Baby Care

Archive for August, 2009

Rational nutrition is one of the main factors determining the physical health of everyone. And for the future mother’s nutrition is a necessary condition for normal fetal development, adequate course of pregnancy, health and wellness.
Diet for pregnant women
Pregnant women and then nursing mothers tastes and desires can change quite frequently. But long-term scientific observations allowed identifying common standards of nutrition in pregnancy, necessary for normal fetal development. A pregnant woman can satisfy all the nutritional needs only with the help of a balanced diet. Excessive or unbalanced diet during pregnancy causes a serious threat to the baby’s well-being.

Pregnant woman’s healthy diet: eat “live” food; eat more fruits, vegetables, herbs, edible wild herbs, nuts, germinated cereals. It is also important to exclude or limit the usage of fried food, which irritates the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines, as well as salt. Don’t forget to monitor weight, blood and urine pressure. Development of a newborn depends on how a mother eats during pregnancy.

FEATURES of PREGNANCY DIET

Every day a pregnant woman needs proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fiber and other important substances. Therefore, the diet of a pregnant woman should include all main food groups:
- Meat (preferably beef, lean, pork, lamb, chicken, turkey, rabbit, but not sausages or hot dogs);
- Fish and fish products (preferably low-fat varieties – cod, hake, etc.);
- Milk and dairy products (including yogurt, cheese, sour cream, curds, etc.);
- Bread (preferably from rye flour or bran) and bakery products;
- Cereals (preferably oatmeal and buckwheat), and pasta;
- Dietary fat (20-40 g butter and 15-20 g vegetable fat – sunflower, corn, soy, olive oil).

During pregnancy, adequate consumption of vegetables (300-500 grams a day) and fruit (preferably not less than 200 g per day) is very necessary during pregnancy. Sugar and confectionery products (preferably marshmallows, candy, low-fat cakes) should be consumed in limited quantities (up to 60-80 grams per day).

Particularly useful vegetables are: carrots, beets, zucchini, tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, dill, celery, and it is better to limit the usage of potatoes, cabbage. From fruit are recommended apples, pears, apricot, plum, cherry, peach, banana, they should be more attentive with citrus, kiwi, grapefruit, mango.

Pregnant women must get the right amount of vitamins and multielements, they also need extra multivitamins which are made especially for pregnant women and contain all the necessary vitamins, minerals and trace elements. 3-6 months before planning pregnancy, a woman with her husband should take folic acid (100 mcg 4 times a day for the prevention of malformations of the nervous system of the fetus and continue using it in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy) or a complex of vitamins for pregnant women with folic acid. Multivitamins also must be taken in the period of pregnancy and breast-feeding.

PREGNANCY DIET AND MULTIELEMENTS

Calcium and iron are very important. Calcium is necessary for the formation of the musculoskeletal system of the fetus. When there is insufficient flow of calcium from food this can lead to lower bone density (osteoporosis).

The main sources of calcium are milk and dairy products: yogurt, curds, especially cheese.
Insufficiency of dietary iron is the main cause of widespread anemia among pregnant women, and later among infants. Therefore, pregnant women should receive adequate amount of iron that is derived mainly from meat, fish, liver, apples and other fruit, cereals. Women in the second half of pregnancy need to receive 30 mg of dietary iron. Therefore they need additional oral iron or iron-containing vitamin-mineral complexes.

Iodine is a part of the thyroid hormones. It is required from the third month of pregnancy. Sources of iodine are: iodized salt, sea kale, sea fish.

Endocrinologists recommend pregnant women to take drugs which contain iodine.

Zinc is involved in the formation of fetal bones, and with its lack, a child may be born too small. Sources of zinc: fish oil, nuts, onion, pumpkin seeds, peas and beans.

PREGNANCY DIET: WHAT AND HOW?

Pregnant women in the second half of pregnancy should gain 300 grams of vitamins per week, and for the entire period of pregnancy should it should reach 10-12 kg.
Pregnant women must use cereals (wheat, buckwheat, oats), whole-grain bread, various vegetables (beets, carrot), fruit and berries (especially cherry, apple, plum), dried fruits in order to get sufficient number of dietary fiber.

As we have already said pregnant women should limit salt (up to 7-8 grams per day).

Just like during pregnancy, during breast-feeding mothers should limit or completely exclude certain food from their diet. This is especially important if a child is only breastfed, there are adverse reactions such as unstable stool, frequent regurgitation, bloating, skin rashes. These products are chocolate, coffee, whole milk, citrus fruit. In addition, some products (onion, garlic, spices) can give unusual smell and taste to milk, because of which the child can refuse the breast. During the entire period of breastfeeding, women should continue taking additional specialized vitamin and mineral complexes and products mentioned above.

In conclusion, it must be said that good food and rest are key components of mother’s and child’s health.

Nowadays, most children have their own rooms, and parents have to worry about its design. Child’s own room is a personal world, where the most important and interesting events in his/her life will take place. That is why parents should wisely come to the decision which design to choose for their child’s room. Due to its multifunctionality, there are many factors influencing the
child’s room comfort. However, there are some general rules that should be taken into account, when designing the child’s room. First, you need to arrange a warm, bright and comfortable atmosphere in the nursery. It is desirable that the room is located on the sunny side. There should not be extra furniture – mobile; and restless children need more space, the room with a small number of things is easy to keep clean and tidy. Choose multipurpose and mobile furniture. After all, with age, in order to meet the growing needs of the child, you should replace it with new one.

Design for little ones

Cot, playpen, high chair, chest of drawers for different clothes, table – this is a typical set of furniture which kids need. But the child’s room should have environmental safety. Do not buy furniture made from fiberboard, low-quality plastics and other materials that may contain allergens and carcinogens such as formaldehyde and phenol. It is important to remember that furniture should consist of materials that have passed the required certification. If you have small apartment, mobile and functional furniture is just for you, for example: folding commode. There is also a convertible type of furniture. Having bought it once, you can use it for a long time, up to ten years without replacement. Chairs of this type can be adjusted by a child of any age.

The child’s room should be made in pastel colors, but you can also add several expressive elements to the room. Do not place in the room anything which can cause allergy. For example, it is better not to hang thick curtains in the room, because they collect dust. The same applies to carpets. Light curtains will be more appropriate. Moreover, they are easily removed and washed from the dust, which reduces the risk of lung disease. Lighting should be bright enough, and its source should not collect dust. A good idea can be a system of major and local luminaries – a beautiful lamp with a lampshade on the ceiling and a number of additional lighting, such as lamp, sconces or floor lamps. The climate in the children’s room has a significant impact on the health of the child. It is important to create a balanced atmosphere in the room, for example, if the room is often cold, you should place a heater, and in dry and hot room it is recommended to install a humidifier. If you want to add comfort in the design of the child’s room with attributes such as cushions or soft toys, let them be made from natural and high quality materials.

Room for preschoolers

When the child grows both you and he/she understand the benefit of a separate children’s room. Kid gets an opportunity to play alone and relax from the other family members. But you need to change the furniture in accordance with the age of the child. You should buy a new bed (it can be a sofa or bed), new chairs and tables, shelves, chest of drawers for toys. It should be noticed that the furniture must be safe, stable, and without sharp edges and with all the necessary certification. We know that children of this age are fond of playing games. So the room can be divided into two zones: for games, sleep and rest. If your child spends a lot of time on games, you need to give much space for this. The most common version is arranging the furniture along the walls of the room, and the game zone is concentrated in the center of the nursery. You can also use another approach – the separation of the room in half. In that case, gaming area is better positioned in the lighter half, with a window, and sleeping area will be the remainder. For a more precise differentiation of the game zone, you can identify it with furniture which falls under the “game” category: table, chairs, shelves for toys. A bed and a wardrobe will be a recreation area. The colors also play an important role. Do not paint the ceiling in dark colors. It depresses adults, so judge yourself.

In any case, when designing the child’s room it is important to take into account the wishes of the child. After all, his/her mood can affect practically any designing element, let it be a carpet, on which it plays, or curtains, which he/she sees rising from the bed, or favorite toys and books.

Human skin is a complex mechanism, which has many important functions. So taking care of its health and normal operation should be from the first days of life. The skin of a newborn is very different from adults’ and requires very special care.

General functions of the skin can be defined as follows: the barrier and protective, heat regulatory, receptor (tactile, temperature, superficial pain sensitivity). Multiple functions of the skin require some attention to the tools that are used to take care of it. And when it is the baby’s skin, then the important features of the skin come out:

soft, flabby, stratum corneum is thin, consists of 2-3 layers of cells (Vulnerable skin),

weak basement of membrane (epidermis loosely linked to the dermis),

impaired function of sweat and sebaceous glands,

skin is covered with a secret with the medium reaction to close neutral.

In accordance with these properties of skin you should select children’s cosmetics. Cosmetics for babies can be divided into several categories:

for daily hygiene,

bathing

for changing diapers,

to protect the skin from the sun.

Means for the daily care for children include lotion, cream and oils. Lotions are designed to cleanse and moisturize the skin. Creams, which composition may include glycerin, beeswax, mineral and castor oil, Panthenol, zinc oxide, vitamins A, D, E, C, natural plant extracts, oils, etc., can strengthen the protective function of the skin, they soften, moisturize the skin. Some creams have anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory action. They are recommended for use under the supervision of a physician. It is better to use oil after bathing. It creates a special protective film on the surface.

The process of bathing usually brings great pleasure to the child. The correct selection of cosmetics is very important. First you should use baby soap. It contains a minimal amount of alkali, which prevents excessive drying and irritation of the skin. You can use special gels for bathing. You can wash his/her hair with children’s shampoos. Their main advantage is that they do not irritate the mucous membrane of the eyes and bathing passes without tears.

The most common danger in the first months of child’s life is diaper dermatitis. Diaper dermatitis is inflammation of the skin associated with the use of nappies (diapers), the response to mechanical impact, pressure, maceration after prolonged contact with urine and feces, the remains of soap.

The main measure to prevent diaper dermatitis is the maintenance of the skin in the diaper dry and clean. It dependsnot only on the regularity and thoroughness of care, diaper quality, increasing of the time spent without a diaper, but, of course, the individual characteristics of the skin of the newborn. The main cosmetic product that is used when changing diapers is Barrier cream. It is well suited for treatment for prevention of diaper dermatitis. It may include antiseptic and disinfectant components, as well as non-active components, which have softening, protective and hydrating properties. If diaper dermatitis increases, consult a doctor immediately. Powders should be used only to remove excess moisture. Powders are made on the basis of the mineral talc, it absorbs moisture and reduces friction of the skin. However, the need to use baby powder occurs only because of violations of care or skin diseases. Therefore, powder or talcum powder should be in the children’s medicine box.

Baby’s skin is sensitive to changes because of temperature and the impact of the environment. Therefore, each time before going to walk, use face and hand baby creams that are effective in strong wind and frost. Do not forget about summer. Sunrays are not only warmth and joy, but also can damage the skin. Solar radiation can cause changes in the structure of the epidermis, in immune cells, etc. Therefore, children under three year are not recommended to stay in the open sun. Experts believe that even in the shade you should protect the baby’s skin with the help of special tools.

Specialist’s Opinion

Changes in the skin of the baby always cause some concerns among parents, especially if it is a newborn. It should be noted that the right skin care ensures the normal development of newborn skin of the child in the first year of life and creates the necessary conditions for the further development of his/her body.

Newborn’s skin itself has a number of fundamental differences from the skin of an adult. As we know, the skin consists of three parts: dermis, epidermis and basement membrane. But children’s skin is still very poorly formed; the skin is largely immature, poorly functioning sweat glands. Therefore, children’s skin care requires careful daily care. Moreover, if the skin is protected before the birth of eldest grease, then the time of the birth of this grease is rather a defect of care and need to be removed, because it can crack, become inflamed and interfere with the normal tissue respiration.

In fact, all the basic tools for skin care of children can be divided into three categories:

Children lotion or milk,

Children cream

Children oil oil.

It is important to note that each of them in any way does not replace the other. Children’s cosmetics are high-tech products, tailored to the sensitivity of baby skin.
In the morning baby’s skin should be processed with lotion. It degreases the skin and removes dirt.

Children cream is a major component of skin care of the child. They must be used at least 2-3 times a day. I note that the smaller the child, the more you should use cream.

Oil should be used once a day and after bathing. If possible, you should cover with oil the entire surface of the skin of the child to give elasticity. Baby oil is applied to dry skin. Therefore, I would not recommend adding the oil in the water while bathing, although in many western countries this practice is quite common.

Important component of care for a newborn is a skin barrier cream. This is a special formulation which is applied under a diaper for the prevention or treatment of diaper dermatitis.
Diaper dermatitis is a frequent and widespread phenomenon throughout the world, appears as a result of friction of clothing or linen feces or urine. It is a result of improper care. Barrier creams require constant use. At each change of diaper, the cream is applied with a thick layer, even if the skin looks healthy.

Means for bathing – shampoo and soap – have to be childish (specialized).

We can not forget about the “weather” cosmetics for your baby. It is urgent to protect the skin in a strong wind, cold. But when the air temperature is below 10°C it’s not allowed to treat baby’s skin with these means. Special summer sunscreen lotions and creams require constant application on the street, even if the child is in the shade.

I will also note that the recent practice of using the same barrier creams not only for its intended purpose (under the diaper), but also on the face, arms, chest of the child is very much widespread. There is nothing criminal, but it is better to use only there. This also applies to other children’s cosmetics.

The first 24 months of child’s life are the main stages of his/her development. Knowing a few key points will allow parents to avoid unnecessary, unreasonable disturbances.

The first question parents usually ask the pediatrician: “Do we have a normal child?” After the first examination the doctor checks the child with the existing standards, which allows him/her draw a general conclusion about the development of the infant.

”Does he/she have all reflexes?” In fact from birth up to 3 months child must make the so-called primitive reflexes, which express the physiological immaturity of his/her brain. It should be mentioned that after the birth, the state can be broken and the conclusions drawn from the survey, conducted in the first hours of life, can change quickly in one direction or another.

Shaking limbs, chin and lips is a common phenomenon, and deserves attention only when it happens very often. It does not have any impact and does not indicate that the child has cold, as parents often consider.

The startle of the child at the slightest noise, waking or during sleep also usually show incomplete formation of the nervous system and in any case doesn’t show that child is “nervous”.

”Does the child see”? Does the child hear? Does the child feel something?” Hearing of the unborn baby is difficult to determine, but in general it’s possible. The child reacts to the sudden sharp sound. The first sounds that child says are - sounds, expressing contentment. The child begins to learn the language, listening to what you say when you feed him/her, change diaper, bathe or play with him/her.

Vision is also undeveloped, vague, but after several weeks it becomes clearer. Child sees the object clearly when it is at a distance of 20 or 30 centimeters from his/her face.

As in the first few weeks of life, infants do not distinguish colors, they like looking at black and white patterns.

Touch – the most developed sense of the newborn. Child likes when you stroke or massage him/her. Children cry less when they hold hands or embrace.

Skull of the child is a symbol of the children’s fragility.

Parents should know that in the first months of life child’s skull is malleable, and at the same time very resilient;

Changes in the behavior of the child can be noticed every week or every month and parents are happy to look at every new phenomenon.

Kid himself/herself:

- Begins to hold the head in 2-3 months;

- Maintains a sitting position in 7-8 months;

- Sits down in 10 months;

- Stands with support in 9 months;

- Begins to walk by 13-14 months.

Parents must remember that each child develops in his own way and his/her parents should not compare him/her with neighbor’s daughter or son.

FIRST TEETH

Undoubtedly, the emergence of the first tooth is always a great family event, eagerly anticipated by parents and some trepidation. However, if the emergence of the first tooth is delayed, the family starts to worry.

The first tooth may erupt in a period of 4 to 13 months, and the apparent delay does not affect the further development of children’s teeth. The emergence of teeth is due to hereditary factors.

While teething various disorders can occur:

- Fever, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, cough, redness;

- Swelling of the gums, accompanied by accumulation of blood.

Salivation is a function of the salivary glands, and it occurs in 3 months and has nothing to do with teething.

EYES

In the first 9-12 months eyes remain unpredictable, and if black or brown eyes do not change over time, blue eyes may become darker later.

Sometimes children in the first days after birth have such a violation, as watery eyes that are most often associated with occlusion of the lachrymal canal. In this case you should see a doctor and conduct appropriate treatment.

At birth, the newborn may have a red conjunctivas point, which does not require any treatment and spontaneously disappears after a few weeks.

Today, many parents show great interest in the wide possibilities of early musical development of the child. When can you begin to introduce music to your child? How to choose musical games and exercises? Here you can find answers to these questions.

EARLY MUSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILD
In the development of children’s musical abilities the first years of life are particularly important. The earlier you’ll start working on the development of musical abilities of the child, the better the results will be. In each period of the development of babies, they are especially sensitive to external influences, including – music. These so-called sensitive periods are from 1,5 to 3 years. The most important thing is to awaken the senses, because the child perceives and knows the world around him/her with the help of senses. It is important to remember that the overall mental development of children is related to this period, primarily with the development of senses.
Among the various means of influencing the feelings of the child, one of the most effective is the musical art. Even at the time when the baby is in its mother’s belly it begins to perceive music. From the first days of musical art the child tries to imitate the sounds of her mother’s speech echoes the height of her voice. A game with rattles – is not the rhythmic development of the child, the experience of the first children’s perception of noise instruments!

EARLY MUSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILD: THE IDENTIFICATION OF TALENT
So it is clear that early musical development serves primarily to the task of the overall development of the child during this period – the development of the senses. Replying to a question, how an early musical development should be, let us first of all clarify what we mean by the very notion of “musical development”. Musical development – is an ongoing process of certain qualitative changes in musical abilities of a man. The most important criterion of musicality is an emotional response to music.

Of course, the impetus for the development of skills, including music, is the identification and development of thedeposits. Music lessons should be filled with active forms of propulsion, full of emotion and create a nice atmosphere. Such exercises should support the development of fantasy and imagination, emotional and sensual spheres of the baby. It turns out that the general and musical ability develop in a holistic relationship.
Early musical development is primarily associated with the formation of sensory abilities, i.e. ability to distinguish pitch (high – low), timbre ( “voice” of children’s musical instruments), dynamics (loud – quiet), tempo (fast – slow), as well as the beginning of the formation of musical thinking and musical memory.
In addition, the child just begins to learn listening to music. Therefore, developing the musical thinking, we form the ability to hear the character, the mood of music. Note that systematic training just involves the systematic development of the child.
All of these components must be present in class. Above all, we start with the emotional and sensory impressions of what he heard, then – go to the approbation of various types of activities: echoic exercises of accompanying, music-making, active games. And only then on the basis of accumulated experience and sensory, motor experience, we, along with the baby, can improvise. I would like to clarify that the planning and conducting of such exercises must be systematic and consistent. Parent or teacher should clearly represent the final result, which directed lessons on musical development.

EARLY MUSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILD: specifics of the lessons
Each lesson of the early musical development of the child should include all the mentioned types of musical activities that are realized in active music-didactic games. In the classroom should be a reasonable combination of vocal, musical-rhythmic, musical and visual exercises. We should not forget that the transition from one to another component of the musical work should be implemented step by step, gradually complicating the task. Of course, that active consideration at this age is given to the development of small and large skills. Therefore, a necessary component of each exercise should be finger games and music and rhythmic exercises, conducted under the music.
Now let’s clarify some features of music lessons for children. Vocal development in early childhood is closely connected with the phonemic, so at the start of singing exercises, begin with the elements of onomatopoeia (e.g., syllables, representing “singing” animals – “wow”, “meow”). Then we turn to imitate voices of the teacher or parent and singing certain syllables, words in the song.
In the development of a sense of rhythm we recommend starting with a game of rhythmic exercises, where, while repeating the words of the poem, the children perform certain movements. Then perform the same movements, but together with the music. This should ensure clarity and consistency of movements, the coincidence with the pulse of musical creation.
Developing musical sensory abilities of the child, we stress its perception in bright contrast between sound (loud – quiet, high – low, fast – slow), not forgetting the sound relationship with the visual images and pictures.
Projected results of early musical development of the child may be as follows: the 3-year-old baby:
- Emotionally reacts and recognizes familiar melodies;
- Is able to distinguish between contrasting features of sound (high – low, loud – quiet, fast – slow);
- Together with the teacher echoes musical phrases from the song;
- Moves in accordance with the nature of music;
- Performs sound motion: tapping feet, clapping her hands;
- Distinguishes between calls and music instruments: rattles, tambourine, bell, etc.
We wish you a vivid, emotional discovery in a magical world of sounds with your child!

The date of the appearance of the child into the world is very close, and you increasingly think about what you will feel. Your anxiety and mixed feelings are natural. But usually there is an unknown fear of something. And you are already well prepared for childbirth and meeting the child. Do not hold the emotion in yourself. Talk to your child how much you have to wait for his/her birth, his/her name, describe the room where he/she will live. Very soon your baby will be with you.

1) The first signal.
You are afraid that everything will begin at night and you will not have time to get to the hospital? Do not worry. It’s even better if, at the time of labor pains, you can get some sleep. You’ll need some power. Just tell yourself: “I will have a healthy physiological childbirth. And try to sleep. But be aware of the fact that the beginning of the birth may be different: sometimes a few days before the event the cork goes out (a small lump of mucus). In any case, look at the color and amount and be sure to tell the doctor everything. Remember the important rule: once the water started to move away, the child should not be in pain more than 6 hours (maximum 12 hours). So you should be in the maternity hospital, do not delay.

2) The path-way.
Something is pulling at the bottom of your stomach? Contractions are repeated every 10 minutes? So, it’s time to give birth. Explain to your husband, what happens to you, let him help and support. While your husband prepares something to eat, take a shower. Water removes the pain and helps to relax.
Do not forget: your bag, your passport and the exchange of maps.
If you go on your own, it is better to sit in the back seat and relax!

3) Procedures.
In the reception at hospital record your data, measure the pressure and weight. Better pre-shave at home, but if youdid not have time don’t worry, you’ll be shaved in the maternity hospital.

4) Help.
Cervix is gradually revealed, fights are intense, and the intervals between them are reduced. If the pain becomes intolerable, doctors may suggest anesthesia. Do not rush to accept. Think about the upcoming battle, unpleasant pain. Try to focus on the kid: talk with him/her, put your hand on belly (baby has much more pain than you and you should always remember that and try not to hold breath, and it is difficult for him/her to breathe). Encourage your child!

5) A comfortable posture.
To reduce the pain, you can move, take any convenient position. Relax! Try not to stretch the muscles of the face. First, the drawing of muscles near the eye may affect the eyesight. Secondly, because of this red dots may appear on the face. Contractions will be easier, if you walk. Try to swing with the hips. This dance relaxes perineum muscles and helps to open the uterus. Then lie for a couple of minutes and relax, but then rise – movement is very important. Experienced nurses will tell you how to breathe correctly. You should listen carefully and faithfully follow their advice! This is very important!

6) In a difficult moment.
You have heard about gap and cut? It is not necessary that this happens to you. But even if it happens, do not worry. The doctor gently and quickly makes the necessary incision. You do not feel it. And after birth, when the baby is peacefully snuffling in your abdomen, the doctor will apply sutures. There is nothing to be afraid of.

7) Now you are a mother.
Finally, the head appeared! So the most difficult part is over. Soon it should be born! Look how handsome he/she is! After the usual procedures of weighing, measuring growth, examination of a pediatrician, the baby will be put on your stomach and you will be able to hug your miracle. It is a reward for your work! That’s it! Congratulations!

Lullaby is probably the only part of folklore, which has survived to our days, and continues to develop. For many centuries lullabies accompany our children to their sweet dreams, and, despite technological advances, do not lose their significance. Nobody has ever even tried to replace them. Why lullabies are so popular? And why they are irreplaceable?

Why do babies need lullabies?
Lullabies are needed for children of all ages. Their first task is to reassure the child and set him/her on a strong healthy sleep.
Melodic, simple, quiet – lullabies like both small babies, and their parents. In many families, lullabies are traditional conclusion of the day, the ritual, and they cannot do without it.
This is the child’s first contact with the art, and it is very important. A child hears it, learns to perceive both normal conversation and song. He/she gets accustomed to his/her mother, remembers the melody and learns it. Later he/she begins to distinguish the words and repeats them. Small children like to sing lullabies to their dolls, and even parents.
Lullabies help to establish a strong link between a child and his parents. At the time of going to bed a close contact between mother and child is required. The kid must feel that he/she is not alone helping him/her to relax from daily cares. These simple songs help to show sincere feelings.
From their infancy, people remember the voice of their mother. Lullabies are songs which are written using the notes of pure love and collect them in tenderness harmony. Something magical is store in a lullaby melody. It comforts, soothes, makes forget about the pain and helps to sleep.
When a child is very small, that is, it is still in its infancy, he/she gets accustomed to a certain voice that will serve him/her for a sign or a symbol of security and peace.
Then, when your child will grow up a little, he/she still loves and responds to the native voice.
Lullabies are an excellent alternative to other means of calming the child. Instead shaking and long conversations, this gives a much better result.

Why lullabies are better?
Of course, now there are many inventions to replace live lullaby. There are singing toys, CDs and just the TV. Some parents have resorted to such assistants, believing that these songs are no worse than traditional lullabies.
Other parents cite the fact that absolutely can not sing and do not want their child to be accustomed to the fake songs.
But it is important who does it.
No toy or tape recorder can replace the love of a child with which his/her mother hugs him/her

before going to bed, singing even the simplest motifs.
It doesn’t matter what lullaby you sing (you can even create your own version). Your presence and

care is much more important.
The toy or a TV can be brighter and more interesting than your songs, but the child always prefers to sleep in your presence than to listen to a monotonous grumbling of the unfeeling box.

Are lullabies only for mothers?

Traditionally, lullabies are sung by women – mothers and grandmothers. But now fathers also try to sing. The childshould feel the love of both parents, so it is not surprising that, over time your child may require to sing for him/her father or even grandfather.
Men prefer the traditional lullaby songs from cartoons, or even compose their own songs, and it is not worse than those songs that Mothers sing.
If you are unsure whether it was lullaby to your child, just try to sing it at least a week. Kids like this way of lying in the cot if only you’re close to them, regardless of the quality of performance. Despite the achievement of the industry of toys, mankind did not invent a better way to put the child to sleep.

The problem of choosing shoes for your child, as a rule, becomes urgent after the first 6 months of his/her life.
Therefore, children’s shoes can be roughly divided into two main categories: for children who haven’t started walking yet, and for those who have already made the first steps. Of course, shoes for each of the periods are somewhat different. But there are some general requirements you should consider when you buy shoes for children:

1. The sole of shoes must be strong, uneven and elastic. Take the shoes in hands and bend it several times. If the sole is made from cardboard then it’s not worth buying these shoes. Generally, small children need a small heel for walking!

2. Try to choose for the child, especially in the early years of his/her life, boots with adhesive tape. Generally, shoes, fitted with a latch – buckles, lacing, pin, and even buttons are not convenient for the baby. Shoes with adhesive tape have undeniable advantages; your child can easily to learn to wear and remove his/her boots, shoes or sneakers.

3. Pay attention to the back part of the shoes – it should be thick. It is better if it is slightly thicker than other parts of shoes. This will provide enhanced protection for the feet of your baby.

4. Pay attention to the material from which the shoes are made.
The best for choice are natural materials – genuine leather, and fabrics. Check the material of the internal parts of shoes! The idea of genuine leather disappears, if they have synthetic insole!

Can you distinguish artificial leather? With modern technology manufacturing synthetic leather, and some artificial materials are not under the force of each manufacturer.

The easiest way to determine the material from which the footwear (footwear elements) is made is to look at a special sticker on the shoe with graphic signs. Such labels are mandatory for manufacturers and importers of footwear of the EU countries. Labels indicate what type of material is used in making soles, lining and top boots.

If the shoes do not have such labels, there are several ways that will help you to distinguish artificial leather, but some of them in connection with the development of new technologies have become obsolete. For example, it was thought that leather is the only material that does not burn, so the first aircraft cabins were covered with natural leather. But this method can not be used when buying shoes; in addition, modern artificial leather has many common features with genuine leather. There is a composition, which gives to artificial leather the smell of genuine leather.

Here are several methods of determining the genuine leather:

• When putting the shoes on the inner surface of the palm of your hand for about ten seconds, the leather gets warm and begins to warm your hands and give a nice warm feeling, while the artificial leather remains cold.

• The bended edge of the leather is more rounded, but the leathery has a bit flat edges, and usually natural leather is thicker than artificial leather.

• Press a part of the shoes with a finger. When pressing you will notice that small creases or wrinkles appear, and then these wrinkles disappear. This is a sure sign of genuine leather.

• Leather can be defined, if we look at its cross-section. Artificial leather tends to have a textile, or polyamide base. And finally, you can drop a usual water on the leather (if allowed when shopping). Genuine leather absorbs moisture and becomes darker, but artificial leather remains unchanged.

5. Pay attention to the manufacturer. But be careful as a well-known brand is not yet a guarantee that you bought a good pair of shoes. In addition, the well-known brands are often counterfeited.

6. Insoles can be normal, anatomic (in proper shoes), and orthopedic – with a large instep-raiser. The choice of instep-raiser , its presence or absence is determined by an orthopedic doctor. Anatomical shoes do not hurt any child.

There is no need to confuse the orthopedic and prophylactic shoes. Prevention or anatomic shoes take the form of the feet, and create comfort while walking. Orthopedic shoes are needed in order to cure a violation of the locomotor system or prevent its development. Manufacturers of anatomic shoes often call it an orthopedic. This orthopedic shoes are sewed by individual plaster molds.

I urge you not to save when buying shoes for children, especially for children who have problems with feet. And do not take second-hand shoes, as they already repeat the shape of their previous owner’s feet, and they will be inconvenient for your child.

Since the tests for pregnancy have yielded positive results, future parents, especially mothers, begin to look for glamorous clothes for their unborn children.
Clothing for newborns can be purchased in a set, which will likely have a blanket for baby. But as not all clothes are used equally often, it is better to save up and buy a few interchangeable things. Usually parents buy some jackets, sliders (pants with straps), bonnet (hats), and coveralls.
The clothes should be easily removed and dressed; the child should feel free in movements. It should be noted that babies badly own their own bodies, and will not be able to change position or show that the clothes are inconvenient.
The first clothes of the newborn should be very simple, without buttons and bows which are suitable for older children. It is necessary to draw attention to the choice of materials, color, and do not forget about the washing features of clothes.

Material

Newborn clothes should be made from good natural fabrics that are suitable for child’s gentle skin. For example, cashmere, cotton, linen. The most suitable material for kids is fine cotton jersey. It does not limit movements, as well as is hygienic. Rough, even natural materials (corduroy or denim) can rub the child’s skin.

Should the clothes be big?

Sometimes parents, wishing to save, buy bigger clothes, believing that the child will wear them longer. Of course, you need to cloth the child, so that clothing does not embarrass his/her movements, but at the same time they should not be too large, otherwise the baby can get out of it. In hot weather, he/she will feel comfortable in shorts and socks (which, unfortunately, most children quickly learn taking off). In cooler weather, the clothes can be warmer, as the parents seek a compromise between convenience for the movements and the number and thickness of clothing. Nowadays, there are a lot of new solutions and fabrics to clothe the child, which are not only warm but also convenient.

How to avoid wrong size?

Clothes for babies should be selected for its growth and age. In general, the clothes should have information about age and height. The average height of 3 to 6 month babies is 60-68 cm, 6 to 9 months is 68-74 cm, while 9 to 12 months is 74-80 cm.

Washing

When washing, machine or hand, parents always need to follow the instructions, and then all children’s belongings will maintain their color, shape and structure of the original fabric for a long time.
It is advisable not to use powders with biomaterials; they can irritate the skin of the child. Now there are a number of detergents and mitigations for children’s clothing, which do not cause allergies. Clothes should be well dried and pressed, only then it can be worn again.
Do not forget that babies in their first year of life quickly discolor their clothing. Decorative details make the process of washing, ironing clothes difficult, demanding much effort and care that is often burdensome for young mothers.

Details

Pockets are usually convenient, but for older children. Newborns have nothing to put in them. They can even have dangerous elements: beads, buttons that a child can tear off and swallow.

Psychology of color selection

When creating garments for babies designers take into account advice of doctors and psychologists. It’s usually recommended to choose clothes of delicate pastel shades. The combination of bright, saturated color is extremely harmful to the eyes and the nervous system of the newborn. Especially dangerous is the combination of red and white colors. Therefore, many designers of clothing for toddlers prefer cream-beige and coffee-sand tones.

Beginning from a year, parents already need to think about the development of the child’s taste. Therefore, you need to be even more attentive with a choice of color combinations of clothes for your baby.
Each weather has its clothes

When the room temperature is above 22 degrees the child may be in a thin cotton underwear. With each subsequent lowering of temperature by 2-3 degrees should be added a new layer of clothing.

Thus, with 21 degrees there should be a fine linen, and q lightweight cotton dress on your child. At 17-20 degrees – cotton linens, a thick flannel or a knitted dress with long sleeves, as well as wool socks. At 15-16 degrees put on a cotton underwear, a light cotton dress, or a semi-woolen suit with long sleeves, and woolen socks.

Today, we will help you choose your child’s bed. In order the purchase of baby furniture for the future member of your family not to become very confusing you should follow some advice. With a little help you will be able to buy a bed that will be beneficial for your child.

The material of the child’s bed

The best choice of material for children’s beds is a natural material, i.e. wood. We all know the feelings that arise in the plastic chairs of the canteen. Keep in mind that sometimes the furniture is made “under wood” and you can not understand its composition – always find out what it is, especially in doubtful cases.

Wooden beds are usually covered by a definite composition, so always ask the seller what it is made of and whether it is safe for the child. For this purpose, you can require a sanitary certificate.

Please note, from which wood the bed is made, as furniture which is made from different kinds of wood differ in their properties. Furniture from pine, perhaps, one of the most inexpensive – but it is one of the softest woods used for furniture production. Therefore, on the pine furniture there will be more scratches. Furniture from birch is stronger, more durable and resistant to such expressions of cheerfulness. It serves for a very long time and does not lose its identity; it will really decorate the child’s room.

Remember that any synthetic product has an indispensable industrial smell. Place it in the room in a well ventilated place for some time. That’s why it is better to buy children’s furniture a little bit in advance, for a couple of weeks before the arrival of a newborn in the house.

Functions of the child’s bed

Beds with pendulum mechanism are very comfortable. They simply save mothers. However, when buying a bed with pendulum mechanism, do not forget about two important points. First, a few months later, your child will begin to show such signs of activity, which you can not submit at a time when bringing him/her from the maternity house. Imagine what will happen when he/she starts swinging the bed? Are you sure that it will not catch standing furniture, and simply overturn his/her bed?

There are beds which are equipped with a special pendulum latch that can block the movement of the pendulum. Now you can be sure that the baby will not accidentally overturn the bed at night. It’s not recommended to buy a bed without such a latch.

The second important point to consider when you buy a bed is to choose a place where to put the bed. Remember that stocks on both sides of swinging should be no less than 7-10 cm. Following this advice will help you avoid unpleasant surprises related to the fact that the just bought bed doesn’t fit to its intended place in the infant’s room.

Children’s beds should have drawers at the bottom for storing children’s belongings. Do not forget to clean the surface under the bed, in order to prevent accumulation of dust. Dust is unacceptable in an infant’s room and is fraught with allergic diseases. Regularly clean the places under the bed.

Safety of children’s beds

A good child’s bed must have several layers. Make sure that the depth of the bed is sufficient to protect him/her from over-active impulses of curiosity and that he/she can not fall in any case (usually a depth should be 60-70cm).

Though it will be inconvenient for parents to remove and put the baby. Almost all the children’s beds (except the cheapest model), have several layers (2 or 3 levels). Side back of these beds has a height regulator (with latch), which will facilitate removing and lying the infant.

The child’s bed should not have sharp edges and details. Of course, parents want to have a very beautiful bed in the room with intricate carved decoration. But a perfect bed for a child is a simple and sturdy one.