http://ethosgallery.com Parenting and Child Care References Tue, 07 Sep 2010 06:46:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 http://ethosgallery.com/going-through-the-night-the-benefits-and-dangers-of-sleeping-with-your-baby http://ethosgallery.com/going-through-the-night-the-benefits-and-dangers-of-sleeping-with-your-baby#comments Mon, 03 May 2010 03:31:55 +0000 admin http://ethosgallery.com/going-through-the-night-the-benefits-and-dangers-of-sleeping-with-your-baby When you’re averaging a few hours of sleep a night because of a crying baby, you may be tempted to put him or her in bed beside you. Sleep better for you and the baby right? Seems to be an easy decision to make. However, visions of riding on your toddler can make the choice a little more complicated. In the difficult decision of each co-sleeping (sleeping with your baby) or put the baby in its cradle, what is the right thing to do? With the parents of both sides of the crib of this heated debate, one thing is sure, there are no easy answers. Parents must weigh the pros and cons of sleeping with their babies and then decide what is good for them and their young. In this article we will discuss the pros and cons of sleeping with your baby so you can make an informed decision. Let’s start with the negatives. Here are some drawbacks to sleep with your baby: 1. short-term solution may create a problem long term. The Mayo Clinic says that “bed sharing”, it is difficult for babies to sleep on their own. So while you may be temporarily relieved of your baby asleep quickly, you may have problems on the road with them to learn in their cradle. 2. Increase the risk. Although the risk for SIDS or SIDS is controversial, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that parents avoid sleeping with their baby. In fact, they advise against having children sleep in beds for all adults. 3. Decreased intimacy with the partner. You may feel closer to baby, but less with your partner, because you may be writing to the baby between you. If you decide not to sleep with your baby, but are still struggling to make him sleep, you can try other strategies such as sleep letting your baby cry himself to sleep, create a bedtime routine or to try the Ferber method of sleep. It is putting your baby to sleep while they are still in place but sleepy. You can also put the bed beside you minimize the hassle of getting up and walking to the nursery. Here are some positive aspects to sharing your bed with baby: 1. bonding time increased. Sleeping with your baby is a great way to spend time bonding with baby. 2. It’s convenient. It is convenient to have baby close to you especially if you are breastfeeding. 3. It is comforting for the baby. Babies who sleep next to the mother can sleep more deeply and cry less. If reading the pros baby sleep makes you want to try, so remember to be as safe as you can by following these suggestions: Make sure your baby on her back or not drink any alcohol or drugs that dull you, and to put adequate barriers such as two adults and not pillows to prevent baby from falling out of bed.

]]> http://ethosgallery.com/going-through-the-night-the-benefits-and-dangers-of-sleeping-with-your-baby/feed 0 http://ethosgallery.com/babies-baby-massage-and-its-connection-to-sleeping-and-thinking http://ethosgallery.com/babies-baby-massage-and-its-connection-to-sleeping-and-thinking#comments Sun, 24 Jan 2010 03:32:12 +0000 admin http://ethosgallery.com/babies-baby-massage-and-its-connection-to-sleeping-and-thinking The task of developing a regular and restful sleep pattern for a new baby is often an exercise in frustration and confusion for many parents.   Research has shown that hospitalized infants grow more rapidly when correctly massaged.   This is due in large part to the fact that massaged babies actually spent more time being quiet and calm, yet alert, and that when they did sleep, it was deep and very restful.   This resulted in a more structured sleep pattern, as well as longer sleeping periods at night.   Doing a massage right after getting home from work will help a parent reconnect with baby after a hard day, and will help both baby and parent relax and unwind.   Once you and the baby have developed a routine you will have a skill that will calm and quiet your upset child. There will be times when this is just what is needed; not food, not a fresh diaper, but soothing, relaxing touch that a parent can give their little one. Even when circumstances cause a change in their routine or environment, a daily massage can be the hub of your baby’s nighttime routine and the element that helps them prepare to fall into a deep, restful, restorative sleep.   In addition, learning to relax in our busy world is a skill parents need to nurture for themselves as well as for their children. Studies indicate that the positive effects of practicing infant massage are just as profound on the parent’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being as they are for baby. Infant massage has also been shown to positively benefit those infants with eating, gastrointestinal, bonding, attachment, weight gain, overall development challenges, which can also affect a baby’s overall sleeping patterns. Massage also helps infants learn about their body and stimulates brain function, and the interaction between parent and child during the massage can stimulate the child’s mental faculties as well, resulting in increased mental capacity.  

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