Talking With Your Baby

The ways that you can communicate with your baby can vary in format, and the manner may differ from parent to parent. However, its never to early to begin talking to your baby and helping her to learn about rules of her native language.

Her are a few tips that you may find useful:

Keep it simple:
Simple conversation about anything is sure to delight your baby because its the actual words, phonetics and the way that sentences flow that are of most interest to babies. You can spend time speaking simple ordinary words and sentences which help with language development, such words as "mommy","daddy" "baby" are just a few example words. Most babies first words begin with the constants "b","d" and "m", hence words like "ba-ba" "da-da" and "ma-ma".

Make reading fun:
Many parents begin to ready to their baby while in utero and there is certainly nothing wrong with that. You can also begin reading to your newborn which can be a great activity that you can continue in a more engaged manner as your baby becomes older. You can read anything to your baby, perhaps your favorite novel, the daily newspaper or even magazine article, its all beneficial to your baby!

Grammar rules:
Many young talkers have difficulty with the usage of pronouns such as "I" "he", "she" and "me" and quite often will use them incorrectly because they don't understand that "I" can still refer to you (mommy) for example. You can structure simple sentences without the usage of those pronouns to make it easier until that concept is grasped.

Initiative conversation
If your baby is happily babbling, join right in and engage in some good conversation. Try taking turns while allowing her to babble for a while and see if she stops so that you can talk back to her for a while, then you stop and see if she responds back. The key point is that you are talking with your baby in a conversational exchange versus simply talking to her which is less interactive. This is great when your baby is more advances and has gained some verbal ability. You can engage as long as he wants to, and the sessions can vary in length, however, take cues from your baby when to end the conversation. Your baby may begin to look away,become fussy or cry which are indicative of conversation over.


Questions galore:
When the time is right, you will be flooded with questions from your curious toddler about anything and everything. However, in the mean time you can ask your baby lots of questions until then. You may certainly find that you have already been having conversations with your baby about the task that you are about to begin such as a diaper change or even bath. Perhaps you have even been asking questions and although you certainly don't expect an answer its just something that naturally occurs between a parent and their baby. Many studies have shown that babies whose parents to them consistently develop language skills and become early talkers.

Baby Types: Which One Is Yours?

The wonderful aspect of being a parent is the appreciation for the uniqueness of your baby. Here are few types of personas categories of babies and how to face the challenges of each.

Active Baby
Usually babies who are active tend to right from the very beginning. These are the babies who are in constant motion, wiggling,twisting and just want constant movement. You may face challenges because your baby dislikes anything that will restrain movement. As well, these babies are most challenging to parents because they tend to require more supervision as they get into


Active Baby Tips:
Never leave your baby unattended- active babies tend to be more developmentally advanced for their age. This is especially important for places such as changing tables and beds where he can roll over and fall off of.
crib safety: lower the crib mattress to the lowest level,once your baby learns to sit/pull up. Keep toys out of the crib which can he can stand on and help climb out of the crib.
Babyproof your home, having an active baby will require you to make safety changes in your home earlier than expected. The best way to access safety for your baby is to get down on his level (yes you have to crawl) and view the world from his eyes. Think like your baby and see what may pose a danger to him, what does he have access to such as cabinets,electrical outlets/cords,room assess,stairs. The usage of safety gates can restrict your baby and keep him safe. You should also keep in mind that as your baby grows and advances you will constantly have to change your safety approach.

High Intensity Baby
These babies are most sensitive to things in their environment, such a sounds, sights, tastes and more. They may cry louder with great intensity, immediately grabbing your attention. Although you may feel frazzled initially, there are ways that you can accommodate your baby and help him to feel more relaxed.

High Intensity Baby Tips:
Keep the noise level down in your home, lower the radio,television,door bell and even the ringer on the telephone.
Minimize the amount of light that comes into your baby's room. Try to use keep the blinds closed and use heavy lined curtains which can help keep bright light from entering.
Reduce the amount of exposure to intense food smells such as garlic/onions, chemical products, and perfumes/colognes which may be unpleasant to the nose.
Certain fabrics may be irritating to your baby's skin such as wool,clothing tags or even specific clothing. While many babies dislike clothing altogether, if you notice a reaction to certain items you may want to refrain from using them on your baby. You can also cut the tags out of clothing if its bothering your baby. Many manufactures have tagless clothing for that very reason.

The Unhappy Baby
Seems that no matter what you do, you can seem to make your baby happy. Instead of smiles, there are constant tears and a state of unhappiness. While it seems hard to believe there are some babies that one can be difficult to please even though their needs are met. Although such babies seem miserable constantly, it may not be a reflection on your behalf as a parent. It can be difficult to parent a baby that is this way, remain consistent in your love and care.

The Unhappy Baby Tips:
Consult your pediatrician with any questions and or concerns regarding your baby. A through assessment can determine any medical/developmental issues that could be a contributing factor.
Seek the comfort of a support group with other parents who share your plight. You may find relief knowing that you can get through this, as well as tips on how to cope.
Stay positive: many times as babies mature they can learn more self expression and communication skills which can help alleviate their frustration

The Unadaptable Baby
The constant changes that occur in your baby's life are objectionable and faced with great protest. New places,faces and things can be a source of tears for your baby. Change is simply disliked and your baby can feel anxious. The key to happiness for your baby is consistency on a daily basis with a solid routine so that transitions are smooth and he knows what to expect. Although there may be times where the familiar routine has to be broken there are some ways to make maintain sanity.

The Unhappy Baby Tips:

Set up a daily schedule with set times for feedings,diaper changes,naptimes and even baths. Work with your baby initially to get him into the set routine and adhere to it as best as possible. He will know what to expect daily, transitions are smoother, which will help reduce the tears.
Gradually introduce new things to your baby when he is ready, by not overwhelming him with many things at once. If you have a new toys,offer one at a time and allow him to become used to it before giving him another one. If he doesn't like it, remove it and try again the next day.
New people can also be a source of stress for your baby. Explain to the individual that they shouldn't try to immediately approach him but allow your baby to become accommodated to their presence. Allow your baby to give the cue when they are ready to be held or even interact with the individual. Don't force your baby.
Feeding challenges: avoid any sudden changes in things like formula/solid food introduction which can be immediately detected. Gradual introduction at a slow pace may work best. If you are introducing solids begin with simple single ingredients and gradually add one new food per week. That is especially important for determining if your baby is allergic to any specific food as well.

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Caring for the difficult baby

The Difficult Baby: Caring Tips

At the moment of birth your new baby is perfect to you in every way. Your dreams of the sweet content baby that is easy to care for in every way may change. Boughts of inconsolable crying, temper tantrums (yes in infants) and difficult to adjust babies are sometimes what begins to evolve, easily dismisses the notion of the "perfect baby". Suddenly, your baby is the one who constantly cries, sleeps poorly and just seems to be unhappy all of the time despite your well sought efforts. Suddenly you find yourself wondering what are you doing wrong?

In striving to be the best parent that you can be, chances are you may not be doing anything wrong and its just your baby's personality make up. One of the most amazing parts of the first year that you will discover is that small components of your baby's personality disposition will start emerging, as well you may begin to see some of your own intricate personality traits begin to shine through. The genetic make up of both parents are passed off onto each baby making up a unique pool of traits. In addition that are environmental factors that also contribute to this as well.

As a parent, understanding your baby's personality makeup makes your job much easier

The Difficult Baby:
tend to have sensitivities to: bright lights, wet diapers and even loud noise levels

A Baby's Delicate Senses
Light sensitivity: keep excessive light from coming into the room, use curtains that are heavily lined, dark colored blinds, are all ways to help your baby to sleep longer during nap time and bedtime. Try to avoid exposure to rooms with that are lite with bright lights such as fluorescent/halogen light bulbs. As well limit visual over stimulation with toys/mobiles by only placing a a few objects in the crib at one time. You should choose toys that are subtle in color and simplicity in design, instead of bright vibrant colored toys that are musical and have bright flashing lights.
Sound sensitivity: while you certainly don't have to tiptoe around the house,try to keep the sound level down household items like the television, radio and telephone. Simply take inventory of your home and make any adjustments accordingly.
Touch sensitivity: its hard to resist touching an adorable baby, however some babies are truly more sensitive to touch. Some babies become fussy when their diaper is wet, when certain types of fabrics touch their body, when they are too warm or too cold. In addition some are even some babies dislike even being held and cuddled. If you find that is the case with your baby, don't over handle him beyond what is absolutely necessary for basic care. In such cases you can find other ways to interact with your baby through making eye contact, talking, singing,reading and other non contact activities.
Taste sensitivity: particularly for babies who are breast fed, certain foods that you can consume may elicit an unfavorable taste to breast milk. You may find that he may be fussy, have gas and nurse poorly as a result. Try to keep a breast feeding journal and make notations about your daily meal consumptions,baby's nursing behavior to help pinpoint specific ingredients and avoid that particular food that is causing a discomfort. Babies that are formula feed that are showing signs of discomfort through refusal of bottle,gas or diarrhea may need to have their formula changed. When you begin to introduce your baby to solids, keep in mind that this is a new experience and factors such as color, smell, taste and texture can influence the palate.
Smell sensitivity: babies have a very keen sense of smell and certain odors may be unpleasant to handle. It can be the smell of certain foods, cleaning products, perfumes and colognes that can make your little one happy. If you find that your little ones nose is sensitive try to avoid exposure to unpleasant smells. Today you can purchase many products that are environmentally friendly,free of any perfumes, dyes and harsh chemicals that are released into the air.

So how do you know if you actually have a difficult baby?

Before you make such a determination its important to discuss your concerns about your baby's development and how best to meet all of his needs with your pediatrician. You should write down your questions and be very specific with details about any behaviors that you are ultimately concerned about so that a proper assessment can be made.

While the above is an overview of some of the attributes that may be present, having a through examination for your baby can detect any underlying causes such as allergies or medical conditions that could be present.

If you have been blessed with a baby that is difficult, while its no easy feat, there are some adjustments that you can make to meet their needs and make parenting easier. You should have lots of love, patience,understanding and acceptance of your baby's overall makeup.

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Baby's First Birthday: Planning Tips

There is nothing more exciting than celebrating your baby's first birthday! The excitement of planning this special gala for the guest of honor can be just fun as when your baby was born. The first birthday is more than just a social event, its a time of reflection on tweleve months of triumph,growth, development and the impact that your little one has had on the entire family.

Certainly this gathering is more for the adults than the baby whose enthusiasm can be short lived. Depending on how extravagant that you want your party to be you can invite a few family and friends or rent a hall and have lots of people to attend. Its important to remember the phase of development that your baby is in: perhaps still experiencing stranger anxiety and may even be more clingy than usual. You may also want to reduce the amount of people that you actually invite to help reduce your baby's anxiety. If you have friends with babies around the same age, certainly invite them as well, they may enjoy playing together while the adults socialize.

Dumb down the decor: while you may be tempted to be extravagant with lots of balloons, streamers,horns, hats and more these may frighten your baby. The over stimulation of colors and sounds may just be too much for him to handle. Keep simplicity in mind when searching for a theme and decorations for your baby's first birthday.

Time planning: consider your baby's schedule and at what time are they at their best: fed and well rested, usually that is the best time to have the birthday party. You want to catch your baby at the best time of the day where he would be most receptive and feeling good. Give ample time to get him ready for the party so that you are not rushing and feeling stressed down to the last moment before a guest arrives. Most first birthday parties are early and even for a short period of time, so don't worry about having to entertain for hours. Most people understand that and expect that when attending a first birthday party.

Outside entertainment: the attention span of a one year old baby is very limited, so bringing in a clown or magician on his behalf is probably not ideal at this age. They probably would not show much interest and may even be frightened of a strange face. Save your hard earned dollars and consider this as an option when there is a full appreciation for such entertainment.

Eating cake: many parents struggle with the decision of whether or not to allow their baby eat birthday cake. While that is certainly an individual choice that has to be made there are lots of alternatives that you can consider if you would rather not introduce sugar or if you have special dietary restrictions to consider. You can certainly have a birthday cake and keep along with basic party protocol, that guests can enjoy, and have something separate for your baby. However, if you do want to go full fledged and your baby will be eating birthday keep be sure that you try to avoid any cake with certain ingredients such as honey, nuts, chocolate, as these can cause an allergic reaction for some people. If your baby will indulge, monitor consumption as everything in moderation for adequate portion control.

Expectations: ideally you want your baby to have the very best first birthday ever and want him to be on his best behavior. Of course that is ideal and what most parents would want however, with babies you just never know. Even though he may be an angel and a complete ham for the camera on any other day, he may not cooperate for the camera this time. While you want lots of pictures capturing those precious moments don't be surprised that you may have some pictures with frowns and tears. Try not to push your baby too much to perform or behave any particular way simply let him be himself. All of the attention and affection can send a one year old into overload!

The first birthday is just the beginning of many more celebration parties that are yet to come, and while each one is special make the most of it. Capture those special moments that stand out most and record them in the baby book for a forever memory that you can reflect upon in the future When the party is over and all of the guests have gone you can look at your baby and remember just how wonderful and special he is and how your life has changed since the day he was born.

Babies That Wake Up:Early Morning Risers

The early bird catches the worm right? So goes that saying, there are some babies that are just early to rise. While its always nice to catch a few extra minutes or even an hour of extra sleep for that matter,is it even possible.

Some babies are just eager to get a early start on their day, quite often those are the babies that are up at 5'o'clock in the morning, and full of energy. Perhaps you can find your own little one awake in the crib summoning you to duty. Sometimes if you are fortunate to get your baby to lay back down for a little while that is great, however many parents face this dilemma and are often looking for a little relief, especially on the weekend!

Below are a few tips to help sleep deprived parents:

Change of sleeping schedule: as your baby grows, you will find that the amount of sleep that is needed will also change. On average the typical baby only needs about 14 hours of solid sleep each day. The frequency of naps taken during the day may need to be reduced, as a 3 month old infant may take 3 naps a day versus a 11 month old infant may only need 1 nap each day. As well the duration of each nap is also significant as well as the actual time of day that each nap is taken in comparison to the designated bed time. Hence you don't want your baby taking a nap too close to bedtime. You should make an overall assessment of your baby's daily schedule and make adjustments accordingly.

Sleeping arrangements: reduce the amount of light that comes into your baby's room. If your baby is sensitive to incoming light, keep the blinds drawn and the curtains closed to help keep the room dark. This is especially helpful if your baby's room receives a lot of incoming sunlight. In addition during the months when the days tend to be longer and the sun rises early, he may sleep a little longer if you keep the room dark. It can be helpful if you have dark colored shades or even curtains that are thick/lined that prevent light from being emitted through them.

Delay crib removal: try not to run to your baby immediately when he awakens very early. Certainly if he is sick or there is inconsolable crying (you know the difference) then you should immediately tend to him. Otherwise, you can delay a few minutes or so simply because he just may end up going right back to sleep. He may also be content with entertaining himself by playing and babbling so that's definitely a good thing!

Keep him entertained: you can provide your baby with safe crib toys that are securely attached to the crib which may be a diversion during those early morning waking moments. Avoid placing plush toys/stuffed animals in the crib, as they may pose risk of suffocation.

If you find that your best efforts are unsuccessful, it may just be that your baby has an adequate amount of sleep. Some babies just require less sleep than others and that's just how it is. You may have to do some adjusting in your own bedtime schedule to accommodate your baby until he becomes older. Even though its grueling at times, its a phase and before you know it,your little one will have outgrown it.

Infant Motor Skill Development: Basics

If you research online you can find tons of gyms and yoga studios with classes geared towards infants as just some of the offerings to parents, with a price tag attached! While these are great activities that also have social benefits, there are many ways that you can enrich your baby's overall physical needs without attending a class or spending money.

As the parent your own personal lifestyle choices and physical activity level, are laying the foundation for your growing baby. Whether you live a sedentary lifestyle or high activity level its always important to try to establish good healthy habits from the beginning for your baby. Of course everything is in moderation and ensuring that you are are meeting the intellect and physical needs of your baby is what matters most.

Today there are so many sophisticated activity centers, bounce chairs and other related gear for babies that are designed to develop motor skills. However, while many are costly and have age and weight limitations it seems that sometimes babies are missing out on some of the best activities that are more beneficial than any gadget offers. Quite simply: its the one on one individual attention based play that doesn't require anything but you and your baby.

Sometimes its about going back to the basics of parenting and playtime. Try to be creative during playtime and choose activities that are age appropriate, encourages physical development, yet equally fun. Below are some very basics but you can surely make up your own fun ones.

Physical Activities:

Some basic activities that you can try with your baby depending on the age and developmental stage you can try some of these:

Young infants ages zero to six months:
*Hold both hands and gently raise them up above the head, then slowly bring them back down
*Hold both hands and bring them towards the chest and criss cross them (as if she is giving herself a hug) and then extend them back out
*Hold both hands and slowly alternate the arms up and down simultaneously
*Hold both legs and gently push them towards the body and then slowly extend outward to fully straight position


Older infants ages six months to twelve months:
*Try pulling up from sitting to standing position by holding the hands and supporting your baby while allowing the large leg muscles to work
*While sitting up create a small space between you and your baby and roll a ball back and forth
*Babies love to mimic: try to see if she can copy you by doing these: clapping hands or blowing kisses
*Get a bottle of bubbles and blow some into the air, watch as she raises her arms and tries to catch them

Having Fun
Any activity that you engage with your baby should be enjoyable to her. While you are doing these physical activities you can sing and talk or play some fun music. Take the time to make eye contact with her and be sure that you watch body language and expressions. Since little ones have very short attention spans, try to limit your sessions to a few minutes. Take breaks and try not to over stimulate her with too much activity. Let your baby set the pace

Exploration
Safety is a rule of thumb, as well as the first and foremost the most important aspect of your baby's environment. When possible allow for safe exploration with freedom of movement as a great way for physical motor development. Babies need to "experience" their world through their senses: see, hear, touch, taste and smell ! Never leave your baby unattended

Try to limit the time spent in any particular place where they are restrained such as strollers/slings/infant seats and highchairs. While this baby gear are is intended to keep your baby safe, she may not like being strapped in too long and the feeling of being restricted.

Change positions frequently:
Just as you can become easily bored looking at the same thing, you should always constantly change the view of your baby's world. While its certainly something that "may or may not" be appreciated its a must.
A significant amount of time will be spent on the tummy during sleep, especially for newborns who will spend a large portion of their day doing so. Its important during the wakeful moments you place her on her back for a while.
As well, an infant that may be a little older will spend some time working on tummy time and trying to turn over. Place a thin blanket on the floor and get down on the floor with your baby and have some fun. You may find that your baby may enjoy tummy time or perhaps will protest this and become very unhappy. Try to limit this activity to a few minutes especially for very young infants/newborns that may not be able to hold their head up to avoid suffocation. Never leave your baby unattended

You can also place your baby on her side for some time by propping her with some blankets to fully support her back. There are some stores that sell infant position support wedges that can also safely do the task. So giving the right opportunities to your baby depending on the age and ability are beneficial. Try to alternate sides so there is even time spent on each side.

While on their back you baby will get lots of activity and movement with full range of motion from the use of arms and legs.

Most Important:
Every baby develops at their own pace and is unique in their achievements, and not to be compared to another. Its ideal to work with your baby on a consistent basis and help her to reach each milestone at her own pace based on ability.

If you have any questions about your baby's developmental progress or milestone achievement talk with your pediatrician for further professional recommendations.

Baby Video: Carolympics!

Watch this future olympic star!

Newborn Care: Formula Feeding

If you decide to feed your baby formula consult your baby's pediatrician for advice about choosing the right formula. If you have a family history of allergies or any other health concerns these should be mentioned as well. There are many types of formulas on the market, however most babies should be fed an iron-fortified or milk-based formula.

Infant formulas is available in forms:
Concentrate form needs to be mixed with water,least expensive
Ready-to-feed form no preparation required,more costly
Powdered needs to be pre-measured and mixed with water, least expensive

Tip: Babies should be held during bottle feeding, never offer a bottle to a baby while lying, formula can flow into the middle ear,which is a major contributor to ear infections.

When feeding your baby ensure that she is in a semi-upright position, by cradling her body and supporting her head.

To prevent your baby from swallowing air during feedings, keep the bottle tilted tilt so that the formula fills the neck of the bottle and covers the nipple.

Formula Preparation:

Before you open the formula check the expiration date: look on the side or bottom of the can

Wash the top of the can with hot water before opening it.

Read the directions on the can for proper preparation. The formula should be thoroughly mixed, never too thick or too thin.

Bottled water is safest to use for preparing formula

To warm bottles,simply use a pan of warm water and set the bottle in in for a few minutes or use an electric bottle warmer.

Never heat a bottle in the microwave. The microwave can destroy nutrients, overheat the formula, and may have hot spots that could burn your baby.

Before feeding shake the bottle and test the temperature on your wrist. The formula should be slightly warm, not hot.If it burns your wrist, its simply too hot for your baby.

Its important to read and follow directions on proper storage of formula: you should throw away open, mixed and unused formula after 48 hours.

Never save or reuse any leftover formula in bottles.

Do not leave any formula out at room temperature for more than 30 minutes.

Basic Feeding Guide:

Remember that your newborn will change and growing quickly during the first month. So to ensure that your are adequately meeting his nutritional needs, the frequency of feedings and the caloric intake may vary on a day to day basis. However, to make sure you're meeting your newborns nutritional needs, here are some basics. Typically during the first few days of life, he may drink less than an 1 ounce per feeding and gradually increase up to 2-4 ounces over the next few weeks. He may want to be fed every two to four hours. Its important to allow him to feed on demand when his hunger is greatest. If he does not finish the bottle do not force feed. Newborns have very small stomachs.

Burping
Sometimes during feedings newborns can become uncomfortable because they have a tummy that is full of swallowed air. He may become fussy and cranky and experience great discomfort until he can get relief from a few burps. Its important that you watch for signs of discomfort such as grunts, grimaces or squirmming while feeding. A good method of prevention is to burp your baby frequently after every 2 or 3 ounces of formula. If he baby doesn't burp after a couple of minutes, then continue feeding.

Ways To Burp:
Try any of these methods for burping your baby, always support the back of the head and keep those burp cloths handy!

1. Over the shoulder: place your baby over your shoulder and firmly pat or rub his back.

2. On the lap: Sit your baby upright leaning slightly forward and firmly pat or rub his back.

3. Lying down: Place baby stomach-down across your lap and firmly rub or pat his back.

Tip: Remember that newborns don't need water,juice or other fluids.

Infant Massage: Basic Techniques

Infant massage is a perfect way to bond with your baby. Your baby benefits tremendously from the gentle touch of your hand. Just think of how relaxing massaging can be to you after a long day and how you wish you could have them every day! You can give your baby a taste of the good life, just in the mini version!

There are many videos, books and classes that can offer techniques and methods on how to massage your baby. However, its quite a simple task that takes no more than ten minutes and the end result is a happy baby.

The benefits of touch:
relaxation/reduces stress
increase blood circulation
helps ease symptoms of gas discomfort

Looking for a great way to help your baby settle down for the night? try a warm bath and a quick rubbing just bedtime, this will help your baby go to sleep faster and rest better too. Choose a quiet setting that is relaxing and calm. During the massage interact with your baby by maintaining eye contact while singing and talking.

Basic Infant Massage

Start by undressing your baby and leaving just the diaper on and laying them on their back on a towel or a soft blanket. Before you begin warm your hands by rubbing them together, then pour a little drop of oil into them.

Starting at the top: while your baby is laying on her back start with her stomach, place your hands on her tummy and rub them across from left to right in a circular motion.

Then move upward towards the chest and shoulder, start by placing on hand on each shoulder and rub in downward motion.

Massage each arm by starting from the top of the left shoulder and rub in downward motion towards each arm be sure to get the hands and in between the fingers. Then starting back at the top of the shoulders rub in the same downward motion towards the lower part of the body towards the leg and foot. Repeat on the right side

Turn your baby over onto the stomach ,starting from the tops of the shoulders,rub the back in downward motion,you can also rub in a side to side motion as well. Repeat several times

At the end of the massage you can finish getting your baby dressed.

This is a basic technique that you can use, and you can certainly adapt this to what is most comfortable for your baby. During this time pay attention to cues that your baby is giving you. If you find that your baby is overstimulated or uncomfortable with any aspects of the massage, you should stop. The different sensations and pressures are something that have to be adapted to. You can try it again another day.

Resources and Information

Infant Massage:A Handbook for Loving Parents,Vimala Schneider Mcclure:book provides basic fundamentals of infant massage, the importance of touch and easy techniques that parents can use. (Amazon,$11.56)

Infant Massage USA: website provides statewide directory of infant massage classes for parents, classes for teaching infant massage, membership services and related news and research.

Lack of tummy time may slow infant development

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Infants who spend too much time on their backs have an increased risk of developing a misshapen head along with certain developmental delays, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) warns in a statement issued this month.
Infants need "tummy time" while they are awake to develop properly, the APTA notes.
The 1992 "Back to Sleep" campaign, which educated parents on the importance of putting their infants to sleep on their backs, rather than their stomachs, led to a dramatic reduction in the number of deaths from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

"As a result though, new parents were afraid to put their babies on their bellies at all, even when awake," Colleen Coulter-O'Berry, a physical therapist at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta noted in an interview with Reuters Health.

"I see new parents all the time that, by 4 months of age, have never put their babies on their bellies because they are afraid the baby is going to suffocate," she said.

The combination of babies sleeping on their backs, as well as spending long periods of time in infant carriers that double as car seats, puts pressure on the head, which can flatten the skull, she explained.

"As a result, we've seen an alarming increase in skull deformation," Coulter-O'Berry said.
Babies who do not get enough time on their tummies can also develop tight neck muscles or neck muscle imbalance - a condition known as torticollis. "If a baby doesn't get early tummy time, they don't push up on their elbows, they don't get their heads up and looking around, and they don't gain strength in their neck and back muscles," she explained.

"Increasing the amount of time your baby lies on his or her tummy promotes muscle development in the neck and shoulders; helps prevent tight neck muscles and the development of flat areas on the back of the baby's head; and helps build the muscles baby needs to roll, sit, and crawl," Coulter-O'Berry added.

She said 90 percent of children with torticollis also have changes in their head shape.
Her message to new parents: "Don't be afraid to put your baby on their tummy for short periods of time while they are awake. After a nap, diaper change or feeding, roll the baby onto his or her stomach and encourage the infant to find, focus, and follow your face or a toy with their eyes looking up."

The football hold, where the baby's belly is facing down in the palm of the hand and the baby is looking up, is another good way to get extra tummy time, she said.
Coulter-O'Berry is co-author of "Tummy Time Tools" - a brochure that provides caregivers ideas and activities to ensure that babies get enough tummy time. It is available on the APTA website -- www.apta.org/consumer.

Reuters HealthCopyright © 2008 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.

Baby High Chairs: Buying Baby Gear

The best time to purchase a high chair for your baby is usually around the age of 6 months, when you are ready begin to introduce solids, prior to that time you don't really need to have one. However, if you want to bring your baby to the table as a way of being social during family meal times even before you have started solids, you can certainly benefit from having a high chair.

Take a moment to check around before you shop, ask for some recommendatins from friends what brand of high chair & what are the pros and cons. When you head to the stores, test these chairs HANDS ON, feel how well that they operate, touch the fabrics, take the tray on and off (most trays have a one hand feature), buckle and unbuckle the straps,fold and unfold the chair.

Tip: To avoid accidents: be sure that the high chair of your choice has a 3 point harness at the least or a 5 point harness strap to keep him safe. Many accidents occur because a baby is not properly strapped into the seat. You should ensure that the straps work properly and that they are adjusted to fit and keep your baby securly seated.

What to consider:

Your bestoption for choosing a safe high chair is to pick a model that has a Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association(JPMA) certificate seal on it. The JPMA has established safety standards which are followed by most reputable manufacturing companies.

Price: How much do you want to spend on a highchair? depending on what you are looking for you can spend anywhere from $50 and up

Style: What style best suits you: contemporary, traditional

Practicality: some of todays highchairs are more adaptable to a wide range of ages, allowing them to transform into toddler chairs/stools. If you want a high chair that offers more, this may be a good route to go. Whatever type you choose, it should be durable and withstand many of the meals that are yet to come. Another point to consider is that the high chair should be fairly easy to clean. Babies and toddlers are messy eaters and every aspect of the kitchen is fair game, including you for that matter. Some high chairs have a double tray feature: the top tray comes out easily for cleaning and leaving you with another try in the mean time. Material should be vinyl for easy wiping. As well most covers are removeable as well so you can clean behind them as well.

Baby Pacifiers: What You Should Know

Photo By: djuggler

The pacifier may be one of the greatest innovations known to many parents, because sometimes when all else fails the pacifier, can be what quails the wails of a baby at 2 am!
While there is great debate about the subject of pacifiers we simply wanted to provide you with some basic information.Newborns are born the the innate ability to suck. Some babies have a stronger, yet greater need to suck after an adequate feeding. In addition, to the soothing and calming feeling that comes along with it, so you may find that your baby may take well to a pacifier. However, there are other babies who absolutely refuse the pacifier and prefer their thumb.

Keep in mind that wide range of pacifiers on the market that differ in brands,styles,colors and overall material grade. Once you've decided that you will use a pacifier for your baby you should purchase several types. You wont know which one your baby prefers so its best to keep them on hand so you give them a try. Eventually your baby will let you know if any are the right one.


Benefits:

Soothes fussy infants
Can help reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
Can be helpful to babies born premature improve their ability to suck

Types of pacifiers

Brand: most common brands are Gerber, Avent, and Sassy Mini Mam are just a few examples of the brands available in most common baby stores or even local drugstores. However, if you want something more unique or specialized such as a personalized pacifier, take a look online for more choices.

Nipple size & shape: many pacifiers are sized according to baby's age (i.e. newborn/stage 1 for babies up to 6 months) so be sure to read the label for proper sizing. The shape of the nipple can vary also as some pacifiers are "orthodontic" which are specially shaped.

Material: many of the pacifier nipples are made of silicone(soft material,flexible)/latex(more sturdy,don't retain odors)/natural rubber, be sure to read packaging to be sure of product details,as some babies are allergic to latex.

Ventilation: be sure that the pacifier of your choice has ventilation holes on each side. Sometimes you may notice a red ring around your baby's mouth that outlines the shape of the pacifier. At times saliva can collect around the sides of the pacifier and eventually irritate your baby's skin.

Hospital Grade: nurseries give standard pacifiers that are considered " hospital grade". These pacifiers are sturdy, durable and safe. So these may be your baby's very first pacifier if you give permission. If your baby does like the "soothie" style of pacifier, be sure to ask for a few extras until you can purchase more. As well, they are available at most stores, so you shouldn't have a problem finding them.

Helpful Tips:

Its important not to "overuse" the pacifier. By that meaning that every time your baby cries or becomes fussy, that this is not the first thing offered. Babies cry and fuss for many reasons. Try to first eliminate other reasons like, hunger, wet diapers or simply not feeling well.

Never use string or any other material to tie a pacifier around your baby's neck, this is very dangerous and can cause strangulation. There are special pacifier clips that simply attach to clothing and the other end can attach to the pacifier itself.

Frequently replace all pacifiers, while inspecting them for for signs of wear holes, odors/fungus (inside the nipple) and detachment from the base.

Finding Unique Baby Pacifiers:

Mumlo: website allows you to create your own personalized pacifier for your baby. You can see how it looks before you buy it. Pacifiers are sold in sets of 4, 8 and 12.

Teethifier: unique teether/pacifier unlike anything you've seen before

Wubbanub: unique cuddly stuffed animals with attached pacifier. 100% adorable

Baby Video: Mommy's Kiss (animated)

How about these cute litte ones

Child Proof Your Home

The best way to make your home is "baby proof" is to start well beore your baby becomes mobile. The dilemma that many parents face is that, its often when the baby begins to crawl aise that they moving faster each day and essentially getting into EVERYTHING!

Baby note: When Maddie turned 9 months old she seemed to be unstoppable, I mean one minute she was in front of me, the next moment she was off into the next room. Its the fist time that I realized that I had to constantly watch her constantly and could never leave her alone. We never realized just how many things that babies could get into. We had baby gates all over the house we were trapped!

The Kitchen

Buy a fire extinguisher to keep in the kitchen, and the label should UL rated 5-B:C
effective against flammable liquid fires and live electrical equipment fires.

Make it a habit when cooking to use the back burners on your stove. You should also turn all pot handles inward to prevent any accidents.

When you are cooking keep your baby out of the kitchen, just as a safety precaution. Sometimes parents allow their babies to play with tupperware or even pots and pans while they are in the kitchen. However, its best to keep the little one out of the kitchen when you cooking and handling hot food.

Keep safety latches on all cabinet doors and draws. Set up a safety gate to keep to block access to the kitchen

Purchase a trash can that has a lid that can not be opened by little hands

Never place hot beverages close to the edge of counter tops. Always push cups/containers far away from the edge.

Keep step stools and chairs away from counters, so little adventurers can't climb up and fall off. (You also don't want them to be able to reach knives and other dangerous things.) This precaution may sound obvious, but experts say lots of people don't do it.

The Bathroom:

Keep locks on all cabinets to prevent access to medication, cosmetics and toiletries.

Put a safety latch on the toilet seat and keep the lid closed. Small children can drown in just a few inches of water.

Keep toilet paper out of reach, for some reason young babies are intrigued by rolls of toilet paper and enjoy pulling wads of tissue off the roll. You could even find yourself calling the plumber because the toilet is stopped up!

Be sure to keep all electrical outlets covered at all times.

Keep your bathroom door closed at all times. There really is no reason for your baby to have access to the bathroom at any time unless he is with you.

The Living Room:

If you have a fireplace, use a hearth pad and simply do not use the fireplace when you baby is around.

Cover all edges of the coffee table with padded covers

Heavy furniture such as wall units and bookcase should be securely attached to the wall with brackets. If your

Keep Venetian-blind cords out of reach to prevent strangulation. You should also remove any small plastic bulbs to prevent choking.

Keep all electrical wires behind the furniture so that they are out of reach


Other Tips:


Keep important phone numbers such as your local police, fire department, poison control, the pediatrician, and any other important numbers posted next to your telephones. This keeps the information accessible at all times in the case of an emergency.


Install stair gates, safety gates and window guards: there are a variety of safety gates on the that come in many styles, colors and materials. Before you shop around for one, be sure that you measure the doorways/stairways to know the exact measurement and the best installation method for the particular area in your home. Although some safety gates are adjustable its simply better to be sure.

As well window guards are so important, it can not be stressed enough. If you open your windows and your baby is awake and exploring you should always have window guards. As well, if you live in an apartment building you should talk with your landlord about having them installed. Check with your state. Windows are like an amusement park attraction to which infants and toddlers are simply drawn to. Its best to keep them away from the windows.

Baby Gear and Essentials: New Finds for babies:

Finding new products that are unique and certainly stand out. Conversation starters and finishers and makes them all wonder, just where did you get that from?


Here are some new great products


Wee Go Bottle: looking for a BPA free baby bottle? these glass nursers are covered in a stylish,vibrant colored silicone cover. Available in a variety of colors these 9oz bottles are certainly eco-friendly. ( babylife.com)










Burps for Fun: make feeding time fun with these unique burp cloths, sold in sets of 3
(Sock Monkey Burp Cloths$30, New Arrivals Inc.com)





The young artist: there is no more perfect way to decorate your little ones nursery than with these nostalgic unique prints. Skillfully painted on canvas and sized accordingly, you wont find these in just any baby store.
(Carter The Cow, $64.00, My Retro Baby)






























Dressing Green: fantastic threads made of organic cotton, what feels better to a baby? a crib that meets all federal safety standards made of solid wood with a nontoxic finish also converts into toddler bed. The mattress of your choice should be eco-friendly as well. (Sckoon organic cotton cloud lap tee, $19.50 sckoon.com)








Mealtime Fun: bring fun to the highchair with Kaloo the bear. Complete set includes (Kaloo 123 Dish Set $36.99, MiniMishka.com)

Feeding Your Baby: Choking Hazards

Keeping your baby safe is a daily task because the risks of choking can be life threatening. when a baby swallows or inhales an object or food that blocks his airways. To decrease the risk of choking:

Keeping your baby safe

Puree, mash or grind food so that it's soft enough for your baby to gum or chew. For toddlers cut all food in to very tiny, small bite size pieces. Most toddlers don't chew their food thoroughly. Baby food like:Gerber Fruit Puffs are small, light and melt away

Ensure that your baby is in a highchair sitting in a full upright position. All meals and drinking should be fully supervised for the entire meal. Never walk away or become distracted, thus taking your eye off of your baby. It only takes a moment for a choking accident to occur.


Foods that pose a choking hazard: especially for young babies and toddlers

nuts
peanut butter
popcorn
hot dogs
olives(especially pitted)
whole grapes
berries/raisins
hard candy/lollipops
raw vegetables: carrots,peas

Learning CPR can be one of the most important classes that you could ever enroll in. As a parent its a must have, hands down!

Contact your local Red Cross for class registration and availability

Funny Baby Video: Busy Baby

Watch this little one: she doesnt know shes being watched. But she seems to be having a ball getting into things!

BPA Free Baby Bottles: What You Should Know

Many parents have become aware of the issue surrounding plastic baby bottles that contain: Bisphenol-A, (commonly known as BPA) a hazardous chemical found in many plastic baby bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers and many other common everyday items. Its important that you arm yourself with as much information as possible regarding this issue before purchasing products for your baby.

On April 14, 2008 the FDA released information surrounding the issue. According to the agency:Based on our ongoing review, we believe there is a large body of evidence that indicates that FDA-regulated products containing BPA currently on the market are safe and that exposure levels to BPA from food contact materials, including for infants and children, are below those that may cause health effects. However, we will continue to consider new research and information as they become available. For more information

Many companies are making a commitment to parents by creating new lines of bottle for babies that are BPA-free.

Here are a few brands of bottles:

Adiri

Born Free

Gerber

Green To Grow

Medela

Playtex Baby

Here are some things that you can do if you have concerns about your baby's exposure to BPA
• Breastfeeding
• Purchase bottles that are either BPA-free or glass
• When preparing bottles follow the manufactures instructions as directed
• Use brand new bottles and discard any that are old as they may not meet the new standards
• Taking care of your bottles by not placing them in the dishwasher, use a non-abrasive bottle brush that does not scratch the inside of the bottles,or just rinse them in the sink with warm soap and water and allow them to air dry.
• Avoid using the microwave to heat your baby's bottle,simply warm bottles by placing them in a bowl of warm water.

Information & Resources:

Bisphenol-A.org: website provides information about BPA, news, faq and health and environmental safety information

Playtex Baby: visit the website for a free sample: Playtex BPA-free Drop-In Nurser Sample

Babies"R"Us: offers a customer allow customers to exchange old infant feeding products that contain BPA for BPA-free bottle or feeding system.

In The News: Citing Safety, Wal-Mart and Nalgene Pull BPA Bottles From Shelves

The Diaper Bag: Packing For Baby

Our Definition

Diaper bag: a sophisticated term for a bag that carries everything but the baby!

Key Tip

While you need a way to keep all baby essentials centralized when out on the go, it doenst have to be an official "diaper bag". Quite contrary to what many baby registry listed indicate, you can use any type of bag. Really, any ordinary tote, backpack or big shoulder bag will do. You don't have to spend$200.00 on a bag for to transport baby bottles, diapers and wipes!

Diaper Bag Essentials:

•diapers: disposable: *you should determine your own desired amount of diapers needed

•baby wipes (travel size)

•diaper ointment/petroleum jelly

•Empty plastic bags (dispose of dirty diapers/wet clothing)

•Bibs/burp cloths

•2 extra outfits for baby

•teether/small toy

• teething gel/pain reliever (optional)

Cloth Diapers: when traveling on the go with cloth diapers it may solely depend on your preferred method as to some of the essentials that you may need

•prefolds and diaper covers
•diaper pins/snappi
•baby wipes (travel size)/ or your own wipe solution with cloths
•wet bag for soiled diapers

Tip: Baby bottles and formula/breast milk can be stored in a separate bottle bag along with travel ice packs to maintain adequate temperature.

Newborn Infants: Solutions to Newborn Crying

Most parents of newborns whether first time parents or seasoned veterans, will have to go through an adjustment period. The fact is, you have a new baby in your family that you need to get to know. As well, your baby needs to get to know you too. Through the process of bonding you will build a relationship that is secure. Once you learn about your baby's cues and what they mean, you will be able to meet all of his needs in a more efficient way.

Your baby's overall temperament is another factor that comes into play when it comes to caring for him. There are some babies that are mild tempered, calm and easy going baby,these babies are more adaptable to their environment and basically easy to soothe. There are some babies that are "high needs" and have a more challenging temperament, tending to be more fussy, easily overstimulated and more difficult to soothe. Learning about your baby's temperament make up is something that you will discover over the first few weeks and will most helpful as well when developing efficient care strategies.

Newborns cry as a way to communicate with you: things: hunger, a wet or dirty diaper, tiredness, pain,boredom or even loneliness. Yes even a newborn can be lonely, because remember he was in your womb for nine months so the constant warmth and closeness is still very familiar and longed for.While these are just some of the most basic reasons, always know that there could be alternate reasons. During the early weeks you will have to constant assess the needs of your newborn.

Tips to drying newborn tears:

Here are some key questions that you can ask yourself when you need to provide care

What type of cry is this: is this a high pitched cry,weak whimper or simply fussing?
When was the baby last fed and burped?
When was the last diaper change?
Is the something that may be causing pain or discomfort?
When did the baby sleep last and for how long?
Does the baby have a fever?

Create a care log:
You can use a simple composition book or create a more formal chart on the computer. Print out the chart for all basic needs such as sleep,diaper changes, and feedings. Keep the chart in a centralized location, so that you or the caregiver can refer to this frequently throughout the day. Its certainly takes alot of the guess work out for you.

Tear Solutions:

These are some basic things that you can try in the beginning along with the basics of feeding, changing and burping. Overtime you can develop your own tried and tested remedies

Holding: pick your baby up and hold him close to your body. Cuddling gives warmth and closeness of your body. The sound of your heartbeat, body scent and the sound of your voice soothe him. Holding your baby is another great way to begin the bonding process right from the moment of birth!

Swaddling: wrap your baby in a blanket to create the familiar secure feeling of the womb. The closeness and warmth of swaddling will help him to relax.

Rocking & movement: Newborns naturally like movement because they have experienced constant movement while in utero. Providing rhythmic motion also familiar to life in the womb, can help bring him to a state of feeling calm. You can try simply holding him and gently rocking, use a baby sling and carry him close to you while you are carrying on with daily activities, swings and bouncers can also be a major life saver during those long crying spells.

Change of environment: Sometimes a change of scene is needed. Try assessing the environment: if he is in the cradle, bring him into the family room and place him in the swing. He may simply want something new to look at. Perhaps little things like noise such as a television may be overstimulating. The family dog barking is loud and startling. You should watch for reactions of contentment or fussiness to certain environments.

Offer a pacifier: sucking is an innate ability of all newborns. There are some newborns who have a greater need for sucking even after adequate nursing or bottle feeding. As well a pacifier may be soothing and satisfy the need.

There will be times where you have exhausted all possibilities and find that nothing you've tried will work. Many babies may cry have crying spells with durations that can vary as well as occur at certain times of the day . Its very unpredictable in this sense and its during those moments that you may simply have to lay him down for a while and allow him to cry.

Its important that you also allow yourself to take frequent breaks and allow dad or another set of hands to step in. Sometimes excessive periods of crying can be frustrating and stressful. As well the inability to soothe your newborn can be hard to accept however, its certainly not something that you should personalize.

BookRecommendations:

Your Fussy Baby by Marc Weissbluth, M.D.

Newborn Care: Head To Toe Guide

At birth your baby's body will show the signs of 9months in utero and the process of labor and delivery. Hence, the toll that it takes on the body can be anything from skin blotches, a cone shaped head and a skinny body. However, within a few weeks your baby's body grows these things will disappear and true cuteness will begin to emerge.

Head To To Guide

Head: Your baby's head may not be perfectly shaped. The reason,typically during vaginal birth, passing through the birth canal can place pressure on your baby's skull referred to as molding. The newborn skull has two fontanels "soft spots" (located on the the top of the skull and the back of the head)these are delicate areas on the skull where bones have not fused together which allows the skull to be more pliable. As well your baby's brain will grow quite a bit during the first year, so extra room is needed for expansion. The soft spots on your baby's skull will slowly disappear as the bones of the skull will fuse together. Your baby's head should begin to take on its original shape within a week or so.

Newborn Skin: Delicate and sensitive, the overall appearance of the skin may vary among newborns. The wrinkled skin is thin and covered in vernix a white substance that protects the skin from the amniotic fluid. This will begin to peel gradually over the weeks. You will notice peeling especially in the creases of the skin near the hands and feet. Depending on the gestational age at birth,premature babies will have extremely thin skin covered with a layer of lanugo(fine body hair) which covers the body.

Birthmarks: Common for many newborns these distinct marks can appear at birth or shortly thereafter. The most common types of birth marks are as follows: stork bites, mongolian spots, hemangiomas and angel kisses. The overall characteristics can have a wide range of shapes, sizes,colors,location on the body and the overall duration

Jaundice(hyperbilirubinemia): If the whites of your baby's eyes or your baby's skin appears to have a yellowish tint,this maybe due to the jaundice. This happens when there is an excessive buildup of bilirubin in the blood as the body breaks down red blood cells and is not excreted from the body. If you have any questions about whether your baby has jaundice discuss this with your baby's pediatrician for a professional assessment.

Milia: Little small dots on their face, particularly around the nose of newborns. These patches will begin to disappear shortly after.

Newborn Acne: surprisingly acne can show up before the teen years! You may notice some reddish bumps on the forehead and cheeks. It should disappear on its own within a few months.

After being curled up in a fetal position within the warmth of your uterus it will take some time your baby needs time to adjust to the openness of a new world. Those skinny arms and legs will take more form and begin to stretch out from the body.

Genitals: The overall appearance of some newborn's genitals will change "In boys, swelling of the scrotum can be quite impressive and the tissue very red. In girls, the vulva is extremely swollen and also darker in color, both largely the result of the mother's hormones," says Steven P. Shelov, MD, chairman of pediatrics at Maimonides Medical Center,New York City. In addition, "The vaginal mucosa is very hormone sensitive, so once the mother's hormones are out of the baby's system, there will be a little bleeding. It usually occurs within 72 hours and then stops," says Shelov. The enlarged genitals in boys and girls lasts a bit longer -- about a month.

Hair: Some baby's are born with a head full of hair, while others are completely bald. The overall texture of the hair will change during the first year, some times becoming more coarse. As well straight hair may suddenly become wavy or curly. As well babies loose a portion of hair, naturally or develop bald spots. Some curls may begin to form or you may find coarser, tighter ringlets growing in place of your baby's loose, fine curls, for example. In addition,hair color can change during the first year blond hair can gradually turn brown.

Stranger Anxiety In Infants

Your little girl who was once outgoing and the most friendly baby you would ever want to know has suddenly shyed away from grandma so what happened to her?

Your baby has reached a new developmental milestone, its her first fear. As your baby becomes older, she is more aware of her surroundings there may be a change in her behavior. Although young infants under the age of six months generally do not exhibit "stranger anxiety" and will feel secure with almost anyone. However,usually around the age of eight or nine months , your baby will begin to discern between you and a stranger. Quite often she will be hesitant about going into the arms of a stranger, she may turn away, lay her head on your shoulder and hold onto you tightly. The fear of strangers will usually subside by the age of one year or so. However, there is a smaller percentage of babies whom never experience "stranger anxiety" and have the ability to adapt to new situations easily.

Tips for helping your baby

If your baby is anxious in a social situation do not force her to be social. Simply allow her to adjust at her own pace. Allow her to become comfortable in the situation.

Avoid leaving your baby with a complete stranger. If you have to leave your baby with a new caregiver, then plan on having them arrive at least 20 minutes early. This can help make the transition of you leaving easier.

Inform the person that your baby is anxious~ this helps them to understand your baby's behavior change.

Develop an "approach strategy" that works with your baby by suggesting the best way to win her over; perhaps instead of immediately picking her up: start with a smile, talk to her and allow her to begin to feel comfortable first.

Keep in mind that your baby is unique and has her own emerging personality. She will come around in time.

The Daddy Tool Kit: Bonding With Your Newborn

As a father you hold a special place in the life of your baby. While there is great emphasis placed on the bond between mother and baby,the bond between father and baby is just as important. Today more fathers are taking an active approach parenting by stepping outside of traditional role as simply the provider. In fact, more fathers are attending Lamaze classes, baby showers and being great birth coaches by simply having a desire to take on a more "hands on" approach.

The way that you relate and bond with your baby is quite different in style and manner. There is uniqueness to your relationship with your baby, simply your overall being, your touch, your smell and even the sound of your voice. These are clear distinctions that your baby learns to discern over time. It important to begin bonding with your new baby as soon as possible.

The Tool Kit: You Are Daddy

The tiniest person that you have ever held in your life has just come into your life.

Care: especially for newborns, although they spend the majority of their day sleeping, during their wakeful moments they require lots of care. During this time you can make the most of the time by tending to her needs: bathe,bottle feed, change diapers. When she is upset, you can soothe her just by holding her in your arms and cradle her body while supporting her head. The close skin-to skin contact is just what she needs. You can gently pat her back while you sway softly, or even jiggle her while humming a lullaby or your favorite song.

Playing:If you think that you don't know how to "play" you couldn't be more wrong. Of course you do! Its been some years but you haven't lost our touch. You can play simple baby games like peek-a-boo, patty cake or even better simply make up your own unique games. Try making silly faces and singing silly songs, say your ABC's. She just loves to hear your voice. If it still feels awkward, you will find that overtime it becomes easier, especially when you see her belly laugh at your antics.
Reading: There is nothing better than reading to your baby. You can choose a baby book or even the newspaper, it doesn't matter. She will enjoy looking at the pictures, listening to your voice and its great quality time. Its never too early to begin reading to you baby because you are creating the foundation for language development.

New Father Resources:

Books:
Father's First Steps:25 Things Every Father Should Know

Online Resources:

First Fathers: online website for new and expectant fathers, sponsorship/father mentoring/sponsorship program for fathers of children under age 3,community forum, daddy diaries

Brand New Dad: online website for new and expectant fathers, articles, community forum and more

Boot Camp For New Dads: Class designed for first time fathers: offered nationwide, check for availability in your area.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is defined as the sudden, unexpected death of an infant under the age of one year. You may have heard the term"crib death" which is the same as SIDS. According to the Center for Disease Control(CDC)SIDS is the third overall cause of infant mortality in the United States.

While there is more for the health care professionals to learn about SIDS and the underlying causes, research continues to be done. Some of the areas of study include genetic,brain activity, sleeping environments to help find answers to many of the questions that surround SIDS.

In 1994 the NICHD launched the Back To Sleep campaign to further promote the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that infants should be placed on their back during sleep. The campaign has brought a widespread awareness among parents, caregivers and health care professionals about the dangers of SIDS, while helping to significantly reduce the number of infant deaths.

There are no symptoms nor warning signs that can help detect the occurrence of SIDS . Rather, it's the cause of death that's given when an infant under the age of 1 year, suddenly dies by undetermined cause, the determination is often made after a thorough complete autopsy and legal investigation. The loss of an infant, especially in the suddenness of this manner of death can be tragic and devastating for the parents and their entire family.

However there are some risk factors that can be taken into consideration. Some of these include the following:
~~
poor prenatal care

high risk pregnancies *twins/multiples

premature birth

african american infants

maternal smoking

maternal age under 20 years

infants who sleep on their stomach

infants who sleep on a soft surfaces

The most important: always place your baby on his or her back rather than on the stomach or side when putting him to sleep. You should instruct any other family member or caregivers about the importance of this proper sleeping procedure.

Prevent you baby from exposure to cigarette smoke: do not allow to anyone smoke around your baby after he is born.

Baby Bedding :Ensure that you are using a firm crib mattress.Remove all, comforters,bumper pads, pillows and stuffed toys from the crib. These are all nice to have but certainly not a necessity. Many of these items can pose hazards such as suffocation, so its best to keep them out of the crib. All that you need is a crib sheet and a lightweight blanket.
To keep your baby comfortable, try not to overdress him, all clothing should be lightweight. As well ensure that the overall room temperature is warm enough for him.
___
Education is key in helping to reduce the occurrence of SIDS in infants. Many organizations and services are available for parents, caregivers and health care professionals who care for young infants. Explore some of the resources below for additional information.

If you have any questions or concerns about your infants health you should contact your pediatrician.


SIDS Resources

SIDS Resources: Michigan nonprofit organization that provides bereavement counseling, 24hr crisis hotline, family support and educational resources to promote community awareness about SIDS.

American SIDS Institute: family support, crisis hotline, educational services and research

The CJ Foundation for SIDS: provides fundraisers, SIDS awareness, resources, offers educational materials and more

The National Sudden Infant Death Resource Center: Georgetown University resource site providing family counseling,referrals and support, crisis hotline, searchable database, provides educational materials and more

Natural Baby Nursery Essentials

Creating a natural nursery for your baby is quite simple


Here are some Great Products


Wall Covering: choose environmental friendly paint that is fume-free wall, low level of solvents and resist mold and mildew. ( freshairechoice.com)

Zainy Bedding: make bedtime fun with these 100% organic cotton crib sheets. (funky monkey crib sheets$29, kee-ka.com)

Organic Layettes: the perfect clothing for delicate newborn skin. Made of all organic eEgyptian cotton.(Under The Nile Sherpa Layette, $14.99, pureinfant.com)

Green Sleep: choose a crib that meets all federal safety standards made of solid wood with a nontoxic finish also converts into toddler bed. The mattress of your choice should be eco-friendly as well. (thecleanbedroom.com)

Floor Covering: handmade with cotton, this rug is sure to brighten up any nursery. (Funky Rings, $125, rugzilla.com

Teaching Baby Sign Language

Baby sign language teaches babies hand gestures to communicate basic needs in a way that is effective. Well before your baby has the ability to communicate verbally she has good use of her hands. There are many parents and research experts like Linda Acredolo, Ph.D and Susan Goodwyn, Ph.D , developers of Baby Signs® whom agree that signing into with your baby can reduce the level of frustration at not being able to communicate.

If you are considering teaching your baby to sign its fairly easy and your baby will pick it up rather quickly. You can begin with the most basic signs like eat, milk, sleep and change (relating to diaper change). As she masters these basic signs you can move on to more signs. While learning signs you are also associating words to the sign so she is getting a vocabulary lesson as well.


How To Start Signing

• Ideally you can begin signing with your baby at any age because of the overall positive benefits. Some parents begin around the age of 9+ months because it is age that age that babies are more sociable and have greater use of hand gestures. You should start with a basic signs relative to the environment of your baby such as mama or dada.


• Be patient. As with all things new to your baby, it will take some time for full mastery. It may simply depend on your baby as to how quickly they can begin to sign back to you. Its important to keep the activity fun and enjoyable.


• Repetition is key! By implementing signing into your daily activities your baby will start to make a connection. Its important to use the signs and words together, as well as objects. Say the word, show the object and do the sign. For example you can

• Enroll in a baby-signing class in your local neighborhood. In addition talk with other parents and ask them about their experience with baby sign language.

The Benefits of Baby Sign Language:

Creates a stronger bond between parent and baby
Increases language development
Less frustration with the ability to communicate


Baby Sign Language Resources

Below is a list of sign language resources

American Sign Language: most sign language classes are based on the ASL so this is a great resource that provides signs for all words of the American Sign Language

Baby Signs: provides program information

Babies & Sign Language

My Baby Can Talk

Signing Baby

Signing Time: website provides newsletter, blog, online shopping

Check your local library for books about signing as well

The First Eco-Friendly Childcare Center: FIO360

Keeping It Green

That's what FIO360 offers to parents searching for an alternative to a traditional childcare setting. Located in midtown Atlanta, FIO360 is the First Eco-friendly childcare center designed to provide care to children ages 6 weeks to 4 years within an environmentally friendly setting.

Dedicated to promoting a healthy lifestyle by placing emphasis on living "green" and caring about the environment. The center has an inhouse chef that prepares fresh meals daily using locally grown organic food that is free of pesticides, hormones, pork, nuts and toxins. In addition everything from diapers,cleaning products and toys that are made of wood are just some of the ways that the center has gone to great lengths to keep everything as eco-friendly as possible. In addition there are even yoga classes and massage sessions for the little ones as well.

For more information check out the FIO360 website

Feeding Your Baby Fresh Organic Food

There is an increasing number of companies who are now manufacturing natural organic baby food to meet the demands of parents who want alternatives to traditional jar foods.


When you decide to start offering your baby solids and want to go the organic route you may have some questions about how you should go about doing so. Once you have weighed your options and want to give it a try check out our resources of retailers.



Here's a list of of retailers:

Bohemian Baby

Earth's Best

Evie's Organic Edibles

Gerber Organic

Happy Baby

Healthy Times

Homemade Baby

Plum Organics

Taste Bud Organic Baby Food

Diaper Rash Prevention

Baby Notes: Between all of the diaper rashes and skin sensitivities it seems that 'tried just about every brand of wipes that are currently on the market and Jason is allergic to all of them. We've decided to stop throwing money away and i've just resorted to making my own wipes. I keep a roll of paper towels and spray bottle next to the changing station. Just spray and go! Saving every penny counts!

As a parent its understandable that you would be concerned about your baby's bottom if you suddenly noticed reddish patches. If your baby suddenly gets a diaper rash you may consider it to be a reflection of your parenting skills and may begin a whirl of self questioning. However,keep in mind that many babies will have at least one diaper rash before they are fully toilet trained. Once you notice that you baby has a rash its important that you begin treating it right away.


What Causes Diaper Rash


Diaper rash is caused by prolonged wetness of the skin to acidic urine and feces, excessive rubbing from the diaper or chemicals within the diaper itself, which causes the layers of skin to break down. Although a diaper rash is simple to treat and usually can clear up within a few days if properly treated. However, if left untreated it can progress into a more severe rash such as a yeast infection making it very uncomfortable for your baby.


How To Prevent Diaper Rash


Use an ointment that contains zinc oxide, apply it to your baby's bottom after washing and diaper changes.This serves as a barrier and keeps the skin protected against wetness.

Allow her to go diaper free when possible. Simply place a few towels or waterproof pad underneath her bottom and let her air out.

Avoid using any of your baby wipes/baby washes/baby powders etc as these all have chemical ingredients that can irritate the skin.

Try changing diaper brands *switch to cloth or vice versa* disposable diapers contain chemicals that may be irritating your baby's skin. Giving her a break can make the world of difference.

Diaper Rash Prevention:

• Change your baby's diaper as soon as it becomes wet or soiled. Thoroughly clean your baby's bottom of any urine or feces. You may end up buying or washing more diapers but its certainly worth it!This may mean using more diapers or even more diapers to wash but its worth it to save a bottom from becoming irritated.

• Use a protective ointment that contains zinc oxide/petroleum ideally, after each diaper change. Sometimes plain old petroleum jelly works just as well and its budget friendly.

• Keep in mind that when your baby starts eating solid foods, sometimes food allergies can cause rash outbreaks. Introduce one new food at a time and allow up to a week to determine if there are any food sensitivities before you start on the next food.

• Breastfeeding is one of the best ways to boost your baby's immune system. The benefits of breast feeding your baby until at least age 12 months helps him to build resistance to infections thus lessening the need for antibiotics which can be a contributor to diaper rash outbreaks.

• If you are using cloth diapers wash them in hot water and use a detergent that is free of any dyes or fragrances. Do not use any bleach or fabric softeners. These harsh chemicals build up in the diapers causing them to become less absorbent and can irritate your baby's delicate skin. You should always double rinse your diapers to ensure that all soap has been removed from the diapers. You can also add half a cup of vinegar to the first rinse water to restore pH balance and fluff up the diapers.

• Dress you baby in loose clothing made of breathable fabrics such as cotton or even organic cotton clothing.

If you find that the rash has become worse or your baby develops other symptoms then call your pediatrician.

Signs of Neglect

Some diaper rashes are a due to direct neglect of the caretaker and failure to properly care for a diaper rash. If your baby is being cared for by a nanny, babysitter or even in a childcare center you should expect adequate care of your baby. This includes having basic needs met like feedings and diaper changes.

If your baby has a diaper rash its important that you talk with the caretaker about proper care of the rash and directions for use of any ointments, creams or any other specific diaper changing routines that your baby needs. Most childcare facilities have a daily diaper log and require changes every 2 hours. However, you should talk with the facility about their policies regarding using diaper creams/ointments.

Some examples:

Caregiver deliberately does not provide treatment for diaper rash while in care

Caregiver deliberately does not change infants diaper while in care

If you think that your baby is being neglected its important to take action

Talk with your pediatrician about your concerns or call

National Child Abuse Hotline and Referral Service : 1-800-4- A -Child for more information