How to wean a baby from breastfeeding? The preferred (and suggested) method of choice for mothers who went through it and who are considering weaning would be gradual - a slow but sure way of making the transition from breast to bottle an easy one. Not only that. It also benefits the mother as there would less of the dreaded breast engorgement.

Now, society dictates that babies should be weaned at a certain age. Yet, this is not always the case as changes differ from baby to baby. Some may take longer, others may wean as soon as their sensory faculties start working full-time. But pressure from society confuses a mother, sometimes even clouding her better judgment if she needs to wean from breastfeeding.

Sometimes, there are reasons why mothers choose to wean from breast to bottle. Most of the time, mothers let go of breastfeeding because of medical reasons, like having breast cancer or an abscess right after giving birth. Others feel that the reason their baby is crying because he's not getting enough milk.

Give new food one solid at a time. This will not only help the child adjust to the taste and texture of new foods; this will also help you in identifying what food he likes or dislikes. Also, this will give you a chance to observe if your baby is enjoying the food normally, or if he is exhibiting any sign of allergies or problems. Avoid eggs, shellfish and cows milk if the child is below 12 months. Give him small amounts of food first, gradually increasing the quantity over the next few feedings.

Weaning a baby from breastfeeding may also mean that you need to make a list of things baby needs before eating. Also, you would need to check if your baby can sit straight with or without support, hold his head upright, the emergence of teeth, if he imitates you while you or someone else is eating, and if he is curious enough to grab your food.

Give him a snack. Instead of a nursing session, give him a snack instead. You can give him some juice. If he's already big enough to chew, you can give him baby cookies. You can also give him some cereal or some mashed fruits. Either way, let your imagination and creativity show as you think up of new ways to feed baby.

Teeth. This is one of the first signs mothers take when they wean their children into solids. The mouth, teeth and tongue develops at the same time that his digestive system is starting to develop. The appearance of more teeth automatically prompts the baby to imitate a chewing motion. Baby will also less likely drool during this phase because he is now learning to swallow efficiently, signaling that he can possibly be given solids now.

Introduce new food by using the 4-day rule. Refrain from introducing new food once you've started on a new one. Wait for 4 days. This is to check if your baby will develop any allergies or rashes from a particular food. If that happens, discontinue the food immediately. It is recommended to go back to cereal for a day or 2 before introducing new food again.

Read about Baby Care and also read about Baby Feeding Bottles and Night Weaning

When you have a new baby, you soon discover that to get your baby sleep through the night can be an overwhelming task. As it always happens when overwhelming tasks are involved, the solution is based upon simple actions that will make a slight difference until you have a marked change in what is happening: these are known as baby sleep patterns.

This sleep pattern lessens as the baby grows so by the time he is 3 months old, he is only sleeping twelve to fifteen hours every day. Your child at this age has also dropped most of his night feedings. This may be the time to try to start to establish regular sleep patterns. You should begin by starting a nightly routine, such as giving your baby a warm bath, reading him a story, and then putting him to bed.

Sleep patterns differ. This is a great challenge already to every parent since baby sleep patterns requires a lot of tiring and a very irregular routine especially during night time. Newborns sleep a lot. Of course, a baby's sleep cycles are far shorter than the adults. Being able to respond to the newborn's cues or signals can really become the most demanding part of parenting.

Many experts seem to think that babies are able to soothe themselves to sleep. While this may be true to some extent, it is very unhealthy for the child. It teaches them that their parents cannot be trusted to solve their problems and could cause self-esteem issues later in life if they being to feel abandoned.

One of the most helpful things you can do right from the outset is to set a routine early. How we sleep, largely depends on habits and signals that our bodies interpret as signs that it is time for sleep. For example, always putting your baby in the crib at sleep time will help the infant realize that this is the time and place for slumber. Remember, however, that it could take some time for your baby to pick up on the differences between night and day.

Baby Sleep Routine
The key to baby sleeping patterns lies in preparing your newborn with a routine. This is much like watching a film you've seen many times before - you've seen the sequence of events so often that your mind will automatically expect what's coming next. Similarly, if anything different were to happen, you'd feel slightly disorientated.

Sleeping can be difficult for children just as it is for adults. If it?s too hot in your room, sometimes you can?t sleep. This is a problem for babies too. Make sure the temperature in the baby?s room is good. If it?s cool, make sure they have enough blankets. If the room gets too dry, keep a humidifier in the room for added comfort.

You will notice that sleep turns into one solid period of time by the age of three months, because the neurological system is maturing and the cycles are combining. Unfortunately, this cycle does not always coincide with night time. The pattern of more activity during the day and more sleep at night does not fall into place until the baby is closer to four months of age.

Read about Baby Care and also read about Baby Sleeping and Baby Sleep Training

Being healthy during pregnancy is a must. This is for the fact that the mother and the baby's well being are highly critical. Because it is of top priority to keep healthy and fit throughout the course of pregnancy, most mothers indulge in safe exercises during pregnancy.

Swimming, walking, and yoga are two very popular exercise activities that are suitable for pregnant women. There are other forms of exercise such as weight lifting that are acceptable as long as it isn't too strenuous. Most specialists recommend exercise during pregnancy at 3 - 4 times a week, unless you have a medical condition that prevents it. If you are ever in doubt, you should consult a physician first.

Your and your baby's wellbeing is very crucial to depend on conjecture. It is imperative to comprehend and be up to following the exercise rules during pregnancy, which will truly assist you and your little one to keep in the best of health all through pregnancy, smooth the progress of labor and the delivery, and maintain excellent postnatal health.

Extensive studies have shown the safety of walking, swimming, cycling and aerobic exercises during pregnancy. Running, racket sports and strength training should be done in moderation. You should stay away from sports like snow skiing, scuba diving and contact sports, for example ice hockey, soccer and basketball etc.

If you were very physically active before your pregnancy, you can continue your exercise program, with some modifications, during your pregnancy. If you were not physically active before, but want to exercise during your pregnancy, start slow and don't try to accomplish too much in too short a time.

Avoid extreme tiredness by not exercising to the point of exhaustion. Limit stretching and bending exercises from the 26th week of pregnancy until delivery.

Take extra care when exercising in hot weather as when doing strenuous exercises your core body temperature can rise. Excessive heat is unhealthy for you and the baby.

A few guidelines exist for exercising when pregnant. It is important to exercise at a comfortable intensity and not to undertaken anaerobic exercise. Try to avoid overheating, particularly in the first trimester when your baby is more sensitive to high temperatures. Exercise wearing light, comfortable clothing and drink plenty of water.

Provided there are no medical reasons non exercisers may begin our program during pregnancy. The majority of women who exercise in pregnancy are doing so for the first time because they make the decision to begin a healthier life habit now that they are pregnant.

Exercise during pregnancy can be very beneficial. You will feel much better. The common pregnancy symptoms like morning sickness and the feeling of nausea will not disturb you much. Exercise keeps you fit and a fit body will make things very easy for you at the time of the labor. For an unfit body, labor can be a physically very intense experience. Weight gain during pregnancy is one of the things that most women are concerned about after birth.

Read about Week By Week Pregnancy and also read about Pregnancy Week 6 and Pregnancy Week 7

If there is one time in the life of a woman when it is absolutely essential to take the utmost care of overall health, it is during pregnancy. This is because it is not only the pregnant woman's health in question but also the health and development of the fetus, or the unborn baby in the womb. With all the hormonal changes going on in a woman's body during the time of pregnancy, it is absolutely important to take care, especially in case of diet and nutrition, weight gain, development and management of health conditions if any, and so on. Here are some of the aspects of pregnancy care one must not overlook.

Pregnancy and delivery of a child changes a woman’s hormones, which can trigger headaches and make stress on the body worse than was before the pregnancy. Pregnancy does affect the whole body’s functions. Chiropractors’ feels if the nervous system is functioning better, the body functions better, and also gives your baby a better chance of developing normally.

In order to breastfeed the baby successfully, a pregnant woman should be prepared for it mentally as well as physically. It is also useful to seek the guidance of a person who has successfully breastfed her baby. Such person can give good practical advice. It is also advised that a woman should share her thoughts on this topic with her husband, or with any other women close to her.

The specialist may prescribe either, Retin-A or Accutane or other antibiotics like tetracycline, during pregnancy time. Retin-A is a lotion that may be applied directly over the effected region, while Accutane or Isotretinoin is a pill that treats zits at the time of pregnancy. Antibiotics-Tetracycline is used for treating respiratory infections and acne in pregnant women.

Some additional benefits realized by chiropractic care are controlling symptoms of morning sickness, reducing labor and delivery time, avoiding a potential caesarean section, relieving back, neck and joint pain, and bringing about a healthier pregnancy in general. Additionally, if a baby is in the breech position, the Webster Technique can be used to establish balance in the pelvis and make it possible for the baby to turn to the correct position.

Kegel Exercises

Pregnant women who perform Kegel exercises often find they have an easier birth. The best thing about Kegel exercises is that they can be done anywhere, and no one knows you are doing them. Just squeeze the muscles that you use to stop urinating for a few seconds and do this 10 times per day.

Women who complain of having dry skin may have to face more problems during their pregnancy. Dry skin gets aggravated during pregnancy because your body fluids and water present in your blood are in high demand. Your growing child needs them for nourishment. Your only weapon is water. Therefore drink ample of water. You can use moisturizers and sun block creams to revitalize your skin.

Also, try to maintain a regular exercising routine. It not only prevents excessive weight gain during pregnancy but it also helps reduce other pregnancy related problems like back pain, swelling and constipation.

Read about Week By Week Pregnancy and also read about Pregnancy Week 8 and Pregnancy Week 9