Top 3 teething myths busted!

When you find yourself confronted with a fussy, drooling mess of a baby, your first instinct is probably to blame teething. But the truth is, a lot of the things you think are symptoms of teething are anything but!

Here are some of the top myths about teething—and the truth behind them.

Myth #1: Teething causes fevers.

This one is partially true. The American Academy of Pediatrics has found that teething can cause slight fevers. However, anything above 101 degrees Fahrenheit is a sign of a bacterial or viral infection, not teething.

Myth #2: Teething causes diarrhea.

This is another really pervasive myth, but studies have found no evidence to support it. If your baby seems to be abnormally runny, you might want to blame another one of those infections. If your baby is shying away from solid foods, the loose stools could also be caused by a return to a liquid-based diet.

Myth #3: Teething causes a runny nose.

This one’s totally bogus. However, the stress of getting the new tooth can compromise a baby’s immune system, making your little one more likely to get a cold or ear infection, leading to that runny nose.

Teething can be a miserable experience, no doubt about it. But before blaming your baby’s symptoms on teething, dig a little deeper. Your little one’s discomfort could be something a doctor can fix!

References:
American Academy of Pediatrics
Babycenter.com

Posted in Teething | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Ten Things To Do With Your Baby This Winter

When the thermometer plummets, finding fun things to do with your baby can be challenging. To help get you started, here are ten ideas for wintertime fun both you and your baby can share.

Outdoor Activities For You and Your Baby

Although it will be at least a couple of years until your little one is ready for winter sports, all but the smallest infants can benefit from a little fresh air in the winter. Just bundle up and keep trips to the great outdoors short.

1. Go “sledding.” Not downhill, of course. But your baby can enjoy a gentle ride around the flat surface of your yard.
2. Give your baby some snow to play with. It’s cold, it’s sparkly, it’s a million kinds of fun!
3. Show off the winter wonderland. Snow-covered trees and dangling icicles might be old hat to you, but they’re never before seen wonders to your baby. Take a short walk around the neighborhood and watch the smiles blossom.

Things To Do With Your Baby Inside

Too cold to go outside? Never fear. There’s plenty to do inside.

4. Make a sandbox. Fill a shallow plastic storage bin with a little play sand, get out a couple of measuring cups, and let your little one at it!
5. Have fun with shaving cream. For messy fun, empty a big mound of shaving cream in front of your baby and let him go nuts!
6. Bake together. If your baby can wield a spoon, she’s ready to help you in the kitchen. Let your kiddo mix dough, frost cupcakes or decorate cookies.
7. Make music. Common household items can easily become musical instruments. Fill a sippy cup with dried beans to shake. Turn an oatmeal container upside down to make a drum. Turn a paper towel roll into a horn. When you look around, opportunities for music are everywhere!

Getting Out With Your Baby.

No matter how much you love your baby, eventually you’ll start craving the company of others. But don’t worry. There are plenty of places to go!

8. Your local library. Most libraries have special story hours and other activities for little ones.
9. Indoor play areas. Most metropolitan areas have indoor playgrounds featuring baby-friendly activities and equipment. And, if all else fails, your local mall is almost guaranteed to have a play area.
10. Mommy Groups. Join a local mom’s group and in no time, you’ll have a slew of options for play dates and other wintertime fun.

These are just a few ideas, but if you look around, opportunities for fun are everywhere! What are your favorite things to do with your baby in the wintertime?

Posted in Baby tips | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Kourtney Kardashian’s Pregnant: December’s Round Up of Pregnant Celebrities.


Kourtney Kardashian
Celebrities. Whether you love them or hate them, you can’t help but be fascinated by their lives. And when a celeb announces she’s pregnant? It’s always big news.

Read on for the latest gossip about pregnant celebrities.

Kourtney Kardashian made a splash when she announced her pregnancy on Nov. 30. Although she’s only nine weeks along, she reportedly felt “confident” it was safe to go public. This will be her second child with her long-term (but off and on) love, Scott Disick. Their first son, Mason, was born last December (photo courtesy of AdRants).

Maggie Gyllenhaal shared her latest pregnancy news over the Thanksgiving weekend. The 34-year-old actress revealed that she is, in fact, six months pregnant with her second child. Maggie and her husband Peter Sarsgaard are already parents to Ramona, their five-year-old daughter (Photo courtesy of Capital M).

Maggie Gyllenhaal

Maggie Gyllenhaal, Photo courtesy of Capital M


Jessica Simpson’s pregnancy announcement was no Halloween trick! Although she chose to make her pregnancy public while dressed up in a mummy costume, she is now quite visibly pregnant! This will be the first child for both Jessica and her fiance Eric Johnson (Photo courtesy of Simplistic Designs).
Jessica Simpson

Jessica Simpson, Photo courtesy of Simplistic Designs

Beyonce Knowles is glad to be in her last trimester. Due in February, Beyonce is looking forward to starting her career as mom. For now, though, she and husband Jay Z are enjoying their last holiday season alone (photo courtesy of Tiny Glimpses).

Beyonce

Beyonce Knowles, photo courtesy of Tiny Glimpses

Everyone’s favorite former teen star, Hillary Duff, is having a boy! The 24-year-old singer and actress announced her pregnancy last August, on the first anniversary of her wedding to hockey player Mike Comrie. Baby Comrie is scheduled to make his appearance in early 2012 (Photo courtesy of David Shankbone).

Hillary Duff

Hillary Duff, Photo courtesy of David Shankbone


Who will sport a new baby bump in 2012? Stay tuned to find out!

Posted in Style trends | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Holiday Survival Tips: Top 5 Tips For Traveling With A Baby

Traveling with a baby during the holidays can be tough. But with a little planning (and a lot of patience), you can make the experience a good one—no matter how far afield your holiday travel plans take you!

Below are five tips to make traveling with your baby stress-free.

1. If you’re flying with your baby, bring more breast milk, formula and snacks than you think you need. You never know when you’re going to be delayed—and it’s better to have too much than not enough. And don’t worry, you can carry more than the standard three ounces of breast milk or formula through airport security. Just make sure to pack it separately from your other gels and liquids (a soft-sided cooler works nicely), and present it to TSA officials for scanning at check-in.

2. If you’re staying in a hotel, consider getting a suite or connecting rooms to make nap and bedtimes easier. It might cost a little more, but a well-rested, happy baby could be worth the extra expense.

3. Unpack as soon as you get to your destination. Whether you’re settling in at a hotel or staying with family, set up designated areas for sleeping, changing and playing. Your baby will feel more comfortable when surrounded with familiar things, and you’ll feel far more organized!

4. Stick to your baby’s normal schedule as much as possible. If you can avoid it, don’t make your baby adjust to a new time zone. It’s better to ignore the time difference if it’s only an hour or two. Your baby will be much happier!

5. Practice strategic napping. Chances are, you won’t always be able to lay your baby down for a nap in his or her crib. But that doesn’t mean napping can’t happen! When out and about, try wearing your baby at nap time. You could also take a walk (with stroller in tow), or plan to be in the car. The motion of driving has been known to send many a fussy tot off to dreamland!

Most of important of all? Be prepared to give it a little time. It will take a few days for your baby to settle in to the new environment. You might have a couple of sleepless nights, but if you can power through it, you’ll be rewarded with a happy baby—and a great holiday travel experience.

Posted in Baby tips | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Teething 101

Teething: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

 Is there anything cuter than the sight of a single tooth poking through a baby’s gummy smile? Certainly not much.

 Unfortunately, the process of getting to that frame-worthy moment can be a miserable experience. But with a little preparation and a lot of patience, you can minimize the discomfort your little one feels—and keep yourself sane.

 Step 1: Recognize the symptoms of teething.

 Teething has been blamed for everything from high fevers to diarrhea. But, in truth, there are only a few symptoms that can be traced directly back to teething.

 Teething symptoms include:

  • Drooling
  • Crankiness (sometimes expressed through clinginess)
  • Sleep issues
  • Food refusal
  • Biting
  • Swollen gums

 Any other health issues you notice are probably due to a cold or other illness. The stress of teething can make babies more vulnerable to other infections.

 Step 2: Help your baby cope with teething discomfort.

 Chances are, the sight of your baby crying and in pain makes your own heart twist into knots. But rather than get upset, focus on the things you can do to help.

 Strategies for coping include:

  • Give your munchkin something cold to chew on. Your baby’s gums are swollen and sore. Mouthing on something cold can help bring down the swelling and make them feel better. Try a cold washcloth, or better yet, your Momma’s Jewels necklace. The naturally cool silver surface never fails to soothe.
  • Try teething tablets or homeopathic numbing gels. Many parents rely on these over-the-counter solutions to temporarily ease the pain of teething. It’s always best to check with your doctor first, though.
  • Feed older babies a teething biscuit. These hard cookie-type objects give them something to chew on—and sneak in a little nutrition, too!
  • If all else fails, a small amount of children’s pain reliever might be appropriate. But again, ask your doctor first.

 Step 3: Relax.

 Remember, as with all things baby-related, this too shall pass. Keep breathing, stay calm and get rest whenever you can.  It will be over before you know it!

 Have any other copy strategies to share? Let us know in the comments!

Posted in Teething | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Connecting moms in Chicago!

A cool event took place tonight in Chicago.  We are talking about Bump Club and Beyond Chicago’s 1st Annual Rock & Stroll around Roscoe Village! Women were able to shop for themselves and their baby while enjoying a night out with their girls.  While there, women were able to purchase our teething jewelry at Kickin, an active boutique for moms and babes. Bump club and beyond is helping connect moms and moms-to-be.

You can find additional upcoming events at: http://www.bumpclubandbeyond.com/events/

Posted in Style trends | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Welcome to our blog!

Momma's Jewels 3 ring sterling silver teething necklace

Silver teething necklace by Momma's Jewels

Our company is growing and evolving and we are working very hard to embrace social media and engage our customers in a respectful way.  The intent of our blog is to share information about our teething jewelry, our experiences, those of our customers, recent style trends, current promotions, information on teething & early childhood development, as well as allowing our customers to comment in a candid, open way.   We always welcome feedback about our site, blog, company & most importantly our teething necklaces and teething bracelets!  We would love to hear from you.

We would like to offer a special thanks to http://www.5minutesformom.com/47/using-trackback/ for their help using trackbacks.

Posted in Teething jewelry | Tagged | Leave a comment