Archive for Baby Care
Breastfeeding, Good For You and Baby. . .
Posted by: | CommentsShould I breastfeed or bottle feed? If I breastfeed, how long should I do that? What about other people that want to feed my baby? What if I don’t like it?
These are all questions that many new moms have. Breastfeeding is by far the best choice. However, it isn’t the only choice. I tried to breastfeed both of my children. After a few weeks of trying and not succeeding (even with help from the midwife, pediatrician, the ped-nurses, and lactation consultant…) I decided to throw in the towel. I was staying up all night crying because my baby wasn’t eating “the way he was supposed to” It was very stressful! I tried to pump, only to find I wasn’t getting much there either and when I did, he would just spit it out anyways. I then found my new best friend! The bottle - with formula in it!
The best choice a mom can make is to listen to her body and the reactions of her baby. Breast feeding is the best choice and is lots of hard work! If you stick with it, in the end it pays off! Yes, at first it will be painful. If that pain doesn’t go away, check with a consultant to see if your baby is latching on properly, that makes all the difference in the world! As far as other people feeding your baby, there are plenty of other baby bonding chores they can do! If you don’t like breastfeeding but your baby does, give it a chance, it will grow on you!
The benefits of breastfeeding are so great! You get to have that special bonding time. You gain that special closeness that no other person will have! The health benefits for both you and the baby are great too – not to mention you will be back to your pre-pregnant shape in no time! Did you know that nursing helps your uterus to contract and get back to normal size? Just think, in the middle of the night there’s no running to the kitchen to make a bottle (in the dark) – and hope you have everything clean and ready. I mean after all, you did just go to bed an hour ago when the little guy finally decided it was bed time! There are no bottles to wash. Breast milk is ALWAYS the right temperature and requires NO prep work at all!
However moms. . . If you have to go to formula, don’t feel defeated. Your baby can still be smart and healthy and strong! My kids were both formula fed and they are very healthy and strong – and really smart too!
~Dee Stafford is a freelance writer and the content contained here is her opinion from research. Check her resources page for background data.
Your Baby, Their Diaper, & What’s That Smell?
Posted by: | CommentsWhat’s that smell?
DIAPERS!
They smell so wonderful when they are clean and so bad when they aren’t! I love the smell of new diapers!! One question you want to ask yourself before the baby comes -
“What kind of diapers do I want to use?”
There are a couple of different options. Cloth or disposable. I used both. When my oldest was a baby, there was a diaper service. Six years later, just before he birth of my daughter, we started having that huge rate increase in gas prices and the diaper service closed RIGHT before she was born!
I did the wash at home for awhile, but that didn’t last long! I then switched to disposables. I think that was even more disgusting than the cloth myself! At least I didn’t have to wash those!
When it comes to which one is better it’s really a tough call. You will find support for both when it comes to the environment and cost. Something to consider too is diaper rash. Cloth babies “tend” to have less of it! That’s always a bonus!
One of the things I love to credit to cloth diapers is the potty training! My son was self potty trained just after he turned 2 and my daughter was about 16 months old when she started the process. I however discouraged her at that age! It meant she was growing up! She was however potty trained at 18 months. I couldn’t control her!
When it comes to diapers, go with what YOU are comfortable with!
Dee Stafford
~Dee Stafford is a freelance writer and the content contained here is her opinion from research. Check her resources page for background data.
