Baby Gender Selection

It is amazing that over 80% of couples trying to conceive a baby state that if they could, they would pick the gender of their baby. While every baby is a blessing and a gift, many of us can’t deny that when we think about getting pregnant or think back to when we were pregnant that we wished for a baby girl or a baby boy. For some reason, we just felt it important… or more ideal to have one over the other.

There are a few things that you can do medically to help increase the likelihood of having one gender over the other. They are expensive and rather inconvenient. Most often they require you to get pregnant their invitro fertilization or other medical means.

However, if you are set on having a baby boy instead of baby girl, you may want to talk with your doctor about the different procedures, their effectiveness and the outcome percentages. Some have said that the only way you can absolutely guarantee that you have the baby you want is to adopt, there are others that are willing to give a number of old fashioned recommendations a try.

Some of those methods include the Shettles method. This can be used to have a boy or a girl, though overall it is more successful for conceiving a girl. The method was created by a doctor and there is some sound medical advice the supports the theories. Though it is not 100%.

There are also people that believe baby gender selection can be left to the foods that you consumer. Creating a more alkaline or more acidic environment makes it more favorable for one sex over the other. Some favorite foods if you want to have a girl include sweets and fresh veggies, whereas if you are looking to have a boy then you want to go for salty snacks and red meat.

Some people have said that the date of the month, odd or even, will impact the sex of the baby. There are other people that believe the phases of the moon can impact whether you have a boy or a girl. Different sexual positions can impact whether you are having a girl or a boy as well as who has the orgasm first, or if the woman should have one at all.

Many medical professionals even recommend that when a couple is trying to conceive that the man changes the undergarments he wears. Instead of wearing briefs he needs to wear boxers to help keep the treasure cool.

You may also find it interesting to know that while men do produce less sperm as they age, the sperm that they have only lives for three months.

So when couples go to the doctor to discuss ways to increase their chances of conceiving the doctors are going to look at the age of the women. Ladies the eggs you have when you are 35 are the same eggs you had when you were just a fetus in your mom’s womb.

There is nothing wrong with trying different things to influence the sex of your baby. Secretly we all wish we have control over the baby gender selection process.

Getting Ready For A Baby

How To Get Ready For A Baby

Even if you are still recovering from the joyful news that you are going to have baby, you will find that there are lots of things that need to be done to prepare. Whether you are a new parent or someone who has been through this before, take some time between getting the crib ready and purchasing baby clothes to consider some steps for welcoming your new son or daughter home.

1.Tell your other children
Some children will take news that they have a new sibling incoming with perfect grace, while others will become very fretful and nervous. Take time to remind them that you still love them and how you are going to need their help.

2.Gather a support network
You may be going into this on your own, or you may have a loving support spouse by your side, but remember that having more people around is important. Remember to get out and talk with friends and family. Get their support in what is a very happy, but very stressful time.

3.Accept other emotions.
When you are expecting a baby, you will find that you are going to be besieged with different emotions, and it might surprise you that not all of them are pleasant. A baby is going to change your life, and it is okay to be nervous or fearful. Work them out, find solutions and take some time to process them.

4.Classes, classes, classes!
Today, you will find that there are lots of reasons to try to take classes on prenatal care. You never know when there is going to be some information that you need, or when you are going to meet some new people, so don’t hesitate to sign up.

5.Pet care
Once you have talked to your other children, think about your pets. How is your dog or cat’s behavior and how is that going to mesh with a new baby? Take some time and make sure that you consider taking your pet to obedience training and don’t hesitate to make sure that he or she is introduced to your new baby as soon as it is possible. The sooner they start getting used to each other, the better!

6.Consider green alternatives
It is easy to say that you want to take care of your baby in a way that doesn’t harm or impact the environment, but you will find that the more planning you do, the happier you are going to be. Consider things like the source of diapers or what sort of food you are considering.

Having a baby is a life-changing event, and it is natural to be nervous. Take some time and make sure that you are preparing everything for the big day; it is much easier than you think!

So you and your partner have just discovered that you are going to be parents. You realize that not only are you thrilled with the prospect of becoming a parent; you are also terrified of the road that lies ahead. If this is your first baby you are probably wondering what life has in store for you and exactly what changes are going to occur along the way.

The early signs of pregnancy will quickly be replaced with the later stages of pregnancy. Those nine months do go by very quickly. You will go from first learning the results of your pregnancy test to delivering a bouncing baby boy or girl.

One of the most important things to consider when you first find out you are expecting is medical care. Healthy babies are born to healthy mothers. You want to ensure that you are doing everything in your power to give your child the best foundation for a healthy life. Your doctor will initially run some tests to determine if everything is in order.

The doctor will also chart your progress through the different stages of pregnancy. They will explain in detail the different stages of fetal development and what is happening with your baby during each month. The doctor will also routinely weigh you and measure your stomach to determine the size of the baby. An ultrasound test will probably be in your future and the doctor may even tell you the gender of the baby.

When your friends and family discover you are pregnant they will have many pregnancy tips to offer. Everything from where to learn Lamaze techniques to what foods you need to be eating will be offered. Although all well-wishers want to believe you will follow their advice when it comes to a diet for pregnant women, you are best off to ask the advice of your doctor or nutritionist.

With the arrival of your new bundle of joy comes a whole host of things you’ll need to buy. The first are actually for you and no doubt you’ll want maternity clothes that reflect your own personal style. You can find maternity clothes that are appropriate for almost any occasion. There are even bikinis for expectant mothers to wear as they exercise in the water. If you are too shy for that consider a one piece but don’t forego the exercise, it’s an essential part of a healthy pregnancy.

Get ready for everything to change once the baby arrives. Three am feedings and days without a shower will become the norm. No longer is your life your own, instead you’ll feel compelled to tend to that wonderful new member of your family. Enjoy each and every moment of your pregnancy. You will be happy when the baby arrives and you will also have all of the memories of the months spent getting ready for the most important day of your life, the day you become a parent.

But, it doesn’t take long for mom and dad to discover that the newborn baby has a mind of his own and will make his presence felt in a hundred and one ways – not all of them amusing. As most parents will tell you, it’s all a matter of practice and patience.

Feeding your baby: The first of the many tough decisions you have to make is whether to breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby. Research suggests that breast milk is the best food for a young baby. Always remember to burp your baby gently after a feeding. While feeding from the bottle, make sure your baby is not taking in air bubbles. When your baby is ready to accept semi-solids and solids, introduce one food at a time. Allow him some time to get used to each food. Give him lots of fresh juice and water. Avoid store-bought articles that are high in starch and sugar.

Diapering: This is the next major decision you have to make. Cloth, disposables or diaper service – which will it be? Each has its own pros and cons. Parents usually make a decision based on time, convenience, environmental concerns and financial considerations.

The sanest advice I’ve received is to avoid a puritanical fascination for any one type. Use a combination – probably cotton diapers for home, and disposables while traveling.

Bathing and Grooming: If your baby makes his bath look like the closing scene from a battleground, use baby baths to secure him and lots of toys to distract him. Never leave you baby unattended near water. After your baby’s bath, bundle him up in a nice fluffy towel and dry him thoroughly. Make sure the umbilical area is dry and that the eyes, ears and nose are clean. You may need to clean these with a wet washcloth, but never insert buds into them. Trim your baby’s nails just after a bath. Applying moisturizer or baby powder is a matter of personal choice.

Sleeping: Put your baby to sleep on his back. Your baby is bound to steal a lot of your sleep. During the first year of his life, he will wake up a number of times at night. Many parents try different techniques from co-sleeping to a no-hands approach. Choose whatever works for you.

Common health problems include colic, diaper rash, cradle cap and skin rash. Many of these problems need just a little extra care and patience. If your baby is in pain, take him to your doctor. Remember to record his inoculations and keep a height-weight chart to evaluate your baby’s progress.

Traveling: Pack all the items you need along with plenty of extra clothes and diapers. Place your baby in a safe and secure car seat. Go easy on feeding while you travel. Avoid crowds during the first few months.

Safety and comfort are two of the most important things to keep in mind when you handle your baby. It is a good idea to have a fairly regular schedule for bathing, feeding, playing and sleeping.

Your baby will always respond to a warm, loving environment. Hold your baby, cuddle him and respond to his cries. It is impossible to ‘spoil’ a little baby. Let your love overflow. Most of all enjoy early parenthood – kids grow up very fast.

Most parents-to-be begin by setting up a nursery. Usually, a crib is the first piece of furniture you get your baby. A good crib should meet all voluntary and mandatory safety guidelines. Many parents are so caught up with the blue flowers and the pink bows that they sometimes ignore the need for safety. A cardinal rule of thumb before purchasing any baby gear is: safety first. As your bundle of joy will be spending more than two-thirds of his or her time lying down, a quality crib mattress and soft bedding are also necessary. And while you’re at it, pick up a mattress cover too! A baby-monitor is absolutely necessary in your child’s nursery. You may also want to get a changing table and a baby walker.

Sometimes, baby gear falls drastically short when it comes to baby clothes. Most new parents, (especially Moms) focus inordinately on getting all the ‘cute’ outfits. In the hurry to grab those oh-so-wonderful must-haves, essentials are forgotten. Absorbent baby blankets, cotton baby suits, bibs and soft innerwear are items that you really can’t have enough of. Sometimes baby clothes have to be changed faster than diapers. That’s because for the first year of their lives, babies are essentially messy, slobbering, waste-producing machines. But beware of the buy-it-all syndrome that some mothers suffer from. You should not have so many suits that you end up with a pile of unused baby clothes that Junior has outgrown. Half a dozen clean outfits at any given time should suffice. When you travel, pack extra.

A new baby means a whole new range of toiletries too. You will need baby oil, baby soap and shampoo and of course, baby powder. This last is useful when you need to keep your baby’s bottom dry. Choose a baby powder that has no talcum powder base; a cornstarch base would be ideal for the little tyke. Purchase ONLY mild baby soap and shampoo, as chemicals will be harsh on your baby’s tender skin. Also purchase a high-quality, natural moisturizer. To keep yourself on top of all these easy-to-overlook items, it’s probably a good idea to make a list of items and then go shopping (with the list, of course!).

When all the necessary furniture and supplies have been bought, you may want to get some things for fun and entertainment. While your baby will be busy learning from all the interesting little things going on around him or her, some toys will help soothe frayed nerves. One excellent toy for your baby is a mobile. Fluffy, soft toys that provide some kind of sensory stimulation are also quite handy. As your baby gets a little older, teething toys become absolutely essential. Baby toys are an exciting world in themselves.

With all these items safely tucked away in the nursery, there’s only one thing for you to do – wait for your adorable baby to make his or her entrance into the world!

Children are naturally curious. They are made that way so they can learn through touch, taste and feeling. The world around them seems pretty colorful and Junior is in a hurry to learn it all at once. But as a parent, you have to ensure the safety of your child by restraining him. It is not possible to supervise your child relentlessly. The only option is baby proofing.

Baby proofing means making certain areas of your house one hundred percent safe for your baby. Ideally, such an area should be a place where you can allow your little one to romp without any restraint. So, what does baby proofing require?

Let’s start with the nursery. Crib slats should be about 2 3/8 inches apart, so your baby’s head does not get trapped. Bedding should be soft, but not loose. The crib mattress must fit tightly in the crib so the child cannot fall into any gaps. Never place the crib near window cords. When the baby starts sitting up, remove any mobiles and toys tied to the crib. Exercise caution if your baby is sleeping with you. Never place your precious one on soft surfaces like quilts, sofas, waterbeds or large soft toys.

Small children are prone to choking hazards. Lock away all such items that are easy for your baby to put into his mouth. Electrical sockets hold a special fascination for little children. Replace existing outlet plates with safety plates that automatically cover the outlet when a socket is unplugged. Videos, CD players and all electronic items should be locked away safely. Remember, most household equipment is just the right height for your baby to crawl into or pull open. Your refrigerator, washing machine, dishwasher and oven must remain out of bounds to the little one.

Most kitchen cabinets and bathrooms hold poisonous chemicals, potent medicine and beauty products. Lock these items away or install a high shelf that baby cannot reach. Any areas that once held poisonous materials like insecticides must be cleaned thoroughly because children have a curious fixation with eating the wrong things from wrong places. Just a tablespoon of salt can prove deadly for an infant weighing 25 pounds or less.

Your bathroom should be baby proofed with utmost care. Babies can easily drown in very little water. Never leave your baby alone in the bathroom. Medicine cabinets must be locked. Do not use a baby monitor anywhere near water. Always test the water for warmth before giving your little one a bath. Install dual locks so that the child does not accidentally lock himself in. Staircases must always have safety gates, and these must be locked when your baby is up and about.

Be extra careful with what he puts into his mouth. Do not go near the stove with your baby in your arms. All utensils should have their handles turned to their back.

Always keep a first aid kit ready and well stocked. Have all emergency numbers at hand.
A little caution combined with some common sense is all you need to baby proof your home effectively.

All pregnant women are anxious about the little life growing within them.

Regardless of whether it is the first or fifth, a pregnancy is fraught with anxiety.

There was a time when an expecting mother had to wait for her prenatal check-up to listen to her baby’s heart. The wait between two appointments can drive you out of your mind. This is particularly excruciating for women who have experienced miscarriages or complications in earlier pregnancies. But now you can buy yourself a little peace of mind by getting your own prenatal heart monitor.

The first time a woman hears her baby’s heart is really special. It’s an experience you can’t describe. The health provider uses a device known as a fetal heart rate monitor to enable the mother to hear her baby’s heartbeat. After a gel or oily solution is spread on the belly, a probe is gently moved around until the baby’s heartbeat has been located. A fetal Doppler, as it is otherwise called, uses a probe to detect the high frequency sound waves that are emitted when the baby’s heart beats. Once the heartbeats are detected, the probe sends the waves to the Doppler, which subsequently amplifies the sound for the parent to hear. The gel or oil is spread because the sound waves cannot be heard under normal conditions.

A heart rate monitor at home: A fetal monitor allows you to listen to your precious baby any time you feel like it. You can hear the heart beat as early as eight weeks into the pregnancy. It is now possible to share the thrill with your family and friends, from within the privacy of your home.

Fetal heart rate monitors are easy to use. Most home instruments are battery operated. Place the probe just above the pubic bone and tilt it at different angles until you can hear the heartbeat. Prenatal monitors do not place any stress on your baby. So you can use them without fear. Recent models also allow you to record your baby’s heartbeat. If you are computer savvy, you can download the recorded sounds on to your computer and email it to all who may be interested.

It is fairly easy to read a fetal monitor. In the digital model, the heart rate will be displayed on the screen. If the heart rate is not displayed, all you have to do is count the number of beats in 10 seconds. Multiply this by six to get the number of times the heart is beating in a minute.

Mothers are always anxious about their fetuses. There are days when you feel very little to almost no movement in the womb, and then you worry about the worst. Sometimes, such an experience is serious enough to trigger a false alarm and have you rushing to the hospital. The Doppler informs you of the happenings within your stomach, thus taking the guesswork out of your pregnancy.

Owning your own monitor can be quite expensive though. A cheaper option would be to rent one. Considering that your need for the monitor is fairly temporary, renting seems to be a better option. Whatever you decide, the apparatus you choose must have FDA approval.

If you do decide to purchase or rent a monitor don’t use it as a replacement for regular pre-natal visits with your health care practitioner. Those visits are very important to help ensure the health of the mother and the baby.

Furniture is an important part of the décor of any room. It sets the tone of the room, and enhances the colors and patterns you have used throughout the room. This is especially true of a nursery that has an underlying theme. Once the walls have been painted or papered and the window treatments are in place, you should look around for baby furniture.

There are some necessary pieces of furniture in a nursery. The first of these is a crib. When you select a crib, do not go by beauty alone. Look for additional features that make the crib long lasting and more convenient as well. Some cribs come with casters that make movement easy. Rocking cribs or cribs that can be transformed into a youth bed are other useful options.

When the baby is very young, cradles or Moses baskets are very convenient. With these, it is easy to carry him or her around the home. Though bassinets do the same job, they are not portable. But they are useful after your baby outgrows the basket.

A changing table that echoes the basic colors of the room is another must. Preferably, choose changing tables made of wood and covered with non-toxic paint. Most changing tables have a belt that runs across the middle to keep baby safe. Baby mobiles are important too. Choose mobiles that enhance the theme of your nursery or add color to it.

Dressers and lingerie chests are necessary in a nursery. Young babies need loads and loads of cloth. Use cupboards that have three or six deep drawers, so that you can easily put away all clothes. These can also hold all the blankets, sheets and towels you need.

Dressers come in different shades and can easily blend into any setting. Buy lingerie chests with colorful motifs and attractive color schemes. Many of these come with hanging rails and shelves that are adjustable. Sliding drawers give you enough room to store bibs, diapers, layettes and the umpteen things that your baby needs.

As he grows, every baby is entitled to at least one toy chest. So look out for chests or other pieces that can double as storage chests.

Soft mattresses, clean sheets, cuddly blankets and luxurious towels make the nursery look comfortable and spotless. Always select a mattress that fits tightly into the crib so there’s no space leftover for the baby to insert his head or leg.

When your baby is old enough to hold up his head, you will have to consider buying rockers and bouncing chairs to keep your baby quiet and engaged. The vibrating action soothes the baby and the various toys enable him to enjoy his time in the chair. These are made of tough and non-staining fabric.

No nursery is complete without matching diaper pails, diaper bags, backpacks and carriers. Lamps and night-lamps, swings and highchairs become essential as your baby starts growing.

The number of items keeps increasing and is limited only by your imagination. However, one should be sensible about what to get because very soon a baby outgrows its present needs and develops new ones. That means you may be left high and dry with lots of sturdy pieces that you can’t use. Always keep your long-term needs and storage facilities in mind before you buy any piece of nursery furniture.