Refusing the Bottle

When does the training end? My son who is now 8 months won't take the bottle. I first introduced the bottle at 3 weeks, but for the last few months I have been exclusively breastfeeding, because my supply was going down and It was just easier to breastfeed then to pump. Now he'll take a sip and then stop, push the bottle away fuss. I'm worried because I'm starting to wean him, he doesn't even take formula. So here's my plan start with feeding bottle once a day, which he used to take with just breastmilk...worked so I moved onto 75% breastmilk and 25% formula. So it's been a few days and usually will only take an ounce or 2 then stop. So do I feed him solids or withold until he drinks more? I've been mixing it into his food.
My mother in law tries, my husband tries and I hide. Its more work then just feeding him, but I have to do it sometime. It's exhausting, but he knows what he likes and won't budge. So I'll just keep doing the same thing everyday until he takes it.

A "Germfree" Outing

Every new mom is a germaphobe, especially once your baby starts to touch everything and then put it into his mouth.  A simple outing can turn into a buffet of germs.   But you can't exactly keep everything away from baby, but can try to keep him somewhat clean without being obsessive.  

At the supermarket I used to carry my son in the baby bjorn, but now that he can sit up it was time to look for a shopping cart cover.   Some are just plain ugly, some too expensive, so after a little research I found one that seems to do the trick and it's also a high chair cover.  I like because it's big, plays music, and easy to use.  


Check it out.    So it will keep your baby's  hands clean.

Learning to Drink From A Cup

I just had to share this photo.   Now that my son is on solids, I give him some water (no more than 4oz a day) after his meals.   Well at first he couldn't figure out how to get the water out, but once he did there was no stopping him.  Good thing it was leak proof cup.  I'd love to see your photos.  Feel free to share and I will post them.

On the Move

It's what moms like to be proud of, yet the day they dread.  The moment your baby is mobile and won't stay where you leave them.   Days of watching them lay or play peacefully by themselves is over once they realize they have the ability to go where they want.

My son went from sudo crawling....doing the inch worm, the battle crawl on his knees and elbows and rolling in every which direction to get around for about a month to full on speed crawling and pulling himself up to standing in a week at 7 1/2 months.  Yikes.  Its so fun to what him develop, but I definitely need to keep my eye on him.  While I babyproofed the house last month  I still had things lying around...remote controls, plastic bags, some loose cords, magazines.  Now it's time to get serious and take a good look at the house.

Here's a link to Home Safety Tips from my babyproofer.

Brush Your Teeth!

Helping your toothless child brush his teeth

Is it too early to start brushing your teeth, if you don't have any?   No.  But moms have enough to do and if wiping your baby's gums after each meal doesn't seem practical?  or if your little one won't stop moving long enough for you to stick a washcloth in his mouth-here's a solution.  

Baby's First Toothbrush

My 6 month old son loves it.  He likes to grab it and put it in his own mouth.  It's good for teething. It soothes his gums.  Its also a great distraction after his evening bath when he has a meltdown on the changing table before bed.  Now it's part of his routine after his meals and before bed. 

Homemade Baby Food

You may be thinking don't I have enough to do as a mom? who has time to make baby food? Well now that I've done it, its actually not that bad.   Plus, what could be better than fresh organic fruits and vegetables.   I'm not knocking food from the jar...that's what I grew up on, but if you have the time and interest you should give homemade a try.   You could buy all the recipe books out there, but I think for first foods there's really not much to it.  As they get older the books will help with variety.

Here's what you need:

-a food processor (I bought a cuisinart mini)  saves space

-a steamer/oven

-ice cube trays  (Kid co. with lids, but I like the plain ones too, but they don't have lids)

-freezer bags

Here's what you need to think about:

-Fruits or veggies first? (apples, pears, squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, peas are good 1st foods)  Some say start veggies  first because they are less sweet. 

-Pick one and stick with it for 4 or more days before introducing another food to test for allergies.

I started with butternut squash and my son loves it.  5 days later I gave him pears.   He made faces like it was tart, but still ate it and it helped with constipation.  It really moved things along which was great. The rice cereal was filling him up and he would only get a bm every 5 days.  Recently I also added oatmeal cereal which has more fiber.

Recipes 

Butternut squash Puree

Wash, cut in half, bake 400 degrees for 40 minutes with water, scoop out, add water from pan or fresh and puree in food processor, cool, save 3 servings in fridge to eat immediately and freeze the rest in ice cube trays, then pop out and store in freezer bags with date and labels, use within a month. (For a $3 squash it made about 25 2oz cubes)

Pear Puree

Wash, cut pears into quarters, de seed, steam for few minutes, cool, puree a few slices to eat immediately and keep in fridge for next 2 days, freeze the rest and defrost, mash or puree when ready to eat.(pears don't freeze as well pureed)

    If you need more recipes, Click here.

Prune Juice Anyone?

So tonight was girls night out!  I was celebrating my birthday-martini, dinner, cheesecake yum.  But I must say the highlight at the end of my evening was going to Ralphs to buy something my baby needed for the morning...PRUNE JUICE.  There I am all dressed up in the 10 items or less lane...with just a bottle of Prune Juice....I wonder what the young man at check out thought oh well.

That's right my baby is constipated or so I think.  He hasn't poo'ed in 7 days yikes.  I called the pediatrician and the nurse told me to give him 1 oz of juice diluted with 1 oz of water.  Also to stick a rectal thermometer or q-tip with petroleum jelly in his bottom to stimulate a bowel movement.  I know graphic, but if your baby has the same problem..you understand.  For more tips. Click here.

He started solids 2 weeks ago- rice cereal and had one bowel movement, so I thought everything was fine, but that was last week.  I also gave him his first bottle of formula to supplement my breastmilk  yesterday which is diminishing.  So for now no more rice or formula till my baby is free!!!

Ahh the joys of motherhood.