Your baby’s temperature and fever

A true fever is particularly worrying in the first few months of a baby’s life. That’s because the infant's immune system is immature and not as effective in fighting off infections as it will be after three or four months of living outside the womb.

So it’s important to learn how to correctly take your baby’s temperature and understand what signifies a true fever.

What is considered a fever for my baby?
Doctors usually say a baby has a fever if the temperature rises to 38C (100.4F), or above. Learn what your baby’s normal temperature is by taking it a few times when he or she is well.

What causes a fever in babies?
There can be many causes for a baby’s fever. Dehydration is one. Or the infant might be over-bundled with clothes in a relatively warm environment­ - the rule of thumb is to dress your baby in just one more layer of clothing than you are comfortable in.



Most commonly, fever is caused by an infection. The body’s immune system senses the “foreign invader” - such as bacteria or a virus - and sends a chemical message to the brain’s temperature centre instructing it to crank up the heat inside the body. This has many advantages:

Some bacteria and viruses don’t like the higher temperature and are then more easily destroyed by the immune system.
The higher body temperature helps the body to ward off the infection.
In this way, fever is actually our friend: it lets us know that an infection may be brewing and it helps to fight off the infection.

When to worry about your baby’s fever
Any fever in the first months could indicate a significant infection requiring immediate attention. All children under two months old with a true fever need a medical evaluation. Call your doctor to check up on fevers for at least the first four to six months of your baby’s life.

But fever is only part of the story. An even more important question is: does your newborn look unwell? If your baby appears to be sick in any way - irritability, listlessness, lethargy, poor feeding, respiratory distress, rash, vomiting, diarrhoea, etc - contact your doctor, even if the temperature is not high enough to be called a fever.

Food additives make children behave badly

Britain’s food watchdog is warning all parents today of a clear link between additives and hyperactive behaviour in children.

Research for the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and published in The Lancet has established the “deleterious effects” of taking a mixture of artifical extras that are added to drinks, sweets and processed foods. It has led the FSA to issue the advice to parents who believe their children to be hyperactive that they should cut out foods containing the E numbers analysed in the study.

Scientists from the University of Southampton, who carried out research on three-year-old and eight-year-old children, believe that their findings could have a “substantial” impact on the regulation of food additives in Britain. But the FSA has been accused of missing an opportunity to protect children and all consumers by failing to impose a deadline on manufacturers to remove additives such as Sunshine Yellow and Tartrazine from their products.

In the biggest study of its kind the researchers recorded the responses of 153 three-year-olds and 144 eight to nine-year-olds to different drinks. None suffered from a hyperactivity disorder.
The children drank a mix of additives that reflected the average daily additive intake of a British child. The mixture was not a product currently on sale.

After consuming the drinks – a cocktail of controversial E numbers and the preservative sodium benzoate – the children were found to become boisterous and lose concentration. They were unable to play with one toy or complete one task, and they engaged in unusually impulsive behaviour. The older group were unable to complete a 15-minute computer exercise.

Results varied between different children but the study found that poor behaviour was observed in children who had no record of hyperactivity or attention deficit disorder.

The results are certain to cause concern and it is likely many parents will remove or cut down on food and drink products that might provoke such reactions in their children. The problem for many parents will be how to police children’s eating; although most foods are labelled, some sweets are sold loose in shops and school canteens.

Schools can now expect to be inundated with requests for the ingredients of food and drink on offer to their pupils to be made known.

Jim Stevenson, head of psychology at the University of Southampton, who led the research, said yesterday that he thought there could be swift action against artificial colourants but that it could take longer to phase out use of the preservative sodium benzoate.

At a briefing to publicise the results, however, he said that the FSA’s advice was the most sensible course of action at present. Hyperactive behaviour was also caused by genetic, developmental and emotional factors and a change of diet was not a panacea.

But Richard Watts, food campaigner for the pressure group Sustain, said that the advice would cause confusion. “The agency needs to toughen up the rules quickly. I don’t know why they did not give food companies a deadline to remove the additives. I think as an urgent next step any food with these additives should be classed as junk food and banned from TV advertising to children.” He was also concerned about soft drinks available in schools and wanted the School Foods Trust to review the use of sodium benzoate.

Ian Tokelove, spokesman for the Food Commission, said: “Manufacturers should clean up their act and remove these additives, which are neither needed or wanted in our food”.

The FSA defended its stance and said the matter had to be resolved by the European Commission. Dr Clare Baynton, of the FSA, made it clear that the additives were safe and approved for use in food, and that further assessment was required. She put the onus on parents to monitor their children’s diet. “It is for a parent to know what foods their children are susceptible to and whether their children react to to specific types of food.”

The study builds on tests conducted on the Isle of Wight in 2002 which were inconclusive about links between additives and hyperactivity.

Julian Hunt, of the Food and Drink Federation said: “It is important to reassure consumers that the Southampton study does not suggest there is a safety issue with the use of these additives. In addition, the way in which the additives were tested as a mixture is not how they are used in everyday products.

Baby massage

As well as being an excellent way to bond with your baby, massage is considered to have great benefits for babies.



In a study carried out in the US in 1986, babies in a special care baby unit were massaged for 15 minutes three times a day for ten days. All of the babies were able to go home a week earlier than expected. In a follow-up study a year later, the same babies' IQs were tested and were found to be higher than babies who had been handled routinely.


Other cited advantages of baby massage are that it can help babies who cry excessively, can help with colic and can promote better sleeping patterns.


Perhaps the biggest plus is that virtually all parents can learn to massage their babies. Check with your midwife or health visitor about classes in your area, which are also a great way to meet other mums and babies. You might also want to watch gurgle's baby massage video for a step-by-step guide.

It's very easy to learn baby massage yourself. Here are gurgle’s simple steps to get you started:

Most importantly, you have to make sure that your baby does not get cold. Lay him on a soft towel in a warm room with no drafts. Warm your hands first by covering them in oil and rubbing them together so they are warm to touch.


You will need a towel, nappy, wipes, a clean set of clothes and some massage oil. Protect the area around your baby in case he decides to have a wee half way through.

The best oil to use is olive oil as it is safe on babies' delicate skin. Avoid using aromatherapy oils or oils with nuts in them, like almond oil.


Choose a time when your baby is relaxed and quiet, and make sure you are at least one hour from or before his next feed.

Try not to press too hard on his skin. Even if you yourself enjoy a deep massage it could be dangerous for your baby. Touch your eyelids and use them as a guide to how softly you should be pressing on your baby’s skin. Try to keep one of your hands in contact with your baby’s skin at all times so that he is kept warm by the heat from your hand.



Chest and arms
Undress your baby and lay him on a flat surface on his back. Sit or kneel facing him so you are comfortable. Start by rubbing a generous amount of oil onto both hands and placing them flat onto your baby’s chest. Smooth your hands around the chest area, up over his shoulders and run them all the way down to his toes. Make sure you keep eye contact with him and smile or sing a familiar tune. Now run each of your hands down his arms, trying not to get any oil on his fingers in case he puts them in his eyes. Starting at the top of the arm you can twist your hand around his arm in a gentle circular motion and repeat a few times.



Tummy
Always massage his tummy in clockwise circles rather than anti-clockwise, as his digestive system works clockwise. Place your hand flat on his tummy and rub gently around in circles. This massage can be useful if you have a colicky baby.



Legs
Apply more oil each time you move to a new area so that your hands glide easily over your baby’s skin. Smooth down each leg gently, then hold on to his ankle with your other hand at the top of his other leg. Pull down, gently straightening his leg out. Repeat this with the other leg. Now put your hand at the top of his thigh and twist your hand in a circular motion down his leg to his ankle. Repeat this with the other leg.



Feet
Hold on to one of his legs at the ankle and rub up and down his toes with your other hand. If you put your thumb just underneath his toes on the bottom of his foot he will flex his toes around your fingers. Make sure you get oil between his toes where cotton from his clothes is collected. Repeat this on his other foot then rub up and down each leg again.



Back
Ask your baby if he would like to roll onto his front. Some babies don’t like this but it is a good way to introduce your baby to spending some time on his tummy, which is vital for coordination, balance and postural control which helps babies to reach important milestones like crawling and walking. Take care not to touch his spine, put your hands either side of his back and run them up and down from his shoulders to his toes.


When you have finished, wrap your baby in a warm towel so he does not get too cold and shower him with kisses and cuddles.


The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult your doctor or other healthcare professional.

Thumb sucking

Thumb sucking is very common in babies and young children – in fact, it’s thought that around 70 to 90 percent of babies suck their thumbs. Most of them outgrow the habit by around three to five years of age, but some persist in it (around 15 percent of four year olds still suck their thumb).

Young babies suck their thumbs (and often their fingers too) because sucking is a natural instinct and one of your newborn’s first reflexes. Ultrasound scans show babies sucking their thumbs in the uterus! As your baby grows, mouthing objects is how he learns about them – and his thumb and fingers will constantly find their way to his mouth, Plus, it comforts him, providing him with a sense of security if he feels afraid or is restless or bored, and often helping him settle down into sleep.



When it can cause problems
Thumb sucking can be come an issue if your child still does it once his permanent teeth start to come in, which can happen any time from the age of four onwards. The American Dental Association advises that a child can probably suck his thumb until he is four or five years old without damaging his teeth or jaw line but after this, having a hard thumb in his mouth can cause the permanent teeth to be misaligned and grow outwards, and also can interfere with the proper growth of his mouth and the shape of his palate (roof of the mouth) as he gets older.

While it isn’t such an issue with children who just place their thumb in their mouth, those who suck it vigorously are more likely to have problems and may also find it more difficult to discontinue the habit. The longer your child sucks his thumb the more likely he will be to need orthodontic treatment when he’s older.

Thumb sucking also can interfere with speech development if your child is sucking his thumb instead of chattering, and may result in him lisping and mispronouncing certain letters if the shape of his upper palate is affected.


Breaking the habit
As a rule, thumb sucking up to the age of four is normal and should be ignored, especially if your child uses it as a comfort habit when he’s stressed, unwell or tired.

After this age, and also if he appears to be doing it not for comfort but because he’s bored, distraction is the best way to break the habit, so make sure he has plenty to do – craft projects, puzzles and games that keep his hands busy are particularly effective. Praise your child when he doesn’t suck his thumb, rather than scolding him when he does (and don’t ever forcibly remove his thumb from his mouth), and have a reward chart with gold stars he can put on it for every hour and more he goes without sucking his thumb.

If you notice that he does it when nervous or anxious, try to avoid situations that might cause him worry and distress. If he tends to do it while holding his lovey or comfort blanket, or when watching TV, try to break the association by taking way the item or switching off the TV. Nighttime thumb sucking can be hardest to break, but placing a tube sock on his hand may help. It also can help to put a band aid on the thumb he sucks (if this seems to be working, replace it frequently to ensure it’s clean.

With an older child, try using a bitter-tasting non-toxic coating you can paint on to put him off (your pediatrician or pharmacist can recommend one) – but keep an eye on your child to make sure he doesn’t just switch to using the other thumb! An older child is also at an age where he should be able to understand how he might be affecting his teeth by sucking his thumb, so show him how they might be growing outwards and also get your dentist to explain how it can affect his teeth.

If you notice your newborn or young baby is sucking his thumb, consider offering him a pacifier. It is an easier habit to break in the toddler years because you can just take it away, whereas you can’t remove your child’s thumb!


When to seek advice
In some cases, thumb sucking after age five may red flag an emotional problem or anxiety disorder. If your child gets particularly upset when you try to stop him sucking his thumb, displays other nervous behaviors such as hair pulling, or has speech problems because of it, ask your pediatrician for referral to a specialist. You should also seek advice if your child is attending preschool or kindergarten and his teacher reports that he is sucking his thumb in class. Consult your dentist if your child’s permanent teeth are growing in crooked because of the habit.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.

Pregnancy beauty tricks

Here at gurgle we know that when you’re pregnant you don’t always feel your most glamorous. While some mums-to-be have thick, glossy hair, strong nails and look and feel positively blooming, other expectant mums have to contend with greasy skin, lank hair, swollen ankles and stretch marks!

While there is no way of guaranteeing that you won’t fall into the latter rather than the former category, there are ways in which you can make yourself feel better about yourself during pregnancy.

Here are gurgle’s tricks of the trade:


1) Pamper yourself! Treat yourself to a pregnancy massage; this will help to relax you and increase your chances of having a good night’s sleep. It will also make you feel like a million dollars!


2) As previously mentioned, some mums-to-be find that their skin becomes a bit greasy in pregnancy. Combat this by giving yourself a facial (or face mask at least!) once a week or – if the finances will stretch – have one done professionally.

3) Eat plenty of fresh fruit and veg. Of course you should be doing this anyway, but it’s more important than ever when you’re pregnant. As well as nourishing your unborn baby, this will help to condition your skin, hair and nails.


4) Get lots of sleep! The more sleep you get the better you will feel; fatigue is a common side-effect of early pregnancy and you really need to listen to your body. Obviously you can’t nod off when you’re at work, but try to get as many early nights as you can. Read our Top ten tips for a good night’s sleep to learn more.


5) Do you suffer from pesky stretch marks? Although there’s no miracle cure, there are certain things you can do to help. Invest in a great moisturizer to keep your skin super-hydrated at all times. Many people swear by cocoa butter to reduce the appearance of stretch marks. It’s also important to drink lots of water. Top tip: Wear a good support bra – this will make you less likely to develop stretch marks on your breasts.


6) Take some gentle exercise, such as walking, swimming or yoga. This will help you to feel better in both body and mind and will also help to prepare your body for birth and ensure that you don’t gain an excessive amount of weight. You shouldn’t do anything too strenuous during pregnancy; consult our feature on Recommended exercises and Exercises to avoid and watch our video on Safe exercising for mums-to-be for more tips.


7) You may also find that you experience skin pigmentation changes in pregnancy. You might notice patches of colour appearing on your skin; this is known as chloasma. You can help to counteract this by eating lots of green leafy vegetables, fruit and cereal. These are all great sources of folic acid so will not only benefit your skin but will promote your baby’s healthy development and reduce the likelihood of him having spina bifida. If you are feeling self-conscious about chloasma, ask a pharmacist or beauty therapist if they can recommend a foundation that might help to cover it up.


8) Take a mini-break with your other half! This may not sound like a beauty trick, but it will help to de-stress you. You can spend a long weekend reading, lounging by the pool and taking advantage of any beauty treatments on offer (make sure you inform the beautician that you are pregnant).


9) Have your hair done! Using hair dyes is not usually recommended in pregnancy, but you can still treat yourself to a nice cut and blow dry and – if you’re feeling daring – a new style!


10) Indulge in a bit of retail therapy. You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg, but you can treat yourself to a special maternity outfit or two to make yourself feel special. Then you and hubby can go out for a ‘date’ and you can wear your new clothes. Maybe treat yourself to a makeover too!

Baby Names

Naming a baby can be easy. It can also be agonizing - especially when you and your partner cannot agree. Some people choose their names before the birth while others wait to meet the baby and then discover that a certain name just 'fits.' Baby naming can be more complicated if coupled by baby naming traditions. Some European nations, for instance, observe baby naming customs which usually involve a small gathering of family and friends. The main purpose of the event, the naming of the baby, is celebrated with a hearty meal and a shower of new baby flowers. This custom is then followed with a story telling session describing how the parents came up with this particular name. So you see, baby naming is much more complex than simply bestowing a combination of letters and syllables.

And baby naming is much more difficult than purchasing crib bedding because, after all, you can always return a baby bedding set if you don't like it.

One of the top questions expectant parents hear all the time is "Do you have a name picked out?" Choose a Baby Name will help you decide what name is right for your little one.

Everyone always has suggestions about what parents should name their baby. Often, those suggestions may be based on recommended baby names. But some of those names might just be too strange for you. The best tool is a great list of names. Write down your favorites and have your partner do the same. Then go through each list and narrow them down to a select few.

For some help on finding the perfect name, Most Popular Baby Names has a thorough list for both boys and girls. Maybe you're looking for something more original? Our Baby Names Meanings section will provide you with an extensive list of girls' and boys' names plus their origin and meaning.

Maybe you've already thought of a great baby name. If so, tell us your baby boy or baby girl names!

Resources:
For more help in choosing baby names, visit babynamescountry.com or All Baby Names, some of the largest databases on the internet for baby name meanings, origins, and much more!

Baby Names Database - A vast library of informative articles and guides to multiple aspects of pregnancy, health advice and postpartum topics. Includes a comprehensive resource for given names and their meanings, categorized by various ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

The Pill and Pregnancy

Since its inception, the birth control pill has become one of the most popular methods of birth control in North America. It is used by more than 16 million American women and 60 million women worldwide. Not surprisingly, though, many women taking the pill worry about how it can affect pregnancy. How many women get pregnant while taking the pill? Can the pill interfere with fertility? Before you begin taking the birth control pill, it is a good idea to become as informed as possible about the pill and pregnancy.

What is the Birth Control Pill?
The birth control pill was introduced in North America in the 1960s. It is a once-daily pill that helps to prevent pregnancy, thus allowing women more control over their own fertility. Birth control pills contain a combination of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. These hormones work to prevent pregnancy by inhibiting ovulation. Without ovulation, fertilization and pregnancy cannot occur. The pill is highly effective and there are numerous types of birth control pills available on the market today.

Birth Control Pill Derivatives
In the past years, researchers have developed alternatives to the birth control pill, which also use estrogen and progesterone to prevent pregnancy. The birth control patch is as a transdermal adhesive that can be applied to your skin. The patch then releases hormones into your bloodstream to prevent ovulation. The birth control ring is a soft, flexible device that is placed inside your vagina. Like the patch, this ring also releases hormones that work to stop ovulation. These contraceptives are also highly effective and becoming very popular.

Birth Control Failure Rates
Unfortunately, the pill and its derivatives are not 100% foolproof when it comes to pregnancy. Average failure rates are:


Birth Control Pill: 2 in 100
Birth Control Patch: 1-2 in 100
Birth Control Ring: 1-2 in 100
The birth control pill, ring, and patch can be up to 99.9% effective, if taken perfectly. However, few women are able to take the pill perfectly, forgetting to take the pill at the same time everyday or skipping a day accidentally. For this reason, average failure rates for the birth control pill are higher. The pill, patch, and ring can be compromised for a variety of different reasons.

Factors Affecting Birth Control
The pill, patch, and ring can become less effective if they are taken with certain medications. The antibiotic Ramifiren, certain antifungal medications, specific antiseizure medicines, and St. John’s Wort can all reduce the effectiveness of these forms of birth control Taking the pill, patch, or ring incorrectly can also impair their effectiveness.

Factors Affecting the Pill

missing a pill or taking the pill inconsistently
taking the pill at different times of the day
starting the pill late

Factors Affecting the Patch

moving the patch to different areas on your body during the week
removing the patch for more than three hours

Factors Affecting the Ring

exposure to high temperatures or sunlight
removing the ring for more than four hours
leaving the ring in for more than three weeks
Getting Pregnant on the Pill
Many women worry about the effects that the birth control pill may have on a growing fetus. Some women do become pregnant while on the pill. There is no evidence to show that the pill will harm your baby in any way. Babies exposed to the pill are not at increased risk for developing complications or birth defects.

Pregnancy After the Pill
There is no reason to worry about becoming pregnant after you stop taking the pill. The pill will in no way affect your fertility and more than 90% of pill-users become pregnant within a year of coming off the pill. This being said, it does take some women longer to become pregnant after stopping the pill.

Typically, it takes about three months for full fertility to return. Some women may find that it takes closer to six months for them to become pregnant. Other women become pregnant immediately after going off of the of the pill. It really depends upon your body’s own natural cycle. Though you can try to get pregnant immediately after coming off of the pill, it is usually recommended that you wait a little while. Allow your body to go through one or two regular menstrual cycles. This will help your body get back in sync again, and will also help you to pinpoint your ovulation dates.

If you are trying to get pregnant after using the pill, here are some tips that may help you improve your chances.


Eat as nutritiously as possible.
Begin taking folic acid supplements.
Quit smoking.
Limit your intake of alcohol.
Try to manage your stress.