Nikki's Baby Blog

Mia is 3 months old now and growing like a weed! We put her in wearable blankets at night because it is unsafe to have blankets in baby's crib. However, her feet are touching the bottom of the wearable blanket so I fear it is uncomfortable for her. I need to buy new ones, but I worry that if I buy them too big it'll be dangerous and if I buy them to fit her now she'll grow out of them too fast. Am I worrying over nothing? What do you suggest?

I was curious about when it is safe to use blankets so I did a little research and though mom's opinions range anywhere from 3 months to a year the SIDS research says 1 year. Guess I'll be buying a bunch of the sleep sacks.

I have to share this with Josh. Great tips for new parents even though it is labeled tips for new dads.

Tips for The New Dad

• Use disposable diapers -- the environment will survive.
• Keep a few reusable diapers around for cleaning up spills.
• Kiss a baby's forehead to check its temperature -- if it feels hot, baby has a fever.
• Discuss the "When should I call the pediatrician?" question at your first visit.
• Keep laundry in a well ventilated container -- mildew can ruin all the baby clothes in a sealed hamper in a couple of days.
• Turning pants pockets inside out before washing keeps them from wearing out.
• Soaking in cold water overnight works on most stains.
• Red children's clothing always seems to bleed color in the wash.
• Kids are much easier without deadlines. Minimize the number of crunches in your daily schedule where you have to get your kid out on time.
• Don't rush walking and don't use walkers.
• Backpacks are great.
• Don't overdress -- check hands and cheeks for temperature.
• Always have an extra layer of clothes with you.
• Corn starch is good for rashes.
• If baby is stuffed-up, bring it into the bathroom when you shower.
• Toilet training is easy if you wait until your kid is ready.
• PJ's are a waste of time.
• Infants are surprisingly portable. Don't be afraid to travel.
• Try to enjoy each age of your child's life.

I'm primarily breastfeeding, but in order to keep up with demand we've been having to use some formula. We mix formula in her bottles while she's at the babysitter's 2:1. A friend of mine just told me though that a can of formula is good for only a month after it's been opened! I had no idea. I thought I could continue using it until the expiration date on the can.

Is it true that I can't use it after a month?

I guess I need to learn proper handling instructions for formula. Is there any other important stuff I should know? 

Mia has a cold and she's all stuffed up. She wakes up at night because she can't breathe. It's hard for her to eat because she can't breathe through her nose. I try to suck it out of her with the nasal aspirator, but her it's hard to clear her out. We have a humidifier in her room which we thought would help, but it doesn't. I have some saline drops is it safe to use them to help loosen things up so it's easier to suck out her nose? She's not quite 3 1/2 months old, is there anything you can suggest that will help my poor little baby breathe?

Addi Scott, Little Foot Photography sent me a sneak preview of Mia's 3 month pictures. She does such a good job.

In this picture Mia is in a pink fluffy skirt much too big for her in a wash bin. It looks like she's in a bucket full of pink flowers.

You can find Little Foot Photography on Facebook.

Yesterday I blogged a video about making your own baby food, but I didn't realize that there's a lot of other baby products you can make yourself too!

What other homemade baby products can I make? Do you have any other money saving recipes or ideas?

2/14/12

I know some people do it, but I'm not sure I have the time to make my own baby food.

I found this video on Youtube that makes it sound so easy though.

Did you make your own baby food? What tips do you have?

2/13/12

Mia got her 3 month pictures taken yesterday and the little stinker wouldn't smile! She smiled like crazy everytime the camera wasn't pointed at her.

Bryan's wife, Addi Scott, owns her own photography business called Little Foot Photography so we hung out over at Bryan's house yesterday afternoon. Thank goodness she has lots of patience because she worked with Mia a very long time before she finally cracked a smile. 

She does the same thing to me at home as you can see from the picture here. She's all smiles playing on the floor and the minute I grab the camera she stops smiling and just stares at the camera. I thought that at Addi's it would be different because Addi's camera looks so different than mine, but she got the same response.

We put Mia in 2 different outfits, one being her Easter dress. Then Addi pulled out this frilly pink skirt to put her in. It was intentionally too big so it looked like she was sitting in a big pink cloud. When Addi put her into a wash bucket wearing it I almost died, it was so cute! I can't wait to see the pictures. Addi always does such a great job.

I just can't believe how big Mia is getting already. My friend Dani came with me to the photo session to get her newborn daughter's picture taken. Her daughter, Sophia, is just over 7 pounds. I look at her compared to Mia now and already can't remember Mia being that small, but she was. When we left the hospital she was 6lbs 11oz.

2/11/12

Mia is starting to drool a lot.

Is it too early for her to be teething? 

When did your child pop his first tooth?

What other things go along with teething?

I remember my friend's baby had fevers, is this normal?

2/9/12

Mia turned 3 months old yesterday. She is getting so big.

2/8/12

Bryan finally gave me the gift that listner Connie Spencer dropped off at the station while I was on Maternity Leave. Don't worry Connie he took good care of it. Thank you so much! Just look at these adorable bibs!

2/7/12

At 3 months old, Mia is already trying to roll over. I wish I had a picture, but everytime I grab a camera she stops what she's doing and just stares at the camera. When she's laying on her back playing on the floor, in her swing, or even in her bouncy chair she twists her upper body. She can kick her leg over enough to get herself on her side, but not quite all the way over. According to this video I found on Babycenter.com babies usually flip from their belly to their back first because it doesn't take as much muscle, but Mia hates being on her belly so much she refuses to do anything, but lay there and cry. She does lift her head up a little, but I think that's just so her cries aren't so muffled. 

This video gives you a timeline of development for your baby. It's pretty cool.