Ear Infections

If your little one has an ear infection that just won't go away, it may be caused by a slime-like substance in the middle ear that experts call bacterial biofilm. This biofilm makes is harder for antibiotics to do their jobs, which leads to long-lasting ailments. A recent study found that bacteria actually seem to be hiding in this usually protective slimy film in kids with chronic middle ear infections.

This discovery isn't going to lead to any new treatments right way, but it may eventually help doctors better understand the illnesses all children seem to run into. Ear infections are the most common illnesses that bring children to doctors.

Ear infections are so common in kids (affecting nearly eight or nine out of every 10 children), because the developing middle ear sometimes cannot fully drain fluid. Children's immune systems are not fully developed and, because of that fact, can't tackle infections like most adults' immune systems can.

Over-prescribing of antibiotics has also made matters worse by helping ear infection germs develop immunity against existing drugs.

Some children get ear infections repeatedly while others continually suffer from fluid in their ears. Both cases are quite painful.

Biofilms are actually very common in nature. It's kind of like the slime you might find on rocks next to a pond. It's more or less a little city of bacteria where the germs communicate with each other and are well-protected against the outside world.

New research suggests that treating chronic ear infections with antibiotics may not be helpful. Biofilms are generally very resistant to antibiotics.

So now researchers need to find another approach for ear infections since antibiotics don't seem to work on this biofilm. This is why so many children do not respond to antibiotics when they have an ear infection.

And if you're trying to prevent ear infections in your child, one of the best ways is to keep them away from tobacco smoke, as tobacco smoke puts her at a greater risk for recurring ear infections. There really aren't too many other preventive measures besides having your child get an annual flu shot. Keep in mind, however, that the flu vaccine isn't recommended for all children.

So if you're baby has an ear infection that won't go away even with antibiotics, perhaps this is why as it is very common.

And one of the best ways to make your little one feel better when they're "under the weather" is by reading to them, of course! I See Me (found along the left side of this page) has great books that are each personalized for every single child. And all books ordered in July will be personally signed by the author! These personalized books teach your children letter recognition and how to spell his/her own name. And they make for a wonderful keepsake when they get older, as well. So go ahead and check them out!

Why Won't My Baby Stop Crying?

While Angelina isn't necessarily a fussy baby, I thought it would help some parents out (especially first time parents) if they knew why their baby was crying. So I have listed below the top seven reasons why most babies cry. If your little one is wailing, work your way down the list and chances are you'll find the cure. This has almost always worked on Angelina, so hopefully it works for the rest of you.

1. I'm hungry.
Once you learn to recognize the signs that your baby wants to eat — she'll fuss, make noises, and root around for your breast if you pick her up (if you breastfeed) — you'll get pretty good at feeding her before she starts to really cry. But when she is crying, check first to see if she's hungry. Food might not stop her crying right away, but let her keep eating if she wants to. Sometimes a baby will continue to cry even after you start feeding her; keep going, she'll stop once her stomach is full.

2. Change my diaper.
Some babies will let you know right away when they need to be changed; others don't mind when their diapers are soiled — it's warm and comfortable to them. (Parents are often surprised when they pick up their infant and find they've been sitting around in a dirty diaper and never made a sound.) Either way, this one is easy to check and simple to remedy.

3. I'm too cold or hot.
Newborns like to be bundled up and kept warm. (As a rule, they need to be wearing one more layer than you need to be comfortable.) So when your baby feels cold, like when you strip her naked to change her, she'll let you know that she's not happy by crying. You'll learn how to quickly change a diaper and wrap your baby back up to calm her until the crying stops. Watch out that you don't overdress her, since she's less likely to complain about being too warm than about being too cold and won't cry about it as vigorously.

4. I want to be held.
Babies need a lot of cuddling. They like to see their parents' faces, hear their voices, listen to their hearts, and can even detect their unique smell (especially Mom's milk). After being fed, burped, and changed, many babies simply want to be held. You may wonder if you'll "spoil" your child by holding her so much, but during the first few months of life there's no such thing. Infants will vary a lot in how much they want to be held. Some demand a lot of attention, while others can spend long periods of time sitting calmly by themselves. If your baby likes the attention, pick her up or keep her next to you.

5. I can't take it anymore.
While newborns seem to thrive on a lot of attention, they can easily become overstimulated and have a "melt-down." You may find that your baby cries longer than usual after spending a holiday with many adoring family members or has periods at the end of each day when she seems to cry for no reason. Newborns have difficulty filtering out all the stimulation they receive — the lights, the noise, being passed from hand to hand — and can become overwhelmed by too much activity. Crying is their way of saying "I've had enough." This usually happens when your baby is tired. Take her somewhere calm and quiet and let her vent for a while, and then see if you can get her to sleep.

6. I don't feel good.
If you've just fed your baby and checked that she's comfortable (it can be something as subtle as a hair wrapped around her toe or a clothing tag that's poking her), but she's still crying, consider checking her temperature to make sure she isn't ill. The cry of a sick baby tends to be distinct from the hunger or frustration cry, and you'll soon learn when your baby "just doesn't sound right" and needs to be taken to the doctor.

7. None of the above.
Sometimes you might not be able to figure out what's wrong. Many newborns develop periods of fussiness when they're not easily soothed. These periods of fussiness can range from a few minutes of hard-to-console crying to full-blown colic. Colic is defined as inconsolable crying for at least three hours per day, at least three days per week. Even if your baby is not crying for three hours, these episodes may be difficult for you. When all else fails, try the tips below.


Here are some things you can try if you really just cannot figure out why you're baby is crying.


1. Wrap her up and hold her close.
Sometimes babies just want to be swaddled. So go ahead and wrap them up in their blankie and hold them close. They like to feel that warmth. But also remember that some babies actually don't enjoy this. They find it too constrictive. If that's the case, try something else.

2. Let her hear the rhythm.
Babies are used to the sound of your heartbeat. So try singing her a lullaby, playing some soft music, or even try putting her close to the noise of an electric fan. Anything with a constant rhythm will do.

3. Put her in motion.
Sometimes just the motion of carrying your baby around will calm her. Other times maybe you want to try rocking her and even setting her on stop of a running dryer. Another trick is cars, as I'm sure most of you have observed. Almost all babies are soothed by the feeling of riding in a car.

4. Rub her tummy.
At times, something as simple as rubbing your baby's back or tummy may soothe her. This works especially for babies who are having gas pains.

5. Let her suck on something.
Even when she's not hungry, sucking can steady an infant's heart rate, relax her stomach, and calm her flailing limbs. Let her have a pacifier or finger to suck on.

6. Make sure you're taking care of yourself.
No baby ever cried herself to death, but a crying baby can be very stressful for new parents. You're chronically sleep-deprived and may already be unsure about how to care for this baby. Mom's emotions are all over the place due to the hormonal changes she's going through. Dad may not be sure what role he should play in caring for the newborn or whether he'll ever get mom's attention again. Add a crying baby to this scenario and many parents can become overwhelmed with feelings of incompetence. If you know your baby's needs have been met and you've tried to calm her but she's still crying, it's time to take care of yourself so you don't get too frustrated:

- Put your baby down and let her cry for a while.
- Call a friend or relative and ask for advice.
- Give yourself a break and let someone else take over.
- Put on some quiet music to distract yourself.
- Take deep breaths.
- Remind yourself that nothing is wrong with your baby and crying won't hurt her — she may just be having a good cry about something and can't tell you what it is.
- Repeat to yourself, "She will outgrow this phase."Fortunately, babies (and their parents) are resilient and somehow manage to get through even the most difficult crying episodes. Take heart that by the time your baby is 8 to 12 weeks old, she'll be better able to soothe herself and much of the crying will stop.

Now that you've figured out how to calm your baby, perhaps it's time to start investing in a few thing for your baby (or someone else's). EToys, found on the left side of my page, has pretty much everything a parent needs: carriers, car seats, activity gyms, toys, bath toys, feeding equipment for both bottle and breastfed babies, and a lot more!! So check them out. And if you don't need or want anything at the present moment, as least you know where to go when you do. If you need it, they've got it (and even at affordable rates)!

Teething

Well, I'm sure all of you have either gone through it or are probably dreading it...your baby going through the process of teething! Angelina has begun teething. She has been taking it extremely well. I expected much worse. She gets a little fussy here and there, but for the most part, she doesn't seem to mind. Such a good little baby!

As usual, I have researched information about teething and, of course, have gotten advice from other mothers about it (including my own mother). So I thought I would share the tips and ideas I have gained from other good sources with all of you.

Most infants experience few symptoms from teething besides increased drooling and crankiness. Rarely, however, other symptoms may occur. Here are some of them:
- Irritation of the area around baby's mouth as a result of excessive drooling -- a dab of petroleum jelly can protect her skin.
- Gum swelling or sensitivity to hot and cold foods.
- Difficulty sleeping.
- A bluish red blister, called a hematoma, on the gum line, which may bleed a little when the tooth emerges. Call your doctor if the blister lasts for more than a week without the tooth poking through.
- Low-grade fever and diarrhea.

And here are five facts about teething that may come in handy for some of you:
- Most infants have their first tooth erupt between 6 and 8 months of age.
- Teeth usually come up in pairs.
- Bottom front teeth (central incisors) typically emerge first, followed by the top ones. Then the molars and the canine teeth (the pointy ones) appear. Last come the back molars.
- Although parents usually associate "teething" with the few days of discomfort and swelling before and after a tooth erupts, tooth development actually begins in the womb. Primary or "baby" teeth begin to form under the gums during the fifth month of pregnancy and slowly emerge as your infant grows older. But it's not until the teeth start breaking through the gums that things get uncomfortable for baby.
- Baby should have her full set of 20 primary teeth by age 3. Her permanent teeth won't begin to replace them until she's 4 to 6 years old.

And, finally, here are some ideas about helping ease the pain of teething for your little one:
- A teething ring: Soft plastic or liquid-filled rings are the best kinds; some can be frozen for extra numbing comfort. But avoid the type with baubles floating inside, since a determined infant might be able to gnaw through it and swallow the little objects. (Freezing Angelina's teething ring seems to work especially well for her.)
- A safe, firm, nontoxic object: Even something as simple as a wet washcloth that your baby can chew on will provide relief. (My mother and I have also been using this trick on her.)
- Teething gel: In some cases, your child may need an over-the-counter infant teething gel, which will temporarily numb her gums.
- Acetaminophen or ibuprofen: An age-appropriate dose of an infants' liquid pain reducer can provide temporary relief.
- They also have "teething tablets" and other products out there. Just be sure you read the ingredients and what not before you give them to your baby. I bought some "teething tablets" for Angelina. I tried them on her, and they didn't seem to really do anything that the frozen teething ring wasn't already doing. So I just haven't even been giving them to her. But perhaps those tablets may work better for other babies. As I've said before, babies (just like grown-ups) are all different and all have different wants and needs.

I hope this information has come in handy for some of you. For those of you who have already passed this stage...I'm sure you're smiling right now and being thankful you don't have to deal with this (at least not until you have another-if that's in your plan).

While you're here, go ahead and check out The Nursery Depot. The link, of course, is on the left side of my page. The Nursery Depot is the Internet's largest selection of bedding, furniture, and accessories for your nursery or kid's room. They promise: Great Selection, Guaranteed Low Prices, and a Safe Shopping Guarantee! So if you're looking for nursery furniture, kids' room furniture, or bedding of all sorts...definitely check out The Nursery Depot! They will have what you're looking for, and they'll have the huge selection and prices you've been searching for. They are definitely the place to go if you're creating, remodeling, or just looking to add or change a few things in a nursery or kids' room.

And, as always, have a wonderful day, afternoon, or night...wherever you are!

Bathing Babies

Angelina is now approaching the move from the baby bath tub to the normal bath tub. She is simply getting to big for her little baby bath tub I have used on her since she was born. While I would love to continue bathing her in the smaller tub (simply because it's easier, and she is used to it), I think her time has finally come. She is six months old (on Tuesday) and ready to launch!

To help me out with this, I have looked up some good tips for moving your baby from the smaller bath tub (or kitchen sink, etc.) to the big tub that might makes things a little easier for all of us.

When your baby is small, you should probably bathe her in the kitchen sink or a special baby tub (as I have been doing). As she gets bigger, the time will come when she may need to be moved into the big, "grown-up" bath tub.

Some things you can do to make that move easier for both you and your baby are:
- If you use a baby tub, try putting it into the bathtub for a few days and bathing your baby inside it. This will get her used to the idea of being bathed inside the big tub instead of elsewhere. I, personally, have always had her little tub inside the big tub because of splashes and what not, but everyone is different. Different practices for different needs, right?
- Take a bath with your baby. Don't hold your baby in your arms when you get in or out, you could slip and fall. Instead, put your baby on the floor on a towel while you get into the bath tub first. Then slowly lift her up and bring her in with you.
- Bathe your baby slowly and gently until he gets used to it. We don't want to rush into things, now do we?
- Never leave your baby alone in a bathtub, even for a minute. If the phone rings wrap her in a towel and take her along, or just let it ring.

Washing a baby in a big tub can be hard on your back, so here are some tips on protecting your own body while bathing your little one:
- Bend from your knees, not from your hips. Use your stronger leg muscles to help when you lift the baby.
- Hold heavy objects, like babies, close to your body.
- Don't lift and twist at the same time. Lift first, then turn.
- When you can, rest lying down with your knees bent and your feet up. It may sound silly, but I've tried this. It really does help.

Now hopefully, using this advice and with some luck, the transition of moving your baby into the big tub won't be quite so difficult for you or her. Just remember, everything that is worth anything takes time and patience. So don't rush anything. Take the time to slow it down and enjoy every moment with your little one as much as you can. I realize there are times when this isn't always possible for many of you. I am a working mother, as well. So I know how frustrating it can be to not have enough time to just enjoy your baby. Thank goodness for weekends, right?

And, of course, if any of you have some time, please stop by my link for The Baby Outlet located on the left side of my page. It has things like strollers, car seats, food and diapers, playpens, toys, and so much more-a lot of it at great closeout prices! Yet another fantastic website to find anything and everything you need for your little one at affordable prices.

As always, thanks for stopping by, and have a great day (or night, depending on where you live)!