Diaper Rash

A diaper rash, known as Dermatitis, is an inflamed, red and patchy area of skin on a baby’s bottom. The common causes are:  

§  Prolonged urine and fecal matter against the skin

§  Inadequate drying of the skin after a bath

§  Seborrheic Dermatitis

§  Thrush and Candidiasis

o   Babies on antibiotics are extremely susceptible to candida-related rashes

§  Food sensitivities, most commonly dairy

When a rash does occur, and most babies will have a mild one even with the most vigilant of moms, early treatment of is the best solution to the problem.  Zara got her first small rash after having a poopy diaper in the middle of the night and not waking for us to change it.  Here are the best prevention and treatment options:

§  Frequent diaper changes, at least every 3 hours while awake

§  Drying off completely after bath time

§  Using non-alcohol diaper wipes as the alcohol can be more irritating to the skin and spread the bacteria. Kaiser sells some wipes that you just add warm water to.

§  Giving the baby more fluids. If on solids offer water in a sippy cup.

§  Add 2 Tbsp. of baking soda to a warm bath to help dry and heal the skin.

§  Use creams like Burt’s Bee’s diaper rash to protect healthy skin.  Desitin can be used in more extreme cases to keep skin dry. 

§  Don’t use baby powder as it can cause skin moisture to get trapped in the creases.

Teething

Unfortunately teething will occur way before you are ready for it or want to deal with it.  So what happens when those evil teeth try to come in?  You will go from having a cheerful sweet baby to one that goes from laughing to crying for, what seems to be, absolutely no reason.  It’s a stressful situation for both mom and baby.  Typically this is a time when your baby will be very clingy and want mom a lot more than any one else, even dad. 

Are your little one’s first two teeth trying to come in?  Here are some soothing remedies to try:

o   Amber necklace

o   Clove necklace

o   Camilia Homeopathic remedy

o   Tylenol/ibuprofen (some side-effects)

o   Teething toys (Sophie the giraffe and ones that go in the freezer are best)

o   Frozen pacifier (set it in an empty ice cube tray)

o   Frozen fruit in the munchkin cloth bags (make sure to sterilize between each use)

o   Warm bath to break the fever

To soothe Miss Zara we used a frozen pacifier, Camilia drops and teething toys.   The Camilia drops are really helpful because you can treat baby every 15 minutes. They also relax baby and can help her sleep.

Outrageous Outgrowns

http://www.outrageousoutgrowns.com/nextevent.html

Outrageous Outgrowns has been in business for more than 15 years, bringing Bay Area families together for a huge semi-annual sale. Families can sell items their kids no longer need and buy items they will soon need. We all know that kids grow way too fast to pay high retail prices, and you don’t have to! Every item at the show is hand-checked for quality, so you won’t find anything but gently used (or new) stuff for your kids at prices you won’t believe! And for your convenience, all clothing is hanging on racks, sorted by size and gender. All other items are sorted by category and neatly arranged. It’s easy to shop because you can easily find the items you’re interested in.

Dr. Walker Found lots of great items last year for her baby and this year she and Zara are going again for some toddler toys and cloths.

The Sippy Cup

When introducing a sippy cup you will read that it is important to make sure and use at least two kinds.  Personally I prefer the sippy cup that has a straw attached to it.  This will teach your little one the wonderfully convenient skill of using a straw. Then when you are at someone’s house and you have forgotten the sippy cup or at a restaurant, all you need is a straw for him or her to have a functioning drink option.  The second reason that I worry about the other form of sippy cup is based on this article in the Wall Street Journal.   

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB1013466417324774040

Whichever you choose, here are some tips I found helpful in selecting a sippy cup for Zara. Look for a cup that:

·      Has a section where mom or dad can give it a squeeze to help them learn how to suck

·      You can clean the straw or mouthpiece with a small wire brush

·      Is a safe plastic, glass or stainless steel

·      Doesn’t leak or only leaks minimally when in a bag or being twirled in the air

I purchased two kinds:

1.     The Little Sipper with a straw from Munchkin

2.     The Safe Sippy with a straw.

And after about a week she can even use a straw!

Introduction of Solids

You won’t want to begin trying solid foods until your baby is somewhere between 5-8 months of age.  Some research suggests that it is better to wait until 6 months of age to introduce solids as the undeveloped digestive system can be sensitive and food allergies can develop.  Since breast milk is such a great food I decided to wait until Zara was at least 6 months to begin any food introduction.

You should always nurse your infant first before offering a solid food. Offer whole foods in as close to the natural state as possible (mashed and cooked fruits and vegetables, cooked cereal grains, etc.). At about 9 months you may let your baby attempt to feed herself as part of her exploration.  Each item needs to be individually introduced for 3 days at a time to make sure delayed food sensitivities don’t crop up within the 72-hour window.  If your baby shows any of the following symptoms eliminate it for a while before you try it again. Don't offer any combinations until all the foods have been introduced individually.

Diarrhea

Constipation

Unusual fussiness

Lethargy

Stuffy/runny nose

Coughing/wheezing                                

Ear infections

Change in personality                               

Rash around mouth or anus (or other skin reactions)

It is very import how and in what order you introduce your food groups.  I prefer the following order and within each group I’m including the foods and the order I used for Zara.

1.     Vegetables:           

a.     Yellow/Orange vegetables first: squash, yams, sweet potatoes, carrots (corn is a common allergen so wait until 1 year)

                                               i.     For Zara: kopacha squash, butternut squash, sweet potato, yam, carrots

b.     Green Vegetables:  green Beans, broccoli, spinach, peas

                                               i.     For Zara:  green beans, peas, broccoli, spinach

c.      Various colored: cauliflower, purple yams, bok choy

                                               i.     For Zara: cauliflower, purple yams

2.     Fruits:  Limit these and think of them like a desert always giving veggies first: applesauce, pear, banana, papaya, mango, prunes, peaches

a.     For Zara: applesauce, pear, mango, prune, peach, papaya

b.     Hold off on all citrus, pineapple and kiwi until 1 year as these are hard on the tummy due to acidic content

3.     Proteins:  Lentils   Zara:  Lentils Hold off on the rest of the bigger beans and meats until baby is 1 year or more.

The easiest way to make baby food is to steam the fruit or veggie in distilled or filtered water and then blend using the distilled water that captured some of the nutrients while steaming. I recommend freezing in cubes for easy reheating.  Use the silicon ice cube trays as the food is easier to pop out and put in a bag.  See the photo of me doing this with squash.  That way once all the food is introduced you can easily mix and match.