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Common Health Problems Babies Have - Personal Experience

Every baby that I gave birth to had their share of common baby health problems.  If anyone says, "My baby never had any problems." Simply put, they either forgot or are in denial so as to appear like they had the perfect baby.  The word "problems" sounds negative and no parent wants anyone to think that their baby had any health problems.  Whether minor issues or major problems, babies aren't like those ones who appear on television always smiling while lying peacefully on their backs moving their legs around and wiggling their toes.  Crying is inevitable and when babies cry they are telling anyone around, "I have a problem and I need you to solve it."

I had four sons and each one had one problem that stood out and needed to be addressed.  Their baby health problems were temporal and didn't last long.  However, I noticed that there were more health woes the first two had who were born on the east coast as compared to my other two who were born on the west coast.  The climate did play a part in their bodily changes.  For instance, with the first two I was concerned about bringing them out in cold weather and the other two I was cautious about taking them out in the year round sun for long.  Each one had their share of colds, coughs, fever, and vomiting depending on what the cause might have been. 

1) Colds

I found that they had less colds as babies, but all had more colds once they got outdoors more often and were around other children particularly in daycare and school.  Us parents also got more colds too when they were old enough to attend school.  We treated their colds with baby over-the-counter medicines.  However, when symptoms lingered such as a bad cough or a fever that didn't seem to go away, off to the doctor's we went to get a prescription.  Humidifiers were common in our household.  They helped with stuffy noses and the dry air in the winter time produced from the furnace.

2) Coughs

These showed up due to seasonal changes and sometimes lingered during and after a cold.  I also noticed that if they were around smokers, they would cough more.  This is why their father and I didn't let them visit relatives who smoked frequently.  Even though they would go in another room or outside to smoke, the children were still negatively impacted by the smoke traveling throughout the vents and window screens of their homes.  We rubbed babies' chests with vapor rub made for babies.  We used humidifiers and air purifiers just in case the coughs were also occurring due to any environmental allergies.

3) Fever

Sometimes vaccinations caused a mild fever, other times they might have been dressed too warmly or out in the hot sun too long.  A cold, pneumonia, sore throat or ear infection would also bring on a fever.  Out of all of my sons, one had a serious health problem related to fevers when he was a toddler.  His fevers would cause seizures.  I talked about fibral seizures on this blog.  This would happen unexpectedly at least a few times a year until he was five.  He had been seen by doctors and his father and I were instructed on what to do when this would happen.  We would remove his clothes down to his undergarments, place a cold ice pack on his forehead, and give him infant Tylenol to bring down his fever.  The other boys rarely had fevers as babies, but when they did, children's infant and children's Tylenol were always in the medicine cabinet along with a thermometer that would be placed under their arms to get their temperatures.  Sometimes there were warning signs with all the boys that something was different about them prior to us discovering they had fevers such as: not being as active, sleeping more, frequent whining, bodies were warmer than usual, and their foreheads would perspire.  

4) Vomiting

When the babies vomited it usually involved something they ate.  Starting a new food, new formula or when they started table food was typically the culprit.  I also was very guarded about people holding my baby, because I saw how other parents handled their babies such as bouncing them or tossing them up into the air.  I also saw when those babies would end up throwing up later too. When one of my sons were a toddler, he suffered due to pizza he ate earlier while healing from a cold.  His stomach wasn't quite ready for the red sauce.  Another boy experienced the same thing as a toddler.  We learned as they are healing from colds better to serve light meals rather than the typical favorite foods.  After the babies vomited we kept them upright, because just in case they vomited again we didn't want them to choke on it while lying down.  We gave them water or Pedialyte once they settled down.  

There were more things we did when they experienced the above.  The medical websites were our go to and we spent time putting in key phrases in the search engine like, "what to do when a baby..."  We now have a tween, a teen, a high school graduate, and a twenty-something young man now.  All of the boys are doing well.  I strongly believe how you care for the babies early on in life has a lot to do with how healthy they will be as they get older.  Healthy meals, exercise, vitamins, and being cautious who the babies are around will make a difference and will lessen some of these common baby problems.

The Parenting Struggle is Real But You're Not Alone

Raising children isn't easy and anyone who says that it is, they aren't doing as much as they should for their children.  When we think of all that goes into parenting boys and girls, it is overwhelming.  From their basic needs being met to their wants, we are cautioning, encouraging, saving, hoping, praying and more.  Good parents want what is best for children which includes saying "No" sometimes.

When I put together the following audios and videos, I thought about a parent struggling like I once was trying to figure out what was most important in a child's life besides toys.  I also had to discover how to parent them effectively based on their personalities, interests, and bodily strength.  As they grew up, I didn't want them to remain in a time where they were stagnant.  I knew that they were curious about a lot of things and wanted to do more than just sit in a room and play.  So I sat down and had meetings with them talking about all sorts of things and asking them questions about their likes, dislikes, fears, worries, and other thoughts.

1.  How are you today?  Are you happy, sad, or mad?

2.  What did your teacher talk to you about ____________________________(fill in the blank with child's interest, ongoing problem, etc.)

3.  What was the best part of your day? (Provide examples).

4.  What would you like to eat? (List some options).

5.  What don't you like to eat? (Mention things you already know, but there maybe some new ones).

6.  What fun thing did you do at ______________________________(fill in the blank with the relative's title, name of friend...)?

7.  Did you go to _________________________ (fill in the blank with the place visited)?

8.  That sounds like fun.  What did you see?  What did you hear?  What did you smell?

9.  Would you like to come with me and help out with_____________________?  If you help, _____________ (fill in the blank with a good thing they will receive, get to do...)

10.  Why did you ___________________________ (fill in the blank with the negative thing they did, express how you feel about it).  You will not be able to__________________(fill in the blank with te consequence of their action).

NOTE:  When they do something great they are praised with a smile and warm hug.  "Great job! I knew you could do it.  Wonderful!  That is so nice, let me give you______________.  Keep up the good work."

What I did above for years helped them emotionally.  They were eager to help out and wanted to learn more.  Now that they are a tween and teen, the struggle is real, but I keep pressing forward.  I don't care about their negative attitude about doing chores or why they feel they shouldn't have to do A, B,C.  The discussion is limited, things need to get done.  When they're not I remove cords from electronics and other privileges are revoked until I get results.  One son had to look at an almost empty room for almost 48 hours after disputing about what he didn't want to do.  He did what he was asked then told what to do, but there wasn't much left of his room afterward. 
 
The little boys seen in some of my videos have grown up in front of cameras and are now embracing all that comes with being a teen and tween.  They have been great inspirations and I have learned much about being a parent with every challenge they have presented before me.  I sincerely hope that the advice and challenges I share on the recordings will help you in your quest to be the best parent you can be!  There are also some visuals that might inspire as well, enjoy! God bless :)













     

Why Parents Should Let Their Kids Fail

If your tired of preaching, screaming, bargaining with your children on getting their online schoolwork done, then let them fail. They won't realize the importance of their education when a parent is always intervening--trying to the save the day.

 

The Newborn Brought Out the Best and the Worst in My Family

Cute and cuddly,  I was holding a precious life in my hands.  Little did I know just how much would change in a matter of weeks in my own family.  Relatives were not always behaving themselves.  Negative comments were thrown around about who would see the child, how long, and whether others would do anything for the new baby.

The journey of not only parenting a newborn was well underway, but so too was the mean-spirited behavior of some in-laws turned outlaws had showed and showed out!  There was possessive grandmother, jealous grandmother, controlling grandfather, and lazy grandfather.  Once in awhile someone had time and money for their grandchild while others didn't and then another would step it up and the cycle would continue.  It was like they were taking turns on being nice one minute and uncooperative the next.

With the tension in the air and the know-it-all attitudes all around, my relationship with the father suffered.  I grew fed up early on with relatives.  I was already tired often, felt the emotional and financial strain, and the lack of support from the father was pissing me off on a regular basis.  He behaved like a single man rather than a family man.  It wasn't until almost a decade later that he finally got it and by that time we had divorced.

I also experienced post-partum that didn't last just a week, I was depressed, sad, and sometimes emotionally withdrawn from everyone on and off for about a year.  The phone was irritating, the baby's crying drove me up the wall, the household tasks were mounting, and my bank account was draining.  No one or book could prepare me for the years of challenges ahead raising a child.

That baby turned out to be a light that exposed the dysfunction back then among so many.  A dysfunction that I didn't want to see.  I got to see sides of relatives that I suspected existed, but having that baby amplified them.  I didn't want him to experience what I had experienced growing up and worked hard to keep him away from any foolishness.

As he grew older, he had his own personal challenges and not always did we adults understand or was all that supportive.  For me, I had to do much praying and trust God that He knew what he was doing.

When I relocated, against my own parents wishes, it was tough.  We all had some growing up to do.  I knew I had to be independent and learn some things about life on my own just as they did.  I found that I could parent without needing a babysitter, relying on family materially and emotionally, and loving who I was as a mother without watchful eyes.

These days that child is now 20 years old--a grown man!  He is living in a nice location, driving a 2017 Jeep, and carrying two jobs that he enjoys.  He prays nightly and whenever I talk to him he motivates me to live my best life!  He tells me, "Don't worry about me, I will be fine!"

When I looked back on how the baby rocked my world and those around me at the time, I also understand why.  He was a gift.  A child that would grow up to be one of the good ones.  It isn't easy raising any child, but a child of God is something special.

So I encourage every parent who is expecting a child or has a newborn, think ahead--years ahead!  What do you want for your child and for you?  What type of influences do you want your child to be exposed to?  Are you respected, loved and appreciated in your own family?  Will you provide those things for your own child?

Imagine your child grown able to encourage and help you one day, it was motivating for me during some tough times.  I had to walk out of the room, breathe and tell myself, "It won't always be like this."  I picked up the phone and called those same people who had their share of issues with me getting pregnant in the first place.  I gave them an opportunity to be a part of our lives and for a time they were.  But I had, had enough and realized that I wanted more for my family that didn't involve pettiness and controlling behaviors.

Your baby is a gift, enjoy him or her while you still can.

Nicholl McGuire 


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