Wednesday, October 12, 2022

3 Tips to Help Your Baby Sleep Better

As a new parent, sleep is probably the last thing on your mind. Often it is no wonder that parents often leave their own needs until last. After all, there are diapers to change and feedings to get through, not to mention all the other challenges of caring for your baby. As you begin to adjust to life as a parent, one of the most challenging aspects is modifying your schedule to cater to your baby’s needs while at the same time meeting your own. You might feel like you never get enough sleep and always have excuses as to why you can’t visit friends or have time for yourselves, but it gets easier with time, patience, and lots of practice! Here are some tips to help your baby sleep better. 



 

Establish a bedtime routine 

A bedtime routine can be a great way to help your child wind down and transition from a busy day to a restful night of sleep. Babies who experience a consistent bedtime routine will learn to associate it with sleep, which will make it easier for your child to fall asleep on their own whenever they need to. Keep in mind that the ideal bedtime routine for your child is likely to change over time as your baby grows. For example, while they’re very young, a nightly ritual might include a bath, bottle feeding, and a lot of cuddling and rocking. But as your baby gets older: they will likely be ready for an older kid approach, such as a bath, reading a story, and leaving out a small nightlight. 


Stay calm 

Babies are remarkably perceptive; They can pick up the vibe in the environment very well. So if you’re anxious or nervous about getting your baby to sleep, they’ll almost certainly be able to pick up on that. In other words, staying calm when trying to get your baby to sleep will help your child learn how to soothe themselves. 

 

Seek advice 

If you find yourself at a loss when it comes time to get your baby to sleep, don’t hesitate to ask for help. If you’re breastfeeding, talk to your doctor about how much sleep you should be getting, and be aware that some medications could lead to problems with milk production. If you’re feeding your baby formula, check with your pediatrician about how much sleep is normal for your child. If you’re co-sleeping, make sure that’s a choice you’re comfortable with — and know that it might not be a great long-term solution for everyone. If you’re still feeling stressed about baby sleep, try taking a few slow, deep breaths. And remember that it’s okay to make mistakes — it’s normal for parenthood to become challenging sometimes. As long as you’re trying your best and have the support you need, you’ll get there. And before you know it, your baby will be turning into a little toddler — and sleeping through the night.


If you have any tips you would like to share please do. Until next time 🙂


Monday, September 26, 2022

6 Tricks to Help a Baby With Colic

Is your baby experiencing crying spells lasting for several hours? I suggest bringing your baby to their Pediatrician to rule out anything serious at first. And once there, the doctor will probably mention the word colic. It's when a baby cries excessively for more than three hours and at least three days a week. It typically starts in the first few weeks of life, peaks at 3-4 months, and usually resolves by six months. There are many theories about the cause of colic, but no one knows what causes it or how to cure it. I can recall my two oldest experiencing it, and I found myself crying along with my firstborn, and that was bad because it made the situation much worst. After all, babies can feel stress from others. After trying out different strategies, I found some ways that helped us.




Rocking 

It's one of the most traditional ways to soothe a crying baby. You can do it several ways, sitting in a rocking chair, lying down with the baby in your arms, or simply holding the child and swaying back and forth.


Car Rides

Taking your baby for a car ride can help in two ways. One way is helping to soothe, and the other is putting your baby to sleep.


White Noise

Try to have something with noise playing in the background. Such as a fan, vacuum cleaner, dishwasher, and washer machine. You can also search on YouTube or have any music app playing white noise. 


Baby Workouts

Have your baby lay on their back, and you gently move their legs as if they were bike riding a few times.


Baby Massage

You can give gentle massages with oil or lotions made for babies. Put a small amount on the palms of your hand and rub them together to warm them up. Do gentle tummy strokes moving your hands clockwise. You can also watch videos on YouTube that will demonstrate it correctly.


Swaddling 

The swaddle keeps them from wiggling their arms, but their legs are free. And, always place your baby on their back, and stop swaddling them once they can roll over. 


If you have any tips you would like to share, please do! Till the next time ;)


Friday, September 16, 2022

First Weeks Home with your New Baby

When it's time to bring your newborn home from the hospital, trust me, you will be experiencing lots of emotions. You will be excited, stressed, and worried but don't worry; it will be okay. Most of all, don't forget to breathe. I can recall with all three of my kids. I was feeling so anxious. You would think after your first or second child, it would be easy, but every time it took some time to adjust to it all, especially being a single parent. Here are some tips to help you in your new journey.



Fill up Your Fridge and Cabinets

Make a list of groceries you will need, such as fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. Whatever you typically buy for yourself. Try to do a week or two worth of shopping. If possible, you can either have someone from your family go or use one of the many options of food delivery apps that are out there now.


Set up a Support Team

Ask a few members of your family or friends if they would like to help you during this time of adjustment. You will likely need it, so don't be ashamed to ask for help.


Take time to Rest

Make sure to take time to rest. Try to nap when your baby is sleeping because you will lose sleep during the evenings since most babies tend to wake up every hour or two to eat. Not only that, but you need time to recover from delivery.


Introducing Your Baby

Take time to introduce your new baby to all members of your home, including your pets. If family and friends come by, be sure everyone washes their hands before handling your baby, and try not to have so many visitors at once because it can be overwhelming for both you and your baby.


Establish a routine

If you want things in your home to be less chaotic, once you're home with your baby, work on a schedule that includes everyone, such as cooking, feeding, household chores, bathing, bonding, and time for yourself. And if you have other children, try to make individual time with each child because they will need that time to bond with you. Especially if you are in a relationship, make time for that person too.


If you have any tips you would like to share, please do. Until next time ;)

Sunday, September 11, 2022

About Me

Hey there 👋 I like to take the time and reintroduce myself since I'm starting this blog up again.

I'm a mom of three boys, two of which have special needs. I tried working outside the home as a teaching assistant but I noticed I had to keep taking time off to give special attention to my middle son due to his severe mental illness so this past June I decided to take time off from working outside and focus on what's important which are my kids. And also put some time into looking for other ways to make money from home while growing my other two side businesses. Both of these I absolutely love doing since one has to do with helping women save their money by doing their own nails at home and still having their nails looking fresh. My other is a mental health awareness company which is very important to me cause I strongly believe in their products since I have been using them and noticing big results.  

In my spare time, I enjoy writing and reading all genres but lately, I have been focusing on personal development. My intention here is to share tips about pregnancy, parenting, self-care, and ways to work from home that I have personally found success with. So stay tuned to it all :) 

3 Tips to Help Your Baby Sleep Better

As a new parent, sleep is probably the last thing on your mind. Often it is no wonder that parents often leave their own needs until last. ...