Keeping Your Active Lifestyle With Your New Baby

Having a baby in your life is a fun and exciting adventure
in itself. Continuing to enjoy an active lifestyle after
baby is born, is important to many of us. There are so many
ways today to take baby along with you and to include
him/her in your activities.

There are baby travel systems, which are a car seat and a
stroller in one. Your car seat and stroller are coordinated
and the system saves you room and helps make traveling with
your baby easy and enjoyable. These systems come in a
variety of patterns and colors.

One way for you to include baby into your lifestyle if you
are a bicycle rider, is with a bicycle trailer. Your baby
or young child can enjoy the excitement and entertainment
of the passing scenery and people while in a bicycle
trailer which attaches to Mom or Dad's bicycle.

Baby carriers and backpack diaper bags work well for those
of you who enjoy hitting the trails with baby. Carriers and
backpacks can be used on any occasion, not just hiking.
Babies usually enjoy riding in the carriers, and the diaper
backpacks include holders for an array of baby needs, so
you can carry many things in a single backpack. This makes
it easier for the family to hit the trails together.

If you enjoy going out for a walk or a jog, there are
jogging strollers, some which seat more than one baby or
young child. This stroller can keep baby included in your
exercise program as well as gives you an opportunity to
burn extra calories by pushing the stroller.

Many of the items listed above are useful for campers as
well. There are an array of patterns and colors in most
items, and some come in different sizes. Almost anything
you will need to enjoy your camping trip can be found:
different styles of carriers, car seats, booster seats,
strollers, baby carriers, diapers, and bicycle trailers.
There are also an array of baby clothing, swimsuits, hats,
and other apparel that are fun to shop for.

There are a lot of day to day activities that will involve
baby. Eating, sleeping, playtime, and exercise times are
times for both you and baby. All these times are an
important part of your active lifestyle.

Sometimes it is convenient to have a bag put together ahead
of time. Keeping jars of baby food on hand helps you pack a
nutritious meal for your baby at the last minute. You can
keep a diaper bag packed with most of the necessities for
last minute trips to the store, to visit a friend, or
wherever it is you want to go. Baby is an exciting part of
the family, and there are so many items on the market that
can make enjoying your active lifestyle with your baby so
much easier.

So, it is easy to see that keeping an active lifestyle once
baby is born, and making baby an enjoyable part of that
active lifestyle, can be a fun and exciting experience for
you and your baby.

These days people are accustomed to everything happening
fast; be it food cooking in the microwave or email on your
cellular phones. One area which usually catches parents by
surprise is how quickly your child becomes mobile and needs
protection from the hidden dangers in your home. Now is the
time to childproof your home to keep your baby safe.

The moment your baby starts rolling and scooting, you are
going to realize how important childproofing your home is
going to be. If you leave even the most microscopic piece
of paper on the floor, your baby will find it. Now is the
time to childproof if you haven't already done so, because
that baby will be crawling and walking before you know it.

Get Down

Start by exploring your home on your baby's level. It is
amazing to see all the hazards in your home just by
changing your perspective. Little hands are always tempted
by a chord or anything dangling from an end table. Be sure
to look under things, like under the sofa, for temptations.
Remember, tiny baby hands can reach where grown up ones can
not. Remove anything from your baby's reach that is smaller
than a golf ball, has small parts that could break off, is
extremely heavy, or poses any other type of hazard.

Get Covered

Your electrical outlets are a huge temptation for your
baby, and this becomes even more evident as he or she
becomes a toddler. Purchase and install outlet covers now.
They are a hassle, but one toy stuck in an outlet could
cause serious injury for your baby.

You also need to cover any sharp, hard edges. Do you have
pointy corners on your end table? You can buy covers for
this purpose. Babies who are just learning to walk can be
injured by furniture with pointed corners. If you have a
fireplace, purchase a cover for the hearth, as those bricks
are very dangerous for little heads.

If you think the stove knobs are going to be a temptation
for your little one, you can purchase covers for them. If
there are doors you do not want your toddler to open, you
can cover the handles with baby-proofing covers.

Lock Up

Keep all hazardous chemicals and cleaners in one place, and
lock that closet or cupboard with a baby lock. Keep your
knives out of reach and out of sight as well. Lock up any
cupboards or drawers you want your baby to stay out of
since he will enjoy opening and closing them.

Wrap Up

Believe it or not, drapes and mini blinds are also dangers
in your home. The long chords from them are very intriguing
to a baby, yet very hazardous. Your baby could easily get
entangled in the drapery cords and could. Wrap all of these
up so that they are out of reach. If you cannot do this,
have them trimmed. The same thing goes for chords and
cables, which also pose an electrocution risk. You do not
want anything dangling down for your baby to try to grab.

Accomplish these simple steps while your baby is still an
infant so you can enjoy the scooting, rolling, and crawling
phase with the peace of mind that your home is already
child proofed!

With new parents frequently on a tight budget and food
quality concerns on the rise, many parents are opting to
make their own baby food and really enjoying the results.
Baby gets healthy foods that mom or dad make for them and
mom and dad get to save money either for college or
vacations or a new house or whatever makes sense for the
growing family.

The Supplies

The most important supply for making your own baby food is
a good blender or baby food mill. At the beginning, your
baby is going to need her food very finely pureed. You will
also need a storage option. Frequently, moms will initially
freeze the baby food in ice cube trays and then transfer
the cubes to freezer bags. Your favorite retailer will have
ice cube trays if you do not have one.

The Food

You will probably start your baby on produce, and there is
no right or wrong produce to use first. Choose produce that
is fresh and in season as very few babies have allergies to
vegetables. Keep in mind that corn is hard on a baby's
tummy and can be an allergen. Cruciferous vegetables such
as broccoli and cauliflower can be particularly gassy and
you may need to avoid them with your baby. Try to use the
fruits and vegetables you buy within two days if they are
fresh. You can use frozen varieties as well.

Watch for Nitrates

Some vegetables, such as carrots, green beans, spinach,
squash, and beets, contain nitrates, which in high levels
can be dangerous for your baby. Because you do not want to
avoid these foods, you need to make sure that you are not
increasing the nitrates that are found in them. Use only
bottled water or water that has been tested for nitrates in
your baby food preparation. Also, avoid storing these foods
for long after they have been cooked, unless you are going
to freeze them, because this can increase the number of
nitrates they contain.

Making the Food

Wash your fruits and vegetables before you begin. If there
is a skin on the food, peel it. Foods such as apples or
squash can be cooked prior to being pureed. Baking,
boiling, or steaming is the most nutritious way to do this.
You then add a little liquid to the food, which could be
breast milk or the water the food was cooked in, and grind
or puree the food until it is the desired consistency.
Avoid chunking foods if your baby is just starting on
solids. As he adjusts to this new way of eating, you can
make the food chunkier. Keep out the amount of food you
need for no more than two days, and then freeze the rest in
ice cube trays. When you are ready to introduce meats, make
sure they are cooked thoroughly, and use the same process.
Soon your baby will not need the food to be pureed, but
until that time, you can feed her food that you know is
fresh, healthy, and tasty by making it yourself.

Parents are always concerned for the safety of their
babies. One of the most important products you need to get
for your baby is a car seat. Hospitals do not let you bring
your baby home without inspecting your car seat. Keep these
basic safety tips in mind when you shop for and install
your baby's car seat.

Correct Installation Is Essential

The most important factor in using a car seat safely, other
than choosing the right car seat for your child's
developmental stage, is to install the car seat correctly.
Read the owner's guide before you attempt installation. If
your car is equipped with the LATCH tether system, use it,
as this is the safest way to install a car seat. Make sure
the car seat is at the correct angle, as dictated by the
owner's manual. Once you have a seat installed, have a car
seat technician inspect it. Your hospital or local health
department should be able to direct you to a place where
you can have this inspection done, and they are usually
free.

Watch the Weight Limits

All car seats have height and weight limits, which are on a
sticker somewhere on the seat as well as in the owner's
manual. Make sure you know what these are. Most rear-facing
infant carrier type car seats are only made to carry a
child who is less than 25 pounds. If your baby is larger
than average, a convertible car seat may be necessary to
keep your child rear facing until she is one, as she will
more than likely outgrown the carrier style seat.

Avoid Used Car Seats

Used car seats may seem like a good deal, but the truth is
that you do not know about the seat's history. A car seat
which has been in an accident may look perfectly safe even
though it has incurred damage. Car seats are not intended
to be used after a crash. Also, used seats usually do not
have instructions. They may also have parts missing that
you do not know about just by looking at the seat. If your
budget forces you to purchase a used car seat, only buy
from a trusted source and check the manufacturer' s website
to assure all parts are included.

Under 1 Year - Rear Facing Is Best

All infants who are under the age of one and weigh 20
pounds or less must be rear facing. You can put your child
in a forward facing seat once both these conditions have
been met. However, it is safest to keep the child rear
facing as long as you possibly can. This means as long as
the convertible seat is still safe for your child's age and
height. Your child's legs will be cramped, but this does
not mean he is not safe. If you feel you must turn the seat
around, make sure the child is both one year old and weighs
more than 20 pounds.

If you follow these guidelines you will be able to help
keep your baby safe while traveling in your car.

If you are a normal parent, you have heard some of the
following comments from well-meaning family members,
friends, and even complete strangers. Something that should
be so simple - feeding your baby - suddenly becomes a
confusing catalog of do's and don'ts.

"You should not give them eggs before they are one."

"Give her some cereal before bed and she will sleep through
the night."

"No wheat in her diet until she is one or she will have an
allergy."

And the best: "You're feeding her THAT!?!?"

If you are looking for guidance about feeding your baby,
talk first to your child's pediatrician. These guidelines
should help clear the baby feeding picture for you.

Starting Solids Is Not That Important

For the first year of your baby's life he needs nothing
more than breast milk or formula for complete nutrition.
Most pediatricians recommend that babies can eat solids to
help them adjust to eating, but the main source of
nutrition is the liquid.

You can start some pureed foods when your baby is between
four and six months old. When your baby starts to show a
lot of interest in the food you are eating, can sit up with
slight support, and opens her mouth when the spoon comes
her way, she is probably ready to start solids.

Many parents start with a single item, such as rice cereal.
Feed it to your baby for a week, and watch for any signs of
an allergy or reaction. If she takes to cereal well, you
can continue to introduce solids one at a time. Traditional
advice says to start with veggies, followed by fruits, and
then meats, but you can start with fruit if you prefer.
Wait to serve pureed meats until your baby is closer to
nine months to twelve months, as they are harder to digest.

Transitioning to Table Foods

As your baby gets better at eating the purees, start making
the texture chunkier so she gets practice at chewing. When
she is good at chewing soft chunks, you can gradually
transition to finely cut table foods, but make sure
everything is very soft.

You will probably worry about choking as you start feeding
your baby table foods. Babies can choke, but for most kids
the gag reflux is strong enough to prevent this if they get
a hold of something they are not ready for. Of course, do
not let your baby eat unattended, just in case. Focus on
giving baby a variety of foods to taste, but do not worry
too much about how much she eats, as she will be getting
plenty of nutrition from her milk source. Soon your baby
will be eating like a pro, so enjoy these early days of
feeding your baby, and keep your camera handy to catch the
funny faces and messy meals.