UND-Pilsa Blog

There is no doubt that baby showers are fun and exciting. Baby showers are a great way for the friends, family members and coworkers of the expectant mother to celebrate the creation of a new life.

A pregnancy, whether or not it is a first pregnancy, is always an exciting time in the life of any woman. Celebrating the special time with a baby shower is a long standing tradition.

== Games Bring Excitement To The Baby Shower ==

Another long standing tradition is for the guests at the baby shower to play a number of exciting games. Games are a great way to bring excitement and interest to any baby shower, and there are a number of popular games that everyone in attendance will enjoy.

==Taking The Personality Of The Mother To Be Into Account When Picking The Games ==

For those who are organizing a baby shower, however, it can be difficult to know what games are appropriate. When deciding on the games to be played, it is important to take the personality of the expectant mother into account.

Is she the shy reserved type or does she have a bold and outgoing personality? Would she prefer games that focus on her, or would she rather have games that include everyone in attendance?

While getting the answers to these important questions will always involve some amount of guesswork, one of the best ways to answer them, especially if you do not know the expectant mother very well, is to ask her closest friends and family members.

Asking the people who know the mother to be best is a great way to decide which games will be most appreciated.

== Get Ideas From People You Know ==

Another great way to find the best games for the baby shower is to ask your own friends and family members about baby showers they have attended. Games are a staple of just about every baby shower, so chances are the people you know will have some stories about the best, and worst, baby shower games they have played.

Games can make every baby shower even more exciting than it already is. The key is to make the games inclusive and fun for both the mother to be and her guests.

Shaunta Pleasant is a professional writer and editor on baby shower topics. Visit my site to learn more about planning the perfect wedding at
http://www.baby-shower-gala.com/baby_shower_game_idea.html

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A Baby’s Reflexes..

A baby is born with certain reflexes to protect them during the first few weeks. These reflexes will disappear after a few weeks and be replaced with voluntary movement during baby’s development.

Doctors will check these reflexes to ensure his central nervous system is working correctly.

Walking Reflex
If you hold baby in an upright position with his feet touching the floor, his legs will seem to be trying to walk. This reflex will last for about 3-4 weeks, and he won’t actually walk until he is around 12 months.

Crawling Reflex
Place baby on his stomach and he will take up a crawling position with his bottom in the air and his legs bent. This lasts for about two months when he will then be able to lie flat.

Search Reflex
Touch baby’s cheek with your finger or breast and he will turn towards the source and open his mouth in search of food. This reflex will last for about 12 weeks.

Grasp Reflex
Place your finger in the palm of baby’s hand and he will grasp it. This involuntary movement will persist for about 3 months.

Sucking Reflex
Put your (clean) finger in baby’s mouth and he will suck on it. This reflex ensures he will be able to feed.

Diving Reflex
If baby is placed in water - either during a water birth or in a swimming pool - his throat will close so that he does not swallow the water. This means that baby will not drown if born in water, and he will also be a natural swimmer. This reflex will last for about 2 months, or longer if you take him swimming.

Babinski’s Reflex
Stroke the sole of baby’s foot and his big toe will curl up and the other toes will spread out. This lasts for about two years.

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Author: Tony Luck who runs a site with advice for moms-to-be and new moms. Included are the fascinating chinese pregnancy calendar which is supposed to let you know whether the baby you are expecting will be a girl or boy, and a conception chart to tell you when baby is expected.

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For nine months you waited for the baby to arrive. And when the baby is born he is just what you imagined him to be. Perfect and healthy.Upon closer look questions arise -’Are they supposed to be this tiny, sleep so much etc. One of the first things parents notice about their newborns is all that baby acne on their cheeks. And baby acne is NOT something they expected.

What causes baby acne?

Baby acne, also known as infantile acne, is common among newborns. Most often it manifests itself as small whiteheads on the baby’s cheeks, forehead, or chin. Baby acne can start anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months of age and generally remains until the baby reaches 4 to 6 months of age.

Who’s to blame? Why it’s actually mom’s hormones that cause the appearance. When the mother was carrying the baby, the baby was exposed to the mother’s hormones. The baby carried these hormones and it is these hormones that cause baby acne. As the baby gets older, it loses the mother’s hormones and so the baby acne goes away. Time is the best cure.

Tips for dealing with baby acne:

Baby acne looks worse than it is, but there are some things you can do that can make it better or worse.

Here are some things you should not do:

* Don’t pick the baby acne. It makes it worse.

* Do not put any lotion or oil on it.

Some things you can do to reduce baby acne is:

* Use a less-harsh detergent for washing the baby’s clothes.

* Wash the baby with mild soap and water.

About a third of all babies get baby acne, and it is not really something to be concerned about. You should be concerned, however, it if doesn’t go away after 6 months of age. If that is the case, then contact your doctor or pediatrician.

The author, Bill Urell, reviews only the best diet and fitness plans, tips, and articles that promote healthier lifestyles. Visit us and claim your FREE ebook, 101 Romantic Ideas as a welcome gift ==>http://www.online-weight-loss-resources.com

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Although this can be read by itself, it is recommend to read “Words That Parents Shouldn’t Speak To Their Kids” first to get an understanding of the complete subject.

A statement parents should not say to their kids is “Why can’t you act more mature”? Kids want to feel that they have accomplished something, to feel sure and capable of doing something right. Kids will make mistakes because they are learning new things. It is not wise to judge kids as “big babies” or childish just because they drop a glass of drink or wet the bed on occasion. Such remarks can only cause nervousness and embarrassment. Fear of disappointment from a parent because a child has made a mistake will only cause more mistakes to happen. A child should be able to receive a sense of achievement from their parents in learning a new thing. A parent should give praise to their children when they can go to the potty by themselves or can drink from a “big cup” now. If a child needs to be corrected, turn a negative into a positive. For example, when a child drops their cup and their drink spills don’t say “Why can’t you act more grown up” but say “You dropped your drink. Since you are a big girl/boy now, I know you’ll be able to hold you drink without spilling on the next try”.

Another statement a parent shouldn’t say to a child is “I was only kidding with you”. A parent may think it’s their job to tease their kids at home to prepare them for the possible teasing they would receive from the outside world. This concept doesn’t work. Teasing from a parent can feel like embarrassment to young children. A parent wouldn’t beat up their kids at home as a way to prepare them for fights on the playground. A parent’s job is to provide a safe haven from the world and to love them. The world can toughen kids up in its own time.

Another statement a parent shouldn’t say is “My child is always good and never does a bad thing”. This way of thinking is not fair to the child. Even children can have competitive and angry feelings. Parents should let kids have a range of both positive as well as negative feelings. To not be allowed this is not praise but manipulation. A better way to give proper praise (or criticism for that matter) is to point out the behavior and not the child. Say “What you did was great” instead of “You’re such a good boy/girl”.

Another statement a parent shouldn’t say is “I’ll do it myself, you’re too slow”. A child will feel that they can’t do anything right if parents have this attitude. Parents should resist the urge to do things for their kids especially when the kids are old enough to do it themselves like put on their shoes or pick up their toys. It will leave the kids with the idea of why do something, my parents will just do it for me so I won’t have to.

What a parent SHOULD say to a child? “I’m sorry” if they say something cruel or do something wrong to their children. Parents may think this takes away from their authority if they apologize to their children. Children deserve respect just as adults do. Get to the point and say you’re sorry and didn’t mean to and even if you said or did something wrong, let them know you still love them.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Parenting

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