How to have a Happy, Healthy Baby

Here is my list of how to have a happy, healthy baby.  As a disclaimer, I only have ONE baby, so this is by no means a scientific study.  :)  I may simply have a happy baby by disposition.  However, these are the things we have done or continue to do that I believe contribute to a happy baby.

1. Swaddle.  Swaddling a newborn keeps them content.  Now, we weren't able to swaddle Castiel fully for very long - he just really wanted his arms free.  However, we did keep him wrapped as much and as long as we could.   
2. Breastfeed – on demand.  For the first 6 weeks of his life (maybe longer), Castiel could barely start crying before I'd nurse him.  This meant I nursed ALL THE TIME!  However, it was well worth it to have a peaceful, happy baby.   At 9 months, I still nurse on demand, but it's a lot less often than it used to be!
3. Make your own baby food.  This one may seem silly, but by making my own baby food, I know what Castiel is eating, and I know he isn't getting unnecessary preservatives.  I think making healthy, natural choices contributes to a happy baby.
4. Do not circumcise your baby boy.  I really believe this helped to set the tone for a happy baby.  Castiel did not have to recuperate when he came home from the hospital, and the beginning of his life was not marked by a painful experience. 
5. Do not vaccinate.  Castiel has not been vaccinated, and this has contributed to a happy baby in several ways (in my opinion).  First of all, doctor visits are pleasant experiences.  Secondly, he experiences none of the unpleasant side effects of vaccinations such as fever, irritability, etc.  Finally, he has NEVER been sick.  However, this may be related to the following --
6. Keep baby at home.  I know this is not possible for everyone, but this I think contributes the MOST to a happy baby.  Castiel is at home all day with his dad.  In addition to being with a parent, he is at home in a safe and familiar environment.  We don't take him all over creation, and when we are doing any type of marathon grocery shopping, he stays with Nana and Grandpa where he can relax!
7. Read, read, read to your baby!  I have read to Castiel since I brought him home from the hospital, and he now LOVES to be read to and play with books.  He has his favorites that always calm him down, and it is nice to have a go-to activity that will make him happy.  Plus he's learning to love books!
8. Follow routines.  Although we aren't strict schedule followers, Castiel generally knows what to expect throughout the day (thanks to Daddy).  We have a bedtime routine that we do follow pretty strictly, and usually he is good about going to sleep quickly and peacefully. 
9. Play music in the background.   Background music sets the mood.  Ever since he was born, Carlos has made sure that there has always been music playing in the background - when the baby sleeps, when he plays, when he's riding in the car.  We have different playlists according to what "mood" we want to set - Daytime Classical, Nighttime Classical, Playtime Music. 
10. Sing, sing, sing!  We sing all the time, and Castiel definitely has his favorites.  He's now started "singing" along with us, and sometimes by himself.  We have a bath time song, a diaper-changing song, a turning-off-the-light song.  :)  We make up songs (although Daddy is much better at it)  and also sing well-known songs.  He loves "You are my Sunshine" and "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt."  
11. Celebrate everything!  Everything is a celebration (and usually comes with a made-up song!) -- We celebrate the "last bite" of food, waking up, even pooping gets celebrated around here (at least when the baby does it!)  
12. Know your baby's developmental stage.  This makes for a happy baby AND parent!  At 7 months when the baby continually throws his bottle or sippy cup onto the floor, it isn't to test or annoy you, it's simply developmental.  It's also teaching him about cause and effect (don't let the effect be your over-reaction).  At 9 months, Castiel would much rather me read his favorite book to him three times than have me read three different books.  We are in the developmental stage of REPETITION around here, and everyone is happier when we acknowledge and accept it.  :)

Breastmilk Storage

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I've written a blog on Breastfeeding Tips, so I thought I'd also share how I store my stockpiled breast milk.

First of all, I try to give Castiél the freshest breast milk, so during the week, he drinks the milk I pumped on the previous day.  The only day he gets frozen milk is on Mondays; however, for the first few months I pumped on Saturday and Sunday mornings and that is what he had on Mondays.

During the week I end up freezing some of milk he has left over at the end of the day, and I also freeze all of the milk pumped on Friday.  Because I also pumped and froze during my maternity leave, I have quite a stockpile of frozen milk!

I use Nuk Storage Bags.  I label the number of ounces and the date pumped.  

I always lay the bags flat to freeze so that they are more easily stored.  

I have found that Sterilite ice trays are a perfect fit for the bags!  I am able to put the milk in order by date into the ice trays for storage in the freezer.  I have some milk frozen in my mom's freezer as well, and she has found that the boxes that clementines come in at the grocery store are also a great fit for the bags when laid horizontally!

Even though some of the milk is in a deep freezer, my goal is to use the milk within 6 months of the pumped date.  So far, I'm well within that time frame with the milk I am using, but if it gets close to 6 months, I will give Castiél frozen milk and freeze what I pump at work so I don't have to throw away any milk!

I saw a great quote on pinterest:  "Whoever said not to cry over spilt milk has obviously never pumped 6 ounces and then accidentally dumped it!"  So true!!!!

Breastfeeding Tips

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I am by no means a lactation expert, but I have been successful in my own attempts at breastfeeding.  Because I have several friends who are pregnant and planning to breastfeed, I thought I’d give my own two cents on the topic. 

1. If you want to breastfeed, decide you are going to do it no matter what.  I think that makes the difference.  If you go in with the attitude that you are going to “try it,” you probably won’t stick with it.
2. Know that the first two weeks are going to be hard.  You will be in pain and there isn’t a whole lot you can do about it.  It does get much better.
3. I know that many resources tell you to nurse for a set amount of time on each side, but I didn’t do that.  Castiél pretty much nursed from one side at each feeding and continues to do so.  I wear a hair band on my wrist and change it back and forth to remind me which side to feed on. 
4. You will leak at night – a LOT.  The cute little nursing pajamas aren’t very practical because they don’t hold nursing pads in very well.  The sleep nursing bras are the best bet for at night.  I also wear them whenever I’m at home because they are so much easier to deal with than the regular nursing bras. 
5. About nursing pads, Lansinoh are my favorite disposable nursing pads, but I suggest getting at least a few cloth nursing pads.  They are more comfortable and much more economical.  My favorite kind are Nuk reusable nursing pads.  They are kind of small, so they show through nursing tanks, but they don’t show at all under regular nursing bras. 
6. I didn’t use them, but I think you should get the gel nursing pads to use at the very beginning when you are very sore.  After the worst was over, I saw them and wished I would have had them! 
7. Have lanolin crème available – even at the hospital.  I like the Medela brand.  But know that lanolin stains, so when you use it make sure you wear nursing pads, even if you aren’t leaking yet. 
8. Breastfeed as soon as you can.  This is possible even if you have a c-section.  I had a c-section and was able to breastfeed in the recovery room. 
9. Keep your baby with you in your hospital room.  This is called “rooming in” and it makes a huge difference in getting a successful start in breastfeeding.  I was able to feed on demand, and Castiél wasn’t already crying, hungry and frustrated when I was trying to get him latched on. 
10. When your milk comes in you very easily get engorged – PUMP!  Some resources say not to pump until a certain time, but there is no reason to wait.  Pumping relieves your engorgement, helps stimulate your milk supply, and helps you build up some “reserves” in the freezer! 
11. You can use a single pump at the beginning, but buy a good double pump for when you go back to work.  Also buy a hands-free pumping bra.  It makes all the difference in the world!  (I’m actually writing this blog as I’m pumping!)
12. Freezing milk:  There are “milk storage” containers that sell for $15+.  Sterilite ice buckets are exactly the same and are much cheaper!  If you put your milk in bags and lie them flat to freeze, they fit in the ice bucket perfectly.
13. Feed on demand.  At the beginning this means that you will be nursing ALL the time - literally.  The first two weeks I pretty much nursed Castiél every time he cried - but he gained weight well and my milk supply became established very quickly.
14. Ask for help - from friends, family, lactation consultants - whatever you need to be successful!  Don't give up right away, even if it is difficult!! 

Well, that's my wealth of breastfeeding wisdom!  Hope it helps those who to whom it applies!  :)