Newborn care Archives | Page 4 of 4

“Long Winter Nights” Special on Overnight Support

Trouble getting enough sleep with your new baby? Take advantage of some of these long winter nights with expert care from Doulas of Baltimore’s professional team of Newborn Care Specialists and Postpartum Doulas.

Our winter special includes a complimentary one hour, in-home sleep consultation with DOB partner and infant sleep expert Deborah Bailey. She will get to know your family and pair you with one of our team members!

Your in-home professional arrives ready to teach baby sleep associations and is an expert on normal newborn and infant sleep patterns. Using years of tips, tricks, and hacks, she will give you a restful night’s sleep and gently encourage your baby to sleep more independently. Whether you are breastfeeding, pumping, formula feeding, or using a combination of feeding methods, your doula works to ensure you get the maximum amount of sleep possible.

This special includes 3 overnight shifts per week for 4 weeks to implement the strategies developed, allow the whole family catch up on rest, and set a solid foundation for your baby’s healthy sleep habits. Make these long winter nights warmer and brighter with the exceptional care our doulas bring!

In addition to the complimentary consult with our infant sleep expert, this special also takes advantage of our most affordable rate for in-home care.

Contact us today to secure your doula and settle in for a long winter’s nap – no kerchief required!

Promo Details: This special is available for families with infants up to 6 months old.

Initial 1-hour sleep consultation ($100 value) then three 10 hr overnights for 4 weeks.

3 nights per week of 10 hour shifts = 30 hours x 4 weeks = 120 hours at $40/hr = $4800 (reg. price $5500, a $700 savings)

This promotion is available for new contracts signed through February 15, 2020. Hours expire at the end of March.

Holiday gifts every new parent needs (and a few they don’t!)

Baby registry, Newborn care

Here come the winter holidays! So you observe a gift-giving tradition? Therefore, you’ve likely felt moments of confusion and panic over what to give your loved ones. And if you’re expecting, may not know how to answer the questions from those who love you about what you’d like this year. However, if you’ve recently had a baby shower, you might feel like presents are more than you need right now. And if you would like to give holiday gifts to the new parent on your loved ones list, you may think there’s nothing left that they need. But fear not! In the seasonal spirit of giving, Doulas of Baltimore is here to give you a list of perfect solutions to your dilemma.

Ideas to consider skipping

First, we will clear some potential ideas for holiday gifts for new parents off your list. New parents are frequently short on sleep and patience. As a result, they do not appreciate toys that make loud or repetitive noises, so avoid those! While newborn clothing is easy to shop for and seems downright irresistible, chances are good that parents of infants have an ample supply already of these tiny wardrobe builders. And newborns outgrow them in a matter of weeks. For practical purposes, you can also skip over infant snow suits. And while infant sleep positioners may look like a useful and valued gift, the evidence says that many of them are unsafe and as a result should be avoided.

What’s left, then? So much good stuff! We present to you some items and services that make great holiday gifts every new parent is likely to use and value.

Holiday gifts for new parents that do make the list!

Modern diaper bag

First off, parents know that diaper bags are essential, and good ones are worth their weight in holiday gold. This backpack from TwelveLittle is packed with features and comes in style-forward unisex colors, and even has a tech pocket for a laptop for multitasking parents.

Versatile baby carrier

A good baby carrier is a must for families! Because whether you’re on the go or getting things done around home, a carrier makes all the difference. This one from Baby Tula has an innovative design that allows parents to carry baby either front or back of the body. You’ll love the quick-adjusting straps for multiple wearers. And this carrier grows with your little one. Use it up to 45 pounds!

Infant sleep monitor

Anyone who’s ever heard anyone talk about life with newborns knows that good sleep is everything. The Owlet is an ingenius baby sleep monitor that parents have raved over. It is a far cry from anything parents of previous generations could have imagined. Check it out here: Owlet.

Simple white noise machine

Since good sleep is always a priority for new parents, white noise machines have been increasingly popular. Families love them for their sleep-assisting properties. And this one from HoMedics is a solid, affordable choice, perfect for families traveling over the holidays.

Lasting, quality clothing

If, above all, you cannot resist the allure of buying clothing for that adorable baby, look for high-quality design and comfortable fabrics. Also buy in larger sizes that they can grow into. Therefore, check out Hanna Andersson which is a Swedish company that uses organic cotton in many of its products. They design their clothing in European sizing that allows for growth. If you buy a size 70 now would mean baby could wear the clothing next spring and summer.

Toy subscription box

Since it takes some research off their plate, busy parents appreciate a subscription box arriving at the door with no planning or errand running involved. LovEvery provides kits packed with developmentally sound toys and products for growing babies, and the kits are backed by a line-up of impressive endorsements

Best support money can buy

Another winning option for holiday gifts every new parent could use is a package of in-home postpartum doula services. A postpartum doula provides a range of services to help ease families into a happy and healthy new life together. Whether lending a hand to set up the nursery or sharing expertise for childbirth recovery, your doula is there for you! From infant feeding and sleep habits to assistance with older sibling care and light household tasks – our team of postpartum professionals and newborn care specialists from Doulas of Baltimore is here to help. To make it easy, we provide gift certificates for family and friends to purchase. Add it to your baby registry or holiday wishlist!

Happy shopping, and happy holidays!

Pro-Tips for Keeping Baby Healthy this Holiday Season

Newborn care

You’ve made it! Whether you’ve traveled minutes, hours, or days, you are standing outside the door of your favorite relative’s home and are about to ring the doorbell. You made the trip fairly easily (perhaps in part because you reviewed our expert tips in the Doulas of Baltimore blog on traveling with baby for the holidays with newborns), but now are trying to talk yourself out of hopping back in the car with your 27 pieces of paraphernalia and your precious newborn because you know that on the other side of that door wait two dozen relatives fighting over who gets to hold the baby first and all you’re worried about is keeping baby healthy. But it’s ok! We’ve got you covered.

Read on to get expert tips on keeping your baby healthy during holiday visits!

Just as traveling with an infant requires preparation, so does braving a crowd of well-meaning but quite possible germy loved ones. Your advance work will require a conversation or two with the hosts of the gatherings you’ll be attending, explaining that your pediatrician (always blame it on the pediatrician) has made you promise that NOBODY will be kissing the baby, not even on the tops of their heads or on their adorable little hands. You must ask that they do messenger duty and spread the word to other guests, and inquire about their supply of hand sanitizer (offer to bring your own, and follow up on that offer).

Some will scoff and some will reach anyway, but it is your duty to stand firm. Practice ahead of time how you will deliver the message to your loved ones, and think of a few allies you can enlist to help you reinforce your stance. Babywearing is always a subtle way to minimize unwanted contact with baby. While chubby cheeks are tempting when baby sleeps in your arms or your travel bassinet, we’ve yet to meet someone willing to reach down your shirt for a snuggle when baby is well tucked in!

Here’s why this is important: germs are sneaky and usually arrive unannounced.

According to Holly Musgrove, MSN, CRNP, a pediatric nurse in the Baltimore area, many common winter illnesses can be transmitted days before symptoms appear in a host. Thorough hand washing at a sink with soap and water is essential for anyone who handles a newborn. Hand sanitizer can help if used correctly, but will not be effective in killing gastrointestinal bugs. And, of course, the best hand washing will not stop mouth-to-skin transmission.

Musgrove advises, “I would not even take them into crowds if possible, so avoid large groups of people. Absolutely no kissing. I wouldn’t let anyone kiss that baby. I would take a hard stand on the ‘everyone must wash their hands’ rule. Any sign of illness means they need to stay away.” If you do suspect that the baby was exposed, Musgrove counsels to wash their hands and face immediately, and then watch vigilantly for signs of infection.

What are you watching for, and why? Because the flu season typically is in full swing by New Year’s, there is a very real risk of infection over the holidays, and influenza or RSV can hit babies hard. According to Musgrove, babies who are very sick may be subjected to invasive procedures such as spinal taps, and there is a risk of sepsis. The kiss is just not worth the risk. She says,

“I recommend that the entire family living in a house with newborns should get a flu shot if eligible.”

When to call the doctor??

A baby with a temperature needs to be taken seriously. Musgrove says, “Any newborn with a rectal temp over 100.4 should be seen by a doctor. Rectal is the only accurate way to get a core temperature. Every parent should have a rectal thermometer. If baby is fussier than normal or are not feeding as well and are not having as many wet diapers, it’s a sign that something is or could be going on.”

Not every new parent is aware that all pediatricians have on-call coverage 24 hours a day. If you are in any way concerned about your newborn’s symptoms, call and talk to the on-call pediatrician, no matter if it’s a holiday. “Don’t take your baby to the ER, which is a germ factory, without talking to your pediatrician first,” advises Musgrove.

You’ve rung the doorbell, air-kissed Aunt Pat and Uncle Bertie, waved and blown kisses to everyone else, and have changed a diaper. Now stake out a spot in the corner and settle in! Draw an imaginary line around you and your sweet little one, and send anyone who encroaches on your space off on an errand for you. You must keep yourself fed and hydrated, after all, and people will delight in bringing you offerings. Chances are good you’ve left a few things in the car that could be fetched by others. And by all means excuse yourself to find a dark room and a warm bed for nap times for both of you.

This is not likely to be the carefree family gathering you may remember from your child-free days, but it is the start of new love and new memories. Enjoy these days, and be well!

Holiday Travel with Baby: Get our Expert Tips!