- Q: How can I help teething baby girl who simply can not be comforted?
- A: There's no miracle solution for teething pain, and every baby (and their parents!) has to go through this development process. However, there are things I would suggest to try to make a teething baby more comfortable. If Orajel doesn't work, I would suggest trying Anbesol, another brand that is a local anesthetic. (Many parents swear that these products are wonder drugs!)
You also might try simply rubbing the baby's gums with your finger - it's the rubbing that helps, with or without a commercial teething preparation. Even if your baby does not like using a teething ring, try putting it in the refrigerator and then giving it them. The coldness of the ring is often a relief.
If your baby is suffering from a cough due to teething, raise the head of the crib. Teething does not cause a high fever. It's too easy to blame everything on teething which is why so many people do.
- Q: I am determined to get my body back to pre-pregnancy shape. Is a Slimfast diet safe while I'm breastfeeding my three month old?
- A: While breastfeeding your infant, I would advise you NOT to go on any rigorous diets. It is important that a breastfeeding mother eat a healthy, well balanced diet, not too restrictive in calories, in order to insure that the baby receives the most nourishing breastmilk possible.
However, there is no reason not to go on a sensible diet while breastfeeding. The important point to remember is that whatever diet a new mother chooses to go on, she should ensure that her weight loss should be slow and steady, and that the diet should remain well balanced and should contain all the essential nutrients - minerals, vitamins, etc. By doing so, you can be sure that the baby will not suffer in any way from the breastmilk.
- Q: I am very concerned about the birthmarks that I have noticed on my newborn baby's body. Should I be?
- A: Birth marks are very frequent in babies and are nothing to worry about. However, if a parent has concerns about new brown spots appearing, it might be a good idea to get a medical opinion - especially from a dermatologist, or even better, a pediatric dermatologist. No doctor, without conducting a physical, can tell you for sure that birthmarks are harmless, but the law of averages is certainly in your favor since only on very rare occasions do these birthmarks mean anything serious.