Oral Care: Brushing Kid's Teeth

I'm not sure if it is working or not (because I don't know where Jack Jack has kept his toothbrush after this). I just know that he's interested and happy while we were brushing his teeth.

First we watched these toothpaste commercials on YouTube:

Then I took Jack Jack to the bathroom with me. Put a bit of his toothpaste on his toothbrush. Did the same thing on mine. Showed him how to do it. Handed his toothbrush to him. Sing a bit of the ad commercial while brushing. Works like magic!



Problem occurred when he didn't want to stop brushing. He'd cry if I take the toothbrush away so I let him hold it for a while. Next thing I know, the toothbrush is nowhere in sight!

We have tried to find where the toothbrush went to no avail. Time to buy another one. I'll try remember not to leave it with him no matter what.

Starting Solids

I started giving Jack Jack solids at around 7 or 8 months. I wasn’t in any hurry. I knew my milk would be enough. Besides, I cannot find (from research) a good reason for me to start feeling him solids early. Actually, around 7 to 8 months was the time I saw his readiness for solids.

So, yeah! Being my stubborn self, my Mom and I used to debate on what to give and what not to give. She was talking from experience and I was talking from the latest research.

Jack Jack would practically open his mouth for anything that you offer him. Potato, squash, banana, carrot, sweet potato, cauliflower, broccoli and most especially, avocado.

Anyways, after a while, he would refuse everything but cereals. And lately, I would need to get him to laugh or play with me before he opens his mouth. If he does open his mouth for a bite, he would taste it for a while then push it out with his tongue. So much for all the work that’s been done! Anyways, after a few more bites and playing around, he would swallow the food without pushing anything out.

At least now he’s eating it. I’m pretty much adjusting his cereals intake. I mix it with other fruits or vegetables just so he would think it is just cereals and gradually adjusting it to be more food than cereals until he can eat the food without cereals.

Another problem I’m trying to solve is his ability to screen the food that is put in his mouth. If the mashed food is anything bigger than the usual size, he would push it out. It seems like he’s got a built-in strainer in his mouth. I try to mash the food to as small as it can be. Or sometimes if I get lucky, he swallows it anyways.

He now has 4 upper and 4 lower teeth for biting. I’m thinking it could be his reflex that makes him push out bigger pieces of food since he can’t chew it yet. However, how come he likes munching on biscuits?

From an article I read before (sorry, I can’t remember where), it says that at his age, he wants to feed himself. This is probably why he’s got this much appetite on biscuits. So, I tried to place the spoon on his hand with the food and he put it in his mouth. Yay! I’m not sure if I am ready for some really messy Jack Jack but I guess I am willing to try.

I’m still looking for other ways to encourage him to eat more “people food”. I am also trying to feed him solids at least an hour after our nursing sessions just to ensure he isn’t so full from it.

If you have any suggestions for me (I hope), violent reactions, comments, I’m very interested to hear it.

Super thanks to my Mom for her patience with me and Jack Jack and Crizzny for lots of inputs on feeding.

Twitter + Tiggerlily = @Twiggerlily

Lately, I've been twittering. It is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read each others' updates. All you have to do is answer the question, "What are you doing?"

At first, I thought it is just a redundant thing and I do not see anybody following my twitter account. Then I thought, whatever! I'm blogging anyways... without really thinking who's going to read it. But hey! YOU! are reading it... Aren't you? Gotcha!

If you're interested to twitter, you can sign up from here. If you want to follow me on twitter (why?), you can can click here or on the follow me on Twitter link at the left hand side of my blog.

For a Twitter tutorial, I've found this from The Organized Mom. A complete Help documentation for Twitter can be found here.


By TwitterButtons.com

Breastfeeding Tips

I missed blogging about breastfeeding. Since a friend has just given birth and 4 more are on the way, I'm dedicating this post to them. If you have a problem with nudity, don't bother watching the videos.



- If you wish to unlatch, you can either use your smallest finger to push his jaw down to break the suction or cover his nose with one finger. Do not pull the baby as this will result to sore nipples.

- Cleaning your nipples once a day or taking a bath should be enough. Cleaning your nipples more than this would dry it resulting to sore nipples. Nipples has its natural oils that moisturizes the nipple area. Thus, cleaning will strip this oils away.



- If you're building a milk supply before you go back to work, you can also pump your other breast while the baby is nursing. Your let down would be much faster since the baby is suckling on your other breast.

- Relax or look at your baby's picture or video while pumping away from baby. This will help you with the let-down.

The additional tips above are from personal and friend's experiences that I never get to read online or on books. For more information on breastfeeding, visit the kellymom website.

UPDATE: There's now 5 on the way!!! Congratulations!

Jack Jack's First Birthday - Part 1

Last week, my little Jack Jack turned one. Along with this, I have decided to call him Jack Jack online from now on. Apparently, for his privacy and safety purposes.

Like it or not, I'm back. I haven't been posting for a long time because of the preparations I did for his birthday. His real birthday's May 15 but it was celebrated on the 17th. I'm still waiting for the pictures from the official photographer - yes, I hired one because the pictures would last a lifetime and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't do as good a job as his because I'd be busy the whole time.

For now, I'll post pictures of what I DIYed for the party. I created all the layouts from downloaded images from the internet using Adobe Photoshop CS2.

Invites



I had the invite layout printed in 4x6 matte finish for Php7 each. I bought magnetic sheets from the local bookstore so guests can stick it on their fridge. Glue them together after cutting to size. I also printed the maps on colored papers unused from our wedding. The envelopes were from my Mom so it's free.



Personalized Tumbler Souvenirs



Again, I did the layout from Adobe Photoshop CS2. Then I printed the images on A4 size bond papers. The tumblers I bought from another supplier. I used double sided tape to affix the images in the tumbler.



Stage Backdrop



Standee



Both the Stage Backdrop and Standee was printed on tarpaulin. I was lucky to find this vendor along Aurora Boulevard that charges only Php17/square foot for rush tarpaulin printing 4 days before the event. I thought I needed to go to Recto to get the same price. I was also able to find tarpaulin stand from National Bookstore for Php188. Whew! Most of the stands costed Php700++!

Table Centerpiece



This idea came from a fellow GirlTalker mommy_vicky. They are just your regular rubber mat only that they are uber small that you can practically build toy blocks out of it. Thanks sis!

Lootbags



Once again, I got lucky that I found these small Incredibles backpacks. Otherwise, I would have to make do with Incredibles paper bags. Contents would differ according to age and gender.

Baby Lootbag contents:



Older kids Lootbag contents:



These contents can either be for a boy or girl. The only difference with the other contents is that it has Disney Cars instead of Winnie the Pooh. I wasn't able to capture an image of that.

Coloring Pages

I also printed coloring pages of the Incredibles downloaded from different sites. Then I provided crayolas to be place on the kid's tables. It was supposed to be coloring books for the kids but I didn't have enough time to have them binded.

Once I get the complete pictures from the photographer, I'll post Part 2. Whew! I'm so glad that it's done! I can now breathe!

Momsicles

We're still waiting for Jack Jack's first tooth. It hasn't decided to show itself yet. In the meantime, teethers or just about anything he can put his hands on without me goes into Jack Jack's mouth to bite into. I've bought him teethers but not the ones with waters and gels inside it - I'm afraid it would burst one day and he would ingest the contents. When I want him to bite into something cool, I'd pop one of the frozen breastmilk from the freezer and put it in his feeder. From the looks of it, he likes it very much.