I know you are going crazy worrying about the safety/welfare of your little one, you had your way you would want to put him/her into a padded room and let them out when they are much for a long time, sorry not realistic.

You can’t house proof your child but there are some things that you can do to ensure “prevention rather than cure”

CPR

Ensure that you or anyone else looking after your child is CPR trained/certified, thus ensuring all concerned know what to do in case of an accident/emergency and also know the signs to look for and how to react after those things have occurred.

Changing

Always have your supplies within close reach, ensuring that you don’t move away from the area. Always have eyes and a hand on your child. You don’t want to run the risk of your little one falling from the changing table or the bed or another elevated place that you might be using.

Bathing

Get organized with a all your supplies before you begin NEVER leave your baby unattended in the bath.

Sleeping

Put your baby to sleep in a safe environment ie a crib where the slats are no more than 2 3/8 inches apart. No missing or broken hardware, no jagged or sharp edges especially if this is a hand me down. A firm, tight fitting mattress, with a well fitted crib sheet. No soft bedding and no adult bedding. Safety certification seal on new cribs.

Always think “back to sleep” according to studies babies who sleep on their backs have a much lower risk of SIDS and suffocation.

Choking risks

Always read the labels on packaging on toys. Discard the plastic wrapping out of the reach of children. Keep an eye out for small parts that they could choke on, even sibling’s toys may be a choking danger to your little one. Think “golf ball”, smaller is a potential choking risk. Balloons are very appealing but once popped are a serious choking hazard.

Child proofing

Keep poisons, chemicals and cleaning products out of reach, preferably locked away. Install child latches to cabinets and drawers, I have seen some people use a thick rubber band. Install safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs.

It is your job to maintain a safe environment for your child but at the same time you need to teach your child what is acceptable/safe behavior. If you don’t train your child not to touch certain things and not to play in certain places then what will happen when they go to visit another house. When you see him heading into play with the water in the toilet basin then redirect him but until he’s of age to use the potty then keep the door closed.

Remove furniture that can be a stepping stone to windows and ledges, install latches to ensure the windows can only open so far. Fit the sharp edges of tables with table padding.

Until you can teach your child to not touch the breakables then put them out of reach.
Remember, your child needs to be able to explore his environment without the risk of hurting himself or your prized Lladro.

Just say “no” to that furrowed brow and learn to enjoy new motherhood

You have just surrendered to sleeping instead of checking that baby is still breathing every five minutes and, lo and behold, now you are wondering: Did that formula I supplemented today do any damage? Let’s face it, you’re a worrier and you have postpartum anxiety. Phew! Breathe easy, I didn’t say “depression,” although sometimes excessive worry can be a sign of postpartum depression. Most likely, you just have a case of the new-mom worries.

Let me start by saying that some worry is absolutely unavoidable. It’s our bodies’ way of naturally reacting to the additional stress. It’s about fulfilling the job description of being the best mother that you can be from the beginning. It means that you are on your toes ensuring the safety and wellbeing of your little one, making sure that there are no stuffed animals in the crib increasing the risk of SIDS, that you cut up the food into tiny pieces so he won’t choke.  But too much worry is a waste of your precious mommy time and, in my opinion, unhealthy.

All about balance

The task at hand is to find the right balance. The accepted level of worry that helps you keep baby safe without you losing your marbles.  All right for her, you may be thinking, Nanny’s not a worrier. Not so. For those that really know me when it comes to children (especially other people’s), I have worried like you can’t imagine. Is that piece of watermelon too big? Will he choke? Consider me a veteran of the worry club and let’s move on together. Here are some tried and tested methods to alleviate some of that unnecessary stress.

The biggies

Here are the main concerns that I think most new mom’s worry about and, in my opinion, are normal—and a few tips on how to manage them.

• SIDS. Simply follow the guidelines: No cuddly toys, pillows, or blankets. And always remember to put your baby to sleep on her back.
• Is baby eating enough? This can be a real worry, especially because breast-milk intake isn’t measured. The regular sight of pee and poop is a great indicator that baby is getting enough.  I have never been a member of the breastfeeding police! Yes, we all know that breast is best, but if you are exhausted and your milk supply is low, your baby is going to be hungry. If you supplement with a bottle of formula, so what?
• Is baby putting on enough weight? Do not get obsessed with those percentiles at the pediatrician’s office. Every baby is different and grows and develops at a different rate. If doctor is worried or has cause for concern, then you can worry.
• Is baby stimulated enough? Don’t lose your mind because you didn’t take baby for a walk yesterday and show her the tweeting birds. Don’t scream to your husband that you’re a bad mother because you didn’t spend as much time reading to the baby as the books told you. Talking and singing is great stimulation too. Throughout your day, try and utilize your time as best you can.
• Am I doing a good job? Don’t panic that you are a lousy mom because baby is crying. That’s what babies do. Try and figure out your baby’s cues and try to meet her needs. Do not compare yourself to other people. We are all different and our parenting styles are different. I am a firm believer that babies are barometers for stress and they will pick up on the fact that you’re anxious.

5 ways to let go

1. Have a support system. Get help from others who have been through what you have been through—friends, family, and new-mom groups.
2. Live one day at a time. Having a short, daily to-do list of what you want to achieve can help you stay focused.
3. Be positive. Stay focused on what’s going right in your life.  This will help you from getting into that “negative Nora” zone of “I can’t do anything right.”
4. Write down your worries. Once your worries are named and organized, you can look at resolving them in a rational, level-headed way.
5. Count your blessings. Write down things that you are grateful for. This will keep you focused on the good.

Had enough?

Are you really enjoying being a new mom if you are constantly worrying? Don’t your baby and husband deserve a mom and wife that is present? Find a way to live in the moment. Although feeding baby has been a concern, turn that moment around make that activity about enjoying the time you spend actually feeding baby, whether it be breast or bottle. Breathe, relax, and enjoy what you are doing.

Yes, it’s frustrating when baby has a bad day and seems to be nothing but cranky. Try to focus on watching him grow and learn, and—yippee!—celebrate those milestones regardless of whether he walked later than your nephew did. Oh, but wait a minute, he got teeth before his cousin did, didn’t he?  Parenthood is a huge learning process, which can be a bumpy road at times. Treat this new journey as a marathon, not a sprint, and enjoy the moments along the way.

Source:Pregnancy Magazine

Perspective and planning are the keys to enjoying those eternal afternoons with a newborn

One of my biggest frustrations when I go to help parents on my TV show, Nanny 911, is that I can see that their lives would be so much more manageable and enjoyable with the addition of a schedule or some routine. Yet, some people can’t believe I have the audacity to suggest it to them.

By opening your mind to the option of some form of routine, you’re ensuring that you get as much enjoyment as you possibly can out of each day with your newborn. The alternative? Greeting your partner at the door in hysterical tears because you haven’t even showered yet. Well now, that doesn’t sound very pleasant.

Food for thought

You better be thinking about all this before you even leave the hospital with that new bundle of joy. And while surrounded by “known experts,” you should be getting as much help and advice as possible. Take advantage of the nurses and lactation consultants and ask them to check if you’re nursing correctly. It can be extremely overwhelming if you get home and you are having a hard time with latch or sore nipples.

The nursing experience is meant to be enjoyable, not teeth-clenching; not being able to feed a baby successfully can be a huge drain on a new mother.  When it’s time to breastfeed, sit down with a full glass of water and a nutritious snack. Your job is to meet the needs of your baby but at the same time you must take care of yourself. If you aren’t eating or drinking enough, you won’t be able to do both.  This is a great time to have skin-on-skin contact with the baby. Studies have shown that this closeness between mother and baby reduces crying, improves mother-baby interaction, and helps the feeding process be more successful.

Let’s be practical

In my village when I was growing up, there was asaying: “Sleep when the baby sleeps.” As hard as it may be to turn off your mind about those undone dishes or that load of laundry, you are going to feel like a P.O.W. tortured with sleep deprivation, so take those naps! And before you start complaining about the lack of sleep, don’t bother, it is just one of the battle scars of parenthood.  Involve dad in a rotation.

Even if you’re breastfeeding, you may have a fussy baby or simply one that needs changing or burping in between feeds; and if you take it in turns, it halves the workload.  Maybe when your husband is off work on the weekends, you can sleep in and he can do the morning shift? Forget the maybe, and get him to do it!  When baby comes home, it’s a great time to set some boundaries for your new family. Put a sign on the door, “Baby sleeping, please knock gently.” And don’t forget to change the answering machine message that you are enjoying time with your newborn. Check the messages later.

8 Eight ways to pass-and even enjoy!—the time with your newborn

• Visit the playground or mall
• Go for a scenic drive
• Grab a coffee at the local coffee shop
• Catch a mommy-and-me flick
• Organize a mom playdate
• Join a local StrollerStrides exercise class
• Take a mommy-and-me yoga or music class
• Before nap or bedtime, give baby a massage

Tip: When you want to take a shower, you can wheel the bassinet or bouncy seat into the bathroom.

Set for success

Lower your expectations—everyday tasks like housework, shopping, and errands are not a matter of life and death. Set attainable goals for yourself, like getting showered, getting dressed, or returning one phone call or answering one email. This will help you feel that you have achieved something. For example, when you want to take a shower, you can wheel the bassinet or bouncy seat into the bathroom or leave the baby under the watchful eye of one of those visitors who may still be loitering.

Get outside, even if it is for a small walk around the block. The baby is portable, whether you use a sling or the stroller. Sit in the garden, visit a friend, and do whatever it takes to get you out of the house, if just for 15 minutes each day. Keep the diaper bag stocked and ready to go—the last thing you want is to be out and about with no clean diapers!  Your minimum routine is to care for your baby, sleep and eat when you need to, and enjoy your baby as much as you can.

The time goes by so quickly. You’ll be taking her to kindergarten before you know it.  Nanny Stella, celebrity family consultant, author, and star of Nanny 911, is well-known for her no-nonsense approach in helping families. Her passion is children—all ages, sizes genders, and ethnic backgrounds.

Source:Pregnancy Magazine