Calming your Infant and Nightime Routines

The best way to calm your infant is by mimicking his environment in the womb. Mothers have been doing this instinctively for years by rocking their babies, while holding them tightly next to their bodies saying "sh sh" in a rhythmic fashion.  Others ways to mimic the womb include swaddling your baby, an infant swing, rhythmic and gentle rocking and bouncing, dim lights, limited inconsistent sounds, and your soothing voice.
Keeping these ideas in mind lets address night time routines.  Getting your newborn to sleep for longer stretches of time at night is a parents dream and actually a necessity for sanity sake.  Don't wait for your baby to do this on his own but rather help facilitate this happening. When your baby is about 4 to 6 weeks and older try to help him stay up in the evening.  You do this by keeping your baby in a brightly lit noisy room and changing his position frequently.  If your baby doses off don't transfer him  to a his quiet  crib or basinet keep him in the busy environment you set him up in so his snooze will be a short one.
When you decide it is time for you baby to go to bed for the night start his routine. The routine should begin apporoximately 30 minutes to 1 hour before his next feeding is expected.  The routine should consist of a physical activity, cognitive activity, massage, and music.  An example of the routine I used with my babies is starts off with tummy time while listening to the music of the mobile.  When the baby tires roll him onto his back and do some toy tracking activities.  Use a black and white or bright object,  rattles that make gentle sounds are recommended. Have your baby track the object, about 8 inches from his face,  to the right and left, up and down, in circular and diagonal directions, slowly and carefully.  Follow this up with a nice full body massage.  Make eye contact and sing to your baby through out the massage. A consistent song or two at this time is recommended.  Your baby will begin to relax and calm down from the massage, the expected song, and sound of your voice.  Following the massage you can do some gentle moving of your babies arms and legs such as bicycle feet riding and arm lifting and clapping.  Your baby will have worked hard and will be ready for his nice warm bath. Encourage your baby to kick his feet and splash his hands in the tub and just enjoy the warmth and feeling of the warm water surrounding his body before you wash him.  Following the bath and pajama time your baby will be ready for his bedtime feeding.  This feeding is the most important feeding of the day since you will be wanting your baby to fuel up for his long sleep stretch.  Swaddle your baby dim the lights and get ready to settle in for the last feeding of the day. Your baby should be tired and might have difficulty finishing the full feeding at this point.  Wiggle, jostle and talk to your baby as necessary to ensure that he eats as much as possible before he falls into a deep delicious sleep.
Feel free to mix this routine up to fit your baby's needs.
After you do this with your baby for a few nights he should begin to sleep for longer and longer periods of time. 
Good luck, and let me know how it goes!

Teaching Very Young Children to Share

This topic really hits home for me since getting my 2 and 3 year old to share is challenging.   As we hit the holiday season this topic is relevant since it can be hard to share new and very desired items.  Here are some tips to help deal with this important issue.

First of all we really need to understand and respect our child's difficulty with sharing.  Very small children are just learning about themselves and the world around them.  They can become very territorial  about their own items as they view there things as extensions of themselves.  They are also organizing their world and can become stuck on this is "mine" as well as this is "yours". My 3 year old becomes agitated when one of her older sisters uses the item of another sibling. This difficulty under standing that an item can "belong" to someone when someone else uses it will come with time and patience.

Some ways to facilitate sharing are:

Introduce the concept of turn taking.  Use a simple game that does not require a long wait for each turn to come.  You can use block stacking, doll feeding, or a similar simple task to talk about "your turn, my turn". Once this topic has been taught you can then use it for when it counts and your young child can understand that it will the her turn very soon.

When your child is having trouble sharing verbalizing and labeling their emotions around this challenge can be helpful. Letting them know that you understand how they feel and giving their feelings words will go a long way toward helping them through the process.

Provide a lot of positive feed back every time your young child shares something or takes turns nicely. She might not mind sharing her snack but might have hard time sharing a toy.  The positive encouragement she received from the "easier" sharing experience will help to reinforce her sharing with the "harder" expereince

Be prepared for play dates and neighbor and family visitors.  If you know that your child is attached to one or two particular items  respect that.  Remove highly desired items from the scene.  This will make sharing less challenging and easier to do.

Good luck to everyone and HAPPY SHARING!!!!

Communication and Mirror Neurons

Communication and language is not just about words and building your child's vocabulary it is also about gestures and expressions.  The development of your baby's communication skills are aided by tiny brain cells that fire not only when they complete an action but also by seeing an action, gesture or expression. This concept is known as mirror neurons. This means that a baby's development is not just influenced by personal experiences we help the babies to engage in but also by the many experiences they view other human beings completing. In fact a newborn as young as two weeks old can imitate and adult opening their mouth or sticking their tongue out. Our babies are learning by observing. We can now prove how significant it is for us to engage with our infants in face to face dialogue with much facial expression. They will learn how to move their mouth and lips to make words, how to use their bodies to gesture reinforcing their needs, and the difference between an angry, sad, tired, or happy face. When helping children learn a new skill watching the task completed will aid in the learning process.

How Does Your Baby's Visual System Develop?

Sense of sight develops gradually from birth until about 6-8 months. By 8 months your baby sees just about as well as you! When first born your newborn will only be able to seee as far as your face when you hold him. Clarity and distance will grow from month to month until your baby has their full visual system in place.
1-2 months- Your baby will begin to track moving objects and recognize the contrast of your face. Your baby will respond with visual interest to complex patterns.
* Your moving face is the most interesting thing your baby can track.
2-3 months- Tracking has become stronger and your baby is now interested in colors and patterns. Introduce new and interesting items to your baby to help build his visual attention and awareness.
* Place pictures with contrast patterns at the side of the crib for your baby to gaze at.
3-4 months- Your baby will begin seeing things as objects. As he learns to use his hands to reach for the objects he now sees offer him rattle and items to grasp for.
* Now is the time for an overhead gymini toy.
4-8 months- Your baby will start to recognize people and objects across the room.
* Enjoy your baby's smile as he recognizes you as soon as you enter the room.

DON'T FORGET, a mobile is the most important toy you can offer your baby during this stage of visual development.

Touch and the Importance of Massage

Touch is the first sense to develop in utero. A baby's sense of touch, also know as the tactile system, is fully developed when they are born.  We can use massage to help promote and provide for our first interactions with our newborn babies.  Massage can help to stimulate your baby, and facilitate relaxation and relief.  Massage will help to foster your special bond with your child. It will allow for quality 1:1 interaction with your baby. You will feel good knowing you are providing your baby with healthy loving touch that will allow your baby to learn about her body.  Massage stimulates the body in many ways such as blood flow, digestion, body awareness, and facilitates a state of calm in your baby. Massage can relieve colic and gas.  Massage can help promote sleep patterns. Massage can help teach your baby to self calm also known as self regulation.  Massage reduces stress hormones and increases the bodies anti stress hormones.  You will grow to love and look forward to the time you spend massaging your baby. Slow steady long and strong but comfortable strokes on your baby's arms legs and back with carefully selected unscented massage oil is a good start while massaging your
baby.  To learn more about infant massage look for infant massage classes in your area.

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Holiday Season Gift Ideas

The holiday season is approaching.  This is the time we buy gifts for the important people in our lives. Perhaps you are buying a gift for your own baby? Your niece or Nephew? A coworkers bundle of joy? a neighbor's adorable baby? It can be confusing knowing what is the right toy for a baby and at what age we should introduce that toy.  There are certain toys that I feel very strongly every baby should have.  I will outline the BABY TOY MUST HAVES  for you.

NEWBORNS:  Every newborn should be swaddled, it will help mom to have a swaddle blanket, the Miracle Blanket is a great choice. Every baby MUST have a mobile.  Choose one with bright contrasting colors and nice music.

3-6 MONTHS: Assorted rattles for baby to grasp, a tummy time mirror, overhanging toys to look and grab at like the Gymini, don't forget my all time favorite TOE RATTTLES!!!!

6-12 MONTHS: New and novel items to play and touch. Portable clip on toys that you can change and put anywhere. A Boppy for learning to sit and play safely.  Cause and effect switch toys i.e. toys you push or bang that then have a fun reaction like a noise or something pops up. Cloth books with parts baby can manipulate.

1-2 YEARS OLD: One of my personal favorites..... MEGA BLOKS. Time for basic shape puzzles, large handles are recommended. Complex cause and effect toys that require precise hand movements to activate. Get that baby moving with a nice ride on toy!!!!. If there is space an indoor slide or rocking toy.

2-3 YEARS OLD: Large Lego, bead stringing, shape and picture matching games, and puzzles with complex shapes and varied sizes.  Pretend play toys like dolls with food and construction toys.

3 YEAR OLDS: At this age children love Playdough fun sets, learning to ride a tricycle, and a mini trampoline with a handle.

Most of these kind of toys are available on the smartbabyinc.com website.
If you have a question or would like another suggestion for a toy for your baby feel free to contact me I would love to help. I love toys!!!!




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Time for your Baby to Learn How to Eat Solids? Lets get started.

Ok, just to be clear your baby isn't just gonna start sucking down his cereal and chomping on his baby carrots.  You need to teach your baby how to eat.  This requires time and patience. It will take a couple of weeks from the time you decide your baby is ready for solids until he is actually able to down a few spoon fulls. Here are a couple of tips to help you get started.  The first thing your baby should eat is cereal.  Rice cereal is usually the first kind of cereal recommended.  You will use breast milk or formula to mix up baby's first bowl. Ok, you have got your cereal and a nice soft baby spoon, and of course baby has got his bib on, your ready to go, now what?  First make sure that the cereal is very thin and watery.  Your baby will begin his feeding experience by first learning to suck the cereal into his mouth.  You take the spoon that has cereal on its edge and place it at the tip of your baby's mouth.  Never put the spoon or the food into your baby's mouth as he will tend to want to spit it out or even gag on it.  Remember this is a totally new experience for your baby.  It is gonna take some time till he figures out what to do with the stuff in his mouth.  If you introduce the food to the tip of his mouth he will attempt to suck it in as he does with his bottle and by doing so he will be in control of the food that has entered his mouth.  Continue in this manner slowly and patiently.  Your baby will start with a spoonful at first and as the days go in he will get better at feeding and will begin to take in more and more as he goes.
Once your baby gets the hang of it you can start experimenting with other cereal flavors and other recommended baby foods.  It is suggested that you introduce one food per week so that you will be able to identify and allergy if your baby develops one.
If you find your baby grabbing at the spoon give him his very own spoon or rattle to hold during feedings.
Enjoy!!! Teaching your baby to eat can be so much fun. 
Don't forget your camera.

Birth Right Now Pregnancy Through Preschool Expo

I had a great time at the Birth Right Now Pregnancy Through Preschool Expo this Sunday Nov. 6 2011. The Expo took place in the Staten Island Hilton Garden Inn.  I had the opportunity to meet so many nice people that are interested in early childhood development issues.

The Birth Right Now Doula and Childbirth Education Company offers families help with many areas related to maternity, birth, and newborn care such as support for nursing mothers.  I wish they had been around when I was nursing my first child, I really needed their help back then. They also have a Doula training program that my daughter is interested in!!!!!!!

Danielle Rechia my good friend and fellow pediatric occupational therapist gave a great class on infant massage to many of the participants. They loved it!!!  If you are interested in infant massage classes she can be contacted at DanielleRecchia@gmail.com.  She is the BEST!!!!!!!!

MetroMinis.com is a great company that sells natural prenatal to preschool products.  I fell in love with their product line, check it out.

I can't wait to be a part of the expo next year.

Newborn Reflex Development

                                                                                                           

Babies are born with reflexes that will help them transition to life and stimulate their growth and development.  Reflexes are automatic and involuntary responses to stimulation.  Babies movements are better understood when one is aware of what these reflexes look like.  We can also assist our babies with learning, interaction and development by responding appropriately to these reflex movements.

MORO or STARTLE REFLEX: Sudden movement, sound, or light can cause a baby to bring out their hands and feet followed by a deep breath and bringing hands and feet back in toward the body and clenching their fists. This reflex should disappear at about 2 months.                                                                              

TIP:  Setting off this reflex can make your baby uncomfortable and irritable therefore avoid unpredictable movements, loud noises, and sudden light transitions when possible. Another trigger to this response is your infant’s uncontrolled hand and foot movements.  Keeping your baby swaddled is another way to decrease unnecessary startle responses. 

                                                                            

ROOTING REFLEX: By touching a baby’s cheek or mouth a baby will turn their head toward the touch. The baby’s mouth will open and their tongue will move around, the baby is preparing to eat. This reflex should disappear at about 4 months.                                                                                                                       

TIP: Before your infant develops control over his body movements, flailing arms can stimulate the rooting response. This can be distressing for your baby especially during feedings.  You can keep your baby’s arms wrapped in a blanket during feedings to eliminate this problem.

PALMAR GRASP: Light touch or pressure to the palm of the hand will stimulate a fisting motion. This reflex should disappear at about 6 months.                                                                                                         

TIP:  You can use this response to help teach your baby to hold rings and small rattles.  Encourage him to bring them to his mouth and eyes to explore, learn, and look at.

PLANTAR/BABINSKY REFLEX: When the sole of a baby’s foot is stroked the toes will spread and curl and the foot will turn slightly inward. This reflex should disappear by the end of the first year.
TIP: Make sure your baby gets enough tummy time because stimulating this response on the floor is one way that helps your baby learn to crawl and eventually walk.

ASSYMETRIC TONIC NECK REFLEX: When a baby is laying on his back if his head is turned to one side his arm and leg on the side he is looking at will stretch out and the opposite leg and arm will bend. This reflex should disappear at about 4 months.                                                                                                           

TIP: This reflex will help your baby develop eye hand coordination. Pay attention to your baby’s head and hand position when you offer him a toy, introduce the items at arms length for him.

It is a good sign when these reflexive movements disappear.  The disappearance of these reflexes are necessary in order for a baby to begin to efficiently using his body to move and learn in his environment.

Swaddle Your Baby!!!!!!!!!!!!

The womb is a very snug, warm, and cozy environment. Swaddling your baby helps him feel the security of being in the relaxed, safe, and comfortable place of the womb.

Newborns are born with reflexs. These are uncontrolled body movements.  One reflex known as the startle reflex will cause your baby’s arms and legs to move when surprised, such as in response to a loud noise. This response can wake and upset a sleeping or calm infant.  Being swaddled will help your baby’s body stay calm when exposed to sudden movement or unexpected noise that would typically set off the startle reflex.

You can easily learn to swaddle your baby by asking your hospital nurse to show you or by following instructions you find on line such as at, http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x892kx_swaddling-demonstration-1_people

There are product s on the market that will mimic a swaddling blanket, are easy to use, and babies will love.  Try the miracle blanket.  You can find it on line or at:    http://www.smartbabyinc.com/ecommerce/

Anyone besides me used the miracle blanket? Write in and let us know about your experience.

On Nov 1st Smartbaby Inc. will be anouncing the winner of the first monthly toy drawing. Each person will  gain an entry for liking us on facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Smartbaby-Inc/103018446461484 

following @fraidaflaishman on twitter,

or commenting on the smartbabyinc.com blog http://www.smartbabyinc.com/bl. og.rhtml

Thanks for your support guys!!!

The Toy Must Have For ALL Newborns!!!!!!!!!!!

We get so busy preparing the nursery with the right color scheme, theme, furniture, and accents that we often overlook what I consider the most important staple in a nursery.   Every baby must have……. a mobile.  Your baby’s mobile is his first opportunity to use his vision and figure out the shapes and objects in his world.  He will be developing his eye skill and building his attention through the use of a mobile.  Mobiles should be of strong contrasting colors, so that they will be easy for newborns to see. Stay away from the pastels; sorry if that is your nursery theme, the colors are just not strong enough for your newborns developing vision.  A mobile should come with gentle and soothing music.  You can swing the mobile out of the crib when your baby is tired or overstimulated.  You can use the music to sooth your baby with or without the movement of the mobile. When your newborn is a little bit older, 3-4 months or more he will begin to really follow the movement of the mobile and this should keep him busy so that you can have a few minutes of constructive mommy time.  (What is constructive mommy time? We will get to that at a later date)

In appreciation for all the people following smartbabyinc.com we will be giving away an item from our product page on Nov. 1^st.  You will be entered to win by commenting on this blog,

Following us on twitter,                                                   

 Or liking us on Facebook.

 Yes you will be entered 3 times if you do all three.

 Good Luck.

#1 baby positioning tip!!!!!!

Mother's often ask me what is the most important thing they should make sure to do with their baby to encourage their motor development.  You would think that I would hesitate to answer this question after all there are so many important things to do for your baby's motor development, how could I choose just one. Believe it or not this question leaves me no hesitation at all!!!!!!!!!!!!! MOMMY the most important thing you can do for your baby's motor development is to make sure that he/she is getting PLENTY of tummy time.  Tummy time is not just a suggestion it is of significant importance.  Your baby doesn't like tummy time?????? With enough help and encouragement from you she/he will get used to it. Your babies strength and movement skill will be enhanced by this tummy down position.  This is a crucial step in your child's motor development he/she cannot afford to miss.  Get down on the floor with your baby, use a c shaped pillow, bright toys, or mirror, or whatever else it takes to get your baby used to and happy playing in this position.  Put baby on a tummy time schedule multiple times a day for short periods if necessary until he/she gets used to tummy time.  It's never to early to start tummy time but it can be to late soooooo start today.

What is the difference between fine and gross motor skill.

Motor skill refers to how you use your bodies muscles. Gross motor refers to large muscle groups and fine motor refers to small muscle groups. Gross motor skill are movements like running, jumping, and walking that require the use of the bodies larger muscles.  Fine motor skill are movements like mouth and finger movements that require the use of smaller muscle groups.  A person can have difficulty with their fine or gross motor skill or both.  Often, but not always if a person has poor gross motor muscle movements they also have weak muscles.  Poor gross motor skill related to weak muscles often lead to weak core strength.  People that have a weak core often have compromised fine motor skill as well. It is difficult to manipulate the small muscles of your body when the larger ones are not providing a stable base to work off of.