Getting Baby To Sleep

Getting your baby to sleep will be one of the most challenging things that parents face. Many times parents wonder if their baby would ever sleep through the night or at least sleep comfortably. They are some tips that can help parents teach their babies to get a better night's sleep.

Babies in the early stages of their lives can be taught to distinguish between night and day and this can help them establish better sleeping habits.

Early Development

When your baby is a few weeks old teach them the differences between morning, nap time, and bed time. During the course of the day, make sure that you play with your child, feeding them and talking to them. During the night, keep the lights low, and limit the amount of noise and voices that your child is exposed to. When your baby is between one to two months, put them to bed as soon as they begin to show signs of being tired.

During the Day

You have to make sure that when baby naps during the day it is different from sleeping at night. During naps let the baby sleep in a portable crib or bassinet. The room should not be left completely dark. This way they begin to recognize what constitutes naps from bed time.

At Night

Newborn babies will sleep an average of sixteen to eighteen hours a day, babies need plenty of rest. In order to try and get your child into a step by step routine to establish bed time, you should try and do the following to settle them down for the night.

Steps

• First you should try and give baby a bath or at least wash her or his hands. This will give them a soothing feeling and help them to relax.
• Change the baby's diaper and put on his or her pajamas, this will give them indication that it is time for bed.
• You can sing softly to the baby or play low music. This will allow baby to hear a familiar voice and recognize the voice before drifting off to sleep. Again this provides a comfortable surrounding for the baby and knowledge that they are not being left alone.
• You should put your baby in your arms and rock them before you lay him or her down to sleep. Don't prolong the situation make it short, put them into their crib while they are still awake and leave the room.

Things to Avoid

They are some things you should avoid doing before putting baby down for bedtime:

• Don't put cereal in his or her bottle at night, it gives them a feeling of being full and does not allow them to sleep comfortable. They might have problems digesting the food while sleeping, leading to an upset stomach.
• Don't let the baby fall asleep with a bottle or while nursing, before going to bed. This will get them into the bad habit of expecting you to feed them when they are awake, so that they may go back to sleep.

While no two babies are the same, the important thing to remember is that promoting a consistent sleep routine will help your baby fall asleep faster and will eventually sleep through the night. By following these routines, the baby will begin to understand that going to sleep does not mean that mommy or daddy is leaving them, but putting them to bed for the night. It will also help to establish a pattern for when they get older, hopefully, making it easier for them to continue to sleep on their own.

source from http://www.babycarehelp.com

Beauty Care of Babies

All babies are beautiful, but parents must take an active role in keeping their babies as beautiful as possible. Infant beauty relies on medical care and normal development.

Medical Visits

Parents should consult with a physician to provide and care for the needs of a developing child. Family doctors are trained to address concerns regarding developmental needs. In addition to growth charts, doctors will update youth immunization records and monitor the development of organs such as the lungs and heart.

The ‘Well Baby’

Scheduled visits are “well-baby visits.” These medical checkups are traditionally scheduled 2-3 months apart, or at the discretion of your doctor. Regular checkups will screen for disorders within the cardiac, respiratory and endocrine systems. Early detection is key to managing your child’s health.

Healthy, or ‘normally developing” children, require medical checkups by a physician on a regular basis. As always, if emergencies or areas of concern arise in between formal visits, parents are urged to contact a medical professional as soon as possible.

Specialized Care

If the family doctor notes areas of concern, he may refer your child to a specialist. For example, children that are slow to respond to hearing tests will need a specialized auditory examination.

If it is noted that the child is developing slowly, doctors may choose to conduct specialized developmental tests. However, children will progress at their own developmental rate.

Dietary Needs

Your child’s dietary needs will vary as he or she ages. Healthy diets stimulate growth and development. Balanced diets consist of food items from diverse food groups. Each year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture releases a recommended view of the ideal balanced diet. This visual aid is commonly referred to as the “food pyramid.”

Essentially, a balanced diet consists of grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, and proteins. Children do need to consume adequate levels of fats and oils to balance out their diet. Sugars should be consumed in moderation. Excessive sugar intake can aggravate or contribute to the development of juvenile diabetes.

Food Allergies

If your child develops allergies, you will need to contact a physician in order to obtain a medication to stave off bodily reactions. Food allergies occur when the human body recognizes a certain food as dangerous to its immune system. Eggs, fish, peanuts, milk and wheat commonly trigger allergic reactions in both children and adults.

Food allergies are sometimes confused with food intolerance. Unlike food intolerance, food allergies are potentially life threatening. Food intolerance, on the other hand, causes mere discomfort.

Cleanliness

As infants age, they will come into increased contact with person and things outside of the home and immediate family. To keep your baby beautiful, carefully monitor their contact with objects and exposure to non-family individuals. Day care centers are useful, but exposure to day centers do increase the number of germs that infants interact with on a daily basis. Parents must wash the child’s hands, feet and face frequently to reduce the possibility of infants catching the “common cold.”

Bath Time

Bath time has the potential to deepen the level of intimacy between parent and child. To ensure child safety, bathe your infant in an enclosed space. You may prefer to bathe your infant in a basin fitted inside a sink or inside of a bathtub. Never leave your child unattended. Children have drowned in as little as one inch of water.

The temperature should be neither hot nor cold. Do use a mild soap, or a soap specially formulated for babies, to wash your child's skin and hair. Children's shampoo decreases the likelihood of irritation to the eyes and scalp.

Summary

A beautiful baby is a healthy baby. Consult with a medical professional to ensure your baby's health and normal development. Parents must carefully monitor dietary needs, environmental concerns and developmental stages in order to keep their children healthily beautiful.

source from http://www.babycarehelp.com

Sleep Aids For New Parents

Some weary new parents are shocked to find that instead of falling asleep the minute their head hits the pillow, they suddenly can't get to sleep at all. If you've eliminated all the usual sleep-spoiling suspects, such as caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine, and your normal bedtime routine still isn't working, you may need some extra help, whether it's a glass of warm milk, a cup of chamomile tea, or even — as a last resort — an over-the-counter sleep aid (but only if you're not pregnant or nursing).

Warm milk
A favorite of babies and parents alike, drinking warm milk before bedtime is a time-tested way to fall asleep. The amino acid l-Tryptophan (found in milk and other foods such as turkey) is thought to play a role in making you sleepy by upping the level of serotonin in the brain, although the benefits may be purely psychological. A drop of vanilla extract in the warmed milk can help make it more palatable.

Herbal remedies
Herbal remedies come in many forms, including the fresh or dried plant, pills, tinctures, and powders. Although herbs are considered natural alternatives to certain drugs and for the most part have a good safety record, they can be equally powerful, as well as toxic. That's why it's vital to consult a knowledgeable herbal expert and to let your primary caregiver know before taking any herbal remedy, either on its own or in combination with other herbs or medications, particularly if you're breastfeeding. Also, since the quality of herbs varies among manufacturers, ask an expert to recommend a brand name.

Chamomile
Your grandmother was probably a big believer in chamomile tea. Some studies have found chamomile to have a mild sedative effect. It's also used to calm the stomach in cases of indigestion, flatulence, gastrointestinal spasms, and inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The FDA says chamomile is safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Hops
Sleeping on a pillow stuffed with dried hops (a common ingredient in beer) is a traditional remedy for sleeplessness and nervous conditions. Hops can also be taken as a bitter tea or as a freeze-dried extract in capsule form.

Lavender
Aromatherapists love lavender. You can sprinkle lavender oil on your pillow or put it in a warm bath with some lemon balm for a soothing aroma that should make you feel sleepy. But not all lavender is tranquilizing: Watch out for Spanish lavender, which can be stimulating.

Lemon balm
Also known as melissa, lemon balm is a sedative and stomach-smoother often used in combination with other sedative herbs. Add 2 or 3 teaspoons of the dried herb to a cup of freshly boiled water and let steep for 5 to 15 minutes for a soothing, good-tasting tea.

Passionflower
Though it sounds like an aphrodisiac (it was named for Christ's passion because of the cross at the center of its flower), this plant is actually a mild sedative. It is usually taken as a tea — about 3 to 6 teaspoonfuls a day, combined with other sedative herbs — for various types of nervous conditions, including insomnia and related disorders. No side effects have been reported.

Valerian
Generally thought of as an effective and reliable sedative, valerian can help relieve anxiety, insomnia, and nervous irritability. It's not habit-forming and doesn't have any hangover-type side effects. Put 2 to 3 droppersful of tincture made from fresh valerian roots (or 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried valerian root) in hot water for a bedtime time. If the strong smell doesn't appeal to you, try it in capsule form.

Over-the-counter medications
Antihistamines
Antihistamines are the operative ingredient in most over-the-counter sleep medications. Benadryl (whose active ingredient is also found in Tylenol PM) and Chlor-Trimeton, two of the most common types of antihistamines available in drugstores, also have a sedative effect. They're not addictive, but dizziness, dry mouth, and next-day drowsiness are potential side effects. Over-the-counter sleep aids, such as Sominex and Unisom, contain antihistamines and can also leave you with a "hangover" effect the next day. Pregnant and nursing women should check with a doctor before taking any of these products. They're not recommended for chronic insomnia, so don't take them for more than two weeks at a time.

Melatonin
Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone often touted as a cure for jet lag and insomnia. It's available in most health food stores in synthetic and natural forms (usually from sheep), but little is known about its safety, side effects, interactions with drugs, and long-term effects. Women who are trying to conceive, are pregnant, or are nursing a baby should not take melatonin.

source from http://www.babycenter.com

Sleep Aids For Babies

Part of helping your baby learn good sleep babits is teaching her to fall asleep on her own. But even the best sleepers sometimes need a little extra assistance — which is where sleep aids come in. These techniques and products run the gamut from a motorized bassinet to swaddling, but all share a common purpose: Helping your baby get to sleep. However, while sleep aids are often very useful, some come with a downside. You want your baby to learn to get to sleep by herself, not depend on the presence of a particular product or condition.

Look below to find a sleep aid that's right for you and your baby. For each item, we've included the age group it's best for — newborns (birth to 3 months) or older babies (3 to 12 months).

A word of caution: Never give your baby sleeping pills or other drugs that encourage sleep without consulting her doctor first — they may not be safe or effective. Most experts also frown upon giving herbs to babies, since no safe pediatric doses have been established and they could be toxic in high doses.

Tried and true
Choose one of these sleep aids and you can't go wrong — all will help your baby fall asleep without leading to any problems or bad sleep habits.

Swaddling
Works best for: Newborns
Infants under a month old (and some older babies) often appreciate being swaddled — snugly wrapped in a blanket for warmth and security. It can help calm a baby down and may keep her from being awakened by her own startle reflex at night.

Thumb sucking
Works best for: Newborns, babies
Thumb sucking is a perfectly acceptable way for your child to comfort herself, at bedtime or any other time — at least until the permanent teeth start coming in, around age 6. (After that it could lead to dental problems.) Babies are born with the need to suck, and most can't get enough just from the breast or bottle. And unlike a pacifier, your baby's thumb can't get lost in the middle of the night.

Bedtime ritual
Works best for: Babies
The experts all agree: One of the best ways to help your child make the transition to bedtime and sleep is to establish a calming, consistent bedtime ritual. You can start putting together a bedtime routine when your baby is as young as 6 or 8 weeks old, but it won't really kick into high gear until she's a little older. Your ritual can include any (or all) of the following: giving your baby a bath, cuddling, changing into pajamas, reading a bedtime story or two, singing a lullaby, and giving her a kiss goodnight. Whatever routine works for your family is fine, as long as you do it in the same order and at the same time every night. Setting and sticking to a consistent bedtime — on weekdays and weekends alike — is key to establishing good sleep habits.

Maybe, maybe not
While some parents swear by the following methods and products, the experts are divided on their usefulness. Pediatrician William Sears endorses doing anything that helps your baby fall asleep, but other sleep experts — such as Richard Ferber and Jodi Mindell — advise against any practice or gizmo that leads to your baby depending on its presence to nod off.

Dryer
Works best for: Newborns
Some parents swear by resting a newborn in a car seat on top of a running clothes dryer. The quiet thumping of tumbling clothing can be very comforting. Just be sure not to leave your baby unattended, for safety's sake.

Rocking
Works best for: Newborns, babies
Rocking your baby is a wonderful way to parent her to sleep, says Sears, author of Nighttime Parenting. Whether you do the rocking yourself or use a cradle, he advises you to stick to a rate of 60 beats per minute, the rhythm your baby got used to when you were pregnant and she could hear your heartbeat. Ferber and Mindell don't recommend rocking, arguing that you'll only be teaching your baby to depend on it to get to sleep. (Plus, shifting your baby from your arms to her crib without waking her is often a tricky matter.)

Breastfeeding
Works best for: Newborns, babies
Sears also encourages nursing your baby to sleep, especially when she's very young. Breastfeeding can comfort both you and your baby, he says, and a special protein in breast milk may actually help your baby fall asleep. Again, however, not everyone agrees with him. Many other experts believe this approach will prevent your baby from learning to fall asleep by herself. If you're nursing but are concerned about establishing a bad sleep habit, feed your baby earlier in your bedtime routine and end with a bedtime stor instead.

Motorized cradle / bassinet
Works best for: Newborns, babies
Some babies fall asleep faster if they're moving, whether it's in the car or your arms. If you want a little help from technology, invest in a self-rocking cradle or pick up a battery-powered clip-on attachment that simulates the feel of a moving car. Remember, though, that most experts discourage using this kind of contraption; they think they're a crutch and a poor substitute for teaching your baby to sleep on her own.

Pacifier
Works best for: Newborns, babies
While pacifiers help many babies comfort themselves back to sleep if they wake up during the night, some experts argue they're not the best sleep aid. Why not? If your baby learns to depend on one at bedtime and it falls out of her reach, she won't be able to go back to sleep until she finds it. You can try to avoid that problem by strategically placing several pacifiers in her crib.

Something else to consider: Studies have shown that babies who use pacifiers at bedtime and naptime have a reduced risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).

Ambient noise recording / machine
Works best for: Newborns, babies
You can buy or record regular household "music" (vacuuming, water running, or windshield wipers) or invest in a white noise machine. These products supply calming background sounds to help your baby fall asleep. If you'd rather not spend the money, try leaving the radio on quietly in the next room. All these remedies should be considered short-term solutions, though, if you want your baby to learn to fall asleep on her own rather than depend on special noises — or any of the other products discussed below.

Music
Works best for: Newborns, babies
In the same family as ambient noise CDs are recordings of lullabies, classical music, and other kids' favorites. Of course, singing a lullaby to your child yourself before she falls asleep is always a great option, since she responds best to your voice, but popping a tape in after you've belted out your favorite tune may help her drift into dreamland. A music box or musical lamp may also work.

source from http://www.babycenter.com

Sleep "Intervention" Helps Babies And Their Tired Mons

Tue, Nov 13, 2007 (Reuters Health) - Teaching new mothers strategies to help their babies overcome sleep problems yields significant benefits for both of them, according to a study conducted in Australia.

Among 328 moms who reported that their 7-month-old was having sleep problems, those who were randomly assigned to participate in a brief behavioral intervention noticed an improvement in their child's sleep problem, and in their own sleep, and felt less depressed compared with those randomly assigned not to participate in the program.

Dr. Harriet Hiscock, of the Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, and associates report their study in this month's Archives of Disease in Childhood.

The sleep intervention entailed having a trained nurse determine the nature of the sleep problem, identify solutions, and write an individualized sleep management plan with the mother. Moms were also educated on normal sleep patterns for 6- to 12-month-olds.

The mothers in the intervention group had to pick one of two strategies: the "controlled crying" strategy, whereby parents respond to their infant's cry at increasing time intervals to allow "independent settling;" or the "camping out" strategy, whereby a parent sits with the baby until the child falls asleep and gradually leaves the room over 3 weeks.

After adjusting the data to account for factors that might influence the results, the odds of reporting a sleep problem in the intervention group were 42 percent lower at 10 months and 50 percent lower at 12 months compared with the 154 moms who did not participate in the intervention, the investigators report.

The sleep intervention also had "important" beneficial effects on mothers' mental health. Moms in the intervention group were less depressed at 10 and 12 months than moms in the control group, and they had better overall scores on a validated measure of mental health.

Sleep quantity and quality also improved in mothers in the intervention group. Better overall sleep may reduce problems associated with maternal sleep deprivation such as "maternal overload and dysfunction and later child behavior problems," Hiscock and colleagues contend.

Mothers who participated in the intervention were also less apt to seek paid professional help for infant sleep problems, suggesting the intervention may also save money.

Given the apparent benefits of such a program, "the change now is to translate this intervention to the wider population in a sustainable and feasible way," the team concludes.

source from http://www.babycenter.com

Our Favorite Bedtime Stories For Babies

Reading any book is a soothing way to send your baby off to dreamland — but stories about going to bed, sleeping, or dreaming are particularly suitable for bedtime, and can even help your child understand and accept bedtime rituals as he gets older. No matter which book you pull out at bedtime, read it in a soothing voice to help calm and reassure your baby.

Here are some of our favorite bedtime books, guaranteed to make at least one of you sleepy:

* Good Night, Gorilla, by Peggy Rathmann
When the zookeeper makes his nighttime rounds, one mischievous gorilla steals his keys and follows him, releasing the other animals from their cages one by one. Under a moonlit sky, they parade silently behind the sleepy zookeeper and follow him into his house, where the keeper's wife discovers them and escorts them back to their beds. Practically wordless, the book tells a delightful going-to-bed story with magical illustrations that will enchant your child.

* Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd
For decades children have taken the story of the little rabbit in Goodnight Moon to heart as he performs his evening ritual of saying goodnight to every object in his room, including "a comb, and a brush, and a bowl full of mush." Clement Hurd's illustrations start out intensely colored and gradually fade to shades of gray as the bunny grows drowsy. Many parents tell us they depend on this quintessential bedtime book to help their children nod off at night.

* The Runaway Bunny, by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd
When a young bunny threatens to run away and become a rock ... a fish ... a flower ... his mother joins him in his imaginary flight and assures him that she'll follow wherever he goes. It's a sweet story of the unconditional love of a mother for her child, told in soothing rhythms — an ideal book for helping your baby go to sleep feeling safe and cared for.

* Hush Little Baby, by Sylvia Long
If you don't think the classics can be improved on, reading Sylvia Long's new edition of "Hush Little Baby" may change your mind. Unlike the original song's language, which spoke of a mother buying her child all sorts of things to comfort him, this new version emphasizes the beauty and comfort found in the natural world. The familiar bedtime melody will calm and soothe your child, and you'll appreciate the book's tender, gentle spirit.

* Counting Kisses: A Kiss-and-Read Book, by Karen Katz
"My tired little baby, do you need a kiss?" From "ten little kisses on teeny tiny toes" to "one last kiss on your sleepy, dreamy head," sparse text and winsome illustrations lead you and your baby through a kissing countdown that'll soon be a favorite bedtime ritual for you both.

* Snoozers: Seven Short Short Bedtime Stories for Lively Little Kids, by Sandra Boynton
The charming Snoozers serves up seven bite-size tales sweetened with humor. Each little story takes a minute or less to read. Colorful tabs help older babies turn the pages themselves. And the wonderfully absurd "Silly Lullaby" at the end just might become a family favorite: "Go to sleep, my zoodle / my fibblety-fitsy foo / Go to sleep, sweet noodle / The owl is whisp'ring, 'Moo.'"

* Good Night, Little Bear, by Patsy Scarry; illustrated by Richard Scarry
Here's a classic Little Golden Book that many moms and dads will remember from childhood. After finishing a bedtime story, Father Bear hoists Little Bear on his shoulders and takes him to bed. In this playful tale of "Where could Little Bear be?" Father Bear searches (wink, wink) high and low — above the china cabinet, under the stove, even in the woodbox outside — to find him. Little Bear finally reveals himself when they pass a mirror. In a gesture every parent can relate to, Little Bear goes to bed believing he's fooled his dad.

source from http://www.babycenter.com

Establishing Healthy Sleep Habits: 24 to 36 Months

Typical sleep at this age
Between their second and third birthdays, toddlers need about 11 to 12 hours of sleep a night and a single hour-and-a-half to two-hour nap each afternoon. Most children this age go to bed sometime between 7 and 9 p.m. and get up between 6:30 and 8 a.m. It may seem that your child's sleep patterns finally resemble yours, but he'll spend more time than you do in REM sleep and the deeper stages of non-REM sleep. The result? Because he'll be making more transitions from one sleep phase to the other, he'll wake up more often than you do. That's why it's so important that he learn how to soothe himself back to sleep.

How you can establish healthy sleep habits
Now that your child is getting older, you can try a few new techniques to help him get a good night's sleep, including:

Moving him into a big bed and praising him when he stays in it.
This is the age when your toddler is likely to make the transition from crib to bed, probably because he'll have outgrown his babyhood digs. The arrival of a new sibling can also prompt the decision. If you're pregnant, move your toddler at least two to three months before you're due, advises sleep expert Jodi Mindell. "You want your older child well settled in his new bed before he sees the baby taking over his crib," says Mindell. But if the switch doesn't go well, it's okay to put it off until the new baby is 3 or 4 months old. Your newborn may spend those months sleeping in a bassinet anyway, and your older child will have time to get used to having a sibling, making the crib-to-bed transition easier. Other reasons to consider making the move include frequent jumping out of the crib and toilet training — your child may need to get up at night to go to the bathroom.

Once he's using his new bed, be sure to praise your child when he stays in it at bedtime and overnight. After the confinement of his crib, your child may get out of his big-kid bed over and over just because he can. If your toddler gets up, temper your reaction. Simply take him back to bed, firmly tell him that it's time to go to sleep, and leave.

Anticipating all his requests and including them in your bedtime routine.
Your toddler may start trying to put off bedtime by wheedling for "just one more" — story, song, glass of water. Try to anticipate all of your child's usual (and reasonable) requests and make them part of your bedtime routine. Then, suggests Jodi Mindell, allow your child one extra request — but make it clear that one is the limit. He'll feel like he's getting his way, but you'll know you're really getting yours.

Giving him an extra goodnight kiss or tuck-in.
It's okay to promise your child an extra goodnight kiss after you've tucked him in the first time. Tell him you'll be back to check on him in a few minutes. Chances are he'll be fast asleep by the time you return.

Potential pitfalls
If your toddler starts getting up more often once he graduates to a big bed, tuck him back in and bid him a firm goodnight. Other than that, how to handle the situation is a personal decision. Experts' opinions vary. Some say: don't coddle him or bring him into your bed. Some say that as long as your child is falling asleep on his own, it's fine to go in and soothe him, and others recommend going to your child immediately, finding the source of the problem and comforting him.

Another widespread sleep problem at this age: resistance to bedtime. Ease or avoid the problem by anticipating and managing your child's before-bed requests. Few toddlers will run happily to bed every night, so be prepared for a few struggles.

You'll probably notice that your child has some new nighttime worries these days. Being afraid of the dark, monsters under the bed, or separation from you is common in toddlers, so don't be too concerned. Fears are part of your child's normal development. If he starts having nightmares, go to him right away and talk to him about his bad dream while you calm him down. If bad dreams persist, look for sources of anxiety in his daily life. Most of the experts agree that if your child is truly terrified, it's all right to let him into your bed every once in a while, too.

source from http://parentcenter.babycenter.com

Establishing Healthy Sleep Habits: 18 to 24 Months

Typical sleep at this age
By now your toddler should be sleeping about 11 to 12 hours at night and taking a one-and-a-half- to three-hour afternoon nap every day. Some children will hold onto two shorter daily naps until their second birthday. If yours is one of them, don't fight it.

How you can establish healthy sleep habits
At this age, these are the best things you can do to make sure your child's sleep habits are on the right track:

Help him break bad sleep habits so he can fall asleep on his own.
Your child should now be drifting off on his own at night without being rocked, nursed, or otherwise lulled to sleep. If he learns to depend on any of these external cues, he won't be able to fall back to sleep during the night when he wakes up and they're not there. Think of it this way, say sleep experts Jodi Mindell and Richard Ferber: You fall asleep with your head on a pillow, only to wake up in the middle of the night and find the pillow gone. You'd probably be concerned about the pillow's absence and look for it, rousing from your sleepy state. Similarly, if your child falls asleep every night listening to a particular CD, he'll wonder what happened when he wakes at night and doesn't hear the music, and he may not be able to drop off again easily. To help prevent this, try to get him into bed when he's sleepy but still awake, so he can fall asleep by himself.

Offer him acceptable choices at bedtime.
These days your toddler is beginning to test the limits of his newfound independence, wanting to assert control over the world around him. To curtail bedtime power struggles, let your child make choices whenever possible during his nighttime routine — from which bedtime story he wants to hear to which pair of pajamas he'd like to wear. The trick is to offer only two or three alternatives and to make sure you're happy with every choice. For example, don't ask, "Do you want to go to bed now?" He could very well say no, which isn't acceptable. Instead, try, "Do you want to go to bed now or in five minutes?" He still gets to make the choice, but you win no matter which option he picks.

Potential pitfalls
Two of the most common sleep problems for toddlers of all ages are difficulty falling asleep and frequent night wakings.

This age group has its own particular challenge, too: Sometime between 18 and 24 months, some children start climbing out of their crib, potentially putting themselves in danger (falling out of a crib can be pretty painful). Unfortunately, just because your toddler can get out of his crib doesn't mean he's ready for a big bed. Try to keep him safe and stationary with these tips from Sleeping Through the Night, by sleep expert Jodi Mindell:

Lower the mattress: If you move the crib mattress to its lowest position, you may be able to physically prevent your child from getting out. This probably won't work when he gets bigger, though.

Empty the crib: Your child may be using crib toys or bumpers as stepstools to help him get out. If you remove them, he may stay put a little longer.

Don't make jumping out worth his while: If your child jumps out of his crib and you react by giving him lots of attention or letting him get in bed with you, he'll keep doing it. Instead, stay calm and neutral, firmly tell him not to climb out, and put him right back in his crib. He'll get the idea pretty quickly.

Consider a crib tent: Crib tents are widely available. They attach to crib rails with Velcro and keep your toddler safe inside.

Keep watch: Nip his escapades in the bud by standing where you can see him in his crib — but he can't see you. If he tries to get out, immediately tell him not to. After you've done this a few times, he'll probably learn to stay put.

Set up a safe environment: If you can't keep your child from jumping out, you can at least make sure he stays safe. Place pillows and other padding on the floor around his crib and on nearby toy chests, dressers, and other objects that could cause a hard knock. If he absolutely won't stop climbing, you can always lower the crib rail and leave a step stool nearby. At least then you won't have to worry about him falling and hurting himself. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

source from http://www.babycenter.com

Establishing Healthy Sleep Habits: 12 to 18 months

Typical sleep at this age

Now your baby is officially a toddler — but he still needs as much sleep as he did when he was younger. Until his second birthday, your child should get about 14 hours of sleep a day, 11 of those hours at night. The rest will come in nap form. He'll still need two naps at 12 months, but by the time he's 18 months old, he may be ready for a single hour-and-a-half to three-hour nap in the afternoon — a pattern he may follow until he's four or five. The transition from two naps to one can be difficult. Sleep expert Jodi Mindell suggests alternating one-nap and two-nap days, depending on how much sleep your toddler got the night before. You can also try putting your child to bed a little earlier on one-nap days.

How you can establish healthy sleep habits
There's not much new you can do to help your child become a good sleeper at this age — look for fresh issues such as bedtime resistance to show up sometime between 18 months and your toddler's third birthday. Your best bet now: Continue practicing the strategies you've been developing since your child was 6 months old, including:

Following a nightly bedtime ritual.
A regular bedtime routine will help your child wind down at the end of the day and get ready for sleep. If he needs to work off some excess energy, it's okay to let him run around for a little while before moving on to something more calming, such as a quiet game, bath, or bedtime story. Follow the same pattern every night — even when you're away from home. Toddlers love consistency; being able to predict when and how something's going to happen helps them feel in control.

Stick to a consistent daily schedule, as well as bed- and naptimes.
As always, it's also a good idea to set and stick to consistent bed- and naptimes as part of your daily schedule. If your child naps, eats, plays, and gets ready for bed at about the same time every day, he'll be much more likely to fall asleep without a struggle.

Make sure your child is able to fall asleep on his own.
Don't forget how important it is for your toddler to fall asleep by himself every night. He shouldn't depend on rocking, nursing, or being sung to to fall asleep. If he does, he'll never learn to settle himself back down when he wakes up at night. That situation is less than ideal for you, too — if he does wake up, he'll probably cry for you.

Potential pitfalls
At this age your child may have difficulty falling asleep or wake up frequently at night. The reason behind both problems is probably the new developmental milestones he's reaching, especially walking. Your toddler is so excited by his new skills that he wants to keep practicing, even if you say it's bedtime.

If he resists going to sleep, most experts advise leaving him in his crib for a few minutes to see whether he'll calm down. If not, you may want to consider using some version of the "cry it out" approach. You'll also have to decide what to do if he wakes up at night, can't soothe himself back to sleep, and ends up crying for you. It's fine to go in and check on or comfort him. But if he wants you to stay and play with him, gently remind him that nighttime is for sleep.

source from http://www.babycenter.com

Establishing Good Sleep Habits In Your New Born

Typical newborn sleep patterns
Newborns sleep a lot — about 17 to 18 hours a day for the first few weeks and 15 hours a day by the third month. But, at least for the first couple of months, they're almost never asleep for more than three to four hours at a time, day or night. Translation: You won't be getting much uninterrupted sleep, either. At night you'll need to get up to feed and change your baby; during the day, you'll play with him, too. And while some infants sleep through the night as early as age 8 weeks, many babies don't reach that milestone until they're 5 or 6 months old. You can help your baby get there sooner by teaching him good sleep habits from the start.

How you can establish healthy sleep habits
Learn the signs that mean he's tired.
For the first six to eight weeks, your baby won't be able to stay up longer than about two hours at a time. If you wait much longer than that to put him down, he'll be overtired and may have trouble falling asleep.

Swaddling your newborn — an age-old technique for wrapping him snugly in a blanket — may help him feel warm and secure and fall asleep more easily during the first month..

Watch your baby for signs that he's sleepy. Is he rubbing his eyes, pulling on his ear, or developing faint dark circles under his eyes? If you spot these or any other signs of sleepiness, head straight for the crib. You'll soon develop a sixth sense about your baby's daily rhythms and patterns, and you'll know instinctively when he's ready for a nap.

Begin to teach him the difference between day and night.
Some infants are night owls (something you may have gotten a hint of during pregnancy) and will be wide awake just when you want to hit the hay. For the first few days you won't be able to do much about this. But once your baby is about 2 weeks old, you can start teaching him to distinguish night from day.

When he's alert and awake during the day, play with him as much as you can, keep the house and his room light and bright, and don't worry about minimizing regular daytime noises like the phone, radio, or dishwasher. If he tends to sleep through feedings, wake him up. At night, don't play with him at feeding time. Keep the lights and noise level low, and don't spend too much time talking to him. Before long he should begin to figure out that nighttime is for sleeping.

Give him a chance to fall asleep on his own.
When your baby is 6 to 8 weeks old, start giving him a chance to fall asleep on his own. How? Put him down when he's sleepy but still awake, suggests Jodi Mindell, director of the Center for Sleep Medicine at MCP-Hahnmann School of Medicine in Philadelphia and author of Sleeping Through the Night: How Infants, Toddlers, and Their Parents Can Get a Good Night's Sleep. Mindell advises against rocking or nursing your baby to sleep, even at this young age. "Parents think that what they do this early doesn't have an effect," she says, "but it does. Babies are learning their sleep habits. If you rock your child to sleep every night for the first eight weeks, why would he expect anything different later on?"

How to keep your sleeping newborn safe
The best way to protect your new baby from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other sleeping hazards is to learn the rules of safe sleeping. Then make sure your bassinet, crib, or any other place you plan to put your baby for napping and at night is properly set up .

Create a safe sleeping spot
Resist the urge to set up a bassinet or crib with pillows and fluffy comforters. As cozy as that may look, it's not the safest sleeping environment — your baby needs a surface that is firm and flat. Any blankets and bumpers should be thin, flat, and fastened securely to minimize the risk of covering the baby's head or face. Keep stuffed animals and toys out of the sleeping area, too.

If your crib is new and you bought it in the United States, it was made to meet strict safety regulations. If it's borrowed, though, be extra careful: Make sure crib slats are no more than 2 3/8 inches apart (a canned soda shouldn't fit between the slats) to prevent your baby's head from slipping between the bars. Also check that the mattress fits snugly — you should be able to fit no more than two fingers between the matress and the side of the crib.

For more details, see our articles on cribs and childproofing your nursery.

Put your infant to sleep on his back
Putting your baby to sleep on his back reduces the risk of SIDS. Experts estimate that up to 2,000 lives have been saved since the "Back to Sleep" public awareness campaign began in 1994.

source from http://www.babycenter.com

Circumstances That Complicate Sleep Training

t's all well and good to hear that most experts think it's okay to let your child cry a little to settle himself to sleep, but what if the neighbors complain? What if you live in a one-bedroom apartment and you need to get to bed yourself? What if you have two children, and they share a room? Sometimes tackling your toddler's sleep problems can get complicated. So what can you do about it? We asked our resident sleep expert, Jodi Mindell, author of Sleeping Through the Night, who had the following suggestions:

• If your children share a bedroom and one is having sleep problems, have the good sleeper move out for a few days. The child with the problem needs to learn to sleep well and peacefully in his bedroom — the other one has already learned how to do that, so he'll be fine spending a week or so sleeping in another room.

• Make sure you and your partner — and any other relatives living with you — agree on how to handle sleep problems. This is particularly important if you share living space with your child's grandparents or other family members who may think they know more than you do. If you and your partner decide that you're going to let your child cry for five minutes before going to him, it will disrupt your plan if Grandma comforts him right away. Consistency is key when you're trying to establish healthy sleep habits, especially with toddlers.

• If you live in a one-bedroom or studio apartment or an apartment complex with thin walls, there may not be much you can do without the neighbors complaining. If and when your situation changes, you can start teaching your toddler the basics of good sleep then (it's never too late, after all). Another strategy is to start with naptimes when others may be out for the day.

source from http://www.babycenter.com

Bedtime Battles

Why it happens
You put your toddler to bed at 8:30 at night. You hug him, kiss him, and wish him sweet dreams. It's been a long day. The dinner dishes await you, your spouse has to pay the bills, the dog needs to be walked, the cat needs to be fed, and you haven't had a moment to sit down and put your feet up. But nope — instead of spending the rest of the night catching up on your chores and spending some precious time with your partner, you're in and out of your child's room, cajoling him to go to sleep. He finally does — three hours later. Sound familiar? You'd be surprised at just how many of your fellow parents face this scenario night after night.

Sometimes you can tell your toddler's fighting sleep — he rubs his eyes, yawns repeatedly, and falls apart at the merest hint of frustration. Other times he may seem wide awake, even hyper, but this can be another form of exhaustion. What's happening is the toddler version of "so much to do, so little time"; there's so much going on around him — Daddy's in the living room poring over the mail, the pets are scuttling about, and you're moving from room to room — that he wants to be part of the action. Also, just like other toddlers, your child is beginning to understand that he's separate from you and is his own person, so he wants to assert his independence. Refusing to go to bed at night is one way he asserts control.

What to do
Teach your child to fall asleep alone. If your child will to go to bed only if you're around, he's forming bad habits that will be hard to break later. The best lesson you can teach him is how to soothe himself to sleep. Follow a nightly bedtime ritual (bath, books, and bed, for example) so he knows what's expected of him and what to expect at night. You can tell him that if he stays in bed you'll come back in five minutes to check on him. Let him know that he's safe and that you'll be nearby.

Don't let him dawdle. Toddlers are great negotiators, and they're no different when it comes to bedtime. And because they so enjoy the time they spend with you, they'll do what they can to prolong the time they have with you. Your child may take his time doing his usual nightly routine, ask repeatedly for a glass of water, or keep requesting that you come to his room because he needs something. If you suspect he's stalling, don't let him. Tell him it's time for bed and that he can finish working on his art project the next day or find the stuffed bunny the following morning.

You may want to anticipate all of your child's usual (and reasonable) requests and make them part of the bedtime routine. Fill up a glass of water before bed and have him put it on his night table, remind him to use the potty one more time, and give him lots of extra hugs to last him the whole night. Then allow your child one extra request — but make it clear that one is the limit. He'll feel like he's getting his way, but you'll know you're really getting yours.

Offer him acceptable choices at bedtime. These days your toddler is beginning to test the limits of his newfound independence. To help him feel empowered, let your child make choices whenever possible at bedtime, from which story he wants to hear to what pajamas he'd like to wear. The trick is to offer only two or three alternatives and to make sure you're happy with every choice. For example, don't ask, "Do you want to go to bed now?" He could very well say no, which isn't acceptable. Instead, try, "Do you want to go to bed now or in five minutes?" He still gets to make the choice, but you win no matter which option he picks.

Be calm but firm. Stand your ground even if your child cries or pleads for an exception to the going-to-bed rule. If you're frustrated, try not to engage in a power struggle. Speak calmly and quietly but insist that when time's up, time's up. If you give into his request for "five minutes more, please" once, you'll hear it again and again. If he throws a fit, ignore it as you do other tantrums. By paying attention to him — even if you're displeased with him — you've reinforced his behavior.

Moving him to a big-kid bed. Between the ages of 2 1/2 and 4, your child has probably outgrown his crib and is ready to give it up. Moving from his crib to a bed signals to him that he's becoming a big kid. You can tell him that part of getting older is learning how to go to bed when he needs to rest and doing so on his own. Once he's using his new bed, be sure to praise your child when he stays in it at bedtime and overnight. After the confinement of his crib, your child may get out of his big-kid bed over and over just because he can. If your toddler gets up, temper your reaction. Simply take him back to bed, firmly tell him that it's time to go to sleep, and leave. If he still won't stay in bed, you can try one of several strategies recommended by the top sleep experts.

source from http://www.babycenter.com

Parents Center: When Your Child Hates Haircuts

Many a toddler is known to shrink in fear at the sight of the haircutting scissors or shriek hysterically when held still for a snip. Parents who've faced down the problem share their best tips for cutting back on haircut trauma.

Ease the fear
"As a licensed hairstylist and mom of a 17-month-old, my advice is this: Don't call it a 'haircut'! Kids associate the word 'cut' with pain. Tell them they're getting a 'trim' instead." — Jen

"We used electric clippers for my daughter. It helped to have her favorite baby doll there, who has plastic hair, and to have them take turns. Seeing her baby doll's hair get 'cut' (we just put the clippers near her doll's head) helped her see there was nothing to be afraid of. Now she's almost 3 and tolerates haircuts just fine." — tla

"We play 'haircut' and use kitchen tongs instead of scissors. It gets our daughter used to hearing a noise and seeing something shiny bobbing around her head (we also drop shredded paper around her to imitate hair falling). Then when it's time for a real haircut while she sits on the kitchen floor it's not so traumatic. So far so good!" — Emma

"For my son's first few haircuts, we let him watch my husband get one first. I think seeing Daddy in the chair made him curious instead of scared. Then when it was his turn, I sat in the chair with my son on my lap. That seemed to work. He gets fidgety, but not upset." — kate

Go with the pros
"Ask around and see if there's a place in your area that caters specifically to kids. We have a place like that where we live — they have toys my son can play with while we're waiting to get his hair cut, a chair that's like a little car with a motor and horn, and DVD players at every station. My son gets so distracted by these things he hardly notices he's getting a haircut. He doesn't sit perfectly still, by any means, but it's nowhere near as horrible as it could be." — Leanne

"I take my 21-month-old to a children's salon. To keep him still and happy, I always take him right after a nap, when he's well-rested, and bring a sippy cup filled with formula. I ask the stylist to finish the haircut before the formula is gone. It works like a dream." — Louise

Get tricky
"My 19-month-old hates getting his hair cut, so I do it at home while he's sleeping. I do one side, then flip his head and do the other." — Anonymous

"My 18-month-old was a nightmare at the hairdresser's! He'd scream and run away and even swing at me and the stylist (luckily she was a friend). Finally, I asked our babysitter to take him. When she did, he was an angel! She's taken him back a few more times and now he gets excited when I tell him it's haircut day. He sits there the whole time, saying what a big boy he is, getting his hair cut and not crying!" — Anonymous

Sweeten the deal
"I found that Ring Pop lollipops work great! Your child won't choke since the candy is attached to the ring like a pacifier. My son is far too busy with his lollipop to notice what's being done to his hair. This is the only time we give him candy, so he loves getting his hair cut!" — Anonymous

"I've always cut my twins' hair myself. I usually try to put in a movie for them while I'm cutting, and tell them that if they do a good job sitting still they'll get a reward. I've found that stickers or a snack that they're only allowed to have on special occasions works very well." — twinniemom

Find a distraction
"My son was fine with his first two haircuts. I was very surprised when he freaked out the next time. We tried everything from having him watch my husband get a haircut to bribing him with bubbles and cookies. Nothing worked. Finally one day this summer I cut his hair while he was outside playing at the water table, which he loves. He was still a little annoyed, but it went much better. The lesson? Experiment. If your child is really into something (a certain toy, coloring, a video, a special food), try doing it then and see if it works." — Anonymous

"My friend who's a hairdresser gave me this tip that she uses with her own son: Give your child a haircut in the tub. It's easy to cut hair while it's wet, the hair falls into the water so it's easy to clean up, and your child is so distracted with playing that he doesn't even notice what you're doing. I tried it with my son and it's worked like a charm." — Betsie

Do it in waves
"I cut my son's hair in phases. First we fought the battle to get his bangs trimmed and called it a night. A few days later, while he was busy eating in his chair, I snuck up behind him and snipped off the sides. Later while he was distracted in the bath, I trimmed his curls in the back." — stinkdyr

Work it out with TLC
"My son, who's now 5, isn't easy to upset and normally takes things in stride, but he hated haircuts and I can see why: I'd told him over and over that scissors are dangerous and then I got out the scissors to cut his hair! It took patience and lots of reassurance to get him to see that haircuts aren't so bad. For a long time I had to cut his hair in stages to teach him how to cope. I think as parents we need to look at the world around us from our children's perspective and remember that they've only been here for a short time. There's so much for them to learn and it's easy to get overwhelmed." — Susan

Try tough love
"My son hates haircuts, too, but I just make him sit there until the job is done. He doesn't like it, but that's just too bad. He gets over it. And now he accepts haircuts because he knows they're going to happen regardless of his desires, and he's come to realize they're not so bad. I think sometimes we baby our kids too much and actually encourage tantrums in the way we respond to them." — Mike

Know when to get help
"If your child's reaction to haircuts seems over the top, consider the possibility that he has a problem processing sensory input. My 4-year-old screamed like a maniac during haircuts. Only after he was diagnosed with sensory integration dysfunction and treated with six months of occupational therapy did haircuts — and other things — become a little easier. Just a thought for when the typical techniques fail." — Kimmi

source from http://www.babycenter.com

Parents Center: Won't Sit On The Potty (12 to 24 mo.)

What if my child refuses to sit on the potty?
Even if your child is developmentally ready to begin using the potty, he'll probably need lots of support and encouragement from you before he's willing to give up diapers.

If you've been trying to get your child to use the potty for a while and he's been saying no most of the time, put the potty away for a few weeks and take a break. As you know, toddlers often say no to assert themselves — even when they want to say yes! Give your child a little while to get out of the refusal pattern so both of you can start fresh.

To restart toilet training, wait for a time when your child's daily life is fairly routine and stable. Since training requires your child to focus and learn new patterns, it's best if he isn't also adapting to other changes, such as moving into a new house or starting at a different childcare center. If your child's days are unpredictable, consider holding off on toilet training until he's older. You may also want to think of ways to add more structure to your child's routine to make things more predictable for him.

When you begin training again, don't expect your child to make the connection between sitting on the potty and really using it. First just have him sit on the potty for a few minutes once or twice a day at regular times, such as after a nap or right before bed. If he urinates while he's sitting, he'll make the connection himself, and after a while he'll figure out how his body feels when he needs to go. Some children put all of this together in a matter of days, but most take weeks or even months. Don't worry if your child falls into the latter group.

source from http://www.babycenter.com

Parents Center: Toilet Training Tricks: Products That Help (12 to 24 mo.)

Time flies! You probably have vivid memories of changing your baby's first diapers, and now your child is learning — or ready to learn — how to use the potty like a big kid. Here are some common stumbling blocks you may run into, along with products that can help this important growing-up step go smoothly.

How do I get started?
If this is your first child, potty training is probably a bit of a mystery. Everyone masters it eventually — but right now it may be hard to imagine your little one doing something so grown up.

What helps:
• Potty training videos. Fun videos and DVDs can help your child get familiar and comfortable with the idea of potty training. They usually feature animated characters singing songs and showing how to use the potty. (You can even find different versions for boys and girls.)

• Potty training books. Since kids love hearing the same stories over and over (and over) again, try adding a potty training book to your home library. A story with kid-friendly characters who are learning to master the potty just might just inspire your child to give the toilet a try.

Tip: Once potty training has begun, let your child pick out "big kid" underpants in a favorite color or with a familiar character on them. Some well-chosen underwear can inspire kids to say goodbye to diapers.

How do I motivate my child to use the toilet?
Your child may not be as eager to be potty trained as you are to make it happen. In fact, as your child grows up and learns new skills ranging from reading to riding a bike, you'll probably find this is often the case.

What helps:
• Staying positive. Avoid punishments, pressuring your child to give up diapers, or getting upset about accidents. Stay calm and supportive, and praise even small improvements.

• Potty training incentive chart. Let your child put a sticker on the chart (or calendar) for every visit to the potty. A certain number of stickers (you decide how many) earns a reward. At first, make it easy. For instance, three stickers might earn your child that coveted little toy car. You can gradually increase the goal, and the size of the prize.

• Potty "targets". Flushable targets that float in the water, often in animal shapes, can also motivate kids. Targets work especially well for boys because they can "aim," but some girls love them, too. Pieces of O-shaped cereal are also great for target practice, and won't harm plumbing.

• Stepping stool. For kids motivated by doing it "myself," a stool can help by letting them use the big potty and wash their hands on their own. Plastic stools are lightweight enough for a child to move from toilet to sink.

Tip: Put a few drops of blue food coloring in the toilet. When your child urinates in the potty, the water will turn green. Children are so amazed by this phenomenon, they'll want to make the water turn green over and over again!

How do I soothe my child's fears about the toilet?
Going from diapers to potty is a big transition, and it's natural that some children will be afraid. The noise of an adult toilet flushing, the whirl of water going down, and even the size of the toilet seat opening can be scary to someone so small.

What helps:
• Potty chair. Some children don't feel secure on a regular-size toilet because their feet dangle. A low-to-the-ground potty chair makes it possible for even the smallest toddler to sit on the toilet independently and comfortably, feet on the floor. You can even put it in front of the television and let your child watch a favorite video — preferably one about potty training — while sitting on it.

• Potty seat insert. Light plastic or padded mini-toilet seats that sit right on top of the regular adult seat are more suited to small bottoms and help some kids feel safer when they sit down.

Tip: Avoid flushing the toilet while your child is sitting on it or standing in front of it. Some children are frightened by the noise or afraid that they'll accidentally be flushed down. Instead, let your child flush the toilet.

How do I help my child do a better job of wiping?
Many children aren't great at wiping until preschool age, or even older. If you think about it, wiping is a pretty complicated motor skill.

What helps:
• Pre-moistened wipes. A child who's having a hard time wiping may find pre-moistened wipes easier to use. They're softer on a child's skin than toilet paper and clean more effectively, too.

Tip: Include hand-washing as part of the potty training incentive chart. Let your child put a sticker on the chart after washing up at the sink.

How do I get my child to use the toilet away from home?
Especially in the early stages of potty training, it may be unrealistic to ask a toddler who's just learning how to use the familiar toilet at home to sit on a seat and go to the bathroom in a strange place.

What helps:
• Folding "travel" potty seat. A plastic travel seat that fully covers a standard-size toilet will keep germs from public bathrooms away and make your child feel more at home. These seat can be folded to fit in a diaper bag. Look for a seat that comes in a storage bag, and carry wipes with you so you can clean it before you put it away.

• Travel potty. Various types of potties are made especially for carrying with you. So whether you're on the road, at the park, or at the beach, you don't have to worry about finding a bathroom — and your child will have a familiar potty wherever you go. These potties usually have a carrying case, or they fold up to fit in your diaper bag. Plastic bags or liners that you dispose of after use make cleanup easy.

Tip: At first, try to plan your excursions around bathroom trips. Encourage your child to use the bathroom before you leave the house, and don't forget to bring a change of clothes (and paper towels to clean up puddles) with you wherever you go, just in case.

source from http://www.babycenter.com

How To Care For Your Baby's Gums And Emerging Teeth

Should I start cleaning my baby's gums even before his teeth come in?

Yes. Even before your baby sports his first tooth, it's a good idea to get into the habit of wiping his gums with gauze or a soft wet washcloth during bath time. You don't need to use any toothpaste yet. Simply wrap the cloth or gauze around your index finger and rub it gently over the gums.

Bacteria in the mouth usually can't harm the gums before the teeth emerge, but it can be hard to tell when the teeth are starting to push through, so you'll want to start early. Getting your baby used to having his mouth cleaned as part of his daily routine should make it easier to transition into toothbrushing later on.

What's the best way to brush my baby's teeth after they start coming in?
As your child's teeth start to appear (generally around 6 months), look for a baby toothbrush with a small bristle head and larger grip suitable for your hand. (If your child is healthy and still hasn't sprouted his first tooth by the end of his first year, don't worry — some children don't start getting them until 15 to 18 months.)

As long as you're cleaning your child's teeth regularly, you don't need to use any toothpaste yet. Just brush the teeth gently on both the outside and inside surfaces twice a day. Brush his tongue as well (if he'll let you) to dislodge the bacteria that can cause bad breath. One quick swipe is enough. Replace the toothbrush as soon as the bristles start to look worn or splayed out.

When does my baby need fluoride and how can I tell if he's getting the right amount?
Your baby's developing teeth can benefit from a little fluoride. This mineral helps prevent tooth decay by strengthening tooth enamel and making it more resistant to acids and harmful bacteria. Most municipal water supplies are fortified with fluoride (you can call your local water authority to find out about yours). Bottled water suppliers can also tell you about the fluoride content of their water.

If you get your water from a well, you might consider buying a test kit from your local health department, a hardware store, or a pharmacy. If the results show a fluoride content of less than .3 parts per million, ask your child's doctor whether you should give your child a fluoride supplement (the amount recommended for children under 3 is .25 milligrams per day). She can prescribe fluoride in the form of drops that you can add to your baby's bottle or cereal once a day. The American Academy of Pediatrics doesn't recommend fluoride supplements for babies under 6 months old.

If you live in an area with fluoridated water, your child will get no fluoride from your breast milk, but he will get it from the water you use to make his formula. Bottled water and fruit juices may contain fluoride, although the amount is rarely listed on the label.

A little fluoride is a good thing for your baby's teeth, but too much of it can lead to a condition called fluorosis, which in mild cases causes white spots to show up on your child's adult teeth. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends waiting until your child is 2 to use fluoridated toothpaste, and even then you should let him use only a tiny (pea-sized) amount each time. This is because young children tend to swallow their toothpaste rather than spit it out and swallowing too much toothpaste over time can lead to fluorosis.

When should I start taking my child to the dentist?
The timing of the first dental visit is controversial.

The AAP suggests that you take your child to see a dentist at age 3, unless his doctor sees a problem that needs earlier attention, or she believes that your baby is at risk for developing dental problems. (Risk factors include a family history of cavities and poor dental health while you were pregnant.) If the doctor does think that your baby is at risk, she'll refer you to a dentist six months after your child's first tooth erupts, or by 1 year of age, whichever comes first. During your baby's regular visits to the doctor, she should check to see that his teeth are coming in normally. The doctor should also ask about diet and oral hygiene, and she may make fluoride recommendations.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association, however, recommend that you bring your baby to see a dentist between 6 and 12 months of age. They note that over the last 30 years in the United States, tooth decay in baby teeth has not declined like it has in permanent teeth, and that about 40 percent of children have tooth decay by age 5. An early dental exam might address a problem that your baby's doctor might miss or couldn't diagnose. And establishing a relationship with a dentist early on, the groups say, provides families with a source for important dental information as well as routine and emergency dental care.

source from http://www.babycenter.com

Parents Center: Tooth Accidents (birth to 12 mo.)

What should I do if my baby falls and hits a tooth?
If your baby is pulling himself up while holding onto the furniture or learning to take his first steps, he's bound to fall on his face sooner or later. Occasionally he may hit a tooth.

First you'll want to make sure that your baby has no other injuries (to his face or head, for example) that need emergency treatment. If he does, call 911.

If his gums start to bleed, apply pressure with a piece of wet gauze for few minutes (or until the bleeding stops). A frozen juice pop can limit the swelling and has the added benefit of taking your child's mind off the pain. Call the doctor immediately if you see anything unusual with your baby's gums or teeth over the next week, or if you notice any signs of infection, such as fever or swelling and tenderness.

Should I take my baby to the dentist if he hits a tooth?
If your baby's teeth and gums look just fine and he doesn't seem to be in any pain, he should be okay without a dental check.

If the tooth is chipped or cracked and your baby seems to be in pain, you should take him to the dentist right away, as part of the nerve may be exposed. You should also take your baby to the dentist if the tooth is very loose. She may decide to pull it so that your baby won't choke on it if it falls out on its own. Also have the dentist take a look at a tooth that seems out of place. She can evaluate whether it needs to be repositioned.

If the tooth is chipped but it doesn't seem to be bothering your baby, schedule an appointment for the dentist to evaluate whether there are underlying cracks or other damage you can't see. She can also repair the tooth by filing it or patching it with bonding material, if you decide it's important for cosmetic reasons.

What should I do if my child knocks out one of his baby teeth?
Baby teeth are important because they help your child eat and learn to speak and because they hold a spot in your baby's mouth for his permanent teeth to come in properly. Still, if a baby tooth gets knocked out, it's usually not a problem because a permanent tooth will eventually grow in its place. See the dentist just in case to make sure that no underlying teeth were damaged and that the permanent tooth will have enough space to grow in properly without the baby tooth holding its spot.

How can I keep my baby from hurting his teeth?
You can't completely prevent accidents, but you can help a lot by childproofing your home so that the number and severity of your baby's falls are minimized. You'll want to secure rugs and close off stairways, for example. Always buckle your baby up properly in his car seat. Also try to teach your child not to walk or run with hard objects (like a lollipop or a toothbrush) in his mouth.

source from http://www.babycenter.com

Parents Center: Teething (2 to 4 age)

When will my child get all of her teeth?
Teething patterns vary greatly from child to child, but typically the last teeth to appear (the second molars, found in the very back of the mouth on the top and bottom) are coming in by the second birthday. By age 3, your child should have a full set of 20 baby teeth, which shouldn't fall out until her permanent teeth are ready to start coming in, around age 6.

What teething symptoms will my child experience?
Because your child's molars are bigger and more blunt than the middle teeth that came in first, you might expect their eruption to cause more pain. Actually, it's likely that that your child's final teeth will come in practically unnoticed. Laura Grunbaum, a pediatrician in San Leandro, California, says few parents complain to her about their preschooler's teething, either because they know what to do by now or their child simply isn't in much pain.

In fact, experts disagree about whether teething causes symptoms — like fussiness, diarrhea, and fever — or whether these common symptoms are not related to teething at all and just coincidentally appear at the same time as emerging teeth. Regardless, many parents maintain that their teething children do suffer discomfort (though some children get through the process with no problems at all). If your preschooler does have teething trouble, here are the symptoms she's most likely to experience:

• Gum swelling and sensitivity

• Irritability or fussiness

• Biting behavior

• Refusing food

• Sleep problems

Though many parents report that their children have loose stools, runny noses, or a fever just before a new tooth arrives, most experts don't think teething is to blame for these symptoms. One who does is William Sears, pediatrician and author of The Baby Book. Sears believes that teething can cause diarrhea and a mild diaper rash because your child's excessive saliva ends up in her gut and loosens her stools. Inflammation in the gums, he thinks, may cause a low fever (under 101 degrees Fahrenheit).

On the other hand, child development experts such as Penelope Leach assert that teething cannot cause fever, diarrhea, vomiting, or loss of appetite and that these are signs of illness that should be checked out. Noted pediatrician T. Berry Brazelton says such symptoms are probably due to an infection unrelated to teething, but that the stress associated with teething could make your child more vulnerable to infection right before a new tooth appears.

The one thing experts agree on is that you should call your child's doctor if your preschooler has symptoms that worry you or a rectal temperature of 102 degrees F or higher. The doctor can help determine whether your child is showing signs of a problem that needs medical attention, like an ear infection. If your preschooler has loose stools — but not diarrhea — don't worry. The condition will clear up on its own.

What can I do to ease my child's discomfort?
The same tactics you used when she was a baby may help your preschooler now. She's probably less interested in chewing on objects to ease the soreness in her gums, but it's still okay to at least offer her a rubber teething ring or a cold washcloth to gnaw on. Hard or cold foods may be more appealing to her, like hard-baked toast, apple slices, a frozen bagel, applesauce, or yogurt.

If these methods aren't working, some doctors recommend giving a teething child a small dose of pain reliever such as children's acetaminophen — but check with your doctor before giving your preschooler any medication. (Never give your preschooler aspirin or even rub it on her gums to ease the pain. The use of aspirin in children is associated with Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition.)

Rubbing the gums with a topical pain relief gel is also an option, but you may want to ask your child's doctor before trying it. If you use too much, it can numb the back of your child's throat and weaken his gag reflex (which helps prevent him from choking on his saliva). The gels are generally safe to use, but in rare cases can cause an allergic reaction.

source from http://parentcenter.babycenter.com