What Should You Know About Baby Diapers!

Hot Tip! Start looking at baby names early. You are likely to change your mind often, so the more time you allow, the easier it will be.

Baby diapers are the smartest thing invented for the babies. All headaches are gone. There are no more problems with the mess and with the cleaning after every change. The baby diapers are more practical and all you have to do is open it, put it like a panty, clip the cocklebur and that’s it. It’s not only time you spare but money too. More and more brands offer different kind of diapers for almost all the moments of the growth. The purpose of all this brands is to make the baby feel comfortable, free to move, and to avoid any kind of infections.

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They improve more and more in the way they open-close, smell and feel. A diaper with rough margins generates rashes and discomfort for the baby. The untreated rashes can get infected. A good baby diaper is that which makes the skin look healthy. A baby diaper must be changed as much as it needs and thrown away. The disposal containing used diapers must be emptied at least once a day. It’s important to keep the baby clean and the place also. The babies must not be exposed to all kind of germs which can make him sick. To change a baby diaper is not that hard, it needs practice and patience. In case you detect any rashes be sure you clean gently the surface of the skin with water or antibacterial substances and also change the brand of the diapers you used. Nothing is too good for your baby.

Hot Tip! Religion. For some parents, religion plays a major role in choosing a baby name.

If you find this information useful you should visit the site http://baby-diaper.info where you will find lots of interesting articles related to this topic, all original and wrote by Michael Lastun.

Filed under: Baby

Nutrition Pre Pregnancy - Prepare the Ground Before the Harvest

Hot Tip! PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) have a HIGH occurrence of ectopic pregnancy.

Supplementing with essential nutrients as part of a nutrition pre pregnancy program is part of ‘preparing the ground before the harvest’. It also means you need to do your best to avoid and eliminate foods that have a negative effect on your health.

Nutritional Planning

Planning your pregnancy in advance and ensuring you supplement with all of the essential nutrients required for optimum health may reduce the occurrence of premature birth and reduce complications at birth - see our reference library at the bottom of this page to read articles on these matters.

A healthy intake of Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids (EFA) by women as part of a nutrition pre pregnancy program may also:

• improve the baby’s brain development and intellectual capabilities

• may reduce the incidence of asthma in children

• may reduce the risk of maternal diabetes

EFA Warning!

1. Be careful of relying on fish for your Omega 3 EFA. The reason - there is a very real danger of heavy metal contamination from mercury when consuming a very high fish diet. This occurs because the type of fish you need to consume are at the top of the food chain and more likely to contain heavy metals. This can lead to major birth complications - the most severe being autism.

Hot Tip! The most commonly looked for early sign of pregnancy is missing a menstrual period. However, this may be a false alarm caused by a hormone imbalance, sickness, stress, a reaction to eating certain foods, or taking medication.

2. With low quality Omega 3 fish oil supplements you also run a danger of consuming not only heavy metals, but also transfatty acids - this can happen if the EFA is exposed to light or air during the packaging process. Overly cheap supplements are just not worth it!

It is recommended that you allow six months as part of your nutrition pre pregnancy plan. A healthy diet is important - ensure you eat from a wide variety of foods, reduce your intake of caffeine, avoid alcohol and cigarettes and follow the basic rules of good nutrition.

Ensure you drink plenty of fresh filtered water; ideally install a water filter so you always have a good supply on hand. At least 8 - 10 glasses a day can help prevent common problems such as dehydration and constipation.

Why Supplementing is Necessary for You and Your Baby

Hot Tip! Develop an attitude of gratitude: Some women are able to operate in high levels of stress without ill effects on their pregnancy. These are women who have positive attitudes and low anxiety levels about life challenges.

There is a great deal of literature available on nutrition pre pregnancy and suggested RDA’s for vitamins and minerals during pregnancy. The question you need to ask yourself is can I get everything I need from the food I eat and will I get enough for two?

Even the Journal of the American Medical Association now admits that vitamin supplements may prevent chronic disease.

Supplementing with essential fatty acids as part of a nutrition pre pregnancy program during the last 6 weeks of your pregnancy can ease the delivery. This is because these essential fatty acids are required to produce hormones that assist labor.

Preeclampsia is another condition which affects as many as 5-8% of all pregnancies (data from the Preeclampsia Foundation). It is a progressive condition that can occur at about 20 weeks and is characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine. Swelling, sudden weight gain, headaches and changes in vision are other symptoms.

Hot Tip! We usually associate pregnancy with food cravings. Often a pregnant woman will crave a specific food at a specific time and then before she knows it the cravings will just disappear.

According to the foundation, preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a leading global cause of maternal and infant illness and death. By conservative estimates, these disorders are responsible for 76,000 deaths each year.

In a recent study, researchers established a relationship between low levels of the antioxidant mineral selenium and this disorder. Dr Joel Wallach in his book, ‘Rare Earths Forbidden Cures’, talks about selenium deficiency in relation to infertility, miscarriage, low birth weight, high infant mortality, cystic fibrosis and sudden infant death syndrome.
The vitamin folate has an unquestionable role in the prevention of neural tube defects in new born babies and most women are aware of the need to make sure they have adequate calcium and iron (and now selenium) in their nutrition pre pregnancy - however that still leaves another 57 minerals, 12 amino acids, another 15 vitamins and 3 essential fatty acids required by the body to prevent disease.

With so many diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and cancer in some way related to nutritional deficiencies it is even more important to begin a pre pregnancy supplement program.

Hot Tip! Reducing the risk during pregnancy: Women in the past often talked about the need to take it easy during pregnancy. During the 1980s and 1990s there was a tendency to downplay this need as women evolved in the work place.

Which Supplements To Use

Supplementing is very easy and should form part of your pre pregnancy nutrition plan:

• Minerals - to ensure you get an adequate supply of all minerals, use plant derived liquid minerals. These are totally organic, are completely safe, derived from plants and contain no heavy metals or chemicals.

• Multivitamin/amino acid supplement - this will ensure that you get all of your essential vitamins. B-complex and folate in particular are essential for every biochemical reaction and cellular function. These should have extra amounts of the important minerals your body needs such as: iron, copper, selenium, calcium, chromium, iodine, magnesium, potassium, zinc, manganese.

• Essential Fatty Acids - often overlooked, these ‘good fats’ are involved in the prevention of disease, production of hormones involved in birth and overall health and are a fundamental component of every cell.

• Calcium - you will need additional calcium and other major minerals - sometimes up to 40% more. Contrary to popular belief, milk is not a very good source of calcium.

• Selenium - consult your health care practitioner on recommended dosage. There is plenty of literature available showing the importance of selenium and a healthy baby

Hot Tip! Tender Nipples and Breasts - one of the very early signs of pregnancy is a feeling of tenderness in the breasts and nipples. The good news is that these feelings of tenderness go away as the body becomes accustomed to the new hormone levels.

Copyright http://www.Global-Longevity.com

Paul Newland is a health writer, sports training consultant and martial arts instructor and manages the Global-Longevity.com website.
He is the author of numerous health information books and guides, including the Wellness Report, The Ultimate Antioxidant Report, The Selenium Report, The Bird Flu Report, The Ultimate Nutrient Guide and The Essential Fatty Acid Report and The Ultimate Sports Nutrition Guide - available Free (for a limited time) through Global-Longevity.com

Filed under: Pregnancy

Baby Shower Games - Less Bills, More Thrills

Hot Tip! The most critical point to ensuring your baby shower is a success is knowing what not to do. Etiquette absolutely needs to come first.

Game festivities are guaranteed to liven up and thrill the guests invited along to your baby shower party. Babys day should be fun filled action packed and full of laughter and a sure way for this to happen is when Baby Shower Games are in play.

You don’t have to be at a loose end when it comes to providing entertainment for the guest invites attending the baby shower party. One of the best options for additional fun is to play games.

Have your friends and family join in The Name Game

The start of this game is where you ask the players to write down two names for the baby then ask them to find as many words they can from their chosen names, the winner will be the player with the most names. Be sure to mention before play that words with less than three letters are not valid.

To make the name game even more exciting ask the guests to keep the names they chose a secret from the other entrants, the reason for this is because they will be given the opportunity to guess from the words made up what names were chosen at the beginning of the name game.

Hot Tip! 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).

Feeding Time is another particular favourite, this is game where cotton balls are placed into a basin with another empty basin at the side,

Blind fold the players for this game who will then be prompted to transfer the cotton balls from one basin to the other with the aid of a spoon. Put a time limit on this game because this game is not as easy as it looks. The winner is the one with the most cotton balls moved.

Another unusual named game is the Rice Bowl but very popular at baby shower occasions.
Take a bowl fill it half-way with plain uncooked rice. Into the rice throw in safety pins (be careful with safety pins). Blind folded once again the guests task is to take turns in retrieving the pins.

Guess the Guest is a real fun game where guests are asked to bring a picture along of when they were a baby, On entrance to the baby shower celebration these photos will be handed to who ever is in charge of the entertainment scene. Participants in this game join in the fun by identifying the picture and putting the right face to the right person.

Baby Shower Games highlight the whole of the occasion adding fun and laughter. Most games entail being blind folded. A word of warning, to many of these baby shower games then you don’t get to see as much of the baby shower as you would like.

Hot Tip! The Tray Game: This game can be used for several situations, but none are as fun as the version for a baby shower. Place all kinds of items that will be used with new baby on a tray: a disposable diaper, wipes, a rattle, a bottle, a pacifier, a baby blanket…anything that a new mom would need.

If this day is to be remembered for as long as ever after then be sure to browse this fabulous site for fantastic ideas/themes. All you could possibly want to announce babys presence can found here at http://www.good-baby-showers.com

Filed under: Baby Shower

Baby Shower Food: Intimacy at Baby Showers Makes Future Babies

Are You Planning A Baby Shower? These High-Quality Printable Baby Shower Games will Help You Host the Best Baby Shower Ever. Includes Todays Hottest Themes.

Let us stick with tradition that is here to stay and that is celebrating the birth of a new born infant and the baby shower party to recognize his/her forthcoming presence.

On receiving the good news about the pregnancy friends and family gather to offer their congratulations and fuss over the parents-to-be. But the fussing does not end there more fuss to come when organizing a baby shower celebration.
If the baby shower is properly planned then you will wonder what all the fuss about.

A good time to throw a baby shower is at least a couple of months before the due date of the new arrival. Remember there are some cultures that do not practise celebrating in a baby shower because of their beliefs where they believe it is bad luck before the infants birth.

Hot Tip! The most critical point to ensuring your baby shower is a success is knowing what not to do. Etiquette absolutely needs to come first.

Why all the excitement over the new born where baby showers are in order to celebrate babys being.

Think about it, you dont get a second chance because you never have the same baby twice. So do it in style and join in the fun for every new edition to the family.

Making plans for baby shower food is very important. You will want the decoration theme and invitations perfect. But perfection on the day stays with the spread you lay on the table.
You have your little prince/princess on the way now it is time to lay a feast fit for king/queen.

Hot Tip! Most parents would appreciate it more if you will not use free baby shower games.

Popular table fillers are
Sandwiches
Chips/fries
Pies (pizzas.)
Pasta
Dessert (cakes, cookies, ice cream, jelly.)
Drinks (punch, juice, wine.) These are just a few ideas and choices are endless but it is up to you what you have on the day

Consider a sit down meal for all the invited guests at the baby shower, remember this is about timing. Make sure to properly map out your list of duties and get the scheduling of the meal right, if not expect your plans to go all topsy turvy.

An easier option is snacks, just as appetizing and filling and less dishes to wash if served on disposable plates. Finger sandwiches filled with different pates, sliced chicken or turkey with fresh salad. Dips of different flavours go down well.

If your theme for the baby party is of a Disney character then work around this with a baby shower cake made up of the cartoon figure which you will find makes a fabulous centrepiece also.

Remember a pretty table makes pretty eating. Decorate the table with baby items cuddly toys, confetti, candy.

Hot Tip! A team game that is popular across the world is a race to pass an apple from player to player, without using the hands, but using the chin to hold the apple. Baby shower game twist: try the same thing with a baby powder container.

It is good to know a more intimate side to your guest then this will give you an idea what food to serve, e.g. if vegetarian, no steak if on a diet no cakes.

Draw the line on how intimate you go because this baby shower is about THIS BABY not any future ones.

If this day is to be remembered for as long as ever after then be sure to browse this fabulous site for fantastic ideas/themes. All you could possibly want to announce babys presence can found here at http://www.good-baby-showers.com.

Filed under: Baby Shower

Baby Proofing your Home - Baby Safety Tips for Effective Babyproofing

Hot Tip! Use the internet. There are lots of great resources online, from baby name lists, to articles about the meanings and origins of names, to forums.

Unfortunately, more than four million children end up in the emergency room each year as a result of home accidents. The good news is 90% of these accidents could have been avoided. While there is no replacement for vigilant supervision, proactive childproofing can go along way towards preventing needless accidents. As your child explores, teach him what is safe and what is off-limits.

Hot Tip! Religion. For some parents, religion plays a major role in choosing a baby name.

Drawing on the knowledge of child safety expert Kimberlee Mitchell, experienced mother of two toddlers and owner of Boo Boo Busters Professional Babyproofing Service, below is a list of recommended childproofing tips for every home.

How To Create A Baby Safe Home Environment

The cheapest and quickest way to babyproof is to limit access to certain parts of the home that are neither safe nor appropriate for babies. The garage, laundry room, loft, terrace, office, gym, utility room, craft room, rooms under construction, etc. should be “off limits” for babies and should be secured with door locks. The front door and interior garage door should have flip locks so child does not have access to outdoors.

Hot Tip! Do what comes naturally. Adapt signs to suit you or your baby if you want.

Common Hazards in Every Home

Some household dangers are obvious yet others can be more elusive. Albeit there are hundreds of dangers common to every household, they are easily rectified once recognized.

Electrical:

· Cover all outlets, power strips and old exposed wires. Engaged outlets with a cord plugged in and play areas (nursery, play room, living room) should have sliding plate covers or a big box outlet cover for oversized plugs on every exposed outlet. Push plugs can be used in less accessible areas only if the plugs are very difficult for an adult to remove. A determined child and/or a set of twins, can remove the push plugs given enough time.

· Use cord control kits to organize and house all wires.

Tipping:

· Anchor all armoires, shelving units, dressers, etc. or appliances (i.e. TV, VCR, computer, etc.) that can topple onto child as a result of climbing or pulling. When drawers are open simultaneously the unit, however sturdy, becomes front heavy and tips easily with weight of toddler on open drawer.

Hot Tip! Give it a go. If you don’t you’ll never know whether you could have reduced the frustration of the terrible twos, helped your baby’s development or been a happier parent of a more confident, happier baby.

· Earthquakes are another good reason to secure heavy furniture to wall stud.

Falls:

· Install window guards with emergency release latches on all windows on second level. Screens are not babyproofing devices. Beware of toy stacking. Children will pile up anything to get a view outside. Move furniture away from half walls where child can climb up and fall over. Consider having Plexiglas installed to extend dangerous pony walls.

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· Mount safety gate at stair top and bottom. Professional babyproofers offer top quality gates, extensions, custom mount kits for wood and wrought iron banisters. Pressure gates are not recommended. If banister posts are more than 3″ apart, install a barrier.

· Install custom cut Plexiglas on stair banisters and decks that are no to code (2 1/2 inches wide) or if there are decorative embellishments on banister that will act as a foothold for a climbing child.

· Be sure all area rugs and mats have non-skid bottoms to avoid slipping.

· Never leave infant unattended on changing table or bed

· Never let child play on stairs unattended.

Chemical:

· Move all chemicals (including cleaning supplies, various beauty and childcare accessories and alcohol) to a high locked cabinet.

Hot Tip! You also might not want a baby name that is so trendy that it will sound funny by the time the baby is ten years old. (For example.

· Install magnetic child safety locks (Tot Loks) on all accessible drawers and cabinets that contain these toxic items. These are 100% kid proof.

· No unsupervised entry into garage and laundry room.

· CO detectors should be installed on each level of home near sleeping quarters.

Plants:

· Find out which plants in your home and yard are poisonous. Landscapers commonly use White Oleander, which is highly toxic. If there is a plant in question, cut off a sprig, put it in a zip lock bag and bring it to local plant nursery for their input.

Hot Tip! Avoid baby names that might produce insulting nicknames when people shorten them.

Pets:

· Keep all pet doors closed off when child is present.

· Pets run through door and knock over child and/or child can escape to the outside via the door, which is at their eye level and quite inviting.

· Never allow your child access to an animal you don’t know is good with children. Don’t allow child to hug dog or kiss its face. Don’t bring small children to dog parks. Keep child away from pack of fast running dogs.

Hot Tip! Number of Names. You have many options when it comes to the number of names you choose for your baby.

Choking/Strangulation:

· Anything that will fit inside an empty cardboard toilet paper roll is a choking hazard.

· Replace all old door stops that have removable rubber tips with one piece door stops as the small rubber tip is a choking hazard.

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· Do a visual safety sweep of home every day before child wakes to make sure all small objects are picked up off floor.

· Beware of older children’s toys that can be choking hazards. Use locked storage bins for small pieces.

· Install a peg rack on wall to hang purses, coats, bags, backpacks, etc. to keep out of reach.

· Install blind cord cleats and wrap all dangling cords to disallow strangulation.

Water:

· Avoid the most common drowning hazard and have a pool fence, cover or net installed over all pools and spas.

· When swimming with baby or small child always make sure they are within arm’s distance and PAY ATTENTION. Being engrossed in a conversation with someone while “watching your child” is very dangerous.

Hot Tip! Get together with a group of friends to sign. Better still go to a baby signing class if there’s one local to you.

· Babies can fall into toilet head first and not be able to get out so be sure to install toilet locks.

· After it rains do a visual safety sweep of the yard to look for planters, buckets or water tables with pooled water and dump it out.

· Never leave the child unattended in or around water.

· Turn your water heater down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid risk of scalding.

Humans:

· Use back burners in kitchen and turn pot handles in.

· Parents make habit of holding handrail when using stairs when carrying child.

· Keep doors to “off limits” rooms pulled closed.

· Beware of elderly or older children’s non-safe habits about household. They will unintentionally leave medicines out, drop pills, leave doors/cabinets/drawers open, etc. You can educate your family members to be mindful of their unsafe habits but at the end of the day the baby’s safety is still your responsibility.

Hot Tip! Visit your local library or bookstore and browse the pregnancy and parenting sections. You will likely find several books in various price ranges that provide you with many unusual baby boy names to consider.

· Be vigilant about supervising your child. You can babyproof your home like a safety fortress but there is no replacement for your constant attention.

· Turn off the TV if you are not watching it with your child. The program may be child-safe but the commercials might not. There are some pretty terrifying things on TV that will not physically harm a baby but can cause damage. See your pediatrician about this topic for more information.

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A VIRTUAL HOME SAFETY EVALUATION:

The following is a room-by-room walk through of an average family home. Keep in mind that our homes were not designed for the safety of a baby or child in mind. Each residence has special features that are unique as well as common safety challenges. Below is a list of solutions to common safety hazards found in most homes:

Kitchen

· Install magnetic child safety locks (Tot Loks) on all accessible drawers and cabinets that contain toxic items (i.e. cleaning supplies, alcohol, vitamins, plastic bags, etc.)

· Gate off kitchen area.

· Keep child in high chair or pack and play during meal preparation.

Hot Tip! Study the top 100 baby names and choose one that has a special meaning that you like - maybe something that means ’strong’ or ‘kind’ or ‘brave’.

· Latch all other drawers and cabinets. We recommend babyproofing for safety first and foremost, however it’s also a matter of convenience. If you choose, keep one cupboard with Tupperware lids unlocked for child to access but be sure they can not use this open cabinet or drawer as a step to climb up onto counter. Your child may not be able to reach certain drawers now but he surely will in no time.

· Never let child play with pots or pans as it sends the wrong message to child that these are toys. When child sees the same pots/pan on stove top he will want to grab his familiar “toy.”

· Consider latching all appliances child can access like the refrigerator, dishwasher, trash compactor, dumbwaiter and oven.

· Keep all appliances on counter unplugged and hide electrical cords.

· Do not hang dish towels on oven door as baby can pull towel and bring the door down into the bridge of his nose.

· Use back burners on stove and install stove guard and knob covers if child has access to them.

· Do not use small or breakable refrigerator magnets as they are choking hazards.

· Beware of leaving knives, scissors, coffee mug, etc. out on counter as child will grab at whatever they can get a handle on from their vantage.

Hot Tip! Start with the most popular names being given to baby boys. For parents living in the USA, you can easily find this kind of information by visiting the Social Security Administration’s website (click on the link at the bottom of this page to go to the direct link to the SSA baby names search).

Bathrooms

· No unsupervised entry into bathroom.

· Use safety locks on door at all times.

· Install toilet locks to prevent child from drowning and throwing objects in.

· Latch all cabinets.

· Move wastebasket under sink behind a latched cabinet door or use a covered receptacle.

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· Turn water heater down to 120 degrees to prevent scalding.

· Always check water temperature on your inner wrist prior to putting baby into it.

· Never leave a child in bath unattended.

· Never leave filled tub unattended and drain tub immediately after use. Children can wander in and drown.

· Use no-slip mat to prevent slipping and a spout cover to prevent scalding and cuts.

· Remove all electrical appliances from bathroom where child bathes.

Hot Tip! Breastfeed your baby, if possible. It*s free, it*s convenient, and it might help against breast cancer.

Living Room/Family Room

· Eliminate baby’s access to fireplaces, wood stoves and hot tubs using gates developed for this purpose. If gates will not work on fireplace use specially designed fireplace lock on glass accordion doors and install hearth padding around edges of hearth to prevent child from falling onto it.

· Remove gas key from fireplace gas gauge and store in high place.

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· Anchor all items that are tipping hazards.

· Anchor TVs.

· Remove all items (torchiere lamps, freestanding coat racks, statues, etc.) from home until child is older.

· Cover end tables, coffee tables, countertops, and low dressers furniture corners and edges with cushioning created for this purpose.

Decks

· No unsupervised access to decks. Beware of you child stacking toys/object to see over railing.

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· Install a Plexiglas or net barrier if there is more than 2 ½ inches between railing posts.

· Put decals on sliding glass doors at baby’s eye level, so he or she doesn’t run into them.

· Always keep baby away when from the grill. Hearthgates work well for this purpose.

· Do not use deck furniture to eliminate risk of climbing.

· Always lock all doors leading to decks.

Nursery

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, National Safety Council and the American Academy of Pediatrics have the following helpful safety suggestions for your child’s nursery.

· ALWAYS place your baby to sleep on his or her back. This greatly reduces the risk from SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) or suffocation. Since the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended back-sleeping five years ago, SIDS deaths in the USA have declined by 38%.

Hot Tip! Start looking at baby names early. You are likely to change your mind often, so the more time you allow, the easier it will be.

· Remove all soft bedding-pillows, comforters, blankets and stuffed animals-from the crib to further reduce risk of suffocation. Instead of a blanket, dress baby in a sleep sack or sleeper.

· Make sure the crib itself meets current safety standards. This means:

1. The slats are no wider than 2 3/8″ apart

2. The mattress is firm-not soft (foam or coil - your preference)

3. There is no gap between mattress and crib walls. Two fingers worth of space is too much.

4. Corner posts are level with the height of the end panels (just 1/16″ higher at most)

5. There are no decorative cut-outs in the headboard or footboard.

6. Top rails, when raised, are at least 26″ above the mattress support in its lowest position.

7. Hardware is secure-no loose or broken screws or pieces. Recheck periodically.

8. Drop sides cannot be accidentally released by a child. (According to the National Safety Council, the crib sides should require two separate steps to release. If this is a one step process, it should require a minimum force of 10 pounds to release.)

Hot Tip! Diaper Rash Prevention - instead of taking action after your baby got a diaper rash, prevent it with a drop of olive oil applied to their bottom every time you change their diaper: it works wonders (you should check with your doctor first).

9. Look for a JPMA safety certification seal on newly manufactured cribs.

10. Top rails should be covered by teething guards.

· Keep blind cords, curtain pulls, décor, electrical cords and mobiles out of baby’s reach.

· Maintain a cool room temperature give a recommended range to prevent overheating.

· Place baby’s crib away from any source of draft.

· Make sure baby’s fitted sheet is secured to the mattress and will not pop loose.

· Place a baby monitor in the nursery far from child’s reach.

· Consider purchasing a special crib mattress that circulates air around baby. This helps prevent the “rebreathing” of carbon dioxide, which is believed to be a leading cause of SIDS.

· If you use bumper pads, make sure they are tightly secured to the sides of the cribs. Trim excess ties or straps. Straps should be loose, easy to push down to mattress and not hung up on any hardware. You don’t want your child to get a foothold on bumper to be able to climb out.

· When child is sitting up remove bumper pads and all other animals or pillows and lower crib mattress to lowest position.

Hot Tip! The baby is more likely to grow into a strong and independent child, with a large amount of confidence. So long as they are happy and secure, they will not be worried about sleeping alone, as this is what they have come to expect.

· Once the top of the crib rails are less than three-fourths your child’s height or they are 36 inches tall, it’s time to move to a toddler bed.

· If you have a child who climbs out of the crib before the above point, seriously consider using a crib tent. Some parent’s don’t like it but the potential alternatives are far worse.

· Install finger guards on fast-closing doors.

· Anchor all furniture, cover all outlets (even ones behind crib), and install locks or window guards on all windows.

Hot Tip! Search for exotic and unique baby names online. There are many baby websites with listings and resources for baby names.

· When baby is sitting up remove all mobiles and any type of canopy over bed as they can pose choking or strangulation hazards.

· Do not place heavy object on shelves or hang pictures above crib.

· Use earthquake putty on all objects placed on shelving. Use Velcro the secure base of pictures on walls - stick to wall and back of frame and it will prevent it from falling and breaking during quake.

· Use locks on sliding closet doors until baby can open and close without pinching fingers or slamming causing glass doors to crack.

· Pick up room every night before bed so in the event of an emergency you can get to your child quickly without incident.

Hot Tip! Decide if you prefer popular names or unique names. The list of baby girls names below are the most popular names in the USA since the year 2000.

· When child is in toddler bed, use pressure gate in doorway to prevent child from walking around house unsupervised during the night. Instruct child to call for you when he is awake in the morning.

Fire & Health Safety

· Store fire escape ladders in every bedroom on second level and above.

· Place working fire alarms in every bedroom and on every story and remember to check them regularly. Day light savings time is a good marker to use check your alarms bi-annually
.
· Install carbon monoxide detectors on each level of home near sleeping areas.

· Install natural gas detectors on each level of home near sleeping areas.
· Create and practice a disaster plans. (ie. fire escape plan, earthquake plan, disaster plan.)

Hot Tip! Celebrity Names. A common source of today’s baby names comes from the names of celebrities and from the names that celebrities choose for their children.

· Purchase disaster preparedness kits.

· Make sure all fire/smoke alarms are in working order.

· Place the phone number of the poison control center near the telephone. You will need to know your child’s weight to treating a poisoning. Never use ipecac unless instructed by a professional to do so.

· Learn first aid and CPR and keep your skills up-to-date.

Kimberlee Mitchell is a Certified Child Safety Expert and Owner of Boo Boo Busters, Inc. Professional Baby Proofing Services Company. For more information on Kimberlee or Boo Boo Busters visit http://www.BooBooBusters.com .

Filed under: Baby

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