Parents Palace

Choose the Gender of Your Baby???

2012-01-01T11:42:00.000-08:00

Some scientists think you can influence the gender of your baby. How does this work? They base their research upon the best conditions for X (the female sperm) and Y (the male sperm) to live. Here is what they say you can to to make home for a boy or girl!

Location, location, location!

The sexual position you use to get pregnant may be the deciding factor in whether your having a boy or a
girl. Deeper penetrating positions are said to produce a boy, where as shallow penetrating position can produce a baby girl. This has to do with the skills of the X and Y sperm. Y sperm swims the fastest but is very weak and, the X sperm is slower but much stronger. Suggested sex position for achieving a boy, doggy style. Suggested sex position for achieving a girl, missionary (with shallow penetration).

Timing Can be Key:

If your hoping to make a baby boy, you should plan to have sex 1 day before, or on the day of ovulation. If you are hoping to make a baby girl, you should plan to have sex 3-4 day's before ovulation. Why is this so? Sperm can live 4-5 days inside a female. Since the Y sperm will die far before the X, planning intercourse earlier than ovulation is key for having a girl, and right on time is key for having a boy. The most accurate way to predict ovulation is an ovulation test.

Great Balls of Fire!

According to the Shettles Method, having high scrotum temperature can kill the Y sperm, increasing your chances of having a girl. So, if you want a boy, avoid getting hot balls. If you want a girl, have your guy take a nice hot bath before intercourse.

Eating for a Desired Gender:

The PH balance in the female can also play a deciding factor in whether you are to have a boy or girl.
The Y sperm prefer a alkaline environment. Therefore to produce a boy you should be eating foods such as: Meat (the redder the better), Salty Snacks, Nuts, basically any foods that are high in Sodium or Potassium.
The X sperm prefer a acidic environment. Eating foods such as fish, fruits, veggies and chocolate. Foods that are rich in Calcium and Magnesium are ideal for producing a girl.

To Orgasm or not to Orgasm?

A female orgasm can produce a alkaline ph in the women's body producing an environment that is ideal for the male sperm to thrive. Therefore if you are looking to make a baby girl, you should not orgasm. This will keep the environment acidic.

Bleach This!

2011-12-30T17:05:00.000-08:00

Ah, the wonders of bleach. This harsh chemical cleaner has more uses than you might think...or believe! So bleach this:

Flowers- It doesn't sound right, does it? However, adding 1/4 teaspoon bleach to fresh cut flowers will keep them alive longer. How does this work? It inhibits the growth of bacteria which wilts flowers faster, it also keeps the water crystal clear. It is 1/4 teaspoon to a one gallon vase. Any smaller just a single drop will do.

Bath Toys- Bath toys can get quite disgusting, soap scummy and sometimes rather smelly. To eliminate odors and sanitize bath toys simply fill a sink full of hot water, add some bleach and soak bath toys for about 15-30 minutes. Make sure squirt toys get filled up with the bleach water to eliminate any bacteria growing inside (if your kids are anything like mine, they use the squirties to squirt in their mouth). Then be sure to thoroughly rinse!

Concrete- Is your concrete looking old, nasty and stained. Mine was! I cleaned the concrete in my garage using bleach, but it can also be used on a driveway or concrete patio. All you have to do is pour straight bleach on the concrete, use a large scrubber (or push broom, or whatever you think will work) lightly scrub the area, let sit for a while, then rinse. Your concrete should have been given a whole new life!

Stinky Sponges- If your dish sponges are starting to get old and musty smelling, don't throw them away! You can use bleach to freshen them up. Just fill your sink 1/4 full of hot water, add some bleach and soak your sponge for about an hour. Then drain, and rinse sponge. It should be smelling a'ok now, and the biggest plus is your just got rid of all that nasty bacteria that was festering on it.

What Super Uses Do You Have for Bleach?

The WONDERS of BAKING SODA

2011-12-29T18:38:00.000-08:00

Baking Soda just for baking? Hah! Baking Soda has hundreds of purposes other than being an ingredient in muffins, cookies and helping bread rise. So if you have a stock of baking soda that you don't know what to do with, then this article is for you!

Deodorizer- Baking soda can be used as an odor neutralizer in many different ways. Stick an open box in the fridge to eliminate any odors that may occur. Sprinkle some in a garbage bag or in the garbage can to get rid of stinky smells. Add a cup to toilet water, let sit for an hour and flush to freshen up your toilet bowl.

Fire Extinguisher- Baking soda can be used to put out small fires, including grease fires. Take it camping with you to help extinguish camp fires. Smokey the Bear would approve!

Flower Power- Mix a teaspoon of baking soda into vase water and stir before adding flowers. This will keep them alive longer.

Rash Relief- Baking soda can help baby also. If your baby has a diaper rash, simply draw a luke warm bath, add 2-3 Tablespoons of baking soda and let baby soak for 15-20 min. It also can help relieve heat rash, sunburn and poison ivy. For adults and children, draw a bath as normal and add a cup of baking soda, soak in the tub for about a half hour. Your rash should feel better immediately.

Child's Play- If you want some homemade modeling clay, baking soda can do the job. Here's how it works: Add 1 Cup Cornstarch, 2 Cups Baking Soda, 1 1/4 Cups Water to a saucepan. Turn burner heat to medium and stir constantly for 10-15 minutes until thick. When cool knead the dough until smooth...then voila!

Relieve Heartburn- Baking Soda is a natural antacid. Drink a cup of water with a teaspoon of baking soda and relief is sure to follow.

Don't let the Bed Bugs Bite- Sprinkle a bit of baking soda on the mattress to help kill any bed bugs that might be living there. How does this work? Bed bugs will eat the baking soda, overdose on sodium and dehydrate to death.

Draino- Using baking soda on your drains is much cheaper and safer than purchasing harsh chemicals. Simply pour one cup down the drain, followed by 3 cups boiling water. Repeat if necessary.

Chemistry Demonstration- Show your kids the wonders of chemistry. Whether you want to make the volcano part or not the chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar is pretty awesome for a child, or an adult for that matter! Simply take a tall glass and add 1/4 cup vinegar and add 1 Tablespoon baking soda, then sizzle, fizz, erupt. Pure magic!

Sweeter Feet- Sprinkle a bit of baking soda in your working shoes to help eliminate foot odor. Simple as that.

What fantastic uses do you have for baking soda?

Baby Names of 2012

2011-12-26T15:26:00.000-08:00

Baby Names of 2012

The Good, The Bad and The Adorable

Boys

The Good: Weston, Easton, Maddox, Lynx, Lionel, Wilder, Noble, Landry, Ranger, Archer, Aiden, Caleb, Alijah, Mason, Brady, Cash, Brody, Colton, Jasper

The Bad: Bear, Braylon, Hugo, Wolf, Solomon, Penn, Essex, Orion, Campbell, Edward, Atticus

The Adorable: Landon, Liam, Asher, Ryder, Trenton, Wyatt

Girls

The Good: Brooke, Kendra, Kendall, Aubrey, Harper, Ryli, Monroe, Hayden, January, Scarlett, London, Payton, Violet, Chloe, Juliet, Sophie, Phoebe, June

The Bad: Ainsley, Fiona, Mila, Silas, Elsa, Betty, Eleanor, Camden, Luna,

The Adorable: Madelyn, Sophia, Madison, Taylor, Brooklyn, Jade

If your in need of more idea's check out this baby names book

Pregnancy Survival Kit

2011-12-21T18:55:00.000-08:00

Pregnancy is a beautiful, special time in a women's life. A special gift we have been given...but hey lets face it, sometimes this gift can feel like a curse! As wonderful and special as pregnancy can be, it is also stressful on our body and minds. Worry not readers! Here you will find what you need to survive these "special" 9 months of your life.

Prenatal Pillow

Ah. Don't you feel comfier already just looking at how relaxed these women are? Pregnancy is known to interfere with a comfortable sleep. A common complaint is being so sore you toss and turn all night. I can speak from experience and say that it is a blessing! A huge relief! Nothing feels better on a prego's back than a pillow between the legs and all around for that matter. So what if it takes up most of the bed, if it helps you rest at night, your partner may just have to deal.

Stretch Mark Prevention Cream

A good stretch mark cream is key into helping assure your body will return to normal (or as close to normal as possible.) Stretch mark creams (such as Palmer's Cocoa Butter) include ingredients that is suppose to help the elasticity of skin during pregnancy. There is also products such as Mederma Stretch Mark Therapy, that are used to diminish the visibility of stretch marks if they appear. These products (such as Mederma) include Cepalin (onion extract) & Centella Asiatica, that are suppose to soften scar tissue and improve skins color and texture.

Sleepy Tea

As hard as it may be, a good nights sleep is very important to our body and mind. I would recommend cuddling up with a nice hot cup of sleepy tea before bed. However I must add, that drinking tea with chamomile while pregnant is quite controversial. They say chamomile can make the uterus contract. Many however, swear by this natural remedy to help our body relax into sleep. Give a quick call to your pediatrician to get his/her opinion. If they give the a'ok, try Celestial Seasoning's Sleepytime Herbal Tea.

A Good Support System

Positive support is one of the most important things to have while pregnant. Whether it be a husband, partner, family member or friend, having someone who will be committed to your needs is vital. Someone to laugh with you, share special moments, and take care of you is important to making you feel happy and stress free. Having someone who is willing to cook, help with light cleaning and provide massage's ; ) will be a blessing, and allow you to relax a bit.

An Outfit that Feels Good, and Makes You Feel Good 

Let's face it, pregnancy doesnt always make us feel beautiful. There will come a time when our clothes dont fit right anymore, they make us feel huge, they are uncomfortable and annoying. That's why it is very important to have a maternity outfit that you love. For those day's you dont feel quite up to par. Having an outfit you always feel good in will save you from spending hours digging through your closet for something to wear.

ASK

2011-12-13T07:33:00.000-08:00

ASK ANYTHING. YOU'LL GET ANSWERS

How to Plan Conception

2011-12-12T17:43:00.000-08:00

So your planning a baby huh? For some of us it just happens easily..."surprise!" For others it takes a bit of work for a bundle of joy to be made. Here is what you need to know about trying to conceive.

photo courtesy of heshatsheshat.com

You must know when you Ovulate

Ovulation occurs when the ovary release a ripe egg. Around or during this time you will usually have a white egg yolk discharge. The Egg only lives for 12-24 hours, however sperm can live up to 5 days in a women's body. Your most fertile days are 1-2 before ovulation. So timing is key.

How to Know When Your Ovulating

There are several different ways people use to predict ovulation. The Calender Method, means you count the days from your last period to your fertile time. A free site that will help you tremendously is http://www.mymonthlycycles.com/. Some people use the Basal Body Temperature Method. In this case you use a Basal Thermometer (a special thermometer that measures to the hundredth degree to detect a slight change in body temperature) and look for a change in body temperature from 0.4-1.0 degrees difference. The method that I would recommend most is Ovulation Test. It seems to be the most accurate and simplest way to know when you are ovulating.

Things to Avoid While Trying to Get Pregnant

Smoking: If your not a smoker you have nothing to worry about. If you are, you should probably quit anyway. It's healthier for you and your future baby.
A Poor Diet: The goal is to be at a stable weight, not eating too much or too little. Avoid food filled with empty nutrients. Increase vegetables and fruits.
Stress: Stress can effect the functioning of the hypothalamus, a gland in your brain that helps control your emotions and the hormones that tell your egg to release.
Pesticides: The chemicals found in pesticides can impair the reproductive system. Not just in females but males also.

Things to Do While Trying to Get Pregnant

Get In Shape: Exercise is good for your health, and conception
Lay in Bed: After intercourse you should lay in bed for about 10 minutes or longer. No, you don't have to lay with your pelvis up in the air...this will not increase your odds.
Take Vitamins: Folic Acid 400mg, B6 & B12 50mg & Zinc 30mg. Almost every vitamin is good for your overall health and the healthier you are the greater your chances of conception. Avoid taking an access of Vitamin A, C & D.

Mom's After Baby Survival Gear

2011-12-11T19:03:00.000-08:00

I'm not going to sugar coat it for you, taking care of a newborn isn't all sugar, spice and everything nice. It's a lot of hard work. However, there are some things that come in handy and make life after baby, run a bit more smoothly.

Electric Breast Pump & Extra Breast Milk Storage Containers

If you are planning on breast feeding, having a breast pump is a must. If you are strictly feeding right from the breast, it puts a large strain on you and your sleeping schedule. If you are breast feeding and can store extra milk in the fridge (or freeze large quantity's) then it takes some of the stress off of you. Your partner, family member or friend can help with feedings, while you catch up on some much needed rest. Its a general rule that breast milk stays good 3-5 days in the fridge and freeze it 3-6 months. However if you don't have to freeze, don't. Freezing breast milk can kill some of the anti-bodies.

Breast or Bottle Feeding Pillow

Breast and bottle feeding baby may not always be the most comfortable. Keeping your body in an awkward position for hours will leave you worn. Neck ache, back ache, and muscle fatigue are all common complaints from new mommy's. Feeding pillows were made to eliminate these problems by promoting proper posture and comfort while nursing your little one.

A Good Water Bottle

When your body is in overdrive it is very important to stay hydrated. This will help both your strength and health. With all the chaos of a newborn it may be easy to forget that you need to take care of yourself also, but take a breather to hydrate your body, so you can keep going strong!

Some Good Ole Extra Strength Tylenol

For a couple of weeks after birth your body is still recovering. Aches and pains are to be expected. Not only did your uterus contract to become larger, but now it has to contract to become smaller again. You are probably going to have back and muscle aches, and your sure to have a headache or two. Make sure to keep some pain relievers around, otherwise you will surely regret it.

Portable Infant Swing

The swing reminds baby of the comforting swaying motion from the womb. If baby wakes up in the middle of the night and just wants comfort, your little one will find it in the snug fit and rocking motion of the swing and most likely fall fast asleep. While holding and rocking a baby in your arms is always first choice, sometimes (like middle of the night) it's ok to have something else to the work.

Lamaze Infant Toys BEST on the Market!

2011-12-11T16:56:00.000-08:00

For those of you who have never heard of the lamaze brand of infant/toddler development toys, your missing out. This brand carries the most unique, adorable, broad range of infant toys on the market. I have selected just a few of their many wonderful products to present to you. Designed in conjunction with child developmental experts, Lamaze toys engage babies and provide parents with peace of mind. Lamaze toys will lead you and your child down a path of fun, healthy play and learning from birth through the early toddler years.

Lamaze Dream Screen

The Dream Screen is perfect for calming baby to sleep. The adorable motion screen gives baby something soothing to view and soft lullabye's allow you to play baby's favorite tune to fall asleep to. With an innovative dual motion screen, this soother plays soft music when activated by baby or mom. In addition, the Dream Screen allows you the ability to customize music via an MP3 player port.

Lamaze Discovery Shapes Crib Gallery & Puzzle

This adorable item grows with baby from a high contrast crib gallery to a unique floor puzzle. Discovering Shapes Crib Gallery is a great high contrast toy in the crib or during tummy time. Unique patterns and primary colors stimulate baby's vision. Each shape has its own fun sound to awaken auditory awareness. Smiling characters engage your baby during tummy time play. As baby grows, remove the item from the crib to transform it into the Discovering Shapes Activity Puzzle. This puzzle introduces baby to problem solving experiences. Shape and picture matching promote cognitive and fine motor development. Bright colors and fun sounds stimulate baby's senses. Clutching and holding shapes make little hands strong.

Lamaze My First Fish Bowl

A creative version of the put-in, take-out concept, this fun fish bowl offers baby four fun sea creatures that crinkle, rattle, jingle, and squeak. Features water-trapped sides of bowl with floating, mini sea creatures. Simply fun and adorable!

Lamaze My First Toolbox

My First Toolbox grows with baby from fill n spill to imaginative role play. Soft accessories are full of textures and sounds for baby to explore. Pretend play inspires imagination. Includes busy beaver, squeaky hammer, and crinkly saw.

Lamaze Playhouse Gym

Lamaze Play House Gym grows with your child through four unique transformations. Gym play modes include a "lay and play", tummy time play, "sit and play", and a soft playhouse for role-playing. Gym mat is reversible and has discovery activities. Additional activities include a lights and sounds travel mobile, soft beanbag characters, soft shape characters, and a set of links. When finished playing, the gym folds up for easy travel or storage. Click on the picture to view all the different play mode it includes. This play gym is truly one of a kind, and highly recommended. You little angel will love this!

Get Rid of Diaper Rash

2011-12-10T17:32:00.000-08:00

Having your baby being uncomfortable due to diaper rash can be a parents worst nightmare. Not only is diaper rash painful for baby, but watching your child suffer is no walk in the park. Follow these tips and tricks and get your darling feeling comfy in their diaper once more!

Image courtesy of neglectwar.com

Ailment #1: Diaper Rash Cream

The most common means of banishing butt burn is purchasing a diaper rash cream. There are many diaper rash creams on the market, but which ones really work? After trial and error of tons of different butt creams, the only product I can recommend is Boudreaux's Butt Paste.

This paste is thick and long lasting, and seems to miraculously clear up diaper rash overnight, if not sooner! You can find this at almost any store, I buy it at wal-mart for around $7 a tube. It's a bit more expensive than the other products they have, but well worth it. They also have Boudreaux's Butt Paste Extra Strength, however this is harder to find and may need to be purchased over the Internet.

The proper way to apply diaper rash cream is to make sure the area is thoroughly clean. (Try using a warm cloth, as wipes may be to harsh on babies sensitive skin) Then gently dry area completely before applying cream. When applying cream make sure to use a generous amount. How much? You want to make sure its thick enough so you cannot see babies skin through the cream. Make sure to cover the entire area and then some.

Image courtesy of http://www.ababycare.com/

Ailment #2: Baking Soda Bath

Another way to soothe your babies sore bum is a baking soda bath. Simply draw a warm bath and add 2-3 Tbsp of Baking Soda to bath water. Try to keep baby entertained in the tub for about 5-10 min before you cuddle you little monkey in a warm towel. Make sure to dry area well. The baking soda should help dry out and heal the rash. When you are ready to put a diaper on, I would also recommend applying diaper rash cream.

Ailment #3: Let the Tushy Free

Sometimes all babies hiny needs is a bit of fresh air. There is nothing a rash likes more than a dark, damp, dirty space to grow. Leaving babies butt bare eliminates the enviorement a rash thrives in. To keep floor clear of messes lay down some kind of pee pad. I would highly recommend keeping a stock of Peewee's Disposable Pads.

Ailment #4: Home Remedies

If you dont have the means to purchase diaper rash cream, here are a few home made diaper rash creams you can try:

Treat diaper rash using egg whites: Simply crack open 3 or 4 eggs and remove the yolks. Apply the egg whites over the rash and allow to dry then put the babies diaper on. The rash should be nearly gone by the next change.

Maalox: Maalox can do more than treat heartburn and tummy aches, it can also help babies booty by soothing irritated skin and neutralizing acid. Apply a small amount of Maalox to babies bum.
Flour: Take plain Flour and brown in a skillet on medium heat. Once the flour is brown, let cool and place in a container to spread on babies bottom after diaper change.