baby thermometer

Yui has this very cute Snoopy thermometer.

20121114-175016.jpg

It has a bendable tip for hyper kids.

20121114-175116.jpg

But that’s the thing. It’s for kids. Kids who can be told or coaxed to stay put. Not for babies. Whenever I try to measure Yui’s temperature and put it on her underarm, she would squirm and fuss and try to taste the thermometer by moving her mouth against the thermometer. And one other thing, it often takes more than one minute – forever for babies – for the beep to be on, indicating that measuring is done. And oh, she’s wearing layers now because of the cold season so at times it’s quite a challenge to try and insert the tip in Yui’s armpit.

Hence we finally bought this thermometer that could take a baby’s temperature within 1 second.

20121114-182228.jpg

Since you’ll be putting the nozzle on your baby’s ear, it may, after a couple or so of use become dirty. Hence nozzle covers are also included in the package.

20121114-182604.jpg

If the nozzle cover runs out, you can buy a set of nozzle covers in Akachan Honpo or in drug stores.

As for the price, we bought the Snoopy one at ~¥1700 whilst Omron one is more than ¥3000.

For now, Snoopy will have to wait till Yui gets older or, us older people can use it. 😀

Kidfolio

This is why I love Kidfolio. Not only do I get to read daily know how on baby care but I can also have some memento on Yui’s firsts. Love the little badges too!

20121112-203232.jpg

One advise to Kidfolio though: it’d be good if several badges can be assigned to one photo as there may be days when several milestones were achieved.

Ah, they’re mine!

Tuesday last week, a couple of the baby care apps I refer to talked about the development of baby’s sense of touch.

Babycenter:

20121112-140156.jpg

Kidfolio:

20121112-140221.jpg

And true enough, late the other week, Yui seems to have finally realised that those flailing things she see beside her are hers. She started grabbing things and (yikes!) even tasting how those flailing things are – which prompts me to make sure her hands are always clean.

And then last Monday, I was able to capture a first – her hands finally are together for the first time!

20121112-140734.jpg

November 5 had been pretty eventful because it was also the first time she slept for 7 hours straight at night! Mommy wasn’t able to sleep well though because I kept checking in on her – wondering how she is haha.

I’ve read that from when they’re 6 weeks to 6 months, babies start to sleep longer at night. And we’re so thankful that Yui belongs in the 6 weeks category.

November 5 found us with visitors from the ward office as well – a midwife and her interpreter for a routine check on Yui. Everything is fine thankfully. And something beautiful happened for the first time: Yui directly fed from me for five minutes. While in the hospital, Yui wasn’t able to learn to latch properly hence I’ve been pumping breast milk since then and that since then my milk has dwindled. But the midwife taught us how to do it. And Yui did suck despite the fact that she’s already used to feeding from the bottle. That night, Yui again fed directly on me for almost ten minutes. But not again after that. I wish I could say that Yui directly breastfed since then. But after those two miraculous and beautiful occasions, Yui wouldn’t do it again. Nevertheless, at least I had those beautiful fifteen minutes to remember. Thankful still.

For the lucky moms who can breastfeed their babies, enjoy your beautiful moments.

——
November 13 update: Yui breastfed on me again for 15 minutes!! A beautiful experience. Happy and thankful.

Lola Basing

Lola. I have always admired your strength of character. And as I have always held you in high esteem, it is highly obvious I am not alone in this – everyone can see how well respected you are not only by our family and relatives but also by the countless lives you have touched.

You have lived a rich life Lola. And I believe towards the last of your days you have been in terrible pain and is already very weary. Rest now Lola. I know you are with our Creator and also with the ones you love who have gone ahead of you.

I am sorry we cannot visit you and send you on your final earthly home. But I am very glad that when Atsushi and I visited Davao last May, we were able to see you. And I think you would agree with me, that it’s best that we remember you that way – smiling and happy.

Rest in peace Lola. You are well loved and respected.

on baby sleeping habits: best advise so far

Best advise so far from my references re: sleeping habits of your baby:

– Help your baby learn the difference between night and day. During the day, keep the normal household noise as usual e.g. radio, tv (we still didn’t purchase one), vacuum cleaner etc. Talk to/play with your baby as much as you can while she’s awake. Keep the blinds/curtains open. At night, keep the bedroom light low. Minimise talking to your baby and if needed, talk in hushed tones.

– Help your baby to have the ability to put herself to sleep. Put her in bed while she’s already drowsy but still awake. Try not to dance her to sleep. Try not to nurse her to sleep. Most babies need to sleep after two hours of being awake so try to put her to sleep before the two hours is up otherwise she’d be cranky and would cry that sleepy cry for hours.

Such golden advise. The first one helped us have better sleep at night. Hope we keep this up! 🙂