Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Planning For A Baby Shower

Writen by Maria Frost

Who doesn't get excited when a baby is on its way? Aside from their caring mothers, everyone in the family gets that certain thrill. Welcoming yet another being in this beautiful world comes with a certain joy. So how else can you celebrate a soon-to-be-child arrival? Have a blast with a baby shower party.

Planning a baby shower can be really fun. You can create your own party as you wish. You can either go traditional or put a little humor to your event. You can choose whatever theme you want. Unleash your creativity. The main goal is simply to have your baby shower unforgettable and fun for everyone.

To get you started, the tips below can absolutely help you with the steps of creating that perfect baby shower party for you.

Be prepared
Plan ahead of time. It is best to hold baby showers either on the seventh or eighth month of pregnancy.

Look for a perfect location.
You can opt to have your house or the backyard as your event area. If you have an extravagant budget you can scout for convenient party places which can hold your guests.

Set the right date and time
Be sure to check out your guests' availability, from there schedule where most of your expected guests can be free. Set a date that could easily fit to their other engagements.

Think of the perfect theme
There are hundreds of baby shower themes that you can choose from. Popular choices are teddies, cartoon themes, or balloons. The possibilities are endless.

Surprise her
To make the party more momentous, you can make a surprise baby shower for the guest of honor. Consult her close and relatives when preparing your guest list.

Impress with invitations
Send out invitations at least three weeks before the event. Match your invitations with the theme of the party itself with the theme of the party itself. Be sure that the invitations contain all vital information like date, time and sketched- up location. Be creative in designing your invitations.

http://www.babyshowerportal.com/Tips-On-Planning-For-A-Baby-Shower.html

To Get Even More Advice On Baby Showers Visit Maria Frost's Site baby shower planning tips.

Giving Juice To Your Baby

Writen by Christine Albury

Fruit juice for babies -- it sounds healthy enough, doesn't it? Yet giving juice to your baby is not as beneficial as many parents believe.

Health organisations worldwide, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Food Standards Agency in the UK, recommend that babies receive no supplemental fluids during the first 6 months of life. This means no juice OR water -- breastmilk or formula alone are sufficient for your baby's needs. If you give juice to your baby before 6 months of age, you may find that this "fills him up". This will then result in him consuming less breastmilk or formula, depriving him of the nutrients which are crucial to healthy growth and development.

Even in older babies, drinking too much juice may be harmful -- a baby who consumes juice before a solid meal will very likely eat less of his meal. This means he will be consuming less essential fats, vitamins, proteins and minerals than his body needs.

Another very important point to consider is that an excessive intake of juice can cause the body to absorb less carbohydrates -- this can sometimes lead to malnutrition.

Fruit juice can also be responsible for infant tooth decay, tummy pains and diarrhea.

The best option is to offer whole fruit to your baby -- nutritionally, it is far superior to juice and contains the fiber that juice lacks. When your baby reaches an age when supplemental fluids are required, then offer water instead! Many parents say that their babies will not accept water -- however, if your baby has not yet experienced the sweetness of juice, then he won't know what he's missing and is more likely to accept water quite happily!

If you still wish to include juice in your baby's diet, then you need to ensure that the juice you offer is appropriate for an infant.

Avoid juices marked "fruit drink", "fruit beverage" or "fruit cocktail" -- these are composed of less than 100% juice and often contain added sweeteners and flavors.

Any juice given to a baby must be pasteurized -- specially produced "infant juices" are the safest option and do not contain sulfites or added sugars.

Always offer juice in a cup, not a bottle - this prevents the fruit sugars in the juice from pooling around your baby's teeth. Only give juice with a meal - don't allow your baby to endlessly sip juice throughout the day.

Finally, limit your baby's intake of juice to between 4-6oz per day. This is equivalent to one serving of fruit and is sufficient for a baby's dietary needs.

Christine Albury is a mother of four and the author of http://www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com. She has written articles for several parenting websites and also writes for a regional UK magazine.

For more information about giving your baby supplemental fluids, visit Can I give my baby water?

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Baby Shower Invitations Is Your Way The Right Way

Writen by Gracie May

The fun and excitement begins before any baby shower party plans are finalised, how you ask. As soon as the person invited receives their invitation all hell breaks loose. To be on the receiving end of an invitation to a baby shower sends a signal to say good times are coming. Guests treasure this moment where they feel special in being asked to join in the celebration of the new born on the way. Therefore the interest taken in the invitation will be similar to that of a forensic search where every little detail on the invite will be checked out, this is why baby shower invitations have to be right.

Baby shower invites are gladly kept as keepsakes so give your guests an invitation they will want to frame and keep forever.

Selecting the right invitation for your baby shower can prove to be just as much of a challenge as the planning of the whole event.

Themes for baby showers are very rewarding to the eye in style and design with hundreds to choose from. Sailing boats for little boys and dollies for girls. All these are very popular picture themes used on baby shower invites. You may have plans to keep the theme behind the baby shower a mystery, if so a photo of a baby surrounded by cuddly toys is the best way to keep it a secret. Please do not place a picture of a girl and boy because imaginations may just run wild?

If you have decided on a theme for the baby shower invitation even better as guests may want join in the fun by dressing up in a costume that suits the baby shower setting.

Important factors when writing your invites is to make sure to add the guests name, this may sound silly but can easily be overlooked. Where and when the event will take place the contact number of the host and gender of baby if known. In abundance are companies that specialise in baby shower invitations. You will be amazed to see how many designs and styles there are to choose from.

Usually about two months before the birth of the baby is when baby showers are celebrated. Preparations take place well in advance sometimes as early as the announcement of the pregnancy. These events are normally arranged by close friends and family. If this occasion is to be a memorable one then plan carefully. A sure way of guaranteeing remembrance is to celebrate the baby shower in a unique way; you can do this by getting the words right on the baby shower invitation.

Wording usually is in the form of nursery rhymes or quotes, to be in a jolly mood at the time of sending the invites will help express your feelings thus implementing intimacy in your message to a true friend.

A picture paints a thousand words but it is what it says that matter.

1. Please come to my party for future little feet that pitter patter and if you can not come it does not matter.

2. Please come to my party for future little feet that pitter patter. AS LONG AS YOU ARE THERE THAT IS ALL THAT MATTERS.

Unique choice of words of your own is the best way in making your baby shower extra special. How on earth can a person other than your self know what it is you want to say, by doing it your way this occasion will never be forgotten.

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