From the moment you bring your precious infant home, his or her (or their!) room will become a special place for you and your child. Even if you keep your baby in your bedroom at night for the first few settling-in months, you’ll probably use the baby’s room for ch­anging diapers and other everyday tasks. The sooner you and your child feel comfortable in the nursery, the better. (Yes, you need to feel at home in the baby’s room, too, as you’ll be spending a lot of hours there!)

Once you’ve got the crib, comfy chair, changing table, and optional extra bed in place, the rest is child’s play. If your family includes older ­children who share baby’s room, their needs will obviously dictate a lot of the furnishings and accessories. If the room is for the baby only, you may be tempted to go for broke with decorative treatments. There’s no harm in doing this as long as you avoid items with small parts or cords, but you don’t have to spend a fortune on special effects. Babies can’t really see details or pick out the nuances of color until they’re six months old or so. Until then, bold patterns in black and white serve much better to stimulate their eyes and brains.

If your taste tends toward the lively and modern, a baby’s room in black and white with red accents may be just the ticket. If not, however, you can provide short-term toys and board books that stimulate baby just as well and decorate in a way that better suits your style.

1. Buy storage-friendly furniture
Get a crib with drawers underneath or buy a crib skirt and some under-bed boxes, which are great for stashing all those excess diapers and wipes. Still short on storage? Consider a cube system like the IKEA Expedit, which can grow with your tot and be outfitted with drawers and doors to hold toys and books on the bottom. Plus, you can stash clothes they’re growing into or growing out of on the top.

2. Trick out your closet
Use every inch of space already available in your nursery by maximizing your closet’s storage. Little outfits are short, so double your closet space easily using a double-hang closet rod on one side. Then use a portion of your closet to create flexible shelving by adding a sweater bag. Both can be found at The Container Store.

3. Containerize everything
Find attractive open bins for the shelves of your changing table and give each bin a specific category. Inside your closet you’ll want to use clear, stackable containers so you can see exactly what’s there. Label them with size and season. For example, seeing “12-month, summer clothes” is a lot more helpful than having to take down a huge bin of hand-me-downs from the top shelf and then having to dig through. Important: Whatever you do, skip the toy bin! It just becomes a repository for all the tiny pieces, and ends up with stuff on top of it, so your child will never be able to open it to retrieve those stuffed animals anyway.

4. Go vertical
Have a small nursery? No problem! Utilize your vertical space — backs of doors and even the walls are often overlooked areas. Have excess toiletries or tiny shoes? Put an over-the-door shoe bag with clear pockets on the inside of your closet door so that you can compartmentalize all the small stuff and keep it from cluttering up your surfaces. Stick the thermometer in the top row right next to the Infants’ Tylenol, so next time your baby has a fever in the middle of the night you know exactly how to find it (and it’ll be too high for them to reach as they grow!). Have a ton of pictures or other keepsakes to display? Don’t clutter your dresser — hang floating shelves on the wall to show off your treasures. It will look intentional instead of haphazard, and once your child is more mobile, he won’t be able to destroy them so easily.

5. Toss the junk
Having a baby often means you’re showered with gifts. But that doesn’t mean you have to keep and love everything Cousin Gertrude gave you! Take a picture of your kiddo wearing the item or playing with it, write her a thank-you note and put it in the outbound pile. As a parent you need to constantly manage both the inflow and outflow of stuff in your space, so dedicate a bag or two for things that are no longer in active use, and once they are full, get them out. Store the items that you love that make the cut for a future child, but pass others along to a mommy friend with different taste or donate them. Swimming in excess samples from the hospital? Stash a few in your diaper bag, use up the ones you love and toss the rest! You don’t need random stuff you’ll rarely use.

There is something instinctive about seeing a newborn baby, with his soft skin, and wanting to pick him up and cuddle him. Follow your instinct because cuddling with your baby has a range of benefits. A newborn adjusting to life outside the room enjoys cuddling as a comfort measure. An infant bonds with his parents through cuddling.

It may come as no surprise to parents, but cuddling your baby provides them with social benefits for years afterwards, according to scientists.

They found a clear link between love and attention in the early years and healthy emotional responses in later life.
Even if they are then smothered with love as toddlers, it can be very difficult to repair the damage.Children who have been deprived of physical contact as babies have lower levels of social-bonding hormones, the researchers found.

The research, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, looked at hormones called oxytocin and arginine vasopressin.

Both play a role in response to stress and social bonding, with levels typically rising after the subject has been comforted with human contact.

Cuddle me, I love you……

There are many ways to cuddle your baby.  First and foremost holding and loving your baby is most important. Swaddling, bathing, massaging, rocking while singing lullabies, and anything that is interactive with your baby that consists of soothing human touch and connection.

If you’re expecting a baby, no doubt you’re excited to find out what the gender of your little one to-be is. While there’s no telling for sure until the Big Day, there are fun myths out there that many people swear by. Remember, these myths are just for fun!

Carrying High/Low – Gender myths say if you’re carrying low, you have a little boy on your hands. Carrying high? A girl is on the way!

Ring Test – Take your wedding ring and tie a string to it. Hang the ring over your belly and if it goes back and forth, you have a girl! If the ring goes around in a circle, it’s a boy!

Drano Test - For this test (and make sure you do it in a well ventilated area and don’t inhale the fumes) is done by urinating in a cup and mixing in a tablespoon of Drano. If it turns green, it’s a girl. Blue – it’s a boy!

Heart Rate – When you head to the doctor’s to listen to your baby’s heart rate, ask how many heartbeats per minute your baby is having. If it’s over 140, there may be a little girl in there!

Sweet vs. Sour – Love the sweet stuff? Expect to bring on the pink! Love sour or salty foods instead? Then it must be a little boy!

Morning Sickness – Many believe that since girl hormones mix with their mom’s, stronger feelings of morning sickness come about. If you have no morning sickness, you can expect a boy instead.

Even and Odd Numbers – This creative way of determining a baby’s gender comes from the Mayans. Consider the mother’s age at conception and the year of conception. If both numbers are even or odd, it’s a girl. If one is even and one is odd, expect a baby boy!

Chinese Birth Chart – This handy chart has been used for centuries to determine the sex of unborn babies. All you need is your age at conception and the month of conception. Try a Chinese Gender Predictor here.

Pimples - They say boys take your brains and girls take your beauty! If you’ve been blessed with plenty of red bumps on your face, it’s probably a girl to blame! Glowing instead? Enjoy a little boy on his way!

Keyed In - If you have a friend who is expecting, lay a key down in front of her and ask her to pick it up. If she picks it up by the round part, she can expect a little boy to be on his way. If she picks the key up by narrow part, she can plan on a little girl!

Image: genderpredictions.blinkweb.com

When my son was born in 2008 at 38 weeks, he was considered a full term baby. But when the National Center for Health Statistics released its final birth data for the same year, they coined the new term “early term”.

Early term describes any newborn born at 37-38 weeks gestation, in between the preterm and full term stages. Why the need for this new terminology? Studies show that babies born during this period are more at risk for certain disorders, including autism and dyslexia. Furthermore, early term infants have a higher incidence of respiratory complications that can increase the risk for childhood asthma.

Indeed, there isn’t much control for many of these babies who simply choose to come a bit early. And while the majority of early term babies are born just fine, there is a growing concern over the higher-than-ever Cesarean section rate. The majority of scheduled c-sections are performed at 39 weeks or less, increasing the rate of early term infants.

Yet just like babies who choose to enter the world early, many c-sections need to be performed early for health concerns affecting mom or baby. Experts encourage doctors and expecting moms to rethink elective c-sections or early inductions, giving unborn babies as much time as possible in utero, provided the baby is thriving. Every week is critical to an infant’s development, and at this point, important organs including the brain are still developing.

Image c/o Melimama

Whether you just found out that you’re pregnant or your expected due date is right around the corner, you’ve probably heard plenty of talk about a birth plan. A birth plan is a communication tool that explains how you would like everything handled during your labor and delivery. Since this time will be overwhelming and prevent you from thinking (or acting) rationally, your birth plan acts as your voice.

So what are some things to include in your birth plan?

- How do you want pain managed during labor?

- What types of pain medication are you willing to take?

- How do you feel about induction?

- What if a C-section is necessary?

- Do you want the labor or delivery captured on camera or video?

- Do you want to avoid an episiotomy?

- How do you want your baby to be handled after delivery?

These are just some of the questions you want to have answered in your birth plan, making your intentions clear to everyone in a non-confrontational way. Of course, this is just a plan and one that cannot always be followed. As you’ve already discovered, babies have a schedule of their own and ultimately, what’s best for mom and baby will be done, regardless of your preferences.

To help you make a formal plan, use the free tools online that generate a detailed birth plan for you to fill out. Print out several copies for you, your partner and those involved with the labor. Be sure to tuck one in your hospital bag and update the plan if necessary.

Image c/o similac.com

After nearly 40 weeks of being pregnant, it’s not uncommon for women to want to try to induce labor on their own. While most of these fun tactics are simply that, it can’t hurt to put them to the test! Remember that you should only try to naturally induce labor after 38 weeks when your baby is considered full term. So get to work and see if one of these will work for you!

Balsamic Vinegar. Add a splash to your evening salad!

Acupressure. Pressure points in your back and shoulder well can be stimulated using your thumb and forefinger.

Massage. Work only with someone who is trained in pregnancy massages. He or she will know the right pressure points that can induce labor.

Nipple Stimulation. This really does work, as the hormones produced can cause contractions! However, it needs to be done for an hour at a time, which may lead little time for other things.

Spices. Licorice, basil, oregano and motherwort are all spices that have been linked to inducing labor.

Foods. Juicy pineapple, eggplant, spicy foods and Chinese foods have all been said to induce labor. Fortunately, these foods will be tasty during your final weeks of pregnancy whether they induce labor or not!

Sex. The sperm help to soften the cervix and also have prostaglandins, which induce contractions. And, orgasms cause contractions, which may set you off into labor after having a bit of fun.

Castor Oil. There is some debate over this, so be sure to use with caution. While castor oil is known to stimulate contractions, it can also cause diarrhea and vomiting. However, it is these cramps in the bowels that often set off contractions.

Exercise. Whether it’s swimming, taking a long stroll or swinging on a swing, all of these exercises have been known to stimulate contractions.

Bouncing on an Exercise Ball. Consider it great practice for the real thing. This bouncing causes the baby to move up and down, hopefully getting him or her ready to make the grand exit.  Luna Lullaby offers a great Bounce-a-Bye Baby Ball that is helpful before birth during your pregnancy, during birth to ease any pressure or discomfort and after you give birth as a workout for mommy and a great way to soothe a fussy baby.

Tea. Raspberry leaf or thyme tea are great ones to try. With raspberry leaf, it should be incorporated into the diet around 34 weeks. Not only can it lead to a natural induction, but it can shorten labor, a real win-win situation.

While the medical community is mixed on whether or not these natural induction methods actually work, they are safe to try after 38 weeks. Has one of them worked for you? Share your story with us!

Image c/o squidoo.com

There has been much written on how to have a healthy pregnancy, and there are many opinions about what to eat and what not to eat while you are a pregnant. Here is a quick overview about nutrition during these nine months.

1.      Do eat lots of spinach, as it is rich in folate

2.      Do eat whole grains, fruits, and vegetables daily. These foods contain fiber to aid digestion and the vitamins and minerals you need to be healthy.

3.      Do drink lots of water. It will help with constipation and provide fluid as your blood volume increases and your body creates amniotic fluid for the baby.

4.      Do take a prenatal vitamin.

5.      Do drink milk for calcium and vitamin needs.

6.      Do eat a varied diet. This is the best way to ensure that you are getting a variety of nutrients and not too much of anything that may be harmful.

7.      Don’t eat unpasteurized dairy products such as soft cheeses as they may contain listeria, a bacteria that can cause illness in the baby and possibly lead to miscarriage

8.      Don’t eat raw smoked fish, as they can also contain listeria

9.      Don’t eat deli meats that contain listeria

10.  Don’t take a Vitamin A supplement or consume more than the daily recommended allowance of Vitamin A

11.  Don’t eat fish high in mercury, including shark and swordfish

12.  Don’t consume too much caffeine or artificial sweeteners. Limit yourself to 300mg a day and remember that caffeine is in coffee, tea, some soft drinks, and chocolate.

Many women notice that they experience severe hiccups during pregnancy, often during the first trimester. There are two explanations for noticing these hiccups during this time.

Reason #1 – Taking in more air

First, the pregnancy puts greater demands on your body, and one of the ways that your body accommodates these increased demands is by increasing the amount of air taken in with each breath. On average, a woman inhales 30 to 40% more air with each breath while she is pregnant as compared to the way she breathes the rest of the time. This brings more oxygen into your body and allows your body to function more efficiently, but it also may result in hiccups as you adjust to new breathing patterns.

Reason #2 – You are paying closer attention

The second explanation for these hiccups during the first trimester is that women often start paying more attention to their bodies and feelings when they realize they are pregnant. The concern they feel for their growing child and having a healthy pregnancy leads women to notice things they may have overlooked otherwise, such as hiccups. You may have had hiccups before, but you worry that these are different or more severe than usual because you are hyper-aware of everything that is happening to your body.

Don’t worry, be happy

The good news is that whichever cause is at the heart of your hiccups, or even if both causes can be blamed, hiccups are harmless. They are certainly annoying but they do not indicate anything is wrong with you or with your baby, and they will go away on their own.

Nearing the halfway mark of pregnancy

To those who have not been pregnant, twenty weeks might seem like an arbitrary marker. However, to those who have been pregnant or close to someone during her pregnancy, twenty weeks is an important marker – at this point, your pregnancy is halfway done.

You are halfway to the day that you will be able to hold your baby in your arms, and you will notice significant changes in your body and the baby. At this point, you can expect any or all of the following:

-         Weight loss will continue at a steady rate, usually one to two pounds each week

-         Sleeping may become more difficult as your weight gain becomes more pronounced

-         You will be more aware of the baby and his or her movements because they have reached a point in their development where they are bigger and in motion more often

-         Your skin may become dry and itchy as it stretches to accommodate the weight gain, especially in your abdominal region. Lotions and drinking more water can help.

-         Your nails are probably stronger and your hair may be longer and thicker.

-         You may see some swelling of your ankles and feet. This is normal and probably due to retaining more water.

-         Heartburn and indigestion will continue to be an issue, but morning sickness should have stopped by this point.

-         You may sweat more than usual as a result of both the weight gain and a more active thyroid gland.

A few things you can expect early on

Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it is also one that is full of uncertainty. No two women are alike, and no two pregnancies are the same, so you may be worried about what you should expect early in your pregnancy.

No one can tell you exactly what will happen over the next nine months, but some of the things you may experience in the first few months of pregnancy include:

-         Morning sickness. Nausea at this time in your pregnancy is caused by the release of hCG, human chorionic gonadotropin. This nausea is commonly referred to as morning sickness, but you may experience it at any time of the day. The good news is that it usually subsides by the end of the first trimester as hCG production slows.

-         Cravings and aversions. You may desire certain foods that you normally don’t care for, or you may find yourself avoiding old favorites. Your senses are heightened at this time, so these changes in appetite are normal and should not be a source of concern.

-         Mood swings. The hormonal changes that occur during your pregnancy can cause you to feel happy one moment and anxious the next or suddenly weepy. This, too, is completely normal.

-         Fatigue. Many women feel very tired during these first few months. Try to get as much rest as your body needs to stay healthy, even if you need to start napping or going to bed earlier than usual.