An Introduction to Baby Car Seats

Becoming a parent for the first time involves a huge amount of learning, as there are hundreds of things involved which childless people will have had no reason to come across before, nor had any incentive to learn about. When you first learn of the impending new arrival, your thoughts will probably be taken up with decorating and equipping a nursery, buying clothes, bottles, and much more, but many people don't think of a baby car seat until later on in the pregnancy. It's very important to make sure you know what to look for in a seat, as after all, you'll need one on your baby's very first journey, from the hospital back to home.

For this first journey, you'll need a seat which faces towards the rear of your vehicle. This provides the best protection in the event of an impact for an infant who is unable yet to support the weight of their own head. The seat will be nicely reclined backwards, providing a safe and comfortable coccoon for your baby.

It's important to choose a rear-facing seat which is sturdy and dependable, yet light to carry. Young babies sleep a little and often, and the last thing you want to do after finally getting your child to sleep in a car journey is to wake them by removing them from their warm and cosy seat. Having an easily detachable model which is light to carry means you can ferry your baby from car to house with as little disturbance as possible.

These rear facing seats are only suitable for younger infants. Once they've grown to weigh around 20 pounds, or the top of their head is nearing the upper edge of the seat and thus no longer protected properly, you'll need to move to a forward facing seat.

These seats are much more upright, but better models can be adjusted to provide a more horizontal position to help your toddler sleep during longer journeys. Because of the upright position, it's essential that your child is able to sit up on their own before using this kind of seat. Forward facing seats are built to last for a fair few years, and most will be good until your child reaches the age of 4 or 6.

Before we finish, there are two extremely important things to bear in mind when buying a car seat.

Firstly, you should be very careful when buying one that isn't brand new. Although it might seem like an economy to get a second hand seat, there's no way of knowing for sure its history. It may have been involved in an accident at some point in the past, resulting in weaknessess that may not be visible to the naked eye. These weaknesses could endanger your baby even in a minor accident. You should only buy a used seat when you can be absolutely sure of the history - such as when buying off close friends or family.

Finally, baby car seats shouldn't be fitted in front seats where an airbag is fitted. In an accident, the inflation of the airbag could cause serious injury or suffocation to a child, so always fit car seats in the rear of the vehicle in this case.

Guide To Massaging New Born Babies

Newborns simply love to be touched and cuddled. The skin to skin touch helps you and your baby bond, comforts your baby when she is upset or uneasy with gas or colic problems. Hence, touch is a critical part of growth and development.

The massage strokes used on adults are completely different from the strokes to be used on newborns. You can adapt the adult strokes to massage your child. Just make sure that your strokes are lighter on them. The younger they are, more delicate and smaller will be the strokes be.

It is ideal that you take your child either on your lap or lay him on any kind of elevated soft surface such as few thick towels put together. Be very gentle while massaging. If your child cries or does not enjoy it, stop massaging till it feels comfortable about the whole thing.

Massage steps for the front of the body

- Lay the child on the back. Start by stroking gently the face, move to the middle of the forehead and temples

- Stroke the cheeks from nose to ears and back moving down to the chin. Gently stroke the area around the eyes.

- Stroke the front of the body along the arms. Make clockwise circles around the navel with both hands. Do gentle wringing action across the abdomen and up the body.

- Take one arm at a time, start stroking from shoulder to hand to fingers. Massage the hand, squeeze and rotate each of the fingers in turn. Do the same for other arm.

- Take one leg at time. Do a gentle wring or squeeze up the leg and stroke down the leg. Do the same for other arm.

Massage steps for the back of the body

- Lay the child stomach down. Stoke up and over the back and along the arms.

- Do a gentle kneading on the child's shoulder

- Do a gentle wringing stroke all over the body. Massage the rear side with gentle kneading or pinching strokes.

- Slide smoothly down the spine alternating with both the hands. Start from the base of the neck and move to working down to the base of spine.

- Gently stroke the legs, bending the knee up and working all the way to the foot.

- Hold the anklebone between your fingertips and move both the hands in circular motion.

- Squeeze the heal with one hand and use the thumb of your other hand to massage the sole of the foot.

- Massage the toes by gentle squeezing, rotating and pulling it in turns. Hold the foot firmly between your hands for few seconds. Repeat the same for massaging the backside of other leg.

Lastly, turn the baby over and give it a final massage in two strokes. Start from one foot up the leg, across the lower abdomen and move down the other leg. Do light strokes from the top of head right down to the feet.

To massage the baby having gas or digestive problems, use the "I Love You" technique.

- Lay the baby on the back and undress it completely or just leave the diaper on.

- Use two or three fingers of your right hand to trace the alphabet "I" on the right side of the abdomen with gentle, yet firm movements.

- Next do a gentle stroke from left to right across the baby's abdomen and then do a small downward stroke along the right side of his stomach forming upside down "L" alphabet.

- Last, stroke up from the left side of your baby's hipbone moving towards the left side of the abdomen, across the baby’s body from left to right horizontally along the stomach and finally finish by stroking down the right side in the same manner, forming the "U" alphabet in upside down direction.

Getting the Baby Nursery Walls Ready

When planning your baby nursery, deciding on paint colors and then preparing and painting the walls is a major part of the design process.  You will want to choose paint colors that go well with the theme or design scheme that you have decided on for your baby’s nursery. The best way to do this is to take a piece of the nursery bedding to the paint store with you to pick out paint samples.  You may want to bring home the samples you choose to see how they look in the room.  Sometimes the room’s lighting will affect how the colors look, so doing this may save you the trouble of repainting the room if you are unhappy with the results.

If time allows, it is best to paint the nursery at least a month or two before the baby is expected.  This allows time for the room to air out.  You may also want to consider choosing paint that has no or low VOCs (volatile organic chemicals).  These types of paints may cost more but it is worth the additional cost since they will omit little or no fumes unlike normal paints.

If you want to get creative when painting the walls, you can try faux painting techniques such as sponging and ragging.  Another idea is to stencil designs on to the walls that match the theme you have picked for the room.  If you have an ocean theme, fish stenciled on the wall would look really cute. You can buy all the supplies you would need for stenciling or faux painting at your local home improvement or paint supply store.

Of course, you are not limited to paint when deciding what to do with the baby nursery’s walls.  Wallpapers, wallpaper borders, and murals are all great options for the nursery walls.  Wallpaper and border can sometimes be found to coordinate with your chosen nursery theme.  Sports, airplane, nautical, animals, Precious Moments, and Winnie the Pooh are just a few of the themes that you should easily be able to locate wallpaper or borders for.

If you want to go with a wall mural for your baby nursery, there are several routes you can take.  You can purchase a mural that can be put on the wall the same way wallpaper is.  You just assemble the mural piece by piece like applying wallpaper.  Another option available is paint by number mural kits that you paint on yourself.  If you don’t want a mural that covers the whole wall, peel and stick decals are a great option.  You can often find them to match many nursery themes.  The last option is to have a muralist paint the mural.  This can be quite pricey though unless you or someone you know is a gifted artist and able to do it.

Whatever you decide to do with your baby room walls, remember to take into consideration what you plan to do with the rest of the room’s d้cor.  Having walls that complement the room’s theme and design will bring the whole room together.

Finding The Right Child Care For Your Baby

If you’re planning to go back to work after your baby is born, child care is a major concern. Your childcare provider will be spending a lot of time with your child, so it is critical that you be comfortable with the environment and the style of care your child will be receiving. There are several alternatives, each with pros and cons. Spend some time evaluating each option, so that you can make the choice that best suits your needs.

The first option is in-home child care, meaning a sitter, or nanny who comes to your home to watch the child. This is by far the most expensive option, but it has many advantages. Your child will be at home, and will have the full attention of the nanny. In addition, your child will be exposed to fewer illnesses, and you will not have to transport her back and forth on your way to and from work. The main disadvantage is that you have no real backup if your nanny gets sick or wants to take vacation. Another thing to consider is your feelings if your child develops a very strong bond with the nanny. More than one mother has been hurt by the sense that the baby is more comfortable with the nanny than with her.

The second option is a small home daycare, meaning you find someone who will keep your child in her home, perhaps with her own children or one or two others. This is a good option if you want your child in a home atmosphere, but can’t afford the full time nanny. This option shares the same disadvantages of having a nanny in terms of no backup plan.

The third option is a traditional daycare center. Traditional daycares are affordable, and there is no need to worry about a caretaker getting sick or wanting to take vacation. A daycare might also be more of a learning environment than home care, which will become more important to you as your child gets older. The main disadvantages of daycares are that your child is exposed to all the germs of all the children. Be prepared for the both of you to be sick for a year. The other disadvantage is the numbers of children being cared for. For example, in most states, the law requires one caretaker per eight babies. Now, I don’t know about you, but I could not effectively care for eight babies alone. So, if you decide to use a daycare center, be sure to ask their caretaker to child ratio. Look for one with about five babies per caretaker.

Choosing your baby’s childcare arrangement is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Even after you’ve chosen a care option, be diligent about ensuring that your child is receiving the best care. Drop in unannounced at odd times of day to see what’s going on. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and let the caretaker know what’s important to you. It’s critical not only to your child’s well being, but to your own piece of mind.

Easy Tips To Keeping Kids Quiet While You’re On The Phone

One of the easiest ways to get into the telecommuting industry is to get a phone job. These phone jobs are more readily available than other telecommuting jobs and usually pay pretty well.

When you first start working on the phone from home, keeping the kids quiet can be a bit of a challenge. There is a fine line between keeping your child quiet and stifling the fun that kids should have every day. Here are some age-appropriate ideas on what you can do to make sure you get at least some quiet phone time in each day.

For Babies:

1. Keep them busy with some soft toys that make little or no noise. Fabric dolls and stuffed animals are a good choice. You can also use the stackable plastic rings. I found a soft, fabric covered box that came with a set of 4 finger puppets. The box had different openings and a mirror on one side. My baby spent hours putting the animals in and taking them back out.

2. Wear your baby in a sling. You will be able to nurse her while you work and she can take a nap in mommy’s lap. Get her used to the noise of everyday life in your house from the day you bring her home from the hospital. Don’t keep everyone in the house quiet. The baby will get used to hearing your voice and will be able to sleep even when you are talking on the phone…in fact she will find comfort in it.

3. Work while your baby naps. Try to get your baby on a good sleeping schedule that works for you and your job. Make sure you have something around that will sooth her quickly – like a favorite stuffed animal – should she wake up early while you are on the phone.

4. Work when someone else can watch the baby. You can get a few hours of work in while your husband is home. Ask a relative if she would be willing to watch the baby a few hours a week. You can also trade babysitting with a friend or neighbor. Offer to watch her child for a few hours a week, if she will do the same for you.

For Children:

1. Get your children on a sleeping schedule and work while they nap. Don’t let them sleep too late in the afternoon, or you will have a hard time getting them down at night.

2. Work while you husband or significant other is home, or ask a relative if she would be willing to watch your children for a few hours a day. You can also look for a Mom’s morning off program in your area. Your child will get to play with other kids while you work. Trading babysitting or arranging play-dates will work as well.

3. Give your kids a special game to play. Many board games work well, or if you have an additional computer you can pick up some age appropriate software. The key is to find something that doesn’t make a lot of noise and will keep their attention for a little while. Make sure you don’t use any given game too often, or your child will get board with it quickly.

4. Use a noise-quieting headset. If your kids do get loud from time to time – and believe me they will – the headset will cancel most of the noise. It’s well worth the small investment. Be sure to invest in a good quality headset though.

5. Work in short intervals while the kids are around. Kids can only be good and quiet for so long. Make sure you take frequent breaks to play with them. Have a tickle session, take them out to the yard to play catch, play hide and go seek for a few minutes. Just let them be kids and get rid of some of that build up energy.

6. Teach them that they need to listen to you when you ask them to be quiet. They will learn to respect your need for some time to work. Make sure you give them something interesting to do and pay them lots of attention when you are not working. This should work as long as you don’t ask them to stay quiet for hours at a time. Just be firm and stick to your guns when they do get noisy while you work.

Always remember that kids will be kids. Keep your sense of humor. It’s not the end of the world if you have to excuse yourself from a phone conversation to break up a fight or attend to a child that needs you. Your kids will get noisy from time to time. Try your best to keep them quiet, but not at the expense of stressing yourself out or expecting too much from your kids.

Does Genes Influence Child Behaviour?

Many different things have an impact on a child's behaviour.

Genes
Some children are naturally more lively and excitable than others. They may be easily distracted and enjoy company rather than spending time on their own. Although boisterous, you’ll usually be able to control their behaviour.

School
You may notice a change in your child's behaviour when she starts school. If your child has problems learning things or is slower in picking things up, this can affect her behaviour. Reading problems can also make it hard to complete tasks or follow instructions.

Parental behaviour
Problems are a part of everyday life, but if you are unhappy and absorbed in dealing with them, it will affect the time you spend with your child. To counter this, your child may try to attract attention through noisy behaviour.

If it isn’t clear to your child what is and isn't allowed, it can result in difficult behaviour. This is because rules let your child know you don’t like a certain type of conduct.

Clear, consistent rules will help your child learn to control her own behaviour. So if you're a two-parent family, you and your partner need to agree on the boundaries.

If you're a working parent, it's also something that needs discussing with your child's carers. Sensitivity to food or medicine.

There's no doubt food can affect the way we feel. You may notice certain foods affect your child’s behaviour. If you’re concerned about your child’s diet, you should ask your GP or a dietician for advice. All children need a healthy balanced diet.Medicines can also affect the behaviour of some children.

Some asthma medications may sometimes make a child hyperactive, irritable or unable to sleep for a short time. Travel sickness medicines and antihistamines have the potential to make children either drowsy or overactive. Children may feel irritable following vaccines or if a medicine has caused a headache. If you think any medicine is making your child behave differently, talk to your GP. It may be that your child’s behaviour is unrelated to the medicine, but if it is, your GP may be able to suggest an alternative treatment.

Medical problems
Certain medical conditions can affect your child's behaviour. Epileptic seizures can cause a child to become drowsy, impairing their attention. Epilepsy can also cause unusual behaviour and lead to abnormal perceptions.

Hearing problems such as deafness or glue ear can make it hard for a child to follow instructions. Sometimes, not hearing what's been said can be mistaken for not doing what you're told.

Dating, Drugs And Alcohol

I love you so much. I wish that I could always protect you from all dangers, but I know that I can’t. You are growing up and you will have to face dangers and make some decisions on your own. However, I am always here and I can always be a pretty good coach. Please talk to me anytime about any problem you may have, even if you have messed up. I have messed up a few times myself.

I was thinking about my last letter on dating. I would like to continue those thoughts. As I think about the potential dangers to avoid, drugs and alcohol are at the top of the list.

The moment you learn that a boyfriend is using any type of illegal drug, begin choosing the location for the break up. Never let the relationship continue thinking that he will give up the drugs for you. I know this sounds cruel, but it is true. People who are using drugs will look you in the eye and convincingly lie about the drug use. The drug use actually alters their personality. They will lie and do things that they wouldn’t normally do.

When you break up with someone over drug use, it’s a little different situation. As described before, choose a semi-private but public location, such as a restaurant. Take your own transportation and enough one dollar bills to pay for whatever you order, if you are meeting in a restaurant.

Get straight to the issue. If you like him, tell him so. If he has some good points, compliment him. Then tell him that you cannot continue dating him because he uses drugs. Tell him that this is something you decided long ago and that you are sticking to it. If it is true, tell him that you still consider him to be a friend, but you will not date him.

He will try to minimize the drug use. He may say that he doesn’t use drugs that often, and that it’s no big deal, everyone does it. He may say that he can quit anytime he wants to quit. He may try to make you feel guilty for treating him so badly. Don’t believe any of this. Tell him that only he can decide what he wants to do, you wish him the best and that you hope, for his sake, he does decide to give up the drugs. Get up and leave.

In about a week or so he may call to tell you that he is off all drugs and doing great. Congratulate him and tell him that you will not consider dating him until he has been drug free for at least a year. He will then try to make you feel bad for being so unreasonable. He may even try to make you feel guilty for not helping him stay off drugs by continuing the relationship. Without you he may start using drugs again. Don’t buy any of this. Tell him that it is up to him to quit the drugs, not you. You are not responsible for his behavior. By the way, if you are thinking that everyone does some drugs so there is no one left to date, you are hanging around the wrong people.

While we are on the subject, do we need to talk about drug use? I don’t think that we do, but if we do, please, please, let’s talk. You need to know that there is a lot of false information out there, most of which comes from the people who are using the drugs. They make it sound really good. It’s not. I have seen many people lose their family, friends, their productive lifestyle, and sometimes their life, because the drug became number one in their life.

Do you know what upsets me the most? Not a single one of those people set out to destroy their life. I am certain that if these people had known what destruction lay ahead, they would have never taken that first drug that seemed so harmless. In reality, the most dangerous illegal drug is the first one taken. It seems so harmless in the beginning.

In spite of the seriousness of drug use there is a simple solution; simply don’t do it. Don’t take that first drug. No matter how harmless it may seem or how good other people make it sound, don’t do it. Make that decision now, before you find yourself faced with “friends” who are encouraging you to “just try it.” Make the decision now so that you will not have to decide when under pressure. There comes a time when you have to make some decisions about yourself. Make good decisions.

By the way, what would you do if you were with a group of friends and suddenly alcohol or an illegal drug turns up? You may be thinking “Don’t take it.” That’s a good answer, but you must do more in this situation. You must leave the group immediately. If the individual with the drugs or alcohol is caught and arrested, the whole group will be arrested. It is important that you choose wisely when it comes to friends. I will have more to say about this in a future letter.

Let me also mention a few things about alcohol. Alcohol is probably the most dangerous drug available in terms of destruction to individuals and families. The reason it is so destructive is because it is legal, socially accepted and readily available.

For those who have trouble with alcohol, the onset of problems is slow and not even noticeable to the victim. Victims of both drug and alcohol dependence often have their world falling apart all around them, and they are in total denial of the problem and the consequences.

You are under age. It is illegal for you to drink alcohol. This makes my advice simple for now. Don’t do it. It’s that simple. No doubt you will find yourself at a party and there will be alcohol present. Don’t do it, leave immediately. It’s illegal and you could be arrested.

When you become an adult and are living on your own, you will have to decide what you will do about alcohol. Some people can drink socially and never have a problem with alcohol abuse or dependence. Other people begin with social drinking and the use slowly increases until it becomes abuse with the entire range of social, and eventually, physical problems. Which group are you in? I don’t know either.

I want you to know that there is a danger involved. To avoid the danger, the best thing to do is choose to not drink alcohol. This is the safest route and the one that I recommend to you.

As far as dating someone who is using alcohol, it is similar to the drug issue. You are under age. If your date brings alcohol around you, he is putting you in danger. You could be arrested. He is being irresponsible and this is your cue to plan the break up. What if he is older and is of legal age to use alcohol? It doesn’t matter. He is still endangering you. Plan the break up.

What will you do later on, when you are of legal age to drink alcohol, and your boyfriend drinks alcohol? This is not a black and white situation. If you have chosen the safe route and you do not drink alcohol, you may have decided that you will only date people who, like you, do not drink alcohol. If so, this simplifies things.

On the other hand, if you wish to continue dating the person, there may or may not be danger. As discussed earlier, some people have trouble with alcohol and some don’t. If the relationship becomes serious, discuss your concerns with him. If you have a good relationship, an in-depth discussion should not be a problem. Remember that you always have access to professional drug and alcohol counselors who can help you evaluate your situation. Be sure you are comfortable with the situation up front rather than after the marriage.

Communicating To Your Child Through Text

Today people are using their cell phones for much more than talking. In fact, the biggest craze that is sweeping the cell phone industry is text messages.  Text messages are short messages that are sent either via cell phone or computer to a cell phone. Instead of answering the phone and talking, the person receiving the message can read it and type back a response. Teenagers and adult like text messages but teenagers especially seem to enjoy using text messaging to communicate with their friends. Many people find this a better way to communicate because it is not as disruptive as making a call and less time consuming. This is especially true when someone is at work or school and is already at a computer. It is very quick and easy to send a text message right from your computer to someone’s cell phone.

Text messages are also useful for when there are situations where you want to communicate but can not disrupt anyone in order to do so. Perhaps there is a meeting and you want to communicate with a colleague. You may not want to disrupt the speaker or presenter my leaning over and talking so a text message is the perfect way to communicate. The meeting is not disrupted and you can discuss whatever you need to or relay important information subtly.

The same theory is true for teenagers and today’s text message is similar to the passing notes of old. This, however, does disrupt the intended purpose of the classroom and is why cell phones are banned at many schools. If they are not banned outright, there are usually restrictions on their use and where and when they can be turned on. Teenagers who have cell phones need to understand basic cell phone etiquette and know when and where there is an appropriate time to use text messaging. During movies, though, text messaging among teenagers is a lot of fun. They can comment on the movie or the latest gossip without disrupting those around them who are tying to enjoy the movie.

Many of today’s top instant messaging services have incorporated the use of text messaging to a cell phone into their products. Just as people can use the keypad on their telephone to send messages, they can also use their instant messaging program to send from the computer to a cell phone. This can be very convenient for anyone. It allows a person to be mobile and still get their office and personal communication when they are on the go. Many office personnel use instant messaging to communicate in addition to email. If there is a need for a quick answer or if there is an urgent situation, colleagues can reach one another instantly regardless of where the other person is and if they are able to speak on the phone or not.

Many wireless plans allow a certain amount of text messaging each month similarly to the amount of minutes that are allotted. Some plans also charge on a per text message fee. With the growing popularity of text messages it is important to understand how your text messages are charged so you do not accrue a large bill at the end of the month. Compare plans and determine what your text messaging usage will be before deciding on one. For parents of teenagers with cell phones a pre paid plan may be ideal so if they go over their allotted text messages, they will not incur additional charges aside from the monthly budget

Text messaging is a convenient and fun way to communicate. You can text message from cell phone to cell phone or you can even message from a computer to a cell phone and back. The convenience that it affords allows people to communicate in just about any venue at any time. There are various prices and billing methods for text messages so you should check with your plan to be sure you have something suitable for your needs. Using your cell phone to communicate via text messaging is a great way to keep in touch with friends, family and colleagues. It allows people more freedom to do what they want but still be available to others if they are needed. This is an ideal way for people to communicate during times when talking on the phone is not appropriate and you need to be more subtle.

Choosing A Nursery Theme For Your Baby

It is a huge responsibility to plan for the baby’s nursery. Furniture must be selected; walls painted and most important is the criterion of safety measures. But the most interesting part of the entire planning is to select the theme of the nursery. Zeroing on the theme of the nursery would be the first step towards the planning process because it would set the basis on which you would decorate the entire nursery of the baby.

For the room of baby, you would never run of themes because of the sheer number of them available. You can select a theme that is masculine or feminine depending on the gender of the baby, or you could go for a neutral theme in case you plan to have more babies. This will ensure that you will not have to redecorate the room when the next baby arrives with a different gender. If your next baby is a girl then a blue based theme for your boy would not work for her. Similarly a boy would not be entertained in a nursery with a pink princess theme.

If you want to create a nursery that will cause stimulation to the baby’s mind as he or she grows, try going for geometric patterns and shapes and bright primary colors. Yellow, blue and red are the most common colors that provide stimulation to toddlers. And if the shapes and patterns are big enough, you can try using them on walls and bedding, it would be equally helpful. Since it takes a few months for a baby to fully realize his vision, the bright and huge patterns would be a welcome exercise for him.

No matter what theme you finally settle for, prepare yourself to be in it for some years. The majority of babies are not prepared for a room of a toddler until they reach the age of two or three. Because toddler beds utilize similar size bedding and mattress as does a crib, you can go on with the theme you chose for him as an infant if you so wish.

Enjoy yourself while planning the decoration of the nursery, irrespective of the theme chosen. This is one of the happiest moments of your life, moments that you would cherish all your life.