Shop til' you Drop!
The holidays seem to mean one thing for most people...spending money. However, with things being tight with the end of the year and feeling like you need to keep up with the Jones' it can really dwindle your check book. So, my husband and I decided to come up with a rule that I think every parent can afford:
1. Buy them something they WANT. One thing, that they've really wanted all year and put a cap on it. $50, $60 whatever you can afford.
2.) Something they NEED. Whether its clothes like underwear, socks, shoes, etc.
3.) Something to WEAR. A pair of jeans, a sweater, etc.
4.) Something to READ. Books are very important and making it a tradition for them to read outside of school will benefit them in the long run.
Remember that this season is about family. Don't beat yourself up if you can't afford the new Play Station 5 or whatever is the new "it" thing. Besides, keeping your kids grounded with reasonable gifts will help them understand and have realistic views as they get older.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
xoxo,
Alex
November 11, 2014
Crib Transition
There comes a point when it's time to transition your baby from the pack-n-play, swing, bouncer, etc to the crib. You've finally managed to get your little one to sleep through the night and the thought of having to change their place of sleep and possibly deal with some sleep regression makes you a bit weary. But have no fear! I just went through this and as hard as it was at times, it is TOTALLY worth it. Here are a few tips/ideas to get you started:
~Start small. Put your baby in the crib for short naps during the day. Treat it exactly like how you would when they were napping in what they've been sleeping in. Once they start napping in the crib successfully, start putting them in the crib for the evening.
~Room conditions. Keeping the room conditions the same will pay off. The more you keep things the same, the better. (room temperature, room darkness, white noise, etc.) You don't want to be putting too much change on them all at once.
~Sleep regression. This is very common when trying to change anything when it comes to their routine. That's why I recommend starting small like their naps during the day. Don't worry if they all of a sudden wake up from their naps even if they've only been down for about 15 minutes. It's an adjustment for them and sometimes you need to let them cry it out for a few minutes. If they continue to cry after a few minutes, go in and pick them up. See if they'll eat a bit and then rock them to sleep in your arms. Then place them in the crib once they are fast asleep.
~Don't quit. Once you start the transition, don't go back and fourth between sleeping arrangements. It's important for them to get comfortable in their new bed. It's not going to be easy, but you both can get through it and once you do, it's a great feeling!
~Not all babies are created equal. If you've tried maintaining their usual napping schedule during the day and then nighttime sleep and its just not working, don't worry. No two babies are alike. Your baby just may not be ready for the transition. Just try again next month.
I wish you all well in this new endeavor. You can always e-mail me or comment below with any questions you may have!
xoxo,
Alex
October 29, 2014
Wedding season
As we all know, Fall is here and so is wedding season. You may have been chosen to be in a wedding or be invited to one. Of course you want to go but the first thing that comes to mind is "what about baby?" Weddings can make for a very long afternoon and evening. I was just in my sister-in-laws wedding last weekend as well as my husband. We had made a few mistakes with our little boy and I wanted to give you all some advice about getting baby ready, and being able to fulfill your duties as a good friend or part of the wedding party:
1.) Figure out the timeline. Usually weddings start around 4 pm. You can pretty much assume the wedding will go to 10 pm. That's 6 hours that you'll need to make sure you have everything ready for your baby and you. Pack at least 1 day in advance for yourself so the day of, you can focus 100% on what baby will need.
2.) Weather. Yes, the weather plays a major role in how to make sure your baby stays comfortable. The wedding we went to was in Tucson, AZ and the ceremony was outside. Needless to say it was HOT! As much as I wanted to dress him up in a cute onesie with bow tie and pants, it wasn't appropriate. If you are wanting to dress them up for pictures in something that may be a little too warm or cool, bring the outfit with you in the diaper bag and change them into it just for pictures and then get them out of it and back in something comfortable asap! Having a baby that is too hot or too cold is a recipe for a fussy baby. Pay attention to the location, and whether if its too cold or hot inside/outside.
3.) Diaper bag. Have your essentials and then some. Diapers, wipes, rash cream, extra blanket, light sweater, and extra outfit, etc. I'd also recommend to pack extra food. Just because your baby eats a certain amount every 2 hours does not make it a guarantee that they'll stick to that schedule. (we made this mistake) Whether you're breastfeeding or formula feeding, plan ahead. I'd recommend you pump enough for their typical feeding schedule and then bring enough for a extra 2 feedings. (that's where knowing your timeline comes in handy) If you're doing formula, measure out the formula into the bottles, and then add the water when he/she is ready to be fed. Again, bring enough for an extra 2 feedings. Doing these things and planning ahead with the bottles will also allow you to have help feeding. Family members and friends can easily hold and feed your baby. They'll be excited to help! Who doesn't love a baby at a wedding?
4.) Keeping baby entertained. If you've fed, burped and changed baby and he/she is still fussing then they may be overwhelmed or are bored. Take your baby for a walk. Get him/her out of the craziness and take them on a tour of the location. This may calm them down and make them happier. You can also use this time to take them to the bathroom and change them.
5.) Napping. A wedding can be (and usually is) very loud. Some babies are not fond of loud noises or music which can send them over the edge and become very fussy. Try to rock your baby to sleep away from the reception. and once they are down, you can put them back in their car seat, stroller or whatever you brought them in.
6.) Can I hold him!? You may have a bunch of people wanting to hold your baby and pass he/she around. If your baby is clearly tired or fussy its not the best time. Don't be afraid of telling people no. They'll understand and just tell them: "maybe later after I calm him down and feed him." This time of year also isn't the best for passing your little one around because it is cold and flu season. Just remember that!
7.) Its getting late and he's really fussy. After all of your hard work and making sure they have everything they need, it might just not be enough. There is a lot going on for your little one and they may just be ready to go home. Its not the ideal thing to do (leave a wedding of a friend or family member) but your baby comes first and everyone will understand. Just say your goodbyes, pack up and get baby home.
I hope some of these tips help! Let me know and don't forget to follow my twitter page: @newmomnewworld1
xoxo,
Alex
September 17, 2014
Running errands made easy!
Being a stay-at-home mom is the most rewarding and exhausting job I've had to date. Late nights, early mornings, laundry, and house cleaning. It really is a 24/7 job. It's so easy to get wrapped up in all of these things. Before I knew it, a month has past and I have not left the house with the baby except for doctor appointments. I've been feeling this anxiety that if I take him out to run errands he'll start screaming and I'll have to leave. So, to help with this anxiety I turned to my other mommy friends and asked for some advice. They told me I needed to get my feet wet. Start out with a quick trip to a store that's not too far away from home. A change of scenery for both Aiden and I will do us good. Not to mention getting out of the house that I've been confined to. After I did this a couple of times, I became more confident and comfortable doing things with him. Here are some tips to help ease your nerves and anxiety:
~Before leaving the house, try to have your baby fed, burped and changed. A full, dry baby is a happy baby. Doing this around their nap time helps as well.
~Bring the diaper bag with the usual stuff: diapers, wipes, desitin, etc. It also would be a good idea to bring a pacifier and an extra bottle. It doesn't hurt to be prepared.
~If your baby starts to become fussy before getting to your destination, try driving around a little longer. The bumpy ride usually soothes and calms them down.
~Make your trips short at first. Know exactly what you're going into the store for, and where everything is located. Once you get comfortable taking your baby out places, you can start making bigger trips.
~Dress your baby appropriately. If you live in the desert like I do, put them in a onesie with a light blanket on. I really like the muslin ones by aden+anais. If you live in a cooler climate, put them in an outfit that covers their arms and legs with socks and use a light blanket. Stores are usually kept pretty well air-conditioned.
~Each baby is different. Some love the stroller and car seat (in the basket) or a baby carrier. Try them both and see which one works best.
Just remember you can do this. Be confident and prepared. If your baby starts to cry, just relax. Try to give him/her a pacifier and if that doesn't work, check his/her diaper. And if that still doesn't solve the problem don't feel bad or discouraged about leaving the store. Stay calm and get baby home and try again another day. I hope these few tips help.
xoxo,
Alex
September 16, 2014
Colic
Colicky baby? Enough said. Being a new parent or just being a parent in general is tough. Then try adding an extremely fussy baby to the equation and it feels just down right impossible. Trust me, I know. Our son has colic and it has been a battle with keeping my sanity. At first, I thought I was doing something wrong. It would be 2 am and he's been screaming for 2 hours non-stop. I wanted to cry and in fact a couple of times I did. He had been fed, burped, and changed. He wanted to be held and walked around the house for hours but obviously thats not an option because just like baby, we need our sleep too. After countless late nights with constant screaming, and exhaustion on both of our parts, I was desperate to try anything. For those of you who do have this problem you know what I'm talking about. So, I decided to speak with our pediatrician and she had some great ideas and I tried some different remedies on my own. It has really seemed to help and I wanted to share this advice with you all so you can feel more at ease and hopefully get a grasp of what to do and get your much needed sleep. Here are some tips:
~The basics. Make sure baby is fed, burped and changed. Those are usually the top 3 things that will cause them to cry.
~Nightly routine. This has been HUGE and i highly recommend it. At about 9 pm we will wake him up, feed him, burp him and then bathe him. Then we swaddle him and put him in his swing. Getting them to understand the routine helps out later as they get older to understand that bath time equals bedtime and that bedtime means a longer sleep.
~Feeding/burping. After a feeding whether its a bottle or breastfeeding, make sure to get a few really good burps out of them. If not, it can cause gas which will make them incredibly fussy. Another cue to look for if it involves gas is when your baby is crying and if he or she brings their legs up to their stomach. Try burping again.
~Gas drops. If you've been burping them for 15 minutes or more and haven't got a good burp yet, my go to is the gas drops by "little remedies." They are natural and totally safe for newborns.
~Swaddling. Babies love to be swaddled because it reminds them of the comforts of being in the womb. Also, make sure the temperature in your house isn't too cool or hot. That, will also make baby uncomfortable and cry.
~Colic drops by "little remedies." I will use these occasionally if he continues to cry even though he's been fed, burped, etc. Again, these are all natural and have ginger in it. They will help settle their tummy which will bring me to my next point. Sometimes, whether the baby is on formula or breast feeding, their tummies will not agree with what you ate (breastfeeding) or the type of formula they are eating. If you are breastfeeding, try to remember what you ate that day that was out of the ordinary and eliminate it from your diet to see if that helps. For formula fed babies, try a different type of formula. Maybe one for sensitive tummies and gas. We use the Similac sensitive formula and its really helped.
~Acid reflux. Yes, babies can have acid reflux and for anyone that's ever had it, it's NOT fun. So just imagine a baby having it. Something my doctor recommended was getting a swing. We had a bouncer that vibrates but he loves to be rocked and the swing does just that and keeps them elevated instead of lying flat on their back. Our little boys sleeps in the swing and it really has made such a difference.
~Crying. Letting your baby cry does not make you a bad parent. It'll actually make them learn to self soothe which is a very good thing especially when they start to get a little older. After you've done all of the above, putting them in the swing or bouncer and letting them cry themselves to sleep is good. We actually moved Aiden into his bedroom in the swing to let mom and dad sleep and we won't have to worry about us waking him. We have the monitor hooked up so we can hear and can check on him any time. You'll know the difference between just crying and an angry cry. The angry cry is much louder and in a quicker repetitive action. That is when you'll want to go in and make sure nothing is too tight, spit up, or have a dirty diaper. But usually after about 10 minutes of regular crying, he falls asleep.
~Pediatrician. If you've done all of the above and still no relief or success, its time to talk to your pediatrician. They do have prescriptions for extreme colic. Don't feel bad if it leads to this. You need to keep your sanity and get sleep.
**Make sure you speak with your pediatrician before starting any regiment/medication.**
All babies are different so you just need to find what works best for you and your baby. Questions? Feel free to contact me here or on my twitter page.
xoxo,
Alex
No comments:
Post a Comment