Because most babies can't just tell you when they need to burp, it's important to pick up on your baby's body language to recognize when they are gassy and need to burp. Most babies who need to be burped are typically squirmy during their feeding and get fussy, and visibly uncomfortable.  If you try to burp your baby for several minutes and they still won't burp, they might be fussy due to something else, such as a wet diaper.  If your baby shows signs of discomfort from gas, such as arching their back, then try massaging their tummy or bicycling their legs while your baby lays on their back. This may help them to work out the trapped air. Note how frequently your baby needs to be burped after each feeding, such as by keeping a written log of feedings and any times when you needed to burp your baby. If your baby doesn't burp much during the day, chances are you don't need to worry about burping them at night.  Breastfed babies also tend to burp less than bottle-fed babies.  If you are bottle feeding your baby, look for special bottles that eliminate air during feedings. These reduce the amount of air that gets trapped inside your baby's tummy. In general, most breastfed babies need to be burped when you switch breasts and when the feeding is complete. Bottle fed babies should generally be burped every 2 to 3  fl oz (59 to 89 mL) of milk they drink. Burping your baby more frequently during feedings may help to reduce the need to burp them after they fall asleep. It's okay if your baby does not burp after every feeding, as long as they appear comfortable and not gassy. Your baby may burp during their next feeding or burp more, which is fine. For example, if your baby is sleeping peacefully after a feeding and is not showing any signs of discomfort from gas, then it's okay to let them sleep.
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One-sentence summary -- Burp your baby if they squirm or get fussy while you feed them. Keep track of your baby's burps after feedings. Burp your baby after switching breasts or every 2 to 3  fl oz (59 to 89 mL). Avoid forcing your baby to burp if they seem comfortable after a feeding.


Be aware that obesity, arthritis, and sore teeth can cause dandruff. Keeping the skin and fur conditioned requires the cat to groom regularly and spread the conditioning oils over the coat. If the cat is overweight or has mobility issues, such as those associated with arthritis, it physically won't be able to reach all parts of its body, which means those places are liable to have flaky skin.  If this is the case then you should groom the cat daily until the cat is able to do it itself. If your cat is not grooming itself because it can't reach areas due to its weight, consider putting it on a diet. A leaner cat should be able to more effectively clean itself. A sore mouth can also stop the cat from grooming, and can also impact on its ability to eat. In these circumstances veterinary attention is essential, to extract loose teeth, clean away tartar, and give antibiotics against gum infection. It may not seem like a risk that's worth worrying about, but cats can have their skin damaged by the weather. This is especially true for cats with thin coats or no coats at all. Hot, dry conditions can lead to dried-out skin and even sunburn, so let your cat stay indoors when it's scorching out. Drier winter months can also be a source of flaky skin, even if there's less of a risk of sunburn. An occasional brushing can remove dead skin flakes, reducing dandruff. Use a gentle cat brush and stroke in the direction of the hair. Don't use too much pressure. You want to stroke and not scrub. Regular brushing is a great way to reduce dandruff. It improves the blood circulation to the skin, which carries oxygen and nutrients to the skin and helps condition it.  However, expect the dandruff to initially get worse in the first 3 - 4 weeks. You will loosen up sloughed skin cells that are then shed into the coat. Always brush gently and stop right away if you notice irritated skin or signs of pain. Cats aren't like people in terms of bathing needs. They're quite good at keeping themselves clean, so they only need to be bathed very infrequently. Unless your cat's coat is visibly dirty, oily, or matted, you won't usually need to bathe it more than a few times per year.  Bathing the cat more often can strip the essential oils from its skin, leaving it dried-out and flaky. Bathing the cat is mainly of benefit to you (rather than the cat) if you are allergic to cat dander, as it will temporarily wash it away. If you decide to bathe the cat then use a moisturizing shampoo, such as one containing oatmeal, and avoid human shampoos, which are too harsh and will strip out natural oils. Believe it or not, there are moisturizing lotions and topical ointments designed for cats with dry skin. Your best chance for finding these will be your local pet store, but if you can't find any there, your vet may be able to recommend some. You can also easily find these products available online.
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One-sentence summary -- Address physical conditions that are making the dandruff worse. Keep your cat out of hot, dry weather. Give the cat a gentle brushing. Avoid bathing your cat too often. Use a gentle ointment.


Bring your 2-liter bottle of Diet Coke, your pack of Mentos, your masking tape, and your safety goggles to wherever you've decided to build your rocket. Place the strips of tape on a flat surface, with their sticky sides facing up. Do not allow them to stick together. The more Mentos you use, the better the explosion; however, you don't want to the Mentos to dip too far into the Diet Coke otherwise the explosion may begin before you can screw the lid on the bottle. They should look just as they did when they were still in their original packaging: stacked on top of one another like a roll of coins. Be sure to leave the sides of the Mentos exposed. You'll use this piece to attach the Mentos to the bottle cap, so ensure that it's small enough to fit inside the cap. Take the 3-inch strip of sticky rolled tape that you've just created and attach it to the top of the taped roll of Mentos. This will create a ”loaded” Mentos cartridge that you can place inside the Diet Coke bottle. Put the cap on a flat surface, with its inside facing upwards. Place the Mentos cartridge, sticky-tape side up, into the soda cap and press down to fasten it there. Be careful not to press too hard, as you don't want any Mentos falling out of the cartridge! This step is optional. If you're worried about the Mentos prematurely falling into the Diet Coke, you can secure the cartridge by running one more piece of masking tape around the entire roll, including the cap.
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One-sentence summary --
Gather your materials. Cut 2 4-inch (10.2-centimeter) strips of masking tape. Remove 5 to 7 Mentos from the roll. Lay the Mentos on to one of the 4-inch (10.2-centimeter) strips of tape. Place the other 4-inch (10.2-centimeter) strip of tape on top of the Mentos. Cut a 3-inch (7.62-centimeter) strip of masking tape and roll it around your finger, sticky side out. Attach the rolled tape to the top of the Mentos. Fasten the Mentos cartridge into the bottom of the Diet Coke cap. Double tape the cartridge to the cap.