Most babies come fully equipped with instincts that they need to help them grow and develop into healthy active adults, but we give them the things they weren't born with like protection, nourishment, love and healthy habits. For example, a baby does have an instinct to nurse, but not for brushing her teeth. This is why I think it is a great idea for parents to start a morning exercise routine with their babies that consists of developmentally appropriate strength building movements. Just ten minutes in the morning is enough for a baby, they will tire quickly if you push them too much but just a little exercise is invigorating. These moves have the added benefit of also being able to help your baby expel gas. I would recommend either feeding your baby after the exercise, or at least an hour before to prevent causing any digestive discomfort.
1. Baby pull ups.
This move is good to start trying when your baby is one month old. Lay your baby on your lap with your knees together. Your baby's head should be by your knees, and the bottom should be on your thighs. Wrap your baby's fingers around your thumbs so he is holding on and begin to slowly lift your thumbs away from your baby, upward. Your baby should hold on tight and pull back on your thumbs, and even tense his neck or try to lift his head a little. Don't actually lift your baby off of your legs, or raise his head more than an inch or so in case his strength suddenly gives out. Simply pull up, then lower your baby gently back down 4 or 5 times with slow fluid motions. This move primarily tones your baby's arms, but the neck and stomach also benefit.
2. Baby squats.
To start this move, you can keep your baby laying on your lap as described in the first tip. Then, place the palms of your hands against your baby's cute little bare feet and press up toward her bottom. If your baby doesn't push against your hands, try tickling her feet for a couple of seconds before trying again. if your baby's legs tremble or shake when you are beginning to push, don't worry, this is fairly common in newborns, it comes from a lack of muscle tone. This exercise is actually one of those that physical therapists use for helping tone a baby's legs. Repeat 4 or 5 times, as you do these exercises with your baby every morning, your baby will quickly become stronger and able to do more.
3. Baby push-ups.
Although your baby will do a lot of this kind of exercise when placed on a blanket on the floor for tummy time, most of the work down there will be done by your baby's back, not the arms. This exercise is very similar to the first one, except that you will pull your baby's arms toward your chest to get ready, then push them back toward your baby's own chest. Think of your thumbs as the bench press weight bar, and your lap as the bench. If you don't meet any resistance try making the first little push of the motion two or three times very quickly, as soon as your baby begins resisting your pressure, keep pushing steadily toward your baby's chest.
4. Baby sit ups.
Now I know your baby won't be sitting up for a few more months, but that doesn't mean you can't start building the strength your baby will need right now. This exercise move is a lot easier if you prop your baby up with a pillow or rolled up blanket so he is in a reclined but sitting position. Now, lift his legs up about 4 or 5 inches off the ground and tickle his knees. The knee tickling isn't important, it's just fun. Now holding his knees, pull his legs quickly toward you just a little bit, and as soon as you have resistance press them down to the floor and hold them firmly, pulling just a little bit toward yourself. Your baby should let out a big grunt and try to lean forward. This is what a sit-up looks like at the age of 1 or 2 months. Only do 4 or 5, unless your baby insists that you keep going. He is the boss after all.
5. Baby side-lifts.
Now this move is really for the strengthening of your baby's neck. The muscles that keep your baby's head steady are not in the front or the back, they are on the sides of the neck. To start, roll your baby onto her side, and prop her up on a pillow, a rolled up blanket or your lap. Hold her with one hand on her chest and one hand on her back, and lift her up until she is almost perpendicular, then lower her back down. When she feels the motion of being lifted she will automatically stiffen the muscles in her neck to help lift her head. Don't support your baby's head on the side, her shoulder is there and provides plenty of support, but do be prepared to quickly lower your baby back down if her head starts to wobble or look uncomfortable. This move is a good one to practice all through the day. Whenever you pick up your baby, roll her onto her side and lift her up sideways before positioning her on your shoulder or lap. The more often you do this exercise, the sooner your baby's neck will be strong and stable.
I hope you and your baby have a great time doing these exercises together. Who knows, getting your little one into a healthy groove with working out every morning, may just inspire you to make it a part of your morning routine as well! If you like to work out at night, and want to do these exercises at bedtime with your baby, try to finish the excises part of the routine at least an hour before it is time to go to sleep. Exercise can get babies wound up and can make sleep difficult if the two are too close together. Please pass these tips on to any new or expecting parents you know, and if you have any questions or comments, I'd love to hear them! Happy parenting!
For safety tips and my "Tripi's Tip of the Day" visit http://www.everythingmom.com/blogs/naomitripi/
Showing posts with label legs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label legs. Show all posts
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Friday, March 21, 2014
5 tips for identifying baby's mystery conditions.
Why is my baby's spit up clear? What is causing the trembling in my infants legs? When my newborn suddenly sleeps for five hours straight, should I worry? So, you've read the books, taken the classes and watched the videos, your baby doesn't seem to care. There are mystery symptoms popping up all the time. Which ones are normal and which ones should you call your pediatrician for? While I believe that you should call your pediatrician any time that you feel in your gut that something is wrong, here are a few common conditions which are more sheep in wolves clothing than anything else.
1. Clear spit up.
Whether your baby is teething or not, sometimes your little drizzle swizzle will simply drool, this is completely normal. Babies salivate a lot, especially at night. When you lay your baby down on her back to sleep, the excess saliva is all running right down her throat and getting swallowed. When swallowed, this moisture tricks your baby's stomach into thinking she has begun to eat food, causing a higher level of stomach acids, which when they have nothing to digest can be somewhat irritating to your baby's delicate stomach lining. The result is clear, and completely harmless, spit up.
2. Trembling legs.
It can be pretty scary when you are snuggling your new baby, and you notice his legs tremble for a moment or two when he pushes his feet against something. Your first thought might jump to worst case scenarios involving intense physical therapy and crutches for years to come, but chances are that it is nothing to worry about. Your baby's muscles are faced with the doubly difficult task of growing at an enormous rate, and retaining her strength and tone while doing it. At times, her new muscle tissue has simply not had time to tone fully as it is integrated into muscle tissue that she already has. Think of your own legs the day after a rigorous workout, when you try to walk down stairs, those first couple of steps are pretty shaky. This is basically the same thing that is happening with your baby's legs. With just a little kicking and pushing her legs should be back to their normal steady state.
3. Hives.
Hives, those red bumps that appear suddenly on your baby's face and chest, are pretty frightening when you first encounter them. They are generally a reaction of an allergic nature. As soon as you notice them, take note of a few things, 1-if you are breastfeeding what did you eat over the last 24 hours and if you are not, have you changed your infant formula recently, 2-has your baby tried on any new clothing or played with any new toys recently and 3-have you changed laundry detergent or has anyone new held your baby who does not normally hold him? These three questions will help you pinpoint more quickly possible causes for your baby's reaction. Chances are that the hives will disappear within a few minute of when they began, as long as what is causing them has been separated from immediate contact. There is usually no need to worry too much about the reaction, just make a note of the cause, and bring it up with your pediatrician at your next visit. Most sensitivities, both of skin and food will disappear over your baby's first few years, so don't give up hope if your baby shows a reaction to something particularly troublesome, like wheat, or perfume. Do get your baby tested for suspected allergies though, sometimes your guess as to the cause of the reaction is wrong, and you may be needlessly restricting your baby's environment.
4. Large amounts of spit up.
I'm not talking exorcist levels here, but if your baby throws up a particularly large amount of milk there are a couple potential causes for it that are relatively harmless. The most common reason for a sudden extra large amount of spit up is an air bubble. Basically, if your baby has a burp that needs to come up, but he continues to eat, that milk will sit on top of the bubble unable to fully digest. Until eventually the bubble forces it's way out, pushing all of that trapped milk up ahead of it. The best way to prevent this from happening is to burp your baby in the middle of the feeding at least once. The other potential cause for a strangely large episode of spit up, is perhaps something about the last feeding disagreed with your baby's tummy. If you bottle feed, it could be that a bottle was left out for a bit too long, causing some bacterial growth. This can happen pretty quickly, so it is important to keep an eye on how long you allow mixed formula to sit out. If you breastfeed, it could be that something you ate was particularly difficult for your baby to digest. There are a few other things that can cause excessive spit up, so you should check with your pediatrician if it continues regularly.
5. Suddenly takes very long naps.
Babies eat so often that we get used to a regular schedule of eat, sleep and poop during the first couple of months. However, those naps are usually only about an hour or two long at maximum, so if your baby suddenly sleeps for 3 or 4 hours it can be concerning. There is probably no need to worry though, it is completely normal for babies to have periods of extended sleep. Babies basically bulk up by eating food that they store as fat, and then while they sleep they build bone, muscle, nerves and skin. I often tell parents to watch for the larger pattern of "plump and stretch" that babies cycle through. This cycle looks like this: For a few days your baby will be ravenous, wanting to eat all the time and hardly sleeps at all. Then for a few days your baby will hardly eat, sleeping long and well. Next, you'll notice that your baby's cheeks are getting plump, and her thighs are filling out. But as soon as you notice this, she will have some periods of long sleep, and after a few days of heavy sleep your baby will look slimmer. Then she will be eating like an elephant, and will have suddenly outgrown her cutest jammies. This is probably what is going on with your baby's long naps, but if you find that your baby is difficult to wake up, seems very sleepy in between naps, or has been having fewer wet diapers than normal, talk to your pediatrician right away, there could be a more serious underlying issue at work.
It can be hard to know when something that your baby is doing is normal or not, and if you ever have any doubts or concerns you should talk to your pediatrician right away. You have parental instincts that are far more reliable than any medical website or baby book when it comes to knowing when there is something wrong with your own baby. Most of the time your baby will be fine, and there is no need to worry, but if you know which things are not cause for concern it can help you pin point those that are far more quickly. If you have found these tips helpful please pass them on to any new or expecting parents you might know. Questions, comments and suggestions are always welcome. Happy parenting!
1. Clear spit up.
Whether your baby is teething or not, sometimes your little drizzle swizzle will simply drool, this is completely normal. Babies salivate a lot, especially at night. When you lay your baby down on her back to sleep, the excess saliva is all running right down her throat and getting swallowed. When swallowed, this moisture tricks your baby's stomach into thinking she has begun to eat food, causing a higher level of stomach acids, which when they have nothing to digest can be somewhat irritating to your baby's delicate stomach lining. The result is clear, and completely harmless, spit up.
2. Trembling legs.
It can be pretty scary when you are snuggling your new baby, and you notice his legs tremble for a moment or two when he pushes his feet against something. Your first thought might jump to worst case scenarios involving intense physical therapy and crutches for years to come, but chances are that it is nothing to worry about. Your baby's muscles are faced with the doubly difficult task of growing at an enormous rate, and retaining her strength and tone while doing it. At times, her new muscle tissue has simply not had time to tone fully as it is integrated into muscle tissue that she already has. Think of your own legs the day after a rigorous workout, when you try to walk down stairs, those first couple of steps are pretty shaky. This is basically the same thing that is happening with your baby's legs. With just a little kicking and pushing her legs should be back to their normal steady state.
3. Hives.
Hives, those red bumps that appear suddenly on your baby's face and chest, are pretty frightening when you first encounter them. They are generally a reaction of an allergic nature. As soon as you notice them, take note of a few things, 1-if you are breastfeeding what did you eat over the last 24 hours and if you are not, have you changed your infant formula recently, 2-has your baby tried on any new clothing or played with any new toys recently and 3-have you changed laundry detergent or has anyone new held your baby who does not normally hold him? These three questions will help you pinpoint more quickly possible causes for your baby's reaction. Chances are that the hives will disappear within a few minute of when they began, as long as what is causing them has been separated from immediate contact. There is usually no need to worry too much about the reaction, just make a note of the cause, and bring it up with your pediatrician at your next visit. Most sensitivities, both of skin and food will disappear over your baby's first few years, so don't give up hope if your baby shows a reaction to something particularly troublesome, like wheat, or perfume. Do get your baby tested for suspected allergies though, sometimes your guess as to the cause of the reaction is wrong, and you may be needlessly restricting your baby's environment.
4. Large amounts of spit up.
I'm not talking exorcist levels here, but if your baby throws up a particularly large amount of milk there are a couple potential causes for it that are relatively harmless. The most common reason for a sudden extra large amount of spit up is an air bubble. Basically, if your baby has a burp that needs to come up, but he continues to eat, that milk will sit on top of the bubble unable to fully digest. Until eventually the bubble forces it's way out, pushing all of that trapped milk up ahead of it. The best way to prevent this from happening is to burp your baby in the middle of the feeding at least once. The other potential cause for a strangely large episode of spit up, is perhaps something about the last feeding disagreed with your baby's tummy. If you bottle feed, it could be that a bottle was left out for a bit too long, causing some bacterial growth. This can happen pretty quickly, so it is important to keep an eye on how long you allow mixed formula to sit out. If you breastfeed, it could be that something you ate was particularly difficult for your baby to digest. There are a few other things that can cause excessive spit up, so you should check with your pediatrician if it continues regularly.
5. Suddenly takes very long naps.
Babies eat so often that we get used to a regular schedule of eat, sleep and poop during the first couple of months. However, those naps are usually only about an hour or two long at maximum, so if your baby suddenly sleeps for 3 or 4 hours it can be concerning. There is probably no need to worry though, it is completely normal for babies to have periods of extended sleep. Babies basically bulk up by eating food that they store as fat, and then while they sleep they build bone, muscle, nerves and skin. I often tell parents to watch for the larger pattern of "plump and stretch" that babies cycle through. This cycle looks like this: For a few days your baby will be ravenous, wanting to eat all the time and hardly sleeps at all. Then for a few days your baby will hardly eat, sleeping long and well. Next, you'll notice that your baby's cheeks are getting plump, and her thighs are filling out. But as soon as you notice this, she will have some periods of long sleep, and after a few days of heavy sleep your baby will look slimmer. Then she will be eating like an elephant, and will have suddenly outgrown her cutest jammies. This is probably what is going on with your baby's long naps, but if you find that your baby is difficult to wake up, seems very sleepy in between naps, or has been having fewer wet diapers than normal, talk to your pediatrician right away, there could be a more serious underlying issue at work.
It can be hard to know when something that your baby is doing is normal or not, and if you ever have any doubts or concerns you should talk to your pediatrician right away. You have parental instincts that are far more reliable than any medical website or baby book when it comes to knowing when there is something wrong with your own baby. Most of the time your baby will be fine, and there is no need to worry, but if you know which things are not cause for concern it can help you pin point those that are far more quickly. If you have found these tips helpful please pass them on to any new or expecting parents you might know. Questions, comments and suggestions are always welcome. Happy parenting!
Saturday, March 15, 2014
5 More Tips For Relieving Your Baby's Gas Pains
One of the most consistent issues parents face with their new babies is the discomfort that gas can cause. That is why I am revisiting this topic. For a new baby, gas is inevitable. For the first couple months the digestive system is still adapting to both processing nutrients and expelling waste. The issues that cause gas pain are related to both slow movement of waste through the bowels, and difficulty digesting. Even when your baby is only eating breast milk or formula the simple process of breaking down the nutrients can be hard on your little sugar-pop. So here are five more things you can try.
1. Warm peppermint and fennel compress.
To make a compress wrap a some fresh peppermint and fennel with a soft piece of cotton cloth and soak in warm with water for about two minutes. After soaking, squeeze out the excess water and place the warm damp compress on your little darling's lower abdomen. To finish, wrap a cloth around your baby and the compress to make sure it won't move. Leave the compress on for about 20 minutes, re-moistening it with a bit of the same warm water that you soaked it in to begin with about every five minutes or so. The scent is calming and the herbal properties of fennel and peppermint have been used to assist in digestion for hundreds of years. Using a compress is a very good natural way to help your sweet little bubble blower absorb a bit of the herbal benefits gently, and in a way that doesn't give her tummy more new substances to digest.
2. Give a supplemental bottle of water.
One thing that your baby can ingest that does not cause gas is water. Water is not digested in the same way as other foods, and so causes no gas by itself. Also water can dilute other fluids making it harder for gas bubbles to form. Although he may not drink much, just a little bit goes a long way. Water can also stimulate the bowels to move, which is very helpful. It is important to note that you should not replace a feeding with a bottle of water, since there is no nutritional value, but a little extra water after a feeding can do wonders for a little tooter who is prone to gas trouble.
3. Swaddle with your infants legs folded.
When your infant has trouble with gas, one sign is when she pushes her legs straight out. This is an instinctual reaction to abdominal pain and is meant to help push off anything that might be pushing on her belly. However, pushing the legs out straight actually tightens your little giggler's behind muscles, which doesn't help matters move along.When your infants legs are wrapped up in a folded "criss-cross-applesauce" style in front of her, the instinctual tightening of the abdomen in response to gas pain is much more helpful. To do this type of swaddle, wrap the arms as you normally would, normally, then fold the legs up and crossed. While holding the legs with one hand bring the bottom section of the blanket up and tuck it into the front of the swaddle. It is also important to remember that all swaddling should either leave your baby's legs free to kick about or have them wrapped up near the body with the knees apart to prevent hip dysplaisia which can sometimes result from straight-leg swaddling.
4. Tummy time across your thighs.
Sometimes the gentle pressure of regular tummy time is not enough to relax your infant's abdomen. Or your little pipsqueek may just dislike regular tummy time, and the combination of the pain and the position may make the situation worse. In these cases, laying your baby across your thighs, with their head on one thigh, and their tummy on the other is a great thing to try. Not only is contact with you soothing, but as your baby lays on your lap, you can gently bounce the leg that his tummy is resting on very lightly. Let his legs hang down as you do this and softly stroke and pat his back. The combination of your warmth, the gentle pressure, and the position of the legs is often a near magical combination for producing the relief your baby needs.
5. A foot massage.
For babies that have a continuing problem of gas I like to suggest trying a reflexology massage. Reflexology is the art of stimulating areas on the feet and/or ears to affect other areas of the body. It is similar to acupressure, but the way it is applied has more room for error. The area of your baby's feet that is associated with the bowels is in the center of the bottom of the foot between the arch and the ball of the heel. As your baby lays on her back hold her feet up and gently rub this area in a soft circular motion for a few minutes. This gas relieving reflexology method can be done a few times during the day. I like to do it just before the morning feeding, just before the later afternoon nap, and just before the bedtime feeding. The reason I do it before feedings and before sleep is because the way that reflexology works is not immediate. Reflexology is designed to treat the underlying issues (in this case movement of waste through the bowels, and efficient digestion), not to relieve the immediate symptoms.
Though there is no cure-all perfect remedy that will work for every baby, these tips have come in very handy for me over the years. Some babies are more prone to gas and gas-related pain than others, but the nice thing about babies is that they outgrow these kinds of things eventually. It is very important for you as a parent to remember to try and stay calm and gentle in these frustrating times. Keep trying new things until you find something that works, and then enjoy the silence as long as you can. The only thing as intense as a the feeling of frustration when a baby cries is the feeling of relief when they finally stop. If you have found these tips helpful, please forward them to any new or expecting parents you know. Questions and comments are always welcome. Happy parenting!
1. Warm peppermint and fennel compress.
To make a compress wrap a some fresh peppermint and fennel with a soft piece of cotton cloth and soak in warm with water for about two minutes. After soaking, squeeze out the excess water and place the warm damp compress on your little darling's lower abdomen. To finish, wrap a cloth around your baby and the compress to make sure it won't move. Leave the compress on for about 20 minutes, re-moistening it with a bit of the same warm water that you soaked it in to begin with about every five minutes or so. The scent is calming and the herbal properties of fennel and peppermint have been used to assist in digestion for hundreds of years. Using a compress is a very good natural way to help your sweet little bubble blower absorb a bit of the herbal benefits gently, and in a way that doesn't give her tummy more new substances to digest.
2. Give a supplemental bottle of water.
One thing that your baby can ingest that does not cause gas is water. Water is not digested in the same way as other foods, and so causes no gas by itself. Also water can dilute other fluids making it harder for gas bubbles to form. Although he may not drink much, just a little bit goes a long way. Water can also stimulate the bowels to move, which is very helpful. It is important to note that you should not replace a feeding with a bottle of water, since there is no nutritional value, but a little extra water after a feeding can do wonders for a little tooter who is prone to gas trouble.
3. Swaddle with your infants legs folded.
When your infant has trouble with gas, one sign is when she pushes her legs straight out. This is an instinctual reaction to abdominal pain and is meant to help push off anything that might be pushing on her belly. However, pushing the legs out straight actually tightens your little giggler's behind muscles, which doesn't help matters move along.When your infants legs are wrapped up in a folded "criss-cross-applesauce" style in front of her, the instinctual tightening of the abdomen in response to gas pain is much more helpful. To do this type of swaddle, wrap the arms as you normally would, normally, then fold the legs up and crossed. While holding the legs with one hand bring the bottom section of the blanket up and tuck it into the front of the swaddle. It is also important to remember that all swaddling should either leave your baby's legs free to kick about or have them wrapped up near the body with the knees apart to prevent hip dysplaisia which can sometimes result from straight-leg swaddling.
Sometimes the gentle pressure of regular tummy time is not enough to relax your infant's abdomen. Or your little pipsqueek may just dislike regular tummy time, and the combination of the pain and the position may make the situation worse. In these cases, laying your baby across your thighs, with their head on one thigh, and their tummy on the other is a great thing to try. Not only is contact with you soothing, but as your baby lays on your lap, you can gently bounce the leg that his tummy is resting on very lightly. Let his legs hang down as you do this and softly stroke and pat his back. The combination of your warmth, the gentle pressure, and the position of the legs is often a near magical combination for producing the relief your baby needs.
5. A foot massage.
For babies that have a continuing problem of gas I like to suggest trying a reflexology massage. Reflexology is the art of stimulating areas on the feet and/or ears to affect other areas of the body. It is similar to acupressure, but the way it is applied has more room for error. The area of your baby's feet that is associated with the bowels is in the center of the bottom of the foot between the arch and the ball of the heel. As your baby lays on her back hold her feet up and gently rub this area in a soft circular motion for a few minutes. This gas relieving reflexology method can be done a few times during the day. I like to do it just before the morning feeding, just before the later afternoon nap, and just before the bedtime feeding. The reason I do it before feedings and before sleep is because the way that reflexology works is not immediate. Reflexology is designed to treat the underlying issues (in this case movement of waste through the bowels, and efficient digestion), not to relieve the immediate symptoms.
Though there is no cure-all perfect remedy that will work for every baby, these tips have come in very handy for me over the years. Some babies are more prone to gas and gas-related pain than others, but the nice thing about babies is that they outgrow these kinds of things eventually. It is very important for you as a parent to remember to try and stay calm and gentle in these frustrating times. Keep trying new things until you find something that works, and then enjoy the silence as long as you can. The only thing as intense as a the feeling of frustration when a baby cries is the feeling of relief when they finally stop. If you have found these tips helpful, please forward them to any new or expecting parents you know. Questions and comments are always welcome. Happy parenting!
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