baby Archives - Serendipity Mommy

How to Survive Your Baby’s Sleep Schedule

April 7, 2018 by Mandy

All moms know that a baby’s sleep schedule rarely matches up with your own. Here are some tips to help you survive and adjust to a new baby’s sleeping pattern.

A bundle of joy doesn’t seem so joyous when it’s keeping you awake at 3 am.

The average new mom gets less than 4 hours sleep per night. But despite how universal the experience is, moms often feel isolated and unable to cope with their situation.

That’s why we’ve put together a few tips below that will help you cope with baby’s sleep schedule.

Manage Your Mood

It may sound easier said than done, but managing your mood will carry you through these difficult months.

We think of our moods as arising directly from triggering events. But the truth is, our mood is at the mercy of a dozen factors ranging from tiredness to hunger.

That’s why it’s important to see your mood from the outside if you want to manage it.

Acknowledge that you’re irritable today because of a poor night’s sleep, for instance. Step away from the feeling and look at the logic–that way, you’re more likely to control your emotions.

Keeping yourself healthy will also help your mood stay in check. Eat right, get exercise, and go outside. The less negative mood impactors you have, the more energy you’ll have to cope.

Some babies will experience 4 or 8 month sleep regression. Figuring out your coping strategies now can prepare you for the comeback later.

Change Your Schedule

Motherhood is often a wake-up call in more ways than one. Accepting your life has changed rather than fighting it is a valuable state of mind to adopt.

Adjusting your sleeping pattern can help ensure you’re not as burned out by baby’s sleeping schedule. That likely means going to bed earlier so you can maximize the amount of time you have to build that precious sleep into your day.

If your baby has a preferred time of day to sleep, try leaning into that. Adapt yourself to sleep during those times, too.

Get used to living in short bursts of time, but don’t try to cram activities. Each time you get a break, sort out the things you need to do–one at a time.

Ask for Help

Isolation is one of the biggest struggles new mothers face. But many moms feel they’re being bad parents if they don’t figure out how to do things by themselves.

Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help. You don’t have to do everything alone.

Speak to your partner or your family. Even if you’re not asking for favors, talking about your feelings can still offer a huge outlet.

You’ll often end up surprised at the support people are willing to offer you. Motherhood is one of the most difficult things you’ll ever face. Overcoming your pride and accepting help is a large part of that.

Surviving Baby’s Sleep Schedule

These are just a few tips that should help you survive baby’s sleep schedule. But no matter how bad things get, don’t forget that this isn’t forever. Your baby will soon develop proper sleeping habits, and you’ll learn to appreciate sleep all over again.

Are you a new mother looking for more advice? Be sure to follow our blog.

Top 10 Tips to Choose the Best Baby Formula

April 2, 2018 by Mandy

Choosing the right formula for your baby is very important, but it’s hard with so many options. Here are 10 tips to choose the best baby formula.

Your little bundle of joy is your world. Of course, you want to give her the best baby formula around.

During your baby’s first six months of life, she needs formula to develop properly. With the right formula, you set the stage for her to experience easy digestion, healthy growth, brain development and protection from sickness.

However, with so many options on the market, how do you know which one to choose? Here are 10 tips for choosing the best baby formula for your little munchkin.

Let’s dig in!

1. The Best Baby Formula May Be Cow’s Milk

It’s best to start with a regular cow’s milk-based formula when it’s time to feed your newborn for the first time. The majority of babies will tolerate this type of formula quite well.

Why cow’s milk? Because it’s typically the least expensive formula. Plus, they have variations designed to help babies who are fussy or have digestive issues.

2. Formula for Baby with Cow’s Milk Allergy

But what if your child is allergic to cow’s milk?

No need to worry. Extensively hydrolyzed formula is made specifically for children in your baby’s situation.

This is essentially a cow’s milk-based formula in which the majority of the symptom-causing proteins have been broken down using enzymes.

3. Soy Milk

An alternative to extensively hydrolyzed formula for a baby with a cow’s milk allergy is soy milk.

Soy milk can certainly come in handy if your baby develops a rash or is especially gassy after using cow’s milk. However, soy milk has also sparked some controversy due to concerns that too much consumption of soy may have unwanted hormone-like impacts.

Still, if you speak with your pediatrician about soy milk and receive the green light to use it for your child, it may be the best option for your child come feeding time.

4. Formula for Baby with Both Cow’s Milk and Soy Milk Allergy

If your child ends up being diagnosed with an allergy to both cow’s milk and soy milk, there’s yet another option on the market that will make mealtime easier for her. It’s called amino acid formula.

Free amino acids — the most basic protein source around — won’t trigger an annoying allergic reaction by your baby’s immune system. It’s for this reason that amino acid formula is tolerated by nearly all babies with a cow’s or soy milk allergy.

5. Lactose-Free Formula

Perhaps your baby’s problem is not a soy or cow’s milk allergy but lactose intolerance.

This condition happens when your child’s body cannot break down the sugar known as lactose. In this situation, your baby’s doctor may recommend switching to a lactose-free baby formula.

And even though this type of formula may be a little more expensive than regular formula, it’s clearly worth it if it helps to alleviate your little one’s gassiness and fussiness.

6. Add-Ins

When on the prowl for the best baby formula, be on the lookout for add-ins, too. By add-ins, we’re referring to the likes of iron, arachidonic acid (ARA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and fatty acids. All of these add-ins are critical for your baby’s development.

Specifically, iron, which is naturally found in breast milk, is critical for proper brain development. Fortunately, even if you’re not feeding your baby breast milk, she can still get plenty of iron with an iron-fortified baby formula.

The other add-ins we mentioned above — fatty acids, ARA and DHA — are also paramount for eye and brain health.

7. Organic Products

When you enter your local supermarket, you may notice quite a few products sporting “organic” labels. And if you’re health conscious, you understandably may get excited. After all, organic foods are free of pesticides and may make your baby more resistant to unwanted allergies.

But did you know that organic formula is also available for your baby? Take, for instance, Formuland Hipp organic formula, which offers the nutrients that your child needs to grow up healthy and strong when he is not being breastfed.

This particular formula is suitable for your child to drink from birth. In addition, the protein levels in this formula match the most up-to-date nutritional research.

With the right organic formula, your child could be well on his way to sleeping better, longer and deeper, as organic products are easier for the body to process. In addition, he may enjoy better reaction times and mental development due to the Omega-3 fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids present in this type of formula.

8. Brand Names

In addition to springing for an organic baby formula, try to stick with brand-name products versus generic products when looking for the best baby formula.

Although brand-name formulas and generic formulas feature similar lists of ingredients, the brand-name companies conduct extensive research on how babies’ brains respond to their formulas — something that generic companies do not do.

So, if you want to save money, feel free to use name-brand powdered formulas rather than ready-to-drink ones. Just stay away from generic formulas.

9. Ages

Be sure to buy a formula that is appropriate for your baby’s age as well.

A newborn formula has a completely different mix of minerals and vitamins than formulas for 6-month-olds or toddlers do. Get the right one to make sure that your child is getting all of the nutrients he needs at each stage of his development.

10. Thickened Formula

Thickened formulas may also come in handy for your cutie-patootie if she struggles with reflux.

Thickened formula may quickly reduce your baby’s volume and frequency of vomiting. However, your child might also require medication if she still feels irritable and refuses to eat due to intense reflux.

How We Can Help

We offer a wide range of tips and information for moms of young children. For instance, we offer pointers on subjects such as going on a vacation with young kiddos or choosing the right summer camp.

We also cover topics such as finance, business, and travel.

Get in touch with us for guidance that will help you to make the best decisions for your child from Day 1.

What’s in Season in January? Your Winter Baby Food Guide

January 1, 2018 by Mandy

Making baby food for yourself means learning what’s in season, every season. When winter comes in the northern hemisphere, that usually means less available fresh fruits, but it also means there are a variety of great flavors that you will find harder to locate in the warm months. Here’s your guide to understanding how to make the most of your January seasonal vegetables and your baby food processor.

Beets, Squash, Taters, It’s Tuber Season

The biggest stars of the winter produce aisle are all vegetables that come from the ground, and while there are some differences to the cooking times and seasoning you will use, they all have similar challenges, too. Whether you’re looking for something sweet and earthy like acorn squash or you’re in the mood for old-fashioned potato dishes, you will find they cook up best when they are heated for a long time, allowing them to soften, and they can be baked or steamed to taste.

Kale and Cabbage: Your Winter Greens

If you are looking to stay in season with your leafy greens, know that kale and cabbage make up the bulk of what’s available in the winter. You can prepare them in a variety of ways:

Steam them like spinach and puree for baby food
Boiled cabbage makes a great soup base
Baked kale chips for a crunch grownups and older kids will love
Fresh, crisp, and just out of the wash for salad

Leafy greens are some of the most important foods in any diet because they are rich in so many essential nutrients, and kale is so rich in these nutrients it is considered a superfood.

Finding the Best Baby Feeding Supplies

If you’re looking for ways to make these great winter vegetables into tasty baby food that is suitable for any child over 6 months, you need a great food processor that steam cooks, so you don’t lose nutrients or flavor. That’s why BÉABA made the Babycook®. Contact them today for more information about models and accessories, recipes, and more.

Top 3 Holiday Baby Food Recipes

November 15, 2017 by Mandy

Even if you’re not a big fan of a pumpkin-spice latte, you probably love the flavors of fall. Butternut squash, sweet potatoes, apples, cinnamon and pumpkin are classic foods in season that taste the best during the months of October, November and December. With the Beaba Babycook®, the best baby cooker on the market, making baby food with these foods is quick and easy. Your baby can enjoy the same foods you cook for yourself. Here are 3 great baby food recipes using fall produce:

Butternut, Carrot and Thyme Puree

½ cup cubed butternut squash

¾ cup sliced carrot

¾ cup cubed potato

Steam in the Babycook®. Place in blending bowl and use 1 teaspoon olive oil, ½ teaspoon thyme and some of the cooking liquid to puree to desired consistency. Roast the same veggies in the oven for the rest of the family.

Turkey and Sweet Potato Puree

½ cup cubed sweet potatoes

1 ounce white meat turkey, cubed

1 teaspoon butter

Put the sweet potatoes and turkey into the Babycook® and steam until cooked. Use some of the cooking liquid to puree to desired consistency.

Pear and Banana Puree

2 cups cubed pears

2 cups sliced bananas

Steam in the Babycook®. Puree to desired consistency with the cooking liquid. This makes a great breakfast dish, a dessert or a snack. The whole family will enjoy the sauce over ice cream or on top of oatmeal.

Make Mealtime Easy with BÉABA

The BÉABA Babycook® steam cooks meals in 15 minutes or less. Your baby’s meal is made without added sugar, salt or preservatives. Because you’re using fresh ingredients, your baby gets more nutrition for his or her developing brain and body. And even better, you can save up to $1,500 or more making your own baby food. Shop for the best baby cooker and give your baby a wide variety of ingredients to prevent a picky eater.

What Every Nursing Mother Needs- Simple Wishes Hands-Free Breastpump Bra

September 2, 2017 by Mandy

When looking after a nursing baby any bit of assistance is valued. There can be dishes piling up, clothes to wash, or any other form of work to be done, but when a baby wants feeding, all that has to come to a standstill till their fed. Some may not want to give up the breastfeeding experience and prefer to battle through, but desire some respite. One way to stop the headache of a howling hungry baby is by investing in a breastpump, and what better than a breastpump bra that leaves your hands free. Simple Wishes hands-free breastpump bra is a great choice and here’s 3 reasons why.

Impeccable Design

You see and hear of all these women who are fed up of sitting around waiting for bottles to be filled, either by a handheld pump that leaves their hands sore, or an electric pump that takes its precious little time. This breastpump bra gets the job done without consuming time. It has a tight seal of breast shields and flanges, from the four-way layer support system, which means no leakages and no wear and tear. The material is also machine washable, great for reuse, and means you get value for your money. It also conveniently works with all major brands, which means you don’t have to change the bottle you’ve purchased to use the pump.

Maximum Comfort

With going from being pregnant, to nursing a baby, your body is most certainly going to experience some vast changes. This breastpump offers a 10” adjustable velcro back panel that will offer you much comfort, as you are able to fit it perfectly through every stage of change that your body goes through. With the zip in centre located at the front of the bra, it also allows 1” of movement insuring that the pumps are properly positioned.

Freedom

No longer are your hands tied down to machinery, this breastpump requires no excursion. Simply get on with whatever else you have to do. Simple Wishes makes it possible for you to do two things at once, get ready for a day’s work while you pump, or put your feet up and get engrossed in one of your favourite magazines while you pump, or do your make up to a ‘t’ for a night out while you pump. Multi-tasking is a mother’s job, and this breastpump frees you up a bit to do that task well.