Babies and Pets

Babies and pets require some preparation in order for the combination to work well.

A large number of pets are taken to the shelters when they're family members find out that they are expecting a child. It is very sad for the pet and for the family to relinquish a favored family member because a new arrival is expected. In most cases it is not necessary to give your pet away just because you are expecting a baby.

With a little effort and patience the transition can be made and all members of the family can remain intact.

One of the first things you, as your pet's care giver has to remember is, your pet has been "your baby" for a good while and has enjoyed all of your attention. The new baby is certainly going to diminish the amount of time you have to give your cat or dog.

So what do you do?

Start the "weaning" process as soon as you are aware that there is going to be a new arrival. Cats and dogs thrive on routine. Routine is what makes their world go round and it is up to you to gradually change the routine to accommodate the new routine you will have with the baby. Your pet needs and thrives on your attention, but it does not need it 24/7. Gradually reduce the amount of time you spend pampering your pet. I am not saying stop giving your cat or dog, pets, pats and time; I am saying "tone" it down a little.

A great way to give your pet attention without having to stop what you are doing is to talk to your cat or dog. Our pets love the sound of our voices and if you repeat your pet's name and just talk about what you are doing, you pet will feel it is getting the attention it wants.

Sounds silly, doesn't it?

Just think about it for a minute, you can talk to your pet while changing the baby, feeding the baby, bathing the baby, rocking the baby and just plain holding the baby. You can do all those things and not have to stop to pet or pat, and your pet will feel satisfied. It won't hurt to toss your dog a treat or two during the whole process and that will add more pleasure to the experience.

The secret here is to plan ahead. Cats and dogs rely on their sense of smell and their hearing. So, during that 9-month waiting period, you are going to give their noses and ears some new smells and sounds to hear.

Babies smell and look different then grownups, they don't smell like dogs or cats, they smell like babies. The plan here is you are going to invest in some baby oil and baby powder, which you will from time to time rub on your hands and let your pet smell them. It wouldn't hurt to rub some on towel and put the towel within reach of your dog or cat's nose. Do not, however, allow your dog to drag it around. That's a "no, no." All you want to do it make your pet aware of the smell.

Having a baby means "new" furniture. Whether you are buying new or getting furniture from family or friends, start bringing it in. Allow your pet to smell it and get used to its presence. All the while this is happening talk to your pet about the "baby."

There are tapes available of baby sounds, crying, gooing and all the other sounds, babies make, buy or borrow one, so your "kids" get used to the sounds babies make.

If your pet is a dog, a good idea is to buy or borrow a fairly life sized doll. Dress it in some baby clothes, carry it around the house, talk to it and your dog, go through all the motions you would be going through if it were your new baby.

I would start doing this as your time is getting nearer as it will get your pet used to the new routine. If you don't feel silly, try taking your "baby" out in the carriage or stroller and having your dog walk with you.

What we are trying to avoid here is jealousy. Some dogs are possessive and will get jealous. If you while you are awaiting the arrival of your baby, take the time and have the patience to go through all these motions, your dog will be used to having the baby around, and it will not be so threatening to him/her.

Here are a few more things to consider if your pet is a dog:

 Make certain that you provide some "one on one" time for just you and your pet. Remember this was the baby for a good while before the "real baby" came along.

 Dogs and cats are creatures of routine. If you are gong to change the place where they eat, sleep or have their toys, DO IT ahead of time. Do not wait until a few days before you are to give birth.

 If your dog has not been obedience trained, now is the time to go to obedience school. You will be so glad you did. You need your dog to obey your commands.

 Expose your dog to as many babies and/or toddlers as you can. Always keep a leash on your dog when it encounters the little ones. This way you have control inside the house or outside the house. Be certain to give your dog praise and treats when he/she behaves well around a child.

 Do not lose your patience with your dog if he/she doesn't seem too happy around children. Keep calm, do not yell or scream at your dog. By keeping calm, giving treats and praise, you can try again and eventually, your dog will realize babies are okay. Babies do not look like "big humans" and your dog may be frightened of them.

 Let the dog be in your baby's room with you, give it a special place to sit or lie down (this is where obedience school fits in) and expect him/her to stay there.

 If at all possible before you bring the baby home, have someone bring a blanket, hat, towel or anything else that has the baby's scent on it for the dog to smell.

 When you are coming home with the baby have someone else carry the little one in and you give your dog your full attention. It is important that you greet your dog just as you normally would if you left the house and came home.

 Let your dog smell the baby, if he/she barks and starts to carry on have someone take the dog and put it either in its crate or in another room to calm down. Above all do not let anyone yell, hit or scream at the dog. BE CALM and give the dog another try in a little while.

This is a new member of the pack; the baby is an extremely new concept for the dog to acknowledge. The baby looks like nothing your dog has seen in the household before. Keep in mind your dog is a dog and not a person that understands English or babies.

Get a large amount of treats to have on hand, as it is necessary to make a big fuss every time your dog behaves appropriately toward the baby. Keep a leash on the dog in the house; let him/her drag it around. The leash gives you control.

Do not exclude your dog from the family and the baby. Do not put an "inside' dog outside or in another room just because you have the baby. It is important for the dog and baby to form a bond and a bond will never form if you treat the dog as a second class citizen and banish it away.

NEVER and I mean NEVER leave the dog and your baby alone together. No matter how good the dog is with the baby. You will never know what motion or sound the baby makes that might excite the dog and it may attack.

Any dog attack on a child that you read about in the paper will have these words, "the child was on a swing or playing "alone" in the yard with the dog," we just don't know what happened. Believe it or not, it was not the dog's fault; it was the parents or the caregivers.

You will never know what provokes the attack, but most likely the child did something innocently that upset the dog. You are the adult and the one with the intelligence use it.

The preparation for the baby when you have a cat is very similar to that of a dog. If your cat is an "indoors only" kitty it will take some time and patience, indoor/outdoor cats other than being curious have a life of their own.

This doesn't mean you should suddenly put kitty outside because of the baby, especially if the cat is "declawed."

Cats live in a smell and hearing world just like dogs, only I think smell is more important to cats. So it is up to you to do the baby powder and baby oil routine on your hands? Play the sounds from the baby tape; only for cats start out softly and increase volume a little at a time.

Bring in the furniture and allow kitty to climb and smell it.

If possible bring in friends with babies and small children, more than likely kitty will run and hide, but give it a try. Make certain kitty has a place to escape to. Prepare a sanctuary for kitty before hand so the cat has had time to get used to it.

Put all the "old wives" tales of cats sucking out a baby's breath or laying on a baby to smother it out of your mind. I have lived a long time and never have I heard of a cat that did either of those things. 

 Yes, a cat will get into the crib, but usually only after the baby has left it and the spot is "warm." Cats love warm spaces. Let kitty smell the baby things.

Keep a diaper pail tightly covered as female cats have an inborn instinct to clean up after their kittens and kitty may try to help you by helping to clean the diapers.

One helpful hint in helping keep kitty calm is spraying the baby gate; door and doorjamb to the baby's room with Feliway, a wonderful product that will help keep kitty calm. In fact I would spray the furniture and the stroller just as an added measure. Feliway can be purchased at pet stores and on the Internet.

If you are concerned about toxoplasmosis, which is a rare disease in the United States. HEAR THIS it can be avoided. True it can be found in the feces of cats. The cats can get it from infected raw meat, wild birds, mice or contaminated soil. If YOU were to get it, you would have to eat the cat's feces or put your fingers in your mouth after cleaning the litter box. You could also get it from eating and handling raw meat.

So what do your do?

Wear rubber or latex gloves when: gardening or cleaning the litter box. Avoid handling raw meat or eating uncooked meat. Wash all cutting boards and counters that may have come into contact with raw meat. Feed your cat a good commercial cat food and stop worrying.

If you practice cleanliness and feed kitty well, so that it will not go out hunting, all should be well.

If you have not had your cat or dog neutered or spayed this is the time to do it. Animals that have been neutered or spayed make better pets, will not have raging hormones and will behave better.

The truth is, if you are calm, take necessary precautions, and treat your pets, as members of the family all should be well.

This may all sound like a great deal of work, when one quick trip to the animal shelter would settle the matter, but is that what you really want to do?

All these things can be done within the 9 month time frame, slowly and with good results if you take your time, be patient and use common sense.

Good luck and enjoy your baby and your pet!

If this article has been of benefit, please visit my web site and blog at http://www.cats-and-dogs-on-the-web.com

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Baby Slings - Why You Need One

Looking for a great first baby carrier? Then consider one of the best things ever to happen to modern parenthood - a baby sling.

A baby sling is a baby carrier made out of fabric that wraps around the wearer's body from his or her shoulder to the opposite hip and back up to the shoulder, creating a pocket for the baby to sit or lie down. Very common in many cultures around the world, the use of baby slings, or "baby wearing" as it is sometimes called, is gaining popularity in the United States as parents are realizing the many benefits associated with baby slings.

Benefits of Baby Slings

o Baby slings are "hands-free." They allow your baby to be with you at all times when you are running errands or tending to chores around the house.

o The baby finds comfort in the sling environment which simulates the pressure, motion and warmth sensations they experienced before birth in the womb.

o Slings are great bonding tools for fathers, grandparents and other caregivers.

o Slings may aid in reducing crying and colic, and lower the baby's stress hormones.

o Slings often make it easier to nurse in public.

o A baby sling can be used for newborns and babies up to 35 lbs.

One of the more popular types of baby slings is the pouch sling, also referred to as the tube or pocket sling, where the baby is carried in a semi-prone position. This type of sling often fits around one arm, with baby hanging at about stomach level. There are other types of slings which can be worn like a backpack, with the baby facing in or facing out.

Using a baby sling is often more convenient than trying to carry your baby around in his or her car seat, and much easier on the back. A baby sling also provides a great way to carry your baby around if you don't want to pack a bulky stroller.

Padded or Unpadded?

Padded or unpadded, that is the question many parents must decide, and there are pros and cons to both. Many parents like padded slings because they give their baby's head some support, and feels more comfortable on the shoulders. Many parents dislike padded slings because they feel padding makes the sling too bulky, and keeps the sling from being adjusted very tightly because the padding won't move through the rings. They also like unpadded slings because they are more easily shared between two people of different sizes. One option would be to choose a lightly padded baby sling which gives support to the baby's head, yet lightly padded enough to slip through the rings.

Popular Brands of Baby Slings

Popular brands of baby slings include Maya Wrap, The Peanut Shell, Moby Wrap, and Hotslings, and will generally cost in the neighborhood of $35 to $70. For hot summer days you might want to check out slings made out of Solarveil(TM) , a breathable material with UV protection, blocking out 95% of the sun's harmful rays. You can also use the Solarveil (TM) sling in the pool, shower or beach.

Baby Sling Tips

When using baby slings, it's important to keep the following in mind:

o A baby sling should not be used instead of a car seat or other infant protection device.

o Do wear your baby in a carrier while cooking at the stove or oven, as there is the risk of hot substances splashing on your baby.

o Always keep one hand on your baby when bending over, to prevent your baby from accidentally falling out.

o Remember that babies can be bumped by doorways or sharp corners, so be aware of those things while walking with your baby.

Shari Hearn is a writer and creator of Expecting Baby website, where you can read about such things as MacLaren Baby Strollers review.

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Baby Shower Gift Ideas - Look For Practical Items

There is absolutely no dearth of choices as far as baby shower gift ideas are concerned. However, you need to base your decision on the practicality and usefulness of the baby shower gifts and you should make sure that the gifts selected by you would be useful to the parents-to-be as soon as the baby is born. Given below are a few common and time-tested baby shower gift ideas.

Baby Clothes

There are several items of clothing that are required by a baby as soon as it enters this world. You can select many practical items such as undershirts, sleepers, blankets, diapers, socks etc. However, you must select only such types that are easy to put on and remove from the baby. There shouldn't be many buttons or snaps as these can be annoying at times for parents.

Baby Health Items

Since the health of the baby is of paramount importance, baby shower gift ideas in the field of health products would be ideal. You have a large choice in this field as you can find many such items in the stores. Such gifts include baby wipes, baby powder, q-tips, lotion, baby safety pins, scissors, nail file, baby thermometer, diapers and diaper bags, and hydrogen peroxide used to clean the umbilical cord.

Baby Feeding Items

One of the most practical baby shower gift ideas is to give baby feeding products. There are many such items to choose from, such as feeding spoon, bottles, bibs, baby formula, bottle holders, bottlebrush set, bottle sterilizers, breast pump, tipper cup, nipples, baby burp towels, bathrobes and plastic baby dishes. You should include plenty of similar brushes if you are including a bottle brush set. The feeding items could also include emergency baby food or formula supplies.

Bath Products

You should also consider bath products as baby shower gift ideas because they would be very useful baby shower gifts. Some of these items could include towels with hoods, baby lotions, soaps, shampoos, baby brushes, bath toys, washcloths, anti skid bathtubs, baby bath supports, etc. When you choose bath toys, you should make sure that you should only choose those toys that are appropriate for the age of the baby.

Baby Room Products

The other great baby shower gift ideas include baby room products. In this category, you can look for items such as wall pictures, stuffed animals, nursery lamp, dresser, changing table, piggy bank, bouncy seats, furniture, picture frame, ceramic items with the baby's initials and gift certificates. You can also look for various types of toys that might be of interest to the baby.

The pregnancy of the mother-to-be needs to be celebrated as it is an important phase in the lives of the parents-to-be. Baby shower is such an occasion when the friends and relatives are invited to be a part of the pregnancy celebrations and they bring with them baby shower gifts for expressing their happiness and congratulating the expectant mother. You should try to devise unique baby shower gift ideas so that the gifts that you give are useful to the parents as well as to the baby. They will always remember you when they use your gifts.

The most frequent problem that people going for baby shower parties face is dearth of baby shower gift ideas. There are numerous options for baby shower gifts that you can carry for baby shower. Baby Showers offers more information on baby shower parties, diaper cakes, baby gifts and other details related to pregnancy.

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Show Your Love by Using Organic Baby Products

Use organic baby care products for your baby as they contain natural ingredients and are excellent for the health of your young ones plus they are cheaper. The reason that people are trying to us organic products is because they have become knowledgeable about the possible side effects of the artificial ingredient that contain chemicals and spoil and damage your skin and also effect your over all bodily functions.

Latest studies show that baby powders that contain talc in them are dangerous for your baby as they are small particles that can block your respiratory tract and also develop cancer. Plus the organic products contain the essential oils and they also help to help to heal the baby skin in a natural way from rashes and also help you to keep the baby skin moisturized.

Baby shampoos can also affect your baby health as it also contains harmful chemicals that can easily be absorbed in the sensitive skin of the baby.

The organic products relieve the parents of the stress that people feel because of the health hazards involved in using artificial products. Your baby's skin is much thinner than the adult skin and so chemicals should be avoided as they can easily be absorbed and because more harm to the baby's health. And this is the main reason that companies manufacture and formulate baby products especially.

Chemicals can also start of allergic reactions on the baby's skin and you should also be careful and read the ingredients of the baby's products that you buy so that your baby can be safe from the harmful effects.

Most Baby Products Contain Harmful Chemicals like:

o Parabens are the harmful chemicals that are used in manufacturing skin and hair care products. These chemicals cause allergic reactions and other health risks.

o The SLS chemical which is actually known as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is a synthetic chemical that helps create bubbles and it can also cause allergic reactions, hair loss and skin rashes. And the worst thing of all is that this chemical is also used in cleaning products that clean corrosive surfaces and also clean engines.

o Lauramide DA This chemical also produces foamy lather and it dries up you hair and also is responsible for scalp itching and dermatitis.

o TEA is anther harmful chemical which is known by Triethanolamine and this is a toxic chemical that is used in baby shampoos.

So just love your child and take proper care for him by using organic products or at least using product that don't contain harmful chemicals as this will show that you really care for them from the depth of your heart. There are also many earth friendly baby products that you can avail as they are the best way to take care of your precious gems. You can get all these organic products from good department stores or can also order through online stores and get the products delivered at your doorstep.

Henry has been writing articles for nearly 3 years. His newest interest is in table lamps. So check out his latest website that discusses chandelier table lamp [http://chandeliertablelamp.com] deals and swing arm lamp [http://chandeliertablelamp.com/swing-arm-lamp/] info so you can give your home a special kind of lighting the whole family can enjoy.

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Premature Babies: Combining Two Methods to Save a Fragile Life

Sitting restlessly, watching her child fight for his/her life from inside the incubator case. Wires are hooked up to machines and tubes surround this helpless baby body. The expression on her face is one of confusion and sorrow because of what her newborn has to endure. She knows there is nothing she can do for her child, she's disappointed in herself because she can't fulfill her duties as a mother. 

However, incubator care in conjunction with an alternative method such as Kangaroo Mother Care proves to be the best technique in ensuring the best possible outcome for a premature infant's health and future.

Mothers of preemies are more susceptible to depression because of the endangered health of their babies. Because of hormonal changes in the body and elevated emotions are high, 10 to 15 percent of women are diagnosed with Post Natal depression.

About 12.8 percent of all births are premature in the United States. These babies are generally born anywhere from 28-36 weeks into gestation. Premature babies aren't able to thrive in this world because of severe birth defects such as breathing problems, heart conditions, anemia and hemorrhaging. These tiny babies have to overcome much in order to live. This is why the incubator was established to mimic being inside the mother's womb. The air and temperature inside the incubator is monitored to insure that the baby is at the proper environment in order to thrive. Since the baby is not well enough to breast feed from it's mother special tubes need to be attached to the baby to allow for essential nutrients to flow throughout their bodies. These nutrients will help the babies heart and lungs grow as well as improve vital antioxidants in order for them to fight off future infections.

The first incubator was built by a man named Alexandre Lion in 1891. The Lion incubator was kept warm by a water boiler mounted on the outer wall of the incubator. Fresh air would travel into the incubator by an electric fan that was blowing through a large pipe on the outside of the building. The air was then moistened by a layer of absorbent wool. This air then passed over the hot coils of the water heater. The process allowed premature babies to live in a steady warm temperature while in the incubator. This revolutionary medical device did not make its debut in a hospital or doctor's office. 

Instead incubators were taken to the TransMississippi and International Exposition where they were first put on display by a man named Martin Couney. He had originally seen Alexandre Lion trying to promote the incubators in Berlin when it had gained much popularity. Martin Couney decided to bring his show to America. He used incubators to attract large crowds that were curious and entertained by viewing the small babies that were in the see-through glass boxes. Couney charged admission for people to see the babies that were being taken care of. Even though the show was in a fair, doctors and nurses were working to take care of each and every baby. Before, the incubator was invented mothers would give birth at home and if the baby was born prematurely, the doctor would do nothing to save the child. Doctor's did not feel any responsibility to help the baby because it was too weak to live. The survival rate for premature babies in the 1900s was less than 15%. With the incubator exhibits at the famous World Fair or the Couney's Park Luna Exhibit at Coney Island, survival rates for premature infants jumped to about 85%. It was not until the 1940s that hospitals began to use incubators to help premature babies.

In 1978, there were little to no incubators in Colombia so Dr. Rey and Dr. Martinez had to start a new kind of care called Kangaroo Mother Care. Infection was spreading throughout preterm infants and the doctors had to find a way to keep the babies warm and protected from infection. The doctors decided to try to use a mother's body as an incubator just like how a kangaroo keeps her baby in her pouch. They felt that technology could not replace a mother. Incubators could be used to support and help premature babies, but not replace a mother and her touch. In the early 1980's UNICEF noticed what the doctors in Colombia were doing and appraised the effect that Kangaroo Mother Care was hands on for premature infants. UNICEF is a strong supporter of breast feeding babies and with Kangaroo Mother Care this action is strongly encouraged. Because, UNICEF recognized the efforts of the Dr. Rey and Dr. Martinez in Colombia, this practice slowly spread to third-world countries such as Africa, Vietnam and Brazil. In fact, this type of care for premature infants has become so useful that it has been paired hand in hand with Incubator care. This type of care is still relatively new and experiments are still being done to explore the full effects of skin to skin care between mother and baby.

Mothers who give birth to healthy full-term infants are able to feel the effects of the "golden moment". This special moment happens because the mother releases a hormone from her body called oxytocin, which induces bliss and relief. This feel-good drug does not only affect the mother but also the baby (these effects can also be felt during an orgasm). The drug causes a love-at-first sight moment and can be critical to a mother and baby bonding. This moment is not essential to bond with your baby, but it is a definite plus with the mother and baby's relationship. These released hormones are powerful and both mother and baby are attracted to each other chemically. The hormones also help the baby "sniff" out the mother's nipple to begin breast-feeding for the first time. Pediatrics recommend skin-to-skin contact for these crucial baby moments. If, these moments are robbed by hospital policy or the baby is taken away to be cleaned do not worry. There will be many other chances to bond with your newborn baby. The most important information to know about bonding with your baby is quality time, not the quantity of time. Babies are most comfortable with the scent of their mothers, also the mother's breast milk tends to soothe the baby and reduce his/her stress.

Depending on the mother, the anesthesia (epidural) that is administered in cesarean section may cause her to be drowsy. In this sleepy state she is most likely not able to care for her baby properly. Although this may be disappointing for the mother, this does not mean that the premature baby needs to be taken to the NICU. According to a study by Christensson, Fagerberg, Erlandsson and Dsilna, fathers can step in and take an important role in the development and bonding with the baby. The study was carefully done with 29 families. Fourteen families would wrap a baby and place it in a cot with their father beside them, the other 15 families would have the baby naked and placed on their father's chest. The father's in the cot group were not able to pick up their child at all. The scientists would both observe the actions of each group by how much infants cry by attaching a microphone close to their mouths. The results were that the babies in the skin-to-skin group were significantly less than babies that were kept in a cot. The skin-to-skin group had a mean score of 13.4 seconds per 5-minute period while the cot group had 33.4 seconds per 5-minute period. The cot group cried less as time passed but the skin-to-skin group decreased rapidly after being put skin-to-skin with their fathers, within the first 15 minutes. Also, skin-to-skin contact showed infants in a drowsy state within 60 minutes of contact with their father while the cot group only achieved this state with 110 minutes. 

This type of care is recommended for the care of preterm infants when the mother is not present. During the separation of mother and baby the father should be considered the primary caregiver.

Premature infants have the hardest time trying to adapt to the outside world. Their immune systems are weak and they are not strong enough to fend off infections and temperature changes. Also, the premature baby is not as developed. They exhibit signs of lower cognitive and motor skills. This can cause mothers to have problems bonding with their child. Incubators can make social interaction with their children even more difficult. Kangaroo Mother Care is helpful in this instance to aid in the bonding and health of a premature baby. The simple touch of a mother and baby will stimulate growth and development of the infant's brain and bodies. This important touch has a high possibility with breast feeding your infant because of the skin to skin contact. The more time a mother can have to hold her baby and gaze into his or her eyes will help her feel less depressed and she will perceive her infant as less abnormal. Women who tend to their child using Kangaroo Mother Care were more able to talk about their feelings, positive or negative. Kangaroo Mothers shared their strong emotions with their care givers and support groups. Premature mothers had feelings of great disappointments and loss of a normal pregnancy. Also, guilt over their child's stressful and painful life so far. These emotions slowly started to fade as Kangaroo Mother Care was administered and mother and baby began to acquaint themselves. Because, mother and infant begin to build a strong relationship, mothers have increased self esteem and more joy. They are fully confident in taking their infant home and caring for them.

Scientists did a study to compare Kangaroo Mother Care against incubator care for thermal regulation. Hypothermia is common in low birth weight infants. Premature babies use half of all their energy trying to maintain body temperature. This takes a toll on premature babies because they don't have enough energy to fend off infection and support body development. KMC has shown to improve blood oxygenation, lower infection rates. The babies cry less and are alert for a longer period of time. 

This also leads mothers to breast feed for a longer period of time and mothers to stay in the hospital for a shorter period of time. The study was done in Nigeria from May to July 2001. Thirteen infants were tested in this experiment. Because this study was done in a third-world country the results will be even more effective in first-world situations. Low body weight infants were observed to have fewer episodes in KMC than in incubator care. Some cases of hyperthermia were documented for babies of Kangaroo Mother Care. Hyperthermia is when the body temperature becomes too high and above the norm. Because the incubators were in a third-world country the electricity would shut off and babies temperature will become irregular. Kangaroo Mother Care is better for third-world mothers because they are able to regulate their babies' body temperatures more easily.

The last key to a successful Kangaroo Mother Care treatment is full support from the close family. Both mother and father should participate in the care for their own infant and build their relationship with their newborn together. The transition from hospital to home can be a tough one. There are no nurses to take care of you and doctors to constantly monitor you throughout the day. Many mothers of premature infants may see this as a daunting task but thankfully Kangaroo Mother Care prepares mother and father exactly for this moment. Kangaroo Mother Care should empower them with confidence that they can take care of and raise their child even though he or she was born premature.

In 2008, a group of researching scientist wanted to test out the hypothesis that Kangaroo Mother Care creates a climate in the family, which enhances infants' performance on the developmental quotient scale. They used the HOME (Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment) test in determining whether or not Kangaroo Care mothers create a better overall environment for the premature baby then a traditional care mom whose baby was treated in an incubator. The father's involvement in the raising of his premature infant greatly affected the home environment of the baby.

 The information was gather by an interview composed of 45 yes or no questions. Of the 45 questions, 18 of the questions can be answered by simple observation and the other 27 require an interview. The results of the interviews and observations suggested that Kangaroo Families (mean =.28) compared to Traditional Care families (mean = -.51) provided a more developmentally oriented caregiving environment. Kangaroo Families are also more open and welcoming into their home opposed to the traditional care group. High father involvement had a huge positive impact in the family atmosphere. When fathers are more involved the families are more stimulating and open to neighbors and mothers have more positive interactions with her infant. There was a strong association between HOME scores and the infants' developmental quotient, indicating that infants benefit more from a positive home environment. This study promotes the idea that both parents should take a part in Kangaroo Mother Care for the full effects to take place in their premature infant. Mother and Father will gain strong bonds with their premature baby by continuously providing care and support for each other and their child.

Kangaroo Mother Care consists of three key components the kangaroo position, breast feeding and family support. The first key to help develop a premature baby after birth is to position the baby on the mother's chest if the infant is healthy enough. This should mimic the same body-temperature regulation as an incubator. This skin-to-skin contact will allow the mother to realize that she is able to take care of the premature baby despite the child's size. The second key is breast feeding and the importance of touch. This component is important to stabilize the babies health and start a special bond between both parents and infant. Kangaroo Mother Care allows parents to feel that they are no longer helpless to their premature infant's situation. They can now feel responsible and the connection between infant and parents are now stronger. This special closeness between mother and baby will allow the mother to heal psychologically but also help regulate the baby's temperature and heart rate. Breast feeding has also been shown to improve neurological development and IQ. The final and most important key to the long-term development of a premature infant is family support. 

This key is essential for both mother and infant. The father's role in family support is significant to the overall home environment. Mother's become more receptive and aware of the infant. With both parents working in unison with one another to promote the health of the premature infant the family environment will become more stimulating and positive. A strong home environment will cause the premature infant to grow and mature faster than traditional care infants.

Kangaroo Mother Care can be used in a variety of different scenarios. The lowest level of care that KMC can be administered is to setting with little to no neonatal care for the premature infant. This environment may be a birth that has taken place at home or in a country where there are little to no incubators. Kangaroo Mother Care can also be applied in middle to low income countries. The hospitals in these countries may only have a limited amount of incubators for premature infants. 

Therefore, with no space left infants will need to be taken care of by a human incubator, their mother. In high-income countries where access to numerous amount of incubators are readily available Kangaroo Mother Care is not needed because of an insufficiency but to establish a bond between mother and infant; also to encourage breast feeding. Premature babies are able to be quickly stabilized in an incubator and then taken out to reunite with it's mother. This moment will allow mothers and infants a time to lower their stress levels and bond on a deeper level. The quicker a premature infant can be returned back to their mother, the more of a bond they can establish before they are discharged home.

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How to Choose Ecologically Friendly Baby Gifts

When buying a gift for a friend's baby shower, you might want to consider ecologically friendly baby gifts. These products will be healthier for the infant and better for the environment.

While your first thought might be that they will be ugly or boring, you will be surprised to find many cute, interesting baby products that are also eco-friendly. In fact, you often cannot even tell the difference between regular products and ones labeled as "green."

Products that are safe for a baby and good for the environment are durable, decorative, and affordable.

Green Baby Health and Safety Products

One item that is easy to be organic and environmentally friendly with is baby health products such as lotions and baby wash. How do you know what is safe and good for a baby? Look for one with all-natural ingredients without a lot of preservatives and other chemicals in it.

When you look at a label, look past the wording that says "all-natural" or "organic" and read the list of ingredients. Do some research on the ingredients to find ones that are safe to be put on your baby. Everything that is put on your infant's skin is absorbed and eventually ends up in the bloodstream. The wrong ingredients can be harmful to a baby now and in the future.

You can also find strollers, car seats, and other items that are eco-friendly. Almost anything you can buy for babies can also be made in an ecologically-friendly way. Many of these items use recycled materials that would otherwise left in our environment for decades or even centuries.

Baby Clothing and Diapers

Clothing for babies and diapers are two more areas where you can go natural for gifts. While ecologically-friendly diapers used to be ugly, today they come with cute designs and work as well as regular diapers.

You can buy cloth diapers that are washable and resusable. However, another option is to buy diapers that are made of material that will break down quickly instead of lying in landfills for decades. Some of them have reusable diapers with disposable inserts that can be flushed down the toilet.

Choosing eco-friendly clothing for a baby means using natural products that are chemical-free and produced by humane means. For instance, using cotton that has been raised and harvested without pesticides. It will also mean using cotton producers that do not have child labor working in the cotton fields. Clothing made with organic cotton is softer and will last longer.

Toys

Landfills are filled with plastic toys that have been played with and tossed aside. It will take hundreds of years or longer for these items to break down. You can choose to buy ecologically-friendly toys that are cute and educational while being good for the earth.

These toys are made from sustainable wood, organic fabrics, and recycled materials. They are decorative and fun to play with. These toys also are often simpler made, while fostering creativity and helping develop skills in the child. Many of these items are made from wood that is harvested from sustainable forests. Other materials include fabric and rubber; when plastic is used, it comes from recycled products.

There are several ways to have a baby shower. You can go with themes, as if everyone brings diapers or books, Thanks for reading my article on the subject of Baby Shower visit [http://www.vpgifts.com] today and choose the best one for you.

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Caring For Your Newborn Baby

A baby might look so fragile to a point of one flinching while holding her but the truth of the matter is that a healthy newborn baby is not as week and fragile as he/she may appear to be. There are steps and instructions that one can follow so as to make bringing up a child as fulfilling as possible.

One of the nagging issues that parents face on choosing the diapering of the baby and deciding on the right diaper to use. Each type, whether disposable, cloth or diapers service have their advantages and drawbacks at the same time. The decision should be based on the time and access to a washer or dryer as well as environmental concerns. Many parents however find a combination of cloth and disposable quite viable while putting cost into consideration. Diapers should be changed after every bowel movement and whenever they get wet. There are disposable diapers that come with fewer chemical and are the most preferable among many mothers. In case of rashes, a mother should use a barrier cream or seek advice from a baby health care provider on the best cream to use.

Swaddling is yet another issue that might disturb new mothers. A newborn baby needs to be kept warm and secure at all times and this can be done by the use of a baby blanket and wrapping it over to the baby's feet. When it comes to dressing, all new clothes should be washed as well as blankets and linens before they are used for the first time. A mild detergent should be used and then double rinse the clothes so as to protect the baby's skin from irritation. Newborn babies should not be washed on a daily basis though but areas such as the face and the genitals should be wiped with a sponge daily.

For more information, visit Nursery Value - Home of Petite Star. Specialising in low cost, high quality Travel system, Baby Walkers and Petite Star Zia.

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