Gender boundaries and babies – the full discussion

We’ve broken down many, many gender stereotypes since that time many decades ago when it was decided that blue should be for boys and pink should be the colour for girls. Women now vote and wear pants, boys now dance ballet, express their feelings and buy just as much hair gel as the chicks. So, if you’re looking to stock up your own baby clothes wardrobe or buy a gift for a friend, should you buy pink baby clothes for girls and blue for boys? Today we look at several things you should consider.

The ‘Explanatory Factor’

When you buy a pink item of clothing, passers by will immediately assume that the baby wearing it is a girl, just as they’ll assume that babies wearing blue clothes are boys. If you choose to buy an ‘opposite’ clothing colour, you’re setting yourself or your baby clothes recipient up for many wrong assumptions and explanations. If you buy a neutral colour, people will at least ask if it’s a girl or buy!

Can a ‘pink obsession’ stunt girl’s personalities?

A recent BBC news article featured a parenting author questioning whether a ‘total obsession’ with the colour pink actually stunts girls personalities. Of course, there are plenty of individual factors that go into determining whether a girl will be ‘obsessed’ with pink when she grows up. The colour of baby clothes she wears is probably the least of these …

Parents have to look at the clothes too!

When you’re buying baby clothes, it is often more about what the baby thinks is comfortable, and the parents think looks good! If you’re buying for an ultra-feminine, pink-loving Mum, choose pink baby clothes. If you’re buying for a Mum that can’t stand the sight of pink, don’t make her stare at it on her baby!

Girls may be hardwired to like pink

There may be evolutionary and biological reasons that girls like pink. Generally speaking, females have more red-pigment cone cells in their eyes, allowing them to see colours at the red end of the spectrum more easily. In the evolutionary female ‘gatherer’ role, red colours would indicate ripe berries … and full bellies.

Colours and psychological development

Researchers at Princeton University refer to the stage where girls typically become obsessed with pink things as the PFD stage – the Pink Frilly Dress stage. The theory is that by around age 2 or 3, girls are starting to become more aware of gender divides and the symbols and accessories of each gender. Feeling a sense of belonging within your gender may be an important part of psychological development, and girls that don’t dress in pink may be excluded from groups.

There are plenty of arguments on either for why girls should and shouldn’t be dressed in pink baby clothes … in the end, though it comes down to two things. The colours that the parents prefer, when their child is still in baby clothes, and the colour that the child prefers once they grow up a little!

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About the Author:
Babybuds specialise in offering a broad range of high quality, cute and affordable baby clothes for all babies. For practical and adorable baby clothes, visit babybuds online store.
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Imagine what a shock the world must be to a newborn baby accustomed to the warmth and comfort of the womb. They need time to adjust to the sudden noise and brightness of alien surroundings.

 Many parents decide to replicate womb conditions by wrapping their baby in a swaddling blanket.

Swaddling clothes have been used throughout the world for thousands of years. In less developed countries this may just be a piece of cloth wrapped tightly around the baby, while in first world countries specially designed blankets can be bought.

 There are a number of benefits gained from using a swaddling blanket.

.Most newborn babies exhibit a moro reflex, or startle reflex as it is commonly called. This can happen when the baby is startled by a loud noise or when its head falls backwards. The baby reacts by throwing his legs and arms out wide before closing them again with fingers curved as though clutching. Wrapping a baby securely in a swaddling blanket will help prevent the feeling of insecurity that may trigger a startle reflex.

 Confining the arms and legs but still allowing them to stretch reproduces the conditions of the womb. Some parents like to leave the arms free to allow finger or thumb sucking as would occur in the womb and at a later stage introduce a pacifier. Others prefer to confine the arms as it helps prevent face scratching.

 Wrapping a baby in a swaddling blanket means that he can be laid on his back to sleep. Research has shown that this position helps prevent the risk of Sudden Infant Death. In countries where most babies are wrapped in swaddling clothes, the incidence of SID is much lower than in countries where the blankets are used less frequently. However some research indicates that starting to swaddle later than at birth may pose a risk and you should always seek medical advice before using a wrap at any age because of the uncertainties regarding the causes of SID.

 Some Moms with babies suffering from baby colic find that wrapping in a swaddling blanket helps to soothe and encourages sleep.

 If you are considering using a swaddling blanket, try to buy one that is made of a natural, breathable material such as cotton. Although you want to ensure that the baby is warm, he should not be allowed to overheat. Wrap him snugly, but not so tight that his breathing is restricted. The blanket should fit snugly, not tightly. Some maternity hospitals will show you how to wrap a baby and a some brands of blanket also give instructions. If you are considering using a blanket you should consult your doctor or nurse for advice and ask how to wrap if you are unsure. You should also take advice on the length of time you should use the blanket.

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About the Author:
 Margaret Tye runs parenting websites and more information can be found at Colic Baby and From Tots 2 Teens
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Some things that can affect your milk supply are:  
> What mom eats
> How much mom rests and sleeps
> Her state of mind
> The age of the mom
> How many children you have
> Your desire to breastfeed
> Your nursing capabilities
> Your nursing techniques
> Baby’s latch on abilities

If you choose to breastfeed, it is very important that you take your baby for their check-ups as needed.  If you don’t, how will you know if he is getting enough milk and growing at the correct rate?  There is no way for you to tell that your child is getting enough nutrition for sure without your child being weighed.  

During the first week of your baby’s life, your breasts will produce colostrum for them to drink.  Colostrum is rich in antibodies and aids the baby’s immune system.  It also helps him pass his first bowel movement, which is called meconium.  Meconium is black and tarry looking and is in the first few diapers after birth.  Then he begins to transition to a brown substance and after your milk comes in, it becomes a yellow, mustardy stool that is loose and watery.  Bottle-fed baby’s pass firmer, tannish stools than breastfed baby’s.  

After 24-48 hours after birth, your baby will start having wet diapers that will increase to two or three a day.  

While your baby drinks colostrum and then milk, you should listen for a pattern of “suck, suck, suck, swallow.”  This pattern will be rhythmic and there should be no “clicking” noises.  The “clicking” sound can indicate that your baby is not properly latched on and may not be getting enough milk from you.  If you start to hear this, you need to unlatch him and then reattach him.  If you continue to hear this sound after reattaching him several times, then you may want to consult a lactation consultant or your pediatrician.  

After the first week of life, you should see 6-8 wet diapers each day and at least 3 bowel movements a day.  His urine should be clear and he should become more alert with each passing day.  Your baby should also be gaining weight and growing, as this is the surest way to tell that they are getting enough nutrition.  If you have two days in a row that deviates from the above indicators, then you should call your pediatrician immediately.  

http://youvixx.com/

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When shopping for toys for a preschooler, there are three main things to keep in mind. Obviously once you have established your budget and interests of the child, you should then have these three points in mind when you go shopping or research online.

Safety

Everything else falls into a distant second position next to safety. Preschoolers are notoriously curious and are still putting things in their mouth, biting and experimenting, often destructively, with their toys.

If you are keen on wooden toys, and these are always popular with kids of all ages, then make sure the wood used is non-splintering and painted with non-toxic paint. This level of safety and quality will be guaranteed in well known, familiar brands that you can find in many toy stores. Steer clear of wooden toys from cheap shops or from unknown origin.

Make sure the toys are easy to clean, because preschoolers like dribble, bite and chew on toys and they like to take them into the bath, outside and sometimes at the dinner table, so they need to be washable.

Don’t buy toys with small parts for preschoolers, because while not all little ones are the same, many like to pull things apart and put them in their mouth. So stick to reputable, durable toys.

Educational

We all know that when children play, they learn. Depending on the toy they are playing with or the game, they are learning about their world and developing useful skills. Preschoolers love toys that allow them to use their imagination such as dress ups and play sets, they also like to copy mum and dad by perhaps driving cars or pushing prams. They like to solve problems by playing with puzzles and games and they love making craft and drawing pictures. Toys like Lego, Playdough, Crayola will help them develop their creativity and use their imagination along with develop fine motor skills. Toys like balls and outdoor equipment teach kids gross motor skills and usually encourage social skills such as sharing and negotiation.

Age Appropriate

Things like safety come into play when choosing an age appropriate toy, but mainly age appropriate means that the toy is not beyond or below their capabilities. If a child has a toy that is below their skills set, then they will likely not want to play with it, and if they have a toy that is beyond them, they will not understand it and perhaps become frustrated with it. So have a look at what level your child is at and pick a toy that they can use and enjoy but also one that will take them time to master or have plenty of room for exploration and change. Often the simplest toys are the best. Toys that allow children to use their imagination while learning about things like colours, shapes, numbers, groups and sound.

If you keep in mind these three rules and try to stick to well known brands like Fisher Price, Plan Toys, Lego and the like, you will not only be sure to pick something safe, but also something durable, educational and age appropriate

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About the Author:
Yogee.com.au is a leading Australian online toy store. Visit yogee.com.au for a wide selection of Kids Toys at discounted prices. To save money on your next purchase, please visit Toys Online
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If you are searching for facts on gripe water then you probably have a new addition to your family. Is your newborn suffering from colic? Have you been hearing all about gripe water reviews and how so many moms gush about it? Want to find out if gripe water really relieves colic and how it cures colic?

There are so many diverse cures for colic and so many conflicting reviews on all of them-which ones work? Find out the facts behind gripe water.

What is Gripe Water?

In the 1851, William Woodward founded the 1st ever gripe water cure. This colic remedy is a now freely available throughout Europe, America and Asia.

So what actually is gripe water for babies? William Woodward concocted his gripe water using fennel, dill, sodium bicarbonate and alcohol but these days manufacturers add in different ingredients.

How do you know which brands of gripe water perform better and which ones are best avoided? Stick with the truly herbal formulations or perhaps try making one yourself just to be sure they are purely herbal and not harmful.

Colic And Gripe Water Reviews

Does gripe water actually work to soothe and cure colic as effectively as it says? Why do all the reviews differ so much? Most colic relief methods aim at soothing the symptoms of colic and not actually curing colic which implies treating the cause of colic-currently undefined by the medical profession.

More often than not, colic has been put down to excess gas, indigestion and wind but there are simply symptoms and not the cause of colic. The question is what causes these symptoms?

If you are looking for a symptom soother then gripe water is worth a try but if you want to know how to heal colic, then you firstly need to know the cause of colic. It is impossible to heal colic by treating the symptoms. By all means alleviate the symptoms with gripe water but do not forget to treat the cause of colic!

Discover the true cause of colic and the best remedy to treat it Now!

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About the Author:
FREE Report-’The Truth About Colic’-What Causes Colic and How To Cure It.
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