Research shows that babies who sleep on their backs are less likely to die from SIDS. If your baby has a health problem, your doctor may tell you to put her in another position. Otherwise, always put your baby to sleep on her back. Doctors have not found out what causes SIDS.

Some babies begin sleeping through the night at a few months of age. Others don’t sleep through the night until they are one or two years old or even older. Sometimes babies will sleep through the night for a while and then start waking up again.

One-month-old Baby Sleeping Patterns

A one-month-old baby may sleep two to three hours between feedings. Sometimes babies at this age will sleep as many as five hours at a time at night.

Two-month-old Baby Sleeping Patterns

Two-month-old babies usually sleep better at night. By now, your baby most likely has a routine for sleeping and eating. Probably she goes at least three hours without a feeding. A baby this age usually sleeps longer than a newborn at night, but each baby is different.

After you feed your baby, hold her and rock her for a while. You can put her to bed at night when she is quiet, even if she is not asleep. You can sit down beside her and pat her gently or sing softly. Doing this will help an active baby learn to calm herself down. She may want to suck a pacifier or her thumb or finger as she gets sleepy.

Three-month-old Baby Sleeping Patterns

At three months, a baby sleep hours is about five hours during the day. She sleeps longer at night. She may wake up at night to be fed. You don’t have to wake your baby for feedings at night. If your baby sleeps through the night, she will feed more often during the day.

Some babies begin sleeping through the night at a few months of age. Others don’t sleep through the night until they are one or two years old or even older.

Five-month-old Baby Sleeping Patterns

A five-month-old baby may sleep for longer periods of time, like five to eight hours. But babies are individuals. Each baby has his own sleep patterns.

Babies are not always awake when they sound like they are. They can cry out and may make all kinds of noises in their sleep. Even if they wake up at night, babies may be awake for only a few minutes. They may fall asleep again on their own.

Don’t get up right away if you hear your baby at night. It’s best if your baby learns how to get back to sleep on his own. If your baby cries for several minutes, it’s time to respond. She could be hungry, wet, cold or even sick.

As babies get older, they usually sleep longer at night. They stay up more during the day. As she grows, you will see changes in your baby’s sleep habits. Be consistent with your bedtime routine. Reassure your baby if she cries. But make sure she knows that you mean it’s time for bed. If she is waking up too much, ask your doctor for advice.

Nine-month-old Baby Sleeping Patterns

At this age, most babies sleep about 13 hours a day. They may have a long night sleep of about 10 hours, a short morning nap and a longer afternoon nap. A nine-month-old may stay awake past regular sleep times. This happens when your baby is excited, involved in activities or just doesn’t want to be away from you.

Avoid sleep problems by building routines that help your baby move from active play to restful sleep. You can turn down the lights and background noise like the TV or music. Your baby will be more likely to go to bed if she doesn’t think he’ll miss something exciting.

Don’t be surprised if she doesn’t go to sleep right away. She may babble to himself and later fall asleep on top of the covers. Let him form his own comfort habits. These habits help him put himself to sleep.

Create a routine such as a soothing bath, a bedtime story and good-night kisses to family members. Give him a stuffed animal and a special blanket. If you use a crib, keep the sides up and securely fastened.

Here are some tried and tested techniques for helping your child to sleep.

Some babies have more trouble settling down than others do. Keep the house quiet. Loud TV or music may keep your baby awake. To help your baby to relax, you can give her a warm bath, massage her or rock her. Reading or singing to her may also help her settle down. This can help set a good pattern for going to sleep.

Always place the same baby-safe soft doll or stuffed animal in your baby’s crib when it is time for sleep. She will learn to connect the stuffed toy with falling asleep. Don’t let her fall asleep in your arms. As she gets sleepy, put her down in her bed. Stay with her for a moment. Then leave her alone to fall asleep by herself.

What your baby does during the day can affect her at night. If she had too much excitement during the day, she may not sleep through the night. It may take several days for her to get back to her usual sleeping pattern.

If she wakes in the night and cries, wait for about five minutes. She may be able to fall back to sleep by herself. If her crying continues, speak softly to her to comfort her. You can rub her stomach, but don’t pick her up.

When you get up to take care of him, do it as quietly and quickly as you can. Don’t give him any extra stimulation. Don’t even turn on the light. She needs to learn that night is for sleeping.

If she needs a diaper change or seems sick, take care of that. Avoid feeding her unless you think she is truly hungry. Then tell her it is time to sleep, and leave her alone. Don’t play with her, or she will begin to expect you to play every night.

Some babies want to sleep more in the daytime and as a result they wake more often at night. One thing parents can do is to keep the baby awake during the day. Talk to him, read to him or play with him gently. Let him grasp your fingers or a toy. Keeping him awake more during the day may help him sleep longer at night.

Most babies will learn to fall back to sleep by themselves. Babies who wake up a lot or cry for a long time during the night may be sick. If your baby is waking up too much, ask your doctor for advice.

Improper Feeding

Habitual disturbance of sleep in infants is most frequently associated with the food or feeding. It may be from the discomfort of chronic indigestion due to improper food. In bottle-fed infants it is often the result of overfeeding and in those who are nursed it is often due to hunger. A common cause is frequent night feeding. An infant who is fed three or four times during the night is almost invariably a bad sleeper.

Nervous Constitution

Children who inherit from their parents a nervous constitution are especially likely to suffer disturbed sleep. Bad habits acquired by faulty training also cause disturbed sleep. Excitement just before bedtime and fears aroused by pictures or stories also causes disturbed sleep.

Interference with breathing

Interference with breathing due to obstruction from large tonsils or adenoids. These cause great restlessness and lead a child to assume many different postures during sleep, often lying upon the face or upon the hands and knees.

Chronic pains

Chronic pains or frequently recurring night pains may be causes of disordered sleep. Thus, a child wakes with a sudden sharp cry. In infants this is most often due to scurvy, sometimes to syphilis. In older children it may be the earliest symptom of disease of the hip or spine.

Sleeplessness and disturbed sleep are frequent whenever the general condition falls much below a healthy standard such as infants who are not thriving.

Here are a few things to look for when choosing toys:

- Inspect toys often to make sure there are no loose parts. Older toys may break and have sharp edges. Make sure small toys, such as squeak toys, rattles and teethers are large enough so that your baby can’t put the whole toy in her mouth. Smaller toys can get stuck in your baby’s throat.

- Don’t give your baby toys with strings or ribbons. If you have toys like this, just remove the strings.

- Don’t give her toys with beads that can be pulled off. Toys that are stuffed with small pellets can come apart, and your baby could choke on the pellets.

- Make sure toys that you buy for your baby are labeled “non-toxic.”

- Toys should have no sharp edges or points.

- Don’t hang toys or a pacifier around your baby’s neck.

- Don’t give your baby toys that have small parts. The parts can come off and she could choke on them. Check for small parts such as buttons and eyes that are glued on.

- Older children should be told not to use loud toys around the baby. Such loud noises can damage hearing.

- Don’t let your baby play with a plastic bag. It can choke or smother her.

- Don’t give your baby balloons to play with. The balloon can break and create a choking hazard.

- Don’t give pieces of popped balloons to children of any age. Babies and children can choke on balloon.

- Don’t let your baby play with plastic wrapping from toys or other items.

Babies put things into their mouths. So it is important to make sure all toys you give your baby are safe. The best toy you can give your three-month-old baby is a plastic or rubber ring. Watch as he explores the ring with his hands and mouth.

What baby sees, hears and does helps his brain develop. The brain controls how your baby’s body works. It also controls thinking and feeling. It controls learning and memory.

What you say and do with your baby helps his brain grow and develop. This happens when you show your baby how to shake a rattle. It happens when you show him how to reach for a stuffed bear and touch it. It happens when you help him make new sounds.

Here are some activities that will help your baby learn more

Give your baby things to play with. Babies like to hold things and put them in their mouths. Help your baby play with new toys and objects. Make sure what you give your baby is safe. Never give your baby a balloon or a plastic bag to play with. He can choke on these things.

Give your baby things to look at. Brightly colored mobiles over a crib help his vision develop. Hang the mobiles high enough so that your baby can’t pull them down. You can also show pictures of faces to your baby. Put some brightly colored toys in your baby’s bath.

Take your baby to different places and let him see different things. Take your baby outside and sit under a tree. He will enjoy watching birds and seeing lights and shadows as they move through the trees. He can hear new sounds, too, like rustling leaves, birds calling and the engines of cars and airplanes. Blow liquid bubbles with a wand while holding your baby. He will love to watch the bubbles as they float by.

Talk to your baby and read to your baby. Use a kind voice. Respond when your baby cries. This helps him learn that he can communicate to make his needs known.

Whisper in your baby’s ear. Talk to your baby about things and make different sounds – like a moo, a bark, a meow or a peep. Ring a bell or squeeze a squeaky toy while your baby is watching. Touch your baby and cuddle him. Make sure he knows you love him. Talk softly and calmly. Be soothing.

Lay your baby on his tummy and roll a brightly colored ball from side to side in front of him. Help your baby learn to roll by placing your hands under his shoulders. Gently rock him back and forth.

Play with your baby. Talk to him. Doing this many times each day will make a difference in how his brain develops. It helps him to learn how to talk. Say lots of different words. Point out objects. For example, say to him, “Look, here’s a spoon. Can you see the spoon?”

Different babies learn new skills in different ways. Cherish the way your baby learns new things. The kinds of experiences baby has in his first three years have a deep and lasting impact.

You can use your bathtub, kitchen sink or a plastic baby tub. Use something to line the tub to keep your baby from slipping. If you use a foam liner for a tub, it needs to be dried out after each use. This prevents the growth of germs. You can line the tub with a bath towel. Be sure to wash and dry it after each use.

Fill the sink or tub you’re going to bathe your baby in with warm water. Always test the water with your wrist or elbow. The water should be comfortably warm.

Take the bowl of warm water and a soft washcloth to the place where you are going to bathe your baby. Pick a place for bathing that is warm and not drafty. You don’t want your baby to get chilled. You can put your baby on a bath towel in her crib or any other flat surface. If you put your baby on a table, make sure she cannot roll off.

Take your baby’s clothes off. Put the washcloth in the warm water and squeeze it out until it is just damp. Use the washcloth to gently wipe your baby all over. Wipe her head and neck, behind her ears, and between her fingers and toes.

Use a clean, damp washcloth, without soap, to wash her face. Gently wash the outside and back of each ear and wash and dry under her neck. Don’t use bubble bath or detergents in the bathwater since these may cause rashes.

Use damp cotton balls or cotton pads to gently wipe your baby’s eyes before you put her in the tub. Be sure to support your baby’s head when she is in the tub. Wash your baby’s hair and scalp very gently, using soap or a baby shampoo. Do this only once or twice a week. Rinse with a damp cloth. Make sure that soapsuds don’t get into her eyes.

Wash her body, starting with the chest. After washing with a soapy washcloth, rinse the washcloth and rinse her off. Pat your baby dry with a bath towel. Always keep her covered and warm when she is wet.

Do not leave your baby alone, not even for a few seconds. If you forget an item, you will have to carry your baby with you. This is hard to do when the baby is wet and slippery. Never leave your baby alone in water. It’s best not to answer the phone or the doorbell during your baby’s bath. If you do, pick up your baby and carry her with you. If your spouse, relatives or friends call you often, let them know when your baby’s bath time is. Tell them you won’t take phone calls at that time. Your newborn does not need to have a bath every day. Just clean her face, neck and diaper area whenever they are dirty.

Newborn pimples and rashes can be present on the cheeks, chin, forehead and back. Male babies are more prone to develop newborn acne than female babies. Newborn acne will usually go away by the time the baby is six months old.

The most common types of newborn acne are papules and pustules. Papules are red bumps that look much like red pimples. They are small, solid and round. Pustules are also known as whiteheads. They are very small and white. The white part is where pus has gathered in your baby’s pores.

Monitor your baby’s body temperature. Bundling a baby too warmly can cause newborn acne to flare up. Being too hot can make the acne more noticeable and it will look inflamed. This is due to increased blood flow in your baby’s skin.

Newborn pimples and rashes can also be aggravated by moisture. Try to keep your baby’s mouth and face dry. Spit up can make newborn acne red because it irritates the existing bumps.

There are things that can make newborn pimples and rashes worse. Trying to scrub an infant’s skin to keep it clean can inflame the pimples and rashes. Babies who have newborn pimples and rashes have skin that is very fragile and sensitive. Continually rubbing on their delicate skin can make the condition worse. Newborn acne is not a reflection on the cleanliness of your baby. Newborn acne will pass.

Some detergents can aggravate newborn acne. Use a very mild detergent on clothing and blankets that your baby’s face will come in contact with. Holding your baby against your shoulder or placing your baby on a blanket that has been washed in a harsh detergent can make the acne worse. You should also make sure all clothing and blankets are soft. Abrasive and stiff material can irritate newborn acne.

Newborn acne does not cause any major problems for your baby. However, if it does not go away by six months you may want to have your baby’s pediatrician check your baby’s skin. The doctor may prescribe a special medication that you can apply to the affected areas.

You should not apply any oils, lotions or creams to your baby’s acne unless you are directed to do so by your baby’s doctor. If your baby’s pediatrician does instruct you to apply a cream, lotion or oil it will probably be one that is all natural.

Never use adult acne products on your baby’s skin. Many of these products contain substances that will only make your baby’s skin worse.

If you are having your baby’s portrait made it is perfectly fine to apply a light makeup to your baby’s acne. However, it should be washed from your baby’s face immediately after his or her picture is taken. Makeup will only make the acne worse. Use make up only for those special occasions such as picture taking. It should not be applied to your baby’s face on a daily basis.

The good news is that once your baby’s skin matures the acne will eventually fade away. Once they have conquered this baby acne you won’t see a bump on their faces until they reach adolescence.

Newborn Constipation Symptoms

Newborn constipation will generally cause your baby to be in pain. Your baby’s stools may be hard and dry which makes them difficult to pass. A sign your baby may be having difficulty passing his or her stools will be that your baby draws his or her legs up while they strain with a red face in an attempt to pass the stool. Stools that are very dry and hard can cause your baby’s rectal wall to tear. If it does you may see blood.

Your newborn baby will pass stools that are black or dark green and tarry for the first few days of his life. Then you baby will start having regular bowel movements that are lighter in color. Regular bowel movements generally start on day three.

Your newborn infant’s bowel movements will be quite frequent, especially if the baby is breastfed. If your baby is still passing the dark stools and has not transitioned into having regular bowel movements by day four or five, your baby may have newborn constipation.

Newborn Constipation Causes

Your baby may get newborn constipation if he or she is not getting enough to eat. Your baby may also get constipated if there has been a switch in their formula. Doctor may recommend that your baby’s formula be switched if he or she is constipated. This is especially done when babies are on a formula that is high in iron.

Some doctors recommend that babies be given water to drink each day. This will help to hydrate the baby’s body and give him or her the hydration that is needed to promote normal regular stools. It is recommended that you change your baby’s feeding schedule. Spreading out feedings and giving your baby more to eat may help with constipation.

Newborn Constipation Treatment

If your baby is showing signs of newborn constipation, you should take him or her to the pediatrician. Doctor will want to know your baby’s feeding schedule, as well as the amount of wet diapers your baby has on a daily basis. Your baby’s weight will also help doctor treat your baby if he or has newborn constipation.

If your baby is extremely fussy with newborn constipation, you may want to bathe him or her in warm water. When your baby becomes relaxed by the heat you can massage his or her belly. Sometimes this will stimulate your baby to have a bowel movement.

Sometimes a baby with newborn constipation simply needs some extra help to pass his or her stools. Talk to your baby’s doctor to see if your baby could benefit from the use of a glycerin suppository. Be there to comfort and soothe your baby and work with your pediatrician to remedy the problem

Here is a list of things that you should know about newborn babies.

- Newborn babies can see and track objects or faces that are within eight to ten inches of their eyes.

- Newborns have the ability to hold onto things that are placed in their palms.

- Newborn babies can tell which direction a voice or sounds is coming from and turn their heads towards it. Newborn babies recognize the voice of their parents.

- Newborn babies have the ability to feel pain. They can also sense when a caregiver is stressed. Newborn babies greatly respond to how they are being handled.

- Newborn babies can taste and they prefer sweets! If your newborn baby tastes something that is salty or sour they will make a face.

- Newborn babies will cry to communicate. They will have a special cry to communicate their different needs. One cry may represent hunger, while another may represent illness or being wet. With time parents learn their babies’ cries and know what the infant needs.

- Newborn babies will sleep between 15-20 hours each day. Their sleep cycle is only about two hours long. This means they will be getting their caregivers up to tend to their needs.

- Newborns have a built in “startle reflex” that works even when they sleep. This reflex will be activated when the baby hears sudden and expected sounds or feels sudden or unexpected movements.

Many people have a great expectation of what newborn babies will look like. Many people are shocked to see that newborn babies aren’t all rosy cheeked and wide-eyed. The simple truth is newborn babies may look a little odd.

Many newborn babies will have a slightly misshapen head after birth. A newborn’s head can also seem very large and not in proportion with their little body. Most newborn babies will not have the clear and wide-eyed expression. Most newborns will have some puffiness around their eyes.

Some newborn babies are born with eyes that appear slightly crossed, too. This is a shock to some new parents. In addition, some newborn babies may have folded down ears and scratches on their faces. All of this is normal. Newborn babies have been through a big adventure as they passed from the womb through the birth canal into the world.

The appearance of newborn babies will change over the first few weeks of life. Their heads will round out around fourteen days. Eye puffiness will start to fade and eye coordination and ear strength will improve. Newborn babies will start to gain weight. If your baby was thinner than expected at birth, he or she should steadily gain weight after the first week or two.

If you are expecting a baby and you have never been around newborns before, you should stop by the nursery at your local hospital to see what they look like. You can also take classes on newborn care to learn how to handle and manage a newborn.

Here is a general overview of the top newborn care tips.

You should be selective when choosing a pediatrician for your unborn Baby. Do not hesitate to set up an interview with prospective pediatricians. During the interview process feel free to ask any questions you may have about the doctor’s practice. What are their hours? Do they specialize in certain childhood diseases? What if your baby needs to be seen after hours?

You should install the infant car seat into your car well before you have your first contraction. This will ensure that you know how to use the car seat properly so your baby will be safe on his or her first ride in a vehicle. If you are having problems figuring out how to install the car seat you can ask a friend who is more experienced with baby equipment to help you. If no one is available, simply call your local fire department. They will send someone out to help you learn what you need to know about car seat safety.

Decide whether you will bottle or breastfeed your new baby. Some parents choose to do both. If your baby is having problems bottle feeding or having problems digesting his or her formula, go to your baby’s pediatrician with your concerns.

Once you bring your baby home it is important that you never leave him or her unattended on a changing table, bed or couch. Babies move suddenly, especially when they are startled. Part of newborn care involves making sure your baby is safe and secure at all times.

If you have a boy baby, part of newborn care will include taking special care of his circumcision. You should change your son’s diaper as soon as he soils it. This will keep his circumcision area from becoming soiled. To keep your son’s diaper from sticking to his circumcision area you should apply either petroleum jelly or an antibiotic ointment to it.

You should contact your baby’s pediatrician if you notice anything abnormal about his circumcision. This includes swelling, crusted sore, drainage, bleeding, black, blue or discolored penis, redness that lasts more than a couple of days, foul odor, dribbling or weak urine or if your baby develops a fever.

Another area of newborn care for all babies is caring for their umbilical cord stumps. You should make sure that your baby’s diaper does not tug on the umbilical cord stumps. You should never pull or tug on the stump itself. It will fall off on its own.

Some pediatricians recommend that alcohol be swabbed onto the stump during diaper changes. Some doctors simply recommend using warm water. You should talk with your baby’s pediatrician to see what he or she recommends for your baby. You should take your baby to the doctor if you notice any swelling, bulging, blood or pus around the naval. You should also take your baby to the doctor if the stump has not fallen off by the third week.

If you are preparing to have a baby, you should seriously consider enrolling in newborn care classes. These classes cover all the basics and more. After completing one or more of these classes you should be on your way to being a newborn care expert!

New parents strive to assemble a comprehensive newborn checklist in an effort to prepare for the coming of a new child. They try to come up with an organized list of things to do and to buy before the big day. However, they hardly get the job done!

You will undoubtedly try to write a newborn baby checklist if you have a child on the way. You should realize that even your best attempt at determining exactly what you will need and what you will need to do will always suffer from gaps and oversights. There’s a level of unpredictability to receiving a new family member that will always foil our best efforts at preparedness.

Although your list won’t be perfect, it can be helpful. Here are a few ideas for making your newborn checklist as functional as possible. These suggestions won’t make your list into a perfect child-rearing system. However, it will make adding a new family member at least a little easier.

Don’t Purchase Everything

You will be surprised at just how many items that appear on your newborn checklist will end up in your hands as the result of gift-giving.

If you purchase everything you think you need, you will end up wishing you had saved some of the money after friends and relatives hand over the same items!

Although a newborn gift registry can help with that, many of the people on your list will buy presents without even consulting the registry. Unless you are excited at the proposition of owning five sets of crib bumpers, you might want to wait until the gifts start pouring in before you make your purchases.

Scheduling and Time Management

Scheduling and time management is an important part of baby preparation. It isn’t always easy to predict how long something will take to assemble or complete. It is a challenge to set aside time during that busy period to get everything done on a schedule.

Be Prepared and Be Flexible

Bringing a new baby into the world should be a wonderful time, not a stress-filled nightmare. You want the peace of mind that comes with the idea of preparedness. A complicated or inflexible newborn checklist will add to stress. Understand that your schedule and your real needs will change.

You should keep your checklist focused on items while remaining aware of gift receipts and maintaining flexibility. If you can accept the fact that your list will never really be perfect and can follow those suggestions, you will have a helpful newborn checklist.

Baby beanies haven’t been around that much since they were “born” only in 1994 when Ty Warner introduced the first baby beanies in the market. Not many people know that a baby beanie or more officially known as beanie baby were first made by him. He made the baby beanie to be more lifelike by giving it more air.

The “original nine” as they are officially referred to are the first nine baby beanies Ty Warner made. These are the Spot the dog, Squealer the pig, Patti the platypus, Cubbie the bear, Chocolate the moose, Pinchers the lobster, Splash the killer whale, Legs the frog and Flash the dolphin.

The official baby beanies were mostly animal shapes such as cats and pigs, dogs and hippopotamuses. These are usually brightly colored and stylized to make them pleasing in the eye. The official baby beanie comes with his or her own name. It has its own date of birth. And most important of all, a short poem that describes its personality.

Collectors have dubbed them as such since these are the first baby beanies available that were selling at less than $5.00 each. Each baby beanie comes with a short poem to introduce it to the toddler. This was written on a red heart-shaped tag that is attached at the animal’s ear.

Not much is known how many baby beanies are totally in existence since there are lines developed that create a family of baby beanies. The most famous is the teddy-bear baby beanie that was created. The basic pattern was just re-used and different colors were utilized to create a family.

Different names were given to each teddy bear in keeping with the tradition of having a name. Some teddy bear baby beanies are usually used for commemorative uses such as in the Fourth of July or there is a Diana, the Princess of Wales have been made as a commemorative collector’s item.

The baby beanie crazed happened in the late 1996 when a frenzied collection of baby beanies started. This prompted Ty Warner to retire some of the baby beanies to hype up even more the sales and marketing side of his products.

There were people who bought wholesale in anticipation of the possible future value of a single baby beanie. However, as with other fads that easily rise and can be easily forgotten, the baby beanie craze was just another fad that quickly fizzled. Or what the expectation of those “investors” did not materialize at all. Baby beanies need not be in the same family of baby beanies to be appreciated. A collection of baby beanies show the kind of personality the baby has or it speaks the kind of personality the giver has.

A baby gift basket is one of those themed gift baskets that contain the following items:

Nursery Room Items

These include colorful mobiles to keep the baby busy, lullaby music to soothe the infant, and nursery rhymes CD’s. Bigger items like layettes, changing mats for tables and cribs, and other furniture for the baby may be found in deluxe baby gift baskets. Educational toys are also good to make the baby gift basket more beneficial in stimulating the baby’s mental development.

Baby Toys

Rattles, pacifiers, teethers, feeding bottles, infant cups, bibs and spoons are also useful add-ons in your baby gift basket. Soft toys, board books, board games, piggy banks will certainly win the jump with delight of a toddler.

Baby Bath

Bath products for babies are also commonly found in baby gift baskets. These include baby shampoo, baby powder, baby towels, wipes, bubble bath, brush set and tub toys that the baby will surely enjoy in the near future. Baby clothing’s could also be considered as one of the best baby gift basket goodies that one could ever give. Just be sure that the clothes you’ll give suit the gender of the baby.

Handmade Crafts

Bows and ruffles adorn the baby gift basket. But one could still be more creative by doing a decoupage of baby pictures or baby items. Other handmade crafts may add personal touch to your basket. They could be in the form of papier mache’, origami, sculpture, small painting, woven or knitted items.

If the one giving the baby gift basket intends to give it during a christening celebration or baptism, a small bible, silver cups and any symbolic item that adheres to the theme of the celebration and that the recipient’s religion appreciates may also be placed in the basket.

Food

Baby cookies, baby cakes, jelly beans, Gourmet food, wines and other baby foods may also be placed inside a baby gift basket for the parent’s celebration. If one is intending to give the baby gift basket as a baby shower present, it will be nice if baby cookies, baby cakes, jelly beans and other baby foods will be found there.

Invitation Cards

Announcement and invitation cards may also bring some added surprise to the recipient of the basket. Small picture frames and albums could also add more fun to your baby gift basket. Surely, this sweet gesture will be appreciated.

The most suitable material to use for baby bedding is cotton as it is absorbent and cool to the baby’s skin. It must be neither too hard nor too soft. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) was attributed to very soft baby bedding. This happened when the baby’s mattress is too soft that his nose and mouth gets covered and the air he exhales is the air he breathes. This is dangerous for him since he would breath carbon dioxide rather than oxygen and the effects could lead to drowsiness, coma or even death.

Baby bedding must be a perfect fit with the chosen equipment. The 3 major selections are: a bassinet, a crib or a cradle.

Bassinet

An oblong-shaped basket that serves as a bed for an infant. But sometimes, round bassinets are also available. Bassinets are usually lacey and full of trimmings. The baby bedding must fit the bassinet so that the baby’s space is enough for him or her to be able to roll from side to side.

Crib

A bed that is flanked with high side bars for a baby or young child’s safety. Cribs are usually more economical since the baby can use it from infancy to two years.

The crib is usually square, mattresses can be fitted to the size of the crib. The baby bedding usually is a set of coverlet and small pillows. Hotdog pillows can also be placed inside. The pillows should not be more than two or three to prevent baby from standing on pillows and could fall over.

Cradle

A small low bed that an infant uses that has rockers on its stand. In all these, the material used to make the equipment should alert and signal to the mom how much safety precautions are needed.

The cradle can come in various sizes and shapes. Some moms prefer cradles so that when the baby is cranky, he or she can be rocked to be calmed down. The baby bedding for a cradle should follow the shape of it. Not much can be placed inside, since it is used mainly to rock the baby to sleep. However, one need not the three to keep the baby safe, warm and secure. The most preferred would be the crib since it can be used for a long time.

• If the room is hot put the fan and open the windows.

• If the nappy is wet remove it and after cleaning the parts make it dry with a soft towel.

• It is dangerous to shake the baby vigorously.

• Tight cloth can cause irritation hence it should be removed.

• Pat her back or stroke her head slowly and let her here your soothing sound.

• Give breast milk and make her quiet.

• If the climate is cold cover her in soft towel.

• Rock her gently in your arms and walk slowly in the room.

• Take a music making doll and let her listen.

• Try a pacifier or help her for thumb sucking.

• If no response change her position.

• Walk outdoors with her.

• Put her on the cradle and rock gently.

• Press her abdomen gently, she may twist or resist you:—Colic

• Pull her ear gently she may become worse or push your hands away:—Earache.

• Feel her temperature with the back of your hands:–Fever due to any infection.

• Examine the skin from head to foot:–Eruptive disease, nappy rash, measles, vesicles, allergy .

• See the nose for any discharge:–Coryza.

• Move the head gently to feel any neck stiffness:–Meningitis, head injury .

• Keep your ear near her chest to hear any rattling sound:–Increased mucus in wind pipes.(pneumonia, bronchiolitis, asthamatic bronchitis)

• If no response ask somebody to carry the baby.

Even after all these steps the baby goes on crying, you may look for the following signs:

• Examine the anal orifice:–Anal erosion, rectal polyp, crawling of worms.
• Examine the genitalia:–Any discharge or erosion.
• In male baby see the testicles which may be swollen or tender:– torsion of testes.
• Notice the body movements and see for any convulsions, rigors, vomiting, cough

If you see any abnormal signs consult your doctor for proper treatment.

We all know that a baby can’t tell his needs or troubles in words. The only way for him to communicate with others is by crying. Babies show some other signs like feet kicking, hand waving and head turning.

Excessive crying may not have a firm definition because the crying habit changes from baby to baby and some babies can be calmed easily but some are difficult to sooth. If crying is distressing for the mother and home nurse it can be called excessive.

When a baby comes out of the woomb the first thing to do is crying. By the first cry he will take some air in to the lungs for the first time in their life. After delivery if the baby does not cry then it should be initiated by slightly pinching the feet. From this it is clear that the healthy baby should cry and it is a normal physiological event, but some times it can upset the family members. Baby become quiet by giving breast milk or by carrying with a gentle rocking. Sudden onset of excessive crying means baby is distressed and needs attention.

1. Hunger

A hungry baby will cry till he gets the milk. Here the old saying comes true ‘crying baby gets the milk’.

2. Wetting

Urination and defecation causes some discomfort and results in crying till his parts are cleaned and made dry.

3. Company

Majority of the kids need somebody near. If they feel lonely they cry. When their favorite doll slips away from the grip they cry for help.

4. Tired

Baby will cry when feel tired or unable to sleep. They feel tired in uncomfortable surroundings and due to unhealthy climate.

5. Heat & Cold

If they feel too hot or too cold they become restless and cry. Child is comfortable in a room with good ventilation.

6. Tight Cloathing

Tight cloaths especially during warm climate is intolerable for kids. Tight elastic of the dress can also produce soreness in the hip region.

7. Dark Room

When the baby wakes up from sleep he needs some dim light. If there is darkness he will disturb the sleep of parents by crying. He will be irritated by strong light resulting in cry.

8. Mosquito

Mosquito disturb the sleep by their blood sucking and make the baby to cry.

9. Nasal Blocking

Child may not be able to sleep when there is a cold and go on crying till the passage is open.

10. Phlegm in throat

This also causes difficult breathing resulting in cry.Often a typical sound can be heard with each breath.

11. General aching

Body ache with restlessness is seen in flu and prodromal stages of some infectious diseases can result in continuous cry.

Rash can also be due to some allergic reaction to the elastic material of the nappy. When the rash appears it causes soreness and baby become sleepless and cry. All other skin lesions like eczema, ecthyma, candidiasis also causes same problems.

12. Earache

Ear infection is common in wet climate. The infection may spread from the throat. Ear infection can result in rupture of ear drum causing discharge of pus. Eareache usually becomes worse at night when lying down. Child will become restless with cry and may not allow you to touch the ear. Some children with earache rub the affected ear frequently.

13. Infections

All infections causes some kind of pain or irritation resulting in cry. Infection may be anywhere in the body. Usually it is associated with fever, redness and swelling.

14. Reactions to certain food

It is said that one man’s food is another man’s poison. Some food articles can produce some allergic reactions. Allergy is manifested in the form of redness, breathlessness, gastric symptons and continuous cry.

15. Hard stools

Constipated babies with hard stools may cry when they get the urge for stool. Some children hesitate to pass stool because of pain .

16. Gastro esophagial reflex

Here baby cries with spilling of food after feeding. If this continues it may be due to gastroesophageal reflex. This is due to failure of the lower part of esophagus to close after food causing regurgitation from the stomach. It is difficult to diagnose this condition and can be confirmed by giving antireflex medicines.

17. Colic

When the baby cry continuously most of us diagnose it as colic. This problem is still a topic for debate because exact cause for colic is not known and diagnosis is also difficult to confirm. Colic may be associated with rumbling and distention of abdomen. Child often feels better when lying on abdomen. Some children may not allow you to touch the abdomen.If the child cries continuously doctors help is needed.

18. Dentition

During dentition child becomes restless with crying. Often associated with gastric troubles and diarrhea.

Avoiding embarrassing baby name and discovery of disgusting baby name meanings are some of the major concerns that should be considered in your quest for the perfect baby name. Read on for some tips on how to provide that best baby name.

1. Go check your family tree.

Some can’t still get away from some traditions regarding baby name decisions, especially when they have a special bond with a certain family member that they want that person’s name to be a part of their baby’s name. If your planning to still follow the tradition of putting a part of your elder relatives’ names on your baby’s name, you have to know whether anybody else in your family use that name too. You don’t want to confuse people when they’re calling a name that’s owned by two.

2. Stop it already with the dictates of your family’s tradition.

Choosing the right baby name does not have to always rely on what your elderly relatives deem to be the best baby name. It is your baby’s name, not theirs. So, better act like it. Once your baby is born he will be stuck with that baby name for life. That means it’s not wise to just settle for any baby name that will suit your grandma’s or auntie’s taste.

3. Take a look of a picture of his future.

You don’t want your baby to be always called with a name that will forever ridicule him or will allow his playmates to make a big laughingstock out of him, right?

Research about the meaning of the baby name you are eyeing to give to your baby. Don’t consider Beelzebub as a prospective baby name just because you heard it from a TV show and you find it cute. Don’t use Rodelfa just because a certain Mexican TV show’s hunky lead actor is called Rodolfo.

Just plainly saying yes to your gut feel, thinking of the people that pops into your head upon hearing somebody spout a certain name, trying to follow a fad by naming your baby a certain celebrity’s (sometimes notorious) or NOT THINKING AT ALL in giving your precious one his or her baby name are huge no-nos!

4. Consider reading the initials of the baby name you are planning to give your baby.

Make sure they don’t stand for anything funny, disturbing or something utterly stupid. Christine Sue Irving? What will happen on the next episode? Alvin Stephen Stuart? He’ll surely remember not to get near any hole. Fran Ursula Catherine Klein? Uh-oh! See? Can you imagine the sickening situation you may put your child into when he or she grows up?

5. Don’t go for the overkill.

Being too creative on thinking of a baby name can backfire, I’m telling you. Examples are too unique spellings. It will be hard for the kid to keep on spelling his or her name to people who only know the common spelling of such name.

6. Decide with your partner in coming up with the best baby name for your sweet baby.

It wouldn’t be nice to be always blamed when people ask who chose that awful baby name, right? Sharing on this kind of decision-making is a good way of furthering your bond as a couple, not to mention the possibility of coming up with a better baby name. Remember that the “two heads are better than one” thought also applies to dealing with the troubles of finding the most suitable baby name for your baby.

In the long run, you’ll see that doing your research will make your baby thank you when the right time comes. Happy baby naming!

Baby showers are a fun way to welcome the baby that would be coming soon. This is also another great way to give honor to the mom-to-be for having that precious baby on the way.

Some people prefer to hold showers after the birth of the baby. Some parents have more than one baby shower, one with friends and another with co-workers. It allows guests mingle and get to know each other, if they aren’t acquainted yet. It could also be a time-of-the-day baby shower whereby each invitee is tasked to bring something the baby would need or use during that time of the day.

After a successful wedding ceremony, hearing that your love has borne fruit is the icing on the cake. For first time expecting mothers, you may need to search and look for all the right items for your baby. Moms-to-be need to list down all the things the baby would need at the soonest possible time so that each item can already be purchased and readied for the baby’s arrival. There is another easy way to almost have it all, without getting too much headache over it. The solution is to hold a baby shower party!

The only headache mom-to-be would have is the menu she would have to prepare on that day and that is easier for her. Now the burden of searching and looking for baby stuff is passed on to the invitees. But another concern is raised. How will the baby shower go about?

The best answer is to have a theme that would guide the flow of the baby shower. There are several ways of choosing and deciding on a theme. Do you want it to be based on color? In case you already know the gender of the baby, pink or blue is used to universally represent a baby girl or a baby boy. Baby items such as a pacifier or a baby bottle? How about character-themed baby shower such as the Sesame Street, Power Puff Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory or the Looney Tunes?

They are a great way that would let the guests mingle and get to know each other, if they aren’t acquainted yet. This is also another great way to give honor to the mom-to-be for having that precious baby on the way.

How to play baby shower games?

Here is the run-down on how to play the baby shower games and create good memories of a great baby shower.

Sing It, Baby!

In Sing It, Baby!, the guests participants form a circle. They can sit or stand. Then, each guest must sing a line or two from a song that has the word “baby” in it. When the first game player has finished, the next person seated on her right has ten seconds to sing another “baby” song. “Baby” songs cannot be repeated, participants who repeat a song or cannot think of a “baby” song gets booted out of the game. Last person singing in this baby shower games wins the prize!

Measuring Up Mommy

This game allows the guests the freedom to measure mommy’s size. Have a couple of toilet paper rolls ready and ask each participant to estimate the size of mommy’s girth by cutting the toilet paper to their guess size. Then each one wraps around the new mommy’s stomach the toilet paper they cut. The nearest length approximating to the mommy’s stomach wins the prize!

Here’s Lookin’ At You, Kid!

Remember how you looked when you were a baby? This game takes you down memory lane as you need to dig up those baby pictures of yours. Request all the guests to bring the cutest baby picture of themselves to the party. Upon their arrival, secure each baby picture and assign a number per picture. During the game, lay all baby pictures and give each participant paper and pen and ask them to identify as many baby pictures as they can. The guest with the most number of correct guesses is the big winner.

Don’t Say Baby

This baby shower games makes you NOT say what you are suppose to be attending to! Don’t say “baby” during the entire length of the baby shower games for the diaper pin that was given to you upon your arrival will be taken away from you. The person with the most number of diaper pins collected at the end of the shower party wins a prize.

Baby Truth or Dare

This baby shower games is for those who love baby trivia and the like. Write down some baby trivia, some correct and others purposely written incorrectly. During the baby shower games, ask randomly if the baby facts are either true or false. Those who guess correctly gets a prize while those who don’t will be dared to perform in front of everyone.

The Seventh Gift

We all know that the single lady who catches the bride’s wedding bouquet is said to become the next bride. In The Seventh Gift, it is not so much a baby shower games but more of a fable that says that the giver of the seventh gift unwrapped will be the next expecting mother. However, avoid “planting” the seventh gift.

Dig Out the Pins

This game tests the agility of the guests as they fish out the most number of diaper pins from a large bowl filled with uncooked rice and diaper pins in under two minutes. The participant that has the most number of pins brings home the prize.