Good baby sleep habits are very important to get in place early on in baby's life. It sounds strange to say something like that about a tiny baby, but remember they are tiny humans - and like yourself they are creatures of habit. Breaks in those habits once set, can make them feel very insecure, and a result of that is that you will feel very tired.

That babies could be born with the sleep through the night gene that magically kicks in as soon as they are out of the womb. Unfortunately we know that just isn't the case. We do need to intervene and it is a skill a baby must learn. Ever heard of sleep like a baby? Well I don't know about you but from what I've seen not many children sleep like a baby as soon as they are born. Oh sure, they sleep during the day and for intervals during the night but most of the time they are sleeping when we could best handle them being awake and awake when we could best handle them being asleep.

Routine, routine, routine . Nighttime routine and daytime routines are SOOOO important to every child, from infancy on. Having a daytime routine for meals and nap times is critical for all babies. Even if all you do is breastfeed, there should be a routine of eat, play and sleep. So for many parents out there, having a fairly stable routine is not too hard... but for others like me whom are always on the go and or have a terrible time at maintaining a daily routine.... well it really depends on your baby.

After they are born, babies need to sleep often. However, they do not slumber for long stretches at a time. Parents have to respond as quickly as possible to their baby's sleep and eating needs because very young infants need to eat and sleep on demand. You will find it easier to achieve this by keeping the baby near you. An infant usually follows a pattern similar to eat, poop, sleep, quiet alert time, and repeat. It is important that you observe your baby when he or she is at one of these stages.

You're at your wits end, pulling out your hair, yawning all the time, and your eye lids feel the weight of the world. Instead of consistent sleep you are getting a couple of hours here and there because your baby cries for you throughout the night.

Going to sleep is a habit. And a consistent bedtime routine helps your child develop this habit.

Typically, a good Pre-Toddler's Sleep Routine will go something like this: Take a bath, have a bottle or breastfeed, burp and cuddle a bit until tired, lay in bed while still awake... and sleep.

If your child is a newborn, washing his or her face and hands may replace a full bath.

For a toddler, the routine may be a little different. The need for a pre-bedtime feeding is gone. Toddlers also need more mental stimulation, so stories or lullabies are often a good bet.

Read about babycare and also read about bottle weaning and baby sleep schedule

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. We are going to focus in a special kind of these actions that can help your baby to find some comfort in her sleeping environment. Of course this will help your own sleep too.

The sleeping habit of a baby is one of the foremost things to consider if you are a parent. Since sleep is a normal behavioral part of any individual's life, it should be understood cautiously in order to give babies a quality sleeping time. Sleeping is a dynamic process and it keeps the child full of life, active, lively and energetic. It is actually an activity which is exceptionally essential for the survival of a newborn child. The length of sleep also has an effect to their everyday behavior in life. Sleep habits and sleep patterns greatly affect baby's growth performances. The very important idea to consider is if your little one gets the amount of sleep he/she needs in order to grow.

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. You should do this routine at the same time every night to accustom your baby to sleeping at night. You should also establish a regular time for his naps also. Within a short period of time, your baby should sleep for a six hour stretch during the night.

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.

Your child must learn that you will respond to their needs quickly and efficiently. If you think that your child is just being fussy, try to evaluate the situation and make your response quick and to the point. You should always respond to their needs, however.

A newborn can often sleep for up to sixteen hours a day...sometimes more. They will often do this in stretches of three to four hours at a time. Like adults, babies have different phases of sleep. They experience drowsiness, rapid eye movement (also known as REM sleep), light sleep, and deep sleep. As infants grow older, their periods of wakefulness will increase.

Read about babycare and also read about breast pumping tips and breastfed baby

Hepatitis b is a liver disease caused by a virus with the same name. The infection may be acute or chronic and symptoms can include fever, malaise, fatigue, jaundice, abdominal tenderness, and elevated liver enzymes. While a person can be quite ill with this infection, the treatment is supportive and aimed at providing comfort. The vast majority of patients recover within eight weeks of an acute episode of the infection without any long term complications.

How is hepatitis B spread or how does a person get it? Hepatitis B is spread through contact with bodily fluids and the blood of an infected individual. You can hepatitis B through sexual contact and sharing needles when a person injects themselves with illegal drugs. If you work in the medical field, you can get hepatitis B if you are accidentally stuck with a needle on the job. Pregnant mothers can also pass the virus to their unborn child while in the womb.What are the long term affects of hepatitis B? Hepatitis B can cause chronic illnesses that usually turn into liver damage or cirrhosis of the liver, liver cancer and/or death.

The first vaccination that your new baby should receive is labeled HepB. This abbreviation stands for Hepatitis B, a serious virus that attacks the liver. This disease can result in lifelong liver infections, cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver failure, and death. The virus is passed when the blood of an infected person enters the blood of a person who is not infected. The disease can be transmitted from an infected mother to her infant during childbirth. It is also commonly found in the infants of immigrants who came from areas that have high rates of Hepatitis B.

Hepatitis C virus can be acquired by exposure to infected blood and other bodily secretion like saliva and pneumonococal secretions. The most common portal of entry of the infection is by the use of needles that has been initially used to inject an infected person. This often happens during illegal drug us wherein co- dependents use a single needle to share the substance they are abusing. A caregiver may also be of great danger since they are commonly exposed to blood and other secretions especially if proper aseptique technique and disposal is not observed.

The signs of Distemper are not always noticeable. For this reason, treatment may be delayed or neglected. Frequently it may look like a severe cold with fever, congestion, nasal and eye discharge or discharge from other body openings, weight loss, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, sudden viciousness or lethargy, abnormal lumps, limping, difficulty getting up or lying down, excessive head shaking, scratching, licking any part of the body, difficult, abnormal or uncontrolled waste elimination, dandruff and loss of hair, open sores, ragged or dull coat, foul breath or excessive tartar deposits on teeth.

This disease is transmitted when an individual ingests food or drink that is contaminated with microscopic amounts of infected feces. Physicians and scientists use the term fecal-oral transmission to describe this pathway. For example, travelers in a restaurant can become infected if a cook or a waiter did not practice adequate hygiene after using the rest room. Diners can also become infected if the food was contaminated prior to delivery to the restaurant.

Read about babycare and also read about polio vaccine and pumping breast milk

Child immunization is an exceptionally effective way to prevent the spread of disease. Nevertheless, it is crucial to remember that immunizations do not guarantee that your child will not become infected with the virus. There are many types of virus mutations that are incessantly changing which makes it impossible to immunize against every type of mutation. The following is information on some of the immunizations available. Hepatitis A- This vaccine protects against the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Hepatitis A is a severe liver disease.

However, before we make that judgment, we have to study the whole picture. The most prominent story that grabs the headlines and our present attention is 9-year-old Atlanta resident, Hannah Poling. Her parents alleged that she contracted Autism after receiving five simultaneous childhood vaccinations at the age of 18 months. They won a settlement but the fact that the government sets funding aside for compensation to people injured by vaccines tends to raise a few eyebrows. It is an indirect admission that vaccines can harm. Therefore, the question remains, should we or should we not vaccinate our children?

Indeed, branding, well, this is tricky business to attempt such a claim. Although it is true that with diet you can boost the human immune system, which no one doubts, at the same time the CDC is putting forth articles and PR trying to educate consumers about bogus claims. Kellogg better hope that it does not end up in a cross-marketing effort and catch the ire of the FTC, CDC of Department of Health.

How Vaccines Work
Vaccines work by helping a child's body become immune to a certain illness. Each vaccination contains a dead or weakened germ that can cause a specific disease. The child's body then practices in fighting this illness by creating antibodies that will combat the germ. This way, if ever in the future, the child becomes exposed to the actual germ that would cause that disease, the child already has the specific antibodies that would fight that germ and protect him/her from that illness. This is why the process is called immunization.

Many schools are also considering making Swine Flu immunization a requirement for continued attendance. As many as one-third of parents do not agree with the idea of having their child immunized. There is some reason for concern. In 1918 when the last Swine Flu epidemic raced through the world, the Swine Flu immunization that was given had an unexpected side effect of exacerbating a certain type of paralysis. While it was an extremely small number of people who were impacted, to this day the U.S. government does not know what caused the problem.

Not only do the vaccines protect those who have been administered the dose, but also the un-vaccinated part of the population. Children who are vaccinated as per the immunization program have a heightened resistance towards potentially life threatening diseases.

The importance of immunization stays put even if your child has been consistently breast fed. Though the immunity boosting anti bodies provided your milk are very essential, they do not last longer than a year after his birth.

Read about babycare and also read about breast cancer facts and hiv breastfeeding

Breast milk is beneficial to the baby and her mother in many ways. Basically, it provides the optimum amount and type of nutrition to the baby for its healthy growth. Breast milk contains lactoferrin, an essential element that has many functions. It helps in iron absorption and fights the bacteria that can harm the gut.

Breastfeeding also provides lipases that help in the metabolism of fats and gives other useful hormones that help in the development and growth of the baby.Breast milk is beneficial to the baby and her mother in many ways. Basically, it provides the optimum amount and type of nutrition to the baby for its healthy growth.

Breast milk contains lactoferrin, an essential element that has many functions. It helps in iron absorption and fights the bacteria that can harm the gut. Breastfeeding also provides lipases that help in the metabolism of fats and gives other useful hormones that help in the development and growth of the baby.

Breast milk is more than just a form of food. It is actually made of living cells that can have huge benefits for your child's health. One of the most crucial components of breast milk is colostrum. This substance is produced early in your baby's life and is full of antibodies that help your baby's immune system to develop in the first days of his life. By breastfeeding your baby, you provide this protection that can't be matched by a commercial formula.

On top of the immune boost that breastfeeding provides, breast milk is also easier for your baby's developing digestive system to process. Your baby will have fewer problems with constipation, diarrhea, and even have fewer food allergies.

1 As your baby grows, your breast milk changes too so that your baby gets exactly what they need at every feed.
2 The antibodies that your body makes to fight any illness you contract get passed onto your baby through your breast milk. Amazing hey!
3 Your breast milk contains all the protein, fats, nutrients, salts and sugars, antibodies and antibacterial agents that your baby needs for the first 6 months of life. It's actually recommended by the World Health Organisation that breastfeeding continues to at least 2 years of age.
4 Your breast milk will protect your baby from bowel and lung illnesses, infection and gastroenteritis.
5 Breastfed babies are less likely to have middle ear infections and eczema.

There are many benefits to breastfeeding your baby. A mother can naturally provide her newborn baby with everything that he or she needs for a healthy start to life through breastfeeding. Studies have shown that babies who are breastfed have a healthier body weight and are less susceptible to illness than those that are bottle fed.

Breast milk features all of the vitamins and nutrients a child needs to grow like they should. It has four main components - water, fat, protein, and sugar. There has been plenty of research that indicates children that are breastfed are less likely to have health problems in their life due to their weight. This is due to the breast milk helping their metabolism to be in balance from the very start.

Read about babycare and also read about baby formula feeding and bornfree bottles

There was a time not so long ago when breastfeeding was considered very unfashionable, and mothers to be, simply refused to contemplate it. I respectfully suggest that it is much much more important than simply to be treated as a fashion statement. In recent years however, I am glad to say that attitudes towards breastfeeding have changed quite dramatically. it is now regarded as much more acceptable, and in fact is now considered as the norm for expecting mothers. I would strongly recommend to all mothers to be, that if they can breastfeed their new baby, then thy most certainly should. In a number of instances it will be physically impossible for some women to breastfeed their babies, and in such cases there are many excellent brands of formula milk available.

The nutritional needs of a nursing mother are very high when she starts feeding her baby as apart from the amount of breast milk required by the baby, the mother's own needs too need to be taken care of. If the mother does not take sufficient nutrition during this period, the body will strive to keep up the milk production but at the cost of the health of the mother. The breastfeeding diet must, therefore, necessarily incorporate sufficient amounts of balanced food.

Minerals are also important during the breastfeeding days. It is important for the mother to get her RDA of minerals such as Selenium, Zinc and Calcium.

Drink enough water and fluids daily, the recommended amount being 3 quarts. Drinking too much, however, may lead to less milk being produced.

The recommended daily caloric intake for a breastfeeding mother is 2,500 calories per day. If the mother plans to breastfeed for more than three months, then the intake can be increased to 2,800 calories - an addition of 300 calories.

Instead of three large meals, a breastfeeding mother should schedule 5 smaller, but more frequent meals at regular intervals. Make sure to include water, a low fat dairy product, and fruit in each meal.

1. Increase you water consumption to up to one quart more daily. Nursing mothers tend to get very thirsty because much of their water goes to milk production.
2. Eat one gram of protein daily per pound of body weight. Avoid sweets and junk food.
3. Eat equal amounts five times a day, breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner and midnight snack. This will make sure that the nutrients in your milk always appear in more or less the same levels.
4. Your breastfeeding diet contraindicates nicotine If you must smoke leave a time span of one hour between your puffing in smoke and your eating so that the nicotine is not absorbed into the food.
5. Again, if you must drink alcohol or beer while on a breastfeeding diet should be done after feeding your baby. Alcohol slows down the baby's development.
6. Seek the advice of your doctor before taking any medication. Chemicals with iodine, many antibiotics, laxatives, are among the drugs that are dangerous to the baby. Protracted use of any drug is also contraindicated while breast feeding.

Read about babycare and also read about baby feeding bottles and how much to feed baby

Have you been heard about baby massage? Infant massage, also referred to as baby massage, has been practiced for centuries in other parts of world but has now gained popularity in the West.Baby massage is the process of rubbing and stroking baby's muscles and extremities in a way specifically designed for them. Baby massage is now available in most hospitals and clinics in the UK but the obvious choice to massage the baby is the mother, father, grandparent, or guardian. Although medical care specialists like nurses can also perform baby massage if they are confined in the hospital.

Having a new baby opens you up to a world of new experiences. As much as you prepare for their arrival there are always elements that are going to take you by surprise. However, one thing that many parents do not give much thought to is baby massage. Baby massage can be a powerful technique to increase the bond between parents and their baby.The art of baby or infant massage can bring about tremendous benefits like improved sleeping habits, better digestion and even improved growth. For example, studies have indicated that by carrying out massage for about three times a day over 10 days then babies had greater weight gain. In addition they were observed as being more active and alert. With all of the benefits you may sincerely be wondering about what is involved in the art of baby massage.

Baby massage is great for providing comfort and relief to your baby as well as acting as an important bonding exercise for the both of you.However before you begin baby massage you need to be sure the location you are using for the massage is prepared and ready for your baby, to ensure they get the most benefit from the baby massage session.Below you will find the steps to check for when preparing a room or environment where you will perform the baby massage.

Massage has been practiced for centuries in many cultures, and nowadays in parts of India, Pakistan, some African countries and the West Indies, massage is part of a baby's daily life. Babies are massaged almost as soon as they are born, often initially by their grandmothers. The mother takes over the daily ritual when she feels fit. The practice of massage continues throughout life, and children and adults are frequently massaged. Massage creates a strong and loving link between mother, father and baby. The London obstetrician Yehudi Gordon states that 'massage helps parents communicate with their baby, thereby strengthening the bonding process'.

The wonderful art of Baby Massage, also known as Infant massage has been practiced in Africa, South America and in the Far East for hundreds of years.Relatively new in the West, therapeutic baby massage is becoming increasingly popular and is taught to parent and baby groups via a worldwide network of baby massage instructors.Baby massage courses consist of a series of weekly group classes. Parents/carers are taught specific massaging routines in small groups of six or seven parents and their babies. This is followed by a general discussion.

Read about babycare and also read about Baby Formula Feed and Breastfeeding Tips

Safety rules are pretty strict concerning children play in pools,
lakes, and oceans. Many parents are wise enough to keep a close watch
over their precious offspring when they are in outside water areas.
However, the number one reason for deaths in children between the ages
of one and four is drowning. Not only in outside pools but in bathtubs
as well. Following baby bath safety rules will keep bath time fun and
effective.

When you think of childproofing your home, baby bath safety is not
the first thing that comes to mind. Most parents do not consider baby
bath safety because usually when a child is taking a bath, they are
under the direct supervision of an adult. However, supervision does not
always prevent accidents from happening.Anyone who has children knows
and can tell you that children are totally unpredictable and prone to
accidents with or without supervision. This is why there are certain
precautions that should be taken for bathtime safety.

It doesn't take a lot of water to harm a baby. They don't understand
that water can drown them and don't know to hold their breath if they
fall underwater. For this reason, you need to make sure that you have
everything needed for bath time with in arm's reach, including baby.A
great tool is a tub that is shaped like a bucket. It was made to
imitate the womb experience for the baby. It give the baby a snug fit
on the sides and they sit in the fetal position. This helps the baby
feel like they are in their natural environment, which make them feel
safe.

Tip 1 - If you are intending to use your own bath for washing your
baby in then it is a good idea to put a slip proof mat or even some
towels into the bath on which your baby can be placed. But if you can
afford to there are baby bath chairs that can be purchased which allow
the baby to sit comfortably in the bath whilst being washed.

Tip 2 - To ensure that the temperature of the water is right for
your baby not too hot or too cold there are several things as new
parents that you can do. You can either test the temperature of the
water using the traditional method of dipping your elbow or wrist into
the water as your mother would have done. The other way is to purchase
a special thermometer which changes colour when the water temperature
is correct.

Tests done by a leading group in safe cosmetics state that in over
60 percent of bath products for kids have a couple of hazardous
chemicals that are linked to serious health conditions. There aren't
any strict regulations for the amount of use in these products. Even
though they are identified as potential cancer causing agents. At the
very least, they can cause serious skin allergies. The labels may state
that they are gentle and safe, but they aren't, more toxins can be
absorbed through the skin than ingesting tainted food and water.

Read about babycare and also read about Bathing Newborn and baby feeding bottles

Safety rules are pretty strict concerning children play in pools, lakes, and oceans. Many parents are wise enough to keep a close watch over their precious offspring when they are in outside water areas. However, the number one reason for deaths in children between the ages of one and four is drowning. Not only in outside pools but in bathtubs as well. Following baby bath safety rules will keep bath time fun and effective.

When you think of childproofing your home, baby bath safety is not the first thing that comes to mind. Most parents do not consider baby bath safety because usually when a child is taking a bath, they are under the direct supervision of an adult. However, supervision does not always prevent accidents from happening.Anyone who has children knows and can tell you that children are totally unpredictable and prone to accidents with or without supervision. This is why there are certain precautions that should be taken for bathtime safety.

It doesn't take a lot of water to harm a baby. They don't understand that water can drown them and don't know to hold their breath if they fall underwater. For this reason, you need to make sure that you have everything needed for bath time with in arm's reach, including baby.A great tool is a tub that is shaped like a bucket. It was made to imitate the womb experience for the baby. It give the baby a snug fit on the sides and they sit in the fetal position. This helps the baby feel like they are in their natural environment, which make them feel safe.

Tip 1 - If you are intending to use your own bath for washing your baby in then it is a good idea to put a slip proof mat or even some towels into the bath on which your baby can be placed. But if you can afford to there are baby bath chairs that can be purchased which allow the baby to sit comfortably in the bath whilst being washed.

Tip 2 - To ensure that the temperature of the water is right for your baby not too hot or too cold there are several things as new parents that you can do. You can either test the temperature of the water using the traditional method of dipping your elbow or wrist into the water as your mother would have done. The other way is to purchase a special thermometer which changes colour when the water temperature is correct.

Tests done by a leading group in safe cosmetics state that in over 60 percent of bath products for kids have a couple of hazardous chemicals that are linked to serious health conditions. There aren't any strict regulations for the amount of use in these products. Even though they are identified as potential cancer causing agents. At the very least, they can cause serious skin allergies. The labels may state that they are gentle and safe, but they aren't, more toxins can be absorbed through the skin than ingesting tainted food and water.

Read about babycare and also read about Bathing Newborn and baby feeding bottles

If you follow some simple rules, getting baby to sleep through the night can be achieved painlessly and quicker than if you just put her to bed and hope for the best. New born babies sleep a lot and feed a lot! Any mother can tell you that! If you have a new born baby he or she will sleep, eat, have a quiet period while awake, occasionally cry and frequently poop.

First of all, let's assume you have a daughter or a son. I getting fed up with writing 'he or she' and in any case, most babies are daughters or sons. There should be a word to apply to either sex - 'it' sounds too inhuman so sometimes I will refer to 'she' and at others to 'he'. OK?

During the first six weeks, getting baby to sleep is usually not the big problem it can become in later weeks. Babies and mothers both need to establish a firm bond and this often is best established through constant contact.

When my elder children were born, the babies were usually cared for in the hospital nursery, away from the mother and tucked firmly into cribs.

It was the task of the nursing staff to care for the babies who were brought to the mother's bedside only at feeding times. These separations were often painful experiences for new mothers and not good learning times for either mothers or babies.

The main baby sleep problems are:

* Baby sleeps all day and stays awake all night
* Baby goes to sleep but won't stay asleep
* Baby becomes very distraught when put to bed at night and screams loudly

And if you're one of these parents then this was written especially for you, so don't despair, because there is a way out of the sleeping pill trap and it probably isn't as traumatic as you think.

Swaddling is a great way to lengthen your baby's sleep. It simulates the womb by providing a warm, secure and snug environment. This age-old practice of wrapping your baby in cloth, is almost sure to help get your baby to sleep faster, and for a longer period of time. In addition to making your baby feel warm and secure, swaddling your baby is beneficial in keeping your baby from startling herself with flailing limbs and preventing scratches to your baby's face. Swaddling also helps to restrain the Moro Reflex, which is an involuntary spasm in response to a perceived loss of balance.

Walking with the baby, or gently swaying the baby while walking can often lull a baby to sleep. Rocking the baby in a rocking chair or a glider and softly patting the baby's back is another proven way to help the baby go to sleep. Talking, reading, or even singing to a baby is an excellent way to get them down, just remember to keep your voice low and in a monotone range so as not to stir the baby. As a last resort, a parent can offer the baby a pacifier.

Read about newborn baby care and also read about immunizations baby and share sleep