1. Make sure your camera is ready.
If your camera runs on batteries, you will want to make sure you have a fresh set. Carry a spare set with you as well. Be sure to have your memory card ready to go if you are using a digital camera. In a standard camera, make sure you have fresh film. As for the film, make sure it is at a constant temperature. You do not want it lying around for several years, then dig it out of the trunk of your car and expect great results. To always be ready, keep a disposable camera in the diaper bag to catch the photo opportunity while you are running around with your precious bundle.

2. Play with colors and lights.
Soft colors, soft light and soft textures work best when photographing babies. These take away from distracting backgrounds or clothing colors and allow the photograph to be focused on the baby. Don’t overlook their hands and toes. A baby’s personality is often found in these digits and cute pictures can be captured as your baby discovers them.

3. Use a blanket.
Covering the baby seat with a solid colored blanket will draw attention to the child, not to the busy pattern of the seat itself.

4. Minimize surrounding light.
Bright light makes babies and all other people, squint. A soft source of light by a window or under the shade of a tree works well. In the house turn on a lamp across the room from where the baby is in order to provide light for your picture and not bother the baby. If you are going to do outdoor photographs, morning light or sundown is a good time to take your baby out.

5. Work around your baby’s schedule.
The best photographs are taken when the baby is rested, fed, clean, and ready to play. Prepare everything during your baby’s nap so that when he wakes up and eats you are ready to have a successful picture taking session.

6. Ordering pictures.
If you are at a professional studio keep in mind that they will try to sell you at least one of everything. Plan before you go the amount of money you want to spend and who you want to buy for. If you are taking your own pictures you can print them out in your own lab at home, or upload them to an online site for processing. If you know sizes and quantities that you need ahead of time then you can quickly order what you need without spending all your grocery money accidentally.

7. Keep a record of your pictures.
Write the date on the front of the envelope that the pictures come in, as well as what it contains. Be sure to store your CDs or negatives in a dry, temperature-controlled place. You can put these photos in your albums or scrapbooks to create a visual diary of your baby’s life.

8. Take frequent pictures.
Your baby is growing up fast. If you are taking your own pictures take them often so that you can see the growth in your baby. When your baby is a year old you will appreciate being able to look back and see all the different ages. If you prefer a professional photographer consider going every three months during the first year to capture the changes in your baby. Many people will do newborn, three-month, six-month, nine-month, one year, 18 month and 2 year old pictures before just slowing down to one pose a year. If your baby’s birthday is around holidays you can take holiday pictures at the same time. If not you may find yourself at the photographers mid-year for holiday pictures.

Security items bring comfort to babies and toddlers alike. A pacifier or bottle creates a sucking motion that often calms and puts a baby to sleep. This is especially true for babies who have been or are breastfed and found comfort and relaxation while nursing. What makes it hard is trying to take the bottle or pacifier away from a toddler that is attached to it and doesn’t want to let go.

A favorite toy can cause anxiety and tears when left at the park or forgotten at home when you head for an overnight visit to grandmas. Many kids will not go to sleep or calm down if they can not hold onto their first teddy bear, or stuffed animal they lovingly call, “Me Me” when they settle in for the night after hearing their favorite book. Without a distraction when this item is not there, a parent may have a very hard time getting their baby to go down for the night.

Whether you realize it or not, you probably do the same thing. When you get upset or anxious you may go looking for something to bring you some peace. Maybe you get that by reading a book, taking a bath or calling an old friend but when you find it you feel instantly better. This is what your baby is doing with his security item, making himself feel better.

At some point as a parent you will want to teach your child how to function without this object always having to be lugged along. You don’t want your kindergartener going to school with a pacifier in his mouth, or your preschooler not napping because he doesn’t have his blanket “whoopee”. There are many ways you can wean your kids off these items from doing it cold turkey to being gradual about it. Some believe cold turkey is too hard for the child, while other think out of sight out of mind is better than the tease of doing it gradually. As a parent you have to make the decision that is best for your family.

If you are expecting a baby in the next few months, the chances are you will have started planning for some of her important things, if not doing them and buying them already. Her crib may be chosen; her nursery may be painted and decorated; you may have some beautiful bedding to match the baby decor of her room; and you may have bought a few gorgeous newborn outfits with which to adorn your newborn.

However, there may be a whole host of things you have not really thought of seriously, especially if you are a first time parent. It is so tempting to focus on the pretty things, and forget, or not learn of, the practical ones. So, when it comes to baby clothes, leave all the cute outfits to the baby shower guests, and concentrate for a while on the things you will really need. After all, you do not want your baby to be caught with her diapers down!

Having a baby is a combination of joy and stress for most people, and I suppose that is true of most major events in our lives. There is nothing to compare to the pleasure and happiness that a mother feels when she holds her new baby for those first few days after the birth; or the father showing off pictures of the baby to his friends and family.

Unfortunately, there is also nothing quite like the stress in worrying that everything is going to be all right on the night, or day, as the case may be. To reduce the chance of those stresses taking over, and to ensure that the family is properly prepared for their joyous new addition, it is as well to get organised with the practical things for the baby layette. Let the person who is to organise the baby shower sort out all that side of things, while you ensure all the most practical items are in place by month 7 of the pregnancy.

New parents quite often fall into the trap of being unprepared when it comes to suitable clothing for their baby. So, here are some of the essentials you will need to complete your preparation for the baby’s arrival:

1. Cotton bodysuits, absorbent baby blankets, bibs, and baby booties are items that a new parent can never have enough of. Babies, God Bless them, are messy little things sometimes. For all the cuteness and adorability that they possess, they do dribble, slobber, vomit and overfill their diapers with some of their profuse outputs, and they are like that for about the first year or so of their lives. As such, their clothes do get messy quickly and often; so be prepared, and be practical. A mum may find herself changing her baby’s clothing almost as often as she changes her diaper – sometimes more.

2. The best plan is to stock up on the practical things such as “onesies” suits, baby tees, and mess-cleaning cotton blankets so that you always have plenty on hand. Buy these practical items in abundance, but not so many that you’ll quickly be stuck with a pile of baby items that no longer fit the baby. It is a good idea to have at least five clean outfits at any time; that is clean items, and not awaiting the next wash. If you are going out on a long outing, you will need to pack extra, so always make sure that you have plenty of clean backups. Do not underestimate your little baby’s ability to take your laundry load to record levels, unlike anything you have seen before if you are a first time parent.

The cute and adorable baby outfits, and the stores are stuffed full of those, are fine for taking baby to church, for visiting grandparents, or for taking family photos. However, be prepared for the baby to make a mess over that precious little outfit. While planning and preparing for the arrival of your new offspring, forego some of the cute outfits so that you can stock up on more of the practical essentials. The guests at the baby shower can provide the cute things, while you ensure that you are truly prepared for the reality of having a bouncing new baby in the house.

About the Author:
This preparing for baby article was written by Roy Thomsitt, owner author of the Bouncing New Baby website. Ably assisted by his baby daughter, he is also responsible for the Baby Blog.

A newborn baby is unable to regulate their body temperature and will often need to be wearing warm clothes no matter what the temp is outside. Inside, in air conditioning they can get too warm. Older babies will normally not need any extra layers on while inside the house, but when going outside the house an extra layer on very cold days won’t hurt your baby. Since a big part of the surface area on your baby is on their head, this is where they can lose the most heat. When you go out you should put a hat on your baby’s head to help him keep warm.

When it comes to layering, you don’t necessarily need a lot of layers. Get an onesie and warm outfit while inside, a jacket or warm baby jumpsuit, which many times comes with a hat attached when you run out of the house. Even if your baby is not wearing shoes, make sure to have him in socks and take an extra pair of socks with you just in case your baby gets wiggly during a diaper change.

During the summer months, an older baby can overheat easily. Unlike when they get cold and get fussy, when a baby gets hot he will probably just fall asleep, and you may not know that he is too warm. Dress you baby in light material, onesies and little jumpers that are not too tight. Let him have room to move and not be too bundled up. In the summer, if you are warm your baby is probably warm too. Don’t dress your baby in something you wouldn’t want to be in.

Every baby has his own level of comfort that you will eventually learn. He will also develop ways of telling you as he gets older that he is too hot or too cold, sometimes by crying, others by tugging at clothes. Learn to watch your baby’s signs, listen to his cries and you will be able to tell when your baby’s body temperature is too hot or too cold.