Oh Baby! 2018

OhBaby!

A San Joaquin Media Group publication

2018-2019

The

Everything Planner

From Baby Bump to Baby’s

First Birthday

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Oh 5

Getting Ready for Pregnancy

7

Your Optimal Pregnancy

Cover photo by

Connie Barding The Photographic Art Studio

Staff PUBLISHER: Deitra Kenoly

EDITOR: Robin Good

DESIGN & PRODUCTION: Jason Ente Angela Krieger Dan Loeffelbein Sylvia Matus PHOTOGRAPHER Connie Barding The Photographic Art Studio

8

Finding an Obstetrician

12

Ultrasounds and Sonograms

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Your Pregnancy – Month by Month

15

Identifying Warning Signs of Pregnancy Danger

29

Baby Nursery Design in 12 Easy Steps

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32

Baby’s Early Education

Baby’s Nutrition: Learning the Dance of Breastfeeding

33

Infant Reflux

34

Planning Baby’s Birth

35

17

Pregnancy Visits

21

Prenatal and Infant Care Chiropractic

36

38

22

How will I know when I’m in Labor?

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Hand and Footprints

Showing Off That Bump!

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Budgeting for Baby…

Now and in the Future

25

26

Choosing a Pediatrician

28

Common Questions to Ask Your Pediatrician

51

Read Aloud Every Day!

What to Expect at the Hospital: A Guide to Labor and Delivery

Pregnancy Milestones

48

Proper Footwear for Children

Essentials of Baby Shower Etiquette

16

Choosing the Right Child Care

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2018-2019

Hospital Bag Checklist

Preparing Children for Pregnancy and a New Baby

For more information or to get a copy of Oh Baby! contact The Record 209-546-8200

Baby!

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Your Baby’s Birth Story

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Introducing the Fur-Babies

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The Eco-Friendly Nursery Go Green Baby!

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The Pictures to Take (and how...) and The Pictures That need a Professional

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Nesting Tips

56

Popular Baby Names for 2018

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Getting your Body Back

60

Your Baby is Teething

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Baby’s First Tooth

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Baby’s Tooth Chart

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The End of Infancy: Tracking Your Toddler and Child

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The Brain Game Hack to help with Tantrums

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Vaccine Tracker

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Checkup Worksheets

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Tracking Your Baby…

Developmental Milestones

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Baby’s First Birthday

Getting Ready for What most couples don’t realize when considering a baby is that it involves a lot of thought and planning. It’s not enough to be mentally ready – you have to be physically ready (fit), and healthy. This gives you a head start to having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

How to get Pregnant As many of you know, conception is not as easy as it seems. While a few get lucky and conceive quickly, for others it can take longer than anticipated – sometimes years. By making a few healthy choices and lifestyle compromises you can increase your odds of getting pregnant.

From eating the right foods, to losing weight and cutting down on caffeine and alcohol, you can make a direct impact on your ability to conceive.

If getting pregnant is high on your priority list, here is what you can do to increase your chances:

Eat Healthy There is nothing like a well-balanced diet to trigger your baby making process. Make sure to get ample doses of protein, zinc, iron, and Vitamin C to enhance your chances of conception.

Say no to Smoking Smoking affects fertility and also damages the ovaries. If you are considering pregnancy there is no better time to kick the habit!

Pregnancy

Avoid Stress High stress levels can wreak havoc on your hormonal system, thereby affecting ovulation and conception.

Fitness Matters Exercise regularly. Walk, swim, cycle, or hike. Anything that gets you up and moving will do the trick. Being underweight or overweight can make conception harder and affect your baby’s health.

Keep Away from Alcohol An occasional drink may not majorly impact fertility, but research has shown that alcohol impairs fertility and harms the developing fetus.

Frequency Have frequent sex to increase your chances of conception. Most fertility experts feel that infrequent sex at the best time of the cycle is one of the most common causes of infertility.

Get to Know your Ovulation Cycle Timing sex during ovulation is a great way to speed up your chances of getting pregnant. If you have a regular 28-day menstrual cycle, ovulation is most likely to occur mid-cycle around day 14.

How do you know you’re ovulating?

Clear indications are: • Your cervical mucus becomes clear and slippery toward your ovulation date.

• There is a slight rise in body temperature after you have ovulated.

The Signs of Pregnancy One of the early positive signs of pregnancy is missing your period. This may differ from person to person.

Here are more symptoms that could confirm your pregnancy: • Food Aversions • Frequent Urination • Mood Swings • Fatigue • High Basal Body Temperature • Tender, Swollen Breasts • Darkened Areola • Food Cravings • Morning Sickness • Positive Home Pregnancy Test

Stages of Pregnancy The nine-month pregnancy span is divided into three periods known as trimesters. During each of these trimesters, there are significant developments that occur.

First Trimester The baby grows quickly in this period. From being a tiny embryo, the fetus grows to the size of a kidney bean. It is continuously moving with its heart beating quickly and intestines forming. The earlobes, eyelids, mouth, and nose are also taking shape.

Second Trimester In the beginning of the second trimester, your baby is about 4 1/2 inches long and weighs about 45 grams from head to toe. The baby now has fingerprints! As the weeks go by the skeleton starts to form and the baby develops the ability to hear. You’re likely to feel the “butterfly kicks” as a fluttering sensation that begins between weeks 18 and 22.

Third Trimester In this final trimester your baby gains more weight.

She/he can blink their eyes, and wrinkled skin starts to smooth. They also begin to grow fingernails, toenails, and real hair. At full term, the average baby is more than 19 inches long and weighs nearly 7 lbs.

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Your Optimal Every mother would love to have a healthy, smooth, and easy pregnancy – but sometimes this can be a challenge!

Each trimester can bring its own difficulties as your body adjusts to your growing baby. All pregnancies are unique and come with their own set of trials and successes for the mother to navigate. Here are 10 tried and true ways to make your pregnancy the best that it can be…of course you will want to check in with your OB before starting anything new. This is your pregnancy – you have the ability to make it optimal!

NOURISH: Nourish yourself and your baby by eating whole foods, good sources of protein, and lots of fresh fruits and veggies. Eliminate processed and sugary foods, alcohol, smoking, and excessive caffeine. Remember, everything you put into your body is also going into your baby’s body. If you are vegan or vegetarian discuss your nutritional requirements during pregnancy with your care provider to make sure you are getting what you need.

HYDRATE: Make it a priority to drink water – at least 10-12 big glasses a day. A great way to keep up is to carry a refillable bottle with you wherever you go. If you get bored with plain water, try infusing it with mint, cucumber, or lemon for a fresh taste. Staying well-hydrated gives you more energy and reduces swelling in your feet.

SUPPLEMENT: In addition to your prenatal vitamin, consider adding rich sources of Omega 3 Fatty Acids (good for baby’s brain development) like Flax Seed, or Fish Oil until the 34th week of pregnancy, then Evening Primrose Oil until birth. If you are anemic, add extra iron-rich foods or supplements to your diet. Check for easily absorbed iron supplements that are gentle on your digestive system.

Vitamin D3 can help with calcium absorption for healthy teeth and bones (for you and baby), and may keep your immune system strong and mood stable.

MOVE: Low impact activities like walking, swimming, yoga, or dancing are great ways to stay strong and prepare for motherhood. Half an hour of activity most days of the week is great for your health, both physical and mental – bonus points for being outside in fresh air and natural light.

Pregnancy

during late pregnancy, it’s great practice for sleeping when the baby sleeps in the first weeks of motherhood! Good “sleep hygiene” includes reducing screen time (including smartphones!) in the hours leading up to bedtime, having a healthy bedtime snack, and making sure your room is dark and quiet.

CONSIDER: Look in to complementary therapies such as massage, chiropractic, or acupuncture for relief of common discomforts of pregnancy, and to increase general well-being.

DECOMPRESS: Adopt practices that relieve the normal stresses of life for about 30 minutes a day. Take a warm bath, meditate, listen to music, try different things to find what works for you! Brewing and enjoying a cup of herbal tea designed for pregnancy can be a nice ritual.

CONNECT: Deepen your connection with yourself, your partner, your baby, and your family. Find your “tribe”, seek out other parents and supportive people in your circle who can help you explore your feelings, desires, fears, concerns, and plans as you move into this new chapter in your life. If you find yourself overly anxious, fearful, or depressed, seek out qualified mental health professionals to help you work through these issues.

LEARN: Become informed and research your options. Read about pregnancy, labor, birth, and breastfeeding. Attend Birth Classes with your partner and spend time visualizing your baby’s birthday. Make a birth plan that reflects your preferences in birth setting and care team. Talk to other parents, especially those with a positive perspective. Limit your exposure to “horror stories” of challenging labors and births!

EMBRACE your changes! Not only will your body change as your baby grows, but your priorities and routines are also transforming. Be patient with yourself as you find your new rhythm, and communicate your needs to those around you.

REST: Even when sitting still, your body is working hard to build a baby. Sleep is important – make sure you get enough rest at night, and consider napping during the day

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Finding an

Obstetrician How can I find an obstetrician to care for me during my pregnancy?

If you’re seeing a gynecologist you like who practices obstetrics as well, you may want to ask him or her to care for you during your pregnancy – particularly if you like the hospital where the doctor attends births.

If you need to find an obstetrician, ask one of your healthcare providers to recommend someone or talk to your friends or relatives who have recently had a baby or who work in healthcare in your area. Childbirth educators are also a good source for referrals and friends.

If you don’t come up with any recommendations on your own, try calling the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, in Washington, D.C., at (202) 638-5577. They can give you names of boardcertified ob-gyns in your area. You can also visit the ACOG website (www.acog.org) to find a doctor in your zip code.

What criteria should I use to choose my obstetrician?

Only you can decide which are the most important considerations for you – it’s a very personal decision.

Keep in mind that you may be able to narrow your list of choices with a simple phone call. There’s no need to meet with a doctor who isn’t in your network of providers if that’s a requirement for your insurance coverage.

Here are some other things to consider: Your Health History

Finding a physician with whom you are comfortable is very important. The ability to relax and ask questions with your obstetrician is vital to maintaining a positive relationship and pregnancy.

Remember – if you suspect you may be pregnant or if you have taken a positive pregnancy test, make an appointment with your doctor to ensure that you will have a happy and healthy nine months!

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Do you have any chronic illnesses – such as high blood pressure, epilepsy, heart disease, or diabetes – or previous complications that may require special care? If so, ask the doctors you’re considering what experience they have caring for patients with your circumstances, and consider whether you should be cared for by a perinatologist (a doctor who specializes in high-risk births).

If you’ve previously had a C-section, would you like to try to have a vaginal birth this time? In that case, you’ll want

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Compatibility Pregnancy and childbirth are exciting, but they can also be stressful. So the best healthcare partner is one you feel comfortable with and whom you can communicate easily.

The Anatomy of Prenatal Visits You will probably need to free up your schedule to allot ample time to clear your doubts and apprehensions during the initial stages of your pregnancy as well as what to expect over the next few months. If possible, it would also be advisable to invite your partner to the doctor’s consultation.

During the first meeting, the doctor will be able to give you the expected delivery date of the baby.

This estimation of the date is also important for careful evaluation of the monthly growth of the fetus. For women with irregular menstrual cycles, doctors usually recommend ultrasound scans to get a clearer picture of your delivery due date. Mothers-to-be will be asked to record their height, weight, and blood pressure to have a reliable assessment of health. In some cases, PAP tests may be required to screen for cervical cancer.

On prenatal visits, blood tests are also conducted

Questions for your Doctor...

How many doctors are in the practice – will I have a primary and what are the chances that doctor will deliver my baby? to make sure that both the provider and the hospital are supportive of vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC).

The Doctor’s Outlook Find out the doctor’s attitude about issues that may be important to you, such as the routine use of interventions like IVs, continuous electronic fetal monitoring, and episiotomy.

You can’t predict what your individual situation will require, but you can get an idea of the general approach your doctor has to your care…not to mention his or her practice patterns.

You may also want to determine the doctor’s feelings about having a doula or other support person/people present at the birth besides (or in addition to) your partner.

Is the doctor supportive of natural childbirth, if that is what you’re interested in? Is breastfeeding encouraged?

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What is the hospital affiliation?

What is the cesarean rate?

Does the doctor or the group practice perform episiotimies as a matter of course?

What is the doctor’s attitude about patients having a birth plan with personal preferences?

How does the doctor feel about pain medication during birth?

If I happen to be a high-risk pregnancy – what is the doctor’s experience?

How many babies do you deliver each year?

to screen for certain diseases such as: • Mumps • HIV • Measles • Kidney Disorders • Rubella • Diabetes • Syphilis Apart from these tests, the doctor will ask you about your lifestyle and eating habits and may ask you to make the appropriate changes to accommodate your pregnancy.

What to Expect in Future Visits After your first prenatal visit, you may need to see your doctor every four weeks or so until the 28th week of pregnancy, after which you will need to see each other more often. In addition to these checkups, you may also want to take advantage of other screening methods to ensure normal development of the baby. The important key here is to discuss these options with your doctor – seek his advice and expertise.

A sonogram or ultrasound will also be conducted. You will be advised to take multivitamins that contain iron and folate to ensure you are getting enough nutrients in your diet. If you have questions, be sure to list them so you can discuss with your doctor. You’ll both feel better when you understand each other – relax – it’s key.

Ask Yourself...

How comfortable do you feel with your doctor?

Do you find it easy to ask your doctor questions?

Does the doctor explain things clearly and completely?

Does the doctor seem like someone who will respect your wishes?

Before you move on to someone else, you might want to talk to the doctor about your concerns. If the problem can’t be resolved, or your worries aren’t addressed, don’t hesitate to change obstetricians or consider whether a midwife might be a better fit for you.

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Ultrasound/Sonograms:

An essential part of Prenatal Care

For many Moms-to-be, a first ultrasound is a life-changing experience. As a medical procedure, it is one that patients look forward to.

A fetal ultrasound or sonogram is an imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of a baby in the uterus. An ultrasound can help your doctor evaluate your baby’s growth and development as well as gauge the progress of your pregnancy.

Your first ultrasound will typically be done between 18 and 20 weeks, but you may have one before 12 weeks to confirm your due date. You may also have an earlier ultrasound – or more than one – if yours is a high-risk pregnancy, if you have any pain or bleeding, if you have a history of having children with birth defects, or if another prenatal test or exam shows something abnormal. In addition, you’ll have additional ultrasounds if you have a chronic illness such as diabetes or a history of ovarian cysts or fibroids.

A first trimester ultrasound exam is done to evaluate the presence, size, and location of your pregnancy. It also helps your doctor to evaluate any problems, screen for abnormalities, or confirm a diagnosis. If your baby’s health needs to be monitored more closely, additional ultrasounds will be recommended.

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What happens during an ultrasound? After you lay down on the exam table, a small amount of gel is applied to the skin of your abdomen.

A device called a transducer is applied to your skin, sending high-frequency sound waves into your body that reflect off the internal structures. The echoes are received by the transducer and turned into a picture on the screen.

All fetuses are approximately the same size in the early weeks of pregnancy, so a sonogram allows your doctor to approximate your due date. If you have your sonogram between 7 and 13 weeks, your doctor can set your due date within about 3 days!

A mid-pregnancy ultrasound is done at around 20 weeks.

This sonogram is also called the anatomy scan. Your doctor will listen to the baby’s heartbeat, check for physical abnormalities, check the organs, determine if there’s more than one baby (twins!), measure the amount of amniotic fluid, check the location of the placenta, and measure your baby to be sure he or she is the right size for his or her gestational age. And yes – determine the sex of your baby…This is the exam where you can catch a glimpse of your baby – and go home with a picture or two!

When properly done, an abdominal ultrasound poses no risk to you or your baby. In fact, there are many benefits to checking on your baby’s development during pregnancy. It is generally advised that an ultrasound be performed only if medically indicated.

Your Pregnancy

Month by Month

One Month Your baby is an embryo consisting of two layers of cells from which all her organs and body parts will develop.

Two Months Your baby is now about the size of a kidney bean and is constantly moving. He has distinct, slightly webbed fingers.

Three Months By now your baby is about 3 inches long and weighs nearly an ounce. Her tiny, unique fingerprints are now in place.

Four Months Your baby is now about 5 inches long and weighs 5 ounces. His skeleton is starting to harden from rubbery cartilage to bone.

Five Months Eyebrows and eyelids are now in place.

Your baby would now be more than 10 inches long if you stretched out her legs.

Six Months Your baby weighs about a pound and a half. His wrinkled skin is starting to smooth out as he puts on baby fat.

Seven Months By now, your baby weighs about 3 pounds and is more than 15 inches long. She can open and close her eyes and follow a light.

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds. His layers of fat are filling him out, making him rounder, and his lungs are well developed.

Nine Months The average baby is more than 19 inches long and weighs nearly 7 pounds now, but babies vary widely in size at this stage

Photo by The Photographic Art Studio

Eight Months

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Identifying Warning Signs of

For many pregnant women and expectant parents, the whole pregnancy phase is fraught with physical and emotional changes. Pregnancy should be the time for women to be vigilant about their health. Pregnancy complications are not uncommon and while most problems may be relatively mild and can be immediately treated, in other cases, warning signs can carry some significant health risks to the child, mother and possibly both.

Although it is generally advised for pregnant women to have frequent doctor visits, it is equally important to be aware of the possible danger signs to look for during pregnancy. These include the following signs:

Pregnancy Danger

can require surgery to remove the non-viable embryo.

Premature Labor One of the most common problems of pregnancy is premature labor and delivery. Babies born prematurely run the high risk of having respiratory problems and underdeveloped lungs.

Hypertension Elevated blood pressures are a common complication that occurs in 3 percent of pregnancies. It can cause some adverse effects on the placenta as well as the fetus.

Severe elevation of blood pressure can cause pain in the abdomen, fluid retention, seeing spots, and headaches.

• Vaginal bleeding • Sudden weight gain • Fever • Chills • Seeing spots • Persistent headache • Burning sensation when urinating • Vomiting • Blurred and/or double vision • Lower abdominal pain • Thigh pains • No baby movements for 12 hours • Premature cramping • Persistent lower back aches • Nausea

Miscarriage Bleeding during the first trimester can be a sign of possible miscarriage. According to statistics, about 20 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage. These incidents usually occur when a woman is not aware that she is pregnant. Clots, bleeding and cramping are among the most common signs of miscarriage.

Ectopic Pregnancy There are some cases the fertilized egg may not reach its correct position in the uterus and the embryo grows on the fallopian tube. Since it grows in an abnormal location, it causes tears in the blood vessels and delicate structures.

It is known to display the following symptoms: lower back pains, nausea, lower abdominal pain, and cramping. This

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Pregnancy

Milestones

Record these important milestones, along with your emotions at the time.

They’ll make terrific entries in your little one’s book!

First time I heard my baby’s heartbeat: __________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ First time it really sank in that I was going to be a mom: ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ First time a stranger asked me if I was pregnant: __________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ First time I experienced morning sickness: _______________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ First time I bought a new-baby outfit: ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ First time I wore a maternity dress: _____________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ First time I couldn’t button my pants: ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ First time my parents found out I was having a baby: ______________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ First time I saw my baby on an ultrasound:_______________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ First time I could not longer see my feet: ________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ First time I felt my baby hiccup: ________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ First time I felt the baby kick: __________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Pregnancy

Visits

Date:_________________________________________________________________________________________ The week of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________________________ Weight:_______________________________________________________________________________________ Weight gained since the start of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________ Blood pressure:________________________________________________________________________________ Fundal height:_________________________________________________________________________________ Baby’s heart rate:_______________________________________________________________________________ Other tests:___________________________________________________________________________________ Prescribed medications:_________________________________________________________________________ What I can expect before my next prenatal visit:____________________________________________________ Instructions from my doctor:_____________________________________________________________________ How much weight should I gain:_________________________________________________________________ Notes:________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Date:_________________________________________________________________________________________ The week of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________________________ Weight:_______________________________________________________________________________________ Weight gained since the start of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________ Blood pressure:________________________________________________________________________________ Fundal height:_________________________________________________________________________________ Baby’s heart rate:_______________________________________________________________________________ Other tests:___________________________________________________________________________________ Prescribed medications:_________________________________________________________________________ What I can expect before my next prenatal visit:____________________________________________________ Instructions from my doctor:_____________________________________________________________________ How much weight should I gain:_________________________________________________________________ Notes:________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

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Pregnancy

Visits

Date:_________________________________________________________________________________________ The week of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________________________ Weight:_______________________________________________________________________________________ Weight gained since the start of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________ Blood pressure:________________________________________________________________________________ Fundal height:_________________________________________________________________________________ Baby’s heart rate:_______________________________________________________________________________ Other tests:___________________________________________________________________________________ Prescribed medications:_________________________________________________________________________ What I can expect before my next prenatal visit:____________________________________________________ Instructions from my doctor:_____________________________________________________________________ How much weight should I gain:_________________________________________________________________ Notes:________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Date:_________________________________________________________________________________________ The week of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________________________ Weight:_______________________________________________________________________________________ Weight gained since the start of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________ Blood pressure:________________________________________________________________________________ Fundal height:_________________________________________________________________________________ Baby’s heart rate:_______________________________________________________________________________ Other tests:___________________________________________________________________________________ Prescribed medications:_________________________________________________________________________ What I can expect before my next prenatal visit:____________________________________________________ Instructions from my doctor:_____________________________________________________________________ How much weight should I gain:_________________________________________________________________ Notes:________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

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Pregnancy

Visits

Date:_________________________________________________________________________________________ The week of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________________________ Weight:_______________________________________________________________________________________ Weight gained since the start of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________ Blood pressure:________________________________________________________________________________ Fundal height:_________________________________________________________________________________ Baby’s heart rate:_______________________________________________________________________________ Other tests:___________________________________________________________________________________ Prescribed medications:_________________________________________________________________________ What I can expect before my next prenatal visit:____________________________________________________ Instructions from my doctor:_____________________________________________________________________ How much weight should I gain:_________________________________________________________________ Notes:________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Date:_________________________________________________________________________________________ The week of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________________________ Weight:_______________________________________________________________________________________ Weight gained since the start of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________ Blood pressure:________________________________________________________________________________ Fundal height:_________________________________________________________________________________ Baby’s heart rate:_______________________________________________________________________________ Other tests:___________________________________________________________________________________ Prescribed medications:_________________________________________________________________________ What I can expect before my next prenatal visit:____________________________________________________ Instructions from my doctor:_____________________________________________________________________ How much weight should I gain:_________________________________________________________________ Notes:________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

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Pregnancy

Visits

Date:_________________________________________________________________________________________ The week of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________________________ Weight:_______________________________________________________________________________________ Weight gained since the start of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________ Blood pressure:________________________________________________________________________________ Fundal height:_________________________________________________________________________________ Baby’s heart rate:_______________________________________________________________________________ Other tests:___________________________________________________________________________________ Prescribed medications:_________________________________________________________________________ What I can expect before my next prenatal visit:____________________________________________________ Instructions from my doctor:_____________________________________________________________________ How much weight should I gain:_________________________________________________________________ Notes:________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

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Prenatal Care

Prenatal and Infant Care

Many soon-to-be mothers can agree that pregnancy can produce new aches and pains that can result in severe strain and discomfort. The average weight gain during pregnancy is 25 to 35 pounds, which can place increased stress on the body. The low back, legs, buttocks and sciatic nerve can all be affected. In fact, studies have shown that about half of all pregnant women will develop low back pain during pregnancy.

Chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy can provide relief from aches and pains, and also ensure that your body is in the proper position to deliver your baby as naturally as possible.

Chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy are safe and effective. The best part is that you can relieve discomfort and pain naturally, without the use of medications!

Finally, in the eight weeks following delivery of your baby, the ligaments will begin to tighten up and some women experience additional discomfort from the new challenges of constant reaching, lifting, and nursing.

Continuing chiropractic care will help ensure that your body heals faster and that your nervous system functions the best it can to help you in caring for your newest family member!

Chiropractic

• Constant crying.

• Chronic colic and digestive problems.

Chiropractic care can safely help the infant by making adjustments to the head and spine. The pressure for these adjustments is a ‘light pressure’, like the amount of pressure you would use to comfortably press on your eyelid without causing pain.

In the first year of life, the baby’s spine increases in length by 50%. This is the time also when the spine starts to get its distinctive ‘S’ shape. These spinal curves are important and necessary for movement, balance, upright posture, protection, and shock absorption. The head and spine also house the central nervous system – important in the growth and development of the infant. The nervous system has a direct impact on the immune system. Getting regular chiropractic care aids in the healthy growth and development of the infant and promotes a healthy immune response.

Infant Care

Baby’s first year has many developmental milestones.

The developmental periods will continue through infancy, in to childhood, and beyond. Well-documented research studies have shown why it is important to consider chiropractic care early in a child’s life.

The natural birthing process exerts 40 to 50 pounds of pressure on the newborn’s head and spinal column. If there are complications, this can add health problems to the delicate balance and stability of the infants head and spine.

Problems with the head and spine can impact the infant in the following ways: • A misalignment of the spine during birth can cause respiratory problems which could cause further serious complications for the newborn.

• Inability or difficulty with latching onto the mother’s breast and difficulty with the suckling reflex.

• Difficulty sleeping.

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Showing off that

Pregnancy may change your figure, but the pounds you gain give you a different kind of beauty. It’s important to maintain your style – you’re still you – you’re just pregnant – it’s time to show off that baby bump! Yes, show off the bump in style!

#1 – Get the basics – a couple of pair of jeans that fit with your lifestyle – skinny, boyfriend, bootcut, jeggings – today’s pregnancy jeans are made by designers and that pregnancy panel comes in many cuts and sizes. #2 – Get a couple of stretchy Lycra dresses – yes, clinging Lycra to show off your baby bump. This type of dress will carry you through any special occasion.

#3 – Get a few maxi dresses – these dresses go

Bump!

night with the change of a top…all while keeping you comfortable and in shape (yes, you can workout during pregnancy).

#5 – Get some jackets and cardigans – these will change your look from casual to dressy and look great with dresses, skirts, and leggings (not to mention, those jeans). #6 – Get regular clothing in a size or two larger than your normal size…this way you stay true to your style.

#7 – Tanks and tees – these will be your lifesavers… pair with your jeans or leggings and a cardigan and you look pulled together.

#8 – Accessorize – scarves, jewelry, and shoes are

casual, can be paired with a cardigan, sandals, boots, or flats – they dress up and they dress down.

important. They can also add a touch of color and style to an outfit.

#4 – Get some workout wear for your growing belly. You’ll find that athleisure-wear goes from day to

Whatever your style, stay with it, be comfortable, be YOU!

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Preparing Children for Pregnancy and a Your child’s age will play an important factor in determining how your child or children will react to your new pregnancy. For example, a toddler might not understand the concept of pregnancy until they actually see and meet the new baby. Sharing the news with a pre-school aged child may be confusing because they may not understand why they have to wait so many months to meet their new baby brother or sister.

The news of your pregnancy may make your child feel nervous, threatened, or unloved. It is important to talk to your child about how they will be a big brother or big sister, because the feelings that they are experiencing will be a normal reaction to your pregnancy. They’ll notice your

New Baby

changing shape and overhear conversations about pregnancy. So it is important to make time for your child or children and give them space when needed. It is also important to offer reassurance that you will provide enough love to be passed around to all of your children. Remember to wait until you are in your second trimester before spreading your news in the event of a miscarriage.

Try to set a couple of nights aside right before the baby is born to spend some time alone with your child or children. Explain to them that while the new baby will take up a lot of your time, you still love them very much and will make special time for just the two of you.

Photo by The Photographic Art Studio

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Budgeting for Baby…

Now and in the Future expense for your baby. Take time to research your options.

Child care facilities offer many options, levels of care, hours, food, classes, and other benefits and options – things you want to know when considering who cares for your child. Which facility or caretaker best fits your budget and lifestyle? Where do you feel your baby will feel safe and comfortable?

Start Planning for the Future Once your baby’s social security number is in your hand, look in to special savings accounts for college. Encourage family and friends to make contributions to this fund in lieu of toys for special occasions. Parents do just fine showering their children with toys and love…so make each special occasion a time to prepare for the future and contribute to this very important fund.

A new baby brings big financial changes and budgeting challenges…What does a baby cost? How do I plan financially for the arrival of my baby? What expenses will I incur before and after my child arrives? What plans should I be making to secure the future of my child? So many questions and concerns…and while some expenses are obvious – if you’re budgeting for baby, you have to plan for the unexpected.

Government estimates suggest that you’ll spend about $10,000 on child-related expenses in the first 2 years of life. It is important to break down the one-time expenses – décor, equipment, gear; the monthly expenses – medical, food, clothing, toys, child care; and those unexpected expenses – life insurance, education savings.

Plan for Medical Expenses Did you know you’re already financially planning for your little one’s arrival? You are making financial arrangements with your doctor and the hospital as you progress through your pregnancy. It will be important for you to contact your insurer to see what additional medical expenses you could incur in case of complications.

You’ll need to have your child on a health plan by the time he or she is 30 days old. Talk to the professionals – get the best coverage for your child and your family.

Find Child Care Child care expenses can easily be the largest monthly

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Prepare a Will A will is a financial responsibility you have to your new family member. If something should happen to you, it is important to decide who will step in as their legal guardian.

Who will protect them financially? If for no other reason – taking care of your child or children requires that you have a will. Without a will, you have no say as to how your assets are distributed after your death. Use a professional, ask questions, execute a will that covers every concern.

Should you have life changes – more children, adoption, marriage or remarriage, change of executor, moving to another state with different laws – update the will.

Plan for the Unexpected – Life Insurance You have big plans for your kids and want to see them realize their hopes and dreams. It’s hard enough to make that happen the way it is. But what if you, your spouse, or both of you were to suddenly be out of the picture? From diapers to diplomas, would there be enough income to pay for day care, education, and everything in between?

Your children are your greatest responsibility, and life insurance can help them grow up in an environment where they’re physically and financially secure – even if something should happen to you. In addition to coverage for mom and dad, protection for your child is also important. The benefit for children’s coverage includes providing a solid financial basis early in life, protection, and final expense coverage should the unthinkable happen. Simply put, let life insurance be a part of creating a bright future.

Choosing the Right

Child Care

While you would love to stay at home with your child, often it’s just not financially feasible. You’ll have to find the right child care. Where do you start? Instinct counts for much…but you have to visit the site to make sure the facility will support and enrich the development of your child physically, emotionally, socially and cognitively. Here’s a very important list that will guide you in your choice.

Will My Child Be Able to Grow And Learn?

Will My Child Be Supervised?

Are children watched at all times, even when napping?

Are the teachers warm and welcoming? Do they pay each child individual attention? Are positive guidance techniques used? Are the staff-to-child ratios appropriate and do they follow guidelines set by the Department of Human Services (one caregiver per 4 infants/toddlers; one caregiver per 6 two-year-olds; one caregiver per 8 three-year-olds; one caregiver per 12 four-year-olds; and one caregiver per 15 school-age children).

Is The Program Set Up To Promote Quality?

Are there written personnel policies and procedures? Are the parents and staff asked to evaluate the program? Are teachers evaluated each year – do they do self assessment?

Is the program accredited by a national organization?

Is This A Safe And Healthy Place For My Child?

Do the teachers and children wash their hands (before/ after eating, using the bathroom, changing diapers, touching bodily fluids, etc)? Are surfaces sanitized after each use? Are all children immunized? Are medicines labeled and kept out of children’s reach? Are the foods and beverages served to the children healthy and nutritious?

Are cleaning supplies and other hazardous materials stored out of children’s reach? Is there a plan to follow if a child is injured, sick, or lost? Are first aid kits readily available?

Is there a plan to respond to disasters? Has a thorough criminal and background check been done on all teachers?

Is the outdoor play area safe for children to play and is it inspected daily for hazards and regularly for condition? Is the play are fenced in? Is the equipment on mulch, sand or rubber matting?

Are the toys age and developmentally appropriate?

Are there a variety of toys? Is the room arranged in easily identifiable play centers? Are there daily/weekly lesson plans? Do the teachers talk, converse, and question the children? Do the teachers read to the children often and are books readily available?

Does The Program Work With Parents?

Will I be welcome to visit the center any time my child is in their care? Is parent’s feedback sought and used in making improvements? Will I receive access to policies and procedures? Are there yearly conferences with parents?

Are there any special parent events?

Have The Adults Been Trained To Care For Children?

Does the Director have a degree and experience caring for children? Do the lead teachers have a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, Associate’s, or Bachelor’s degree and experience in caring for children? Is there always someone present who has current CPR and First Aid Training? Have the teachers been trained on child abuse prevention and how to report a suspected case? Have the teachers received blood borne pathogens and disease prevention training? Is there ongoing education and training on the care of children?

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Choosing a If you already have a family doctor, you may not think you need a pediatrician. Although a general physician is licensed to care for children, they lack the training of a pediatrician. To become a pediatrician, a doctor has to have four years of medical school and three more years of residency working solely in pediatrics. Some are further specialized in a field like neonatology or cardiology.

You should start looking for a pediatrician in the seventh month of pregnancy. Start compiling the list by asking family and friends if they have any recommendations. Check with your insurance company for eligible pediatricians and with your local hospitals to see if they have referral services.

Ask your obstetrician or family doctor if they know of someone. Research.

Ask yourself if you want a male or female doctor.

There may be a point when your child gets older that they will feel more comfortable with a doctor of the same sex. Do you want an older or younger doctor? An older doctor will have more experience, but could be set in their ways and not open to new technology or methods. They might be thinking about retirement. A younger doctor, on the other hand, may be more open to new technology or methods, but lack the experience of an older doctor. Like choosing an obstetrician, do the work – find out what fits you and your lifestyle.

You’ve narrowed your list of choices, now comes some investigative work. Before interviewing a pediatrician, check with the state medical board to see if any disciplinary action or professional peer reviews have been made against the pediatrician. Check out the books put out by the Director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group. These list doctors who have been disciplined by a state or federal government.

As you interview the candidates on your list, look for a pediatrician who is open-minded and compassionate to your feelings and thoughts. Make sure the pediatrician is covered by your insurance and will actually be seeing your child. Most pediatricians will do these interviews for free, but some will charge. If they charge, see if the fee can be

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Pediatrician

applied to the first office visit. If a pediatrician won’t do an interview, be wary of them.

Once you have made your choice, there are no hard and fast rules that say you have to stick with it. If you ever become concerned with your child’s care, discuss the situation with the pediatrician. If the problem continues, find a new pediatrician.

Choosing a pediatrician for your child may be the singlemost important decision you make for their young years.

Unfortunately, most people don’t spend enough time doing so. Next to parents, a pediatrician is one of the most important people in a child’s life, so choose wisely.

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Common Questions to Ask Your

Pediatrician

Before going in for the interview, check out the office. Is it clean and organized?

Can they be reached with questions, either routine or emergency?

Are there separate waiting rooms for sick and healthy?

Do they have specific call-in times?

Is the staff courteous?

Do they listen to parents’ concerns?

Do they have a Website that will allow you to reach them by email?

What are the office hours?

In the event your child becomes ill, when would they refer your child to the emergency room?

Is there a lab on site?

What hospital do they use?

What doctor is recommended for work not done on site?

Who covers when they are away?

Do they do eye and hearing checks in the office?

Are there resident physicians, nurse practitioners, medical students and nurses on staff?

How easy is it to get through on the telephone?

How involved will they be in caring for your child?

Is the practice large or small?

What kind of time will they spend with your child at a typical visit?

Is there more than one office?

How much time is spent at each office?

When you interview the pediatrician, ask them about their educational background.

How long have they been in practice?

Are they board certified?

How do they stay current on the latest medical developments?

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When do they prescribe medication?

What kind of medication do they regularly prescribe?

How do they handle a situation where you disagree with their treatment?

If your family situation is nontraditional, how will the pediatrician and the office staff treat you?

Baby Nursery Design in

12 Easy Steps

Sometimes you’ll want it bright and sometimes soft. You want to be sure your night lighting allows you to see in the middle of the night (but not so it stimulates the baby).

Consider a dimmer switch for your lighting.

Step 6: If you already have wall to wall carpet in the room – that’s fine – you’re not likely to make the change (or go to the expense) – just be aware that you need to keep it vacuumed to avoid allergens (and be prepared to spot clean – it’s inevitable). Other flooring options are hardwood, laminates, concrete – with the addition of a nice area rug or rug tiles. You can decorate a room around a rug – it can anchor your décor.

Step 7: After you’ve gotten the basics decided upon, it’s Decorating a baby nursery can be a daunting prospect – especially for a first-time mom. There are so many decisions to make, and so little time…feeling stressed? Well that’s not good for the baby, so let us give you the basics for creating a haven for your little one… one step at a time…

time to decorate the room. Do you have a theme? Is it about heirlooms? Colors? Style? Read decorating magazines, check out Pinterest, go shopping – you’ll see things you like and can build your baby’s room to perfection.

Step 8: The color you choose for the walls will be influenced by your ‘theme’. The things you can do with

Step 1: Baby safety is your first concern. Be sure to take paint are amazing – stripes, murals, stencils, multi-colored this into account as you design your baby’s abode. Use a checklist for baby safety and plan accordingly.

walls – the background to your decorating vision.

Step 2: Decide on a room style. Cute, modern, traditional,

pictures, art, lamps, bedding, wall hangings, storage, fabrics – as you go through the process, shop for things that please your eye. BUT, stay with your vision – see it through to perfection. You will get sidetracked along the way – just look for the items that go with what you have, that fulfill the look, and that are pleasing to the eye. This is the room your child will grow up in and it is a room you want to be happy with too.

whimsical, ethnic, the choice is yours. This decision will affect your furniture, theme, and color choices.

Step 3: Select a crib. The crib will form the focal point or centerpiece of your baby’s room. Consider a convertible crib as this will save you money over time and will grow with the child (and everything will continue to match for years to come). When selecting, look for shape, style, finish or color, durability – do you like it? Very important.

Step 4: Find baby nursery furniture to complement the crib. The dresser should match or mix well with the crib. The dresser can do double duty as the changing table (add a pad and safety straps and you’re set). Having said that – you can also get a changing table. If you use the dresser as the changing table, get one that is medium height – that allows you to lean over comfortably for needed supplies. The top drawer will hold all of your diaper-changing essentials – make sure the drawer is easy to get in and out of – it should glide/slide easily.

Step 5: Lighting is essential – and must be flexible.

Step 9: Now the accessories are added to your vision…

Step 10: Curtains, blinds, shades – stay with the vision.

Also make sure that you can block light when needed. Make sure the crib is not near these things as children tend to climb and are attracted to anything within reach (keep any and all cords away from the baby).

Step 11: Equipment – you’ll need a few extras: a baby monitor, a mobile, safety gates, high chair, stroller, travel crib, diaper bags, playpen, white noise machine, humidifier, diaper pail, a car seat, a baby carrier, a rocker or glider, shelves and bins for toys, outlet covers. That’s a good start.

Step 12: You’re done. Now relax and wait for your baby to come and change your life forever.

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Essentials of Baby Shower

Throwing a baby shower is just like throwing any other party. Who do you invite, when do you have it, where do you have it, is there a theme, what time of day or night…be aware there are certain times of day when the mom-to-be feels her best – ask her – she’ll let you know.

Appropriate Time For A Baby Shower Baby showers can be held before the baby is born or after. Many choose to do it a couple of months before when the mom is really showing (and glowing), while others wait until afterward, giving the mom the perfect opportunity to show off her little one to several people at once. Your host should check with you and make sure of the date and time and the guest list.

Etiquette for a Second Child Shower (or third, or fourth, etc.)

Every baby should be celebrated – right? In my view – yes. When it comes to a second pregnancy, people have differing opinions on shower etiquette – she’s got everything right? Well – maybe not, what if the child is a different gender? What if she’s having twins? What if she needs a few things? What if it’s been a few years since the first child? Have that shower and enjoy being together. Find out what the Mom needs, have a shower, and celebrate.

Sometimes they call a second baby shower a ‘sprinkle’…

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Etiquette

the entire celebration is less formal, low key, less expensive – it’s about celebrating.

Who Will Host the Party?

According to ‘etiquette,’ anyone but the mom-to-be and her family can host a shower. This tradition is outdated and often disregarded – if you love the person – you’re related – are a best friend – are a close co-worker – host the shower.

Consult with the guest of honor to determine the guest list.

Consider having a couples shower – Dad’s need car seats too…a recent trend has been ‘Diaper Showers for Dads’… you’re going to need them (diapers and Dads), so you might as well get them (diapers).

Location Most showers are held at the host’s home, but they can be held at a restaurant, a party room, the office conference room, even at the home of the mom-to-be (it’s her most comfortable place). Whatever works.

Invitations The host may go casual and phone or email each invited guest (evites are very popular and so much quicker in this busy world)…some like a more formal invite and spend the money on this type of invitation (it is a memento and I prefer this kind of invite – they can be absolutely charming – and set the tone or theme of the shower).

Make sure all the details are on the invite (who, date, time, location, theme, where registered, list of needs, and RSVP information).

How Many Guests Should You Invite?

There are no hard and fast rules on this subject. Having said that, the normal number should be about 20 guests. If over 25 guests, you might want to co-host the shower with another person to keep the costs in line. The host should know how many people will fit the venue (home, restaurant, etc.), so consider these things carefully.

Themes The theme of the shower will be determined by the host. People are getting more and more clever (thank you Pinterest) with themed showers and celebrations… for example, if the parents are Irish, the shower might be Luck O’ the Irish inspired (can you see the green and the shamrocks?)…check out the background of the parents and go from there…What you want to do is consider the parents and you’ll have your theme. Questions to ask are: Do you go co-ed? Do you go traditional? What is the venue – that can also determine your theme? What works best in your setting? What is appropriate at your shower location? Are you trying to match the baby’s nursery theme?

These are just a few ways to set the theme of the shower.

Trends in Shower Themes • Nursery Rhymes • Travel • Monograms • Butterflies • Color Themes • Golden Book • Vintage • Baby Bling • Carnivals • Love you to the moon…

Gifts Though a gift is expected if a guest attends the shower, guests should only be invited to help celebrate the upcoming arrival (I’ve never seen a person come to a shower without a gift)…if you cannot attend, you are not obligated to give a gift (though you might want to give a gift).

Creating a registry at your favorite store or stores is a helpful way for guests to find the gifts that are needed. Registry information should be included with the invitation or provided when the guest sends their RSVP in the affirmative.

If you are relatively well-equipped in the baby department, the shower host might consider themes that benefit the mom and/or dad…a night of babysitting, coupons for takeout meals, spa days, date night dinners, movie tickets.

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Baby’s Nutrition: Learning the

Dance of

Breastfeeding

Your first dance with a new partner can be a bit awkward.

With practice, you both learn how to move with one another gracefully. Learning to comfortably nurse your baby is very much like learning to dance. It may not be perfect at first, but with practice, it becomes effortless.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding exclusively through baby’s first six months and continuing to breastfeed as you add in other foods during the first months 6-12. Even a small amount of breast milk in the first few days after your baby’s birth makes a difference.

Longer is better, but every ounce counts!

Breastfeeding provides warmth and closeness. The physical contact helps create a special bond between you and your baby. Breast milk has many benefits – it is easier to digest, doesn’t need to be prepared, and it is always available. It has all the nutrients, calories, and fluids your baby needs to be healthy and growth factors that ensure best development of your baby’s organs. Breast milk also has many substances that formulas don’t have that help protect your baby from many diseases and infections. In fact, breastfed babies are less likely to have ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia, wheezing, bronchiolitis, and other bacterial and viral infections.

Breastfeeding is good for Mom, too. It helps to release hormones in your body that promote mothering behavior and return your uterus to the size it was before pregnancy more quickly. It also burns calories, which may help in losing pregnancy weight. Breastfeeding will delay the return of your menstrual period to help keep iron in your body. It also keeps bones strong.

PLAN AHEAD Attend a breastfeeding class. It is important to learn how to latch the baby to the breast correctly so that you are comfortable and the baby is effective at getting milk.

Check your local health department and area hospitals for breastfeeding classes. Ask friends and family members who breastfed for their support. You can get excellent and accurate information from www.womenshealth.gov.

Include breastfeeding goals in your birth plan. Ask about skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth. Research shows it eases the baby’s transition into the world. Often referred to as ‘kangaroo care,’ this close contact helps stabilize baby’s breathing and heartbeat – and has been shown to increase milk supply.

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ESTABLISH A SUPPORT SYSTEM New moms need support and reassurance. While you are pregnant, develop a list of ‘who to call’ in case you have questions or concerns. It can be a friend who had a successful breastfeeding experience or a lactation professional. Most hospitals have lactation professionals on staff and they will consult with you on the phone or in person. You can search ‘find a lactation consultant’ at www. ilca.org. The La Leche League offers support groups.

INTERVIEW PEDIATRICIANS When choosing a pediatrician, be sure to ask if he or she has experience supporting breastfeeding Mothers and babies. Your baby’s doctor will be a valuable part of your support system. They are the best source of information about medications you may be prescribed during the postpartum period.

IF YOU ARE RETURNING TO WORK OR SCHOOL Let your employer know that you will need regular breaks to pump human milk for your infant and ask about a comfortable, private space. Your insurance may provide a double electric pump or you can buy or rent one. A good pump is critical. Ask a lactation counselor about the best models. Take a few weeks to practice pumping before you return to work. Work with your childcare provider to plan baby’s feeding around your schedule.

Infant

Reflux

Infant reflux is the condition where the contents of the stomach are spit out, usually shortly after feeding. Spitting up (infant reflux) becomes less common as a baby gets older, and it’s unusual if it’s still occurring after 18 months of age. In a small number of cases, reflux can be a sign of a more serious problem, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), an allergy or a blockage.

Symptoms Spitting up and vomiting are the main symptoms of infant reflux. As long as your baby is healthy, content and growing well, the reflux is not a cause for concern. Your child will in all likelihood outgrow it.

While your baby may act fussy or seem to be uncomfortable, it is very unusual for the stomach contents to be acidic enough to irritate the esophagus or throat, as happens with acid reflux.

Contact your baby’s doctor if your baby: • Isn’t gaining weight • Spits up forcefully, causing stomach contents to shoot out of his or her mouth (projectile vomiting) • Spits up green or yellow fluid • Spits up blood or a material that looks like coffee grounds • Refuses food • Has blood in his or her stool

• Has difficulty breathing • Begins vomiting at age 6 months or older

Causes Infant reflux is related to a number of factors, often in combination with one another.

In infants, the ring of muscle between the esophagus and the stomach – the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) – is not yet fully mature, allowing stomach contents to flow backward.

Eventually, the LES will open only when baby swallows and will remain tightly closed the rest of the time, keeping stomach contents where they belong. Babies are lying flat most of the time, which makes reflux more likely. Moreover, their diet is completely liquid, also favoring infant reflux. Sometimes air bubbles in the stomach may push liquids backward. In other cases, your baby may simply drink too much, too fast.

Although infant reflux most often occurs after a feeding, it can happen anytime your baby coughs, cries or strains. You can always check with your pediatrician if you are concerned about infant reflux. Your pediatrician will be able to answer any questions you may have regarding your baby’s health. The history a parent gives on their baby’s symptoms helps guide your pediatrician’s management.

Planning Baby’s From the first positive pregnancy test, many momsto-be fret over labor. Writing a birth plan can help relieve your anxiety, and – like Kegels! – it’s a valuable predelivery exercise. A birth plan is a document that tells your medical team your preferences and desires for such things as how to manage labor pain. Most hospitals provide a birth plan worksheet or brochure that explains the hospital’s philosophy of childbirth – giving you options and guidelines. Much of your birth experience will be dictated by the setting you select and the caregivers assisting, so it’s important to learn your options before penning your preferences. In addition, it is impossible to completely control how your little one will make his or her grand entrance.

Things to Think About when Creating Your Birth Plan: Birth setting policies. You may want to chow down on hamburgers during labor, but many hospitals limit your consumption to ice chips. Get familiar with your delivery location’s policies ahead of time.

Procedures of your health care provider.

Atmosphere. Do you want a high-energy ambiance with jazzy music or a quiet, softly lit setting for your baby’s big debut?

Preparatory procedures. In earlier eras, a woman arriving at the hospital to give birth was given an enema and a trim (down there). Ask if these are still routine procedures where you’ll be delivering. They likely won’t be, but it’s better to know so there’s no surprise on labor day!

Pain management. Is your strategy “Get an epidural ASAP!” or do you want to avoid pain medications if possible? What pain management techniques will you use?

Monitoring. Many hospitals use constant electronic fetal monitoring, but if you don’t want to be bedridden, intermittent monitoring may be an option.

Episiotomies and assisted birth.

If your baby is being bashful, your caregiver may wish to perform an episiotomy – an incision between the vagina and anus – or use forceps or vacuum extraction. Discuss the pros and cons of each in advance.

C-section. In what circumstances would you want a Cesarean to be performed? Does five hours of pushing grant

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Birth

a ticket to the OR or is your baby’s distress the only call for surgery? Discuss this with your physician.

Photos and videos. Do you wish to document every moment from the first twinge through baby’s first bath, or hold the flashbulbs until all are clean and content?

Crowning. Some non squeamish mothers request to have a mirror positioned so they can see the baby crown (when his head first appears) or even reach down and touch his tiny noggin.

Cutting the cord. Indicate when you’d like baby’s umbilical cord to be clamped, and specify whether daddy wants to take part in the snipping ritual.

Post Birth. “After a vaginal delivery, your delivery facility may practice placing baby immediately on your chest, known as skin-to-skin. This promotes bonding and successful breast feeding.” For a C-section, indicate who should bond with your baby while you recover.

Nursing. It is recommended to start breastfeeding right away; you can also ask the hospital staff not to offer baby a bottle or pacifier, which could interfere with nursing.

Additional info. Mention factors that may affect your delivery, like if you’re blind as a bat without glasses, have gestational diabetes, or wish to bank baby’s cord blood.

Don’t forget. While creating a birth plan is a great idea, don’t get so attached to it that you won’t allow any flexibility in the delivery room. Birth is different for every woman, every time, so no matter how much you plan there’s a good chance things won’t go exactly the way you envisioned them. Remember to expect the unexpected!

Hospital Bag

Checklist

Reduce your stress by packing for your trip to the hospital a few weeks before your expected due date.

____ Bath Robe

For Mom

____ Lotion

____ Night Gown

____ Hair Ties and Pins

____ Pajamas

____ Pillow

____ Loose Comfy Clothing

____ Tennis Ball for Labor Massage

____ An Outfit to Leave In

____ Cell Phone and Charger

____ Slippers

____ Camera and Charger

____ Nursing Bras

____ Music Player/Laptop/Tablet

____ Several Pair of Comfortable Underwear

____ Snacks for Husband/Family

____ Socks

____ Coins for Vending Machine

____ Nursing Pads/ Nipple Cream

____ Birth Plan

____ Toiletries and Makeup

____ List of Family Contacts

____ Brush and Blow Dryer

____ Magazines/Books

____ Glasses/Contact Lenses

____ Identification

____ Chapstick

____ Insurance Card/Info

____ Going Home Outfit

For Baby

____ Baby Fingernail Clippers

____ Onesie/Sleepers

____ Car Seat

____ Baby Socks

____ Receiving Blankets

____ Baby Mittens/Hat

____ Newborn Diapers and Baby Wipes

Call List ________________________________________________ _ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ _ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ _ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

Oh BABY! | 35

What to Expect at the Hospital:

A Guide to Labor and Delivery

Wow! You have made it! The big day has arrived! I’m sure by now that you are ready to sleep without bathroom breaks, fit in to your old clothes, and regain control of your own body functions. Lucky for you the hard part is over, or is it? If you haven’t been in labor before, the first time can be a little scary. You don’t know what to expect. You’re anxious and a little scared. It is not as bad as most (if not all) of the stories you’ve heard.

So, what first? You will have to check in to the hospital once you have confirmed you are in labor. Most hospitals require you to either check in at the Emergency Room or with General Admissions. Once that is completed, you will be moved to Labor and Delivery where you will be asked to change into a hospital gown. Your Labor and Delivery nurse will assess you and the baby to make sure that everything is progressing normally. During this time an IV will be started and a baby heartbeat monitor, a contraction monitor – lots of equipment. Now – you just wait.

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Important to know.

Stages of Labor: FIRST STAGE The first stage really consists of three phases:

Early Phase: This phase typically lasts up to 12 hours although it’s usually considerably shorter for second and subsequent babies. As labor progresses, the contractions get longer and stronger.

Active Phase: Often this phase lasts up to six hours, although it can be a lot shorter. You should be in the hospital or birth center by now or en route. Contractions are much more intense, last about 40 to 60 seconds, and are spaced 3 to 5 minutes apart.

Breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, and coaching are all important now. Pain relief is usually administered in this phase.

Transition Phase: This phase can last anywhere from a

Utilize the water – Ever take a bath to relax? Humans

few minutes to several hours. Contractions last 60 to 90 seconds and come two or three minutes apart.

have a natural draw toward water. Most women will report that upon entering a tub in labor, the contractions were much more tolerable. I can tell from personal experience that it definitely takes the edge off.

SECOND STAGE The second stage can last from minutes to hours – the average is about an hour for a first-time pregnancy (longer if you’ve had an epidural) – and ends with a moment that’s made up in equal parts of relief and breathtaking beauty: The birth of your baby.

THIRD STAGE Delivery of the placenta. It’s not over yet! This stage, which begins immediately after the birth of your baby and ends with the delivery of the placenta five to 10 minutes later, is usually anticlimactic, but necessary.

• During the course of your labor, you will be asked to make a lot of decisions.

• Do you want pain medicine?

• If so, will you want an epidural or general pain medication administered through the IV? • Episiotomy or no episiotomy?

These questions are best answered before you are in labor. Once the pain has started you may not be capable of making the best decisions. Labor can sometimes last for several hours, but there are many techniques that can be used to make these hours pass by a little quicker and easier.

Surround yourself with people that love you and will encourage you – Utilize your partner. At this point they are feeling helpless and useless. Have someone feed you ice chips, fluff your pillow, or massage your feet.

Remove negative energy from the birthing space – If there are spectators in the room who are commenting negatively or making you feel embarrassed or uncomfortable, they should leave the space. There is a lot of psychology in birth. If you don’t feel comfortable, the labor will take longer and may be harder.

Here are a few ways to make it more bearable: Labor at home as long as possible – You will typically be more comfortable in your own environment with the freedom to move as you need to, and the privacy to act on your instincts to make noise and adjust, no matter how strange the position.

Create a comfortable birthing space – Even in a hospital, you can do small things to make your birthing space more welcoming. Dim lights, aromatherapy/scents you enjoy, pictures, your own blanket and pillow, and your own music can all help the space feel more comfortable.

Wearing your own clothes is also something you can do to feel more comfortable.

Move – I am well aware that sometimes in labor all you want to do is lie down, but that position isn’t always the best for encouraging the baby to move down, especially in early labor. In most cultures, women do not lie down to give birth. They stand, squat, hug a tree, basically anything that feels good to them. They don’t tend to spend their labors lying down.

Give in – So many women try to fight the contractions/ pressure waves/rushes in attempt to make them less painful. Give in to the sensations and try to see them more as a rush of energy. They are going to happen no matter what you do. When you give in and let them work, your labor will be more effective and typically quicker.

Remember, at the end of this day you will have a tiny miracle in your hands. That alone will make this day worth every pain you felt!

Some things to have on hand after the baby is born – specifically for the new mom • Ice packs – in case of tearing during birth or swelling after; • 2-3 weeks supply of ultra-absorbent sanitary pads; • Panty liners; • Hemorrhoid wipes or cream (even if your pregnancy was trouble-free, these can be necessary after labor).

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How will I know when I’m in

Labor?

is the plug that has sealed your cervix canal during the last nine months. It can appear as discharge or in a lump. It might have pink, red, or brown blood.

Your water breaks. When the fluid filled amniotic sac surrounding the baby ruptures, fluid leaks out from your vagina and this is the time to call the doctor. Most women have regular contractions prior to the water breaking (but sometimes the water breaks first).

In pre-labor or early labor (the latent phase), you may have:

Every woman’s labor is different, so pinpointing when yours begins isn’t really possible. However, some specific changes take place in pre-labor, early labor and established (active) labor.

Your body actually starts preparing for labor up to a month before you give birth. You may not recognize the changes at first, but there comes a time that you become aware of these new symptoms as your due date draws near.

In the weeks and days before labor starts, your baby ‘drops’ – you may feel what’s known as ‘lightening’ a few weeks before labor starts. You breathe easier because the heaviness has shifted to your pelvis as opposed to just below your ribcage.

You will have frequent and intense Braxton Hicks contractions signaling pre-labor. Your cervix ripens and you’re set for real labor. Some feel crampy (similar to when you had your period).

Those Braxton Hicks contractions are tricky and can strike as often as every ten to twenty minutes. You wonder if you’re in real labor…but real labor contractions are most often longer, stronger, closer together, and cause your cervix to dilate.

Your cervix starts to change – it softens and thins out. As your due date draws near, your doctor will do an exam checking to see if your cervix has started to change.

You may pass your mucus plug if your cervix begins to efface significantly or dilate as you get close to labor. This

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• Persistent lower back pain or abdominal pain, with a premenstrual feeling and cramps.

• Painful contractions that occur at regular and increasingly shorter intervals, and become longer and stronger in intensity.

• Broken water. Your membranes may rupture with a gush or a trickle of amniotic fluid. Either way, call your maternity unit to let them know.

• A brownish or blood-tinged mucus discharge (bloody show). If you pass the mucus plug that blocks the cervix, labor could be imminent, or it could be several days away. It’s a sign that things are moving along.

• An upset tummy or loose bowels.

• A period of feeling very emotional or moody.

• Disrupted sleep.

How you will feel in the pre-labor or early labor phases depends on: • Whether you’ve had a baby before.

• How you perceive and respond to pain.

• How prepared you are for what going into labor may be like.

When should I call my doctor?

You have probably talked to your doctor about what to do when you think you’re in active labor. But if you’re not sure whether or not the time has come, don’t be embarrassed to call. Doctors are used to getting calls from women who are uncertain if they’re in early labor or active

labor, and who need guidance. It’s part of their job.

A doctor can tell a lot by the tone of your voice, so talking helps. She’ll want to know how close together your contractions are, whether you can talk through a contraction, and any other symptoms you may have.

If she thinks you’re still in early labor, she is likely to encourage you to go home until you’re in stronger active labor. Her decision will depend on how you’re coping and whether you’ve got a birth partner to support you.

You should contact your doctor if: • Your waters break, or if you suspect you’re leaking amniotic fluid.

• Your baby is moving less than usual.

• You have vaginal bleeding (unless it’s just a small amount after a membrane sweep or the blood-tinged mucus of the show).

• You have a fever, severe headaches, changes in your vision, along with abdominal pain.

What should I do early on in labor?

This will depend on what time of day it is, what you like doing, and how you’re feeling. Keeping calm and relaxed will help your body to release the hormone oxytocin that you need for your labor to progress and will help you to cope with the contractions. Do whatever will help you to stay relaxed.

This could mean watching your favorite film, going for a walk, puttering around at home, or asking a trusted friend or relative over to keep you company. You could alternate

between walking and resting, or try taking a warm bath or shower to ease any aches and pains. If you can, try to get some rest to prepare you for the work ahead.

During early labor, you may feel hungry, so eat and drink if you feel like it. This will help to comfort you and may even help your labor to progress more smoothly.

Can I have contractions and not be in labor?

Yes. You can have pre-labor contractions. These help your cervix to go through the changes it needs to before it starts to dilate. During dilation, your cervix moves from the back (posterior position) to the front (anterior position).

It will also be shortening and thinning (softening and effacing).

These changes may take place without you noticing over the last few weeks of your pregnancy. Or you may experience hours or days of cramps or contractions. These may be progressing the early changes in your cervix, even though they may not be dilating your cervix yet. A doctor can confirm whether cervical changes have started during an examination.

If your baby has his head down but his back to your back, it can take longer for his head to engage and for labor to start. Your contractions may be erratic and low in intensity, and you may have backache.

Your doctor will advise you about ways to cope at home until labor becomes stronger. Try a warm bath or massage to relieve the pain. If your baby is back-to-back, getting into an all-fours position, on your hands and knees, for half an hour or so now and again can help relieve backache.

Can I tell if labor is about to happen soon?

Maybe. Signs of the approach of labor include: • Lightening, when your baby’s head begins to drop into position in your pelvis. You may be able to breathe more deeply and eat more, but you’ll also need to use the restroom more frequently, and walking may be more difficult.

• Heavier and more mucus vaginal discharge.

• More frequent and noticeably more intense Braxton Hicks contractions.

• Mood swings and a surge of energy.

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These Tiny Feet and Hands Tiptoe and Crawl into your Heart and

Stay Forever

Left Hand

Right Hand

Left Foot

Right Foot

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Your Baby’s Birth

Story

Birthplace:__________________________________________________________________________________________ Time:______________________________________________ Date:____________________________________________ Length:____________________________________________ Weight:__________________________________________ Eye color:__________________________________________ Hair color:________________________________________ Who held baby first?__________________________________________________________________________________ People who were there:______________________________________________________________________________ Exciting moments:____________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Introducing the Meeting The Family Pooch For years, your dog has been the one and only ‘baby’ in the family. Now, there’s a new baby in town! It’s absolutely normal (and smart) to be concerned about your pet’s reaction to the baby. What you need to know is that the best way to introduce the new baby to the old ‘baby’ (the family pet) is to start preparing the old ‘baby’ almost as soon as you become pregnant. This can be done effectively no matter the age of the dog-yes, you can teach an old dog new tricks!

The best place to start is by understanding your dog’s way of thinking. Dogs are pack animals and interact with their family in the same way they would interact with a dog pack. The most important thing in a dog’s life is pack structure. For a dog to feel that there is proper structure in its life, they need to have a distinct pack leader that keeps the order in the family or pack. We like to think of our dogs as our children, but their needs are much different than the needs of a human baby. Therefore, it’s important to ensure that you are providing the proper structure that the dog needs before you introduce the new baby to your pet. This is best done with the advice of a professional trainer that has experience in pack structure training.

It is best to make sure your dog knows basic obedience commands like sit, stay, down, leash walking, and coming when called. If your dog doesn’t know these commands, a visit with a professional trainer is in order. When the dog has mastered the obedience commands, use them while doing things you will be doing when the baby comes. Wrap up a doll like a baby and rock it, feed it, and walk around with it. During these practices, periodically reward the dog with treats so that it associates baby activities with something positive. Babies make strange sounds, so help the dog get accustomed to the noises by playing recordings.

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Fur-Babies

Set up a ‘safe’ area for the dog to retreat to when the baby is crying or there’s additional baby commotion. This could be the laundry room, an office, or any other room that will allow the dog to escape and relax. Have water, a crate, sleeping pads, and anything that makes the dog feel secure in the ‘safe’ area. Dogs are naturally denning animals, so they like small spaces such as crates to retreat to when they are scared or stressed.

Make sure the dog’s routine is kept as normal as possible, both when you are in the hospital and when you return home with the new baby. This routine should consist of a feeding schedule (never feed the dog around the baby), a walking schedule, and brief play times without the new baby. Prior to bringing the baby home, have someone bring home something that has the baby’s smell on it, like a blanket or clothing, so the dog can become familiar with the baby’s odor.

Be sure to devote the same amount of attention to the dog as before. If you go for a walk with the baby, take the dog. Acclimate your dog to the baby stroller before walking your dog next to it with the baby in it. If you can’t handle the dog and the stroller together, have someone go with you to walk the dog. The dog can be allowed the same household freedom as before, with the exception of the baby’s room, as long as it doesn’t cause any unwanted behavior. Use a gate to prevent the dog from entering the baby’s room without you.

There are no set guidelines as to when a dog will get used to a baby. It could take a few days or a few weeks.

It should take less time with proper preparation and good management. If, after several weeks, there has been no sign of unwanted behavior, it unlikely that anything serious will happen. It is good to remember that dogs are still animals so their behavior can never be fully guaranteed. All experts agree that you should never leave a dog unattended with a baby under any circumstances. The sudden movement of a baby could startle the dog and cause unwanted behavior such as biting.

Most dogs will adjust to a new baby without incident.

Observe the dog’s behavior for any signs of unwanted behavior or aggression. That way, you can avoid problems and accidents. If you do observe any behavior that is concerning, call a trainer so the problem can be remedied.

When introduced properly, with proper preparation, you can have a smooth introduction of your new baby to your old ‘baby’.

Photo by The Photographic Art Studio

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The Eco-Friendly Nursery

Go Green Baby!

Few things are more exciting than building or equipping your baby’s nursery. It’s all about organic, natural, and eco-friendly baby products…Indeed, every day is an opportunity to go green.

There’s a growing demand for stylish yet responsible infant products – and the good news is that it’s never been easier or more affordable to find eco-friendly and organic baby products that remove harmful chemicals and toxins from your home, while helping the planet.

This demand for natural products has encouraged designers and manufacturers to produce more and better products. What better gift can you give your child than ensuring that they have a safe and clean world to grow up in? Small companies and co-ops (and savvy moms! are creating products they know are useful, affordable, functional, and eco-friendly (who better than a mom to create those much-needed items)?!?

As mentioned above, going natural is a lot more affordable today than it was several (if not many) years ago. So, when you begin to think about equipping the nursery, you choose with an eye toward creating a fresh and safe space that is also environmentally healthy.

When thinking about baby’s clothing, parents should

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look for organic baby clothing to limit the exposure their little one has to toxic chemicals. In addition, natural fiber clothing has the added benefit of being comfortable and breathable. Look for baby gear made with eco-friendly fabrics like organic cotton, wool, bamboo, or recycled polyester.

Just like the clothing you buy for your little one, your babywearing slings (pouch and ring), wraps, mei tais, and buckle carriers should be made of fabrics and materials that are healthy and free from chemicals.

Babywearing has been an essential part of child rearing in many cultures for centuries and can be practiced by all caregivers. Being consistent is key and you’ll find that grandma and grandpa enjoy babywearing as much as mom and dad!

The advances and improvements in diapering today are amazing. You can actually save hundreds (if not thousands of dollars) when you choose cloth diapers over disposables. It’s a whole new era and the benefits of cloth diapering last long after your baby is out of diapers. The cloth diaper shells come in patterns or plain, are adjustable, and will fit your baby from 8 pounds up to potty training. The inserts are biodegradable and are flushable or machine washable.

Don’t forget to go natural with your baby’s ‘grooming’ products. Baby skin is very soft and sensitive, but still needs to be cleaned and moisturized. Look for shampoos, soaps, and lotions without chemicals and fragrances. The same goes for balms, oils, and remedies for rashes, etc.

And don’t forget about mom – there are products for her that help during breastfeeding and other normal day to day activities and ailments – all natural.

A huge trend right now (though ancient in origin) is the use of Baltic amber necklaces and bracelets that help a baby through their teething phase. The amber is a natural analgesic that takes the pain from teething and the associated symptoms.

There are companies totally devoted to creating environmentally friendly gear for you and your child.

Do your research, ask questions, poll other moms, talk to someone who knows what you’re looking for – and remember, if it’s good for the environment, it’s good for the baby.

Photo by The Photographic Art Studio

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The Pictures to Take (and how…)

and The Pictures That Need a Professional

A new baby is an exciting event both happily and proudly shared by the proud new parents! When my niece had her baby…it was like a Facebook takeover! Multiple times a day she shared her absolute joy with the world…The fact is, there are milestones you catch at home and those that should be taken by a professional photographer.

Photos You Take At Home At 1 to 2 months you should be taking home photos of those first baby smiles, also set the schedule for taking that monthly ‘official’ photo At 3 to 4 months you should be taking photos of your infant pushing up on tummy, the first coos and sounds (record), reaching and grabbing for toys, and finding their hands

At 5 to 6 months you should be taking home photos of your baby finding their feet, eating their feet, starting to learn how to sit, and beginning to take on solid foods At 7 to 8 months you should be taking home photos of your baby crawling and sitting well At 9 to 10 months you should be taking home photos of your baby learning to babble (record), pulling their self up, holding on to tables and chairs, walking along furniture At 11 to 12 months you should be taking photos of your child walking, saying their first words (record), their first birthday (cake and family), and everything else that goes with the party The rest of their life!

Photo by The Photographic Art Studio

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8 Tips For Taking Good Home Photos 1. Make sure the camera is ready and charged 2. Have a background that highlights your child (a sheet or cloth for those ‘official’ photos) 3. Natural daylight is best, avoid shadows, no bright lights, if outside take photos early in the day or just before dusk 4. Frame the photo in advance 5. Like the clothing your baby is wearing, like the colors that enhance your baby’s coloring, envision what you’re trying to capture 6. Point and click – the more photos you take, the better chance of taking a ‘keeper’ photo that will stand the test of time 7. Get close to your subject and then get closer – keep snapping photos

Photo by The Photographic Art Studio

8. Take interesting photos of hands, feet, tummies

When to call in the Professional Once you’ve made the decision to invest in a photographer, the first thing you should do is find one whose work you absolutely love. One whose images move you and leave a lasting impression. Someone who specializes in maternity, infant, and family photography understands that pregnancy is a fragile time and can capture the magic of pregnancy and birth, who can photograph the sweetness and wonder of newborns and baby’s first year, and incorporate the father and siblings in a loving and creative fashion. While you’ll be snapping away with your phone and camera, leave the following moments to a professional.

Moments for The Professional Photographer 1. A maternity session 2. A newborn session 3. A baby session 4. A birthday session

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Proper Footwear for Long ago…when I was a child, I remember my grandmother taking me to the cobbler to have shoes made just for me. I climbed on the cobbler’s bench, measurements were taken, leathers were chosen, and weeks later I had a nice pair of ‘saddle shoes’. Today, there are so many options available that it’s hard to know what shoe is right for your growing child.

Doctors will tell you that after children start walking, it is best to keep them barefoot or in a flexible shoe. Flexibility is the most important factor as your child’s bones and arches are developing. Interestingly, bones in a babies’ foot are soft and don’t really harden until a child is around 5 years old. In addition, they continue developing late into their teen years – meaning – you don’t want to constrict soft, growing feet with rigid shoes.

When buying shoes, have your children’s bare feet measured. First measure the overall length; then measure the heel to the ball of the foot; then the width of the foot.

Measure both feet because many (if not most) children have two different sized feet – and you buy shoes for the larger foot. In addition, try shoes on at the end of the day since feet swell over the course of the day.

Look for shoes made with quality materials – breathable materials like leather or canvas. In addition to being more durable, they will keep the child’s foot cooler and dryer.

Did you know that children’s feet sweat 2x more than adult feet? The better materials will help to prevent blisters, discomfort, and stinky shoes.

Once you’ve chosen shoes to try on, you must address the shoe’s fit. Measure the toe box, allowing room for the big toe to spread out and function as the body’s lever; measure across the foot in the width checking for both side support and room for flexing; and measure the heel, making sure the heel is neither too loose nor putting undue strain on the Achilles.

Make sure that shoes aren’t too big, if they’re too big, they can cause tripping, falling, and the shoe will wear out faster because the shoe ‘breaks’ at the wrong point. This is similar to passing along shoes from one child to another – not good. Worn shoes have taken on the wear pattern of the previous child and that includes the foot shape in the

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Children

insole and the walking gait on the outsole.

Our children deserve shoe styles that are comfortable and accommodating.

Perhaps that’s why my grandmother took me to a cobbler – she understood the value of proper footwear and made it a priority.

Thankfully there are good shoe companies who have invested in research and development into finding out which materials will ‘wear and tear’ and last a long time. You can feel confident with brands like Stride Rite, Robeez, and Se Kai Run. If you have any worries about your child’s foot development, consult your pediatrician or podiatrist.

A final word…don’t wait for shoes to be ‘broken in’… they won’t get more comfortable over time…they need to fit and feel good now.

Photo by The Photographic Art Studio

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Photo by The Photographic Art Studio

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Read Aloud When children are read to by people they love, children learn to love books!

It’s never too early to start – Babies love to be held and to hear your voice. Cuddle up together and look at board books.

A few minutes is okay – young children may sit still for only a few minutes. They will listen longer as they grow.

Let your child turn the pages – Babies and toddlers need help to turn board book pages. A 3-year old likes to turn paper pages without help.

Read favorite stories over and over – Children love to hear the same stories again and again. This is how they learn.

Ask your child questions about the story – Where is the moon? What do you think will happen next? Be sure to give your child time to answer.

Read anywhere and anytime – Read at playtime, bedtime, and naptime. Read any place you have to wait.

Read at the playground, in the park, in the car.

Go to your local library to get more books – Your local library has lots of free books. Let your child choose which ones to bring home.

Every Day!

What Children Like in Books A simple guide to the kinds of books most suitable for children at different ages.

INFANTS (6-12 months) • Board books with photos of babies • Sturdy, brightly colored board books to touch and taste • Books with pictures of things they see every day – balls, bottles, chairs, dogs • Small books sized for small hands YOUNGER TODDLERS (12-24 months) • Sturdy board books they can handle and carry • Books that show children doing familiar things – sleeping, eating, playing • Goodnight books for bedtime • Books about saying goodbye and hello • Books with only a few words on the page • Books with simple rhymes or predictable text OLDER TODDLERS (24-36 months) • Books with pictures and names of many different things • Books with board pages – but also books with paper pages • Silly books and funny books • Books with rhyme and rhythm, and repeated text they can learn by heart • Books about children and families • Books about food, animals, trucks, and other favorite objects PRESCHOOLERS (3-5 years) • Books that tell stories • Books about kids who look like and live like them – and also books about different places and different ways of living • Books about going to school or daycare • Books about making friends • Books with simple text they can memorize • Counting books, alphabet books, search and find books.

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Baby’s Early

Talk, talk, talk to your baby every day. Your baby would rather hear your voice and look at your face above anything else. Mommy’s voice is his or her absolute favorite sound because your baby associates it with warmth, food, and comfort. By talking to your baby he/she will learn the importance of speech long before he/she comprehends or speaks himself. In just a matter of weeks if not days, he/she will recognize your voice whether he/she can see you or not.

Talking to him/her will calm him when he/she is distressed or give him/her joy. When he/she responds to you with a smile, a gurgle or a coo and he/she sees your reactions, he/she is learning that talk is a two-way process. Early conversation will teach your baby many rules of communication as well as social skills. Although we are all guilty, try not to “baby talk”

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Education with your baby all the time; mix in adult language and eventually stop the baby talk all together.

You should start reading to your baby immediately even though you don’t think he/she can comprehend. Use different voices and faces while reading and show the baby the pictures. Point to objects in the book and tell your baby what it is. By reading to your baby from the beginning, you open many doors of imagination and learning for him/her.

From the moment your baby is born, he/she is learning about the world around him.

By 4 months, your baby will entertain himself/herself by babbling and making all kinds of new sounds. His/Her memory and attention span will increase and your baby will begin to apply all the information they’ve absorbed to day-today activities. At this time, your baby will be able to sense your mood by the tone in your voice, as well as learn the concept of cause and effect. He/She will more than likely stumble upon this discovery by accident, for example realizing when he/she kicks his feet, the crib shakes or when he/she shakes a rattle it makes noise. When your baby discovers that he/she can cause these reactions, he/ she will begin to experiment in a number of ways to make things happen. Your baby will also discover that he/she can cause a reaction from you or an audience. It is important for your baby’s development, to participate in this type of play with him/her in order to help him/her learn their personal ability to influence the baby environment.

Close to 7 months, your baby will discover that objects still exist even when they are out of sight. This is a principle called object permanence. Prior to this point in your baby’s life, he/she assumed that the world consisted of only things he/she could see. For instance, when you left the room,

he/she assumed you had vanished or if you hid a toy under a blanket, he/she thought it was gone forever and saw no reason to look for it. But now your baby is realizing that you are the same person that puts him down to bed at night, that his ball on the floor is the same ball that was in his crib the night before. Your baby knows that when playing Peek-ABoo, your face did not really vanish never to be seen again when you put your hands over your face. Playing these types of games with your baby will help him/her continue to learn about object permanence for many months to come.

Screen time (such as cell phones, tablets and TV) for children under the age of 2 is controversial and some professionals suggest no “screen” time at all before the age of 2 years. It’s said that certain applications and movies could be beneficial, but suggest no more than 30-60 minutes a day. It’s never been proven that it’s bad or good – talk to your pediatrician on this subject and decide what you both think is best for your child.

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Nesting

15 Tips

Once you bring your new baby home, the last thing you’ll want to do is go shopping or head out to get items you’ve forgotten to have on hand in those first days, weeks, and months. If you plan in advance, those first days and weeks with your baby can run much smoother because you’ve thought of almost everything and you’ve taken the time to get organized.

Nesting hits hardest between your sixth and eighth month of pregnancy…you know the gender of your child, you start planning and dreaming of life with your little one, you’re decorating the child’s room, and you want everything to be perfect. During the last month of your pregnancy, you’re too uncomfortable or too tired to do much but wait for your child.

Things to do before your baby comes home: • Plan a budget for the time you won’t be working (if you work outside the home); • Set a schedule for bill payment – consult with your partner if you’re the bill payer; • Clean everything in your home – carpets, fans, baseboards, windows, draperies/curtains; • Organize your closets and drawers – de-clutter the house; • Wash all of your baby’s clothing and linens; • Make freezer meals/dinners in advance for the first few weeks of recovery and bringing the baby home; • Have select meats frozen so you or your partner can easily grill or cook in the oven; • Buy pantry staples; • Clean out the refrigerator and restock with new condiments; • If you order in meals, have those delivery numbers handy; • If you want to make it really easy – get paper plates and plastic silverware; • Stock up on toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.); • Clean out the car and have it detailed; • Put the baby’s car seat in the car – check to make sure it is absolutely installed correctly; • Organize anything an older sibling will need while you are in the hospital and the weeks right after your baby comes home.

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Popular Baby Names for

2018-2019

Here are the year’s most popular baby names for girls and boys.

These baby name lists base popularity ranking on a single spelling of a name.

1

Oliver

12 Silas

23 Leo

34 Jackson

45 Charles

2

Theodore

13 Alexander

24 Landon

35 Connor

46 Aidan

3

Declan

14 Grayson

25 Elijah

36 Luke

47 Graham

4

Finn

15 Everett

26 Ethan

37 Milo

48 Harrison

5

Liam

16 Caleb

27 Atticus

38 Wyatt

49 Daniel

6

Henry

17 Felix

28 Lucas

39 Lincoln

50 Eli

7

Owen

18 Archer

29 August

40 Xander

51 Ronan

8

Levi

19 Hudson

30 Isaac

41 Adam

52 Cole

9

Benjamin

20 Gabriel

31 James

42 Gavin

53 Reese

10 William

21 Emmett

32 Jack

43 Atlas

54 Noah

11 Elliot

22 Sebastian

33 Jasper

44 Thomas

55 Nathaniel

1

Amelia

12 Nora

23 Eloise

34 Chloe

45 Hannah

2

Charlotte

13 Grace

24 Adeline

35 Stella

46 Sadie

3

Violet

14 Eleanor

25 Vivienne

36 Isabella

47 Rose

4

Aria

15 Luna

26 Claire

37 Cora

48 Gemma

5

Olivia

16 Lily

27 Adelaide

38 Harper

49 Arabella

6

Ava

17 Genevieve

28 Clara

39 Ruby

50 Lydia

7

Scarlett

18 Penelope

29 Lucy

40 Freya

51 Mia

8

Hazel

19 Abigail

30 Iris

41 Evelyn

52 Jospehine

9

Audrey

20 Elizabeth

31 Ella

42 Caroline

53 Lorelei

10 Aurora

21 Emma

32 Ivy

43 Mila

54 Alice

11 Ophia

22 Isla

33 Evangeline

44 Fiona

55 Quinn

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Photo by The Photographic Art Studio

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Getting your Body

Back

Dedication, patience, and perseverance are what every mom needs to get that pre-baby body back! If you want it, go for it, but get it back the healthy way!

Here’s a few things every “new mom” needs to know about getting back into shape after baby.

Forget about the celebrities who look like they were never pregnant just weeks after the baby!

Let’s just say it’s not realistic, nor is it healthy – ask any expert. Celebrities statistically do not gain as much weight during their pregnancies as average women, they have resources the average women doesn’t have, and many of them go on crazy diets (wrong!).

The worst thing you can do is try to do too much too soon. So, for the first six weeks after birth – DO NOT go on a diet – especially if you are breast-feeding. Your baby needs the nutrients and you need the energy.

“You should be eating at least 1,800-2,000 calories a day while breastfeeding, and if you eat less you will not only be shortchanging yourself, you’ll be shortchanging your baby. You can’t produce quality milk if you are not eating enough,” says nutritionist Elizabeth Somer, RD, author of Nutrition for a Healthy Pregnancy.

“If you can lose a couple of pounds before then, that’s OK, but you really don’t want to cut your food intake dramatically during these early weeks. You need the energy, and you need the calories for breastfeeding,” she says.

Awesome news: Breastfeeding burns calories! It can help mothers lose extra weight gained during pregnancy and if you’re not breastfeeding, Somer says, it’s OK to watch your caloric intake, but never aim to lose more than a pound a week. “Pregnancy is not unlike running a marathon every day for nine months. You have put your body through the wringer. So even if you ate well, several nutrients are still likely to be compromised. You need this postpartum time to restore your nutritional status and your energy,” she says. Exercise is highly recommended, it can not only help you whip into shape but also increase energy and may even reduce risks of postpartum depression.) Exercise is a key factor in the health of new moms, but before you start your exercise please ask your

58 | Oh BABY!

doctor if you’re ready (if you had a difficult pregnancy and/or complicated delivery especially) Most doctors will say start whenever you feel ready and work up your activity, if you can’t keep up with any program you do decide to start, you’re probably not ready or the program could be too extreme.

Walking is a great recommendation, go on some stroller routes and the baby would love it too, you’ll get that one on one time with your little one, while getting exercise so it’s a win-win!

Tip: If you didn’t have a C-Section you could also focus on core workouts!

Don’t be in such a hurry to lose baby fat, be cautious about any exercise that puts major stress on your joints- examples like jogging, jumping, running. You could end up on the sideline for months with serious injuries.

As exercising pay close attention to these warning signs and seek medical attention if they appear: Excessive bleeding, pelvic or abdominal pain, extreme shortness of breath, exhaustion even after mild exercise, muscle soreness that does not go away in a day or two.

Besides that have fun, eat good and love your momma body!

Oh BABY! | 59

Your Baby

is Teething...

Teething occurs when your baby’s teeth erupt through the gums. It can be a trying time for parents because your baby is fussy, unsettled, and uncomfortable – and who wants that? Teething usually begins around 6 months of age. The teeth break through the gums one at a time over a period of months. The bottom teeth first, then the two middle ones, and then the ones along the side and back.

Signs of teething vary from child to child, but in general your child will be irritable, they may bite or gnaw, they’ll drool, cough, rub their ears, face, and gums, they can develop a facial or chin rash, have a loss of appetite, have a low-grade fever, stay awake (as in not sleep well), and can develop cold-like symptoms.

What can you do for your teething child?

• Give your child something to chew on, like a firm rubber teething ring or cold washcloth (chill the washcloth in the refrigerator).

• Rub a clean finger gently but firmly over your baby’s sore gums to temporarily ease the pain.

• Give your child a cold bottle of water • If your baby is old enough to eat solids, there may be some relief from cold foods like yogurt, applesauce, or pureed peaches.

• Give your child a hard, unsweetened teething biscuit to gnaw on.

• Ask your doctor if you should use a pain reliever like infant acetaminophen – your doctor will know the correct dosage for your child.

• Topicals that are applied to the gums can also provide relief – ask your doctor before using.

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Caring for your child’s new teeth: • Once your baby’s teeth arrive, you’ll want to keep them clean. Gently wipe the gums with a clean, damp gauze once a day; make it a fun part of the baby’s bedtime routine.

You can also use a soft brush after feeding.

• Avoid putting your child to bed with a bottle as it can lead to tooth decay.

Baby’s First

Your baby’s primary teeth (baby teeth) are quite important. Decay and/or loss of these teeth can jeopardize the proper development of the permanent teeth. It is recommended that you take your child to the dentist for his first dental examination, cleaning, and topical fluoride treatment at his first birthday.

For most babies, that first tooth starts coming in between 4 and 8 months. Girls tend to get teeth faster than boys.

Occasionally, some newborns are born with teeth. These are usually extra and should be examined by a children’s dentist. The dentist may remove these teeth in order to prevent problems with feeding and damage to the newborn’s tongue.

Babies get teeth at different rates. Baby teeth generally come in pairs, and as long as your baby starts to get teeth before 18 months, you probably don’t need to worry.

Tooth

When teeth come in, most babies experience pain and can be cranky and fussy. Common signs of teething include sore, tender, and swollen gums; excessive drool; loss of appetite; difficulty sleeping; and a low-grade fever. Babies may be clingy and chew on their fingers and toys. They may break out in a rash or their face, neck, and chest due to the excessive drool.

When Teeth Come In: Central incisors – 6 to 8 months.

Lateral incisors – 7 to 9 months.

Cuspids – 16 to 18 months.

First molars – 12 to 14 months.

Second molars – 20 to 24 months.

After your baby’s teeth begin to come in, you’ll need to take care of them. Use a piece of wet gauze to wipe them

Oh BABY! | 61

off or a toothbrush if necessary – do this twice per day. Don’t use toothpaste until they are older.

If your baby does not have teeth at 18 months, talk to your physician. There may be an underlying problem, such as hypopituitarism or hypothyroidism that is causing the delay and these need to be addressed.

By the time they turn 4 years of age, your child should have a full mouth of baby teeth – 20 to be exact. As guides for permanent teeth, baby teeth are important and should be taken care of – brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist.

Thumbsucking Thumbsucking at an early age is very common and while continued thumbsucking can lead to deformation of the upper front part of the mouth, it is not advisable for parents to attempt to terminate the habit. Bribes and threats will do little to correct the habit and often enhance the anxiety and guilt your child may have. Some children will discontinue thumbsucking by themselves, often when they start pre-school or kindergarten. For those who do not, most habits can be successfully corrected with the help of the pediatric dentist when, and only when, the child indicates a desire to stop.

Teething The first tooth will usually erupt between the ages of 4 to 8 months. Teething can be a most disturbing time for new parents, but this is a normal process in the child’s development. Although often the subject of debate between physicians, pedodontists, and parents, there is some evidence to suggest that certain other findings, such as a rise in temperature, diarrhea, increased salivation/drooling, rashes, and changes in the bowel habits, can occur in conjunction with teething. The use of teething rings, aspirin or Tylenol, and topical anesthetics or numbing agents can be helpful. If there is a doubt or concern do not hesitate to consult your pediatrician or family physician.

Nutrition Children should have few problems with their teeth if they eat a well-balanced diet high in the major food groups (dairy, meats, breads and cereals, and fruits and vegetables), and low in sugars. All children will eat sweetened foods from time to time. The cavity causing effects of these sweetened foods can be reduced by the following: limit sweets to mealtime and avoid sweets for snacks. Encourage liquid sweets instead of sticky, retentive sweets. Group sweets together instead of spreading them out over the day. Remember, each time sweetened foods contact the bacteria (plaque) in our mouths, these bacteria produce tooth destroying acid for approximately 30 minutes. Keep acid products down by reducing the frequency of sugar intake.

Fluoride Supplementation The intake of optimal amounts of fluoride is beneficial to developing permanent teeth. Fluoride actually becomes incorporated into the enamel of the developing tooth making it stronger and more resistant to future decay. Your pediatrician or pediatric dentist can prescribe these for you. Fluoride supplements are recommended from birth through about age 8.

Topical fluorides are applied directly to the teeth. They are most effective soon after eruption of the teeth because the teeth are porous (not fully mineralized) when they first erupt. Complete mineralization actually takes several years and thus topical fluorides are recommended at least until adulthood.

Tooth Cleaning The best time to start routine cleaning of your baby’s mouth is shortly after birth. The gums should be gently wiped with a soft wet washcloth or gauze. This routine activity will get your baby adjusted to having his mouth touched by your fingers. When his first tooth erupts into his mouth, continue cleaning in the same manner. At about one year, it is recommended that your child be given his first toothbrush; it should be small with soft bristles. At this age, your child will not be able to adequately clean his own teeth and you will have to assist. By introducing the toothbrush at this early age, the child will develop a lifetime habit of oral hygiene. At about age 2 ½ , after the eruption of the second primary molars, flossing should be introduced. Parents will have to assume the responsibility of flossing until the age of 6 or 7.

The toothpaste selected should be one with fluoride. Avoid brands which claim to ‘whiten’ or ‘brighten’ teeth. These are usually quite abrasive which can be damaging when used over an extended period of time.

If a child younger than 3 years has a cavity or any dark suspicious spot on a tooth or suffers from trauma to his teeth, he should be taken to the pedodontist immediately.

Good habits begin early…so do healthy smiles…

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Baby’s Tooth

Chart

Date of Eruption

Date of Eruption

Date of Eruption

Date of Eruption

B A

Date of Eruption

D

C

Date of Eruption

D

UPPER UPPER

E

E

E D

LOWER C

B

A

A

Date of Eruption

E

LOWER

Date of Eruption

Date of Eruption

Date of Eruption

B

C

Date of Eruption

Date of Eruption

A

Date of Eruption

D

B

C

Date of Eruption

Date of Eruption

Date of Eruption

Date of Eruption

Date of Eruption

Date of Eruption

Date of Eruption

A. Central Incisor

B. Lateral Incisor

C. Cuspid

D. First Molar

E. Second Molar Oh BABY! | 63

The End of Infancy

Tracking your Toddler and Child

Your child is 18 months old – it’s the end of infancy. In their second year, your child walks independently, drinks from a cup, uses 15 words, and can identify body parts.

At 2 years, your child runs and jumps, is confident on his feet, kicks a ball, speaks in two-word sentences, continually increases their vocabulary, begins to understand the rules of grammar and syntax, follows simple instructions, and begins to play make-believe.

At 3 years, your child climbs, speaks in multiword sentences, and sorts objects by color and shape.

At 4 years, your child can converse in adult-like sentences, gets along with people outside the immediate family, draws circles and squares, and can ride a bike/trike.

At 5 years, your child can tell their name and address, has a grasp of the rules of grammar and meaning, hops, skips, and jumps, gets dressed on their own, and counts a large number of objects.

As a parent, your role is to ask questions and answer his, talk about books you read together, teach letters and numbers, put feelings in to words.

As your child speaks, make sure you rephrase if they use words incorrectly, teach your child body parts and familiar objects, foster his verbal needs by prompting him to ask for an item he wishes to use.

Encourage him to feed himself with utensils and drink from a cup, play pretend, ask your child to sort and clean up after play. Get outside and explore, take walks, have conversations.

Reinforce good behavior with attention and praise. Set rules and limits – follow through with consequences – be consistent. Give your child options, allow him to make choices. Be patient and positive.

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Each child will develop a their own pace – watch for these Red Flags: • Not walking by 18 months • Doesn’t understand the use of familiar, everyday objects • Doesn’t have at least 6 words by 18 months • Isn’t speaking in 2-word sentences by 24 months • Doesn’t imitate words and actions • Doesn’t follow simple instructions • Seems to lose skills he previously had.

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The Brain Game

Hack to Help with Tantrums

If you’ve spent time with children in any capacity, you’ve likely experienced their seemingly inconsolable wails at some point -- for reasons that often seem unclear. Big emotions can be difficult for anyone to control or manage; particularly for young children whose brains haven’t fully developed.

Have you ever found yourself trying to reason with someone who was just too emotional? When children are struggling with their big emotions, caregivers often try and support them by saying things like “How can I help you?”, “What do you need from me?”, “If you stop screaming, I can help you” – all of which only seem to complicate things, rather than help. This can be a frustrating exchange to navigate for all involved. The trick is understanding how the brain works…

In short, the brain can be separated into three primary parts: the upper brain, the middle brain, and the lower brain. The upper brain is responsible for all of our logic and thinking; the middle brain is responsible for all of our emotions and feelings; and our lower brain houses our brain stem where all of our autonomic functions are generated: including our fight or flight responses and heart rate.

When we experience emotion, the limbic or “feeling” portion of our brain is activated. When our limbic brain is over-activated with emotion, it makes it difficult for the brain to call upon the upper brain, where logic takes place. In this process, we literally become so overwhelmed with feelings that we can’t think straight – and we can’t logically process information coming in, either.

The next time you notice your child becoming upset, get their attention by doing something unexpected – flicker the lights or whisper softly so they have to lean in to hear you. From there, ask them to play a quick game and challenge them to a task that could easily be accomplished, based on their developmental age:

1. Tell me the color of your shoes. Socks? Shorts?

2. Name 3 things you can see that are red.

3. Touch 2 things that are square.

4. Show me where your toes are. Nose? Ears?

Keep it simple, but keep them thinking – that’s the trick! This brain hack will activate the thinking part of their brain and thwart the emotional brain from escalating out of control. Once the child is completely calm, you can then revisit the issue that was upsetting them and bring a more logical perspective to the situation and overcome any perceived dilemmas.

A calm child is a successful child.

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Oh BABY! | 67

Photo by The Photographic Art Studio

Vaccine

Tracker

Hepatitis B Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis Haemophilus Influenza Type B Inactivated Poliovirus Measles, Mumps, Rubella Varicella Meningococcal Pneumococcal Influenza Hepatitis A Rotavirus HPV

68 | Oh BABY!

yearly

11-12 yrs

4-6 yrs.

24 mos.

18 mos.

15 mos.

12 mos.

6 mos.

4 mos.

2 mos.

1 mo.

Vaccine

Birth

This immunization schedule is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If You’d like to try a modified schedule, speak with your pediatrician.

1-Month

Checkup

You can expect your baby’s doctor to:

Weigh and measure your baby to make sure she’s growing at a healthy rate.

Do a complete physical.

Probably give your baby a hepatitis B shot.

Recommend vitamin D drops for breastfed babies.

Address any other concerns.

How is your baby sleeping? What position does she sleep in?______________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ How often is your baby eating?________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ What are your baby’s bowel movements like?____________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does she quiet down, at least briefly, at the sound of your voice?___________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Is your baby awake for longer periods of time?___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does she make soft cooing noises when content and alert?________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Have you noticed anything unusual about your baby’s eyes or the way she looks at things?_____________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Is she a little fussier at the end of the day?_______________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Are you giving your baby tummy time when she’s awake?__________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does your baby hold her head up when she’s placed on her tummy?________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ How are you doing?__________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Notes:______________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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2-Month

Checkup

You can expect your baby’s doctor to:

Weigh and measure your baby to make sure she’s growing at a healthy rate.

Do a complete physical.

Probably give your baby a hepatitis B shot.

Recommend vitamin D drops for breastfed babies.

Address any other concerns.

How is your baby sleeping? What position does she sleep in?______________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ How often is your baby eating?________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ What are your baby’s bowel movements like?____________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does she quiet down, at least briefly, at the sound of your voice?___________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Is your baby awake for longer periods of time?___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does she make soft cooing noises when content and alert?________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Have you noticed anything unusual about your baby’s eyes or the way she looks at things?_____________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Is she a little fussier at the end of the day?_______________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Are you giving your baby tummy time when she’s awake?__________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does your baby hold her head up when she’s placed on her tummy?________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ How are you doing?__________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Notes:______________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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4-Month

Checkup

You can expect your baby’s doctor to:

Weigh and measure your baby to make sure she’s growing at a healthy rate.

Do a complete physical.

Probably give your baby a hepatitis B shot.

Recommend vitamin D drops for breastfed babies.

Address any other concerns.

How is your baby sleeping? What position does she sleep in?______________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ How often is your baby eating?________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ What are your baby’s bowel movements like?____________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does she quiet down, at least briefly, at the sound of your voice?___________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Is your baby awake for longer periods of time?___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does she make soft cooing noises when content and alert?________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Have you noticed anything unusual about your baby’s eyes or the way she looks at things?_____________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Is she a little fussier at the end of the day?_______________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Are you giving your baby tummy time when she’s awake?__________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does your baby hold her head up when she’s placed on her tummy?________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ How are you doing?__________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Notes:______________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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6-Month

Checkup

You can expect your baby’s doctor to:

Weigh and measure your baby to make sure she’s growing at a healthy rate.

Do a complete physical.

Probably give your baby a hepatitis B shot.

Recommend vitamin D drops for breastfed babies.

Address any other concerns.

How is your baby sleeping? What position does she sleep in?______________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ How often is your baby eating?________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ What are your baby’s bowel movements like?____________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does she quiet down, at least briefly, at the sound of your voice?___________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Is your baby awake for longer periods of time?___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does she make soft cooing noises when content and alert?________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Have you noticed anything unusual about your baby’s eyes or the way she looks at things?_____________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Is she a little fussier at the end of the day?_______________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Are you giving your baby tummy time when she’s awake?__________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does your baby hold her head up when she’s placed on her tummy?________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ How are you doing?__________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Notes:______________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

72 | Oh BABY!

9-Month

Checkup

You can expect your baby’s doctor to:

Weigh and measure your baby to make sure she’s growing at a healthy rate.

Do a complete physical.

Probably give your baby a hepatitis B shot.

Recommend vitamin D drops for breastfed babies.

Address any other concerns.

How is your baby sleeping? What position does she sleep in?______________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ How often is your baby eating?________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ What are your baby’s bowel movements like?____________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does she quiet down, at least briefly, at the sound of your voice?___________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Is your baby awake for longer periods of time?___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does she make soft cooing noises when content and alert?________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Have you noticed anything unusual about your baby’s eyes or the way she looks at things?_____________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Is she a little fussier at the end of the day?_______________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Are you giving your baby tummy time when she’s awake?__________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does your baby hold her head up when she’s placed on her tummy?________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ How are you doing?__________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Notes:______________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Oh BABY! | 73

12-Month

Checkup

You can expect your baby’s doctor to:

Weigh and measure your baby to make sure she’s growing at a healthy rate.

Do a complete physical.

Probably give your baby a hepatitis B shot.

Recommend vitamin D drops for breastfed babies.

Address any other concerns.

How is your baby sleeping? What position does she sleep in?______________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ How often is your baby eating?________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ What are your baby’s bowel movements like?____________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does she quiet down, at least briefly, at the sound of your voice?___________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Is your baby awake for longer periods of time?___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does she make soft cooing noises when content and alert?________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Have you noticed anything unusual about your baby’s eyes or the way she looks at things?_____________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Is she a little fussier at the end of the day?_______________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Are you giving your baby tummy time when she’s awake?__________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does your baby hold her head up when she’s placed on her tummy?________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ How are you doing?__________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Notes:______________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Photo by The Photographic Art Studio

Oh BABY! | 75

Tracking Your Baby…

The First Month:

Developmental Milestones

• Can lift head momentarily • Turns head from side to side when lying on back • Hands stay clenched • Strong grasp reflex present • • Looks and follows object moving in front of them in range of 45 degrees • Sees black and white patterns • Quiets when a voice is heard • Cries to express displeasure • Makes throaty sounds • Looks intently at parents when they talk to him/her

The Second Month: • Lifts head almost 45 degrees when lying on stomach • Head bobs forward when held in sitting position • Grasp reflex decreases • Follows dangling objects with eyes • Visually searches for sounds • Makes noises other than crying • Cries become distinctive (wet, hungry, etc.)

• Vocalizes to familiar voices • Social smile demonstrated in response to various stimuli

Red flags: Each child develops at her own pace, but talk to your baby’s doctor if your 1-month-old: • Feeds slowly or doesn’t suck well • Doesn’t seem to focus her eyes or watch things moving nearby • Doesn’t react to bright lights • Seems especially stiff or floppy • Doesn’t respond to loud sounds

The Third Month: • Begins to bear partial weight on both legs when held in a standing position • Able to hold head up when sitting but still bobs forward • When lying on stomach can raise head and shoulders between 45 and 90 degrees • Bears weight on forearms • Grasp reflex absent • Holds objects but does not reach for them • Clutches own hands and pulls at blankets and clothes • Follows objects 180 degrees • Locates sound by turning head and looking in the same direction • Squeals, coos, babbles, and chuckles • “Talks” when spoken to • Recognizes faces, voices, and objects • Smiles when he/she sees familiar people, and engages in play with them • Shows awareness to strange situations

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Red flags

Each child develops at his own pace, but talk to your child’s doctor if your 3-month-old: • Can’t support his head well • Can’t grasp objects • Can’t focus on moving objects • Doesn’t smile • Doesn’t react to loud sounds • Ignores new faces • Seems upset by unfamiliar people or surroundings

The Fourth Month: • Drooling begins • Good head control • Sits with support • Bears some weight on legs when held upright • Raises head and chest off surface to a 90 degree angle • Rolls from back to side • Explores and plays with hands • Tries to reach for objects but overshoots • Grasps objects with both hands • Eye-hand coordination begins • Makes consonant sounds • Laughs • Enjoys being rocked, bounced or swung

The Fifth Month: • Signs of teething begin • Holds head up when sitting • Rolls from stomach to back • When lying on back puts feet to mouth • Voluntarily grasps and holds objects • Plays with toes • Takes objects directly to mouth • Watches objects that are dropped • Says “ah-goo” or similar vowel-consonant combinations • Smiles at mirror image • Gets upset if you take a toy away • Can tell family and strangers apart • Begins to discover parts of his/her body

The Sixth Month: • Chewing and biting occur • When on stomach, can lift chest and part of stomach off the surface, bearing weight on hands • Lifts head when pulled to a sitting position • Rolls from back to stomach • Bears majority of weight when being held in a standing position • Grasps and controls small objects • Grabs feet and pulls to mouth Continued on page 78

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• Adjusts body to see an object • Turns head from side to side and then looks up or down • Prefers more complex visual stimuli • Says one syllable sounds like “ma”, “mu”, “da”, and “di” • Recognizes parents

Red flags: Each child develops at her own pace, but talk to your child’s doctor if your baby: • Seems very stiff or floppy • Can’t hold her head steady • Can’t sit on her own • Doesn’t respond to noises or smiles • Isn’t affectionate with those closest to her • Doesn’t reach for objects

The Seventh Month: • Sits without support, may lean forward on both hands • Bears full weight on feet • Bounces when held in standing position • Bears weight on one hand when lying on stomach • Transfers objects from one hand to another • Bangs objects on surfaces • Able to fixate on small objects • Responds to name • Awareness of depth and space begin • Has taste preferences • “Talks” when others are talking

Red flags: • Seems very stiff or floppy • Can’t hold her head steady • Can’t sit on her own • Doesn’t respond to noises or smiles • Isn’t affectionate with those closest to her • Doesn’t reach for objects

The Eighth Month: • Sits well without support • Bears weight on legs and may stand holding on to furniture • Adjusts posture to reach an object • Picks up objects using index, fourth, and fifth finger against thumb • Able to release objects • Pulls string to obtain object • Reaches for toys that are out of reach • Listens selectively to familiar words • Begins combining syllables like “mama” and “dada” but does not attach a meaning • Understands the word no (but does not always obey it!)

• Dislikes having diaper changed and being dressed

The Ninth Month: • Begins crawling • Pulls up to standing position from sitting • Sits for a prolonged time (10 minutes) • May develop a preference for use of one hand • Uses thumb and index finger to pick up objects 78 | Oh BABY!

• Responds to simple verbal commands • Comprehends the word “no” • Increased interest in pleasing parents • Puts arms in front of face to avoid having it washed

The Tenth Month: • Goes from stomach to sitting position • Sits by falling down • Recovers balance easily while sitting • Lifts one foot to take a step while standing • Comprehends “bye-bye” • Says “dada” or “mama” with meaning • Says one other word beside “mama” and “dada” (hi, bye, no, go) • Waves bye-bye • Object permanence begins to develop • Repeats actions that attract attention • Plays interactive games such a “pat-a-cake” • Enjoys being read to and follows pictures in books

The Eleventh Month: • Walks holding on to furniture or other objects • Places one object after another into a container • Reaches back to pick up an object when sitting • Explores objects more thoroughly • Able to manipulate objects out of tight fitting spaces • Rolls a ball when asked • Becomes excited when a task is mastered • Acts frustrated when restricted • Shakes head for “no”

The Twelfth Month: • Walks with one hand held • May stand alone and attempt first steps alone • Sits down from standing position without help • Attempts to build two block tower but may fail • Turns pages in a book • Follows rapidly moving objects • Says three or more words other than “mama” or “dada” • Comprehends the meaning of several words • Repeats the same words over and over again • Imitates sounds, such as the sounds dogs and cats make • Recognizes objects by name • Understands simple verbal commands • Shows affection • Shows independence in familiar surroundings • Clings to parents in strange situation • Searches for object where it was last seen

Red flags: • Doesn’t crawl • Seems to drag one side while he’s crawling for a month or more • Can’t stand with support • Doesn’t try to find objects you’ve hidden in front of him • Doesn’t say any words • Doesn’t use gestures, such as shaking his head “no” and pointing

Baby

Milestones

Slept Through the Night:_____________________________________________________________________________ Smiled:____________________________________________________________________________________________ Rolled onto Tummy:_________________________________________________________________________________ Rolled onto Back:___________________________________________________________________________________ Laughed:__________________________________________________________________________________________ Blew a Kiss:_________________________________________________________________________________________ Sat and Played with Toy:_____________________________________________________________________________ Waved Bye-Bye:_____________________________________________________________________________________ Held a Cup:________________________________________________________________________________________ Ate Baby Food:_____________________________________________________________________________________ Held a Toy:_________________________________________________________________________________________ Crawled:___________________________________________________________________________________________ Danced:___________________________________________________________________________________________ Had a Haircut:______________________________________________________________________________________ Clapped Hands:_____________________________________________________________________________________ Made a Sound:_____________________________________________________________________________________ Walked:____________________________________________________________________________________________ Went on an Outing:_________________________________________________________________________________ Played Peek-a-Boo:__________________________________________________________________________________ Stood Alone:_______________________________________________________________________________________ Spoke Your First Word:_______________________________________________________________________________ Other Unforgettable Moments:________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________

Oh BABY! | 79

Baby’s First Your baby is turning 1 and that’s worth celebrating! Of course, you want to have a first birthday party in honor of his special day. But how do you plan for such an important occasion? How do you make sure that your baby’s first birthday is a wonderful time for both you and him? These top twelve do’s and don’ts will point you in the right direction.

DO keep the birthday party simple. Your baby won’t really comprehend what all the fuss is about. This day is for you to enjoy and to celebrate the amazing child that has transformed your life. Just don’t overcomplicate anything this allows you to be free to relish every moment.

DON’T struggle over finding the perfect theme for the party. Your 1 year old won’t notice. Next year, he/she may be begging you for Cinderella, Elsa, Wonder Pets, Dora the Explorer, Thomas the Train theme, but this year you can do whatever makes sense for you.

Birthday DO schedule the birthday party for a time when your baby is less likely to be tired and cranky. If he/ she usually takes an early afternoon nap, then a late afternoon party is best.

DON’T invite too many people. A room full of strangers crowding around your little one can be overwhelming.

Choose close friends and relatives to share this special day.

DO have the party at home, if possible. This is the place your baby feels most secure. There will be a lot of activity that day that he/she doesn’t quite understand. So, it’s important for him/her to feel comfortable and safe in the midst of all the strange birthday festivities.

DO keep your eyes open for potential dangers. If a balloon pops, make sure you put it in the trash immediately, because it could become a choking hazard.

DON’T serve food that is challenging to eat. Finger foods are best for little ones. And adults like them too!

DO make the party short. An hour or so is enough excitement DO have a birthday cake or cupcakes. It is fun for everyone for a 1 year old. Any longer than 2 hours and he/she might go into celebration overload.

to watch your 1 year old eat his first birthday cake, and a great photo opportunity. Just watch out for your baby and the lit candle.

DO consider invitations and favors that are personalized with your child’s photo. Most of your guests for this birthday party will be adults who have loved and supported you and your baby through the first year. Grandmothers, aunts, and other friends and loved ones will be thrilled with a keepsake featuring a picture or pictures of the birthday boy or girl.

DON’T forget to charge the camera batteries or take tons of photos. You may be busy and preoccupied with the celebration, but your 1 year old won’t remember the party, so you’ll want to make sure you document every moment – assign someone this task. A nice tip is to send out photo thank you notes after the party.

DO create a first birthday memory book after the party.

This is a great future gift you can give to your child. Take photos of the cake, decorations, guests, and of course, him/ her. You can put these photos in a photo album or make a scrapbook, complete with journaling your thoughts about his special day. Include a page where each guest writes something special to your 1 year old.

Simplify, relax and enjoy this special day. Your baby’s first birthday party is a milestone that comes along only once in his/her life, so cherish every wonderful moment.

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