Bonding With Your Baby

You'll never forget the first time you and your baby locked eyes, connecting for the first time. But bonding is actually a lifelong process of building a relationship, not a single magical moment. It begins during pregnancy, and is strengthened after birth. 

Even before your baby is born, he knows who you are. Research shows that by the seventh and eighth month, a fetus's heart rate slows down slightly whenever his mother is speaking, indicating that mom's voice has a calming effect. Studies also show that when newborns are offered two nipples that trigger two different voices when sucked, they'll almost always choose the one that triggers their mother's voice. 

The initial closeness that a mother and baby have just after birth produces physiological responses that enhance bonding. For the mother, breastfeeding releases maternal hormones, such as oxytocin, which fosters relaxation and nurturing feelings. The baby is comforted by the warmth of his mother's body and by the sound of her voice. 

Experts agree that bonding with your baby is essential to the baby's emotional and cognitive growth. Self-esteem is formed in the first year of life. Letting your baby know that he is the center of your world gives him a sense of security, confidence and self-esteem. Imagine how incredible it would be if everyone gave you their undivided attention, as if you were the most important person in the world. That's how an infant's life should be.

http://www.baby.com/view.aspx?pid=196&cid=263&fid=2

Bathing Safety

Here are some tips to keep baby happy and safe at bath time: 
Set your hot-water heater at 120 degrees or lower. 

Gather everything you need beforehand. Never leave your baby alone in the bath or on the changing table, not even for an instant. A child can drown in less than an inch of water. 

If the phone rings - ignore it! Let the answering machine pick up. 

Fill the tub with only 2 to 3 inches for newborns and infants up to six months old and never more than waist-high (in sitting position) for older children. 

Test the water temperature to be sure it's not too hot - between 90 and 100°F is ideal. 

In a large tub, use a non-slip mat and a supportive plastic bath seat if your baby needs help sitting up. 

Cover the bathroom floor with non-slip rugs. 

Teach your child to sit in the tub at all times. 

Consider using a padded faucet cover to prevent bumps and burns, especially if your child is active. 

Bathing can be fun! Bath time isn't just for getting clean! Try these activities for fun in the tub: 

Play peek-a-boo with a rubber ducky or other water-friendly toy, dipping the toy under the water and bringing up onto your baby's belly, shoulder, etc. 

Add a plastic boat or other floating device to the water and show your baby how the toy rocks when the water is splashed. 
Punch holes in the bottom of an empty yogurt container. Fill it with bath water and make it "rain" in the tub. 

Make a hand puppet by sewing washcloths together. Have the puppet sing or talk in a funny voice as you soap your baby with it. 

Make "bath-soup" using spoons, measuring cups, strainers and other cooking utensils to stir and mix the water. 
Anything plastic that floats, splashes, or squirts makes a great bath toy. Remember to clean the toys in hot soapy water.

http://www.baby.com/view.aspx?pid=196&cid=264&fid=2

Baby's Sense of Sight

Visual stimulation is another important way to engage your baby's interest in her surroundings. Newborns can focus best on objects 7-15 inches from their eyes, which is, appropriately enough, the distance from baby's face to mother's face during breastfeeding. Stimulating your baby's vision helps develop eye muscles and eye control. Because your newborn can see only this short distance and is relatively immobile, it is up to you to provide a variety of things to see. 

Of all visual stimuli, animated and talking faces draw the newborn's attention the most. Newborns will gaze most frequently at the edges of faces. As they get older, they will gaze into your eyes. By 2 days, your baby will be able to tell the difference between your face and that of another woman. Smiling, talking, facial expressions and eye contact help to create a loving bond between you and your infant. 

Newborns also like to look at high-contrast patterns and highly contrasted colors such as black and white, or red and yellow. Try placing colorful stuffed toys or patterned cards in the crib. Babies only a few hours old can distinguish red, yellow and green from gray. By 2 months, and sometimes even by 1 month, babies appear to have largely normal color vision. Not everything has to be colorful; even the contrast between light and dark areas of the room fascinates infants. 

Your baby will also enjoy looking at objects that move, such as mobiles. Secure these items and place them far enough away that your baby can't touch or kick them. Changing your baby's field of view can be achieved by simply changing her position, especially in the first few months, before she can roll over by herself. 

Here are some developments in your baby's sense of sight you may have noticed in the first few months: 

Your baby can focus on objects about 8-12 inches away -- perfect for viewing your face while you feed him. However, eye "crossing," either persistently now, or at any amount after 4 months, is abnormal and should be discussed with your baby's healthcare professional. 
An infant's eye muscles are weak, so his eyes may sometimes seem uncoordinated. 
He watches and listens intently when you talk to him. 
He prefers human faces. 
Let your baby study your face at close range. Use a lot of exaggerated facial expressions and imitate the faces he makes. 
Maintain eye contact with him whenever you can, for as long as he likes. 
Smile at your baby often to show your love, good humor and approval. 
Carry your baby about, supporting him so he can look over your shoulder or face forward. 
Show him pictures and objects with highly contrasting patterns or colors. Babies also like bright, shiny objects. 
Open the blinds, or raise the window shades to see if he moves his head toward the light. 
Secure a brightly colored mobile to your baby's crib. Remove it when he can raise himself to hands and knees or when he can sit up. 
Your baby's eyes can partially follow an object moving slowly in a circular direction. 
He can see objects in more detail, and can focus on things up to 20 feet away. 
He likes to look at objects of various shapes, sizes and colors. He especially enjoys looking in the mirror.

Quiet Alert

Most babies will be in this state, ready to respond to their surroundings, for 2-4 hours each day. When you interact with him, your baby may move his body or stare intently at objects within his range. This period is when your baby eats, and it is also the best time to stimulate his senses of touch, sight and hearing. 

Your baby's ability to focus is improving. 
She can follow an object as you move it slowly from side to side. 

She searches for the source of sounds and turns her head when a gentle noise is made near her ear. 
She prefers to watch bright, moving objects.

Some ways to stimulate your baby's sense of sight include:

Take your baby with you as you move from room to room during the course of the day. 
Show your baby objects of varying shapes, sizes and colors. Make sure that none of the items are small enough for her to put in her mouth. 
Slowly move a colorful object across your baby's line of vision to see whether she follows it. 
Take your baby on daily walks. 
Place a colorful toy near your baby's face while she's lying on her stomach to encourage her to lift her head to see it. 
Place your baby in an infant seat or hold him in your lap so that he has an upright view of his surroundings. 
Hang colorful, cheerful pictures on your baby's bedroom walls

All About Infant Gas

Could gas be making my baby fussy?

Gas is very common in babies, affecting more than half of all newborns within the first two months of life. Gas bubbles can often cause discomfort, leading to crankiness and crying. Many babies suffering from gas pull their legs up, lying in a curled position in an effort to relieve the discomfort.

How can I prevent my baby from getting gas?

• Avoid "gassy" foods such as beans, bran, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, caffeine, and onions while you are nursing. These can cause your infant to get gas.


• Avoid feeding your baby cow’s milk, as it can cause gas. Talk to your pediatrician about other options.


• Make sure the nipple is the right size if you are bottle-feeding. If the nipple is too large, it will make your baby eat too fast; if it’s too small, it will cause your baby to gulp air.


• Burp your baby every three to five minutes during feedings, or before switching breasts if nursing.


• Burp your baby up against your shoulder, face down across your lap, or sitting upright on your lap, supporting her head and chest as you gently pat her back.


• Avoid jostling or playing vigorously with your baby after feedings.


• Encourage quiet time after your baby eats.

How can I relieve my baby’s gas?

• Hold your baby gently, but securely, over your arm in a face-down position, known as the "gas hold."


• Give your baby an anti-gas medicine to break down gas bubbles.

For more information about infant gas, visit Mylicon.com.

A Guide to Infant Massage

A Guide to Infant Massage

Research shows that massage can relax babies, improve their sleep patterns, and calm them when they are irritable. Infant massage should last about 15 minutes. Don't worry if you have only five or ten minutes: even a short massage is good for your baby. Choose a warm, quiet room and play background music if you like. 

Using a lotion or oil will help reduce friction and make the massage more soothing. Make sure you use a product that is gentle enough for your infant's skin. JOHNSON'S® Baby Lotion is easy to use, smells great and is hypoallergenic. For extra ease, you may prefer to use JOHNSON'S® Baby Oil because it spreads smoothly. It's also allergy- and dermatologist-tested so it's gentle enough for your baby. Whether you choose lotion or oil, place a quarter-sized amount in your palm and rub your hands together to distribute. 

Start with your baby lying on his stomach. Then gently rub your hands (make sure they're warm) back and forth six times on each of the following areas for about one minute in each area:

1. From the top of your baby's head to his neck
2. From his neck across his shoulders
3. From his upper back to his waist
4. From his thigh to his foot and back to his thigh, on each leg
5. From his shoulder to his hand and back to his shoulder, on each arm

Now turn your baby over onto his back so that he is facing you. Move each of his arms gently, flexing it and then straightening it. Exercise each arm and each leg in this way, and then both legs, as if he were pedaling a tiny bicycle, for a total of five minutes.
To finish your baby's massage, turn him back on his stomach and repeat the first sequence.

Throughout the massage, remember to be sensitive and responsive to your baby. Learn to recognize when your baby tells you that he's not interested or that he's had enough. Your baby might do the following to tell you he would rather be doing something else:

• turn his head away
• "crunch up" his forehead
• suck in his cheeks
• grimace
• fuss
• cry

As you give your baby more massages, you'll gradually find a routine that works best for both of you. And with all your love and attention focused on him, you and your baby will be truly in touch.

For more articles about caring for your baby, visit THE JOHNSON'S® GUIDE TO NURTURING CARE™.

The Importance of Touch

The Importance of Touch

Touch is so important to our health and well-being. Think about the times when you've felt sad or alone. Didn't a hug from a friend make you feel better? Likewise, your baby also feels better when held and comforted by your loving touch. In fact, studies show that touch therapy, including massage, contributes to a healthy weight gain, enhanced growth and social development in infants.

Our First Language

In many ways, touch is our first language – a language scientists are now beginning to understand. Being touched in a loving way can help small babies grow stronger and troubled children feel less anxious. In many hospitals and birthing centers, newborns are placed on the mother's chest or abdomen to give them the most skin-to-skin contact. The touch between the mother and her baby brings them emotionally close – a process known as bonding or attachment. In fact, in one study, premature infants who were massaged while at the hospital gained more weight and were ready to go home with their parents an average of six days earlier than premies who were not massaged.

Carrying More Means Less Crying

For many of us, babies communicate by crying. Would babies cry less if they're touched more? New research seems to suggest that increasing mother-baby contact reduces crying. Researchers asked a group of mothers to carry their babies for at least three hours a day. They then compared their crying patterns with a group of babies who were carried the typical one to two hours daily. The result: babies who were carried more, cried less – especially at six weeks of age, when babies usually cry the most. The close bond between parent and baby gave these infants a greater sense of security.

You Can't Spoil a Baby

Some parents do not pick up their babies as often as they could because they are afraid they will spoil them, but nothing could be further from the truth! Each time you pick up your baby, you let her know that you care and that you understand her needs. So don't hesitate to hold your crying baby. Carry her on your shoulder and sing her a lullaby. Stroke her head, rub her back tenderly, and let her know you'll always be there. Talking and singing while holding your baby can help you both to bond. 

The Difference Between Mothers and Fathers

Did you know? Each parent has his or her own way of touching. Research has shown that when mothers touch babies, they are usually soothing and calming. Moms most often touch gently – they stroke softly, rock slowly, and hold their babies tenderly. Fathers, on the other hand, tend to engage in more physical forms of touch – they bounce babies on their knees, hold them playfully in the air, or roll around on the floor with them. Your baby benefits from these two different styles of touch. Together they contribute to your infant's healthy development.

As you spend more time with your baby, you'll learn to read his likes, dislikes, desires and emotions. You'll learn the best time for cuddling, the best time for playing and the best time for relaxing. If too much playing or cuddling is making your baby cranky, give him a rest and check back a little later – he will let you know when he is ready for attention!

How important is touch? As our first language, it can help you to create a strong bond with your baby. And a strong bond can help your baby feel more secure, cry less and thrive more. As one of the main ways to help you create a nurturing bond with your baby, touch is very important indeed!

NOTE: If you feel that you don't have the will or energy to create a bond with your newborn, talk to your doctor. You may be suffering from postpartum depression, a physical condition for which there is help. Don't think “it's all in your head” and don't go it alone. It's important – for both your sake and your baby's sake – that you seek help.

For more articles about caring for your baby, visit THE JOHNSON'S® GUIDE TO NURTURING CARE™.

The First Ten Days

The First Ten Days

What Every New Parent Should Know

Yes, there's a lot to be aware of, but... relax. There really are just a few essential things you need to know to help your baby thrive in the first couple of weeks. Follow the step-by-step instructions in our guide to The First Ten Days, and you too will become an old pro at:

• Holding Your Newborn
• Bathing Your Newborn
• Changing a Diaper
• Comforting Newborn
• Feeding Your Newborn

How to Hold Your Newborn
Your newborn may feel fragile and delicate, but don't be afraid to touch her! In fact, studies show that babies that are held more than 2 hours a day thrive better and cry less. Because your newborn's neck muscles are not yet developed, you will need to support her head whenever you pick her up. You should also support her head against your shoulder or in your opposite hand, as your carry her. Some parents find that a sling or baby carrier gives them an extra sense of security when carrying their newborn babies. And your baby will love it too!

How to Bath Your Newborn
Until your newborn's umbilical cord heals and falls off (usually in a week or two) it's best to clean your baby with a sponge bath. 

1. Lay your baby on a soft towel, or use a sponge-lined bath bed. Support your baby's head and limbs throughout. 

2. Clean around each eye with separate cotton balls dipped in warm water

3. Keep your baby covered with a towel to stay warm: uncover only the area you are washing. Dip a warm, wet washcloth in a little baby wash (JOHNSON'S® HEAD-TO-TOE® Baby Wash is mild enough for a newborn) then wash and rinse her face, arms, legs, tummy and genital area, in that order. Clean the umbilical stump with a cotton ball dipped in clean water. 

4. If your newborn has hair, clean it with baby wash and rinse by wiping her hair with a clean cloth. 

5. Next, dry your baby thoroughly but don't rub vigorously. Then wrap her in a hooded, dry towel.

How to Change A Diaper

Many first-time parents are surprised by how many diapers they go through in a day. To make life easier for yourself, have plenty of diapers on hand before you bring your baby home. 

Before you change your baby's diaper, be sure to wash your hands. And because you should NEVER leave your baby alone on the change table, you'll need to have the following items standing by before you begin:

• A clean diaper
• Baby wipes or a wet washcloth (that you'll use ONLY for this purpose)
• A plastic bag to dispose of soiled diapers
• Diaper rash preventative ointment containing petrolatum, such as BALMEX® Daily Protective Clear Ointment
• Diaper rash treatment cream containing zinc oxide, such as BALMEX® Zinc Oxide
• Diaper Rash Cream
• A change of clothes for your baby (just in case)

1. Lay your baby on a flat, secure surface.

2. Remove the diaper by lifting the adhesive tabs. Fold the tabs back on themselves so they don't stick to anything (including the baby!).

3. With a baby wipe or a washcloth moistened with water, clean the genital area by wiping from front to back. Fold the dirty diaper onto itself and move to the side. Place a clean diaper under your baby.

4. Pat your baby dry before applying ointment. Apply a protective ointment such as BALMEX® Daily Protective Clear Ointment to create a barrier against wetness and irritants. If your baby already has a diaper rash, choose a product with zinc oxide and other ingredient that soothe the skin and promote healing, such as BALMEX® Zinc Oxide Diaper Rash Cream.

5. Secure the clean diaper by fastening the adhesive strips from the back of the diaper to the front panel. It should be snug, but not tight.

6. Finally, dispose of the dirty diaper and wash your hands again. Done!

How to Comfort Your Newborn
Most babies cry for an average of two hours a day in the first three months. So while it may be disconcerting, it's also normal. To comfort your baby, first try to determine the cause of his discomfort. Is he hungry? Does he have gas? Does his diaper need changing? Is it time for a nap? Is he over-stimulated by noise, lights or activity? If the source of his discomfort is hunger, gas, or a wet diaper, the solution is obvious. To help soothe a sleepy or over-stimulated baby, hold him on your shoulder while gently rocking him. Sing or speak softly to them – reassure him with a calm voice. It can also help to rub his back as you do so. Try different positions to find one that's comfortable for both of you. 

Something else to consider: your baby doesn't have much mobility in the first few weeks and may cry for help if he is lying uncomfortably in the crib. You can help him by gently shifting his position. Note: NEVER put your baby to sleep face down.

How to Feed Your Newborn
Healthcare professionals agree that nothing is better for your newborn baby than breast milk. Nutritionally speaking, it's tailor-made for your infant. Of course, sometimes mothers cannot breastfeed, due to medical problems or other special circumstances. Discuss with your pediatrician how best to feed your newborn. No matter how you decide to feed your baby, be sure to always hold him while feeding. The cuddling that comes with nursing and feeding helps to build a strong, loving bond between you and your baby. Here are a few tips for when you're breastfeeding your baby:

1. Get an early start: Nursing should begin within an hour after delivery if possible, when your infant is awake and the sucking instinct is strong. Even though you won't be producing milk yet, your breasts contain colostrum, a thin fluid that contains beneficial antibodies.

2. Proper positioning: The baby's mouth should be wide open, with the nipple as far back into his or her mouth as possible. This minimizes soreness for you.

3. Nurse on demand: Newborns need to nurse frequently, about every two hours, and not on any strict schedule. This will stimulate your breasts to produce plenty of milk. Later, the baby can settle into a more predictable routine.

4. Use nursing pads: Use a nursing pad, such as super-absorbent, cushiony JOHNSON'S® Nursing Pads, to help eliminate embarrassing leakage between feedings.

5. Air dry: In the early postpartum period or until your nipples toughen, you should air dry them after each nursing to prevent them from cracking and getting infected. If your nipples do crack, you can coat them with breast milk to help them heal. Proper positioning at the breast can help prevent sore nipples. If you're very sore, your baby may not have the nipple far enough back in his or her mouth.

6. Watch for infection: Symptoms of breast infection include fever, painful lumps and redness in the breast. These require immediate medical attention.

7. Eat right, get rest: To produce plenty of good milk, you'll need to eat a balanced diet that includes an extra 500 calories a day and drink six to eight glasses of fluid. You should also rest as much as possible to prevent breast infections, which are aggravated by fatigue.

For more articles about caring for your baby, visit THE JOHNSON'S® GUIDE TO NURTURING CARE™.