One of our favorite sites is hosting a mother’s day photo contest with a prize of $1,000!  The theme?  Showing what motherhood means to you through a picture, either posted on your blog or emailed to them directly. Find out more at 5 Minutes for Mom.

My mother made sure I looked nice when it was time to be dressed up.  Whether for church or school – my clothes were clean and my hair was combed.  But I remember my mother letting me finger paint and play with mud pies too.  She said I was happiest in a frilly dress, plopped on top of a dirt hill playing with trucks.  I’ve tried to carry this over to my own children.  There is nothing like having one my little ones run up to me with a big smile on his or her face surrounded by smudges of dirt – and most likely holding a frog or caterpillar for me to see.

So here is my photo submission.  My daugther with a hose and a big mud hole – with, of course, her smile.  And I hope that one day I’ll have a picture of her sons or daughters playing with mud pies, with that same care-free smile!

How do you know if your baby might have hearing problems?  Your first indication may be that your infant does not respond to sounds.  Furthermore, if your baby does not react to loud noises, there might be a problem.  If at any age the quality of your child’s voice seems poor, it is time to see a physician.

As your child grows, by nine months you should be hearing babbling.  You are normally able to hear words from your child between 18 to 24 months.  Your two year old should be able to respond to simple commands.  And finally, if your child stutters past five it may be a sign of poor hearing.

If you notice any of these symptoms in your baby or child, it is time for a hearing evaluation from your pediatrician. 

Got diaper rash?  What a miserable feeling for baby.  Prolonged exposure to a soiled diaper increases the pH on your baby’s skin, which breaks down the skin’s outer layer.  Ouch!

But what if you just can’t get to the store right away for some diaper rash cream?  First of all, clean your baby’s bottom with warm water and allow it to air dry.  Then, find a place you can allow your baby to play without a diaper. 

Now for your diaper rash home remedy on the fly.  Do you have Maalox or Mylanta?  Surely there is some left from your pregnancy?  Simply place some on your baby’s bottom and watch the relief begin.  These products reduce acid and will help to dry the skin and provide immediate comfort.

If you don’t have any of these products, a mix of petroleum jelly and corn starch has been known to work wonders as well.

One early morning – a 3 a.m. type early morning! – my baby was screaming from a newly acquired case of diaper rash.  I stumbled to the medicine cabinet, got my Maalox and spread it on his poor little bottom.  He was instantly calmed and went right to sleep. 

In the morning I smelled something odd and slightly pleasant when I changed his next diaper.  It was.. hmmm… cherries!  That was when I realized the Maalox was cherry flavored.  My poor little guy was nicknamed “cherry butt” for the next few days.  But he felt better!