Gina + George

Colic Cradler

Laura — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:41:33 +0000

Noggin

Laura — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:19:04 +0000

Colic Cradler

Laura — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:05:30 +0000

Flight Strategy Follow-up

Laura — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 01:06:32 +0000

So sorry to leave you hanging! Since my last post, my little family picked up and moved to Denver! We are all settled in with new jobs and are close to lots of family, so Paul has so many babysitters to choose from now!

Since travel may be on your minds with the holidays swiftly approaching, here are my best pointers for enjoyable flights with baby.

1) Feed your little one during take-off! This is SO very important. The sucking not only helps alleviate the pressure on their ears during take-off, but of course the bottle will help them drift off to sleep. (Hopefully for the whole flight!)
2) Bring baby’s favorite BUT QUIET toy. No one wants to be the parents with the fun squeaky toy that drives everyone nuts on the plane, but sure keeps baby happy. I suggest a high contrast, infant stim book or even a fun iPhone app like the Baby Silencer.

3) Pacifiers are your friend. If baby won’t take the bottle while taking off or later on when landing, use your faithful friend, the pacifier. Don’t forget the paci clip so it doesn’t fall and get yucky!

4) Try a car seat travel cart. If you’re like us and you have to bring the car seat because you will need it on the other end to travel via car, then we say skip the stroller (or simply check it through to your destination) and go with a travel cart instead. It’s like putting your baby on wheels!

Have baby…will travel

Laura — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 01:05:21 +0000

So after taking our first flight (eek!) I have been craving more outings with the wee one. Here is my wish list of items that would make trips even more fun:

1) good umbrella stroller, such as the Maclauren Volo – folds up easily, fully featured stroller
2) some fun, distracting books – Paul is so obsessed with his infant stim mobile, I think some high-contrast black and white books are in order
3) a google chromebook for mommy! I am seriously crushing on these things. When I get those few precious hours of baby sleep, I’d love to have something more substantial than our iPad that I could just hop on the Internet and play. A girl can dream! more details to come on flight strategies for baby!!! Trust me they work!

Huggies MomInspired

Laura — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 01:04:18 +0000

I did it! Just submitted my application for the Huggies MomInspired Grant Program!! Inspired by my little guy, I created Colic Cradler (www.coliccradler.com), an infant seat and carrier with a massage mechanism designed to reduce colic. In essence, it automates the colic cradle hold that we know and love so much. My problem has always been that holding the baby this way uses both hands, and you can never get anything done. With Colic Cradler, you can do it all! Your baby gets the relief he or she needs, and the busy parent gains at least one hand to do things around the house or just simply take a break. I am crossing my fingers that I receive the grant money so I can bring relief to parents and babies across the country. And, if I do get the grant, 5% of all proceeds will go to The March of Dimes. As a mom to a preemie, I couldn’t think of a better way to give back. Onward and upward!

Formula 1… or 2…or 3

Laura — Sun, 08 May 2011 01:03:43 +0000

Something to consider when trying to solve your baby’s colicky tendencies is FORMULA! If you are breastfeeding exclusively, you will surely consider how what you are eating might be affecting your little one, but for those who are formula feeding, take heed — all formulas are NOT created equal! We started our little guy out on Enfacare since he was preemie. It tore up his little tummy! But, we really couldn’t switch since he needed it to gain weight. Once he was growing like a weed, I switched to Enfamil Gentlease, hoping it would help his tummy issues, but I didn’t see much difference. Our pediatrician thought he might have acid reflux and prescribed Zantac and possibly the use of Enfamil AR formula. I really didn’t see much difference with this, and I am not a fan of putting babies on meds, so I discontinued use. Then, I learned that Similac Sensitive is lactose free. A-ha! Let’s try this one, I thought. What a difference! He is eating tons, no spit up, no gurgly tummy, and no more pulling legs up to belly and screaming. Does he still cry a bunch? Yup, but at least now I know it is not tummy related. My advice is keep trying until you find something that works, but be sure to give each formula at least a couple of weeks before switching, so your baby’s tummy has a chance to adjust and see if it works. Onward and upward!

Boom, boom shake the room!

Laura — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 05:01:32 +0000

Okay, we’ve all been there. You’re trying to make dinner, do the laundry, soothe baby, and maintain your sanity (maybe even get a glass of wine in!), but you can’t do it all at once. So, how do you get your little one to take a short nap so you can buy 30 minutes? Well, it’s time to bust out those old jams because tunes with heavy bass in them remind baby of mama’s heartbeat and can seriously send them off to dreamland. What’s the catch? You have to play it LOUD! Things were not quiet in the womb, so don’t be afraid to blast those tunes! One night when I was at the end of my rope, I turned up the radio, which just happened to be playing “Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen, poured myself a glass of wine, and just tuned out the baby’s cries. To my surprise, within minutes, the baby had fallen asleep?? The wine was consumed, dinner was made (and eaten – amazing!), and a good time was had by all.

The Colic Cradle

Laura — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 01:00:16 +0000

Have you tried it? Doctor approved, this is a way to soothe your baby by holding him so your fingers are massaging his tummy. Put your hand so that your thumb is on your infant’s rear and your fingers are on his tummy. Lean him forward and use your other hand to support his chest. Gently press your fingers into his belly to soothe him. You can also put your baby on your forearm to leave one hand free, but the first way works best for me, although it gets tiring!! Good luck!

Dealing with Colic

Laura — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 20:57:01 +0000

To all you moms and dads out there dealing with colicky babies – I feel your pain (and your baby’s)! Colic seems like a made-up term, but dealing with the symptoms of colic are very real. I tend to take a “this too will pass” approach to the situation when my 2-month-old starts acting up, but sometimes when the going gets tough and the crying gets louder, you have to find a solution that works. This blog is dedicated to sharing those solutions, stories and providing a little comic relief when you feel like crying too.

Stay tuned and stay strong!