Baby Bottles Can’t Minimize Gas

A baby with gas or colic can make your life a living hell. It seems that there are as many bottle systems as there are formulas on the market. Don't fall for bottles that claim to minimize gas. This is just not scientifically possible.

The bottle is nothing more than a reservoir fro fluid so there is no way it can be designed to stop your baby from gulping air. Your baby has to do that on your own.

Unless you are shaking the formula vigorously before you serve it up to your baby there is no reason that your baby should be gulping bubbles from the bottle no matter what the bottle looks like or how it is designed. Every time you tilt up a bottle you may have noticed that all of the air goes to the opposite end of where the nipple of the bootleg is so bottle design has very little to do with it.

However when it comes to reducing the amount of air that can travel into your baby's stomach the actual nipple on the bottle could make a difference. A nipple that is too hard will be difficult to pull milk from. A nipple that is too soft will collapse when a baby begins to suck. In both cases the nipple squeaks a lot as air around it escapes and the baby starts sucking air.

While you may need to shop around to find what is best for you many pediatricians recommend the Avnet bottle system.

When mixing formula in a bottle it is a good idea to stir it and not shake it as shaking it to mix it causes extra air to accumulate in the body. These bubbles of air are minuscule usually but they could end up in your baby's stomach.

In addition many babies end up being bottle fed because it is inconvenient for the mother. She may feel it is ruining the shape of her breasts or that it is embarrassing to do in public. Unfortunately studies show that it is babies that are weaned who are more likely to develop colic and symptoms of acid reflux.

Despite the fact that the formula manufacturers have sought reflux solutions nothing they produce matches the qualities of breast milk as far as helping our baby with reflux. Breast milk empties very efficiently from the stomach compared with formula and impaired stomach emptying is one of the major factors contributing to colic in infancy.

Sometimes parents are their own worst enemies when it comes to colic. They have unknowingly created it by making the baby adept to their work, sleep and work out schedules. No baby should be force-fed or denied food because you have a spinning class at four.

As gas is one of the key causes of colic it is important to know how to get rid of any air your baby may have swallowed before it ends up in the stomach. Under normal circumstances a baby who is held upright will accumulate air in the upper dome of the stomach. To free the baby of this air you have to burp him or her.

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Avoiding Toxic Nail Polish

If you have a teenager chances are she is really into wearing nail polish, especially the wild hues that are so fashionable nowadays. This is okay except I get very concerned about the inhalation of fumes from the nail polish and also from the nail polish remover, nail polish wipes or anything else she might be using to make her hands more artistic looking. I am also concerned about what happens if she decides to chew on her nails. Everyone knows that nail polish is highly carcinogenic and that the fumes from it can make disease symptoms worse.
You most certainly should not be wearing nail polish if you have any allergies or environmental sensitivities at all. Just a whiff of nail polish or acetone can make some people very ill.
For years the Environmental Protection Agency has been warning us about the toxic dangers of using nail polish as they are essentially nothing more than vials of poison. Nail salons are hotbeds of toxic fumes and some cities, like San Francisco, are doing entire overhauls of their salon industries in an attempt to keep the pollution from running these businesses under control,
As an individual you can help the environment by not wearing nail polish at all or by wearing water based nail polishes. There are all kinds of companies that make water based nail polishes now including a good one called Aquarelle.
A quality non toxic nail polish does not smell and actually helps hydrate your nails. As it is not really a varnish this type of polish does not yellow or peel. It is more like a coating for your nails.
Organic nail polishes are more chalky in consistency. They are more like paint. A quality organic nail polish is also non flammable and does not contain formaldehyde, phthalates or petrochemical solvents of any kind. In fact some of these nail polishes are considered to be so wholesome and pure that they actually qualify as being vegan. This means that if your teenager gets the idea that she is going to start chewing her painted nails she is not going to be poisoned by them.
Just because an ecologically correct nail product is non toxic it does not mean that it has to be stuffy. Water based nail polish is available in all kinds of colors from lime green to scarlet to outrageous pinks. The dyes that are used are usually a little more organic.
Water based nail polish brands also come with their own types of nail polish removers that are not full of acetone and other toxic paint thinners. Although they are sometimes not as glossy in appearance as regular nail polishes they do have a nice matte effect that is very sophisticated once it is on the nails. Organic nail polish also is often quite thick so that you get the best coverage possible of the entire nail.

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