The Colic Myth

Having a newborn at home, especially for first time parents, is hard enough. But, when you add on a little person who was born three months early, sometimes more, things can get messy. Fast.
After more than nine months of incubation, a baby is born. But, doctors are saying that even though the baby is out of the womb, it's incubation process is far from over. Even if the baby was born "right not time" he's still premature.
Here's why:
If other animal species' newborns are considered it would be easy to see the major difference between human newborns and any other species. The non-human babies are self-sufficient right out of the womb. They can walk, feed themselves, and interact with their parent on day one. Human babies on the other hand are not really a part of the world (so to speak) until two or three months of age.
According the Dr. Harvey Karp, writer of the best selling book "The Happiest Baby on the Block,"  it's because human babies are born three months too early.
"In our culture," Karp states, "we are mistakenly taught to whisper and tiptoe around our babies, believing they need a quiet and still environment. Nothing can be further from the truth!"
The fact of the matter is, newborns scream and cry, sometimes for hours on end, not because of "colic" but because they miss the womb. Inside the uterus is a loud, hot place where babies get queues on how the world outside is. For example, if a mother is stressed, the baby will assume that the world outside is a stressful one. If the mother is calm, then the baby may think that it's a happy and calm place.
Colic has long been blamed for a fussy or outright screaming baby, but doctors are now saying that colic has nothing to do with gas. New babies are entering their next and final trimester. The Fourth Trimester.
These babies still need the comfort of the womb, the loud and hot place they are used to. Therefore, to calm a "colicky" baby is not to give them gas drops, but to recreate the womb. It's easily done by using Karp's "Five S's."

1. Swaddle
2. Side/Stomach position
3. Shushing
4. Swaying
5. Sucking

Swaddling a crying baby in a receiving blanket will not only keep him warm, but it confines them as they were in the womb. It's very cramped in the uterus. To be in the vast open world after only knowing the confines of the womb, babies have a falling reflex (where they feel the sensation of falling). Swaddling helps them feel safe and secure.
Side/stomach positioning while sleeping or falling asleep may help sooth a crying baby though most doctors say, including Karp, that positioning babies on their backs should be the safest and most effective position.
Shushing loudly and close to the baby's ear stimulated the sound of the womb. The sound of being submerged in water and the sound of the placenta whooshing passed sounds very much like a shushing sound. The shushing must be louder than the crying.
Swaying recreates the motion of the mother. After a baby is swaddled and shushing is going on, swaying from side to side is the next step in calming a screaming baby.
Sucking is a self-soothing technique that all babies know. Putting a pacifier in the baby's mouth or even a finger can help calm the baby.
Any or all of these methods have proven successful. In other cultures they do not have "colic." Babies are simply calmed within a minute or less using a variation, if not these exact techniques. Remember, there is no such thing as holding a newborn too much, or spoiling a newborn. They cry because they need something. It may be a simple thing of the baby being scared now that they have found themselves thrusted into a greater, brighter world. It's our job to help them through their final trimester so they can be a happy, strong, and secure baby.

Halloween Baby Fun!

It's hard to plan your baby's first Halloween. Most people had spent their Halloweens doing decidedly adult things. Now that the baby if finally here, it does seem to throw a wrench in the Halloween-Party-Wheel.
Or does it?
There are lots of ways you can celebrate your baby's first Halloween that does not necessarily involve letting go of some of your established traditions. For example: An oldie, but a goodie, GO TRICK-OR-TREATING! Dress up your little one and go trick-or-treating with your little one. People love to see a baby in costume and parents will love the candy.
Another thing you can do is have a baby halloween party. Invite all of your little one's friends over and have a costume party. Make a photo booth, dress up as a family and take pictures. That way, you can do some PG, but still have fun.
Make homemade pumpkin baby food or other fall type flavors. It's easier and healthier than you think to make your own baby food. As long as you have a blender, you're set!
Decorating is always a fun family pass time. During one of the baby's naps, decorate the house with fall or halloween decorations. It will add a sense of festivity to your home. Get scented candles that remind you of fall or the holidays and light them in your home.
If none of these ease your halloween itch try putting on some halloween music and have a dance party with you and baby. They'll love the interaction and you can get some exercise in. You'll be surprised how fast you get winded after dancing a few songs with a twenty pound weight on your hip.
Dress up your little one to greet the trick-or-treaters that come to your house. Have him help hand out candy. That way he'll be exposed to a lot of different people and you get to show off his cute costume. Try checking out local fairs at the zoo or the community center. It may be good to get out of the house for a little while and have a fall walk. Or go to the mall and have your little tiger's portrait taken.
Whatever you choose to do, your halloween celebrating is far from over. Now that the baby is finally here it's only just begun!

Does Being a Stay-at-Home-Mom Boost Your Creativity?

Being at home with your baby all day really can test your patience - and your creativity. With a fussy baby, a house that needs to be swept and laundry that needs to be put away moms have to use their creative side in order to keep that little one happy long enough to eat, shower, clean the house or do the work that some moms manage to do from home.
But, does this cross over into the craft world? Yes!
A creative mind works in many different ways. On the rare occasion when moms have a little free time they can dedicate that to crafting. The reasons for this can vary. It could be that buying a thirty dollar decorative pumpkin is just not in the household budget, but to make it would only be a fraction of the price. And, since it's custom made, the craft is often better than what would have been bought in the store.
Crafting can be disguised in many different ways. It can be sowing, baking, writing, drawing, painting, scrapbooking, photography, the list goes on! The best thing about all these is that stay-at-home-moms can have a possible income from their crafts.
For example, sowing - handmade, unique baby items can be an easy and rewarding activity. To make a homemade nursing cover out of fabric and wire could take an experienced seamstress fifteen minutes to make and you can sell it online using eBay or Etsy for twenty dollars or more, depending on the nursing cover.
Another example could be using a free website host and sell personalized cupcakes. Give a gracious time period since it may take longer than expected to make two dozen cupcakes with a small baby at home. That way you're not pressured by a deadline and you can still have your creative outlet.
Photography can be a great way to get out of the house and get some great shots! Most moms have the camera on standby in order to catch those cute moments with Baby. Why not expand that? Stick the little one in a baby carrier and arrange to meet other moms or couples at a local park and take some great shots.
No matter what it may be, being a stay-at-home-mom boost your creativity. Moms that might not have considered themselves "crafty" before are finding that they certainly are now. The brain is constantly being exercised and taking in new information and adapting that new information into daily life. Who ever said that you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

A little on marketing here: http://www.handmadeology.com/hey-stay-at-home-moms-here-are-5-tips-to-boost-your-sales/

Quick Baby Travel Tips

With the holidays looming over us early waves of anxiety start to wash over us. Yet, don't let traveling with your little one be one of them. There a several things you can do to make the trip an easy one for both of you.
Packing for your baby can prove to be a time consuming and troublesome task, but it doesn't have to be. Pack your baby's clothes in outfits, complete with socks and put them into ziplock baggies. That way, you won't have to shift through your large suitcase for all those little items.
Only bring as many diapers you think you will need for the plane ride then buy diapers once you arrive at your destination. Do the same for the way back. If you're lucky, you can leave your left over diapers with whomever you were visiting so that they can use them for their baby.


Plane rides can be a source of anxiety as well. Bring along a few of Baby's favorite toys. It would be a good idea to bring one or two he hasn't seen before. Make sure that you put a leash on the toys and clip it to your back or the back of the seat in front of you if you can. The last thing you want is to have the toy fall on the floor of the airplane!
Give them something to suck on, let it be either a breastfeeding session or a bottle or binky. It helps relieve the pressure in their ears and also keeps them calm and quiet. It's a good idea to not anything too stimulating on the plane. Practice quiet and calming pass times like books or toys that don't make a lot of noise or have flashy lights.
Wear your baby if you can. Most airports do not count the car seat as an extra bag. So, put your baby in a carrier and keep the stroller with you, but check the car seat. The stroller can be left at the front of the airplane and will be waiting for you when you arrive.
Once you arrive at your destination it's likely that your little one will be fussy and remain fussy for most of the trip. Babies thrive on routine. Suddenly he finds himself in a new place with new things and none of those things are his. A familiar blanket or doll could be helpful, but try to keep to your routines as much as possible, even when you are abroad.
Don't be afraid to travel with your little bundle of joy! Exposure to travel at an early age will make later flights way easier and will expose your child to many wonderful things. For more on how to travel with a baby, click here: http://www.babycenter.com/packing-checklist-for-traveling-with-baby
Happy and safe travels this holiday season.

There Ain't No Rest for the Mama

As the cold season starts to blow in we do everything we can think of to keep the symptoms at bay. Yet, in reality, there is really little anyone can do once the coughing and sneezing begin. It's especially hard when you're a mom. It only takes on sneeze to spread your unpleasant cold to your little one. But, there are things you can do to make it less likely to pass over to them.
Keep your baby away from you as much as possible. Put your baby on his play gym, in his crib or his swing or bouncy chair. That way he's entertained, and you're not spreading your germs onto them.
Wash your hands or use sanitizer after ever nose blow. It may sound tedious and your hands will be dry by the end of the day, but your little one is still not sick!
Try to see if a family member or friend that you trust come over and help with the baby for a few hours. If possible, see if your spouse can stay home or go into work late or come home early. That way you can rest and recharge your already weak battery a little.
Only handle the baby when you're changing his diaper and feeding him. The minimal amount of contact can make the difference between a sick baby and a healthy one. You may be miserable now, but try adding on a sick baby on top of that.
Really, there is still the chance that your baby will get the cold. Statistics say that your baby will their first cold in their first year of life. It's almost inevitable when they're obsessed with putting their fingers in their mouths and rubbing their eyes.
All you can do is make your baby comfortable. Use a rubber syringe to keep the air ways clear. It'll be hard to eat and sleep with a clogged nose. Elevate his head when he sleeps. That way the mucus isn't dripping down his throat and causing them to choke. NEVER give over the counter medication to your baby. Call your doctor if they have a fever of over 100.4 and they will tell you if you need to bring your child in. If he does have a fever, give him infant Tylenol and bring him to the doctor.

For more info on cold care for infants click here: http://www.babycenter.com/0_colds_78.bc
Being a stay-at-home mom is a 24-hours a day job. And there are no sick days. It's important to be 100 per cent for your baby. You need rest, even though it seems to get ten times harder when you're sick with a baby. Push fluids and try to sneak in a nap here and there. You'll feel better for it.