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
Sunday, June 29, 2008
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.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Will there be enough love for two?
By. Ann Douglas
I am about to give birth to my second child. The problem is I can't imagine loving her as much as I love my firstborn. What if I always love my first child more than my second? I'm petrified I'm going to mess up baby number two's life and she hasn't even arrived yet!
If you get a group of moms together and do a quick poll, you'll no doubt find that this particular fear is every bit as common as the fear of having your water break in public and the fear of giving birth on the side of the highway (two other highly popular late pregnancy fears!)
Fortunately, the problem usually takes care of itself as soon as baby number two arrives on the scene. Once your new baby has had a chance to start to wind his or her way into your heart, you'll begin to feel confident that you've got more than enough love for two.
I am about to give birth to my second child. The problem is I can't imagine loving her as much as I love my firstborn. What if I always love my first child more than my second? I'm petrified I'm going to mess up baby number two's life and she hasn't even arrived yet!
If you get a group of moms together and do a quick poll, you'll no doubt find that this particular fear is every bit as common as the fear of having your water break in public and the fear of giving birth on the side of the highway (two other highly popular late pregnancy fears!)
Fortunately, the problem usually takes care of itself as soon as baby number two arrives on the scene. Once your new baby has had a chance to start to wind his or her way into your heart, you'll begin to feel confident that you've got more than enough love for two.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Baby Body Language: The Basics
By. Ann Douglas
Ever wonder what your baby is thinking, some advice on there body language may help.
Your baby didn’t come packaged with an owner’s manual, but her body language can tell you plenty, including what she wants and needs from you. Some of those early body signals are hard-wired—more instinctual than intentional—but as grows little older she’ll use her body language to communicate a whole lot more. Here’s a quick guide to baby body language.
“One moment my one month old will be almost asleep. Then suddenly, for no reason at all, she’ll fling her arms and legs out and start wailing.â€
Your baby is startling in response to a noise or a movement. Try blocking out some of the background noise (a white noise machine works amazingly well) and swaddling your baby in a light-weight blanket so she’ll be less likely to startle herself awake. By the time your baby is five or six months old, your baby will have outgrown this particular reflex and sleeping more soundly. “James can sleep through jack-hammer noises from the neighbours’ reno,†notes Jenny Lawrence of Toronto, the mother of a five-month-old.
“If my newborn’s face rubs against my shoulder while I’m carrying him across the room, he starts bobbing his head up and down.â€
Your baby is bound and determined to find a breast. He’s just a little off when it comes to basic geography. And why not? It’s a strategy that’s served babies since the beginning of time. When babies feel something rubbing the corner of their mouths they open up wide and “root†in the direction of the stroking in the hope that a nipple will magically present itself. And often it does!
“Sometimes my baby and I will be playing with a toy—and then she’ll start fussing and look away.â€
That’s her way of saying that, “Hey, it’s been fun, but I’ve had enough.†Respect your baby’s need for a break. See if you can get her down for a nap or—at the very least—put away that too-cool educational toy and ease into a quieter, more soothing activity.
“My baby has this strange habit of breathing really rapidly when he’s excited. And then his feet get in on the act, too.â€
Don’t you love the way babies use their entire bodies to express enthusiasm? If only we grownups could cut lose like that a little more often—breathing heavily to say how happy we are when someone we love walks through the door and kicking our feet with joy when our favourite veggie finds its way to the dinner table. “Makenna’s feet have always been moving,†says Sharlene McKinnon, the Calgary mother of a 12 month old.
“Sometimes my seven-month-old cry because I can’t get the food to her mouth quickly enough. Other times, I can’t even get her to open her mouth. She’ll turn her face away and ignore me completely.â€
Your baby’s appetite varies from one feeding to the next and—like all babies—she knows how to make it perfectly clear when dinner is over. “Makenna starts feeding the dog,†says McKinnon. “He has a permanent spot next to her high chair.†Learn to read and respect your baby’s fullness cues. She’s the best judge of how much food she needs.
“Yesterday, my eight-month-old started acting sleepy during lunch. By the time she finished her lunch, she was completely hysterical. Then she wouldn’t take her nap!â€
In the world of babies, there’s tired and then there’s overtired. The secret to getting babies to settle down to sleep is to spot the signs of tiredness before your baby enters the no man’s land of overtiredness: “James starts rubbing his eyes, pulling on his ears, and making this whining noise,†says Lawrence. “That’s when I know it’s time for his nap.â€
Ever wonder what your baby is thinking, some advice on there body language may help.
Your baby didn’t come packaged with an owner’s manual, but her body language can tell you plenty, including what she wants and needs from you. Some of those early body signals are hard-wired—more instinctual than intentional—but as grows little older she’ll use her body language to communicate a whole lot more. Here’s a quick guide to baby body language.
“One moment my one month old will be almost asleep. Then suddenly, for no reason at all, she’ll fling her arms and legs out and start wailing.â€
Your baby is startling in response to a noise or a movement. Try blocking out some of the background noise (a white noise machine works amazingly well) and swaddling your baby in a light-weight blanket so she’ll be less likely to startle herself awake. By the time your baby is five or six months old, your baby will have outgrown this particular reflex and sleeping more soundly. “James can sleep through jack-hammer noises from the neighbours’ reno,†notes Jenny Lawrence of Toronto, the mother of a five-month-old.
“If my newborn’s face rubs against my shoulder while I’m carrying him across the room, he starts bobbing his head up and down.â€
Your baby is bound and determined to find a breast. He’s just a little off when it comes to basic geography. And why not? It’s a strategy that’s served babies since the beginning of time. When babies feel something rubbing the corner of their mouths they open up wide and “root†in the direction of the stroking in the hope that a nipple will magically present itself. And often it does!
“Sometimes my baby and I will be playing with a toy—and then she’ll start fussing and look away.â€
That’s her way of saying that, “Hey, it’s been fun, but I’ve had enough.†Respect your baby’s need for a break. See if you can get her down for a nap or—at the very least—put away that too-cool educational toy and ease into a quieter, more soothing activity.
“My baby has this strange habit of breathing really rapidly when he’s excited. And then his feet get in on the act, too.â€
Don’t you love the way babies use their entire bodies to express enthusiasm? If only we grownups could cut lose like that a little more often—breathing heavily to say how happy we are when someone we love walks through the door and kicking our feet with joy when our favourite veggie finds its way to the dinner table. “Makenna’s feet have always been moving,†says Sharlene McKinnon, the Calgary mother of a 12 month old.
“Sometimes my seven-month-old cry because I can’t get the food to her mouth quickly enough. Other times, I can’t even get her to open her mouth. She’ll turn her face away and ignore me completely.â€
Your baby’s appetite varies from one feeding to the next and—like all babies—she knows how to make it perfectly clear when dinner is over. “Makenna starts feeding the dog,†says McKinnon. “He has a permanent spot next to her high chair.†Learn to read and respect your baby’s fullness cues. She’s the best judge of how much food she needs.
“Yesterday, my eight-month-old started acting sleepy during lunch. By the time she finished her lunch, she was completely hysterical. Then she wouldn’t take her nap!â€
In the world of babies, there’s tired and then there’s overtired. The secret to getting babies to settle down to sleep is to spot the signs of tiredness before your baby enters the no man’s land of overtiredness: “James starts rubbing his eyes, pulling on his ears, and making this whining noise,†says Lawrence. “That’s when I know it’s time for his nap.â€
Childproofing Your Baby’s World
By. Ann Douglas
It’s only natural to want to protect your baby from harm—to protect her from the inevitable bumps and bruises. The key to babyproofing your child’s world is to learn how to see your home through your child’s eyes. “It’s a matter of developing a safety sense—of constantly asking yourself, ‘What could happen in this situation, and what can I do to either prevent it from happening or minimize the injury?’†explains Valerie Lee, President of the Kitchener, Ontario, based Infant and Toddler Safety Association.
While it’s unrealistic to think that you can prevent every single accident from happening, there’s much you can do to make your baby’s world a safe and secure place. Here’s what you can do to eliminate the major hazards in a typical home:
Every room:
- Keep a set of emergency telephone numbers beside each telephone—not just your main telephone.
- Keep curtain and blind cords out of baby’s reach.
- Keep high chairs, cribs, and furniture away from windows, appliances, and other potential hazards.
- Keep children away from baseboards and portable heaters.
- Use plastic safety covers and cord locks on electrical outlets.
- Install babyproof latches on drawers and cupboard doors.
- Place window guards on all second-storey windows.
- Attach bookcases and tall dressers to the wall to prevent tipping and avoid placing heavy items on top.
- Keep a fire extinguisher near each exit to your home.
- Store lighters and matches out of your child’s reach and change the batteries in your smoke detector at least twice a year (whenever you move your clock forward or back).
- Store medications and cleaners in their original containers so that you’ll be able to identify which products your child has consumed in the event of a poisoning.
- Wipe up spills promptly and avoid area rugs, which can pose a tripping hazard.
- Avoid leaving your child and your pet alone in the same room.
- Keep your cat’s litter box in a part of the house that is off-limits to your child.
Halls and stairways:
- Hang a shelf near the front door so that Grandma can keep her purse (and her heart medication) out of your toddler’s reach while she’s visiting.
- Install wall-mounted baby gates at the top (and, if necessary, the bottom) of each set of stairs.
- Keep the stairs free of objects.
- Get rid of your drycleaning bags as soon as you bring your drycleaning into the house. Tie them in knots and toss them in the trash.
- Install door alarms on all exterior doors.
Nursery:
-Get rid of any crib that was manufactured before September 1986.
- Tighten the screws in your child’s crib and check to ensure that the sides of the crib are still firmly locked in place.
- Inspect your baby’s crib mattress to ensure that it’s still in good condition. Replace it immediately if it’s too soft, too worn, or it doesn’t fit the crib snugly.
- As soon as your child learns how to stand in her crib, drop the mattress to the lowest setting and remove any bumper pads and large toys.
- Put your child is fire-retardant sleepwear rather than regular clothing at bedtime.
- Check that the safety strap on your baby’s change table is still working properly, and get in the habit of using it whenever you’re changing her diaper.
- Remove any drawstrings or cords from your child’s clothing in order to reduce the risk of strangulation.
- Keep the diaper pail out of reach of your child or purchase a model with a child-proof latch.
- Avoid baby products such as walkers which have been manufactured for the U.S. market. They may not meet Canadian safety standards.
- Place a decal on your child’s window to let firefighters know that there’s a child in that room. You can obtain such decals from any child safety supply store.
- Avoid using decorative plug covers in your baby’s room. They’ll only encourage her to touch the electrical outlets.
- Move rocking chairs and gliders to another part of the house as soon as your child becomes mobile. They can pinch fingers or otherwise injure a baby or toddler.
- Regularly inspect your baby’s pacifier for signs of deterioration. According to Health Canada, pacifiers should be changed at least every two months.
- Tie a small parts tester (a.k.a. “choke tubeâ€) to your baby’s change table. That way, you’ll know where to find the tube whenever you want to test whether a particular toy contains parts that are small enough to pose a choking hazard. (If you’re away from home, you can use a toilet paper roll instead. It’s slightly larger than a choke tube, but it’s best to err on the side of caution anyway.)
Bedroom:
- Never leave a baby or toddler alone on your bed.
- Never place a baby on a water bed.
- Don’t allow a child under the age of six to sleep on the top bunk of a bunk bed. The risk of falls and/or suffocation is simply too great.
Bathroom:
- Check the temperature on your hot water heater. According to Safe Kids Canada, most water heaters are set at 60° C or higher rather than the 49°C that most safety experts recommend.
- Fill your child’s bath with a few inches of cold water and then add hot water until the bath has reached the appropriate temperature.
- Don’t rely on a bathtub seat to babysit your baby for you while she’s in the tub. The suction cups on the seat could suddenly release and your baby’s face could go under water.
- Use bath mats in the bathtub to reduce the risk of slipping.
- Lock all medications (including vitamins) in your medicine chest or—even better—store them in a small cash box or medium-sized fishing-tackle box that can be locked and then stashed on the top shelf of your bedroom closet.
- Keep mouthwash, shampoo, cosmetics, and other toiletries out of your child’s reach.
- Equip the toilet seat with a childproof latch.
Kitchen:
- Check that the base of your baby’s high chair is wide enough to be stable, and check that the chair’s safety harness is still functional.
- Use placemats rather than a tablecloth at your kitchen table.
- Don’t hold a baby or toddler when you’re eating or drinking anything hot.
- Keep stuffed animals and other flammable toys away from the cooking area.
- Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove and only cook on the back burners.
- Keep cords for kettles, toasters, and other electrical appliances out of the reach of children.
- Organize your kitchen cupboards so that the items that are of the greatest interest to your child (e.g. cookies!) are the farthest distance from the stove.
- Keep knives, can openers, and other sharp items out of the reach of children.
- Learn which foods (e.g. whole grapes, hot dog wieners, carrot sticks) pose a choking risk to babies and toddlers, and either chop the foods into smaller pieces or avoid them until your child gets a little older.
- Be careful if you heat your baby’s food in the microwave. Stir the food thoroughly and check the temperature carefully before serving it to the baby.
- Keep household cleaners—including dishwasher detergent—out of reach of children.
Family/Living room
- Discard any broken toys that have developed sharp edges or that could present a choking hazard.
- Ensure that any toys that require batteries have child-safe battery compartments (e.g. ones that can only be opened with a screwdriver).
- Make sure that your toy box is safe. It should have a safety hinge to prevent the lid from closing too quickly and it should have ventilation holes to ensure that your child will be able to breathe if she happens to get trapped inside.
- Make sure that the mesh on your baby’s playpen is fine enough to prevent a button from catching—something that could pose a strangulation risk.
- Use a fireplace pad on your fireplace hearth and keep your child far away from the fireplace while it’s being used.
- Put your vacuum cleaner away when it’s not being used so that your child won’t accidentally hurt her fingers or toes with the beater bar.
- Position floor lamps so that they’re out of your child’s reach or pack them away entirely.
- Place table lamps towards the back of the table and wrap the cord around the table leg for added stability.
Laundry room:
- Store laundry products out of your baby or toddler’s reach.
- Never allow your child to play around the washer or dryer.
Basement:
- Store paint thinners and other harmful substances out of your child’s reach.
- Ensure that woodworking tools are kept in a locked room or cabinet.
Garage:
- Teach your child that the garage is off limits.
- Ensure that your garage door is equipped with a safety feature that will cause it to go back up if it comes into contact with a person or object.
- Store tools, pesticides, automotive parts, and other hazardous items out of your child’s reach.
- Check that your child’s car seat is installed properly in your vehicle.
Backyard:
- Keep the BBQ away from your child’s play area.
- Ensure that your pool area is properly fenced (the fence should be at least four feet high and should surround the entire pool) and that the gate on the fence is both self-closing and self-locking.
- Check that your child’s playground equipment is safe and well anchored. You can find a detailed playground safety checklist at the Safe Kids Canada web site.
- Empty your child’s wading pool whenever it’s not in use.
- Ensure that her sandbox has a lid to keep neighborhood cats out.
- Keep your child away from any poisonous plants or weeds that are growing in your hard.
It’s only natural to want to protect your baby from harm—to protect her from the inevitable bumps and bruises. The key to babyproofing your child’s world is to learn how to see your home through your child’s eyes. “It’s a matter of developing a safety sense—of constantly asking yourself, ‘What could happen in this situation, and what can I do to either prevent it from happening or minimize the injury?’†explains Valerie Lee, President of the Kitchener, Ontario, based Infant and Toddler Safety Association.
While it’s unrealistic to think that you can prevent every single accident from happening, there’s much you can do to make your baby’s world a safe and secure place. Here’s what you can do to eliminate the major hazards in a typical home:
Every room:
- Keep a set of emergency telephone numbers beside each telephone—not just your main telephone.
- Keep curtain and blind cords out of baby’s reach.
- Keep high chairs, cribs, and furniture away from windows, appliances, and other potential hazards.
- Keep children away from baseboards and portable heaters.
- Use plastic safety covers and cord locks on electrical outlets.
- Install babyproof latches on drawers and cupboard doors.
- Place window guards on all second-storey windows.
- Attach bookcases and tall dressers to the wall to prevent tipping and avoid placing heavy items on top.
- Keep a fire extinguisher near each exit to your home.
- Store lighters and matches out of your child’s reach and change the batteries in your smoke detector at least twice a year (whenever you move your clock forward or back).
- Store medications and cleaners in their original containers so that you’ll be able to identify which products your child has consumed in the event of a poisoning.
- Wipe up spills promptly and avoid area rugs, which can pose a tripping hazard.
- Avoid leaving your child and your pet alone in the same room.
- Keep your cat’s litter box in a part of the house that is off-limits to your child.
Halls and stairways:
- Hang a shelf near the front door so that Grandma can keep her purse (and her heart medication) out of your toddler’s reach while she’s visiting.
- Install wall-mounted baby gates at the top (and, if necessary, the bottom) of each set of stairs.
- Keep the stairs free of objects.
- Get rid of your drycleaning bags as soon as you bring your drycleaning into the house. Tie them in knots and toss them in the trash.
- Install door alarms on all exterior doors.
Nursery:
-Get rid of any crib that was manufactured before September 1986.
- Tighten the screws in your child’s crib and check to ensure that the sides of the crib are still firmly locked in place.
- Inspect your baby’s crib mattress to ensure that it’s still in good condition. Replace it immediately if it’s too soft, too worn, or it doesn’t fit the crib snugly.
- As soon as your child learns how to stand in her crib, drop the mattress to the lowest setting and remove any bumper pads and large toys.
- Put your child is fire-retardant sleepwear rather than regular clothing at bedtime.
- Check that the safety strap on your baby’s change table is still working properly, and get in the habit of using it whenever you’re changing her diaper.
- Remove any drawstrings or cords from your child’s clothing in order to reduce the risk of strangulation.
- Keep the diaper pail out of reach of your child or purchase a model with a child-proof latch.
- Avoid baby products such as walkers which have been manufactured for the U.S. market. They may not meet Canadian safety standards.
- Place a decal on your child’s window to let firefighters know that there’s a child in that room. You can obtain such decals from any child safety supply store.
- Avoid using decorative plug covers in your baby’s room. They’ll only encourage her to touch the electrical outlets.
- Move rocking chairs and gliders to another part of the house as soon as your child becomes mobile. They can pinch fingers or otherwise injure a baby or toddler.
- Regularly inspect your baby’s pacifier for signs of deterioration. According to Health Canada, pacifiers should be changed at least every two months.
- Tie a small parts tester (a.k.a. “choke tubeâ€) to your baby’s change table. That way, you’ll know where to find the tube whenever you want to test whether a particular toy contains parts that are small enough to pose a choking hazard. (If you’re away from home, you can use a toilet paper roll instead. It’s slightly larger than a choke tube, but it’s best to err on the side of caution anyway.)
Bedroom:
- Never leave a baby or toddler alone on your bed.
- Never place a baby on a water bed.
- Don’t allow a child under the age of six to sleep on the top bunk of a bunk bed. The risk of falls and/or suffocation is simply too great.
Bathroom:
- Check the temperature on your hot water heater. According to Safe Kids Canada, most water heaters are set at 60° C or higher rather than the 49°C that most safety experts recommend.
- Fill your child’s bath with a few inches of cold water and then add hot water until the bath has reached the appropriate temperature.
- Don’t rely on a bathtub seat to babysit your baby for you while she’s in the tub. The suction cups on the seat could suddenly release and your baby’s face could go under water.
- Use bath mats in the bathtub to reduce the risk of slipping.
- Lock all medications (including vitamins) in your medicine chest or—even better—store them in a small cash box or medium-sized fishing-tackle box that can be locked and then stashed on the top shelf of your bedroom closet.
- Keep mouthwash, shampoo, cosmetics, and other toiletries out of your child’s reach.
- Equip the toilet seat with a childproof latch.
Kitchen:
- Check that the base of your baby’s high chair is wide enough to be stable, and check that the chair’s safety harness is still functional.
- Use placemats rather than a tablecloth at your kitchen table.
- Don’t hold a baby or toddler when you’re eating or drinking anything hot.
- Keep stuffed animals and other flammable toys away from the cooking area.
- Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove and only cook on the back burners.
- Keep cords for kettles, toasters, and other electrical appliances out of the reach of children.
- Organize your kitchen cupboards so that the items that are of the greatest interest to your child (e.g. cookies!) are the farthest distance from the stove.
- Keep knives, can openers, and other sharp items out of the reach of children.
- Learn which foods (e.g. whole grapes, hot dog wieners, carrot sticks) pose a choking risk to babies and toddlers, and either chop the foods into smaller pieces or avoid them until your child gets a little older.
- Be careful if you heat your baby’s food in the microwave. Stir the food thoroughly and check the temperature carefully before serving it to the baby.
- Keep household cleaners—including dishwasher detergent—out of reach of children.
Family/Living room
- Discard any broken toys that have developed sharp edges or that could present a choking hazard.
- Ensure that any toys that require batteries have child-safe battery compartments (e.g. ones that can only be opened with a screwdriver).
- Make sure that your toy box is safe. It should have a safety hinge to prevent the lid from closing too quickly and it should have ventilation holes to ensure that your child will be able to breathe if she happens to get trapped inside.
- Make sure that the mesh on your baby’s playpen is fine enough to prevent a button from catching—something that could pose a strangulation risk.
- Use a fireplace pad on your fireplace hearth and keep your child far away from the fireplace while it’s being used.
- Put your vacuum cleaner away when it’s not being used so that your child won’t accidentally hurt her fingers or toes with the beater bar.
- Position floor lamps so that they’re out of your child’s reach or pack them away entirely.
- Place table lamps towards the back of the table and wrap the cord around the table leg for added stability.
Laundry room:
- Store laundry products out of your baby or toddler’s reach.
- Never allow your child to play around the washer or dryer.
Basement:
- Store paint thinners and other harmful substances out of your child’s reach.
- Ensure that woodworking tools are kept in a locked room or cabinet.
Garage:
- Teach your child that the garage is off limits.
- Ensure that your garage door is equipped with a safety feature that will cause it to go back up if it comes into contact with a person or object.
- Store tools, pesticides, automotive parts, and other hazardous items out of your child’s reach.
- Check that your child’s car seat is installed properly in your vehicle.
Backyard:
- Keep the BBQ away from your child’s play area.
- Ensure that your pool area is properly fenced (the fence should be at least four feet high and should surround the entire pool) and that the gate on the fence is both self-closing and self-locking.
- Check that your child’s playground equipment is safe and well anchored. You can find a detailed playground safety checklist at the Safe Kids Canada web site.
- Empty your child’s wading pool whenever it’s not in use.
- Ensure that her sandbox has a lid to keep neighborhood cats out.
- Keep your child away from any poisonous plants or weeds that are growing in your hard.
A Tour of Your Newborn
By. Ann Douglas
Many first-time parents are more than a little shocked to discover that newborn babies are wet, wrinkled, and red-faced—not exactly the plump, chubby-cheeked cherubs that they may have envisioned before the birth. And, what’s more, newborn babies may also have a few other features that may be worrying to their parents—bluish hands and feet, body hair, a moulded head, and so on. Here’s a quick tour of a healthy newborn from head to toe.
Head:
- Don’t be alarmed if your baby looks a bit like one of “the Coneheads” of Saturday Night Live fame. Your baby’s head will assume a more rounded appearance within a few days of the birth as the plates in your baby’s skull shift back into their pre-labour positions.
- Wondering why there seems to be an abundance of extra skin at the back of your baby’s head? Blame it the on shifts in your baby’s body fluid balance as he adjusts to life outside the womb. (Don’t worry. It won’t be long before your newborn “grows into” his skin.)
- Worried about touching your baby’s “soft spot”? The membranes that cover your baby’s anterior (front) and posterior (back) fontanels provide a fair bit of protection, so as long as you handle your baby with care, you don’t have to worry about accidentally injuring your baby.
- If your baby was delivered with the aid of forceps (medical instruments that look like salad tongs), he may arrive with a few minor bumps and bruises. And if he hitched a ride down the birth canal with a vacuum extractor (another type of medical device), he may end up with a temporary suction mark on his head as well.
- Labour isn’t just physically demanding for the mother: it’s hard work for the baby, too. Some babies are born with a caput succedaneum (a swelling of the soft tissues of the skull that can occur during labour as the baby’s head pushes against the cervix). Fortunately, this swelling tends to subside on its own shortly after the birth. Other babies are born with a cephalohematoma—a raised bump that is caused by the pooling of blood between the skull bone and the tough covering of the skull during the birthing process. While cephalohematomas can be alarming to look at, they usually disappear on their own within a couple of weeks.
Hair:
- Some babies are born with a full head of hair: others are completely bald. Rest assured that any amount of hair is “normal.”
- Your newborn may have some soft, downy hair on his upper back and other parts of his body. This hair—known as lanugo—usually disappears within the first week of life and is more abundant in slightly premature infants.
Face:
- Don’t panic if your baby’s face is swollen or if there are patches of bluish bruising or flat streaks of broken blood vessels on his face. These changes are all temporary and result from the tight squeeze during birth.
- Concerned about your baby’s flat nose or receding chin? There’s nothing to worry about on that front either. Over time, your baby’s nose and chin will start to look more normal.
Eyes:
- Your baby may be born with puffy, droopy eyelids and eyes that are tightly squeezed together. Don’t worry: it’ll only be a matter of time before your baby starts flashing his baby blues (or browns).
- Your baby’s eyes may ooze sticky secretions. This happens because your baby’s eyes are not yet capable of producing tears. It doesn’t mean your baby has picked up an eye infection.
- Some babies are born with a flame-shaped red streak on the white of their eye—the result of pressure during the birthing process. The streak will disappear on its own over time.
Ears:
- Your baby’s ears may be folded over or otherwise misshapen, common side effects of labour that tend to correct themselves.
Skin:
- Your baby is likely to be covered in amniotic fluid and blood and to have traces of vernix caseosa (a cheese-like substance that protects your baby’s skin in the watery uterine environment) in his creases. Vernix caseosa is made up of cells and grandular secretions and is responsible for that intoxicating newborn baby smell.
- Your newborn’s skin is fairly translucent—something that helps to explain why your baby turns bright red when he cries.
- Don’t freak out if you notice blood pooling in your baby’s extremities or in the lower half of his body. Your baby’s circulatory system still isn’t quite up to speed yet. Simply change your baby’s position and the problem will correct itself.
Umbilical cord stump:
- Your baby’s umbilical cord stump is initially wet and yellowish, but becomes dry and brownish black until it dries out and falls off entirely—something that typically happens 10 to 14 days after birth. Health Canada no longer recommends swabbing the umbilical cord with rubbing alcohol, so just let nature takes its course and avoid giving your baby a bath until after the cord has fallen off.
Hands and feet:
- Your baby’s hands and feet may have a slight bluish tinge and feel cool to the touch. This is because your baby’s circulatory system is not yet working at peak efficiency. Rest assured that the problem will correct itself over time.
- Your baby’s feet may look out of proportion to his body, and his feet may turn out or his toes may overlap—all par for the course for this stage of infant development.
Arms and legs:
- Your baby’s arms and legs may look short and bird-like compared to the rest of his body.
Genitals:
- Your baby’s genitals may initially appear large and swollen due to hormonal changes and fluid retention. These changes are temporary and will reverse themselves in the days following the birth.
- If you have a baby girl, she may pass some thin white or blood-tinged mucus (psuedomenses) from the vagina during the first week of life. This discharge is triggered by withdrawal from maternal hormones.
- Approximately 1 per cent of baby boys are born with one or more undescended testicles. Some testes spontaneously descend on their own. If this does not occur, hormonal treatment and/or surgery may be required to preserve the baby’s future fertility.
Try This On For Size:
A typical newborn weighs in at 7.5 lbs. (3.4 kg) and is 20 inches (51 cm) long. Girls tend to weigh less than boys, and African-American, Asian-American, and Native-American babies tend to be somewhat smaller than their Caucasian counterparts. Other factors that influence a baby’s size include his mother’s health and lifestyle during pregnancy, the duration of the pregnancy, whether the baby is a singleton or a multiple (e.g., a twin), and whether the baby has a congenital problem.
Seeing Spots:
Don’t be surprised if your baby develops one or more of the following temporary newborn skin conditions.
- Neonatal urticaria (newborn acne): Red spots with yellowish centres that form because the baby’s skin and pores are not yet fully functional.
- Milia: Tiny white bumps that tend to be found on a baby’s nose, forehead, and cheeks. They are caused by a buildup of sebum (skin lubricant).
- Miliaria: A raised rash consisting of small blisters that contain clear or milky white fluid.
- Erythemia toxicum: Red splotches with tiny white bumps in the centre that tend to appear at two days of age.
- Pustular melanosis: Small blisters that quickly dry up and peel away, leaving dark freckle-like spots underneath. Note: All of these skin conditions clear up on their own over time, so resist the temptation to poke at your baby’s pimples or otherwise attempt to treat these skin conditions.
Birth Marks 101:
Here’s what you need to know about the most common types of birth marks.
- Stork bites : Flat, red marks that are typically found at the nape of the neck and on the eyelids. They are caused by the dilation of small blood vessels and gradually disappear on their own.
- Spider nevi: Thin, dilated spider-shaped blood vessels. They typically fade during a baby’s first year of life.
- Congenital pigmented nevi (common mole): Tan to black coloured moles that may have hair growing from them. There is only cause for concern if the mole is very large, bleeds or changes colour, shape, or size.
- Mongolian spots: Dark blue or slate grey bluish discolorations of the skin that are common in babies of African-American, Native-American, or Mediterranean descent. They are most often found on the buttocks and the arms and legs and are caused by deposits of melanin (skin pigment). They gradually disappear on their own.
- Port wine stains: Flat, reddish-purple coloured patches on the skin that darken with age and can become raised and vulnerable to injury. They can be associated with certain types of genetic disorders. If a large part of a baby’s face or neck is affected, plastic surgery may be recommended.
- Strawberry hemangioma (capillary hemangioma): Raised birthmarks with a soft texture. They may be pale-coloured initially, but usually turn red over time. They occur when certain areas of the skin develop an abnormal blood supply, causing the affected tissue to enlarge. Strawberry hemangiomas tend to disappear during late childhood (ages five to nine), leaving behind a small amount of brownish pigmentation, but they can be removed prior to that if they’re close to the eye and threatening the child’s vision.
- Café au lait marks: Permanent, tan-coloured patches that can appear at birth or any time during the first two years of life. A large numbers of café au lait marks can be associated with certain types of neurological disorders, so your baby’s doctor will want to give him a thorough checkup if he’s covered in café au lait marks.
Many first-time parents are more than a little shocked to discover that newborn babies are wet, wrinkled, and red-faced—not exactly the plump, chubby-cheeked cherubs that they may have envisioned before the birth. And, what’s more, newborn babies may also have a few other features that may be worrying to their parents—bluish hands and feet, body hair, a moulded head, and so on. Here’s a quick tour of a healthy newborn from head to toe.
Head:
- Don’t be alarmed if your baby looks a bit like one of “the Coneheads” of Saturday Night Live fame. Your baby’s head will assume a more rounded appearance within a few days of the birth as the plates in your baby’s skull shift back into their pre-labour positions.
- Wondering why there seems to be an abundance of extra skin at the back of your baby’s head? Blame it the on shifts in your baby’s body fluid balance as he adjusts to life outside the womb. (Don’t worry. It won’t be long before your newborn “grows into” his skin.)
- Worried about touching your baby’s “soft spot”? The membranes that cover your baby’s anterior (front) and posterior (back) fontanels provide a fair bit of protection, so as long as you handle your baby with care, you don’t have to worry about accidentally injuring your baby.
- If your baby was delivered with the aid of forceps (medical instruments that look like salad tongs), he may arrive with a few minor bumps and bruises. And if he hitched a ride down the birth canal with a vacuum extractor (another type of medical device), he may end up with a temporary suction mark on his head as well.
- Labour isn’t just physically demanding for the mother: it’s hard work for the baby, too. Some babies are born with a caput succedaneum (a swelling of the soft tissues of the skull that can occur during labour as the baby’s head pushes against the cervix). Fortunately, this swelling tends to subside on its own shortly after the birth. Other babies are born with a cephalohematoma—a raised bump that is caused by the pooling of blood between the skull bone and the tough covering of the skull during the birthing process. While cephalohematomas can be alarming to look at, they usually disappear on their own within a couple of weeks.
Hair:
- Some babies are born with a full head of hair: others are completely bald. Rest assured that any amount of hair is “normal.”
- Your newborn may have some soft, downy hair on his upper back and other parts of his body. This hair—known as lanugo—usually disappears within the first week of life and is more abundant in slightly premature infants.
Face:
- Don’t panic if your baby’s face is swollen or if there are patches of bluish bruising or flat streaks of broken blood vessels on his face. These changes are all temporary and result from the tight squeeze during birth.
- Concerned about your baby’s flat nose or receding chin? There’s nothing to worry about on that front either. Over time, your baby’s nose and chin will start to look more normal.
Eyes:
- Your baby may be born with puffy, droopy eyelids and eyes that are tightly squeezed together. Don’t worry: it’ll only be a matter of time before your baby starts flashing his baby blues (or browns).
- Your baby’s eyes may ooze sticky secretions. This happens because your baby’s eyes are not yet capable of producing tears. It doesn’t mean your baby has picked up an eye infection.
- Some babies are born with a flame-shaped red streak on the white of their eye—the result of pressure during the birthing process. The streak will disappear on its own over time.
Ears:
- Your baby’s ears may be folded over or otherwise misshapen, common side effects of labour that tend to correct themselves.
Skin:
- Your baby is likely to be covered in amniotic fluid and blood and to have traces of vernix caseosa (a cheese-like substance that protects your baby’s skin in the watery uterine environment) in his creases. Vernix caseosa is made up of cells and grandular secretions and is responsible for that intoxicating newborn baby smell.
- Your newborn’s skin is fairly translucent—something that helps to explain why your baby turns bright red when he cries.
- Don’t freak out if you notice blood pooling in your baby’s extremities or in the lower half of his body. Your baby’s circulatory system still isn’t quite up to speed yet. Simply change your baby’s position and the problem will correct itself.
Umbilical cord stump:
- Your baby’s umbilical cord stump is initially wet and yellowish, but becomes dry and brownish black until it dries out and falls off entirely—something that typically happens 10 to 14 days after birth. Health Canada no longer recommends swabbing the umbilical cord with rubbing alcohol, so just let nature takes its course and avoid giving your baby a bath until after the cord has fallen off.
Hands and feet:
- Your baby’s hands and feet may have a slight bluish tinge and feel cool to the touch. This is because your baby’s circulatory system is not yet working at peak efficiency. Rest assured that the problem will correct itself over time.
- Your baby’s feet may look out of proportion to his body, and his feet may turn out or his toes may overlap—all par for the course for this stage of infant development.
Arms and legs:
- Your baby’s arms and legs may look short and bird-like compared to the rest of his body.
Genitals:
- Your baby’s genitals may initially appear large and swollen due to hormonal changes and fluid retention. These changes are temporary and will reverse themselves in the days following the birth.
- If you have a baby girl, she may pass some thin white or blood-tinged mucus (psuedomenses) from the vagina during the first week of life. This discharge is triggered by withdrawal from maternal hormones.
- Approximately 1 per cent of baby boys are born with one or more undescended testicles. Some testes spontaneously descend on their own. If this does not occur, hormonal treatment and/or surgery may be required to preserve the baby’s future fertility.
Try This On For Size:
A typical newborn weighs in at 7.5 lbs. (3.4 kg) and is 20 inches (51 cm) long. Girls tend to weigh less than boys, and African-American, Asian-American, and Native-American babies tend to be somewhat smaller than their Caucasian counterparts. Other factors that influence a baby’s size include his mother’s health and lifestyle during pregnancy, the duration of the pregnancy, whether the baby is a singleton or a multiple (e.g., a twin), and whether the baby has a congenital problem.
Seeing Spots:
Don’t be surprised if your baby develops one or more of the following temporary newborn skin conditions.
- Neonatal urticaria (newborn acne): Red spots with yellowish centres that form because the baby’s skin and pores are not yet fully functional.
- Milia: Tiny white bumps that tend to be found on a baby’s nose, forehead, and cheeks. They are caused by a buildup of sebum (skin lubricant).
- Miliaria: A raised rash consisting of small blisters that contain clear or milky white fluid.
- Erythemia toxicum: Red splotches with tiny white bumps in the centre that tend to appear at two days of age.
- Pustular melanosis: Small blisters that quickly dry up and peel away, leaving dark freckle-like spots underneath. Note: All of these skin conditions clear up on their own over time, so resist the temptation to poke at your baby’s pimples or otherwise attempt to treat these skin conditions.
Birth Marks 101:
Here’s what you need to know about the most common types of birth marks.
- Stork bites : Flat, red marks that are typically found at the nape of the neck and on the eyelids. They are caused by the dilation of small blood vessels and gradually disappear on their own.
- Spider nevi: Thin, dilated spider-shaped blood vessels. They typically fade during a baby’s first year of life.
- Congenital pigmented nevi (common mole): Tan to black coloured moles that may have hair growing from them. There is only cause for concern if the mole is very large, bleeds or changes colour, shape, or size.
- Mongolian spots: Dark blue or slate grey bluish discolorations of the skin that are common in babies of African-American, Native-American, or Mediterranean descent. They are most often found on the buttocks and the arms and legs and are caused by deposits of melanin (skin pigment). They gradually disappear on their own.
- Port wine stains: Flat, reddish-purple coloured patches on the skin that darken with age and can become raised and vulnerable to injury. They can be associated with certain types of genetic disorders. If a large part of a baby’s face or neck is affected, plastic surgery may be recommended.
- Strawberry hemangioma (capillary hemangioma): Raised birthmarks with a soft texture. They may be pale-coloured initially, but usually turn red over time. They occur when certain areas of the skin develop an abnormal blood supply, causing the affected tissue to enlarge. Strawberry hemangiomas tend to disappear during late childhood (ages five to nine), leaving behind a small amount of brownish pigmentation, but they can be removed prior to that if they’re close to the eye and threatening the child’s vision.
- Café au lait marks: Permanent, tan-coloured patches that can appear at birth or any time during the first two years of life. A large numbers of café au lait marks can be associated with certain types of neurological disorders, so your baby’s doctor will want to give him a thorough checkup if he’s covered in café au lait marks.
Baby name tips
By. Ann Douglas
Choosing a name
You've been charged with an awesome responsibility: coming up with a name for your baby-to-be. If you're like most parents, you may feel more than a little overwhelmed at the prospect. After all, your baby is going to be saddled with this name forever -- or at least until he's old enough to change his name. Still, there's no need to hit the panic button quite yet. Here are some tips on choosing a million dollar name for your million dollar baby.
Load up on baby name books at the public library. There's no point in actually purchasing these books, after all, unless you're intending to get your money's worth by having an exceptionally large family! You'll find plenty of books to choose from-- everything from O'Baby: The Irish Baby Name Book to What Not to Name Your Baby.
Give some thought to what you're looking for in a baby name. Do you want a name that's long or short? old fashioned or modern? Mainstream or one-of-a-kind? The clearer you are about your criteria upfront, the easier it will be for you to zero in on the baby name of your dreams.
Steer clear of names that are too pretentious. Carol McD. Wallace, author of The Greatest Baby Name Book Ever, suggests giving potential names "the playground test." Can you imagine calling that name across a crowded playground? If you think bystanders would get whiplash trying to figure out what kid was unfortunate enough to get saddled with a geeky name like Hubert Oswald or what parent was crazy enough to come up with a name like that, then perhaps it's time to scratch that particular name off your list!
A name that grows
Try to choose a name that will grow with your child. Buffy is a great name for a three-year-old in ringlets, but it's not necessarily the best choice for a 30-year-old corporate lawyer. But, then again, the name would serve her well if she grew up to be a vampire slayer -- proof that no name is ever totally hopeless.
Proceed with caution if you're thinking of naming your child after a family friend. You want to make sure that person's going to continue to be a friend for at least the foreseeable future and keep out of trouble. After all, it would be a little embarrassing to have to explain how you ended up naming your child after a career criminal!
Make sure that the name you're considering will work well with your last name. Don't forget to consider what your baby's initials will end up being if you go with a particular name. It's unlikely that a baby girl named Ashley Sarah Smith is going to grow up and thank her parents for that particular combination of initials!
Pay attention to what other people are naming their babies. As one of the moms I interviewed for The Mother of All Pregnancy Books noted, "We initially picked the name Caitlin, but by the time our daughter was born, the world was -- pardon the pun -- crawling with Caitlins."
Be prepared for the mother of all negotiations with your partner. It can be difficult to come to an agreement on a name if you've both got radically different ideas about what constitutes a "good name." Something else you'll have to agree on is whether you want to pre-announce the names you've chosen or keep them a secret until after your baby is born. The downside to sharing your choices too early is that Aunt Mildred may feel compelled to try to convince you to change the name!
Have fun. After all picking out your baby's name is one of the greatest joys of becoming a parent and proof positive that there really-and-truly is a baby on the way.PregnancyAndBaby.com
Choosing a name
You've been charged with an awesome responsibility: coming up with a name for your baby-to-be. If you're like most parents, you may feel more than a little overwhelmed at the prospect. After all, your baby is going to be saddled with this name forever -- or at least until he's old enough to change his name. Still, there's no need to hit the panic button quite yet. Here are some tips on choosing a million dollar name for your million dollar baby.
Load up on baby name books at the public library. There's no point in actually purchasing these books, after all, unless you're intending to get your money's worth by having an exceptionally large family! You'll find plenty of books to choose from-- everything from O'Baby: The Irish Baby Name Book to What Not to Name Your Baby.
Give some thought to what you're looking for in a baby name. Do you want a name that's long or short? old fashioned or modern? Mainstream or one-of-a-kind? The clearer you are about your criteria upfront, the easier it will be for you to zero in on the baby name of your dreams.
Steer clear of names that are too pretentious. Carol McD. Wallace, author of The Greatest Baby Name Book Ever, suggests giving potential names "the playground test." Can you imagine calling that name across a crowded playground? If you think bystanders would get whiplash trying to figure out what kid was unfortunate enough to get saddled with a geeky name like Hubert Oswald or what parent was crazy enough to come up with a name like that, then perhaps it's time to scratch that particular name off your list!
A name that grows
Try to choose a name that will grow with your child. Buffy is a great name for a three-year-old in ringlets, but it's not necessarily the best choice for a 30-year-old corporate lawyer. But, then again, the name would serve her well if she grew up to be a vampire slayer -- proof that no name is ever totally hopeless.
Proceed with caution if you're thinking of naming your child after a family friend. You want to make sure that person's going to continue to be a friend for at least the foreseeable future and keep out of trouble. After all, it would be a little embarrassing to have to explain how you ended up naming your child after a career criminal!
Make sure that the name you're considering will work well with your last name. Don't forget to consider what your baby's initials will end up being if you go with a particular name. It's unlikely that a baby girl named Ashley Sarah Smith is going to grow up and thank her parents for that particular combination of initials!
Pay attention to what other people are naming their babies. As one of the moms I interviewed for The Mother of All Pregnancy Books noted, "We initially picked the name Caitlin, but by the time our daughter was born, the world was -- pardon the pun -- crawling with Caitlins."
Be prepared for the mother of all negotiations with your partner. It can be difficult to come to an agreement on a name if you've both got radically different ideas about what constitutes a "good name." Something else you'll have to agree on is whether you want to pre-announce the names you've chosen or keep them a secret until after your baby is born. The downside to sharing your choices too early is that Aunt Mildred may feel compelled to try to convince you to change the name!
Have fun. After all picking out your baby's name is one of the greatest joys of becoming a parent and proof positive that there really-and-truly is a baby on the way.PregnancyAndBaby.com
Baby Central: Setting Up a Change Area
by. Ann Douglas
You can count on changing your baby’s diaper about 5000 times before she finally graduates from Potty Training U., so you may was well make those diaper changes as convenient as possible. Here’s what you need to know to set up a baby change area that will work well for both you and your baby.
Location, location, location.
It’s the mantra of every real estate agent, and it should be your baby change area mantra, too. In fact, you might even think about setting up more than one baby change area for the sake of sheer convenience. (Hey, if we can have a donut store on every corner, why not a change table on every floor?) Depending on the size and layout of your house, you might decide to set up your main change table in your baby’s bedroom or your family bathroom and a second change area in your familyroom or your downstairs bathroom. And, of course, when you’re sizing up a particular location, you’ll want to give some serious consideration to the flooring and wallcovering in the immediate vicinity. (Think easy-clean and stain-resistant!)
Turning the tables.
If you’ve priced change tables lately, you may be hitting the panic button at the thought of having to come up with the cash for not one but two change tables in order to set up your two change areas. Fortunately, you don’t have to break the bank by doubling up in the change table department. In fact, you don’t even have to buy a change table at all, if you don’t want to. (Some parents consider them to be one of the least essential baby equipment purchases.) If you’d rather save your money for something else, you might want to consider one of the following change table alternatives:
* A portable playpen that’s designed to do double-duty as a change table. These playpens feature inserts that convert them into change tables—a great way to get a “free” change table, if you already own one of these playpens.
* A change pad with raised sides and a safety strap. These change pads can be used on a bathroom counter, inside your baby’s crib, on your bed, or on the floor. While the raised sides and the safety strap on these change pads are designed to keep baby from taking a tumble, if you’re using them on any elevated surface, you’ll want to hedge your bets by keeping one hand on your baby at all times.
* A well-stocked change bag with an oversized change pad. While change bags and change pads are generally used when you’re out and about with baby, there’s no rule that says you can’t use one at home. If you live in a small place, this might be the ideal solution for you because you can store the change bag and change pad under your bathroom sink or in somewhere else out of the way in-between diaper changes.
Stock picks.
The last thing you need to think about is stocking your baby change area with the essentials. After all, carrying around a barenaked baby while you go in search of a missing diaper is asking for trouble! That means having the following items within grabbing distance at all times: a half-dozen diapers, an ample supply of diaper wipes or wet washcloths, diaper cream, at least two spare outfits (in case your baby manages to pee or spit up on the newly clean outfit the moment it appears on the scene), a diaper pail with a foot pedal (for the ultimate in hands-free disposal), a mini-laundry hamper with a lid, and a toy or mobile to keep your baby entertained. Voila! You’re well on your way to becoming the ultimate quick-change artist—someone’s Mom or Dad.
You can count on changing your baby’s diaper about 5000 times before she finally graduates from Potty Training U., so you may was well make those diaper changes as convenient as possible. Here’s what you need to know to set up a baby change area that will work well for both you and your baby.
Location, location, location.
It’s the mantra of every real estate agent, and it should be your baby change area mantra, too. In fact, you might even think about setting up more than one baby change area for the sake of sheer convenience. (Hey, if we can have a donut store on every corner, why not a change table on every floor?) Depending on the size and layout of your house, you might decide to set up your main change table in your baby’s bedroom or your family bathroom and a second change area in your familyroom or your downstairs bathroom. And, of course, when you’re sizing up a particular location, you’ll want to give some serious consideration to the flooring and wallcovering in the immediate vicinity. (Think easy-clean and stain-resistant!)
Turning the tables.
If you’ve priced change tables lately, you may be hitting the panic button at the thought of having to come up with the cash for not one but two change tables in order to set up your two change areas. Fortunately, you don’t have to break the bank by doubling up in the change table department. In fact, you don’t even have to buy a change table at all, if you don’t want to. (Some parents consider them to be one of the least essential baby equipment purchases.) If you’d rather save your money for something else, you might want to consider one of the following change table alternatives:
* A portable playpen that’s designed to do double-duty as a change table. These playpens feature inserts that convert them into change tables—a great way to get a “free” change table, if you already own one of these playpens.
* A change pad with raised sides and a safety strap. These change pads can be used on a bathroom counter, inside your baby’s crib, on your bed, or on the floor. While the raised sides and the safety strap on these change pads are designed to keep baby from taking a tumble, if you’re using them on any elevated surface, you’ll want to hedge your bets by keeping one hand on your baby at all times.
* A well-stocked change bag with an oversized change pad. While change bags and change pads are generally used when you’re out and about with baby, there’s no rule that says you can’t use one at home. If you live in a small place, this might be the ideal solution for you because you can store the change bag and change pad under your bathroom sink or in somewhere else out of the way in-between diaper changes.
Stock picks.
The last thing you need to think about is stocking your baby change area with the essentials. After all, carrying around a barenaked baby while you go in search of a missing diaper is asking for trouble! That means having the following items within grabbing distance at all times: a half-dozen diapers, an ample supply of diaper wipes or wet washcloths, diaper cream, at least two spare outfits (in case your baby manages to pee or spit up on the newly clean outfit the moment it appears on the scene), a diaper pail with a foot pedal (for the ultimate in hands-free disposal), a mini-laundry hamper with a lid, and a toy or mobile to keep your baby entertained. Voila! You’re well on your way to becoming the ultimate quick-change artist—someone’s Mom or Dad.
When Will Baby Learn to Entertain Herself?
By. Ann Douglas
It was a lot easier to keep my baby entertained when she was happy being carried around in the baby sling.
Q: It was a lot easier to keep my baby entertained when she was happy being carried around in the baby sling. Now that she wants to be on the floor playing, she's constantly relying on me to keep her entertained. The thing is I really don't know what to do with an eight-month-old baby. And if I don't play with her all the time, she gets really whiney. When will she start entertaining herself?
A: Most parents find that they continue to be their baby's "favorite toy" well into the toddler years. It's part of the job description of being someone's mom or dad. But you'll probably find that your baby becomes able to entertain herself for little bursts of time—say for five to ten minutes or so—as she begins to master new skills like crawling, standing, and walking.
Until then, she's likely to be highly reliant on you for entertainment because she'll want you to intervene if a toy that she's playing with gets stuck somewhere and she needs help retrieving it. Besides you're so much more fun to her than her toys. At this stage of her development, she doesn't have a particularly long attention span, so you provide the continuity in her play as she moves from one activity to another.
If you've played pat-a-cake and peek-a-boo ten million times, and you've sung every nursery rhyme song you can remember from your own childhood, you're no doubt ready for some new ideas. You may want to try
* -looking at picture books together (tip: create a photo album featuring photos of people, places, and objects that will be familiar to your baby)
* -dancing to music, something that can be a great workout and stress-buster for you and great fun for baby (tip: make a playlist of your favorite "baby dance tunes")
* -getting together with some of the other moms and babies from prenatal class, baby gym, or playgroup. It's always fun to hang out with other moms who have babies around the same age.
It was a lot easier to keep my baby entertained when she was happy being carried around in the baby sling.
Q: It was a lot easier to keep my baby entertained when she was happy being carried around in the baby sling. Now that she wants to be on the floor playing, she's constantly relying on me to keep her entertained. The thing is I really don't know what to do with an eight-month-old baby. And if I don't play with her all the time, she gets really whiney. When will she start entertaining herself?
A: Most parents find that they continue to be their baby's "favorite toy" well into the toddler years. It's part of the job description of being someone's mom or dad. But you'll probably find that your baby becomes able to entertain herself for little bursts of time—say for five to ten minutes or so—as she begins to master new skills like crawling, standing, and walking.
Until then, she's likely to be highly reliant on you for entertainment because she'll want you to intervene if a toy that she's playing with gets stuck somewhere and she needs help retrieving it. Besides you're so much more fun to her than her toys. At this stage of her development, she doesn't have a particularly long attention span, so you provide the continuity in her play as she moves from one activity to another.
If you've played pat-a-cake and peek-a-boo ten million times, and you've sung every nursery rhyme song you can remember from your own childhood, you're no doubt ready for some new ideas. You may want to try
* -looking at picture books together (tip: create a photo album featuring photos of people, places, and objects that will be familiar to your baby)
* -dancing to music, something that can be a great workout and stress-buster for you and great fun for baby (tip: make a playlist of your favorite "baby dance tunes")
* -getting together with some of the other moms and babies from prenatal class, baby gym, or playgroup. It's always fun to hang out with other moms who have babies around the same age.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
How to keep baby safe
By. Ann Douglas
Now that my baby is able to crawl, she's constantly surprising me with what she can do. Most of the time, it's a happy surprise, but sometimes she ends up getting injured because I get caught off guard by what she can do.
Your baby is at a particularly challenging stage when it comes to safety. Her abilities are constantly changing. During the weeks and months ahead, she's going to master a smorgasbord of different skills that will open up a world of possibilities (and dangers) for her. That will make your job of keeping her safe all the more challenging. Here are the key points to keep in mind.
Tumbles and falls: Babies can easily fall off a bed, sofa, crib, or change table, so always keep one hand on baby when she's on an elevated surface; and use change-table safety straps.
Choking: Know which objects pose a safety hazard and keep them out of reach of your baby.
Scalds: Test the temperature of your baby's bath water; and avoid holding your baby when you're drinking hot beverages.
Drowning: Never leave your baby unattended in the bath; and be aware of the presence of other sources of water in and around your home (toilets, wading pools, etc.)
Injuries from riding in the car: Make sure you're using your baby's car seat properly (in the correct position, in the back seat of the car). Never hold your baby on your lap.
Suffocation: Be informed about sleep safety. Put your baby to sleep on her back and do not put any soft objects such as pillows or stuffed animals in the crib with your baby.
Now that my baby is able to crawl, she's constantly surprising me with what she can do. Most of the time, it's a happy surprise, but sometimes she ends up getting injured because I get caught off guard by what she can do.
Your baby is at a particularly challenging stage when it comes to safety. Her abilities are constantly changing. During the weeks and months ahead, she's going to master a smorgasbord of different skills that will open up a world of possibilities (and dangers) for her. That will make your job of keeping her safe all the more challenging. Here are the key points to keep in mind.
Tumbles and falls: Babies can easily fall off a bed, sofa, crib, or change table, so always keep one hand on baby when she's on an elevated surface; and use change-table safety straps.
Choking: Know which objects pose a safety hazard and keep them out of reach of your baby.
Scalds: Test the temperature of your baby's bath water; and avoid holding your baby when you're drinking hot beverages.
Drowning: Never leave your baby unattended in the bath; and be aware of the presence of other sources of water in and around your home (toilets, wading pools, etc.)
Injuries from riding in the car: Make sure you're using your baby's car seat properly (in the correct position, in the back seat of the car). Never hold your baby on your lap.
Suffocation: Be informed about sleep safety. Put your baby to sleep on her back and do not put any soft objects such as pillows or stuffed animals in the crib with your baby.
The Grandparent Connection
By Ann Douglas
Not all the grownups in the waiting rooms at pediatricians' offices these days are moms and dads.
Approximately one percent of Canadian grandparents are responsible for raising their grandchildren without any hands-on help from the children's parents. In some cases, the parents are in jail; in other cases, they are seriously ill or even deceased.
So who are these very hands-on grandparents? According to Statistics Canada, they are primarily older women: two-thirds of these caregivers are female and just under half of them (46%) are retired.
Taking on the role of raising a second family later in life is a huge responsibility—and not one that comes easily to every grandmother. Researchers at the University of Florida have discovered that younger grandmothers have a more difficult time adjusting to the added responsibility than their older counterparts.
“Unlike older grandparents who are frequently retired, middle-aged grandparents face problems trying to balance their newfound parenting roles with other responsibilities, including the demands of careers and personal interests,” notes University of Florida sociologist Terry Mills, who reported on her research in a study published in the April 2005 issue of the journal Marriage and Family Review.
Other studies have shown that role confusion about whether they are a parent or a grandparent and feelings of having failed as a parent themselves because their child is unable to care for his or her own child are other factors that can contribute to feelings of depression in grandparents who are raising their grandchildren.
What's clear from the growing body of research about grandparents raising grandchildren is that there needs are different from those of parents—and that they would benefit from greater support.
Not all the grownups in the waiting rooms at pediatricians' offices these days are moms and dads.
Approximately one percent of Canadian grandparents are responsible for raising their grandchildren without any hands-on help from the children's parents. In some cases, the parents are in jail; in other cases, they are seriously ill or even deceased.
So who are these very hands-on grandparents? According to Statistics Canada, they are primarily older women: two-thirds of these caregivers are female and just under half of them (46%) are retired.
Taking on the role of raising a second family later in life is a huge responsibility—and not one that comes easily to every grandmother. Researchers at the University of Florida have discovered that younger grandmothers have a more difficult time adjusting to the added responsibility than their older counterparts.
“Unlike older grandparents who are frequently retired, middle-aged grandparents face problems trying to balance their newfound parenting roles with other responsibilities, including the demands of careers and personal interests,” notes University of Florida sociologist Terry Mills, who reported on her research in a study published in the April 2005 issue of the journal Marriage and Family Review.
Other studies have shown that role confusion about whether they are a parent or a grandparent and feelings of having failed as a parent themselves because their child is unable to care for his or her own child are other factors that can contribute to feelings of depression in grandparents who are raising their grandchildren.
What's clear from the growing body of research about grandparents raising grandchildren is that there needs are different from those of parents—and that they would benefit from greater support.
THE FIRST OF....
By Ann Douglas
Here's some mom-proven advice on coping with seven of the major first-year "firsts."
The moment your baby is born, you and your baby head off on a journey of discovery together. Here's some mom-proven advice on coping with seven of the major first-year "firsts."
THE FIRST TIME YOU HOLD YOUR BABYYour doctor or midwife places a wet and naked baby in your arms and covers the two of you with a toasty-warm blanket (to help keep you both warm). What other moms want you to know: Just relax and gaze into your baby's eyes. She'll be surprisingly alert and checking you out, too. (Your face is the perfect distance away for her newborn eyes to focus on when you're holding her in your arms.)
THE FIRST FEEDING The best time to schedule the first feeding is as soon as possible after the birth. That way, you can take advantage of that initial period of wide-eyed alertness. (If you or your baby require extra care after the birth and you can't offer your baby the breast as soon as you would have liked, don't worry. Simply offer the breast at the first possible opportunity. What other moms want you to know: It's a good idea to take a breastfeeding class, to do some reading about breastfeeding ahead of time, or to have some hands-on help lined up from an experienced nursing mother. Breastfeeding is perfectly natural, but there can be a bit of a learning curve involved for both you and baby.
THE FIRST DIAPER CHANGE You're going to change a lot of diapers by the time your baby learns how to use the toilet: something in the neighborhood of 8000 diapers. What other moms want you to know: First, gather up all the necessary supplies (diaper, change pad, wet wash clothes, diaper ointment, and a baby towel or receiving blanket) before you start the diaper change so that you won't have to carry around a naked baby while you try to find the one thing you forgot. Secondly, if your newborn cries, it's likely because he doesn't like the sensation of being naked. Minimizing the amount of skin that's exposed at any given time (or covering these exposed areas with a baby towel or receiving blanket as you change him) can help to keep him comfortable while he's au naturel.
THE FIRST BATHThere are few things as nerve-wracking than bathing a baby for the very first time. What other moms want you to know: If you're worried that your baby is going to go slip-sliding away, thanks to all the soap and the water, slip on a thin pair of cotton gloves (use them like built-in washcloths) and washing baby in a plastic baby bathtub or in the kitchen sink. Wash the cleanest parts of baby first, starting with his head. Use a small amount of soap or stick to plain water to avoid over-drying baby's skin. Rinse baby thoroughly and then wrap him in a towel and pat him dry.
THE FIRST SLEEPLESS NIGHTAfter those first few hours of wakefulness right after the birth, your baby is likely to experience a few extra-sleepy days before settling into a normal newborn rhythm of eating, sleeping, and waking around the clock. This means you'll likely find yourself on the same schedule—getting up a number of times in the night. What other moms want you to know: To help your baby start to learn the difference between night and day in the months to come, keep the house dimly lit and the noise level as low as possible when you're up feeding your baby in the night—and learn some other basic facts about infant sleep—including how it's likely to affect your life during the early months of parenthood. And if friends and family members offer to pitch in and help with housework and laundry so that you can remain as rested as possible, accept any and all offers of help.
THE FIRST TIME BABY GETS SICK Whether it's a cough, a sniffle, or something more serious that has you pouring through the baby care books, hitting the Internet, or dashing off to Emergency with your baby department, coping with your baby's first illness can be really worrisome. It's hard not to panic when someone so little seems so sick. What other moms want you to know: There's no need to worry about "looking silly" if your baby's symptoms prove to be something minor: your baby's doctor will be pleased that you decided to trust your gut feelings and check out those worrisome symptoms. After all, that's part of the job description of being someone's parent.
THE FIRST CRYING JAGBaby's wailing away, and you feel like you should be able to pinpoint the cause of his misery and make the tears disappear. You run through a checklist of all the usual causes—baby's hungry, overtired, uncomfortable, wet, ill—but he continues to sing the blues. What other moms want you to know: This is a situation when you may find you need just as much comfort as baby. It's distressing to hear your baby this upset. Call a friend who has had first-hand experience in coping with a crying baby of her own and who can offer both moral support and hands-on help.
Here's some mom-proven advice on coping with seven of the major first-year "firsts."
The moment your baby is born, you and your baby head off on a journey of discovery together. Here's some mom-proven advice on coping with seven of the major first-year "firsts."
THE FIRST TIME YOU HOLD YOUR BABYYour doctor or midwife places a wet and naked baby in your arms and covers the two of you with a toasty-warm blanket (to help keep you both warm). What other moms want you to know: Just relax and gaze into your baby's eyes. She'll be surprisingly alert and checking you out, too. (Your face is the perfect distance away for her newborn eyes to focus on when you're holding her in your arms.)
THE FIRST FEEDING The best time to schedule the first feeding is as soon as possible after the birth. That way, you can take advantage of that initial period of wide-eyed alertness. (If you or your baby require extra care after the birth and you can't offer your baby the breast as soon as you would have liked, don't worry. Simply offer the breast at the first possible opportunity. What other moms want you to know: It's a good idea to take a breastfeeding class, to do some reading about breastfeeding ahead of time, or to have some hands-on help lined up from an experienced nursing mother. Breastfeeding is perfectly natural, but there can be a bit of a learning curve involved for both you and baby.
THE FIRST DIAPER CHANGE You're going to change a lot of diapers by the time your baby learns how to use the toilet: something in the neighborhood of 8000 diapers. What other moms want you to know: First, gather up all the necessary supplies (diaper, change pad, wet wash clothes, diaper ointment, and a baby towel or receiving blanket) before you start the diaper change so that you won't have to carry around a naked baby while you try to find the one thing you forgot. Secondly, if your newborn cries, it's likely because he doesn't like the sensation of being naked. Minimizing the amount of skin that's exposed at any given time (or covering these exposed areas with a baby towel or receiving blanket as you change him) can help to keep him comfortable while he's au naturel.
THE FIRST BATHThere are few things as nerve-wracking than bathing a baby for the very first time. What other moms want you to know: If you're worried that your baby is going to go slip-sliding away, thanks to all the soap and the water, slip on a thin pair of cotton gloves (use them like built-in washcloths) and washing baby in a plastic baby bathtub or in the kitchen sink. Wash the cleanest parts of baby first, starting with his head. Use a small amount of soap or stick to plain water to avoid over-drying baby's skin. Rinse baby thoroughly and then wrap him in a towel and pat him dry.
THE FIRST SLEEPLESS NIGHTAfter those first few hours of wakefulness right after the birth, your baby is likely to experience a few extra-sleepy days before settling into a normal newborn rhythm of eating, sleeping, and waking around the clock. This means you'll likely find yourself on the same schedule—getting up a number of times in the night. What other moms want you to know: To help your baby start to learn the difference between night and day in the months to come, keep the house dimly lit and the noise level as low as possible when you're up feeding your baby in the night—and learn some other basic facts about infant sleep—including how it's likely to affect your life during the early months of parenthood. And if friends and family members offer to pitch in and help with housework and laundry so that you can remain as rested as possible, accept any and all offers of help.
THE FIRST TIME BABY GETS SICK Whether it's a cough, a sniffle, or something more serious that has you pouring through the baby care books, hitting the Internet, or dashing off to Emergency with your baby department, coping with your baby's first illness can be really worrisome. It's hard not to panic when someone so little seems so sick. What other moms want you to know: There's no need to worry about "looking silly" if your baby's symptoms prove to be something minor: your baby's doctor will be pleased that you decided to trust your gut feelings and check out those worrisome symptoms. After all, that's part of the job description of being someone's parent.
THE FIRST CRYING JAGBaby's wailing away, and you feel like you should be able to pinpoint the cause of his misery and make the tears disappear. You run through a checklist of all the usual causes—baby's hungry, overtired, uncomfortable, wet, ill—but he continues to sing the blues. What other moms want you to know: This is a situation when you may find you need just as much comfort as baby. It's distressing to hear your baby this upset. Call a friend who has had first-hand experience in coping with a crying baby of her own and who can offer both moral support and hands-on help.
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