Although the hubby and I have been taking care of babies for seven years, we’re always open to the latest and greatest in advice. What cracked me up when we had our twins in November was not the updated recommendations in newborn care, but just how much conflicting advice I got! In fact, I would literally have one nurse in my room telling me one thing, a shift change would happen and the next nurse would tell me the opposite! So, I’m breaking down the FIVE differing opinions I was given on things and what ultimately worked for me.
5. Alcohol on the Belly Button:
Boy! This topic has gone back and forth with each birth. In November, we were told they no longer recommend applying alcohol to the scab left after the cord is cut on our newborns’ tummies, so we followed their advice.
Our poor little babies’ belly buttons did NOT look so red hot. In fact, one of our twins had enough blood coming out of hers to make a hormonal mom unsettled. At our first pediatrician appointment, I asked the doctor what to do about the blood and he said: Apply alcohol! Guess what – after just a few short diaper changes later, the bleeding stopped, and the scab fell off before we knew it. I’m a fan.
What works for me: Applying alcohol to the belly button scab with a Q-tip.
4. Adjusting Your Babies Nose During Breastfeeding
After struggling with my first two babies with breastfeeding, I don’t mess around. I ALWAYS ask to see the lactation consultant and want every piece of advice I can get. However, at the hospital, the lactation consultant continued to call me out every time I placed my finger on my breast, ultimately freeing my baby’s nasal passage so she could breath. The consultant said that their noses are made to breath through the sides and over and over again she told me to stop (I couldn’t help myself). AND THEN, a shift change and a new nurse could NOT believe that I wasn’t helping my baby breath!
What works for me: Listen, the baby couldn’t breath and would unlatch (and how coveted is that latch during the newborn phase especially!) to catch her breath. I firmly believe in giving your baby air!
3. Lansinoh (a.ka. Lanolin) vs. Colostrum
Each nurse at our recent hospital stay was in agreement that they no longer recommend Lansinoh, a nipple cream soother that I had not only relied on with my first three babies, but was also given to me at the same exact hospital during my 2008 delivery. The current recommendation is that the colostrum and or milk as it comes in is the best way to soothe aching, cracking skin.
What works for me: However, when I got home, my, um, nipples hurt so I broke out the Lansinoh that a friend had given me as a shower gift. And it was very soothing. In fact, if I skipped applying it after a feeding, I found the next feeding was more painful. In short, I recommend the Lansinoh!
2. Tummy Time
Yes, I know, babies hate it. That’s what I declared when I first learned about this essential exercise with my first-born. I was encouraged to do it regardless because of the indisputable benefits (building muscle strength, preparing the babies head, neck and arms for crawling, avoiding flat head, etc. etc.). With each consecutive baby, we started tummy time straight out of the gate. Yes, they each initially hated it, too, but before long they loved it and it actually even gave me some freedom with them happy to be placed on the ground. Since they couldn’t sit yet, everywhere I went (story time with the big kids, etc.) I could place them on their tummy and they were good to go.
However, THIS TIME the hospital said not to do Tummy Time until the belly button scab fell off.
What works for me: When I asked my pediatrician if we should wait, he scoffed and encouraged us to get started right away.
1. Highlands Teething Tablets
I have long since sworn by these teething tablets. When I have a baby with a new tooth coming in and their pain strikes in the middle of the night (of course, right?), I learned after first baby just to pop a couple of these in (after dissolving in water) and the whole fam can get back to sleep. In fact, I swear up and down by them and recommended them to my brother. Guess what? My nephew would start to shake when they gave him some!
What works for me: A month before having my twins, there was a Highlands recall! Can you say bad auntie? I think I’ll stick to Orajel going forward (sure am going to miss you Highlands!)
So, what does alllll of this conflicting advice boil down to? ALWAYS TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS.
(NOTE: Please, please check with your pediatrician before following any advice.)
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Loved your post. Research tells us that new (or, new again) mothers just HATE getting inconsistent advice … and yet, it is probably impossible to devise “rules” that will apply to all babies, everywhere!
Hooray for you for simply taking in the information and advice, and then coming to the solution that seemed to fit your family, and make sense to your mother-heart.
– From an IBCLC who gives compromise advice: I suggest that a mom doesn’t “have to” make an airway for her BFg baby, but if she is itching to do so, just GO AHEAD. They are her breasts and her baby. I do caution not to press too hard (and possibly block ducts), and to think about pressing toward the baby’s nose (since a lot of nipples get re-positioned into an ouchy shallow latch when breast tissue is manipulated for breathing purposes).
Just another belly button idea. In Germany, where I had my first 2 kids, they recommend breast milk for healing the belly button. (Yes, just squirt a few drops in:) They also recommend breast milk for infant “acne”, in baby´s bath (if you are lucky enough to have that much extra milk) and in the nose for conjestion.
thanks! Great article for expectant moms to read!
My son only sort of liked the teething tablets (there is another brand, Humphrey’s, that are pretty much the same as Hyland’s) but he LOVES teething strips. They are like Listerine strips and come individually packaged and dissolve in the mouth. They’re cherry-flavored. I don’t use them only for teething but also for when my son is really upset and seems inconsolable. I get one of those out and he starts to calm down just seeing it in my hand. I would try some to see if your kids like them. My son absolutely refused Orajel. I can always find the teething strips at Walgreens.
Liz — thank you for the advice. I’m always interested in new POVs.
Caitlin — ditto! And I love the power of breast milk! Definitely do not have extra though… that post is coming next week
Dana — thank you and looking forward to meeting your li’l dude when he arrives this summer!
Elizabeth — my twins are about to start teething any minute if I go by my other babies… I want to try those strips! Thank you for the suggestion.
This is interesting but it seems like you make the mess worse by adding your own advice at the end, even if it is clearly marked as such. I guess the point is that some things aren’t worth sweating. It’s worth mentioning that there are other options aside from lanolin (I swear by Earth Mama Angel Baby nipple cream!). Looks like someone else already mentioned the Humphreys.
You can squirt breastmilk on just about anything with positive effects it seems like! I wonder if it’d work as plant fertilizer.