Choking Hazards

As a new mom, one of my early fears was dealing with a choking baby. We often see toys labeled "not for children under 3 years" or "choking hazard" so we know from the get-go that it does happen and it's no laughing matter. So what are the things babies can accidentally swallow and what do you do when faced with this kind of emergency? Below are a couple of links to articles that are very helpful in this regard (courtesy of BabyZone):

Top 10 Things Kids Accidentally Swallow

What To Do If Baby Is Choking

Tot's Doctor Blues

How do you convince your baby that a trip to the doctor's clinic, which usually starts as a routine check and ends with a painful injection, is not as torturous as it appears to be? While some infants take it all in a stride, there are those who wail, scream, and kick through the entire process from the moment they see the person in the white coat until you settle the bill at the receptionist's desk and head for the exit. My baby falls in the latter category. Unfortunately, convincing someone who can only stare up at you with those big, innocent, "why me?" eyes that vac-ci-na-tion is for their own good is a pretty hard sell. Not to worry though - they eventually grow out of it, and here are some steps to help them along:

Once your tot hits the toddler years, you can start using books and toys to help him/her understand what a doctor does and why. Fans of Dora The Explorer can turn to the "Dora Goes to the Doctor" book, while those who prefer Mickey Mouse can try "Dr. Daisy". Some FisherPrice books also feature doctor characters. You can help your toddler relate to the books by letting them play doctor with a toy doctor's kit (available is most toy stores). Once they get the basic concept down pat, you can engage in pretend play with your tot as the doctor and his/her stuffed toys (or mommy and daddy) as the patients.

On our last trip to the doctor's office, my daughter was already familiar with the stethoscope, thermometer, and other tools; and actually seemed eager to see the real things in action. Finally, an entire session without the tears and screams. We bought her a small toy at the hospital gift shop to celebrate the milestone.

Taste Makes All The Difference...

The sales representative at Mercury Drugstore suggested Natravox as a better tasting alternative to Augmentin. I checked my pedia's prescription and it was on the list of options for my tot's antibiotics, so we got a bottle and tried it out. Finally - a full dose of medicine without the kicking, screaming, spitting up, and vomitting! My daughter claims that it tastes just like chocolate. *Whew.

* Both Natravox and Augmentin are still in powder form when you purchase them, but you can ask the staff at the drugstore to prepare (i.e., mix in the water) it for you.

Useful Articles on Toddlers and Babies

I signed up for Babyzone Newsletter shortly after giving birth and have become so accustomed to receiving updates and newsletters that it never occurred to me to blog about it until now. To be honest, I feel like it's part of my regular routine to see the telltale email in my inbox. The site provides news, information, and updates that are extremely helpful to a new mother. The best part is that it follows your baby's age. During my tot's first year, I would receive  newsletters highlighting the milestone for the week, things to expect, and how to deal with changes in my baby. After the first year, I thought it would stop (and was quite disappointed at the thought). To my surprise, I still get emails from Babyzone and this time with articles fit for my toddler! The most memorable and useful articles would be on first aid (particularly what to do when baby starts choking), toys that have been recalled, teaching a toddler manners, and how to keep a toddler occupied. My husband was particularly grateful for the article on how to keep a toddler entertained. He was having problems dealing with our baby and the article taught him several ways to play with our tot to keep her entertained while mommy is busy.

The newsletter is free so you have nothing to lose and so much information to gain by registering :)