Tip Archive

Below are this month's tips from Your Baby Today. Tips appear daily on the Your Baby Today home page.

• Keep baby far from the hot water faucet during bath time.
• A drooling baby is probably cutting a new tooth.
• Invest in new smoke alarms and a fire extinguisher.
• Never leave your child in the bathtub alone.
• If you have morning sickness go outside--fresh air may help.
• Consider joining a breastfeeding support group before you deliver your baby.
• To avoid heartburn while pregnant, eat small meals and wait two hours after eating before you exercise.
• Pediatrician Virginia Apgar invented the APGAR test that allows an ob/gyn or pediatrician in the delivery room to assess how well a newborn is adjusting to life outside the uterus.
• Sun protection means more than sunscreen. For optimal protection, put a wide-brimmed hat and UV-protective sunglasses your baby.
• Drinking lots of water during pregnancy -- at least 64 ounces a day -- helps prevent urinary tract, bladder, and kidney infections.
• Spicy foods like garlic and onion can alter the taste of breast-milk. Rather than pass on a tasty meal, up your fluid intake during and after the meal to help dilute their strong flavor.
• Don't feed your baby honey -- it can cause health problems.
• If your little one's nose is red and irritated from a runny nose, dab some Aquaphor cream on the outer nostrils to soothe the skin.
• To protect their sensitive eyes, infants should wear sunglasses, especially in high altitudes and very sunny climates.
• Chamomile tea is a great heartburn reliever for pregnant women.
• To make diaper changes go more smoothly, hang a mobile or eye-catching toy above the changing table (but keep it out of baby's reach).
• Getting regular doses of sunshine while pregnant will give you more Vitamin D for baby's bones.
• Even if you breastfeed, your baby may require vitamin drops after six months of age to ensure he's getting all the nutrition he needs.
• To trim a baby's nails, first soften them with a bath. Then use a nail file or safe baby clippers.
• To encourage a lifelong habit, read to your baby often.
• Invest in some flexible teething rings that can be cooled in the refrigerator to soothe your baby's gums.
• Make sure slats on your baby's crib are no wider than 2 3/8 inches apart.
• A baby who pulls on his ear may have an ear infection.
• Rattles make good baby toys because they strengthen arm muscles and increase hand-eye coordination.
• Before you come home from the hospital, let your cat or dog sniff a blanket that smells like your new baby, to ease the transition.
• To prevent your cat from jumping into the baby's crib, line the mattress with double-sided tape or foil.
• Babies can choke on objects that are smaller than 1 1/2 inches in diameter, so keep them out of reach.
• If you develop hemorrhoids during pregnancy, try using witch hazel.
• On a plane, pregnant women should stretch often to prevent blood clots in their legs.
• Avoid using pillows and blankets in a newborn's crib, they could suffocate the baby.

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