ALL ABOUT CUTY BABIES

Vote for Mikael in the HappyMumDays.com Baby Competition

2011-01-26T17:52:00.000-08:00

Vote for Mikael in the HappyMumDays.com Baby Competition
Please do support my baby Mikael. Vote him now! Thanks

Twin Cute Babies Video

2010-11-25T18:20:00.000-08:00

Such a cute one, they made me smile

So cute little ones

Love them both, so adorable twin babies

Love to see this two babies, like to hug them both

They have their own talk, wonderful to look at

Twin Babies taking a bath...wow

Fighting twin babies

It's Playing Time

Little girls watching something funny

What will you do if this cute babies attacking you? So CUTE

Just can't help to see this two babies

It's Playing time

Really a Twin

Cute twin babies, love their faces

Chinese babies, nice look

Top Tips to Help Your Baby Sleep Better

2010-03-24T02:22:00.000-07:00

Top Tips to Help Your Baby Sleep Better

* A bedtime routine
* Put baby in bed while awake
* Rock your baby's bed
* A lot of eating in the evening
* Stuffed animal or blanket that smells MOM
* A light cotton cloth over the eyes
* Slowly shorten nighttime feeding length
* Introduce a pacifier
* A sleep bag
* GET DAD INVOLVED!

1. A bedtime routine

This may seem as a laugh when your child is newborn. And it is. But at around two months according to my experience, it is possible to get into a routine that makes your baby want to goto sleep at around the same time every night.
Depending on how much time you want to allocate to this, you could give your baby a bath and a massage or both before putting him to bed. Or you can sing lullaby or read a story.
With three kids to put to bed, my routine for our baby was merely to wash him (no bath), put on a new diaper and a pyjamas, put the lights out and put him to bed with his stuffed animal and pacifier. I swaddled his lower body and one arm untli he was a few months old. I might have to go in and give him his pacifier a few times before he falls asleep, but that I can handle while helping my other kids to get ready for bed.

You need to introduce a morning routine too, getting up at about the same time every day, to make this work smoothly.
Do you think your baby wakes up too early in the morning? Here's some advice.

Other than having some free time in the evening, there is another great advantage with having your child falling asleep in his bed - he will not become terrified waking up in the middle ofthe night! If your baby always falls asleep in your arms, he will start believing that this is his bed, everything else must be terribly wrong.

Would you go back to sleep if you found yourself on the floor instead of in your bed waking up in the middle of the night? Probably not. The same thing goes for a baby.

2. Put baby in bed while awake

yawning baby
Yes, they can go to sleep by them selves if not hungry!
This you should do both at night and every time your baby takes a nap at day time.
During his first weeks your baby will probably fall asleep at your breast every time he nurses (or with the bottle). Don't worry about it.
When he is a little bit older, at two months or so, you can feed him while he is still not too tired and then put a tired, full baby to bed half an hour later.

3. Rock your baby's bed

This one is not new to you, I'm sure. This is what all parents do, right? But a reminder of how much it helps might be good when deciding on where the baby shall sleep during his or her first months.
Two of my kids slept in a cradle during their first four months. Our youngest slept in a regular crib. Not good. How do you rock a crib?? Well, you could buy Vyssanlull feet to the bed, a great Swedish invention.
You just put them onto the crib's legs and - ta da - you have a rocking crib. Great help.

My last suggestion is to put your baby in his crib on a flat pillow (again, check safety issues), not only his head, but a large part of his back. When he starts waking up, gently rock his upper body by slightly lifting the pillow up and rock it gently.It is of course not ideal that the infant needs to be rocked to go back to sleep, but as a means to lengthen the time between his nursing moments, I think it is a great method, at least it has worked for me!

4. A lot of eating in the evening

This may also help a hungry baby sleep better. Feed him until he doesn't want more. Do it ever second hour or even more often in the evening.

5. Stuffed animal or blanket that smells MOM
Mom and milk is usually what babies want when the most waking up. With a stuffed animal with your smell on it, he might not feel as lonely when waking up in the middle of the night.

Put the animal close to your body for a few day and nights and then give it to your baby every time he goes to sleep.
However, you need to use a small stuffed animal, to make sure that it can't cover your baby's face.

6. A light cotton cloth over the eyes

I know many babies that fall asleep almost instantly if their face is cover by a very thin cotton cloth. I suppose it helps them shutting out distracting visual impressions.

Try this for naps rather than falling asleep at night, and don't leave the cloth with the baby out of your sight (for example at night) if you think there is even a remote risk that the baby could be suffocated by it, or that it could impact his oxygen uptake, and increase the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

7. Slowly shorten nighttime feeding length

Do you have a very enthusiastic night time feeder? Try reducing the length (hence the amount) of every occasion, there by slowly teaching him to eat less at night.

8. Introduce a pacifier

Small children usually have a strong need to suckle. Both my youngest kids did not, however, accept a pacifier until they were 2.5 months old. So hang in there! And try some different kinds.
Some children need some help to learn how to use the pacifier. Having learned, it might be a lot easier for the baby to fall asleep in his bed instead of at your breast.
As an important bonus, recent research indicates that a baby sleeping on his back, using a pacifier runs an extra low risk of SIDS. Check this with your care provider!

9. A sleep bag

Babies who are too warm or too cold wake up more easily. Some sort of baby sleep bag might be of great help, as it keeps the baby warm: Also, there is no risk that the baby either kicks off the blanket or pulls it over his face.
Actually, even if your infant doesn't sleep better in a baby sleep bag, you might!
At least I did when I could stop worrying about my baby pulling the blanket over his face. Some babies tend to start doing this when a few months old.

10. GET DAD INVOLVED!

Ahh, I almost forgot the most important point!
To give you an example - ten months old my daughter still woke up every second hour to nurse. We decided that we had to do something drastic. Starting a Friday night, her dad took her up when she started crying at night. He rocked her in his arms, gave her the pacifier and - believe it or not - she went back to sleep within minutes.

After only three nights, she only woke up twice a night. At these occasions, we let her eat, because she wouldn't settle easily with dad. One month later she only woke up once and at the age on one, we did the procedure one more time to take away the last night time meal. It also only took a few days. WHAT a RELIEF! So WHY didn't I try earlier???

Don't do the same mistake! Work as a team with your spouse to improve your family's nights. Babies weighing more than 10 pounds (don't they all, almost?) and at least at 6 months don't really need to eat at night. (As always check your specific situation with your care provider).

Travel Advices (Babies and Toddlers)

2010-03-24T02:13:00.000-07:00

Travel Tips:

This travel advice was collected from the list. It's about travel with a variety of different aged babies and toddlers. There are tips for flying, driving, and camping. In each tip, the person speaking is the person who originally posted it. The speaker changes from tip to tip. The tips are listed in random order.

* I've rented car seats from car rental places and from rental places that rent baby equipment such as cribs, strollers, etc. Both are very easy to do but in my experience the baby rental places had better car seats. Another mom on the list also said that the car seat they rented from the car rental place this week is a really cheap one and she's not thrilled with it.

* My baby has been on 11 plane rides in 14 months. Small, interesting toys also get dropped a lot so keep that in mind. I've had better luck with interactive books such as the Touch and Feel books. At this age, I bet crayons or Baby Magna Doodle would be very good too. But honestly my baby's favorite in-flight entertainments are looking at the safety information card, flipping pages and eventually ripping apart the in-flight magazine, playing with his seat belt, the window screen thingy, the plane phone on the seat in front of him and to look between the seats at the people behind us.

* Bring a backpack diaper bag if you have one to have your hands free.

* On international flights, for some weird reason, you may NOT get your stroller at the door of the plane when you get off, even if you brought it to the door of the plane when you got on. It will be where the of the luggage comes, and you might have to wait for it. Stupid. So if you are travelling alone (which I don't think you are) be prepared to carry both baby and diaper/stuff bag for quite a distance... I couldn't, luckily someone helped me. In that case you might want to travel light. BUT it is great not to have to, to have plenty of 'stuff'; change of clothes (or two) for baby, change for you, toys, food, blanket, sweater, WATER for you (I didn't have this), cup for baby (bowl/spoon if you want), maybe snacks (there is usually enough food but I often crave fresh food, i.e. fruit when travelling). Depending on your comfort level you might want to bring a blanket big enough to cover yourself when nursing (mine wasn't really big enough and also my baby kept pulling it off). Easy change outfits for baby and easy nurse outfit for you of course.... Tylenol in case he has trouble with his ears when landing/ taking off. (I don't think my baby did, maybe only once).

* Be prepared that the stroller may be severely damaged or actually totalled. This happens a lot. When we traveled back to Europe our baby's stroller was totalled!! We did get reimbursed but that took nearly 2 months!!!

* You don't need to buy a seat for a child under 2 years old. If a seat next to you is free, you are legally allowed to put the child in it at no charge. If no seat is free, you have to hold the child on your lap during the whole flight. Alternatively, you can pay half the price of an adult ticket to reserve a seat for your child. I don't believe airlines have car seats: you have to bring your own, and if the child doesn't get a seat on the airplane seat you won't be able to use the car seat, so you'll have to find some way to stow it or gate check it. If you are renting a car, you can ask the car rental company to include a child seat with the car.

* About flying with baby, especially yours who is 16 months: I don't know how long your flight is going to be, but think carefully if you want to share your seat with him the whole time or would it be better to buy a seat for him rather than hope the flight won't be full thus leaving an empty seat near you. Like if he takes a nap, he can be doing that in his own seat. Or, like US Air did for us, made sure that our baby was always in the window seat so she was very involved with what was going on out the window and that made the time for us to entertain her not that long at all. Plus, keep the snacks coming. Delta was great about that with by bringing snacks to our baby whenever they thought of it. She was so preoccupied with the opening of the packages and checking out the goodies, that more time went by without having to deal with a bored and restless baby.

* The flight attendant wouldn't let us use our car seat because she couldn't find a certain sticker. She said it had to have red writing. Anyway, I was upset, and looked and didn't find it, so we said find, we'd just strap the seat into an empty seat and not use it. We then put her in the front carrier, which we had used to take off on the previous flight. She said she didn't know if that was approved either, and that she'd have to check, but unless something changed we could use it. Well, after takeoff she comes back and shows me the thing that says that front carriers can only be used in flight not during landing or take off, so we'll have to take her out when we land. She left the book with me, and I read all the regulations. No where in the book did it say that you had to have a sticker with red writing that said the car seat is approved for airplanes, it just has to have a certain label. The label was word for word on my car seat. I got up and took my baby to the bathroom to change her diaper, and when I came back my partner had found the red writing that said airplane, so we got to put her in the seat. I never did get a chance to argue with her about not actually needing the sticker. While I understand her following the rules, I wish I had been told ahead of time that I needed this sticker. IF TRAVELING ON AN AIRPLANE MAKE SURE YOU LOCATE THIS STICKER AHEAD OF TIME, so if someone looks for it you can point it out and not go through the mess I went through. On four flights that was the only one we had anyone check the carseat.

* I noticed that One Step Ahead sells a airplane strap that attaches to the parent's seat belt. I looked at the regulations, this is not approved for take off and landing, but only while in the air. It says it's approved for in flight, which is true, only while in flight, not take off and landing.

* When we got to the airport, we asked how full the flight was. If they told us it wasn't very full, we made sure our seats would accomidate putting a baby in one of them (there are certain seats where a child can be placed based on the aircraft). (It seemed to me they wanted them furthest from the aisle.) When we were three seats one side, two on the other they wanted her next to the window, when it was 5 in the middle of the plane and 2 on both sides next to the windows, they wanted her in the center of the 5 seats. Anyway, if we were sure there would be room for her, we just carried the car seat on and hooked it in with her, and kind of pretended we had bought a seat for her. When we weren't sure, we made sure we were one of the first ones on the plane and put it in the overhead bin. We did this with the infant carrier, don't know if a big car seat would work, or what you're trying to use. Also had they made me check the seat I would have put up a huge fuss. In fact on the flight where they didn't think it was approved the lady wanted me to check the seat. there were a million empty seats. The overhead bin was too small to fit the carrier. I didn't see why I couldn't strap it into one of the empty seats, and that's what I did. I have no cover to my seat, and how do I know what the seat will look like when I get it back. I don't trust them not to kill it.

* Just to let you know: LegoLand is not a very baby oriented place. I was very disappointed. It is geared for ages 2 to 12. If you aren't in that range there isn't much you can really do. Most of the rides have a height requirement and they won't let them on unless they meet that height. If the ride has a seat belt they will not let you hold the baby in your lap. I was very frustrated.

* Jetlag: My baby had way way less than I had; he adjusted in one day (to an 8 hour difference). He didn't get enough sleep the night before, I put him to bed at his usual time (local time), and he was adjusted from then on.

* Flying: he was totally fine on the way over, even with the layover in the middle of the night. Didn't sleep too soundly on the plane but slept OK. In many ways the fact that you still nurse him to sleep (like me) helps because it is the same routine as he has at home even though the plane is so different.

* Try to get a bulkhead seat, the extra space is great (they can get on the floor and can have a travel cot). On the way back he was fairly awful, I think because he was so tired (didn't sleep a full night the previous night) and kept waking up when he finally napped with the air hostesses. You might want to get a middle rather than an aisle seat, more discreet for nursing as well (I had an aisle).

* You will get dirty looks from some of your fellow passengers in the vicinity as soon as you walk on the plane, just ignore them. My baby was such an angel on the way over that this woman who had been shooting us FILTHY glances for hours actually smiled at him on the way out because he was so good.

* Really, the travelling with a baby was quite fine, they are really quite adaptable, as long as you are there! The only problematic thing was the flight on the way back, and even that was do-able with lots of walking up and down the aisle, and buckets of patience! And the sleeping was a bit problematic only because my baby was on beds and that was when he was learning to crawl so was a bit worrying. Good luck! I hope you have fun.

* Trashed strollers-when we flew to Chicago from Minneapolis (read - like a 45 minute flight) - our stroller was at the gate but the handle was cut up. When I complained and tried to file a complaint I was told it was normal wear and tear and that they would not reimburse at all.

* I have packed: his convertible carseat, then in his diaperbag I have; 6 diapers, wipes, 2 burpclothes, 4 jars organic babyfood, 2 bibs, 2 4oz size juices, 2 8oz. size formula bottles, (I can nurse if I run out or if he refuses the bottles) teething biscuits, Baby Advil, teething ring, pacifier, misc. toys, and 2 changes of clothes. AM I FORGETTING ANYTHING? I plan to pack an extra change of clothes for myself in my carryon and had my husband do the same. Please pray he doesn't scream the whole time! He has taken up screaming a lot lately. Hope it's a phase. At least they are happy screams. Some comebacks for staring people just in case would be helpful too. Thanks!

* I might also want Mylicon drops (travel always throws me off, so who knows about a baby), hand wipes or a cloth that you could wet, plastic Ziploc bags for the cloth or dirty clothes, and perhaps the sanitizing hand gel. I also like to have lotion because plane travel is drying and with my baby, I find myself washing my hands a billion times to get rid of germs, so my hands end up EXTRA dry on the plane. Hope the trip is great -- no snappy comebacks from this front!

* We flew with a car seat and a toddler at 18 months age. Obviously it was a forward facing seat...and they fit just fine.

* As far as I understand as long as they are under age 2 you can either do the sit-in-lap option, which costs you nothing, or buy a ticket at half price. I will admit that at the age of 18mos...it was a blessing to have her in her own seat. Not that we didn't take her out of it at points. We flew from the east coast to the west...so it was a long flight.

* After 2 you pay full ticket price for them. That's been my experience so far. Oh and also we needed to bring a copy of her birth certificate to prove her age in order to qualify for the 1/2 price seat discount.

* I hope the standards have improved since we rented car seats from the car rental agency. Our experience wasn't good. The carseat was very old and dirty. We were unhappy, but sort of stuck with it. Didn't want to buy a new one for just a few days. I wondered if it was even a currently approved seat. Wouldn't hurt to ask the car place in advance what type they have, and whether they clean them between use. With ours the cover was reasonably OK, but the straps were really gunky.

* The drive I took is normally 2.5 to 3 hours. I had figured that it would take maybe an extra half hour every two hours on account of the baby. But it took a lot longer than that. Instead of 2.5 hours it took 4.5 hours each way! :( Moral: it's harder to leave on time with a baby, and travel takes much, much, longer.

* Having another adult in the car makes a HUGE difference. We've travelled with our baby to and from Iowa once and also back and forth to New Jersey, and he was much more content when he had someone in the back seat with him to look at. He would also sleep longer if someone was there next to him. For us it doesn't matter if it's me or his big sister, but company for him made a night and day difference.

* I also found that I can fairly easily nurse him in his car seat if I'm sitting in back next to him, and I've done so on numerous occasions. Sometimes just a minute or two of nursing is enough to help him get to sleep, and then he'll sleep for a while.

* I found that most of the toys I brought for the plane ride to Seattle were useless. We couldn't use the tray table in front of the baby at all because he just continuously kicked it. The magazine didn't work either because as soon as I handed it to him, he started ripping it to shreds and throwing it down the side of the seat. The things that did work... a musical book, and my car keys. He's not allowed to have the keys at home because I have remote start so he just loved having them. They filled 2 hours of a 5 hour flight!

* My baby and I went to lunch with a friend and her two small boys today, and one of the topics was long plane trips with children. We came up with a list of things that sound like they might be good on our flight next week, and I thought i'd share.
o Small cars & trucks, to wheel around on the plane tray.
o Magnets and magnet board (just be sure that no part is small enough to swallow).
o Crayons and coloring paper, e.g. small spiral pads.
o Stickers! sheets of them or booklet with background scenes too. (she said her older son started using them on a plane trip when he was 14 months old. she had to pull the stickers off the sticky sheet, but then he happily applied them elsewhere.)
o A travel-sized "Magnadoodle" or the kind of board where marks appear when pressure is applied and disappear when you lift the plastic sheet on top.
o I wonder if a travel etch-a-sketch would be interesting already.
o We have a "Qubix" toy that was given to us as a shower gift, and I think I'll take that too. It folds flat, then expands into a multi-surface hollow shape you can put things in and out of. I found a picture of it at this URL (not that i recommend this site, just that it came up in altavista!): http://www.thebabylane.com/softtoys.htm
o Duplo. Ok, that didn't have to be said, probably, because everyone knows I love Lego, BUT there is a new aspect: I'll bring some of the Duplo pieces that have doors on them. My baby LOVES to open and shut doors. I showed him one of these pieces last night, and he was enthralled. Now I won't bring them out again until our trip, so it'll be a novelty on the plane.
o Books, of course. some favorites, and perhaps some new ones. Maybe even ones with "adult" pages, since he just loves "real" pages but doesn't get those books often (unless mommy isn't looking).
o other ideas? I hope this list is helpful to someone else!

* If you have a connection (and neither flight is over 2 hours), figure that the child's nap will be cut short. :-( Bring two sets of toys, one for each flight. Hope the child sleeps on one flight and not while you're trying to run from one plane to another. Okay, that was the worst part.

* We decided NOT to gate check out stroller on the short connections (less than an hour), and we were glad. When we have gate-checked an umbrella stroller, it comes out after all the passengers have deplaned, and it delays us.

* When we have gate checked a stroller, it has almost always been right there when we've gotten off the plane. On any airline but Delta they've usually even set up the stroller for us -- an operation that takes the airline people a moment and is really helpful to a busy parent juggling a toddler and baggage.

* Bring a variety of snacks for the child. Of course, the child will probably want to eat your snacks instead, so bring baby-safe snacks for you too. And some high energy snacks too (e.g. trail mix), but don't put those where the child can see them! Any time they bring drinks or food, ask for some for the child.

* After a few flights, I realized that the toys that kept his attention longest were those that he didn't generally play with at home -- those which require adult supervision.
o Crayons and paper were a big hit. So were a couple of more fragile books, like pop-up books and lift-the-flap books. The Cheerios book was good for getting him to eat and swallow when he didn't want to drink during descent.
o I got him a few small trucks, and he adores them.
o My baby loves felts. He'd first used them at Sabbath school, putting puppies on the board during the song about puppies, etc. I glued a light blue square to one half of a manila folder and a green square to the other. Not that he thinks "sky & grass", but maybe later. :-) One surface would have been fine. Then I cut up simple shapes from different colors (from scraps of felt I had around). He loves to put them on the "boards" and move them around. I hide some in his pockets too. It's a nice, flat toy that he doesn't get without adult supervision.
o He didn't like the pocket magnadoodle on the first flights (when he was 14 months and hadn't colored before), but now he loves it.
o I got a couple of reusable sticker books (the tiny $1 ones), and they keep him busy for a while.
o I asked a woman at a children's consignment shop for suggestions, and she pointed me at a plastic bottle made by Evenflo that had a lid and 5 plastic items inside it. My toddler loves taking them out and putting them in.
o I saw a flat magnet board with trucks on it at one toy store, but there's a wild animals set by the same people, and I'd rather get that one.
o I hit the bargain book table and found a couple of interesting books for a couple of dollars, and thought I'd get them because I wouldn't mind if he lost parts of them on the trip. I haven't lost any, and it's a good thing because he loves them. One is large board book called "town mouse"; it has a finger puppet that you push through different holes on each page. Another is a board book that has cardboard puzzle pieces you can pop out & put back in.
o I hope this helps!

* Bring a backpack diaper bag, if you have one, to have your hands free.

* There's a backpack bag for carseats which has been invaluable for us. I am fairly certain we got it from Right Start. Flight attendants regularly ask us where we got it. It is so handy to have the carseat in the bag and have it on your back instead of trying to lug it through the aisles with everything else.

* Don't pack many toys for the flight. Babies tend to play with the in-flight magazine, the phone on the seat in front of them and the safety information card and to look at the people on the plane.

* My baby used to do that, and flirt with stewards too. :-) Now he needs more, particularly on the flights over 2 hours, or when we have multiple flights. I don't pack tons of toys, but I do pack a variety of small things so I can rotate through them.

* When we went to NY, we rented a car and a carseat with it. The carseat was horrible and very cheap. We had a hard time installing and the people there were not helpful at all. I was so upset. I have vowed to take my car seat with me from now on so I bought a protector for it.

* I was dreading the flight to the US too, but my baby did much better than I expected, even with a 3 1/2 hour delay when we were already in the plane which meant that we were in the plane for 16 hours on the way there. He started playing, reading and looking through the seats to other passenges and then he fell asleep before taking off. Once we were in the air, they put one of those bassinets that attached to the wall and slept for about an hour. He woke up, ate, played with a 2 year old girl (followed her behind the seats and I had to run all the way to the other side of the aisle to rescue him!), walked with my help through the plane, etc, until his bedtime arrived and fell asleep with about 6 hours left. The individual lights were not working right so they had to leave the general lights on which meant that he was waking up often (every hour?). Every time I would nurse him back to sleep and at the end he stayed in my arms, since he was a little restless. But there was no major crying. The passengers nearby commented about how well he had done spite of the delay.

* I am not sure if you could use the bassinets. I don't know how big your baby is, but mine is not too tall (74 cm) and the bassinets were just the right size. If he was any bigger he wouldn't have fit. But I am not sure if getting a seat for him would help either. If you have the first row, you can always put blankets on the floor and lie him down when he falls asleep. And while he is awake, he'll be better on your lap or crawling or walking through the aisles.

* Try to get late flights so that he can sleep for the most part.

* Bring your own food and plenty of toys.

* Bring lots and lots of Cheerios.

* We do have a bassinet booked on every long flight, even though 10 months is the age limit and he will be 11 months on the way back. I couldn't stand not being able to lie him down some of the time. We're taking the portable cot with us, even though friends in London keep saying we're bringing too much - I want him to have some stability everywhere we go.

* Here are my notes of advice about camping with a baby:
o If you're breastfeeding, a big supply of drinking water for mom is useful.
o We brought along our portacrib. I think my partner expected our baby to sleep in it, which I thought was unlikely. But it turned out to be nice to have it along, not as a place for the baby to sleep but rather as a safe place to put him down outside the tent when we parental types were occupied with other tasks.
o My partner brought along mosquito netting that we could stretch across the top of the portacrib to keep mosquitos out. Our portacrib has fine mesh sides, which worked like mosquito netting too, which is why this worked.
o I had a big air mattress pad which I had expected to co-sleep on with my baby. But the mattress pad was so slippery that it turned out to be difficult to nurse side-lying on it -- my baby would slide away from me! Instead we put the portacrib mattress in the tent and nursed on that as if it were another air mattress. This also freed up air mattress for me to sleep on. It's big, but not that big.
o My baby and I co-slept with the sleeping bag unzipped and plopped across his crib mattress and my air mattress. That worked well. When the nights were cold, I wore some clothes to bed and my baby slept in a blanket sleeper, so cold drafts weren't a problem.
o For rain gear, I wore a rain poncho, carried the baby, and poked his head out a sleeve hole. This worked very nicely.
o We didn't find a good solution for how to bathe the baby. We tried a shower once, but that was awful -- I had to juggle money, the baby, my clothes, the baby's clothes, our towels, and our soap and shampoo, and then the baby decided he didn't like the shower. I think it would have been good to have a big plastic tub that we could have bathed him in.

* Since it's summer and you are car camping, I would not use a sleeping bag at all. I would get a big section of foam rubber and make it up like a regular bed. Flat sheets for both top and bottom, safety pins to make the bottom one fit snug, and a blanket for extra warmth at night.

* I've very much been glad to be able to gate check the stroller (that's where you bring the stroller with you, get a special gate check tag when you check in, and then you leave the stroller at the end of the ramp right before you step through the doorway of the plane. When you get out on the other end, or in the connecting airport, the stroller is waiting in the same place for you.)

* Delta sucks for travelling with a little child. Northwest was fine, and US Air was excellent.

* It's good to have a stash of new toys that you can bring out spaced out over the course of the flight. Dollar stores are a good source of toys for airplanes. Other good toys are the phone in the seatback ahead of you, the tray table (a thing to use carefully, since it'll drive the poor person sitting in front of you crazy), and the inflight magazines.

* If you're traveling without a ticket for the baby, some airlines will "block" the seat next to you so that it will be the last one on the plane to be assigned. Delta won't. :-( Having a spare seat is wonderful -- I'm tempted to spring for the bucks to buy a seat for my baby just to have that extra space. Seats for children are half-price, so this may be affordable if you've got cheap flights.

* Some people like bulkhead seats a lot because of the extra space. Personally I'm not convinced that they are superior to the other seats; I think it's just a different set of options, not better or worse.

* It seemed to help a lot to tell my baby that if his ears hurt he should ask to nurse. I'd think the same thing would work with a sippy cup or a bottle for a baby who doesn't nurse.

* I was very appreciative of a bag of homemade trail mix I'd brought along in the diaper bag. (Recipe: Grab a ziplock bag and throw in a handful each of: breakfast cereal, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, or whatever else is around the house. Shake to mix.) By the way, the trail mix was for me, not for the baby.

* Jen's suggestions for what to bring:
o portable magna doodle
o small cars, things that roll
o favorite books
o brand new toys
o plastic spoons and straws (James loves these and once they fall on the floor, I can leave them)
o food -- cheerios, fruit snacks, etc.
o sippy cups -- avoid giving them much to drink until right before you take off (or as you take off), which guarantees they are thirsty and drink when they need to

* I agree for the beginning of the flight, but once we're in the air, I let my toddler drink as much as he'd like so he won't get dehydrated. Of course, sometimes he's not thirsty for the same drink by the end of the flight, so I bring a different juice or flavor to give him when his ears hurt during descent. I love the Playtex sippy cups with valves for this -- I can fill a couple at home and put them in the diaper bag without too much worry.

* I also found that for longer flights it is worth it to empty the seat pocket in front of you so that you can load it up with the toys and books. This made it really easy to stash everything so that I did not have to dig in our diaper bag every few minutes. I did this while my toddler wasn't looking so it made it interesting for him to see what would toy or book would come out next!

* In regards to gatechecking the stroller! When we did this (overseas flight) it didn't go according plan - our stroller came out destroyed! Not a good thing. We got reimbursed for it but we didn't have a stroller for awhile. What they had done was when we checked the stroller at the gate they ended up loading it with the regular baggage where it obviously got smashed. That's where we had to reclaim it to - from the luggage carousel. So make sure that they won't send it down. I was told that strollers where among the most often damaged goods!

* We've almost always had seats for our baby. (We picked out unpopular flight times and brought our car seats--if there were extra seats, the folks at the gate gave us one.) Even so, it's hard to reach down to the diaper bag in front of the carseat. Another thing I've done is put a blanket down on the floor in front of his seat, so if he drops toys, they are less likely to roll to the person behind us.

* We fly United most often, and their policy is that the child's seat costs 50% of yours. Since I shop for good deals for us, we've been able to get half of a low price for him. That's how we bought the seat to Maui.

* If you have a car seat, you have to install it either in a window seat or in the middle of a block of seats that has no window seats, so it won't block anyone. On planes with seats in the 3-3 configuration (window, 3 seats, aisle, 3 seats, window), we've obviously gotten 3 together and had the baby at the window. Some of our flights have been on 2-5-2. If we had 3 together, either we'd have the middle 3 of the 5 (ugh!) so the baby could be between us, or we'd have to have both of us on the same side of the baby and a stranger might be on the other side (ugh!). The first 2-5-2 plane we were on, an agent had put us in window/aisle/aisle because that was the only way to get 3 together. It turned out great! I recommend this option if you can get it. It's much easier to reach down in front of the window seat if there's no seat on the other side of you, and the adult across the aisle has more chance of having a little baby-free time & space. When flight attendants weren't in the aisles, the baby sat and played between us.

* With a moderately cooperative child, you can fasten the regular lap belt over them, giving it half a twist before you click it to make unbuckling slightly less easy.

* The right start sells an Infant Turbulence Protection Vest that attaches to your seatbelt that is for an airplane. They are legal to wear during the flight but they CAN NOT be used during take off and landing.

* One hint that I have is while the new toys saved until the plane ride have served us well, so have well-loved things from home. For instance-my toddler loves photo albums so I usually stash one of those with us. He will pore over it literally for at least 25 minutes.

* I also get great mileage from the My First Books. ("My First Book of ABCs", "My First Book of Trucks", etc) they have so many real pictures in them that they also keep my toddler's attention.

* Another great idea and one I have to give credit to my husband for is we brought our camcorder on the plane and watched videos of our baby the whole trip - he loves watching himself on TV!

* In addition to bringing a large variety of foods, bring plenty of liquids. I usally buy the giant Evian waters right in the airport and finish it before the plane ride is through.

* Try and make friends with the people around you because inevitably I have ended up using their tray table at some point in the plane ride to store my baby's stuff. Hope it all helps!

* My major word of advice when traveling with a child who is mobile is to spend the extra $$$ (in my case $99) if you can and buy a seat for the child. Then bring your car seat on the plane. This worked out great!

* Traveling during nap time is very helpful.

* Never ever forget a change of clothing in the diaper bag.

* The misc.kids travel FAQ is excellent.

Source : http://www.valeriemates.com/december

How to Calm a Baby (Tips)

2010-03-24T02:06:00.000-07:00

Checklist of what makes babies cry, and how to fix it:

* Baby is wet -- change diaper.
* Baby is hungry -- feed baby.
* Baby is hungry, but is too upset to nurse.
1. Something else is wrong. Fix that first, then try nursing again.
2. Put your small index finger in the baby's mouth, palm side up. Make sure your nail is trimmed short. It helps to wet the finger first. Rub the tip of your finger in the hollow in the top of the baby's mouth and your finger against baby's upper and lower lip. Once baby is calm, transfer to a real nipple. This is also a great way to temporarily placate a baby when food isn't available.
3. While you are trying to get the baby to latch on, put the palm of your hand on the baby's cheek.
4. While you are trying to get the baby to latch on, blow gently on the baby's face. This works really well on Hal -- he gets upset and hot and red from crying, and the hot face seems to keep him upset. He cools down when you blow gently on his face, and calms down enough to latch.
5. Let the baby grip the fingers of one hand (one of your fingers per baby hand). Your hands can't be wet or cold or this won't work.
* Baby is cold (or part of baby is cold) -- blanket, hold next to your skin.
* Baby is hot - cool off room.
* Baby's folds are itchy (red, irritated) -- wash them out.
* Baby's clothes are itchy/uncomfortable -- change the clothes.
* Baby is damp and clammy -- baby powder (Hal's big on this one).
* Baby is tired -- hold next to skin, and rock, sing to sleep. Or nurse to sleep. Or hold baby so that her head is on your throat and hum softly. Going "hmmmmm" for a few seconds with every breath works best for us, but some people can count slowly (works better if your voice is deep) or do other rhythmic voice things.
* One thing that works well for me is to lay on my back, put the baby face-down on my chest, and gently rock and sing.
* Baby's clothes/diaper are too tight and/or chafe. -- loosen the clothes, or change them.
* Baby has diaper rash -- put on diaper cream, and check the diaper more frequently so that it can't develop.
* Baby has an earache. This is a bad one. It's generally viral ear infection, the baby gets congested, and there are pressure differences that make the ear ache. Baby Tylenol/painkiller helps, nursing helps, and setting the baby so that the ear can more easily drain helps.
* Baby has gas, aka colic. I saved this for last, because it's difficult and there is a long list of things to try. If the baby has gas, you can hear and feel the gas in the tummy and going through the intestines. Sometimes the tummy will get very hard.
o burp baby on your chest
o burp baby over your shoulder
o walk the baby around, gently bouncing and/or jiggling her.
o lay down, and put baby chest-down on your chest, with the head turned to one side.
o Baby judo. Drape the baby chest down along your arm, with your arm between baby's legs and arms, and baby's cheek nestled in your palm. Baby's head will be turned to one side (outward). Put your other arm under to help hold the baby up. Walk around rocking and/or jiggling the baby. This is amazingly effective.
o Go through the positions again. The gas moves around.
o Simethicone drops. They help, but don't completely fix.
o Change the way you're nursing the baby, if baby is gulping air.
o Change diet? (Works for some people).
o Some babies calm down if you drive them around in the car.
* Baby is startled -- Just comfort.
* Baby startles self -- Usually happens when baby is going to sleep. Arms or legs drop, hit something, and baby wakes back up, crying. Swaddling is good for this.
* Baby wants to be cosy -- swaddling the baby will fix this. It's amazing how often just swaddling the baby will end crying. It's especially effective if the baby is wearing an outfit which exposes arms/legs, and the baby wants to be covered. Or if the baby is cold.
* Try darkening and quieting the room.
* I found my baby's reset button! Whenever he is crying inconsolably I undress him and we climb into the tub. He stops sobbing immediately and is so happy. While this won't work with all babies - every baby has something that they like - a car ride, the hairdryer, the sound of running water, etc.
* The Fathers of Breastfed Babies website suggested for baby entertainment you can download the MIDI Art program for your Windows computer from www.midiworks.com (it generates art from recorded MIDI music) and then using it to play free MIDI music that you can get from midiworld.com and www.midifarm.com. I've tried this, and it really does work -- it grabs my baby's attention and you can kind of dance with him and look at it together, even if he's feeling fussy. His favorite setting is "04 - Musical Grid".
* Try some sort of white noise in the background. Currently my fish tank is a about an inch low in water so it is quite noisy, like a waterfall. I have noticed that my baby falls asleep faster if I am sitting by it. It is sort of soothing.
* Put a heating pad in the crib to warm the mattress where you will be putting the baby down. Make sure to take it off right before laying down the baby so the mattress doesn't cool off. Then they kind of snuggle into the warmth.
* Take off your shirt and put it in the bed under or with the baby - so baby is being put on something warm that smells of mummy.

Cute Babies Video (Amazing Commercial)

2010-03-23T00:30:00.000-07:00

HOPE YOU LIKE IT GUYZ, IT'S SUCH A FUNNY COMMERCIAL...Great babies out here!

Best Baby Song Lullaby

2010-03-22T23:39:00.000-07:00

Singing and playing soothing, loving music to your precious little one can have a big impact on both you and your baby. It creates a special bond in the beginning of your relationship. Whether you want a cradlesong, playtime song, or music for a special occasion such as a baby dedication, baptism, or baby shower, selecting the right music for your baby can be very meaningful.
The English term lulla refers to a soothing refrain, specifically a song to quiet children. The musical composition is usually in 6/8 time.

Baby Songs for Best Choice

The best place to start your song for baby is to go to an online music service and listen to samples of songs. Good sites will have a larger database of music than you can find anywhere else and can provide you with similar choices. For example, if you look up the “Baby Bumble Bee” song, you will be given song titles of similar music for you to listen to.

You can listen for free and the sound files will be of a high quality. Choose a familiar song or veer off the path and try something different. While looking through the list of songs, perhaps you will find a song that you can sing to your baby on a regular basis. This can be your special song and when he/she is older, this song will always bring fond memories of their mother or father.

You also can easily download baby songs and music from these digital music sites when you find something you like. This way you can burn a CD of only the songs you want and in the order you want instead of buying several Cds with songs on them that you would not particularly choose.
This would be especially helpful for a ceremony or occasion such as a baby dedication, baptism, or baby shower. You can arrange the songs and music to your liking and suitable to the occasion.

If you are looking for a baby song lyric such as: Hush Little Baby lyric, many of the music services provide these as well.

Here are some Baby Song Time examples:

Bedtime Lullabies:

Rockabye Baby
All Through the Night
Golden Slumbers
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep
Eine Kleine Nachmusik
Moonlight Sonata

Playtime Songs:

Pop Goes the Weasel
If You’re Happy and You Know It
Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
I’m a Little Teapot
Baby Beluga Song

Baby Baptism and Dedication:

I Want to be Just Like You
Take My Life and Let It Be
This Child We Dedicate to Thee
Good Shepard, Take This Little Child
Come Holy Spirit, Dove Divine

Baby Boy and Baby Girl Song:

Girl- Isn't She Wonderful
Boy - Beautiful Boy Baby Song Lullaby

Other Songs for your baby:

Baby Elephant Walk - Henry Mancini
Cry LIke a Baby - Box Tops
Baby Hold On - Eddie Money
Be My Baby - Ronettes
There Goes My Baby - Drifters
Don't Worry Baby - Beach Boys
Baby Baby Baby - TLC
Baby Baby Amy Grant
Take Good Care of My Baby - Bobby Vee
Hey Baby - Bruce Chantel
Baby Makes Her Blue Jeans Talk - Dr. Hook
Baby, I'm Yours, Barbra Lewis
Baby Workout - Jackie Wilson
Give it to me Baby - Rick James
Hey Baby - No Doubt
I Got You Babe Sonny and Cher
Baby one more Time Britney Spears
Baby You're a Rich Man Beatles
My Baby - Lil' Romeo
Always Be My Baby - Mariah Carey
Oh, Baby Baby - Miracles or LInda Ronstadt
Baby Love - Supremes
You're Having My Baby - Paul Anka
Baby Boy - Beyonce
Baby I'm A-want You - Bread

Cute Baby Quotes

2010-03-22T23:33:00.000-07:00

Cute baby quotes are the best of all quotes because it makes the readers to enjoy the feel of happiness of the mothers. Baby quotes are the special gift and it can decorate the joy of motherhood in the world. These quotes are available in many website which can be downloadable at free of cost. In most of the cases mother will like to enjoy the happiness of the children by motivating their thoughts and skills. The baby quotes are also used to decorate the children room along with the other objects to freshen the mood of the children. The baby quotes along with the picture of the child in the room will give different meaning to express the feeling. It will bring the instant smile for the mother while seeing the quotes in the room. The happiness of the women can be expressed in a number of ways but the becoming mother to a baby is the most wonderful thing in the world.

Cute baby quotes that are made into scrapbook are framed as memories in both mother and children. This is the most attractive gift to the children in which it also shows the love and affection towards these quotes.

Here as sample qoutes for your little ones:

A baby has a special way of adding joy in every single day.
-- Author Unknown

A baby is an inestimable blessing and bother.
-- Mark Twain

A baby is born with a need to be loved - and never outgrows it.
-- Frank A. Clark

A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on.
-- Carl Sandburg

A baby usually wakes up in the wee-wee hours of the morning.
-- Anonymous

A conscience is like a baby. It has to go to sleep before you can.
-- Author Unknown

A new baby is like the beginning of all things-wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities.
-- Eda J. Le Shan

A baby is sunshine and moonbeams and more brightening your world as never before.
-- Author Unknown

A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.
-- Anonymous

A perfect example of minority rule is a baby in the house.
-- Milwaukee Journal

A sweet new blossom of humanity.
-- Author Unknown

Babies are a link between angels and man.
-- Author Unknown

Babies are always more trouble than you thought - and more wonderful.
-- Charles Osgood

Babies are bits of stardust, blown from the hand of God.
-- Barretto

Babies are such a nice way to start people.
-- Don Herrold

Babies control and bring up their families as much as they are controlled by them; in fact ... the family brings up baby by being brought up by him.
-- Erik H. Erikson

Babies need social interactions with loving adults who talk with them, listen to their babblings, name objects for them, and give them opportunities to explore their worlds.
-- Sandra Scarr

Babies touch the world with love.
-- Author Unknown

Child rearing myth #1: Labor ends when the baby is born.
-- Anonymous

Children are a handful sometimes, A heartfull all the time...
-- Author Unknown

Don't forget that compared to a grownup person every baby is a genius.
-- May Sarton

Every baby needs a lap.
-- Henry Robin

Families with babies and families without are so sorry for each other.
-- Ed Howe

Flowers are words which even a baby can understand.
-- Arthur C. Coxe

Having a baby is like falling in love again, both with your husband and your child.
-- Tina Brown

Having a child is surely the most beautifully irrational act that two people in love can commit.
-- Bill Cosby

I believe that each personality is complete at conception and comes in the soul of every child.
-- Taylor Hartman

I think, at a child's birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift would be curiosity.
-- Eleanor Roosevelt

If one feels the need of something grand, something infinite, something that makes one feel aware of God, one need not go far to find it. I think that I see something deeper, more infinite, more eternal than the ocean in the expression of the eyes of a little baby when it wakes in the morning and coos or laughs because it sees the sun shining on its cradle.
-- Vincent van Gogh

If your baby is "beautiful and perfect, never cries or fusses, sleeps on schedule and burps on demand, an angel all the time," you're the grandma."
-- Theresa Bloomingdale

It is not a slight thing when those so fresh from God love us.
-- Dickens

It is the nature of babies to be in bliss.
-- Deepak Chopra

It was the tiniest thing I ever decided to put my whole life into.
-- Terri Guillemets

Loving a baby is a circular business, a kind of feedback loop. The more you give the more you get and the more you get the more you feel like giving.
-- Penelope Leach

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.
-- Elizabeth Stone

No one likes change but babies in diapers.
-- Barbara Johnson

People often ask me, "What's the difference between couplehood and babyhood?" In a word? Moisture. Everything in my life is now more moist. Between your spittle, your diapers, your spit-up and drool, you got your baby food, your wipes, your formula, your leaky bottles, sweaty baby backs, and numerous other untraceable sources--all creating an ever-present moistness in my life, which heretofore was mainly dry.
-- Paul Reiser

People who say they sleep like a baby usually don't have one.
-- Leo J. Burke

Take a sprinkling of fairy dust,
An angel's single feather,
Also a dash of love and care,
Then mix them both together.
Add a sentiment or two,
A thoughtful wish or line,
A touch of stardust, a sunshine ray...
Its a recipe, for a Baby Girl truly fine.
-- Author Unknown

Ten fingers,
Ten toes
She's laughter and teardrops
So small and brand new
And amazingly angelic
She's sent to bless you
She's one special Baby
The best of life's treasure
And will grant and bless you
Many hours of great pleasure.
-- Author Unknown

Ten tiny little fingers that always want to play,
That never stop exploring the wonder of today.
Ten tiny little fingers that from the very start,
Will reach out for tomorrow yet always hold your heart.
-- Author Unknown

The smile that flickers on baby's lips when he sleeps- does anybody know where it was borne? Yes, there is a rumor that a young pale beam of a crescent moon touched the edge of a vanishing autumn cloud, and there the smile was first born . . .
-- Rabindranath Tagore

What good mothers and fathers instinctively feel like doing for their babies is usually best after all.
-- Benjamin Spock

When the first baby laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies. And now when every new baby is born its first laugh becomes a fairy. So there ought to be.
-- James Matthew Barrie

Cute Babies Wallpaper

2009-12-01T21:41:00.000-08:00

Every One love cute and innocent babies , while seeing them you find great level of happiness and beautiful feelings , that’s why we uploaded few beautiful babies wallpapers for you !

Blue Eyes Baby

Under Blanket Baby

Tech baby

Smiling baby

Sleeping Baby

Santa Baby

New Born Baby

Naughty Baby

Lovely Baby

Hungry Baby

Happy Baby

Cutest Baby

Cute Baby

Cool Baby

Twin babies, funny videos

2009-12-01T21:04:00.000-08:00

Funny babies Videos 2

2009-12-01T18:58:00.000-08:00

Love this dance...so cute

Can't help to sleep...but still he is adorable

Still dancing while in pain, he is just so happy

Funny Babies Videos

2009-07-12T18:35:00.000-07:00

Charlie don't bite my finger....ouchhhhhhh

Soothing a Crying Baby

2009-07-06T01:55:00.000-07:00

Every mom has been there: Your baby is crying, you have no clue how to soothe her, and you'd give anything to have someone tell you how to stop it. As frustrating as crying is, simply understanding why babies do it can take some of the stress out of the situation. And fortunately, there are several things you can do to calm you baby - and make both of you feel better.

Why babies cry

Babies can't tell us "I'm hungry," "I'd like to get out of this car seat," or "This itchy tag is driving me crazy!" So instead, they cry. It's their way of saying "Mom, I need you!" What should you do if all of your baby's needs have been met (he's rested, fed, has a clean diaper) and he's still crying? Don't assume the worst.

All infants have period of fussiness during their first few months, perhaps because they have an immature neurological system. And some babies are just more sensitive - noises, smells, even certain sensations can upset them. Most newborns cry for an average of three hours a day, peaking at around 6 weeks. The good news: By 3 months, most babies' crying will subside to about one hour a day.

Why you're not a bad mom

When a baby cries, it triggers the release of the hormone prolactin (dubbed "the mothering hormone") in moms, which creates an urge to pick up the baby and meet her needs. You're hardwired to soothe your baby, and when that doesn't happen, it can make you feel like a failure. But your baby's fussiness is not a reflection on your parenting skills - and it's completely normal for a baby to cry even when there doesn't seem to be a direct cause. If you're ever in doubt, however, don't hesitate to call your pediatrician to make sure there isn't an underlying problem.

Simple soothing strategies

Not every strategy will work for every baby, and some techniques may only work at certain times, depending on your baby's mood. The key is to experiment; over time, you'll figure out what's best for your baby, and when.

Re-create the womb.Your infant may be fussy because he misses his first "home," so simulating the amniotic environment can calm him. Try these techniques, together or separately:

Swaddle him snugly in a blanket with his arms down.
Hold him while he's on his side or stomach rather than his back.
Make shushing sounds, or create other white noise by running a hair dryer or fan (the inside of the womb sounds like a constant pulsing whoosh).
Jiggle him gently (the rhythmic swaying resembles the movement of the womb).
Give him something to suck on - either a pacifier or a finger.

Use your hands. Touch stimulates receptors in the brain that calm your baby, and research shows that long, smooth strokes tend to work better than short, brisk ones. Try caressing your infant's cheek, back, legs, or stomach. Or keep your baby close by wearing her in a front carrier. You don't have to spend all day toting her around, but the more you touch her (giving her a mini-massage during a diaper change, for instance), the happier she'll be.

Talk. The familiar tone of Mom's voice is one of the most effective soothers for babies, according to research. So keep the chatter going - but speak quietly so your baby isn't overwhelmed.

Release your inner pop star. Singing can also be calming. Don't worry if your voice doesn't sound like Norah Jones's. To your baby, you're the ultimate star. Sing calm, slow songs, such as lullabies - the body responds to music by adapting heart and respiratory rates to the tempo.

Take a drive. Driving around the block combines steady motion and white noise. If driving isn't convenient, try a vibrating bouncy seat or swing, which also have the white-noise/movement combo.

Get wet. Many moms swear by baths to calm their babies. The sound of the running water and the warmth on the skin can do wonders for a crying baby. You can get into the tub, too, to add soothing skin-to-skin contact.

Distract him. Introduce a new toy or shift his attention to the family pet or a mirror (so he can gaze at himself). He may well forget all about his cranky mood.

Keep your cool. If you get frustrated, your infant will pick up on that tension and react, and this pattern can become a cycle that's hard to break. Trying too hard to calm your baby can also backfire - some simply don't like to be handled as much as others. While you shouldn't let infants under 3 months cry it out, it's okay to let them fuss for five minutes. This will give yours the opportunity to start to figure out how to soothe himself (and it may give you a chance to regroup, too).

Keep doing what works. When you find a strategy that soothes your baby, stick to it. Trying something different every five minutes can be overstimulating. Limit yourself to two or three methods that seem to work - if one fails in one instance, try the other, instead of introducing several new techniques. You almost always get results after a day or two if you stick to a consistent pattern.

The best baby holds

Carrying your baby helps her feel safe and comforted. A few tried-and-true methods:

The cradle-carry: With both elbows bent about 45 degrees, rest your baby's head in the crook of one arm, supporting her with both of your forearms along the length of her back. Rock or bounce her gently while patting her bottom. She may find this position especially soothing, since she can see your face.

The sit-and-rock cradle: This a great way to let your baby see her world and distract her when she's fussy. While standing, hold her against your chest, facing away from you. Place one hand under her bottom to create a "seat" and wrap the other arm around her chest (and under her arms) for support. Sway from side to side or walk around to find a view she likes.

The football hold: Because this method puts pressure on your baby's tummy, it can help relieve gassiness. Place your baby facedown along one forearm, using the crook of your arm to support her neck. Place your other arm between her legs to support her lower body. Once you get the hang of it, you can even use one hand to prepare a bottle.

The over-the-shoulder hold: Like the football hold, this one's good for gassiness. Hold your baby's stomach against your shoulder and let her head and neck drape over it. Support her head with your hand until she's able to control it herself.

The heart-to-heart: In this position, your baby will feel extra close to you as she gets in tune with your rhythms. Hold your baby vertically, with her head resting on your chest, near your heart. Sway from side to side.

Decoding the wails

It's not easy to figure out what your baby's various cries mean. But keep these general guidelines in mind:

Newborns have a very distinct, high-pitched wail - and contrary to what you may think, this often doesn't indicate pain. They simply take in short, rapid breaths and let out a short crying sound each time they exhale. Older babies begin to breathe in deeper when crying, so each cry is longer.
When he's hungry, a baby will quietly fuss and squirm. If he isn't fed, the cry will escalate. (Unless he's a newborn, and then the big wails are likely to start right away.)
If he's in pain - from gas, teething, or illness - your baby will probably have a piercing cry and a pained look on his face. He'll also be especially difficult to console.

3 strategies to avoid

Popping in a pacifier right away. Yes, it might quiet her, but you won't get to figure out what's really wrong.

Rushing to feed. If you stick a bottle or your breast in your baby's mouth every time she cries and before you're sure she's hungry, you could be showing her that eating is a way to comfort herself. And that can eventually lead to overeating.

Trying too many different ways of soothing at once. It takes a while for soothing techniques to work. If you quickly change positions, or swaddle and then unswaddle immediately, your baby will probably become more agitated.

Baby massage

The warm touch of your hands can console your baby instantly. In a warm, quiet room, undress him except for his diaper and put him on a comfortable surface (a bed, couch, your lap). Use baby oil or a moisturizing lotion.

Apply gentle yet firm pressure with each stroke. Be aware of your baby's cues: If he wriggles or fusses, stop and try again another time. You can do this entire sequence or just the parts your baby likes. Begin with your baby on his back:

Head
1. Using your open hands, stroke both sides of the face, from the forehead to the neck and back up again.
2. Using a circular motion, stroke over the temples and the hinge of the jaw.
3. Lightly massage behind the ears and continue the circular movements over the rest of the scalp, avoiding the soft spot on the top.

Arms
1. Wrap both hands around the baby's upper arm and stroke down from the shoulder to the wrist, using a gentle, milking motion.
2. Stroke the palms of the hand with your thumbs.
3. Gently squeeze and then pull each finger.

Chest
Starting with your hands flat on the baby's chest, stroke up toward the neck, and then downward to his sides.

Abdomen
Using a hand-over-hand motion (like a paddle wheel), stroke him moving from high to low on the abdomen.

Legs
Wrap both hands around your baby's upper thigh, and stroke down toward the ankle and back up to the hip.

Feet
1. Use a thumb-over-thumb motion to massage the entire bottom of the foot.
2. Gently squeeze and then pull each toe.
3. Make small circles all over the top of the ankle and foot.

Now turn your baby facedown:

Back
1. Stroke, in a hand-over-hand motion, from the upper back to the buttocks, with the flats of your hands contoured to the shape of his back.
2. Using your fingertips, massage the long muscles next to your baby's spine with circular motions from his head to his buttocks. (Don't rub directly over the spine.) Continue massaging down his legs to his feet.

Neck
Finish by lightly massaging your baby's neck and shoulders.

Lovely New Born Twins: Photos

2009-07-06T01:05:00.000-07:00

1 day old identical twins, Caleb and Nathan.

Sounds tired...little angels.

17 day old twins, Trace and Jack.

I'm scared....mommy

4 week old identical twins, Caleb and Nathan.

9 day old fraternal twins, Ashton and Trenton.

1 day old fraternal twins, Ryan Bailey and Connor Johannes.

Mommy im here...

5 day old fraternal twins, Justin Tyler and Olivia Paige.

5 day old fraternal twins, Blake & Brooke.

1 hour old identical twins, Gavin and Graham.

10 hour old fraternal twins, Logan Joseph and Kassidy Evelyn.

Natalie and Isabelle, 4 hours old.

6 hour old fraternal twins, Sofia and Mia.

Infant fraternal twins, Zachary & Isabel.

"Just 1 day old! Born at 36 weeks at 4 lbs, 15 oz, and 5 lbs, 0 oz. We were in the hospital 5 days due to problems with apnea (forgetting to breathe) and with maintaining temperature. They were on apnea monitors their first 3-4 weeks home. "

9 day old fraternal twins, Dylan and Andrew.

18 day old fraternal twins, Jarmell Jr. and Ja'Nya.

See more new born twins photos here:
http://multiples.about.com/od/picturesphotos/ig/Newborn-Twins-Photo-Gallery/index.02.htm

They are all lovely, isn't it?

Infant bathing tips

2009-07-06T00:57:00.000-07:00

A newborn baby requires a special way of bathing especially if they still have the umbilical cord, a few simple steps is all you need to know to propery bathe a newborn.

As a new parent it can sometimes be intimidating to give your baby his or her first bath. If the baby still has the umbilical cord attached there are some steps that should be taken in order to care for the delicate cord.

Your newborn's first few baths will take place without being submerged in water. This is important so as not to get the belly button area where the umbilical cord is still attached wet. To prevent infection from taking place it is recommended that you clean the surface area around the cord with an alcohol soaked swab. This helps dry up the base of the cord and clean the surrounding area.

Until the cord is gone, usually about two weeks, you must give the baby a bath using a soft washcloth and a mild baby soap. It is important to make sure you get in all the little cracks, folds, and wrinkles where it is common to find the most residue. Under the neck is most likely the dirtiest area and should be payed close attention to.

After the initial two weeks are over and the umbilical cord has fallen off it is time to give baby a bath submerged in water. Some people find that using their sink works fine but for the sake of safety a baby bathtub with a rubber backing is recommended. First test your water temperature for a luke warm feel. Remember baby's skin is much more delicate than an adults so it will feel a bit cooler than you would anticipate. Fill the baby tub with water and baby soap. It does not need to be full, just enough to cover the bottom of baby so you can wash with a cloth. Be careful with your newborn as you will soon find out how slippery he or she can be.

After the washing is done and you have washed the head and hair being very careful to avoid the soft spot, have a towel ready to wrap the newborn in. It is best to have a helper at this point. You can gently pat the baby dry with the towel. This is a good time to apply a baby lotion and or powder. This prevents chapped and dry skin as well as making your baby smell clean and fresh.

Once these steps are mastered, before you know it the time will come when baby can take a bath with you or sit nicely in a tub ring. Remember, it is not important to bathe your newborn everyday, they are not that dirty and it risks giving them dry skin. Before long you will wonder why you were ever intimidated with bathing your baby.

How to prepare for bringing home a second baby

2009-07-06T00:55:00.000-07:00

You are now becoming a mom for the second time, this might be a little scary because you are now remembering the lack of sleep. Plus you have an older child to take care of too. How do you prepare you , your husband and the first child for the newborn? Your family life will change considerably in the gap between the first and second child and the sooner you recognize that fact the easier it is for you.

More Responsibilities
With two kids comes more responsibilities, especially if the first child is still very young. Managing two children can be a rigorous task no matter how good you are with kids. Dealing with a second child is generally more demanding that dealing with your first, because with the first it was just want child. Your attention, time, energy were only focus on one person, now it is two.

So make sure you are ready for fluctuating eating and sleeping routines at least for the first eight weeks after your babys birth.

Taking care of "you"
You need all your energy, because after giving birth you become exhausted, especially if you have had a cesarean delivery or a traumatic childbirth. If in th efirst few weeks when you are at home, during the day try to get the baby on a schedule to take naps. Take naps with the baby, and if the second child is there too consider making that child take naps as well. There are nap times when you will be up, so during that time do your little chores, and also relax and take care of yourself.

Dealing with First Child
The arrival of a new baby is a big change for the first chil, which might deals the child experiencing plethora of emotions during this time. You have to pay close attention to the first child expecially if he/she is still young, look out for changes , such as withdrawal, not wanting to potty train or the child might start sucking his/her thumb. You now have to share your attention and assure the first child that mommy loves him/her.

Daddy also need to play an important role and share the responsibilities with mommy to care for both children. When mommy is tending to newborn , daddy is tending to first born and vica versa

When the first born is a little older there tends to be more trouble, as he/she is an attention seeker. Prepare yourself for intense sessions of mischief, unusual tantrums. You prevent this behavior talk to the child before the birth of his sibling. Also let the child help with the newborn, this help to create a sense of "belonging". Let the first child play and hold the baby , spend time with him/her, cuddle and in general fall in love with the little one. All this will help him/her get used to the new member in the family.
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How To Bathe Your Newborn Baby
When you give birth to your baby, the job of becoming a mom begins. Some newbie mothers are extremely scared to bathe their babies at first, as the task is not that easy. It takes skills and patience, but eventually it comes naturally.

Below are few steps to help you to give your baby a perfect warm and relaxing bathe.

Arrange all items
Arrange all the accessories, such as towel, wash cloth, changing mat, diapers, clean clothes, bath sponge, for the bath.

Right temperature
Determining the temperature of the water is very important, it cannot be too cold or too hot it has to be "just right". To make sure the temperature of the water is warm enough for the baby, you need to fill the tub with cold water, and then mix with hot water.

To test the water dip your elbow in the water, as the elbow-skin is quite sensitive.

Prepare baby
Undress the baby and wrap baby in a soft towel, then place baby bath sponge (this is one of the safe way to bathe the baby, so he/she does not slip from your hand). Try the bath sponge until you are comfortable enough to hold the baby in your hands.

Bathing Baby
Start running water with your hand gently over the baby’s head. In the first few weeks try to avoid shampooing the baby hair, as the chemical of shampoo might damage the baby scalp.

If have place the baby on the bath sponge just continue to put the water over the baby's body. The sponge will absorb the water, so do worry about any mess.

If you are not using a bath sponge, then lower the baby with care into the water by putting his/her neck in your elbows crook and your hand while holding one of his/her legs back.

Next continue scooping up water with you hand and sprinkle it on your baby's body. Do not run the baby's body as this is not necessary at this age, as newborn baby does not accumulate that much dirt.

Try to avoid long bathe as the baby might catch a cold. Pat and dry the baby with a clean cotton towel, then lotion baby with baby oil mix with lotion. Next dress your baby in comfortable clothing.

How to prevent ear infection in infant/toddlers

2009-07-06T00:53:00.000-07:00

Ear infections are one of the most worrisome illnesses for both parents and children.Most kids have at least one middle ear infection before they are 2 years old. Below are steps to avoid and prevent your infant or toddler to get an ear infection.
-----------------------------
Difficulty: Moderate
****INSTRUCTIONS****
Step1
*Cigarette Smoke* Kids should avoid going into areas where people are smoking. Cigarette smoking will cause the Eustachian tubes to stop working effectively. * Avoid catching cold Kids should stay away from persons who have the cold or flu. Make sure their hands are properly wash on a regular basic, before eating. Also kids should avoid rubbing their eyes and noses
------------------------------
Step2 * Breastfeeding* Breastfeeding helps to the lower the chance of an infant getting ear infections * Breastfeed or feed infants/toddlers in upright position Feeding in the correct position is very important, as the fluid will not drain to Eustachian tube and cause the infant to have an ear infection. Also ways feed in an upright position
------------------------------
Step3
*Daycare* If your child is in daycare, then it is a strong possibility that he/she has constant cold and flu, which sometimes leads to ear infection. Since most daycare can be crowed, which can lead to a greater risk of your child catching cold and flu, try to move your child to a less crowed daycare if possible.
------------------------------
Step4
*Build Immune System* Give your child enough fruits and vegetables to help build their immune system. Give the daily vitamins and occasionally a dose of cod liver oil, to cleanse the system. Orange juice is a good source for vitamin C to help fight cold and flu. Giving Echinacea which comes in the form of children chewable and drops, can also help boosts the immune system.
-------------------------------
Tips & Warnings
*Make sure to always let your child wash their hands before they eat
*Give child fruits and vegetables to help boosts their immune system
*Avoid smoking areas
*Avoid crowed daycare

12 Most Creative Nursery Themes For a Boy, a Girl, Or Twins

2009-07-01T23:39:00.000-07:00

There are many great reasons for creating a gender-neutral nursery for your new baby. Whether it is because you're waiting to find out your baby's gender, you want a theme that can suit whatever other children come along, you're having twins, or if you're just not into the "baby boy" or "baby girl" themes, here are some great ways to create fun nurseries that work perfectly for a boy, or a girl.

Stripes

Striped nurseries are very modern and can be suited with a great selection of colors to welcome a little boy or a little girl. Some great color themes include turquoise, brown and white; white, red, and taupe, or yellow, grey, and white.

Jungle

A jungle themed nursery is very fun to create. Think rainforest! Bright colors, trees, and exotic animals like toucans, monkeys, and tigers. Whether you buy pictures for the walls, or paint the animals directly onto the walls, it is sure to be quite the sight.

Black and White

Simple and stunning, black and white nurseries are very easy to create. Whether you use stripes, patchwork, or just a combination of black furniture and white furniture, your black and white nursery will be beautiful.

Teddy Bears

So classic, and traditional, a nursery filled with welcoming teddy bears is perfect for any baby. You can include teddy bear pictures, teddy bear blankets, and an array of bears that are small and large placed throughout the room.

Stars

Creating a star-themed nursery can be very versatile. Whether you choose to go for the modern-looking 3-D tin stars, classic yellow stars, or white stars, you can find star-shaped lighting, star-studded bedding, and great wall decorations to be sure your child will grow up...a star!

Patriotic

Whether you choose the true American red, white and blue, patriotic theme, or your native land's flag and colors, creating a patriotic-themed nursery allows your little one to grow up with a full sense of heritage and patriotism.

World

You could also do a slight variation of patriotic and go for a 'world traveler' theme, with décor such as maps, globes, and pictures of landmarks from throughout the world

Circles

Another fun variation of the classic stripes, circles are becoming a nursery hit. You may consider a circle crib, circle decorations, or colored circles painted on the wall, along with a bold circle area rug, this nursery variation is sure to be a hit.

Under the Sea

Another nursery that includes lots of bright colors! Create an underwater themed atmosphere in your nursery, and fill it with tropical fish, seaweed, starfish, and soothing ocean blue.

Artistic

Imagine a nursery complete with an easel, crayons, pallets, and great works of art. Whether it's modern bright-colored art, or Picassos and Monets, your artistic-themed nursery is sure to inspire an artistic little one.

Numbers

Inspire a little mathematician by creating a nursery full of numbers. Maybe include an abacus, numbers on the walls, and numbered bedding.

ABC's

A slight variation to the Numbers theme, an ABC theme is sure to inspire a new little writer. Complete with baby blocks, wooden letters painted on the walls, and famous literary works, you'll have lots of fun creating this nursery

Whatever theme you pick, your new baby's nursery is sure to be stunning and perfect for a little boy, a little girl, or twins for years to come!

Julie Hobby owns and operates PoshBabyCribs.com a website that provides nursery decor, baby cribs, and baby crib bedding. Check it out for great baby cribs, elegant baby bedding and more. Julie also maintains the blog PoshMamas.blogspot.com for new and expecting mothers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julie_Hobby

Two headed babies: Photos

2009-07-01T23:30:00.000-07:00

Two headed babies, is this really happening....? Take a look below pictures.

Baby Rebeca Martinez sleeps at the CARE clinic in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. (AP Photos/Walter Astrada)

A nurse holds an Egyptian baby named Manar Maged in a hospital in the city of Banha, 25 miles, north of Cairo Feb. 18, 2005. Egyptian doctors said they removed the second head from the girl, who was suffering from the rare birth defects in an operation on Saturday [19 Feb 2005]. (Photos: Reuters)

The boy, named Kiron and weighing 12 lbs 1 oz, was born by Cesarean section on [25 August 2008] at a clinic in Keshobpur, 85 miles from the capital, Dhaka.

Doctors check three girls [sic] born in San Juan, Argentina some 1,280 km (800 miles) northwest of Buenos Aires, Argentina, by a 25-year old woman (who was not identified) giving triplets, one normal and two conjoined., Sunday, June 22, 2003. (AP Photo/Courtesy Diario de Cuyo)

More photos of two headed babies visit here: http://www.skewsme.com/twoheadedbaby.html

Filipino Celebrity Babies

2009-07-01T20:06:00.001-07:00

Claudine Baretto with two kids (Santino and Sabina)

Kris Aquino and baby James Yap.

Jennylyn Mercado and Son

Mylene Dizon with her 2nd baby.

Beautiful Dawn Zulueta with his son Jacobo.

Camille Prats and Anthony with their cute baby boy Nathaniel Cesar

Aubrey Miles and Troy Montero and son.

Filipino Baby Names

2009-07-01T19:56:00.000-07:00

=========== The Importance of Filipino First Names! ===========
We respond to our names throughout our lives. People associate us with our first name, it forms part of our identity. They help to distinguish us from one to another. Other people gain immediate and sometimes totally subconscious views of people, just from hearing a name they can therefore give us a distinct advantage in life, or conversely, a disadvantage! The choice of an Filipino Baby name is, therefore, incredibly important. And those of us who choose a baby's name are taking on a responsible task!

=========== The Origins of Filipino baby names ===========
The origins of this these include place names, those related to mythology and history, origins from colours, plants and other types of nature, Fictional origins, historical origins, characteristic and religious origins. We then move on to the genre which can be classed as Descriptive, Place, Speciality and finally unique (or created name's).

Authentic Filipino names declined due to the arrival of the Spanish, Mexicans of European, and Mestizo heritage together with an influx of Europeans such as the British, German and French due to the the opening of the Suez Canal in 1867.

=========== What Filipino baby name shall I give to my baby? ===========
Will the Filipino baby name suit my baby? Should it be traditional, unusual, unique, exotic, popular or cool? Will it be suitable throughout all life phases ( "A Name isn't just for a birthday - it's for life!"). Will it be appropriate throughout a full life cycle starting with baby - toddler - school child - teenager - young adults - parents - middle age - retirement and ending with old age. Will it suit a pensioner as well as a baby? Will the schoolchild be teased mercilessly about a name? What will your baby think of your choice?

Check it out, list of filipino baby names:

Baby Girl --------------------Baby Boy

Amihan *************** Alejandro
Amalia *************** Agapito
Amelia *************** Aquino
Bituin *************** Andres
Chesa *************** Bayanai
Camille *************** Balagtas
Candida *************** Crisanto
Caresse *************** Carlo
Carmela *************** Dakila
Dalisay *************** Danilo
Divina *************** Datu
Diwata *************** Edgardo
Erlat *************** Gaane
Eugenio *************** Gabato
Estrellita *************** Hagibis
Eugenia *************** Hilario
Hilaria *************** Honorato
Honorata *************** Igme
Imee *************** Makisig
Ligaya *************** Rezalino
Liwanag *************** Rogelio
Lualhati *************** Renato
Mahal *************** Romeo
Malaya *************** Isagani
Malea *************** Manuel
Maleah *************** Marco
Sampaguita *************** Samuel
Tala *************** Mario

Celebrity twin babies

2009-07-01T19:42:00.000-07:00

Ricky Martin with his twins....

Sarah Jessica Parker and husband, holding their twins.

Celebrity cute babies are here...

2009-07-01T18:47:00.000-07:00

Check out these shots of some of the best celebrity baby photos! Are they cute same as their parents? Well, let us see...

Angelina Jolie and children

Brad and Angeline with their kids

Suri Cruise and Tom Cruise

Suri and Katie Holmes

Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman with Max

Britney Spears and her son

Jessica Alba Honor Marie Warren

Shiloh Nouvel Jolie Pitt Suri Cruise

=============================*****************==============================

More celebrity cute babies photo visit here :

http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/gallery/albums/celebrity-babies/

My niece cute photos

2008-12-22T17:18:00.000-08:00

My beautiful nieces photos ..........are they cute?....take a look on it.

I''m hiding....there you are!

OMG! why she is crying? Do you know why?

Screaming....

Here is my Christmas gift from my auntie.

My mother is calling, i gonna answer it.

I'm having fun. Let's play....

Just a simple greeting from me.

I'm just sleepy....

Come on let's eat...see, we're having fun.

Why are you looking at me? heheheheh

I'm with my friend...just playing...i will be a doctor soon.

Do i look funny?
Hmmmmmm...

Smile...smile...smile...

Amazing family, 3 twin babies. How they make it?

2008-12-10T17:09:00.000-08:00

Six Babies After Twin Daughters.. Cute…

True story from the show “Jon & Kate Plus Eight”.. They are cute aren’t they? The 6 babies are 3 years old now. Smarter and cheeky! See how big they are already…

Twin Babies Photo, Is it amazing?

2008-12-10T17:02:00.000-08:00

Wonderful twin babies photos, cute twin pictures. Have fun and enjoy the moment looking those pic.

Cute Babies Pic...Take a look!

2008-12-10T16:54:00.001-08:00

Have fun looking those beautiful cute babies , and enjoy.

Baby and Toddlers Symptom Guide

2008-12-09T22:14:00.002-08:00

Find out what's ailing your child:

Symptom Guide (0-12 months)

1: Abdominal pain
2: Breathing difficulties
3: Cough
4: Diarrhea
5: Ear pain
6: Eye infections
7: Fever
8: Hair loss
9: Itching
10: Rash or skin condition
11: Runny or stuffy nose
12: Sore throat
13: Swollen glands
14: Vomiting
15: Wheezing

Symptom Guide (12-24 months)

1: Abdominal pain
2: Blood in urine
3: Breathing difficulties
4: Chest pain
5: Cough
6: Diarrhea
7: Ear pain
8: Eye infections
9: Fever
10: Hair loss
11: Itching
12: Leg or arm pain
13: Rash or skin condition
14: Runny or stuffy nose
15: Sore throat
16: Swollen glands
17: Vomiting
18: Wheezing

More info's about babies visit www.babycenter.com

Why do babies cry?

2008-12-09T22:14:00.001-08:00

Babies cry for the same reason adults talk to communicate. Crying is the only way for infants to tell us when something is wrong. But while the baby may know whats wrong, its often more difficult for new parents to decipher the meaning of their babys cries. As your baby grows, you will learn to recognize and differentiate among her various cries.

Newborns sometimes cry up to four hours a day, and each cry can send a different message.

*I have gas
Gas is very common in infants, affecting more than half of all newborns. Gas bubbles can cause discomfort, making baby cry. Many infants with gas will also pull their legs up, lying in a curled position to help relieve their discomfort. Infants' MYLICON Drops can provide safe, effective relief for your baby by gently breaking up the gas bubbles.

* I'm in pain
Generally unmistakably loud and sudden, with long high-pitched shrieks followed by a pause and then a wail. If you are unable to find a minor cause, you should call your healthcare provider immediately if this type of crying persists and the baby is inconsolable.

* I'm lonely or bored
Often your babys coos will turn to a wail if she doesnt get the attention she wants or needs. Rest assured that no amount of love, cuddling, hugging, and caring will spoil your baby in the first six months, so go ahead and pick her up.

* Im tired or uncomfortable
If your babys cries are whiny, nasal, and continuous, chances are shes overtired, about to have a bowel movement, too warm, too cold, or otherwise uncomfortable.

* I just need to cry
If your baby is "good" all day, sometimes she just needs to release energy by crying. This usually occurs at the end of the day, or the "witching hour."

* Im cranky
Some babies are just fussy by nature. Irritable crying varies in duration and occurs randomly, without an apparent cause.

More on: www.mylicon.com

How your baby goes from Da-Da to Daddy

2008-12-09T22:12:00.000-08:00

SEATTLE - It is one of the great wonders of humanity: A baby hears parents and others talking and learns to speak.

Now, with parents volunteering their infants, researchers at the University of Washington are learning just what happens in the babies' brain to make that miracle unfold.

A cap with electrodes on the baby's head painlessly records signals from the brain's nerve cells. It all happens in a sound-proof room, on mom's lap, with one of the researchers working to keep the child happy.

The scientists play sounds like "Ba" and "Da" key components of language.

As the child recognizes them, the machines record the brain pattern

"This is a technological tour de force," says Dr. Patricia Kuhl, who heads the project. "If you take a newborn a six-monther and a 12-monther dramatic changes are happening in the brain."

First, trillions of new nerve connections form in the part of the brain called Wernicke's Area, which is responsible for speech recognition. A few months later, neurons come alive in Broca's Area, the part responsible for speech.

"It's as though Broca's Area is saying, 'Oh, I recognize that. It's something that my mouth, and tongue, and lips can produce,'" says Kuhl.

The research has revealed that there can be enormous variation in how quickly the young brains respond. Researchers hope that by discovering how babies normally acquire language, they'll learn how to intervene if something is wrong and the process is not going properly

This could lead to better interventions to prevent autism, dyslexia and other problems.

But already it has reinforced what every parent knows that the more you talk and read to your child the faster the brain develops language.

100 most popular baby names of 2008

2008-12-09T22:04:00.000-08:00

Whether you're looking for a popular baby name or one that's unique, it's helpful to see what other parents are choosing. Check out our list of the top baby names of 2008, and click on names to see baby name meanings, similar names, popularity over time, and more.

Note: To capture true popularity, our exclusive baby names list combines names that sound the same but have multiple spellings (like Aden, Aiden, and Ayden). Our data comes from hundreds of thousands of parents who shared their baby's name with us in 2008.

Girls Names Boys Names
1 Emma Aiden
2 Sophia Jayden
3 Madison Ethan
4 Isabella Jacob
5 Olivia Caden
6 Ava Jackson
7 Madeline Noah
8 Addison Jack
9 Hailey Logan
10 Lily Matthew
11 Kaitlyn Nicholas
12 Chloe Ryan
13 Abigail Brayden
14 Emily Michael
15 Riley Gavin
16 Mia Dylan
17 Ella Lucas
18 Hannah Caleb
19 Kaylee Andrew
20 Sarah Connor
21 Alyssa Alexander
22 Makayla Joshua
23 Mackenzie Tyler
24 Layla Nathan
25 Grace Daniel
26 Kylie Mason
27 Zoe Evan
28 Samantha Zachary
29 Natalie William
30 Peyton Landon
31 Elizabeth Benjamin
32 Anna James
33 Avery Cameron
34 Taylor Luke
35 Isabelle Gabriel
36 Lauren Anthony
37 Alexis Joseph
38 Brianna Owen
39 Sydney Elijah
40 Keira Christopher
41 Aubrey Christian
42 Arianna Liam
43 Sophie Samuel
44 Allison John
45 Gabriella Brody
46 Kayla Carter
47 Lillian David
48 Savannah Hunter
49 Audrey Isaac
50 Brooklyn Austin
51 Claire Sean
52 Katherine Chase
53 Julia Tristan
54 Jordan Wyatt
55 Bailey Jonathan
56 Kaelyn Alex
57 Brooke Thomas
58 Morgan Colin
59 Camryn Jordan
60 Aaliyah Cole
61 Victoria Max
62 Maya Cooper
63 Leah Dominic
64 Abby Hayden
65 Kate Brady
66 Jasmine Brandon
67 Amelia Carson
68 Charlotte Isaiah
69 Megan Jake
70 Reagan Aaron
71 Cadence Ian
72 Carly Nathaniel
73 Lila Adam
74 Lucy Riley
75 Jayden Justin
76 Maria Parker
77 Kennedy Colton
78 Molly Jason
79 Sadie Julian
80 Callie Devin
81 Paige Blake
82 Alexandra Xavier
83 Ashley Sebastian
84 Caroline Henry
85 Gracie Eli
86 Mckenna Charlie
87 Gianna Oliver
88 Rachel Robert
89 Ellie Adrian
90 Ashlyn Nolan
91 Katie Peyton
92 Liliana Kyle
93 Jocelyn Grayson
94 Gabrielle Miles
95 Adriana Bryce
96 Rebecca Eric
97 Nevaeh Will
98 Jada Josiah
99 Jenna Micah
100 Evely Steven

Source: www.babycenter.com
Visite here also for more baby names and meaning : http://www.dadstheword.com/a-f.htm#a

7 Signs of a bad babysitter

2008-12-09T22:03:00.000-08:00

It's not always easy to know whether your child's caregiver is doing the job she's supposed to. To find out, you may have to do some sleuthing. Some parents who suspect something may be amiss rent surveillance equipment. But it's often possible to tell whether something's wrong without going to that extreme.

You may have trouble on your hands if:

Your baby isn't happy to see the sitter and has become anxious and withdrawn. A regular caregiver can never replace Mom or Dad, but a baby needs to trust and love his babysitter. Perhaps your child and caregiver haven't bonded, or the babysitter just isn't providing the kind of warmth and comfort your child needs. As in every human relationship, having the right chemistry is important. (If you suspect something more serious is wrong, educate yourself about the signs of child abuse.)

Your babysitter seems secretive about how they spent the day. How your baby and his caregiver spend their time shouldn't be a secret. When you come home, you're probably eager to hear about your child and what happened while you were apart. If your caregiver isn't forthcoming about it, either she's not good at communicating with you or she has something to hide. Even a caregiver whose English is limited should be able to convey the ups and downs of your baby's day, and will understand why you want to know.

Your baby has been in one too many easily avoidable accidents. A babysitter must keep her eye on your child and know what he's doing at all times to prevent injury. She may be leaving your child unattended as he sleeps or plays.

You notice your requests aren't followed. Both of you are working together to care for your child, so a caregiver shouldn't act as if she knows more about him and childrearing than you do.

Your babysitter often shows up late. An undependable caregiver will leave you in the lurch time and time again. Find someone who you know is committed to the job and considerate of your needs. Tardiness and unexplained absences may mean she's unreliable in other ways as well.

Your baby often looks unkempt and dirty. If your little one's caregiver can't take care of the basics, it may be a sign that she's not on the ball when it comes to meeting your child's needs.

Her stories don't add up. Never tolerate someone who steals, lies, or deceives you in any way. You have to be able to trust your caregiver for the relationship to work.

What Are Babies Thinking Before They Start Talking?

2008-12-09T22:01:00.000-08:00

Babies as young as five months old make distinctions about categories of events that their parents do not, revealing new information about how language develops in humans. The research by Sue Hespos, assistant professor of psychology at Vanderbilt University, and Elizabeth Spelke, professor of psychology at Harvard University, was published in the July 22 issue of Nature in the article Conceptual precursors to language.

Its been shown in previous studies that adults actually categorize things differently based on what language they speak, Hespos said. So, if language is influencing adults thought, one of our questions was, whats going on with preverbal infants? Do children think before they speak?

Language capitalizes on a pre-existing system of I live in a 3-D world, I know how objects behave and interact, she continued. This pre-existing ability suggests that children do think before they speak.

Previous research has found that infants are sensitive to the acoustic variations that signal meanings in all the worlds languages that adults can no longer hear, even those variations that their own language does not use and that the adults around them no longer hear. For instance, an adult native-English speaker will not hear all of the sounds of Korean and vice versa. Infants hear these subtleties but lose this awareness as their language skills develop over the first year of life.

The languages of the world vary both in the sounds they require speakers to distinguish and in the meanings they require speakers to convey, and these differences influence what speakers of a language readily hear and think about, Spelke said. Our research asked how these differences arise: Does the experience of learning to speak English or Korean make you aware of the categories your language honors?

The example they used to explore this question was differences between how different languages describe space. For example, the distinction between a tight fit versus a loose fit is marked in Korean but not in English. A cap on a pen would be a tight fit relationship, while a pen on a table would be a loose fit relationship. English does not mark this distinction in the same way, instead emphasizing the containment versus support relationship, for example: the coffee is in the mug or the mug is on the table.

Hespos and Spelke tested whether five-month-old infants from native English-speaking homes noticed whether objects fit tightly or loosely. The tests were based on infants tendency to look at events that they find to be novel. Infants were shown an object being placed inside a container that fit either tightly or loosely until the time they looked at the object being placed inside the container decreased. They were then shown new tight and loose fit relationships. The researchers found that the babies looked at the objects longer when there was a change between tight or loose fit, illustrating that they were detecting the Korean concept.

Hespos and Spelke also conducted the experiment with adults to confirm that English-speaking adults do not spontaneously make the tight versus loose fit distinction.

Adults ignore tight fit versus loose fit and pay attention to in versus on, Hespos said. Adults were glossing over the distinction that the babies were actually detecting. These findings suggest that humans possess a rich set of concepts before we learn language, Spelke added.

Learning a particular language may lead us to favor some of these concepts over others, but the concepts already existed before we put them into words.

Hespos is a member of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development and the Vanderbilt Vision Research Center. Spelke is co-director of Harvards Mind/Brain/Behavior Initiative. The research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health.

Adapted from materials provided by http://www.sciencedaily.com

ALL ABOUT BABIES

2008-12-09T19:01:00.000-08:00

Contents

* What are babies like?
* What your baby can do
* What can baby see, hear, taste and feel?
* Baby's teeth
* Looking after the penis
* Reminders

These days many parents have not had a lot of experience with babies until their first baby comes along. If you are one of these parents you will probably find you have many questions about this new person who has come into your life and who is so small and helpless.

It can be overwhelming and scary when you realise your baby is so dependent on you for everything, especially if you feel you don't know a lot about babies. Understanding what babies are like may help to make it easier to care for your baby.

What are babies like?
Cradle cap

* Cradle cap is a yellowish, patchy, greasy, scaly and crusty skin rash that occurs on the scalp of recently born babies.
* You can put on olive oil or or other vegetable oil, or baby oil to soften the scales one evening and wash the oil off the next day.
* Gently lift off the softened scales with a soft brush (such as a soft toothbrash) fine-toothed comb or fingernail.
* If some of the scales are still sticking to the surface of the scalp, use the oil again the next night. Do not use much pressure to scrape off the scales as this could damage the underlying skin.
* If it does not improve see your doctor.
* Have a look at the topic 'Cradle cap' for more information.

Crying

* Many babies cry for up to 3 hours, or sometimes more, a day in the early weeks.
* Most babies like being held and comforted, but some babies still cry when they are being held.
* See 'Crying baby' and 'Colic in babies' and 'Babies - day and night patterns in the early months' for more information.

Fontanelles

* The 'soft spots' (fontanelles) on top of a baby's head are there so the baby's bones can move a little, so that baby can more easily fit through the birth passage when he is being born.
* These spots will usually close over before the baby is 18 months old (often before 12 months).
* The skin over the soft spots is strong and you cannot hurt babies by gently washing or brushing their heads.
* Sometimes a fontanelle swells when the baby is crying and goes flat when the crying stops.

Genitals and breasts

* Babies are often born with large genitals and breasts and sometimes 'milk' even comes from the breasts.
* This swelling is due to the mother's hormones, it is normal, (even for boys) and it does not last long.
* Don't try to squeeze any milk out of the breasts, as too much pressure can sometimes cause an infection. Expressing the milk could also mean that the breasts go on making it for longer (similar to mothers expressing milk when breast feeding).
* If the breasts become larger, firm and tender, and your baby seems unwell, there could be an infection, and you would need to take your baby to your doctor. But this does not happen often.

Head shape

* Babies' heads can sometimes be uneven in shape after the birth or because of the way they sleep.
* This is called plagiocephaly. See the topic 'Baby's head shape'.

Hernia

* Your baby's umbilicus (belly button) may take several days to heal fully, and many babies have umbilical hernias.
* An umbilical hernia is a lump underneath their belly button (umbilicus).
o It may swell if the baby is crying.
o This is a small gap in the 'tummy' muscles and will nearly always go away in time.
o It does not need treatment and does not cause health problems.
o See the topic 'Umbilical care and umbilical hernia'.
* Sometimes small hernias develop in the groin (called inguinal hernias). A small lump can be felt, especially when the baby is crying. These are much serious, and you need to have your baby checked by a doctor as soon as possible.

Hiccups

* Lots of babies have hiccups after feeds. This is normal. See 'Hiccups'.

Jaundice

* Many babies have jaundice (yellow skin and eyes) during the first week or so after birth.
* See the topic 'Jaundice in babies'.

Nails

Many young babies get a small infection next to a finger nail or toe nail (called paronychia).

* Usually this clears away without treatment (or with using a little waterbased antiseptic cream or lotion) but sometimes an infection can spread into the skin of the finger or toe around the nail and there can be swelling and redness of the skin. If this happens you need to have it checked by your doctor as your baby may need an antibiotic.

Poo (bowel actions)

* Very young breastfed babies usually do several 'poos' a day.
* Even if baby seems to be pushing hard, the poo is usually very soft. After a few weeks some breastfed babies only have a poo every few days and it will still be soft. All this is normal.
* Bottle fed babies might have firmer poos.
* See the topic 'Poos, wees and nappies'.
* If the poos seem very hard, try a teaspoon of brown sugar in a little boiled water between feeds (once or twice). Don't keep doing this after the poos are soft again. See the topic 'Constipation' for more information.

Reflexes

* Babies do some things 'automatically' without knowing they are doing them. These are called reflexes.
* For example, if something is put in their mouths they suck on it (sucking reflex), and if something is put in their hands they hold on tight (grasp reflex). If they are startled or upset they fling their arms out and throw their heads back (startle reflex).

Spilling

* Some babies spill some milk after feeds.
* If they are growing well and happy this is nothing to worry about.
* If your baby is bringing up milk in big spurts much of the time you need to see your doctor. (See the topic 'Reflux' for more information.)
* If your baby is not putting on weight or is miserable a lot of the time, talk to your doctor or child health nurse.

Spots

* Most babies have spots on their faces and often on parts of the body in the first few weeks.
* They are called milia, and can look like acne - red spots with white centres. They are not acne and they do not need any treatment.
* They seem to be a reaction to the skin being exposed to air rather than to fluid in the womb (uterus) before birth.
* Sometimes the spots come when the baby gets hot or has been lying on that side. If they go away within an hour or so they are probably this kind of spot.
* See the topic 'Birthmarks' for more information.

Sticky eyes

* Some babies have asticky eye due to a blocked tear duct (usually only one side, but it may be on both sides.
* Ask your doctor how to manage this. It is not serious. See the topic 'Your baby's eyes'.
* Sometimes a baby may have conjunctivitis, an infection of the surface of the eyes and eyelids. Have a look at the topic 'Conjunctivitis'.

Urine

* A little light pink or orange stain from urine on the nappy is not uncommon and is nothing to worry about.
o It is caused by a reaction between chemicals in the baby's urine (urates) and chemicals in the fibres of the nappy.
o It is more likely in boys because their stream of wee (urine) is more likely to be all in the same place on the nappy (diaper).
* If it is red or leaves a brown stain, that is, if it looks at all like blood or your baby seems unwell and is not feeding normally you need to have it checked by a doctor.
o See 'Urinary tract infections in young children' for more information.
* Sometimes there can be small "crystals" on the inner surface of a disposable nappy. These come from the inside of the nappy, not from the baby.
* See 'Poos, wees and nappies'.

Vaginal blood loss

* Some female babies have a small vaginal blood loss a few days after birth. This loss is due to the change in hormone levels after birth causing a brief menstrual 'period'. This bleeding stops after a day or two. There will not be any more vaginal blood loss until the girl reaches puberty and starts to have periods.

What can your baby do?

Remember that every baby is different. While babies usually follow similar patterns with their development, your baby might do things faster or slower or differently from other babies and this is usually fine. If your baby is doing things much more slowly or not doing some things at all, it is a good idea to check with your doctor to make sure that all is going well.

Here are some of the things your baby will probably be able to do.

* By six or seven weeks (or earlier) he can smile at you when you smile at him.
* By two months he can hold up his head when you are holding him upright and lift his head up if he is lying on his tummy. By this time many babies are already 'talking' - making some noises, then listening to you make noises back, then making some more!
* By three months he will enjoy hitting toys that make a noise and he can hold a rattle for a short time.
* By four months he may be able to roll from his front to his back, but it may be another couple of months, or more, before he can roll from his back to his front.
* By seven months he will be sitting up and might be starting to crawl.
* By nine months many babies can pull themselves up to stand. Some babies take longer. It takes another two or three months or so before he can stand without holding onto something and then a few more weeks before he can actually walk.
* By twelve months babies will talk to you in their own language, and expect you to understand. They may say one or two clear words - probably one of them will be "No!". They can understand some words. Your baby will be able to hold something with his thumb and forefinger and play little games like wave goodbye and 'pat-a-cake'.

There are many topics on this site about normal child development. You could start looking at the topic 'Child development 0 to 3 months'.

What can baby see, hear, taste and feel?

* Although babies can see when they are born they cannot yet see as clearly as older people.
* Newborn babies can hear lots of different sounds but they can't yet hear as well as they will by the end of the first year.
* Gentle, caring touch is very important so babies feel loved and cared for. They are sensitive to touch from the time they are born and can feel pain.
* Babies can tell different tastes such as salty, sweet, sour and bitter tastes. They do not need salt or sugar on their foods when they start eating solids and they learn to like the tastes they are given.
* Babies can smell from the time they are born and sometimes turn their heads away or 'make a face' if there is a smell or taste they don't like.
* For more information see the topic About babies - their senses.

Baby's teeth

* Some babies have little white lumps like tiny pearls in their mouth, especially on the gums. These are normal and go away when the baby grows.
* Babies usually start to get their teeth at about 6 months and usually have all their baby teeth by the time they are three. These teeth need to be looked after and brushed.
* Avoid giving bottles of juice or milk at bedtime. The sugars in these drinks stay in the mouth and can cause decay.
* Some don't have any until they are a year old and occasionally a baby is born with a tooth. See the topic 'Teeth - development and teething'.

Looking after the penis

* For most male babies and many young boys the foreskin is attached to the glans (tip of the penis).
* Forcing it away from the glans may cause damage to the tip of the penis or the foreskin - so it is best not to force back an infant's foreskin. The foreskin will become looser as your baby gets older.
* Like every other part of the body the tip of the penis and underneath the foreskin should be cleaned regularly once foreskin moves easily.
* Boys should learn how to wash their penis and scrotum (balls), as they are taught to wash other parts of their body.
* Don't use soap when washing foreskins because it can irritate the skin.
* When the foreskin moves back more easily, and boys should be encouraged to wash under the foreskin every time they bath or shower,

The white stuff (smegma) under the foreskin is natural and does not cause health problems - it simply needs to be washed away regularly.

Few baby boys are being circumcised these days. Have a look at the topic 'Circumcision' if you want help with making a decision about this.

Reminders

* Every baby is different even in the same family.
* The best way to get to know what babies are like is to watch and learn from your own baby.
* Babies grow and learn faster than they will at any other stage of life, so what they do will be continually changing.
* Take time to enjoy the new things your baby is learning and doing.
* If you have questions, ask for information. Most other parents have exactly the same question.
* Ask for help if you have any worries about your baby. This shows you are interested in learning about your baby and that you care.

source: http://www.cyh.com/