Baby Games For 3-6 Month-Olds

As my little one grows up I'm always looking for new ways to keep her development moving. Here is a list of some games you can play from 3 to 6 months of age.

1. A piece of glass separates me from my best friend. around 4 or 5 months she was really looking at things and smiling at things so my wife found out something fun. Find a big mirror that you can stand in front of while holding baby. I would move her close enough until she would catch a glimpse of herself. She would immediately light up and start cooing and giggling. To this day this is our pre-bath routine. As she got older I would change distances to help keep her eyes exercised.

2. Help me name that. An adaptation to the baby eye-spy we played when she was younger was this game. Once she could reach out and touch things I would encourage her to touch things while I named it. Sometimes I think she got it other times she'd look at me and just grin. Again, this is another game we continue to play.

3. I must be butter cause I'm on a roll! Once she was used to being on her belly on the floor I'd get down and play with her. I'd put toys that were just out of her reach and have her try and get them. If she did happen to roll over or get the toy somehow I would get real excited and tell her how good she is and how big she is. As time progressed she loved the excitment I'd give her and she would do it much faster.

4. ABs of steel. She always was trying to sit up and see things when she developed her baby muscles. In an attempt to encourage this and help grow her muscles we would have her hold our fingers as she sat up. At first we had to pull her up to look around. As she got older and stronger she would pull up while holding on. At this point she just sits right up by herself. This helped to encourage her to be curious and to build some core body muscles.

5. If your happy and you know it. Around 3 months we really got into using her arms and legs when we sung songs. We would play 'this little piggy', 'patty cakes', & 'if your happy and you know it'. We would either clap her hands or her feet to the beat and sing to her. At first we got the craziest look. As she learned to like it she would get the biggest grin. Another thing that I would do is play a pop or rock song and have her be my little 'drummer'. I'd sit her on my lap facing away from me and take her hands and have her 'play the drums'. She would giggle and giggle.

We still play a few of the games from when she was younger but alot of them we've adapted to either be more physical, vocal, or visual. Also, make sure you're always talking to your baby. No matter where we are I'm having a conversation with her. Telling her about my day, asking her about hers, or reading things to her. The most entertaining is when we are shopping at the grocery. She loves hearing the nutritional facts of foods. Go figure.

By Sean Grillot

For more articles relating to parenting or for baby product reviews go to: http://babyblogonline.blogspot.com

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How Much Should a 9 Month Old Baby Sleep?

Now that my little one is 9 months old I did some research to see if she was in the norm for her age and her sleep patterns.

Typically we put her to bed at around nine o'clock everynight and she typically will sleep till 9 the next morning if we don't wake her. Since me and my wife work through the week we wake her up around seven in the morning. So, a typical evening sleep routine is 10 hours.

Her naps are a little different and depends alot on her mood, appetite, and surroundings. In an ideal setting she'll have two to three naps a day averaging about an hour to an hour and a half a piece. There are some days that she sleeps longer and others where she gets in little power naps.

With knowing her pattern I did some research and found that the typical 9-12 month old should be sleeping anywhere between 10-14 hours at night. Also, they should be having at least 2 naps a day averaging an hour or more. The biggest hurdle that most parents have (especially those who breast feed) is night time feedings. There are some techniques that one can use to help wean your little one off of the bottle or breast at night. I'll cover these in a future article.

Also, from personal experience you have to balance keeping a calm atmosphere that is conducive to your baby sleeping and not putting too large a damper on your daily activities. When she was a newborn we always walked on egg shells around the house. It made for some very painful naps when the slightest noise happened. At the guidance of my wife we made the commitment to slowly re-conform to our older day time habits while getting her to sleep. At first we had to do the 'no-no' things like letting her sleep on us or using a bottle to put her to sleep. As we weaned her off these things she's grown into a pretty heavy sleeper. A perfect case in point happened in september. We took her to the county fair and she slept through the whole demolition derby! So don't let anyone tell you that your baby has to sleep in perfect silence!

I hope you found this helpful. If you wish for me to elaborate on anything by all means let me know!

By Sean Grillot

For other articles and posts related to parenting visit http://babyblogonline.blogspot.com

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Newborn Baby Care - How to Take Care of Newborn Baby

Giving birth to a child is sometimes really amazing and it is safe when the baby is in its mother's womb. From the instant the baby emerges from the cocoon, you need to pay special attention and there is plenty of it in newborn baby care about "how to take care of newborn baby". Know well what will be the newborn baby needs, except for the love that you offer. You need a good knowledge in taking care of the baby connected with food, sleep and skin. It's sometimes excruciating that you can't handle it to your wishes since the skin, eyes, bottom and other features are so delicate. There are some common problems with skin conditions like baby gerbils, baby acne, cradle caps and heat rash with sunburn common with newborns of any country.

Baby skin care: Skin care is the foremost factor in spite of its adaptability to the new environment. Skin is so red that it offers irritation and infection to every touch. So, it's best to wash cloths with special detergents. Baby skin loses moisture quickly and it needs time to absorb and retain moisture to its need. So, keeping your child with cold or warm perfume baths daily is not suggestive but may be on alternative days suiting other conditions. New born baby care is so gentle that it needs special treatment. It's best for protecting the baby from bacterial infection by using homemade baby wipes and diaper to cleaning your little ones.

Umbilical cord: Until and after the falling down, the area around the umbilical cord should be kept clean with hygienic soft cotton with alcohol application.

Head care: Head is so delicate with soft hair to keep clean using only baby skin care natural shampoo perhaps the same product. The pulpy scalp is a protected area against rough handling when padding anything around it.

Heat rash and sunburn: Skin learns to accommodate with new surrounding and so nothing is there to worry. Whatsoever, keeping off the baby from direct sunlight for a long time should be avoided as a measure of infant care against heat effects. Protecting the baby appropriately perhaps with cheap baby clothing suiting to the weather is wise of the mother.

Baby acne and cradle caps: Baby acne may have its effect for the first two or three months but no need to treat unless infected. It is protected with homely and regular baby baths with natural care therapy. Cradle caps should be handled with soft brush to clean using some herbal moisturizer. It's best to use natural baby products avoiding synthetic products like talcum powder complimented by organic skin care treatments to avoid dry skin.

Newborn baby care is not so easy to all. It is a skill with the parents especially the mother to know how to take care of newborn baby.

By Varadharajan R

It's best suggested to collect more ideas and purchase related baby products by visiting care taking of newborns AND care taking of babies.

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Planning Games For Your Baby Shower

Baby Shower Game Ideas
One of the biggest parts of the shower is the games you choose. Shower games not only make the party more fun, but it gets the guests interacting and can also "break the ice" between unfamiliar faces.

Many hosts plan an average of 1-3 games for the party, but if you are hosting the party, you should definitely make it your own. Here are some fun games you can have the guests play:

Name that baby!
Have each guest bring their baby picture and post them all on the wall, with numbers underneath. Have everyone guess what picture belongs to each guest. Once everyone has made their picks, reveal the names of each baby. The person with the most correct guesses wins a prize.

Diaper Dash

You have 2 infant baby dolls that are in need of a diaper change. Divide the guests into 2 relay teams. At the front of the room will be 2 tables with powder, diapers, and wipes. At the start of the game, the first player in line will grab the baby, rush to the table, and give the baby a diaper change. Each player has to use a wipe, powder and re-diaper the baby and then pass the baby to the next person in line. The first team to finish diapering the baby wins (all players have to change the baby before the team is complete).

Bottle Race

Fill baby bottles with a drink and the first person to finish the drink through the nipple wins.

Diaper Raffle

Ask your guests to bring diapers for the mother. The guests will receive one entry for each jumbo pack of diapers they bring. At the end of the shower, a name will be drawn and that person wins the prize. This is a great game, because mom gets to keep all the diapers, and the guests can win a prize!

Word Scramble

Make a list of baby items (bottles, pacifier, formula, breastmilk, diaper, baby wipes, thermometer, shampoo, pregnancy, etc.) Scramble the letters in the words, and make copies for everyone in the group. Give the players 2-3 minutes to unscramble. The winner is the first person to finish them all, or the person who has the most correct after the time is up.

Never Say Baby

At the beginning of the shower, give each guests 5 diaper pins. Throughout the party, the word "baby" is not allowed to be said by the people playing the game. If a player says baby, another player calls them on it and takes one of their diaper pins. At the end of the party, the person with the most pins wins.'

By Tracy Ammon

For more information about baby shower planning, and general pregnancy info visit http://www.momandbabypages.com

Mom and Baby Pages...Where it all begins
Tracy Ammon is a mother of one and the founder of http://www.momandbabypages.com. In her free time, she enjoys reading about parenting and motherhood and putting these ideas into perspective for new mom's to be.

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Choosing the Right Baby Announcement

There's a lot of confusion when it comes to the wording on a baby announcement. Many people don't' know where to start or what information is typically communicated. After having a baby, one of the last things you'll be thinking about is details of what to say or where to put it. This is why you should think through all these details before you have your baby. It will bring a great deal of peace and rest to your mind if you nail some of these things down beforehand. Let's get to it and clear up any confusion you might have.

Let's start with the most obvious. You want to include the baby's weight and height at birth, his or her name and the date they were born. Although these items seem obvious, many parents forget to include the baby's name! I know it sounds far fetched but it happens more than you think.
Sometimes parents choose to not reveal the name of the newborn till a public declaration. Some want to wait to the christening or baptism in order to rejoice with their family, friends and congregants. If you choose to withhold the name of your baby simply say on the invitation, "we have chosen to reveal the name of our new baby when we gather publicly on March 6, 2009, for his christening." This lets your friends and family know to not ask about the name and gives them an explanation why.

Some secondary information that is up for debate is the time and location of the delivery. Include as much specific information as you want because it makes those receiving the baby announcement more apart of the celebration. For those who have chosen to not use a hospital for labor and delivery, don't feel as if you can't include the location. Many women are having babies at birthing centers and in their homes. It's much more common than you may think.

Lastly, they way you refer to your own names should be reflective of you and your spouse. It should also reflect the personality of your family. If you're more traditional then you should stick with, "Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are pleased to announce..." or if you're a bit more casual you can simply state, "Lindsay and Brian want to introduce to you..."

Have fun choosing and creating your baby announcement. Don't let the details get to you. If you want to explore some high quality baby announcements you need to check out www.somethingaboutstationery.com. You will find everything you're looking for and more.

By Jennifer Varner

Jennifer Varner is the CEO of http://www.pure-ecommerce.com an online ecommerce consulting firm that helps individuals plan, create, and grow their online business.

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Smart Parenting - Buying the Right Baby Crib

Knowing your baby is sleeping safe and sound is one of your biggest concerns. While there are plenty of different types of cribs to choose from, there are a few qualities that you will want to look for when shopping for the right baby crib.

First and foremost you want to look into the safety features of a baby crib. While all cribs for sale will meet safety standards there are still others out there that will give above and beyond what is required to insure the safety of your child. Some things to look for are space between the slats. Look for a crib that has slats no more than 2 3/8ths inch apart. Also look to make sure that the mattress fits firmly with in the crib and has no room to move. Also look to make sure there are no missing parts to your crib and that nothing is broken.

Another feature to look into is more for the parent than the child, and that is whether the crib has sides that drop. You can find a crib that has no sides that drop, one that has one side that drops, or a crib that has two sides that drop. Picking which crib to buy depends on you own personal comfort. If you are tall enough to reach over the sides you may want to purchase a crib that does not have drop down sides.

One feature not to over look when purchasing a baby crib is the mattress. This is both a safety and comfort feature. Make sure the mattress properly fits the crib is the most important aspect of the mattress. Any movement the mattress may make could put your baby in harms way. Also check to see how the mattress is supported. It is best to find a crib that uses a metal spring system to support the mattress. And, of course look for a mattress that is going to allow your baby to sleep comfortably. It makes things a lot easier when you can get some sleep as well.

These are just a few features to look for when shopping for you baby's crib. Do some research and look at consumer reviews to see what other parents have experienced before you begin you shopping.

By Mike Coles

Visit All Baby Supplies for more great articles, tips and advice to make your full time job as a parent a little less stressful. Discover great write-ups on baby gates and what you should look out for as a parent.

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What Are the Signs of Teething in Babies?

Teething is a trying process that all babies must go through, but there are things to watch out for to make it as comfortable as possible. Being familiar with the following symptoms will help you to spot when your baby is teething, so that you can take the appropriate action.

1.Coughing- When your baby begins teething he or she will have extra saliva, which can cause your baby to cough or gag here and there. This is normal, but if baby has a fever and seems to be uneasy it would be wise to call the doctor of your baby to make sure that all is indeed well.

2. Chin Rash- With your baby drooling he or she will have the skin around the mouth and chin irritated due to the constant contact with saliva. You can prevent the development of a chin rash by periodically wiping your baby's chin and mouth throughout the day, using a soft cloth or tissue.

3. Drooling- This will occur between three to four months of age and often this is the first sign that teething is near. How much drool will depend on your baby.

4. Gnawing and Biting- Watch out! A teething baby will gum and gnaw down anything that happens to come near her mouth to help relieve the pressure occurring underneath the gums, and babies have no concept of causing their parents pain with a sharp bite!

5. Not Sleeping Too Well- Your baby will wake up constantly in the night due to teething pain if it gets bad enough. Often parents agree that the night waking occurs more during the first set of teeth.

6. Signs of a Cold- This will sometimes occur during the time baby is teething, which some parents believe it is due to the constant contact between baby's hands and mouth. It is always wise to call baby's doctor to be on the safe side of things.

7. Irritability- When you baby's first teeth come in the gums in the mouth will become very sensitive and sore. You may find that your baby will be more fussy and irritable due to the teeth coming in, and as previously mentioned sleep will be disrupted - usually for the whole household.

8. Ear Pulling- The pain in your baby's gums may travel to his or her ears, which is why you will notice your baby pulling the ears. You should also keep in mind that this can be a sign of an ear infection as well.

9. Diarrhea- you may noticed that your baby is having looser stools in your baby's diaper this is usually due to the increase in saliva. It would be wise to contact your doctor if your baby has more than two watery bowel movements a day.

Teething can be a trying time for all concerned, but remember that it doesn't last forever.

By Simone Butler

Simone writes for a parenting site where you can read more about teething symptoms along with other aspects of your baby's development.

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Stay Away From Low Iron Baby Formula

New parents are always worried about their children and what they need to do to meet their baby's needs. After being totally joyous they often become very concerned about their baby's nutrition and wonder whether they are feeding their little one just the right way. The following tips will help determine whether you are doing everything you can to feed your baby correctly, and whether its right or not to give your baby low iron baby formula, or high iron baby formula.

• If you can you want to only breast feed your baby. The AAP recommends that you breast feed for the first six months of your baby's life.
• When you do use a formula you want to try the iron fortified infant formula first as per your doctor's instructions.

Many parents who experience baby stomach problems think that the cause is the formula. They may struggle to find the right formula, but the answer is not to go look for low iron baby formula. A lack of iron can cause many other problems for a baby.

There seems to be an "old wives tale" that goes around that says that iron rich infant formula causes constipation. Mothers assume that because they had such a hard time with the iron supplements, the babies will too. Some paediatricians who don't know what to do with colicky parents fall prey to the low iron formulas.

Research has shown that babies need about 1 mg of iron per every kilogram of weight. When they go on low iron formulas they don't get this needed iron. Babies need iron for brain development, and a lack of iron in developing stages has long lasting effects.

Standard infant formulas have the right amount of iron and not any extra iron. Low iron formula puts babies at risk of having iron deficiency and so parents should stay away from this choice.

By Matt Murren

Find Details on Why You Need To Stay Away from Low Iron Baby Formula at: http://www.baby-formula-guide.com/ - Low Iron Baby Formula

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