by Byron Jonas

What an exciting time for new parents! Your new baby has arrived and you want to enjoy every moment of his development. Keeping him safe is a big part of that enjoyment. Here are ten tips to help you along the way.

Inspect the crib for safety

Many hours will be spent in the crib so it is imperative that it is safe. The spaces between the slats should be no more than two and three eighths inches wide. This is about the width of a soda can. Spaces that are wider can allow baby's head to slide through them and become trapped, causing possible strangulation. Also, make sure the crib mattress fits snugly around the edges so that little legs and arms cannot get wedged in between the mattress and the walls of the crib.

Schedule regular visits to his pediatrician

Baby should begin visiting her pediatrician at about two weeks of age. The doctor will check her growth and weight gain as well as physical development. Immunizations will be discussed, as will nutrition.

Heat bottles in warm water, don't use the microwave

Microwaves do not heat evenly. They create hot spots in the formula or breast milk that could scald your baby's mouth and also destroy nutrients. Heat the bottle in tepid water instead. It takes longer but it is much safer.

Don't leave toys in his crib

An infant does not yet know how to move away from a toy that has become pushed up against his face. Although the toy may be soft and inviting, it can cause suffocation. It's best to take them out of the crib, especially when your child is sleeping.

Never turn your back on an infant on a changing table, couch, or bed

When changing your baby's diaper, turning away for even a second can have terrible results. Babies who have not yet turned over on their own can suddenly figure this out and flip before you can catch them. Pick baby up if you have to reach for a diaper or a cotton swab. Don't take any chances.

Use a car seat especially made for infants

New babies should ride in a car seat that is made especially for infants. These seats have proper head support for newborns . It is important that you also face the seat backwards and learn to strap it in correctly.

Make a regular inspection of his toys

Make sure there are no small parts that could break off and become lodged in their throat. Also look for sharp edges and peeling paint. Fuzzy toys can shed and cause fibers to be inhaled, so check the stuffed animals also for shedding fur or loose stitching.

Keep an eye on pets

Pets can become confused when a new little life enters their world. The celebration and changes in their schedule could make them anxious. Never leave baby alone with a pet. Even the most loved and obedient animal can act unpredictably.

Keep small objects out of reach

A baby's natural instinct will be to put things in her mouth. If small items are within reach, this could cause a choking hazard. Watch what she picks up and be prepared to act quickly!

Don't let him wear clothing that is too tight or constrictive

Clothing that is rubbing on soft, tender skin can irritate and cause rashes and discomfort. Little socks can become tight around the cuffs as her legs grow. Check often to make sure there are no tight elastic bands or rough edges on her clothing.

Having a great start in life will be a bit easier if you follow these tips towards the health and safety of your new baby.

by Marry Johnson

Anytime a new baby enters a family, concerns arise about the health of the baby until sufficient time has passed to ensure the newborn's system functions adequately on its own. Whether the new member of the family is the first baby or the fifth, the first several weeks at home are critical. To ease the minds' of caregivers, the baby industry has created the baby monitor movement pad which alerts parents to potential dangers.

Parents are able to rest and sleep soundly knowing that the system will alert them if the baby stops moving for fifteen to twenty seconds. The alert will provide parents with the opportunity to intervene in the incident before any injury occurs. If there is movement in the nursery that should not occur during the night, an alarm will alert parents to the movement without waking the sleeping infant.

Many of the systems are made with sensor pads that fit under the crib mattress. These sensors are extremely delicate and detect any change in the baby's movement. The alarm can be set to alert parents when the baby is not moving at all, or is moving a lot.

As manufacturers continue to develop more sensitive equipment, the baby monitor movement systems are becoming highly advanced pieces of equipment that are very important for new parents. Many of the digitalized systems provide necessary information to the parent if there is movement in the nursery. This allows a parent to be aware if a sibling is in the nursery when the baby is sleeping.

It is important to remember that even when babies sleep they move. They toss and turn, just like adults, and they even move when they breathe. If caregivers should become concerned, the night-light qualities the monitors contain illuminate just enough to guide parents to their precious bundle. Many also include a room temperature gauge as well as a remote control which will turn on a sound system when a baby becomes fussy.

Monitors are available in a wide range of sizes and designs. They can be selected to match the theme or color in a room. Or, be chosen to stand out and provide a bright spot of color on a baby's dresser. The systems are available with a tremendous array of options and features. Some of the monitors are equipped to provide vibrating stimulation from the sensory pad to quiet the baby when it is fussy. Other monitors transmit soft sounds that are designed to soothe the baby when it is tossing.

Manufacturers who have developed monitors that can be used with infants who are crawling have designed monitors that do not have cords and are run by cellular batteries. The transmitters can be placed anywhere in the nursery and provide the same alarms and alerts as those monitors that sit next to the crib. These monitors are especially helpful in rooms where the crib may be away from a table or surface.

When looking for baby monitor movement systems a parent will want to check on the type of features and functions that are provided by the system. When one gets the monitoring system it should be able to be used to monitor babies from infancy through the crawling stages. These monitors are often used by parents throughout the child's infancy and provide a great deal of support and security to parents.

The safety first baby monitor is one of the most used baby monitor systems. Check out real customer reviews at http://www.babymonitormovement.com.

Time stands still the moment your baby enters this world, and you’ll want to remember the moment for years to come. A newborn time capsule is a great way to commemorate your baby’s birth and to share with them a snapshot of that special period when they have grown up.

To create your time capsule, you need to gather several things that reflect the events of the day.

Newspapers make a great addition to any time capsule. Local papers tell the story of what was happening in your community on the day he was born, while national papers provide a glimpse of then-current events. Both offer the opportunity for you to stroll down memory lane, as well as give your child a brief history lesson when the capsule is finally opened.

Money and stamps provide fun signs of the times, too. Throw in a few different coin denominations and one or more sheets of stamps. If possible, make a list of prices for goods and services, like milk and bread or gasoline. Whether done on the computer or simply handwritten on a sheet of paper, this is a nice addition.

You can personalize the time capsule by adding things like baby’s first picture and the outfit he wears home from the hospital. Take time to write a special letter welcoming your child and sharing your hopes for his future to give the capsule even more meaning.

You are limited only by your imagination – and the size of your capsule container.

The container, however, is another important part of this project. Make it as simple or ornate as you like. Some online vendors carry special newborn time capsule kits, while others offer containers meant to stand the test of time. But you needn’t invest a lot of money to make a nice time capsule. Simply choose a can or box and decorate it to your taste. A seal with the date of its intended opening – perhaps baby’s 18th birthday -- adds a nice touch, as well.

On that special day, you and your child will make yet another special moment in time, as you enjoy the contents preserved in his newborn time capsule.

Complementary medical care has gained increasing popularity in recent years with more and more people seeking natural alternatives to healing. It’s no surprise, then, that families are also looking more often for natural therapies in areas such as skincare and digestive problems for their newborn.

Naturopathic medicine is one approach to holistic healthcare. Naturopathy focuses on helping people achieve optimum health through natural processes, patient education, prevention strategies, and noninvasive therapies. Naturopathic doctors attend several years of specialized medical training at accredited naturopathic medical colleges. The profession, however, is regulated in just twelve states --Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington. In those states, NDs must also pass medical board exams to become licensed.

Naturopathic practitioners provide complementary care for their patients. They take a comprehensive approach to health and spend a lot of time listening to their patients and helping them to become active participants in their healthcare. When you visit naturopathic doctors, you’ll find they emphasize nutrition, dietary changes, and lifestyle modification in their treatment plans. Naturopathic doctors do not abandon or replace conventional medicine, though. Instead, they work cooperatively with other healthcare providers to provide a balanced approach to wellbeing.

Naturopathic treatment of babies can include homeopathy, herbal and physical medicine, and nutrition supplements. Practitioners seek the root cause of health problems and suggest natural, noninvasive therapies to promote healing. For newborns suffering from colic or irritability, they may introduce baby massage. Gentle herbal remedies may be used to heal conditions that affect baby’s delicate skin or digestive disorders. And osteopathic manipulation may be offered to correct musculoskeletal imbalances.

Whatever the technique, the naturopathic practitioner ultimately seeks to improve and enhance baby’s health naturally.

When looking for a naturopathic doctor, it’s important to ensure he or she is properly trained. Your ND should have graduated from an accredited naturopathic college; and if you live in a state that regulates the profession, make sure he or she is properly licensed. A brief consultation with any prospective healthcare provider is advisable, as well, to ensure you feel comfortable with his or her approach to your health.

If you’d like to find out more on what naturopathy can do for your newborn, the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians will help you locate a naturopathic doctor in your area through the organization’s website www.naturopathic.org.

Teething - it's never fun for the parent and it's obviously no fun for baby. For new parents, you may be wondering when baby will get its first tooth. For some parents - about 1 in 2000 - your baby may be born with its first tooth. For others, you may still be waiting at 12 months.

The process of teething actually starts in the womb and carries on through to their second year. What we call 'teething' is actually one of the final stages of the process.

Teeth form as tiny buds and steadily build. The process of erupting from the gums is what we call teething and it generally starts two months before the first tooth breaks through. On average, you can expect 'teething' to start at five-six months and that first tooth to arrive around the seven month mark.

There is one thing you can almost guarantee with children, they will catch a cold. If you have school age children you will know what I mean. Having a new born in the home can be an anxious time for parents when there are coughs, colds and flu's in the home. At some stage your new born is going to catch that virus. It is not necessarily a bad thing - babies do need to develop their own immune systems and it often starts with the common cold. The tricky part is knowing how to treat colds in a new born.

Newborns and cough mixtures are deadly

Treating a cold in a new born is different to treating a cold in an older child. There is very little in the way of medicine that can be administered. However, just remember, when you are taking a cough medicine yourself, or administering it to a child, you are really only treating the symptoms - you are not treating the cold itself. For newborn babies it is no different - you are treating the symptoms and trying to make things as comfortable as possible. Cough mixtures wont work and could prove to be deadly.

Temperature Control

The first and most important step in treating a newborn babies cold is to keep a constant eye on their temperature. If the temperature raises above 100.4 then call your doctor or take the baby to hospital. An accurate thermometer is required for this and a rectal temperature is the most accurate.

Most babies suffer some form of colic during their first six months. Often it can go unnoticed and not cause to much stress. At other times, it can lead to a baby that screams for hours on end leaving the parent tired, frustrated and even a little (or a lot) grumpy.

What Is Colic In Babies?

As a parent there is one guarantee in life. Your child is going to catch a cold at some stage in their life. For new parents, a babies first cough, cold or runny nose can be a worrying experience. It needn't be. Follow these simple tips and life for you and baby will so much easier.

Most children, particularly when they hit school age, suffer around 10 coughs or colds each year. The effects remain for two to fourteen days depending on what type of cold they have.

Coughs, colds and some runny noses are generally result of a common cold virus. These viruses cannot be treated by anti biotics, in fact there is little that medicine can do to 'cure' a cough, cold or runny nose in a baby.

Classic signs of the common cold in babies

There are several signs that your baby may be coming down with a cough, cold or runny nose. The first is frequent sneezing although this may also be due to allergens. So to the watery red eyes. However, if the nasal congestion thickens then you know it's a cold.

As September rushes upon us I realized today that this site, Just4Families is about to have its first birthday. The year has certainly flown by.

Over the last 12 months I have published a lot of posts that have proved to be popular so I am going to review them by category for those who may have missed them. I am going to start with the articles related to babies, for obvious reasons, our is about to turn three weeks old. With a total of five girl five years and under, I am surprised I can five minutes to even write a post these days. Here are my best baby articles from the last 12 months.

One of my favourite articles when it comes to research was the Cord Blood Banking article. Why more hospitals don't utilize this service I don't know. It can help to save so many young lives.

Have you wondered about the The First Moments Of Your Baby's Life? I did so I did a little research. Read the outcome of that research.

Of course, the time comes to take baby home from hospital. An exciting time for many, for others it can be hard to handle. Learn how to deal with Baby's First Days At Home.