What Causes Gas in a Baby?

A normal infant may pass gas up to 23 times a day, according to WebMD. While gas is a normal, healthy part of life, it can be worrisome to parents when an infant becomes distressed by the discomfort or pain it causes. Infants may become frustrated by their inability to release gas, which causes pain and bloating. Most cases of infant gas are harmless, caused by everyday activities and is easy to treat.

Crying

One reason infants are more prone to gas than older children or adults is because they cry more often, according to WebMD. Crying causes infants to swallow air, which may become trapped in their stomachs as gas. Infants may become frustrated because they have difficulty releasing gas or because it is painful, leading them to cry even more. Gas can also be worsened by colic, a condition in which an infant cries inconsolably for long periods of time, allowing them to swallow large amounts of air.

Feeding Techniques

Positioning an infant with her stomach above her head during feeding can increase gas bubble formation because the air cannot separate from the milk. The type of bottle you are using may also be increasing the amount of air your infant swallows. Choose bottles with slow-flow nipples and bags that collapse as your child empties them to help your child avoid swallowing excess air. It may also be helpful to give your child a few minutes after a meal before burping her, allowing time for the air to re-separate from the milk.

Digestion

Infants naturally produce gas as they digest the lactose, proteins and other nutrients in formula or breast milk, according to ColicCalm.com. Food eaten by the mother when breast-feeding may also make infants more prone to gas, such as cruciferous vegetables, acidic vegetable and fruits. Infants may also experience gas from foods they are intolerant to, such as dairy, soy and peanut products from the mother's diet. It may help for the mother to reduce her intake of foods that irritate the infant's stomach while she is breast-feeding.

Treatments

There are a variety of treatment options available for infant gas. Natural remedies include gripe water, which is an herbal solution made from dill and other stomach-soothing herbs; allowing a few minutes for air to separate from milk in the stomach before burping your infant; and massaging the infant's back or stomach to help release gas. Simethicone infant drops also can be purchased over the counter to relieve infant gas symptoms.

How to Put a Baby to Sleep Without Nursing

Nursing is a natural way to bond with your baby. It is also extremely beneficial to a child's health and development. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports that breastfed babies have higher IQs, and a study by the State University of New York's School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences shows a sharp decrease in ear infections in breastfed children. However, the decision to wean bedtime nursing is a personal one, and can be a struggle for parents and their babies.
If you decide to stop bedtime nursing, follow these steps.

Instructions

1

Take it slow. Gradual bedtime weaning will help you and your baby adjust more easily. Start by going one or two nights a week without nursing, and work up to none.

2

Stop nursing before the baby falls asleep. Once the baby is sufficiently full and getting drowsy, stop nursing and put the baby to bed.

3

Let Dad be more hands-on at bedtime. Your baby associates nursing with Mom, and may settle down more quickly for Dad.

4

Develop a calming ritual. Give your baby a warm, soothing bath and then snuggle in a rocking chair in a quiet, dimly lit room before bed.

5

Stick to a schedule. If bedtime is the same every night, your baby will begin to get sleepy around that time each night.

How to Deal With Sleep Deprivation After Baby Arrives

Many women can't wait until their baby is born. They think that life will be blissful with their new bundle of joy. What many women don't realize is that if their baby doesn't sleep well, neither will they. Sleep deprivation can hit many new mothers hard and they are left feeling depressed, exhausted and stressed out. Follow these steps to deal with sleep deprivation after the baby arrives.

Instructions

1

Take naps when your baby sleeps during the day. This is the single most important way to catch up on your needed sleep. Many women say that they can't nap during the day because that is when the housework needs to get done. It is best to remember that having a clean house is much less important than your health.

2

Bring your baby outside during the day if you are sleep deprived. The fresh air will help you cope with your uneasy feelings of being exhausted and burnt out.

3

Arrange for someone else to sleep over once a week during the first few months after your baby arrives. This person can care for the child at night while you sleep. If you can get one good night's rest during the week, you will feel a bit more rejuvenated for the rest of the week.

4

Talk to your doctor about sleeping medicine. Many mothers have a difficult time falling asleep after each feeding, so a sleep inducer may help you sleep more soundly during the time you actually get to sleep.

5

Ask your husband to help out more during the nighttime feedings. Many women feel like they should be the only one waking at night to feed the baby. While your husband needs to sleep for work the next day, you need to sleep to care for the baby the next day too.

Side Effects of Skin Bleaching Creams

Skin bleaching is used to treat discoloration of the skin, without changing skin color. The bleaching process refers to removal of freckles, skin aging spots, scarring, or uneven skin tone. Some of the causes of skin discoloration are sun damage, hormonal changes, aging, and genetics. Skin bleaching creams are not as invasive as laser surgery, and should be the first step to treating skin discoloration or undesired spots.
Improving skin texture, and having a smoother skin tone, are both possible through skin bleaching creams. Creams used for skin bleaching can be purchased in stores or online, and the process can be done at home. Creams that alter skin pigmentation can have ingredients that are not compatible with every skin tone, and can have side effects. Hydroquinone and mercury are main ingredients found in skin bleaching creams, and are considered toxic chemicals. These chemical compounds can cause side effects, and should only be used as directed.

Main Hydroquinone Side Effects

Hydroquinone is the only skin bleaching chemical recognized by the FDA. Skin bleaching creams may have different percentages of Hydroquinone in their compound, but any skin bleaching cream with over 2% may cause side effects. The most common side effect of skin bleaching is skin irritation and a burning sensation. The itching or stinging of the skin should be mild and temporary, with some reddening of skin where cream is applied.

Allergic Reaction to Skin Bleach

Allergic reactions can occur from skin bleaching, and would result in severe burning or itching of the skin. Unlike mild skin irritation expected with application, the pain would be severe and intolerable. Crusting on the skin could appear, as well as swelling of areas where skin bleach has been applied. Allergic contact dermatitis is the medical term used to describe allergic reactions to material in contact with skin. (See Resources.) The allergic reaction would warrant stopping the use of skin bleaching creams immediately, and seeking medical attention if reaction is severe. With allergic contact dermatitis, the allergy should settle down a few days after skin is no longer in contact with skin bleach cream.

Mercury Side Effects

Skin bleaching creams containing mercury should not be used for long periods of time. Mercury can cause poisoning, and mercury in creams can start accumulating in the cells of the body. Too much mercury exposure, or poisoning, can lead to liver damage and kidney failure.

Sun Ray Exposure

Skin bleaching creams take time for full effects and to see results. Hydroquinone and mercury cause skin to be hyper-sensitive to sun rays. Stay out of the sun after skin bleach cream is applied, or wear protective clothing and use an SPF 15+ sunscreen when outdoors. Tanning beds or any type of sun lamps should be avoided during this time.

Peroxide Precautions

Benzoyl peroxide, hydrogen peroxide, or other peroxide products should not be used with skin bleaching creams, especially when using hydroquinone. The combination of hydroquinone and peroxide can cause temporary dark staining of the skin.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Skin bleaching is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding. The cream can get into the mother's bloodstream and travel to the fetus.

Proper Use

Proper use of skin bleaching creams is extremely important, and directions should be followed carefully at all times. Skin bleaching creams should be used temporarily, for no longer than four weeks. Large skin areas, such as the entire face, should not be bleached at once due to the possibility of skin discoloration. Bleaching cream should be applied only to spots that need to be removed or lightened.

How to Get a Baby to Sleep Without a Feeding During the Night

When breastfed, most newborns need to eat once or twice during the night. However, after the third month, some babies can sleep through the night without a feeding. It is important to make sure that your baby is actually eating during these night time feedings and not using nursing throughout the night as a comforting technique. Reducing the number of times that you feed your baby during the night will help you to get more sleep and it will begin to prepare your baby to sleep through the night when he is ready. Below are steps to get your baby ready to sleep through the night without being fed.

Instructions

1

Increase the amount that you feed your baby before bedtime. Many babies will fall asleep while they are eating before bedtime. This prevents your baby from eating until she is full and will promote night time waking for food. Try to wake your baby and make sure that she eats until she is full.

2

Wake your baby to feed him before you go to sleep. This may enable him to sleep through the night while you are sleeping.

3

Be sure that your baby is getting enough to eat during the day. If she isn't getting enought to eat during the day, your baby may wake several times during the night for feedings to make up for it.

4

Try to stretch out the time between feedings when your baby reaches the three or four month mark. If your baby is eating every two hours, try to get him to wait two and a half hours between each feeding. When he begins to fuss, don't assume that he is hungry. Comfort him, cuddle him, or play with him.

5

Feed your baby more during the night feeding that you want to keep. If your baby wakes at 1:00 am, 3:00 am, and 5:00 am, and you want to get your baby to only wake at 3:00 to feed, give your baby more at the 3:00 am feeding and less at the other two.

6

Avoid changing your baby's diaper at night unless it really needs to be changed. Changing a baby's diaper is a great way to wake her up, something you want to avoid when trying to get her to sleep through the night.

How to Increase the Supply of Breast Milk

Many women stop breastfeeding their infant because they are not producing enough milk. They fear that their child is not getting enough to eat, so they begin to supplement with formula feedings. As formula feedings increase in frequency, a woman's milk supply will diminish even further. This is why it is important to increase your supply of breast milk as soon as this problem occurs.

Instructions

1

Nurse or pump frequently. The more often that you nurse your baby or use your breast pump, the more your milk supply increases. If you frequently miss feedings, you will notice that you are producing less milk.

2

Allow your child to empty your breast. To do this, permit your baby to nurse on one side until he falls asleep or pulls away.

3

Maintain a proper diet. A mother's diet is a strong determinant in the amount of milk that she produces. The amount of fluids consumed by a woman on a daily basis is especially important. A breastfeeding woman's diet should be high in calcium and protein in order to assist with milk production.

4

Avoid both caffeine and alcohol. These two substances are proven to hinder milk production.

5

Prevent your baby from experiencing nipple confusion. Nipple confusion can be caused by bottle feeding and excessive pacifier use. These items can cause the baby to be unable to suck properly at the breast.

6

Take an herbal supplement, unless your doctor advises against it. Herbal supplements are available over the counter and combine several herbs, including fennel seed and fenugreek seed, to increase the supply of breast milk.

How to Reshape Breasts With Exercise

Age, having children and gravity can all have a downward effect on your breasts. And until plastic surgery is covered by health care or its prices fall dramatically, the most affordable way a woman can reshape her breasts, is to exercise. These exercises won't have as dramatic an effect as breast augmentation, but you will notice a change in your breasts if you do them regularly.

Instructions

1

Lie down on your back. Put both of your arms on the floor so they make a T-shape with your body. Hold 2 or 3 pound weights and bring your arms up off the floor until the weights meet above your head. Do this 10 to 15 times.

2

Do pushups. If you cannot do real pushups, do modified pushups. Instead of holding yourself up on your hands and toes, lower your knees to the floor. Do 10 to 15 reps.

3

Stretch one arm out in front of you. Squeeze your extended arm with your free arm into your chest. Do this 10 times and then switch arms.

4

Contract both arms into the sides of your chest. Hold this position for 3 to 5 seconds. This exercise is great to do at work because no one will notice you're reshaping your breasts in front of their very eyes.

5

Improve your posture. Lift your chest and squeeze your shoulder blades together. Do this a couple of times a day. You'd be surprised what changes you can see by simply improving your posture.