Dealing With Presley's First Molar
I have one word to describe baby molars....NIGHTMARE.
I can tell you nothing was easy about being on maternity leave. Some people think it's a three month vacation. Far from it. But dealing with my daughter's pain and discomfort over her molar was the worst experience so far.
When her teeth started coming in, she really didn't show any signs of discomfort. If she did, it was nothing a little bit of Infant Tylenol couldn't handle. Our molar nightmare happened just a month ago around Christmas time. My daughter woke up one morning as evil baby and stayed that way. Presley wouldn't eat. She wouldn't sleep. She refused to play, smile or laugh. She would hit us, kick us, pull our hair and torment the cats. Presley cried and threw temper tantrums morning, noon and night. My husband and I would tear up not having a clue on what to do. I was trying to come to terms that my daughter was destined to be the playground bully. I was positive that somewhere, somehow, in these last 16 months, I failed as a mother.
It quickly dawned on me that my daughter wasn't evil but her molar was coming in. Below is what my husband and I did to help our daughter through the painful situation.
Please contact your Pediatrician before giving your child any medicine! I am not a medical expert, just a mom.
1) We really tried to keep Infant Tylenol in her system to help dull the pain.
2) We gave her cold chewy toys, wash cloths and a binkie to chew on.
3) We gave her a small amount of Children's Benadryl to help her sleep. Josh and I were so against doing this but we broke down the last two nights of this ordeal. It was the only thing that allowed the three of us to get some sleep.
4) Be organized so your mornings are easier. I did not get any sleep so it was helpful to have everything laid out for me the night before.
5) If you need a break (and you will) don't feel bad to get away from your child for a few hours. Coming back refreshed will only make you a better parent.
6) Did I mention you will not get much sleep?? Be prepared :)
So hang in there Moms! You did not fail as a mother. It's just those pesky teeth making your child evil! Good luck!
My love for restaurants
I have to admit. Going out to eat is one of my favorite things to do. I love the intimate setting, the long talks, and the laughter. My social status has changed since Presley came along. Plus, I have a husband with 15 years of restaurant experience. He hates going out to eat. So when I convince him to take me to a restaurant, it's a big deal. I get out of the house. I get to be social. I get to do something. I love it.
Now that our daughter is off the baby food, my husband and I have included her in our restaurant adventures. I never realized until I became a mom how unhealthy the kid's menu is. So, as a parent, what am I suppose to do about the menu? I don't want to take a lunch pail of fruits and veggies with me. That would defeat the whole purpose of going out to eat. But I read nothing on the kid's menu but fried this and fried that and spaghetti (which is too messy). Don't forget the french fries. You get plenty of french fries thrown your way.
My husband and I swore up and down during my entire pregnancy that our child would never know the taste of junk food. Ha Ha on that one. We've been more lenient than we wanted to. I mean, we do not shove junk down her throat, but a cookie here and some ice cream there slips in from time to time. But 90% of the time, Presley eats very healthy. I'm so amazed that she loves fruits and veggies. I hope that doesn't change in the future. But I have my "Sneaky Chef" cookbook just in case.
If you truly want your child to eat healthy, you should probably stay away from the kid's menu. What we do is my daughter eats off of our salad plates, eats a baked potato in lieu of french fries with fish or chicken. It's not the best, but we try. You could also consider staying home for most of your meals. You could make fantastic memories in the kitchen. Good luck!
