Don't Overreact Before You Know How Bad It Is!

Sorry I have been missing for almost a week but I've thrown myself into studying lately when I have free time.

Well today my daughter fell when she was trying to walk and her head barely grazed the coffee table(not enough for it to hurt), but do to me screaming as she did so it scared her and made the whole situation worse on both of us than it needed to be. Now it is alright to show concern when your little one falls but don't put on to big of a worry face because it will make them overreact to the situation when they aren't hurt at all.

I know it's not much but it will teach your little one's that it is ok to fall and that it doesn't always hurt. Now if they are truly hurt or it truly scared them and they are crying by no means don't hold back. Comfort them, let them know that it is alright, show them that they are ok.

I hope this helps fend off some unnecessary tears that break our hearts.

Playing With Your Baby

Floor Exercises:

• Pull him/her up to a sitting position
• Pull him/her up to a standing position
• Hold his/her hands to help balance him/her while he/she maintains a standing or seated position
• Help him/her do deep knee bends or "jumping"
  
• Let him/her just play around on the floor on a thick blanket to pad the ground
• When it is warm out let your baby just lay around naked on the floor
• When your baby can sit up on their own try rolling a colorful ball to them
  

Lap Exercises:

• All of the above
• Bounce him/her on your knee(incorporate nursery rhymes as they get older)
• Play nursery rhymes

Fun Finger Foods

So your baby is ready for finger foods? Here are some things you can offer you baby:

-Cooked, grated vegetables
-Cooked, sliced vegetables(carrots, green beans, etc)
-Chunky mashed potatoes
-Sliced banana or very small pieces of fruit(even a grape is to large)
-Cubes or triangles of bread
-Dry, relatively unsweetened cereal(cheerio's, etc)
-Macaroni or other pasta
-Rice
-Rice Cakes
-Low-salt or no-salt pretzels
-Small cubes of well-cooked meat or poultry

Activity for your Baby - Shaker Bottle

Alright so we are always looking for something to do with our babies. Well here is an activity that almost all babies love. Make them a Shaker Bottle and make "music" with them.

What you will need:

• For babies, use one of their small juice bottles, you can always use a larger size bottle for larger kids.
• Colored rice or pasta(honestly you can use anything small in your junk drawer that you don't need such as nuts, bolts, etc)
  
• Crazy glue or super glue

Directions:

• Make sure the bottle you are using is clean and dry.
• Place the items you have inside the bottle.
• Glue the cap back onto the bottle.
• Little one's will love the noise when they shake the bottle, plus they will also like to watch what is happening to the stuff inside as they shake it all around.

Now go make a Shaker Bottle for your little one and let the fun begin.

**This is also a good way to distract them when you need to get some things done around the house or make dinner**

Teething Biscuits

So we all know how challenging teething is. It breaks our hearts to see our babies in pain, knowing there is only so much we can do about it. Teething biscuits can get to be expensive and you can never be 100% sure that everything in them is safe for your baby. Truth is, any bread that has been hardened can be used as a teething "biscuit". I have also found a healthy recipe as an alternative to the expensive teething biscuits you buy in stores.

Ingredients:

• 1 beaten egg yolk
• 3 tbsp maple syrup or molasses
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1.5 tbsp oil
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 tbsp uncooked oatmeal
• 1 cup flour (white, wheat, or combo)
  
• 1 tbsp soy flour
• 1 tbsp wheat germ
• 1 tbsp nonfat dry milk

Directions:

Blend wet ingredients, add dry ingredients. Dough will be stiff. Roll dough thin and cut into strips and shape to your desired shape. Bake at 350 degree's for 15 minutes on an ungreased cookie sheet. Though the last three ingredients are not needed, they add to the nutritional value.


If you would like additional recipes please comment and let me know, or watch the blog as I will update with more in the future (I have about 6 more).

Take a "Babymoon"

Alright, so some who read this might be married but are expecting their first child. This one is for you ladies. Before your baby is born take a babymoon. Take one last good vacation together before your baby is born. It will be hard to find special time together for a while after your baby is born and it is important for you as a couple to remember why you love each other. You need to have this special time together to reassure each other that you are there for each other through thick and thin and that you guys are ready for this next step in life as a united front instead of 2 individuals.

Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Help!

This is a VERY important tip. It is probably one of the most difficult tips for some mom's, but it is important. You are on the go from the time your child is born. It is very easy to get overwhelmed. You are not alone, you must never forget it. We have all done things to get through motherhood that we probably think we are the only one(for example: most of the time we cannot shower everyday). It might be difficult but do not be afraid to ask for help. You have so many people who care about you and your child that most are willing to help you. It can be small things, for example a great friend of mine stayed up all night on the phone with me when my daughter was 3 weeks old and would not sleep just to make sure that I would stay awake and to support me because all mothers know how difficult it is to a mother. You can ask a friend or a relative to come over and watch the baby so you can just jump in the shower. You must not be afraid to ask for help, no matter how big, small, or embarrassing it is for you. A great support system will help you through this difficult journey, because we are not perfect and we need help.

Preventing "Poop Painting"

Sooner or later your baby will learn how to take their diaper off. You can't stop it but you can prevent it at one of the worst times, when you are sleeping. Say your little bean has woken up before you in the morning, decides to entertain themselves. It is horrible to wake up to a baby who has taken off their diaper because they can and it was soiled and find that they have "poop painted" the walls, the crib, their hair, their clothes, their bedding, and their mouths(gross I know but trust me it DOES happen). When you put your wee one to bed one thing you can do is make sure that they are in a onesie. Now sooner or later they will figure out how to undo those snaps on their onesie and then you are in for waking up to a poop masterpiece. A way to prevent it after they have learned how to unsnap the onesie is to put the onesie on backwards. I know it sounds strange but it is quite difficult for them to unsnap it when it is on their butt.

I hope that helps you to prevent messes when you wake up in the morning, because we all know we don't want to wake up to cleaning poop off of every surface in a 5 ft radius of your baby.