You don’t say! Really? Well! Let’s organize a baby shower. Thus starts the secret planning of the baby shower event. Before anyone knows what is happening, suitable sites are being researched. Plans are developed to dupe the unsuspecting mom into showing up at the appointed place on time. She will certainly receive some much needed gifts for her Little Miracle. But she will receive something else at that shower. She will join the network of new parents. That is one club that will be a lifesaver over the early months of her child’s life. The knowledge shared by these friends will reassure her when she is worried and confused about her new role. She will be put on the informal list of people to whom toys and clothes can be passed down. She will eventually pass on her baby’s used clothing to someone else who needs it.
The secret planning pays off and the mom- to- be walks into the ambush. There is fun and laughter as everyone explains his role in the clever deception. Some ice breaker games soon have everyone on a first name basis and the routines set down for baby showers are enacted.
If she was unsure about whether she could rely on her friends for support, mom now realizes that they are all there for her and her baby. Tips and advice on baby care are soon shared. Mom starts to feel that she just may be able to pull this thing off
One friend will write down on each gift card a description of the gift. This ensures that thank you cards will be easily completed later. Another friend will sew the bows and ribbons from the gift wrappings onto a paper plate to be worn by the mom. But among all this nonsense, a feeling of shared purpose starts to develop. The friends are letting the new mom know that they will help her in any way they can.
Baby shower gifts fall into two categories. Gifts from people who have had babies tend to be practical, useful and perhaps a little unexciting. Among these gifts are the supplies of daily diapers, perhaps a wireless baby monitor and a baby bath. These gifts are the ones that will be ripped from their packages by a bleary eyed new mom in the months to come. These are what she will need for the nitty gritty of baby care.
People who have not given birth and raised a newborn sometimes give gifts that are less than useful to the new mom. But these inexperienced gift givers are usually young people. They bring an energy to the group. They are the people who will gladly do some physically demanding activities with the baby. They will take baby out of the home so mom can rest.
Baby showers may look a bit strange to some people. But most first time moms know, at the end of the evening, that she can relax a bit. She is among friends. They are willing to help ease her into her new role and provide her with support.
You love the outcome of it all as you get to hold that infant in your arms, yet there are some downfalls to bringing in this wonderful and precious thing into the world. You know what we are talking about. You cannot play stupid with us. We know that feeling.
At first you think about what you are supposed to do. What do you eat? How much do you eat? Everyone says that they have answers for you, but any doctor will tell you that there are no two exact same pregnancies. Therefore, you take the tips that people give you and apply them. You see if they work for you. If not, then you move on. Yet, it is time consuming.
You question how good you will be as you tell friends advice. You see other parents out in public and wonder if you will do the same things that they do. One of the first areas when you are looking for baby things is the baby bath toys. You grow a bit excited and the nerves adjust to this change, but then you look at the ages and wonder when the toys you have always envisioned your child playing with will be the toys that they are allowed to play with as there is age level on most of the toys that you see.
You watch the changes of your body. They are happening so fast and when the books tell you when to expect them they come earlier. Your stomach grows. Your back hurts. Your feet hurt. There is not much that does not hurt. That is the luxury of pregnancy. You wonder why you have to go through this to give the world a beautiful baby girl or boy.
When you notice dry skin and stretch marks you cringe. Let the dry skin care solutions commence you think to yourself. Which gladly enough other women have developed just the right items for this! Your emotions become out of whack. One minute you could be laughing. Then, out of the blue you are crying. You might even be mad at the world. All this is normal. Trust us when we tell you this. It is normal to feel this way.
There is hope. You think you know it all, but when it really comes down to it different people are always telling you different things. Who do you trust? What is right for your baby and you? At this point, that is all that matters. That is why they have developed parenting classes to prep you for when that wonderful baby is born. Everyone will try to teach you differently. Stick to the experts.
Yes, we know it is hard. Many of us swear that afterwards we would do it over, but as we are walking around with this big belly we swear the other way around. It is all worth it in the end when you hold that precious being in your arms. Remember, you are not alone and you will do just fine.
There are a few tips that will making traveling with infants and toddlers much easier and pleasant. When you are traveling it is important to remember that the regular schedule that you are able to control at home will be more difficult to control in the vehicle.
One great way to get an infant use to travel and staying on a home schedule is to bring a snugride car seat into your house and sit it up on the floor. Place the seat near a window so the infant can see outside. As they get use to spending time in the car seat, you will be able to incorporate the feeding schedule into the time they are in the seat. If you get your infant use to eating and sitting in the seat, it will be easier to move the seat to your vehicle and maintain a schedule.
When your infant is used to eating specific foods that you make at home, traveling is a bad time to switch to canned baby food. Canned foods taste different than fresh foods and can upset little stomachs. Using a small Hamilton Beach Food Processor with an adapter will allow you to make fresh foods during your trip. Some of these processors are made specifically for travel and are very easy to use in the vehicle or hotel during your trip.
If you haven’t started using a spa baby, you will definitely want to look into getting one for your trip. These little tubs are perfect for traveling. They are small and you can put items in the tub during traveling, then help your infant relax when you stop for the night. This little tub does not take up the room of a regular bath, but is extremely comfortable for infants and is relaxing during bath time.
Taking a supply of water for your trip will be important. Water tastes different and contains different minerals in the areas where you will be driving. When water is changed it can cause upset stomachs and other reactions.
Drinking water that you are not used to can cause an upset stomach and make food, juice, or dried formula taste funny. Having enough extra water on hand to last through the trip will keep your travelers comfortable.
Another tip for making travel more pleasant and comfortable for your infant is very easy and will work wonderfully if your infant is at the age where it wants to be close to you. Take a piece of clothing that has your scent on it and place it within reach of your infant. One of the reasons that infants become distressed is that they are disoriented and cannot clearly see you. By placing an article of clothing that has your scent on it near your infant, they will stay calmer and be able to rest more easily during the trip.
