Baby Shower – Page 230 – Marisa Meidle's Baby Showers

Are Parenting Classes a Waste of Time?

Being a new mom is very exciting however it’s also a bit scary isn’t it? There’s so much you have to learn to care for your new arrival. Family and friends can help you a little and there are also some good baby books you can buy, but there’s little hands on experience. So where do you go to for this information?

Have you considered parenting classes? If so you may be wondering if these could be the answer. What are the advantages and disadvantages of taking these classes? We’ll examine some good reasons below that you may or may not want to participate in these classes.

Now you may have had previous experience such as babysitting or looking after your friends’ kids. Take it from me this doesn’t even give you a glimpse of what parenting is all about. Parenting is a huge responsibility and while it is very rewarding, you really need some knowledge up front to get you through from day to day. Parenting classes may be the answer you are looking for.

What will you learn? You’ll learn the know how on getting your baby to sleep, how to properly change a diaper and the right way to feed your baby. You’ll receive hands on learning by practicing on dolls rather than just trying to learn from a book.

Are the classes affordable? Parenting classes come in a variety of formats and prices, so there’s a good chance you will find one to suit your budget. There are also free classes in some cities so you may find them by checking your local paper. These free classes are usually provided by non profit groups.

If you’re a first time mom with no family support, a real bonus for you is all the new moms you’ll meet in the same situation. These classes attract a large volume of of people so chances are you’ll make a heap of new friends who will be able to provide you with support when you need it.

Committing to a class schedule does demand some time. A lot of expectant moms work all day until just before the birth. If you’re not working, you may not be able to get to and from the classes easily. You need to consider these before rushing to join a class.

It will be well worth your time however, if you can, to experience these classes for yourself. I’m sure you’ll find these parenting classes invaluable as a first time mom. Apart from all the help and information, you’ll be able to meet new friends. Above all you’ll learn the basics of motherhood and will be able to feel confident about being a new mom!

Maintaining a Baby’s Health

Doctors and parents alike worry about and stress about the health of a baby after the birth occurs. The health of the baby once he or she is born can determine whether or not the child will be healthy throughout the remainder of their lifetime. There are hundreds of babies born each week that have health complications that can lead to a serious disease, a short-term sickness, or even death in the worst of cases. Babies’ health
is just as important as the health of the mother at the time of the birth and following the birth.

A newborn baby should receive a certain amount of shots following his or her birth to prevent certain diseases and medical complications. Babies’ health just doesn’t involve visiting the doctor but it also involves bathing, feeding, diapering and soothing the baby. Feeding a newborn baby, especially properly, is very important to the health of the child. Babies need to be fed every couple of hours each day to keep them healthy and to help them grow to their proper size following the birth.

Doctors are an important part of everyone’s life even after the birth has occurred. Why? Only a doctor will be able to effectively answer any questions regarding babies’ health that mothers, fathers, grandparents, and other guardians might have regarding their child. Babies can come down with a cold or a cough at any time during their infancy and if it is not cared for right away it could develop into something much worse that could cause long-term health problems. The topic of babies’ health should be taken seriously by the most experienced parent, grandparent, and rookie parent to ensure the strong health and safety of the child. Across the world there are hundreds of books and articles available to parents and grandparents that discuss the topic of babies’ health. The majority of these books and articles discuss how to keep a newborn baby healthy throughout their infancy with the proper feeding techniques and the proper caring techniques.

The Best Choice of Toys For Your Bath

Bath times can either be great fun or a real drag for both parents and children alike. Kids don’t often enjoy being cleaned and unless bath time is made to be fun, they will make such a fuss you’ll regret putting them in the bath in the first place. There are some great bath toys that can supplement bathing perfectly and get everyone enjoying themselves, here are the best 3.

Rubber ducky. You really cannot have a bath without the iconic rubber duck. Its not too hard to see why it is consistently the best selling bath toy in shops. Having a animal in the bath is always great fun for children and especially one that can squirt water and bop up to the surface time and again. They’re simple but perfect, so make sure you have a few.

Squirters.If your rubber duck comes without a water squirter then its worth getting a separate one. Its great fun for kids to be able to spurt water in the bath and they can do so without doing any damage or getting anything wet that shouldn’t be. On top of this, if your struggling to get your child to wash themselves in the bath, a squirter is a fun way to get them wet and get them clean. Just fill up the squirter and give them a good wash down with it.

Stick on numbers. There can often be more to bathing than just playing. Kids learn best when they are relaxed and enjoying themselves so it’s good to have some learning toys or educational toys that can be used in the bath as well. There are a number of such toys that are suitable for water such as the box of shapes that teaches children how to select the right hole for individually shaped block. The best choice though are the foam sticky numbers.Children are able to brush up on their math whist also learning about the physical qualities of water and the notion of friction.

Raise Your Vegetarian Toddler With Confidence

While some parents have the belief that feeding toddlers a vegetarian diet is detrimental to their health, as long as they make certain that all the required nutrients are received, it’s really quite healthy. Some of the advantages of a lifetime of well balanced vegetarianism include lower rates of common diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and cardiac problems. If you raise your toddler on this type of diet, he or she will embrace it willingly later on.

The primary concern with vegetarian toddler food is to make sure that your child gets enough calories and nutrients. Your toddler needs enough calories to ensure that he has enough energy to grow and play.

It may be somewhat of a challenge to develop a well-rounded vegetarian toddler menu that will give them enough iron and protein. Some toddlers are picky eaters as well as having smaller appetites, and it can be a real challenge to coax them to consume the amount of beans and vegetables that will ensure they get the nutrients they need. Therefore, if you have a vegetarian toddler, make sure you serve nutrient-dense food.

Soybeans and tofu are a good source of protein for grownups and children over four. However, they should not be considered as the major source of protein for a toddler. For your littlest ones, complement the tofu or soybeans that you serve with soymilk that has been fortified with vitamins and minerals. In addition to providing some protein, it will also improve your toddler’s diet by providing calcium and vitamins A and D, which can frequently be hard to get in a vegan diet.

Iron can be found in many vegetarian foods. Green beans, kidney beans, spinach, and lima beans are all excellent sources of iron. Unfortunately, unlike iron originating from animal products, the iron in vegetables can be tough for the body to process. You can remedy this situation if you serve a Vitamin C rich food with those beans or spinach. Some great sources of Vitamin C are oranges, red peppers, tomatoes, broccoli and cantaloupe.

Getting sufficient amounts of Vitamin B-12 may be especially hard for vegans. Although vegetables contain some B-12 vitamins, they are not easily absorbed by the body. Your toddler’s healthcare provider can help find a B-12 supplement appropriate for a toddler.

Calcium is another important consideration for your vegetarian child’s nutrition plan. Calcium helps make bones stronger and aids in proper growth and development. Choose soymilk that is calcium-fortified, but make sure it is also fortified with other nutrients that your toddler needs for good nutrition.

It will take quite a bit of effort on your part to bring up a healthy vegetarian child. You may have to supplement your toddler’s diet to make sure they get all the nutrition that their little bodies need.

Keeping Your Infant Tended and Contemporary With Newborn Crib Sets

Bedding for cribs has always been a term that implies a comfortable, warm place for your baby to sleep and relax. But the proper baby crib bedding provides protection for your little one as well. The comfort and warmth of the bedding is what separates your baby from the elements outside of the crib. Baby is kept safe in their crib when bumpers are attached to the bars. You can have a huge risk of your child getting their arms and legs stuck in the rungs without the proper baby bumpers. They are needed because they offer more security to your child.

Want to add extra warmth to a baby’s crib? You can’t go wrong with crib sheets. Crib sheets also separate the baby from the mattress protector (that is most often plastic) and keeps diaper leaks from damaging the mattress.

Babies love the comfort and security of a warm snuggly blanket when they sleep. The clearest benefit is that the baby will stay warm even when it is very cold outside. It also makes the baby feel comfortable. Parents often wrap their babies in swaddling clothes to replicate that close, secure feeling they had before birth. It is not uncommon for children to bond with inanimate objects as often happens when they form an attachment to their crib blankets. This brings to mind a well-known Charlie Brown character.

When a parent considers a bedding’s protection, warmth, and contentment for a baby, one can see that bedding is essential in a crib. You will better value with higher quality baby bedding then economy bedding. The thicker material and higher thread-count are warmer, and fewer dyes help to make baby safer. Good quality bedding is always better than lower quality bedding as it can handle wear and tear of a growing baby. Cheap bedding will soon get damaged and you may have to buy another a couple of times. Hence, you should consider spending some more money to buy quality nursery bedding sets.

While safety is a priority, parents are also interested in fashionable design for their baby’s room. Many companies offer safe and stylish bedding for baby cribs. These come in such a variety that there seems to be one for every personality. To provide a harmonious ambiance of security and wellbeing to your baby, design the baby room to match the decor of the home. In addition, there are parents that provide a themed style to their kid’s room so it’s imperative that the crib blends in well and does not stand out as an after thought. Most of the time, the focal point of an infant’s room is the crib. It makes sense; what’s inside the crib is what everyone in the home is going to be paying attention to. After doing some careful consideration you will see that this is an important area when it comes to ensuring that your baby is sleeping in safe and stylish crib bedding.