Baby’s development at around 3 months

You must feel exhausted after three months of sleepless nights! Your baby is still getting used to this world, so be patient and rest as much as you can during the day. Take naps whenever your baby allows it.
Your little one is getting more agile and can already turn around and cause some mischief. Don’t leave her alone on the changing table now – many new parents find themselves in A&E after their baby has fallen off the bed or the table. Remember that it can happen very quickly!
At around 3 months, baby can already lift her head and chest, supported by her forearms, for some time, shake a rattle and take things in her mouth. She may study toys in her hands and the little baby in the mirror. Baby is certainly too young to recognise her own image – self recognition starts at around 18 months. By now, parents may be able to hear baby laugh out loud while expressing real pleasure. When baby is pulled into the sitting position, she has only little head lag and can hold her back straight when held. Baby can kick a lot with her legs and wave her arms.
She can also move her head to follow an object with her eyes and watch her hands and fingers. They are certainly fascinating! Baby still prefers moving objects to still ones and will always turn her head towards the sound of a human voice. Some babies respond already to their name being called and can recognise their parent’s face in a photograph.
Baby shows emotions such as distress when she hears a loud unexpected noise, and enjoyment at positive experiences such as bathtime. She can smile at familiar people as well as strangers.
There are a lot of games and activities that she will enjoy now. Take a look at our baby activity list for some inspiration here: http://www.babysbest.co.uk/Articles/Active-Bonding-Time/Parent–baby-activity-0-to-3-months/60/

Your baby’s development at around 2 months

By now, numerous nights with little sleep are compensated with the most gorgeous baby smiles! Your baby can recognize your face and shows real excitement when you talk to him by moving his arms and legs. The little fists open and close while he may already be able to hold a bite ring in his hands. When baby is on his tummy, he can also hold his head up for a few seconds. Though baby trains his neck, tummy and back muscles very hard, it is still necessary to hold his head when lifting him up.

Baby may already be able to imitate facial expressions, such as movements of the mouth. Try to stick out your tongue and see what happens – if nothing else, you will certainly get a big smile!

Baby’s understanding of the world starts slowly to become structured into moving versus static things and people versus things. He is now capable of concentrating and focusing on something, such as a moving rattle or a bell. He can also follow things of interest with his eyes and turn his head.

By about 2 months, baby’s so-called “oral phase” begins as baby takes everything, including his fingers and hands, into his mouth. Developmentally, this phase is plausible as baby’s senses are strongest in his mouth. So even if you worry about hygienic standards, this part of baby’s development is essential in order for him to understand what is going on around him.

If your baby starts sucking his thumb, let him do so. This is also part of his development and calms him. The choice of dummy is only the second best option as parents are constantly on the look out for the lost dummy – not to mention the times they have to get up at night in order to give baby his dummy back.
And even dentists agree that sucking the thumb does not necessarily cause the teeth to deform!

For more articles and parenting inspiration visit http://www.babysbest.co.uk

Your 2 week old baby – what is best for baby now

Though we live in an informed society, many still believe that a baby can be “spoiled rotten”. However, baby’s physical and emotional needs are still so basic that they cannot possibly be spoiled too much! Infants have basic needs such as food, warmth, love, tenderness and the feeling of security which can hardly account for educational measures. You cannot give enough of these essential requirements so do not let your newborn cry for food for too long, even if you are very tired.

Putting baby in his crib in his own room, is a modern way of thinking in which babies are thought to be separate units from their parents. Yet, historically and as it is naturally intended, babies should always stay near the family: either carried in a sling or in a moses basket where mother or father is. Numerous studies have shown that those babies who are actively taken into everyday family life are much happier, cry much less and have a better chance of becoming more content and self-confident adults. If you still worry that your precious angel does not get enough sleep with all the background noise, think again: babies get used to all the noise and in fact, it calms them because they know that there is always somebody there to look after them.

Baby’s food

Breastfeeding is best for baby. Human milk is not only nutritionally optimised for baby’s needs, the close contact to the mother creates a deep bond which nurtures a very special relationship. However, breastfeeding can be accompanied by lots of difficulties so it is important to know somebody you can turn to if it gets tough going.

If you cannot breastfeed or you decide not to breastfeed: do not worry! Artificial formula has nutritionally very high standards and companies are trying their best to create formula that is as close to human milk as artificially possible. Nonetheless, formula milk can be dangerous for baby if it is not prepared in a clean setting with good standards of hygiene. So please make sure that your hands are clean before you prepare a bottle and the feeding equipment is sterilized in order to minimize the risk for baby.

When baby is breastfed he wants frequent feedings – day and night – so be prepared to feed up to 10 times in 24 hours. This can be particularly demanding when baby has a growth spurt of which there is one during the first few days at home, another one at around 7 to 10 days and one at 2 to 3 weeks. Please make sure to allow yourself plenty of rest: sleep when baby sleeps!

When baby is bottle fed he is likely to feed up to 8 hours in 24 hours. Artificial milk tends to be more filling and can intervene with baby’s natural sleep pattern so make sure to keep baby close at all times so you can respond quickly if necessary. When baby has a growth spurt prepare yourself for more unsettled nights!

Keeping baby clean

In our modern age of allergies it is important to help baby build up immunity by using as little bath supplements, soaps, etc as possible. Baby’s skin is extremely delicate and does not require any perfume, preservatives, emulsifiers, stabilizers etc. In fact, a newborn only requires a weekly bath with clear water! Scientific studies reveal that babies are born without the protective acid mantle, thus giving baby a daily bath can be more damaging when baby’s skin protection is still developing.

Baby’s bottom can be cleaned effectively with warm water and soft cotton wool dipped in some vegetable or olive oil. Change your baby’s nappy frequently to prevent nappy rash. Let him kick his feet with his bare bottom for at least 15 minutes so his skin can breathe a little. If he has nappy rash, use ointments that contain zinc: they are reliable helpers as they support the healing process and keep the skin dry. If you breastfeed you can also put some breast milk on his bottom – it speeds up the healing process!

For more inspiring articles visit www.babysbest.co.uk

The Secrets of the Co-sleeper

Japanese babies sleep between their parents. Their position symbolizes a river between two banks.

This picturesque view of co-sleeping reveals the intimacy between parents and their offspring and how co-sleeping creates a family unit. In contrast, modern Western societies emphasize the need for independence and individuality. As such, we are used to putting the baby to sleep in his own bed, in his own room. Even if we are told by the health visitors that it is much better to keep a baby nearby, in your own room in a separate bed, we are eager to find “excuses” such as “He is so noisy at night”, “I have no privacy” etc. in order to place him back into his own cot bed in a different room.

Sleeping in a single bed, away from the parents and/or siblings is a modern phenomenon, no older than 200 years. For thousands of years prior we co-sleept with our parents, our siblings and family. The modern ways of living are ruled by individuality and independence which in turn create a society of increased anti social behaviour and loneliness loneliness.

Anthropologist James McKenna conducted research in order to find out the truth about co-sleepers. He found that when a baby sleeps with his mother the pattern of brain wave activity, heart rate, muscle movement and breathing are astonishingly similar in both. During the sleep mother and baby exhibit a deep bond. Their experience of sleep is mutual as they share the same sleep pattern. In fact, it has been suggested that sleeping close to the mother helps the baby “learn” how to sleep safely explaining why the sleep pattern of both are so in sync.

Unfortunately, today’s perception of sleeping with the parents is understood to create an emotional dependence which is regarded as a negative trait within the human development…http://www.babysbest.co.uk/Articles/The-Secrets-of-the-Co-Sleeper/07-01-08/27/

What are playpens actually good for?

One could say: for nothing! In fact, playpens can be quite expensive and the biggest problem with them is that they take up too much space. Some parents may even be tempted to use it as their constant babysitter in order to keep the house tidy. Another of those playpen horror stories includes a hyperactive little toddler who liked to rock it over in order to get out. However, playpens are much more popular on the Continent. So, without using it to look after your child on a 24/7 basis, what are the good points of having a playpen?

Firstly, parents want their exploring babies to be safe when they have to answer the door or take out the bin. They can happily sit in the playpen and, as the name suggests, play with their toys or cuddle with the bears. Parents feel much more at ease and know that their baby is fine for the time being. After a long day of playing, crawling, exploring and doing mischief, a playpen is great to chuck all these little gadgets in and to make sense of the living space.

Another important aspect of having a playpen includes having more than just one child: parents who have twins or older siblings can recollect how it helped keeping siblings separated if needed. Older children can happily play with small toys, such as Lego or similar, while the curious baby can play with his own rattles.

As most parents will be eager to tell, toddlers and young children love playpens too! They can have their quite time in there, play magic house, use it as a ball pool or for magic ice skating. The possibilities are endless! They use it as their little den which is far more exciting than the sofa. When toddlers come into “This is mine” phase, they are too eager to cuddle up in the playpen and re-claim their toys.

Some playpens can also be opened up and used as room dividers or to keep little hands away from fire.

Nowadays, there is a comprehensive range of playpens available to buy: there are wooden ones, metal playpens, big ones and small ones, folding playpens (www.babysbest.co.uk) for travelling, playpens that open up and those that come in different shapes.

If used correctly, playpens can be a valuable addition to the household and even if some parents find them expensive, playpens can always be sold again!

Nurture Your Baby the Natural Way with www.babysbest.co.uk

I worry about my wriggling baby when co-sleeping

Co-sleeping is ideal for both baby and parents but what should you do if your baby starts wriggling and moves more than before? There is always the fear that she might get lost under the thick blanket. There are several things you can do to make the baby’s and your night less worrying:

- You can put your baby in a sleeping bag or with her own duvet on top of your duvet. That way you avoid her slipping down the duvet or under the pillow.

- Each person/baby should have their own blanket so they can regulate their body temperature easier.

- It is a very good idea to remove one side of the cot and to lower the mattress to the same height as the adult bed. Your baby can sleep in his own cot without the fear of overheating, rolling over her or suffocation.

Nurture Your Baby the Natural Way with www.babysbest.co.uk

The Best Baby Care Products

Babies grow up too quickly! One minute they cuddle up with you and are as tiny as your hand, the next they crawl out of the room to find their favourite toy. Before they run away to experiment with their surroundings, your baby should receive the best care for the best start possible.

We know all the major companies whose baby products are widely available. Yet, there is not enough information about the ingredients they use. In fact, the ingredients are hidden behind complicated names and reveal a mystery. If we want to find out what we put on our precious little one’s skin we have to find a big book which explains it all to us. The bottom line: we don’t know what we treat our babies with and we have to trust the manufacturers and our government to being sold high quality and safe baby products.

We can only establish the safety and quality of a baby care product by using it, which is obviously too late! We should claim more transparency in the use of chemicals and other ingredients which could endanger our children in both the short-term and long-term! After all, research has shown that many of the non-organic baby care products on the market can create a sensitivity in your child that will develop into an allergy later on in life.

Unfortunately, this is not that easy – and we all know it just too well. So what can we do about it?
First of all, raise awareness of this problem by not buying chemical-based baby products anymore. Secondly, concentrate on what you know: Organic baby products always show their ingredients and are proud to do so! They are made from ingredients only found in nature, so you can rest assured that whatever kind of organic product you choose for your child it will not cause allergic reactions, or cause them to develop allergies later on.

It is not just organic products for your child’s skin care that you need to be concerned about. You should also be purchasing organic formula, nappies, and organic clothing for your child in order to ensure their health and safety at all times as they get older.

Finding organic baby care products is a relatively simple task, as more and more parents are realising the importance of staying away from the chemically altered products that are now so widely available. You can find most of the organic products you’ll need, simply by visiting our online store at www.babysbest.co.uk

Nurture Your Baby the Natural Way with www.babysbest.co.uk

My lo (11months) hates to brush his teeth!

This is a tricky one and requires trial and error more than anything. At this age babies nearing toddler age do not understand why they have to brush their teeth!

Rule number one: don’t be stressed and try to relax. If you are stressed about brushing his teeth he will pick it up quickly and be less co-operative. Unless he eats a massive amount of sugary food, not brushing his teeth is no reason to get stressed out about. What really matters at this age is to establish a routine rather than forcing him to do something that he does not understand in the first place.

A good tip is to sing a “special tooth song” in order to give a little extra encouragement. Singing songs is also very entertaining and may distract from the actual problem.

Let him play with the toothbrush and maybe even let him brush your teeth. He is eager to see your reaction!

Whatever your method, I would always recommend natural toothpaste which you can purchase from every natural food store. They are least harmful when your baby swallows it and have a more natural taste.

Reference: www.babysbest.co.uk/Community

Nurture Your Baby the Natural Way with www.babysbest.co.uk

What can I do: my ds keeps waking up at 4.30 in the morning!

4.30am seems to be fairly common for most of the babies. I remember my husband getting up then with our dd to play. He was always very tired but it turned into a routine and it was “Papa’s playtime”.

Obviously, most parents cannot continue to do this for a long period of time.
Until they become more active and start to crawl they won’t have much chance to wear themselves out.

In the meantime, you could try to simply tuck her back into bed without actually waking her properly. After a few nights it should theoretically stop.

It is also a good idea to monitor the times when you put her to bed: some babies have a more unsettled sleep when they go to bed too late. So try to put her to bed really early and see what will happen.

Please feel free to add any comments or suggestions.

Ref: www.babysbest.co.uk

Nurture Your Baby the Natural Way with www.babysbest.co.uk

I need good toy ideas for my 1 year old!

With so many different products available and your child showing only little interest in the toys you buy for him, it can be difficult to find the right toy.

Here are a few tips to keep your child entertained for longer:

- Wooden animals are always well received and will last for quite some time. You should always look at the size and shape you buy: Are they easy to hold and carry around?

- Stacking cups and Stacking rings on a pole are very popular choices too.

- Try to be inventive with the things you already have: can you make any jewelry (i.e. bracelet) or hang a wooden spoon from the door architrave.

- Books (any kind) are always a very good choice.

- Jigsaws prove very popular and will certainly last a while. It does take a while for your baby to master the challenge of a jigsaw so it should keep him occupied for some time.

Please feel free to add and comment to this thread as you wish.

Reference: www.babysbest.co.uk/Community

Nurture Your Baby the Natural Way with www.babysbest.co.uk