Pros and Cons of Using a Pacifier
New parents get hit with a lot of information and opinion, much of it conflicting. One of the topics that parents of babies have to face is the pacifier issue, and it’s not always a clear “yes or no.” The key is to get the facts and make your own informed decision.
Here are some of the pros and cons of using a pacifier.
Pros
1. Quiet in Public
For nursing moms especially, soothing a baby in public can be tricky. A pacifier can temporarily help until you’re able to get somewhere to nurse or fix a bottle, or it can stand in if baby isn’t hungry but just needs to feel secure.
2. SIDS Prevention
Interestingly, the American Academy of Pediatrics notes that babies who fall asleep with a pacifier in their first year are less likely to succumb to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). The standard caution, though, is not to put the pacifier back in the baby’s mouth once he or she is asleep.
3. Sates High Sucking Need Babies
While all babies are born with a sucking reflex, some babies have a high sucking need that goes beyond what a bottle or breast can supply (and what parents’ sanity can take). A pacifier can help meet this need while not exhausting caregivers.
4. Weaning
It may be that pacifiers facilitate the weaning process, including “weaning” from thumb-sucking.
Cons
1. Ear Infections
Recent studies have linked pacifier use with ear infections, possibly because of the pressure change that occurs between the middle ear and throat when baby sucks on a pacifier (and there is no liquid intake associated with the sucking).
2. Speech and Dental Health
Pacifiers are artificial devices, no matter how carefully manufactured. Therefore, they can unnaturally affect jaw and tooth alignment, especially if pacifiers are used later in infancy and into the toddler years. Misalignment can lead to dental issues (and expensive corrections) and speech problems.
3. Nipple Confusion
Early introduction of a pacifier may promote “nipple confusion,” meaning the baby won’t accept the breast because it doesn’t feel like the pacifier in his or her mouth. Experts recommend waiting until breastfeeding is well established before introducing a pacifier (if you choose to do so).
4. Less Nutrition
Remember that for all of human history until the last century or so, there was no such thing as pacifiers. A baby’s suck reflex is geared toward the breast in general, which means nutritional intake; and sometimes the need for nutrition kicks in and the baby wants to suck more. If parents offer pacifiers when baby needs extra nutrition (such as during illness), it may mean that baby isn’t getting the nutrients he or she needs.
Remember, the choice is yours; only you know your family dynamic and what works for you and your baby.
Natural Remedies for Sore Throats
No matter what time of the year it is, a sore throat can really ruin your day. Dry air, viruses, post nasal drip and overuse of your voice can cause a sore throat. There are a number of over-the-counter throat lozenges and remedies, but a lot of them contain unnatural ingredients and chemicals that you may not want in your body.
Using natural remedies can be the best defense for a lot of ailments, especially sore throats. Natural remedies can include ingredients which you might already have around your house, can be found in a health food store, or in drug stores.
What Not to Do
To start, there are some things that you will want to avoid when caring for a sore throat:
Avoid overuse of your vocal cords. Talk less and avoid yelling at all. You want the muscles in your throat to relax. Even whispering and chewing gum can cause stress on your throat muscles.
Avoid going outside if the air is dry and cold. Conversely, indoor heating can be harmful as well. If you use indoor heating, you may want to try using a humidifier to counteract the dryness.
Try to stay away from spicy or acidic foods that can irritate the inflamed tissue in your throat. Also avoid dairy products because they can cause an increase in phlegm.
Hot Tea
Sipping a relaxing cup of hot tea can do wonders for your sore throat. Hot liquids can sooth irritation and help to reduce inflammation. Try herbal teas and teas that include peppermint, cloves, or liquorice. They can help with inflammation and create a numbing sensation to relieve the soreness. Adding honey and lemon to your tea can help immensely. Honey is a natural anesthetic and cough suppressant, and lemon will help clear out mucus.
Lozenges
Lozenges are the most common go-to remedy for a sore throat. A lot of store-bought lozenges, however, contain chemicals and ingredients that can actually be harmful to your body.
When looking for store-bought lozenges, search for all-natural brands that use herbs and honey rather than chemicals. Avoid products that use menthol, as it can constrict and dry out your vocal cords.
Zinc lozenges are a healthy alternative to popular name brand lozenges. They provide natural relief for sore throats and are useful in fortifying your body against sickness.
“Thayers” is a popular brand that makes natural throat lozenges using slippery elm bark, honey, and zinc. Check your local health food store for store-bought natural lozenge options. Or, there are a lot of homemade recipes for natural homemade lozenges as well if you have the time and desire.
Gargle
Occasionally gargling salt water can help with sore throats, especially when caused by sinus drainage. Just mix one teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Gargle a little bit, mouthful by mouthful, and spit the solution out when you are done gargling.
Enjoy a Frozen Treat
Sucking on frozen popsicles can help relieve your sore throat. Store-bought fruit popsicles or even homemade popsicles are great. Try freezing orange juice for a delicious vitamin C boost.
A sore throat can be uncomfortable, but there are a lot of natural options out there to help soothe and give you relief.
Letting Your Kids Be Bored: Lasting Benefits
Every parent has heard the words “I’m bored” more than once. The more you scramble to keep them entertained, the more it feels like you hear the accursed declaration. It can be enough to drive any parent over the edge. As parents, we usually beg for some boredom.
So how can you stop the behavior?
Instead of scrambling to keep them entertained, consider letting your children be bored. It is a train of thought that many child physiologists are touting. Even super smart Apple creator Steve Jobs endorsed the idea, crediting his own creativity and curiosity to being bored as a child.
Letting your children wallow in their boredom might sound a little mean to you at first, but the children will quickly learn to take matters into their own hands. By letting your kids be bored, you are giving their innate curiosity permission to flourish. Curiosity leads to creativity; creativity to ingenuity. You are potentially giving your child a better chance at a successful, fulfilling life by not scheduling their every moment or entertaining them at every turn.
How can your child benefit from being bored? Here are three reasons.
1. Help your child become self-sufficient.
By not providing every moment of entertainment for your child, you are allowing him or her to be self-sufficient. Instead of being handed the answer to the problem of being bored, your child will have to rely on herself to come up with a solution. Being self-sufficient earlier in life gives your child more practice for real-world situations when she grows up. By being able to think for herself, she will be able to think through tough situations and make better decisions.
2. Grow his or her imagination.
Never underestimate the power of a good imagination. By allowing your child to fight boredom his own way, you are allowing his imagination to grow strong. A strong imagination will not only help him fight the perils of boredom, but will come in handy someday when he is in school and also in the workplace. Being able to think outside the box will put your child ahead of other students and colleagues in his future career.
3. Give curiosity room to grow into something more.
By allowing your child to come up with her own activities, you are allowing her instinctive curiosity to develop. When she is curious, she will create ways to learn and play. This creativity and subsequent ingenuity are vital to her mental growing process. While keeping your kids entertained at every moment might seem like a convenient short-term solution, letting your kids be bored is a lifetime solution.
Your children will learn to become self-sufficient, learning to use their imagination to think of creative ways to self-entertain. These lessons will not only afford you some much-needed peace of mind, but will also follow your children throughout their lives. In school as children, through college, and well into their lives and careers as adults, they will have a better capacity to think creatively and come up with real-world solutions.
Reuben Sandwich
(Serves 4)
8 slices of dark rye bread
12 ounces of thinly sliced corned beef
¾ pound drained sauerkraut
8 slices of Swiss cheese
1 cup of Thousand Island dressing
Place four slices of bread on a baking sheet or broiling pan. Layer 3 ounces of corned beef onto the bread followed by 1/4th of the sauerkraut and two slices of cheese on each sandwich. Spread 1/3 cup dressing on each sandwich and then place the other piece of bread to complete the sandwich.
Broil the sandwiches for 3 to 4 minutes on high heat. The cheese should be melted. Serve the sandwiches while they are hot.
Incorporating Exercise into Your Daily Life
Exercise is vital to keeping up a healthy lifestyle. Getting enough regular exercise has many benefits. Not only can incorporating exercise into your daily life help with weight loss and management, but regular exercise can also boost your immune system, and improve your mood and give you more energy.
Everyone knows that getting enough exercise is an important part of living a healthy lifestyle. Even so, incorporating exercise into your daily life can feel like a chore. There never seems to be enough time and energy to make it to the gym. But, oddly, the more time you find to get in daily exercise, the more energy you will have.
Take Ten
Ten minutes in the morning can make a huge difference in your day. Choose a simple workout routine that suits your abilities. Try a short yoga routine to stretch out your muscles and wake you up gently, or a high energy aerobics routine to get your blood pumping. Do whatever works best for you, as long as you are up and moving. Just ten minutes in the morning will help wake you up and boost your energy for the day.
Ten more minutes when you get home from work, before you lose your momentum, can also help avoid afternoon exhaustion after work. Before you sit down and get too comfortable, go ahead and knock out a quick workout routine. Aim for high energy cardio for this workout, and really sweat out the day’s stresses for ten minutes.
Desk Exercises
If you sit at a desk for the majority of your work day, you are spending a great amount of your life being sedentary. Studies show that sitting for just four hours a day increases your chances of dying of a cardiovascular disease. Thankfully, there are exercises you can do while working at your desk that can help you.
Some light stretching, leg raises under your desk, or bicep curls can all be done while sitting at your desk. Whenever you can, get up and walk. Also consider sitting on an exercise ball instead of a chair at work. These can do wonders for your core and will help with posture as well. If possible, ask your employer to invest in a treadmill desk or an adjustable standing desk.
The Path Less Traveled
Instead of taking the elevator, always opt for taking the stairs. Even if it’s just a flight or two, it can make a huge difference. It honestly does not take much longer than taking the elevator, and can really help you to burn those extra calories during the day.
Park a little farther away when possible. Whether at work or the grocery store, don’t automatically choose the first available spot. Park farther away and take the opportunity to get in a little more walking time. Opt to carry your own groceries to the car and always return the cart to the store to get in a little extra exercise.
No More Lazy Lunches
Lunch time is a great time to get in a little exercise. Especially when you are having a stressful day, taking a brisk walk can do wonders for stress relief in the middle of the day. A quick and easy stretch routine can lift your mood, wake you up, and help you maintain focus and energy through the rest of your work day.
Make It Fun
A lot of times, incorporating exercise into your daily life can seem boring. Try choosing exercises that appeal to your own sense of fun. Join a bowling team, or take an aerobic dance class. If you feel really adventurous, join a roller skating club. Finding something fun to do, especially with other people, can help make exercise something you truly look forward to instead of something to dread.
With these simple tips, you can easily incorporate exercise into your daily life. Pretty soon you will be feeling the effects of a healthier lifestyle. Weight management, more energy, and a better mood are yours for the taking.