Tag:baby problems, bilirubin, jaundice, yellowish skin

This problem is usually not present at birth. It starts around the second or third day of birth.

It may build up till the end of the first week.

Jaundice is a condition of the baby which makes the baby’s skin and white eyes turns yellowish. The yellowish colour on the body is caused by bilirubin which is accumulated in the blood because the baby’s liver is not matured enough to process this chemical fast enough.

Juandice condition not like other problems, maybe harmful to the baby and you should consult a doctor to monitor closely the severity of the jaundice. The measurement of bilirubin level can be determined through blood test. Jaundice can be treated in the hospital using phototherapy. Mild jaundice is not threatening and can be treated at home by placing the baby under the morning sun or by placing the baby near the window to allow the indirect sun to shine onto the baby a few hours a day.

Breastfed babies will tend to have worse jaundice cases and it takes longer for the bilirubin to subside.

Tag:heat rash, milk rash, nappy rash, rashes

Basically there are three kinds of rashes that could affect a baby.

1. Heat rash

This usually affect the baby when the baby is hot and sweaty. It appears as reddish spots around the neck, face or upper part of the body. The baby may feel uncomfortable and irritated. You do not have to worry about these rashes as they will go off without any treatment. Try to keep the affected area dry and clean. Do not put any powder as powder may become sticky when comes into contact with sweat and this may make the situation worse.

2. Nappy rash

This affect the bottom part of the baby and maybe painful to touch. The skin around buttock and groin may become red due to urine or faeces. Try to keep the skin dry and clean by changing the nappy or diaper the moment they are wet. Clean the diaper area with water and properly dry them especially after bowel movements.

3. Milk rash

Sometimes when milk spills out of baby’s mouth while feeding, it may cause redness around the chin, mouth and neck if left there for too long. Make sure you wash or wipe your baby’s mouth, chin and neck with damp cloth and dry properly after every feeding.

Tag:babies, cradle cap

Cradle cap is a yellowish, scaly or sometimes could be crusty condition affecting the scalp of a baby.

This condition are quite normal and there is nothing to be worried about. It will not cause any harm to the baby except that they are not good to look at. You can remove them by applying baby oil onto the affected area of the scalp. Leave it for about 10-15 minutes. Wash the hair and use your fingers and gently massage the scalp to remove the scales. The cradle cap should disappear after some time.

Tag:8 months old, active, babies, playful

My little boy turns 8 months old today. Can’t believe it. 8 months has passed since the day he was born. And not to mention, the 9 months of anxiety before he was born when we were told of the risk of a Down Syndrome baby. God is good and He blessed us with a perfectly normal and healthy baby.

It is a great joy to see how he has grown. He smiles a lot and very playful. He loves to go for a walk outside. Whenever I have the time, I would bring him for a walk either before I set off to my office or in the evening when I come back from work. He would be leaping for joy (of course he couldn’t leap yet but he would be kicking his legs and hands actively) whenever I carry him knowing that it is time to go for a walk. As if he knows how to read the time, when it is the usual time to go for a walk, he would be restless and whining. When carried, he would reach his hands for the door.

At this stage, he still prefers breastmilk to formula milk. Good thing that he is okay with milk bottle now (he rejected the bottle when mummy goes to work after maternity). We have been slowly exposing him to formula milk bit by bit because the breastmilk supply is getting low. Hoping that by the time the breast milk runs out, he would have not problem switching to formula milk.

With the little baby around, he dictates the time we sleep, the time we wake up and all our other activities are scheduled around his timing. Well he is the big boss after all
But we thank God for him, our bundle of joy.

Tag:baby problems, reflux, regurgitate

Regurgitation of feeds are common in babies. The babies may regurgitate after feeding or hiccups. There are several causes for this.

1. Overfeeding. When a baby feeds to much, he will tend to regurgitate.

2. Wrong dilution of formula milk.

3. Inappropriate size of the hole in the teat.

4. Wrong handling of the bottle while feeding and the baby sucks too much air.

To prevent this, ensure that you burp the baby after feeding.

As long as your baby is developing well and gaining weight and feeding well,  there is nothing for you to worry about.

But beware. If your baby regurgitates after every  feeding, or vomit or spitting to much much, difficulty in breathing or choking or wheezing, consult your doctor immediately.

Tag:baby problems, colic, colic pain, Colicky baby

Colic affects male babies on the whole, but female babies also do experience colic. The exact cause of colic is not known as yet.Many researchers believe that it may be due to the immaturity of the baby’s digestive system. Some believe that maternal anxiety while baby is still in the uterus may cause colicky baby. Colic problems usually begins at about 2 to 3 weeks old right up to 3 months old. And it happens usually towards the evening. A colicky baby tends to cry inconsolably. The baby may draw his legs towards the stomach or lay them straight to relieve the stomach cramps.

There is nothing much you can do to help. The baby will normally grow out of it, usually after 3 months. It can be very frustrating at times. You can try to massage the stomach. It may help a little bit. You can try to lie him down on his belly and putting a warm towel underneath his belly or a half-filled bottle of warm water can also do.

Colic is not a problem to be worried about. Do consult your doctor to rule out any other causes. If there is no other causes, then you may just have to bear with it for 3 months or so.

Tag:hiccups, newborn problems

Even healthy newborns can have a few problems during their first few weeks of life. The problems are mostly common to most babies and are not serious, so you don’t have to be duly worried about them. Hiccups are common among newborns. It can last from just a few seconds to up to a few minutes. Hiccups are often caused by sudden or irregular contractions of the diaphragm, and a sign that the muscles involved in breathing are getting stronger, and trying to work in harmony. If hiccups happen after feeding, try to burp your baby after each feeding.  Babies tend to swallow air as they feed.

Tag:Baby feeding, Baby food, feeding, solid food

For excellent health and development in your baby and young child, fully breastfeed for about 6 months. Thereafter, breastfeeding is continued with solid foods to 2 years and beyond. Solid foods given to the child more than 6 months of age, complement but do not replace breastfeeding. The purpose of giving solid foods is to supply additional energy and nutrients (fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals etc.) to the baby.

Solid foods feeding schedule:

Age 6 months

+ 1 week Cereals for breakfast

+2 weeks Cereals for breakfast and rice porridge for dinner

+ 3 weeks Cereals for breakfast and rice porridge for lunch and dinner

How to feed?

Always feed breastmilk before giving solid foods. At the first feed, place the spoon on his lower lip and allow your baby to suck and lick the food. Later, place the spoon in his mouth when your baby accepts the food.

Porridge can be pureed or blended till 7 mon ths of age. There is no need to blend after 7 months so your baby learns to chew food.

Active feeding.

Practice active feeding and that means talking, singing, playing or reading to your child while he is eating. It is not a good idea to let the child moves around while being fed.

What to add to the home cooked porridge?

Rice, various vegetables, tau foo (beancurd) and meat (chicken, fish, pork, beef). The amount of chopped meat added is roughly about the size and thickness of your child’s palm at each meal. A small amount of salt can be introduced only after 1 year old.

Fruits

Soft mashed up fruits are given as snacks after 7 months . Fruit juices are not advisable as these contain only water and fruit sugar but no fiber.

Tag:breastfeeding, breastmilk storage, expressed breastmilk, working mum

Breastfeeding is encouraged for the healthy development of the baby and should continue even when the mother goes back to work. To ensure enough supply of breast milk when the mother goes back to work, it is advisable to practice breast milk expression 2 weeks before returning to work. Breast milk can be stored in the fridge for 2 days on the refrigerator shelves. It can be kept for 3 months in the refrigerator freezer.

During the 2 weeks before going back to work, express the breastmilk in the morning at 10am and feed the baby using a bottle at 11am. This is to allow the baby to get use to feeding using bottle so that you won’t have the problem of baby refusing bottle when you are not around.

In the afternoon, express the breastmilk and store in the freezer. Use a clean and sterilized milk bottle for storing and closed the cap tightly. Alternatively, you can use the disposable milk storage bag. By doing this, you should have 14 bottles of breastmilk frozen by the time you start work.

When you go back to work, feed the baby in the morning before you go to work. When you are at work, stored milk is used for the baby. At work, you should continue to express at 10am, 1pm and 4pm. Keep the expressed milk in the cooler box filled with ice. Expressed breastmilk should not be left in the room temperature at the office. Expressed milk is to be used for feeding the next day.

When at home with the baby, breastfeed directly from the breasts. During the weekends and holidays, continue to feed from the breasts and also expressing to stock up the milk. You can use hand or breast pump to express the milk.

Method of expressing

1. Express 7 minutes on each breast.

2. Stimulate further let downs with massage, stroke and shake of both breasts for a few minutes.

3. Massage the breast with the flat of the fingers.

4. Stroke with the finger nails gently towards the nipple.

5. Shake or jiggle the breasts while bending forward.

6. Express for further 7 minutes on each breast.

7. Total duration of expressing is about 30 minutes.

8. Looking at your baby’s picture or listening to a recording of his cry while expressing also help in breast milk let down.

Tag:attention, baby care, babys cries, communicate

Crying is the only way the baby knows of to tell you that something is wrong. Babies may differ in how they cry but it is usually for the same reasons that is either they need something or they want attention. They are not able to communicate yet, so the only way to communicate is to cry.

When they cry it is usually because they are hungry, wet or dirty nappy, colic, uncomfortable position, too hot or too cold, lonely, bored, tired, want to sleep, frightened or feeling unwell.

You should try to understand why your baby cries as it is a very important step to meet your baby’s need and to comfort him.