Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Preparing A Layette For Your New Baby

Whether your new baby is going to be your first or fifth, taking that baby back home from hospital requires a lot of preparation. It is far better to have the essentials ready to make for a smooth return home with your new arrival. The last thing you will want to do in those first few days after the baby arrives is to run around buying any little necessities that you forgot. You will undoubtedly feel much more at easy, and able to concentrate on the baby, if you have everything prepared well in advance.
If you can get everything you need for the layette, whether bought new or second hand, or even borrowed, then you can feel relaxed about being able to deal with the initial practicalities of taking the baby home.
While it is nice to have everything brand new for your baby, it is worth thinking long and hard about whether that is at all necessary, or even desirable. One thing is certain, babies get to be very expensive, and they grow into even more expensive children and teenagers later on. Unless you are financially super secure long into the future, you may appreciate in the long run saving as much as you can in the early days.
Baby clothes especially are very expensive new, when you consider their tiny size. Whatever item you buy, your baby will soon out grow it, so new does not necessarily mean good value. Quite the opposite, in fact.
Remember, you are buying things for your baby, and your baby cares not one iota if the clothes you adorn them with are new, second hand or fourth hand. The baby will grow quickly, and the clothes may get soiled quickly if you are unlicky. All the baby needs is your love and care, plus comfort for sleeping and resting. It is all about security and love in the early stages. Your baby is not a fashion model.
Of course, you want the baby to look nice in what they wear, and they will pretty soon become conscious of their clothes. But if you are buying on a budget, there are plenty of low cost sources for all baby's needs. And they can look just as cute in second hand clothes as something brand new.
In practice, most people will go for a mix of new, quality seconds, and second hand clothes for their baby. You will, for sure, know the prices of the new clothes in the local stores. If you buy some second hand, the savings will soon mount up. To give yourself an incentive, why not set aside those savings into a bank account for the baby? You'll appreciate that later on, and so will the baby when they see the little nest egg growing as they get older.
Here are a few tips about buying for your baby layette:
Shopping For Your Layette In Quality Seconds Stores
As with adult clothing, baby clothes manufacturers sometimes have manufacturing errors. Usually, the missed stitch or not-quite-perfect seam is not anything that will affect wear, especially in the short time the clothing item will fit your baby. You could save as much as 70% off department store prices if you buy baby layette items at your local discount and seconds stores. Your new baby won't know, nor will she care.
Buy Layette Items In Charity Or Other Second Hand Stores
Newborn baby layette items are nearly always hardly used. Most babies just do not wear them long enough to do much damage. A visit to local charity stores, such as a Salvation Army thrift store, may enable you to buy a whole load of layette items that still look good, all for a few dollars.
Buy New Born Baby Clothes A Size Up
Many newborn babies hardly spend a month in the 0-3 month sizes. What you can do is save the smallest size for special occasions, as a good fit obviously looks smarter. Such occasions could be coming home from the hospital, the first visit to or from grandparents etc. Otherwise jump right to the 3-6 month size for any fitted clothing. For the same reason, stick to comfortable, stretchy cotton and terry knit materials for one piece sleepers. They should fit your baby fit much longer.
Easy Access Night Gowns
Drawstring bottom night gowns are just about the most convenient single item for your new baby at home. When baby needs her diaper changing, you can just pull up, change her, and then pull back down again. Do not be distracted by the reference to "night"; when your baby comes home, whether it's dark or light outside, it will always be night as far as she's concerned. She will be sleeping, lying their waking up, or falling asleep, just about 24 hours a day. The distractions will be for feeding and changing. In the middle of the real night, you will appreciate being able to change her with ease, rather than fiddling, in your half asleep state, with lots of poppers, zips and layers of clothing.
Multi Purpose Cotton Diapers
If you decide to use disposable diapers, do not rule out the purchase of some 100% cotton diapers as well, even if it's only one pack. They really are great to have around when you have a new baby, and even when baby becomes a young child. They are very useful as burp rags, laid over your shoulder or lap, as you burp the baby. But you will also find yourself using them for other things, such as wiping away dribbles, or worse. Rarely, a baby will even adopt one for comfort to suck at night. However, I am sure my 24 year old son would not want me to go further into that matter!
Wash Fabric Layette Items Before Baby Is Born
It is worthwhile using a very mild laundry soap, such as Dreft or Ivory Snow, to wash away any remnants of dyes, chemicals or starches. Babies have notoriously delicate skin, and allergic reaction can be a real problem. Bleaching used items is fine, but you must give a thorough rinsing before baby comes into contact.

Top 5 Christmas Gifts for Toddlers

1. Automoblox Cars
These cars are hot. Super sleek design, fantastic colours, smooth wooden bodies. And now they're available as minis. They're build your own toys and the best part is that the pieces are interchangeable between models so your toddler can really create the car of their dreams. This toy is great for encouraging creativity and imagination and can become quite an enviable collection. They cost from £8.99 for the minis, are suitable from 3 years plus and not surprisingly, they've won many awards too. I'm thinking hot, hot, hot stocking fillers.
2. Push Along Toys
The classic push along toy, great for encouraging balance and walking. Orange Tree toys make some super bright and colourful wooden ones which are just the ticket for babies on the verge of walking. Although my toddler, who's mastered the art of walking still loves hers and brings it out to play everyday. Choose from a monkey, cow, elephant and more. The little beads on the wheels make a clacking noise when pushed which just adds to the fun. And with prices from £6 -£10, they're fantastic value too. You can find a good selection on Amazon.
3. Elephant Elements - A book about opposites
Books. No toddler can have too many. Elephant Elements is one which ranks very high on my toddler books list. It's got cool illustrations, it's entertaining, it's a great way to teach opposites. Every page has two elephants doing opposite things. The book is funny and clever and will appeal to parents too. It costs £9.99 from Amazon and makes for a smiley, happy stocking filler or a main gift for your own toddler or for some elses'. This book is oh so lovely!
4. Food
Play food, that is. The talented folks at Ikea have got some super-duper cloth play food in their new collection. And as always with Ikea, you get style and design without the chunky price tag. Checkout the Ikea Duktig food range which has a fourteen piece vegetable set, a nine piece fruit set and a fifteen piece breakfast set. And the best bit, they're just £5.99 each. They're bright, they're beautiful and include details like cutting boards and fruit baskets and can be stuck in the washing machine too. They're only available in store at the moment so you'll have to get down there.
5. A Cool Kimono Top
Sorry boy owners, this last ones just for the girls. If your girl is a budding fashion queen, she'll love this kimono top (and so will you!) from a lovely online shop called Isak. The graphic print in sunshine yellow and turquoise blue is fresh and cool. It comes with a detachable sash in the same print which can also double up as a super trendy hair band. It's 100% cotton, free of nasty toxic dyes, available in sizes from 1year to 5 and costs £9. It comes from the house of Isak, a shop full of stuff that's oh, so stunning!

What You Should Always Have in Your Diaper Bag

When you carry your baby with you wherever you go you need to have a minimum of things to ensure their comfort as well as yours. Yet, for first time moms or dads, understanding exactly what they should and what they should not take with them when leaving the house with their baby may be a daunting task.
If you are experiencing this problem too, then here are the things you should always put in your diaper bag.
First, you will need the diapers! You can not leave home without a few diapers in your diaper bag. Do not take only one, as you do not know exactly how long you will be out of the house or how many "surprises" your child will give you!
Then, in order to change the diaper you will also need special baby napkins. You can take a smaller pack and keep it in your bag all the time or you can simply purchase a travel case and refill it each time you go out with your baby.
Then, you should always have a changing pad in your diaper bag as no matter where you have to change your baby, you will be sure they are resting on a comfortable and clean piece of fabric. Not all places have specially designed baby changing areas, so you may be forced to improvise!
It will also be a great idea to take a change of clothes with you in case the one your baby already has gets dirty. If your baby tends to make quite a noise when changing their diaper, take a pacifier or their favorite toy with you so that you can avoid them crying and disturbing the people around.
Even though you feed your baby before leaving home, you will still need to take a bottle of milk with you in case they get hungry. You will also need a bib and a burp cloth to prevent the milk from getting on the baby's clothes.
It is also recommended to have a bottle of water or tea with you as even babies may get thirsty. This way you will not spoil their feeding schedule but at the same time quench their thirst.
There are lots of things which should be taken when leaving home with your baby, this is why you will need a large diaper bag which will accommodate all these without any trouble.
Also, look for bags with lots of pockets which will make your access to different things much easier and make sure that it is large enough to hold everything, yet fashionable enough to get out with it on the street!

Nighttime Harmony With Your Baby

It's 3:00am and while the rest of the world is in a peaceful slumber you are... not. You are up, half dressed, pacing vigorously up and down the hallway with a crying baby in your arms. Your hair is in your eyes, which are bloodshot, dry, and burning. As your body aches with fatigue and your nipples throb, your heart aches more for the sadness pouring out of this little extension of yourself. You are hearing all of those advice-givers in your head telling you that, "You will spoil him if you hold him too much." "If you don't leave him in his crib, he will never learn to sleep through the night." "If you pick him up every time he cries he will only cry more." You are just reaching a new level of desperation in your fatigue when your pacing lands you in the doorway to your bedroom. Your eyes fall on your partner who is in perfect sync with the rest of the world, sleeping peacefully. That's it. You put the baby alarm right in front of his face and say, "Your turn!" as you walk out of the room for a breather.
I am going to give you the secret to sleeping through the night: don't have a baby! Parenting is a 24-hour job. Their needs don't stop just because the sun goes down. We've all been there. Everyone who has ever had a baby has been there. And in our zeal to be the best parent we can be, combined with the exhaustion a new mother faces, we try to impose all these ideas of what nighttime should be on ourselves: the pictures of a baby sleeping soundly in a perfectly designed crib in a perfectly outfitted nursery, your mother-in-law telling you the only way to get any sleep is to let her "cry it out," maybe even your pediatrician warning you that whatever you do- don't bring baby in to your bed." It is so important to enter parenthood and approach nighttime with appropriate expectations. And I'm sorry if I'm the one breaking it to you but newborns are not supposed to sleep through the night.
So what's wrong these adorable little poop machines? Why don't they sleep at night? I'm sorry to have to say this but it's partly mom's fault. Throughout 9 months of pregnancy, baby comes into existence and consciousness under these circumstances: rocked and swayed and soothed with voices all day, still, quiet and bored all night. Mom is up moving, walking, turning and talking all day long. It's like rocking baby in a rocking chair while singing a lullaby. Then nighttime rolls around and mom lays still and silent in bed. Most mothers will attest to the fact that by the end of pregnancy, sleep is nearly impossible because come night time, baby is bouncing all around in there, wide awake.
A baby is born with a couple pressing tasks. First, sucker grown-ups into a euphoric state of love assuring they will meet your needs (attachment). Second, gain weight. The process of attachment (primary emotional, psychological, and social developmental task at birth) is so important that it cannot take half the day off (12 -20 hours is the amount of sleep a newborn needs). Even gaining weight (primary physical developmental task at birth) is tied in to attachment. To really thrive and put on those healthy rolls a newborn needs to eat every 2-(max) 4 hours. This is because babies have tiny stomachs. They can only hold and digest a few ounces as newborns. So you fill them to the brim, and then a couple hours later they are again on E, ready for more. Stretching the time between feedings doesn't expand the size of their stomachs; it just forces them to sit longer in a state of hunger. Needing to eat is not a behavioral issue, it is a physical one. As much as your baby loves you and wants you to be rested, she cannot change her capacity to digest. As she grows, her stomach grows, and so will the time between feedings. Lastly, babies just have shorter sleep cycles. It is believed to be a protective mechanism to wake up their systems and make sure they keep firing (breathing, pumping, digesting, etc.).
So what's a new family to do? Well the first step in creating a peaceful night for your family is to change the goal for nighttime from sleeping through the night to HARMONY. Nighttime harmony is priceless. It is the experience of being peacefully in sync with your baby throughout the night. It is the difference between fighting against your baby in a battle for sleep and being connected with your baby for the mutual goal of rest.
The primary tenant of nighttime harmony is to do what feels right for you and baby. Listen to your innate wisdom as a parent. Tune in to your baby and do what feels right. This could take some soul searching. It involves examining your preconceived notions of what should be. Reach inside and pull out all your assumptions. Where did they come from? Try them on. Does it feel like a good fit? Look into the eyes of your baby and tap into that maternal wisdom. If it feels right, keep it. Integrate it into your new idea of nighttime with your baby. If it doesn't feel quite right, toss it. You can respect the people who give you advice while at the same time recognizing that their advice doesn't fit your baby or your family.
Let's start with the 'where' of sleeping arrangements with baby. That image of the perfectly decorated nursery is a nice one but when it comes to actually sleeping, you have to be a little creative, open-minded, and accepting of whatever arrangement gives everyone the most sleep. Co-sleeping is something that most mother's come to unintentionally, out of a desperate need for more sleep. After waking up, walking down the hall, picking up baby, nursing while sitting up in the rocking chair, and putting baby back to bed you think, "I'll just pick him up and bring him to my bed and nurse him there. That way I can lay down." You fall asleep nursing and realize, "Oh my god, I just slept 4 hours!" The reason co-sleeping works so well is because baby is getting all the things that makes him thrive: skin-to-skin contact, milk, mom's breathing regulates his own, mom's heartbeat is a soothing reminder of the womb, and mom's chest even regulates baby's temperature. And while baby is in heaven, so is mom.
You do your job of meeting your baby's needs while laying and resting effortlessly in bed- talk about harmony. Breastfeeding in bed requires some new positions but they are totally worth mastering. The side-laying position is the classic co-sleeping arrangement. Lay on your side (you can put a pillow behind your back) and lay baby on his side, mouth to nipple. You can rest his head on your arm or not. Dads are sometimes unsure of how they will fair in this arrangement. Assure your partner that a happy, rested mama means a happier wife. Some dads end up spending the first month or so on the couch (my husband made a bed on the floor next to us) but a new baby takes work and sacrifice from both parents. Dad has to do his part too. As far as sex goes (while this is certainly not the priority immediately post baby), be creative! The bed is not the only place for erotic fun. Don't worry, your baby will NOT want to sleep with you forever (despite what some advice-givers will tell you).
Research shows that when mom's co-sleep with baby, they are so sharply attuned to baby that amazing things happen. If baby moves his head back, mom moves her head forward. If baby scoots down, mom scoots down. It is actually an amazing testament to the connection between mom and baby. Mothers accommodate baby's position all night long. And the slightest wiggle or disturbance on the part of the baby results in a hovering, awake mother. This is not true however, of fathers. Since fathers don't get to spend 9 months tuning in to baby, they are not attuned to baby while sleeping in this special way. That's why baby should sleep between mom and the end of the bed. You should know that research absolutely supports the safety of co-sleeping (refer to Attachment Parenting International and Dr. Sears). That said there are some guidelines to maximize the safety of this sleeping arrangement.
1. No big comforters on mom or baby.
2. Make sure there is some kind of a bed rail or place the mattress on the floor to prevent the baby from falling off the bed.
3. No siblings in bed with baby.
4. No co-sleeping if mom or dad has consumed any alcohol or medication.
5. Put baby to sleep on their back.
To cosleep actually means to sleep in close proximity with baby. What I described above is technically referred to as bed-sharing. But co-sleeping can take other forms. Consider using a co-sleeper. You can buy a "co-sleeper" (Babies R Us) or side-car your crib as a toddler bed to accomplish the same goal. Baby will have her own designated space but be within arm's reach. This means you can hear every breath and all you have to do is open your eyes to see her little chest moving up and down. You can pull her close for nursing and slide back her back over to sleep. Personally, this arrangement is ideal for me. I find that this provides the perfect balance whereby I can get the best sleep. If baby is in a different room I can't sleep. I worry about them and have to get up constantly to meet their needs. If baby is in my bed all night, I feel like I am "on the clock" and have trouble reaching the deepest stages of sleep. But with baby co-sleeping right next to me I can lay right next to him, nose to nose, all night long, pulling him over for breastfeeding periods and sliding him back when I want some serious sleep. I encourage you to find the arrangement that works best for you. Every baby is different. Every mother is different. Every family is different. Do what works best for you and your baby.
How do you get baby to sleep to begin with? Start by winding baby down with a nighttime routine. Incorporating a bath and massage is a great way to wind down for the night. Try to stick with the same routine every night but do what works best for you baby and your family and be flexible with phases, issues, or changing needs. Try swaddling. Some babies find peace in being tightly wrapped, mimicking the feeling inside the womb. Wearing down baby in a sling is a great way to ease baby to sleep. Babywearing incorporates swaddling and mimics the womb, provides rocking, skin-to-skin contact, baby is soothed by the sound of your heartbeat and the boom of your voice. Breastfeed while babywearing to release all those feel good hormones and fill baby's tummy for a long stretch of sleep. Vacuum the house to add white noise and that pretty much utilizes the full arsenal. It is good to have a nighttime "time" to keep in mind in your nighttime routine. This time should not be a strict bedtime as you might have with an older child but a general guideline for putting the world to sleep: turn off the lights, don't speak using high-pitch tones, no more games or playful engagement. Embrace the transition and send the message that the daytime has ended and nighttime is here.
While always being able to meet all the needs of your baby is ideal, parents are human beings. We need sleep. If the goal is to be the best parent you can be, then sleep for you is going to need to be in that equation. It is hard to balance the needs of your baby with your needs. This will be a balance you will work on daily for the rest of your life. Especially if you have a high needs baby, you have to give yourself permission to get the fuel you need to keep taking good care of that baby. Sometimes this might mean calling daddy up from the batter's box (giving daddy and baby time to establish their connection is good for both daddy and baby), giving a trusted family member a shift, or leaving baby in the crib. I am not a fan of scheduling babies (because what that usually really means is putting baby on your schedule) but there are some situations when a schedule is what's best for baby and family. One example of this is with multiples. To ensure every baby gets all the milk and sleep they need, schedules are sometimes necessary. Doing what's best for your baby and your family is the moral of this story. Sometimes doing what's best for you is what's best for baby in the long run.
Misconceptions about babies and sleep:
If you don't put baby to bed while he is still awake, he will never learn to fall asleep on his own. The logic behind this is that if you put baby to sleep while he is still awake, he will learn to self-soothe. This idea came out of the big push for independence along with bottle-feeding. Babies are dependent- they're supposed to be! If you look at the entire lifespan of a human being, they only need you for such a short period of time. If you allow them to be dependent while it's appropriate, they will establish security and feel safe and confident enough to be independent. Developmental psychologists throughout history agree that the first task of infancy is establishing trust in caregivers and the world. Once this is firmly established they can move into to establishing independence.
If you pick up a baby when she is crying, you are teaching her to cry. The logic behind this is that you are rewarding the behavior thereby reinforcing it. This is taken from a very basic principle of learning psychology first studied with lab rats and frequently used with dogs. Babies are not dogs. As much as you may love your pet- it is not the same. There are far more dynamics at play with a baby than a simple behavior/reward model covers. Research has shown us that the opposite is actually true. The "cry it out" method unfolds like this: baby communicates a need, no response, baby cries, no response, baby eventually gives up and learns that they their communication is not effective, caregivers are not there for them, their needs may not be met, and the world is not a safe place, baby stops crying. Now try this on for size: baby communicates a need caregiver responds sensitively (in an appropriate and timely manner) baby learns that communication is effective, caregivers are present and attentive, needs will be met, the world is a safe place, baby does not need to cry.
Co-sleeping increases the risk of SIDS. Research shows that the opposite is true. When babies sleep next to an attached caregiver there are several factors at play working to protect babies against SIDS.
· Mother is tuned into baby for signs of distress.
· Baby mirrors mother's steady and rhythmic breathing ("reminds" baby to breath).
· Baby mirrors mother's steady and rhythmic heart rate.
· The sucking from frequent breastfeeding increases brain activity and fluid production, increases the flow and efficiency of all baby's systems.
· Skin-to-skin contact increases the level of feel-good hormones and decreases the level of stress hormones.
· Mother's chest actually regulates baby's temperature. If baby's temperature rises, mother's temperature lowers. If baby's temperature lowers, mother's temperature raises and she expels heat from her chest to warm baby.
Once you bring a baby into your bed, you will never get them out. Ridiculous. As discussed above, a baby is dependent as an infant. Allow them a time of dependence! You will not have a 30-year-old in your bed. The more you give them what they need to feel secure as infants, the more safe, secure, and confident they will feel to be more independent than their prematurely pushed counterparts. If you are worried about it, you can use a transitional strategy. Baby sleeps with you while they are breastfeeding during the night. You can then put their bed right next to yours (like an extension of your bed). You can then move their bed to the foot of your bed.
Lastly, move their bed into their room. Include them in the process of selecting a bed and bedding and make it fun and positive. On a personal note, my first born son slept in our room when he was a baby. Even after he was done breastfeeding at night, my husband liked him in our room. Since he worked all day, he valued the closeness having him with us at night provided. As his second birthday approached, we asked him what he wanted and he said, a big boy bed! He got a bed for his second birthday and other than an occasional night when he was really sick, we never saw him at night again. We provided him with security and allowed him to take the lead in establishing his independence. We now have a son full of love, inner peace, and independence.
Babies need a strict bed time. I am an advocate of teaching your children to listen to their bodies. Babies are born with an amazing mind-body connection. If nothing else, they know when they are hungry and tired. Strictly scheduling babies can disrupt this connection. Instead of telling your child to clean their plate, ask them to close their eyes and listen to their tummies. "Is your body telling you you are hungry?" The same is true for sleep. As children get older nighttime can become a power struggle between parent and child. Instead, encourage children to listen to their bodies, hear the signs of sleepiness, and respect them. Have a good nighttime routine and keep moving in the direction of bed (upstairs, bathroom, bedroom, bed, etc.). Try sending the message that the world is going to sleep: go outside to see the darkness, say good night to the sun, hello to the moon and stars, turn off the lights, turn down your voices, take a bath, have a massage, go to bed, read some stories, night-night.

Tips on How to Stop a Baby From Crying

It is frustrating enough for the parents when an infant won't stop crying, so for a babysitter with far less experience, it can actually bring her to tears. If you are a babysitter, nanny, or other childcare provider who often cares for infants, or even if you are a new parent, here is a list of possible reasons why baby won't stop crying and what to do to calm her:
  • When you are dealing with a crying baby, look at the time. Is it anywhere near feeding time? If it is within half an hour, try the bottle. Baby's schedules change so often as they grow that their needs can actually change overnight.
  • Crying babies are usually trying to tell you something and it could be something as simple as "I am tired." If it is not anywhere near feeding time, check to see if it could be close to nap time. If so, you could try rocking the baby for a few minutes and putting him down for a nap.
  • Is the baby's diaper wet or soiled? If so, change it, even if the parent said the baby should not need her diaper changed until after her nap. This is not always something that can be predicted!
  • A crying baby might just need to burp. Hold the baby upright against your chest with his head just above your shoulder and pat his back gently. Trapped gas is very painful for a baby, but once it is released the baby usually quiets down immediately. Another position that may help baby to release gas is to lay him across your lap and rub his back.
  • Try distracting a crying baby by blowing raspberries, making silly sounds, dancing around, or making funny faces.
  • Sometimes babies just want to be held. If the baby is in an exersaucer, bouncy seat, or swing, try picking her up and holding her.
  • If baby was lying on the floor or in a stationary device, try moving him to a vibrating chair or swing. Try the swing at different speeds if it has several settings, to see if he has a preference.
  • Lots of babies like motion when they are being held. Try bouncing her very gently by bending your knees slightly and straightening them while holding her, or walk around with her and pat her pack. Occasionally, you may need to combine all of these by holding the baby upright, walking around, very gently bouncing her and patting her back. Try adding humming or singing to her as well.
  • Some babies want to be held but do not want to be cradled or have their face in your shoulder. Many babies prefer to be held facing outward from your body. Try holding the baby with his back against your chest or stomach, one arm around his torso and the other supporting his bottom through his legs. Babies are curious and want to see everything! A crying baby may just be bored. (Warning - this is NOT an appropriate position to hold very young infants that still need their head supported.)
  • Does baby use a pacifier? Some babies just have a fussy time of day, when not much makes them happy and the baby won't stop crying even after you have tried all of the suggestions above. If this is the case, hopefully the parents have left you with some ideas of what to do to make baby happy or strategies for dealing with it. If the baby uses a pacifier, this may be all it takes to quiet her down.
  • Many babies just go through what is called a "strange period" where they cry and scream if anyone other than the immediate family or a very familiar person tries to hold them or talk to them. In this case, if the baby has older siblings, you may want to employ their help by asking them to talk to the baby or to play nearby so the baby can hear and/or see them.
  • While a crying baby may be a bored baby, he may also be an overstimulated baby. If the baby has a "sound machine" or "white noise machine" try rocking him or holding him in the room with the machine turned on and the lights dimmed. If he does not have a sound machine, a fan, vacuum, washing machine or dryer, or dishwasher will work just as well.
  • If the baby is a newborn, you could try swaddling her to see if that helps. Many newborns like the secure feeling of being wrapped up warm and snug. Experts say it reminds them of being in the womb.
  • Parents usually know when their baby is teething. Hopefully if this is the case, the parents have left you with teething rings and other paraphernalia for teething babies.
  • Sometimes when a baby won't stop crying it is simply because he is uncomfortable. Touch the back of the baby's neck to see if he is too hot or too cold. Then add or remove a layer of clothes accordingly.
  • Try removing all of baby's clothes to see if perhaps her diaper is too tight or clothes may be digging into her or irritating her skin.
  • If you are experienced with bathing babies, give him a warm soothing bath.
  • A ride in the car or a ride in the stroller is calming to many babies. It may take a few minutes for a crying baby to quiet down and she may start to cry again whenever the car or stroller stops, but most babies settle down after a little while.
  • Try a bottle even if it is not anywhere near feeding time. Most babies will not always be on an exact schedule for eating. If they ate a little more at their last feeding then they might not eat again for a while past their next scheduled feeding, and if they did not eat enough then they may be hungry sooner.
  • Could baby be ill? Check the baby's temperature to see if it is above normal and call the parents or pediatrician if you are concerned.
When dealing with a crying baby, remember to try to "keep your cool." Babies can often sense when you are upset or stressed which can make the baby cry even more. Keep trying the suggestions above until the baby stops crying or the parents come home! NEVER shake a baby. If you are the parent and have tried all the suggestions above, take turns with your spouse holding the baby to help prevent either one of you from getting too upset.
If you find yourself getting really upset, frustrated, and angry because the baby won't stop crying and you have tried all the suggestions above, then try putting the baby in her crib where she is safe, and step out of the room for a few minutes. Take a few deep breaths and think about all the things you have tried to be sure you have not missed anything.
If you are the babysitter and have tried everything and feel like you are losing your patience, give the parents a call. They may be able to give you other suggestions over the phone if they know of something in particular that usually quiets their baby or makes him happy. If you are unable to soothe the crying baby, you may ask the parents to come home as a last resort. But, often times the baby will quiet down by the time the parents get back depending on how far away they are.
The most important thing you can do when the baby will not stop crying is to stay calm yourself and remind yourself that the baby will not cry forever

Friday, November 26, 2010

Safe and Non-Toxic Toys for Infants

Furnishing your baby with the right kind of toy to play with is very good for accelerating the growth of his body and his perception. For infants, the playground is the school ground and it is during their playtime that their mental and physical faculties are enhanced.
For developing muscles and bones, toys are indispensable tools
The first things that nature attends to building up during infancy are the internal organs, the muscular tissue and the skeletal framework of the baby's body. For this purpose, the infant needs to have all the nutrients that those organs require for growth. To accelerate the process, giving baby the tools (toys) for gaining full control of his use of muscles and bones will be necessary.
The mental faculties of infants are not yet capable of inventing ways for them to willfully stimulate their growth. Instead of that, they are endowed with intensely inquisitive natures which lead them to touch, smell and manipulate everything they see and can reach. It is this 'meddling' nature of babies that we have to use to teach them the skills they need to learn.
The right shape to look for
Obviously, the toys that we give to infants should be without surfaces that can physically harm the infant. The two main things to avoid in toys are pointed shapes and sharp edges on the toys themselves. The overall contour of the toy should not be elongated either. The best ones to get will be rounded.
Balls and rounded hoops are perfectly safe for the baby to handle and play with. For the first year and a half, do not give the baby box-type toys, particularly if the corners of the box are pointed.
Safety considerations about coloring substances
The substances with which toys were colored can also make them harmful. First of all, infants often put their toys into their mouths in an effort to bite and eat them. If the coloring substance contains harmful chemicals, the baby will become ill. Secondly, some paints are inflammable. Not that anyone should be leaving lit candles in baby's bedroom but accidents do happen. And you wouldn't want to increase the chance of an accident harming the baby.
Before purchasing any toy, you need to know from the vendor what sort of paint was used on the toy. Do not purchase if your vendor does not know. Look for something somewhere else or another person in the same store who knows. Choose toys painted with water-based dyes as these are the ones which are not poisonous and non-flammable.
Latex paint or mild paint are organic and non-toxic coloring substances.
About latex paints
Latex paints use latex (which is a kind of tree sap) as the substance that binds the pigment to the painted surface. Being a natural derivative, latex is not dangerous within its range of normal application. It neither poisons nor does it catch flame. However, some people are allergic to it.
What are milk paints?
An even safer option for toy paint is milk paint. Milk is actually part of the mixture that constitutes the binder for this type of paint. The other ingredients are lime and clay. The pigments used for milk paint are 'green' ones.
As always, you should be sure the baby is not allergic to either latex or milk.

Baby Christmas Costumes

Your baby has to wear something for Christmas and how many Christmases will your child still be a baby? By the time they're toddlers, they've grown out of the ability to wear a baby Christmas costume. And this year they've got some of the cutest ones you'll ever see.
Most of the infant costumes are buntings, so it's fairly easy to get them in and out of them. But even if it took a little effort, isn't it worth it to see your little one in a once-a-year costume that makes her the most adorable baby on the block?
Just think of all the places you can take her in her new costume. If you show up at a family dinner with your baby in a Christmas costume, I can assure you everyone will be fighting over the chance to hold the baby. Guaranteed, she'll be the hit of the party!
Want a chance to meet the neighbors? Just take your infant in her stroller out for a walk in the neighborhood. People you've never even seen before will appear just to get a chance to see your adorable daughter or son in their Christmas costume.
Then there's the pictures you'll be able to take and keep forever in a scrapbook. When he's a teenager, he'll really love looking at these baby pics. Ok, well, maybe not, but you will!
Just imagine your son or daughter in one of these popular baby Christmas costumes:
Christmas Tree
Your baby becomes the tree in this cute get-up. With red, sparkly ornaments to finish off the look.
Santa
This adorable outfit covers your little one in a red bunting with 3 large white pom-poms to look like buttons. And of course it includes a red fur-trimmed Santa hat. Or you can choose the version that has a wide black belt with gold buckle sewn right into the bunting. No worrying about whether the belt has come loose.
Snowman
Don't worry your baby won't melt in this darling costume that turns him into a snowman. It's white with sewn-on red mittens and a green jaunty scarf. And for real convenience, his black hat is also sewn onto this one-piece.
Angel
Turn your little angel into an actual angel with this precious outfit. This white bunting comes with attached wings and a headband. Or you can go for the deluxe version with gold lame wings and headband.
Whichever costume you choose, no one will be able to stop oohing and ahhing over how darling your little one looks.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Baby Momy Love - Baby Boy Names - Finding Exotic and Unique Baby Names

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.

Baby Momy Love - Baby Names - Choosing Trendy or Traditional

Lists of baby names are always fun to look at, whether
you're seeking a name for your soon-to-be-born baby boy or
baby girl, wondering about the popularity of your own first
name, or just curious about what baby names are currently
hot.

What I find particularly interesting is tracking the popularity
of baby names over the decades. In looking through U.S.
government baby name lists from 1880 to the present,
some amusing patterns emerge, particularly in regards to
baby names for girls.

For example, in Victorian times Biblical names, such as
Mary, Sarah and Ruth were very popular for baby girls. There
were also many baby names that sounded very
old-fashioned to me, as a kid growing up in the 1960s,
including names like Martha, Alice, Bertha and Minnie.

From the 1920s to the 1950s certain baby names rose in
popularity. For example, I went to school with many Susans,
Debbies, Patricias, and Lindas. All of these baby names
have since waned, to be replaced, by the 1980s, with fancier
names such as Jennifer, Jessica and Nicole. When I was a
children's librarian in the 1980s my preschool storyhours
were populated with little girls named Lauren and Jenny,
and little boys named Alex and Matthew.

More recently there's been a lot of renewed interest in
more "old-fashioned" baby names like Hannah, Abigail and
Ethan, plus many Biblical names such as Sarah, Rachel,
Joshua, Jacob, and Samuel. There's also been a surge in
nontraditional baby names including Madison, Ashley and
Brianna for baby girls, and Brandon and Logan for baby
boys.
It's interesting to consider the whys and wherefores of
such developments. Sometimes, I suspect, the popularity of
a specific actor or fictional character might result in many
babies with a particular name. For example, were some of
the Lauras born in the 1970s and 1980s given a name
suggested by older brothers and sisters who were growing
up watching "Little House on the Prairie ?" Were some
attributable to the super popular Laura of "General Hospital"
fame ?
Today Madison is a very highly ranked baby name for girls
(ranking number 3 in 2003) but, when the film "Splash"
came out in 1984, Tom Hanks' character told Daryl
Hannah's character that Madison was not a bona fide first
name.
While baby girls' names seem quite subject to the whims
of fashion and the top ten lists can change radically over
time, I've noticed that, in general, the top baby names for
boys remain far more stable. Names like John, William and
James are perennials, perhaps because baby boys are
often named for their fathers, perpetuating the popularity of
certain baby names from generation to generation.

The "Junior" factor aside, baby boys are also less apt to be given
fanciful names.
A comparison of the changing fortunes of my own first
name, Barbara, with those of my husband's name, Robert,
gives a good illustration of the difference in stability between
baby girl names and baby boy names over time.
My name grew in popularity in the 1930s, '40s and '50s,
peaking at the number 2 position in baby name popularity,
which it tenaciously held from 1937 to 1944. When I
attended grad school, of a class of approximately forty
students, there were no less than three baby boomers
named Barbara. Should I thank the actress Barbara
Stanwyck for this? Alas, my first name later suffered a slow,
steady decline and placed at a pitiful number 628 position
on the baby names popularity list for the U.S. in 2003.
Robert, on the other hand, has survived the vicissitudes of
baby name popularity. It held a coveted spot on the top ten
most popular baby names list every year from 1896 to the
late 1980s, often peaking at number 1 between the 1920s
and the 1950s. It has gradually slipped since the 1990s, but
still managed to hold the respectable slot of number 35 in
2003.
When naming a baby there are, of course, many other
points to consider besides how popular or unique a name
is. Here are some helpful tips that you can use with your
other children to get them involved in choosing a name for
the new baby and to make the process fun:

1. Baby names need to go nicely with the sound of your last
name. Also, pick a first name and a middle name that go
together well. (So maybe not something like Erasmus
Beelzebub Smith!)
2. When your family finds a name you all like, look at the
initials to be sure that you don't give the new baby a name
with initials that will make people laugh. (So maybe not
Pamela Iris Green, which equals P.I.G.!)
3. You might not want a baby name that is so unusual that
the other kids will make fun of your little brother or sister as
he or she grows up. (So maybe not Rosebud or Molasses!)
4. You also might not want a baby name that is so trendy
that it will sound funny by the time the baby is ten years old.
(So maybe not Sunshine!)
5. You probably shouldn't pick a name that's really cute for
an adorable little baby but will sound silly when the baby
grows up. (So maybe not Dimples!)
6. Avoid baby names that might produce insulting
nicknames when people shorten them. (So maybe not
Smellonius, or Smelly for short!)
7. You and your family might not want a name that is so hard
to spell or to pronounce that people will always get it wrong
and your poor little brother or sister will have to go through
life correcting people. (So maybe not something like
Incandescence, or is it Incandessints? )
8. You and your family might want to pick baby names in
honor of favorite relatives or ancestors, or special names
that show your family's ethnic roots. You might even find a
special name from a book or movie that you love. (Like
Harry?)
9. You might want to look through books of baby names and
pick one that has a special meaning that you like - maybe
something that means "sweet" or "kind" or "brave." (So
maybe not wimp!)
10. You might want to think about names that will go nicely
with your name and your other brothers' and sisters' names,
so that if mom or dad are calling you all for dinner or signing
a birthday card to grandma it won't sound too crazy.
(So maybe not "Happy Birthday, Grandma! Love, Joey,
Cindy and Dweevo!")
There are hundreds of names waiting for you out there, so
good luck on your search for the perfect name!

Baby Momy Love - Ways to Help Your Child Improve Fine Motor Skills

The purpose of placing babies on their backs is to prevent sudden infant death syndrome, but one of the by-products of that may be that babies aren't using their arms to push themselves up as much as if they were on their backs.

With that in mind, it is the responsibility of teachers and parents to help toddlers catch up with their fine motor skills. There are many daily activities that you can do with your kids at home to help develop these skills. The act of getting dressed includes many fine motor skills, as simple as figuring out how to put on a sock, to the more difficult task of buttoning.

Encouraging your child to dress himself at age two or three with simpler tasks that will allow him to move on to more difficult ones as his fine motor skills improve.

Encourage your child to use crayons to scribble or draw freely. Play dough or clay is another wonderful tool to develop small muscles while having fun. Hide small toys inside a ball of play dough and encourage your child to find them and pull them out. Use chop sticks or tongs to play a game where the child picks up cotton balls, marbles, or other objects. Jacks and pick-up-sticks are also fun games that promote the use of fine motor skills. Give your child strips of construction paper and have him rip them into small pieces. Ripping is a great precursor to cutting.

If you don't mind the mess, and I encourage parents to find a place where their kids can get messy, shaving cream is a great medium to play in. Let your child trace shapes into the shaving cream, or practice writing his name. You can also mix water and corn starch (about 3 parts corn starch to 1 part water) to create a cool mixture to play with. Again, you can hide small objects in the goop, trace letters and shapes, or just have fun letting your child run his fingers through it.

A three year old should be able to cut with scissors, but until his fine motor skills are strong enough, that is really tough for many kids. Encourage your child to work puzzles, play with worry ball, and even make taffy out of marshmallows.

To do that, have your child grab a marshmallow between the thumb and index finger of both hands and pull it apart. Continue to flip your fingers so that the right hand thumb is on top, then on the bottom, which allows you to keep pulling the marshmallow. Not only will it turn into a delicious treat, but it will work those small muscles in your child's fingers.

The more practice our kids get in working their small muscles, the easier time they will have cutting and writing. There are many things you can do at home to get them off to a great start.

Baby Momy Love - Helping Your Preteen Child Stay Focused

Does your preteen seem to have trouble staying focused on tasks, at school or in other situations? Does it ever feel like your child isn't listening or paying attention? Does your child have trouble focusing on schoolwork, chores or other tasks without getting distracted?

While you may feel like your child doesn't care or just isn't trying enough, there might actually be another reason your preteen cannot stay focused.

Here are some tips you can use as a parent to help your preteen child stay focused:

· Help your child keep a planner with daily lists of things she needs to do. Get her in the habit of looking at the planner the day before so she is aware of what events and deadlines she has coming up.

· Create a list of responsibilities that are expected at home. Hang this list in a prominent position and go over each item with your preteen/tween so that she understands what is expected of her.

· Limit distractions when she is working on a task. For example, no TV during homework or chores will help her to stay focused on the task at hand. Allow TV time later to be an award for completing the work on time.
· Teach her organization and give her the tools needed to stay focused and organized so that it is much easier to complete tasks.

· Teach her to prioritize and do only one task at a time. A preteen aged child can easily get caught up in all she has to do, making it seem overwhelming and making it difficult to get anything done at all. When she takes it in bite-sized pieces instead, it becomes much easier.

· Lead by example and show your tween how you stay focused and get tasks done, one at a time. Share examples of how you have put these tips to work in your life and what you do to stay organized.

· Trust her with responsibility. The next step to helping your preteen stay focused is to show her that you trust her with responsibility and that you believe she can do it. This will build her confidence and help her to stay focused on the task at hand.

Now that you have these tips for helping your preteen child stay focused, you can be a more involved parent and take the steps needed to ensure your child puts their best foot forward with each and every thing they do.

Baby Momy Love - Games and Activities That Increase Child Imagination and Creativity

Creativity and imagination are skills children do not have to learn however they are skills that can decrease without use. Activities and games that increase creative thought, flexible thinking and imagination can be simple and many are free and can be played anywhere. Have your child make up their own activities and games or try the ones listed here.

Pretend with your child.
Pretending and fantasy play are fuel for creativity and imagination. Children are constantly saying, "Pretend this is...," and "Pretend I am..." Play dress-up, house, cops and robbers, etc. Think back to when you were a child and what you pretended to be.

Read to your child.
When children hear stories, they create images in their mind. The ability to form images in one's mind is an important skill in creativity. Make up your own stories and include your child in them. Children love when they are part of a story.

Create a "Round the Table Story."
Everyone joins in with this activity. One person starts the story then the next person adds more to the story and it goes around until the story is done.

"What else could it be?"
Take everyday objects and ask the question, "What else could it be?" Do not be practical or logical. Be silly and imaginative.

"What if...?" Game
Ask questions that start with "What if...?" "What would you do if...?" "What would you say if...? "What if you woke up and found you were..." For example, "What would you do if your dog could talk?" "What if you woke up and found you were able to fly?"

"I Spy."
One person says, "I spy, with my little eye, something..." then gives a short description of the object. The other person must "spy" the object which is nearby.

"If I were a _____ I would be."
Imagine you are someone or something else then describe who you are, what you do, what you think and so on.

Puppet show
Create sock or finger puppets. Create a "stage" from cardboard and put on plays that are made up as you go. Don't complicate the process with scripts or direction. For directions on making sock puppets, see the link at the end of this article.

What am I thinking about?
Think about an object and give clues one at a time until someone guesses what it is. Start simple with younger kids and increase the difficulty for older children. For example, "I am thinking of something that is round. It is white and black. It is something you kick." Those playing will answer with, "You are thinking of a..." until someone gets it right.

Craft Free-For-All
Load the table up with craft supplies, items from the recycle bin, items from nature, and whatever else you can find and watch the burst of creativity and imagination.

Shape Pictures
Cut different shapes out of felt in different sizes including squares, triangles, circles, rectangles, pentagons, and so on. Make the rectangles in different widths and lengths. Place a large piece of felt on the table. Create pictures from the shapes.

The benefit of using felt is that it "grabs" the shapes and holds them where they are placed. You can also use card stock however the pieces will move easily.

The possibilities for creative and imaginative activities and games are endless. The less "imagination included" in the game and activity will increase the creativity and imagination required from the child. Do not complicate the process. Keep it simple and the fun will follow.

Teaching Babies is Easy

Babies have no concept of fear or failure. They believe their sole purpose is to learn all they can as quickly as they can. Often times we neglect to teach our babies all we can during these years of intellectual development. We have been conditioned to believe that children must be older to learn such important things.

This is not true, as is evidenced by the number of children that have learned to read as babies.
Parents that are aware of the power that these little brain's possess set out to create as rich and stimulating an environment for their babies as possible.

They realize that reading to their baby is very important. They talk to their child as though they can understand, and they do. Never again will these children be able to learn so much so easily. Parents that have become aware of their baby's potential to learn immediately set about to stimulate their babies.
Teaching babies is very easy.

They do not learn the way older children do. Babies can take in information at an amazing rate. Imagine that babies are able to learn to read without even knowing the alphabet first. Babies have been learning to read for many years now.

The lessons are enjoyable for the baby. The lessons are quick and baby catches on readily. Instead of teaching babies the alphabet, parents first teach their babies whole words.

Through continue exposure to these whole words, the babies learn to read these words but also much more. Their little brains are able to recognize the phonetic rules and patterns in the words they are reading. Once this happens, babies can begin to read new words phonetically, although they have learned to read using the whole word method.

Babies can learn much more than just how to read. They are able to recognize quantities without having to count and are able to do instant math in their heads if they are exposed to a math program during the first 2 years of life.

Babies can also be taught to recognize and identify all kinds of objects from their environment such as plants, flowers, cars, insects, animals and more. There is no limit to what you can teach your baby. Your baby is ready and willing to learn whatever they find exciting. What will you teach your baby today?

Baby Momy Love - How to Teach Baby Math

Did you know that from 3 months to about 2 1/2 years old your baby can actually tell the difference between 94 and 95? While your baby is born not recognizing our numerical representation of quantity, your baby can automatically perceive quantity without counting or guessing.

Math is just another language. Categorized like a language math is made up of only 10 words: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0.

However, children taught numbers, but never exposed to quantity find it impossible to do instant math. Instead, they rely on memorization of actual equations (ex. 7 x 2 = 14; 7 x 3 = 21) to come up with the correct answer.

This differs from instant math because once you forget a fact you have to start all over again. And even if you do remember all of your times tables, what happens when you reach numbers about 12?
First you need to cover How to Teach Baby Math - Quantity Recognition, Quantity Equations, and Quantity Problem Solving (find the link below).

That could be considered part one on How to Teach Baby Math.
How to Teach Baby Math then transitions into numbers by presenting the numerals from 1 to 100 and 0 in the same way that you presented quantities.

Your child will move a lot faster in part two of How to Teach Baby Math, so you'll probably switch out 3 or 4 cards a day. Once you covered up to 100 you can show a random variety of other numerals (ex. 302, 571). You don't have to show them in order and you don't have to cover each number. With only a little exposure to the How to Teach Baby Math Method, your child will go a long way.

You can begin equations with numerals as soon as you have taught up to 20. This follows the same pattern as with quantity equations. Just remember no mixing of addition and subtraction with multiplication and division.
The How to Teach Baby Math Method lets you gently guide your child through the simple principles of math.

Tiny children only needs 5 minutes a day for about two weeks per principle and they will understand the actual process behind the principle on their own. However, you want to focus on the principle, not drilling in a specific fact. So every time you show them an equation, do it with different numbers.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Avoid Dangerous Toys for Your Children

Toys are an important part of childhood, we tend to assume toys are safe since they are designed for children, however, that is not the case, not all toy manufacturers care as much as we do for our children.

Cheap toys are made with cheap materials, they have instant visual appeal and might look good to grab your child's attention, but they are harmful to their body and may cause issues with their development which can lead to tragic results, not to mention environmental damage.

Toys that contain liquid include balls, children's tumblers, necklaces, pens, key chains and liquid timers. If the liquid is not correctly labeled as a safe toy and you suspect that it could be a harmful chemical substance, the toy might be dangerous for your child if they bite into or puncture it with minimum effort.

Cautiously selecting toys can be a safe option but not enough, supervising children and providing them with a safe area to play in can be the best ways to protect your children from injury, It is always best to explain and demonstrate to your child the correct and safe use of a toy when first giving it to them.

You can improve the safety of the play area in your home by:
1- Removing plastic and paper packaging before giving them to your child
2- Make sure older children's toys are out of reach of younger children
3- Checking toys for breakage or potential hazards such as a wobbly part that could be a choking hazard
4- Avoid giving un-inflated balloons to young children and keep the area free of burst balloons as this can block the airway
5- Removing dead batteries from toys, as they can leak toxic or liquid that can be harmful
6- Avoid toys that have small parts, or small objects such as marbles
7- Cosmetics such as fake nails should not be given to children specifically under three years of age
8- Avoid giving jewellery to children under three years of age.
9- Carefully choose sturdy and well made toys that can stand up to being bitten, tugged, sucked, jumped on and thrown around without falling apart.
10- Toys constructed from foam such as bath blocks may cause choking hazard if a child bites pieces off it, so ensure foam toys are not given for children under three years.
11- Check for sharp, pointy edges or rough surfaces that could injure your child.
12- Ensure toys paint and fillings are non-toxic and can hold pressure.
13- Ensure all small pieces should are securely fastened to the toy so they cannot be easily pulled off and become a choking hazard.
14- Inspection any strings or cords attached to a toy, they should be at least 1.5 mm thick to avoid being a cutting object.
15- While shopping for toys, keep these rule in mind, Inspect labels and packaging, search and follow the age advice and direction about proper assembly

Supporting and maintaining a safe and secure environment for your child can be a challenge. Children under five years old are higher and more vulnerable to injuries than any other age group.

The most common items related to child injuries are prams and strollers, chairs, baby walkers, and solid table corners.

The most important safety method is always going to be your supervision. no matter how well equipped you are, you still need to keep a constant eye for possible dangers and always take your baby with you when you answer the door or telephone, it only takes seconds for a disaster to happen.

How to Give a Newborn a Bath

Most new parents are very nervous once they get their new baby home. It can be a little intimidating taking care of a newborn and everyone wants to be careful to ensure they don't make any mistakes. It seems that one of the hardest things for new parent to do is give baby a bath. Some even find it to be downright terrifying but it doesn't have to be.

The truth is bathing a newborn is not as complicated as it might seem once you know a few basic rules. Here are a few tips on how to give your newborn a bath that will help to make this time pleasant and fun instead of something you dread.

It's important to realize that you don't have to go out and spend a lot of money on baby baths and special items unless you just want to. These things can make the task a little easier because they help support the baby but they're not necessary. You can give your baby a bath in the kitchen sink or the bathtub as long as you're careful.

The two most important things for you to remember include the following: Above all else, never leave your newborn unattended when bathing, not even for a second and make sure the water temperature is lukewarm. If it's too cold it can give your baby a chill and if it's too hot it can burn your newborn.

The water must be lukewarm and the best way to check it is by sticking your elbow into it.

This is the most sensitive part of your body so you'll know if the water is just right.

Be sure and swirl the water around to get an even temperature throughout the whole area to avoid hot and cold spots.
Before you place your newborn in the water get all of your things together. You'll need your washcloth and towel next to the bath. You should also have an area set up with diapers and clean clothes so you can dress baby once the bath is finished.

After adjusting the temperature of the water, undress the newborn and hold him over the bath with his head cupped in your elbow and your arm extended under his body while holding the back of one leg with your hand. If you're right-handed place his head in your left elbow and if you're left-handed place him in your right elbow. This will make it easier to handle your newborn while bathing.

Start by bathing your baby's head. You can dip the wash cloth in the water and squeeze it out a little and use it to gently wipe the face and head area. Do not use shampoo on a newborn. It's not necessary and it can actually irritate their skin.

Now dip his body into the water still cradling him in your arm for support. Use the wash cloth to gently wet the whole body. Do not scrub your newborn and you don't need to use soap. They don't get that dirty and the warm water running over their body is enough to make him feel fresh and clean.

As soon as you have run water over his entire body remove him from the water and wrap him in a soft towel. Be sure his head is thoroughly dried because babies lose heat from the top of their head. Be very careful when handling your wet baby because they can be very slippery.

Bath time should only last for a few minutes and then you're ready to redress your newborn and continue on with your daily routine.

Dos and Don'ts of Baby Health Care

Having and raising a baby is a wonderful and exciting part of life. However, baby health care is considered to be an overwhelming task by many parents. Any parent who has spent several sleepless nights and days taking care of an ill infant knows how difficult baby health care can get. Fortunately, there are many baby care products available to help parents care for their babies.

If you are looking for baby care online, you're doing the right thing. The first step to finding good solutions is to do some research.

While researching on the internet, be careful, because many internet resources may not provide the best advice or accurate information. Consult your doctor for proper advice on baby health care. This article provides a few tips to help you know what to avoid in baby products. Watch out for any of these terms on baby skin care products, and avoid them.

Baby Care Basics - Avoiding Synthetic Chemicals:
*"Added Fragrance": Products which have added scents use synthetic petrochemical bases to instill the odors. These can be damaging to the skin.
*"Added Colors": Be wary. Most colors are made from industrial-grade synthetic dyes. Many of these are caustic and carcinogenic.

*Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: This is a strong chemical used as an industrial cleaning agent, and is also commonly found in shampoos. This chemical is used to make shampoos produce more lather. Most adults don't react adversely to it, but it can cause allergic reactions and awful rashes when used on babies.

*Triethanolamine - Also a common baby care product chemical, generally found in skin and hair care products. Studies indicate that it can cause severe rashes on the skin.

*PEG 80 / Sorbital Laurate: This is a surfactant which can cause severe blisters on babies.
*Lauramide DEA: One of the most widely used substances in shampoos, this chemical oftentimes causes irritation and skin flaking.

Good Baby Skin Care Products:
Experts recommend the use of organic baby care items. As a rule, the natural substances are more skin-friendly and aren't harmful like their synthetic chemical counterparts. Natural oils are the best substances to take care of an infant's delicate skin.

Substituting commercial creams and lotions with a natural oil to serve as your baby skin care product is a great idea. Even with these, it's best to first test the substance on a small area of the baby's skin, to be on the safe side. Here are a few suggested oils.

* Rosemary Oil: This is safe oil which can be used to treat skin irritation and itchiness.
* Almond Oil: A great oil for baby massages, with a gentle aroma.
* Lavender oil: Highly recommended for aromatherapy, thought some babies might find the scent too strong for direct application. May be diluted into bath water to help infants sleep.
* Jojoba Oil: Very gentle oil for treating rashes on the skin.

Signs Of Heart Attack Among Women

Heart attack is the leading cause of death among women. According to survey, 5 out of 10 women die out of a stroke, but only 15 percent realize it. In addition, the signs of heart attack in women differ to that of men. Take a look at these signs in order for you to prevent a potential heart attack not only for yourself but for a love one as well.

Though the heart is located at the left side of the body, a stroke doesn't strike on that side alone. A lot of women feel a sting or discomfort in the upper body, particularly in both arms, the neck, jaw, back or the stomach. Shortness of breath along with dizziness and hot flashes usually follow these signs.

A sudden feeling of tiredness or weakness can also be a sign of this condition. When the heart is not working properly, there will be a shortage of oxygen supply in the body, making you feel tired than usual. This can also often result to nausea and vomiting. So when you're having these symptoms, seek help immediately.

It's also important to note that anxiety can also be risk factor for heart attack. When you are feeling overly anxious about something, it may be that your nervous system is overreacting to the abnormal activity of your heart.

The feeling may also be just a plain anxiety attack so you have to know when to draw the line.
Moreover, having sleep disturbance at night may also be a sign.

Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea have been linked to stroke. When you are having difficulty breathing during sleep due to some obstructions in your throat, be careful as it can lead to high blood pressure and possibly an attack.

Take note that these signs and symptoms may not be altogether present in a heart attack, so even when you feel only one of these signs it is important to seek medical health ASAP.

As a final point, heart attack is something you shouldn't take lightly so do your best to keep your ticker functioning properly through healthy living and regular checkups.

How To Deal With Fibroids and Pregnancy?

Are you aware of your fibroids in uterus and trying to get pregnant? Is it possible to have fibroids and pregnancy without any complications? Will fibroids tumors affect your ability to conceive? Should you go in for uterine fibroids treatment before getting pregnant?
In this article I propose to provide answers to the above questions. These are absolutely valid concerns which any woman who has fibroids in uterus will have if she wants to get pregnant.
Research has indicated that uterine tumors can impact pregnancy post conception and sometimes in the pre-conception stage also. Women may have problems in actually conceiving, experience miscarriages, discomfort and pain.
The good part is that statistically majority of women with fibroids do conceive naturally and have a trouble-free 9 month pregnancy. Pregnancy is a joyous moment in a woman's life which we all want to enjoy without any complications. Hence the best way to deal with fibroids and pregnancy is to take uterine fibroids treatment beforehand to get rid of the uterine tumors with the help of natural, non invasive methods.
However if you are unlucky and fall in the category of women who come to know of fibroids in uterus post conception, there is not much that you can do in terms of fibroids treatment. You can only keep a close watch on your body and health with a view to report to your doctor as soon as you notice anything unusual.
Here are some natural tips to deal with fibroids while pregnant.
In general all pregnant women must always have a healthy diet. For those suffering from fibroids in uterus it is best to switch over to organic food and avoid food which is preserved or artificially flavored. Drinking at least 2-3 liters of water is essential to keep the body hydrated and flush out all the harmful toxins from the body. In case fibroids tumors cause pain and discomfort, heat therapy and gentle massage can be used to deal with fibroids and pregnancy. While pregnant it is very important to stay happy and stress free. Plenty of rest and stress reduction practices like Aromatherapy and meditation will help in staying calm and stress free.

Breast Lactating

There has been a period when breast feeding has been the only way by which new infants were fed. For quite some time breast milk was the only milk available to new human infants. If an infant's biological mom was unable to breastfeed him, a 'wet nurse' would do the breast feeding. Breast lactating infants, used to be the only choice for a new mom and her baby. Then bottle feeding and 'artificial milks' made their arrival. As bottle feeding became scientifically regulated, it became popular and the scientific guidelines which governed bottle feeding even became applicable for breast lactating. At present we are discovering afresh breast feeding infants almost as if bottle feeding arrived first.
Breast lactating advantages consist of a long list which comprises of advantages for mother as well as her newborn. Most of the advantages incorporate diseases and medical conditions for which the risk decreases in the case of breastfeeding. On some occasions breast lactating prevents your baby from falling ill at all and it also will help your baby to get well much faster when baby has contracted an illness. Once we look at every one of the breast feeding advantages, it is difficult to consider that there has ever been a period in favor of bottle feeding.
I am so glad that I discovered the advantages of breast feeding! It has been simply special to be able to breastfeed my children. My eldest was breastfed for twenty two months and my youngest is still breast feeding at fifteen months. There are few things which can compare to breastfeeding as a way to connect with your baby. Both my babies are very close to me.
I encountered several breast lactating problems with my firstborn, but because I was in the know on the advantages of breast feeding for my baby and I, I realized that I should hang in there. My babies arrived prematurely and this provided me with quite a rough start to breastfeeding. Furthermore with my eldest I experienced lots of difficulties that could have been prevented if I understood certain features of breast lactating more plainly. I found how to avert and heal many a predicament by means of some painful trial and error. Due to my breastfeeding experiences with my eldest I was very prepared to breastfeed my youngest.
I educated myself regarding breast feeding since I have been very serious to succeed. I learned what the expert's said versus that which really works. The expert's information does not always work for everyone or is executable in the case of the practical application. This research in combination with my actual experience while breast feeding my eldest has been helpful preparation for breast lactating my youngest. Being well informed on that which really works is definitely worth it!

Is Breast Feeding Better Than Bottle Feeding?

In the past, baby formula was produced as a milk substitute for infants and was considered superior to breast milk. Nowadays, most experts agree that breast milk is best when it comes to feeding newborns. There are many reasons why a mother might choose to bottle feed versus breastfeeding, and newer formulas are modeled to be as close to breast milk as possible. Therefore, it is possible to keep your baby happy and healthy no matter which method of feeding you choose. Whether you choose breastfeeding or bottle feeding, there are many options to consider.

Choosing breastfeeding or bottle feeding can be a matter of preference, but it can also be due to health issues or other concerns. For instance, some mothers bottle feed because they have health problems that require medication that could leech into breast milk and harm their little ones. Other mothers supplement breastfeeding with bottle feeding because they are not able to adequately produce enough milk to sustain their infants. And still other mothers choose to bottle feed because of the need to return to work before a proper breastfeeding routine can be established.

Many mothers choose breastfeeding for health reasons - they want to provide the healthiest, natural choice when it comes to feeding their babies. Other mothers choose breastfeeding for cultural reasons, and still others do it for the convenience and cost savings. Breast milk also imparts the mother's antibodies within the first few days of nursing, so some mothers nurse exclusively in that time in order to help boost the immune systems of their infants.

Regardless of whether you decide to bottle feed or breastfeed your baby, you need to take steps to ensure a consistent and regular feeding schedule. Getting comfortable with feeding your little one while you are still in the hospital will help you to successfully transition to home feedings. Make sure you have a support group within your home that can help you establish a routine that works for both you and your baby.

Most importantly, you should feel good about the choice you make, whether it's breastfeeding, bottle feeding, or a combination of both. As long as you provide the kind of care and love that your baby needs, he or she will thrive no matter which option you choose. Don't feel that you "have to" breastfeed or bottle feed. This should be an individual choice based on what's best for your family and what is best for you and your baby. If you take the time to be prepared, you'll find that feeding your infant is one of the most precious times that you will enjoy.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Allergies and food should be avoided

What are the symptoms of food allergy?
 
If your baby is allergic to certain foods, the symptoms will appear within minutes or seconds. The most common symptoms are:

      
Cough
      
Tongue and throat dry and itchy
      
Skin itching or rash
      
Nausea and bloating
      
Diarrhea and / or vomiting
      
Labored breathing and shortness of breath
      
His lips and throat swelling
      
Runny nose and congestion
      
Itchy eyes, red and sore
Foods that cause allergyFood often cause allergic reactions include:

      
Cow's milk and other dairy products
      
Eggs
      
Seafood, such as Fish, Crab, Shrimp, and Lobster
      
Nuts (peanuts, soybeans, etc.)
      
Cereals containing gluten (wheat, rye, wheat, oats and wheat barley)
      
Sesame
      
Food and drinks containing preservative sulfur dioxide and sulfite
      
Celery
Foods to avoid
There are some foods that should not be used on your baby before it reaches a certain age, to avoid the increased risk of allergies until his immune system was formed.

      
Gluten (before 6 months)
      
Gluten is a protein found in grains such as wheat, rye, wheat, barley and oat grain. You should avoid giving these foods until age 6 months Look for food products labeled 'gluten free'.
      Sea Food (before 6 months)
      
Fish can cause allergic reactions in some babies, the mother should not give fish to your baby before she was 6 months. After the age of your baby reaches 6 months, fish can be part of a balanced diet.      Nuts and peanut-containing foods should not be given to infants from families with a history of allergy until he was at least 3 years. Also, do not give any kind of whole nuts to children under five due to risk of choking.
What to do if your baby has a food allergy
If you think your baby has a food allergy, consult a doctor immediately. In addition, by observing the food packaging labels, I can more easily decide what should be given and not given to your baby.

Detecting allergies and intolerance

What is the difference between allergy and intolerance
If you've got suspicious look fussy baby after drinking milk or certain foods, then there is one way that can help you determine if your baby has an allergy or intolerance. That is by seeing how fast the reaction occurs.
 
Allergy
 
Allergy Symptoms usually appear within minutes or seconds. Allergies occur when the immune system a bit chaotic because it reacts with the allergen (allergy-triggering substances) in food and develop antibodies to attack the allergen.
The body releases chemicals defense, which cause allergic reactions, such as sneezing, swelling or rash, vomiting, and diarrhea. Ask your doctor diagnose allergies if she suspected that there is allergy in your baby.
Intolerance
Intolerance allergy symptoms may be similar, but can not related to the immune system. The main complaint is stomach churning.
 
What can be done?
Make a diary of foods given to infants. This can help you detect foods that trigger allergies. Try to only give a new food every four days during the introduction of supplementary food to breast-feeding. This also will help you detect any new allergic reaction.
 
Intolerance may be more difficult to diagnose. Both in the case of allergy or intolerance, she should contact your doctor, who will help diagnose the problem and suggest appropriate ways of handling.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Is milk still important for toddlers?

Although your toddler is getting nutrients from food, but milk is still an important part of the toddler diet that is growing. Because the milk still contains many nutrients essential for health.
As a guide, your toddler needs at least 350 ml of milk, which can be processed into a drink, mixed with cereal, or mother if the food. And the maximum amount that should be drunk toddler is 600 ml a day.
Nutricia Dairy Growth of nutrient-rich well balanced and rich in vitamin D and iron. Milk is suitable for ages 12 months to 3 years to complete toddler menu.
Tips and tricks 'slipped' milk into a toddler menu
Many infants have fussy eating stage, especially when related to milk. However, she got permission to "cheat" and work around this. The following tips may be tested
• Add strawberries into the milk and give the name 'strawberry milk'• Pour the milk into a glass of interest for your toddler to drink spirits.• Change the way the presentation of milk, when he usually drank cold milk, try to serve a delicious glass of warm milk.• Offer it in the morning bowl of cereal and milk or milk plus oatmeal porridge.• Enhance creativity mother by making mashed potatoes (with milk mixture), pancakes, or milk pudding.
Give other dairy products
In addition to milk, dairy products can also be Mother enter into toddler diet.
• Cheese, pour cheese sauce over steamed vegetables / salad• Serve yogurt as a snack• Ice cream, pudding, or milk shakes are also options that may be favored dairy toddler.Mom can learn more by reading the toddler difficult to eat ... but, do not forget to stay calm as possible and always persuaded him if it relates to food.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

The Importance of Immunization

Why is immunization important for the baby I?
Immunization is a virus that has been attenuated to enter into the body. Its function, to stimulate the body to form the immune system. So, if there is an incoming germs, the body will automatically fight it. So, this is very important to dissuade him from disease.
When should I take my baby to be immunized?
Typically, children up to age 5 years should be immunized 13 times with a separate schedule. Usually the doctor will give Mother immunization schedule, so his gift can be monitored properly. Mother would be easy to see any immunizations already and has not been given.
Immunization what will get my baby and when?
Now, the immunization can be alleviated by a combination vaccine.
Vaccine or vaccine combination combo is a combination of several types of viruses or bacteria into a single product antigens that prevent different diseases. Practically, this vaccine is simply done in a single injection only.
In Indonesia, these vaccines must obtain permission from the Directorate General of Drug and Food, Ministry of Health.
The oldest existing combination vaccines are DPT (diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus). From the incorporation of DPT vaccine is proven safe, then arises the idea of combining some other vaccines.


So the incorporation of DPT vaccine Hepatitis B, DPT, Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type-B), and so forth.


Now, there are also various other types of combination vaccines. For example, the MMR (Measles Mumps Rubella), varicella, DPT, Hepatitis B Hib IPV (polio), and many more.
Is my baby will suffer any side effects?
Allergy to vaccines are extremely rare. So Immunization done enough security. If it was a little baby has a fever or swelling at the injection site, I can give paracetamol suitable for infants.
Sometimes babies have very mild symptoms of these immunizations. But your son will not suffer side effects or serious complications. Risk of the disease will be much greater if your baby is not protected.
If a mother worried about your baby has a bad reaction to the vaccine, talk to your midwife or your doctor

How to change baby's diaper

Get ready
Babies are not comfortable for long wearing wet or soiled diaper. For Mother's easier and faster to replace it, make sure all equipment is near the mother. Anything?

      
cotton / wet wipes / towel fabric
      
containing a small basin of boiled water to wash the baby's bottom
      
soft fabric towel (to dry the buttocks
      
baby after dibersihka)
      
clean diaper
      
When required, she also can prepare the cream for
      
prevent diaper irritation
Changing diapers

      
Open dress or trousers so as not dirty.
      
Remove the diaper by folding backwards (for the dirty part is not Mene mpel to your baby.)
      
Use the front to clean the baby. Protect your baby is a vital tool of feces with a clean cloth.
      
Let the diaper under the buttocks, may be dirt out again, just get rid of.
      
Lift the baby's legs up to her ass and then clean the area of the buttocks lifted up to the front with a tissue or a soft damp cloth. If your baby girls, wipe from front to back away from the vagina to prevent infection.
      
After the baby's bottom is cleaned and dried, put the diaper under the baby's bottom lace.
      
Fold over the front of the diaper to close the pubic baby. Conclude the rope in the middle. Or use baby safety pins.
      
Change your baby's clothes, and do not forget to wash your hands afterwards.
Cloth diapering
Square-shaped cloth diapers and equipped with 2 straps or can use a safety pin. Diapers are more environmentally friendly because it can be washed and reused. How to change the diaper of this type do not vary much with disposable diapers, except on how to tie it.

How to bathe a baby Bathing Baby for the First Time

Although the mother provided a way to bathe a baby when still in the hospital, she may still feel anxious when I had to do it yourself at home.
Many mothers prefer to bathe their babies with washlap in the first weeks. After feeling more confident, then they actually bathe with bath.
No matter if she only uses washlap. Do it this way in the room is warm and Cover baby with a towel to dry.
All it takes to bathe a baby
Bathing the baby would be easier if she is really ready. So before you start, prepare the following equipment:

      
Baby bathtub (if there is a buffer body or rubber fitted for a baby shower is not easy to slip). Put in place a comfortable fit and high room temperature that does not make you sick waist.

      
Water thermometer
      
washlap soft or baby bath sponge
      
washlap soft or baby bath sponge
      
Baby towel
      
Equipment for cleaning the umbilical cord (bandages, cotton, betadine, plasters, cotton buds)
  
      
Equipment to be used seusainya (baby clothes, diapers, powder, oil Talon, etc.)
Bathing your baby - step by step

      
Prepare a bath tub of water with sufficient quantity and temperature for a baby (about 30-32 degrees celsius)

      
Set also at room temperature for a baby shower is not cold.

      
Put the baby in the bathtub or on the support. Wet the body slowly and clean the eyes, ears, face, and folds her body with a soft cloth.

      
Use a special soap for baby's body, gently rinse with water.

      
If the baby's hair should be washed, do the above taffel baby before the baby is put into the tub. Crutch head and shoulders with a forearm Mother. Clean foam pat on the head with a wet cloth, just rinse until clean.

     
During the bath, take your baby to talk or sing songs that calm him down.

      
When finished, lift the baby with a warm towel and then keirngkan body.
If the mother is still in doubt, midwife or doctor will show you how to bathe the baby is most suitable for you. Once Mom hang of it, I will feel confident to do it.