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Below is a list of tips that have appeared on Your Baby Today home page since the program began. Tips are updated on this page on a weekly basis.
- Leave colorful, soft books on the lowest shelf of your bookcase for your crawler to find and "read" on her own.
- To comfort a fussy baby while clothing her, play peekaboo with her body parts as they're being covered to keep her amused.
- To help your baby sleep at night, give her a warm, soothing bath just before bedtime.
- Got a picky eater on your hands? Sneak some nutritious foods in on a piece of bread spread with mashed banana, whipped cream cheese, or pureed apple and cinnamon.
- Set your hot water heater no higher that 120 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid burns from the water faucet.
- To find a babysitter, call your local high school's guidance counselor's office for a list of juniors and seniors who are interested in part time babysitting positions.
- To check the safety of an object or toy, use an empty toilet paper roll. If the toy goes through the opening, then it is too small for your baby and could pose a choking hazard.
- Don't put too many large toys in the playpen with an older baby who can pull herself up. She might use these to climb out.
- As an alternative to regular children’s videos, show your baby a video of a recent family function. She'll have fun looking at all the familiar faces, including her own!
- When playing with your baby, never throw or shake her too roughly so that her head snaps back and forth. Instead, gently roll around on a rug or blanket and play peekaboo or tickle games.
- To get dirt or any other small object out of your baby's mouth, squeeze her cheeks with the thumb and forefinger of one hand to open it, and then scoop the object out with a hooked finger.
- Limit your crawler to one or two rooms of the house (e.g., her bedroom and the den) where you know she can explore safely.
- To prevent staining your baby's teeth from her liquid vitamin, brush or wipe them clean right after giving the supplement.
- Don't let your baby snack on crackers or other bread products all day. These can fill her up, making her less interested in more nutritious foods at mealtimes.
- Shop at local consignment shops for items like baby's playclothes, booster seats and toys.
- If your baby suffers from reflux, avoid all juices, which are acidic and only make the condition worse.
- For first days home, stock a breastfeeding basket with all the supplies you might need: water bottle, spare breast pads, cloth diaper or wipe, and breast cream. You can keep a portable phone in there too. Makes a great gift for new moms.
- Keep an intriguing toy on the diaper table to entertain a restless baby; a rattling toy dangling from your mouth will really entertain your baby!
- If your baby is constipated, increase her fruits rather than give her more juice. Fruits contain fiber that will improve motility.
- For diaper rash, it is better to use plain water and cotton balls than wipes which can dry skin and worsen the diaper rash.
- When your little one is learning to walk, remove his socks when he’s indoors. This will help give him more control.
- For babies with reflux —regular vomiting not caused by a virus —put a telephone book under one side of the crib in order to elevate the baby's head at a 30 degree angle. This speeds the emptying of the stomach and reduces acidity.
- When offering your baby her first taste of solid food, give it to her on your finger. It will be more comfortable for her and easier for you to tell if the food is too hot for her little tongue.
- If you need a short break from nursing your baby, give her your index finger to suck on instead of a pacifier. It's just as calming and won't contribute to any nipple confusion the way a pacifier can.
- Don't dress your baby in any clothing that has strings or loose ties because these could cause strangulation.
- At bedtime, put a well-fitted nightcap on your baby's head during the first few months. It will help keep her warm at night until she grows more insulating hair.
- When giving your baby a massage, keep her wrapped in a warm cotton blanket and unwrap each body part when it's ready to be massaged.
- To help bathe a fussy baby, put on a pair of white cotton gloves, dip them in a little water and mild soap, and then hold and rub your baby gently until she's clean.
- To help prevent an infection while your baby's cord is healing, fold down the top of the diaper so it rests under the cord stump.
- To help relieve your baby's clogged tear duct, place a few drops of breastmilk in the corner of the infected eye. Then massage the inner area between her nose and eye with your pinky. Wipe away any discharge with a clean cotton ball. Breastmilk contains a
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