What You Must Know About Baby Stroller Safety

Protecting Babies On the Go…

Imagine life as a parent a generation ago when exercise meant leaving baby behind. All of the gear available to new parents now means maintaining that active lifestyle with baby at your side, or in front, or on back of you for that matter. This is the generation of the healthy parent, and family. But with the summer's sun, a run with baby in the jogger, a hike on the mountainside trail, or a brisk walk through the neighborhood can cause sunburn on your baby’s sensitive skin.

What products protect your little one's from the sun, and how they can be used in our own active lifestyle:

Sun Block is just the beginning and should not be considered the exclusive source of sun protection, but used in conjunction with UV blocking items. Sun block that is a minimum of SPF30+ and is broad spectrum, blocking UVA&UVB rays, should be the start of any routine. Any skin that is not covered by clothing should be covered by sun block. TerraSport, for example, is 100% natural mineral and will not clog your pores. However, some pediatricians recommend no sun block for the first six months of life (consult with your pediatrician).

There are products that cover up your jogger or stroller from UV rays, bugs, or wind with a stroller cover. Another example is, the SunFree Blankee that blocks 98% of UV rays, is extremely lightweight, and ties to just about anything. The versatility of this sheet allows you to tie it to your front carrier, stroller, or drape it over your child. Active parents like this sheet because of the ties because it holds the sun protection in place compared to a standard blanket that slips off during activity and contains little sun protection. The only thing challenging in a work out should be the work out itself. 100% UV blocking sunglasses are available with an adjustable band, and no arms for safety purposes. These are great because they stay on during activities, and they grow with the child. Because they are secured over the entire head, it is much more difficult for the child to remove them. They are available for newborns through five years of age.

Flap hats and wide-brimmed hats work wonders to provide shade, are lightweight, and have a strap to hold in place. Those parents that hike with child on their back enjoy the UV protection from all sides that the flap hat provides.

Lastly, many parents choose to maintain an active summer with their children (even infants) through swimming lessons. Have your child well suited for sun protection in the water with swimsuits that cover a child’s back and shoulders and filter out 98% of UV rays. Regardless of the activity your family partakes in, children are spending more time in the sun, and sun protection should be part of the warm up of any summer day!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jen_Clement

Pregnancy Exercises for Pre, During and Post-Pregnancy

Pregnancy exercise is one of the key factors in a healthy pregnancy for both mom and baby. It is extremely important, however, to know which types of pregnancy exercises are most appropriate throughout the three stages of gestation.

Pre pregnancy exercise falls into two main categories. Those are: 1) Women who have not been following an exercise program. 2) Women who have been exercising.

For women who have not been exercising, but want to start before their pregnancy, the same approach that would be suggested for any person is what should be followed. Assess the starting point with a fitness evaluation, get clearance for pre pregnancy exercise from the doctor, and stick to a well rounded program of aerobic exercise, flexibility conditioning and resistance training (this does not have to be with weights and machines).

The ideal pregnancy exercise program should consist mostly of body weight exercises that require nothing more than a floor mat, an exercise ball and a ten - twelve inch step. That's it.

For 'moms to be' who have been working out - they are already on a pre pregnancy exercise program. The key factor here is to know when and how to make adjustments in the 'during pregnancy exercise' phase to ensure that mom and baby are not being put at risk in any way and are getting all the benefits that come with the proper pregnancy exercises. Communication between you and your doctor through each stage of pregnancy is important and encouraged in order to be sure that your workout is appropriate for you and the baby.

For 'during pregnancy exercise', a woman who has not been exercising, but wants to start after she has found out she is pregnant, should be able to start a gentle and conservative pregnancy exercise program under the proper guidance of her doctor. Logic and common sense will prevail here as you will not have to run out and get a health club membership. An up to date doctor should be able to provide you with enough printed material to structure a home pregnancy exercise routine that will keep you and baby safe and give you something to build on after the baby has arrived.

The single most important factor to post pregnancy exercise success is whether or not mom was following a pre and/or during pregnancy exercise program. Yes, there are women who rebound quickly and easily with no exercise at all, but if you want to tip the scales in your favor (no pun intended) and set a perfect example for your new baby - a well rounded, post pregnancy exercise program is one of the best habits to incorporate in to your new lifestyle.

An important note here is that you can structure an effective and safe post pregnancy exercise program to be done at home while baby is napping. There is no need to feel like you have to stop exercising because you can't get to the gym with your new baby to care for. And you do not have to workout for sixty minutes straight. For example, you can do twenty minutes of body-weight floor exercises in the morning, put the baby in the stroller and get out for a 30 minute power walk in the midday, and then do a twenty minute stretching routine when daddy gets home to relieve you.

That is just a simple example - and depending on your schedule and specific situation you can customize your post pregnancy exercise program to suit your needs and goals. The pregnancy exercises you choose can incorporate some weight training and maybe some machines, but the ones that are most suited to the lifestyle and goals of a new mom are based on fitness programs that can be done literally anytime and anywhere. These are programs that primarily consist of body-weight post pregnancy exercises along with the use of some portable fitness tools, such as a mat, exercise ball and some resistance bands.

Most experts say, "You are exercising for two, during pregnancy." - but the reality is, you are exercising for two (sometimes more) even after you give birth because the example you set for your new child is a priceless influence that cannot be taught any other way.

Joey Atlas, Exercise Physiologist, offers more pregnancy fitness advice and resources at Healthy Pregnancy Fitness.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joey_Atlas

When To Start Teaching Your Baby?

When is it that I should start teaching my baby? That is a question that may come to mind for many first time parents; other parents may never consider the question at all, and just leave things to evolve naturally.

In a way, that is an unnecessary question as, whether you like it or not and whether you mean to or not, you begin teaching your baby while it is still in the womb, and then continue through its early years, teenage years, and even into adulthood. So, perhaps it is better to rephrase that question slightly to "when should I consciously start teaching my baby?"

Even with the rephrased question, the answer is the same: while the baby is in the womb. How can that be?

While the baby is in the womb it starts to learn about its environment after about six months of pregnancy, when it is capable of hearing external sounds. Of course, it is aware of its internal environment earlier than that, but there is little you can do to enhance that. But when it comes to the external environment, you are in a position to have some influence even from that early stage of development.

What Can You Teach Your Baby In The Womb?

With the baby in the womb there is clearly a very limited scope for teaching as such. However, you can provide additional stimulation that will form an important part of their learning at that stage. You can provide many hints as to what the outside environment is like, in a way that sets a good foundation for their feeling of love and security.

The main external awareness of a baby in the womb is sound. If you can make the external sounds comforting and welcoming then that will help the baby more than you may think. Music is a proven stimulation to babies, especially classical music; a daily dose of Mozart will stimulate the baby's brain and senses. With any luck, they will become a musical talent, but that is not an issue at this stage of their development.

You do not, of course, have to restrict her to classical music. Whatever music you like, just turn the volume up a bit more than usual to ensure she hears it. The sound will be muffled, but by the time baby is born, she will be used to your musical tastes. Your aim should be to make the outside environment familiar to the baby. Most of that will happen naturally, and she will become used to the daily sounds, such as vacuum cleaner, liquidizer, lawnmower and other domestic noises that are penetrating.

Our baby daughter was born in the Philippines, where our usual form of transport is a tricycle. I do not think it a coincidence that, once she was born, she was contented with the noise of a tricycle; and they are noisy here, I assure you, especially outside the womb! However noisy the tricycle, she would always be asleep within a minute or two, and even now at 20 months is particularly relaxed on a deafening tricycle.

If you want to insist on having a most important sound in the womb, then it must be the voices of the parents. Getting to know the voice of mum and dad will come naturally, but dad especially can get up close and talk to the baby in the womb. It will not talk back of course, but you can rest assured, if she is awake, she will be intrigued by your up close and personal voice. It is something I did every evening with Saffron. That also had the effect of keeping her awake as long as possible during the evening, so she was less restless at night. That can be very helpful for mum to get a good night's sleep.

Another external stimulation which I never learnt about for my now grown up children, and that is light. This can be even more useful for keeping baby awake in the evening. If you take a powerful flashlight, switch it on, and hold it close to mum's tummy, the baby in the womb will respond to it. I must say I thought it a silly idea, until the then unborn Saffron started moving every time the light was switched on. So, the flashlight became another tool in the "keep baby awake in the evening" campaign to stop mum being kicked so much during the night.

Maybe Saffron did not appreciate my "keep her awake" tactics. She was probably wondering "who is this guy keeping me awake all the time; doesn't he realise I want to get some sleep?"

However, she does seem to have done well on it. She has slept like a log all night, every night apart from one, since she was just a few months' old. The odd night? Apparently, a bad dream at 11 pm. A quick cuddle and words of reassurance, and she was back to sleep again.

Whether that has any connection to her in-the-womb experiences, I cannot say for sure. But I will definitely be using the same tactics again next time, if we are blessed with a baby sister or brother for her. 

By: Roy Thomsitt
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roy_Thomsitt

Airplane Travel with a Baby

We’re about to take our first airplane trip with our one-year-old. We flew quite a bit before she was born, but now we’re not sure what to pack or how to make this trip successful?

Even if you racked up your share of frequent flyer miles before your baby was born, forget what you know of travel so far. Flying with a little one is a whole different story.

If you fear turning into one of those families we've all met aboard planes — those with squalling, unruly, squirming children who tend to bring out the same traits in their fellow passengers — take heart. My oldest child, Angel

a was just 14 days old when she took her first flight, and since then, I’ve taken many more trips with my four children. I know that you can travel with your little ones and enjoy the process. Forethought and preparation are the keys.

Planning the trip

The details of your trip often can mean the difference between success and disaster. Keep these ideas in mind as you plan:

• Examine all aspects of the journey when you book your flights. Aim for direct flights so that you can avoid changing planes. If you have to make a change, avoid short layovers that give you too little time to get from gate to gate, and conversely avoid long layovers that require lots of idle time in airports.
• When you make your reservations, give the agent the ages of all passengers. You may learn some important rules such as:
  • FAA regulations allow only one lap-child per adult. If you are traveling with two children, and only one adult, one child will require a seat of his own. (Not that you would want to travel with two children on your lap!)
  • Some airlines do not allow newborns to fly, check on age requirements.
  • Some airlines offer discounted prices for children’s tickets.
  • Most airplanes have only one extra oxygen mask in each row, which means you can only seat one lap-child in each row. If two adults are traveling with two children, consider sitting across the aisle from each other, or two behind two.
  • Some airlines count carseats or strollers as extra baggage.
• If your child falls asleep easily and stays asleep, try scheduling travel for during your child’s nap or sleep times. If you have a finicky sleeper, on the other hand, avoid traveling during usual sleep times, as your baby may just stay fussy and awake.
• Reserve your seats in advance to be sure your entire party sits together.
  • If you have an infant, ask for the bulkhead (front row) and request a bassinet.
  • Contrary to popular advice, I think it’s best to avoid the bulkhead with older babies and toddlers, because these seats offer neither under-seat space nor seat pocket, so you'll have to store all your toys and supplies in the overhead compartment. Also, in the bulkhead, the food tray pops up from the armrest, effectively trapping you in your seat when your table is laden with food.
  • Don’t put your child in the aisle seat, as the food cart and passengers carrying luggage could injure your child.
• Ask what special features your airline offers for families. Some companies offer children’s meals, bassinets, gate check for strollers, or early boarding privileges.
• If you can afford to do so, buy a seat for your child and bring along his carseat. Your baby is used to being buckled into his carseat, and the familiarity may make it easier for him to sit still and even sleep. This only works though when your child is able to fit comfortably in the tight seat compartments. A toddler with long legs will be scrunched between his seat and the seat in front of him. The added benefit of bringing a car seat when you can, is the safety feature of having your child in a protective seat on the airplane. Make sure your carseat bears a sticker that says it's FAA approved for air travel, so that it’s not turned away at the gate. You’ll need that seat anyway to get to and from the airport at home and at your destination. (Carseat rentals are typically expensive, and availability is often limited.)

• Visit your baby’s pediatrician a week or two before your trip to be sure your little one isn’t harboring an ear infection or other illness. If possible, avoid exposing your child to other children the week before the flight so he's less likely to catch one of those many kid-carried bugs.
• If you will be visiting relatives at your destination, make a family photo album and "introduce" your baby to these new people via their pictures prior to the actual meeting.
• If your baby will be taking any medication on the day of the trip (such as a decongestant or pain reliever), be sure to test it out before the day of travel to gauge any side effects.

• Decide if you’ll need a stroller at your destination. If you don't think you'll need a conventional one, at least consider bringing a lightweight portable type for use in airports; this will give you a free hand as you tend to tasks such as luggage check-in and pickup, while keeping your child safe and close by. If you opt to take your regular stroller, you can usually check it at the gate or right at the door of the airplane.
• Alternatively, a sling or soft-pack carrier can be very helpful if your child still likes to be carried and is light enough for you to carry this way for long walks through the airport.
• Dress yourself and your child in comfortable layers of clothing. Airplanes are often cramped and hot, but sometimes too cold.

• Use these checklists (and make lists of your own) to ensure that you don't forget anything.

Packing your carry-on

The right carry-on bag can be a lifesaver. Make sure that your bag is easy to lift or roll, and that it falls within the airline's size limitations. Pack an organized bag that carries:

• Lots of diapers. Plan for an unexpected layover or delay.
• A baby blanket, which is good for multiple uses.
• A diaper-changing pad in case you end up changing your baby on the floor or on a dirty changing table.
• Plenty of snacks. Often the only snacks on airplanes are peanuts, which are a major choking hazard for babies. Also, snacks are a great distraction for a bored or antsy child. Even if you’ve ordered a child’s meal, it might show up when your child is asleep or isn’t hungry, or your child may not like the menu. A few ideas for easy-to-tote snacks include:
  • Baby food
  • Dry cereal
  • Pretzels
  • Crackers
  • Bagels
  • Bread or rolls
  • Dried fruit
  • Lollipops
• Drinks. Bring along favorites in a sippy cup, drink-box, or bottle. You may even want to pack these in a soft lunchbox cooler.
• Infant pain reliever in case of ear pain or other discomfort. (But don’t try anything new; make sure it’s something your baby has tolerated well already.)
• Lots of new toys, or old favorites that have been hidden for a few weeks. Avoid noisy toys that will annoy fellow passengers. Great travel toys include:

• Crayons and a small pad or sticky notes
• Stickers and sticker books (Sticker books have the advantage here; their stickers are reusable if stuck on their specially surfaced pages, whereas a sticker placed on paper is there for good — which is fine, too, but a sticker book prolongs the activity.)
• Building toys like Legos TM or Duplos TM 
• Paperback books
• Puppets
• Tiny plastic animals, cars, or dolls
• Playing cards (Go Fish or other games that feature interesting cards)
• Tape or CD player with kid music or books on tape

• Bib
• Extra pacifiers, or your baby’s lovey, special blanket, or toy
• A book, magazine, or activity for you when baby is sleeping or playing, should you be lucky enough for that to occur!
• A small medical kit with bandages
• Wet wipes for diaper changes and cleaning baby’s hands and face
• Empty plastic bags for soiled diapers
• If your baby uses a bottle, bring several. It’s usually easier to take along premeasured powdered formula and small bottles of water for mixing.
• A complete change of clothes for baby and an extra shirt for you (spitup and spills happen).
• Toothbrush and toothpaste for unexpected layovers.
• If you're traveling as two adults with two children, divide up the children’s supplies into two separate bags in case your seats are separated on the airplane.
• Consider packing toys in a small child’s backpack for any child old enough to carry one.
• A small belt-bag (fanny pack) is handy for tickets, ID, and cash. Wear it on the front of your body, not the back.
• Test your bag in advance to be sure it’s not too heavy!

The night before the trip

• Get a good night’s sleep so that you can be more relaxed during your trip.
• Pack all of your bags and put them in the car or near the front door so you're not scrambling when it's time to leave.
• Review your checklists.

At the airport

• Get to the airport early.
• Check as many pieces of luggage as possible. Avoid overloading yourself with things to carry.
• Keep in mind that most airport rental carts have to be unloaded to go through security, and that your child may have to be taken out of the stroller or backpack when you go through the metal detector.
• When you check in, tell the desk attendant that you are traveling with a baby. Let her know if you have a stroller or carseat with you.
• Change your baby’s diaper immediately before boarding the airplane.
• Avoid breastfeeding or bottle-feeding your baby just before boarding as he may fall asleep and wake up crying as you struggle to carry him and your belongings to the gate. Wait until you are seated and unloaded, then feed him and maybe you’ll be lucky and he’ll take a nap!
• Avoid feeding your little one just prior to boarding. Save food and drink for when you're on the airplane, as these carry great entertainment value.
• Consider bringing your stroller and checking it at the gate. This way you can carry baby, the carseat, and all your belongings right up to the airplane gangway. Smaller strollers can be brought on as carry-ons, and an attendant will take bigger strollers as gate-checked items. (Find out where to retrieve these.)
• If traveling with two adults and multiple children, ask at the desk if one adult can do the early-boarding and set up your carry-on bags and carseat(s). Usually the pre-boarding time is extremely short, and you’ll have to rush to get the carseat secured and carry-on items organized before all the other passengers begin to board. This will also allow your little ones some last-minute exercise before boarding with the second adult.
• If you have a connecting flight, go straight to the gate upon landing. Sometimes it takes longer to get gate-to-gate than you expect. Any waiting time is best done closer to your next gate.

On the airplane

• To help your baby’s ears adjust to changes in cabin pressure, encourage swallowing during takeoff and landing. You can do this by breastfeeding, or offering a bottle or pacifier. Toddlers can take a drink, nibble on crackers, or suck on a lollipop. (Look for those without a gum or chewy center, which can present a choking hazard.) Use the feeling in your own ears to determine when to give your baby something to swallow, or feed your baby when you see the flight attendants preparing the cabin for takeoff or landing. If your baby is sleeping soundly, don’t feel you need to awaken him; he’ll be fine.
• Flying in an airplane can cause dehydration, which occurs much more quickly in a child than with an adult. Keep your baby well hydrated with water, juice, or milk.
• Changing diapers can be a real challenge. Some airplanes have changing tables, but these are typically very small, and while great for newborns a tricky challenge for bigger babies. You can ask the flight attendant for the best place for changing. A small baby can be changed on your lap on or the pull-down tray table. (Be sensitive to the people seated near you if you do this.) Some airlines will allow you to use the flight attendant’s jump-seat; some will let you change your baby on the floor near the galley or in the bulkhead area. If you have an older baby, consider using pull-up disposable diapers on the flight, as these can be pulled up with your little one standing. Use a plastic bag from home or the airsickness bag for disposal in the bathroom trash. Remember that, since flight attendants handle food, they can’t handle dirty diapers. (And they probably don’t want to, either.)
• The flight attendant will usually heat a bottle for you. Be sure that you shake it well and test it thoroughly, as the galley system often makes things very hot.
• If your baby is unhappy and begins to cry, take a deep breath and focus your attention on your baby. Fellow passengers who are unhappy about the disruption may forget that you have as much right to be on the airplane as they do. They also may not know, or may forget how difficult it is for a baby or young child to be patient during a long flight. Your best defense against an unpleasant stranger is to say with a smile, “I’m doing the best I can.” And then tend to your baby.
• Unless you have to, don’t rush off the plane. Let your child play until most of the passengers have disembarked. This will prevent you from standing in the slow-moving line in the aisle while carrying an armload of luggage and trying to keep your baby happy.

International travel

• If only one parent is traveling, make sure you bring a letter of permission from the other parent. This should be signed and assert that the parent gives permission for the child to leave the country. You may not need this, but it’s an easy document to bring along just in case.
• Get passports for all travelers. It’s easy to obtain a passport for a baby. Passport application forms and instructions are available at your local post office. Plan ahead though, as this can take weeks to obtain the passport after making application.
• Take advantage of the room available in a larger airplane by taking your baby for walks when it’s safe to move about the cabin.

At your destination

• Determine in advance where your baby will sleep, and find out if you can rent or borrow a crib, if you need one. If you plan to co-sleep you may need to move the furniture around, or even pull the mattress off the bed to make a safe sleeping situation. (Most hotel housekeeping staff will help with this if you ask politely.) Other equipment such as carseat, stroller, highchair, and safety gates often can be rented or borrowed.
• Find out if your brands of diapers and formula are available at your destination. If not, send a box ahead of time.
• Ask if your accommodations have been childproofed. If not, bring along some outlet protectors and a role of duct tape for on-the-spot childproofing.
• Pack a child-safe nightlight to make those middle-of-the-night potty runs and diaper changes safe.
• Make sure that the vehicle you’ll be picked up in or that you are renting has enough seatbelts for everyone, plus room for luggage and your stroller.

• Upon arrival, you might want to collect your luggage and then send one adult for the car while the other stays at the curb with the bags and children.
• Remember to keep your carry-on bag organized, including snacks, for your return flight home.

For the frequent flier

Make a master list of those items you typically take along. Be sure to include those you're more apt to forget. Keep your list on your computer, if you have one, so it's ready to print out when it's time to pack.

This article is a copyrighted excerpt from Gentle Baby Care by Elizabeth Pantley (McGraw-Hill, 2003)

Pregnancy Period And Music – A Wonderful Combination

Influence of music on the fetus during pregnancy period is being widely discussed these days. According to some gynecologists the fetus can receive vibrations during the latter part of the pregnancy. It can perceive the vibrations after the fourth month of pregnancy. Music may help in fetal growth, as during the advanced stages of pregnancy period, the reception of the fetus increases. The vibrations of music act as external stimuli and influence the environment surrounding the fetus. She can see, hear, and feel – and that, of course, means she can rock to the beat! Other gynecologists suggest, any music that is soothing for the mother is also good for the baby. On the other hand, any music that disturbs the mother would also have similar effects on the baby during pregnancy.

Pregnancy: Mama Let’s Play Some Music

When baby hears the soothing sounds of music through her mother’s womb, first, it stimulates her ear, brain, and body to begin preparation for sound and language comprehension. Second, it lulls her into a calm, meditative state According to musicologists, rhythms, similar to the mother's heartbeat, have the most calming effect on babies in uterus in the pregnancy period. The classics are great, but most any music will do, as long as it’s calming. After she is born, play the same few songs for your baby that you played in your third trimester of pregnancy, and watch her remember the rhythms and feel soothed.

Listening to music works as an aid to relaxation to the expectant mother during pregnancy. This can help avoid pregnancy complications such as morning sickness, heartburn and pregnancy high blood pressure. Any music or even prayers and chants from any religion, classical, Western or even Jazz will be fine provided the expectant mother enjoy listening to it. The music must be soothing and has to have a rhythmic pattern to it. It relaxes the mother-to-be and thus the growth and development of the fetus is enhanced.

According to a recent research, newborns are able to digest the sound of voices and even information they have heard during the final weeks of pregnancy. In an experiment, babies less than 2 days old could tell which sounds they preferred to hear. They showed sucking preference when known sounds were made. Many mothers have stated to the researcher that their newborn babies seemed to prefer the same type of music that was played during their later stages of pregnancy.

Although there is no data to prove that music could help in the growth of the baby during pregnancy and experts are still skeptical about any direct influence of music on the fetus, but it is also true that the baby can receive sounds from the fifth month onwards. In addition, children exposed to music before birth, develop an ear for it after they are born.

It is said that unborn babies listening to orchestral or classical music through their mother’s womb during pregnancy period do better academically in future than the ones that do not. It's based on the premise that this type of music stimulates more parts of the brain simultaneously thus building better connectors and receptors to help in the future to retain and process information. So, be ready to play your favorite music, enjoy and let your baby enjoy the same through you.

Pregnancy is a blissful time and the mother should try to remain happy to avoid pregnancy complications like pregnancy morning sickness or pregnancy high blood pressure. Music can help the mother to stay healthy and happy for a healthy pregnancy. Pregnancy Period provides all information that you need for a healthy pregnancy and to enjoy this glorious period of your life.

By Saurabh K Jain
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Saurabh_K_Jain

Taking a Road Trip with Your Baby

By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of Gentle Baby Care

To Grandmother’s house we go! And you’ll be in the car for five whole hours, how can you make the trip enjoyable with a baby along?

There’s no question: Marathon car trips with a baby on board take a good amount of planning and organization. But it can be done ¾ and yes, it can even be fun!

Planning the trip

In the hustle that precedes a trip, it can be easy to let things happen, instead of make things happen. Be proactive in making your trip decisions. Contemplating these questions, and coming up with the right answers, can help make your trip more successful:

• Does your baby sleep well in the car? If yes, plan your travel time to coincide with a nap or bedtime so your baby can sleep through part of the journey. If not, plan to leave immediately after a nap or upon waking in the morning. Don’t fool yourself into thinking your baby will behave differently than usual in the car just because it’s a special occasion.
• Is it necessary to make the trip all at once, or can you break it up with stops along the way? The longer your baby is strapped in the carseat, the more likely he’ll become fussy. Planning a few breaks can keep everyone in a better frame of mind.
• When estimating an arrival time, have you factored in plenty of extra time for unplanned surprises? A diaper explosion that requires a complete change of clothes or a baby whose inconsolable crying requires an unexpected 20-minute stop are just two of the things that can easily happen.
• Do you have everything you need to make the trip pleasant? Items like:
  • Window shades to protect your baby from the sun and create a darker, nap-inducing atmosphere.
  • A cooler for cold drinks; a bottle warmer if needed.
  • Plenty of toys that are new or forgotten favorites saved just for the trip.
  • Baby-friendly music on tape or CD.
  • A rear-view baby mirror to keep on eye on baby (unless a second person will be sitting with your little one)
  • Books to read to your baby.

Preparing the car

Take plenty of time to get the car ready for your trip. If two adults are traveling, consider yourself lucky and arrange for one person to sit in the backseat next to the baby. If you are traveling alone with your little one, you’ll need to be more creative in setting up the car, and you’ll need to plan for more frequent stops along the way.

Here are a few tips for making the car a traveling entertainment center for your baby:

• Use ribbon or yarn and safety pins or tape to hang an array of lightweight toys from the ceiling of the car to hang over your baby. An alternative is to string a line from one side of the car to the other with an array of toys attached by ribbons. Bring along an assortment of new toys that can be exchanged when you stop the car for a rest. Just be sure to use small toys and keep them out of the driver’s line of view.
• Tape brightly colored pictures of toys on the back of the seat that your baby will be facing.
• If no one will be sitting next to your baby and your child is old enough to reach for toys, set up an upside-down box next to the car seat with a shallow box or a tray with ledges on top of it. Fill this with toys that your baby can reach for by himself. You might also shop around for a baby activity center that attaches directly to the carseat.
• If you plan to have someone sitting next to baby, then provide that person with a gigantic box of toys with which to entertain the little one ¾ distraction works wonders to keep a baby happy in the car. One of the best activities for long car rides is book reading. Check your library’s early reading section; it typically features a large collection of baby-pleasing titles in paperback that are easier to tote along than board books.
• Bring along an assortment of snacks and drinks for your older baby who’s regularly eating solids, and remember to bring food for yourself, too. Even if you plan to stop for meals, you may decide to drive on through if your baby is sleeping or content ¾ saving the stops for fussy times.
• Bring books on tape or quiet music for the adults for times when your baby is sleeping. The voice on tape may help keep your baby relaxed, and it will be something you can enjoy.
   
• If you’ll be traveling in the dark, bring along a battery-operated nightlight or flashlight.

Car travel checklist

• Well-stocked diaper bag
• Baby’s blanket
• Carseat pillow or head support
• Window shades (sun screens)
•  Change of clothes for your baby
• Enormous box of toys and books
• Music or books on tape or CDs
• Baby food, snacks, and drinks for your baby
• Sipper cups
• Snacks and drinks for the adults
• Cooler
• Wet washcloths in bags, or moist towelettes
• Empty plastic bags for leftovers and trash
• Bottle warmer
• Cell phone
• Baby’s regular sleep music or white noise (if needed, bring extra batteries)
• First aid kit/prescriptions/medications
• Jumper cables
• Money/wallet/purse/ID
• Medical and insurance information/emergency phone numbers
• Maps/driving directions
• Baby carrier/sling/stroller
• Camera and film
• Suitcases

During the journey

If you’ve carefully planned your trip and prepared your vehicle, you’ve already started out on the right foot. Now keep these things in mind as you make your way down the road:

• Be flexible. When traveling with a baby, even the best-laid plans can be disrupted. Try to stay relaxed, accept changes, and go with the flow.
• Stop when you need to. Trying to push “just a little farther” with a crying baby in the car can be dangerous, as you’re distracted and nervous. Take the time to stop and calm your baby.
• Put safety first. Make sure that you keep your baby in his carseat. Many nursing mothers breastfeed their babies during trips. This can be dangerous in a moving car, even if you are both securely belted: You can’t foresee an accident, and your body could slam forcefully into your baby. Instead, pull over and nurse your baby while he’s still in his carseat. That way, when he falls asleep, you won’t wake him up moving him back into his seat.
• Remember: Never, ever leave your baby alone in the car not even for a minute.

On the way home

You may be so relieved that you lived through your trip that you sort of forget the other trip ahead of you: the trip home. You’ll need to organize the trip home as well as you did the trip out. A few days in advance, make certain that all your supplies are refilled and ready to go. Think about the best time to leave, and plan accordingly. In addition, think about what you learned on the trip to your destination that might make the trip home even easier. Is there something you wish you would have had but didn’t? Something you felt you could have done differently? Did you find yourself saying, “I wish we would have…”? Now’s the time to make any adjustments to your original travel plan so that your trip back home is pleasant and relaxed.

This article is an excerpt from Gentle Baby Care by Elizabeth Pantley. (McGraw-Hill, 2003)

Decorating the Nursery - Mom Vs Dad

Jogging Strollers Can Go Anywhere

You may not normally associate your baby stroller as being an all-terrain vehicle, but there are certain strollers available out there that are specifically for all-terrain use. Jogger strollers have been developed to aid the busy parent in their quest to perfect their fitness regime with a toddler in tow. Having kids is hard enough work, and you can be left feeling exhausted and run down. You may also be feeling a little depressed if you are inside all day running after the little one and doing your daily routines. This is where a jogging stroller can really help you. The special all-terrain use strollers make it easy for you to take your little one out to the park or on long hikes with ease. Pavement, grass or soil you can take your jogger stroller with you anywhere you want to go. With front suspension and large wheels these strollers are perfect for outdoor use.

 

You can now go jogging, walking or power walking with all your daily activities without worrying about what the little one is up to. Your child can sit in comfort in the jogging stroller while you top up on your exercise. Exercise is a great way to not only stay fit and healthy but to also boost your confidence, general wellbeing and give you more energy. Using jogger strollers can help you tackle the day with more energy and you don't even need to go out of your way to do it. If you can't get out to the park every day you can use your jogger stroller to run to the corner shop, run to town, jog to school or power walk down to see close family and friends.

Whether you are in the middle of a busy city or in the middle of nowhere you can trust these all-terrain jogging strollers to keep your child safe and comfortable. Jogging strollers have superior maneuverability to the conventional stroller to allow you to move easily and smoothly around corners, across roads and over any tough terrain you may encounter. You may wish to take your jogger stroller out for a few practice runs first around the block before you use them in the park or on a busy high street. This will allow you to become more familiar with your jogging stroller and the way it moves. This will ensure you can stop, start and turn exactly when you need to as you become more used to the handling of your particular stroller. Although a jogging stroller is quite different from the conventional stroller, it should not take too long for you to get used to its handling.

Free Family Fun Summer Activities and Tips

Baby Jogging Strollers Are A Helpful Item 
  
If you are an active parent and want to bring your children along, having a double jogging stroller is an important part of your parenting equipment. A jogging stroller allows you to continue your exercise regime, and bring the children along as well. Although you may expect them to be expensive, jogging strollers can be remarkably affordable. There are many features to consider and make sure you get the right specialty stroller for your needs.

Baby Jogging Stroller Features To Consider

There are several features to look for in any jogging stroller. All specialty strollers made for running come with three wheels instead of four, which makes them easier to maneuver than typical strollers. However, some baby jogging strollers have swiveling front wheels and some jogging strollers have fixed front wheels. It’s best to choose a jogging stroller with a swivel front wheel that also has the option of being locked in place, so that you can enjoy the benefits of both types of jogging strollers.

Other useful features found in most specialty strollers for jogging are designed for the comfort of the children riding along. The seats on these strollers can be padded, as well as the shoulder harnesses. Most strollers also include retractable awnings to shield them from weather or sun, and some jogging strollers even have windows in the awnings, allowing you to see the children while the shade is in place. Specialty jogging strollers also generally have some sort of suspension system to make sure the passengers have a smooth ride. Another stroller feature to consider is separately reclining seats. If you have an infant, you want to make sure at least one seat on the jogging stroller reclines to a fully flat position.

For the parent’s convenience, jogging strollers include under seat storage baskets. More deluxe models of jogging strollers also feature other storage options such as cup holders, rear storage baskets, and front trays for children. Other useful parent-centered features found on many specialty strollers include handbrakes and locking foot brakes. Luxury models of double jogging strollers also include nice features like adjustable handle heights and ultra lightweight materials.

About the author:

Keri L. Stoner is a successful author and publisher of  http://www.multiple-strollers.com, Find double strollers, triple or quad, multiple jogging strollers and special needs strollers

Tips for the Safe Use of Jogging Strollers

Use a well-built jogger that has good shocks and is not lightweight. Do not substitute a cheaper price for less stability.

Consider you child's age before you buy. It is not advisable to take children under 6 months old out in joggers.

Adjust the handlebar to your height before you take the stroller out to insure you are as comfortable (and stable) as possible.

Take a practice run or two without the child in the jogger to get a feel for the handling of it and to make sure you can turn and stop it without any trouble. Remember, it will be heavier and carrying something very important; you'll want to be able to manuever it easily.

Don't forget diapers and anything else you or your child might need on the run.

Think about the child's health. Be sure your child is bundled against whatever environmental elements you will be running in. Just because you are warm while running does not mean your child will. You are producing heat, but the child is bearing the wind. Also, on warm days keep your child shaded and cool and keep your runs short. Don't forget sunscreen as well.

Strap your child in with the full harness. You want them as safe as possible and if you have to stop suddenly, you don't want them to fall out or even get shaken. Also you don't want them to be able to reach out and get their fingers tangled in the wheels.

Never take your hands off the stroller. They are made to need little to no resistance to make them move, so that running with them is easier, but this causes them to move if you let go. Rogue strollers can be very hard to catch and very unsafe for your child.

Run at a slow comfortable pace. You can expect your pace to be 1 min per mile (or more) slower than your normal pace. Remember you are doing some resistance training, so don't despair. Walk down hills and stop if danger approaches (such as bikes or unfamilar animals coming toward you).

Stick to smooth surfaces if your child is not a year old yet. This will lessen the amount that the child is shaken while running.

Be in control of your jogger. Make sure that you are never going so fast that you cannot stop the jogging stroller if needed. Remember, the brake is for parking, not for stopping during a run. It is the runner's responsibility to use momentum in such away that they can control the jogger.

Be cautious. It is a good idea to run in parks or other areas where the roads are closed to traffic.

Use your runs to your advantage. If you run right before naptime, the rhythmic sound of you running may put your child to sleep, which can be a nice bonus of your runs.

Increase the comfort of your child by shifting them to different positions during the run. This is especially important in very young children who cannot rearrange themselves.

Don't expect your child to sit still ofr the duration of the run. For toddlers and older, it is a good idea to allow the child to get out and play for a bit during the run, especially if they seem restless. This will increase their enjoyment and comfort on the run.

Don't get discouraged. Do not be suprised if the first time you take your child out, you cannot run very far with the jogger. The extra weight can be a hinderance for most people. If this is a problem, you can start out taking brisk walks with the jogger, then moving up to jogging for a minute or two and then walking. Eventually you will be able to jog with the stroller somewhat comfortably.

By Jesslyn Cummings an article from EzineArticles.com

Why Do the Elderly Love Babies So Much?

Is Music good for your Unborn baby? 
Read about music and your unborn baby and how it will be effected.

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How Can You Help Your Unborn Baby Develop 
Research has shown that babies in their mom's womb can hear sounds from the environment, and it is widely believed that the baby is sensitive to their environment - inside and outside of their mother's womb. It is widely believed that the mother's moods and activities can affect the unborn baby (I use the term baby instead of fetus, it is my personal preference.)

It is a good idea for an expectant mother to arrange for a peaceful and happy environment. Luckily, it is quite common for this time of a woman's life to be the most happy time in life. By no means do I want to convey that I recommend for the mother to be inactive. Activity is great (as long as there is no physical condition that dictates otherwise).

However, I definitely recommend engaging in activities that bring joy and enjoyment. I have heard stories from mothers who noticed a significant change in the amount of movement they have felt when a very loud and fast music was played.

My mother told me this funny story about the time when she was pregnant with my sister and myself (we are twins). She went to the movies, and a very loud, active music was played. We have become so active in her belly, that she had to get up and leave the theater, it was impossible for her to sit and watch the movie.

It is advisable to listen to quiet, peaceful music. Classical music is beneficial. It is believed that listening to classical music is beneficial for the development of children in general, before they are born and after. We can take advantage of the fact that the baby can hear us, and talk to the baby often. What would you say to a newborn? We already know that talking to a newborn is very beneficial for it's development.

Anything that you would say to a newborn you can say to your unborn baby. You can read it a story, you can sing it a song. You can express your love and feelings. Talk to your baby very lovingly every day. One thing that an expectant mother can do, and I believe to be very beneficial to an unborn baby, is swimming.

This is beneficial to the mother, as well as the baby. The mother will be in excellent physical condition during her pregnancy and for the delivery. Swimming takes some weight off the spine, and gives a much welcome relief to the back and front muscles. (As you know, things weigh differently in the water.)

It strengthens the mother's lungs, and increases the amount of oxygen supply to all organs, including, of course, the womb and placenta. Therefore, the baby, too, gets a fresh and increased supply of oxygen. This is beneficial to the general development of the baby, and specifically the baby's brain. Before you start swimming, ask your doctor for permission.

Make sure that you are swimming in a safe environment, and that there are other people around. Everything that is beneficial to the mother, is also beneficial to the baby. Another thing that I believe to be great for mom and baby, is Yoga. There are special Yoga classes for expectant mothers, and if you can - find one that is convenient for you. There are also many Yoga videotapes available.

Try to find one that is specifically designed for expectant mothers. Before you start a Yoga program, it is advisable to get an OK from your doctor.

Get your free e-book "Develop Your Child's Genius" by Esther Andrews right now! http://www.all-gifted-children.com