Kait O’Malley - Birth & Postpartum Doula

09/03/2025

You should begin brushing your baby’s teeth as soon as you see a tooth popping through, which will be at around 6 month of age! It’s essential to take good care of your baby’s teeth now — and not only because establishing healthy habits early on helps ensure a lifetime of good dental health. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that you start brushing your baby’s teeth as soon as the first tooth comes in because as soon as they have a tooth, plaque can begin to build up on the surface of the tooth which can cause decay.

Pediatric dentists prefer you use a soft-bristled baby toothbrush moistened with water and a rice grain-sized smear of fluoride toothpaste. By age 3, you can use a pea-sized dollop. It is recommended you brush twice a day, in the morning and before bedtime! As your little one gets older, you’ll want to encourage them to build in interest in brushing their teeth on their own. Try a fun brush with a favorite character or bright color. Also let them watch you in the bathroom mirror as you take good care of your teeth, so that they learn that it’s a habit to keep for life. Make it fun! Sing songs and let them play! 🪥

09/02/2025

Happy September! 🍁As the air becomes crisp and the leaves start to fall, what you put your baby in when sleeping may change! 🍂 When putting your little one down to rest it’s important to choose the best clothing based on the temperature in your baby’s room. It is important to know babies cannot regulate their body temperature as well as adults can. Unlike adults, babies have a larger body surface area relative to their body mass, which makes them more susceptible to temperature changes. So to compensate, babies rely on external sources of warmth, meaning they need to be dressed the right way.

Keeping the proper room temperature for your baby is not only important for their sleep quality but also for their health and safety. Check out my previous post on how to know if your baby is too hot or too cold!

Remember, it’s not a safe option to have your baby sleeping in a hat or with loose blankets so keeping their layers to the basics is super important!

As always, trust your judgement and assess your child’s comfort when dressing your baby for bed! 💤🌙

08/24/2025

It is such an exciting time to watch your bump grow! There are so many things you can do to bond with your baby while pregnant! Pregnancy is just the beginning of your relationship with your child. You may feel tired and stressed which can cause a disconnect between you and baby. Don’t worry, this is so normal! Here are a few tips to help prepare for your new life and bonding while pregnant!

Talk & Sing: Did you know your baby can hear sounds as early as 18 weeks? When you talk and sing to your baby, they’ll become familiar with your voice. Read a book or sing some nursery rhymes! 🎶

Get others involved: Getting your loved ones in on the fun can be super beneficial! It’s nice for them to know a familiar voice other than yours when they’re outside of your belly! They may have an easier time being soothed if they already are familiar with their voice. ✨

Touch: Between 16 and 24 weeks you may feel your little one kick! You can actually respond to them by gently nudging your belly. 🤰🏻

Take a bath: Seeing as baby is hanging out in water feeling all warm and relaxed, why not join them? Light some candles, play relaxing music, close your eyes and let the love wash over you. 🛁

Dance: Gentle movement releases endorphins and is the perfect way to bond with your developing baby. When a mom feels good, baby feels good. This carefree way to happiness is ideal for bonding. 🪩

Let me know if you have any more tips and tricks! Anything fun you did while pregnant to bond with your baby? 👶🏻🤰🏾

08/22/2025

National Rainbow Baby Day 🌈

National Rainbow Baby Day is August 22nd.
It’s a day to honor the little ones born after loss. A day that’s both joy and grief woven together. 🌈✨👶🏻

For every rainbow baby, there’s a storm that came first. For every celebration, there’s a heartbreak that lingers.

So when you see us celebrate our rainbows, know this:

We are also remembering the ones who never made it earthside.

We are loving two babies at once...

The one we lost, and the one who brought color back into our world. 🌈👶🏾

08/22/2025

National Rainbow Baby Day is August 22nd.
It’s a day to honor the little ones born after loss. A day that’s both joy and grief woven together. 🌈✨👶🏻

For every rainbow baby, there’s a storm that came first. For every celebration, there’s a heartbreak that lingers.

So when you see us celebrate our rainbows, know this:

We are also remembering the ones who never made it earthside.

We are loving two babies at once...

The one we lost, and the one who brought color back into our world. 🌈👶🏾

08/20/2025

Pregnancy nutrition can feel overwhelming, but thinking of it trimester by trimester helps a lot. Here’s a breakdown of high-nutrient foods by trimester, focusing on what your body (and baby) needs most at each stage:

✨ Focus: Folic acid, B vitamins, iron, protein (for early development + preventing neural tube defects).
▫️Leafy greens (spinach, kale, romaine) → folate, iron
▫️Legumes (lentils, chickpeas, black beans) → folate, protein, fiber
▫️Citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruit, strawberries) → vitamin C + helps absorb iron
▫️Eggs (especially yolks) → choline, protein
▫️Fortified whole grains (oats, quinoa, brown rice) → B vitamins, fiber
▫️Avocado → folate, healthy fats
▫️Lean meats (chicken, turkey, beef) → iron, protein

❕Extra tip: Small, frequent snacks (nuts, cheese, crackers, smoothies) help if you’re nauseous.

✨ Focus: Calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, protein (for baby’s bone + muscle growth).
▫️Dairy (yogurt, cheese, milk) → calcium, protein
▫️Fatty fish (salmon, sardines – low mercury choices) → omega-3s, vitamin D
▫️Nuts & seeds (almonds, chia, pumpkin seeds) → magnesium, protein, omega-3s
▫️Lean meats + poultry → protein, iron
▫️Tofu, edamame, tempeh → plant-based protein + calcium
▫️Colorful veggies (bell peppers, carrots, sweet potatoes, broccoli) → vitamins A, C, K
▫️Whole grains (quinoa, barley, oatmeal) → energy + fiber

❕Extra tip: Pair calcium-rich foods with vitamin D sources (like salmon or fortified milk) for better absorption.

❕Focus: Omega-3s, iron, fiber, probiotics (for brain development, blood volume, and digestion as things slow down).
▫️Fatty fish (salmon, trout, anchovies) → DHA for brain + eye development
Eggs (especially omega-3 enriched) → choline + healthy fats
▫️Leafy greens → iron + vitamin K (helps with blood clotting at delivery)
▫️Beans + lentils → fiber, protein, iron
▫️Berries + kiwi → vitamin C, antioxidants, fiber
▫️Dates (in moderation) → may support cervical ripening + labor prep
▫️Greek yogurt + kefir → probiotics, protein, calcium
▫️Oats + bran → fiber to ease constipation
▫️Lean meats or poultry → iron, protein

❕Extra tip: Hydration + fiber matter even more here to help with digestion and swelling.

🍊🥬🍌🥩🍗

08/15/2025

August babies! ☀️🌾🍯

08/11/2025

SWADDLE SAFETY 101! 🌸👶🏽

08/07/2025

Check out what’s in season? 🍓🥕🍑🍅🍉 So many yummy fruits and veggies to incorporate into you and your child’s diet! 🤩

08/06/2025

Your little one is beginning to talk and find their voice! ⭐️ It’s an extremely fun time. One important way to encourage your child to talk is interactive playtime. 🧸 Playing with your toddler creates many opportunities for you to interact and talk together. And the more you play and talk together, the more words your toddler hears. This also gives your toddler the chance to learn how sounds, words and conversations work. This improves your toddler’s language skills and helps their brain develop.

Don’t be alarmed if your child hasn’t said many words. Remember that every child develops at their own pace.

Between 12-18 months, your toddler can say a few words and know what they mean! Your toddler can actually understand more than what they say. For example, they may follow simple instructions like “sit down”.

Between 18 months-2 years of age most toddlers will start to put 2 words together into short ‘sentences’. Your toddler will understand much of what you say, and you can understand most of what your toddler says to you.

By at least 3 years of age, your child may be able to speak sentences of 3 words or more.

Remember, talking can be very frustrating for your little one. They can have so much to tell you but can’t quite get the words out. Making mistakes are an important part of learning so encouragement is super important. 🪁🧩

08/05/2025

It’s super important to know that certain foods definitely play a role in how well we sleep at night! Especially for our little ones who may want a sweet treat after dinner 🍦🍪 Not only do these sweet treats like chocolate or fruit juice affect sleep, but there are also plenty of veggies and meats that play a role as well!

You’ll of course want to follow a bedtime routine and consistent bedtime but on top of that, it’s important to know which foods support healthy sleeping habits and which do not.

I have complied a list of four foods to avoid before bedtime and what to swap them out for so your child isn’t throwing a party at night! 🍓🥜 Remember, solely relying on certain foods to promote sleep will likely become insufficient in solving sleep problems without promoting proper sleep hygiene. Both healthy eating habits and proper night routines will help your little one get quality sleep! 😴

08/04/2025

Not everyone has a village, and that’s okay. The little village within your home—made up of tiny hands, tired snuggles, and so much love—is more than enough. 💛 Within those four walls, you’re creating magic and a love that holds steady. Your village may be small, but it’s yours—and that makes it perfect. ✨