Oh My Sick Baby!

Sick baby Mattelyn asleep with her rosy chapped cheeks next to the Chrismas Tree.

Doesn’t your heart just break? Here you are with your little baby that depends on you for EVERYTHING and she gets sick much to your dismay. She can’t tell you what is wrong and you really can’t give her anything. You have tried your hardest to protect her with natural antibodies from breast milk and by shielding from the common cold by asking guests to please wash their hands and asking snotty nosed kids to stay out of her face and yet here you are. You took her at the beginning of the flu season to get her flu shot (both flu shots because babies receive the flu shot in two separate shots a month apart), and it appears she has something. She is stuffed up, coughing, can’t sleep because her congestion and cough is waking her up. She is carrying a low grade fever and isn’t happy at all. As a matter of fact, she is downright, itchy-eyed, runny-nosed, chapped-cheeks SICK.

That was me with my poor little Mattelyn. Not just once, but THREE TIMES in the month of December – so let’s just say the entire month of December. First and foremost, I am just like all other first time moms. I take her to the doctor whenever it is recommended and call them when she has a fever. Which is what we’re supposed to do. But doctors don’t want to give a baby antibiotics unless they absolutely feel it is necessary. We also can’t give baby cold and flu over the counter medication. And all I want is to make her more comfortable!

So I thought I would share what we did the month of December to help her out – make her more comfortable. And since we were open to everything because it was absolutely miserable watching her go through it over and over again, we tried quite a few things! Most of this is par for the course and what you would likely think to do. But sometimes as first time moms and dads, when we are told there really isn’t much we can do, our minds go blank. That’s what happened to us, anyway! So these I feel are worth the share or reminder:

1. HUMIDIFIER – The air is SO DRY in our house because we keep it extra warm when Mattelyn is sick. It dries out their nose and their skin. It is AMAZING the difference when we run the humidifier all night. She sleeps so much better and when she wakes up, she isn’t as congested. Without the humidifier, she was waking up coughing and couldn’t breathe. We especially LOVE the Vicks VapoPads that you can put into the humidifier and the vapor is diffused into the air. It is amazing and makes it so much more comfortable in there.

Humidifier for her nursery where she sleeps every night.

2. CHAMOIS SHEET – these sheets are phenomenal. And lets be honest – it doesn’t have to chamois from Pottery Barn! I am just making a point – a comfy, snuggly warm sheet – chamois or flannel – is much more soothing to a sick baby with chapped cheeks than a cold, uncomfortable cotton or polyester sheet.

Chamois sheet from Pottery Barn Kids. Soft, plush and warm.

3. NOSE ASPIRATOR & SIMPLY SALINE SPRAY – My recommendation?? TRY IT ON YOURSELF FIRST. Once you use the nose aspirator on YOURSELF or your partner, you will realize that it is an odd feeling but it DOESN’T HURT and it isn’t even that uncomfortable! That will make the struggle that is about to ensue much easier to handle. Honestly, my husband thought I was crazy when I told him I was going to try it – but I didn’t want to do something to her that would hurt her. So I did it myself and of course, it isn’t a big deal. Hold them down and GET IT OUT (ask your partner to help). The more you remove for them – (the BEST TIME is RIGHT AFTER A BATH and before bed) – the better off they are. The last thing you want is for it to get into their chest. If you are adamant about it and do it several times (more if you can) a day, it will cut the length of their cold down. They can’t get it out by blowing their nose. They will vehemently disapprove and scream and carry on but they are okay and you can be sure you are doing them a favor.

The Simply Saline by Arm & Hammer is really a great design and shoots the saline into the nasal passage much more easily than the brands that come in packaging that forces you to lie baby on their back and drop into their nose cavities. It will break up the congestion and get the blockage moving. If you do this PRIOR to the nose aspirator, it will get the fluids moving and make it easier to get more out. Our little Mattelyn actually got to where my husband could show it to her and as though it was a game, she would stick her little nose out to him and ACTUALLY allow him to spray it in both nostrils! (She of course never let me do it, but hey, as long as it was getting done!)

The nose aspirator and the simply saline spray – MUST HAVES!

4. BOOGIE WIPES – These are small tissue-like wipes that have saline (and only saline) in them. This makes the consistent, constant wiping of the nose more bearable as everything is chapped and sore. We have a canister or a small package of Boogie Wipes next to her playroom, in her nursery, on the couch, at the table where I feed her, in the car, in the diaper bag – wherever you are is where these need to be…

Boogie Wipes – next to her playroom, in her nursery, on the couch, at the table where I feed her, in the car, in the diaper bag – wherever you are is where these need to be…

5. MUSTELA HYDRA-STICK and VICKS BABY RUB – The Mustela Hydra-stick is a MIRACLE for chapped cheeks. Her cheeks got so red and chapped that her skin actually looks scaly, so sad! This hydra-stick is non-greasy and has no scent. It cleared her little pink cheeks over night. Baby’s skin is so very NEW and THIN that it is ten times as sensitive as ours. It’s so important to lotion them and to pay special attention to their skin especially in the dry, winter air – both outside and inside. I began using it every day and especially after a bath and before bed. The Hydra-stick is on the expensive side ($9.99 available among other retailers, at Babies R Us) but given the lotions that are also recommended for chapped skin, it is only about $2-3 more and the performance is worth the extra spend. The Vicks BabyRub we used at the end of her cold. We rubbed a tiny amount on her chest and there is a rumor that putting it on the bottoms of their feet help as well.

Mustela Hydra-Stick and Vicks BabyRub

6. ANTIBACTERIAL WET ONES – they touch everything (and put it in their mouth) and everything carries a germ. While their immune system is already compromised, it can be even more alarming when you are out and they touch things. Carry antibacterial wipes at all times! And wipe those handies! Also – wipe other kids hands or offer a wipe to them, especially other runny-nosed kids. Try to keep them out of the same area as baby. Encourage all visitors that come into your house to wash their hands with antibacterial soap as well. My husband works downtown in a high-rise with 5,000 other people breathing in recirculated flu-infected air everyday. And, he is on a commuter train for an hour to work and an hour home everyday with another 1,000 people. When he gets home, he takes his shirt off and washes his hands and face – religiously. We made that something he began doing when she was really little and just kept doing it. He is in contact with SO MUCH everyday that it is a no-brainer if she is going to be affected by anything, it would probably come from daddy!

Antibacterial Wet Ones

7. Vaseline – 100% Pure Petroleum Jelly – use liberally on chapped cheeks and nose before going out into the cold. This stuff is cheap and easy to carry three or four with you – in your diaper bag, in the car, in the camera bag. This is a perfect barrier on the skin to moisture and cold air that will further inflame an already sensitive area of baby’s skin.

Vaseline for putting on chapped cheeks and nose before going out into the cold.

8. The BrAun ThermoScan Baby Thermometer for the Ear – It is worth the money and peace of mind to have this! It is so very accurate and will put your mind at ease. ESPECIALLY at 3am when they wake up screaming. We spent more than the cost of this thermometer buying the not so expensive ones that are pacifiers, or the digital under the tongue thermometers. The batteries never last, it’s impossible to get a baby to suck for the amount of time necessary to get an accurate reading from the pacifier thermometer – if they can’t breathe – how are they going to keep their mouths shut to suck on a pacifier? This will make such a difference in your life and the well-being of your little one. AND, it’s SO EASY and QUICK!

The BrAun ThermoScan baby thermometer – forgo the cheap thermometers – you will more than pay for one of these by replacing batteries and finding one that actually works!

9. VICKS VAPOPADS for the Humidifier – as I described above, these are wonderful. They fill the air with breathable Vicks soothing sleepy time comfort. They can be pricey as each pad lasts for only 8 hours. But in the height of their misery, this is worth the coin.

Vicks VapoPads for the Humidifier.

10. 100% JUICE – my doctor has told me that he doesn’t want me to give Mattelyn juice for the simple fact that all benefits of juice she will get from her food and, he believes that juice (and other sugary drinks) are one of the leading causes of obesity in children. 100% juice has natural sugars – however, sugar is sugar and will be processed/metabolized the same way and can lead to stored fat. That said, he did recommend giving Mattelyn watered-down juice while she is sick because the more fluids in, the more fluids out and she needs her little system FLUSHED.

100% Juice watered down – 1 oz juice to 2-3 oz water.

11. Johnson’s Soothing Vapor Baby Bath – Still the No More Tears formula, this is just that, another way to soothe a baby’s congestion while giving them a bath. This aids in their breathing while they take a bath and is safe to use. I particular liked giving her a bath and using it AFTER sitting in the bathroom while a hot shower was run for 15 minutes.

Johnson’s Soothing Vapor Baby Bath

12. Steam from a hot shower – It is SO BENEFICIAL to bring baby into a bathroom and let the hot shower steam up the room while they play on the floor with a waterproof toy. When they are miserable and nothing seems to be helping them, allowing the steam to enter their nasal passages and their pores in their skin is incredibly effective. Their chest opens up and their bronchial tubes clear, relaxing because they are warm and stimulated rather than constricted. TRY THIS.

13. Infants’ Advil – Our pediatrician recommended either Infants’ Motrin or Infants’ Advil. We tried both. And again, I TRIED THEM TOO and would recommend you do as well. I took the same amount that they recommend for baby so that I knew what it was going to taste like for her. The baby Motrin was really distasteful. She let us know, too. She would refuse to take it and when she would, she would hold it in her mouth and then spit it out. I thought the after taste was even worse on the back of my tongue. Not believing there would be much difference, I tried the Infants’ Advil. This was much different. The flavor was more pleasant and the after taste was non-existent. She took it with ease and I never had a problem again. My recommendation – buy the Infants’ Advil – baby will thank you for it!

Infants Advil

14. Allow baby to sleep sitting up for a nap during the day against your chest. You are home with sick baby anyway and right now is the time to cuddle your little sick baby! She wants your extra love and attention and if you have the time, do her a favor and let her sleep on your chest while you are sitting on the couch to take her nap. She will benefit from your warmth, love and comfort and being elevated will help her with congestion and drainage. This can be very beneficial and assist with bonding.

15. Lastly, continue with all of the fruits and vegetables in their diet that are high in Vitamin C among other nutrients and vitamins. Make sure that your baby continues to eat even if he doesn’t act as interested.

Baby needs loves, hugs and kisses right now and you’re the one to shower them with them!

Love and luck and I hope this is helpful in bringing comfort to your little one!

XO ~ Stephanie

Simple Perfect Morning Cereal For Baby

Mattelyn enjoying her Perfect Organic Oatmeal Cereal – 9 months

I have posted pretty elaborate posts about what I try to feed Mattelyn and why. I know being so thoroughly detailed about my wishes to feed her “appropriately” (in my humble opinion) appears overwhelming at times but honestly, it is how I strive to provide for her on a daily basis so it is just a part of my job. And I always take my job seriously, with gusto, with deafening thoroughness and no matter what, giving 110% effort. Since this is by far the most important job I have ever, EVER had, one would expect none-the-less!

That said, I wanted to pass on this simple, warm cereal I make for Mattelyn every morning. And a lot of times, minus the banana, before bed, too. Although I am always researching and experimenting with different options for her meals, I also look to establish “go to meals” that make daily life a bit easier. There are certain things I can count on – and a staple like this cereal that she loves is one of them. This also makes it part of our routine – I know what to shop for at the store every week and no matter how busy I get that morning, because I have made this many times for her, I can do it one-handed, on the phone, letting the dog out, making her bottle, holding her while she is crying…

Plain oatmeal cereal for infants is a wonderful base because it is bland, easy to digest and full of iron – which is severely important for infants age 6-12 months (and really until 2 years of age). Iron is a nutrient that babies need for brain development, (among other important development), and the majority of the time, babies that are tested for iron are deficient or have iron-deficient anemia. This is a scary thought when it aids in BRAIN development. I only had to read that ONE TIME to recognize that she needed iron-rich breast milk, formula and baby cereal – and I had the power to give that to her every day throughout the day. This has become a personal quest of mine now – to feed her meals that are full of iron. This is an excerpt from the Baby Center Website that explains babies that are “at risk:”

Breastfed babies who receive no iron-fortified foods after 4 months of age. The iron in breast milk is absorbed three times better than the iron in formula, but around the time a baby starts eating solids, he needs additional iron in the form of fortified cereals and other iron-rich foods.

I am also very aware of GMOs (if you have read my other posts) when it comes to feeding Mattelyn. She was strictly breastfed for her first 6 months and when we introduced solid foods, I wanted to try my hardest to protect her from genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and genetically modified ingredients (GMIs). I am also a huge proponent of no preservatives – if I can make it myself, I control everything including the flavor of the food. Not to mention she will have a lifetime of eating preservatives and GMOs. GMOs and GMIs are not included on food labels. The only way you  be positive you are buying food that has no GMOs or GMIs is by purchasing organic that specifically says that on the label. This is something that I want to do for her and feel strongly about. I understand at this point in her life, I can safeguard her in this way. You can read more about GMOs and GMIs in my other posts or Google it – it is a hot topic when it comes to baby formula. I use Earth’s Best for her formula and oatmeal cereal. You can also go to the Non GMO Project Website to read a lot more about the topic and for a list of baby food and baby formula that are non GMO (not to mention plenty of other products, foods, brands and retailers).

Organic Gala Apples from Trader Joe’s

Organic Apples, Banana, Organic Earth’s Best Oatmeal Cereal, Breast Milk or Formula

Peeled organic apples steaming on stove for 7 minutes. Then using a handheld Immersion Blender, create a puree.

Organic Apple Puree – freeze the ice cube tray and once they are frozen, pop out and place in Ziploc bags for daily use. Each cube is 3/4 – 1oz in size.

To make this cereal, I use:

• an ounce of fresh (or frozen fresh) apple puree,
• 1 tablespoon of Earth’s Best Organic Oatmeal Cereal,
• a quarter of a banana, cut into small pieces and mashed,
• 3-4 tablespoons of breast milk or baby’s daily formula.

It’s THAT EASY.

I make a 2 oz. bottle in the bottle warmer (2 oz of purified water plus one level, unpacked scoop of baby formula, shake, warm for 2 minutes and shake again) and I defrost one of the frozen apple puree “ice cubes” (melt in microwave for 15 seconds). Then, I mash 1/4 of a banana with a fork. Mix one tablespoon of the cereal with 3-4 tablespoons of breast milk or formula. Add the apple puree and add additional milk to make it the consistency your baby prefers. Then, add in the mashed banana.

This is wonderful, warm and it is filling for baby’s tummy. You can also change up the base fruit with pears or some other fruit puree. I also use prune puree if she is a bit constipated. She really likes apple and prune puree. Either way, this provides baby with two servings of fruit, whole grains and a lot of iron (in both the cereal and formula). It is an excellent way to boost their little metabolisms first thing every morning. And as an evening snack, it helps keep baby’s tummy full for the night. I leave out the banana because I feel she reacts to the natural sugar in the banana and gets an extra boost of energy right when I want her to settle down for story time!

You can also print this and keep it handy for grandparents or your baby’s care provider. These directions are easy to follow and anyone can do it.

I would love to hear how your little one enjoys this and hear different morning dishes you routinely make! I would also just like to hear from YOU! Follow me here, on Twitter, Instagram – I will follow you back. I am new to this and looking to share information and IDEAS.

Happy New Year! 2014 is going to be a fabulous year – I just know it! Full of so many changes within Mattelyn which in turn will be new experiences for me. Can’t wait!

XO – Stephanie

111 Miles Since March

We are going to begin our walks for August tomorrow – I have been so adamant to get in at least 10 miles a week since Mattelyn’s birth. We did really well in April, May and June and July it just got TOO HOT!! But tomorrow, we are going to stick to it! I am planning on logging 55 miles in August and participating in the Instagram #55milesinaugust project. Having something to motivate me always helps!

I keep a log of all our miles on a calendar and use the “walkmeter” app on my iPhone to log mileage. I think it will be fun for her to get older and see how many miles we walked her first year with photos and all. I believe it sets a good, healthy example early on in her little life. She will enjoy seeing the photos of us – her in the stroller and our dog Mikki on her leash attached.

Since she will be 5 months this weekend on the 6th, it has become increasingly challenging to take walks in her stroller. She is young enough that she still has to be in the car seat but old enough that she doesn’t sleep the whole walk now. She wants desperately to be out of the harness! For the first three months, she would sleep for a good two hour walk and I took full advantage of that even in very cold, icy Chicago winter March and April weather. Now, we have had to cut down the mileage because she doesn’t want to be constrained for that amount of time and gets hot inside her car seat. When she was only a month or two old, the wind was a big part of our walks because it would take her breath away. I began putting the Advent Gauze thin summer blankets over the car seat so that the wind wouldn’t catch her. (I will post photos of her when we first started walking until now – pretty cute as she has grown). We even did our first 5K the beginning of this June.

I am excited for what month 5 brings us for our walks. I believe she will be sitting upright on her own this month (really, anytime now – she is very strong and determined). When that happens, it will be a lot of fun for her as she will be able to sit forward facing in her City Mini stroller and out of her car seat! And I will be able to jog with her! Looking forward to that.

At the same time, it makes me a little sad to know that she is growing so quickly. She is going to be out of her car seat in the stroller and no longer facing me as we walk. I won’t see that tiny smiling face looking at me or her sweet expressions while she sleeps. I won’t be able to stare at her wondering what she is going to talk about on our walks when she can talk. As I get emotional thinking about it even as I write this, I know it is something that is only the beginning of a long list of this type of thing I am going to have to get used to.

As we venture out to log our miles in August tomorrow, participating in the motivational healthy lifestyle perpetuated through social media, adding to her calendar of mileage, I will be sure to take my time looking at her pretty little curious face and enjoy the weather and our familiar two and a half miles that our dog Mikki basically leads for us. We have logged 111 miles since she was born March 6th and I logged 245 miles while I was pregnant with her. I think it will be fun to know how many miles she walks throughout her life.

Until tomorrow…

These photos are from our very first walk in March. She is SO TINY and brand new!!!