Baby Mother

Archive for May 20th, 2012

By Julia Sullivan

 During infancy

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Infants are very susceptible of the impressions of cold; a proper regard, therefore, to a suitable clothing of the body, is imperative to their enjoyment of health. Unfortunately, an opinion is prevalent in society, that the tender child has naturally a great power of generating heat and resisting cold; and from this popular error has arisen the most fatal results. This opinion has been much strengthened by the insidious manner in which cold operates on the frame, the injurious effects not being always manifest during or immediately after its application, so that but too frequently the fatal result is traced to a wrong source, or the infant sinks under the action of an unknown cause.

The power of generating heat in warm-blooded animals is at its minimum at birth, and increases successively to adult age; young animals, instead of being warmer than adults, are generally a degree or two colder, and part with their heat more readily; facts which cannot be too generally known. They show how absurd must be the folly of that system of “hardening” the constitution (to which reference has been before made), which induces the parent to plunge the tender and delicate child into the cold bath at all seasons of the year, and freely expose it to the cold, cutting currents of an easterly wind, with the lightest clothing.

The principles which ought to guide a parent in clothing her infant are as follows: The material and quantity of the clothes should be such as to preserve a sufficient proportion of warmth to the body, regulated therefore by the season of the year, and the delicacy or strength of the infant’s constitution. In effecting this, however, the parent must guard against the too common practice of enveloping the child in innumerable folds of warm clothing, and keeping it constantly confined to very hot and close rooms; thus running into the opposite extreme to that to which I have just alluded: for nothing tends so much to enfeeble the constitution, to induce disease, and render the skin highly susceptible to the impression of cold; and thus to produce those very ailments which it is the chief intention to guard against.

In their make they should be so arranged as to put no restrictions to the free movements of all parts of the child’s body; and so loose and easy as to permit the insensible perspiration to have a free exit, instead of being confined to and absorbed by the clothes, and held in contact with the skin, till it gives rise to irritation. In their quality they should be such as not to irritate the delicate skin of the child. In infancy, therefore, flannel is rather too rough, but is desirable as the child grows older, as it gives a gentle stimulus to the skin, and maintains health.

In its construction the dress should be so simple as to admit of being quickly put on, since dressing is irksome to the infant, causing it to cry, and exciting as much mental irritation as it is capable of feeling. Pins should be wholly dispensed with, their use being hazardous through the carelessness of nurses, and even through the ordinary movements of the infant itself.

The clothing must be changed daily. It is eminently conducive to good health that a complete change of dress should be made every day. If this is not done, washing will, in a great measure, fail in its object, especially in insuring freedom from skin diseases.

During childhood

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The clothing of the child should possess the same properties as that of infancy. It should afford due warmth, be of such materials as do not irritate the skin, and so made as to occasion no unnatural constriction.

In reference to due warmth, it may be well again to repeat, that too little clothing is frequently productive of the most sudden attacks of active disease; and that children who are thus exposed with thin clothing in a climate so variable as ours are the frequent subjects of croup, and other dangerous affections of the air- passages and lungs. On the other hand, it must not be forgotten, that too warm clothing is a source of disease, sometimes even of the same diseases which originate in exposure to cold, and often renders the frame more susceptible of the impressions of cold, especially of cold air taken into the lungs. Regulate the clothing, then, according to the season; resume the winter dress early; lay it aside late; for it is in spring and autumn that the vicissitudes in our climate are greatest, and congestive and inflammatory complaints most common. With regard to material (as was before observed), the skin will at this age bear flannel next to it; and it is now not only proper, but necessary. It may be put off with advantage during the night, and cotton maybe substituted during the summer, the flannel being resumed early in the autumn. If from very great delicacy of constitution it proves too irritating to the skin, fine fleecy hosiery will in general be easily endured, and will greatly conduce to the preservation of health.

It is highly important that the clothes of the boy should be so made that no restraints shall be put on the movements of the body or limbs, nor injurious pressure made on his waist or chest. All his muscles ought to have full liberty to act, as their free exercise promotes both their growth and activity, and thus insures the regularity and efficiency of the several functions to which these muscles are subservient.

The same remarks apply with equal force to the dress of the girl; and happily, during childhood, at least, no distinction is made in this matter between the sexes. Not so, however, when the girl is about to emerge from this period of life; a system of dress is then adopted which has the most pernicious effects upon her health, and the development of the body, the employment of tight stays, which impede the free and full action of the respiratory organs, being only one of the many restrictions and injurious practices from which in latter years they are thus doomed to suffer so severely.

Want to find out about pregnancy after miscarriage and pregnancy facts? Get tips from the Pregnancy Facts website.

The First Six Weeks Of A Pregnancy

By Julia Sullivan

 Breast milk is the best food you can give to your baby. Breast milk is a complete food source, containing all the nutrients your baby need – at least 400 of them to be exact, including hormones and disease fighting compounds that aren’t found in formula.

The nutritional makeup in breast milk will adjust to your baby’s needs as he or she grows and develops. Aside from the brain building, infection fighting benefits of breast milk, which no formula can match, nursing will also help to build a special bond between you and your baby. When nursing, your child thrives on the contact, cuddling, and holding – which you will as well.

Since breast feedings can take up to 40 minutes or more, you should pick a cozy spot for nursing. The atmosphere is very important, even more so in the early days of breast feeding when you’re still trying to get the hang of it. If you get easily distracted by noise, go somewhere quiet.

You should always hold your baby in a position that won’t leave your arms or back sore. It works the best to support the back of your baby’s head with your hand, although which position you choose depends on what’s more comfortable to you.

When supporting your baby, a nursing pillow can sometimes be a big help. You should never feed until both you and your baby are comfortable. Pay attention to how your breasts feel when your baby latches on, as his mouth should cover most of the areola below the nipple, and the nipple should be far back into your baby’s mouth.

While some women adjust to breast feeding easily, other moms find it hard to learn. If you feel discouraged, always know that you aren’t the only one. Everyone feels different when starting, it all depends on the mother and the situation.

Breast feeding will take practice. Therefore, you should give yourself as much time as you need to get it down to second nature. Always take it one feeding at a time. If you are having a bad day, tell yourself that it’ll get better. Keep in mind that any problems are temporary, as you’ll be nursing like a pro by your six week postpartum checkup.

The first six weeks will be both an adventure and training. You can’t expect to know everything when you begin, which is where training and practice will really help you excel. The more you breast feed, the more you’ll learn. You’ll also build a bond with your baby – which is something you’ll always have for the rest of your lives.

To learn about first signs of pregnancy and bleeding during pregnancy, visit Pregnancy Facts.

Superfoods For Pregnant Women

By Julia Sullivan

 Pregnancy is a wonderful time in your life. It can also be very taxing and exhausting for your body, mind and spirit at times. But by nourishing your body with these great superfoods, you’ll be energized, strong, and sharp, and ready to welcome your pending bundle of joy healthy and happy.

Beans and legumes are good sources of protein, fiber, calcium, iron, thiamine, and niacin. Make a big batch of beans when you have time and freeze them in small containers. Be careful with canned varieties, as they’re usually higher in sodium and their nutritional value is a bit lower since they’re processed using high temperatures. Soybeans provide more protein than any other bean or legume, making them a staple either the vegan or non-vegan. Soybeans are rich in many nutrients, including calcium and iron.

Include plenty of whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, millet, and oats as they’re a great source of fiber, minerals, protein and B complex vitamins. Buy the least processed grain types you can find, since many of the commercially prepared grains have had the nutritional and beneficial germ and bran removed.

Dark green leafy vegetables like kale, collard greens, watercress, and spinach are especially important while pregnant or lactating because they supply so many vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A and C, calcium, and iron. Dark leafy green vegetables also are rich in phytochemicals like beta carotene and lutein which protect against many forms of cancer. Vegetables from the cabbage family such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage are wonderful sources of vitamin A, vitamin C, and calcium. They are also rich in phytochemicals that have anticancer properties. Dark green leafy vegetables and cabbage family vegetables provide important nutrients that help to promote a plentiful milk supply for your baby.

Nuts and seeds are good sources of fiber, protein, minerals, and essential fatty acids. Be sure to eat flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds and walnuts to get omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for baby’s brain and nervous system development as well as your own health. Nuts and seeds can be eaten raw or toasted, and work great in a salad made of dark leafy green vegetables.

Lastly, it’s important to drink plenty of water, and make sure you’re getting plenty of rest during this time. A well-hydrated, well-rested body recovers more quickly, and ready to take on the challenges that life with a newborn baby brings with it.

Visit Pregnancy Facts to learn about teenage pregnancy statistics and tips for getting pregnant.

teenage pregnancy

By Britney Simpson

 One of the greatest things you can achieve in life is a family. Having a happy family including children then you can call yourself a happy man. But having a family is not the only thing you need to strive for in life, because even if you are lucky to have them, you are in charge of their well-being. And for this you need to have the resources to provide a certain lifestyle.

But where do those resources come from? The first thing anyone would say is a steady job with a decent salary. But when you look at the solution you have chosen, are you aware that a decent salary provides a mediocre lifestyle? Can you honestly declare that you would rather want your children to live a mediocre life, when financial freedom is within their grasp?

Sure, any job is a great way for your child to start on the journey of life, because it can help him grow personally and professionally. But the main ingredient that helps your children achieve their financial goals and freedom lies in the parenting education that you offer them. And by education I dont mean teaching them to giving a sit in a bus for an older person.

Teaching children the financial aspects of life does not have a minimal age. There is no such thing as too soon for your children to know how to manage their money. With a proper parenting education, your children can start making money from scratch before they go to school.

School is not the answer for your childrens financial education. I am not saying that school is without purpose in the life of your children, but you are the one that can give them the right parenting education when it comes to managing money.

In order to be sure that this is one thing you can succeed at this, you should look at your life. Do you have what it takes in order to make your children successful in managing their money? Or do you need a few parenting tips to achieve this?

Parenting tips are always something that can help us, because we all know that raising a child is not the easiest task in the world. Experience is a defining factor in the raising process, but for those that lack it, relying on the experience of others can prove effective.

For example, if you are not a well-experienced person in investments and financial, are you be able to teach your child the basics? Or should you receive some outside help and some very useful financial parenting tips from someone that has done it before?

Trust me when I say that relying on some of these parenting tips will prove to be highly efficient. I was in your shoes at one time and now I can honestly say that the allowance I gave my child has slowly become part of their college education savings.

This happened because, even though I didnt have great knowledge of money management, I listen to what other people have to say. The best advice I could find and the ones that helped me with my parenting education came from 7moneyhabits.com.

Parent education should not be limited to teaching your child common sense things. Whatever you teach your children in their early years will influence their future, and when you feel that you dont have what it takes, the website mentioned afore can offer some useful parenting tips.

parent education

By Louisa Chan

 I often receive questions about raising teenagers as a single parent. A teenager was seemingly not performing well in school work despite mama making different attempts to offer tuition help. This single mom also experienced difficulty and frustration as she does not have a lot of time to check on his school work as she needs to work overtime and sometimes comes home late. On top of this, the teenager son does not seem to be responding to mom’s effort of reaching out to help.

This first thing that I would l like to say to mama is to be gentle and patient with yourself. You have come a long way in bringing up your children on your own while carrying on with a professional life at work. You have made conscious effort to give the best to your teenager and are trying to raise him in the best way you know how.

I would like to invite you to celebrate who you are and what you have accomplished. Know that each day you have the opportunities to learn new lessons as you are presented with new challenges of a growing teenager at home!

Know also that you cannot control your children, especially your teenagers! However, you can begin to influence them if you create a level of mutual trust and respect for them. This is so important today as teenagers are influenced by the people they chat with on the internet, the blog posts they read, the social networking group they join, the media and their peers.

I may not have teenagers but I was once a teenager and I can remember how difficult a time it was for me, my siblings and my mom:

I think communication is one of the keys to solving any relationship issues. We want to let our teenagers know we are open and ready to talk (or better still listen) and be there for them. We want to be alert when they do not talk to us for long periods of time.

If you suspect something is not right, seek to understand, ask but not push for answers. Let us remember that teenagers need approval and encouragement, they want to know that we are happy when they do or made effort.

We also want to be careful that we don’t punish them for being honest with us, as they open up themselves; otherwise they will end up keeping secrets from us. We want our teenagers to be honest with us so we know what is going on in their world in order that we may help keep them out of dangers and troubles.

Your teenagers know all about your hot buttons! When you all stressed out and tensed, they would not want to be near you nor open up to you. When you are relaxed and centred, your teenagers can sense that and you are in a more conducive environment for open connection.

You do not have much time to spend with your children as you need to work and take care of house chores, but if you can set the intention for a more relaxed, open and trusting environment with the children, the relationship can take another step forward. Try this and see what results your get.

Do be patient though; this is a marathon and not a 100-meter dash.

To claim your free personalized strategy session with Coach Louisa you can contact her at AbundantLivesCoaching.com. You can also claim a free mini e-course and audio on practical stress relief tips for single moms at www.HappySingleMoms.com. Louisa is a Certified Professional Coach, Your Partners For Success.
single parenting