Baby Advice @ Cuddles 'n Gifts sending smiles!

Sleepless nights are one of the first things that come to mind when thinking of taking care of a newborn or infant. The sleep-deprived parents may not realize that their baby is actually sleeping 16-20 hours a day! Your baby’s sleep schedule is just very different from yours. Babies spend a longer time in light sleep, deeper sleep in true sleep and drift in and out of deep sleep and light sleep in shorter amounts of time.

The amount of sleep needed varies with each child and age of the child. Some babies are longer sleepers and others enjoy short naps throughout the day.

Here are some facts and information that will help you understand why your baby isn’t sleeping or the crazy sleep schedule they force you to fall into and some tips on how to get your baby to fall asleep.

Newborns do not know the difference between day and night, they need to sleep and eat around the clock. For the first six weeks or so your baby will need to sleep every two hours or so and will probably not sleep longer than 3 or 4 hours. You can start to teach your baby the difference between day and night by playing with it and speaking louder during the day but being more subdued at night. You can start establishing healthy sleeping habits at this age by learning when your baby is tired, if your baby is rubbing their eyes or developing faint dark circles under the eyes put your baby to sleep. If you wait too long the baby may have trouble getting some shut eye. You will soon know instinctively when your baby is ready for a nap. When your baby is about six to eight weeks old try to let him fall asleep on his own, put him to bed when he is sleepy but still awake, that way your baby will learn healthy sleep habits and will be less likely to need to be rocked every night in the future. .

Another good way to establish healthy sleeping habits is to set up a routine. Here is a good example of a bedtime routine:

• Start with a bath or just washing their hands and face, make sure that your bedtime is as consistent as possible every night.
• Change diaper and put on pajamas.
• Singing a quiet lullaby is soothing to the baby when it is a familiar voice.
• While you prepare your baby for bed, if you prefer not to sing, put in a tape/cd of baby-friendly sounds on low volume and leave it on after you leave the room.
• Cuddle and rock your baby before you lay her down to bed.
• Try to make it short and put your baby in her crib while she is still awake.

In the early months all you can do is try to go to bed early and nap when your baby naps, so you can get enough active sleep to cope with the next day. However soon your baby will not associate needing another feed with falling asleep and you won’t need to attend to them every hour.

At about 3 or 4 months your nights of getting up every three hours are probably over, by now your baby is sleeping 14-15 hours a day , 9-10 of those are spent at night and then various naps through the day. You might still be getting up once and a while for night feedings at the beginning of this stage but by six months old your child should be capable of sleeping through the night.

Whether your baby does or not depends on if he is learning good sleeping habits and patterns. If you haven’t set up a bedtime routine yet, now would be the best time to do so, babies thrive on consistency.

So while sleepless nights have been and probably will always be just one of the many joys of parenthood there are several ways to make this time easier to deal with for baby and parents. Just remember to get as much rest as you can during the first few weeks when your baby will need to be feed, changed, or played with every couple of hours, make sure to nap when your baby naps. The better you’re rested the better parent you will be able to be.

Pamper the new mom with a gift basket created especially for her and the new baby. Filled with spa gifts and baby items, these gift baskets are memorable!

You may have heard about the recent comments about breastfeeding that Barbra Walters made on the popular talk show “The View.” When the subject of breastfeeding came up on the show, Walters shared a story about a woman who had sat next to her on a plane; she said, “She didn’t cover the baby with a blanket. It made us uncomfortable.”

That comment turned out to be a very big mistake for Walters because the next week activists from around the country showed up outside the studio to hold a pubic “nurse-in.” This might have been taking it a little far but it is not hard to understand why so many women would be upset about her comments. Breastfeeding women should not be made to feel uncomfortable or ashamed about feeding their babies when they need to be fed. On that note, here are several reasons why breast-feeding is so good for your child.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, extensive research, especially in recent years, documents diverse and compelling advantages to infants, mothers, families, and society from breastfeeding and the use of human milk for infant feeding. These include health, nutritional, immunologic, developmental, psychological, social, economic, and environmental benefits.

Breastfeeding offers several health advantages to your baby:

• Improved Eyesight and Hand/Eye Coordination
  Breastfeed babies have to use their hands and eyes to figure out the distance between their mouth and mother’s nipple. This helps them develop good hand/eye coordination, especially if they are switched from one breast to another.
• Jaw and Teeth Development and Fewer Cavities
• Since babies who nurse have to work harder than bottle fed babies to draw milk into their mouths this strengthens their jaw muscles and promotes better tooth alignment. Breastfeeding babies draw milk towards the back of their throat, away from their teeth. Formula from a bottle tends to stay in a baby’s mouth, exposing gums and teeth to more sugar. Special enzymes in breast milk (those are absent in formula) also reduce the build-up of decay by quickening the breakdown of milk sugars.
• Less Gas
• Breast milk is lower in protein than formula, making it easier for baby to digest, and it is easier on the baby’s stomach. This means gas, constipation, and stomach upset that can be painful for a baby.
• May Reduce Risk of SIDS: Reports from the National Institute of Health indicate that breastfeeding may reduce a baby’s risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. There is still no definitive answer to why, but one theory suggests that the breast milk may protect infants from certain infections that can trigger SIDS.

Not only is breastfeeding healthy for you baby but you can benefit from it as well. Breastfeeding postpones menstruation; it delays the reoccurrence of a woman’s menstrual cycle for several months. Breastfeeding lowers the risk of cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis. Less exposure to estrogen over their lifetimes might also account for why breastfeeding women report fewer cases of breast cancer. The results of a study published in the International Family Planning Perspectives (2002) indicate that a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer is reduced by four percent for every twelve months she breastfeeds, regardless of her reproductive history.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that “although economic, cultural, and political pressures often confound decisions about infant feeding, the AAP firmly adheres to the position that breastfeeding ensures the best possible health as well as the best developmental and psychosocial outcomes for the infant.”

Moms tend to think about everyone but themselves, which is great for everyone around them but it can take a toll on even the most devoted mom. In order to keep your sanity it is important that moms take time out to relax and regroup.

I know it is easier said then done, there is always one more diaper to change, one more meal to cook or one more load of laundry to do. So what can you do to take time out for yourself and when are you supposed to do it? Here are a few ideas to help get your mommy time out started.

1. Ask your husband, a friend or a family member to watch the kids for a while. In just a few hours you could go see that movie you have been dying to see, minus screaming babies and frequent trips to the bathroom to avoid bothering other people. In just two hours you can get your hair done, a manicure and a pedicure. Imagine how relaxing just two hours of alone time would be.
2. Chances are you won’t be able to get someone to take the kids everyday for a few hours but it’s still important to take a mini time out everyday. By doing this you will spare the children from unwarranted outburst and yourself from slipping into depression.
3. Leave the dishes, the laundry and the spill in the kitchen for just thirty minutes, maybe while the baby is napping or while the kids are watching a cartoon. Just taking thirty minutes to relax or work on a hobby will alleviate some of the days stress.
4. Wake up and hour early or go to bed an hour late, the kids will be sleeping and you can spend sometime getting ready in the morning or watching TV.
5. Exercise regularly can be a great way to get you going and keep you in shape for keeping up with your kids.
6. Eat right, veggies and fruit will charge your immune system, the last thing you need is a sick mommy.
7. Remind yourself that you can’t control everything. Don’t spend your mommy time out worrying about what is going on at the house, your husband is perfectly capable of handling the kids alone for two hours.
8. Start a baby swap, a baby swap is when two or more moms agree to take each others children for a few hours to give the other some free time on a weekly or monthly basis.
9. Share the load. Sit down with your family and divide the chores. By sharing the load you can make more time for everyone and by giving
10. When hit overload just taking a few minutes to sit and think about the positive things in your life can make you feel better.
11. You don’t need to be busy every minute of the day. Stay home with your family. Don’t make a commitment unless it is important to you. Get in the habit of saying no to things you don’t want to, or don’t have time to do and don’t feel guilty about it.

While motherhood is a very rewarding experience and totally worth the sacrifice it can be stressful and with all that you do for your family it’s hard to think about yourself, but very important. By taking care of yourself, you also teach your children the importance of taking care of their own mental and physical health. Look at the time spent on yourself as an investment to make you a better, happier mom for your husband and your children.

So its time to potty train your child, I know what your thinking! How am I ever going to do this? This is one of the great joys of parenthood; it can be a very difficult step in your child’s development. A child is ready to be potty trained anywhere between 11/2 to 3 years old and you will usually get clues as to when your child may be ready like showing an interest in the potty or wanting to wear “big kid” underwear. Everyone eventually gets the hang of it, it’s very unlikely that your child will go to high school with a diaper on so don’t worry too much, but if you need a little extra help here are some potty training tips to get you child on the road to going on his own.

First let’s talk about the don’ts of potty training your child

• Don’t force potty training on your child. Forcing your child to go will only create an atmosphere that he or she may be scared of and you will face more resistance.
• Don’t start potty training when a big life even is going on, stress, good or bad can be bad for potty training. Wait until life settles down so that your child will associate potty training with structure and routine. Don’t make accidents a big deal.
• Don’t get mad or upset, make sure they know that its natural and everyone does it and take the opportunity to show them the potty and explain to them that this is where they need to go next time. By getting angry or making it a big deal when your child ahs an accident it will actually reinforce it and may cause more accidents.
• Don’t expect your child to be trained to last through the night anytime soon. It is completely normal for bedwetting to happen up to age four.
• Don’t discount your child’s fears about potty training. Some children will be afraid of the sound of the toilet flushing, they might not understand where the toilet is going too, or they may be afraid to fall in. Explain and be patient with them no matter how silly the fear is.
• Don’t try to set a deadline, or a day that your child must be potty trained by. Each child is different and it may take some a week and others a year. Programs that promise your child will be trained in 7 days only leave the parents and children feeling as if they failed.

Ok now we can move on to what you should do:

• First you need to help your child recognize the signs of having to go to the bathroom. Usually your child will tell you after they have already done their business but this is a good sign that your child is starting to understand this bodily function. Make sure to praise your child for telling you and tell them to try and let you know next time before they go.
• Make trips to the potty a routine thing. If your child acts like he needs to go take him to the potty and let him sit but only for a few minutes at a time. If your child resists strongly do not force him to stay. Take your child at the same times everyday like first thing in the morning, after eating, after naps and before bed.
• Teach your child good hygiene and explain the purpose of bodily waste. Let your child know how to wipe properly (girls should wipe front to back to avoid bringing germs from the rectum to the vagina) and teach them to wash their hands after using the potty.
• Encourage the use of training pants and underwear.

It may seem impossible in the beginning but if you take it slow and pay attention to your child’s needs you should have no problem. Trust me this probably won’t be the biggest challenge you face with your child.

So you have reached the terrible two’s stage in your child’s development. You may be wondering where your sweet little girl went as she kicks and screams in fits of anger on the floor at the toy store. Children throw tantrums as a way to express anger and frustration, and you can’t really get mad at them because they don’t know how to properly deal with these normal feelings and its your job to teach them. It is important that you learn to communicate clearly with your baby and then most of the tantrums will disappear.

An important thing to remember when your child is throwing a tantrum is to never punish them. By punishing them you are making the tantrum worse at the moment and will prolong the behavior in the future. Also do not give into the child’s demands, if you do you are teaching them that they can use tantrums as a manipulation tool and that habit will be a hard one to break.

It may be easy to let the disapproval of onlookers to affect the way you handle the tantrum but don’t let this happen, your child need consistency and you don’t need to change your method to fit others opinions.

During the tantrum you should stay calm and try to distract them. You should calmly continue with whatever you are doing - chatting to someone else, packing your shopping or whatever. Every so often check to make sure your child is safe. Ignoring your child is very hard, but if you don’t you are giving them the attention they are demanding. Tantrums are not fun unless you have an audience so create a tantrum room.

Anytime your child has a tantrum make sure to take them to a specific room probably their own and tell them they are not allowed to come out until they are finished with the tantrum. If they do come out and are still having the tantrum, calmly take them back into the room and tell them again. After a while your child will start to understand that they are not getting the attention by screaming and yelling and they should calm down and come out.

After the tantrum pay attention to good behavior and as you see them starting to calm down, praise them. Then have a talk with them, it is important to help your child understand his or her feelings and how to deal with them. Don’t get into why your child was frustrated but focus on the tantrum itself and let them know that type of behavior is not appropriate. Teach your child words to say instead of screaming. Let them know you know they were angry and next time say “I am angry” instead of throwing the tantrum. Make sure your child understands by repeating yourself and asking them what they are going to do next time they feel angry.

Throwing tantrums are just a part of growing up, it is important to stay calm and remember that your child is still the sweet little baby you had before but she is just learning to deal with her emotions and she needs you to help her find words to express herself instead of throwing tantrums. Your child will find that positive attention is much better than negative attention unless the tantrum is the best way to get it.

Pregnancy is an amazing time, from the moment of conception, 46 chromosomes with 30,000 genes combine to determine all your baby’s physical characteristics: sex, facial features, body type, color of hair, eyes and skin. Even more amazingly, intelligence and personality are already in place within your baby’s genetic code. It is a time when the uterus expands to 500 times its normal size and your food cravings have become more than just want but an uncontrollable need. Here are some fun and interesting facts about this amazing time.

• A fetus in the womb can hear. Tests have shown that fetuses respond to various sounds just as vigorously as they respond to pressures and internal sensations.
• A four month old fetus will startle and turn away if a bright light is flashed on its mother’s belly.
• Children born in the month of May are on the average 200 grams heavier at birth than children born in any other month.
• A survey conducted at Iowa State College in 1969 suggests that a parent’s stress at the time on conception plays a major role in determining a baby’s sex.
• The child tends to be of the same sex as the parent who is under less stress.
• According to Aristotle, wind direction determined whether a baby would be a boy or a girl.
• The number of triplets born in the US in 1994 (4,594) was more than triple the number born in 1971 (1,034), an increase attributed to older age of the mothers and the use of fertility enhancing drugs and techniques.
• Did you know that a baby is born every three seconds?
• The largest number of children born to one woman is recorded at 69.
• From 1725 - 1765 a Russian peasant woman gave birth to 16 sets of twins, 7 sets of triplets and 4 sets of quadruplets.
• The first child ever born on the continent of Antarctica was born in 1978.
• The average stay in a hospital to give birth was 4.1 days in 1970. It was 2.6 days in 1993.
• Rosanna Dalla Corte an Italian woman gave birth at 63 years of age on July 18th 1994!
• The shortest interval between two children born to separate confinements is 208 days. Record breaking mother Jayne Bleackley gave birth to Joseph Robert on September 3, 1999, and Annie Jessica Joyce on March 30, 2000.
• The longest interval between the births of two children to the same mother is 41 years 185 days. Elizabeth Ann Buttle of Cwmann, Wales, UK, gave birth to Belinda on May 19,1956 and Joseph on November 20, 1997, aged 60.

As amazing as these facts are it is even more amazing to see a child that was once no bigger than a pea turn into a full grown human being with opinions and ideas of its own. When I was little I remember hearing that babies were brought to us by the stork! As cute as that idea may be, the true facts are obviously a lot more complex and interesting than the “stork delivering baby” concept. Perhaps by studying these facts you’ll come to appreciate even more how babies are an amazing gift from above!

Have you ever stopped to think how quickly time passes by, especially as you get older? I look back and it seems like yesterday that I was graduating from high school, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed looking at the big world before me. Gee, that was 18 years ago!

Where exactly did the time go?

As a child we wish to be of a certain age, mostly so that we can have the freedom that adults do to explore the world and do what we wish to do at any given time. Our parents would tell us “Don’t wish the years away. Enjoy your childhood.” Did we listen?

I suppose as a child we feel like we are under the ball and chain of our parents, with curfews, school schedules, and chores. True enough, we have so many more responsibilities being an adult but we didn’t think of that in our younger years. We had one focus and that was being “free.”

Now I look back and wish to be a child again. Now it is me telling children to “Enjoy your childhood” and “Don’t wish your life away.” It doesn’t surprise me that they aren’t listening!

When I was younger I used to look at someone who was 30 years of age as being old…until I became 30. Now, almost 36, I look at someone who is 50 as being old. Guess what? It’s not that far away.

How does one stay young at heart?

As the years went on, Christmas, Easter, and all the special occasions we celebrate began to have no meaning and no grand excitement as it did when I was a child. Life really didn’t have a cause or a purpose after awhile either. What role exactly did I play in life? Where was the meaning in my life? Where was all the joy and excitement of the holidays?

At 32 years of age, the answers to those questions were answered. At 34 years of age, they were again answered. It was at those times that I became a Mother and my whole life in the present and future was changed. I was rewarded with two beautiful children and these little ones gave me the meaning, role and joy and excitement of my life.

It is my children that keep me young at heart. Oh, yes, I am sleep depraved and feel at times that I am going on 60. There are other times as I am singing nursery rhymes to them that I feel like I am 5 all over again.

As they grow older my goal is to instill in them to live life to the fullest and enjoy all the experiences of their childhood. Yes, I will tell them not to wish their life away. I laugh, though, because I know they won’t listen. Or maybe they will…

If their childhood is filled with happiness and joy they will be less apt to wish the years away. My belief is that it is how a child is brought up that will depend on how quickly the child wishes to be an adult. If a child’s younger years are filled with love, happiness and fulfillment I truly believe that the child will love each moment of their life.

Babies are a gift to be treasured and from the first moment that your baby enters the world, give them the love of life. Keep them young at heart!

Enjoy your time with your baby for he/she will keep “you” young at heart.

There is no gift as precious as a new baby and there is nothing as sacred as the bond between a parent and a child. Bonding, or attachment, is the sense of connection between parents and infants that forms the foundation of the parent-child relationship. Bonding begins between a mother and a baby in utero and continues to grow after the baby is born and throughout childhood.

Studies have proven that babies can hear, feel and experience emotions long before they are born. Therefore, it is important for parents to talk, read, and sing to their unborn baby thus creating the initial bond between parent and child.

The first few moments, or even weeks, after the birth of a new baby may surprise you. The process of bonding with your new baby may or may not happen immediately. Each person’s reaction to their new baby is unique and different.

If you think that you will fall in love with your baby right after the birth, you may be disappointed. It may take time and usually love takes days and weeks to develop as you get to know each other. However, you may feel an extreme powerful rush of feelings for your newborn after the birth.

After 9 months of living in a nice, warm, secure environment which the baby could hear the mother’s heartbeat, suddenly, at birth, the baby is rushed out into the cold environment. It is very important that the baby feels it’s mother’s skin next to him/her as soon as possible. This will keep the baby warm and provide a sense of security for the baby. It is equally important that the father is present at the birth of the baby and is able to hold the baby after birth.

However, bonding right after birth is not always possible and doesn’t always happen immediately. Mothers who can’t have immediate, close contact with their babies can still bond very well with them later on.

For your baby, the bond may not be instant and is formed gradually and over time. A secure attachment develops from nurturing and responsive attention. Responding to your baby’s needs in a loving manner will help him/her develop a strong sense of trust in you, himself and it’s environment.

There are many other ways that will develop and strengthen the bond between parent and child, such as:

Interact with your baby face-to-face.

Lovingly touch your baby.

Provide skin-to-skin contact.

Talk to your baby.

Sing to your baby.

Read to your baby.

Play music and gently dance with your baby around the room.

Smile at your baby.

Bonding with your infant is a very important step in a parent-child relationship. From the time you hear that you have been blessed with the conception of your new baby, start creating the bonds of love that will last throughout a lifetime.

Cuddles ‘n Gifts has many wonderful baby gift baskets filled with books and toys that will provide a good start to the bonding process of parent and child.

It’s subtle and irreversible and the inevitable does occur! That macho man with whom you have conceived a child with will turn to mush. Listen closely and you will hear the sweet sound!

To those expectant fathers, never say the word “never.” Once you hold your newborn baby in your arms, gaze at the face full of wonder and feel your heart overflow with love, you, too, will be one of the many men who speak the baby language.

The descent into the world of Babytalk will overcome you too!

Even the most dignified, professional human being or the most largest, burliest man is guilty of talking gibberish and cooing at their sweet baby.

“My little pookie needs a nappy nap?”

“Do you wanna babba?”

Or “How about some yum yums?”

Where do those words come from? Why is it that a new baby will turn your normal language into an English teacher’s worst nightmare?

Your newborn baby certainly cannot speak the language so we tend to go to their level. Your baby likes to be tickled. It is fun. Your baby likes to hear “How’s my little pooky?” That is fun. The newborn baby responds to this even though he/she may not understand it, however, it makes your baby happy. It’s a wonderful way to entertain your new baby.

Sure, it may not be intellectual and it may not make any sense at all. However, would your baby like to hear “The Federal Government is in a deficit and needs to raise federal taxes?” No, that is not fun and it certainly will not be understood by the little one who has just entered into this big world. There is much time in the future for this lesson in real life.

Adult men often have a voice that is often demanding, loud and can be scary to a baby. It is a natural instinct to soften your voice and speak the language of Babytalk. It is a way of bonding and creating a sense of security for your baby.

Yes, your language will change and no matter how resolved you are in saying that you will never stoop to that level, you will turn to mush. It’s amazing what a new baby, your new baby, will bring to your life. You may feel like your IQ level has gone downhill as you start singing nursery rhymes in the car to the little one and you become a bumbling baffoon.

However, the rewards are huge and there is nothing like the love received from a child. There is nothing like the smile your baby will give you while you are talking, playing or holding him/her. Fatherhood is a wonderful experience and the love in your heart will grow with each passing day, even if your once set of excellent language skills are tossed away the moment you see your newborn baby.

Embrace your sensitive side and embrace your new life as a father!

Nine months you have waited patiently and excitedly for the precious event that lay ahead - the birth of your new baby and to hold him/her for the very first time. You dreamed of it and you planned for it, and the time arrives and your feelings are not like you expected. Instead of the overwhelming feeling of joy and love that you expected to feel, you feel anxious, depressed, exhausted and just not yourself.

How can it be that you can feel so unhappy and overwhelmed? You are not alone. One in 10 women experience a condition called postpartum depression (PPD) after childbirth.

After childbirth there are three types of depression that can occur, and these are the baby blues, postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis.

The most common form of depression is the baby blues, and the following symptoms characterize this type of depression:

• mild sadness
• tearfulness
• anxiety
• irritability for no clear reason
• mood fluctuations
• fatigue

When do the baby blues occur? They start 3-4 days after delivery and can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. The baby blues are short-lived as they often resolve within about 10 days after childbirth.

Postpartum depression usually occurs about 4 weeks after childbirth. PPD is a mix of physical, emotional and behavioral changes that occur in a mother after giving birth. Ten percent of new mothers experience this more serious type of depression. Symptoms range from mild to severe depression and may appear within days of delivery or gradually, perhaps up to a year later.

Some symptoms of PPD are:

• Loss of interest or pleasure in life
• Loss of appetitie
• Less energy and motivation to do things
• A hard time falling asleep or staying asleep.
• Sleeping more than usual
• Increased crying or tearfulness
• Feeling worthless, hopeless or guilty
• Feeling irritable or anxious
• Unexplained weight loss or gain
• Having thoughts about hurting yourself
• Having thoughts about harming the baby

For each woman, the length of time that PPD lasts is different - some feel better in a couple of weeks while others may feel depressed for months. Most women experience PPD for 6 months and, if left untreated, some are still depressed a year later.

The most severe form of postnatal depression is postpartum psychosis and is extreme in that women with this condition have delusions or hallucinations that often focus on hurting themselves or their babies. This form is of depression is rare and affects about 0.1% to 0.2% of women, yet is an extremely serious condition that requires hospitalization.

The cause of these depressions isn’t known but it is believed that the hormone changes may produce chemical changes in the brain that play a part in causing depression. Hormone levels do change during pregnancy and right after birth.

The most important issue is that new mothers should realize the signs of depression and get help as soon as possible. Find someone to talk to and tell that person about your feelings or talk with your doctor about how you feel. He or she may offer counseling and/or medicines that can help.

Many women have had the same experience. If you gave birth recently and are feeling blue, anxious, or have any of the other symptoms mentioned as above, you are not alone. You are not “going crazy” or “losing your mind”! The best thing you can do for your baby is to seek help.

You have waited nine months and exhausted, yet deliriously happy, the long awaited moment has arrived and your baby takes it’s first breath in the real world. The first precious cry is heard and you lay eyes on your beautiful new baby. It is a moment like no other you will ever experience in your life, your heart skips a beat and a powerful rush of love and emotion overcomes your entire being.

From that moment on you have taken on the most important yet rewarding roles you will have in your life. You have become a Parent and a Teacher of life. You now have a little hand to hold and guide along the journey of life.

Amidst the feelings of exhaustion, unbelievable joy and love, a tiny yet important question enters your mind. This question will always remain in the background of your thoughts through each step along your little one’s journey from baby to teenage years. That question is, “Will I be the best parent that I can be?”

Each day will have it’s set of joys, sorrows, frustrations, milestones, and trials and errors. Each and everyday I look back upon my day and summarize the events that occurred during that day. I look at the events that were positive and look at the ones where I can improve upon. Did I spend enough time with my children that day? Did I give them enough love and attention? What could I do differently tomorrow? Am I being the best parent I could be and will my children turn out fine young adults?

Yes, you can be a parent and a teacher but also be a mentor! A mentor is someone who provides support, guidance, friendship and respect to a child. Being a mentor means developing a child’s strengths, share a child’s interest, give advice and support, give praise, listen and be a friend.

Spending time with your baby and child helps you to become a mentor. There are many special things you can do from shopping together to going to a zoo. The most important thing is, you do things together which includes communicating with each other.

1. Respect your child’s thoughts and opinions without judging them. You may disagree with your child but make it known that you want to know what his or her thoughts are without the threat of being punished.
2. Support your child’s interests and strengths.
3. Be open about your own strengths and weaknesses.

Mentoring gives kids the support they need to become the people they are meant to be. The one important thing is that there is always efficient communication from the birth of your baby throughout childhood and the teenage years.

You now have a little hand to hold! Lead your special baby along life’s journey and take time to smell the roses whenever possible. Count your blessings as there are many, including the beautiful baby whose hand you are holding.

The journey from conceiving a baby until the birth of the new little bundle of joy is the most wonderful experience in a new Mom’s life. The amazing feeling of having conceived a baby to feeling the growth and development and the kicks and the punches from within is the greatest pleasure in life.

Throughout the nine month’s of pregnancy, a Mom plans for the birth of her baby. Some types of planning include deciding on the baby’s name, decorating the nursery or starting a scrapbook. Each moment spent on the planning stages takes the new Mom that much closer to the most exciting moment, the long-awaited moment, of seeing and holding her new bundle of joy.

With each step along the pregnancy and through each planning stage, a Mom dreams of what her baby will look like, if it’s a girl or a boy, and thinks about her dreams and hopes of the baby’s life. Deep within her heart and soul, the love for the unborn child is unwaivering and grows day-by-day.

One of the most important planning stage is the purchase of baby necessities. However, most Moms ask “What do I need and how much do I buy?” When I was planning for the birth of my first baby, I had a wonderful guideline to follow and I would like to share it with you.

We have created a list to help you shop for all the items you will need for your new baby.

Baby Gear

• Baby Car Seat
• High Chair
• Baby Stroller
• Baby Swing

Nursery

• Bassinet
• Crib
• Crib Mattress
• Crib Bedding
• Crib Mobile
• Dresser
• Baby Monitor

Layette

• Sleepers (4-7)
• Onesies (4-7)
• Rompers or outfits (6-8)
• Socks (4-7)
• Booties (2-3)
• No Scratch Mitts and Skull Cap
• Bibs
• Burp Pads
• Receiving Blankets (4-7)
• Cardigan Sweater or Jacket

Diapers

• Newborn disposable diapers
• Diaper Wipes
• Changing Table
• Diaper Creams
• Diaper Bag
• Changing Pad

Skin Care

• Baby Shampoo
• Baby Soap
• Baby Powder
• Baby Lotion
• Baby Hooded Towels
• Baby Wash Cloths
• Baby Brush and Comb Set
• Baby Finger Nail Clippers
• Baby Bathtub

Feeding

For Breastfeeding:

• Nursing Pads
• Breast Pump
• 4 oz. Bottles
• Nursing Pillow

For Bottlefeeding:

• Formula
• 4 oz. Bottles (4)
• 8 oz. Bottles (8)
• Bottle Brush

For Solid Food Feeding:

• Bowl, Cup and Plate Sets
• Baby Spoon and Fork Sets

Toys

• Books
• Music
• Developmental/Educational Toys

When purchasing for my baby, I made sure that I did not buy an over abundance of “newborn” size clothes and diapers. It is absolutely amazing how quickly new born babies grow and although it is very nice to be prepared, one must also remember not to go overboard in buying for the new born.

After my babies were a month old, I began purchasing clothing that fit in the 3-6 month range. When they were 6 months old, I would buy in the 6-9 month range. Therefore, I always purchased 3 months ahead of their size. Although they may have been a bit big, the clothing was wearable for a longer period of time so received more use.

It is such a joyful experience shopping for the necessities and essentials for the arrival of a new born baby. Happy Planning and Happy Shopping!

Are you looking for a gift for the Baby Shower or to Welcome the New Baby? A special gift is one that is functional and fun. Cuddles ‘n Gifts has a wonderful variety of gift and gift baskets filled with layette items and essentials that a new Mom would be delighted to receive.

Although the origin of the modern baby shower is unknown, there is evidence that the ancient cultures, such as the Egyptians and the Romans, often bestowed gifts upon the newborn or presented the parents with handmade gifts after the child was born. Baby showers as we know them today didn’t become popular until after World War 2. Baby showers today are a fun and exciting way for friends and family to celebrate the arrival of the new baby and help the mommy and daddy-to-be get prepared. If you are considering planning a shower for a friend or relative there are many things that you can do to make it a memorable celebration.

Traditionally it was unacceptable for a family member to throw the shower because it was viewed as the family asking for gifts, however over time this rule has been relaxed and it is perfectly acceptable for anyone be it friend, co-worker or relative, to throw a baby shower.

When planning the shower be sure to check with the expectant parents to find a time that is convenient for them and let them make the guest list. Find out if they are registered at a store or what specific baby items they still need. It is important that you mail the invitations at least 3-4 weeks before the party date, so guest are more likely to have an open schedule.

A theme is a fun part of any shower. Themes may be as simple as what character is on the plates and napkins or much more elaborate. Take into consideration the mothers interests when planning the theme, some mothers would be happy with a very formal tea and brunch while others would enjoy something a little more casual. Here are a few fun ideas to get you started.

Baby IQ Party

Center this party on learning. You could decorate in red, black, and white (colors thought to stimulate the baby’s vision) or with an alphabet, nursery rhyme or book theme. Serve foods that start with letters of the alphabet and put cute alphabet blocks by each food. Play word games. List scrambled words related to pregnancy, labor, and babies and see who can unscramble them first. Play bingo with baby words. List both parents’ names and see how many baby names people can make out of the letters. Pick lines from nursery rhymes and see who can name the nursery rhyme. Bonus points if they can say the whole thing. Gifts could be as simple as everyone bringing a book or learning video. If you want to get more complicated assign guests with a letter of the alphabet and have them bring a gift that coincides with that letter.

Pamper Mommy Shower

This shower is great for an expectant mother who already has children. Sometimes pregnancy can make you feel like your whole life has become about the baby. Mothers already sacrifice a lot of things that they might have done before to pamper themselves when they have children so this is a great way to remind them they deserve some attention too. Serve the mothers absolute favorite foods; if she loves chocolate base the party around chocolate. Gifts could include scented candles, spa certificates, robes, gowns, jewelry, baskets full or items to make mommy feel great, or any item that is designed to bring comfort and happiness. Instead of the usual baby shower games, plan to have a make up consultant come and give a makeover, or arrange for at home spa services such as manicures and facials. Take her out to her favorite restaurant, anything to make her feel special.

Around the Clock Shower

This is a cute way to celebrate the everyday rituals that the mommy is going to be responsible for once the baby is born. Assign each guest with a time of the day and have him or her bring a gift that will be appropriate for that time. Gifts could include breakfast or lunchtime feeding items such as a cute set of plates, cups, bottles, etc. Nap time blankets, pillows, bassinets, or stuffed animals and bedtime story books or night-lights. Play games that are centered on the baby’s daily routine. Get a true-to-life size baby doll, a receiving blanket, a cloth diaper, and a baby shirt. Give each guest the doll and all the clothing, and see how fast each person can put all the clothes on the baby, finishing with swaddling the baby in the blanket. Whoever dresses the baby the fastest wins a prize. Have a baby food taste test, get jars of baby food, remove labels or cover with tape; number each jar. Give each guest a pen, a piece of paper, and a paper plate. Pass the jars of baby food around and ask the guests to place a little of each on their plate. Then ask them to taste each food and name it according to its corresponding number on the jar. The guest with the most correct answers wins a prize (and we bet it’s a person with kids!).

So what are you waiting for! Start planning a baby shower for the mommy-to-be in your life and have fun!

Cuddles ‘n Gifts has a diverse selection of baby gift baskets that would make any baby shower extra special!