The Parenting Thread

[Draka]

I thought it would be a nice idea, since we have so many parents here in different stages of parenthood, to have a thread devoted exclusively to advice and answering each other's questions. If you have a question about anything, how to handle a certain problem or so on, post it here. If you found something that worked for you, post it here.

Example: I know many parents deal with temper-tantrums and try different things to solve the problem. I tried something that worked very well with my eldest daughter. Once when she was almost 2 she threw herself down on the floor in a full on temper-tantrum, hands pounding, feet kicking, head thrashing, screaming fit. I got down on the floor next to her and mimicked everything she did. Eventually she just stoppped and stared at me. So I stopped and asked her if Mommy looked silly doing that. She said yes. I said I just did what she was doing and if that made her silly too. She said yes and got up and calmly walked to her room to play. I know not all kids would act like this, but it can be something to try out.

Let the advice and questions roll. I'm sure there will be someone here to answer just about any question. We have quite a variety of experience here. I hope we can help each other out from time to time.

 

[evearael]

When should you potty train a child? My daughter is fourteen months and the inlaws are pressuring us to train her. That said, how?

 

[Draka]

When should you potty train a child? My daughter is fourteen months and the inlaws are pressuring us to train her. That said, how?

I know some try to train in the infant stage. I don't quite agree with that practice myself. Most pediatricians will tell you the best time to train is around 2 years old. It is this age where they are more likely to develop a sense of pride and accomplishment. I never "trained" my daughter exactly. I always left the door open to the bathroom when I went and she would follow me in and see what mommy did. A little before she turned 2 I noticed she was tugging on her diapers and taking them off herself a lot, so I bought one of those little seats that goes over the regular toilet seat. When I got it home and took it out of the plastic she took it from me, went to the bathroom, put it on the toilet, took her pants down and diaper off, climbed up and peed.

If you don't have a problem with it, start taking her to the bathroom when you go so she start to see how a "big girl" does it. She will eventually want to on her own and it will be a thing of pride for her that she can be like a big girl.

That's at least my experience

 

[evearael]

Cool. Thank you!

 

[EnhancedSpirit]

When should you potty train a child? My daughter is fourteen months and the inlaws are pressuring us to train her. That said, how?

My son was potty trained by age 2, my daughter at age 3. My son was so easy, and he never had accidents, day or night. My daughter was a different story. We ended up convincing her to teach her baby doll how to use the big girl potty. We would tell her, "maybe you should SHOW your baby how to be a big girl."

 

[SoyLeche]

I thought it would be a nice idea, since we have so many parents here in different stages of parenthood, to have a thread devoted exclusively to advice and answering each other's questions. If you have a question about anything, how to handle a certain problem or so on, post it here. If you found something that worked for you, post it here.

Example: I know many parents deal with temper-tantrums and try different things to solve the problem. I tried something that worked very well with my eldest daughter. Once when she was almost 2 she threw herself down on the floor in a full on temper-tantrum, hands pounding, feet kicking, head thrashing, screaming fit. I got down on the floor next to her and mimicked everything she did. Eventually she just stoppped and stared at me. So I stopped and asked her if Mommy looked silly doing that. She said yes. I said I just did what she was doing and if that made her silly too. She said yes and got up and calmly walked to her room to play. I know not all kids would act like this, but it can be something to try out.

Let the advice and questions roll. I'm sure there will be someone here to answer just about any question. We have quite a variety of experience here. I hope we can help each other out from time to time.

My Sister-in-law has done that. I think it's a great approach. :biglaugh:

 

[SoyLeche]

Currently, my son has been pretty easy (since I can't really do anything for the late night feedings, and he's been pretty good at going to sleep soon after eating durring the night). We have run across one issue - we think he gets heartburn (or reflux, as it's called in the book we have). He will be eating just fine, and then all of a sudden will start to scream. He also gets a lot of 'bubbles'. We have some drops that we give him, I'm not sure what they are exactly, but he seems to enjoy the taste if nothing else. Anything else we can do to help him stay comfortable when he eats?

 

[Draka]

My Sister-in-law has done that. I think it's a great approach. :biglaugh:

Hey, all I know is it worked for me. I never did see her throw another one. She had pride...she wasn't about to look silly :tsk: :biglaugh:

 

[Draka]

Currently, my son has been pretty easy (since I can't really do anything for the late night feedings, and he's been pretty good at going to sleep soon after eating durring the night). We have run across one issue - we think he gets heartburn (or reflux, as it's called in the book we have). He will be eating just fine, and then all of a sudden will start to scream. He also gets a lot of 'bubbles'. We have some drops that we give him, I'm not sure what they are exactly, but he seems to enjoy the taste if nothing else. Anything else we can do to help him stay comfortable when he eats?

I am assuming that he is breastfed? there are other things to try. A change of holding positions to allow for better attachment to the nipple so there's less chance of getting air and therefore bubbles. Also, since whatever the mother eats affects the breastmilk, if she is eating anything that may possibly cause heartburn or the like then that could be cut out. Just because it doesn't affest her doesn't mean it isn't being transmitted in the breastmilk. Just a couple things to try there. A breastfed baby rarely gets gas and "bubbles" really, so if you try different things and they don't work you may have to bring it up at the next well-baby visit.

 

[SoyLeche]

I am assuming that he is breastfed? there are other things to try. A change of holding positions to allow for better attachment to the nipple so there's less chance of getting air and therefore bubbles. Also, since whatever the mother eats affects the breastmilk, if she is eating anything that may possibly cause heartburn or the like then that could be cut out. Just because it doesn't affest her doesn't mean it isn't being transmitted in the breastmilk. Just a couple things to try there. A breastfed baby rarely gets gas and "bubbles" really, so if you try different things and they don't work you may have to bring it up at the next well-baby visit.

Good advice, thanks. He is breastfed, and although I have heard that breastfed babies don't get gas, my nephews always did.... Oh well.

My wife has been cutting some things (onions) out to see if there is any effect. We'll just have to wait and see. He's at the 6 week mark, which I am told is usually about the peak of the fussiness stage, and he really hasn't been all that bad.

 

[Green Gaia]

When should you potty train a child? My daughter is fourteen months and the inlaws are pressuring us to train her. That said, how?

Pretty much you have to wait until the child is ready and that varies by child. Both of my kids were 3 before being completely trained. I introduced it to both much earlier, but they just weren't ready and there's no way to "force" them to do it without lots of tears from both kids and parents. Be patient and let her lead on this one, dispite what others think is best for her. If she seems interested in what you're doing the bathroom, go ahead and get her a little potty chair and let her try it out. Be prepared to reward and celebrate accomplishments, and to not make a big deal out of mistakes. Above all be patient and realize that some kids just will not give up the diaper until they have to.

 

[Green Gaia]

Currently, my son has been pretty easy (since I can't really do anything for the late night feedings, and he's been pretty good at going to sleep soon after eating durring the night). We have run across one issue - we think he gets heartburn (or reflux, as it's called in the book we have). He will be eating just fine, and then all of a sudden will start to scream. He also gets a lot of 'bubbles'. We have some drops that we give him, I'm not sure what they are exactly, but he seems to enjoy the taste if nothing else. Anything else we can do to help him stay comfortable when he eats?

Hmmm... that's a new one to me.

*wishes she'd kept her pregnancy and baby books*

 

[EnhancedSpirit]

Good advice, thanks. He is breastfed, and although I have heard that breastfed babies don't get gas, my nephews always did.... Oh well.

My wife has been cutting some things (onions) out to see if there is any effect. We'll just have to wait and see. He's at the 6 week mark, which I am told is usually about the peak of the fussiness stage, and he really hasn't been all that bad.

Apple juice will cause really bad gas. I looked up a list for you.
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The sugars that cause gas are raffinose, lactose, fructose, and sorbitol.[/FONT]
Raffinose
Beans contain large amounts of this complex sugar. Smaller amounts are found in cabbage, brussels sprouts, broccoli, asparagus, other vegetables, and whole grains.

Lactose
Lactose is the natural sugar in milk. It is also found in milk products, such as cheese and ice cream, and processed foods, such as bread, cereal, and salad dressing.

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Fructose
Fructose is naturally present in onions, artichokes, pears, and wheat. It is also used as a sweetener in some soft drinks and fruit drinks.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Sorbitol
Sorbitol is a sugar found naturally in fruits, including apples, pears, peaches, and prunes. It is also used as an artificial sweetener in many dietetic foods and sugarfree candies and gums.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Starches[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Most starches, including potatoes, corn, noodles, and wheat, produce gas as they are broken down in the large intestine. Rice is the only starch that does not cause gas.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Fiber[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Many foods contain soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber dissolves easily in water and takes on a soft, gel-like texture in the intestines. Found in oat bran, beans, peas, and most fruits, soluble fiber is not broken down until it reaches the large intestine, where digestion causes gas.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Insoluble fiber, on the other hand, passes essentially unchanged through the intestines and produces little gas. Wheat bran and some vegetables contain this kind of fiber. [/FONT]

 

[Buttercup]

Today's dose of simple parental advice from the chimp......

Sell your children to the gypsies before they turn into teenagers!

 

[standing_alone]

Today's dose of simple parental advice from the chimp......

Sell your children to the gypsies before they turn into teenagers!

What a nice thing to do for your children, Buttercup!

 

[Quoth The Raven]

Today's dose of simple parental advice from the chimp......

Sell your children to the gypsies before they turn into teenagers!

Do they take husband type creatures as well?

 

[Squirt]

Good advice, thanks. He is breastfed, and although I have heard that breastfed babies don't get gas, my nephews always did.... Oh well.

My wife has been cutting some things (onions) out to see if there is any effect. We'll just have to wait and see. He's at the 6 week mark, which I am told is usually about the peak of the fussiness stage, and he really hasn't been all that bad.

Does she drink cow's milk? Most people look at milk as milk, but a lot of babies are allergic (or at least highly sensitive) to the cow's milk they get in breast milk. Chocolate is another real no-no from that standpoint.

(I speak from experience and from what my son's pediatrician told me.)

 

[evearael]

Help! My daughter (14mo.) has been spitting out food all day. She doesn't seem sick... in fact, she is quite happy about it, and gets really annoyed when I stop putting food in her mouth. She has actually eaten a moderate amount of food today, but no where near the amount she normally eats. It doesn't matter what food I give her: bananas, cheerios, peas, cheese..., the result is the same.

 

[standing_alone]

Help! My daughter (14mo.) has been spitting out food all day. She doesn't seem sick... in fact, she is quite happy about it, and gets really annoyed when I stop putting food in her mouth. She has actually eaten a moderate amount of food today, but no where near the amount she normally eats. It doesn't matter what food I give her: bananas, cheerios, peas, cheese..., the result is the same.

Don't give her any food. Once she's close to starving to death say, "So... Are you going to spit out your food now?" I bet she won't spit out her food anymore! That, or she'll just starve.




Disclaimer: Don't actually do this.

 

[Draka]

Help! My daughter (14mo.) has been spitting out food all day. She doesn't seem sick... in fact, she is quite happy about it, and gets really annoyed when I stop putting food in her mouth. She has actually eaten a moderate amount of food today, but no where near the amount she normally eats. It doesn't matter what food I give her: bananas, cheerios, peas, cheese..., the result is the same.

Try not to worry about it. Babies' appetites vary, like ours do. She may be just entertaining herself by watching your reaction. Unless she starts to appear as if she is sick or refuses to eat entirely for another couple days or so...don't worry. Just feed her as normal, she will eat when she's hungry. She's probably just having fun.