Tuesday, December 22, 2009

A Baby Video Monitor is the Best Choice for Concerned Parents

By Candace Martin

You want to be able to watch your beautiful new baby every hour of the day, but unfortunately, there are still lots of things that need to be done around the house. This is why you'll need to find a quality video baby monitor that will allow you to see all your little one's activities, even when you're not in the room.

A video monitor can allow you to see what else is happening with your baby besides the normal noises and crying. It may reveal to you that your baby is managing to pull things into the crib that is near his or her reach. If your baby is suddenly sick, you can be quickly alerted if your baby is coughing or vomiting. Having a baby video monitor is essential to view things that can be avoided in the future to ensure safety for your child.

If you have a large house with more than one child, a baby video monitor that offers multiple channels can be something to think about. This can give you the option of adding on more cameras for different rooms that you want to keep an eye on. This is particularly ideal for large families because it allows parents to watch all the children at the same time if they are in different rooms.

A baby video monitor that has an intercom is something that is useful to communicate with your baby. With a two way intercom, you can hear anything coming from the baby's room. You will be able to comfort your child with the sound of your voice from another room with an intercom. This will allow you to be able to do what you need to do from another room and still be there for your baby.

Do make sure that your baby video monitor will not interfere with other devices in your home. Take note of what is going to be in the room where you will be placing the baby video monitor. Choosing a digital baby monitor will help eliminate interference of the devices in your home.

If you're not sure where to go to purchase a video baby monitor, you can check out some online sources that will help you to narrow down your choices. For instance, when you find a baby monitor that you want on Amazon.com, you'll be able to get a link to the brand's website, as well as detailed reviews that will tell you the pros and cons of each product. A descriptive picture will show you exactly how the monitor will look when it arrives in the mail, and you'll find all the sellers that are offering the product at affordable prices.

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Monday, December 21, 2009

Teaching Baby Sign Language With Music

By Ana Dupas

Even if you take time to sign during your regular interactions with your baby, there is more to teaching them sign language than just talking with them. That's necessary, of course, and you need to be consistent in using signs for objects and ideas, so the baby will learn them. But you expect the baby to learn everything else by several different means, and it's the same with this type of learning as well. There are baby sign instructional materials like books and flash cards, and you may even buy toys that can help, but music and songs provide a very important supplement.

A lot of the organization of the programs that demonstrate sign language for babies is based on the social and medical appreciation of early childhood development. So it's understandable that the makers of these programs have incorporated music, because it has such a big part in baby learning generally.

Even the Baby Einstein regimen, which started out attempting to increase babies' cerebral aptitude with classical music and poetry, has become involved in the baby sign language realm. It provides a video known as "My First Signs - See & Sign With Baby," which teaches easy signs along with speech and, not surprisingly, classical music.

Baby Signs, Inc. is more heavily and directly involved in baby sign work, and this company's products include music, as well as books, toys and instructional videos. They have several different music bundles, including a Music CD called "If You're Happy and You Know it." Meanwhile, at the www.signbabies.com website you also find that in their "Signing Time" instructional packages, not only are there DVDs that teach the signs themselves, but each one has an accompanying music CD. You can also sometimes find local play groups that use music to teach signs as the children interact with each other.

Between signing videos, books, toys and CDs, you will have no lack of baby sign resources for teaching your child this new method of communication. Music has always been one of the primary learning tools for infants, and can provide yet another avenue for your own baby. It will also add an element of fun and relaxation to the learning process. Keep music in mind as one of your teaching tools as you begin to introduce sign language to your baby.

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Saturday, December 19, 2009

The Right Age For Potty Training

By Paul Jason James

One of the most frequently asked questions by first time parents is "what is the right age for potty training?" The short answer to that is There isn't one

Regardless of what you may hear from well-meaning friends and relatives, the right age to potty train your child is when your child is ready. Attempting to potty train a child who has not shown any signs of readiness will frustrate both you and the child and very possibly make him resistant to potty training in the future. Helping Your Child Get Ready You can help your child get ready for potty training by encouraging his natural curiosity. Let him follow you into the bathroom and explain that you're going potty. Let him learn how the toilet works. If his natural curiosity leads him to start happily flushing everything in sight, a simple toilet lid lock from the hardware store will save your sanity and your pocketbook.

You can also help him recognize that he goes potty. Ask him if his diaper is wet. When he starts to tell you on his own that he needs to be changed, he's getting close to being ready for potty training. Switching to cloth diapers at this point will also help since the cloth diapers don't wick the moisture away from his skin, he will be more able to feel wet.

Be Ready Yourself

Prepare for potty training by having the things you'll need on hand. If you decide to use a potty seat or potty chair, have it ready. Your child will need training pants or underwear which you can let him choose. He may decide to give it a try if it means he gets to wear his special new Superman underwear.

Get Your Team Ready

Anyone who interacts with your child needs to be prepared to support your potty training efforts and methods. Daycare providers, relatives, friends or anyone who may need to help him needs to know what words he'll use to tell them he needs to go potty and what do to help him.

He will become frustrated with the process if he tries to tell someone he needs to use the bathroom, and they don't understand what he means or what routine he's expecting. If you are using a sticker chart or other reinforcement/reward system, he will be very put out if he uses the potty and doesn't get a sticker from grandma.

The only one who can tell you when your child is ready for potty training is your child. By being ready yourself, you'll be able to act quickly and take advantage of the window of opportunity when it presents itself

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Friday, December 18, 2009

A Look At The Baby Monitor Movement

By Chris Frost

Many parents are told of the changes of incidents that can happen in the first few weeks that a newborn is brought home from the hospital. The fear that a baby may stop breathing when a parent is asleep often cause new parents to spend many sleepless hours monitoring their baby. New advances in technology significantly reduce the fear that this parents have. The baby monitor movement systems that have been developed provide parents with the sensors that alert parents if there are any incidents when an infant is asleep.

Parents are able to rest and sleep soundly knowing that the system will alert them if the baby stops moving for fifteen to twenty seconds. The alert will provide parents with the opportunity to intervene in the incident before any injury occurs. If there is movement in the nursery that should not occur during the night, an alarm will alert parents to the movement without waking the sleeping infant.

Technology has now advanced to the point where these sensitive pads, when placed under the baby, monitor every movement and breath. Alarms are not only designed to go off when babies move in certain ways, but also alert parents to irregular breathing patterns. If the baby does not move at all for 15 seconds, alarms will also sound.

The systems provide parents and caregivers with the ability to proactively protect their infants and babies. The highly sophisticated systems have significantly reduced the issues that result when a baby stops breathing. When the alarms are set for motion detection in a nursery, they also monitor the rooms movement and alert parents to the entry and movement of siblings when baby is asleep.

It is important to remember that even when babies sleep they move. They toss and turn, just like adults, and they even move when they breathe. If caregivers should become concerned, the night-light qualities the monitors contain illuminate just enough to guide parents to their precious bundle. Many also include a room temperature gauge as well as a remote control which will turn on a sound system when a baby becomes fussy.

Parents are provided receiving units that are mobile. Some of the units are made to sit on a counter or table. These units allow a parent to monitor their infant easily when they are eating dinner or reading. Other monitoring systems provide mobile receivers that clip on the clothing of the parent. These units receive clear audio transmissions from as far away as four hundred feet.

The safety and comfort of the infant as well as the peace-of-mind of parents is the number one priority of product designers. As a result, no cords or external power source exists, sensors are lightweight, and materials used are hypo-allergenic. Additionally, since they are battery operated they can be taken anywhere and work as long as the receiver is within 400 yards of the infant.

The extra level of protection provided by the baby monitor movement system is an invaluable aid to parents of newborns. The anxiety that many new parents feel regarding the safety of the newborn when they are asleep is removed when they know that an alarm will sound if the baby stops moving or breathing. This allows parents to get the kind of rest that they need to be alert when they are attending to the baby.

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Thursday, December 17, 2009

Lose Fat After Pregnancy - 3 Fast Tips On Losing Fat After Having A Child

By Jessica Cullen

Do you want to hurriedly lose fat after pregnancy? In this article you will discover 3 fast tips to lose fat after having a little one.

There are many Mothers that find it virtually unattainable to lose fat after pregnancy. When hormones are flying around, the new baby is taking up your time, you maybe have a profession and spouse to to care of, it can be not easy. There just does not seem to be enough time in the day! If you are feeling like a wreck, you are not unaccompanied. I too was one of those Mothers that had this feeling and was totally despondent. It's hard to know what to do when your head is spinning.

Let us move on and speak about some constructive things that you can do instead of focusing on the negative that may be surround our lives.

Lose Fat After Pregnancy

Tip #1 - Drink Plenty Of Water

It is very crucial that you drink plenty of water. By not getting enough water you will allow toxins to remained trapped into your body and you will not be able to rid yourself of them. It is possible that you are holding onto mass that you do not have to just by not drinking enough water.

Tip #2 - Stand When You Usually Sit

Increasing your calorie burn can be done easily and simply just by standing when you would customarily sit. This may seem very simple but every extra bit of fat that you burn adds up!

Tip #3 - Stop Stressing

One other thing that can make us hold onto fat that we should not have to have on our bodies is that of being stressed all of the time. We are holding onto nasty fat when we permit our stress levels to rise.

Lose Fat After Pregnancy

Hold on my friend. You are a strong woman and I have faith in you. You will be able to lose fat after pregnancy.

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Saturday, December 12, 2009

Several Helpful Tips For New Parents Caring For Their Newborn Child

By Cindy Richmark

Regardless of how many baby books you read, prepare to be unprepared for the surprises of first-time parenthood. There are few rules that you can count upon for every circumstance. In fact, many experienced parents will admit that the time they spent caring for their first baby was a matter of trial and error, rather than methodical procedure. That said, there are a few "proven" strategies that tend to work most of the time. If you're a new parent, you'll find the following four tips helpful when caring for your first baby.

Tip 1 - Establish A Nightly Routine

The goal is to prepare your little one for bed and encourage her to sleep peacefully. Unfortunately, left to her own devices, she may resist. Create a routine that you take her through each night in preparation for bedtime. That will help her calibrate her internal clock. As she grows accustomed to her nightly routine, her body will adjust and she'll become predictably sleepy. Give her a bath and read to her. Turn the television off at least sixty minutes before her bedtime. The peace and quiet will feel soothing to her and will lure her into slumber.

Tip 2 - Lower The Monitor Volume

Parents have managed to care for their babies for thousands of years without the help of baby monitors. Yet, new moms and dads often find themselves relying upon the sounds of their infants for comfort. Lower the monitor's volume. Or, turn it off completely. Chances are, if your little one cries, you'll be able to hear her without it.

Tip 3 - Prevent Overly Long Naps

If you allow your infant to take long naps during the afternoon, she's less likely to be sleepy at night. A lot of new parents mistakenly think they should avoid waking their slumbering babies. Keep in mind that letting her sleep during the day may mean having to stay awake in the late evening. Limit her naps to two hours.

Tip 4 - Feed Her When She's Hungry

Even though you might enjoy three meals a day at specific times, your little one needs to develop her own schedule. If she's hungry, don't make her wait. If your infant is constantly hungry, check with your pediatrician to make sure she's healthy. By the time she reaches six or seven months, she'll have developed her own feeding rhythm.

If you're new to parenting, expect to make plenty of mistakes. Every infant is a little different. The advice given in most baby books won't apply to each one. Nor will the advice apply in every situation. That's the reason most experts suggest that parents follow their instincts. At the end of your little one's first year, you'll be able to warn other new parents that their experience will be filled with surprises.

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Friday, December 11, 2009

Baby Teething Tips

By Paarth Kumar

Babies start teething at an age of three months and continue this unto an age of three years. While it has also been discovered that one in two thousand babies are born with one tooth at least. But how to get the information that baby is teething.

1. While teething the calcium mass of teeth pushes the gums to open wide and creates a way for its sprouting out. This causes the itchiness in gums, which makes baby to gnaw any object that is within reach. This biting and chewing puts the pressure and friction felt like scratching on the gums and usually is relieving for the irritable feel to baby.

TIP: To handle this itching teething rings, teething objects and teething biscuits are recommended. Freeze them hard and then give to the bay to chew that of course will loosen the pain and irritation.

2. Gums get swollen, red and bruised because the tooth puts pressure from inside. It is the process like a hard rock pressurizing against a lumpy mass. This creates pain and irritation in and around the gums. This activity gets more intense during the night, causing more pain in the gums. Due to this baby get irritated and starts weeping frequently and gets sleep disruption whole night. Sometimes the pain of teething gets so intense that it enters the Eustachian canal and due to this baby pulls ear more frequently to get a relief from pain.

TIP: Administer the medication as prescribed by the pediatrician and carefully and softly rub chilled wash cloth on the gums.

3. During teething the drooling is more intense and sudden, while reverse is not always true. This salivation is due to the excessive activities of mouth and gums by baby.

TIP: Excessive salivation can cause sores in the neck creases. So always keep a saliva napkin attached and also apply some baby powder in the crease area so that moisture gets soaked up.

4. Eating routines and functions of baby change drastically. Many babies only succumb to breast or bottle feeding, while others avoid this also because of excessive pains in gums. It could be that baby may start eating more solids than before to create a scratching effect for the itching gums.

TIP: Give baby the teething biscuits and cookies for non paining gums, while for painful gums medication is recommended, plus you can massage mildly with extreme chilled wash cloth.

Teething experience varies from kids to kids and some times effects like fever, loose motion or bleeding of gums are visible. Parents must consult doctor immediately and get proper medication prescribed for the baby.

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Saturday, December 5, 2009

Training Your Baby To Sleep Peacefully

By Shelly Gorden

If your little one is a newborn, or even a few months old, plan to wake up at odd hours to cater to her needs. She may be afraid, hungry, or uncomfortable and needs you to soothe her back to sleep. If she's a little older, there's a good chance she may have grown used to having you there to soothe her. It's time to train her to fall back asleep on her own.

There are many approaches to helping your baby get a good night's slumber without waking at night. In this article, we'll provide a few tactics that have worked for millions of parents. Fair warning: not all of them will be easy and each tactic has both proponents and critics.

Tough Love

This is likely to be tougher on you than it will be on her. The goal is to allow your baby to cry without consoling her when she wakes up. You'll naturally want to rush into her room and pick her up from her crib. But, if you can withstand her crying for four or five days, she'll eventually learn to fall back asleep without your help.

One of the reasons this strategy seems to work is because by the time babies reach six months, they have realized that crying brings mom or dad. So, they cry. By allowing them to wail without addressing their call, you'll eventually teach them that crying is no longer a reliable tactic for them to use.

Scheduling Her Slumber

Babies often wake up during the night because their internal sleeping clock is off. They might be overly-tired, which can actually hamper their ability to sleep peacefully. Or, they might not be sleepy because of several naps they've taken during the day. Moms and dads can "fix" their baby's clock by establishing a slumber schedule. The key is to stick to it as closely as possible.

Keep in mind every infant's sleeping needs is a little different. Your little one might need four hours during the day and twelve hours at night. Other babies may need more. You'll need to watch her throughout the day to identify when she gets tired. Before long, her internal clock will take over and help her sleep peacefully until morning.

Wean Her From Your Current Routine

Parents often train their babies to have poor sleeping habits. For example, moms and dads will grow accustomed to giving their little ones a bottle before going to bed. Or, they might read to them or hold them until they fall asleep. The more you do these things, the more your baby will expect them. She'll eventually be unable to fall asleep without them. Gradually wean her from relying upon these activities. Start by doing them with her an hour prior to her normal bedtime.

The ease with which your little one falls asleep - and remains asleep until morning - is largely in your hands. While the strategies above may be difficult in the beginning, they will help your infant learn how to soothe herself into slumber.

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Monday, November 30, 2009

3 Baby Care Tips For New And Nervous Fathers

By Jennifer Ransome

Moms have traditionally occupied the spotlight when it comes to caring for their babies. It's understandable that new dads might feel intimidated by the task. Whether they're putting diapers on them, burping them, or simply holding them while they fall asleep, new fathers are often tentative. They fear they'll do something wrong.

If you're a new (and nervous) father, rest assured that you'll be a pro in no time. Here are three baby care tips that will give you a head start:

Tip 1 - Follow Your Instincts. They're Usually Right.

First-time dads have a common fear when their babies are born: they don't trust themselves. They're accustomed to working on cars, firmly holding rusty tools, and neglecting the subtleties of a soft touch. Add to that the stereotype of the novice father giving his kids healthy slices of birthday cake for breakfast and the anxiety seems reasonable.

Trust your instincts. Parenting is largely about trial and error - for both you and your partner. You'll make mistakes; expect them and learn from them. The worst thing you can do is surrender to your worries and allow your partner to compensate by handling the entire job. Get involved. You'll be thankful you did when your child grows older.

Tip 2 - Learn Proper Handling Techniques

First, retire the anxiety that you'll drop your baby. It rarely ever happens. Quite the opposite, you'll find that holding him is instinctive. The key is to learn how to use your hands in order to properly support him. During his first month, his neck muscles will not be developed, which means he won't be able to support his head. You'll need to do it for him.

When you pick him up, slip one hand beneath his shoulder blades. Position your hand so that it's holding his head while you slip your other hand behind his bottom. Then, lift him slowly.

Tip 3 - Learning To Swaddle

Swaddling is a relatively new parenting technique for soothing and comforting a fussy or frightened baby. Here's how to do it: lay a small blanket on the floor and fold it so that it looks like a 3-pointed diamond. Position it so that one of the points is at the top. Fold that point down a fourth of the way. Next, lay your little one on his back and position him so his head is above the fold.

Loosely wrap the right end of the blanket over his right arm and place that arm on his chest. Then, bring up the point at the bottom so that it covers his feet. Lastly, wrap the remaining portion of the blanket (on your infant's left side) around his right arm. A few tucks here and there, and your baby will feel as if he's back in his mother's womb.

Remember, parenting is a challenge as much as it is a joy. As a new father, look forward to the adventure of raising your baby. With a little attention and a lot of love, you'll soon leave your first-time parenting fears behind you.

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Thursday, November 26, 2009

Different Thermometer Types For Babies

By Evan Tweedle

It's important to be able to tell what your baby's temperature is - babies have less control over their body temperature than adults. You can usually get a rough idea of a baby's temperature just by touching their forehead or neck with your hand - don't use the baby's hands as a guide though as the temperature of the extremities can vary from body temperature due to environmental conditions.

Clearly this is no more than a rough guide to the temperature of your baby. There will certainly be times when you want a more accurate reading. In such a case, using a thermometer of some type would be the obvious solution. There is quite a wide range of different types on offer - but which one is best for you and your baby?

Conventional Glass Tube Mercury Filled Thermometers These are very accurate - but there's always some risk of breaking and they do require to be kept in place for a minimum time period in order to obtain a good reading. They require to be placed under the arm, in the mouth or in the rectum. Any of those positions could be somewhat difficult if you have an unhappy, fractious baby as the patient.

Digital Stick Type Thermometer Pretty similar to a traditional thermometer - but battery powered and manufactured from plastic instead of glass. It also has a digital read out which will minimise the possibility of reading error. Stick one of these under the baby's arm for about thirty seconds and you should obtain an accurate reading.

Contact Type Plastic Strip Thermometers Just place the strip against your baby's forehead and keep it in place for fifteen seconds. The colour will change to indicate what the baby's temperature is. These are easy to use, cheap and accurate - but it is possible to misread them. The accuracy of the reading can also be impaired if there is perspiration on baby's forehead.

Non Contact Scanning Thermometers Nobody likes being poked or prodded when they're ill and babies are no exception. So non contact scanner thermometers are a great option since they don't require to touch any part of the body. They use infra-red (perfectly harmless) to take a reading of the skin temperature. Points where the skin is thin - such as the temple for example - are good points to take readings. Surface perspiration can still reduce the degree of accuracy obtained.

Ear Thermometers The ear is considered to give the most accurate reflection of the body's core temperature and should give you a fast and accurate reading. Most ear thermometers come with disposable caps which you put over the tip and then throw away after each use to make it hygienic. Digital readouts are normal and negate any user error.

Any of the above types of thermometer will work just fine. Your choice will most likely depend upon your own personal preference.

If you want to minimise the possibility of reader error, then a thermometer with a digital display probably makes a lot of sense.

A non contact thermometer, or an ear thermometer, is probably a good choice if you want to avoid upsetting your baby.

In terms of accuracy, the ear thermometer comes out on top.

So, overall - the baby ear thermometer is probably best - both for baby and for you.

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How To Take Care of a Baby - Making Things Easy

By Alice Sy

We're going to have a baby!" That is the phrase you would simply utter if you found out that you're going to have a baby. Of course, you are overjoyed and simply can't explain your feeling. That would also be the time that you become aware of all you read and hear on how to take care of a baby.

When the baby is already around, you would feel little overwhelmed and nervous. You simple do not know how to take care of a baby, right? Relax. In the process, you would eventually know the trade. You can ask help from your mother or grandmother. They can also help you take care of the child while you are doing the house chores.

How to take care of a baby? There are many things to consider, especially for first-time parents. First of all, you have to know proper diaper service. Another energy saver is the disposal of diapers, which you could use the first few days that you are on your own. These are not meant for day-in and day-out use but help wonderfully to tide over an emergency.

Another thing to consider is the proper feeding of these babies. It is still best that your babies receive breast milk for the first few months. When breastfeeding it is important that they are latched on to you so that they can drink the milk properly instead of sucking in gas.

Pregnancy classes or mothers' classes can help you familiarize yourself with the most common conditions your baby might experience as he or she grows up. This can include colic, teething, ear infections, aspiration and more. The more prepared you are, the simpler the question of how to take care of a baby would appear. One screaming baby is enough. You don't need to add your worrying and panicking to the situation.

You can also learn proper feeding and proper diaper care in these classes. You don't know how many cases of infant conditions have been reported due to a parent's failure to do these tasks properly.

You should never lose your temper when your baby cries. This is the only way your baby can communicate with you. Try to be observant when your baby cries. When they are hungry or are uncomfortable in their diaper, they have a certain crying sound. However, when they are sick, their cry can change into that of a shrilling type.

If you love your baby then taking care of them will come easy. Don't be afraid to ask for help from your family and friends. This does not make you seem an incompetent parent but rather a concerned one. Now, do you still need to ask the question how to take care of a baby?

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Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Choosing a Infant Monitor

By Margery Haman

A infant monitor is an essential purchase for expectant parents, as it will impart you the serenity of being able to check on your sleeping infant wherever you are in your home. Regrettably, these monitors are the kind of device which you are unlikely to have any experience of until the time comes when you need one, and it can be difficult to know which type to buy.

There are 3 classic kinds of monitor: audio, video, and movement or breathing.

The audio monitor is the most popular kind, and at its most basic consists of a transmitter that you place in your baby's nursery, and a pass catcher that lets you 'listen in', alerting you if your infant begins to scream or otherwise shows signs of waking. The very cheapest models will have a fixed receiver that needs to be plugged into a wall socket for power, but most designs today have a rechargable mobile receiver which you can carry from room to room, or even outside so long as you stay in range.

The range of your monitor system will depend on a number of constituents, including the construction of your house - thicker walls will reduce the range - and any sources of disturbance such as neighbouring monitor systems, computer wireless nets, and even microwave ovens with special models.

Disturbance is less of a problem nowdays, as most models will now let you select from a range of channels to operate on, so if you do encounter disturbance problems, you can switch to a new channel to hopefully clear things up. Several units simply possess two or four transmits which you have to manually choose, while the more modern models now have hundreds of transmits which will be selected automatically to minimise interference in the current circumstances.

The more modern monitors, like so much else these days, use digital technology. What this means in practice is a broader signal, and an increased range of operation.

Those are the basic principles of audio monitors, but there are other features available depending on the model. A modern one is an intercom or talkback system where you can talk to your baby with the help of the monitor, assisting you to soothe her back to sleep without the disruption of going into the baby's room. Other models may have nightlights or cradlesongs which you can set to play either automatically or by hand, again without entering the room, while another common feature is temperature alerts where you can see how warm the nursery is, and be alerted if it falls outside a stable range.

The last point to keep in mind when taking a monitor system is price. The range is ample, from only a few dollars up to a few hundred. For something as essential as a monitor though, it's worth getting the best model you can afford, as after all, if the system does not perform well and you can't trust it, then it is efficaciously a waste of time.

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Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Getting Your Young Child To Bed

By Macy Jackson

Are you a new parent wondering if you will ever get your baby to sleep through the night? If so, try some of the techniques mentioned below. By implementing these techniques as early as possible with your newborn, you will find better success and more restful nights.

One of the first things you can teach your baby is the difference between day and night. It may sound impossible, but it's not. It actually depends on your willingness to make behavioral changes during the day and at night. During the day talk to your baby as you feed him. Include playtime after feeding. At night, however, stick to feeding only and help your baby get back to sleep as soon as possible. This will help your baby learn when it is appropriate to be up and when it is appropriate to sleep.

Since your baby will not know how to settle himself down to sleep, you may try different techniques. One sleep settling method is called hands-on settling. Leave the baby in his bed, but reach over into the crib to soothe and comfort him. This will help teach him that his own bed is a safe and cozy place to sleep.

Try not to get anxious when you are helping your baby settle down to sleep. Babies are very sensitive to body language. You must demonstrate that you are relaxed and that their bed is a comfortable, safe, and cozy place for them to sleep. The child will follow your lead in relaxing, or becoming tenser and less apt to sleep.

Another way to encourage a healthy sleep pattern is to implement a routine. When the baby wakes, feed him. Then, allow time for play and time to work any excess air through his system. Make sure he is well burped. This does two things. One, play time helps make your baby tired, so he is willing to fall asleep. Burping prevents gas build up from causing pain which wakes the baby.

Watch for indications that your baby is tired. If she rubs her hand on her face, eyes, or ears she may be getting tired. If you overlook these signs, you may wait until the baby is overly tired. Once that happens, it is more difficult to get the baby to sleep. Once they begin to yawn, a baby often becomes restless, evading sleep. Before putting your baby down, prepare her for a good night's sleep by placing a fresh diaper on her and comfortable sleeping clothes.

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Sunday, November 22, 2009

Get Your Child To Sleep So You Can Sleep Too

By Penny Jones

If you have a baby then you have probably already taken your baby's sleeping habits into consideration. You can't really rest until your baby is sleeping peacefully and soundly through the night. Your baby's sleeping habits develop slowly over time, but it is never to early to begin to recognize patterns and encourage the development of regular sleep behavior. You will see significant development in your baby's sleep pattern as they reach three months of age.

Newborns will sleep often. One thing that may be difficult for new parents to adjust to is that babies do not sleep for long stretches of time. You must respond quickly to a baby's needs when they awake, so that they learn a sense of security and dependability from you. This means that you when your baby is awake, during the first few weeks, you will be feeding, changing diapers, and spending precious little quite time with your baby before they go back to sleep. It will be much easier on you to follow your baby's pattern if they are sleeping somewhere near you. This will also help you begin to recognize and learn your newborns emerging sleep patterns.

Some parents like to encourage their baby to sleep alone. Regardless of where you put your infant down to nap, you should never be too far away. Securely swaddling a baby in a blanket or holding a baby gives it the comfort and security it needs to fall asleep more quickly and more soundly. Every baby sleeps better when they feel safe, warm, and comfortable.

Some babies do not like to sleep alone. This is normal at first. You can help your baby slowly develop a habit of lying down and sleeping alone with a little practice. Just keep in mind that all babies have different sleeping habits. Begin by swaddling your baby and laying him alone for a couple of naps during the day. You can slowly increase the number of times you place the baby down alone. This gradually acclimates your baby to sleeping alone.

When your baby awakes at night it is usually because of hunger. As your baby grows and begins to eat more, sleep duration will become longer and longer. In the meantime, there are a few additional things you can do to help your baby sleep more soundly. Keep the baby's room dark and quiet. Make sure the baby has adequate time to get used to her surroundings. Avoid stimulating the baby before bedtime and try to keep things in the baby's environment quiet during sleeping times.

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Thursday, November 12, 2009

Useful Breastfeeding Facts

Every mother wants to give her baby a good start in life, and you can do no better than breastfeed your baby. Breast milk is so much better that formula, as it helps your baby to build up his immune system.

The convenience of breastfeeding far outweighs that of bottle feeding. There are better things you could be doing with your time, rather than steralising bottles and making up endless feeds.

Breastfeeding does not cause problems to many mothers, but there are some common issues that you could come across at some stage.

Thrush - a harmless yeast infection which forms in the baby's mouth. Although a normal part of the digestive system, an infection will set in if an overgrowth occurs.

If you have pains in your breast or nipple, or they are very sensitive or itchy, then its quite likely you have developed Thrush. It needs to be treated as soon as symptoms appear, as you can have a continual circle of it passing between baby and mother.

Mastitis - A hard, red, inflamed painful breast is a sign that you are suffering from Mastitis. Its usually caused by bacteria becoming present in the milk ducts. See your GP as soon as possible. He will provide antibiotics to clear it up, and will give you a type that will mean that you can carry on breastfeeding.

Very Fast Milk Flow - Does your baby start to splutter and cough as soon as he starts to feed? This could be down to your milk flowing too fast. This is distressing for both mother and baby. A way to deal with this is to express some milk before each breast before feeding, this could slow down the milk flow. Trying to hold baby in a different position may also make it easier for him to take the milk.

Baby Does Not Seem To Like the Milk - Acidic or spicy foods can really change the taste of your milk and give baby quite a shock. Although the milk taste will vary slightly as does your diet, you really need to steer clear or highly spiced foods like curry or chilli. Also drink water and plain drinks rather than orange or lemon juice.

Is Baby Taking Enough? - Bottle feeding Mums know exactly how much milk their baby is taking. But how much is the right amount? If your baby feeds well at the breast and is growing and healthy, then do not stress. Babies let you know when they are hungry and will take exactly what they need.

Looking for the best ideas for a new baby, then visit www.newbabyideas.info to find the best advice on all things baby related.