If you’re pregnant you’ve probably heard lots of old wives tales and theories on whether you’re having a boy or a girl. Some can be pretty wacky!

Here’s a list of our 10 favorites:

1. If the expectant mother is eating and coughs, ask her to pick a number, then match the number to the corresponding alphabet letter, eg: A=1, B=2, C=3 etc, then ask her to pick a name starting with that letter. If the name she picks is a girls name, it will be a girl, boys name, boy.

2. With subsequent babies, the sex is determined by the previous child’s first word. If s/he says mama first, it will be a girl and if s/he says dada first it will be a boy.

3. Take the mother’s age at conception, and the year of conception. If both are even or both are odd…it’s a girl. If one is even and one odd it’s a boy.

4. Whoever is more aggressive at the time of conception, the child will be the opposite of that sex.

5. Urinate in a glass or jar that has a tablespoon of Drain-o in it. If the mixture is green, it’s a girl; if the mixture turns blue, it’s a boy.

6. Suspend the woman’s wedding ring on a chain over her belly. If it swings back and forth, it’s a girl. If it swings around in circles, it’s a boy.

7. If a toddler boy shows interest in a pregnant woman, the mom-to-be is going to have a girl. If he ignores the pregnant woman, she will have a boy.

8. If the mother prefers to lay on her left side when resting, it’s a boy. On her right side, it’s a girl.

9. Ask the mother to show you her hands. If she shows them palms up, it’s a girl; palms down, a boy.

10. Take a poll among 5-year old children. Their accuracy is uncanny.

The array of baby skind care products that are available can be overwhelming. So how do you choose which ones are right for your little one?

When it comes to a baby’s delicate skin, we believe that natural is better. But not all natural products are created equal. Some manufacturers will include one or two natural ingredients, typically lavender, chamomile or aloe for babies. But in addition they include ingredients that are definitely NOT natural. Chemicals such Quaternium-15, PEG-80 Sorbitan, Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Acrylic Polymer are typical ingredients.

Since the FDA does not have regulations on what can be called natural, even products containing only one natural ingredient can use the term on their packaging. As a result it’s hard to tell exactly which products are good choices unless you know how to decipher the ingredient list. Which is made even more difficult by the fact that many natural ingredients have long, chemical sounding names. Even then it’s important to note that some natural baby skin care products use synthetic chemicals that are sometimes necessary. For safety, some personal care products, like shampoos and lotions that contain water, need preservatives to guard against microbial contamination. Traditionally gentle preservatives like phenoxyethanol and methylparaben are fine for inclusion in products described as natural. Methylparaben is actually a food-grade preservative and very mild. One or two gentle preservatives in a natural baby skin care product are fine as long as they are the last ingredients.

What the Experts are Saying

A recent report in Clinical Pediatrics reveals that more than 75 percent of newborns suffer rashes within the first few months of birth, and researchers suspect that contributing factors include the very products that promise to soften, clean, and moisturize children’s skin. As they note in their research, “Newborn skin is relatively more permeable to topically applied agents than adult skin. Therefore, the risk of systemic toxicity is must greater in newborns.”

What’s more, say these researchers from the Department of Pediatrics at Loyola University in Chicago, “The safety and efficacy of over-the-counter skincare products are not supported by well-controlled scientific studies.”

Choosing the Right Baby Skin Care Products for your Baby

Millions of babies have been raised using baby skin care products containing chemicals. Yours may do just fine with many of these products. But the reality is that baby skin care conditions such as eczema are on the rise and what we put on our baby’s skin is a large part of that. So if you’re looking for a natural alternative there are options available. Shop now for gentle baby skin care products for your little one at Pipsqueak Boutique.

Thinking of hiring a babysitter to give yourself an occasional evening out. Great idea! Just be sure to interview all potential candidates. Here’s a list of questions to help you out:

• Is he/she at least 13 years of age?

• What kind of experience does he/she have?

• Can he/she provide references?

• Has he/she taken a babysitter training course?

• Is he/she certified in infant and child CPR?

• Does he/she know what to do in an emergency?

• Is he/she willing to accept your guidelines for taking care of your child?

- Tip provided by the National SAFE KIDS Campaign

Research shows that taking fish oil each day dramatically improves children’s schoolwork and concentration. But which kind should they take?

Patrick Holford, author of Optimum Nutrition for the Mind, says: “There are two main kinds of omega-3: DHA, which is vital in pregnancy and early infancy to help build the brain, and EPA which has proven more effective in children with dyslexia and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. These are only found in fish oils.

“The brain and body also need omega-6 fats. The most powerful kind is called GLA, in which evening primrose oil and starflower oil are rich. An ideal brain-friendly formula should provide at least 100mg of DHA, slightly more EPA and 50mg of GLA. The optimum intake is probably double this.”

There is a mass of research demonstrating the benefits of fish oil on brains, hearts, joints and even skin. In the latest trial, Dr Madeleine Portwood, an educational psychologist at Durham local education authority, put 65 children aged 18-30 months on omega-3 fish oil and omega-6 evening primrose oil.

At the beginning, almost half were said to have “poor” or “very poor” behaviour. After taking the supplements, 90 per cent had improved – ranging from “moderate” to “good” behaviour. Concentration also improved.

Another Durham trial, in association with Oxford University, showed a 40 per cent improvement in reading and spelling skills within three months in older children. Studies from Middlesbrough and Cardiff found similar improvements in older children. Research at Manchester University in the summer also showed that fish oil can protect skin from the sun.

If you’re considering supplementing your child’s diet please consult a doctor first.

Feeling frazzled and overworked? There are lots of tasks that you can delegate to others in order to give yourself a much deserved break. Here are 7 suggestions to make your life easier:

1. Give your children and/or spouse more chores. If you’re doing it all then it’s time that you start looking to the others in your household to help out. Children as young as three can help fold laundry and do basic tasks such as tidying up. Create a chores chart and display it somewhere where everyone in the house can see it (if you have young children use pictures instead of words). Then be sure to stick to it!

2. Send out your laundry to a service. You may be surprised at how little a laundry service costs. And it’s a great way to get through those piles of dirty clothes. Even if you only use it every once in a while, it can mean the difference between a weekend spent washing, drying and folding and one spent with the family.

3. Hire someone to clean for you. Many moms see a housecleaner as a luxury they can’t afford. But having someone come once a week or even once every other week to do some of the chores you never seem to get to can be a real stress buster. Imagine not having to change the sheets or do the vaccuuming. It may be worth paying a little to keep your sanity!

4. Take a relative or friend up on their offer to help. Chances are if you’re stressed out, the people closest to you have noticed. Don’t think you have to be super mom. If someone offers to do something for you, take them up on it! You can always return the favor later.

5. Order a meal out. There are more options than ever before for nutritous meals that can be ordered in. Or, look at your supermarket for affordable “meals to go” options. These are hot meals that you just have to pick up, put on the table and enjoy.

6. Hire a babysitter for an evening. If you ask around you’re sure to find several teenage girls in your neighbourhood who are experienced babysitters. Since they come to your house it’s easy to arrange and you don’t have to pick the kids up later on. If your children don’t go to bed well for others, put them down first and then have the sitter watch them while you’re out. Take this opportunity to try a new restaurant or see a movie (or better yet, both!)

7. Swap duties with other parents. You don’t have to be the mom that does it all. Talk to other parents you know and see if you can arrange one night a month where they watch your kids at their house. In exchange you do it for them. This is a great way to get some time alone with your spouse and the kids will have fun playing together.

Pacifiers can be excellent soothing devices for babies, but what happens when you want to wean your child off using one? That can be easier said than done!

Here are some great tips from other Moms on what worked for them:

1. Cut the tip off of all of your child’s pacifiers. When he tries to suck on them they won’t give the same satisifaction and many children will wean themselves. If your little one complains simply explain that they must have all broke because he is too big for a pacifier now.

2. Wean them off slowly. When you put your child to bed, don’t give her the pacifier for 1 minute. The next night it is 2 minutes and so on until she falls asleep without it.

3. Have a ceremony to say good-bye to the pacifiers. If your child is a little bit older, have a ceremony in which you throw away the pacifiers together to signify that he has grown up and doesn’t need them anymore.

4. Make it taste different. Dip the pacifier in vegetable juice so it doesn’t taste as appealing. This is a good option for younger babies, but a smart 2 year old will quickly catch on that the vegetable juice taste is only temporary!

5. Leave them for the “pacifier fairy”. Have your child put all of her pacifiers under their pillow before bedtime so that the “pacifier fairy” can come and take them to new babies who need them. In the morning have a special toy waiting for your little one in exchange.

6. Have an outside source tell your child it’s time to give up the pacifier. Try having your dentist or doctor tell your child that it’s time to give up the pacifier. Sometimes it carries more weight coming from someone other than Mom or Dad.

By the time babies are six to nine months old, they are usually able to sit by themselves and are learning to crawl. Babies will also be learning fine motor skills, such as pinching and grasping objects with just two fingers. At this stage you’ll want to provide baby with a variety of toys to play with in all shapes and sizes to satisfy the growing curiosity and need to explore.

At this stage introduce…

- Physical Development Toys: Encourage baby to use his body in new ways by providing toys that require him to move and stretch. Balls are great because you can make a game of rolling them back and forth, as are toys on wheels that move away from him so he’ll have to chase them.

- Reasoning Toys: Baby can now understand that an object is behind something and the idea of nesting objects. Encourage the use of reasoning skills with toys and games that make him think. Be sure to celebrate when he figures them out!

- Bath Toys: Now that baby can sit up, he’ll begin to be more active during his bath. This is a great time to introduce water toys that encourage baby to learn about water. Squeaky ducks, cups to fill with water and empty again and anything else that is water safe and easy to hold can provide lots of entertainment.

Making play dough is a fun activity for kids and an affordable alternative to buying it in the store. You can also create some funky custom colors by combining food coloring!

Ingredients:

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 cup cold water
1 tbsp oil
1 tbsp food coloring

Instructions:

Combine the dry and liquid ingredients in separate bowls. Add flour mixture to liquid. Stir until smooth. Place on medium heat, stirring frequently until color darkens and the play dough forms a ball. Don’t overcook as it will become dry and crumbly once cooled. Remove from heat, cool and knead. When not in use, store in a sealed container. It should last about 1 week.

For other great kid recipes visit BabyTipsOnline.com

Online discussion groups have long been popular with the techno geeks, but now an unlikely group is flocking to them in unbelievable numbers – MOMS.

Never before have women had access to such a powerful network. Whether it’s to share stories, get advice or just commiserate with other women who have “been there, done that”, online discuss boards are a great support system.

A few of our favorites are:

Just Mommies

Storknet

Parents.com Forums

For years parents have been told that a baby’s first food should be rice cereal. After that slowly progress to simple vegetables, mild fruits and finally pasta and meat. Makes you wonder whether parents in countries notorious for their spicy foods are feeding their babies rice cereal and mushed up peas. If so, how do they ever convince them to try curry or chili peppers?

It turns out that these guidelines on how to introduce your baby to solid foods are just that, guidelines. In reality feeding baby a variety of different foods can help develop a more sophisticated palate and avoid fussy eating later on.

“There’s a bunch of mythology out there about this,” says Dr. David Bergman, a Stanford University pediatrics professor. “There’s not much evidence to support any particular way of doing things.”

As research increasingly suggests a child’s first experiences with food shape later eating habits, doctors say battling obesity and improving the American diet may mean debunking the myths and broadening babies’ palates.

Experts say children over 6 months can handle most anything, with a few caveats: Be cautious if you have a family history of allergies; introduce one food at a time and watch for any problems; and make sure the food isn’t a choking hazard.

Parents elsewhere in the world certainly take a more freewheeling approach, often starting babies on heartier, more flavorful fare — from meats in African countries to fish and radishes in Japan and artichokes and tomatoes in France.

The difference is cultural, not scientific, says Dr. Jatinder Bhatia, a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ nutrition committee who says the American approach suffers from a Western bias that fails to reflect the nation’s ethnic diversity.

Read the entire article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9646449/