We're Sick...again!

Other than sleep troubles, one of the worse things that I ever had to deal with as a mom is sickness and if your baby/child goes to daycare, you know getting sick is just now part of the norm. Isla is going on her 7th month in daycare, illness is less often and by that I mean, she is not sick weekly anymore...now, it's bi-weekly! She goes to daycare three times per week, Monday-Wednesday and in her first 6 months, she would end every week sick, get better by Sunday and by end of the week she is sick again, a vicious cycle! The worse part about it, she has a baby brother who also catches everything that she has.

This week, my Isla had one of the worst one from daycare, FHMD (foot, hand mouth disease), no not the animal kind but the human kind, causes blisters in their mouth and later, in their hands and feet. It's viral so of course it comes with a cold and fever too. I say it's the worst because unlike ear infection (which she already had twice) where you can get antibiotic, this one just like a cold and would just run its course. Yes, Quino caught this one too, it was inevitable as it is highly contagious for kids their age.

Do you ever just feel like when your child is sick, the entire household is too? They get extra clingy so you can't do any work at all, if you do have a job, you have to call out because they can't be at daycare anyway, their energy is down and that sucks out yours, their appetite is off so you end up losing yours too. They also get so frustrated, totally understandable but somehow you get frustrated that they are and you still loose it? Well...I do. I hate it (real talk now!). I'm sure most moms are absolutely poised about handling illness but I have yet to master it even with plenty of practice. My heart aches for her pain and it's almost like nothing I do can make her feel better, and my body, well mostly my ears ache because of the constant whining and crying. I should be more understanding of her clinginess and drama antics, her whining and pining for me, and for the most part I am but I had moments when I lost it too. If only I can protect her from catching one and all virus and bacterial infection out there...hmmm..bubble girl?!

This week I was a walking spit and snot catcher, I was kicked and screamed at all throughout the day and night (by a frustrated and hungry toddler, she can't eat due to blisters in her mouth), I didn't shower for two days nor brush my hair, I haven't slept more for than two hours. My patience ran out at times and as she screams of frustration I did too, as she cried herself to sleep, I did too. She felt so bad and I feel worse for not being more catering or understanding, for not giving her what she wanted, for making her feel worse at times instead of making her feel better. This is one of those parts of parenthood that I just didn't expect and am still so clueless how to handle.The good news? Well, just as the doctor said, wait it out, and it will get better on its own.

Happy Meals

Offering solids to your baby and meal time for your toddler is one of the most exciting and also challenging time of motherhood. Fun to see their reactions when they try something the first time and annoying when they refuse something for the first time. I may had just been lucky that Isla so far is a good eater (don’t get me wrong, she dislikes a lot of things including fruits and some vegetables, not a big fan of pasta either) but I think that encouraging them to try flavors and food that you normally eat can make a difference in their eating habit. Here are some ways that I am currently trying and tried that worked for us so far and also writing a few things to keep in mind as you introduce your little one to solids.

1.       Make some and buy some

I wish I have more time to do this more often but I do enjoy making my little ones’ own food. Yes, very idealistic, most won’t have time but whenever you do, try it and if you can't, do buy. Jarred or packet baby food will cost you over $10 for a pack of 10 and if you’re in the stage where you're feeding your baby about 1-2 jars a day, that $10 of yours won’t last you that long. Buying fresh fruit or vegetable and throwing it in the blender, freezing it in an ice tray will cost a fraction! No need for expensive steamers or baby food blenders, regular blender will do just fine! I don’t always have the time so I mix and match home-made and store bought ones based on convenience.

2.       Do not be afraid to spice them up

If you do decide to make your own baby food, do not be afraid to play around with your own recipes. For a 4month old, start with just one vegetable/fruit at a time since not all can be processed by their baby stomachs and this way it’s easier for you to determine what food causes reactions. Give the same food for 3-4days before letting them try a new one. After their 6^th or 7^th month, you can start mixing veggies and fruits and I would even recommend adding spices in it! With Isla we gave curried squash, carrots with basil and oregano, ginger and cauliflower mixed with carrots (now she won't eat her scrambled eggs unless it's herbed or spiced). Since your palette is more advanced you pretty much can tell what would be a good combination. Introduce spices like paprika and herbs like thyme and basil or even sage! Some moms will stir away from salt and I do agree with that and I did until both my babies were about 7months when I started giving them a taste of any food on my plate that is safe for them to swallow.

3.       Research or Check

Before you get too excited in making them try all, do make sure you read on what food are safe for your baby’s age to try. Some fruits or veggies are more advisable to give at latter months of your baby. What I did introduce a little early were peanuts and eggs, both of my kids were introduced with peanut butter and egg at 6months. Very small amount and it doesn’t necessarily save them from getting an allergy from it but more are saying that introducing them early can lower that risk. So far so good for us, no allergic reactions on both!

4.       Offer what you have and what you normally eat

At 10months, I felt that Isla was ready to eat more. She had a few choppers to chew, she has also learned to spit out food if she bit too big. At this point, there isn’t anything I hadn’t let her try. If it was on my plate, I gave it (including spicy ones). Also at this age, they’re safe to have food that has milk in it so I was less mindful of that. From this point on I stopped preparing food for Isla and gave her what we have. Since we are rice eaters (Pinoy all the way), we gave rice and whatever we have that came with it. When we go out in restaurants, we offered her what Jeb and I ordered. If it’s taco, she will have a taco, if it’s pasta she will have that too, at 17months she’s had maki rolls (only cooked ones of course). What I noticed is that this encouraged Isla try food and now that she’s a toddler, she makes her decision if she likes the food or not.

5.       Encourage self-feeding

Many result to spoon feeding for many reasons and I do that too, I also spoon feed at times but I also do encourage self-feeding. At this time with my 7month old Quino, we offer little pieces of soft food or baby snacks for him to pick and feed himself; I also hand him pancakes, bread and even pasta to hold in his hand and eat for himself. I do spoon feed him for certain foods like rice and soup or purees. At 9months when Isla had her firm grip, I gave her a spoon and welcomed the mess at home to let her feed herself with a spoon. Now at 18months (by 12months she was an expert on spoon and self-feeding), she basically feeds herself and only require very little help from us in eating. I am able to enjoy my meal as well as focus on feeding Quino too!

6.       Do not force your baby/toddler to eat

This is probably the most important advice of all, sometimes, even I forget to do this. It’s hard especially during the toddler times when they would rather play than eat but do try your best to work your way around it (maybe they're not hungry or they just don't like the food you offered). The best way to go at this is by being cautious of your baby’s feedings. Make sure to time their bottle feedings vs meals so that they’re not full. For the first year, formula is more important and complete so offer more of that and make meals just an opportunity for them to try and learn to sit with you on the table. If they seem full or not interested in the meal, do not force it and adjust the rest of the day to make sure that their next meal time will be a better shot. Forcing them to eat when they’re not ready will make eating more like a chore instead of it being a natural part of the day. 

8 things I didn’t Do as a First-Time Mom

There are just so many things to keep in mind, to buy, to do, and want for your baby especially as a first-time mom. Being that I have many moms ahead of me, bests—my mom, my sisters, there were a few things I learned ahead from them that I wanted to do too and some that I no longer did or decided to do differently during my turn at motherhood. Now, not all things listed in here are good advice, if I have to be honest, I did them out of laziness/convenience and many may feel differently about it but it all worked out for us and my babies are happy and healthy!

1.       Sterilize bottles

It’s not like I never did, I mean I tried for like the first month, although I did not even do it daily as it is accustomed or should be. I attended a class in microbiology and remember my professor saying that she never did this, at times, she did not even boil water for her baby’s bottles and she said that it all turned out fine, so I kind of took that to the heart (lol!). After Isla’s first month, we pretty much stopped using our sterilizer and just washed daily. For Quino, we also tried, once or twice and being that we had a dozen bottles due to two babies, we gave up after the second try.-------babies are healthy and happy!

2.       Breastfeed

Again, it’s not like I never did. This is a bittersweet situation for me. With Isla I was so determined to but never produced enough to do so (as mentioned before, she even suffered near dehydration and was just fortunate to catch her right before things were turning for the worse). I pumped for the first month with her but could only produce 2-4oz in 4sessions even with diet, pills, teas, etc. I eventually gave up the idea and decided that my baby is best fed even if not breastmilk. And with Quino, because I also had an 11month old, I chose to stop breastfeeding after two weeks because I also had to cater to her. It worked out for the best for us because it allowed me to have more time to divide between my two babies.

3.       Went with expensive baby bottles

This one was more for convenience and not so much because I have anything against buying the pricier bottles. I wouldn’t say that I’m thrifty but I kind of just went with my gut feel on this one, less expensive bottles could possibly work. For my baby registry, I went ahead and chose Playtex Vent Air bottles instead of Avent or Dr. Brown’s and other brands for the sole reason that it was cheaper (haha!). I didn’t ask for a lot in my registry, just one set as I wasn’t sure how it will work for my baby (some babies are more finicky than others with bottle feeding particularly if they’re transitioning from breastfeeding to bottle feeding so don't go purchasing so many if you're not sure that they'll stick to it), and when we needed more, I wasn’t breaking the bank to get more. Playtex is about $10 cheaper (a set of 3 is $7.09 compared to avent’s or Dr. Brown’s that’s about $17.99) than the other brands and it worked wonders even on my colicky Isla. And for Quino, we used the same ones Isla used and we saved a good amount of money! This one I’d definitely recommend!

4.       Gave Rice Cereal

A big advice especially during my eldest sister’s time was to start your baby’s solids with rice cereal. Some doctors still advise you to but with my pediatrician’s permission, I went another route and gave green beans as my girl’s first solid and carrots for Quino. Scientifically, baby’s first solid doesn’t really define their palette as they don’t really develop difference in taste until 5months (some start solids at 4months) and their determination of liking vs not liking won’t really happen until after a few tries of the same food. I do however, wanted to make sure that my babies have a more complex taste and texture for their first try. More on my theories on food, on another post!

5.       Own an umbrella stroller

I really want one, I probably should have one or two being that I have two little ones but so far I just haven’t made up my mind in owning one. My single stroller was part of a travel system and I love it, it was pricey but received it as a gift and I just felt bad not using it anymore after the first few months so I’ve decided to keep it and continue to use it. I have the chiccobravo travel system and although it’s not the lightest weight stroller, it folds easily and compactly that I even use it in the city and during travel, just fold and it stores away in a corner of a small restaurant and doesn’t take as much space in a compact car.

After having Quino, I also got a compact double stroller (joovy caboose ultralight double stroller), which I love and get plenty of compliments of how much it looked like a single stroller. I purchased this one and would recommend it for moms with an newborn/infant and a toddler because it holds a carseat, seats a toddler and then covert to a sit and stand when both babies get a bit bigger. Being that it’s also pricey, I kept it and drag it along with me everywhere I am with the two babies. Umbrella strollers, especially some brands can also be quite pricey so my advice is if you decided on a travel system or a non-umbrella stroller in the beginning, stick to it to save you some $$$.

6.       Wash new clothes

Well I do but not always, only when I feel like it or don’t have the immediate need for it. Especially for Quino, I’ve decided not to purchase a lot of clothing and relied on gifts, hand-me-downs and Isla’s old clothes (yes, sometimes he wears pink!) so when I do buy clothes, it’s because he outgrew the current ones he already has or he has the need for it. Isla also grew pretty fast and skipped a few clothing sizes after her 2^nd month so that resulted to me just using the newly purchased one without washing it. I really wouldn’t advise this but so far it has worked fine for us. If you have the time, do so just to be safe but if you don’t, you gotta do what you to, you know what I mean?!

7.       Use a pacifier

Nothing against it at all but I worked for a pediatrician for four years and I hear her advice our patients to not rely on them (never got to ask why she advised our patients not to, but some complained it became a sleep association and caused them more trouble than comfort). I know many babies that use or used them and not really depend on them other than having it for comfort and not so much for need. If you do use it, I don’t see why you can’t or shouldn’t. Both my kids however, refused it and I kind of just went along with that. It’s one less worry for me I guess because I don’t have to wean them from it. Isla however, thumb-sucks which is the next thing to paci so…not much difference there!

My Quino doesn’t know of it and his comfort is a tiny blanket which he chews on during sleepy time or to keep him occupied while in the crib (Click here to see).

8.       Purchase all baby gadgets

I have baby gadgets, they’re a must! I did however, decided to keep my baby gadgets to a small collection instead. I live in a town home that doesn’t boasts a huge space or separate kid space so my husband and I really wanted our collection to be kept small. I went with having a mini pack and play which doubled as my bassinet during the newborn phase and was Isla’s play pen during her infant phase, foldable rocker which doubles as my bouncer because it also vibrates, a foldable jumperoo, and a foldable high chair. I figured that if I don’t introduce the swing, the walker, the bouncer, the big gyms, my babies won’t know they exist. I was right and we survived without them (I did have a hand-me-down walker which we eventually gave up because of space issue). If you also noticed, I went with all foldable items, love ‘em!