Baby and Parents

Baby and Parents Baby Names Naming a baby can be easy. It can also be agonizing - especially when you and your partner cannot agree. Some people choose their names before the birth while others wait to meet the baby and then discover that a certain name just 'fits.' Baby naming can be more complicated if coupled by baby naming traditions. Some European nations, for instance, observe baby naming customs which usually involve a small gathering of family and friends. The main purpose of the event, the naming of the baby, is celebrated with a hearty meal and a shower of new baby flowers.  This custom is then followed with a story telling session describing how the parents came up with this particular name. So you see, baby naming is much more complex than simply bestowing a combination of letters and syllables. And baby naming is much more difficult than purchasing crib beddingbecause, after all, you can always return a babybedding set if you don't like it. One of the top questions expectant parents hear all the time is "Do you have a name picked out?" Choose a Baby Name will help you decide what name is right for your little one. Everyone always has suggestions about what parents should name their baby. Often, those suggestions may be based on recommended baby names. But some of those names might just be too strange for you. The best tool is a great list of names. Write down your favorites and have your partner do the same. Then go through each list and narrow them down to a select few. For some help on finding the perfect name, Most Popular Baby Names has a thorough list for both boys and girls. Maybe you're looking for something more original? Our Baby Names Meanings section will provide you with an extensive list of girls' and boys' names plus their origin and meaning. Maybe you've already thought of a great baby name. If so, tell us your baby boy or baby girl names! Resources: For more help in choosing baby names, visit babynamescountry.com or All Baby Names, some of the largest databases on the internet for baby name meanings, origins, and much more! Baby Names Database - A vast library of informative articles and guides to multiple aspects of pregnancy, health advice and postpartum topics. Includes a comprehensive resource for given names and their meanings, categorized by various ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Bathing your newborn Sponge baths For the first week or so, until your baby's umbilical cord stump falls off and the area heals, it's best to stick to sponge baths with a lukewarm, moistened washcloth. Wash his face and hands frequently, and thoroughly clean his genital area after each diaper change. Tub baths After the umbilical cord stump dries up, falls off, and the area heals, you can start giving your newborn tub baths. While a baby is tiny, it makes the most sense to use the kitchen sink or a small plastic baby tub instead of a standard tub. Although some parents bathe their babies every day for the sheer pleasure of it, until a baby is crawling around and getting into messes, a bath isn't really necessary more than once or twice a week. When you do bathe your newborn, you may find it a little scary at first. Handling a wiggling, wet, and soapy little creature takes practice and confidence, so stay calm and maintain a good grip on him. Some babies find the warm water very soothing. If this is the case with your baby, let him linger. Others cry through the whole bath — that's when you'll want to get him in and out. Keeping the bathing room warm can help. Bath safety •  Never leave your baby unsupervised, even for a minute. If the doorbell or phone rings and you feel you must answer it, scoop him up in a towel and take him with you. •  Never put your baby into a tub when the water is still running (the water temperature could change or the depth could become too high). •  Set your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. A child can get third-degree burns in less than a minute at 140 degrees. •  Never leave your child unattended. (Yes, it's so important we listed it twice). A child can drown in less than an inch of water — and in less than 60 seconds. How to give your baby a bath 1. Gather all necessary bath supplies, and lay out a towel, a clean diaper, and clothes. 2. Fill the tub with 2 to 3 inches of water that feels warm but not hot, about 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius). 3. Bring your baby to the bath area and undress him completely. (TIP: If your baby cries through every bath, leave the diaper on at first. It can give him an increased sense of security in the water.) 4. Gradually slip your baby into the tub feet first, using one hand to support his neck and head. Pour cupfuls of bath water over him regularly during the bath so he doesn't get too cold. 5. Use mild soap and use it sparingly (too much dries out your baby's skin), as you wash him with your hand or a washcloth from top to bottom, front and back. Wash his scalp with a wet, soapy cloth. Use moistened cotton balls (no soap) to clean his eyes and face. If dried mucus has collected in the corners of your baby's nostrils or eyes, dab it several times to soften it before you wipe it out. As for your baby's genitals, a routine washing is all that's needed. 6. Rinse your baby thoroughly with cupfuls of water and wipe him down with a clean washcloth. Then lift him out of the tub with one hand supporting his neck and head and the other hand supporting his bottom, with your fingers around one thigh (babies are slippery when wet). 7. Wrap your baby in a hooded towel and pat him dry. If his skin is still peeling from birth, you can apply a mild baby lotion after his bath, but this is generally dead skin that needs to come off anyway, not dry skin. Then diaper him, dress him, and give him a kiss on his sweet-smelling head. Baby sleep basics: 3 to 6 months Typical sleep at this age At 3 months, most babies sleep a total of 12 to 15 hours a day, including nighttime sleep and naps. Sleep training opportunity Typically, by age 3 months or so, babies have started to develop more of a regular sleep/wake pattern and have dropped most of their night feedings. This doesn't mean you should suddenly impose a rigid sleep program on your 3- or 4-month-old. In fact, your baby may already have developed sleep patterns that fit in well with your family life. But if you'd like to help your baby sleep longer at a stretch and keep more regular hours, now might be a good time to try some type of sleep training. Keep in mind that every baby is on a unique developmental schedule. Observe how your child reacts to sleep training, and if she doesn't seem ready, slow down and try again in a few weeks. Sleeping through the night At some point between 3 and 6 months, most babies are capable of sleeping through the night. We're not talking about eight hours, though. "Through the night" at this age generally means a stretch of five or six hours (though some children will sleep much longer). This may not sound like much if you're hoping for eight or nine hours of sleep yourself. But it's an important milestone for you as well as your baby, allowing you to get through a few sleep cycles and feel more rested in the morning. If your baby isn't yet sleeping five or six hours straight, you're not alone. Many babies still wake up more than once at night for feedings in the 3- to 6-month stage. But by 6 months, if not before, your baby's likely to be ready for night weaning, if that's what you choose. Waking up again If your baby already sleeps for long periods at night, enjoy it. But babies who've slept through the night for weeks or months may start to wake up again — so don't be surprised if you're suddenly getting up every couple of hours again. It can be frustrating and puzzling if your baby does this, but she has her reasons. She may be increasingly socially aware and wake up crying for your company. Or she may be working so hard to master new skills, like rolling over or sitting up, that she practices in her sleep and wakes herself up. How you can establish healthy sleep habits Here are some tips for helping your baby sleep well at this age: Establish a set bedtime and regular nap times — and stick to them. When your baby was a newborn, you knew it was bedtime when you started noticing signs of sleepiness (eye-rubbing, ear-pulling, and so on). Now that she's a little older, you should establish a regular bedtime, as well as consistentnap times, to regulate her sleep patterns. Some babies naturally nod off by 6 every night. Others still seem wide awake at 8 or later. And of course your household routine will influence her sleep schedule, too. Choose a reasonable bedtime that suits your family's schedule and stick to it as much as possible. If your baby seems to want to stay up past bedtime, consider this: Energetic behavior late at night can be a sign that a child is tired. You can start to plan naps for a specific time every day, too, such as at 9 a.m., noon, and 3 p.m. Or you can just put your baby down about two hours after she last woke up. As long as she's getting enough opportunities to sleep, either approach is fine. If your baby's having a hard time getting to sleep or staying asleep, whether during naps or at night, try putting her down sooner. Being too tired can make it hard to settle down and get restful sleep. Begin to develop a bedtime routine. If you haven't already done so, now's a good time to start a bedtime routine. Your ritual can include any or all of the following: giving your baby a bath, getting her changed for bed, reading a bedtime story or two, singing a lullaby, and giving her a kiss goodnight. Whatever routine works for your family is fine, as long as you do it in the same order and at the same time every night. Babies thrive on consistency. Wake your child in the morning to set her daily clock. It's fine to wake your baby up in the morning if she's sleeping past her usual waking time, to help set her daily clock. Your baby needs to follow a regular sleep/wake pattern and recharge with naps during the day. Waking her up at the same time every morning will help keep her on a predictable sleep schedule. Encourage your child to fall asleep independently. All of us, babies and adults alike, wake up several times every night for brief periods (anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes). As adults, we put ourselves back to sleep each time — and we don't even remember doing it. The ability to get back to sleep is key when it comes to snoozing through the night. Some babies seem to do this naturally. But if your baby doesn't, it's a skill she'll have to master. One way to get her started is to put her down when she's drowsy but awake. If your baby needs more help and you think she's ready, you can try a more involved method of sleep training. Your options include various no-cry and cry-it-out techniques. What will work best for you depends on your parenting style, your personal beliefs, and your child's particular needs.