It wasn't difficult to make the transition from smooth, pureed foods to chunkier purees because I tried from the very beginning when making Lilah's baby food, to make it thicker and chunkier than what you would find in the store. We did have our fair share of gagging and even a couple of puking episodes, but for the most part it was a pretty smooth transition.
Making the transition from chunky purees to finger foods and non-pureed foods has been a little more challenging for us because Lilah only has 2 bottom teeth. This made biting and chewing a little more difficult. I stuck with foods that were easy to mash for quite some time which limited the kinds of foods Lilah could eat on her own. However, as soon as I started to introduce finger foods, I made it a goal to give her something that she could feed herself at every meal. At first, very little of it ended up in her mouth, but now she has it mastered! Although it started as a way of getting her used to feeding herself and eating finger foods, it has become a great tool to keep her calm when I am preparing her meals (especially when she is particularly hungry) and it keeps her distracted while I am feeding her which can make the feeding process a lot easier.
Lilah's top 2 teeth are finally coming in and even though they have just come through the gum, I have noticed a big change in her ability to bite and chew and have been able to introduce more variety into her finger food diet. We are now starting to work on holding a spoon and using it to scoop food out of a bowl. I realize this is a very difficult skill to master and that it won't happen for some time, but the more practice she gets the better. We try to give her a spoon to hold onto/play with at each meal and occasionally give her a bowl as well (although it is usually empty aside from a few Cheerios). I have been letting her scoop out the last few bites of the food that I feed to her so she gets some practice at actually feeding herself (even though most of it ends up smeared on her face!)
Below I have listed some Lilah Tested and Approved Finger Food Ideas (most of which are fast and easy)...
-toast with a little butter
-french toast
-scrambled eggs/pieces of omelet filled with cheese
-grilled cheese sandwich fingers
-grapes
-banana
-rice crackers
-teething biscuits
-Gerber puffs
-shredded cheese/thinly sliced cheese
-cheerios
-pancakes
-small pasta shells
-kiwi fruit
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Why are you here?
Be forewarned, this is a rant...
Lilah and I are taking a music class together which we both LOVE! It is so much fun. I have watched Lilah learn how to play a variety of instruments, recognize songs, dance and interact with other children. It has been a wonderful experience.
Except...
For the group of mothers that rarely participate, use class as a social gathering rather than an experience for their child, ridicule parents that do participate and generally look like they would rather be anywhere else in the world each and every class. I really don't get it. Why are you here?
Sadly, it is the one aspect of the class that I don't enjoy. Some might say "just ignore them", but we sit together in one big group and sing songs, dance and play instruments together so it is hard to just ignore them. As parents, our role is to participate and act as models for our children and the other children in the class. My daughter doesn't only watch me, she watches what the other children and adults in the group are doing and learns from all of them. I am singing and dancing and generally acting silly for my daughter, but for their children too. Would it be too much to ask for them to do the same?
Of course, we have not allowed this to ruin our experience. We have met a lot of wonderful people in the class and have even become good friends with some. We have signed up to take the class again and may run into the same situation which may prompt me to rant on my blog again, but that is what a blog is for right?
Lilah and I are taking a music class together which we both LOVE! It is so much fun. I have watched Lilah learn how to play a variety of instruments, recognize songs, dance and interact with other children. It has been a wonderful experience.
Except...
For the group of mothers that rarely participate, use class as a social gathering rather than an experience for their child, ridicule parents that do participate and generally look like they would rather be anywhere else in the world each and every class. I really don't get it. Why are you here?
Sadly, it is the one aspect of the class that I don't enjoy. Some might say "just ignore them", but we sit together in one big group and sing songs, dance and play instruments together so it is hard to just ignore them. As parents, our role is to participate and act as models for our children and the other children in the class. My daughter doesn't only watch me, she watches what the other children and adults in the group are doing and learns from all of them. I am singing and dancing and generally acting silly for my daughter, but for their children too. Would it be too much to ask for them to do the same?
Of course, we have not allowed this to ruin our experience. We have met a lot of wonderful people in the class and have even become good friends with some. We have signed up to take the class again and may run into the same situation which may prompt me to rant on my blog again, but that is what a blog is for right?
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Mommy Wars
As a parent, you want to believe that you are making the best choices for your child. Who wouldn't? Many of you have probably interacted with parents that vehemently stand by these decisions. I definitely have my own opinions on particular topics and I would stand by them if confronted about them. That being said, I know I don't have all or even most of the answers and I am willing to listen to the conversations that are going on in the world around me in an effort to make sure I am making the most informed decisions that I can for my daughter. Sadly, there are some parents that are so sure of their decisions that they ignore factual evidence to the contrary. The belief that vaccinations cause autism is one case that I have recently encountered. I am not going to go into detail on this particular issue as I posted some time ago about it. The only point I would like to emphasize is that there is no scientific evidence linking autism to vaccinations and this has been shown over and over again in studies looking at the causes of autism.
Of course, as a parent you want to make the best choices for your child and it is difficult given the amount of information, and more importantly, misinformation out there to wade through. Everyone has the right to make their own decisions and I totally support that, but if I can ask one thing it is that every parent does their own research before making any kind of major decision for their child. Don't listen to the rumors, here say, speculation and conjecture that is out there. Research reputable sources (ie. not the first hit you get from Google). Search Google Scholar instead of Google to find scholarly information. Read the information posted on reputable websites such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Center for Disease Control or websites for your local health unit. I know that it is hard to trust science sometimes given that we later find out that some scientists are willing to fabricate data and pop science sometimes leaves out important details when presenting data to the general public. But if we can't put some trust in science to tell us what is right and wrong, I think we are in big trouble.
I titled this blog post mommy wars because I sometimes feel like rather than working together to make the right decisions for our children, we mothers are fighting against each other in an effort to defend our own positions (whether they be right or wrong). Everyone has something to contribute to the conversation and we can help each other immensely, but we have to be willing to listen to one another and keep an open mind if any of us are going to be good parents.
Of course, as a parent you want to make the best choices for your child and it is difficult given the amount of information, and more importantly, misinformation out there to wade through. Everyone has the right to make their own decisions and I totally support that, but if I can ask one thing it is that every parent does their own research before making any kind of major decision for their child. Don't listen to the rumors, here say, speculation and conjecture that is out there. Research reputable sources (ie. not the first hit you get from Google). Search Google Scholar instead of Google to find scholarly information. Read the information posted on reputable websites such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Center for Disease Control or websites for your local health unit. I know that it is hard to trust science sometimes given that we later find out that some scientists are willing to fabricate data and pop science sometimes leaves out important details when presenting data to the general public. But if we can't put some trust in science to tell us what is right and wrong, I think we are in big trouble.
I titled this blog post mommy wars because I sometimes feel like rather than working together to make the right decisions for our children, we mothers are fighting against each other in an effort to defend our own positions (whether they be right or wrong). Everyone has something to contribute to the conversation and we can help each other immensely, but we have to be willing to listen to one another and keep an open mind if any of us are going to be good parents.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Early Puberty: What you can do to protect your daughter(s)
If you have a daughter, the trend of girls developing breasts and pubic hair earlier is something you should be concerned about. This issue of early puberty has been in the news more frequently and the National Institute of Health is now funding several major longitudinal research projects to determine why it is happening.
On average, Caucasian girls are developing breasts and pubic hair one year earlier than is considered normal and African American girls are developing an average of two years earlier. This may not seem like a big deal, but this earlier development has major social, psychological and biological consequences (ie. higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer and low self-esteem to name just a few).
There is no definitive answer as to what is causing girls to develop earlier, but several factors are being investigated. Until an answer is found, researchers are urging parents with daughters to do the following:
1) Feed your children organic/hormone free meat and dairy products. Animals are fed hormones to make then grow faster and bigger and hit puberty themselves earlier. It makes sense that by eating these animals, we could potentially be doing the same to our children.
2) Limit the amount of sugar your children eat. It is suspected that obesity may play a role in early puberty. Eat from the farm not the factory...fresh fruits and vegetables and organic/hormone free meats and dairy products is the way to go.
3) Limit the use of personal care products, particularly sunscreen. These products contain all kinds of chemicals any one of which could be contributing to the problem.
4) Use stainless steel water bottles instead of plastic and NEVER microwave food in plastic containers. When plastic is heated or cooled beyond certain temperature, chemicals leech out and it is not known what effects these chemicals are having on our bodies.
This issue is very alarming to me as it should be to anyone raising a girl. Despite the fact that it is becoming more common, it is NOT NORMAL for children to develop breasts and pubic hair at the young ages of 7 or 8. If taking these small steps could potentially help my daughter in the long run, I am totally willing to take them even if it does turn out that one or all of them are not the cause. It is just not a risk I am willing to take. Sadly, an answer to this problem may not be found in our lifetime, but my daughter is not going to be part of the experiment.
On average, Caucasian girls are developing breasts and pubic hair one year earlier than is considered normal and African American girls are developing an average of two years earlier. This may not seem like a big deal, but this earlier development has major social, psychological and biological consequences (ie. higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer and low self-esteem to name just a few).
There is no definitive answer as to what is causing girls to develop earlier, but several factors are being investigated. Until an answer is found, researchers are urging parents with daughters to do the following:
1) Feed your children organic/hormone free meat and dairy products. Animals are fed hormones to make then grow faster and bigger and hit puberty themselves earlier. It makes sense that by eating these animals, we could potentially be doing the same to our children.
2) Limit the amount of sugar your children eat. It is suspected that obesity may play a role in early puberty. Eat from the farm not the factory...fresh fruits and vegetables and organic/hormone free meats and dairy products is the way to go.
3) Limit the use of personal care products, particularly sunscreen. These products contain all kinds of chemicals any one of which could be contributing to the problem.
4) Use stainless steel water bottles instead of plastic and NEVER microwave food in plastic containers. When plastic is heated or cooled beyond certain temperature, chemicals leech out and it is not known what effects these chemicals are having on our bodies.
This issue is very alarming to me as it should be to anyone raising a girl. Despite the fact that it is becoming more common, it is NOT NORMAL for children to develop breasts and pubic hair at the young ages of 7 or 8. If taking these small steps could potentially help my daughter in the long run, I am totally willing to take them even if it does turn out that one or all of them are not the cause. It is just not a risk I am willing to take. Sadly, an answer to this problem may not be found in our lifetime, but my daughter is not going to be part of the experiment.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Band-Aids and 9-Month Olds Don't Mix
My daughter is a left-thumb sucker. She absolutely refuses to suck her right one. This recently became a major problem when she sliced open the top of her left thumb with her two bottom teeth. At first, it was just a tiny cut and we hoped it would heal on its own, but because she is an avid left-thumb sucker, it continued to get bigger and deeper. After the ordeal we have been through over the last few days, I regret not taking action earlier.
At first we tried to bandage it up with a little Vaseline while she was awake. I didn't want her to have a band-aid on her thumb while she slept in case she managed to suck it off and choke on it. Anyway, because she was still able to suck it when she slept, it was just not healing. We tried several different types of band-aids and tape in an attempt to get something that would stick and that we would feel comfortable leaving on while she slept, but she is would just keep pulling off whatever we put on.
Finally, drastic measures were necessary and I had a brainwave! I decided to sew a sock to the sleeve of a onesie. This way, I could put a band aid on her finger and she wouldn't be able to get it off while she slept. The finger would be off-limits and would start to heal. I knew that this scenario was going to cause major problems in the falling-to-sleep department, but we had to do what we had to do.
Lilah SCREAMED the first night we put the 'torture oneie' on her. She was just so upset that she could not suck her thumb to put herself to sleep. It took 40 minutes to get her to sleep that first night (she normally falls asleep on her own). The next day, she refused to take a morning nap altogether and getting her to sleep in the afternoon was really tough. I decided at this point, to go out and buy a soother. She has never had a soother before (other than on the plane) and I certainly didn't want her to get in the habit of needing one, but she needed to sleep. Post-soother, it has been much easier to get her to sleep at night, but naps are still a major challenge (today she refused to take a morning nap again).
This finger is taking longer to heal that I hoped, but we are optimistic she will be able to have her thumb back tomorrow. I fear that we have totally screwed up her ability to fall asleep on her own though and are going to have a few rough days and nights getting that back.
The moral of the story...try to teach your baby not to rely on only one method of self-soothing, just in case and get on even the smallest of injury as soon as possible rather than waiting until drastic measures are necessary because band-aids and 9-moths olds don't mix.
At first we tried to bandage it up with a little Vaseline while she was awake. I didn't want her to have a band-aid on her thumb while she slept in case she managed to suck it off and choke on it. Anyway, because she was still able to suck it when she slept, it was just not healing. We tried several different types of band-aids and tape in an attempt to get something that would stick and that we would feel comfortable leaving on while she slept, but she is would just keep pulling off whatever we put on.
Finally, drastic measures were necessary and I had a brainwave! I decided to sew a sock to the sleeve of a onesie. This way, I could put a band aid on her finger and she wouldn't be able to get it off while she slept. The finger would be off-limits and would start to heal. I knew that this scenario was going to cause major problems in the falling-to-sleep department, but we had to do what we had to do.
Lilah SCREAMED the first night we put the 'torture oneie' on her. She was just so upset that she could not suck her thumb to put herself to sleep. It took 40 minutes to get her to sleep that first night (she normally falls asleep on her own). The next day, she refused to take a morning nap altogether and getting her to sleep in the afternoon was really tough. I decided at this point, to go out and buy a soother. She has never had a soother before (other than on the plane) and I certainly didn't want her to get in the habit of needing one, but she needed to sleep. Post-soother, it has been much easier to get her to sleep at night, but naps are still a major challenge (today she refused to take a morning nap again).
This finger is taking longer to heal that I hoped, but we are optimistic she will be able to have her thumb back tomorrow. I fear that we have totally screwed up her ability to fall asleep on her own though and are going to have a few rough days and nights getting that back.
The moral of the story...try to teach your baby not to rely on only one method of self-soothing, just in case and get on even the smallest of injury as soon as possible rather than waiting until drastic measures are necessary because band-aids and 9-moths olds don't mix.
Monday, September 27, 2010
It's Challenging Being a Stay-at-Home Mom
Being a stay-at-home mom is hard work. It can be physically, mentally and emotionally draining. That is not to say there aren't a million amazing things about being a stay-at-home mom, but sometimes one just needs to talk about the tough parts of the job.
My daughter is 9-months old now and she never stops! Hence, the physically exhausting part of the job (never mind the never ending list of household chores that need to be done on a regular basis). Lilah is always on the go and getting into everything. It has definitely become more challenging to keep her occupied during the day which contributes to the mental exhaustion.
The reason I decided to write this blog post, however, is that I have been feeling a little (for lack of a better word), 'down' lately. I wanted to spend some time writing about the emotionally draining part of being a stay-at-home mom. Perhaps it will be therapeutic for me and maybe it will let other moms out there know that they are not alone if they are not feeling super happy all day every day.
I think there are several things contributing to the 'down' feeling I am currently experiencing. For starters, the weather is shitty and given that fall has just begun, it is only going to get worse. Add to that the fact that my hormones are out of whack again this week (if you know what I am saying). That being said, those factors don't completely explain my current emotional state.
I am feeling a little isolated. Sadly, we do not live in a family-friendly neighbourhood at the present time so there are no other young children around. I venture into a nearby family-friendly neighbourhood every single day in hopes of running into other moms and their kids, but it never happens. I take my daughter to the library every week with the same hope...nothing. We recently started taking a music class which is proving to be a positive experience, but getting out once a week to interact with other parents and children for an hour doesn't feel like much. At the current moment, I am trying to remain optimistic that we may walk away from the music class with a few new friends that we can get together with for play-dates.
Being a stay-at-home mom can also be a lonely job. Sure, you have someone else with you 24/7, but it is not the same as having another adult around that you can converse with. Living 9 1/2 hours away from both of our families and our friends that have children does not help with this feeling either.
I suppose I am a little bored as well. I know boredom is self-inflicted, but that doesn't mean I can't feel that way. It is hard not having time to do things for yourself that you enjoy. Yes, I do enjoy playing and interacting with my daughter more than anything else in the world, but I also like a little mental stimulation once in awhile and miss being able to sit down for a couple of hours and paint, read or scrapbook.
Let me just say, I don't feel like this everyday or even very often, but I know I am not alone in experiencing these feelings. I imagine there are plenty of other stay-at-home moms out there feeling much the same way. When I am overcome with these feelings, I suppose the best I can do is try to follow my mother's advice and "enjoy every minute of every day" and hope that this too shall pass...right? (I am sure a little sunshine would help too).
My daughter is 9-months old now and she never stops! Hence, the physically exhausting part of the job (never mind the never ending list of household chores that need to be done on a regular basis). Lilah is always on the go and getting into everything. It has definitely become more challenging to keep her occupied during the day which contributes to the mental exhaustion.
The reason I decided to write this blog post, however, is that I have been feeling a little (for lack of a better word), 'down' lately. I wanted to spend some time writing about the emotionally draining part of being a stay-at-home mom. Perhaps it will be therapeutic for me and maybe it will let other moms out there know that they are not alone if they are not feeling super happy all day every day.
I think there are several things contributing to the 'down' feeling I am currently experiencing. For starters, the weather is shitty and given that fall has just begun, it is only going to get worse. Add to that the fact that my hormones are out of whack again this week (if you know what I am saying). That being said, those factors don't completely explain my current emotional state.
I am feeling a little isolated. Sadly, we do not live in a family-friendly neighbourhood at the present time so there are no other young children around. I venture into a nearby family-friendly neighbourhood every single day in hopes of running into other moms and their kids, but it never happens. I take my daughter to the library every week with the same hope...nothing. We recently started taking a music class which is proving to be a positive experience, but getting out once a week to interact with other parents and children for an hour doesn't feel like much. At the current moment, I am trying to remain optimistic that we may walk away from the music class with a few new friends that we can get together with for play-dates.
Being a stay-at-home mom can also be a lonely job. Sure, you have someone else with you 24/7, but it is not the same as having another adult around that you can converse with. Living 9 1/2 hours away from both of our families and our friends that have children does not help with this feeling either.
I suppose I am a little bored as well. I know boredom is self-inflicted, but that doesn't mean I can't feel that way. It is hard not having time to do things for yourself that you enjoy. Yes, I do enjoy playing and interacting with my daughter more than anything else in the world, but I also like a little mental stimulation once in awhile and miss being able to sit down for a couple of hours and paint, read or scrapbook.
Let me just say, I don't feel like this everyday or even very often, but I know I am not alone in experiencing these feelings. I imagine there are plenty of other stay-at-home moms out there feeling much the same way. When I am overcome with these feelings, I suppose the best I can do is try to follow my mother's advice and "enjoy every minute of every day" and hope that this too shall pass...right? (I am sure a little sunshine would help too).
Friday, September 17, 2010
First Illness
How lucky are we! The first time I take my daughter into a situation where there are other kids around and they are touching the same things, she gets sick! Don't get me wrong, I think that is is a good thing that she has finally contracted something because her immune system needs to start building up a resistance to the more than 100 cold and flu strains that are out there. That being said, it still sucks and has resulted in a few very rough days and nights.
We attended the class on Monday and by Wednesday afternoon, she started to show symptoms. First, she threw up her lunch which I didn't think much of because it has happened before after she gags on a bit of food that is a little bigger than she is used to (I am trying to slowly feed her more textured foods). By that evening, she was very noticeably congested and her nose was running like a faucet. Poor girl! If you have ever tried to wipe an infants nose, you will understand how challenging and unpleasant it is for both you and baby. She was also getting increasingly fussy and tired. At that point, my husband and I knew it was going to be a rough night.
I don't actually think any of us got any sleep that first night. Lilah was miserable and understandably so. Her nose was running all over the place and she couldn't breathe very well. She wasn't interested in nursing at all at bedtime (I usually feed her lying down at bedtime). The only way I could get her to nurse was to stand and rock her in my arms while letting her nurse. A challenge, yes, but definitely do-able. She slept for a short time and then was awake again and very upset. She threw up once again, but this time judging by the look of the vomit, it was because of all of the mucus she had been swallowing. Our first experience cleaning up vomit in the middle of the night! Yahoo, what fun!
After that episode, we decided to prop her mattress at one end to help her breathe. I simply placed two thick books under the head of her mattress and we made sure she was good and asleep when we lied her down so that she stayed in the propped position rather than upside down with the blood rushing to her head (no worries, the mattress was not that angled)! This seemed to help quite a bit because she slept a little better after that (but still woke very frequently). Of course, her typical nursing schedule was thrown off, but I did manage to get her to nurse around midnight. I really wanted to get some fluid into her given that she had recently vomited.
The next day was a rough, sad day. Lilah would play happily for a short time and then realize she was sick and start crying. We had to torture her by wiping her nose all day, but I tried to ease the uncomfortableness of it all by switching between tissue and a warm cloth. I also mostly dabbed because I didn't want her to end up with a raw, sore nose on top of everything else. She wasn't interested in nursing in the morning so we ended up giving her a bottle. Due to her congestion, it was just easier for her to drink from a bottle. Later that day, I was able to get her to nurse. We managed to get some solid food into her, but she puked up her dinner which probably contributed to the need to nurse more than usual in the night. It was another rough night. Lilah woke very frequently once again (even more than the night before).
Today has been a much better day. Her symptoms seemed to have almost disappeared. She is no longer congested and her nose isn't running at all. At this point, she has yet to develop a cough which I am thankful for (and I hope it stays that way).
We went to music class again this morning so just my luck, she will be sick again in a couple of days! They say that once children start interacting with one another, they are always sick! It does make sense when you think about the fact that there are more than 100 different strains of the cold and flu out there and they have yet to be exposed to any of them.
We can't isolate them forever and they need to get sick once in awhile to build up their immunity. I am not one of those crazy parents who won't allow my child to put anything in her mouth that hasn't been sanitized (although I will wipe toys down after Lilah has played with them, especially if she is sick). I really don't think we do our children any justice by being too freaky when it comes to germs. In fact, there are studies now showing that germs help children. It has been suggested that the rise in things like allergies are a result of growing up in too clean of an environment. Of course, we need to use common sense when it comes to what we will let our children touch and put into their mouths, but there is no need to be a freak about germs. Regular hand washing and basic hygiene can go a long way!
Just to note, I didn't give Lilah any kind of medication. I did buy some saline spray for her nose, but didn't end up using it. I did apply a small amount of Vaseline under her nose at one point because it was looking a little raw and sore. It is important to check with your doctor before giving any kind of medication at this age as cough medicines and decongestants are not generally recommended.
We attended the class on Monday and by Wednesday afternoon, she started to show symptoms. First, she threw up her lunch which I didn't think much of because it has happened before after she gags on a bit of food that is a little bigger than she is used to (I am trying to slowly feed her more textured foods). By that evening, she was very noticeably congested and her nose was running like a faucet. Poor girl! If you have ever tried to wipe an infants nose, you will understand how challenging and unpleasant it is for both you and baby. She was also getting increasingly fussy and tired. At that point, my husband and I knew it was going to be a rough night.
I don't actually think any of us got any sleep that first night. Lilah was miserable and understandably so. Her nose was running all over the place and she couldn't breathe very well. She wasn't interested in nursing at all at bedtime (I usually feed her lying down at bedtime). The only way I could get her to nurse was to stand and rock her in my arms while letting her nurse. A challenge, yes, but definitely do-able. She slept for a short time and then was awake again and very upset. She threw up once again, but this time judging by the look of the vomit, it was because of all of the mucus she had been swallowing. Our first experience cleaning up vomit in the middle of the night! Yahoo, what fun!
After that episode, we decided to prop her mattress at one end to help her breathe. I simply placed two thick books under the head of her mattress and we made sure she was good and asleep when we lied her down so that she stayed in the propped position rather than upside down with the blood rushing to her head (no worries, the mattress was not that angled)! This seemed to help quite a bit because she slept a little better after that (but still woke very frequently). Of course, her typical nursing schedule was thrown off, but I did manage to get her to nurse around midnight. I really wanted to get some fluid into her given that she had recently vomited.
The next day was a rough, sad day. Lilah would play happily for a short time and then realize she was sick and start crying. We had to torture her by wiping her nose all day, but I tried to ease the uncomfortableness of it all by switching between tissue and a warm cloth. I also mostly dabbed because I didn't want her to end up with a raw, sore nose on top of everything else. She wasn't interested in nursing in the morning so we ended up giving her a bottle. Due to her congestion, it was just easier for her to drink from a bottle. Later that day, I was able to get her to nurse. We managed to get some solid food into her, but she puked up her dinner which probably contributed to the need to nurse more than usual in the night. It was another rough night. Lilah woke very frequently once again (even more than the night before).
Today has been a much better day. Her symptoms seemed to have almost disappeared. She is no longer congested and her nose isn't running at all. At this point, she has yet to develop a cough which I am thankful for (and I hope it stays that way).
We went to music class again this morning so just my luck, she will be sick again in a couple of days! They say that once children start interacting with one another, they are always sick! It does make sense when you think about the fact that there are more than 100 different strains of the cold and flu out there and they have yet to be exposed to any of them.
We can't isolate them forever and they need to get sick once in awhile to build up their immunity. I am not one of those crazy parents who won't allow my child to put anything in her mouth that hasn't been sanitized (although I will wipe toys down after Lilah has played with them, especially if she is sick). I really don't think we do our children any justice by being too freaky when it comes to germs. In fact, there are studies now showing that germs help children. It has been suggested that the rise in things like allergies are a result of growing up in too clean of an environment. Of course, we need to use common sense when it comes to what we will let our children touch and put into their mouths, but there is no need to be a freak about germs. Regular hand washing and basic hygiene can go a long way!
Just to note, I didn't give Lilah any kind of medication. I did buy some saline spray for her nose, but didn't end up using it. I did apply a small amount of Vaseline under her nose at one point because it was looking a little raw and sore. It is important to check with your doctor before giving any kind of medication at this age as cough medicines and decongestants are not generally recommended.
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