Parenting Blog

It is a fact that babies are more sensitive to loud noises than adults. They can tolerate noises of very less decibels, generally ones over which it is easy to talk. Some babies have a tendency to cry and scream in protest to the noise, while the others simply fuss. So it can be a bit difficult if you plan to take your babies somewhere where the music is really loud.

Like there is to everything, there is an exception for your baby’s sensitive ears also. If you used to live in a noisy surrounding while you were pregnant – like your husband used to play music, or your son used to scream and shout while running around the house – your baby has probably already become accustomed to these sounds because he also used to hear low muffles of the same sounds when he was in your womb. It is highly probable that he might be able to sleep right through the time when that sound is made. However, unfamiliar sounds startle the baby, and in most cases, he reacts by crying. But when they are around five months old, they tend to move toward the source of the sound.

Things that can harm your baby’s hearing capability

Here are some of the things that can harm your baby’s sensitive ears:

• Constant exposure to environments having loud noises such as rock concerts and airports.
• History of hearing problems in the family.
• Some complications in during the birth which caused a lack of oxygen for the baby.
• Premature birth
• Some types of birth defects.
• Chronic middle-ear inflammation or ear infection.
• Prenatal exposure to rubella.

Can I do anything to develop my baby’s hearing capabilities?

Yes, there are some things that you can do to develop your baby’s hearing capabilities. Here are some of those:

• Play soft music that contains sounds from the piano and the cymbals. Babies tend to like such sounds and enjoy them.
• Talk to your baby. It is very important that you communicate with him. For example, if he seems interested in something you are doing then telling him about it a very good option. You should also try reading to him. Do keep on babbling, but proceed further only if you think your baby is interested.
• Try to tune into whatever sounds attract you babies attention. This will help you to make her understand exactly what has caused it.

It is very important that you help your child in his hearing development because it is a very effective way for him to communicate to the world in both the present and the future.

Finding the proper way to feed your baby, the way it suits him might take some trial and error. If you are able to give your baby the right start he will enjoy a lifetime of mental and physical health. Since every baby is unique, you will have to figure a lot of things on your own, while trying out a few tips you can gather from here and there. Some points need to be taken care of by you so that your baby doesn’t become colicky.

• Find an appropriate bottle

If you use a bottle to feed your baby, make sure that the bottle does not make the baby gulp the contents. The baby will have stomach problems if he swallows more air along with the feeding. The hole of the nipple in the bottle should not be too small. This could irritate the baby and make him swallow more air and gulp more food.

You can use bottles that are specifically designed to reduce intake of air by babies. These can be curved or might have vents or liners on the inner side of the bottle. Such a shape prevents air bubbles from arising in the liquid and the nipple is prevented from collapsing.

• The posture of the baby

Hold your baby in an upright position while bottle feeding or breastfeeding the baby. This will help the formula or breast milk to take a smooth path to the stomach. If the baby is curled up, some air is sure to get trapped in with the food he consumes.

• The feedings should not be frantic

Do not wait for your baby to starve or cry before you feed him. A baby is likely to swallow air along with feeds if he starts crying out of hunger. Feed the baby in a calm atmosphere. Create a soothing ambience while you feed your baby.

• Make the baby burp

Making the baby burp frequently will help the infant to get rid of air bubbles occupying place inside the stomach. Stroke the back of the baby and lie him flat on the stomach to make him burp intermittently when you bottle feed him

• Establishing a proper diet for mothers who are breast feeding

If you breastfeed, then your diet must be well proportionate and balanced. Eliminate the dairy products in your diet, about which you are suspicious. This might help you in knowing the product for which your baby might be sensitive. Spicy food, wheat products, caffeine and alcohol should also be avoided. This is a little difficult to implement in real life but is necessary for the care and safety for your child.

You may not be aware but there are a lot of diseases which you may unknowingly transfer to your baby. These are genetic diseases that some families are prone to and pass from one generation to other. You can prevent your baby from these genetic disorders by taking the help of genetic counseling. It determines the risks and chances that you may pass on some inheritable diseases to the baby. A genetic counselor may help you in identifying the risks, investigating the problems, interpreting the disorder and related issues, analyzing the risk recurrence patterns and may guide you through the available options.

According to the CDC around three percent of the babies are born with birth defects in United States. Although in most of the cases Genetic Counseling is not mandatory but couples should consider if they encounter one or more of the below mentioned risks:

• Prenatal Tests Reveal Certain Abnormalities
• The results of an Amniocentesis indicate chromosomal disorders
• If a close family member is observed to have a genetic disorder
• Already have had a child with inherited
• If the mother is 35 years or more

Apart from these there are also some ethnic groups that are more susceptible to certain genetic disorders. Sickle Cell Anemia is more common in African Americans, Tay – Sachs disease is mostly found in Central or Eastern Jews and similarly percentage of cases with Thalassemia are more with Italian, Greek and Middle Eastern people.

When you indulge yourself in genetic counseling the most important way of assessing genetic risk is to look around and comprehensively study the blood relatives of both mother and father for genetic disorders. You should notice the how close is the person who suffered a disorder and the reason behind the occurrence of the disease. Some of the common questions the doctors ask to avoid the chances of a genetic disease are:

• Do you observe diseases like hypertension, diabetes and cancer in your family
• Do you have a history of twins in your family or other disorders like muscular dystrophy, hemophilia or cystic fibrosis
• Do you have mentally challenged people in your family
• Does any of your cousins, brothers and sisters have encountered any complications during their pregnancies
• Which ethnic background you belong to
• Do you suspect your baby to born with any birth defects and if yes what are the reasons behind your thinking

With little precaution and knowledge you can prevent your baby from lifetime sufferings from incurable diseases. Make it a point that you do not ignore even the slightest possibilities of a mishap and take this matter very seriously.

Breastfeeding is the bond between the mother and the baby. It is a very challenging part of pregnancy. Some mommy’s complaint ‘I did not have sufficient milk’, others say, ‘Breastfeeding hurts’. Breastfeeding and the birth experience that the mother faces are connected. It is a researched fact that the general obstetrical problems (technological, medical, surgical interventions) can give rise to a number of problems like the inability of the baby to suck, swallow, breathe. It can also lead to mothers discomfort while the baby is breastfeeding.

Even today, many of us consider breastfeeding and child birth as two unrelated and separate events. The connection between these two events can be visualized properly if you think of breastfeeding as the 4th stage of labor (after dilation and baby-birth).

The thumb rule says that you will have fewer problems in breastfeeding if you have less intervention at the birth time. So all you need to do is a little homework and make your parenting journey easy. Some tips for you include:

1. Educate yourself and your partner about the childbirth by taking a childbirth education class. The more knowledge you have regarding the birth, the better you will be able to nurse.

2. Study the details of epidurals, labor inductions, v-bacs and c-sections. Researches suggest that women who had C-section have less chances to room-in with their little baby and also have less chances of breastfeeding their babies. The less pain you have had while and after birth, the more problematic will be for you to concentrate on your baby’s needs.

3. Take enough information about how your provider can aid you labor easily without the use of drugs. The smoother your pregnancy is, more comfortable will be the post pregnancy period for you. Ask if you can labor in a tub, the support which you will have, whether you will be allowed to move around.

4. Find a Doula. Doulas help in providing various kinds of help before, during and after child birth. Researches show that doulas help mothers feel satisfied about the baby-birth.

5. Inquire about your hospitals post partum policies. Breastfeeding succeeds more by skin to skin contact with the mother. You can ask for waiting before the baby gets cleaned, measured, bathed until there is a nursing chance.

6. Tell the hospitals not to give any supplemental bottles of formula or glucose. This has increased a lot in the past few years and this is true that supplement feeding will derail nursing.

7. Be well aware as parents. Participate in the decisions for you and your little one. Ask the advantages, disadvantages and risks of various drugs. Meet with other nursing mothers and know their experiences.

Your baby needs to sleep well and should develop a pattern of sleeping and waking up. It is necessary for his good health as well as important for the parents. Some tips to develop good sleeping habits are mentioned below:

1. Fixed Bedtime

You should set a fixed bedtime and regular nap times for your baby during the day. When you had a newborn baby you knew the bedtime of the baby by noticing the drowsy eyes of your baby. As she grows a little older you will have to create a better timetable which should consist of a set bedtime and daytime naps, as well as their durations so that her sleep patterns and cycles can be regulated.

Your routine and the lifestyle of your family will play a major role in influencing her sleep schedule. Now you will have to choose a practical bedtime which suits you and your family and stick to it. If your baby shows energetic behavior at night, don’t be surprised. It is a sign showing that your child is tired.

2. Plan Daytime Naps

Start planning for daytime naps too. Keep in mind that sleeping is very crucial for your bay at this age. Choose specific time or you can choose definite hours for which your baby can stay awake between two naps.

3. Comfortable Clothing

Try to keep your baby calm, and make sure that whatever you make your baby wear should be comfortable and skin friendly. Uncomfortable clothes or diapers can sometimes be a cause of your baby’s irritability, if you find it difficult to make your baby sleep for longer time. Sing lullabies to your baby to make her doze off. Babies are very fond of soft music and rhythmic beats.

4. Bedtime Routine

A bedtime routine should be developed. You can include a warm bath, a bed time story or a lullaby before you kiss your baby goodnight. This will help the baby get a cozy feeling and the affection you offer will be enough to make everything comfortable for the baby.

You can choose any activity which suits you but make sure to repeat it every night and at around the same time. Consistency is the key to keeping a baby calm.

5. Wake your Baby after Adequate Sleep

Do not hesitate to wake your baby up in the morning if she sleeps more than usual. This will help her to adjust to a routine which she will have to follow later on. It is necessary to develop regular sleep-wake patterns. Your baby can make up for this in the daytime where you can allow her to take naps in frequent intervals.

Inculcating such healthy sleeping and waking habits in your will make her sleep schedule more predictable and you will find it more convenient to regulate it and plan things accordingly.