Your Baby`s Day

Colic
This usually refers to distressed crying for long periods, with baby pulling up his legs and going red in the face, with pain that comes and goes.
If you are breastfeeding, it may be what you are eating. Don`t easy spicy or hot foods, too much chocolate, cabbage, nuts, citrus or dried fruits. Perhaps your baby is drinking too quickly or feeding too often. A good help to me was to rub a bit of luke warm olive oil onto your baby`s tummy in a slow round circular motion.
Handy hint: Burp your baby half way and at the end of feeding him, instead of just at the end of his feed. Also sit baby up a little when feeding....
Colic does end, usually between 3-6 months.

Playtime Tips
Some tummy time on the floor on a colorful blanket with some toys is good.
You can both listen to music while he is in his bouncer or rocker while you do some housework or cooking. Babies love music, especially repetitive tunes. For the first few months, your baby will respond to black and white contrasts, so a mobile hanging over their change table with these two colors with amuse him for a while. When my baby was a new born, he used to stare at a black and white picture on our lounge room wall.

Crying
Crying is the only way babies communicate with us. Its quite normal to have a couple of unsettled periods during the day for the first few months. Mabey your baby is overtired. This can happen if you miss their cues` that they want to sleep and then become irritated. It`s harder to settle an overtired baby. But be persistent, take him for a walk, or roll the pram back and forward on a joint in the carpet or on the floor. This helps them drop off to sleep.

Skin Care & Nappy Rash
Baby`s skin is very sensitive. It is not necessary to use shampoos, soaps or even baby wipes. Some products contain perfumes and other ingredients that may irritate baby`s skin.
Simple is best. All you need is water, sorbolene & glycerine cream, zinc and castor oil.
Buy a small plastic squeeze bottle with a flip top lid. Mix up a solution of warm water and two teaspoons of sorbolene and glycerine cream. Use this with cotton balls or tissues to clean baby`s bottom. Do not store, it needs to be made daily. This will keep baby`s skin soft and clean without any irritation.
*Change baby`s nappy at least after each feed.
*Let baby have some time without a nappy on, a few minutes after each change is good to let his skin breath and air out.
*When using disposable nappies, choose a good brand as some cheap brands may irritate baby`s skin.
*Do not add soap powder or softener to cloth nappies as this also may irritate baby`s skin.

Is Your baby Ready For Solids?
Usually your baby will be ready for solids at around six months of age. I began a little earlier as my baby was giving me signals that he wanted to try food. He was always interested in watching me eat, so i just began him on one meal of solids per day, then gradually increasing to 3 meals per day by about 10 months.
Mabey your baby always seems hungry, wakes during the night when he is usually sleeping or is not putting on much weight.
*Give solids after the breats or bottle feed.
*Rice Cereal is great as its the best first food to start him on as it contains iron and is less likely to give him an allergic reaction.
*mashed vegetables are another great idea, don`t add salt as baby doesn`t need it. Let your baby taste vegetables plain so later on he won`t be fussy ( hopefully).
*Mashed pumpkin is one idea, or also add some mashed potato together with the pumpkin.
*Make large quantities and freeze in small containers.
*Mashed potato does not freeze well, it`s always better with another vegetable mashed in with it, such as pumpkin or zucchini.


Your baby`s day