When you buy your infant carrier or car seat, put the manual with your car manual. We keep both of ours in the glove box. That way when you realize your Little One is starting to outgrow it, or you have a question, it's nice and handy and easy to find.

It is very difficult to assess your baby's body temperature. There's a good rule to follow when dressing a newborn or infant that cannot tell you they're too hot or to cold. First, always have them wear one more layer than you. If you're comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt, then have them wear pants, a onesie and a light sweater or blanket. Then if you're still unsure, say at night time when the sun goes down, you can always feel a baby's actual temperature easier by feeling the back of their neck. It is the most accurate spot.

Stain Removal 101

Poop stains: OxyClean Baby - works really really really well ... Shout does not!!

Spit Up stains: OxyClean Baby - works really really really well ... Shout does not!!

Olive Oil stains: OxyClean Baby - works really really really well ... Shout does not!!

Now for the exam:

Which of these products are pointless when removing stains?

A)Shout

B)Shout

C)Shout

D)All of the above

If you answered D you are correct!

OxyClean ... you are my friend!

Thrush ... Yeast infection of the mouth and throat, most common in newborns and elderly

I never knew this. If you were prone to yeast infections pre-pregnancy there is a high chance of you and your baby getting this. In the mouth it looks like patches of white 'goo'/ or scum on the baby's tongue (If severe all over mouth cavity) It can cause pain in the baby's mouth, and feedings generally become frustrating for both you and the baby.

On mommy it effects the nipples, and may not have any symptoms other than painful feedings. The painful feedings can be confusing for mommies because during the first few weeks breastfeeding is actually quite painful for many. I digress, if severe it is best to see you Doctor ASAP ... as the infection could spread into the milk ducts, which is extremely painful.

If you catch it fast enough there is a great home remedy. Take a teaspoon of baking soda (bisodium carbonate) and two tablespoons warm water. Take a cotton swab and rub it gently over your little one's tongue after every feeding!! (okay the feedings at home) Then take the same mixture and rub some of it over your nipple.

Be sure to sterilize all your bottles and pumps (if you're using them) soothers and wash all your bras in extremely hot water, and hang to dry.

Also, for the duration of the Thrush outbreak stop using lanolin creams - as the yeast loves warm moist environments. I know you're thinking that the cream is the only thing keeping you from screaming in pain, but it actually will feel better in a few days, once the infection is cleared up.

Change your breast leak pads often, and never wear the same bra two days in a row!

Do not laugh or roll your eyes until you have actually tried a method and it fails you. In this case, it has really helped me. When I was pregnant I was part of this online community called The Bump. I am still a part of this community, but on the parenting boards now. It's wonderful, and mommys-to-be get together and gab via the forums about all their concerns and 'Awe' moments.

During the third trimester I was pointed towards this video/book called The Happiest Baby On the Block. It is a technique to calm colicky babies, but can be used on non-colic cases too. I watched it and truthfully ... I laughed, rolled my eyes. Partly due to the fact that the Doctor, Dr. Harvey, reminded me of my University Professor, who is also an old clown partner of mine. (If you know me, you know who I am speaking of) He said to think of the first 3 months as "The 4th trimester" ... a baby needs to feel as though they are still in the womb to make the transition to the outside world easier. He said to do this by these 5 S's:

Swaddle, Sooth/Suckle, Side, Shake, Sounds

My thoughts on Swaddling pre-baby were: It's a cruel thing to bind a baby
Swaddling Now: It's great, and actually calms her down so that she can sleep peacefully without startling herself awake.

Sooth/Suckle Pre-Baby: No soothers until she is at least 3 months old - no nipple confusions
Now: Baby likes it, I like it ... all is well in the world and no one is confused between plastic and mommy's flesh

Side: This means baby sleeps on their side in your hands - I was always fine with this .. and it works very well

Shake Pre-Baby: Who would like having their head shaken? Baby's aren't supposed to be shaken!!
Now: It means jiggle gently in your hands ... she loves it ... that's why they made those bouncy chairs - they do the same thing without the forearm workout

Sounds Pre-baby: White noise? what about lullabies? Never shush a child, especially a baby.
Now: I still sing to her, and I know she likes it because I sang to her in the womb too ... but the white noise shushing does work super well when she's uncontrollably wailing! Singing or talking to her does diddly!!

So that's it ... I am ashamed that I rolled my eyes at Dr. Harvey's techniques ... he now has a "Happiest Toddler" and I will be sure to read/watch that one too when the time is right.

This started as a scary, yet frustrating, few days for Luca and I. Mia had been spitting up after every meal, then started vomiting. I checked her temperature, which was between 37.3 and 37.6 - which is not high enough to warrant a trip to the ER or MD. I called Ontario Telehealth, and was recommended to feed her small amounts, frequently. I was finding this method, although effective at keeping down the fluids, made for a very cranky Mia.

I decided this morning, as Mia was very hungry, to pump a bit of breast milk out first. I read that the fore-flow causes more gas, and usually has a faster letdown. Once I filled 2 ounces in an external bottle, I picked up Mia and fed her the hind-milk. She ate for a content 25 minutes and fell fast asleep.

If you're finding your Little One to be fussy between feedings, this may be the reason. It's not something you would do all the time, but on those odd occasions when your Little One has been bit by the stomach bug, this seems to do the trick!

Giving your little one their daily vitamin D can be tricky. To help you remember keep it on or near your change table ... as you see it at least 10 times per day. Give your little one their drops before you feed them. This ensures that your little one is actually getting the vitamin (as they usually spit up at the end of feedings) and because they're hungry they tend to suck up the drops with great pleasure!

* This has worked for me and Mia so far! *
** Vitamin D usually needs to be given if you are exclusively breastfeeding ... check with your MD before though **

Anything that comes in the form of a disposable wipe is a good good friend!

** Make up remover, facial washes, disinfecting wipes, baby wipes **

If they made a wipe for my teeth I'd buy it!