How your baby's growing:
Your baby may "walk" while you're gripping his hands, and even hold out an arm or leg to help you dress him. At mealtimes, he may be able to drink from a cup on his own (though some children may not do this well for months or even another year or two) and hand-feed himself.
Once your baby's able to drink from a cup by himself, you may need to start ducking, because he's just as likely to toss it when he's finished as to set it down.
Your life: Functioning on less sleep
Nobody functions well when she's short on shut-eye. Some tried-and-true tactics for those moments when your lack of sleep catches up with you:
Constantly oversleeping because of bad nights? Turn up the volume on your alarm clock — and set it to that annoying alarm rather than the radio. Make sure you're setting it for a reasonable hour and not an overly optimistic one. You might even place the alarm clock across the room so that you have to get out of bed to turn it off.
Groggy all day long? Perk up with a caffeinated beverage or two if need be, but then switch to decaf or no-caf after lunchtime. Too much caffeine will overstimulate your body and lead to sleeping problems at night — and if you limit the java jolts, the caffeine will be more effective when you do have a cup. Also try to do your most detail-oriented tasks early in the day, when you're sharpest.
Dragging midday? If you're at work, try sneaking a 15-minute nap in your car during break time. Taking a short stroll outside the building can also revive you. If you're in a long meeting, bring a cold drink to help you stay alert and sit near an open window, if possible. If you're at home, try to rest or nap during your child's naptime.
3 questions about: Antibiotics
Why won't my baby's doctor prescribe antibiotics whenever my baby is sick?
Antibiotics are only effective against bacteria — they don't help at all in fighting viruses, the culprit behind colds, the flu, and many respiratory illnesses. So if your baby has any of these conditions, antibiotics simply won't help. Giving your baby antibiotics when they're not necessary actually makes bacteria more resistant to treatment, which can cause problems when your baby really does need bacteria-fighting medicine. Also, antibiotics aren't without their own risks. As with any medicine, they can produce side effects or even serious allergic reactions. In fact, the overprescription of antibiotics is a growing concern in the medical community.
Can I stop giving my baby the antibiotics when it seems he's feeling better?
No. Give the full course of prescribed antibiotics, just as your baby's doctor directs. Stopping any earlier may not eliminate the illness completely or may cause other, more serious health problems.
What if my baby throws up or spits out a dose?
If your baby vomited right after taking the antibiotics or gagged on the medicine so that most of it came right back out of his mouth, it's okay to replace the dose. But try figuring out why he vomited — because he gagged or because he's sick? Ask your doctor for suggestions on how to make a medication easier to swallow. Some can be mixed with foods such as applesauce to make the medicine taste better. In other cases, an eyedropper or a syringe-type device that shoots the medicine down the baby's throat is more effective than trying to use a spoon. Your local pharmacy may also be able to add special flavorings to certain medicines to make them more palatable to your baby.
source: babycenter
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