Stupid Questions ~ April edition.

[sabrinaml]

New month- new thread.

[sabrinaml]

C has several bug bites on his forehead and hands. What can I put on them? He's been scratching at the ones on his forehead while he sleeps.
(Photo so you can get an idea)
*poof*

[islandgirl14]

sabrinaml aloe, maybe? I have NO idea if that's safe at this age or not, but I can't imagine why it wouldn't be.. But, we put fresh plant aloe on bug bites as children... could be worth looking into?

[islandgirl14]

I have a stupid question... so the last few weeks J has been doing this weird thing where he sort of grunts, then holds his breath for a few seconds. It's making me nervous so I talked to the peds today and they are not concerned, so long as he's not wheezing, acting like he's in respiratory distress, etc. Which he's not. They think he may be testing out his vocal chords with the grunt, and also that some kids just hold their breath just because.

We have a very good ped and I trust them, but I still feel nervous and don't like that he is doing this. Is anybody else's June 15'er doing something like this? Naturally I googled, and found all the worst. I hate Google. It is pure evil.

[Deleted]

Apr 4, 2016 12:34:59 GMT -5 islandgirl14 said:

I have a stupid question... so the last few weeks J has been doing this weird thing where he sort of grunts, then holds his breath for a few seconds. It's making me nervous so I talked to the peds today and they are not concerned, so long as he's not wheezing, acting like he's in respiratory distress, etc. Which he's not. They think he may be testing out his vocal chords with the grunt, and also that some kids just hold their breath just because.

We have a very good ped and I trust them, but I still feel nervous and don't like that he is doing this. Is anybody else's June 15'er doing something like this? Naturally I googled, and found all the worst. I hate Google. It is pure evil.

My friend's son did this for a while and it was determined he was doing it just for fun. He grew out of it.

[Deleted]

Apr 4, 2016 15:53:47 GMT -5 Kristykristyleelee said:

Apr 4, 2016 15:49:19 GMT -5 michyme123 said:

if they were legal here I so would! But they are banned in Canada so I can't buy one. He has to make do with his push toys lol

Why are they banned in Canada?

I think because people weren't watching them during use and they would walk off stairs or porches. If you are watching them and baby proofed I don't see a problem w them. DS had one and loved it.

[jessila]

I went down the stairs in my walker. The basement door hadn't latched, I got my fingers in it, and down I went. I was fine but have a tiny scar on my cheek from it. At least that's what we think it's from?

[clairencub]

Apr 4, 2016 15:44:25 GMT -5 Kristykristyleelee said:

Does anyone else let their baby use a walker? For some reason I have a feeling they are 'taboo' or bad, but Amelia loves it and zooms all around in it.

Kristykristyleelee we actually just asked my pediatrician today because my dad (grandpa) was wanting to buy one for LO but the pediatrician said that they are not recommended just like crib bumpers aren't recommended by the American Association of Pediatrics. She said that they weren't recommended for both development and safety purposes. She advised that studies showed that there is correlation to delayed independent walking or gait development.

[carolyngrace]

Kristykristyleelee, Oscar has one at his grandparents house and he LOVES it! They can go so fast in them! If you're worried about development maybe just don't have her in it for extended periods. Similar to what they recommend for the exersaucer.

[carolyngrace]

islandgirl14, Oscar is doing all kinds of weird things with his breath, sounds, and shaking his head. Sometimes I think he's really losing it lol. But yeah, he does something similar with holding his breath a few seconds. I do think they're just exploring.

[blueskiessmiling]

Kristykristyleelee Walkers (that they actually sit in) generally aren't recommend because they allow baby to rely on a lot of external support while "practicing" walking, and they aren't developing the strength and coordination needed for actual walking as quickly as they would if they were, say, cruising. If I remember correctly, babies who used them typically walked about 2 months later than those who didn't. That being said, so long as she's given the opportunity to "walk" without the walker regularly, there's not much harm in letting her spend a little time in it (from a PT perspective).

[kemdupuis]

Apr 4, 2016 12:25:21 GMT -5 sabrinaml said:

C has several bug bites on his forehead and hands. What can I put on them? He's been scratching at the ones on his forehead while he sleeps.
(Photo so you can get an idea)
]

Hydrocortisone? B is prone to heat rash/skin issues in general. Our ped has recommended 1% hydrocortisone and it usually clears up. I would think that it would take the itch and some of the redness out of a bug bite

[musicfrk2002]

Apr 4, 2016 15:44:25 GMT -5 Kristykristyleelee said:

Does anyone else let their baby use a walker? For some reason I have a feeling they are 'taboo' or bad, but Amelia loves it and zooms all around in it.

We have one, but J just sits in it. I thought they were "unsafe" because kids could move too fast on hard floors, but the one we have has some type of rubber or something to slow them down? We removed ours though since our place is mostly carpet.

[stinybean]

sabrinaml honestly almost anything skin irritation I see on J I've been using coconut oil. It's like magic stuff. I've used it for cradle cap, diaper ointment, and when she's had pimples. I put it on at night & poof she's good in the morning. I never used it before having a kid.

[islandgirl14]

Thank you carolyngrace, @poppyc8! That's really reassuring and I'm glad to hear that he's not the only one! Whew!

[islandgirl14]

Apr 4, 2016 15:44:25 GMT -5 Kristykristyleelee said:

Does anyone else let their baby use a walker? For some reason I have a feeling they are 'taboo' or bad, but Amelia loves it and zooms all around in it.

DS1's PT strongly advised us to "never" use walkers, jumpers, exosaucers, bumbos etc., as it works against their natural development to grow strong enough to do things on their own. While we don't have an actual walker, we do have a jumper that we occasionally put J in because he loves it. I do think she is correct, but I also think that things in moderation are OK.


This is making me wonder if a push walker thing is okay? We have that VTech sit to stand thing which they can push around... hmm... I wonder if that falls into the same category? 

[Deleted]

islandgirl14
I agree moderation. Ali's exersaucer is my saving grace. I wouldn't be able to shower w out it. It keeps her occupied and safe. I can imagine they just don't want babies sitting in them on and off all day

[blueskiessmiling]

islandgirl14 The push-toy walkers are fine. It just gives baby a little balance for walking, just like if you were to hold their hands to walk. It's different from the sit-in walkers because they're still supporting their own trunk and having to use much more coordination. I use them with my kids at work all the time.

[Deleted]

Can you use Avon Skin so Soft on babies? I don't know what to do for bug screen on P when we go to Maine this summer. We rarely deal with biting bugs and mosquitoes here.

[gigi3126]

While I completely understand some of the issues associated with using walkers (and exersaucers and jumperoos), I think it really depends on the kid. Jude used one a bit and it hasn't seemed to affect him at all. Now that he's walking (more or less) I don't think he'll tolerate being put in there, but it was a lifesaver before he was able to move on his own. blueskiessmiling Do you think there are other delays that may present themselves later? Like, should I be on the lookout for something in particular as he becomes more accomplished with walking?
Eta: I'm not being facetious. I'm spiraling on FTM regrets!

[blueskiessmiling]

Apr 5, 2016 20:43:31 GMT -5 gigi3126 said:

While I completely understand some of the issues associated with using walkers (and exersaucers and jumperoos), I think it really depends on the kid. Jude used one a bit and it hasn't seemed to affect him at all. Now that he's walking (more or less) I don't think he'll tolerate being put in there, but it was a lifesaver before he was able to move on his own. blueskiessmiling Do you think there are other delays that may present themselves later? Like, should I be on the lookout for something in particular as he becomes more accomplished with walking?
Eta: I'm not being facetious. I'm spiraling on FTM regrets!

No, if he's pretty much already walking, I wouldn't be concerned. Gross motor skills in kids usually follow a progression (like, kids need to be able to sit independently before crawling), so the fact that he's already mastering walking shows that he's actually a bit ahead. It would be unlikely for something to crop up in the future.

[sabrinaml]

Thanks stinybean, kemdupuis islandgirl14, and michyme123. We're doing a combination of all these. The only ones that still seem to bother him are his hands, I've been using coconut oil on those since he still sucks on them randomly.

[gigi3126]

I have a question for experienced pumpers. I planned on stopping (pumping) after the school year ends, but I keep seeing people posting about dropping a pump. Is that necessary if I nurse on demand at home? Obviously, after school ends in June, I'll be home all the time with Jude, so I hadn't planned on pumping at all. I was just going to work through some of my frozen supply if I needed him to take a bottle during the summer. Bad plan?

[iowamama615]

@jimbobcooter, we use this Bug Soother stuff that they sell everywhere around us (also online at www.simplysoothing.net) It repels mosquitos, gnats, etc and is made from different oils. Smells awesome, doesn't have DEET, and it works really well. Also safe for our puppy!

[billyhorrible]

gigi3126 - not necessary if you're replacing pumps with feedings. The dropping pumping sessions is mostly so that those of us away from babies all day don't get painfully engorged from going all day without nursing/ pumping.

[heartofglass]

I hate to be the one that brings up poop, but....
A's diet hasn't changed at all in the past week or so. Steady regimen of BM, yogurt and puffs. His dirty diapers have been the relatively same loose stools he's had since he was a newborn. Today we got the first 'turd' so I'm assuming he's a little constipated.
My question is about juice. How much to give, what kind and how often for constipation?

[heartofglass]

Apr 6, 2016 8:51:54 GMT -5 michyme123 said:

Apr 6, 2016 8:50:06 GMT -5 heartofglass said:

I hate to be the one that brings up poop, but....
A's diet hasn't changed at all in the past week or so. Steady regimen of BM, yogurt and puffs. His dirty diapers have been the relatively same loose stools he's had since he was a newborn. Today we got the first 'turd' so I'm assuming he's a little constipated.
My question is about juice. How much to give, what kind and how often for constipation?

if we run into this issue we have been doing puréed prunes or pears and they work wonders. Prunes sometimes work a little too well...

Eta: as for juice I have no idea. So I'm no help in that dept

I might pick up some prunes today and see if I can mix them in with his yogurt. Thanks.

[mirage86]

heartofglass, I second using purées to get him to go. E hasn't needed to have any juice since starting solids. I usually give a pear & pea or pear & pineapple purée every couple of days for helping with regularity. Last night I gave him one with prunes since he hasn't had a large diaper lately. This morning's was massive, so it works well!

[erbear]

heartofglass we had to give LO some juice when she first started solids, but she was so backed up we needed to ultimately do a suppository. We gave her an ounce for two days. Now if I notice her stools are getting harder, I do the pear or prune purees.

[billyhorrible]

budders and carrots, with LBB I just dropped a pump a week (starting with the first pump of the day) until they were gone. I didn't mess with the time I actually pumped. Starting with the first meant I could catch any excess engorgement on the next pump, and the week gave my body plenty of time to adjust.