Baby Shower: Ideas and Tips

 If you need some tips and ideas on baby shower favors, read this article!

Cute Ideas for Baby Shower Favors

Even though guests shouldn’t expect to leave any party with anything, it is always a nice gesture to give parting guests a favor.  Here are some instructions for simple and easy baby shower favors that you can make at home.  By making the favors yourself, not only can you save money, but the handmade favors can be personalized easily to reflect the tastes of the mom-to-be and the theme of the shower!

Baby Bottles. Even your local dollar store can be a great place to find favor ideas.  Plastic baby bottles can be filled with chocolate, candies, Jordan almonds, jelly beans, bath beads or bath salts.  Tie some ribbon around the neck with a tag that says “Thank You” with the mom’s and baby’s names on it.

Baby Booties. Filled with candies, wrapped chocolates, gum balls, you can tie these at the tops with ribbons and a tag, much like the baby bottles.

Organza or Net Bags. You can find these in the wedding section of most major craft retailers.  Fill with candies, bath salts, chocolates, etc. 

Plastic Bottles or Glass Jars. It’s not too hard to find these types of containers.  If you don’t see them locally, search online and you can order them in large quantities.  Fill them with bath salts, bubble bath, shower gel or even baby powder.  You can tie a tag on them that has a cute verse about showering them like they showered the mom-to-be!

Tea Cups. Some baby shower hostesses have purchased tea cups and a flat of flowers and put one flower in each mug for a beautiful favor.  A great place to find odds and ends tea cups is at local garage sales and thrift shops.  Find some with pretty flowers painted on the sides.  You can also fill the tea cups with candle gel and a wick for another fun favor idea.

Flower Pots. With a cute tag telling the recipient to nurture their plant as the new mom will nurture her new baby, you could give guests small flower pots and seed packets or bulbs for tulips or daffodils for them to plant and grow some flowers.  If you want to do more, decorate the flower pot with acrylic paints or rub-on sayings or pictures found in the scrapbooking section of craft stores.  You can even get a simple foam stamp to decorate them.

Candy Bar Wrappers. You’ve seen those expensive candy bar wrappers you can order, but why not make your own?  These are perfect favors for showers that take place after the baby has arrived!  Just purchase a large quantity of candy bars from your local warehouse store like Sam’s or Costco and take one wrapper off to measure the size of the wrapper.  Now you have a template.  Create a wrapper using your favorite software and add special details like the baby’s name, birthday, weight and length and don’t forget to add the parent’s names as the “manufacturer”.  For ingredients, try words like “sugar and spice and all things nice,” “love,” “snips, snails and puppy dog tails.”

There are so many ways you can make inexpensive favors that your baby shower guests will really love.  Even something as simple as a bar of glycerin soap tied with a pretty ribbon is a nice gift most people will enjoy.  Look for sales and clearance items to really save money, but have the look of an expensive gift.

Baby shower favors that you make at home are personal gifts that add a great touch.  Not only does it make your guests happy, but it shows the mom-to-be that you care for her friends, too!  Have fun making your homemade baby shower favors!

Baby’s Room

Here are some suggestions that will keep baby safe and comfortable and not cost a fortune.

 

So you’re expecting a new little bundle of joy. Congratulations! You’ve cleared out the small bedroom near yours and you’re ready to set up your baby’s room. Here are some suggestions that will keep baby safe and comfortable and not cost a fortune.

Safety is the number one factor in a baby’s room. Check out the safety guidelines before buying or borrowing a crib (see Baby Crib Safety Checklist). Use your money to buy things that will last at least a few years, such as a crib that converts to a toddler bed and a small dresser. You may choose to use a cradle in the early months and keep it by your bed, but eventually you will need a crib.

Other baby furniture includes a changing table and a high chair. And don’t forget a comfortable rocking chair (with arms) for late-night feedings or to rock-a-bye baby a fussy infant to sleep.

In setting up the room, make sure everything you’ll need will be close at hand, so you never have to leave baby alone — even for just a moment! — on the changing table.

One of the biggest expenses in fixing up a nursery is the labor, so the best way to save money is to do it yourself! Refinish and paint (lead-free!) furniture, sew curtains (you can use cute baby print sheets), and get grandma to knit baby blankets. Paint the walls in light shades (with washable paint) in a color that will "grow" with the child. If you love wallpaper but can’t imagine doing a whole room yourself, trying decorating with a wallpaper border on painted walls or stencil a design around the windows, ceiling and doors. The room can look "done" by a decorator if you coordinate wallpaper and fabrics for a wall hanging, quilt, and window coverings.

If friends will be throwing you a baby shower, register for some things to decorate the room, such as bedding, crib accessories (bumper pads, mobiles), and bright colored toys or stuffed animals.

Use baskets, drawers, and shelves to store toys, clothing, and other infant essentials. Expand storage space by putting shelves or a small dresser in the closet.

Baby Formula:Organic Foods the Better

Organic foods may finally get a seat at the kids' table.

Seven out of 10 Americans said they prefer organic alternatives. It's probably no surprise that many parents say they want to give their babies the benefits of an organic product when it comes to feeding them baby formula. However, the problem has been that until recently, there hasn't been an organic formula available that provides babies with two key nutrients for mental and visual development: the lipids DHA and ARA.

The Role Of Nutrition

"These lipids are naturally supplied from mom to baby in breast milk, but in reality, not all moms can breast feed. If parents formula feed, and choose an organic infant formula, it's essential that they use an organic formula enriched with DHA and ARA," explains Dr. Barbara Levine, director of the Nutrition Information Center and associate professor of nutrition in clinical medicine at Weill College of Medicine of Cornell University.

The only nationally distributed organic baby formula with DHA and ARA is available at Wal-Mart and is called Parent's Choice Organic Infant Formula, made by PBM Nutritionals. In addition to having the essential lipids, the formula is enriched with the same nutrients as other baby formulas and meets the strict infant formula guidelines set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Finding Affordable Formula

The formula helps parents looking for organic alternatives in a second way as well: It can save them some green. PBM got around the problem of high-priced organic foods by distributing its product nationally through Wal-Mart stores. Doing so allowed the manufacturer to reach many parents who did not have access to organic formulas-and to keep prices relatively low.

Baby Care Tips

The mother of a baby is the most busy person on earth, when she is not very gathered about her daily routine with the baby.

Breast feeding

Everyday she has to bother about  the baby’s feeding, sleeping, clothing, changing and bathing.  It is the best to feed your own milk to the child. Please do not forget to give her the first milk of yours because that would contain colostrums, which is vital for the immune system of the child.   Mother’s milk will always create the body resistance and the child will be a healthy one in future.

When you are breast feeding your child, the food that causes problems in your body may be communicated to the baby as well. Foods that cause gas or cold should be avoided or the baby will have uncomfortable state or congestion.

Bottle feeding

If you are bottle-feeding your baby for some reasons, then make sure that the bottles are well sterilized and clean. Scrub them with washing liquids.  Boil them for 25 minutes to kill unwanted organism that may have developed in it due to the fermenting milk. Steam sterilizer and cold sterilizer methods are also there, about which one has to consult with an expert and should see to it that those are readily available in the market.

Baby sleeping

The materials needed to put the baby to sleep are  a good, firm mattress, sheets and blankets. Keep one feet distance from the nostril range of the baby if you are lying along with your baby on the same bed. There should not be unnecessary clothing or clothes around the baby’s body and bed which may cause temperature rise and heating.  The baby is not going to talk about it, and you should be sensitive enough to remove the body coverings as much as possible.  There should be a mosquito net, or at least a netted covering around the baby to keep away the flies and the mosquitoes. 

Clothing

Summer clothes should be light cotton ones. When the baby is taken out, make sure that his head does not get the direct sun.  In winter, there may be sweaters, trousers and other woolens.

Changing

The baby’s diapers should be regularly changed.  The intervals should be fixed according to the baby’s routine of potting and wetting.  Despite the routine, the baby may need changing because of  untimely nature calls at times. It is the baby’s right to feel dry at every moment.  See to it that the bed is not wetted and the smelly clothes and bed sheets are removed.

Bathing

The baby needs a mouth washing with cotton.  A bath tub large enough to hold it and is easy to wash should be made available. The baby should enjoy the water which can be assessed if  leg splashing which is very distinct. The baby should be rubbed with baby oil and baby cream. The nail clippers should be used at bath time.  After bath, the baby should be thoroughly dried and should be applied with a baby powder.

Immunisation

The baby should be immunized against Small Pox & Measles with BCG within 3 months of its age. The first DPT (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Psertussis, Polio, HIB, Meningitis C) is due within the first 2 months followed by the 2nd and the 3rd one at one month intervals. The MMR vaccination  against Measles, Mumps and Rubella should be done within 1 years of age.  The boosters should be taken after the baby is 4 years old.

Good luck...

Unique Baby Names (Part two)

Many new parents get excited about choosing a unique and individual name for their baby.  But what are the possible consequences?  This article guides you through the mindfield of choosing a unique baby name

Nature: Many names come from the natural world, particularly flowers (e.g. Rose) and it's a great source for unique baby names.

Geography: Another useful source of great names - grab an atlas and start searching.  Hmmm, imagine a lifetime in which your name is a constant reminder of your parents having sex!  That's cool...

Foreign Names: Consider using a foreign version of a name. Try using a name from a completely different culture.

Nicknames: Try using a nickname e.g. Angie, instead of Angela or Angelina.  However, make sure the name is will pass the "age test" - see number 17 below.

Middle Names: A great way to accommodate individuality when naming your baby, is to combine a common first name with a unique second/middle name.  The benefit of this is that your child can avoid embarrassment throughout his/her life by ignoring it of keeping it hidden.

Initials: When you have settled on some baby names, check that the initials aren't embarrassing. This is an easy trap to fall into and can lead to a lifetime of misery.  

First Name-Surname: Check how the selected first name combines with the surname. Make sure the two names do not create some something recognizable, to prevent a lifetime of teasing.  Also, check the rhythm of the two names; a different number of syllables in each name usually flows much better.  Avoid rhyming the 2 names at all costs or your child will hate you forever!

The loudness test: Try saying the name softly, at normal pitch and shouting it very loudly.  You may be surprised at the results.  

The age test: Try to visualize your child with the name as a baby, as a teenager, as a young adult, a mature adult and as a senior citizen. A name can create completely different perceptions of the individual at separate stages of life.

The meaning: The final test of the baby name that you choose should be to check its meaning (if any). Don't leave your child open to getting a nasty surprise later in life.

Whatever unique baby name you decide, don't fall into the trap of self-indulgence.  Remember, it's not about you, it's all about your child.   

Unique Baby Names (Part one)

Many new parents get excited about choosing a unique and individual name for their baby.  But what are the possible consequences?  This article guides you through the mindfield of choosing a unique baby name.

What's in a name?  Er…well, everything, really! Of course your little bundle of joy is the sweetest, most beautiful thing you have ever seen and you want to choose a name that reflects his/her individuality, spirituality, uniqueness and all-round special-ness. 

But wait a minute!

Remember that the unique baby name you choose will help define junior's life - how they are viewed and accepted - for many, many years. What sounds cute and original for a 5-year-old, may not sound so funky for a 15-year-old…and what about a 55-year old?

Time was when only celebrities could get away with unique baby names (Zowie Bowie, Dweezil and Moon Unit Zappa, etc), but in the modern world, individuality is more prized than ever before, and increasingly, this starts with our names. Great idea - but don't allow a flash of a self-indulgence to condemn your child to a lifetime of problems; it's reported that a Chinese couple named their child "Saddam Sars" to mark the current world events at the time of the birth!  I just hope it means something nice in Mandarin, or Cantonese!

This probably wouldn't have happened in Germany, where names can only be registered if they recognizable, do not ridicule the child and are gender specific. Perhaps there is at least one Chinese child in the world, who will grow up wishing he/she were German!

So - assuming you are not German - what should you do if you want to create a unique baby name, without creating too many problems? Here are some tips and some warnings to make the process less painful:

1. Anagrams: Try creating an anagram of an existing name.

2. Father and Mother: Try using derivatives of one of the parents' names, or a combination of both. Alternatively, how does the mother's maiden name sound as a first name?

3. Telescoping: Try dropping letters from another name or a word, until you get a nice-sounding unique baby name.

4. Spelling: An unusual spelling of a common name creates uniqueness.  However, remember that your child will be condemned to a lifetime of "…that's David spelt D..A..Y..V..I..D…" conversations.

5. Pronunciation: Another trick is to pronounce a common name in an unusual way. But this can also lead to a lifetime of corrections and explanations - as well as teasing and accusations of pretentiousness.

6. History: Do some research into names that were popular in previous eras, but have become less so.

7. Family History: Are there any unusual baby names that can be used to honor family members or ancestors?  But beware family politics…

to be continued....

Baby Names: a powerful tool of characteristics

The role of parent necessitates the making of many momentous decisions for a beloved person who does not yet have the capability to choose for his or herself. Parenthood is perhaps the most blessed and joyous responsibility of all, as it is fuelled by love and hope for all that may be possible in the future. As parents, we try to give our children the very best of everything, from food and clothing, to education and other opportunities that might expand the worldview of those we love best. But some would argue that the gifts we give our children begin in a way that is at once both smaller and larger, a way that is both subtle and far-reaching. One of the first gifts we give our child is the name we bequeath to them.

Children learn very early to associate their given name with themselves. It is how their parents address them, how they learn to distinguish themselves from others as they proceed into the world. The name we bestow upon our newborn baby is so much more than a collection of alphabet characters – it becomes representative of everything we are.

A baby’s name is a combination of letters and sounds that join together to create the single word we will use to evoke all that we hope our child will become. We have all had the experience of enjoying certain words more than others, of finding that certain sounds resound harshly in our ears. Language is the dividing line between our animal counterparts and ourselves, and is apowerful tool, and so it is important to bear in mind when choosing a name for your baby.

We also invest names with individual meanings, we personalise them to our own situation. They can remind us of relatives or friends, and the characteristics that these loved ones displayed. They can have unconscious or inexplicable connotations, and speak to us positively or negatively with the echo of old associations long since pushed from our awareness.

A child’s name should be chosen with great care. A name should be a thing of empowerment, as it carries within the precious burden of identity. A child’s experience of his or her name comes largely from parental suggestion, so be sure to choose a name for your baby that is filled with characteristics you admire.

Congratulations! Your child has been born

Pregnancy stages New life and new hope. First off, congratulations! However, having said that, there are a few things you need to know – things that people are unlikely to tell you about, but which might worry you if you don’t know about them in advance.

You should know that when your baby is born, there is a high probability that it will look very strange indeed. Babies can often be born blue or grey, and may have a deformed head from having to fit through such a small gap. They are generally bloody and bruised, and may be covered in body hair, especially if they were born prematurely. All this adds up to a very startling sight if you weren’t expecting it.

You shouldn’t worry, though, as the baby will return to normal quite quickly – the skin will go the right colours after a few minutes, when the baby starts to breathe, and any head injuries and odd hair should clear up after a few days. Just realize that it will take a few weeks before your baby starts to look like the cute little thing you were expecting.

The next thing you need to know is just what you should do with the baby after that. The most important thing is to breastfeed the baby. Baby ‘formula’ is like junk food for babies, and you should avoid it at all costs – it lacks most of the natural nutrients the baby needs, and will instead fill your baby with whatever chemicals you have in your water supply. Babies can see, hear and smell, although not very well, and the most important thing is for the baby to be near its mother – the sight of her, the sound of her voice and the smell and taste of her milk will soothe it better than any toy or gadget ever could.

Recommendation: Pregnancy Miracle