Having a baby is the most wonderful experience a woman can have as it is a fulfillment of the biological function of the female species. After the giving birth process, the real work begins. Feeding bottles, diaper changes, immunization records are just a few of the things the new mom have to learn quickly. And one important thing to consider in the arrival of the baby is the kind of baby bedding he or she will use.  According to Dr. Mark Brandenburg (http://www.baby-place.com/crib_safety.html), the number one rule to follow in choosing the right baby bedding for your precious infant is safety.  The second rule says safety and the third rule emphasizes safety. We are to conclude that it is not enough to say it, it must be emphasized that baby bedding is critical for the comfort of the baby.

In his article on how to find the perfect baby bedding, he tells us it must be neither too hard nor too soft. In the past, sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS was attributed to very soft baby bedding. This happened when the baby’s mattress is too soft that his nose and mouth gets covered and the air he exhales is the air he breathes. This is dangerous for him since he would breath carbon dioxide rather than oxygen and the effects could lead to drowsiness, coma or even death.

There are a lot of styles and makes in choosing the baby’s bed. And with that, it follows that the baby bedding must be a perfect fit with the chosen equipment.  The three major selections are: a bassinet, a crib or a cradle.  What differentiates one from the other? A bassinet is an oblong-shaped basket that serves as a bed for an infant.  But sometimes, round bassinets are also available. A crib is a bed that is flanked with high side bars for a baby or young child’s safety. Cribs are usually more economical since the baby can use it from infancy to two years. While a cradle is a small low bed that an infant uses that has rockers on its stand.  In all these, the material used to make the equipment should alert and signal to the mom how much safety precautions are needed.

Bassinets are usually lacey and full of trimmings.  The baby bedding must fit the bassinet so that the baby’s space is enough for him or her to be able to roll from side to side. The crib is usually square, thus, mattresses can be fitted to the size of the crib. The baby bedding usually is a set of coverlet and small pillows. Hotdog pillows can also be placed inside. However, the pillows should not be more than two or three lest the baby can stand on them and could fall over. The cradle can come in various sizes and shapes. Some moms prefer cradles so that when the baby is cranky, he or she can be rocked to be calmed down. The baby bedding for a cradle should follow the shape of it.  Not much can be placed inside it since it is used mainly to rock the baby to sleep. However, one need not the three to keep the baby safe, warm and secure. One will do and this would depend on the parent’s preference.  The most preferred would be the crib since it can be used for a long time.

Now that we’ve covered the basic equipment, how do we furnish it with baby bedding? We have already established that the baby bedding should fit the sleeping equipment to avoid accidents and other untoward incidents.  The most suitable material to use is cotton as it is absorbent and cool to the baby’s skin. Different designs must be used to stimulate the baby’s color and pattern recognition.  Therefore, the baby bedding is a crucial factor in keeping the baby happy and healthy.
 

Introduction:

Crying is a normal event in the lives of all babies.When a baby comes out of the woomb the first thing to do is crying. By the first cry he will take some air in to the lungs for the first time in their life. After delivery if the baby doesnot cry then it should be initiated by slightly pinching or gently strocking the feet. From this it is clear that the healthy baby should cry and it is a normal physiological event ,still some times it can upset the mother or family members.

We all know that a baby can’t tell his needs or troubles in words. The only way for him  to communicate with others is by crying. Babies show some other signs like feet kicking, hand waving and head turning etcetera. But by far the best way to get the attention of others is by crying.

Excessive crying may not have a firm definition because the crying habit changes from baby to baby and some babies can be calmed easily but some are difficult to sooth. If crying is distressing for the mother and home nurse it can be called excessive. Many a times baby become quiet by giving breast milk or by carrying with a gentle rocking. Sudden onset of excessive crying means baby is distressed and needs attention. The causes of crying extends from simple reasons to life threatening conditions. Hence crying of a baby should not be ignored.
Most of the time it is difficult to find the cause of the cry . Common causes are discussed here for awareness.

Common reasons for crying:
                
1,Hunger:–

A hungry baby will cry till he gets  the milk. Here the old saying comes true ‘crying baby gets the milk’.

2,Wetting:–

Urination and defecation causes some discomfort and results in crying till his parts are cleaned and made dry .

3, Company:–

Majority of the kids need somebody near.  If they feel lonely they cry. When their favourite doll slips away from the grip they cry for help.
           
4, Tired:–

When the baby is tired after a journey and unable to sleep just cry simply. They feel tired in uncomfortable sourroundings and due to unhealthy climate.

5,Heat & cold:–

If they feel too hot or too cold they become restless and cry.  A child is comfortable in a room with good ventilation.

6,Tight clothing:–

Tight clothes especially during warm climate is intolerable for kids. Tight elastic of the the dress can also produce soreness in the hip region.                                                                                   

7,Dark room:–

When the baby wakes up from sleep he needs some dim light. If there is darkness he will disturb the sleep of parents by crying. Of course he will be irritated by strong light also resulting in crying.

8,Mosquito:–

Yes,these creatures disturb the sleep by their blood sucking and make the baby cry.

9,Nasal blocking:–

Child may not be able to sleep when there is a cold and go on crying till the passage is open.

10, Phlegm in throat:–

This also causes difficult breathing resulting in cry. Often a typical snorting sound can be heard with each breath.

11,General aching:–

Generalised body ache with restlessness is seen in flu and prodromal stages of some infectious diseases can result in continuous cry.

12,Habitual cry:—

Some babies cry without any real cause ending the parents in agony.Many a times doctor is called for help.

13,Nappy rash:–

If a tight and wet nappy is kept for a long time results in this conditon.  Rash can also be due to some allergic reaction to the elastic material of the nappy.  When the rash appears it causes soreness and baby become sleepless and cry.  All other skin lesions like eczema, ecthyma , candidiasis and so on also causes the same problems.                                                

14,Earache:–

Ear infection is common in wet climates. The infection may spread from the throat. Ear infection can result in rupture of ear drum causing discharge of pus. Eareache usually becomes worse at night when lying down. The child will become restless and may not allow you to touch the ear. Some children with earache rub the affected ear frequently.

15,Colic:–

When the baby cries continuously most of us diagnose it as colic. This problem is still a topic for debate because the exact cause for colic is not known and diagnosis is also difficult to confirm. Colic may be associated with rumbling and distention of the infants abdomen. Children often feel better when lying on their abdomen. Some children may not allow you to touch the abdomen. If the child cries continuously doctors help is needed.

16,Infections:–

All infections causes some kind of pain or irritation resulting in cry. Infection may be anywhere in the body. Usually it is associated with fever, redness and swelling.

17,Reactions to certain food:–

It is said that one man’s food is another man’s poison. Some food articles can produce some allergic reactions. Allergy  is manifested in the form of redness, breathlessness, gastric symptons and continuous cry.
       
18,Hard stools:–

Constipated babies with hard stools may cry when they get the urge to defecate. Some children hesitate to pass stool because of pain .

19,Gastro esophagial reflex:–

Here baby cries with spilling of food after feeding. If this continues it may be due to gastroesophageal reflex. This is due to failure of the lower part of esophagus to close after eating, causing regurgitation from the stomach. It is difficult to diagnose this condition and can be confirmed by giving antireflex medicines.
 
20, Dentition:–

During dentition (the arrival of teeth or teething) infants may feel restless with crying being an outlet for the pain of the teeth breaking through. Often associated with gastric troubles and diarrhoea.
                               
Some rare reasons
—————–

1,Bowel obstruction:–

Bowel obstruction is associated with severe pain and vomiting. Abdomen is distended with rumbling sound. Baby is constipated with absence of flatulence.

2,Septicemia:–

Invasion of pathogenic micro organisms in to the blood is called septicemia. Fever is associated with this condition.

3,Torsion of testes in male kids:–

When a male baby cries continuously his scrotum should be examined. Torsion of the testes produce severe pain which will be worse by touching the affected testes. When the testes is pressed upwards pain is releived. If this is not treated properly it can damage the affected  testes due to lack of blood supply.

4,Meningitis:–

Initially there may not be fever, hence crying baby with alternate vacant stare and irritability should not be ignored. Fontanel is bulging.  Neck rigidity and seizures may appear later.
5,Retention of urine:–

Children with retention of urine will have agonising pain making them   restless.                                               

7,Major injuries:–

Major injury to any parts of the body causes pain. Occasionally children will fall while playing and receive a head injury. Head injury is associated with reflex vomiting and convulsions.
 

This is going to be a really short article if I listen to my lazy side. The simple answer is yes, your baby can learn sign language. Any baby can learn to communicate using baby signing, but as with all skills, some will learn quicker than others.

In tests it has been found that at 6 months old most babies can start to learn simple signs, and start to communicate with their parents and carers using those signs. Some will learn 5 up to simple signs inside a month, and start using them to get what they need. Some babies will take longer and struggle to learn one or two simple sign language gestures.

It doesn’t matter how quick they learn signing, your baby will benefit from communicating at a younger age in many useful ways. For example it has been found through research that babies who are able to communicate their needs through signing are happier, and cry less. Research has also shown that signing babies pick up speech much quicker too.

So back to our original question “Can Your Baby Really Communicate With You Using Sign Language?” and our original answer still stands yes anybody can teach baby signing to their infant. In addition you also know why it’s a good thing for your baby to use sign language from an early age, so here’s another question, why not get started on baby signing today?

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Here are just some of the amazing secrets, tips & techniques this e-book will teach you:

Learn how you can communicate with your baby much earlier than you would if you simply wait for him to learn how to talk

Find out how you can greatly reduce your child’s frustrations and tantrums!

Learn how sign language develops the brain and has actually been linked to a higher IQ in children!

Research has shown that the quality and length of your baby’s naps affects his nighttime sleep. If he naps too late in the day, it will most certainly affect his nighttime sleeping. It’s important to tune into your baby’s biological clock and learn when his natural naptime is so his nighttime sleeping schedule is on the right track as well. It’s also imperative to get your baby down for a nap as soon as you see his “sleepy signals.� He will become overtired if you wait too long, and unable to go to sleep as a result.

Consistency is the key. Know when to get him down for a nap, and then get him down for a nap each and every time you see the signals. Those signals might include quieting down, losing interest in people and toys, rubbing eyes, fussing, yawning, or decreasing activity. Waiting too long might find your baby getting his ‘second wind’ and making it difficult if not impossible for him to lay down for his nap. When you respond to the signals right away, you not only eliminate the later possibility of having an increasingly crabby child later in the day or evening, but you eliminate the frustration for yourself of having to deal with such a fussy child. Once you’ve studied your child’s biological clock and watched for the signals carefully and consistently for a week or so, it should be a breeze to develop a solid napping schedule that will be easy for you both to follow.

Developing a consistent nap routine is equally important. Just as you have a routine prior to bedtime, you should also have one for naptime. This routine should be different from your nighttime routine though, although it can have similar elements, such as quiet music. Follow the routine faithfully every day, unless your child has been especially active such as a family outing or another activity outside the daily routine. And once your baby learns the nap routine, he’ll learn the cues that tell him when naptime is nearing, making naptime easier on you as well.

Author: Monica Beyer

A conversation between my 18-month-old son and I is one that a passerby isn’t likely to forget.

There have been countless meals at restaurants where my family has been the subject of curious glances, stares and even questions from perfect strangers.

And best of all, he can tell my husband and me that he needs a drink of milk, is scared of the thunder or wants down from his high chair, all without making a sound.

This seeming miracle of communication was made possible by American Sign Language, the primary means of communication used for hearing impaired individuals. With the help of Dr. Joseph Garcia’s book and video Sign With Your Baby, I was able to integrate sign language into my son’s life and use it as a means of communication, starting when he was 11 months old.

Through my 18 months of sign language experience, I’ve learned exactly what works and what may not. Here are a few hints to get parents started signing with their infants:

1. Choose a sign (or signs) to begin with. Many parents choose milk, more, eat, drink or a favorite toy.

2. Show your child the sign (or signs) during an activity (for example, during nursing, if you choose to begin with milk, or before dinner, if you choose to begin with eat).

3. Use the sign(s) before or during the activity, and show your baby the sign every time you do the activity.

4. Use your chosen sign(s) until your baby begins to sign back to you, then choose another sign and start the process over again. The more signs your baby knows, the easier it will be for him or her to pick them up.

Some parents have started signing from birth, but the parents I’ve talked to have reported success from six or seven months. It usually takes some time before a child begins to sign back to you. You will probably notice that he or she recognizes and
understands the sign before attempting to sign it. For example, I started signing when my son was 11 months old and he first signed back to me five weeks later.

There are many resources online and sign language dictionaries in the local library, as well as books specific to this subject.

The key to success is to be consistent, show a smile, applaud your child’s efforts and be patient. Someday, you will be attracting attention at the mall, too! And you will know so much more about what is going on in your baby’s head, and your bond will be that much closer.

Good luck!

About the author:
Monica Beyer is the mother of two sons and has been signing with
her younger son for over 1 year. Visit her website at
http://www.signingbaby.com or email her at
monica@signingbaby.com

Author: Monica Beyer

Once you’ve been signing with your baby for several weeks or months and your baby has mastered the basic signs that cover his or her needs (such as milk, more, eat, drink, etc.), you will probably want to expand his or her signing vocabulary (as well as your own).

The world around you and your child award you with countless opportunities to do just this. You can teach your baby a sign that has significance to almost any situation you may find yourselves in.

Family members are a great way to start expanding your child’s vocabulary. Starting with “mother” and “father” plus any siblings is a good way to begin, and you can create name signs for family members. One good suggestion I’ve heard from parents is to use the first letter of the person’s name in a way that reminds you of that person. Say Aunt Samantha is a nurse - you could use the letter “s” on the wrist to combine the first letter of her name with her occupation.

Holidays and events are also interesting ways to spice up the signing activities. Think of objects you baby may see around your house that he or she may not be too sure of. For example, during Christmas, Corbin learned the signs for “Santa,” “tree,” “lights,” and “party.” It’s also a good way to introduce your child to your culture and/or religion.

The natural world offers many things to learn about. Take a walk and teach your baby the signs for the animals he or she sees and signs for “flower” or “tree,” “sky” or clouds.” Night time is a good opportunity to show your baby the sign for “moon,” “bed,” or “sleep.” Take advantage of your daily routine to add signs to your baby’s growing vocabulary.

Books are a great source of inspiration for us. We have books of all kinds, and the ones Corbin likes to sign with the best are the animal books. Babies love animals and this is a great way to introduce animal signs.

Television may not be the best activity for your baby or child, but when you do watch TV together make the most out of it by signing the things your baby sees on the screen. This way the TV becomes an interactive learning tool for your child. All you, as a parent, have to do it recognize good opportunities for signing and act upon them when they present themselves. If you use ASL, look up signs beforehand and be ready to use them when the opportunity arises, and if you make up your signs, it’s as easy as using a little creativity. Good luck!

About the author:
Monica Beyer is the mother of two sons and has been signing with
her younger son for over 1 year. Visit her website at
http://www.signingbaby.com or email her at
monica@signingbaby.com

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