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Summer in full swing and many of us spend a lot of time outside in the summer. But what about your baby, what amount of sun exposure is ok, and what should you do if you do take your baby outside in the sun? These are questions every new parent thinks about as they venture outside with their babies.
Here are a few things to keep in mind this summer as you venture outside with your little one.
- Babies should not be exposed to direct or reflected sunlight for extended periods of time (reflected sunlight would be sunlight bouncing off water or cement or some other surface)
- It is not recommended that you use sunblock on babies under the age of 6 months. There is a bit of back and forth on this topic so you should talk to your pediatrician before making a decision on when it is ok to apply sunblock.
- If your baby is outside with you he should be kept in the shade at all times. Be sure to adjust where you place him as the sun shifts in the sky. If there isn’t any natural shade around create some of your own with an umbrella or sunshade tent.
- Anytime you take your baby out in the sun, even if you won’t be out long, she should have a hat on to protect her head from the sun.
- Be sure your baby is wearing light colored clothing that is breathable and lightweight.
- If your baby feels over heated take her inside to cool down immediately.
Most importantly you should be wise about sun and heat exposure. Small infants can’t regulate their own body temperature, and babies of any age can’t tell you when they have had enough of the heat. If you are hot you can assume your baby is hot too.
If your baby appears to be suffering from overexposure to the heat or the sun you should contact your pediatrician. Dehydration and heat/sun stroke can be very dangerous. If you child shows any signs of either you should take them to the emergency room for immediate medical attention.
The summer is a great time for families to spend time together and there are many fun things to do outside. Enjoy yourself, but be careful and mindful.
I recent came across this article, in The Globe and Mail (a Canadian newspaper). It discusses new research being done in Canada about the very common blanket approach of using 35 as the magical age for when pregnant woman must start having an amniocentesis, and how that perhaps is not the best approach.
This blanket use of an amniocentesis for screening for birth defects in all women 35 and older is very common in most western countries. A woman’s risk of having a baby is a birth defect or chromosomal abnormality such as downs syndrome increases as she gets older so doctors have picked 35 as the magically age. The Canadian researchers, however, have found that it is better to treat each woman and each pregnancy on an individual basis. Instead of saying at 35 all women have to under go the procedure it should only be done if the doctor and the woman feel it is necessary through earlier screenings and a discussion of the woman’s family history. Instead 40 would become the magical the age when all women should have the procedure.
Given that an amniocentesis carries a slight risk of inducing a miscarriage doctors feel it shouldn’t be used to frequently in unnecessary cases. Instead earlier screenings should be done to determine if the procedure is necessary first. If early screenings come back positive an amniocentesis would be the next step.
It will be very interesting to see what becomes of this new approach being used in Canada and if it becomes more common down here in the United States. Given that more and more women are waiting into their 30s and even 40s to have children this could potentially impact a lot of moms.
Did you have an amniocentesis when you were pregnant? Was it deemed necessary or just done because you were over 35? What are your thoughts on the frequent use of this procedure?
We hear a lot about how a baby should never be put on their stomach to sleep due to the increased rates of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) found when a baby sleeps on their tummy. However, tummy time is very important part of child development, when your baby is awake. Pediatricians advocate tummy time for babies starting from birth.
Babies often spend a lot of time on their back. Tummy time gives them a chance to exercise their neck and trunk muscles, which helps them develop the ability to hold up their head and eventually sit up on their own. It also encourages other milestones such has pushing up on their arms and rolling over.
Pediatricians recommend starting tummy time as soon as you bring your baby home. It is good to start out by putting your baby on their stomach for a few minutes a couple of times a day. From there gradually increase the time your child spends on their tummy as they get older. You can use things like a breastfeeding pillow or rolled up blanket to help support them. It is important to always be watching your baby during tummy time, your baby should not be left unattended.
As the baby gets older, or even in the early days, you can make tummy time fun but using this time to play with your baby or put toys around them to draw their attention. There are even play mats out there designed for tummy time that have a breastfeeding pillow built right in, like this one, tummy time pad
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Talk to your pediatrician about their recommendations for tummy time. Other moms can be great resources for creative ways to make tummy time fun.
This week’s edition of the Carnival of Family Life is one of the most successful so far with 61 entries including my post My Pregnancy: Week 22. This week’s host, The So Called Me,did a great job of hosting. I would encourage you to stop by and check out the many great submissions, it might take you a while to get through them all but it is well worth it.
A few of my favorites this week were:
- Walking in the Past posted at Toddler Tactics. The picture is adorable and her story about how quickly her son is growing up is heartwarming.
- Maximizing Your Family Time posted at More4Kids. These guys always have great articles about kids and families. This particular has some really good suggestions on how to spend more time together as a family (something that is very important).
- Backyard Games posted at Play2Relax. This is a great article if you are looking for some fun things to do with your kids in your own backyard.
- Yes, I have “That” Child posted at My Two Boys. This is such a cute story. The author shares how she has “that” child that none of the other kids want to play with and some of the solutions she has come up with to solve the problem.
Anyway, those are just a few of the ones that really stood out for me. There are so many it was hard to choose a few favorites this time.
Many hospitals and pediatricians advocate the practice of rooming in with your baby at the hospital. It allows for better bonding between mother and baby (dad and baby too), helps you get to know your child’s schedule and personality better before you head home, and has been found to help both mom and baby get comfortable with breastfeeding more easily.
Having the baby head to the nursery so you can get some much needed rest may sound appealing, especially if you had a particularly hard or long labor. However, researchers have found that mothers who room in with their babies and those who do not get relatively the same amount of rest. When you baby is off in the nursery you will often awake to the sound of any baby crying, worried that it is your own; and you will be woken up by the nursing staff as they will need to bring the baby in for feedings throughout the night. Although it seems like you would get more sleep if the baby wasn’t in the room, that isn’t necessarily the case.
Those early hours and days after birth are very important in the “getting to know you” and bonding process. The more time you spend together in those early days getting to know each other the faster you will learn your baby’s special personality, needs, and schedule. When you go home you will feel much more comfortable if you have spent a lot of time getting to know your baby in the hospital.
If you plan on breastfeeding your baby, which I am a huge advocate of, those early days are instrumental in being successful. Babies who spend their nights in the nursery are often given water and formula as supplements so mom can have more time to sleep. These supplements are often not necessary and can negatively impact the learning process for both mom and baby. Learning to breastfeed takes time, practice and patience. With the help of the valuable nursing staff at the hospital you can be successful, and are more likely to be successful if you have your baby room in with you. So why not?
Every situation is different so talk to your doctor about your specific needs. If you had a c-section or especially hard vaginal delivery your doctor may recommend having the baby spend the first night in the nursery so you can recover. Also, if your baby has any special needs then of course rooming in won’t be an option. The nursing staff, your obstetrician, and the pediatrician can talk to you about what is best for your situation and help you make the choice that is right for you and your baby.
No matter which option you choose remember to enjoy those first few days getting to know your new baby.