Teething can be a horrible time for babies.  Not only does a new tooth cause pain and discomfort for your little one, it also can be scary to have something new growing inside their mouth.  While there are lots of products on the market, such as baby Tylenol and teething gels, these products can be dangerous for your child.  Before you go shopping at the pharmacy aisle, try some of these natural remedies to stop teething pain.

What most people don’t realize is that not all babies are in horrible pain while teething; they’re simply uncomfortable and scared.  The option many people skip to cure teething pain is to distract the baby with a toy.  Focusing on the pain can make it worse, so try to give them something else to think about.

Another natural cure for teething pain is giving the baby something to chew on.  Pressure on their gums will not only feel good, it will distract them from the pain and discomfort by giving them something to do.  There are many different items that baby can chew on.

* Frozen teething ring-  While the cold helps numb baby’s sore gums, freezing normal rings can make them hard and uncomfortable-  They now make soft teething rings that stay soft when you freeze them.  Just be careful; soft rings can break open if chewed too hard.  Make sure the ingredients inside won’t harm your baby.
* Frozen washcloth-  Just wet it down and pop it in the freezer.  It has all the benefits of the teething ring, but it’s softer for more sensitive babies.
* Food-  Frozen bananas can be something new and different for a baby that doesn’t want their teething ring.  Plus they taste good too.  Just don’t give these to a baby with teeth since they can break off be a choking hazard.
* Teething Biscuits-  While the teething biscuits that your mother gave you contain chemical you probably don’t want baby to have, they do make new organic biscuits you can give.  Just be sure to check that they’ll dissolve in your mouth before giving them to your child so there’s no risk of choking.

If you’ve tried all these options and nothing is working, don’t worry just yet.  There are natural products and herbs you can give your baby before turning to medicines.  Here are just a few that others have found helpful.  Check with a doctor before giving anything to your child.

* Natural teething tablets-  The best one’s to use contain Chamomilla for irritability and Belladonna for inflammation.  They come in a form that dissolves in your child’s mouth so there’s no risk of choking.
* Clove oil-  This is pretty potent stuff, so you want to dilute it.  Just mix a few drops with 2 tablespoons of safe, edible oil and rub into baby’s gums.  The rubbing action will also soothe them as well.
* Vanilla extract-  Rubbing a little bit on baby’s gums not only feels warm and soothing; the vanilla also has a calming effect.

If you’ve tried all these remedies and nothing has worked, take your child to their pediatrician.  A common problem is that parents may miss signs of an illness because they think the crying and fussiness is caused by teething.  The most important thing to remember with a teething baby is patience.  When you get upset and frustrated, your child gets upset and frustrated too.

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When we were kids, our moms had one choice for diapers that involved folding cloth, using diaper pins, and plastic pants!  Many of us, now parents ourselves, use disposable diapers because they’re more convenient.  However, most cloth diapers available today are not only convenient, they’re also more attractive and sometimes work better at keeping baby dry than disposable.  The key to using and sticking with cloth diapers is choosing the one that works best for you. 

There are several cloth diaper options on the market.

* All-in-Ones:  These are basically cloth versions of disposable diapers.  They come in once piece and require no inserts or outer coverings; they’re already built in.  You can also get wool versions of these that have a softer cover layer.  These diapers are great for busy parents, but you may have cleaning problems because you have to wash them as one piece.
* All-in-Twos:  These are just like all-in-ones except the absorbent layer is an extra piece that fits in the diaper.  They are almost as convenient, but they’re more hygienic because it’s easier to clean the inserts.
* Fitted Diapers:  These look a lot like plastic diapers because they are fitted at the edges to prevent leaks.  Unlike all in ones, they do require a diaper cover.  You can also get contour diapers that are shaped to fit the baby, but not elasticized to fit tight .
*Flat and Pre-fold Diapers.:These are basically old fashioned diapers.  Many have been made more convenient using snaps instead of pins, but they still require folding and aren’t fitted.  Pre-fold diapers provide extra layers of fabric for better absorption.  While these may seem archaic, they’re the cheapest option for cloth diapering.
* Pocket Diapers.: These diapers are similar to two-in-ones because you can add your own inserts, but instead of sitting in the diaper, the inserts are put into a special pocket.  This is great if you need varying levels of protections and absorbency.  Another great feature is that you can use almost any naturally absorbent material to put in the pocket, including old flat and pre-fold diapers.
* One-size Diapers:  While most diapers need to be replaced as your child grows, one-size are exactly as they sound: one size fits all.  This means you can not only use the same diapers from infancy up, but you can also use the same diapers for your older and younger kids and avoid tedious diaper sorting.

You may think that choosing a diaper type is a big enough decision for you to make, but there are other variables you must consider.

* Diaper Liners:  This is what keeps excrement from getting into the main fabric of the diaper.  These can be fabric, which you wash, or paper, which you can throw away or flush down the toilet.
* Diaper Covers:  It used to be you have to cover cloth diapers in annoying plastic.  Now there are new materials being used including wool.  Wool offers the added benefit of being warm. You can also get wool covers in pant form for a great looking, easy outfit.
* Organics.  You now have the option of getting your diaper, liners, soakers, and everything else, made from organic materials.  They’re better for the environment and for your baby.

While sifting through the many diapering options can be overwhelming, it’s better to take the time.  This way you can find inexpensive, environmentally friendly diapers that fit into your life and suit your baby.

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If you’ve looked at the price of baby food lately, you might be surprised at how high the cost is. Plus, if you want your food to be organic and not full of preservatives, you have to pay even more. With a little time and work, you can save money by making your own baby foods. It’s easy and simple to make delicious, nutritious meals for your baby.

Supplies You Will Need:

* A steamer. Don’t boil baby food; it takes away nutrients from your baby’s food. You can get an inexpensive steamer that cooks quickly and leaves all the vitamins and minerals your baby needs.
* A food processor. While most people would think to use a blender to puree food for your baby, you’ll probably be sadly disappointed with the results. Blenders not only make a mess, they also make lumpy food your child may not be fond of.
* Ice cube trays, freezer bags, and lots of space. Unless you want to cook up food for your child everyday, freezing is the way to go. Instead of having to make new, you can just pop it in the microwave and be ready to go in no time. Ice cube trays are a great way to store food and make convenient portion sizes.

Process

The first step is to wash and skin fruits and vegetables then cut them up into small pieces. This will make them easier to use later. If skinning and peeling gets tedious, you can always use some prepared food from the grocery store, like baby carrots. This way you just have to wash them and skip to the next step.

The next step is to cook your food. For vegetables, use the steamer. Once you’re done steaming, keep the water. You can add it later to thin out your food to the right consistency. If you’re preparing meat or pasta, just cook it on the stove as normal, but don’t add any oil or spices.

After your food is done cooking, you’re ready to start processing. Put the foods separately into the food processor. For pureed foods, you can leave the processor alone because it may take a while. Later on when the food needs less processing, you may need to monitor it. This is also the point where you would start fruits like bananas that don’t require cooking. You could also try throwing in some of last night’s leftovers.

After your food is prepared, pour it into the ice cube trays. If you don’t have enough room in your freezer, simply put sealed food into the refrigerator until you do have room. Once the cubes are frozen, put 4 of them into a Ziploc back and put them back into the freezer. At first, you should keep the same kinds of foods in the same bag, but eventually you can start mixing and matching. For example, put in two meat cubes and two pasta cubes for a mixed meal.

When you’re ready to go, just take a baggie out of the freezer and pop it into the microwave.  If you don’t use microwaves, you can heat in hot water on the stove; just be sure not to melt the bag or cook the food more.

With just a little work, you can make great tasting, inexpensive meals for your baby.

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Nothing can be more nerve racking for a parent than the wail of a baby who can’t be comforted. You can lose a lot of sleep ,and at some point come close to losing your sanity. While everyone has their own ideas for raising children ,one of the best things you can do for your baby is to calm them naturally.  How does a a parent calm a baby naturally?

Many parents and doctors will tell you to just leave your baby alone when they are crying. The philosophy is that if no one comes to help the baby, they will learn to “self- soothe”. The truth is, small babies don’t have the emotional capabilities to self -soothe. Yes, the baby will stop crying eventually, but only because it feels it has been abandoned and has given up on seeking help. A baby who isn’t comforted when they cry believes their parents no longer care. This can destroy the parental bond and the child’s self esteem. Letting a baby “cry it out” may not always be the best option.

On the other hand, your psychological health matters too. There’s bound to be the occasional time that you can’t take it anymore and no one is around to help you. If you feel you’ve reached your breaking point, it’s all right to take a break from your child for a few minutes while you regroup. If your child knows you’re coming back eventually, they will be less likely to feel abandoned.

The best way to learn to soothe your crying baby is to get to know them. Most of the time, the child is crying because something is wrong: they’re hungry, tired, grumpy, sick, bored, or have one of a multitude of other needs, and every one of these problems has a different cry. If you spend time with your baby and listen carefully, you should be able to distinguish one cry from another. You should look for other cues such as facial expressions and body language. The sooner you learn to interpret your child’s crying, the sooner you’ll be able to satisfy their needs.

Sometimes, babies don’t really have anything wrong with them and are just plain upset. Here are a few suggestions for calming a fussy baby:

* Play music:Many babies may also be soothed by you singing to them or to create simple white noise ( run a fan, turn the tv down low).
* Use Lavender:  It is known to have natural calming properties; you can put it in baby’s bath, bedroom, laundry, or almost anywhere that the soothing vapors will be able to comfort them.
* Use the 5 S’s:Swaddling, laying the baby on its Side or Stomach, Shhing, Swinging them in a mechanical swing or your arms, and offering a breast or pacifier to Suck on will trigger the baby’s natural calming reflex and help them relax.
* Distract them:  Try to offer him his favorite toy or make quiet baby talk. You may be able to get him to forget he was upset in the first place.
* Give your baby a massage:  A massage can be just as relaxing for your baby as it is for you. Be very gentle with your touch.  There are very specific techniques for massages that your baby’s doctor can explain.  Using a natural lotion, like the lavendar cream that was mentioned, adds to the calming effect.

If you’ve tried these and other remedies, but your baby still won’t stop crying, you should take them to the pediatrician just in case. They may have something simple (but annoying), like colic, but it’s best to be sure that it’s not something more serious.

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