Sunday, October 28, 2007

Our children need our time , not just mothers working.

What you need to know before your bundle of joy arrives.

If you are expecting a baby in the next few months, the chances are you will have started planning for some of her important things, if not doing them and buying them already. Her crib may be chosen; her nursery may be painted and decorated; you may have some beautiful bedding to match the baby decor of her room; and you may have bought a few gorgeous newborn outfits with which to adorn your newborn.

However, there may be a whole host of things you have not really thought of seriously, especially if you are a first time parent. It is so tempting to focus on the pretty things, and forget, or not learn of, the practical ones. So, when it comes to baby clothes, leave all the cute outfits to the baby shower guests, and concentrate for a while on the things you will really need. After all, you do not want your baby to be caught with her diapers down!

Having a baby is a combination of joy and stress for most people, and I suppose that is true of most major events in our lives. There is nothing to compare to the pleasure and happiness that a mother feels when she holds her new baby for those first few days after the birth; or the father showing off pictures of the baby to his friends and family.

Unfortunately, there is also nothing quite like the stress in worrying that everything is going to be all right on the night, or day, as the case may be. To reduce the chance of those stresses taking over, and to ensure that the family is properly prepared for their joyous new addition, it is as well to get organised with the practical things for the baby layette. Let the person who is to organise the baby shower sort out all that side of things, while you ensure all the most practical items are in place by month 7 of the pregnancy.

New parents quite often fall into the trap of being unprepared when it comes to suitable clothing for their baby. So, here are some of the essentials you will need to complete your preparation for the baby's arrival:

1. Cotton bodysuits, absorbent baby blankets, bibs, and baby booties are items that a new parent can never have enough of. Babies, God Bless them, are messy little things sometimes. For all the cuteness and adorability that they possess, they do dribble, slobber, vomit and overfill their diapers with some of their profuse outputs, and they are like that for about the first year or so of their lives. As such, their clothes do get messy quickly and often; so be prepared, and be practical. A mum may find herself changing her baby’s clothing almost as often as she changes her diaper – sometimes more.

2. The best plan is to stock up on the practical things such as “onesies” suits, baby tees, and mess-cleaning cotton blankets so that you always have plenty on hand. Buy these practical items in abundance, but not so many that you’ll quickly be stuck with a pile of baby items that no longer fit the baby. It is a good idea to have at least five clean outfits at any time; that is clean items, and not awaiting the next wash. If you are going out on a long outing, you will need to pack extra, so always make sure that you have plenty of clean backups. Do not underestimate your little baby's ability to take your laundry load to record levels, unlike anything you have seen before if you are a first time parent.

The cute and adorable baby outfits, and the stores are stuffed full of those, are fine for taking baby to church, for visiting grandparents, or for taking family photos. However, be prepared for the baby to make a mess over that precious little outfit. While planning and preparing for the arrival of your new offspring, forego some of the cute outfits so that you can stock up on more of the practical essentials. The guests at the baby shower can provide the cute things, while you ensure that you are truly prepared for the reality of having a bouncing new baby in the house.

Mothers are an inspiration to their children if by natural parenting or by adoption.
http://stores.ebay.com/preciousbabysite_W0QQsspagenameZMEQ3aFQ3aSTQQtZkm

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

baby development those early months

ALL ABOUT INFANT GAS, COLIC AND GRIPEWATER

Crying is a baby’s only means of communicating. Holding or carrying your baby will help you become familiar with their needs. Often a baby is not truly colicky or gassy but still cries for certain periods of the day. It is normal for a baby to have a daily fussy period. Babies like to have close body contact, so carrying your baby is usually comforting.

WHAT IS COLIC?

Colic is a condition in which an otherwise healthy baby cries for more than 3 hours a day, 3 days a week. Colic usually begins around 3 weeks of age and lasts until 3 months of age. For some babies this condition may take longer to subside, but it will go away.

The possible causes can be”

An immature gastrointestinal and/or neurological system
Temporary lactose intolerance
Intolerance to high protein foods through the mother’s breast milk
Digestive intolerance due to smoking during or after pregnancy

INFANT GAS EXPLAINED

A majority of babies have discomfort from infant gas usually following feedings. They may cry intensely until they are able to release the gas.

The possible causes can be:
Cow’s milk and certain formulas
Eating too fast
Swallowing air while crying
Introducing new foods into the baby’s diet

HOW CAN I HELP MY BABY WHO HAS GAS OR COLIC?

Do not be afraid to hold, comfort, or rock them often.
Decide to breast feed until the baby is at least a year old
Allow your baby to comfort itself on the breast, even if it is just for a few moments.
Try not to over stimulate your baby.
Introduce white noise to calm them. Try the vacuum cleaner or washing machine.
Take the baby for car rides, or stroller walks.
Place the baby over the arm, known as the “gas hold”.
If you are bottle feeding, check that the nipple hole is not too large, as the baby may swallow too much air.
Burp your baby occasionally during bottle or breast feeding.
If your baby has acid reflux, be sure to place them in an upright position following meals, and give them smaller frequent feedings.

Always check with lactation specialist or doctor before discontinuing breast feeding or going to or changing formulas.

A dose of Baby’s Bliss GripeWater may ease your baby’s discomfort due to gas colic, hiccups, teething or acid reflux. Most babies stop crying in 5-20 minutes.