Why Baby Slings Make Mom’s Life Easier
Fireworks Baby Sling
Mom’s all over the world like to hold their babies close throughout the day. Babies are happier and more content when they are held close to their mother.
There are many benefits to wearing your baby in a sling. Many doctors feel that baby slings can reduce crying and help calm fussy or colicky babies. A happy and content baby will mean less frustrated parents.
Holding your baby close encourages parent-infant bonding. Also, a calmer, less irritable infant feeds better, is more socially responsive, and is able to develop a better relationship with their parents. Infants through the toddler years can be carried in a baby sling.
Another advantage of wearing your baby in a sling is for ease in breastfeeding. Human milk gives your baby nutrients and immune properties that you just can’t get from formulas.
Babies can’t be spoiled by responding quickly to their needs. In fact, a truly independent child is one that feels comfortable and safe. They will venture out into the world when they are ready. A baby held close builds security and will need to be carried less when they are older. In addition, babies that feel safe and secure will want to crawl off, explore and play instead of crying or whining to be held.
With a baby sling, your baby’s weight is evenly distributed across your shoulder, back and hip. When carrying a toddler in a sling, you don’t have to thrust your hip out to hold your child. The sling holds the child up and you will be able to stand straight for better posture and comfort.
In conclusion, a newborn will feel safe and secure in a sling and will want to look out and learn about the world. Carrying your baby close promotes bonding and allows the mother to go places and do things yet also be close to fill the needs of your baby.
You can find many baby slings in my Best Baby Things store. The slings I sell are beautifully constructed in Seattle, Washington. These slings are great quality slings and are not flimsy at all. I sent out one of these slings myself as a Baby Gift, and I was so impressed with the quality and craftsmanship of the sling. In addition to the many colors and patterns offered, we have a selection of Organic cotton fabric slings.
Written by Lori Walker, owner
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Day Care Immunity
It seems counter-intuitive: kids in daycare will get sick from the germs on the hands and noses and sneezes of other children. And that’s good! Research from Northwestern University shows that germs early in life lead to better health later in life.
“Let’s look in that ear and make sure it’s all healthy,” says Dr. Ruth Brown as she examines 1-year-old Ala.
Ala is just recovering from a pretty bad ear infection. But this isn’t the first time she’s been sick.
“She has had colds; she did have some RSV [and] bronchiolitis,” says her mother, Kristin Shaw.
Shaw believes Ala’s visits to day care are partly to blame.
“[There are] lot’s of runny noses, but you know, they’re kids, and it’s really hard to protect them from wanting to share toys and touch one another,” Shaw says.
But a new study from Northwestern University finds that children with exposure to these germs early in life can actually prevent sickness later in life.
“These children when they get into the real school world don’t get sick as much. They already have protection,” says Dr. Brown, a pediatrician.
In other words, all those germs help build up an immunity.
In fact, the study found that immunity may also prevent heart trouble later in life by limiting the production of C-reactive proteins, which research has shown are predictors of heart disease.
It seems strange, but getting sick is how a child’s body learns to protect itself.
Shaw is glad Ala has gotten a jumpstart on getting sick. “You never want to see your kid sick, but you know that it’s helping them when they start to grow older,” she says.
Several studies support the theory that children who attend day care at an early age could have certain health benefits later in life. Even though children who attend day care may appear to get sick more often than those who don’t, this early exposure to illness seems to provide immunity for the future.
A study by the University of Arizona, which involved 1,246 children, found that attendance at large day care centers resulted in more common colds during the preschool years. But those same children had less frequent colds during their school years until 13 years of age. In addition, a “dose response” was noticed for years spent in day care. No such protective “dose effect” was observed in children who attended small day care.
According to Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, children who attend day care during the first year of life also have fewer allergy problems. German researchers found that children who started day care before they turned one had “half the allergy problems” of those who started after age one. Children who started day care after they turned two had nearly three times the allergy problems. Doctors believe exposure to a wide variety of germs and illnesses during early childhood helps boost the immune system to prevent allergies.
Additional research at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicines indicates that babies who enter day care before the age of six months have only 40% the risk of asthma compared to those who are not exposed to day care.
However, doctors say that all of these findings linking day care to increased immunity don’t indicate that parents can neglect immunizations. In fact, immunizations are especially important for children who risk exposure to disease. Serious illnesses, like the measles and whooping cough, can be easily prevented. And even relatively minor illnesses, like chicken pox, can be prevented with proper vaccination.
This article has been taken from ConnectWithKids.com
Baby Shower Gifts
Baby Shower Gifts: Calling all Grandmothers, Relatives & Friends!
Expecting a child can be a wonderful, exciting time. There are a lot of things to do and think about before the big day arrives. One way to help, is to organize a baby shower! Not only is it a fun party for the expectant mother, but it gives all relatives & friends the opportunity to give a gift, making the transition into motherhood a little easier. During this exciting and sometimes anxious time, the new mother may not think of everything she needs. That’s why her friends & relatives are there, to help her.
A baby shower gift can be almost anything, from ordinary items (but much needed) to something a little different or unique. Ordinary items can be things such as diapers, baby wipes, formula, bottles, burp cloths, newborn clothes like “onesies” & t-shirts, receiving blankets, infant thermometer, baby shampoo & lotion, baby bath & powder, small portable bath tub, more baby wipes, nail file & clipper, waterproof cloths, did I say baby wipes?!…
You can also give cute little clothes (if you’re not sure whether it is going to be a boy or girl, go with something neutral), booties, bonnets, newborn toys and much more! I love buying baby items and gifts. It is so much fun, and sometimes I go a little overboard if you know what I mean!
Do the new parents have things like a baby swing? This can be pretty important for a fussy baby. It also helps put them to sleep for a nap, and sometimes even to give Mom a little break. A rocking chair is nice, along with a nursing pillow (helps support the mothers arm) if she plans on “nursing”. I also found that having a small CD player (or tape player) with some soothing music works very nicely when the baby is falling asleep.
Now for some more unusual or unique gift ideas. With a little looking around the internet, you should be able to find some sites that sell more unusual gifts, such as a large tote bag filled with essentials and fun things, a diaper bag filled with items of your choice, “baby gift baskets”, personalized receiving blankets and hooded bath robes. Maybe some personalized or monogrammed t-shirts. You can also find some wood items, like a little stool or chair with the babys’ name on it. How about a hand or foot print kit? Parents love keepsakes, you know? A Moses basket is another idea. You lay the baby in it with bedding and you can carry the little one around from room to room.
Do you know any creative people? Some people just have a knack for making unique gifts. It could be a sandpail filled with little baby stuff. I know I have seen some things that made me say “Why didn’t I think of that?”
Finally, I must say that the ideas can be endless! You can give traditional gifts or go with something a little different! The new parents will appreciate it very much!
Lori J Walker
Read my series of articles on baby items for new parents, relatives & friends. These articles reflect my own experiences, thoughts, & ideas on essential baby items for the nursery and baby shower gifts. The items I sell are all good quality items, with some being monogrammed, hand-pieced and embroidered.
If you would like to see many of the baby items and gifts I have mentioned in my articles, please visit my webstores at http://www.babysnursery-beddingandmore.com and http://www.bestbabythings.com
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