BY. Alex Lum
Just like children of other ages, baby’s need toys too. They just need a different type of toy. Baby toys can add excitement and stimulate your baby. But what is it you want in baby toys?
Well one of the first thing you want out of your baby toys is safety. Recent problems with toys made in China containing lead paint have once again brought to our attention the importance of knowing what you buy.
The baby toys you choose for your baby should fit your baby’s personality and the type of stimulation they enjoy. Each baby develops at a different level, likes to do different things, and each also has their own frustration points. You know your baby better than anyone else, so don’t worry you will make the right choices with just a little help.
There is no question that there are definitely some excellent baby toys on the market. Since you can’t afford them all let’s start analyzing your baby so that the toy’s you buy he will love.
What are baby’s favorite toys when he’s in his crib, car seat, or stroller. Does your baby have a toy he likes to clutch, perhaps one he favors, or one that jingles and gets his attention.
Even at this young age, chances are your baby has a favorite tool. Of all his baby toys, which is the one that comforts him when he’s cranky, tired, or even when he’s in pain like when he is cutting a new tooth?
Think about it for a minute, out of all those baby toys, which is the one that relaxes him, and makes him stop crying or fretting. Which toy puts a smile on his face? Consider if his favorite toys share characteristics such as material, color, or sound?
Once you have identified what makes your baby happy when it comes to his baby toys you are going to make smarter purchases. It’s a win-win – your baby is happy and your happy because you spent less.
Studies have shown that up until your baby is six months of age they respond to contrasting, bold colors, captivating your baby’s attention. These kinds of baby toys encourage physical activity in kicking, waving, and wiggling. They also stimulate visual development.
When we are talking about baby toys we tend to focus on what’s available in the store, without realizing there are a few things hanging around the house that would amuse a baby for hours. For example, what about those wind chimes? Hang them over your baby’s crib and they’ll be amused for hours. Of course you can buy baby wind chimes too. Wind chimes make a soft tinkling sound that is pleasing to your baby’s ears and they will drift off to sleep.
Even younger baby’s can learn which is why educational baby toys are a smart buy. Bath baby toys are also a must have, they are both educational and fun for baby. Remember your rubber ducky? Well it’s still going strong.
There are many terrific baby toys on the market and in all different price ranges, so know your baby’s likes and dislikes, know your budget, and you’ll be buying baby toys you can afford and that your baby will love.
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Thursday, July 3, 2008
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Guide and Tips for Your New Baby
By. Meena Kumari
First of all, CONGRATULATIONS! You are having a new baby! Now, on to the serious stuff. You are going to get yourself prepared for your new baby, mentally, physically and you will need to adjust your house and car for the new baby too!
Mentally preparing for the new baby
Remember this, women adjust to having a new baby faster than men; so, do not expect husbands to start being all fatherly after the pregnancy is announced. They are not like that. Women adjust better to the new baby, mentally, because they experience physical, emotional and psychological changes. These changes help them adjust to the new baby quicker. However, men start feeling the new baby when they see the bump or feel the flicker of baby movement over mommy’s belly.
Physically preparing for the new baby
There is nothing much a new father can do to prepare to the new baby. What needs to be done by a father needs to be done BEFORE the new baby is conceived. However, the new father can try quitting smoking, quitting drinking and other vices once the new baby is conceived. The new mother needs to do the same too.
Planning for the new baby: the house and car
With the new baby, depending on whether you are planning to co-sleep with the baby or whether you are planning to plonk the baby in a separate room affects the changes to your home. Either way, we recommend having a separate room for your new baby, even if the new baby is going to be sleeping with the new parents for the first couple of months. A baby crib, some toys, a place to put all the baby’s clothes, shelves to convenient grab lotions, creams, diaper wipes, diapers, etc. off near the changing table is a MUST.
You will also need to think about getting a baby chair too; baby chair for the house (at the right height for the dining table) and a baby chair for the car (for traveling). Some baby chairs can be adjusted to fit the adult dining chair AND fit into the car at the same time. They are a little bit more expensive than the conventional baby chairs, but the multi-function is extremely convenient PLUS it is downright comfortable for your new baby.
Other essential stuff for your new baby
Frankly speaking, the essentials depend wholly on your own preference, budget and lifestyle. You can live without some of these things if you think you would rather not waste the money.
If you have had previous babies before, you probably do not need too many new baby clothes. New babies outgrow their clothes terribly fast and it would be a waste of money to splurge on new clothes. You can get hand-me-downs from nieces and nephews too, if you want. What you should probably get are blankets, sweaters, coats, and clothes for going out. At home, your new baby is not going to mind old clothes. In fact, it is a fact that your new baby is probably going to like wearing the old clothes better than the new clothes. Don’t forget the feeding utensils like baby bowls, breast pump (if you’re planning to pump breast milk for your new baby at work), baby bottles, cloth nappies, diapers, baby wipes, lotions, shampoo, bath gels, towels, baby blankets, baby bedding, bibs, stroller, etc.
And do not worry, you will do fine. The best thing to do is to get unbiased referrals from friends and family.
First of all, CONGRATULATIONS! You are having a new baby! Now, on to the serious stuff. You are going to get yourself prepared for your new baby, mentally, physically and you will need to adjust your house and car for the new baby too!
Mentally preparing for the new baby
Remember this, women adjust to having a new baby faster than men; so, do not expect husbands to start being all fatherly after the pregnancy is announced. They are not like that. Women adjust better to the new baby, mentally, because they experience physical, emotional and psychological changes. These changes help them adjust to the new baby quicker. However, men start feeling the new baby when they see the bump or feel the flicker of baby movement over mommy’s belly.
Physically preparing for the new baby
There is nothing much a new father can do to prepare to the new baby. What needs to be done by a father needs to be done BEFORE the new baby is conceived. However, the new father can try quitting smoking, quitting drinking and other vices once the new baby is conceived. The new mother needs to do the same too.
Planning for the new baby: the house and car
With the new baby, depending on whether you are planning to co-sleep with the baby or whether you are planning to plonk the baby in a separate room affects the changes to your home. Either way, we recommend having a separate room for your new baby, even if the new baby is going to be sleeping with the new parents for the first couple of months. A baby crib, some toys, a place to put all the baby’s clothes, shelves to convenient grab lotions, creams, diaper wipes, diapers, etc. off near the changing table is a MUST.
You will also need to think about getting a baby chair too; baby chair for the house (at the right height for the dining table) and a baby chair for the car (for traveling). Some baby chairs can be adjusted to fit the adult dining chair AND fit into the car at the same time. They are a little bit more expensive than the conventional baby chairs, but the multi-function is extremely convenient PLUS it is downright comfortable for your new baby.
Other essential stuff for your new baby
Frankly speaking, the essentials depend wholly on your own preference, budget and lifestyle. You can live without some of these things if you think you would rather not waste the money.
If you have had previous babies before, you probably do not need too many new baby clothes. New babies outgrow their clothes terribly fast and it would be a waste of money to splurge on new clothes. You can get hand-me-downs from nieces and nephews too, if you want. What you should probably get are blankets, sweaters, coats, and clothes for going out. At home, your new baby is not going to mind old clothes. In fact, it is a fact that your new baby is probably going to like wearing the old clothes better than the new clothes. Don’t forget the feeding utensils like baby bowls, breast pump (if you’re planning to pump breast milk for your new baby at work), baby bottles, cloth nappies, diapers, baby wipes, lotions, shampoo, bath gels, towels, baby blankets, baby bedding, bibs, stroller, etc.
And do not worry, you will do fine. The best thing to do is to get unbiased referrals from friends and family.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Who is Looking After your Baby?
by. Cecilia Koh
Once we get over the excitement of knowing a baby is on the way, we have to come down to earth and start making preparations for baby’s arrival. Most of us will have a checklist of to do things such as shopping for baby’s essentials etc. I think that one of the most important aspects of preparation is deciding who is going to look after your newborn baby. What are your options?
Looking after your baby yourself
Some questions you and your husband may have to consider
• Can you make do with one income?
• Can you work part time or work from home?
• Do you have the mindset to spend 24 hours a day with your baby?
• If this is your first baby, do you have any support with caring for your baby? This includes physical, emotional and psychological support as it is not always easy looking after a newborn baby.
If you answer yes to all the questions above than you will make a good stay at home mum. If you cannot answer yes to all the questions or after a few months of staying at home with your baby, you decide that you want to go back to work, than you will have to consider other child care options for your baby. The options for child care facilities are slightly different in Asian countries compared to Western societies
Sending baby to grandma
This may be ideal if grandma lives nearby. However many grandmas live in another town or state which means that you will only get to see your baby once a week at weekends or an even longer period if the distance is too far. I have seen many cases where the baby does not know his parents at age 1 year. If grandma is a bit elderly she may not know how to properly stimulate your baby and there is also the possibility that grandma will spoil your baby. I have children who come to my centre after spending months with grand parents who carry them all day long that they do not know how to sit or crawl at the age of 10 months. They are very clinging and refuse to be left alone except when they are sleeping. If your parents are looking after your baby do make sure that you encourage them to allow your baby to learn normal developmental activities like rolling over, crawling and exploring their environment.
Having a care giver in your home
For many parents this arrangement is very appealing as your baby will be in familiar and comfortable surroundings. You do not have to spend time sending and collecting your baby from an outside caretaker. Your baby gets one on one care and would be exposed to fewer people and germs. Your care giver may do some light housework while your baby naps which would allow you to spend quality time with your baby when you come home. In the past, it was easy to get a local mature lady to live-in as amahs but nowadays it is getting more and more difficult to do this and it is quite expensive to employ local amahs or nannies. Nowadays, many parents in Malaysia and Singapore employ foreign maids to care for their baby. I have a suspicious nature when it comes to leaving newborn babies with foreign maids who may decide to run away leaving your baby at home alone, or worse, taking your baby with her. In addition, most foreign maids do not have any experience in looking after a newborn baby. Do remember that the first 2 years of your baby’s life is eventful as he will be more prone to fever associated with immunizations, teething etc. This is also a time when he is learning a lot and if the maid cannot provide the right stimulation your baby’s development will be slightly slower.
Day care in someone else’s home
Many first-time parents choose this type of care because they believe it's important for their child to interact with other children as well as at least one adult during the day. Normally, this type of care is provided by housewives (baby sitter) who have had children of their own so they have experience with caring for small children. Some provide a one on one care but the majority will have at least another 3 to 4 children to care for. If you are lucky you may find a fantastic baby sitter who will provide your baby with the best physical and developmental care. I find the vast majority of these baby sitters provide quite good physical care but do not know how to provide adequate stimulation for the baby’s development. Most of the babies end up watching Chinese soap operas all the time. If you send your baby to this type of baby sitters please make sure that you also provide some developmental media for your baby such as educational toys, books with pictures and educational videos so that he learns through music and singing. Some parents will only take the baby home on weekends and I personally disagree with this arrangement as I feel very strongly that you must spend some quality time every night in your own home with your baby. This will help your baby to build trust in you and for you to know everything about your own baby.
A day care center
Choosing the proper day care center for your child should be a carefully thought out and researched process. It is important to choose a center that helps your child grow and develop his skills while also having fun. There are several advantages to having your child in a daycare center. Good centers have a mix of activities that will teach different skills. Activities that lead to creativity, storytelling, dancing and singing all help your baby learn instead of just playing all day. Children also get to socialize and interact with other children which they wouldn't get to do if they were at home with a nanny.
A few disadvantages are that the children do not have the one-on-one attention they would get if they were at home with a parent or nanny. The children are also more likely to be exposed to more germs from all the other children. The upside of this is that the children start to build their immunity earlier. While centers are usually very structured and have clear rules for parents to follow such as those regarding picking up your child, a disadvantage is that you could incur fees for picking up your child late, having to find a place for your child on holidays, or finding someone to care for your child if he or she becomes sick from a highly contagious illness and is sent home by the center.
As an operator of a child day care centre I recommend that you MUST check out the centre before you send your baby there.
• Check out the centre when there are other children around. This will let you see how the children are looked after and whether they are happy, outgoing or shy and withdrawn and how they respond to the staff members.
• Take your baby to the centre because babies are very sensitive to their environment. If you enter and your baby starts crying then the place is not for your baby. Let your baby spend some time looking around and see how he reacts to the staff members and the environment.
• Check whether it is a safe clean facility. All the areas should be clean, well lit and ventilated. There should be policies on staff hygiene and cleanliness such as hand washing, cleanliness of feeding equipment and disposal of rubbish.
• Does the centre have an open door policy i.e. do they allow unannounced visits? If they do not have this policy, they may be hiding something.
• What is the staff to baby ratio? Newborn babies require extra time compared to bigger children so the ideal ratio is 1 to 3.
• Does the centre have any daily programme to help your baby’s development?
• Any other personal questions of your own.
Whichever option you choose, the most important thing to consider is the safety, wellness and happiness of your baby and the least stress to you the parents
Once we get over the excitement of knowing a baby is on the way, we have to come down to earth and start making preparations for baby’s arrival. Most of us will have a checklist of to do things such as shopping for baby’s essentials etc. I think that one of the most important aspects of preparation is deciding who is going to look after your newborn baby. What are your options?
Looking after your baby yourself
Some questions you and your husband may have to consider
• Can you make do with one income?
• Can you work part time or work from home?
• Do you have the mindset to spend 24 hours a day with your baby?
• If this is your first baby, do you have any support with caring for your baby? This includes physical, emotional and psychological support as it is not always easy looking after a newborn baby.
If you answer yes to all the questions above than you will make a good stay at home mum. If you cannot answer yes to all the questions or after a few months of staying at home with your baby, you decide that you want to go back to work, than you will have to consider other child care options for your baby. The options for child care facilities are slightly different in Asian countries compared to Western societies
Sending baby to grandma
This may be ideal if grandma lives nearby. However many grandmas live in another town or state which means that you will only get to see your baby once a week at weekends or an even longer period if the distance is too far. I have seen many cases where the baby does not know his parents at age 1 year. If grandma is a bit elderly she may not know how to properly stimulate your baby and there is also the possibility that grandma will spoil your baby. I have children who come to my centre after spending months with grand parents who carry them all day long that they do not know how to sit or crawl at the age of 10 months. They are very clinging and refuse to be left alone except when they are sleeping. If your parents are looking after your baby do make sure that you encourage them to allow your baby to learn normal developmental activities like rolling over, crawling and exploring their environment.
Having a care giver in your home
For many parents this arrangement is very appealing as your baby will be in familiar and comfortable surroundings. You do not have to spend time sending and collecting your baby from an outside caretaker. Your baby gets one on one care and would be exposed to fewer people and germs. Your care giver may do some light housework while your baby naps which would allow you to spend quality time with your baby when you come home. In the past, it was easy to get a local mature lady to live-in as amahs but nowadays it is getting more and more difficult to do this and it is quite expensive to employ local amahs or nannies. Nowadays, many parents in Malaysia and Singapore employ foreign maids to care for their baby. I have a suspicious nature when it comes to leaving newborn babies with foreign maids who may decide to run away leaving your baby at home alone, or worse, taking your baby with her. In addition, most foreign maids do not have any experience in looking after a newborn baby. Do remember that the first 2 years of your baby’s life is eventful as he will be more prone to fever associated with immunizations, teething etc. This is also a time when he is learning a lot and if the maid cannot provide the right stimulation your baby’s development will be slightly slower.
Day care in someone else’s home
Many first-time parents choose this type of care because they believe it's important for their child to interact with other children as well as at least one adult during the day. Normally, this type of care is provided by housewives (baby sitter) who have had children of their own so they have experience with caring for small children. Some provide a one on one care but the majority will have at least another 3 to 4 children to care for. If you are lucky you may find a fantastic baby sitter who will provide your baby with the best physical and developmental care. I find the vast majority of these baby sitters provide quite good physical care but do not know how to provide adequate stimulation for the baby’s development. Most of the babies end up watching Chinese soap operas all the time. If you send your baby to this type of baby sitters please make sure that you also provide some developmental media for your baby such as educational toys, books with pictures and educational videos so that he learns through music and singing. Some parents will only take the baby home on weekends and I personally disagree with this arrangement as I feel very strongly that you must spend some quality time every night in your own home with your baby. This will help your baby to build trust in you and for you to know everything about your own baby.
A day care center
Choosing the proper day care center for your child should be a carefully thought out and researched process. It is important to choose a center that helps your child grow and develop his skills while also having fun. There are several advantages to having your child in a daycare center. Good centers have a mix of activities that will teach different skills. Activities that lead to creativity, storytelling, dancing and singing all help your baby learn instead of just playing all day. Children also get to socialize and interact with other children which they wouldn't get to do if they were at home with a nanny.
A few disadvantages are that the children do not have the one-on-one attention they would get if they were at home with a parent or nanny. The children are also more likely to be exposed to more germs from all the other children. The upside of this is that the children start to build their immunity earlier. While centers are usually very structured and have clear rules for parents to follow such as those regarding picking up your child, a disadvantage is that you could incur fees for picking up your child late, having to find a place for your child on holidays, or finding someone to care for your child if he or she becomes sick from a highly contagious illness and is sent home by the center.
As an operator of a child day care centre I recommend that you MUST check out the centre before you send your baby there.
• Check out the centre when there are other children around. This will let you see how the children are looked after and whether they are happy, outgoing or shy and withdrawn and how they respond to the staff members.
• Take your baby to the centre because babies are very sensitive to their environment. If you enter and your baby starts crying then the place is not for your baby. Let your baby spend some time looking around and see how he reacts to the staff members and the environment.
• Check whether it is a safe clean facility. All the areas should be clean, well lit and ventilated. There should be policies on staff hygiene and cleanliness such as hand washing, cleanliness of feeding equipment and disposal of rubbish.
• Does the centre have an open door policy i.e. do they allow unannounced visits? If they do not have this policy, they may be hiding something.
• What is the staff to baby ratio? Newborn babies require extra time compared to bigger children so the ideal ratio is 1 to 3.
• Does the centre have any daily programme to help your baby’s development?
• Any other personal questions of your own.
Whichever option you choose, the most important thing to consider is the safety, wellness and happiness of your baby and the least stress to you the parents
Friday, June 20, 2008
Understanding Infant Crib Chatter and Other Baby-talk: the Sign of Time
Author: Robert Walsh
Most parents discover how difficult it is to communicate with their baby. There are days that parents wish that their children were born talking. It would make things so much easier if their baby had the ability to communicate to their parents what they need or want. Or for the crying baby to be able to tell Mom and Dad in baby-talk what was hurting or bothering the infant in the middle of the night when his/her cries for help woke the parents out of a sound sleep.
The problem here is a failure to communicate. There are no baby adult common language communication skills available for the infant or the parents to have a nursery-needs conversation. Learning their baby’s babble parents can improve their interaction with their precious little one. It is such a helpless feeling in holding a crying, fussing, infant, and (they) have no clue what he/she wants or what will bring comfort. The parents’ hope is that with their calming voice and their baby-talk the “we can work it out” message will get through, and the baby will fall back to sleep.
As parents struggle to work with the wordless baby-talk they start learning, they begin learning a second language which is the baby’s first sign of speech though wordless. Parent can pick up clues to the baby’s needs over time. The infant’s baby-talk, gestures or type of cries, offers new signs for communication, thus baby-talk closes the communication gap. As parents learn baby-talk, as parents share more baby-talk, understanding baby-talk becomes happy-talk. Even baby-talk play has meaning with the baby’s smiles and laughter.
This process is long, frustrating and tedious. And waiting for your baby’s first word can seem endless. Your only real hope is that it will be “mama” or “papa”. But there is a better way of establishing baby-parent communication and share-a-language with your baby, so your baby can let you (the parents) know some of his/her needs. Teaching your baby kindersigns can really help open the door.
Recently NBC News aired a video report about Elizabeth, 17-month old toddler, who could read like a 7 year old. Her parents have been reading to her since she was born. This is a very good practice to develop with your baby. But the KEY here is that her parents taught Elizabeth American Sign Language (ASL) with a video for babies.
Teaching the American Sign Language is credited with giving Elizabeth the ability to read her children stories along with her parents. She is able to identify and pronounce words either written in a magazine or on a piece of paper which the NBC Reporter demonstrated on camera. During play time her mother writes words on paper and lets Elizabeth figure them out.
But more importantly, the basic ASL signs for early baby-parent communication can teach the following interactive words that can remove the guess work of what your child wants, and alleviate the baby’s frustration and the parent(s)’ feeling of helplessness:
• Eat ……Cereal…..Cracker…..Banana…..More
• Drink …..Milk……Juice…..Water…..Finished (all done)
• Diaper…..Potty
• Hurt…..Where…..Hot…..Cold
• Mom…..Dad…..Grandma…..Grandpa…..Baby
• Teddy Bear…..Doll.....Dog…..Cat
Your infant/toddler through the use of the American Sign Language (ASL) can learn primary baby-words to communicate his/her baby-talk needs. By signing with these newly learned hand-created words, you (the parent) understanding this baby talking sign-language can eliminate the guess work and frustration of trying to figure out just what your baby wants. This infant communication with ASL or infant-baby signing closes the communication gap and provides results that satisfy both you and your baby.
Studies point out the benefits of learning sign language:
Babies and toddlers have fewer tantrums overall
Babies and toddlers are much happier and have happier parents
Enhances bonding experiences between parents and their child
increases recognition of letters and words
Children have had higher IQs overall compared to non-signing children
Children have more advanced language skills
Promotes a higher Self-Esteem
Adds the Skill of Signing for later in life for both school and in the workplace
So provide your child with the ability to sign their needs at an early age, and eliminate the frustration that can come with the “terrible twos” due to poor communication skills. Develop creative ways through sign language to give your child a healthier and happier self-esteem with word-power that he/she will benefit from throughout his/her lifelong.
At Robert Walsh Kids Clothing we list one of the most successful, widely recognized programs about signing with your baby. It has won numerous National Awards; it’s highly entertaining and energized with music and songs, animated characters, and children signing the words for you and your baby to watch and learn together. Many parents suggest that it is a really FUN activity to do with their baby. So go have fun, and remember a happy baby makes a happy parent which makes for a happy home.
Most parents discover how difficult it is to communicate with their baby. There are days that parents wish that their children were born talking. It would make things so much easier if their baby had the ability to communicate to their parents what they need or want. Or for the crying baby to be able to tell Mom and Dad in baby-talk what was hurting or bothering the infant in the middle of the night when his/her cries for help woke the parents out of a sound sleep.
The problem here is a failure to communicate. There are no baby adult common language communication skills available for the infant or the parents to have a nursery-needs conversation. Learning their baby’s babble parents can improve their interaction with their precious little one. It is such a helpless feeling in holding a crying, fussing, infant, and (they) have no clue what he/she wants or what will bring comfort. The parents’ hope is that with their calming voice and their baby-talk the “we can work it out” message will get through, and the baby will fall back to sleep.
As parents struggle to work with the wordless baby-talk they start learning, they begin learning a second language which is the baby’s first sign of speech though wordless. Parent can pick up clues to the baby’s needs over time. The infant’s baby-talk, gestures or type of cries, offers new signs for communication, thus baby-talk closes the communication gap. As parents learn baby-talk, as parents share more baby-talk, understanding baby-talk becomes happy-talk. Even baby-talk play has meaning with the baby’s smiles and laughter.
This process is long, frustrating and tedious. And waiting for your baby’s first word can seem endless. Your only real hope is that it will be “mama” or “papa”. But there is a better way of establishing baby-parent communication and share-a-language with your baby, so your baby can let you (the parents) know some of his/her needs. Teaching your baby kindersigns can really help open the door.
Recently NBC News aired a video report about Elizabeth, 17-month old toddler, who could read like a 7 year old. Her parents have been reading to her since she was born. This is a very good practice to develop with your baby. But the KEY here is that her parents taught Elizabeth American Sign Language (ASL) with a video for babies.
Teaching the American Sign Language is credited with giving Elizabeth the ability to read her children stories along with her parents. She is able to identify and pronounce words either written in a magazine or on a piece of paper which the NBC Reporter demonstrated on camera. During play time her mother writes words on paper and lets Elizabeth figure them out.
But more importantly, the basic ASL signs for early baby-parent communication can teach the following interactive words that can remove the guess work of what your child wants, and alleviate the baby’s frustration and the parent(s)’ feeling of helplessness:
• Eat ……Cereal…..Cracker…..Banana…..More
• Drink …..Milk……Juice…..Water…..Finished (all done)
• Diaper…..Potty
• Hurt…..Where…..Hot…..Cold
• Mom…..Dad…..Grandma…..Grandpa…..Baby
• Teddy Bear…..Doll.....Dog…..Cat
Your infant/toddler through the use of the American Sign Language (ASL) can learn primary baby-words to communicate his/her baby-talk needs. By signing with these newly learned hand-created words, you (the parent) understanding this baby talking sign-language can eliminate the guess work and frustration of trying to figure out just what your baby wants. This infant communication with ASL or infant-baby signing closes the communication gap and provides results that satisfy both you and your baby.
Studies point out the benefits of learning sign language:
Babies and toddlers have fewer tantrums overall
Babies and toddlers are much happier and have happier parents
Enhances bonding experiences between parents and their child
increases recognition of letters and words
Children have had higher IQs overall compared to non-signing children
Children have more advanced language skills
Promotes a higher Self-Esteem
Adds the Skill of Signing for later in life for both school and in the workplace
So provide your child with the ability to sign their needs at an early age, and eliminate the frustration that can come with the “terrible twos” due to poor communication skills. Develop creative ways through sign language to give your child a healthier and happier self-esteem with word-power that he/she will benefit from throughout his/her lifelong.
At Robert Walsh Kids Clothing we list one of the most successful, widely recognized programs about signing with your baby. It has won numerous National Awards; it’s highly entertaining and energized with music and songs, animated characters, and children signing the words for you and your baby to watch and learn together. Many parents suggest that it is a really FUN activity to do with their baby. So go have fun, and remember a happy baby makes a happy parent which makes for a happy home.
Types of Baby Showers Range From Surprise, Couples, Twins, Sprinkle and More
Author: Patti Paz
Types of Baby Showers
After you decide to host a baby shower, one of the first decisions will be the type baby shower you want to give. However, this decision is made somewhat easier based on the purpose of the baby shower. For instance, if it is for new parents adopting an infant, baby or older child, the decision is obvious. Or, if you wanted to invite the guys, then you would want to have a co-ed or couples baby shower. A surprise baby shower might be held when you want to throw the party and surprise the new Mom-to-Be. Other types include sprinkle baby shower, multiple triples and twins baby shower, single mom baby shower and welcome home baby shower. The personalized baby shower invitations you send will depend on the type baby shower you are throwing. Read More About Types of Baby Showers.
Adoption Baby Showers
Adopting a baby is an exciting time in a couple’s life. Whether the new parents are adopting an infant, baby or older child, an adoption baby shower is a great way to introduce the addition to the family. The new parents will still need the basic necessities that any baby or child requires. When planning for an adoption baby shower, ask the new parents what they will need for the baby or child. Since adoptions can bring a certain amount of uncertainty until the baby arrives home with the adoptive parents, it may be best to wait to hold the baby shower until the parents bring their new addition home. Read More About Adoption Baby Showers.
After the new parents have identified some needed items, the personalized adoption baby shower invitations can be sent. These adoption baby shower cards should provide clear communication to the invited guests that it is an adoption baby shower. Given that it is an adoption, every effort should be made to not differentiate a child through adoption versus natural means. Of course identifying on the adoption baby shower invitations that it is an adoption baby shower will help guests know; however, the types of gifts and advice given will not be any different.
Co-ed Baby Showers for the Guys and Girls
Hosting a co-ed baby shower will definitely be a different celebration than a traditional baby shower. Since this will be a co-ed baby shower, you should remember the different types of guests that will be attending when determining the various aspects of the co-ed baby shower, such as the food and activities. Read More About Co-ed Baby Showers for Guys and Girls.
Since it will be a co-ed shower, decorating with less frilly colors, such as pink, (yes, even if it is a girl) will be more guy-friendly. Be sure to include where the expectant parents are registered in the personalized co-ed baby shower invitations cards. There are lots of unique baby shower invitations wordings, verses and sayings for co-ed baby showers invitations on many websites. Having a menu that will appeal to both men and women will be important. Plus if children are invited to attend then serving enticing kid-type food for them will be important.
Couples Baby Showers for the Dad-to-Be and Mom-to-Be and Their Friends
Baby showers were traditionally for the Mom-to-Be. However, times have definitely changed. With fathers taking a more active role in their family, particularly when it comes to planning for their new baby’s arrival, Dads-to-Be have felt left out of the baby shower party celebrations. Thus having a couples baby shower has become more a normal occurrence rather than the exception. The imprinted couples baby shower invitations should clearly indicate that the baby shower is a couples baby shower. Read More About Couples Baby Showers for the Expecting Parents.
The unique couples baby shower invitations should appeal to both the men and women, which will help to bring the men so that the father-to-be will not be the only guy at the baby party. At traditional baby showers, the Mom-to-Be is given something for her, not just the baby. When hosting a couples baby shower, ensure that there is a little something just for the Dad-to-Be, such as a ‘coach’ t-shirt, etc. Baby shower favors can also be given out the guests, but the items should be something that would be appreciated by the couple, such as candles or food items.
When sending affordable couples baby shower invitations, be sure and inform the invited guests that it is for couples - the father-to-be does not want to be the only guy there. Since the Mom-to-Be will need to send baby shower thank you cards after the baby shower, it is a good idea order the baby shower thank you cards at the time the couples baby shower invitations are ordered so they will have the same baby shower theme. There are websites that have sample couples baby shower invitations sayings, verses and wording ideas.
Single Mom Baby Showers
Planning single mom baby showers have lots of possibilities, particularly for selecting a theme for the shower. When choosing a baby theme, ensure that it reflects the expectant mom’s personality. With a single mom baby shower, it is important to remember that she may have some needs that a couple would not need, such as extra help financially or added support from a friend. When planning the shower, get the list of guests who the Mom-to-Be would like to see at the baby shower. The single mom baby shower invitations should definitely reflect the theme that has been chosen.
By offering time or purchasing a gift that will help her with daily tasks is always a good option. Of course, a gift certificate for a massage is always good. Taking pictures of mom and baby together would be something that a single mom would not necessarily think about and is a nice treat. Whatever the theme of the baby shower, the single mom baby shower invitations will set the stage for what the expectant mother will need for her baby.
Sprinkle Baby Showers for the Second, Third, Fourth & Additional Baby
The sprinkle baby shower is usually a smaller scale shower where the guests "sprinkle" the new mom with the little necessities the new baby will need. It is not the same as the traditional shower, but rather sort of like a sprinkling of gifts for the new baby. This clever term has been gaining popularity over the years and is becoming a new trend. A sprinkle baby shower is a great idea for parents-to-be who have other children. Read More About Sprinkle Baby Showers for the Second, Third, Fourth & Additional Baby.
The sprinkle baby shower invitations should indicate that it is a sprinkle baby shower. When planning the sprinkle baby shower, the sprinkle baby shower invitations cards can be fun and theme-oriented, such as a theme around what the needs might be. Regardless of what the sprinkle baby shower is called, ensure that the sprinkle baby shower announcements cards announce the type of celebration that will be held for the parents-to-be for the new life. There are lots of sample sprinkle baby shower invitations wording ideas, wording verses and sayings to help you get your personalized sprinkle baby shower invitations just right.
Surprise Baby Showers for the New Mom-to-Be
Planning a surprise baby shower can be a lot of fun provided that the Mom-to-Be is ‘game’ for surprises. To pull off the surprise baby shower, the hostess will need to enlist the help of others, such as the guest list, ensuring no one who should be invited is omitted, and getting someone to bring the Mom-to-Be to the baby shower party. It is important to remember to include in the personalized surprise baby shower invitations that it is a surprise baby shower. Read More About Surprise Baby Showers.
The invitations for surprise baby shower should indicate that the shower is a surprise. Next, pulling off the surprise will take more than just one person to ensure the secret is kept. The personalized surprise baby shower invitations should clearly state that it is a “surprise baby shower”, so no one will let the ‘cat out of the bag’ before the day of the surprise shower party.
When ordering the custom surprise baby shower announcements, be sure and order the matching baby shower thank you cards for the new Mom-to-Be. There are a few websites with excellent sample baby shower invitations wording ideas, verses and saying for baby invitations and baby thank you cards.
Twins, Triplets & Multiple Baby Showers
Twins, triplets and multiple baby showers are even more exciting and sometimes more stressful to plan than a traditional baby shower. And, you are just the friend or family helping to plan the shower, imagine how Mom and Dad must be feeling Read More About Twins, Triplets and Multiples Baby Showers.
Additionally, whether preparing twins baby shower invitations or triplets baby shower cards, the hostess should include in the shower invitations to all the invited guests of how many expected babies there are. Another thing to include on the twin baby shower invitations is whether the Mom-to-Be would prefer having non-matching outfits. This may be hard to communicate, but it is an important item to find out from her, particularly if the babies are the same gender or identical twins, triplets or multiples.
When purchasing baby shower gifts for multiple babies, it is not necessary to purchase multiples sets of everything. There are plenty of things that can be shared between the babies. Of course, having multiple babies will increase the cost of diapers, wipes, etc. that much more, so those types of gifts are always appreciated. But giving something fun is a nice idea too. Mothers of twins, triplets and multiples will usually forgo the fun, cute items for more practical, everyday items, such as books on rearing twins, triplets or multiple babies. Don’t forget about dad—with so many fathers playing larger roles in their children’s lives, inviting other men might be worthwhile and fun.
Welcome Home Baby Showers for After the Birth of Baby and New Mom and Baby are Home
A welcome home baby shower is a shower that is held after the baby has been born. While this may not be a traditional way of celebrating the impending birth of a child, this is definitely a great way for people to get together who might not have been able to make it to the baby showers given before the baby is born. This is also a fun time for the new parents to introduce the newest member of their family and friends. Read More About Welcome Home Baby Showers.
When planning the welcome home baby shower, sending the personalized welcome home baby shower invitations should be done within four weeks before the date of the welcome home baby shower party. Planning a welcome home baby shower will be a lot simpler than a traditional baby shower as the party will be a lot more relaxed. When planning, don’t forget the welcome home baby shower announcements and matching baby shower thank you cards as this will set the stage for a great party. Also ask the new parents of their preferences for food, date and time of day, as they now have a little one to cater.
Types of Baby Showers
After you decide to host a baby shower, one of the first decisions will be the type baby shower you want to give. However, this decision is made somewhat easier based on the purpose of the baby shower. For instance, if it is for new parents adopting an infant, baby or older child, the decision is obvious. Or, if you wanted to invite the guys, then you would want to have a co-ed or couples baby shower. A surprise baby shower might be held when you want to throw the party and surprise the new Mom-to-Be. Other types include sprinkle baby shower, multiple triples and twins baby shower, single mom baby shower and welcome home baby shower. The personalized baby shower invitations you send will depend on the type baby shower you are throwing. Read More About Types of Baby Showers.
Adoption Baby Showers
Adopting a baby is an exciting time in a couple’s life. Whether the new parents are adopting an infant, baby or older child, an adoption baby shower is a great way to introduce the addition to the family. The new parents will still need the basic necessities that any baby or child requires. When planning for an adoption baby shower, ask the new parents what they will need for the baby or child. Since adoptions can bring a certain amount of uncertainty until the baby arrives home with the adoptive parents, it may be best to wait to hold the baby shower until the parents bring their new addition home. Read More About Adoption Baby Showers.
After the new parents have identified some needed items, the personalized adoption baby shower invitations can be sent. These adoption baby shower cards should provide clear communication to the invited guests that it is an adoption baby shower. Given that it is an adoption, every effort should be made to not differentiate a child through adoption versus natural means. Of course identifying on the adoption baby shower invitations that it is an adoption baby shower will help guests know; however, the types of gifts and advice given will not be any different.
Co-ed Baby Showers for the Guys and Girls
Hosting a co-ed baby shower will definitely be a different celebration than a traditional baby shower. Since this will be a co-ed baby shower, you should remember the different types of guests that will be attending when determining the various aspects of the co-ed baby shower, such as the food and activities. Read More About Co-ed Baby Showers for Guys and Girls.
Since it will be a co-ed shower, decorating with less frilly colors, such as pink, (yes, even if it is a girl) will be more guy-friendly. Be sure to include where the expectant parents are registered in the personalized co-ed baby shower invitations cards. There are lots of unique baby shower invitations wordings, verses and sayings for co-ed baby showers invitations on many websites. Having a menu that will appeal to both men and women will be important. Plus if children are invited to attend then serving enticing kid-type food for them will be important.
Couples Baby Showers for the Dad-to-Be and Mom-to-Be and Their Friends
Baby showers were traditionally for the Mom-to-Be. However, times have definitely changed. With fathers taking a more active role in their family, particularly when it comes to planning for their new baby’s arrival, Dads-to-Be have felt left out of the baby shower party celebrations. Thus having a couples baby shower has become more a normal occurrence rather than the exception. The imprinted couples baby shower invitations should clearly indicate that the baby shower is a couples baby shower. Read More About Couples Baby Showers for the Expecting Parents.
The unique couples baby shower invitations should appeal to both the men and women, which will help to bring the men so that the father-to-be will not be the only guy at the baby party. At traditional baby showers, the Mom-to-Be is given something for her, not just the baby. When hosting a couples baby shower, ensure that there is a little something just for the Dad-to-Be, such as a ‘coach’ t-shirt, etc. Baby shower favors can also be given out the guests, but the items should be something that would be appreciated by the couple, such as candles or food items.
When sending affordable couples baby shower invitations, be sure and inform the invited guests that it is for couples - the father-to-be does not want to be the only guy there. Since the Mom-to-Be will need to send baby shower thank you cards after the baby shower, it is a good idea order the baby shower thank you cards at the time the couples baby shower invitations are ordered so they will have the same baby shower theme. There are websites that have sample couples baby shower invitations sayings, verses and wording ideas.
Single Mom Baby Showers
Planning single mom baby showers have lots of possibilities, particularly for selecting a theme for the shower. When choosing a baby theme, ensure that it reflects the expectant mom’s personality. With a single mom baby shower, it is important to remember that she may have some needs that a couple would not need, such as extra help financially or added support from a friend. When planning the shower, get the list of guests who the Mom-to-Be would like to see at the baby shower. The single mom baby shower invitations should definitely reflect the theme that has been chosen.
By offering time or purchasing a gift that will help her with daily tasks is always a good option. Of course, a gift certificate for a massage is always good. Taking pictures of mom and baby together would be something that a single mom would not necessarily think about and is a nice treat. Whatever the theme of the baby shower, the single mom baby shower invitations will set the stage for what the expectant mother will need for her baby.
Sprinkle Baby Showers for the Second, Third, Fourth & Additional Baby
The sprinkle baby shower is usually a smaller scale shower where the guests "sprinkle" the new mom with the little necessities the new baby will need. It is not the same as the traditional shower, but rather sort of like a sprinkling of gifts for the new baby. This clever term has been gaining popularity over the years and is becoming a new trend. A sprinkle baby shower is a great idea for parents-to-be who have other children. Read More About Sprinkle Baby Showers for the Second, Third, Fourth & Additional Baby.
The sprinkle baby shower invitations should indicate that it is a sprinkle baby shower. When planning the sprinkle baby shower, the sprinkle baby shower invitations cards can be fun and theme-oriented, such as a theme around what the needs might be. Regardless of what the sprinkle baby shower is called, ensure that the sprinkle baby shower announcements cards announce the type of celebration that will be held for the parents-to-be for the new life. There are lots of sample sprinkle baby shower invitations wording ideas, wording verses and sayings to help you get your personalized sprinkle baby shower invitations just right.
Surprise Baby Showers for the New Mom-to-Be
Planning a surprise baby shower can be a lot of fun provided that the Mom-to-Be is ‘game’ for surprises. To pull off the surprise baby shower, the hostess will need to enlist the help of others, such as the guest list, ensuring no one who should be invited is omitted, and getting someone to bring the Mom-to-Be to the baby shower party. It is important to remember to include in the personalized surprise baby shower invitations that it is a surprise baby shower. Read More About Surprise Baby Showers.
The invitations for surprise baby shower should indicate that the shower is a surprise. Next, pulling off the surprise will take more than just one person to ensure the secret is kept. The personalized surprise baby shower invitations should clearly state that it is a “surprise baby shower”, so no one will let the ‘cat out of the bag’ before the day of the surprise shower party.
When ordering the custom surprise baby shower announcements, be sure and order the matching baby shower thank you cards for the new Mom-to-Be. There are a few websites with excellent sample baby shower invitations wording ideas, verses and saying for baby invitations and baby thank you cards.
Twins, Triplets & Multiple Baby Showers
Twins, triplets and multiple baby showers are even more exciting and sometimes more stressful to plan than a traditional baby shower. And, you are just the friend or family helping to plan the shower, imagine how Mom and Dad must be feeling Read More About Twins, Triplets and Multiples Baby Showers.
Additionally, whether preparing twins baby shower invitations or triplets baby shower cards, the hostess should include in the shower invitations to all the invited guests of how many expected babies there are. Another thing to include on the twin baby shower invitations is whether the Mom-to-Be would prefer having non-matching outfits. This may be hard to communicate, but it is an important item to find out from her, particularly if the babies are the same gender or identical twins, triplets or multiples.
When purchasing baby shower gifts for multiple babies, it is not necessary to purchase multiples sets of everything. There are plenty of things that can be shared between the babies. Of course, having multiple babies will increase the cost of diapers, wipes, etc. that much more, so those types of gifts are always appreciated. But giving something fun is a nice idea too. Mothers of twins, triplets and multiples will usually forgo the fun, cute items for more practical, everyday items, such as books on rearing twins, triplets or multiple babies. Don’t forget about dad—with so many fathers playing larger roles in their children’s lives, inviting other men might be worthwhile and fun.
Welcome Home Baby Showers for After the Birth of Baby and New Mom and Baby are Home
A welcome home baby shower is a shower that is held after the baby has been born. While this may not be a traditional way of celebrating the impending birth of a child, this is definitely a great way for people to get together who might not have been able to make it to the baby showers given before the baby is born. This is also a fun time for the new parents to introduce the newest member of their family and friends. Read More About Welcome Home Baby Showers.
When planning the welcome home baby shower, sending the personalized welcome home baby shower invitations should be done within four weeks before the date of the welcome home baby shower party. Planning a welcome home baby shower will be a lot simpler than a traditional baby shower as the party will be a lot more relaxed. When planning, don’t forget the welcome home baby shower announcements and matching baby shower thank you cards as this will set the stage for a great party. Also ask the new parents of their preferences for food, date and time of day, as they now have a little one to cater.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Mealtime Madness
Tips for getting dinner on the table night after night
By ClubMom Parenting Expert Ann Douglas
Things seem to fall apart at our house most nights when I'm trying to make dinner. My baby will want to nurse or be held, my toddler will want me to play with him, and in the meantime I'll be trying to figure out how to get something more inspired than chicken nuggets on the dinner table. How does everyone else manage to make dinner without losing their minds?
Short answer: everyone doesn't. Lots of parents find making dinner a major challenge when there are little ones wanting and needing attention. That's why miracle products like salad in a bag were invented. Here are some of the survival strategies that have worked for our family and some of the many families I've interviewed over the years.
• Nurse your baby right before you think you're going to get busy in the kitchen, and then pop her in a baby carrier or sling so that she has a great view of what you're doing — something that may help to keep her entertained.
• Set aside a particular kitchen in the cupboard for your toddler. It could contain toys, toddler-friendly kitchen paraphernalia, or a mix of both. Add something new to the cupboard daily (e.g., swap a couple of plastic containers for the plastic strainer you won't be needing for tonight's dinner). With any luck, this distraction will buy you at least a couple of minutes of mealtime preparation time.
• Ask friends and family members to share their favorite recipes. Be sure to be explicit about your criteria: if it requires more than 15-20 minutes of kitchen preparation, it's probably not the right recipe for you right now.
• Turn to other sources of information for recipe ideas and inspiration. I like AllRecipes.com (the online recipe site) and I highly recommend Suppertime Survival by Lynn Roblin, MSc, RD, and Bev Callaghan, BSc, RD. (The book is Canadian and both authors are moms.)
• Try to get ahead of the game on weekends. Having pre-chopped veggies or precooked lean ground beef can be a huge timesaver on a Wednesday night.
By ClubMom Parenting Expert Ann Douglas
Things seem to fall apart at our house most nights when I'm trying to make dinner. My baby will want to nurse or be held, my toddler will want me to play with him, and in the meantime I'll be trying to figure out how to get something more inspired than chicken nuggets on the dinner table. How does everyone else manage to make dinner without losing their minds?
Short answer: everyone doesn't. Lots of parents find making dinner a major challenge when there are little ones wanting and needing attention. That's why miracle products like salad in a bag were invented. Here are some of the survival strategies that have worked for our family and some of the many families I've interviewed over the years.
• Nurse your baby right before you think you're going to get busy in the kitchen, and then pop her in a baby carrier or sling so that she has a great view of what you're doing — something that may help to keep her entertained.
• Set aside a particular kitchen in the cupboard for your toddler. It could contain toys, toddler-friendly kitchen paraphernalia, or a mix of both. Add something new to the cupboard daily (e.g., swap a couple of plastic containers for the plastic strainer you won't be needing for tonight's dinner). With any luck, this distraction will buy you at least a couple of minutes of mealtime preparation time.
• Ask friends and family members to share their favorite recipes. Be sure to be explicit about your criteria: if it requires more than 15-20 minutes of kitchen preparation, it's probably not the right recipe for you right now.
• Turn to other sources of information for recipe ideas and inspiration. I like AllRecipes.com (the online recipe site) and I highly recommend Suppertime Survival by Lynn Roblin, MSc, RD, and Bev Callaghan, BSc, RD. (The book is Canadian and both authors are moms.)
• Try to get ahead of the game on weekends. Having pre-chopped veggies or precooked lean ground beef can be a huge timesaver on a Wednesday night.
Making Strange
By. Ann Douglas
What to do when your baby develops stranger anxiety around her grandparents
My ten-month-old baby is starting to make strange with her grandparents. I can tell that this is hurting my father-in-law's feelings. How should I handle the situation?
It can be a little disconcerting to go from being the cuddler-in-chief to persona non-grata in the blink of an eye, which is exactly what can happen if a baby begins to experience stranger anxiety and decides to put her grandparents into the "stranger" category. This situation is perfectly normal and quite common, but that doesn't mean it's not hurtful to the grandparent in question or that it's not slightly mortifying to you.
Obviously, stranger anxiety is more likely to occur if your baby's visits with her grandparents tend to be sporadic in nature than if your baby's grandparents tend to pop in for visits on a daily or near-daily basis. (That old expression, "Don't be a stranger," seems to apply particularly aptly when it comes to stranger anxiety!)
Luckily, the problem will ultimately take care of itself. Your baby will pass through this frustrating experience and realize that her grandfather is one of the coolest people on the planet. In the meantime, when she screams in protest each time he tries to pick her up, you can remind him that this stage is a normal (and generally short-lived) baby rite-of-passage and that it will only be a matter of time before she will be eager to read stories or crawl around on the floor with Grandpa.
What to do when your baby develops stranger anxiety around her grandparents
My ten-month-old baby is starting to make strange with her grandparents. I can tell that this is hurting my father-in-law's feelings. How should I handle the situation?
It can be a little disconcerting to go from being the cuddler-in-chief to persona non-grata in the blink of an eye, which is exactly what can happen if a baby begins to experience stranger anxiety and decides to put her grandparents into the "stranger" category. This situation is perfectly normal and quite common, but that doesn't mean it's not hurtful to the grandparent in question or that it's not slightly mortifying to you.
Obviously, stranger anxiety is more likely to occur if your baby's visits with her grandparents tend to be sporadic in nature than if your baby's grandparents tend to pop in for visits on a daily or near-daily basis. (That old expression, "Don't be a stranger," seems to apply particularly aptly when it comes to stranger anxiety!)
Luckily, the problem will ultimately take care of itself. Your baby will pass through this frustrating experience and realize that her grandfather is one of the coolest people on the planet. In the meantime, when she screams in protest each time he tries to pick her up, you can remind him that this stage is a normal (and generally short-lived) baby rite-of-passage and that it will only be a matter of time before she will be eager to read stories or crawl around on the floor with Grandpa.
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