September is the month of babies, so we want to celebrate it with eight adorable little ones, children of celebrities, who have style and good taste in their blood. Get ready to die of love with these photos that their parents have shared with us through social networks.
Adorable Babies of Famous Dads
1. Manuel and Emiliano
Sons of Celebrity Anahí and Manuel Velasco
The singer and actress is more than happy with her two beautiful and adorable children: Manuel and Emiliano. From the first moment they conquered us with their smiling and charming expressions, in addition to those beautiful intense blue eyes, which they inherited from mom and dad. They are cute! “Here are my reason, my engine and my greatest loves in a photo”, Anahí published in the description of an image next to her babies and her husband.
Manuel and Emiliano Velasco Puente. Photo: Instagram @Anahí
By the way, the clothes that these beautiful little babies are wearing are from Baby Creysi and are available in our online store.
2. Mary and twins Nicholas and Lucy
Children of Anna Kurnikova and Celebrity Enrique Iglesias
The former Russian tennis player and the Spanish singer have three cute children, the youngest is Mary, who was born on January 30th, 2020. The mischievous twins are named Lucy and Nicholas. The couple recently shared the first image of their little ones together, enjoying a ride in a red minicar.
Little Mary and her brothers, the twins, Lucy and Nicholas. Photo: Instagram @AnnaKurnikova
3. Mathilda
Daughter of Celebrity Hanna (Ha*Ash) and Juan Carlos Herrera
After six years of marriage, Hanna welcomed her first daughter on June 3rd, 2020. This cute little doll is called Mathilda and since she was born, her mom has made us part, through her social media, of her most tender moments. “I want to share with you the most important and greatest triumph of my life… being a mom!” She wrote at the time of announcing her pregnancy. Beautiful!
Mathilda is Hanna’s joy. Photo: Instagram @haashoficial
Babies of Celebrity Karla Souza and Marshall Trenkmann
The Mexican actress and the American banker have two little ones, a son and a daughter. The oldest is Gianna, three years old, and the youngest is Luka, who turned one-year-old on June 12th.
“There is so much injustice in the world and, as a mother, it makes me think about which world I want to see my children grow up in. I look at Luka and Gianna and they bring me hope, but it also inspires me to dedicate myself to being part of the change we so desperately need”, Souza wrote on her Instagram account.
Luka is one-year-old and Gianna is three. Photo: Instagram @KarlaSouza
5. Vida Isabelle
Daughter of Celebrity Natti Natasha and Raphy Pina
Last year the Rampampam singer surprised the world with her advanced pregnancy. After a long time looking for a baby, she even described it as a miracle. “So many times many doctors told me, ‘You are not going to be able to be a mother,’ and today, in front of all of you, I share this six-month-belly with the whole world”, she said during an awards ceremony.
Little Vida Isabelle came into the world on May 22nd, 2021 and although she is only a few months old, she already has her own Instagram account with more than 1.6 million followers. She is a fashion baby and full of tenderness.
Little Vida already has her own Instagram account. Photo: Instagram @queenvidaisabelle
6. Maria Paula
Daughter of Celebrity Dulce Maria and Francisco Alvarez
Another beautiful baby, ex RBD. This is María Paula and she was born in January 2021. Her mother has shared several photos of her baby with us. “You taught me a kind of love that I did not know, an immense love greater than fear”, it reads in one of her posts on her Instagram.
With the arrival of her little daughter, Dulce María has been sharing with her followers her memories as a mother:
“I love you my little moon, my little star, the most beautiful thing in my world and also the most tiresome one. I love you”.
María Paula is Dulce María’s “little moon”. Photo: Instagram @dulcemaria
Children of Celebrity Ana Layevska and Rodrigo Moreira
In December 2018, the actress became a mother for the first time. “I always wanted to be a mother. I didn’t know when. This life and my career are complicated, but I always wanted to start a family”, she confessed when announcing her first pregnancy. Two years later she announced the arrival of Santiago and, since then she has given us beautiful images of her Little Suns, as she calls them. They are beautiful!
Both babies took after their mommy. Photo: Instagram @analayevska
8. Bella
Daughter of Celebrity Marlene Favela and George Seely
Nice Bella melts us with her photos on her own Instagram account. As her name says, she is beautiful, but she also radiates tenderness and cuteness. She is two years old, yet an influencer with a lot of style to wear.
Bella is a real doll. Photo: Instagram @bellaseely_
Aren’t they adorable?
Remember that you can find the most beautiful clothes for your baby in our online store, Baby Creysi. The outfits that Anahí’s little ones wear are very cool.
If you’re Mexican, this has happened to you for sure: You listen to the Huapango, from José Pablo Moncayo, and you raise goosebumps, you can´t resist dancing at the beat of the mariachi and can’t avoid telling the world the love legend between the Iztaccihuatl and the Popocatepetl Mexican volcanoes. Long live Mexico!
Our culture is extraordinarily rich and the Prehispanic original names are so sweet and with such deep meanings that definitively we should consider them when deciding how we will name our child.
This list was taken from the book Nombres indígenas (Indigenous names), written by Crescencio García Ramos, academic investigator from the ‘Academia Veracruzana de las Lenguas Indígenas’ (Veracruzan Academy of Indigenous Languages). They are gorgeous!
But how do we pronounce original Nahuatl names?
According to Crescencio García, letter /x/ sounds as “sh”. Letter /h/ as soft “j” when it goes first, but when it’s between vowels it’s a little stronger and you have to aspire when it goes next to the other consonants or at the end of the word.
Double l /ll/ (doble ele) is pronounced literally double “ele” and a little separated, not like the Spanish Greek “y”.
On the other hand, Launye, M., academic from the UNAM and author of Introducción a la lengua y la literatura náhuatl (Introduction to Nahuatl Language and Literature), makes us notice that, in general, “Nahuatl names have no gender, they can be used by women or men”.
Acolmiztli: It means “Strong feline arm” or “Puma arm”. It was represented as an enormous black puma with a cadaveric aspect, with a supernatural roar and it was in charge to guard that the alive could not get into the kingdom of the dead.
Ameli, Ameyalli, Ayulía: It means “Spring of water”. It’s reverential way is: Ameyaltzin.
Atleinemik: It means “Without pair”, “Has no equal”, “Unique”, “Singular”, “Exceptional” or “Strange”.
Atzin: From Nahuatl A (tl) “Water” and Tzin, “Little water”. Its most common meaning is “Tiny water”.
Axayácatl: It means “Mask of water”. Axayácatl, son of Tezozomoc, was the Mexica Tlatoani who ordered to make the Stone of the Sun. He was succeeded to the throne by his older brother, Tízoc Chalchiuhtlatona.
You could read: Names inspired by musicians and singers
Nahuatl names with letter “C”
Centli, Sintli, Sinti: It means “Corn” or “Corn cob”. Another meaning is: “Material from our own flesh” or “Our Flesh”.
Chalchiunenetl: It means “Jade doll”. Aztec princess daughter of Axayácatl.
Chamani: It means “Plant sapling”. Chicome Cóatl: Goddess of the tough corn harvest, lady in the fullness of her maturity. It means “Always snakes”.
Cihuacoatl, Siwakoatl: Lady goddess of the Earth. Besides being mother of gods and creator of humans, Cihuacóatl is related to Earth’s fertility, that´s why she was part of the most important deities, since she gave to our ancestors the food that they enjoyed every day. It means “Female snake”
Citlalli: It means “Star” or “The woman with the Starlight”.
Citlalmina: It means “Arrowing of the stars” or “Metheorites”.
Cuahtli, Koahtli, Kuahtli: It means “The Eagle”, “Owner of the immensities, the heights and freedom.” Maybe it derivates from the same etymology of Cuauhtémoc´s name.
Nahuatl names with letter “E”
Ehékatl, Ejecatl: It means “God of the wind that sweeps the fields before the rain”. It is usually interpreted as one of the Quetzalcóatl´s manifestations, “The Feathered Serpent”. It is one of the main gods of creation.
Elía, Eli: It means “The plant is sprouting”. Esquía, Eskía: It means “The plant has already sprouted”.
Nahuatl names with letters “H” and “I”
Huitzitzillin, Witzitzillin: It means “The Hummingbird or the ‘Chuparrosa’”.
Icniuhtli: It means “Friend/Brother”.
Ilhuicamina: It means “The irate lord” or “Sky Arrowhead”. As son of tlatoani Huitzilíhuitl, he assumed the head of the army as long as the reigns of his half-brother, Chimalpopoca, and his uncle, Itzcóatl, lasted.
Istaksiwatl, Istaccihuat, Iztaccíhuatl: It means “White woman”. According to Aztec Mythology, she was a princess, only daughter of Tízoc, seventh tlatoani King and successor of Axayácatl, his brother.
Itzmin: It means “Thunder”.
Itztlishochitl or Ixtlixochit: It means “Flower face” or “Obsidian flower”. He was prince of Texcoco, Son of the sovereign Netzahualpilli.
Izel: It means “Unique”.
Iztli: It means “Obsidian”.
Nahuatl names with letter “M”
Metstona, Metztona: It means “Moonlight”.
Metztli, Meztli: It means “Moon” or “Black Moon”. In the Aztec mythology it is the name given to the god who became goddess of the moon.
Mickail Huitontli: It means “Corn at full maturity”.
Mixtli (Mishtli): It means “Cloud”.
Miztli: It means “Cat”.
Nahuatl names with letter “N”
Neli: It means “Truth”. Nenet: It means “Doll”.
Nezahualcoyotl: It means “Strong Lion” or “Hungry Coyote”. Nezahualcóyotl is also known as the warrior and poet King. He was remarkable for his courage and intelligence; he governed his native Texcoco when he was barely 28 years old.
Nochipa: It means “Always/Everlasting”. NOCHIPA IPAN NOYOLTSIN is one of the most beautiful Náhuatl phrases, it means “Always in my hearth”.
Noquetzal, Noketzal: It means “My beautiful daughter”.
Noxochih: It means “My flower”.
Nahuatl names with letters “O” and “Q”
Ollin Tonatiuh: It means “The movement Sun, from the fifth creation from Teotihuacan”.
Quetzal, Quetzali, Ketzalli: “Beautiful feather”, it also means treasure, jewel, daughter or son.
Quetzalcóatl: God creator of the man from the fifth sun. Also known as “Feathered Serpent”.
Quetzalteuh, Ketzaltew: “Like a beautiful feather”.
Nahuatl names with letter “S”
Seltik Xochitl: It means “Tender flower”.
Sinti, Sintli: It means “The corn”, it was related to the deity that protects corn.
Sintiopil: It means “Tiny owner of the corn” or “Little corn”.
Siwapil, Sihuapilli: It means “Girl”, “Little daughter”.
Sochiyok, Xochiyok: It means “Flowered”, flower ornament.
Nahuatl names with letter “T”
Tametzona: It means “Moonlight”.
Tecuichpo: It means “Cotton flower”. Mexica princess that was born at the end of the 1500 decade. She was the favorite daughter of Moctezuma II, México-Tenochtitlan emperor.
Tenampi: It means “Son/daughter of god”.
Teosintli, Teocintle: It means “Corn god”.
Tequihua, Tekiwa: It means “Community authority” (boss).
Tlacaélel: It means “The one who cheers the spirit”.
Tlali, Tlalli: “Earth, Mother Earth, The world”.
Tláloc, Tlálok: “God of the rain”.
Tlanesi, Tlaneci: “Dawn, Sunrise, The light arrives”.
Tlanextic: “Light of the Dawn”.
Tlapaltic: It means “Brave”.
Tonantzin: It means “The Virgin”, “Our Mother”. Sometimes, Tonantzin is recognized as Quetzalcóatl’s mother, other times, as his wife and part of his duality, especially in his form of Cihuacóatl. She is the goddess of health, lady of the maternity and medicine herbs. With the conquerors’ arrival, some began to identify her as the Guadalupe Virgin.
Tonatiúh: It means “Our Father Sun, The sun, The day”. The Aztec people considered him as the leader of the sky. He was also known as the fifth Sun because the Aztecs thought that he assumed control when the fourth Sun was expelled from heaven, so, according to their cosmogony, each Sun was a god with its own cosmic era and, for the Aztecs, they still were in the era where Tonatiuh reigned.
Totahtze, Totajtse: It means “Our father”.
Toxayak: It means “Our face”.
Tzalanti o Tlalantik: It means “As clear as water, pure, clear”.
Xilonen: It means “Goddess of the new and tender corn”. She was the goddess of subsistence for the Aztecs, especially of corn, the main patron of vegetation and, by extension, also goddess of fertility.
Xinaxtli, Xinachtli: It means “The seed”.
Xiutecuhtli, Xiwtekuhtli: It means “Lord of the herbs” or “God of the fire”. In Aztec mythology, the fire and heat spirit.
Xochikuskat, Xochihuaskatl: “Symbol of the floral offering in the ritual”.
Xochimanali: “Ceremonial of Xochitlalli”.
Xochipayanali: “Disintegrated flower”.
Xochipili, Xochipilli, Makuilxochitl: “Good of the flowers”.
Xochiquen, Xochiken: “Thirteenth governor of Tenochtitlan”.
Xochiquetzali: “Women who populated Mexico after the flood, Goddess of water, Beautiful flower”.
Xochisiwatl: It means “Rose petal”.
Xochiswatl, Xuchizhuatl, Xochitl: “Flower, symbol of the good creation, of the intellectual and emotional flourishing, The Love”.
Xochitl Nolía: “Princess, daughter of a cacique in the Huatusco, Ver., region. The one who gave her love to a young warrior”.
Xochitlali, Xochitlalli: Ceremonial celebration to the gods and natural elements (Zongolica region).
Xochiyoh: “The one who is decorated with flowers; flowered”.
Xocotzin, Xocotzin, Xokotzin: “The last one”, in traditional and Aztec mythology, she is the personification of passion and sexual transgressions. She belongs to the group known as Ixcuiname, the five goddesses of sex, daughters/sisters of Tlazoltéotl (lust) goddess. As her peers, she was commonly considered a goddess capable of helping or punishing human beings.
Diaper dermatitis, commonly known as diaper rash, is a very common condition in babies. “It is estimated that one in four babies will experience at least one diaper rash episode in his lifetime. Between 25 and 65% of babies who wear a diaper have diaper dermatitis, and three out of four go to the pediatrician for this problem”, says Dr. Víctor Mundo, pediatrician and Medical Affairs Consumer Health at Bayer, Mexico.
What do diaper rashes look like?
According to the Mayo Clinic, diaper rash is an inflammation of the skin that appears as a patchwork of pink or bright red spots. It can also be seen as irritation, fissures, abrasions, and peeling of the skin. It usually occurs as a rash in the area that is covered by the diaper, hence the name. That is, it affects the genitals, buttocks, perineum, lower abdomen, and upper thighs. The skin is a very important organ with many functions: It protects our internal organs, it is the main layer of our immune system that prevents our body from coming into contact with microorganisms.
• It is essential to regulate our body temperature, this is the reason why we sweat and perspire
• It allows us to have different sensations
• Thanks to melanin, a substance that gives color to our skin, it protects us from UV rays and helps our cells produce vitamin D.
• It constantly regenerates itself
“In general terms, the upper part of the skin is called the epidermis, but at its base there are cells that are like moms because they grow new cells which develop until they become old. The most superficial layer of these cells, when mature, is the stratocornus and it is what we see when we exfoliate the skin, they are dead cells that come out. I mention this because in babies the upper outer layer of the skin is very fragile, thin, has a very important permeability and being immature makes it more susceptible to being damaged”, explains the pediatrician.
What causes diaper rash
Normally, diaper rashes are caused by prolonged contact of the baby’s skin with irritating substances: urine, stool, detergents and fragrances, but also by the simple rubbing of the diaper. “Both urine and stool cause a change in the PH of the babies’ skin. The enzymes contained in the baby’s waste damage and irritate the skin. Prolonged exposure to urine and stool is an important risk factor”, says the specialist. Another factor that causes chafing is moisture and rubbing against the diaper. “Prolonged wetness and the friction that the skin is having with the diaper weakens the outer layer and increases the possibility of friction damage. In addition, another conditioning factor is when the diaper is very tight. Artificial fragrances and scented diapers can also be risk factors, “Fortunately, they are used less and less nowadays, but there are perfumes, preservatives and dyes that can aggravate diaper rash.”
How to prevent diaper rash
According to Dr. Mundo, these are some measures we can take to prevent annoying diaper rash.
Maintain proper hygiene
Frequent diaper changes are highly recommended. Prolonged contact with stool and urine is a risk factor. Clean your baby’s bottom with warm water. You can use cotton balls, but make sure there is no lint left behind, wet wipes are also useful. Do not use wipes that contain alcohol or perfume.
Dry the area well
You can use a towel or leave your baby without a diaper for a while to air dry. If you notice chafing, do not rub the skin with the towel as it can aggravate the irritation.
Use a protective cream
“Especially use one that contains dexpanthenol, which is a precursor of vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid. This vitamin helps skin cells regenerate. In addition, it protects, moisturizes and prevents the area from being too much moist”, says the doctor.
Don’t overtighten the diaper
When you change the diaper, be careful not to close it too tight. “It is also good for the baby to breathe well. The tapes can make his abdomen not distend appropriately. Try not to overtighten it and have a diaper of the right size, remember that they come in different sizes”, he adds.
How long does diaper rash last?
According to Dr. Mundo, depending on the severity, diaper rash lasts between one and three days.
“This is very important because many children experience situations where they cannot sleep, they are crying, that is the way they express their annoyance. It has also been noticed that it occurs in a greater proportion in girls and boys between 9 and 12 months of age. It does not mean that the youngest children do not have it, but the highest peak of diaper dermatitis is at this stage and 5% of these cases can be aggravated”, concludes the expert.
The first few weeks you breastfeed your baby, you most likely feel a mixture of confusion and frustration. You have to admit, it’s not easy. All moms experience different situations, but for many, breastfeeding hurts. Nipples get dry and cracked and, why not, your baby may not open his mouth wide or even “pinch” you.
“When my first baby was born”, says writer Emily Oster, author of the book, Criar sin Mitos (Parenting without Myths), it seemed like I had all the problems of breastfeeding: the latch-on problem, the milk quantity problem, the how get my milk.
You may think that only you have those drawbacks.
The hours you spend in a room trying to make a newborn eat isolates you”. However, although you believe that you are the only one who goes through these hardships, the reality is that many mothers face them.
“I asked on twitter and other moms told me about their tiny nipples, the bleeding ones, the sore ones and the cracked ones. They told me about their problems in terms of the amount of milk or too much production, leaky breasts, stiff clothes from dry milk, mattresses that smell of Parmesan cheese”.
Don’t miss: 5 common breastfeeding myths
How hard can it be?
The most exhausting thing is when someone tells you, without knowing you are suffering for a few milliliters of milk, phrases like, “Millions of women do it, how difficult can it be?”. Well yes, it is difficult, and it does not help much when someone else puts extra pressure.
The reality is that breastfeeding should not hurt; if it does, it means that your baby is not latching on correctly.
According to Emily Oster, the practice of breastfeeding is a universal human experience, so we can learn from the experiences of other women. That is why she proposes the following tips so that breastfeeding does not cause pain (at least, not unbearable pain).
Skin-to-skin contact
A research in India randomly assigned mothers to either hold their babies 45 minutes after delivery or put them in baby warmers.
Moms who had their babies skin-to-skin were more likely (72% vs. 57%) to breastfeed at 6 weeks, they also reported less pain with stitches after delivery.
“Lots of randomized studies report about skin-to-skin contact improving breastfeeding success rates”, says Oster.
The latch
The baby has to open his mouth wide, take in your entire nipple, and then use his lips and tongue to suck. Many newborn babies have trouble latching on properly. Until you experience it, you will know if you have to push it a little to get a good latch.
According to the writer
“Without a good latch the baby won’t get enough milk and the suckling will be very painful for the mom. How do you know there is a good latch? Once you’ve done it for a while you’ll just know. You will also learn to recognize a strange sigh that many babies make when they succeed”.
You may feel pain
When your baby learns the latch, you may feel pain for a few seconds. If the baby is well positioned, in a good position to eat, but you still feel pain, maybe the baby has a sucking problem or a lack of tongue mobility (ankyloglossia or short sublingual frenulum).
Other reasons
Oster explains other possible reasons: “Why might newborns have trouble latching onto the nipple? Premature birth, disease or birth damage can be some causes. It could also have to do with some mothers’ nipples: some women have inverted nipples making latching difficult.
Lastly
Some babies have structural problems in their mouths. Or maybe your baby hates you! Ha, it’s a joke”.
If the problem continues, your doctor can tell you if you’ll need a special nipple shield or a procedure to treat the frenulum brevis.
You can read: This is how a lactation consultant can help you
Moisturizing
The nipples can become cracked, irritated or sore, there is no magic solution. The only thing that has scientific support is rubbing breast milk on your nipples. Most of the time the discomfort subsides after two weeks, but if you feel unbearable pain ask for help.
Most women, even those whose babies are latched on well, may feel pain at first when nursing, but should stop after a minute or two of nursing. Ongoing pain can also be caused by infections that are treatable, such as nipple thrush. If the pain persists, ask for help to determine the cause.
"Many women recommend lanoline cream, compresses and pads, but there is no scientific evidence to support its effectiveness. The only scientifically proven thing is that you put a little breast milk on your nipples. Of course there is no reason to use these remedies; if you think it works or want to try it, great", explains Emily Oster.
Milk production
A biological mechanism links feeding frequency to milk production. The system (or your breasts) are designed to have a feedback loop in which you produce more milk when the baby needs or asks for more. Many moms increase their supply by expressing milk after nursing so the body thinks the demand is higher.
Colostrum
“When your baby is just born, you will produce a small amount of colostrum, a substance rich in antibodies. In fact you start producing it at the end of pregnancy. In the first few days, as you breastfeed, your body begins to produce more milk than colostrum (in theory)”.
“The expectation is that it will change to a full milk supply; in scientific terms this is called lactogenesis and is sometimes referred to as milk “coming in”, which will occur after the first 72 hours postpartum. If this doesn’t happen, doctors say you have delayed lactogenesis”.
Some women produce milk with a delay
Many women have a very late “coming-in” of milk, in fact there are studies that indicate that a quarter of women produce milk with a delay of three days. This time is 35% longer for new mothers.
This can cause the baby to lose weight, making it difficult to continue breastfeeding. This mishap may disappoint you”.
The author’s suggestion is to use the demand feedback loop to increase production. It is always good to stay hydrated. Beer actually makes things worse, there isn’t enough evidence on herbal remedies either.
“There are more data with some drugs. It is also possible that no matter what you do you, you have very little or no milk, this is not common, but it does happen”.
Excessive milk production
On the other hand there is the excessive milk production. When it accumulates you literally feel “balls” in the breasts.
The main problems with producing too much milk are severe discomfort and increased risk of mastitis (inflammation of the breast tissue). Your breasts swell with milk, become hard, hot and sore.
"Expressing milk can prevent this discomfort, but it contributes to the cycle of feeding and to the persistence of the problem.
If you want to decrease production, you're going to have to deal with the problem of engorged breasts".
There are a wide variety of techniques to reduce the discomfort of congested breasts: massage, acupuncture, acupressure, cold compresses, hot compresses, cabbage leaves, among others, but the author points out that the effectiveness of these is irregular.
Expressing milk
Another problem that arises from having too much milk is when the baby begins to breastfeed. When the milk comes in fast and so abundantly can overwhelm him. “Expressing milk a few minutes before feeding your baby can help”, says Oster.
Whatever the problem, remember to be patient and seek help. Don’t forget to eat healthy and drink plenty of fluids. Avoid mercury-rich fish such as tuna, swordfish, shark, or mackerel. And relax, stress is also a factor that works against you.
Did you know that a newborn baby cannot breathe through his mouth except when it cries? Not until they turn three or four months old, babies have not developed the reflex to open their mouth if they have a blocked nose, that is why we must be very careful to keep their nose clean, eliminating the annoying phlegm.
Is phlegm normal?
Newborns have such small and delicate nasal passages (2 to 3 millimeters wide) that a tiny mucus or phlegm can be a big nuisance for them. Mayo Clinic Pediatrician Dr. Lee Johnson responds to Baby Creysi, “Phlegm is normal in all humans, including babies. Babies have smaller upper nasal passages, so phlegm collects in the nose and often makes breathing worse at night. Babies always breathe through their noses (unless they are screaming or crying!)”. But there is a good and important reason for having mucus, as long as it does not cause discomfort to our little one. Nina Shapiro, Director of Pediatric Otolaryngology at Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA, explains on her blog, “Think of your baby’s precious nose as a greenhouse: it needs moisture, heat, air filtration, ventilation, and vegetation. The mucous lining of the nose provides moisture. This lining has tiny glands that supply the wet, slippery mucus that prevents the nose from turning into a crusted desert and allows air to flow freely”. “Body temperature and the small dark space in the nasal cavity provide warmth. Filtering is accomplished by both tiny hairs in the nose and slippery mucus (vegetation), so dust and dirt are not directly breathed into the lungs. Hair and mucus trap and accumulate particles and filter them from the air your baby breathes. Ventilation is provided by the open nasal passage that connects the outside world with the back of the nose”.
What can I do if my baby has a lot of phlegm or mucus? How can I to remove them?
“If your baby sounds very phlegmatic, it is good to suck the nose with a bulb syringe. Make sure to seal your little one’s nostril well (for the suction to work), and you may need to suck multiple times”, says Dr. Lee, who is a pediatrician at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse Wisconsin, USA.
It is better to use the rubber syringe to wipe the baby’s nose before feeding and going to sleep. Follow these steps:
Hold the baby with the head slightly tilted back.
Press the round base of the bulb syringe with your thumb.
Gently insert the tip of the bulb syringe until it is tight against the baby’s nose.
Gently insert the tip of the bulb syringe until it is tight against the baby’s nose.
Before using the bulb syringe, use baby saline solution
Saline solution does not contain any dangerous chemicals or drugs, so it is safe to use in newborns as often as needed. “Put the baby a few nasal drops of saline solution on each side of the nose before sucking to help thin the mucus”, adds the specialist.
When you put the saline solution on your baby, do it in an upright position, so that he does not feel the saline solution going down his throat. Most of the saline solution will drip back, but some will go where it is needed.
Un lavado nasal con solución salina (agua salina) ayuda a limpiar el polen, el polvo y otros residuos de los conductos nasales. También es muy efectivo para retirar el exceso de moco y añade humectación. Foto: Shutterstock
Use the bulb syringe carefully when extracting phlegm
Dr. Lee warns that sucking too often with the bulb syringe “can worsen congestion and can also cause the mucous membranes of the nose to swell or bleed”, so you must be very careful.
“After using the bulb syringe, wash it in warm soapy water. Rinse it well and squeeze it to remove all the water that may remain inside”, adds the pediatrician.
On the other hand, Dr. Shapiro adds, “While the bulb syringe is a good aid, I would advise against frequent use. Most newborns are congested because their delicate nasal tissues are slightly swollen. The pressure from the bulb syringe will only cause more swelling and more congestion. If you don’t see any drops of mucus coming out, stay away from the bulb syringe and try the saline solution first. If there is a lot of mucus, you can do a gentle flush (quick little puffs), that will help your baby get rid of the mucus”.
Another option: the humidifier
A cool-mist humidifier in the baby’s room can also help, especially at night. Make sure to read the instructions on the best way to keep your humidifier clean and avoid using menthol or medicinal additives in the water tank.
The grunting and snorting a baby makes when his nose is stuffy may sound terrible, but before freaking out, take a look at your baby’s general condition. If he makes those noises, but is eating well, sleeping soundly, gaining weight, and looking good, you don’t have to worry. It is likely to be for a short time.
However, if you see that he has other symptoms, or that he still has a lot of phlegm, mucus that runs off and it annoys your child, go to your pediatrician to evaluate him for a possible cold or something else. Always remember: CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR.
More information:
¿Aspiradores o lavados nasales?
Don’t forget to use a bib to keep your baby from getting wet during nasal cleansing.
You just fed your baby and suddenly… he spits up the milk! Although it causes a lot of stress at first, regurgitation in babies is very common, especially in the first year of life.
As moms, we worry, but before “freaking out” we must learn to identify what is normal and what is not, what causes it and how we can differentiate it from vomiting.
What is regurgitation in babies?
Regurgitation in babies, known in medical terms as gastroesophageal reflux, happens when the milk in the baby’s stomach returns to the esophagus, the tube that connects the mouth with the stomach.
According to the Mayo Clinic, regurgitation is quite common in young babies, mainly between 0 and 6 months of age. As the organism is not yet fully developed, there is immaturity in the closing mechanism (lower esophageal sphincter), which prevents food from the stomach from going back to the esophagus.
In the vast majority of cases
Regurgitation or “mouthful of milk” has a physiological origin that is corrected as the baby grows up.
It improves when complementary feeding begins (at 6 months of age) and the baby spends more time in an upright position, and usually it disappears around one year of age.
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Causes of regurgitation in our babies
All babies regurgitate, spit up or drop a “thread of milk”, it is normal. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), a spit-up is especially produced under the following conditions:
After swallowing air while breastfeeding or being fed with a bottle. The air occupies a large volume in the stomach and ends up pushing the milk up.
When his stomach is full or he has had too much milk. The contents of the stomach cause the sphincter to open and flood the stomach.
When the baby is suddenly moved or he is moved carelessly.
When the baby’s stomach is accidentally squeezed. Imagine that it is a full bag, if you squeeze it, it spills over.
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How many times does a baby spit up?
Up to 10 or 12 times a day is considered within the “normal” limits, although the average is one to three regurgitations per day.
A research by Reiko Miyazawa, published in the National Library of Medicine, indicates that 47% of one-month-old infants have one to three episodes of regurgitation per day.
The proportion decreased to 28.8% at 4 months of age, and 6.4% at 7 months of age.
There were no significant differences in the frequency of spitting up episodes among breastfed, formula-fed, and mixed-fed infants.
“A normal regurgitation does not affect the well-being of the baby. As long as the baby is not in discomfort, he is eating well and gaining weight, there is nothing to worry about. If your baby gains weight, the calories lost through spitting up don’t affect him”, explains the Mayo Clinic.
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What is the difference between regurgitating and vomiting?
Doctor Jesús Garrido, author of My Online Pediatrician and promoter of Respectful Pediatrics explains, “Vomiting is a violent contraction of the stomach walls that are trying to expel the contents inside because they hurt it”.
“It can be identified because the baby begins to eat, he gets very restless, and ends up expelling the milk vigorously. Vomiting is always accompanied by pain, pale skin, sweating, or pouting.
The causes must be determined by the doctor
It is possible that the baby is allergic to milk. If your baby expels milk and there is no discomfort, then he is just spitting up or regurgitating”.
According to the expert, regurgitation must also be differentiated from acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease:
“People tend to interpret acid reflux when the baby expels a lot of milk, but there are some babies who practically do not expel anything. If the baby is very uncomfortable, he arches back and begins to feel something is coming up”.
The baby has a little cough, some mucus in his throat (because the reflux irritates the throat increasing the mucus production), he can’t lie down, he asks you to pick him up because it hurts so much.
“If you also see that his tongue is whitish (because the acid reflux burns the tongue buds), notice that the skin around his mouth is easily irritated and the bib has a foul smell, the milk is curdled, with lumps or there is a clear liquid that smells like vomit, then it is very likely that it is acid reflux”, says Garrido.
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What can we do to reduce regurgitation?
Now it is easier to identify if it is regurgitation, vomiting or gastroesophageal reflux disease. For these latter two, only the doctor will be able to treat your baby after identifying the causes. If it is normal regurgitation, there are some tips that can help you:
Keep your baby in an upright position. After each feeding, do not lay him down, keep him upright for 30 minutes.
Avoid active games for at least 20 minutes after the feeding.
Avoid rocking him immediately after the feeding.
Don’t overfeed him. Give smaller amounts of milk, but more often.
Burp your baby to prevent air from building up in the stomach.
If you are breastfeeding, experiment with your own diet. Your doctor will be able to guide you what foods you can take, or if you should avoid dairy products, spicy foods or other foods in your diet.
About the use of home remedies
The Mayo Clinic warns, “We do not recommend adding rice cereal or any other cereal to breast milk or formula. This is commonly done, but it has been found to be helpless, it only adds carbohydrate calories too soon. Rice or other cereals can be introduced around the 6 months of age (and not before 4 months)”.
“You can keep the baby upright for 30 minutes after feeding, and this can sometimes improve reflux. Remember, reflux is normal in babies, but if he suddenly gets worse, if your baby is not gaining weight (or loses weight), or if he shows symptoms of illness (cough, etc.), seek medical attention”, says Dr. Lee Johnson, Pediatrics, Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse Wisconsin, USA, in response to Baby Creysi.
Always have a washcloth to clean your baby and yourself. Photo: Shutterstock
Constipation in babies is a common cause of pediatric consultation and it causes a lot of anguish and concern for parents because the normal number of bowel movements varies greatly, depending on the age and what our little one eats.
Although 95% of constipation cases have a functional origin, I mean, it does not have a specific organic cause, nor is it indicative of any disease, but it is important to know the symptoms.
How do I know my baby is constipated?
According to the book, Las 50 principales consultas pediátricas (Top 50 Pediatric Visits), a child is constipated when difficulty passing stools and a decrease in the number of bowel movements cause the discomfort in the patient. Mayo Clinic, in its article Signos del estreñimiento en bebés (Signs of constipation in babies), gives us other signs that could indicate that your child could have infant constipation:
Stools in the form of separate hard lumps
Bowel movements that seem hard to pass, causing your baby to arch their back or cry
Infrequent or less frequent bowel movements
Pain or swelling in the abdomen
How should the baby’s poo be? How many times does he poop a day?
The first bowel movements of the newborn are called meconium and are made up of the substance that the baby has before birth. It has a thick texture and can be black or dark green. After the first 24 hours, it begins to turn light green and it also contains the waste from breast milk or formula. After the first week, the appearance of the stool varies depending on whether he is having breast milk or formula or if solid food has been introduced. “Bottle-fed babies typically have 1-3 bowel movements a day. The stools are yellow, well-formed, but should not be hard or ball-like. Breastfeeding stools are liquid, yellow (sometimes they can be greenish, but only once breastfeeding is well established and the baby breastfeeds well)”, says Dr. Lee Johnson, a pediatrician at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse Wisconsin, USA, in response to Baby Creysi.
Constipation is more common in formula-fed babies than in breast-fed babies. In both cases it is linked to an immature colon that causes slow bowel movements. It usually resolves spontaneously over time.
“Babies who are breastfed poop more often, several times a day, but sometimes, around the 2 months of age, some breastfed babies may suddenly stop pooping daily. They may be gassy, eat well, but have liquid, ‘explosive’ stools every 2-7 days. This is normal!”
“It’s frustrating, but it’s a normal pattern, and it’s not really constipation! This happens because breast milk is the perfect food for the baby and is completely digested. Not all babies skip bowel movements this way, but some do”, says the Mayo Clinic expert.
What should we do when a baby is constipated?
Your pediatrician will tell you what to do depending on your case. If your baby has formula milk, it may be convenient to lower the density of the bottles or your doctor may recommend that you use some type of probiotics added to the milk. Always consult the expert and do not do anything without his advice. In both bottle-fed and breastfed babies, you can try a warm water bath, gently flex their legs and make movements on their stomach as a massage. Lee Johnson tells us, “If it’s been more than 3 days without a bowel movement and your breastfed baby is uncomfortable, it’s okay to try some ‘rectal stimulation’ using a rectal thermometer and insert it about 1 cm into the rectum. This will sometimes cause a poop (or you can use a Vaseline covered cotton swab)”. “A gentle massage can also help. Lovingly, rub your baby’s abdomen starting on the lower right side, moving up, over the upper abdomen, and then down to the left side. The movement of the knees and legs as riding a bicycle can also help relieve gas”, says the doctor.
Babies have weak abdominal muscles and often strain when passing stools. If your little one has a soft bowel movement after a few minutes of straining, it is very likely that he is not constipated. Photo: Shutterstock
Is prune juice useful against constipation in babies?
Generally, no juice is recommended for babies under 6 months, except for prune juice to treat constipation and only under the recommendation and supervision of your pediatrician.
“If bottle-fed babies have hard, pellet-like stools (or if your breastfed babies develop them after the introduction of solid foods), adding 1 ounce of prune juice to 1 bottle of formula or breast milk may help”.
“Karo dark corn syrup is not recommended for any reason (as it can transmit botulism). If your baby is having solid food, you can add pears, prunes and peaches as purees to the daily food. This can also be useful if constipation occurs in the weaning stage, when your baby is trying new foods”, explains the pediatrician.
If the baby continues having problems, some doctors might recommend glycerin suppositories, but keep in mind that they are designed for occasional use only. Mineral oil, stimulant laxatives, or enemas (introduction of water) should not be used to treat infant constipation.
Could your baby’s constipation be a symptom of something more serious?
Very rarely, in only 5% of cases, infant constipation is caused by an underlying condition such as Hirschsprung’s disease, hypothyroidism, or cystic fibrosis.
If constipation persists or is accompanied by other symptoms such as vomiting, weakness, difficulty in gaining weight, abdominal swelling and lots of gas, it is very important that your pediatrician evaluate other possible causes. But beware, always consult your doctor for advice.
Translated by: Ligia Mabel Oliver Manrique de Lara
Have you noticed that newborns have their hands clenched? In the first months of life it is normal that a baby has his hands closed. Little by little, as the weeks go by, he will begin to open them.
A baby’s hands play an important role in his development because they are parts of his body that they will discover from a young age. “First he will observe them, then he will open and close them, and he will make movements as if he wanted to reach objects”, explains Belén Hernández Zamora, an instructor at the Kangu Stimulation Center.
For the preschool education graduate, even though a newborn can’t pick up objects, if you caress his palm, he’ll try to grab your finger. He can even squeeze it tightly for a few seconds. This grip is known as the palmar grasp reflex.
By the second month of age, finger movement will still be limited and his hands may still be clenched into tight fists. However, “His hands will draw his attention more and more. He may spend a lot of time trying to move them in front of his face where he can see them. After many tries, he will likely be able to get them into his mouth”, according to the American Association of Pediatrics (AAP).
Development of the fine motor skills
During his first few months of age, a baby is growing and maturing in various ways. “If you notice that he does not move, that he is rigid and stiff, and does not open his hands, you should consult a specialist to rule out neurodevelopmental problems”, says Belén Hernández, an expert in early and prenatal stimulation.
Visual tracking, grasping and manipulating games, among others, will help babies develop fine motor skills.
During your baby’s first three months, it is recommended that you open and close his hands gently, massage the palm in a circular motion, open each little finger and caress his little hands with soft and rough textures.
Similarly, so that babies do not have their hands closed for a long time, UNICEF recommends:
Rub the newborn’s hands with your fingers, from the pinky finger to the wrist.
With your thumb and forefinger, take the baby’s fingers one at a time from the base and slide to the tip, giving a gentle tug at the end.
To help him open his hands, rub the base of his hand outward with a brush or towel, extending his thumb.
If he opens his hand wide, but can’t hold an object, help him by curling his fingers around it.
Place a rattle in his hand and help him shake it several times so he tries to imitate the movement. Check that he doesn’t hit himself.
Get him used to being on his stomach for a few minutes so that he can tear or scratch the covers.
Stimulate him according to his rhythm
As your baby grows, you must motivate him to do new things, but always through games and respecting his rhythm.
“At first, when he can pick up an object of his interest, the baby will have a raking grasp, that is, he will grab things by opening his whole hand and occupying all five fingers”, says Hernández Zamora.
To stimulate fine motor skills and help your baby pincer grasp, the expert suggests:
Between four and six months: place toys in front of his face that attract his attention to make him take them with his hands; you can give him a rattle so that when he moves it, he makes a sound.
Between seven and nine months: play with a big ball and invite him to throw it with his hands. Offer toys to pass from one hand to the other and try to get him to pull ribbons from a box.
Between 10 and 12 months: make him put objects in and out of a bucket or a wide-mouthed jar. Have him put seeds into a small-mouth jar. Let your baby play with modeling clay or play dough.
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One of the dilemmas that arises when a son is about to be born is about circumcision. To do it or not to do it? That’s the question. In many cases, the decision depends on factors that have nothing to do with the medical one: there are families that circumcise by religious tradition and, in other cases, it has to do with the custom of the father’s family.
The practice of circumcision varies considerably from country to country. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in Nigeria, for example, 95% of men are circumcised while in Latin American countries it is around 11%. The world average, according to the same organization, is 30%.
What is circumcision?
“Circumcision is a medical procedure that consists of surgically removing the foreskin, which is the skin that covers the glans”, explains pediatrician Jaime Rodríguez, with a private practice in Mexico City.
This practice is usually carried out a few hours or days after the boy’s birth, when their families decide it. It is not recommended to do it immediately in babies who are premature or who have a problem with the penis that would require later surgery.
Last decades
Throughout the last decades there have been -and still prevail- various debates around this practice in the medical field. Some pediatric and health organizations recommend it; others speak against it, except in cases where it is necessary to solve a specific problem (for example, in patients the foreskin does not retract naturally and they present infections and discomfort).
According to the WHO, on average, 30% of men in the world are circumcised.
Pros:
One of the organizations that has spoken out most frequently in favor of circumcision is the American Pediatric Association. For years, these experts have studied the scientific evidence around this practice in newborns and concluded that the main benefits are:
Helps prevent urinary tract infections.
It is one of the factors that could reduce the possibility of suffering from penile cancer.
It helps reduce the spread of sexually transmitted infections
Another group of experts that has spoken out in favor of circumcision is the World Health Organization (WHO); they have ensured that it is an important measure to prevent HIV and recommends it especially in countries where the disease is an epidemic, as it happens in several African nations.
Cons:
“Although organizations such as the American Pediatric Association have spoken in favor, they only recommend it for families who want it, they do not suggest that circumcision be mandatory for all newborns. This is because the evidence on its benefits is not definite enough”, explains Rodríguez.
For other organizations and expert groups, circumcision is an unnecessary practice, since healthy tissue is removed from the body, mainly for social, religious or aesthetic reasons.
“The foreskin is very tight during the first months of life. It is not tight just for the sake of it, this helps protect the glans, for example, so that it does not come into direct contact with the fecal matter that babies leave in their diapers”, says the pediatrician.
According to Rodríguez, some of the benefits of circumcision proposed by certain medical groups can be achieved in other ways.
“It is believed that without the foreskin, infections are prevented; however, with the correct hygiene of the area infections are not possible to happen. On the other hand, recommending it to prevent the transmission of HIV could misinform and motivate many men to have sex without a condom, a measure that is absolutely essential to avoid this disease”, says Rodríguez.
In Mexico, public health institutions do not practice circumcision on a mandatory basis.
The policy says that this should not be done, unless the boy presents a medical problem that requires it. In the end, the decision is yours. Don’t hesitate to ask your child’s pediatrician for guidance.
Circumcision consists of surgically removing the foreskin, which is the skin that covers the glans penis.
One of the main fears of mothers of newborn babies is that their son or daughter will be a victim of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), also known as crib death.
Fear is not for free
This disgrace happens without any apparent reason and causes the sudden death of babies under one year of age.
Although there is still no absolute consensus regarding its causes, multiple scientific investigations have pointed out factors that could be related.
Follow the list
A list of recommendations has been elaborated to prevent it based on the evidence provided by the cases studied for decades. Follow them to the letter.
Some clues about its causes
Pediatrician expert Carmen García explains that SIDS “is one of the most known infant deaths and represents 35 to 55% of deaths in this age group. Death, as its name says, is sudden and without apparent cause”.
García points out that this syndrome occurs between two weeks and a year after the baby’s birth, but it is much more frequent in those under four months.
Some data
Over the years, various studies have been carried out to try to determine the causes of this syndrome; however, there are still no solid answers, only indicators, “The causes are still unknown, but it is very likely that it is due to a dysfunction of the nervous mechanisms of cardiorespiratory control.
Babies’ systems have not yet matured enough to solve, for example, suffocation or phlegm”, says García.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome constitutes between 35 and 55% of infant deaths.
More data
Among the most important findings about the possible risk factors that have been found around the world, according to the American SIDS Institute, are:
Exposure to nicotine, that the baby sleeps on his stomach, that older people share the bed with him and that the child has abnormalities in the brainstemthat do not allow him to adequately deal with respiratory events.
7 rules to prevent crib death
There are some measures that can help you prevent this syndrome. Pediatric expert Carmen García offers you the most important recommendations to take care of your baby.
1.Do not miss your prenatal control: Prenatal care is essential to avoid premature birth, one of the factors that are believed to increase the risk of crib death.
2.Your baby should sleep on his back or on his side, in both cases with his head to the side. It is believed that the mattress could obstruct the airway of many babies who sleep on their stomachs and, unable to raise their heads on their own, have suffocated. On the other hand, putting the baby’s head on one side allows the little one to expel phlegm or milk, in case of regurgitation.
3.Use a firm mattress, avoid laying him on mattresses, lambskins or fluffy quilts. This will help decrease any risk of suffocation.
4.Keep the baby’s bed as bare as possible. Also, he should sleep without blankets, bumpers, stuffed animals or cushions. Any of these objects can entangle him and obstruct his breathing.
5. Do not share a bed, ideally your baby should have your own space to avoid the risk of being crushed by adults or other children during sleep. You can use a co-sleeping crib to keep him close to you without putting him in danger.
6.Sleep in the same room. You need to be very vigilant, as his neurological and respiratory systems are not yet mature enough to overcome some events on his own. The appropriate situation is that he sleeps next to you so that you can be as attentive as possible.
7.Do not smoke during pregnancy or close to the baby. Several studies have found a link between smoking and nicotine exposure with crib death. For this reason, it is important that babies are not near smokers and people must not smoke in the baby´s areas, since the nicotine remains impregnated in the objects.
According to research on crib death, SIDS may be related to the position in which babies sleep and exposure to nicotinchokinge.
