’t need treatment. By activating your child’s immune system, a fever can actually shorten your child’s illness. Normal temperature is not a specific number. Instead normal temperature usually ranges from 97° to 100.4° Fahrenheit. Body temperature also varies according to time of day, age, and physical activity. Pediatricians do not consider a fever significant unless it rises above 100.4°. Treatment is rarely required for a child older than three months who has a mild fever but no other symptoms. But if other symptoms appear along with the fever, you should call your pediatrician. For children younger than three months even a mild fever means you should call your pediatrician right away. To learn more about caring for your baby, visit our website or the American Academy of Pediatrics.

It may be tempting to put your infant or toddler in front of the television, especially to watch shows created just for children under age two. But the American Academy of Pediatrics says: Don’t do it! These early years are crucial in a child’s development. The Academy is concerned about the impact of television programming intended for children younger than age two and how it could affect your child’s development. Pediatricians strongly oppose targeted programming, especially when it’s used to market toys, games, dolls, unhealthy food and other products to toddlers. Any positive effect of television on infants and toddlers is still open to question, but the benefits of parent-child interactions are proven. Under age two, talking, singing, reading, listening to music or playing are far more important to a child’s development than any TV show. For more information on your child’s health, visit www.aap.org.

It’s hard to believe, but Halloween is right around the corner. My husband and I are both off from work today, so we’re headed out to buy decorations and mums for the front stoop. Our little pumpkin is too young for trick-or-treating, but it’s not too soon for us to learn how to enjoy this holiday safely with her. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has some helpful Halloween safety tips on their website. Click here to check them out.

So you’re pregnant and want to breastfeed your baby. Great choice! Breastmilk is the best food for most babies during the first year of life.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies exclusively breastfeed for about the first 6 months of life. That means the baby has only breastmilk and no other form of food. In other words: No formula.  

A new study published in the American Journal of Public Health looked at whether hospitals support women who want to exclusively breastfeed their babies. 

Researchers found that most hospitals encourage women to breastfeed and support those who choose to do so. But hospitals are less helpful when it comes to exclusive breastfeeding.

For instance, many of them give formula to moms who want to exclusively breastfeed. They may also give newborns pacifiers, which can interfere with exclusive breastfeeding. So it can be confusing to the new mom who’s trying to learn how to do this.

So if you want to exclusively breastfeed, you will need to say “No, thanks” to hospital staff when they provide formula and pacifiers. 

The March of Dimes article on breastfeeding lists resources that can help you prepare before your due date arrives.