Parenting Children

Now that I am caring for just one baby, I look back on my first kids, twins, and think “how did I do that?” Maybe I am wiser now, and I understand what taking care of babies entails or maybe it was because I was five years younger than I am now. I do know this: taking care of twins was challenging and I am glad I had them while I was young. I am glad I am not the oldest woman to ever have twins.

A 70-year-old from Muzaffarnagar, India, became the world’s oldest woman to give birth after she delivered twins this past Friday! The woman, who has two adult daughters and five grandchildren, wanted a male heir so badly that she underwent in-vitro fertility treatment. Her husband, Charan Singh Panwar, 77, mortgaged his land, sold his buffalos, spent his life savings and took out a credit card loan to finance the treatment.
The twins were born one-month premature and weighing only two pounds but they are healthy and expected to survive.

I want to know what doctor in his right mind would treat a 70 year old woman with IVF? You may have your own opinions about parents who are older having babies, but 70 is a whole different ballpark. Imagine the things that could have gone wrong, not only with the woman but her unborn children also. How are you going to care for the children if you sold all of your buffalos and used your life savings?
Perhaps IVF would have been a better choice 20 years ago, when she was a spry 50!

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I have seen it many times before, heck I have even been guilty of it. It is probably the most common parenting mistake we mothers make and sometimes we don’t even realize we are doing it. Do you know what I am talking about?
Sabotaging our husbands.

You know the drill, your husband asks if you would like him to change the baby’s diaper but you just do it instead because it is easier then watching him struggle. Maybe you are the only one who bathes your child because you don’t think your husband does it correctly.
Dads get a bad rap for not pitching in or helping with the children, especially babies, but maybe it is because we mothers don’t ever truly let them. How did you learn to burp a baby or clean up a boo boo? You know because someone along the way taught you.

Are we helping ourselves by micromanaging every detail of what Dad does with the baby? Maybe your husband takes longer or doesn’t exactly do everything the way you do, the end result is probably the same.
A happy, fed, clean baby. Show your husband how to care for your child, ask his opinion and praise his fathering in the presence of others. Let him get experience and confidence. Then you can maybe get a break every once in awhile. Isn’t that what every mother needs anyway?
Get your husband set up and go out alone and go get a coffee and relax, your baby is in perfect, capable hands.

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Summer is officially here and my children couldn’t be happier. I, on the other hand love summer but dread the things that go with it like bug bites, diligently watching kids by the water and skinned knees. I have armed myself with ointments, band aids and bug spray in preparation this year. Momdocs.com has some great summer safety tips for your family:

Have a Sun Protection Strategy: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends sunscreen with a minimum Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15. Look for products that provide “broad spectrum” coverage to protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Use this sunscreen routine with your child–daily application 30 minutes before going outside and reapplication every 2 hours (or sooner if swimming, toweling off, or sweating). Creating a routine will establish good habits for the future. In addition, don’t forget a wide brim hat, sunglasses with 99-100% UVA/UVB protection, and sun protective clothing.

Keep Pests off Your Little One: In the summer, many insects can bite or sting your child. For pesky mosquitoes and ticks, consider a DEET containing insect repellant. Apply sparingly to exposed skin (avoid backs of hands and around the eyes and mouth) and/or to clothing once a day. As the percentage of DEET goes up, the duration of action increases. To prevent unnecessary exposure, always use the lowest percentage that will last for the planned length of time spent outdoors. Never go above 30% or use on children under 2 months old. (I wasn’t meticulous about this one and my son had chigger bites all down his legs from the park just last week!)

Keep the Pool Cool and Clean: Small yard pools provide a great way for kids to have fun and cool down when the temperature rises, but they can also harbor germs, such as bacteria. To keep the pool free from unwanted “swimmers,” after each use disinfect it with bleach by cleaning with a solution of ¾ cup regular bleach to one gallon of water, then rinse well and dry thoroughly. Safety must: Always supervise children regardless of age when they are around any water; whether it’s a bucket, a small backyard plastic pool, or the local community pool.

High Heat Means Hydrate: Excessive heat exposure may cause your child to experience a heat-related illness such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or even heat stroke. How to prevent this: take breaks in the shade, avoid playing outside during peak sun exposure hours, and drink, drink, drink! Make sure your child is taking in plenty of fluids before he become thirsty.

Rid Rashes and Relieve Itchies: Running through the yard in bare feet, taking a nature walk on a trail, and picnicing in the park are some of the joys of warmer weather. But all of this outdoor activity can expose your child to a host of plants including those which cause poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac. If an allergic reaction occurs, ask the pediatrician about an oral antihistamine and/or a topical skin care product such as a steroid cream or calamine. If the rash is extensive, looks infected, or is not getting better, call your doctor right away.

What are your mommy survival tips on summer safety?

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