There are many things that new parents need to be aware and informed of to ensure that their baby is getting all of the essential nutrients, dietary nutrition and healing care that they need. It can be challenging to know what information is tried and true, and what information may just be generic advice. New parents should always feel as though they can ask their child's primarily health care provider about how to best care and treat their child to ensure that they will grow up healthy and strong.
Baby Nutrition
Babies require the proper nutrients, vitamins and minerals from their diet. Since a baby is growing rapidly their nutritional needs are of utmost importance and may be quite different from older children, adults and seniors. Knowing the right amount of food, formula or breast milk to feed your baby that contains the best nutrients will ensure your child is getting the necessary nutritional requirements for their age and developmental stage. The nutritional needs of a child will change, especially when introducing solid foods. Many children may suffer food sensitivities or allergies so every time a new food is tried for a few days in a row to see how the child reacts.
Diaper Rash
Diaper rash is a common skin irritation that occurs in babies and toddlers who are wearing diapers. The type of diaper worn may influence the likelihood of a baby developing diaper rash, as some materials allow the skin to still have access to breathe. The most common cause of diaper rash is the child wearing a soiled diaper which thus irritates the skin on the child's bottom and upper thighs. There are many home remedies that can alleviate the symptoms of diaper rash including baby powder, keeping the skin clean and dry, and ointment. If diaper rash persists a visit to the doctor should be scheduled to see if a medicated cream is needed to clear out bacteria and facilitate healing.
Colic
Colic is an alarming cry that occurs from a baby for a long period of time; commonly known as the three three's (generally lasting upwards of three hours in one day, taking place upwards of three days in a row, for up to three weeks). The baby is otherwise healthy, and the root cause of the crying in unknown. The crying may be very loud and the baby will appear stressed, with clenched fists, a furrowed brow and a general look of upset. The exact number of babies who suffer from colic is unknown, but it is above 5% of all babies. Colic can be very challenging for parents, as they do not like to see their child suffer. This can impact the parent in many ways including sleep deprivation, high levels of stress, postpartum depression, worry, anxiety, and breakdown of relationships. Colic usually disappears on its own, with no real treatment except for calming aid from the mother or father including rocking, comforting and a soft touch.
Frugal Parenting
Parenting is extremely expensive, with the average costs of raising a child in America increasing every year. It is important when parenting to see how you can effectively budget your money so that you can ensure your family's needs are met on a daily basis. Some of the most common expenses that parents face through the early years include formula, clothing and diapers. Although these expenses cannot be avoided, they can be managed through the use of coupons. Many common childcare items including diapers will have coupons available that can help to alleviate the expense. Other common ways to keep expenses down is to swap clothing with other moms, shop used and look for sales.
