24 Mar Secrets of Parenthood: Babies

You know those things about parenting that no one ever tells you about? The things you often have to find out on your own? We’re on a mission to demystify some of those things, and we’re going to do it in a three-part series where we focus on babies, kids in grade school, and teenagers. We’re kicking off the series with the youngest age group: babies!

When the Pacifier Falls on the Floor

You might be tempted to clean it off by putting it in your mouth, but this is not a good idea. We talk about sterilizing pacifiers and washing them frequently so that they don’t expose your baby to germs, and a human’s mouth is full of germs. During the day, wash the pacifiers with soap and water. At night, stick them in the dishwasher to get sterilized (make sure that they’re dishwasher safe before you do this, though!). It’s helpful to have a few pacifiers you can use as backups, since pacifiers tend to fall on the floor when you need them most. To learn more about pacifier know-how, read these tips from healthychildren.org.

Do They Usually Twitch in Their Sleep?

Yep, especially when they’re infants. Some will flail their arms so hard that they’ll wake themselves up! They’ll usually grow out of this after a few months, but in the meantime, consider trying to swaddle them. This article from healthychildren.org talks about the “burrito wrap,” an easy and effective way to bundle up your baby so their legs and arms are secure, meaning that they won’t startle themselves awake.

Bundling Up to Go Outside

The weather’s starting to warm up, but Texas has been known to have dips in temperature occasionally. When it’s chilly outside, how much should you bundle up your baby? A good rule of thumb is to put your baby in one more layer than what you’re wearing. Wearing a hat outside is usually a good idea (for warmth in the winter, and to protect them from the sun’s UV rays in the summer). Again, not always necessary, but usually a good idea.

Should Their Poop Be That Color?

You’ll probably see several shades of brown, yellow, and green in your baby’s diaper as the months go on. Different colors usually just reflect diet (green is more common for formula-fed babies, whereas you’ll see a mustardy yellow with most breastfed babies). Adding solid foods to your baby’s diet will throw in some new color. This is completely normal. There are only a few colors that you do need to worry about: red, black, and white. If you see red and black in the poop, talk to your pediatrician about it. If you see white, notify your pediatrician immediately. For more information, check out this article on healthychildren.org.

If you have questions or would like to discuss any concerns you have regarding your child’s health, you can schedule an appointment with me, Dr. Kathryn Mandal, by calling 817-617-8600 or scheduling online at continuumtx.com.