Archive for September, 2008
Remember Goldilocks testing all the beds in Mama, Papa and Baby Bear’s house till she found the one that was just right for her? Anyone buying a mattress would be well-advised to do the same thing even today. For not only is it a long-term investment, the wrong one or one past its use by date could give you a pain in the neck. If you’ve been waking up feeling stiff and tired or with a backache even after a good night’s sleep, the chances are your mattress is to blame.
In our grandparents’ time, buying a mattress wasn’t much of a problem since there was only one type available — stuffed with coir. We have an embarrassment of riches, from the regular spring and foam types to the therapeutic ones. “We have a variety of mattresses, right from coir to rubberised foam. We even have orthopaedic ones for people who suffer from problems of the spinal cord. These help get rid of backaches and prevent other spinal cord related ailments,” says S. Chowdhury of Kurlon Ltd, Calcutta.
However, with options galore consumers seem a bit dazed when it comes to selecting the right mattress, especially since they do not know what to look for. “A mattress that keeps your spine in proper alignment by maintaining the optimum body curvature is the right one. Sleeping on such a mattress will not only be comfortable but help maintain your spine in the correct posture,” says Dr Ranjan Kamilya, senior consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Apollo Gleaneagles Hospital, Calcutta.
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She’s cutting a tooth.
She’s hitting a developmental transition.
She’s just back from a trip or you’ve just had an overnight guest.
She’s had a change in environment - for instance, a light is coming through from outside or a neighbor’s dog is barking.
Because your child is verbal, talk to her about what may be happening that is translating into her nighttime sleep issue. You want to make sure there isn’t something going on emotionally with your child that is legitimately distressing her.
For instance, she may be adjusting to starting camp or preschool, or grappling with potty training, or perhaps a new baby has entered the family.
“There may be something churning inside of them that they need to process,” Waldburger says.
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BASIC IS BEST!
When you’re crib shopping, you may be tempted to buy the showiest model, and bumper guards and coverlets that say your nursery is fit for a prince or princess. Resist the temptation. The safest cribs are basic; they have simple lines and no scrollwork or finials–infants can strangle if their clothing gets caught in such detail work. Heeding this advice will get you a safer crib and it will save you money.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the best sleeping arrangement for a newborn is a full-size crib or safety-approved bassinet or cradle; it advises keeping your baby’s crib, cradle, or bassinet in your bedroom until she’s at least 6 months old. After that, it’s fine to move the crib to the nursery. But we think full-size cribs, which are federally regulated, are better than bassinets and cradles, for which there are only voluntary standards.
Place your baby’s crib well away from windows, window blinds, wall hangings, curtains, toys, and other furniture so that an adventurous baby can’t get at anything dangerous.
For safety’s sake, monitor your child’s development closely and stop using a crib as soon as your toddler can climb out. At that point, consider a bed with child railings or put the mattress on the floor. Don’t put your child back into the crib after the first “escape,” regardless of his age. A child attempting to climb out of a crib can fall and be seriously injured.
Buy new. If possible, avoid buying or accepting a used crib. Older models may not meet current safety standards or may be in disrepair. If you must use an older crib, avoid those built before 2000, about a year after the latest voluntary standards for slat-attachment strength took effect. (Check the manufacture date on the crib label, which is required by law.) Currently, 12 states have laws banning the sale of unsafe used cribs or prohibiting their use in child-care facilities. Your state may have such a law.
Decide about drop sides. Do you want a crib with both sides that drop so that you can get your baby from either side, a crib with one side that drops, or one with stationary sides? Deciding first about drop sides will narrow the selection and make shopping easier. If you’re considering a crib with no drop sides–the most stable approach–be sure to test models in the store. Cribs with stationary sides have less hardware (less chance of missing or broken parts), but if you are not tall, it can be hard to get your baby. Use the mattress’ lowest setting to see how easy it is for you to bend in and pick up your baby.
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