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Researchers have found a continued decline in the rates of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) in recent years. This decline is attributed to a majority of infants being placed on their backs to sleep. During the early 80s pediatricians began heavily recommending that babies never be placed on their stomachs to sleep. A sharp decline of SIDS, about 50%, was observed during the time period starting in the early 80s and running through the early 90s as a result. In recent years doctors have more heavily advocated that babies should always be placed on their backs to sleep. This has contributed to a reduction in the number of babies being placed on their sides to sleep and thus contributed to a continued decline in SIDS cases.
This continued decline in SIDS is great news. Here are somethings to remember to help prevent SIDS in your own home.
- Always place your baby on her back to sleep. Make sure everyone who cares for your baby does the same.
- Your baby should always be placed on a firm mattress to sleep, such as a safety-approved crib mattress. You should never place your baby on soft mattresses, waterbeds, couches or couch cushions, or sheepskins to sleep.
- Remove all fluffy or loose bedding from your baby’s crib. This includes pillows and stuffed animals.
- Make sure your baby’s face and head stay uncovered during sleep. When using a blanket tuck it in and make sure it is no higher than the baby’s chest.
- Don’t smoke during pregnancy or after your baby’s birth.
- Don’t let you baby get overheated while he is sleeping. Make sure the room is at a comfortable temperature and don’t use too many layers of clothing or blankets.
If you have questions about SIDS or what you can do to help prevent it talk to your pediatrician.
A new survey conducted by the US government concluded that only 30% of new moms are feeding their babies exclusively with breast milk at three months. The survey found that close to three quarters of new moms breastfeed when their babies are first born, however, the percentage falls as the baby gets older and only 11% are still breastfeeding at six months.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding until age six months and continued breastfeeding through one year (and beyond as mutually acceptable). The study seems to indicate that moms are getting the message that breastfeeding is important, since so many are starting out by breastfeeding. However, they are stopping too early and not taking advantage of the continued benefit of breastmilk.
Compared with a similar survey completed in 2000 the number of mothers breastfeeding at birth was up by 3 percentage points, however, the percentage of moms breastfeeding exclusively at three months was down 9 percentage points and at six months was down 4 percentage points.
There are many factors that can contribute to a mother stopping breastfeeding exclusively early such as returning to work and not having the ability at work to pump, becoming overwhelmed by how much time it takes up and just wanting more flexibility, breastfeeding struggles early on, to name a few. It is important for a breastfeeding mother to have a good support system and to be encouraged by those around her to continue breastfeeding at least through six months.
August is National Breastfeeding Month. Now is as good a time as any to focus on breastfeeding, learn more about its benefits to mom and baby, and to make a commitment to start out breastfeeding and to stick with it.
As your pregnancy progresses there will be a multitude of changes that your body goes through from your every expanding waistline, to acne, to enlarging breasts, to swollen feet, to an aching back. There are many things to complain about during pregnancy but it is important to enjoy this time as well and to try to love and appreciate the changes your body is going through.
Here are a few things to help you love your changing pregnancy body more.
- Stay active. Exercise will help you feel better throughout the day and will help you from gaining more than the recommended amount of weight.
- Eat well. Nutritious foods not only are good for you but they make you feel better too.
- Don’t get bummed about your expanding waistline, appreciate it for what it is, a representation of the life growing inside of you.
- Buy some maternity clothes that really flatter your figure and make you feel good about the way you look.
- If you are experiencing aching feet and lower back think about a prenatal massage, it will work wonders to alleviate some of the aches and pains, not to mention make you feel great.
- Be careful what changes you make with your hair. Pregnant women have a tendency to go over board in this department. Go for styles that will flatter your figure and that you know you will like now and after pregnancy.
- Take care of your skin. You can’t completely avoid the acne that typically comes with pregnancy but you can help prevent some of it by taking care of your skin.
Remember this is a wonderful time in your life and you are experiencing something very new and exciting. Appreciate the beauty of every pregnant woman including yourself. Enjoy this time and love your changing body.
It is a fear of many new parents, bath time. Your baby is so small and seems so fragile, the thought of giving him a bath can be frightening. Don’t worry, you are not alone, all new parents experience this fear at some point. Luckily, you can learn how to give your baby a bath at childcare preparation classes or at the hospital after the baby arrives. Once you get home and get started you’ll be an old pro before you know it.
Here are a couple common questions about bath time.
How often should you give your baby a bath? Babies, especially small infants who are not yet crawling, don’t generally get that dirty. Some parents do bath their baby everyday, however, you certainly don’t need to. You are the best judge of when your baby needs a bath, but generally a couple of times a week will cut it. You should wash his face everyday and clean the genitals at every diaper change. You can also ask your pediatrician for their recommendations as well if you are quite sure how often your baby needs a bath. If the baby likes bath time you may decided to do it more often just cause it is fun.
Where should I give my baby a bath? You can give your baby a bath where ever he is safe and you are most comfortable. Some parents use their regular bathtub with a bath pillow or baby tub in the bottom, others use the kitchen sink, and still others use a baby tub on the counter. Again, the most important thing here is the baby’s safety, followed of course but what you are most comfortable with.
When it is bath time be sure to assemble all the necessary bath supplies, like shampoo, soap, a washcloth and towel, before you get started. The baby should never be left unattended while you are giving her a bath so you will want all of these supplies right at your finger tips. Make sure the water is not too hot before you put the baby in the tub, scalding injuries are very common so be very careful. When the bath is over be sure you wrap the baby up in a towel right away, most babies don’t like to be cold. No need to end an otherwise enjoyable bath time with a loud scream because she got too cold.
Just like with most things in parenting, practice makes perfect. As I stated before, if you are worried about being able to bathe your new baby you can take infant care classes that will teach you have to give the baby a bath, and the nurses at the hospital will be more than happy to show after the baby is born as well. Talk to friends or family members that have babies, they can be a big help in teaching you what to do.
Before you know it you will both be loving bath time and you’ll be a pro.
I was reading a Baby Center magazine that I got in the mail and came across this article about old wives tales to predict gender. It is so funny what people will do to try to figure out what they are having before they have their ultrasound. I couldn’t get over some of the methods people use and just had to share a few of them with you.
The Swinging Needle: this method involves tying a needle to a piece of string and having someone hold it over the palm of your hand, about an inch away, and if the needle swings back and forth the baby is a girl, if it swings around in a circle the baby is a boy.
The Hairy Leg Test: this method involves examining the hair growth on your legs. If you hair grows very quickly your are carrying a boy, however, if the hair is slow to grow back after shaving then you are having a girl.
The Size of HIS Belly: for this method you need to look at your husband’s belly. If his belly is getting bigger the baby is a boy, if he is looking a little more trim you are having a girl.
The Key Grab: (this one seems especially silly) apparently if you just randomly grab for a key without looking and you grab it by the wider end the baby is a boy, if you grabbed by the thin end then you are having a girl.
How You Are Carrying: people suggest that they can tell what you are having just by the way you are carrying the baby. Women carrying high are having a girl and those carrying low are having a boy.
Cravings Test: the cravings you have during pregnancy apparently can suggest what gender your baby is. Those who crave sweets are having a girl and those who crave sour foods are having a boy.
I often wonder how many people actually try these methods and if they actually work. Did you use any old wives tales when you were pregnant to try to figure out your baby’s gender? Did it work?