At six months pregnant, I was introduced to the strange and often conflicted world of child-proofing. Walking into the toddler-inhabited home of a dear friend, we were accosted by no fewer than six baby gates, barring approach to the TV, the DVD racks, the staircases, the kitchen hall and the end tables. The toddler’s mommy said with a nod to my growing belly, “Just wait until your little guy is mobile.”

Well, my little guy is mobile now and we don’t have any baby gates. I suppose that either makes me a terribly irresponsible parent or one with a firm head on her shoulders. Child proofing can be a daunting task, and inarguably an important one—protecting the most important person in the household. Still, it is entirely possible to over child-proof your home. When presented with the dizzying selection of child-proofing products at our local merchant, I’ve often wondered if it might not be easier to wrap the baby in foam padding and force him to wear a helmet.

So, what do you really need?

Make a “safe” room

Go nuts on child-proofing one room of your house, usually the baby’s room. You need to have one room where, no matter what, you know he’s safe. Bracket all the furniture to studs in the wall. When your baby becomes a stronger toddler, he can (and will) begin trying to climb the furniture. Make sure your baby’s crib is placed away from a window. If it must be near one, make sure window coverings, especially cords to shades or blinds, are not long enough for your baby to reach, as these are strangulation hazards. Slats for cribs must be no wider than 2 3/8” apart. Cover outlets and shorten cords to keep prying baby and toddler hands away from electricity. You can keep his little fingers even safer by buying pinch guards for his closet doors and having open toy bins. If your toy boxes have lids, get ones with hydraulic ones that close more slowly and are less apt to slam on tiny hands.

Some of these suggestions, like outlet covers and cord shorteners should be carried over to all rooms of your house. Outlet covers come in a variety of types, from simple flap covers, to flip open styles that flap closed again when the outlets aren’t being used. Toddlers can often manipulate and figure out the simpler covers, so you may need to reinvest as they get older and wiser.

Child-proof the kitchen and bathroom

The kitchen and bathroom contain the highest number of hazards for your baby Think of burns, drowning and chemical dangers and you should be able to prevent most of the related injuries. In the kitchen, make sure your oven door has a lock. If it doesn’t; buy an aftermarket baby-proof one. If your stove’s knobs are on the front where your baby can reach them, get knob locks so your child can’t turn them. Cabinet locks in the kitchen are a must, especially on cabinets filled with heavy pots and pans or small appliances. If you’ve got cupboards filled with cleaning chemicals under your sink, it goes without saying that those need to be locked as well.

Cabinet locks come in a variety of types, including pressure-mounted and magnetic. Experts recommend the magnetic type because they are more difficult for toddlers to figure out as they require a parent “key” for entry. Keeping one cabinet unlocked and filled with toys for your tot might be a good idea, letting him explore the kitchen in a safe way.

The bathroom, also needs cabinet locks, to secure cleaning chemicals and medicines. You might consider moving all your chemicals to a consolidated location, like a utility room, kept in a locked child-proof box, available at most stores that sell child-proofing products. Consider toilet seat locks. They remove a possible drowning hazard, prevent your makeup or other items from being flushed down the toilet, and keep your child from drinking out of the toilet bowl.

You should invest in a bathtub thermometer to make sure his tub time is never too hot. They make floating ones mounted on rubber ducks that your baby will love to play with and ones that you can mount right on the tub. And, you can buy spigot covers to make sure he doesn’t get a bump on the noggin. But you might be going too far if you invest in one of the inflatable or padded tub inserts that ensures that all four walls of the tub are pillow-soft at all times.

Child-proof common areas, sensibly

Get down to your baby’s level to see what he can reach. If there’s something particularly precious to you, move it until he’s older. You don’t have to remodel your living room, but keep things that are less breakable and less important at kid-level for those first few years. Remember however that you will be in the common areas with your child and teaching boundaries at this time; so, you will be practicing “no.” Just don’t let him learn “no” as he’s breaking an heirloom.

If you’ve got stairs, get a gate. Kids are fast and uncoordinated , a surefire combination for falling down a flight of stairs. If you have a brick hearth, use foam liners that slip over the rough edges of the brick to protect against scratchy bumps to the heads of toddlers who will use that surface to pull themselves up. You may want to stop short of buying that same foam lining to coat every corner of every coffee and end table in your living room—it’s available but will look awful. As guilty as you feel when your baby bumps his head once or twice on the edge of your end table, recall in a brief moment of sanity that probably no child has ever been killed by a table, nor been horribly disfigured.

The minute your child can reach the doorknob on the front door, the back door or the side door, he’s going to be trying to turn it, and then he’ll be out in a flash. So, get doorknob locks. They are made for both regular doorknobs and the side knobs.

Child proofing is essential , but you can easily go overboard. Take each safety measure seriously while remembering that the overall goal is protecting your child, not your peace of mind. Keeping him in a bubble is not protecting him, it’s protecting you. And, by not over-child-proofing, you keep your house your home.

The doctor will want to know whether you baby smiles yet, imitates your facial expressions or has started cooing and babbling. He’ll want to know whether your baby follows faces and how he responds to being held and soothed. Here is a breakdown of what the doctor will be looking for when you take your infant for a two-month well-baby check up.

Motor skills and body development

He’ll ask if your baby is able to grasp a toy if you hand it to him, or if he’s able to figure out putting his fingers in his mouth to soothe his crying. Let him know if your baby can lift his chin off the ground, even for a few seconds, when he’s on his tummy.

The exam

Head : The doctor will examine the fontanels (the soft spots), or gaps between the skull bones, on your baby’s head to make sure they are closing at the appropriate rate. They are open when your baby is born both to let him fit through the birth canal and to give his brain room to grow. They’ll close up between 12 and 18 months.

Ears :
Most babies have their hearing checked immediately after birth. The doctor will check your baby’s ears now for fluid retention with an instrument called an otoscope. He may make sure that your baby responds to various sounds, including your voice.

Eyes : The doctor will look for blocked tear ducts or discharge and will use a bright object to attract your baby’s attention so he can track your baby’s eye movement and check for crossing. He’ll use an instrument called an opthamaloscope and a light to look in your baby’s eyes.

Mouth : Your baby’s mouth will be checked for a form of yeast infection common in infants called thrush. It looks like little white bumps on his tongue or gums. The doctor may ask about drooling to see if your child has started teething.

Skin : The doctor will do a check for birthmarks and rashes. He may look to see if initial jaundice has cleared. By now, this is usually not a concern.

Heart and lungs : The doctor will use a stethoscope to listen for abnormal heart rhythms. A heart murmur is fairly common in infants and not something to be concerned about.

Abdomen : By putting gentle pressure on your baby’s stomach, the doctor can feel for tenderness and enlarged organs. He’ll also be able to tell if your baby has an umbilical hernia—a condition where a bit of intestine breaks through the abdominal wall. It usually goes away by itself by age two.

Hips and legs : The doctor will move your baby’s hips and legs to check for proper alignment and to check the joints.

Genitals : Tenderness, lumps and infections are key here. In girls, the doctor will ask about discharge. For boys, the doctor will make sure that the testes have descended into the scrotum and that there isn’t a fluid filled sac, called a hydrocele.

The shots

This well-baby visit ends with your baby’s first round of immunizations. In the U.S. that includes DtaP, HepB, Hib, IPV, Prevnar and RotaTeq. (RotaTeq is actually a sweet tasting liquid and not a shot.) Expect your baby to cry and want a hug after these. Afterwards, he’ll probably be feverish, possibly lethargic and even a little less hungry for up to 48 hours. You may see some bruising at the injection sites.

Well-baby checks are more daunting for the parent than the baby. But, they are vital to your baby’s health and development, allowing doctors to catch problems early. Make sure you arrive armed with information and answers and bring questions of your own.

References

Cleveland Clinic well-baby check-up

Mayo Clinic well-baby exams

Child care costs are astronomical in some areas of the United States, and can significantly vary depending on where you live. Before returning to work, consider these tips to lower child care costs.

Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts

Invest in a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account : Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (DCFSA) “allow you to be reimbursed on a pre-tax basis for childcare or adult dependent care expenses for qualified dependents that are necessary to allow you or your spouse to work, look for work, or attend school full-time”, according to the FSA FEDS website. This flexible spending account differs from traditional flexible spending accounts, which are solely available to cover non-reimbursable medical expenses. The important thing to remember about DCFSAs is that the money is use-it-or-lose-it. Any money leftover in the account at the end of the year will be lost. Research whether or not your company offers a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Plan, and if so, take advantage of this opportunity to save on child care costs.

Flexible job scheduling

Seek opportunities for flexible scheduling : Many daycare centers charge by the day, week, and month, and not by the hour. Working four 10 hour days instead of five 8 hour days will save you one day of child care expenses. Another option is to work opposite shifts and days than your spouse, if possible. One spouse working four 10 hour days Monday through Thursday, and one doing the same on Tuesday through Friday eliminates the need for childcare on two days. Many employers are willing to be flexible about in office hours as long as you can be reached at home via phone or email on your days off.

Child care trade, home day care centers, or mother’s helpers

Consider non-traditional child care options : Trading child care with a friend or neighbor can save you both time and money. Research in home day care centers as an alternative to pricey day care centers and nannies. Work from home 2-3 days a week, and hire a home-schooled mother’s helper to assist you for a few hours every day. Think outside of the box when planning child care. It has the potential to save you money in the long run.

Child care expenses are a major cost for working parents. Taking advantage of Dependent Care Flexible Spending Plans, seeking flexible scheduling opportunities, and researching non-traditional child care options are three ways to help lower your child care costs.

Resources FSA FEDS Maximize Your Employee Benefits

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As your child clutches your leg when you drop him at the child-care center you have chosen, you are probably fervently hoping you have chosen well. When narrowing down choices, it’s not easy to make a selection, knowing someone else will be responsible to care for your bundle of joy the better part of each day. You know asking, “Do you have any openings?” is probably not enough research; but, doing a background check on everyone from the provider to the guy who delivers their newspaper is going a bit far. Still, keeping a few basic principles in mind should help you select a good child care provider and give you peace of mind.

The legal nitpick

Surprisingly, many moms are embarrassed to ask licensure questions of child-care centers, especially home providers. This isn’t prying, it’s good sense. A license indicates that the state has guaranteed a provider has been checked and certified to provide adequate, safe child-care. This will give you profound peace of mind when you pull away from the child-care center each day. And, don’t just ask if there’s a license, ensure it matches the type of center being run. If the provider is licensed to care for only a small number of children, and the center is hosting a posse, look elsewhere.

Staff questions

Ask about the staff that works at the center and about their qualifications to work with children. Also, ask about the staff turnover rate, as this may indicate a problem with the center’s management. Question the volume of staff on shift for various points in the day and the number of adults assigned to each child. This is also a good time to ask for references—and be sure to check them. Be wary of a center that either does not give references or whose references are negative or do not check out.

Training and emergency plans

Find out what training the child care center’s staff has that qualifies them to respond to emergency situations for children. CPR or choking rescue procedures for babies and children differ from those for adults. If no one on the staff is trained in basic first aid, look elsewhere. Ask about what emergency response plans the center has in place in case of various disasters like fires, tornados or attacks.

The center’s schedule

Ask questions about the center’s scheduled closures and days of non-operation for holidays or planned vacations, as you’ll need to make other arrangements in advance. You will also want to know the center’s daily routine schedule. This will help you prepare your child in advance to fall in step with the center without feeling too disrupted. You can adjust his meal and nap times a few days or weeks in advance of entry into a new child-care center in order to help ease his transition.

Observation and visit options

The child-care center you select should allow pop-in visits from you at the time of your choosing. If they request you schedule visits, question what they are cleaning up or hiding before your arrival. You should feel free to observe your child at will.

Sick child and provider policies

Find out the center’s policy on sick children. Some child-care centers allow the sniffles but not fevers. Others draw the line at vomiting and diarrhea. And, if you select an in-home provider, ask what the backup plan is for when he/she falls ill and cannot provide the normal care schedule.

Extra fee schedules

If your child is ill or you go on vacation, do you have to pay for unused days? What about days the center is closed? Some centers offer part-time and flextime schedules. You should find out about them before you sign up, especially if you don’t plan on working full-time. Also, some charge fees for early drop-offs or late pickups, even down to the minute. You might ask about traffic patterns, to alter your schedule in order to avoid these pesky fees. If the center provides its own transportation, perhaps picking your child up from school, you will certainly want to know the fees attached to this convenience. And, most centers operate on a very fixed budget when it comes to supplies; so, find out if you will be contributing to their rotating supply of tissues and crayons.

Discipline and other policies

If you have established a firm, no hand-slapping policy, you will want to know if the operators of the center employ this discipline method when telling the children not to touch something. And, if you don’t allow television, you will want to know if 3 p.m. is television hour. Or, you may want to pack a nutritious option if they serve sugary snacks. Whatever is important to you, find out whether the child care center has a policy that doesn’t mesh with your at-home policy.

Choosing someone else to care for your child is never easy. It means letting someone into your child’s life, taking a role that you’d rather fill yourself. But, in a world with mortgages, car payments and just the need to get out to feel fulfilled outside the home as well as within it, finding adequate child care is a necessary reality. By researching your options and following your gut, you should be able to find a solution that works for your family.

Note from Mommy.com : Need help finding babysitters, nannies, tutors and other providers near you? We’ve partnered with Care.com to help you. Use the form in our local section to search for providers in your area, and find profiles of prospective caregivers to meet your specific needs. With Care.com’s prescreened profiles, videos, references, background checks, an more, it’s like having a human resources department right in your home! Click here now.

We all want to do our part to keep the planet greener. As you scratch your head, trying to decide whether filling a landfill with plastic diapers is worse than using excess water washing cloth ones, it’s a tough decision. When, after much deliberation, you decide to go with cloth, opting to put soft cotton on your baby’s bottom instead of paper and plastic, you’ve got a million questions about what to do.

Picking a diaper

The first thing you’ll run across is DSQ. This stands for Diaper Service Quality. Any time you see this on a cloth diaper, it means that the fibers are woven to withstand multiple industrial washings. This is a good thing, as you certainly want a diaper you can wash more than a few times before retiring it to house rag use.

Next, you’ll wonder how many you will need. If you are using a diaper service, you’ll only need a dozen or two, depending on how often you have a pickup. But, if you wash them yourself, you’ll need about three dozen to get you through about three days.

There are a variety of cloth diapers available. The most basic and inexpensive is a flat, prefolded diaper, sewn in three panels. The middle panel is the most absorbent. You can find a variety of thicknesses, called ply. They range between 4 and 8 ply. You can find bleached and unbleached cotton, organic cotton and hemp. With a flat prefolded diaper, you’ll need pins or diaper closures. But, there are cotton diapers that have snaps or Velcro closures.

There is also an all-in-one diaper, with diaper pants sewn right to the outside. These are quite expensive, ranging anywhere from $11-20 per diaper. They are adjustable, with Velcro or snap closures. And, fancier varieties have adjustable leg holes for added comfort. They even come in a variety of colors and patterns.

Diaper covers

A cloth diaper that’s not an all-in-one will not be waterproof. That means, unless you want your couch, or whatever the baby is sitting on, to be covered in messes, you’ll want to cover his tush in a diaper cover. These come in vinyl, plastic, wool and fleece. Wool, while extremely absorbent for overnight, requires extra attention in the wash. Diaper covers typically come with convenient Velcro or snap closures and some come in bright, adorable colors. And, they usually have elastic or adjustable leg holes. Plain ones start as low as $5, but they can be as expensive as $15.

Cleaning and washing

There are two ideas that keep parents away from a cloth diaper. First is fear that they have to dunk and soak before washing. Second, that there isn’t a non-stinky storage solution for all those soiled diapers, as their local baby supply store only seems to carry diaper pails for disposable diapers.

First, you don’t have to dunk and soak a diaper before washing. But, getting excess fecal matter off a diaper before wash time will help with odor and with stains. Retailers specializing in cloth diapers sell miniature spray nozzles that attach to your sink or bathtub that will help with rinsing, which is really all that’s necessary. And, as much as you hesitate to believe it, you’ll get used to the grossness after a while and be willing to push up your sleeves and scrape it off into the toilet with a trusty hunk of toilet paper.

Second, there are pails especially designed for cloth diapers. They are readily available at online retailers that specialize in cloth diapers. They also sell pail deodorizers and sprays. These pails don’t have the features and “throw away” quality of regular pails.

To wash cloth diapers, run the washing machine twice; first on cold/cold, then on hot/cold. If your baby has sensitive skin, use Dreft. Otherwise, use ¼ cup of your favorite detergent. Do not use bleach. During the rinse cycle, use ¼ cup distilled vinegar to break down ammonia in the urine. Line dry or put them in the dryer. If line drying to save energy, they may feel a little stiff and you’ll want to toss them in the dryer for a few minutes to soften. If you do use the dryer, don’t use a dryer sheet or fabric softener because they are made with an enzyme that will actually repel moisture, essentially making your baby’s diapers absorbency-free.

Cloth diapering can seem overwhelming because of the extra maintenance. But, think about making fewer midnight runs to the store for diapers. And, while it may be a larger investment at the outset, you’ll eventually recoup the money as you won’t need to continually replace diapers, like disposables. A benefit we often forget, too, is that as babies grow, disposable diapers increase in price as their sizes increase; not so with cloth diapers. Plus, aside from the added comfort for your baby, you’ll be doing a little part to keep landfills a bit emptier.

One of the most personal decisions a woman must make with her impending motherhood is whether or not to breastfeed her baby. While breast feeding is proven to be the healthiest option, using baby formula is a safe alternative for women who lack the physical capability or time necessary to breast feed. Knowing the healthiest options of baby formula ensures that their child receives adequate nutrients.

Formulas generally come in three types: cow’s milk, soy-based, and protein hydrolysate. Cow’s milk, like Nestle Good Start Supreme, is a lactose-based version of formula that is most commonly iron-fortified and is made with the correct amount of carbohydrates and a balanced proportion of fat and protein to most closely resemble breast milk. A lactose-free alternative is a soy-based baby formula. Enfamil ProSobee and Similac Isomil are two types of soy formulas that are especially effective for babies who do not react well to lactose or milk proteins. Another lactose-free version is the protein hydrosolate formula, like Progestamil, which is made for babies who have protein allergies and problems digesting. These types of baby formula are made with a pre-digested protein, meaning the proteins are already broken down to mimic digestion, making the process easier for babies.

After determining which type of formula is best for your baby, you must decide which way you would like to prepare it. You have a few options: powdered, concentrated, or ready-to-use. Powdered and concentrated liquid formulas must be mixed with water before feeding, and are generally more economical. Ready-to-use formulas do not have to be mixed, but are usually more expensive than powdered and concentrated versions.

Enhanced and fortified versions of baby formulas have become popular due to the added dietary benefits they provide. DHA and AHA nutrients are Omega-3 fatty acids that are found in natural breast milk. Some studies have shown that enhancing formula with these nutrients makes it most closely simulate breast milk. Iron-fortified baby formulas are significant in that they provide the iron that would normally be present in natural breast milk, ensuring that babies receive at least the minimum recommended amount of iron to supplement what they are not receiving from breast milk. Babies should not drink low-iron formula because it does not provide an adequate level of nutrition for a growing infant.

Aside from possible variations in taste, there are no significant differences between name-brand and generic brands of baby formula. While recipes may differ, every formula is FDA approved and contains all of the required nutrients for a baby.

There are several physical factors that a baby may show that can identify a problem with the type of formula they are being fed. Below are some common problems and solutions:

• Reflux : Adding a rice supplement, like Enfamil AR, will thicken the formula, making it easier for the baby to digest and minimizing the risk for reflux.
• Constipation : Constipation or dry stools may be cured by using a soy-based formula. More-frequent intake of fluids and massaging the stomach are also ways of alleviating constipation.
• Colic : If a baby gets colicky after feedings, he or she may have an allergy. If changing formulas does not work, consult your pediatrician.
• Diarrhea : switching to a lactose-free formula may temporarily help to reduce diarrhea in babies.
• Vomiting : Consistent vomiting is often a sign of a protein allergy. Using a hydrosolate formula may solve this problem.

It is always important to consult with your pediatrician regarding feeding problems. If changing formulas does not provide a solution, then an intestinal infection or other health issue may be the problem.

With the recent rash of toy recalls, most parents must be wondering what is exactly safe to buy for their children. Don’t assume that any toy made outside of the United States isn’t safe. It’s not that simple. Many of the component parts of U.S.-made toys are actually manufactured in other countries. Many toys are also made inside and outside the U.S. with the strictest safety guidelines in place to protect children. So how do we buy the safest toys for our children?

Facts about toys

Toy recalls account for about 1 percent of the 3 billion toys sold in the U.S. each year. The U.S. imports 86 percent of the toys sold in the U.S. from China. This staggering number only shows a small part of the picture. Who produces the other 14 percent of imported toys? India and South Korea top the list after China. According to a recent study by Canadian researchers, countries other than China had a higher rate of toy recall.

U.S. toy companies contract the toy component assembly and construction to other countries. In fact, the U.S. company is responsible for quality control and correctly meeting safety standards. Many injuries could be prevented if companies chose to do quality control before placing their products on store shelves.

The truth about toy injuries

Protections are already in place to prevent lead paint in toys. U.S. law prohibits the use of lead in the paint and surface coatings of any toys sold in the U.S. However, lead paint is not the primary cause of toy injuries. In toy recalls from 1988 to the present, 77 percent involved design-related defects. Design defects include small beads or detachable parts that can cause choking or strings that cause strangulation. Injuries from toys usually involve choking on small parts, ingesting detached magnets, and falling from rides-on toys. Despite the media frenzy about lead paint, toy recalls involving design flaws are far more risky to our children.

Independent labs frequently find problems with toys well before manufacturers. This sobering fact points to the very complaint that many parents have in the first place. Companies usually don’t test toys before placing them on the market. In an effort to reassure parents, toy companies are now putting their own quality testing specifications on their web sites. Many companies are performing reassurance testing on existing toys for quality control. Product safety and quality assessment should be the foremost concern for every toy manufacturer.

How to avoid bad purchases

Parents have some options. We can buy U.S.-made toys with the complete understanding that some or all of these toys might be manufactured outside the country. Many U.S. toy companies provide toy recall information directly on their web sites. One toy retailer actually provides a country of origin list for every toy it sells. Parents can also keep up to date with information provided from the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). The commission’s recall alerts and a searchable recall database are available at CPSC.gov . Visit Toyinfo.org for extensive information on toy recalls and answers to toy safety questions.

Proactive parents

Parents need to be vigilant. Toys should be age-appropriate and used in a safe environment under supervision. Periodically, all toys should be checked for breakage and wear. When purchasing new toys, parents need to read labels carefully for correct assembly and use instructions. If toys fall apart, contact the manufacturer directly for a replacement. By working together with the toy industry, we can provide the safest toys for our children.

Note from Mommy.com : Need help finding babysitters, nannies, tutors and other providers near you? We’ve partnered with Care.com to help you. Use the form in our local section to search for providers in your area, and find profiles of prospective caregivers to meet your specific needs. With Care.com’s prescreened profiles, videos, references, background checks, an more, it’s like having a human resources department right in your home! Click here now.

Your baby will cut 20 teeth over the next few years. These include four front incisors, with four additional side incisors for cutting. Four back molars will appear to aid in chewing. Next, the pointed canine teeth will erupt, and finally, four back molars will break through. Twenty teeth spell a lot of discomfort for your child.

Signs of teething

Most babies begin cutting teeth before 6 months, although some wait as long as a year. Remember, your child will cut teeth at his own speed. The first sign of teething is excessive drooling. Peek inside your baby’s mouth and check for swollen gums. Your baby might chew on his fingers, hands, and toys in an attempt to alleviate the pain. Looser bowel movements, poor appetite, and rejecting the bottle are also signs of teething. No, you can’t hide under the bed. It’s time to find a way to help with your child’s teething nightmare.

Tricks from seasoned moms

Finding the trick to help your baby’s pain might take some trial and error. Get those cute little bibs and arm yourself with soft burping cloths to wipe baby’s chin. If a rash develops, gently clean with warm water, dry thoroughly and apply some petroleum jelly to protect from chafing. It’s almost a guarantee that the method you find to soothe your baby will be as unique as your child is. Be patient.

Cold washcloth : Freeze or refrigerate a wet washcloth and allow your baby to gnaw on it. The textured surface provides just enough abrasion to ease baby’s gum pain. Try twisting an ice cube inside the cloth and let baby go to town!

Mommy’s finger : With clean hands, press and rub on baby’s gums. You just might find baby likes this best, especially because he gets a sweet snuggle in the process.

New toothbrush : Use a baby toothbrush to gently rub your child’s gums. Never let baby hold the brush as he could easily choke himself.

Cooler foods : Some babies find warmed baby food uncomfortable when teething. Try cool applesauce or freeze bananas and cut them to baby-sized bites. Some mothers swear by frozen peas, for both pain reduction and entertainment value for a baby. Try cool water in baby’s bottle.

Teething biscuits : Dissolving biscuits are a good way to let baby go to town while your rush through your dinner.

Cold spoons : Put a metal spoon in the freezer. Bend the handle before giving it to your baby.

Distraction : Redirecting your baby’s attention away from his discomfort with an interesting toy or playtime with Mommy’s undivided attention might help him forget his sore mouth for a while.

Teething rings : Fashioned from hard plastic, these toys are easy for little fingers to grasp. Some rings can be placed in the refrigerator to cool them to ease discomfort but should never be frozen.

Pain relievers, gels and pills

Some parents choose to use Baby Tylenol to ease baby’s teething discomfort. Make sure you administer the correct dose for your child based on your pediatrician’s recommendations. Teething gels are another option, although some babies don’t like the taste. Some parents swear by homeopathic teething pills. Again, use your best judgment based on the advice of your physician when considering over-the-counter medications for your baby.

Imagine the frustration of living in a world where no one could understand what you were saying. No matter how hard you tired, you were unable to form coherent words, syllables or sounds. That is the world that babies and toddlers live in every day.

Have you ever wondered what your baby is thinking or what he wants to eat? Wouldn’t it be nice to know if she’s crying because she’s because she is tired, hungry, or needs to have her diaper changed? Believe it or not, there is a way to effectively communicate with your baby or toddler long before he develops the verbal and motor skills he needs to talk. By teaching your child some basic sign language, you can greatly diminish the frustration of trying to figure out what your baby needs and at the same time give him a communication skill that can be built on as he gets older.

It has been proven that babies who can’t even sit up can learn very basic sign language motions and toddlers as young as 18 months can master a vocabulary of up to 100 words. Teaching him sign language isn’t as hard as you may think. Have you ever sung your baby’s favorite song and done hand motions? When your baby does the hand motions with you he is in essence doing sign language.

Babies and toddlers often use signs as a natural part of everyday communication. Many babies know how to wave “bye-bye” or how to shake their head no. Teaching them sign language isn’t any different than these simple gestures. In fact, it is much easier for small children to learn sign language then it is for adults.

Learning American Sign Language (ASL) with your baby or toddler is a great way to spend time with him and to help him develop communication skills. You should start with the basics and expand your child’s vocabulary as his comprehension and motor skills improve. There are many online resources available, as well as programs you can purchase or even TV programs you can watch to help you learn sign language.

Among the best is a video by Baby First TV called I Can Sign . This video is for babies through three year olds and is available on their website, Babyfirsttv.com .

The Baby Signs Program consists of classes taught by a certified instructor in which you and your baby learn to use simple, easy-to-do gestures for communicating with each other. Visit their website at Babysigns.com for a complete list of locations and instructors in your area.

PBS offers two programs, “Signing Time” and “Baby Signing Time,” which provide an easy way for you to learn American Sign Language (ASL). These programs teach sign language through interactive songs and instructional segments. You can check your local listings or visit the PBS website at Pbs.org for a list of stations where these programs are aired.

You don’t have to know American Sign Language (ASL) yourself in order to teach it to your child. You can learn the signs and motions as you go. Basic signs are easy to learn and remember because they closely mimic things most people do to describe an action already. The sign for “drink” is made by forming your right hand into the letter ‘c’ then moving the hand to your mouth in a short arc like you are drinking something.

Once you make the decision to teach your child American Sign Language, you will be amazed at how easily you and your child will learn to sign and how quickly your communication level will increase.

So, you’ve made the wise decision to breastfeed your new baby. What seems to be such a simple process, though, leads to other difficult decisions, such as: what are your feeding options once you return to work, how will your baby eat when left alone with Dad, and how will you handle feedings in public.

The American Academy of Pediatrics currently recommends that breastfeeding continue for one year, and most mothers can breastfeed their baby with this goal in mind by using a breast pump. A breast pump allows a mother to express and store her breast milk for future use. Some women choose to pump exclusively, and do 100% of feedings as breast milk from a bottle. Others pump milk while at work, and baby is bottle fed during the day and breastfed before and after work. Other women choose to pump occasionally for times they know they will be away from baby. Decide which pump to purchase or rent by considering how often you’ll need to pump milk.

Electric pump

If you are the mother of a premature or special needs baby that spends a lengthy time in the hospital, it is likely that your breast pump decision will be made for you. Most hospital lactation consultants recommend the Medela brand electric breast pump. This is the brand that has been used in hospitals for more than 20 years. Most insurance companies will pay for the rental of this institutional-grade pump if it is medically necessary. Most hospital lactation consultants give the manual form of this breast pump to their clients at no charge. The manual pump can be hooked up to the electric pump easily.

The Medela pump is highly efficient because it lets you express both breasts simultaneously, which is a boon for working mothers pumping on their breaks at work. The main disadvantages of this pump are that it is loud and relatively large, the size of a small briefcase. It is also quite expensive, so women usually rent this pump. The pumping mechanism is not a closed system, which means that the milk can be sucked backwards through the tubing and end up in the motor of the pump, causing problems and making sanitizing difficult.

Manual pump

The choice for a majority of pumping mothers is the manual pump. The new designs of many manual pumps allow for nearly as effective output and comfort to the mother, with a smaller size, a more discreet noise level and much more affordable price tag. The Avent Isis breast pump is a favorite among many women. The comfortable silicone breast shield simulates the sucking action of the baby, effectively stimulating let down and allowing for a comfortable and productive pumping session. Many mothers report that the milk output using this pump is equal to that of a hospital-grade electric pump.

The Avent system is also a closed system and is 100% dishwasher safe, or it can be sterilized using a sterilization system manufactured by Avent. Avent also makes one of the most popular lines of bottles and nipples. Evenflo makes electric and manual pumps. Many women report that the suction mechanism is too strong, causing nipple discomfort and discontinuation of use. Other mothers love the system. The electric version has an LCD display that tracks the time and duration of pumping sessions, which could be useful for a mother pumping full time, but is not useful for the average breastfeeding mother.

When choosing a breast pump, do not hesitate to ask other mothers for advice, and also consult a certified lactation consultant, who can lead you to a current effective model. Remember, too, that a breast pump is never as effective as a baby. Your baby will almost always get more milk in an average nursing session than you will get in a pumping session. So do not become alarmed if you pump and get only two ounces of breast milk in a pumping session and fear that that is all your baby gets in a feeding session. Remember that the most effective way to judge feeding sufficiency is output, 6 to 8 wet diapers a day and at least 1 dirty diaper a day.

Enjoy your baby, and congratulations!