Hello friends,
Most parents worry about SIDS. As an NCS and a devoted aunt, I too worry about it. I also worry about apnea, asphyxiation, and other sleep-related tragedies.
As many parents probably do, I frequently check on the babies in my care, but as an extra layer of protection I also use a Babysense V infant movement monitor. It's the only product of it's kind that I use.
Although the AAP discourages its use, I find that when you follow safe sleep guidelines and continue to supervise your baby, the use of the Babysense is perfectly fine. The monitor is a back up to attentive parenting, not a replacement.
Although it can't prevent a tragedy, it alerts parents and caregivers to act and does indeed save lives. If the baby stops moving (including breathing) for more than 20 seconds, a loud alarm sounds, prompting you to act. The sensor goes under the mattress and is very sensitive. Unlike other products, the Babysense is battery operated, so there is nothing plugged in to the wall that is also connected to the crib.
"False" alarms are non-existent, in my experience. When installed and used properly, it does its job and it puts my clients' minds at ease.
Make no mistake, using a movement monitor does not replace adult supervision and certainly doesn't give parents a license to break all the rules. It does, however, give you precious seconds to resuscitate and call 911. If you are a parent, grandparent, or caregiver, please take a CPR/First Aid class and post laminated CPR instructions in the nursery (I like to use the inside of the closet door).
Sleep safe and you'll rest well!
Cortney
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Houdini baby? Not any more!
Hello friends,
If you've been following the GNS method, you know that swaddling is the cornerstone for soothing and EST (Early Sleep Teaching). For many parents, swaddling can be a bit daunting, as a safe and effective swaddle must be tight with the baby's arms down at his sides. There are many different kinds of swaddling blankets on the market that promise the relief of sleep and a happy baby. Unfortunately, most of those products, in my professional opinion, have some major flaws. Because of these serious drawbacks, I have not recommended anything but a large, square flannelette blanket...until now.
PeaWee Baby has designed a series of products that address all the issues I have with other "gimmicky" blankets. There are three options that all utilize the same swaddling mechanism. The SwaddleBuddy keeps the arms secure and can be used with any blanket. The SwaddleBuddy Suit is great for swaddling babies who need to be strapped in to a swing, bouncy seat, or reflux nest. The SwaddleBuddy Sack uses that same arm securing technology with a large pocket for the baby's legs.
Benefits:
If you've been following the GNS method, you know that swaddling is the cornerstone for soothing and EST (Early Sleep Teaching). For many parents, swaddling can be a bit daunting, as a safe and effective swaddle must be tight with the baby's arms down at his sides. There are many different kinds of swaddling blankets on the market that promise the relief of sleep and a happy baby. Unfortunately, most of those products, in my professional opinion, have some major flaws. Because of these serious drawbacks, I have not recommended anything but a large, square flannelette blanket...until now.
PeaWee Baby has designed a series of products that address all the issues I have with other "gimmicky" blankets. There are three options that all utilize the same swaddling mechanism. The SwaddleBuddy keeps the arms secure and can be used with any blanket. The SwaddleBuddy Suit is great for swaddling babies who need to be strapped in to a swing, bouncy seat, or reflux nest. The SwaddleBuddy Sack uses that same arm securing technology with a large pocket for the baby's legs.
Benefits:
- No long "belt" to wrap around and around the baby.
- Hook and loop keeps the swaddle in place and doesn't allow the blanket to ride up over the baby's face, like other blankets.
- Fool proof, even for the novice swaddler.
- Light weight and stretchy - perfect for any weather, just layer clothing as needed.
- No busting out! Even your big strong baby will be happily contained for the night.
- Multiple options to fit any situation. Even a baby on an apnea monitor could be swaddled with the SB Suit.
- Perfect companion to the Baby Stay Asleep system for safely elevating reflux babies.
If you'd like to learn more about how swaddling can help your baby stay calm and sleep longer, call us today!
Your personal baby sleep expert,
Cortney
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
New recommendations for rear-facing car seats!
Hello friends,
I've been sharing this message with families for several years now, but the rear-facing movement has finally taken root with a strong statement from the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics).
Babies should sit rear-facing until they no longer meet the height and weight requirements of the seat's manufacturer. Many convertible car seats are designed to be used rear-facing up to 35 lbs and some go even higher than that! For many kiddos, that means they can safely sit RF until 3+ years old.
I've heard all the excuses in the book about why parents don't want to keep their kids RF. Not a single one of those excuses is worth the life of a child. I know it can be tough, but there are ways to make RF not only manageable, but completely comfortable and hassle-free. Check out this video and pay close attention to the side by side crash test of forward facing vs rear facing. Also note all the happy, big kids in their RF seats!
I've been sharing this message with families for several years now, but the rear-facing movement has finally taken root with a strong statement from the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics).
Babies should sit rear-facing until they no longer meet the height and weight requirements of the seat's manufacturer. Many convertible car seats are designed to be used rear-facing up to 35 lbs and some go even higher than that! For many kiddos, that means they can safely sit RF until 3+ years old.
I've heard all the excuses in the book about why parents don't want to keep their kids RF. Not a single one of those excuses is worth the life of a child. I know it can be tough, but there are ways to make RF not only manageable, but completely comfortable and hassle-free. Check out this video and pay close attention to the side by side crash test of forward facing vs rear facing. Also note all the happy, big kids in their RF seats!
We all want the best for our kids, so protect them by keeping them rear-facing. No more excuses. Your baby's life is too precious to risk. If you need more information or want to learn how to make RF a more pleasant experience, please call today.
Best wishes for happy, healthy babies,
Cortney
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Daylight Savings Time
Hello friends,
Spring is just around the corner and that means it's time to change the clocks. Most of us will "spring forward" this weekend, which has parents asking "what does that mean for my baby's sleep"?
The good news is that the Spring time change is usually more beneficial for sleep training than the Fall time change. If you have a little one who tends to wake earlier than you'd prefer, like 5:30 am, that wake up time is now going to be 6:30 am. To your baby, it still feels like 5:30, but your clock will say 6:30. Make sense? Good.
So, now you're probably wondering how to adjust your baby's routine to take advantage of the time change. Well, your window of opportunity is short. After a few days, your baby will adjust to the new time, so it's important to help your baby make the most of the time change.
There are two ways to handle DST. The first is to just make the switch cold turkey style. If your baby's bedtime is 7:30 pm, you can change the clocks on Sunday evening and put your baby to bed at the new 7:30 (which feels like 6:30 pm). If your baby isn't ready for sleep, you can put her to bed at 8:30 (which feels like her good ole' 7:30 pm). The next morning, you should wake your baby at her regular time, say 7:00 am (which feels like 6:00 am). Now you should follow your regular routine according to the new time. By the second or third night, you and your baby will adjust to the time change.
The other way to adjust your baby's bedtime is to do it slowly over the next few days. Start backing up your baby's bedtime by 15-30 minutes each day until you've reached the new time (so you're backing it up one hour). So, if 8:00 pm is bedtime at your house, you'll need to work on getting to a 7:00 pm bedtime because once DST happens, what feels like 7 pm will now be 8 pm on the clock. The next morning, be sure to wake your baby at her regular start time, like 7:30 am (which feels like 6:30 am).
Alternatively, you could just change the clocks and change your child's bedtime to be an hour later than usual, which means the same would apply for your morning start time, feedings, and naps. The baby wouldn't feel any different, only the number on the clock would change. For example, if 7:00 pm is bedtime now, next week it would be 8:00 pm.
The time change is really helpful if you have a baby or toddler who tends to wake earlier than you'd like and has trouble going back to sleep. The baby who likes to start her day at 5:30 am will now be getting up at 6:30, which is a much more reasonable start time.
Still have questions? Call or email for a quick consultation!
Your personal baby sleep expert,
Cortney
Spring is just around the corner and that means it's time to change the clocks. Most of us will "spring forward" this weekend, which has parents asking "what does that mean for my baby's sleep"?
The good news is that the Spring time change is usually more beneficial for sleep training than the Fall time change. If you have a little one who tends to wake earlier than you'd prefer, like 5:30 am, that wake up time is now going to be 6:30 am. To your baby, it still feels like 5:30, but your clock will say 6:30. Make sense? Good.
So, now you're probably wondering how to adjust your baby's routine to take advantage of the time change. Well, your window of opportunity is short. After a few days, your baby will adjust to the new time, so it's important to help your baby make the most of the time change.
There are two ways to handle DST. The first is to just make the switch cold turkey style. If your baby's bedtime is 7:30 pm, you can change the clocks on Sunday evening and put your baby to bed at the new 7:30 (which feels like 6:30 pm). If your baby isn't ready for sleep, you can put her to bed at 8:30 (which feels like her good ole' 7:30 pm). The next morning, you should wake your baby at her regular time, say 7:00 am (which feels like 6:00 am). Now you should follow your regular routine according to the new time. By the second or third night, you and your baby will adjust to the time change.
The other way to adjust your baby's bedtime is to do it slowly over the next few days. Start backing up your baby's bedtime by 15-30 minutes each day until you've reached the new time (so you're backing it up one hour). So, if 8:00 pm is bedtime at your house, you'll need to work on getting to a 7:00 pm bedtime because once DST happens, what feels like 7 pm will now be 8 pm on the clock. The next morning, be sure to wake your baby at her regular start time, like 7:30 am (which feels like 6:30 am).
Alternatively, you could just change the clocks and change your child's bedtime to be an hour later than usual, which means the same would apply for your morning start time, feedings, and naps. The baby wouldn't feel any different, only the number on the clock would change. For example, if 7:00 pm is bedtime now, next week it would be 8:00 pm.
The time change is really helpful if you have a baby or toddler who tends to wake earlier than you'd like and has trouble going back to sleep. The baby who likes to start her day at 5:30 am will now be getting up at 6:30, which is a much more reasonable start time.
Still have questions? Call or email for a quick consultation!
Your personal baby sleep expert,
Cortney
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
How much should your baby be eating?
Hello friends,
One of the most common questions my clients ask is "how much should my baby be eating" and the answer might surprise you.
For nursed babies who are healthy and weight-gaining, the answer is exactly what they are already eating. Now, I realize this isn't the answer most new parents are looking for when they worry about their baby's health. As long as your nursling is gaining weight (1/2 - 1 oz per day), has several wet diapers and bowel movements and is content between feedings, he's probably eating precisely what his body needs.
For your bottle fed baby, there are a couple of easy guidelines for knowing how much to offer your baby. The first is the most simple, but not quite as accurate. Take your baby's weight in pounds and multiply by 2.5. For example: an 8 pound baby should eat around 20 ounces in 24 hours. 8 x 2.5 = 20. This is just a guideline! It's okay if your little one takes in 22 oz or only 18. Just be sure your baby has at least 6 wet diapers a day and is steadily gaining weight.
My favorite way to calculate the amount you offer your baby is to convert the baby's weight into ounces and divide by 6. For example: a 7 lb 6 oz baby weighs 118 ounces, divided by 6 equals 19.7 ounces per day (rounded up). 7 x 16 = 112 + 6 = 118/6 = 19.7.
Spread the total equally over the whole day. For some babies, this might be 8 feedings or for others it might be 6 feedings.
As babies get older, they require fewer feedings each day , but are able to eat a larger amount at each feeding. The bottom line is this: don't worry so much! Just in case you do tend to worry, now you know how to estimate what your newborn is likely to eat.
Best wishes for healthy and happy babies,
Cortney
One of the most common questions my clients ask is "how much should my baby be eating" and the answer might surprise you.
For nursed babies who are healthy and weight-gaining, the answer is exactly what they are already eating. Now, I realize this isn't the answer most new parents are looking for when they worry about their baby's health. As long as your nursling is gaining weight (1/2 - 1 oz per day), has several wet diapers and bowel movements and is content between feedings, he's probably eating precisely what his body needs.
For your bottle fed baby, there are a couple of easy guidelines for knowing how much to offer your baby. The first is the most simple, but not quite as accurate. Take your baby's weight in pounds and multiply by 2.5. For example: an 8 pound baby should eat around 20 ounces in 24 hours. 8 x 2.5 = 20. This is just a guideline! It's okay if your little one takes in 22 oz or only 18. Just be sure your baby has at least 6 wet diapers a day and is steadily gaining weight.
My favorite way to calculate the amount you offer your baby is to convert the baby's weight into ounces and divide by 6. For example: a 7 lb 6 oz baby weighs 118 ounces, divided by 6 equals 19.7 ounces per day (rounded up). 7 x 16 = 112 + 6 = 118/6 = 19.7.
Spread the total equally over the whole day. For some babies, this might be 8 feedings or for others it might be 6 feedings.
As babies get older, they require fewer feedings each day , but are able to eat a larger amount at each feeding. The bottom line is this: don't worry so much! Just in case you do tend to worry, now you know how to estimate what your newborn is likely to eat.
Best wishes for healthy and happy babies,
Cortney
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