BabyLoving.com

by Eliza Ferree

Your child is just about to turn a year old and you are getting ready to throw him/her a party. What kind of party? How many kids? Simple or extravagant? Will your child even remember it?

Before you totally stress yourself out on preparing this huge fair like party that many of us do for our 1 year olds lets think about things and ideas. You don't have to have the parade come to town for your one year old, trust me as they get older they'll want it then, not now. Better to save that money for those times.

First if you are not going to make a cake and plan on buying one remember that most stores when you buy one cake you can get the one year old a cake for him/herself. That's right go to your local grocery and ask if they have the special, this way when your child digs in no one has to shy away from the cake. I mean would you eat someone else's cake after seeing their hands all through it? I know I can't and wouldn't expect others to do it.

If you are making a cake, think about your child. You don't have to make it all fancy because within moments it'll be all squished up and on their plates anyways right?

A simple candle or a candle in the shape of a number one will do. You don't have to go in search for that perfect candle and you don't want to get a trick one because your baby isn't going to get the joke.

When it comes time to invitations think about what you want. Do you want everyone on the block to come? Do you want it just to be yourself and immediate family? Just close friends? The daycare center?

If you have chosen to have the kids on the street come over you might want to have something for their older siblings, unless it is strictly little babies. If it is just babies, lay out a blanket and toys and they will probably be just fine. Time it so not all babies are napping. If a blanket isn't going to work you could always pull out the playpen and stick a couple in it at a time, after all most of the babies are going to be clinging to mom and dad.

Just having your own family is a great idea as you don't have to worry about everything getting broke or someone getting hurt. You are only entertaining yourself and your family, total focus on your child.

If you REALLY want to have a theme here are a few ideas:

Teddy Bear Party, this would be a cake in the shape of a teddy bear and lots of decorations of teddy bears throughout the house. If you want to get really crafty you can use a lot of brown and blue or pink balloons, depending on sex would depend on color.

Barney Party, this would be a Barney Cake and lots of purple balloons everywhere.

I know there are other cartoons the babies watch now and maybe your baby always watches it, just think of which ones they LOVE and do it up that way.

If you don't really want to make a cake you can do cupcakes and this way it is already dished out, all you have to do it pass them around.

Remember this your child will probably never remember this event, except from what you tell him/her happened and the pictures you took. Make sure not to forget to take pictures of this day, this will help them to see. Which ever you do, try not to stress over it.

Basically I was extremely fortunate in that none of my two children cried endlessly at night when they were babies. Only that I did not know it then. Well at least until my grandson came along too early and too unexpectedly and made me know another side of babies that I had never experienced before.

But then I am getting ahead of myself. Let me start the story from the beginning.

Both of my wonderful children (a boy and a girl) were rather considerate babies and generally slept through the night most of the time. I remember even on the few occasions when they were ill, they were really not too much of a bother at night. Maybe only waking up very occasionally while running a temperature.

That is a far cry from my grandson. It is a long story how we ended up in the situation where we had to literally bring up our grandson as if he were our own third-born child (many people still think he is), but I will try and sum up that lengthy tale.

Shortly after my daughter had her baby (we advised her very strongly against aborting - but I don't want to get into that debate here) she had to go back to school and so guess who was left to look after her toddler son, barely a few months old?

From the experience of my children I thought that the whole thing was going to be a breeze. That was really the reason why I agreed to it so quickly. To be very honest with you, had I known what I was going to face, I would never have accepted the task. People should carry their own crosses, even when they are your children, should they not?

The baby would wake up at all sorts of odd hours of the night and cry out his small lungs at the top of his voice. Many times, there was visibly nothing wrong and so my wife would have to get up and sit up with him the whole night. The moment she would dare put him down to try and get some sleep, he would abruptly wake up again and scream at the top of his voice.

Other times the young fellow would be genuinely ill. He seemed to have some weak chest and the doctor called it something complicated and assured us that as he grew older, it would vanish (that is exactly what happened. My grandson is now 4 years old and a very healthy chap. You wouldn't believe what he put us through, if you looked at him.)

But at that young age then, he would wake up wheezing and in between breathing difficulties, the young guy would just cry and cry. And of course my wife was exhausted and worried. In fact at one point she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

The whole thing just opened my eyes to the fact that as similar as looking after babies is, different parents have very different experiences

I would wake up and stick around feeling pity for myself and wondering what my daughter was thinking when she went and got herself pregnant at such a young tender age of 17.

After a while I grudgingly decided that since I was being kept awake I would as well try to make use of the time.

I joined an online affiliate program here and there without making too much money. Still I started learning lots of things about the internet.

It is that education that is helping me in my full time online business today.

The point of telling this story is to encourage fathers out there who end up in the sort of situation I did, that they can make use of this extra time forced upon them by a baby who can not stop waking up the neighborhood at night.

Your baby's brain is growing and changing each and every day. Baby learns
on a daily basis from all the things baby sees, hears, and touches. Baby is naturally very interested in watching and listening to the people in his life and this helps your baby to learn without even trying.

Your baby has been absorbing information and processing it since birth. Baby has been learning from everything he or she sees, hears, smells, and touches. Babies develop good memories and are able to remember sights, sounds, smells, and touches after they have been exposed to them before.

There are many different types of videos, toys, and accessories on the market today that make the claim of being able to make your baby smarter. Some even claim to be able to help you bring out the genius in your baby. It is important to remember that even though some of these products may be stimulating for baby, they are mostly unnecessary. Baby can
learn and be stimulated by being walked around your home, having, things pointed out to him, and listening to you talk about what you are showing him. Baby may not understand, right away, exactly what you are saying, but in time, he will understand you completely.

Pick your baby up and touch her. Babies feel secure and happy if they know you will attend to their needs, and even, many of their wants. If baby is crying and miserable pick her up and hug and kiss her. Babies learn much more when they feel happy and secure.

Responding to your baby in a loving and attentive way helps baby to learn. Talk to your baby in a regular tone of voice. Talk about everything such as how your day is going, what chore you are doing, how cute she is, what kind of flowers you are looking at, and whatever else comes to mind. Just keep right on talking. There is nothing wrong with baby talk as long as it is not the only way you talk to your baby.

Read to your baby. Start from birth and read and show him a variety of books. Even very young babies enjoy looking at books filled with brightly colored pictures. Your baby will enjoy the sound of your voice as you read to him, even before he understands the words you are saying. Buy some of those books made just for babies and let him touch and play with them. Do not worry if baby tries to chew on or lick the books. This is normal and most books meant for babies can be wiped clean anyway.

Get out and about. Go out for a walk everyday, if possible. Point out interesting things to your baby. Remember, however, that things that may seem boring and normal to you, like a fire hydrant, just may be of interest to your baby who is just learning about the world. Take baby to the park. Trees, grass, and flowers are wonderfully stimulating. Visit friends and
family, go to the mall, visit museums, go to baby story hour. It really does not matter what activity you choose, baby will learn something from it.

Colic is described as inconsolable crying for 3 hours or more per day or night. This inconsolable crying happens at least 3 days per week. Typically, colicky babies start showing the prolonged crying of colic when they are around 3 weeks old. The crying, in general, tends to worsen when babies are around 6 weeks old and last until babies are 3 or 4 months old. Unfortunately, the cause of colic is not known for sure. Just as unfortunate, is the fact that there is no known cure for colic. Some theories concerning the cause of colic include an immature nervous system, gas, allergies, and reflux.

To the parents of a colicky baby it may seem as though these 3 to 4 months of constant crying will last forever. Parents can become exhausted and depressed from the demands of dealing with an inconsolable baby for hours on end.

Here are some ways to cope if your baby has colic:

Take some time for you. Enlist the help of family members and friends in getting some time away from baby. You will be a better caretaker for your infant if you are not overstressed, so try to get out once a week and do something just for you. If possible, arrange to have at least a few hours alone with your spouse. You need couple time too!

Put your baby down. If your baby’s crying has been making you feel too frazzled and stressed out, put her down in a safe place, such as a crib, and leave the room. Leaving your colicky baby in her crib for a few minutes will not harm her at all and will allow you a few minutes to calm down.

Seek advice and support. There are many people who will understand just what you are going through and can help by giving advice and support. Look to family, friends, and support groups for help. Do not forget about your baby’s doctor. He or she will usually have some helpful advice for you.

Remember it is not your fault. Feelings of inadequacy are normal and common for parents of a colicky baby. Just remember you are not a bad parent. You did nothing to cause your baby to have colic. Eventually the crying will stop and colic will be a distant memory.

Before deciding your baby has colic, always have your baby’s pediatrician give a thorough examination to rule out underlying medical conditions.

Suggestions to help soothe your baby:

Swaddle your baby. Many babies feel safe and calm when all bundled up

Movement soothes some infants. Wear baby in a sling as you walk around the house. Use an infant swing. Go for a ride in your car. Rock in a rocking chair. Get outside for a walk.

Make white noise. Some infants are calmed by hearing white noise from things such as vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, running water, hair dryers, and fans. These noises remind babies of sounds they heard while in the womb.

Remember, this tough time will pass. Good luck!

So you think you have it all. You have a fulfilling career, a nice house, a great man in your life. But then you wake up one day, somewhere in your mid to late 30's, and you realize that-- whoops-- somewhere along the line you forgot to have a baby.

These days, many women are choosing to postpone motherhood until later in life. While previous generations of women often had several children well before they turned 30, the career-oriented women of today are opting to wait. If you are approaching 35--or maybe even 40--do you feel that you are getting too old to have a baby?

It's a fact that as you get older, it's harder to conceive. Your menstrual cycle may not be as regular as it once was and, because your eggs aren't as young as they used to be, you also have an increased chance of miscarriage once you do conceive. This is not meant to discourage you-- I have three children, two of them born when I was in my late thirties. I am a firm believer that a woman's biological clock does indeed tick-- I heard mine ticking loud and clear.

If you truly want to have a baby, you shouldn't let your age stop you from trying. Try to prepare yourself for a setback in case it happens, but don't obsess over it. Plan ahead by taking prenatal vitamins and folic acid for several months before you start trying to conceive.

Once you do get pregnant (and don't worry, most women do) you may face a bigger problem: are you too old to handle a baby? That is, you're older, maybe a bit more set in your ways, and you probably have a scheduled routine, a way of doing things. Well, a baby will certainly change that! As we get older, we get a little more (dare I say it?) selfish. Suddenly, your time isn't just yours anymore. A little person needs you, relies on you. For everything. It's quite a change.

You need to look at your life and ask yourself why you want a baby. Is it something you've always wanted? Are you still waiting for the right man to come along? Would you be comfortable doing it on your own if things with the father didn't work out? Or, are you doing it just because you think it's what you're supposed to do? Every woman has a different answer. You need to search your soul to figure out what the best answer for you is.

Having a baby is a wonderful experience, an experience that I wish upon anyone who wants it to happen. If you find that it is something you are longing to do, go for it! You may just find that having it all has a whole new meaning.

By Eliza Ferree

Children lose their first baby teeth between 5 and 6 so its basically part of nature. However if the tooth fairy comes to town where does your child leave their tooth. Is there a special place your child keeps their tooth? Do you have a special tooth holder?

My daughter recently lost her teeth, a bit early and we weren't prepared for her special place. Thankfully the dentist gave her a special tooth fairy box, it was plastic and looked like a treasure chest. Pink in color and was just small enough for that one tooth to fit in. She loved that box, it snapped closed so it wouldn't fall out as well. It went everywhere she did that day and never once was it out of her sight. Not sure how she'll react once the fairy takes the tooth out though.

Where does the fairy keep that tooth though I've been asked before by my oldest? Hmmm, that's something a mom must really think about, because as the story goes the tooth fairy uses the teeth to build her castle up in the sky. Some say the teeth add to the light up there but you never really know. Others say well she just throws them away, I can't really bring myself to say that to a child that worked so hard at keeping them clean and then to get them out. Could you?

With my son we have used many different special tooth carrying cases. One was using felt and cutting it in the shape of a tooth. Glue the side edges together leaving a tiny pocket that is just small enough for the tooth and some coins or dollars, whichever the fairy may decide to leave them. Another carrying case was just placing the tooth under the pillow, this isn't always a good idea though and I'm still surprised it actually happens. I guess it really depends on your child. Does your child sleep with their mouth open? Does your child move a lot? Think about that first, you don't want them losing the tooth before she gets there and you don't want them swallowing it either.

Make sure to let the fairy know either by writing her a letter or email or by phoning her, as you don't want her to miss your child's big night. Tell your children to go to bed either exactly at bedtime or before bedtime, but not too early as they may wake up and catch her. This will ensure her to come and they will get the visit they desperately want at this point. My son was the hardest one when it came to going to sleep at the right time. The tooth fairy once told me that she was very scared to go into my son's room as he was a light sleeper and woke at the slightest sound. She didn't want to get caught and was worried he may grab a wing or two. She did come late at night but sometimes she'd see him turning and she'd fly away. I let him know this after one tooth and he decided that he'd go to bed exactly at his bedtime and not too early anymore.

My daughter is different; she'll sleep through just about anything. However, she does move around so for the fairy to find her tooth is a bit hard. This last time the tooth fairy actually had to move her. But never once did she wake up according to the fairy. She said she loved the treasure chest because she didn't have to find a tiny tooth, instead when she came across the box that jingled she knew it was the tooth.

The next question is how much does the fairy leave? Well, when I was a child.... I know it makes you think of the time your parents told you they walked hundred of thousands of miles in the snow to school right? Ha ha. But seriously when I was a child I got between a quarter to a dollar for each of my teeth. But today with prices going up it seems to lose a tooth could actually make you rich. I want to say anything from $1-5 is the normal rate these days, however I've heard of children getting 5, 10 or even 20 dollars. I've been told it all depends on the way the tooth falls out. The tooth fairy will feel sorry for a child that has swallowed a tooth and leave them more money, but there are times when the child may not have had a horrible experience and she just loses it like a normal tooth, so they get the normal amount.

My son has lost one of his by swallowing it, he was eating a sandwich and when he was done eating the sandwich he realized the tooth was gone. He'd swallowed it, I'll never forget that day. Another tooth he had was so lose but I couldn't pull it (turns my stomach) and his sister and him were playing around and collided face to face. His tooth fell out. It was so lose it didn't hurt, of course they did have to find the tooth after that.

No we never did use pliers, teeing a string to the tooth or walking into a door to get them out. The teeth just got lose enough to pull, unless you count him swallowing them or banging into his sister. But either way we always got them out and in a safe place for the fairy.

Here are some tips on breastfeeding for mothers-to-be.

1. Breastfeeding provides the very best food for your baby. Nature's natural food gives the baby all the immune system boosters and nutrients it needs for the big process of growing. No infant formula can completely duplicate mother's milk for the baby. There are big advantages to even breastfeeding your new baby for a few days, since the colustrum, the thin fluid that comes from the breast before the actual milk comes in, provides a jumpstart to the baby's immune system. Many studies have shown that breastfeeding is a great advantage to the baby's health, in many different areas.

2. Many women have problems with breastfeeding, and the first baby is usually the hardest. It's easy to get frustrated when problems occur, but if a mother sticks with it and gets support, most problems can be solved. One would think that if breastfeeding is so natural, it would be instinctual to the mother and the baby, and they should both know just what to do, but that doesn't always seem true. I had four children and nursed all of them. The first baby was very small and it was hard for her to nurse because her mouth was so small. After the milk started coming she would often get choked because she couldn't swallow it as fast as the milk flowed; however, after she got older the problems disappeared. Not giving up at the first problem is important for successful breastfeeding.

3. Support is very important, especially if the mother experiences problems at first. Being reassured that everything is okay, that you're doing it right, and that the baby is being properly nourished are all things that mothers like to hear. Many new mothers have mothers, aunts, grandmothers, or friends who have breastfed and can offer good advice. For those who don't have that, La Leche League is a good support group. This group has been around since the 1950s, and its name means "the milk" in Spanish. There are local chapters all over, with nursing mothers serving as leaders. Meetings are held in which questions about breastfeeding are answered, and nursing mothers can share problems and success stories and receive the support they need. I joined a La Leche League group when breastfeeding was not as popular as today, and the support I received was very reassuring. Just about every problem that I faced had been faced by the other mothers in the group, and I got lots of encouragement from attending meetings. Mothers-to-be can get instruction before having the baby that will make breastfeeding easier after the birth.

4. Breastfeeding is the best way to bond with a new baby. The closeness felt between mother and baby is very special, and the mother must hold and cuddle the baby as it nurses, leading to the baby feeling loved. I used to carry my baby around in a Snugli pak so she could nurse whenever she wanted, and the closeness was very comforting to her. Mothers also get a rest while breastfeeding the baby; a bottle-fed baby can be left in a bed or carrier with a propped-up bottle, but nursing babies have to have mother sitting down and holding the baby, getting its full attention. Babies who are sick are comforted while breastfeeding, and babies on breast milk have a very sweet smell, causing the mother to shower them with kisses. Breast milk also doesn't stain clothes or linens as formula does. The baby will come to see breastfeeding as a comfort when hurt, tired, or sick; many babies don't easily give it up when time to be weaned from the breast.

5. Breastfeeding is very good for the mother as well as the baby. With my first baby, I gained forty pounds; I was shocked when my baby came a little early and only weighed 5 ½ pounds. After subtracting the baby's weight from what I had gained, I was depressed. Nursing the baby, however, caused me to easily lose most of the weight in a short time. It apparently takes lots of calories to make milk, and I could eat lots of food and still not gain weight. Drinking enough fluids is very important to making enough milk for the baby. There are foods that some say are to be avoided while nursing, such as chocolate or garlic, but my babies never seemed to have a problem with any foods I ate. Another plus of breastfeeding is that periods often don't come back for several months after the baby is born. Women who nurse their babies for a long time and space the babies a couple of years apart often don't have periods for years. Some studies show that breastfeeding protects the mother against things like breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and other illnesses.

6. What will happen to your breasts when you breastfeed? Some women think that nursing a baby will make their breasts saggy and unattractive, but time does that even without nursing. Most women have an increase in breast size while nursing, sometimes dramatically, and fathers like that. Nursing mothers' figures sometimes change to a very nice shape after birth; larger breasts and increased weight loss from nursing are advantages to breastfeeding a baby.

7. Convenience is a big advantage of breastfeeding a baby. Being basically lazy sometimes, I always found not having to get out of bed and heat bottles a big plus in the middle of the night. I co-slept with my babies on a king-size bed when they were small, and when they were hungry they would just nuzzle up to me and eat. My husband rarely woke up during the process. Going on trips was great since I didn't have to drag along a lot of bottles and other equipment. If I went to the mall or over to see a friend, I took the baby's milk right with me; there was rarely a crying, hungry baby waiting to get home to get fed.

8. The cost of breastfeeding is much less than buying formula. Babies who are successfully breastfeeding do not need solid food as early as babies who are formula-fed, and although the mother may need to eat more as the baby drinks more milk, the cost of baby food is less. Making baby food at home is easy once the baby gets old enough to eat; a small food grinder or a blender can allow the baby to eat much of the food you eat. My babies never really cared for bland baby foods; they much preferred the breast milk even after they began to eat solid foods.

9. Even mothers who have to go back to work can continue to breastfeed. My daughter went back to work about a month after her daughter's birth, and she used an electric breast pump to extract milk for the baby. She continued the process for several months, and of course could nurse the baby once she got home and before leaving for work. While it was a little more trouble for her, it helped both her and the baby, as she gained the extra health benefits and so did the baby. Many women who are convinced breastfeeding is the best thing for their babies are able to successfully continue nursing after returning to work.

10. If you're about to become a new mother, consider breastfeeding. Although breastfeeding used to be something that polite people didn't discuss and was out-of-fashion for awhile, most people now realize that it's the best thing for babies. Consider your baby's health and that of your own as you make the decision whether or not to nurse your baby. Try it, you and your baby will like it!

If you're expecting a baby or are already the parent of a newborn or toddler, you should know that it's never too early to start reading to your baby. In fact, many expectant mothers read aloud to their babies when they are still in the womb.

You can start your newborn off with plush books -- those soft, cuddly books that babies love to hold. Read the story to baby and point to the "pictures" as you go along. Look for textured books that your baby can interact with. Babies love to touch soft, fuzzy surfaces. A great interactive book is "Pat the Bunny" by Dorothy Kunhardt-- your baby will love to follow along with the book and touch and feel as you go along. Look for plush books that feature stuffed animals and pockets-- your baby will love them and will associate reading with fun times!

You can graduate to board books, which are baby-friendly cardboard versions of popular children's stories. Most board books are pretty sturdy and can withstand the gnawing and teething that babies subject them to.

As your baby gets a little older, try to make frequent trips to the library. Let your baby know that the library is a fun place to be-- and let him or her pick out some books. You should also check to see if your local library offers baby story times-- many libraries sponsor great children's programs that feature short stories, songs and finger plays.

Try to set aside a time every day to read to your baby. At bedtime, find a familiar book and read that book to your child every night. Your baby will associate the book with bedtime, which may make it easier for you to get him or her to go to sleep.

Book suggestions-- Some great books for babies include:

"Goodnight, Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown

"Pat the Bunny" by Dorothy Kunhardt

"Silly Little Goose" by Nancy Tafuri

"Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" by Bill Martin Jr.

"Counting Kisses" by Karen Katz

"I Love You as Much" by Laura Krauss Melmed

You may begin bathing your baby in a bathtub as soon as the umbilical cord stump heals completely and falls off. If you have a baby boy and he has been circumcised you will need to wait until his circumcision site heals completely.

The most important thing to do when giving your baby his or her first bath is to prepare well. Keep your baby's safety in mind. Do not, even for a moment, leave your baby unattended around water. Ignore the phone, turn off the stove, and let any other distractions wait until you can wrap your baby in a towel and take him with you.

Buy a tub that is a good fit for your baby. Although an infant tub is not an absolute necessity it is much easier to use one. You may also use a basin or a small pot for the first six months.

Gather your supplies.

You will need:
Gentle soap and shampoo. There are many varieties, designed just for babies, available.
Clean Washcloths.
Hooded towel. You can use a regular towel but the hooded towels are cute and the hood is useful for keeping baby's head warm.
Baby Lotion
Clean diaper
Clean Clothes.

Place the infant tub inside a regular sink or bathtub. Although a counter top may seem to be an ideal place to bathe baby, a countertop can become wet and slippery creating a hazard. Avoid using a counter top.

Fill the infant tub with a few inches of water. Always be sure to test the temperature of the water before you put your baby in the tub. Test the water using the inside of your wrist or the tip of your elbow. The water should feel warm to the touch, not hot. It is wise to use a thermometer to measure the temperature of the water to be 100 percent sure it will be comfortable and safe for baby. The temperature of the water should be between less that 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.8 degrees Celsius. For safety, when you have children, it is recommended to keep household water set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit or less.

Gently place you baby's body in the water. Lower him slowly, supporting his head, while holding his bottom with the other hand. Keep your babies head up and out of the water. Support your baby's head and neck with one hand while you wash him with the other hand.

Begin by washing your babies face with plain water. You do not, under normal circumstances, need to use soap on your baby's face. Gently wipe each eyelid first, wash around the eyes, and then wash the rest of the face. Wash your baby's ears after you clean the rest of his face.

Wash the rest of your baby's body with soap and water. Be sure to clean in all your baby's folds and crevices. Clean thoroughly, but gently. There is no need to scrub hard. For health's sake, wash your baby's bottom last

If you have friends or siblings who have babies that are about the same age as your own, or if your baby belongs to a playgroup with other children who are about the same age, then you probably know by now how quickly a normal conversation can turn into a somewhat competitive developmental tale of what actions baby can perform. Grandparents, too, seem to enjoy getting in on the fun of inquiring whether or not baby can do certain things yet. While this sort of questioning might seem pretty harmless, it can lead to a lot of unnecessary stress for moms and dads.

Baby development is very important, of course. Any baby reference book you see on the shelves in bookstores contains a developmental timeline with various milestones listed so that you can make sure your baby is progressing "normally." Indeed, if your baby can't do some of the things he or she is supposed to be able to do within a certain time frame, it could point to a problem with motor skills or, in extreme cases, perhaps even a serious medical problem. But, more often than not, there is absolutely no problem at all just because baby didn't sit up the day he or she turned eight months old or just because baby didn't start crawling exactly at nine months.

The truth of the matter is that all babies develop differently. They go at their own pace, and are completely unaware of what they are "supposed" to do just so grandma can brag about their latest accomplishments to her friends at work! Moms and dads should try not to get stressed out if baby is not developing right on schedule. This sounds easy enough, but often it's not -- especially for new parents who lack experience with these issues. It sometimes seems that no matter how hard you try not to fret about what baby can't do yet, you inevitably find yourself checking books or websites that offer tips and tricks (most of which turn out to be nothing but old wives' tales) that supposedly lead to faster development.

I have to admit that I fell into this awful parental trap not too long ago. My baby was developing "normally" and hit all his milestones within a few weeks of the dates that the books spelled out. Sometimes he reached a milestone earlier than expected and sometimes it was a little later than expected, but he always got there within a few weeks. That is, until it came time to walk. Most books say that babies will start taking their first steps before one year of age, and will start to walk longer and stronger a little while after that. Well, my baby didn't follow that timeline. He didn't take his first steps until he was almost 16 months old, which earned him the label of "late walker" according to my baby book.

As the one-year mark came and went without my baby taking his first steps, I didn't really give it much thought. But my mother and a few of my friends kept asking about it. I couldn't get through a single phone call, email, or in-person conversation without the dreaded "So, is he walking yet?" question coming up. When I answered "no", I would invariably be treated to tons of advice about how to get him to walk. Eventually, these kinds of conversations got to me. I started looking at my baby differently, wondering if something was wrong with him. I started looking at myself, wondering if I was a bad parent. I checked books and websites to learn how other parents dealt with this situation. I discovered that there were all sorts of exercises and games that I could be trying that were supposed to encourage babies to walk. Even though I hadn't done anything at all to aid development in other areas, I was so stressed out by my baby not walking that I started trying these (sometimes very strange) activities recommended by other parents. My mother bought a walker and insisted that it would help because it "worked for you when you were a baby."

About two months after trying a bunch of different exercises, games, and devices, my baby started to walk. I doubt that his walking had anything to do with any of the things I tried. There wasn't anything wrong with him, either. I think it was just his time to start walking, so he did it. And even though he was slow to walk, his development in some other areas has been noticeably faster than other babies. For example, he has a much bigger vocabulary than the other children in our playgroup. I think this just reinforces the notion that all babies develop at their own pace in all areas.

So if your baby is not developing according to the usual timelines, don't worry. There's probably no need to buy special gizmos and gadgets or rush to the nearest pediatrician. Everything will happen -- eventually!

I woke up this morning and realized I had been conquered by a 4-month-old infant. My sweet little baby boy, Alexander, has me wrapped around his chubby little finger.

When I initially learned I was pregnant with my fourth child, I told myself I would handle things differently from the way I handled my other children. I decided I would put the new baby on a schedule and thereby create a way for me to actually have a life without a baby practically glued to my hip. I fantasized about all the things I would be able to do because he would be on a schedule. I would be able to shower for at least 5 minutes per day without the cry of an infant penetrating the walls of the bathroom. I would be allowed to leisurely enjoy at least one meal per day. I would be able to clean the house and cook dinner while my new baby napped on cue. I would be allowed to watch television when I wanted to. I would even get to sleep for more than one hour at a time.

When baby Alex was born, I decided it would be fair to allow him a couple of months to adjust to life outside the womb. Also, in all honesty, I was dead tired after 9 months of pregnancy and just plain did not care about scheduling anything that did not involve me going immediately and blissfully to sleep. So I fed Alex when he cried to be fed. I let him sleep whenever and wherever he wanted. He usually wanted to sleep in my arms, so I began to adapt to sleeping cuddled up with him. I took frantic showers whenever he slept without me for more than 60 seconds. Alex usually only slept without me once per day so if I missed that 60 second window I, unfortunately, missed my shower. I learned to shove bites of food into my mouth in between singing baby songs and patting him on the back. I forgot about watching television because Alex simply did not appreciate the distraction. My house quickly began to resemble a popular toy store after a 90 percent off sale. I quickly rediscovered the joys of preparing frozen meals. I learned what I should have remembered from my when my older children were babies. I learned that baby is the boss.
Alex will be 5 months old tomorrow and I'm planning a rebellion. I want to be the boss again. I hear such wonderful stories of babies who sleep for more than 1 hour at a time. I even hear stories, from well meaning friends, of babies who sleep without their parents. I hear all sorts of great stuff about babies who happily allow themselves to be molded into a routine. When I'm feeling tired I am almost sure these parents are lying through their teeth about having happily scheduled babies, but after getting some rest (with Alex in my arms of course) I always have renewed hope that it just might be true.

So I have decided to put my foot down and retake my throne as the head of the household once more. I will start slowly so I will not cause my charming little dictator too much unrest. I will start by putting Alex to bed at the same time each night. I will then sneak out of my room to enjoy some television. If that works well, I will begin putting him in his crib (he has never spent more than 5 minutes in it so far) and leaving the room while he is actually still awake. Getting Alex on a sleep schedule will, I feel quite sure, be my toughest challenge. If I can manage that I will confidently move forward in helping baby Alex to adapt to my desired schedule.

The birth of a newborn is a joyous occasion for almost everyone. Relatives and friends come bearing gifts and food. Lavish attention is given to the nearly oblivious little one. Everyone, including complete strangers, wants to see the new baby, hold him, and ooh and aah over him adoringly. Is it any wonder that an older brother and/or sister might feel a little left out? After all, maybe he or she was the baby of the family before this new infant came along. While you shouldn't downplay the birth of your new baby, you should be sensitive to the needs of your other children, regardless of their ages.

If you have small children at home already, you will need to decide how soon to tell them about the new baby before she is born. If your child is just a toddler, she really won't have much concept of time, so it would probably be best if you wait until you are beginning to show signs of your pregnancy before you inform her that she will soon be a big sister.

If your child is older, however, you and your partner may decide to share the news as soon as you find out. Some people prefer to wait until they have surpassed the first three months' mark, while others are eager to share their excitement with their other children. It really is up to you.

No matter how old your other children are, though, you should keep in mind that their will be a period of adjustment both during your pregnancy and after the birth of your baby. As your pregnancy progresses, you may find that you don't have the energy or the physical strength to do some of the activities that you use to do with your other children. While you should explain to your child that you may not have the stamina that you did have, you should also be careful not to make your son or daughter resentful of the impending arrival of a new baby.

Even before your baby is born, you can find ways to help your other child or children begin to look forward to the big event. If someone is going to give you a baby shower, you might want to include your other child. If she is still very young, it may be hard for her to understand why the baby is receiving so many gifts. While she may enjoy opening the gifts for you, you can wrap a few gifts for her, also. You can even use these gifts to help her become more accustomed to the idea of a baby brother or sister.

Why not give her a new baby doll? You could also let her unwrap some small diapers, a play bottle, pacifier, and a few doll clothes. When you are feeding, diapering, and dressing your newborn, you can encourage your older child to do the same with her baby. You could also have a few small gifts for your child that focus on his role as big brother. There are cute hats, t-shirts, and other articles of clothing that have logos such as “I'm a Big Brother!” Give him his own burp cloth, and tell him that he can use it when he is taking care of the baby. The key is to help him look forward to his new role as big brother.

Once the new baby is born, you'll probably have lots of visitors bearing even more gifts. Now, more than ever, it is important that you make your other child feel cherished and loved. When someone comes along with a gift for the new infant, pull out a small gift that you purchased earlier for your other child. The gifts don't have to be expensive. Items such as books, puzzles, stuffed animals, bubbles, crayons, and coloring books make great presents.

Even though the new baby will consume a good deal of your days and nights, you should still carve out time for your other child. If this seems difficult to do, enlist the help of your spouse, friend, or relative. He or she can take care of the newborn while you spend some one-on-one quality time with your other child. You don't want her to have any resentment towards the new baby.

Smaller children aren't the only ones who have to adjust when a new baby comes along. School-aged children, pre-teens, and adolescents will all have to adjust in some way to this new member of the family. You should try to keep your daily schedule as normal as possible. If you typically helped your child with his homework in the afternoon, find a way to continue to do this. Don't use the newborn as an excuse not to do something because this may create tension and resentment in your other child.

The biggest worry your teenager will probably have will be how this new little person will affect her own life. Try to stay as active and involved as you normally do with your teen. Obviously, you may have to slow down for a few weeks, but newborns are surprisingly resilient. If your baby is healthy, plan on taking him with you to ballgames, recitals, performances, school concerts, open houses, school meetings, etc. The more you take him out around other people, the more accustomed he'll become to going from one event to another. If you can attend as many of your child's activities as possible, she will see that she is still important in your eyes, and she will realize that her life really hasn't changed that dramatically.

Finally, encourage your teen to take more responsibility with the new baby. While you shouldn't force her to do things that make her uncomfortable, such as changing a dirty diaper, you can help her to feel more responsible and capable by giving her small jobs. Ask her to hold the baby while you empty the dishwasher or clean the house. Show her how to sit in the rocker and rock the baby to sleep. As he continues to grow, encourage her to feed and play with him. Eventually, you will see evidence of a deeper bond that continues to grow between your two children. The birth of a new baby doesn't have to be that life changing, but it can open up a whole new world of blessings!

By Susie McGee

The last several times I've gone to the movies, I've noticed something a bit different. More and more young parents are bringing their infants to the show. In fact, the screen that is shown before the movie starts now includes admonitions about crying babies. Movie theater etiquette suggestions are no longer limited to whispers and cell phones set on vibrate. The parents are instructed to take noisy babies out of the theater. I can only conclude that my observation is not a limited phenomenon. Increasing numbers of people are hauling very young babies to the theater.

I'm not sure I agree with or condone this trend. I'm particularly concerned about babies being taken into adult movies and those for older children. Parents tell me that the baby will sleep through the show. Sleeping babies won't see or hear anything, they say, and so won't be traumatized by what goes on up on the screen.

I beg to differ. You don't have to think very far back in your own memories to find a time when something in the environment affected your dream. Perhaps the ringing telephone found its way into your dream before you woke up. I remember a time when I dreamed of a sumptuous breakfast, and woke to find my husband fixing bacon nearby. Even when we are asleep, our senses are still functioning and taking in information. Your baby is just the same. The little one can still hear and experience parts of that movie, even if he or she is asleep. What kind of dreams do you think those loud sounds of gunshots, screaming, or explosions will cause? What sort of impressions will the tones that the actors are using leave? I'd rather not take that chance.

Other parents argue that even if the child wakes up, the little one won't understand what is going on anyway. A preverbal baby cannot understand what is being said, they say, and it's not important what the youngster overhears. Again, I think this is absolutely wrong. In the first place, babies learn to understand words long before they can talk. Otherwise your baby wouldn't be able to point to body parts and do many of the other cute tricks that babies do. Also, babies are very sensitive to tones and voices. They are attuned to the voices of those around them. We instinctively take this into account and generally try to keep our voices low when babies are around. Care giving adults use a special voice when talking to baby, too. It's higher pitched and sort of sing-song in nature. Babies are easily frightened and upset by loud or raucous voices, too. Now match that with what baby hears in a movie theater. People on the screen are often upset or excited. That's the way movies work, because conflict moves the plot along and makes for an interesting movie experience. But from your baby's perspective, there are huge adults inexplicably yelling and shouting. Even the normal conversation can be too loud for baby because of the theater's sound system settings.

Babies have also been proven to respond to the emotions of others at a very early age. Even in the hospital nursery, nurses tell us that newborns will cry in sympathy when one in the room is upset. They pick up the general tone of the people around them.

No wonder some babies cry at the theater! No matter what their age, young infants have a pretty scary experience there. The noises are loud, the people on the screen are out of focus and huge, and some of the sounds are very scary. The voices convey deep, strong and sometimes negative emotions. I don't know about you, but I feel that infants are best left in the care of a child care provider, friend or relative when parents want to go to the movies. Taking them puts them at risk for trauma even if you have the best intentions and the movie is relatively calm. It's absolutely out of the question if you are seeing an action/adventure movie or one with a lot of violence. Protect them while you can-they will grow up and be out on their own all too soon.

Just because you have a baby doesn't mean your traveling has come to an end. You just need to adapt your way of thinking and the way you travel, at least in some areas. You might be surprised to discover that babies love to travel almost as much as adults do, maybe even more! You can make traveling with your baby less stressful for you and him, too.

Of course, babies who are different ages have some different traveling needs. In infant may be easier to take on trips simply because she sleeps quite a bit, especially when there is an abundance of stimuli. Sleeping is how she copes with loud sounds and extra commotion. So, once your pediatrician gives you the go ahead, take your newborn on a trip.

Obviously, you'll need to take plenty of supplies. How many supplies really depend upon where you are going and how long you will be there. If you are going to grandma's house, and she has a crib, then that is one less item you'll have to pack. If you are going to be staying in a hotel or some other type of lodging, though, you'll need to plan on bringing something for your baby to sleep in. There are a variety of portable cribs and playpens that you can easily pack up and take, but if your infant is only one or two months old, you can use one of the small, bassinet baskets. Many of these have handles, making them especially easy to travel with. You can pack extra supplies in the basket, and use it as a carrying case until you reach your destination. Remember, you should never place blankets or toys in a crib with an infant, and you should make sure that the sheets fit snugly to lessen the possibility of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Also, you should always lay your baby on his or her back to sleep.

Along with a porta-crib or basket, you will need several other items. If you are breastfeeding, you won't need to bring formula unless you supplement. You may want to invest in a portable breast milk pump, however, in case you are unable to stop to nurse your baby. If you are traveling by car, you will need to stop every time you want to nurse your child. You should never take your baby out of his car seat to nurse him while the car is still moving. This is why pumping can be a good idea. If your baby nurses as frequently as every couple of hours, and you are going to be on the road for most, if not all, of the day, your trip will take much longer if you have to continually pull over to breastfeed.

If you feed your baby with formula, you have a variety of choices. Some formulas are pre-mixed, so that all you have to do is pour it into a bottle. Once you have opened a can of pre-mixed formula, though, you will need to use it up if you can't refrigerate it. You can also buy the powdered formula. You will have to mix this formula with water. It is a good idea to go ahead and boil some water before you leave on your trip. You could add it to the bottles, and then all you have to do is add the formula when you need it. If you have a cooler, you can premix the formula and water and keep it in the cooler till needed. There are several varieties of bottle warmers available, and many have car adapters or are battery operated. You can warm your baby's bottle using one of these.
Diapers are also essential. You will need to make sure you have plenty of diapers at least while you are traveling to your destination. You can always buy more diapers once you've reached your destination. Don't forget plenty of wipes, also. Other necessities include a digital thermometer, nail clippers, diaper cream, Infant Tylenol, and bulb syringe.

You know how often you have to change your baby's clothing, so be sure you pack plenty of extra clothing that is easily accessible in case of spills, spit-ups, and other accidents. You should also pack socks, jackets or sweaters, hats, blankets, burp clothes, and bibs. There are various sizes of portable, throw-away bibs that you can buy, and you might want to use these instead of cloth bibs. You should also throw in several ziplock baggies to hold extra wipes and other items.

If you are traveling with an older baby, you will still need many of these same supplies, but you will have to expand your supply list somewhat. An older baby may enjoy touring new cities and sights in his stroller, but being cooped up in a car seat for several hours is another story. Be sure you have brought plenty of toys and snacks to keep your toddler satisfied for the long ride. You may even want to buy some inexpensive toys right before your trip. You can pull these toys out one by one as your baby begins to get restless. Books are another great item to bring for your child. Pack a few of his favorites to read to him in the car, and add a few new ones that he can spend time examining. You should also pack your older child some jars of baby food, bottles or cups of juice, spoons, and some finger snacks, such as Cheerios or Goldfish.

It is important to try and keep your baby on some semblance of a schedule. While she can go to sleep in her stroller at some point during the day, it is a good idea to go back to your room in the afternoon so that she can have a much needed rest. If she becomes overly tired, it may be more difficult for her to enjoy the trip, and this will make it harder on you, also.

Traveling with baby doesn't have to be difficult. In fact, the more you travel with your baby, the more accustomed she will become, and you may find that you have created a little traveler. You may need a little extra patience, and you will certainly need to realize that everything may not go exactly according to your plan, but you and your baby can have a wonderful time enjoying a new adventure together.

By Susie McGee

When your baby is brand new, setting a schedule is one of the last things on your mind. You're completely occupied with meeting the infant's needs, and rightly so. The way we treat babies in those first few weeks of life can have a profound impact on their later development. So we respond to each and every cry or grunt or grimace, and baby learns that the world is a fairly trustworthy and orderly place. The little one also learns that his or her needs are important and there are adults ready to meet them.

Somewhere along the way, though, your infant needs to learn to become one of the family. Those two a.m. feedings simply cannot last forever! Slowly, you must take steps to conform baby's schedule to that of the rest of the family. It won't happen overnight by flipping a switch, of course, but it does need to happen. If you allow it, your little one will become a toddler, then a preschooler, and finally a strong-willed child who will control every aspect of your family life. It's not pleasant to be around children who are in this state! It's not healthy for the child and it's not healthy for the family. However, it takes work and patience to teach baby that there is such a thing as a schedule. Hang in there! The benefits are well-worth the effort.

The tiniest infants have absolutely no control over when they do what they do. They get hungry and cry and then we feed them. They get wet and uncomfortable and we change them. They get sleepy and they drop off to slumber land no matter what is going on around them. As you get to know your little one, though, you will start to pick up patterns. Maybe she wants to be fed every three hours. Maybe he falls asleep right after a meal. Watch for these patterns and try to keep to them. They are the beginnings of a schedule for your little one.

After the first few weeks, your baby should be pretty predictable. That is, you should be able to know roughly when the little one will want to eat and sleep. Respect that schedule. If the baby seems to sleep a lot in the early afternoon, try to be home or somewhere else where the little one can truly rest. If baby wants to eat at four p.m., try to make sure you're in a position to feed on time. The schedule is reinforced in this way, and will become ever more predictable.

At a few months of age, all of that sleeping and eating that they do will kind of consolidate into defined meals and naps. This is when you want to begin to conform baby's schedule to that of the family. It will be much easier to take care of your baby if you do. You can gradually shift those meals and naptimes by moving them up or back by five or ten minutes every few days. Put baby to bed for naps and bedtime on a schedule, and pretty soon the little one will be sleepy at the appropriate times. Offer food on a schedule, and it won't be long before your baby will be more than willing to eat at the times you've chosen.

As the months fly by, you will be better able to plan your family's commitments with respect to your baby's needs. You won't be caught in the trap of having a child who makes a lot of demands on your time and routine or who is capricious in habits. A steady routine will create a calmer, more smooth family life for you and for everyone else. In addition, your little one will learn important lessons about living with other people. This is the foundation for later learning about empathy, sharing, and consideration of others. These are all very important things for kids to learn, and the foundation for this process happens in infancy.

By Mylea

Friendship, exactly how early do our little ones begin to develop peer relationships?Usually by the age of three or four children start to join other children in play activities that require interacting with one another. However, it has been observed in childcare centers that babies as young as 8 or 9 months old has the ability to establish preferences in peers. This is not to say that friendships are started at this age, but they tend to attach themselves to certain ones of their group more often in play. They lack the ability to form an emotional bond with another child at this point in their life.

In preschool one child may adopt another child as their "best friend", but the relationship is usually one sided. In this age group, the knowledge needed to understand a mutual relationship is not there. However, as they become older around six, they start to spend more and more time with other children and close friendships are formed. The reason being is they are more able to exchange information with each other, establish common ground, even to resolve conflicts, which are important aspects in forming a relationship.

Between the ages of 7 - 9, close relationships are formed with peers of the same sex. Then about in the eight grade, close friendships of the opposite sex start to be formed.
It is also about this time peer group's surface. These groups can be as diverse as a group of teens who feel that getting drunk and smoking is cool to a group of boy scouts. In order to be in a peer group you must agree with the values and goals established therein. This could be for good or bad intentions.

Children who are able to engage in conversation with a new group they just met, their popularity is usually determined by that meeting. Those that are able to make others around them laugh, is often viewed as fun to be around, therefore, accepted. Once accepted by a group, the child is unlikely to be rejected later. Children who never find peer acceptance face loneliness as a child, which continues into his/her adulthood.

It has been observed that children prefer to be with members of their own race and sex because of their similarities. This preference is mostly seen from kindergarten through the sixth grade. Those who are physically attractive are more likely to be accepted into groups of like kind. The child's name is also an important factor in acceptance, so please be careful and choose your child's name wisely.

Unfortunately, peers seem to have the most influences over our children. From shaping their sexual attitudes to directing behaviors, that we see exhibited in them. However, parents who are warm and caring are more likely to have the greater influence on their child. Therefore, friendships play an important role in our children's lives and often times determines their successes or failures. To insure our children make wise decisions in their choice of friends as parents we have to work on not being so over bearing and controlling. All we can do is teach them what we expect of them and encourage them in a positive way and hope that their choice of friends will be those with the same standards and values.

Developmental milestones are helpful. They help doctors and parents watch for any signs that a child may be lagging developmentally. It is useful to identify developmental problems as early as possible, because often intervention can help a child catch up or at least prevent further delays.

On the other hand, developmental milestones have also been known to make parents neurotic and paranoid. Take for example, my daughter when she was seven months old. She was alert, active and happy. She sat early, responded to visual and aural stimuli and seemed on track for nearly all her milestones. Except one. She did not roll over. Ever.

When I would put her on her back, she was content. She did not seem to want to roll over. When placed on her stomach, she would scootch a little, play a little and then screech to be put on her back. She would not roll over herself. When I placed her on her back to sleep in her crib, I knew she would still be on her back in the morning. On the floor, with toys to her side, she would inch her body over, creeping toward them without ever rolling.

At first it was sort of humorous. But then we started to worry. Why wasn't she rolling over? Was she somehow disabled? Laughable considering the muscle strength she displayed when standing on my lap or pulling the toys in her gymini. Yet, still we worried. Why wasn't she rolling over?

We tried coaxing her. We lay on the floor with her, holding toys to one side. My husband demonstrated the rolling action himself, then rolled her over and over. Needless to say, our interventions were to no avail.

One day, when was playing on a blanket on the floor and she saw something she wanted -- the cat, if I remember correctly -- she rolled over. Of course, then she waited a month to do it again, just to torment us. Apparently, she had not read the milestone book.

By Mylea

As parents, we have the responsibility to love, cherish, and take care of our young ones to the best of our ability. In doing so the goal we are trying to accomplish is to rear a healthy, stable, well adjusted individual in society. Nevertheless, how far this should be taken is another story. Loving our children by some is giving them whatever they want, whenever they want. Why is that?

Today, parents in our society are busier than ever. Single parents and two parent families alike. Single mothers, head a large part of the family population. How they came to be in this situation does not matter, the fact and reality is this is their life. Their daily routines day in and day out is to wake up, get the children ready for school or daycare, drop them off and go to work, work and pick the children up again. For some parents, parenting comes natural, they may have had good models from their own growing up experience or may not have and vowed they would do it differently and more effective than their parent or parents did. Either way the child comes out on top.

Because of the quality of time spent with their children, even if it is not a lot, helps the child to develop a sense of security and self-worth. When mom gets home in the afternoon, her work for the day continues with homework for the older children and constructive play for the younger children. There is housework, dinner, and bedtime - and if she is organized, or have the cooperation from her children, some quiet mommy time.

How does she get that, by establishing healthy routines with the children no matter how old or young they may be. Children need consistency. If mom is not consistent with her daily activities, as well as disciplining when needed, often times chaos erupts, even though it starts out slowly for instance with a cute little newborn. How beautiful and precious they are the apple of our eyes. Then they become toddlers in preschool, (still cute as a button) only now they get into more. Being in the childcare business, and in special education before that, I see it everyday. Parents not able to see pass the cuteness in their little darlings. They drop off children and complain about how they behaved at home the night before. They go to work and seek the advice of co-workers, a plethora of information there. Then she determines which part of the information she can use that will be comfortable with her style of parenting. Usually everything remains the same when the child put up a little resistance to the change.

The real problems come in when the at home behavior now follows the child into their daily routines away from home. Many times the child gets into mischief and instead of correcting the behavior and being consistent, helping the child to realize at an early age there are consequences to actions, cuteness set in. We know we need to do something but when we attempt too, they turn on the tears and do something cute, and we let it pass repeatedly. What message have we sent to the child, if I cry, kick scream or holler as if some one is killing me, I can get out of this. I'll just do this, it always makes mommy laugh, soon she will forget about it and I can go back to my normal routine.

True, some of the things our little darlings do are the funniest things we have ever seen. However, remember the goal is to rear a secure and confident person that is an asset to society. There are rules in society that we all have to follow along with acceptable societal behavior. This behavior is learned. You cannot just give in to your child's every whelm. Food is not necessary every time they open their mouth, instead substitute the need to fill some time with an activity. Help them to learn how to entertain themselves and work in a cooperative setting. All of these will help your child to cope better when they are away from you. A lot falls on us as parents, this is true, but it just does not happen by itself. We brought them into this world and it is our responsibility to teach them the ways of the world and not expect others to conform to the ways of our spoiled, yes, I said it spoiled children.

You want to be able to take your child to daycare and know that he/she is going to be fine. Pre-school aged especially get into things, this is normal and I don't think any quality daycare provider will tell you any differently. What we are talking about here is when your child's behavior disrupts the whole daycare class because so much time is spent trying to reason with, brief periods of time out over and over again on a daily basis, constant outburst, all because he/she is not being catered to. This is not fair to the other children or to the parents of these other children that so much time is used on always having to speak to your child constantly. In the defense of the child, it is not fair to he/she either that boundaries have not been set by mommy and daddy. The child sincerely becomes confuse when they are away from mommy and daddy and the rules change. This is a great injustice to the child who has not been taught that not being able to do something at a particular time or have a toy at the very moment they want is o.k. Has not been taught to cope and move on, instead is stuck in the unhappy state of wonderment and everything and everyone around must pay for it.

Love your child by helping them to cope with changes or better yet role-play daily at home. This will help your child to thrive when he knows exactly what is expected of him. When his behavior outside of the home reflects his training from home, it will in turn bring much praise and reward from others. This will be instrumental in building on his/her confidence and acceptance when away from you. Parents, we all in this together, if both parents and the one whom we put trust in to care for our young ones are on the same page a healthy stable child is your result.

Wondering when your baby will learn to roll over and sit up? Parents often look forward to their babies reaching developmental milestones with great enthusiasm. There is a wide variety of information to be found in books, on the Internet, from medical professionals, and well meaning friends regarding when your baby is most likely to reach different stages of development. It is always important to remember that all babies develop at different rates. Try hard not to get caught up in comparing your baby to charts, statistics, and other infants. Your baby will develop new skills when he or she is ready, not on a preset schedule. Also it is important to remember that premature infants may reach developmental milestones later than other infants.

Infants usually develop the ability to roll over from their bellies to their backs as early as 2 to 3 months old. It often takes a bit longer for babies to be able to roll from their backs to their tummies because rolling in this direction requires the use and development of strong neck and arm muscles. Leg and abdominal muscles develop, as well, through lots of kicking and flexing of toes. Although most babies master the ability to roll from front to back first, all babies develop at different rates and it is perfectly normal for babies to flip from back to front first instead.

Babies develop the ability to roll over by first strengthening the muscles involved in rolling over by lifting their heads and pushing up with their arms. You can help your baby learn to roll over by allowing plenty of time for your baby to lie on his tummy each day, while you are there to watch and ensure his safety. Position yourself next to your baby when he's on his stomach and play with him. This will encourage him to lift his head and even try to reach for you. Give your baby lots of space to kick, whether baby is lying on his back or front, to help strengthen leg and abdominal muscles. Baby gyms are helpful for accomplishing this, as well as being just plain fun for baby. You might even place a toy (safe for baby of course) just out of reach of your baby while he is on the floor. Eventually he may roll or scoot right over to it.

Remember it is never safe to leave your baby unattended on any raised surface. It is amazing just how fast a baby can reach the edge, even if she has not previously been able to roll over.

Most babies are able to sit up for the first time between 7 and 9 months, however many may still require help getting into a sitting position. Some parents like to prop their babies into a sitting position before they are able to sit by themselves. Although you should not prop a baby who is not yet able to control his head and neck well, you can prop a baby who holds his head up well and does not slump over when propped up. Babies will signal you when they have had enough of being propped up by starting to fuss or slump over.

Enjoy your baby's first time reaching these developmental milestones and be sure to take plenty of pictures. Babies grow very quickly and you will definitely want to capture these memories.

Books and magazines scream "Baby-Proof Your Home!!!" Experienced parents will point to the value of going through the house at baby's eye level and finding the hazards, like uncovered wall outlets and unlocked cabinets that contain hazardous chemicals. It's a big job, trying to find each and every single thing that baby could possibly get into or be hurt by. Over the years, I have concluded that baby-proofing is not a one-step process. There are actually three things that parents must do to protect their children. The easy part is the tour of the house to cover outlets, lock cabinets, block dangerous stairwells, and remove choking hazards like blind cords. Unfortunately, this first step is far from the end of the process. Far too many parents stop with the check of the house and assume their baby is fully protected.

The second step to baby-proofing that many people try hard to avoid is to teach the little one to respond to the word "no." Some believe that saying no to an infant will stifle their creativity or their self-expression. Some believe that gentle correction will damage their self-esteem. They couldn't be farther from the truth! As soon as your baby is old enough to reach for something s/he shouldn't have, it's time to start teaching the word "no." Little ones need our help to learn self-control. They are not born with this skill, but must learn it. One of our jobs as parents is to teach this, and the way it begins is with that n-word. Consistent, gentle correction will help your child develop socially, emotionally, and mentally. It will also ensure that you can help your child stay safe in all circumstances, not just your sterile, baby-proof home environment. Sooner or later, you will need your child to respond to correction instantly and without hesitation. For example, if he or she is thinking of walking into traffic and you are not close enough to physically grab a hand. You need the little one to freeze so that you have a chance to get there in time to physically protect him or her. This kind of response doesn't happen magically when needed. It's the product of months of patient teaching in less potentially dangerous situations. Teach your child the meaning of the word "no" by correcting small infractions, and when you really need it for safety, the baby will respond to the word in the same way.

The third part of a baby-proofing attitude takes a lot of work on the part of parents. I've come to believe that there is no such thing as a completely baby-proof room or home. Little ones will find ways to get into trouble that you can't conceive of before they get mobile. There is absolutely no substitute for watching your infant or toddler 100% of the time. They do not take breaks (except when they sleep!) from finding mischief. They cannot be trusted to use good judgment just because you need to cook dinner in the next room. You have to find a way to keep an eye on them at all times. Sure, it's very inconvenient, but it's certainly better than the alternative-death or injury because you were inattentive.

You also need to train yourself to assess every room, your own or others, for possible hazards to your baby. Even when a room has been "baby-proofed," there is nothing to stop it from becoming "unbaby-proofed" in a matter of moments. People may leave a bucket of water or a cleaning product lay without thinking, or someone could put a potential hazard into a trash can that baby can reach. You must learn to be constantly aware of what is in and around the area that your little one can reach, and you must remember that just because s/he couldn't reach that high last time you checked doesn't mean that the baby won't choose that moment to learn a new skill.

An acquaintance of mine was raising an infant at the same time that I was. One day when I took my young daughter to visit her house, she wanted to show me something in the garage. I was in the process of scooping up my baby to take her with us when she commented, "Oh, I'll just close my boy's door. They can play in here while we run out to the garage. Don't worry, the room is completely baby-proof!" She had completed the first step to keeping her son safe by eliminating the hazards around his room before he started to crawl.

I was using the third step of baby-proofing. I had scanned the room when I first put my daughter down and had noticed that there was an empty plastic diaper bag on the floor and several small choking hazards in the open trash can. I was not about to leave my precious girl unattended, even if I hadn't seen any hazards in the room, either. It's just plain wrong to let the baby out of your sight when she is awake and moving around like that. I'm human, and I could easily miss something dangerous that her sharp eyes might spy and become interested in. Needless to say, the other mom was quite chagrinned when I pointed out the plastic diaper package and the choking hazards that she had overlooked. She knew she'd baby-proofed that room, and so she had turned off her baby-proofing attitude. She had closed her eyes to potential hazards because she was complacent.

Needless to say, both infants were carried out to the garage that day. I hope the other mom took a lesson and developed a baby-proofing attitude in addition to physically baby-proofing the house. I haven't read about her family in the local paper, so I'm assuming she did. Don't let your family cause a headline, either. Baby-proof your home, but also teach your child the word "no" and baby-proof your attitude. Your little one will be much safer, and on the way to learning to be a responsible citizen.

As many candid snapshots and posed home photos we take, there is still the urge to go to the portrait studio for photographs. I suppose the people working at the mall, department and discount store photo studios can loosely be considered professional photographers, but really what do they have that we do not have at home? They do take photos all day, but most of them did not attend photography or art school or training.

The studio has the advantage of an assortment of backdrops with various colors and scenes. They have a high quality professional camera and a selection of chairs, props and other items to set the scene. And, they have an isolated environment. This can be one of the most important things since the photo studio is free of distractions.

On the other hand, there are disadvantages to trying to get pictures in a formal setting. Since you book an appointment and head to the studio, it is hard to time the pictures when baby is in a cooperative mood. Countless parents have had baby fall asleep in the car or stroller on the way to have pictures taken, only to wake up cranky and unwilling to be photographed. Also, since babies are unpredictable they may respond in unexpected ways to the photographer. One baby, who loved most strangers, would howl upon sighting a particular photographer at the mall studio. Another baby only liked male photographers.

It is a good idea to carry the outfit you want your baby to wear for the pictures, and dress her when you get there. Otherwise mishaps such as food spills, spit up and diaper leaks can cause wardrobe malfunctions. Even think about taking a second outfit in case one of these disasters occurs when you have already put your baby into the preferred clothing.

Even worse are the pictures with Santa or other characters. You've stood in line and you really had your heart set on taking the picture to put in with the holiday cards. But, if baby is unhappy, scared or angry, ask yourself if it is really worth it. It is just a photo and in the grand scheme of life, it simply does not matter. If you do want to use photos for a special occasion, make sure you allow yourself plenty of time for retries or to do the photo at home instead.

Finally, keep in mind that there will be days that it simply doesn't work out. As much of a hassle as it is, scoop up your baby, give her a snuggle and head home. Try again in a week or a month, because things change quickly in baby land.

When you have a new baby, you get a lot of advice, and much of it makes sense. However, new parents are often so careful to follow the advice of the experts that they do not listen to their own instincts.

For example, the experts all say that it is important not to do anything else -- watch TV, look at a book -- while breastfeeding your baby initially. They suggest that gazing deeply into your infant's eyes during the 1 am feeding, the 3 am feeding, the 5 am feeding are all necessary for proper bonding. I read the books and heard their advice. I tried to follow it. But then, as I was falling asleep slumped over my suckling baby yet again, I realized something. My baby and I were bonding nicely. And, if watching a late night movie when she wanted to eat/play/sing/cry in the middle of the night helped me keep my sanity, wasn't that more important than following the experts' advice?

The same applies to your baby's behavior as she gets older. While you can read umpteen books on teaching her, soothing her, disciplining her, only you really know what your baby needs. Just like grown people, babies have unique personalities and styles. It is important to customize your parenting to what your baby needs and understands. And, you need to know when to make exceptions.

I cannot count the number of times I took my baby to the doctor, explaining to the nurse that "she just wasn't acting right this morning." No, she hadn't shown a fever. No rashes. No vomiting. Despite the skeptical looks I received, I knew her behavior was that of an ill baby -- not my usually happy, healthy girl. Sure enough, a look into her ears showed infections or a listen to her lungs indicated pneumonia. How did I know? I have no idea, but I knew all was not right with our little world.

Sure, some people do not have good instincts. Whether you do or not, it is a good idea to read up on the research that shows what child rearing techniques are best and to get expert advice when you are unsure. But, at the end of the day, remember you spend more time with your baby than anyone else and listen to yourself.

Before I actually had a baby, I periodically purchased baby clothes for gifts. I would try to be practical, but ultimately would select items based on their "cute" factor. However, once I actually had a baby, it made me rethink the topic entirely.

Back closures
Several items I received as gifts for my newborn had back closures. In other words, they had buttons, snaps, zippers or other attachments up the back of the garments. Clearly, the people who designed them had not had babies. Newborns spend most of their time lying down. On their backs. So, if you put an infant in a romper that buttons up the back, and then place him on his back! he gets little marks up his back and is surely uncomfortable. Clearly, clothing designers with side and tummy closures were thinking about babies.

Changing
While most baby clothes appear conducive to diaper changing, I received a few gifts that were trying harder to be clever than convenient. Those that open at the crotch but do not release the feet are fine, if you are willing to contort your baby and risk spillage. Those garments that do not open at the crotch at all? Well, unless they are something like soft knit pants or shorts, they are very inconvenient.

Fabric
Babies have delicate skin; delicate skin is easily irritated by rough fabrics. So, when selecting clothing, blankets and towels for babies, look for the softest fabrics available. Brushed cottons, flannels, satins and fleece are all lovely and will usually be gentle on a baby's soft skin. Frankly, I enjoy soft fabrics, why shouldn't a baby?

Washing
I don't even understand why they make dry clean only baby clothes. Babies are inherently messy and their clothes should be easy to wash. While it may seem like a lovely extravagance to give a baby a cashmere sweater, she will outgrow it by the time it returns from the dry cleaner after the first spit-up incident. Get her a cute cotton sweater and put the rest of the money in her college savings account, instead.

by Leanne Phillips

I am expecting my first grandchild next month, a precious little baby who I have yet to meet, but whom I have seen pictures of courtesy of today's remarkable ultrasound technology. My grandchild is an adorable little baby with whom I have already fallen head over heels in love. As the birth of my first grandchild approaches, I have lately been giving a lot of thought to the kind of grandmother I want to be.

My own mother was a wonderful grandmother to my children. My kids called her "Grandma Lockwood," because she lived in Lockwood, California, as opposed to other grandmas and great-grandmas who lived in other places. (This was true, of course, until she moved to Pine Canyon, whereupon she quickly became Grandma Pine Canyon.)

I watched in awe as my mother completely transformed into another person when her grandchildren were born. This same woman who for some reason refused to let me stay out after dark when I was in junior high school was suddenly open to anything. This same woman who made me do homework and wash dishes and clean my room was suddenly relaxed and had other priorities. This was the same woman who wouldn't let me use the family car to go to a Cheap Trick concert when I was in high school, for the ridiculous reason that it was an hour's drive away in pea soup fog. Now, she was suddenly a proponent of skipping school in favor of going out for breakfast followed by a trip to the toy store.

Grandma Lockwood was happy and bubbly and full of light at all times. She always said the right thing. She always had plenty of love and hugs and snacks on hand. She was always right there when she was needed for even the smallest of emergencies. My children loved her dearly.
Here are some lessons I learned from watching my own mother on how to be a terrific grandmother:

1. Being a grandmother starts before baby is even born. Just as new parents prepare for the arrival of their child, grandmothers also begin preparing for the birth of their new baby grandchildren. Now is the time to stock up on baby supplies so that you are prepared for visits with your grandchild. It is never too early to buy your grandchild that first doll or favorite story book, even if he or she has not yet been born. Grandmothers generally have more disposable cash than moms and dads. Now is the time to put that spending power to work and shop 'til you drop.

2. Being a grandmother means baking. Lots and lots of baking. Grandma Lockwood always had cookies and cakes and pies on hand. She loved it when the grandchildren helped her make batches and batches of waffles from scratch, which were then frozen so they could have homemade toaster waffles for breakfast each morning during their visits. She was famous for her chocolate chip cookies, a recipe I could never quite replicate. (I remain convinced she had a secret ingredient she never disclosed.) Now that you are a grandma, it is time to come up with your own secret, special recipe that you, and only you, can make to perfection. The goal here is to have your grandchildren ask their parents, "How come your chocolate chip cookies never taste as good as Grandma's?"

3. Being a grandmother means being supportive. When your grandchild is born, be ready to be supportive of the newborn baby's parents. Help with housekeeping and meals is always appreciated. Be willing to dispense endless parenting advice as well. Regale the new parents with stories of how difficult they were as children and how adept you were at handling any and every little thing. The new parents will surely appreciate your words of wisdom and take them to heart, despite any protests to the contrary.

4. Being a grandmother means taking sides. As a parent, you can't take sides between your children. You have to be fair and weigh the facts and do what is right. As a grandma, you can always take a side! your grandchild's side. Whatever the argument, the dispute, the controversy, your grandchild is always right and, conversely, his or her parents are always wrong. Whatever your grandchild wants to do, it is perfectly reasonable. On the other hand, whatever reasons your child gives to your grandchild for not allowing him or her to do something are perfectly unreasonable and ridiculous. This is truly one of the most fun aspects of being a grandmother. All those years when your own children were embarrassed by your silly behavior and pretended not to know you will now come back to haunt them!

5. Being a grandmother means relaxing and being yourself. As a parent, you don't always have the luxury of relaxing and being yourself with your children. You have responsibilities and obligations. You have been entrusted with the care and feeding of this tiny little baby. You have to protect this baby from harm. You have to shape this baby's character. You have to set an example. As a grandmother, you are suddenly freed from the constraints of parenting and are able to experience "grandparenting." Grandparenting means setting an example in a different way and playing a different role in your grandchild's life. You get to be the one to teach your grandchild that everything is possible, there are no limits, he or she can do or be anything and everything. You get to be silly or goofy or whatever you want to be. Your children were embarrassed and pretended not to know you when, for example, you wore silly hats, told stupid jokes or sang loudly (and badly) in public. Your grandchildren, on the other hand, will love you for it.

6. Being a grandmother means presents and packages. Grandmothers should always come bearing gifts. When they cannot bring gifts to their grandchildren in person for a special occasion, this is where the United States Postal Service comes into play. Packages received from grandma are always special, no matter what they may contain. Be sure to send packages for every holiday, no matter how small the occasion. Fill them with lots of candy and noisy toys that will drive your grandchild's parents up the wall.

7. Being a grandmother means being available. Grandmothers drop anything and everything for the opportunity to visit with or babysit for their grandchildren. Once you become a grandmother, your sole goal in life is to be there for your grandchildren and to make them happy. There is always time to read a story, listen to your budding comedian tell his or her first jokes or play outside. Everything else can wait. Being available means being available to the new parents as well. You know better than anyone how challenging parenting small children can be. Be available to do whatever you can to help out on a moment's notice.

8. Being a grandmother means never having to say no. As a parent, you have to discipline your children. Sometimes, you have to be the bad guy. And you always, always, always have to say, "No!" For parents, saying no becomes almost a reflex. But (and here's the fun part), when you become a grandmother, you can drop the word no from your vocabulary. Whatever your precious grandchild asks you, the answer is always yes, yes and more yes. You want to skip doing your homework and play outside instead? Sure! You want to stay up until midnight watching television, eating candy and drinking soda? By all means! You want to dress up like a cowboy and lasso the poor, helpless ducks out in the yard? Go for it! The goal here is for your grandchildren to say to their parents, "But why not? Grandma always lets me."

9. Being a grandmother means having your priorities straight. As moms, we are often juggling so many responsibilities to our children, homes, husbands, careers and communities that we can lose sight of what is truly important. By the time grandmotherhood rolls around, we have learned from our mistakes and have our priorities in order. We now know that nothing should ever come before our children or grandchildren and we are ready to walk the walk. Everything else, whether it's housekeeping, husbands, or our next-door neighbor's weekly crisis, takes a back seat where our grandchildren are concerned.

10. Being a grandmother means adoring and being adored. As moms, we certainly adore our children. But when we become grandmothers, we learn the true meaning of the word "adore." As parents, we are forced to acknowledge the faults in our children in order to help them grow. At times, we have to point out our children's mistakes so that we can help them to correct them and to learn from them. However, with our grandchildren, we have a different sort of luxury. Our grandchildren have absolutely no faults and are completely perfect and adored in our eyes. Because we are able to look upon our grandchildren with pure, unadulterated adoration, we are able to receive the same in return. As grandmothers, we assume our rightful place on the matriarchal throne. As grandmothers, we are finally appreciated and adored the way all women deserve to be!

Copyright (c) 2005 by Leni Leanne Phillips

We don't often think of babies playing games, but they do! In fact, baby games are very important to your baby's emotional, social and intellectual development. The games help baby learn a lot about the world and how to interact with other people. It's very important that you find games to play with your baby and that you play them regularly.

Babies can start to play games just as soon as they have enough control over their bodies to interact a little bit with the environment. As soon as they can make intentional movements, however uncoordinated, they can begin playing games. For many babies, this happens at three months of age or even sooner! One of the main developmental tasks of this very young age group is to learn that their actions can affect things outside of themselves. The first lesson is that when they cry, adults take action to fix the problem. Not long after that, they learn that when they smile, adults do all sorts of funny things to get them to smile again. We put on quite a show, don't we? This "smile and get them to act silly" game is one of baby's first attempts at play.

And look out, world! Baby quickly learns to wave arms and legs on purpose. Some of this is for exercise and to learn control, but some of this movement is to play. Babies who are at this stage can learn to cause reactions in the world by flailing and occasionally hitting their target. One game that our daughters all enjoyed immensely at this age was called "Surprise the Daddy." I cradled the girls in my arms and we quietly snuck up behind their father. I held the baby close enough to his back that an arm or leg movement would come in contact, and when it did, Daddy jumped around with a startled "Oooooh!" It wasn't very long before the baby intentionally swung her arm out to surprise her Daddy and elicit that exciting response. Not long after that, the game started causing peals of laughter. It was FUN to make Daddy jump and start! "Surprise the Daddy" remained a favorite game until well after the girls could walk and sneak up on Daddy under their own power, but it started at a very, very young age.

When babies are learning that the world exists even when they can't see it, the game of "Peek-A-Boo" becomes a favorite. This classic has been around since time began, I think. I found over the course of raising three babies that the best way to start is by covering your own face with your hands, then moving your hands and saying the standard "Peek-A-Boo!" Baby will watch you expectantly, then smile and laugh when you "reappear." Later (when the baby has learned to grab things on purpose), try putting a cloth gently over the baby's face, and the little one will pull it aside. That's your cue to say "Peek-A-Boo!" again. This trick doesn't work out very well, however, if your little one is frightened by it! Take your cue from the baby. If it's not fun, put the idea aside and try again in a few weeks. Before you know it, "Peek-A-Boo" will turn into hide and seek!

Baby clapping games are loads of fun when your little one can hold hands in place to be gently tapped and has learned to clap hands alone. "Pat-A-Cake" is the classic hand-clapper, but you can easily make up your own! Finger plays are fun learning experiences, too, for the little ones who are able to imitate your movements. Many nursery rhymes have movements that you can use, and there are a host of toddler finger plays available at your local library.

Each developmental stage has its games that practice and support whatever baby is learning. Babies studying the concepts of inside and outside will spend hours filling and emptying containers. Babies learning about possession will give you an item and then snatch it away with a grin. Some of your best games will be those that are matched to these cognitive developments.

And each time you play games with baby, you are teaching lessons about social interactions. Babies who play games with their parents and caregivers are learning about taking turns, sharing, and many other concepts that will be very important later in life. Don't miss out, and be sure to do your part-it's tough for baby to play many of these games alone! One of your jobs as a parent is to play, and play, and play some more.

Your baby's first twelve months of life will be full of milestones, developments, and firsts. You'll want to treasure every single moment, and sooner or later, your child will become interested in his or her early history. Our memories, however, are often faulty. In fact, they are more faulty than we realize. We think that the exact date of the child's first steps or the very first food the child ate are indelibly etched in our minds, but they are not. Particularly if your baby is not destined to be the only child in your household, you will find that these memories tend to fade with time. Even now, you will find that the details of the days in the past weeks are blurring together. You know that special things have happened, but you would be hard pressed to give an exact date for most of them.

The problem is compounded when you have more than one child! The details of the infants' early development tend to blend together. Which one took those first steps at grandma's and which one walked for the first time at the mall? Who said which word first and when? Even if it doesn't seem like that will happen to you right now, the Voice of Experience (yours truly, with three children in their teens) can tell you that it can and it will. If your children are particularly alike, you may even end up with our perennial family problem: we can't tell the unlabeled baby pictures apart! The girls had identical hair color, facial shape, and many other features, right on down to identically-placed red birthmarks on their left eyelids! Thankfully, I labeled most of these photographic masterpieces shortly after they were taken, and others are date-stamped. But for the few that have few written clues, I'm reduced to trying to remember if the outfit on the child was new or a hand-me-down from an older sister. Whew! The memory just doesn't work really well with these fine details.

My husband, however (bless his heart!), foresaw this problem and solved it for us. He was very faithful about writing an entry onto a calendar each and every day of the girls' first years of life. Each daughter will have this treasure trove of memories to take with her when she is ready to leave our home, and all three girls as teens enjoy getting out their calendars and rereading them again and again.

The calendar entries are not fancy at all. Many are just simple phrases or single sentences, but together they tell a remarkable story: the story of each girl's first year. It turned out much like a journal, where he noted all of their developmental milestones and commented on day-to-day life with them. Entries tell of visits to loved ones, special events, vacations, and Christmas. They also tell of the baby's reaction to a new wall poster over the changing table and the nuances of baby-babble and the day-to-day changes in language skills as the kids grew. Some of the entries are mundane; others are hilarious in retrospect. Still others are very insightful into our daily lives back then. Three children and fifteen years later, the memories are rapidly fading, but these little calendars bring them back full force.

As an unexpected side benefit, the calendars have served to spark several lively family discussions. Communication is not something you think of teenagers doing well, but all three girls will sit together or with parents and grandparents and pour over these calendars, asking for old stories and expressing their appreciation for their many blessings. It's a great family time, and something to treasure each time it happens.

The calendars themselves were nothing particularly special. You can purchase similar products at nearly any stationary store that carries diaries and greeting cards. Each calendar has a space to fill in the month on a page, since babies start their years at different times. The dates are blank boxes with the numbers in the corners. The calendars we chose also included a set of stickers to mark events and firsts in the baby's life, like shots, first steps and words, reactions to toys, and visits with grandparents. The stickers brighten up the pages and make it easier to find dates of those important firsts when you need them later for medical background information or to help a second grader complete a timeline of her life for a school social studies project.

No matter how old your baby is right now, start a calendar! You don't have to go out and buy a fancy one. You can accomplish the same purposes with an inexpensive wall calendar from your insurance company if you want. Just take some time each and every day to add a sentence or two. In that far distant future when your son or daughter is about to leave for college or work, you can share these little memories together, and make yet another memory for the new young adult to take into the world.

Teething is a long, drawn out process and affects every baby a little differently. Some are cranky for days or even weeks as a tooth pushes its way up through the gums. Others are happy until the day before a tooth makes its appearance, when they suddenly cry, fuss and are generally miserable.

The thing that makes it most difficult for parents is that there is no way to tell what symptoms the process of teething is responsible for until a tooth is nearly to the surface or already poking through.

Watching for common symptoms can provide some clues. Many babies chew things more voraciously when they are teething or place their hands in their mouths. Often, they start drooling more than usual, and may even show symptoms of a cold such as a runny nose or slight fever. Any continuing or high fever should be checked by a doctor, but keep in mind that mild symptoms can be caused by cutting teeth.

What can you do to help your baby with discomfort during teething? For many, a little infant Tylenol will work wonders. For others, a homeopathic remedy such as Hyland's Teething tablets offers soothing relief. Do not give your child frozen items to chew since they may be too hard; however a hard plastic or rubber toy intended for teething is just fine. Also, look for a vibrating teether; the gentle vibrating motion is pleasurable for many babies when their mouths are sore.

Most importantly, give your baby love, comfort and a little extra TLC. This, like all other things will soon pass.

Let us try to comprehend what dislikes really all the babies have, and mostly common among them! Here are some of them.

Noise

Generally, all living beings of every age group, do not like noises with high volumes; but it has been seen that babies feel uncomfortable in a noisy atmosphere, which may otherwise look very pleasant to the elders. For example, while in a party the elders will enjoy dancing, singing, talking, etc.; but on the same time, small children accompanying them will very soon show signs of restlessness. It may be because of the fact that the happenings around them in a party are beyond their comprehension, and as well as their capacity to hear, recognize, see, and all those things that they use to perceive. Same thing occurs while we go to the market or walk along the roadside along with small children! --The big horns blown by the vehicles and the noise produced by their motion itself, more often than not, cause discomfort to them. Similarly in rainy seasons the voice of lightening may horrify small babies. Once afraid of these noises, a baby can even become prone to noises of low intensity like at night the noises produced by some insects, a sudden knock at the door, falling of a cookware utensil in the kitchen, ringing of a telephone, etc., which are otherwise not so threatening. A famous adage may also summarize it that a burnt child dreads fire!

Strangers

Having brought up in the family for some years, children find it quite difficult to mix themselves up with the strangers. Whenever a stranger visit the house, the babies will show sighs of shyness and will feel uncomfortable until the visitor proves or convinces his or her friendly nature to them, and obviously it may take some time. It can be momentary, but can linger for few days, weeks, months and so on. This also varies from child to child but the first impact is the same for all babies towards all strangers since they do not know the formalities and curtsies which we elders do while meeting a stranger, the very first time. But Santa Claus is an exception. No matters he may be a stranger to many of the children, but the gifts he offers to them and a special dress he wears on a particular day, with music and smile all around, the babies surely welcome this person, right from their first meeting.

Article with dull colors

Any article, be it a furniture item, vessels, cookware, flowers, toys, eatables, trees, pictures, cloths, pets or even a human being with a dull color or complexion is not liked by the babies. Here is a very interesting experience, which we can all have practically at our home. Bring some toys of bright colors and also of their choice and see how eagerly the babies unpack the boxes and also how keenly they play with them. Notice that they go from person to person in the family to show their possession simply because the toys are wonderfully colored and attractive. No sooner their colors begin to fade a bit with the passage of time, you can clearly notice a reduction in the interest with the same toys. In case the colors totally disappear by virtue of sun, rain, etc., one can easily see the same toys being thrown out or broken away by the same baby. Usually this tendency is common among people of all age groups but in some cases we elders do accommodate and adjust with the articles of dull colors, which the babies do not. You can also find the babies friendlier towards human being with bright colored complexion and wearing bright dresses and all that. It goes to show how the articles with bright color can have an impact in developing and shaping the basic nature and behavior of babies.

Animals

Many animals like cat, buffalo, elephant, street dogs, etc., are generally not liked by the babies! While in some cases, it has to do with the looks of animals like in the case of a cat whose face is terrific and also the expressions of her eyes, mouth, etc., may terrify a baby. In the case of an elephant, its size comes in the way since babies may find it difficult to accommodate its full picture in their minds just as a camera screen cannot accommodate more area than its capacity. So is the case of a buffalo. Street dogs have a natural tendency to bark too much with their tails up. Here the unpleasant voice comes in the way. It is worthy to note here that fear is the main reason of babies behind not liking these animals too much!

Excessive Clothing

When mother try to cover the babies with more and more woolen clothes in winter season, even small babies will try to put them off with the movements of their legs and hands along with crying. They try to prove that they can better handle the cold weather than handling excessive clothing. Obviously, they are not very keen to wear costly and fashionable clothes, which we elders essentially are. Putting on clothes seems to be an obstacle in their movements, which are very commonly found in all children. Even a baby who can not get up of his own; of three or four months age, will very frequently throw his legs and arms in the air while resting on the bed. So excessive clothing is not of their liking.

There may be some other things that the babies don't like and there may be other factors that can shape those liking according to the atmosphere of the house and the regional circumstances. But like some common things that are found in all the babies of the world, the aforementioned dislikes are also available almost all over the world! Human nature is common as they say, and so is babies' nature!

By Brandi Rhoades

If you and your partner love to read, you probably cannot imagine having a child who does not share your passion. While some of the love of reading may come naturally, there are ways you can begin to help your child enjoy books even when he is still an infant.

Read often. You can read to your newborn - or even to baby before birth - even though he will not understand what you are saying. Brand-new babies cannot see very well, and that makes reading to them seem pointless. Still, the cadence of your voice and the early introduction to books will help baby once he is a bit older.

Let her take the lead. Even at three or four months old, baby can see bright colors and may be awed by them as her eyes come into focus. Encourage this sense of observation when you are reading. If your baby seems enamored with a picture of a giant watermelon because of its bright red hue, do not turn the page because you are done reading it. Let her look and touch the book so that she is getting something out of it.

Establish a regular reading time. If you read to your child after the noon meal everyday or before bedtime, or whenever you choose, make it a routine. Infants will learn early about schedules and adding in a book or two everyday at a certain time will make it a natural part of life. Then, as your baby grows, the reading will seem natural because it has always been there - just like eating and changing diapers.

Alternative book levels. There is no need you have to read only baby books to babies. Because they are developing their language skills, you can read books of all levels, including adult books. While you may want to shy away from adult books after a couple of months, you can still pick up books for easy readers or young adults as your child will enjoy hearing the widened vocabulary these books have to offer. Do not skip out on very early board books and picture books, though. These books can teach numbers, letters, and other valuable information, so make sure you and baby experience a wide variety of children's literature.

Buy books for gifts. There is nothing that says you have to buy toys as presents. Make a book a normal part of your gift-giving for Christmas and birthdays. If books seem fun, then your baby will develop an excitement about them from an early age.

Be a role model. Maybe you and your spouse do not have the time to read that you used to. Still, if you are neglecting your hobby, then your child will not see adults reading. Take time out for yourself to read. Not only will you enjoy it, but you will be setting the standard for your chid.

There are many ways to model good reading behavior. Find them and teach your baby early that books are wonderful for entertainment and fulfillment.

Potty training, is he ready?
By Eliza Ferree

Is He Ready?
I pondered this at least three times with each one of my children. The first time my son was only a few months old. It was just him and I and he'd always follow me into the bathroom so when he started to tell me he had to go potty by showing signs I thought nothing of it. I had never officially trained him as I've heard so many talk about. But instead of letting him use my high toilet I went out and bought him a cheap potty chair. It was the type that is white, thin lid that snaps on its own little potty and you remove the bottom if they really pee in it. However, it would snap and catch his bottom most of the time, but he did learn. I knew he probably wouldn't use it too much though since it did do that, but I wasn't concerned about that because since boys mostly stand he would easily reach my toilet and when he had to sit I'd be there to help him. I ended up having to move so he had to go back in diapers until it was over so there wouldn't be any accidents on the road.

Parents if your child KNOWS how to use the potty don't stick him back in diapers, this will make them return and you'll have to do the process all over again.

Once we were settled into our new home I thought I'd just be able to take off the diaper and he'd go right for the potty. It didn't happen! I slid the underwear on and he'd have an accident, I knew he use to know this but it appeared that I'd confused him by letting him pee in diapers. He would have one accident after another, I wasn't totally sure why. Was it me putting him back in them? Was it the move? Was he not secure in his surroundings? Was it a phase? I had absolutely no clue but I knew that it took a long time for him to feel comfortable enough to finally want to learn on his own.

Right before he turned three years old we were in the clothing store when he saw Rugrats underwear, "Mommy I want to be a big boy!" I wondered if he was really ready to try this again. I did buy them of course and put them on him the next day. You know he never would have an accident, I did ask him why too. "I don't want to pee on Chuckie Mommy." For many I know you would laugh but it instead it just dawned that I had done it. He was potty trained. Yes, there have been a few accidents from time to time late at night, but he had done it. I have discovered not letting them drink anything an hour before going to bed helps to distinguish this problem.

Each Child is Different

With my second child it was much harder to train her. I had believed she'd be just like her brother, but that wasn't the case. I tried training her around the age her brother first tried (before I stuck the diapers back on) and figured I'd be able to do it. I failed that first attempt and tried a few months later.

The second attempt I actually went out and bought a potty chair like her brother ended up using. If they went potty a star would appear at the bottom of the toilet, however she realized if she stuck water on it, it did that too and it became a toy. This did not work! At this point (her outwitting me that is) I decided once again I'd wait for my child to take the lead. We were watching television one day when I saw her pretending to use the potty, well not her it was her doll. She would take her doll, sit her on the potty and clap, this made me have hope that it was time. We drove to the store, I picked up a pair of panties she chose and then off to the doll aisle. Not just any doll we got the type that if you give it a bottle it will leak. See where I'm headed here? Once at home I brought out her potty to the hallway and showed her that she was suppose to sit like her baby on the potty and go potty. We both clapped when the baby went on the potty chair, of course she didn't go this day. She went the next though and every since. This just goes to show you not all babies are the same, not even the siblings. They will learn when they are good and ready and no matter how much money you spend on neat potty chairs that do all types of things to stickers and prizes. I can say to stick with it and don't give up, if you get them to learn don’t stick them back in the diapers.

Third time is the charm right?

I would just begin with don't count all your eggs until they are hatched. My youngest (not quite 2) has shown some interest. Well I did go buy her a potty chair as I never kept the other ones. It's just a simple one but when you need to change it you pull it out from underneath, it slides, so you don't have to take the whole thing apart. Another bonus is you don't have the lid so it’s not shutting on them. This one has a purple top so it adds to color.

She follows me to the bathroom whenever I go in and she walks in and out as she pleases, sometimes she'll sit on the potty that I have for her in there, while others she just makes sure where I'm at and go on. Recently I saw her use her potty a few times, even took her diaper off by herself when I hadn't figured out what she wanted. Is she ready? I don't know, but I will figure it out when she wants to go. I have total faith in her and after having two other children I have learned there is no rush for when a child is ready they will tell you. She went on the potty twice today, the rest of the time she used her diaper but either way she was happy and let me know. When she uses her potty she does this little dance and song, I have no clue of what she is singing but I know it is praising of some sort, afterwards she'll run over to give you a high five.

Just remember not to force your little one or they will do just the opposite and always encourage them. If they use the potty clap, high five or give them a giant hug, because after all they just took another step in life and you were there to see it.

Few things frighten me more than taking a shopping trip with baby Alex. At this point even a short trip to the grocery store can spell real trouble. Normally a happy baby, little Alex seems to truly despise his car seat. Within minutes of being strapped in, his little face crumples, turns bright red, and emits screams shrill enough to burst my eardrums. Okay, I'll admit this doesn't happen each and every time. Being completely honest, I have to admit that approximately 10 percent of the time he sleeps peacefully in his car seat while I cruise around town. The rest of the time he is a demanding little tyrant.

It does seem reasonable for Alex to stop crying once we arrive at the grocery store and allow me to shop for tasty vittles to feed our family. Unfortunately, Alex does not seem to think that is a reasonable expectation. Usually we make it through the produce department and half of the way down the dairy aisle before he begins to protest. I pick him up out of the infant carrier and carry him in my arms, hoping he will be more content with my arms wrapped around him. This keeps him quiet for about 8 minutes. Alex becomes bored once more and commences crying. I always make sure I have his sling with me no matter where we go. Like a magician, I whip it out of the cart and slip it over my shoulder. I put baby Alex in the sling, very satisfied with myself for buying an extra twenty minutes of shopping time.

Twenty minutes later, Alex begins to cry again and root for my breast. He wants to nurse, but unfortunately the local grocery store is seriously lacking in any attractive places to breastfeed. I absolutely refuse to nurse my precious, though tyrannical, baby boy in a smelly, germ filled supermarket rest room. I've tried breast-feeding him through the sling, but I am much too awkward at it to make it work in a brightly lit grocery store. I bounce him around and sing a little lullaby in his ear, while simultaneously reaching for a loaf of whole wheat bread. I want to run from the store to nurse him, but I must buy food for my family. I hastily throw, and I do mean this literally, all the food I can manage to grab in sixty seconds into my shopping cart. I begin to notice the pitying stares I am getting from the other shoppers. Finally, I head towards the check out lane to purchase my groceries.

Alex takes turns in the check out lane, sucking his fingers as if he's been waiting weeks for a meal and squalling in demand of breast milk. Finally, fifteen minutes later, I exit the grocery store and hustle back to my van. I park the cart next to my van and jump in the back seat, quickly lifting my shirt and offering Alex his breast milk meal. Thankfully, he usually does sleep in his car seat on the way home. I'm sure all the fussing makes him quite exhausted.

After a few such trips to the grocery store, I finally learned my lesson. I do not do the family grocery shopping anymore. I made a startling discovery! My local grocery store delivers groceries for a $10 fee. Each week I make a list, submit it online, and have my groceries delivered to my door on the next business day. Alex and I find this a much more pleasant arrangement. I get to spend more time pushing him in his stroller, playing peek-a-boo, and cuddling. Now we are both happy.

Several years ago, pediatricians recommended that parents give their infants formula-diluted baby cereal in a bottle, and they suggested that parents do this for infants as young as one month. Their thinking was that this would help baby sleep through the night. Well, that train of thought has certainly changed!

Today, pediatricians recommend that parents begin introducing solids to their babies between four and six months of age. They do not recommend feeding solid foods to infants younger than this because studies have shown that there is a higher risk of food allergies when baby is fed solids too early or too late.

How do you know when to begin feeding your baby solid foods? It is important that you continue to give your baby either breast milk or formula until he is at least one year old. However, you can begin introducing solids to your child as soon as he shows signs of being ready. What are those signs?

To introduce your baby to solid foods, you should plan on letting her sit down with the family at mealtimes occasionally, even if she is too young to eat solid foods. Mealtimes should also be social events, and it is a wonderful time for your little one to share in a family ritual. As she grows, she will begin to show more interest in what is on your plate. Once you notice that your baby's interest in trying to get to your food has increased, you may be ready to begin starting her on solids.

It is extremely important that you only introduce one food at a time. You should wait several days before introducing a new food to determine if your baby has any food allergies. Most pediatricians recommend that babies be given some type of fortified infant cereal in the beginning. Oatmeal, rice, and barley are all popular cereal, and they are good for your baby. You will need to mix these cereals with breast milk or formula.

When you begin to feed your baby, you should only mix up a small amount of cereal. The first few feedings will definitely be learning experiences for your child, and you may find that he has more cereal on his face than in his tummy. Since the majority of his nourishment will still come from breast milk or formula, however, it really doesn't matter how much cereal you actually get into him. The point is to let him learn how to eat.

You may discover that your baby spends most of his time pushing his food back out of his mouth with his tongue. If he repeatedly does this, you may find that you've started feeding him too early, and he isn't ready to begin eating solid foods yet. If so, put the cereal away for a week or two, and then try it again. However, if he soon learns to keep at least some of the cereal in his mouth, and he has mastered the art of pushing the food to the back of his throat and swallowing, you can continue introducing more solid foods.

Most pediatricians recommend waiting until at least six months of age before introducing fruit juices, so stick with breast milk or formula only until then. You may need to give your baby small sips from his bottle to help him wash his food down occasionally. Once you're baby has been eating cereal successfully for about a week, you can begin introducing fruits and vegetables. Although there are many combo baby foods available, you should hold off giving any of those to your child until you have determined that your baby isn't allergic to any of those foods.

If you aren't sure whether to introduce fruits or vegetables to your baby's diet, you can ask for your pediatrician's advice. Many pediatricians say that either one is acceptable as long as you gradually introduce new foods over a period of several days. Applesauce is a good fruit to begin with, as well as bananas and peaches. You should avoid giving your baby citrus fruits, such as oranges and orange juice, however, until she is older.

Once your baby has reached the six month mark, you can also begin introducing her to the cup. She may balk at the suggestion of replacing her beloved bottle with a cup, however. You may want to start out just giving juice in a cup, and you can still give your baby formula in a bottle or nurse your baby. Even though your baby's tastes have broadened, and she is eating a wider variety of solid food, you still need to give her several bottles of formula or nurse her several times a day.

As you continue to give your baby more and more solid foods, you should be aware that there are several foods that present choking hazards to your little one, and these should never be given to a child under four years old. These foods include grapes, hotdogs, popcorn, nuts, and hard candy. Peanut butter is also difficult for a baby to swallow, so avoid feeding your baby this, also.

Your baby will become more fascinated with handling his own food, and you can encourage the development of his pincher grasp by giving him small pieces of chewable foods, such as Cheerios cereal, small pieces of crackers, and teething biscuits. Don't forget that your baby's esophagus is only about the size of a straw, and you should use caution when giving him anything that could cause him to choke.

Eventually, your child will begin to eat more solid foods and eliminate some of her bottle or breast feedings. You should always consult your physician as to the amount of formula or breast milk feedings your baby should have. Feeding your child solids is an adventure that you and your little one will both enjoy, so have fun but always use caution and common sense. If you teach your child the pleasure of different foods, he should grow up to be a healthy eater.

By Susie McGee

Babies come into the world brand new, innocent, knowing only the basic instincts of sucking, crying, and blinking at their new, bright surroundings. We are amazed at their tiny toes and fingers, the shock of peachfuzz on their heads, and their clear eyes as they look into our own. They begin to smile long before than can hold their heads up and they learn to recognize the scent of their mothers almost immediately.

Newborn babies cry instinctively; this is their only way to alert us to their needs, be it hunger, discomfort, or a soiled diaper. But it doesn't take long at all - a few weeks, maybe a month or two, for a tiny baby to learn how to use his cries. By six months of age, many babies will cry out for their mother or father and protest if left in the arms of someone else. By seven or eight months of age, most babies are well aware of their ability to grab and hold some off-limits object in their chubby fists, only to have a responsible adult take it from them. When this happens, if another more interesting item is not right at hand, the baby will often scream and complain about the huge injustice of it all. We chuckle and simply remove them from the scene of the crime, but this is the perfect opportunity to begin formal training.

Babies of this age understand a few things: they understand hunger, discomfort, physical contact, and the sight of the people who love them. Babies of seven or eight months are not concerned with the greater good in the world or even the greater good of their parents, other than how it pertains to their own full bellies and entertainment. Babies, though adorable and precious, are completely and utterly selfish individuals who want what they want when they want it.

Since we can't reason with small babies or teach them the logic in not pulling books off the shelves, we must find another way. Lengthy (or even short) explanations about the dangers of putting knives in ones mouth will go ignored and open doors or swimming pools are simply beckoning our babies - and they will respond if we don't train them.

Training a baby is simple. If a baby crawls near a fireplace and feels the heat, he will instinctively back up and crawl the other way. If a baby puts a battery in his mouth, he will feel the shock, cry, and remember not to do it again. If a baby reaches out and touches a hot stove, he will draw his tiny hand back in pain and avoid the stove from now on. Now, babies may not remember every time, but pain has a way of imprinting in the memories of even the tiniest people. But we don't want to burn our babies or shock them with batteries. A simple slap to the back of the hand will suffice.

Now before you begin telling me about the ills of corporal punishment and child abuse, let me assure you, this is not abuse, this is not even discipline. This is training. When a dog is trained, we put it on a leash and guide it to and fro. When a horse is trained, we put a bit in its mouth and teach it to respond to our commands. For the safety of a baby, unless we plan to keep him constantly in our arms or forever locked in the playpen, we must train him.

If your baby is crawling regularly and you don't want him to touch a certain shelf of books, do not wait until he destroys something precious to you and then slap him on the hand to punish him. He won't understand at all. Instead, begin by taking the baby to the bookcase for a training session. Talk to him and praise him for being such a good, smart baby. When Junior ultimately reaches out for the books in question, firmly say "no" and slap his hand. You don't want to hurt him, just give him a little sting that will get his attention. A soft slap on a diapered bottom won't work, and even a slap with your hand may not cut it. Usually a rap with a ruler or pencil will give enough bite but won't really hurt him. Do it with a smile - you aren't mad at your baby and he has done nothing wrong - it is a training session. Show him the book and say "no" again. If he reaches out for it again, again slap his little hand. After a couple of times, take him somewhere else and plan to come back later for another training session. After just a few times, you will be able to leave your baby in the room with the books and he will crawl past them, remembering on some level, that discomfort is associated with those books.

This training method can be used for nearly anything in any area. Protect your baby by training him early, and you will have a happy, safe home.

Paulla Estes

Many expecting parents with cats and/or dogs wonder what will happen when the pets meet the new baby. Many pets have not been around babies and the pet owners may not know how they will react to the newcomer in the household. Others may have bad habits that you are afraid might harm your child.

Some pet owners immediately decide to find new homes for their pets when they find out they are expecting. If you have an aggressive or unpredictable pet, this could be a good idea. Aggressive dogs, for example, may lash out at the new baby. Some dogs may show aggression due to jealousy when he sees you giving attention to the new baby. However, you should not get rid of a family pet just because you are expecting. Most dogs and cats will get along with the new baby, and undesirable behavior that has not been addressed before can likely be corrected before the baby arrives. For example, say your dog likes to jump up on people. You might be concerned that he might jump on the baby or jump up on someone who is holding the baby. This is a habit that you can correct before the baby arrives with some simple, persistent training.

You may also want to start getting your dog used to being confined when you are at home. There will be times when you will need to confine your dog to keep him from interfering with baby tasks (such as diaper changing or play time). You will understand this need the first time you shake a rattle with an energetic dog in the room. First, you need to decide on a good spot to confine the dog. The basement and the kitchen are good choices. If there is not a door to close the space, use baby gates. Begin confining the dog for short periods of time, such as 15 minutes. He might whine the first few times, but once he learns that he will be let out soon, he should begin to calm down.

Cats can be another concern. Most cats like to sleep on or next to people for warmth. Some cats especially like to sleep on or close to your head to feel the warmth of your breath. A cat sleeping on a defenseless baby could be a smothering risk. Instead of getting rid of your cat, try a crib tent. A crib tent is a frame with netting that attaches over your baby's crib and keeps out the cats. There is usually a flap secured with Velcro that folds down to allow you to access the crib. Crib tents can be found at most stores that sell baby furniture.

If your pet has been around babies and small children before and behaved, chances are you have nothing to worry about. If your pet has never been around a baby, see if a friend or relative is willing to bring their baby into your home to test the waters. Or carry a doll around wrapped in a blanket, giving it plenty of attention, and see how your pet reacts. If you are still unsure when the new baby arrives, try keeping your pet on a leash around the baby until you feel confident enough to take it off.

The babies are certainly nearer to God, and the birth of a baby shows that God has not forgotten mankind! Everyone loves babies, because they are innocent and have not learnt the art-and-craft of worldly hypocrisy. A baby speaks what is in its heart and mind. A baby never tells a lie, and this makes the babies, an embodiment of purity and sincerity. The babies are free from wiles and guile of this world! And no wonder that for a mother, the baby is a fantastic experience, for, it brings charm and engagement in her life and adds newer dimension to her activities.

Among all the things in this world, I love babies the most. It gives me immense pleasure to listen to those small children! A baby's prattle is like a fresh breeze in the world, which is suffocated with foul smell. Their faces bloom like flowers and they never practice frauds as many of the elders do! Their fun and frolic is spontaneous and, thus, they shower happiness to all like the Sun, irrespective of caste, color or creed! Babies are good friends and they never cheat or deceive. And it is a pleasure to talk to them in their un-understandable language and gestures, which they or the God can aptly guess!

If you are tired from the hectic schedule of this world, and have a tight work in your office, spending some times with the babies is a good option. Just forget about everything and be like a child with them; and think, you will never like to return from that experience. It is so enjoyable and free of any anxiety that even the best moments of your life could not be able to give you that unalloyed joy. And if you are blessed with the gift of babies, try to enjoy their company as much as you can, and strive to provide them with best atmosphere in this world, so that when they grow up, they may say that their elders have provided them with a heaven to live in, and not a hell to die in!

The feeding habits of babies have such a huge impact on their lives later. Actually a much bigger impact than you can ever imagine.

This truth sunk into my spirit recently when I "accidentally" listened to a child health care expert on the radio in somebody else's car on the way into town. I say "accidentally" because at my age with grown kids, there is no way I would have listened to something like that on my own car radio. There are lots of other interesting things usually competing for my interest.

The expert warned mothers to be very careful about the way they feed their babies because it would impact on their feeding habits and life in general for their entire life here on earth. Wow.
She especially pinpointed first-time mothers who were normally eager to see to it that their children were well-fed. This over-enthusiasm usually caused them to introduce heavier liquids and foods than milk, too early to the diet of the child. She added that this sometimes caused lifetime stomach-related problems for the child as well as causing the person to be that type that tends to overfeed, meaning that they would have to be dangerously overweight.

This realization hit me with some impact. I will not be exaggerating when I say it hit me like a slap in the face.

I quickly remembered a child I have been rather close to, now in his early teens. The poor boy has a mother who fed him rather over-enthusiastically when he was young. Today the results prove every single word spoken by the child care expert.

He is overweight, actually obese and he loves to over-eat. He also frequently complains of stomach upsets and all sorts of stomach-related problems.

The whole incident set me thinking as to how many mothers the world over impact negatively on the future of their babies by failing to acknowledge this simple fact about feeding babies. What a price to pay for simply wanting to make sure that your child is well fed!

Especially those well intentioned mothers from poorer neighborhoods who proudly want to make sure that their babies never go hungry.

There are also babies who tend to cry a little more often than others. Usually for no apparent reason. Just like there are grown-ups who tend to whine and complain a little more than others, I guess. Mothers who are not sensitive enough will always tend to assume that every time the baby cries, it is because they are hungry. Especially when they have checked all the other possible discomforts like soiled diapers or a high temperature implying illness.

Modern culture and the way we live make it even easier for mothers to make this mistake. There may be some engrossing soap or movie on Television and this is the precise moment when the baby starts to cry. The natural tendency in this situation would be to get the baby quiet as quickly as possible. So the first thing to reach for when all else seems to be okay, is, of course the feeding bottle. The vital but also deadly feeding bottle.

I say deadly because we are all very much aware of the myriad of problems that obese and overweight people face.

Mothers will need to be a little more sensitive than that.

My mind even wandered to a possible national crisis caused by hoards of mothers who have been over-feeding their babies. Just look at all those young overweight Americans swaggering around on the streets these days. I read in the newspapers somewhere that most of Europe and especially Germany has the same obese national crisis.

It seems that we have all been looking at the wrong places for the answers to this disturbing trend. Do you not find it strange that at a time when we have the most information on dieting and sensible eating available in the history of mankind, that we at the same time have record numbers of overweight persons?

To me it did not make any sense until I listened to that life-changing radio show on how babies should be fed.

Now that your baby's here, don't feel you have to stay on the sidelines and sit home day in and day out! You don't need to find a sitter or leave the little one with grandmas, either. Babies are remarkably portable. As soon as your own doctor and your little one's pediatrician give the OK, start taking baby with you around town.

Hauling a baby takes a little bit of getting used to, but you will quickly get the hang of it. You just need to keep baby's needs in mind when you plan your trips. You have a car seat, of course, and you may need a place to put the child when you're not driving, like a stroller or infant carrier. Remember extra diapers, a change of clothes, and a bottle for feeding time if need be. Take what you need to keep baby comfortable and you'll be on your way to a successful outing.
Remember to plan your trip to accommodate the little one's schedule. Be sure you can be in a position to feed at feeding time, change diapers when needed, and allow the baby to sleep at nap time. With practice (and a bit of maturity), your baby will learn to adapt to the new circumstances and inadvertent schedule disruptions more easily. That's one great advantage of hauling your baby around on errands and outings. Babies who travel like that are more flexible and more able to deal with changes in their circumstances.

Best of all, babies who experience the world in this way are learning all of the time. Your baby will have new experiences and see new things on each trip that you take together. If you're like most parents, you understand how important it is to talk to the infant. As you discuss and describe the things you see, your baby is absorbing new words and new ideas. The little one's knowledge of the world expands rapidly, and later on, the child will make connections between printed words and mental images more easily. This will provide a firm foundation for reading skills.

So pack up the little one and go grocery shopping or to the mall. Take baby to the zoo and the park. It's not too tough, provided you plan to meet baby's needs, and the benefits are enormous. You'll help the little one learn to be more flexible and adaptable. You will also be building language skills and readiness for reading down the road. Believe me, it's worth the effort!

You barely announce you are pregnant before it begins. Everyone has some advice. People watch what you eat, how you carry yourself and the activities you undertake. Some think you should find out the baby's sex as soon as possible; others tell you it must be a surprise. Should you work or stay home with your baby? Don't worry, your friends and family will be sure to tell you. Your great aunt will be confident that the nursery should be pink and floral; your sister wants you to buy bears, but mother-in-law favors ducks. Worst of all, everyone has an opinion on what you should name your baby!

Once the baby comes, it only gets worse. As you take baby for a walk in his stroller, old ladies will admonish you for not covering his head with a hat or swaddling him tightly enough. Everyone will ask how he is sleeping and offer their own advice: schedule him, follow his schedule, start him on solids early, use formula at night, co-sleep, put him in his own room, swaddle, run a fan, use a crib vibrator, play soft music, breastfeed more often, let him cry it out, never let him cry. The sheer volume of advice is mind-boggling and to exacerbate things, the advice is never consistent. You are sure to get contradictory suggestions from reliable sources.

So, what is a new mother to do? First, seek out a couple sources of advice you trust. How do you do this? Start with your pediatrician. Theoretically, you chose your baby's doctor by getting referrals and interviewing doctors. You chose someone with a logical approach and a friendly manner so take advantage of that research and listen to your doctor. If nothing else, this gives you the authority to tell busybodies "Oh, junior's doctor specifically recommended this."

You cannot call your doctor for everything, however, so you will need some other advisors. Consider the members of your family and your friends. Is there anyone who is calm, collected, smart, and funny and has raised happy, healthy children? Is your mother overbearing or relaxed? Is she willing to read up on newer theories of child rising? Look at those you admire and aspire to follow their lead. Whoever you choose to listen to, make sure you listen to your own instincts too. No one spends more time with your baby, understands your family and your household better than you.

People with pets often wonder how their pets will adapt to a new baby. Every family's situation is unique; however, it is possible to do things to help prepare your pets for a new addition and to make everyone's cohabitation successful.

The most important thing to consider is safety. If you have a docile cat or dog who is a loving member of the family, in all likelihood you can introduce the baby without any fear. However, if your current pet is aggressive or jealous even before you have a little one, you will have to think about the ramifications of a new addition.

For an aggressive dog or cat, consider the things that trigger the aggressive behavior. Is your pet fine with all people, but occasionally acts out with other animals? In this instance you may be fine. What is the symptom of the aggression? A warning growl or hiss with no follow-up action is probably okay. However, if your pet goes from affectionate to attack-prone without warning when being petted, it may be necessary to find a new home for Fido or Fluffy. If your dog has been around children, how did he react? Carefully watch his behavior to learn the warning signs of his aggression so you can protect yourself and your baby.

Some people do additional training for their dogs while they are expecting. For example, one couple I know would lightly tug on their dog's fur or pet her backwards, then reward her with a treat in preparation for the rough and tumble of their new baby. This also gives you a preview of how your dog reacts to unexpected treatment.

Regardless of your pet's temperament, rule number one is to never leave a pet alone with an infant. Your pet cannot tell you if it is upset by the change in the household and may act in surprising ways. Then, watch your pet closely to see how he reacts to the baby. Many pets understand the role of the baby in the family and are very protective. Others are seemingly indifferent, but perfectly able to live side by side with the new addition. Note that some animals will be alarmed or bothered by a baby's cry. It may irritate them or may worry them; many a dog has dogged its owners heals until a bottle was heated.

The baby will probably love watching your animals once she realizes there are little furry members of the household. Most babies raised with friendly animals will not fear them and will assume they are an important part of the family. As baby gets older, take her hand and show her how to touch your dog or cat, emphasizing the words "soft" or "gentle" as you help her stroke and pet. Having a pet can provide companionship for a child and can encourage a lifelong love of animals. In addition, recent studies have shown babies in homes with pets may be less likely to develop allergies and asthma later in life. The benefits are clear as long as you have patience and are safety conscious.

By Leanne Phillips

Bringing a brand new baby home from the hospital is probably the most joyous and exciting event in a person's life. Still, the challenges of becoming a new parent can make it difficult to relax and enjoy this most wonderful of experiences. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of those first few months as new parents.

1. Make baby's homecoming easy on siblings and pets. If this is not your first child, then you may have a little bit of sibling rivalry or jealously to deal with when you bring baby home. The best way to deal with this is to prepare brothers and sisters, and even pets, for baby's arrival well in advance. Make sure to focus on the positive. Emphasize the excitement of having a new baby. Remind baby's sibling that he or she will be a big brother or a big sister now. Let them know that this is a very important task, that you are going to be depending on them for help and that they hold a very significant position in baby's life. Celebrate baby's birth by giving older siblings a gift recognizing their status as a big brother or big sister when baby comes home from the hospital. If you have pets, let your pet get used to you giving attention to baby. Use a doll to practice, giving the doll hugs, attention and time, so that your pet gets used to another creature in the house sharing your time and affection.

2. Don't be too quiet. Babies are very adaptable. They will adapt to the normal noise in a household and will easily learn to nap right through the sounds of mom and dad carrying on a conversation in the next room or big brother or big sister playing outside. On the other hand, babies will also easily adapt to a completely quiet environment. If you require everyone to tip toe around the house whispering while baby naps, you can be assured that you will have to do so for many years to come.

3. Sleep whenever you can. Although new babies do sleep quite a bit in those first few months, they do so in short spurts because they need to eat often when they are tiny, to have their diapers changed, and to be cuddled. It will probably be several months before your baby sleeps through the night. Also, being a new parent takes a lot out of you. It is a drastic life change that, no matter how happy, requires some adjustment. For this reason, you should take advantage of every opportunity you have to nap. When baby naps, you should nap, too. It may be tempting to use this quiet time to catch up on the laundry, the dishes or chatting with friends, but getting lots of rest is the most important thing you can do for you and for your baby. Laundry and dishes can wait. Turn the ringer off on the phone, put a "do not disturb" sign on the door and catch some zzz's.
4. Relax and let it go. Speaking of laundry and dishes, one of the best things you can do during those first few months as a new parent is to lower your standards a little and to expect a little bit less of yourself. Learn to distinguish between those things that are really important and those things that can wait. For the time being, maybe you can vacuum once a week instead of every few days. It may not be the end of the world if books and papers are piled up on your desk or things are a bit cluttered. Maybe, just maybe, you can skip mopping this week and just give the floors a quick sweep instead. Learn to live with a few dishes in the sink. There are more important things in life than a spotless home.

5. Take advantage of technology. Doing things in the most difficult way does not always guarantee that it is the best way. Don't fall victim to the myth that doing everything on your own or from scratch makes you a better parent. There are so many products on the market these days to make your role as a parent easier. Make use of them and free up more time to spend with your newborn baby. Time is the greatest gift you can give to anyone, especially your children. Making lots of time to be with your newborn baby is what will make you the best parent of all.

6. Cook less. You have to feed your family. That's probably something you can't get away with not doing. But you can make it easier on yourself by skipping the homemade lasagna made from scratch and opting for something that's a little bit easier to make and takes less of your time, such as macaroni and cheese or a grilled chicken breast with some steamed frozen veggies. When you are cooking, take advantage of the opportunity to double up recipes and freeze some for later. If you make waffles one weekend morning, freeze some and have instant toaster waffles for later in the week. You might even skip cooking altogether on a particularly hectic day and order a pizza. The family will survive.

7. Accept offers of help. Your friends and family will likely be thrilled to help out with your newborn baby and even to give you a break now and then. Again, don't feel that doing everything yourself is required or that it makes you a better parent. A good parent takes care of himself or herself as well as taking care of baby. A well-rested and happy parent is a better parent. Allow older siblings to help with simple household tasks and with caring for their baby brother or sister. If they offer, let your friends and family help out with household chores or with taking care of the baby for a short period of time so you can have a little break. If they don't offer, ask.

8. Take care of yourself. In addition to getting enough sleep, make sure you are eating right, taking vitamin supplements and getting enough exercise. It is very easy to slip into the habit of putting your own needs on the back burner while you attend to the needs of your brand new baby. Remember, one of the things baby needs most is for you to be happy and healthy so that you can take care of him or her. Schedule regular time for exercise. Have nutritious snacks available so that you can eat small, quick meals throughout the day when you need to do so. Take vitamin supplements to make sure you are getting all of the nutrients your body needs during this busy and potentially stressful adjustment period.

9. Trust your instincts. If you are a first-time parent, it is important to learn to trust your instincts. Remember that human beings have been giving birth and raising children for centuries, without the aid of volumes on parenting or emergency hotlines or teething rings. Sharing information through books and the invention of time-saving devices and helpful tools have made it easier for us to be better parents to our children. But, to a large extent, we are born with parenting instincts that guide us in the right direction. When you are faced with a parenting dilemma, listen to what your instincts are telling you. More often than not, you know more than you think you do.

10. Enjoy your baby. Above all, enjoy these first few months with your new baby. Nothing can ever take the place in my memories of those quiet, late night and early morning hours I spent with each of my three children when they were babies, rocking them, holding them and singing softly to them while they gazed up at me with those wide, beautiful baby eyes. Don't worry that you will spoil your children by responding to their cries or giving them too much physical affection, love and hugs. There is no such thing as too much love. Remember, everything else takes a back seat to spending time enjoying this miracle with which you have been blessed.

Copyright (c) 2005 by Leni Leanne Phillips

Babies of all ages will adore books that pack the pizzazz of textures and moving parts! Whether the book has soft and fuzzy pictures, crinkly plastic paper, rough sandpaper spots, or lift-and-peek flaps, your little one will be more actively engaged when you read these books aloud together. There will be no problem keeping the baby's attention!

There are many of these interactive books on the market, but a classic set comes to us from Golden Books. Edith Kundhardt Davis has penned a series of touchy-feely books for the very young. Pat the Cat, Pat the Puppy and Pat the Pony are the titles. The cute animal illustrations make the books a real joy to read, the simple text will be easy for the littlest listeners to understand, and best of all, there is something unique on each page to feel or to move. The books are under $10 each at Amazon, and readily available at nearly any bookstore.

While you are looking for them, check out The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. This classic details the adventures of a young caterpillar as he eats through more and more plants. Babies are particularly fond of this book, since each plant the caterpillar eats has a hole in the picture right through the page that is just the right size for baby fingers to poke right through. As your youngster grows, the book becomes a great tool to teach about numbers and counting.

You will want to add all of these books to your child's library!

My baby boy, Alexander, is 4 months old today. For the first 3 months of his life, his little bottom was easy to care for. I would simply remove his soiled disposable diaper and fasten on a new one. I never even had to use diaper cream. After three months that all changed. A very ugly diaper rash snuck up on us when we weren't looking. There was no obvious reason for him to get a rash. I still changed his diaper frequently and his diet had not changed. I just woke up one morning, removed his diaper, and faced a bright red, pimply looking rash.

Alexander is not my first baby so I thought I knew what to expect. I wasn't worried at all. I ran right out to my local drug store and picked up some handy dandy diaper ointment. Over the next couple of days I faithfully applied the diaper ointment at every diaper change. I used warm, dampened washcloths to clean his bottom in an effort to avoid the irritating chemicals in baby wipes. Much to my frustration the rash just got worse. I felt so sorry for my darling baby. I hoped it was not too uncomfortable.

On the third day I took the next step. I removed his diaper and let him go bare bottomed. I'll admit I was frightened at first. I know it seems strange to be frightened over a baby boy's bare buttocks, but I was scared just the same. Alexander is my first baby boy. All my other children are girls. I could easily let them go without diapers because all they could wet was the pad under them. Alexander, however, is a different story. I have learned first hand all the different directions in which baby Alexander can urinate. I have also unfortunately, had him spray me directly in my face. I hate to admit it, but it has happened more than once. So it was with much trepidation that I removed his diaper and placed him on his waterproof pad. He seemed to really enjoy being without a diaper. I imagine the air on his behind was quite a relief. He was all smiles and cute baby coos. He urinated into the air with a baby shout of glee. I cleaned him, the pad, and the rug. He was happy and dry once more. I put his diaper back on after about three hours. I made sure I applied a thick coat of diaper cream.

The next morning we got up bright and early (Alexander is already an early riser) and removed the diaper again. Low and behold the nasty little pimples appeared to be drying up. This time I kept him covered with a thin blanket. Another day of urine spraying ensued. He managed to kick the blanket off to spray my computer monitor, the wall and his unsuspecting ten-year-old sister. We went through several different blankets. We took it all in stride. Next came an amazingly large, mustard yellow colored bowel movement. It was a daunting task but I again cleaned his bottom and placed another waterproof pad under him. Honestly, it seemed he relieved himself 3 times more than usual that day.

Each day Alexander's diaper rash improved a bit. Finally, after 4 days of endlessly wet blankets, clothes, and family members, his rash healed completely. I've noticed, since the first rash, his diaper area tends to get red and sore looking rather quickly. Now, to prevent the development of another diaper rash, I let him spend at least a couple of hours every day without a diaper. It really seems to help.

There are many factors that contribute to the development of a baby after it has taken birth, but there are some other points that can affect it greatly when the baby is in its development stages in the womb! You may also call them hereditary effects but there are some factors that can adversely affect the child of your child, and they greatly depend on the mother, for, she is conceiving the child!

They are sometimes called environmental effects, and though the fetus develops in the protective buffer of the womb, events in the external environment can affect it indirectly through the mother. Mother's eating habits, drug use, physical health are some of the factors that can have some influence on the development of child's growth!

Eating habits of the mother

There are a variety of food that the fetus requires in womb, and the mother should take proper care and advice while selecting the food type during the pregnancy period. There are proved reports about birth complications and neurological disorders due to excessive maternal malnutrition. Therefore, it is generally advised to the pregnant women that they should regulate their dietary habits according to the recommendations of an expert gynecologist!

Drug use by mother

Using drugs is bad for anybody, but it is potentially dangerous for pregnant women to intake any kind of drug other than the prescription provided by the doctor. Women sometimes take drugs for their relief that are somehow related to the embryonic development and may cause some problems.

Alcohol should be avoided during the pregnancy period, because it can cause many types of problems in the baby like heart defects, irritability, hyperactivity, and mental and motor development.

Tobacco is also equally dangerous, as it can cause some resistance to the flow of oxygen from mother to the fetus; and this in turn, may be the cause of miscarriages, stillbirth, and other birth complications.

Physical health of the mother

Physical health of the mother is very important for the total development of the fetus, as the baby inside the womb has almost no defense to infections. The immune system of the babies develops slow and late and, therefore, illness during pregnancy can be a factor of concern for the mother!

It is clear from the above discussion that the embryonic development of the baby greatly and significantly depends upon the mother. Apart from emotional and psychological attachment with the mother, the child shares much of the health of its mother. And therefore, women should take proper care of the diet and their health during pregnancy. It is always advisable to follow the guidelines of the gynecologist and the expert who is dealing with the case. Sometimes, you will be asked to spare some of your tastes and habits, but that is worthwhile, as the baby is more important than the habits and tastes. Getting a baby with physical and mental problems is more painful than to control us for a short period of time during pregnancy!

Summer brings sunshine, heat, and outdoor activities for the whole family. However, remember that babies need a little extra protection in the summertime.

Babies have extremely sensitive skin. They often sunburn very easily and should be protected from direct sunlight. While it is ideal to keep babies in the shade at all times, sometimes that simply isn't possible. Previously, pediatricians suggested babies should not use sunscreen before the age of six months. Recently the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued statements indicating that it is okay to use sunscreen. Make sure to use brands formulated for babies since they are often gentler for sensitive skin or check with your doctor for a recommendation. Even if you are using sunscreen, keep baby under an umbrella or shade. If you take baby to the beach, pool or just fill a wading pool in the backyard, make sure that you keep baby shaded as much as possible – there are some great floats and wading pools that even have built in shades -- and reapply sunscreen frequently.

It is also possible for babies to get overheated or even get heat stroke. Make sure to keep your baby in loose fitting clothing that breathes. Lightweight cotton such as seersucker is ideal. On a hot day in the house, strip baby down to only her diaper.

Make sure never to leave baby in an area that gets uncomfortably hot or to set baby on a surface that has been heating in the sun. Check strollers, car seats and play equipment before setting your baby on them to ensure they are not too hot since all of these can hold enough heat to burn skin.

If baby is in hot weather for a long period, you may need to supplement her breast milk or formula with a little bit of water. While under normal circumstances she will get all the liquid she needs from breast milk or formula, this is not always the case in hot weather. If your baby gets lethargic or listless, contact your doctor immediately. Dehydration is extremely dangerous in babies.

In addition to being aware of dangers from the sun and heat, make sure to protect your baby from other summer dangers. Insect bites can carry dangerous diseases as well as being uncomfortable; talk to your doctor about what repellants you can safely use with your baby. Water safety is also critical. With the added exposure to summer water fun, make sure you are vigilant in watching your baby around any body of water and never leave water standing in pools or backyard containers or toys.

Babies are so cute, but they can be a lot of trouble. I once read where a scientist said that babies, both animal and human ones, were cute by design because if they weren't so cute then mothers would just chunk them. Babies require much care in their first years, and crying babies are no fun; it's hard to decide just what they want sometimes. Although I loved caring for my children when they were young, I'm glad they're older now so I can relax and just enjoy their company.

I found a Snugli carrier to be a lifesaver when my children were babies. The Snugli is a backpack-type carrier that can be worn on the back or chest. It holds the baby close to the mother (or father), and is comforting to the baby since it can hear the mother's heartbeat if carried on the front. The Snugli is great for nursing babies, since the pack covers the mother and the baby can nurse while concealed.

The Snugli is great in winter; it keeps the mom very warm as well as the baby. I used to go out in freezing weather without a coat; everyone would say, aren't you freezing? And I'd say, no. The baby's warmth keeps me quite toasty. My two youngest kids practically lived in the Snugli, and when I'd try to put them down when they were asleep, they'd wake up and want back in the Snugli. It's an awesome bonding experience for mother and child to be that close; it's actually a continuation of carrying the baby around for 9 months, just in a different place.
Having the baby in the Snugli was a lifesaver when I was having a busy day. There's hardly anything that can't be done while carrying the baby in the pack since the baby becomes like an extension to the mother's body. I've cooked many meals, done housework, shopped at the mall, hiked up mountains, and participated in many outdoor activities with a snuggled baby. For small babies, the Snugli can't be beat; once the baby begins to get heavy, he'll want to be getting out of the pack anyway. It's easier to carry larger babies on the back, and letting the dad do that is a good idea too.

Once I saw a couple of dads carrying their toddlers in Snugli packs. We were at Chimney Rock, North Carolina on top of a mountain, and the babies seemed much safer in the packs than the others who were toddling around on the rocks up there. A large church group was there, and they had a guy with them who was in a wheelchair. There was a steep set of stairs that had to be climbed to get all the way to the top of the rock, and although a good view was possible from the lower levels, this guy really wanted to go up the summit. The leader of the church group sympathized with the young man in the wheelchair, but he and the rest of the group could offer no solution to the problem since he was much too heavy for them to lift.

The dads saw what was happening and had a solution. They said, Hey, we'll help you up to the top. Both dads put down their Disney diaper bags and each grabbed an arm of the wheelchair. Still holding their kids in the packs, the built dads lifted the wheelchair and walked up the stairs all the way to the top. They deposited the beaming young man at the summit, and told him when he was ready to go back down; they'd be there to help him. The church group leader and some of the other members thanked the dads and helped the guy in the wheelchair navigate around at the top of the mountain. I was thinking, What great dads! They're good examples for their kids. The babies had the best view, riding on their fathers' backs. Later on I saw the two dads hiking up the trail to the waterfall, speeding past everyone along the way, diaper bags swaying as they passed. The babies seemed to be having a great time on their outing.

I think a good idea would be for Snugli to make a swimming carrier. It's so hard to properly watch more than one child at a time while swimming. My child once was in a floating inflatable animal in a pool, with her legs securely stuck through the holes and floaties on her arms. I turned my back to check on another child, and when I turned back around, my child was upside down in the floating animal, her feet kicking the air and her head underwater. My heart stopped. I turned her right-side-up and no harm was done except for both of us being totally frightened, but I thought, "There" got to be a safer way to let a baby play in a pool. I have had my Snugli in the water before; it's machine-washable so it doesn't matter if it gets wet, but it does get a little saggy and then after getting out the baby can't ride in it since it's sopping wet. I guess a solution would be to have 2 Snuglis; one for swimming and one dry.

I still love Snuglis, wet or dry, and I love to see young parents wearing them. I hate to see crying babies stuck in strollers at the mall or tiny newborns in a grocery cart; I always think, "You need to be close to your mommy in a Snugli!"

As we all know, every living being has its own preferences of food, colors, inhabitance, etc., and these keep on changing all along with the age of every creature. These may vary in numerable ways. Even a preference disliked by a person may find itself very much liked by another one. But if we consider babies of human beings as a single class, say up to five years of age, some very interesting and distinctive features are there, which one can find commonly all over the world.

First let us try to make a list of liking of these babies:

Mother
Toys
Eatables
Other babies
To do things which are prohibited
Expression
Inclusion
Going outside
Story listening
Company
Colorful articles

Mother

Mother is obviously the most important thing in the world for all the babies. However science predicts the reason of attraction in babies towards their mother as mother's feed. But some inexplicable reasons may also be there for that type of attraction. The position of a father comes to a next to a mother. From the very beginning the baby is attached to the mother by way of breast feeding; whereas, the father is no way near the scene for at least one odd year.

Toys

Almost all babies like toys. The reason behind this tendency is that whatever they see around them comes in front of them in a miniature form which they can accommodate in their minds more comfortably. Moreover the attractive colors, sounds, activities and reach provided by the toys adds to the taste of babies.

Eatables

The attraction towards eatables has more to do with their variety rather than the quantity. Usually the little ones want more and more different types of eatables. They get fed up very soon if offered with the same type of eatables every day. For example if we place different kinds of sweets, fruits, bakery items and soft drinks in front of them, more often than not, the babies would like to have a taste of each and every item instead of having the taste of a single item only. Likewise if we give chocolates of same kind every day the babies would not have the same liking after five or six days. One more aspect associated with eatables is that whatever is eaten by the elders the babies also want to have a bit of that no matters whether they are hungry or not. And so it is clear that the factors like thirst and hunger do not have the only impact on their attraction towards eatables.

Other babies

When a baby is in the company of other babies, it feels more joyful as compared to the company of the elder ones. The way of communication among them is quite interesting. Let them be alone for a while and try to watch them from a distant place, and you will surely experience that they are able to make a world of their own.

To do things which are prohibited

'Jony Jony yes papa' is a very famous poem. He eats sugar and tells a lie before his father. The parents usually prevent the children from eating much of sugar but the children do so in the absence of their parents. So is the case with other things and habits. It is often suggested that if you are unable to open the lid of a jar then you can do so by asking a baby not to touch the jar.

Expression

This liking is in fact common among all the living beings. But among babies it is more prominent. In a family, a baby likes to give most importance to its expression, especially when in front of its parents. For example, frequent crying, laughing, loudly speaking, running here and there, trying to climb up, doing acrobats, etc. All this he does to attract the attention of the persons around him.

Inclusion

Babies have a preference of inclusion in every matter be it important or unimportant while the elders talk with each other, the babies wish to be an integral part of that talk. If they weep babies would be weeping. However, this taste can be used to impart good habits among the children. For example, if you clean your clothes, babies would follow you. Similarly you do dusting of articles; the babies would like to participate.

Going outside

Well, this predilection develops among babies while they start walking on their own legs. This tendency has its origin from the habit of not liking the same atmosphere for too long. Since outside the home, in the streets or in the market, the atmosphere keeps on changing every now and then, while inside the house the process is rather slow. So looking for a new atmosphere is the reason that prompts the babies to go outside.

Story listening

This can enhance the thinking power or the power of imagination among babies, which is very essential in their intellectual development. Stories full of wonder, magic, surprises, suspense, tragedy, drama etc. are listened to with so much of interest by them. They feel themselves completely in a different world where things are unimaginable, unexpected and unprecedented. But on the same hand, if the story does not contain these factors, then the children may get bold. And on the same lines, this taste can be used to develop inspiration and human values of various kinds in them.

Company

Generally the children wish to be with someone or else. Take it for granted that the babies can be left alone while they are sleeping. Their company may differ at different times. For example they want the company of their mother while going to bed, the company of other babies while playing, the company of father or any other male member in the family while going outside and also sometimes the company of their own toys.

Colorful articles

Toys, sweets, fruits, dresses, chocolates are some of the articles, which are liked more, as these are bright and colorful. Even holding a pen in its hand a baby would like to draw lines of different colors in a zigzag way on the paper. It is observed that babies like bright colors and not dull colors. One can easily say a baby playing with different types of dolls and dressing them with various colored frocks and other garments.

Apart from the above mentioned tastes, some babies may have some more preferences but more or less these are found virtually in every corner of this world and, thus, suggesting that mankind has basically similar sort of habits at the very initial stages of life.

There is no doubt about it. Baby's first birthday party is more for Mom and Dad than for baby. Yes, a one-year old is now old enough to grasp the concept of fun and attention, but realistically he would not care whether his party was comprised of Grandma in a party hat or a roomful of dressed-up toddlers playing games.

I am not trying to suggest you should not have a party to celebrate the first anniversary of baby's arrival. What you should do, however, is lower your expectations.

1. Do not expect baby to care about the presents: Young children are notoriously more enchanted by the boxes presents come in than the gifts themselves. Add practical presents like clothing and books to the mix and you'll be lucky if you can convince the little one to rip the paper off all of the loot. If however, you have invited some three or four year old cousins or family friends, they will be more than happy to live vicariously and do the unwrapping for baby.

2. Do not expect baby to stay neat and clean: The one thing baby is likely to enjoy immensely at his party is the cake. So, even if your precious one has stayed tidy until cake time, it is virtually impossible for him to get past the cake, frosting and ice cream unsullied.

3. Do not expect baby to stay happy/awake/interested: Babies have their own agendas. It is quite probably for baby to fall asleep or have a giant gas bubble-induced tantrum at the height of the festivities.

Once you understand all of this, if you still want to have a party on the big day, by all means go ahead. Plan favors and games for the bigger kids and put out a gourmet spread for the grownups. Take pictures of baby burning his finger on his first birthday candle and enjoy.

Why do babies always get sick on nights and weekends? I'm not talking about colds. Colds happen at any time of day, any day of the week. I am talking about strange symptoms, high fevers, wheezing chests, they all occur late at night when there is no way to reach your regular pediatrician.

They tell me that long ago, people could actually call their doctors after hours. As much as I think that would have been great for parents, it must have been horrible for doctors. Today, it is much more common to be referred to a nurse advice line for late night questions. And, when I have called, they have actually been wonderful. They have the correct dosage of baby Tylenol at their fingertips (why do the manufacturers insist on putting "ask your doctor" on the instructions for medicating babies under age two?) and they know when to worry about a fever and when to relax.

But even with their backup, we have spent a couple scary evenings in the ER. The night our toddler stopped toddling, simply crying and refusing to walk, saying "Owie" and pointing to her legs, we had no choice. Hours of waiting, an exam and an MRI later, they determined her cold virus had settled in her joints and she needed some Tylenol. By the time we got home, I needed far more than that.

I have since learned that for interim times (until nine at night or on weekends) there is a local pediatric urgent care. It is less crowded and friendlier than the emergency room and they specialize in kids, so I will try them the next time I am in a panic in the middle of the night over my little one's health.

Whether you have been breastfeeding your baby for only a couple of months or for as long as two years, you probably won't be able to wean your baby in one or two days. Weaning your child will take patience, but it doesn't have to be difficult for you or your baby.

When your baby is just an infant, your milk supply may not have completely regulated itself. Breast milk production is based on supply and demand. The more you nurse your child, the more milk you will produce. As you gradually lessen the amount of time you breastfeed your baby on a daily basis, your milk supply will adjust itself. This is the key to weaning.

Many women decide to wean their children because they must go back to work. While some mothers are able to pump while they are at work, thus keeping their milk supply at about the same amount as if they were nursing during the day at home, others can't pump or don't want to. Some mothers don't want to completely wean their babies, but instead they just want to drop a couple of feedings. The premise is still the same. The less you nurse, the less milk you will produce.

To begin weaning your baby, or at least cutting back on the feedings, you will want to drop one feeding every five to seven days, before you drop the next feeding. Instead of nursing your child during that feeding, you will want to offer him a bottle. Now, if he has been exclusively breastfed, he may put up quite a battle with the new nipple of a bottle, and you may have to experiment with a variety of nipples before you find one that he will take. It may be necessary, also, for you to let someone else give your baby the bottle the first few times, since he is only use to nursing when he is with you.

Once you have dropped one feeding successfully, you can go on to drop another one using the same procedure. You will need to be as consistent as possible and try to stick to a schedule of nursing and bottle feeding, so that your baby will become use to a routine. As you continue to drop a feeding, you will find that your body is producing less and less milk.

If you want to continue dropping feedings until your child is completely weaned, you should still plan on waiting five to seven days between each dropped feeding, and be sure that you substitute the breast with a bottle of formula or milk, depending upon your child's age. Most pediatricians recommend that babies be given formula until they reach one year of age. If your baby is eating more and more solid foods, you may find that it isn't necessary to give your baby the breast or bottle quite as often. You'll need to check with your pediatrician to determine how much milk your baby still needs.

The morning and evening feedings should be the last ones that you drop. If you still want to nurse your baby a couple of times a day, you can plan to nurse only in the morning and evening. Your body should still produce enough milk for you to be able to do this if you consistently nurse twice a day. Weaning your baby doesn't have to be unpleasant for you or your child. It will take patience, but eventually you can wean your baby totally, or you can reduce the amount of times you nurse your baby during the day.

By Susie McGee

Babies are busy little wonders, constantly on the move, learning new things. Sometimes, we, as adults, wonder where they get their energy. Their desire to learn is almost contagious. They will probably never be so determined to learn as they do when they are babies, and if you are the parent of an infant, you have so many of your child's milestones to look forward to.

Babies begin learning and discovering even before they are born. Many parents today read to their unborn children, and some of them play various types of music, especially classical. Studies have shown that a newborn can recognize her mother's voice simply because she heard it so often while she was in the womb.

Once your baby is born, her learning experiences will intensify. While too much stimulation can cause a baby to become fussy and irritable, you can help your child reach her milestones as she continues to grow and develop.

One of the most important things you can do for your baby is to read to him, and you shouldn't wait till he is a toddler to do so. Although a newborn can't actually understand what you are saying, and of course, he won't be focusing too intently on the book that you hold in front of him, he will be learning simply by listening to you pronounce the words.

You may find that your infant focuses more intently on books and other objects that are mainly red, black, and white. Once your child's eyesight becomes more developed, her color preferences will change. Until they do, however, you should offer her books and toys that consist of these colors. Infants also love faces, and you can stimulate her eyesight by holding pictures of faces and other objects six to eight inches from her own face. Her favorite item to look at, however, will be your face, so be sure and talk to her often.

As your child becomes a three to six month old, you will notice that he becomes more intent on trying to grasp items that are in reach. You can help your baby become more adept at grasping these items by holding objects, such as rattles, balls, and small stuffed or rubber toys within his grasp. He may only bat at them in the beginning, but eventually he will be able to wrap his tiny fingers around them. His whole face will light up with joy when he accomplishes this small task, and he will probably continue to grab any and everything within his reach, including your face and hair!

As your child gets closer to the six month stage, he may be sitting up with support. You can help him to become more agile by placing several colorful toys within his reach. He may lean forward and to the side to try and grasp these toys, and this is strengthening many of his muscles.

Don't forget to give your baby plenty of tummy time. When she is only a newborn, you should plan on laying her on her tummy for a few moments every day. She will start trying to raise her head, and this will strengthen her neck, arm, and chest muscles. As she continues to grow, place her on her tummy several times during the day. Eventually, when she is around six or seven months, you will probably notice her raise up on her hands and knees. She may rock back and forth or flop forward or backward. This is the preface to crawling, although some babies may skip crawling altogether and begin walking instead.

Your little one may have rolled from her tummy to her back when she was younger, and now that she is seven or eight months old, she may have learned to roll from her back to her front. This may become her mode of movement, and you may discover that she can travel great distances simply by rolling over and over. Remember-you should always put your infant to bed on her back, however, to lessen the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Once your baby is able to freely roll from her back to her front and vice versa, you shouldn't worry as much about keeping her on her back. In fact, it may be virtually impossible!

When your baby is close to a year old, he may be pulling up and cruising around the furniture. Look out! Now that he has become this mobile, there isn't any stopping him! This type of movement usually precludes a baby's actual first steps. Most pediatricians caution parents against putting their children into walkers because of the possibility of injury due to a fall. Instead, there are many wonderful push toys that your child can hold on to and push as he walks. You can encourage your child to take a few steps by standing in front of him, so that he may come to you, or by placing a favorite toy a few feet out of reach and helping him begin walking towards it.

At about the same time that your baby is learning to walk, she may also be uttering her first words. She may have already been repeating "mama" and "dada", and even if she doesn't quite associate those words with the people they represent, they will still be music to your ears. As she becomes a year old, she will actually be able to understand a few words that you repeat daily to her, including her own name. You can help expand your child's vocabulary by continuing to read to her, and by pointing out various objects inside and outside of your home.

Your baby will enjoy learning and experiencing new things, even if those things are mundane chores to you, such as yard work and grocery shopping. Remember- this is how he learns about the world around him! As your child continues to grow and develop, you should look for ways to stimulate him and help him reach the many milestones that he has yet to reach. Learning is exciting for him, and watching him learn can be almost as exciting for you, too!

By Susie McGee

Most pediatricians recommend that mothers try to breastfeed their babies. Breast milk has many wonderful nutrients that are almost impossible to reproduce in formula, and breast milk offers a baby disease fighting antibodies. Breastfed babies also show a reduced incidence of allergies.

New mothers can attest to the fact, however, that breastfeeding isn't as easy as it may sound. Sure, Mother Nature is suppose to kick in and work her magic, so that all a new mom has to do is offer her breast to the baby, and everything after that is a breeze. Not in the real world! Successful breastfeeding can be painful in the beginning, and it takes work. But new moms should remember that any amount of time they breastfeed is a good thing.

The world wide average for breastfeeding a child is approximately two years. In the United States, most pediatricians suggest that a mom should try to breastfeed exclusively for at least six months. Obviously, the amount of time a mom breastfeeds her baby is an individual choice.

If you are going to breastfeed, you need to understand a few things. When your baby is born, you won't immediately have milk. Instead, you'll have a sticky substance called colostrum, which is chocked full of nutrients. Until your milk comes in, this is what will sustain your baby.

If at all possible, plan on placing your newborn to your breast immediately after birth. Although he may not be interested or want to nurse for very long, this will be your first opportunity to bond with your baby. Once the excitement of his birth has died down somewhat, you can spend more time perfecting your nursing technique.

After two or three days, your milk supply will typically come in full force. All of a sudden, your breasts, which were already larger due to your pregnancy, will seem to triple in size! If you don't get some relief soon, your breasts will actually resemble footballs! While this enhanced size may intrigue your husband, it won't be too comfortable for you!

Many of the magazines you read will tell you that if your nipples are sore, then you are doing something wrong. This isn't necessarily true. After all, how often do you have someone suck so powerfully on your breasts that you have to break the suction? It's no wonder you are sore! This is when you will have to tough it out for the first few weeks. Take heart, though, because your nipples will begin to toughen up, and after you've been nursing for three or four months, you'll be able to walk around the house with your baby latched on and barely feel a thing.

Until then, you will want to try to prevent cracked nipples, engorgement, clogged ducts, and mastitis, a very painful infection of the breasts. Your baby will probably want to nurse every two to three hours, and she may nurse for as much as twenty minutes on each breast. It is important that she takes the nipple and the areola surrounding the nipple into her mouth. If she doesn't get enough of your breast in her mouth, you will experience extreme soreness. To get her to latch on correctly, tickle her check with your nipple or a finger, and when she opens wide, quickly pull her head to your breast. If it doesn't feel as if she has latched on correctly, gently place a finger in the side of her mouth to break the suction, and do the same procedure again. Once she has finished nursing, apply a lanolin based ointment to your nipples and the surrounding areola to keep them soft and supple.

Try to begin nursing with the opposite breast each time you nurse. If you can't remember which breast you should start with, you might want to place a safety pin on your bra. In the first few months that you are nursing, you may find that you leak milk unexpectedly and in the most embarrassing places. It is a good idea to purchase nursing pads to place in your bra. There are several varieties, including disposable and washable ones.

Remember, nursing should be a wonderful, bonding experience for you and your baby. Only you should decided on how long you want to nurse, and you shouldn't let anyone else question your decision. If you try breastfeeding and it just doesn't work for you, don't worry about it. Formulas today are fortified to give babies a healthy start, and you can bond just as closely with your baby by holding him close as you give him a bottle. If you do choose to breastfeed, however, hang in there! It will get easier!

By Susie McGee

Do you ever wonder why your best friend’s child is always such a little angel while you seem to be the mother of a tempestuous toddler? Of course, if she is a true friend, she’ll tell you about all of the times her darling Debbie has emptied out her makeup drawer, drawn on the walls, and flushed her favorite lipstick down the toilet. If she isn’t a true friend, she’ll just smile smugly as you struggle to gain control of a child who has suddenly developed jellylike arms and legs. She’ll tell you that this is a phase, and how she is sure things will be better for you tomorrow. All the while, her angelic child looks on in confusion as your child emits another ear-spitting howl.

If this is a semi-accurate picture of your life, take heart. You are not alone. When do the terrible toddler tantrums hit? Who can say? Some babies begin to exert their independence by the time they are eighteen months old. Others, like my daughter, may seem perfectly fine until they reach the age of three. Then, watch out!

While you secretly long for the peaceful days when your baby could only smile at you from her infant seat as she waited for you to attend to her every need, you must find some way to handle your screaming two-year old who is demanding the latest Polly Pocket as you try to subtly disappear into the supermarket aisle.

As you attempt to shush your child, you smile self-consciously at other shoppers as they try not to notice your inability to control your child. What’s a mom to do? Are you completely inept at handling your toddler? Can a two year old really get the best of you?

Obviously, there isn’t a magical cure for handling your toddler’s worst moments. However, you can and should set limits for your child. He needs to understand that his tantrums will not receive positive results. Do not give in to your child, no matter how much easier it may seem at the moment! You are only prolonging the inevitable! Instead, you should find ways to make it more difficult for your child to continue in his behavior.

If this means walking out of a store and leaving a shopping cart full of groceries that you haven’t been able to pay for yet, then so be it! Yes, it will be difficult, and it won’t be very pleasant, but you are the one in charge, not your child. It may help you to keep repeating that mantra over and over. Once you get home, place your child in a time out. Explain to him that he will never, NEVER, get a toy or other special gift if he continues to act in an unacceptable manner, and stick to it! Consistency is the key! Eventually, your child will believe that you are the one in charge, and whether he realizes it or not, life will be simpler for you both.
by Susie McGee

Which is best, breast feeding or formula feeding? Is there actually a right answer? Obviously, doctors and nurses will tell you that breastfeeding offers babies so many benefits that can’t be found in formula, and they are right. Babies receive much needed antibodies from breast milk, and breast fed babies have been found to have less allergies. The choice should be easy then, right?

There are some other points to consider, however. Breastfeeding isn’t the easiest thing to do, and if a new mother doesn’t have a strong support system, she may feel overwhelmed in trying to nurse her baby. Does this mean she should suffer through the stress and grief over unsuccessfully, and sometimes painfully, trying to nurse her baby? Maybe not.

I’ve nursed all four of my children, so you would probably think I am very much a proponent of breastfeeding. You’d actually be right. I am. However, I am much more in favor of a happy, stress-free mother and child relationship, and sometimes that just doesn’t go hand-in-hand with breastfeeding. Simply put, breastfeeding just isn’t for everyone, and nobody should be made to feel guilty simply because she chooses to feed her baby formula!

The great thing about formulas today is that they are fortified with iron and all of the other much needed vitamins. Formulas have come a long way since we were babies, and children grow up just fine and healthy who have never had any breast milk.

The point is that this battle between breast and formula must stop. Mothers have enough pressures to deal with everyday, so why should they put additional pressure on each other to conform to their ideal of the perfect way to feed a baby? People need to learn to accept each other choices. You, and only you, know the best way to take care of your baby, and it isn’t anyone else’s business how you do that as long as you are loving him and looking after his immediate needs.

Stop feeling guilty about the choices you make! You shouldn’t have to explain your decision to anyone, not your mother-in-law or your next-door neighbor. Don’t listen to unsolicited advice, or if you do listen, let it go in one ear and out the other. If others question your choices, don’t be afraid to speak up and let them know that you are making the best decision for you and your child. Eventually, people will leave you alone.

There will probably always be the battle between breast milk and formula, but only so long as there are people who constantly want to inflict their opinions on others. Empower yourself by believing in your ability to take care of your child! You are a good mother, and your choice as to how to feed your baby doesn’t change that! Don’t let anyone make you feel less of a mother or a person because of a choice that you make!

Susie McGee

It actually happened! There was no doubting that tell-tale positive showing on the pregnancy test stick. Was I in shock? You bet! I had all but given up becoming pregnant after trying for over a year. It really is amazing how time changes your body! When I was in my twenties, I easily conceived three children, who are now teenagers. If I wanted to become pregnant, I was pregnant. Charting an ovulation calendar would have been completely foreign to me back then. Taking my temperature? Only if I was sick!

I think I actually took my body for granted. I conceived easily in the past, so why shouldn’t I be able to do so now? Age is just a number, right? Wrong! It may be a number, but age also can play havoc with your body, at least the reproductive parts of your body. If you read the statistics, which I didn’t in the beginning, it actually seems like a miracle that I was able to conceive at all without some type of fertility treatment.

I didn’t take planning a pregnancy lightly. After all, my children were teens. Did I really want to start over? Did I want to be the mother to another teen when I was in my fifties? However, my new husband had never been married and didn’t have any children of his own, and I knew he would make a wonderful father. What better gift could we give each other than a baby?

Sure, with my children from a previous marriage on their way to independence, we could have lots of time for just the two of us, but did we really want or need that time? Don’t get me wrong. My wonderful husband made it plain that he was happy with me and my children, and if we didn’t have a child of our own that was just fine with him. But, I kept asking myself, “What if we do have a child?” Can I juggle working full-time, running teens here and there, and a baby, too? I wasn’t getting any younger, of course.

But then, I looked at my own life. I’m the baby of four children, and there is ten years between myself and my brother, and my sisters were fifteen and seventeen when I was born. Could history repeat itself? My mom always said that when the doctor told her she was pregnant with me, he said, “This baby will keep you young.” As I watch my elderly parents with my own children, I think of what they would have missed if they hadn’t had me and later my children as their beloved grandchildren.

So, when I had practically given up hope, the almost unimaginable happened! I was pregnant! I did manage my pregnancy just fine as I continued to work, and now our precious baby boy is about to turn one year old. As I look at his sweet face, I wonder how I could have even doubted whether I should try to get pregnant. As I watch him with his sisters and brothers, who all adore him, I shudder to think at what they would have missed not having him as their baby brother. And, when I see my husband lift his son into his arms, I’m so happy that we are able to share the magic of this child together. Sometimes life has a way of taking decisions into its own hands, and I’m so glad! I wouldn’t have missed this for the world!

Susie McGee

You've just become a new parent, and you are bursting with joy! Now, comes the hard part, though. Not only can you brag about your new bundle of love, but you have to take care of him or her. Where do you begin? Of course, there are many aspects to taking care of your baby, but one important aspect is bathing him. It can be a little daunting to an inexperienced parent, though.

Keep in mind that a newborn really isn't going to get that dirty. It's not as if he is going to hop out of his bed and play in the mud outside, right? Still, you will want to keep him as clean and sweet smelling as possible, especially his little bottom. There are a few points you should keep in mind.

Newborns don't need to be bathed everyday, and until the umbilical cord has fallen off, you can't give your newborn a tub bath. It generally takes one to two weeks for the umbilical cord to fall off, and until then, you will need to give sponge baths only. If your infant is a boy, you will also need to use caution if he has been circumcised until the circumcision has healed.

You will want to use baby wash and/or shampoo to wash your baby. Other shampoos and soaps aren't specially formulated for baby's sensitive skin. You may discover that your infant hates to be undressed. She may actually feel very vulnerable when she is naked, so even though you will take all of her clothes and her diaper off, be sure to wrap her in a soft towel. This will help her to feel more secure, and it will also keep her from getting chilled.

You should plan on bathing her in a warm room. If you aren't giving tub baths yet, you can wrap her in a towel and gently sponge her body with a soft wash cloth and a small amount of baby soap. You do not need to use soap on her face. Water will do the job just fine.

Once the umbilical cord has fallen off, you can give your child a tub bath. It will be easier for you if you have a baby tub that fits in your bathtub or kitchen or bathroom sink. The water should be warm, but not too hot. Be sure that your baby cannot accidentally hit the faucet handle and cause the water to turn on. You definitely don't want to burn your baby with hot water.

You should start bathing your baby by using a wet washcloth to gently clean his face. You can wipe the outside of his eyes by starting in the inner corner of each eye and swiping to the outer corner. You should then wash the rest of his face and ears. You can now add soap to the cloth and work your way down his body, washing his bottom last. Finally, add a small amount of baby shampoo to the washcloth and wash his hair. Rinse him off completely, and swaddle him in a towel. You should dry him off and dress him as quickly as possible. Bathing your baby doesn't have to be difficult, and eventually you and your baby will look forward to bath time!

Susie McGee

The pressure is on. We have one happy, healthy toddler. Why does everyone, our daughter included think we need another?

I was on the older side when I got pregnant, I had our daughter right before my 35th birthday and we were at least sure we didn't want two babies really close together. So, we would wait a couple years and decide. Now, I am 38 and we have pretty much decided we are done. Yet there are still those niggling doubts.

Last week in the car, my daughter said: "Mommy, I really want a sister." That got me. I am an only child and always wanted a sister. Shouldn't I give her one? I like the idea of her having someone to play with.

I also long for that cuddly baby time, someone who only wants to snuggle and doesn't wiggle away, too busy to give more than a drive-by kiss and hug. As exhausting as that dependent stage is, it is also very fulfilling.

Yet, on the other side of the equation are logical things. Finances would be very tight with another. We are on the verge of being able to travel again. I actually find a little time to write each day. I had a rough pregnancy and was sick for seven months; the thought of going through that again while entertaining a toddler is unsettling. All of the things my head tells me indicate we are done; we should not upset the delicate balance we have achieved. Someday, though, my heart says otherwise.

Nearly every day, someone asks, "Is she your only one? Are you going to have more?" Four of the moms at ballet class, out of about 12, are pregnant. Their tummies remind me, even when their words don't. The clock is ticking. If you want one, do it now.

I know women who successfully balance work, several happy kids and new pregnancies. Maybe they have something I don't. Maybe I have something they don't. I just hope I have the right decision for me.
by AnnM.

Doctors may not have diagnosed it yet, but I am pretty sure there is a condition that the stay at home mothers of six to eight month old babies commonly suffer. I have dubbed it the seven-month doldrums.

When babies are tiny, they make so many demands that there is little time for anything other than feeding, changing, bathing and sleeping. New mothers can barely see to their own needs, much less to think beyond the house. While baby is not very interactive, she is in need of nearly constant attention and sleep deprived moms simply stagger from one necessary task to the next.

As baby grows and begins to sleep for longer durations, mom gradually gets a little more sleep. Baby's first smile, first sit, first grab for a toy all make her realize that her little bundle is growing, developing and turning into a person. At six months, baby starts on solid food and gives mommy new challenges of feeding, monitoring allergies,
and suddenly, baby wants attention. Not just the diaper-changing-feeding-bouncing kind that she wanted when she was tiny, although she still wants all of those things, too. Now baby knows whether mommy is paying attention to her. She wants to play and play the same game over and over and over. Baby can drop a toy and watch mommy pick it up endlessly.

Suddenly, mom is required to entertain someone who, while cute, cuddly, brilliant and adorable is also just a teeny bit boring. Mom has been getting just enough sleep to want a little bit of social and intellectual stimulation, more than Baby Mozart or Elmo can offer. Unfortunately, baby isn't quite up to the task.

So, mom finds herself stir crazy, craving something, but not sure what it is. Should she go back to work? She may feel baby is still too young. Mom feels a little selfish worrying about herself and her own needs while baby is still so clearly fragile, needy, tiny.

It gets better. Mom is driven out of the house to do something, meet someone. Whether she starts going to the park, joins a mom's club or just goes to the gym while plopping baby in childcare, she has to do something. And, baby soon gets beyond this stage. Soon, she will be walking, talking, throwing, climbing enough to keep mom stimulated and exhausted in whole new ways once again. One way or another, it all works out. In the meantime, assure yourself. The feelings are real. They are normal. You'll be happiest if you do something about them.