Breast, Bottle Or Both?

Making a choice between breast and bottle is one of your most important decisions as a parent. There is no right or wrong choice but due to health reasons, both yours and baby’s, every health authority of significance recommends that you breastfeed your child at least for the first six months. Breast milk is hailed as ideal nutrition for a newborn, supplying him with nutrients essential for both mental and physical growth. However, breastfeeding isn’t always possible or preferable.

Five Symptoms to Watch Out

When Is a Fever Serious?
Fevers aren't usually serious, but occasionally they're a sign of a serious—and possibly dangerous—illness. Keep an eye out for these five symptoms, which could indicate a more serious problem when coupled with a fever:

Lethargy. Your child has lost his appetite, has little energy, or is noticeably pale or flushed, or you notice other changes in his behavior and appearance.
Rash. Your child has small, purple-red spots on his skin that don't turn white when you press on them, or large purple blotches.

Difficulty swallowing. Your child is unable to swallow and is drooling excessively.

Difficulty breathing. Your child has difficulty breathing even after you clear his nose with a bulb syringe.

Mood. Your child seems delirious, glassy-eyed, or extremely cranky or irritable. If you notice these symptoms with a fever, call your pediatrician right away. In general, it's a good idea to check with your pediatrician if you feel uncomfortable about your child's appearance or behavior, no matter what his temperature is. Remember, too, that fever is only one sign of illness. Be sure to mention symptoms such as a cough and ear pain (if you suspect it) or

vomiting and diarrhea - these help your pediatrician make a diagnosis.

7 Ways to turn your child's frown upside down

What do you do when your child's in a slump?

The power of praise
Whenever Chloe gets stuck in a crying jag, I try to find something to praise her for. It can be any little move she makes toward calming herself. Then the meltdown is over and she's able to move on with her day. — Kate, mother of Chloe, San Francisco
Get your ya-yas out

Even if I'm busy and trying to get ready for dinner, I stop and announce to Ben that it's time for him to "get his ya-yas out." Now he even uses that term when he's feeling out of sorts. Getting his ya-yas out always cheers him up. — Colleen, mother of Ben, Atlanta, Georgia
Take a good mood car wash
I have her push an invisible button to enter the "good mood car wash," and then I twirl her around, tickle her, and make silly sounds. She's falling over laughing by the time we're done. — Sheila, mother of Charlotte, Westport, Connecticut
Stop and listen
I give him individual attention, play with him, and make sure I'm just there for him. — Elisse, mother of Noah and Aidan, Berkeley, California
Foster a social butterfly
My two sons always seem happier when they're surrounded by a group of family and friends. Some of the times I've seen them happiest are at large family gatherings, when they've had a chance to interact with a lot of people they know and love. — Jim, father of Chris and Alec, San Francisco
Make a pizza
I use the same trick as the dad in William Steig's book Pete's a Pizza. When my daughter's grumpy, I say, "Okay, time to make you into a pizza." I pick her up and knead the dough and toss her in the air, which is really just tickling and gentle roughhousing. Then I sprinkle her with make-believe cheese, tomato sauce, and pepperoni — another good chance for tickling! Then I plop her in a pretend oven (the couch) and presto, her bad mood is over! — Fred, father of Hazel, Burlington, Vermont
Let the air out
When we're driving in the car and my daughter is feeling upset, we roll the windows down all the way, even if it's freezing out and snowing, and then we blow all the "bad" air out of our bodies. She always feels better afterward and so do I! — Chandler, mother of Lily, Monterey, Massachusetts

Making an Attachment

Bonding with your baby is probably one of the most pleasurable aspects of infant care. You can begin to bond by cradling your baby in your lap and gently stroking him or her in different patterns. If you and your partner both hold and touch your infant frequently, your little one will soon come to know the difference between your touches. Each of you should also take the opportunity to be "skin to skin" with your newborn by holding him or her against your own skin when feeding or cradling.

The Ways Babies Bond
When you're a new parent, it often takes a while to understand your newborn's true capabilities and all the ways you can interact:

Touch becomes an early language as babies respond to skin-to-skin contact. It's soothing for both you and your baby while promoting your baby's healthy growth and development.
Eye-to-eye contact provides meaningful communication at close range.
Babies can follow moving objects with their eyes.
Your baby tries - early on - to imitate your facial expressions and gestures.
Babies prefer human voices and enjoy vocalizing in their first efforts at communication.

Bond with your baby...by massaging them!

As you'll agree, there's certainly no doubt to the powerful effect infant massage can have on a child.

One study by the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami revealed that massage stimulates the immune system and babies who were massaged by their mothers are less prone to catching a cold, diarrhoea, colic and constipation.

The one-to-one interaction between mother and baby deepens the bond between them. From the gentle stroking and touching, babies feel loved and more secure. It also helps them to feel more relaxed. Many mothers who massaged their babies found that their babies were calmer, cried less and slept better.

Well, guess what…conditions such as constipation, tension and gas in the tummy can also be significantly reduced, if not, eliminated by administering infant massage.
Here are even more documented benefits of infant massage

• Infant & parent bonding
• Relaxation
• Makes baby feel loved
• Promotes better sleep
• Facilitates body awareness
• Boosts immune system
• Sensory stimulation
• Improves skin condition
• Improves blood circulation
• Helps digestion
• Balances respiration
• Relief for teething pains
• Helps waste elimination
• Helps you learn about your baby (their needs and desires)
• Relaxes parents
• Helps build parents' and baby's self-esteem
• Pleasurable experience
• Stimulates production of oxytocin
  And many more…

Baby Changes Things

A baby changes things;
They’ll never be the same;
Your life is filled with wonder,
Since your little miracle came.

There’s lots of things to do now,
But with the new tasks you face,
Your family gains more love,
And bonds time will never erase.

Congratulations on your new addition!

By Karl and Joanna Fuchs

How to Comfort a Crying Baby

All babies cry. And at about two weeks of age, it is common for babies to develop a fussy period in the evening that can last for as long as two hours.

If your baby becomes fussy, what will you do? Try some of the following techniques, or perhaps a combination of them, to soothe your baby. As you offer comfort, pay attention to what your baby is trying to tell you. Through trial and error, and with loving patience, you'll soon discover together which soothing methods work best. Here are some techniques to try:





New Positions

Hold your baby facedown over your forearm with his head at your elbow and your thumb and fingers wrapped around his thigh.
Hold your baby seated in your hand with his back to your chest and your other hand across his chest, wrapping your thumb and fingers around his upper arm.
Hold your baby high over your shoulder so his stomach is being pressed into your shoulder bone.
Cradle your baby in your arms, holding him tummy-to-tummy tightly against you.

Rhythmic Motion

Babies are most comforted at a pace of 60 times each minute, so try these methods:

Walking around.
Rocking vertically by doing deep-knee bends.
Swaying side to side or back and forth while standing up.
Rocking back and forth in a comfortable rocking chair.

Warmth
Swaddle your baby tightly in a receiving blanket.
Hold your baby close to you so she can receive your warmth.
Put a heating pad in your baby's sleep area to warm the sheets before putting her down. Take out the heating pad and check the temperature of the sheets to be sure they're comfortably warm.
Lay your baby facedown over a wrapped hot-water bottle on your lap.

Soothing Sounds

Speak reassuring words in a soft, low voice.
Hum and sing familiar songs you enjoy.
Make a tape recording of a dishwasher, washing machine, vacuum cleaner or clothes dryer to let your baby hear repeated swooshing sounds. A fan or humidifier in the baby's room can sometimes do the trick, as can a radio tuned to the static between stations.
Play classical, new age, soft rock or soft jazz music. No heavy metal, please! It makes babies nervous

Touch

Firmly but gently massage your baby's back from the neck down to his bottom.
Firmly pat or rub your baby on his back and bottom.
In a warm room, lay your baby on a firm surface and gently massage his tummy with clockwise strokes. If you think his discomfort may be resulting from gas, this can help move down the gas. Then gently press his knees into his abdomen to push out the gas.

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1st time seeing your baby UPFRONT

Nothing compares to the strong emotions of love and attachment you feel when you first gaze upon your newborn. After nine long months, you can't help but marvel at Baby's little fingers and toes. But life in the cramped quarters of the womb and an arduous journey into the outside world sometimes leave their mark on a newborn. These marks are what protect and support babies along the way, and many moms are surprised to see them.