23 Weeks – Tabitha
Posted on | December 6, 2009 | 1 Comment
Tags: 23 weeks pregnant > babies > guest writers > Pregnancy > pregnancy stories > tabitha
22 Weeks – Tabitha
Posted on | December 6, 2009 | No Comments
Tags: 22 weeks pregnant > babies > guest writers > Pregnancy > pregnancy stories > tabitha
21 Weeks – Tabitha
Posted on | December 6, 2009 | No Comments
This week you grew, or at least my belly really did. You’re about as long as a carrot now! We were having trouble getting a good picture from the front, and when I bent down to relieve a little pressure, daddy said, “That’s it!” and snapped… and there you are. I think you’re beginning to take up martial arts, because you’re always flipping around and kicking. Daddy and Aliyah can feel you move now, and we get so excited thinking and talking about what it’s going to be like with you in the house with us. I’ve started a new craving… an omelet every morning with orange juice, we always need to keep orange juice in the house. I just can’t stop thinking about holding your tiny little body when you arrive!
Tags: 21 weeks pregnant > babies > guest writers > Pregnancy > pregnancy stories > tabitha
20 Weeks – Tabitha
Posted on | December 6, 2009 | No Comments
Tags: 20 weeks pregnant > babies > guest writers > Pregnancy > pregnancy stories > tabitha
Traveling With Babies
Posted on | December 5, 2009 | No Comments
If you start baby travel slowly and plan wisely, both you and baby will enjoy first-class comfort. Begin with baby steps and you’ll find that soon you and your little one will be able to walk, ride, or fly in the fast lane.
Day Trips
Introduce baby to travel starting with a few day-trips to a local relative or friend. Basic equipment will be a packed diaper bag, a stroller or pram (if you’ll spend some time outdoors), and a car seat. Most modern car seats easily detach and convert into a baby carrier.
Be sure to pack your diaper bag with a diaper for each two hours you intend to be away from home. Pack 2 nipples for each bottle you pack, two to three receiving blankets, and an extra change of clothing for baby and an extra shirt for you. Cut down on diaper bag weight and keep things easy to find by using Ziploc bags to pack extras like nipples, wipes, and pacifiers. Pack one large, empty Ziploc for soiled items.
Overnights
For baby’s first overnight trip, you’ll need to extend your day-trip plan with a couple of extra receiving blankets and extra sets of clothing for baby. Even if your overnight trip is to Grandma’s house, remember that nighttime sounds and perceptions may be different from those during daytime hours. A good pram with wheel locks can double as a bassinet, helping baby feel right at home and enabling everyone to sleep more comfortably through the night.
If overnight travel is a frequent part of your regular routine, consider investing in a Graco Pack ‘n Play Classic Care Center. This excellent piece of baby travel equipment is a bassinet, changing table, and playpen in one portable unit that folds into a handy tote bag. There are 22 models of the Classic Care Center. With prices starting at under $50.00, you’re sure to find one that’s right for your little one and your budget.
Extended Hotel Stays
Many hotels stock products and equipment especially for travelers with babies, but they may not stock the brands you and baby prefer. When you make your reservation, ask for specific information on product brands and the equipment you’ll need to make baby’s stay comfortable. If you opt to use a hotel crib or bassinet, be sure to pack a couple of baby’s own blankets, a familiar mobile, and/or other “security items”.
Although your inclination may be to pack up your complete nursery, in some cases, an extended stay may allow you to pack even less than you would for an overnight trip. For instance, it would be impractical to pack a week’s worth of bottles and nipples. Pack only enough for a day and leave time in your itinerary for clean-ups. When packing baby clothes, include two or three one-piece outfits that can be quickly hand washed when soiled.
You’ll also want to be sure to bring along a stroller. Most contemporary strollers are lightweight and easily collapse for transport or storage. Some models are equipped with multi-position reclining seats so baby can sight-see or nap as he or she chooses. In addition, many have features like tray attachments, sun canopies, attached toy bars, and “parent” trays for your little extras.
If part of your vacation will put you in a crowd, consider a baby backpack or sling. The Baby Bjorn Carrier holds baby safely to your chest, increasing baby’s sense of security as he maintains eye contact with your familiar face.
From day trips to cruise ships, how you travel with babies depends chiefly on your destination and length of stay. However developing a basic plan and adding to it as the situation warrants will quickly make seasoned travel companions out of you and your little one.
About the Author
Linda is mother and grandmother of two, she is author of the Baby Strollers Guide and the Baby Products Guide
A Guide to Easy, Affordable Baby Shower Decorations
Posted on | December 5, 2009 | 1 Comment
Great baby shower decorations are more about using your imagination than your pocketbook! You can create a wonderful party mood with simple, high-impact arrangements. This article details some of the best ideas for baby shower decorations.
Use balloons artfully
Balloons make it feel like a party! Always have balloons at your events. Here’s a money-saver tip – your local 99¢ store will usually have balloons at a much lower price than most party stores.
A basic use of balloons is to create color spots around the room or area where you’re holding the baby shower. Tie a bunch of helium balloons to an anchor. Use baby items like booties, soft toys or baby bottles filled with water as anchors. Always use an odd number of balloons in a bunch.
If you have multiple tables, get a few baby items like shampoo, lotions, bottles, diaper packs, wipes, refill packs, baby formula packs, soft toys, etc and place them in the center of each table. Tie a bunch of balloons to them. Each table now has a color spot.
If you have large gifts like strollers or cribs, tie balloons to them to create a special look. Choose balloon colors according to the sex of the baby. If that’s not known, use both pink and blue balloons.
Use balloons to decorate mommy’s chair. Tie balloons in bunches to her “throne” and treat her like royalty! Also add streamers, satin bows and ribbons to her chair to give it a special look.
If you’re using a specific table for gifts, make sure it has several balloon bunches floating over it. That helps to create a focal point for the gifts.
How to use tubs and umbrellas for baby showers decorations
Use baby tubs as a punch bowl. Get one of those tubs that look like a whale. Fill it with clear punch and put in a small rubber ducky. The tub makes a wonderful present for mom-to-be after the shower.
Here’s another way to use the tub – fill it with individually wrapped presents. That can include diapers, shampoos, lotions, washcloths, etc. For an added effect, put some balloons into the tub too – they will look like floating bubbles! And fix a rubber ducky atop one of the balloons using ribbons.
You know what’s a perfect fit for any baby shower? Umbrellas. After all, it’s a shower, right? Here’s how you can use them.
Collect several different umbrellas from your home. Open them up, fix streamers in various colors (not just pink and blue, though those are fine too) to the umbrellas. Next, fix the umbrellas so that they hang upside down from the ceiling, and the colored streamers flutter above your heads. This makes a great sight!
You can also fill up umbrellas with balloons or even yarn in pastel colors. Hang them upside down at strategic points.
More baby shower decorations that enchant
Here’s a centerpiece idea that’s perfect for these celebrations — baby shower cakes. Not sure what those are? Baby shower cakes (also called diaper cakes) are essentially diapers arranged in multiple tiers to look like a cake, with many small baby products tucked into them. They’re very eye-catching gifts, just right for baby showers. Place one on a table as a centerpiece.
Here’s how to make your tables more appealing. Place small boxes of different heights on them. Drape baby items like receiving blankets over them. Your tables will end up with a more interesting look and feel thanks to varying levels.
Spice up your tables by sprinkling confetti on them that says “It’s a boy” or “It’s a girl.” If the baby’s sex is not known, use both.
Instead of piling gifts onto tables, try using a large item like a stroller or a baby crib to display gifts. This is just right for a baby shower!
Another tried and tested idea is to string a clothesline across the room. Use wooden clothespins to hang cute baby items from the line. Use diapers, baby clothing, booties, socks, bibs, hats, toys and other such items. These products make excellent gifts to mom-to-be after the shower.
Alternatively, hang disposable diapers on the clothesline and using permanent marker, spell out the baby’s name. If the name is not known yet, just write ‘BABY SHOWER’. Clotheslines with names and baby items on them are quite common at showers, yet they invariably become a conversation piece — they look quite cute!
If you’re having a baby shower around Christmas, try this one. Buy an artificial Christmas tree and decorate it with little baby items. Like diapers, clothes, booties, socks, small bottles of lotions and so on. Use twinkle lights as well. This is a wonderful centerpiece for the room.
You can even do miniature trees on each table, similarly decorated. It creates a lovely effect.
There are no limits to the number of ways you can create dazzling baby shower decorations. Combine the above ideas, add your own twist and create an unforgettable shower!
About the Author
Jessika Ryder is a successful business writer and party enthusiast providing valuable information on hosting fun baby showers. Her numerous articles provide tips on party planning, baby shower decorations, invitations and other aspects of these events.
The First Week With Your Baby
Posted on | December 5, 2009 | 1 Comment
The first week of your baby’s life brings big adjustments for both of you. You are adjusting to being a mother and caring for your baby and your baby is adjusting to life outside the womb. It is a time of great joy – and possibly immense fear! Although you’ve been preparing for the birth of your baby for months, now he is here and depending on you for everything which can seem overwhelming. Don’t expect too much of yourself during these first days! If anyone offers you help – take it!
During your baby’s first few weeks of life, he will be concentrating on getting to know you and his surroundings. Your baby needs to be handled so that life outside the womb seems as little different as possible to life inside the womb. Your baby’s needs, while they may seem overwhelming to you, are really simple: food, warmth and comfort from cuddling. Wrap him snugly and warmly, hold him closely, handle him slowly, and feed him when he’s hungry. Your baby will have the routing and sucking reflexes as well as tongue thrust. These are needed to get nourishment from the breast or bottle. You can also use this time to bond with your baby with lots of skin to skin contact.
Whether you decide to breast or bottle feed, feeding in the first few weeks is not an effortless process. Try to have early feeding sessions in a quiet setting with as few distractions as possible. Make sure you are in a comfortable position as it takes new babies a while to eat and you don’t want to end up stiff and sore. Cuddle and caress your baby as feeding time is a wonderful opportunity to show your baby how much he is loved.
If you are breastfeeding, be patient while you and your baby are getting the hang of it! The benefits of breastfeeding are many and in order for it to be successful, it is important to start out right. Keep in mind though it may take several weeks until you both feel comfortable and get a feeding schedule down.
Most new moms feel and experience:
- Exhaustion!
- Bloody vaginal discharge for the first week or so
- Discomfort or pain in the perineal area if you had a vaginal delivery
- Incision pain or numbness if you had a cesarean delivery
- Abdominal cramping (afterpains) as the uterus contracts
- Elation or depression or swings between both
- Breast discomfort or engorgement
- Fears about your adequacy as a mother
- Profuse sweating after the first couple of days
Although it may be tempting to try to be a ’supermom’, now is not the time. The best advice that I received as an new mom was to accept the help of others, eat regular meals and sleep when the baby sleeps. Now it’s my turn to pass that advice on to you.
About The Author
Anne Cavicchi is a Canadian wife and mother of one boy and two step-daughters. She also owns Annie’s Maternity Corner where you’ll find everything you need for pregnancy and baby! Great products, articles, information and more to see you through pregnancy and baby’s first years at Annie’s. www.maternitycorner.com
The Average Growth In Babies
Posted on | December 4, 2009 | No Comments
Growth charts are tools your pediatrician can use to keep track of your child’s physical growth. During each checkup, the doctor will measure your baby’s length, weight, and head circumference. The doctor can then compare the measurements for your baby to a chart of national averages for infants of the same age and sex.
The result is that the doctor will be able to tell you what percentile your baby is in when compared to average baby growth around the nation. For example, if your doctor tells you your 4-month-old is in the 86th percentile for weight, that means 86 percent of the two-month-olds in your country weigh less, and that 14 percent weigh more. A baby that is at the 50th percentile in either height or weight is right at the national average.
Typically, parents seem to worry quite a bit about these percentages, and that worrying is usually needlessly blown out of proportion. There are many factors that come into play when determining where your baby’s statistics will fall in the percentile chart.
It is very important to remember that no two babies are the same and that every child, due to body chemistry, heredity, diet, and many other factors will grow at their own pace.
Some babies will have growth spurts right from the start and others will take a bit longer to begin major growth periods. These measurements, charts, and percentile points are merely guides for a doctor to help in assessing your baby’s growth.
In addition to the measurements that your pediatrician will take during regularly scheduled doctor visits, you may also want to track your baby’s growth at home.
Keep in mind that the measurements you take at home may or may not be as accurate as the measurements your doctor takes, but they can provide a certain degree of insight into the growth of your baby and many new parents have found it to be a fascinating way to participate in the parenting process.
Here are some tips that can help you, as inquisitive parents, track your baby’s growth at home using commercially available scales and other measuring devices.
If baby is too small to stand upright on the scale, you can try using this procedure:
- With your baby in your arms, step onto a standard bathroom scale.
- Make note of the weight displayed on the scale and write it down on a piece of paper.
- Put your baby down and step onto the scale alone this time.
- Make note of the weight displayed and subtract this number from the combined weight of you and your baby. The resulting number is your baby’s weight.
- To measure your baby’s length all you need to do is lay her down on a flat surface (her changing table is a great place for this task) and stretch a measuring tape from head to toes.
- For the measuring of head circumference all you need to do is wrap the measuring tape around your baby’s head. You should wrap the measuring tape just above your baby’s eyebrows, so the tape falls right at the top of the ears. What you are trying to measure is the point around his head that has the largest circumference.
When taking your baby to the doctor your pediatrician will perform more accurate measurements. Pediatricians do the “baby measuring thing” on a daily basis and will be able to achieve a much more accurate result than you will at home. This is due to the fact that they are accustomed to the things babies do that can result in an inaccurate measurement and they have very accurate measuring tools made specifically for the purpose of measuring the characteristics of babies, such as proper baby scales equipped with cradles.
Your doctor will most likely take measurements several times during one visit and average the results together to ensure accuracy and to compensate for any discrepancies that may arise. It is crucial for the doctor’s measurements to be as accurate as possible because a discrepancy of as little as a few millimeters in length or a few grams in weight can make a difference where your baby falls on the charts.
Since the results of these measurements may determine changes to your baby’s diet, and other possible changes to how your baby is fed and treated during her first year, it is important that these results are as accurate as possible.
Your pediatrician will measure the following characteristics of your baby:
Weight:
After calibrating the scale the doctor or nurse will place your completely naked baby on a baby scale. There are electronic and traditional beam-type versions of the baby scale, but most will typically have the same type of baby holding stainless steel cradle. After your child is able to stand on her own, your pediatrician will most likely use a standard upright scale.
Length:
Like weighing, until your baby is able to stand up on his own, your doctor will perform the height/length measurements with your baby lying down. Your doctor may use a tape measure, much like you use at home, or may utilize a special “baby-measuring device”, which consists of a headboard and movable footboard to obtain the most accurate results possible.
Head circumference:
This measurement will be taken in almost the same way you did at home. The doctor will take the measurement at the point where the head is at its largest circumference, right above the ears and around to the back of the head where the neck meets the cranium. Usually the pediatrician will record this measurement to the nearest 0.3 cm (1/8th of an inch).
The head is different from other parts of the body in that the brain is not fully formed at the time of birth and therefore the head will continue to grow during baby’s first year.
Baby’s head is a particular point of concern for the doctor because a head that is growing too rapidly can be a sign of hydrocephalus (water on the brain) and a head that is growing too slowly can be indicative of nutritional or developmental problems. Regardless, you shouldn’t be too concerned if your baby’s head appears a bit disproportional compared to the rest of her body, as this is completely normal for the first year of life.
Fun and Easy Toddlers Christmas Crafts
Posted on | December 2, 2009 | 6 Comments
There are many easy crafts that you can do with your toddler this Christmas. You can find Toddler Christmas Crafts and Kits on Amazon
Free Toddler Christmas Crafts Ideas:
Holiday Card Prints
Letting your toddler sign this year’s holiday cards in a unique way will spice up holiday greeting cards and get them involved in sending out greeting cards. Your family and friends will love the special touch.
Materials
- This Year’s Greeting Cards
- Paint or Pen
Instructions
Take a little paint, paint your toddlers hand and/or foot and make a print on the inside of your greeting cards. Leave the greeting cards open until the paint is dry. You can also use a pen to outline the shape of the hand if you can’t use paint. If you have a lot of cards, just do a few each day so your toddler doesn’t get frustrated.
Christmas Place Mats
Materials
- 2 Sheets of clear Con-Tact paper, placemat size
- Scissors
- Flat Christmas themed items (poinsettia flower petals, pictures of santa claus, etc)
Instructions
Peel the backing off of one piece of Con-Tact paper. Lay it sticky side up on a work surface. Arrange your pictures and other flat items on the sticky contact paper. Take the second piece of Con-Tact paper and lay the sticky side down on to the first piece, sandwiching in your Christmas items. Smooth it out and your done! You can also trim the edges with decorative scissors to give it a special touch.
Foot or Hand Print Wreath
Materials
- Construction Paper in Christmas colors
- Glue
- Glitter, Bows, and other Christmas items.
Instructions
Trace your toddler’s feet and/or hand on the construction paper and cut out each piece. Repeat this until you have about 9-10 pieces. Arrange in a wreath like circle and glue together. Decorate with glitter, a bow, or other Christmas wreath items.
Glittery Snowman
Materials
- Small, Medium, and Large Styrofoam balls
- 8-10 Small black pom-poms
- 3-6 Toothpick
- Glue
- White paint
- Glitter
- Black, Red, and White Construction paper
Instructions
Cut about 1 inch off of the bottom of the largest Styrofoam ball. This will create your base so that the snowman can stand on its own. Glue the 3 Styrofoam balls together with the largest on bottom, medium in the middle, and smallest on top. Paint it all and sprinkle glitter over it. Allow it to dry completely.
Glue black pom-poms to the smallest ball to form the eyes, nose, and a mouth. Use a toothpicks for a nose, arms, and fingers.
Make a black hat for the snowman by cutting a small circle, larger circle, and rectangle from the black construction paper. The small circle is the top of the hat, form the rectangle into a cylinder for the middle of the hat, and glue to the larger circle for the base of the hat. Glue the hat to the top of the snowman’s head.
Use the remaining construction paper to create a stripped scarf, gloves, and other snowman attire.
Homemade Snow Globes
Materials
- Glass Baby Food Jar & Lid
- Glitter
- Baby Oil
- Small Figurines (about 1-1.5 inches tall)
- Glue
Instructions
Glue figurines onto the inside of the lid. Make sure it fits into the jar with lid screwed on. Fill the jar with baby oil and glitter “snow”. Don’t use water, as the oil is thicker and causes the glitter to fall more slowly. Slowly screw the lid onto the jar. Screw the lid on the jar and turn over!
There are many ways to spice up this project. You can use felt or paint to cover the inside and outside of the lid for a more elegant look. You can also tie ribbon and make a bow around the base of the snow globe.
Homemade Gift Wrap
Materials
- Brown shipping paper and/or paper bags
- Paint
- Paint brushes, stamps, sponges or other items
Instructions
Roll out a piece of brown paper or set out paper bags. Allow your toddler to paint the paper using different brushes, sponges, and tools. Be creative about the things you use as paint brushes. Try halved potatoes, toothbrushes, and things around the house. Allow to dry and wrap gifts with it!
Candy Cane Frame Ornament
Materials
- 2 Small Candy Canes
- A small pictures
- Glue
- Felt
- Ribbon
Instructions
Glue the two candy canes together in a heart shape. Allow to dry. Cut a piece of ribbon and string it through the candy cane heart, tie ends together. This is allow you to hang the ornament on the tree. Place the candy cane heart on a piece of felt, trace and cut out. Repeat so you have two pieces of felt. In the center of one piece cut an oval or square window for the picture. Line up the photo in oval or square, and glue in place between the two felt pieces. Glue candy canes to felt. Let it dry and hang on the tree!
Glittery Pinecone Ornaments and Decorations
Materials
- Pinecones of any size
- Glue
- Red, green, silver, and gold glitter
- Coordinating ribbon or string
Instructions
Either collect pinecones outside or purchase them at a craft store. Let your toddler drizzle pinecone with glue; then sprinkle with or roll in glitter. Tie a ribbon or string to top of pinecone. Hang on a tree or use as decoration around the house.
Do you have great Toddler Christmas Crafts? Post it in the comments!
Tags: activites > art > christmas > crafts > holidays > home making > how To > painting > toddles
Introduction to Childbirth Classes
Posted on | November 25, 2009 | No Comments
Childbirth classes can be a helpful and informative step for new parents. A detailed knowledge of pregnancy and delivery is helpful for both the expectant mother and father because there is comfort in knowing what the future holds and having the resources handy to make it as easy as possible.
Childbirth Class Locations
Childbirth Classes are often held at your local hospital. You can contact your local hospital or doctors office to get information on locations and times.
Online Childbirth classes are a great alternative for busy parents-to-be. They offer the flexibility and privacy that some parents desire without compromising the quality of education. An Online Childbirth class often consists of videos, ebooks, and online components. They can be purchased in digital format or distributed on CD/DVD.
Types of Childbirth Classes
It is important to match the type of childbirth class you take to your desired method of delivery. This will ensure you get information that will be useful to you. Below is a list and short description of the types of childbirth classes.
Hospital Childbirth Preparation: This class will often include a tour of the hospital, information on where and when to arrive at the hospital, rules, breathing exercises, and general delivery education with or without medication.
Lamaze Classes: Lamaze classes will focus on using breathing and focal points as pain management techniques.
Bradley Method Childbirth Classes: The Bradley Childbirth method focuses on natural child birth whenever possible and teaches natural methods to pain management. It includes active participation of the husband or partner.
Birth Works Classes: This method focuses on both emotional and physical preparation for delivery with emphasis on emotional.
Hypno-Birthing Classes: These classes use hypnotherapy to prepare women for delivery.
Birthing From Within Classes: These classes place an emphasis on journaling and writing as a method to prepare for delivery. From the authors of the book Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation
On a side note, I am submitting this website to Technorati and they need me to add a verification code. So here it is: ZAZRMTDJXR8F
Tags: babies > bradley > childbirth classes > classes > hospital birth > how To > lamaze