Coming home from the hospital with a newborn baby has been described as feeling like ‘going on a date.” Most new parents have feelings that range from fear to awe as they cuddle, feed and care for their baby. Usually new parents have several months to prepare for their newborn; however, starting a new relationship asks much of them.
Newborn massage is a powerful, happy way to become acquainted. You can learn early communication while giving your baby gentle but potent nerve and muscle stimulation. This assists with digestion, elimination, healing, growth, and deeper sleep. Newborns have special needs to consider during massage. This class introduces supportive, protective massage while you learn early infant communication and how to respond to it in a satisfying way.

- Teresa Kirkpatrick Ramsey
Founder of “Baby’s First Massage” Program

Note from Brenda: I am a certified Baby’s First Massage Instructor and am available on a limited basis for private classes in your home.  Here is my brochure: Baby’s First Massage Brochure

Omigosh. My baby is crying and for the life of me I can’t figure out why. Why can’t you talk to me? Well, maybe its because babies don’t talk. Wrong. Babies talk all the time. They just don’t use the English language.

Don’t tell me that when your baby’s eyes are bulging out and she’s turning blue in the face from screaming so hard she can’t even catch her breath that she isn’t trying to tell you something! You’ve been there, Mom. All those baby tears are frustration (hers, not yours) directed your way, and you just don’t get it!

Ah. What we have here is a basic failure to communicate. Two entirely different languages are being spoken here, and you don’t happen to have a U.N. interpreter. You speak English and your baby speaks Bbbfflltt!

What if you both spoke the same language? Here’s a novel idea: Why don’t you teach your baby sign language?

Wow. I thought you were going somewhere with this advice. Okay. I’ll teach my baby sign language. I’ll just squeeze it in between her organic chemistry class and her Vaganova ballet class. Hey, that was a great suggestion. Have a wonderful day.

Hold on there, mom of the year. Wendy Jensen says — Yes! Yes you can teach your baby sign language! She knows because she’s done it (well, she taught her babies, not yours). And she’s taught other parents (successfully, by the way) to teach their babies, too.

You are, naturally, skeptical at this point. But Wendy did it. And so have thousands of other moms out there. And these moms didn’t all go to Yale (or even South Eastern Missouri State). Tell you the truth, these moms, on the whole, are a pretty average bunch. Good people, but not necessarily on a par with Madame Curie or Susan Sontag. In fact, probably not as bright as you! After all, you are reading this article!

And that’s not all. There are many other benefits when you teach your baby sign language.

Imagine being able to talk to your baby, who will no longer have to scream her little head off to tell you, her mother, that her toe hurts because she bit it with her new tooth when she jammed her foot in her mouth! She can just give you a sign.

And hold on there, mama, there are side benefits, too. Long lasting ones.

Sign language helps kids develop better language skills. It’s true. Even kids that have no hearing problem. Why, you ask. Because they communicate better. Turns out they are more interested in what goes on around them. Now who would have thought? But this is true.

Here’s a few reasons why it probably works this way:

Kids are mimics. They want to shave like daddy or wear high heels like mommy (hopefully gender appropriate). Sign language starts them mimicking their parents at an earlier age. Hence they do adult things at a younger age than other kids.

You see, to mimic someone, you first have to study that person. For instance, you can’t dance like Vanessa Hudgens (she’s one of the kids in “High School Musical” — I had to look it up) without first studying how Vanessa Hudgens dances. OK. That makes sense. You also have to study the signer to learn to sign. This develops attention skills. And kids keep focused because they love it! Their little mushy brains are working full speed and its exciting to them.

Your kid will think signing is a form of action game. They love it!

How does your little bundle of joy see all of this? Every kid loves to say: “Mom! Lookamee!” Because they crave parental attention. When she is being taught sign language she is the center of attention. And there’s no “hush now” or “back into the playpen with you.” Note: Kids hate being hushed, and they really hate being dumped into the playpen.

Now, are we saying if you teach your baby sign language she is guaranteed a full blown scholastic scholarship to an Ivy League school? Sure why not. Or at least she will have a jump start on everyone else. Kids that learn that learning is fun, well, now, they are set for life. So when you teach your baby sign language, it’s like the sage old advice: Give a baby a fish and she eats today. Teach a babyto fish and you feed her for a lifetime. Well, kinda like that. The point being, the benefits to your little angel are not just for right now. She will benefit for her whole life.

You’re only born once, and the birth of a new life is a reason for celebration for the close friends and relatives of the new parents. The newborn’s life stretches before it, filled with limitless options and potential. The event of a child’s birth is celebrated in many different ways, according to individual custom and tradition. Some families have their own special customs to celebrate the birth of a baby.

In the U.S., the imminent birth of a baby is frequently marked with a baby shower. This is a special celebration during which family and friends present the new mom with baby gifts. This custom dates back to early in the 20th century, and at that time the gifts were usually made by hand. These days, baby gifts can be anything from bath products and clothing to blankets and plush toys.

The baby shower is about more than just giving baby gifts. As well, it can be lots of fun for everyone involved. It’s an opportunity for the expectant mother to discuss future plans, talk about the pregnancy and get some advice from her closest friends, which makes it a very useful experience all around.

Coming up with baby gift ideas isn’t always as simple as it might appear. It’s particularly hard if the parents don’t know the baby’s gender. Usually the best presents are suitable for any baby no matter whether it will be a girl or a boy. Blankets are always useful, and so are age appropriate plush toys. Baby dishes and bath products also make delightful gifts. You might choose to buy clothing for the baby, but if you do, it’s best to avoid newborn sizes since babies grow very quickly and some are born fairly large.

When you’re choosing a gift for a baby, keep in mind that it doesn’t have to be anything as expensive as a stroller or crib unless you’re the grandparent. But it is important to ensure that the present you select is of good quality and safe for babies. A thoughtful gift will demonstrate to the expectant mother that you’re excited and glad for her. When you’re expecting a baby it’s wonderful to realize that those you love the most share your happiness.

It’s all the rage. Famous and not-so-famous moms and dads all over the world are wearing their baby! Are you next?

The newest and greatest fashion it seems for new moms and dads are great looking and comfortable baby wrap carriers and slings. Even the rich and famous are into it – Brad wears one and so does Gweneth.

Baby has become a new (and beautiful) fashion accessory. There are many types and styles to choose from, including slings, wraps and back frame carriers. And they are created as much for style as they are for comfort and convenience.

They are becoming more and more popular – and for good reason. We have listed five main reasons why people love them – and love to wear them…

1. Freedom. Looking after a baby is full-time work. But a busy mom and dad know that there are other things to do as well. Carriers ‘free up’ your hands allowing you to wear your baby (keeping them close to you) and give you the freedom to do other things as well.

2. Comfortable for baby and parent. People all over the world are amazed how comfortable today’s modern baby carriers are for both the parent and the baby – that’s because the carriers are built so that the weight is not on the arms of the person carrying the baby – but instead is spread across the shoulders and back of the person. This feature makes the carrier a comfort to wear.

3. They can be used when baby is a newborn all the way up to a toddler.

4. Soothing to baby. It’s a well known fact that babies love to be held – holding them increases their contentment – and the more content the less they tend to cry. Carriers (especially sling and wrap styles) are built for holding baby close to you. It feels good for baby and it also feels good for you!

5. Privacy for feeding time. If your baby is a breastfed baby mom’s that use a baby carrier have the luxury of providing privacy during feeding times. Sling and wrap carriers allow you to easily position the baby in the carrier during feeding times. This means that baby can be fed almost anywhere.

Celebrity watching is a ‘national pastime’. They tend to lead the pack in style. This time however, they are using baby carriers in ever-increasing numbers not only because they look good, but more because they are comfortable to wear and have so many advantages to mom, dad and baby.

And it’s not just mom anymore. More and more celebrity dads and the not-so-famous dads are getting in on the convenience and joy of carrying their child in a carrier.