If you haven’t had a good night’s sleep since your baby was born, you’re not alone. Sleepless nights are a rite of passage for most new parents. But don’t despair. You can help your baby sleep all night. Honestly!
Developing a rhythm
Newborns sleep 16 or more hours a day, but often in stretches of just one to two hours at a time. Although the pattern may be erratic at first, a more consistent sleep schedule will emerge as your baby’s nervous system matures and he or she goes longer between feedings.
By age 3 months, many babies sleep up to five hours during the night. By age 6 months, nighttime stretches of nine to 12 hours are possible.
Encouraging good sleep habits
For the first few months, middle-of-the-night feedings are sure to disrupt sleep for parents and babies alike. But it’s never too soon to help your baby become a good sleeper.
 Encourage activity during the day. When your baby is awake, engage him or her by talking, singing and playing. Surround your baby with light and normal household noises. Such stimulation during the day can help promote better sleep at night.
 Monitor your baby’s naps. Regular naps are important — but sleeping for large chunks of time during the day may leave your baby wide awake at bedtime.
 Follow a consistent bedtime routine. Try relaxing favorites such as bathing, cuddling, singing or reading. Soon your baby will associate these activities with sleep. If you play bedtime music, choose the same tunes each time you put your baby in the crib.
 Put your baby to bed drowsy but awake. This will help your baby associate bed with the process of falling asleep. Remember to place your baby to sleep on his or her back, and clear the crib or bassinet of blankets and other soft items.
 Give your baby time to settle down. Your baby may fuss or cry before finding a comfortable position and falling asleep. If the crying doesn’t stop, speak to your baby calmly and stroke his or her back. Your reassuring presence may be all your baby needs to fall asleep.
 Consider a pacifier. If your baby has trouble settling down, a pacifier might do the trick. In fact, using a pacifier during sleep may reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). But there are pitfalls, too. If your baby uses a pacifier to sleep, you may face frequent middle-of-the-night crying spells when the pacifier falls out of your baby’s mouth.
 Expect frequent stirring at night. Babies often wriggle, squirm and twitch in their sleep. They can be noisy, too. Sometimes fussing or crying is simply a sign of settling down. Unless you suspect that your baby is hungry or uncomfortable, it’s OK to wait a few minutes to see what happens.
 Keep nighttime care low-key. When your baby needs care or feeding during the night, use dim lights, a soft voice and calm movements. This will tell your baby that it’s time to sleep — not play.
 Respect your baby’s preferences. If your baby is a night owl or an early bird, you might want to adjust routines and schedules based on these natural patterns.
Keeping it in perspective
Some babies sleep for long stretches at night right from the start, only waking for feedings. Others have trouble lulling themselves back to sleep. Take as much time as you need to understand your baby’s schedule and ways of communicating.
If you’re frustrated with your baby’s sleeping habits — especially if your baby still needs attention several times during the night by age 6 months — ask your baby’s doctor for suggestions.
Remember, getting your baby to sleep through the night isn’t a measure of your parental skills. It’s simply a goal you’re working toward. The result will be a good night’s sleep for everyone.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/baby-sleep/FL00118

By Associated Press

About 1 million Simplicity and Graco cribs are being recalled after three children became entrapped in their cribs and died of suffocation, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Friday.

Two infants, a 6-month-old and a 9-month-old, died in the recalled cribs, which were sold through May 2007. A 1-year-old child died in a newer model of the cribs, which has not been recalled but is being investigated by the safety agency, CPSC officials said.

CPSC spokesman Ed Kang would not comment on when or where the children died. Simplicity spokesman Joe Householder said the company will not release further details about the deaths out of respect for the families.

In all three deaths, the consumer had installed the drop-rail side of the crib upside down, the CPSC said. This creates a gap in the crib that children can slide into and suffocate.

Seven other infants have been entrapped in the cribs, according to the CPSC. There have been 55 reports of the cribs’ drop sides detaching or the hardware failing to hold the side to the crib.

Simplicity Inc., of Reading, Pa., is listed as manufacturer of all the cribs, which were made in China. The recalled cribs were sold nationwide, under the Simplicity or Graco brands, from January 1998 through May 2007. The recall involves multiple models and models numbers.

None of the cribs that Simplicity currently supplies to stores is included in the recall, the company said in a statement.

But CPSC is telling consumers who have the newer versions not covered by the recall to check to make sure the drop side is installed right side up and securely attached. For more information, consumers can contact Simplicity at 888-593-9274.

http://www.comcast.net/news/index.jsp?cat=GENERAL&fn=/2007/09/21/769341.html&cvqh=itn_cribs

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/common/teething.html

The care and cleaning of your baby’s teeth is important for long-term dental health. Even though the first set of teeth will fall out, tooth decay can hasten this process and leave gaps before the permanent teeth are ready to come in. The remaining primary teeth may then crowd together to attempt to fill in the gaps, which may cause the permanent teeth to come in crooked and out of place.
Daily dental care should begin even before your baby’s first tooth emerges. Wipe your baby’s gums daily with a clean, damp washcloth or gauze, or brush them gently with a soft, infant-sized toothbrush and water (no toothpaste!). As soon as the first tooth appears, brush them with water.
Toothpaste is OK to use on your child’s teeth once he or she gets old enough to spit it out - usually around age 3. Choose one with fluoride and use only a pea-sized amount or less in younger children. Don’t let your child swallow the toothpaste or eat it out of the tube because an overdose of fluoride can be harmful for children.
By the time all your baby’s teeth are in, it’s a good idea to brush your child’s teeth at least twice a day, and especially after meals. It’s also important to get your child used to flossing early on. A good time to start flossing is when two teeth start to touch. Talk to your child’s dentist for advice on flossing those tiny teeth. You can also get your toddler interested in the routine by letting him or her watch and imitate you as you brush and floss on a regular basis.
Another important tip for preventing tooth decay: don’t let your baby fall asleep with a bottle. The milk or juice can pool in her mouth and cause tooth decay and plaque.
The American Dental Association recommends that children see a dentist by age 1, when six to eight teeth are in place, to spot any potential problems and advise parents about preventive care.

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/common/teething.html

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/common/teething.html

Teething can begin as early as 3 months and continue until a child’s third birthday.
Typically between the ages of 4 and 7 months, you will notice your child’s first tooth pushing through the gum line. The first teeth to appear are usually the two bottom front teeth, also known as the central incisors. These are usually followed 4 to 8 weeks later by the four front upper teeth (central and lateral incisors). About 1 month later, the lower lateral incisors (the two teeth flanking the bottom front teeth) will appear. Next to break through the gum line are the first molars (the back teeth used for grinding food), then finally the eyeteeth (the pointy teeth in the upper jaw). Most children have all 20 of their primary teeth by their third birthday. (This is a general rule; if your child experiences significant delay, speak to your child’s doctor.)
In some rare cases, children are born with one or two teeth or have a tooth emerge within the first few weeks of life. Unless the teeth interfere with feeding or are loose enough to pose a choking risk, this is usually not a cause for concern. If you have any questions it’s a good idea to talk to your child’s doctor.

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/common/teething.html

Many new mothers feel sad and tearful after childbirth. Because this is so common (80-90%) we call it the Baby Blues. It usually is considered a normal reaction to hormonal changes and the stress of adjusting to motherhood. The symptoms are rather mild and typically last for only a few days to a week and are usually gone after a couple of weeks. However, it is important not to confuse the Baby Blues with a more serious condition called Postpartum Depression. This is a type of Major Depression that affects about one in ten women sometime within the first year following childbirth. Having a baby is considered by society to be a wonderful experience and it is often over idealized considering the number of women who experience low mood and emotional liability. This over-idealization can promote unrealistic expectations that result in disappointment.

Many times a new mother feels inadequate and doesn’t have a supportive husband and family. It can be difficult adjusting to all of the changes a baby brings into one’s life. Postpartum Depression often goes undiagnosed and can have very long term and damaging consequences for the mother, the baby and the partner.

To avoid these negative long term affects it is important to be aware of Postpartum Depression and its symptoms. The symptoms are: sadness, excessive crying, feeling worthless, anxiety, lack of energy, irritability and guilt. Usually there is a loss of interest in activities including sex with accompanying feelings of hopelessness and despair.

Women can feel like they are going crazy. They may perceive that their partner, family and friends are only interested in the baby or start to think that they are a bad mother. Inability to sleep due to depression or nursing adds to the problem. Women who experience PPD are extremely anxious and often preoccupied with negative thoughts and feelings which often results in marital tension.

It is paramount to recognize PPD to prevent the long term consequences. Research has shown that untreated or undiagnosed PPD adversely affects the mother’s mental health, the mother-infant bond and the marital relationship. It is therefore important for women to be aware of the psychosocial risk factors that make it more likely for a particular woman to develop PPD. Some of these stressors are: traumatic deliveries or birth complications, health problems of the mother or baby, job loss resulting in financial worries, poor marital relationship and conflict between the woman and her family. A family history of depression is a significant risk factor or a history of sexual abuse.

Depressed people have distorted thinking that contributes to their depression. Therapy can help people examine their negative beliefs and change their thinking and perception. Therapy can also address relationship issues that contribute to depression. Women suffering from PPD need to be encouraged to get evaluated and treated.

What you can do to help yourself or someone you know struggling with PPD:
Consider seeking therapy
Socialize more- have lunch with your partner or a friend
Relax more by trying relaxation techniques
Journal
Laugh more because it minimizes stress-rent funny movies
Reach out to supportive family and friends
Positive self talk
Read spiritual or inspirational books
Exercise
Get relief from constant child-care

Remember untreated depression usually does not remit on its own, so be sure to get help if you need it.
Written by: Linda Riley, A Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Certified Sex Counselor who is part of the LifeWorks Group, Inc. in Winter Park, FL.

http://www.atlantababiesandkids.com/tabID/100/Default.aspx?articleID=1298

Barbie toys make up the majority of the affected toys though no Barbie dolls were involved in the recall, the company says.

From CNNMoney.com

The Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Mattel, announced a recall of 844,000 toys that contain excessive levels of lead paint Tuesday night - the third such recall of Chinese-manufactured toys by Mattel this summer.
In a statement issued by Mattel (Charts, Fortune 500), the company apologized to consumers and said that it had spent more than 50,000 hours investigating its vendors and testing its toys. It said that 11 additional types of toys had been discovered that needed to be recalled.
Three Fisher-Price brand toys and various Barbie accessory toys were named in the recall, though the Barbie toys make up the majority of the affected toys. No Barbie dolls were involved in the recall, the company said.
675,000 units of various Barbie accessory toys sold between October 2006 through August 2007 were named in the recall.

http://money.cnn.com/2007/09/05/news/companies/mattel_recall/?postversion=2007090514