Search Results for: blog pacifiers a good idea

Baby Blog Week in Review: July 28th Through August 3rd

Safety and summer fun have been two themes occurring in the Baby Blog for last week. From tougher toy standards and new information about you baby and second-hand smoke, to fun in the baby pool and enjoyment through volunteering, you’ll find a variety of information and opinion. Some of it might even be controversial. Add your comment! Here, now, is the week in review. July 28th Baby Blog Week in Review: July 21st Through July 27th What types of activities do you like to do with your baby? Is it playing on the floor, reading or taking walks? How about … Continue reading →

Baby Blog Month in Review: July 2008

Two of my three children are summer babies. That is, they were born in the summer and had their first months surrounded by sunshine streaming in the windows, the sound of birds chirping, and days spent wearing nothing but a diaper and a “onsie.” I made sure that they had Fourth of July outfits ready, even though one of them arrived a week after the holiday. I guess he just wasn’t interested in the parade. Do you have a summer baby, too? We had a lot of new information to share this past month, such as recall notices and new … Continue reading →

Pacifiers – A good idea?

Does your baby use a pacifier? If so, then you’re not alone. All babies have a natural sucking instinct. Sometimes that need to suck goes beyond feeding time. That is when a baby will usually take to sucking on their fingers or on a pacifier. But are pacifiers safe? Does using them inhibit breastfeeding? According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, you shouldn’t worry if your child sucks on a pacifier. As long as you follow the guidelines for purchasing and maintaining your child’s pacifiers, they are safe. Pacifier Recommendations: 1.Buy a one-piece pacifier with a soft nipple 2.Do not … Continue reading →

How to Throw an Inexpensive Baby Shower

Times are tough, but having a baby is a big deal, so when it’s time for your best friend, sister, cousin, or colleague to deliver, you don’t want to short change her on a shower. Fortunately, there are ways to save on baby showers, despite society’s push to host elaborate bashes for the expectant mom. Forget about renting a hall, having a catered spread, and hiring a DJ. Rather, stick to the basics and keep those baby shower costs under control. Your frugality doesn’t have to mean hosting a cheap affair. You can still have a shower to remember without … Continue reading →

Time Savings Tips to Prep Your House for Baby

Posted on by

Getting ready for a baby in your home involves more than just baby-proofing. Sure, locking away dangerous cleaners, protecting electrical outlets and blocking stairs are all good ideas, but you will discover that adding convenience for your sake will help you keep your sanity. Taking care of a baby takes up a lot of time, so anything you can do now that can save you time later will make mommy-hood that much easier. 1. Cut down on the time it takes to clean your hardwood, tile or linoleum floors by investing in a quality steam mop, if you don’t already … Continue reading →

How to Have a Natural Birth in a Hospital Part 1

Many mothers and most proponents of home birth would argue that the current medical model of maternity care in the United States makes it difficult to have a natural birth in the hospital. Interventions are so routinely used in some hospitals that it is almost impossible to make it through the birth without any. However, with some planning it is possible to have the birth you want. The two most important factors in having a natural birth in a hospital setting are the health care provider and hospital in which you will deliver. In the first part of this blog, … Continue reading →

Breastfeeding Preemies in a NICU is Different

Posted on by

Breast milk is absolutely the best food you can give your newborn. Not only does it provide numerous immunological benefits, but the breast milk of a mother who has given birth too early contains substantially more calorie packing fat than does the breast milk of a mother who has given birth at a full 40 weeks gestation. One difficulty in breastfeeding a preemie for some mothers is that good practices in giving breast milk to a preemie while he/she is in the NICU may well go against everything that the new mother has read or heard about breastfeeding. Here are … Continue reading →

Baby Bling? Seriously?

Today, safety advocates have won a serious battle against the rich and stylish. Pacifiers that are encrusted with Swarovski crystals have been recalled due to the possibility of swallowing one of the precious crystals and aspirating. Thank goodness. Have I missed something, or is there something wrong with a plain old Gerber pacifier? And what parent would seriously put something with jewels encrusted into it into their infant’s mouth? Isn’t that just common sense? Apparently not. Because I found jewel encrusted bottles, pacifiers, pacifier holders, rattles and toys after googling online. Everything and anything that can have a jewel stuck … Continue reading →

Hormonal Based Birth Control and Breastfeeding

I have talked before about how breastfeeding is a fairly good birth control mechanism. However, like all birth control, you have to follow “the directions.” In order to keep the prolactin levels high enough to prevent ovulation, you do have to nurse on demand, sleep with the baby near you, and refuse pacifiers and/or sippy cups. Breastfeeding has been shown to be 98% effective in preventing pregnancy when all of the ‘rules’ are followed. However, still women sometimes choose to use birth control to prevent pregnancy. Sometimes it’s that they cannot breastfeed that much–maybe they have to go back to … Continue reading →

The Pacifier Wars

Over the years, there has been a tug of war between proponents of the pacifier versus those who are against the pacifier have swung the pendulum back and forth. When my daughter was born, pacifiers were recommended against (especially if you were breastfeeding) and now once again the pendulum is swinging back to be in favor of the pacifier including as an aid to help reduce the changes of SIDS. Pro Pacifier On the pro pacifier side of the fence, there are the medical studies that suggest the babies sucking reflex helps to prevent SIDS. The pacifier is a great … Continue reading →