Here’s some food for thought: your baby needs more fat in her diet than you. 

A baby’s dietary needs are different from those of adults, and while low-fat and high-fiber keep you trim, it puts your baby at risk. Some facts:

• Fat is needed in children below age 2 because of their rapid growth and ongoing brain development.  Aside from iron, fat is the most important nutrient for brain development in the first three years of life.
• Fat in the diet is needed to digest fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, K and to keep baby’s temperature consistent. 
• Until they reach their first birthday, babies’ diets should be composed of 50% fat. Breast milk is the best source of fat for newborns. If an infant is weaned before the age of 1, infant formula is preferred. 
• After their first birthday, children’s diets should be be 35% fat. The AAP recommends full-fat milk and milk foods such as yogurt and cheese, until your child is aged 2. 
• Butter, meat, and  avocado are other good sources of fat. Well-cooked fatty fish such as sardines, salmon and fresh (not canned) tuna are also good sources but may have to wait if baby is allergy-prone. 
• If you have a child who seems chubby before she has started to crawl, remember that she will burn much of her fat once she becomes more active.
• Fat deprivation in the first three years of life actually puts children at risk for malnourishment and specific deficiency syndromes like underdeveloped speech and motor skills.

THESE AMOUNTS OF FOOD WILL GIVE YOU 10 GRAMS OF FAT

Children’s food allergies are unpredictable, and misinterpreting them could be deadly. Learn to separate fact from fiction.

MYTH:  Children are allergic to any kind of food that causes a negative reaction.

FACT: Many negative food reactions are unrelated to food allergies and are simply food sensitivities.  True food allergies are not as common as people think and only affect 2% of children. Lactose intolerance, for instance, is different from a milk allergy. Doctors say a milk allergy would have life threatening consequences and those that are allergic to milk would have to skip milk protein all together.  A real food allergy is a reaction of the body’s immune system to a certain component, usually a protein, in a food or ingredient.

Symptoms of food allergies can include watery eyes, wheezing and difficulty breathing, coughing, skin rashes, sneezing, vomiting, diarrhea and swelling around the mouth and throat.  The more severe reaction is anaphylaxis, which involves enlarging of the larynx and a choking sensation that can lead to death. 

The top 4 food allergens for children are peanuts (which are not true nuts but actually legumes from the bean and pea family), tree nuts (walnuts, peacans, cashews etc.), cow’s milk, and eggs (especially egg whites). Peanut allergies may be the most likely to cause life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), but a cow’s milk allergy is the most common food allergy in young children. 

MYTH: Children with allergies have them at the onset of birth.

FACT:  While most food allergies begin at the onset of birth or early childhood, they can develop anytime in a person’s life. Interestingly, experts suspect that our society has become “cleaner” and healthier, which may be causing the immune systems in some children to fail in differentiating real threats from harmless invaders, such as food. Some also believe that because immune systems are no longer fighting real threats, they overreact and shift to turn on the body’s own tissues.  

It’s good to note, however,  that many children actually outgrow their food allergies. Some children can outgrow their food allergies if they eliminate them from their diet for two to three years. Approximately 85% of children outgrow their allergy to milk, but fewer will outgrow their allergies to peanuts, tree nuts and shellfish.

MYTH:  Giving your child small amounts of food that he is allergic to helps him build up a resistance to the allergy.

FACT: On the contrary, if your child develops adverse reactions to certain foods, you must try to eliminate them from your child’s diet as soon as possible.  Many children outgrow their food allergies if they completely avoid them for two to three years. If your child has multiple food allergies, eliminate all food he is allergic to, and rotate all other foods every four to five days.  

MYTH:  You can prevent a food allergy.

FACT:  In pediatric allergy circles, this is a subject of much debate. Although women are often advised to avoid certain foods, such as peanuts, when they’re pregnant or breastfeeding, no one can say for sure that if this will lower a child’s risk of allergies. 

What is known is that children who have parents with food allergies are more predisposed to allergies.  There is also general agreement that strictly breastfeeding newborns and only introducing cow’s milk after your child’s first birthday has a protective effect. Breastfed children are less likely to develop eczema (a rash that’s often considered the first sign that a child is allergy-prone).

A hypoallergenic infant formula should be used if your baby needs a milk supplement.  If your child is more predisposed to food allergies, only introduce  solids after the sixth month of life – eggs after your child turns 2 and peanuts (only as smooth as peanut butter) and shellfish when your child is at least 3 years old. Introduce new foods slowly (i.e, every four to five days) so that you can easily identify which foods cause a reaction or allergy.

Here are reassuring reasons for baffling baby behaviors.

When you’re a brand new and freaked-out parent, nothing is obvious.  Your little bundle of joy may be the light and love of your life, but there will be things about her behavior that your sleep-deprived brain will find utterly baffling. These behaviors range from the truly bizarre to the incredibly lovable.

Here are explanations to some key baby behaviors that will encourage you to enjoy everything unique about this fleeting stage.

Why do babies grasp with an iron fist?

Your baby’s grasp might as well be a pair handcuffs—she can’t let go, and it’s tough to pull away. A baby’s grasping reflex is one of the first she’s born with.  It’s strong enough to support her weight for a few moments.  Research suggests that this reflex action comes from primates. Another study showed that when infants hold onto their mothers, their heartbeats slow down, suggesting that they feel calm and secure in Mommy’s presence.

Why do some babies fight sleep or wake up just when you think you can unwind?

The newness of existence in all its glory is the reason your newborn will fight sleep with the ferocity of a Tasmanian devil.  Sleep is boring and overrated, thinks your child.  Separation anxiety from the parents also keeps a baby crying.  And as she hasn’t figured out the concept of Night and Day yet, your baby will sleep whenever she feels like it.  One key factor is hunger.  Your baby’s stomach can hold just enough milk to keep her satisfied for 3-4 hours.  So be prepared for lots of sleepless night feedings

Why are babies veritable drool dispensers?

Is your baby starting to remind your of the neighborhood bulldog? A baby begins to drool when tooth buds under the gums sprout into teeth. Your baby’s teeth are already traveling upward at that point, and this initiates saliva production.  Unlike adults, it doesn’t occur to them to swallow excess saliva just yet. Drool also neutralizes stomach acid, soothes any irritation in the esophageal lining and activates enzymes that help your little tyke digest solid food.

Why do some babies tripod before they sit up straight?

We may take actions like sitting for granted, but try doing it if all your limbs had the rigidity of a marionette. Tripoding (plopped on the rump with arms straight out in front, hands flat on the floor like a sitting doggie) is a way for a baby to sit up unaided before she has the balance to sit without support.

Why do babies hit themselves?

While it may be an outlet for frustration or the irritation of teething, for young babies, the mere fact that they CAN hit themselves is some times be the only reason for doing it. They are gaining control of their body and might actually find slapping their tummy, for example, highly entertaining.

Why do some babies form attachments to blankets, stuffed toys and other fuzzy things? 

It’s all about familiarity—everything from the milky smell, a frayed satin edge, to that threadbare look gives your baby security and peace.  Resist the temptation to re-stuff a lumpy pillow or patch up a blanket that looks like it’s gone through a shredder. Its tattered state is precisely what makes it a comfort object. Babies who form an attachment to things are emotionally trying to make the world a less daunting place, substituting their parent’s absence for a constant item.  Unknowingly, they are teaching themselves self-soothing skills, an important developmental milestone.

Even 9-month-olds pick gender-specific toys

Genetics may influence how children differentiate  girl toys from boy toys.  A new study suggests certain stereotypical gender preferences take root before kids can even walk.

“The boys always preferred the toys that go or move (car, digger, soccer ball), and the girls preferred toys that promote nurturing and facial features (doll, teddy bear, cooking set),” said study author Sara Amalie O’Toole Thommessen, an undergraduate at City University in London.

Nature or nurture?

What is unclear to scientists is whether innate preferences or socialization is responsible for this finding. “It’s too soon to rule either out,” said Walter Gilliam, director of the Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy at Yale University.  ”One of the things we’ve learned about babies over the many years we’ve been studying them is that they are amazing sponges and learn an awful lot in those nine months,” Gilliam said.

Gender-specific preferences became even more pronounced by about age 27 months to 36 months.  Girls spent about 50 percent of their time playing with the doll and seemed to had outgrown the teddy bear.  The boys spent 87 percent of their time with the car and digger, ignoring even the ball.

In the study, researchers found no association between parents’ reported views on gender-appropriate toys for children, or parental roles at home, and the toys children chose. In other words, dads who did their share of housework and moms who held high-level jobs outside the home were just as likely to have girls who picked dolls and boys who picked cars and trucks.

 

Bond where you are with what you have

Here are several simple ways you and your kids can step out of the norm, learn more about each other, and have fun in the process.

Wii Are Family

Whoever thought a game console would open new doors for family bonding? Gaming, a popular albeit isolating activity for kids, typically does little more than improve eye-hand coordination.  With the Wii, families are forced to get up on their feet and play among themselves. Studies have found that parents find the Wii has made parents feel closer to their children.  Tennis doubles, bowling matches, yoga, and racing together all make for great family interaction and scenes of absolute hilarity (imagine four people racing in place!).

Pillow Talk

In a busy family where you feel the children are simply passing you by, what better time is there than bedtime to regroup as a family?  A well-established nighttime ritual helps you make up for lost time with your kids.  At bedtime, every moment is about togetherness, focus and quality: reading a bedtime story, covering your children in prayer, and singing a lullaby (or anything, for that matter, sung in a soft, slow, soothing cadence). 

Preschool of Rock

Maybe a certain purple Jurassic creature’s repertoire of songs isn’t your idea of music fun. So, give ‘em an earful—expose kids to the sounds you love, not just children’s music.  Your kids may find rocking out to your personal top hits just as engaging.  Many adult songs encourage movement, which means you can skip the drudgery of going through the Hoky Poky. A guaranteed favorite: Rock You by Queen.  Watch your kids stamp and clap and forget all about If You’re Happy and You Know It.

The Scenic Route

When taking your kids to the park, stretch the time as long as possible by taking the long way ‘round.  If you have very young children, take time to point out birds, clouds, ants on the ground,  squirrels, and other things that spark their curiosity and enrich their world.  

Car-free Fun

A bucket and sponge, water guns and canons, and a garden hose, and you have all you need to help Dad wash the car. The added excitement of dressing kids up in swim gear is certain to turn the chore of car washing into unforgettable family fun.

Garden Growing

If you’re lucky enough to have a lawn or garden at this day and age, take advantage.  Tweak the family night ritual by pitching a tent and camping out.  Want to take the family to the movies?  Hang a white sheet and set up a projector in the garden, instead.  Add to the thrill by laying out a picnic mat and passing out generous bowls of popcorn.

Some scoot, some slide, some shuffle from here to there. How does your baby crawl?

Your baby has been learning to crawl since the minute she was born. All previous milestones—head lifts, push ups, rolling and sitting—were all part of the basic training for the physical adventure of crawling.

Crawling is a child’s first attempt at mobility—and getting there is more complicated than putting one hand and knee in front of the other.

Creative methods of crawling are more common than most parents think they are. Babies will try a variety of styles before they find their favorite way of getting from A to B in a jiffy. And though her style may surprise (even worry) you, trust that there is method in madness. For your baby, it matters not how she crawls—only that she moves forward.

Karen Adolph, PhD, associate professor of psychology at New York University, observed 25 unique combinations of body parts used to propel a baby forward. The 7 most common crawls are:

The Commando Crawl – Also known as the belly crawl. These babies pull themselves forward on their arms and slither on their tummies, because they haven’t developed their lower body muscles yet.

The Bottom Shuffle or the Bum Scoot– These babies either shuffle around on the posterior using a hand behind and a foot in front to propel themselves or use a bouncing motion to move forward (thank heavens for padded diapers!).

The Crab Crawl – It’s two scoots forward, one scoot back for this crawler. Crab crawlers scuttle around on one knee while sticking out the opposite leg like an oar. Sometimes, they push off on their arms, which frustratingly sends them backwards.

The Bear Crawl – The knees never touch the ground for this crawler, who gets around by walking on all fours.

The Leapfrog Crawl – These babies get on all fours then thrust forward by pushing off the soles of their feet.

The Roll – Some babies roll as efficiently as a barrel that they don’t bother to find other ways of getting around.

The Cross Crawl – These babies take the classic approach to crawling: When one hand moves forward, so does the opposite leg.

See how a smile grows from that first gassy grin into a sense of humor.

Babies’ smiles are so powerful, we make a mental rolodex of them to shore us up on lousy days. We feed off them.  Get fat on them. And it’s simply because there is no smile on earth that is more genuine or pure.

But a baby’s smile is more than an emotionally gratifying gesture. It is the start of a developmental journey that begins from an innate, involuntary act and transforms into a complex social expression of joy and desire in the course of a baby’s first year.

Here is the amazing step-by-step look at how this sweetest of milestones unfolds.

The Reflexive Smile (0-6 weeks)

Before 1 month of age, an infant’s smile is more an internally motivated event than a response to something seen, heard or felt. During this stage, you’ll watch every twitch, notice every shiver, and often wonder – was that a smile? Probably, but, at this point, your baby is simply reacting to something physical, like gas bubbles or your nipple in his mouth. 

The Responsive Smile (6-8 weeks)

Here’s where the fun begins.  This is when your baby starts to smile in reaction to a pleasing or surprisingly delightful external event – expressive faces, soothing voices, clapping hands, a favorite toy.  This externally motivated smile is partly due to a baby’s ability to establish longer eye contact and attend to visual and auditory stimuli.  The frequency of these smiles increases as a baby becomes more attentive to the rest of the world.

There are many ways to encourage this.  Experiment with a variety of facial expressions, voices and finger songs to see which elicit a smile.  Try singing The Itsy Bitsy Spider, which is often met by brow-knitting concentration and sporadic grins. 

The Social Smile (2-3 months)

This is when your baby declares himself a powerful communicator.  This is also the stage when your baby falls in love with you and his primary caregivers.  He’ll learn that smiling at you will make you smile back, and he’ll throw in leg kicks, grunts and squeals for emphasis.  He’ll learn how else he can elicit this kind of pleasurable attention. This back-and-forth communication and early ability to self-regulate signals the advancement of a baby’s emotional development and his need to connect to the world. 

The Undiscriminating Smile (around 6 months)

Turn on the klieg lights! Baby is ready for his close-up—or, at least, that’s what he seems to be saying. Halfway into your baby’s first year, he’ll most likely be a smiling champion. He’ll smile when you reappear after an absence.  He’ll smile at a stranger passing by, and he’ll smile when he learns a new skill, like toppling a tower of blocks. Picture-taking is a breeze. Babies develop at their own pace, though, so do not worry if another baby seems more smiley than yours.

The Selective Smile (Around 9 months)

This is the smile that is reserved for a precious few—like mom and dad. Your baby will hold his smile ransom and bestow the honor only on people he likes, sounds he enjoys, or something funny. Naturally, this is the smile that is the most coveted of all. These are the months when you hear someone brag about being the first to make your baby smile. Though you may long for your once easy-to-please smiley baby to perform, this drawing of boundaries is actually an indication of healthy emotional development.

A sense of humor (Around 12 months)

With emerging language skills comes a blossoming sense of humor. Dropping a spoon and gasping in mock horror with an exaggerated “Oh no!” is a real crowd-pleaser for the 1-and-under set.  Mastering the art of adding anticipation and surprise to your comedy act will make you the biggest comedy star in your baby’s eyes.

Great laugh-getters:  Sing in a mock-opera voice.  Play peekaboo with your breastfeeding cover-up.  Dip your baby as you tango across the living room.

Oh no… can we really handle another one?

My second daughter came to us sooner than expected. My son had not even reached his second birthday… and surprise! …we were pregnant again. Maybe the hormones were also to blame, but while the “good news” made my husband ecstatic it made me cry and panic. Apparently, my reaction is not unusual. If you’re feeling overwhelmed about that new baby on the way, I offer some comforting words.

True, taking care of two versus one is more complicated. There’s a transition phase that will entail some struggle and a few mistakes here and there. But that transition phase will eventually pass.

It hit me the moment I saw my son playing with his sister and her finding joy in being with her big brother. Eventually, I realized I was no longer at my son’s beck and call for entertainment. Now they have their own games and language that mom and dad are not part of… and it melts my heart when I see them relishing each other’s company.

There are fights of course. But what’s great about that is, I let them settle things on their own as much as possible. In the end, they’re better at dealing with other people in general.

Another upside of adding to your family: You’re an expert now, and you can kiss all that constant questioning good-bye. You’ve already raised one baby so you know what’s coming with sleep, feeding, and setting limits. In my experience, nursing the second time around was so much easier.

Transition Smoothly

With two kids you will definitely need to streamline your life. Set a systematic schedule for chores, shopping and errands. I really can’t imagine how a laissez faire approach can work.

When it comes to kids, you’ll find that setting and sticking to routines is key. As soon as you can, get your new baby on a regular nap and bedtime schedule; everyone will be in a better mood. Eventually, both kids will go to bed around the same time and eat regular meals together, which will make your life a lot easier.

A few more important tips:

Spend one-on-one time with each child. Set aside time for just hanging out with one kid at a time. This was especially helpful with my older son. He hardly felt like his sister was taking his mom away from him.

Indulge in date night. One night a week mom and dad deserve to spend some time together without the kids. It’s good for your marriage and sanity. You’ll take better care of your kids if you’re happy.

I laugh at myself now recalling those panic-stricken tear-filled days when I was surprised to find out baby number two was on it’s way. Today I consider my baby girl to be the best surprise ever.

Is your baby’s high chair safe?

Recall alert for parents with Graco high chairs. The U.S. Consumer product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a major recall for more than a million Graco Harmony High Chairs.

So far, Graco has received 464 reports of screws falling and plastic brackets cracking causing this high chair model to tip unexpectedly. The fall hazard has resulted in bumps, and bruises to the head, hairline fractures to the arm, cuts, bumps and bruises to the body.

The recall was issued last March 18 and involves all Harmony High Chairs sold by manufacturer Graco. This particular line of high chairs was made from November 2003 through December 2009. They are no longer in production.

Here’s a picture from the CPSC website. Click the photo to enlarge and get a better look:

To check your own Graco high chair to see if it is included in this recall, check the model number found on the label that is located on the underside of the foot rest. Here are the model numbers included in this recall:

Harmony™ High Chairs Model Numbers: 3920BAN, 3920BAN2, 3920BEB, 3920BEBB, 3920COV, 3920DOH, 3920GEI, 3920GEIDSP, 3920GRN, 3920HMP, 3920IVY, 3920LAU, 3920PKR, 3930DDH, 3930DHO, 3935CAL, 3935OXB, 3935PKR, 3935PKRDSP, 3935SPM 3935SPMDSP, 3935THR, 3935THR2, 3935THR3, 3940BIA, 3940BIADSP, 3940CAP, 3940CLE , 940COT, 3940DRM, 3940HML, 3940MCH, 3940NGS, 3940SAV, 3940SLT, 3940SPT, 3940STA, 3940UNN, 3951CLO, 3951CLT, 3951COT, 3951ORC, 3951WLO, 3955WSR, 3960BGN, 3960CJG, 3960CNP, 3960GGG, 3980CNR, 3E00ABB, 3E00BAT, 3E00DCF, 3E00DCFDSP, 3E00DGP, 3E00DGPDSP, 3E00GPK, 3E01BDS, 3E01BDSCA, 3E01DNY, 3E01DNY1, 3E01ELP, 3E01ELPDSP

Note: These model numbers may begin with the letter A, B, C, or D

Additional Models: 1752404, 1755859, 1755860, 1757259, 1757412, 1760429

The high chairs were sold at the following stores: AAFES, Burlington Coat Factory, Babies “R” Us, Toys “R” Us, Sears, Target, Target.com, Walmart, WalMart.com, Shopko, USA Baby, and other retailers nationwide from December 2003 through March 2010 for between $70 and $120.

If you have the Graco Harmony high chair, stop using it immediately until you get to replace its damaged parts. Graco will issue you a free repair kit. Contact Graco toll-free at (877) 842-3206 or visit the recall section of their web site.

Healthy baby teeth is crucial to healthy permanent teeth

Maybe your baby’s teeth are on their way in? Well, it’s time to start taking care of them. Even though this set will only be around for a short time, their health is essential to your baby’s gums and those future permanent teeth. Make sure your baby’s new teeth get the best care. Here are some practical tips.

Start with baby gums. Clean your baby’s mouth regularly even before her teeth come in. Wipe the gums after each feeding with a warm, wet washcloth or a dampened piece of gauze wrapped around your finger. You can also buy thimble-like, soft rubbery devices (they fit over your index finger) to use for rubbing off excess food. If you can’t do this after every feed, clean the gums at least two times a day, morning and evening.

Take care of them as soon as they’re out. Some parents think baby teeth aren’t important because they’re eventually replaced by permanent ones. But these first teeth preserve the spacing for the permanent ones and help your child chew and talk. If they’re not cared for properly they can decay, leading to a gum infection called gingivitis, which can affect the spacing of permanent teeth.

Check for cavities. The first signs of cavities in baby teeth are discoloration and minor pitting. Avoid putting your child to bed with a bottle of milk or juice. That’s like soaking their teeth in sugar and acids! The result? Cavities. Don’t leave your infant with a bottle for long periods, especially if you notice he’s done feeding and is just using the bottle for comfort. If you spot a cavity, take your baby to the dentist even before the standard first year check up.

Develop the water habit. After every meal, including every bottle of milk, make sure your baby drinks water. The water washes off baby food or milk that was left coating the teeth. This is just as essential as tooth or gum brushing.

Visit the dentist. The American Dental Association advices that children get their first dental exam at age 1. Some pediatricians say, if you are conscientious with daily teeth and gum care — and follow our tips above — that first visit can wait until your child is 3.