Something that is highly anticipated and can be incredibly exciting during pregnancy is the nesting instinct. This is a primal instinct that most if not all female mammals go through while preparing for their young, and can be seen in pregnant women as well.

For a pregnant woman nesting is an uncontrollable urge to clean and organize your house, while getting things ready for your baby. It can be as little as washing your baby’s clothes and bedding, to repainting your entire house because you all of a sudden don’t like the color theme you have. Some women will clean walls, baseboards, and door frames as an effort to make sure the house is clean. In some cases women who rarely have a “clean” house will be obsessed about having a spotless house.

It is believed that the act of nesting helps a woman feel more like she is in control. It can begin as early as the second trimester and last the duration of the pregnancy. The urge to have everything in “order” can wake a pregnant woman up at night, or keep her up all night while she completes her latest “project”. When the nesting instinct pops up at the end of pregnancy it can often signify the beginning of labor or that labor is just a couple of days away. It can take over the last hours of pregnancy with an urge to make sure everything is done and just right.

Nesting is normal and natural for a pregnant woman, even if her partner thinks she has gone insane when they find her bleaching down the kitchen cupboards at 3am. However, there are some precautions the pregnant woman should take.

Try To Avoid Paint Fumes
If you HAVE to have the nursery or house repainted at the last minute, try to get someone else to do the actual painting for you. Make sure you wear a mask when you are around the paint to minimize the paint fumes you breathe in.

Climbing On Furniture
When cleaning cupboards, reorganizing the closet and washing down your walls, try to stick to the areas you can reach without standing on a chair or climbing on other furniture. While you are pregnant your balance may be off, and you may fall or get light headed. If you keep your feet planted firmly on the floor then you won’t have to worry about an accident and the possibility of hurting yourself or your baby.

In The Garden
Most pregnant women know if they have a cat not to change the litter box as cat feces could harm the baby. However, you also must remember this and watch for feces and certain other pests you might find while gardening. In most cases anything you come in contact with will be safe, it is just best to take extra precautions.

Nesting can be a fun part of pregnancy for the pregnant woman, even if her husband doesn’t agree when his wife hands him a “honey-do” list and sends him out to pick up another roll of the wallpaper she used in the living room because she all of a sudden decided it would look great in the hall as well. When your partner roles his eyes because you are sending him out for supplies tell him it is all right, you will both be laughing about it in a year.

by Colleen Langenfeld

“Mom, I’m bored!”

“Dad, play with me!!”

Sound familiar?

If you’re a parent, these plaintive cries from your children can become daily shouts. As busy moms and dads, we’re continuously torn by the demands on our time. Here are some simple ways to spend time with your kids while getting the jobs done that need to be done (including the toughest job of all, parenting). These Sneaky Fun ideas are also great ways to teach our children exactly how to successfully accomplish many routine tasks.

• Make a silly dinner together.
  Think ‘Green Eggs and Ham’ or try a picnic on the living room floor. Bring your child along for the meal planning, shopping, prep time and clean-up. Involve them each step of the way.

• Turn on the music and clean, clean, clean.
  Forget TELLING your kids to go clean; side-by-side, with some of their favorite music playing, move through the house dancing and cleaning. They’ll love it (and so will you).

• Exercise together.
  You know you need to do it. Your child is your perfect exercise partner. Make it a ‘talk and play’ time and you’ll both get fit together.

• Share a hobby.
  Love to fish, garden, sew, paint, sing? Share that love with your youngster. Try an interest that fascinates them. Learn a shared passion – together.

• Start a girls or boys night out.
  You will make an incredible impression with this one. Take your daughter out for regular manicures and lunch. Stay close to your son with a favorite concert or sporting event. Teach your children about wholesome entertainment and the joy of healthy relationships. You can even team up with another parent and child for regular fun; just make sure that honest conversation is the true priority.

• Improve their skills.
  Do you have a student struggling with homework? Quit nagging and ask them to teach YOU what they’ve learned. Be a patient listener. The fastest way to learn is often to teach.

• Wash the cars.
  Need I say more? Water, the chance to soak mom or dad, and a sense of accomplishment when it’s all done. Follow up with an ice cream cone for a job well done.

• Growing things.
  Countless gardeners have discovered deep satisfaction in sharing their love of growing things with children and grandchildren. Gardening is a useful de-stressing tool and the most frustrated child tends to loosen up and share their heart while getting their hands dirty alongside a trusted adult.

• Plan, plan, plan.
  If your household is anything like mine, it benefits greatly when I take the time to map out regular activities. Menu-planning, budgeting and vacationing come to mind, for starters. Show your child (of the appropriate age) how to use their time and money wisely by including them in the planning of everyday family activities. As they mature, they can easily be put in charge of some of these planning sessions, teaching them to younger siblings. Your trust and belief in your kids can ease the stress on them as they grow, too.

• Organize.
  Almost all families struggle with organization in some area. Truth be told, we’re simply busy people and have often outgrown the simplistic organizing methods that once worked just fine. Give your kids the opportunity to be the creative organizer in your family. Whether its making sense of the family photos or tackling the hall closet, do it with them to get the job done and make a memory that’s shared.

• Schedule the fun.
  Sometimes the best defense is a good offense. Try scheduling a set time of fun in exchange for a set time of work. For example, Monday can be family board game night while Saturday morning sees the family hard at work in the yard. Sometimes it’s easier for kids to see the point when it’s a straight trade off of time and energy.

  The idea here is simple and clear. Use everyday activities to build relationships and teach responsibility. After all, everybody wins when ‘fun’ becomes a part of daily life!

About the Author
Colleen Langenfeld offers helpful resources to working moms. Make your life feel easier, healthier, smarter by reading our One Good Idea ezine. Start by visiting PaintedGold.com and clicking on the happy kids’ picture now!

At first glance, the most environmentally friendly way to clean up a spill is with a rag, like an old holey mismatched sock or worn-out T-shirt. In fact, r-a-g could stand for “recycled absorbent garment.” Sometimes, however, a product is worth the investment because of its quality. Microfiber cleaning cloths are one such product.

Paper towels are convenient because you can throw them away, but of course, this contributes to landfills as well as requiring trees to be cut down in their production. You could use paper towels only for the ickiest of messes, but then you have to discipline yourself not to use them when rags and towels could suffice. Why not wipe up that icky mess with your raggedest rag and discard it? Then for most spills, use microfiber.

Why are microfiber cleaning cloths a valuable addition to your green way of life? Here are a few reasons.

First, microfiber cloths are practically indestructible. They last and last and last. An important part of the green living equation, “reduce, reuse, recycle,” is to reduce our buying in the first place. You won’t wear out those microfiber cloths any time soon.

Microfiber cloths are also so good at cleaning that you can leave off using any sort of cleanser, which reduces the pollution from household chemicals. That’s right. With a microfiber cleaning cloth, you can scrub your sink, table or whatever with just a moist cloth and get it just as clean as if you used a cleanser with a rag. Microfiber is soft and safe to use on any surface.

So just what is microfiber, and how does it work? Microfiber cleaning cloths are made from a blend of polyester and nylon. The fibers are split into many fine ends, and then woven into a terry-cloth like fabric. The tiny split ends trap dirt and grime and don’t release them until the cloth is laundered. Dry microfiber is good at picking up dust and for drying surfaces cleaned with a wet microfiber cloth.

For best results, wash your microfiber cleaning cloths in the washer separate from your other laundry. Use a delicate setting. If you wash them with other laundry, they will attract a lot of lint. They can also be hand washed in hot sudsy water and rinsed thoroughly. Air drying is good for them, although a cool dryer can be used. Be sure to follow any specific care instructions included with the cloths you buy.

Do you remember the good old days when you could grab your sled in the winter and head down the nearest hill with all your friends from the neighborhood? You probably made a game out of catching snowflakes on your tongue. Would you really want your child to try that these days with all the pollution in the atmosphere? Now thanks to dirty snow your new baby may not have that same delightful childhood experience. However, with your help you can turn the planet around and help the world stay a safe place to play. Currently, there are many “green” factors, such as dirty snow and global warming, to think about in order to keep both your new baby and the planet he lives in a healthy, happy place.

Vehicle emissions are one major preventable cause of dirty snow. To help prevent those filthy flakes, consider walking, riding a bicycle, or carpooling as much as possible to keep the emissions to a minimum. Walking and cycling will also help you shed those unwanted extra pregnancy pounds so there are definite benefits to being planet-conscious! When you absolutely must drive, use cleaner-burning fuels.

Another unnecessary cause of dirty snow is soot particles produced by smokestacks from factories. The US has fallen behind most other countries in requiring factories to comply with reasonable emissions which could not only harm the environment, but also make it harder for you and your baby to breathe easy.

Forrest fires are a third factor that affects dirty snow. When camping be sure that you completely put out all fires before leaving camp. Keep fires far away from brush. Also, use common sense and don’t start fires on windy days, or throw cigarettes out of windows while driving.

How does dirty snow effect global warming anyway? Well, believe it or not, researchers have found that dirty snow can have as much detrimental effect on global warming as greenhouse gasses. You may find the idea of snow heating anything a bit absurd; however, consider this. Although bright clean snow reflects light, dirty snow is darker and absorbs heat which warms the atmosphere. Thus, at least one-third of global warming problems can be blamed on dirty snow, or at least on the people who produce the noxious emissions that cause the filthy flakes. Keep in mind that most of these emissions are preventable, and you can do your part to keep your family and planet healthy. Remember, use clean energy sources whenever possible.

As you are probably aware, many beauty products and perfumes not only do animal testing, they also harm the environment. Now that you have a new little angel in your life, you have to be extra careful about keeping this planet a safe and happy place for your baby as well as all those grandchildren and ancestors you will have some day.

Most women start out the day with a shower, or at least women without infants who need watching constantly. Don’t worry, soon Daddy will be home or Grandma will visit and you can grab a quick 5-minute shower or a long luxurious bath. After the shower you will deodorize, fix your hair, and brush your teeth. Since you didn’t use make-up or perfume, you didn’t harm the environment, right? Wrong! Many common everyday products such as deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo, and, of course, hair spray can be quite harmful to the planet which you are trying to preserve for your new precious baby. How then can you look beautiful without having a guilty conscious? Shop smart and check your labels carefully.

The first thing to watch for is chemicals. Buy organic whenever you can. Many companies are signing on with the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. Sticking with those companies is your best bet for helping out the planet, and it’s usually the most economical too. The bad news is that some of your favorite companies such as Avon, Estee Lauder, L’Oreal, Revlon, Proctor & Gamble, OPI and Unilever have not yet signed the campaign. You can download the list of safe and compliant companies for free from safecosmetics.org before you go on your next shopping trip because it’s the right thing to do. After all, do you really want anything that is even rumored to have caused cancer next to your new infant?

Although you may not be able to prevent smelling like milk or baby lotion for awhile, you can prevent body odor. However, you do need to carefully read the label on your deodorant and avoid antiperspirants with aluminum because they not only cause skin irritation, they can also be harmful to your body because they block pores and eliminate toxins from being expelled. Aluminum-free deodorants or crystal stick mineral deodorants are just as effective and cause less harm.

Toothpaste is something else you hopefully use at least once at day; however, many brands contain harmful chemicals such as parabens, titanium dioxide, and fluoride. Fluoride, which is often used to help you keep a bright smile, is often found in whitening products even though it is poisonous if ingested in high quantities. Also avoid hair products that contain petroleum, coal tar, formaldehyde, phthalates, and synthetic fragrance.

By keeping all these tips in mind on your next shopping trip, you can help keep you and your family safe while you preserve the planet for years to come. After all, isn’t your family worth it?

After the new baby, the thing you probably dread the most, other than those two o’clock feedings when you’re still half asleep, is your menstrual cycle starting back just like Old Faithful. Since your life and your body will never be the same again after the birth of your wonderful new baby, why not consider making another big change?

Perhaps you’ve heard of something called a Diva Cup. No, it’s not a fancy anti-spill sippy cup for that new little princess. It doesn’t spill, but it’s for mommy. The Diva Cup is a safe, comfortable, and earth-friendly alternative to all those bulky, leaky pads and tampons.

Think of all the tampons and pads that you go through during one cycle. Now think of all the women you know who have cycles and do the math. Wow, huh? That’s a huge amount of waste that we add to the local dumping ground each and every month. What would you say if I told you there was a better way?

The Diva Cup is available for anywhere from nineteen to forty dollars. There are two basic models. One model is made specifically for girls under thirty. They are slightly smaller and no more likely to damage the hymen than a regular tampon. The second model is made for the mature woman who has given birth or is over thirty. The Diva Cup does not interfere with IUD’s, but they should be taken out before intercourse.

Diva Cups are safer than tampons because there is no risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome since the natural flow of your cycle is not staunched. They are also more comfortable to wear than a tampon since they do not slip out of place. They insert similar to a tampon, but are reusable. You simply wash them and reinsert. If you get stuck using a public restroom, you can simply wipe out the cup with tissue or a wet wipe which you probably have on hand anyway since you have a new baby. The cup is also less messy and more reliable than the typical pad as well as being a friend to the environment. Plus, after the initial cost, think of all the money you will save over a lifetime of cycles.

As you can see, the Diva Cup is a wonderful way to help reduce the footprint you are leaving on the environment. Plus, it’s economical, comfortable, and practical. Help spread the word about Diva Cups to all your best girls and help out the planet at the same time. Why not go greener and stay cleaner?

by Elizabeth Pantley, Contemporary Books, 2001

“Dad! I’m home!” Melody announced her arrival from school in the typical way. “Where are you?’

“In my office, Mel,” Kevin answered. She ambled in, knowing she’d get a hug, a smile, and an inquiry about her day. After they exchanged greetings and Melody told him about her day at school, she turned to leave the room. Kevin stopped her. “Mel? Before you go out to play, would you mind picking up the dog doo in the yard? You know you’re suppose to do it in the morning before you leave.”

Melody wrinkled her nose. “Sorry, Daddy. I forgot. I’ll do it.”

A while later, Kevin finished his work. As he entered the kitchen to start dinner, he spotted Melody out on the swing set. He also spotted the various brown lumps decorating his lawn. Kevin opened the window and called out to remind his daughter, “Melody! Don’t forget to pick up the dog doo!”

“OK!” she answered back cheerfully.

Soon after, Kevin called Melody for dinner. “What do you say we eat outside? It’s really nice out.” As the two of them toted their food out to the picnic table, Kevin had to sidestep several doggie deposits. “Mel, this is really gross. I wish you’d get it picked up.”

“I’ll do it right after dinner. Promise.” Melody looked contrite, but her Dad looked unconvinced.

Dad and daughter enjoyed a very pleasant dinner, despite the canine ambiance, catching up on the day’s news and tossing around ideas for the upcoming weekend. As soon as they’d cleared the picnic table and tidied up the kitchen, Melody gathered up her homework and began studying diligently for her math test.

Kevin put his hand on her shoulder. “Honey…I’m really proud of you for being so conscientious about your homework. . . but are you ever going to pick up that dog doo?”

The Hidden Message
“If you can put up with the drone of my voice, go ahead and feel free to ignore me. I don’t plan to take any action about this issue at all.”

Think About It
An inescapable part of parenting is getting our children to do many things they’d rather not, like picking up dog doo, taking out trash, cleaning their rooms, and finishing homework. When a parent continues to remind, ask, beg, pester, and yes, nag a child about a task, but fails to follow through with any action, the parent actually gives the child an interesting choice: either listen to the nagging, or do the task. The child is free to decide that the minimal pain of listening to a parent beg over and over is a small price to pay for sidestepping the dreaded deed. And children often do, sometimes without realizing it.

All of Kevin’s comments to Melody are vague, and without any follow through action on his part he may as well say, “If you could manage to pick up the dog doo sometime before your next birthday, that would be really nice…”

Changes You Can Make
You can avoid falling into the nagging trap. Simply follow this four-step process:

1. Think;
2. Tell;
3. Warn;
4. Act.

1. Think. Before you ask your child to do something, think about exactly what you want, when you want it done, and how your child should proceed. Be clear about your purpose.
2. Tell. Once you’re certain about what you want, tell your child. Be specific. Avoid any phrase that makes your request sound optional. For example, “Melody, I would like the dog doo picked up before we sit down to dinner at 6:00.”
3. Warn. If the deadline looms and the requested task has not been completed, let your child know that you are aware of this, and remind her to get the job done. “Melody, dinner will be ready in ten minutes. You are to pick up the dog doo before we eat.”
4. Act. If the deadline has been reached and the task has not been performed, you have a wide variety of options that all come under the heading “Act.”A) You could nudge your child in the right direction either with physical help (Put the shovel and bucket in her hand and guide her out to the yard.)B) You could use a when-then statement (“Melody, I’ll be eating my dinner in the kitchen. When you have picked up the dog doo, then you may join me.”)C) You might follow through with a consequence (“Melody, since you didn’t do as I asked, you’ll be staying home after dinner instead of going to your friend’s house as you had planned.)

   D) If this is a repeat offense, you might invite your child to sit down for a heart-to-heart. Express your displeasure and your expectation. Brainstorm a solution to the problem. For example, you may decide that she needs to create a checklist and keep it posted in a prominent place, such as on the front of the refrigerator, so that she’ll remember to do her chore each day. Then hand her a piece of paper, a ruler and a box of markers and ask her to create the checklist then and there.

   E) You might choose to do it yourself. I know, I know—you’re thinking, “What!?!” But wait, you didn’t let me finish. Do it yourself and let her know which of your jobs she can do for you. (“It’s 6:00, and since you did not pick up the dog doo, I took the time to do it for you. Which means that, in return, you’ll take the time to pull the weeds for me after dinner.”)

Keep in mind that, if you already have demonstrated a gift for ‘gentle reminding, asking, nagging and hinting’, it will take some time to convince your child that you have changed. And she’ll only get the hint that you mean business if you’re consistent in employing the last step (“act”). If you repeat step 3 (“warn”), twice, three times, a dozen times … then you defeat the process and default into your old Nag Mode.

Copyright Elizabeth Pantley. (McGraw-Hill, 2003)

About the author:
Elizabeth Pantley is the author of several books, including Gentle Baby Care : No-cry, No-fuss, No-worry — Essential Tips for Raising Your Baby, The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night, Kid Cooperation (with an introduction by William Sears, MD), Perfect Parenting, as well as her latest The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers and is also president of Better Beginnings, Inc. She is a popular speaker on family issues, and her newsletter, Parent Tips, is seen in schools nationwide. She appears as a regular radio show guest, and has been quoted in Parents, Parenting, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, American Baby, Working Mother, and Woman’s Day magazines. Visit Elizabeth’s web site http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth.

by Elizabeth Pantley, Author of Kid Cooperation and Perfect Parenting

Question:
My child’s bedroom looks like it’s been put through a blender! I can’t see the carpet, and to walk through the room I have to dodge clothes, toys, and last week’s snack wrappers. My child doesn’t care, but I do. When I yell and threaten we sometimes end up with one day of cleanliness, but in no time at all, the disaster magically reappears. What can I do?

Think about it:
Every time you walk by the bedroom, the mess annoys you. You grumble and mumble until finally you reach the boiling point, and explode in anger. When you finally put your foot down, you discover that you and your child have vastly different definitions of “clean.” While you envision an immaculate and orderly room, your child may be perfectly happy as long as she can find her way to the bed without a road map. You obviously have conflicting goals. Try to find a long-term solution that works for both of you.

Organize:
When the bedroom has reached the point of a national disaster, the mess is overwhelming for your child. At this point, you may have to grit your teeth and help with the initial cleanup. Use plenty of boxes, baskets, or tubs to sort your child’s clothes and belongings. Label each container clearly (socks, books, school work, etc.). What happens next is most important. Initiate a daily cleanup time to prevent the buildup of another mess. Inspect every day after cleanup time. At that point use “Grandma’s Rule”: “As soon as your room is clean you may go out to play.” This rule is also known as the “When/Then” approach, “When you have cleaned your bedroom, then you may turn on the computer.”

Contract:
Sit down with your child and develop a bedroom-cleaning contract. Work together to define what constitutes a “clean room” in very specific terms: clothes in dresser and closet (either hanging or folded), books in bookcase, stuffed animals on top bunk, etc. You might even consider allowing a “messy corner” where she can toss things temporarily. Just make sure the corner is clearly sectioned off, such as a section of the closet. Once you’ve agreed on the terms for a “clean room,” choose a specific day of the week for cleaning. One schedule that works well for many families is to require a clean room Saturday prior to any activities or play time. Include a specific plan for what will happen if the room is not clean by the scheduled time. Write up the contract and have everyone sign the agreement. Post it and follow though.

Get serious:
If you’ve reached the end of your rope, and you’re really brave, pick a time when your child is away from home to do a more-than-thorough cleaning. Using baskets and shelves, neatly arrange the necessities and most favorite toys. Pack 90% of the stuff that litters the floor into small boxes. Store the boxes in the garage or attic. Display your child’s beautifully clean room and let her know she can earn back one box at a time at the end of each week that the room is kept clean. You can expect an outburst of hysterics, but stick to your guns. (If a school supply or a favorite toy is boxed by mistake, it would be okay to rescue it.)

Beautify:
Invest a weekend to clean and rearrange the bedroom. If possible, hang new curtains or cover the bed with a new bedspread. Pull a dresser out of the attic, or search a second-hand store for a new piece of furniture for her room. Let your child paint it however she’d like. Allow her to customize the walls with pictures or posters. Often, a fresh, new outlook like this will encourage a child to keep her “new” room neat and clean.

Transfer responsibility:
If your child is age ten or older, and a basically responsible kid, it’s okay to turn her bedroom over to her as practice for her first apartment experience. (Take a security deposit, if you feel you must.) Outline the basic rules, such as: how often the bed linens must be changed, how often the floor must be vacuumed, and what type of food is allowed in the room. Once the basic rules are agreed to, give your child the responsibility to care for her room, her way. You can pile any of her laundry or stray belongings by her door each day. Let her know that as long as the basic rules are followed, she’ll be in charge of her own room. (And if you can’t stand looking at the clutter, shut the door.)

Copyright Elizabeth Pantley. (McGraw-Hill, 2003)

About the author:
Elizabeth Pantley is the author of several books, including Gentle Baby Care : No-cry, No-fuss, No-worry — Essential Tips for Raising Your Baby, The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night, Kid Cooperation (with an introduction by William Sears, MD), Perfect Parenting, as well as her latest The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers and is also president of Better Beginnings, Inc. She is a popular speaker on family issues, and her newsletter, Parent Tips, is seen in schools nationwide. She appears as a regular radio show guest, and has been quoted in Parents, Parenting, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, American Baby, Working Mother, and Woman’s Day magazines. Visit Elizabeth’s web site http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth.

For first time moms breastfeeding can seem like a daunting task. What do you do, how do you do it, how do you know if you are successful, and what if you run into problems? The mistake many make is that they do not prepare ahead of time to breastfeed their baby, instead waiting till the baby is there and learning by trial and error. There are several things a woman can do however to successfully prepare themselves for the hurdles that may accompany breastfeeding.

1. Prepare during pregnancy! Try to breastfeed immediately after your baby is born. In most cases you can request that the eye drops, weighing and other protocols that your baby will go through after birth wait until you have tried to create that bond. Most healthy babies will breastfeed eagerly within their first hour of life. If you can’t breastfeed in the first hour, don’t give up, your baby will learn!

2. Gain the recommended amount of weight. The fat you gain during pregnancy is Mother Nature’s way of ensuring enough calories for your breastfeeding baby. Make sure you gain the recommended weight and try not to gain more or less. Breastfeeding also burns several hundred calories a day.

3. Before the baby comes find a pediatrician that supports breastfeeding. Ask if they follow the American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement on breastfeeding that details the benefit of breastfeeding to moms and babies.

4. Have your breasts checked out by a lactation consultant (LC) before your baby comes. If you have an inverted or flat nipple it may be difficult for your baby to latch on. There are specific shields, positions and techniques that will help you make breastfeeding successful.

5. Don’t try to over “clean” your nipples. Soap or antibacterial solutions can strip essential oils.

6. Moisturize your nipples and breasts if you have dry skin. Studies show moisturized nipples are less likely to crack.

7. Buy an inexpensive nursing bra prior to coming home that is free of wires which can cause ducts. Remember that when you are pregnant your rib cage is wider and bras that you buy before you have you baby may not fit within a few weeks of your baby being born. Save your money for the expensive bras till after your ribs have gone back to their normal position.

8. Take a breastfeeding class with other pregnant moms. Educate yourself and your family on the benefits of breastfeeding (there are hundreds) by reading books, attending meetings, and looking up information on the internet.

9. Find a network of support. If your family doesn’t support you, find friends that do. You may need their help and encouragement. Call a La Leche League Leader, who is trained to help other mom’s breastfeed. Go to a support meeting where you can meet pregnant moms like you.

10. Soreness will be caused by an incorrect latch. If you’ve never seen a baby breastfeeding, watch a video or go to a support meeting for breastfeeding moms. You and your baby should be belly-to-belly, with his ear, shoulder and hip all forming a straight line. His nose should be almost touching your breast, and his mouth should be extremely wide open with his lips flanged outward, not rolled inward.

11. Have pillows or a boppy ready to help support your baby and lift him higher before he arrives. Your back and shoulders will get sore if you hunch over. Use a pillow to protect a c-section incision in case your baby moves around.

12. Don’t give up! Remember you may hit hurdles but you can be successful at breastfeeding. Most women can breastfeed even if they think that they can’t. It may just be that you need practice and a little help.

As your baby grows and learns, they will begin discovering all the new parts of his body. One part of his body he will probably discover by the time he is about three months old is his hand. Every time you look at him you may see him sitting there with his hand in or near his mouth.

Now, for a while your baby will be fighting and trying to work that hand all the way in, however he will probably fail as his mouth may be smaller than his hand. This can lead to frustration and fussiness in your baby.

While discovering his hand is a normal occurrence for all babies, it can also be a sign of teething and a way that a baby begins to sooth himself when tired or fussy. If there is a lot of excess drool, it probably means that your baby is starting to teeth and that they are putting pressure on their gums with their fits. If this bothers you try getting a teething toy for your baby to chew on that will help their gums.

If your baby begins putting his hand in his mouth, and then you discover that it has gone from his hand to just his thumb or a couple of fingers it means that your baby has found a way a way to help calm himself down. You should be happy about this as it means you may have some more free time on your hands.

In most cases, unless your baby has been crawling around in an unsanitary environment or outdoors, you don’t have to worry too much about cleaning your baby’s hands constantly. If you keep your floors vacuumed and mopped and your house pretty clean, then there shouldn’t be anything on the floor that could hurt your baby. What you would need to watch for is your baby picking something up off of the floor and putting it in his mouth. If you really think him putting his hand in his mouth is bad, wait till he discovers his foot….