• Instead of scrapbooking every photo you take, divide your photos by month and choose some of your favorites to highlight in a 2 to 4 page layout for each month. You’ll be able to show how your baby has grown and changed over an entire year, without having to create separate layouts for each roll of film.
• Keep a monthly calendar to document various milestones, firsts, and important dates. You can then include the calendar with each set of monthly photos. It’s a great way to do your journaling “as you go” and remember all of those important little everyday moments.
• Include the photos that you don’t choose to scrapbook in photo sleeve pages behind each monthly layout. This allows you to include the additional photos in your album without having to make additional scrapbook pages for each event or set of photos. Be sure to add the date and label each photo so that you’ll know when and where they were taken as well as who was in them.
• Don’t let this system prevent you from creating scrapbook pages about special moments or events that inspire you to create additional layouts. Just add them to the album in chronological order!

Remember that there is no “right” way to organize your scrapbook. Use whatever system that works best for you.

About the Author
Andrea Steed is the author and creator of Scrap Tutor, a web site and CD-ROM that teaches you how to create scrapbooks and how to perform many popular techniques used in scrapbooking. For more information, visit www.scraptutor.com.

Facts to Document
Weight at birth
Length at birth
Color of eyes
Color of hair
Doctor’s name
Time of birth
How long you were in labor
First smile
First time they rolled over
First time they crawled
First time they sat up
First steps
First bath
Favorite songs
Favorite bedtime stories
Favorite toys
Gifts received
Price of gas, houses, cars, etc at date of birth
Family Tree

Things to Write About
What does their name mean?
Were they named after anyone?
How long did you stay in the hospital?
Who was present at the hospital?
What did they eat?
Did they sleep through the night?
How did they react around people?
Did they cry often?
What entertained them as babies?
What was their first “outing” like?
How old were they the first time they had a babysitter?
Where did they sleep?
Did they suck their thumb?
Did they use a pacifier?

Photos to Take
Document growth by taking monthly photos of your baby next to a large stuffed animal
Photos of their nursery
Photo of the house you live in
Photos with mom, dad, siblings, grandparents, and other family members
Sleeping baby photos
Bath photos
Photos with favorite toys
Photos each day of their first month
Any “firsts” you can capture
Happy and not-so-happy moments
Black and white photos
Facial expressions
WELCOME BABY PRINTABLESLooking for a way to start off a scrapbook for your baby? Print a Welcome Baby Treasured Keepsakes for Newborns!
 

About the Author
Andrea Steed is the author and creator of Scrap Tutor, a web site and CD-ROM that teaches you how to create scrapbooks and how to perform many popular techniques used in scrapbooking. For more information, visit www.scraptutor.com.

Although unintentionally showing favoritism may do no harm, it is important that you proceed with caution. If you are not careful, your grandchild or your own child can suffer the consequences, which may include feeling left out or they may feel a lack of importance. With that in mind, there are a number of steps that you can take to prevent favoritism from becoming a problem.

One of the first steps that you will want to take, to avoid favoritism with grandchildren, involves equal time. As a grandparent, it is important that you spend equal time with your grandchildren. Although this may be difficult with busy schedules and possibly even distance, it is important that you take steps to give each grandchild the same or similar amounts of time. Even if it is something as simple as stopping by for a half an hour visit, your time is of great importance to your grandchildren.

Another common mistake that grandparents make involves purchasing gifts for one grandchild and not the other. You are advised to proceed with caution in terms of gifts. This is particularly important with grandchildren who live in the same home. Although birthdays are exceptions to this important rule, you will want to use your best judgment. For instance, if your see an outfit that your granddaughter would love, be sure to pick up another gift, even just a small one, for your grandson. This is the best way to go about avoiding favoritism.

Although newborns and infants may be unable to detect a small amount of favoritism, toddlers and their parents have keen eyes. Unfortunately, most grandparents do not even realize that they are exuding even a small amount of favoritism. That is why you are urged to step back and take a close look at each situation that involves multiple grandchildren. Using your best judgment is one of the best ways to avoid favoritism.

The above mentioned tips are tips that grandparents should always take into consideration. As a reminder, it is important to remember that you do not have to shower your grandchildren with gifts to show your affection. Often times, your love and support will be enough. However, when gifts are involved, it is important that you use your best judgment.

Question:
My kid thinks “chocolate” is one of the main food groups! She eats way too much junk food, and not enough healthy foods. How can I help her develop better eating habits?

Think about it:
Kids tend to focus more on immediate gratification than long-term benefits, especially when it comes to eating. It will take education and behavior modification to change your daughter’s eating habits.

Purge your kitchen:
Many children will eat junk if it’s available to them. The first step, then, is to make junk less accessible. Clean out your cabinets and refrigerator. Keep only a minimum amount of treats on hand. If you absolutely must have your chocolate, keep it hidden from little eyes. Interesting alternatives: Kids aren’t going to get excited about carrot strips and apple pieces! Keep a supply of tasty healthy choices available. Look for low-fat, low-sugar snacks that will appeal to your child. There are many types of muffins, bagels, breads, fruit-based snacks, puddings, and crackers that make good snack choices.

Powerful Habits:
Children tend to have favorite foods that they eat over and over. Try to replace the old favorites with a similar but healthier choice. For instance, if your child often eats potato chips, try to find a salty, crunchy replacement, such as pretzels. If your child is hooked on candy, choose licorice, jellybeans, or hard candy in small quantities as a better choice. (Note: Do not give hard candy to young children who may choke on it.)

Get moving! Encourage your child to be more active. Bored kids who aren’t staying busy may fill their time by eating. Enroll your child in a club, sports team or get her started with a hobby or craft activity. Replace old habits, such as munching in front of the TV with a more productive activity.

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.