Community donates care packages for babies

Hannah McNulty knows first hand the struggles associated with helping raise a premature baby. This holiday season, she has decided to provide parents of infants who are born prematurely with a early Christmas present.
                                           

Through the help of local sponsors, McNulty was able to donate 15 totes full of heart-felt cards, diapers, wipes, blankets, gift cards, lotion and lip balms to Mercy Health-St. Rita’s Hospital. Attached to each donated tote is a purple ribbon which symbolizes prematurity awareness.

Giving back to the community is important to McNulty because her brother, who was born six weeks early, was placed in special care. The same young man who doctors feared would not make it past birth is now healthy and will be turning 14 in January.

“My family didn’t have to spend time over the holidays in special care, but we thought it would be nice to help those who do,” she said in a news release.

Jesus and Erika Delgado, who on Dec. 21 welcomed Lorenzo Delgado into their family, were the first couple to receive one of the Christmas totes. They were more than pleased to get some extra assistance during the holiday.

“The thing that feels the greatest is the idea of someone expressing the love of humanity to their fellow human beings,” said Jesus Delgado. “It really warms your heart that there are people out there thinking of people in general and it makes everyone who hears the story want to do the same.”

St. Rita’s clinical nurse manger for labor and delivery, Lisa Shafer, said the hospital is always grateful to receive donations for the babies because they know it will have a great impact on the families.

“We understand that it can be difficult for families to not be home over the holidays, and donations like these help bring smiles to their faces and a festive air to our hospital,” she stated in a news release.

THIS AMAZING PROGRAM OFFERS PARENTS MENTAL HEALTH CHECKUPS DURING ROUTINE CHILD VISITS

It’s your baby’s well-child checkup and things are going smoothly. Your baby has been weighed, the doctor has listened to her heart and lungs, peeked in her ears and throat, and has officially given her a clean bill of health. You’re preparing to gather up your diaper bag to leave when the doctor turns to you and asks, “I see your baby isn’t sleeping very well. How are you doing with that?”
                                               

You might be taken aback for a moment, but when you stop to think about it, you might realize that you’re actually not doing very well … at all. Having a medical professional inquire about your mental health provides you with the opportunity to open up about symptoms you’ve been experiencing, so you can get the help you need.

Dr. Rachel Briggs, director of pediatric behavioral services at Montefiore Medical Center and the associate professor of pediatric psychiatry of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, tells Babble that the way the program works at their offices is simple:

Before a child’s appointment, caregivers are given a health assessment screening questionnaire that they usually fill out in the waiting room. The pediatrician will then review the screening tool, and based on certain information provided, connect the caregiver with a HealthySteps specialist (usually a social worker, nurse, or psychologist) who can provide further assistance and resources right then and there at the same appointment.

Dr. Briggs adds that there are two basic parts to the program: the first being more preliminary issues, such as sleep disturbances or sibling rivalries, and the second is for families that are more at-risk. For the second leg of the program, a HealthySteps specialist makes a special point to attend every appointment the child has and provides additional screening and assessment tools. Parents can take the American Academy of Pediatrics’ ACEs screening tool to determine their risk level.

Don’t be late for your doctor’s appointment

I am worried that I might sound a bit preachy over here, but this is one advice I would like to give other mommies for sure. It might sound lame but this is one valuable piece of wisdom I am sharing over here today. I know from experience of being a mother of two that you can never reach anywhere on time when you have kids to take care off even if it means going to the doctor’s clinic. But this is one place where you have to maintain punctuality. Because like you there are dozens of mums who will be flocking the clinic at the slightest sign of a cough or cold and have two dozen questions in their mind to which they seek an answer. So if you miss your turn you will have to wait till other paranoid mums just like you finish their turn. This means sitting at the doctor’s office with the babies a tad too long awaiting turn, which can make your otherwise well-fed and quite baby go cranky. Remember, babies don’t like to wait this can make them irritable and throw temper tantrums that can be difficult to handle. So if you want your paediatrician’s visit to be fuss-free be there on time. Here are 19 baby care tips for new mums.
                                               

Here are few things you should do to make your paediatrician’s appointment fuss-free:

1.Call and ask for a time that is convenient for your baby. Unless it is an emergency, don’t delay to call and fix an appointment. If you call first chances are you can book a favourable slot for your baby (given the doctor is free at that time) and avoid being at the clinic during your baby’s sleep or feeding time.

2.If you don’t get a slot according to your convenience, plan accordingly to be there on time. Try and finish feeding, cleaning or bathing your baby before the schedule. If it is a vaccination schedule this is a must. You won’t be able to breastfeed your baby for at least half-an-hour after vaccination. Here are eight ways to ease post-vaccination pains.

3.Always pack a snack and carry your kid’s favourite toy with you. A paediatrician’s clinic will have lots of toys to keep babies entertained but only her favourite toy can help calm a tantrum outburst.

4.Before you leave the house call up at your paediatrician’s clinic to check if the doctor has arrived and how much time will it take for your turn and plan accordingly. It makes no sense go and wait for an hour before.

5.Being on time will also help you to avoid the rush at the clinic. Too many people around can make your baby cranky.

6.A day prior to your appointment pack the bag that has all the essentials like the paediatrician’s files, reports, extra diapers, baby wipes, a towel, sanitizer, etc. Just before leaving add the water bottle and snack into the bag. Here are 10 diaper bag essentials you ought to pack.

Sometimes even with all preparations, you might find it difficult to manage your baby at the clinic, especially if your baby is sick. Those days take a deep breath and calm down. Remember, this too shall pass.

Staff to overrule parent wishes in baby sleep safety crackdown

PARENTAL wishes about their baby's sleep routines at childcare will be overruled by staff, under a new national child safety crackdown.
                                             

In a bid to reduce cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, staff will ignore the wishes of parents who want their babies to sleep on their front or side, unless a valid medical reason is provided.

The most recent figures show 28 Queensland child deaths in 2015 were a result of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI), which includes SIDS.

That same year, 33 babies in NSW also died as a result of SUDI.

From 1989 to 2015, 4921 babies have died as a result of SUDI, although that rate has fallen by 80%.

The charity Red Nose, which aims to raise awareness of safe sleeping practices in order to prevent SIDS, came up with the guidelines.

They will be enforced from October 1 by the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority.

Parents who want staff to swaddle or wrap the arms of babies over three months old, or to wrap babies who are old enough to roll, will also be overruled unless they have a doctor's endorsement.

Always place baby on the back to sleep and not on the tummy or side. There is an increased risk of sudden unexpected death for babies when they sleep on their tummies and there is a danger of rolling to this position if they are slept on their sides.
It is important that babies are always placed on the back to sleep. Babies who are usually slept on the back and are placed on the tummy or side for the first time are at an increased risk of sudden unexpected death.
Once a baby has been observed to repeatedly roll from back to front and back again on their own for several weeks, they can be left to find their preferred sleep position (this is usually around 5-6 months).
At the critical time of starting to roll it is very important that the sleep environment remains safe
Babies that can roll should no longer be wrapped
Babies born preterm should be slept on the back as soon as they are medically stable (out of oxygen).

Budgeting for child care

Having a child is exciting and expensive! Child care costs make up about 18 percent of the overall spending for raising a child.
                                                   

To make sure you're not caught off guard, budgeting for child care should start even before your bundle of joy arrives.

New parents usually get the nursery, clothing, car seats and strollers ready before baby. And sometimes child care doesn't even cross your mind until it's needed.

"The moment you find out that you're expecting and you're gonna have a new bundle of joy, you should definitely start to budget. So depending on the type of care and your options and what you can afford, there are some great things that you can do. One of the first things that we recommend is that you stop off and talk to your employer," said Donna Levin, Co-Founder of Care.com.

There's one unequivocal truth about pregnancy: The minute you tell people you're expecting, they'll start telling you what to do as a parent. That includes when and how to take care of your infant when they're distressed. "Pick them up." "Let them cry it out." "Don't be frantic." All the unwarranted advice can become confusing, especially to new parents. But new research may give insight into how you respond to your baby's cries influences their attachment style.

A new study published in Child Development found that a mother's emotional and physiological response to an unhappy infant may predict what type of attachment style their child will establish, according to Psych Central. In particular, researchers discovered that, while most babies are securely-attached to their parents, about 40 percent of infants develop insecure attachments, such as infant avoidance and resistance, and are at risk for issues as adults.

Maintain a separate vaccination schedule apart from your doctor’s chart

If I tell you to maintain your child’s vaccination schedule in an excel sheet, you might just laugh at me. Obviously, your paediatrician has given you the chart; he ticks off each vaccination when it is done and writes the next scheduled date too. But mothers believe me; you need to keep the records for yourself to be an informed parent. If you are wondering why am I giving you this piece of advice, then think: If you are someone who wants a good paediatrician and not settle for the doctor-next-door, then you might end up going to different child specialists before you can zero down on the one you trust. Here are 10 signs that your paediatrician is just perfect.
The problem is even though the vaccination charts look almost similar, there are chances that it can vary from one to another. In some paediatrician’s chart, there might be oral polio and measles clubbed together and the other might have just measles in the 9th-month block. This can create confusion and you might end up missing one dose or give an overdose. Here is why you should not skip optional vaccinations for your children.
                                               

So to avoid this confusion, it is necessary for you to have a record of your own so you can compare the two cards and be on track with your vaccination schedules. Also, there are various apps available these days that can help parents keep track of the vaccination given, so you don’t skip or miss doses.
Another advantage of keeping your child’s vaccination schedules stored in a drive or app is that you can check them anytime while you are making travel plans or are in a different city during the scheduled time of vaccination.
Keeping a record all on your own, apart from the doctor’s chart makes it easy for both the mother and doctor to know about the status easily.

Tips to Help You Stay Motivated As A New Mom

Having a baby is a wonderful thing. It’s a privilege that God has given us to create life. Caring for your baby is also a privilege; people pray for these things world over, on a daily basis. It shouldn’t be taken for granted.
                                         

From experience, I know that caring for your new baby can be very demanding – physically, emotionally, psychologically. I previously wrote an article about things no one warned me about being a new mum.

I guess this article can serve as a kind of “solution” for those challenging times. Here are a few tips to help you relax and stay motivated.

1. Get help

Your baby will be very fine without you. You, on the other hand, might not be…if you’re over-worked. Let someone take care of your baby for a few hours. That way, you can have more time to relax, or to do house chores.

2. Treat yourself

Treat yourself to a manicure/pedicure session. Treat yourself to a new hairdo. Try shopping for new clothes or shoes. Your feet are probably half a size larger now, anyway.

3. Do things you enjoy

Some things I enjoy doing indoors are: reading blogs and playing phone games. Even though they sound basic, they help me relax.

4. Date night (or Date afternoon)

It might be tricky to leave your baby at home to have dinner with your husband for an extended period of time in the evening. Why not try afternoon? Saturday, Sunday? Talk about things you love about each other, gossip, eat dessert, laugh!

5. Go out with friends

You remember how you used to “hangout” with your friends when you did not have a baby? You might need some of that girl time now.

6. Work out

Thirty minutes of work out never hurt anyone. Download a workout app to your phone and use it. Sign up at a gym, and use it. On the days I work out, I feel energized and motivated.

Baby care in summers

Summer is here and almost everyone we know hates it. The wind is warm, the skin is sweating and everything is simply unbearable. Of course, as adults, we can crib as much as we like but what about teeny, tiny babies?
                                           

Your newborns need you to be extra attentive in the coming months. They may not be able to say it out loud but summer is never kind to babies. Here are some things you should know:

1. Babies need more milk

You must have heard and read this everywhere that you must drink more water in summers to keep yourself well hydrated. The same goes for babies. Their bodies too lose water quickly in the warm season and therefore need to be replenished enough and often.

2. Avoid stepping out with the baby between 10am to 2pm

Dr Nagrath suggests that because the sun’s rays are strongest between 10am to 2pm, it is best to avoid stepping out with your baby at these times. If push comes to shove and there is no way to avoid it, make sure you take necessary precautions. “Baby skin is really sensitive to sun’s rays. Make sure that if you step out during high noon, the baby is well covered, maybe dress her in a light-coloured full sleeves shirt and pants, take an umbrella or make her wear a cap to protect her face. You can even buy the baby friendly sunscreens that are now available in the market but make sure they are below SPF 15 range,” she says.

3. Don’t pile clothes on the baby

Indians have a thing for piling clothes on babies no matter the season. Dr Akshay Kapoor, consultant (paediatrics) at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, says that parents must be strongly discouraged from doing so. “People clothe their babies in vests, then shirts, then sweaters and even warm caps in summers. They shouldn’t,” he says.

Dr Nagrath also says that the babies should only be dressed in clothes made from natural fibre like cotton. “I always tell my patients that you should dress the baby the way you would dress yourself. You wouldn’t want to walk around wearing sweaters in May right?,” she says.

4. Buy the right stroller and crib

Make sure the places where your baby sleeps or spends any amount of time resting, is comfortable and cool. Satin sheets and woollen bedding can heat up really quickly, without giving proper ventilation. When you buy a stroller, choose one with a lightweight fabric, preferably nylon. Fancy strollers and cribs, sold in Europe or America are not ideal for the Indian climate.

Simulation Exercises Reduces Anxiety of Taking Baby Home From NICU

This research grew from my experience as a neonatal nurse. I have worked with many families preparing to take their baby home and have seen the anxiety they experience wondering if they will be able to take care of their baby’s medical needs at home.
                                         

Parents are usually most anxious about emergency situations that may occur. Majority of these parents are able to state what they should do, but have never experienced the actual situation with their baby. This study was designed to see if a simulation experience would fill this gap in parents’ preparation for the discharge of their baby from the NICU. This study had parents participated in a customized simulation to have them experience the care needed by their baby at home following discharge from the NICU.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: Simulation with hi-fidelity simulators has been shown to be an effective learning strategy for healthcare professionals. The advantage of simulation is that parents can experience the “what if” problems that cannot be replicated in the clinical setting without placing the baby at risk. For example talking through the action you will take if your baby become apneic or is unresponsive is a different experience that having the baby become apneic or unresponsive in front of you and having to initiate the action on your own.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: Future research will include a more diverse group of parents and other potential caregivers in the home. In addition, follow-up of the parent’s level of anxiety in the home following the baby’s discharge and the use of healthcare resources during the first year post discharge are areas in need of study. Taking a newborn home from the NICU is stressful for the parents but can also have a long-term impact on family dynamics. Interventions to decrease parents’ anxiety and to increase their competence can have a lasting impact on the well-being of the infant and the family unit.

Why Baby Boys Feel More Stress Than Baby Girls Do

It’s common sense that babies need plenty of attention and loving care to thrive. But new risks have been uncovered that relate to infant care, and they apply specifically to baby boys.

A new review of empirical research by Allan N. Schore posits that the developing brain of the infant male is not able to regulate as well as the female brain, leaving baby boys more vulnerable to environmental stresses, and ultimately, to neuropsychiatric disorders including autism spectrum disorders.

In “All Our Sons: The developmental neurobiology and neuroendocrinology of boys at risk,” Schore writes that research “indicates that the stress-regulating circuits of the male brain mature more slowly than those of the female.”

In Psychology Today, Darcia Narvaez, Ph.D., summarizes that these neuropsychiatric disorders related to brain development “have been increasing in recent decades (interestingly, as more babies have been put into daycare settings, nearly all of which provide inadequate care for babies).”

Basically, infant day care attendance could be one factor related to the rise in disorders that skew heavily male, like autism spectrum disorders.

But should we panic about day care? Elizabeth Mack, a psychotherapist in private practice in Los Angeles and a mother of two boys, says “These findings are alarming, particularly for parents of boys. And while we should not ignore the correlation between greater numbers of boys diagnosed with disorders such as autism and ADHD as more and more babies enter day care, we must not forget that there are several factors that may account for higher rates of diagnosis, including the fact that there is more testing for these disorders going on than ever before.” So although more babies are in day care, more testing is going on, which naturally leads to more diagnoses. Correlation, in other words, does not equal causation.

“There is indeed evidence that boys are more vulnerable than girls to certain childhood problems (specifically, ADHD, conduct disorders and autism spectrum disorders),” says University of Southern California assistant professor of psychology Darby Saxbe. But she notes that, starting in adolescence, girls become more vulnerable to other problems, like anxiety and depression. “So it’s not necessarily the case that males are much more psychologically vulnerable than females across all domains, but it is the case that everyone — male or female — needs extra love and attention in infancy and early childhood because it is such a critical time for brain development.”

Baby Care Tip – Burp your baby well to help her sleep better

We know that it is important to burp baby after every feed. Burping the right way helps the baby to expel extra air that she swallows while feeding. This extra air when trapped in the tummy could give rise to colic pain. Here are five home remedies to treat colic naturally.

"The cuddle police can go to hell," according to babycare author and toddler tactician Pinky McKay, ahead of her appearance at the Essential Baby & Toddler Show in Brisbane on March 3-5.

Ms McKay is the author of Sleeping like a Baby, Parenting by Heart and Toddler Tactics, as well as the creator of Boobie Bikkies, which support and boost a healthy milk supply for mothers.
However, sometimes we underestimate the importance of burping. There are times when your child might fall asleep during a feed and the next thing you do is put her to bed. But even before you can settle yourself on the couch and have the first sip of your coffee (thinking she will sleep for a few hours now) she wails and wakes up. While there could be a number of reasons for fragmented sleep, not burping her the right way could be one of them. Here are 10 ways to help your baby sleep better.
‘There are times when a baby might not burp after a feed. But it is still advisable to carry her on the shoulder and stroke her back gently to help her expel air trapped in her abdomen. Even if the baby doesn’t burp it will help her throw out small amounts of air and avoid incidences of colic which could definitely disturb sleep too,’ Dr Chaitali Laddad, Founder & Director, The Pediatric Network.

Here is what you should do if your baby doesn’t burp and falls asleep during a feed: ‘Carry your baby on your shoulder for at least 15 to 20 minutes even after she falls asleep while taking a feed. If she doesn’t burp, try to keep the bed elevated from the side where she rests her head. You can also keep a pillow below her mattress which will help to avoid tummy pain due to trapped air or even a spit-up,’ says Dr Laddad.
However, don’t use a pillow for your baby until she is two years of age, as this could lead to neck sprain or other troubles like choking hazards or flat head syndrome. Here are more reasons why you should not use a pillow for your baby.

5 Harmful Ingredients in Baby Care Products

Does your baby really need that plastic teething ring? Most parents are shocked to learn that many popular baby products, including teething rings, contain harmful ingredients linked to serious health problems. Which ingredients should concern you?
         

Formaldehyde

In 2011, formaldehyde was classified as a “known human carcinogen” in a report by the National Toxicology Program, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Researchers found that long-term exposure to formaldehyde was linked to an increase in leukemia and brain cancer. It’s important to note that this exposure happened over many years, which is probably why manufacturers of products containing formaldehyde consider small amounts over a limited time reasonably safe.

Talc

Who doesn’t love the sweet smell of baby powder? It’s made from a mineral called talc, which is composed of magnesium, silicon, and oxygen. Talc became associated with cancer risk years ago, when it was often contaminated with asbestos. The good news is that asbestos is not present in the consumer products sold today in the U.S.

Propylene Glycol

This petroleum-based chemical absorbs liquids and maintains a uniform moisture level in antifreeze and many other consumer goods, including some brands of baby wipes. It’s well known and accepted that propylene glycol is dangerous in high doses, but it isn’t clear that small doses on the skin cause harm. However, you should be careful to always put your baby wipes away immediately after use, so your baby or toddler doesn’t put one into her mouth. At higher concentrations, it can cause skin irritation and contact dermatitis.

Mineral Oil

Baby oil is one of the most popular infant care products of all time. Used exactly as directed,there don’t appear to be any major safety concerns about it. However, children have developed serious respiratory problems by inhaling small amounts of mineral oil. Apparently, it prevents the tiny hairs in the airway from triggering a cough when the liquid is inhaled. Since there’s no coughing, the mineral oil can travel directly into the lungs and cause serious illness.

Reducing the Chemical Load

Of course, you can shop for safer, more natural baby products. You can also minimize exposure to these substances by using oils, lotions, and shampoos sparingly, and only when necessary. There’s no need to slather your baby with chemicals simply because it “smells good.” Perhaps the easiest way to reduce the chemical load on their developing bodies is simply to read labels, minimize the use of skin care products, and keep plastic toys out of their mouths.