Puppies and Toddlers: Making It Work Without the Headache

I have to confess it was always a lifelong dream of mine to raise my baby with a dog. I had every plan to adopt a puppy as soon as my baby learned to walk and let them grow together. But life to hold of that dream and the reality of knowing how to make that work stopped me with the birth of every child, that was until my son was born.

Being my only natural born son I couldn’t dismiss the constant nagging in the back of my brain that kept saying, “A boy and his dog.” I know it sounds funny but the truth is many moms are just like me and desire to have a puppy and a toddler.

I’m here to tell you it can be done without the headaches and exhaustion many complain about. All it takes is a little bit of planning and some intentional choices.

Preparing for Puppy During the Toddler Years

Before you bring your puppy home it’s critical to set up a designated puppy area that will not only keep your puppy in but also keep your toddler out. I found the durable plastic play fences are the perfect solution. You can set these play yards up anywhere that is convenient, your puppy cannot escape and your toddler can’t collapse it trying to get in.

I recommend purchasing the play yard and setting it up several weeks before you get your puppy. Toddlers are VERY curious about new toys in their space and this puppy area will be no different. If you have it set up for a few weeks it will lose it’s newness and your toddler will move on to other toys. During this time you can teach your little one that it’s not a toy and they have to leave that space alone.

I also recommend when possible setting up your puppy area in a room separated by a door for those times you don’t want to have to worry about whether or not your toddler is sticking his fingers in the fence to be chewed on!

Preparing Puppy for Safe Toddler Play

The next step in headache free puppy/toddler years is to intentionally plan all your puppy interactions in a way that will be laying a foundation for safe toddler play. You don’t want your puppy to jump on, bite or harass your baby.

The best way to do this is to never allow your puppy to jump, ever. When you approach the fence tell him to sit and don’t give him any attention until all four paws are on the floor. Then placing your hand on his chest before petting him will help you prevent unwanted jumping.

Additionally it’s best to only let your toddler and puppy spend time together when the puppy is sleeping. This will prevent accidentally teaching unwanted behaviors of jumping and biting as your puppy tries to “play” with your baby.

As soon as your puppy has settled in start working on home dog training with a few basic commands and expectations. This will help prepare your puppy for more disciplined obedience as he grows.

And finally, be patient. There is no rush to let your toddler and puppy be free running buddies. A few controlled interactions each day during sleepy time will start that wanted bond without the hassles of chaotic play.

Raising your toddler with a puppy can be done with no headache and no hassles. Just take the time to plan, prepare and then follow through and you will soon be watching your boy (or girl) and his dog running in the field.

About the Author:

Mikki Hogan lives in NC with her husband, kids and canine companions. After struggling with her disobedient dog, online training was the answer. Whether working with dogs or homeschooling kids Mikki shares her experiences to help parents just like her.

10 Tips for Getting Babies to Sleep Through the Night

If you happen to pass a frazzled, zombie-like, bag-eyed young woman on the street, odds are you're looking at a new mother. She's just brought a miracle into the world, and been rewarded with sleepless nights and a round-the-clock feeding schedule. Luckily, it won't stay this way forever. When your baby is two or three months old and doesn't need to eat every four hours, you can start about teaching him or her to sleep through the night. Here are ten things that can help you get there.

1. Establish a bedtime routine. This is the single most important strategy in teaching your baby to sleep through the night. You lay out a series of steps and follow them, in order, every night before you put your baby to bed. Think bath, bottle, bed. Give your baby a bath, dry him off, dress him in nice soft pajamas, feed him a bottle, and put him to bed. Repeating the same steps every night prepares your baby for bed both physically and mentally. 
2. Feed your baby plenty of solid foods and cereal. Nine times out of ten, when your baby wakes up in the middle of the night, it's because he or she is hungry. At the newborn stage, there's not much to do about it. You should turn a corner at around 3 months (adjusted age) because your baby can finally hold enough milk to last longer. When your pediatrician tells you to start offering cereal, don't delay. You'll notice a BIG difference when you can get your baby to take some cereal at around dinner time. If the bowl and spoon aren't going well, try spiking a little bit into the nighttime bottle (no more than a teaspoon per 3-4 ounces). You can thicken regular baby food with cereal as well. Offer as much as your baby will eat and/or drink in the evening. The more he takes, the longer he'll sleep.
3. Get the gas out. Digestive discomfort, or "bubbles in the tummy", is another thing that often prevents babies from going to sleep or wakes them up at night. For this reason, it's especially important to burp your baby thoroughly after the nighttime feeding. You can also slightly elevate one side of the baby bed (the side where baby's head goes) to put gravity on your side. Newborns might also benefit from Mylicon. The active ingredient, simethicone, is a mild soap that breaks up bubbles in the baby's tummy. Many parents swear by a homeopathic product, Gripe Water, which is given with the bottle. 
4. Use overnight diapers. This is a small change, but a critical one. Once your baby can wear a size 3, look into the "overnight" diapers (such as Huggies Overnites). These are extra-thick and designed to wick away moisture while your baby sleeps at night. 
5. Put your baby in clean, comfy pajamas. It's important to make this part of the routine, especially because it puts your baby in something clean, warm, and soft to sleep in. This is part of the "touch training" that tells your baby when it's time for the long sleep. I like long-sleeve pajamas with footies in them. Snaps are better than zippers because you can get to the diaper without exposing his entire torso. 
6. Swaddle for sleep. If you happen to look into a hospital nursery, you'll notice that they swaddle every newborn before putting it down to sleep. This recreates the warmth and snug comfort of the womb; it's naturally soothing to your baby. Swaddling is easy to learn and, when done properly, will keep your baby warm and cozy all night long. If you don't have the knack for it, or your baby seems to kick out a lot, pick up a couple of velcro swaddlers. You won't regret it.
7. Put a fan in your baby's room. This serves a few different purposes. First, it provides a steady hum of white noise that your baby becomes accustomed to -- an auditory signal that it's time to sleep. This also covers up any random noises from pets, siblings, televisions, or other sources, both at night and early in the morning. Second, a fan circulates the air in the room to help maintain a steady temperature. Just make sure that the fan isn't pointed directly at the baby's crib or changer, as that could make him or her chilly. Finally, fans have been shown to have a slight protective effect against SIDS, though the reason for this is unclear.
8. Give a quick, warm bath just before bed. Some babies love getting baths, some hate them, but all seem to enjoy being dried off and dressed in nice warm pajamas after one. This soothes and relaxes your baby's muscles, makes him or her feel clean, and often delivers a blissful night of deep sleep. If it works well, make a quick bath part of your night time routine. You don't have to use shampoo every time, just a little dip and then dry-off with a fluffy towel should have the same effect.
9. Offer a pacifier and keep extras handy. I'm always shocked when some parents say that their baby won't take a pacifier. Come on, this thing is shaped like a nipple! Get your baby into the habit early and stick to it. The pacifier may be the the best invention ever when it comes to baby care, especially for getting them to settle down for bed. Stash a couple extras in the bed, on your nightstand, and on the diaper changer. You can never have too many, especially when you're fumbling around in the dark looking for one.
10. Soothe first, feed second if your baby wakes up. If you immediately offer food when your baby fusses at night, you'll condition him or her to expect it every time. Instead, the first time you go in, try re-inserting the pacifier and tucking the baby in. Maybe a soft touch to the head. A baby that's just fussing will usually settle down, but a hungry baby won't. It's much quicker to soothe a baby back to sleep than wake him up, feed him, and put him back down. 

Not all of these may work for you and your baby, but odds are that some will. There's no magic bullet when it comes to getting a baby to sleep through the night. It's about putting in the time, figuring out what your baby needs, setting a routine that works, and sticking to it. If you've read this far, you've got what it takes. Now go do it!

About the Author

Dan Koboldt is a father of three and the author of Get Your Baby to Sleep, a blog about establishing good sleep habits, soothing techniques, and helping a baby to sleep through the night.

BabyBonkie: For Swaddle-Challenged Mothers

Are you swaddle-challenged?

There's a reason that nurses swaddle little newborns in the hospital. It is based on solid facts from centuries of swaddling babies and decades of studies.

I'm a firm believer that hospitals should hold little mini-seminars for moms - even the ones who have had ten kids - on how to swaddle. Seriously, after my sixth child, I still didn't have it right! So, on my seventh child, I decided to get it right...

And, in the door walks babybonkie! It's the perfect solution for swaddle-challenged moms...or is it?

I'll admit...it's a no-brainer. Now, if you bring a peanut home like the one I did, at 4 pounds and 15 ounces, you won't be able to use it right away. They recommend wrapping babies that are 7-14 pounds only for safety reasons, however I bet it will work for babies a little bigger, because they like to keep their legs all curled up. :)

Why Swaddle?

Swaddling has been proven to reduce colic, help soothe fussy babies, and much more. You know those days when your baby is crying and crying and crying...and you've tried to feed them, rock them, put them in the swing, walk them around, give them the pacifier, okay, you've tried everything! Have you tried swaddling?

It may just be the key to a happy baby. Remember, they've come from this really warm, compact, quiet place where they were squished in super snuggled and tight - to the point where you felt them stretch and feet or knees would poke out of your belly. They had no stretching room for nine months! That's what they are used to...and that's what they like, even after they're born. So, swaddle them.

The babybonkie makes it simple...tuck in the feet, tuck arms down, velcro it shut on both sides. Done. Simple as 1,2,3.

My Opinion

It came packaged in plastic to keep it nice and clean and had a very informative tag attached to it with all kinds of useful information, including Safety Warnings, which I think is great. The options for material and texture are awesome! The patterns and colors are super-duper adorable. They have choices for boys, girls and gender neutral. They even have eco-friendly babybonkies! Then, they have the bonkiebag. Hey, I need one of those, too!

And, here's where I put in my two cents. I love the idea of swaddling. I love the idea of making it so simple for swaddle-challenged moms to swaddle their babies. And, I absolutely LOVE the cuddle softness of the babybonkie! This is the one I received:

The outside is so very soft and fluffy feeling. You almost don't want to put your little one down when he's snuggled inside this bundle...you want to keep rubbing your face on the babybonkie. :)

The Con

The only downside that I can tell you about is the velcro (you know I'm going to talk about my honest opinion here on Mommy Rantings!)...the velcro tabs that are used to secure the baby in are hard and large. I don't know what else to say, but you really have to take care in tucking your little one in. Other than that, though...I do very much love our babybonkie...and little Chase does, too. He's definitely a swaddle buddy...and babybonkie helps make it quick and easy to swaddle him up when he's fussy.

This is yet another item I'm going to add to my Must Have Gift List for Your Baby Shower Registry!


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Thanks to babybonkie for sponsoring this review. All opinions are mine, no compensation was paid.

Miracle Blanket Review: Does It Really Create Miracles?

You know I had to try out this "miracle" the moment I saw it. First of all, for those who are mothers already, swaddling is just not as easy as those nurses in the hospital make it look, is it?

You get home with this new little person and look at the blanket like, "Now, how did they do that wrap-around thing again?" I was saying that again with my seventh child, because, somehow, I just hadn't mastered it by my sixth child. Hmmmm...what next?

So, you look around to find the perfect product that promises to help you swaddle the baby...

And then you hear about the Miracle Blanket....

And just the fact that they used the word miracle peaks your interest. But, they go beyond that with their promises.

Here's what they promise (by the way, this is a GREAT video!):






Here's My Opinion:

I received the Miracle Blanket shortly after Chase was born at a mere 4 pounds, 15 ounces due to the early extraction. At that size, he LOVED to be swaddled. As a matter of fact, the tighter I wrapped him, the better he slept...

Here's what happened the first night I swaddled him in the Miracle Blanket: HE SNORED! The littlest guy that I've ever seen in my entire life SNORED like a grown man swaddled up all nice and tight! It was the funniest thing I've ever seen! So, what does that tell you? LOL

Yes, he's loved his Miracle Blanket...but there is one thing that I will point out about it that is a con...because you know that I tell my honest opinion, all the time, every time. The only thing that I did not like about the Miracle Blanket is that it doesn't always stay wrapped up tight, especially when it's wrapped around a wiggly newborn. Sooner, or later, if they wiggle in their sleep a lot, they will wiggle the top part off...or have it up around the neck. Yes, I have a wiggly worm sleeper, and yes, many a-times, he had wiggled it all up around his neck.

You would think that these little tiny people wouldn't want their arms strapped down to their sides, but the first time I wrapped him up, directly after I moved his arms to his sides and gently wrapped him tight, he just looked at me. No crying, just quiet.


Miracle Blanket states (besides the fact that they guarantee their blankets stop colic): 

• Helps Fussy Babies Sleep Great!
• Helps Ease Fussiness For ANY Baby!
• Aids In Preventing Facial Scratches!
• 100% High Quality Cotton

• Helps Babies Sleep Better On Their Backs!
• Helps Stop Twitches That Wake Your Baby!
• Makes Breast Feeding Easier!
• One Size Fits All Up to Four Months

I'm going to have to kick my two cents in here and say that they have created a miracle. Despite the only "con" that I could come up with about the blanket, it really does work! I'm adding it to Must Have Gift List for Your Baby Shower Registry!

I noticed something on the Miracle Blanket's website that really bothered me...By the way, those of you imitators who are trying to reconstruct the Miracle Blanket...please, do not put your child - or anyone else's precious new little one - in harm's way to create an ineffective - or potentially harmful - blanket just to save some money. They have spent years working on the pattern for this blanket...just go buy it. It's not worth a child's life - or any potential consequences - to try to make your own. Thanks!

I was provided a sample for this review. All opinions are completely mine and not swayed by compensation.

Bringing Home the Baby Meals

When we lived down in the "dirty" South, we had two of our children...Dylan and Dakoda, now 4 and 2, respectively. After Dakoda was born, we were blessed with a big surprise. Members of our church set up three weeks of home-cooked meals. Well, there was a night of Domino's Pizza and another of KFC...both of them, we loved! The whole point was that people brought us meals that were ready to eat, relieving us from the burden of planning and cooking a meal. 


Just recently, we were blessed with the same gesture - people bringing ready-made meals for the family - after having Chase. (Our children's school has a Sunshine Committee and they do special things for families...some families are experiencing tragedy while others are welcoming new additions.)

If you are looking for a different way to help a family, whether they are experiencing hardship, sickness or death or welcoming home a new baby, a home cooked meal will always be enjoyed. I can't tell you how much it helped us! Nights of no sleep with a new baby, getting the household back on track with a new little person (especially with 6 kids already!)...and trying to keep things as "normal" as possible...

My husband is wonderful enough to get the older kids up, ready and headed out for school, then I had to orchestrate breakfast for Dakoda and Dylan and keep them and Chase happy all morning...make lunch, more entertainment for the afternoon...the hurricane comes in when the 4 older children come home from school at 3, then it's signing papers and making sure everyone gets their homework done while keeping the 3 younger guys happy. By dinnertime...I'm about flat out tired! Honestly, the last thing I wanted to do was cook dinner.

Having night after night lined up of dinners was probably one of the best gifts I could have received. And, I WILL "pass it on" in the future, because it's such a heartfelt gesture when you cook a meal and deliver it to someone!

Here are some of the meals that we received, just to give you an idea of how easy you can put together a meal for someone:

A frozen lazagna, french bread, a quick salad

Meat loaf, salad, french bread, potatoes, corn

A broccoli, chicken and rice casserole with (you guessed it!) french bread and Halloween cupcakes

Of course, if you aren't big on cooking and would prefer to bring some pizza or KFC, I'm sure that it will be eaten! In our house, we would never turn down a home cooked meal...or fast food, for that matter!

Labor & Delivery: What I Packed In My Hospital Bag

I didn't have a whole lot of time to pack my hospital bag! Normally, I wait until I am in labor to start packing my hospital bag, however a routine ultrasound turned into a "we need to delivery this baby" and a rush-home-to-pack and then turn around and get back to the hospital - so I didn't have too much time to think, either. (you can read about the birth story here). But, I knew ahead of time the necessities that I wanted to pack.

So, what did I pack in my hospital bag???

Well, let's start off with the fact that I planned to pack my dearjohnnies designer hospital gown...but it had not come in the mail yet. :(

I was able to pack:

• Neiman Marcus silk pajamas that my mother-in-law sent me
• my laptop
• my digital camera (I forgot the card reader, however my husband remembered to bring it later on)
• socks (you can certainly wear the hospital-issued sockies, but I like to bring my own)
• a change of clothes (comfy and elastic waste) to go home in
• a set of clothes to bring the baby home in (I brought two sets, just in case)
• my L'uvalla balancing cream (you will want to feel pretty after delivery!)
• my make-up bag
• toothbrush, toothpaste and hairbrush
• my purse, of course, which included my photo ID and insurance cards
• my Certain-Dri antiperspirant

And, that is all that I packed...short and sweet and simple...and it seemed to be enough! 

The Birth Story of My Seventh Child: A Routine Ultrasound, Surprise Induction, and Teeny Tiny Baby

Moms remember every "birth story", regardless of the amount of children they have. They can tell you the time that they went into labor, the number of centimeters that they were dilated on which date and at what time. They can tell you every detail of every birth...no matter how many years pass and how many other children come afterwards...because the experience is one that will never be easily forgotten. It's an experience that ends in a precious little person that comes in a teeny weeny little package that will continuously bring stories and memories throughout its life.

I can tell you all of the details of each one of my children's births, too. All seven of them...where I was, how I felt when I went into labor, how early they came - or how on-time, in comparison to their due date. I can tell you what I had planned...and how my plans were sidetracked by the new addition. I can recite, moment by moment, a plethora of thoughts and feelings that came with each of my children...


Lucky Number Seven

The birth story of my newest and littlest addition to the family is one that I have told many many times already. It's one that I, once again, will definitely not forget!

Friday morning, 9/9/11, I had a routine ultrasound at the highly boasted Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo. (The same facility that I had just taken Dylan for surgery three days earlier.) It was a busy first morning, sending four children off to school and running out the door to drive 45 minutes to my appointment. By the time I arrived at the hospital, I was late and worried that they may make me reschedule the appointment. However, they said that they were still able to see me.

I was first put on the fetal monitor for 20 minutes, then I was walked to the ultrasound room. Unfortunately, there was only one monitor in the ultrasound room, as I patiently awaited the technician to tell me something. She took measurements and told me that the baby wasn't cooperating, and finally, after about a half hour, she turned the monitor and showed me that my little man had hair! You could see the little bits of hair on his head and I couldn't wait to see him and hold him!

To my surprise, I would be holding him a lot sooner than I thought...according to the due date, I still had a little under two more weeks to prepare. But, in the world of newborns, we all know to expect the unexpected...

At the end of the ultrasound, the technician nonchalantly told me that she was going to run the ultrasound by the doctor and she would be right back. Within 5 minutes, two nurses returned to the room to tell me, "Try not to be alarmed, but you most likely will not be going home today."

My immediate reaction was confusion, mixed with "what in the world is going on???". "Why, what's going on? You mean I'm going to be hospitalized?" I couldn't possibly stay in the hospital for two weeks! My children need me at home with them! I mean, I was prepared to stay for a couple of days when the baby was born, but...

Cutting into my thoughts, one of the nurses said, "Your amniotic fluid is low and the baby is measuring small. In addition, he wasn't moving around as much as we would like to see when you were on the fetal monitor. Sometimes, it's better to deliver the baby early...the doctor is on her way to talk to you. Let's wait and see what she says." Now, it had been a very hectic, stressful morning, so the baby had been moving the whole way to the hospital, but he slowed down while I was sitting hooked up to the fetal monitor (and those reclining chairs were so relaxing!), so that wasn't of concern to me. All of my babies have been between 5 lbs and 14 ounces and 7 lbs and 12 ounces, so the fact that he measured small didn't faze me very much at first, either, but the amniotic fluid being low...I wasn't sure exactly what that meant.

I Needed To Call My Husband

It just so happened that, in the middle of the morning mess, I couldn't find my cell phone, so I had left without it, and this was the moment when I started panicking and wishing I had the cell phone to call my husband with. I told the nurses that I needed to move my car, as I had parked in two hour parking - and that time was up. In addition, I needed to call my husband...was there a phone I could use?

They told me to go ahead and move my car, were nice enough to tell me where I should park, and told me to get back as fast as I could, because the doctor was on her way. So, I ran to the car (yes, 9 months pregnant!), moved it and went back upstairs where I was able to use a phone to call my husband. My first words were, "Don't be alarmed, because I haven't talked to the doctor yet, but I might be having this baby this weekend." I proceeded to tell him what little information the nurses had told me and we agreed that I should come home so we could make arrangements for the children, I could pack a bag (no, I didn't have my bag packed, as I didn't plan to go into labor for two more weeks!) and get as prepared as I could before I went back to the hospital.

Discussion With the Doctor

When the doctor finally came and we went into the ultrasound room, she and the nurses held a dialog that was full of medical lingo that I could barely understand. The more I listened, the more I started to get worked up. Finally, the doctor told me to come over and look at the graphs that she had on the computer screen. She showed me that my little guy was only measuring in the 10th percentile for his fetal age, asked me if I had been leaking any fluids (not that I recalled), and also wanted to know how often the baby moved.

Here is where I become extremely alarmed...what is wrong with my baby and what aren't they telling me??? The doctor wasn't quite sure, just by looking at the ultrasound, what exactly could be wrong, but there were enough signs for her to want to proceed with induction.

When the doctor told me that she recommended that I be induced immediately, I explained to her that I needed to go home and get things squared away and then come back in a few hours. Was that going to be okay?

She agreed that it would be okay for me to go home and come back, as long as I promised to come back. I told her, "This is my baby we're talking about. If you say he needs to come out to be cared for, then it would be awful if I didn't come back."


Fear and Worry

If you've ever been told that something might be wrong with your unborn child, you understand how I felt all the way home. I was somewhere between panicked, scared and worried. You will rarely see me cry - that's just how I'm built, but I was unable to hold back some tears as I drove home.

At Home

After fighting mid-day traffic all the way home (a 35 minute drive that took almost an hour), I was met with my husband who was in "baby name mode". We still hadn't come up with a name, so he was searching through baby boy names on the Internet and writing down the ones that he liked the most. He didn't seem worried about the baby - or maybe he just didn't want to let me know, but his forward-thinking was exactly what I needed at that moment.

I hurriedly packed my bag, trying to remember all of the little things that I would need, still a bit cloudy and confused. I have a list of What I Packed in My Bag For the Hospital, if you're interested in knowing. :)

The children arrived home from school and we told them that I was going to go to the hospital to have their baby brother. They were ecstatic, ready to welcome their new baby brother into the home. I still couldn't be too excited, stuck between worried and a bit of shock.

It was shortly after the children arrived home that my husband brought me back to the hospital. We knew that the process of induction wasn't going to go very fast, so we agreed that he would drop me off and I would get started in the hospital and when things were "in motion", I would call him.

It just so happened that it wasn't going to happen that fast...

The Induction

After checking in, I was taken to a room where I was asked the 101 questions for registration. My nerves started to calm down drastically as I watched the nurses struggle with and complain about the new computer system. (This computer system would be a major topic of conversation throughout the duration of my stay at the hospital, as everyone seemed to be frustrated with it).

A lovely nurse by the name of Dawn was so very sweet to me. She told me not to worry too much, as it was possible that the amniotic fluid being low was only because I was dehydrated and that the fact that I always had smaller babies would be a good indication that this one would be small, too. So, she didn't see anything to be alarmed about. I seriously needed to hear that. She also scrambled to get me into the computer before the hospital kitchen closed, because she wanted me to eat before we started - I hadn't eaten much all day.

It turned out that I was dehydrated, as it took 3 different people before they could get a good IV stick in me. Next, they inserted this thing called Cervidil - it is supposed to thin out the cervix. This was supposed to stay put for 12 hours, and Dawn told me that I could have an Ambien a little later to help me sleep. She recommended that I take them up on the Ambien, as I wasn't used to sleeping away from my kids.

It wasn't until 11 pm that I requested the Ambien...and within 30 minutes, I was knocked out cold. Around 7 in the morning, I was awoken by a nurse to check my stats and realized that I was having contractions 4 minutes apart, but I was only 2 centimeters dilated at that point in time.

Nobody told me I could get the epidural at 2 centimeters because I was being induced...I was just told that they would order it when I started to get uncomfortable. So, I waited...and when the nurse checked on me around noon and noticed that I was having some pretty heavy contractions, she said she would order the epidural. I asked her if she needed to check to see how far I was dilated first, and that's when she told me I could get an epidural at any time if I was getting induced (NOW, you tell me!...LOL)

Did I mention that I was keeping friends and family updated on my laptop on Facebook? Yes, through most of the process, I was updating my status on Facebook and communicating with family. One of my cousins even insisted that I "Put that thing away"..."that thing" being my laptop.

Shortly after I got the epidural, the nurse told me that they were going to break my water soon. I called my husband, because I knew that once the water was broken, things could move pretty fast. He was on his way already, it just so happened. When checked, I was about 4-5 centimeters dilated.

My husband arrived and my water was broken and I spent some time talking to my kids and answering a million questions. My 2 year old buddy wasn't sure what to think of me, with cords and tubes attached to my arms. He wasn't sure what to make of everything and sure didn't want to get too close to me. I felt a little sting of sadness mixed with hurt, knowing that he was accustomed to having mommy all of the time and that the night before was his first night going to bed without me...was he mad at me for leaving him? He wouldn't offer me any consolation...

It didn't seem like much was happening, as I was fairly relaxed with the epidural - and the children were being the best that they could be for a whole three hours. At about 3:30 PM, my husband decided he would take the children home, call the babysitter and head back to the hospital...I could just call him if he needed to come back faster.

He Didn't Make It Far

The nurse came in within moments of my husband's departure, went to check to see how much I had dilated and said, "The baby's head is right there!" So, I started dialing the cell phone frantically, and told my husband, "Get back here now! The baby's head is right there!" Fortunately, he had taken the kids to the cafeteria to get some drinks, so he was still in the hospital. The hospital didn't allow children in the room during delivery, but they were kind enough to allow my husband in the room while the children sat in the waiting room.

It took about 15 minutes for the delivery team to come in and get set up, as they were in another room when the nurse started calling for them. And the pushing started and ended within 5 minutes.  At 4:08 PM, our little Chase Alexander entered the world at a mere 4 lbs, 15 ounces (as opposed as the ultrasound's guess-timate of 5 lbs, 7 ounces).

I wasn't able to see much of what was happening across the room, in the warming bin where they whisked the baby to. I remember my husband was snapping pictures and videotaping our new little guy and I could hear crying - a good sign. There was a bunch of suctioning - my husband later told me that the nurse was working hard to suction him and that his breathing was not so good - or so it seemed.

I was able to hold and feed little Chase for about a half an hour before they once again whisked him away and told me that they would bring him to me after I was moved to another room, where I would stay for the remainder of my time in the hospital. It wasn't until 9:30 PM that he was brought to me, but I was delivered amazing news along with him...he was released from what they called "recovery" and seemed to be healthy as can be. They said he was a feisty little guy!


Blessings

I find it truly amazing how a little guy who weighs less than a 5 lb bag of sugar could have so much spunk! Even the nurses and pediatricians were in awe of how feisty and lively our little Chase was. I wondered if they were going to release him, though, as small as he was.

He and I were released Monday morning, to my surprise, two days after his arrival. Thank goodness, because I was definitely ready to go home to my children! Chase was eating well and seemed to be doing just fine, so homeward bound we were.

My Recovery

My recovery was (is still, two plus weeks later) extraordinarily rough. Maybe it's due to the fact that I have been through 6 epidurals (with Wes, I did not have the option) or maybe it's because I'm getting "older"...and it could even be because I have given birth 8 times (which included one very sad birth story of our son who did not survive...I will share that one, too, one day).

I'm betting on a combination of the factors creating such havoc on my body...and hoping that I will be back on my feet, running around like "normal" soon enough. For now, I will welcome the break and continue to count my blessings on a daily basis. Each day, I live in awe of how much my children are learning, doing and speaking. They never cease to amaze me! My heart bursts with love for them, even on the "bad days".

Do You Have An Amazing Birth Story?

If you have an amazing or unique birth story that you would like to share, Mommy Rantings is a guest-post friendly place - you are welcome to submit your story!

I appreciate the staff at Women and Children's Hospital and can now testify, in my own words, why they are boasted as one of the best hospital facilities for Women and Children...my experience with them was wonderful and as comfortable as they could make it (no, it's not home, but they try very hard to accommodate their patients). Both my experience with my son, Dylan, who had surgery there and my own experience, earns them a perfect 10! (Oh, I might need to take off a fraction of a point for the missing dessert at one meal and the missing coffee at another, but other than that, they were awesome!)

The Ultimate, Yet Practical Baby Shower Gift: Diapercakes!

I can't imagine a more practical, yet whimsical and delightful gift for the expecting mom! If you are looking for new baby gifts, you'll want to be the person who brings one of these adorable diaper cakes.

The birth story of my seventh child is one that I have already told over and over again...and I'm sure that it will be told many more times in the future...

I was expecting two more weeks to prepare before the little guy was born, but as we all know, things in life don't always go as they are planned. Especially when it comes to babies and due dates! What are the chances that you will deliver your baby on the due date? Very miniscule.

I was working avidly on the Mommy Rantings Baby Shower campaign and was excited to get the chance to work with Diapercakewalk.com! It just so happens that the diaper cake made it to my house JUST.IN.TIME for the surprise arrival of our newest addition. I was induced on Friday, delivered Chase on Saturday and when my husband brought the other children to come visit me at the hospital on Sunday, in he walked with the diaper cake pictured above. It was a wonderful surprise.

The nurses at the hospital ooooh'd and aaaah'd at the diaper cake and when my husband was asked if he bought it for me, he sheepishly admitted that I review products for companies...and, no, he didn't buy it for me. But, the fact that he thought enough to bring it to the hospital was sweet, right? Well, I thought it was! "It's the thought that counts..."

Why Should You Buy a Diaper Cake?

I'm all about "practical"...and diapers are probably one of the most practical items that you can get for a new mom. In addition to the 70-75 size 1 diapers that are magically tiered, the diaper cake that I received had a pacifier, three baby wash cloths, small bottles of Johnson's baby bath wash, baby powder, baby lotion, baby shampoo, a small sample packet of Desitin diaper rash cream - I needed that on day one! - and a cute stuffed animal Gum Drop Puppy that rattles. This diaper cake can be purchased for $89 at Diapercakewalk.com. Choose from any of the unique and adorable baby boy diaper cakes. They also have a great selection of baby girl diaper cakes. And, if the person that you're buying the diaper cake for is one of the few who elects to keep the gender of the baby a secret, they also have gender-neutral diaper cakes, too!

I also know how excited I felt to receive the diaper cake in the hospital - and how much of a stir that it caused with the hospital staff. Now, that's something that makes a new mom feel special. :)


Make Your Own Diaper Cake

If you're looking to make your own diaper cake, here's how to make a diaper cake the EASY way!


Thank you to Diapercakewalk.com for making my delivery day special with a diaper cake! I received a diaper cake for the purpose of this review. As usual, all products that I review represent my own opinions.

How to Budget for New Baby: Advice for Parents

Having a baby is one of the most exciting times in a person's life; it is also one of the scariest. Many thoughts race through a new parent's mind, but one of the most troubling thoughts is being financially prepared for a newborn.

Don't worry yourself too much about your financial situation. With proper planning and care, it is easy for many people to budget for a new baby. Yes, babies do change a couple's financial situation, but it is not impossible to spend money on your new baby and have some left over. Consider these tips.

Resist Buying New Baby Items

This is probably one of the hardest things for new parents. Every parent wants the best for their new baby. The old mindset of buying happiness easily takes over and compels parents to spend hundreds of dollars on new items. However, your money won't buy your child happiness. As long as that stroller works, is safe, clean and in good condition, it does not matter if it cost you twenty dollars or two hundred dollars.

Keep that extra money and put it towards something useful, such as a savings account for your child's future college education, which will approximately cost you around $184,000. If you are able to put a few hundred dollars in a savings account with seven percent interest every month, you can work on accumulating the money he or she will need for college.

Keep Your Budget Visible

It is easy to forget or neglect your budget if you cannot physically see how you are doing. There are software programs that make it very easy to record transactions and help you limit your spending. Set your goals and stick to them. Many programs will let you know when you are reaching your spending limit for different categories, such as rent, food, utilities and clothes.

Use Coupons

There are many coupons for baby needs, but you should also use coupons for everyday items. Though the savings may seem minimal, it does add up. Make sure you take all of the money you save with coupons and put it towards that savings account.

Set Your Priorities

Determine what you need the most. You may find that many people will help you get important items, such as a crib, clothes, toys and other baby needs. If you already know what items people are going to help you get, you need to figure out what items you still need and the order of their importance.

Cut Back on Personal Expenses

Part of having a baby is being able to sacrifice things in your own life. You and your partner should pick one thing that you do frequently, such as eat out, purchase new clothing or go to movies, and cut that thing out of your budget. Figure out how much you spend on that expense and put that money towards your savings goal. You may be shocked to find out that you spend hundreds of dollars every month just by eating out during your lunch break.

Hopefully these tips will help you budget for your new baby. Congratulations and good luck!

Anthony Thompson is a content contributor for companies offering an interest only mortgage, and he insists that reasonable mortgages are still available for all types of borrowers.

What Do You Keep In YOUR Baby Bag?

My wonderful mother-in-law sent three boxes chock full of stuff out to our family - and the past few days have been like Christmas for all of us around here!

One of the things that she sent was a baby bag....

Isn't it beautiful???

But, there was another bag that she sent that would be perfect for packing up a day trip for the whole family, as it is very large and has super-cool large zippered pockets inside...apparently, Kodi-bear decided that THIS one needed to be the *real* baby bag!

That's what he does when I say, "smile".... :)

Another original smile

So, my question to you is: what do YOU keep in your baby bag?

It's A Mommy Rantings Baby Shower/Baby Product Review Party! Get Your Baby Product Reviewed on A PR3 Mom Blog!

Attention PR reps! Are you looking for mom blogs who do baby product reviews? Do you have a unique baby product? Maybe you are trying to introduce a new baby product on the Internet...or hosting a promotion of your baby products to increase sales...or simply want to increase the sales of your baby products. If you are looking for a way to get your baby products noticed, Mommy Rantings has great news for you!

The QueenMom is expecting her seventh child in a few weeks and is open to doing a few baby product reviews right here on Mommy Rantings. It's a Mommy Rantings baby shower review party! And, it's a BOY!

 

Why Would You Choose the QueenMom to Review Your Products?

Here is your opportunity to get your business name and products out there on a PR3 site! Mommy Rantings reviews are customized and keyword enhanced to get the best SEO on Google and also include images and a very personalized opinion to influence the buying decision of consumers. 

You will also get links included in the review, commonly known as backlinks, to your baby products website from a PR3 site - which, at the rate it is growing, will most likely be a PR4 on the next Google Pagerank update - and nobody ever knows when that is going to happen! (Google Pagerank updates are always a guessing game.) 

You can feel free to link back to the review on your site or quote the review to "show" to consumers who are browsing through your products. Many companies have quoted Mommy Rantings reviews on their product blogs and sites, including Playful Planet, TheraBreath and Vivoderm.Check them out!

With an Alexa score that has steadily fallen from over 1M in less than the past month (the lower the score, the greater the amount of traffic), it's obvious that Mommy Rantings has seen an influx of new visitors and will continue to grow even more as content is posted. As a matter of fact, the Alexa score was  852,528 on the 25th of August and 839,060 on the 26th. As I write this announcement, it sits at 826,694. You can go directly to the Alexa site Mommy Rantings page, which will tell you even more info about Mommy Ranting's stats!

If you DO visit the Alexa page, you will notice that the list of keywords are for a lot of the reviews that have been posted in the past. Any baby product reviews will receive plenty of attention!

If you are interested in participating in (sponsoring) the Mommy Rantings baby shower/baby products review party and being included in the upcoming Baby Shower Product Guide, click on the Contact the QueenMom tab and scroll down to the form or send an email to cousinsbethany@hotmail.com! Looking forward to working with you!

Going To A Baby Shower? Bring A Gift, But Forget The Towel!

Guest blog post by Alan Riley

You’ve been invited to a baby shower. Great idea! The birth or pending birth of a child is truly something to celebrate - particularly if the parents are near and dear to you. Now you have two problems – what to wear, and what to take as a gift. I can’t help you with what to wear, but here are some great gift ideas!

Practical Gifts:

baby hammock

Babies need a lot of things that no one else in the house uses. So, particularly for first time parents, a practical gift can be a real god-send. Some great ideas are:

• A stroller pram blanket to keep baby warm when you’re out and about.
• Toys, clothes and books to grow into. Babies grow so fast you always have to try to stay a step ahead!
• A gift voucher from a baby store – for that nice to have item the parents may not have bought otherwise.
• A Cuski comforter. These are specially designed comforters that work by having mum/dad sleep with the Cuski to transfer their scent(s) to it. When the comforter is given to baby the familiar scent creates feeling and security and closeness to you.
• Diapers/nappies, wipes and baby powder – absolute essentials for any baby!
• Crib bedding: Babies spend long hours asleep each day, so a good crib and crib bedding is essential. Alternatively try a baby hammock. Many babies thrive in the enclosed environment and rhythmic movement a baby hammock provides.
• A basket, hamper, baby bath tub, or gift pack filled with items such as bottles, soothers (dummies), bottle brush, baby lotions, a baby manicure set, baby wash, moisturiser etc. along with a teddy bear for the baby, and some chocolates for mum and dad. Wrap it all in some clear wrap with a colourful ribbon and you have an inexpensive and practical gift.
• A Jolly Jumper – a baby exerciser for a child in the pre-walking stage. My kids absolutely loved bouncing and jiggling around in their Jolly Jumper
• Baby shower books – kids love to be read stories.

Unique Gifts:

If you’d like to give a gift that has a personal touch and may be kept for a lifetime, try:

bronzed baby hands and feet

• Letters of the baby’s name to decorate the bedroom wall or door.
• An item personalised with the child’s name such as a teddy, bib, clothes, book, photo frame, towel and washer set, or a personalised photo album for recording priceless memories as baby grows.
• A voucher to have the baby’s hands and/or feet bronzed for posterity. These 3D sculptures capture every detail of your baby’s hands and feet, come mounted and framed and make a wonderful keepsake to treasure for generations to come.
• A pair of soft soled shoes and a little box frame to keep them in once the little one has outgrown them, so you can hang it in their room as a keepsake of baby’s first pair of shoes.
• Something from the year and/or day of baby’s birth. For example, a coin set from the year of birth, or newspapers or magazines from the day of birth.
• A Birth Plate which records all baby’s birth details. These plates are popular gifts for births, christenings or birthdays.

Gifts For Mother:

Being a mother is hard work! Sometimes the best gift is a little pampering and care such as:

• A voucher for a back and neck massage.
• A voucher for house cleaning and ironing.
• A bathrobe.
• A skin care gift pack.
• A nappy washing service, just to make life a little easier in the early days.

Gifts For Dad:

New Dads can get as excited about becoming a parent as new the new Mom. However, with all the focus on mother and the baby, dad is often forgotten. Make him feel part of the excitement with gifts such as:

• A book on what it means to become a Dad – especially with the first child, Dad often has no idea what has hit him!
• A Daddy Diaper changing tool box – a special pack of gag gifts for Dad.
• My Daddy’s Hand Keepsake Medallion – something Dad can carry with him to remind him of his child wherever he goes.
• Dad’s photo keepsake box.
• A personalised mug with baby’s name and date of birth .

Economical Gifts:

Of course, there are always those who are a little short of cash who would like to give a gift. Some economical, but effective gifts you can give in such circumstances include:

• Make a cake or dessert.
• Present a “friend coupon” for something like “free babysitting”, “free shopping trip”, “free washing service”, or “free shoulder to cry on”.
• Offer to organise the baby shower!
• Act as the photographer at the baby shower and present the parents with a photographic record of the day.

Of course, the greatest gift you can give any parent or baby is the gift of your love. And as the song says “what the world needs now is love, sweet love”.

About the Author

Alan Riley is the publisher of www.BeautifulBeddingSets.com, a site devoted to helping people find the perfect bedding for their needs. From JoJo Designs Crib Bedding to ladybug crib bedding, you’ll find just what you need, and maybe even the baby shower gift you are looking for!



Thank you, Alan, for all of the wonderful ideas for baby shower gifts! Don't forget that the QueenMom will be having a baby in September! This is the perfect opportunity for you to run out and find some cool stuff for the new baby!

Braxton Hicks Contractions

With everything that is on my plate right now, including finding a new domicile, moving, 6 kids at home from school for the summer, and a husband - bless his heart - who is working 6 days a week, 12 hours per day, the Braxton Hicks contractions have kicked in. I don't think that the summer heat is helping the situation, either.

It's not unusual for them to start around week 20-30, but they are really coming in now. Of course, this is not something that I get worried about anymore...I've been through pregnancy enough to know how regular labor pains feel - and these are nowhere near that type of pain.

I'm talking about the uncomfortable feeling of contracting in the lower abdomen. No pain yet, just discomfort. For those of you who have never experienced them before or are pregnant for the first time, they may come as a source of nerve-wracking "oh-no's!", but for someone who knows all about the annoying Braxton Hicks contractions, I just take them in stride.

Because, I know that they are just the beginning of a long string of contractions that will finally lead to the real deal. They're doing their job to get that uterus ready for the birth of one of the most beautiful boys in this world. Oh, yes, I am one of those mothers who think my children are top-of-the-line products from some awesome DNA gene pools. Not to brag too much, but the nurses at the hospital usually drool over my babies. Okay, enough about the bragging...I try to make sure that my blog posts have some usefulness to readers, so...

Braxton Hicks Contractions

You may not notice them, but Braxton Hicks contractions actually occur throughout pregnancy...I usually start feeling them, as I said, around the 20th week and onward. They are irregular and painless - two signs that you are not in labor. (Because, as you most likely already know, labor contractions will be regular and painful!)

Stopping the Contractions

I have found, through my pregnancies, that Braxton Hicks contractions can be slowed, reduced or stopped completely by drinking water, moving around, or possibly even laying down for a while. A warm bath and breathing exercises can also help to reduce or eliminate the contractions. Do not underestimate the power of dehydration - regardless of the time of year. Dehydration has been the culprit for my contractions in past pregnancies...and stress has been an issue, too.

Contact Your Doctor

If you are experiencing contractions that are regular, at about four per hour, have lower back pain, you are bleeding or spotting or you see increased vaginal discharge, call your doctor. It may be just another teaser, but it's better to be safe than sorry, right?

In the meantime, I will run to drink some more water and get to some breathing exercises. If I'm lucky, the kids will let me rest for a bit this afternoon. :)

Take care!

Decorating the Nursery with Stencils

Guest post by Kieron Casey

One of the most exhilarating, yet daunting tasks, for a new parent is designing the scheme for their baby’s nursery. This is, after all, where their new child is going to spend a large amount of their formative years, so nothing less than perfect will do, right?

This inevitably means a blind panic, trying to make sure every single item in the room fits into the idealised look that you want for your new boy or girl; the crib, cradle or bassinet has to have the comfiest blanket possible, and the walls have to be coated in the most soothing of colors, also. The key is calm, but not drab, so often it is a good idea to accessorise with toys and even quilts and throws. However, I personally have found that one of the best ways to add a bit of sparkle to a room, without being overbearing, is to add a few subtle stencil designs on the wall. These can add a splash of color - and help to make the room feel much more personal and appealing.

The Art of Stenciling

Stencilling, you will be pleased to know, is not solely the domain of frustrated street artists; nor is it a skill that would take many years of studying at art school to master. In fact, stencilling represents a rather simple, yet highly effective, and ultimately rewarding, method of decorating. It can be used to easily add motifs or personalise a room’s appearance – from cowboys, aliens, angels or teddy bears to more wacky patterns – and can easily be added by following a simple set of instructions.


Step 1: Items You Will Need

Before jumping in head first, it is important to make sure you have the following items available – a sponge roller (I find the 4inch ones work best) plus adhesive spray, some acrylics and paints, stencil brushes and index cards and tapes. Also, bear in mind that you’ll need some old rags and newspapers too to make sure paint doesn’t get where you don’t want it - there’s no point in having a beautiful mural if there are unwanted flecks of paint splashed all over the rest of the room!

Step 2: Tape and Paint

In order to protect your room, cover the floor with newspapers and tape around the edges of the ceiling and the walls (the blue painter's tape is the best to use) to prevent any splash back. Once the room has been taped up, it is time to paint the walls in the color of your choice, as the background for the stencils. In addition to a roller, use angled brushes to paint the tricky edges and corners of the wall. Make sure the walls have a smooth finish - patches never look appealing - and if need be, leave to dry and then apply a second layer of paint. These walls will be your canvas!

Step 3: The Stenciling

Cut your stencils in advance from card – if it is your first time, please do not attempt anything too elaborate (unless you happen to be artistically inclined); this is advice I am giving from personal experience! You can also purchase stencil kits, if you are not so artistic.

Once cut to the desired shape, find the place on the wall that you wish to see your pattern and fix it in position using spray adhesive – this allows both hands to be free so your masterpiece can be completed. Note you can use several different stencils or, if you are making a motif, it is possible to move your stencil as you paint.

Avoid Runny and Smudgy Messes

Make sure the paint you use when filling in your stencil is thick and does not run. There is nothing worse in the entire world than a cowboy with a hat that runs into his face. A good way of making sure this does not happen is to dip your brush into paint so as to barely coat it, and then use one of your old cloths to dab off any excess. Make sure that your brush goes right up to the edge of your stencils to ensure crispness in your picture – an illusion which I’ve found can be heightened by using lighter colors in the centre of your image and darker colors around the edges.

Once the picture is complete it is really, really important to make sure that the image is not smudged when removing the stencil from the wall. Leave the paints to dry and be careful not to touch the image. Also, bear in mind that the back of your stencil may well have picked up some excess paint – make sure to wipe it if you intend to use it again.

If you can follow all of these instructions, with a little bit of time and care, you may well indeed end up with the dream nursery you had envisioned!


Kieron Casey is a BA (Hons) Journalism graduate who blogs regular on home and family issues including, health design and nursery bedding.

Introducing the New Baby to The “Furry Baby”: Dogs, Newborns & The New Pack Structure

Guest Blog Post

Jonas and I were married for 4 years before we even started talking about Bug. Surely we wanted kids but life was so busy we never discussed a firm timeline.

One day last winter the bug hit us. We wanted a teeny one and we wanted it now! We noticed the change of heart at the dog park. Our eyes no longer focused on the newest Chinese Crested. We now wanted to play, talk and engage with the two-legged creatures with smiley faces while their frazzled moms tried to control the playful instincts of their bear-sized Labrador.

Bug was first conceived in our heart before she was ever in my belly. In my mind I began to replace the jogging leash with a jogging stroller. At the store all things baby had a magnetic power that I could not resist. The first one to find out about Bug was Marx our St. Bernard. Marx was so thrilled he jumped on me and hugged me the way only a St. Bernard can hug. Alas! I suddenly realized I had Bug inside me. Bug was fragile, tiny and priceless to me. Marx affection was now perceived as a threat. Mom instincts started to kick in and I was going to do anything in my power to protect Bug.

Marx met Jonas before I did. In fact they had been together as a team longer than any relationship he had ever had. As a mommy-to-be I started to worry about size issues, hygiene and general safety. Jonas on the other hand had visions of Bug and Marx sleeping together on the floor.

To appease my fears and concerns we reached out to my friend Jena. Jena is a vet, a mom to 8 kids and a professional Doberman breeder. We knew with a breed like Dobermans and the experience of having mothered eight kids she would have some tips for us on how to handle this transition. These are the things we learned:

Consider the Dog’s Background

If your dog has a history of prior aggression you will have to take more radical training and safety measures. If your dog on the other hand has a demonstrated track record of kindness and loyalty the approach will be totally different.

Obedience Training

Prior to the arrival of your baby it is important to do a refresher. Voice commands will be indispensable once your arms are busy with a little one.

Off-Limits Areas

From the beginning of the pregnancy make the nursery an off-limits area to the dog. This will give you peace of mind and enhanced safety during sleeping hours.


Flea & Parasite Preventative Care

Make sure you are on top of these two things. A healthy baby is a happy baby. Fleas and parasites can negatively impact the well being of your little one.

Doll Training

Find a human-sized plastic doll and perfume the doll with the talc or lotion you plan to use with your baby. Teach your dog to be gentle to the doll and not touch or grab.

Blanket Training

Once the baby is born have someone bring a blanket infused with the baby natural scent to your dog in order to begin the familiarization process. Use the blanket to cover the plastic baby and continue to encourage and reward gentle behavior.

Dogs and babies have done quite well for many generations. Most likely your dog will accept and protect the new member of the pack. Once he does reward him lavishly for his love and loyalty.


This article was provided by the invisible dog fence professionals at www.dogfencediy.com a team of specialists giving you the right tools and knowledge to save money and hassles when installing a dog containment system.

Thank you so much to the invisible dog fence professionals for providing this insightful blog post! Do you have any ideas that worked to introduce your new baby to the "furry" one?

Have Unique Baby Names Gone Too Far?

By guest blogger Jenni Sunde

 

What’s in a name? Our given names help shape who we are, and how we are perceived by those around us. As such, it’s arguable that a baby’s name can affect their future lives in either positive or negative ways. These are all things to consider when naming your child, although ultimately, the choice is up to you, whether you are a traditionalist or a cutting edge trend-setter. 

In some cultures, naming a baby is a sacred celebration. In the Jewish tradition, for example, baby girls receive a naming ceremony after their first Shabbat (the seventh day of the Jewish week), and baby boys are named eight days after their birth. Hindus also practice a sacred baby naming ceremony called the Namkaran. Along with friends and relatives, the child is blessed and named after a letter of the Sanskrit alphabet that is chosen based on the time and date of the child’s birth.  

In our culture, we are a little less formal, but baby naming is still an important ritual. When you are pregnant, you will no doubt receive suggestions about baby names from friends and relatives. Sometimes this advice is welcome—other times, it isn’t. A lot of us have a good idea of what we want to name our kids. When others make suggestions we merely smile and nod, and end up naming our kids what we want. 

For some people, unique and trendy baby names are appealing. When it comes to celebrities, especially, it seems that the stranger the moniker, the better—whether it’s Moon Unit, Apple or Blanket. But when does unique become just plain weird? Will our kids grow up to resent us if we name them after a newly discovered galaxy, or after our favorite food? 

What about their schoolmates? Being teased at school is always a concern. The cold hard truth is that kids can be terrible to one another, even without funny names for ammunition. We tell our children that sticks and stones may break our bones, but that words can never hurt us, but the reality is that words can hurt a lot.

While a parent should always consider the well-being of their kid, when it comes down to it, all a child really needs to thrive in this world is love, food and shelter. Even the kid with the weirdest name on the block is probably going to grow up alright if their parents provide a loving home. And who knows, maybe one day Apple will be a completely common place name.

About the author: Jenni Sunde is a freelance fashion writer and pop culture junkie. Jenni specializes in all things lifestyle-related. From home and design to health and beauty. With her love of art and all things beautiful, she delights in sharing her sense of style from her life to your computer monitor. Her title pegs her as an editor at a website that specializes in fashion careers and another that focuses on providing people with car insurance quotes, but her passion leads her into writing with a little more substance and a lot more heart.

Thanks, Jenni, for your contribution to Mommy Rantings!  So, what do you think? Have people gone too far with naming their children? Will their children resent them?

Top 10 Mistakes Women Make When Pregnant!

1. Eating for two – You don’t need to eat for two! When pregnant you do need extra calories, though this figure is around 200 extra calories. This is about the same amount of calories as a small sandwich! Make sure you eat a healthy balanced diet which contains protein, vitamins, and minerals that you need to keep your and baby healthy.

2. Missing out pre-birth classes – even if you plan to have an epidural. Pre birth classes have been shown to reduce stress before and during labor. They give you an insight into what will happen and things that may go wrong during birth. This can lead to a much less stressful birth! It’s also a good opportunity to meet other couples in the same position as you.

3. Leaving child care to after baby is born. Many nurseries have long waiting lists, and the process of choosing the right one can take time. You need to visit the premises, check references. This is a huge decision so make sure you don’t rush the process. Choosing a good nursery will you’re your child the best start in life.

4. Not planning how to manage your finances before baby is born. Who is going to look after the baby? Can you afford for you or your partner to give up work? So many questions that its best to work out before baby comes. These questions can difficult problems for both you and your partner. These are much better sorted out before pregnancy so they don’t become a worry during pregnancy.

5. Not getting enough sleep – Not getting enough sleep is a very common complaint during pregnancy. At some time during your pregnancy you will probably suffer from the lack of sleep. In the first trimester, elevated progesterone levels cause fatigue. If you work part-time or don’t work take a nap during the day. This is more difficult if you work full-time but you can always close your eyes for a while during your lunch break. The second trimester is generally the easiest time to sleep during pregnancy, hormones are changing a you may need to urinate less, which helps sleep when you don’t need to visit the toilet several times during the night! In the third trimester babies increasing size starts to get in the way of sleep. Baby puts pressure on your bladder making visits to the bathroom increase during the night – limiting liquids a few hours before bedtime is recommended.

6. Not getting regular exercise – you need to stay fit and flexible for the labor! Exercise can also relive problems like excess weight gain, swelling of hands and feet, leg cramps, varicose veins, insomnia, fatigue and constipation. It also help mood and self image, exercise encourages your brain to release endorphins which helps keep you happy and gives your skin a glow.

7. Getting stressed during pregnancy – Stress is part and parcel of pregnancy however finding ways to relieve stress is important as it can be harmful to your baby. Studies show that stress can lead to low birth weight or preterm birth. If work is getting too stressful then don’t be scared to talk to your boss, many will be happy to help. Try to make friends with other pregnant mothers, giving you somebody who really understands what you are going through. Visit your local health centre or community hall, many run classes that give you the opportunity to meet other pregnant women.

8. Stopping medication for pre existing conditions. If you have a pre existing condition consult your doctor as soon as possible. Many medications you can continue with however it’s always better to air on the side of caution.

9. Not belting up in the car. Many pregnant women find it uncomfortable sitting in the car with the seat belt on. Remember that you seatbelt is a life safer – for both you and your unborn baby. Position your seat belt as low as possible below your belly and keep it directly across your hips not over your belly.

10. Not preparing for breastfeeding – breastfeeding does not always come naturally. It can be difficult to first learn the position best for baby and then to get the baby to latch on. With the different generations of midwives comes different views on how best to train baby. This can lead to conflicting advice depending on which midwife is on duty. There is so much information promoting breastfeeding with good cause however, it’s not always an easy task. Neither is it always the best option for your baby.

 Nicola when not looking after her two children is a writer for a baby names site. The site also offer quality article on baby health, toddlers and pregnancy week by week.

Thank you, Nicola, for your contribution to Mommy Rantings!!! If you have anything else to add to the pregnancy no-no list, please feel free to leave a comment!

Prepping the Nursery: The Items That Parents Often Forget

Guest blog post by Nicole Rodgers

http://www.littlecrowninteriors.com/safari_nursery.html

When parents are prepping for a baby's nursery, they buy the ritual furniture, paper the walls with little animals and hang mobiles for the baby's amusement. All that, in addition to stocks of bibs, jumpers, tiny T-shirts, blankets and, of course, diapers are quite necessary. A few equally necessary items get left off the list, however, and these are items needed for the baby's comfort plus the bond with the parents. Many parents wouldn't believe a simple tape recorder could be a part of the nursery, but it gives the baby a sense of security and safety hearing mom's voice when she has to catch the phone, answer the door or runs for a bottle for a baby.


New parents, especially, tend to forget vital things in the heat of an emergency. Since their cell phones are usually in their pockets, a small erasable memo board on the wall of the nursery would come in handy. This board could contain phone numbers of doctors, grandmothers, pharmacists, and babysitters. It could notate times medicine has been administered or how many ounces the baby drank from the bottle so mom knows how much to make at the next feeding. The memo board could inform parents that they are low on diapers, wipes, baby laundry soap, baby bath soap or rice cereal. New parents need all the help they can get, so a little helper here and there would be appreciated.

Getting the nursery ready for its tiny tenant needs to include items that are eco-friendly so that the baby doesn't get a rash or start having breathing troubles from allergen-laden items. Eco-friendly cleaning solutions and laundry soaps exist at most stores, which would make excellent dedicated baby-safe supplies. For times when the baby does get a rash, a stock of aloe vera gel is a must. Make sure it is pure and contains no alcohol, for alcohol worsens baby's condition. Most herbal shops carry formulas for babies who have tummy troubles, pain with teething, or headaches from crying. Since a baby can't tell mom where it hurts, mom has to guess, so a good supply of various easing medications would be a good idea.

Another useful idea for the baby's special place would be a futon-like piece of furniture or a nap pad such as children use in kindergarten for those times when mom and her baby spend together just before a nap. The baby will appreciate this piece of furniture because it smells like mom, so the baby will be relaxed and happy on this furniture. While rocking chairs are a part of any baby's nursery, preparing a baby's room with a place for parents to spend time with him separates sleepy time from play time. If a nap happens during play time, that's usually a blessing for mom and dad.

Color and texture, smell and taste mean a lot to an infant, because they are constantly learning from them. Stuffed animals can be smooth or furry, while cloth dolls can be made of yarns entirely or snips of cloth. Stocking a baby's room with toys, books and learning material is part of having a baby. Make sure the items are capable of being cleaned with natural soaps and combine colors and textures for the baby's amusement and education.

Nicole Rodgers has been blogging for three years; she encourages all you new moms to build your own website to blog about your motherhood experiences.  She also finds great deals on baby necessities such as clothes and toys for her new born niece at Savings.com

Thank you, Nicole, for the wonderful tips!

Pregnancy Countdown/Baby Boy Names

According to the pregnancy countdown widget to the right, I *only* have 99 days left until there are more sleepless nights, a crying newborn and lots more diapers to change on a daily basis! (Maybe, just maybe, I can have Kodi-Bear potty trained before then, but right now, it seems like it's not going to happen.)

On a happy note, my oh-so-thoughtful husband comes to me almost every day with new ideas for baby names. As this will be our sixth BOY (yes, we were blessed with only one girl), we ran out of our favorite boy names a few newborns ago. At least we already know the sex of the baby, confirmed by ultrasound (and there was no question about it), so we can toss around baby boy names for the next few months. Of course, we not only have to try to pick a perfect first name and middle name to match our last name, but we also have to make sure that it jives with the other names of our children.

So far, our boy's names are:

Lucas Randal
Nicholas Hunter
Wesley Morgan
Dylan Jacob
Dakoda Riley

As the day gets closer, I will publish another post with the baby names that we have come up with so far - and maybe you can help out with choosing the one. Right now, we're still searching the lists, forums and everywhere else on the 'net to find that perfect name. Because, it's not just about if the name sounds good for a baby, it's how that name will fit when they are a grown man, what the name symbolizes, how it falls in the line-up of our childrens' names, when I am reciting them to the doctor's office, school, etc (we don't need any tongue twisters) - and if it carries any family traditions along, it's even better.

While we ponder and search, I guess I'll keep you in the dark, wondering. I think by August, we'll have some great ideas and I will post them for suggestions...in the meantime, do you have any ideas for boy's names that are cool, unique and will flow with the others that we have chosen?