Babies Toddler Helper

Baby Shower Ideas

2009-03-04T06:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Damian Sofsian

Baby showers are a beautiful way to celebrate the coming of a baby into the family. The baby shower party is thrown by friends or colleagues to get together with the mom-to-be and have a good time while bestowing gifts and good wishes on the mom as well as the baby. It can be a simple affair with a few close friends and family on an afternoon or it can be a big party with all the works including decorations, cakes, and games.

Planning a baby shower takes a lot of work. The hostess should ensure that the mom-to-be is as comfortable as possible and should take care that all the important people are invited. During the party, it is the hostess's duty to ensure that all the guests are comfortable. It is a good idea to serve a few appetizers when the guests start arriving. It is also important to know how the guest is related to the parents-to-be. There can also be a "Guest of Honor" who can be a grandparent or a god parent. The party can be based on a theme like nursery rhymes or anything else relating to babies. The party would be more interesting with a few games like Naming the Baby, Rice Bowl, and Baby Guests. Small prizes like potpourri, candles, and candy can be given to the winners.

The gift opening can also be a grand affair with someone taking down the details of each gift and who it is from. This will make sending "thank-you" notes easier for the mom. Baby showers also include favors which the mom gives to the guests. These may include small gifts like lotions or balms packed cutely in small bags. These are meant to say "thank you" to the guests for attending the baby shower. There are many websites that offer information as well as products for baby showers.

Baby Showers provides detailed information about baby showers, baby shower decorations, baby shower favors, and more. Baby Showers is affiliated with Personalized Baby Gifts.

Baby Furniture Finding The Right Repair And Refinishing Shop To Work On Your Wooden Family Heirloom

2009-03-04T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Lyle Kelly

There are many wonderful pieces of furniture you may want to use for the care of your child. I know that I sat in the same high chair my mother did and I remember how important those family antiques are to us. Over time these little treasures will go through the normal wear and tear of use, storage and moving. Often finishes can dull, wood can be dinged, scrapped and even broken. You want to keep the family heirloom looking its best but you're not the handy type. That means its time to find a good quality furniture repair and refinishing shop.

When looking for the right shop you need to do a little hunting. A good place to start is your local antique shop. Often the antique dealers will find a great refinisher by word of mouth in their community. In our shop, we would frequently do work for dealers at a reasonable discount so that they would put the good word out to their customers. No dealer will mention the wood workers name if he has not done consistent quality work. Despite the discount an antique dealer will not call you back if you ruin a $1200 lawyer's book case.

The internet and yellow pages are not a bad place to start your search, but advertising costs money, and I know from experience that they will have to pass a little of that cost onto their customers. A refinishers work it put out there for everyone to see, trust the word of mouth from your local antique dealers it's a pretty safe bet. Once you have a small list say 2 or 3 refinishers its time to shop.

I call it shopping for its goes without saying you want to get the best for your money and why should you settle? If your schedule allows try and plan for an unannounced visit to each of the refinishing shops on your list. Call then a head of time to check their hours of operation, but don't tell them you're coming by. It's better to have a look at the inside of their shop in as is conditions. There are a few things you should look for and I'll explain why they are important. First how clean is their shop? The simple fact is refinishing and repair is a messy business. You get covered with stain, saw dust, mineral spirits and just bout everything else to do with wood. It's important however to clean up after any process. If I'm cutting wood to repair a table leg or sanding the back of that high chair the wood dust must be cleaned up before I start to spray finish or apply stain. Little wood particles can be stirred up with simplest of movement covering your freshly sprayed finish or dusting over that new application of stain. Also, a dirty shop is not a very safe one.

When you meet the shop manager or owner ask if they have standard pricing on Labor or is it by the piece. Most any shop will want to see what type of repair it is before they mention price, but don't let them charge you an hourly rate. This can vary wildly from piece to piece and from my own experience I always worked on several different pieces in a day. Only the most organized shop will log each minute they work on your piece and in most cases this simply does not happen. You will usually get an "off the top of their head" number of hours which just isn't correct. If you bring the piece with you, get a written estimate for the completed repair/refinishing job. Any shop worth their salt will already have a good idea of the time and material that will go into a piece similar to your own. They will build plenty of wiggle room in the final estimate so don't let them come back and charge you more later. On that point I would suggest your read the fine print of the estimate. Some shops will allow for up to $150 dollars or more in unexpected repairs on top of the final price. You're not going to be around when the work is done, so make them stick to a final price or go some where else. In addition to this be aware of how much time the shop allows you to pickup your furniture. We on many occasions had to sell a client's furniture when after the first week we completed their piece we never saw them again. Work flow for a refinishing shop is fairly fast and room is limited. Your furniture will need to be moved not only so the shop can get paid, but they need to make room for the incoming pieces that are definitely on the way. Once the piece is completed most good shops will allow for 1 to 2 months of holding time. Don't get the wrong impression about shop owners though they will work with you, just keep in contact with them so they know you still intent to return and pick up your baby furniture.

Finally my last piece of advice will not sit well with some of my colleges. When you visit the shop find out or just look for what we call a "dip tank". When it comes to intricate cribs and high chairs the dip tank is the shop owner's best friend and your worst nightmare. Dip tanks are moderate to large vats filled with certain chemicals to strip away the finish, paint and or stain from a piece. One of the favorite ingredients of a dip tank is lye. Some refinishers love the dip tank for you can strip a way the old finish and stain in mere minutes. Some pieces such as a crib or high chair that have smaller more intricate pieces will be dipped a little longer to get into all the nooks and crannies. The primary problem is that the piece is fully immersed in the chemical which soaks deeply into the wood once the finish is removed. At first this does not seem like a problem. You can even pick up your newly stained refinished furniture and have it for weeks before you will even realize a problem. What happens is the chemicals that soaked into the wood will start to soften the glue holding the joints of your furniture together. In some cases I have received a piece with what my customer thought was a lose leg and with my hands just pulled the entire chair apart. I have seen this time and time again. I would avoid using a shop that strips with a dip tank. You may end up paying good money only to have the furniture repaired again just weeks later.

There are many alternatives to the dip tank that quality shops use. One is a spray and filter system. The piece sits in a shallow vat and is sprayed with the chemical stripper. Both finish and chemical drip off the piece and is collected in the vat. From there the chemical is drawn from the vat and filtered where it is pushed through the spray nozzle once again. This is an excellent system for many reasons. It's economical for the shop owner and its environmentally friendly for the shop can get many more uses out of the chemical batch before they have to recycle and purchase more. What will be more important to you is that only as much stripper is used as needed. This leaves little chance for it to soak deeply into the wood damaging the joints on your family's heirloom.

There are many good shops out there so worry little about finding one. Visit your local antique shops they will surely be in the know on who is doing the best refinishing and repair. Visit the potential shops in person and get a written estimate for their work. Ask to see pictures of what they have done. Take your time and be picky about who does the work and avoid those dip tank users they could do more harm than good.

Lyle has spent most of his life involved in wood working and many years in the family business of antique repair and restoration. His current project is http://aa-baby-furniture.com , a site to promote the sale of safe high quality furniture for young children and babies. If you find this article useful please feel free to use it, but I ask that you maintain the URL to my current project.

Baby Einstein Party Supplies For Your Babys Party

2009-03-03T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Gail Leino

Invite the characters of the Baby Einstein DVD, Woof, Blue, Turtle and all the others to have fun at your baby's next party. Party Supplies can easily be found featuring these loveable and educational characters. Guests and the baby will find them more than interesting; they'll be good-hearted fun for everyone. While you're at it go ahead and play the Baby Einstein DVD on the television to provide some entertainment.

Lots of paper goods are available with these characters printed boldly on them. You can find napkins, cups, tablecloths, and plates featuring just one of the characters or all of them. If your baby loves that doggy, Woof, best then you can focus on him with delightful Woof napkins. Or you can get a package of paper plates with each one featuring a different character from Baby Einstein. If you love them all, get a package of plates the whole group of characters on each of them.

There are also party supplies geared more towards the adults at the party than the children. You'll find Baby Einstein Blowouts, loot bags and cone hats. Its fun to dress up the baby in a Baby Einstein Bib and cone hat, but it's really the adults at the party who have the fun wearing the cone hat and making noise on the blowout. Just be careful you don't upset the baby too much with all the noise you'll be making.

After the party is over and you've had a chance to look at and catalogue all the gifts your guests brought for the baby its time to send out thank you notes. Stay in touch with the Baby Einstein theme by making up and sending out Baby Einstein thank you notes. They'll remind the guests of what a great party they attended and give them a nice little keepsake for their memory albums.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies (http://partysupplieshut.com), using proper etiquette, and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free coloring sheets, printable games, and free birthday party activities. Over 100 adorable Party Themes (PartyThemeShop.com) to fit your birthday celebration, holiday event, or "just because" parties is at the Party Theme Shop. Party themes include cartoon characters, sports, movie, TV shows, luau, western, holidays, and unique crazy fun theme ideas.

4 Tips For Taking Great Baby Pictures Even If Youre Not A Professional

2009-03-02T06:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Alexis Dawes

When my daughter Layla was born I had a hard time putting the camera down. And apparently I wasn't the only one. The cashier at the photo developing shop told me that new parents comprised a fairly sizable chunk of their business.

We can't help it! Babies are such beautiful creatures that you want to capture every new movement and every fleeting smile that comes along. (Even if that smile is attached to a smelly gas bubble!)

However the problem many parents have is that their lack of good photography skills can translate into pictures that are too dark, too bright, blurry, out of focus, uncentered, and so on. Perhaps this describes you.

If so, don't sweat it. These problems are easily fixable. An album full of mishaps can quickly be transformed by following these 4 tips...

1) When taking pictures of babies lying on their backs, stand directly over them and shoot straight down.

I used to take a solid color baby blanket and place it on the floor in a bright, sun filled room. When I was ready to take a picture I would put Layla on the blanket, and adjust it around her, making sure not to put her directly in the sunlight. Then I'd get on my knees right over her, aim straight down and snap away.

This technique will allow you to center the camera properly and you'll get some great close-up shots. The natural sunlight will often give you just enough light so your picture isn't too dark or too bright.

2) Capture a range of emotions.

Smiling babies are cute. But so are crying babies and pouting babies and messy babies and sleeping babies.

Be sure to take pictures of your little one in all phases of his or her emotion filled life. You'll be amazed at how truly beautiful they are in non-traditional picture taking situations.

3) Make bath time picture time.

While there are some babies who don't like water, most love it. They often become very expressive in the bath tub - laughing, cooing and splashing. So bath time often becomes a great opportunity to capture a few precious shots of your little one.

I've personally used the bathtub to document how Layla has changed over her 2+ years. Every couple of months I take a few close-up pictures of her in the bathtub. Then I take the best one and place it in a special section in the photo album.

It's truly amazing to see how her face changes so dramatically with each new picture.

4) If you use a disposable camera, choose a good one.

I purchased 3 dirt cheap disposable cameras before I had Layla. When we brought her home these were the ones we used for the first week of photo taking.

Boy was I disappointed! The pictures developed horribly. And as a new mommy with hormones still raging, you know how sad this made me. Those cuddly little moments can never be relived again.

I learned a good lesson though. You get what you pay for.

Now my disposable camera of choice is the Kodak Max HQ. It's one of the more pricey disposable cameras. However the quality is fantastic in comparison to other disposables I've used.

You can usually buy them inexpensively on eBay. Popular retailers like Target and Wal-Mart also run sales on them quite frequently.

About The Author

Alexis Dawes is a real mom (not a professional photographer) who runs the Photograph-Your-Baby.com web site. Check out her free 20+ page tutorial that teaches parents how to take better pictures of their little one (http://www.Photograph-Your-Baby.com).

The United States Has The Greatest Number Of Child Rapes And Child Murders She Said

2009-03-02T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Lance Winslow

It is amazing how many people believe what they here on the news each night. They have two or three cases on the TV and everyone thinks that the world is coming to an end. One lady got onto a blog and stated that the United States of America was a terrible country because it had the greatest number of Child rapes and Child murders.

This is unbelievable slander against my country and I cannot believe an American would ever say that for it simply is not so. And further condemnation of my nation the blogger said; Should I Go on?

Yes, go on because you are completely incorrect? This statement; The "Greatest" Occurrences of Child Rape and Murder. Is a lie, perhaps we simply report all of ours, whereas it is such a common occurrence in other nations it goes without notice. Additionally the US is the third most populated nation in the world.

What do you call partial birth abortions of female babies in China? Silly anti-American commenter. Wouldn't that be the "greatest occurrence of children dying at the hands of their parents.?" Hmmm? The greatest number of murders do not occur in the United States, that is wrong.

Apparently many people believe it is okay to lie about the truth of what America is about. People believe it is okay to slander our country and all we have built in the greatest nation in the written recorded history of mankind. How can this be? How can people get on the Internet and slam the country that they live in like that. All I can take is it must be left over liberals who've lost the election. Consider this in 2006.

Lance Winslow

Solid Poo

2009-03-01T06:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Lisa Cole

If you had told me this time last year that I would find nappies and poo fascinating, I would have peered at you over my huge bloated pregnant stomach and snorted in disdain. Now I have a child who is just about to learn to crawl into things he shouldn't, I am almost nostalgic for his breastmilk-only poos. They came in a variety of colours, from orange through to brown with the occasional green thrown in for good measure. They rarely smelled bad and in my maddest, sleep deprived moments I entertained notions of Dulux colour-matching some of the prettier shades. I was used to the occasional leaking wrap and it was easy to wipe his bum with a bit of damp cotton wool.

Then came solids.

I started on his 6-month birthday and for the next two months tried to get him interested in lovingly prepared organic veg, steamed and squished through a sieve, mixed with breastmilk that I hated expressing, only to have it rejected with clamped lips and windmilling arms after the first spoonful. Occasionally though, he'd mangle a bit of rice cake into his mouth. For the first few weeks I watched his nappies avidly. When was his first solid poo going to arrive? How stinky was it going to be? Could I deal with it? There was a brief real poo celebration in the third week but that turned out to be page 237 of his dad's Maplins catalogue. I no longer got excited about it but kept up the daily routine of offering him tasty morsels.

I stopped the whole 'Where's the duck? Has he got a spoon? Gosh, how did that get into your mouth?' charade for a few days after a tummy bug and the next time I tried he grabbed the spoon and shovelled the banana in. At last! But the poos were still squishy, maybe one spoonful of food just wasn't enough. He liked banana so I mixed it with other things, sweet potatoes, carrots, apples and pears. This did the trick and soon he was eating two tiny meals a day. And the poos? Well, for the first couple of weeks they were a mixed bag. Some dark wholegrain mustard type ones, some a slimy orange wallpaper paste variety, some just the same as before. Gently dabbing his bum with cotton wool was a complete waste of time so I used wet flannels or J-cloths instead. To change the nappy of a wriggly child at this stage you need a large tarpaulin, a change of clothes for the baby, protective clothing for yourself, 3 or 4 trained helpers ideally including a professional children's entertainer and a non squeamish disposition.

But it didn't last long. After a month of eating 3 dinky meals a day he produces a very neat little lump of poo first thing in the morning and maybe one in the afternoon if he is in the mood. Lumps are actually easier to deal with. The nappy liner collects it all, the clean edges of the liner are a handy wipe, you can flush the lump away and compost or bin the liner. If I have my bad mother hat on and leave him for a while the lump is easy to remove but anything he has sat and squished in sets quickly so I try to change him soon, it saves bum scrubbing and arguments. My cotton wool days are over and the dirty J-Cloths just get thrown in the wash with everything else.

And the smell? Well, put it this way; you can tell when he needs changing!

The Mothers Milk Marketing Board at http://www.lactivist.co.uk sells pro-breastfeeding and gentle parenting advocacy slogan t-shirts and accessories for funky mums and kids.

Unique Baby Gifts

2009-03-01T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Damian Sofsian

It is fun to go shopping for babies, whether it be for clothes, furniture toys or any other baby-related item. There are so many gifts to chose from, it is guaranteed that you will find the perfect baby gift.

Gifts come from everyone including grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts, and friends who want to pamper the baby.

Of course, baby showers are very popular among the baby gift giving set. A popular gift for showers are unique gift basket loaded with goodies for the new life that is about to enter the world. One can even purchase crafty diaper cakes that are loaded with decorative, yet practical ornaments like pacifiers, diaper pins, teddy bears, etc. Other unique gifts include a photo frame that is shaped in different forms and contains about 10 to 14 frames. Such a gift would help in treasuring your childhood memories. There are cuddly blankets in the cutest of colors that come in all shapes and sizes. There are gifts that can serve a purpose for both mother and child like a comfortable rocking chair or a versatile stroller.

Stock or share certificates are one-of-a-kind gifts and a great way to start saving for baby. This can be framed and truly makes a great gift. Embroidered gifts are popular for babies and also make for a lovely functional gift. All sorts of baby items can be embroidered including booties, blankets, sweaters, bibs, pillows, towels and night wear.

Knitted items are also very popular and are often seen on babies in the form of sweaters, booties, blankets, etc.

Babies bring loads of joy and excitement to all families. So pamper your new arrival with unique gifts that are durable, of good quality and above all, functional.

Baby Gifts provides detailed information about baby gifts, baby gift registries, and more. Baby Gifts is affiliated with Games For Baby Showers.

Beauty Pageant For The Baby

2009-02-28T06:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Agust Hauksson

Baby beauty pageants are a fixture of the world we live in. Every parent feels as if their baby is one of the finest, with the cutest little nose, with the biggest eyes, or with the rosiest checks. However, it is important to remember, that only one can win, but there are always going to be additional pageants that can be entered.

If you want to enter a baby pageant

You want to have a few good shots of you baby on hand. If you are good with a camera, you can take all types of shots, in many different poses, in many different outfits, and if you like, you can take pictures of the baby in various settings, such as in the yard, in the bed, in the play area, or where they spend the most of their time.

To get in on a baby beauty pageant

You can enter baby pageants online and offline. Some are going to be called sweepstakes while, some are called pageants, and others are called contests. If you are searching a baby beauty pageant, a good place to start is usually where baby products are sold. Look on the packaging for new and exciting types of contests you can enter your beautiful baby in. Also, try searching online, where you will enter words such as baby contest, baby photos, baby pageant, and you will find a good number of listings where baby beauty pageants are being held right now. Pageants are for those, who are under one year old, but read the rules, of anything pageant you are going to enter, sometimes it could be higher!

What are the prizes?

Prizes in baby pageants will be depending on the particular contest or pageant you are entering. If you are entering a national contest, the prizes are most likely bigger and better. Don't forget about all those small ones, run by local malls, newspapers and even the mid sized magazines or hospitals though, the prizes can be grand and well worth the efforts. There are even baby pageants that are run by television shows, by newscasters, and by schools, or by the local libraries.

If your baby is getting a little older

Perhaps you have enjoyed all the fun in the baby pageants, as you baby was small and young, now your baby is getting older. Generally, baby pageants are geared for those who are under one year old. Toddler contests can be just as exciting. In addition, as your child begins to grow, you can find teen, and young adult contests as well.

Sometimes the winners of a beauty pageant will receive a savings bond, or toys, or perhaps a trip for the parents. Some baby beauty pageants will also give scholarships and future college funds for the children as well.

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Bpd Or Chronic Lung Disease In Your Premature Baby

2009-02-28T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Sjona Lindquist

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) or Chronic Lung Disease is a problem that usually arises in premature babies born more than 4 weeks premature (under 36 weeks gestation), weighing less than 3 ½ pounds (<1500 grams), and within the first 4 weeks of birth. Premature babies born with BPD have lungs that do not work properly making breathing very difficult. Extra oxygen is required and many times a breathing machine (ventilator) is also needed. Premature babies develop BPD from immature lungs, high levels of oxygen, ventilators, infections, pneumonia, or other environmental sources that cause irritation to the lungs.

The breathing problems in these premature babies must be treated quickly because this can lead to low oxygen levels in the blood affecting the premature baby's brain, heart, liver, and kidneys. However, healthcare providers must be cautious about being too aggressive because some of the treatments can carry their own risk factors if used too freely or often. Many times the risks must be weighed to see which options are in the baby's best interest for survival -and that can change from moment to moment.

Some symptoms of BPD can include tachypnea, coughing, wheezing, chest retraction, see-saw like breathing, neck stretching, and episodes of blue skin. Doctors confirm the diagnosis and severity of BPD by using a chest x-ray, assessing the length of time oxygen is needed, and determining if lung injury has occurred. Treating BPD is tricky since there is no specific treatment or medicine that gets rid of it.

Treating the symptoms with oxygen, the infections with medicine, and keeping the premature baby well nourished with proper amounts of fluid will give the baby's lungs the chance to mature and heal. Sometimes a premature baby will seem to exhibit symptoms of BPD, but the diagnosis will be Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS). RDS -also known as Hyaline Membrane Disease, or Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome- is one of the most common lung problems in premature babies. Premature baby BPD (Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia) survivors tend to grow slower than usual, and be smaller than babies the same age.

Sjona Lindquist is a mom of 6 (1 angel) and she owns and operates BabyLinq.com ~ Preemie Store. BabyLinq.com ~ Preemie Store is a resource site and specialty shop for parents of premature babies. Lindquist's daughter was stillborn from a Strep B infection due to PROM (Premature Rupture of Membranes). In honor of her daughter, Michaela, she offers preemie support, bereavement support, and preemie clothes. Some of the products include micro preemie clothes, preemie bereavement gowns, and Preemie dresses. If a new preemie has entered your life or someone you love, drop by and visit us! BabyLinq.com Preemie Store

Under Carpet Heating In The Nursery To Help Your Baby Sleep Through The Night And More

2009-02-27T06:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Ingrid Weir

As new parents, we all want what's best for our babies. There are so many things to worry about, not the least of which are colds, allergies, sleeping through the night, and keeping their delicate skin soft and moisturized. So, you ask, what can I do to help with all of these dilemmas? The answer is a product that is little-known to the general public, called under carpet heating, which eliminates several problems with your traditional forced air heating systems that can result in all of these concerns and more.

Have you ever wondered why your children always have a cold or a runny nose? Your children spend most of their time very close to or on the floor. If you have ever laid down there with them, you may have noticed that it is much colder than a few feet higher, where we, as adults, are normally and may not notice as much. With traditional systems, heat is blown throughout the room, and it doesn't even reach the floor, where your baby or toddler is. The reason being, heat rises, and before it can even reach the floor, it starts rising to the ceiling, leaving your babies considerably colder than the adults in the room. With electric radiant underfloor heating, you can completely eliminate this problem. The soothing heat radiates from under your carpet, gently warming your baby or toddler, keeping them more comfortable, warmer, and therefore healthier.

Allergies are another concern with many parents. Once again, your traditional heating systems can be a culprit. Forced air systems are constantly circulating dust, dander, germs, bacteria, mold, mildew, and other environmental troublemakers. Even with the most expensive filters available, you are still circulating all of these potential allergens and contaminates around your home. By simply closing off your central heating vents and heating with electric radiant floor heating, you reduce these risks greatly. With nothing to circulate all of these allergens, everything just simply settles, and you can easily rid your home of these problems by simply dusting and vacuuming regularly.

Another issue that we, as parents, wrestle with is getting our babies to sleep through the night. Research shows that when we are at an ideal body temperature, we sleep better. If your extremities are cold, inhibiting the free flow of blood, your sleep hormones fail to kick in, and restless insomnia prevails. Scientists also speculate that some sleep disorders may be caused by poor circulation and an inability to widen blood vessels in the hands and feet, which can be corrected with temperature regulation. With radiant heat, you have a quiet, soothing warmth that gently warms your baby throughout the night. The result being a restful, peaceful sleep throughout the night.

An additional downfall to forced air heating that radiant heating does away with is the drying of the air and in return, your baby's skin. Forced air actually burns the air while it is heating it, removing most of its moisture content, causing your baby's skin to dry out and chafe. Radiant heat does not affect the moisture content of the air, saving you from having to buy a humidifier and applying lotions that can often times irritate your baby's skin anyway.

In conclusion, I am not saying that radiant heat is the answer to all of your problems or that forced air is evil. However, radiant heat is just another weapon that we, as parents, can put in our arsenal to combat some of the problems that we have had to endure for centuries (i.e. colds, allergies, insomnia, and skin care).

Author:
Ingrid Weir
Speedheat® US
For more information, visit http://www.speedheat.us or email at info@speedheat.us.

How To Buy A Diaper Bag

2009-02-27T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Angie H

Begin by choosing a type of diaper bag.

Traditional Bag: The traditional diaper bags are available in a variety of sizes; smaller for quick trips to the store holding a bottle and a few diapers too, much larger holding changes of clothes, bottles and food holders and accessories to keep everything organized. The traditional diaper bag is normally rectangular in size and has long straps meant to be carried over the shoulder.

Tote: A diaper tote is smaller diaper bag that sometimes features less pockets and accessories than traditional diaper bags. A diaper tote commonly features two handles and is most similar looking to a woman's pocket book.

Backpack: The diaper backpack is the most common form of diaper bag preferred by new fathers. The diaper backpack most resembles the backpacks worn by children going to school or hikes on the trail.

Sling: The sling diaper bag features a single strap that is meant to be worn over the shoulder. The sling diaper bag has many of the same features as the backpack but with only one strap.

Messenger: The messenger diaper bag is newest form of diaper bag on the market today. The messenger diaper bag is meant to be worn over the shoulder and across the body with the weight of the bag distributed along the length of the back and not on the shoulders.

The basic features you will need:

Material: Choosing your diaper bag material is important because it will determine the longevity of the bag.

Changing Pad: Most diaper bags include a changing pad. It is very important to make sure that the changing pad can be cleaned easily by changing the cover or wiped clean.

Pockets: A variety of pockets are essential to holding, food, diapers, wipes and ointments and creams.

Bottle Holders: Bottle holders are a necessity in any diaper bag for keeping baby bottle from leaking and otherwise getting thrown around in the diaper bag.

Straps: It is important to look for padded straps when choosing a diaper bag stocked full of your baby's essentials.

How much will I spend?

Diaper bags range in price from $20 to even over $200, depending on the fabrics, materials and accessories included.

Having these basics on hand, will help you choose the perfect diaper bag to fit your busy lifestyle. Shopping for your new diaper bag could not easier - you no longer have to hunt around at your nearest baby store to get the best variety of diaper bags. Shopping online for diaper bags is the easiest and best way to get the largest variety and the most information about diaper bags on the market today. Whichever diaper bag you choose, be sure to keep it well stocked - and you and your baby will be happy during any outdoor adventure.

Angie S. is a baby products specialist with 9 years of experience in the baby products industry and mother of 3. She is the official baby products advisor for BabyDirect.com a leading e-commerce retailer of baby products online.

Nature Takes Care Of Babys Wholesome Nutrition

2009-02-26T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Yana Mikheeva

There is a well-known fact saying that "culinary habits" come from childhood. That is why parents should pay special attention to their child's nutrition. Food constraint can bring irreparable physical and psychological harm to a child. Parents' constant persuasion while their baby is eating can not only have negative effect on the process of digestion itself, but also may cause further food allergy. Is not it better to examine closely, listen to what child's organism needs, how, what and how many he wants to eat?

If baby's taste is not perverted and his metabolism is not affected yet, then you should be curious about what he wants to eat. Don't force your child to eat fast, it's better to develop a habit to chew food well. Then his alimentary canal will not have to "complete" the work his teeth and salivary glands haven't done. Speed of eating, temperature of food is his private affair, though.

You should not be afraid if your child refuses to eat at all. Don't panic. This means that something goes wrong in his organism and the Nature just suggests him a way of short-term hunger treatment. Show patience and tenacity. Very soon your child will come running to you asking to eat some certain food. You should not resort to any food encouragement, temptations, don't use sweets as a reward for his good behavior. While observing your child's choice of food you give to him, you can make important conclusions about his health condition and organism needs. And the main thing is that you should rely on your child's instinct. If you have succeeded not to spoil it yet, let him choose what, when, how many and in what combination and order he should eat or drink.

Quite often, food fermentation appears in alimentary canal, as a result of regular feeding with meat and bread, pap with milk and sugar, sweet pies. Frequently, this leads to child's tonsillitis, diarrhea, constipation, gastritis, un-reasoned rise in temperature and allergy.

When some parents overfeed their children, they pave the way for adiposity, which inevitably leads to a whole bouquet of sicknesses. You should not also forget about an important fact of the organism process of preparation for eating. A term "psychology of eating", meaning company, dining room atmosphere, its lighting and the music sounding in, can be included in the concept "culture of eating".

View Schedule of Including Vegetables and Fruits Into Your Baby Ration here http://www.baby-health.net/articles/137.html

Yana Mikheeva is the creator of Baby Health Directory - Pregnancy, Birth, Parenting and Baby Care resources. Are you going to get pregnant? Visit our friendly resource and read information on pregnancy and parenting, painless childbirth, growth and development of a baby, baby health, safety, signs of pregnancy.

She also has All about women site where you can find articles on various subjects, such as: diets, receipts, health, cellulite, figure, aromatherapy, wholesome food, psychology of relationships, pregnancy, parenting, fashion and many others.

Top Ten Baby Presents Buy Baby Gift Items That Are Needed

2009-02-25T06:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Isaac Rubens

It is always difficult to come up with ideas regarding what to get when you need to buy baby gift items. Baby gifts are as much for the mother as for the baby since there are many items that a mother could use but cannot necessarily afford to buy. So, the next time a baby shower, a birthday party or a christening has to be attended, use the following list of ten ideas to buy baby gift items that will make an impression:

Top Ten Baby Gifts

Baby Toys - These are baby gifts that will never go out of style, and can be actually enjoyed by the baby instead of the parents. There are baby toys that are specifically designed for certain age groups. So, all one has to do is go to the market and buy a toy that is made for the appropriate age, which is put up on the cover or packing of the toy. But the best and the most liked baby toy is a teddy bear or other soft toy, which is appropriate for babies of all ages. So if there is confusion, it is best to buy baby gift toys that are soft and plush.

Baby Monitor - Baby safety is constantly on the minds of the parents. Baby monitors are a perfect solution to end this worry. Now it's possible to monitor and detect the movements, whining and breathing of the baby audibly and visually too. There are many different models of audio-only, audio/video, and motion-sensor baby monitors to choose from in a wide price range.

Baby Bath Care - Getting an expensive bath care set for the baby is the perfect way to show that you care about the welfare of the baby.

Baby Stroller - This a device that a parent cannot do without. It has to be bought anyway, so why not save the parents that much cash? Gift it instead of something that is completely unnecessary.

Baby Books - Gifting the baby with books, appropriate for his/her age, is always good. This actually helps in developing a joy of reading from a very young age. Pictures and colors fascinate the baby's eyes, so make sure your book has a lot of illustrations. Buy baby gift books that have thick, cardboard or other material for durability.

Baby Blankets and Sleep Kits - Getting a cozy baby blanket and other sleep accessories is a perfect way of celebrating the baby's arrival. These days, it is possible to customize the baby blankets. A personalized baby blanket is a truly unique gift. They are available in many colors, materials and designs. The next time you need to buy baby gift items, consider a personalized baby blanket!

Baby Clothes - Smart clothes for the baby will definitely make the parents happy, especially if it's the second child. The baby will be spared from using hand-me- downs! These days, baby clothing is given a lot of importance, and one is likely to find beautifully made baby clothes in the market, keeping in mind the contemporary trends in fashion. To buy baby gift items that are useful, always consider baby clothes.

Baby Bedding - This will include everything from the mattress to the blanket and pillows, as well as the mosquito netting.

Baby Bouncers - Baby bouncers are the baby's sitting place, where he/she can roll and bounce and have the time of his/her life. These are somewhat like a bean bag, with a belt, to ensure the safety of the baby. Buy baby gift bouncers or other mobile-type walker since parents need an item like this.

Baby Jewels - A jewel is a priceless gift that will be cherished for a lifetime. They also make a unique baby gift. There are many websites online which are dedicated to baby accessories that carry baby jewelry and have their items displayed online. They also ship and home deliver the items, so that you don't need to go out and purchase them.

When you have to buy baby gift items, the above choices are always winners!

Isaac Rubens makes it easy to find the perfect gift for that special baby. Visit buy baby gift for more great ideas and to receive other special offers.

Bedding Comfort For Your Baby

2009-02-25T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Hartley Lesser

Your baby is your life the comfort, care and feeding of your child consumes much of your day and evening existence. There is so much to know, to be aware of, that even with all of the expert advice from family and friends, there's still a great deal to be learned, either through study of various resources, or through the daily experience of raising your child.

Most mothers and fathers would say the comfort of their baby is one of their prime concerns. Comfort is the baby's world, from the temperature in the home, their diapers, their cleanliness, their food and drink, their clothing and their baby bedding. All of these elements should be designed to ensure the safety and health of the child and to make their small world a happy and enjoyable place within which to grow.

Afternoon naps, breast-feeding, and nighttime sleep require coverings to keep the baby warm. These coverings must be soft enough to ensure a warm environment, resilient enough to withstand stains, and secure enough to prevent accidents. There are a number of elements to the selection of appropriate baby and crib bedding. Thankfully, there are a number of baby bedding sets now available that assist with the continual drain on your financial resources to ensure your baby's health.

When purchasing baby bed linens, highly advisable is to purchase four top and four bottom sheets. These can be of the fitted or flat varieties and are uniform in size. However, if you have a crib, cot, cot bed or Moses basket, sheet sizes differ. Make certain you know the size you need before you shop.

Try to obtain a minimum of four, high-quality blankets. Cold nights are not a pleasant reality for a baby. The best combinations for a baby blanket are those that offer breathability and warmth, such as cotton cellular blankets and fleece.

A sleeping bag is also a good alternative, but you'll need at least two of them. Babies have a tendency to wriggle at night. This can result in sheets and blankets being tossed all over the crib or bed, leaving the youngster cold. A sleeping bag ensures their comfort while restricting their movement. Plus, you won't need to purchase a top sheet or blanket.

If your child is at least one year old, you can obtain pillows and duvets. The duvet cover set and pillow are comfortable for your child and also assist in supporting his or her attempts to sit up. Be certain to remove cot bumpers if your child is at the sitting up stage.

For the newborn baby, crib bedding is what needs to be obtained. Again, the sizes are different than would be considered for a baby bed, and the baby's comfort must remain the parents' prime concern.

If you are traveling with your child, perhaps to see grandma and grandpa or a distant aunt or uncle, to include them in the joyful world of your child's existence, other considerations must be made for your baby's needs. There are now services that will ship all of your baby's needs to a specified address. This means Mom and Dad don't have to pack as though they are going on a safari with their child's food, diaper, and formula needs. Everything they require will be awaiting them when they reach their destination, whether a private home or a hotel room.

Baby-proofing the location where you will stay is another important element to keep in mind. From a cover clamp toilet lock to a sound monitor, a bi-fold door lock to cabinet slide locks, and those all important rail nets for indoor balconies or outdoor decks, all should be considered as critical to your baby or child's safety at your temporary location. Make certain you have information at hand as to where your child will be sleeping and either pack, or have delivered, the required baby or crib bedding to ensure his or her comfort.

Baby and crib bedding is one of those elements that cannot be overlooked. These items are critical to your continued success in rearing your baby in safety and comfort.

Baby Best Buy has been providing quality baby products, including baby bedding, cloth diapers, potty training equipment, and more, at discounted prices for many years. This company is able to offer such low prices because they purchase their inventory end-of-the-line direct from manufacturers, thus eliminating the middle-man.

The Importance Of Baby Sleep

2009-02-24T06:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by David Chandler

All living creatures need sleep. Sleeping gives people and all living creatures the time for the body to recuperate and regenerate. Lion's needs 16 to 18 hours of sleep, while primates, ten to twelve hours of sleep. Humans need on average six to eight hours sleep to rejuvenate. Human babies need a full eight hours of sleep and naps in between.

The body uses sleep as a way to regenerate cells and refresh the brain and overall aids in the development of our body, mind, and health. During our sleep, the human body can regenerate hair follicles, fingernails, toenails and even the outer covering of the skin. This happens because of the automatic pilot that is built into our bodies. People tend to think that the body only needs to recharge spent energy on the day's work but in truth the body works the regeneration cycle much faster when the brain does not control much action.

Babies therefore need their sleeping time to develop muscles, limbs, and skeletal structure. In order to achieve a good night's sleep for your baby, it is important that your baby have comfortable and inviting bedding. The secret to a good bed is one that feels just right. Beds that are to big may make your little one feel insecure. Your baby's bed should be cozy and offer security for them to get a good night sleep. Selecting the proper bedding should also be a concern. The bedding should be easy to touch and feel cozy. Bedding that is to stiff or even to fluffy decreases your baby's comfort level and therefore reduces his/her sleep time. We would want our babies to enjoy their beds and consider it a place of security.

Try to make your baby's sleeping experience a pleasant one. Bedding should be inviting to the eye. There are so many wonderful patterns and fabrics on the market today that choosing the right bedding should not be to difficult. Remember that your baby needs enough rest to stimulate his/her growth and development and when this is achieved, your baby can reach his full potential.

For more information about baby sleep, visit Baby Sleep

How To Make A Lovely Baby Shower Cake

2009-02-24T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Jessika Ryder

Baby shower cakes are terrific centerpieces for showers. Guests always laugh when they see one and the expectant mom is thrilled to receive a very useful gift. They're also called diaper cakes because diapers are the main ingredient. It is quite easy to make one. Check out the detailed instructions below.

The ingredients for your baby shower cake

Here's the list of items you need for your cake:

Naturally, you'll need disposable diapers. How many? Assuming you want to make a medium size diaper cake, you'll need around 45 -- 55. You can't be sure of exactly how many until you make the cake. Any diapers left over can always be handed over to mommy-to-be.
Your baby shower cake needs a base. Get a platter of metal, cardboard, or other materials that are reasonably stiff. Choose one that's about 14" -- 16".
Buy a 10 foot length of 1" wide ribbon and about 60 to 80 feet of narrower ribbon. The latter is for tying individual diapers into rolls.
Every diaper cake needs a focal point. The most commonly used one is a baby bottle.
Rather than use an empty baby bottle, fill it with something edible. You could buy or make small chocolates shaped like various baby items, packed individually. Candies are another possible choice.
Get other cute, useful items for babies. Such as pacifiers, teething rings, bibs, socks, baby hair brushes, small sized soap and shampoo and so on.
Procure good quality, clear cellophane to provide the final wrapping. Get additional ribbons for tying bows at the top of the cellophane wrapping, if you so prefer.
Have adhesive tape available.

Baking the diaper cake -- putting it all together

While making a baby shower cake is quite easy, it does require a bit of patience. But the end result is certainly worth it! Plus the fact that you made it yourself creates a terrific impact.

While following through these instructions, have someone help you. It will get done faster.

The first thing to do is to tie each diaper individually into a roll. Cut a foot length of the narrow ribbon. Roll up a diaper and secure it by tying the ribbon around it. Do the same for all remaining diapers. If you're working alone, you may want to spread this out over more than one sitting.

Next, you'll create three tiers. You can vary the number of tiers to make a cake of the size you prefer.

We'll make the top tier first, which is the smallest. Fill the baby bottle with wrapped chocolates, candies or whatever other item you've obtained. Arrange rolled diapers around the bottle.

You'll use about 5 -- 7 diapers; place them around the bottle in a standing position. Pack them tightly. Secure the diapers into place by tying a length of narrow ribbon around them. That completes the top tier.

Next, create the middle tier using about 13 -- 18 diapers. Make a small circle of about 5 -- 8 diapers and tie them together like you did above. Then stand 13 -- 18 diapers in a circle around this smaller circle; secure them by tying a ribbon around them. This completes the middle tier of your cake.

To make the bottom tier, just repeat this process with about 25 -- 35 diapers.

Finishing the perfect baby shower cake

You're well on your way to making the perfect cake! By now, you should be able to anticipate the thrill of presenting it to mommy!

The next step is to secure the bottom tier onto the platter. Do this with pieces of adhesive tape. Don't use too much tape, because then the diapers become unusable. Next, fix the other two layers similarly one on top of the other. The tier with the bottle at the center goes on top, of course.

Put in all those adorable baby items you bought -- pacifiers, hair brush, teething ring, etc. Fix all of these onto the cake. How? Tuck them into the ribbons you used to secure each tier. Use additional ribbons if necessary.

And now, for the grand finale!

Transform your baby shower cake into a magical thing of beauty by using cellophane and ribbons. Spread a cellophane sheet on a flat surface, place the cake in the center. Gather up the edges of the cellophane and bunch it up artistically at the top (well, with as much art as you can manage -- it will look great anyway!). Use ribbons to tie a cute bow.

Now step back, and admire your creation! And be prepared for oohs and aahs from mom-to-be and guests at the baby shower!

About the Author

Jessika Ryder is a successful business writer and party enthusiast providing valuable information on baby showers. Her numerous articles provide tips on diaper cakes, party planning, etiquette and other aspects of these celebrations.

How To Buy A Baby Crib Online

2009-02-23T06:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Sarah Holmes, Ph.D.

A baby crib is one of the most expensive things you will buy for your new baby. You can always go to your local store to shop for a crib, but you may find that your options are limited in terms of finding the perfect baby crib. Plus, it is much easier to sit at home and shop at your own computer than to go from store to store looking at baby cribs. If you decide to shop online for a baby crib, there are a few things you should keep in mind. This article will review a few pointers that will help you safely buy a baby crib online.

It's All About Selection

One of the greatest things about online shopping is the selection! For example, if you decide that you want a round baby crib, your local store may not carry any at all. Through several online stores, you can find dozens of great round baby cribs made by several different manufacturers. While the wide range of choices may be overwhelming, it can be very useful when you are just trying to get an idea of the type of crib you want. You can review lots of different baby crib models in order to help you decide which baby crib features matter to you most (i.e., convertible, casters, both sides dropping down, etc.). Once you finalize the type of crib that you want, you are then ready for some serious price comparison shopping.

Compare Baby Crib Prices

You will be amazed to find that the very same baby crib may vary in price by several hundred dollars. That is because there are more than a dozen online stores that sell baby cribs. They all compete with each other meaning that you can get some a really good deal on a baby crib. They often offer free shipping, put their baby cribs on sale or offer "internet coupons" for a certain percentage off the total price. This is all to your advantage but requires you to shop around to find the best deal on a baby crib. One thing to look for is the shipping cost when comparing baby crib prices. One crib may be listed at a lower price but have a higher shipping charge. Make sure that you identify that actual shipping charges and take that into consideration when selecting the best priced baby crib. Many of the online stores will list the shipping cost right on the product page. If not, you may have to add it to you cart and "check out" to see what the shipping charges are.

Check the Online Store's Policies

The last thing you will want to do before finalizing your online purchase of a baby crib is to check the store's policy. You will want to make sure that it is easy to contact them by mail, email, and phone. If they do not provide this information, then you may not want to buy from them. You will also need to check out their shipping policies. Some will offer you a choice in shippers which may influence the shipping price. You will also want to check to see when they will ship the crib. Several online stores take 6 to 8 weeks to ship a baby crib. If time is short for you, you will have to select an online store that can ship the baby crib right away.

It is important to review the store's return policy. If you decide on ordering a custom made crib, the online store may not allow any returns. If this is the case, you will need to be 100% that this is the baby crib for you. Online stores may offer free exchanges or may require you to pay to send the crib back. These are all issues that are important to take into consideration when deciding on where to buy your baby crib. Also, if you do decide to order a specialized crib such as a round or corner crib, be sure to order a mattress and baby bedding. Regular stores don't usually carry these items and it's best to order them online as well.

With this information in mind, you should be able to find the best online deal for a new baby crib. You will definitely find the widest selection online and most likely the best deal on the perfect baby crib for your new baby.

Sarah Holmes, Ph.D. quit her full-time job in order to stay home with her baby girl. She created http://www.BabyCribCentral.com as a free resource to other new moms and dads. Her site compares prices on hundreds of baby cribs from more than 20 online stores allowing you to find the beset price with a click of a button. Her site also offers lots of information about the different types of cribs as well as all sorts of safety information about how to buy and use your new crib safely.

Picking The Perfect Name For Your Baby

2009-02-23T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Steve Edwards

One of the most important decisions you will make once you find you are pregnant is that of picking the perfect baby name. Everyone has their own idea of what a great name is, sometimes it is as simple as whatever is currently fashionable as per the top 10 names for the country in the year that the baby is born, sometimes it's a family name that honors a favorite relative, and sometimes it's just a name that the mother (or father) really likes.

The baby name chosen will occasionally carry certain cultural significance. This happens often in the case of popular baby names as they are fashionable for a certain period of time and then the trend changes and so you can put babies with those names into a certain decade. Television, and to a lesser extent movies, can influence these trends as certain television shows have characters with names which are "different" and which parents like so this is added to the list of potential baby names. There are exceptions to this however, as there are some baby names which are timeless and have been handed down generation to generation throughout the family.

Whether or not to choose the baby name before the baby is born is a matter for personal preference. There are parents who decide what their baby's name will be from the moment they have the pregnancy confirmed - and in some cases, they know what baby names they will choose before they are even pregnant! Then there are other parents who wait until the baby is born before naming it. Sometimes this is because they can't agree on a name, or because they haven't found one they like, or sometimes just because they want to wait to see how the baby looks before naming it.

Once the baby is born, there's still time to pick the perfect baby name for your baby. Even if the name was decided months before the birth, it's possible that having seen the baby, the name will change. When you see your baby for the first time, and hold it in your arms, you may decide that the name chosen doesn't seem to fit with the baby you are looking at. Maybe the baby has more delicate features than the robust name chosen suggests, or vice versa. It's also possible that there was someone instrumental in bringing the baby into the world that you want to honor by naming your baby after them - and this won't be known until after the birth occurs.

Take time to choose the perfect name for your baby, and don't be afraid to change your mind at the last minute if you feel it's not quite appropriate, after all the baby is going to wear that name a long time!

Are you looking for the perfect baby name then visit http://www.baby-name-help for baby name articles, tips, & advice.

Baby Shower Decorations Themed Items For A Unique Splash

2009-02-22T06:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Gail Leino

When looking for unique items for your Baby Shower decorations, try to look for the original in normal everyday things. Normal everyday things when related to a baby shower includes all things baby related, such as diapers, bottles, nuknuks, cribs, baby blankets and even toys.

It easy to pick up some large stuffed animals to place in the corners at your baby shower party and afterwards they can be sent home with the parents. Smaller stuffed animals can even be set up as a centerpiece on the buffet table. Baby bottles placed casually around the party or even tied with a piece of string and hung from the ceiling really add to the baby shower atmosphere.

If you are interested in a little challenge you can experiment with using balloons to make balloon babies. This one would take a little skill, but you can add to them by dressing them up in disposable diapers.

Those who are big fans of using traditional balloons, streamers and confetti can still use them in a unique way. One easy way of doing this is by picking out a color theme that's unusual for a baby shower. This theme can be black and white to hearken back to the idea of black and white photos. You can even take pictures at the event using black and white film in your camera. When you have them developed make up a little photo album and the photos themselves will always remind the parents of your special party theme.

Picking out a neon pink or blue color for the party theme if you happen to know the gender of the baby can add a unique flavor to the party. Have the party in the evening and hand out appropriately colored glow sticks. You can even get the larger ones and use them in decoration around the party area.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. Free Baby Shower Games, printable activities, party planning tips, menus, recipes, and party supplies to help complete your event.

Infant Car Seats What To Look For

2009-02-22T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by LynnMarie S.

Infant car seats should be purchased for any baby who weighs less than 20 pounds. It can be more cost efficient to purchase an infant-toddler car seat that can be converted when the baby weighs more than 20 pounds. But all experts will agree that babies are safer in infant car seat because they are designed for the smaller baby to give support in all the necessary places. Your baby should be comfortable. You should get a car seat that has lots of cushioning and plenty of head support. The Graco infant car seat is one of the most popular car seats for infants and range in price from $80 to $170.

These are some things to look for when you are shopping for a car seat for your infant.

It should be easy to install. It is very important that the car seat is installed properly and according to the manufacturer's specifications. When buying a car seat, remember that simpler is better. If a car seat looks like it will be difficult to install, it probably is.

A smaller baby needs more adequate restraints to hold him in the seat. Look for infant seats that have a five point harness. These will have one strap for each of the baby's shoulders, one strap for each of his thighs, and one between his legs. These straps are safer for an infant since they are more adjustable than plastic shields or T-bar restraints.

Avoid car seats that require you to fasten the seatbelt in the rear of the seat. The seatbelt adjustment should be easy to reach.

It must have the right anchors. Starting in September 2002, all new infant safety seats had to be compatible with the LATCH system (LATCH is short for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children). Rather than using a seatbelt to hold the infant seat in place, this system uses two anchors for the bottom of the seat and a one tether for the top of the seat. This makes installation of the seat easier and safer because the seat is attached directly to the car.

Babies are always a mess. Consider purchasing a seat with a removable infant car seat cover so that you can keep the car seat clean. It may be tough to find this feature because many car seats do not come with removable infant car seat covers. Be sure to check the car seat you are purchasing to see if the car seat cover can be removed.

The most important thing to consider what buying a car seat for your infant is safety. Remember, the car seat should be easy to install, have adequate restraints, and have the correct anchors for attaching it to the car.

About the Author

LynnMarie is On-Line Editor for Babyage.com which is one of the top online retailers of Graco Infant Car Seats including an extensive line of Infant Car Seats for infants and children.

Baby Shower Planning And Hosting

2009-02-21T06:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Criss White

Planning and organization are crucial to hosting a successful baby shower. Below are some important topics to consider when planning:

1) Who will host the shower?

The person that plans and hosts the shower can be anyone, but is usually someone who is close to the new or expecting mother. Normally, a close friend or family member will do all the preparations, but sometimes the new mother will help as well, particularly with the guest list. Sometimes a small group of friends can plan the event together.

In the event of a surprise baby shower, planning must occur more carefully and invitations should be sent out in secret. In this circumstance, people who are not as close to the new mother will be involved in acquiring supplies and getting the word out.

2) Who should be invited?

Be sure to invite all the mother's friends and family to the event. If planning a surprise party, make sure that everyone you tell helps spread the word. A close friend or family member may know most of the mother's friends, but it can also be helpful to ask co-workers and other friends to make sure that no one is left out.

Also, men are increasingly being included in these parties. An all women's shower can be different than a shower with both men and women, so the planner should consider these things as well.

If other young children will be in attendance, then make sure to plan events for them too. Not planning for children is a common oversight that adults make when planning parties of this nature. Baby shower games are a fun way for both children and adults to celebrate.

3) Where and when should the shower occur?

The party should be held at a location that is comfortable to the new mother. Oftentimes, the most common place to host a party is at a friend's or family member's home. In this case, the mother will not have to worry about cleaning up afterwards.

Sometimes, the party is hosted at the mother's place. This can be convenient as well because the mother doesn't have to go anywhere. Friends of the mother can help with the clean up afterwards.

For larger baby showers, banquet halls or other locations can be rented. Other places include parks, restaurants, catered dining rooms, or anywhere else that might be appropriate. It is okay to plan things differently as long as the mother and everyone else has a good time.

Most baby showers occur several weeks before the baby is due. Sometimes showers occur after the baby is born, which allows the guest to see the new baby. When to have the baby shower is entirely based on the preferences of the host and the mother.

Most showers occur on the weekends. Saturday is a popular day for these parties. They can occur in the afternoon or evening, depending on various factors, like people's schedules and how much you want to spend. Generally, dinner parties are more expensive than hosting lunch.

4) What activites should be planned?

There are many games and activities that can be planned in advance to make a baby shower memorable. Baby themed games are a fun way for everyone to celebrate a new baby. Do a search for "baby shower games" on the internet and you will find many games, some of which you can purchase and some that are free.

A short speech of congratulations is also a nice surprise for the new mother. If such a speech occurs, it is usually from a close friend or family member. A good time for congratulations is before eating lunch or dinner.

Finally, make some time before, between, and after events for everyone to mingle with the new or expecting mom.

5) What kind of food is appropriate?

The food at the party does not necessarily have to be baby-themed, although that can be a nice touch. The most common baby-themed food is baby shower diaper cake. Your local bakery can also make other items like cookies and pastries in the shape of baby blocks, pacifiers, rubber ducks, and other baby items. Or you can make them yourself. Most importantly, make sure to pick food that everyone will enjoy.

If you are hiring a caterer, then be sure to ask them about their ideas and experiences with baby showers. They may have some creative ideas that you may not have thought about.

6) Decorations and party favors.

Your local party supply store will probably have plenty of decorations for your baby shower. Specifically themed decorations can also be purchased online.

Buying party favors for your guests is always a nice way to say thank you for coming. These gifts for your guests can range from themed candies to more expensive keepsakes, including personalized items. Special prizes can also be given out for game winners or other people who have been important in the mother's life and during the pregnancy.

7) During the party.

Greet the guests when they arrive and have others help out if necessary to make sure everything runs smoothly. And finally, don't forget to have fun after all the planning and preparation.

Criss White is a professional web writer on baby and new mother topics for baby and pregnancy websites. For more articles on baby showers, check out our Baby Shower Ideas (http://www.mybabyshowerfavors.com/articles) and more baby articles at Baby Lullaby.

Note: If you find this article useful, you may reprint it on your website, e-zine, or in your newsletter as long as the credits and resource box remain in tact and the hyperlinks stay active.

Safety First When Buying Baby Cribs

2009-02-21T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Roy Thomsitt

Probably the most important item of baby furniture in the nusery is the baby's crib. All the decor and furniture plays its part, of course, but much of that is for the convenience and visual pleasure of the parents, plus an element of teaching baby. While the crib can fulfil both those roles, it is also a place where your baby will be spending a great deal of time, and do much of her early growing up.

It is quite easy to make a baby comfortable lying down when first born, but as she grows you need to think beyond that. As she becomes mobile, safety becomes a major issue. She will also be tempted to chew the crib when she starts teething. For those reasons, you want to choose a design that prevents her getting out of the crib too easily, and also one that uses a non toxic paint.

It is difficult to imagine, when you first bring a newborn baby home, that before long they will be mobile, and if you have not had a baby before, then you may be taken by surprise. Even if she is not your first baby, a surprise or two may be in store.

When our baby daughter was born, I had to share her room during the day, as it was the only place I could have my computer for working. I was very lucky, as I saw an awful lot of her growing up, as she would spend much time in the crib, and when a bit older, would chat to me after each time she woke.

I will never forget one day when she was standing up in the crib, chatting to me in the usual way. I was expecting someone from the telephone company to come because of internet problems. A knock at the door sent me scurrying downstairs; our baby had never shown any inclination to climb out of the crib. As I reached the front door, I did hear a small thud upstairs, and assumed it was a toy thrust from the crib by Saffron. I led the two technicians back to the baby's room, but when I went in the room I was totally dumbfounded. Standing in front of me, on the floor, was a bemused baby, as still as a statue, staring up at me, with a very strange "what's happened to me Dad?" smile on her face.

It took a moment for the whole scene to actually register, but I picked her up, and put her back in the crib. She remained remarkably quiet for a long, long time, and she never did that again, so obviously did not find the "thud" part of the experience one she wanted to repeat. Incidentally, that was a well designed crib, but with an adventurous baby who is a born climber, there is not so much you can do to stop them once they reach a certain age. She was unharmed, but could so easily have hurt herself. Another thing to bear in mind as baby grows, is that toys left in the crib can become a hazard, as the baby will soon figure out that larger toys can be used as a step to make it easier to escape from the crib.

In choosing a crib, also be sure to buy one with easy access for you as parents. A drop side is very helpful, to make it easy to put the baby in, and get her out again. Some cribs can be very deep, so reaching down too far may not be appreciated in the middle of the night, when you just want to get baby fed and back to sleep; it is far easier to drop the side of the crib, and pick her out comfortably. With some cribs, you can also save money long term by choosing one that converts to a bed, so that is worth bearing in mind when working out your baby furniture budget.

This baby crib article was written by Roy Thomsitt, owner author of the Bouncing New Baby website. Also at the web stie you will find useful articles on baby rooms or nurseries and teaching baby.

Breast Pumps

2009-02-20T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Eric Morris

A breast pump is a mechanical device that can be used to extract milk for later use from a lactating woman. The way a breast pump works is similar to a milking machine used in commercial dairy production.

Extracted breast milk can be stored so that someone else can feed the baby by bottle. Sometimes the breasts produce more milk than the infant can consume. A breast pump can be used in these instances when the breasts become engorged preventing proper latching by the infant. Breast pumping relieves pressure in the breasts. Also, this can be used when some babies cannot latch properly for direct breastfeeding even though the mother desires the benefits of breast milk. A breast pump stimulates lactation in women and can be used to continue lactation to recover from pregnancy even when the pumped milk is not used.

Breast pumps come in a variety of models, the most popular being the manual pump where the woman can directly control the pressure and frequency of pumps and the battery-operated pumps. However, electrically powered pumps are presently gaining in popularity. Some breast pumps are designed so that the portion of the pump is the baby bottle used for feeding. Another popular design available on the market is the Hands-Free pump.

It is suggested to start using a breast pump to provide stimulation immediately after the delivery. A hospital-grade double electric breast pump can be used until the supply is well established. The hospital's NICU can provide the details regarding the renting of the hospital-grade breast pump. For the first couple of weeks it is advised to use a breast pump 8 to 10 times within a 24-hour period. Frequent stimulation establishes a good supply. So, initially, pump around the clock, although at night go for slightly longer periods between sessions. Initially, ten to twelve minutes per pumping session is enough. Even though much colostrum or milk is not expressed in the first few days, the supply will increase over the next several days with dedicated pumping.

The hospital's NICU will provide the instructions on storing and transporting the milk to the baby bottles. Please follow the guidelines to avoid passing infections to the baby. Sterile collection bottles and sterilized pump kit is a safe option. Even in the hospital, deliver the expressed breast milk as often as possible.

It is important to use the breast pump at least 6 to 8 times per day that the mother is able to start direct breastfeeding. Decrease the length of pumping by a couple of minutes if the supply becomes extremely large. However, frequent stimulation is necessary. Even when the baby's intake is low, as in the cases of premature babies, milk production needs to continue on as though the baby was born full-term.

Breast Pumps provides detailed information about breast pumps, breast pump reviews, and more. Breast Pumps is affiliated with Disposable Diapers.

Four Things I Learned About Potty Training A Strong Willed Child

2009-02-19T06:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Susan S. James

My daughter was immovable when it came to potty training: she didn't want to go potty, and that was that! She was four and a half and still using diapers, and I was at my wit's end. During the two years I spent trying, in one way or another, to get her to go potty, I learned four important and interesting things about potty training a strong willed child.

1. You can't force it. There are two things that you cannot force your child to do. You cannot force your child to eat, and you cannot force him to go potty. So no matter how much I praised, rewarded, begged, scolded, or guilt-tripped my daughter, she was only going to use the potty when she was good and ready. No amount of intervention on my part was going to change this immutable fact.

2. You know better than your doctor. During the two years I battled with my daughter over potty training, I took her to three different doctors and even to a social worker who specializes in children who are potty-resisters! Once we ruled out any physical or medical problems, every single professional I spoke with gave me a different opinion on why my daughter was resisting and what I should do about it. They all agreed on one thing that my daughter and I were locked in a battle of wills, and I was losing the battle big time. But the advice I received was varied and often contradictory. I came to realize that I knew better than they did, because I knew my daughter.

3. Don't take it personally. I can't tell you how many hours I spent angry, frustrated, even in tears, because I couldn't get my daughter out of diapers. When she reached four and half, I felt like a failure as a mother. Don't fall into this way of thinking! Your child's unwillingness to go potty is no reflection on your parenting ability.

4. Eventually, your child will go (all children do). All children master the potty, and your child is no exception. If you have ruled out any physical or medical problems that may be preventing your child from mastering the potty, your child will surprise you one day.

My daughter was fully trained well before she turned five years old, and now that she is almost six, I still find it miraculous that she willingly goes to the bathroom without any reminders or accidents! It will happen for your child, too.

Susan S. James is a mother of two and the founder of the website Best Potty Training Tips where you can take a quiz to see if your child is ready for potty training, as well as ask questions and share tips with other parents.

The Scoop On Giving Your Baby Juice

2009-02-19T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Cassandra Germsheid

Many moms like to think that as soon as their baby turns 6 months of age, they should start giving them juice. But this couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, juice is NOT necessary for an infant. Here's why:

- Because of the sugars in juice, it can cause diarrhea.

- Too much juice can cause a child to be overweight or obese.

- Juice contains sugars and acids that can cause tooth decay.

- Giving your baby too much juice can hinder growth and development, and can cause malnutrition and anemia due to lack of nutrients like proteins and complex carbohydrates.

- If you are still breastfeeding, juice can cause your baby to nurse less.

Although juice contains Vitamin C, you don't want to give them too much. It should never be considered a supplement. If you must give your baby juice, consider these guidelines.

- Wait until your baby is at least 6 months old. But even then, babies at this age still do not require it.

- Dilute juice by at least half and half. Most grocery stores have a baby aisle with juice specially diluted for babies. These juices also contain more Vitamin C than regular juices, but are also more expensive.

- Never give your baby juice from a bottle. And never give them juice from a cup to suck on all day. This can cause tooth decay.

- Don't give your baby juice at bedtime.

- Babies shouldn't have more than 150ml (one half cup) of juice a day.

- Instead of giving fruits in liquid form, try giving them real fruit!

- If your baby is thirsty, give them water instead. If your baby doesn't like water, try flavoring the water with a little bit of juice.

- If you start feeding your baby water from the beginning, they won't naturally prefer juice instead of water.

I hope these tips will help you in your decision to feed your baby juice. If you are concerned about your baby's health, contact your physician.

Cassandra Germsheid is the owner of Baby Tips Online (http://www.babytipsonline.com). She is a stay at home mother but sometimes works part time for her local newspaper.

Things To Consider Before Buying A Baby High Chair

2009-02-18T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Tamara Williams

There are so many new features on modern High Chairs. Our Old wooden chairs never had such options. There are reclining to one-hand release trays to height adjustment and more. Here are a few things to consider before purchasing.

Safety?

There may be many options and that is a matter of your personal requirements. Above all importance is Safety to your baby. Most Safety checked chairs will have a Label from the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association letting You know the seat is tested and safety certified.

When do I buy?

At the age that babies are eating solids usually 6 months of age. They do not really need a chair prior to that unless you want to have them a place to sit with family at the table. Often reclining High Chairs are best for small babies as they often sleep and can do so without their heads falling forward.

Stability?

The last thing you want is an unsteady high chair. Choosing one with a wide base is best. Many modern chairs are coming with wider shaped legs and a lower center of gravity making them much more stable than older models. You can give the chairs you are looking at a good shake to see how it might stand up to an active family and baby.

Buckles?

Be sure to check and see if the high chairs belts are strong and durable as well as washable.

A harness 5 point or three point buckle is best to prevent baby sliding under the tray. Some come with molded piece between the legs. Avoid chairs with only a waist belt this poses danger of slipping and possible strangulation.

Seat Cushions comfortable?

With The amount of food that gets dropped onto the tray and seat it is good to find one that washes easy. Vinyl cushions are washable but look and feel to see if there are any sharp corners that can be felt by your fingers. Cushions should be easily removable and replaceable after washing.

Workable Tray?

The tray is an issue that is important to be able to get in and out easily and safely. Ask your self; would my Baby be able to reach releases to free the tray? Are there sharp areas or hinges that could pinch or hurt my baby's fingers? Trays with a high rim help keep food off the floor and on the tray accessible to baby who is learning basic motor skills.

Tamara Williams is a successful author and writer for Baby High chairs. Find out what are the best high chairs for your family needs.

Getting To Know Your Baby Babys Second Month Guide

2009-02-17T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Michelle Higgins

Time has flown. Your little bundle of joy has been a part of your home for more than four weeks now. The new dad and mum are now more relaxed, confident, and really enjoy their new responsibilities (at least most of the time). Here are a few pointers on what to expect in baby's second month.

Semblance of order

Baby is no longer attached to mom's breast all the time. A feed every 2-3 hours usually keeps her satisfied.

Spitting of milk after a feed is normal. Make sure you burp your baby after every feed.

Your two month-old baby most probably now sleeps 3-4 hours between nighttime feedings. She has definite waking hours during the day, which means mom and dad too can work out a routine.

She knows you!

In baby's second month, she focuses her eyes better, and can follow an object in an arc about six to eight inches from her face. She does not actually recognize your face, but definitely knows your touch, scent and voice. When you coo to her or talk in gentle soothing tones, she starts to make babbling sounds in response.

She enjoys smiling faces, smiles in return, and has a whole range of facial expressions.

I am a big(ger) girl now!

Baby has lost some of her early reflexes and has more control over her movements now. When placed on her stomach she can lift her head for brief periods. If your baby sucks her fists and fingers, let her enjoy the activity. It is too early to picture your two month-old walking to school with her thumb in her mouth.

Bath time can be playtime for your two-month old baby. Trimming baby's nails is best done after a bath (with tiny scissors/infant nail clippers).

To use or not to use

If you plan to introduce the bottle, baby's second month is the perfect time. Breast may be best. But if you have milk supply issues or have to go back to work, bottle-feeding might be necessary. A combination of both can work well too.

Whether to use a dummy or pacifier is a tough choice to make. Make sure baby's nursing patterns are well established before you do use one.

Hello Doctor

A regular well-baby check-up is scheduled in baby's second month. Your doctor will allay any doubts you have and discuss safety issues like placing baby on her back to sleep, the need for an infant car seat and all the other questions you have.

Your baby will get oral polio drops and some shots this month, most probably a combination of the triple antigen, Influenza and Hepatitis B. These shots usually cause a little fever, which can make some babies cranky. Your doctor will prescribe a fever medication for your baby.

Daddy's girl too!

Dads can involve themselves in every aspect of childcare though they tend to do most things differently. Dad holds baby in his own way, perhaps a little too firmly, but she loves it!

Baby's second month sees her turning from a cute unresponsive newborn into a tiny interactive person. Watch your little bundle of joy grow and learn a host of things along the way.

* About the author *

This article has been provided by ParentingSurvivalGuide.com. Please visit our web site at http://www.ParentingSurvivalGuide.com to discover more articles.

This article may be freely republished for noncommercial use as long as the article, including the author information and this reprint policy statement, is republished in its entirety, unedited, and with all links working.

To Invite Or Not To Invite The Dad To The Shower

2009-02-16T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Randy Wilson

Do you invite dad to the baby shower? As per the old tradition, the baby showers are "ladies only" celebrations and generally the dad did not attend them. However, he would arrive at the end of the baby shower to greet and thank all the baby shower guests and the hostess.

But these days, it's becoming more and more common to include men in the baby showers along with friends, spouses, and relatives. Again it is a personal choice. Only the hostess needs to decide whether you want a traditional "ladies only" shower with lots of "girly talks" and personal pregnancy stories. Or whether you're looking for a more non-traditional baby shower. Nothing is either wrong or right. But rather it is all about everyone enjoying themselves no matter what type of shower you want to host.

If you do plan on inviting the dad-to-be, it would be a good idea to know him better, his personality type, what food he likes, beverages, what his friends are like, availability etc. There are a few men who get pale by the mere thought of being around so many women. Especially knowing this is traditionally an all female event.

If you do decide to invite the father-to-be. Then it would be a kind gesture to also invite several of his male friends. You might also have some nice "manly" type food and beverages to make them more comfortable. After all, it takes a rather daring man to come to what is traditionally an all female event. It would also be a good idea to include some games that men and women both would enjoy.

For many reasons, the couple's shower (where men and women both are invited) is an appropriate way to celebrate a new baby.

First, the new daddy has as much reason to celebrate and to be congratulated as the mom-to-be. Second, daddy may enjoy opening the presents as much as mom, maybe more so. Thirdly, if the baby shower isn't held at their home, mommy will need dad to help load up the presents and drive her home. After all, she hasn't had the baby yet, and will probably be pretty tired by the end of the baby shower.

While this may be a new tradition, some men may actually enjoy the baby shower as much as the women. Although I doubt that most fathers-to-be would ever admit it to anyone, dad has to keep up that "macho" image after all.

It would be a nice touch to include gifts that are special for dad. Even though the gifts are usually gifts for the baby, and the occassional gift for the mom, dad wouldn't mind one or two for himself. Just don't let on that you know that. Let him keep his pride.

Generally, anyone who was invited to the wedding can be invited to the baby shower. Remember, this is a joyous celebration and you should spread joy, blessings and happiness to everyone that has an interest in the family.

Randy has dozens more baby shower related articles such as Baby Shower Invitations and Baby Shower Games. Also has a blog: Baby Shower Planning.

Jogging Strollershow To Get Back In Shape

2009-02-15T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Linda Jenkinson

Add a little extra push and a jogging stroller to your exercise regime and you'll be back in top condition in no time! As well as single seat, many companies also offer double and triple seat models that are great for twins or toddlers. Jogging strollers come in a wide range of prices depending on the brand and the number and types of features of a particular model.

Aside from price, probably the most important feature to consider when comparing jogging strollers is the front wheel size. Although you can run behind any stroller, the small tires of traditional 4-wheel models make even a fast walk into a bumpy ride for baby. Unlike the traditional stroller, the 3-wheel jogging strollers are built to travel over grass, dirt, gravel and other rough terrain. Front wheel sizes range from 20+ inches to a standard 12-inch wheel. Large pneumatic (air-filled) wheels and suspension systems provide a smooth ride whatever the terrain. For joggers who prefer off-road running, many models are available with shock absorbers to add real cushioning to the bumps and dips in your route.

One factor to bear in mind is that typically, the larger wheel types have a wider turning ratio and are less maneuverable than smaller wheeled models. Although larger wheels aren't great for shopping the aisles in mall stores, they usually mean a smoother ride for baby over rough terrain.

The larger 20-inch wheels are best for off road exercise and running. In addition to a more comfortable ride for baby, your exercise will feel smoother as you pass over curbs and bumps more easily.

16-inch wheel models are probably the most popular picks for joggers and power walkers who stick to the trails. Especially important if you're budget conscious, the smaller front wheel on these mid-sized jogging strollers make them more maneuverable for shopping but still provide baby with a smooth ride at exercise time.

Even for a stroll through the park, you'll find that the slender jogger design of 12-inch wheel jogging strollers is superior. For shopping, you'll be down one aisle and down the next in a flash! Jogging strollers are also generally built with extra safety precautions for baby. For instance, many have features like a five point harness to keep your little one snug in place, front fenders to deflect dirt away from you and your little one, and adjustable canopies to keep the bright morning sun out of baby's eyes. Hand brakes, foot brakes, and parking brakes are also standard safety items on many jogging strollers.

Other features of jogging strollers include reclining seats that let baby sleep as fast on a morning run as he or she does during the car ride to your favorite running trail! In addition, some models have cup holders that hold water bottles for both you and baby, parent organizer trays, and pouches or pockets for storage of small items like keys, wallets, or baby toys.

Linda is mother and grandmother of two, she is author of the http://www.baby-strollers-guide.com and the http://www.baby-product-guides.com

14 Steps To Reducing Your Infants Reflux

2009-02-14T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Roni MacLean

Many of the things listed below will help with your baby's discomfort and spitting up, eliminating the need for medication.

POSITIONING STEPS FOR REDUCING REFLUX

Positioning During and After Feeds

1. Keeping the child upright during and for at least thirty minutes after feeds can help to reduce reflux by allowing gravity to work at holding the food in their tummies. As well, after feeding, try to keep them as motionless as possible for at least thirty minutes after feeding. Formula fed babies may require longer periods since formula is digested slower than breastmilk.

A Word About Car Seats

2. Some car seats position baby in such a way that they hunched and slouched over, putting added pressure on their tummies which can increase reflux episodes. Look for a car seat that allows baby to be reclined enough that they aren't slouched yet, inclined enough that they are fairly upright.

Sleeping Position

3. As with positioning after feeding, keeping baby propped during sleep is essential when they have reflux. It can help reduce painful reflux episodes and reduce the risk of aspiration.

Prone vs. Supine (Front vs Back)

4. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends all babies sleep in the supine position (on their backs) because it has been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS. This is fine for babies with reflux as long as the baby is safely propped up to at least 30%, we found the higher baby is propped the better. Having said that, many babies with reflux prefer sleeping in the prone position (stomach), also elevated of course, and may have less reflux episodes in this position. Discuss this with your doctor and he can help decide if it's okay, and how to safely manage allowing baby to sleep in the prone position. It's very important to discuss this with the doctor before trying it as babies with reflux are already at an increased risk of SIDS.

Carrying

5. Try carrying baby around as much as possible in a baby carrier through out the day. Carried babies tend to cry less and crying will make reflux worse, plus, it keeps baby upright.

CLOTHING AND REFLUX

Avoid Tight Clothing

6. Tight clothing, particularly clothing that's tight around baby's tummy, can make reflux worse by increasing pressure on the LES (lower esophageal sphincter). Make sure baby stays in loose fitting, elastic waists whenever possible.

FOOD / FEEDING TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS

Food

7. Breastfeeding is definitely best for a baby with reflux because it is more hypoallergenic than formula and is digested twice as fast as formula. If breastfeeding is not chosen or not possible by the mother, formula changes can help some babies. If the baby has a milk or lactose allergy or intolerance giving the baby formula that is milk based can make reflux worse. Learn about the different types of formula available and discuss this possibility with your pediatrician.

Thickening

8. Some babies with reflux will respond well to thickening their feeds with cereal. Thickening formula can help for a few reasons. The added weight of the cereal in the food helps to keep the food from splashing around in the baby's belly and can help keep it down. Babies who are having difficulty gaining weight may also benefit from the added calories. Generally, it's recommended that about one tablespoon of cereal should be added for every ounce of formula. If the formula isn't thick enough, it won't work. Also, some babies may react poorly to rice cereal which is generally the first tried, so adding oatmeal instead may work better for some babies. As always discuss this with your pediatrician before trying it.

Feeding Time

9. When and how much a baby is fed can also have an impact on their reflux. Smaller more frequent meals through out the day work much better than larger, less frequent meals. Also, avoid feeding baby right before bedtime, particularly if the baby is already a poor sleeper.

Breastfeeding

10. If you are breastfeeding, try eliminating the foods that can make reflux worse. Dairy products are a big offender, as is caffeine, fatty foods, spicy foods, citrus fruits. If eliminating these things seems to help, you can slowly (about one thing a week) start to introduce one thing at a time back into your diet and watch baby's reactions. This will help give you an idea of exactly what was making the reflux worse, so that you (hopefully) don't need to give up everything you love, just one or two things.

Burping

11. Stopping to burp baby frequently (at least after every ounce) during feedings can help.

Provide a Pacifier

12. Sucking on a pacifier or dummy, can increase saliva production. Saliva is alkaline which can help neutralize some of the acid that may come up.

Avoid Certain Foods and Liquids

13. More so for older children and babies, there are certain foods that are known to make reflux worse, as mentioned above. These should be avoided.

OTHER

Infant Massage

14. Try infant massage, it's been shown to improve digestion and will help relax baby.

For more help, including treatments, how to know if medication is required, tips on propping baby and information about the different formulas available, visit InfantRefluxDisease.com.

Roni MacLean
InfantRefluxDisease.com

MacLean started researching reflux and GERD shortly after her daughter was born with GERD in May of 2000. She has spent the years following her daughter's birth learning everything she could. MacLean felt the need to reach out and help others going through what they had been through by sharing all that she had learned. Early in 2001 she launched InfantRefluxDisease.com as an informational website to help guide other parents. MacLean's dedication to the GERD community continues to this day. She has written the highly acclaimed, Life on the Reflux Roller Coaster, published in 2004, which was the first book ever published entirely on this subject. Currently, she dedicates all her spare time to the website that started it all, which has since grown into one of the best sources of information online.

Liven Up Your Baby Shower With A Few Games

2009-02-13T06:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Roy Thomsitt

You have a baby shower planned for a friend; you have organised the invitations, and sent them out to everyone on the list. You have even planned the food that is going to be available at the shower. Then you think, but what do we actually do? Just talk and hand over the gifts; or shall we play a few shower games?

Well, it does seem that many people do opt for playing a few baby shower games. If you are the playful type, and think some games will go down well at the shower, then why not have a bit of fun? There are no strict rules about baby shower games. In fact, you could take just about any party game and play it as it is. It is probably better, though, if you either come up with one or two unique ideas yourself, or give a baby twist to an ordinary party game. There must be thousands of variations you could come up with.

Here are just a few ideas that might stimulate more in you:

1. A team game that is popular across the world is a race to pass an apple from player to player, without using the hands, but using the chin to hold the apple. Baby shower game twist: try the same thing with a baby powder container. If it is the well rounded type they can be remarkably slippery, even when dry. Test it out first, to make sure it is possible (but not too easy) to pass under the chin.

2. There are lots of possible memory games. It will not be long before baby is into bed time stories and nursery rhymes. So, why not buy a good sized book with lots of the old nursery rhymes in. As the baby shower game, get the contestants to recite the nursery rhyme after you have read the first line. Some are very easy, but some will be frustrating as people try to remember word for word. If someone has a child who is into nursery rhymes, they will have a big advantage, so try to find a way to keep it even. Like make them do the reading instead of participating. When the baby shower game is over, you can donate the book to the mum-to-be.

3. An obvious baby shower game is guessing the date and time of the birth. Make it interesting by having a little bet on the outcome, with everyone agreeing on how much each to put in. record all the guesses, and when the big day comes, the nearest guess wins. Then, why not have a booby prize for the worst guess? Such as, having to do 10 diaper changes in the first month after the baby is born?

4. A variation on musical chairs could be good fun as a baby shower game, but for this you will need a few baby potties, so you'll need to elicit helps from friends with babies on this one. Set the chairs up for normal musical chairs, but then put a potty on top of each chair. Just watch people slide about as they make their dash for a potty spot when the music stops.

You could break this baby shower game into groups of say 6 if you manage to get 5 potties, or 5 for 4 etc. This may be best after a few champagnes, gins, beers or whatever you may be serving.

The above baby shower games just came to mind as I wrote this, and after a quick glance around our daughter's bedroom. I am sure, with a bit of thought and research, you can do better. Have fun!

This baby shower games article was written by Roy Thomsitt, owner author of the Bouncing New Baby website.

Bathing A Newborn Baby

2009-02-13T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Sinead Hoben

Do you want your baby handed to you immediately after the birth or should he be cleaned first? In recent years most babies were wiped down with a towel immediately after birth before mum or dad got a chance to hold them. Nowadays choice is the keyword! It's your decision.

Research shows that the greasy film covering your baby, vernix, is a wonderful source of moisture for your baby's delicate skin. And if you don't wipe it off, it is reabsorbed. So your baby will be less likely to develop dry skin patches. Pre-term babies have much more of this protective layer than full-term babies.

In the womb your baby is submerged in amniotic fluid, so vernix is absolutely necessary for providing waterproof protection. After birth, however, mother nature may need a helping hand!

Returning home can be daunting for new parents. Giving baby his first bath can be terrifying!

Your baby does not need a special bath although many parents are well tooled up for the new arrival. A clean sink or the big bath will suffice!

Probably the main worry for parents is getting the water temperature correct. After ensuring you have all baby's bits and bobs at hand, such as a changing mat, towel, fresh nappy, vest and clean clothes, place the baby in a safe place.

Run cold water into the bath first.

Top it up with hot water.

Dip your elbow into the water to check the temperature. It should be lukewarm. As the skin on your elbow is very sensitive it is a reliable way to test the water.

If you like you can add a little moisturising, hypoallergenic, baby bubble bath. Swirl it around with your fingers. Young babies do not need bubbles to play with!

Undress and wrap baby in a warm towel. Holding him over the bath, cup some bath water in your free hand and gently run it over his head. Shampoo is not necessary for very tiny babies as it can irritate their scalp.

Dry the baby's head thoroughly. Babies lose a lot of heat through their heads. Wet heads lose more heat.

Placing baby's neck in the crook of your elbow, and your hand holding the back of one of his legs, gently lower him into the water. (TIP If you are right-handed it is easier to place babies neck in the crook of your left elbow. Holding his left leg with your left hand, wash him with your right hand. The reverse is the case if you are left-handed.)

Some babies hate being bathed but many really enjoy it. He may become so relaxed that he falls asleep!

Cupping some water in your free hand gently trickle it over his body. Your do not need to rub or scrub as babies do not get dirty. They just need to be freshened up!

Be careful as he will get very slippery once he is wet!

Only keep baby in the bath for a short time as he will get cold quickly and never leave your baby unattended in the bath for even the shortest space of time.

Lift him out and wrap him up in his warm towel.

Quickly dry him and place a fresh nappy on him before he has any little accidents!

Finally, give him a big cuddle and dress him quickly...

And there you have it - baby's first bath!

Sinead Hoben is the proud mother of three beautiful breastfed children. A former English teacher she now runs her own website, http://www.breastfeedingmums.com which promotes breastfeeding and offers breastfeeding support and practical advice for mums. Email sinead@breastfeedingmums.com or visit http://www.breastfeedingmums.com for further information about breastfeeding.

Natural Remedies For Babys Fever

2009-02-12T06:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Carrie Lauth

In most cases, your infant's fever should be left alone. Fever serves a very useful purpose and is the body's ally in fighting infection. There are a few natural remedies, however, that are safe for babies that will help your little one feel more comfortable.

It's a good idea to see a Naturopath, Homeopath or other licensed health care provider who specializes in natural remedies before using them on your baby. He or she can point you in the right direction when choosing herbs and homeopathic remedies as well as help you with dosing.

Lemon balm leaf, chamomile, peppermint, licorice and elder flower have been traditionally used to treat infant fevers. A baby older than 2 can be given one half cup of herbal tea, up to 4 times a day, for 24 hours. For babies younger than two who are breastfeeding, it is best if Mom takes the herbs herself in order to pass along the medicinal properties to her nursing infant. Or you can purchase over the counter herbal formulations with dosages designed for infants at your local health shop.

Echinacea and goldenseal have been proven in some studies to clear up infection. Try a combination specially designed for children. Maple Creek Naturals -www.maplecreeknaturals.com- offers excellent herbal kid's products.

Garlic also has antibacterial properties. If your baby is older than 9 months, you can make a batch of chicken broth with garlic, and serve it to your baby.

Ginger tea can help with a fever. It's also great for stomachaches. Ginger has warming properties and is wonderful for babies who are chilled. Make a weak tea with grated fresh ginger. If your infant is over one year of age, add a drop of honey to sweeten.

Homeopathic remedies are effective for infant fevers, but the specific remedy must match the individual child's symptoms. Check a homeopathic reference book to find the right one, or call a Doctor of Homeopathy.

Be sure to keep baby well hydrated with clear liquids. If baby is nursing, offer the breast frequently so that baby will get plenty of fluids and the natural immune factors in breastmilk.

Keep in mind that if your infant is younger than 6 months old, it's a good idea to call your Doctor about a fever. Additionally, if baby is listless, lethargic, acting unusual, having difficulty breathing or complaining of a stiff neck, phone your Doctor immediately.

http://www.NaturalBabyWorld.com can help you raise a healthy baby in a toxic world. Visit and find natural baby care tips, products and other resources for your little one.

Childhood Danger You Wont Believe This One

2009-02-12T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Kathy Hendrix

This South Georgia family has the most careful of parents. There is nowhere to climb, no open electrical sockets, no guns, no sharp objects or no loose clothing. They had heard all the horror stories of child dangers and had vowed to protect their children no matter what expense. With all their careful thought and preparation, they didn't expect what happened to them on the night of May 17th, 2006.

As usual, the Mom called home to let them know she may be little late, but would be there as quick as she could get relief on her second shift at the railroad shops. The babies would be resting quietly when she finally got home and she would steal endless sugars as they slept. She saw them in the morning and spent the day fulfilling all her Mommy duties. What she didn't know, however, is the kisses she stole before she left her little Halloween baby could have been the last smile she would ever see on her bouncing baby boy's little round face.

While talking with the Dad on the phone, she heard the 18-month-old cry out a couple of times but he quickly subsided and all seemed well. They discussed the possibility of bad dreams, which is why he liked sleeping with his older six-year-old sister. She was his idol, his protector, his guardian angel, but little did anyone know, that she could have been the actual death of him that night.

As they talked on, the older sister began to scream. The father quickly went to investigate and vowed to give Mom a call back to fill her in on tonight's little bedtime problem. He entered the room and saw the thrusting of his daughter and flipped on the light. There on the bed, lay his namesake, his baby boy, cyanotic (blue), and limp, without any sign of life in his tiny little body. All he could see was blood and hair. It took a few seconds to register what exactly he was seeing. It was hard for his brain to wrap around what had happened.

His daughter had the most beautiful head of long blonde hair, which reached to the bottom of her little buttocks. However, her beautiful hair had inadvertently become like a noose around her baby brothers neck. The harder she tried to pull to free from whatever was pulling her hair was automatically tightening that constriction around baby brother's neck.

The baby had been tearing at the hair to attempt to free if from his neck. He had tore tiny wholes in his skin with his little fingernails at he fought for air. Crimson blood was intertwined with the white hair. Literally struggling until he couldn't anymore, he let out his final cry out, his little hand lay limp on the shoulder of his sister.

Daddy had to think and act quickly. If he didn't, the call back to the Mommy was going to be the hardest phone call he would ever have to make. He tried to free the hair with his own fingers, but it had cut down into the neck of the baby. He instructed the sister, to not move, as it would continue to cut off the oxygen supply to the baby. He found a pair of sewing scissors in the kitchen and began cutting and blowing air into his tiny blue face. As he cut the hair free, the baby began to gasp then began to move and finally opened both eyes and cry. He had freed the noose of hair strangling his tiny son. He was going to be all right. A quick call to 911 and the Pediatrician's Office to see what else he needed to do to make sure that his son was ok and hadn't suffered any brain damage due to lack of oxygen.

As he sat in the bed consoling his two screaming children (with hair and blood everywhere) he prayed and thanked God his wife had called and awakened him from a deep sleep on the couch. The Braves were losing, he had worked all day, he was tired and he just drifted off the sleep. Would he have heard their cries in time, had he not already been awake talking to Mommy?

He had to call Mommy back. How could he tell her just how close they came to losing their precious baby? The phone call to Mommy was unpleasant. There was terror in her voice, as he tried to explain what had just happened. She felt an endless ache in the pit of her stomach and a growing lump in her throat as she left work and flew home. She literally stayed on the cell as she drove home with the exception of the times she had to pull over to vomit.

As she arrived home there sat the three most important people in her life. Her daughter holding what was left her long blonde locks in her hand, the baby with the bleeding cuts around his tiny little fat rolls in his neck and a husband who could not say a word, just sit there and hold his children in fear of letting them go.

They had been so careful all their little lives. Is this something they should have prevented? The questions just rolled in both of their scattered minds as they held their children until well after 2am before anyone could even think of sleeping.

Tomorrow would be another day, but not for this young couple. A trip to doctor followed by a trip to the beauty shop would begin this day, this day that could have been so much worse if not for, the phone call from Mommy.

Picking The Best Baby Shower Games

2009-02-11T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Shaunta Pleasant

There is no doubt that baby showers are fun and exciting. Baby showers are a great way for the friends, family members and coworkers of the expectant mother to celebrate the creation of a new life.

A pregnancy, whether or not it is a first pregnancy, is always an exciting time in the life of any woman. Celebrating the special time with a baby shower is a long standing tradition.

== Games Bring Excitement To The Baby Shower ==

Another long standing tradition is for the guests at the baby shower to play a number of exciting games. Games are a great way to bring excitement and interest to any baby shower, and there are a number of popular games that everyone in attendance will enjoy.

==Taking The Personality Of The Mother To Be Into Account When Picking The Games ==

For those who are organizing a baby shower, however, it can be difficult to know what games are appropriate. When deciding on the games to be played, it is important to take the personality of the expectant mother into account.

Is she the shy reserved type or does she have a bold and outgoing personality? Would she prefer games that focus on her, or would she rather have games that include everyone in attendance?

While getting the answers to these important questions will always involve some amount of guesswork, one of the best ways to answer them, especially if you do not know the expectant mother very well, is to ask her closest friends and family members.

Asking the people who know the mother to be best is a great way to decide which games will be most appreciated.

== Get Ideas From People You Know ==

Another great way to find the best games for the baby shower is to ask your own friends and family members about baby showers they have attended. Games are a staple of just about every baby shower, so chances are the people you know will have some stories about the best, and worst, baby shower games they have played.

Games can make every baby shower even more exciting than it already is. The key is to make the games inclusive and fun for both the mother to be and her guests.

Shaunta Pleasant is a professional writer and editor on baby shower topics. Visit my site to learn more about planning the perfect wedding at http://www.baby-shower-gala.com/baby_shower_game_idea.html

Throwing A Last Minute Baby Shower

2009-02-10T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Rina Aris

Will you be throwing a last minute baby shower? Do not scoff it happens more often than you think! As a matter of fact, did you know that very often these last minute showers can turn out to be the most memorable ones indeed? It does not matter if another host's availability fell through, if you perhaps were a bit slow on the draw when it came to planning the whole affair, or if the mom-to-be changed her mind at the last minute and decided she would not mind for you to go ahead with the shower throwing a last minute baby shower will require just a bit more planning, but can be pulled off successfully just as easily as one that has been in the works for months.

First and foremost, decide on a location and a hostess. While you may be the party planner, you do not automatically have to also be hosting it. Once these two are worked out, you will need to delegate. Close friends who will be on the guest list should be recruited to clean the party location before and after the party, while the hostess should be working with the mom-to-be on a guest list.

While the guest list is being put together, you will need to go ahead and order the food and balloons. Yes, you will need to order food before you even know how many people will come for sure, but if you are throwing a last minute baby shower, you do not have the luxury of waiting for RSVPs to be received. Instead, focus on foods that can be easily frozen, so as to provide yummy snacks for the parents-to-be for the next few weeks. These make for great quick meals that any hurried pregnant mom will appreciate having in her freezer!

Once the guest list is comprised, you will want to consider using electronic invitations rather than mailing out traditional paper ones. While this will not work for everyone after all, some folks do not have email it will get the information out quicker. If time is of the essence, then these emails can be followed up with phone calls a few days later to get a preliminary guest count. If your mom-to-be is a member of a church, you may also wish to include an announcement in the weekly bulletin. At this point, getting the word out is absolutely essential.

Last but not least, you cannot throw a last minute baby shower without contemplating games and entertainment! Make sure you are in close contact with the mom-to-be and find out if she has any preferences. If the gender of the baby is known, or if a name has already been picked out, this will also help you come up with some specific games that will incorporate this information. So take a deep breath and relax last minute baby showers happen more often than you think, and they are just as much fun as the ones that have been in the works for months!

Rina Aris is the webmaster of http://www.baby-shower-party-ideas.com Planning a baby shower has never been easier, even if you're hosting one tommorow. Visit our website and find fun themes and games for your next baby shower party

Take Your Baby For A Luxury Ride In A Bugaboo

2009-02-09T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by LynnMarie S.

Sleek, innovative design, countless buyer options, convertible tops, superior handling…sounds like the newest, hottest, foreign model sports car, correct? No, it is a Bugaboo stroller! In many ways, these Bugaboo strollers are the sports cars of baby products. Celebrities and trendsetters all over the world push their little ones in one of the multiple strollers in the Bugaboo line. It’s flexible design make it the best choice for globe trotters, and city dwellers alike.

Bugaboo offers three different models of strollers, so parents can chose exactly what they are looking for. Each type is named after an amphibious creature- the Gecko, Frog, and Chameleon. Each of the three come with several accessories, such as a mosquito net, sun canopy, maintenance kit, carry handle, rain cover, and pretty much anything else you can think of to keep your baby safe and comfortable on any adventure, be it grocery shopping, or a jaunt down the beach. However, American parents should be warned that the Bugaboo manual is written in “British English”, and some words may seem strange. For example, Velcro is referred to as “hook and pull fasteners.” Consider this like a manual to a foreign automobile!

Bugaboo also offers several other fun and handy accessories that can be purchased separately, such as umbrellas, diaper bags, set covers, and car seats to match the stroller. Be warned, these strollers and accessories do not come cheap. The Frog, the most basic model available., can cost upwards of $700 for the stroller alone. The Gecko and Chameleon models are even more expensive. Fortunately, most parents who purchase a Bugaboo agree that “you get what you pay for.”

The Bugaboo Frog is the best selling , and most basic stroller in the line. It’s simple, versatile design make it the perfect choice for the on the go parents or nannies. The Frog’s durable wheels can not be stopped, whether on city pavement, park pebbles, or sandy beaches. The stroller is a comfortable fit for every baby, age newborn to 4 years old. Beyond the Frog, the other two models offer much more options and extras.

The Gecko is the middle of the line Bugaboo. It offers the same maneuverability as the Frog, and much more. The Bugaboo Gecko comes with reversible handles (for city verses woods traveling), adjustable wheels for sand or snow, reversible seats, an Aerosleep mattress (the softest material available), a bassinet that can be separated and removed, and machine washable covers.

The final, and most equipped Bugaboo is the Chameleon. This is the Jaguar of strollers, for parents who do not want to compromise, who want it all. The Bugaboo Chameleon has all of the features of both the Frog and Chameleon, and so much more. Just looking at it’s bright colors, and futuristic design let you know that this stroller is something special. Some of the features exclusive to the Chameleon are its adjustable swivel wheel suspension, Aerosleep seat which can be removed, and used separately, and height adjustable handlebar.

All three Bugaboo models are available in a variety of colors. The colors are always vibrant and attractive, and every model is made with high quality, easily cleaned material. While these strollers may look unconventional to some, they are the future in luxury baby transportation! Let your baby ride in style with a Bugaboo stroller.

About the Author

LynnMarie is On-Line Editor for Babyage.com which is one of the top online retailers of Strollers with a great selection of Bugaboo Strollers in stock and ready to ship!

Homemade Baby Shower Decorations

2009-02-08T06:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Cathy Cripps

We will provide some information about traditional decorations as well as decorations you can make!

DIAPER CAKES

For the table where you will have the food and beverages set up, you want to create something festive. Although there are many great ideas, one of the most popular is the diaper cake. You can learn to make your own diaper cake centerpiece or purchase one online.

Since this "cake" is constructed of baby diapers, these would be presented to the expectant mother after the baby shower. This centerpiece is actually very beautiful, as you can see in the photograph and in most cases, very affordable, especially considering that they are fully functional.

There are many different variations of diaper cakes so you can be as creative as you like. If you want to try making the centerpiece on your own, simply following these instructions:

40 small diapers

2 baby towels or small receiving blankets

1 burp rag

1 baby bottle

Rubber bands or scotch tape

3 diaper pins

1 cardboard cake plate

1 roll of colored curling ribbon

1 cake topper (toys, stuffed animals, flowers, etc)

Various baby items for decoration such as miniature powder or shampoo, rattle, brush, teething ring, etc

For the bottom layer of the "cake", roll the diapers lengthwise around the baby bottle, continuing to roll the actual diapers around themselves until 20 of the diapers have been used. Then, with the rubber bands or tape, secure them so they remain firmly in place.

For the second layer, you would use 10 or 15 of the diapers depending on how thick you want it and do the same for the top layer using the remaining diapers (usually around five). Next, fold one of the receiving blankets so it is the same width as the bottom layer and then wrap it around the diapers, covering them. Do the same thing for the middle layer with the other blanket and then for the top layer, use the burp cloth. After each has been wrapped around, secure them with a couple of safety pins.

You will then take the curling ribbon, choosing colors to match the sex of the baby or theme of the party, wrapping it around each of the three layers. Be sure to leave about four inches on each to curl. To finish the cake, use your cake topper on the top and then place smaller baby items around for decoration.

Keep in mind that you can make a couple smaller diaper cakes using 20 diapers for the entire cake or one really, large one with 65 diapers. If you prefer to buy the diaper cake, the price will range on average between $30 and $60.

©2004

Cathy is the Owner of Baby Shower Moments and the author of Baby Shower Moments A to Z Guide. If you are looking for baby shower homemade decorations pay Cathy a visit.

How To Plan For A Perfect Baby Shower Party

2009-02-08T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Balajee Bashyaam

First thing which comes to mind hearing the four magical words, "We're having a baby?" is of course a baby shower party. The baby shower party is a great way of expressing the importance of the event as in a very perfect manner " Congratulates", the expectant parents and also conveys "We're happy for you," or " Best Wishes." Baby shower party is sharing of happiness among the expected parents, Friends and their relatives.

Baby shower parties are organized usually at the last months of pregnancy, hosted by close friends or relative, where the main aim lies to boost the parents-to-be excited for the future member of the family. To make the baby shower party a memorable event, it requires careful planning to ensure one has a great time at the party. Though there not much rules to follow for a baby shower party, but the following tips might also be of great help.

Choosing the right place

Keeping the expected mother's health in mind, mostly baby shower parties are conducted at the parent-to-be's house. Where guests find themselves more comfortable at home, which usually among closet friends and family members. If the weather permits baby shower parties can also be organized outdoors, wherein a barbecue party or a party at the local park can add-on to the excitement of the expected parents.

Though organizing a baby shower in a reserved secluded area like bar or restaurant might be costly, but it is of less complications as the decoration, food and drinks with the post-party arrangements are already been taken care of.

Choosing he party's theme

Re-creating the mood of the expectant parents with the help of a theme to decorate the venue appropriately according to the taste of the expectant parents, which can be their favorite hangouts or movies. Or the recreation of their honeymoon spot, can be easy and a great idea.

As the whole idea is to welcome the baby, a childish atmosphere using bright colors and cartoon characters depending on the baby's gender can be created.

Finalizing the menu

A lot depends upon what time the event to be held and the taste of the guests. If in case a party is thrown at the lunch or the dinnertime, usually heavier meals will be served. Whereas in most of baby shower parties the host usually serves pastries, finger food and other bake foods for convenience.

Designing a fun program

Just to refresh the guests child hood memories conducting fun games such as dum-charades would be a great idea, which is usually contrary to people beliefs for a baby shower party to be limited to mingling around eating, drinking and gift giving.

Creating the guest list and send out invitations

As the baby shower parties are the parents' events and not the host, so the choice of the people also kept in mind before hosting the party. Where list of closet friends and family members of the expectant parents' is prepared with their approval to avoid any embarrassing mistakes.

Homemade invitations would be a good choice and give a personal touch, though ready-made baby shower invitations are readily available in the market.

Just to be organized, prepare a final list of attendees a few days before the baby shower. Make sure the invitation reaches the guests two or four weeks ahead giving them time to fix their schedule. The baby shower invitation would consists of date, time, place, attire preferred, gift registry, if any, the host's contact numbers for RSVP.

Visit baby shower party ideas or baby shower food recipe ideas for more information on how to conduct a perfect baby shower party.

Unusual Baby Boy Names Finding Exotic And Unique Baby Names

2009-02-07T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by David Buster

Unusual baby boy names and finding exotic and unique baby names can be loads of fun! Rather than giving your baby boy a name like Jacob, John or Harry -- you'd prefer him have one of the more exotic and unique baby names.

There are several ways to find unusual baby boy names. Here are some suggestions:

1. Start with the most popular names being given to baby boys. For parents living in the USA, you can easily find this kind of information by visiting the Social Security Administration's website (click on the link at the bottom of this page to go to the direct link to the SSA baby names search). See which names that are popular are also unusual baby boy names. You can view the most popular names for the past year, boy names given since the year 2000 or by decade in the previous century. It may surprise you how many exotic and unique baby names you can find this way.

2. Look at your own family names and see if using any name combinations create unusual baby names you like. Ask other family members for their suggestions, even invite your friends to give you their opinions. Does a relative have names you like? Do be careful if the names are already used. Ask other family members to be sure your favorite unusual baby names are not given to relatives. It can become confusing in families when two people have the same names.

3. Consider the unusual baby boy names used in the classics. Literary classics are a great source of exotic and unique baby names. Be careful when considering modern names used by this year's top male movie stars. Will that popular actor still be in the headlines 3, 5, 10 or more years from now? By using the classics for possible names, you know that these names have withstood the test of time.

4. Visit your local library or bookstore and browse the pregnancy and parenting sections. You will likely find several books in various price ranges that provide you with many unusual baby boy names to consider.

5. Search for exotic and unique baby names online. There are many baby websites with listings and resources for baby names.

Remember, your child's names will be used their entire life, so think how their names will sound and feel once they are grown. Don't let the joy of their infancy cause you to give them a name that they won't be proud of once they are older. Stay away from funny names. Choose his name carefully, a name that will have meaning and significance to you and your child.

Have fun and enjoy viewing and choosing your child's names. Provide them with unusual baby boy names that will add to their success and happiness in life. Take your time and find names you truly love. You will find at some point, there is no doubt about what your new baby boy names will be. When it happens -- congratulations! Enjoy and celebrate the moment. You'll know it was worth every minute spent looking for unusual baby boy names for that unique and very special person.

See the Top 100 Baby Names and access the Social Security baby names listings. David Buster is VP of InfoSearch Publishing and the webmaster of http://www.yourdreamloghome.com - visit the website for nursery ideas, decorating ideas in kids bedrooms, playroom design ideas, playroom storage ideas and more.

Weaning

2009-02-06T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Lisa Cole

Some babies go for solids in a big way right from the start, but others are more reluctant. A baby's first taste of solid food should be exactly that, just a taste, so don't be concerned that your little one isn't chomping through three bowls of baby food a day at the beginning. First foods should be in addition to the milk the baby normally has, not a replacement.

The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months to avoid potential allergies, excema and asthma. All babies are different though and there are a few signs that a baby is ready for solids.

The tongue stops thrusting everything out of the mouth
The baby grabs food off your plate
The baby copies you when you eat
The baby can sit up unaided
The baby opens its mouth for the food

If your baby isn't interested in solids at 6 months there is some argument for trying them with a spoonful of something each day as this is supposed to be the best time for them to learn about new tastes. Some people say that if you miss this 'tasting window' the baby will be a fussy eater in the future.

First foods

If you are worried about allergies there is a sequence of introducing solids for the allergic child developed by Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre. It lists foods and the age at which they should be introduced. The main things to avoid at first are nuts, wheat, unpasteurised cheeses and eggs.. Baby Organix have removed gluten from their stage 1 and 2 baby foods and clearly label those that are gluten and lactose free.

So, how do you make baby food? Choose a nice looking vegetable, a carrot or a potato and steam it to within an inch of its life. Squish this through a sieve and add the milk the baby normally has until it looks like thin mush. You can steam, squish and sludge food to freeze for the future, ice cube trays are a good way to do this, just freeze and decant into plastic bags when they are solid. Banana is a great first food, just mush some up with a fork, place that bowl in another with some hot water and stir 'til it gets brown and mushy, no need to sieve.

Expressing milk

The most popular expressing pump is the Avent Isis. The easiest way to express is to do it first thing when you have the most milk. Start the baby off on one boob and when the baby activates the let down reflex unlatch it and put it on the other side. The milk should then pump quite easily but be careful not to overdo it at first or you risk sore nipples. The baby is used to and probably likes the taste of your milk so mixing it with steamed veg will make the solid food more palatable for them.

Second Stage Solids

When the baby is used to the slushy stuff you can start to introduce a bit more texture to the food, either by whizzing it to a less slushy consistency, mashing it roughly with a fork or adding flaked rice (from health food shops). Finger foods such as rice cakes or chips of steamed veg may go down well though you have to watch the baby in case it chokes. If it does choke, turn the baby upside down over your lap and give a sharpish tap to the centre of the back. This should dislodge the food. Never try to fish anything out of a babies mouth unless you are sure you can grab it as you may shove it further down the throat.

Bibs. Bowls and spoons

My 8 month old gets too distracted with bibs so I either feed him naked (him not me!), in already dirty clothes or I tie a dishcloth round his neck. Tommee Tippee sell a range of useful bowls. They have small containers with snap on lids that fit into a larger storage container with a small gap. I heat food by putting a defrosted ice cube of it into the smaller container and hot water in to the second. Stand the smaller in the larger and mix until the food is piping hot to kill off any lurking nasties then let it cool down again. You can get soft tipped heat sensitive spoons that show when the food is too hot for the baby, or you can test it on the inside of your wrist. It is handy to have 3 spoons when the baby starts to grab them. The baby grabs the first spoon, you use the second, the baby grabs the second, you use the third, the baby grabs the third, drops the first, you use the first...... this saves loads of arguments and tug of war games and I have been told it works with toast, rice cakes and slices of fruit.

The Mothers Milk Marketing Board at http://www.lactivist.co.uk sells pro-breastfeeding and gentle parenting advocacy slogan t-shirts and accessories for funky mums and kids.

What Should You Know About Baby Diapers

2009-02-05T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Michael Lastun

Baby diapers are the smartest thing invented for the babies. All headaches are gone. There are no more problems with the mess and with the cleaning after every change. The baby diapers are more practical and all you have to do is open it, put it like a panty, clip the cocklebur and that's it. It's not only time you spare but money too. More and more brands offer different kind of diapers for almost all the moments of the growth. The purpose of all this brands is to make the baby feel comfortable, free to move, and to avoid any kind of infections.

They improve more and more in the way they open-close, smell and feel. A diaper with rough margins generates rashes and discomfort for the baby. The untreated rashes can get infected. A good baby diaper is that which makes the skin look healthy. A baby diaper must be changed as much as it needs and thrown away. The disposal containing used diapers must be emptied at least once a day. It's important to keep the baby clean and the place also. The babies must not be exposed to all kind of germs which can make him sick. To change a baby diaper is not that hard, it needs practice and patience. In case you detect any rashes be sure you clean gently the surface of the skin with water or antibacterial substances and also change the brand of the diapers you used. Nothing is too good for your baby.

If you find this information useful you should visit the site http://baby-diaper.info where you will find lots of interesting articles related to this topic, all original and wrote by Michael Lastun.

Baby Name Meanings

2009-02-04T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Peter Emerson

Names, whether biblical, historical, or modern, have a meaning. Names are not just random words but reflect the very nature or essence of the baby on which the name is bestowed. A given name is what distinguishes a baby from other family members.

baby in most cultures is named a few days after birth, amidst religious rites and celebrations. Fairy tales describe how all the magic folk came to the christening of a child and bestowed many blessings as well as good wishes.

Historically, one can see that people followed specific norms or rules when naming their child. Some used the names of deities worshipped by the family or simple terms meaning daughter of or son of, like "Abel," which means "son of Adam and Eve." People also named the babies after their ancestors or guardian angels.

The etymology of names can include: personal traits (Ace meaning first one); objects (Peter meaning rock, or Adam meaning red earth); literary characters, like Nemo or Alice; physical traits like Calvin, the bald one; a place, for example Brittany; or a color, Violet; or a flower, Jasmine or Rose.

Sometimes names signify attributes. For example, Kacey means brave, Hannah and Sean mean graceful, Ida or Quinn means intelligent.

In the case of names originating from religious books like the Bible, you will find that Anastasia means resurrection, Catherine means pure, Diana means the moon goddess, Evangeline means good tidings, Caleb means bold, Dominic means belonging to god, Stephen means protected and Sampson means son of the sun.

Names are often custodians of history and life. They are everlasting reminders of people, places, events, and ancient cultures. Many names in use today have origins in the Old Testament, Bible, Koran, the Vedas, and so on. Did you even think that the English name Aaron, meaning exalted or high mountain, originated from the Hebrew Aharon, which most likely was of Egyptian origin? Similarly, Agnes is from the Greek Hagne, meaning chaste. Saint Agnes was a virgin martyred during Roman times.

Modern names derive from nature and beautiful things like flowers, gems, or much wanted characteristics, like Lily, Ruby, or Joy. Modern parents often create names by adapting or shortening old names or using devices like initials or anagrams to create a unique name for their child.

Think about it carefully. A name is what your baby will be known by not just in this life but perhaps even centuries later.

Baby Names provides detailed information on Baby Names, Baby Girl Names, Baby Name Meanings, Baby Boy Names and more. Baby Names is affiliated with Baby Clothing Stores.

Guilt Trip Mommy Business Travel

2009-02-03T06:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Teresa Kolvek

As a working mom, I am the queen of guilt. Every morning I drop off my little girl at the day care center, where there is a caring staff she has really bonded with. She seems happy enough most days. She will reach for the teacher as soon as she sees her, and contentedly watch as I say my "Goodbye, baby, I love you!" and walk out the door. I keep my voice cheerful and my demeanor upbeat, but my heart always sinks into my shoes as the door shuts and I start on my way to work.

Some days it's worse. The regular teacher occasionally isn't there, and even though my daughter knows the others - in fact sees them every day - she clings to me, digging in with her knees and grabbing with her hands. I pry her off and hand her over, struggling to keep a smile on my face as she cries and screams, "Mommy, Mommy." Oh, it's tough. Worse, though, are business trips. I don't have to travel very often, thank goodness, but when I do the guilt meter goes off the chart. I'll call my husband to check in, and I'll hear her in the background, talking and playing, and I just want to cry. I want to talk to her on the phone, but she isn't quite old enough yet to understand the concept and would only be upset. Then I will hear reports back, like when my husband told me she woke in the middle of the night, screaming for Mommy. Apparently she was inconsolable, crying and refusing to calm down for Daddy.

I have to keep my job right now, since I'm the primary breadwinner in the household. So, we have to make the best of this. But how?

One thing that seems to help is talking with other working moms. When I'm at an out-of-town meeting, there are usually at least one or two other women there who can relate to my situation. We tell stories about what our kids are doing, share photos, and trade advice. Sometimes just talking it out with someone who understands can really help to ease your mind.

Another thing I'm doing is working with my employer to minimize the overnight trips I'm required to take. I'll offer alternative suggestions, such as conference calls, videoconferencing, or meetings online. I keep trips as short as possible, and get direct flights whenever I can to lessen travel time. Sometimes it's an option to combine separate trips into one: fly in, drive or fly to the second destination, and fly out. I'll also consider bringing the family along, if the location is desirable, and turn the business trip into a vacation.

I just got back from a four-day meeting, and when I saw my daughter for the first time upon returning home, she looked different to me; changed somehow. Her hair seemed longer, which I know is impossible, and she had learned a number of new words. It was only four days, but I feel like I've missed so much!

While a working mom's guilt is seemingly never-ending (well, mine anyway), there are a few things that can ease the pain a bit. And it's all forgotten the moment I see my bunny rabbit smile and throw herself into my arms.

Teresa Kolvek and her husband, Tony, are the proud parents of a beautiful and spirited toddler named Amelia. Visit Teresa's website at toddlerdish.com for great information, tips, and recipes for toddlers.

Toddlers And Transgressions

2009-02-03T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Mike Poff

It is way too easy for someone to get hurt in a mess of toddlers. Even as infants it did not take long before curiosity and varying rates of development saw violations of personal space. At first it was cute and innocent. One of the four would find the hand of another. Soon one boy would be sucking the thumb of his brother or gently kneading his sister's ear. Before long you might find the more ambulatory tasting the eyes, nose or toes of the less mobile.

Soon sucking became teething and the toothy wet-willies became irritating. Cute explorations gave way to contests of capture and control, with outcomes ranging from minor boo-boos to major outburst of dramatic indignation. Offense began to be taken. The hard hand of self-righteous retribution was soon raised amongst the brethren with a shrill, ageless cry for justice.

Early on we began to coordinate the correction of the wrongs done. Hugs and apologizes are mandatory and insincerity is not tolerated. Still a trip to the swing set where a particularly shiny stone or an unusually appealing clod of dirt is spied can spark conflicting claims of ownership and general discontent in the ranks. Peacemaking can be seen from time to time, even when they don't think you're watching. Still, not unlike so many adults and especially Christian adults, offense and retribution is much too common.

The gnarly roots of offense spread quickly in hearts were true forgiveness is not applied and worked in liberally. Insincerity to pacify Pops and avoid correction is never enough. Not for the toddling Fab four or for we grown-up types either.

Yep, it is way too easy for someone to get hurt in a mess of toddlers. Sadly we all have a sad propensity to toddle more in our actions than to respect others feelings or to truly forgive the transgressions we suffer. One thing we should never forget is that Jesus is synonymous with forgiveness and He should be applied and worked in liberally every day.

From His perspective all humanity must look like a pool full of toddlers arguing over who jumped in first and is the wettest because of the others jumping in. In all this mess of humanity He keeps His eyes and hands on us, looking for the peacemakers and the sincere forgivers. These He towels off, blesses and rejoices in. I love the times I get to do likewise with my amazing charges.

As we all toddle back inside from a successful swing set experience, His faithfulness to never give up, leave or forsake us makes my heart soar. It all seems easier to forgive when you know you are forgiven. In this the shiny stones and interesting clods in life dim in allure and the path of growth and purpose becomes brighter and our tiny strides stronger and longer.

Prayer and Ponderance

Find a quiet moment, just you no TV, Radio, wild running children, friends, spouses or co-workers. Read over these verses and take in a bit of God's peace. Be still, be thankful and ask God to expand your hearts' capacity for peace, patience, love and understanding. Even in the mess of this day know He will hear you and meet your need.

Matthew 6:12-15

Mark 11:25-26

Matthew 5:9

Write down the first person that comes to mind when you think about those who have hurt you.

Write down the first person that comes to mind when you think about those whom you have hurt.

Purpose to prayerfully forgive and ask forgiveness of those listed above.

Receive the forgiveness, healing and hope that is and was and shall always be there for you in Christ.

Thank Him and prepare to rejoin the wild running children, friends, spouses or co-workers and walk out your peacemaking.

Mr. Poff is a native of Salem, Virginia. Where he worked in the local radio and television industry during the 80's and 90's. He is currently the at home father of Quadruplets and is working on his Masters in Theology. During his spare time. He enjoys time with his wife of fourteen years Pam on their small farm in Sedalia in Bedford County along with their six Children, eight horses, six dogs, six cats one Cockatiel and a Guinea Pig named Nibbles.Small groups, Bible studies, Mentoring young couples and writing are his outlets and growing passions.

Should You Let Your Baby Watch Tv

2009-02-02T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Jessica Holdaway

It's an age-old question: Should you let your baby watch TV? Well, the answer depends on who you ask. Pediatricians, teachers, and parents are just some of the people who've weighed in on this debate.

As varied as the opinions are, the consensus is pretty clear. Many parents, myself included, that allow their babies to watch TV don't condone using it as a baby sitter for hours on end. Often, moms need 15 minutes to take a shower or 10 minutes to clean the sticky apple juice off the kitchen floor. Many are also looking for high quality, short educational shows that they can watch with their babies.

There are a lot of companies that cater to developmental needs of babies, such as Brainy Baby and Baby Einstein (both companies offer high quality books, DVDs, and toys for young children.)

Now there is also a television channel geared towards babies called Baby First TV.

This channel is geared for babies 6 months 3 years old. It offers a commercial-free line up of over 40 programs that air 24 hours a day. Their shows are developed by child development experts, and explore different areas including math, language, and creative play.

Baby First TV subscribers pay a monthly fee. It's also currently open to DirecTV and Dish Network Subscribers only. The company does, however, plan to offer the channel through other cable providers in coming months. You can visit their site for more details.

Keep in mind, though, that you don't have to subscribe to a channel like Baby TV, to find a program that might be appropriate for your baby for a few minutes. PBS offers programs like Sesame Street that offer the same type of benefit. And, PBS comes with a basic cable subscription, so no extra expense!

As a busy mom with young children, I know there are those days when you need a few minutes to get something specific done. Of course, I try to get as much done during nap time as I can, but sometimes for whatever reason you can't get it all done. That's where baby-appropriate programming comes in. If your baby is watching something educational and entertaining, and you can tend to your task for 10 or 15 minutes, it's a win/win situation.

Jessica Holdaway is mother to 3 children and writes for Baby Talk Radio, a podcast radio show for the baby crazy crowd.

http://www.babytalkradio.com

Choosing A Safe Crib For Your New Baby

2009-02-01T06:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Sandy Rajsic

One of the first purchases you are going to make for your new baby is the crib that she will sleep in. There are a number of factors to consider when purchasing a crib. You must consider safety first. Following are some standard guidelines to remember when selecting a crib.

Baby cribs that are manufactured today have to meet minimum safety standards which are set by the Consumer Products Safety commission (CPSC). Since these are minimum standards, all cribs regardless of price must meet these standards. There are voluntary standards that some manufacturers meet. For instance, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) offers additional guidelines and any product that meets these standards is clearly labeled that it is certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturer's Association (JPMS).

If you plan to purchase a newly manufactured crib, you can rest assured that it meets minimum standards. However, with 4 million babies born every year, there are only one million new baby cribs sold. The remaining ones are purchased used or are a hand-me-down. If you must be 100% sure that the standards are met, buy a new crib. Some parents-to-be consider this the only option and with good reason. Approximately 26 infants die and another 11,500 are hospitalized every year due to baby crib related injuries, the majority of these occur with older cribs.

It is, however, possible to test a used baby crib to see if it meets minimum standards. First, go to www.recalls.gov.comto make sure that the used crib has not been recalled. Assuming that it hasn't been recalled, check to see if it meets these standards:

1)The vertical bars or slates must be no further aprat than 2 3/8" wide to ensure that the baby cannot squeeze its body in between them and get stuck. You can measure the space or simply use a can of soda (which is about 2 3/8" wide) to see how wide the openings are. If the soda can fits, it fails this standard.

2)The crib shouldn't have any cutout designs wider than 2 3/8" in the headboard or footboard for the same reason as above.

3)Corner posts should not be higher hand 1/16" high to make sure that the baby's clothing can't catch on the post and cause a strangulation hazard.

4)The mattress should be firm and tight-fitting so that the baby doesn't slide in between the crib and mattress. You can measure this by seeing if two side-by-side fingers will fit between the side of hte mattress and the baby crib wall. If so, the mattress is too small.

5)Make sure that all of the hardware (brackets, bolts and screws) are included with the crib and in good condition. Hardware failure is the most common danger of hand-me-down cribs.

5)Make sure that the slates are in good condition. They shouldn't be cracked or splintered. The dangers here are obvious.

Your baby will spend up to 18 hours a day sleeping. Please make sure that your new baby's crib is a safe environment.

This article was written by Sandy. I am a parent who is concerned with giving my children the best start in life. Since my first child didn't come with a manual, I have found other parents' advice invaluable. I would like to pass on what I have learned and hope that other parents would like to do the same. I have recently been reminded of how important my family is and that my family should always come first. Please visit my blog at The Family Comes First. Hope to see you there.

Sandy

Important Features To Consider When Buying A Baby Crib

2009-02-01T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Sarah Holmes, Ph.D.

With all the different features of baby cribs, it can be a little overwhelming to sort it all out. This article reviews some of the most comon baby crib features and reviews the pros and cons of each feature.

Is the Baby Crib Made of Quality Materials and Construction? Wooden Baby Cribs/Iron Baby Cribs

You don't often think of the material that the baby crib is made of as an actual feature to consider. But, picking a baby crib that is made from quality materials can make the difference between a baby crib that is used for years and one that you wish you had never bought. Wooden baby cribs should be stained or painted hardwoods like maple, ash, beech, or oak. The overall stability of the baby crib could be threatened by the use of inferior woods in the manufacturing process. This is due to the baby crib slates becoming weakened and/or warped with use. Baby Cribs can also be made from metal such as iron. While Iron Baby Cribs can be beautiful, the styling can be limited over time. If you plan on keeping the baby crib for years, be sure that you think you will like the metal styling in the future.

Issues to Consider with the Baby Crib Side Bar: To Drop or Not to Drop

Baby cribs are made either with fixed, single-drop or double-drop sides. If you are tall, fixed sides are fine for you. I am 5' 8" tall and never lower the sides of my baby's crib. Higher end models will have side rails that lower on both sides of the baby crib. Depending on how you position the baby crib, this could be a nice feature. If you plan on putting your baby crib up against a wall, this feature won't add any benefit to the baby crib.

There are three basic types of drop sides:

* Knee Push-Leaning your knee against the baby crib side to lower it. This is typically a simple and quiet type of drop side.

* Foot Bar-Balancing on one foot, you push a lever to lower the baby crib side. This ma be a bit tricky depending on how you are standing on one foot.

* Double Trigger-You have to use two hands to lower the side. This style is ok as long as you are not holding the baby. But, it is not very convenient since you will most likely have your baby in your arms before you lower the baby crib side.

Ideally, you should be able to lower and raise the side rail with ease. Keep in mind that you will often have your baby in your arms when you are trying to lower the bar. When trying out a model in the store, try lowering the bar yourself while imaging that you have your baby in your arms. This will give you an idea of how easy it will be when you are trying to put your baby down to sleep. Also, be sure that the rails have locking mechanisms to prevent accidental release. You may want to consider how quietly the side rail raises and lowers. You would not want it to wake your sleeping baby.

Does the Baby Crib Allow you to Lower the Mattress?

Make sure your baby crib lets you adjust the height of the mattress. Unless you are tall, a higher mattress will make it easier for you to get your baby in and out of the baby crib. Once your baby starts to move around, you will need to lower the mattress. The baby crib you buy should have at least 2 height positions for the mattress. Some higher end models will have 3 height levels which is a nice bonus feature.

Baby Cribs with Drawers

Some higher end models have drawers in the bottom of the baby crib. If space is an issue for you, this may be a good feature to have. You may be able to put off buying a dresser for your little one. Just beon the bottoms of the drawers (if htere is space for your little one to crawl under the crib.

Baby Cribs with Wheels

Some baby cribs come with wheels. This is a very nice feature if you plan on moving the baby crib around. It can make it easier to change the linens and to clean under the baby crib. Being able to roll a baby crib into another room is also a nice flexibility to have. Metal wheels are better than plastic. Keep in mind that this could be a potential danger as well, especially if you have other children in the home. They could push the baby crib themselves (i.e. down the stairs, up against a window or furniture). Make sure that the wheels have a good, solid locking mechanism. If the baby crib that you want does not come with wheels, you can always buy high quality wheels and install them yourself or have someone install them for you.

Convertible Crib: Baby Cribs that Convert into Other Things

Many baby cribs are designed to convert to a toddler bed, a bench, or even an adult daybed for later use. While this is a very nice feature to have with your baby crib, make sure that you like what it converts to. If it converts to a toddler bed, consider how long your toddler will be able to sleep in it. You may end up having to buy a regular size twin bed in a few years if you child outgrows the toddler bed. Also, most baby cribs with this feature require an additional kit to make the conversion. Be sure to check on how much this kit will cost you before making your decision.

Sarah Holmes, Ph.D. quit her full-time job in order to stay home with her baby girl. She created http://www.BabyCribCentral.com as a free resource to other new moms and dads. Her site compares prices on over 500+ baby cribs from more than 20 online stores allowing you to find the beset price with a click of a button. Her site also offers lots of information about the different types of cribs as well as all sorts of safety information about how to buy and use your new crib safely.

Romantic Baby Shower Gifts

2009-01-31T06:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Gail Leino

One of the primary reasons for throwing a shower is so that the mom gets lots of baby shower gifts, presumably to help out with getting ready for the baby. However that doesn't mean that you can't have fun while you are picking out the gifts. After all mom certainly has fun opening the gifts for her baby.

Before you go out to pick up something to give at the baby shower you might want to ask the prospective parents what items they need for the baby. It could very well be that they all ready have some of the big ticket items like the car seat and the baby crib, having received them from another family that doesn't need the items anymore. You can be almost certain that they will need an endless supply of the basic necessities.

This includes diapers, wipes, formula, baby food, nuknuks, bottles, clothes, towels, even baby shampoo and soaps. If you are unfamiliar with what's needed, just take a walk down the baby needs aisle at your local grocery store. At some point or other the parents will need one of everything in the aisle, especially diapers, baby powder and wipes. These may seem not so glamorous but if you put together a diaper bag filled with such items you can almost certainly be assured that the prospective parents will find a use for them. In the end you'll have the most practical gift of all, which is really the point of the baby shower isn't it?

If you want to make more of a splash at the baby shower you can get a gift for about six weeks or so after the birth of the new baby intended especially for the parents. This gift can be a special dinner at a nice restaurant. Get them a gift certificate and make reservations so they have no choice but to let you baby-sit for an evening. Often new parents will find themselves overwhelmed and can easily slip into an all parenting mode, thus forgetting about their personal needs so this makes a great gift.

Buying Books For Baby Whats Out There For Little Ones

2009-01-31T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Lisa Koosis

A book for a baby gift? Some people might raise their eyebrows if you suggested such a crazy thing. Teddy bears make good baby gifts. Cute little outfits and satin-trimmed blankets are what you buy for a newborn. But books?

What many people don't know is that there are books out there which are geared specifically for the under-one-year demographic, and they make a great gift. Most larger bookstores have extensive children's sections, broken down into areas by age and subject. For infants, you'll want to find the section for board books.

What are board books? Board books are books that are more durable than regular books. They're created out of materials that are more durable than other children's books, generally a heavy-duty cardboard (from which board books take their name), vinyl, and fabrics. They're geared to stand up to hours of handling and mouthing by small children and infants.

These books are generally thick and easy for babies to hold onto. They're tactile, often containing pages with different textures for the child to touch. They're usually bright and colorful, with simple pictures and few or no words. Some are even waterproof and geared as a bath toy as well.

Picture books make another wonderful gift for a newborn or for a mother-to-be. Many people start children's picture book collections long before their first child is conceived. There are some wonderful picture books out there. From the classics such as "Goodnight Moon" to newer creations such as "Miss Spider," these books have beautiful illustrations and are great for bedtime reading, even for infants.

In addition, check the gift section of the children's department in the bookstore. There, you'll often find gift sets which include a plush toy along with the actual book.

Collections of fairy tales, children's poetry, or bedtime stories make great gifts as well. Good quality hardcover collections often become family heirlooms, passed on from one generation to the next and enjoyed year after year.

These books are often beautifully bound, wonderfully illustrated, and something both adults and children will enjoy. Many parents believe that reading, even to newborns, fosters growth and learning, and it nurtures the parent-child relationship. Collections provide great reading material for these bedtime sessions.

For those who think that books are not an appropriate gift for a baby, all you need to do is take an hour and peruse the shelves of your local bookstore's children department. You'll find a wealth of gift ideas and you might just be surprised at the treasures you'll find.

This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.BabyNameVote.Com/ which is a site for Baby Names.

Baby Clothes Long And Lean

2009-01-30T06:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Sairohini Kumar

Confused by the phrase 'Long and Lean' following Baby Clothes? Well, this article works both ways to reduce the confusion of those online baby cloth hunters. And surprisingly, most of the optimized searches will disappoint you if you are either searching clothes meant for your long and lean babies, or clothes to make your baby look long and lean! Confusing, right?

For those who have been thinking that buying a baby's cloth is just a child's play, note that baby clothes have their whole of rules. And as they begin their growth, you will realize that your baby should be understood in terms of their growth and gender in order to meet their needs. Let us take a peek into what makes these criteria a must for those parents shopping for baby clothes.

The Long and the Lean

It is believed that the condition of birth determines what a child will look like when it grows up. But there is no way to predict exactly the rate of their growth. However, recent studies have claimed that heavy babies tend to grow up fat and long babies tend to grow up tall. But this may be contestable.

Sizing a baby's clothing: the Long and the Lean

Parents might be often asking: "What do I need to buy for my lean or fat baby?" Though a baby's clothes comes in sizes shown by months, as in 0-3 months, this question calls in for a different set of solution. How do you know that this is a standard? There are four fundamental flaws in this standard:

1. The sizes of babies vary enormously. And the manufacturers might claim that a particular size is the standard of your baby's age group.

2. The growth of babies varies, ranging from slow to rapid. And some babies might be double the size of their same age group.

3. The shape also varies. Some children might outgrow their clothes; clothes made for round babies might stop snapping at the crotch well before they hit their supposed limit.

4. Different manufacturers have their own specific standards. This considerably confuses parents while buying clothes for their babies.

So what do we do? Does one need to buy by weight, or size, or age group? A baby's age stage is the most confusing stage indeed! And, parents will be likely to keep buying clothes to keep up with the alterations in the baby's growth size, weight, length, and shape.

The best advice is not to buy very expensive clothes for this stage. You will not be able to keep up with the speed a baby soils the clothes. However, ensure that the clothes are friendly with your child.

And remember that we cannot help the fluctuations in a baby's growth; while searching clothes for your long and lean baby, or clothes to make your baby look long and lean, just be patient. We all have been through it as babies!

Our complete line of clothing specially designed to suit toddlers. Blue baby wear is the best place for shopping http://www.bluebearwear.com best baby clothes for your babies that soothes their skin. Our baby clothes make your kids active and keep them safe and healthy. http://www.bluebearwear.com

The Perfect Holiday Gift For An Aspiring Babysitter

2009-01-30T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Richard C Myers

Are you the parent, grandparent or friend of someone who would love to be a babysitter? You may feel a little anxious about encouraging this and this is perfectly natural.

On the one hand, you are pleased that they are keen to work and showing some ambition. You'd like to be more enthusiastic but you worry that babysitting is such a responsible job especially for such young kids

Don't worry any more the answer is to get them a training course DVD, it could be the best holiday or birthday gift that you ever buy.

In giving them as an affordable gift, you

Demonstrate your support and faith in the youngster's ambitions and They get an excellent training course which will teach them everything that they need to know to become the best babysitter in town! Solve the problem of buying the perfect holiday or birthday gift! Provide them with a resource that facilitates easy learning in their own time!

Make sure that the course has been developed by professionals. You need to be able to trust the expertise that has created any course.

Here are just a few of the tips and techniques that babysitting DVD training courses should teach ...

* How to choose safe and age-appropriate toys and games

* How to prevent injuries and be prepared if an emergency does happen

* How to perform basic first aid

* How to diaper and feed infants

* How to handle bedtime

* How to handle bath-time

* How to handle dinner-time

Kids today are used to getting their entertainment and learning from computers and DVD's. Give them the gift that teaches as they watch. And if they want to check something out or go over details again - all the information will always be there for them.

You're giving the gift of learning, increasing their self-confidence and the potential to earn their own money. And at last, you can encourage them with your mind at rest. What could be better?

Know someone who wants to be a babysitter or who wants to improve? Then visit Super Babysitting - the quick and easy place to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting web site right now!

How To Pick The Best Name For Your Baby

2009-01-29T06:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Nancy Wurtzel

Expectant parents spend hours preparing the nursery, poring over pregnancy and delivery books and going to childbirth classes. Yet surprisingly, many decide their child's given name within a matter of minutes, often spending more time selecting the right car seat or stroller.

What should parents-to-be consider when choosing a baby name? All About Baby, a personalized children's products company that has seen all types of name combinations, has come up with helpful tips to make the process interesting, fun and successful.

First, start with the experts. The choices today are staggering with more than 50,000 common names and spelling variations. Begin with some basic homework by buying a few baby-name books or a baby-name software program. Check online for the best buys.

You can also use the internet by tapping into dozens of internet sites that list popular baby names, some websites even offer customized search programs, complete with the meaning and origin of the names.

Somewhere during the middle of your pregnancy, start jotting down some of your favorite selections.

Next, begin mixing and matching the first and middle names along with the baby's last name to see how you like various combinations. How do the names sound together? How do they look on paper? This is the time to ask others for their opinion, so keep an open mind and have a little fun considering a wide range of names for your little one.

At the same time, keep in mind that names often bring up a myriad of emotions, and sometimes parents can have very different reactions to their partner's favorite choices. So we advise being respectful of your partner's feelings.

Trendy names are really in fashion -- especially with celebrities. However, there is always something to be said for the old standards that have endured the test of time. For instance, Bambi Nevada might seem like a cool choice today, but consider what is the best selection for an entire lifetime. What will this name look like decades later on a business card?

Along these same lines are exotic spellings and invented names, which are also in wide use today. Remember that kids can sometimes be cruel and a highly unusual name could be fodder for playground teasing.

As an adult, just think how many times during an average week you give and spell your name. Do you want to give your child a name that he or she could really resent later?

If you absolutely love a name, but can't tolerate the nickname that often goes with it, then think twice.

For example, I have a friend who named her son Michael, even though she hates the nickname, 'Mikey'. Now the mom spends far too much time and energy correcting kids, teachers and other parents who refer to him by the dreaded nickname. It's just not worth it.

Since ultrasound tests are not always interpreted correctly, All About Baby recommends choosing names for both sexes. Even when you think the gender is a certainty, it is still a good idea to have a back up name. Why? Sometimes the name that seemed perfect during your pregnancy just isn't the right match when the new baby finally arrives.

This actually happened to another mom that I know, who was having her second son, a boy. They learned the sex of the baby during pregnancy and planned for months to name their new son, Cameron Michael.

However, when I visited their home a few days after the baby's birth, I learned the parents had named him Matthew John. His mother's explanation was that after his birth, they all realized 'he just didn't look like a Cameron.' And you know, she was right, he looked like a Matthew John!

Everyone seems to have an opinion when it comes to baby names, and family members can be especially outspoken. While it's fun to hear suggestions, especially during the first part of your name search, keep in mind that ultimately your child's name is your decision. It is impossible to make everyone happy.

Naming your infant is one of the most important tasks you will ever undertake. A person's name is truly a lifetime gift, and it helps define your child -- within the family, to friends, at school and to the outside world. If you consider the options carefully and select with love, you really can't go wrong.

For a complete list of 20 Helpful Baby-Naming Tips as well as a wide variety of other interesting child-related content, visit http://www.allbaby.com.

About The Author

Nancy Wurtzel is the owner and founder of All About Baby, an ecommerce site located at http://www.allbaby.com. All About Baby specializes in personalized and memorable gifts for children as well as interesting and helpful child-related site content. Ms. Wurtzel has over 20 years of marketing and communications experience. She consults with small businesses seeking to enter the marketplace or grow their existing ecommerce business.

For a complete list of 20 Helpful Baby-Naming Tips as well as a wide variety of other interesting child-related content, visit http://www.allbaby.com.

nancy@allbaby.com

Wholesome Feeding For 16 Year Old Children

2009-01-29T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Yana Mikheeva

So your baby is one year old. He grew enough, feel independent and can do many of the things that adults can do. Mother's milk and various purees are not enough for his growing and development already. A baby is ready for a gradual transfer for more serious food, which will finish by about 5-6 years. This "transitional period" requires especially responsible attitude from parents. Experts note that it is irrational feeding in early childhood that is a reason of many problems with digestion and metabolism, appearing already in mature age. To avoid dangerous mistakes, let's arm ourselves with scientific facts.

- How and in which terms a baby's transfer to an "adult" food should be carried out?

- It's very important for a baby to receive food of consistence that corresponds to his age. Many parents, taking too much care of their babies, keep on feeding him with grated dishes up to 2-3 years. But such "care" brings no good, and is rather injurious to health. Food should stimulate, not delay development of masticatory apparatus and digestive system of a baby.

One year old baby should be already given minced dishes, instead of purees. By 2 years a baby already has 20 calf's teeth, he already can chew well, so it is possible to transfer to larger pieces. After 3 years a healthy baby should already receive a piece of dish. He already can chew, digest and assimilate even beef.

- How much meat a baby of 1-6 years should eat? And which meat is good for a baby?

First of all, remember that every child is individual and his needs in meat, fish and other food are individual too. So we can talk only about approximate norms and recommendations, oriented on such "average" baby. Taking this into account, we can say that a baby from 1 to 1,5 years needs about 60-70 g of meat gross per day. In this case a baby will receive enough protein, easy assimilated iron, and also a range of vitamins of group B. It will be better, if this is minced meat or if a baby already can chew rather well - meat-balls.

At 1,5-2 years a baby should already receive 70-80 g of meat gross per day 4-5 times per week. In this age you can already cook steam cutlets for a baby. A child of 2,5-5 years should eat 120 g (gross) of meat per day-and-night. You can and should offer not minced boiled meat, in the form of beef and bird meat, goulash, schnitzel. A 6 y.o. child needs 120 g of meat, including bird meat, daily. Exactly meat, not sausage food and other convenience foods, which, as it's known, contain much more fat, than protein.

As for sort of meat, for children feeding lean beef or veal, chicken, turkey are preferable, you can use lean pork and mutton. Moreover, meat by-product: kidneys, tongue, heart, liver should be definitely included in menu. Don't forget about fish, which is also the most valuable source of some indispensable fatty acids, iron, vitamin B12 and other health-giving elements. It's better to choose lean sorts of sea and river fish, such as pike perch, cod, hake, perch, shrimps.

- After year a baby already eats enough solid food, this means, his necessity in liquid increases. How much should children from year and upwards drink?

- For children from 1 to 3 years a daily norm is about 100 mL of water on kilogram of weight, from 3 to 7 years about 80 mL. Probably bigger quantity. In connection with children's high activity, losses of water are rather significant, so you should not restrict your child in drinking.

It's better to drink water children mineral gas-free or boiled and cooled till room temperature. Sweet compotes, juices and drinks should be drunk during intervals between meals, not during eating. The matter is that if a child drinks water during eating, water fills his stomach and a child feels satiety prematurely. In a while he will become hungry again, and this will lead to breach of dietary habits.

- Many parents complain that their child eats little. Why does a child eat little? How to improve his appetite?

- As for the first question, children appetite lowers due to different reasons, but most popular is wrong organization of feeding. It's desirable that a child upwards year would eat according to strict schedule. When a child takes snacks all the time, he just has no time to get hungry, and good appetite is out of the question. Moreover, if a baby applies himself to sweets and drinks, he does not receive many more wholesome products in necessary quantity.

Another reason of bad appetite can be a monotony of food a child is just tired of eating the same food. So you should not cook in store, moreover while keeping and warming up food value of products lowers.

Sometimes there are cases, when a child secretes not enough saline, and because of this it's difficult for him to chew and swallow food. Of course, such child eats unwillingly. In this case you should cook more liquid dishes, pour second course with sauces, offer taking drink while eating. Often it happens that a child is just playing up. In this case you should not rush to cook something "special". It's enough to explain a child calmly that he can refuse from food, but next time he will be invited to table only in several hours during next feeding. As a rule, this helps.

Frequent walks on fresh air, movable games, fun help to work up appetite. At the same time excess excitement of a child as a result of active games, watching TV etc. can serve as a reason of bad appetite. So, it's desirable for a child to be in quiet atmosphere and have a rest, before he is invited to have a meal. Moreover, good sleep is very important for a child feeding. On no account feed your child forcedly this will form a child's stable disgust for food. And meal should be always accompanied only by positive emotions, bring pleasure.

- If a child, on the contrary, has good appetite and sometimes he wants to have a snack between basic meals very much should we refuse him strictly or no?

- No, if he does want, then you should not refuse him. Sometimes a child even needs some additional "recharge" for example, after he has had enough of running about on fresh air. You can give him a piece of dried bread, some dried apricots, raisins. But, again, do not offer him snack with sweets they will slacken the appetite, and when time of constant feeding comes, a child may refuse from food. If a child is really hungry, then he will gladly snack with a crust of bread.

In general, when a child's daily ration is composed correctly, then it's not wishful to supplement it with anything without serious reasons. Experts all over the world consider that problem of adults' excess weight, which is so actual today, is connected right with wrong schedule of feeding in early childhood.

- What are recommendations as for plump children's feeding? You know, it's difficult to prescribe a diet for a baby.

- There are no universal recommendations in this case. Reasons of excess weight may be various, including firstly inherited ones. So, a professional who observes a child should compose a diet. But if a plump child is healthy, active, then the reason of his excess weight is really in wrong feeding.

The main what should be considered, - is frequency and volume of taken food, quantity of fats and carbohydrate is especially important. There are special norms of daily quantity of energy and food substances for children of different ages, and you should orient on them while composing ration. Of course, you should not count milligrams carefully these norms are averaged. However, if you notice that a child eats more, than he needs, do not rush to deprive him of his favorite dishes. You should reduce quantity little by little, restricting consumption of some products, to prevent a child from traumatizing.

It's important that while reducing calorie content, food would not become less tasty this will requite inventiveness and even ruse from parents. For example, baked potato is not less tasty than fried. The same is with meat and fish. You can increase portions due to vegetables (for example, cauliflower, spinach, leguminous haricot, but not potato), so that a child would feel satiety, without receiving excess calories.

- What if a child is too thin, on the contrary?

- Often parents worry for excess leanness of a child he eats well, but is thin all the same. However, if a child is healthy, movable, has good appetite, then you should not worry most likely, this is just his individual peculiarity. In majority of cases everything will become normal with age. Sudden weight loss requires attention in this case a child usually becomes sluggish, gets tired quickly, eat and sleep little. You should consult a doctor to find the reasons.

- Probably, weight loss is connected with lack of vitamins?

- Most likely they are not straightly connected. But lack of micro-nutrients, including vitamins, as a rule is accompanied by lowering of general vitality of organism, worsening of appetite and sleep, what may lead to weight loss too. Parents should know that even the most perfect ration cannot provide a child with necessary quantity of micro-nutrients. So children should take vitamin-mineral additions daily. This is not a trick of manufacturers of vitamins, but a scientific proved fact. Children should take vitamins twice a year in spring and autumn, a course should last 1-2 months.

Researches show that it's better to take vitamins and minerals in different time during a day. This way they are assimilated better and act more efficient. Also, when you choose multivitamins, pay special attention on dosage. Hyper-vitaminosis may bring the same harm to a children organism, as lack of vitamins. Moreover, a child receives a part of nutritive materials with food.

- It is known that during cooking or keeping of food many vitamins are lost. Are there any ways to keep them?

- To keep maximum of nutritive materials, you need to know what they are "afraid" of. Thus, for example, vitamins A and E are not destroyed while heating, however they are very sensitive to sunshine and oxygen. So vegetable oil and butter should not be left on light and in open ware. Vitamins B1 and B6, containing in bread, macaroni and soy, and also vitamin K, containing in spinach and cabbage, also do not like light. Vitamin C is very capricious. Many mothers like to peel off potato since evening and leave in water for the night, to boil in the morning.

However, in this case potato, like other vegetables, loses most part of its vitamin C. According to the same reason it's not desirable to cut and grate vegetables and fruits cells are broken and anti-vitamin gets free, it destroys ascorbic acid quickly. If a child can already chew by himself, it's better to give him vegetables and fruits as a whole. Wrong heat processing of products also leads to loss of vitamins. Frying destroys vitamins most of all. And least of all they are destroyed while steam boiling, baking in foil or pot. While boiling in water you should put vegetables into boiling water, not cold, to neutralize anti-vitamin.

It's also important not to overdo food. For example, potato is boiled 10-20 minutes, cabbage 20-25, carrot, onion, marrows 10-15 minutes. A pan, where vegetables are boiled, should be covered with lid tightly and filled to the brim.

For better safety of vitamins, boil products in aluminum or stainless steel crockery.

- Which crockery a child should eat from?

- Best crockery for a child is that made of unbreakable porcelain or faience. Be careful with plastic, many parents prefer it because it is unbreakable, but plastic items, not meant for food purposes, can excrete poisonous substances.

Place settings for children should be made of stainless steel, nickel silver, and ideally of silver, which has anti-microbe effect. You should not use wooden crockery, as microbes may stay in pores of wood. Souvenir wooden spoons and dishes are better used like toys.

It's desirable that a child would have his own set of crockery and place setting, and also tissues and dish-cloth. Children things should be definitely kept separately from adult's ones.

- What is the main principle of feeding for children of 1-6 years?

- Perhaps, the main is calm, attentive and careful attitude to a child, as they help to support both good health and feeding. It's very important for food to be varied to the maximum and include all groups of products. Follow experts' advices, but consider a child's needs, value personality in him. And then he will make you glad with good health and mood.

Yana Mikheeva is the creator of the Baby-Health.Net at http://www.baby-health.net Are you going to get pregnant? Visit our friendly resource and read information on pregnancy and parenting, painless childbirth, growth and development of a baby, baby health, safety, signs of pregnancy. She also has a blog for women at http://www.womanspassions.com/blog/

Baby Poems For Saying Whats On Your Heart

2009-01-28T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Randy Wilson

Baby poems and baby shower poems can express any sentiment. Whether sweet, funny, or loving, poems are an ideal way to say what's on your heart. And if you need some help with what to say, online you can find everything you're looking for having to do with poems and baby shower poems.

Anyone can write a baby poem, and everyone enjoys reading them, young and old. Poems are wonderful to include on baby shower invitations or birth announcements. Baby shower poems can have rhythm and rhyme, but they certainly don't have to.

Poems can be either long or short, but short is probably best for your typical baby shower needs. Poems can be sentimental, sappy or sweet. Poems can be original and creative or standard and more traditional. Don't hesitate to add a little humor as well!

Either way, all baby shower poems are appropriate for welcoming the newborn and honoring the birth mother or mother to be.

The people who are most often touched by poems are those who have had children themselves. Sweet poems can remind them of the time when their little ones were still young.

No one will appreciate them more than the family members themselves. If you are a creative writer or have a special talent for putting words together in a special way, then you should try writing your own baby shower poems. This would make a great gift idea as well.

If you really like the poem you've written, it can be framed and displayed as a wonderful memento or keepsake. Years later when the baby has grown, think of how special they will feel knowing the words that were written were just for them.

Sample Poems

Baby Shower:

Special people all around
Love and happiness abound
Babies, presents, cake, flower
Thank you for the baby shower

Thanks for all the work you've done
To welcome our new precious son

Baby Poem:
Teeny, tiny little toes
Small and round little nose
A precious gift from heaven above
My sweet baby that I love

We've longed to see you face to face
And we've prepared a special place
Just for you, our baby

If you are not the creative type don't worry! There are lots of places that you can look online for poems to say just the thing you want to say.

Poems have been written on all subjects throughout the ages, and baby poems and baby shower poems are no exception. A quick search online doesn't have to take any time at all.

But if you decide to write your own baby poems, even common things can inspire you. Inspiration can be found anywhere. Look to your own memories from the past. What was special about your childhood?

What special object have you treasured over the years? What words of wisdom or advice could you pass on to the next generation? Look around the house and imagine a baby being there. What do you see, hear, or feel?

Let those thoughts be the source of your best baby poems. You do not have to write like Shakespeare, you just have to be sincere.

There are also poems for saying thank you to the guests for coming to the shower, and thanking them for the gifts they may have given.

Common baby poem themes are often safety, peace, love and happiness. When a baby is born, it is a time to reflect on the meaning of life and what is really important in life. Whether you are religious or not, baby poems can be written as simple prayers or encouragement.

Who hasn't heard the famous lines "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep"? Baby poems have been the source of many needlepoint crafts and have been given as cherished baby gifts and will continue to be for years to come. Why not add baby shower poems or baby poems to your next newborn celebration?

Randy has dozens more baby shower related articles such as Baby Shower Centerpieces and Free Baby Shower Games.

What Do You Buy A Newborn Baby

2009-01-27T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by John Gibb

So your friends have had a baby, and you're wondering what to get them for a gift. Well, you've come to the right place. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking you might not like all of them, but hopefully there will be something here that appeals to you.

The first, and most obvious, candidate for a baby gift has to be clothes. Many people are reluctant to buy clothes in advance of the birth because they're not sure what gender the baby is going to be, but don't let that put you off white clothes are nice-looking and gender-neutral. It will depend on where you live, but the best baby clothes tend to be soft, fluffy things that can keep the baby cosy and warm. Do realise, however, that clothes aren't exactly an original gift, and the couple might already be snowed under with them.

Toys are another favourite, although it can be difficult to know what to get. Things like mobiles and other brightly coloured things that the baby can swipe at tend to be a good choice, as are rattles and soft toys that make noises. You will probably win more points with the parents by getting more educational baby toys, such as those with shapes or animal noises, instead of ones that just seem cool.

If you want to think more unconventionally, though, there are plenty of things to consider. Why not buy (or contribute towards) a cot, or a pushchair? Why not start a savings fund for the baby, with a decent chunk of money to get it started? Or you could buy nappies, or bath stuff, or whatever take a look at the baby section in any shop to get plenty of ideas.

One last idea: with all this focus on things for the baby, maybe the parents are feeling a little left out, with no presents for them and no money or time left to treat themselves for a good long while. A nice thing to do is to get a present for the parents, as it will probably be the only thing they get for themselves, and they'll be pleased that someone thought of them.

John Gibb is the owner of baby gift info , For more information on baby gifts please check out http://www.baby-gift-information3k.info

Choosing Your Baby Nursery Theme

2009-01-26T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Rebecca Johnson

Planning a baby nursery is a big task. There is furniture to choose, walls to paint, safety to take into consideration. Probably the most exciting part of planning your baby nursery though, will be choosing your nursery's theme. The theme you decide on will set the tone for the whole room so it will certainly need to be one of the first decisions that you make when your start the planning process.

There are an almost endless supply of themes available for a baby's room. You could choose to go with something gender specific, a girl themed room for a girl and a boy themed room for a boy, or you may want to consider choosing a gender neutral theme if you plan to have more children. This will save you the trouble of possibly having to remodel the nursery when the next baby comes along. A pink princess themed nursery won't work so well if your next child is a boy. Likewise, a girl will seem out of place in a nursery decorated with cars.

If you want to plan a nursery that will stimulate your baby as they grow, consider bright primary colors and geometric shapes and patterns. Red, blue, and yellow have been found to be the colors that help stimulate young infants. Bedding and wall décor with geometric shapes and patterns will also do this especially if the shapes and patterns are large. This will make it easier for the baby to see since it takes many months for an infant's vision to completely develop.

Whatever theme you decide on for your nursery, be prepared to live with it for a few years. Most babies are not ready for a toddler room until they are two to three years old. If you want to save money, choose a theme that will grow with them into their toddler room. Since toddler beds take the same size mattress and bedding as a crib, you could continue to use the theme and bedding you choose in a toddler room if you wanted to.

No matter what theme you decide on, remember to have fun while taking on the whole nursery planning process. This is a joyous time in your life that you will always be able to look back on fondly.

Rebecca Johnson is owner of Decorating Your Baby Nursery, a website dedicated to all aspects of planning a baby nursery. Visit it for baby nursery theme ideas.

Why Small Children Need Snacks

2009-01-25T06:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Jennifer Hunt

Are you worried about your child's current eating habits? Instead of worrying about it, plan a routine for feeding your little one. If you are unsure about how to plan your child's diet regime, follow the tips below:

· Well-timed snacks can help in balancing out an uneven diet and will surely help your baby be happier and healthier!

· If your children are being difficult when you are trying to feed them, then the best option is to engage them in conversation during this time, preferably by sitting together and eating as a family.

· Cook more than one dish, so that your child has a few options to choose from. Also try to make the dishes look tempting.

· Don't force your child to eat a large portion of a food item. Allow them to eat a small portion if that is what they want.

Children can be finicky eaters sometimes. They like something one day and a few days later they simply detest it. Also, sometimes they don't like to eat too much at one time and prefer to eat at regular, but frequent, intervals. For this reason, snacks form a very important part in a child's diet.

It is very essential that you take charge of your child's diet now, otherwise it will be too difficult to monitor their eating habits when they are older. Since they are still dependent on you and can't run to the nearest store to get food for themselves, they rely solely on what you serve. So, now is the best time to take advantage of this fact. Choose the most nutritious food you can. Give them foods with higher content of proteins, nutrients, minerals etc.

It is a known fact that with a proper routine, children eventually develop good eating habits. If you start serving your kids healthy snacks at regular intervals from an early age, they will get accustomed to it and prefer these healthier foods to junk food.

Now let us see why small children need snacks?

Young children have small appetites and they need adequate nutrients for healthy growth and development. So nutrient rich snacks through the day, will provide all the necessary nutrients their bodies need, ensuring proper development.

Many children decline certain foods at certain times. By offering small snacks frequently will make your child happy and at the same time, fulfill their dietary requirements. With healthy snacks, your child can be prevented from over eating as well as under eating, helping to maintain a good balance.

Healthful snacks are imperative in providing essential nutrients and energy. Avoid giving heavy snacks too close to mealtimes. Giving nutritious snacks will ensure maximum energy in the young kids. To give them appeal, make the snacks as interesting as possible. Some popular, yet healthy, snack ideas would be fresh fruits, cheese, peanut butter, raisin bread, fruit loaf, muffins, biscuits, vegetable sticks, etc. Treat your baby with something new each day. They will simply love it!

Looking for new snack ideas? http://www.snacksfortoddlers.com offers healthy snack ideas for busy children to help get them through their day.

How To Select The Right Educational Toys

2009-01-25T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Kyle Tully

Is it Safe?
Without a doubt the most important factor when choosing any educational toy for your baby is safety. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) has published a number of articles regarding safety standards & safety information, as well as keeping a ban list and recalled items list. This is recommended as your first point of call when researching any products for your baby.

Beware of second-hand and hand-me-down toys as they may be broken, missing pieces, or missing important safety information. Be sure to give them a thorough inspection before allowing your child to play with them.

Remember: You are the last line of defense when it comes to your child's safety, always ensure they are supervised especially when playing near water, even very shallow amounts.

Choosing Age-Appropriate Toys
The best guide for buying toys for children is to see what they enjoy playing with, and be sure to keep an eye on the manufacturers recommended age.

0 6 Months
Simple toys to help your baby practice his grasp and learn that his hands are useful tools, high contrast colours (black, white, red) to help him focus and keep his attention:

Small rattles with handles.
Rubber rings.
Soft balls or dolls.
Bath toys.
I-Qube.

6 12 Months
Toys that encourage her to push, pull, press and move working parts, noise making toys, hard and soft toys of different textures:

Activity gyms.
Music boxes.
Stacking Cups.
Activity toys.
Balls.
Toy cars.

12-18 Months
Toys that can be pushed, pulled, ridden, stacked, filled and dumped.

Shopping carts.
Riding toys.
Bucket & spade.
Basket of objects to be carried and dumped.
Drums.
Butchers paper & large crayons.

18 - 24 Months
Inside and outside toys with plenty of room to crawl, walk, run, and jump:

Large blocks and blankets to build forts.
Picture books.
Dolls.
Board Books.
Butchers paper & large crayons.

24 - 36 Months
Outside toys allowing plenty of room to safely run, jump, and climb:

Jungle Gyms
Dress-up clothes.
Boxes.
Books.
Paddle pools.
Butchers paper & large crayons.

Kyle Tully is the Founder & Director of Small Packages, an Australian website focused on helping parents enrich their children.

http://www.smallpackages.com.au

Planning A Baby Shower Here Are Some Quick And Easy Ideas To Help

2009-01-24T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Gregg Hall

Planning a baby shower can be overwhelming, especially if you try to do it yourself. There are many things to consider like where you are going to hold it and who to invite. It takes a good friend with a lot of patience to plan this type of event. There are ways to make the preparations go a lot more smoothly.

How Do I Plan a Baby Shower?

There are two main keys to planning the shower, making lists and delegating some of the work. Let's start with the lists. Consider all of the aspects of the shower and make a list for each one. Start with the guest list. Begin by writing down the people that you know you want to invite. A big consideration to take is that there are friends of the person that you are giving it for that you might not know about, such as people they work with.

Call people who are close to the honoree and try to get a list of those other people and their contact information. Once you've determined the number of people that you are going to invite, start a list of suitable places to hold the function. It's important to know the guest count when contacting restaurants.

If there are a large number of attendees and you have to reserve an entire room, you can ask how many people that room will hold. This will help you avoid embarrassment by not reserving one that is too small. By knowing the number of guests, you can make a list of places that have the right amount of space and compare them.

Where to Hold a Baby Shower

There are a number of places to hold the baby shower. Restaurants are a popular option. You can also consider having it in your home or the home of another friend or relative. If the weather is nice, you can hold it in someone's backyard or in a park.

Delegating the Work

We've discussed the guest list, but there are other lists of things to do and get such as decorations, party favors and games to play. That's where delegation comes in. Enlist other friends or relatives of the expectant mom to share in the planning and execution of the shower. After you've made your lists, give some of them to other people to handle. One person can be made in charge of getting decorations. Another can shop for party favors and still another can make a list of games to play. This takes some of the stress away from you and let's other people enjoy being a part of the planning.

One more important consideration to take is to make sure that the people that you are inviting all get along with each other. This way, all will have a good time.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Baby Gift Baskets at http://www.babygiftbasketsdelivered.com

Colic Baby Bootcamp Parent Survival Tips

2009-01-23T06:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Cherie Stirewalt

Surviving a baby with colic truly deserves an award of some sort. The relentless screaming can really drive you to the edge.

Unfortunately for the parents of a colic baby, most of the focus of surviving is usually geared towards how to relieve the suffering for your baby. But, what about your suffering?

Here are 10 tips on HOW to keep your sanity while enduring a fit of colic.

1. Buy a baby monitor with lights that indicate the level of noise coming from your baby. Take this monitor with you everywhere, put it on mute and get as far away from the screaming as possible. Physically check on your baby every now and then to make sure everything is alright. When the levels on the lights stop dancing, chances are your baby has calmed down.

2. Put on headphones. Listen to music. Keep the above monitor with you to determine when baby has calmed down.

3. Take a shower. The warm water will relax you, and the noise will drown out the ear-piercing crying.

4. Go for a walk. Exercise is great for alleviating tension and the motion might settle the baby down.

5. If possible, find a sitter and leave. Go shopping, run errands, go work out, go for a walk. Get some distance between you and the baby. Don't leave the baby unattended. Make sure you have a sitter first!

6. Call friends or family on the telephone. Don't bottle up your frustration. Let it out. Complain to your hearts content. Your friends and family will understand and you will feel better.

7. Do something therapeutic with your hands. Paint your fingernails, color in a coloring book, do some housework. Anything that diverts your attention away from the crying and towards something constructive.

8. Vacuum. The vacuum cleaner will drown out the screams coming from the baby. Also, the frequency of white noise output by a vacuum is particularly effective in calming a colicky baby.

9. Surf the internet. Look up ways to calm a colic baby!

10. Keep telling yourself the colic will eventually go away. Take it day by day and know there IS a light at the end of the tunnel. Colic does not last forever!

Remember, you are not an incompetent parent if you've done everything possible to relieve your baby's colic and you need to step away from the situation for a while. This simply makes you human.

Cherie is the webmaster of http://www.colic-baby-bootcamp.com and specializes in teaching parents methods for handling a baby with colic.

From There To Here With Dave The Dad

2009-01-23T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Dave Fouracre

So there we were, rambling very nicely through out egocentric lives when we had a baby. Well, it won't change much, we thought. Just means that we'll have to stop swearing at home as much and occasionally shut the bathroom door. This, we discovered, was wrong. The swearing, bizarrely, increased and we now find that not only do we forget to shut the door but that it's a positive advantage as we usually have to emerge from the bathroom very, very quickly.

I was 36 when Tom was born and Jane was 34. Just. She was pleased about this as it meant that she swept under the radar for 'geriatric' mothers, a label that apparently attaches ever so terrifyingly after the age of 35+. Not geriatric then, but not as young as others. There are problems with this, as indeed there are bonuses. I'm sure it will be a source of ever-increasing chagrin to Thomas, our son, as he grows up. Already there are generational warnings. I recall that I initially assumed The O.C. to be another reality TV show in the vein of Big Brother but with some poor bloke endlessly washing his hands. But I am as excited about the World Cup as younger fathers; I like The Simpsons and I still think it's funny to fart in a lift. I'm just reminded of the old joke about Charlie Chaplin. Yes he was still having kids in his 80's; he just couldn't pick them up.

Thomas Finlay Fouracre was born at home, on the 12th September 2005. Jane missed her label by two days after going into full labour at six in the morning. Tom was out just after nine. This sounds pretty good but it could have been even better. The midwives who attended were sure that he was popping along fairly swiftly but then...nothing. Except the crying, screaming, panting and swearing of course.

Turns out he was an OP birth. This is a medical definition: 'A baby is most commonly delivered in the occiput anterior position - head first facing the mother's spine. When the foetus is in the occiput posterior (OP) position, facing away from the mother's spine, labour can be prolonged.' Yes. Prolonged. Quite. But it's also (I realise that I am speaking at one remove here) a little painful. I'm paraphrasing here but in some births you might imagine you are attempting to divest yourself of an inconvenient watermelon. Now imagine it's sideways. Of course babies in OP aren't sideways, but Jane has always felt that Tom might as well have been. And wearing a full stormtrooper outfit. Certainly our friendship with Sam, a birth partner, has never fully recovered from the tirade of abuse Jane flung at her that morning. The upshot is that our lovely, wonderful boy, this bundle of fun and light that has entered our lives and taken them over so dramatically, was born on the toilet.

You see, it's a bit cramped in OP and a toilet is specifically designed to separate certain anatomical parts. Well, it seemed the best idea on offer that morning. Jane astride, the midwives in front, two crouched runners under starter's orders, Sam crouching in the bath stage right and me behind, perched on the shelf, straddling Jane's upper body, like the imp in Henry Fuseli's painting The Nightmare. A beautiful moment.

His head was misshapen -a common happenstance in OP births- but luckily we had a mother of two in Sam. 'Eva's head was like a cone for weeks!' she relayed merrily and this eased our immediate worries. It took over a month before his head finally started to look less like the terraces of Angkor Wat but by then we had already started noticing other, odd features. Such as the fact that he was clearly the most gorgeous baby we'd ever seen. This might seem to be the standard subjective view of any new father and I understand completely when people try to explain to me how each parent believes that their child is the most stunning the world has ever seen. I nod, smile sheepishly and agree. But in my heart I know they're wrong and I'm right. He's gorgeous, unfeasibly so. I'm no-one's idea of an oil painting, unless of course I just qualify under Fuseli's rules, but Jane's quite pretty. Still, Tom's amazing.

He's nine months old now and tearing through his milestones at a frantic rate. I keep telling him that he'll use them up soon and won't have any more to hit. Who'll be sorry then? I ask. He usually laughs at this. But then he usually laughs when I ask him, for the fifth time, not to throw himself onto his belly as I'm changing him. He likes a good laugh. Yesterday he was lying at my side, squibbling around, as I lay shirtless on his bedroom floor, enjoying the heat of the afternoon. As he started to clamber onto my midriff I felt a warm paternal joy in his newly found ability to crawl forwards. Then he grabbed two meaty handfuls of my chest hair and hoisted himself onto my chest. I assume that he made it but can't be totally sure as I think I may have passed out. However, somewhere, in the bowels of our terraced house I'm sure I heard Jane chortling, 'Now imagine that while you're also attempting to divest yourself of an inconvenient, sideways watermelon.'

Dave Fouracre aka "Dave the Dad" writes about his experiences as a Dad every week on http://www.thebabywebsite.com

Who is Dave the Dad?

My name is Dave and I have been married to Jane for a little over a year although we have been 'going steady' for more than a decade. If people ask, I tend to fluster about my work but when pushed, I admit I'm a teacher.

When they get over all the awful things that happened to them when they were in school I try to pretend I'm still an English teacher as this was my subject for ten years. Eventually, and with some reluctance, I occasionally tell them I'm now a Head of Media Studies. Jane is a Science teacher with a speciality in Physics. This normally helps to stop them laughing as most people still think that there is something preternaturally Godlike about anyone who understands even a small portion of the Universe. They are right.

We have lived in Brighton for seven years and belong to a Burmese cat called William whose grandfather was a great champion. William, however, discovered biscuits and subsequently strayed from the path somewhat. Our son Thomas Finlay Fouracre was born in September 2005.

http://www.thebabywebsite.com/viewSection44.htm

Buying Baby Clothes Online How To Select The Right Size

2009-01-22T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Anne Francis

One of the primary concerns of new parents when buying infant and toddler clothes online is what size to choose. This problem is an even greater dilemma for grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends when buying baby clothes as gifts. Babies vary so greatly in size and change so quickly that it seems that unless you are in the store with your little model, you will have no idea if the clothes will even come close to fitting.

If you have encountered or are currently in this dilemma, rest assured, you are not alone.

Let's start with a few simple facts:

Baby clothing manufacturers do not follow rigorous standards with regard to size. Yes, there are the basic guidelines of 0 3 months, 3- 6 months and so on, but compare manufacturers and you will find that interpretations of these sizes can very quite a bit. There is good reason for this: babies themselves vary quite a bit. This brings us to the next point.
Babies come in all different sizes. Just have a look at the standard clinical growth charts (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/major/nhanes/growthcharts/clinical_charts.htm) used in the US by pediatricians and you will find that a healthy 6month old girl can easily from 24 inches in length to 27 inches in length and from 13 lbs to 19lbs.
Babies themselves grow and change very quickly.

So what is the solution? Actually, it is fairly simple. When in doubt, go big. If you are buying clothes for a baby that is in the 50th percentile (i.e. the middle) for length and weight and is nearing 3 months, then go ahead and buy items that are 3- 6 months. If you are buying clothing for a baby that is in the upper percentile for weight or height, then going an extra size larger regardless of age is generally a good idea. The worst that can happen is that the clothes are a bit too large. In that case, no problem, he or she will grow into them. The best time to buy clothes in sizes 0-3 months is before or right when a baby is born.

But you ask: what if I am buying clothes for a special occasion and I will need them to fit on a certain date. In this case, it can make sense to buy a single item from the designer or manufacturer you are interested in to see how that manufacturer generally sizes its clothes. Do they tend to run large or small, long or short? Picking a single less expensive item from the manufacturer can help you determine that. Other times, an email to the online retailer with your baby's length and weight can also help.

Anne Francis is an Assistant Designer for Baby Clothes Designer Dragon Tail Baby.

Finding The Right Baby Soap For Your Babys Skin

2009-01-21T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Erwin Venegas

Baby Soap

Aren't all soap the same, especially baby soap? Do you really need to look at which baby soap you use with your new born baby? Bath time can be worrisome enough for new parents with a new baby. Is the water too hot or too cold? How do I hold the baby specially when they are all wet and slippery? Am I doing things right? With all these things to worry about, we should be completely sure that the baby soap we use is completely safe and gentle for your baby's skin.

Finding the Right Baby Soap

Keeping your baby's skin clean is one of the most important things you can do to help your baby stay healthy, and baby soap plays a very important role in keeping your baby's skin clean. So we need to make sure that we are using:

baby soap that is gentle
baby soap that is hypoallergenic
baby soap that is non-toxic
baby soap that sls free

You need to make sure that your baby soap is gentle because otherwise it could be irritating your baby's skin during or after bath time, and this would actually be opposite to what bath time is supposed to do. The baby soap that you use should be hypoallergenic since you do not know what your baby may be allergic to, and they are more susceptible at this very young age. Baby soap also needs be non-toxic since young babies like to put their hands in their mouth, and you want to know that if your baby swallows some of the baby soap, they will be safe. Finally, your baby soap should be Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS) free. SLS is a harsh chemical that is used as the chief foaming agent in soaps, including some baby soaps. The Journal of the American College of Toxicology said, "SLS can damage the immune system, causing separation of skin layers and inflamation of skin." Is this something you would like to expose your baby's skin to by using harsh baby soap?

Consider using natural baby soap that is made from only natural ingredients insuring that it is safe and gentle on your baby's skin. Many times natural baby soap even helps protect and soothe your baby's skin.

During the first few weeks and months of your babies life, your baby's skin will develop spots, rashes, and some dots. This is normal. They will come and go naturally, but if you are concerned, then do not hesitate to contact your doctor or pediatrician. Even though your baby's skin will go through a few rough times, if you are using the right baby soap, then you know that you are caring for your baby's skin as best as you can.

Erwin Venegas is a father who runs an e-commerce site for Natural Baby Products with his wife.

Baby Shower Planning

2009-01-20T06:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Christina Cermak

The purpose of a Baby Shower is to "shower" the parent(s) to be with love and to celebrate their new arrival. Planning a baby shower can be stressful. The key in planning any event is organization. We hope the following tips will help you stay organized when planning that special baby shower. You should enjoy the shower just as much as the parent(s) to be and guests.

Who should host a Baby Shower?

Anyone can plan a baby shower. Family, friends, or even co-workers can throw a baby shower.

How much should I spend?

A budget is important when planning the baby shower. A few things to take into consideration when planning your budget:

How many guests are invited?
Where will the shower be held? (i.e., the home of the host, the office, or a restaurant)
What menu will be served?
What type of favors will be given out?
What kind of games will be played? Do you need prizes for the winners?
What decorations will be needed? Do you only need invitations or will you coordinate the entire shower with plates, cups, balloons, etc?

Should I have a theme?

A theme can be as simple as a girls only shower or a co-ed shower. There are also many themes available in terms of decorations, invitations, and creative ideas. Here are a few:

A Spa Shower - Have assorted spa items such as manicure kits, lotions, and face masks. Have fun pampering yourselves. As a favor idea you could buy bath salts and fun containers so guests could create their own bath salt favor.
A Tea Party - Does your mom to be like tea? Host a tea party! Centerpieces can be made with inexpensive tea pots filled with flowers or a bouquet of baby shaped lollipops. Favors can be personalized tea bags with cute sayings like:
A baby is brewing!
Julie's Baby Shower
June 6, 2003
An alternative to a Tea Party is a Mad Hatter Tea Party. Use the above suggestions but have all of your guests wear crazy hats! The guest with the craziest hat wins a prize. You could give away your centerpieces as prizes.
A Nursery Rhyme Baby Shower - Create a game where your guests need to complete Nursery Rhymes. Place a Nursery Rhyme Diaper Cake as a centerpiece on the gift table. This doubles as a practical gift for mom. Get a baby bath and fill it with punch. You can cut a plastic drinking cup down to size and place three figures in it for "Three men in a tub". Serve little cakes or one large cake marked with a B.

Menu and Location Planning

Your menu and location are determined by how many guests you are inviting. If you have less than 20 guests you may be able to host the baby shower in someone's home. As a host you will want to participate in the baby shower as well. You may feel that the cost of hosting a baby shower in a restaurant or hiring caterers is worth the trouble. It has been my experience that hosting an event, such as a baby shower, at a restaurant is worth the expense when you have more than 15 guests. Every one is able to enjoy the baby shower, even the host.

Planning and Organization

A few things to keep organized while you are planning your party:

Create one guest list. A lot of unnecessary confusion comes into play when there are many guest lists. Have guest lists from both sides of the family? No problem. Consolidate them into one central guest list.
Plan to have the shower 6-8 weeks before the baby is due.
Have your guests RSVP 1-2 weeks before the baby shower.
If you are planning to host the baby shower at a restaurant, make your reservation early. Check with the restaurant for the latest date to submit your guest number.
Send out baby shower invitations at least 4 weeks before the baby shower, if not earlier.
To make things easier on the mom to be have baby shower thank you cards purchased and addressed with the guest list. If the baby shower has a theme you can coordinate the thank you cards with that theme.
Have activities planned. Baby Shower Games are a great way to break the ice among guests who may not know each other.

Most important of all make sure the baby shower honors the mom or parents to be. The day is about them and their baby. They will appreciate all you have done for them.

Christina Cermak is owner of Baby Shower Depot. Baby Shower Depot offers baby shower games, baby diaper cakes, baby shower party supplies, baby shower favors, blog and more.

How To Enhance Infant Protection From Infection And Disease

2009-01-20T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Farrell Seah

In 1975, a pediatrician named Allan Walker reported a startling link between formula-fed infants and the occurrence of infectious diseases like neonatal meningitis and food allergies. In that report, he suggested that the this link was due to antigen absorption through the intestinal walls, and that breastfeeding infants for the first three months of life would prevent this absorption and decrease their susceptibility to disease.

He concluded that the passive immunity provided by colostrum and breast milk might play an important role in protecting infants from infection and disease by blocking the passage of pathogens and toxins through the intestinal walls and into the bloodstream. Dr. Walker's report initiated decades of further research, and we now know that he was right.

Colostrum and breast milk do much more than provide nutritional support. They also provide developmental support that is necessary for the maturation of the gastrointestinal tract, and immunological support that is vital for the continued growth and strengthening of the immune system.

Colostrum is the first milk provided to breastfeeding newborns during the first few days of life. This special milk is yellow to orange in color, thick and rather sticky, and very easily digested. It is richer in proteins than mature breast milkboth nutritional proteins for utilization in the body, and non-nutritional proteins that remain in the gut to aid in its closure to pathogens and toxins.

Infants who receive colostrum early and often have mature digestive tracts that are more robust throughout their first six months of life, and strong immune systems that are better able to resist infection and disease. Colostrum is the perfect source of nutrition for infants, providing them with the nutrients required to ensure proper growth and the development of the brain and nervous system.

Colostrum changes gradually to mature milk during the first two weeks after birth. During this transition period, the breast milk will become thinner in its consistency and whiter in its appearance. The concentration of antibodies in the transition milk will begin to decrease, while its overall volume will begin to increase.

The antibodies and other immune factors in mature human breast milk do not disappear completely; in fact, immunological protection against viruses and bacteria continues to be passed along from the mother to the baby as long as the baby continues breastfeeding. Like colostrum, breast milk is the perfect source of nutrition for infants, and tailor-made to their changing needs over time.

It contains an optimal balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fat for energy, and it provides the digestive enzymes, minerals, vitamins, and hormones for a baby's optimal health and continued growth.

Most commercially prepared formulas are based on non-fat bovine milk, whey protein, or soy protein. These formulas must be fortified with carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals in order for them to match the nutritional content of colostrum and breast milk.

But the active antibodies and other immune factors contained in human colostrum and breast milk cannot be added to these formulas, and they cannot provide the same developmental stimulus or immunological protection. As a result, babies receiving fluids other than mother's colostrum/breast milk for first three days of life have an increased incidence of diarrhea during their first six months, and formula-fed infants are more prone to a variety of common infections to which they are particularly vulnerable.

Click Here to Find Out More About Bovine Colostrum At :

http://www.BuyBovineColostrum.com

Feel free to use this article with the author name and website included.

http://www.BuyBovineColostrum.com

Graco Comfortsport Car Seat Review

2009-01-19T06:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Stephanie Hetu

Whether you are driving to the market or cross-country, keeping your children safe in the car is top priority. Selecting a car seat is a crucial process and reading reviews will narrow your search. Be sure to also visit a baby supply store and actually scrutinize each car seat before you buy. There are a variety of styles to fit your own individual preferences. We decided on the Graco ComfortSport because it was inexpensive, had a proven safety history and possessed the necessary weight restrictions.

The ComfortSport was not the cheapest car seat available, but it offered luxury and safety for a reasonable price. The seat provides a variety of growth settings enabling a child to use it until it's time for a booster. The downside to the design is the width of the seat itself. The armrests take up a large amount of space and make it difficult to fit another car seat next to it.

Graco is a reputable brand in baby products and the ComfortSport label has been produced for a few years. Therefore we knew that the safety ratings would be strong and the seat would be reliable. It is available with a five-point safety harness or the overhead model. While the overhead system is easier to buckle up, our research showed that it wasn't as secure as the 5-point system. The washable fabric cover is easy to remove, but the straps are difficult to adjust while installing the seat.

The main advantage of the ComfortSport was its size and weight restrictions. It can be used rear facing until your baby is 30 lbs and forward facing until 40 lbs. This enables the seat to be utilized from birth until your child graduates to a booster seat. Other models can only be used rear facing until 22 lbs and our son reached that weight at 7 months old. The law requires children to be rear facing until 1 year old, so we needed this type of seat to meet the current safety standards.

Overall, the ComfortSport is a sturdy affordable car seat to get you through the first 3-4 years of your child's life.

Who else want's to know before hand what
Real Moms think of the very same baby products
you are about to buy in your local store?
http://www.baby-product-weekly.com

Take Good Care Of Your Babies Using Baby Monitors

2009-01-19T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Sardool Sikandar

A baby monitor is a device used to remotely listen the noises made by an infant. A baby monitor is primarily used to keep track of any problem with baby when the infant is asleep in a separate room or while one is away from the baby. A baby monitor is also known as a baby alarm.

A baby monitor technology includes a simplex (unidirectional) radio transmitter and receiver system equipped with a microphone and a receiver equipped with a speaker. The microphone is placed near to the child and the receiver is carried by, or near to, the person caring for infant.

The frequency used by the devices usually lies in the range of 4950 megahertz, though some models can go as high as 900 MHz. As with all wireless transmission systems there is the possibility that a receiver used by a third party could pick up the transmissions. To aid this many models allow a choice of bands. A wireless baby monitor doesn't have any wire or cord attached to it.

There have in the past been baby monitors that used a length of cable (around 100m) instead of radio or, alternatively, using mains wiring.

The batteries are the major source of power for the baby monitors. The transmitter stays with the infant crib and is usually plugged into a socket.

Types of baby monitors:

A baby monitor equipped with a digital camera to show video footage on the receiver is called baby video monitor or digital baby monitor. The digital camera in the baby camera monitor works similar method to web cams, and some others allow the receiver to be plugged into a television.

Some baby monitors are duplex (bi-directional), using transceivers that allow the caregiver to communicate back to the baby, and some have a feature allowing music to be played on the transmitter (and thus played to the child). Such devices sometimes are equipped with video facility also and they are known as baby video and 2 way sound monitor.

There are some devices equipped with movement sensors on the transmitter allowing it to warn caregivers of possible sudden infant death syndrome. The device monitoring heartbeat is known as baby heart monitor or baby heartbeat monitor and the device-monitoring baby breathing is known as baby breathing monitor.

Some monitors have a vibrating alert on the receiver making it particularly useful for people with hearing difficulties. Some baby monitor packages include two receivers.

About Author: The author presents website on Baby Monitors, a comprehensive guide on baby monitors, offering tips on buying baby monitor, best baby monitor, baby monitor accessories, baby monitor equipment, besides providing baby monitor reviews and tons of info on cheap baby monitors. you can visit his site about Baby Monitor Equipment.

More Keyboard Decor

2009-01-18T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Lisa Clauson

Let me preface this by noting, as I have noted before, that he does not sleep. He does not nap. He does not go to bed at a normal time, he does not sleep in. He never needs to sleep, even when I need to sleep. It's 11pm and he's still awake, chattering happily on the cell phone to his daddy.

He has been into everything today - he brought me the Tron DVD that we rented from Blockbuster that was IN the DVD player up on the top of a bookcase - meaning that he climbed up there, ejected the tray, got the DVD, put the tray back in, and carted it across the house.

He filled my VCR with forks - perhaps it is more of a "what he didn't put in the VCR", but I digress. It might amuse you to know that one of our VCR's is now a permanent q-tip dispenser, after taking hundreds of q-tips out of that VCR, we finally gave up and just reach in there when we need a q-tip. Another VCR, however, is the fork-laden one. I also pulled out of there - just this afternoon - two rice cakes, a handful of animal crackers, 10 CD-R's, and a block of post-it notes. I guess it was hungry??

Anyway, after this and much, much more (my carpet must also be hungry as it has a package of animal crackers, several of those little yo-go yogurt balls, and a bag of pretzels living upon it), I come out to check my e-mail since he's actually being calm. I'm not paying a whole lot of attention, being rather tired, but then I take note of some odd characters on my keyboard. I look a little closer, one of the keys looks like it has a fish design on it - ah.

Then I realize that my keyboard has joined my coffee table in being a living art form, a showcase of the little duck's talents. From somewhere, probably up high, he had acquired a pen (which I still haven't found, ugh), and now my keyboard is covered in black scribbles and odd characters which only a baby can produce.

Ah, and for David, who suggested a while ago that I put the keyboard in the dishwasher, I highly doubt that wireless keyboard #3 would appreciate that. You see, I've been through 4 regular keyboards and 3 wireless keyboards - Apple keyboards, mind you, not cheap regular keyboards. You can take all the keys off and wash them, dry them and put them back on, but you can't run the base in any water at all. Compressed air is my friend, however.

No, I'm not running out to buy a new keyboard, if it still types without sticking most of the time (this one's delete key sticks due to a run-in with a glass of Koolaid and a smoothie), it's a wonderful thing. If I feel particularly motivated, I might take the keys off and scrub them - if you don't see me on here, it's because I can't figure out how the thing goes back together though ;) .

Lisa
http://lilduckduck.com

Ideas For Picking The Perfect Baby Shower Cake

2009-01-17T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Shaunta Pleasant

One of the best aspects of planning a great baby shower is picking out the perfect food and the perfect cake.

In many cases, a baby shower, especially one held in an office setting, is a covered dish affair, with every attendee bringing his or her own special dish. One thing that is usually bought especially for the baby shower, however, is the special decorated cake.

==Picking The Right Baby Shower Cake==

The right cake can make a big difference to any baby shower, and the cakes created for baby showers are among the most interesting and beautiful to be found anywhere.

When it comes to decorating a cake for a baby shower, the sky is the limit when it comes to creativity and design.

==Making The Cake Yourself Or Buying One==

One of the most important choices for those planning a baby shower to make is whether to make and decorate the baby shower cake themselves or have it made at a specialty bakery.

This decision will hinge mostly on your own baking ability, cake decorating skills and comfort level. If you feel up to the task, by all means create the cake yourself and decorate it to your hearts content.

The mother to be, and the other guests at the baby shower, will certainly appreciate the love, care and effort that went into the creation of a homemade cake for the shower.

==Specialty Bakers That Is Right For Your Needs==

If, however, you do not have expertise in cake decorating or specialty baking, it may be best to have the cake made at a quality bakery. If you already have a favorite specialty baker, be sure to ask them if they can create a special cake for the baby shower you are planning. Most specialty bakers will have photos to share of past cakes, and this makes it a lot easier to choose the right theme and style for the cake you order.

==Shop Early To Make Sure You Get The Cake You Want==

If you do decide to order a cake for the baby shower, be sure to shop early, since the best bakers in town tend to also be the busiest.

It is important to allow plenty of time for the creation and decoration of your special baby shower cake.

Shaunta Pleasant is a professional writer and editor on baby shower topics. Visit my site to learn more about planning the perfect baby shower at http://www.baby-shower-gala.com/baby_shower_cake.html

Reading To Children Are We Doing It Right

2009-01-16T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Kent Walters

Setting the Stage - Reading is One of the Big Boosts to Life:

Several studies over several years in several settings have all shown a high correlation between reading to young children and academic competence throughout their traditional school years. We all know by now that reading stories to a child is an important part of the child's early development, and so we read to them. Some parents read because they enjoy passing along the good feelings they remember or sense they had as a child. Others read to their young children because they have heard it's a good thing to do. Still others do it to calm an agitated baby. And then there are those who don't see the point. The intention of this article is to get you to think about what might be happening inside the child as you approach your reading time together, and see if there might be something that could improve this quality time you are investing in each other.

The Problem:

The problem with reading to young children is that the available material is often pretty boring to us, the readers. This often makes the actual reading kind of a chore for us. Compounding this problem is the fact that young children, and almost everyone else, can tell when you're faking it. When you put these facts together, unless you are exceptionally gifted or fortunate, your children are probably learning all about faking it along with whatever academic preparation they're getting out of your reading. Or worse, they're getting the idea that reading is boring. It's difficult to tell exactly what's going on in their heads at this stage, but I have to imagine there's a little of both mixing it up in their developing synapses.

So, how do we address these potential problems?

There are two approaches:

APPROACH # 1: Work on the symptoms (Don't feel bad, this is what almost everyone does) - Over-animate with your voice and pump yourself up for the ordeal similar to sales preparation and self-hypnosis. This is actually a pretty good form of compensation and can effectively mask the boredom. The challenge is in making the boring material come alive through animation. If you can pull this off consistently, you'll be okay. Another "mask the symptom" approach is to improvise to the point that the story becomes interesting to you. This takes a Robin Williams kind of personality, and most people will not be able to sustain this with any level of competence over the long haul. The last "bandaid" is to read it like you see it make reading a bedtime activity and use it to bore the child to sleep. This may have unpredictable consequences later on, but it has been demonstrated to be far better than not reading to the child at all.

APPROACH # 2: Work on the root cause: Select material that you like not in terms of subject matter necessarily, but in terms of rhythm or clever word construction or fun, off-the-wall logic. It's out there, but you do have to search for it. Select material that helps you recover some of the perspective of your audience and use it as a launching pad to get you "into" their level of joy and sensation. Another approach to chip away at the root cause of the problem is to write your own material to your own standards. Don't be afraid to try this. You won't do any worse than most of the published children's authors.

The Scope of the Solution:

Since the root cause of the problem is boring material, we need to find more stimulating material that would also be of interest to children who are beginning to understand our language. Ideally, it would be nice to find material that makes some sense, caters to a child's view, is well illustrated, has short sentences, has appropriate vocabulary, and helps us connect with the child's view of life. This can be somewhat tricky, but it is not impossible.

Elements of the Solution - Perspective:

From the child's point of view, anything that interests you that is prose will work before the age of about 6 months (not chemical engineering textbooks). At this point, developmentally, the child is still getting his bearings, and any audio he gets is useful input to his little computer that is sorting through the intricacies of language at a frightening pace. After this age, it is probably wise to start selecting stories that a child with 6+ months of experience might relate to, from his experiential perspective, so he can become interested in the subject matter as his comprehension skills adjust to the task. I'm talking about stories iwth short sentences that are loaded with vivid, age-appropriate sensory descriptions and common objects that can be found below the 2-foot level. It might be useful for you to walk around with a video camera strapped to a stick that can be easily moved around a foot off the ground, and watch the resulting video to see what your target audience is seeing, and how they're seeing it. You'll be surprised to see how much structural engineering they are recording. This exercise can give you a standard by which to judge the material you think might fit your audience.

Examples both good and bad:

Think about the stories you remember and enjoyed from your childhood. There probably aren't very many. For the younger set, the Dr. Seuss collection (Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, Oh Say Can You Say, etc.) seems to be a consistent winner. The rhythm, rhyming and surprises keep the stories moving, the sentences are short, the ideas are simple, and the length of the stories is just about right for the content. The plots and conclusions are sometimes a little quirky, but hey, maybe that's part of the magic. For the same group of young children, The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a good choice. This is what I refer to as a gimmick book but this one is particularly good in that the sentences and page pauses make it especially easy to animate, and the pictures are big and colorful. Besides that, the gimmick is actually relevant to the story. Very well done. This is my article, so I can interject a personal opinion now and then.

Fairy tales are a special case, and probably depend more on your personal memories than on any "gold standard". The abridged versions of Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast and Sleeping Beauty seem to be good ones, in spite of the somewhat unfamiliar concepts of witches and fairy godmothers. On the other hand, Little Red Riding Hood has so many violations of common sense and such serious implications of parental abandonment that responsible adults would run from that story. Of course, that assumes the parents are paying attention, which goes back to my original thesis of boredom being a problem. I can go either way on The Three Little Pigs, but your children must be familiar with the "Huff, and Puff" segments to be accepted later in social settings, and those same segments do make for a great and memorable animation opportunity.

Recommendation for Fairy Tales: Confine the stupid ones to the 0-6-month-old set so they can have the benefit of cultural familiarity, but switch over to the more "palatable" selections when comprehension starts to become evident.

As the child gets a little older, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day seems to work well. Good perspective, appropriate word choices, fun, long enough to get comfortable, but short enough to stay interesting, and with subjects children can relate to. This is actually close to the ideal children's book, if there is such a thing. A very interesting example is The Giving Tree. This story is pretty good for children because of its style, emotions and vocabulary, even though it involves some fairly complex and abstract emotions that are outside the scope of their experience. These emotions are handled in a way that makes the story work for all ages. Pure Genius.

Closing Comments: You are in charge. You are the absolute selection authority for your children. You must take responsibility in the use of this authority you have and make informed selections. You control how boring, inappropriate or insane the material is that you are willing to deal with yourself and subsequently transfer to your children. Conversely, you control how exciting, interesting, and profitable this selection is also. Then you inflect all the excitement you feel for the material through your animation. After the critical selection and inflection phases, the only thing left for you to do is to pay attention to how the material is written and read it with the rhythm that the author was humming in his head when he wrote the story (if rhythm is a part of the content).

Kent Walters is a veteran of reading to his own four children from an early age. He is educated in languages and linguistics, with an emphasis in the linguistic foundations of mental orientation and understanding. He is passionate about the benefits of reading to children, and is on a crusade to raise awareness and encourage this behavior in all parents. As a part of this crusade, Mr. Walters has deployed a couple of websites to encourage the review and generation of more quality children's books. He has written a few children's books himself, one of which he gives away as a free sample on his websites, http://www.reading-to-children.com and http://www.kidsstuffnews.com

This article courtesy of http://www.reading-to-children.com and http://www.kidsstuffnews.com

You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author name and URL remain intact.

Tips On Overcoming Fears Of Breastfeeding In Public

2009-01-15T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Robin OBrien

Many expecting mothers really look forward to breastfeeding their baby. However, for many mothers this expectancy is tinged by a fear of breastfeeding in public. The following tips will help show you how best to nurse in public and help build your confidence.

Breastfeeding is a right every mother has but sometimes you would think this was not the case. What was once an every day occurrence and which was celebrated has, in recent years past, become a bit of a taboo; breastfeeding your child in public. Breastfeeding is now being actively promoted by the health profession and just about everybody now accepts that breast is best. However, there does seem to be a paradox when it comes to breastfeeding. On the one hand you are told to breastfeed but, on the other, you are not exactly encouraged to breastfeed when and wherever you want. Things are changing, slowly. It is up to mothers to continue this change in attitude.

If you have reservations about nursing in public then your first step is to become comfortable breastfeeding your baby in the privacy of your home. You want to have the skills of 'latching on' down pat before you brave the public. Also, you can practice discreet feeding at home. You can practise discreet breastfeeding in front of family members. If they have a problem with you breastfeeding your child in front of them, then you must explain that breastfeeding is something natural it's not a disease or some socially unacceptable habit. If they still feel uncomfortable, then ask them to leave the room whilst you breastfeed. It is important that they leave and not you you need to be assertive about your right to breastfeed. Once, you and baby are at ease with breastfeeding you can now venture outdoors.

In may sound obvious but before venturing out you should wear suitable clothing. Wear a top that is loose and is easy for you to open (or easily allows baby access to your breast). If you wear a very loose top you can even slip baby underneath so that no unbuttoning is necessary and your breasts remain covered up during feeding. Slings are another good idea. They free up both your hands and you can place baby in such a way that no one would know that you're breastfeeding.

Feed your baby as soon as you know he wants to be feed. It's important to stay in tune with your baby's wants when outside your home. When your baby gets hungry he will do everything he can to get your attention; the longer you ignore him the more he going to try and get that attention. You don't want a screaming baby when you're trying to breastfeeding in public.

There are public places and there are public places. When first venturing outdoors, find somewhere where there aren't too many people. Go to a park or somewhere else where it's fairly quiet and relaxed - and find place away from people. Feeding when there's no one around is a good start. Bring your partner of friend with you. They can provide support and by talking to them as you breastfeeding you'll even forget that your in public.

A breastfeeding mother can be made to feel very uncomfortable when she notices someone staring at her. The trick is to return their gaze; don't back down. They'll always look away and move on. More upsetting than being stared at, is when someone will openly let you know that they disagree with mothers breastfeeding in public. Just ignore them; these people are not worth making yourself or your baby agitated.

They say practice makes perfect, and after a few feeds you'll soon be confident enough to breastfeed just about anywhere. Remember breastfeeding is your right and, more importantly, your baby's.

Robin O'Brien is founder of a site where you can learn to overcome you fears of breastfeeding in public and where you can read articles about such things as, breastfeeding and alcohol and fenugreek and breast milk.

Baby Sunglasses

2009-01-14T06:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Graham Nicoll

It might appear to be sufficient to apply some high factor suncream on your little ones and then head off into the sunshine, but do you give much thought for your baby's eyes?

I know from experience with our 10 months old boy that he hates the sun shining in his eyes. It tends to make him sneeze and he screws his eyes up and gets quite distressed. For this reason we investigated some sunglsses to see what was available.

Having tried most of the baby sunglasses on the market the two that we found suitable were the Tommee Tippee Kids in the Sun range and the Baby Banz sunglasses. These are two very different styles of sunglasses as the Tommee Tippee ones look very similar to adult sunglasses, yet smaller. Whereas the Baby Banz sunglasses have a hard frame encasing the lenses, yet there are no arms that stick out and hook over the ears. Instead these baby sunglasses come with an elasticated strap that is adjustable with velcro. The sunglasses sit in place similar to a pair of goggles, except looser. This makes it less likely that the sunglasses will be dropped out of the buggy and lost.

No matter what baby sunglasses you choose for your little one you must ensure that they offer 100% UV protection through the lense and are neat enough fitting to prevent the sun getting in around the edges

You also need to make sure that they are comfortable for your baby. Remember, what fits another baby may not fit your little one!

If you have trouble getting your baby to keep their baby sunglasses on then try going out into the sunshine, let the sun go in your baby's eyes (only for a moment!) and then place the sunglasses on. This will get them associating the sunglasses with releaving the discomfort of the sun being in their eyes. It might take a number of attempts for them to be comfortable with the baby sunglasses, as after all repetition is the key.

Have a great summer and protect your little one with baby sunglasses whilst enjoying the sunshine.

If you are looking for some baby sunglasses for your baby then visit www.smileybaby.co.uk

If you fancy staying out of the sunshine, then howabout visiting www.busylittleones.co.uk to find out about local parent and baby / toddler activities within your local area.

Graham Nicoll is a father of one, Toby, a keen entrepreneur and fitness enthusiast.

He enjoys writing and working with people to help them achieve greater success in their life. Whether this be overcoming mental roadblocks or helping them improve their health and wellbeing.

Premature Babies Is Too Early Too Late

2009-01-14T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Kacy Carr

If every expectant mother were to know that their baby had made plans to arrive earlier than expected then word has it that all pregnant women would be prepared and ready for the arrival of the premature baby. Unfortunately the word premature means just that - earlier than expected with no guideline to times or dates.

We all have faith in our doctor and trust that the due dates he or she gives for the birth of our babies is 100% accurate. So you can understand why a premature birth can come as a surprise or shock for the pregnant woman. It is at a time like this where some confused women question the GPs prognosis. Believe me when I say doctors are never far wrong in their calculations, but alas, they hold no crystal ball to foresee or predict that there is a premature baby on the way.

Premature babies need a lot of care and attention after leaving the womb so this is why we give thanks to the world of modern technology and to all the life saving masters in the medical profession that nurture our before-time babies with their knowledge, thus increasing the odds for their survival. Hospitals today are well equipped to deal with emergencies like early births. The welfare of the premature baby is first and foremost in all hospital maternity wards.

The reasons given behind why a woman may go into labour earlier than anticipated are all health related factors e.g. smoking-poor diet-infections-twins-cervical ineptitude and other conditions that can be life threatening such as pre-eclampsia. All of these can speed up the process where premature baby births are likely.

Premature births can cause problems for the new born baby where their ability to breathe properly is hampered by under developed lungs. Babies delivered earlier than 32 weeks and weighing approx 3lb 5oz are normally born with under developed lungs which cannot conceal surfactant, a kind of frothy matter that holds back the inner surfaces of the lungs from sticking together and because of this the infant may experience severe breathing problems - Respiratory distress syndrome otherwise known as RDS. Depending on how early the baby is born the more prone they are to suffer from RDS.

Birthing after the thirty second week then this condition is less of a problem. If doctors feel you are at high risk of going into labour sooner than your due date then a course of injections/injection can be administered to help strengthen your unborn babys lungs. A premature babys immune system is not fully developed so therefore makes them more vulnerable to infections. Early babies usually develop a touch of jaundice due to an immature liver which is treatable by doctors with the medical aid of phototherapy lamps.

Babies born at 22-23 weeks have a 24 per cent chance of survival, at 24 weeks this rises to 31 per cent. Premature babies delivered at 25 weeks then their chances are increased by 50 per cent and from 32 weeks onwards most babies can survive without medical assistance.

During your pregnancy make sure to ease up on your intake or cut out things that are considered to bring on a premature birth. Pregnant women can become stressed throughout pregnancy (not all) which is not good for your health and that of your unborn child. A great option for you to consider in helping to combat stress is to take up Yoga. This type of exercise will help you relax before and after the birth. Yoga has proven to be very comforting for women. Before any form of exercise always consult your doctor

Premature babies can grow up as healthy as any other infant. November the 12th 1987 was the due date given to me by my doctor but my little boy decided to break the rules and made his appearance on September 23rd weighing in at 3lb 12 oz. My premature baby is now a strapping 6ft 2 mathematician.

The health of you and your unborn baby can benefit from relaxation classes. A fabulous site worth a visit http://www.want2yoga.com If baby has already made his/her presense then all baby needs can be found here http://www.little-babyonline.com

Breastfeeding With Diabetes

2009-01-13T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Vivian Brennan

If you are a diabetic and have a baby, there are certain things to keep in mind while you are breastfeeding. Firstly, studies have proven that breastfeeding a baby can help to prevent type 1 diabetes development. Babies who breastfeed until at least six months will be at a lower risk for type 1 diabetes. Doctors generally recommend that mothers breastfeed their children until nine to twelve months.

Doctors are unsure if the positive effects of nursing come from special nutrients in the colostrum (the special milk from mothers) or if it because babies who are breastfed often grow at a more regular pace than those who are fed from cow’s milk. Babies weaned on cow’s milk often experience growth spurts rather than the steady growth associated with mother’s milk. If you are a diabetic, consider breastfeeding to help lower your child’s chances of diabetes due to genetic predisposition.

Breastfeeding is not nly positive for the babies, but also for the mothers. Breastfeeding can help maternal weight loss, and it is particularly important for diabetic women to maintain a healthy weight. Some breastfeeding mothers find it easier for them to manage their diabetes because their glucose levels stay more constant and they have a remission of some symptoms while breastfeeding.

Just like during pregnancy, breastfeeding requires much blood sugar level monitoring from the mother. You will probably find that your need for insulin is lower than before your pregnancy. Insulin will not enter your baby’s body because it is too large to be carried on the breast milk. However, if you have type 2 diabetes and are taking diabetes medication, talk with your doctor to make sure that you are on a type of medication that will be healthiest for both you and for your baby.

Breastfeeding means that you have to be extra careful of your nutrition, so be sure to see your doctor or dietitian to create a meal plan that will work for you. It is important to eat regular snacks when you are breastfeeding because you want to keep your blood glucose levels constant. You will need to increase your caloric intake by about 500 calories a day to meet your baby’s nutritional needs. You can do this simply by drinking a glass of milk each time you breastfeed, which will keep you both hydrated and full of vitamins.

In order to maintain a balanced diet, experts suggest that mothers eat 20% of calories from protein, 40-60% from carbohydrates, and 30-40% from fruits and vegetables. Keeping up with all of these food groups will ensure that your body has the nutrients to provide for the baby.

As a breastfeeding mother, low blood sugar is an increased risk. However, by eating a healthy diet full of legumes, whole grains, other healthy foods, you will be able to keep low blood sugar at bay. Drinking lots of fluids is also an important part of having a healthy blood sugar level. Most importantly, monitor your blood glucose levels and record the results frequently. Having a newborn baby around will mean that you are very busy, but it is also the time when it is most important to take care of yourself so that you will be able to care for your baby.

When the baby is born, often it is a good idea to immediately allow the baby to breastfeed, which will prevent low blood sugar. Some hospitals will try to take babies away for observation. You can ask politely, and firmly insist that you baby stays with you for the first feeding and for some initial bonding time. If you are hospitalized after the baby is born, ask to bring your baby with you so that you will still be able to breastfeed. Diabetic mothers are not often hospitalized, but since breastfeeding is even more important for diabetic mothers, it is important to keep this in mind.

Some diabetic mothers may find that their milk comes in late, between two days to two weeks. In the meantime, use a breastpump and speak to your doctor to establish the best solution for you and your baby. Even babies who are too weak to breastfeed can be fed breastmilk that has been pumped.

Breastfeeding is a bonding experience for mothers and babies. Diabetics can breastfeed and gain even more benefits than the emotional closeness, such as lowered diabetes risk for the baby, and improved diabetes control for the mother.

Vivian Brennan is an expert on diabetes. She has lived with and managed her diabetes. Vivian is a diabetic, but first and foremost, a mother.

You can learn more about parenting and diabetes (for diabetic parents or diabetic children) at http://www.theguideto-diabetes.com/gestational_diabetes

Choose A Great Baby Shower Theme

2009-01-11T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Stephen Kreutzer

Though a theme isn't necessary for a successful baby shower, it can be a great way to pull a baby shower together. Unsure of what games you should play? Can't choose between different food spreads? Pick a baby shower theme and all of these aspects of the baby shower will become clear. Here are just a few to choose from.

Hollywood Themed Baby Shower

Your invitations can look like movie tickets. Your games can focus on celebrity and movie trivia. You can even ask your guests to dress up as movie stars, if you like! And of course, hot dogs and popcorn are one choice for your guests or you could go the opposite direction with fare that a healthy minded Hollywood mom would love.

Tea Time Baby Shower

If you're having a 'girls only' baby shower, a fun way to celebrate the new little one is to host an afternoon tea. Decorations need be no more than what your living room already holds or you may opt for a tea house instead. Food can include finger sandwiches, scones, jam, and of course, a variety of tea for each of your guests to choose from. Accentuating the Victorian aspect of a traditional tea is another option as is heading to the other side of the world for a traditional Japanese tea theme for your baby shower.

Stock The Shelves Baby Shower

All new moms will need baby food, diapers, wipes, bath supplies, formula or bottles and lots of them. Pick one of these as your theme and ask everyone to bring one as their gift or, if it's a small item, in addition to their gift to the baby shower. Make sure to specify brand or style if the new mom has a preference, especially with formula. If you choose diapers, designate different guests to bring different sizes. The little one won't be little for long!

Time To Take Care of Mommy Baby Shower

The last thing a new mother wants to do is worry about the basics after she brings home her newborn. Ask everyone to bring something to the baby shower that will help Mom in the tough weeks following the birth. Some ideas include: frozen casseroles, gift certificates for maid services or offering of your own cleaning or babysitting services. Mom won't feel like socializing, nor will she likely be comfortable giving up her new addition for a whole night out, but if you come over regularly so that she can shower and nap - that is a gift worth more than gold.

Stephen Kreutzer is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides baby shower tips on http://www.eazy-baby-shower.com

Car Safety Seat Tips

2009-01-10T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Terry Ross

Although some car safety seats are considered safer than others it's a good point to note that all car safety seats must pass the same federal crash tests before being approved for sale in the U.S.

There are many car safety seats on the market with manufacturers adding little extra features in order to try and make their car safety seats better than their competitors but the one main factor that consumers need to be aware of is that if a car safety seat is not fitted correctly and in accordance with manufacturers instructions the car seat's safety is impaired.

When looking for a car safety seat do not make your decision based on price and price alone. Higher priced car safety seats may have added features but such features won't necessarily make the car safety seat safer or easier to use.

If a car safety seat doesn't fit your car well don't use it and never resort to car safety seat accessories to try and make a safety seat fit your car. Manufacturers provide everything you need to correctly fit the car safety seat you are buying, if you need accessories the likelihood is that you have either fitted the seat incorrectly or that the car seat is not suitable for your car.

Ten Car Safety Seat Tips:

1. All car safety seats have weight limits which must be adhered to. Failure to follow weight / size limits can put your baby / child at risk.

2. Always use a rear facing car safety seat for infants under 1 year of age.

3. Never place a rear-facing car safety seat in the front seat of a car that has a passenger air bag.

4. With each new car safety seat read the manufacturers instructions carefully to ensure that the safety seat is correctly fitted at all times.

5. Always make sure your infants car safety seat is fitted securely.

6. Always double check that your baby is strapped into their car safety seat correctly.

7. Never place blankets under your baby before fastening the car safety seat straps. Blankets or similar items could become dislodged with the end result being that your baby is no longer strapped in tightly.

8. Avoid second hand car safety seats unless you know the person you are buying it from, are sure it hasn't been dropped or anything else has happened which might have weakened the seat and it still comes with manufacturer's instructions.

9. Avoid fitting car safety seats next to side air bags. Always follow the car safety seat fitting instructions as provided by your car's manufacturer.

10. If using the same car safety seat for your second or subsequent child check the manufacturers guidelines. Some manufacturers don't recommend that you use their car safety seats beyond 5-6 years from the date of manufacture.

One final warning, never leave your child unattended in their car safety seat either in or out of the car. Leaving an infant in a car safety seat that is not secured can prove dangerous and leaving your infant unattended in a car can result in accidents such death from heat stroke, infants being jammed in electric windows and toddlers letting handbrakes off.

For more on car safety seats visit http://www.1st-4-baby.com

Baby Shower Recipes You Can Use All Year

2009-01-08T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Gail Leino

No one quite knows when that bundle of joy is going to arrive. So, you may be having a baby shower any time of the year: Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter. Here are some basic baby shower recipes you can use at any party all year long.

Fruit Salad
Ingredients:
Peeled, sliced apples green, red and yellow
Peeled, sliced bananas
Sliced peaches or nectarines
Sliced pears
Cubed melon watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew
Seedless grapes red and white
Cut berries strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and raspberries
Sliced oranges
Any fruit that is in season and easily purchased.

Combine all the ingredients you wish from the list above in a large bowl or the hollowed out watermelon rind. Fruit salad is a fresh and healthy treat for any occasion, including your baby shower.

Party Punch
Ingredients:
2 liter bottle of clear soda lemon-lime or ginger ale
1 ½ gallon sherbet pink variety for a girl, blue variety for a boy

In a large punch bowl, pour the clear soda over the sherbet. Ladle into cups and enjoy. Make as needed.

*A variation on this is to make a float with vanilla ice cream and either a red or blue soda.

Baby Bagel Sandwiches
Ingredients:
Mini bagels plain and garlic varieties
Lunch meat ham, turkey, and salami
Spreads tuna salad and chicken salad
Cheese American, Swiss, provolone and mozzarella
Vegetables tomato, lettuce, and cucumber
Mayonnaise
Mustard

Place all of the bagels on one large serving tray. Place all the lunch meats and cheeses on a second serving tray. Place the spreads in bowls with spoons. Place all the vegetables on a third serving tray. Have mayonnaise and mustard available, if needed. Allow your guests to create their own "baby bagel sandwiches" to enjoy.

All of these baby shower recipes can be used all year round. Use one to add to your menu, or all three and your whole shower is covered.

Dressing Up Baby With Baby Clothes

2009-01-07T06:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Ed Whit

Keeping your baby fashionable is not hard to do with Baby Clothes. The consumer market is full of various baby clothes in all assorted shapes, styles, and sizes. You baby can be the fashionista of the block with their clothes.

Clothing for your baby is quite often affordable, and well worth the money paid for them. Many companies offer baby garments for a very reasonable price, mainly because babies will grow out of the clothing at an alarming rate. As much, the clothing that is offered for babies are highly durable, as clothing manufactures are aware of the messes that a baby will have with their clothes.

Baby Clothes make a great gift for an expecting mother. Since the children grow so fast, many people will purchase baby clothes that are larger than what the baby is currently at, as they can then grow into the clothing. Many large department stores offer a clothing section for babies, as they are high demand items.

The baby clothing industry will always be popular, as there are babies that are born every day. More so, many baby outfits will be paired together, saving you, the parent, even more money on the clothing. Baby Clothes have been, and will be clothing that is sure to stay.

You can find this article and more like it at http://www.cherishedbabygifts.info

Baby Stuff

2009-01-07T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Celia Namart

Having a baby is just awesome, there is no doubt that a baby changes everything once its there, and even before it the long road of pregnancy with its dears and doubts has a significant effect on the couples lives.

Most of the working people today have a very demanding and stressed life routine, working or studying, maintaining a family life and trying to hold on to some of our previous social contacts and our hobbies is almost impossible to keep. When a couple first learns of an upcoming pregnancy and baby most of the attention is drawn, naturally, to the pregnant wife, it is after a while that the baby consideration starts to come up.

Once the baby is there a ton of questions and fears come up, assuming it is a first baby everyone has a lot of things to learn and to know, new ideas and concepts and a lot of stuff you need to know how to operate as soon as humanly possible. Baby monitors are extremely important, sometimes these are more important for the young parents than they are for the baby, but in general anything that calms one or two parents is a good thing to have.

Most young parents know nothing about the products they need, they usually consult their parents for tips and advice, but find that many things have changed over the last 20 year in the baby products industry. This may sometimes lead to confusion and anger, a feeling of being lost and a desire to "just get on with it" get whatever is there and take off back to the house, this is not a good thing, not for the baby and definitely not for the parents.

The best thing is to look at the baby products beforehand, dedicate a few minutes every weekend and examine the products so you will be better educated once the baby is there. Do everything you can to learn everything about the products, order catalogs, bookmark shop and stores online sites and make sure you know where the closest baby is.

In the first part I talked about thing that you generally need, there is a different part to the baby products, one that is not so urgent and needed, but you will find that it may give you a lot of pleasure, things like baby picture frame and some early baby toys to have in the baby's room. There are a lot of cute things you can place in the baby's bath and bed, you can look for those while you are buying you more important baby products.

Above all other things, try and feel ready when the delivery is close, if you feel ready you will be calm and able to enjoy all the little things that are a part of the miracle of life. Having a baby is one of the most significant things in life, if not the most, and you should be able to enjoy it without worrying about material things and problems, just prepare and enjoy your baby.

Celia Nemart writes about family and medical issues on the internet, Celia is a dedicated mother that writes about pregnancy and Baby tips and advice for young families.

Nursery Entertainment

2009-01-05T06:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Terry Ross

In the early weeks and months your newborn will spend many hours in the nursery and so the more that is around to amuse your baby the better. Within a few days your newborn will be attracted to anything that moves (although it will be a few months before your baby can really focus properly) so when preparing the nursery you want to think about what will attract and keep your baby's attention.

Early on your baby will be able to focus on things that are near but will also be interested in more distant movement in the nursery even though what attracts his attention might not be that clear. Babies love light and more particularly bright, moving light so look to bring natural light, reflective light and bright coloured light into the nursery.

Natural light filtering through the nursery windows with its flickering shadows will fascinate your newborn and your baby will love reflective mobiles placed near the window so that light bounces off them and flickers all around the nursery.

Babies love television, the noise and movement will fascinate them for hours and although you might not want to encourage your newborn to watch television all the time you might find it useful as part of the nursery entertainment.

When looking for baby toys go for toys that are bright, make a noise and move. Look for anything that will stimulate your baby for your baby's nursery. Coloured mobiles over the cot, coloured lights that reflect off the nursery ceiling and chimes that will add a fascinating but calming noise to your baby's sanctuary.

Father's can have brilliant fun playing with trains and other moving toys which will interest your baby long before his is able to grasp or play with big boy toys. Anything that will encourage interaction and learning in the nursery is brilliant for your baby's development.

Your nursery will be where your baby spends many hours in the cot, having his diaper changed, being dressed, fed or just to play. Whatever your baby is doing you want the nursery to feel safe but also appear interesting and fun. You want your baby to love being in the nursery and enjoy anything he does in the nursery so make sure that you fill the nursery will all types of 'in house' nursery entertainment.

For more about baby nurseries visit 1st-4-baby.com

Home Remedies For A Colicky Baby

2009-01-05T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Vickie Barnes

You may be a new parent or a parent of five kids, but when your baby is crying nonstop you will worry and take him immediately to the doctor many times simply to find out your baby has colic and there is nothing the doctor can do. Most doctors will simply tell you to wait it out and around three months of age your baby's colic should take care of itself. This can be a long time to wait when your baby is miserable and crying incessantly. So, if you aren't the sit around and wait type then you might consider some home remedies for your baby. Remember, however, that the following home remedies will not work for all babies and you may need to try several before finding the best one for your baby.

A great and simple home remedy that just might soothe the colic in your baby is a massage. There are many massage techniques that help reduce discomfort and aid in the passing of gas which you can learn online, from books, or even a massage therapist. Most of these techniques are easy and do not require any experience in massage at all. Generally massage is a positive way to treat your child's colic because it is believe to treat the cause of colic rather than the symptoms resulting in a happier and healthier baby, not to mention parents. Different babies respond to massage in different ways, some very successfully and others not at all. However, it is certainly worth a try because if it works massage is an easy way to help your baby pass gas and avoid the pains of colic. Give massage a try and see if it helps your baby.

Yet another home remedy for colic is herbal tea. Most parents are unaware of this home remedy, but it really does work for many babies. Also, most doctors believe it is perfectly safe to administer up to four ounces of herbal tea to an infant on a daily basis. You should of course check with your doctor first, but if you get the go ahead you will find peppermint, chamomile, ginger, and catnip the most successful at alleviating colic pain and discomfort. Remember, however, that when you give your baby herbal teas you should stick to their regular meal schedule as well because they need the nutrition of a meal that just is not found in herbal tea.

You may also find burping beneficial in reducing colic or helping your baby feel better. Most parents feed their baby and then burp, however doing this with a colic prone baby means more air will enter the baby's tiny digestive system and more gas will be created that causes severe discomfort. So, when it is close to feeding time try burping your child before, during, and after to help reduce gas. Your baby might not like this at first, but it is worthwhile if it reduces the amount of discomfort your baby is in.

Another easy home remedy for a colicky baby is a warm bath, warm water bottle, or other warming device that will heat your baby's stomach but not get too hot and burn baby. It is amazing, but warm water generally relaxes the intestines allowing the baby to pass gas and ease discomfort. It seems amazing that something as easy as a warm bath can ease the discomfort of colic, but many times it does the trick!

Your baby can't help the discomfort of colic and you as a parent should remember that your baby is crying out from pain and discomfort. So try and remain calm and try some of these home remedies to help your baby feel better and not suffer from colic so much.

Vickie Barnes is a colic veteran of two colicky babies. Please visit her website ColicHelp.com, for more support and resources for dealing with colic.

So Many Fun Babyshower Games So Little Time

2009-01-04T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Kelly Jezek

Babyshower games can be the best part or the worst part of a baby shower. Not everyone likes to get up and do the baby dance or embarrass themselves in front of a group they may or may not know well. It is easy to find free babyshower games online and, if you spend some time reading through them, you will most likely find some fun baby shower games that all of your guests will enjoy.

Before the shower, ask each guest to bring a baby photo of themselves and then display all of the photos on a decorated bulletin board. Be sure to include the guest of honor! This is a nice way to break the ice and allows the guests to mingle and get to know one another a bit. It might be a good idea to start with some non action, writing games. You can make a word search online and fill it in with baby words. Or have a name game where you mix-up popular baby names and the guests unscramble them. The first person to complete the page should receive a prize. As the guests begin to warm up, you can offer some more unique baby shower games.

One game is to fill newborn diapers with small amounts of crushed chocolate candy bars. The guests then smell the diapers and decide if it is a Butterfinger, a Snickers bar or just plain milk chocolate. It is funny to watch the looks on people's faces as they see people sniffing tiny diapers! You can have them write out their guesses and then give the person with the most correct answers a prize.

If you have more time on your hands, you can adapt some of the more popular board games like Pictionary or Taboo into baby shower games. For Pictionary, make some cards that would ask your guests to draw different baby items like bottles or diapers or pacifiers. For Taboo, follow the directions for the game, but again, substitute baby words on the cards. Just remember to have a buzzer on hand, as the guests like to buzz any words that shouldn't be said!

If you are still at a loss as to what to play, you can find hundreds of printable babyshower games for a small fee. With delicious food, good baby shower games and a celebrated mom to be, your baby shower will be a great success.

Kelly Jezek is a successful Webmaster and publisher of mybabyshowerhelper.com She provides more helpful tips on planning the perfect baby shower at her site. Visit my baby shower helper today!

Baby Safety Gates Finding The Right Gate

2009-01-03T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Robert Meier

There are a confusing number of choices available to consumers who are seeking a child safety gate. Even after finding one you like, determining exactly which accessory pieces and installation materials will be required for your unique application is a further challenge. Few seem up to the task of providing the needed assistance. Hopefully, the following guidelines will simplify the task for you.

How will the baby gate be used?

Individual child safety gates are designed to meet a limited number of needs. Particular attention should be given when selecting a baby gate for use at the top of a stairway; pressure-mounted safety gates should never be used for this purpose, only hardware mounted gates that are attached to the walls. Other gates are specifically designed to handle a variety of unusual spaces and configurations spaces without opposing and parallel walls, fireplaces, extra-wide spaces. Take care that the gate you choose is designed to handle the particular task you have in mind.

How is the safety gate constructed?

Child safety gates are constructed of wood, metal, plastic, or mesh. For obvious reasons, gates used around fireplaces are metal. Metal gates are generally more sturdy and long-lasting, but also heavier. Wooden gates are preferred by many for their appearance and are designed to be as safe as any metal gate; however, if being used for a pet, they can be damaged by chewing. Generally, the construction of a gate is more a question of taste than functionality.

How would you prefer to install your child safety gate?

Pressure mounted safety gates are generally much quicker to install and can be easily moved from place to place; however, they are only useful when you have a space with opposing walls that are parallel and should not be used for certain applications where they provide inadequate security, such as the top of a stairway. Hardware mounted safety gates take some more time to install but are essential for many applications. Installation kits and accessories are available to help you deal with any unusual installation issues. Many people prefer pressure-mounted gates to avoid putting holes in the walls. However, note that a pressure mounted gate over time can cause worse damage than a few drilled holes if the surface upon which the pressure is being applied is not hard enough. If possible, try to read the detailed instructions for installing a gate before buying it. This should help you avoid any unpleasant surprises when you bring it home. With little effort, you can generally find instructions available online on a manufacturer's website.

How wide is the space?

Baby safety gates are designed to handle a variety of spaces. Extension pieces are usually available to increase the possibilities. Take care to purchase the appropriate extension kits for the gate you have selected to avoid compatibility problems that will reduce the security of your safety gate installation.

Robert Meier is President of Baby Supermall, an internet retailer of Baby Products, including Child Safety Gates and Infant Bedding.

Immunization And Your Babys First Illness

2009-01-02T06:00:00.002-08:00

Writen by Lisa Lee

Without doubt, making sure that your baby has the correct immunizations is very important. She will be given several vaccinations from her birth and these will continue into her childhood.

Since immunization was first introduced it has saved hundreds of thousands of children’s lives. The simple procedure involves injecting your baby with vaccines, which protect them against serious, and sometimes fatal, diseases.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies receive the following vaccinations, but remember that this may change over time so please check with your doctor for the most up to date ones:

Haemophilus influenzae Type b (Hib)
Inactivated polio (IPV)
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTaP)
Pneumococcal (PCV)
Hepatitis B (HepB)
Influenza (flu)
Varicella (chickenpox)

By giving your child these vaccines you are protecting her for her whole life against several diseases. Many of the above vaccines protect your baby against diseases that are particularly prevalent in the early years of a child’s life, while some are for diseases that can occur at any time in life.

The injections are likely to be painful for your baby as they involve getting in injection via hypodermic needle. However, they’re worth it for the protection your child will receive in the long term.

The diseases these vaccinations protect your baby from are very serious. Babies may become very ill and even die if they are allowed to develop the diseases that are prevented by these shots.

Babies are born with some degree of pre-determined natural immunity – this is acquired in the womb from the mother’s blood. This immunity is further strengthened during breastfeeding (breast milk is rich in antibodies).

However this type of immunity is passive and wears off during the baby’s first year, thus leaving her open to several diseases. This is why vaccines are so important.

Your doctor or health care clinic will notify you when it is time for your baby’s first shot, which generally occurs at three months.

It’s likely that your baby will catch a cold at some point, and this can understandably an anxious time for parents. It’s possible that along with the cold your baby may develop a fever – symptoms will include a cough, runny nose/sore throat and watery eyes – she may also display signs of irritability.

A baby that is under 6 years of age is unlikely to be able to breathe through a stuffed nose – this will mean that even eating may be a challenge. You can expect a cold to last anywhere from 2 to 10 days old, sometimes even longer.

Most babies have several colds by the time they reach 2 years of age, and sadly each one is uncomfortable for the baby and anxious for the parents.

If your baby is under three months old when he gets his cold you should contact your doctor. If your baby is over three months old you only need to contact your doctor if the fever gets too high, the cold lasts too long, or you suspect your baby may have an ear infection, cough, or other secondary problem from his cold.

Until the cold disappears there are several things that you can do to ease your baby’s discomfort during his cold:

Rest is important, ensure your baby gets as much of it as possible.
Plenty of liquids are needed, especially if a fever is also present.
If the baby is stuffed up elevate her head by putting a pillow or two under the crib mattress at one end.
Keep your baby comfortable by wiping his runny nose – this will help him breathe easier.
Lots of love, affection and patience are required at this point.

As worried as you are likely to get, your baby’s cold will ultimately pass.

Need more information on baby care tips then try visiting baby-care-guide.info where you will find more information on baby bathing and baby teething

Potty Training Tips An Exercise To Help Prepare Your Emotions For Potty Training

2009-01-02T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Mike Strawbridge

Children mirror the emotions of their teaches and care takers. In order to be successful at potty training, you need to ensure you are in a positive emotional state.

As an aid to helping you prepare yourself for potty training in one weekend, I have written a simple exercise that may help you get in the right frame of mind. The method is based on the "Five Minute Miracle" by Marty Dow. Her book is now included with each purchase of the "Potty Train your child in one weekend" course for your reference.

Think about your child and the behavior you wish to see in your child. In this example lets consider potty training. Your desire is for your child to have clean dry clothes. Don't concern your self with how this will happen. For example don't focus on going to the potty or changing diapers or the like, Just focus on having a happy healthy clean dry child.

Sit or lie down in a comfortable position.

Relax and focus your attention on your breathing and the physical sensations of your body.

Start thinking about how you want your child to be.

Imagine your child playing in front of you. Imagine with as much detail as possible. See the colors, hear the sounds, smell the smells.

Imagine that you see your child surrounded by a pink ball or blanket of love. Visualize your love for your child surrounding your child on all sides.

See the two of you smiling at each other as you are both happy, safe and secure.

Feel a positive emotion like joy or happiness as you watch the imaginary scene.

Now imagine yourself telling a friend how well this process worked.

See yourself happily enjoying this new behavior pattern that you have established in your child.

Specifically see yourself praising your child for having clean dry clothes.

Feel the pride and joy of your accomplishment.

Now let the image go.

If you visualize any conflicts or problems during the session, just change the story until it fits your desires and expectations. Keep going until all you see is your success.

Take five minutes each day to perform this exercise as you make your preparations for your potty training weekend.

Mike Strawbridge is a contributing writer to the Potty Training Site and editor of "How to Potty Train Your Child in One Weekend" written by his wife Janice.

More information about the course and more potty training tips and tricks can be found at http://www.pottytrainingsite.com

Even more potty training tips for solving your potty training problems and frustration are listed on our blog at http://pottytrainingsite.blogspot.com

Choosing Babies New Clothes

2009-01-01T06:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Kevin Hart

It's your first baby. You're really excited and enjoying all the preparations: fitting out the nursery, sharing your hopes and dreams with other mums and dads to be and of course there is all that shopping for babies new clothes.

As far as buying baby clothes are concerned there are two things you must keep in mind. The first is babies comfort and the second, and it's something you'll soon discover babies grow very quickly!

It is nice to buy pink or blue and to have everything in baby's wardrobe brand new but really what matters most of all is babies comfort and safety! If an older sister or workmate offers you some second hand clothes use them. Clothing your newborn is going to be a very expensive business and you will appreciate the help.

Let's have a look at possible fabrics:

You'll find that cotton, or cotton blends, are often the preferred option. They have several advantages over other fabrics. The material washes well and is durable. Baby stains are easily removed and it is safe to wash at a higher temperature. Look out for cotton knits, they are great at retaining their shape, they don't need ironing and in general will not shrink.

Terry fabrics are also worth considering. Terry fabrics for babies are often cotton and nylon blends. They are soft, breathe well and are comfortable A plain texture in a terry fabric can often feel like a soft cotton t-shirt.

That's another important point when shopping make sure the item 'breathes,' i.e. body moisture can evaporate, especially in the summer months.

Pay attention to the care labels, read them carefully to discover what the garment is made from. While not all countries use the same marking symbols you should make sure that babies clothes are capable of been washed and dried at high temperatures.

In general it is best to avoid clothing that has to hand-washed or washed on the delicate/gentle cycle as these will not clean or last as long as other fabrics. It's nice to buy baby the occasional 'special' item but in general these products will cost you more money over the year.

Remember also that babies' skin is very delicate so if you want to use a softener use only dryer-sheet softeners as these are less abrasive.

At some stage you may want to bleach babies clothes check the label to see if you can use chlorine bleach or if you can only use a non-chlorine, color-safe bleach.

Check the seams of garments. Watch that the seams are will finished and there are kept to a minimum. Where the garment has a collar it should be small and lay flat.

When you come to buy sleepwear make sure it is not bulky or irritating. If the item has feet make sure there is plenty of room for babies' feet to move. Under no circumstance should baby feel restricted within the garment.

Pay close attention to the type of product you are buying, read carefully the manufacturers instructions, and always think comfort and safety. Enjoy baby!

Kevin Hart lives in Armagh City, Ireland. He is an author and researcher. More articles on babies and toddlers can be found on his website at http://www.babies-worldwide.com

5 Tips To Help New Parents Get Some Sleep

2009-01-01T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Craig Rowe

The joy of a new baby is certainly special and something that all new parents experience. However, a lack of sleep is also part of having a new baby and new parents notoriously get very little sleep, if any at all. Fortunately, there are some strategies and tips to help new parents get some sleep when the new baby comes. Of course, with a baby you will never get an over abundance of sleep, but these tips will help you at least get enough sleep to keep your sanity.

Tip #1 Take Turns

When the baby starts crying both parents generally wake up, even if only one attends to the baby. However, in the first couple of months both parents might get up each time the baby cries. This will lead to a lack of sleep for both parents. The best plan is for mom and dad to make a plan of who will get up when to comfort the crying baby. Generally, taking turns is really the best option and will help everyone get just a little more sleep.

Tip #2 Nap With Baby

If you are caring for the baby and are tired and the baby goes to sleep then you should take a nap as well. This will allow you to get some much needed sleep. So, whether the baby naps in the morning, afternoon, or early evening you should also get a little rest because you never know when the baby might wake up.

Tip #3 Accept Help

Frequently when you have a new baby there are plenty of people willing to help from parents, siblings, friends, and other family members. So, when you really need to get some sleep just accept some of the help that is being offered. Having your mom care for the baby just a couple of hours will allow you to get some much needed sleep.

Tip #4 Keep Baby in Nursery

The baby should sleep in the nursery and not with the parents. Many times it is tempting to allow the baby to sleep with the parents, but this is not healthy for the child or the parents. So, put the baby to sleep in his crib in the nursery. Then, when the baby cries one parent can easily go attend to the baby without disturbing the other parent. This allows a little more sleep for new parents.

Tip #5 Feed Baby Before You Sleep

If your baby has been asleep for several hours and it is around 11 pm and you are getting ready for bed simply wake baby for a feeding. Most babies wake during the night because they are hungry, so if you feed baby late before you go to bed it is likely they will sleep until early morning or 6-7 hours. This will allow you to get some continuous sleep, even if it is not as much as you want.

SearchArticles.net features over ten thousand articles, tips and information on a variety of subjects. For additional tips and articles for new parents, visit http://www.searcharticles.net/parenting.cfm

Wheres My Mother Of The Year Award

2008-12-31T06:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Alice Wisler

With orange juice spilled over the kitchen table, Playdough in the cracks of the hardwood floor and a pacifier floating in the toilet, I wanted to scream phrases like, "How much more of this can I take?" and "I am not a maid!" and most of all, as the characters in Peanuts do, the long and profound, "AAUGH!" As I wiped the kitchen table, dug out the Playdough and retrieved the pacifier, I muttered, "Surely I deserve an award for mother of the year."

When I decided to become a mother, I envisioned days of cuddling my newborn and bathing her as serene music filled the air. As she'd grow older, I envisioned playing Ring Around The Rosies with her and a group of her neighborhood friends. I'd be a loving mother, anxious to nurture and praise my child. I'd never raise my voice.

The truth was, as soon as I become pregnant with my firstborn, I realized this was not how I had pictured it at all. I gained an enormous amount of weight, had heartburn and felt the most excruciating pain as I prepared to push my daughter from my body out into the world.

Continually, with each passing day, I am reminded that motherhood, especially when it involves preschoolers, is not a glamorous profession. How could it be when it starts with a growing belly, timing contractions and later waking up to cries at two a.m.? (A mother's cries as well as the baby's.)

"It is the daily routine things that can drive me crazy," a mother I recently talked with expressed. "I get tired of having to make sure my four year old has brushed his teeth, make sure that there are clean clothes that I have laundered for him to wear and I am especially tired of making sure I stock the pantry with nutritious items to pack in his lunch for preschool."

Does anyone care about what we mothers have to go through? Do our seemingly menial tasks mean anything to anybody? Our husbands may come home with a promotion or an award and a paycheck. We don't get any of these to show that what we do is noteworthy and valuable.

I used to expect the Ed McMahon of awards to mothers to come to my door and present me with a plaque that read: "For All Your Remarkable Hard Work." Others in the neighborhood would crowd around my front lawn, beaming at me and applauding my daily, grueling commitment to motherhood.

There was a time in my life when I felt I really needed to be recognized and presented with a motherhood award. It was immediately after my adorable four-year-old son, Daniel, died following cancer treatments. I wished I could have sunk into a hole in the sticky floor and not had any responsibilities. Not only was my grief consuming and agonizing, but I had to care for my surviving children, six-year-old Rachel and fifteen-month old Benjamin. On top of that, I was six months pregnant. If ever I felt I needed support, help, an award, it was then. Losing a child, your own flesh and blood, has to be the most difficult aspect of motherhood. Three months later, adding to the demands of parenting two kids and the suffering over the loss of one, arrived a new-born Elizabeth. Where was that award? Could there be a more appropriate candidate for it?

As time went on and no one called to invite me to tell my story on Oprah or on James Dobson and there was no excited crowd with cameras knocking at my door with the engraved plaque, I began to reconsider this award idea. Would an award given by those who heard my story really be sufficient? Even my closest friends did not know the agony of my situation and if they were to list the detailed reasons as to why I should get this motherhood award, they would come up short. They would leave out the darkest parts I had kept secret, therefore unable to know what was really going on with me.

Those of us who do not have ill children or disabled children to care for would not know what kind of inclusive award to give to the mothers of these children. We don't see the day-to-day struggles that consist of severe behavioral troubles, extensive trips to the doctors', the constant administration of medicines and the fear the child's future may not be bright. We can't know all that goes on when we don't live with these children.

Only God knows our individual pain. The only true award of genuine value could be from Him as He knows all we have been through. Our self-worth lies in knowing who we are in Christ. We are loved and are precious to Him. We have been given a gift, the valuable role of mother, with all its triumphs and trials. We are servants and serving Him through doing the daily grunge-work for our kids. Jesus said that whoever would be greatest in God's kingdom must learn to be servant of all. Within the realm of mere humans, is there any greater example of servanthood than motherhood?

While we may at times, be hopeful the award is coming soon, the reality is no earthly award presented by a human could measure up to what we are really worth. If we truly believe God sees all and knows all, then we can rest assured the award in Heaven will be the best and worth the wait. "Well done, my good and faithful servant," will be glorious music to our ears. And we won't even have to be holding a mop to receive it!

But meanwhile, as you scrub the blue marker off the bedroom wall, know your humbling job as a serving mother is pleasing unto the Lord.

Alice J. Wisler's children are older from when she first wrote this essay, but her heart will always hold empathy for the mother of young children. Alice speaks on writing through parental loss, and is the author of two cookbooks of memory, "Down the Cereal Aisle" and "Slices of Sunlight."

Visit her website at Daniel's House Publications: http://www.geocities.com/griefhope/index.html

The Beauty And Benefits Of Breastfeeding

2008-12-31T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Rachel Thompson

In recent years, there has been a lot of debate surrounding the issue of breastfeeding. While the decision to breastfeed is a personal one, there are countless benefits for both mother and child that ought to be explored. One of the most significant reasons to breastfeed your child relates to the quality of food your child is ingesting. Although baby formula may meet the nutritional requirements of children, it is not the ideal food for babies.

According to the World Health Organization, Breastfeeding is the absolute best source of food for babies. Commercial baby formula is comprised of countless preservatives and by-products of other food production techniques that have no proven benefit for your child. Formula is also extremely high in fat content, and leads parent to believe that their child is thriving because he or she is gaining weight. This is not necessarily the case.

Breast milk, on the other hand, has undergone millions of years of development in the laboratory of Nature. Countless studies have proven that there is no reasonable substitute for Breast milk. Breast milk has the amazing ability to transform and adapt to the needs of your baby at various stages of development.

Colostrum is an amazing example of the way a woman's body produces the perfect food for baby. It is the first liquid produced by a mother, usually beginning a few months before delivery. It differs slightly in appearance than breast milk, in that it is thicker and has a yellowish tint. It has a high concentration of antibodies, which helps newborns fend off illness and disease and build strong, stable immune systems. It is extremely easy for babies to digest, and it also has a laxative effect to help ease digestion.

Studies have also shown that there is a direct relationship between breastfeeding and a child's cognitive ability and intelligence. Simply put, breastfed babies have higher IQ's than their bottle-fed peers. Some studies have concluded that the longer a child is breastfed, the higher IQ he/she will have. Other studies have shown that breastfed children have a lower incidence of ear infections. This is significant when one considers the overuse of antibiotics and antibiotic resistant disease.

Food allergies are another important consideration for new parents. Breastfed babies have a much lower chance of developing food life-threatening food allergies. As a consequence, the have an even lower chance of developing related illnesses such as gastrointestinal disorders, diarrhea and vomiting. Breast milk protects babies from food allergies because it has a high concentration of the immunoglobulin IgA. IgA works by binding to foreign proteins and preventing them from entering the child's bloodstream. Children do not begin to produce IgA of their own until approximately 8 months of age.

Other studies have concluded that breastfeeding can also protect your child from diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis and Leukemia. New parents should explore their options carefully, and make educated decisions regarding their child's health and well being. Speak with your Pediatrician, or contact your local health unit, for more information. The choice you make will affect your child's health for the rest of his or her life.

Rachel Thompson is the proud mother of two young children, and a regular contributing writer for thebabydepartment.com a wonderfully informative online resource for parents, with information about breastfeeding, car seats, baby supplies and more.

Todays Baby Names

2008-12-30T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Julie Parker

One of the most exciting things new parents get to do before the arrival of their child is choose the baby's name. Will it be something popular or unusual? A family name or something original? We will explore the top baby names as well as some of the more unique possibilities to help you choose the perfect name.

Top Baby Names

In the 90s, the most popular name for a boy was Michael. For the past five years, the most common name has been Jacob. Other popular names include Joshua, Matthew, Ethan, Andrew, Daniel, William, Joseph, Gregory, Jonathan, Benjamin, and Christopher. If you are looking for a classic, these baby names have been popular for years.

The most popular name for a girl has not changed in the past fifteen years. It continues to be Emily, and is currently followed by Emma, Madison, Olivia, Hannah, Abigail, Isabella, Ashley, Samantha, and Elizabeth. Except for Ashley and Elizabeth, the popularity of the others is recent and affected by pop culture, especially television shows.

Other sources of popular names are best-selling novels and celebrities. After Gweneth Paltrow named her daughter Apple, many people have done the same. The Harry Potter books and the Lord of the Rings movies have also added many names to the list of the most popular.

Unusual Baby Names

One way today's parents have created unusual names for their children is by changing the spelling of a popular name. Variations that are becoming less unusual include Emilie, Elisabeth, Karin, and Erika. Names like Stacy can be spelled in three different ways (Stacy, Stacie, Staci).

Another way to personalize a baby name is to use a nickname as the child's full name. For instance, Ben instead of Benjamin, Jon instead of Jonathan, and Matt instead of Matthew are becoming more common.

Other unusual sources for baby names come from the world around us. The popularity of names such as April and May continues to come and go, while names such as Winter, and Hazel are still unusual. Consider choosing a baby name reminiscient of the time of year when your child will be born or the time of year they were conceived. Fruit, vegetables, colors, and the adjectives that describe them are a good starting point (Pear, Lemon, Azure). Other uncommon names are those of plants and flowers, such as Hyacinth, Daisy, and Fern.

Other ideas to get you thinking:

Africa

Autumn

Butterfly

Calla

Kansas

Peach

Names that describe an ideal or a personality, such as Hope, Grace, Prudence, Patience, Temperance, or Chastity, are still unusual although not entirely unique. Other descriptive baby names include Cadence and Candid.

Other unusual names come from sources that are not commonly used today. While Biblical names are popular, Greek mythology is only rarely used. Your child may be the only one in their class to have the name Athena, Minerva, or Pan. Or you could give them a name from another culture, such as the Swedish Carina or the Polish Aleksy.

Baby names from other cultures include:

Anuket - Egyptian mythology

Augustyn - Polish

Crina - Romanian

Dimitriy (Dima) - Russian

Freya - Norse mythology

Hestia - Greek mythology

Kirill - Russian

The possibilities are endless! But as mentioned above, remember that if the source of your baby's name is a television show, novel, or celebrity, the name may not be that unusual when they begin school several years down the road. This is especially true for girls. Look for Apple, Reese, and Uma to be popular over the next five years.

Perhaps you'd like something even more original.

Unique Baby Names

If you don't want your child's name to be the same as anyone else's, you can create a unique baby name. These names can have many sources. The more common methods of creating something original are by the combination of family names or the addition of a syllable or letter to a popular name. An example of the latter is Kylen, a unique girl's name which stems from the boy's name Kyle. Unique baby names which may come from a family name include Stafford, Prestoff, and Kilin. While some people may find these better suited for a middle name, others may prefer their unique nature.

A sampling of unique names:

Baton

Jaico

Kermin

Lorelai

Mady

The Meaning of a Name

For some people, it doesn't matter whether a baby name is popular or unique, it just has to mean a certain thing. Rather than choose a baby name with an obvious connotation such as Spring, Grace, or Rose, they want a name that will bring goodwill to their child through its ancient origin.

Some popular as well as unusual baby names include:

Adelaide (Adelia, Alyssa, Allison) - noble

Albert - bright

Alethea - truth

Beatrice - traveller

Cara - beloved

Colbert - bright

Darwin - friend

Elfleda - beauty

Gertrude - stength

Hannah (Anna) - favor, grace

Henry (Henrietta) - power

Isolde - beauty

Keisha - favorite

Letitia - joy

Manfred - strength

Osmund - protector

Robert (Bob) - fame

Vivian - alive

Tips For Choosing

There are many things to consider when you finally select a baby name. Will this be a name your child can use for life, or will it sound silly when it refers to an adult? Will this name cause your child to be picked on? Will they have to constantly correct people in its pronunciation or spelling, and does this concern you? Are there any stereotypes (good or bad) associated with it?

One last concern is: does it fit with your last name? Generally it sounds better if there are a different number of syllables in the first and last names. Only rarely should the first letter of the first and last names be the same. This is of course more of a concern for boys, as they will keep their name for life. Of course, any decisions about hyphenation in the last name should be made before the first name is chosen.

Try not to get overwhelmed by the possibilities. After all, you have nine months to make this decision! Leave yourself open to the myriad sources of ideas, and you will find the baby name for you. And of course, if you let people know you're looking, friends, family members, and even coworkers might add their own suggestions!

Keep these things in mind, and you will choose a popular, or unusual, or unique baby name that your child will be proud of for life.

Julie Parker is a successful writer and publisher providing valuable tips and advice on finding the top baby names, unusual baby names, and baby name meanings. Her numerous articles offer thoughtful tips and valuable insight into baby naming. Check out the "Top 100 Baby Names" list from the last 6 years.

Diapers The Welfare Of Tiny Tushies And The Environment

2008-12-29T06:00:00.003-08:00

Writen by Joy Cagil

During the seventies, I raised my children on books that criticized the notions of rigid childcare, and if I remember correctly, one authority of those days warned that the mother could scar the child forever if she pushed a child's toilet training. These books also alerted their readers to the fact that those mothers who boasted of their early successes were the ones who fooled themselves, because they were the ones aware of their babies' elimination needs at their onset and reacted accordingly while their babies remained untrained.

In those times, Pampers became the way to go and they overtook their soft cloth counterparts like wildfire. Soon, a few more disposable diaper companies followed Pampers. Since the first one of my children developed a skin rash with the disposables, we used cloth diapers with diaper pins. Remember, we didn't have Velcro in those days. With my second child, we graduated to disposables.

So much has changed since then. More mothers are pushing toilet training to a much earlier time, some as soon as the first couple of months of infancy. I bet they are not scarring anybody, since the generations before mine observed the same guidelines of these young mothers. It also seems like cloth diapers are proven to be better for the tiny tushies according to the most recent studies.

Yes, cloth diapers and diaper panties are in the vogue again, after the realization that disposables crowd the landfills the most and are not truly biodegradable; plus, more than two decades ago, a Canadian pediatrician advised that disposables, according to his studies, caused more frequent and severe diaper rashes. Companies that produced disposables have conducted their own studies and they claimed that disposables are safe and eco-friendly. The studies done by the environmental agencies and public health offices, however, have pointed to some very different conclusions compared to those studies done by the companies. Most parents, therefore, have become proponents of cloth diapers, today.

Opposed to the long rectangle or large square of the soft cloth diapers of the sixties and the seventies, cloth diapers of today come in different fabrics and styles.

First, there are pre-fold diapers that can be placed inside waterproof covers to hold the diaper in place. Then, there are contoured diapers that fold to a baby's shape and fit inside a cover. There are also fitted diapers that are held in place at the waist with Velcro over which the baby wears a waterproof panty.

Then, the best option is probably those diapers with beautiful and entertaining designs where the diaper and the cover are sewn together. The soft cloth, printed diapers with matching waterproof fleece covers look very chic, especially when their print is the same as the receiving blanket and other clothing articles of the infant.

If you do not hesitate to use your washing machine at home for the baby's diapers, probably cloth diapers are the best for your budget, your baby's skin, and the environment. Ideally, all soil on the diaper should be rinsed off into the toilet first and the diapers should be stored in a covered pail with some mild detergent in warm water until the next wash. Then, you can put the diapers in the washing machine with no misgivings, and if you feel you need to take extra measures, you can run the washing machine empty after washing the baby's diapers.

On the other hand, you might consider using a diaper service, which could be too costly for the typical family. On the average, a diaper service costs 40 to 70 dollars a month, based on two diapers a day. Yes, there is a count and an average baby will need to be changed a lot more often than twice a day.

While we are at the subject of the diapers, let's not forget the importance of the diaper bag most mothers and baby care-givers would be lost without. Nowadays, the modern diaper bags can be attached to a stroller with clips and they are much fancier than their plastic predecessors of the seventies. Not only do they look trendy on the outside, but also they are functional inside with pockets for cell phones, wallets, and keys, plus changing pads, cases for wipes, and nylon linings to prevent spills.

Caring for a baby's elimination needs may be deemed a selfless act, but it is still a chore. It can, however, be turned into a productive and loving task that is safe for the baby and is also environment friendly.

This article has been submitted by Joy Cagil in affiliation with http://www.BabyNameVote.Com/ which is a site for Baby Names.

Potty Training Mistakes Parents Make

2008-12-29T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by David Dunlap

Potty training can sometimes be a trying experience for parents. It's extremely important to make sure that your child feels like he is well supported and that you maintain a positive attitude toward him if you want to ensure success. Here are some things that you will want to avoid. Don't try to force the issue. Make sure that your child is ready to use the potty, is able to tell you what his needs are and can handle what is needed to do it before starting.

You should be sure to always offer encouragement and support. If your child refuses to go, because if you start forcing him to go and sit on the potty you will only create a very angry and hostile atmosphere and can lead to more resistance. It can create negative associations with using the bathroom that can be hard to undo later, and can also cause your child to start bedwetting, which can be emotionally harmful. Try to approach this time of learning much the same as you did with other skills like sitting up, walking and talking.

Don't start potty training during a time of stress for your child. Even good stress is bad stress when it comes to potty training a kid. Marriages, new babies, and during vacations can be just as difficult for your child as a divorce, death or moving into a new home. If anything big and new is coming up in your lives, reconsider potty training until the time is past. Wait until life settles down and the normal flow of life comes back. This will help creates a secure place for your child and helps him place toileting easily alongside other routines.

Don't set deadlines in the training process or try to accomplish training in a set number of days. Young children don't work too well under pressure and they certainly don't have the same concept of time that adults do. Make sure that you are realistic with your time expectations from your child, which is really important if you are looking to potty train an infant. Programs that promise that your child will be potty trained in three days, one day or even 100 days aren't being very realistic and they are certainly not taking your child's individuality into account. Each child has his own temperament and brings different skills to the table, so there is no set potty training method for any child.

Potty Training Help For You is a resource guide devoted to helping make parenting a little easier. For more information and tips on potty training, please visit http://pottytraininghelpforyou.com

Six Ways To Save On Your Baby Shower

2008-12-28T06:00:00.001-08:00

Writen by Jackie Duescher

It's time to celebrate the baby! As Keepsake Favors' resident baby shower expert, I've learned how to plan a great party without draining your bank account. Here are my top choices for fun, festive baby showers that won't put you in the poor house.

Host the Baby Shower at Home

Restaurants can run up a hefty bill (unless you ask each guest to pay their own way), and a caterer can also run you into a small fortune. Hosting the shower at your home can be a great way for your guests to bond with one another and still have a fun party.

Grab Game Ideas From the Internet

You don't need to go out and buy elaborate baby shower games - the internet has gobs of baby shower games you can get - presto! Instant baby shower fun.

Choose an Earlier Time of Day

On the average, evening parties tend to be more expensive - dinner food and alcohol can run into a lot of cash fast. Instead, have a Sunday brunch with a delicious egg dish and punch, or an afternoon tea with finger sandwiches and lots of cake. Better still, if you want to avoid a meal altogether, choose a time when you can be sure most everyone has eaten (say, 2:00, which is past lunch), and then you can still have some snacks and a slice of cake instead.

Get Creative With the Decorations

Move over, Martha, you don't need a mint to make the shower fabulous. Choose a theme that will be lots of fun (like ducks or bears, or It's a boy/girl) and you're on your way. Create invitations on the computer; use colorful balloons for centerpieces (they're usually more affordable than flowers), and decorate each place setting with small accessories that will add interest to the table, and your guests can take home.

Ask For Help!

If you've got a talented baker friend, ask her to bake the cake or cupcakes. Rope Aunt Barbara into making her famous California salad. Getting more people involved will take some of the pressure off of you - and everyone will want to pitch in for the mommy-to-be!

Create Your Own Favors

Don't worry, I'm talking semi homemade. A memorable favor can be as easy as this: Purchase some pre-made treats like chocolates in fun shapes or pastel colored candies, then slip them in a little box or cello bag. All that's left is to tie on a beautiful bow and you've just created a unique favor, and saved some money too. For a brunch or lunch, put one at each placesetting to double as a decoration, or fill up a pretty basket with your favors and let guests help themselves.

Now, go get started on your amazing baby shower!

About the Author

Jackie Duescher provides the customer service for Keepsake Favors as well as inspiration for many of the favor creations on the site. Jackie has a special knack for finding unique favors for baby showers and for other occasions, and she firmly believes that a favor doesn't have to be expensive to impress your guests.

http://www.keepsakefavors.com