Post Partum Depression: The Uninvited Guest

Post partum depression is the uninvited guest that creeps its way into our lives at our most vulnerable moments. Not only are we tired from having a new baby, but we are very emotional and stressed. Understanding what post partum depression is can be an actual life saver for those who are pregnant and expecting. If I would have understood the symptoms of post partum depression before it crept into my life, I wouldn't have almost wasted two years of my life and came close to wanting to just end it.

The reason I described post partum depression as the uninvited guest is because of course it messes with not only our mental health, our physical health, as well as people on the outside, such as our kids and husbands. There are many forms of post partum depression, ranging from mild to severe, from hearing voices to having panic attacks and fearing impending death.

After I had my third son, I started feeling like I was going to die. I literally felt the heart thumping, so I thought I was having a heart attack and then other times I would get weak on one side, so then I thought I was having a stroke. Even after many trips to the ER and my doctor's office, I still didn't believe that all that was happening to me was post partum anxiety/hypochondria. I finally realized after months of fighting this that I could overcome it by just understanding what my symptoms were and why. After I had my fourth child, I knew for a fact that I would have it happen again, and sure enough it has. My daughter is now 14 months old and I still have panic attacks and hypochondria. I suggest to anyone that if you are pregnant and having a baby, then you should read up on post partum depression so that you can prepare yourself in case it may occur. Get to the doctor if symptoms occur and try to fight it! I am a survivor of postpartum depression. I am also the mother of four. I have lots of advice on information pertaining to babies and toddlers. If you would like to see more, feel free to visit my website at http://www.diaperyears.com

Rotavirus: The Smelly Disease

Your child goes into the hospital ill from having very smelly and green diarrhea along with puking. The doctors tell you that your child is very dehydrated and lethargic. Most likely they will have to insert an IV and admit them for a few nights. You are scared and are wondering to yourself, what is going on?

After admitted, the doctor explains to you that your child has rotavirus, which can be very common in children under the age of 5 and younger and when it is a baby it can be very severe. This virus is very contagious and therefore, the nurses make the parents wear robes once they leave the child's hospital room.

The most popular time for rotavirus to occur is between the months of November and May. Rotavirus is very common in the US, sending an estimated 500,000 people to the hospital and doctors offices each year. With that many cases, it really surprises me how many people have never heard of it.

I am a mother of four and I hadn't heard of it until one night my one year old girl was starting to go lethargic and had a fever of 102. I couldn't keep the fluids down for anything and she had become dehydrated. She hadn't even had the rotavirus diarrhea until after she got to the hospital. But once it happened, the doctors knew right away that it was rotavirus. You can't ever forget that smell! I was finally feeling more comfortable and not as upset and went to sleep in that hospital that night knowing that she would be ok. However, the next morning, when I woke up, she was moaning and I told the nurse that she was very hot. She was and her temperature was 107 degrees. I could only see the whites of her eyes and I can tell you that it was the scariest experience of my life. Four doctors came running and trying to get her to cool down and react. Finally, she did and she left the hospital two days later.

If you have never heard of rotavirus, like I hadn't, and you have children, get more information on the internet about the symptoms of it. The more you know about it, the safer and healthier your child will be. There is now a shot that can be given as an immunization to babies. I would definitely advise it.

 

Jedidiah Taylor, author, is a father of four and has been married for 11 years. He has a lot of information on babies and toddlers, which can be viewed at http://www.diaperyears.com

 

Parenting advice for toddlers and those terrible two’s

Oh no! A monster has invaded your sweet little toddler! Where did that loving, little angel go? Why is she constantly throwing fits? And she sure knows how to push your buttons! Welcome to the terrible two's.

Your toddler is learning so many new and exciting things. She is realizing she has new limitations and is struggling to gain as much independence as she possibly can.

Personalities in children vary from child to child.

Every child is born with his or her own personality. Some children are strong willed, while others more easy going. Whatever your child's personality is, it is your job to shape your child's life through consistent, loving, and firm discipline.

Parenting help for toddlers

One of the most important things you can do to reduce temper tantrums and to keep your child safe is to eliminate temptation. If your toddler keeps getting into something, move it to a higher place. Of course, your toddler needs to learn that there are some things he just can't have. He will have plenty of practice at learning this lesson through life. However, until he can learn how to handle the challenges life has to offer, maybe you can help him by creating a safer environment for him.

• Begin each day with a routine. During this time, your child needs consistency. Create your routine starting with when she wakes up in the morning until she goes to bed at night. Remember to include meal times and nap times. Stick to the schedule as much as possible. The fewer changes you make in your toddler's daily schedule, the fewer surprises your child will have to contend with. Fewer surprises will mean fewer tantrums!
  
• Give your toddler as much independence as possible but add limitations. Because your child is learning independence, allowing as much independence as possible will help him learn. Give him limited choices or small responsibilities as to not overwhelm him, such as putting on his own shoes and clothes, or picking out between two pair of pajamas. Allow him to be successful at as much as he can, this will give him confidence and increase his self-esteem.
  
• Be firm with your toddler. Although you want to allow him some freedom, it is your duty as a parent to set limitations. Your toddler looks up to you to make the grown up decisions that will affect his life. Once you have created a routine and you allow limited choices, you must be firm. Do not give into his demands. He will try to test those boundaries. It seems as if it is your child's goal in life! You do not have to be mean to be firm. Just use a calm, serious voice and do not give in. This is a critical time in your relationship with your child. He is learning what he can and can't get away with! And believe me, the older he gets, the smarter he will get at manipulating circumstances into his favor! If he knows he can push certain buttons to get what he wants now, imagine what he will be able to come up with in about ten years! And that time comes real fast!
  
• Never give in to a temper tantrum. It is one of the hardest things you will have to do during this stage of your toddler's life. Your toddler will know exactly how to pull at your heart strings. And if pulling at your heart strings doesn't work, she will go to the embarrassment tactic. You know the one, she asks for that stuffed animal for the hundredth time and for the hundredth time you have said "No!" Then she starts in with her screaming and crying at the top of her lungs. Until….you are so embarrassed or frustrated that you just give in! Don't do it! All parents have been there before. Other parents know exactly what you need to do. Do not worry about what the other people are thinking. Once you give in, your toddler is more likely to throw more temper tantrums. Even if it takes them an hour or two, if they know you will give in, they can be relentless!
  

Parenting advice of discipline for toddlers

Unfortunately, there will come a time that your toddler will have to be disciplined. Verbal communication is enough when your child has simply made a mistake or had an accident. You can use this mistake as a learning experience for your toddler. Show him another way he could have handled a situation.

Punishment should follow correcting a bad behavior or bad attitude. The purpose of punishment is not to crush a child's inner spirit. It is to begin to teach him that his actions have consequences. This is a time for him to learn his own self control. This will give him the knowledge to learn how to control his actions. As a general rule, you would put your toddler in time-out for one minute per year of age. However, for a toddler, you might try 30 second time-outs to see what works for your child. The point of time out is to reflect on what he has done, and to regain self control not to scare your toddler.

 

Change your perspective

To help you get through the trying times, try to put things into perspective. A positive attitude can mean the difference between a happy home and a battle zone. Try to praise your child often. She is more likely to repeat this behavior if she knows it will make you happy. Remember those cute little things your child does that makes smile, like the little dance she does, or the squishy hugs. When you feel frustrated, take a time-out yourself and remind yourself of what makes your child so special to you. After all, your child is a blessing.

For more parenting information, visit www.diaperyears.com

Parenting Help for Toddler Tantrums at Bedtime

You are so excited. Your child is finally ready for a toddler bed! Your child is so happy! Until……Bedtime! Your sweet little angel turns into a monster right before your eyes! Toddler bedtime tantrums can be very frustrating and can last for hours! There are some parenting help tips available for putting your toddler to bed and getting back that sweet little angel at bedtime!

The most important thing you can do for your toddler and your sanity is to establish a bedtime routine. Routines help children to feel safe and to learn their boundaries. A routine can be anything you and your child create. Make it fun and relaxing. The important thing is to be consistent. This is how your child will know what to expect each and every night. Eventually, the tantrums will go away, and bedtime will actually be something he looks forward to.

Parenting tips for Establishing a Bedtime Routine

• Give your child a head's up that bedtime is in 15 minutes. If they have an idea that it is coming up, they will not be as shocked when it is bedtime. Try saying it will be time for a story or bath in 15 minutes instead of saying it is time for bed. Just the word bed can start a tantrum. They will know what follows, if you have established a nightly routine.
  
• Remind him in about 5 minutes before story time or bath time. Have him help you pick up toys during this time each night. This will help him prepare for the bedtime routine.
  
• As soon as it is time, quietly tell him it is time for a story or bath and direct him to the bedroom or bathroom. Your toddler will likely try to come up with a million reasons why he has to do something right now, but remain calm and insist that it is time to go now.
  
• Be firm and consistent when it is time to start the routine. Most children will try to push the boundaries. Just do not give in. Your child is looking up to you to make the decisions that will impact his life.
  
• Don't rush your child. Be sure to allow enough time for your child to be able to go through the entire routine calmly. If you rush him, he will know that you are trying to get him into bed, and the routine will backfire into a tantrum. The routine should be about spending quiet quality time with your child.
  
• Give a warm, soothing bath. This is one of the oldest successful traditions to include in your bedtime routine. A warm bath will help your toddler calm down. Add a little lavender or chamomile oil to help your child relax. Don't add too many toys to keep him calm.
  
• Brush teeth. Establish this healthy habit early on and it will remain with them through school age years.
  
• Go potty and get a drink. This is one of the most common culprits of bedtime issues. They always have to go to the bathroom or get a drink after they get into bed. Include this in their routine, and be firm about not going after getting into bed.
  
• Put on pajamas. Let your child pick between two pair of pajamas. Make it their choice.
  
• Bedtime stories are a child's favorite part of the bedtime routine. Children feel comfort from listening to your voice while trying to fall asleep. Try making up stories and including family members as characters. Reading to your child each night will help her develop a creative mind and spark new interests.
  
• Sing a Lullaby. Do not worry about whether you can sing or not. To your child, you are the best singer in the world. Singing a lullaby will calm him down and will make him feel secure in his home. Consider playing soft music.
  
• Say prayers. If this is a part of your nightly routine, you could say a prayer with your child and for your child. It sometimes helps them feel safe when you pray for them.
  
• Chat with your child. Discuss what you two did today and ask your child the best and worst things that happened today. Even toddlers have worries. If they can discuss this with you, it may help them get to sleep.
  
• Say goodnight in a special way. Create a special goodnight saying. Or give a special hug or butterfly kiss. This can be a special tradition that they can pass on to their children someday. It makes them feel special and loved.
  

Sleep is important for everyone and even more so for children. When your child does not get enough sleep, it can affect every part of his day. It will make him grumpy and he will not be able to control his emotions very well. Be consistent in your bedtime routine. Make it special and unique. Make it something he will look forward to at the end of the day. It takes a lot of patience in the beginning, but your little angel will be back in no time at bedtime!

For more parenting advice for toddlers, visit http://www.diaperyears.com

Crying Baby: Creative tips on calming baby

Hush little baby dry all those tears, because if you don't mommy's going to hear and if mommy hears those tears, mommy will want to scream and you'll be feared! Sound familiar?

I know it sounds way too familiar. We as parents can not stand the shrill of a baby screaming or crying. It makes us nervous and sometimes makes us mad. It acts on our every nerve. But, why can't we handle it? What makes us want to scream or escape the noise of a crying baby? Is it that we don't understand what they want or is it that we just don't like the noise? My answer to both of those questions would be a big YES!

As the mother of four, I have experienced numerous occasions, almost daily, when my baby cries and doesn't stop for anything I do. In this case, I have to be very creative and come up with ideas that will get her to stop. In this article, I will provide tips on how to get your baby not to cry. I can't promise you that it will work, but anything is worth a try when you are in desperate help. However, before we get into ways to get your baby to stop crying, we should try to understand what it is they are crying about. Your baby obviously is in need of something, whether it be your attention, a feeding, a diaper change, a nap, or teething medicine. It is your responsibility to try to understand their needs. Understanding your baby's cries will tremendously help you in fulfilling her needs. Their cries are their only way of communicating what it is they want and need. The next several times your baby cries, take a few moments to evaluate it. Is it a high pitch squeal, or is it a deep low cry? By understanding the differences of your babies crying, you are building up communication with your baby, which may in turn, help you out in caring for your baby. Now, if after you have tried all you can to understand what it is your baby wants and no success, then you could follow these tips:

Tip #1

Take your baby outside, if it isn't too cold and this will be a change of environment that could possible quite baby up. Some fresh air can sometimes be a relief to both mommy and baby.

Tip #2

Go on a drive. Get in the car, buckle baby up safely in car seat, turn the air and the radio on and drive for a while. Your baby will enjoy the scenic route!

Tip #3

Turn the radio on and dance with baby. Babies love to be held and swung around attached to the side of mommy. Just be careful that you don't get to crazy with it.

Tip #4

Give your baby a bath. Some nice, luke warm water and a good scrub may be enough to calm baby down and possibly get them to sleep.

Tip #5

Have your other children play games with baby or play games with baby yourself. A good peek-a-boo could be all it takes to get baby to cheer up.

Tip #6

If your baby is teething, try a teething gel and you could also possibly try gas drops for gas. Neither of these two things would harm your baby. I have used gas drops on many occasions and it has helped.

Just remember, you are not alone. If your baby won't stop crying after everything and you are getting frustrated, put your baby in their crib and take a few breaths or count to ten. We, as moms, know how frustrated we can get and sometimes all we need is a little bit of down time. Get others to help if you really need it! Also, if your baby continues to cry for more then a few hours, you may want to call your pediatrician to get their opinion.

These are only a few tips of how to calm your crying baby. If you would like more free information on babies, visit www.diaperyears.com

Bringing Home Baby: Tips for Prepare the Expecting

The moment finally arrives; you are now officially a mother. All of that morning sickness, pain, and anxiety of giving birth is finally over. Your baby is in your arms and is looking right into your eyes. I bet you never thought you could love someone so much. You are in such awe and amazement of how cute and precious your little bundle of joy is. You don't want to ever let go of your baby, but you know the nurses need to do their job. You get your rest, while your baby is gone and wait for the moment that your baby can be snuggling back in your arms. All has been well in the hospital and you feel confident to take you and your new love one home.

Now, that you are at home with your baby, you will be able to rest more without the nurses being in your room all day long and you get full 100 percent personal time with your baby. Until, what? The baby won't stop crying, you have tried to feed her, give her a pacifier, rock her, sing to her, nothing is working. And on top of it, she won't stop spitting up and pooping. You are now realizing that coming home was probably not the right choice to make and that you are tempted to pack up your stuff and take you and the baby back to the hospital for a few more nights of rest. And we as little girls thought that all of the years as a child playing with baby dolls would pay off. Wrong! That was nothing like what you are now experiencing.

This article is not intended to scare the pregnant moms away. It is about encouraging moms to get the help they need when they most definitely can use it. It is about recommending to pregnant moms that staying in the hospital for two days is worth it. Don't get jumpy and want to jump head first into your new role as a mom. Your hormones are still out of whack, you just gave birth to a baby the size of a boiling ball, and you are literally worn out! By taking on too much in the beginning, you will make yourself sick and then won't have anytime to spend taking care of your precious baby. You may have post-partum depression and not even realize it. By trying to play "super mom" you will stress yourself out and in the long run it will catch up with you. Trust me, I know! I am the mother of four and I have gone through what you are getting ready to experience. These are my tips for once you are released from the hospital:

Tip #1

Sleep, sleep, sleep

Tip #2

Don't have visitors to your house the first week or you will just want to clean

Tip #3

Take the help, actually, recruit the help! For example, have your friend run to the grocery store for you.

Tip #4

Don't try to do to much the first few weeks. Only do what you have to do.

Tip #5

If you have a partner, have the partner help you with as much as possible. For instance, rotate nights on feeding and calming baby.

Tip #6

Long before your due date, prepare your younger children on what to expect with having a new baby sister or brother. One good idea is to allow them to go pick out a gift for the baby to bring up to the hospital or for when you come home with baby.

Please take these tips seriously! You will be glad you did and you will recover a lot quicker and have much more time to enjoy your new baby. If you would like to read more free information on caring for babies, visit www.diaperyears.com