Sleep Issues of 8-12 Months

At the ages of 8-12 months, your baby will begin to need less sleep during the day and should be regularly sleeping through the night. But there’s also much more activity and stimulation during the day – babies are eating up the world at this stage, they’re learning so much.

If you’re feeding him baby food during the day, and decreasing bottles, make the last bottle feeding at nighttime. You can also have a bottle in the night to soothe him if he wakes up. Babies are teething at this time as well, and that can cause them to wake up in discomfort. You may be weaning the baby from breastfeeding, and that can be a difficult transition as well.

There are different schools of thought on handling babies who are a challenge to get to sleep. Some recommend letting the baby cry it out, but this is hard on the parents, especially on mom who may have been comforting and bonding with the baby all day long. It can see cruel to just let the baby cry himself to sleep. He’s just a little guy, after all.

Take extra care at this time to make sure the nursery is conducive to sleeping. Make sure his diaper is clean and his sheets are clean and soft. If he’s teething, use a topical pain treatment that’s safe for the baby. You can also invest in some homeopathic tablets that ease teething naturally. Make sure his nose is clear and not stuffy. If you use a foam wedge to keep the baby from sleeping on his stomach, sleep with a spare one night and then put that in his bed so that your scent is close to him at night.

Make sure the room isn’t too cold or too hot; keep a humidifier in the room to maintain a good moisture balance, especially in the winter when rooms can dry out. Your baby just might be stubborn about sleeping, but try to figure out if there are physical problems that you can alleviate first.

Sleep Issues of 4-7 months

When your baby turns 3 months old, she should start sleeping at night. As the baby’s adaptability factor is too strong, so they are learning and observing all the time, and your baby could soon start to associate sleep time with the time when mommy isn’t there. It’s called separation anxiety and it’s a normal part of development for many babies.

You may introduce your baby to some foods, and this can help your baby feel sleepy. But do not forget to introduce the new patterns gently and slowly. If you find your baby crying for you when you aren’t there, or isn’t sleeping, then she needs to learn to self-comfort, but not all at once – put her at ease in learning the habit of sleeping alone.

Don’t change your quotidian activities before bedtime. You can still start off with a warm bath and feeding. Rocking, snuggling, singing or reading – these are all bonding times for mother and baby. If you happen to find out that your baby doesn’t fall asleep right away, so then try putting her in her crib with the rocker or glider right next to the crib, singing or reading to her. You can stand at the crib and rub or pat her back.

Within a week or 2, move your chair a short distance away from the baby’s crib, so the baby can see you, and you can talk or read or sing. If the baby cries for more than 10 or 15 minutes, then get up and comfort her, but put her back down in the crib and go back to your chair.

In another week or 2, put it over a relatively more distance i.e. towards the door. Even these minor changes could be hard for your baby, but be patient. This is a time when you can fold her laundry and put it away; while talking to her so she’s aware of your presence, but your attention should not focused entirely on her. This way she can get used to the idea of separation gradually.

Sleep Requirements

Being a new mother, you probably will observe or might think that your baby sleeps too much through out the day. This varies from baby to baby; but there are certain standards on which you can deduce your expectations. Even if you’ve had children before, each baby will be different.

The sleeping time of a new born infant is around 16-17 hours within a 24-hours period. And a proven fact is that most of the babies will not sleep throughout the night; until they’re at least 3 months old and for this, there are several reasons why. First of all, their stomachs are quite small and they’ll get hungry quite frequently, especially if you’re breastfeeding your baby. Breast milk is gets digested in a little time as compared to a formula, and your baby will be requiring more feed, especially in the initial stages.

Babies have shorter sleep cycles than adults do, and so have shorter dream cycles. In general a newborn baby should sleep about 8 or nine hours during the day and 8 hours or so at night but in the beginning, these sleep times will be quite short.

As the baby grows older, up to about 2 years of age, she’ll still be sleeping 13-14 hours, but the day time sleep time will reduce month-by-month. By reaching the age 2, your baby should be sleeping through the night with a 2-hour nap during the day, but thus again this will vary by child. May be your baby might need a slightly longer nap or two short naps. At this particular age, try to discourage naps too late in the afternoon, as this can make it harder for them to sleep a few hours later at bed time.

Once the baby begins to sleep throughout the night, parents are often dismayed when he/she begins to awaken in the night again. This typically happens at about 6 months of age and is often a normal part of development; and is called separation anxiety.

Trial and Error

Being a mom, no matter of a first baby or not – you would always expect the best to happen with your child and for that you try to do your best. For getting known to the perfect guidelines, you can start off by reading the books of the experts and of course; friends and relatives always have advice for a new mother and baby.

This all may enable to start the journey, but if it doesn’t works for you or you aren’t contented, then you have to try something new, or what is compatible. Try different things at bedtime to see what works for you and your baby, as your baby is unique and not like any other baby, after all!

Try feeding the baby with different types of food especially at nights, or change the timing of her last feeding. As per her pajamas, make sure they are soft but nor scratchy; be sure to use special detergents made just for baby clothes, especially in the beginning. Do hang her clothes and bedding outside in the sunshine to dry because who doesn’t feel all the more cozy and comfy when going to sleep in bedding that has been dried outside! Just make sure no critters get into the baby’s bedding or clothes.

Are you accustomed to a habit at night; that is having a nice bath and then feeding while holding the baby close to you? Nothing is more delightful than holding your baby right out of the bath when she has that wonderful baby smell. It’s just important to make this a pleasant and relaxing time for both of you, especially at this age of hers, when she is in the first months of her life.

If you’ve been playing with the baby beforehand, then it would take a little longer to get her to sleep. Again, those rituals of taking bath, feeding her, talking and singing to her in a quiet, darkened room will soon signal bed time for your baby, and hopefully for you too.

Bathing your Baby

The bathing time is considered to be a special time, in strengthening the intimacy between the baby and his/her parents. It is the time to play gently, talk and sing. Don’t forget to get all the necessary things with you before starting off. The list includes water of course, washcloth, alcohol pads, bath towel (with a hood if you have one), clean diaper, any items that you frequently use during a diaper change (for little circumcised boys this would include Vaseline and gauze squares), and fresh clothes. It is recommended to use baby wash and baby shampoo, preferably natural ones with calendula oils. The regular soaps and shampoos can be too harsh or drying for the baby’s skin. Babies lose the body heat pretty quickly, so make sure that the room is warm -- 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit is an ideal temperature.

Cradle your baby's head gently in one hand and use the other hand to remove her clothing. Gently wash the baby with a soft, warm washcloth, and dry her off with a towel. A pretty good idea is to start off with the "less dirty" areas initially i.e. leave the diaper area to be washed at last – as to ensure that you’re not washing the baby in the dirty water. As you move on, be sure to gently wash behind her ears; the crevices at her neck, elbows, and knees; and in between her fingers and toes. It is also a good idea to wash a newborn's hair near the end of bath time as this will help in preventing him or her from losing too much body heat. You can wash one area at a time and put on a clothing item on as soon as an area is washed and dried, if you prefer to do so as this is not necessary or a thumb’s rule unless or until you are in a room which is relatively cold.

Most newborn infants don't have much hair, so it is easy to sponge it with water, pretty much the same way you do with the rest of the body. Almost all babies dislike getting their eyes wet. If you push the head a little at the back, just a bit, and work your way from the front to the back, you can avoid getting water in your baby's eyes.

Music for Babies

You probably have seen through the musical shelves in the markets - videos and CDs for babies. There are some theories that say that classical music can make your baby smarter, and to expose your baby to music is the first and practical part of what we do to introduce them to all the sights and sounds of their world.

Music, as per considering the soul’s nutrition, can definitely help in calming your baby down; and puts him in a restful state at bed or nap time. What are some good choices that you can think out for your baby?

Almost anything you love or use for relaxation for yourself, is as good for your baby too. And pertinent to this, there are good collections of Mozart or Bach for bedtime, amongst which you may have a choice to opt from. Listening to the music of Enya can be very soothing as well for the baby. Georgia Kelly’s harp music is also relaxing and peaceful.

There are a lot of musical themes from the movies, and certain nursery rhymes for your baby when he/she wakes up. We know a lot of kids who respond to minimalist Phillip Glass’s music; as for its genre being simple and rhythmic, and upon getting older, they might dance on it. Spirituals and soft gospel music are also good choices to help the baby get to sleep.

The white noise (mild), in the form of a moving fan (but make sure not directed right at the baby), or from sound machines that simulate the sound of an ocean or rain, can also be restful as well for your baby, as it blocks out other noises from the home. You don’t need to create an artificially silent environment for the baby because this will make it harder for them to get to sleep when the home’s rhythms and noises get back to normal; so make sure a little jingling is going on.

This can be a great time for you to explore the array of the classical music as well, if it’s not already part of your life. The same music that is helping your baby to get to sleep can help soothe your own nerves too; and can provide a wonderful time of bonding and restfulness for you and your baby together.

Nursery Feng Shui

You must be familiar with “Feng Shui”, the well known Chinese system for arrangement and placement of furniture in a room. It’s often used in businesses and homes on a frequent basis, as to create positive energy in your environment. Even if you’ve never used Feng Shui for your space, why not consider it for your baby’s room? Feng Shui is now initiating into the market of nursery. Feng Shui proposes that the correct arrangement and alignment of the room enables the energy to flow better in the room. Positive energy flow will create an environment to thrive; for people of any age, especially a baby.

To maximize the energy in baby's room, there are several important factors to consider, such as room location, safety, colors, and furniture arrangement. The use of the Feng Shui in the nursery will help to make babies less fussy, and will feel more comfortable in their surroundings, thus being healthy their development will flourish. What does it takes to accomplish this? Following are some of the basic considerations that will help the both; baby and the parents to create a room that makes them both happy.

First of all, the thing which needs to be checked is the location of the baby’s room. The new baby should have a bedroom that is not over a garage or has an empty space below. The bedroom shouldn't be located where there is excessive noise that might disturb the baby’s sleep, such as close to a living room where the TV is on, or close to a noisy street or neighbors. The bed should not be against a window or be directly in line with the door. Make sure that the baby does not sleep against a slanting wall - avoid placing the baby against a wall that is shared with a bathroom, toilet, storage, or utility-type room. Create good but soft energy, and promote the movements of the mobiles hung close to a window to move gently in the breeze and keep soft music playing in the room.

The baby’s nursery should always be neat and clean - nothing at all should be underneath the crib. Few things should line the walls, keep it minimal. Make sure that you change and clean the diaper’s mess each night so that a sweet and nice fragrance regulates. Even for this purpose, a small air filter can be placed to ensure clean crisp air 24/7 at a relatively low concentration.

Nursery decor

Start planning to decorate the new nursery for your new baby – as it would be the most wonderful thing to do. If you have happened to find out the baby’s gender, you can have the room all set for him or her; when you come home from the hospital; accordingly.

Now the question is that how to make the sleeping environment more optimal for the child, and provide a secure sanctuary for his living.
A trend that was practiced for a short time was to have bright, stimulating colors in the nursery or mobiles in black and white to help the baby’s eyes develop. The popularity of this trend came to an end quite quickly as the parents happened to found out all such trendy stuff wasn’t effective in promoting sleep

Make sure that the crib is designed in way that conforms to all the guidelines for safety plus you have a good and firm mattress. Keep to softer pastel colors – blues, greens, pinks and yellows. Any color you like is good, although some, like blues and greens, are more restful and can instigate the baby to sleep.

Make sure that the entire room is fresh and clean and so the bedding of the infant. Make sure to place a comforter or a quilt for decoration; at least until the baby is a year old. Custom made quilt clips can be bought which can be hanged on the wall. Ensure this thing that your baby’s face is clear all the time and for this just make clear your bed with blankets, pillows or quilts, as then there would be no danger of obstruction of baby’s breathing. You may want a small foam wedge that’s positioned to keep the baby from rolling on her stomach. Plus you should also keep stuffed animals or other toys out of the crib until the baby’s older for the same purpose; that the breathing doesn’t blocks. In addition, purchase a baby monitor to hear your baby throughout the night. These days, some monitors actually show your baby on a screen or video – isn’t it amazing.

Make sure that your room is pleasant for you and your baby. If you use a scent like lavender keep it under light concentration. Do not profuse or over power. Keep the room as dust-free as possible to avoid sneezing and stuffy noses. The nursery should feel like a safe and pleasant place for your baby so that he or she can enjoy the maximum of warmth and security.

Nursery setup

Crib is the most essential element of any nursery so tend to make it more safe and cozy for the baby. It does not matter that what type of crib you get, but make sure that it conforms to all safety guidelines and standards that are essential to comfy the baby. Ensure that the mattress of the crib fits comfortably against the rails, so the baby can’t get blocked between them. Abreast also make sure that the crib sheet is congruous and tightly fitted such that nothing gets loose or bunched up.

Until the baby is at least a year old, avoid the use of sheets or blankets. A comforter or quilt should be purchased for décor purposes specifically for that only one year. Make sure the baby’s sleepwear is clean, soft and appropriate in terms of the climatic conditions and the temperature. You don’t want them too warm or too light, as babies can’t regulate their own body temperatures at first.

A small, foam wedge is perhaps the only crib accessory, which you want inside the crib when the baby’s sleeping; so that you can use to keep the baby from rolling on her stomach. Sleeping on her back or on her side is the position that many experts recommend at first.

Make sure that the sheets you use are always fresh and clean; use unscented detergent in case your baby’s sensitive to fragrances.

The room should be completely dust-free and so does the clutter free space beneath the crib, so that it does not accumulate dust. As if your baby is sensitive to dust, you don’t want to trigger a bout of sneezing and a runny nose at bedtime or naptime.

Choose soft, soothing, sift and restful colors for your room and the bed sheets. Too much color and contrast will stimulate the baby’s vision and keep her alert, just when you want her to wind down for bedtime or a nap. The baby’s room and the crib should be soft; as it is the place that iss calm and restful for her.

Moving to the nursery

As soon as the new baby arrives home, you probably will have the urge to keep him near you at all times; especially when you are going to bed at night. For this very purpose, you should have a crib or cradle in your bedroom at first, since it will minimize the distance you have to walk to handle nighttime feedings.

You can try moving the baby into his nursery for nap right from the beginning, just to minimize any sort of trauma or anxiety when moving him into a strange room with new sight and feelings; when he’s a little older. Sit with the baby in a rocker or glider and rock him to sleep at first, and then move him into his crib.

Later you can think of putting him in his crib and if you find your baby to be fussy or can’t get to sleep, try sitting near the crib for a few nights until he falls asleep. Then move the chair further away for another week or so. Finally, position his chair near the door, so the baby gets used to falling asleep without being right next to you.

It would definitely be hard initially, but if you’re consistent then eventually, you’ll get your baby to the point where he can fall asleep in his own room. Start establishing a nighttime routine, so your baby knows about the expectations. A good start is to give him a nice, warm bath, followed by changing into soft clean pajamas. Even a very young baby can be ready for it, at bedtime. You can also sing and talk to him. The sound of your voice is what matters so the baby feels safe and secure enough to fall asleep. By starting these simple routines initially, hopefully you’ll come up with the troubles later on trying to move the baby into his nursery and getting him to sleep at a normal time.

Bottle types

There are three available types of baby bottles; the glass made, plastic made and the plastic with disposable plastic liners. The glass bottles pretty much durable comparatively, but they are a bit heavier to use plus they are breakable. The plastic bottles too are robust but are relatively light weighted. The bottles with plastic liners are the most convenient ones since the liners don't need to be sterilized; but these types of the bottles can also be expensive to use. Some of the plastic bottles are shaped at an angle to minimize the amount of air the baby takes in the stomach when feeding.

You can choose amongst the several styles of nipples; either rubber or silicone, and should buy new nipples every three months. As your baby grows, buy nipples with relatively larger holes.

Most babies are happier in taking the formula that is stored at room temperature. If your baby prefers warmed-up formula, heat the bottle (with the formula in it) by running it under hot water from the faucet. This way you can ensure the average temperature of the liquid, that is neither too hot nor too cold; plus you can frequently check the temperature by checking some formula on your wrist. Don't use the microwave to heat the formula because the liquid heats unevenly. Even though the bottle may be cool to your touch, the liquid inside could be burning hot and scald your baby’s throat.

The time to feed the baby is pretty much enjoyable for both; the baby and the person who feeds. Cuddling with the baby is important and feeding time is the perfect opportunity to get in some skin-to-skin contact. When the baby is about a halfway finished drinking the formula in the bottle, take a break and let her burp to release any gas that may be accumulating in the tummy. A general rule of thumb is to burp your baby after every 2 ounces eaten. If you forget to do this, your baby will wake up from her restful sleep crying, due to the need to burp.

Formula

Being a new mother, you must be aware of the fact that the breastfeeding is best for your baby, but another fact is that everyone can’t successfully breastfeed. What is considered important and feasible is that your baby gets the perfect nourishment he needs to develop and thrive. If you see that the baby isn’t thriving on breast milk, then you need to switch to the baby formula. And pertinent to this, there are many different options to choose from.

You should not be brand conscious when it comes to choose the baby formula as all the formulas are prepared according to FDA regulations which specify minimum and, in some cases, maximum nutrient level requirements for infant formulas, based on recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition. These regulations and the Infant Formula Act help to make sure that all infant formulas are nutritionally complete and safe for your baby. Moreover, the American Academy of Pediatrics does not endorse, recommend, or testify that your infant should drink any specific brand of formula if you choose not to breastfeed. The exception is that they do say that low iron formula should not be used.

The baby formulas differ mostly in the type of sugar and protein which they are composed of. The regular iron fortified infant formulas, e.g. Similac Advance, Enfamil Lipil, and Nestle Good Start Supreme are made with lactose and cow's milk based proteins formula. Soy formulas are made with soy protein and are lactose free and are considered good for children who don't tolerate lactose or milk proteins. Elemental formulas are also lactose free and are made with hydrolysate proteins, which are easy to digest for infants with protein allergies. If you have a family history of food allergies or formula intolerances, you might choose to start your baby off with a soy or elemental formula; if you do not want to breastfeed. Similarly some infants, who are not on breastfeeding, should be exclusively given a cow's milk based iron fortified formula.

Co-sleeping

The relative studies have show that co-sleeping with a breastfeeding infant results in to strengthening the vital bond between the mother and the infant; though the western culture discourages it. Co-sleeping has got many advantages such as it regulates the mother and baby's sleep patterns, plays a role in helping the mother to become more responsive to her baby's cues, and gives both; the mother and baby the needed rest. The co-sleeping environment also expedites the mother to continue breastfeeding on demand, which is an important step in maintaining the mother's milk supply.

There are several known ways of co-sleeping with the infant. Some mothers tend to keep their babies with them in the bed all the time. Some of the mothers set up a bassinet in the room; and the babies are brought to their bed when they awake. Where as some mothers sleep with their babies on a mattress in the baby's room. This is entirely on the discretion of the mother to decide that how to co-sleep with the infant. But there are some guidelines for doing it effectively and safely.
The parents, if smokers or have ingested alcohol or drugs should abstain from sleeping with the baby. Do not even co-sleep if you drink alcohol or medications that make you sleepy. In addition, you must co-sleep only on beds, rather than on couches or recliners. Bedding should be tight fitting to the mattress and the mattress should be tight fitting to the headboard of the bed. Avoid loose pillows, fluffy bedding or soft blankets near the baby's face. Make sure that there should not be any space between the bed and adjoining wall, where there is a chance that the baby could roll and become trapped. And of course, the baby should not be placed on its stomach or face down (to mitigate the risk of SIDS).
There are numerous options and guidelines, just like there are number of parents and babies. As babies grow and change their sleep patterns, families often respond by changing the sleeping places. The only right choice is what works the best for you and the entirely family gets the complete needed rest.

Breastfeeding sleep

Breast-feeding is good for both; the new mothers and their babies. Breastfeeding, besides being the optimal source of nutrition for your baby in the very first year, nursing has obvious psychological benefits for both mother and the baby. At birth, infants see only 12 to 15 inches, which is the distance between a nursing baby and its mother's face. Studies have found that infants as young as 1 week start preferring the smell of their own mother's milk.
Many psychologists firmly believe that the nursing baby enjoys the sense of security from the warmth and presence of the mother, especially when there's skin-to-skin contact during feeding. Parents who bottle-feed their babies may tempt to prop bottles in the baby's mouth i.e. no human contact during feeding; but a nursing mother ought to cuddle her infant closely several times during the day. Nursing becomes a source of warmth and comfort; more than just a way to feed the baby.
It is quite intrinsic and natural that a baby quickly falls asleep if, is fed this way. When you know pretty well that how much your infant can consume in one feeding, try to gently nudge her awake if she falls asleep too soon or else she’ll get hungry sooner and you’ll be feeding more often. You can easily awake your baby with a little tickle of the feet.
Moreover it is much easier for a nursing mother to lose the pounds of pregnancy as well, since nursing uses up extra calories. Lactation also stimulates the uterus to contract back to its original size. A nursing mother is forced to get needed rest and she must do it so. She must sit down, put her feet up, and relax every few hours to nurse. Nursing during the night is easy as well as if she is lying down; a mother can doze while she nurses.

Breastfeeding

It is quite natural that the parents wish to give out the best to their baby. When it comes to nutrition of the infant, the first and the best food for the infant is breast milk. According to the recommendations of the experts, the babies can be breast-fed for six to twelve months. The one and only acceptable alternative to breast milk is the infant formula. Upon turning 4-6 months, the baby can be introduced to solid foods. But the baby should continue taking the breast milk or formula, not cow's milk for a full year as cow's milk contains a different type of protein than breast milk. This cow milk may be proving good for calves, but human infants can have difficulty digesting it. Bottle-fed infants tend to be fatter than breast-fed infants, but not essential that they are healthier too.
The breast milk contains at least 100 ingredients which are not found in the formula. None of the babies are/become allergic to their mother's milk nor it has happened, although they may have a reaction to something the mother eats and if she eliminates it from her diet, the problem resolves itself.
One of the pros of breastfeeding a baby is that by sucking the breast, the infant’s jaw development is promoted. It is relatively harder to get milk out of a breast than a bottle, and this exercise strengthens the infant’s jaws and encourages the growth of straight and much healthier teeth. The baby who is breast fed becomes enabled to control the flow of milk by sucking and stopping unlike a bottle in which the baby must constantly suck or react to the pressure of the nipple placed in the mouth.
Initially the infant required to be fed at least 8 – 12 times in a 24 hours period, since both baby and mother are getting used to the process. Breast milk is more quickly digested than the formula, which is another reason why more frequent feeding is necessary. Adding to it, the constant suckling at the breast stimulates the mammary glands to produce more milk for the baby’s growing appetite. The extra time which is spent in feeding the baby for the first year is of well worth, as the breast milk passes along the mother’s immunities and delivers the highest-quality nutrition for a developing baby.

SIDS

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS); can be the worst heart rendering dilemma that a newborn can experience – it is defined as when a baby dies in the first year of life from no apparent cause. The actual causes of SIDS are still unknown till the date today, but in SIDS death, the baby’s recovery mechanism isn’t developed (if deprived of oxygen) and thus the baby is unable to rouse himself if his breathing becomes obstructed; especially when the infant is sleeping with face down.

The risk of being victimized by SIDS can not be proactively predicted or diagnosed although the occurrence of SIDS deaths has decreased in the last 10 years. Creating a safe sleep environment for the baby is the best recommendation that helps in preventing SIDS.

As per the baby’s first year, mothers ought to put their babies to sleep on their backs. Else if you are positioning them to sleep on their sides, make sure that they should be positioned with one arm forward to keep them from rolling over on their stomachs. Soft foam wedges can be purchased for this purpose.

Make sure your baby’s face isn’t blocked – avoid loose, soft and fluffy bedding. Be cautious to not to overheat your baby by over-wrapping or dressing him in too many layers.
Make sure that you do not smoke nor let any one smoke around the baby.

Some of the monitoring systems that can alert you if the baby stops breathing are stated below: You need to be conscious if you observe any one of them:-

1. If the baby has had any life-threatening episodes, such as turning blue, or an episode requiring mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
2. If the baby had elder sibling/s who died of SIDS.
3. If the baby’s birth was premature

Make sure to keep get your baby routine checked up to make sure his lungs are fully developed and to maintain all immunizations.

Cope with new schedule

You might be thinking that you lost your freedom to rest, upon bringing home the new born-and this is right to some extent if you lack proper planning. The basic advice to a mother of new baby is to try taking some rest and sleep whenever she can. The baby won’t be sleeping through out the night for several weeks, or even months. The baby’s adjustments with the schedule of night and day wont let you sleep through the night until the baby does so.

The recommended time for this period for a mom is to try to sleep when the baby sleeps during the night. Many new mothers try to do everything at once, and start cleaning or doing the laundry once the baby goes down for a nap. And by doing this, you would end up with a dead tiring hour and you can not help that out as this thing would reoccur again; so plan and synchronize things accordingly.

If you are offered for any help in those first weeks with the cleaning and laundry, do not be uncertain to it and accept it happily. If you can have a friend or relative in to watch the baby for an afternoon while you catch some much-needed sleep, try to take advantage to the maximum; if you can.

When you’ve been so busy all day with the baby’s activities and as well as other things to maintain a household, it can be hard to rest through out the day. Try to develop a routine that helps you to unwind yourself at nights. Take a warm bath – with Luke warm water – listening to some relaxing music. Even if you do not breast feed, avoid taking caffeine throughout the day and especially at night; instead drink water or decaffeinated herbal tea. If foods that have a lot of preservatives or sodium can make you jumpy, try to avoid those as much as possible. Try eating natural foods, such as salads, green vegetables, fruits, and warm healthy soups.

As soon as you find yourself able, try to get out and walk for a little bit each day. The fresh air and moderate exercise will make you and your baby relaxed and can help you both in getting a relaxing nap at night.

Typical day and night

When you bring home your new baby, a certain set of duties and responsibilities come along. The typical days, nights and evenings which the parents used to spend; won’t be the same, and the reason behind it is that you have to keep in regard the transitional change which the baby has passed through. The ultimate evolution of the baby when he/she was in the womb and now is in the realistic world; demands a little attention of yours. Even if you are breastfeeding, that too will be a bit time taking for both of you to adjust.

Your baby will require feed after every 3 – 5 hours if he/she has been formula fed. If you’re breastfeeding, the infant needs to be fed more frequently. Being a mother sometimes, would often let you think that you have nothing to except for breast feeding your baby. Moreover, you have got a lot of diapers to change, especially until you get familiar with the baby’s schedule. Majority of the times, the diapers need to be changed shortly after feeding, about once an hour in the very beginning. Be sure to check for it on frequent basis.

Until or unless the umbilical cord does not falls off, you’ll have to keep to sponge baths every few days. But you will have to wash the baby’s bottom every day, thus you can wipe the baby’s hands, face, neck and bottom every day with a soft washcloth with warm water. Within a few weeks when your baby is ready for full baths, bathing the infant every day is a good idea to prevent diaper rashes. But keep in mind that too much bathing can dry the sensitive skin of the baby; so see what works for your baby.

To prevent the baby from scratching himself, regularly trim the quickly growing fingers and toenails of the baby. The baby’s nails can be long, even at birth and attached high on the nail bed. You should gently press the finger pad away from the nail and clip it with a baby nail clipper. Make sure to start off with the nail trimming process when the baby is sleeping, to ensure that he doesn’t jerk those little fingers and toes away!

Concluding; just think of remaining busy 24/7 during the first month, at least – being a new mother of an infant. You ought to feed, and change the diapers around the clock so get as much used to it. Moreover do not hesitate to take help of any of your close friend or relatives, so you can have some peace too.

Stress

Hey! You might be pregnant and expecting a good news within a few months/days or may be you are having a baby. What can be better than this news? You should make this moment of your life now the best of all, as being mother is the moment to feel blessed.

Being blessed with a baby is really very exciting but you may experience some tensions with it. You may experience a bulk of fatigues from the very moment of the delivery of your baby. If you’re having first baby, you can not afford to rely on the hospitals completely, as they don’t give you very much help or advice. Instead, the hospitals send you home along with the infant and hand over a list of demands to you which you got to interpret. The new babies don’t sleep much-at least not that long that you may take the needed rest and refresh yourself. Sometimes you tend to think that you won’t be able to get a full night’s sleep again; at least till the baby settles into a routine. Adding to it, the experiencing of hormonal changes in your own body, and you are having a formula that’s guaranteed to be stressful. But don’t worry!

There are some useful tips and practical advises that you can work on; to surpass the fatigues of the few initial weeks – being a mother.

Firstly, do not think that you might change or handle the things being a super mom. Remember to take a snooze too, when your baby sleeps. The laundry can wait for you until you get fresh a little and so do the dishes in the kitchen. Do not think to maintain or revitalize the perfect house of yours and give yourself a break whenever you get the opportunity to sleep and refresh yourself, as your baby naps.

Don’t hesitate to request for a help to any of your close friends or relatives for a day, and by all means take advantage of that for an afternoon. Grandma would probably jump at the chance to have the baby all to herself for a few hours.

When putting the baby on bed for the night, take some time to relax, so that you could have a better chance of falling asleep. Get fresh by taking a lavender scented bath; put on some soft music and pat yourself a little. Sometimes it gets really hard even without a new baby to fall asleep right away. There are a lot of things to get used to!