Nutrition – Page 2 – Baby Care Journals

What to Do When Your Baby Rejects the Bottle

February 28, 2012March 6, 2012 admin

After several months of breastfeeding, many babies are understandably reluctant to change. Breastfeeding is warm and comforting, it brings mother and baby close together, and it comes easily and naturally. So when it comes time to introduce the bottle and your baby does not take to it right away, do not be frustrated. The plastic nipple takes some getting used to, and the temperature of the milk in the bottle can be difficult to regulate. Plus, if you are introducing formula at the same time, this adds another element of difficulty. Read More

The Bare Necessities for Newborns & Parents

February 14, 2012February 17, 2012 admin

Preparing for your newborn baby arriving can be overwhelming so here is a guide to getting the essential gear required for those first few weeks. The list can seem endless once you think about what you might need; pushchairs, cots, nappies, blankets. Here I will try and cut through the confusion and give you a guide to the top ten necessities as chosen by mothers and in a budget friendly way. Read More

The Perils of Meconium

February 9, 2012February 11, 2012 admin

Meconium is your baby’s first poo! It has the consistency of treacle, it is odourless and unlike later offerings it is sterile. It is very dark and almost impossible to wipe clean. Meconium consists of water, mucus, amniotic fluid, lanugo which is downy baby hair and also intestinal epithelial cells. For most babies it is just their first poo (one of many!) and means a very gooey first nappy but in some cases it can be a cause for concern. Read More

Have You Heard of Nipple Confusion?!

January 27, 2012January 31, 2012 admin

Nipple confusion, hmm . . . this term can be somewhat misleading. It does not mean that your baby is perplexed as to what your nipple is for. It is a term to explain when babies are hesitant to feed from the breast and seems to prefer or find it easier to bottle feed milk which has been expressed. Read More

Advice for Successful Breastfeeding

January 9, 2012January 11, 2012 admin

Once you have established breastfeeding there is no other easier or better way of feeding your baby. During breastfeeding an intense bonding and closeness is felt which enhances your baby’s feelings of security. Read More

4 Common Nursing Problems, Plus Solutions

September 22, 2011September 22, 2011 admin

By Eirian Hallinan

Nursing a newborn is not as simple as it may seem. Veteran moms are usually able to make it look easy by the time they get to their third or fourth child, but for new mothers, the simple fact is that breastfeeding can be challenging in numerous ways. Remember, it is not just the mother who is learning this new feeding method; it is also new to the baby, who of course cannot read books or take instructions from lactation consultants. This makes learning doubly difficult. But it is important to remember that most new mothers experience difficulties initially, and most soon get the hang of it.

What Is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder?

June 1, 2011June 17, 2011 admin

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is an umbrella term which describes the various birth defects which can occur in people whose mothers drink alcohol during their pregnancy.

Important ‘Tummy Time’ With Your Baby

May 27, 2011May 27, 2011 admin

Parents are now very aware of the importance of laying their babies on their backs to sleep as lying them on their tummies can increase the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). In fact, cot deaths have decreased by 40% since the recommendation was put into effect in 1994.

Some Bottle Feeding Facts

April 26, 2011April 26, 2011 admin

At some point most mothers bottle feeding their babies will experience some kind of problem. Most are easy to resolve but any major concerns should be addressed to your doctor. A common problem is not enough air entering the bottle after the baby has sucked out some of the milk. It causes a problem because the air is needed to balance the pressure inside the bottle. Air enters through the holes in the end of the nipple or between the nipple ring and the bottle. There are some orthodontic nipples that have extra holes at the nipple base (near the nipple ring). If the nipple ring is screwed on too tightly to the bottle and your baby’s tongue is covering and making a seal over the nipple holes you will probably have difficulty bottle feeding. Try loosening and tightening the nipple ring to see if this helps. When there is a continuous and steady flow of bubbles entering the bottle when baby drinks then you have got it right.

Healthy Parenting: Nutrition and Exercise During Pregnancy

March 23, 2011March 23, 2011 admin

Most adults can get away with not eating as well as they should or not exercising the optimal amount. But when it comes to pregnancy, all the things that you have heard about the importance of good health become much more urgent. As the cliché goes, you are eating for two now, and everything you do must be thought of in terms of how it will affect your baby’s development. Of course, it is not an emergency if you have an occasional dessert or miss a day of exercise, but pregnancy requires increased vigilance against bad habits.