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A Brief Primer For First Time Dads

07/07/2008 by

So you fixed the baby's room, decorated it with cool baby stuffs, assembled the crib, bought a baby mobile and packed enough photo and video equipment to document the arrival of the little angel in you and your wife's life. But then first time dads will often wonder, what would I do if the baby is really now coming home? Will you be willing to pick up the baby when he cries? Changed his diaper when it's soaked? I guess the said task are no longer a choice of whether you will do it or not but rather it is now a tasked incorporated in your title as the head of the family and being the partner of your wife.

In order that first time daddies would not be lost in translation and in the oblivion of how to's let me share some few pointer in taking care of that little angel.

First of all, it will all begin with the search and meeting the baby's pediatrician. Such task should be done even before the baby is born so that you can start establishing a good relationship with the pediatrician. Through thorough consultations, identifying high risk situations in your wife's pregnancy will be known and thus, it will be easier for the first time fathers to handle the situation.

Secondly, during the birth of your angel, do not fret over uneven color spots on the skin, the funny looking head with soft spots and the puffy eyes. They are all normal. There is no need to be alarmed inasmuch as the baby will soon transformed into that perfect angel looking kid that you and your partner dreamed of.

Thirdly, first time daddies should remember that picking up baby is not a hard thing to do. One of my friends told me that her husband never picks up the baby because her husband is too scared that he may broke the baby's neck or bones. Holding the baby is like holding a sack of potato. You just have to make sure that the baby's head and neck are supported. In that way no breaking of the bones, necks or other parts of the body is done. There is one more important thing, never shake the baby. That's it, easy.

Fourth, the biggest dilemma of all: the choice of whether you will use cloth or disposable diapers. Well the answer is really up to you, but when counting costs, you may also consider the water and the soap that you will need to wash those clothes. Expert says that the best choice is to choose both, combine and alternate using disposable and cloth diapers to let the baby's bottom breathe after being covered with an elastic material for hours. Diaper rash however may be seen if the baby's sensitive skin is constantly soaked with wetness from his urine and dirt from the baby's stool, adding more is the heat from the diaper. Thus, in order to prevent diaper rash, a father who is in charge has to clean the area very well with mild soap and water and drying them up first before changing the diaper. Anti-diaper rash cream may also be used.

Remember that these are the most common dilemmas in fatherhood when it comes to taking care of his new born child. Expect a lot more though. But never fret and take each day at a time. Consider them as happy activities, activities that will surely help you and your partner in life grow together.

Author Bio: James Brown writes about Baby Browns promo code, BunnyburyBaby.com web code and Old Navy web code

 

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Finding a Good Babysitter For Your Kids

06/07/2008 by

By Veronica Scott

Entrusting someone else to care for your child can be a daunting ordeal. But mommies and daddies desperately need those moments away to reconnect with each other. And those times shouldn't be spent calling home every five minutes and constantly worrying if your children are being properly cared for. However, if you put in the time and effort into choosing a babysitter that you trust and your kids like, time spent away can be more enjoyable.

Where to Start?

One of the biggest obstacles may be where to even find people that would want to baby-sit your kids. A good place to start is to contact local churches, schools, pediatricians or neighborhood groups to see if they may have a list of babysitters. Another good source is to ask other parents for recommendations. There are also professional nanny services in bigger cities. Though it may cost more through this service, it does have perks such as guaranteed experience, background checks, references, and first-aid and CPR training.
If all else fails, you could place an advertisement in your local paper or look for websites that specialize in connecting parents with sitters.

Thing to Consider When Interviewing Potential Babysitters

After you've gathered a list of potential babysitters, it is a good idea to first interview them over the phone to find out if they might be a right match for you. You could also check references ahead of time as well. This will give you an idea of whom you might want to interview in person and save you some time as well.

One thing that should be a consideration is the age of the babysitter. Are you looking for a teenager or someone older? Also take into consideration the ages and number of children that need to be watched. Could a teenager handle watching an infant and a toddler?

Find out how much experience the sitter has had with children. Have they watched young children, older children or combination of both? Does the sitter have a certification from a safe babysitting course? Do they know first aid and CPR?

Ask for references of other families who have used the sitter. If the sitter has little experience, get a character reference from another adult or teacher who knows the sitter.
It is also a good idea to let the potential sitter know your expectations ahead of time. Such as the hourly rate you are willing to pay, any household rules, your policy regarding the sitter's use of the phone and outside visitors and any chores that you expect them to perform.

If the initial interview and references are good, arrange a trial run to see how your children interact with the sitter. Have the sitter come to the house for an hour or two while you are home. Be sure and pay them for their time.

Prepare the Babysitter

After you've decided on someone, it is important to prepare the sitter for the job at hand. Be sure and give them a tour of your home so they know where things are located, especially emergency exits. Show them where the telephones are located and post emergency numbers including a relative or friend who can be reached immediately. Always leave a phone number where you can be reached and your cell phone number.

Let the sitter know your expectations regarding feeding and bedtime schedules. Also let them know the household rules such as television time and what the children can and cannot watch and specific areas of the home where the children are not permitted to play.

Hopefully all goes well and you have found yourself a good babysitter! If so, make sure the sitter knows he or she is appreciated. A little extra cash or a gift card on occasion can sometimes do the trick!

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Family-Nurturing Communication Topic – Kindergarten Graduate to First Grade – Rite of Passage

06/07/2008 by

Family-Nurturing Communication Topic - Kindergarten Graduate to First Grade - Rite of Passage
By Huldah Jones

Prepare a Personal Family Event to celebrate this significant milestone in your family. The more personal and private the better as it is an occasion different than the public"one for each child. Let your Kindergarten graduate show what she or he has accomplished the following activities:

  • Know all capital and lower case letters. recognize
  • Know the days of the week and the months of the year
  • Know phone number, address, and birthday
  • Count from 1-30
  • Able to say the months of the year

During the summer break create ways to re-enforce that information with your Kindergarten graduate.

  • At this age summer is long, memory is short when not plugged in often. Your graduate couldn't wait to go from pre-school to Kindergarten now they can't wait for first grade which, to some children with older siblings, is "real" school because there is homework.

In preparing for first grade observe whether or not your child in comfortable in the following areas:

  • Use family-nurturing time to enhance communication skills, listening skills and follow-thru.
  • Create opportunities for dialogue and observe your child's comfort level in discussion.

Use the Bible to strengthen the Kindergarten graduate's relationship with the Lord, family, friends. Illustrations from Vacation Bible School can be used at this time. Most themes from VBS can be enhanced with further discussion at home. Here are a few examples from previous VBS summer's.

  • A series emphasis on the Truth about Jesus. Devote a time during family dialogue for your Kindergarten graduate to share the truth learned about Jesus Christ at VBS.
  • Help your child articulate the facts of Christ's life and teaching as well as His Deity. The summer between Kindergarten and First Grade can be an exciting one for your "Graduate."

Huldah Jones invites you learn more techniques to begin a Strategy for Family-Nurturing Communication at http://www.jbhgroup.com

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A Mother's Job is Never Done

06/07/2008 by

By Yana Berlin

First to arrive and the last to depart, I left my girlfriends house at half past midnight, got into my car and headed toward my parents' house in Los Angeles. My daughter, who is currently attending UCLA, is living with my parents, and I was looking forward to spending the night cuddling her like so many years ago when she was just a baby.

I had been up since very early that morning, but felt like I had more energy than ever. Tonight was one of our Book Club meetings, and reconnecting with my girlfriends always recharges my batteries. I kept thinking how six of us reading the same book could batter up different opinions and views. In particular, it amazed me how three of us thought that the main character died tragically, while the other three insisted that he did not. Discussing books is always fun, and catching up and bonding with girlfriends is priceless.

My busy day required several hours on the cell phone, and by the end of the evening the battery had run dead and my charger was at home. Around 9:00 p.m., I called my other kids to say goodnight and mentioned that my battery was dying. Knowing that three of them were with my husband and one was with my parents, I could relax and enjoy my evening without any worries.

As I got into my car after a delightful evening of book discussion, dinner, a few drinks and a lot of gossip, I thought about my parents and how much they enjoy having my daughter live with them. Daisy appreciates living there as well, but is always concerned that they worry about her.

Before Daisy moved in, my mom swore that she would not give her a hard time about going out and coming home late. So far, she has kept her end of the bargain. The only problem is, she doesn't bother Daisy; instead she calls me!

Déjà vu All Over Again

As I parked my car and climbed the few steps to my parents' town home, I opened the door and froze. There stood mom in her pajamas, a look of horror on her face.

Before I had a chance to ask what was wrong, she began screaming that she has been up for hours, worried sick about me. She tried calling me, but my phone was dead. She didn't know if something happened, and why didn't I call, and on and on she went.

As I stood there at 43 years of age, a mother of four grown children, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Part of me felt like asking mom what she was doing up so late, and part felt like I was back in high school, about to get grounded. Only when my mom proclaimed that, "she will talk to my husband" and that "these book clubs have to end, after all how long does it take to discuss one book?" could I no longer contain my laughter.

I love my overly protective, neurotic Jewish mother, but getting lectured at 1:00 in the morning for staying out too late was just too much to take with a straight face. When I asked her to keep quiet in fear of waking my father, mom turned around and announced that she was going to bed.

Still laughing, I entered the bedroom where my daughter laid snickering under the sheets. She told me that grandma waits up for her every time she leaves the house, and also said that my mom made her call and text all of my friends to see if they knew of my whereabouts. Fortunately, my daughter wasn't worried about me, and actually found the whole incident very entertaining.

As I climbed into bed with my 'baby," we had a long talk about how a mother's job is never done. In my mom's eyes, I was still a child that needs protection - regardless of my age - and that will never change.

It was a real eye opener for Daisy to see me standing there, ready to take the punishment from my mom. Only this time, I could risk having a smile on my face without the fear of getting sent to my room or ruining my chances of going out that weekend. As my daughter turned to say goodnight, she said, "Mommy, I promise never to run out of power on my cell phone" and we both happily fell asleep.

Before I left for home the next morning, I made an orchid arrangement for my mom as a silent thank you for loving all of us the way she did.

Mom, I love you, Happy Mother's Day.

Yana Berlin is the founder and CEO of http://www.fabulously40.com devoted to the celebration of all things, primarily women and the challenges and joys they face juggling their careers, children, relationships, and life's other issues. Fabulously 40.com is a social network for women that catalyzes its members to celebrate and embrace their life. Since launching fabulously40.com Mrs. Berlin has been connecting, and supporting women all over the world.

2008 (c) This article can only be reproduced in it's entirety when the link to http://www.fabulously40.com is live at all times.

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