Category: Baby Care

While there are a lot of great nights when babies sleep well, there are also a lot of sleepless nights when they don’t sleep so well. One such phase when this happens is with the 8 Month Sleep Regression. This isn’t something that you should panic about though.

Understanding the Phase

This is a phase that typically appears when your baby is between 8 – 10 months of age and is characterized by trouble falling and staying asleep. During this time your baby will wake up more frequently throughout the night so both of you are getting less sleep. Doctors feel that this is caused by your baby’s rapid growth and brain development (e.g. crawling, talking, separation anxiety). However, it may also occur due to separation anxiety.

Fortunately, this is a temporary stage that usually wears off when the newness of your baby’s skills or emotions wears off. Your baby should remember what to do at night and get back to their regular sleep pattern without much fuss. However, you may need to work on sleep training with your baby again.

Signs You’re Facing This Phase

There are some things you can look for to know if this is indeed what’s been happening to your baby.

First, your baby may be crankier than usual because they aren’t getting enough sleep. This is why it’s important to stick to your regular bedtime routine and make sure that your baby gets 12 – 15 hours of sleep within a 24 hour period. To make up for their lack of sleep most babies will take a longer daytime nap.

Secondly, your baby will wake up more frequently throughout the night. When they do sleep they’ll oftentimes be restless and this may even make it harder for them to fall asleep.

Third and finally, most babies are clingier than usual. They’ll act upset whenever you aren’t around and cling to you more when you are around.

Working Through the Phase

There are some things that you can do to help your baby rest better throughout this stage. One of the most important being to take time to practice separation. These brief moments apart while your baby is playing will help them rest assured that you’ll return.

Unfortunately, the 8 Month Sleep Regression can be a challenging time for you as a parent and your baby too. However, now that you hopefully have a better understanding of it you can see that this is something that won’t last forever. Hang in there and know that sleep is coming.

Food can be a sensitive topic for all ages. We often hear all sorts of stories about eating disorders among teenagers and adults. In reality, some may experience issues with food even as a baby for several reasons. Many of these are physical but they can take on mental aspects over time. Instead of feeding through the mouth as most do, young children may be fed through a tube that goes directly to their stomach. Some go through the nose while others are inserted through the abdominal skin. There are also tubes that bypass the stomach and go straight to the small intestines. Do the following before attempting tube weaning programs:

Seek a Doctor’s Guidance

Since this has a lot of medical implications, parents should always seek a doctor’s guidance before initiating a program. You will need to understand what’s going on in your child’s body and mind before you can begin with the tube weaning. This is a complex matter that will require a great deal of support from feeding specialists, dietitians, social workers, and parent coaches. You need to do it right because the consequences of improper handling may be disastrous for your child. Err on the side of cause and get the advice of experts.

Wait Until Safe Swallowing

You should observe your child closely to see if he or she may be able to switch from tube to mouth. Some attempts may be made to check whether swallowing is an issue or not. If a child can swallow food items of various thickness and softness, then the chances of success is more likely. If not, then see what can be done to help resolve this issue first.

Solve Underlying Medical Conditions

There are probably underlying medical conditions that led to this dependence on a feeding tube. Get this treated by a competent specialist first before anything else. Perhaps a child feels like she is suffocating when feeding even if it is just milk. Others may be alright with liquids but not large chunks of solid food. Determine the cause and get a treatment plan.

Determine the Child’s Readiness

Your child must also be mentally ready for the switch. Parents cannot unilaterally decide to wean their children from their feeding tubes because this can be traumatic for the little ones. They should be gently coaxed to warm up to the idea. A tube weaning programs can teach successful techniques. Make them feel calm and in control.

Keeping the delicate skin of your baby clean is imperative for their proper health. Bathing not just helps keep the baby clean but the activity helps strengthen the mother-baby bond. Some babies can take some time to get familiar with the sensation that water creates upon contact with the human body. But that is usually a very short period, and it usually doesn’t take much time for the baby to start enjoying baths. There are multiple baby bath essentials based on the age and needs of your baby.

Top and Tailing

Top and tailing refers to the method of bathing the head, hands, neck, and nappy area of your new baby without giving the baby a complete bath. Health professionals mostly recommend bathing your baby twice or thrice each week when they are newly born and increase frequency with age. On the days you do not bathe them, top and tailing would ensure a clean and contended baby.

You could purchase a unique bowl for top and tailing, which has different compartments that clearly mark top and tail so that the water is hygienically separated and there is a cotton wool area. After that, all that you require is some warm water for washing.

Baby Baths

You could buy a unique baby bath for washing your baby until they grow older and start using the family bath space. There are several design options to select from and the ideal bath tub for your baby would be dependent on the personal preference of your baby and you. Most baby baths for newborns have special rests for the back and head to provide your baby support, while some are shaped like a bucket and help your baby sit erect. Some can be folded flat for storage reasons; other models can monitor water temperature, so that you know the water is not too cold or hot.

Baby baths could be placed on the floor and are portable too. You may take the bath to another room if the temperature inside your bathroom is a bit too cold. A baby bath essentials comes good only for a month or two, which is why some parents go with a bath support for a newborn in the bath for adults.

Bath Supports

Your baby would require a bath support until they are close to six months or are old enough to sit up by themselves. Bath supports let your baby recline without completely submerging in the water. These supports could be made from fabric, plastic, or foam and are designed to impart ergonomic comfort.