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Physics 001 For Toddlers
My two year old was playing with a balloon in the living room with my 10 month old. He was dropping the balloon to the baby and she would kick it back with her arms and legs flailing. I was keeping an eye on the situation because sometime Noah gets a little carried away when playing with his baby sister. Everything seemed harmless so I starting working on dinner. Not two minutes later did I hear a very loud “crack” followed by a very loud cry. Noah had found another ball to play with that was the same size and color as the balloon. The only difference was about 7 pounds!
Physics lesson 001 for two year olds:
- Things tend to fall downward
- Every Action there is an opposite but equal reaction.
- Not all balls are created equal.
The Last Vaccination is a Doozy
We took our 5 year old in last week for her kindergarten vaccinations which to our surprise was a total of FIVE (Eve was freaking out since we told her it was only going to be two shots) vaccinations: Hep A, DTaP, IPV, MMR and Varicella. I held Eve down and together we counted to 10 while the two nurses quickly administered the vaccinations. After the tears and the consoling, Eve took advantage of the prize box and the candy bribe promised weeks prior to the dreaded day. She was a little sore but felt well enough to brag to any passer by that she was now ready for kindergarten.
She seemed to tolerate the vaccinations until almost 24 hours later when she started complaining that her head hurt and the sight of her vaccination was itchy. She was running a fever of 102 and the site of her vaccination was bright red and was the size of a softball. I immediately called the nurse and she gave me some great information about vaccination reactions.
- It is very normal to have a reaction on the last of a series of vaccinations. -This was news to me and I wish I would have known.
- An itchy hive reaction in the spot of the vaccination is normal and you can treat it with over the counter creme.
- A fever of up to 102 can occur and can be treated with Ibuprofen or Tylenol.
**The fever was gone after a day and the large red area is almost gone after a week.
With all the news about vaccinations and the life altering repercussions when your child has a bad reaction I think its important for parents to know that having a reaction to vaccinations is normal. We shouldn’t be scared to protect our kids with vaccinations but I do think its important that we are informed. Since I have three little ones with vaccinations in their future my biggest take away with this experience is that I SHOULD expect a reaction when they get the final vaccination of a series and that calling the doctor/nurse for questions or concerns is ALWAYS the right thing to do.
What has your experience been with vaccinating your child? What important information have you learned?
Want to read more?
Vaccinations, Autism and My Decision for My Baby Boy
First Time Parents: Choosing a Pediatrician
So Called Experts
I was reading this article this morning about coping without enough sleep and read that baby experts define sleeping through the night as 5-6 hours. WTF! I don’t know about the rest of the world but I need more than a measly 5-6 hours. I would like that so called “baby expert” to spend a few sleepless nights with an actual baby before coming up with that definition.
Yes, I Admit I have a Pooping Problem
Yes, I Admit I have a Pooping Problem. I figure since admitting something has become front page fodder in the tabloids I would also come out and admit I have a pooping problem. Actually, it’s not MY pooping problem rather it’s my 2 month old that is troubled which means it is my problem.
Poor girl is just miserable! The only “movement” she has had in days is some gnarly farting.
If any of you have experienced this with your own child you know that the pediatrician will say “it is normal for a baby to go 7 times a day or 1 time in 7 days”. This may be the case but it doesn’t mean you baby will be happy about it. So, if you too are experiencing a pooping problem here are a few things you can try (courtesy of a mom that has had 3 babies with pooping problems).
Leg bicycles – Gently move your baby’s legs like they were riding a bike. This helps get things moving and helps push out gas that is in the baby’s tummy.
Belly massage - Gently massage baby’s belly in the shape of the letter “C”. Start above the belly button and rub down and around. This also helps alleviate gas pain.
Juice – My pediatrician suggests prune juice but I have found apple works well too and is tolerated better by baby. You can feed it straight or mix it with formula or breast milk. *The rule for juice is 1 ounce per month old.
Rectal stimulation – My pediatrician recommends taking baby’s temperature rectally but I have found just wiping the area can help.
Glycerin Suppository – If all else fails this usually does the trick. You can buy these at any drug store and they make them specifically for kids. Once inserted it will take affect in minutes so be prepared for the aftermath.
I have talked with others moms that have experienced pooping problems that are more serious than just irregularity so don’t be afraid to insist that your pediatrician take a look at your baby. You know your baby better than anyone and there is nothing wrong with being a pushy mommy. After all, your baby’s problems are your problems.
Other information on poop and gas:
5 Tips to Relieve Baby’s Gas
Skid Marks and the Advanced Skill of Wiping
What Plastic Containers Should We Get Rid Of?
Are we slowly poisoning ourselves and our family by reusing plastic bottles and containers? According to recent health publications plastic containers including, baby bottles, toddler sippy cups, water bottles and other food and beverage container are leaching Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound in hard, clear polycarbonate plastics. BPA has raised concerns because it appears to mimic the effects of estrogen, interfering with hormone levels and cell signaling systems. Previous studies have shown that people exposed to high levels of BPA have a greater risk of developing uterine fibroids, breast cancer, decreased sperm counts, and prostate cancer. Babies and children are thought to be at greatest risk from the exposure. In fact, the scientific evidence warrants “a higher level of concern than those expressed by the expert [scientific] panel for possible effects of bisphenol A on prostate gland, mammary gland and early onset of puberty in exposed fetuses, infants and children,” the NTP report concludes. Even more alarming is that heating plastics that have BPA can release BPA 55 times faster than normal.
BPA is chemical used in the production of polycarbonate plastic and several types of resins. It is found in products used everyday such as compact discs, DVDs, baby bottles and other food and drink packaging. It is also commonly found in cars, sports safety equipment and water pipes.
Alternatives to polycarbonate include polyethylene and polypropylene plastics, as well as glass. Both alternative plastics are usually identifiable by recycling code, a number that should appear inside a triangular symbol on each plastic container. The number 2 marks polyethylene and the number 5, polypropylene. Polycarbonate doesn’t have a unique recycling code, but it tends to be assigned the code 7, a category for miscellaneous plastics. Various online resources—for examples, see here and here—list products said to be bisphenol A free.
What plastic containers should you get rid of?
· All polycarbonate
· Check the triangle: If you still want to go with plastic then choose the safest kind. Check the bottom of the bottle for a triangle with a number in the middle. This tells you what type of plastic used to make the bottle. Quick reference: 2,4,5 = safe, 1,3,6,7 = unsafe.
Alternatives to polycarbonate plastics
· Switch to glass bottles or those with disposable plastic liners that don’t contain BPA.
· Use microwave-safe paper plates
· Glass dishes covered with a paper towel rather than plastic wrap.
· Eden Foods, a Clinton, Mich.-based natural-foods company, sells beans and tomato products in bisphenol A-free cans.
· Some manufacturers, like BornFree, have begun to offer plastic bottles and training cups that are BPA free.
Go with stainless steel
Save money and reduce your carbon footprint: buy a water filer for home use and fill up your stainless steel bottle, which won’t leak any chemicals. Some tried and true companies include:
Sigg: The original stainless steel bottles can be found at many online sporting goods stores as well as amazon.com.
Klean Kanteen: Although manufactured in China, the company guarantees their product is safe and created in a factory with fair working conditions.
New Wave Enviro Products: Founded in 1993, this company offers several styles of stainless steel bottles.
As safe as plastic can be
Certain numbers are safer than others:
· #2 HDP or HPDE (high-density polyethylene): This high density plastic is the most resistant to chemical leaching. Most commonly found in milk jugs, detergent and shampoo bottles. Easy to spot because it will be semitransparent or a solid white color. It’s never clear.
· #4 LDPE (low density polyethylene): Although resistant to leaching, it’s almost never used in water bottles but is found in sandwich bags, cling wrap and grocery bags.
· #5 PP (polypropylene): This semi-transparent or white plastic is also resistant to chemical leaching. More used in syrup bottles and yogurt containers.
Avoid whenever possible
Try your best to turn your back on these plastics:
· #1 PET/PETE (polyethylene terephthalate): Made for one time use, these bottles should be avoided since they more than likely leach the heavy metal antimony and the hormone disrupting chemical BPA. Don’t reuse these bottles and don’t purchase if they are over six months old.
· #3 PVC (polyvinyl chloride): Known to leach two toxic chemicals, DEHP (di-2-ehtylhexyl phthalate) and bispehonal-A that are both known endocrine and hormone disruptors, this is the most common plastic used in water bottles, baby bottles and cooking oil.
· #6 PS (polystyrene): Known to leach styrene, a carcinogen that causes headaches, fatigue, dizziness, confusion, drowsiness, this plastic is most commonly used in disposable coffee cups and take out containers.
· PC/PLA: Polycarbonate: Since this plastic is made with BPA, it’s going to leach and is probably the worst plastic to use. Unfortunately it’s found in baby bottles, reusable water bottles, 5-gallon jugs (used for the office water cooler) and food-storage containers.
Tips for bottled water
· If your water smells like plastic, even just a hint, don’t drink it. Dump it or return it.
· Keep your bottled water away from heat or sunlight. Hot plastic leaches chemicals more easily.
· Don’t buy water that has been on the shelf longer than six months. Ask the store how long it’s been on the shelf. Dust is usually not a good sign.
· Don’t reuse bottles made for single use. They are breeding grounds for bacteria and will also start to break down quickly, easily releasing chemicals
· Go with stainless steel or glass whenever possible.
· Buy in bulk and stay away from the individual bottles.
· Drink tap water. Buy a home water filter and start carrying tap in your stainless steel bottle. Save money and the planet.
More information
View the full study at babystoxicbottle.org.
Study of Chemical in Plastic Bottles Raises Alarm
BPA and plastic containers for more tips on minimizing your and your family’s exposure to BPA
Report Shows Dangerous Chemical Can Leach From Baby Bottles
“This is quite concerning. All 19 polycarbonate bottles [investigated in the study] leached BPA when heated. This is clearly showing that BPA is certainly leaching from popular and common consumer products,” Judith Robinson, special projects director with the Environmental Health Fund, said at a Thursday teleconference.
The new report tested six major brands of plastic baby bottles available at major retailers, including Wal-Mart and Babies-R-Us, in the United States and Canada. According to the study, 95 percent of baby bottles on the market contain BPA.
The brands tested — which included Avent, Disney/The First Years, Dr. Brown’s, Evenflo, Gerber and Playtex — all leached BPA when heated. According to the study authors, these same levels of BPA caused a range of adverse effects in laboratory animals.
Among U.S. bottles, Dr. Brown’s brand had the highest level of leaching while Avent brand bottles had the lowest levels, the report said.”
My Son Found His Wiener
Why is it that men feel so comfortable touching themselves regardless of the audience or situation? I used to think it was because they felt more comfortable with themselves than women do but now I believe it is something more primitive. I believe men are born with a reflex that compels them to automatically check their junk without even thinking about it. Growing up with brothers I have always been aware of boy’s fascinations with their body parts but it wasn’t until I watched my son discover his wiener that I truly understood that this is all apart of the development process.
It was like any other diaper changing event. I was quickly wiping off the poop that had lodged itself in every crack and cranny. During this procedure is when this primitive reflex started. My son very cautiously reached down and gave himself a tug. It was as if he found a new toy and from that diaper change on it has been the same discovery over and over.
I think the most interesting part of this event was my husband’s reaction. His reaction was not of disgust or embarrassment, which, is what he does when our daughter does something similar. He was actually proud, like this was a “that’s my boy” moment. Maybe this is a right of passage that every male makes but for me as a mom, my epiphany was that I am actually raising a man and this is just one of many discoveries he will make during his life. I just wish he would stop “discovering” while I’m wiping poop off of him.
10 Must Haves for a New Mom
As a new mom you can feel overwhelmed by the amount of “stuff” a new baby needs. More importantly its even harder to decipher what exactly is a necessity. I could probably make this list considerably longer but after I conferred with my girlfriends and sister-n-laws this is the top 10 list that we came up with. If you are looking to get started on your baby registry or if you see something on this list that you don’t have I promise investing in anyone of these “must haves” won’t be a disappointment.
7 Medicines You shouldn’t give your child
I just read a really good article from babycenter.com and I thought I would pass it on to you all. Some of this advice shouldn’t come as a surprise but its always good to stay up to date with the l atest information. -Angela
7 medicines you shouldn’t give your child
Children are much more likely than adults to have adverse drug reactions, so giving your child prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medication is serious business. Here are some medicines you shouldn’t give your preschooler:
Aspirin
Never give your child aspirin or any medication containing aspirin. Aspirin can make a child susceptible to Reye’s syndrome — a rare but potentially fatal illness. Don’t assume that the children’s medicines found in drugstores will be aspirin-free. Aspirin is sometimes referred to as “salicylate” or “acetylsalicylic acid.” Read labels carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you’re not sure whether a product contains aspirin.
Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines
In October 2007 a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committee voted to recommend that these medicines not be given to children under 6 years old. Little or no testing has been done to determine how effective they are in young children (although studies have shown them to be no better than a placebo in kids under age 2) and what dosages are safe. And an overdose can cause dangerous side effects. So if your preschooler is miserable with a cold , try other options, like a humidifier and plenty of liquids.
Anti-nausea medications
Don’t give your child an anti-nausea medication (prescription or OTC) unless his doctor specifically recommends it. Most bouts of vomiting are pretty short-lived, and children usually handle them just fine without any medication. In addition, anti-nausea medications have risks and possible complications. (If your child is vomiting and begins to get dehydrated , contact his doctor for advice on what to do.)
Adult medications
Giving your child a smaller dose of medicine meant for an adult is dangerous. If the label doesn’t indicate an appropriate dose for a child, don’t give that medication to your preschooler.
Any medication prescribed for someone else or for another reason
Prescription drugs intended for other people (like a sibling) or to treat other illnesses may be ineffective or even dangerous when given to your child. Give him only medicine prescribed for him and his specific condition.
Anything expired
Toss out medicines, prescription and OTC alike, as soon as they expire. Also get rid of discolored or crumbly medicines — basically anything that doesn’t look the way it did when you first bought it. After the use-by date, medications may no longer be effective and can even be harmful. Don’t flush old drugs down the toilet, as they can contaminate groundwater and end up in the drinking water supply. See what our expert says about how to safely dispose of expired medication .
Extra acetaminophen
Some medicines contain acetaminophen to help ease fever and pain, so be careful not to give your preschooler an additional separate dose of acetaminophen. If you’re not sure what’s in a particular medicine, don’t give her acetaminophen or ibuprofen until you’ve first gotten the okay from your doctor or pharmacist.
A cautionary note
These two types of medications aren’t 100 percent off-limits, but you should carefully consider whether and how to give them to your child:
Chewables
Most preschoolers can handle chewable tablets, especially those that are fast-melting. But keep an eye on your child when you give him a chewable, especially if he isn’t proficiently chewing solids yet. If you think chewables might be a choking hazard for your child, crush the tablet and put it in a spoonful of soft food, like yogurt or applesauce. (Of course, you need to make sure your child eats the entire spoonful in order to get the complete dose.)
Some herbal remedies
Many herbal remedies are gentle and safe, but just because something is natural, or derived from a plant, doesn’t mean that it’s safe for your preschooler. Herbal products can cause allergic reactions, liver damage, and high blood pressure. In certain doses or when combined with the wrong medications, they can be fatal.
Check with your child’s doctor or an alternative medicine practitioner before giving your child any herbal products. And always let the doctor know about herbal remedies your child’s taking before she prescribes a medication.
A Determined Crib Midget
If what they say is true, “What goes around comes around,” I must have been one hell of an ass. After my first baby was born, my husband and I thanked God for such a sweet, well tempered little soul. He is a pleaser. From the day he was born, our ‘problems’ with him have been minimal. No major hiccups once the jaundice passed, his infancy and first year were cake, pure vanilla, nicely frosted cake. . . That being said, we were unprepared for who and what was to come next. . .
Seventeen blissful months later our daughter Stella was born. She emerged from the womb screaming and wreathing around. From the first moment she had everyone scrambling to comply with her frantic demands. Maybe it was our fault, we had named her too strongly and she was simply trying to live up to the title, or maybe it was karma having a laugh at our expense. Either way, the curve ball hit us right square in the face. What was wrong with this child? Why did she cry constantly? Why didn’t she just lay there on the blanket and coo and blab like her brother? Why wouldn’t she just take the pacifier instead of constantly wanting to use me as one?! And why dear God, why did she scream so much when we tried to ‘make’ her take a bottle? Key word there… ‘make.’ We learned early on there was no making Stella do anything, at least not until a little later on when we could put a little fear of God into her. No, at this point in her infancy it seemed as though she held the cards and all we could do is try to play our best game.
The key issue was her eating. She was always happy to nurse. She nursed eagerly and constantly it seemed, but never would she take a bottle. She refused. We took every bit of advice from doctors, family and friends to no avail. I would leave the house, in case she could sense I was there, or smell me. Still she would wait. She would wait for hours, making herself and any willing victim who agreed to give it a try for me completely miserable. She would wait for me to walk in the door and to the couch I went. Shirt up and nipple out before I had a chance to set down my keys. We tried different nipples, different bottles, different formula, formula with apple juice, warm breast milk, cold breast milk, breast milk with ice, everything….she accepted none of it. My doctor told me she’d never seen a crib midget with such a strong willpower. Not something I was glad to hear.
After ten months of being her walking Dairy Queen I had had it. I needed a break. Something longer than four hours. Time with my husband, time to breathe. So again, I talked with my pediatrician about it. She and I were out of ideas…all but one. Leave she said. Find a willing victim, leave her with them, and leave for a few days. Surely, she will cave. She will have to…she has no rare anti-bottle disease. She’s not allergic to plastic, has no strange aversion to rubber. There was no real reason for refusing it other than she knew mama was there and soon she would be satisfied. And so, reluctantly but with a huge sigh of relief, my husband and I left her with my saint of a mother in law and we went. I packed her every bottle, nipple, cup, formula, and frozen breast milk I had and we said goodbye.
I’d love to say that Stella, realizing that she’d been beat at her own game, finally gave in. Her jugs were gone, and she’d have to settle for the next best thing. Surely she couldn’t starve herself for two days… Again we underestimated the sheer willpower and determination that could be contained in twelve pounds seven ounces. For three days and two nights she survived on Saltines and yogurt. Everything else she refused. Aside from a few meager sips of breast milk from a cup, she refused liquids.
The leave taught me several valuable lessons, including: Two children poured from the same genetic mold may yield two completely different vessels. No child is the same, therefore advice is just that, ‘advice’, it’s not a for sure. If someone seems to know it all about children, they probably only have one child. All you can do is try, try, and try some more. It may never work, but at least you know you’ve done all that you could.
When I returned from that trip, (which on a side note, my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed because my mother in law concealed much of what was going on so that we ‘wouldn’t worry’ God bless her…) I felt like a horrible, selfish, unworthy wretch of a mother. How could I leave my child to starve? Why hadn’t I just put up with it until she decided it was time to move on from the boob? Hindsight is 20/20 I guess and to be completely honest, I’d probably do it again. We couldn’t have known she’d be so stubborn. Best of all, the trip had served to deplete my milk supply and increase her demand, the plan had worked beautifuly. Such fun, such fun. And the call to the lactation specialist to explain what we’d done and beg for help only served to more deeply entrench the feelings of inadequacy and stupidity that I’d already been feeling. She’d have had me nurse until Stella graduated kindergarten if she so pleased.
I tried to find a happy medium…Tried to take all of the tokens of advice I’d been receiving and make some sense out of them. And in the end, as I should have known from the get go, it was Stella who made the final call. Somewhere around twelve months she began to lose interest in the troughs hanging from my torso and began to take a sippy cup. All of our prodding and urging, trying and pushing was to no avail, she had her time and she took it, up until that final suckle.
Thank you for reading. Hopefully someone, somewhere will be able to gain something from this rambling story, somehow relate to this tragic tale. Or maybe all it will serve is a small laugh and a feeling of pity for a mother trying to do her best while knowing absolutely nothing.