Little travelers need a surprising amount of stuff!
Here is a checklist of items that make traveling much easier.
Packing Checklist:
Diapers (carry extras incase of delay)
Pad/rubber sheet (to put under your baby during diaper changes)
Blankets 1 or 2 (cover your baby and cover yourself)
Plastic bags (Carry a variety of sizes for storing soiled diapers, clothes, and blankets.)
Diaper rash cream.
Wipes.
Sanitizer, baby wash, and baby lotion.
Tissues.
A few of your baby’s favorite toys.
Clothes, socks, and booties or shoes (One to two outfits per day is a good guideline.)
Washable bibs
Sun hat
Lightweight plastic feeding set with utensils, and baby food If your baby’s eating solid foods.
Sterilizer (if staying outside more than 1 day)
Formula, water, and juice if appropriate
Extra bottles, nipples, and sippy cups if appropriate
Energy-boosting snacks for you to munch on
Breast pump (if you use one)
Nightlight (So you can keep the room lighting soothingly low during middle-of-the-night diaper changes)
First-aid kit (Baby pain reliever and supplies for treating minor injuries, fever etc.)
Sling or front carrier
Portable crib or play yard – A safe place for your baby to sleep or play.
Inflatable baby bathtub (Can make bath time easier at your destination).
Car seat for safer travel by car or plane
Collapsible stroller (If you are using it).
Preparation techniques:
Start preparing to pack a few days before you travel. Keep a running list of things to take, or put items out on a table or dresser as you think of them.
Pack each of your baby’s outfits in its own zipped plastic bag so you don’t have to hunt around for tiny socks, shirts, and so on.
Take the phone number for your baby’s healthcare provider in case you have questions while you’re on the road.
To read more on Baby care, click on the link below,
Mother’s milk is perfect and uniquely made for the growing baby’s needs. Giving Mothers milk makes a big difference to both baby and mothers health.
Good for the mother:
Helps womb (uterus) come back normal size and reduces bleeding.
It naturally uses up about 500 extra calories a day so mums who breast-feed often find it easier to lose their pregnancy weight.
It reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
Breast-feeding acts as a natural family planning method.
It saves money – formula feeding can cost.
Good for the baby:
All Nutrients required for the first six months, Easy digestion.
Helps baby pass motion easily.
Provides immunity.
Readily available, usually sterile. No danger of allergy
More convenient, requiring no preparation and costs nothing.
Reduces chances of getting some illnesses later in life .
Make you closer with your baby.
Formula milk is made from cow’s milk and other ingredients: So does not help protect baby from illness and diseases.
First Feed:
A healthy baby has put to the breast half an hr to 1 hr following normal delivery.
Following caesarean delivery, a period of 2 to 3 hrs may be sufficient for the mother to breast feed the baby.
Getting ready for Feeding:
You should clean the nipples and breast with cotton soaked in warm water.
Wash your hands prior to breast-feeding.
You and baby should be in a comfortable position during breast-feeding.
What can provide comfortable environment during feed?
You can sit on a chair or bed with back supported so that you will feels comfortable.
You could raise the feet or knees, if you needs to but should not bend over the baby.
How you should hold the baby?
Wrap the baby in a wrapper.
Support the neck, shoulders and back.
You should hold the baby close to you.
He should be able to tilt his head back easily.
Make sure baby’s head and body in a straight line.
If not, the baby might not be able to swallow easily.
Hold the baby’s whole body closes with his nose level with the nipple.
Baby needs to get a big mouthful of breast from underneath the nipple.
Placing your baby with his nose level with your nipple will allow him to reach up and attach to the breast well.
Let the baby’s head tip back a little so that his top lip can brush against your nipple. This should help the baby to make a wide-open mouth.
When the baby’s mouth opens wide, his chin is able to touch the breast first, with his head tipped back so that his tongue can reach as much breast as possible.
With his chin firmly touching and his nose clear, his mouth is wide open and there will be much more of the darker skin visible above the top lip than below his bottom lip. The baby’s cheeks will look full and rounded as they feed.
Nipple feeding is wrong:
When the baby isn’t correctly attached and just sucks the nipple, you feel feeding is painful, the nipples can get damaged, and the baby won’t be able to get enough milk.
Baby will not be satisfied
Milk production reduces
Cracked nipples may happen.
If baby is not attached correctly, stop avoids pulling him off your breast. Instead, break the attachment by inserting your little finger into the corner of her mouth, between her gums. Gently take her off the breast. Then make the latching perfect and start feeding.
How to make the baby burp
When babies suckle they swallow air, which can make them uncomfortable.
Burping is a process by which you can help a baby bring this air up and feel comfortable.
First spread a cloth (burp cloth) on your shoulder
Hold the baby on your shoulder or chest and rub its back
You can also or rub baby’s back while the baby sits or lies on your lap.
These positions will also help comfort a restless baby or a baby that cries more than usual.
Usually you will hear a burp noise.It is normal for babies to bring up some fluids when they burp.
If you put the baby to sleep without burping they may vomit and that may enter the lungs causing difficulty in breathing.
To read more on Baby care, click on the link below,
Expressing milk means squeezing milk out of the breast with the help of pump or by hand.
When should you express milk?
To collect milk to feed a premature baby or one who can’t latch on to your breast
When mother needs rest .
When mother goes to work
When the breasts are too engorged or swollen due to excess milk production.
Flat nipples
To keep your milk supply up if your healthcare provider advises you to stop nursing temporarily because you’re taking medication that might be harmful to your baby (this is rarely necessary) or if you’re hospitalized for a short time and can’t breastfeed throughout the day.
There are 2 ways breast milk can be expressed:
Manual or by Hand
Using Breast pump (Manual and electrical pump)
Preparation for expressing breast milk:
Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit.
Have a glass of milk or warm water or some snack.
Plug in your pump or make sure it has working batteries.
Wash your hands with soap and water.
Assemble the pump kit.
Clean the breast with warm water with the help of cotton.
Using a manual Breast pump:
Place the breast shield over your nipple. Make sure that you have the appropriate-sized shield for your breast. Selecting an inappropriately sized shield can result in failed suction efforts, pain, and irritation.
Use the squeeze or plunging mechanism to begin pumping. Hold the shield in place with one hand and squeeze the mechanism with the other. The milk will begin pumping into the bottle.
Reposition the pump’s handle if necessary. Changing the position of the pump’s handle can affect its suction ability, so move it around until you find an appropriate suction level that makes your breast pumping efforts easier.
Try leaning forward to make milk express more easily. Remember that at the beginning milk flows drop by drop and gradually it increases the flow when pumping is happening continuously.
Continue until the milk flow slows. When pumping with a manual pump, it usually takes about 45 minutes.
Using an electrical ot battery operated pump:
Position the breast shield over your nipple correctly.
Turn the machine on and let it work. The milk will automatically begin pumping from your breast into the container.
Adjust the automatic suction as necessary. If the milk seems to be pumping slowly or the suction feels painful, adjust it. Try repositioning your breasts and the rest of your body. The process should not be painful, although it may feel strange at first.
Remain calm while the suction occurs. However, if you’re relaxed, you will often produce more milk in less time than you would while anxious.
Continue until the milk flow slows. When using an electric or battery-operated pump, you should be finished within 15 to 20 minutes.
Remember:
Keep going! You’ll find pumping gets quicker and easier with practice.
Get relaxed. The pumping process is easiest and least uncomfortable when you’re feeling relaxed and calm.
Always clean your breast pump and its removable parts after a breast pumping session to avoid contamination.
Storing milk:
Mum’s milk can be kept at room temperature for upto 6 hours
You can store mum’s milk in the fridge for up to 5 days at 4C or lower (usually at the back, never in the door).
Mum’s milk can be stored for 2 weeks in the ice compartment of a fridge or for up to 6 months in a freezer.
Store away from meat products, eggs or any uncooked foods. Use the back of the fridge and not the door.
The more often the fridge door is opened, the more likely the temperature will rise.
Try to check the temperature of Every fridge (or bag) used for storing your milk each time you use it.
Using stored breast milk:
Don’t use a microwave or gas stove to heat up or defrost breast milk as it can cause hot spots, which can burn your baby’s mouth.
Heat Refrigerated expressed breast milk by placing in warm water
Check the temperature before feeding the baby use defrosted breast milk immediately and throw away any unused milk.
If the milk smells sour -DO NOT USE.
When stored, the cream and milk may separate out. This is normal. Shake gently to mix before use.
Some babies are reluctant to take expressed breast milk, particularly at first. Try offering milk from a cup or spoon.
To read more on Baby care, click on the link below,
