I was just talking to my sister in Christchurch, New Zealand earlier this week and she was complaining that the temperature on her side is “down” to 12°C (54°F). I looked outside where my kids were happily playing because we are finally “up” to 12°C after a long, cold winter. They were wearing light jackets and baseball caps.

What I am trying to say is that winter blues or seasonal affective disorder (SAD) as we call it is a year-round thing, depending on where you are. SAD is a not-very-well-understood but definitely existing psychiatric condition characterized by depressive symptoms during the long, dark, winter months. SAD is said to affect about 2 to 5% of people in the US alone. Other SAD symptoms include:

Moodiness
Lethargy, e.g. chronic fatigue and need for more sleep
Cravings for carbohydrates that easily lead to weight gain, the so-called “winter fat.”

SAD has two main characteristics:

It is seasonal.
SAD is observed in the winter time when the days are short, and daylight minimal. The symptoms usually start with the onset of autumn, peak in midwinter January when people get over the holiday mood, but resolve as soon as the sun stays a bit longer in spring.

It is geographic.
The incidence of SAD increases as one moves northward (or southward, depending on where you are). In other words, the risk and incidence of SAD is higher in higher latitudes where sunshine is practically non-existent in the winter time and the day basically consists of 24/7 of night time. It is no wonder the suicide rates are very high in winter time in these regions. In addition to the short daylight hours, winter gloominess can also be worsened by fogs and low clouds, something that you get when living close to big lakes like in Switzerland or Scotland. On the other hand, SAD incidence is practically non-existent in the tropics where winter is unheard of.

So how do we fight SAD (isn’t this abbreviation so fitting!)? Here are a few tips to help you through the winter blues:

Go outdoors.
The cure for SAD may just be outside your front door. Take advantage of the short daylight by going out late morning till early afternoon. Have you ever noticed how the snow make everything seems lighter even on the gloomiest day? Make a midday walk a daily routine. You get sunlight, vitamin D, and physical exercise.

Go somewhere bright and light.
If you have the time and the money, then follow the birds and go south (or north), even if only for a couple of days. Those of you living in the US don’t even have to go out of the country. A weekend in southern California or Florida would do just fine. Here in Switzerland, we always get daily information as to which is the closest hilltop or mountaintop to go to in order to escape the lowland fog and low clouds. You’d be surprised at the difference in visibility once you are over the clouds. The sun up there can be blinding.

Make your place as light as possible.
If you don’t have the money for a tropical, sunny vacation, then try making your home as light as possible. White walls are best in keeping a room light and airy. But if you don’t have them and you don’t feel like (understandably!) painting in midwinter, there are other things you can do. Open the curtains, blinds, shutters, drapes or whatever you have on your windows at daytime. Turn on the lights even if it’s daytime. You’d be surprised how dark it is indoors even with artificial light. Indoor illumination is approximately 500 lux. Try taking a picture with your camera. The flash automatically goes on!

Lighten up your clothes.
It’s not only the dark walls and the gloomy rooms that can affect your mood. It strikes me as strange that we tend to dress in dark, drab colors in winter time. Black maybe chic but it’s not the time to make a fashion statement. A little color on yourself could really cheer you up as well as others around you.

Use artificial light.
If you cannot have natural light, then go for the artificial type. Health experts at UC Davis recommend artificial light therapy for those with serious cases of SAD. The standard light therapy equipment is a TV-sized light box with fluorescent bulbs behind a protective filter. The box would emit between 2,500 to 10,000 lux, which is equivalent to the outdoor light at dawn or at dusk. SAD treatment consists of standing in front of the light box between 15 minutes to 2 hours every day and is said to be work better and faster than drugs. The box can be bought or rented.

Medications.
In cases where light therapy alone doesn’t help, the treatment can also be combined with anti-depressants. The drug Prozac seems to work best against SAD, according to the UC Davis experts. However, consult your doctor before taking any anti-depressants.

Choose fiber-rich carbs.
You may not be able to ignore those cravings for carbohydrates any longer. Make sure you go for the carbohydrates rich in fibers: whole grain bread and crackers, whole grain, sugar-free cereals, even whole grain pasta.

Keep a regular sleeping pattern.
If you give in to frequent daytime napping, you will end up not sleeping well at night. Keeping a regular night time sleeping pattern is the best way to avoid sleep disturbances.

Author: Science-Mom

Photographing a baby can be very difficult, especially if you have a squirmy baby or one who is camera shy. While you can not control the baby, you can control the surroundings and hopefully make the baby a little more comfortable so that you are able to capture a good picture, easily.

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.

If you are like most parents, you are convinced that your bouncing baby just does the cutest little things. It’s true. Babies make wonderful photo subjects and the latest digital point-and-shoot cameras provide parents with a great way to preserve the funny faces and first steps and share these memories with friends and family.

Keeping up with your baby can be quite a challenge. There are things you can do to make it easier.

Be Prepared
The Boy Scouts were right. Always have your digital camera out and ready to go with your batteries charged so you never miss a moment. Unexpected moments often make the best photos. Carry with you extra batteries. To save money invest in rechargeable batteries.

Teamwork Pays Off
One moment, baby is posed perfectly and the next, she’s crawling away! Babies are easily distracted, so have a relative or friend keep baby’s attention with a toy or noise while you capture the moment. Plan some of your pictures to be of your baby moving so that when she starts crawling away you can get the perfect shot.

See Eye-to-Eye with Baby
Don’t take photos from grown-up level. Instead, get down to baby’s level so that you can catch shots from a new perspective. Your pictures will turn out much better face to face than looking down.

Light of Your Life
Choose or use a camera with Scene Modes. Some digital cameras have pre-programmed settings to capture the perfect picture of baby under difficult situations such as dawn or dusk, bright sunlight or near darkness. Consider using filters on your camera in order to make it seem like a different time of day or to correct lighting problems.

May You Never See Red-Eye Again
Baby’s bright eyes are more likely to produce “red-eye” so try to choose and use a camera that has the In-Camera Red-Eye Fix feature to show your child’s true “baby blues.” If you can’t correct it when taking the picture, you can buy software programs that will allow you to correct it after you have uploaded the picture to your computer.

Family Affair
Baby might be the shining star these days, but don’t forget the rest of the family. Be sure to jump in some shots yourself even if you prefer not to have your picture taken. These are the days to remember and when your baby is 20 years old you will be happy that you have pictures of the two of you together from when he was younger.

When it comes to the art of taking pictures of babies we all want these photographs to turn out, well, picture perfect, especially when the baby in question is our own. There is one fatal flaw that will mar the perfection of photographs around the world. Whether you are a novice or a professional photographer you will find that you absolutely must have proper lighting in order to take decent photographs of your little one.

How to Find the Perfect Light
Nature provides the best source of lighting. The best time of day to take photos outside is early morning or late afternoon when lighting isn’t directly overhead as that will cast unwelcome shadows on your baby’s beautiful face. While most point and shoot cameras do come with flashes you will find that flashes are not the best lighting source when it comes to taking the best baby pictures.

When taking a photo of baby you want light that isn’t harsh and if possible that isn’t artificial. The problem is that winter months provide little opportunity for baby to go outside and summer months require special care and consideration for discomfort resulting from both the sun and the heat. A good alternative is if you have access to a sunroom or any room in your house that has an abundance of windows that allow natural light to stream into the room. This allows proper lighting combined with a comfortable atmosphere for your little one to take an exceptionally cute baby picture that is exposed to the proper amount of light. When taking photographs outside you should also take care that you are neither facing your baby into the sun (as this will agitate your baby) nor your face to the sun as this will create a glare. You may also want to take note of reflective metals or bodies of water that may be in the line of sight of your camera lens as well and avoid those whenever possible.

If these options are not available to you try to make sure that the room you are snapping photographs in is well lit and that you aren’t casting unnecessary shadows when taking your baby photo. Shadows create dark spots on the photo and too little light makes the entire photograph too dark to make out the beautiful features of your baby. If all else fails you can rely on the flash from your camera. These are actually adequate for most non-professional photographs. However, if you want an extra special picture for a baby photo contest or to grace the cover of your baby photo album, you might want to explore the possibilities of natural lighting in order to capture the brightest of your baby’s smiles.

Snapping pictures of your baby is probably one of your most favorite, new-found past-times. And in the age of digital ‘everything’ it can be a very simple and pleasing process. But when it comes to taking black and white photos as compared to color images, the process changes a bit. Following are some tips for getting the best results from your black and white toned baby pictures.

No Fear
Don’t be afraid to snap away because as they say, ‘If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again’. Not only does that statement hold very true in this particular instance, but it’s also some of the best advice you can heed while attempting to master the art of taking black and white baby photos. As a matter of fact, you might want to first consider practicing by taking pictures of various types of other of images to get accustomed with the process. It can save you a lot of time and effort before actually getting baby all ready and positioned for shots you’re not certain will come out correctly. This way too, you can take your black and white photos of baby with the utmost confidence and assurance that you’ll end up with your desired results.

The Benefit of Natural Light
Natural light is one of the best ways to get great results when taking black and white baby photos. Everything you see through your lens is pretty much exactly how it’s going to appear in your picture, e.g., shadows, tones, etc. So whenever possible, use this organic element to your benefit as it will greatly assist in your black and white baby picture taking endeavors.

The Eyes Don’t Lie
Trust your eyes and utilize them as the best judge for light and dark tones on your image – in this case your beautiful baby. Because our eyes naturally determine contrast and shadows for us, this is one very helpful, ‘built-in’ attribute you possess that will greatly assist in achieving perfect black and white shots of your baby. And although you may have to ‘train’ your eyes slightly in effect, to imagine the shadows and contrast in black and white tones, a little practice goes a long way and you’ll get the hang of it in no time.

Foreground and Background
Try to snap your black and white baby photos against as ‘unbusy’ of a background as possible. Because these images are basically in monochrome tones, things tend to blend together if there’s too much going on in contrast. At the same time, try to keep baby’s outfit simple with solid patterns and colors. You want your baby to stand out in the picture so keep in mind that less is more for obtaining the most appealing results when it comes to backgrounds and foregrounds in black and white photos.

Black and white photos are especially perfect for capturing all those special facial features and expressions. They also add a degree of extra drama which results in a truly artful impression of your baby that will stand the test of time for years and years to come.

It can be so hard to get your baby to fall asleep, even when you know he is tired. He may fight sleep and having to rest by kicking, screaming, crying or just fussing. Needless to say, while he is fighting it, you will probably be going nuts yourself. Babies are stubborn and when they do not want to do something they are sure to let everyone who will listen know about it. Parents often find themselves asking what they can do to get their babies to sleep easier and sleep longer. We have the answers!

1. Create a bedtime routine. Your baby may fall asleep easier if there is an order that you do things every evening and he knows what to expect. Some babies don’t like the feeling of surprise when they are put to bed and would rather be eased into it. Start with dinner, a bath, nursing and then bed. If you want you can throw in a song, a story, or a massage.

2. Try to get your newborn to bed when he is sleepy but not overtired. If you let him get overtired he may have a harder time falling asleep and fight it more. If he is sleepy he will probably let his body’s natural instinct take over and lull him to sleep.

3. Use the light and dark to help “program” your baby. Wake your baby up in the morning once the sun comes up and start putting him to bed as the sun goes down and the room gets dark. Let the natural light help teach your baby when to fall asleep and when to wake up.

4. Check the sleep environment. You don’t want the area he sleeps in to be too busy or have too much going on. Find a quiet corner his bed can go in and take the toys out of the bed. Allow him no distractions so that he can easily go to sleep.

5. Teach your baby how to self-soothe. It is never too early to think about it so that when it is time to begin you can easily help your baby start putting himself to sleep. Once your baby can calm himself and put himself to sleep, it will free up your time to take care of other family matters. It will also help him be able to fall BACK to sleep after being awoken.

6. Pay attention to his pattern. If you watch his sleeping you will begin to notice a pattern forming of when he is tired, is ready for bed, how long he will sleep and you will know about when he will wake up. Knowing your baby’s schedule will make it easier to judge when he needs to sleep and how long you have before he wakes up.

7. Avoid stimulation. Highly stimulating forms of activity right before bedtime can wind up your baby making it hard to get him to settle down and go to sleep. Keep it calm and quiet in the house leading up to his bedtime so that he will fall asleep with little fuss.

Napping a Six Month Old
By the halfway point of your baby’s life, not only has he hit a ton of milestones, but he is probably on a regular nap schedule throughout the day. Most babies will be waking up and going to bed at night about the same time, and taking a couple of naps a day for a couple of hours each. These will normally be in the morning and afternoon. At this point it becomes much easier for mom and dad to plan outings as well as meals in the house, because they know when their baby will be awake, and when he will be asleep.

Napping a One Year Old
Most one year olds are still taking a couple of naps a day at this point; however the naps may not be lasting as long. Your baby is probably up walking, running, and very interested in the world around him. It may be hard to get your baby to actually settle down and take a nap, when there is so much else that they would love to do. Enjoy the down time you do have however, because it may not last much longer.

Napping an 18 Month Old
By the time your baby is 18 months old he probably would have cut out one of his naps. Instead of a mid-morning and mid-afternoon nap, he will probably just be taking his afternoon nap, although it may have moved closer to noon or right after lunch. It also may have gotten longer. Where your baby may have only been sleeping an hour to an hour and a half in the afternoon, he could possibly be sleeping 3 hours now. Make the most of this time during your day and get stuff done.

Napping a Two to Three Year Old
Sometime during your baby’s second and third birthday it is highly likely that he will no longer be taking naps. There is entirely too much going on in his world and too much to see and do. You will put him in his crib or toddler bed and he may sit and play for the two hours he is there instead of napping. Your peace and quiet may be coming to an end. The good news is that since your child still needs at least 12 hours of sleep a day, it might be possible to put him to bed early, around six in the evening and have him sleep all night. This will give you that free time in the evenings to get done things that you were not able to get done during the day.