Special Homecomings: Welcoming Your Newly Adopted Baby
Special Homecomings: Welcoming Your Newly Adopted Baby
For many families, choosing to adopt a baby is not just a way of fulfilling your own needs, but also a way of being altruistic. When you bring a baby into your loving home, you are giving that little human being a chance for a whole new life; a chance to live and grow and become anything he or she wants to become. You are openly offering yourselves, your love and guidance, as well as family traditions, culture and so much more to you new little baby. Here are some ideas on how to welcome your newly adopted bundle of joy into your home and family.
1. Have a baby shower or “welcome party” after the baby arrives.
Traditionally, baby showers are thrown for an expectant mother or parents before the baby arrives. That way, you will have everything you need for your newborn and (theoretically) will be able to get some much-needed rest in the days following labor and delivery. When you adopt a baby, since you won’t have to recover from your hospital stay, why not have a baby shower in which your guests can shower you and your baby with love and gifts? This can
be a great way to introduce the newest edition to your family to aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
2. Plan a “family only” day.
Before the steady stream of visitors arrives to welcome your new baby, plan special time for just the immediate family. This is an especially good idea if you already have older children. Undoubtedly, you have been preparing them for the arrival of their new little brother or sister, but once he or she arrives, plan to spend time together so everyone can get adjusted. Don’t forget to include pets in this “adjustment” period as well. Your favorite furry friends need time to get to know the newest family member, too.
3. Ask friends and family members to write a sentiment or create a drawing for your baby.
Because the day of your baby shower or “welcome party” may be a bit hectic and filled with family and friends getting to know your newest addition, ask them to take a moment to create a memorable keepsake for your son or daughter. This is something they can do before the party and bring with them, or you can set up a table at the shower where guests can write or draw their sentiments. Think of the guest book at a wedding, or a giant poster or ceramic plate that everyone signs. Then you will have a permanent record of all the welcoming wishes and loving thoughts, captured on that very day and preserved for years to come.
4. Pass down family 
heirlooms or buy new ones.
Perhaps you have a bassinet or doll that has been in your family for decades. Maybe it is a special Christening outfit, or a baby rattle that all the other children in your family have worn or played with. Ceremonially pass this heirloom down to your adopted baby. This expression of love and tradition is an outward sign of your family’s acceptance of the new baby into the family. If you do not already have a special item that has been passed among the babies in the family, create a tradition of your own by purchasing special item that your little one can then pass along to his or her own children in the future.
5. Make an event out of decorating a new room.
Whether this is your first baby or your third, make a big deal out of decorating his room. Maybe you are moving an older child into a new bedroom so there is space for the baby. If so, make an event out of decorating both rooms! Let your older child pick out colors and items for her own room as well as the baby’s room. Making siblings feel like they are important to the process will help them begin to bond with their new brother or sister while simultaneously recognizing how important each of them is to you, their parents.
It is wonderful to learn that more than a million children are adopted in the United States each year. When you are part of that group of very special parents, make sure you acknowledge the adoption as a major event in your family’s life, and your child will reap the benefits of growing up in a loving, caring environment right from the beginning.
Writer LaGeris Underwood Bell is proud of the adoptees in her own family lineage and encourages adopting couples to create new family traditions in honor of their new babies with a book, booties, baby rattle , a family photo, and other keepsakes that mark this important milestone.
Photo credit #1: http://www.flickr.com/photos/littlemoresunshine/10394126233/
Photo credit #2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vasquez/132373034/
Photo credit #3:http://www.flickr.com/photos/chelsea_nj/3438326277/
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A Time To Play: Why It Matters
A Time to Play: Why It Matters
Parents often buy their playthings for their toddlers without recognizing the educational value that can be found in toys that are designed specifically for this age group. Aside from providing hours of entertainment, toys made for toddlers can foster a lifetime of learning and make use of this early educational window in young children’s lives. With that, it can be just as important for parents to give some forethought to the educational value in their children’s toys as they choose and buy playthings for their youngsters.
When they consider what toys to buy for their toddlers, parents should realize the benefits that can be enjoyed by investing in the best playthings for this age group.
Toddlers Toys and Eye Hand Coordination
Toddler hood is a time when little ones practice and begin to perfect their motor skills. Perhaps the most crucial skill that tends to be developed during these formative includes eye hand coordination. Now able to control their hand and finger movements, toddlers begin to make the association between what they see and what they can grasp, move, and otherwise control with their hands and fingers.
When parents want to foster hand eye coordination in their toddlers, they are encouraged to invest in toys that allow their young ones to practice this skill. Toys like building blocks, stackable cups, and toys that have control buttons all are perfect for building eye hand coordination in this age group.
Associative Play and Toddler Toys
Toddler hood is also a time when toddlers learn about the world around them. During these formative years, they learn important skills that help them tune in to their senses and use their senses to gauge the world around them. While most adults take sensory skills for granted, it is vital that toddlers learn seemingly mundane facts like what a cow says or what sound a police car makes. Toddlers can sense and gauge the world around them through associative play.
Toys that make animal noises, car sounds, mimic the weather, have textured surfaces, contain scents, and other sensory stimulation can help little ones in this age group develop important skills that will help them grow and learn about their surroundings.
Toddlers Toys and Preschool Readiness
Toddlers are on the cusp of being ready to go to school. Before parents know it, it will be time to send their little ones off to preschool or kindergarten. Choosing the right toys can be important if parents want their toddlers to learn their ABCs and the basics of counting before they enter the first year of school. Storybooks, videos, and toys that count or recite the alphabet can all be great resources for providing both entertainment and early education basics. As they play with these toys, toddlers will learn to count to 10, or possibly higher. They may also memorize the entire alphabet before they are ready to go to preschool.
Toys for toddlers can provide benefits that go well beyond entertainment. Parents who want to provide their toddlers with the best educational opportunities during these early years may be advised to consider the educational value behind their children’s playthings as they shop for and choose toys for their young ones.
With four children, writer Melanie Fleury knows the value of play. She finds that choosing toys from brands she trusts, like those found at http://www.target.com/bp/baby+einstein, is a great way to find quality toys that her kids will get extended use from.
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/spigoo/452808372/
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Tips for Keeping Your Baby Germ Free
Tips for Keeping Your Baby Germ Free
One of the hardest things that a parent with a baby has to do is try to keep them clean. Babies, with their developing immune systems are more susceptible to common germs and can become very sick from exposure to aggressive bacteria and viruses. However, these curiosity filled little bundles of energy are always exploring their environments, touching and playing with things that may be teeming with germs. And because there seems to be some unwritten law known only to babies, they put everything - no matter how strange or disgusting - right into their mouths. Yuck! What’s a mother to do? What can any parent do to limit their baby’s exposure to germs without restricting their need to explore?
Try as you might, you cannot make your baby stay in one “safe” area-the laws of nature compel them to explore as part of their growth and development. What you can do is use a few simple tips to make any area they explore a lot less toxic.
• Dishwashers Are Your Best Friend
One of the great things about baby toys is that they are often very simple and small. Babies love things like building blocks, cups to stack, and balls. Many of these items are made from durable plastic that can withstand a thorough wash in the dishwasher. After your baby has played with these items, place them in the dishwasher for a quick rinse and dry. You will be amazed at how clean they get and how much safer they now are for your little cherub.
• The Freezer Kills Germs
Most bacteria cannot survive in the cold. If your child has a small favorite toy that cannot be placed in the dishwasher or clothes washer, place it in a freezer bag and leave it in the freezer overnight. The cold will destroy most bacteria and viruses that are on its surface.
• Good Old Fashioned Soap And Water
Use soap and water to wipe down play areas such as an infant play mat, and always use it to wash your baby’s hands. You can use a very mild soap. It does not have to be antibacterial. In fact, it is probably wiser for you to use a gentle soap on your baby to protect their skin. And please note that continual use of antibacterial soaps can harm a person, because then they can never build immunity to bacteria. Only occasional use of antibacterial soaps is safe for your baby.
• Household Sprays Can Help Kill Germs
Some germ fighting sprays can be used in play areas after the baby is moved to another room. Using a household disinfectant product will clean the area and prevent germ growth. Do not spray it beforehand, however, because this product can be absorbed through the skin. While it is not harmful to adults, these germ-fighting sprays may be too strong for a baby.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to eliminate every germ or virus from your baby’s life. Germs are everywhere, and many of them are actually good for people and the environment. However, you can significantly reduce the impact of bad germs and viruses in your baby’s life by following these simple steps that parents have found to be effective for many years.
LaGeris Underwood Bell is a freelance writer with a deep-seated aversion to germs. As a devoted godmommy, eliminating bacteria is one of her biggest goals. A product such as an infant play mat, which is so easy to clean, is a low maintenance lifesaver as well as a time-saver for busy parents who want to keep their babies healthy and safe.
Photo credit #1: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paparutzi/1062532768/
Photo credit #2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kodomut/3745540450/
Photo credit #3: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gerrythomasen/9296377591/
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The Perfect Nursery: Create a Happy, Healthy Habitat for Baby
The Perfect Nursery: Create a Happy, Healthy Habitat for Baby
Before your baby comes home from the hospital, it is important to make sure that his nursery is ready. There are certain safety and comfort features that every nursery should have, but you will also have the opportunity to express your creativity. Keep in mind that your baby might be using the room for several years and you can save a lot of time and money if you pick decorations that are appropriate through the toddler stage of development.
Essentials for Every Nursery
1) The Proper Furnishings- Every nursery needs a quality crib, and it is a good idea to include a comfortable chair for late night feedings. If you have enough space, a changing table would be the perfect addition to the room.
2) Safety Features - Although your baby will not be able to access most of the potentially harmful aspects of t 
he nursery for a few months, you should still take the time to child proof the room before she moves into it. Fortunately, this is typically very easy to accomplish. Simply place covers over all of the outlets and use child proof latches on any cabinet doors. Additionally, you should cover any sharp corners on the furniture that are near ground level.
3) Color - Creating the perfect ambiance does not need to be difficult. The room’s color scheme should feature one main color and up to two accents, and you can choose almost any color palette. However, it is important to avoid selecting a main color that is overwhelming, such as bright red, yellow and orange. Earth tones tend to work the best, and you can also use a warm neutral color for the majority of the room as long as you add a couple of splashes of accent coloring.
4) Lighting - Everyone needs vitamin D, so it is preferable to select a room that has some exposure to natural light. However, it is essential to ensure that the natural light will not shine directly on your baby’s crib, and you will need to closely monitor the temperature of the roo 
m. Any windows in the nursery will also need to be outfitted with shading that can be used to create a darker sleeping environment for daytime naps. Of course, a good soft-white overhead light is essential for those night-time feeding forays, and a lamp with a three -way switch (bright; moderate; dim) set on a table next to a comfortable rocker is sure to come in handy.
5) Play Time- Your baby needs to have the proper, sanitary space to play, and you can easily utilize a washable play yard to accommodate him. According to psychologists, playing is an essential aspect of developing proper cognitive functionality, and it is vital to ensure that your baby’s imagination is stimulated as much as possible. A portable play yard will provide your infant with a safe place to play, and it will also give him a comfortable place to take a nap. If you are short on space, you can purchase one that also doubles as a crib.
Once you have made sure that your baby’s basic needs have been attended to, you can branch out into creating a fun space where you will both enjoy spending time. It is a good idea to put a radio in the room, and you should also start building a personal library for your child so that you can read to them every day. By taking these steps, you will ensure that your baby’s nursery is a healthy and happy place.
As the father of two boys, Richard Freeland has had plenty of experience in decorating nurseries, as well as repairing and painting walls due to overly-exuberant play. The washable play yard, as well as other pleasing accessories, will help make your baby’s nursery an exciting and enriching habitat.
Photo credits: http://www.flickr.com/photos/geishabot/5394134125/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/motherscratcher/3202422770/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/beckmann/6213462607/
Tags: baby, baby nursery
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