Posted by Vered on September 29 2010
When you have a baby, winter presents several special challenges. Babies can get very uncomfortable during the winter because of cold temperatures outside, warm temperatures inside, dry air and more. Here are a few tips for keeping baby comfortable in the winter.
Avoid Overheating
Many of us tend to overheat the house during the winter, especially when we have a baby, because we worry about the baby getting too cold. But overheating the house creates problems such as dry indoor air and could cause your baby to become overheated. For the first two weeks, the room temperature should be around 70-75 degrees. If you are comfortable in a short sleeve shirt, it is about right for your baby.
Keep Him Covered
On cold nights, check on your baby occasionally to see that he's covered enough to be warm and comfortable. Babies often kick off their blankets, then get too cold.
Dress Her in Layers
During the winter, it’s often cold outside but very warm inside, including stores and shopping malls. It’s best to dress your baby in layers that you can put on or take off as needed.
Use Cotton
Dress your baby in cotton clothes and use cotton baby bedding. Cotton will allow your baby to stay cool and comfortable much better than non-breathable synthetic fabrics.
Use a humidifier in Baby’s Room
A humidifier will help add much needed moisture to the air in his room. Remember to clean the humidifier daily and sanitize weekly.
Keep Him Hydrated
This is obvious in the summer, but in the winter too, it’s important to make sure your baby gets enough fluids and stays hydrated.
Air Out the House Whenever Possible
Indoor air pollution can be a major issue, especially if the house is seldom aired out. When weather permits, air out the house, even just for a little while.
Go Outside Often
Going outside is good for your baby and for you. Research shows that 10 daily minutes of unfiltered sun exposure is very important. Try to get out of the house daily, or as often as weather permits.
Posted by Vered on September 21 2010
Bedtimes are often tough, especially with babies and toddlers. Many toddlers try to prolong bedtime for as long as possible, and many babies protest when you leave them – often at the top of their lungs! But patience and persistence can result in peaceful, pleasant bedtimes. Here are a few tips to help you get there.
1. Keep it Quiet and Dark. An hour before bedtime, try to keep the room quiet and dark. This will signal to your baby that it’s time to relax and slow down.
2. Turn on a night-light. The room shouldn’t be completely dark. It’s a good idea to leave a night light on in your child’s bedroom.
3. Take your time. A rushed bedtime routine will not work. A successful, relaxing bedtime routine should take at least an hour.
4. Include a warm bath in your bedtime routine. A warm bath relaxes the muscles and will help your child fall asleep.
5. Reading a story before bed is a great way to bond with your child and to introduce her to the joy of reading.
6. Make sure your child goes to sleep at the same time every night. This will help regulate his sleep patterns and will make it easier for him to fall asleep. This works for adults too, by the way!
7. Room temperature in the nursery should be fairly cool – no more than 70 degrees Fahrenheit. To make sure your baby is comfortable, it is also helpful to use cotton baby bedding.
8. Leave your child's room while they're still awake so they can learn to settle themselves. If she starts to cry, go back to her and comfort her, ideally without taking her out of bed. However, do not let her become hysterical! If she cries hard, it’s OK to take her out of bed and comfort her, but always put her back and insist that it’s time to go to sleep. Go back as many times as you need (you might have a sleepless night or two). Avoid harsh “cry it out” techniques. Be firm but gentle and always be there for your baby.
9. Don’t expect too much too early. You can start a bedtime routine at a very early age, but leaving your baby to cry, even just for a minute, before she’s six months old is not a good idea in our opinion.
10. If you co-sleep, you’ll avoid some of the issues of babies who sleep in a crib, but you still want to find a way to signal to your baby that it’s time to go to sleep – many co-sleeping babies try to play with their parents instead of going to sleep.
Posted by Vered on September 16 2010
As hard as you may try to keep your baby healthy this winter, chances are your baby WILL get the common cold at least once (and likely more than once). Here are a few tips for dealing with a sick baby. Remember that in most cases, the common cold resolves within about a week and that as inconvenient as having a sick baby is, being sick does build your baby’s immune system.
Give Her Plenty of Fluids
This is especially important if your baby runs a fever or has diarrhea. Breastfeed as often as your baby will nurse. If bottle-feeding, add water too.
Use a Humidifier
The moist air from a humidifier will thin your baby's mucus secretions, helping to calm his cough and relieve congestion. Using a humidifier is especially important during the night and when your baby naps. Otherwise, he may have trouble sleeping. To avoid bacteria buildup, clean the humidifier daily and disinfect it weekly.
Use a Bulb Syringe
Oh, how I hated using that bulb syringe on my sick babies! But the reality is that they can’t yet blow their noses and need your help. As much as they suffer and protest while you do it, removing mucus with the bulb syringe, especially before naps and at night, provides important relief and helps them breathe more easily. It also helps them eat better.
Make Sure He Gets Plenty of Rest
A sick baby may need to rest more often than a healthy baby, since her sleep is disrupted. Try to lie down with her and snuggle – sick babies need comfort and you are probably exhausted too!
Know When to Call the Doctor
Most cases of the common cold resolve on their own within about a week. But look out for signs of a more serious illness. Call the doctor if your baby is pulling on his ear, is wheezing or has trouble breathing, or if he has diarrhea or vomiting. You should also call the doctor if your baby is younger than 3 months and has a temperature of 100.4 degrees F or higher. Most importantly, listen to your instincts, and don’t ever hesitate to call the doctor if you feel worried. If in doubt, it’s always a good idea to call the doctor and speak to the advice nurse.
Posted by Vered on September 13 2010
Although some illnesses such as the common cold are pretty much inevitable, especially during winter season, there are some steps you can take to protect your baby from being exposed to riskier illnesses.
Whooping Cough
Unfortunately, we’re in the midst of a whooping cough epidemic. While this illness is usually mild for older kid and for healthy adults, babies under six months can get serious complications if they contract the disease. Make sure your baby gets vaccinated according to the recommended schedule, and make sure everyone around her, including babysitters and older siblings, is vaccinated too.
Common Cold
The best way to protect your baby against the common cold is to make sure both he and the people around him wash their hands often. It’s a good idea to avoid playing with a child who has obvious cold symptoms and to keep sick family members away from him. Other than that, for a healthy baby, the common cold is rarely an issue and should resolve after a week or so.
Flu
If your baby is at least six months old, get her vaccinated. Other family members should get the flu shot too. Keep her away from sick people, including family members. Ideally, from November until April it’s best to stay away from large crowds and to avoid allowing a large number of people to touch and hold your baby. Easier said than done during the holiday season, but it’s a good idea to keep in mind that you want to limit your baby’s exposure during the flu season.
General Advice
Boost your baby’s immune system naturally by breastfeeding if you can, and by offering a wide variety of solid foods once he’s ready for them. A daily baby multi vitamin is also a good idea. Check out our next blog post for advice on how to deal with a sick baby, and remember that most winter illnesses pass after about a week and that being sick does build your baby’s immune system.