Pacifiers
Pacifiers are very handy in pacifying a crying baby. A pacifier stops a baby from crying by giving her a feeling of comfort. Pacifiers can be used as a preventive measure for thumb sucking. Read here to know everything about pacifiers.
Sometimes sticking a pacifier into a baby's mouth has the same effect as waving a magic wand that makes your wish come true. In this case, the baby stops crying. This miraculous object has a deceptively simple appearance. A pacifier is a nipple without a hole that is attached to a plastic disk. The disk prevents the baby from accidentally swallowing the nipple. It is not very clear how exactly a pacifier stops a mildly irritated baby from bawling. Either the act of sucking is a comfort in itself or the pacifier just keeps the baby's mouth occupied.
Sucking a pacifier vs. thumb-sucking
Parent share similar fears about thumb-sucking and the use of pacifiers to soothe babies. They are apprehensive that sucking the pacifier or a thumb may develop into a nasty little habit. According to Dr. Spock, pacifiers are the lesser of the two evils. He has observed that babies who use pacifiers without restriction in the first few months rarely become thumb-suckers, even if they give up the pacifier in 3 or 4 months. In addition, it has been observed that babies who develop a habit of sucking a pacifier voluntarily shun the pacifier after three or four months. The same object that they have been sucking blissfully for months is rejected. A three-month old baby will probably spit out a pacifier without any coaxing. At the latest, a child will give up the pacifier when she is one or two years old. On the other hand, babies who become thumb-suckers in the first three months continue to suck their thumbs until they are three, four, or even five years of age - sometimes even longer. Another disadvantage of thumb-sucking is that it has a tendency to push the baby's teeth out.
Parents who have starting trouble
All parents envision laughing, gurgling, babbling, smiling, even crying babies. However, a baby with a pacifier in her mouth spoils the picture. A pacifier somehow seems to put your baby on hold. The baby with a pacifier in her mouth somehow seems to lose her personality, like watching television with the mute button on. This is the reason that some parents express reluctance to calm their babies with pacifiers even when the doctors indicate that there is no harm. The problem occurs when these parents change their minds after a few weeks and offer the pacifier to the baby. It may be too late and she may not be willing to accept this object of comfort any longer.
Parents who can't seem to stop
Some parents, noting the effectiveness of a pacifier in calming a fretful or colicky baby, have a tendency to use pacifiers for their convenience rather than the baby's. Believe it or not, life does go on after the arrival of a baby. For parents rushing around trying to do a hundred things at the same time, it can be quite a nuisance to drop everything to comfort a whimpering baby. Sometimes it is so much easier to pop the pacifier into your baby's mouth and have her entertain herself. However, the problem begins when this becomes a habit with the parents even after the baby is ready to give up the pacifier by the time she is three or four months old. Continued use of the pacifier even after this point could result in the baby perceiving the pacifier as a source of comfort rather than something that assuages her need to suck. In these circumstances, the baby may not be willing to give up the habit till she is almost a year and a half old.
The pacifier as a preventive measure against thumb-sucking
Parents should try to pre-empt thumb-sucking by giving their baby a pacifier in the first few days or weeks of life. The idea is to get her used to the pacifier before she becomes accustomed to and enjoys the sensation of sucking her thumb.
No restrictions
Whenever parents notice the baby reaching out for something to suck, they should pop the pacifier in her mouth. Initially, babies are awake only before or after feeds. In all likelihood you will only need the pacifier at these times. However, do not hesitate to use the pacifier freely in the first three months of the baby's life. The aim is that the baby be given every opportunity to suck so that she gets it out of her system by the time she is three months old.
Phasing out the pacifier
Removing a pacifier is not as easy as popping it in the baby's mouth. Most babies protest vigorously. The best time to remove the pacifier is when the baby is feeling drowsy or has just fallen asleep. Babies who become accustomed to falling asleep with a pacifier can ruin their parents sleep. This is because when the pacifier falls out, the distressed baby begins to wail lustily and will persist till you replace the pacifier.
In normal circumstances, most babies decide on their own that the days of the pacifier are over. They usually indicate that they have outgrown the pacifier by spitting it out when it is offered to them. However, this does not mean that she is willing to give up the pacifier overnight. She may feel the need for it on days when she particularly needs comforting. You can resume your attempts to decrease the use of the pacifier when she seems willing again.
Pacifier care
Remember to wash the pacifier with soap when you first get it. You don't need to keep washing it unless it falls on the floor, because the only place it's been is the baby's mouth. Old nipples can crumble when babies chew on them. Remember to replace crumbling pacifiers.
22 September 2010
21 September 2010
Tips on Coping with Colic
Tips on Coping with Colic
A colicky baby cries incessantly for no reason. A colicky baby tests the patience of the parents as they find it difficult to handle him. Here we have given some tips on handling a colicky baby.
•If your baby has been crying incessantly for no apparent reason, check with the doctor to see whether he has colic.
•The endless sound of a crying baby (even if it's your own) would try the patience of a saint. Remember that it's not unusual to harbour negative feelings towards your baby like anger, even hatred, when nothing you do can make the crying stop. However, if you're worried that these feelings and crazy, even violent impulses may get the better of you, seek professional help immediately.
•Take a break. Don't try to handle things alone. Ask your spouse, neighbour, friend, or relatives for help or get hired help. Take some time out for yourself every day. Go for a walk, have lunch with a friend, or pamper yourself with a massage. You don't have to feel guilty because this will just help you get your strength back to continue the battle against colic.
•If you've done everything you can to make your baby comfortable and he continues to cry, put him down in his cot for about 15 minutes and do something else so that the both of you can take a break.
•Get earplugs.
•Exercise helps to work out frustration.
•Husbands must help. There is no way that they can be allowed to shirk their responsibilities in such a situation. The mother cannot be expected to cope alone.
•It helps to talk about it. So find a friendly shoulder and cry on it. It also helps to talk to other parents who have colicky babies so that you know you're not alone.
•If you have another child, remember not to neglect her. If she's old enough, try and make her understand that it's not her fault and that there's nothing seriously wrong with the baby. Make a little special time for her every day and make her feel that you love her
A colicky baby cries incessantly for no reason. A colicky baby tests the patience of the parents as they find it difficult to handle him. Here we have given some tips on handling a colicky baby.
•If your baby has been crying incessantly for no apparent reason, check with the doctor to see whether he has colic.
•The endless sound of a crying baby (even if it's your own) would try the patience of a saint. Remember that it's not unusual to harbour negative feelings towards your baby like anger, even hatred, when nothing you do can make the crying stop. However, if you're worried that these feelings and crazy, even violent impulses may get the better of you, seek professional help immediately.
•Take a break. Don't try to handle things alone. Ask your spouse, neighbour, friend, or relatives for help or get hired help. Take some time out for yourself every day. Go for a walk, have lunch with a friend, or pamper yourself with a massage. You don't have to feel guilty because this will just help you get your strength back to continue the battle against colic.
•If you've done everything you can to make your baby comfortable and he continues to cry, put him down in his cot for about 15 minutes and do something else so that the both of you can take a break.
•Get earplugs.
•Exercise helps to work out frustration.
•Husbands must help. There is no way that they can be allowed to shirk their responsibilities in such a situation. The mother cannot be expected to cope alone.
•It helps to talk about it. So find a friendly shoulder and cry on it. It also helps to talk to other parents who have colicky babies so that you know you're not alone.
•If you have another child, remember not to neglect her. If she's old enough, try and make her understand that it's not her fault and that there's nothing seriously wrong with the baby. Make a little special time for her every day and make her feel that you love her
Colicky Babies
Colicky Babies
Sometimes babies cry incessantly for hours without any reason. Parents get worried on seeing their bundle of joy, crying. This could be due to colic and this is not a disease. Colicky babies are healthy.
Every parent's worst nightmare
Suvarna Datta recounts her experience when her daughter Prerna had colic. I knew that babies cry, but I thought it was just something that happened in the middle of the night, or when they were hungry, wet or sleepy. I could deal with that. But one day my baby started crying and she went on for hours and nothing that I did helped. I nursed her, changed her diaper, sang to her, carried her, took her outside to the park but the terrible wailing wouldn't stop. I just felt like pulling all my hair out and screaming.
Parents who have survived babies with colic can probably still hear the banshee wails echoing faintly in their brains and are probably wiping their brows with relief that it's all over. Colic is a parent's worse nightmare. Parents can do little more than watch as their baby curls up into a tight ball, squeezes his eyes tightly shut, clenches his fists, and opens his mouth to scream till he is red in the face. And this can go on for hours without a break.
Colic normally raises its ugly head when the baby is two or three weeks old and it doesn't go away for a long time. The crying usually reaches a peak after six weeks, but by the twelfth week, the wailing would either have stopped miraculously or would be on the wane.
Why does it happen?
Colic is still a bit of a mystery to most doctors. They are pretty much in the dark about the causes of colic or how to differentiate between a child who cries a lot and one that has colic. Of course, that does not mean that there aren't a great many theories that have been put forward, most of which have been dismissed. Here are some of the more popular ones.
One theory attempts to link colic to the development of an allergy to something the baby ingested or something that the mother ate (if the baby is breastfed). Naturally, there is a school of thought that theorized that colic is hereditary, but there is no scientific evidence to back up this theory. Another hypothesis explains the crying related to colic as a result of the pain caused by the violent contraction of the digestive tract when the baby passes gas. The current favourite propagates the idea that colic may occur because the inhibitory responses of infant brain have not developed enough to inhibit the crying and so on and so forth. There is one thing that has been established though, and that is that parents who are smokers are more likely to have colicky babies. Nobody knows why, but it's a fact. If you're expecting a baby and you smoke, give up. It's not worth it, because if your baby gets colic, you'll really regret it.
Is there a cure?
Obviously, since the cause of colic is unknown, it would be too much to expect a cure. At any rate, parents needn't worry because colic is not a disease. Even though your baby may scream as if he were being murdered, colic does not leave any permanent emotional or physical scars. Colicky babies are healthy. They develop normally and as quickly as babies that don't have colic and display no behavioural problems in the future.
Sometimes babies cry incessantly for hours without any reason. Parents get worried on seeing their bundle of joy, crying. This could be due to colic and this is not a disease. Colicky babies are healthy.
Every parent's worst nightmare
Suvarna Datta recounts her experience when her daughter Prerna had colic. I knew that babies cry, but I thought it was just something that happened in the middle of the night, or when they were hungry, wet or sleepy. I could deal with that. But one day my baby started crying and she went on for hours and nothing that I did helped. I nursed her, changed her diaper, sang to her, carried her, took her outside to the park but the terrible wailing wouldn't stop. I just felt like pulling all my hair out and screaming.
Parents who have survived babies with colic can probably still hear the banshee wails echoing faintly in their brains and are probably wiping their brows with relief that it's all over. Colic is a parent's worse nightmare. Parents can do little more than watch as their baby curls up into a tight ball, squeezes his eyes tightly shut, clenches his fists, and opens his mouth to scream till he is red in the face. And this can go on for hours without a break.
Colic normally raises its ugly head when the baby is two or three weeks old and it doesn't go away for a long time. The crying usually reaches a peak after six weeks, but by the twelfth week, the wailing would either have stopped miraculously or would be on the wane.
Why does it happen?
Colic is still a bit of a mystery to most doctors. They are pretty much in the dark about the causes of colic or how to differentiate between a child who cries a lot and one that has colic. Of course, that does not mean that there aren't a great many theories that have been put forward, most of which have been dismissed. Here are some of the more popular ones.
One theory attempts to link colic to the development of an allergy to something the baby ingested or something that the mother ate (if the baby is breastfed). Naturally, there is a school of thought that theorized that colic is hereditary, but there is no scientific evidence to back up this theory. Another hypothesis explains the crying related to colic as a result of the pain caused by the violent contraction of the digestive tract when the baby passes gas. The current favourite propagates the idea that colic may occur because the inhibitory responses of infant brain have not developed enough to inhibit the crying and so on and so forth. There is one thing that has been established though, and that is that parents who are smokers are more likely to have colicky babies. Nobody knows why, but it's a fact. If you're expecting a baby and you smoke, give up. It's not worth it, because if your baby gets colic, you'll really regret it.
Is there a cure?
Obviously, since the cause of colic is unknown, it would be too much to expect a cure. At any rate, parents needn't worry because colic is not a disease. Even though your baby may scream as if he were being murdered, colic does not leave any permanent emotional or physical scars. Colicky babies are healthy. They develop normally and as quickly as babies that don't have colic and display no behavioural problems in the future.
New Mom Issues
New Mom Issues
A woman's world becomes topsy turvy on the arrival of a baby. Everything changes for her. A new mother has no time for herself, she feels depressed. Her life revolves around her baby. It takes a lot of time and patience to get used to a fixed routine.
Looking at the world through rose-coloured glasses
The word 'mother' conjures up visions of beatific Madonnas smiling down at the infant in their arms; of warm hugs and comfortable laps; of someone who is always there to wipe away your tears and be your safety net; of someone who always gives, expecting nothing in return. But this is what people see from the outside and what they expect every mother to be like. Consequently, when a woman becomes a mother, she automatically assumes that she will live up to these high standards because the 'maternal instinct' is supposed to be inborn. In reality, motherhood is a rocky road, littered with a hundred obstacles and this always comes as a rude shock to a new mother.
Another pretty picture is of a man carrying his baby, giving her the bottle, playing with her, changing her diapers, etc. This would be the dream dad, but such men are still in the minority (even though there is a rumour that men are becoming more sensitive). It may take men some time to feel comfortable around the baby or they may have no time to help because they're working. Mothers should try to include them in baby activities as far as possible, but not expect too much.
A 24-hour job
It is not unusual for new mothers not to feel the expected rush of maternal love on being confronted with the crumpled, red creature that is their long-awaited baby. They are probably too busy recovering from the ordeal of labour or the effects of the anaesthetic if they've had a caesarean. In that condition, it must be difficult to feel anything at all.
It's smooth sailing at the hospital with the nursing staff at your beck and call and friends and relatives pouring in to coo over the baby. But reality bites once the new mother goes home. Suddenly, she's the one who has to nurse, feed, change, and soothe the baby and this is besides having to get on with the rest of her life. The fact is that without help, looking after a baby can be a truly daunting task. Life will become an endless round of chores at a time when a woman's energy is at an all-time low.
I want my life back
A new mother will have to get used to arranging her life according to the baby's convenience. Babies do not care that you've just fallen or that you're in the middle of dinner or that your hair's a mess because you haven't had the time to go for a haircut. It can be more than a little irritating and quite difficult to get used to.
A new mother's hormones are in a state of flux. This, coupled with the fact that she's not feeling a 100% fit and is trying to adjust to her new round-the-clock job as a mother, can often lead to feelings of depression. It is quite normal to find new mothers becoming teary or irritable for no apparent reason. It's not a sin for them to long for their carefree pre-baby existence and to resent being tied down.
Women often think that they will recover their hourglass figures within a few weeks, once a seven or eight pound baby stops occupying their body space. But this could take up to a year plus a strict regimen of exercise. In the meantime, new mothers are stuck with protruding bellies, no time for grooming, their old jeans still lying abandoned in a corner of the cupboard. In short, feeling frumpy and grumpy.
Mothering comes naturally
New mothers tend to worry about the fact that they fumble when changing a diaper or don't know what to do when their baby gets fever for the first time. This does not mean that they are lacking in the maternal department. Bringing up a baby is pretty much a trial-and-error process and all those people showering advice and criticizing your mothering technique, are people who have probably been as inept in their early days of . There is no correct way of doing things. Every baby and every mother is different and you have to find what works best for you.
It is the greatest folly to think that life will be the same after the . How can it? There is a whole new person in your life. Yesterday you were yourself and a wife. Today, you're a mother in addition to the other two. Your relationship with your spouse and the way you look at the world is bound to change. And this is not something you slide into smoothly. As in all kinds of change, there will be a lot of push and pull, ups and downs. But you can handle it better if you know what to expect.
If the preceding paragraphs have led you to believe that the arrival of a baby coincides with doomsday, that was not the intention. Remember forewarned is forearmed. While motherhood is an experience that should not be missed, it is definitely not a bed of roses.
A woman's world becomes topsy turvy on the arrival of a baby. Everything changes for her. A new mother has no time for herself, she feels depressed. Her life revolves around her baby. It takes a lot of time and patience to get used to a fixed routine.
Looking at the world through rose-coloured glasses
The word 'mother' conjures up visions of beatific Madonnas smiling down at the infant in their arms; of warm hugs and comfortable laps; of someone who is always there to wipe away your tears and be your safety net; of someone who always gives, expecting nothing in return. But this is what people see from the outside and what they expect every mother to be like. Consequently, when a woman becomes a mother, she automatically assumes that she will live up to these high standards because the 'maternal instinct' is supposed to be inborn. In reality, motherhood is a rocky road, littered with a hundred obstacles and this always comes as a rude shock to a new mother.
Another pretty picture is of a man carrying his baby, giving her the bottle, playing with her, changing her diapers, etc. This would be the dream dad, but such men are still in the minority (even though there is a rumour that men are becoming more sensitive). It may take men some time to feel comfortable around the baby or they may have no time to help because they're working. Mothers should try to include them in baby activities as far as possible, but not expect too much.
A 24-hour job
It is not unusual for new mothers not to feel the expected rush of maternal love on being confronted with the crumpled, red creature that is their long-awaited baby. They are probably too busy recovering from the ordeal of labour or the effects of the anaesthetic if they've had a caesarean. In that condition, it must be difficult to feel anything at all.
It's smooth sailing at the hospital with the nursing staff at your beck and call and friends and relatives pouring in to coo over the baby. But reality bites once the new mother goes home. Suddenly, she's the one who has to nurse, feed, change, and soothe the baby and this is besides having to get on with the rest of her life. The fact is that without help, looking after a baby can be a truly daunting task. Life will become an endless round of chores at a time when a woman's energy is at an all-time low.
I want my life back
A new mother will have to get used to arranging her life according to the baby's convenience. Babies do not care that you've just fallen or that you're in the middle of dinner or that your hair's a mess because you haven't had the time to go for a haircut. It can be more than a little irritating and quite difficult to get used to.
A new mother's hormones are in a state of flux. This, coupled with the fact that she's not feeling a 100% fit and is trying to adjust to her new round-the-clock job as a mother, can often lead to feelings of depression. It is quite normal to find new mothers becoming teary or irritable for no apparent reason. It's not a sin for them to long for their carefree pre-baby existence and to resent being tied down.
Women often think that they will recover their hourglass figures within a few weeks, once a seven or eight pound baby stops occupying their body space. But this could take up to a year plus a strict regimen of exercise. In the meantime, new mothers are stuck with protruding bellies, no time for grooming, their old jeans still lying abandoned in a corner of the cupboard. In short, feeling frumpy and grumpy.
Mothering comes naturally
New mothers tend to worry about the fact that they fumble when changing a diaper or don't know what to do when their baby gets fever for the first time. This does not mean that they are lacking in the maternal department. Bringing up a baby is pretty much a trial-and-error process and all those people showering advice and criticizing your mothering technique, are people who have probably been as inept in their early days of . There is no correct way of doing things. Every baby and every mother is different and you have to find what works best for you.
It is the greatest folly to think that life will be the same after the . How can it? There is a whole new person in your life. Yesterday you were yourself and a wife. Today, you're a mother in addition to the other two. Your relationship with your spouse and the way you look at the world is bound to change. And this is not something you slide into smoothly. As in all kinds of change, there will be a lot of push and pull, ups and downs. But you can handle it better if you know what to expect.
If the preceding paragraphs have led you to believe that the arrival of a baby coincides with doomsday, that was not the intention. Remember forewarned is forearmed. While motherhood is an experience that should not be missed, it is definitely not a bed of roses.
Top 5 Concerns of a New Mom
Top 5 Concerns of a New Mom
Mothers are concerned about their newborns. They always think that their baby is not getting enough milk. New Moms are all the more concerned about their babies as they are experiencing all these things for the first time.
1. Is my baby getting enough breastmilk?
This is possibly one of the most often asked questions to our medical team. Most mothers are concerned whether they are producing enough breast milk, or whether their child is drinking enough milk. Pressure from family and friends add to the worries of a mother, who starts feeling that if her child doesn't feed as often as the neighbour's child, something's not quite right. Relax. Psychological stress can affect breastfeeding, so pay no heed to what those around you are saying. As long as your child is gaining adequate weight, you have no cause for concern.
2. My baby usually vomits after I breastfeed her. Why is this? Should I be worried?
Often babies vomit after breastfeeding, due to overfeeding, gas or colic. If the child is gaining weight adequately, even though she vomits once in a while, there should be no cause for concern. But if your baby is irritable when being breastfed, if she seems to be in pain, and if she is not gaining weight, it could indicate a reflux problem, and you should contact your child's doctor.
3. Should my baby sleep on her back or on her tummy?
Your baby should definitely be put to sleep on her back or on her side. Numerous studies have shown that children who sleep on their tummies are at a greater risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). SIDS occurs when an infant dies in his sleep for no apparent reason. Get your child a firm mattress that covers the entire floor of the crib, and which doesn't shift around, to minimize the chance of your child suffocating.
4. Why does my baby cry so much? She seems to be crying all the time! Does she have colic?
Realise that crying is one of the only ways your baby can express her feeling or her wants. If she is hungry, tired or sleepy, she will let you know this by crying. If she refuses to stop crying, try this:
•Lie down in a warm bath, and hold her in your arms. The warm water should relax her.
•Take her for a drive. Babies find the rhythmic movement of the car soothing. In addition, the change of being outdoors should distract her from crying.
•Sometimes, no matter how hard a parent tries to comfort their baby, she will just not stop crying. This worries parents, and leads them to suspect that their child may be suffering from colic. Colic is a stomachache, or more specifically, an intestinal pain, due to which a child cries non-stop. The pain generally begins in the evening, and carries on for a couple of hours. Colic begins when a child is around 2 weeks old, and could carry only until the child is around 3 months. At times, if you are not breastfeeding your child at this age and she develops colic, she may be allergic to a particular formula. She could also be suffering from some other condition like reflux. If your child cries inconsolably almost everyday, it makes sense to show her to her pediatrician.
5. When will my baby sleep through the night?
The older your baby grows, the less often he will wake up at night. The initial months, however, are difficult, as babies seem to wake up constantly at night. Though babies sleep around 18 hours a day, most of this sleep is in short spans. Babies keep waking up every few hours, and need to be patted back to sleep. New mothers often don't get a full night's sleep, so it is best for them to adjust their timing according to the baby's timings. Sleep when the baby's sleeping, and wake up when the baby wakes up.
Don't hesitate when calling your paediatrician, even for what may seem to be a silly reason. You should feel comfortable calling him up as often as you need to, without feeling guilty. If your paediatrician shows annoyance by your frequent questions, it's time for you to look for a new one.
Mothers are concerned about their newborns. They always think that their baby is not getting enough milk. New Moms are all the more concerned about their babies as they are experiencing all these things for the first time.
1. Is my baby getting enough breastmilk?
This is possibly one of the most often asked questions to our medical team. Most mothers are concerned whether they are producing enough breast milk, or whether their child is drinking enough milk. Pressure from family and friends add to the worries of a mother, who starts feeling that if her child doesn't feed as often as the neighbour's child, something's not quite right. Relax. Psychological stress can affect breastfeeding, so pay no heed to what those around you are saying. As long as your child is gaining adequate weight, you have no cause for concern.
2. My baby usually vomits after I breastfeed her. Why is this? Should I be worried?
Often babies vomit after breastfeeding, due to overfeeding, gas or colic. If the child is gaining weight adequately, even though she vomits once in a while, there should be no cause for concern. But if your baby is irritable when being breastfed, if she seems to be in pain, and if she is not gaining weight, it could indicate a reflux problem, and you should contact your child's doctor.
3. Should my baby sleep on her back or on her tummy?
Your baby should definitely be put to sleep on her back or on her side. Numerous studies have shown that children who sleep on their tummies are at a greater risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). SIDS occurs when an infant dies in his sleep for no apparent reason. Get your child a firm mattress that covers the entire floor of the crib, and which doesn't shift around, to minimize the chance of your child suffocating.
4. Why does my baby cry so much? She seems to be crying all the time! Does she have colic?
Realise that crying is one of the only ways your baby can express her feeling or her wants. If she is hungry, tired or sleepy, she will let you know this by crying. If she refuses to stop crying, try this:
•Lie down in a warm bath, and hold her in your arms. The warm water should relax her.
•Take her for a drive. Babies find the rhythmic movement of the car soothing. In addition, the change of being outdoors should distract her from crying.
•Sometimes, no matter how hard a parent tries to comfort their baby, she will just not stop crying. This worries parents, and leads them to suspect that their child may be suffering from colic. Colic is a stomachache, or more specifically, an intestinal pain, due to which a child cries non-stop. The pain generally begins in the evening, and carries on for a couple of hours. Colic begins when a child is around 2 weeks old, and could carry only until the child is around 3 months. At times, if you are not breastfeeding your child at this age and she develops colic, she may be allergic to a particular formula. She could also be suffering from some other condition like reflux. If your child cries inconsolably almost everyday, it makes sense to show her to her pediatrician.
5. When will my baby sleep through the night?
The older your baby grows, the less often he will wake up at night. The initial months, however, are difficult, as babies seem to wake up constantly at night. Though babies sleep around 18 hours a day, most of this sleep is in short spans. Babies keep waking up every few hours, and need to be patted back to sleep. New mothers often don't get a full night's sleep, so it is best for them to adjust their timing according to the baby's timings. Sleep when the baby's sleeping, and wake up when the baby wakes up.
Don't hesitate when calling your paediatrician, even for what may seem to be a silly reason. You should feel comfortable calling him up as often as you need to, without feeling guilty. If your paediatrician shows annoyance by your frequent questions, it's time for you to look for a new one.
THUMB SUCKING
Thumb sucking is very common in babies. Babies suck their thumbs as they find comfort in it and feel secure. Thumb sucking can be a signal for hunger. Thumb sucking can become a habit if not prevented early.
Some babies suck their thumbs more than others, but the fact remains that all babies do. This does not seem much of a consolation for anxious parents who worry that their baby has formed a nasty habit that will make her the butt of jokes and may even result in displaced or damaged teeth. These parents should remember that thumb-sucking comes naturally to a baby whether it is because she is hungry, seeking comfort, or just exploring her body. Do not pull your baby's thumb out of her mouth every time she puts it into her mouth. This is definitely not the way to deal with thumb-sucking. This approach could backfire and actually result in the development of a thumb-sucking habit. Parents should keep in mind that thumb-sucking is a habit that disappears of its own volition, gradually petering out between the ages of three and six.
Hunger and thumb-sucking
Thumb-sucking need not be cause for concern if your baby just sucks her thumb for a few minutes before mealtimes. It is because she is hungry. However, if the baby reaches for her thumb immediately after feeding or snacks on her thumb constantly between meals, it is a sign that you need to distract her from thumb-sucking. Let her have a surfeit of sucking at the breast, bottle or a pacifier. Remember that it is important that thumb-sucking be controlled right at the beginning, not after it has become a well-entrenched habit.
Thumb-sucking and breastfeeding
It has been observed that generally breastfed babies are less likely to suck their thumbs. This is because breastfeeding usually satisfies the baby's need to suck. It is the baby who decides when she is ready to let go of the nipple. The mother cannot tell when her breasts are empty.
Ordinarily, a baby sucks most of the milk from the mother's breast in a space of 5 or 6 minutes. Sucking beyond this point is just to satisfy the craving to suck. If a breastfed baby sucks her thumb, allow her to nurse for a longer period of time. If a baby suckles at both the breasts while feeding and still sucks her thumb, the mother could try feeding her from only one breast the next time, allowing her to nurse to her heart's content. If this does not work, increase the duration for which the baby sucks at the first breast and then allow her to suck at the second breast for as long as she pleases.
Thumb-sucking and bottlefed babies
Thumb-sucking develops in the average bottle-fed baby when she can finish a bottle in 10 minutes rather than 20. This happens because as the baby grows older she becomes stronger, and the nipples become weaker. During the first six months, parents should attempt to slow down the pace of bottle-feeding so that the baby takes around 20 minutes. Keeping more of a vacuum in the bottle and buying new nipples with smaller holes can do this. However, if the hole is too small, the baby may think it is too much of an effort and stop sucking altogether
Cutting down on feedings
As a baby grows older, it is natural that she does not need to be fed as often. However, if she has a habit of sucking her thumb, it is better to think twice before reducing the number of feedings. In all likelihood, her sucking needs are still not being met. She may have begun to sleep through her last feed before you turn in for the night. However, it may still be a good idea to wake her up and see whether she is willing to feed.
Teething and thumb-sucking
Babies who are teething have a habit of chewing on their thumbs, fingers or hands. This probably helps them relieve the pressure off their gums. Parents should try not to confuse this with a thumb-sucking habit. A baby, who has a habit of sucking her thumb, will thumb-suck one minute and chew on it the next when she is teething.
What about the baby's teeth?
It is a fact that thumb-sucking can result in the baby's upper front teeth being pushed forward and the lower teeth back. The extent to which the teeth are displaced will depend on how long the baby sucks her thumb and how she positions her thumb. This displacement of teeth is not permanent, i.e. it only affects the baby's milk teeth. The child's permanent teeth come in around the age of six. So as long as thumb-sucking is curtailed before the age of six, there will be no permanent damage to the child's teeth.
Six months old and still sucking her thumb
As mentioned earlier, babies have an instinctive urge to suck, but this urge normally dies down naturally by the time the baby is three or four months old. If your baby sucks her thumb habitually beyond this age, she is doing it to seek comfort. Such babies when lonely, tired, bored or frustrated, resort to thumb-sucking. This is the baby's way of coping with growing up. She regresses to early infancy when something as simple as sucking her thumb made her happy. However, it is extremely rare that a child will begin thumb-sucking for the first time at 6 months or one year.
Tackling thumb-sucking
The first thing to remember, even if it seems hard to believe, is that thumb-sucking generally subsides of its own accord. It normally stops before the appearance of the second teeth. It disappears in fits and starts. It decreases rapidly, but returns when the child feels the need for some additional comfort. The good news is that eventually it will go for good. It is too much to hope that the child will kick the habit before she is three. Children usually outgrow thumb-sucking between the ages of three and six.
If your child occasionally sucks her thumb, but generally seems happy and well-adjusted, there is no cause for concern. However, thumb-sucking can be an indication of maladjustment or lack of love. Parents should try to identify what is bothering the child and then set it right if possible. May be your child needs companionship, or may be you are being too restrictive or not providing enough stimulation and distraction. There could be any number of reasons.
Tips on dealing with habitual thumb-suckers
•Don't make your child feel conscious about sucking her thumb.
•Don't nag your child.
•Don't worry about it. Your child will pick up on your concern, which will in turn cause her to worry.
•Try to distract her with a toy when she begins to suck her thumb. But do it as subtly as possible or she will catch on.
•You can try bribing or rewarding an older child for not sucking her thumb.
•Corrective measures such as restraints, elbow mitts, bad-tasting substances painted on the fingers, etc. usually backfire. Pulling the child's thumb out of his mouth will only serve to make him rebel against this restraint and encourage him to continue the habit.
•Encourage the child to give up the habit in a friendly, non-judgemental manner.
Some babies suck their thumbs more than others, but the fact remains that all babies do. This does not seem much of a consolation for anxious parents who worry that their baby has formed a nasty habit that will make her the butt of jokes and may even result in displaced or damaged teeth. These parents should remember that thumb-sucking comes naturally to a baby whether it is because she is hungry, seeking comfort, or just exploring her body. Do not pull your baby's thumb out of her mouth every time she puts it into her mouth. This is definitely not the way to deal with thumb-sucking. This approach could backfire and actually result in the development of a thumb-sucking habit. Parents should keep in mind that thumb-sucking is a habit that disappears of its own volition, gradually petering out between the ages of three and six.
Hunger and thumb-sucking
Thumb-sucking need not be cause for concern if your baby just sucks her thumb for a few minutes before mealtimes. It is because she is hungry. However, if the baby reaches for her thumb immediately after feeding or snacks on her thumb constantly between meals, it is a sign that you need to distract her from thumb-sucking. Let her have a surfeit of sucking at the breast, bottle or a pacifier. Remember that it is important that thumb-sucking be controlled right at the beginning, not after it has become a well-entrenched habit.
Thumb-sucking and breastfeeding
It has been observed that generally breastfed babies are less likely to suck their thumbs. This is because breastfeeding usually satisfies the baby's need to suck. It is the baby who decides when she is ready to let go of the nipple. The mother cannot tell when her breasts are empty.
Ordinarily, a baby sucks most of the milk from the mother's breast in a space of 5 or 6 minutes. Sucking beyond this point is just to satisfy the craving to suck. If a breastfed baby sucks her thumb, allow her to nurse for a longer period of time. If a baby suckles at both the breasts while feeding and still sucks her thumb, the mother could try feeding her from only one breast the next time, allowing her to nurse to her heart's content. If this does not work, increase the duration for which the baby sucks at the first breast and then allow her to suck at the second breast for as long as she pleases.
Thumb-sucking and bottlefed babies
Thumb-sucking develops in the average bottle-fed baby when she can finish a bottle in 10 minutes rather than 20. This happens because as the baby grows older she becomes stronger, and the nipples become weaker. During the first six months, parents should attempt to slow down the pace of bottle-feeding so that the baby takes around 20 minutes. Keeping more of a vacuum in the bottle and buying new nipples with smaller holes can do this. However, if the hole is too small, the baby may think it is too much of an effort and stop sucking altogether
Cutting down on feedings
As a baby grows older, it is natural that she does not need to be fed as often. However, if she has a habit of sucking her thumb, it is better to think twice before reducing the number of feedings. In all likelihood, her sucking needs are still not being met. She may have begun to sleep through her last feed before you turn in for the night. However, it may still be a good idea to wake her up and see whether she is willing to feed.
Teething and thumb-sucking
Babies who are teething have a habit of chewing on their thumbs, fingers or hands. This probably helps them relieve the pressure off their gums. Parents should try not to confuse this with a thumb-sucking habit. A baby, who has a habit of sucking her thumb, will thumb-suck one minute and chew on it the next when she is teething.
What about the baby's teeth?
It is a fact that thumb-sucking can result in the baby's upper front teeth being pushed forward and the lower teeth back. The extent to which the teeth are displaced will depend on how long the baby sucks her thumb and how she positions her thumb. This displacement of teeth is not permanent, i.e. it only affects the baby's milk teeth. The child's permanent teeth come in around the age of six. So as long as thumb-sucking is curtailed before the age of six, there will be no permanent damage to the child's teeth.
Six months old and still sucking her thumb
As mentioned earlier, babies have an instinctive urge to suck, but this urge normally dies down naturally by the time the baby is three or four months old. If your baby sucks her thumb habitually beyond this age, she is doing it to seek comfort. Such babies when lonely, tired, bored or frustrated, resort to thumb-sucking. This is the baby's way of coping with growing up. She regresses to early infancy when something as simple as sucking her thumb made her happy. However, it is extremely rare that a child will begin thumb-sucking for the first time at 6 months or one year.
Tackling thumb-sucking
The first thing to remember, even if it seems hard to believe, is that thumb-sucking generally subsides of its own accord. It normally stops before the appearance of the second teeth. It disappears in fits and starts. It decreases rapidly, but returns when the child feels the need for some additional comfort. The good news is that eventually it will go for good. It is too much to hope that the child will kick the habit before she is three. Children usually outgrow thumb-sucking between the ages of three and six.
If your child occasionally sucks her thumb, but generally seems happy and well-adjusted, there is no cause for concern. However, thumb-sucking can be an indication of maladjustment or lack of love. Parents should try to identify what is bothering the child and then set it right if possible. May be your child needs companionship, or may be you are being too restrictive or not providing enough stimulation and distraction. There could be any number of reasons.
Tips on dealing with habitual thumb-suckers
•Don't make your child feel conscious about sucking her thumb.
•Don't nag your child.
•Don't worry about it. Your child will pick up on your concern, which will in turn cause her to worry.
•Try to distract her with a toy when she begins to suck her thumb. But do it as subtly as possible or she will catch on.
•You can try bribing or rewarding an older child for not sucking her thumb.
•Corrective measures such as restraints, elbow mitts, bad-tasting substances painted on the fingers, etc. usually backfire. Pulling the child's thumb out of his mouth will only serve to make him rebel against this restraint and encourage him to continue the habit.
•Encourage the child to give up the habit in a friendly, non-judgemental manner.
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