Having a seven month old, who has been on formula since he was 3 weeks old, has made us all too familiar with a constipated baby. From difficult bowel movements (BM’s), to the gas and stomach discomfort associated with it, we have had some challenges in keeping him regular and comfortable.

When we first put him on formula we were using Enfamil Lipil with iron, which really stopped him up. This gave him infrequent BM’s and terrible gas. Our pediatrician recommended Enfamil Gentle Ease, which really helped get him back to a regular cycle. During that stretch of constipation, we also had to deal with his gas and stomach discomfort until he would have a BM. We found that Infant Mylicon and Baby’s Bliss Gripe Water were the best remedies for his gas pain.

He still has occasional battles with constipation, especially since we started him on Gerber Stage 1, solid foods. The oatmeal and bananas really seem to have the worst effect on him. We try to limit his consumption of these foods.

From the first time he experienced the constipation, through now, we had great success in relieving his constipation with prune juice (we use Sunsweet Prune Juice). This was suggested by our pediatrician, either in his formula or straight, giving him 1 oz. per feeding until he had a BM. It worked wonders, 100% success rate.

Here are some signs and symptoms of constipation: Infrequent bowel movements with stools that are hard and hard to pass; infrequency alone is not a sign of constipation and may just be your baby’s normal pattern. Also, blood streaked stool or a cracked anus from passage of hard stools, gas or abdominal pain and irritability.

If your baby is experiencing any of these symptoms, especially for the first time, you should really consult with your pediatrician to check for any other underlying causes.

One other note: Be sure your baby has plenty of exercise to keep their insides moving. You can even facilitate these movements by moving their legs in a bicycle motion, while they lay on their backs.

Lastly, you may get suggestions from people who believe in holistic and natural ways of healing your baby. Be sure to consult your physician first, because many of these remedies are unregulated by the FDA, and could be more dangerous the regular methods. Before we gave our baby the Baby’s Bliss Gripe Water, we got approval from our pediatrician.

We hope this may have helped. Best of luck, and good parenting!

1. Alcohol

• mental deficiency, stillbirth (babies born to chronic alcoholics may have fetal alcohol syndrome or withdrawal)

2. Aspirin

• large amounts may be fatal

3. Cortisone

• possible relation to cleft palate

4. Caffeine

• increased incidence of miscarriage, limb and skeletal malformations

5. Dilantin (used to control seizures)

• mental deficiency, abnormalities of the face and hands

6. Heroin, Cocaine, Morphine

• irritability, shrill cry, vomiting, withdrawal symptoms, can be fatal

7. Lead

• spontaneous abortion, anemia, fatal

8. Tetracycline (antibiotic primarily used to treat acne & rosacea)

• stains teeth, inhibits bone growth

9. Thalidomide

• hearing loss, cardiac anomalies, fatal

10. Tobacco

• intrauterine growth retardation (poor growth of fetus or in the lower 10% for developmental age)

11. Methylmercury (obtained by eating certain fish, most often)

• congenital abnormalities, growth retardation, can cause abortions

12. Radiation Therapy

• growth retardation, chromosomal damages, mental deficiency, stillbirth

Other Common Factors

1. Mother’s Stress

• premature labor

2. Poor Nutrition

• prematurity, anemia, undersized growth, lower levels of intellectual performance

Pro’s of Breastfeeding:

1. It’s is specially made for your baby. It contains at least 100 ingredients that can’t be reproduced.
2. It goes down easily. It is specially designed for your baby’s digestive system.
3. It’s safe and not contaminated.
4. It rarely has allergic reactions.
5. It helps reduce stomach discomfort.
6. It helps reduce diaper rash.
7. It helps prevent infection and boosts the immune system.
8. It keeps babies leaner compared to formula fed babies.
9. It appears to increase IQ through the age of 15.
10. It is less expensive. Breast milk is free.
11. It helps to suppress ovulation and menstruation, reducing pregnancy chances.
12. It creates a strong mother-baby bond.

Pro’s for Formula:

1. It keeps your baby feeling full longer, meaning less feedings.
2. It is easy to keep track of the amount of intake. You know exactly what your baby is getting.
3. It offers you more freedom. Others can feed your baby if you need a break, or want to see a movie or go to dinner with your significant other.
4. It allows dad to feed the baby and give mom a break. Especially in the middle of the night. Plus it gives more bonding time to dad.
5. It could also allow older siblings to get involved.
6. It allows you the freedom to wear what you want, not something made for breastfeeding.
7. It allows more options for birth control.
8. It also allows more variety of foods to be eaten.
9. It is less embarrassing for someone who may be shy or modest.
10. It is easier to return to an active sex life. Nursing mothers can have some naturally occurring effects on their bodies, like sore nipples and leaky breasts, which could make lovemaking a challenge.

These facts are here for your observation. However, the decision is not that easy, there is a lot of emotion involved in making this choice. Do you want to breastfeed, but feel it will interfere with your daily activities? Do you not like the idea of breastfeeding at all, but can’t ignore the benefits? Do you feel pressure from your friends and family? Or does your spouse appose because he feels jealous? Whatever the reason, perhaps a trial run would help you decide what is best for you. Give it 4-6 weeks and reevaluate your thoughts. Any amount of breastfeeding will greatly benefit your baby. If it is not for you, then fine, you have made an educated decision on what to feed your baby.

Best of luck, and good parenting!

Early on, my wife and I decided to bottle feed our son. We used the Enfamil Lipil formula, which is iron fortified. The iron in the formula created a lot of gas and constipation in our son. When we approached our pediatrician, he suggested we try the Enfamil Gentle Ease formula, which helped reduce the discomfort. However, he still had a lot of gas and pain, so we were looking for something else to help. My cousin recommended Gripe Water from her own experiences. Thank the lord! We used the Baby’s Bliss brand, and it worked wonders. It not only helped with his stomach pains, but it was excellent at getting rid of his hiccups. He gets hiccups all the time, even when he was in the womb. We followed the recommended dosages and they worked fine. He has grown through the stomach issues, although we still have him on Enfamil Gentle Ease formula. We tried to go back Enfamil Lipil, but it made him constipated again. He still gets the hiccups, and Baby’s Bliss Gripe Water gets rid of them immediately. Although the Gripe Water worked for his stomach, and hiccups we haven’t had much success with it for his teething. We still use infant Tylenol for that. So I can definitely say that Baby’s Bliss Gripe Water was a real lifesaver. The following is some info from Baby’s Bliss website www.babysbliss.com

Baby’s Bliss GripeWater is America’s first all natural herbal supplement used to ease occasional gas and stomach pain often associated with colic, hiccups, and teething. Made with organic Ginger and Fennel, Baby’s Bliss GripeWater is recommended by pediatricians nationwide as an effective herbal alternative to traditional medications.

Here is a link to there FAQ’s: Baby’s Bliss FAQ’s!

1. Everybody has an opinion: When my wife and I had our first child in February, we quickly learned that everyone has an opinion on parenting. And they’re not afraid to offer it! Some of the advice is good, some of it gives you a headache. The key is to be openminded to listening, but staying focused on what’s important to you and your family. Older generations tend to offer suggestions that were widely used during their time. Typically it will contradict what your pediatrician has suggested. Just thank them for their thoughts, and say we have decided to follow our doctor’s suggestions for now.

2. Sleep when you can: I’m sure you’ve all heard people say, “You won’t be sleeping anymore”. Well, this statement couldn’t be more true. Lack of sleep doesn’t begin to explain the reality of it. You will soon find out that the end of one feeding, seems to be followed by the beginning of the next feeding. By the time you get comfortable to go to sleep, something happens where you have to get up. The key is to work as a team, taking turns and allowing your partner to take a nap or get some sleep, whenever possible. If your partner isn’t available, try to get a family member to come over and give you a hand. Getting rest is very important, because you start to go crazy from sleep deprivation. I know, as a parent, it won’t be easy to sleep, because you will be worrying about your child. Even if you lay down and close your eyes to rest, it will be very helpful relieve some of your stress. Trust me, you will feel much better in the long run.

3. Document your child’s ins and outs: Although it is not that exciting, and it’s easy to forget, documenting your child’s food intake, urinations, and bowel movements is very important. It not only helps you keep track, but it is valuable information to your doctor. They want to know how much food the baby is getting, and how much is leaving the body. Making sure your baby’s insides are working properly, and they are getting enough nourishment. Also, it is one of the first steps of being a parent, experiencing that responsibility factor. My wife and I use a small, spiral, memo notebook, about 3×5 inches in size. Across the top we have four headings: Time, Amount (Food), Pee, Poop. Every time we feed him, we write the time and amount of food. If you change the diaper when you feed them, then mark down any pee or poop with a check mark. Otherwise, when you change them, write the time and check mark what you find in the diaper. This activity of record keeping really catapults you into the realm of parenthood. It takes you to your first level of responsibility, and begins creating that bond and feeling of protection for your child. Enjoy every minute!

4. Get out of the house, it’s not a jail: In the beginning, it’s very easy to stay in your home. You’re tired, sore, scared, and many other feelings that make you want to stay home. However, as soon as you feel better, and get clearance from your doctor, get out of the house! It’s crucial to interact with the outside world, such as friends, family, hobbies, etc. Obviously, you want to take every precaution to protect your baby, just don’t use that fear as an excuse to stay in. It is vital for your sanity, and recovery from childbirth to make this step outside. If you stay inside all the time, you begin to feel trapped and detached from your previous life. Just because you had a child doesn’t mean that your life gets put on hold. It just changes to a different station on your radio of life. There are many benefits to getting out of the house, so get out there, show off your baby, and enjoy your new life.

5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help: Everyone feels independent, like they have the ability to conquer the world. Trust me, we all need help at some point and time. So don’t be afraid or embarrassed to ask for help. Remember, these people who have children, that you might be asking for help, went through the same thing you’re going through. A good friend or family member should be honored to help you, especially if you ask them. Anything is helpful, from cleaning, grocery shopping, cooking (or take out), babysitting, taking a walk with you, anything that might be helpful. The comfort of knowing you have help really takes the pressure down a notch or two. It is easy to become overwhelmed with responsibilities, and truthfully it is a lot  of responsibility. So don’t be afraid to ask for help, and more importantly, don’t refuse any help when it is offered.

I hope these thoughts have been helpful, and you thoroughly enjoy your knew life as a parent and a family.

Belly time is an activity that is not only vital, but one of the most exciting times in raising your child. You get to witness so many first time experiences, and watch them grow and develop right in front of your eyes.

Even though this seems pretty easy to do, there are some important things to consider which will benefit your child tremendously. First, get down to their level by lying on the floor with them. This gives them your face to look at, which helps their eyes to focus, encourages them to lift their heads, and builds facial recognition. Second, make sure to place and object about 1 foot from their face, which is black and white in color. You can use some sort of soft toy. Babies typically recognize black and white colors first. Once you see they are focusing on the object, try and move it slowly back and forth, getting their eyes to follow it. This builds the ability to recognize objects, helps strengthen their neck muscles, and is good practice to get their eyes tracking objects. Thirdly, it’s never too early to begin education. You can count their fingers and toes with them, which helps with body awareness. Obviously, they won’t understand counting yet, but it will help with getting to know their bodies and recognizing your voice. Also, this makes the activity a very interactive and bonding time for you both. The more involved you are, the more rewarding the experience.

Remember, this is a learning time for both of you. They are learning their bodies, and you are learning to be a parent. Because the most important thing is to enjoy raising your child.

I never really thought I would become a stay-at-home dad, but that is exactly what happened. My wife and I recently had our first child, a baby boy. He is six months old now, and I have been home with him for about four weeks.

I always thought of myself as the traditional dad. I go to work, make the money, and support the family. However, that scenario never really played out. We were always a dual income family. My wife is an Occupational Therapist, and I was a Golf Professional. As a golf pro, as some of you may know, the majority of my life was spent at the golf course. Golf courses are open 365 days per year. That doesn’t leave much time for family. This was not an environment we wanted for our son.

When he was born, we had some serious decisions to make. How were we going to raise our son and support ourselves? Do we use daycare? Do we hire a nanny? Does one of us stay home? The choice was a difficult one, but it had to made. Daycare seemed like a safe option, however the germs, number of kids in each room, and cost really soured us on that option. Plus, it was going to cost $262/wk regardless of the number of days he would attend. The nanny was the more nurturing option, but our search turned up nothing but disappointment. Canceled interviews, no experience, couldn’t speak English, the list goes on. The kicker is they wanted $12 to $15 per hour, which was more than daycare. Besides, who really knows what kind of people you’re dealing with. I know there are Nanny services, who claim to do background checks. But I’ve heard many complaints about them too. Plus, they want a commission(finders fee) ranging from $500 to $2000. No thanks. It turns out the best option for us was for one of us to stay home. My wife has the greatest earning potential, which still offered a family friendly schedule. My job just didn’t have that potential.

Although this has created some financial stress, we still believe it is the right decision for our family. We felt having a parent home was very important for his upbringing. That may change as he gets older, as may the roles of my wife and I. But for now we are going to stick to this plan as long as we can. Life plans change as do business plans. You have to constantly reevaluate your progress and make changes as needed. We are going to survive this down economy with a strong family unit. Right now our family’s success is priority number one.

Our situation is obviously not going to work for everyone. Each home has different needs, and each person has different beliefs. Therefore, it takes some serious consideration to come up with the best scenario for you. I just know seeing him grow in a safe and familiar environment, is definitely worth the sacrifice.

A friend of mine just shared this story with me. I know how I feel about it, but let’s see how you react. Picture this, you’re on vacation in Breckenridge with your family. You are out fishing with your daughter, who is seven. It’s a beautiful lake, with glorious mountains surrounding it, a view that needs to be captured on film. There you are, standing on this rock just big enough for both of you to fit. She is holding onto your leg, because she is still afraid of falling in, even though daddy’s there to catch her. Or is he? Your daughter has total faith in you to protect her, and yet your attention is somewhere else. A perfect bonding moment for father and daughter, is lost in this sick cell phone addiction. As he is fishing, trying to reel in a nice size salmon, he has a cell phone propped up to his ear with his shoulder. Could you imagine if he had dropped the phone? I think the order would be phone, fish then daughter. Let’s get real people, is that phone call really that important. If it is, maybe you shouldn’t have had kids to begin with.