return to all Planning Tips »

Baby Shower Decoration Ideas
Chosing Baby's Name
Circumcision - Some of the 'Sore' Points
Epidural – is it worth it?
How to help a baby sleep
Labor – How Your Partner Can Help
Must Haves For Baby
Packing the Bag!
Practical Baby Gifts
Throwing an Easy Baby Shower and Coming Out Sane
Time to Spill the Beans? What Do I Say?

Baby Shower Decoration Ideas

Here’s some easy and inexpensive shower decoration ideas:

The Candy Pacifier – Stick 2 wintergreen or peppermint lifesavers together and add a jelly bean. You can use cake icing to stick them together so they can be eaten after or during the baby shower.

Baby food votives – Turn empty baby food jars into votive candles! Keep the labels on the jars…..they will become great conversation starters.

Clothesline - Hang diapers on a clothesline or have guests arrive to the baby shower early and bring an article of clothing for the new baby. Get them hung on the line before the mom-to-be arrives.

Baby bottle glasses – Buy some inexpensive baby bottles and turn them into drinking glasses. You can even snip off the top of the nipple on the bottle to make room to insert a straw.

Pacifier napkin rings – Use inexpensive pacifiers as your napkin rings. Baby Keys also work well. The mom-to-be can take them home after the baby shower…she will thank you for all of the spare pacifiers and toys.

Baby Supplies centerpieces – Use a basket for the centerpiece of each table. Fill that basket with an assortment of baby care supplies like lotion, baby powder, wipes, diapers, shampoo, baby shampoo, baby soap, etc. The future mom will thank you for stocking her baby’s changing table

Baby bottle place cards – Fill a baby bottle for each guest with some candy. Find some pastel colored candy (you can usually find pastel jelly bellies or M & M’s ), blue or pink, or a mixture if you don’t know the sex of the baby yet. Write the name of each guest on the bottle and use it to assign their seat at the table.

Baby Diaper cake – Use disposable baby diapers and roll each of them into tight rolls and tie with a ribbon that matches your baby shower them. Tie a bunch of these rolls together with a pastel ribbon to make a “wheel” about the size of a round cake. Make another “wheel” of rolled diapers a bit smaller than the first. This will be the second layer of the baby diaper cake.

Christmas baby shower tree – If the baby shower is happening around the holidays, buy a small Christmas tree that you can place on a table. Buy small baby toys and supplies to hang on the tree as ornaments. You can also have the guests bring the toys and supplies and them have them hang them on the tree as they arrive.
o

Chosing Baby's Name

Congratulations! Your first little bundle of joy is on the way. The nursery is ready. The car seat installed. A dozen pink dresses or navy blue sailor suits hang in the closet. But there’s one detail that remains: your baby’s name.

You and your husband have spent hours pouring over the name book. You’ve compiled “top 10” lists and “absolutely not” lists. Yet you’re no closer to reaching consensus than you were on the magical day you got your positive home pregnancy test.

What to do? How do you find the perfect name for your perfect miracle? Choosing your baby’s name is an emotional experience, and with family members and friends – and even the smiling grocery store clerk – trying to weigh in, the decision is all the more complicated. Here are five tips to help you navigate the name game.

1. Check the family tree. Whether honoring a parent or remembering a deceased relative, family names offer tradition, continuity and meaning. But what if your favorite uncle’s name makes you cringe? Not a fan of Horatio or Horace? You might try modernizing the spelling – within reason – or giving that beloved relative a spot of honor – as your little one’s middle name.
   
   
2. Ask yourself: Are you a traditionalist or a modernist? Do you cringe at the thought of people mispronouncing your child’s name? Or do you dread seeing your little one’s moniker gracing the Social Security Administration’s Most Popular Baby Name list? Once you clarify your naming style and temperament – and sync it with your hubby’s – you can truly focus your search.
   
   
3. Still can’t decide and your due date is just around the corner? Don’t panic. Be patient. Narrow down your list, reach some consensus with your spouse about tip #2, and then rest assured that when you meet him or her, you’ll know. Just think: You’ve got 9 months to cook this baby, but only one moment to meet him or her for the first time. Let that moment be your inspiration.
   
   
4. Consider the meaning. For some this may lead to choosing a non-traditional name that evokes the qualities they hope their child will possess. For others, it means picking a character from a favorite novel or poem. Whatever you chose, make sure your baby’s name is meaningful to you.
   
   
5. Follow your heritage. In Buddhist tradition, an astrologer draws up a horoscope for a new baby to determine what initial his or her name should begin with. In Jewish tradition, a baby is often named after a beloved, departed relative, while Christians are more likely to name their child after a parent or grandparent.

If you do manage to pick your baby’s name before the birth, be certain to heed this last pearl of advice: Keep it to yourself. Too many a well-intentioned family member or friend has torpedoed a name choice with a disapproving look or – worse – a disparaging comment. Play it safe and keep your pick between the parents until your baby is ready to make his or her entrance into the world.

Circumcision - Some of the 'Sore' Points

So you’ve just given birth to the most beautiful, perfect baby boy ever. Now you’re wondering if you should allow some doctor to cut him. There are a lot of reasons to circumcise, and a lot of reasons to leave your boy uncut.

Sometimes, the decision is simple. For example, if you’re a practicing Jew, then you have no other choice. You have to circumcise your son as a matter of course. You get just seven days to enjoy this newborn perfection, and on the eighth, wham! Well, okay, not so much wham as waaaaaaah. Even then, though, you have some choices. You can elect to use a certified pediatrician, and you can ask for the use of local anesthetic. You can also elect to have the actual ceremony be private, and have a public meal afterwards.

If your decision isn’t made based on religion, though, then you have other considerations. For example, many fathers want their sons to “match.” It’s important to remember that boys use urinals, and your son is likely to find some boys that they don’t “match” no matter what you choose to do.

One reason many parents circumcise is to avoid the cleanliness issues caused by a foreskin. If you elect to leave your son’s foreskin intact, you’ll have to be sure to take proper care of the foreskin. You should also consider that smegma has to be cleaned out regularly to prevent bacterial infections. Some moms are not comfortable cleaning their son’s penis, and a circumcised penis requires less care.

A lot of articles have been written about sexual pleasure of men with and without foreskins. Rest assured, both circumcised and uncircumcised men think about sex constantly and there is no correlation between sexual dysfunction and circumcision.

Sometimes, boys are born with conditions which make it inadvisable to circumcise. This can be either because the boy is too weak for the procedure. In this case, you may choose to put it off until the child is strong enough. You may also elect to forgo the procedure altogether. Sometimes, there are structural problems with the penis, and a doctor may recommend not circumcising because the foreskin can be used to aid in correcting the problem.

In any case, no matter what decision you make, someone will certainly be unhappy. Circumcise and someone will tell you that you don’t have the right to make that decision for your child and that he should be allowed to make the choice himself when he grows up. They will probably go into a lecture on the subject of child abuse, child mutilation, and somehow compare circumcision to the African tribes which remove the clitoris from their young girls. Choose not to circumcise, and someone will certainly tell you a horror story about someone they know who ended up having to be circumcised as an adult and suffered for weeks afterwards.

You can be one hundred percent certain that you have made the wrong decision. Take comfort in the fact that everyone else has also made an equally wrong decision. But seriously, consider the factors, consult your pediatrician, and realize that this is the first of many times that you’ll make a decision that all of your friends and family will disagree with.

Epidural – is it worth it?

Unfortunately there is no clear and obvious answer to this question as the situation is different for each individual. The main thing to note about taking an epidural during the birth procedure is that it requires a personal choice. It would perhaps be easier if someone were to say "now is the time for your epidural", but there is no-one standing over you stating that you have to take one – it is all up to you. The main advantage of taking an epidural during birth is that it offers pain relief. It is considered one of the most popular methods of reducing pain for the mother during child birth. The use of an epidural also allows the mother to rest during a long labor. In addition, the epidural in contrast to other methods of pain relief enables the mother to remain mentally alert with a clear mind for the actual birth.

One of the most common disadvantages experienced regarding the choice of an epidural is that the mother-to-be has to remain lying down and even changing position becomes rather difficult. As a part of the procedure, the legs are also anaesthetized and this means that there is no way to get to the bathroom. In this case, a catheter will probably be necessary. Shivering may also be experienced. It is believed that the use of epidural may slow the labor process and there is also an increased possibility for the use of forceps or vacuum at the birth. Due to the use of an epidural, the mother often feels less in control and experiences difficulty with regards to pushing at the right time.

It should be noted that the effects of the epidural can wear off in the middle of labor. It should also be taken into account that the epidural injection may only be given under certain conditions and that if the mother has already gone into active labor, it will probably be too late. It is wise to be aware of the different alternatives available before the birth, even though the decision itself does not have to be made until the time of child birth. There are also various serious and very rare risks connected with the use of epidural that include injury to the nerve, convulsions and cardiac arrest.

Having noted these disadvantages to an epidural, it should be observed that there are mothers who swear by the use of an epidural and say that they would not even consider going through child birth without it. The best recommendations are to read up all about the epidural and other pain relief alternatives before the time of the birth. Childbirth classes should also shed light on relevant options for childbirth. As to the question whether epidural is worth it, this decision has to lie with you. Keep in mind that at the end of the day what most mothers remember is the beautiful bundle of joy they receive as a going home gift.

How to help a baby sleep

It is 3 am and your baby is crying. You have tried it all and no matter what you do you can’t make this beautiful little thing go to sleep. Anyone who has been in this situation knows how frustrating it can be. This is why we have collected the following tips that will make bedtime easier for you and your baby.

• Bear in mind that all babies are different and therefore their sleeping habits are diverse. It may take your family a while to coordinate shut-eye. Remember this is a long journey of trial and error and adaptation, so be patient.
  
  
• Establish and follow a controlled bedtime and naptime schedule and routine early on. Depending on his or her age your baby has a certain amount of hours of sleep during the day, so avoid letting your child sleep more than what he should. Create a soothing bedtime routine for your baby. Avoid loud sounds and playful activites. Help him relax with a warm bath, soft music, cuddling, rocking, reading or singing. Then turn off the light and leave so your baby will learn how to fall asleep on his own.
  
  
• Be sure your baby's diaper is clean before setting him down for the night.
  
  
• If after following all your rules and schedules your baby starts crying at the middle of the night, don’t get angry or frustated, calm yourself and you’ll be able to calm him as well. Rub his tummy and arms and talk to him softly. Your baby will be sleeping again in no time.
  
  
• Be sure to have a baby monitor by your side so that you can hear him sleep.

We really hope this tips will help you and your baby find a soothing and relaxed way to deal with the dreaded bedtime routine. There are many books that can help you during this time of parenting.

Relax and enjoy seeing you baby grow.

Labor – How Your Partner Can Help

Ask many women what is the best way that their partner could help during labor and the answer would probably be to leave the delivery room and stay away until after the birth! However, this may not be practical as he probably wants to be there too at the birth. Let's face it, once you are pregnant – the baby has to come out at some time and no-one else can have it for you. Once this fact has been accepted and understood, it may be noted that as strange as it may seem, there are ways in which a partner can actually be of assistance at this time.

In the early stages, it would probably be a good idea for your partner to encourage you to drink or eat light snacks in order to keep up energy levels for labor. In addition, your spouse could remind you to go to bathroom as not only does a full bladder cause pressure, but it can also delay labor. Probably the most important way in which your partner can be of help is simply to encourage and support you emotionally throughout labor. The labor itself can be a difficult ordeal and the knowledge that your husband or companion will be there for you makes a difference. It often does not matter what your partner can actually do, it is being present that is so significant. Perhaps your mate can just be at your beck and call for anything from bringing you a drink to sitting next to you in silence.

If your "other half" cannot go through the labor for you, at least he can be there to wipe your forehead with a cool cloth, to offer you blocks of ice or to hold your hand. He could make himself useful by massaging or stroking your back or shoulders – anything to make you feel more comfortable. He may also be able to help you to change position and to support you physically as may be necessary. You partner can perhaps help you to persuade you to breathe calmly at the right time and to keep you focused on directions from the midwife during the final part of labor.

Many women believe that one of the best ways in which a partner may help during labor is to be able to provide a distraction, especially during a long labor. This does not have to mean doing a song and dance act in the delivery room. It could be the suggestion of a walk around the room or ward or listening to music on a walkman. Your partner should aim to bring along all the patience he can find, plenty of good will and humor, maybe a sandwich and preferably the ability to know when to be quiet. Not everybody considers birth to be a "beautiful experience" but at least hopefully you will be able to find some pointers here to help you get through the labor together. Just remember, it is all for a good cause.

Must Haves For Baby

Preparing for your new baby can be a daunting task. To help ease the stress here’s a list of some of the MUST HAVES for when you welcome your new baby to your home.

Diapers – you will quickly learn which brand you and your baby like the best. Don’t hesitate to stock up on diapers, you will go through them faster than you ever imagined.

Onesies – After your first diaper change you will realize that the onesie is the easiest to work around. The snap onesies are the best, so stock plenty of them.

Diaper Rash Ointment – There are many brands out there. You will just have to experiment to see which one is the most effective. Butt Paste (the brand) has become wildly popular. Check out the diaper ointment aisle at your local baby superstore..you’ll have plenty to choose from.

Gentle baby soap – many babies have very sensitive skin, so choose a soap that is very mild, possibly even fragrance free.

Gentle no-tear shampoo – This will make you life a lot easier when it comes to washing baby’s hair.

Baby Brush and Comb

Small baby fingernail clippers or file – Those nails are small, so you’ll find it hard to use the traditional size clippers.

Pacifiers – if you choose to let your baby use a pacifier, stock plenty of them. They are inexpensive and will inevitably fall on the ground and get dirty.

Baby Wipes – just like diapers, you’ll go through many more than you imagined.

Baby Socks

Car Seat – check reviews online and decide how much you’d like to spend. Make sure you see them first hand before purchasing so you don’t make a mistake. Infant seats are fairly easy to install, but if you feel more comfortable it’s a good idea to have the local fire or police station check your installation on your first attempt.

Baby bottles

Bottle brushes

Soft rocking chair – you’ll be doing a lot of sitting and rocking with your new baby, make sure your spot will be nice and comfortable for both you and the baby

Hooded baby bath towels

Crib or Bassonett – you’ll eventually need the crib, but some people will use a basonett for the first few weeks. Make sure you find your crib early though, most stores take several weeks to have them delivered.

Crib bumper

Baby sheets

Fragrance free laundry detergent – less agitating for baby’s sensitive skin.

Swaddle blankets

Baby Sleepers – You’ll appreciate these while you are changing baby’s diaper in the middle of the night. Buy plenty.

Packing the Bag!

When you are approaching you due date, the best motto to have, is "be prepared." You certainly don't want to be running around the house packing a bag, or even having to think about what you need to take with you, when your contractions have already started. And be warned that if there are toddlers in the house, keep your bag well out of reach. It may come as an unpleasant surprise, to find a chewed up teddy in your bag, in place of your nightgown! Also, keep in mind, that people will visit you in hospital and hospitals do have shops (and are quite happy to take your money), so if you forget anything, it’s not the end of the world!

The following is a list of suggestions of things to bring with you:

• Medical/ Hospital records and registration papers, if your hospital requires them
• 2 front-opening nightdresses
• 2 nursing bras
• breast pads
• dressing gown
• 6 disposable or cheap pairs of undies that can be discarded if necessary
• slippers
• toiletries
• lots of heavy-duty extra thick maternity sanitary pads
• comfortable, loose-fitting day clothes
• books/ magazines

Depending on your labor plan, you may want to pack a small bag specifically for the labor room. It is suggested that you decide beforehand how you would ideally like your birthing experience to be and to write this down clearly. Of course, you need to be prepared to compromise or change your mind as your baby and your body may have other plans. However, a well-thought out plan can help you keep calm in the middle of labor. At least, to have thought about it beforehand, will allow you to have an idea of the options that are available to you.

Some suggestions of things that you can pack in your labor bag include:

• your birth plan, clearly written out
• cream or massage oil
• cooling facial spray
• lip balm
• a large hand mirror if you would like to see your baby being born
• camera
• a back pillow

You should also pack a small bag of baby necessities so that when you are ready to leave the hospital with your new baby, you husband can bring that bag for you to prepare the baby for its entry into the big wide world.

Here are some suggestions of what to pack:

• nappies
• stretch suit
• vest
• little hat and socks
• baby blanket
• baby car seat

The most important thing to bring with you, is a clear mind and a bit of excitement. Just think, at the end of it all, you will be bringing home your new baby. Being prepared beforehand will help you to keep the experience in perspective and not panic and that will help you to stay calm and enjoy the process of giving birth.

Practical Baby Gifts

When your friend or relative has a baby, you’ll certainly want to buy a great baby gift for the parents or the little treasure. Go into any baby store, and you’ll see such a plethora of baby products that your mind will spin for hours while you seek out the perfect gift.

It’s important to consider the baby’s position in the family when you shop for baby gifts. For example, if this is the third girl, then most likely, the child won’t need basic outfits for day-to-day wear. She’ll have plenty of hand-me-downs from her big sisters. A fancy outfit suitable for holidays or special events might be nice though. If it’s a first child or all of the older siblings are of the opposite sex, then layette items might well be needed.

Another important thing to remember is that often parents receive layette items at a baby shower, but once the baby has passed the three month mark, they no longer have any clothes that fit. Buying 3-6 months or even 6-12 makes it much more likely that your gift will get good use.

If you’re not interested in buying clothes for the baby, there are a plethora of other items that parents will love to receive. A swing, for example, is often a real life-saver in the first six months, especially for colicky babies. Make sure to buy a high-quality swing with a good safety rating, though. If you aren’t willing to spend that much, then either chip in with friends or go for a smaller item.

A lot of parents are very fond of the diaper genie, but this is hardly a necessity. Diapers can just as easily be wrapped in a plastic bag before disposal. Pacifiers, bottles, formula, and diapers aren’t really appropriate baby gifts unless the parents are having serious financial problems and may not be able to afford these things themselves.

Many people bring gifts for the new mother. Often, they select bubble bath, bath salts, and other items appropriate for a long, hot soak in the tub. Most new mothers have to squeeze in quick showers while their newborns sleep. A nice body cream or perfume is a better choice than bubble bath. Comfortable pajamas, slippers, or a robe will be appreciated even more. Nursing mothers generally prefer either two-piece pajamas or front-opening nightgowns, as they allow easy access for midnight feedings.

There are many other options for good gifts. First babies especially often don’t have a lot of toys or books. Subsequent babies may only have the tattered leftovers of not-so-gentle siblings. Board books and soft toys are a good choice, although they don’t usually get used until the baby is at least three months old. If you’re looking for items that will make the mother’s life more comfortable, a baby bath with a stand is very useful, as are hooded towels. A recent innovation that seems useful is the towel apron. This is worn as an apron by the mother so that she won’t have to reach for the towel while she has a slippery, wet baby in her hands. Wraps, baby carriers, and slings are nice gifts. If you are giving a wrap or a sling, though, be sure to teach the new mom how to use it, because they’re not exactly intuitive. If you haven’t used one yourself, leave this gift to someone else.

If the baby isn’t the first child, it’s important to consider getting a gift for the older sibling or siblings so they won’t see all these gifts and feel sad that nothing is for them. If there are many older siblings, then you can buy a board game or some other gift that the older kids can all share.

If you’re really stumped for the perfect gift, though, then you can always offer to take the baby for a few hours so that the mother can sleep. Rest assured, the gift will be appreciated more than any other!

Throwing an Easy Baby Shower and Coming Out Sane

Congratulations, your best friend is pregnant! Now you get to look at teeny tiny booties, fuzzy outfits, teddy bears, and every new gimmick that’s been made for babies this year, from mesh “pacifiers” that you can put veggies into for safe chewing to the latest in diaper disposal technology.

Now the downside. You have to make her a baby shower. There’s good news, though. You don’t have to go crazy to make a great baby shower.

First things first, you’ll need to decide who to invite. This will include pretty much every female that the mom-to-be has ever met. Then you have to decide which guests you will plan the party around. The mom-to-be should be in that list, as well as her mother if she’s available and whoever is hosting the party. After that, you won’t be able to find a date where all the important people are available. Force someone to cancel her nail appointment, her kickboxing class, or her emergency appendectomy. They’ll thank you later, and forget what it was that you made them cancel anyway.

Next, you’ll have to pick a theme. Oh wait, you already have a theme. The theme is babies. You have to decide how far you want to take that theme. Sometimes people go overboard. It’s fine to buy napkins with pictures of a baby carriage and to use baby bottles as a centerpiece. It’s not acceptable to ask your guests to wear diapers, nor is Similac an acceptable main course when you’re serving a meal.

You should plan the schedule of the party. For example, you may want to play games. You may want to get mothers to share their advice, and you will probably want to let the new mother-to-be open her gifts so everyone can coo over her new diaper genie XL Plus.

It’s important to decide how much you want to serve. You may want to serve a cake, some chips, and some soft drinks, or you might want to serve a whole meal. If you’re having a lot of people, a whole meal can be a real challenge. Making the meal pot luck will help a lot. Simply ask each of the guests to bring a dish to contribute to the meal. Be sure to divide up the types of dishes. Seventeen casseroles will not make for a pleasing repast. If you’re only serving snacks, be sure to provide some cut up fruits or veggies so that those who are on diets will have what to eat. Slices of apple are a lot more appealing than sugar-free cookies and better nutritionally, as well.

Once you’ve determined the guest list for the baby shower, the time and date, the schedule, and the menu, all you need to do is get some decorations. Fancy napkins, a few balloons, and a silly centerpiece should do the trick. There’s no need to go overboard, and if you do, friends will make fun of you for years to come. If you know the gender of the baby, feel free to use the appropriate colors. If not, yellows and greens are always good neutral colors. You can also provide a mix of different pastels, including pink and blue.

Be sure to talk to some of the guests who are closer friends and get them to help you set up before and clean up after the baby shower party, as there may be quite a lot of work to do. If you’re doing it with two or three friends, the work will go faster and seem less tedious. If there’s no one to help you with preparation and cleanup, you may choose to hold the party at a venue other than your home. If you end up doing this, be sure to talk to the other guests about chipping in for the venue, as this may end up being quite expensive. Remember, though, that people will remember the conversation, the games, and the glowing mother long after they’ve forgotten the centerpieces, the food, and the venue. Be sure to make the party fun, and everything will be fine!

Time to Spill the Beans? What Do I Say?

"I've got a bun in the oven."
"I've been feeling really nauseas lately."
"The stork will be calling."

Finding out that you're pregnant is a very exciting time. Naturally, you will want to share you special news with those who are close to you – your husband, your family, other children, friends and colleagues. When and how you choose to share your news can be a very personal choice, but here are some ideas that may help to get you started.

Some people like to wait until the end of the first trimester in order to share their big news. It can be very difficult to hold the exciting news in that long, especially if you have been feeling nauseas, but it has the advantage of you being more certain that all is well and will remain well with your pregnancy before you "let the cat out of the bag." On the other hand, there are those who will be on the phone to anyone who will listen to the news almost before the pregnancy stick has dried. This is a way of sharing excitement and also of having plenty of support for those early weeks when you may feel miserable. Some people will find it awkward to share the news at all and may simply wait until their protruding tummy does the talking for them.

So, if you choose to tell, how do you go about it? Here are some ideas:

• You can show your first ultrasound picture. This can be a very emotional way of sharing the news – especially for a first-time grandparent.
• For fun, you could have a t-shirt printed stating something like "mind the bump."
• Send out a post-card or letter announcing the news.
• Give out little gifts, such as a pacifier or booties.

Whatever method you choose, don't be too vague. It is an exciting time and you don't want to grow more and more frustrated by a family member or friend who just cannot work out that the 7 baby corns and 7 baby carrots on his plate, means that you are going to be having a baby in 7 months. For some people, the best way to announce that you are expecting, is to simply come out and say "we're having a baby." That one sentence may be difficult to get out, but once you have said it, the excitement that follows will make up for it. If you find that too difficult, you can tell a close friend or your parents and ask them to spread the word to others. That way, you will feel less awkward and the news will most likely spread like wild-fire until everyone knows anyway. But, be warned that if want to tell your news personally, you need to be careful who you tell as that sort of news is difficult to keep a secret and you may find that some people know before you have got around to telling them yourself.