Several things can lead to your baby being breech. Most of the time it just happens, and there is no medical reason for it. It can happen with twins or other pregnancies with multiples as there isn’t enough room in the uterus all the time for the babies to flip around. It can also happen if there is a smaller than normal amount of amniotic fluid, a short umbilical cord, or other uterine abnormalities. If your baby has a congenital defect he is more likely to be breech as well.

Less than 5% of babies are breech when a full term labor begins. Premature babies are more likely to be breech as they have not had enough time to turn around. At 28 weeks of pregnancy 25% of babies are still in the breech position. It is the weight of the babies head that draws on the gravity to pull your baby to a head down position, and therefore the percentage of breech babies goes down drastically as the baby gets bigger and the end of pregnancy nears.

There are actually four different versions of breech presentation in babies. They include:

• Frank Breech where your baby comes out bottom first and the feet are up by your babies ears
• Complete Breech where your baby is sitting cross-legged and comes out bottom first
• Footling Breech where your baby’s bottom is higher in the uterus, but his feet are at the opening of the pelvic bone, set to come out first
• Kneeling Breech where your baby is in a kneeling position at the top of the pelvic bone

Frank Breech is the most common way a breech baby will be presented. Both the Footling Breech and the Kneeling Breech are very rare positions.

Many couples will prefer the doctor or midwife to try an external method of tuning the baby from the outside prior to labor beginning. This is done in the hospital and generally the baby is monitored on your baby to make sure he does not experience fetal distress.

If the baby cannot be turned, or the couple chooses to not try turning the baby, then a c-section will often be scheduled in order to deliver a breech baby. There are risks to delivering a full term breech baby, Including a prolapsed umbilical cord, oxygen deprivation, the baby’s head getting stuck since the bottom is softer and may not dilate the cervix as much as it should, as well as possible injury to the baby’s brain and skull. Because of these risks, doctors will generally not agree to do vaginal breech births, and will instead insist on delivering the baby by c-section as it is safer for both the mother and the baby.

Are Shoes Needed
Until your baby has learned how to walk, he doesn’t necessarily NEED shoes. Shoes are great to have to make an outfit complete, or for pictures, but as a daily need it is not a must for most babies or their parents. As your baby learns to walk most pediatricians still suggest not putting shoes on their feet. The muscles on your baby’s feet only gain strength as they are used, and if your baby learns to walk with shoes on, he is not strengthening those muscles. When your baby is learning to walk and you are going to be out of the house putting shoes on his feet to protect them is a good idea, but he should still be allowed to walk around barefooted while at home.

What Should You Look For?
There are many things to remember when it comes to getting the perfect pair of shoes for your baby. Getting a good quality shoe is very important because the development of your baby’s feet is a constant ongoing process. There are certain details to look for when looking for a good quality shoe.

• The shoe should be made of breathable material (like leather) instead of plastic
• Sole should be bendable at the ball of the foot
• Should have cushioned insoles
• Feel for irregularities inside of the shoe
• Flat heels for babies and toddlers ONLY

Shoe Size
The size of shoe you buy is important as well. Just like clothing where one brand might be bigger than a different brand in exactly the same size, one shoe labeled as a three from one company may fit like a size two or a size four. When it comes time to measure your baby’s feet for shoes, measure them in the afternoon, when all of our feet are naturally more swollen than they are in the morning. If your baby’s shoes are a half an inch long on him it is ok because it will give his feet room to expand and move around some as he is learning to walk, run and jump. The width of your baby’s foot is just as important as the length. Some baby’s naturally have wider feet than others so make sure the shoe you pick out works widthwise as well as length wise before sending your baby out in the world in it.

Flat Feet
You may hear from friends or relatives something about your baby having flat feet and concern about how to buy shoes to help the feet develop an arch. The truth is that all babies are born with flat feet and that in most cases an arch will naturally develop as his muscles strengthen. Don’t buy shoes that have an arch built in as an effort to help your baby’s arch form. If you are really concerned about the development of your babies feet ask your pediatrician at your baby’s next well-check.

For a new parent dressing a baby can be a scary thing. Especially so with smaller babies who seem that much more fragile. Many people are afraid they will break their baby if they are not careful. While the likelihood of that happening is not very high, it is easy to understand why people would fear that.

When you start shopping for clothes picture yourself trying to dress your baby in the outfit. If the outfit looks complicated or time consuming you may not want to buy it, especially in the smaller sizes. Also remember to wash all your babies’ clothes in a gentle, perfume/dye free detergent prior to putting them on your baby as you do not want to irritate your baby’s sensitive newborn skin.

Step 1: Pick Out the Outfit Ahead of Time
Don’t wait until it is time to dress your baby to decide what to dress your baby in. Decide earlier in the day or the night before and set the clothes out while your baby is calm or asleep. This will take away the possibility of a last minute choice while your baby is crying, and you having to rush.

Step 2: Think Layers
You should definitely invest in simple onesies for your baby to wear under his daily outfits. When your baby is first born it is harder to regulate their temperatures as the temperature outside changes. If it is hot you can easily remove layers, but if it is cold you will be happy that you have them and so will your baby. You also never know when your baby’s diaper may leak and having that extra layer of clothing could very easily protect that cute outfit you just had to have your baby seen in. Another good reason to layer is that often the cute outfits have stitching on the inside that can lie against the babies’ skin and irritate them. Tags in the back of clothing can be irritating as well, so having the onesie in between the skin and main outfit can help give you a happier baby.

Step 3: Protect the Neck
Just like when carrying your baby around, you have to remember to support the neck while you are dressing your baby. It can be a little difficult when trying to get your baby’s arms in a top, to remember the neck. Your baby might lift a bit, letting his head fall back. If you want you can try to build your baby’s wardrobe with outfits that don’t go over the head, but button down the front, or can be put on feet first.

Step 4: The Head and Feet
Don’t forget about your baby’s head and feet. Remember that body temperature is partly controlled from these upper and lower extremities so you want to keep them covered, or uncovered as well. If it is super hot outside stick to a thin pair of socks for your baby, or let them go sock less. Don’t worry about the shoes until your baby is walking. If you are out in the sun consider a hat for your baby so they don’t get burned, but otherwise keep their head uncovered so that it can “breathe”. In the winter or on colder days, have socks for your baby and a baby “stocking cap” to help keep your baby’s head warm.

Step 5: Take Extras!
It doesn’t matter how old your baby is, you still need to take at least two spare outfits with you to dress your baby in while you are out. This includes extra onesies, socks and caps as well. You never know when your baby will have a blowout, spit up on himself, get sick, become a messy eater, or be victim to an accident on your part like a tipped over soda in the stroller. We say two outfits so that you still have a spare outfit after you change your baby the first time, in case there is a second accident. Take lots of socks with you because it can be very common for a baby to move while you are changing his diaper. Often his feet can end up in the mess and you don’t want him wearing his socks that are dirty. Also, since caps can easily slide and be pushed off the head when you pick up your baby, you want spares incase it falls in a puddle or gets dirty.

Congratulations if you are a new parent! Aren’t you eager to dress your newborn in those adorable cute outfits but you must know that your baby will quickly outgrow them. So buying baby clothes can be quite a challenge and it will largely depend upon your baby’s growth and your budget. While you set out to shop for those cute outfits keep a few basic buying tips in mind.

1. Always buy a larger size. You will be wasting money if you buy clothes that fit your baby perfectly. Babies grow very fast in the first few years and buying a larger size will ensure a longer life for the clothes.�
    
2. Take weather into consideration. For example if your baby is due in winter you’ll have to store your baby’s wardrobe with winter clothes. Baby clothes are labeled according to the age groups and when you are tempted to buy an outfit make a weather prediction first -What will be the weather like when my baby is of that age? In this way you will invest in clothes that will fit your newborn and also be seasonally appropriate.�
    
3. Functionality of clothes is most important. The clothes should be easy to put on. One-piece jumpsuits, clothes with front buckles or snaps or zippers will be more comfortable for the baby. You must be able to change the baby’s clothes and diapers easily and for this purpose snap crotches and stretchy necklines will be of great help. Try and avoid buying clothes with buttons, beads or clasps. Do not buy scratchy materials and even if you buy clothes with frills and lace or embroidery make sure that they are easy to pull off and comfortable for the baby.
4. Store up for emergencies. Babies spill food all the time and if they become sick they may throw up on their outfit itself. You will have to change the baby into a clean set of clothes a number of times in a day. Especially when you are traveling with the baby and you neither have time nor the necessary arrangement for washing, you will need a lot of extra clothing for the baby.�
    
5. Do not refuse Hand me downs. Your relatives or friends might offer you their children’s clothes. These may be new clothes that a child may never have worn for babies outgrow their clothes very fast, or these may be second hand clothes. You can add to your baby’s wardrobe in this manner.�
    
6. Covering the feet is equally important. Those tiny feet need care and one-piece outfits with footies attached are ideal. Socks would be another alternative but most infants pull them off and if your baby is already walking or is able to stand up then you could go for those adorable little shoes with squeakers.�
    
7. Wash the clothes first. Wash the clothes before you dress your baby. Clothes that you buy might have had a long shelf life, you never know! New clothes may cause skin irruptions and irritation. Washing will not only clean them but also make the clothes softer. A baby’s skin is extremely sensitive and you have to take extra care to keep his clothes dirt free. Before you go shopping for your bundle of joy keep these tips in mind. Baby clothes can be quite expensive so you need to know beforehand exactly what kind of clothes you are looking for, taking into consideration weather factors, the infant’s growth and your finances. You will never run out of options and shopping for your baby can be real fun!

Baby Footprints
Everyone loves sweet baby feet, and baby footprints are a classic symbol of a newborn. The first year of a child’s life is a time of remarkable growth and development.

Now you can preserve a piece of your baby’s first year forever with easy-to-use kit, which captures a perfect impression of your child’s tiny foot.

Anyone can make cute cards with a cherished reminder of baby’s adorable feet and hands.

Parents and grandparents will think this is the best baby shower gift.

For thank you notes or baby announcements after baby has arrived, use his/her real footprint or handprint.

About the Author:
Lena Hilltorp is a freelance publisher based in Sweden. She publishes articles and reports and provides Baby footprints resources on http://www.baby-footprint.net.