Pink, Blue Or Undecided?

The pink or blue question is a moot one these days, isn’t it? After all, it’s so easy to tell the gender of a baby before the happy day, so there’s no need to guess. Well, that’s not strictly true. Even with the advances in technology, ultrasound pictures aren’t always one hundred percent certain, and many parents prefer to be surprised. If you’re shopping for a new baby without knowing the gender, you still might have to decide whether to buy pink or blue.

You could always flip a coin - heads it’s roses and lace, tails you pick up the little sailor suit. There are more efficient and practical ways to make sure that you pick up clothing and accessories that will be appreciated and useful.

Gender-Neutral Colors

The easiest way, of course, is to stick with gender neutral colors in your choices. As a culture, we’re fond of dressing babies in pastels, but you don’t have to limit yourself to pale yellow and baby green to be safe. There are lots of other gender-neutral colors to choose from.

Looking for a crib set that isn’t gender-specific? White and ivory are good choices, and you can actually get away with eyelet and lace as long as it’s not too delicate. A plump white comforter and matching crib bumpers work just as well for a boy as for a girl.

Primary and bright, clear secondary colors are another great way to avoid the gender tangle when selecting clothing and accessories for baby. Bright red, blue, green and yellow sleepers will look adorable no matter what gender the baby turns out to be. Pick onesies in turquoise, orange, dark green or red, either all a solid color, or with contrasting ribbing along the edges.

Go for the unusual. Imagine how high the adorable meter will raise if you outfit baby’s room in tuxedoed penguins sporting bright red, blue and yellow ribbons, or pick up a t-shirt emblazoned with red, yellow and blue balloons. You can even pat yourself on the back for choosing bright colors for the baby’s room and accessories. As much as we love pastel baby togs, babies respond far better to bright, clear colors.

Gender Neutral Patterns

If you’re not sure on the boy/girl issue, keep in mind that you can err more easily on the boy side than the girl. A baby girl in a t-shirt printed with sports motifs is cute. You just wouldn’t put a little boy in a sleeper printed with tiny sprigs of daisies. Teddy bears and duckies are one gender-neutral choice, but you can find adorable, unique prints that will stand out. Some of the more clever that we’ve seen around lately - Noah’s Ark, lions and tigers, traffic signs, seasonal themes (candy canes, pumpkins, candy corn?).

Other gender neutral patterns that work for boys or girls clothing include candy color stripes, odd-size polka dots and abstract patterns. Pick a motif, pick a color and have a blast dressing your baby in clothes and accessories that don’t scream boy or girl.

Kirsten Hawkins is a baby and parenting expert specializing new mothers and single parent issues. Visit www.babyhelp411.com/ for more information on how to raising healthy, happy children.

To Circumcise Or Not To Circumcise

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

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

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

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

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

Sarah is a 41 year old wife and mother of two boys and one girl. She spent many years as a manager in the corporate world, and gave it up to be a stay at home mom. Go to www.infantresources.com now and get her incredible baby minicourse - absolutely free.

Baby bedding can be exciting to shop for

Many baby bedding; quilts and blankets that you can find for your baby are made with polyester or acrylic, plastics that, when heated by the baby’s body, can emit gases that irritate the baby’s sensitive skin and eyes!

As parents we understand how much you love your children and want the best for them. Walk into any baby supply store, or open any catalogue offering baby supplies, and you’ll be hit with adorable baby bedding designs: bedding with tiny flowers; little animals; and Disney characters, stripes, zigzags, or bugs.

Your baby will spend 60% of its first year sleeping. There is no better environment for your baby, than one provided with natural fibers, warm, comfortable, and safe baby bedding! This sounds crazy, especially when we are talking about a newborn baby who spends even more time in bed than we do!

Your baby’s nursery can be completed with a choice from a variety of different sleeping arrangements and baby bedding, including beautiful bedding sets with matching sheets, comforters, pillows, bumpers, and dust ruffles. All, of course, must be chosen with your baby’s safety and comfort as priorities. Babies should always be put to sleep on their backs.

When trying to plan for nursery decorating, it is very important to make a safe selection of baby bedding. Children are not stain-proof, but we know you’ll feel better knowing they’ll have restful sleep. Happy babies come from happy parents. But what does your baby really need beyond the most important consideration safety!

About The Author:

Roger King is a successful author and publisher of www.1st-home-decor.com. Baby bedding and ideas to showcase your homes.

Convertible Car Seats, Child Car Seats and Booster Seats

Selecting the best car seat is something that mandates a more detailed awareness of the field than the average person has, as between the different brands, styles and the important safety regulations, it’s far from a simple choice. We’ll help by breaking down, one by one, the essentials to make it easier. 20 pounds, 12 months old — this is the usual maximum for the bulk of high-quality seats available from the biggest brands. As most — not, we should stress, all — such chairs face backward exclusively, you’ll need to decide which will be best for you and take care when purchasing that what you choose fits the way you want it to. The best of these seats are designed to double as baby carriers, meaning it’s easier to move from house to car without your baby waking. Chairs like these are fine for your daughter from birth until they grow too big for child seats entirely, although a convertible seat will carry a higher price tag. If you like the sound of a convertible chair but you also need a baby carrier, you have a choice to make. The first step in examining desirable safety seats is always to study all available reviews as no two models are identical and different feature sets are not equally useful for each individual family. In addition, you’re sure to find that reading car chair reviews provides an unbiased third-party perspective to ensure you’ll choose a top quality product. Produced with growing children in mind, booster seats take over the responsibility of supporting your babies at approximately thirty pounds and will keep them safe up to about eighty pounds. Whether it’s the adaptation of the car’s inbuilt safety belt or the five-point harness: the booster seat secures in two possible ways and either may give your little one greater comfort, from which follows that it’s wise to actively determine how it feels before you buy. Toys are often attached to seats like these, helping to keep your child quiet while you concentrate on driving.

Finding your ideal child car chairs can take a long time, with the need to weigh the needs of your daughter against your finances. The savvy parent pays careful attention to reviews and ratings — they are quite simply the very best source of information you will hit on.

Make sure you surf to this exceptional site for Disney strollers for twins reviews ideas.

Top Ten Baby Presents - Buy Baby Gift Items That Are Needed

It is always difficult to come up with ideas regarding what to get when you need to buy baby gift items. Baby gifts are as much for the mother as for the baby since there are many items that a mother could use but cannot necessarily afford to buy. So, the next time a baby shower, a birthday party or a christening has to be attended, use the following list of ten ideas to buy baby gift items that will make an impression:

Top Ten Baby Gifts

Baby Toys - These are baby gifts that will never go out of style, and can be actually enjoyed by the baby instead of the parents. There are baby toys that are specifically designed for certain age groups. So, all one has to do is go to the market and buy a toy that is made for the appropriate age, which is put up on the cover or packing of the toy. But the best and the most liked baby toy is a teddy bear or other soft toy, which is appropriate for babies of all ages. So if there is confusion, it is best to buy baby gift toys that are soft and plush.

Baby Monitor - Baby safety is constantly on the minds of the parents. Baby monitors are a perfect solution to end this worry. Now it’s possible to monitor and detect the movements, whining and breathing of the baby audibly and visually too. There are many different models of audio-only, audio/video, and motion-sensor baby monitors to choose from in a wide price range.

Baby Bath Care - Getting an expensive bath care set for the baby is the perfect way to show that you care about the welfare of the baby.

Baby Stroller - This a device that a parent cannot do without. It has to be bought anyway, so why not save the parents that much cash? Gift it instead of something that is completely unnecessary.

Baby Books - Gifting the baby with books, appropriate for his/her age, is always good. This actually helps in developing a joy of reading from a very young age. Pictures and colors fascinate the baby’s eyes, so make sure your book has a lot of illustrations. Buy baby gift books that have thick, cardboard or other material for durability.

Baby Blankets and Sleep Kits - Getting a cozy baby blanket and other sleep accessories is a perfect way of celebrating the baby’s arrival. These days, it is possible to customize the baby blankets. A personalized baby blanket is a truly unique gift. They are available in many colors, materials and designs. The next time you need to buy baby gift items, consider a personalized baby blanket!

Baby Clothes - Smart clothes for the baby will definitely make the parents happy, especially if it’s the second child. The baby will be spared from using hand-me-downs! These days, baby clothing is given a lot of importance, and one is likely to find beautifully made baby clothes in the market, keeping in mind the contemporary trends in fashion. To buy baby gift items that are useful, always consider baby clothes.

Baby Bedding - This will include everything from the mattress to the blanket and pillows, as well as the mosquito netting.

Baby Bouncers - Baby bouncers are the baby’s sitting place, where he/she can roll and bounce and have the time of his/her life. These are somewhat like a bean bag, with a belt, to ensure the safety of the baby. Buy baby gift bouncers or other mobile-type walker since parents need an item like this.

Baby Jewels - A jewel is a priceless gift that will be cherished for a lifetime. They also make a unique baby gift. There are many websites online which are dedicated to baby accessories that carry baby jewelry and have their items displayed online. They also ship and home deliver the items, so that you don’t need to go out and purchase them.

When you have to buy baby gift items, the above choices are always winners!

Isaac Rubins makes it easy to find the perfect gift for that special baby. Visit buy baby gift for more great ideas and to receive other special offers.

Baby Shower Gifts Are Not All The Same

When one talk about shower baby gifts, it is clear they can vary from the very practical to the extremely bizarre. If you have ever been invited to a baby shower, you know that there are two different kinds of presents you can give the new mom: the gifts that impress her and are useless, and the very practical stuff. If you choose the latter is best, as things given are useful and the shower baby gifts are about having a baby. When we speak about useful baby gifts, we refer to casseroles, or anything you can just heat up to prepare dinner, or the book “What to Expect the First Year”, in which the mother can find a lot of useful information. Commonly baby gifts can vary from extremely practical things, like disposable diapers to things that are bizarre such as a grinder for turning steamed veggies into homemade baby food.

It is normal that the preferences both of the mother and of the infant vary greatly, so that what is “essential” for one mother can be completely pointless for another mom. We will give you some examples: Diaper Genie (a fancy diaper pail), baby-wipe warmers, baby washcloths, hooded towels, Boppy pillows and baby swings. Anything that is related to feeding, like bottles, pacifiers, formula or breast-feeding supplies, breast pads, pump, milk storage bags, can be risky as a present, since it’s hard to know what a baby will like.

But here are some baby gifts that will be highly appreciated by any parent: diapers, wipes, burp cloths — quilted cloth diapers are the best, and make great dust cloths down the road, blankets, terrycloth covers for changing-table pads, crib sheets, especially nice flannel or soft jersey cotton. We can add to the list waterproof mattress pad for the crib or practical clothing in larger sizes. A lot of parents said they had too many newborn-sized outfits and too few for 6 months or older babies.

This article may be reproduced on websites subject to credit being given to the author, and a link to his website. If you would like more information go to www.babyshoweridea.info and www.babygiftsources.com

College Diploma Cover

Bachelor gowns

A college diploma is used to symbolize both achievement and tradition. It is also an important proof of a person’s academic credentials that can help people advance their goals in life. For this reason, it is important that the diplomas are kept well out of harm’s way. Food stains, tearing, spillage or crumpling are bound to happen to the document if it is not well covered. Graduates can keep their diplomas safe by using a college diploma cover. When it comes to the covers a person has a choice between a customized college diploma cover and a generic one.

One’s diploma cover can be customized by use of the colors that represent the academic institution, accent styles, silk ribbons, cover orientation and so on. For every custom-made college diploma cover, people can use a number of text related, embossing and engraving options. Most diploma covers are made using leatherette covers that are tough and not easily worn out. The diploma covers can be made using different orientations and the most common ones are vertical and horizontal. A diploma cover not only protects the valuable document, it also adds a touch and it’s better than keeping it in an ordinary envelope.

Catching ZZZ’s - Tricks and Tips For Getting Two Under Two To Sleep

Challenges of Parenting Closely Spaced Siblings

Parents of closely spaced children face many unique challenges. This is especially the case for parents that have two children under two or three children under three.

Most times children this young have varying sleep schedules. That means you may have one or more children that isn’t yet napping regularly or sleeping through the night.

Children that aren’t sleeping through the night can incite even greater sleep deprivation in their parents, who need all the energy they can possibly get during the day just to keep up with their closely spaced children.

Getting enough sleep is vital for managing your temperament and helping you face the challenges that parenting closely spaced children brings.

Key Strategies For Getting Two Or More To Sleep Routinely

So how do you get your youngest to sleep through the night? Better yet, how do you find time to sleep during the day?

Believe it or not there are several simple and effective strategies you can use to get your babies on the same sleep schedule.

Even if you can’t get them sleeping at the same time, you can find time to ‘rest’ during the day and ensure that each of your children sleeps at least one 5 hour block or more at night.

Here are some key strategies for ensuring a restful day and good night’s sleep:

Let’s Eat Outside - Great Kid-Friendly Picnic Ideas

Summer is finally here and with the kids home all day this is the perfect time for a picnic. Pack up some food, cool drinks and a blanket and head for the park, playground or even just the backyard. You can even entertain your little ones with a picnic on the kitchen or living room floor on a rainy day.

Of course you could just fix some PB&J sandwiches, pack a couple of juice boxes and call it a picnic, but there are so many other fun and delicious things you could prepare. Here are a few suggestions to get your creative juices flowing.

A New Twist for PB&J

Pack a few rice cakes, a small jar of peanut butter, some raisins and other dried fruit as well as some apples. When it’s time to eat, spread peanut butter on the rice cake and let your child decorate it with the dried and fresh fruit. Raisins become eyes, a slice of apple the mouth and a berry makes a great nose.

Crackers and Cheese

Buy some hard cheese, such as cheddar, slice it (or buy it pre-sliced from the deli), and cut shapes out with small cookie cutters. You can also use cookie cutters on thicker slices of ham, salami or bologna. Serve with an assortment of crackers, and fresh fruit, such as grapes or berries.

Deli Style Sandwiches

Get some sub rolls, a little mayo and mustard (the small packs you get at fast food places work great for a picnic), and a variety of deli style sandwich meat and cheeses. Top it all off with a few leaves of lettuce that you washed at home and brought in a plastic baggie. Let each family member create their own sub with their favorite meats and cheeses. A bag of chips completes the meal.

“Fried Chicken Strips” With Veggies n’ Dip

Use some crushed cornflakes to bread chicken breast strips and bake them in the oven until done. You can do this the night before the picnic and refrigerate the chicken strips - they are delicious cold. Cut up some veggies like peppers, celery, cucumber, broccoli and cauliflower and add some baby carrots. Bring a little ranch dressing to use as a dip and your picnic is complete.

Desserts

Fresh fruit of course always makes for a great portable dessert on a picnic. Some homemade or store-bought cookies are another great option. Bake a batch of brownies, cut them and bag them after they have cooled completely for a chocolaty treat.

Grab a cooler, fix some sandwiches and head out to the park, playground or even the backyard for a picnic. Don’t forget lots of water on warm days!

Want more family friendly recipes and crafts ideas? Visit http://www.dinewithoutwhine.com/info your entire family will love and http://www.kinderinfo.com for tons of craft and activity ideas that are sure to keep your little ones entertained.

Confidence : The Forgotten Parenting Skill

Let’s be honest, none of us was prepared for parenthood. Parenting is by far the most complex and demanding job you’ll ever take on, without advanced qualifications. So it’s not surprising that so many of us feel under-confident in the role.

When I first became a father, a friend once asked me what I most wanted for my new baby. Without thinking, I blurted out “confidence”. It surprised me that this was the first gift I thought of, but now I’m not at all surprised. Because with confidence, not only is so much possible, but we have the capacity to enjoy life.

What I really want for my children is happiness. Confidence is merely a means to an end. I also want them to live good lives, in the sense of developing integrity, honour, a sense of justice.

The first few months of parenthood were a trial. I don’t think anything prepares us for the lack of sleep, the sheer energy required to keep up with the demands of this helpless little creature. I have three children now, all different personalities, and one of the changes I observed was that we became much more relaxed with babies two and three. We knew what we were doing, we could anticipate the next steps, we just weren’t as flummoxed as we had been with baby number one. And you know what? This was good for our children.

It’s also something I see in my hypnotherapy clients. If you’ve ever visited a therapist you may have been surprised to be asked about your siblings, and your ‘birth order’ - where you fit in the sequence of children. This is because group dynamics affect us all, and the dynamics of the family leave a lasting impression - an imprint, if we can call it that. A child’s birth order really does have an impact on how they will develop, and perhaps the nervousness we feel with baby number one is part of this overall picture. Exposing family dynamics is often a helpful part of the process of helping people to understand just where some of their anxieties originated, and how irrelevant they are today.

So how do we develop confidence in children? The key is to provide opportunities for children to safely achieve. There is a debate rumbling under the surface of Western society regarding the teaching of competitive sports. Some commentators feel that it is essential to prepare children for a competitive life, whilst others take a more nurturing view, arguing that we should give all children the opportunity to become successful in something. Like many debates, this one is rarely exposed to public attention but continues by innuendo and half-truths, so that it becomes a battle between two competing clans rather than a shared venture to discover some useful truths.

All children can achieve. I have run projects with children as young as 7 years who proved themselves capable of mastering the most sophisticated professional audio recording equipment. I have worked with young teenagers who have not only composed and recorded professional-sounding songs, but also developed business plans which would shame many a professional in the field. Children are not limited by their age - if anything, it is adults who become limited by the changes induced by time. Of course children don’t have the same depth of knowledge and experience that we possess, but this is a blessing as well as a disadvantage.

So have the courage to let go a little, and sufficient confidence in yourself not to hold your kids back. Confident parents bring up confident children, and that is a gift to the whole family.

Jim Sullivan is a confidence coach.

http://confidence-self-esteem.com