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

1. Cuddling
   Cuddling is perhaps the activity preferred the most by newborns and infants. It is also one that grandparents like you, love. Cuddling with your new grandchild will give you the opportunity to bond, as well as provide them with much needed love and comfort.
2. Singing
   Singing is another fun activity that is ideal for newborns and infants. In all honesty, it doesn’t matter what you are signing, your grandchild will likely enjoy hearing your voice.
3. Dancing
   In addition to signing with your grandchild, you will want to dance with them. In the newborn and infant stages, it is important that you take slow, smooth steps.
4. Reading
   Reading to your grandchild is not only a fun activity that they will enjoy, but reading at a young age also has an unlimited number of benefits, in terms of education. When reading to your grandchild, you may want to use fun, character voices. Do so and watch your grandchild’s eyes light up with excitement.
5. Floor Play
   Floor play in general is a great activity for newborns and toddlers. What is nice about floor play is that you can do nothing but lay or sit on the floor with your grandchild or you can play with fun, educational toys. Toys great for floor play include building blocks and stacking toys.
6. Puppet Play
   Playing with puppets is a fun activity that children of all ages love, especially newborns and infants. You can easily purchase pre-made puppets or make your own. When playing with puppets, be sure to use funny voices.
7. Watching DVDs
   Watching DVDs is an activity that you and your grandchild can enjoy at home. It is advised that you watch DVDs, as opposed to television, as you have more options. There are DVDs that are designed for newborns and infants. These are often intriguing and educational in nature.
8. Walking
   Walking is a great activity for you and your grandchild to enjoy together. Outdoor walking is best, but you may also enjoy placing your grandchild in their stroller and taking a walk around your local shopping mall. Watch your grandchild light up with excitement as they enjoy the world around them.
9. Shopping
   Shopping with your grandchild is another fun filled activity that they will like. You can purchase a treat for your grandchild, like a new toy, book, or outfit, but honestly, you will find that no purchases are needed. Shopping is a great way to show your grandchild the world that awaits them, while completing a few errands yourself.
10. Take a Trip to the Zoo
    Visiting a zoo or even just a petting zoo is a fun filled activity that is great for both you and your grandchild. Encouraging a love of animals and learning has a number of benefits. Even if your grandchild is unable to comprehend what they see, you may be surprised how exciting the zoo is to them.

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.

When your baby is walking you no longer have to make sure that your house is baby proofed two feet and below, but you need to make sure it is completely baby proofed several feet up. You will want to get all your drawer locks installed and keep items out of reach on your counters so that your baby’s little hands which can now reach do not get into dangerous areas and pull anything down.

Your baby will learn to walk first by learning how to stand. He will probably crawl over to a couch or a table, something he can reach, and either sit down to grab it, or grab it with one hand from his hands and knees. He will then learn to use his arm strength to pull himself up on his feet. This may take a few tries and end in a few tumbles before your baby gets it right. Make sure you are nearby in order to keep him from hitting his head on a hard surface like your table as he falls down.

Once your baby can successful stand he will probably begin “cruising” before he can actually walk. Cruising involves your baby walking around furniture and objects on the ground, holding onto them so that he doesn’t fall. He will start with two hands, eventually holding on with just one hand.

The day will come, probably when you least expect it, that your baby will all of a sudden let go and walk without the use of furniture to hold onto. The first few times that he lets go he might either grab the furniture immediately or sit down on the ground, but he will gain courage eventually. He will probably either walk to you that first time, or possibly to a toy on the ground that he wants that is not in his reach. When your baby is accomplishing these feats, be sure to encourage him, clap and cheer so that he knows he is doing something good. Like anyone, when a baby feels like he is doing something that makes you happy and proud of him, he will keep doing it.

When your baby first learns to walk on his own, he will probably be slow and a bit clumsy. Probably too slow for your liking when you are out and about. Don’t be afraid to still carry your baby some, but when it is possible and your baby wants too, let him try walking outside or in a store for a few seconds. Buy a good pair of supportive shoes for when your baby is outdoors, and indoors let him walk around barefoot or just in his socks in order to strengthen the natural arch in his foot.

After your baby gets the walking down pat, he will eventually get faster and will begin to run. Running is a great exercise for your baby and can be a lot of fun for you. When your baby is running though make sure he is running in a safe place so that when he trips and falls, which he will do, he doesn’t get hurt.

There are many details to remember when it comes to baby proofing your home and many times there are things you may miss in the process. The first suggestion many will give you is to get down on your hands and knees so you can see the world from your babies point of view. There may be something that your baby can see, being down low, that you can’t. If you get down to your baby’s level you can catch all those little details.

Speaking of Little…
Remember to pick up any and all little items left on the floor. Anything your baby picks up will eventually find its way to his mouth. These little things can be easily swallowed by your baby causing him to choke. It is best to keep anything that can fit into a roll of toilet paper up out of your baby’s reach.

Electrical Items
You have to be very careful about electrical outlets and cords. Babies can take smaller items, and stick them in an outlet resulting in electrocution. They can also get tangled up in the electrical cords themselves, or possibly even start chewing on cords when they are teething. They have outlet covers that you can buy at your local store and cord covers which keep the cords away from your baby’s reach.

Drawers and Cabinets
It is important that you install cabinet and drawer locks on your cabinets and drawers. When your baby is crawling and walking he can get into things and places he shouldn’t be getting into. Often cabinets contain poisons and sharp objects and other things nut suitable for baby. Your baby can get into these items and hurt himself before you even realize he is in danger, so it is best to get the cabinets and drawers secured as early as possible.

Sharp Corners
An area you need to make sure is baby proofed that many people do not remember is the corners of your counters and furniture. Many times your couch or tables will have pointy sharp corners on them that your baby will eventually run into resulting in head injury. Luckily there is a solution for the sharp corners as well. You can actually buy corner protectors to put on your tables and counter that round them out so when your baby does run into them, they do not get hurt.

Glass Doors
If you have a big glass patio door, you can’t forget about it! When clean these are often completely see through, and to a baby just learning to walk or a toddler, they can be hurt by running into them. If you have a glass door stick some window appliqués on them at your child’s level so they see them when they are walking around and do not hit the glass full force.

Swimming Pools
Not only dangerous during the summer months, but year round as well, poola are VERY dangerous. If you have an above ground pool you should drain it if possible during the month’s it’s not in use. If you do not have an above ground pool make sure you have a locked gate surrounding your pool, and a cover that your baby can not fall through. Your baby can drown in as little as 2 inches of water, so it is best to not take chances.

Stairways
If you have stairs in your home it is simple to protect your baby from taking a dangerous fall. Invest in a couple of inexpensive baby gates to put at the top and the bottom of the stairs. This will keep your baby from crawling up, and from falling down the stairs possibly causing serious injuries.

Baby proofing your home is a very important detail that shouldn’t be overlooked. In the end it is the health and safety of your baby that is at stake, and making sure your baby is protected is worth all costs.