Nice Baby Care Tips

Crawl through your house to check for any hazards at baby's level.

To prevent diaper rash, apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to your babies' bottom after each diaper change.

When breastfeeding, your milk supply will increase with your babies' demands. The more your baby nurses, the more milk you will have.

Gather all the needed items for bath time before getting the baby undressed and into the tub! You never want to leave the little darling alone and taking him or her out to grab the soap will produce screams in the chilly air!

Lay your baby down to sleep on it's back. Babies sleeping on their stomachs has been linked to sudden infant death syndrome.

Dress your baby in light layers that can be removed or added according to the temperature.

If using a pacifier, be sure to choose one that's one piece that can't break and sized according to your baby's size.

When bathing baby use a pair of soft cotton gloves and eliminate slippery hands.

Wait until your baby is asleep to trim fingernails. Press down on the finger pad, away from the nail as to not clip the skin.

Begin to breastfeed your baby within one hour after birth, the sooner the better. The reflux to suck is the strongest in the first hour after birth.

If bottle feeding your baby, the nipple hole should be large enough that the formula drips out one drop per second.

Until the umbilical cord has healed, give your baby a sponge bath. Collect everything you will need before you begin.

Good way to calm a baby with colic, run your vacuum cleaner.
Submitted by Haroldine K.

Nurse frequently, on demand. Sometimes this may be 30 minutes from the last feeding, sometimes a couple of hours. Don't expect 4 hour feedings! Expect 8 to 12 feedings each day in the first few weeks. Awaken your baby to feed if the baby sleeps for 3 hours.

If your young child, baby or toddler is constipated, try giving them a little Karo syrup, for baby just dip pacifier in, toddler 1/4 tsp. young child, 1/2 tsp. it really works!!!
Submitted by Lisa L.

Introduce solid foods slowly. Begin with a tablespoon, slowly adding more each day. Wait a week before introducing a new food to check for allergic reactions.

Give your child fruit instead of juice. Juice can be upsetting to little digestive tracts.

If you have a hospital birth, inform the nursing staff that you are breastfeeding and don't want your baby to receive any supplemental bottles of formula, water or the use of artificial pacifiers. These can cause nipple confusion.

When breastfeeding, keep a count on your babies' diaper changes, to be sure your baby is getting enough breast milk. This is very important. Your baby should have 6 - 8 really wet cloth diapers or 5 - 6 disposable diapers each day and several stools in the first few weeks. If your baby is not having this many, consult your pediatrician at once. Your baby may be dehydrating.

Never give honey to infants under one year old, it sometimes contains a strain of botulism.                                    

A good supportive nursing bra is a must. You need the extra support and the convenience of a nursing bra.

Breast milk can be stored in the refrigerator up to 48 hours. It can be frozen for 2 months. Thaw or warm breast milk in a pan of luke warm water or held under luke warm running water. It should be warmed to body temperature. Never microwave.

When changing the sheets on the crib mattress, make it in several layers. Place a waterproof pad, then a sheet, until you have several layers. When the sheets need changing in the middle of the night, you simply remove the top layer.  

Try different positions for nursing, cradle hold, football hold, lying on your side, ect. Vary your baby's position, don't use the same position at each feeding.

If your breasts become engorged (swollen, tender and hard to the touch) treat with hot compresses or a hot shower just before nursing. If your baby doesn't empty your breasts, express the milk with a breast pump.

If you need nursing pads, make your own. Use a folded 100% cotton handkerchief or cut circles from cotton diapers.

Encourage babies to crawl by placing their favorite toys just beyond reach.

Check the wood pieces of the crib for splinters and cracks.

Soon after your baby is born, you will need to think of birth control. Consider all options before choosing the one to use.

Invest in a few nursing tops for when you go out. These are very convenient. Carry an extra blanket to throw across your shoulder to be very discreet.

Use baby wipes to take out stains on clothes.
Submitted by Christina N.

Keep a heating pad near your baby's crib. During the nightly feeding, place the heating pad in the baby's crib. After the baby is finished feeding and is ready to return to bed, remove the heating pad and your baby will have a comfortable warm bed.

When dining out with a young child, try to get the child a seat facing a window. The cars and activities outside will get the attention of the child.

Relax when nursing. Use lots of pillows to support you and your baby. You must be relaxed when nursing.

When interviewing a baby sitter, ask for several references and call or talk them all.

Place a towel or plastic table cloth under your child's car seat. This will help  protect your car from spills and leaks.

When your baby graduates from the bath tub seat, place a small towel on the bottom of the tub to help prevent slips.

When your baby is teething, try frozen banana slices. Slice a firm banana into slices about 1/4 inch thick and freeze.

After each nursing, rub a small amount of breast milk over your nipples and allow them air dry.

When you are going to travel by plane with your baby, arrive at the airport early. Making a diaper change is easier in the airport or on a plane that is not full. Arriving early, you will have time for a last minute diaper change before your flight.

Use a fabric softener sheet in the diaper pail to deodorize. This works great and is very inexpensive.

When you baby is in the bath tub, never leave them alone. If you have to answer the phone, take a cordless phone in the bathroom with you.

For a colicky bottle fed baby, talk to your pediatrician about changing formulas. Sometimes this will solve the problem.

Your milk supply will increase with your babies' demands. The more your baby nurses, the more milk your body will produce.

To protect your baby's teeth, wipe the baby's gums with a clean, damp washcloth or gauze pad after each feeding.

Bring out the pacifier only when your baby really needs it. If you do this, your child is unlikely to become overly dependent on it.  

Keep a bottle of juice handy in your diaper bag for little hunger pangs. Submitted by Elizabeth M.