By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of No Cry Sleep Solution

According to sleep research, and motherly experience, the length and the quality of naps affect nighttime sleep. (And, conversely, nighttime sleep affects naps.)

Babies differ in their napping needs – but here’s a general guide that applies to most babies:

When should your baby nap?
Timing of naps is important. A nap too late in the day will negatively affect nighttime sleep. Certain times of the day are better for napping because they suit your baby’s biological clock; these optimum periods balance sleep and wake time to affect nighttime sleep in the most positive way.

All babies are different, but generally, the best nap times are as follows:
If baby takes three naps: midmorning/early afternoon/early evening
If baby takes two naps: midmorning/early afternoon
If baby takes one nap: early afternoon

Watch your baby’s sleepy signals!
Naps should happen immediately when your baby shows signs of tiredness. If you wait too long, she becomes overtired, “wired up,” and unable to sleep.

Once you are familiar with the your baby’s nap needs you can plan a nap routine to start the wind-down process. If consistent naps are new to you look more for your baby’s signs of tiredness and scrimp on the routine until you settle into a predictable pattern. In other words, don’t begin a lengthy pre-nap routine if your baby is clearly ready to sleep! Watch for these signs of fatigue; your baby may demonstrate one or more of these:

Decreasing activity quieting down losing interest in people and toys rubbing eyes looking “glazed” fussing yawning laying down caressing a lovey or asking for a pacifier, bottle or to nurse

Timing is very, very important!
You have probably experienced this scenario: Your baby looks tired and you think, “Time for a nap.” So, you wash her hands and face, change her diaper, answer a phone call, put out the dog, and head for baby’s crib or the family bed, only to find that she’s suddenly wide awake and anxious to play!

What happened? She has moved through her window of tiredness and gotten that “second wind” that buys her another hour or two of alert time before she re-enters her tired state. This can often happen later in the day. Suddenly, your baby is (finally!) ready for a nap at dinnertime, and the plot thickens- do you put her for a late nap and thus extend bedtime, or keep her awake and deal with a tired, fussy baby? Rather than face this ordeal, respond earlier to her signs of fatigue and get her in for her nap right at that time.

Once you have watched your baby carefully for a week or so, you should be able to create a nap schedule that works with her daily periods of alertness and tiredness, thus making your nap schedule easy to adhere to.

The nap routine
Once you’ve established a nap schedule for your baby, it is very helpful if you create a simple but specific nap routine. This routine should be different from your nighttime routine, although it can have similarities that signal sleep- for example, the presence of a lovely or special sleep-inducing music. Follow your nap routine the same way every day. (Except, as I mentioned before, if your baby is showing clear signs of being tired and ready to sleep. Then abbreviate or even eliminate your routine for that day.)

For a reluctant napper, your routine might include some relaxing motion, such as rocking/relaxing in a swing/walking in a sling or stroller, and some gentle lullaby music.

A nap routine doesn’t have to be long and involved to be effective. If your baby’s nap occurs about the same time every day there will be many subtle cues, such as the timing of his lunch, that tell your baby that nap time is nearing.

Better naps mean better nighttime sleep.

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 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.

Gone are the days where you can just throw on your flip flops, grab your purse and run out the door. Once you have a baby you have to be much more prepared, and give yourself a lot more time. Not only do you have to get yourself ready, but you have to get your baby ready too. If you are planning a day out, or even just going out with your baby for a couple of hours, there are a few things you should remember to do. These things will make the trip much more pleasant for all involved.

The Diaper Bag
Don’t wait till you are ready to leave to stock the diaper bag. If possible check for supplies before you leave while baby is napping. Even the night before if you know you are heading somewhere. Make sure you have plenty of diapers and wipes to get you through your trip. Also make sure you have a couple of changes of clothes for your baby jut incase there is an accident.

Schedule Extra Time
It takes a while to get baby ready to go. After making sure he has a clean diaper you have to get him dressed, get him in his car seat, grab the diaper bag (which should already be stocked), grab a blanket and maybe a couple of toys, pack some snacks if your baby is at the age to have snacks, and a bottle or sippy of some type of fluid. Once you have everything in hand, you have to get your baby out of the house and strapped into the car. This whole process can easily take 15-20 extra minutes before you leave.

While out it is likely that you will spend more time than normal doing even the simplest things. You will have to take time outs to feed the baby and change a diaper. Many times as soon as you change him, you will have to change him again. A simple 10 minute trip the store, can easily and quickly turn into an hour long trip, or longer.

Feeding Your Baby
Especially if you are breastfeeding and your baby won’t take a bottle, feed him before you leave the house. If you feed him he will not only be full and should be able to go a couple of hours without eating, but he will be happier and might actually sleep. If your baby will take a bottle, take one with you in case you need it suddenly, and if he is old enough take some snacks like cheerios and goldfish.

Naptime
Most babies will fall asleep in the car. If yours falls asleep easily in the car and you have a long drive to make, try to schedule it at your baby’s naptime. If your baby is asleep then running errands and such will go much faster. If your baby will not sleep in the car, the schedule your outings to coincide with the time your baby wakes up. This way he is well rested and happy, instead of tired and cranky.

Going out with your baby really is a test of timing, patience and good planning in order to guarantee that it will be a successful and fun time for everyone involved. While out just remember to listen to and pay attention to your baby’s cues. Babies are great at letting us know when they are unhappy or just simply want to be held.

by: Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution

Naps are important for your child’s health and growth. A nap refreshes a child so that she can maintain her energy for the rest of the day. Studies show that children who nap are more adaptable, have longer attention spans, and are less fussy than those who don’t nap.

Does your child needs a nap?
Here are signs that your child would benefit from a nap:

1. Wakes up happy, but gets cranky later
2. Has more patience early in the day
3. Cries more easily in the evening
4. Has an afternoon slump then gets a second wind
5. Has temper tantrums during the bedtime routine
6. Falls asleep in the car or when watching TV

How much naptime does your child need?
Children differ in their sleep needs — but this chart applies to most. Even if your child’s sleep hours add up to the right total, his behavior tells you more than any chart could. When in doubt try for a nap, since even quiet time can help a child feel refreshed.

Average hours of day and night sleep

*These averages don’t signify unbroken stretches of sleep since night waking is normal. © Elizabeth Pantley, The No-Cry Sleep Solution (McGraw-Hill)

Timing and length of naps
Timing of naps is important. A late nap will prevent your child from being tired at bedtime. Generally, the best nap times are:

• Two naps: midmorning (9:00 – 11:00) and early afternoon (12:00 – 2:30)
• One nap: early afternoon (12:00 – 2:30); after lunch

If your child tends towards short naps, don’t assume it’s all she needs. Try these tips for better naps:

• Provide a healthy lunch or snack before nap.
• Keep the room dark.
• Play lullabies or white noise during the nap.
• Dress her in comfortable clothes.
• Be sure that discomfort (teething, allergies, etc.) isn’t preventing sleep.

Watch for signs of tiredness
Tired children fall asleep easily. If you miss the signals they become overtired and are unable to sleep. Your child may show one or more of these signs that tell you he is tired and ready to nap:

• losing interest in playtime
• becoming whiny or fussy
• losing patience
• having tantrums
• rubbing eyes or yawning
• caressing a lovey or blanket
• asking for a pacifier, bottle or to nurse

The nap routine
Once you’ve created a schedule that works with your child’s periods of tiredness, follow a simple but specific nap routine. Your child will be comfortable with a pattern to his day. He may predict when naptime approaches and willingly cooperate with you.

Nap routines change
Children’s sleep needs change over time. The routine that you set up today won’t be the same one you’re using a year from now. Be adaptable!

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.

Being a parent is full of trial and error, as well as laughs, tears and groans. Some of those laughs, tears and groans will belong to your baby. One of the many things new moms are worried about regarding their breastfed baby’s is their baby’s poop. Is it too runny, is it the right color, does he go often enough, and is he constipated? These are all questions that new moms will find themselves asking at some point.

Solid vs. Runny
Breastfed baby stool can be all different consistencies, but it is very rarely solid and hard. Normally it is thin and runny, runny enough that many will wonder if their baby has diarrhea. Most of the time the answer is no, however if seems runnier than normal or gets a very distinct smell to it, you should call your pediatrician to make sure it is normal.

Coloring
The normal color of breastfed baby poop is a mustardy yellow color. However early on when mixed with meconium it can be dark black to any shade of green. Once the meconium is gone it is likely that your baby’s stool will change shades if you eat a large amount of a food or a food that is heavily colored. Some say that if mom eats a lot of salad, and then nurses her baby her baby’s poop may end up green. Also, once your baby starts eating baby food his poop will probably change to reflect the food he is eating. When he eats carrots, his poop may look orange; if he ate peas it could be green. The coloring of your baby’s poop will change constantly as your baby’s diet changes and as he gets older.

Timing
Some breastfed babies will have a bowel movement with almost every diaper change. Others will have one only once or twice a day. Either one is normal for a breastfed baby. It is also common for a breastfed baby to go a couple of days without having a bowel movement. If your baby has not had a bowel movement for a long period of time and you are concerned about it be sure to call and ask your baby’s doctor.

Constipation
Newborns in general will make a lot of noise when trying to have a bowel movement. This is because they are learning how to use the muscles that control pushing and holding in the poo. Until they are proficient at controlling these muscles they may grunt and groan a lot sounding like they are constipated. As long as your baby is going on their own and it is not hard, then they are probably not constipated. If you are unsure however or worried about it be sure to ask your pediatrician at your next well-check.