Nursing Cover

Nursing Covers are gaining popularity. If you are breastfeeding your little one, or planning to, and interested in making your own. Here is a Free Pattern to sew your own nursing cover.

Modern Cloth Diapering is just as easy as disposables!

1. fold the diaper in thirds and place in cover:
2. Fasten velcro as with a disposable diaper (that's right, no pins!):

And aren't they cute?

These are Bummi's Super Brites

Does anyone have any questions or comments on cloth diapering?

Bad Diaper Rash?

Here are the things I have learned for treating rashes that you might want to try for a few days (be consistent for a few days to give it a chance to heal):

1. never use creamy diaper rash ointment of any kind on bum with open sores. these are designed to use on healthy skin as a protectant for over-night, etc.

2. after each poopy diaper, wash with water and rags (I rip up old t-shirts) instead of wet wipes (they have chemicals in them that can irritate damaged skin). Or you can rinse your wet wipes out first.

3. when possible, give her a bath (2 inches of water is fine) after each poopy diaper, let her play in there a little while (you can also add baking soda or oatmeal to the water; which are soothing for the skin).

4. when possible, let her play with a naked bum after the bath for a while (such as in the kitchen or outside?) to air dry.

5. before putting a diaper back on, while the bottom is nice and clean, you can use your blow dryer on her bum for a minute or two (hold it about a foot away and move it constantly). it will be warm and totally dry.

6. then smother the skin with a skin protectant like Vaseline to form a protective seal from future wetness and dirtiness until the next diaper change. I also like Bag Balm or Lanolin, though I hear some babies may be sensitive to lanolin.

7. Additionally, you will want to watch her diet while it heals. Especially, do not give her any apple or orange juice, sugary foods, etc. Bland foods such as the BRAT diet are helpful. Avoid other foods that might be causing her problems in the first place - such as suspected sensitivities or allergies.

Make your own baby food

One way to save some money on baby supplies is to make your own baby food. It is really easy!

1. purchase the fruits or veggies you want to use (Younger babies need their food more finely pureed single food. Older babies can have mixed foods such as a fruit and vegetable pureed together.)

2. wash (if you choose to use canned foods, you should still rinse)

3. peel

4. cook - boil, bake, or microwave until soft (very soft foods such as banana or pears do not need to be cooked).

5. mash - a blender or food processor works great, add a small amount of cooking liquid, water, or juice if necessary to make the right consistency

6. freeze in individual serving sizes - ice cube trays or small reusable containers (do not use the food out of one big container as each feeding introduces bacteria from the baby's mouth and the food will spoil more quickly)

Thaw in your fridge the night before you want to use it. I add these to commercially prepared baby cereals.

For Example: One first food I usually use is the sweet potato. I wash it and prick it several times with a fork. Then wrap it in a paper towel and microwave on high for 5 minutes. Turn. Then microwave another 5 minutes. Allow to cool slightly, then slip off the skin and cut into big chunks and add to your blender with a little water. Process to desired consistency.

FLU?? - TO DO

When a flu hits, the most important things to do are keep temperature in check, and re-hydrate.

Lower Temperature:

• Unwrap/undress,


• cool with damp washcloths or lukewarm bath


• alternate Tylenol and Ibuprofen every 2 hours as needed

When your child first gets sick, do not try to give them food or drink right away, wait until they want something. OR if your child is visibly dehydrated (i.e. no wet diapers in 12 hours, no tears, sunken eyes)

Then start with re-hydrating!

To Re-Hydrate:

• start with 1/4 tsp. water or Pedialyte every 10-15 minutes*


• if the child vomits, start over again


• when the child tolerates this for one hour, increase to 1/2 tsp. every 10-15 min.


• when the child tolerates this for one hour, increase to 1 tsp. every 10-15 min.


• gradually increase with small amounts of liquid and foods from BRAT diet when desired

*If the child is not tolerating 1/4 tsp. liquid, try starting with 1/8 tsp.

When to call the Dr:

• if you are unable to control the fever with Tylenol and Ibuprofen


• if Fever lasts longer than 48 hours


• if your child is dehydrated and will not tolerate 1/8 tsp. liquid after 2 hours of trying every 10-15 min.

Is your Baby Constipated?

I ran into a friend the other day who was worried about her baby being constipated. There is a wide variety in normal bowel patterns among infants. If your baby's pattern suddenly changes, it doesn't necessarily mean something is wrong. As long as the baby is behaving normally, they could go as long as a week with no bowel movement. (If, on the other hand, the stool is hard or pellet-like, you definitely have a constipated baby).

If it has been a few days and you are worried, here are a few methods you can try to help things along. *

- use a rectal thermometer (use as normal), with a liberal amount of Vaseline - and be ready!

- give an older baby prune juice (or apple juice) or even pureed prunes

- mix 1 tsp. corn syrup with a little water (2-4 oz) and feed to your baby

*if your child's abdomen is hard or your baby is obviously suffering call your pediatrician immediately!

Foods for baby’s first year

4-6 months ~ mostly pureed foods
6-8 months ~ thicker mashed foods
8-10 months ~ small diced foods
10-12 months ~ small finger foods

YES

apple* (small pieces, 8-12 months)
applesauce (unsweetened)
apricots*
avacado
banana
beets
bread
carrots (steamed & strained/pureed)
Cheerios (~ 6-8 months)
cheese (diced, at 8-12 months)
chicken (diced, at 8-12 months)
cooked whole grains
crackers (unsalted)
dried fruit (soaked in water to make it softer)
egg-yolk (hard boiled, mashed, 9-12 months)
fruit juice (small amounts, 100%, non-citrus)
meat (diced, at 8-12 months)
melon
nectarine*
pasta
peach*
pear*
peas* (steamed & strained/pureed)
pieces of baked or steamed squash*
plum*
potato* (baked, mashed)
rice
soft or silken tofu cubes
sweet potato*
toast
whole-grain cereals (i.e. rice cereal)
plain yogurt (9-12 months)


NO (or very limited)

berries (allergenic)
cabbage
chocolate
citrus fruits (allergenic)
corn
cow's milk (until at least 1 year)
egg white (allergenic)
fish
grapes (unless peeled &chopped)
hard Candy
hard Cookies
honey (botulism spores)
hot dogs (okay finely chopped)
meat chunks (okay finely chopped)
nuts (any kind)
peanut butter (allergenic)
popcorn
potato chips
raw carrot sticks/slices
rice cakes
salty foods (potato chips, etc.)
seafood
seeds
sugary foods (cake, candy etc.)
tomatoes
wheat (allergenic)

* = no peel
diced = about the size of a pea

make sure foods are soft, mashed, or small enough pieces!