Baby Needs A New Pair Of Shoes

Baby's first Nike's may be absolutely adorable, but are they necessary? According to most experts - and not just modern ones but for at least the last thirty years - babies don't need shoes till they're up and walking around. Even at that point, it's good for the little tikes to get in lots of barefoot time so they get used to their balance and how their little toesies work.

Still, by the time they're spending more time on their feet than on their knees, it's time to get them into a pair of shoes, if for no other reason than to protect those feet from stubbed toes and other injuries. So, what sort of shoes should you wrap those precious feet in?

Certainly NOT the old-fashioned hard-soled leather lace-up shoes that were meant to 'train' baby feet to grow properly. Pediatricians recommend soft shoes that move with baby's feet. The soles should be non-skid to prevent falls, but flexible enough that they bend as baby steps out on his own. Skip the high-tops, unless they're flexible enough to bend with baby's ankles and feet. Choose natural materials that breathe to keep feet from sweating and becoming uncomfortable.

The proper fit for baby's first shoes is also important. They shouldn't bind or chafe anywhere, so shop when you've got plenty of time to let the little one walk around the store wearing the shoes you're thinking of buying. Slip a pinkie in at the heel while baby is standing - there should be enough room between the shoe and the munchkin's heel to allow your pinkie or a pencil to slip in easily. Also tie and untie the shoes a couple of times - if you choose lace-up shoes - to make sure that the laces are long enough to tie easily. Laces aren't a necessity, though. The experts are about evenly divided on whether tie shoes or Velcro are better, with no clear-cut 'best'. Choose whichever you like best. Laced shoes are a lot more likely to be left on - but Velcro encourages independence because it's so much easier to master.

Besides picking a time for your shopping trip when you have time to let your baby walk around a bit, time your visit to the shoe store for after a nap, when the little one is well-rested. Keep in mind, too, that baby's feet swell a little in the late afternoon, just like yours do. Shop later in the day to make sure that you get shoes that will fit at all times of the day.

As your baby grows and gets more active, check the fit of his shoes at least once a month. You can plan on buying new shoes about every three-to-six months just due to average growth, but also be prepared to replace shoes if they're worn, the soles are cracked or they have holes in them.

And if you have your heart set on Baby's First Nikes? Shop around - you're sure to find them.

If your baby is in hospital

Baby sickness – is always a hard trial for family, and if the matter concerns baby's hospitalization, then you can become panic-stricken only at the thought of the fact that a baby will be estranged from his family, painful procedures expect him, and strangers will surround him.

Because of hospitalization, a baby can get the whole complex of serious psychological problems, caused by sickness, isolation from home and conditions of hospital. Even adult person experiences stress, when he needs to apply to a doctor and moreover, while necessity of long staying in hospital. Needless to say about baby's stress! Strange atmosphere, strange people, new, constantly renewed children collective, forced separation from parents, fear of medical procedures – all this is quite enough for psychological discomfort. And all these factors accompany symptoms of disease.

However, you shouldn't dramatize situation. Of course, disease and necessity of hospitalization - are traumatizing factors. But for majority of children staying at hospital can become an important stage in formation of personality, bring lots of new impressions and knowledge, and give possibility to try themselves in difficult life circumstances. This experience will be useful in further life of a child.

Processes of adaptation are individual for each child. This depends on many reasons: whether he had diseases earlier, stage of disease, is he staying at hospital for the first time or not, baby's age, whether he was separated from his family before etc. Often everything passes quite smoothly, due to presence of inner reserves of a baby and correct behavior of parents.

It's quite normal, if period of adaptation at hospital lasts during 3-5 days. There're no reasons for anxiety, if a baby is rather careless during first days of hospitalization, asks to take him home, gets into contact with coevals not at once. Excess care and parental inclination for dramatizing situation can only damage. On the other hand, you shouldn't leave a baby alone with his problems. He shouldn't feel abandoned and lonely.

Quite often parents of sick children need more psychological help, then children themselves, as it is their correct behavior that influences a baby's mood for recovery.

Here're several recommendations of experts. Never frighten your baby with hospital. Don't create future problems, as there's hardly any baby, who hasn't been at hospital for his life. During conversations with other people avoid such phrases, like: "There doctors hardly understand something, I wish only they don't harm my child" etc.

In case of baby hospitalization do your best to reduce stress and melancholy because of coming separation from home and parents. Adults themselves should be confident in future, calm and wise, so that a baby would treat staying at hospital calmly. If hospitalization is planned and you have at least 1-2 days for preparation, involve baby in preparations, as if he would be going to health centre or camp.

Try to dispose your baby to optimism. Children have great intuition, and it's almost impossible to persuade them in things, which you don't believe yourself in. So, first of all you should analyze your own emotions and forget about affirmation: "Hospital – pain, fear, danger". Replace it by "Hospital – help, relieve, recovery". You confidence and peace of mind will be passed to your daughter and son. Talk to your child about coming hospitalization softly-softly. You can explain to schoolchild, that sickness is not a catastrophe, but a peculiar exam for courage and firmness. Tell your child that you will be thinking of him constantly and you're always ready to help him. Think and discuss ways of your contacts.

During separation avoid touching scenes, restrain excessive emotions. Try to behave the way, so that a baby would treat hospital not as punishment, but as a place, where he will be helped to recover sooner and return to usual life. Form positive attitude, both to improvement of health and doctors' work. Explain your child an objective necessity of medical assistance.

Don't persuade him that he is guilty of his sickness, trauma etc. himself. By doing this, you will increase sense of guilt and fear, which can cause undesirable psychological complications. Of course, there're situations, when it is important to discuss wrong behavior of a child, which caused disease. But it is also very important that a result of your conversation would be not a sense of guilt, but understanding of cause and effect connection between wring behavior and disease.

Discuss schedule of visiting a child with relatives for sure, to avoid situations, when there're several visits per one day and no visits at all other day. This is very important, as excess of visitors can lead to emotional overloads of a sick baby, and their absence – to increase of longing for home and relatives.

Try not to hung up on topic of disease and treatment. Life goes on. Ask your child about his new friends, news, what he does in spare time. Keep all your doubts concerning effectiveness of treatment inside of you. Don't overload patient with your doubts and fears. As medicine, which you doubt, will not help, as doctor, whom you don't trust, won't be able to help. Try to avoid unpleasant topics, wait a little with information about bad news: sick baby need not to know that his favorite doggie eats bad or that cat ate hamster. While talking to a baby, pay attention to positive moments of staying at hospital. Think about things you can compliment him for: he bears procedures with fortitude, doesn't play about, could make friends with somebody, drew a good picture etc.

Unfilled spare time increases feeling of loneliness, longing for home. So you should definitely worry about things your child should do. Bring him an interesting book, meccano, some new game, paints, crayons etc. Bring a toy for a small baby surely. You can tell that a new "friend" came to him specially to protect him at nights (if a baby is predisposed to night fears). It will be very good, if you bring him a toy bear, elephant, lion, tiger, i.e. any big animal, which will be able to personify power and protection (size of toy is not important).

After discharge talk to your baby about time he spent at hospital. Ask him about things he learned to do, what he understood about himself and his relations with other people, help him to realize value of experience he gained.

Finding A Unique Baby Shower Gift

Just as inevitable as the celebration of the birth of a new baby, is the pre-birth baby shower and its watershed of presents. Racking your brain to try and figure out just what to give the expecting mother can be about as much fun as three in the morning feedings, but it need not be so difficult, as with the beauty and convenience that the Internet can provide, you may not even have to venture out of your house and still be able to buy the perfect gift.

Baby showers are a fun time for everyone. It's a special event where the anticipation of an event as momentous and altering as a birth is celebrated in and of itself, and all manner of friends and family come together and show each other how much they care about the new life that is about to arrive. What is even better is that you know that the gifts you give to the parents will be things that will help them deal with the trials and tribulations of having a new baby, so that they can enjoy those first few months as much as humanly possible. You have the fortunate luxury of choosing a gift that is practical, goofy, sentimental, or the something that encapsulates all three, and still be able to choose something the parents can keep and remember for a long time after their new baby has grown out of infancy. After all, a baby shower gift is just as much for the parents as it is for the baby – maybe even more so – so you'll want to get something that will stick in their minds as well as something that the chilan enjoy.

We live in an age where plush toys come in all manner of shapes, sizes, and distinctions, and luckily, this is a gift that is timeless and lasting in its the opportunity to live on in a child's life far past the first few years. Teddy bears and sheep are the perfect crib additions, creating a cozy, reassuring environment for a new baby. Also classic and still popular is the baby mobile, with its twirling shapes and stuffed animals which can be the first things the baby sees when he or she wakes up in the morning. More practical baby gifts, depending on the amount you want to spend, can come in the form of baby changing tables, bassinets or car seats are always necessary and ideal for making the life of the parents that much easier.

Of course, all this hassle of trying to decide just what the perfect baby shower gift is may be moot if the parents have made up of a gift registry with a list of the things they'll want and need. But this doesn't make the present you give any less thoughtful or meaningful, as you'll have the assurance of knowing that you wont be getting them something they already have and don't need a duplicate of http://www.dixiejournal.com/category/home-guides. Now the decision becomes where to get the gift you want to get, and in this age of online shopping and computerized banking, you may not even have to get up off you favorite couch cushion to do the entire song and dance of searching and purchasing. Heck, you can probably even get it gift wrapped by the company you buy it from, saving you the trouble of getting gift paper and a card. Whatever budget you have, you'll be able, with a minimal amount of effort, to get just what kind of gift you want to give at your next baby shower, without the unnecessary headache.

Baby Sleep Tips - Some Tricks For The Transition

As a new parent, one of your priorities will be to establish good sleeping habits with your newborn. Your baby needs to learn to sleep on his own; the transition from sleeping with his mother to sleeping by himself takes some time. Of course, as add added bonus, if you get your baby to learn to sleep on his own you will also get some much needed rest yourself. To instill good sleeping habits in your baby, research and try to employ different baby sleep tips: try a lot of things and see what works for you, and don't be afraid to trust your instincts.

Many baby sleep tips center on the idea of establishing routines and associations for your child between nighttime and sleep. The sooner you child begins to associate bedtime with sleep, the more likely he is to be able to go to sleep without a fuss. A period that is often overlooked, however, in establishing day vs. night associations, is the period of "transition" - that is, the one between being awake and falling asleep. Here are some transitioning techniques to try:

Try what is sometimes called "fathering down." Just before placing the baby into bed, the father should cradle the baby in such a way that the baby's head rests on the father neck. The father should then talk gently to the child. Because the male's voice is much deeper than the female's, babies are often more soothed by it, and will fall asleep more easily after being exposed to it for some time.

You can also try what is sometimes referred to as "wearing down." This is effective if your baby has been active throughout the day and is too excited to go to bed easily. All you have to do is place your baby in a sling or carrier - "wear him" in other words - for about half an hour before his bedtime. Simply go about your regular household activities: being close to a parent and slowly rocked about before bedtime will provide your child with an easier transition from being awake to being asleep.

Finally, if you've exhausted other options, you can go for the tried and true method of "driving down." Most parents are probably familiar with this as a last resort: place your baby in the car and drive around for awhile until he falls asleep. This one, while inconvenient, usually works every time, and if you desperately need some sleep it can be a godsend.

Obviously, you don't want to do things like drive around every night to get your child to sleep. Nor do you want to have to carry him around in a sling. The idea, though, is to start with these more drastic techniques and then slowly ease out of them. Keep in mind what a major transition your baby is going through when he is tiny: he's never slept on his own before. He simply doesn't know how to transition himself from being awake to being asleep. By employing these transition techniques you will be slowly teaching him how to do so, and as they are gradually removed your baby will learn good sleeping habits, which will ensure that both you and your child get a good night's rest.

Choosing the Perfect Baby Name

Names are important because they represent a person's identity. The names we are given typically stay with us for a lifetime. This is why prospective parents struggle so hard to find the perfect baby name.

But, choosing a name can be difficult. After all, there are many different ways to go about it. Names can be chosen based on origins, meaning, uniqueness, or something else. This leaves many people wondering exactly how to get started. If you're looking for the perfect baby name, here are some baby naming tips that may help:

Popularity Though there have always been extremely common names, most baby names tend to follow some sort of trend or cycle of popularity. Some parents prefer choosing a baby name that is rare, while others try to find a name that is fairly popular. Think about how you felt as a child. Did it make you feel special that nobody shared your name? Was it frustrating that others had the same name as you? Your child may end up with many of the same feelings if given a unique or popular name. Carefully consider these feelings before choosing a baby name.

Boy Names vs. Girl Names Many of today's popular names are ambiguous. For example, names like Riley, Madison, Jaden, and Taylor can be used for a boy or a girl. While some parents only choose names that provide clear gender identification, others feel this is of little importance. If clear gender identification is important to you, make sure you choose the name carefully. As mentioned, many of the most popular baby names are now interchangeable.

Meaning Baby names are words, and every word has a meaning. If you need help choosing the perfect name, you may want to look up the meanings of a few baby names. Many parents choose a name based on a meaning that reflects qualities and traits that they hope their child will possess.

Opinions When it comes to baby names, everyone has an opinion. Some people may even suggest that you name your baby after them. Try to take these opinions in stride. It's impossible to please everyone and it is absolutely impossible to choose a name that everyone will like. You will be much better off choosing a baby name that makes you happy.

Spelling and/or Pronunciation Spelling and pronunciation is an important factor to consider when choosing a baby name. Because every name can have an alternative spelling, baby name possibilities are virtually endless. Before you decide to go with an alternative spelling, think carefully. Though there is nothing wrong with being unique, your child may have to spend a good number of years correcting people on the spelling and/or pronunciation of the name.

Teeny Weenie Pregnancies

Teeny Weenie Pregnancies

How many times does a parent have to remind their child about contraception,and sexually transmitted diseases. What does it take for a parent to be heard. In some unfortunate cases children just do not listen and choose to ignore the best advice any parent can give to their child.

It is hard for a parent to see their child having a child. Unwanted pregnancies in teens, a sad situation but the damage is done so accept the situation and start to face up to responsibilities

Matters intend to get out of hand by leaving it to late to consult a doctor or talking to your parents. You could be putting yourself and that of your unborn child in danger. If you have any inclinations that you are pregnant seek help right away.

What is mum and dad going to say may be causing you unnecessary worry. I can not say that they will be happy with the news you are about to spring on them. But remember at the end of the day this is your mum and what do mums do, they care and give their support.

No doubt those famous words will be spoken in a raised voice like, I told you this would happen and how could you have been so stupid? But she is right, mum's advice is always right when it comes down to protecting her kids.

After coming to terms and accepting that she is going to be a grandmother the situation eases. Believe me when I say if ever you needed anyone to give you support throughout this teenage pregnancy, it is your mum so talk to her.

Contraception is about helping to stop unwanted pregnancies also STDs are prevented by the use of a condom. Which would be the worst an unwanted teen pregnancy or a STD. Let me tell you they both come with a life sentence of heartache and pain, no more partying it stops here?

Come on girls and boys this is the 21st century there is no need to destroy your childhood. I am not saying that every teen pregnancy has not worked out for some young mums today, but for a great many it has ruined their lives. Do you want to raise a baby, especially one that has ruined your life. Will you ever love that infant in the way you should? Sadly many teen mums don't so the innocent baby has to suffer.

Most teenage mothers end up raising their child on their own all because daddy is still growing up too.

Come on girls and boys think of the consequences.If you choose to ignore all the golden rules then you have to accept the consequences.

Please have yourself checked over by a doctor early to make sure that there are no complications. I do not wish to frighten you, just make you aware that teen mums that have not fully reached puberty themselves may need extra care and attention.

People who deal with these type of situations are very understanding and compassionate regarding whatever maybe troubling you about your pregnancy or any STD concerns..

If you find that talking on the matter embarrasses you, then ask a friend to go with you and let them do the talking, and if all fails in getting you to speak with some one.

Then consider the next time you recieve your pocket money to buy a condom not a cornet.

Summertime Safety for Babies

Every new parent enters their first summer season with a certain amount of reservation. With so many things to be wary of, combined with the natural anxiety of being a new parent, it can be challenging to be confident about one's capabilities. As any parent will tell you, a certain amount of trial-and-error will come into play. On the other hand, a little bit of common sense will go a long way too.

While it is natural to want to keep your babies skin covered, parents must be careful not to overdress the little one. Yes, it is good idea to keep baby's skin protected from the sun. Just be sure that your baby is not overdressed. Try to use clothing that is made from light cotton or linen, and always be sure to cover the wee one's head with a great, big hat.

It is next-to-impossible to completely avoid the sun in the summer months. Many parents opt to keep their children out of the sun, as opposed to using sunscreen and letting them roam free. This is a very thoughtful approach, but not always practical. Be sure to use a high quality sunscreen, with an SPF rating no lower than 30, when you are in the sun with baby. And don't forget that the little one will need sunscreen when in the pool, too!

Insects are another consideration, especially those pesky mosquitoes! In the past they were more of an annoyance than a health concern, but in recent times there are some valid concerns regarding West Nile Virus. Aside from the standard mosquito prevention techniques advised by the public health authorities, there are a few alternatives available. As a parent, I would not feel comfortable applying DEET to may baby's skin. DEET is an extremely poisonous and toxic chemical designed for the military, not for babies. Try using scented oil such as tea tree oil or rosemary. These are safe, natural alternatives. If you are going to be spending time in the wilderness, make sure baby is wearing light clothing that leaves very little skin exposed.

If your little one is old enough to ride a tricycle, be sure that you have a good quality helmet for him or her to wear. Every year, hundreds of children are rushed to the hospital for easily avoidable injuries. Play it safe, and make sure your child always wears a helmet when playing with any moving toy with wheels. For smaller children that are just learning to walk, why not consider using a baby harness? This way, you can let your child run free without having to worry about scrapes and bruises! Have a great summer, and play safe.

Mini crib bedding How to find that bargain

Hi everyone!! I guess you're looking for some tips on how to buy crib bedding of the net. This article is for parents that are looking for a bargain or just want to save some money. Finding crib bedding on the net is very easy, but finding the best bargains can take some more time. Most parents will just use their favourite search engine and think that the websites that show up on the first page are the top websites to buy mini crib bedding from. This is not so!! These are the websites that have done the most work to get their websites in the top positions within the search engines.

More than likely you're not going to get the best bargains with these sites. Yes you can keep going through the search engines rankings and you will get a good idea of the price ranges on offer. But buying anything over the net can be a daunting experience. I know how people feel about handing over credit card information especially over the web. I feel the same way too but I done my research on it and Personally I just use pay pal as a method of payment, if the site I'm looking at doesn't provide pay pal as a payment option, I move on until I find what I want with a pay pal payment option.

I just want to let you know you can use your credit card without the chance of someone going to steal your personal information. I'm not saying other payment systems aren't good, its just "personally" I have found most websites have a pay pal payment option. You just type in your user name and password and it's done.

Ok back to mini crib bedding and how to find that bargain. One method I use is check out blogs [this goes on everything I'm trying to buy cheap or purchase over the net] you can find great sites that other parents have found and recommended. This can be especially good if you're after someone to custom build your crib bedding. If you social bookmark type in your keywords on your favourite book marking site and see what turns up. Use different search engines. Take note of the websites you have been to and compeer prices.

Then if you find something do some more checking. The site I use is ripoffreport.com its just basically a site I use for free to find out if anyone isn't happy with the service or product they purchased. If your been ripped off or would just like to tell everyone how bad some sites are with there service's then this is the site to do it. If the site or product your looking at doesn't turn anything up there's a pretty good chance that is legit and has a good reputation. [Another great site to check before buying anything on the net].

And of course there's eBay and Amazon you can really pick up great bargains from these sites. If you do happen to buy your crib bedding from these sites please discard the mattress and get a brand new one. Many experts in the field have tracked Sids back to second hand mattresses so just get rid of it!!! Make sure you sanitize the crib really well when you first receive it just to be sure.

Great Bargains on mini crib bedding can be found on the net if you are prepared to look around and do a bit research. It doesn't just include mini crib bedding. It go's for anything you can purchase on the net. Surfing blogs can provide a lot of good information on baby products and safety. Most baby blogs are just from your average mum sharing their babies experience with you. There are experts that have their own blogs as well they tend to give you all sorts of information from crib bedding to baby food and baby toys. I have provided this information so parents can check out all sorts of products and sites so they can make an informed decision when it comes to there child's health and safety.

Using the technics above you should be able to shop with confidence for just about anything on the net. Finding a bargain is quiet easy once you know how.

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.

Baby Shower Favors: Ideas And Tips For Making The Right Choice

Planning a baby shower is an exciting time but it is important that the proper steps are taken to insure that the shower is a success. Enjoying a baby shower is twice the fun because the parents-to-be get to share the excitement and happiness that they feel with their friends and relatives.

A baby shower is actually a type of party that the couple's friends or relatives had prepared. Because it is a party, it entails the gifts, food, and of course the party favors that are usually present in any other party or celebration.

Like any other party, choosing the right baby shower favor can be very tedious especially if it aims to make the event memorable. There are so many baby shower favors that choosing the best can be pretty confusing.

So, for people who wish to know how to choose the right baby shower favor, here are some pointers that can be very handy.

1. Always consider the personality of the mother-to-be when choosing a baby shower favor.

Even if the friends or the relatives are the ones who prepared the invitation, it is still a must to consider the personality of the mother-to-be when choosing baby shower favors.

After all, you would not want to create misunderstanding or misconceptions just because you have chosen baby shower favors that do not fit to the personality of the mother, right?

2. Shop around

It always pays to shop around before deciding on something. This will give you enough time to contemplate and compare which baby shower favor is suitable for the occasion.

Best of all, you get to choose the most affordable, most attractive, and most appropriate baby shower favors available in the market.

3. Use a lot of resources when looking for the best baby shower favors.

Today, there are many available resources where you can find great ideas on baby shower favors.

In print, you can find some great ideas in the magazines and books about baby showers. You can also find some useful ideas in the Internet.

What matters most is that you have plenty of resources where you can get the best baby shower favors for the guests.

4. Ask the other people about some of the ideas used on baby shower favors.

There are people who have already attended baby shower parties, so, their opinions can be a lot of help. You can ask them what kinds of party favors are usually being used in the baby showers or what would they prefer to have on their own baby showers.

5. Consider the baby shower favors that are already tried and tested by a lot of baby shower parties.

These kinds of baby shower favors will be a sure hit even if the personality of the expectant mother had not been considered. This is because for so many events, these kinds of party favors had been appreciated but most people, and the people who will attend on the baby shower will appreciate it, too.

Indeed, baby shower favors can be really tedious but with careful planning and considerations, the baby shower event will turn out to be very memorable because of the favors that the guests have received.

Nothing comes close to ending this wonderful event than to have baby shower favors that would reflect the merrymaking of the delight and joy of all the people who came to celebrate the upcoming arrival of the new baby.

Know everything about baby car safety.

Please read this to know more about baby car seats and keeping your baby safe while in the car.

Q. What is the best baby car seat?

The best car seat is the one that matches your baby's size and weight. It also fits properly in your car and is easily installed.

Q. What types of baby car seats are available?

There are several types of baby car seats such as infant seats, front facing car seats, and convertible seats. There are also combination seats (can face front or rear), booster seats and integrated car seats. With each type of seat there are variations.

Q. Is a five-point harness or a shield safest for my baby?

A five point harness gives your child the greatest protection because it holds your baby tighter in the seat in the event of a crash. A T-Shield or over-the-head restraint allows too much room or can get in the way of chubby tummies and legs. The stalk of the T-Shield can cause serious injury to your baby.

Q. How can I find out how to safely install my baby's car seat?

All car seats (except most second hand seats) come with printed directions. If after reading the directions you still are not sure how to properly install it. You can call or email the manufacturer. Some police stations and hospitals have assistance programs as well.

Q. Is there a correct way to secure my child in the baby car seat?

Yes, there is a correct way in which to secure your child in his car seat. How you secure your baby in the car seat will likely depend on the age and size of your baby. For children under a year of age they should be placed in rear-facing seats in the center of the rear seat. Older children can sit facing front and their seat are generally placed behind the driver or passenger in order to utilize the shoulder/lap belts.

Q. What is LATCH?

LATCH refers to Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. It is a baby car seat installation system. The lower hooks are attached between the bottom of the back of the seat and seat itself. The tether piece is a strap made of seat belt material with a clip that secures forward facing baby car seats and prevents excessive movement of the baby's head in crashes.

Q. What is a Tether?

The tether is a strap made of seat belt material with a clip. It attaches to the clips on the seat and secures front facing baby car seats. In a crash it prevents excessive movement of the seat and the baby's head, reducing the severity of injuries.

Q. How can I tell when my child is ready to use car seat belts without a booster seat?

Your child will be ready for using the car safety restraint system when s/he can sit all the way back in the seat and the knees can bend comfortably over the edge of the seat. The belt crosses the shoulder between the neck and the arm and the lap belt is low and touches the thighs. Your child must be able to remain seated the whole trip.

Q. Can a baby car seat be used safely in an airplane?

Yes it can. Airlines require children age 2 and under, to be in approved car seats. The seats must be 16 inches or less to fit in the airplane seats. Call ahead and find out if your seat is an approved seat. Once on the plane, the hostess/es, will be able to assist you.

Q. Is it safe for me to use second-hand baby car seats?

Yes it is safe to use second-hand baby car seats provided you do a safety check. Belts and harnesses should not be frayed or cracked. There should be no cracks or tears in the seat cover and the seat should recline easily and stay upright when the baby is seated. Look into the history of the seat, if it has been in a car crash do not buy it, its ability to safely restrain your child has been compromised. If the seat does not come with a manual contact the manufacturer to ensure the seat will be properly installed. If the seat is more than 5 years old do not use it, it may have been in a crash and older baby car seats may not fit in new model cars.

Q. What should I do if my baby car seat is recalled?

In most cases, the manufacturer will provide you with instructions of what to do if baby car seat is recalled. In some cases they will replace it for free they will have you bring it somewhere to get replacement parts also at no cost to you.

Q. Are there baby car seats available for children with special needs?

Children with special needs may require different restraint systems. Discuss your options with your pediatrician.

Q. What is the best type of harness for my baby car seat?

There are four types of harnesses in baby car seats. The six-point harness has two straps at the shoulders, two at the hips and two at the crotch. The five-point harness has two straps at the shoulders, two at the hips and one at the crotch. The t-shield is a padded triangle that latches at the crotch while the overhead shield comes down from over the head and latches at the crotch. The safest harnesses are the five or six-point harnesses. These prevent excessive movement of the baby in crash situations. The t shield and the over-head shield allow for too much room and could cause your baby to be ejected from the car in a crash.

In Conclusion

You can never go wrong if you err on the side of caution when it comes to your baby. The size and weight of your baby as well as your budget will decide what type of seat you will purchase.

What To Buy For Baby

A growing number of ingenious gift givers have discovered a special kind of present for new babies and their families.

It's a contribution to help them collect and store the newborn stem cells in their baby's umbilical cord blood. Banked cord blood provides a unique opportunity to protect that child or another family member's future health. It's one of the most valuable gifts anyone can give.

Doctors use the newborn stem cells in cord blood to treat over 75 serious illnesses, such as leukemia, sickle-cell anemia, and other serious blood and immune disorders. As medical research evolves, so will stem cell therapies, with new treatments expected for heart disease, diabetes, brain damage, cerebral palsy, stroke, and other age-related conditions, offering families more and more uses for banked cord blood.

Currently, scientists believe, stem cells similar to those found in cord blood can develop into replacement cells for damaged organs. Clinical trials recently revealed that stem cells can heal heart tissue damaged after a heart attack or repair damaged areas of the liver. Unlocking that amazing potential could generate new therapies for diseases only treated with traditional medical therapies in the past.

Newborn stem cells derived from cord blood are a noncontroversial source of stem cells. They only come from a live birth, have similar characteristics to embryonic stem cells, and are currently emerging as a viable research alternative to embryonic cells.

Newborn stem cells are easy to obtain and immediately available if needed. They are unique because they do not have to match the recipient as closely as bone marrow, offer less chance of being rejected, and can be used by siblings, the child's mother and other relatives, in many circumstances where bone marrow cells cannot.

There is, however, only one opportunity with each child to collect and store cord blood-right after birth. The procedure is quick, easy, painless, and completely safe for mother and baby.

Families that bank cord blood have peace of mind knowing that related stem cells are immediately available if ever needed. So when you're considering what to get a loved one's latest addition, you may care to think about giving a gift that will last a lifetime.

Baby Shower Cakes - Guaranteed To Tickle Your Fancy

The most important thing not to be forgotten at a baby shower party to make it a success is to remember the reason behind the get together and that being is baby.

What is a baby shower, well let me tell you it is an occasion to celebrate the newest edition to the family. Originally baby showers were intended for first-borns, but in the modern world baby shower parties are practised for every baby born into the family and why not every baby deserves just as much attention as any other.

Baby showers normally have close relatives at hand tending to all the planning alongside mum/dad to be. Remember there are some cultures and religious beliefs that believe certain things like parties or belongings to baby brought into the home before the birth is considered unlucky.

Alias names for Baby showers as such have come under titles like Daddys shower, Men-only party for dads-to-be, Diaper showers or baby sprinkles, whatever this is all about welcoming the new baby. Guests invited to babys party bestow and shower gifts, hence the name baby showers. Not forgetting Grandmas shower where party guests bring baby items such as collapsible cribs and changing pads these gifts stay at the home of the grandparents, need I say any more. This is most probably where the famous saying comes in left holding the baby, well thats what grandparents are for.

Parents love a theme behind there baby shower party and why not something to get excited over secondly to that of the birth of baby. Essential needs to get the party into full swing include games the feast and presents and last but not least the cake which at a baby showers party is considered not complete unless this bakers confection is present.

To make your babys day extra special why not bake your own cake, dont worry if you have no experience in this department ready made mixtures for cakes are available with recipe instructions made easy to follow. The hardest part about baking your own is choosing the flavour. Butter cake/ Chiffon cake/ Cupcake/Chocolate cake/ Cheesecake/ Fruit cake/ Carrot cakes are just a few to mention.

A good idea is to bake the main cake of your choice with a couple of others that differ in ingredients. Good and simple choices and inviting to the taste bud is the Butterfly cake/ Gingerbread/ Spice cake/ Sponge cake, the list is endless. Remember this is your babys shower party so you get to choose.

Specially selected baby shower cake ideas

1. Why not try the belly cake a cake designed to look like that of a pregnant belly You can do this by placing a round cake in front of a square cake then sprinkle icing sugar over them both thus resembling that of a rounded belly.

2. Then we have the popular Toy Blocks Cake. Another fabulous idea that goes down well at baby shower parties, bake the cake to look like childrens toy blocks (one large block accompanied by 3 to 4 smaller blocks). Enhance the Toy block cakes by surrounding them with candies or little novelty toys. Make sure these are removed when eating.

The cake centre piece will stand out in the memories of the parents-to-be but never near as much as to why the reason behind why the cake stands there in the first place. Congratulations.

Finding Cute Baby clothes

Everybody wants their baby to look cute. People always try finding out clothes which are comfortable and make their baby look cute. There are number of places from where you can find cute baby clothes. Many parents like their babies to dress their babies in a cowboy or a cowgirl style.

There are a variety of options for parents to choose cute baby clothes for their babies. From the printed tee shirts to comfy denims the choices with baby clothes retailers are numerous. Choosing western outfit baby clothes for your babies also makes them stylish and cute at the same time. Finding cute baby clothes you should not underestimate comfort ability of clothes. You should make it sure that the clothes which make your baby look cute is also comfortable to him or her. Confirm the quality of the clothes and also see the fabric doesn't harm the tender skin of their babies.

It always suggested going for brands while choosing cute baby clothes, especially those which exclusively offer baby clothes. These brands assure of you of their quality which is also very important factor while choosing cute baby clothes. Plus, you also get great options on choosing clothes from a wide array choice available to you. Cute baby clothes are also an exclusive option with these brands.

Some of the common examples that can help you while finding cute baby clothes for babies are to go for clothes with fur. Clothes with fur are not only cute looking, comfortable but are also warm that also protects them from cool temperatures of winter season. Other good choices of cute clothes are combination of caps with clothes with rabbit ears on their caps. Clothes which depict cartoons of animals are also very cute for your babies.

Many parents like to buy clothes with cute scriptures written on it. You can ask for lovely clothes with cool colors having beautiful scriptures written on it. Searching in internet for cute baby clothes is also a great idea. There are not a wide variety of clothes available under cute baby clothes but you have an advantage on searching in the web. You can decide which clothes are best to make babies cute. You can also read opinions of other parents who have purchased cute baby clothes plus you can choose great varieties of cute baby clothes just by sitting in front of you desktop.

About Baby’s Separation Anxiety

How do I feel about my child's separation anxiety? Honestly, it's absolutely one of the most delightful feelings I really enjoy as a mom.

I remember when my son was between 8-9 months old. Just like every mother, I couldn't forget those moments.

At that time, he often asked for more attention from me rather than from anybody in the house. No matter where he was or who was holding him, as soon as he saw me, he suddenly cried as if he was asking me to hold him.

When I came close to him, he abruptly opened his arms and looked so happy. His cry stopped in a moment. It was truly an unspoken feeling I had experienced.

But there was also time when he acted differently from what I had expected. When I went for work, I thought he would cry hard to see me leaving him. I hugged him tight and kissed his face again and again.

I told him, "Baby, Mommy have to go to work now. Eat and drink a lot, okay? And have a good nap. I'll be back. Love you much. Bubye."

Sometimes he kept looking at me when I said so. I expected him to start weeping. But it didn't happen. I wondered why. I found out later that he was interested with the wheels of the car I traveled in everyday.

Whenever the car started to run, my son always kept his eyes on the wheels. Looking at them spinning must have been very exciting to him. I just smiled, though my heart broke a little. I soothed myself by thinking that it was good for him being curious of strange things.

My son is a baby who has sleeping problem. Throughout the night during his sleep, he often woke up several times. If he woke up and didn't find me nearby, he would cry out loud, making the whole house panic as if something really bad happen.

When I got into the bedroom, he would crawl toward me, and then I hugged him. He'd be calm afterward. Breastfeeding really worked to put him back to sleep.

Thank God I decided to breastfeed him so that I wouldn't be engaged with the rush of preparing formula during the night. Yes, I chose to breastfeed him in nighttimes, even though he still got formula in day times.

Maybe this breastfeeding activity had created the bond between us. I enjoyed it, and still until now. This might also what made my son didn't want to stay away from me.

If your baby or child has the same characteristic as my son has, I'm sure you have the same feeling as I do. If you think that your baby's cry (for being away from you) annoy you, just remember that it won't last forever.

Separation anxiety is a phase in your child's development during his early years of life. Almost all children go through this experience. What I can suggest you is just enjoy these intimate moments before they're gone along with your child's growth.

From what I've heard from my friends about this, you're gonna miss the moments. To me, even now, I really don't want the phase fade away.

Wait, wait. There's one more thing I'd like to share with you, which you may not think will make your child comfortable. I remember my friend told me that if you're going somewhere, don't forget to tell your child that you'll be back. Instead of sneaking out of the house, waving your hand and saying that you'll be back will soothe him somehow.

Baby Toy Safety

Buying toys for your baby is about more than just what will entertain them. You have to make sure that you buy toys for your baby that are safe. There are a lot of toys out there that are unsafe for babies. This article will explore some of the things you need to look for when buying baby toys.

Balloons are a definite no. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns parents and guardians of young children about the suffocation hazard presented by uninflated toy balloons and pieces of broken balloons.

Of all children's products, balloons are the leading cause of suffocation death, according to CPSC injury data. Since 1973, more than 110 children have died as a result of suffocation involving uninflated balloons or pieces of balloons. Most of the victims were under six years of age, but the CPSC does know of several older children who have suffocated on balloons.

"Toy Basketball Nets" (11 million) can strangle children on loops or openings in nets that come unhooked from the rim or have knots that slide. CPSC is aware of more than 20 reports of children under 5 years old whose head or neck caught in the net of a toy basketball set, and an 18-month-old child died after becoming entangled in a partly unhooked net. People should remove and throw away nets that can unhook or have knots that slide. Call the manufacturer to get new nets that securely attach to the rim and do not have sliding knots.

"Swimming Pool Dive Sticks" (19 million) can cause rectal or vaginal impalement if children fall or land on the dive stick. CPSC knows of nine impalement injuries and three non-impalement injuries to children 5 to 11 years old. People should stop using the hard plastic dive sticks and throw them out. Depending on the dive sticks owned, consumers can receive a refund, replacement or repair.

"Flammable Spray String" (1 million) can cause burn injuries if sprayed around flame sources such as birthday candles. CPSC is aware of three reports of burns resulting from the use of flammable spray string. Flammable products intended for use by children are banned by federal law. Return the flammable spray string to the retailer for a refund.

"Star Wars Lightsabers" (618,000) without a battery protector could have a dislodged spring in the battery compartment, causing the batteries to overheat or rupture. CPSC and the company know of 38 reports of Lightsaber batteries overheating, including 6 reports of batteries rupturing, 3 reports of minor burns to consumers, and 1 report of eye irritation. Call Hasbro toll-free on (888) 690-6141 to get a free repair kit. Lightsabers currently being sold with the sticker "Now with battery protector" are not part of this recall.

"Pooh Poppin' Piano" (202,000) has a carrot-shaped microphone with a green leafy top that could break off, posing a choking hazard to young children. CPSC knows of three broken parts from this toy piano. Call Tiger Electronics toll-free at (888) 748-2860 to get a replacement. Only pianos with serial numbers starting with "WT" or "CO15D" are part of this recall.

"Blue's Clues Toy Notebooks" (3.8 million) that are recalled have red plastic coils with flexible plastic end caps covering sharply bent coil ends. The bent coil ends can break off, presenting a small parts choking hazard to children. CPSC is aware of four incidents where the end piece of the coil broke off. People should call Colorbok toll-free at (877) 677-4725 to obtain a free replacement coil. Blue's Clues Toy Notebooks currently being sold with "Version 2" on the back cover or lower edge of the packaging are not part of this recall.

"Precious Moments Tender Tails Stuffed Toys" (472,000) have pompoms that can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children. CPSC is aware of three reports of pompoms detaching. People should cut off the pompoms and return them to Enesco to receive a different, free Tender Tails toy.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Council, more than 120,000 children were treated in hospital emergency rooms for toy-related injuries during 1998. To prevent eye injuries, the Academy offers these tips for choosing safe toys:

Tips on buying baby toys that are safe;

Select only toys and gifts that are appropriate for the child's age and maturity level.

Avoid toys with sharp, protruding or projectile parts.

Check labels for American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) approval, to be sure toys meet national safety standards.

Consider carefully before giving BB, paint or pellet guns or air-powered rifles as gifts. They are classified as firearms and should not be considered toys. Darts, as well as bows and arrows, can also be dangerous.

Don't forget that participating in sports such as basketball, baseball, football and hockey can cause serious eye injuries. If giving sports equipment, make sure to include the appropriate protective headgear such as helmets, facemasks or goggles with polycarbonate lenses.

The seriousness of an eye injury may not be immediately obvious. When an injury does occur, it's best to have an ophthalmologist -- an Eye M.D. -- examine the eye as soon as possible. For more information about eye health and safety, visit the Academy's website at www.eyenet.org. For more information about toy safety, visit the Consumer Product Safety Council's website at www.cpsc.gov.

Dangerous baby toys that were recalled; http://www.kidsource.com/cpsc/holiday.toy.summary.html

We hope the Tips on buying Safe Baby Toys gave you plenty of ideas for what to get baby. There are more tips for buying Safe Baby Toys at http://babyport.info Take time to choose the right baby toys and it will be very much appreciated by both parent and baby.

Baby Shower Clip Art: Finding Online Artwork For Your Baby Shower

As you're planning your baby shower, you'll probably want to find some great baby shower artwork to use for various things. Primarily, you should know what type of clip art you are looking for. As in this case, when making a baby shower thank you card or invitation, the clip art that is needed is a baby shower clipart, so this is the type that you should look for in the net.

Clip art is all about copying and pasting the pre-existing drawings or images available in the net. These are illustrations that are already for the most part, found in certain books having already entered into the public site for that actual purpose.

There are limitless logos, mascots, invitations, identity and business cards and letterheads that are freely available. Moreover, there are no license term hassles. The electronic clip art that is available on the net is an extension of such a concept.

In clipart, all images are converted into digital form drawings on a low resolution being used for decorating and enhancing E-greetings and Invitations.

Clipart, are intended for defining and outlining digitized illustrations and drawings, not photography. There are various files that come in many sizes, shapes and formats. Some of the prevalent formats are TIFF, PICT, Paint, GIF, EPS and JPEG. When in doubt what format to use, choose to use PICT, as this format is more or less compatible with almost all programs, thus can adjust easily to another format type.

The standard clipart is generally not a very precise and detailed drawing; the majorities are images or illustrations having very little detail or are called outline drawings. With this, the standard clipart is often use on documents in the web.

Baby clip art is an exciting way of enhancing your work with illustrations that you believe can make magic. Considered the cheapest, most affordable and the most colorful way, they are available free and printable.

A software is available for making your own baby shower clipart; easy and convenient to use, it can convert or transform any of your favorite photo into a clipart

If you want to make your own baby shower clip art, a software is available for just that purpose. Most software is easy to use, and can convert your pictures/snapshots into clipart quickly.

The internet offers a free massive collection of baby shower clipart illustrations that will be of use to enhance, give attention and beautify your own baby shower invitation, baby shower thank cards and announcements. Having this choice, you can save a lot, than having a made to order invitation from a store. With the availability of free clipart, you can now make an invitation that way you want it to be, without sacrificing your budget.

One does not need any artistic skills for this. You can choose to purchase a better featured clip art from the web; though it isn't necessary, as there are countless of free clipart provided for you in the net. You just have to know where to look.

Before each print out is made, do not waste your card stock by printing on it immediately. Instead, do a proof print first, using a black and white ink on plain paper, or change your printer setting to draft or economy and do the proof print this way. The printer will use less ink, and you will see the actual result, making sure that everything is at the right place, before proceeding to the final printing of your very own baby shower invitation.

Sweeter Than Sweet - Baby Shower Cakes

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More popular than ever at these baby party gatherings are Baby shower cakes. Specially designed baby shower cakes go down really well if added with personal touches, this can be with baby's name, Mummy or Daddy's, even candles and toys. We all know cake is a delight to eat so why not make you baby shower cake extra delightful by adding a theme to suit you and baby.

It is a good idea for mum-to-be when out shopping for a baby showers cake is to have in mind what she wants before visiting the bakery. Flavour is important in a baby shower cake; a good idea is to stick with a sponge covered in cream. The reason being is should the cake be rich and filled with marzipan then this may not be to everyone's taste, but with surrounding other small dainties of different flavours then surely all will be pleased.

The cake centre piece will be the main attraction for attracting attention from the guests. Baby shower cakes are designed solely for this and are made more pretty for baby's day

Baby shower cakes are known to some as diaper/baby cakes' what is the difference? The actual Baby shower cake is a cake that can either be homemade or bought from the bakery. While 'diaper cakes' are baby shower basketfuls of goodies containing more diapers (not for human consumption) Homemade baby shower cakes are baked in the same way as any other cake the only difference is more goes into the baby cake as in i.e. creating those personal little touches that mean so much.

Quality bakers who specialize in designer cakes are the best to approach, this way a guarantee of cake freshness appetizing and pretty to look at as eye candy. When you shop for baby shower cakes make sure to do this in advance in order to get the right cake for the baby shower party. Bakeries that cater for baby shower parties are normally very busy. The flavour for your chosen cake is most probally where you may experience problems because of the wide variety of choice. Marzipan, currants, sultanas are ingredients for rich mixes and I hasten to add not to everyones taste. If baking your own opt for the simple sponge cake, how you tart it up as in i.e. decoration is a different matter.

Select the right cake to give ending to the sweetest beginning. (Baby)

To Circumcise Or Not To Circumcise

If you're about to have a baby, no doubt the subject of circumcision for a boy baby has entered your mind. Circumcision is a personal choice – but, of course, it's one that you're making for another person- so you tend to feel a fair amount of pressure to make a good decision. Here are some things to think about that might make your choice easier.

In the US, the majority of boys are circumcised, though the numbers are declining somewhat. In other parts of the world, most non-Jewish boys are not circumcised. The difference seems to be almost entirely cultural. There is really no right or wrong answer here, but I think one good guideline is "like father, like son". The father is most likely the person who will teach the boy how to handle his personal hygiene in this area, so taking Dad's personal situation into account might be a good way to make the decision. My husband is circumcised, as is our oldest son, but our younger son is not. He was not circumcised when we adopted him at ten months, and we chose not to add the trauma of circumcision to his life, considering all the other adjustments he had at the time. My husband had to do some research on the subject to feel prepared to teach our son the proper care of an uncircumcised penis. Our son is six, and at this point, has never asked about the difference between his penis and his older brother's and Dad's.

One thing to consider about circumcision – it is a decision you need to make early on. Part of the reason we chose not to have our younger son circumcised was the fact that, at ten months old, it would have been much more physically painful than if he had been circumcised as a newborn. I'm sure it's no walk in the park at any age, but do realize that if you don't have your son circumcised right away, it might not be wise to change your mind a few months down the road.

A final note about circumcision- not all penises are the same. Some boys have much more foreskin than others. If your son has only a small amount of foreskin, your doctor may refer to this as a "natural circumcision", and recommend that you not have a circumcision performed, unless it is for religious reasons. This means that your son's foreskin is not likely to cause hygiene issues, nor will it be prone to infection, as are some uncircumcised penises.

It's wise to talk to your doctor before you make a decision about circumcision. It's a decision that you need to feel good about, and worth the time it takes to sort out the facts.

Baby Safety Tips

Keeping your baby safe is one of the biggest concerns for all parents. There are many things we take for granted, but are hazards to your baby. Your home is not ready for the baby until you do some things to make it safe, especially if they are beginning to crawl or walk. Don't find out what is dangerous the hard way. Here are some tips to remember. This list is incomplete as each home is different, but hopefully, these tips will get you started in the right direction.

Your Purse; Babies love to play with the things found in a purse, whether yours or a guests. Some of these things can be very dangerous to your baby, like medications, nail files, pens, cosmetics and other small objects.

Cleaning your home; Of course, you should make sure all cleaning products are out of reach of the baby when they are stored, but also keep this in mind as you are using them. It's very easy to get busy cleaning and turn your back, just long enough for them to get into something dangerous. Use the sink instead of a mop bucket. Your baby can drown in a small amount of water, not to mention what is in the water may be harmful to them.

Furniture; Make sure none of your furniture lamps, or decorations are easily tipped over. Keep their high chair away from walls and other surfaces they can use for leverage to push it, possibly tipping it over. No furniture that has chipping or peeling paint should be allowed in the house with your baby.

Check out the rooms of your house often and remember to check them from your baby's point of view. Get down on the floor to look for possible hazards.

A lot of Moms, especially those who breastfeed, like to have their baby sleep in the bed with them. There are some safety tips to keep in mind when doing this as well.

1. Don't put them into an adult bed alone to sleep. They can crawl to an edge and fall off. They can become trapped between the headboard and the bed or the wall. They can also suffocate in soft bedding.

2. Babies should be put to sleep on their back, not on their stomach. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome may have something to do with placing babies on their stomachs to sleep, according to the "Back To Sleep Campaign".

3. Don't use pillows, comforters, and thick quilts or blankets for babies under 1 year old. They stand a chance of suffocating themselves. Securely fitting crib sheets are the safe way to go.

4. Make sure your baby cannot fall out of bed. Bed railing is a useful item to have or having your bed with one side to the wall. The baby should sleep between the mother and the bed rail, not between two parents.

5. Make sure your bed has a firm surface. Never let your baby sleep on a featherbed, beanbag, waterbed, deep mattress, or other too-soft surface.

6. If you are under the influence of alcohol or medication that makes you groggy, do not put your baby to sleep in your bed. If you are groggy, you pose a danger to your baby.

7. Too many pillows, blankets, or stuffed animals can increase your baby's risk of strangulation or suffocation.

8. Never fall asleep on a couch, sofa, or overstuffed chair with your baby. They can get wedged between the cushions and suffocate.

9. Don't stuff too many bodies into a bed with a small baby. If you share sleep with more than one child, adequate space is necessary for both comfort and safety.

Baby Cribs Safety Checklist

Congratulations! You've got a baby on the way! Once your baby has arrived, one of the most important parts of your new life together will be getting a good night's sleep — you in your bed, the baby in a safe and comfortable crib. At first, you may want your newborn to sleep in a bassinet by your bed, making it a little easier for breastfeeding moms, but have a crib ready by the time your baby can roll over.

Your baby will spend more time in the crib than anywhere else, so safety is of utmost importance. What makes a crib safe?

* The bars or slats of the crib railing should be no more than 2-3/8" apart, close enough together to prevent your baby's head from slipping through or getting stuck. That crib in the attic may be a beautiful antique, but it probably does not meet this safety standard. Secondhand older cribs may also have splinters or lead paint as well as slats that are too far apart.

* Cribs with cutout designs along the rail may look pretty, but your baby's arm or neck could get stuck in them.

* The crib must be sturdy. Your child will sleep in a crib until it's time to move into a regular bed between the ages of 2 and 3. When shopping for the crib, give it a good shake to see if it wobbles or rattles.

* Construction materials should be stained or painted hardwoods like maple, ash, beech or oak. The use of inferior woods can potentially weaken or warp the slats. Some metal cribs are also very sturdy and secure. All finish materials must be lead free and non-toxic.

* For safety, the dropsides must be at least 9" above the mattress support when lowered. When the side is raised, the top must be at least 26" above the support at its lowest position. You should have no trouble quietly raising and lowering the side rail easily with one hand, since chances are you'll have a sleeping baby in your arms.

* Make things a little easier on your back by choosing a crib with an adjustable height mattress. A newborn can rest higher in the crib, while a baby who can sit up needs a lower mattress so he can't climb out. You can change the height of most mattresses by simply raising or lowering the mattress support.

* Check the hardware on the crib for sharp edges or points or anything else that could hurt your baby.

* The mattress should fit snugly into the crib. If you can fit two fingers between the side of the mattress and the crib, it is too small. Keep an eye on foam mattresses; over time, they may break down at the edges and leave gaps. Check the mattress support to make sure there are safety clips that lock the hangers into their notches.

* Use nonflammable and hypoallergenic bumper padding attached to the inside railings of the crib to cushion all four sides and prevent your baby from sticking an arm or leg through the railings. Securely fasten the bumper pads to the sides of the crib in at least six places. Be sure to remove bumper pads when your baby becomes more active.

* Follow assembly instructions carefully. Periodically tighten all nuts, bolts, and screws and check teething rails for cracks. Check the mattress support hooks regularly.

* Don't place a crib against a window, near curtains or drapery cords, or near furniture that could help your baby climb out.

* Crib toys need to be removed from the crib when baby is sleeping. And remove mobiles when baby is able to grab at objects.

Federal safety guidelines went into effect in 1973, but only since 1991 do most cribs meet all mandatory safety standards (16CFR part 1508) as set by The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) and the voluntary standards (ASTM F966 and F1169) as set by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). The Juvenile Products Manufacturers' Association (JPMA) certifies cribs that meet the safety standards.

For more information on crib safety and other nursery equipment, contact the Consumer Products Safety Commission at 1-800-638-2772.

Buying Baby Clothes Online

Today's parents have more options available to them when it comes to finding and purchasing clothes and other items for their babies than ever before. With the advent of the internet, shopping for baby clothes has never been easier as there are numerous online retailers that can provide almost anything a parent needs. What follows are some of the best web sites for buying baby clothes online.

Discount Baby Clothes

Not surprisingly, some of the best physical discount stores that carry baby clothes are also some of the best online retailers. When looking for baby duds at an acceptable price the kings online are Wal-Mart, Target, and Kmart. Each company offers direct sales from their web site, have pretty much everything you could need in terms of baby clothing and layette needs, and offer it all at prices that won't make you spit up your Isomil formula. Each offers clearance items and baby registry services as well. Other good sites with slightly higher, but still mid-range, pricing belong to Old Navy and Land's End.

Designer Baby Clothes

For the parent that wants to dress little Kelly or Clay with a bit more pizzazz and who doesn't mind paying considerably more to do so there is E-Luxury, a site that offers the full line of Baby Dior products and the direct web sites of several other designers who deal in baby clothing. Baby Phat has their own site as does Anne Geddes who recently launched a line of her own baby wear based on her famous photographs. If you're looking to shop for as much as possible under one electronic roof there is Chic Baby Boutique, who carries most of the Mak the Yak and Baby Om clothing lines.

Let Your Browser do the Walking

There are literally hundreds of other web sites out there that offer baby clothes at all price ranges and designed to meet all specifications. If you're interested in organically grown cotton, there's a site that specializes in baby clothing made from those fibers. If you want punk rock designs on your baby's T-shirts, there are sites that offer just that! There are sites that offer political slogans on baby sized clothing, "alternative' baby clothing, and sites for baby & toddler tuxedos and evening gowns. If you can imagine it, you can probably find it somewhere on the internet where there is someone just waiting to sell it to you.

Your Baby’s Growth And Development

Unlike us who struggle to keep up with our work duties during the day and can sit back, watch TV and really relax only during the night you little baby is not governed by the fascist rules of night and day. They will sleep whenever they feel like it, wherever they feel like it, and however long they want to. On an average, babies sleep close to 17 hours a day. A whopping nine hours more than what we can just about manage. However, unlike us they don't nap for long stretches of time, most of their sleeping spells extend only up to 2-3 hours. When they do wake up they expect to be fed or changed and in case you forget to meet those expectations they'll create a ruckus just to remind you.

To help your baby's routine get more conventional, in terms of it's sleeping/feeding time etc. you can take a number of steps. To make sure he/she learns that nighttime is the time to sleep and daytime the time to stay up and throw tantrums, put your baby in a room that is too bright during the day to fall asleep in. However be careful to not put your baby in direct sunlight. At night either shift your baby to a room that is cold and dark, or use the same room but just curtain it up and switch on the ac to make it cozy enough for your him/her to fall asleep. You can also put your baby in a sort of routine just to condition him/her to what comes before getting to sleep. Give him/her a warm bath or feed her or play soothing music right before putting him/her to bed everyday.

Every child is born with certain reflexes. If you touch his cheek with the tip of your hand or your breast he will turn towards the tip and open his mouth, if you put your finger in his palm he will grasp it etc. These reflexes disappear after the few initial months after his/her birth and are duly replaced by more voluntary actions.

Although a large variety of baby food is available in the market today nothing is as high in nutrients as the mothers milk. The antidotes found in a mother's milk protects the child against infections and makes his/her immune system stronger.

After birth the babies weight undergoes rapid change. Within a matter of six months it becomes twice it's birth weight. In the next six months it's weight shoots up to around triple the weight at its birth. Once it crosses the one-year mark it's growth pattern settles down and continues at a comparatively lower speed. At one years of age any average child is about 30 inches in length and 20 pounds in weight. At two these figures become about 33 and 26 respectively.

At three months of age, your child will love to study faces and try and grasp toys and moving objects of interest hanging over its head. He/she will also respond to voices and sounds and volume. By six months most babies will be able to stand and sit with some assistance. At nine months of age, your baby will be sitting alone and will also be able to pull herself/himself on furniture (provided their strength matches their weight). Their babble will now start taking a concrete shape and fingers will come handy in pointing and of course eating little pieces of food.

By the time your baby is 1 she will probably learn to walk on her own and also crawl up over more difficult terrain, like the stairs or over the crib or play pen. She will also show greater preference for one hand over the other, and will tend to do most of her movements with the preferred hand. They will also learn to recognize faces and thereby be afraid of strangers and will express love and affection.

How To Select The Best Baby Shower Party Favors

After you have conceptualized and prepared for the party, never forget to prepare a small token to thank your guests for coming.

These baby shower party favors need not be expensive.

These may be simple things that can be ordered in bulk, and then personalized for the celebration.

When you are choosing baby shower party favors, make sure that you have also considered the theme of the baby shower. As much as possible, have the party favor coordinate with the baby shower theme.

If your theme has something to do about fairy tales, cartoon characters, animals or toys, your baby shower favors may be a miniature version of these toys.

If you haven't selected a theme or would like to have a baby shower favor that is not very much related to the theme, here are some ideas.

Chocolates and Cookies

If you have some baking skills, this is the recommended baby shower party favor. These do not cost much if you bake them yourself. Placing an order for these is also an option, however, that may take a considerable part of your budget.

You can have chocolates and cookies personalized by shaping them into baby item shapes. You can have rattle-, baby shoes-, book-, or teddy bear-shaped pastries.

You can wraps these in fancy papers of foils and tie these in blue or pink ribbons.

Soaps

These are becoming popular baby shower party favors. You can choose fragrant soaps and wrap them in decorative papers, or place them in decorative gift boxes or bags.

You can also make homemade soaps and shape them into baby-related items. Or you can also purchase regular soap bars and carve them into baby shapes. Just make sure the soaps are hard enough that these won't crack when you start carving them.

Picture frames

This are one of the most popular baby shower party favors. If the baby shower party is done are the baby is delivered, you can also include your baby's picture in the frame. The picture frames can be in small sizes that can be purchased at low prices.

Figurines

Instead of picture frames, figurines are also good options. You can choose figurines that represent your theme. Angel, teddy bear and baby figurines are also popular.

Candles

Candles as baby shower party favors are usually colored blue or pink. You may also opt to have fragrant candles. Candles can be purchased in bulk or you can also make your own candles. This even allows you to personalize the color, size, shape and fragrance.

Some candles can also come in reusable glass candleholders that also serve as decorative items.

These are just some of the options for baby shower party favors. Surely, you can think of more option or personalize these to fit your chosen theme.

Nevertheless, whatever baby shower party favor you have chosen, make sure that you have included thank you note on the baby shower party favor. The thank you note should include the date, the name of the baby (or the parent's names), and a message of thanks.

It is better if a special poem was composed to be included in the thank you note. Also, you can just choose free poems online and have these printed together with the thank you note.

With these, you can let your guests know how much you have appreciated their presence in celebrating your baby's birth.

Breastfeeding Mums Need To Talk!

Breastfeeding can be an isolating experience. A new mum, breastfeeding for the first time, can feel cut off from family and friends if they are unsupportive or simply do not understand her motives.

All too often it is assumed that a breastfeeding mum will scurry off to do the deed behind a locked door and well out of sight. And God forbid she utters the phrase, "I'm Breastfeeding!" Men avert their eyes and women smile as they shuffle their feet and move the conversation swiftly along! So much for breastfeeding support amongst peers!

Most mums choosing to breastfeed their babies do so because they have been made aware of the lifelong advantages of breastfeeding. But when it comes to the task itself, many feel they have no-one to turn to for information and advice when things are not going as planned. For that reason, a lot of breastfeeding mums give up breastfeeding prematurely.

The World Health Organisation recommends exclusively breastfeeding babies for the first six months of their lives. But many are only breastfed for a few days or weeks.

It is vital that breastfeeding mums have a supportive and informative network of people to ask for help.

And that is where Breastfeeding Support Groups come into their own.

A well- organised breastfeeding support group will cater for a variety of women from varied backgrounds. It will educate women thinking about breastfeeding whilst they are pregnant and it will also cater for novice and more experienced breastfeeders. Breastfeeding support groups allow women and their babies to come together in a relaxed atmosphere, to enjoy congenial conversation. Women are encouraged to discuss breastfeeding issues and, as a result, breastfeeding mums help one another to bypass barriers placed along the path.

Breastfeeding mums need to talk about breastfeeding in order to bring their experiences into the wider community. It is only by chatting about breastfeeding in an open and honest way with one another that it will become more acceptable. If more women are given the opportunity to access breastfeeding support groups then breastfeeding statistics will surely rise.

And who knows, maybe today's breastfed babies will become confident breastfeeding mums of tomorrow, free of the hang-ups prevalent in today's society regarding breastfeeding!

What You Can Expect From 7 To 9-Months-Old Babies

Now that your little angel has reached 7 months old. Time goes by so fast that you don't realize your baby is now able to sit upright without your support or even her own hands. Wow, that must be an incredible feeling seeing her grow so instantly.

For parents of 7 to 9-months-old babies, what else can you find in their physical growths? Well, every baby is not the same. One may have earlier development from the others.

For example, your friend's baby was able to start crawling when he was 8 months old, while yours could do it when she was seven and a half months.

On the other hand, the first baby started teething when he was 6 months old, whereas yours did it when she was 9 months.

So, you really need not to be anxious about your baby's development. She will reach the stage.

What you need to pay attention to is your baby's developmental milestone. This means she should be able to do certain things at particular ages.

It's best for you to make some notes on your baby's growth, such as writing all her new skills in an online diary. If you do not want to miss any of your baby's growths, writing the journal will be very exciting.

Adding up cute photos when new things happen will also be a wonderful endeavor. Later on, you'll thank yourself for keeping the memories online as you can see it anytime anywhere. Add up the joy by sharing the site to friends and families.

Now let's go back to the previous topic. If you're a first-time parent, you probably still have a little idea about your baby's development.

Below is a milestone you can use as your guideline. If your baby isn't on her track or doesn't reach many of the stages mentioned here, you may consult it with your baby's pediatrician.

Here are some of the milestones for 7 to 9-months-old baby:

1. Sitting upright without support 2. Crawling 3. Teething 4. Babbling 5. Passing things from hand to hand 6. Standing up by holding onto something 7. Waving hands 8. Clapping hands 9. Turning heads when someone calls her 10. Holding her bottles 11. Picking objects up with pincer (thumb-finger) grasp 12. Testing your responses to her behavior 13. Able to distinguish people she knows and strangers 14. Cruising while holding onto the wall or other furniture

The older your baby, the more skills she may have. If your baby is not able to do some of these things, don't worry too much. It does not mean a problem. She'll reach the phase in the perfect time, soon.

The Best Baby Shower Gift Ideas

In anticipation of the arrival of a new baby typically friend will have a baby shower for the expecting mother. This is a special celebration of motherhood that is typically held around three months before the baby is due. However now and days some people are even having baby showers after the baby is born. There are benefits either way.

It is customary for guests to bring some type of gift to the baby shower. These typically are something for the mother or baby. Picking these gifts can be a lot of fun for guests. It can be a real joy to think about the future baby and his/her mother and things they might like. Shopping for toys, diapers, bottles or other such baby items can be enjoyable.

However picking just the right gift can be difficult also. You want to find something that the mother too be or baby will use and something that they do not already have. This can pose a difficult problem. Here are some suggestions to picking the perfect baby shower gift.

Tip #1 Buy something practical -Things that the all babies use frequently can be very practical and ensure that what you buy is useful. Things like baby ointments, baby lotions, diapers, wipes, baby power, and other stuff. By placing these all in a cute basket it will scream baby shower gift! Buying a baby shower gift this way you can be sure that it will be put to good use. All babies need diapers and they go through them at an amazing rate. In fact this can be a huge expense for the new family. By buying useful objects like diapers, ointments and other functional products you will help defray some of the cost and the parents will think of you every time they change a diaper.

Tip #2 Buy something that is fun for the baby - Another fun tip and easy gift is to buy something that is fun for the baby like a toy. Today they have tons of great toys that vibrate, play music, and have colorful lights. These are all great toys and very helpful for the babies brain development. The more babbies explore and play the faster their brain connections develop. So not only will you be giving a fun gift you will be helping the child develop their brains. Things like swings, bouncy seats, high chairs, rockers or small soft play toys can all be great gift ideas.

Tip #3 Buy some clothes - This one can be a very fun gift. It is hard for anyone to resist the cute little clothes that babies wear. Just imagining those small feet, hands and body filling the tiny clothes can be a joy in itself. When buying clothes it is better to stay with pretty practical things to ensure that the baby will get to wear it a few times. Things that need to be dry-cleaned, ironed, or etc probably will not ever be worn by the bay because of the extra time and effort required by the mother to use these clothes. Also buying clothes in medium sizes or a variety of different sizes. Typically a family will get tons of clothes that are for newborns. That is what everyone like to buy as they imagine the baby. However to be unique and provide something that is useful at the same time buying clothes that are 3 to 6 or 6 to 9 months can be fun for the parents and make for a unique gift.

Tip #3 Buy something that is practical for mom - Buying gifts for the future mom can also be a lot of fun and very practical and something you can be sure they will use. Things like a diaper trashcan that keeps the smell of dirty diapers down, a sling to carry the baby, or a diaper bag can all be helpful. The mom to be has the hardest job of all. She will be getting up at all hours of the night to feed and comfort the baby along with being overwhelmed at having to take care of a brand new life. Giving some gift that can help make her life easier is often very appreciated.

Tip# 4 Buy something just for mom - Yes a baby shower is supposed to technically be for the baby. However moms are often nervous about the new life that will be coming to them and also can feel very exhausted from both the pregnancy and the delivery of a new baby. Buying a gift for her can be something that gives her a little boost. Things that will make mom's life a little easier are always appreciated. A gift certificate to a local mall so mom can get away for a break and do a little fun shopping is often very appreciated. Other options for mom might include gift certificates for food, especially from places that deliver will typically be used. Even cooking a dinner for the future parents can be incredibly helpful. Also to unwind a subscription to a magazine can be a nice gift for a mom.

By following these tips you can find a fun gift that will celebrate the mom to be and the baby that is on it's way into the family. This can be a very fun time and while shopping for such gifts can be difficult at times if you go early and think about the suggestions above and just have fun and find what you like the gift is sure to be something that the mother and baby will be happy to receive and use frequently.

Remember that a baby shower is a special time for the parents, mother and baby to be welcomed into the world. It is a great chance to boost the mother to be and prepare her for the hard work of being a mother. It is also a wonderful chance to celebrate the birth of a new life. Babies are so cute this can be a fun time for everyone. To ensure that you get the right baby shower gift take your time, relax and follow some of the suggestions above.

Breastfeeding My Baby, Where Do I Start?

Congratulations you have a new baby! Having a new baby is hard enough but when you choose to breastfeed you sometimes feel that you made this experience even harder. Breastfeeding is not as difficult as it looks or as you may have heard from others. It is actually pretty easy and a very fulfilling way to nourish your newborn once you get the hang of it. Remember as with most things practice makes perfect! Breastfeeding is new to you and to your little one but with a little practice you two will become pros in no time!

During the first week of your baby's life, your breasts will produce colostrum for your baby to drink. Colostrum is rich in antibodies and aids the baby's immune system. It also helps him pass his first bowel movement, which is called meconium. Meconium is black and tarry looking and is in the first few diapers after birth. Then he begins to transition to a brown substance and after your milk comes in, it becomes a yellow, mustardy stool that is loose and watery. Bottle-fed babies pass firmer, tannish stools than breastfed babies.

After 24-48 hours after birth, your baby will start having wet diapers that will increase to two or three a day.

Your technique and positioning is a very important factor in ensuring that your breastfeeding experience is a great one. There are a few different positions that can be used to make the experience more comfortable for you and baby. Some of these positions include:

• Laying down - Lay down on you side with pillows behind you to support your back. Lay baby facing you with her head on a pillow your breast should be level with baby's mouth. Bend your legs with a pillow between your knees and then have baby latch on.

• Sitting Up – Sit up either in bed or a comfortable chair or couch with pillows supporting your back and head. Place a pillow on your lap and put baby on top of the pillow in your arms, you can rest your arms on the pillow to make it easier to bring baby up to your breast. Bend your knees to make this even easier have baby latch on.

• The Clutch Hold – This is also known as the football hold. This position is also good when nursing twins as it allows mom to have a baby on each side. Sit down and tuck your baby under your arm almost like a handbag. Rest baby's head on a firm pillow on your lap. Ensure that baby's feet are behind your back. Your hand is at the back of baby's neck, not on baby's head. Your arm will extend down baby's back , guide baby to latch on

These are just a few of the positions that you can use there is also the cradle hold, clutch hold, and the transition position. Do some research to learn these other positions to nurse your baby if you find the above positions uncomfortable.

While your baby drinks colostrum and then milk, you should listen for a pattern of "suck, suck, suck, swallow." This pattern will be rhythmic and there should be no "clicking" noises. The "clicking" sound can indicate that your baby is not properly latched on and may not be getting enough milk from you. If you start to hear this, you need to unlatch him and then reattach him. If you continue to hear this sound after reattaching him several times, then you may want to consult a lactation consultant or your pediatrician.

After the first week of life, you should see 6-8 wet diapers each day and at least 3 bowel movements a day. His urine should be clear and he should become more alert with each passing day. Your baby should also be gaining weight and growing, as this is the surest way to tell that they are getting enough nutrition. If you have two days in a row that deviates from the above indicators, then you should call your pediatrician immediately.

Breastfeeding problems, such as milk production difficulties, are not as common when using the PDF feeding method, but they do occur. Even if you are well rested, eating healthy, have a pretty routine life, and your baby is growing and getting enough food, you still may experience a milk production issue. Many things can cause production problems. Here are just a few.

Some things that can affect your milk supply are:

• What mom eats • How much mom rests and sleeps • Her state of mind • The age of the mom • How many children you have • Your desire to breastfeed • Your nursing capabilities • Your nursing techniques • Baby's latch on abilities

If you choose to breastfeed, it is very important that you take your baby for their check-ups as needed. If you don't, how will you know if he is getting enough milk and growing at the correct rate? There is no way for you to tell that your child is getting enough nutrition for sure without your child being weighed.

Free Baby Shower Games- Laughter is all that Matters

Daunting is not the word to use when organising baby shower games because it really can prove to be fun for all involved with the planning. But if not going according to plan then daunting it can be. Shower parties are no ordinary gatherings they are a celebration where more detail and preparation is needed for everything to run smooth. The host of a baby shower plays a very important role when it comes to making decisions. So careful planning of all activities for on the day will definitely need a considerable amount of thought if perfection is to be achieved.

After planning the food menu/decorations and speeches it is time to think about what games to play. If this occasion is to be a happy joyous fun filled event with guaranteed laughter then a sure way of this happening is to choose the right baby shower party games. Not all guests participate in the games but the biggest majority do. Activities as such are relevant in livening up the occasion.

Shower ideas for games can be found freely on the internet and the good news is most are free, so definitely worth considering if on a budget. I stress not all free baby shower games is every ones cup of tea.

The downside to free games are the print outs are not quite as eye catching as the games you would find on the shelves down at your local store. At the end of the day it is a game and it is free.

It would be worth talking to the mother-to-be to see if she has any objection to using free baby shower games. Depending on your guests, unattractive print outs may not be an issue as long as the concept of the game produces fun and laughter. If impressing is first and foremost in your mind then stick with the professionally devised games because free baby shower games normally lack class materials. It is best you choose another option if you are out to impress.

What you have to remember is you only get what you pay for meaning, if you have found a shower game for free then do not be surprised if no artistic measures have been taken to make the presentation look good. If you decide that these type of games are not for your baby shower event then you will find a wide variety of good quality ones in the shops. Baby shower games dont have to look good to give of laughter to all those who participate as long as they disperse pleasure that is all that matters. Think back to your childhood days and the games you enjoyed playing that left you with memories of hilarious moments. Bring back those moments and share them with your guests. Play the fool if need be. If it gets laughs then do it.