The information given here will help the mother to breastfeed successfully. The supportive role of the father is of utmost importance. The mother needs support and encouragement from him to build up the confidence that she has enough milk. Having enough information prevents breastfeeding problems and crisis and provides the solutions to these should they arise. The baby can be breastfed for 6 months, thereafter solids are given together with breastfeeding to 2 years and beyond.

Tips on breastfeeding.

1. Feed early

Within 1/2 hour of birth in the labour ward. First feed lasts for 10-20 minutes. During the first day, baby will normally feed 5-6 times.

2. Feed frequently

Room in with the baby while in the hospital. This will encourage bonding between the mother and the baby. From second day onwards, baby feeds about 1 1/2 to 2 hourly. Baby feeds about 10-12 times per 24 hours. Each feed last for 20-40 minutes or more. There is no limit to duration or frequency of feeds to satisfy suckling needs of the baby. There is no need to time the baby and feed the baby whenever he is hungry. At night, feed 2 hourly before 12 midnight, and then at 2 to 3am and again at 5-6 am. Try to sleep with the baby in the same bed.

3. Feed properly.

Hold the baby at breast level, lying on his side and chest to chest. Stimulate the rooting reflex with the nipple touching the baby’s lips. Quickly bring baby to breast when his mouth opens wide. Baby latches on properly and this will prevents sore nipples, when the nipple and much of the areola are in the baby’s mouth. Allow the baby to suckle till the baby sleeps and lets go of the nipple himself. Do not pull the baby off the nipple when he is still latched on. When the baby is off the nipple, and cries, put him back on the same breast. Allow him to complete one feed on one breast. Feed on the other breast at the next feed. 1 to 2 hours later. Colostrum is more than enough for the baby till mature milk comes in. There is no need to give water, glucose or formula milk to the baby. Avoid bottles and pacifiers and other artificial nipples as these may cause nipple confusion and breast rejection.

4. How much is enough?

Baby has enough milk if he is contented for 1 to 2 hours after a feed, passes clear dilute urine 5 to 6 times a day, passes bright yellow watery stools 6 to 8 times a day, puts on at least 20 grams of body weight a day and regains birth weight after 2 weeks.

5 Breast milk supply

Breast milk supply can be increased by frequent feeds day and night and allowing unlimited breastfeeding to satisfy baby’s suckling needs. Mother must eat and drink sufficient quantities to satisfy her hunger and thirst. For Asians, cultural food like ginger and rice wine are compatible with breastfeeding.

6. Breast engorgement

If the breasts are engorged, apply cold wet compresses over the breast to reduce swellings. Feed frequently 2 to 3 hourly round the clock. If pain is felt, it is safe to take Paracetamol.

7. Maternal / infant illness

It is safe to breastfeed even when mother or baby has illness. Most drug medications are compatible with breastfeeding. Do let the doctor know that you are breastfeeding and consult the doctor if you are not sure whether the medication given is safe to take. Maternal Mastitis can be treated with antibiotics for 10 days while continue breastfeeding from both breasts. Neonatal jaundice is compatible with full breastfeeding.

8. Working mum

Working and breastfeeding is possible by storing expressed breast milk in the freezer.

Article courtesy of Dr SL Koe Paediatrician & Lactation Consultant.

It is a daily routine to keep your baby clean. For the first time parents, giving your baby a bath could be quite an experience. The newborn baby is so tiny and fragile and to hold him while bathing him can be quite a challenge. It is important to get everything you needed such as bathing gel, shampoo, towel, cotton, diaper and clothing ready so that the bathing process can proceed smoothly. You will feel more relax when everything is within your reach and you will probably enjoy it. After a few times of giving your baby a bath, it will become a routine and you will feel more confident in handling your baby.

Tips for giving your baby a bath.

1. Preferably use a small bathtub with a wide opening so that you will have more space to handle your baby. Before putting in your baby, always test the temperature of the water with your arm or elbow. It should neither be too hot nor too cold. Do not test it with your palm as our palm may not be sensitive enough to tell the exact temperature of the water.

2. Bath items should be laid out within your reach such as baby bathing gel, shampoo, washcloth, cotton balls for cleaning the eyes, towel, diaper and clothing.

3. Ensure that the bathroom or your baby room is kept warm. Close all windows. Remove the baby shirts and wrap the baby in a towel.

4. Clean the eyes and face first. Dip the cotton balls into the water and clean the eyes. Then use a new cotton ball for the face and the ears.

5. Then wash the baby’s hair. Hold the baby in your arm and use your hand to support the baby’s head and shoulders and lower the head close to the water. Dip a washcloth in the water and use it to wash the hair. Ensure that the water do not go into the ears and the eyes. Apply a little bit of shampoo or baby bathing gel and rinse well. Dry your baby’s hair thoroughly.

6. Remove the towel and lie the baby with your arm supporting the baby’s head and hold on to the upper section of the far arm. This is to prevent the baby from slipping. Even if the baby does slip from your arm, you still have a hold on it. Do place a non-slip mat in the bathtub to prevent the baby from slipping.

7. Keep the baby in a semi upright position so that the lower half is immersed and his head and shoulders are above the water. Use your other free hand to wash the baby starting from the shoulder onwards and move towards the bottom which is usually the dirtier parts. Chat and smile all the time while you are bathing him. Sing a song to him and he will feel more relax.

8. When the baby is done and clean, support the baby’s neck and head and put the other hand under his bottom and lift him up gently and put him onto the towel and dry him gently and thoroughly. Pay attention to the skin creases such as the armpit, neck, ankles and knees.

9. You should dry the umbilical cord area thoroughly and then wipe it with an antiseptic swap or surgical spirit. Leave the cord uncovered and prevent it from rubbing against the diaper by keeping the diaper fastened below the cord.

10. Once the baby is dry, dress him up with the shirt you have prepared and keep him warm. The baby will usually be more alert and happy after the bath.

It has been six months since our baby was born. Time really flies. It was not too long ago, I can still remember it very clearly in my mind my wife was pregnant. And it was still fresh in my mind on the 26th February 2007, our baby boy was delivered. He was so tiny with eyes hardly opened. Sleeping most of the time. Cried only when he wanted milk. It was a vast difference compared to his sister. Our first baby girl was born seven years ago. She cried the loudest in the nursery. Her cries can be heard doors away. I believed the difference was due to breastfeeding. Our baby boy was encouraged to suck the breast the moment he was born. Our first baby did not have the privilege because as a first time parents, we did not know the importance of breastfeeding and did not know how. Breastfeeding baby feels more secured and will have less incidence of being colicky.

The hospital in which the baby was born made a lot of difference. It was the the main factor which determined the success rate in breastfeeding a baby. Our baby boy was born in a hospital that encouraged breastfeeding. There was a full time nurse specialised in breastfeeding going round teaching the new mothers how to breastfeed. The hospital in which our first baby was born did not take any initiative to encourage breastfeeding. So it is good to choose a hospital which encourages breastfeeding and baby friendly.

Baby friendly hospital encourages breastfeeding. The moment our baby boy was born, he was taken away for injection and given other necessary medical care. Immediately after all the medical care were given, he was brought back to his mother and was encouraged to suck the breast. The feeling of being held by the mother created a deep bonding between the mother and the baby. The baby felt secured in the arms of his mother. The baby was with the mother for as long as it needed to make the baby felt secured and comfortable. Then he was taken away to prepare him for his first bath. After the baby was cleaned, he was sent to the mother and remained with the mother unless he needed to change diapers. The bonding between the mother and the baby grew stronger by the hour.

The scenario in a non-baby friendly hospital is very much different. The moment the baby was born, she was taken away for the necessary medical care to be given. After that she was sent to the nursery and remained there until feeding time. If the mother decided not to breastfeed (and most of the time it is the case because of no encouragement from the hospital), the nurses will feed the baby at the nursery. The mother may not get to see the baby unless upon request. The bonding between the mother and the baby was not developed. The baby will feel less secured and tends to cry more.

So it is advisable to choose the right hospital. Plan in advance. Check with a few hospitals. Enquire on their services and baby care facilities before you decide. Don’t miss the chance to create the bonding between the mother and the baby. Once missed it, it is gone forever.

Parenting a toddler can truly restore your you because of the playful nature and share wonder of the child. But at the very same time it can be one of the most trying responsibilities that you will ever face. It is not always a pleasant task raising children so with that in mind I have compiled some less-obvious parenting principles geared to help you raise a perceptive, secure and happy child. Specifically, these suggestions are to help you find sensible ways to handle your toddlers unhappy moods. Here is what I believe to be some helpful advice:

When your child becomes upset and starts screaming you must first, and you’ll be surprised to read this, be sure that you remain calm before you do anything. Put your focus on yourself. At least try it and see what happens. Let me explain.

You obviously want to comfort your child and sooth them in any manner possible. But in order to be the most effective at doing this, you must feel better yourself. You cannot help anyone else if you cannot help yourself, and parenting a toddler is certainly no exception.

Kids will pick up on your emotions and an instance, especially the negative ones. You do not have to believe in any New Age garbage to be able to “feel the mood in the air.” The manner in which to move and speak are easily picked up by even the youngest of children. Kids are anything but dumb, and I’m sure you already know that.

During the explanations of airplane safety procedures, they always insist that you put your own oxygen mask on first, and then put the oxygen mask on your child. This is a striking example, and a perfect metaphor for what I am suggesting about parenting a toddler, or any age child for that matter.

You cannot help your child if you are incapacitated or functioning at a subpar level. Kids learn by watching and doing. Always keep this in mind. Look within and see if you are feeling uncomfortable. Slow down. Take some breaths. Even in the most chaotic of times you must always focus on being calm and in control of your emotions.

Shift your attention inward. Parenting a toddler is not easy, but you must find some centeredness despite the chaos. Be willing to try. Put yourself in the child’s shoes and know that they look to you for everything. Your kids will pick up on things that you have no idea that they even notice. These are the very things that make parenting a toddler so incredibly important.

You may think that putting your own emotions first is somehow selfish but if you truly understand what I’ve been trying to say you realize that it is anything but. It means that you put your child to first and truly love them. You must open your heart first, and this will subliminally teach your child to do the same. Parenting a toddler is all about doing what is best for the child and in many cases that means doing what is best for you.

About The Author

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning parenting. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting

http://www.familyforumsite.com/family-news–information/family-forum/tips-for-parenting-a-toddler.html

All of us want to be the best parent we can be, but we sometimes doubt whether we are doing what’s best for our children. Good skills are learned; we’re not born with them. But where should you go for advice and tips? There are hundreds of websites. Which ones offer the best resources? Take a look at these sites for valuable tips.

1. Gerber Foods, the babyfood manufacturer, has an excellent website,http://www.gerber.com, filled with information on issues for those with infants to toddler-age children. Particularly useful is their Parents Resource Center, a 24/7 live help forum for questions and problems that arise in the middle of the night as well as those in the more civilized hours.

2. Do you have a toddler that you’re toilet training? Do you need to share your experiences and get advice on what you are doing right or wrong? http://www.pottytrainingsolutions.com is a website that offers easy-to-read advice on toilet training. Their series of helpful articles and take you through the entire process and the FAQ sections helps with basic advice.

3. A successful website relies on trust and who has better credentials on that the people who have brought us the PBS show, Sesame Street for all of these years. Their articles on http://www.sesamestreet.org/parenting give advice on toddlers as well as older children. Recent articles have included “How to Raise an Eager Reader” and advice on keeping your resolutions. There’s also nutrition information and recipes as well as kids activity ideas. It’s a great resource.

4. Parents of teenagers will appreciate the free tips on http://www.byparents-forparents.com. In addition to articles, there are self-tests that allow parents to measure the effectiveness of their techniques. Another highlight of the site is the open parent/teen forum that gives both teens and adults the chance to share their thoughts.

5. Work-at-home moms can sometimes feel isolated. Visit http://www.wahm.com to share ideas with like-minded moms (and dads). There are articles, an active forum, and even a section with job leads, featuring telecommuting positions and freelancing gigs.

6. And, finally, for those times when you need a lighter moment, there’s http://www.parentinghumor.com, a well written website, dedicated to the lighter side of parenting.

Remember that you’re not alone. All parents need advice sometimes. There are thousands of resources online. From workshops to forums, there’s a wealth of information available for parents with children of any age.

Article by:

Paulina Aubin

Nurturing your child with true values, imbibing good manners, and bringing out the best in your child is what you call as parenting your child. Let us not dream of making our child, a perfect human being with no negative points in him, in this big but not so perfect world. One has to have lots of patience while being a responsible parent to your child.

How to bring up your kids confidently?

Without confidence one can never achieve his goals. Success is never an on-going process, to face the hurdles in our day to day life, Confidence and a raring to go attitude through any odds, plays a key role.

· Never spank your child for some silly reasons. For example, soiling his clothes, after returning home from a good day’s play or messing up his toy room. Be patient while listening to his answers on the small wrong things he or she has done. Try to teach him the importance of neatness and cleanliness in a creative way. Give him compliments on the good things which he or she has done.

· Do not shout or insult your child in front of others for any minor mistake he has done. Maybe you will have to feel sorry for his mistake, but your outcry will curb his ability to do new creative things. Make him understand your anger from your face expression rather than loud reaction.

· Do not entertain your child with his unreasonable demands. But to make him understand this, do not try to give a picture of your financial constraints. Try to convince him, whether his demand is the need of the hour. If not then there is no hurry to go for it.

· Reward him occasionally for any good thing he does. Like solving a puzzle or a mathematics problem, reminding you of some important meeting or suggesting you with something which solves your query. Your child need not be rewarded with loads of gifts; small gestures will be really appreciated by your child.

Understanding the uniqueness of your child

It is easy following what one suggests you, but the question is whether it suits your child. Each child is unique by birth just like you are different from your neighborhood parents. Physically, physiologically and psychologically they are independent and so much so their needs. Terrorizing children in the name of disciplining them is unnecessary. Help them grow into responsible children.

Article by:

NamSing Then

About The Author

NamSing Then is a regular article contributor on many topics. Be sure to visit his other websites http://www.parenting-foryou.info/single-parenting.html, http://www.babycotsforyou.info/baby-cots-cribs.html and http://www.researcher-hub.info

Our baby was delivered at a hospital that encourages breastfeeding. Right from the moment the baby was born, he was brought to his mother after he was cleaned up. This helped to develop a bonding between the mother and the baby. The baby was encouraged to suck the breast right from the start. Amazingly, the baby has an inborn talent of sucking the breast.

Breastfeeding requires skills and perseverance. It was not easy to get the baby to latch on properly. When the baby could not latch on properly, he would struggle and cry. A lot of perseverance  was need to succeed in breastfeeding. After many attempts and weeks of practice, the baby suck well but still occasionally, he refused to suck from a particular breast. He seems to have preferences. But perseverance paid off. He was fully on breast milk.

After two months of maternity leave, my wife has to go back to work. So we have to stock up bottles of breast milk for the baby when my wife was at  work. The expressed milk was put into freezer and thaw by soaking it in warm water before giving it to the baby using milk bottles.

Nightmares began when the baby refused to drink the milk from the bottle.  We tried so many kind of teats and bottles but he rejected all of them. He would rather go hungry without the milk for the whole day. After a few days of refusing bottle feeding, he was dehydrated and his urine turned pinkish in colour. The pinkish colour was due to the uric acid crystals in the urine. A sign of dehydration.

Finally, a friend recommended the Mother Care milk bottle with Nuby teats which feels like and shape like a mother’s breast. We bought a set of two bottles which cost more than any other normal bottles in the market. Amazingly, our baby liked it and began to drink well. What a relief and it was definitely a money well spent and our problem was solved. And he is still drinking from the Mother Care bottles now at six months old.

For those who faced similar problems with their baby, try Mother Care bottles with Nuby teats. It is worth paying for.

The remains of the umbilical cord will dry up and fall off between 1-3 weeks after birth. You must keep this area dry and clean. You’ll probably be advised to wipe the umbilical cord gently with surgical spirit using clean cotton wool. You don’t have to wait for the umbilical cord to heal before you give your baby a bath; as long as you dry the area thoroughly afterwards.

If the umbilical cord area is red and inflamed, seek advice from your doctor. A slight discharge or bleeding is normal but it should not last longer than a couple of days.

Breastfeeding is natural and no doubt, the best food you can give your baby. In addition to giving complete nutrition to your baby, it offers protection against infection, and fosters that special bond between mother and child which is crucial for baby’s healthy psychological development. Also the composition of breast milk changes daily to match your baby’s evolving needs for rapid growth and development.

The benefits of breastfeeding to the child.

1. This provides the best possible nutrition to the child.

2. It reduces the incidence of coughs and colds, ear infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, meningitis and diarrhoea through its protective factors.

3. It protects the child from colic, asthma, eczema, nose and food allergies.

4. It is essentials for optimal physical, emotional and mental development of the child.

5. Breastfed children are smarter.

The benefits of breastfeeding to the mother.

1. This promotes mother and child bonding.

2. It prevents uterine bleeding in the mother after delivery.

3. This is a natural form of family planning.

4. This reduces the risks of breast and ovarian cancer in the mother.

5. This saves time and precious expenses need not be used for buying milk powder and providing health care.

All newborn babies have reflexes or instinctive movements which are designed to protect them. The reflexes will last until your baby learns to make voluntery movements, at about three months. You may notice the following reflexes in your baby.

1. Rooting relfex

If you gently stroke your baby’s cheek, his/her head will turn to the direction of your finger with mouth open. This rooting movement helps baby to search for your breast to start feeding.

2. Sucking reflex

Every baby is born with the reflex to suck. He/she will try to suck whenever you put something in the baby’s mouth or touch on the soft palate (the roof of the mouth towards the back)

3. Grasp reflex

A newborn baby  automatically tightens the fingers around anything which is pressed into the palm and grasp tightly. If you touch the soles of your baby’s feet, the toes will curl downwards as if to grip something.

4. Moro reflex or startle

Babies respond to stimuli in a “total” way when they hear a loud noise or when roughly handled. They will throw up their hands and legs with fingers out-stretched in an attempt to hold on to something. If this happens, hold the baby firmly. This gives the baby great sense of security and comfort.