by Cherie Stirewalt

The crying – oh, the crying. A colicky baby can really drive you to the edge. Failed attempts to soothe her crying may leave you wondering if you are cut out to be a parent after all. But, don’t worry, you are. You just need to arm yourself with some tools to battle each colic-crying outburst.

But, first, let’s define why your colic baby cries.

The most popular theory from scientists lately is an underdeveloped and immature nervous system. I know all women who have given birth can attest to the fact that a baby has a big head. Right?

Wrong. Actually, a baby’s head isn’t big enough to house a brain that is mature enough to have all the survival tools a human infant needs. Their brain is only the size of an apple. The birth canal cannot handle a bigger head (thank God). So, when a baby is born, the only inherent survival skills are sneezing, sucking, swallowing and….CRYING!

Most babies (80%, that is) are capable of crying for a reason, and then calming themselves down. These are usually what I call “the good sleepers” or “easy babies”. They are awake for awhile to learn and accept stimuli. Then they sleep to recover and awake to take in more stimuli.

Unfortunately, a colicky baby is usually NOT a “good sleeper” or an “easy baby”. They are high-maintenance. Their nervous system is overloaded with all the sights and sounds of a new world. And by about dinner time, they’ve had it. The crying begins. Once they start crying, they lack the mechanism to calm themselves down. In my experience, most mothers with colicky infants tell the same story. Their baby fights going to sleep. They won’t take a nap. They won’t stay asleep once they do finally go to sleep. These poor babies never take the time to recover from all the stimuli they have taken in over the course of a day.

So this is where you, as a parent, step in. Reduce the environmental stimuli and recreate the feeling your baby had while in the womb.

Remember, in the womb, your baby was packed in tightly. It was dark. It was warm. And the prominent sound she heard was the “whoosh” of blood flowing through the placenta. This “whoosh” is a little louder than the noise of a vacuum cleaner running.

However, there are other items you might have around the house that can lull your over stimulated colic baby to sleep. Most babies can be soothed by rhythmic, monotonous, low-pitched, humming sound that repeats at 60-70 pulses per minute. Here are 10 such items for you to try:

1. A shower running
2. A fan
3. A running dishwasher
4. A running washing machine
5. A very loud, ticking clock
6. A bathroom fan turned on with the light off
7. A metronome set a 60 beats per minute
8. A radio tuned to static
9. A tv tuned to static
10. Smooth jazz or easy listening stations

While listening to these rhythmic sounds, it is best to lower the lights, and make your baby comfortable. Remember, we are trying to recreate the feeling of being in the womb.

Finally, it is true what you read. Baby colic does eventually come to an end. As your baby grows, and their brains increase in size, all of the circuits mature and they learn the survival tools necessary to cope. It only takes about three to six months. In the meantime, when you feel a crying outburst about to happen, turn off the lights…and turn on all your household appliances.

Just kidding!

About the Author
Cherie is the webmaster of www.colic-baby-bootcamp.com and specializes in teaching parents methods for handling a baby with colic. Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cherie_Stirewalt.

by Cherie Stirewalt

Surviving a baby with colic truly deserves an award of some sort. The relentless screaming can really drive you to the edge.

Unfortunately for the parents of a colic baby, most of the focus of surviving is usually geared towards how to relieve the suffering for your baby. But, what about your suffering?

Here are 10 tips on HOW to keep your sanity while enduring a fit of colic.

1. Buy a baby monitor with lights that indicate the level of noise coming from your baby. Take this monitor with you everywhere, put it on mute and get as far away from the screaming as possible. Physically check on your baby every now and then to make sure everything is alright. When the levels on the lights stop dancing, chances are your baby has calmed down.

2. Put on headphones. Listen to music. Keep the above monitor with you to determine when baby has calmed down.

3. Take a shower. The warm water will relax you, and the noise will drown out the ear-piercing crying.

4. Go for a walk. Exercise is great for alleviating tension and the motion might settle the baby down.

5. If possible, find a sitter and leave. Go shopping, run errands, go work out, go for a walk. Get some distance between you and the baby. Don’t leave the baby unattended. Make sure you have a sitter first!

6. Call friends or family on the telephone. Don’t bottle up your frustration. Let it out. Complain to your hearts content. Your friends and family will understand and you will feel better.

7. Do something therapeutic with your hands. Paint your fingernails, color in a coloring book, do some housework. Anything that diverts your attention away from the crying and towards something constructive.

8. Vacuum. The vacuum cleaner will drown out the screams coming from the baby. Also, the frequency of white noise output by a vacuum is particularly effective in calming a colicky baby.

9. Surf the internet. Look up ways to calm a colic baby!

10. Keep telling yourself the colic will eventually go away. Take it day by day and know there IS a light at the end of the tunnel. Colic does not last forever!

Remember, you are not an incompetent parent if you’ve done everything possible to relieve your baby’s colic and you need to step away from the situation for a while. This simply makes you human.

About the Author
Cherie is the webmaster of www.colic-baby-bootcamp.com and specializes in teaching parents methods for handling a baby with colic. Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cherie_Stirewalt.

by: Abigail Beal

Are you going to a baby shower? Gifts for babies are always so cute – here are some ideas to create gift wrapping that is just as adorable as the gift you are giving.

If you know the baby is expected to be a boy or a girl, sometimes it is fun to wrap a gift in “baby boy blue” or “baby girl pink” – but remember we have many other colors in the rainbow to choose from! Here are some other options to get your creative juices flowing.

Going to a shower and the mother is not sure if the baby is going to be a boy or a girl? Wrap the baby gift in white paper and tie the gift with two ribbons instead of one – use one pink and one blue. Tie the blue and pink ribbons together and tape to the back of the package. Then have the ribbon form a bow on the front of the package from the two colors of ribbon.

Want to add a cute topping to any baby shower package? Add a rattle, teething ring, baby mittens, hairbow, small picture frame, Christmas ornament or a small stuffed animal. All of these items can be fastened with the ribbon you tie the gift with – and these items can also be used by the baby.

Love teddy bears? Do a teddy bear gift wrap! Use gift wrap paper that has teddy bears on it, or a soft cocoa colored gift wrap paper. But a small teddy bear on the top of your package and tie with a brown or a white bow. You can often find teddy bear rattles or teething rings that have teddy bears on them.

Quack quack quack! Wrap with a duck theme! Use yellow paper or paper with ducks on it and tie with a large orange ribbon. Top your gift with a traditional yellow rubber duck.

For a pretty look for a spring baby shower consider a very floral look. Wrap a gift with floral or plain but colored paper. Use a green or purple ribbon and tie it in a bow. Top the package with some fresh spring flowers. Cut the stems of the flowers very short. Add the flowers the morning of the baby shower for best presentation.

Does the baby have an older sibling? Consider giving a small gift to this sibling. A new baby is often a hectic time and seeing their new brother or sister get so many gifts can sometimes be overwhelming, and leave many children feeling a little forgotten. Consider getting an older sibling a storybook or a stuffed animal as a special big brother/big sister gift.

About The Author
Abigail Beal © 2004 Abigail Beal a.k.a. “the Gift-wrap Goddess” teaches gift wrap in suburban New York. She is the author of 2 ezines: GiftWrapGoddessWraps and CreativeCraftsTeachers. To subscribe: groups.yahoo.com/group/CreativeCraftsTeachers/, groups.yahoocom/group/GiftWrapGoddessWraps/ contact: creativecraftsteachers@yahoo.com, giftwrapgoddess@yahoo.com

By Brenda McLean

There is nothing like seeing a surprised look on the mom-to-be! Surprise baby showers can involve a little extra work, a lot more secrecy, but they can also be a lot fun!

If your party goes as planned it will offer an unexpected and delightful surprise for your expectant mom. But, before you start planning consider the following:

Has the mom-to-be registered for baby gifts? If she hasn’t it will make gift purchasing much more difficult. You may need to list the help of her mother, sister or close friend to find out what she needs for the baby.

Is your expectant mom the type of person who enjoys surprises? If she isn’t you should stay away from this type of baby shower. You want this day to be special and enjoyable for your guest of honor.

Will it be difficult to enlist family and friends in keeping the secrecy? Let’s be honest, some people are better then others at keeping secrets. If you know someone close to her who tends to let secrets slip, it might not be worth the stress of trying. Some family members and guests may not support the idea of a surprise shower either.

Will arranging a cover story to ensure the mom-to-be will arrive on her special day be difficult? You would hate to go through all the trouble of planning a secret celebration only for the expectant mom to catch on to what is happening hours before the shower.

The job of planning the perfect surprise baby shower requires more than one person. You will need to enlist the help of those closest to your mom-to-be. Talk with her partner, mother, sisters and best friends. They will be able to help determine a good day and time for the surprise baby shower. As well as help get her to the shower on time, dressed appropriately, and with the least amount of suspicion.

The location of your celebration plays an important role when planning a surprise baby shower. Try to hold the party at a place the expectant mom normally visits and feels comfortable going to on a regular basis. A close family or friend’s home would be ideal. It will make creating a cover story for dropping by on the day of the party less suspicious. Remember to ask your shower guests to arrive early and park away from the house to ensure your guest of honor isn’t tipped off at the last minute.

The most often asked question is: “How do we get our expectant mom to the shower without raising suspicion?” Here are a few suggestions:

Involve her partner: Her partner could suggest a romantic evening out for the two of them before the new baby arrives. To lessen her suspicion, consider holding the shower at a public place, like a restaurant.

Plan the unexpected: Catch your expectant mom off guard by planning the shower at a non-conventional time. Such as in the morning or right after lunch.

Send a decoy: Have a close friend or family member take her to lunch on that day. While they are enjoying their meal, you can be welcoming the shower guests.

Keep in mind that you may want your expectant mom to know someone will be hosting a shower in her honor. You can keep her in the dark on the date, time and location. This way she won’t become upset thinking everyone forgot to throw her a baby shower.

About the Author:
Brenda McLean is a stay-at-home of two small children and is married to her husband Albert. Brenda is also the creator of http://www.your-baby-shower-guide.com/ A website providing in-depth information, fun ideas and useful tips to help guide you in your baby shower planning. Brenda and her family enjoy camping, watching movies and getting together with family and friends.

by: Adriana Copaceanu

No aspect of party planning is more crucial and sometimes mind boggling to a baby shower planner than selecting the baby shower theme. There are almost too many ideas available today, and often the host of a party finds themselves suffering apoplexy at the idea of selecting a baby shower theme.

A small amount of creativity however will be sure to generate success, regardless of the baby shower theme selected. Keep in mind that the mom to be’s happiness is perhaps the greatest priority. Not sure what theme to select? Worried about what might go over well with the guests? Turn to the expectant mom for guidance, and you are certain to come out a winner.

Selecting a baby shower theme should depend on just a couple of critical factors; For example, is the mother expecting a boy, girl, twins or more? Twins are the perfect “theme” for any party of a mother blessed with multiples. You could for example, in this instance offer guests two of everything, including cake!

In times of old a shower was only held for the first child. This tradition has changed however of late, and it isn’t uncommon for a mom to be to have a shower for each child, celebrating their uniqueness and the joy at bringing another new life into the world. Sometimes a variation of the same theme can be used at subsequent showers. Still struggling for ideas? Consider some of the following:

Teddy Bears: What child does not love plush, stuffed and furry teddy bears! Teddy bear themes can be used for male or female children. Napkins, tableware and similar style decorations are sure to be found with teddy bears on them.

Colors: Often a mom to be seeks out gifts and accessories that complement or match the color she has selected for baby’s nursery. You might consider a baby shower theme that matches the color scheme of baby’s nursery. Guests can also be clued in on the invitation, and invited to bring items that will complement the nursery or wardrobe of the baby to be.

Cartoon Characters: Many parents select well known characters to incorporate into their nursery theme and these are easily translated into a baby shower theme. Some ideas include Strawberry Shortcake, Hello Kitty, or Bugs Bunny for example.

Shapes: Some parents may decide on shapes or even objects such as lemons, fish, cubes, circles and triangles to decorate their baby’s nursery. Again, finding decorations and accessories for the shower that match this theme should prove beneficial and inexpensive.

No matter what baby shower theme you select, you are bound to find hundreds of items to complement the event, including decorations, favors and even gifts. Once the baby shower theme has been selected, as a planner the next most important task is setting about planning for the actual party and getting invitations out to the guests to be.

Traditionally, the shower is held at the home of the host; this is not always the case however, and exceptions to the rule might be welcome in some situations. Regardless of where you decide to throw the party, be sure to give guests enough advance notice to plan on attending. This usually requires three weeks to a month’s notice, as most people are already too busy in today’s society!

After selecting a baby shower theme, planning the party is easy. Once invitations have been mailed out and RSVP’s have been received, plan on spending some time making a list of food items that will be needed, decorations you plan on acquiring, settling on party favors and deciding on a few fun games to play. Once you have all of these items sorted out, everything else is bound to fall together and you and your guests are sure to have a delightful time celebrating mom to be!

About The Author
Adriana Copaceanu provides people with creative gift ideas that don’t blow the bank. Gift Baskets for Baby to Birthday and Beyond, are just some gift ideas you’ll find at her site: ACB Gifts And Baskets. Want regular reminders on gift-giving? Sign up for her free monthly newsletter at http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com/gift-news-signup.htm.

By Criss White

Even with modern technology like email and cell phones, printed invitations have remained the most common way to let people know about your upcoming party and will continue to remain popular due to the timeless rules of party etiquette. Invitations can be a major cost, especially for large parties, like weddings and some baby showers. However, with a little creativity and time, you can make your own printable invitations, even if you have no artistic skills.

1. The first step is designing your card. You can use a simple word processor like Microsoft Word and if you want, you can go to the Adobe’s website at http://createpdf.adobe.com to convert your file into a pdf file. Select the proper dimensions and print out a sample on some plain white paper just to make sure it is the right size.

2. Next, you will want to find the proper card stock to print out your invitations on. Your local office supply store will have these and you can purchase them inexpensively there.

3. Use the word processor to insert text boxes with the words you want on your invitation. Play around with the fonts and text color.

4. There are many sites that offer free clip art and pictures that you can use for your invitations. Just do a search for “free clip art” on the search engines and you will find many sites that provide these services for free. Browse through and download the pictures you want and then insert them into your card at the desired location.

5. If you use a background image, make sure it does not obscure the text on the card. Ideally, background images should be watermarked. Most word processors will allow you to select background images and make them watermarks. Another alternative is to click on all the text boxes and give them solid colored backgrounds.

6. Need a catchy poem or verse? Once again, you can search the internet for related verses. For example, if I am making baby shower invitations, then I can search for “baby shower poem” or “baby verse” and any other related phrases.

7. Save the master copy of the finished card and print out a sample copy on plain paper to see what it will look like. If it looks good, then you can start personalizing each card and printing it out on card stock.

8. If you do not have a color printer, then create a personalized copy for each guest and save it as a separate file on a disk. Take the disk to your local print shop and have them print out a invitation for each guest. Some print shops may even print out the invitations for you if you give them the guest list and template. A print shop will cost more than printing them out yourself, but probably less than buying invitations from somewhere else. Plus the product should look very professional and they may even have the right card stock available. Additionally, print shops can do engraved invitations as well, which are good for upscale occasions like weddings.

Some other guidelines include try to stick to a central theme, don’t try to use too many pictures and colors, and compare your card to others at card stores to get a feel for what a good invitation should look like. Remember that most invitations are simple and have just a few graphics and maybe one verse. As you can see, there are infinite possibilities when creating your own party invitations and not only is it a fun project, but will also save you money.

About the Author:
Criss White is a professional web writer on baby and new mother topics for baby and pregnancy websites. For more personalized gift ideas, go to Personalized Baby Shower Favors and for more candle gift ideas, see Baby Shower Candle Favors.

By Kimberly Meister

Great news! Your friend is pregnant! You are excited for her and want to throw her a baby shower. But where do you begin? The following timeline will help you accomplish this task with ease.

Four to Five Months Prior to the Baby’s Birth
When the expectant mother is about four to five months pregnant, you will want to let her know that you intend to throw her a baby shower.

When will the shower take place? The best time for a baby shower is either about two months before the baby is due or about 3-4 weeks after the baby is born. Ask the mother-to-be if she prefers to have the shower before or after the baby is born. Together, the hosts and guest of honor should choose a date that works well for everyone. Also, jot down as many details as you can.

Where will the shower be? If you will not be having the shower at someone’s home, now is the time to book the restaurant, hall, etc.

Who will be invited? Ask the mother-to-be to make a list of guests to invite. Give her a week or two to get the list to you and have her include addresses so you can easily mail the invitations.

What kind of shower will this be? You can choose a theme if you would like. Even if you don’t have a theme, you will want to determine whether the shower will be a brunch, luncheon, or dinner. You will also want to choose colors if you will be buying plates and napkins. If the sex of the baby is known, you may want to use blue things or pink things.

Six to Eight Weeks Prior to the Shower
This is the time to start buying everything you will need for the shower.

Invitations: The invitations are very important. They set the theme or the mood for the shower. It gives the guests their first glimpse of the special event. Be sure to include an RSVP as this makes it easier for you to plan. Also, be sure to ask the mother-to-be if she is registered for baby gifts and where. Some of the guests may ask for this information when they call to RSVP.

Paper products: If you will need paper plates, cups, napkins, plastic silverware, decorations, and tablecloths, start looking now. You don’t need to buy everything at this time, but if you keep your eyes open, you may just find a sale.

Party favors: Look for a small gift to give each guest to take home. If you are planning to play games at the shower, start collecting the items you will need and begin to purchase prizes.

One Month Prior to the Shower

One to Two Weeks Prior to the Shower

The Day of the Shower

About the Author:
Kimberly Meister is a personal stationary consultant for www.TulipPress.com and helps people choose the wording for their invitations and birth announcements. To sign up for discounts on invitations and birth announcements, send an email to support@tulippress.com.

by: Mike Yeager

A baby shower is a great way to welcome a new child and congratulate the new mother. Many mothers appreciate the help in purchasing the items they will need for their new baby. Commonly, baby showers are given only to new mothers or mothers who have not had a child in a long while. This way, friends and family, can help give the family the things babies need.

Baby showers are a tradition, but what happens at a baby shower is less formal for sure. Sometimes, friends and family members will hold a baby shower for a new Mom as a surprise. Often times, new mothers will get several showers thrown for her first child from different groups, such as one from friends, one from the mothers side of the family, and maybe one from her friends at work. Regardless of how many, these get-togethers are a great way for people to welcome the new child.

Planning a baby shower can be a lot of fun. For baby shower ideas, try checking online at the many websites that offer new parent information. Another place to get some ideas is at craft supply stores where there are aisles and aisles of ideas. Some things to consider for your baby shower are baby shower invitations and baby shower favors. Other things to think about are baby shower decorations! Baby shower games can make a boring party a lot of fun. Most of these can even be free baby shower games by using items from around your home. For example, you can take a roll of toilet paper with you to the party. Each guest has to guess how many individual sheets it will take to circle the mother to be. Giving away small gifts can make these games even more fun.

Planning a baby shower and attending them can be a lot of fun. Take a trip to the craft store and look around at all the baby shower decorations, games, and favors they have to offer. Pull together some friends and plan a few baby shower games and make your own decorations. Pinks and blues in streamers and tablecloths can fill a room with excitement. Either way you are sure to make the mother to be happy and feeling loved.

About The Author
Mike Yeager, Publisher, www.a1-party-supplies-4u.com/, mjy610@hotmail.com

by: Adriana Copaceanu

A baby shower is often the highlight of an expectant mother’s pregnancy. Planning a baby shower requires some thought and consideration for the expectant mother’s special event. Baby shower favors are among the items that must be considered when planning a shower.

Baby shower favors do not have to be complicated to make an impressionable impact on visitors. Most people are happy enough to come to the shower just to visit the mom to be in all her pregnant glory. Baby shower favors however can provide a memento of the unique event and offer a simple way to thank guests for visiting and celebrating the mother’s time of joy.

Baby shower favors come in every size, shape and form. Some simple gift ideas include the following:

• Candles
• Miniature boxes of chocolates or candy
• Bath and body items
• Pictures
• Gift baskets
• Lotto tickets
• Movie tickets

Keep in mind that to make any party even more fun and eventful, baby shower favors that coincide with the “theme” of the party are even more fun to pass out. For example, if the expectant mother is carrying twins, and the theme of the shower revolves around multiples, it might be possible to offer baby shower gifts that coincide with this idea. Some ideas in this situation might involve the following:

• Double Bubble
• “Twix” Candy Bars
• 2 pairs of anything
• Identical picture frames
• Manicure and pedicure set
• Pair of coffee spoons

One neat idea for baby shower favors is to have each guest bring a “white elephant gift”. The idea of white elephant gifts typically surfaces during Christmas time, when guests are invited to bring a “mock” gift to a party for exchange. This may include silly items such as used household appliances, a roll of toilet paper or an open box of Oreo cookies. Guests are encouraged to wrap the gifts, then each member of the party can select a number and draw gifts. Using white elephant gifts as party favors is a great way to share laughter and joy in a shower situation.

About The Author
Corporate gift strategist Adriana Copaceanu specializes in helping entrepreneurs increase their referrals through the strategic use of gifts. She offers a customized worry free gift giving service to fit the budget of any size business to assist them in standing out from the crowd. See her gift basket gallery here: www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com/.

By Brenda McLean

Are you planning a baby shower? Diaper cakes can be a creative centerpiece for your table as well as a practical gift for your expectant mom. A Diaper Cake is created out of dozens of diapers and decorated with small baby products such as combs, pacifiers, teething rings, booties and toys. The entire cake can later be taken a part and the items utilized for the new baby.

Diaper Cake Ingredients:

• 16″ disposable cardboard platter
• Baby bottle or empty cardboard towel roll
• 8 feet of 1” wide ribbon
• Rubber bands of different sizes
• Clear adhesive tape
• Approximately 50 newborn diapers
• Decorative baby items (bibs, socks, toys)
• Cake Topper (candy filled baby bottle or stuffed animal)

Diapers:
The number of diapers you will require depends on the size and number of tiers you would like your cake to have. On average 50 newborn diapers will create a standard sized 3-layered cake.

• 20 diapers for the bottom layer
• 10 to 15 diapers for the middle layer
• 5 diapers for the top layer

Assembling Your Diaper Cake:

• Use a cardboard paper towel roll or a baby bottle to roll your diapers
• When rolling your diapers, have them opened lengthwise with tabs tucked in
• Secure your diapers with a rubber band whenever necessary
• Fold and wrap a receiving blanket around each tier using tape to hold in place
• Use a ribbon to cover and hide the rubber band and as a decorative touch.
• Assemble your tiers on top of your cake platter, using adhesive tape
• Tuck your baby items in the ribbons as decorations
• Top your cake off with something fitting the theme of your party. Whether it be a small stuffed toy, a baby bottle or rattle

Other Decorative Ideas:

• Drape baby bibs over the receiving blankets
• Use baby items related only to your theme
• If using a baby bottle as the topper, fill it with candy or small baby items.

Add a professional touch by using clear cellophane. Spread a sheet out and center your cake in the middle. Gather the sides and edges and tie together with a nice ribbon or bow

A diaper cake is a fun gift to give. Be creative and happy baking!

About the Author:
Brenda McLean is a stay-at-home of two small children and is married to her husband Albert. Brenda is also the creator of http://www.your-baby-shower-guide.com/ A website providing in-depth information, fun ideas and useful tips to help guide you in your baby shower planning. Brenda and her family enjoy camping