routines

Dr. Mona Amin, DO, IBCLC

bath & potty time

tips & advice

how-to's

parenting pros

your top baby bath questions answered

<h4 style="text-align: center;">Our resident pediatrician mom, Dr. Mona Amin, shares her best tips and picks to ensure your baby’s bath is warm and wonderful.</h4> Baths are more than how we keep our kiddos clean, they’re a big part of our daily routines. But, alas, they are not always splish-splash easy! My own son didn’t always greet bathtime with a grin. As a newborn, he definitely wasn’t a fan, but slowly started to enjoy it over time. Then, when we transitioned to a big tub at eight months, he cried and cried and we took a few steps backwards. It took persistence, patience, and a calm presence for him to come around and now—at age two and a half—he loves it again. We really have so much fun splashing and getting clean.But bathing a baby isn’t something everyone just automatically knows how to do! In fact, most new parents have questions about how experienced parents suds up their little ones. Well, I’ve got answers. Here’s what to know to make bathtime a routine you can all look forward to right from the start. <h2>how soon can I give my newborn a bath?</h2> Once your baby’s umbilical cord falls off—typically one to two weeks after birth—you can start giving them baths in an infant tub. Until then, a sponge bath is best.For newborns, <a href="https://www.buybuybaby.com/store/category/bath-diapering/bath-tubs-accessories/bath-tubs-seats/32074/_baby-bathtub/c19mX2JpblByb2R1Y3RfVHlwZToiQmFieSBCYXRodHViIg==" target="_self">baby bath tubs</a> are essential to have on hand as soon as you’re home from the hospital since they are designed to position an infant’s head above the water. They also give you more control over how much water you are pouring on your baby, which can be nerve wracking in the beginning. <hr/> <h3 style="text-align: center;">safety tip</h3> <h4 style="text-align: center;">Always keep a hand on your baby while bathing them— they can slip around or roll when you least expect it!</h4> <hr/> <h2>how often do babies need baths?</h2> From a hygiene standpoint, babies don’t need baths every day—just frequent diaper changes. But the bath can be helpful to wipe away spit-up and drool, which has a way of making its way into crevices and folds. Start by doing baths every three days or as their skin tolerates it (you don’t want it to get too dry). Use lukewarm water for baths, as hotter water can strip our skin of its natural oils, and apply an ointment or lotion after baths to lock in moisture. If your child is prone to dry skin or eczema, be extra vigilant about pat-drying with a towel and moisturizing immediately with a gentle, fragrance-free lotion afterward.As your child gets older, baths continue to be important (and the toys get even more fun!). Daily baths help remove environmental allergens that find their way to your child’s skin and give your child an opportunity to learn hygiene and autonomy in cleaning themselves. <h2>what time of day is best for a bath?</h2> Baths can be a useful part of your baby’s bedtime routine since they help relax the body (just think about the last time you had a nice, warm bath before bed). By bathing at the end of the day you’ll also get to wash away the day’s sticky situations and sneak in some together time before it’s lights out.I still remember when my son was 7 weeks and hit the witching hour (read: fussy evenings), the bath was THE thing that calmed him down and it was relaxing for me too as I ran my hands under the water. Try following the bath with a massage with baby coconut oil or lotion for extra relaxation and bonding. <h2>how do I know if my baby is comfy in the water?</h2> A big part of making sure you keep your baby comfortable is in your preparation. Start by getting all your supplies ready so you don’t have to remove your baby to get something (which can be jarring and, well, chilly!). You’ll need an age-appropriate baby bath tub, body wash and shampoo, a washcloth, a cup for rinsing, and a cozy towel (you can apply lotion back in the nursery).Then, make sure the water is warm, but not too hot. You can use your elbow to gauge the temperature rather than your fingers which are more sensitive to temperature. If it feels hot to your elbow, it’s likely too hot! A tub thermometer can give you the confidence that the temp is just right, too. To keep your baby warm from beginning to end, you can use a washcloth to cover your baby’s core. Some babies may like the water level covering most of their body (not their face though), while other babies may like more shallow water that you can scoop up for rinsing as needed. <hr/> <h3 style="text-align: center;">safety tip</h3> <h4 style="text-align: center;">Before placing your baby in the water, always check the temperature! Use a <a href="https://www.buybuybaby.com/store/s/tub-thermometer/_tub-thermometer/c19mX2JpblByb2R1Y3RfVHlwZToiVHViIFRoZXJtb21ldGVyIg==" target="_self" style="text-align: center;">tub thermometer</a> or submerge your elbow, not your hand.</h4> <hr/> <h2>how can I make baths fun?</h2> Sing and talk to your child as you give them a bath! Now’s the time to break out every nursery rhyme you ever learned. The more you stay calm and make this a fun routine, the more your baby will know what to expect and enjoy it.Toys also make it fun! I always recommend stacking cups that sift water and can be poured because they’re a great cognitive and motor toy to use in the bath. Continue to introduce age-appropriate toys as your child grows and it’ll be a fun part of your nightly routine. <h3 style="text-align: center;">my favorite bathtime products</h3>

<hr/> ABOUT DR. AMIN As a board-certified pediatrician, Dr. Mona Amin provides a safe space for parents to get trusted advice directly from a doctor. With a focus on baby health and well-being, it’s her mission to share balanced, well-researched parenting advice to lessen those big worries and help parents find more joy in parenthood. Follow Dr. Amin on Instagram at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/pedsdoctalk/?hl=en" target="_blank">@pedsdoctalk</a> or visit <a href="https://pedsdoctalk.com/about/" target="_blank">pedsdoctalk.com</a>.Learn more about the <a href="https://www.buybuybaby.com/store/static/parenting-pros-the-village" target="_blank">buybuy BABY Parenting Pros</a>.

feeding & mealtime

healthy eating habits to teach kids early on

<h4 style="text-align: center;">Follow these pediatrician-approved principles as soon as your baby starts solids to create healthy eating habits that can last a lifetime.</h4> One of the biggest things to remember about healthy eating is that balance is key. Many parents think they have to avoid food groups completely, but moderation is everything. A healthy balance of fun foods, take-out, home-cooked meals, packaged foods, etc. can really help when you’re busy and make mealtimes more enjoyable for the whole family. <h2>feed kids whatever you’re eating</h2> When your baby is starting off with solid foods, feed them what you eat to simplify meals and provide a healthy variety. If you’re doing puree-feeding, you can puree food to a consistency they can handle or try baby-led weaning which is where they self-feed themselves. This approach will help you better see what types of foods you eat day to day. Afterall, you can’t raise a veggie lover if you are not a veggie lover. For many kids, repetitive exposure is needed for them to actually eat a new food; but you have to have it in your home and on the table in the first place. Reflect on what your diet is like, where you shine, and where you can make some changes to create a more balanced diet for yourself and your family. Remember to always consider safety before serving, too. For example, children under four should not have whole nuts as they are a choking hazard.Eating with your kids as much as your schedule allows has added benefits. When children are over 4 years of age, family meals can lead to healthier choices when you are not with them at the table and it’s also great for their social and emotional development to be able to talk about the day. <h2>limit added sugar for kids under age two</h2> Sugar gets a bad rap, but my concern lies more with higher volumes of added sugar. When your toddler tastes something with added sugar, they are likely to crave and want it more. But if you are setting healthy boundaries and providing it in a mix with other foods, that’s okay, as long as you’re not giving added sugar with every snack or every meal. This also requires you to reflect on your eating habits and the foods you have stocked in your home (especially any packaged foods) to make there is balance.For children under one year: stick to naturally occurring sugars such as fruit, which contains sugar, but also fiber and other nutrients that make it preferred to added sugars.For children one and two years: look at the nutrition label and the “added sugars” line when you’re shopping and choose products that have little or no added sugars, prioritizing naturally occurring sugars whenever possible. If you do buy something with added sugars more than 7g per serving, be sure to balance these with vegetables, proteins, etc. during the day. Use balance to decide when you will give added sugar, too. Having a cupcake at a friend’s birthday party is okay. Having a cupcake every single day may be too much added sugar. Sugar-containing foods are an inevitable part of our diet, but it shouldn’t become the only thing your child eats. <h2>balance home-cooked and packaged foods</h2>

Home-cooking meals every day would be amazing, but if we’re being honest it isn’t always easy with our time and resources. You don’t have to feel guilty about using packaged foods for family meals when you’re balancing them with home-cooked meals as much as possible. This may mean meal-prepping and freezing food so it’s more convenient or creating a weekly meal plan to vary fresh home-made foods and packaged foods to fit your schedule and resources.Home-cooked meals tend to have more flavor and spices and less sodium than packaged foods. When we home-cook, we also tend to use more vegetables and plant-based foods. This balance can help keep our gut healthy and still provide us with the convenience of store-bought packaged foods. Both are okay. If you are a family that leans more on packaged foods, see if there are ways you can incorporate more home-cooked meals to fit your schedule. If you are a family that only makes home-cooked meals and you are feeling overwhelmed, consider how you can incorporate more store-bought items to fit your schedule. <h2>diversify your cuisine</h2> One of the biggest gifts we can give our children is the gift of diversity. And you don’t need to travel to far-away places to do this! Try to diversify your child’s palate by offering various cuisine foods: Thai, Italian, Mexican, Ethiopian, Indian, Korean, Japanese, Filipino, etc. This will also require you to explore various cuisines as well if this is not something you normally do. The benefit of diversifying cuisine is that by doing so you introduce them to various spices and flavors. Another benefit is that different cuisines prioritize different food groups. For example, Italian food typically includes protein and carbohydrates, Indian food usually highlights veggies, spices, and carbohydrates, and Thai food prioirtizes carbohydrates and protein. Not only is this variety great for their developing taste buds, various spices are great for our immune system. From the moment your child is an infant, begin to incorporate variety. It may take many exposures for them to like the food and that’s okay. Celebrate the exposure versus them eating everything on the plate as a win. As your child becomes school-aged, speak often about different types of cuisines and let them take a turn choosing what’s for dinner so they’re also in control of the healthy choices they are making. <h2>get them involved</h2>

From infancy, you can bring your child into the kitchen to watch you cook or prepare food. Talk together about how you chop vegetables or boil pasta. Take them with you to grocery stores so they can help shop for the family’s food. You can allow toddlers to touch and smell the produce you are purchasing. Then, when you get home they can get in on the cooking with toddler-safe jobs and utensils. Young kids can knead dough, mix dry ingredients, wash produce and more. They can also help unload the dishwasher and set the table. By getting them involved with food prep, you are exposing them to the concept of preparing or warming foods. For school-aged kids and above, you can also discuss why we eat certain foods like vegetables, fruit, and proteins at the table so they know why these foods are beneficial. “Eating vegetables will help you feel stronger.” “Eating protein (chicken or lentils) will make you run faster!”All of these tips take our routine into consideration. None of this should take extra effort as you are incorporating your child into your routine after reflecting on your resources. Happy and healthy eating, families! <hr/> <h4>ABOUT DR. AMIN</h4> As a board-certified pediatrician, Dr. Mona Amin provides a safe space for parents to get trusted advice directly from a doctor. With a focus on baby health and well-being, it’s her mission to share balanced, well-researched parenting advice to lessen those big worries and help parents find more joy in parenthood. Follow Dr. Amin on Instagram at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/pedsdoctalk/?hl=en" target="_self">@pedsdoctalk</a> or visit <a href="https://pedsdoctalk.com/about/" target="_self">pedsdoctalk.com</a>.Learn more about the <a href="https://www.buybuybaby.com/store/static/parenting-pros-the-village" target="_self">buybuy BABY Parenting Pros</a>.

nursing your baby: top tips from a lactation consultant

health & wellness

<h4 style="text-align: center;">All the expert advice you need to start your breastfeeding journey.</h4> Breastfeeding may be all-natural, but it’s not always all that easy. When I had my son Ryaan, we were separate for 12 hours and he was in the ICU and I subsequently ended up admitted to the ICU. We didn’t have the skin-to-skin and the emotional and physical stress also impacted my supply. Like me, plenty of women endure a ton of trouble spots and vexing problems while learning how to feed their baby. (And if you’ve just gone through the rigors of childbirth, this adds insult to injury.) As a certified lactation consultant, I’ve seen tons of women through this process and certain tips have risen to the top as the most important and helpful. For every problem, I’ve found that there is usually a solution and with enough help and a bit of persistence, nursing mothers can often push through.The first, and perhaps most valuable, one is: Be patient with yourself and your baby. You BOTH are learning a new skill, and this means it can take some time. If something doesn’t feel right, always go with your gut and get the help you need. Understand that goals may change. You are a loving mom doing the best for your baby. Here’s what else you need to know:

<h2>before your baby arrives</h2> gather a support squadSometimes it’s NOT your partner, and that’s okay, whether it’s a doula, lactation consultant, your mom, or a friend. You need support to get through breastfeeding, especially in that first month. You can find a lactation consultant through the hospital where you delivered, your pediatrician, <a href="https://lllusa.org/" target="_blank">La Leche League</a>, <a href="https://lactationnetwork.com/" target="_blank">The Lactation Network</a>, or word of mouth from a friend. stock up on key breastfeeding suppliesYou’ll want a breastfeeding pillow, a few nursing bras, nursing-friendly clothing (struggling to uncover your breast is just one more annoying thing you don’t need to deal with), soothing nipple balm, and a breast pump. Make sure to call your insurance to see if they cover an electric pump and can coordinate sending one to you.

<h2>okay, baby’s here! how to start off on the right foot</h2> begin skin-to-skin as soon as possibleThis is when your baby is placed on your chest and lays there while you are awake. This skin-to-skin releases oxytocin which helps with milk let-down (when your milk comes to the breast). Whenever you are awake, skin-to-skin is a great activity to promote bonding and breast milk let-down. (However, if this isn't possible, don’t freak. As the mother of a baby who was in the NICU and who I didn’t get to see for 13 hours, skin-to-skin can happen later.) try pumping and/or hand expressionHand expression is important whether you introduce a pump or not and that is where you massage and allow milk to flow. Pumping may be part of your breastfeeding journey early on for production or later if you are returning to work or want help with bottle-feeding pumped milk. expect it to feel clunky at firstYou may need trial and error to find a position that feels right. The best breastfeeding position for your baby involves ventral contact (their stomach is turned towards you). Holding your breast (like a sandwich) helps too. find the best latchThe best latch is the latch that works for you and your baby. No need to fix it if it’s working and not painful. If painful or shallow, aim for your baby to have a wide-open mouth, chin touching breast, nose free, and both lips flared outward. You should hear audible swallowing. watch for relaxation after feedingsYou will know your baby is getting enough because their body will seem relaxed after feedings. They may not sleep right away, but their body will feel less stiff and their hands may be more open and relaxed. <h2>timing is everything: when to feed baby</h2> the best time to nurseThe “quiet alert” state is when your baby is calm and/or looking around but showing hunger cues (smacking lips and rooting are examples). Rooting is when your baby moves their mouth towards your finger, a nipple, or a bottle. It is a newborn reflex that indicates hunger. babies get over hungryIf your baby is wailing or inconsolable, you can attempt a feeding or calm baby for a more relaxed feed. Calming techniques include rocking them till they’re calmer, stroking their forehead, or placing them in a swaddle. If they’re truly hungry, they will latch if they’re used to latching. watch for hunger cuesBy allowing your baby to lead the way and reading their cues—rather than reading the clock—you can get on a rhythm that works for your baby’s cues. know what’s normalFeedings can happen 7-12 times a day initially, with clustering normal during periods of rapid growth. Once feeding is more routine, you will see that feedings can happen every 2-3 hours. They may sleep longer stretches at night, which is perfectly fine once they meet their birth weight. But remember: every baby is different. <h2>troubleshoot the tricky spots</h2>

for sore nipplesMake sure to keep them moisturized with coconut oil, Vaseline, nipple balm, or lanolin cream. Wear loose clothing to minimize friction on the nipples and make sure to change nursing pads often. Sitting with nipples exposed to air can also help as air-drying can help. for engorgementApply warm compresses and gently massage your breasts for 10 minutes before feeding. If your baby is having difficulty latching to the engorged breast, hand-express some milk or pump to soften the breast which can help with latching. for potential mastitis (an infection in your milk duct)Speak to a clinician immediately. This will be your OB/GYN as well as your lactation consultant. Mastitis is a swollen area on your breast that may feel warm to the touch. It can sometimes also be very red and tender. Another sign can be a burning sensation in the breast especially when your baby feeds. for a clogged ductIf you feel a tender lump in the breast, use a warm compress and massage your breast gently with your hand. You can also use the flat end of an electric toothbrush against the blocked duct to allow the vibrations to clear it. To help ease the pain, try ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Try to continue breastfeeding, as stopping abruptly can lead to engorgement. You can pump as well to alleviate the milk and any discomfort.

<h2>all the time: take care of yourself</h2> stay hydratedYou drink if you’re thirsty. If your mouth and lips feel dry, you’re probably not hydrated enough so you want to drink enough to avoid this. The best hydration is water and non-caffeinated beverages with low or minimal sugar. make sure to eat wellBy the numbers, an additional 330 to 400 kilocalories per day is recommended for those who are breastfeeding, compared with the amount they were consuming before pregnancy. To be honest, it’s hard to remember how many calories you normally consume, but know that breastfeeding can increase your appetite and you should eat a varied diet and listen to your own hunger and fullness cues. <hr/> <h3>about Mona Amin, DO, IBCLC</h3> As a board-certified pediatrician, Dr. Mona Amin provides a safe space for parents to get trusted advice directly from a doctor. With a focus on baby health and well-being, it’s her mission to share balanced, well-researched parenting advice to lessen those big worries and help parents find more joy in parenthood. Follow Dr. Amin on Instagram at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/pedsdoctalk/?hl=en" target="_blank">@pedsdoctalk</a> or visit <a href="https://pedsdoctalk.com/about/" target="_blank">pedsdoctalk.com</a>.Learn more about the <a href="https://www.buybuybaby.com/store/static/parenting-pros-the-village" target="_blank">buybuy BABY Parenting Pros</a>.

dr mona amin

your top baby bath questions answered

dr mona amin

healthy eating habits to teach kids early on

dr mona amin

nursing your baby: top tips from a lactation consultant

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