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There are many different ways to potty train your toddler. At last count, I had found 35 different books for parents on potty training and I own most of those books. Based on my research and understanding, I break HOW to potty train down into the following five methods:

1. Infant Potty Training
2. It’s potty time!! - practice until you get it right
3. The Potty Training in One Day Method
4. He will go potty when the time is right
5. The Naked & $75 method

1) The Infant Potty Training Method:

Most used potty training method in underdeveloped nations around the world and probably the least used potty training method in North America.

It basically involves holding the infant over a potty to catch the eliminations.

It basically works by having the mom learn the infant’s rhythms and infant learns to recognize physical sensations that precede elimination.

This is very effective when the disposable diaper use is minimal or nonexistent.

Infants can learn to signal when they need to relieve themselves.

PROS of the Infant Potty Training Method :

Promotes parent child bonding

Start early, finish early

Wetting and soiling are not likely to become entrenched habits

Limited use of diapers results in:

• Cost effective
• Prevents diaper rash
• Better for the environment
• More hygienic

CONS of the Infant Potty Training Method:

Time consuming; nearly impossible for working mothers.

Have to stay on top of it and stick with it until child can potty independently.

Accidents and accident clean up

2) It’s potty time!! -Practice until you get it right potty training method:

Introduce the potty to your child

Have potty be accessible

And then gradually teach him/her to use it.

This will include:

• holding regular practice sessions
• rewarding child with things such as stickers or candy or whatever works for you child
• charting progress
• Gradually transitioning from diapers to potty to underwear.

PROS of the potty practice method:

This method can easily fit into a today’s family’s busy schedules

With some planning, some structure can be created around the practice sessions i.e. in the morning and in the evening.

Is done gradually over time.

Very limited accidents, if any.

CONS of the potty practice method:

Sticking to the structure and schedule until the toddler is potty trained

Could take anywhere from a weekend to a few months depending on the child’s maturity level, temperament and readiness.

May not learn to initiate him/herself, because parent always initiates.

Keeping the curios toddler interested long enough to sit on the potty and relax, so s/he is able to eliminate.

3) The Potty Training in One Day Method:

Based on two simple concepts:

Best way to learn something is to teach it.

Use a potty training doll to model the appropriate potty training behavior for your child

Behavior is shaped by consequence

Use consequences for action - logical and natural.

Read an excerpt from the Parent’s Potty Training Guide: How to Potty Train in One Day

PROS of The Potty Training in One Day Method:

Quick - can be done in less than one day to a maximum of 2 weeks

Is a structured method.

Tools are now available.

Made popular by Dr. Phil.

CONS of The Potty Training in One Day Method:

Takes planning and preparation

Is a structured method.

Requires follow through by parents

Made to look easier than it is.

4) He will go potty when the time is right method:

This method is recommended by Dr Terry Brazelton and is also adopted by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

This is probably the most used method in North America .

The premise of the method is that since potty training is a developmental milestone in your child’s life (such as walking, talking, eating etc), your task as the parent is to introduce the potty and all the related tasks to your child.

Then when your child is ready, s/he will decide to use the potty and in effect will train themselves.

PROS of this method:

Very easy to fit into our busy lifestyle

Very little preparation required on the part of the parent.

Does not require a large time commitment or consistency from parent; therefore ideal for working parents

Great in concept, but not working well in reality - especially in a society where we are so dependent on the disposable diaper.

CONS of this method:

Could take anywhere between 1-6 months or longer in many cases.

Child may quite old before s/he is ready. The average age for potty training is going up every year.

Wetting and soiling can become entrenched habits for children.

5) The Naked & $75 method

Children 24 to 30 months of age

Parents spend three to five consecutive days on the training.

The child is allowed to be naked all day, with a potty available at all times.

It is important to note that experts disagree with Rosemond’s approach.

By the way, the $75 is for the inevitable carpet cleaning.

PROS of the Naked & $75 method:

Simple, easy and inexpensive

Quick - 3-5 days

CONS of the Naked & $75 method:

Not supported by experts

Messy

Copyright 2004-2005. Potty Training Concepts. All Rights Reserved.

See all the potty training articles from Potty Training Concepts.

About the Author:
Narmin Parpia is founder of Potty Training Concepts and the inventor of the potty training dolls Potty Scotty & Potty Patty and Potty Training in One Day - The Complete System for Boys or Girls. Narmin’s products have been featured on the Today Show and in TIME Magazine.

There is something so amazing and joyous about watching a little kid as they learn something new. There’s a sparkle in their eye and an unashamed pride in their step. And suddenly, you’re wearing a goofy grin on your face and taking credit for his genetic make-up. Fortunately for us (and them) it’s a little bit addictive, but every time you turn around, they’ve found yet another way to impress us.

My four (almost five, if you ask him) year old is really big on writing, and is doing a tremendous job recognizing, reading and writing small four and five letter words. What really turned him on to this wonderful world of writing (besides the fact that every time he turns around Mommy’s busy doing it) is a wonderful new teacher’s resource that showed up at his half day Pre-K class - laminated, erasable writing tablets.

Sounds easy, right? You figure you’d find them everywhere, right?

Well, it’s not quite that simple. Sure, you can probably find them online, at sometimes scary prices, but what about right now?

Well, if you’re close to an office supply store, or your office IS its own supply store, you’re well on your way to fulfillment.

But before you get ahead of yourself, you’ll need a few things.

• 15-30 pre-printed “templates” (You can find these in regular Pre-K curriculum, find and print them online, or even design your own: try to focus on letters, or words, or numbers, but group them logically in individual lesson books for easier comprehension)

• A 1- or 3-hole punch

• Either a folder or the three metal rings to bind the final pages together

• A few dry-erase markers (kid sized, not the huge kind for whiteboards)

If you have a laminator in your office or home office, laminate each of the pre-printed templates. You can be plain or creative in the delivery, it doesn’t really matter, and your kids will be having enough fun writing that you won’t need to entice them too much. If you don’t have the equipment, simply check with your office supply store’s print shop and see if they can do it for you. Or, as a final resort (with an added benefit of changeability) you can simply slide the templates into paper protectors (like the kind you use for special reports).

Got that now? Well, if so the only thing left is the test drive!

Simply bring each of the items home, do a quick demonstration (and believe me, it’ll be quick - my son was very quick to commandeer the markers) and for, well, at least the next half hour, you’ll all be lost in some much needed mental bliss.

And, with a little practice and a lot of fun, you’ll be that much closer to the joy of hearing your child read YOU the bedtime story!

Jennifer Gibbs is a successful freelance writer who lives in South Georgia with her husband and son. For more great articles, or to learn more about her writing experience and rates, check out http://www.JenniferGibbs.com.

Chamonix is a beautiful holiday destination with the famous Monte Bianco as well as majestic glaciers. Most of us love to go paragliding or from time to time eating out. I usually travel from Columbus and stay at a Chamonix lodge during my break.

My family and I used to stayed in Sheraton Suites Fairplex but it never lived up to its its advert: The Sheraton Suites Fairplex offers two-room suites in Orange County, California. This moderately priced lodging option houses a fitness room and a heated, outdoor pool. For further recreation, Mountain Meadows Golf Course is one mile from the property. Enjoy convenient, onsite dining at the Brass Ring restaurant. Open three meals daily, this casual spot offers American cuisine. Banner’s, the hotel’s lounge, offers a full bar and a casual atmosphere perfect for cocktails after a long day. For added convenience, the hotel offers a 24-hour front desk, parking, wake-up calls, a concierge, laundry facilities, and 13 meeting rooms. The hotel accepts pets, but restrictions may apply. If you plan to bring your pet, please contact the hotel before your arrival to confirm the current pet policy. The hotel also provides a shuttle to and from the airport. Advance notice is requested for prompt service. Guests wishing to explore the surrounding area will find the Claremont Colleges, Pomona College, and Raging Water Amusement Park in two miles. Mount Baldy Ski Resort is 10 miles away and Disneyland is 25 miles from the hotel. There are 247 two-room suites on eight floors. Both non-smoking rooms and rooms equipped for the physically challenged are available. Standard amenities include microwave, dataport telephones, iron, ironing board, coffeemaker, and television.

In comparison in Chamonix France the self catered chalet is always outstanding. Also dining in my favorite cafe, Carrabba’s Italian Grill - South Tampa, scoffing ben & jerry’s sweet cream bases for ice cream is a real treat. Chamonix Mont Blanc France is a big enough place to make sure that there is plenty for the non-skier to do. Including a ice rink and a plethora of night-clubs, Chamonix provides a choice of skiing, alpine charm and sightseeing which not many French ski resorts can beat.

Baby in a highchair, mom in front with a small spoon and a jar of baby food. It looks like something right out of a parenting magazine, and it’s a scene that is played out several times a day in the majority of homes with small babies. Unfortunately, it’s also a powerful marketing image that can cost a family a great deal of money in the long run.

The Convenience Factor

Most parents would say the main reason for using commercial jarred baby food is the convenience aspect. After all, with the busy lifestyle many of us have today, no one has time to specially prepare a meal for each member of the family. It doesn’t have to be a special event to create your own baby food, however. Baby can usually eat what the rest of the family is eating with very little special preparation.

Good Nutrition

Everyone worries about proper nutrition for growing babies. Iron, calcium, and vitamin D - all of these things are legitimate concerns in children’s nutrition. However, fortified and processed foods aren’t necessarily better than whole foods. Homemade baby food, created from fresh ingredients, offers your child superior nutrition as well as encourages a taste for simple, unprocessed foods - a taste that will possibly prevent obesity-related problems later in life. It’s not necessary to offer commercial baby foods in order to have a healthy child.

Economics

Why pay more for an inferior product? Beginning baby food often runs between forty and seventy cents for two ounces. It’s entirely possible to purchase half a pound of produce for the same amount, and baby will reap the benefits of eating fresh, nutritious food. Buying produce in bulk can result in even more savings, and even frozen produce is preferable to what you find in the jars.

Getting Started

It’s important to know when baby is actually ready for solids. Introducing solids too early can lead to an increased likelihood of food intolerances and food allergies. Most medical associations agree that starting solids around six months of age is ideal, and many people find delaying solids for allergy-prone babies is even better. Signs of readiness for solids include:

• Increased nursing for more than a few days, which is unrelated to illness or teething, or, if baby is fed artificial baby milk, consuming more than 32 ounces daily.

• Ability to sit up unsupported.

• Absence of the tongue-thrust reflex. This life-saving reflex causes babies to push foreign objects (in this case, solid foods) out of their mouths to avoid choking.

• Ability to pick foods up and place in mouth independently (or development of the pincer grasp).

What About Allergies?

Experts recommend introducing new foods between three days and a week apart. This helps parents and caregivers identify signs of a food allergy or intolerance. Common signs of food allergy/intolerance are:

• Increased bloating and gassiness, painful discomfort.

• Sandpaper-like raised rash on face, often where the offending food made contact with skin.

• Runny nose and watery eyes.

• Diarrhea or mucous in the stools. Blood in the stool can also be an indicator of a food allergy, usually dairy or soy.

• Red rash around anus, or an unusual diaper rash.

• Vomiting or increased spit up with discomfort.

Ideally, it is best to introduce foods that are less likely to produce an allergic reaction in baby. Avoiding foods such as egg whites, certain nuts such as peanuts, cow’s milk, corn, wheat, and some berries such as strawberries is recommended, as they are more likely to cause reactions. Instead, start with foods that are easier on baby’s system. Some good ideas include:

• Apples

• Bananas

• Peaches

• Pears

• Carrots

• Squash

• Sweet potatoes

• Asparagus

• Oats

• Barley

• Brown rice

Tools of the Trade

Fancy equipment isn’t necessary to make healthy food for your baby. Things that might be helpful include a blender, a food mill, a steamer basket and ice cube trays if you want to freeze small portions. Most people have blenders already in their kitchens, and a food mill (or baby grinder) isn’t necessary if you have a good blender or food processor. Steamer baskets can be found in most grocery stores for only a few dollars, and fit easily into saucepans. Many beginner foods require nothing more than a small pan and a fork.

Sequencing

Many doctors recommend starting your baby on rice cereal first. Many parents find, however, that fruits go over better for beginning eaters. It is a myth that babies will prefer sweet things if they are given fruits first - nature’s first food, breast milk, is naturally sweet, and that is what baby is accustomed to. Banana is a wonderful first food, as its creamy consistency is similar to mother’s milk. After introducing banana, try another fruit or vegetable. Continue adding fruits and vegetables until baby has a wide variety of tastes. Then consider adding whole grains in the form of cereal. Many whole grains have naturally occurring iron, so there is no need to supplement baby’s iron unless there is a medical indication for doing so. Brown rice, oats, and barley are all good choices. Next, introduce a meat or poultry such as beef or chicken.

If you are a vegetarian, introduce another protein source such as tofu or lentils. As time goes on, introduce a combination of tastes, such as cereal mixed with applesauce or peas and carrots. This is also a great time to introduce finger foods, especially if baby has teeth. As baby learns to self-feed, you can move away from making purees and offer small baby-sized portions of the family meal.

Getting Started

Bananas make an ideal food for a baby starting solids. To serve, let bananas ripen well (the more ripe, the better - brown spots are desirable), cut into small chunks and mash with a fork. Pears are an excellent source of fiber and can be cooked like apples: peel and cut into chunks. Place in small saucepan and just cover with water. Cook until tender. These can then be mashed with a fork, run through a food mill, processed in a blender or food processor. They can also be offered as finger food if they are cut into small enough chunks. Carrots, another popular first food, should be scraped with a vegetable peeler, sliced and steamed or boiled until soft. Process in blender or food mill. Carrots can be a choking hazard for children, so do use caution if offering as a finger food.

Sweet potatoes are extremely easy to make, and one potato can last a long time if frozen after cooking. Place sweet potato in a microwave for about eight minutes, remove and let cool. Open up and serve right out of the peel - the potato is very soft and needs no further processing. Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of B6.

Winter squash such as acorn or butternut makes an excellent first food. Cut squash in half and clean. Place in one half inch of water in a baking pan and bake at three hundred and fifty degrees for half an hour. Use a spoon to scoop out squash and feed directly to baby.

Avocadoes are an extremely nutrient dense food and offers important vitamins and minerals such as iron and potassium. Cut avocado in half around the pit, grab each half and give it a twist. Scoop out meat and mash or dice.

Making cereal for baby is very easy. Take a cup of the whole grain if your choice such as brown rice, oats, or barley and process in the blender until the desired consistency is reached, usually about two minutes for very young babies. Store in an airtight container. To cook, mix with liquid of your choice and heat over medium heat on stove until thick.

Enjoyment

Enjoy this fun stage in baby’s development, and rest assured that baby is getting superior nutrition and developing good eating habits which will last a lifetime!

About The Author

Meredith Edwards-Cornwall owns and operates Attached Mamas at http://www.attachedmamas.com, which caters to families looking to achieve health naturally. Remedies for colic, morning sickness, infertility and more. She is also a designer for the web and print and owns Beach Designs Studio at http://www.beachdesigns.net.

meredith@attachedmamas.com

Most people, well quite a few, can name the inventor of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell. ; Even if he wasn’t the inventor of the telephone, only the first person to patent the idea. The telephone eventually had a very large effect on the world and the way people contact each other.

However, it’s fair to say in my opinion, that the mobile phone and now new mobile broadband connections are having a far more dramatic effect on the world at large. It took the best part of 100 years for the telephone to become established as the major way of contacting people around the world.

It has only taken since 1973 for mobile phones to dominate communication, incidentally invented by someone who has slipped into obscurity, an employee of Motorola, Dr Martin Cooper.

In my opinion, mobile phones have had a short but interesting life, but their days are very much numbered as mobile broadband is set to take its place. Connections to the Internet, and through that, to the telephone system are becoming cheap and highly efficient. For example, pay as you go mobile broadband has made it practical for just about anybody to connect to the Internet via a mobile device.

I believe that this is type of communication in one form or another will soon catch up with the basic mobile phone. It will then not take long for mobile broadband to become the dominant mobile communication vehicle.

It is true to say that a lot of people begin to get the scrappin’ bug after their child/children are born and usually their first attempt at scrapbooking is making a baby album.

Having a child is one of the most important events in our lives and baby’s first year is a busy, lively, ever changing journey of discovery. It is full of important milestones…

No wonder then, as parents we want to capture and record all those many memorable moments - preserving them in scrapbooks is a great way to safely keep and cherish those memories for years to come.

One timeless and extremely popular baby scrapbooking idea is to make an album that consists of ‘firsts’.

This is a relatively easy and flexible theme to follow, especially for someone new to scrapbooking and is a great way to create enchanting baby scrapbooks.

This kind of album usually consists of a scrapbook arranged in chronological order with individual layouts showing special and notable moments in your baby’s life.

New babies are so photogenic it’s hard to resist capturing all the big and little things that make up their day-to-day lives.

No doubt you will have lots of pictures to sort through - so here’s a small list of ‘firsts’ to give you some ideas for organizing your photos:

• sleep/nap

• bottle/breast feed

• diaper change

• dressed in their first outfit

• ride in a car seat

• smiles

• bath

• trip out in the buggy

• solid food

• teeth

• sitting up

• drinking from a cup

• feeding him/herself

• crawling

• walking with the furniture

• steps/walking on their own

• hair cut

• halloween

• Christmas

To add a little more interest to your album try and vary the layouts, for instance make some events into double page spreads. Such as coming home from the hospital or bath-time, which always presents an opportunity for some great photos!

Give your pages a personal touch by adding some memorabilia, using a pocket envelope, to your layouts - like the birth announcement or maybe a lock of hair from their first hair cut.

If you are new to scrapbooking and you’re unsure about starting out on your new album then a good choice would be to buy yourself a baby scrapbook kit. These kits contain everything you will need to begin scrapbooking and are a great shortcut to creating super layouts that you can be proud of.

You can also enhance your pages with some of the many baby-related products that are available on the market. Decorate your layout with an adorable or cute baby scrapbook paper.

Then, embellish your page with some charming baby scrapbook stickers like rattles, booties, bibs, bottles etc and when they’re done display all of your beautiful pages in a lovely baby scrapbook album.

Go on… give it a go. Make yourself a baby scrapbook to savor and keep all those incredible memories. You’ll find it’s much more than just a scrapbook - it will become a precious family keepsake that you’ll treasure forever.

About The Author

Elaine Clay is the owner of Online-Scrapbooking-Guide.com: your one-stop online scrapbooking resource. Find inspiration, increase your creativity and have fun with our helpful tips, ideas, articles and much more.

Feel free to use the above article on your web site or ezine. Provided that it is published in it’s entirety, including my resource box above and a “live” clickable link to: http://www.online-scrapbooking-guide.com

Dawn’s B&B is located in Monteverde area, refined and calm headquarter close to the Gianicolo, Trastevere e behind Vatican City.

The Centre is easily to reach in fifteen minutes by tram number 8 to Largo Argentina the stop is located 300 meters from the B&B and its even near the H bus stop that takes you to Termini station (main Station of Rome).
Just in front of the B&B you will find the 44 Bus stop that takes you to Piazza Venezia.

The apartment has been restored in November 2006 and at the moment dispose of one twin room, one triple room and one double room all finely furnished with Ensuite bath, Ethernet access, safe, air conditioning and Colour Television.

NOTE FOR CUSTOMERS:

CHECK IN IS UNTIL AND NOT OVER 10.00 PM (OFFICE TIMETABLE)

AFTER THIS TIME YOU WILL PAY AN EXTRA OF 30,00 EURO

HOW TO REACH US

From Leonardo Da Vinci airport:
Take the train to Termini station and get off at Trastevere station, Then take the tram number 8 (direction Casaletto) and get off after 4 stops at Piazza San Giovanni Di Dio.
From Termini station:
Get the bus number H from Piazza dei Cinquecento, (just in front of the main station exit), and get off Piazza San Giovanni Di Dio. You can even take the bus 64 or 40 until Largo Argentina, and the catch the tram number 8 (direction Casaletto) and get off after 4 stops at Piazza San Giovanni Di Dio.
From Piazza Venezia:
Take the bus number 44 and get off in V. Federico Ozanam at the crossroad with Circonvallazione Gianicolense (Farmacy).
We also dispose of taxi service; the tariff is 60,00 € (for 2 or 3 person- standard car), and 80,00 € for Minivan (from 4 to 7 person)

Quality at a cheap price in Rome? Book online and save your money: find an Hotel Via Veneto, or compare price for cheap Rome hotels, or make a reservation for a tour in Rome

One of the most pleasant parties to plan has to be the baby shower. The mom-to-be gets so much attention and she can just sit back and enjoy all of the fuss. The key to creating this wonderful event is organization. Here’s everything you need to make your upcoming baby shower as festive and memorable as possible!

Consult, Consult, Consult!

Because the parents-to-be may have more than one shower, it’s a good idea to consult with the mommy-to-be. Before you send out invitations, sit down with the mom-to-be and ask her what she would like from this event. What is her idea of a fun shower and who she would like to attend? Most people shouldn’t be expected to attend several showers for the same parents, so find out what else is being planned. Let her know that you want her to feel comfortable and most of all, to have fun.

What if you are having a surprise shower? Don’t let that stop you from consulting! Talk to the dad-to-be to get ideas of a guest list and an appropriate time. You might even want to consult with other friends to be sure that everything works out smoothly. Again, consider the mom-to-be when having a shower. You want her to feel special, have fun, and be comfortable.

After consulting with the mom-to-be, or others, it is time to plan!

The Theme of the Day

This is the fun part - deciding what you are going to do and how you are going to do it! This can also be the overwhelming part if you have never planned a baby shower before or if you don’t feel that you are the creative type. Luckily, you don’t’ have to have experience or creativity to throw a great baby shower.

Some showers are simply a gathering of family and friends chatting, mom-to-be opening her gifts, and eating yummy food. Other showers are more elaborate with special games. If you are thinking of being more elaborate and having a theme, here are some great ideas to get you started:

Consider inviting couples instead of just the ladies. You can play fun games like who can diaper the baby doll the fastest and make it the men against the women. This shower is great for first-time-dads and helps them feel a part of things as the ‘big day’ nears.

Does mom-to-be already have everything she needs for baby, but you still want to celebrate this special occasion? Why not throw a Mommy Shower? Instruct guests to bring gifts for mom herself (bath and beauty products, gift certificates, etc). You might also consider a “consumable shower” and have guests bring diapers, wipes, shampoo, and other items that run out!

A recipe shower is a great idea. Instead of a card, ask guests to bring their favorite easy-to-make recipes for mom-to-be to use after the little one arrives. Or go one better and have the guests bring a dish ready to be frozen for the mom-to-be for those days when she is just too worn out to cook!

Here’s a fun shower that will help the guests determine what to bring as a gift. In the invitations, assign each guest a random time of day and have them bring an appropriate gift. For example, blankets for naptime. Or assign each guest a different room of the house, like the bathroom, and have them bring an appropriate gift.

Have guests bring something that was a favorite of theirs from their childhood for the new baby. Books, movies, security blanket and etc make great gifts with added special meaning.

Have a birthday party! Get a birthday cake, streamers, party hats, and party games! Can you think of a better way to celebrate a birth?

Once you set a date and make a guest list, and pick your theme, you will need to choose a location. It is perfectly fine to have the shower in your own home, but it can be anywhere with enough space. Depending upon your theme, you may even choose a restaurant or an out of the way tearoom!

As the Date Nears

Now that the big decisions are over, you can take a deep breath. You are almost there! As the shower date approaches, however, you may again feel a bit of stress. Do you have everything? Have all the details been taken care of? Here is a great list to help you know the answers to those questions.

Two To Three Weeks Before The Event:

• Prepare and mail invitations with directions to event. Be sure to keep one for the baby book!

• Place order for the cake if ordering from a bakery.

• Choose and purchase decorations and party favors.

• Purchase prizes for games.

One Week Before The Event:

• Determine an accurate guest count.

• Make follow-up calls, if necessary.

One Day Before The Event:

• Purchase food and prepare platters and/or pick up any special food platters ordered.

• Purchase beverages.

• Make sure camera has film and/or video camera is loaded and has batteries, etc.

• Wrap gifts for game winners and review instructions for games.

• Clean house and party area.

Day Of The Event

• Decorate

• Buy any last minute items

• Prepare area for gifts

• Prepare table for the food

• And most importantly - HAVE FUN!

That’s all there is to it! You are now ready to throw a memory-filled baby shower for a special mom-to-be.

Copyright. All rights reserved.

About The Author

Claire Bowes is a successful freelance writer and owner of http://www.baby-gifts-unique.com where you will find further tips on http://www.baby-gifts-unique.com/baby-showers.html, and unique baby gifts http://www.baby-gifts-unique.com/baby-personalized-gifts.html.

Naming a baby is no easy task. However, the following tips will help you give your baby his or her very first gift.

1. Religion. For some parents, religion plays a major role in choosing a baby name. Roman Catholics traditionally choose saints names. Jews traditionally choose Old Testament names. Names of deceased relatives are often chosen. Protestants often choose both Old and New Testament names.

Interesting Fact! : The majority of the people in the Western hemisphere have names from the Bible. The New Testament is a more popular source of names than the Old Testament.

2. Number of Names. You have many options when it comes to the number of names you choose for your baby. It is very common for a baby to be given three names, however, this is not mandatory. You may choose a first and last name; a first and last name and only a middle initial; initials for both first and middle names; or several middle names. Keep in mind, though, that several middle names will cause space problems for your child any time he or she fills out a form.

3. Sounds. Names are easy or hard to say depending upon the combination of letters used. A name such as Harry Berry invites potential teasing. Try this to create a nice effect: choose a first name that has the same amount of syllables as the last name. Whoopi Goldberg is a good example.

Interesting Fact! : Whoopi Goldbergs original name is Caryn Johnson.

4. Pronunciation. Nobody likes to have their name mis-pronounced. This is an important factor to keep in mind with unique names.

5. Popularity. Choosing a popular name increases the likelihood that there will be other children in your childs school with the same name. This may make him or her not feel as unique. However, a child with a popular name may be perceived better by peers than a child with a unique name.

6. Stereotypes. Many names create a positive or negative image. A name is often a persons first introduction to others. Therefore, you must make careful considerations when choosing a name to fit your new baby.

7. Initials. Initials of a persons name often spell words. If you choose to take this route, be sure that it will be a word you son or daughter will be happy with.

8. Meanings. Almost every name has a meaning. However, most people dont know the meaning of their names. This may help in deciding between some of your favorite baby name choices.

9. Family History. Family History often comes into play when naming a baby. If you have to use a family name that you aren’t happy with, consider using it as a middle name.

10. Celebrity Names. A common source of today’s baby names comes from the names of celebrities and from the names that celebrities choose for their children. Characters from TV and movies are another popular source.

11. Make sure that the name you choose is one that your child will be able to grow with. Keep in mind that it should be applicable for all ages. Many names come with stereotypes.

12. It is important for both parents to compromise when selecting a name for your baby. However, keep in mind that you can always use two names, using one as a middle name.

Good Luck! A new baby is one of the most rewarding experiences of a lifetime.

Alli Ross is the webmaster at the Baby Names Box - Where you can explore over 6,000 baby names and their meanings.
Sub-categories include Disney ,J.R. Tolkien names, Fantasy and Folklore names, and many names from the literary classics. Read articles ranging from parenting and family to home and gardening. Be sure to say hi to GranMamma!

As many as one in 700 babies are born with either a cleft palate or cleft lip. Often these can cause a number of related problems including glue ear, crooked teeth and hearing difficulties. The good news is that almost all babies go on to have successful corrective surgery.

How Clefts Develop
Clefts begin to form at about the 6 weeks gestation and are gaps in the palate, lip or gum. For reasons that are unknown, these parts which should join together do not do so in a small number of developing babies.

The causes are unknown, but some studies have suggested that smoking during pregnancy is linked with the condition.
An ultrasound scan when you are 18 weeks pregnant will pick up around half of the cleft lips, but cleft palates are not diagnosed until after the birth.

Feeding Your Baby
Babies born with a cleft palate will often have difficulty sucking. There is a special soft bottle that will help here, ask your pharmacist for details. Babies with a cleft lip are usually able to feed satisfactorily.

Treatment
A cleft lip is usually repaired by surgery within the first three months. A cleft palate is usually operated on at about age 6-9 months. In both cases treatment is effective and babies go on to lead a normal life. However, there is usually some scarring and the shape of baby’s nose may be a little irregular.

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Author: Tony and Katy Luck who run a Baby Information Site and personalized gift site.
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