My Parenting Info

Preparing the nursery is one of the many important tasks for the expectant parents; be it their first or last expectation. Baby nursery decor starts with careful planning of the nursery space. Should you let your baby stay in your room for the first months or move them into another bedroom? Are there brothers and sisters in the same room who have their own requirements? You may choose to have a nursery set aside for the baby but also purchase a co-sleeper or bassinet for the parents’ room at night, especially if there are plans to breast-feed. In this plan, the baby’s bedding will be straightforward–all he’ll need will be a flat blanket to sleep on. No covers are required. Remember that babies are best kept warm in a snuggly outfit rather than under potentially smothering blankets.

If and when a separate nursery is going to be used, proper baby equipment must be your top priority. Guidelines for crib safety are issued by the government; and one of the guidelines focuses on the amount of space between rungs. Don’t use an old crib that has been inherited from your family, no matter how beautiful it is or how much Grandma tries to convince you; it is not secure.

Baby bedding should not fit too loosely in the crib; otherwise, the baby can pull the sheets free and get entangled or, worst of all, suffocate. Ease of washing and durability should be considered in selecting baby bedding. Baby poop and vomit both stain white sheets better than any substance known to man, so while that frilly lamb pattern might be cute, consider how less cute it will be covered in regurgitated carrots. Stains are not going to show up as much if you emphasize patterns and stay away from lighter colors when choosing your crib bedding.

A changing table is not a required piece of nursery furniture, but it does make the job much easier. Till the stage your baby is small to be in diapers, it is convenient to have a dresser with a built-in changing table. Once the child grows older and is potty trained, he requires a regular dresser with more room to store. Although traditional training tables come with rails to help but always look for the safety straps. A cloth changing pad is a must with any changing table, again preferably in a dark color that won’t show the inevitable poop stains.

Diaper pails are generally kept near the changing table, and come in various forms according to your specific needs. Disposable diapers require a sealed odor-resistant garbage pail, while cloth diapers must be kept accessible for laundering. The decision is yours to make - either way, the nursery probably won’t smell very pleasant for a long time.

You won’t need a rocking chair, but after a couple of late nights coaxing your baby to sleep, it’s something you’ll want to have. You may choose to buy any thing new but with rocking chairs you can blindly purchase a used one, for the older they are, they offer you more comfort. Your Grandma will vouch for this viewpoint.

Decoration comes last in the process of getting the nursery together, but it is the most fun. Keep your child in mind when shopping and pick items from all isles to get a better variety. It doesn’t take much to decorate a nursery, but doing it in a way that sparks your baby’s imagination, or even remind him of his family, is a great way to start. If you raise your baby with creativity, he is likely to imitate you.

Dirty diapers, constant crying, sleepless nights - all parents are familiar with both the joys and challenges that a new addition to the family can bring. Yet it can come as a shock to some - particularly newborn parents - when the baby does not stop crying for hours or even days at a time. We fear the worst: does my child have colic?

What is colic?

Colic is used for a disorder in which an otherwise healthy infant cries continually and inconsolably. In arises when the infant is approximately two years old, and can last up to four months. Colic is usually characterized by long bouts of crying (often lasting for hours), which usually occur at fixed times during the day (i.e. the morning and evening). About 40% of all infants suffer from mild colic, whereas 10-15% are predicted to suffer from severe colic. But don’t lose sleep over this: colic is only a temporary stage - it very rarely persists after the fifth month.

Causes

While professionals do not know exactly what causes colic, many have linked the disorder to problems within the digestive system. Common theories include that the infant’s intestines are working too hard, resulting in cramps, whereas other doctors suggest it is because of slow bowel movement, resulting in painful gas being trapped in the intestines. This can lead to the inflammation of the gut. There has been much debate on this topic among osteopaths and medical professionals, but there is no definitive cause as far as research has shown.

General Symptoms

You might ask, ‘how do I know whether my child has colic?’ There are various common symptoms that can help you identify the disorder: The infant cries incessantly and very loudly for two or three hours non-stop, without being comforted, and is persistently doing so for days Restlessness and visible discomfort The infant pulls their thighs up to their abdomen and clenches their fists Some babies release a lot of wind, or appear to be in pain while passing gas

Treatment and Prevention

There are several techniques that you as a parent can employ to make your child feel more comfortable. Osteopaths recommend the following: Try carrying the infant on a sling on your stomach. Your heartbeat, body heat and movement might make them feel more at ease. Gently massage the infant’s belly in slow circular movements.

If the problem continues to exist, you are advised to visit an osteopathic clinic. Here your precious baby can be examined more closely for any tensions in body, and can be given the extra attention it needs.

Seeing your child suffer is agonizing for any parent, especially when you do not know how to help them. However, with today’s effective osteopathic techniques, and with the knowledge that colic is only a fleeting stage in a child’s development, both you and your baby can finally get the full night’s rest that you desire and deserve.

You may be on the verge of a babysitter search. The question is, do you have any idea where you can even find good sitters? There are a couple of good places where you could start looking for a sitter. Here are some of them:

Neighborhood

Your community is a good place to start. Some of your teen neighbors may be willing to baby sit for you. You could also put up an ad on your front lawn and wait for community members to apply. Another way would be to personally ask your neighbors if they know of any good sitters. Many parents swear that this is by far still the best way to get a good sitter. Your neighbor can vouch for the ability and character of your sitter. Then again, even neighbors can make mistakes. They may not be fully aware of a sitter’s entire background or history.

Schools

Colleges and high schools are also good source of potential sitters. Many students on these levels need some extra cash for school needs and extra expenses. Advertising in a few online or offline school boards would guarantee that you would have more than a handful of prospects.

Most likely, students with good records are least likely to have criminal records. Otherwise they wouldn’t be in school. Nonetheless, you should still carefully screen applicants from schools to determine their character and ability.

Agencies

Agencies for Babysitters - Your babysitter search can also begin in agencies. Many agencies have been around for decades. They would therefore have a lot of experience in gathering good sitters. Agencies also provide you with the option of stay in or stay out sitters. They usually conduct background investigations on their applicants to ensure that you get a good sitter. Agencies however typically cost a lot. This is especially if you need to get a stay in sitter from another region or country. You may have to spend a thousand dollars or more to get a good sitter.

Advertisements

The Yellow Pages - People who wish to offer their services typically advertise. You can look through newspapers, yellow pages and even online job posts to find a baby sitter in your area. You would be hiring a virtual stranger though. This means that if you get a sitter through an advertisement, you would have to spend a great amount of time interviewing, screening and scrutinizing your prospects. You can never be too careful when it comes to the safety of your kids.

Online Services

Online services are similar to agencies. They have databases of sitter prospects that you can choose from. Many modern online services however charge cheaper. For a monthly or yearly membership fee, you can get a stay in or stay out sitter of your choice. These services also typically conduct background checks on potential sitters and let parents personally interview prospects. You also benefit from a number of parent resources that can give you advice on dealing with sitters.

These places are just some of the possible good sources that can help you in your babysitter search. You can choose the method that is most convenient for you. You should however always put your child’s safety and welfare first. Pick the option where you are most certain to get a reliable sitter.