I wasn't able to do a lot of planning when pregnant with Eli. I just couldn't do a ton of research not knowing if I was going to get to bring him home... just one of the affects of losing Maelee.
So here's another chance for you, if you are so inclined and have opinions, to share.
1. Any must-read caring-for-baby or parenting books or sites? I am not going to jump on some bandwagon and never get off (not my style... I'm just too laid back for that) but if you have found a gem, let me know. Or if you have a magical sleep solution, let me in on your secret.
2. Any solutions for diaper rash? Favorite cream/paste? Our fair-skinned sweetie is going to have some skin issues for sure.
3. For our loves-to-soothe-by-sucking boy... pacifier or thumb thoughts? And I'm not joking here... Eli just gave Greg a hicky on his arm.
Weigh in by commenting or emailing or messaging me!
-Eli's mom
18 comments:
We so wanted Owen to find his thumb but he didn't ...the only reason is because the paci kept falling out! He didn't figure out to put it in himself until 6-8 months. Thumbs are much easier to find...lol.
Hi Heather- I have posted here before (friends with Greg and Chris Ireland) and I just wanted to say how excited we are for you! That being said I have two boys- almost 3 and almost 3 months and I will share a few things I have found useful. As far as books go, Happiest Baby on the Block is super helpful. Swaddling is great, sleeping in swings (yes even at night:) is fantastic and MAM pacifiers are so great.For diaper rash we use the target brand of sensitive Desitin and powder with corn starch. Just a few tidbits from our journeys with 2 boys:) Take or leave it, and remember to always do what is best for you and your family, not what everyone else thinks is trendy and best. May God bless you always! You are such an inspiration to us all and a testament of what faithfulness to the Lord looks like.
Pacies are easier to take away! A thumb sucker stays a thumb sucker.
For diaper creams, each baby is different, but we used A and D. Using cloth diapers this time around, we haven't needed cream.
For sleeping, I've heard to read Baby Wise multiple times now. For totally natural diaper rash: 1/8 cup coconut oil (extra virgin is preferred)
1/4 cup raw shea butter
3-4 Tablespoons talc-free cornstarch or arrowroot power (optional, to thicken) I've heard pacifiers and thumbs both should be avoided if at all possible. I turned out all right.
I think swaddling is magic for sleeping. Aden and Anais at Target muslin swaddling blankets I think are a must have! I think plain old vaseline is the best for diaper rash prevention/treatment. And I would say pacifer over the thumb, you can't take the thumb away! But I am one of those mean parents who take the paci away before they turn one year, before they get emotionally attached. I did it at about 10 months with both my girls and it was so easy.
P.S. Now that we have a boy on the way, I'll probably be asking you for advice sometime soon! :)
I have used On Becoming Baby Wise with Opal, and it has worked beautifully. She started occassionally sleeping through the night at 8 weeks, and by 10 weeks she was doing it every night. And I wasn't even all that strict with it. I just followed the general principles. Also, I love the Kelly Mom website for breastfeeding tips and info. As for diaper rash - I use A & D also, but only need it when I use disposables. Another great tip is to let him go diaperless for a bit to get him good and dry. You can even use a hair dryer on a cool setting to help him get good and dry. Also - breast milk is great for diaper rash as long as there is no yeast invovled. Just let it dry good. We started with the pacifier with Opal, but she doesn't really care for it now. She sucks her thumb in the crib (I agree that pacifiers are best because you can get rid of them, but you can't sit at the crib and exchange paci for thumb all the time). One more thing - I've really liked a book called Baby 411. It's been a great quick reference tool.
Oh, and I agree about the Aden and Anais Muslin swaddlers. They're a bit pricey, but I've used them like crazy.
I definitely recommend the paci over the thumb. My cousin was 13 before she quit sucking her thumb and it was quite embarrassing in public. I took Cam & Winter's paci before they were 2 years old.( you really need to take it before then) As far as diaper rash cream, i recommend Flanders Buttocks cream. It is AWESOME! It lasts forever cause it only takes a small amount. It will stain so you need to be ready to wipe your fingers off on something. Winter has very sensitive skin and it worked wonders on her. I had to purchase it at a drug store, not sure if it's @ Target or Walmart now.
Sleeping: swaddle! I know he might fight you but get the halo swaddling blanket and wrap him up really tight. Aden and Anais are great blankets but they are really big so I didn't use them until James was a bit bigger. Also, the sooner you can start a routine the better. Do the same thing before you put him to bed every time.
Books: happiest baby on the block and growing kids gods way
Diaper rash: butt paste. Works wonders. We put it on every night before James goes to bed.
Sucking: we used a pacifier. I love the mam ones, but the soothes are great too for newborns. I know it's hung to be aweful to have to get rid of someday, but James would eat all day if I would have let him.
Sleep - SWADDLE! I use the miracle blanket (find it online)... truly is a miracle.
We used paci's over thumbs... easier to take away and my dentist father approves. ;)
Diaper rash - if it gets really bad we use Calmoseptine (find at pharmacy). It is amazing!
PS, Eli is perfect.
The Baby Book by Dr. Sears. www.askdrsears.com If you choose Baby Wise, be careful...I know of some folks who had babies who failed to thrive using that method. Vaseline or aquaphor worked well for us. All of my babies used pacis (the first one took longer to enjoy it than the others).
Heather- thumb or paci???? Are you forgetting??? I know you love Marian's "sleep toy!"
Actually, maybe now you can see the difficulty of the issue too.... it's a hard call. (Even all these commenters are all over the map!) I hate the addiction of either but a paci is easier to take away (supposedly) but you have to put it back in kids mouths a hunderd times a night (for some kids) and thumbs get dirty when strangers want to greet your baby or when he wants to grab a handful of dirt and then suck his thumb near the same time! Another thing for thumb sucking is that it can do some hefty damage to top teeth... honestly, I'm quite content with Marian's sleep toy addiction! It (is supposed to) stay on her bed and she knows she doesn't suck anything when we're out and her teeth are not terrible and she doesn't (too often) loose it and need help finding it.... and I know she's a BIG girl now to still have a sucking issue but she does- some kids do/ will. I say cleanliness, affect on teeth, constancy of you needing to attend to it, and of course satisfaction for Eli are the issues you'll need to sort to find the plan that works best for you guys:)
But just don't forget that you'll want to have more than one of whatever special thing he becomes most attached to...
love you!
1- Don't know, I get information from a myraid of sites based on what I want to know. Kinda choose what I'm ok with trying. I've heard good things about Baby Wise, but never read it.
2- I had to rotate creams based on what kind of rash they had. A&D with Zinc worked good most of the time, lately, its been Desitin extra strength. Flanders and Boudreaux's never worked for us. You'll have to figure out what will work, and you'll know you found it when the rash clears up after one application.
3- Paci. I agree with an above poster, make sure to take it away before he turns one and you shouldn't have an issue.
I love most products from California Baby...all natural, chemical free. It has done wonders for my boys who have fair, rash-prone skin as well.
I agree...going diaper-less works great too...air them out for a 1/2 hr at a time a couple times a day.
As far as sleeping...depends if he likes to be snuggled in tight or not...my boys loved to have their arms and hands free....I definitely prefer bassinet sleeping over co-sleeping. But thats just me. These are all great, fun things to figure out and learn about your lil man!!! Good Luck...you will do great...and Eli is more than adorable!!! =)
I have had a great deal of success with the babywise series- first one I think the book was written for him, struggled with the second one, but she adapted fairly easy to it and it made my life (sleeping) more plentiful. (The christian version of babywise is Growing Kids God's way- either are great, its all by the Ezzo's.
I also really enjoyed using the swaddle me things that they sell at target. Diaper rash, I mainly use cloth diapers, they dont get diaper rash with cloth, theyve only gotten diaper rash when Ive been lazy and use disposable- then I use nighttime desitin.
Personally Ive been able to get both my kids to use a paci- I dont think theres not a whole lot you can do if they dont want it or prefer thumb or fingers. If you do use a paci, definitely take it away before they are emotionally attached.
Just remember that every baby is different and what you do for your baby is best for him no matter what others say/or think. You are a great mom already! He is such a little cutie!
I'll add my opinion on here too, mostly because I'm excited I GET to, not that I have some wonderful cure-all! ;) -
*website - www.askdrsears.com (I like the more moderate opinions he gives and is a pediatrician with seven kids and a wife who was an RN - also wrote The Baby Book that's been helpful for me with Margo growing up.)
I really liked Happiest Baby on the Block - they have the DVD at Richland Library so maybe check it out before you get the book? It has some good techniques in it for soothing baby.
*rash cream - A&D ointment and caldesene powder - worked for me when I was a baby and worked for Margo when a diaper rash would start. My sister-in-law's daughter had horrible diaper rash and the only OTC that would help was Pinxav.
*sucking - I wouldn't give Margo a paci (worried about nipple confusion) but now I wish I had, who knows what she would do, but she is an avid thumb sucker and it has been difficult to tell her "not in mouth" about fifty times a day. :)
Glad I could share some baby thoughts with you! Eli is ADORABLE, cutest thing EVER!!!!
Paci! =)
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