Baby&Pregnancy center

Children’s music, including classical music, like much of what we ourselves are ready to imagine – and then, the music is “good”, the heart and brain, many educators say. We also teach the Little Einsteins: If we pay attention, the discovery of classical music is one of the pillars of this highly successful (and beautiful) TV cartoon series.

Start tomorrow, Saturday, October 11th the exhibition Growing Music, at the Auditorium of Milan. This is a series of shows designed and dedicated to bring their own children (3-7 years) to classical music. Not concerts “traditional”, but multi-sensory performances in which children will be captivated by music, images and words for a whole hour.

Saturday Music program is among the stars, a show consisting of two stories, happiness of a star and moon Phil. The original music is composed by Cecilia Chailly, a famous harpist who has collaborated with many Italian singers (there is enough to mention Fabrizio De Andre). Next to her, Dario Moretti and Christina Cazzola draw stories will be narrated.

We came across a curious Librino titled: Are you happy?. At first I was a little ‘doubtful, since so far we had only read picture books, while it had a very dry and a few graphic illustrations, the book was more like a “large”. Despite all the title intrigued us and we read, all in one breath. You liked it, and now and then.

The book, written and illustrated by Maria Rowena Zanotti Capri, tells the story of Matthew, a fourth-grade students (the target are in fact children aged 7 and up), which attempts to capture happiness.

“Ask me if I’m happy! Yes, because I often ask myself. I wonder how, one to three thousand, a child of my age can be happy. There are days when I feel at day 1 and in which I feel to 3,000 of happiness. “This is the beginning, the rest can be read in half an hour, is light and fun and at the same time, very intelligent.

It ‘a set of mini assorted colors signed Trumpette socks, great gift for a new arrival to the women, contained in a pink packaging that is very British.

The effect is of a sock into a dancer, but in reality there is no shoe. Irresistible even those who are inspired by golf shoes. Trumpette always the shoes in patent leather with multicolor imprint on the sole of the foot and still many items that are worth watching and maybe buy.

The issue of assisted procreation is among the most delicate orbiting the world of motherhood, but you choose to depart from or accept as a viable solution, it is still the subject of medical studies that recently have shown that children born through medically assisted procreation get above average results at school than children born to natural pregnancies.

The study was conducted by the Centre for assisted reproduction French during some research for the St. Vincent de Paul Hospital in Paris. But the best reasons for academic success has absolutely nothing to do with physical causes.

It seems however that children born after assisted reproduction, strongly desired by the parents are simply more followed, with important psychological impact on the child. The results, in fact, are similar to those of children born to natural pregnancies who live in very comfortable and are constantly monitored by their parents.

Just yesterday we were talking about how to choose a safe pacifier. When children grow, they have to do without it. Many of you will or you will find yourself having to deal with the abandonment of your child’s’ friend pacifier. We are in full-time “Rehab” or detoxification pacifier.

My pediatrician gave me this advice: cut out the use during the day, leaving him at home when we go out and try to distract the child in times of crisis, shifting the focus on something else, another activity.

The second step is, and here you go on the difficult, agree with the child to leave the nipple on the table and try to do without sleep, but without force. If then we want to give it the middle of the night. When the entire first night goes well, two more will follow, at which point the child is ready to give his friend the rubber to Santa, which I think is the “person” who possesses the most pacifiers in the world!

As parents-to-be, your anticipation and euphoria probably saw no bounds. As new parents, the practical aspects of feeding, bathing, moisturizing and more come to the fore. Keep in mind that for each there is only one thing to consider: your baby’s comfort. For instance, when it comes to diapering, the idea is simple: to keep your baby dry. But how do you achieve this? We give you some pointers.

Q.What kind of diaper should I buy for my baby?

A. For a new baby, make sure you go for newborn diapers which are tied lower at the waist or leave an opening for your baby’s sensitive umbilical cord area. Diapers have to be chosen according to your baby’s size and weight. Diaper packs come with size and weight specifications. A diaper that is too small will be uncomfortable, while one that is too large will be prone to leaks. Also, when you buy a diaper, make sure that the label specifies that it will keep your baby as dry as possible.

Q. How many times should I change my baby’s diaper?

A. The aim is to keep your baby feeling dry. Newborns can wet themselves as frequently as every half-an-hour, since they are exclusively on a liquid diet.
They also digest their feed quickly and may poop four to six times a day. A newborn’s diaper may need to be changed 8 to 12 times a day. Don’t
fret. You’ll figure out your baby’s rhythms in a couple of weeks. A simple way of detecting if your baby’s diaper is full is by touching it underneath. If it seems full, it’s time for a change. It should not be heavy. If it is, you need to change more often.

Q. Disposable or cloth diapers?

A. The most obvious advantages of disposable diapers over cloth diapers are convenience and your baby’s comfort. A cloth diaper needs to be changed as soon as your baby wets it. A disposable diaper needs to be changed after a few hours, particularly at night or on lourneys. Cloth diapers need to be washed and disinfected. While you may sanitize them, there is still the danger of them getting dirty. For instance, when they are hung up to dry, dust and grime can get into them. Disposable diapers lock the wetness away from your baby’s skin, making them more comfortable for her and allow her to sleep more peacefully. A newborn may wake up frequently because of a wet cloth nappy.

DIAPER RASH

Did you know that the chief cause of diaper rash is wetness?

Understand it: Most diapers leave some moisture on your baby’s skin and when your baby’s urine mixes with bacteria from his stool, it can lead to diaper rash. So, it is important to choose a good diaper that keeps the wetness at bay and allows your baby’s skin to breathe.

Prevent it: The best way to prevent diaper rash is to keep your baby clean and dry. For newborns, diapers should be changed every 2 to 3 hours and every time your baby poops. The time interval between diaper changes increases as babies grow, but between 5 to 7 changes are necessary even in older babies. Go for good quality breathable diapers that keep the wetness away. Also, give your baby some diaper-free time between nappy changes to allow his skin to breathe.

Detect it: Your baby’s diaper area will look irritated and red. There is no need to panic, as diaper rash is not uncommon, especially in the first year of a baby’s life. Consult your paediatrician if your baby does develop a rash. He may prescribe diaper cream and may ask you to change the lotion or cream you are using, as it may be irritating your baby’s skin.

Choosing a birth provider who respects your needs is the first step towards having a birth experience you desire. Explore all your options, talk to doctors until you find the right one for you. If you are not convinced or satisfied, move on and try elsewhere. Birth is the most important life transforming and potentially spiritual event of your life and requires some investigating and education. There are many doctors out there who are very open to being your partner in decision making.

1. I want to be well informed and make decisions about my birth.Will you give me the time to answer all of my questions and to consider my birthing preferences and to work in partnership with me? Informed consent is important to me.

2. How do you feel about IVs/ shaving/enemas, epidurals and episiotomies, augmentation (speeding up labour) and at what week/day would you normally induce labour?

3. How do you feel about:

~Birth as a natural process and not a medical procedure.

~Birth without medical intervention unless a true medical indication arises.

~Dim lights, people present of my choice, quiet, music, candles, loud verbalisations, eating in labour, moving around in labour, squatting to birth, bringing my own doula with me.

4. Have you ever witnessed a purely natural birth?

5. Are you familiar with the Motherbaby friendly practices? Are they practised in your hospital? (You may like to give a copy of these to the doctor. Download them from www.imbci.org)

6. we are searching for a birth attendant who sees birth as a natural process which the vast majority of the time goes well if the body is left to do the job it was designed to do. It is my choice to avoid medications and epidural as this is how I desire my baby to be born. We are seeking for a place which will honour this wish. A place where options and staff are available to assist with pain and fear in times of weakness so that I can achieve my goal.

The answer to these questions will be an indicator for you to decide if you would like to continue with this birth provider or move on and find another – it is not easy to convince a doctor to do as you request or to change their views and practices.

It takes your baby’s brain about five minutes to register and fully respond to a calming strategy – so try each of the following for five minutes before moving on to the next.

PEACE AND QUIET

If your newborn is fussing and she is in a loud, bright place, take her to quieter room and draw the curtains. If she has become over-stimulated because there are too many people around her, find somewhere calmer. Cradle her in a sling to shield her from the barrage of sensory input.

Newborns can rarely cope with more than 10 minutes of visual stimulation. Do not surround your baby with piles of toys -limit the stimulation so that she can attend well to one activity without being over-stimulated.

SELF-CALMING

If she is starting to calm herself by sucking on her hands or by bringing them to the midline of her body, don’t interrupt her. If your baby is not soothing herself at all (which is very common under nine weeks). try swaddling her with her hands near her face. In this position she will attempt to soothe herself by sucking on her hands. Try not to give her a dummy, pick her up
to soothe her or feed her as soon as she starts fussing.

SWADDLING

Swaddling your newborn has a wonderfully calming effect. Even if you think your newborn does not like to be swaddled,persist: babies who are swaddled are significantly calmer and have longer periods of undisturbed sleep than babies who are not. Most babies like to be swaddled until they are nine to 12 weeks old. After this point, she may push her arms out, but for sleep times continue to swaddle under the arms.

SOOTHING TOUCH

Touch is a tool that mothers use intuitively with their babies, from a kiss to a hug. If your baby tends to be fussy, try a daily massage (put ‘massage’ in the Babyexpert.com search box for more information). When she’s crying, use gentle but firm potting to calm her.

ROCKING MOVEMENTS

Calm your baby with rocking motions – a sling is very good for this. Research shows that babies who are carried in a sling are less fussy. For newborns, use a sling that provides good support. She will benefit from the calming influence of deep pressure and rocking motion. For sensitive babies, a good walk in carrier or sling is calming.

CALMING SOUNDS

Talk: or sing softy to her; she loves the sounds of your voice. Newborns find
vacuum cleaners and washing machines calming.

There are many reasons why a baby cries, and few things can undermine your confidence as a new mum more than feeling unable to comfort your crying baby. So how do you know what’s causing the distress? The answer lies in reading your baby’s signals and eliminating the causes.

THE WINDY CRY

Small babies typically pull their legs up when crying, so it’s easy to mistake every cry for a sore tummy, which isn’t always the case. However. if your baby fusses and cries right after being fed, gas may have built up in her tummy, making her feel uncomfortable.

If your baby stops feeding and fusses at the nipple, take a break and see if she burps or breaks wind. After a feed, hold your baby upright and pat or rub her bock for a while to encourage her to bring up wind. Sometimes, a burp will pose no problem and come up quickly; at other times, your baby will not burp at all.

THE HUNGRY CRY

To rule out whether hunger is the cause of her distress, consider when she lost fed. Crying less than two hours after feeding probably doesn’t indicate hunger, as long as she is gaining weight. Babies have growth spurts at four to six weeks and again at four months, and she will need to be fed more frequently at these times. If your five- to six-month- old baby begins to fuss between feeds, or is only satisfied if fed more frequently than before, talk to your health visitor about the best time to start introducing solids.

THE UNCOMFORTABLE CRY

This cry is generally accompanied by squirming and is often caused by a wet or dirty nappy, or nappy rash. A room that is too hot or cold can also be a cause of discomfort – the best room temperature for a baby is 16- 20°C, with the ideal being l8°e.

THE SICK CRY

If your baby suddenly becomes very irritable and cries a lot, he may be unwell. If this is accompanied by a fever or loss of appetite, take him to your doctor straight away.

THE TIRED CRY

If you have ruled out hunger, wind, discomfort and illness, and your baby is still crying, the chances are she is over-tired. Daytime naps are crucial for keeping your baby calm while she is awoke, and will also make it easier for you to get her to sleep at night. (See our sleep special on page 75 for a guide to daytime naps.)

THE OVER-STIMULATED CRY

If your baby is crying unconsolably and you’ve eliminated other causes, it could be that she’s been over stimulated. If she was fussing just before the crying spell and continued to be stimulated. she may have reached such a state of distress she is unable to calm herself – particularly if it’s the end of the day. Typically, she will pull up her legs, become blue around the mouth, and bring her hands towards her face and mouth, in on attempt to soothe herself.