Shopping for unique baby shower gifts can be a real challenge. Sure, the regular stores like Target, K-Mart and Walmart all have many different items that qualify as a good baby gift, but they’re all so routine and expected. How many baby clothing gift sets does a mother need? And honestly, so many women make clay molds of their baby’s hands and feet and put together scrapbooks that buying them the supplies and items needed to do it is like purchasing baby wipes and diaper rash preventative cream.

So, if you have a baby shower to go to and a baby to buy something for, consider looking for unique baby shower gifts. For big ticket items that are sure to be a real winner, think about cribs, bassinets, play pens or play areas, high chairs, infant seats, car seats and activity centers. For the mother, think of a luxurious pillow and throw blanket set, or even a rocking chair or a recliner for her to enjoy while she is feeding and nurturing and bonding with her baby.

If you need to stick on a budget, then more appropriate yet still unique baby shower gifts include gift certificates to baby shops and specialty boutiques, photo studio gift certificates, a mid-range digital camera to capture all of those special moments with, digital photo frames and lavish photo albums, monogrammed quilts and blankets, and even a noise machine to help comfort baby at night. Smaller items that still make a lasting impression can include handmade items, unique baby outfits and christening gowns, diaper stackers and diaper cakes, baby thermometers and bath supplies, baby tubs, and of course, toys. Other things to think about when planning for a new baby is the baby shower that will be held for the mother, and the baby shower favors that should be purchased or made.

The purpose of favors at a baby shower is to thank all of the guests that came to share in a special day with the mother-to-be. Like wedding favors, unique baby shower favors should be passed out at the end of the party or reception, either by the mother-to-be herself, or the people that helped to plan the baby shower with her or for her. For shopping and design ideas for both unique baby shower gifts and baby shower favors, you can check out any parenting magazine, as well as specialty magazines and websites that are related to pregnancy and baby shower planning.

This article is not intended to provide medical advice; it is based on one person’s experience with a teething baby

A teething baby is probably also an agitated and difficult baby. And, this can be very trying for new or even experienced parents. To help a baby through the teething process it is important to be aware of it and identify that a baby is having a ‘teething day/s’. Often, parents overlook the fact that a baby is teething and attribute their behavior to other factors such as tiredness, food irritation or just naughtiness.

The teething process varies widely from baby to baby. Some babies are irritated only for the first tooth and then grow accustomed to the new sensations in their gums. Others are irritated for all 20. The teething process may be overnight or it may start months prior to the eruption of the tooth. The symptoms of teething are as varied as the process that each baby goes through. They include irritability, drooling, gnawing, coughing, chin rash, diarrhea, cold like symptoms and disturbed sleep.

There is no set age for a baby to start teething. If a baby starts before 6 months old and he/she has not started solids, breastfeeding is a great way to help soothe the baby. The sucking seems to massage the gums while calming the baby. Another trick to try is a frozen washcloth. Just soak a washcloth with drinking water and place in the freezer. Babies love it as it is cold and moulds itself around their gums. I haven’t mentioned teething rings yet because I have found them to only be effective for short periods of time. It is cheaper and perhaps more effective to clean some of the baby’s plastic toys so that he/she can gnaw on it. Select toys with no sharp edges and no parts that can be pulled off.

For the older baby, breastfeeding and toys are still good techniques. In addition, the baby is now able to have teething rusks. For babies that are already adept with finger foods, try dry toasts or grissini (bread sticks). If you are able to get Rambutans, chill them and hold one to the baby’s mouth to let him/her gnaw on it. The flesh of the Rambutan will not easily come off and the cool, soft texture mixed with the sweet taste will definitely help baby forget about his/her sore gums.

Finally, while all the suggestions above will help soothe the baby’s gums don’t forget that these experiences are new to the baby and he/she may be feeling overwhelmed by them. Cuddles work wonders for a teething baby. If you recognize that your baby is have a teething day/s, spend more time cuddling and being in physical contact with him/her.

For more insights on how I’ve been dealing with our baby, please visit http://www.the-milk-bar.info

Well me and my husband are due to have a baby girl on Nov. 2nd. We are wanting a girly name thats somewhat trendy..but still elegant so here is what we have.

Joella Grace
Carlie Elizabeth
Angela Leanne
Johannah Faith(stole it from the Duggars)
Kylie Hope

I also saw a girl on here with the name Anna Kait what do think?

Feel free to mix and match…We just need to figure it out b/c we are gonna put her name on the baby shower cake and personalized clothing
Johannah is pronounce like Jo-Hannah not Joanna..I don’t like Joanna lol
Well Joella has always been top of the list so that is what we are leaning toward

Parents no longer have to lose sleep over Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) thanks to the latest research findings, and they can take a proactive role in reducing both the worry and risk involved for their infant.  SIDS appears to result from a combination of various factors including breathing difficulties, underdevelopment of baby’s cardio-respiratory control functions, dangerous sleeping habits, and various medical conditions. Dr. William Sears, father of eight and a practicing pediatrician for over 30 years, suggests that the following SIDS risk lowering steps can help parents can reduce the risk and create a nurturing, safe, and comfortable environment for their little one, both pre-natally and post-natally. 

The first step, according to Dr. Sears, is giving your baby a healthy womb environment. Although the SIDS risk in premature babies is higher, the good news is that over 99 percent of premature infants don’t die of SIDS and that mothers-to-be can take pre-emptive steps to lessen their baby’s risk to SIDS with smart prenatal choices.  He advises getting good prenatal care, feeding yourself properly with lots of high-nutrition foods, and giving your baby a drug-free and smoke-free womb are three great ways to decrease the risk. 
He also advises keeping your baby comfortably warm, but not too warm. Over-bundling, and consequently overheating, has been shown to increase the risk of SIDS. Overheating may disrupt the normal neurological control of sleep and breathing. The respiratory control center in the brain is affected by abnormal changes in temperature, and SIDS researchers believe that overheating may cause respiratory control centers in some babies to fail.

Make sure your baby’s head is uncovered, and put your baby to sleep on his side or back. When baby sleeps on her stomach, or prone, with her cheek and abdominal organs against the bedding, these prime areas of heat release are covered, thus conserving heat. Also, never bundle a sick baby, as babies who are sick tend to have fevers, and bundling only increases body temperature.  Keep the room temperature where your baby sleeps around 68 degrees, unless you have a preterm or newborn weighing less than eight pounds; then you might want to increase the temperature by a few degrees. As a general guide, dress and cover your infant in as much, or as little, clothing and blankets as you would put on yourself. Then, let your hands be a thermostat. Babies who are overheated tend to be more restless as well.

I’ve had a rash under my armpit for a few weeks, which I got from Suave deodorant, and i tried various types of creams, but they did not work. Johnson’s and Johnson’s diaper cream, cornstarch, A&D diaper cream…not one of these made the condition much better.

However, when I started using Balmex diaper cream the rash gradually began to heal. The redness had done down, the bumps were leaving, it doesn’t itch as much, and the peeling has stopped. I’ve ran out of Balmex cream and I was wondering if I should get more or should I switch to a cream that has more zinc oxide so the rash can heal a bit faster??? Maybe, I cream like desitin? Someone even told me to try regular oatmeal on it? I just need help because I want this thing GONE!