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.

 Post a comment at http://smartbabyinc.blogspot.com/

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!!!!




To post a comment go to  :
http://smartbabyinc.blogspot.com/2011/11/holiday-season-gift-ideas.html#comments









,

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.