Dressing Your New Born Baby For The First Time

Dressing Your New Born Baby For The First Time
By: Jon Kelly

When you are pregnant the classes will focus on several main topics, pregnancy, labour, birth, feeding your baby, your babies sleep and how to hold your baby.

But if you are not used to holding a new born, the idea of dressing them and getting their curled up arms and legs into clothes can seem daunting. It is always OK to ask your midwife for help, but here are a few guide lines to take some of the worry about hurting your baby out of dressing him or her.

Firstly don't panic, babies look fragile, but they do not break easily. If your baby is hungry, feed them before dressing the baby, it is always easier to dress a calm baby.

Newborns needs are simple, they need to be warm, fed and loved. Loved, well, that comes from inside and will grow all the time. Fed, we hope you will breast feed, but bottle feeding is a safe and acceptable way to feed you baby too.

Warm - it doesn't really matter too much what time of year your baby is being born, the clothes will be basically the same. Take simple clothes to the hospital, there will be plenty of time at home to put on all the pretty clothes and let your visitors see them.

You will probably dress you baby in a vest and a baby grow when at hospital.The easiest vests to put on a new born and the least fiddly for a new mum are the ones with envelope necks, and popper fastenings at the bottom. If you have never dressed a baby before, this is the easiest way to put it on. Unpopper the vest at the bottom, scrunch up the back and the front and open up the envelope neck - you now have a circular opening for the head and the rest of the vest pulled up. Place the baby on the vest so that the back of its head is in the circular opening and the back is under the neck. Now, hold onto the scrunched up front and with your fingers through the neck opening use one movement to pull the front of the vest over the baby's head, now the whole vest is around the neck. Gently push the baby's arms through the arm holes and roll the baby onto its side, pull down the back, roll it back onto its back, pull down the front. Popper up under the nappy and you are done.

It may sound fiddly, but this is the best way as the baby does not get tangled in the clothes, and you never have to entirely lift the baby. Also as the baby starts to focus you will find that you can maintain eye contact when you are dressing him/her which will help to keep the baby calm.

Then you just need to put a baby grow on top. This is simple, undo the baby grow and place it flat on the surface, place your baby on top and then gently push the arms and legs through and popper up the front. The easiest baby grows to put on are ones which popper all the way up the front and down both legs. If you can get hold of the baby grows with built in scratch mitts this will reduce the amount which you baby scratches his face in his sleep, and is far easier than trying to keep scratch mitts on a baby!

Finally when you leave the hospital you will need an outer layer, usually a baby hat made of soft cotton and a snuggle suit. When putting on the hat, put it under the head and then pull forward, a newborns neck is weak and trying to put it on from front to back is difficult. Put the snuggle suit on in exactly the same way as you would the baby grow.

Your little bundle is now dressed and ready to meet the world.



Information about the Author:

Jon Kelly is a published author who writes on many diverse subjects that includes advice on toddlers and babies. We hope to provide you with information you can rely on. To find out more please visit: www.greatbabysupplies.com

How to Take Care of your Three Months Old Baby

Tips on How to Take Care of your Three Months Old Baby
By: Anne-Lie Karlsson

It is difficult for a newborn to adapt to its new environment. After all, the baby was naked and worried about nothing while in the womb for nine months. Then suddenly he will came out into this cold and bright place trying to adapt and breath alone. Your baby is more attuned to the outside world and more sensitive to changes in his environment. The newborn can feel sensations of pain, pleasure, heat and cold throughout his entire body.

During his first two weeks of life, a baby usually lacks the energy to do more than sleep and eat. When the baby is two weeks old, he begins to lie awake for longer period of time eager for something to play with. A baby usually plays by sucking something.

Why baby is crying
Crying is the most important way a newborn has to communicate it wants. Crying may indicate that the newborn is hungry, feels pain or is cold. Crying also may indicate he fear or his dislike of something. However, crying is also an exercise for the newborn. Two hours a day is the average amount of time a newborn cries during the first month. When a baby cries, it doesn't necessarily mean that he is hungry so should not always answer a baby's cries with a bottle of milk.

Bathing
Never leave the baby alone while he is bathing. Most babies drown because their parents leave them alone. Babies and infants love to be bathed because they want the relaxing and soothing sensations of water. Warm water is used in bathing the baby. The baby's head must be supported with the hands or an arm. Use mild soaps and thoroughly rinse before drying. Oil and lotion are used if the baby's skin is dry skin.

Diapers
Diapers should be change regularly to avoid the possibility of diaper rash. The baby's skin is tender and sensitive and can be easily injured. Mothers and caretakers should clean the baby's skin to avoid irritation.

Feeding the newborn
A baby knows how much he wants and when he wants it. When the bay cries for food, he is hungry; but when he stops eating, that mean he is satisfied.

Sleeping
The amount of sleep a newborn requires also varies a great deal. The baby who has inconvenient waking periods at night can usually be encouraged to go back to sleep by changing his position or giving him something to cling to. Leaving him to cry his head off will not improve his sleeping pattern. It is not necessary to keep quite once the baby is asleep because he is not disturbed by noise as much as sudden changes in the level of noise.

A newborn baby will adapt to the sleep-wake cycle that parents favor. Therefore, experts suggest you should start letting your baby fuss for a few minutes when he or she wakes up during the night.

Thus, a three month old baby may quiet down and love to see your face. He feels excited or smiles at you when he sees you. When the baby hears your voice he will find you and look directly at you and start gurgling or trying to talk back. The part of the brain that governs hand-eye coordination and allows a baby to recognize objects is developing rapidly now. His hearing, language, and smell have also become more receptive and active.



Information about the Author:

If you want to quit wasting time and recieve immediately all information and resources you will ever need, then visit us now. Anne Karlsson offers more information and resources about pregnancy, parenting and child care at www.9monthsandafter.com

Travelling With Your Baby Is Not As Difficult

Travelling With Your Baby Is Not As Difficult As You Might Think
By: Marlene Benedicto

If you are a parent who is terrified of taking your infant or toddler on a vacation, there is a great way to ease the stress.

Z’fina baby slings allow parents the ability to keep their child safe and comfortable in those busy airports or while strolling on the beach without lugging around a cumbersome stroller or car seat. Because the slings are made out of easy to pack, lightweight fabrics, they are the perfect alternative to using a stroller. Since your baby is attached to you and at eye level, you don’t have to worry about them getting bumped by rushing travellers in an airport terminal or getting lost.

There is nothing worse for many travellers who are exhausted from their trip than having to deal with a grumpy, fussy baby wailing across from you as you wait for your flight. Not only does putting your child in a sling avoid getting into a confrontation with other tourists, but also keeps your baby quiet and content.

Celina Close, a mother of two who uses baby carriers manufactured by Z’fina, found that putting her 1-year-old in a sling relieved a lot of stress during a 4-hour flight delay on a recent trip to Myrtle Beach.

“I used the sling for the youngest daughter because then I basically let her have a nap in the sling, whereas there was other mothers in the airport who were trying to rock their children and didn’t have the nice slings . . .” she explains.

Carriers give parents the ability to use both their hands while they are sightseeing or searching for their passport and itinerary as well as giving your baby the physical contact they desire. Since babies like the security of being cradled by their caregivers, the slings allow you to tend to your child’s needs while going through security checks or claiming your luggage.

Close says that a sling is an ideal option for parents of multiple children. During her vacation she was able to carry her infant while holding onto her 5-year-old’s hand.

“I hear a lot of people complaining that if you have three kids you can never have enough hands for all of the kids, so if you have the sling you have one there (attached to you) and then you still have two hands as long as the kids are smaller,” she said. “There was one girl who was there by herself with two kids and she was struggling and if she had the sling it would have been so much easier because while she was trying to rock the one kid, the other kid was running around wild. It’s so much easier when you can just zip them in the sling.”

Close says it’s a good idea for parents to start wearing your babies in a sling when they are young so they get used to it by the time you decide to travel with them. She also recommends that you bring a sling every time you travel in addition to a stroller.

“We used it throughout the trip even definitely instead of her always being in the stroller . . . if we were going for walks or doing the sightseeing I would put her in the sling because she’s not a big stroller baby so once she’s in the sling she’s great.”

So for all you parents out there who think that bringing your little ones on a vacation is too difficult, it’s not as hard as you think it might be. Slings are lightweight and a practical alternative to a conventional stroller.



Information about the Author:

www.zfina.com

A Guide in Introducing Toddler Toys

By: Rachel Nunez

The birth of a child is one event that is most eagerly awaited by family, relatives, and friends alike. Even before the expected birth month happens, baby showers are held to welcome this tiny bundle of joy.

Finally, the day big day arrives. Proud mom and dad are eager to show off their pride. It is so hard to contain the parents happiness, most especially, such that more visits are expected from well wishers who want to meet the newest member of the family.

A welcoming party may be held to give everyone a chance to see this little baby wonder. There is so much outpouring of love and well wishes from guests.

Time flies so quickly that baptism and the first birthday is soon celebrated. In occasions such as these, the couple is overwhelmed with a lot of gifts in the form of baby clothes, a crib, strollers, blankets, baby accessories, and even jewelry.

Of course, who could ever forget the numerous toys in all forms, shapes, and sizes to entertain the little one. Mommy will be so excited with the various toys received that the playroom is soon filled up with all attractive and colorful stuff.

How can parents be guided in setting up the playroom? When is the best time to introduce a specific kind of toy? The toddler is a very interesting stage to behold. During this stage, the toddler learns to explore everything and anything it fancies. Not only does he try to test his physical strength, he also tries to get hold and manipulate anything that gets within his reach.

Aside from safety and the entertainment value of toys, they should be more importantly educational. Parents cannot spend all their time playing with their kids, much as they want to. Thus, the best way to maximize learning is to introduce toddler educational toys.

Expect the toddler to walk and run to what catches his fancy. This may be the stairs, the furniture or the tricycle. As he tries to scribble and plays with pens and crayons, provide him with writing pads lest he writes on the newly painted walls or on the matching sofa that adorns the living room. Push and pull toys are the favored companions of toddlers as they move from place to place.

As the language skills develop, take out the play kitchens or play sets to allow the child to take on roles he imagines himself to be. Enhance his vocabulary by pointing out the names and the functions of things around him. Let him sort things out according to shapes and colors. This will teach him the relationship of one object to a set or to another toy.

Socially, the toddler imitates the adult, an older playmate or sibling. Being conscious of the words spoken around the child, definitely is a good training for the child to learn good values. A positive approach also encourages him to try things further and accomplish the tasks he is set to do.

Introducing the appropriate toy for a toddler gives the little one a sense of accomplishment. It is therefore unwise for the parents to take out all the toys at the same time and let the child discover the fun by himself. Chances are he will get frustrated when faced with complicated toys way beyond his skills. Make the toddlers learning experience fun and meaningful.




Information about the Author:

Rachel Nunez is ready to answer your questions about toddler educational toys. For more tips and information about toddler educational toys, check out www.toddlereducationaltoy.com .

Baby Slings Are Useful In The City

By: Marlene Benedicto

During a recent subway trip in Toronto, I noticed a young woman trying to push a stroller through the doors and onto a train packed with business people and students. Though it is not uncommon that you have to shove your way through a large mass of people during rush hour, I couldn’t help but feel bad for the flustered mom and not mention her poor baby who was likely frightened by the chaos. After witnessing this, I realized how difficult it must be to wander around a busy city with a stroller. There are a variety of baby slings and carriers on the market today, which allow urban parents to bring their infant or toddler with them wherever they go without the hassle of having to use a stroller all the time.

The city lifestyle is one that is constantly moving and changing. Many people have to deal with the difficult task of trying to juggle their busy work schedule and their families. Between going to business meetings, making meals and doing household chores there is very little time during the day to fit everything in and spend quality time with your baby. Slings give you the capability to multitask. Because they are made out of lightweight materials you can easily weave through busy streets, buses and shopping malls with your baby attached to you. You never have to feel the guilt of dropping your baby off at a babysitter while you run and do errands.

Not only do slings allow you to avoid using a large, usually heavy stroller, it also keeps your child safe. You don’t have to worry about people bumping into your baby and potentially hurting them because they are up where everyone can see them. Busy cities are not always the safest places to take your young ones, especially when they become mobile and begin to walk. A baby carrier keeps your toddlers with you in a stationary place and eliminates the chances of them running off or getting lost.

Studies have shown that putting your infant in a sling gives them a sense of security and decreases crying. Carriers help your baby stay calm in your arms while giving you the ability to run errands and go about your day. Since it’s important for most parents to have a life outside of their home, slings allow you to bond with your child and have a little bit more freedom as well. If your baby needs a nap while you are out all you need to do is plop them into a sling and they can sleep comfortably while you have full use of your hands.

Parents of multiple children often have a difficult time keeping all of their kids in close proximity to them while they are out. There’s nothing more embarrassing for a parent than trying to chase their children, who are wildly running around in a mall or grocery store, and having onlookers sneer at you for not keeping your children under control. Unlike when you use a stroller, a “hands free” carrier allows you to carry your infant and hold your older children’s hand at the same time.

Slings are a practical option for urban parents. Not only are they affordable, but also make your day-to-day juggling act a little bit easier. You can relax and enjoy that latte at a downtown café and know that your baby is sitting comfortably with you.



Information about the Author:

For more information on baby slings and babywearing, check out: www.zfina.com

Crawling: Is it Important?

By: Madeleine Fitzpatrick

As the saying goes, "You have to crawl before you can walk." While there have been cases of babies bypassing crawling to go straight to walking, most babies will become proficient crawlers some time during the second half of their first year.

Not all babies learn to crawl in the traditional fashion however. Some do a belly crawl (sliding along on their tummy) - and go straight from there to walking. Some babies prefer to remain upright and scoot around on their bottom rather than crawl. Others crawl backwards!

Whether or not babies need to learn to crawl forwards is a matter for some debate. According to some pediatricians and pediatric textbooks, crawling is not an important developmental milestone. The method of locomotion is irrelevant, say the experts, so long as babies learn to get from A to B.

However, according to childhood educator Glenn Doman, a pioneer in the field of right-brain training, crawling forwards is an essential skill to master. Doman claims that crawling stimulates the brain to develop convergence of vision - and that as a result, people who skip this phase as babies may find it extremely difficult to learn to read and write as children. In addition, children who missed out on crawling may suffer from speech problems, he says - because the same part of the brain controls both functions.

In cases where a child skipped crawling or did very little crawling as a baby, Doman recommends practicing crawling every day for six months. To get a child who knows how to walk to do this, it will probably be necessary for her parents to get down on the floor and crawl around with her! (This should not be tried until two-and-a-half to three years of age, as before that, children are too enamored with the newfound freedom of walking.) It may sound a little outlandish, but Glenn Doman mothers have attested to their success in improving a child's speech simply by getting her to practice crawling.

The prone position

If the importance of crawling is a matter for some debate, the placing of babies in the prone position (on their tummies) is an even more controversial issue, because it could be a matter of life and death. The question is: does sleeping in the prone position put babies at greater risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), or crib death?

According to some experts, yes - and the current wisdom is to always put babies to sleep on their backs. According to Glenn Doman, it is more natural for babies to sleep on their tummies. He adds that nighttime is an important time to make use of the prone position, as tiny babies actually belly crawl in their sleep.

Which advice you choose to follow at bedtime is up to you. What seems clear though is that maximizing tummy time during the day can do no harm - and can indeed encourage the development of your baby's motor skills. Once in the prone position, your baby will instinctively lift his head (helping to develop his neck muscles), push up with his arms (helping to develop his arm and chest muscles) and push off the floor with his legs (helping to develop his leg and hip muscles).

According to Doman, babies get bored when we place them on their backs and leave them to look at mobiles. What they really want is to explore the world - and putting them on their tummies gives them the opportunity to do this. Once in the prone position, a baby can see nearby objects and feels motivated to get over to them. Doman recommends that babies spend a minimum of four waking hours in the prone position - thought that time can be divided into short segments. This is in addition to the time the baby will spend on her tummy while asleep.

In reality, many babies hate tummy time - especially if they have not been in the prone position much since birth. Many parents report that their baby fusses or cries to be rescued - even when the baby was the one to turn onto his tummy in the first place! How you deal with this will come down to the degree of importance you place in developing mobility early, as well as your comfort level with your baby crying. Doman recommends that you get down on the floor with your baby. In this position, you can encourage and reassure him, even while refusing to pick him up.

Pediatricians generally recommend regular tummy time - although the importance they place on it varies considerably. Some doctors point out that babies are not ready to crawl until they have developed the muscles needed to sit well unsupported. Babies don't usually cry out of a failure to do something, they say, but rather because the activity being asked of them is developmentally beyond their reach.

However, the fact that babies can belly crawl from birth is well documented - and it is this at-first-instinctive crawl that usually leads to the most advanced type: crawling on all fours in a cross pattern (where the right arm moves with the left leg and vice versa). If you decide to follow Glenn Doman's advice, and can see out the difficult initial period, you should find that your baby stops fussing in the prone position. Indeed, once she has discovered the joys of mobility, she will probably prefer to be on her tummy than in any other position.

Learning to crawl

Crawling - assuming your baby does it - normally starts between 6 and 10 months of age. Besides giving your baby regular tummy time, preferably on the floor, there are several things you can do to make it easier for him to get moving. Do not overdress your baby, as this would hamper the movement of his limbs and joints. When possible, leave your baby's feet, knees and elbows bare, as this will give him better grip.

To help your baby get moving in the prone position, let her push off against your hands with her feet. This should help her begin to belly crawl. If your baby looks about ready to get onto all fours, you can help by bending her legs gently and lifting up her bottom. Don't force your baby into this position though, and don't try to rush her into crawling on all fours.

You can also encourage your baby's mobility by dangling his favorite toys just out of reach, or once he has started to belly crawl, calling for him to come to you on the other side of the room. Avoid aids like walkers, which take a lot of the effort out of getting around - to babies' detriment.

You might also consider making or buying an infant crawling track (details of which can be found in Glenn Doman's How To Teach Your Baby To Be Physically Superb). The track has a surface with good traction and can be put on an incline (by placing one end on a step). Using a downward slope makes crawling easier, while the upward slope can be used later to make crawling more challenging.

Learning to walk

Babies normally start walking between 10 and 18 months. Some parents get anxious when their baby shows no signs of walking at a year of age. If that describes you, then remember what Glenn Doman says about the importance of crawling in developing speech as well as reading and writing skills. If he's right, then learning to walk late might actually be a good thing!

As your baby gets ready to start walking, she will grab the furniture and pull herself up to a standing position. She will then experiment with "cruising" - moving around on her feet with the furniture for support, and occasionally standing for a few seconds unaided. Let her do so barefoot, as this will make it easier for her to develop her balance and coordination.

There's plenty you can do to help strengthen your baby's leg muscles besides. Before he begins to stand (or even crawl), let him grip your fingers (holding his wrists as a precaution) and pull him up to standing, so that he's supporting his own weight. Later, you can help him "walk" by supporting him under the arms. When he starts to cruise, encourage him to let go of the furniture by holding out your fingers and letting him grip you with both hands. Before you know it, he'll be holding on to you with one hand only.

Babies start getting up on their feet before they know how to get back down, so don't be surprised if your little one cries for help while standing. Rather than picking her up, you can help her learn to sit down by gently bending her knees and supporting her weight until she reaches the floor.

Enjoying the journey

Whether your child is learning to crawl or to walk, give him as much opportunity to move around as possible, minimizing the use of playpens and other restrictive devices. When he first starts walking, help by directing him to flat, smooth surfaces. As his coordination improves, let him walk on an incline and on uneven surfaces, both of which will help to develop his balance.

Most of all, enjoy your little one's first unsteady steps into the world. Babies grow up fast, and it won't be long before looking after your child involves a lot more running than walking!



Information about the Author:

Madeleine is the Managing Editor @ Brillbaby.com Got a question or concern? Email the Editor, who is currently teaching her own baby and blogging about it. Visit www.BrillBaby.com/blog

Is It Okay to Let My Baby Watch TV?

By: Madeleine Fitzpatrick

There are two schools of thought on this. One says that babies under two years of age should not be allowed to watch any TV; the other says that limited amounts of high-quality educational TV accompanied by adult interaction are fine - and may even be beneficial. When DVDs are used correctly, the repetition and familiarity they provide can actually aid learning.

However, no TV at all is better than unsupervised watching. No TV at all is also better than any watching of entertainment-based programs - and that includes shows such as cartoons, which may be designed for kids, but are really not suitable for babies.

What can happen to babies who watch the wrong sort of TV, or watch TV unsupervised?

Child experts in the US have noted a correlation between high TV exposure in babies and toddlers, and the incidence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. It's possible that watching TV's rapidly shifting images could have a negative impact on brain development in the very young (high-quality educational programs should not have rapidly shifting images though).

Parents should note that even DVDs marketed as educational may be harmful to babies; if they are watched without supervision, that harm is multiplied. In August 2007 Dr Dimitri Christakis and Frederick Zimmerman of the University of Washington published a report on the effects of popular programs such as Baby Einstein and Brainy Baby. They found that for every hour per day spent watching the DVDs, babies learnt six to eight fewer new vocabulary words than babies who had never watched TV. Many of the programs were devoid of language content. But even when it came to shows designed to enhance language acquisition, Christakis says, "Videos of native speakers of languages fail to teach children as well as live speakers do." That's why it's important for an adult to speak or sing along to the DVD being shown.

In October 2007 the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) - which advises that the under-two's not be allowed to watch any TV - published a report on the effects of TV exposure in early childhood. Consistent exposure to two or more hours of TV per day, the academy found, was correlated with a greater incidence of sleep and behavioral problems, as well as less developed social skills. Notes the AAP, "Under age two, talking, singing, reading, listening to music or playing are far more important to a child's development than any TV show."

Shouldn't I follow the advice of the American Academy of Pediatrics to the letter?

Yes - if that's the decision you're most comfortable with. It's worth noting, though, that the type of exposure the academy looked at in its study was unsupervised exposure to entertainment-based programs. We, like the academy, would advise you to spare your baby this sort of TV exposure for at least the first two years.

Many parents and teachers find, however, that high-quality educational TV programs complement interactions with their babies and facilitate learning. Robert Titzer's Your Baby Can Read! and Rachel de Azevedo Coleman's Baby Signing Time! are good examples. The Titzer DVDs show parents the best way to read, repeat and talk about words; parents can also read along with the narrator and talk to their baby about the pictures onscreen. For parents teaching sign language to their baby, Coleman clearly demonstrates how to model signs - a big help and confidence boost to parents learning sign language along with their baby. The songs that accompany the lessons are fun and catchy, with babies' enjoyment of the DVDs increasing as they get to know the music.

How can I be sure I'm getting the balance right?

Interacting with your baby while watching is key. Besides that, you should ensure your baby watches no more than one hour of TV per day. To start off with, you might like to keep it to 15 minutes at a time - your baby will probably find it hard to pay attention for any longer. You can increase the duration later, when your baby starts to recognize and understand the program - and especially, when interactions become a two-way affair.




Information about the Author:

Madeleine is the Managing Editor @ BrillBaby To learn more on smart babies or how to teach your baby, visit www.BrillBaby.com