Researchers discovered that babies cry in their native language by the second day of life after recording the cries of 60 babies born to German or French parents.

According to the study, German babies started their cries intensely and dropped off at the end- much like the emphasis their German parents put in a sentence. French babies ended their cries with a lilt at the end typically heard in French.

Experts say that the discovery is not about newborns recognizing their native language, but they have the ability to use what they heard in the womb.

Source: ABC News

And mother’s first milk known as colostrum, beestings or first milk or even immune milk is part of that miracle.

This first milk seems thinner and more watery looking than regular milk and indeed it is of a different composition than mother’s milk otherwise is. It is vitally important to a baby for many reasons:

• A new born infant is not able to take a large feed to begin with and so colostrums deliver a higher concentration of requisite nutrition in a lower volume of breast milk.
• Colostrum is said to have a slightly laxative effect, which helps the baby in passing the all important first stool or stools called meconium.
• The first milk also helps in reducing the infant’s bilirubin which is what causes the yellowish tinge to appear on an infant’s skin; thereby also preventing the baby developing jaundice which is common in newborns.
• Colostrum is well known for the amount of antibodies and the immunoglobulin that it contains, which help a child resist infection and develop resistance.  Mother’s immunity is passed on to the baby.

Some of us are lucky enough to have our mothers around to take up that challenge but what do we do if that part of luck is missing. So as any family is bound to be, ours has to be prepared for this moment.

Usually fathers are breathless assistants to this operation and we mothers need to be, super women taking over the task.

We are taught that  the first bath is recommendable to be a sponge bath, using a special baby bathtub, cotton tampons for the baby’s eyes, baby shampoo, warmed towel, diapers and …why not …instructions.

Geared up with all the above and ready to take on the task, there are a few tips that we should keep in mind.

First, our baby needs to be safe and warm at all times.

Also if he or she starts to enjoy this first bath, they will enjoy the rest even more so it’s really up to us to help them do that.

It is common knowledge that babies don’t like to be bathed, especially when the first bath is in question. We, mothers should know that there is a very good chance our little one will become restless and anxious and for sure will start crying. [Baby Bath]

This is the result of the fact that the baby’s body strives to keep the temperature constant and the contact of the skin with the cold air may come as a shock.

Mothers are very afraid not to hurt the babies while they are bathing them but this fear can be easily put to rest.

After the first weeks it is recommendable for moms to get used to bathe with the babies.

The water temperature must be very carefully measured with the elbow and in a slightly foamy bath a baby will feel very comfortable feeling the mommy’s body next to his.

This way the fear and insecurity can be dissolved both for the baby and for his mom.

I used this tip, my pediatrician gave me, with both of my kinds and they got used to the bathing process very easily.

Now it is quite a challenge to take them out of the water because the bath has become an entertainment.

In conclusion is pretty much up to us mothers, to turn a fearful activity into an enjoyable process both for our babies and for us.

Their little brains are like clean slates that are just waiting for information to be written upon them.

Learning should always be a fun time for your baby.

Encouraging your baby at an early age can be very beneficial to your young child.

In this day and age there are several different educational and stimulating toys that you can purchase. These toys will help you in getting your baby started on a life long learning process.

Speech and Language

Teaching your baby early using tools such as an ABC book that is colorful and interactive will help them when they start Kindergarten. You can purchase your baby books that will teach them the alphabet and the sounds of the letters.

These books demonstrate the alphabet to your child with pictures of animals or things that correspond with it. Some books have Velcro on them so your baby can remove objects and put them back. This type of toy will be beneficial in many ways to your baby.

Walking

Babies are usually leery when they first begin to walk. They are of course afraid of falling down. Sometimes they just need a little encouragement to help them walk on their own. You will be able to offer this encouragement with different types of toys that let your baby hold on to something as they walk.

Toy popcorn poppers are always fun for babies. They offer stimulation with the colorful balls always popping up and down. It also lets your baby hold onto the handle so he or she feels like they have support to walk.

There are also types of educational toys that offer stimulation and imaginative play that they can pull along for security. These toys can offer anything from stacking games to building fundamentals that will help your child to learn.

Gym for Baby

Whether your baby is a newborn or a little older he or she will enjoy a baby gym. This toy looks like a small swing set with bright colored rings and things that make noise hanging from it.

You can lay your baby on a blanket underneath this gym and they will be able to grab and play with the toys that are hanging there. This type of toy will stimulate your baby’s senses and help him or her to learn motor skills.

Hand – Eye Coordination

You may want to get your baby a toy that will let them learn about different shapes and sizes of things.

Toys that will let your baby put shapes into the correct holes will help your baby to use their hand –eye coordination. This toy will help your child later in life with their working skills.

All of these toys will be very beneficial for babies of all ages. Later in life you will be able to see the results of all your encouragement to your baby and you will feel very proud of them.

While it is true that vigorous or violent shaking of a baby can actually result in injury, should there be no bouncing of the baby at all and is all tossing of the baby harmful?

There is one view that says that any sudden movement or shaking motion could cause brain injury, and that parents, grandparents, and babysitters don’t realize what all actions could actually result in the baby sustaining serious injury.

However, this is not a view subscribed to by all and most experts are of the view that bouncing a child on a knee or gently tossing a child in the air does not cause injury as understood by shaken baby syndrome.

Most often it is the fear of dropping the baby that is the most crucial concern when you talk about tossing a baby up. In itself tossing a baby gently is unlikely to cause SBS.

Also certain other hypotheses have to be ruled out before concluding that Shaken baby exists in a particular case, such as vitamin C deficiency or gestational problems, before coming to a conclusion about SBS.

Your baby’s skin is very sensitive and you will need to take extra care for your baby if you live in a cold environment.

Winter time weather could cause irritation and your baby’s skin to dry out. It is easy for the moisture in their soft skin to disappear.

Cold wind has a way of depleting skin of its moisture and elasticity. There are certain things that you will want to do to prevent this from happening.

Bathing Baby and Moisturizing during Winter Months

You will not want to take your baby out into the cold weather directly after giving them their bath. This can chaff their skin. Make sure that you apply enough moisturizer after their bath to keep the moisture in your baby’s skin.

Baby lotion is a good moisturizer to use and it will make your baby smell extra good, too. You will want to moisturize from head to toe without getting lotion in their mouth or eyes.

Ask your physician to recommend a good type of moisturizer if what you are using does not seem to moisturize good enough.

Winter Clothing for Baby

It is a good idea to have the proper clothing for your baby during the winter months. He or she will need a warm coat, hat, and gloves but not so warm that your baby will sweat.

Soft clothing is always best for a baby’s skin because it is so tender especially in the winter months. If you have a little girl make sure you put tights under her little dresses to prevent her legs from becoming dry and chaffed.

Little boys usually wear pants in the winter so this should keep their legs warm and away from the cold.

Socks should always be worn under your little boy’s pants though for extra warmth and protection. If it is snowing you can always bundle them up in a snow suit made especially for babies to protect their skin.

Tips for Prevention

Try products that are rich in vitamins A and also D to soothe your baby’s skin if it is chapped or red looking. You should use products that are formulated for babies not adults. These products can come in lotions, creams, or ointments.

Also to stop your baby’s face from chapping you may need to cover your baby’s carrier when you go out with a loosely weaved thin blanket.

Make sure that it is loose over your baby’s carrier and that your baby is able to breath through the light blanket. This is very important! To keep moisture in your baby’s room you may want to run a humidifier during the winter months. This will not only help to keep moisture in your baby’s skin but will also help your baby if he or she has a cold and the skin under their nose is chapped from constantly wiping or blowing.

With a little preventive help your baby should have a very comfortable and enjoyable winter.

You know you’ve done everything right in feeding and burping the little one and then the tiny bundle goes and starts that scary hiccupping!

Well the good news is that hiccupping infants are really not very much to be scared about and are harmless so long as they don’t interfere with feeding and sleeping. Most experts agree that this is something that is caused due to the relative immaturity of a baby’s internal organs.

Some doctors also opine that this is something that occurs more often after a baby being fed because the tiny little stomach fills up pretty fast and then presses up against the diaphragm, causing that hiccupping to start, which can be a trifle scary when it begins in the middle of the night and seems to go on and on!

And there is really little you can do to stop the hiccupping; none of the things that we as adults try doing (breathing into a bag, trying to scare one into ‘forgetting’ the hiccups etc) should be tried. You can however try to burp baby again and then; just wait it out really!

Scientists have found toddlers who have used a pacifier for at least three years are more likely to have difficulties talking than children who don’t use them.

The study also found that Toddlers who suck their thumbs are also at greater risk of delayed speech development.

Although the findings are preliminary, parents who give their preschool children dummies ‘buy themselves’ peace and quiet at the expense of their child’s development.

Source: DailyMail

Purchasing baby toys that teach your baby something will help them to develop their minds. You will want to make sure and obtain the toys that are right for your baby.

It is always a good idea to do some research on what toys are the best for your baby. All babies are different and they all learn at different speeds. Learning should be a fun experience for your baby.

Hand- Eye Coordination

You may want to start off with toys that will develop your baby’s hand-eye coordination. This will teach your baby how to use their hands and eyes together.

It is a good idea to purchase these types of toys when your baby reaches four months old. Toys that your baby can stack are good hand and eye coordination toys to buy.

Toys for Baby’s Senses

Baby toys come in all different shapes and sizes. They have textures that your baby can feel such as smooth, bumpy, cloth feel, and squishy. These toys come in all kinds of colors that will attract your baby’s attention.

Lively videos are also a good way to teach your baby colors and shapes. Your baby will have a fun time touching and looking at all of these wonderful toys and they will not even know that they are actually learning something.

Sounds of Music

Many toys can be bought that will play your baby all kinds of music or they will make unusual sounds. Some of these toys teach things such as animal sounds, the alphabet, numbers, and little songs.

There are even toys that will teach your child in his or her given language. Imagine hearing your baby’s first words in your own culture’s words.

Inchworm and Fishbowl

Lamaze makes a wonderful line of stimulating toys for babies and young children. Their Inchworm comes apart so your baby can put it back together and each part has its own noise. This toy can even be used as a measurement tool for your baby. It will sing your baby wonderful songs.

Lamaze’s fishbowl also makes noises such as squeaking and rattling. Your baby will learn many sounds with these two toys.

Haba Teething Ring

Your baby will love this bright colored ring that they can actually teethe on. It has pieces in the center of the ring that are totally movable for your baby.

The paint is non-toxic and safe for young ones. This toy will help your baby to learn to push and pull as well as grab.

In today’s marketplace you will be able to find the greatest selection ever of toys that will help your baby to learn and understand the world around him or her.

You will be amazed at how these toys will enhance your baby’s life. Most educational toys are economical especially when you think what your baby is getting from them.

It is blackish or greenish and different in nature from regular infant stool.

In about 5 to 20% of all births, the Meconium tends to be expelled before the child is born and is more common when the child is overdue or past the due date, there has been a difficult delivery, fetal distress, or decreased oxygen supply to the baby, if the mother suffers from high blood pressure or gestational diabetes.

When meconium is passed into the amniotic fluid in the mother’s uterus and contaminate it, there is a 5% chance of something called the Meconium aspiration syndrome (or MAS, also known as “Neonatal aspiration of meconium”) happening, which is when the meconium passes into the infant’s lungs.

When meconium contaminated amniotic fluid is inhaled before, during or after birth, there could be problems for the child such as respiratory problems and possibility of developing chemical pneumonia.

Meconium aspiration syndrome is one of the leading causes of severe illness and even death of newborn children.