WebsiteName

Title: Parenting Your High Needs Infant Word Count: 602

Whether you are a first time parent or a fourth time parent, when you make the discovery that you have a high needs infant it can prove to be a difficult time. While your child may not be officially diagnosed with colic you may notice from as early as two weeks of age that your child needs extra soothing and does not do well when being placed down.

One way to survive the high needs phase of an infant’s life is to adopt the philosophies of attachment parenting. Attachment parenting is a term started by Dr. William Sears that blends the philosophies of attachment theories with that of developmental psychology. While you develop your personal parenting style you may discover that you either do or do not agree with the attachment parenting model. However, for the first several months of life practicing these principals will be something to consider when it comes to the high needs infant.

One tip to remember is that it is never too early to start establishing a schedule. In those early weeks of life when you are tending to the babies needs every hour of the day scheduling may not be on your mind. However, it would be a good time to start thinking about the best schedule for you and your baby. In order to start indicating the idea of time of day to your baby there are a couple of things you can do. When it is day time and light outside open the windows or keep lights on and keep your baby out of a swaddle. At night time even though you are bound to run into feedings and diaper changes, keep the lights off and keep your baby in a swaddle. This will guide your baby into the direction of knowing when it is time to stay awake and when it is time to sleep.

Many new parents of high needs children run into difficulty because their baby needs their attention almost every minute of every day. Alternatively, a baby that is not high needs will spend the majority of the day sleeping with the average being around 18 hours. High needs infants will sleep too, but they will usually not adapt well to sleeping in bassinets or even swings and will insist on sleeping on a parent. Attachment parenting concepts will help parents through this time by babywearing and if possible co-sleeping and breastfeeding.

Babywearing is a very old parenting concept but somewhere along the line it lost popularity in the United States. Luckily it is gaining back in popularity and new styles of baby slings and carriers are being introduced on the market all the time. Wearing your baby will allow you to provide comfort and have two hands free to do other daily tasks. Co-sleeping can be a beneficial beginning to both the parent and baby. The baby will have his or her needs met faster and the parent will not have to fully wake in order to tend to the baby. Breastfeeding is also an obvious comfort but not one that every child is exposed to for many different reasons. Both parents can participate in recreating the benefits of breastfeeding by holding the baby close during feedings.

It is important to remember that you need to follow your instincts and do what you think is best for your child. There are always going to be outside influences on parenting philosophies and on how best to deal with a high needs infant. Take a moment to enjoy this first year of life and know that your baby won’t need to be cuddled forever. Soon you will have a toddler running around exploring the world instead of crying in your arms.

 

Title: Natural Anxiety Treatments Word Count: 460

If you find yourself suffering from stress, depression, or anxiety you are not alone. These mental ailments plague many and often times people will try to ignore the problem. This will usually only make it worse, but the good news is that there are natural ways to deal with these problems.

Some people have the opinion that doctors tend to overuse prescription drug treatment. This is not to say that prescription drugs don't have a need, they certainly have been known to help people who have moderate to severe cases of anxiety and depression. But sometimes these problems can be solved using natural remedies and talking about your problems. When you visit your health care provider be sure to mention your interest in natural anxiety treatments.

Natural treatments for depression are different from those used to treat anxiety but some of them do overlap. When it comes to natural cures for anxiety you may want to consider one of the following: Magnesium, Kava Herb or Rhodiola Herb. Each of those natural ingredients have scientific studies backing them up as to their use for treating anxiety. If you are considering using them be sure to do a little follow up research to make sure that you are a candidate for their use and to make sure you get the correct dosage.

Perhaps the most important natural anxiety treatment is the idea of mastering stress management. People with anxiety tend to have a great deal of trouble relaxing. One thing to consider is meditation. Meditating is basically a way to "go within" and watch your breath. Make sure you breathe deeply and slowly. Try to clear your mind. When thoughts about the past creep in, don't judge yourself for not being able to keep your mind clear. Just acknowledge that you had the thought and let it go. The same goes for thoughts about the future. The first few times you try meditative techniques you may find that extra thoughts come to your brain very often. This is simply because it is the way you are used to living. As you go on with your practice you will find that it becomes easier to achieve a state of relaxation.

Also, cognitive behavioral therapy should not be overlooked. This therapy is very common and will help you gain the skills to manage your stress and not overreact to situations. This therapy often works very quickly and can help you gain a more positive outlook on life.

Natural anxiety treatments are becoming more popular whether you are using herbs or trying relaxation techniques. Just remember that you must stick with your plan and not give up too easily. No matter what treatment you choose it is important to give yourself enough time to heal.