WELCOME BOOTCAMP DADDIES!!!
Here are the resources I promised. Please call or email me if you would like to see anything added!!! BEST OF LUCK WITH YOUR NEWBORNS, YOU ARE GOING TO BE AWESOME!
The holy grail from class... - BABY SQUATS!!!
Learn more about the Redirecting Children's Behavior Course
Resources for Car-Seat Installation
Infant CPR, not just a good concept
CRYING: Your Baby’s First Language – LEARN IT!!!
SIGNS TO LOOK FOR TO RECOGNIZE WHEN YOUR BABY IS TIRED
Get your child to do ANYTHING!
Review of Safety Issues Covered in Class
Little Climbers - Play the odds
FINALLY, THE HOLY GRAIL FROM CLASS! Impress your wife. Here is the link to the video for the baby squats that you saw (formerly called "the Magic Trick", renamed by one of the dads). While using this method for calming your crying baby, here are the important elements to remember:
Left or right arm under both legs, hand holding opposite leg.
Opposite arm under opposite armpit (see video).
Slow, smooth motion. Can be done with arms under armpits as well (no legs involved, just simulate a similar motion).
This will generally calm your crying baby immediately unless they are in immense pain or have been immensely startled/frightened. If they are startled, let them calm down just a bit by holding them and then do the squats.
The technique will work for almost all other situations, just remember though: if you have a hungry baby, it will work while actually doing the squats, but once you stop, they're still..... hungry. If they have a diaper that needs to be changed, same scenario, it works in the moment.
Works great if they're fussy, tired, or bored. BEST OF LUCK WITH YOUR BABIES!!!
Resources for Car-Seat Installation
There is an amazing amount of information out there for people on how to install car-seats correctly. There are also 3 & 8-hour courses on how to do so. Not surprisingly, with that much emphasis on one activity surrounding the arrival of your newborn, it must be important, agreed? Well, we can all be assured of a safe installation and get an excellent, short training on how to do it ourselves, by having a Certified Technician perform the installation.
For information or to schedule an appointment with a certified child passenger safety technician at a North county fitting station, call :
CAR SAFETY SEAT HOTLINE
OR TRY ONE OF THESE LOCATIONS: *(IF THEY NO LONGER DO THIS, PLEASE HELP OTHER DADS & EMAIL ME AT GMARTIN@4RCB.COM TO LET ME KNOW)
Tarpon Springs Fire Rescue 938-3737
East Lake Fire Rescue 784-8668
Oldsmar Fire Rescue (813) 855-1059
Palm Harbor Fire Rescue 784-0454 or 787-5974
Clearwater Fire Rescue 562-4322 or 462-6223
Clearwater Police Dept. 562-4171 or 562-4167
Largo Fire Rescue 587-6714 ext. 2104
Largo Police Dep. 587-6730 ext. 3007
Largo Medical Center 588-5608
Safe Communities 582-2678
Sunstar Ambulance 582-2138
Seminole Fire Rescue 393-8711
Florida Highway Patrol 570-5010
Pinellas Park Fire Rescue 541-0712
Pinellas Park Police Dept. 541-0700
Americorp of Pinellas 892-5494 or pager 516-6206
Lealman Fire Rescue 526-5650
St. Petersburg General Hospital 341-4907
St. Petersburg Fire Rescue 892- KIDS (5437)
St. Pete Jeep/Chrysler 323-2000
Belleaire Bluffs Fire Rescue 588-4623
Madeira Beach Fire Rescue 391-3400
Pasadena Fire Rescue 344-1666
St. Pete Beach Fire Rescue 363-9207
This is a great topic of discussion for you and your wife to have before the arrival of baby. What kind of sleeping environment do we want for our child? Just know that there is no “one perfect setup”. Babies adapt and then thrive with consistency. In other words, if you set it up so that your newborn listens to classical (or rock, jazz, even RAP) music when he lays down for nappies, he’ll be better equipped to sleep in noisy places. However, if you know that your home is well suited for a quiet environment (no noisy dogs nearby, traffic or construction, lawnmowers, etc.), then create that for them. Also, less is more when it comes to items around the crib. Too much stimulation, for the first three weeks, will create unneeded challenges for you. Keep this area clean & sparsely decorated (not sterile guys, just not a lot! When in doubt, defer to Mom!).
Your Baby’s First Language – LEARN IT!!!
Imagine sitting in a restaurant, asking your server where the bathroom is and having an hors d’oeuvre shoved in your mouth. What would you do? Scream a little louder, perhaps. Once again, borrowing from the Tracy Hogg DVD, the acronym S.L.O.W. is your process for interpreting your baby’s first form of communication – crying. Even before eye contact, crying is their means of letting you know they have a need. The acronym stands for STOP, LISTEN, OBSERVE, “WHAT’S UP”? So, instead of rushing in and automatically feeding your child, or even picking them up right away, STOP, look and listen, and grow accustomed to the pitch and the tone of the different cries. Obviously you will want to react quickly to a high pitched scream or shrill, which indicates pain or fear, but even then, how you react is important, too. For example, if they have been startled by a quick movement (or loud noise), then picking them up right away may exacerbate the situation. Gentle touch, generally, is welcomed, so as long as they aren’t bleeding or choking, pick your baby up slowly, hold them close, and comfort them. Here’s an explanation of some different cries AND body gestures:
1. Turning her head to the side (as if looking for something), rooting, moving her mouth – “I’m hungry!”
2. Legs up towards chest, high-pitched tone, scrunched up face – GAS!
3. Already ate, been up and about, now turning his head away from objects and acting “fussy” – “I’m tired!
4. High pitched scream, flailing body parts, I’M SCARED OR IN PAIN!
5. Turning head away when you try to put a bottle in her mouth, but crying when you take it away – “BURP ME PLEASE, & LET’S GET BACK TO BUSINESS!”
From the book "Happiest Baby on the Block", there are five S's (swaddling, side, swinging, shushing, sucking) that mimic the experience within the womb and help comfort your child.
From
Infant CPR, not just a good concept
This important class is a benefit to all, including parents, grandparents, baby-sitters and child-care workers. Instructors certified by the American Heart Association teach lifesaving CPR techniques using infant and child mannequins. If you would like to register online, please click on Infant Child CPR, or you may call (727) 462-7743.
Most of us know, that most of the times, stereotyping can be a slippery slope. That being said, there is yet another portion of the Tracey Hogg DVD that I will reference to. This will give yous guys more tools for getting through the first time you spend the day alone with your little one. In general, this can help you and your wife on a day-to-day basis with the big picture. The theory is that there are five different baby types for your newborn. Your job, of course, is to figure out which one(s) your baby displays and act accordingly. The five baby types are:
Mild disposition, adapts easy to structure, cues are easy to read, not bothered by “curveballs” or changes in her environment/surroundings, extremely portable, sleeps easily and doesn’t cry when she wakes up and when crying, often is able to CALM HERSELF! I’ll take three of those to go, THANKS!!!
Molds easily because she is so predictable. Will do everything on cue. Sleeps through the night by three months, rolls over by five and sits up by six months. She’ll smile back at you when you initiate it and even though she can be cranky from time to time, she’s easy to calm. Once her routine is set up, she’ll follow it to a tee!
is your most fragile type of child. Because of the endless array of sensory challenges, he LOVES the predictability of routine. Turns his head away from bright lights, and will sometimes cry for no apparent reason. In “baby-ease”, he is saying, “Yo, back off and chill, I’ve had enough and need some peace and quiet”… The more consistent you are, the better you’ll see eye to eye and the sooner he’ll sleep through the night.
Lands on his proverbial two feet right out of the womb. In other words, he knows immediately what he likes and what he doesn’t, and she’ll let you know. Doesn’t like lying in his own pee or poop and will say change me now with cries and displays of discomfort. Definitely use the S.L.O.W. acronym with him to figure out what course of action to take (from last month’s newsletter, email me at GMartin@4rcb.com if you want a copy sent). Spirited babes like it a little rougher than most and will grab with a firm grasp at an early age.
is tough. Simply because they may not adjust to a routine and therefore, keep you guessing… Downright disagreeable, he’s mad at the world and he let’s you know it. He doesn’t smile as much during the day, and he’ll fuss himself to sleep every night. PATIENCE is key with this newbie! They tend to cry louder and longer. Keeping on track with them is quintessential for this one. These are the ones that, in my opinion, get misdiagnosed, and labeled as colicky babies. What they need is structure and perseverance. YOU’RE DOING A GREAT JOB DAD, just get as much sleep and keep balance in life!
Did you notice a common theme throughout the majority of these baby types? Go back and notice how the word consistency or routine creates an incredibly safe, nurturing environment for these little ones. ALMOST ALL NEWBORNS LOVE CONSISTENCY! If you want a creative child, consistency. A well-behaved child, consistency. A bold, daring child, consistency. Doing this during the early stages does NOT cause them to be a certain way, but rather it gives them the ideal environment to “Be all that they can be” and choose their own identities. Sports analogy: An incredibly gifted athlete can sometimes be a real jackass (“J.R.” MLB comes to mind). Do you think his motivation is “I’m out to prove to the world that I’m good”? Well, the fact is, that that same athlete could have been as good, if not better athletically, but be like Mike, attitude and personality-wise. Their ability is roughly the same, but their motivation comes from a better source. Serious stuff, right?
MORE OF THESE TO COME, JUST GETTING STARTED!
(Birth to 28 days) – Your job is to protect them from the environment. Intense stimulation, noisy, bright lights, no-nos. Cuddle & hug. Recognize that a frown, tightly shut eyes, or a scrunched forehead are signs of pain.
(29 days to 1 year) – Give age specific toys, use play as part of communication, allow choices when possible.
REMEMBER THE "SQUATS" MAGIC TRICK TO INSTANTLY STOP A CRYING BABY. Will not work if they are in pain & will only temporarily work if baby is hungry!
Hand washing is the single-most important method to promote your newborn’s health and prevent infection & transmission of diseases.
There’s a different way to burp your baby, that doesn’t cause as much reflux. You know, the stuff they throw up on Daddy? Holding your baby upright, make a “V” with your thumb and pointer finger. Gently (but not too gently) rub on your baby’s side, starting just above the waist, up to the ribs. Try both sides. Hope it helps.
SIGNS TO LOOK FOR TO RECOGNIZE WHEN YOUR BABY IS TIRED:
4. Turn his/her head away and stare at an object.
3. Fussy after sitting in same position for a long time where they were content.
2. Some babies, sometimes, will get red near eyebrows.
1. AND the # 1 sign that your baby is tired: she/he falls asleep!
Crying babies, for some, is like listening to someone run their fingers across the chalkboard. So to minimize the parental anguish, below is a list of things you can do that might calm your baby, which you might not have otherwise thought of… One “trick” Richard tried that worked well for his girl, was running water. She just took well to the water (the sound, that is), and settled right down in the moment. Another idea, putting them in their carrier, see how they feel about sitting atop the dryer while it’s running. For some babies, car rides will do the trick so don’t be afraid to go out for a spin at 3:30am if it will help (be aware on the weekends when driving at that hour is more populated and dangerous). If one thing doesn’t work, try something else. Your baby will give you the appropriate feedback! Remember, if the crying gets TOO stressful, leave the room, call a family member, friend, etc. Take care of yourself so that you can take care of your family! Send an email to GMartin@4rcb.com with more tips for crying babies.
Get your child to do ANYTHING!
First, let me say this with conviction: DON'T GET THEM TO DO "ANYTHING" IF THEY SHOULDN'T BE DOING "ANYTHING". In other words, if you're teaching them how to play with fire remember the saying, "if you play with fire you're going to get burnt". Teach your child to do what they need to do (i.e. take their medicine, eat their peas, or sleep through the night!!!). The best method for teaching them AND for getting them to do something is MODELING! So, taste the medicine you're asking them to take, get on the floor and lay there quietly (for a half hour if you have to!) when she's in her crib. Comfort her when she's crying, but gently let her know that "it's time to go sleepies, night-night, etc. Hand things to him gladly to teach him how to share. Children LOVE mimicking us, so let them brush their teeth & comb their hair! Call me if you want advice on specific things you'd like the little one to do.
The activity log for your newborn comes from Tracy Hogg, creator/author of “The Baby Whisperer”. The acronym she uses is E.A.S.Y., which is what your life is going to consist of for several weeks! It stands for EAT, ACTIVITY (BABY’S), SLEEP, AND YOU TIME. IF INTERESTED, please email me at GMartin@4rcb.com and I will send you the log that you and your wife can print out and utilize for the first several days of your baby’s life. It is a GREAT thing to bring to your baby’s first well visit, as a one-week-old! AN ABSOLUTE MUST FOR SURVIVING THE FIRST TIME DAD IS HOME ALONE WITH BABY, MAKE SURE TO ASK MOM TO UPDATE THE E.A.S.Y. LOG BEFORE SHE DITCHES THE TWO OF YOU (MAYBE AT ONE WEEK, MAYBE AT 6 WEEKS, BUT IT'LL COME EVENTUALLY!).
Review of Safety Issues Covered in class
STAGE 1:
NEONATE AND BEFORE THEY ROLL OVER OR CRAWL:
STAGE 2:
ROLLING, THEN CRAWLING:
The FIRST time your baby rolls over, will it be a fun site to see or a SCARY noise you hear from the other room, followed by some LOUD crying? Make sure you strap them on the changing table and BE THERE if they are laying on the bed IF they have started to arch their necks or it looks like they are ready to roll over. Generally they will do so as early as age 2 to 3 months but it is NOT uncommon for it to take 4 or 5 months, it usually depends on your baby’s birth weight.
STAGE 3:
WALKING & CLIMBING:
Hopefully this won’t seem like a cop-out, but ANYTHING GOES as one of the veteran dads pointed out, and he’s right! Our job at this point is to stay one step ahead of what he might be SCHEMING, & make his/her environment SIMPLE!!! A sock, a stool, etc. all dangerous if we aren’t paying attention, right?
Little Climbers - Make the most of his ascent
By Melanie Nicsinger, Parenting Magazine, September 2005
Toddlers climb up on the kitchen table (or your desk, or the bed) for the same reason mountaineers scale Everest: Because it’s there.
“Kids this age are trying to find a
balance between risk and challenge,” says Karen DeBord, Ph.D., associate
professor of child development at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. Of
course, you know that the challenge of climbing up the book-case isn’t worth the
risk, but the average 15- to-18-month-old’s ability to reason isn’t always in
line with his physical prowess.
Climbing is an important physical milestone, though. It’ll help your child
develop the coordination he needs to master skills like walking up steps.
It’s impossible to ban climbing, but you can make sure your child’s secure while he practices this new skill. To avoid accidents, keep an eye on your little climber and make an effort to:
• Provide safe opportunities for
climbing. Toss sofa cushions or pillows on a carpeted floor, or let him loose at
a toddler-friendly playground.
• Get a skidproof step stool. With close supervision, your curious kid can step
up to the sink to brush his teeth or watch you make dinner at the kitchen
counter.
• Anchor bookcases and other pieces of furniture to the wall, even if you think
they’re too heavy to topple. Clear shelves of things that could fall on him — or
that are tempting him to climb.
• Limit his access. Keep chair seats pushed under the table, and take a closer
look at the stove: Could he get to it by climbing up shelves or cabinets?
• Put the crib mattress at the lowest setting. If he still climbs out, it’s time
to move to a toddler bed.
• Set up gates at the top and bottom of the stairs. It’s the only way to keep
your child from attempting that irresistible — but dangerous — ascent.
The good news: You’ll have a whole new appreciation for this skill when your child climbs into your lap to give you a hug!