Guide to Bringing up Wind

When babies drink they almost always swallow some air. This is especially true if you are feeding them from a bottle. This air tends to get trapped in their stomachs and can make your baby uncomfortable. Occasionally your baby may “burp” on their own and release this gas but, more often, you will need to do something to help.

You should try to get your baby to burp in the middle and, at the end of every feed. There are three simple ways to get your baby to release this trapped wind. Try all three until you find the one that works best for you.

• Lay the baby face down across your knees and, whilst supporting the head gently rub or pat their back.
• Hold the baby, facing you in an upright position with their head above your shoulder. Gently rub or pat their back.
• Hold the baby on your knee in a sitting position whilst leaning them slightly forwards. Gently rub or pat their back.

Whichever way you choose you must always remember to support the baby’s head at all times. There is no need to do anything more vigorous than gently rubbing or patting. The trapped wind is brought up by the pressure of your hand not by the noise created or, because of any sudden movements.

When the air is released it will often bring up some liquid with it so you should be ready for this to avoid spillage on clothing. This is very common and is nothing to worry about. If your baby vomits it will involve a lot more fluid and, although this in itself is not uncommon if it happens regularly you should raise it with your midwife or health visitor.

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Bathing your baby safely

You could make bath-time part of your evening routine. It can be fun for you and your baby but, there are several safety tips you should keep in mind.

• The single most important thing to remember is that you must never leave you baby unattended for even a second whilst they are in the bath. Get everything you will need ready before you start the bathing process: towels, toiletries, new nappy, night-clothes. Once you have your baby in the bath you will be unable to leave them. If the phone rings, ignore it, they will call back. Children can drown in under a minute in less that 2.5cm of water.
• Never put your baby in the bath whilst the water is still running. The water temperature could change and scold them. The water needs to be comfortably warm, not hot, about 100 degrees Fahrenheit/ 38 degrees Centigrade is proven to help babies retain their body heat. Put cold water in first, then add hot to bring up to temperature.
• If you are using your family bath, make it safe by adding a rubber bathmat, to prevent slipping and, cover the taps. Don’t allow your child to touch the taps. One day they will be strong enough to turn them on and the hot water tap could lead to serious injury.
• For new-borns and babies up to six months old you only need about five inches of water. Just enough to allow your baby to settle in the water with their shoulders covered. Never allow older children to have the water more than waist height.
• For older children a bath seat might be useful. It will give you two free hands because of the support it offers. However, you still need to be alert at all times. Children have died when they were left unattended in a bath seat.
• Never allow a child to stand in the bath.
• Many babies and parents love bath-time whilst other don’t. There is no real for a daily bath but, if your baby enjoys it you could make it part of your night-time routine. It will help relax your baby and they will learn that it’s soon going to be bedtime. This may help their sleeping pattern. Your baby’s hair does not need washing every day. The hair follicles produce little oil and one wash per week will probably be enough.
• Use soaps, shampoos and bubble baths sparingly as you could cause you babies skin to become dry and sensitive. Use mild products, which have been specifically designed for babies.
• When you remove your baby from the bath you need to minimise body heat loss. This is particularly important for new-borns. Make sure the room is warm and wrap your baby in a large towel as soon as you lift them out. Dab your baby dry gently and dress them immediately. Once dressed, give them a cuddle to ensure they warm up quickly.

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Make Your baby Thrive

You don’t need to be a childcare expert to ensure your baby has the best start in life. Some things will come naturally to you but, to be confident you are fulfilling their needs and that they have the best possible opportunity to reach their full potential just follow the steps below;

Love

Children need to be loved. Good care and support will give your child the secure base they need to begin exploring the world. Love, attention and support in the early years of a child’s life can have a measurable impact on that child’s physical, mental and emotional growth. Show your love whenever you get the opportunity. Cuddle, smile, encourage and play with your baby whenever you can. You won’t “spoil” your baby by responding too quickly to their cries. Experts have shown that if you respond quickly when your baby is upset it will help develop the trust and, create a strong emotional bond between you.

Basic needs.

Your baby needs to be in good health and have plenty of energy to help them grow. Make sure you attend baby clinic regularly to keep track of your baby’s growth and get the immunisations your baby needs.

Breastmilk or formula will provide all the nutrients your baby needs for the first six months of life and, a large part of what they need up to their first birthday. Breastmilk is best. Studies have shown that it helps minimise the risk of your baby picking up certain illnesses. However, formula milk fed babies should thrive even if they don’t get the extra benefits attached to breastmilk.

Sleep is an important part of a baby’s life. It’s when you baby’s brain makes important connections. These connections form the basis of the pathways within the brain which will enable your baby to understand and interact with the world around them.

Tend to your babies physical needs promptly. If you take care of the basics your baby’s brain can concentrate on the more challenging things which are happening around them.

Speak to your baby

The best thing you can do to help stimulate your baby’s brain is, speak to them. Speaking to your baby makes them good communicators which, is a great stepping stone to doing well at school.

Talk to your child whenever you are together. They will respond if they know the words are directed at them, so try to maintain eye contact whilst you are speaking. You can ramble on about anything but, try to keep it relevant to what you are doing. Things such as “mummy’s putting you a clean nappy on” or “mummy’s going to give you a nice warm bath” are fine. You don’t have to try to be educational all the time.

Read to your baby

Reading out loud to your baby is one of the most important things you can do to help develop your child’s vocabulary and language development. It’s also the perfect time for you to have a cuddle and help develop your baby’s social skills.

Stimulate their senses

For a young child to learn about the world around them they need to be exposed to it. Every new interaction is a learning process. A child can be over-stimulated so you don’t want to engage your baby in activities 24 hours a day but, when they are interested in playing make sure that your provide a variety of toys and objects. Choose items which are different in shape, weight, texture and colour as well as items which can make a noise. You can play simple interactive games such as peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake. Go on walks and trips where your baby will meet other people. The simplest activities help brain development.

Make sure your child has plenty of room to play in. It will help them develop strong muscles, balance and good motor skills. They will need room to crawl initially, then cruise and walk as they develop. They will need room to explore without the need for too much negative interaction from you, so make the room as safe and childproof as possible.

Encourage new things

Don’t frustrate your child by giving them toys which are intended for much older children. We all learn the simple things first and it’s better to get good at them before moving on to more demanding things. However, if something stretches your baby’s capabilities that can only be a good thing. If something doesn’t come easy it will help your baby to develop if they have to think more about what they are doing. Problem solving will help their brain development. For example, if your baby is trying to put shapes through the correct hole and they are struggling, let them try for a while before you help. Then show how it’s done. Then let them try again themselves.

Look after yourself

The single most important thing in helping your baby to develop is you. So, if you are not feeling well make sure you seek professional advice immediately. Illnesses are easy to spot but, if you are finding it difficult to respond quickly and with empathy to your baby’s needs you may be depressed. Depression can effect a parent’s ability to interact with their child which can have a negative effect on the child’s development. If you think you may be depressed speak to your doctor or health visitor immediately.

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Why Dads are Important

Some people seem to think that a Dad only becomes important when his son needs taking to football practice or his daughter needs chauffeuring to ballet lessons. However, there are hundreds of published research papers that prove beyond any doubt that Dad is indispensable.

Dads matter because….

1. Children raised with their dads have better social skills when at nursery age and will do better at examinations when they are sixteen.
2. Being a good dad helps keep your child mentally stable. A close father-child relationship is a good predictor of good long-term mental health.
3. Children brought up in a happy two parent family environment have higher self esteem and form better relationships themselves.
4. Being a good Dad means that when your child grows up they are more likely to be a good parent themselves.
5. Good fathering means your son will be less likely to get a criminal record.
6. Successful professional women all tend to have at least one thing in common, fathers who respect and encourage them

You are Important to your partner too.

If you help with your baby from the start breastfeeding is more successful and she is less likely to suffer with postnatal depression.

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Breast feeding in Public

Although you may feel uncomfortable when you breastfeed in front of other people it is perfectly acceptable to do so. Mums have the legal right to breastfeed in public during the first six months of their baby’s life.

Some tops are designed to help you feed discreetly. If you have to unbutton your blouse it will only make you feel more uncomfortable and exposed whilst you are feeding. Also, buttons are a hindrance you can do without. Stretchy tops, which you can just, lift up work well. If it helps you feel more relaxed consider covering yourself by draping a scarf or lightweight blanket over your shoulder and chest area whilst you feed your baby. This will help with privacy. Remember to make sure your baby can breath easily whilst they are covered though.

Some large shops have mother and baby facilities where you can feed comfortably amongst other mums. Some councils also produce leaflets on where facilities are provided.

Remember that feeding your baby when they are hungry is your first priority and you shouldn’t feel self-conscious about doing what’s best for them. When you become more familiar with breastfeeding, you won’t think twice about doing it in public.

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Nappy rash

What does nappy rash look like?

If your baby has nappy rash you will spot it immediately. Some of the skin which has been covered by the nappy, probably the genital area, the buttocks and, folds of skin where legs and buttocks meet will be red and inflamed. The area can be either dry or moist and sometimes will appear to be pimply.

If you spot these signs you should treat them immediately as, untreated it can develop into something worse such as a yeast or bacterial infection. Yeast infections are more common in babies who are taking antibiotics. The drugs will have killed the “good” bacteria which normally keep the yeast under control as well as the infection they were intended to treat. Yeast infections normally begin as small red spots, which multiply and grow into solid red blotches. Bacterial infections, which are often accompanied by a fever, can cause oozing yellow patches or pus-filled pimples.

Why has my baby got nappy rash?

The major cause of nappy rash is dampness. New-borns urinate often and will have several loose bowel movements over any 24-hour period. Diarrhoea can also lead to nappy rash. It is almost impossible for you to keep your baby dry all the time. You may notice bowel movements quite quickly but you won’t spot every time your baby urinates. Even the best nappy will leave some moisture in contact with the skin. You must make every effort to change your babies nappy regularly to minimise the risk of nappy rash. However, if your baby has particularly sensitive skin they may be prone to nappy rash even if you change the nappy regularly.

How can I treat nappy rash?

Prevention is better than cure so make every effort to keep your baby clean and dry. If your baby is not yet mobile let them have time without wearing a nappy to allow the air to dry of the infected area. This will speed up the healing process. Make sure the room is warm and dry and let the baby lay on a towel, which you can wash as required. If your baby is mobile you may not want to try this unless you have an area which can be easily cleaned.

If your baby’s rash is allergy based use clean warm water and cotton wool to clean the infected area. Try switching to a super absorbent nappy to minimise moisture on the skin.

A normal nappy rash should clear up after three or four days of treatment at home. If the rash persists, spreads, or worsens whilst you are home treating you should visit your doctor. He may prescribe a hydrocortisone or anti-bacterial cream.

How can I prevent nappy rash?

• Change your baby’s nappy as soon as possible after you notice it has become wet or soiled.
• Clean the nappy area thoroughly everytime you change a nappy. Allow the skin to dry before you put a clean nappy back onto your baby.
• Coat the nappy area with a protective cream during each nappy change.
• Don’t fasten nappies too tightly. Allow room for air to circulate around the nappy.

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Your baby's development (10-12 Months)

Month 10

Most will now be waving goodbye and picking things up using the pincer grasp. They should be crawling well and cruising around the furniture. About half will say "mama"/"dada" to the correct parent. They will start to respond to their name and will understand "no", when you say it. They will indicate what they want with hand gestures. The more advanced will now be drinking from a cup and will stand alone for a couple of seconds. They will put objects into a container.

Month11

Most will now say "mama"/"dada" to the correct parent. They will play "patty-cake" and will stand alone for a couple of seconds. About half will now understand simple instructions and imitate actions done by others. The more advanced will now start bending whilst in a standing position and will have learned a second word.

Month 12

Most should now be imitating others and, indicating their wants with hand gesture. They will often jabber word-like sounds. About half will take their first steps and understand simple instructions. They will say their second word. The more advanced will now walk well and will start to scribble with a crayon. They will start using other words.

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Your baby's development (7-9 Months)

7 Months

By the time your baby is seven months old most will be able to sit upright without support. They will reach for items with a sweeping motion and they are likely to have started imitating speech sounds. (Babbling). About half will start to make word-like sounds and will begin crawling or lunging forwards. The more advanced may stand whilst holding onto something and have started waving goodbye.

8 Months

Most will say "mama" or "dada" but, not necessarily to the correct parent. They will have begun to crawl and will start pass items from hand-to-hand. About half will now be standing with support, will crawl well and, will point to objects. The more advanced may have started to walk whilst holding onto furniture for support and will be pointing at objects they want. They will be picking up items with finger and thumb "pincer" movements.

9 Months

By nine months most will now be making word-like sounds and will be standing whilst holding onto something. About half will be using the "pincer" grasp to pick up items and, will be walking with the support of furniture, as well as banging objects together. The more advanced will play "patta cake" and will say "mama" or "dada" to the correct parent.

Remember, don't worry if your baby doesn't do everything along this time-scale, it's just a guide and everyone is different.

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Your baby's development (4-6 Months)

Continued...

Month 4

By month 4 most babies will be able to hold their head up steadily. They can support their weight on their legs and will make "coo-ing" noises when you speak to them. About half will start to grasp at toys and other objects when you offer them and, they will roll over when on the floor. A minority will start attempting to make speech sounds. The first tooth may start to show.

Month 5

By the fifth month most babies will be amusing themselves by playing with their hands and feet. They can roll about on the floor and can distinguish between bright colours. About half will turn towards new sounds and may start to recognise when you use their name. The more advanced may sit alone without support and start putting objects into their mouth. Others may be ready for solid food and symptoms of "Stranger anxiety" may be shown.

Month 6

Most will now turn towards sounds and voices and start to imitate sounds and blow bubbles. They will roll at will in both directions. About half will now sit without support and start putting objects into their mouth. They will be ready for solids. More advanced will lunge forward and may start crawling, may jabber or combine sylables and will start grabbing for objects that are close by.

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Your baby's development

You will be astounded by how much your baby changes over their first year so I think it would be useful for me to outline the development you can expect to see over that time period, so that you have an indication that everything is progressing well. Remember this is just a guide so don't be worried if your baby does not do everything at the anticipated rate. Today we'll cover the first 3 months.

Month One

Most newborns can lift their head and respond to a sound within one month of birth. About half will follow objects you show them and start making "baby noises" . A few more advanced babies will smile, or even laugh.

Month Two

Most will now start to make recognisable vocal sounds such as gurgling and will follow objects around. They can hold their head up for short periods. About half will now laugh and smile and their movements will become smoother. Some will be able to hold their head steady and bear their weight on their legs. When on their stomach they may start to try and push themselves up.

Month Three

Most should now be laughing and able to hold their head steady. They should be able to recognise you. About half will be able to recognise your voice and will start making louder baby noises, such as squealing and squeaking. When on their stomach they may start to try and push themselves up. Some will turn towards loud sounds, can roll over and may start to make clapping movements.

Remember, if your baby does not do all these things it doesn't necessarily mean that something is wrong. We all develop at differing speeds.

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