Parenting Children

Many parents these days are stepping back and taking a closer look at some of the traditional parenting gear we all use in our homes. We are looking to make sure the bottles we buy are BPA free, we are using homemade remedies for bee stings instead of reaching for the tube of who-knows-what. With the internet now in almost every home and the availability of information, we are questioning what are children’s toys are made of and demanding better. Here are some things you can make at home and never again have to question what ingredients are in them, plus they are better then store bought!

Baby Wipes
cut paper towels in half so you have two short rolls and remove the cardboard. Keep them in a airtight container (like an old baby wipe box or tupperware container), and pour the mixture over the paper towels. Put the lid back on the box and turn it upside down so the solution is absorbed.
2-1/4 cups water
1 tbsp baby oil
1 roll paper towels, cut in half
2 tbsp baby shampoo
make sure to mix gently

Baby Oil
4 ounces of oil (olive, almond, apricot, or sunflower)
5 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops orange essential oil

Pour your ingredients right into a bottle so you can easily pour, try using an old baby oil bottle. Just give a good shake to blend the oils and you’re all set.

homemade baby oil, homemade baby wipes, parenting, infants, babies

Nobody said that having a baby was an inexpensive endeavor. If you really sit down and figure out what they cost, it will make your head spin. Here are some costs for a new baby, the most expensive thing you will ever bring home from the hospital.

Babies use an average of eight diapers a day, which is 56 diapers per week and 224 per month. A diaper costs on average $.35 each which comes to $940.00 per year on disposable diapers. Stock up when you see a sale!

Babies who drink formula go through a lot of it the first few months. We figured out the twins formula was $150.00 per month, EACH. After you start cereal and foods that cost will go down, but formula is expensive. Join your formulas manufacturer’s web site for coupons.
Breastfeeding is free but you will need some supplies like breast pads, nursing bras (which seem so expensive to me!) a nursing pillow and a breast pump. Those can really add up.

Getting the baby out isn’t cheap either. A vaginal birth costs between $5,000 and $8,000 and a cesarean section can cost about $12.000. My hospital bill with the twins included a C-section complications and two babies and totaled over $30,000.

Childcare is the most expensive thing, at least here in New Jersey. This can total the same amount as a car payment or rent in some places! Nowadays I see a lot of Grandparents watching their grandkids during the day so both parents can work.

All in all that is a lot of money spent on such a small person. But when you are a parent there isn’t anything or anyone you would rather spend your hard earned money on!

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I was so happy when I finally didn’t have to carry a diaper bag anymore. No more lugging around a huge, heavy bag where I could never find what I was looking for. This time around I am more organized, and I only have to pack for one baby which is a lot easier! Here is a checklist for what you should carry for your new little one:

Diapers- of course! You probably want to stick on the safe side and carry at least 5 of these.

Wipes- again, you want to err on the side of caution. I always carry a lot for dirty diapers as well as sticky hands and faces.
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You can ferberize, co-sleep or practice attachment parenting. What ever you do for and with your new baby I bet you second guess and question it at least in the beginning, if not every step of the way. I came home from the hospital with a quiet, sleepy, beautiful baby boy. Now that baby is 4 weeks and one day old and the sleeping part is getting harder to accomplish and I wonder, “Am I getting this parenting thing right?”

I have lost my memory after five years and I have forgotten what it is like to have a newborn again. I came home with K and I thought “it is OK to hold him, you can’t spoil a newborn”. Now as the days grow longer and he sleeps a little less each day I wonder: when is it time to put him down?
He seems to want to be held all day and while I would love to hold him, studying his tiny face and features trying to memorize every second of his life so I can replay it in my mind when I am an old woman, I just don’t have that time. Nobody has all of that time. I have five eyar olds to make lunch for and play with, I have laundry and calls to return.
Do I soothe him by placing him in the swing to the vibrating seat to the play mat? Do I let him fall asleep in my arms after he nurses?

I want my baby to learn to soothe himself or pacify himself, but when does that lesson start? At birth? Two months? I surely don’t want to miss the boat and have it be too late.
I want him to be a great sleeper (what parent doesn’t want that?!), but is that a learned habit or are you just born with it?
So parents, tell me: just when do you put the baby down?

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It wasn’t until a couple of months before I gave birth to our third baby that I thought about diapers. When I was pregnant with the twins, it wasn’t a thought, we would use disposables like everyone else did. Now we are trying to be more “green” and Earth friendly so I did decide to look into other options and share what I found out with all of you.

Cloth diapers- usually sells for about $1.25 per diaper which is more expensive up front but will save money in the long run. Of course there are more expensive ones that have pretty fabrics and are easier to put on with velcro instead of using pins. Those can run you up to $15.00 per diaper. Cloth diapers require more, care. The contents need to be dumped into a toilet and then put into a bucket waiting for wash day.
A little too “crunchy” for me.

Disposable diapers- These will run $.20-.25 per diaper but you can get them for as little as $.17 per diaper if you clip coupons, watch for sales and order online in bulk. They are the most time efficient to put on, take off and no washing! These are the most environmentally unfriendly because they end up in landfills and don’t break down for hundreds of years.

gDiapers- These are the newest and trendiest “cloth” diapers on the market. They are $27.00 for a starter kit and run $.37 each for replacement pads. They look like regular cloth diapers but they are flushable! A huge plus but make sure you have a good toilet, because these can be a plumbing “don’t”! They are the most expensive choice I found but the most earth friendly.

Which diapers do you use for your child?

diapers, diapering, gDaipers, cloth diapers, cloth diapering, parenting, parenting children, infants, babies

Today is World Autism Awareness Day. Now the autism rate is 1 in 150 births compared to 1 in 10,000 in 1983. The rate of autism in New Jersey bosy is 1 in 6, so you can see why I am scared. Does it have to do with the amount of vaccinations given, what is in the vaccines or the environment? I am not sure, scientists are not even sure, but something has to be done.

A new study in the April issue of Pediatrics, looked for early autistic behaviors, though not specifically for a diagnosis of autism, in premature infants who were born at a very low birth weight, about 3.3 pounds. It found that several factors associated with these early births were linked to a positive result on an autism screening test. They studied 91 babies who weighed less than 3 pounds at birth. MRIs were done on these infants around the time of their birth. At around 22 months, the researchers conducted an autism screening test, called the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers or M-CHAT.
Twenty-five percent of these toddlers tested positive on the M-CHAT, suggesting that they had an increased risk of developing autism. Factors included lower birth weight, lower gestational age, being male, having an abnormal MRI, being ill when delivered, an infection in the mother before birth, or the mother experienced hemorrhaging during labor and delivery.

Are you scared about autism with your children? What do you think the causes of autism are?

For more information on autism, check out this web site.

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I have to admit, I was a little naive about breastfeeding. I knew it would be hard and tiring. I knew it could be a struggle and not be as “natural” as I would think it should be. It has been two weeks and I am tired and confused. I think I need a live in lactation consultant!

My son had a tight frenulum, or a tongue tie. That is where the small piece of skin under the tongue does not allow to tongue to extend fully, causing problems eating and speaking, so yesterday he had that piece of skin cut and corrected by the pediatrician.
Yeah, I waited in the waiting room because that was too much for me.
I thought this was the problem with our latch, and it very well could be, but when should it get better?

The last few days though, it is if the baby has regressed and is not latching on properly. I can go to breastfeeding support meetings, but they are only on Fridays. I called my insurance company to see if they covered a lactation consultant coming out for a visit, but of course they do not.
I am watching proper latch on techniques online and reading everything I can about it, but having someone help you is just so much better.
I am still trying to breastfeed and it is a struggle.
Now I know why so many women give up.

Did you have any problems breastfeeding? What advice would you give me about breastfeeding?

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When the pediatrician came to check my newborn in the hospital, one of the first questions I asked him was if he thought my baby had jaundice. My twins had some jaundice after they were born, so I knew what to expect. The baby was slightly jaundice which is very common. But, what is jaundice and how can you combat it in your baby’s first few weeks of life?

The word “jaundice” comes from a French word meaning “yellow”. It describes the yellowish color of the whites of the eyes and skin of newborns. It usually appears in the second or third day of life of a newborn full term baby. It usually goes away after a week.
It occurs because the liver is not fully mature and not fully able to get rid of the bilirubin, which is the breakdown of old red blood cells that the baby needed in the womb.
Feeding the baby helps them have bowel movements which helps the body get rid of bilirubin. It doesn’t matter of you breastfeed or bottle feed any feeding is good for the baby although some doctors will recommend formula to help with jaundice, your milk will do just fine.

This is a common and temporary condition so don’t be too scared if you hear that your newborn has jaundice.
In some cases jaundice can become severe so call your doctor if you are concerned or if your infant’s eyes or skin looks more yellow then when they left the hospital.

infants, newborns, jaundice, bilirubin, babies, pregnancy, parenting parenting children

I have so many favorite things to share with you today, the last day of February. I love looking all over the web and in stores for the cutest and coolest things for moms, and children. I also love supporting mom owned businesses and try to promote my favorites whenever I can.
Here are some great things that have caught my eye in the past few weeks:

I love everything sock monkey. Target has had a lot of sock monkey products lately from slippers to sheets. If you want to make your own, here is a good rainy day activity for you and your kids, make your own sock monkey kit.

I have always loved anything with my name on it, but who doesn’t? This site is closed for maternity leave right now, but it has everything personalized for baby from diaper covers to bibs and headbands. I can’t wait for her to get back because I need to get my daughter a personalized headband of her own!

Practice Spanish with these cute dominoes. These are English/Spanish dominoes and for $6.50 are a steal because they are well made and so cute!

Every little one needs a pair of converse sneakers!

Check out my latest reviews on the ultimate receiving blanket

Eco-friendly baby gear

A blanket that is easy to carry and so soft you will want your own!

Great burp cloths and

This amazing pregnancy planner I cannot live without!

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Making baby food may take a little more effort then just buying cans at the grocery store but more and more parents are doing it. Although it is not for everyone, making your own baby food can be simple and is great for your baby. You have control over the ingredients, it won’t have preservatives and the texture can be just what your baby likes.

Are you ready to make baby food? OK here it goes, remember when using fruits and vegetables, always wash and remove the skin. use organic whenever possible. Steam or boil food until it is soft and mushy, you do not need any seasonings or salt. If you are making this for the whole family, put aside and flavor some for the older members of your family.

You can mash the food in a blender, food processor or baby food mill and play with the texture to see what your baby likes and dislikes. Start with pureed food when you introduce your baby to solid foods (after 4 months or when your pediatrician tells you) and slowly move towards mashed or small pieces of food when baby learns to chew food. You can make these ahead of time and freeze them!
Make as much as you would like, then place into sanitized ice-cube trays to freeze. Once the food is frozen, pop them out and store in freezer containers and label. These will last for up to three months frozen!

Tell me, do you make your own baby food? If you buy jarred baby food which brand do you prefer?

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One things that all parents have to do when they have a baby is baby proof their home. Whether it is taking kick knacks down from the coffee table or nailing everything down in the entire house, baby proofing is very important. Some people start baby proofing the minute the baby is born, others wait until they become mobile. There are now even companies who will come to your house and tell you what you need to baby proof and even help you do it.

Do you need someone come out and tell you what and how to baby proof? No, but if you are a busy couple or know nothing about babies and what they are capable of getting into, this might be the route for you. Some companies charge nothing for a household consultation and others can cost a few hundred dollars. If you are interested in hiring a company to come out and evaluate your home, go to iafcs.com for a list of baby proofers across the country. Make sure you ask for references.

If you want to do it yourself there are a few things that every house hold can do to make their house safer for baby.
Make sure all outlets are covered.
Make sure sharp edges of tables, counters or doorways are covered.
Don’t leave knick knacks or sharp objects on tables or low counter tops.
Use baby gates everywhere there are stairs including outside.
Get a gate or fence installed around your pool and never leave standing water where a baby can reach it even outside in a bucket. Get locks for all the doors in your home, especially the bathroom.

For more tips on how and what to baby proof check out these sites.

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There are so many things to think about and discuss with your spouse when you are pregant and once the baby comes home. One of the easiest things for E and I to agree on was the twin’s eating. We knew we would offer the best foods possible to the babies and plenty of variety! We didn’t want chicken nugget and french fry kids, you know they type, that is their only order no matter where they are eating.
I read that food preferences are established early and that eating is a learning process, if kids are given mainly sweets that will be their taste preference instead of trying new things. It seems to be true in this house my kids will want fruit over french fries any day and they prefer guacamole and hummus to chicken nuggets and hamburgers.

The stats are scary too, 25-30 percent of kids 9 too 24 months did not eat any fruit and 20-25 percent did not eat any vegetables. The most common vegetable eaten by toddlers? French fries.
That shouldn’t be so shocking considering the childhood obesity epidemic.
What can you do to build your child’s healthy eating habits? Here are some tips:

Give the baby grains at six months. Sure he may be weirded out by the texture at first, but I bet he will grow to like it.
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They say the most accurate way to take a baby’s temperature is rectally. I could never get up the nerve to do it with my twins and the one time I did, I did it wrong. I didn’t put it in far enough or for enough time. From then on, I always used a temperal thermometer. Now I know how to do it and have instructions for the new parents who are as lost as I was.

-Clean the end of the thermometer with rubbing alcohol or soap and water

-Put a small amount of lubricant like vaseline on the end of the thermometer

-Place your baby on his stomach on a hard surface like a changing table and hold her steady by placing your hand on her lower back.

-With your other hand, gently slide the thermometer 1/2 to 1 inch into his bottom. Never force it in!

-Hold it in place for one minute or until the thermometer beeps.

-Clean the thermometer
(Normal rectal temperature is 100.2 degrees Fahrenheit or less)

You should take your baby’s temperature if:
-baby is especially irritable
-baby’s skin is hot
-baby’s complexion is either very pale or flushed
-baby’s breathing is unusually fast, slow or especially noisy
-baby has a runny nose, is sneezing or coughing
-baby rubs his/her ear or rolls head and screams sharply

Also, remember that overdressing, or too hot of an environment can cause a high temperature. If the baby is overdressed, remove some clothing and retake the temperature in 30 minutes.

While I was in the hospital they monitored the baby for signs of distress. They did various non stress tests and one sonogram to make sure the baby was handling the stress of my illness and developing appropriately. During one of these tests the nurse told me I had had two contractions and asked if I had felt them. I had not. Honestly, I have no idea what a contraction feels like since I didn’t have any with my first pregnancy, that I knew of. It got me wondering what they really felt like and have me asking any and every mom I come in contact with for their experience. I want to know in case I do go into early labor, something I hope not to do.

Premature births are babies delivered before 37 weeks and they are on the rise in the Untied States. Being born too early puts the baby at risk for life long health problems. There are signs for early labor and ways to reduce your risk:

-Get prenatal care as soon as you think you are pregnant

-Reduce any stress you can

-Do not smoke, drink or do drugs.

If you have any of these signs of premature labor call your doctor right away:

Contractions every 10 minutes
leaking fluid
pelvic pressure
low and dull backache

Of course if you have any concerns or questions call your doctor and if you need more information on premature births, visit the march of dimes web site.

When I found out I was having boy/girl twins I was so excited. Not only did I get to buy baseball mitts, overalls and cars but I got to buy pretty hair bows, dolls and jewelry. My daughter has jewelry, but no earrings yet because I was too chicken to get her ears pierced as a baby.
There are many reasons parents decide to have their daughter’s ears pierced. There are family traditions, cultural traditions, or for gender identity.
Ear piercing a baby has always been the subject of a controversy. Should you pierce their ears when they are young so they don’t remember the pain? Or should your child make their own decision when they get older?

My friend who has a one year old daughter decided to pierce her baby’s ears when she was just five months old. “I wanted to make sure everyone knew she was a girl, so I really did it for gender recognition” she said. Her pediatrician was fully on board with piercing anytime after the baby reached three months old and she did it safely in his office.
Of course there are health and safety concerns that you should consider with ear piercing:

Infection: This is the most common problem with any piercing. Make sure that the equipment being used is sterile, that the posts are clean and new, that the posts are 14K gold or hypo-allergenic stainless steel, and that the earrings are not too tight onto the earlobe. It is important to clean the ear with rubbing alcohol daily to prevent infection.

Choking: Of course earrings are not permanent so they can become loose and even fall out. Anything this small can pose a choking hazard to a baby. Make sure the earrings you get have a special baby proof backing that is very hard to remove easily.

Injury: You don’t want your baby pulling on the earring or ear and hurting herself. Make sure you only use stud earring until your child is much older, hoops are too easily entangled in clothing or hair and easy to pull on.

This is a decision that is one that should be made by both parents. Many feel that doing it early in life is easier for the child. We are going to let our daughter decide when she is ready to get her ears pierced. We will all go and celebrate with her as a family, like I did with my parents. I am excited to share this developmental milestone with her and to add to her jewelry collection for her “big girl ears”!

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