Health and Baby

First Day Baby At Home

2009-07-29T04:11:00.004+07:00

Baby's First Days at Home
by: Timothy Robinson
The moment that you have waited for has finally arrived: the day you bring your newborn baby home from the hospital. Like all other expectant parents you will have spent the last nine months preparing for this day. You will have a baby room full of everything a newborn could possibly want. You will have read book after book on a wide magnitude of baby topics from what to name your baby to when you can expect those first words. You will have walked and paced the length of baby’s room, imagining your little bundle sleeping peacefully in her crib. Now the moment has arrived. In the crib lies your sleeping baby and the most exciting adventure of life is about to begin.

The first few days home from the hospital are just as important to you as they are to your baby. As new parents you will have gone through an exciting birth that will have left you breathless and exhilarated.

During your first days at home it may be wise to limit the amount of visitors that you welcome into your home. You need time to recuperate and settle into the routine that a sleeping, feeding, and often crying baby brings into your life.

As a new mother you will need to pay particular attention to the way that you are feeling so that those “baby blues” don’t creep up and surprise you unexpectedly. It is normal to feel a bit out of sorts and sad for the first couple of weeks after giving birth. Your body is going through some major physical changes after the birth of your baby. Your hormones will be changing and you likely will be feeling a lack of sleep. You should be patient with yourself, understand that all these feelings are normal, and that in a couple of weeks things will feel better for you.

If you find that you are feeling more and more depressed, and find it difficult to care for yourself and your family, you should consult your doctor so that he/she can determine if you are suffering from a condition called postpartum depression.
While not serious, postpartum depression can leave a new mother despondent, tired, and subject to emotional swings and loss of appetite. The effects of giving birth, hormone changes and the lifestyle changes of having a newborn (not sleeping, being indoors a lot, responsibilities of caring for a baby) can lead to a bout of the baby blues. Baby blues are usually short lived and go away without treatment.

During the first few days at home your family will be adjusting to the additional member of your family. If you have other children at home you may be dealing with feelings of jealousy as the new baby takes center stage. Make sure that you include your other children in the day-to-day activities that are part of the new baby’s routine. Let older children help with diaper changing, feeding, and just sitting and holding the new baby if they are old enough to do so.

This is your time to adjust to the changes in your life and settle into a comfortable routine...at least for the moment!

About the Author

Tim Robinson's report, "Baby's First Year: What Every New Parent Needs To Know" will make sure you have everything you need to know to provide for your child. Just visit for a sneak peak at what the guide will share with you.

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NOVEL WAY OF ARRANGEMENT - BABY SHOWER

2009-07-28T04:10:00.007+07:00

by: David Chandler
Baby shower games.

Photo matching - enticing baby shower game- all the guests should bring the baby picture of themselves. Arrange all pictures on a board. Give each picture a number. Each guest has to match the adult guest name with the corresponding baby picture. The guest with the most correct matches wins.

Top Baby Songs- entertaining baby shower game-divide the guests into teams. Ask them to write down as many songs that have the word baby in the title in 3to 5 minutes. The team with most song titles wins. The losers can sing a baby song chosen by the winners.

Baby shower invitations.

Baby Shower invitations can be as formal or informal. The baby shower invitation can be simple or complicated. We can decide that. However, it is worth putting some time and effort into baby shower invitations, because it sets the mode and tone for that special Baby Shower Party.

The invitation must have Time, Date & location of party. The baby shower invitation must contain your telephone and email addresses. We should always remember to include details of the events that need preplanning or preparation.

Baby shower themes.

Baby shower themes are a great idea for a baby shower, by creating a real party atmosphere by matching baby shower invitations, baby shower favors, baby shower decorations, and Baby Shower Games. Below, there are few favorite baby shower themes. We should always remember that the baby shower theme must suit the most important guest [the expectant mother].

Once the baby shower theme is decided, we can use the theme for baby shower invitations, baby shower decorations, Baby Shower games, baby shower cakes, and baby shower favors. . Write an alphabet letter on each guest's invitation. Ask them to bring a gift beginning with that letter. Decorate the room with letters.

Baby shower gifts

The gifts that we give should be useful for the baby. The baby shower gift may be simple or expensive that depends on our purse weight. Here are few suggestions.

Baby's First Library: The Runaway Bunny, Big Red Barn, and Goodnight Moon LullaBag Gift Cradle - Natural Cotton - used up to 12 months, Wooden Two-Step Stool- this comes in 2 colors, Small Photo Album, -used from birth to over 36 months, Classic Red Tricycle used from 24 months and up

Baby shower Cakes

Baby shower cakes are a practical, yet beautiful gift for new parents and baby and made to look just like their name, a cake. These clever little beauties are filled with all kinds of useful baby items such as diapers, bibs, bottles, pacifiers, shoes, socks, etc.

All the things a new parent needs to get them started! This gift is a great centerpiece at a baby shower and as the gift! It is sure to "wow" everybody! Perfect to take to Mom and Baby at the hospital, too.

Baby shower decoration

Baby shower decoration- decorates the room with pictures of famous movie stars and films. We can also decorate the room with pop star posters. We can decorate room as per any children story such as 'Hey Diddle Diddle' or 'Goldilocks. We can use children's books for table centerpieces. Stack the books and tie ribbon around the books with a big bow on top. Decorate the top with a pacifier.

Stable baby shower decoration-decorate the room as a stable with a manger big enough for Mom. Another type of decoration is Umbrella baby shower decoration-Decorate room with umbrellas, galoshes, etc. Tell all the guests that the forecast says showers today and every one comes in raincoats.

For more information, visit these sites: http://www.BabyShowerInfoCenter.com or http://www.BabyGiftsInfo.com

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Smart Spend For Your Baby Gear

2009-07-27T04:07:00.008+07:00

Are You Spending Too Much Money on Baby Gear?
by: Stephanie Gallagher
Did you waste $57 today? I hope not. Unfortunately, so many new parents pay much more than they have to for baby products, because they don’t know the secrets the insiders know.

Remember, just because you shop at so-called discount stores doesn’t mean you’ll get the lowest prices. The same is true for warehouse stores and online auction sites.

Even coupons that seem like great deals aren’t always a bargain. For example, one online retailer recently offered a promotion where you could buy one board game and get one free. But the games cost twice what they cost at a competitor. So it wasn’t really a deal at all.

What’s a bargain-hunting parent to do? It helps if you can find someone who’s done some research for you.

The Shopping Mom to the Rescue!

In an attempt to do a scientific, apples-to-apples comparison, I recently conducted a price test of six popular baby product web sites. I purchased a basket of common baby products from each site.

All of the sites I chose were well-established businesses, with reliable customer service, and a good selection of products. Many offered extra services, like reader reviews, shopping checklists and helpful tips. The sites were:

1. BabyCenter (http://www.babycenter.com)

2. Babies R Us (http://www.babiesrus.com)

3. Baby Universe (http://www.babyuniverse.com)

4. Baby Catalog (http://www.babycatalog.com)

5. Shopping.com (http://www.shopping.com)

6. Target.com (http://www.target.com)

Shopping.com isn't a retailer. It's a comparison shopping service. But I included it because it’s supposed to be able to find you the best deals online. I wanted to see if it lived up to its promise.

The Results

Remember the $57 I talked about wasting earlier? That was the difference in total cost between the cheapest site I shopped and the most expensive. A pretty hefty chunk of change, considering my basket had just four items:

1. A Britax Roundabout car seat in Denim (the price can differ depending on the pattern)

2. The First Years On the Go booster seat

3. An Avent newborn starter set

4. A Boppy

I used my address in Maryland to calculate shipping and tax. Obviously, the cost to you will vary, depending on where you live.

And the Winner Is...

Coming in at a lean, mean $255.55: Baby Catalog offered the best deals. And this didn't include the extra discount you get by signing up for their Baby Club of America.

Shopping.com came in a close second at $257.34, making it a worthwhile stop for anyone in the market for baby gear. Plus, Shopping.com is integrated with Epinions.com, so you can get product reviews right there. I also liked the fact that Shopping.com calculated the total cost, including shipping and tax, in advance.

Baby Universe came in at $263.91. But keep in mind that Baby Universe offers a flat shipping rate of $6.95, no matter how many products you buy. So the more you buy, the better deal this site is.

Babies R Us was the most expensive, at $312.97, followed by Target at $300.74, and BabyCenter at $285.06. Interestingly, both Babies R Us and Target are under the Amazon.com umbrella, which means you should always comparison shop among the different stores on the Amazon site.

Keep in mind, too, that all of these retailers offer coupons and special deals from time to time. So it always pays to shop around.

About the Author

Stephanie Gallagher reveals her closely-guarded shopping secrets in her ezine, The Shopping Mom’s Weekly Tip. Get the eCookbooks Recipe Sampler Cookbook as a special gift when you subscribe. Send a blank email to: theshoppingmom@aweber.com

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Graco baby products

2009-07-26T04:05:00.007+07:00

by: Marilyn Willoughby
If you have a new baby at your house you will acquire a bewildering array of baby products over the next few years. Graco baby products is one of the best known manufacturers of a wide variety of merchandise including Graco strollers, car seats, high chairs, play yards, safety gates in addition to the original product they started with in 1955, the baby swing from Graco baby products.

As a parent you will need to find quality manufacturers you can trust on a continual basis and Graco baby products, an American company, have been proven to be among the best over a time period spanning two generations. You can find a full line of Graco baby products featured on our product pages, including high chairs, safety gates, car seats, strollers, and much more.

No matter what your baby needs you can count on Graco baby products and our ability to provide them online with the least hassle and maximum peace of mind.

About the author:

Marilyn Willoughby is a successful author and publisher of http://www.great-baby-products.com An online resource for buying great baby products and a provider of important baby safety tips.

www.great-baby-products.com

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Alternative Clothing For Your Babies

2009-07-25T04:02:00.007+07:00

Whoever coined the phrase that there is nothing new under the sun was clearly not expecting to see the latest trend in clothing for infants and toddlers. The members of the punk rock generation of the ‘80s are the parents of today and it seems that a good number of them chose to go the way of Peter Pan and simply refused to grow up. That is the only viable explanation for the aforementioned baby clothing trend: "alternative" baby wear. Parents are now able to dress their little Joeys and Siouxsies in all manner of punk-rock and biker inspired clothing designed to make even the most anti-social and anarchistic parents say, "Isn't he a cute little punk?"

Available at various specialty shops and a number of online retailers, these clothing items intended for infants and toddlers consist primarily of Tee shirts bearing slogans like "If you can read this… THE BIB FELL OFF!" and "Little Punker" colored in the requisite blacks, reds, and hot pinks. Many of these articles hail from the UK and are available in the US by mail order only. The panhandling punks of yesteryear must have a bit of cash saved up, however, at a UK site called The Rally Shack the aforementioned "bib" slogan shirt as well as a hot pink tee adorned with a pattern of skulls and crossbones that might look more fitting donning the chest of John Lydon or Iggy Pop sells for £10.00 (about $18.00 US) and is available in 6, 18, and 24 month sizes. Eighteen bucks is a pretty hefty price for a baby tee that is going to be spit up on and outgrown, but, with the number of these sites in business, there must be a market. A few other offerings follow.

The Kids Window

This UK based site offer US, UK, European, and world versions and sells traditional and alternative baby clothes. Of particular interest are the "Jolly Roger" skull and crossbones tees, "Head Banger" tees and "hoodies" bearing both legends and slogans. Prices range from about £12.00 to £16.99 (about $22.00-$31.00 US). Yes, your 6 month old can wear a hoodie! Just like Eminem!

Lucky L'il Devil

This American site has got to be seen to be believed. It offers everything you could want to turn your baby or toddler into a little hoodlum all under one convenient roof. In addition to the rock and pop culture inspired Tee shirts (personal favorites include the Betty Page tee, the Ramones homage tee that reads "Hey, Ho, Let's Go," and the disturbingly humorous tee reading "333 – Halfway to Hell"), Lucky L'il Devil offers full outfits like apron dresses and leggings that bear images like the female silhouette familiar to truckers everywhere and slogan "Daddy Drinks Because I Cry." Prices range from $17.00-$18.00 for tee shirts, $34.00-$36.00 for apron dresses, and $17.00 for leggings.

About The Author:
This article provided courtesy of http://www.baby-announcement-guide.net

Copyright Mark Freeman - http://www.baby-announcement-guide.net

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Special Touches To Add Warmth To Your Baby Shower

2009-07-24T04:00:00.005+07:00

When planning a baby shower it is often the special touches that add warmth to the celebration. Not only can your shower run a little smoother, but your mom-to-be and guests will appreciate your thoughtfulness.

To add a festive touch, simply place helium balloons outside your front door to greet your guests and expectant mother. Another cute idea is to place a sign on the lawn advertising the upcoming arrival. You can find many adorable signs that can be either purchased or rented at party stores.

Decorating for a shower is always fun, but many people forget about the bathroom. Adding a scented candle, some special soap and lotions will add warmth to the room.

As your shower guests arrive, be sure to take the time to introduce them to one another. If you are putting together a seating arrangement, place people who know each other or have common interests together. This will help keep everyone comfortable and avoid the awkwardness that can sometimes happen when guests have never met.

Help make your expectant mom feel pampered and relaxed on the way to and from the baby shower. Arrange a designated driver to pick her up and drive her home.

Your expectant mom will want to remember her shower and have something to look back on. Ask a shower guest in advance to be the designated photographer. Have them take a picture of each guest with the expectant mom. You could take this idea a step further and after developing the pictures, place them in a keepsake photo album for your mom-to-be.

Another idea that your expectant mom will greatly appreciate is designating a gift recorder to keep track of who gave her which gift. With all the excitement and wrapping paper, she is bound to forget who gave which adorable sleeper or stuffed teddy bear. You could also take this idea further and create a shower game. As your guest arrive have each of them write their name and address on an envelope. Place the envelopes in a bowl for a draw during the shower. The name pulled will win a prize. In the meantime, your mom will have all her envelopes addressed and ready to mail once she has filled out her thank you cards.

Depending on the style or type of shower you are hosting, you may have the expectant dad and other male friends and relatives in attendance. If this is the case try to stay away from anything too frilly when picking your invitations. Look for gender-neutral decorations and party games.

A simply way to add warmth and closeness during a shower is to have each person come up and present their gift to the expectant mom. While she is unwrapping her gift she can introduce the gift-giver to the group and share a little story about how she knows them. This is a great way for everyone to get to know one another and perhaps even share some laughs over the stories being told.

You can let your expectant mom know how special she is to you and your guests by surprising her with a small keepsake from her shower. It can be something as simple as her invitation nicely framed for her to take home.

When you plan your next baby shower for a close friend or family member, keep these ideas in mind. They are simple ways to add warmth and love to your celebration.
About the Author

Brenda McLean is a stay-at-home of two small children and is married to her husband Albert. Brenda is also the creator of http://www.your-baby-shower-guide.com/. A website providing in-depth information, fun ideas and useful tips to help guide you in your baby shower planning. Brenda and her family enjoy camping, watching movies and getting together with family and friends.

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Surprise Baby Shower

2009-07-23T03:58:00.009+07:00

Throwing a surprise baby shower doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, it can be fun for all involved. All it takes is a little patience, a few basic steps, and the cooperation of friends and family.

A surprise shower does involve some secrets, so remember to be stealthy. But you will want to make sure that the mom-to-be will be up for a surprise. Early on in her pregnancy, try to ascertain if she is up for a surprise baby shower or if she would rather know in advance. This could eliminate surprising mom-to-be when she is not feeling up to it. (If mom-to-be knows she has a surprise baby shower coming up, she will be more likely to be dressed appropriately when the time comes.)

Once you have determined whether the baby shower will be a surprise or not, make sure that mom-to-be has registered for baby gifts. Even if you are having a non-surprise baby shower, it is never appropriate to ask the mom-to-be what she wants for the baby. Let the registry do the talking so baby shower guests can feel free to choose gifts within their own individual budgets.

You will need to enlist the help of those closest to mom-to-be, particularly the dad-to-be. He will be able to help determine a date and time for the surprise baby shower. As well as help to get her there with the least amount of suspicion. He can also make sure she doesn’t head out in a baseball cap and no makeup.

Perhaps thinking she is just coming over for coffee! Close family will need to help with the preparation of a baby shower guest list. Since you won’t be able to ask mom-to-be directly. You will have to rely on her mother or mother-in-law and maybe a sister to get this information. Be careful when sending the surprise baby shower invitations. You will need to mention that this is a surprise baby shower! You don’t want anyone accidentally spilling the beans!

You can keep in the theme of surprising mom-to-be by going the extra mile. By ensuring that an unexpected baby shower guest is able to make it. Ask close friends of this baby shower guest to help with the cost of travel. If this is necessary as part of mom-to-be’s gift. She will probably love that more than a baby shower gift!

You can also play baby shower games with surprise themes. Try playing the “diaper surprise” game by passing out diapers to all of the guests. With one of them having a “mess” inside (you can use chocolate or bean dip, or use your imagination). The one who gets the messy diaper wins a prize.

Or if mom-to-be is expecting a boy, you can play “pin the diaper on baby”. Just before your blind-folded guest of honor goes to place the diaper on the baby. Squirt her with a water pistol to simulate the “surprise” often associated with changing a baby boy’s diaper!

Sometimes, no matter how hard you work to keep the baby shower a surprise. Your mom-to-be may find out about it. Don’t let this get you down, though. There will be some elements of surprise for her. Whether she is expecting the baby shower or not.

It might be unexpected guests, party favors, or an exotic cake. There will be plenty there that she didn’t count on!

About the Author

Randy is owner of http://www.planning-a-baby-shower.com where you will find further tips on baby showers and baby shower games.

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Double Fun with Double Baby Stroller

2009-07-22T03:55:00.001+07:00

If yours is one of those lucky families whose numbers have increased by two instead of just one: a double baby stroller will be perfect for you. These come in either

side-by-side or tandem seating and a double baby stroller can be found in any of the colors of the rainbow.

Babysitters find that pushing a double baby stroller allows them to easily manage two children rather than one, yet still be able to provide the personal attention to each that the little ones require. Most models have multiple pockets for carrying extra diapers, baby bottles, wipes and jackets and are made from a variety of long lasting materials.

The addition of two rain covers to a double baby stroller will keep your babies warm and dry and allow a walk outdoors in the fresh air in most weather conditions.

About the author:

Marilyn Willoughby is a successful author and publisher of http://www.great-baby-products.com An online resource for buying great baby products and a provider of important baby safety tips.

www.great-baby-products.com

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Baby and The Man

2009-07-21T03:53:00.003+07:00

When a couple steps forth with a baby in tow everything in life is stable and normal. People hold open doors, hard shopkeepers “chuck” and go all gooey before catching themselves and generally life is an easy ride. But gentlemen, when he who dares to step-out with a baby in tow (minus the wife) life becomes a series of obstacles that never ceases to surprise.

I don’t mean a trip to the corner shop, “no siree”! I mean a fully-fledged trip into town, pram, milk bottles and spare nappies to boot! Small things are immediately noticeable, like that hard and mean-looking grocer down the road! When my wife goes in to his establishment he goes all gooey, in fact he doesn’t notice me at all; just talks to my wife and son and ignores me as if I was the invisible man. But walking in to his shop with only my son, an apple to buy before the days outing ahead and he became meaner and harder. In fact he noticed me for the first time, glared at me as if I had just stolen the kid and was on the run and said “hope that’s not for the little one”! I felt like saying what’s it got to do with you mate but ……………on the bus the driver who suggested that I sit near the front instead of upstairs was nearly out of his seat and taking the part of usher before realizing that this was not really in his job description!

Somehow some basic human instinct suggests that ‘man’ is neither capable nor fit to look after a baby! This instinct immediately raises the hairs on the backs of people’s necks, images of disaster loom in their minds and unseen forces push them forwards to offer help. They do not see a happy and carefree father pushing his laughing baby along in the pram, they see a harried father who is at his wits end and who is desperate for help. They see a tormented and unwilling baby, screaming and kicking in desperation, a father who is pulling his hair out and desperately looking around for somebody to just show him what to do.

Once in town and in the department store I headed straight for the baby changing room! Same routine as always except minus one cog – the wife! I did what I had done so many times before whilst my wife had sat down to read a magazine. Well, the plan was the same as all those times before, make the milk give my son the bottle, lay him down on the nappy changing “thingy”, change his nappy, etc! I did not even get as far as the hot water dispenser! One mum, before I had even entered the room stopped me in my tracks and in a very serious way informed me that the seat belt on the pram was not fastened. One has to be polite in situations like these; I myself planning ahead as always had removed the seat belt just then in preparation for lifting my son out of it once inside the baby room. I did not know of the golden rule that one cannot unfasten the seat belt until well inside closed doors!

Inside the room, some mystical being ran around the room telling all of the mums that a ‘father-alone’ was out and about! Upon entering heads swiveled in my direction, a series of forces pushing bodies towards me and unwanted advice started to escape from mouths. Once past I could hear whisperings, stories being generated and past on; a fictional myth growing in reality to become truth in mind! I shut myself off, warded off the numerous hands that where heading towards my sons cheeks like locusts, barged through with forced smiles and “no thanks”, and managed to get to the water machine. I smiled politely to the lady who showed me how to press the button for hot water, grimaced when told that the milk I had made was too hot (how did she know?) and nearly barked when asked “is the wife in not well dear”!

These kindly mums, whose husbands obviously knew nothing about how to change a nappy or feed a baby his milk, had my son crying within five minutes. He doesn’t like attention in the form of searching hands. He especially doesn’t like getting his cheek pinched or chin chucked! I felt like shouting “give him air” or wading in with elbows to rescue him but they were all so well-meaning, these poor mums! Needless to say that as my sons screaming and bawling intensified to maximum pitch the mums turned to me as one as if to say “look at the poor man, doesn’t know how to look after his baby”.

Naturally as they confirmed their belief that I was totally inept and useless, wandering hands gained purpose and started to lift my baby out of the pram to offer him comfort – my son hates strangers holding him! Well, I made a run for it, I grabbed the baby in mid-air, swiveled the pram around on a sixpence, closed my eyes tight and charged for the door, throwing aside mothers like pins at the bowling alley!

I went to the men’s toilet to change my son’s nappy! At least in the sanctity within, nobody talked to me, no advice was freely given and no insects to ward off. Naturally, looks of sympathy and confusion were issued freely, stories would abound later as husbands rushed to tell their wives about the “poor sad man with the baby” – but who cares, just don’t talk to me about it.

I suppose all is not so bad! A new dimension opened up, one that it would be best if my wife knew nothing about! I have never in my life had so many young ladies (ones who wouldn’t know what the inside of a baby changing room looked like) surrounding me; albeit they were cooing at my son but ……… something about single men with babies must be an attraction. Anyway, I always enjoyed their reaction when saying loudly, “ah, here’s my wife coming now”, the desertion was abrupt and complete! I know how to handle that one; it’s the rest that bothers me!

About the Author

Author and Webmaster of Seamania. As a Chief Engineer in the Merchant Navy he has sailed the world for fifteen years. Now living in Taiwan he writes about cultures across the globe and life as he sees it.

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A Daddy Baby Shower

2009-07-20T03:51:00.006+07:00

New Twist on the old Baby Shower
by: Randy Wilson
Try something new, a Daddy Baby Shower. Even though no one would realistically expect a new daddy-to-be to sit around with his closest buddies, opening baby shower gifts and playing party games while oohing and aahing over the imminent birth of his child. That doesn’t mean that Dad can’t have a baby shower-type celebration. Daddy deserves to celebrate the birth of his child, too!

Of course, the term baby shower does invoke visions of baby themed parties. Like the one described above when planning a baby shower. So perhaps “baby shower” is not an appropriate name for this get-together. Why limit yourself with a label, anyway? Call it a “celebrating-Jim’s-impending-fatherhood” party, if you want, instead of baby showers for dad.

Here are a few suggestions to make this type of party one for daddy-to-be to remember:

Play Games:

Well, not baby shower games. But you can play poker, horseshoes or even a game of shirts-n-skins football in the back yard.

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry:

Have tons of fattening and not-good-for-you foods. Make spareribs, cheese steaks, wings, and anything else you can eat with your hands and make a mess with. The wives won’t be there to complain and you can grunt all you want. Have some beers (or soda if you prefer) and barbecue.

Last Night Out:

Take the dad-to-be out for a night on the town to rival his bachelor party. Do some bar hopping, play some pool, shoot some darts, and don’t go home until you are kicked out of at least three places. Keep Dad safe, though, and designate someone to stay sober and make sure everyone gets home in one piece. You might also want to check with mom-to-be to make sure she is okay with this plan. She is, after all, pregnant and might not be all that amenable to the last-night-out-before-fatherhood party.

Gifts for Dad-To-Be:

Let the official baby shower take care of the baby necessities. Give Dad gifts for himself, or gifts that he would have chosen for the baby. Buy him a diaper tool kit, complete with goggles, rubber gloves, tongs, clothespin, and of course, diapering essentials, or a Daddy Gear Diaper Bag.

Gag gifts are fun, too. Or you could buy clothing for the new baby with Dad’s favorite sports team’s logo or matching Dad and Baby t-shirts. Think about necessities like batteries, too. Most likely they won’t be on Mom’s registry, but all parents know that batteries are a hot commodity in any house with children. Be creative.

And don’t forget that Dad might need some reading material to get himself up to date on the latest parenting trends. Consider getting him a book on fatherhood, funny or otherwise, or maybe a magazine subscription for daddy, such as American Baby Magazine.

Ask other new dads to think about what toys or objects were particularly helpful when their little ones were inconsolable, and either buy or recommend them for the times when dad-to-be is home alone with Junior.

Comfort Dad:

New Dads are usually pretty stressed out about what there life is going to be like after the new baby comes. Be prepared to have guests tell funny and helpful stories about their own experiences with becoming a daddy. Make it a point to reassure him that his wife is not really crazy, she is just hormonal and this, too, shall pass.

Remember, daddy baby showers don't have to be like the traditional shower, or even called a shower, but you can have one for dad just the same.

© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

About the Author

Randy is owner of Profitable Home Businesses, How to Plan a Baby Shower and Las Vegas Weddings.

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Baby Bassinets and The Craddle

2009-07-19T15:23:00.002+07:00

by: Randy Wilson
Baby bassinets are portable cradles. The difference being that a cradle is bigger and is usually left in one place. A bassinet is smaller and portable.

Most come as complete sets including the bumpers, sheet and mattress. Occasionally even a baby blanket is included to match the theme of the set.

The average price is anywhere between $60 and $120 including the accessories. However, you can find them anywhere between $40 to $300.

When looking for a bassinet find one with a sturdy bottom that will support the mattress. Also check to see that the spindles are no wider than three and a half inches apart for safety.

They are used for the first 3 to 4 months. After that the baby will usually have outgrown the bassinet.

© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

About the Author

Randy is owner of How to Plan a Baby Shower, Profitable Home Businesses and Las Vegas Weddings. Randy owned and operated a very successful storefront/mailorder business from 1988 to 2003.

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Baby Reflexes

2009-07-07T07:20:00.001+07:00

A Baby Is Born With Several Reflexes
by: Tony Luck
A Baby's Reflexes..

A baby is born with certain reflexes to protect them during the first few weeks. These reflexes will disappear after a few weeks and be replaced with voluntary movement during baby's development.

Doctors will check these reflexes to ensure his central nervous system is working correctly.

Walking Reflex

If you hold baby in an upright position with his feet touching the floor, his legs will seem to be trying to walk. This reflex will last for about 3-4 weeks, and he won't actually walk until he is around 12 months.

Crawling Reflex

Place baby on his stomach and he will take up a crawling position with his bottom in the air and his legs bent. This lasts for about two months when he will then be able to lie flat.

Search Reflex

Touch baby's cheek with your finger or breast and he will turn towards the source and open his mouth in search of food. This reflex will last for about 12 weeks.

Grasp Reflex

Place your finger in the palm of baby's hand and he will grasp it. This involuntary movement will persist for about 3 months.

Sucking Reflex

Put your (clean) finger in baby's mouth and he will suck on it. This reflex ensures he will be able to feed.

Diving Reflex

If baby is placed in water - either during a water birth or in a swimming pool - his throat will close so that he does not swallow the water. This means that baby will not drown if born in water, and he will also be a natural swimmer. This reflex will last for about 2 months, or longer if you take him swimming.

Babinski's Reflex

Stroke the sole of baby's foot and his big toe will curl up and the other toes will spread out. This lasts for about two years.

About the Author

Tony Luck who runs a site with advice for moms-to-be and new moms, including the fascinating chinese pregnancy calendar which is supposed to tell you whether the baby you are expecting will be a boy or girl, and a conception chart to tell you when baby is expected.

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Tip and trick to take your baby pictures
Baby Reflexes

Baby Crib, You have To Read This

2009-07-06T15:18:00.001+07:00

Baby Crib Advice and Tips
by: Martin Smith
Congratulations! You have just learned that you are having a baby. Whether this is your first or not you need to look at cribs. Do you have one already? Is it an antique? A second hand crib whether antique or not needs to be carefully looked at. This is for the safety of your new baby.

The screws, bolts, and/or other fasteners should all be in place. Are they loose? Will the position of the mattress hold under your baby's weight? It is imperative that this be tested before you put your baby in the crib. Take something that approximates the weight of your baby at about 4 months old. Bounce it off the mattress to be certain it will hold its position. If it doesn't it could cause serious injury to your baby or worse.

When setting up the nursery (if it isn't already up) consider very carefully where you will place the crib. If you place the crib near a window and you have Venetian blinds, either shorten the cords or anchor them somewhere that your baby can't reach and get a hold of them. If it all possible avoid placing the crib near the window. As your baby grows into a toddler and s/he attempts to climb out of the crib; s/he could possibly fall which could cause serious injury to your baby.

Blankets and your baby are not necessarily a good mix. With the incidents of SIDS today, you want to be sure to do everything that could possibly put your infant at risk. It is more advisable to put your baby to bed in a sleeper. If you absolutely have to have a blanket on the baby, tuck it tightly around and under the foot of the mattress with your baby's feet touching the footboard. Also you don't want to put the blanket any higher on the baby than up to his chest as that will help prevent him from slipping under the blankets and suffocating.

Bumper pads are a great concept but unless they are secured properly, there is a risk of your baby slipping between the mattress and the bumpers and possibly suffocating. If you use them they should be anchored in at least eight places one at each corner of the crib and at least two spaced evenly on each of the sides. There should be a total of 16 ties in all, for the top and bottom.

Mobiles are a nice addition and look adorable but... the caution here is that if you use a mobile as soon as your baby starts to sit up on his own the mobile should be taken down to prevent your baby from getting tangled in it. Also make sure that it has no small removable parts that your baby could choke on.
If your crib is second hand no matter whether you had for a previous child or you got it from someone else check out the mattress carefully. Make sure there are no cracks or holes in the mattress covering. Make sure too that the mattress properly fits in the crib. Here again, your child could slip between the mattress and the sidebars or the end boards and suffocate. The mattress should fit snugly in the crib. Now the sheets you use in your baby's crib should also fit properly and not slip and slide. Sheet anchors are available that hook on the sheet under the mattress and keep it in place.

The position of the mattress is imperative for your child's safety. Most parents put the mattress at the highest position when the baby first comes home because it is so much easier to change him in that position. As your baby becomes more active you will want to lower the mattress accordingly. Once your baby is able to pull up to a standing position put the mattress in the lowest possible position and to be sure your baby is safe, measure the distance between the top of the side bar and the mattress. In the lowest position the distance of the top of the side bar should be no more than 26 inches above the mattress. If your child's head is over the side bar or they climb out of the crib, it maybe time to move your child to a regular bed. Some cribs are convertible into beds tat will grow with your child.

The crib itself should be looked over for things that might put your baby at risk. Have you seen those cribs that have ornate designs carved into the end boards? They are beautiful but they pose a danger to your child. Your child could get his head or arm and leg caught and sustain an injury. The simpler the design of the crib the safer your child may be.

Since approximately 1974 federal safety guidelines for cribs state that the slats should be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart. This is to prevent your baby from getting his head stuck between the slats. This could cause injury to your baby but it would necessitate the removal of some of the slats and that alone would compromise your baby's safety.

About the Author

Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of
Baby strollers

and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.

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It's So Easy To Take Your Babies Picture

2009-07-05T18:16:00.001+07:00

4 Tips for Taking Great Baby Pictures - Even If You're Not An Experts
by: Alexis Dawes

When my daughter Layla was born I had a hard time putting the camera down. And apparently I wasn't the only one. The cashier at the photo developing shop told me that new parents comprised a fairly sizable chunk of their business.

We can't help it! Babies are such beautiful creatures that you want to capture every new movement and every fleeting smile that comes along. (Even if that smile is attached to a smelly gas bubble!)

However the problem many parents have is that their lack of good photography skills can translate into pictures that are too dark, too bright, blurry, out of focus, uncentered, and so on. Perhaps this describes you.

If so, don't sweat it. These problems are easily fixable. An album full of mishaps can quickly be transformed by following these 4 tips...

1) When taking pictures of babies lying on their backs, stand directly over them and shoot straight down.

I used to take a solid color baby blanket and place it on the floor in a bright, sun filled room. When I was ready to take a picture I would put Layla on the blanket, and adjust it around her, making sure not to put her directly in the sunlight. Then I'd get on my knees right over her, aim straight down and snap away.

This technique will allow you to center the camera properly and you'll get some great close-up shots. The natural sunlight will often give you just enough light so your picture isn't too dark or too bright.

2) Capture a range of emotions.

Smiling babies are cute. But so are crying babies and pouting babies and messy babies and sleeping babies.

Be sure to take pictures of your little one in all phases of his or her emotion filled life. You'll be amazed at how truly beautiful they are in non-traditional picture taking situations.

3) Make bath time picture time.

While there are some babies who don't like water, most love it. They often become very expressive in the bath tub - laughing, cooing and splashing. So bath time often becomes a great opportunity to capture a few precious shots of your little one.

I've personally used the bathtub to document how Layla has changed over her 2+ years. Every couple of months I take a few close-up pictures of her in the bathtub. Then I take the best one and place it in a special section in the photo album.

It's truly amazing to see how her face changes so dramatically with each new picture.

4) If you use a disposable camera, choose a good one.

I purchased 3 dirt cheap disposable cameras before I had Layla. When we brought her home these were the ones we used for the first week of photo taking.

Boy was I disappointed! The pictures developed horribly. And as a new mommy with hormones still raging, you know how sad this made me. Those cuddly little moments can never be relived again.

I learned a good lesson though. You get what you pay for.

Now my disposable camera of choice is the Kodak Max HQ. It's one of the more pricey disposable cameras. However the quality is fantastic in comparison to other disposables I've used.

You can usually buy them inexpensively on eBay. Popular retailers like Target and Wal-Mart also run sales on them quite frequently.

Alexis Dawes is a real mom (not a professional photographer) who runs the Photograph-Your-Baby.com web site. Check out her free 20+ page tutorial that teaches parents how to take better pictures of their little one (http://www.Photograph-Your-Baby.com).

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The oldest baby bird fosil

The Oldest Baby Bird Fossil FOUNDED !!!

2009-07-05T17:50:00.001+07:00

150-Million Year Old Baby Bird Fossil/ W Hide Scraper!
by: Steve Montes

I was using my metal detector in the foothills of Tucson, Arizona. As luck would have it, I never find what I am Seeking. As the day started to come to an end. I was walking back to my truck with the metal detector resting on my shoulder.

I caught sight of an unusual looking rock laying on the ground. After picking up the rock I dusted the rock on my pant leg and noticed a fossilized baby bird just off center of the stone. I turned the stone over to reveal more of the bird’s body on the back of the stone.

After showing the bird off to some of my friends, I decided to take the stone to the University of Arizona. I wanted to learn more about what I had found.

My first stop at the U of A was at the American History Museum. I was told to take my stone to the Paleontology Department across the lawn in front of where I was. When I got there I saw a professor in his office. I asked him if I could talk to a Paleontologist. He asked why, so I handed him the stone and preceded to tell him how I had found the stone. His eyes got big with excitement as he examined the stone while we walking down the hallway to another office. Soon theirs were several professor and people looking at the stone in awe over my good fortune. As they talked, I listened.

The rock I found was secondary sedimentary solidified black limestone. Which is not indigenous to this area. I was told the rock could have come from Canada, Montana, Kansas, China, or even from South America.

The baby bird fossil was 150 million years old. This period in time is when birds evolved from reptiles. Another professor pointed out to me other inclusions that were in the stone like plant matter, twigs, and other foreign objects not identifiable to him. A professor stated that there was proof that this rock was found on the top of the ground the impact marks etched into the rock as the rain hit the front of the stone for thousands of years while it lay on top of the ground. The marks were small circular pockets about the size of a pencil eraser grouped together. It was also mentioned that there was once other bones near the chest of the bird that had fallen out over time but the imprint of the bones are still visible. They could not identify the species of bird, as there is nothing on record, to compare it to.

I was asked by one of the professors if I wouldn’t mind waiting for one more professor who was still in class to come see the stone. He stated that this professor was part of their group and they wanted his opinion of the stone.

As he approached, I handed him, the stone. He looked at it for a moment and stated that this stone was an artifact that had been carved by primitive man into a tool used to scrape the flesh away from the hide of game killed for food. It turned out that this mans background is in the field of Archeology. A silence fell on the people gathered we listened to information being given about this rare find.

The archeologist asked one of the professors if he could borrow his microscope to look at the stone more in depth. The group moved down the hall to a small office where we entered. As I stood by his side, he examined the stone and stated that there were glassy areas on the sharp edge around the stone that were not visible to the naked eye. He said that the tendons and ligaments had polished parts of the stone while being used. He also stated that the hide scraper was in mint condition and had hardly been used. He went on to say that most hide scrappers that we see today in museums are small ovals that are badly worn due to their use, and then discarded when they become too small and useless. He also said that he had never seen a slightly used hide scraper before.

He made mention that he wished he knew what group of people had carved the hide scraper. He thought that person who carved the stone might possibly be the first person to be recorded or documented as the first person to be a collector of fossils. He also said that these primitive people were farmers, artists, traders much like the people of today.

He also stated that the position of the bird and the way it was hand carved into a tool to portrayed the bird in such a manner that this item would be considered true fossil art.

After things started to wind down, I felt as several people like me, were in every sense of the word in awe over what this man had to share with us. One of the questions I asked was how much was this unique item I had found worth? The answer was that this artifact with a fossil inside of it had never been seen, documented or recorded anywhere in the world. So because there was nothing to compare it to, this item would be considered priceless.

As people were leaving, a young lady, still full of excitement, that if she was me, I should take a picture of the hide scraper and put it on the internet, and said that I should put a price of 20 million dollars, being that there is only one of these unique hide scrapers in the world. The chances of finding anything like it again are probably one in a trillion.

To date I am the only one in the world that has found anything like this ever. Owning this rare Jewel is overwhelming and too great for any one person to own, so I would like to share my enthusiasm with you and your friends.

If you need more information about this topic, please call me at area code: 520-749-1105 or e-mail smontes@scientist.com and ask for Steve at Montes Orthopedic 520-512-0228

About The Author

Steve Montes
I am a single man who loves to experiment and creat new products. I have been in my own business for 20 years helping people with there foot problems. I created the first true soft flexiable foot orthotic. I am a Silver and gold smith. I am one of only a few people that makes Tin Can Luminarias, with the same tourch I use for making jewelery I make fine intricate cuts into the can, and when you light the votive inside the can, every time the flame flickers it moves the patterns placed into the can all around to creat a romantic setting. I also created a night light made from a can of tuna. Which shines a large star on your wall when lite.
smontes@scientist.com

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The oldest baby bird fosil