Baby Talk

December 8th, 2011 Posted in Babies
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Parents are always excited to hear baby talk especially when they have waited for their little one to start saying words. However, they may not realize that the moment their baby was born, he or she has started communicating with them. Parents may not hear words but they would notice their baby to show some facial expressions like smiling or grimacing. Sounds and at times gestures are the baby’s first ways of communicating aside from the usual crying when hungry or feeling uncomfortable. However, for every stage in their baby’s growth and development, his or her communication ways become more prominent until he or she is able to say some words.

By the end of three months, parents may notice more baby talk in the form of cooing as their baby learns to respond. At this time, the baby starts to look at the mouth of the person talking to him or to her. Parents may notice also more interaction on the part of their baby especially when he or she hears a familiar voice. At six months, parents may notice that their baby is already producing some consonant-vowel combination that is said repeatedly. Parents usually equate it with some meaning but the sounds that they hear from their baby do not actually have any meaning yet.

Baby talk at nine months will become prominent and parents may be too happy as their baby starts to understand and say some basic words. The baby also responds when his or her name is called. Parents may also be able to notice that their baby has his or her own unique tone of voice. The baby is also able to make use of more consonant sounds at this time. Parents may also tell what their baby is feeling when they hear how the baby talk is rendered.

By the age of one, parents may feel truly delighted as they hear the baby talk that corresponds to meaning. Their baby at this time is able to follow a very simple instruction. Parents should not be in a hurry though when it comes to the language development of their baby. Though there are developmental tasks for each of the stages of growth and development, there are factors that need to be considered. Some babies may learn how to speak and understand very early but there are those that develop a little later. Parents do not need to worry about it unless that their child is really too far behind from the progress of other babies of the same age.

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Fever in Babies

December 5th, 2011 Posted in Babies
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Fever in babies is one of the most common ailments that parents have to deal with. Parents should not be in panic right away the moment the temperature of their baby rise above 36° Celsius. However, parents should not be in a rush to bring down the temperature especially when the temperature is about 38°C. This range of temperature means that the baby’s body is trying to fight off the infection by neutralizing the virus that is causing it. Parent should understand that the infection reaches its peak at from two to three days. If there is no interference, the baby’s body will be able to recover from the infection. But if parents immediately do something to prevent the temperature from rising, the illness may last longer.

Fever in babies that reaches 37.5°C and is brought down immediately, the infection may lasts longer than expected. However, parents should be keep on monitoring their baby’s temperature because if it shoots up to more than 38°C, then it is time for them to do something to bring it down. It does not mean though that they should take lower fever temperatures for granted as some babies are not able to tolerate even slight fever. They may lose consciousness even at 37°c only.

Fever in babies should not be treated with aspirin as this may cause some bleeding. Some research indicates that aspirin may damage the brain as well as the liver of children.  Doctors do not also advise the use of analgium in lowering the temperature because it can be toxic to the body of the baby. Parents may ask their baby’s doctor if they can give him or her paracetamol instead. However, they should use the safest that they can find especially those that do not include dyes or even smells. This precaution is for the prevention of allergies in babies suffering from fever.

Parents can make use of natural means of lowering the fever in babies. Mothers most especially may use a damp soft cloth or sponge to wipe the entire body of their babies. They can make use of some vinegar and water solution for this purpose. Mothers will have to make sure that their babies have sufficient liquid intake. They should also refrain from wrapping their babies with very thick and warm blankets. This would only cause the fever in babies to go up to very high temperature. Parents may need to feed their babies by force at first but later on, they may feed him or her when the baby likes.

Parents have to be very observant when they deal with fever in babies. There are some signs that they should take note of such as cramps, rashes or bruised eyes. They also have to observe if the baby does not respond well to them and if he or she feels drowsy. Parents have to be alarmed if the baby vomits continuously or is suffering from diarrhea. They will have to bring the baby to the doctor. Fever in babies should not be taken lightly by parents but they should not also panic but instead they should learn more about handling it whenever it happens.

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Dealing with Baby Hair Loss

December 2nd, 2011 Posted in Babies
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New parents may be worried if their little bundle of joy is experiencing baby hair loss. However, this may just be a normal part of growing. Babies tend to lose their hair especially for the first three months. This baby hair loss is also referred to as telogen effluvium. Parents should understand that their baby’s hair goes through the growth stage but it may also have a resting stage. Although normally, the growth stage would lasts up to three months. At the resting stage, baby hair is expected to stay in the follicle up to the time that there would be a new hair growing.

Although only about 5-15% of the baby hair would undergo the resting stage, there are conditions that can cause it to stop growing. Babies at times experience fever, stress or even hormonal changes which could contribute to baby hair loss. Parents do not have to be alarmed as the hair is removed from the follicle when the next set of new hair starts to grow eventually after a few months. Parents also have to take note that their baby’s hormone levels may decrease after being born. When this happens, they may expect their baby to lose his or her hair. Parents may at times observe that the new hair growth would bring about a different texture and color as well.

Parents who see some patches on the head as a result of baby hair loss should try to vary their baby’s position when he or she is sitting or sleeping. Their baby might be staying in one position for a very long time and parts of the head may rub against the mattress which can cause the bald spot. Some other baby hair loss condition may also be observed like the bald spots with some red and flaky scaling. Parents may need to bring their baby to their doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment. Their baby might be suffering from some fungal infection that can be contagious.

Parents should also be careful about ponytails for babies as it can also contribute to baby hair loss. Traction alopecia may occur especially when the ponytail on the baby hair is too tight and this may also cause some damage. Parents need to be observant as their babies may also be pulling or twirling their baby hair compulsively. These irregular patches are also referred to trichotillomania.  At times baby hair loss may also be known as alopecia areata when the baby has some smooth and round totally bald areas. The baby’s immune system may be attacking the hair follicles which inhibit the normal growth of hair.

Parents should also be aware if the baby hair loss is caused by some medical conditions like some thyroid disorders or from problems with the pituitary gland. Parent will have to bring the baby to the doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment if necessary. Although baby hair loss may just be a normal occurrence for babies, certain conditions may be caused by some other problems.

 

 

 

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