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Welcome to baby lullaby - your resource for free baby tips and articles. I know that raising a new baby can be challenging, hopefully our site will help.
If you are planning on adopting a child, it is probably the
most important decision you will ever have to make. People
adopt for a variety of reasons. The most common scenario
is when a couple is unable to have a child of their own.
People can have problems conceiving for a variety of
reasons. Another reason people adopt is to give a home to
children that have lost (or been taken from) their family
members or are orphans from another country.
These are all commendable reasons to proceed with the
adoption, but you still need to be aware of some of the
decisions and the alternatives you will be required to make
throughout the application process.
If you are planning on adopting a child in the United
States, the first thing you need to consider is if you
would like to adopt a child within the US or from an
international country. Different laws apply to each
situation so it is especially important to determine what
is involved, especially if you are adopting a child from
another state or from another country. If you are planning
an international adoption, US Immigration laws need to be
understood.
You also need to decide if you are going to use an adoption
agency or try for a private adoption. As far as agencies,
there are both private and public. If you want to adopt a
child from another country, you would be best served by
contacting an aid organization. Private adoptions are
possible but you need to be aware of any governing laws to
avoid heartbreak for you and the child.
In addition to the alternatives already mentioned, you need
to think about whether you would prefer to adopt an infant
or an older child. Most families are hoping to adopt an
infant, so they have the opportunity to watch the child grow
and develop from his or her earliest days, watch all the
developmental milestones, and make sure they've had an
opportunity to teach their values to the child. There is, of
course, a huge demand for infant adoptions and the wait list
can be lengthy, sometimes lasting for years. Adoption of an
older child can be just as rewarding as an infant adoption.
The important consideration is how this child will fit into
your family, not his or her age. Many parents of older
adopted children feel like the child blends into their
families perfectly, as if they were always a part of the
family. Of course, older children have their own distinct
personalities and learned behaviors, sometimes good,
sometimes bad. If the adoption doesn't work for your family,
removing the child from the family situation could have
devastating consequences to the child.
Adoption is such a wonderful option for those who can't
produce children or want to give someone a place in their
family. Get familiar with the adoption laws where you live,
and you will soon be on your way to a most fulfilling
experience.
After all the baby furniture is purchased, you'll have to start thinking of baby safety supplies. Once your baby becomes mobile (and that's in a few short months), battening down the hatches is extremely important.
If you have stairs or open doorways leading to areas that you don't want your baby to wander into, you'll need to purchase some baby gates. Most are adjustable to fit a variety of openings and come in a variety of styles such as wooden, plastic and mesh.
Don't forget those electrical outlets! For some bizarre reason children love to stick metal objects in those little slits so get your outlets covered, including any powerbars you may be using. Another favorite "play toy" with toddlers is the toilet. A good toilet lid latch should help keep the plumbing working.
Electrical appliances, TV's, VCR's and household items will also need to be secured. It's amazing what children can find to pull down or get into. Plus, don't forget to pick up safety supplies for when you're traveling, even if it's just a short distance. Baby harnesses are a good thing to use once your toddler is walking. And don't forget to protect them from harmful UV rays with some sort of car window shade.
Keeping your precious child safe is very important. There are so many little things in the household that, as adults, we take for granted. But to a child, they're new and exciting areas to explore... which can be very dangerous to them. As a new parent or even grandparent, get down on your knees and crawl around your house looking for all the temptations found at your baby's level. You'll be amazed at what potential hazards you will find. Secure your new baby's safety before it's too late.
Taking pictures of your new baby is a great way to preserve life long memories. Baby pictures can also make great postcards, keepsakes, or baby shower gifts. Here are some simple tips to get great baby pictures:
1) Avoid bright light - Babies are especially sensitive to bright light including harsh sunlight and flash photography. If possible, try to take photos during the day when flash photography is not necessary. You can also use lamps to create lighting.
2) Take pictures from different distances - Try to take pictures from different distances. Most people like to take close-up pictures, but pictures that are too close can be blurry and out of focus. By taking several pictures from different distances, you can keep the ones that are the best.
3) Be aware of your baby's mood - Try not to start a photo session when your baby is cranky or crying. If your baby is in a bad mood, then wait awhile until he or she is better rested or calmed. You will get better pictures when your baby is in good spirits.
4) Use a high quality camera and film - This tip may seem simple, but is worth saying. Using high quality cameras and film can make a big difference in the quality of the photo, especially if you are creating photo gifts or favors.
5) Get rid of any distractions - Make sure there are not too many distractions when taking pictures. Anything that moves or makes noise, like the TV, should be turned off is possible. Having too many people around can also be distracting for the baby.
6) Take multiple shots - Taking different shots is a good idea for any type of photography, particularly if you are making photo gifts. Sometimes it is hard to tell if a shot will turn out good until it is actually produced, so get those extra shots just in case.
7) Background - Make sure that there is not too much distracting stuff in the background. The focus should be on the baby, so plain backgrounds usually work best.
8) Other people - Try taking pictures of the baby with other people as well, including you. A baby will interact with other people and these interactions captured on film can make great keepsakes.
Music is a wonderful way for you to calm and soothe your baby, especially during the first year. How many times have your heard parents say that there was nothing that they could do with their crying, fussing baby until they tried music. This is because music does indeed soothe the savage beast, or in this case, the baby.
There are certain distinct sounds that have been proven to calm even fussy babies: the sounds of nature, white noise, and music. Even if your baby isn’t fussing or crying you may want to use music as often as you can to encourage that feeling of calm and peacefulness. All it takes is a few minutes every day and before you know it your baby will be looking forward to hearing that certain song emanating from the CD player.
There is nothing complicated or mysterious about introducing your baby to music from day one. You don’t need to search for the perfect song or a certain type of music. All you have to do is start by having your baby listen to your favorite songs and music. If jazz is on the top of your list, let your baby listen to the sounds of John Coltrane as he sits in his baby seat watching you in the kitchen. It doesn’t matter if you play the schmaltzy songs of the eighties or some wicked African beat, your baby is going to listen and his mood is going to be altered by any musical sound that he hears.
Besides the music that you yourself can introduce your baby to, there are hundreds of CDs on the market today that are filled with baby songs and lullabies. At the end of the day you may want to play a CD of quiet baby songs that have a slower beat. There are so many CDs for you to choose from that you will have a hard time making up your mind. Choose something that interests you. Many baby CDs will have lullabies and faster beat songs on the same CD.
Playing music has other benefits besides soothing your fussy, crying baby. These benefits include:
Babies are introduced to musical sounds.
Music enhances your baby’s behavior and cognitive skills.
Relieves stress for the entire family.
Will stimulate curiosity and an interest in music.
Take time to find a variety of music CDs for your baby to listen to. You’ll soon notice which music your baby is most drawn to and can use that music when he is particularly fussy or is crying.