4 Things to Do While Baby Sleeps

Ah, bliss. The baby's down for the night. To make the most of your precious time, try these tips from mom and life coach Carley Knobloch:

Set a timer. You open your laptop to return an e-mail but an hour later all you've done is web-surf. Instead, earmark the first 20 minutes for your "musts" (reply to your mom, order diapers), then search for the best sandal bargain.
Break a big job down. Whether it's filing recipes into a binder, arranging photos into an album, or working on a craft project, devoting even a few minutes to an ongoing task will give you a feeling of accomplishment toward something that's just for you.
List it. You'll sleep better if you get what's on your mind -- groceries, work, or baby to-dos -- down on paper.
Be calm. Before you hit the sack, sip herbal tea, stretch, try an aroma­therapy cream. Life is stimulating; you deserve a Zen moment.
Final note: No dishes or toy pickup! Do that while your baby is awake (not every hour together has to be quality time) or delegate to your partner.

Safer Baths

You probably know how to make bathtime lots of fun, but how about keeping the tub safe for your little splish-splasher? In a recent survey, only slightly more than a third (38%) of adults knew that the correct water temperature for an infant bath was roughly between 95 degrees farenheit and 100 degrees farenheit, (or one that feels lukewarm to the inside of your wrist or forearm), notes Meri-K Appy, president of the Home Safety Council, in Washington, D.C.

The smartest and easiest way to ensure the water temperature is just right is to keep your home's water heater gauge set no higher than 120 degrees farenheit. Before you get your bambino wet, test the water by dipping the inside of your wrist or forearm into the tub. If the water feels too hot to these thin-skinned areas, it's definitely too hot for your baby; lukewarm on your wrist is just about the perfect temp. Other baby bath safety tips:

Only fill the tub with an inch or so of water-that's all a baby needs to get clean, have fun and stay safe.

Cover the tub spout with a cushioned guard so your tot's head doesn't collide with it.

Never leave your baby unattended for a second in the bath, even if you are using a tub seat -- it's certainly helpful in keeping that wriggly, wet body in one spot, but it's not a safety device and won't protect your child from drowning. Stay within arm's reach, and don't use the phone or do anything else distracting while your child is in the water.

Introducing a Bottle to Your Baby

Breastfeeding can still continue if you decide to supplement with a bottle. Introducing a bottle to your baby is important if you plan to return to work or to simply have a break from breastfeeding. So, how do you go about offering a bottle to your baby if you're a breastfeeding mom?

The ideal time to introduce a bottle to your baby is between 2 and 3 weeks of age. It is important to make sure that your milk supply is well-established and that the baby is feeding well before offering a different kind of nipple. At the same time, if you wait too long before introducing the bottle, the baby may reject it. So it's best to stay within that window of time to avoid any type of nipple confusion or preference. It is also best if someone other than mom offers the bottle as babies are smart. They know what they can get from mommy and will often reject taking something other than the breast from her.

Remember that it's fine if the baby doesn't polish off the bottle. If she is used to breastfeeding, it's impossible to tell how much she should be taking. However, if the baby finished it within minutes, it does not mean that the baby needs more. Sometimes it's something as simple as using a nipple that's dissimilar to the slow-flow of a mother's breast. It's sink-or-swim: If the baby doesn't swallow milk from a bottle nipple that's too large, she will choke. So it seems that she's feeding quickly. Make sure that you're using a slow-flow or newborn nipple.

Here are some tried-and-true tricks:

1. Prepare the bottle about a half an hour before the baby's feed. The chances for rejection are slim if the bottle is all ready to go rather than having the baby wait hungrily for it to warm.
2. Warm the nipple under hot water.
3. Sit in a place where the baby is not typically breastfed.
4. Place the baby in your arms, keeping his head a bit higher than the rest of his body.
5. Place the nipple of the bottle well into the baby's mouth, centered on the tongue.
6. Sing or talk to the baby.
7. If the baby is very slow at first, that's okay. Remain patient and, once he understands he can get milk from that nipple as well, he'll start a rhythmic feed.
8. Burp frequently. Bottle feeding is different than breastfeeding and babies tend to swallow much more air during the process.