Re: Urgent baby care help needed !

[Guest guest]

>My daughter had a lot of trouble with cradle cap when she was a baby. I

>used to dab baby oil on it with a Q-Tip and let it soak in for an hour or

>so, then gently scrub it with my fingernails or a soft brush. You could

>use olive oil instead. It helps if you do this regularly, as soon as you

>see it starting to form, because it is easier to keep up on it than to let

>it go. My daughter is eight and occasionally when she misses a bit around

>her hairline when washing her hair, I see it starting and use the oil and

>Q-Tip. You have to wash thoroughly, at least twice, maybe more, with baby

>shampoo after using the oil.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Canfield

-God grades on the cross, not on the curve. -Anonymous

3:36: " He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that

believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. "

[Guest guest]

From: Pratick Mukherjee <<I need some quick advice on baby care.

Our daughter (2.5 months old) has developing cradle cap.

It is bothering her a lot and she keeps scratching her head and hurting

herself... Any natural way of curing or controlling cradle cap?...

Pratick,

Weleda Calendula Nappy cream is brilliant for EVERYTHING... no nasty

chemicals... try gently rubbing coconut oil, jojoba oil [actually it's a wax so

shouldn't go rancid] or olive oil etc. NO commercial baby oil ... shampoo, no

matter how gentle will aggravate the situation... ditto baby baths, they strip

the skin of it's natural oils... water and a bit of oil should be enough....

hope she gets better soon.

Dedy

[Guest guest]

> I need some quick advice on baby care.

> Our daughter (2.5 months old) has developing cradle cap.

> It is bothering her a lot and she keeps scratching her head and hurting

herself.

My son had really severe cradle cap. We kept putting different kinds of

oils on it but nothing seemed to help. Massaging off the little scabs when

they are really oily helps. He also had eczema.

I never got much help with these until I found a good homeopath. Try to

find a classical homeopath in your area who has experience with children.

Ours (Dr. Murray e in LA) calls himself a homeopathic pediatrician.

I've known lots of parents that have had success with homeopathy (if it is

specifically prescribed by a good doctor.)

I wish I had found one a lot sooner. Regular peds are not much help in most

areas. They just prescribe toxic stuff. I have one of the most liberal

(non-vaccinating) MD pediatrician in the country (Dr Jay Gordon) and he told

me to give my child mineral oil for constipation! He is pretty great most

times though.

Good Luck

Kim

[Guest guest]

Pratick,

If I recall correctly, your little one is being breastfed, isn't she?

I would use breastmilk. Use a clean linen kercheif (or other not too

absorbent cloth), and apply breastmilk. You can both " wipe " and " soak "

with this method. Other than that, I would suggest massage. The head

is an area that is most often forgotten in massage. Just rub with your

fingertips, NOT FINGERNAILS, and apply gentle pressure. Although there

is the " soft spot " , the rest of the head can stand a bit of pressure.

Also a soft bristle brush used in a circular manner will help to

stimulate the head. Don't try to do this at sleep time as it seems to

stimulate the child.

My youngest (23 months now) comes over regularly asking for his " head

rub " ...and he always leaves with both of us smilingand

laughing...great bonding time. I started doing this when I saw an

appearance of cradle cap on him, and it was the only time I saw it.

I believe that the massage stimulates the blood flow, helping to

eliminate toxins more effectively...which I suspect that cradle cap

may actually be...just my backwards thinking! LOL I'm sure someone

will step in to tell me what it really is!

I hope this helps...

Catz

[Guest guest]

I have heard that cradle cap is a sign of EFA deficiency. That said, my son

was exclusively breast fed the first year of his life. He has always had

really noticeable cradle cap until I began supplementing his diet with flax

and fish oil at age 4 2 years ago. This is one of many things that

disappeared immediately upon adding these to his diet.

Perhaps you wife could add some extra CLO and other EFA's to her diet.

Also, eczema is a symptom of food allergies.

Connie Bernard

http://www.PandoraPads.com

Organic Cotton Feminine Pads, Tampons, Nursing Pads,

Natural Progesterone Cream, and Children's Supplements.

On-line Discount Voucher: NN242G223

[Guest guest]

Pratick,

I think cradle cap in children is related in some way to the red and flaky

problem skin I had behind my ears and on my neck a couple of years

ago--thought I can't recall the medical name for its appearance in adults.

Over a long time (anyway, it seemed long to me whenever I looked in the

mirror) I tried all the natural things I could think of (herbs, oils, etc.)

but nothing seemed to help and I thought it would never go away or get

better (which in aging people it sometimes doesn't). What really did the

trick was French green clay--the kind used for facial masks. I bought mine

from mountainrose.com, but I've seen it in Whole Foods if you have one near

you. I think it is a time-honored way to draw out toxins and oils and

soothe the skin and I think it would probably be fine for a baby. I use it

now, not only on my face, but on my scalp, instead of shampoo!

Hope this helps.

[Guest guest]

> Also, she is having some eczema (sp?) on her chin.

> Again the Dr. has prescribed a mineral oil based cream, but I would

like

> something

> natural.

>

> I know this is not exactly related to nutrition, but I'll appreciate

if

> anyone can offer

> any suggestions.

It sounds like the start of autoimmune stuff that comes when our

cortisol levels are elevated for too long. When our hormones get out of

whack its harder to absorb good nutrients in our diet. The cortisol

problem can happen with the lights on too long into the night. You

might solve all of this by making sure she gets sleep in a totally dark

room at night. My assumption is that she is being nursed by mother so

the nutrition is fine. The room at night should be so dark you can't

see your hand in front of you. Get rid of all blinking little lights.

Think cave. All of you will do better to sleep in total darkness.

Exposing her to natural sunlight in the middle of the day (no glass

between her and the sun) will help reinforce natural endocrine rhythms

she needs to have her body take care of this problem. It's a cheap

option. Never use a nightlight in a child's room. Google that and

leukemia.

Laurel

[Guest guest]

>Perhaps you wife could add some extra CLO and other EFA's to her diet.

>

>

>Also, eczema is a symptom of food allergies.

'

I'll second this! Skin problems are commonly allergy reactions. I used

to have all kinds of itchy skin issues, which makes sense considering

I am in dishwater much of the day, and out in the cold with animals etc.

But now my skin is fine, even though I usually forget to use hand cream.

But I break out as soon as I get near one of the offending foods, even

in minute amounts.

I've been experimenting with Pascalite clay though, and THAT is interesting

stuff. I put some on an injury on my dd, and the stuff just clumped up

right over the injury. So I tried it on one of my " bumps " (a little closed

blister that appears when I eat an allergen, which I must have done yesterday

somehow) and it did the same thing. Stopped the itching immediately, and

it stopped the pain for my DD. I still don't know what it *does* but it

may work for cradle cap.

http://www.kroger.com/HN_Food_Guide/Wheat.htm

<http://www.kroger.com/HN_Concern/Seborrheic_Dermatitis.htm>Seborrheic

dermatitis

A preliminary report suggested that an allergy elimination diet for an infant

may be useful in the treatment of cradle cap. The most common offending foods

identified were milk, wheat, and eggs. More research is needed to confirm the

value of this approach in the treatment of cradle cap.

Heidi Jean

[Guest guest]

On Fri, 17 Dec 2004 05:28:29 -0800 (PST), Pratick Mukherjee

<pratickmukherjee@...> wrote:

> I am reading about the artificial lights and leukemia connection - pretty

> scary stuff.

Pratick, what do you mean by this? Is there a connection between full

spectrum lights and leukemia?

Fern

[Guest guest]

RE: Urgent baby care help needed !

> Hi Connie --

>

> Is there a test for EPA levels?

>

> My wife has been on CLO (Carlson's) ever since our daughter was born.

> She also eats a lot of organic, free-range eggs and meat (unfortunately,

not grass-fed).

>

> We don't eat any stuff that depletes the body's stores of EFAs - no

refined flour,

> sugars, any commercial packaged food, etc.

Pratick, is your wife consuming any dairy? That might be your culprit....

--s

[Guest guest]

Pratick wrote:

> You may have hit something there about the light

> being on too long into the night. She doesn't

> sleep very well at night and wakes up about 2 - 3

> times and needs a change of diapers and needs

> feeding. During this time, the light is obviously

> on.

> She goes to sleep around 12:30 every night (yikes !)

> wakes up around 3:30, sleeps again at 4:30 and is

> up again around 6 (it is dark until 7 in the morning

> here in the frozen Arctic where we live ).

Hi Pratick,

A couple of suggestions that might help with this sleep pattern. When my

kids were babies, we made no effort to keep things quiet during the day.

They were exposed to all the usual active noises in the house. This helps

them to know when it is appropriate to be awake and when to sleep.

Is your wife switching breasts during feeding? If so, she should " not " do

this. The foremilk is quite thin (rather like skim milk) and the hindmilk,

which is available only later in the feeding, is where they get most of the

fat and fat-soluble vitamins. Allowing the babe to fully empty the breast

ensures that they are getting all the full-fat hind milk, which keeps them

full longer and ensures they are getting the proper fatty acids.

~~ Jocelyne

[Guest guest]

On Fri, 17 Dec 2004 07:30:30 -0800 (PST), Pratick Mukherjee

<pratickmukherjee@...> wrote:

> --- Fern <sonphos@...> wrote:

> > Pratick, what do you mean by this? Is there a connection between full

> > spectrum lights and leukemia?

>

> Oh no, what I was referring to was artificial (regular bulbs) light used at

> night.

> It has been linked to cancer in babies.

> The recommendation is to minimise or eliminate the use of night lights in

> the baby rooms.

Ah, thanks for clearing that up.

Fern

[Guest guest]

>

> > Is your wife switching breasts during feeding? If so, she

> should " not " do

> > this. The foremilk is quite thin (rather like skim milk) and the

> hindmilk,

> > which is available only later in the feeding, is where they get

> most of the

> > fat and fat-soluble vitamins. Allowing the babe to fully empty

> the breast

> > ensures that they are getting all the full-fat hind milk, which

> keeps them

> > full longer and ensures they are getting the proper fatty acids.

> >

> > ~~ Jocelyne

> [Connie H.}

> Ah, Jocelyne - let the mama decide! Relief on one side, relief on

> the other and then " dessert " . Let the baby nurse! Or if there is

> already nursing difficulty - call La Leche League, but don't mess

> with nursing style otherwise!! If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Well, I have to disagree, especially since Pratick is experiencing a problem

that could be related to fatty acids for his baby. Drinking too much of the

thinner milk can fill babies stomach, but not provide the nutrition that is

needed.

I think it is entirely appropriate to switch breasts if the baby has nursed

for a while on one side and needs more, but flipping back and forth without

getting the hind milk can interfere with the nutrients the baby is getting.

~~ Jocelyne

[Guest guest]

wrote:

> I have to second that...sometimes the babe is just thirsty! Granted

> mine is now 23 months, but now he says, " mommy, side! " to tell me when

> he is ready to switch. It balances out at the end of the day! If it

> ain't broke, don't fix it! Follow your instincts! Mamma knows best.

> Catz

>

> > [Connie H.}

> > Ah, Jocelyne - let the mama decide! Relief on one side, relief on

> > the other and then " dessert " . Let the baby nurse! Or if there is

> > already nursing difficulty - call La Leche League, but don't mess

> > with nursing style otherwise!! If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

>

After reading my own post again, I think may have created this

misunderstanding. What I should have said it to empty the first breast

before switching (if baby wants more). La Leche League recommends this also.

Here is an article from " LEAVEN " , a periodical for LLL Leaders.

<http://www.lalecheleague.org/NB/LVSepOct95p69aNB.html>

~~ Jocelyne

[Guest guest]

> Laurel --

>

> You may have hit something there about the light being on too long

into the night.

> She doesn't sleep very well at night and wakes up about 2 - 3

times and needs a change of

> diapers and needs feeding.

> During this time, the light is obviously on.

I used a flashlight when I absolutely needed one with my first

child, triple diapered so that I wouldn't need to change a wet

diaper and did the " family bed " so that nursing barely required

opening my eyes, if that. Oh, and I " diapered the bed " in case the

diaper on the baby didn't hold.

Connie H.

[Guest guest]

Pratick, there is a test for EFAs. Try great smokey labs or great plains,

both are very reliable and you can order the test yourself.

I would also suggest doing an elimination diet. Look it up on line. Your

wife will have to eliminate and then add back to see what foods are

problematic for the baby.

Top offenders:

Wheat (gluten)

Dairy (Yep)

Corn

Nuts

Eggs

Shellfish

Connie Bernard

http://www.PandoraPads.com

Organic Cotton Feminine Pads, Tampons, Nursing Pads,

Natural Progesterone Cream, and Children's Supplements.

On-line Discount Voucher: aa242a223

RE: Urgent baby care help needed !

Hi Connie --

Is there a test for EPA levels?

My wife has been on CLO (Carlson's) ever since our daughter was born.

She also eats a lot of organic, free-range eggs and meat (unfortunately, not

grass-fed).

We don't eat any stuff that depletes the body's stores of EFAs - no refined

flour,

sugars, any commercial packaged food, etc.

Also, I remember reading somewhere that if EFA definciency does occur, it

takes a long

time to reverse the condition and higher than usual doses of CLO is

required.

What are some of the other symptoms of EFA deficiency?

Our daughter is too young to be given anything other than breastmilk, so any

" treatment "

will have to come through the mom'd diet.

Thanks for your help.

--- Connie Bernard <cc-bernard@...> wrote:

> I have heard that cradle cap is a sign of EFA deficiency.

> Perhaps you wife could add some extra CLO and other EFA's to her diet.

[Guest guest]

> Is your wife switching breasts during feeding? If so, she

should " not " do

> this. The foremilk is quite thin (rather like skim milk) and the

hindmilk,

> which is available only later in the feeding, is where they get

most of the

> fat and fat-soluble vitamins. Allowing the babe to fully empty

the breast

> ensures that they are getting all the full-fat hind milk, which

keeps them

> full longer and ensures they are getting the proper fatty acids.

>

> ~~ Jocelyne

[Connie H.}

Ah, Jocelyne - let the mama decide! Relief on one side, relief on

the other and then " dessert " . Let the baby nurse! Or if there is

already nursing difficulty - call La Leche League, but don't mess

with nursing style otherwise!! If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

[Guest guest]

I have to second that...sometimes the babe is just thirsty! Granted

mine is now 23 months, but now he says, " mommy, side! " to tell me when

he is ready to switch. It balances out at the end of the day! If it

ain't broke, don't fix it! Follow your instincts! Mamma knows best.

Catz

> [Connie H.}

> Ah, Jocelyne - let the mama decide! Relief on one side, relief on

> the other and then " dessert " . Let the baby nurse! Or if there is

> already nursing difficulty - call La Leche League, but don't mess

> with nursing style otherwise!! If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

[Guest guest]

----- Original Message -----

From: " jag14 "

> After reading my own post again, I think may have created this

> misunderstanding. What I should have said it to empty the first breast

> before switching (if baby wants more). La Leche League recommends this

also.

> Here is an article from " LEAVEN " , a periodical for LLL Leaders.

I'll second this. BTDT. Hindmilk/foremilk imbalance can be detected by

stinky, frothy green diapers. The milk production will quickly adjust to

nursing on one side per nursing session.

--s

[Guest guest]

> Laurel --

>

> You may have hit something there about the light being on too long

into the night.

> She doesn't sleep very well at night and wakes up about 2 - 3

times and needs a change of

> diapers and needs feeding.

> During this time, the light is obviously on.

> She goes to sleep around 12:30 every night (yikes !) wakes up

around 3:30, sleeps again

> at 4:30 and is up again around 6 (it is dark until 7 in the

morning here in the frozen

> Arctic where we live ).

>

Interesting... I have a nightlight in the room where we sleep,

including my 4.5 month . It emits light downward onto the floor

so there is very little light coming into the room. It has been on

since was born pretty much. I'll be looking into this now that

there is a mention of it being harmful...

' sleeping pattern has changed as of late (I doubt it has

anything to do with the light). He used to sleep from 10 to 5

(approx.) but now it can go 10 to 12, feeding, then 12:30 to 3,

feeding, then 3:30 to 6, etc.. talk about sleep deprivation. I'm

trying the cosleeping thing (well, almost: his crib is next to the

bed, with the side removed so it opens into my side of the bed).

Last night he slept fine: 10:30 to 5:15, then until 7:15 or

so...then until 9:00.

Let us know how your little one does !

Magda

[Guest guest]

>>> I'm trying the cosleeping thing (well, almost: his crib is next to the bed,

with the side removed so it opens into my side of the bed).<<<

When I was expecting my first child, dh cheekily said that seeing as I was

intending to breastfeed, I'd be the only one who needed to get up in the middle

of the night. I thought " right, I'll fix you, buddy " , and planted the bassinette

on his side of the bed. He had to pass the baby to me for a feed, then change

and burp it before putting it back to bed. It stayed that way for all three

children.

Cheers,

Tas'.

" Give it to us raw and wrrrrrrrrriggling " - Smeagle, LOTR.

[Guest guest]

,

Almost 50% of infants get cradle crap (My wife and I call it that). We

have 3 young children and have dealt with this in all three of them. I

think a big part of the problem is winter and not enough sun. Plus

humidity levels drop so low. Baby's can use the sunlight through

windows if they aren't argon-filled or uv-protected. Just be sure and

supervise as a good parent would, and don't leave the baby in the sun

very long. Make sure arms and legs are uncovered. Get a cold air

humidifier to keep humidity levels in the comfort range on each floor

of your house...especially where you sleep, and keept the level in the

comfort range...ours turns off and on automatically as the humidity

vary's from 55%. I recommend one with that feature. Warm air

humidifiers can be harmful to infants, and too much humidity can be

too, so don't put the humidifier in the baby's room or let it run

without some sort of hygrometer to monitor so you don't over-dew it.

Be careful not to overdo CLO too. Our Cassie had it sweating out of

her skin as I was following NT's 1 tsp.-a-day guidlines...remember

every BODY is different.

I would follow your pediatricians recommendation in this case for the

coal tar. It is only necessary to use a tiny bit over a short time,

and it provides much relief to your little one. Once her condition

subsides, you can control it with a warm olive oil rinse every day or so.

As for the eczema, Nicotene exposure can cause eczema in infants, our

pediatrician informed us of that. Simple nicotene stains on your

finger can cause an allergic-type reaction in infants on contact.

Eczema is pretty common in infants too. One of our children had

eczema. We tried a lot of things, but nothing worked. The doctor sent

us to a dermatologist at the U of Minnesota because we expressed

concern that they had not done a skin test and we didn't understand

how they could make the diagnosis without looking at the skin under a

microscope (we were concerned about ringworm or some other skin

infliction that needed to be treated). Long story short, the

dermatologist did the same thing; took one look, said it was eczema,

and prescribed elidel. It got rid of the eczema in less than a week,

and we used very little of it. The eczema has been gone ever since.

Now that doesn't mean you should never question your pediatrician or

modern medicine, and just because it works for my kids, doesn't mean

it'll work for yours.

Since the condition will likely go away, only do what you are

comfortable with, because regret is tougher than concern.

Tony

[Guest guest]

>When I was expecting my first child, dh cheekily said that seeing as I was

intending to breastfeed, I'd be the only one who needed to get up in the middle

of the night. I thought " right, I'll fix you, buddy " , and planted the bassinette

on his side of the bed. He had to pass the baby to me for a feed, then change

and burp it before putting it back to bed. It stayed that way for all three

children.

>

>Cheers,

>Tas'

We ended up with the baby IN the bed ... then you don't have to wake up at all.

Plus they sleep really well, cuddled up. I never " rolled over on her " (that was

my fear) but I did wake up on the very edge of the bed, as she snuggled closer

and closer. We ended up taking the top mattress and putting it directly on the

floor, so the baby couldn't fall out (or me) harmfully. We had to stop when she

was 2 or so, because she KICKED too hard, but then I ended up in HER bed many

nights, when there were nightmares etc. I don't think kids were meant to sleep

alone, they like to cuddle.

Heidi Jean

[Guest guest]

>We ended up with the baby IN the bed ... then you don't have to wake up at all.

Plus they sleep really well, cuddled up. I never " rolled over on her " (that was

my fear) but I did wake up on the very edge of the bed, as she snuggled closer

and closer. We ended up taking the top mattress and putting it directly on the

floor, so the baby couldn't fall out (or me) harmfully. We had to stop when she

was 2 or so, because she KICKED too hard, but then I ended up in HER bed many

nights, when there were nightmares etc. I don't think kids were meant to sleep

alone, they like to cuddle.

>

>

>Heidi Jean

>

I agree all mammals should cuddle with offspring during sleep. The land

mammals all do, don't they? I vaguely remember reading the in bed

sleeping helps to establish proper breathing in infants. I lost a 18

month old son to SIDS. Yes, a very thorough autopsy was performed at

the insistence of my pediatrician; nothing. He would not sleep with me

as an infant, fussing and crying. My other 2 sons did sleep fine with

me for a couple of years. I realize this is just one anecdote, but it

really chaps my hide when the government agencies warn against sleeping

with your infant, as it may contribute to SIDS. It is a sensitive issue

for me, needless to say, even though it has been many years since he

died. Furthermore, it can happen up to age five. They often cite back

sleeping as the best prevention, but an 18 month old tosses as turns

now, don't they?

~ Deanna

[Guest guest]

>I lost a 18

>month old son to SIDS. Yes, a very thorough autopsy was performed at

>the insistence of my pediatrician; nothing. He would not sleep with me

>as an infant, fussing and crying.

Deanna:

I'm very sad to hear that! What I've heard about SIDS is that cosleeping

(and breastfeeding) *reduces* the incidence of it, so it is surprising

to me what you were told.

My two were VERY different as to " cuddling " , but there were

so many issues to deal with that it's hard to say what the causes

were.

http://www.babyreference.com/Cosleeping & SIDSFactSheet.htm

The actual SIDS statistics were not measured. Why? Several well-designed

research studies demonstrate that SIDS is drastically reduced in babies

cosleeping along with an aware, protective (non-smoking, non-drug-impaired)

mother. Such an announcement would not sell cribs.

.....

Number of U.S. births year 2000: 4,058,814

Total infant deaths year 2000: 28,411

Age birth to 1 year. (6.9 per thousand)

Number SIDS deaths year 2000: 2,523

Mostly in cribs.

Defined as death with unexplained cause, birth to 1 year.

Suffocation deaths year 2000: 1,000

Mostly in cribs. Reported to be 1/3rd of all SIDS deaths -- but when

suffocation occurs in an adult bed, it is often reported as due to " sleeping in

adult bed " -- not as SIDS.

Heidi Jean