Taking Care of Your Toddlers Teeth

Once your child starts getting teeth, it is important to start taking good care of them! Even though they may only have a few, you still want to make sure they are healthy. Tooth decay in babies and toddlers is harmful because this can cause their teeth to fall out early. If this happens, their other teeth can move in and not allow the adult tooth in that place to grow in. It can also cause infections and cause your baby to become seriously ill. Here are a few tips on tooth care for toddlers (ages 1-3).

1) The American Academy of Pediatrics suggest that you get an infant toothbrush and clean your babies gums after every feeding with water and the brush. Brush your baby's gums gently with the soft bristle toothbrush or a wet wash cloth. They suggest this from birth until they get their first teeth.

2) Once your child gets a few teeth, get infant toothpaste and an infant toothbrush (you can use this until they are 2). This often fits on your finger and has bristles on the end. You need to only use about a pea size of toothpaste on the brush. Brush their teeth and gums for 15-20 seconds twice a day.Do it in the morning and after dinner. Ask your doctor if your baby is getting enough fluoride as well. They may have you change toothpaste if your baby is not.

3) Make sure you brush your child's teeth on the inside and outside. Also, brush their gums on the inside and outside as well. This helps gets rid of bacteria. Try to brush their tongue if you can as well. You do not need to go far back on their tongue, but just brush back and forth a few times.

4) Limit the amount of juice your child drinks. If they do drink juice, dilute it with water so they are not getting as much. Try to limit it to one total cup of juice per day.

5) Once your child can spit, teach them to swish some water and spit it out after brushing.

6) Once your child is old enough, start teaching them how to brush their own teeth. A good way to teach them is to brush your teeth at the same time.

7) The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you take your child to see a dentist between 12 and 24 months old. We took Brody at 18 months. He hated it, but our dentist was great and it was quick! If you are in the Northwest Arkansas area, Dr. Caple is a great pediatric dentist.

8) If your child has bad sucking habits, talk to your pediatrician or dentist about this to see if it is effecting their teeth.

9) Once your child hits 2, get them a children's toothbrush and start having them practice brushing their teeth on their own. After they are done, you should probably brush them as well to make sure they are clean. Brush twice daily.

10) Start having your 2 year old use fluroide toothpaste. However, make sure you teach them not to swallow it. Swallowing too much fluroide toothpaste can cause white or brown spots on their adult teeth.

11) Start flossing your child's teeth. You can actually start doing this as soon as two teeth are touching in their mouth, but most dentist don't recommend it until at least age 2. Talk to your dentist about when to start doing this.

12) Have a yearly dental check-up done for your child.

Keep those teeth healthy and clean!

Thanks for reading and until next time,

Milestones: Month 2

Your baby will be growing and developing so much the next few months! Their brain is working overtime with all the new things they are learning. They are also getting much stronger. Here are the general milestones for month 2 in a baby's life.

1) Your baby's limbs should still be stretching and loosening up. They still won't be fully stretched out yet.

2) Your baby should be able to lift their head to a 45 degree angle by now. Last month, they were just starting to lift their head, so they should be getting stronger. However, their head will still be a bit wobbly while sitting up.

3) Your baby should "twitch" less. During the first two months of life, your baby has very jerky movements that may look like a twitch. This is normal. About month 2, they should be doing this less and be less jerky.

4) Your baby should start "batting" at objects in front of them, along with the swiping motion from last month. They should still be able to hold an object in their hand for a brief amount of time if you place it there.

5) Your baby's sucking reflex will still stay pretty strong this month. You may notice this by them sucking a lot of their hands, pacifier, objects, etc. This is normal and good.

6) Your baby is still not quite ready to sleep all the way through the night yet. However, you can do long stretches of 6-7 hours. Make sure you put them on their back, swaddled, with nothing in the crib. This will help prevent SIDS.

7) Your baby can now see up to 18 inches away. You still need to be close but not quite as close. They should be able to see you pretty well while feeding! Remember to practice moving objects in front of their eyes and having them follow it. This helps with sight and coordination.

8) Your baby's hearing is improving this month. Talk to them, play music, read to them, engage their ears. This will help improve their hearing as well.

9) Your baby will still improve on cooing, smiling, and noises. Remember, their way of communicating now most often is crying. Just make sure you talk to them and engage in them. It will help soothe them. It will also encourage them and help them to start forming their own sounds similar to yours.

Remember, these are general milestones and not all babies will reach these milestones at the exact same time. If you are concerned about your baby and a milestone, consult your pediatrician and they can assess your baby to see if it is an issue or not.

Thanks for reading and until next time,

Milestones: Month 1

Happy 1 month to your baby and happy 1 month of being a mommy! Hasn't this month flown by?? Your baby will be doing a lot more than just eating, pooping, and sleeping this month! Here are the major milestones for your 1 month old baby.

1) Mobiles and high contrast patterns should start to catch your baby's attention more. You can help with this milestone by having a mobile or a play gym/mat like this for them to play on. They can look at hanging toys, kick toys,swipe at toys, etc. They helps them listen and watch things. They won't begin grabbing yet, but you can pass things in front of their eyes to help them develop following objects.

2) Your baby will start to discover their extremities. They should discover their hands and feet. You can help with this milestone by playing with their hands and feet and showing them to your baby. However, make sure you keep these extremities warm when you are not playing because they can get cold easily.

3) Your baby should start to make "baby talk" or noises. They will likely coo, maybe laugh, grunt, gurgle, etc. When they do make these noises, make them back at them and "baby talk".

4)  Your baby should raise their head and chest when lying on their stomach (about week 5). You can help them accomplish this milestone by doing tummy time with them. Tummy time can be just a few minutes at a time.

5) Your baby should start sleeping for lengthier times now. About 5/6 weeks of age, you can let them sleep for 4-6 hour stretches. AMEN!! Get some sleep sister!

6) Your baby should be staying awake a little longer during the day now. During this time, play with them and that includes music. Play lullabies, play your music, sing to them, whatever you like. They will likely practice moving their arms and legs during this and practice "baby talk". If they seem agitated at all, take a break from music. They do not need it all of the time.

7) Your baby should start showing you more facial expressions! They will likely move their eyebrows, smile, purse their lips, etc. They should also start smiling at the sound of your voice. Talk about melt your heart!

8) Your baby should have their hands almost all the way open by now. Your baby cannot quite reach out for object just yet. However, they may bat at objects. They should also be able to hold an object if you place it in their hands.

9) If your baby is just quite and alert, its okay. They are learning and exploring a new world! Their brain will grow about 5 centimeters in the first 3 months of life. Use these opportunities to talk to your baby and let them explore new things. Use other opportunities like bath time, tummy time, etc. to let them look around and take it all in.

10) By about week 7, your baby should be able to track things with their eyes. Pass objects in front of your baby's eyes, and they should be able to track it somewhat. However, it won't be smooth yet.


Remember, every baby is different. They may be ahead of a milestone or a little behind and that is okay. These are general milestones put out there. If you are concerned, consult your pediatrician and they can assess your baby to see if it is an issue or not.

Thanks for reading and until next time!

Milestones: Newborn

As a new mommy, I was always checking on Brody and whether or not he was meeting the "milestones". There are specific and general milestones that doctors look for in babies and children, but remember if your child doesn't meet them exactly at the time it says to, it is okay. Just watch for the major milestones and make sure your child hits those. Also, if your child is not meeting a milestone and is behind by months, just run it by your doctor. With all that said, here are the milestones for your newborn baby!

1) Uncurl: After about 10 days your baby should start to "uncurl". Meaning their legs and arms will start to stretch out and not stay in the fetal position as much. However, they won't uncurl all the way for a while. **Note: Being a photographer as well, if you want newborn pictures, it is best to do within the first 10 days while they still tend to curl up. It makes for great pictures!

2) Sight: Your baby should start looking around more. Remember, babies are born nearsighted and can only see about 8-15 inches away from their face. They like looking at your eyebrows, hairline, and moving mouth. Your baby will start getting more interested in eye-to-eye contact. They like to see your face over patterns. However, if you show them patterns, they like black and white ones.

3) Sounds: Your baby's hearing should be developed. They should start turning their eyes or head towards your voice or noises.

4) Head: Your baby should be able to lift their head briefly and turn it to the side when they are on their stomach. Remember though, when upright they need support.

5) Movement: Your baby should be able to lift their hand to their mouth. Their moves will be jerky and that is normal. That will resolve itself.

What can you do to help development?
1) The number one thing is to spoil that baby! You heard me right. Cuddle and love on your baby! You need to learn each other! At this age, you cannot hold your baby "too much".  You also need to learn your babies signals of hungry, tired, wet, etc.

2) Talk and sing to your baby. This will help them know your voice and give brain stimulation.

3) Tummy Time. You can start this when your baby is about 2 weeks old. You do not need to do tons of time for this, but 5 minutes a couple times a day is good for the baby. Also encourage your baby to reach for things while on their tummy.

4) Take your baby outside and give them sunshine. You both need to get outside. This will get you out of the house and some exercise and will be good for your baby. They need fresh air too!

5) Make close eye contact with your baby when you talk, sing, laugh, play, and read with your baby. Play simple games like peek-a-boo with your baby.

6) Read to your baby. Yes, they can't understand. However, studies show that reading from a young age helps development.

RED FLAGS:
1) Your baby feeds slowly or doesn't suck well.
2) Your baby does not focus their eyes or watch things move that are nearby.
3) Your baby does not respond to loud sounds.
4) Your baby does not react to bright lights.
5) Your baby is very stiff or very floppy.
6) Your baby is not eating well.

If you notice any of these, bring it to the attention of your doctor. It may be nothing, but let them examine your baby to determine that.

Good luck with your newborn!

Thanks for reading and until next time!

A Few Tips for More Sleep

     One thing you learn very quickly when you become a mommy is that sleep is not something you get very much of! If you get 2+ hours in a row you are excited! I remember after about a week of severe sleep deprivation I was wondering when Brody would sleep longer. Here are some important facts and tips to help your baby stretch sleeping.

1) Swaddle your baby. Your baby will sleep more soundly if they feel like they did when they were in your womb not long ago. This also keeps them from flailing their arms and waking themselves up. Plus swaddling a baby helps prevent SIDS. Just make sure the swaddle you use is thin in material so your baby does not overheat.

2) Let them sleep. There are many opinions on how long to let your baby sleep before waking them up. For a full-term baby, you can let them sleep up to 4 hours (starting week 2) before waking them up to eat. A four hour stretch for you and your baby is healthy and good! It will also help your baby be hungrier and hopefully eat better and quicker. And let's face it, that really only means 2 to 2 1/2 for you after you get the baby back to sleep and then you fall asleep yourself!

3) Make sure your baby gets very full after each feeding. Babies, especially newborns, are very likely to fall asleep while eating. They are likely to fall asleep before they are actually full. Try to keep them awake until they have had a full feeding (at least 20 minutes on each side for newborns). Use wet wash cloths on their face or undress them to keep them awake. Otherwise they will snack and be awake again shortly after you finish.

4) Ask your doctor when you can start stretching it out. You can usually start at about month one (if your baby is healthy and growing like they should), but sometimes it is closer to month 2. When you are cleared to do this, let the baby sleep until they wake up to eat. Do 1-3 before bed and after the feeding to try and ensure they sleep.

Hope this helps you and your baby get some sleep!!

Thanks for reading and until next time!

Taking Care of Yourself After Having A Baby

Although it is important to put a lot of time and effort into taking great care of your newborn, it is essential you do the same for yourself. You need to be healthy in order to take good care of your baby. Here are some good ways to help you achieve this!

1. Get all your supplies that you will need after having a baby BEFORE you have the baby. Having them ready to go helps reduce stress. You will need the following items:

• Large Maxi pads (For your really long period after the baby is born!)
• Comfortable underwear
• Comfortable clothes 
• Disposable Nursing Pads (You only need these if you are breastfeeding. To see the kind I used, check out this post. They are under "Feeding Items".) 
  

  

  
  
• Multiple Nursing Bras (I would also get "sleeping" nursing bras. It helps from "spilling" everywhere!) 
• Nipple Cream (Your nipples will feel like they are going to fall off! To see the kind I used, check out this post. It is under "Feeding Items".)
  

  

  
  
• Gatorade and lots of it! 
• Toiletry items (shampoo, razors, soap, toothpaste, etc.)

If you had a C-Section:

• Gauze or sanitary pad (Helps keep out germs and moisture)
• Ice pack (Helps reduce swelling)
• Scar treatment like Mederma or Aloe Vera

2. Get lots of rest. When the baby sleeps, you sleep! It is okay if all the laundry isn't done or if the house is a little messy. You just took your body through one of the most traumatic things that could happen to it. It needs rest to recover. If you had a C-Section, you especially need to take it very easy for healing of your incision. Sleep is the best medicine!

3. Eat well. Get lots of nutrients! This is especially important if you are nursing. If you are nursing, your body will actually need more calories than when you were pregnant. Your baby is literally sucking all of the nutrients and calories out of your body. Lots of fruits, vegetables, and proteins are important!

4. See your doctor if you notice anything unusual. If you notice you start to bleed more than you were, if you start feeling a lot worse than you were, if you are feeling depressed, or concerned for any reason, at least call your doctor and let them know. They will likely want to see you.

5. Get outside of the house. I do not think you should take your newborn to really crowded areas and expose them to tons of germs. I do think you need to go on walks outside, make a quick run to the grocery store, sit on your back porch, etc. Sitting in your house all day, every day can quickly lead to post-partum depression. Have the baby's daddy watch him/her for an hour while you go get a pedicure. Just let yourself get out for a little bit each day.

6. Exercise. Right after you have a baby you need to exercise lightly. Short walks, a little while on the treadmill, etc. You do not need to do any strenuous exercise until the doctor clears you. However, light, short walks are great and make you feel great!

7. Drink plenty of fluids. This is very important for all mothers, but it is especially important for nursing mothers. Again, the baby will be taking much of your nutrients. You can become dehydrated very quickly. If you get dehydrated it will make you sick and can also decrease your milk flow.

8. Cherish the time with your baby. Enjoy them this small! They grow up super quick! Enjoy cuddling with them and watching them sleep. Document this time in life!

9. Don't feel stressed or pressure to show people your baby or get back to doing things. You need to show your baby off when you are comfortable. You also need to get back to doing things like church, hanging out with friends, etc. when you are ready. Not when everyone else says you should.

10. Let dad take some responsibility. As a new mommy, it is hard to not feel like you should do all the work for the new baby. I mean, you are the mommy right!? And that is what mommies do! Right?! Although it is not bad to want to do everything and not miss out, sometimes you need a breather. Let dad take some feedings if/when he can, change some diapers, take some night shifts, etc. Plus, he will enjoy that bonding time with his new son/daughter. You need rest and you cannot do it all. And that is okay!!

I hope this helps your transition from hospital to home and to motherhood (of 1, 2, 3 or however many) a little bit easier!

Thank you for reading and until next time!

Registry: My Top Picks

Going to do a registry for a baby is very overwhelming. I remember Aaron and I walking into Babies 'R' Us and saying, "Where do we even start?" We had no idea what we needed! We had never been parents before! We had a list from the store, but it was outrageously long. So, here are a few items we learned we couldn't live without and that are essential on the registry. We have used and really like Safety First products so you will see a lot of those on my list below. I will also list a few things that are very nice to have but not essential. Those will be listed with an asterisk by the number. I have also put many links in this post to the specific items we have/had just to give you a visual and to let you know what worked for us!

Bathing Items:
1. Wash Clothes
2. Infant Bathtub (one that transforms from infant to bigger baby). The First Year's bathtub is a great option.
3. Lotion and Bath Soap: My favorite soap is Baby Magic (Lavender) and my favorite lotion is Baby Magic (Original). However, most any baby soap and lotion will be fine. It depends on what you like as a smell and if you want all natural, etc.
4. Towels: We loved these hooded towels for Brody.
*5. Bath Rinser: We like the Safety First rinser. We obviously have blue, but this was the only color on Amazon.
*6. Bath Kneeler: Although I do not think this is essential, it is VERY nice to have. This is a good Bath Kneeler.


Feeding Items:
1. Bottles: Check out my blog post to see my thoughts on bottles here.
2. Bottle warmer
3. Breast Pump (if you plan on nursing): I suggest getting an electric, double breast pump. They are expensive but well worth it! I used the Medela pump and I loved it!
4. Extra Parts for Breast Pump: Here is a good look at a Medela Breast Pump Accessory Kit that would be beneficial.
4. Nursing Pads, Nursing Storage Containers, and Topical Breast Cream: I tried many brands. For all three of these, I like the Lansinoh brand the best. Here are the storage bags, the nursing pads, and the topical breast cream.
5. Storage Bottles and Quick Clean Bags: Depending on how you plan to store your milk will depend on what bottles you use. I used separate storage bags, so I used these storage bottles. If you are using drop-ins, I hear Medela makes great drop-in bottles for storage. I also loved these Quick Clean bags for quick cleaning of bottles (and whatever other plastic items you need cleaned.)
4. Burp Cloths
5. Boppy or Nursing Pillow. I used the original Boppy. I have seen the new Boppy and it looks pretty cool and seems like it would work great! I have also heard that the Brest Friend pillow is wonderful. I might try it out next time!  A boppy is great even if you are not nursing. It helps you hold the baby much easier and works great when just feeding them bottles. Brody also liked to lay it in it and use it as a "pillow".
6. Formula and portable formula holder if you are doing formula for your baby.
7. Bibs
*8. Bottle Racks, Bottle Brush, Dishwasher Basket
*9. Sippy Cups and Transition Cups: This is a great transition cup we used. It was the only cup Brody would use coming off the bottle.


Health and Hygiene:
1. Thermometer: I highly suggest a digital one and one that reads within a few seconds. I also highly suggest one that reads rectally. In this post, I talk about temperatures and thermometers and my take on which you should get. We use this thermometer and we love it!
2. Baby Nail Clippers: We use Safety First nail clippers.
3. Baby Brush: This is a great and cheap option for a brush.
4. Pacifiers: There were only two pacifiers that Brody would use. He used Soothie pacifiers and Gumdrop pacifiers. He loved them and they worked like a charm for us! He also loved his Longhorn Wubbanub. He loved being able to hold the animal and it uses a Soothie pacifier, which is the one he really liked. This is actually the only pacifier he uses now. He only uses it at night. It is nice because he can find it on his own. Obviously, if you don't want your child to use a pacifier, you won't need to register for these.
5. Diapers: I always say to register from some in different brands and different sizes. They are expensive and it is nice to have some to start off. Often people don't know what kind you want so won't buy them. If you let them know on the registry, it is a easy and simple gift and people love giving them. Here is my post on which diapers I recommend.
6. You can also register for wipes if you choose. However, they are cheap and something easily maintainable to buy. I do not recommend a wipe warmer. It is not necessary and is hard to break your baby of warm wipes.
7. Humidifier: This is actually the humidifier we still use with Brody. These are important and help keep congestion minimal.
8. Diaper Rash Cream: Here is my post on  Diaper Rash Remedies which includes my recommendations on diaper rash creams.
9. Purell Hand Sanitizer: This is a MUST!
10. Teether: The Sophie Giraffe is genius!  Brody loved it and I only hear great things about it!
*10. Baby Orajel, Baby Tylenol, Homeopathic Teething Tablets, Baby Mylicon, Gripe Water, etc. For these items, Little Tummys, Little Fevers, Little Noses, etc. You cannot use these immediately, but it is nice to have on hand when you are ready to use them.


Traveling:
1. Car Seat: A must!! You cannot leave the hospital with your baby without one of these. We got the Safety First AeroLite Premire Travel System and we loved it! It is more sturdy than Graco in our opinion. Push them around the store to see what you think!
2. Car Seat Cover: You only really need this if you live in a cold place. We lived in Houston, TX when Brody was very small so it was not really necessary for us. This is what a car seat cover looks like if you need one of these.
2. If you use more than 1 car, make sure you get an extra base for your car seat!
3. Infant Carrier: We loved ours! We didn't like slings but carriers. We used the Chicco Infant Carrier.
4. Diaper Bag: We had a "normal" diaper bag that folded over on top and had side pockets, similar to this one. However, I did not love this bag. It was a bit difficult to use. I am going to get something more like this one the next time. It seems much easier to use.
6. Portable Changing Pad: (if your diaper bag doesn't come with one). One like this changing pad would be great!
7. Mommy hook: I loved mine and made things much easier! Here is the Mommy Hook.
*8. Shopping Cart/High Chair Cover: They look like this and we loved ours! We used it almost Brody's whole first year of life. It has an asterisk because it is not essential, but we loved ours and I would recommend it to anyone!
*9. Car Seat Mirror: We didn't have one with Brody, but we will probably have one with the next baby. I wish I would have had one. Here is a good mirror from what I hear.


Sleeping:
1. Crib: This is essential for a baby. They need a crib to sleep in for safety. Choose this based on your style and budget. All other furniture is nice but not necessary. If the crib doesn't come with a changing pad, I suggest you get one. We like these changing pad covers.
2. Sheets and Matress cover for the crib: I suggest you have at least 2 sheets. The more the better.
3. Video Monitor: I suggest video because you can watch your baby at night or naps and it makes determining on whether you need to go in or not much easier. We use the Summer Infant Video Monitor. We really like it and it works great. We had no problems the past 18 months we have been using it.
4. Sound and Light Soother: We used MyBaby Soother every night and it helped a lot!
5. Blankets: They won't be using them to sleep with now, but they are good for you to use when going in public or holding them at home. We loved our plush blanket from Babies 'R' Us to use with Brody for cuddling when he was small. Brody uses it now to sleep with.
6. Swaddlers: These are a must have in my opinion! Doctors also say that swaddling a baby helps prevent SIDS. We used Swaddle Me brand and really liked it! I suggest you have at least 3. I have also heard great things about Miracle Blankets, Aden and Anais blankets, and the Woombie.
7. Hats, Mittens, and Socks: These are important to use mainly in the first few months of life.
*8. Mobile: We never did a mobile for Brody's crib and he did fine. I do not think it is essential.
*9. Bumper: I will write a whole post on just bumpers soon. In my opinion, you do not need one.


Playing/Day Activities:
1. Play Mat/Tummy Time Mat: We had the Baby Einstein Baby Neptune Play Mat and Brody loved it. However, any play mat will do the trick.
2. Tummy Time Pillow: We personally did not have one of these. I did not discover them until Brody was too old for them. We had a friend that had one and loved it and it seemed to work great for their baby. We are going to give it a try next time! Here is what a Boppy Tummy Time pillow looks like.
3. A few developmental toys: They won't need these for a while. Some you can register for would be things like hanging toys for the car seat or stroller, rattles, or balls. Check back soon for a post on the most popular and best toys for babies a little older.
4. Swing or Bouncer: We had this Cradle Swing and liked the actually swing. However, Brody was not a fan of swinging so we did not use it as much as we wanted to. Bouncers are also a good option to try. These are both helpful to try and soothe your baby.


House Items:
1. Diaper Genie: You don't necessarily have to get a Diaper Genie, but you will need some way to dispose of diapers! They have baby diaper disposable bags that you can use if you do not want to do the Diaper Genie. We have a Diaper Genie Elite and really like it. The refills are a little expensive, but it is worth it to us.
2. Separate Laundry Hamper: You want this to keep your baby's items separate from yours. They recommend using baby detergent on their clothes because of allergies.
3. Baby Detergent: We used Dreft but it started getting a little expensive. I decided to try Purex baby detergent. I actually liked the smell better and it was cheaper!! It is at Wal-Mart.
4. Glider: Some say it is not essential but I think it is. This is a great thing to have if it fits in your budget! We actually had one given to us. Our glider is a lot like this one. I like it a lot, however, this is my "dream" glider!! A girl can wish, right!?
*5. Storage containers/baskets: This is not essential but so helpful when storing all your baby's items. They have a lot of stuff! It is a great way to stay organized! I also love the Trend Lab Storage containers. You can have diapers, wipes, cream, etc. in this and keep it in the living room, your bedroom, kitchen, etc. and not have to make trips to the nursery to get these often used items.
*6. High Chair: Not essential now but it will be later. We really like our high chair and it is similar to this high chair.


Again, these are the essentials that we needed. I gave you a little peak into specific products that worked for us! Hopefully this helps you ease the anxiety a little bit on how much you truly need and what to register for!

Please email me for any specific post you want me to do or questions! My email on the right side of my page.

Thanks for reading and until next time!