Tandem Breastfeeding

Tandem nursing is breastfeeding two different-aged babies during the same time period. Why in the world might that happen?, you’re thinking. Most of the time it isn’t planned – baby #1 just isn’t ready to wean when baby #2 arrives on the scene. Here’s what you need to know if you find yourself with the possibility of tandem nursing looming.

Can I get pregnant again if I’m breastfeeding?

While breastfeeding is contraceptive, you need to meet certain criteria for it to work – your baby is younger than 6 months, is breastfeeding exclusively, and your periods have not returned. If any of these is untrue, you need to use another form of birth control to keep from becoming pregnant.

For some breastfeeding moms, ovulation doesn’t start until after weaning. But for others ovulation happens before the first period even reappears. The trouble is knowing which category you’ll be in. If you are hoping to get pregnant again, you can begin trying before weaning as the return of fertility is gradual (though when this happens varies from woman to woman).

Can I keep breastfeeding if I find out I’m pregnant?

Breastfeeding will not harm your pregnancy once implantation has occurred. In addition, you might worry whether the oxytocin released during breastfeeding might cause contractions. While the oxytocin may cause (mostly unnoticeable) contractions, these won’t be strong enough to start labor.

What about after the baby’s born? Will I make the right milk for my newborn?

Your milk will change during the months of pregnancy, eventually reverting to colostrum near birth. Your older baby may not mind the change in flavor, consistency or flow, but may decide he no longer wants to breastfeed. Nipple pain during pregnancy is fairly common for tandem nursing moms. Pay close attention to your older nursling’s latch and positioning (which may have changed a great deal since he was a newborn).

Shouldn’t I just wean?

Weaning is a personal choice. If your baby is not yet one, then you will need to replace nursing sessions with bottles (of formula or breastmilk). If your child is older than one year, you can be more proactive about weaning.

Your emotions surrounding tandem nursing matter, too. If you resent your older nursling’s continued feeding, it’s probably better to wean. You can constantly reassess and make adjustments to meet everyone’s needs, including your own.

Why tandem nurse?

Many tandem nursing moms find it rewarding to look down at siblings holding hands or cuddled against each other while nursing. Tandem feeding can also pacify some sibling rivalry, and may help your older nursling adjust to having a new baby in the house.

If you’re breastfeeding two and you need support, consider Hilary Flower’s book Adventures in Tandem Nursing. Flower shares information to support your choice as well as other mother’s stories (which are sometimes more supportive than any other type of information!). Her witty and comprehensive book will help you feel much less alone in your choice.

 

Written by Michelle, childbirth instructor, lactation consultant, and mother to 4 busy kids

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice.  All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

Helping Your Baby Learn How to Use a Spoon

Now that your baby is getting older, he’s probably quite insistent on doing things for himself. He may become frustrated if not given the opportunity to master new skills. This is a taste of things to come, when he’s a toddler, he’ll be fighting for his independence every day. However, your baby may become frustrated when he discovers he can’t do everything all by himself. If you want to help your baby learn how to use a spoon, the following pointers may help:

  1. Practice makes perfect

Incorrect spoon feeding is messy, I know. Your baby is likely to have more soup on his head than in his tummy by the end of the meal. The spoon will catapult yoghurt onto your kitchen walls and your baby will probably accidentally spoon food onto the floor instead of into his mouth. It’s not going to be much fun, but will provide ample photo opportunities. Whilst it would be much easier and quicker to simply spoon feed your baby yourself, it won’t help your child master the spoon. Practice makes perfect with this one. Give your baby plenty of opportunity to practice using a spoon and, in time, he’ll get it.

  1. Teach by example

Whilst your baby is busy flinging blueberry yoghurt at the wall, why not sit next to him (not too close, mind) and enjoy a yoghurt yourself. Your baby will be able to see how you use the spoon and, hopefully, be able to try and mimic what you’re doing. Don’t expect him to get it right first time, though, remember he’s still working on his dexterity so might find maneuvering the spoon tricky for a little while longer.

  1. Use sticky foods

Soup will simply slide off the spoon each time your baby tips it (a lot), so your baby may end up feeling quite frustrated. If you use sticky foods, these will cling to the spoon even when your baby holds it the wrong way up. Oatmeal, mashed vegetables and mac and cheese are good examples of foods that possess a little more staying power.

  1. Make it fun

These early mealtimes could affect your child’s future relationship with food. For this reason, it’s important to keep mealtimes as fun as possible. Don’t get stressed or upset if (read: when) your baby is making a mess or hasn’t eaten as much as you’d hoped. Remember, mealtimes are about so much more than eating at this age. Your baby is learning and exploring too.

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

Biking With Baby

Bicycling is a gentle way to ease yourself back into an exercise routine after the birth of your baby. But, can you bring baby along for the ride? The answer may depend on where you live. Check local laws (which typically have minimum ages) before riding with baby.

There’s not much research out there to support when it’s safe to bike with your baby. Health authorities in the UK and US recommend not biking with your baby until after your baby can sit well on his own (around age 9 months) when your baby has more stable head and neck control. Some suggest maybe not even until after your baby is one year old. In other countries, such as Denmark and the Netherlands where cycling is one of the preferred ways of getting around, riding with baby is much more common, even at younger ages. If in doubt, speak to your healthcare provider.

While accidents (falling or colliding with another vehicle) are a concern, the main worry with biking are the small bumps and jolts a baby without good head control will experience when riding even on everyday road, sidewalk or path conditions. Each of the bumps in the road can cause your baby’s tiny still-forming brain to move around inside the skull, with the potential for harm.

Safety precautions when riding with a baby include:

  • Be sure the bike seat is correctly installed
  • Babies should ride with an adult driving the bicycle, not with a sibling
  • Do not carry your baby in a backpack or frontpack when cycling
  • Your baby should always wear a lightweight, infant-sized bike helmet (though these may be difficult to find)
  • You baby should be firmly strapped into an approved carrier or seat – whether on the back of your bike, or in a trailer towed behind the bike
  • Bike in low-traffic areas, if possible

Keep in mind that carrying a baby on your bike will make you a little off balance, and will make stopping harder. You may want to consider the weight of the seat when deciding which to buy – heavier may mean a more difficult ride for you, while lighter may mean not quite as safe.

Types of seats for babies include:

  • Rear Bike Seat: These seats are typically mounted to a rack on the back of the bike in order to support the weight of seat and passenger. Frame mount options are also available.
  • Front Bike Seat: Mounted on the handlebars, these seats are best for children younger than age 3. While you might feel safer being able to see your baby as you ride, the seat itself may cause you to bump your knees as you pedal or to pedal bow legged (both of which may be less than comfortable).
  • Bike Trailer: These carts attach to the rear axle or frame of the bike, and allow one or two children to sit or recline. They are typically covered and come with a windshield. Trailers are lower to the ground (so less chance of injury if the bike should tip), but they are often difficult for drivers to spot. Trailers can also make maneuvering more cumbersome, and may add quite a bit of weight to the biking experience.
  • Box Bike or Cargo Bike (Bakfiets): These look like a cross between a wheelbarrow and a bicycle – the large open box in the front can carry your goods, including your child. Some cargo bikes have adapters that allow you to mount an infant seat in the cargo basket.

Before buying any seat, make sure it’s appropriate for your bike. Check to see that your bicycle has the correct type of handlebar connections with enough space for mounting a seat (for front mounted seats), enough frame space for the seat as well as your own body, and the correct mounting areas for trailers or rear mount seats. You’ll want to be sure mounting the seat doesn’t interfere with braking or with your ability to steer.

In addition, features such as kid handlebars, headrests, weather covers and windscreens may be important features for you. Adjustable straps that grow with your child (including foot straps) and always hold secure are the top safety feature to consider.

Do you enjoy biking with baby? How did you decide when and how?

Written by Michelle, childbirth instructor, lactation consultant, and mother to 4 busy kids

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice.  All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

Five Tips to Raise a Selfless Child

Of course, you want your baby to be happy. But you also want him to be kind and loving. You want your baby to grow up to be generous and appreciate what they have. You might be surprised to find out that teaching your child to care about others and be selfless starts young.

Right now, your little one only knows what she wants, and she might not be shy about demanding it. Although your baby is not quite old enough to understand how to be selfless, it’s not too early to start thinking about how you can instill certain values. Consider some of the following suggestions:

  1. Lead by Example: We all have moments when we are a little selfish. But do your best to set a good example for your child. Model kindness and generosity. There are simple things you can do to show kindness, such as holding the door for someone, giving your seat up to an older adult and donating money to a good cause. Your little one will pick up on your behavior sooner than your realize.
  2. Understand it’s OK to Say No: Kids sometimes become selfish if they get used to always having their own way. Whether your child wants the latest toy or is having a tantrum to get their own way, there are times that you have to say no. It’s not always easy to say no when your child wants something. After all, you want him to be happy. But try to remember that giving him everything he wants when he wants it, may not always be in his best interest.
  3. Provide Sharing Opportunities: Of course no one wants to raise a child who is spoiled or selfish. One way to curb selfishness is to encourage your child to share. Whether it involves food, a toy or taking turns playing a game, provide opportunities for your child to share.
  4. Encourage Empathy: As your child gets older, talk to her about understanding other people’s feelings. Model empathic behavior and teach rules of politeness. Be patient. Young children don’t have the cognitive skills to completely understand the concept of empathy. But stick with it because eventually they will.  
  5. Praise Selfless Behavior: When you “catch” your child doing something kind or selfless, be sure to praise her. Make sure she understands why what she did was kind and how it mattered. But be sure you have realistic expectations. Children are not always mature enough to put others before themselves. The process of becoming selfless is gradual and requires a certain level of maturity. Still, there are small acts of selflessness that your child may show and should be praised for.

Written by MaryAnn DePietro @writerlady34

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

Little Daredevil: How to Handle Stairs and Your Baby

Your baby is on the move, wanting to explore every inch of your house. Which is great, except… it turns out your house is full of dangers!

Okay, so maybe it’s not so dramatic, but there is definitely plenty your little one could get into that you should be monitoring—starting with the stairs.

Hopefully you baby-proofed a while back, before full mobility began, and you’ve got gates on both the top and bottom of your stairs—because you don’t want your baby climbing stairs solo just yet. But that doesn’t mean your little one can’t begin to explore his or her stair climbing abilities! They actually have a lot to gain from this activity—their gross motor skills can only be improved by practice.

So when you are willing to monitor your baby’s daredevil activities, go ahead and open those gates. Be sure you stay close behind your baby as he or she explores those stairs, though.

At first, they will try to climb by crawling up, step by step. You can encourage this activity by offering a helping hand to start out with. And obviously, stand where you could quickly catch your little one if he or she fell.

Once they get up a few steps, though, your baby will be a little nervous at first, trying to figure out how to get down. Help him or her by showing them how to slide down, feet first on their belly — the safest method for new climbers.

You should only have to assist a few times before they pick up on the moves necessary for successfully climbing stairs, but of course, that doesn’t mean they are experts just yet. They’ll still need plenty of practice to get there. And now that they’ve figured out they have this new skill to hone, they’ll be desperate to practice as much as possible.

Which means closing those gates as soon as climbing practice is over—if you leave them open, your little one is bound to start practicing without you. And solo practice could result in a fall or injury; as big a pain as those gates can be, they are totally worth it for preventing the tears of baby injuries.

All babies develop a little differently in this arena, so you’ll have to monitor your baby on the stairs until you feel confident that he or she has mastered the skill. Of course, once they start walking—they’ll have a whole new way to learn how to climb!

Welcome to motherhood—where your baby will give you new heart attack with their daredevil antics at least every few months or so!

Written by Leah Campbell, infertility advocate, adoptive mama, writer and editor. Find me @sifinalaska on Twitter.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general informational basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

5 Things Not to Say to a Toddler (& What to Say Instead)

As your baby grows older, parenting gets trickier. These days, you’re not worried about the logistics of diaper changes or which diaper cream to use, the problems you encounter are growing more complex. You may be starting to think carefully about how you talk to your child. As your baby becomes a toddler, the words you say could have a big impact on his perception of the world. Choosing your words carefully could also save you a lot of hassle, so it’s worth taking a moment to think before you open your mouth. Here are five things you shouldn’t say to a toddler (and what to say instead):

  1. Be careful!

Toddlers are a little unsteady on their feet and sometimes they stumble. For a parent, this can be nerve wracking, and you may find yourself shouting “Be careful,” a lot. While this may seem like a good way of keeping your toddler accident-free, your words could actually distract him from the task in hand, leaving him more likely to tumble. Toddlers and babies are good at picking up on your emotions. Even from across the playground, your toddler can sense that you’re scared by the sound of your voice. This, in turn, could then leave your toddler feeling scared as well. If you can’t keep quiet, try saying “hold on tight,” or “one step at a time”.

  1. Don’t

Toddlers (and, in fact, adults) respond better to dos than don’ts. It’s just easier for our brains to understand a simple instruction than try to work backwards from a don’t. Instead of saying “don’t run” you could say “walk please”. Instead of saying “don’t draw on the table,”, you could say “paper is for drawing on.”  It may not come naturally at first, but after a bit a bit of practice you should find that it gets easier. You’ll also be able to see the benefits of this one straight away. Why not challenge yourself to a week without don’ts and see how you get on?

  1. I’m busy

Being interrupted every five minutes can be frustrating, especially when you’re in the middle of something important. Try to remember, however, that children are only little once. Before you know it, that little boy will have grown into a teenager and you’ll be left wondering what’s going on inside his head. Telling him you’re too busy to talk now could instill the belief in him that you don’t want to hear what he has to say. It’s ok to be busy, but try to explain nicely, “I need to finish this job, it will take five minutes, then we can play together.”

  1. Hurry up!

Children have no real sense of urgency, and that is particularly annoying when you’re running late for work or are about to miss your train. If you often find yourself pleading with your kids to ‘hurry up’, then you’ve probably already noticed how ineffective this tactic is. Instead of demanding that they hurry up, incentivize them to be faster. That doesn’t mean offering bribes, instead it means turning it into a game. This theory can be applied to pretty much all toddler dilemmas. Toddlers love to play and utilizing this will make your life easier. See who can get their shoes on the fastest, or do the funniest walk on the way to the train station.

  1. No

The thought of parenting a toddler without using the word ‘no’ probably sends shivers down your spine. Perhaps you’re not even aware of how often you use it, but that word is likely to be a regular feature in your day to day life. Does that matter? Yes, the more toddlers are told no, the less attention they pay to the word. If you use it only in times of danger, your toddler is likely to take it seriously. If, however, ‘no’ is the most commonly used word in your vocabulary, your toddler will, in time, simply ignore it. Instead of just saying ‘no’, try calmly explaining why you don’t want your toddler to do something. You may be surprised to discover how many times you automatically try to stop your child doing something for no real reason.

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

Baby Sign Language

After nearly a year in the baby stages, you’re probably more than ready for a better way to communicate with your little one. After all, how many times has your baby been crying and you’ve been desperate to know what he or she needs, feeling helpless for lack of an answer?

What if they could tell you? What if they could say, “Milk,” or “Hungry,” or “Cold?”

Some babies may start to develop that language very soon, while others could still be a year or more out. But with sign language, you can provide your baby with the tools to communicate their basic needs (and more) as you wait for their words to come.

More and more families are utilizing baby sign language these days, and with great results! Some stick strictly to American Sign Language (ASL) signs, while others branch out and make their own signs—the beauty is, it doesn’t matter. Just so long as you have gestures that everyone in your family (and your child’s caretakers) understand, sign language can open a door for communication that simply may not have existed at this stage otherwise.

But can baby sign language delay actual speech development? That’s one of the fears a lot of parents seem to have—that if a baby learns signs, he or she may not be as motivated to learn their words.

Fear not! Most of the research has discredited this concern, and in fact, has shown that teaching sign language in early babyhood can actually improve language comprehension later on down the line.

So how do you start? First, you should pick a few signs for words you think your child is most likely to use. “Milk” is a good one, and “food,” “more,” and “all done” are all popular as well. Kids with family dogs might also like learning to sign, “dog.”

Start with one sign to begin with, so as not to confuse your little one. “Milk,” again, is probably the simplest, because you can easily sign it before feedings. Do so with each feeding until your baby begins to make the connection. Once he or she starts signing for “milk,” you can move on to another sign. But continue to use the “milk” sign yourself as well—sign language often sticks better when it is a form of reciprocal communication.

By signing with your baby, you will be giving them an opportunity to communicate with you more effectively, eliminating frustration on both parts. And right now is the perfect time to start! Just be patient, and keep a smile on your face as you sign—your baby will be joining you in no time!

Written by Leah Campbell, infertility advocate, adoptive mama, writer and editor. Find me @sifinalaska on Twitter.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general informational basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.