Applying For an Infant Passport

Traveling with an infant brings unique challenges for first time parents. Car seats, diaper bags, changes of clothing and more become part of the new travel routine. Along with all of the standard baby gear, there may be one more thing to consider bringing along: an infant passport.

Passports are becoming increasingly important. Most borders cannot be crossed today without a passport, even the Mexican and Canadian borders. Infants are not exempt from this requirement. You cannot add an infant to a U.S. passport. Every citizen, including babies, must have his or her own passport. Anyone trying to cross a border with an infant who doesn't have a passport may be regarded with suspicion. Carrying a passport for an infant when you travel is just as important as carrying your own.

Infant

New parents often wonder when they should apply for an infant passport. The best answer is: as soon as possible. Obtaining a passport for an infant should be considered routine, just as applying for a birth certificate is. Even if you don't have international travel plans in your immediate future, it's still a good idea to apply for one. It usually takes about six weeks to have your application processed. Those who want to expedite the process and receive a passport in about two weeks can pay an extra fee of . However, by simply applying for it early on you can avoid this fee. You'll also avoid the stress of trying to obtain a passport while busy making travel plans.

Applying For an Infant Passport

Infant passports are obtained in the same manner as a child or adult passport. Infant passport applications may be downloaded from various travel service providers and government agencies. You may also obtain one in person from your local post office or immigration office. Infant passport requirements include:

*Presentation of your baby's birth certificate. If your child was born outside the United States, you must present the child's Naturalization Certificate or Certificate of Citizenship along with the birth certificate.

*Two official passport photos. They must be regulation size (2 inches by 2 inches) and should be taken by a professional photographer. Home-produced photographs are not accepted.

*The application fee, which is . Remember, it will cost an extra if you need to obtain it faster than six weeks.

The baby need not appear in person to be granted a passport. However, the person applying for it must be able to vouch for the identity of the child and present his or her own identification. Infant passports are valid for five years.

Traveling aside, it's useful to obtain a passport for an infant for other reasons. It is often the only form of official picture ID that a baby can obtain. Sometimes picture ID is required for registering for preschool or kindergarten, or may even be required for some domestic airline flights. Having official picture identification for your child is never a bad idea. Applying for it right from the beginning may save parents from unforeseen trouble down the road.

Applying For an Infant Passport

http://travel.state.gov

Relieving Infant Constipation Naturally

Your baby typically was not delivered with an instruction manual, and most of us parents can be caught off guard in the face of the stressful symptoms associated with infant constipation. Concerns for bowel obstructions, and the systemic toxicity that can build up when the diaper remains clean for too long can leave us feeling worried and helpless. Our great-grandmother's instinct to use natural folk remedies from her garden or kitchen is unfortunately mostly lost to us.

So up come your fears as your babe writhes in pain, pulling his knees up to his chest. Or maybe baby Egbert, hasn't passed stool in 3-4 days and you're wondering when the diaper is going to get filled, or maybe you are concerned that he might become toxic with the contents of the unexpressed stool, or worse, there might be a bowel obstruction and a visit to the emergency room is the right answer. As you ponder and scratch your chin, your baby may be getting more and more uncomfortable and your spouse is starting to panic, turning the heat up on your need to be in the know.

Infant

Most individuals would like to avoid conventional medicine and drugs, if they can, when it comes to simple infant constipation and leave those well trained medical folk to concentrate on bigger issues than a bit of jammed plumbing. Most of us know that, thankfully, a medical physician will rarely prescribe drugs to infants, including glycerin suppositories, as this seeming small and safe intervention feels invasive to a baby just months old. However, if the baby vomits or runs a fever with their constipation, the proper jurisdiction is the hospital as there could be an obstructed bowel in this case, and the Dr. will generally order an ultrasound just to be sure. However, there are a good number of things we can do at home before we have to darken their door.

Relieving Infant Constipation Naturally

A rule of thumb to be aware of is that breast-fed babes tend to pass stool more often than bottle-fed babes. The reason for this is that breast milk is more easily digested by your baby and 2 - 4 mostly odorless, grainy mustard-like stools a day is very common. Breast-fed babes also don't generally pass logs. This is reserved more for bottle fed babes who will pass a more well-formed stool 1 - 3 times per day. It is not uncommon, though, for these numbers to be slightly higher or lower depending on the model of baby you got. Some bottle fed babes go once every other day or so. This is normal as long as your baby feels content.

When you suspect that you are dealing with infant constipation, sufficient hydration is the first thing to consider. You can safely start by offering a small amount of purified water by mouth using a dropper. Babies sometimes can get a little backed up if a solid mass isn't softened enough. Occasionally, if the summer temperatures peak, your babe may need more hydration to keep things moving. Also, if you are transitioning your babe from breast to bottle, or cup, this can be a time that a little more water be introduced to prevent the typical cycling into constipation with the advent of goat's or cow's milk. We generally find that babes do better with organic raw goat's milk first and then organic raw cow's milk in a few months down the road.

Using diet to solve your babe's constipation is easy. Feed wholly on demand and be sure to throw away any schedule being offered by the wisest of grandparents. Many individuals suffer eating disorders today due to being restricted as infants and placed on a ridiculous schedule to fit their parent's needs. For example, babies will tend to "cluster feed" in the evenings in an effort to bulk up on nutrition for the longer stretches of sleep through the night before they break-fast in the morning. When your babe wakes at night, you can nurse, bottle feed or offer a little water depending on what you feel they need. Babies around 6 or 7 months will have soft regular stools with the slow, staggered introduction of pablums (cereals), vegetables, and fruits. If your babe's tongue pushes out more food than she takes in, it may be too early to start her on solids. Wait a week, or so, and then try introducing rice cereal again.

Infant massage also has brilliant benefits for bonding with your babe, and the added feature is that it also promotes healthy elimination of stool. After a warm bath, with a teaspoon of epsom or himalayan salts from your local health food store, you can lay your baby gently on her back and with a little olive or almond oil on your fingers, you can trace a gentle clockwise circle about 2 - 4 inches from her belly button with your fingers. You may not know it, but you are following the natural circuit of the large intestine and encouraging peristalsis (the squeezing action of the intestines) for the purpose of promoting elimination. Make sure baby is reacting favorably to this kind of stimulation as severe crying from cramping or colic isn't a normal reaction.

Essential oils naturally go hand-in-hand with these massage techniques, and there is a rich history of using different oils for specific therapeutic purposes. There are a variety of oil blends on the market used for constipation, and the most common ingredients found here are the oils of rosemary, lemon, and peppermint, to name a few. Essential oil therapy, in general, is also stimulating for the child's whole immune system, and will lead to side benefits beyond the current goal of relieving infant constipation.

The other baby massage technique that works well is the recumbent bicycle. While baby is on his back, you can take his legs and gently imitate the motion of riding a cosmic bike. This also acts to stimulate peristalsis in the same way that walking and movement helps us parents to stay regular. If during the baby massage, you feel hard or knotty stool, or you don't hear any gas bubbles when you put your ear to baby's tummy, it may be a sign of an obstruction from too much stool built up and the next action would be a trip to your medical practitioner for the appropriate remedy or intervention.

Unfortunately, there is no "one size fits all" remedy for your baby's infant constipation, however, gaining some wisdom and using some of these simple, safe and accessible tools and techniques can decrease your baby's suffering and provide you with peace of mind. The side effects of long-term medication or surgery is what most of us are interested in avoiding out of the love for our babies who rely on us for their total health and well-being. They deserve our best efforts and knowledge on their behalf.

Relieving Infant Constipation Naturally

Allyson McQuinn, DMH, is a Doctor of Medical Heilkunst and the co-owner of Arcanum Wholistic Clinic. She has been exploring Homeopathy and natural medicine since the early 1990s, when her autistic-spectrum baby prompted her to search for a cure. She has published the story of her journey in "The Path To Cure: The Whole Art of Healing" which is available at her website http://www.arcanum.ca where you can also follow all of her latest writings distributed in her free monthly newsletter. She is currently developing a comprehensive resource guide for treating infant constipation with natural remedies, which is germinating at http://www.infantconstipationcause.com

Infant Constipation Remedy - Baby Constipation Relief

Infant constipation means hard and infrequent stools. It does not mean grunting or straining. How often your infant should have a bowel movement depends on if your child is breast fed or bottle fed. Before you determine the best remedy, you should first determine if your infant is really constipated.

The colon works to maintain the body's fluid balance. The colon achieves this by removing water from the stool and eliminating waste. Waste is eliminated in the form of stool. Stools are formed as water along with nutrients and salts are absorbed by the colon. If stool remains in the colon too long, too much water is absorbed, leaving it dry and hard.

Infant

Breast fed infants are never technically constipated because the milk is easily absorbed by the baby and used. What is left is stool which is loose, curd-like, seedy and mucus. Breast fed stool do not have a foul smell. Exclusively breast fed infants can go several days between movements.

Infant Constipation Remedy - Baby Constipation Relief

When you notice your infant groaning, straining and making funny faces as he makes a bowel movement, your infant is not constipated. This is because the baby has not learned to control their abdominal and anal muscles to relax and expand when making a bowl movement. Once you introduce solids or formula, constipation may be become an issue.

Constipation in formula fed infants is very common. Infant formula is not as well digested as breast milk and more residues are left in the colon. Because formula takes longer to digest, the residue builds up, too much water is absorb and the stool becomes hard and pebble-like. It may be difficult and uncomfortable for your infant to pass. In this case straining and groaning may occur. Formula fed infants should have a bowel movement every 1-2 days.

If your infant is constipated here are some helpful remedies:

* Gently massage your infant's tummy. Stop if the baby seems to be in pain.

* Rotate the legs in a 'bicycle" movement. This causes the stomach muscles to move and stimulate the colon.

* Fruit Juice: Offer your infant a few ounces of fruit juice (apple, prune) until the bowels are moving.

* Try a gentle rectal exam. Insert a lubricated thermometer or Q-tip about a quarter inch into the rectum and wiggle it around. This really works so be prepared for what comes out.

* Karo syrup: Add about two teaspoons to formula. Corn syrup draws more fluid into the intestine, which makes stool less hard. Be sure not to give too much because diarrhea can occur

* Liquid Glycerin Suppositories for Infants: suppositories work by increasing water in the stool.

* For infants on solids offer prunes, peaches, pears, plums, apricots and peas. They make stools softer.

When to contact the doctor:

* If your infant cries while straining

* Constipation remains a persistent problem

* The number of wet diapers decreases each day

* Blood in stool or bleeding from anus

* Abdominal pain

* Reduced Appetite

Infant Constipation Remedy - Baby Constipation Relief

Kaaryn Walker is the editor of http://www.nomoreconstipation.com a website providing information on causes, symptoms and relief from constipation. To learn more about remedies for constipation in infants, adults, and seniors visit No More Constipation.

Easy Infant Halloween Costumes

Halloween night is drawing near and the race is on to find unique, infant Halloween costumes. We said our less than fond farewells to those smothering plastic masks that were once included in even the most cool costumes for kids. This in itself is a big improvement as it is difficult for even the most determined Trick or Treaters to have a good time when they are perspiring and uncomfortable. And when it comes to baby's first time out, they have a way of making their misery known. The best idea is to design Halloween outfits for infants that are not irritating to sensitive skin for the best chance of a pleasant night of Trick or Treating for the entire family.

Many modern infant Halloween costumes are actually embellished, sleepers with hoods that are decorated to resemble popular characters from television, the latest kids' movie or out of storybooks. Not only are they stylish, they are cute, and cuddly and easy to slip on and off in case of an emergency diaper change. For the family on a tight budget, baby's pajamas or a footed sleeper might be all the Halloween costume that is necessary for baby so long as you add a little bit of decorative face and an accessory or two.

Infant

FACE PAINTING

Easy Infant Halloween Costumes

Carefully select baby safe paints that are water based and specifically designed for use on sensitive skin. Look for an indication on the packaging that indicates that the paint is FDA approved for use on infants. When painting designs on a baby's skin, there is a greater danger of an allergic reaction than there might be when face painting on older children, so you might want to do a test on a tiny spot a few days before Halloween and even then keep the size and number of your designs to a minimum.

Another caution that I would share is to use a brush with baby soft bristles or a cotton swab that won't scratch or irritate.

FACE PAINTING DESIGN FOR BABIES

Whether baby's first infant Halloween costume is a baby bunny outfit, a kitty cat costume or a puppy dog, a few tiny whiskers or a paw print painted on baby's cheek will be sufficient. If you simply must take it a step further, you may want to paint the very end of baby's nose pink for the bunny and kitten costume or black for the puppy costume. If you have more than one child get all the kids in on the fun! Arrange for an entire family of kittens or puppies to go from house to house shouting Trick or Treat!

KEEPING YOUR INFANT'S HALLOWEEN COSTUME SIMPLE

To big kids, the idea of being painted up like little Frankenstein or ghouls and zombies with solid green faces is irresistible. However, I would say that it would be a huge mistake to paint a baby's face solid white to look like a ghost. The best advice I can give for a successful Halloween costume for babies is to keep it simple.

The odds are that the excitement of baby's first Halloween will be as exhausting for baby as it was enjoyable for the adults. When the festivities are over, you will be left with a tired baby and a Halloween costume that has to be removed. At this stage, you will recognize the wisdom of keeping the amount of face paint and clothing that has to be removed to a minimum was a super plan. Sometimes a quick way to wind down the activities can be just as important as designing baby's first Halloween costume.

Easy Infant Halloween Costumes

Jan Bay's love of interior decorating and parenting motivated her to build a site, BABY BEDDING THEMES which features a comprehensive collection of articles on nursery design, decorative accessories, reviews and instructions for the proper use of safety equipment.

Use of this article requires an active link to Unique Infant Halloween Costume Ideas.

Infant Constipation Remedy - Baby Constipation Relief

Infant constipation means hard and infrequent stools. It does not mean grunting or straining. How often your infant should have a bowel movement depends on if your child is breast fed or bottle fed. Before you determine the best remedy, you should first determine if your infant is really constipated.

The colon works to maintain the body's fluid balance. The colon achieves this by removing water from the stool and eliminating waste. Waste is eliminated in the form of stool. Stools are formed as water along with nutrients and salts are absorbed by the colon. If stool remains in the colon too long, too much water is absorbed, leaving it dry and hard.

Infant

Breast fed infants are never technically constipated because the milk is easily absorbed by the baby and used. What is left is stool which is loose, curd-like, seedy and mucus. Breast fed stool do not have a foul smell. Exclusively breast fed infants can go several days between movements.

When you notice your infant groaning, straining and making funny faces as he makes a bowel movement, your infant is not constipated. This is because the baby has not learned to control their abdominal and anal muscles to relax and expand when making a bowl movement. Once you introduce solids or formula, constipation may be become an issue.

Constipation in formula fed infants is very common. Infant formula is not as well digested as breast milk and more residues are left in the colon. Because formula takes longer to digest, the residue builds up, too much water is absorb and the stool becomes hard and pebble-like. It may be difficult and uncomfortable for your infant to pass. In this case straining and groaning may occur. Formula fed infants should have a bowel movement every 1-2 days.

If your infant is constipated here are some helpful remedies:

* Gently massage your infant's tummy. Stop if the baby seems to be in pain.

* Rotate the legs in a 'bicycle" movement. This causes the stomach muscles to move and stimulate the colon.

* Fruit Juice: Offer your infant a few ounces of fruit juice (apple, prune) until the bowels are moving.

* Try a gentle rectal exam. Insert a lubricated thermometer or Q-tip about a quarter inch into the rectum and wiggle it around. This really works so be prepared for what comes out.

* Karo syrup: Add about two teaspoons to formula. Corn syrup draws more fluid into the intestine, which makes stool less hard. Be sure not to give too much because diarrhea can occur

* Liquid Glycerin Suppositories for Infants: suppositories work by increasing water in the stool.

* For infants on solids offer prunes, peaches, pears, plums, apricots and peas. They make stools softer.

When to contact the doctor:

* If your infant cries while straining

* Constipation remains a persistent problem

* The number of wet diapers decreases each day

* Blood in stool or bleeding from anus

* Abdominal pain

* Reduced Appetite

Infant Constipation Remedy - Baby Constipation Relief

Kaaryn Walker is the editor of http://www.nomoreconstipation.com a website providing information on causes, symptoms and relief from constipation. To learn more about remedies for constipation in infants, adults, and seniors visit No More Constipation.

Infant Poop - Everything You Need to Know

Infant poop can tell parents a lot about an infant's well-being and whether his feeding is going well or not. It can also tell whether the infant is properly tolerating the food or whether he is allergic to it. Therefore, it would be essential for parents to pay close attention to their baby's feces. What a baby's poop looks like, smells like, its frequency and the behavior that comes with it are all essential factors that parents need to watch out for.

What It Looks Like

Infant

The stools of a newborn baby start of as slimy and black, but quickly become dark green before they turn yellow after their first life's week is over. The stool consistency will also change to watery, seedy, pasty or loose. If babies feed well during this first week, their poop will change to yellow in an instant, whereas babies who do not feed well will remain having sticky and green poop. Breast-fed babies should end up having watery and loose stools with consistencies of runny eggs, while formula-fed babies should end up having pasty toothpaste-like stools. Once babies start to eat baby food, this consistency and color should change to orange, yellow, or green, depending on the food that they eat.

What It Smells Like

Poop of newborn babies do not smell like anything. The scent evolves once the baby grows older as regular intestinal bacteria grow inside him. The stools of breast-fed babies don't smell like anything, while those of formula-fed babies give off some odor. After baby food gets introduced, the smell will earnestly develop and disposable stool bags will definitely be needed.

Its Frequency

Newborn babies tend to give off stools very frequently and this could happen after each feeding. This is not the same as diarrhea. It happens because babies are on liquid diets, so not a lot of debris is left over to create stool materials. After a few weeks, stools of breast-fed infants get less frequent since they use up the majority of the nutrients without leaving a lot of it left over. It would be totally for normal infants of up to eight weeks old to only poop once a week. Conversely, formula-fed babies might only poop one time every four days because their formula doesn't get to break down into usable nutrients as fast as breast milk. The stool consistency and frequency will change once baby food gets introduced.

The Behavior That Comes with It

Babies tend to show some interesting behaviors during bowel movements. Since a baby's muscle tones aren't too strong yet, they have to bear down a lot when it comes to number two. Their faces will crinkle up and go red while they grunt, moan or cry out; and right after they are done, they will stop and return to normal.

All of these things are normal when it comes to infant poop. The only abnormal signs you need to watch out for would be blood, excessive mucus and white poop before calling up your pediatrician.

Infant Poop - Everything You Need to Know

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For more information about green bowel movements, please visit stoolhealth.com

What You Should Do If Your Infant Has a Seizure

As a new parent, watching your infant suffer with a seizure can not only be devastating, but leave you feeling helpless and inadequate as a parent. The first time you see your infant having a seizure is usually the worst and it is not until you understand what is happening and what to do that you will feel more comfortable handling the situation.

Infant seizures are not uncommon and usually the Infant will be fine afterwards. Seizures will only last a few minutes and eventually will stop without any intervention. These seizures or convulsions are the result of abnormal brain nerve cell activity that causes unconsciousness, rigidity in the arms and legs, and twitching of the face or limbs. Most infant seizures are related to fevers, however, recurrent seizures with no fever may indicate a seizure disorder and should be diagnosed by a doctor or pediatrician.

Infant

Febrile Seizures

Febrile seizures have a short duration of five minutes or less, are triggered by a high fever and usually indicate an underlying illness. They can be sudden, but after the first episode do not usually reoccur. What's important here is to find out what the underlying illness is that is creating the high fever. Many times, the seizure is the first indication that your infant has some kind of illness.

Although the seizure will only last a few minutes, there are steps that should be taken. First, remove any objects in the immediate area so if the child starts flinging around no injuries will occur. You will want to bring the fever down and the best way to do this is by removing the infant's clothes and applying cool cloths to the Infant's head and chest. Always use cool water, do not use rubbing alcohol. Placing your Infant into a cool bath during a seizure is not recommended and can be very dangerous.

In the event your infant starts vomiting, turn him to his side or lay him down on his stomach. Try to remove any vomit so as not to block his breathing and prevent choking or aspiration. If the Infant starts to have labored breathing gently pull his mouth open from the back sides of the jaw bone using two of your fingers.

Once the seizure is over and your child is awake, notify your doctor or pediatrician right away or take the infant to the emergency room of nearest hospital or clinic for a full examination. As previously mentioned, an underlying illness is usually present and this needs to be treated.

Seizures With No Fever

These types of seizures should be treated the same as Febrile Seizures except for the fact there is no fever, so cooling down the Infant is not necessary. Keep the infant comfortable, away from any objects and do not try to restrain the Infant in any way. Sometimes during a seizure, the infant will stop breathing momentarily. Do not be alarmed or try CPR, the child will start breathing again on their own without any intervention on your part.

Many parents fear that their infant will choke on their tongue or bite it off. There is no way that the Infant will swallow their own tongue and rarely does the child do severe damage to their tongue or bite it off. These fears are unfounded and you should never stick your fingers or any other object into your Infant's mouth during a seizure.

As with febrile seizures, once the seizure has ended and your Infant is conscious and awake, seek medical attention for a full examination, diagnosis and treatment.

Although frightening, seizures are common place and rarely result in brain damage of any kind. If your infant has a seizure, remain calm, follow these simple steps and then follow up with a medical professional for treatment.

What You Should Do If Your Infant Has a Seizure

Gunawan Harinanto is a Happy Dad with one handsome boy, and webmaster of Baby First Care site. Please visit his site to get more info on Infant Seizure. You may republish this article on your website or blog by providing credit to the author and providing a live link to BabyFirstYear.org Site.

Thrush in Babies - How to Cure Infant Thrush Naturally and Permanently

Life as a little baby can be hard: so many sights, sounds and sensations to adjust to. Thrush can make life for a little baby - and mom - even harder. If thrush is the most serious health issue you have to contend with, then in some ways you're very lucky. However, that doesn't make thrush easy to deal with.

Without the right approach, treating babies with thrush can be difficult and frustrating. Feedings, diaper changes, night-wakings, and the innumerable other responsibilities of caring for a newborn can make oral thrush seem downright overwhelming. Let's look at some of the most common symptoms of oral thrush:

Infant

-Creamy, white patches on the tongue, gums or inside the cheeks
-Difficulty nursing and/or reluctance to nurse
-Unusually fussy
-Baby's mouth seems sore, painful.

The yeast cell candida albicans (which causes thrush) loves the warm, wet, sugar-rich environment of babies' mouths. Breast milk is rich in the natural sugar lactose, while formulas contain added sweeteners; whether a baby is breastfed or bottle-fed, yeast cells will have ample food to grow and multiply.

The prevalent use of antibiotics, both for c-sections and strep B bacteria, has made infant thrush more common than ever. Antibiotics wipe out both mom and baby's natural yeast defenses, making yeast overgrowth more likely. If mom has vaginal yeast, this may cause baby to catch the yeast coming through the birth canal. Prematurity or use of steroids may also make thrush more likely.

There are two common approaches to treating babies with thrush:
1.) use prescription pharmaceuticals such as Nystatin or Diflucan to kill the yeast or
2.) to kill the yeast with "natural" or home remedies. I say "natural" because some common home remedies, such as gentian violet, are not really natural. Gentian violet is a petrol derivative and carries increased long-term risk for oral cancer.

In any case, both the pharmaceutical and "natural" approach are imperfect solutions because they don't stop the yeast from growing back. Pharmaceuticals such as Diflucan and other antifungals carry the additional risk of serious side effects, which is especially troubling for a newborn. (Nystatin is the safest of the pharmaceutical drugs but is not very effective and may sometimes cause the yeast to mutate into a more difficult to treat form.)

Some thrush home remedies carry significant risks as well, which is worrisome since well-meaning mothers may simply not be aware of potential side effects. I've seen products containing colloidal silver, tea tree oil and oregano oil all advertised for infant thrush problems: each of these has significant concerns as far as treating babies.

My own personal experiences with the difficulty of treating thrush naturally and permanently led me to develop a comprehensive approach to treat infant thrush quickly and safely, with only positive side effects: zero harmful ones. The key lies both in killing the existing yeast (safely) and curing the underlying imbalance that allowed the yeast cells to grow out of control in the first place.

Thrush in Babies - How to Cure Infant Thrush Naturally and Permanently

Rebecca Haworth is a professional health writer with more than 15 years of experience in the alternative health industry. Her ebook, "The 3-Day Thrush Cure" is specifically designed to help breastfeeding mothers and babies suffering from thrush to overcome this problem quickly and naturally. Visit http://www.GetRidofThrush.com for more information.

Infant Breathing How To Tell Whats Normal And Whats Not

Infant Breathing:

When you bring your infant home from the hospital, you suddenly realize you're on your own. Where are those wonderful maternal-infant nurses? Who do you ask for advice when you have questions about what is normal infant behavior and what warrants a call to the doctor? Among your many questions, no doubt you will have concerns about your baby's breathing. It goes without saying that you should call your pediatrician immediately if you suspect your infant is having serious trouble breathing. However, there are some normal breathing irregularities that may cause you concern, but should not cause you to panic.

Infant

What's Normal?

By the time your baby is born, he's been essentially underwater for months. It takes time for his nasal passages to clear. According to pediatrician Robert Sears, "many newborns will have a stuffy nose for several weeks." This harmless stuffiness can interfere with feeding and breathing, but is "virtually never a reason to page your doctor after hours." Dr. Sears recommends a squirt of nasal saline into the nose and suction with a bulb syringe. (You probably left the hospital with the one used on your newborn).

Another mild breathing problem is chest congestion caused by saliva or regurgitated milk. Again, Dr. Sears states that this is not a reason to phone your doctor after hours. Try holding your baby upright and letting him sleep upright in your arms or a carseat, and telephone your doctor during business hours to be sure your baby's symptoms are normal.

Newborns may also exhibit rapid breathing or panting. According to the Children's Hospital of Philadephia, "rapid breathing is more than 60 breaths each minute." An overheated baby or one who is upset and crying may breathe more rapidly, but once the baby stops crying or is no longer too hot, the rate should slow. If rapid breathing or panting comes and goes, and your baby has no other sign of illness, you probably have no reason to worry.

Babies occasionally will take in too much milk and get choked on it. This, too, is probably harmless. However, persistent coughing or choking warrants an exam by your pediatrician.

What's Not Normal?

Any sign of your baby's breathing irregularity is, of course, going to elicit your concern, but it is important to note when "normal" becomes "abnormal."

Croup, with its seal-like, barking cough, sounds terrible, but pediatricians say that, unless a child is having trouble breathing, immediate treatment is not necessary. A parent listening to a croupy child, though, may have trouble distinguishing what is a normal symptom and what means respiratory distress.

Signs of respiratory distress in infants are similar to those in adults. Flaring nostrils, for instance, indicate the baby is struggling to take in oxygen. A blue color similarly indicates a lack of oxygen. If baby's chest is caved in, or he is grunting, he may have a serious respiratory problem. If you see any of these symptoms, get immediate medical attention.

Just Be Safe

When it comes to your baby, you will consider any sort of breathing irregularity to be "abnormal," so you should always trust your instincts and telephone your doctor if you have concerns for your baby's safety. Keep in mind, though, that baby's breathing is different from that of an adult, so your concern does not have to turn into panic, but just in case keep your pediatrician's office number handy.

Infant Breathing How To Tell Whats Normal And Whats Not

Katie Franklin is a researcher and writer on parenting, children and child development. She is a regular contributor at Child Development Media Inc She also contributes at Quality Toys and Hobbies

The Scoop on Infant Poop - What Color Should You Worry About?

When you get discharged form the hospital with your first newborn, you do not go home with a mannual on the basic body functions of your baby. When your baby is born you may wonder what her bowel movement patter should be, or what color of stool to worry about.

After birth, it is expected that your baby will produce the first stool within 24 hours. The first bowel movements (BM's) are dark green or black as the baby passes meconium, the substance filling the intestines before birth. In a few days, you'll notice greenish stools signifying intestinal colonization by the friendly bacteria that start to take an active role in digestion.

Infant

Breast-fed infants typically have more BM's than their formula-fed peers because breast milk is digested very quickly. Their stools are runny and look like yellow mustard with a seedy appearance. Breast-fed babies rarely get constipated.

Digestion of infant formula produces more waste. Infants who drink formula pass malodorous, firmer, yellow, green, or mocha stools. Since formula is a little harder to digest, do not be surprised if your baby gets constipated.

Not every baby goes by the textbook though. So keep in mind that stools in any shade of yellow, yellow-brown, and brown are perfectly normal.

I get concerned with 3 colors of stools: red (fresh blood), black beyond the first fed days of life (old blood), and white (blockage in the bile system). Should you notice any of these colors in your infant's diapers, seek evaluation of your pediatric health care provider immediately.

The Scoop on Infant Poop - What Color Should You Worry About?

Dr. Hillary is a pediatric nurse practitioner with a doctoral degree in health promotion and risk reduction. She works as a pediatric clinician and writes for Plugged in Parents. Plugged In Parents provides up-to-date info on pediatric health, safety and nutrition along with movie reviews, recipes, tech-savvy tips, and a parent's only forum. You can also contact Dr. Hillary for personal questions related to health and nutrition.

Please visit http://www.pluggedinparents.com

Soy Milk May Be Tied To Infant Deaths

Although the autopsy is inconclusive and tests on the food are not yet complete, a porridge made of EdenSoy Extra soy milk and cornmeal may be responsible for the deaths of two infant brothers living in Brooklyn.

When their mother attempted to wake them, shortly after noon, she found they were unconscious and took them to the hospital. Both were pronounced dead on arrival.

Infant

Initial thoughts were that the twins had been overcome by a gas leak, but tests showed no leak.

Because medical examiners also found no evidence of choking as a result of consuming the food, or any signs of foul play, the police instead began focusing on what the infants had eaten. The police cleaned out two nearby supermarkets of EdenSoy milk and cornmeal for testing.

New York Times October 21, 2005 Registration RequiredNYNewsDay.com October 22, 2005

Dr. Mercola's Comment: If you ever wondered why I'm so concerned about the health dangers tied to the rampant use of soy products -- especially in processed foods -- this kind of incident is exactly the reason. In my view there just simply isn't any justification to ever use soy formula or worse, soy milk, in infants.

This isn't the first time soy milk has been investigated for its toxic side effects. Separate incidents in California and Arkansas prompted the FDA to issue a 1990 warning against using soy milk as a formula substitute. Most brands have followed the tougher FDA labeling guidelines, except EdenSoy, says Dr. Kaayla T. Daniel, author of The Whole Soy Story: The Dark Side of America's Favorite Health Food.

In fact, the deaths of three infants prompted the Israeli Health Ministry to issue a health advisory earlier this year, recommending babies not be fed soy formula -- except as a last resort -- and severely limiting a child's intake of soy products.

Without question the best food you can give your infant is breast milk and this should be your primary choice if at all possible, as it is the healthiest source of milk you can give to your infant. I believe very strongly all soy formula should be avoided andis not fit for human consumption.

If breastfeeding is not an option,the best article I ever read on the topicis one published in a recent edition of the Weston Price ogranization. I am on their board and was able to obtain reprint rightsfor their article onhealthy alternatives to breast milk and commercial formula from Sally Fallon to run it in our newsletter. I would strongly encourage you to review thismulti-part series in this issueif you are unable to breastfeed.

When making the alterntaive to breast milk described in the article, ideally, it would be best to use raw milk as the base (other ingredients to add are described in the article). The best way toget it is tofind a local dairy farmer in your areathrough your local health food store orthe Real Milk Web site. Raw milk is a safer and farhealthier alternative to pasteurized milk.

Soy Milk May Be Tied To Infant Deaths

This article is reprinted from Mercola.com, the world's #1 most visited and trusted natural/alternative health website. For a limited time only, you can take the FREE "Metabolic Type Test" to help you learn the right foods for your particular body type so you can achieve optimal fitness & health. Just go to http://www.mercola.com/forms/mt_test.htm right now to take this quick test!

Choosing the Best Infant Formula As a Breast Milk Substitute

Breast milk will always be best for babies. Nothing is healthier than natural breast milk endowed with love and nurture from the mother. Yet with the global financial crisis alarming the world at large, mothers are forced to enter the workforce, leave their babies at home and feed them infant formula instead. Finding the right infant formula is a tough task for mothers who want the best for their baby.

Before, breast milk substitutes ranged from cow's milk based formula to elemental formula to soy formula. This limited number of choice for mothers has made choosing the baby formula easy. However, with the rise of different milk brands offering a variety of benefits for your babies, it takes a wise mom to look closely into what the baby formula can give her child.

Infant

How do you choose the right breast milk substitute? Nutrition is the primary basis of any food you provide your children. It might be difficult to find something that really substitutes for the benefits breastfeeding can give. With human milk, your child will not have any problems with regards digestion and infection since it has natural anti-bodies that reduce risks of diarrhea, respiratory problems and ear infections. Further, breast milk strengthens the relationship between the child and the mother. These three reasons cab be foundations of your search for breast milk substitute.

Parents choose an infant formula based on personal preference or advise from friends and old people. Moreover, advertisements persuade parents to opt for powdered milk that has ingredients which brings about smart healthy kids. However, in the long run, your basis of choice depends on the need of your child. Your child's unique dietary requirements should be given focus. Nutrition is the primary consideration for choosing your baby's milk. Make sure that your baby gets enough amount of carbohydrate, water, protein, vitamins, minerals and fat. There are cow milk based formulas that has added vegetable oils, minerals and iron.

In some instances, your child may be experiencing digestion difficulties. In this kind of situation, choose soy-based formula from soy protein that has sucrose, and added vegetable oils. These soy based baby formula is best for babies who are not tolerant to lactose or those who are found allergic to whole protein found in many cow milk. In this case, your baby might be experiencing lactose deficiency in the small intestine. Most premature babies lack lactose enzymes responsible for digesting glucose, sucrose and other forms of carbohydrates. Your baby may also be experiencing low birth weight which means after birth, his or her body weight is inappropriately lower than the desired weight for new born. There are a lot of special formulas that cater not only to low birth weight but to low sodium infant predicaments.

Water is an essential component of every breast milk substitute. There are formulas in liquid, liquid concentrate and powder. A liquid infant formula does not need water and can be directly fed to infants while liquid and powder concentrates entail certain amount of water. It is necessary for parents to understand and follow the instructions on the label before adding water to liquid and powder concentrated milk. Without understanding what has been laid for instruction, adding inappropriate amount of water may lead to water intoxication which can lead to irritability, low sodium, and even coma. On the other hand, lack of water and too concentrated mixture can further cause dehydration, diarrhea and even kidney failure.

Your role as a mother is crucial in the development of a child. Nurture your child with love and feed them with something that brings good nutrition. Opt for a formula that satisfies your child's needs. In the hands of a wise and loving mother lay the foundations of a good man.

Choosing the Best Infant Formula As a Breast Milk Substitute

Here are some resources to learn more about breast milk substitutes and infant formula and the different infant formulas offered in the market. You can also find baby formula suggestions to choose for your baby's needs.

Applying For an Infant Passport

Traveling with an infant brings unique challenges for first time parents. Car seats, diaper bags, changes of clothing and more become part of the new travel routine. Along with all of the standard baby gear, there may be one more thing to consider bringing along: an infant passport.

Passports are becoming increasingly important. Most borders cannot be crossed today without a passport, even the Mexican and Canadian borders. Infants are not exempt from this requirement. You cannot add an infant to a U.S. passport. Every citizen, including babies, must have his or her own passport. Anyone trying to cross a border with an infant who doesn't have a passport may be regarded with suspicion. Carrying a passport for an infant when you travel is just as important as carrying your own.

Infant

New parents often wonder when they should apply for an infant passport. The best answer is: as soon as possible. Obtaining a passport for an infant should be considered routine, just as applying for a birth certificate is. Even if you don't have international travel plans in your immediate future, it's still a good idea to apply for one. It usually takes about six weeks to have your application processed. Those who want to expedite the process and receive a passport in about two weeks can pay an extra fee of . However, by simply applying for it early on you can avoid this fee. You'll also avoid the stress of trying to obtain a passport while busy making travel plans.

Infant passports are obtained in the same manner as a child or adult passport. Infant passport applications may be downloaded from various travel service providers and government agencies. You may also obtain one in person from your local post office or immigration office. Infant passport requirements include:

*Presentation of your baby's birth certificate. If your child was born outside the United States, you must present the child's Naturalization Certificate or Certificate of Citizenship along with the birth certificate.

*Two official passport photos. They must be regulation size (2 inches by 2 inches) and should be taken by a professional photographer. Home-produced photographs are not accepted.

*The application fee, which is . Remember, it will cost an extra if you need to obtain it faster than six weeks.

The baby need not appear in person to be granted a passport. However, the person applying for it must be able to vouch for the identity of the child and present his or her own identification. Infant passports are valid for five years.

Traveling aside, it's useful to obtain a passport for an infant for other reasons. It is often the only form of official picture ID that a baby can obtain. Sometimes picture ID is required for registering for preschool or kindergarten, or may even be required for some domestic airline flights. Having official picture identification for your child is never a bad idea. Applying for it right from the beginning may save parents from unforeseen trouble down the road.

Applying For an Infant Passport

http://travel.state.gov

Child Development - Infant Stage

Child development psychology classifies child development in the infancy stage into three sub stages. From birth to fifteen to twenty seconds it's the pertinent period. Until the time the baby emerges from its mother's womb separated by cutting and tying of the umbilical cord, the child is a parasite and makes no adjustments to the postnatal environment. From thirty minutes to the end of two weeks the infant is now separate, independent and individual-no longer a parasite.

Physical development:

Infant

The physical growth development is fast with a faster rate in function of nervous system.

Child development behaviors:

All child development theories hint out that infancy stage of child development is the shortest of all developmental periods. Infancy begins with birth and ends when it is two weeks old. It is the time that the fetus must adjust to life outside the uterine walls of the mother after approximately nine months.

i) It requires approximately two weeks to adjusting to the new environment.

ii) Infancy is a plateau in development. The rapid growth and development which took place during the prenatal period suddenly comes to stop with birth. There is a slight regression such as loss of weight, less strong and healthy than it was at the time of birth. This characteristic of plateau is due to the necessity for radical adjustments to the postnatal environment. Once the adjustments are made the infant resumes its growth and development, so no fear is needed about this characteristic.

iii) Infancy is a preview of the later growth development. It is not possible to predict exactly what the future development of the individual ll be on the basis of the development at birth. We notice only a clue of what to expect later on.

iv) The child development period in infancy stage is hazardous both physically and psychologically. Physically the infant finds it difficult in making adjustments to the new environment. Psychologically the infant suffers a little when the attitudes of significant people towards the infant radically changes.

Environment of adjustments:

The infant begins to gain child development skills and make adjustments to the new environment after birth.

i) Change in temperature requires adjustment. There is a constant temperature of 100*F in the uterine sac and it is 60 to 70*F in the hospital or at home ii) Breathing by own starts. When the umbilical cord is cut the infant must begin to breathe on its own.

iii) Sucking and swallowing is a self learning development. When the umbilical cord is cut off, the child gets nourishment by the reflexes of sucking and swallowing instead of receiving it from the mother through umbilical cord.

iv) Elimination of waste products begins. Letting out urine and stools is not a matter of adjustment

v) But some infants are seen to have trouble shooting with elimination matters.

Emotional development:

Specific and identifiable emotional changes cannot be seen at birth. Anyhow some reactions may be there as facial expressions of pleasantness and unpleasantness. These are characterized by the relaxing and tensing of the body. Whatever may be the stimulus the resultant emotion is intense and instant.

Social development:

There is nothing to tell about this behavior as it's just the starting point.

It's best suggested that the mother maintains a child development chart of everything about the infant child and for achieving the child developmental milestones.

Child Development - Infant Stage

Expertise yourself in care taking of your child by visiting "care taking of babies" AND "newborn baby care"

Infant Obesity

When one is incredibly overweight according to charts of normal height and weight growth, one is said to be obese. The problem is essentially a nutritional one, and it effects millions of people in the United States alone. Young infants and children can be obese. They are a lot more likely to develop the problem if their parents are obese.

When an infant takes in more calories than his or her body actually needs, then he or she might become obese. It is a simple enough rule - the calories going in (that is, being consumed) must be equal or less to the calories going out (being expended). Otherwise you will put on weight - and so will your child in the same scenario. Convenience foods contain a lot of calories (more going in) and our sedentary lifestyle makes us exercise less (less going out).

Infant

Obesity can also be linked to hormonal disorders, but this is very rare. Obesity is typically caused from poor dieting and lifestyle choices. When an infant is overfed or given high calorie beverages, then they are launching bad habits that can remain with them for life. Other food related causes include using food as a stress reliever or reward, the use of food as a problem solving mechanism, and the lack of physical activity. Research has established that very young children who struggle with food related issues at an early age often carry these patterns with them in to adulthood. Some other causes of infant obesity include the usage of corticosterioid drugs, family histories of overweight and obesity, as well as abnormal eating patterns (i.e. binge eating.)

Infant Obesity

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