The post Colic: The causes and symptoms appeared first on All4Baby.
]]>Colic is simply explained as long periods of crying from an infant that is hard to soothe or settle.
There is no definite explanation for the crying, which makes it very stressful for parents. It is important to note that the incessant crying does not necessarily mean that there is something wrong with your baby.
Regardless of many year’s of research, the cause of colic remains unexplained. Over the years there have been a few suggestions, but no conclusive cause has been found. These suggestions include;
The crying episodes usually start at two weeks of age, peak at two months and start to fade at the age of four months.
If your baby has colic, he or she will cry inconsolably for no apparent reason. During these episodes (which usually occur in the late afternoon or evening) your baby might also arch his back, pull her legs up towards her body and have a painful facial expression. For the duration of the episode, your baby will be difficult to comfort.
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]]>The post Help your baby through his first cold appeared first on All4Baby.
]]>Small children develop colds for a number of reasons;
Colds are difficult for babies, as they can’t tell you what’s wrong. So how do you know if your baby has a cold, or something different?
For the first few days of a cold, your baby may be fidgety, irritable and hard to settle. Once a congested nose kicks in, they’ll tend to prefer trying to breathe through their nostrils even when they are blocked. As a result, they will find it hard to feed so may be a little off their food.
Like adults, sneezing, coughing, a hoarse ‘voice’ or cries and red or watery eyes may be signs.
There is still no cure for the common cold. So while you wait for the symptoms to go, you can try the following to make your baby more comfortable:
Warm baths and showers
To ease congestion (and make them feel better) a hot, steamy and humid environment is perfect. Just a few minutes will help, though half an hour or more will do wonders.
Whether you bathe them and relax them, or just take them into the bathroom while you shower yourself, it should help, and will clean away some of that horrible ‘ill’ feeling.
Vaporisers and humidifiers
These do the same job as a steamy bathroom, but can be left in your child’s room at night. Night time is the worst time for a cold, as lying down worsens congestion. Humidifiers will help to combat a blocked nose, but for additional help, try propping the mattress up using a few folded towels so your baby sleeps at a more upright angle.
Saline nasal drops OR breastmilk
Sometimes, that congestion just won’t budge. Saline nasal drops can help this but should be used carefully. Make sure that any nasal solutions you use are pure and do not contain any decongestant medication.
Breastmilk can double as a nasal solution as it is pure, and full of goodness. If the area underneath the nose is getting sore, use petroleum jelly to protect it.
Offer more feeds
If your baby is finding it hard to feed, their fluid intake will be down. But when you have a cold, the first thing you need is more drink and nourishment.
Little and often is the best way to feed, and for toddlers you should offer drinks, ice pops, even frozen breastmilk ice cubes and runny, liquid based foods regularly.
Watch out for signs of dehydration, and if you’re worried about their fluid intake, seek help.
Be there to comfort and keep wiping their nose
Often all an ill and confused child will want, is reassurance from you. So just be there to keep wiping noses, cuddle and soothe. Even if you feel helpless you’ll be helping more than you know!
If your baby’s symptoms do not improve after a few days, they have a high temperature (over 37°C), they refuse to feed, pull on their ears a lot, or they shows signs of a rash or hives, take them to a doctor immediately.
They may have a more serious condition, infection or even an allergy.
Dehydration may rapidly become a concern if babies are taking in less than half of their normal feed amount. Always seek professional advice if you are unsure.
Do not give your baby cold treatment medications unless prescribed, as these are usually designed for adults and can cause damage to young children.
If you must use decongestants, apply them to fabrics in small amounts, not sensitive skin. Ensure these fabrics will not be exposed to little faces as they can cause skin discomfort.
Within a week, your baby’s symptoms should be easing and they’ll be back to their old selves. Colds are a part of growing up however, and they are sure to have (and get through) many more in future.
About the author: Suzanne Gibbard is a mother of three and owner of Bundles of Joy, a company that sells christening gifts and new baby gifts.
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]]>At two months old, your baby will also be awake more often in the day, which is a perfect time for you to start playing with your baby, which will assist in her development.
Have the camera ready! Your baby will flash her first non-gassy smile between four and six weeks of age. From that first smile, your baby will likely smile each time you engage with her. Some moms even believe that babies return each smile that they are given, so be sure to smile at your baby as you talk to her.
This week your baby will start to;
This is an important week for your baby. She will visit her paediatrician for her six week check up and will also receive her first set of vaccinations. At your baby’s check up, expect the paediatrician to listen to her heart and lungs, in addition to evaluating her overall well-being. A few milestone checks will also be done to make sure that your baby is developing on track.
Your six week old baby;
This week your baby might make her biggest discovery yet: her hands. You will probably catch her playing with her hands and fingers as she has realised that those fingers actually belong to her.
She may also;
Your baby continues to grow and develop. Are you keeping a journal to log your baby’s weight and milestones? If not, you should think about doing so. It will one day be nice to look back at the adventures of your baby’s first few months.
At eight weeks your baby;
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]]>The post Tips to help you shed those pregnancy kilos appeared first on All4Baby.
]]>This means that any extra weight gained during pregnancy will soon be lost.
Although this is very exciting to all lactating mothers, it is important to understand that this is not a time for dieting. Moms should still try to consume foods of high nutritional value in order to replenish those energy stores.
An additional intake of 2000kj may be required depending on frequency and length of feeds in order for a mom to maintain her weight. Fluid requirements are also slightly increased by 500ml per day. However, moms should listen to their thirst and drink accordingly.
For formula feeding moms, the weight loss task may be a bit more challenging but definitely not impossible. The key to returning to your pre-pregnancy weight is to re-establish your pre-pregnancy routine.
That means eating and exercising as you did and not concerning yourself too much with rapid weight loss but rather, gradual and safe weight loss.
Most moms take between three and six months to return to their pre-pregnancy weight. As your baby grows and demands more of your time, you will notice that you will need to be a lot more active around the house which also helps to burn those extra calories.
Here are some general healthy eating tips for both breastfeeding and formula feeding moms:
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