Fresh Fruit & Fresh Mint

Today we picked fresh mint from the garden and mixed it with our fresh fruit.

Bead Maze Table

I have this bead maze table for two reasons. First, because it is the perfect height for little ones to practice pulling-up. My daughter actually pulled up for the first time on it. The second is for fine motor practice - the little ones love moving the little beads around.

 

 

Little Friends, Great Time!

We had been outside for a little while when the older children began climbing onto the bench. Seeing all of their big smiles, I thought a mini photo shoot was in order. :)

I just love these faces!

 

Tiny Explorer

The Montessori parent fosters a love of learning by encouraging baby's uninterrupted exploration of the environment. Providing a safe, 'child-proof' room or area of the house can help mom & dad feel comfortable allowing the tiny explorer to crawl around for hours at a time. (In the Montessori classroom, children are encouraged to do a three hour work cycle so allowing baby to play or "work" uninterrupted on the weekends is great.)
Of course, providing a variety of sensorial materials is helpful too! At my house, we have an adjoining formal living & dining room as well as a den which are all connected by the entry hall. I've set up a gate which separates the upstairs from this area and another gate which separates the rest of the downstairs (kitchen, casual living room, breakfast room, laundry).
In the morning, after her first diaper and change of clothes, I put my 8 month old on the floor and she's off! Crawling to the 'work shelf', she's immediately excited to go about her day - pulling whichever box of sensorial materials she's interested in playing with - or as the Montessorian would say, "she's choosing her work". This morning, it was the basket of fake foods. (Each day, we have sensorial exercises with REAL foods so she can smell, taste, touch and even help prepare the real food. But for some reason, I find that children really enjoy this little basket of fake foods so I've allowed them onto the workshelf for now...)
I sat with her for a few minutes, smiling as she picked up that white egg and started mouthing it.. We took a little picture and sent it to daddy who is working at the office. Then, after a few minutes, I got up and went about my daily chores.... (returning every couple minutes to glance in of course!)... switching over the laundry, loading the dishwasher, emptying the hampers and starting her breakfast. After a bout 25/30 minutes, her babbling turned to an 'eh, ehh' so I went in, received a big smile as I picked her up and we headed to the breakfast table! I love how she can communicate even at this young age with the littlest sounds - I try to pay special attention to changes in her babbling so that I can respond right away to her needs before she becomes upset.
We repeat this cycle of work time, exploration, meal time, exploration, nap, etc., all day long. It's a cycle of picking up toys, cleaning up messes, re-setting the environment, and starting all over again... It is a lot of work, but truly, I just love being a stay at home mom with a tiny explorer....

My Recommendations for Colicky Babies

I've recently gotten lots of questions about my personal recommendations on what works for me when I care for a colicky baby. So, I thought I'd share here on my blog...
First, chart the times when your baby cries in an attempt to distinguish a pattern of crying. For example, in my latest experience caring for a colicky newborn, I found that the infant would begin crying about an hour after each feeding. This would last 30 minutes to an hour. Then, the infant would rest or fall asleep for about an hour, then wake up for the next feeding. Since the feedings were three hours apart, it was easy to distinguish the hour by hour pattern.
Second, find ways to reduce environmental stimulation. In my infant care environment, I play very soft music, usually ocean sounds, rain sounds or slow and quiet lullabies. I do this even when the children are awake. These calming sounds communicate to the infant that their environment is safe and peaceful. It also sends a signal to adults - shh! - this environment is for the babies so please speak softly, move slowly and touch gently. Also in my infant care environment, I make sure that the lighting is as natural as possible with the blinds open and soft light bulbs are in the ceiling fan above (no florescent). All colors in the environment are muted (walls are tan, carpet is eggshell, cribs are a natural light color of wood, sheets and blankets are pastel). And if another infant becomes upset, their needs are met immediately which reduces agitation to the other infants nearby. Butterflies float naturally on mobiles above the cribs, however, the infants playing in the environment sometimes choose to gaze up at them. These mobiles do not play music and they are not electronic. The natural air flow in the room slowly moves the butterflies about and the children find these appropriately stimulating and calming (these also assist with the development of eye-tracking abilities). Low mirrors are accessible for the infant who is practicing tummy time or lying on their side. Having the ability to observe the other infants or their own face in the floor mirror is soothing and comforting to the infant. Of course, the adult is in the environment as well, providing a sense of security, promoting peacefulness in the environment, and redirecting the infants toward appropriate activities and materials as the infants become ready.
Third, identify ways that your baby is soothed during a colicky episode. I find that swaddling the infant, sitting in a rocking chair away from all other noise (even away from soft music), lowering the lights, holding the infant securely to the chest and rocking while offering the infant with pacifier usually helps. Even when the infant stops crying, I continue to hold her for about 30-45 minutes in case she is only temporarily soothed - I don't want to interrupt her feeling of security by putting her down too soon. And the adult will most likely enjoy this peaceful bonding time with the baby... I especially enjoy this period of time. Here are some other things to keep in mind and try if you're still identifying what works:

• Be consistent. Once you've identified what works, it is important to respond that way every single time. This predictability will bring an even stronger sense of security for your baby and most likely, as you maintain consistency, the soothing of your baby will come sooner and sooner.
• Don't panic. Remember that infants are very sensitive. If your baby senses hightened anxiety, their anxiety will be hightened too. If you are feeling anxious, have a friend or family member give you a break until you feel comfortable coming back to sooth the baby.
• Be gentle. Remember that colic is not your fault nor your baby's fault. Being gentle will go a long way in helping your baby get through the crying spell. Close your eyes and take a deep breath before picking up your baby and remember, never be rough or shake your baby.... the crying is temporary but the effects of shaking your baby are not.
• Be proactive. Infant massage has beneficial affects including the reduction of colic - so massage your baby every day! Changing the infant's formula or your own diet if you are breastfeeding may help. Never allow anyone to smoke around your baby. Go for a car ride before an expected episode as car rides can be very soothing for infants. Provide white noise if this helps your baby - you may choose to play white noise at night instead of lullabies and also during a crying spell to help soothe your baby.

And please remember that you know your baby better than anyone else ~ if you find something else that works, I'd love to hear your soothing solution.

Colic - What is it? What causes it? What to do...

What is colic?
All babies cry, but sometimes a baby will cry for hours at a time, no matter what you do. This extreme type of crying in a baby between 3 weeks and 3 months of age is called colic. Although it is upsetting for parents and caregivers, colic is normal for some babies.

Doctors usually diagnose colic when a healthy baby cries harder than expected in a "3" pattern: more than 3 hours a day more than 3 days a week for at least 3 weeks in a row. Colic is usually worst when babies are around 6 to 8 weeks of age and goes away on its own between 8 and 14 weeks of age.

It is common to feel scared, upset, or frustrated when you cannot get your baby to stop crying. But remember that colic is normal-and temporary. Your baby will grow out of it.
What causes colic?
Doctors are not sure what causes colic, but it may be the result of a baby's sensitive temperament and an immature nervous system. These things may make a baby cry easily and have trouble stopping. As babies grow and develop, they are better able to control their crying.
Colic is not related to health conditions, such as digestion problems. But having gas in the belly can make crying worse.
Colic is not caused by pain or illness. If you think your baby is crying because he or she is hurt or sick, call your doctor.
Colic is not your fault or your baby’s fault. It doesn't mean that you are a bad parent or that anything is wrong with your baby.
What are the symptoms?
Most babies will cry less when they are held, fed, and given attention. These things may not work for babies who have colic. When they are crying, they may clench their fists and stiffen their stomach and legs. Some babies arch their back, while others pull up their legs to their stomach.
Vomiting, diarrhea, fever, or blood or mucus in the stool is not a symptom of colic. If your baby has any of these symptoms, he or she needs to be checked by a doctor.
How is colic diagnosed?
If you are worried about your baby's crying, see your doctor or talk about it at your baby's next routine checkup. To make sure that crying is colic, your doctor may do a physical exam and ask you about your baby's past health, what comforting techniques you have tried, and whether you have noticed any other symptoms. You may also be asked about how the crying affects you and to show how you burp your baby. Your doctor may suggest that you keep track of when and how often your baby cries.
If your baby has any symptoms that worry you, such as vomiting or a fever, your doctor may do lab tests or X-rays to find out what is causing them.
What can you do?
It may help to see if there is a pattern to your baby’s crying. Many babies cry most in the late afternoon and evening hours. If you notice that your baby cries at certain times of day, you can try holding your baby more before those times. But during expected fussy times, limit visitors, keep noise and lights low, and touch your baby only if needed.
After crying starts, try rocking your baby in a quiet room, or take him or her out for a walk in a front-pack carrier or stroller. Some babies are soothed by riding in a car or listening to a droning sound, like a fan or a clothes dryer.
Do what you can to comfort your baby, but accept that sometimes nothing works. If you feel stressed or worn out, ask a friend or family member to give you a break. Take good care of yourself, and remember that colic will go away soon.
for original article: click here