by Linda Foss | Dec 5, 2016 | Boogie Bulb Blog |
Nobody wants a cold, that is a fact. In the office we actually call it the plague when viruses begin to make the rounds and co-workers drop like flies. It is rough when adults get stricken with this malady (maybe a little dramatic but true), but it is even worse when our littles get sick. Colds are a common viral infection that affect the respiratory system – all of it. As if to add insult to injury we get really frustrated and annoyed when we are cursed with a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, headaches and body aches. As a mom it is tough to see your toddlers suffering from colds with their weepy eyes and runny noses.
The old saying “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is especially true when we look at our health and the health of our children. One of the topics we have found that focuses on this preventative type of medicine is Homeopathic treatment. These medicines are typically made from natural substances so they’re absolutely safe and usually have no side effects. According to professional homeopaths, when you’ve experienced colds more than twice in a year it is better to seek help to fortify your immune system. We say that our family members’ health is our wealth. We have complied 7 Homeopathic Remedies which can help keep you well all year long (no trip to the doc needed). Some may view these methods as antiquated, they have been proven to work time and again. As a matter of fact, I have not used my inhaler for several years because I have an essential oil blend that actually works better (this is not recommended for everyone, I just know it works for me – consult your doctor before you change up your meds). We have detailed several homeopathic remedies and the symptoms they have been used to successfully treat. Hope you are able to use some of these to ease your pain and suffering this cold and flu season.
ACONITE NAPELLUS
POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS: Dry painful cough, high body temperature and sensitivity to light, watery mucous, thirsty most of the time, bright red nose bleed, hot red cheeks, perspiration on uncovered parts of the body, runny nose, restlessness, anxiety.
Aconite is a very handy remedy that every family needs close by. This is suitable mainly during the first 24 hours after the onset of a cold. After being exposed to dry cold weather folks that are sniffling and sneezing or kiddos have increased odds of getting colds or a cough. Aconite napellus is of great help when your child has a stuffy nose and is sneezing a lot.
BELLADONNA
POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS: Dry with high fever, red face, throbbing headache/pain, patient radiates heat, dry cough, eyes dilated, cold extremities.
Belladonna should be considered when there’s a rapid stopping of nasal discharge accompanied by throbbing, headache, and a high fever. When your infants have pain in their throat caused by the cold, this medicine can help soothe their pain. Usually when you touch their skin, it is dry and they don’t want to drink water. Their larynx is dry and it aches when they swallow food or drink a small amount of water. Belladonna can also help children who have uncontrollable convulsions because of its calming effect on the nervous system. It is a great medication for treating flu symptoms and alleviates fever quickly. The herb is essentially used for tonsillitis, extreme headaches and sore throats.
EUPHRASIA
POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS: large amounts of fluid from nose, can feel little pain all over the body during the night, heat descends the body, violent cough, chills, pressing pain under sternum, sweats only on the front of the body, coughing typically during the daytime.
Your child needs euphrasia if you’ve seen the symptoms given above. The white of their eyes gets reddened and it gets worse in the open air. Their cough lightens when they just lay down so you have to give your children a rest. Euphrasia has antioxidant properties and it is also effective for various kinds of eye problems. It relieves whatever allergic reactions your child has and infections in their eyes. It is also able to stiffen the mucous membrane encircling the eyes.
PULSATILLA
POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS: The nose is bleeding and your kiddo has a runny nose during the day, and their nose is blocked at night, loss of smell, headache is above the eyes, they have teary eyes and want to be comforted, they have a dry mouth but they are not thirsty and it gets worse at twilight.
Most toddlers end up being super clingy and in need of a constant cuddle simply because they don’t feel well. Sometimes, you will notice they’re breathing through their mouth as they are sleeping because of the nasal congestion. Colds result in the loss of smell, a clogged nose and offensive breath. Keep in mind that single symptoms are common here. Pulsatilla is a common cure for newborn infants specifically if their nasal discharge is yellow or green. You may have a hard time getting them to take it orally, but if you can get them to take it, it will help to ease their symptoms.
ALLIUM CEPA
POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS: Extreme sneezing, tickle in the larynx, raspy voice, difficulty breathing, short dry frequent cough, excessive watery discharge from eyes.
The use of allium cepa brings relief when hot watery nasal discharge turns your child’s upper lip raw. Cold air aggravates the situation but at the same time people who need this remedy hate a warm room because their symptoms are exasperated in both environments. Allium Cepa is principally used for colds.
NATRUM MURIATICUM
POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS: The cold starts with fits of sneezing, the nose is blocked and can develop cold sores, runny eyes get worse in open air or wind, irritated with sun and lights, cold sores on lips, cracked lips.
This remedy is known to be one of the more successful ones because it is a multipurpose cure used for many types of conditions. Specifically, this cure can help with your infant when they develop the cold. Consult with your local homeopath for the best advice on how to apply this treatment.
BRYONIA
POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS: Cold moves into the chest, painful and dry cough, headache can be present across the entire head or on just one half, erratic cough, child may hold chest when they cough, very thirsty, can be in an especially aggravated mood.
When your tots have coughed and it goes down to their chest, this remedy can ease the pain they feel inside. Even if they move a little bit or cough slightly, children frequently hold their chest in order to limit the motion and will not be hurt. You can give this your tots so their breathing will get back to normal.
In conjunction with all of the advice above remember the best way to prevent or cure colds is to drink lots of fluid, eat well, and rest. While the above remedies can provide simple, effective, non-invasive relief for your little one please remember – if they have an illness that lingers, if there is ANY trouble breathing, or if they become dehydrated – you need to get them in to see their doctor as quickly as possible. Homeopathy is a great, natural way to treat some of our illnesses in a way that is designed to work with our bodies and our immune system. The more frequently you can use natural solutions, the stronger and more resilient your little ones will become.
by Linda Foss | Nov 18, 2016 | Boogie Bulb Blog |
Cold weather is on its way, coffee shops are offering pumpkin spice lattes and that means holiday season is fast approaching. This time of year can be especially exciting if you are a new parent. Holiday season can be very difficult to navigate with having to focus on who to buy for, what type of gifts to get and trying to stay within your budget. Not easy at all. One of the perks of this time of year is that you get to bless the special people in your life with gifts that show you are thinking about them. Parents of newborns could really use a little bit of encouragement all year long and we have some great ideas.
Are you looking for the perfect Christmas gift for friends that are new parents or yourself? Some of the presents we’ve picked offer to give new parents a break in the midst of this crazy season.
Parents who are travel lovers will love this item because it makes your trip trouble free – at least when it comes to feeding the kiddo. This chair fits any dining chair, regardless of its size and shape. The lightweight and easily foldable design makes this chair perfect for on-the-go travel. Now, you can say goodbye to the hassle of looking for chairs for your tots to sit in while you dine.
Tired of carrying your baby using your arms? Is your back aching when you breastfeed your infant? This Nursing Pillow is not just for breastfeeding moms but also for those who feed formula to their babies. It’s a feeding pillow, which provides relief for your back, neck, spine and most particularly your arms. If you breastfeed your child this pillow is a good investment. If you have a congested sick baby another benefit of this type of pillow is that it can help ease congestion for your little one as you feed them. Put the pillow around your waist and fasten its belt or Velcro tightly and you are ready to start using it.
Everyone loves being able to rest during Holiday season but what if your baby’s cry makes it hard to get that elusive rest? This device can keep your tots calm during the night and at naptime. The “shushing” sound the device produces helps give your baby a peaceful and restful sleep and so you too can enjoy the rest of the night. This device operates best when it is two feet away from the hearing radius of your toddler that way the sound waves will be pointing toward baby’s ears and not away.
Do you want to add a personal touch to your first Holiday with your baby? You can have a mold made of your child’s actual handprint or footprint, have it engraved, and actually add it to your pendant or keychain. Aside from being a super unique gift, it is also very personal and is a great memory to give. It’s a keepsake and your little one can cherish it as they grow older. Your child can enjoy this token forever and as they look at it, they will be reminded how you treasure them and how precious they are in your life.
This cozy pouch can be part of your wardrobe so you will not be out of style even during the cold season. Your baby is safe because this soothe shirt is expandable and baby tucks right inside. Another benefit of this shirt is that it promotes mommy and baby bonding time. It has a nursing bra as a part of its setup so it helps make feeding time less awkward when you are on the go. The soothe shirt is ideal for babies between 7 lbs and 15 lbs.
We are pretty sure you want to offer your babies a healthy and delicious diet. This is a great gift for parents with young children that are just learning how to eat solids. Having a baby food maker on hand allows you to prepare the food along with the rest of your meal and then turn it into a meal for your little one – as opposed to having to buy a bunch of pre-made baby food. Using your own baby food maker you can always be sure that you’ll have safe food for your tots and will not be subjecting them to any unknown preservatives in the pre-packaged food. You can steam vegetables, blend fruits and use it to warm and defrost food. It saves you time by allowing you to prepare fresh and healthy meals for your infant ahead of time. Then the meals are ready to serve when you are ready to feed. The kit comes with a list of recipes for you to try, or you can always use your secret family recipes instead.
Bath time can be one of the most challenging times of the week for new-parents. The Bathtime Easy Kneeler is a gift that seeks to ease that stress a little by helping keep you safe and comfortable while you are bathing the little one. Babies are fragile and so we have to use extra care every time we give them a bath and that is a whole lot easier if your knees aren’t pressed into the hard, cold ceramic tile on the floor. This product is a user-friendly tub kneeler that uses polyfoam pads with nonslip synthetic rubber so your knees won’t get hurt and numb. The cushioning aspect of the product also helps reduce stress on your lower back. The extra-padding is designed to provide an easy feeling and cushioning on your knees. It has a pocket where you can put the soap, washcloth, shampoo, or the other stuff needed when bathing your babies. It’s also foldable and washable and can fit any standard tub.
As winter rolls in, the chill of the air starts to freeze us when we are outside. We love to go out on a leisurely stroll with our infants to take in all of the sights and sounds of the season. That means we need to break out the baby stroller (unless you are wearing them – and that is an entirely different post). With it being cold outside, we don’t want our hands to freeze while pushing the stroller. The Stroller Hand Warmer is attached to the handle so you can still keep your hands warm. It’s very convenient in the event you have to pick up your phone, you can instantly answer it unlike the thick gloves that are hard to work with and typically will not operate the touch screen interface on your phone. The hand warmer is very easy to install and remove.
Whether we like it or not, our little angels will reach that stage where they want to gnaw on their bed – while it is a little weird, it is completely normal. As parents we are a little concerned that all of this gnawing on hard wood, metal, or plastic may damage their little chompers. This product is a dual purpose gift, it protects your tots teeth and it also protects the crib. Teething is just normal and so we have to be prepared as new parents for this behavior (kind of like when you bring that adorable German Sheppard puppy home not realizing they are going to chew through your entire house). The guard comes in both fabric crib rail covers and plastic crib rail covers.
A Spa Treatment
Ok, admittedly this one has nothing to do with the baby, but it is a great idea for the parents of the newborn. A trip to the spa gives the new parents an opportunity to relax and to be stress free – at least for a little while. Similar to the old “Calgon take me away” commercials, parents (especially new moms) can be run ragged with the demands of a new baby. A little bit of time away to refuel will pay big dividends for everyone at home. Trust us, new parents will love this special treat.
The gifts we have detailed above are just the tip of the iceberg. If none of these seems just right for you, all you have to do is go visit Pinterest or go to Google and type in “Gifts for new parents”. There are a ton of great ideas out there. Whether you present is simple (like a snot sucker) or mind-numbingly extravagant the new parents will be wildly appreciative of the fact that you have thought of them during this time of year and taken pity on them as they adjust to life with their new bundle of joy!
by Lawrence Goodhue | Oct 1, 2016 | Boogie Bulb Blog |
February is the month of love where couples spend their significant moments together. Traveling, doing adventurous activities, romantic date nights…you get the gist. It’s no surprise then that September is one of the most popular months for pregnancies. According to statistics, the demand and interest regarding ideas for baby shower gifts are at a peak during this month of the year. It’s a trending topic every year – and this year is no different. A baby shower is a joyful celebration and the best way to make it even better is to accompany it with an astonishing present. Looking for a cute gift is not difficult, especially with the internet, because there are a lot of interesting baby stuff and baby accessories out there. Sometimes that is a part of the problem – we have so many options it becomes very difficult to figure out what to purchase. The key is to find something that’s valuable, special, personal and a great keepsake that will be treasured.
If you want your gift to be noteworthy, think of it as an opportunity to let the parent-to-be feel that their little angel is precious and important to you. It’s like giving hope that the next phase of their life will be more thrilling with many wonders and exciting experiences.
Baby shower guests, do you need help picking out that perfect practical present? To save you time searching and agonizing over gift selections, we have chosen a couple of products that are unique gifts for tots. Listed below are the 7 baby shower gifts that we’ve scoured the web to present to you.
HALO SLEEP SACK
In every precious moment you partake with your baby, this wearable blanket suits your lovable and adorable little angels. No more sleepless nights – especially on those cool nights. This Halo SleepSack was designated as the #1 Safe Sleep Product gold seal by First Candle/SIDS Alliance. No more buttons, just one zip and it will keep your baby warm. It makes baby changing easy. It’s a snug blanket that will perfectly fit your little one so that they won’t get mussed up. The item is soft and luxurious and provides just the right amount of comfort for your babies. They can’t kick the blanket off and it ensures your baby will sleep safe and sound throughout the night. It’s not so tight that’s why it will not hinder the proper breathing of your baby.
TUMMY TIME
To hear and see your baby giggle makes it all worth it, right mom? This modern color combination play mat has a soft quilt bottom and is designed to let your baby enjoy leisure time. It has accessories like a dangling monkey toy, wind chime and teether to provide a fun jungle feel for your little one. It has three musical tunes and lights to energize your baby while having a good time. Gymini Monkey Island was established to develop plenty of activities. Cushioned for the welfare of your infant, its pad is squishy and will keep your baby superbly engaged while having fun. It’s versatile for when your baby gets tired and falls to sleep, because the pad is firm but pliable fabric and adjustable to meet the needs of your infant. The dual purpose of the toy is to allow your baby to play and rest. Aside from making your tots jubilant, it also makes your life easy because the pad is machine washable and super easy to fold.
PERFECTLY SIZED GIFT IDEA – ZUTANO BABY CLOTHES
Not sure about the gender of your baby? Many families are choosing to wait for the gender reveal – seems everyone wants to be surprised about the new edition. No worries, we have the perfect gift for you. This gift is great for the early weeks of your little one. The Creative Zutano line includes caps, sleep gowns, leggings and footie pajamas for infants up to 13 pounds. The clothing line has harmonious prints and a touch of vivid colors which work well for both boys and girls. You can’t go wrong with this as it is unisex. So if you don’t have any idea about the gender, pick this one. Selecting tiny little outfits like this really enhance all of the most adorable aspects of your new edition. Baby clothes are one of the best gifts you can give especially when the outfit matches from head to toe. Sometimes you have to change outfits on little ones three or four times in a day and it is nice to have a little bit of variety when shifting them in and out of those outfits. One of the best things about this gift is that it can keep on giving. If families end up having additional babies, this gift can be used again at a later date. These types of gifts are also great even if you don’t expect to have more children because there are lots of moms out there that you can pass these types of outfits on to. Everybody wins.
INCOGNITO NURSING COVER
It’s challenging for new moms when it’s time to breastfeed in public. That is why this next item caught our eye – a cute breastfeeding-friendly outfit. Something that will not sacrifice your fashion style all the while protecting your modesty. Pirose Motherhood provides an incognito nursing cover which is twistable, which means you can use it to discreetly feed your baby in public. It’s a scarf or a shawl that comes with a chic pattern and can easily complement your regular wardrobe. It’s effortless to wear and it absolutely doesn’t skimp on material. The poncho-type design gives you confidence and makes you feel comfortable when you have to breastfeed your baby in public. Because the material is lightweight, it can easily fold up and be carried in your bag. No more hesitations on your part when breastfeeding anywhere and your little ones will no longer have to waste away while you seek out an area that is safe to breastfeed in.
HIGH TECH BABY MONITOR
These days it is possible to capture every moment of your infant’s day – even when you’re not around. Those comical, funny, crazy and weird facial expressions of your infant can now be captured and immortalized. The Levana ERA Advanced Digital Video baby monitor helps you collect unexpected moments of your baby’s day and upload them to your computer. While your little angel is sleeping, the subtle nuances of all of your baby’s facial expressions can be snapped by the camera in an instant. Additionally, this monitor gives you an extra set of eyes and ears so that you can multitask on your daily responsibilities while keeping an eye on your kiddo. It’s safe and wise to have this kind of device for your baby’s own sake. It’s like spying your baby’s breathing, body positions and how well they are sleeping. It assists you in checking out your baby even when you’re sleeping too.
STURDY STROLLER FOR TWINS
There’s a quotation that says “two not just one means double fun”. Some parents-to-be wish to have baby twins for it feels like a duet of happiness is in your home. But carrying the twins around all the time when walking around malls and parks or visiting your relatives will stress you out and can cause moderate pain for your back and legs. Your back, your arms and even your hips can be affected by this double-duty kid carrying. Luckily, we have a solution for moms of multiples that are excited to have outdoor time with their babies. The Phil & Teds Explorer is a double seat sturdy stroller that’s good for newborn to age six. It’s three-wheeled design lets you carry your twins as you roam around shopping, walking, jogging or just visiting with friends. This single stroller that carries both of your babies is much easier to manage than having two individual strollers (one for each baby). The stroller is hassle-free and it offers an easy solution to your multiple baby transportation needs. As an added bonus the second seat has a sun visor to protect your baby that is easy to use and stow. The twins will surely experience a smooth and undisturbed ride.
SNOT SUCKERS AND BABY NASAL ASPIRATORS
This last gift idea might give you impressions that it is “gross” or your mind screams “ew”, but looking beyond it, a snot sucker (yes, I just said snot sucker) is a must-have for every mom and infant. There’s a lot of gunk in our baby’s nose and we don’t want to hear them crying because they can’t breathe comfortably. We can’t afford to see them going through that. Remember that babies don’t know to blow their own noses yet. While this fact is well known to veteran moms, the inevitable baby stuffy nose is not one of those things that new moms think about until they have a sick baby. To remove or reduce the mucous safely, this baby nose sucker is a big help without irritating the child. Nowadays, there are many variations of nasal aspirators but we really like this cleanable snot sucker. Other than cleaning their nose so they can breathe easily, it will enable the babies to feed easier and allow them to sleep well. Keep in mind that having a clogged nose affects the breathing and eating of your tots. The best nasal aspirators should work efficiently, hygienically and be easy to clean. This gift is best for ages 0-3.
Baby showers are a special time of bonding and a lot of thought goes into finding the perfect gift for the mom-to-be. Looking for these gifts can be entertaining, overwhelming and fascinating yet at the end of the process we have to whittle all of the possible gifts down to our final selection. Hopefully our recommended 7 Baby Shower Gifts provide you with a couple of fun ideas that you can use for your next baby shower.
