by James Lunden

Having a new baby is an exciting and overwhelming experience. From sleepless nights to midnight feedings, most parents don't get much sleep. With most newborns sleeping up to 20 hours a day, parents are faced with frequent feedings and short periods of rest. This is only made worse in the case of their baby not sleeping. There are many things that can cause baby to have trouble sleeping, so it's important to know the causes so you can take care of the problem of sleeplessness.

There are certain ailments that can cause sleeplessness in babies. Ear infections are common causes of discomfort in babies and can lead to baby not sleeping. Getting to a doctor right away is important if you suspect an ear infection. There are other infections that might be a problem for a new baby.

Urinary tract infections are relatively common in babies as well. Being aware of the symptoms of problems like this can help baby sleep better and be healthier. Milk allergies are also common problems that can cause discomfort in babies and therefore sleeplessness.

Other problems that might lead to babies not sleeping could be things like acid reflux, fever, respiratory infections, and snoring or breathing problems. Being aware of the amount of sleep a baby should get at various stages of growth is a good way to be aware of abnormal sleep patterns. Making sure to resolve any sleep problems as soon as you notice them is important to baby's health and overall well being.

From ear infections to acid reflux, there are many things that can lead to baby not sleeping. Being aware of any irregularities and seeing your physician are important parts of keeping your baby happy and healthy. Most sleep disturbances are nothing to be alarmed about and will be resolved on their own, but it's a good idea to be aware of any changes in the sleeping habits of your baby.

by Les Scammell - editor Just 4 Families.

Is it just me, or are our children having more and more time off school every year. This Friday is a pupil free day at our kids school - about the fourth for the year now. I sat down last night and worked out that, on average, most kids spend around 16 weeks away from school each year. In Australia we have the following time away from school:

• School Holidays - around 12 weeks each year
• Public Holidays - another five days (or one week)
• Sick Days - an average of 5-10 days each year (or one to two weeks)
• Pupil Free Days - around five each year (or one week)

That's a total of 16 weeks of non attendance at school. So why do teachers need that day off from school. Apparently it's for training and administrative work. Surely, given there are 12 weeks of school holidays each year, and teachers are only entitled to four or five weeks annual leave, there is plenty of time for their training and administrative work.

What would happen if that principle entered all work places? Consider the following:

• Supermarkets declared that one day every three months was to be a customer free day. Workers would attend, but customers were not welcome?
• Doctors and nurses declared that one day every three months was to be a patient free day. All in-patients were to be sent home for the day and no new patients accepted - even emergencies?
• Police declared a crime free day one every three months. Police would not attend to any criminal matters on that day - only administrative work or training?

I could add ambulance and fire services to that list, but I think you get the picture. I know I have gone to extremes, but when we are in a situation where employers are claiming that young people are entering the workplace with inadequate numeracy and literacy skills, perhaps rather than spending more time away from school, our kids need to spend more time at school.

Just a thought - my gripe for the week. What are your thoughts?

by guest writer Alfred Lancer

Caring for your Baby is certainly one of the most important things you need to consider once you became a new parent. There are many things you need to take into account in order to make sure that your baby gets all the attention.

1. Make sure that you feed your baby right

Deciding on whether you should breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby greatly depends on your personal decision and what your physician recommends. However, it has been shown that breastfeeding is still the best way to nourish newborn babies. Lots of benefits can be obtained through breastfeeding.

Some medical studies have determined that breastfed infants have less hypersensitivity later in life compared with those who were raised with bottle feeding. This is mainly because the mother's milk is known to contain natural enzymes and antibodies that can help fortify the baby's immunity against infirmities. Aside from this, some doctors also believed that breast milk is responsible for superior intellect as he/she grows and becomes fully developed.

2. Practical sleep aid tips for infants.

Sleep is crucial for babies because it has a direct effect on the child's mental and physical growth. Newborn babies sleep for up to 17 and 18 hours a day. Parents should understand that babies sleep cycle could be pretty erratic. You may notice for a few weeks, your baby's sleep may only last from approximately 30 minutes to 3 hours, and this can vary throughout a 24 period. But by the sixth week, you should see some signs of improvement as your baby's sleep pattern becomes more structured.

Newborns show signs of sleepiness by crying or rubbing their eyes. Newborns should be put down to sleep as soon as they feel sleepy. If you are not getting much sleep at night it may be a good idea to sleep when your baby does during the day if possible.

3. The proper way of bathing your newborn.

Newborn babies need not be bathed on a daily basis. Bathing them two to three times a week is enough. Bathe your baby using sponge baths. This is imperative at first. Tub bathing your baby can only be done once the baby's umbilical cord falls off to avoid infection.

4. Maintaining your baby's optimal skin care.

Newborn babies have smooth and delicate skin. For this reason, it is necessary that you use products that are especially made for babies. But before buying any baby product, it is best to consult your pediatrician. Most babies develop rashes from time to time and this is perfectly normal. However, if your baby seems irritated by a rash or has a fever, you should immediately seek advice from your baby's doctor.

5. When to give the baby medicine.

Like anyone else, newborn babies sometimes have special needs that require attention. When giving your baby medicine, it is important that you follow the advice of your baby's physician. You need to know how to give the right dose prescribed by the doctor. It can sometimes be advised to start the baby with a small dose to ensure there is no adverse reaction to the medication.

The information contained in this article is for general information purposes only and is not meant in any way to replace advice given by healthcare professionals.

by John Smith

Reborn babies are remarkably realistic vinyl dolls fashioned by artists known as reborners. These reborns are not a brand name rather a movement which includes newborns, infants, and toddlers which look so lifelike they are usually mistaken for real babies!

Several policemen needed to smash car windows to save "babies" from the burning heat only to find out they were reborns. Several of these babies are so natural you can sit right next to them and still not remember they're dolls.

Reborning started out as a pastime in America but has ever since proliferated homes around the world and has developed into a very cool collectible and hobby. Reborn creators or reborners utilize a reborn doll kit that comes wrapped in a box, unpainted and undressed. Using an sufficient assortment of paint colors and a variety of application techniques, they create the skin color and subtle accompaniments such as skin blushes, silky finger and toe nails, and even tiny network veins that supports the natural effect of a real live baby.

Micro-rooting the mohair takes quite a few hours using a fine needle then sealing it from within the baby's head with water-resistant glue which makes the hair emerge softly dampened, combed, and styled. Over and over again, the reborn is weighed to offer the feeling of a comparable real baby weight.

Reborners make their personal style and practice such that no two reborn babies are alike. Making a reborn baby from scratch is very long and meticulous and needs a lot of tolerance and passion from the maker. Most reborners these days create the reborn baby according to the buyer's necessities.

Reborners are continuously making new developments in the art of reborning to create doubly realistic babies. Some of the new technical enhancements include heartbeat simulators and breathe stimulators to mimic that of a sleeping live newborn.

by Wriley Baker

It's always a big deal when you're sending your baby off to daycare. You find yourself leaving your baby in the care of strangers even if they are qualified strangers. It means that you could miss some precious hours of your baby's life. However, if you're a working mom, you know that returning to work can be rewarding as well as necessary to sustain your family's quality of life.

When you're properly prepared for this type of situation it can really make a difference in the quality of the experience. Once you know that you have provided everything you can to make your baby's daycare experience a happy successful one then you can rest easy with the confidence that your baby will have all that he or she needs. There are things that you can do as a parent to get your baby ready for daycare.

One of the first most important things you can do is become familiar with the policies and procedures required by the daycare. Most daycares provide a manual for new clients explaining the basics. Usually there is a section the talks about whether or not meals are provided, where to park, important security details and the daycare's hours. In addition to that information there might be information on how to label bottles and food, times when it is appropriate to keep your child at home, and the daycare's disciplinary policies. Be sure to ask any questions by your child's first day.

It is imperative that you know the phone number for your daycare's main office, the phone number for your child's room and his room assignment. Should the director of the daycare have his or her own extension or phone number it is a good idea to keep that number handy or saved with other important contact information just in case you need to discuss a problem with them that can't be worked out directly with the teacher.

The day care may also give you a list of essential items to bring with your baby on their first day. It could include items such as blankets, bibs, a pacifier, extra premised formula or breast milk, diapers and wipes. By having these items packed and ready you will have one less thing to worry about on the first day. Luckily all of the items your baby might need can be found at Babies R Us. They've got everything from diapers and bibs to toys and formula.

Make sure to finalize last minute details. Once you're a week or so away from your child's first day of daycare, review materials that have been provided to make sure that you have completed all of the necessary paperwork. The paperwork could include verification of required immunizations, a doctor's note for required medications or authorization for emergency medical transportation. It would be in your best interested to have this paperwork completed and submitted before the first day in order to avoid any unpleasant surprises.