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Selecting the Right Name for A Baby

Selecting a baby’s name is a lifetime gift to the son or daughter. Naming a baby is a process that should be entered into slowly, deliberately and thoughtfully.

Everyone an expecting couple knows will have name suggestions – especially family members. It is perfectly okay to resist the going along with family suggestions- unless the name sounds right and appropriate to the parents to be. Either way, the best way to handle these well meaning suggestions is to announce the baby’s name after he or she is born.

Consider how a name sounds. The way it reads on paper and the way it sounds are totally different. Say the name out loud and listen to how it sounds. Does it have a pleasant and appealing sound? Does the name flow or does it sound harsh? How do the first and last names sound together?

Remember that the name will follow the child for the rest of his or her life. Avoid names with embarrassing nicknames. Also stay away from names that rhyme or that are puns.

Unique spelling or sounding names tend to stick in people’s memories. At the same time, if the name is to difficult to spell or pronounce, it may become more of a nuisance than a conversation starter for a child later in life. Common names, while easier to forget, might be perceived better.

Every potential name has a derivation from another country or culture. It is worth taking the time to research names to see their country of origin and meaning, especially the name is part of a family’s heritage.

The name given is an important element in a baby’s earliest sense of security. The parents need to feel completely comfortable with the name they pick and realize that the baby will need to feel equally comfortable with the name as a child and into adulthood.

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Finding the Safest Baby’s Crib

Baby cribs are handed down from generation to generation as evidenced by the fact that although there are four million babies born in the United States every year, there are only one million new cribs sold during the same period. While there may be a lot of sentiment attached to a hand-me-down cribs, there are important safety issues to consider.

There are several new baby crib manufacturers making cribs in one of four styles. Standard cribs have one or two sided drops. Convertible cribs, while more expensive, convert to a toddler’s bed and can be used longer. Canopy cribs are simply a modification of the standard crib. Round cribs are increasingly popular and only have a one-sided drop. The newer version of the drop side crib has sides that are folded rather than raised or lowered.

All cribs must meet minimum government requirements. The distance between the slats can be no more than 2 3/8 inches. When lowered, the drop side must be nine inches above the mattress support; when raised the support must be 26 inches above the support. The mattress must fit snugly and have not more than two fingers distance between the crib side and the mattress. The mattress support should connect to both sides securely and be made of metal to support a jumping toddler safely. Other crib requirements include height adjustment for the mattress, casters and teething bars on both sides.

Avoid cribs built before 1973. They may contain lead paints that is toxic for humans and be built with slats that are too far apart. Recalled cribs are another concern to be aware of. The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) tracks rib safety and maintains data on recalled cribs. This information can be viewed at cpsc.gov or at recalls.gov. Voluntary safety standards have also been published by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Cribs meeting the voluntary standards are certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacture’s Association (JPMA).

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Finding a Safe Baby Car Seat

Lotus 22 inside details Pau GP 2007
Image via Wikipedia

One of the first orders of business a couple needs to tend to before the baby is born is to purchase a car seat to bring the baby home in. There is a simple three part rule of thumb for the baby’s car seat. The seat needs to fit the baby, fit the car and be easy for the parents to install.

All car seats sold in the United States must meet or exceed rigorous federal crash and fire safety testing and state on the car seat that it complies with Federal Motor Vehicle Standard 213. Certification by the Juvenile Product Manufacture’s Association (JPMA) is also an important notation on a car seat. As of 2002, all new cars are equipped with anchors in the rear to attach to the car seat. Older car seats should not be used.

The most important criteria in selecting a car seat is how securely the seat fits in the car and how safely the baby is fastened. Newborns, up to 20 pounds, must have a rear facing car seat. The weight limit is notated on the car seat. Beyond 20 pounds, a child can sit in a front facing car seat – still anchored to the back seat of the car. The American Association of Pediatricians (AAP) recommends that a baby be kept in a rear facing seat as long as possible. As for height, the baby’s head must be at least one inch below the top of a rear facing seat. When installed properly, a car seat should have less than one inch movement in any direction.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 80 percent of all car seats are incorrectly installed. Before purchasing a car seat, it should be installed to see if it fits the cat and is easy to use The NHTSA take this idea one step further and recommends having the seat inspected for proper installation.

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Selecting a Pediatrician – A Process

One of the consistent pieces of advice given to expecting mothers is to select a pediatrician well in advance of the child’s birth. The process of finding a pediatrician should be well under way by the eighth month of pregnancy.

The best source of referrals is friends who have children. Once the list is narrowed down to two or three possible choices think about what is important in making the decision. Is the location of the doctor’s office a consideration? Does health insurance cover the choices? How about hospital affiliation? Think about what is important in the doctor’s philosophy of care. Is the doctor’s age and sex important? These and other questions are guides to ranking the criteria for a doctor that meets the parents’ expectations as well as the baby’s needs.

The next step is to set up short meetings with each of the final choices. Go to the pediatrician’s office early enough to get a feel for the practice. Several pediatricians are usually in a practice together. Talk to the office staff. They can often provide insights to the practice.

A meeting with a perspective doctor should last about 15 minutes and focus on credentials, philosophy of care, hospital affiliations and accreditation. Each doctor should be a member of the American Association of Pediatricians (AAP) or another recognized professional pediatric group. Questions to ask should also include office hours, availability after hours and billing policies.

Once each pediatrician has been interviewed, it’s time to sit down and reflect on what each doctor said and, more importantly, the comfort level felt with each doctor. There must be a strong comfort level between the doctor and the parents in this relationship and strong agreement with on care. Remember that the selection is made with the intent that the doctor chosen will be overseeing the care and health of the baby until adulthood. That is a long time and confidence in the choice is important.

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Mother and Newborn – The Bonding Process

The bonding of a mother and newborn has been described as a complex process and a continuation of the relationship between mother and child during pregnancy. In its simplest terms bonding is intense emotional attachment to a newborn baby – an almost fierce desire to care for and protect. It is an emotion that has existed in humans for thousands of years.

Bonding can occur within seconds of holding the new baby or it can take several days – it varies and that is normal. Some mothers may not feel a strong bond initially. It is an overwhelming experience to bring a new life into the world as well as traumatic for the baby to leave the womb.

Interestingly, studies show that strong bonding increases a baby’s brain power by increasing neural pathways. There are some important steps that a mother can take to strengthen the bond. Ensuring that the baby’s environment is calm and pleasant, playing quiet music and reading out loud accustoms the newborn to the sounds and senses of life outside the womb and the child to feel secure.

Close interaction with a newborn is also an essential part of the bonding process. Babies can see fairly well up to a foot and will gaze intently at faces. Close face to face contact is another way of helping a newborn start to recognize familiar faces.

Gentle massage is another recommended source of bonding for both the baby and the mother. Massaging is more than soothing to a baby, it is also contributes to emotionally development and increases sensory awareness. It is one of many non-verbal ways of building trust with a newborn.

The close ties fostered by bonding form the first model of an intimate relationship for a baby and helps build a sense of security and positive feelings about self for the newbor

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Adoption – An Option for Prospective Parents

Adoption is a wonderful option for starting or adding to a family. There are many children who desperately need a home with a loving family in the United States and abroad. However, the adoption process is often long, involved and requires patience.

There are two basic avenues for adoption – domestic and international. Each has its own unique path.

Domestic adoption encompasses several options that apply to different scenarios and parental choices. A domestic adoption is typically handled in one of two ways. One path is through either a public agency such as social services or a licensed private adoption agency. This is generally considered the safest way to adopt because the agency monitors the process.

A second path is an independent adoption using the services of an attorney as permitted by state law. In this situation, the adopting couple has often identified the prospective source for the adoption.

In domestic adoptions, state laws governing adoption must be met. If the process involves interstate adoption, the laws of both states involved must be complied with under Interstate Compact – legislation that most states have agreed on for adoption across state lines. A home study that examines and certifies that the couple is fit to adopt is usually required by the agency processing the adoption and the state where to couple resides. Home studies are also required for international adoptions.

International adoption, like domestic adoption, has adoption agencies or attorneys that specialize in overseas adoptions. However, international adoption is more complicated because every country has specific rules and requirements that must be met. The U.S. government and the resident state’s laws must also be met. U.S law requires prospective adopting couples to provide several documents for proof of marriage, age and suitability as parents. This paperwork generally takes 60-90 days to process. There is a slight element of risk involved in completing an international adoption because countries occasionally change their laws or stop allowing international adoptions.

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Air Travel with A Newborn

With a new baby in a family, relatives will be excited and anxious to meet the newest member. In many cases, that may mean traveling more than around the block.

Pediatricians and other experts on baby care recommend that a newborn stay near home for at least the first month for several reasons. First, the mother needs time to recover from the pregnancy and birthing. The baby also needs time to adjust to the new surroundings and begin to get into a routine. There is also a lot of adjusting for the entire family to do when a new life enters the home.

Doctors suggest that any travel be put on hold until the baby is at least two and preferably three months old. By this point the newborn’s immune system is stronger and can fend off infections and viruses encountered around crowds better. This is an important consideration when traveling by air.

When flying, make reservations well in advance and ask for aisle seating. Seating in the front is quieter; seating in the rear is closer to the restrooms. Most domestic airlines will allow a newborn to fly for free if the baby is carried and held in a parent’s lap.

However, this is not necessarily the safest way for one so young to travel. On many airlines a baby bassinet that fits securely on a plane seat can be reserved for babies up to eight months old. If unavailable, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) car seat will work just as well and will ensure that the baby is secured during the flight.

Be sure to pack necessary baby items conveniently in carry-on luggage. Note that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) allows three to four ounces of formula to be carried onto the plane. Also make sure to have a favorite sucking toy in case the change in air pressure during take off and landing bothers the baby’s young ears.

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How to be a successful businessman and parent as well???

Parenting is a tough thing which requires complete attention and skill to properly fulfill the duties of a lovely parent. If you want to give your children a better growth and love, you need to give them a proper time and affection. It becomes difficult to manage time when you are a parent and at the same time you have to go through hectic business deals. In such state you don’t need to worry, just a wise management of everything will let you do your all duties in a proper way.

If you are a parent and business man and want to manage your all duties in a better way, you are needed to read this article. Preference is a thing which can help you a lot. If you decide that you will give preference to your family and children rather then your hectic business deals then this will help you a lot. You may need to hire some management company that takes care of your business. This may cost you some money but will help to cut down your busy routine and extracting more time for family.

Listing the daily tasks can also help you to manage your time. Check all the important tasks which need to be accomplished and skip all others which are not so necessary and give that time to your children.

There are also some companies which provide good business management services like San Diego property management. You may contact such companies and avail their services to manage your hectic business deals. This may also give you some free time, which you can give to your children and may earn a feeling of love from them which is more important than money.

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Disposable vs. Cloth Baby Diapers

Disposable diaper, size 12-25kg/26-55lb.
Image via Wikipedia

Since the introduction of disposable baby diapers the debate has been – which is better, disposable or cloth diapers? There are four main arguing points; the environment, cost, convenience and, most importantly, comfort.

Proponents of cloth diapers argue that because disposable diapers are thrown away after being used, they add more to landfills. Those who favor disposable diapers counter that the water, soap and electricity used to wash cloth diapers uses a lot of energy. Neither side cites any data to support their position.

As for cost, disposable diapers run between $50 and $60 per month – the cost of convenience. A cloth diaper service is also costs about $50 to $80 a month, depending on the amount of competition and the quality of the diaper provided. Laundering cloth diapers at home is the least expensive option and is estimated at $20 to $60 a month. The cost here depends on the quality of the diaper and the amount of laundering done. From a cost perspective, home laundering is the best way to go.

As for convenience, disposable diapers certainly come out ahead. They are easier to change and there is less leakage. However, newer cloth diapers are designed to be easier to change and use Velcro strips rather than safety pins for fastening.

The most important concern is the baby’s comfort. Cloth diapers are definitely more comfortable to a baby’s skin. There is also less likelihood of diaper rash with cloth. The reasons for diaper rash all come down to one cause – urine on the skin for too long. With cloth it is easier to notice wetness quicker. With disposables, on the other hand, wetness is not as quickly detected. Statistics indicate that babies wearing cloth diapers have fewer incidences of diaper rash. Regardless of choice, the solution is to change diapers frequently.

Another suggested solution also makes sense – use cloth diapers during the day and disposables at night.

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Postpartum Depression – Sympthoms and Treatment

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a form of clinical depression that occurs in women after they have given birth. The illness can last anywhere from two weeks up to one year. The length and severity of PPD is what distinguishes it from a milder form called “baby blues.” It is estimated that 80 percent of women experience some level of emotional disturbance following childbirth. One expert described PPD as, “a complication of giving birth.”

While the methodology is unclear, it is estimated that 5 to 25 percent of women clearly have PPD. The signs of postpartum depression are much the same as other forms of depression: sadness, fatigue, decreased libido, feelings of worthlessness and in the case of PPD, difficulty caring for the baby. The mothers often feel afraid and alone because they lack a strong support network.

The cause of postpartum depression appears to be sudden changes in hormonal levels following childbirth. It is known that levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone increase during pregnancy and rapidly return to normal following birth of the baby. It is believed that these quick changes trigger PPD.

The most effective treatments are counseling and antidepressants. Interestingly, hormone treatment seems to have little positive effect on postpartum depression. Most women respond well to treatment and get over PPD within a few months. When antidepressants are the course of treatment, it is important for the doctor to know if the mother is breast feeding her baby because the antidepressant will make its way into the breast milk.

Risk factors for postpartum depression include previous episodes of depression, a lack of strong social support and psychosocial stress. There is often a history of depression in the mother’s family.

Postpartum depression is far from uncommon in new mothers. One statistic suggests that one in eight women suffer from PPD. So, it is important for the mother to get medical help immediately if the depressed feelings last more than two weeks.

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