What Am I Thinking?
Do any of you ever have crazy thoughts that go through your head? I do, quite frequently. These irrational fears started when I was pregnant and just seem to get worse as Braylin gets older and can do more things. One time, Ryan asked me if I was afraid of dropping Braylin. I unloaded on him about all the things I am afraid of (half of which make zero sense). I will give you a few examples… try not to make fun of me. I am afraid that a spider is going to bite her while she is asleep in her crib. I HATE spiders, just the thought of them makes my skin crawl and I fear that one is going to bite her and I will not notice the bite. Yep. I am just that weird. It gets better. I picture myself stumbling over my own feet and falling
Pacifier vs. Thumb
After four months of searching, Braylin recently found her thumb. She seems to be a pretty big fan of that tiny finger, so I am trying to decide what to do about it. We started giving her a pacifier when she was about two months old and the only time she really takes it is before she goes to sleep. In contrast, now that she has found her thumbs she is constantly sucking on them. She keeps them in her mouth so much that her little hands are chapped. I have overheard other parents saying that they prefer for their children to have a pacifier because it is an easier habit to break. I completely agree with that, but I want to know if there are any other reasons to try and break Braylin’s thumb sucking habit now. I did some research on the subject and found the following information…
Overheating in Infants Can Lead to SIDS
During cold weather, the use of extra blankets and heavy clothes to keep infants warm can lead to dangerous overheating and increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), U.S. experts warn. Infants are sensitive to extremes in temperatures and have poor regulation of their body temperature. Research has shown that multiple layers of clothing, heavy clothing, heavy blankets and warm room temperatures increase risk of SIDS. Babies who are in danger of overheating feel hot to the touch, the experts at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) explained in a U.S. National Institutes of Health news release. “Parents and caregivers should dress infants in light clothing for sleep and keep rooms at a temperature comfortable for adults,” Dr. Alan Guttmacher, NICHD director, said in the news release. He also said parents should know that “the single most effective way to reduce the risk of
Infant Sleep Positioners Dangerous, Health Officials Warn
Driven by reports of infant deaths, U.S. health officials warned Wednesday that infant sleep positioners are dangerous and should not be used. The public health advisory, issued jointly by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), follows government reports that at least 12 babies under 4 months old suffocated in the last 13 years after being placed in a crib outfitted with a sleep positioner. All 12 died after rolling from a side to a stomach position or becoming trapped between a sleep positioner and the frame of a crib or bassinet. The government also has many more reports of babies found in potentially dangerous positions after being placed in one of these products. “Based on the information that CPSC shared with FDA, both agencies agree and are working together to stop the use of these products and get them off the
Is he breathing?
Most of my past blogs have been about the lighter side of being a dad. Diaper changes, smiling, bath time…they have all been fairly positive and upbeat. For this blog, however, I decided to be a little more serious and talk about one of my fears as a dad. I am sure my wife shares my fears about SIDS, but it has been on my mind recently. I find myself constantly worrying about whether little Owen is breathing in the middle of the night. I am not sure why I am all worked up about this lately, but it has been on the forefront of my mind. I can count twice during this past week that I have gone to the bathroom, walked by his crib, and camped out there just trying to hear him breathe. On occasion, I have caught myself putting my finger under his nose to feel
The Magic Sleep Sack
I’ve written quite a few blogs about my baby’s ever changing sleep habits. And it really does change from month to month. I feel like as soon as we start to get comfortable with some kind of routine, it’ll change on me without rhyme or reason. Thankfully, there is one thing that has stayed constant through all of the ups and downs of sleeping. I like to call that thing the Magic Sleep Sack. A sleep sack is basically a wearable blanket that zips up and is recommended for babies to help reduce the risk of SIDS. I like it because Saioa can’t kick off her blanket in the middle of the night. Every night when we put her down we put her in her sleep sack and lay her down in the bassinet while she’s still awake and she goes to sleep on her own without any problem. During
