Baby Tips

Read these 7 Baby Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Pregnancy tips and hundreds of other topics.

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How do I get my infant on a sleep schedule?

Infant Sleep Schedule

Baby sleep patterns are different from older children's. An infant's sleep schedule accumulates about 16 hours of sleep within a 24-hour period. Unlike older children, an infant sleeps in short time frames, sometimes as little as 30 minutes up to three hours at a time. Baby sleep patterns run through the day and night, and some newborns may have their days and nights backwards so they will sleep in the day more than the night. During the first 4-6 weeks of life, it is best to let your baby create his or her own infant sleep schedule. The baby sleep patterns will begin to develop. Your baby will let you know when she needs to sleep, but won't be on a constant schedule quite yet. Most baby sleep patterns will be to take several naps a day ranging from half an hour to a few hours. As your baby grows, the infant sleep schedule will change to require fewer naps. At about 6-9 months, most baby sleep patterns include 2 naps per day for only a few hours.

Most parents will want to start developing baby sleep patterns when the baby is around two months old. The first step is to create an infant sleep schedule with naps and bed times. These times should work with the baby's natural rhythm. Start by paying attention to when your baby becomes drowsy. Baby's show they are drowsy in a few different ways, by droopy eyes or crying. Try to keep nap and bed times scheduled for your baby's drowsy times so they can get proper rest. You may also want to create a ritual that you can do about a half-hour before bedtime. Baths, singing, reading, and rocking are common bedtime rituals that help relax your baby. Try to be consistent because babies will recognize that an evening bath happens before bedtime. Remember that whatever ritual you decide on is likely going to be the one your baby expects to get him or her ready for bed. Also, if you tend to rock your baby to sleep, then the baby sleep pattern develops to where the infant will want to be rocked after waking during the night.

   
How do I use a baby name finder for a baby name search?

Baby Name Finder

Naming your baby can be a fun and interesting experience. You might want to investigate names by ethnicity, popularity, gender and even family history. During your baby name search, you can use a baby name finder on the Internet to find the perfect baby name. There are many resourceful baby name finders available.

You want to look for a baby name finder that lets you conduct your search based on what is important to you and your family. Using a baby name finder can do more than help you complete your baby name search. It can help you honor your faith, family and ethnicity. The most popular baby name finder is located at babynameworld.com, where there are about 30,000 different baby names. Your baby name search can be done quickly and easily by gender. You might also want to use your family history or family tree for your baby name search.

Aside from the Internet, your local library is a free baby name finder. At the local library you can find many books on baby names, both classical and new, as well as their origins and meanings. During your baby name search, keep a booklet of your favorite choices. This way you can go over them later.

You don't actually have to decide on a baby name right away, or even the day your baby comes home. There have been many instances where parents went through an extensive baby name search, only to name their baby something not even on the baby name finder lists-or not name the baby for weeks after coming home. So, don't let yourself obsess about the baby name search, but it is a lot of fun to use a baby name finder to learn more about types of names and origins of names.

   
What do I do if my baby has not had a bowel movement?

Baby Has Not Had A Bowel Movement

Baby's first bowel movement should occur within a few days of birth, although it is usually sooner. Also, baby's first bowel movement may look very dark and be tar-like in consistency. If you are worried that your baby is not having bowel movements, these tips may help you.

When baby has not had a bowel movement for three days, it is likely that the baby is constipated. Constipation can occur for many reasons, and it is normal when baby has not had a bowel movement for a few days after dietary changes. Dietary changes include introducing solid foods, different juices, or switching from breast feeding to formula. Baby not having a bowel movement is also common if the baby has breast milk at home and formula at other times. Don't worry if baby has not had a bowel movement for a few days, this is common and could be from a lot of different normal reasons.

Rarely is baby not having a bowel movement an indication of more serious problems like hypothyroidism (a slow thyroid condition). If your baby is under two months old and has not had a bowel movement for three days or the bowel movement is dry and hard, contact your pediatrician before administering any treatments. For babies two to four months old, you can give them diluted fruit juice and water in two to four ounce servings twice a day. You want to be careful only to introduce one new juice at a time so you can be sure to monitor any allergies (the same with baby foods). Infants four months or older that are on solid foods can have high fiber foods introduced, like spinach and prunes.

   
What should my baby bowel movements be like?

Baby Bowel Movements

Baby bowel movements can be a concern for new parents. The consistency, color, and frequency of baby bowel movements will vary, but there are some common characteristics. The first baby bowel movement color is often dark green or even black. When your baby is a few days old, the baby bowel movement color will become a light yellow or mustard color with tiny seed-like particles in it.

A formula fed infant will have thicker baby bowel movements that are more brown or darker yellow in color. Both formula and breast fed baby bowel movements should be about the consistency of peanut butter, though it may be slightly firmer or runny. Baby bowel movement frequency is also very different from infant to infant.

Generally, a baby bowel movement's frequency is not something to worry about unless the infant has very dry stools. The baby bowel movement color of very dry stools can be in different shades of brown and yellow, and may be small and pebble like. These type of stools can occur even when baby bowel movement frequency is high, and are an indication of constipation or dehydration. Formula fed baby bowel movement frequency should be around once a day. Breast fed baby bowel movement frequency may be up to four times a day. If there has not be been a bowel movement for three days or the baby seems to be straining to go, this is a sign of constipation. Please contact your pediatrician about this.

Do not give an infant any over the counter medications to increase bowel movement frequency without consulting a physician. Common pediatrician recommendations for infant constipation are diluted fruit juices like apple juice and prune juice. Water with some corn syrup may also be recommended to help hydrate your baby. A quick telephone call to your pediatrician can give you the best advice for helping with baby bowel movements. In cases of painful constipation and low baby bowel movement frequency, suppositories may also be prescribed by the pediatrician.

   
How do I know if my baby has sleep problems?

Baby Sleep Problems

Baby sleep problems can occur naturally and most babies will simply grow out of them. Infant sleep problems occur for different reasons, but most infants don't have sleep problems, they just have different sleep schedules than adults and older children. Infants usually sleep in half-hour to several-hour shifts throughout the day. This is normal sleep behavior. However, some babies have problems falling asleep and staying asleep for various reasons.

Infant sleep problems can occur because a baby needs to be taught how to fall asleep through a ritual like rocking. Most babies sleep better when a sleeping ritual occurs about half an hour before bedtime. Try not to rush a baby into a sleeping pattern. This creates tension and anxiety, and infant sleep problems will happen if the baby feels a stressed environment every night. Babies are also really susceptible to uncomfortable stimulus, such as the television or some types of cloths (like polyester). Hunger, wetness, gas, and bright lights can also prevent a baby from sleeping well.

Some babies will fall asleep quickly and easily, staying asleep through most of the night. More often than not, baby sleep problems happen because the baby needs help and comfort falling back asleep. Other babies simply have a naturally high-strung temperament, and may just need more attention and love to fall back asleep. Don't worry that you are rocking your baby too much or that you will spoil the baby if he or she sleeps on your chest at night. It is impossible to give a baby too much attention, and often a stronger bond is developed with more night-time cuddling.

What parents assume are infant sleep problems are really just the baby's natural developmental pattern. Research shows that babies who wake during the night do so because REM (dream-stage) sleep actually helps develop the baby's brain. Since REM is light sleep, babies wake up more often with more REM sleep. So babies who wake four or five times a night or who don't stay asleep more than an hour at a time without needed fed or rocked are actually just responding to internal development and growth as the brain is being stimulated by REM sleep. If your baby doesn't sleep for lengthy intervals for the first few months, it may actually be an indication of higher brain functionality!

   
How do I get my baby to sleep through the night?

How To Get Baby To Sleep

How to get baby to sleep has been a question that new parents have asked for generations. There are tons of baby sleep solutions and "miracle cures" out there, and not a single one of them is worth your money or time. Some may even be detrimental to your infant's developmental process, since babies need natural sleep to occur for proper brain and body growth. The best baby sleep solutions are those that help parents connect with their infant and help baby sleep through the night. Most babies younger than 6 months will not sleep through the night. They have small stomachs, diapers, and because babies have more REM sleep than adults they also sleep lighter. So, if your baby wakes up several times during the night, he or she is just being a normal baby. Here are five baby sleep tips that can help you help baby sleep through the night:
1. If you need to know how to get baby to sleep, start with an evening ritual. Try a warm, soothing bath. Massage the baby as you bathe him or her to help relax their body.

2. Another how to get baby to sleep tip is to remove loud, noisy, or bright objects. Many brightly colored electronic mobiles actually defeat the purpose of helping baby sleep through the night. Also, some babies simply do not like to wear sleepers, or they may not like the type of cloth in their sleeper.

3. How to get baby to sleep at night also includes developing an evening routine. Babies thrive off day to day routines because they are learning about how life works. When the routine is interrupted, or there is no routine, some babies may have a very hard time going to sleep. If the day is very stressful, baby will pick up on this and may be anxious when going to sleep.

4. Don't be afraid to rock baby to sleep or to let baby sleep in your bed. If you remove pillows and fluffy blankets, you can sleep safely with baby in your bed. Some babies really need this human closeness to fall asleep and stay asleep. Others will be self-soothing. It just depends on the infants temperament. Don't worry, you can't spoil an infant this way.

How to get baby to sleep has been a question that new parents have asked for generations. There are tons of baby sleep solutions and "miracle cures" out there, and not a single one of them is worth your money or time. Some may even be detrimental to your infant's developmental process, since babies need natural sleep to occur for proper brain and body growth. The best baby sleep solutions are those that help parents connect with their infant and help baby sleep through the night. Most babies younger than 6 months will not sleep through the night. They have small stomachs, diapers, and because babies have more REM sleep than adults they also sleep lighter. So, if your baby wakes up several times during the night, he or she is just being a normal baby. Here are five baby sleep tips that can help you help baby sleep through the night:

1. If you need to know how to get baby to sleep, start with an evening ritual. Try a warm, soothing bath. Massage the baby as you bathe him or her to help relax their body.

2. Another how to get baby to sleep tip is to remove loud, noisy, or bright objects. Many brightly colored electronic mobiles actually defeat the purpose of helping baby sleep through the night. Also, some babies simply do not like to wear sleepers, or they may not like the type of cloth in their sleeper.

3. How to get baby to sleep at night also includes developing an evening routine. Babies thrive off day to day routines because they are learning about how life works. When the routine is interrupted, or there is no routine, some babies may have a very hard time going to sleep. If the day is very stressful, baby will pick up on this and may be anxious when going to sleep.

4. Don't be afraid to rock baby to sleep or to let baby sleep in your bed. If you remove pillows and fluffy blankets, you can sleep safely with baby in your bed. Some babies really need this human closeness to fall asleep and stay asleep. Others will be self-soothing. It just depends on the infant's temperament. Don't worry, you can't spoil an infant this way.

5. Babies have different needs and temperaments. No baby sleep solutions will work for every infant. My oldest son slept through the night at 3 months old; my daughter and younger son did not sleep through the night until 6-8 months old and then only after hours of soothing and rocking.

Probably the most important baby sleep solution is to not allow bedtime and night-waking to be stressful, anxious times. Babies know when parents are stressed or upset and will react to this. Keep calm and remember that some babies will cry at night for no reason at all. If you've tried feeding, burping, and rocking, consider white noise. A hair-dryer (not pointed at the baby!), clothes dryer, or television/radio station on static can sometimes soothe the un-soothable infant. Some parents will drive around the block several times in the middle of the night, however, it is not a safe idea to drive when you are too tired, so be cautious with this method.

   
How do I start choosing a baby name?

Choosing A Baby Name

Choosing a baby name is an important decision, so here are some tips to help you. A name does not define the child, but do select a baby name that gives you a positive and confident feeling, regardless of stereotypes. You can also choose a baby name in keeping with family traditions, or use your maiden name for a middle name. Choosing a baby name that is related to your family tree can help you associate your family history with the new infant, but don't be pressured into using a family name that you do not like.

Popular baby names can be found at the Social Security Administration website at ssa.gov. This gives you the most popular baby names over the last century, so you get to find classical popular baby names and modern ones. At ssa.gov, popular baby names are listed by gender, region, and decade. This can be a fun way to look at the history of popular baby names. However, remember that popular baby names do change, and the most popular ones will be the most common names in your child's age group.

There are some other tips for choosing a baby name. You may want to say the options out loud to ensure that they are compatible with the surname. Many people prefer not to choose names that rhyme, make up acronyms, or have too many vowels. However, these are not set rules. One family may include a pum in their baby a pun like Rainee Day, while another's first name ends in a vowel and last name begins with a vowel. Both are common "don'ts" in baby naming, but choosing a baby name means finding a name that you feel positive and confident about, not following rules.

   
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