Guest Blog Post-How to Set Parental Boundaries for Your Own Wellbeing

Check out my guest blog post, "How to Set Parental Boundaries for Your Own Wellbeing" here:
https://wraemeredithblogs.wordpress.com/2017/10/01/guest-post-with-cara/

Quick and Easy Guide to Introducing Food to Your Baby

So, your baby is ready to start eating food, but you’re not sure where to begin? In my experience working with babies, I’ve had my fair share of times introducing food to little ones. I’m going to answer some common questions parents may have about feeding babies.

How do I know when my baby is ready to eat?

The first thing you need to do is look for signs your baby is ready to start eating baby food. Babies are usually ready to start eating between ages 4 and 6 months. Your baby may start to show you he/she is ready by staring at your food. Another sign is the baby will open their mouth when you are eating. A child is physically ready to eat food when they can reasonably hold their own head and upper body weight. Not all kids will show interest in food, but it’s still important to start feeding children by 6 months of age, unless there are special circumstances. 

What should I feed my baby and how much?

When you begin to feed your child, it’s a good idea to start with rice cereal. It is usually pretty soft on baby’s tummy. Rice cereal is a good introduction to food since it’s pretty bland and similar to formula and breastmilk. Be sure to make the rice cereal very thin when your little one is just beginning. It should be pretty mushy and easy to swallow. 

Don’t worry about the baby eating much food when he/she first starts. It’s more about giving the child the new experience of eating rather than filling their bellies. When babies start eating, they still rely mostly on milk to get their nutrients. You don’t have to begin with giving your child baby food at every meal time. With my daughter, Nini, I fed her once a day for about the first month; that seemed to be enough. Just feed your baby regularly so they can get used to the idea of eating.
 

When should I introduce more variety of baby food?

As the baby gets older and becomes more comfortable with food, you can gradually thicken up the rice cereal. Around 5 to 6 months old, you can also introduce other types of baby food. Be sure to give the baby only one kind of food at a time. Do this for about three to seven days. This is so you can check for allergic reactions to a specific food. 

As you introduce new flavors to your baby, I would suggest you start with as many veggies as possible. I’ve noticed babies who get vegetables first before fruits tend to eat veggies better as they get older. Fruit flavors are so strong that babies tend to enjoy the flavor more. They are less likely to eat veggies if they have fruits first. I would recommend skipping the meat flavored baby food. I have rarely seen a baby enjoy the meat flavors, and meat can be introduced later as a solid. 

When should I give my baby solid foods?

When your baby is between 7 and 10 months, you can start giving thicker baby food and some solids. Puffs are a good introduction to solid foods. They are small and dissolve really quickly in the mouth. When your baby seems to be doing well with puffs, you can move onto solids like graham crackers and Cheerios, which are pretty safe. You can also start giving your little one thicker baby food and baby food with chunks in it. If you feel comfortable, you can also start introducing foods like peanut butter. I would suggest talking to your pediatrician before giving your child peanut butter, though, since it’s a common allergy. 

From about 9 months to a year, you can start to give your baby pretty much anything. Just make sure it is still baby friendly so your child will not choke. You can squish or mash foods so it’s easier for your little one to eat. I’d also suggest making foods either really tiny, like the size of a puff, or big, like a cookie or whole graham cracker. Both help to prevent choking. Foods like hot dogs and grapes can be especially dangerous as choking hazards, so make sure you cut these foods thin.

How does my child learn to eat independently?

As your child learns how to eat, it’s also important for them to learn to feed themselves. Start letting your child practice holding a spoon and fork around 6 months old. I like baby friendly spoons like ones made by Nuby. Give your baby a sippy or regular cup between 6 and 8 months. Introducing a cup early is important. I really like Munchkin Miracle 360 Sippy Cups because they train a baby’s mouth how to drink from a regular cup without making a complete mess. 

How do I keep my child safe while eating?

While having your baby start eating is an exciting time, it can also be a scary one with the possibility of choking and allergies. Make foods baby safe with the suggestions I mentioned earlier. Always keep a close eye on your child, and freshen up on your baby CPR skills.

Well I hope this gives you some good ideas on how to introduce food to your baby. Do you have any advice for introducing food to babies? Let me know in the comments!

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My Experience with Moms in Drug Treatment

For the last three years, I have been involved in working with a drug treatment center. This particular program is geared towards women who are mothers, and includes a children’s therapeutic program. In 2014, I started working on the children’s team for this nonprofit organization. I no longer work there, but I volunteer regularly. During my experience at this treatment center, I have gained a deep respect for mothers in drug treatment. I’d like to share some of my experiences about these moms. 

Moms in drug treatment are amazing. All have been through difficult life circumstances. Many have gone through things I can barely imagine. Trauma, abuse, depression and other mental illness, homelessness, and family history of drug abuse are among what these women have experienced. And yet, they are in drug treatment trying to get their lives back. These moms are trying to recover from their addiction. All while taking care of their children. 

I can barely handle what’s on my own plate as a mom. The mothers I see in drug treatment are balancing all the normal mom duties, along with hours of therapy, parent education, jobs, and detoxing from their DOC (drug of choice). I truly admire these women. The strength it takes to come from such a dark place and rise above it is a great thing to see.

Now, not all these moms get through drug treatment successfully. I personally witnessed some very sad circumestances. Many of the moms have to go through drug treatment several times before they can beat their addiction. But I find it so empowering the moms that continue to persevere until they are clean. 

Being on the children’s team, I’ve seen a lot of beautiful moments between moms and their children. Many of the moms were reunited with their kids during the treatment program, and had to regain a bond with their children. I loved watching the journey of moms and their children learn to trust one another and form a deeper mother/child love. Many of these moms are wonderful with their children. Each mom comes in with her own capabilities and usually grows into an even better mother. 

If you are a mother in drug treatment, or have been in the past, know that you are not alone. Many moms have gone through this. And know that I think you are strong, beautiful, and a great mom. You are a good mom because you are fighting to gain control over your life. You are doing your best to take care of your children. 

Mom in drug treatment…please keep fighting. You are worth it.

If you have any thoughts you'd like to add to this discussion, please let me know in the comments.

The Ultimate List for Treating Diaper Rash

Baby diaper rash. Ouch. Your baby is in pain and you might feel like you can’t do much, except wait for the sores to heal. The truth is, you have several options in helping your baby’s poor bum feel better.

Clean, dry bum

While working with babies in the past, I have found one of the most basic ways to heal diaper rash is with a clean, dry bum. I have worked with parents and found many didn’t realize this. I didn’t think about it myself until a fellow childcare provider pointed it out to me. We often quickly change diapers without “airing out” the diaper area. When a baby is changed without making sure their bum is dry before putting on a new diaper, the skin can be irritated and create or agitate a diaper rash. Obviously, you don’t want to wait too long in between diaper changes or the child could pee everywhere. But how do you make sure the baby is dry before putting on a new diaper? My best suggestion would be to use the new diaper to fan the child’s bum. Also, be sure to change the baby’s diaper quickly after they have pooped and watch pee diapers closely. Little babies and young ones who already have diaper rash should be changed out of pee diapers more frequently. 

Desitin

Desitin is one of my favorite and most affordable diaper rash ointments. It is more of a cream and is easy to apply. Desitin is great for most kids. It works well for everyday use. I like putting it on little ones, including my own daughter, Nini, when the bum is just a little red. It usually seems to do the trick to clear up irritation pretty quickly. 

Corn starch

If you’re looking for more of a home remedy, corn starch can be an option. Some people swear by it; others adamantly oppose it. Personally, I have used corn starch on children based on parental request. I am not opposed to it, but I wouldn’t necessarily use it for my own kid. If you do use corn starch, it’s especially important to make sure the diapering area is clean and dry first. Also, use it sparingly so the powder doesn’t go into the baby’s lungs. Do your own research and decide if corn starch is a good choice for you and your baby. 

A+D

A+D is also a good diaper rash ointment. It’s more of a jelly and seems to be a little stronger than Desitin. It works great for more serious diaper rashes. 

Petroleum jelly

Petroleum jelly is versatile, including use as a diaper rash ointment. It’s a good affordable option for bad diaper rashes. I wouldn’t recommend using petroleum jelly on babies under six months since they have such sensitive skin. For older babies and toddlers, petroleum jelly can be really effective in healing a diaper rash.  

Sensitive wet wipes

Using sensitive wet wipes is also a good idea for preventing and treating diaper rash. They’re especially helpful if you’re little one has sensitive skin. I like using Pampers Baby Wipes Sensitive. Remember when using wet wipes on a diaper rash, to wipe very softly. If the rash is really bad and possibly bleeding, use wipes sparingly and lightly dab the area only.

What should you do for a really sore diaper rash?

While all of these products and ideas are helpful, sometimes a diaper rash is still bad. The bum and diaper area may be very red, bumpy, and even bleed in spots. When this happens, there are a couple of tricks I've used.

My 3 step ointment process

When Nini’s diaper rash is really bad, I use a three step ointment process. First, I put Neosporin on the surrounding red area of the diaper rash. Next, I apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly over the Neosporin. Last, I add a small amount of Desitin over the whole affected area. When I do this, the rash usually clears up in a few days.

Please remember, Neosporin is for external use only. Do not use it on the genitalia, only the surrounding red area. 

Go diaperless

Another great way to clear up diaper rash is let baby go diaperless for a while. Many parents don’t seem to think of this, but one of the best things for a sore bum is fresh air. Find a place in your home where you’re okay with cleaning up an accident the child may have, and let them roam free without a diaper. I would say, try to go without a diaper between 30 minutes and 2 hours. A child’s diaper rash usually starts to look better after some time diaperless.

Pediatrician

If all else fails, talk to your child’s pediatrician. The doctor may have some ideas or medicine for the rash. Plus, not all diaper rashes are the normal kind that can be treated from home. Some rashes are caused by bacterial or viral infections and need antibiotics or special prescription creams. So, if you are concerned about the diaper rash, go see a doctor. 

Well I hope this list gives you some good ideas about how to treat diaper rash. So what techniques or products have you used to treat your baby’s diaper rash? Let me know in the comments!

I am not a medical expert. Be sure to seek advice from a medical professional if you have questions or concerns about diaper rash.

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