5 More Tips For Reducing Your Baby's Fever

A baby's fever is one of the most frightening things you will experience as a parent. And although there are plenty of ways to lower your infants fever with medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen, many parents feel that a natural approach to fever reduction is the better choice for them. The tricky part about fevers, is that they are the natural way for your baby's body to fight infection. So reducing a fever should be done mostly when the fever has risen nearly to levels that could be unsafe for your baby. Also, always notify your pediatrician when your baby is running a fever. If your pediatrician agrees that gently lowering your baby's fever with some natural methods is best, then I recommend you try these tips and/or my first 5 tips for reducing your baby's fever. Also be sure to continually monitor your baby's temperature while using any of these tips. A fever dropping too quickly can be a sign of shock, which can be dangerous.

1. Tepid skullcap tea sponge bath.
Skullcap is a natural herb that has gentle fever-reducing properties. Though many herbs including this one are considered safe, when your baby is already sick, it might irritate the stomach if ingested. Instead, simply make a medium-strength tepid tea (steeping the teabag for about 3 minutes) and then use a soft cotton cloth to sponge the cool liquid onto your baby's wrists, under his arms, behind his knees and across his chest and shoulders. This has the combined cooling effects of the slow evaporation of the liquid, and the gentle absorption of small amounts of the herb through your little glow-worm's skin.

2. Damp socks.
Whether you rinse your baby's socks in a bit of fresh cool water, or if you dip them in some chamomile, or skullcap tea (be careful, this can discolor the socks), when they are still just a bit damp, put them on her. This will help with a slower cooling evaporation, that is gentle enough to avoid cooling your infant down too quickly. As your little munchkin kicks her feet she will help to cool the socks off as well. Re-moisten the socks from time to time as they dry.

3. Cool lettuce leaf wrap.
 Fresh romaine lettuce leaves soaked in a tepid bowl of water can be wrapped around your baby's legs, chest and back. Lettuce naturally conducts heat very quickly. As it absorbs the heat from your baby, it will also insulate gently, making sure that his temperature does not drop too fast. Change the lettuce leaves often, every 3-4 minutes until your infant's fever has been reduced to safe levels once again. Check your baby's skin for any sign of irritation, and discontinue the lettuce wraps at once if a rash appears.


4. Fever reducing acupressure.
For infants and babies, there is a very gentle style of acupressure that can be used. It is called the "Jin Shin" technique. Using this technique, you gently hold the acupoints for a few moments while breathing deeply, then repeat at regular intervals over the course of the day. Some acupoints that you can use to help reduce your little tiger-lilly's fever are:
          * LI-4 "Union Valley"
          * LI-11 "Pool By The Bend"
          * GV-14 "Great Hammer"
Gently hold each of these acupoints in turn for about 10-15 seconds while using deep breathing to keep yourself calm and centered. You can repeat this baby's fever reducing acupressure routine 3-4 times through the day.


5. Skin-to-skin hold.
 The best heat regulator you have is your own body. If you walk in the sunlight your body cools down, if you stroll through the shade, your internal temperature increases. So, in a warm room, take your baby's clothing off (except for the diaper) and hold him on your bare chest, Your body will immediately start to cool you both down. The excess heat from your baby will be absorbed gently through your own skin. This technique is not only gentle and effective for fever reduction, but it is very calming and comforting to both the you and your infant. If you think that your baby may be feeling cold, you can drape a light cotton blanket over his back. Continue the skin-toskin hold for about 20-30 minutes for the full effect. You can continue the hold longer if you like, but the fever will not drop much further. The hold can be repeated as often as you like.

While your baby has a fever, and immediately after a fever has been reduced, it is important to remember to try to feed your infant as much as you can. Dehydration is common in babies with fevers. Also, please put any sleep-training on hold until your baby feels better. Your baby needs as much sleep as she can get while she is sick, and it doesn't really matter if she sticks to a schedule or not. Also, always, always, always, talk to your baby's doctor about what you are doing, and how your baby is feeling. Even if you feel it is not that important, your doctor can reassure you, or alert you to issues you may not have been aware of. If you have found these tips to be helpful, please forward them to any new or expecting parents you know. Happy parenting!

5 More Tips For Relieving Your Baby's Gas Pains

One of the most consistent issues parents face with their new babies is the discomfort that gas can cause. That is why I am revisiting this topic. For a new baby, gas is inevitable. For the first couple months the digestive system is still adapting to both processing nutrients and expelling waste. The issues that cause gas pain are related to both slow movement of waste through the bowels, and difficulty digesting. Even when your baby is only eating breast milk or formula the simple process of breaking down the nutrients can be hard on your little sugar-pop. So here are five more things you can try.

1. Warm peppermint and fennel compress.
To make a compress  wrap a some fresh peppermint and fennel with a soft piece of cotton cloth and soak in warm with water for about two minutes. After soaking, squeeze out the excess water and place the warm damp compress on your little darling's lower abdomen. To finish, wrap a cloth around your baby and the compress to make sure it won't move. Leave the compress on for about 20 minutes, re-moistening it with a bit of the same warm water that you soaked it in to begin with about every five minutes or so. The scent is calming and the herbal properties of fennel and peppermint have been used to assist in digestion for hundreds of years. Using a compress is a very good natural way to help your sweet little bubble blower absorb a bit of the herbal benefits gently, and in a way that doesn't give her tummy more new substances to digest.

2. Give a supplemental bottle of water.
One thing that your baby can ingest that does not cause gas is water. Water is not digested in the same way as other foods, and so causes no gas by itself. Also water can dilute other fluids making it harder for gas bubbles to form. Although he may not drink much, just a little bit goes a long way. Water can also stimulate the bowels to move, which is very helpful. It is important to note that you should not replace a feeding with a bottle of water, since there is no nutritional value, but a little extra water after a feeding can do wonders for a little tooter who is prone to gas trouble.

3. Swaddle with your infants legs folded.
When your infant has trouble with gas, one sign is when she pushes her legs straight out. This is an instinctual reaction to abdominal pain and is meant to help push off anything that might be pushing on her belly. However, pushing the legs out straight actually tightens your little giggler's behind muscles, which doesn't help matters move along.When your infants legs are wrapped up in a folded "criss-cross-applesauce" style in front of her, the instinctual tightening of the abdomen in response to gas pain is much more helpful. To do this type of swaddle, wrap the arms as you normally would, normally, then fold the legs up and crossed. While holding the legs with one hand bring the bottom section of the blanket up and tuck it into the front of the swaddle. It is also important to remember that all swaddling should either leave your baby's legs free to kick about or have them wrapped up near the body with the knees apart to prevent hip dysplaisia which can sometimes result from straight-leg swaddling.

4. Tummy time across your thighs.
Sometimes the gentle pressure of regular tummy time is not enough to relax your infant's abdomen. Or your little pipsqueek may just dislike regular tummy time, and the combination of the pain and the position may make the situation worse. In these cases, laying your baby across your thighs, with their head on one thigh, and their tummy on the other is a great thing to try. Not only is contact with you soothing, but as your baby lays on your lap, you can gently bounce the leg that his tummy is resting on very lightly. Let his legs hang down as you do this and softly stroke and pat his back. The combination of your warmth, the gentle pressure, and the position of the legs is often a near magical combination for producing the relief your baby needs.

5. A foot massage.
For babies that have a continuing problem of gas I like to suggest trying a reflexology massage. Reflexology is the art of stimulating areas on the feet and/or ears to affect other areas of the body. It is similar to acupressure, but the way it is applied has more room for error. The area of your baby's feet that is associated with the bowels is in the center of the bottom of the foot  between the arch and the ball of the heel. As your baby lays on her back hold her feet up and gently rub this area in a soft circular motion for a few minutes. This gas relieving reflexology method can be done a few times during the day. I like to do it just before the morning feeding, just before the later afternoon nap, and just before the bedtime feeding. The reason I do it before feedings and before sleep is because the way that reflexology works is not immediate. Reflexology is designed to treat the underlying issues (in this case movement of waste through the bowels, and efficient digestion), not to relieve the immediate symptoms.

Though there is no cure-all perfect remedy that will work for every baby, these tips have come in very handy for me over the years. Some babies are more prone to gas and gas-related pain than others, but the nice thing about babies is that they outgrow these kinds of things eventually. It is very important for you as a parent to remember to try and stay calm and gentle in these frustrating times. Keep trying new things until you find something that works, and then enjoy the silence as long as you can. The only thing as intense as a the feeling of frustration when a baby cries is the feeling of relief when they finally stop. If you have found these tips helpful, please forward them to any new or expecting parents you know. Questions and comments are always welcome. Happy parenting!

There is a NEW post from NAOMI up today (9/5/14)! Check it out HERE.

5 tips for treating diaper rash.

I am often asked what type of treatment I would recommend for diaper rash, my response is immediately, "what kind"? Many first-time parents are not aware that there are different kinds of diaper rash, so this question comes as a surprise to them. There are quite a few different kinds of diaper rash, and for each one there are distinct things that will work better than others. So for my tips today, I will focus on 5 of the most recognizable types of diaper rash, and the treatments that I personally have found to be most effective. Commercial treatments for diaper rash usually do a great job of covering the bases for several types of rash, but can sometimes have serious drawbacks if used on the wrong rash at the wrong time (what I look for in commercial brands can be found here). For example, Boudreaux's Butt Paste is a great natural ointment for the most common bacterial rashes, but if your baby has a chemical reaction rash or other weeping or bleeding diaper rash, it can cause a painful stinging sensation, and actually exacerbate the rash. If any ointment you are applying to your baby's rash seems ineffective or looks like it is actually causing your baby increased discomfort, discontinue using it at once and ask your pediatrician for advice.

1. For an acidic reaction diaper rash use yogurt, baking soda and Aquaphor.

This rash is purely a reaction to the heated contact between sensitive baby skin and acidic waste. Acidic waste can be caused by reflux, colic, and high acid content in breast milk as well as diarrhea. This rash looks similar to a rug burn, red and raw and will sometimes be bleeding slightly. The first order of business with this rash is to neutralize the acids, Yogurt is a soothing natural antacid, as is baking soda, and mixed together they make an effective paste. Or you can "wash" your baby's behind with yogurt followed by some sterile cool water and then powder the whole undercarriage with the baking powder. At the next changing (which should only be an hour or two later), be sure to use a sealant-type product like olive oil, Aquaphor, or Bag Balm to create a barrier between the stinging effects of urine, or further burning from another acidic bowel movement.

2. For a bacterial diaper rash use bamboo cloth, hair dryer and cornstarch.
This type of rash is one which thrives on a warm moist bottom. Bacteria are everywhere, but at times the balance between good and bad bacteria gets a bit off, and the result is skin irritation. This rash is a cousin to the bed-sore, and similar treatments are effective in treating it. This rash looks bright red, has an unpleasant odor and is probably weeping (oozing a fairly clear and slightly sticky liquid). There is probably more than one affected area, most commonly one quarter sized weeping area on each cheek. Keeping your baby clean and dry is the most effective treatment for this rash. Wash your baby's rear with cool sterile water using a soft naturally antibacterial bamboo wash cloth. Pay special attention to the deep crevice-type areas, since they are commonly effected as well. Use a hair dryer on low to make sure every part of your baby's booty gets completely dry. Apply cornstarch powder over all of your baby's rear and use bamboo cloth diapers (because bamboo is naturally anti-bacterial), if you have some, until the rash goes away.

3. For a diaper rash caused by an allergic reaction, use yogurt, baking soda and olive oil.

This rash is a combination of allergic-type hives and an acidic reaction. When a baby's body detects an undesirable element in the stomach, like an allergen or dangerous bacteria, it gets rid of it the fastest way it can. Often this means vomiting, but sometimes it means diarrhea. And because your baby's food has been forced out so quickly there is still a large amount of stomach acid in it. The allergen in the waste is giving your baby hives, and the acid is causing the hives to burn. This rash will look almost like your baby has little blisters on his bottom, but the bumps will be hard and not fluid-filled. Also, the bumps will only appear in areas where your baby's skin has come into contact with the waste. The entire area of waste contact will be red too, not just the bumps. To treat the acid, use yogurt (unless you are concerned that the allergen might be a dairy product) or baking soda, or a mixture of the two. Continue to change your baby's diaper regularly, and administer a sealant such as olive oil, Aquaphor or Bag Balm to protect your baby's hiney from further exposure to the allergen. The allergic reaction should go away on it's own, just make a mental note of possible food sources for the reaction and have your baby tested for allergies at your next visit to the pediatrician.

4. For a rash caused by a yeast infection, use yogurt, air, Bag Balm and (at times) an anti-fungal cream.
This rash thrives on sugar, and it will eat it where ever it can find it including in the living skin cells of your baby's sensitive bottom. This rash is particularly devious, because if you treat it with corn starch, the yeast, which love natural sugars, will thrive. While your baby's rear may be fairly red all over, what helps in identifying this rash is the red bumps that are in areas not usually too affected by diaper rash, like above the genitals. The red bumps are usually small and mainly visible outside of the crevice-type areas. Sensitive tissue will be red and swollen, but fairly dry to the touch and there might sometimes be a whitish "cheese-like" substance in some of the crevices of your baby's genitals. While your baby always has yeast bacteria present in their body, certain things, like antibiotics, can destroy the bacteria that usually feed on the yeast. These bacteria are highly concentrated in yogurt, and yogurt makes a great treatment for this kind of rash. Make sure your baby's bahookey is clean and dry, for long periods of time. This type of rash usually responds well to the "air-it-out" method. Try giving your baby some tummy time, on a changing pad instead of a quilt, with no diaper. Then, before nap time apply a generous coating of plain unsweetened yogurt to the affected area. For night sleep, I would recommend not applying the yogurt, but use a sealant like Bag Balm instead. Try using a super absorbent disposable diaper just until the rash goes away, because they will be able to keep your baby's bottom drier than other types of diaper. If the rash does not respond you can also apply a topical anti-fungal over-the-counter cream, ask your pediatrician for the appropriate dosage and dosage schedule for your baby.

5. For treatment of a chemical reaction rash use water, Aloe Vera, vitamin E and Petroleum Jelly.

This rash can be caused by harsh chemicals in diapers, wipes, ointments or even from your baby's own physical development. As your baby begins to grow and develop, chemical changes in her own body will sometimes cause reactions to substances that seemed perfectly safe before. The rash is sudden, bright red, and very dry. It is similar to the acid rash in appearance, but will not respond to the antacid treatment. Sometimes this rash will even have painful blisters. Think of it as a severe sunburn, on your baby's butt. Traditionally the single best way to treat this rash is to shield it from contact with harsh substances. I recommend cleaning it thoroughly and gently with running water, if possible, to minimize rubbing against the skin. Even very gentle cloths can feel abrasive to this rash. After you are finished washing, apply a coat of vitamin E and Aloe Vera, to replenish the skin's natural moisture and promote healing, then apply a sealant. Aquaphor and Bag Balm might be effective, olive oil though, is generally not strong enough. The best sealant treatment for overall effectiveness for this rash is usually petroleum jelly. It creates the best seal, keeping your baby's natural moisture in the skin, and keeping the waste or irritating materials from direct contact with the skin. I also would recommend transitioning to a more natural, chemical-free diaper and not using any perfumed ointments on your baby for some time.

There are several more types of diaper rash, and I will probably revisit this topic again at some point to cover them, but these 5 should be enough to get you through most of the types of rash that you will commonly encounter as your baby grows over the first year or so. I hope you find these tips helpful, and if you do I would encourage you to forward this site to any new or expecting parents you might know. Questions and comments are always welcome. Happy Parenting!

5 tips for naturally reducing a baby's fever.

One of the scariest things for a parent to encounter is kissing your baby only to find that they are burning up with a fever. If your baby has a fever of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius you should consult your pediatrician right away. Only after your doctor has sent you home with instructions to "wait and see" should these methods be used. Most pediatricians will recommend infant Tylenol or Ibuprofen to help bring down your baby's fever, but there is a growing feeling among many parents that they would rather take a more natural approach. While there is nothing quite as natural as letting a fever run it's course without interference, this can be very uncomfortable for your baby. Here are 5 tips to help you naturally reduce your baby's fever (and if you need some additional ideas, here are 5 more tips on the same topic).


1. Cool water baby massage.
In a warm room lay out a towel on a waterproof pad (like a changing table pad with the cover removed). Get a bowl of lukewarm water, add a chamomile tea bag to the water if desired, and set it near by. Lay your baby on the towel and remove their clothing (you can leave on the diaper if you want to). Now dip your hands in the water and gently place your hands on your baby's chest. Fan your fingers out and slide your hands down your baby's sides. Take each leg in turn and gently slide your hands up the leg from the toes to the hip 3 or 4 times in a row. Now repeat this motion on each arm 3 or 4 times from fingertips to shoulder. Cup your baby's shoulders in your palms then slide your hands down to the chest and begin again. continue to dip your hands in the water throughout the massage as needed. This soothing combination of simple strokes should have a calming effect, if it seems to cause your baby any stress discontinue the massage right away. Every baby is different, and some remedies will work better for some than for others.

2. Cucumber pacifier.
The cucumber is often used by spas as a way to reduce tissue inflammation and swelling around peoples eyes. It can have a similarly soothing effect on your baby when used as a pacifier. I recommend that parents take a whole young cucumber (young cucumbers have fewer seeds) and peel one end, then use a paring knife to whittle it into the shape of a thick finger tip, thicker at the base, and slimming near the rounded tip. Remember not to expose any seeds, if the seeds are exposed, they must be trimmed away before the cucumber is offered to your baby. Hold the unpeeled body of the cucumber like a bottle, and offer the cool peeled tip for your baby to suck on. Keep a close eye on the cucumber to make sure that it is not starting to come apart. The cooling effect of the cucumber should start to reduce your baby's fever right away. Keep in mind that you should take your baby's temperature under the arm once they begin to suck on the cucumber.

3. Feed your baby more frequently.
Though your baby may seem to have less of an appetite, they actually need more fluids than normal. Dehydration is a very real danger when your baby has a fever, and since often the last thing they want to do is eat, try to offer them smaller feeds more often. If they are breastfeeding you can let them self-regulate, but just offer the breast more often. If your baby is bottle fed, offer about half what they normally eat, but twice as often. Also bottle fed babies can be offered room-temperature bottles rather than warm ones to help cool the fever further.

4. Take a lukewarm bath together.
Both the skin-to-skin contact and the tepid bathwater should be soothing and cooling for your little one. Even if you just give your baby a bath instead of joining in, it is a great way to reduce a fever and sooth the aches and pains that a fever causes. As you probably know I am a big fan of chamomile, so I personally recommend adding a chamomile tea bag to the bath water, but it isn't really necessary to help reduce the fever.

5. Use a cool swaddle.
Having a baby with a fever is extra hard because swaddling them like normal will just cause over-heating, but chances are they still sleep best when they are swaddled. I do have some help for you though, it is a certain doctor recommended swaddle wrap I designed to keep babies cool. Just use a normal receiving blanket, folded in half to form a triangle.

 Lay your baby left-of-center with shoulders and head above the folded side of the blanket. Now tuck your baby's left arm under the blanket

and fold the rest of the large right side under your baby so both tips of the folded edge of the blanket are on
 the left side of your baby.

Now tuck your baby's Right arm under both layers of folded blanket,

and fold the bottom layer of blanket under your baby's arm and body so it is once again on the right side of
your baby.

Now bring both of the folded tips of the blanket to the front of your baby, and do a starter-wrap with them, ("left over right, then under and pull") as if you were preparing to tie your shoe.

Now bring the bottom tips of the blanket up and tuck them under the starter wrap.

Now your baby is securely swaddled, but exposed on the chest, shoulders and neck. This is the best wrap for a baby with a fever, secure, but not too hot. I recommend using light cotton blankets for this wrap. Even a sheet would be a good material for it.

Always keep a close eye on your baby's temperature when they are running a fever, and never hesitate to contact your pediatrician if they get too hot, or if they develop new or different symptoms. These tips are only meant to sooth the effects of a fever, not to treat or cure any underlying cause for it. I hope this proves useful for you and your poor sick snuggy-bug. Questions and comments are welcome, and please pass these tips on to any new parents you know who might need them. Happy parenting!