Baby's Undesirable Behavior
Your baby may display behavior that you don't quite
appreciate. He may begin hitting, biting, pinching,
pulling hair, throwing food or doing other things you
rather he not do. When baby misbehaves, usually it isn't
out of defiance; he is just experimenting. However if
you overact when he misbehaves, you reinforce his behavior
because you give him attention, even if it is negative
attention. Stay calm and try these tactics when it happens
the next time.
Ignore baby.
Sometimes it is best to ignore baby's behavior; if he
doesn't get a reaction from you or others, he will stop
and move on to something else.
Don't overreact.
When you react strongly, you are giving your baby attention
for his negative behavior. He may interpret your reprimand
as a reward because he has caught your attention. This
can reinforce his behavior and he will repeat them.
Be consistent.
Handle the same situation in the same way every time.
Ask others to handle it the way you do. If you tolerate
a problem behavior sometimes but not always or if some
family member finds it cute and encourages it, it is
harder to break the habit.
React quickly.
When baby misbehaves, tell him 'NO' immediately and
firmly. If he does it again, distract him or remove
him from the situation. The longer you wait to react,
the more likely he is to forget what he did was unacceptable.
Praise him when his behavior
is acceptable.
If you always focus on the negative, baby will repeat
those actions to get your attention. When you ignore
the negative and focus on the positive, he will change
his behavior accordingly to sustain your attention and
interest in him.
Lactose Intolerance
A person suffering from lactose intolerance has a problem
digesting cow's milk or other milk products. A deficiency
or a lack of the enzyme lactase causes the condition.
This enzyme is necessary for the digestion of all milk
products other than breast milk. Lactose intolerance
is possible at any age; some infants are born with this
problem. Symptoms of lactose intolerance include:
• Diarrhea
• Gas
• Failure to thrive
• Stomach pain
• Failure to gain weight
• Nausea
• Diaper rash
• Vomiting
Lactose intolerance is more prevalent among some people;
Asians, blacks, and Native Americans are more prone
to this problem. It is also hereditary. While you are
pregnant, seriously consider breastfeeding your baby
if you or your partner have a history of lactose intolerance.
If there is no history, be alert for problems with formula
especially if it is cow-milk based. When baby turns
1, look for signs of lactose intolerance when baby switches
to drinking regular cow's milk. If baby suffers from
persistent diarrhea or vomiting of doesn't gain weight,
inform your pediatrician. The best treatment is to change
baby's diet. Do not give cow's milk or products containing
cow's milk. If the condition is present at birth and
you are not breast feeding, you may be advised to give
baby a soybean-based formula.
