Mommy FTW

Cameron’s favorite books are always changing as he grows – but I wanted to let you all in on his current favorites (FYI – he is 20 months old).

Cameron is obsessed with Cars (which for some reason he calls “choo choo”) and Trucks (“tuck”)  He also loves Cats (“tat”) since we have two of them.  So, his favorite books revolve around these items:

My Car – Byron Barton – This is a book about a man named Sam who loves his car and drives a bus.  There are lots of pictures of all kids of vehicles.  Sam also wears a hat and shoes which Cameron likes to point out and say on every page.  It is required that this book is read at least once before bed time.  This book has thick pages, but is a step below a board book in terms of durability.

Find the Kitten – Find it Board Books – Each page of this book has a picture of a kitten and Cameron loves to point it out on every page.  There’s also other things to point out to help build vocabulary.  As you might have guessed, this book is a board book.

Trucks Roll! – Richard Jackson Books – I’ve been reading this book to Cameron since he was born, but he loves it more and more every day.  It’s got so many pictures of semi trucks in it, Cameron is in heaven.  He always pulls it off the shelf for me to read every morning.  This book is more of a “big kid book” as the pages are not cardboard or thick.

Goodnight Moon – Margaret Wise Brown – If you didn’t get at least one copy of this book as a gift, I would be shocked!  Did you ever notice how many kittens are pictured in it?  Well Cameron did, and he points them out on every page.  A classic goodnight story.  We have the large “Lap Edition” and a smaller travel size both of which are board books.

Toes, Ears, Nose – Karen Katz – This is one of many “Lift the Flap Books” by Karen Katz, all of which Cameron enjoys (we find them at Clinton Hill Library) but I really like this one because it helps Cameron learn his body parts.  Unfortunately, some of the flaps have been removed due to all the tough love that Cameron has shown this book.

Also, check out my post about Bath Books Cameron Loves – I wrote in in September 2009 (almost a year ago!) but Cameron still loves all these books, and they are still a big part of bath time.

Posted from New York, New York, United States.

Back in November when Cameron was just turning a year old we went out to Chicago to visit my husband’s family, and I was NOT going to pack a bath seat for the trip.  So, we started getting Cameron used to taking a bath in the tub without his Dream Baby Bath Seat.  At first, someone sat in the tub with him, and then after a few days he was sitting alone in the tub.  He seemed a little insecure at the beginning, but now he loves being in the tub by himself.

Cameron playin' in the tub! (Also pictured - Bath Letters)

I still use his infant bath seat in the beginning of bath time because it makes it easier for me to wash him, but when we move to play time, I release him into the tub.  We have a rule, which another mom suggested to me, that once he stands up, bath time is over.  He quickly learned that this is how he should signal that he is ready for bed.

I’m aware having a baby in the bath tub isn’t revolutionary, but I know a lot of moms who are nervous about taking their little ones out of their seats and letting them be in the tub without bumpers or restraints.  So, I wanted to write this little post to give you the confidence to try it out!  Your baby just might love it.

Bath letters with more than one use – check out Sassy Bath Time fun Appliques at Amazon.com – fun in the bath, and excellent chew toys for teething babies.  A few moms had brought these to play group in Fort Greene park and Cameron really loved chewing on them…. so I bought them for chewing, and of course, bath time.  Cameron (and mom) has a lot of fun with them!  They stick easily to the wall when wet – and I am sure they will be a favorite for a long time.

Last night at mom’s night out, a mommy said she loved my post about bath books, but was looking for some in Spanish.  I said I would do my best to find her some:

Conejo no se queire banar

Que Flota

Safari en el rio

I didn’t have much luck at amazon.com – but I found these at barnes and noble.  Only the first one is available new, the other two you can buy used through the barnes and noble site.  Sadly, it was pretty challenging to find these books!

BONUS: get 10% off at barnes and noble by using the code H8J3U7N – expires 10/19

PS: I know I am missing some ~ and ` in there, but I don’t know how to add them over letters.  Woe is me!

This past weekend Cameron came down with his first really bad cold – cough, runny nose, fever, and all around cabbyness.  And to make matters worse, my husband had to work all weekend so we were stuck fending for ourselves.  Two things helped us through it – 1) Baby 411, and 2)my fellow mommies and daddies.

Here’s what I learned:

1) A fever is a good thing.  It means Cameron’s body was busy fighting the intruder.  Also, fevers are naturally higher in the evening than the morning – so don’t be surprised if your baby is 100 in the AM and 102 at night.  Once the fever was gone, I knew Cameron was going to be out of the woods and recovery was on the way.

2) Baby Ibuprofen lasts longer than Baby Acetaminophen (6-8 hours vs 4 hours) so if your baby is over 6 months, give it a try – especially for overnight.  It will give your baby (and you) longer relief.

3) Get yourself a cool mist humidifier.  I don’t recommend the one they sell at Walgreens – it is kind of noisy.

4) Before bath time, run the shower to really steam up the bathroom.  This is good for helping the baby breathe.  Don’t give your baby a cool bath if they have a fever – this is only something you do if the baby is SUPER hot – like 107.  Would you like taking a cold bath when you were sick?

5) Use a Saline Mist to help loosen up all the snot that your poor sick baby is producing.  Then, if you feel comfortable with the idea, use a booger sucker (nasal aspirator) to suck out the snot.  Both of these things will make your baby hate you for a minute, so be prepared for tears and protest.  Also keep a kleenex at the ready to wipe up the snot, and tears.

6) Give your baby extra opportunities to sleep – try putting them to bed 30 minutes early for bed times and nap times.  When you’re sick, doesn’t extra sleep make you feel better too?

Baby 411 - my savior

Check out Baby 411 for more info on colds and other viruses, and don’t forget to ask your fellow parents for help.  I used facebook, and got some really great info as well as support!  Good luck mommies!

I like to read to Cameron whenever possible, and at bath time I have a captive audience – so I take advantage! These are Cameron’s favorite bath books, but I’m sure you can find lots more at Amazon!  PS – they also make great chew toys!

Bath Time!

the Rainbow Fish

Water Water Everywhere

I’ve always dried Cameron off after his bath on the floor next to our bathroom vanity cabinets.  Lately he decided it would be super fun to open and close them relentlessly as I attempt to dry him off.  The other day at the pool my friend Crystal mentioned that she was using rubber bands untill her babyproofing stuff arrived in the mail…. so I got some out today pre bath time.  Worked like a charm – for now!

Cameron is all about sitting up, so I needed to get him something for the bath that he would like more than the Infant bath seat that he had.  My friend recommended the Dream Baby Bath seat.  It took a few attempts to get Cameron used to it, but now he loves it because he can sit up like a big boy and still splash mom to his heart’s content.

Dreambaby Bath Seat

A little while ago Cameron came down with a rash.  Of course, being a first time mom I didn’t know what the rash was, so I brought him into the pediatrician.  She told me it was a heat rash and gave me some suggestions for treating it.  1) Put him in light, loose fitting clothing (see, Lucky Wang) 2) Keep him out of the heat and sun as much as possible and 3) Give him a bath with Corn Starch or Baking Soda.  Of course, for good measure I added both Corn Starch and Baking Soda to his bath.  In a day, he was all better!  So – baby got heat rash?  Baking Soda and Corn Starch!  Not sure if he has heat rash?  Call your pediatrician!  Fair warning, the google image search for baby heat rash is a little scary!

I took this pic of Cameron’s before I went to the Pediatrician (which was a good idea since his seemed to come and go if he was in the AC or out in the heat)

Cameron's rash

Baking Soda and Corn Starch Bath - all better!

Update:  I still use this soothing bath when Cameron has any kind of rash – namely, diaper rash.