A couple of questions (you'd think I'd know this)

[AFWife]

Being as this is my second child I thought I'd know all of the answers! However, DS1 and DS2 are night and day!

1) Baby acne. DS1 got a small amount for a few days and that was it. DS2 looks like a sterotypical "teenager" in that it's ALL OVER. He's had it for almost a week now.

2) DS2 holds his breath when he cries sometimes...like, to the point of turning purple. I've tried blowing in his face to "shock" him and get him to breathe in (he breathes out and turns purple with his big scream) Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I'm just worried about him doing it when I can't pick him up (like in the carseat) Logic tells me that he'll just pass out and start breathing again...but my Mommy-ness freaks out at the thought of her child passing out at all.

Thanks guys!

[neonalee]

I can only speak from experience with the first question.  DS had acne on & off the first few months, and there was def a time or too it was pretty bad.  At one point we wondered if it was because he was spitting up all. the. time.  We just made sure to clean him with gentle natural cleansers.  He's nearly 6 mos now and rarely has any acne (and doesn't spit up much either).

[Knitting Mama]

My ped said not to use anything to clean my daughter's face with her baby acne, just gently wipe with water every few days. She said the less you do to it, the more rapidly it goes away.

I don't have an answer for your second question though.

[Llyra]

1. Baby acne-- it seems to vary by kid. DD1 had it bad, DS mildly, and DD2 not at all. So I wouldn't worry about there being more of it this time. It passes all on its own. It seems to get better fastest if you keep the washing to a minimum-- just some warm water every day or two, and no soaps or cleansers at all. It's got to do with residual maternal hormones.

2. Holding the breath-- I'm pretty sure your logic is correct-- they have a strong biological reflex to protect them. That said, if baby was a preemie or had breathing problems at birth, or you have any other reason to suspect all is not otherwise well, you might mention this to your health care provider JUST IN CASE. Lots of babies do this, and almost always it's fine. They startle, and start breathing properly all on their own. But it would be best to mention it, just in case your health care provider spots something you're not seeing.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by Llyra 

2. Holding the breath-- I'm pretty sure your logic is correct-- they have a strong biological reflex to protect them. That said, if baby was a preemie or had breathing problems at birth, or you have any other reason to suspect all is not otherwise well, you might mention this to your health care provider JUST IN CASE. Lots of babies do this, and almost always it's fine. They startle, and start breathing properly all on their own. But it would be best to mention it, just in case your health care provider spots something you're not seeing.
 

He was born at 37 weeks...but was good sized and an awesome HB. No real breathing problems at birth (he had gunk in his throat that made his breathing SOUND funny but no issues actually getting oxygen)

I'm going to a natural parenting meeting tonight and my MW will be there. I'll mention it.

[motherhendoula]

My LO had baby acne and having a wash with some generic 'gentle baby soap' actually seemed to help him.  I thought it was happening because i sometimes put him down for naps on his stomach...i think by 8 weeks it was gone for good.  As for the holding his breath, yes it sounds frightening...probably one of those things that sounds worse than it is....but certainly worth mentioning to HCP!

Am I the only crazy mom who pulls over and nurses her LO when he is inconsolable in the car seat?   I JUST switched from RF infant seat to FF larger car seat and now it is not so easy!   I keep pacifiers in the car for this sort of thing...not that they work!

[Knitting Mama]

Forward facing already? Your signature says that he was born 8/10-- unless that means August 10th of another year, instead of the August of 2010 that I am reading it as!

[McGucks]

Only have a sec--our ped says new study says baby acne is a facial yeast infection & needs to be treated with a topical anti-fungal...some new study.  Huh!  Don't know anyone who has BTDT with that regime, but it's worth asking about!

[Adaline'sMama]

Originally Posted by motherhendoula 

My LO had baby acne and having a wash with some generic 'gentle baby soap' actually seemed to help him.  I thought it was happening because i sometimes put him down for naps on his stomach...i think by 8 weeks it was gone for good.  As for the holding his breath, yes it sounds frightening...probably one of those things that sounds worse than it is....but certainly worth mentioning to HCP!

Am I the only crazy mom who pulls over and nurses her LO when he is inconsolable in the car seat?   I JUST switched from RF infant seat to FF larger car seat and now it is not so easy!   I keep pacifiers in the car for this sort of thing...not that they work!

If I was driving and my DD was wanting to nurse, I would absoutley pull over to nurse. However, sometimes I have to be somewhere at a specific time and I just cant stop 5 or 6 times to nurse.

And not to start a bandwagon of people flaming you, but I looked at your profile, and from your other posts it does look like you have a babe that was born in August 2010. Im hoping that you meant that you purchased a carseat that has a high back (is capable of FF), not that you have actually turned your 5 mo to the FF position. I notice that you are in NY, and it looks like NY doesnt have a law regarding RF. However, the federal law mandates that infants must be RF until they are either one year or 20 lbs. Even if you have a 20# 5 month old, you may want to look at some of the stickys in Family Safety about the dangers of FF at an early age. Again, hopefully there has just been some miscommunication about this :)