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	<title>411Mommy &#187; Babies</title>
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		<title>Toddler Fears &#8211; Know the Reason &#8211; Find the Solution</title>
		<link>http://www.411mommy.org/toddler-fears-know-the-reason-find-the-solution/</link>
		<comments>http://www.411mommy.org/toddler-fears-know-the-reason-find-the-solution/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:48:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Babies]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.411mommy.org/toddler-fears-know-the-reason-find-the-solution/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It is perfectly normal for toddlers to have fears. Abnormal fears are ones in which you cannot get your toddler to focus on anything else because he is consumed with his fear. Obviously a fear such as this needs to be addressed differently. But today we are addressing fears that are normal for toddlers and how to help ease a toddlers anxiety and help him face and overcome his toddler fears through gentle, loving and heroic parenting.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&#8220;There are two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots. The other is wings.&#8221; ~Hodding Carter, Jr.</p>
<p>It is perfectly normal for toddlers to have fears. Abnormal fears are ones in which you cannot get your toddler to focus on anything else because he is consumed with his fear. Obviously a fear such as this needs to be addressed differently. But today we are addressing fears that are normal for toddlers and how to help ease a toddlers anxiety and help him face and overcome his toddler fears through gentle, loving and heroic parenting.</p>
<p>The most common toddlerhood fears is strangers, someone coming to close, darkness, loud noises and crowded places. Sitting on the potty is also a common toddler fear, as well as going to the doctor or the doctor himself, nurses and the first day of school. These are the most common but are not by any means the only ones.</p>
<p><b>Toddler Fears are Fears Nonetheless</b></p>
<p>What may seem silly to you as an adult is not silly to your toddler. They are afraid of the dark because they cannot understand that light will make it go away. They may be afraid of strangers because there is no familiarity to them at all. They can be afraid of places because they cannot understand variety and differences in sounds and structures, and cannot understand how things are made and constructed. They feel overwhelmed and insecure, which then sets of their fear.</p>
<p><em>Toddler fears should be handled constructively and taken seriously. You should not laugh or make fun of their fears, nor should you discount them and brush them under the rug figuring they will outgrow them. It is how they outgrow them that counts and to what degree of support they receive, that will have a huge baring on the length of time it takes for your toddler to overcome his fear, and the emotional impact it will have on him.</em></p>
<p><strong>Observe and Pretend Play</strong></p>
<p>Parents are aware of the importance a child&#8217;s imagination plays in their growth and childhood. Fueling their imagination by encourage pretend play is on the list of priorities. However, with a growing imagination can come new fears, insecurities, and worries for a toddler.</p>
<p><em>Often times a child will display his fears through his toys during pretend play. Parents can observe their child when playing &#8211; don&#8217;t disturb them in their imaginative world but watch and listen from a distance. If you see your child playing out his fears, watch him play it out and try and gain a sense of where the fear might be coming from. Talk to your child about it and offer a loving helping hand through understanding and advice. Another suggestion is to play along with your child, in pretend play, and destroy his fear. This is where mom and dad get to use their imagination to find a way for his toys to destroy his fear into thin air.</em></p>
<p><strong>Bad Experience Fears</strong></p>
<p>Toddlers will soon learn in some way or another that there are falls, scrapes, trips and embarrassing moments in their life. Riding a bike and falling off can put a fear in them about getting hurt and they don&#8217;t want to get back on the bike again. Or, they try ice skating and fall, and vow to never go ice skating again. It is fears like this that can hold your child back from some of the splendid things in life for him.</p>
<p>It is your duty as a loving parent to help your toddler face his fears and get back on the pony. This is something adults have to do many many times in their life, and learning from a young age, with support and understanding will foster a more resilient child in adulthood. Be your toddler&#8217;s hero and show him how to face his fears and that trying again has rewards of it&#8217;s own.</p>
<p>
<ul>
<li>Help your child feel more confident in new situations.</li>
<li>Take his fears seriously, offer support and reassurance for each episode of fear.</li>
<li>Always be upbeat and positive when you deal with your toddler fears. You have to be solid, strong and secure, yet show that you are taking their fear seriously.</li>
<li>Take the bad memories and turn them into good ones. Remind your child of the fun he had when he was riding his bike and how great the pictures are of his first bike ride. Don&#8217;t pressure him, just remind him of the fun stuff.</li>
<li>Be honest. If something is going to hurt don&#8217;t say it won&#8217;t . Reassure your child it will only last a second and give him something to look forward to after his ordeal.</li>
<li>Avoid being overprotective.</li>
<li>Don&#8217;t over react. Avoid over reacting to small childhood falls, spills, trips and mess ups. Over reacting will cause an even more vivid memory for your toddler and also scare them, which only adds to trauma. If he sees you cool it helps him to realize it isn&#8217;t such a big deal.</li>
<li>Be aware of your child&#8217;s temperament to gage his fears, and how best to help him.</li>
<li>Be Patient. In time child will move forward and will find strength from you, if you have been supportive, to take bolder steps.</li>
<li>When discussing your child&#8217;s fears with another person, make sure your child cannot hear your discussion.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Bedtime Fears</strong></p>
<p>It is natural for toddlers to not want to go to bed. After all, the things in his life that make him feel secure and safe, he has to say goodbye to at bedtime, including his toys, and mom and dad.</p>
<p>
<ul>
<li>Choose a soothing bedtime routine to perform on a nightly basis. Doing this will also help your child learn to sleep independently, lessening bedtime tantrums and waking up mom and dad in the middle of the night to help get him back to sleep. <a target="_new" rel="nofollow" href="http://theparentfairy.blogspot.com/2009/07/baby-sleep-help-early-prep-for.html">Baby Sleep Help</a></li>
<li>For a 1 year old who wakes in the middle of night looking for reassurance, it is good to go your child&#8217;s bedside and soothe him if necessary. Try not to take your child out of bed and refrain from taking him to your bed, so as not to start bad habits toward bedtime problems in the near future.</li>
<li>Helping your child to stay in bed at night will help him face his fears of the dark and develop confidence when he realizes there is nothing to be afraid of, and night will soon turn to day.</li>
<li>Resist disturbing your child if you hear him playing in bed or talking to himself or his toys (venturing into pretend play). This is his way of dealing with his fears and helping to put himself back to sleep.</li>
<li>Using pretend play and role playing can help with bedtime fears and fears of the dark as well, and are highly effective in soothing your child when mom or dad are involved.</li>
<li>Keep an eye out for fears that could be phobias and will require professional attention. Phobias will disrupt your child&#8217;s development and regular activities, and won&#8217;t respond to repeated attempts of reassurance. The sooner you diagnose a phobia the sooner the treatment can take affect and help your child.</li>
</ul>
<p>If mom and dad support, understand, sympathize, and work together with their toddler when his fears set in, your child will be assured of getting security and help when he needs it and this will help him take the initial step in facing and then conquering his toddler fears.</p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=M_Jayne">M Jayne</a><br />Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Toddler-Fears---Know-the-Reason---Find-the-Solution&amp;id=2841094">EzineArticles.com</a><br />Provided by: <a href="http://hippestphone.com/">Mobile device news</a></p>
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		<item>
		<title>Baby Shower Games, Prizes &amp; Invitations</title>
		<link>http://www.411mommy.org/baby-shower-games-prizes-invitations-13/</link>
		<comments>http://www.411mommy.org/baby-shower-games-prizes-invitations-13/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:48:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Babies]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.411mommy.org/baby-shower-games-prizes-invitations-13/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The baby shower games played at a baby shower are usually one of the most memorable experiences during the pre-baby events. However, to ensure the games are successful there should be some thoughtful party planning. Before starting the games, it's a good idea to go around the room and have everyone introduce themselves and their relationship to the Mommy-to-Be.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The baby shower games played at a baby shower are usually one of the most memorable experiences during the pre-baby events. However, to ensure the games are successful there should be some thoughtful party planning. Before starting the games, it&#8217;s a good idea to go around the room and have everyone introduce themselves and their relationship to the Mommy-to-Be.</p>
<p>Here are some of the more popular games you can play during the party:</p>
<p><b>Guess Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s Tummy Size:</b> You will need some string / yarn and scissors for this game. Have each participant pull the yarn to the size they believe would fit perfectly around the Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s center of her pregnant tummy. After everyone cuts their string, compare the results to the Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s actual tummy. Give a prize to the guest who is the closest! This game is an ole favorite and will be enjoyed by all.</p>
<p><b>Say &#8220;Baby&#8221;:</b> You will need baby safety pins or another type of baby object you can place on a string for each guests at the shower as well as string or yarn, enough for each woman to wear as a necklace. Have each guest place the necklace with the baby safety pins around her neck when she gets to the party. The rules for this game are given at the beginning of the baby shower. Whenever someone says the word &#8220;baby&#8221; during the shower, any woman who calls it out gets a pin from the other woman who stated the word. At the end of the shower, the woman with the most pins wins a prize.</p>
<p><b>Naming Baby Items:</b> You will need a pad of paper and pen for each guest. Have each guest write down as many baby products as they can name, such as bottle, blanket, pacifier, etc during a five minute period. This sounds easy, and IS at first, but during last few minutes, the participants will start racking their brains for more baby items. The guest with the most baby products named will win and receive a prize.</p>
<p><b>Make The Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s Baby:</b> You will need baby magazines, scissors, glue and paper. Divide the guests into teams with each team having three members, and give each team some baby magazines. Ask each team to cut out pieces of different baby qualities and put together a picture of what they think the Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s baby will look like. Ask the Mommy-to-Be pick the baby she likes the best. Prizes will go to the winning team. This is another of the most popular games.</p>
<p><b>Guess The Gerber&#8217;s:</b> You will need Gerber&#8217;s infant food, pads of paper and pens. You will need to take the labels off of the baby food jars and have the guests at the baby shower guess the food, i.e. carrots, peas, sweet potato. This game usually has ten different jars or more of different baby food. The winner is the guest with the most correct guesses.</p>
<p><b>Guess the Number of Safety Pins:</b> You will need a lot of safety pins and a jar. Pass a jar full of baby safety pins around so all the guests can view it. Each guess will then guess the number of safety pins they think are in the jar. The one who guesses the closest wins a baby shower prize. This another game favorite.</p>
<p><b>Place The Baby On The Mommy-to-Be:</b> You will need cutouts of a baby, tape and blindfolds. This is a version of Pin The Tail on the Donkey, a game kids love to play. Blindfold each guests and give them a paper baby to place the baby as close to the Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s tummy as possible. The one who gets closest to placing the paper baby on the pregnant tummy wins.</p>
<p><b>Bottle Races:</b> You will need several baby bottles with milk. Have each guest take a bottle filled with a milk (you may substitute milk for another liquid) and suck the bottle as a baby would. The woman who drinks the most during an allotted time wins the baby shower gift. This is always a laughter filled game.</p>
<p><b>Baby Bingo:</b> You will need pens and bingo cards. Before opening the gifts, number each gift on the box starting with one. If you know that 35 people will be attending the shower, pre-print bingo cards with numbers 1 through 35 and randomly place them on 35 cards. When the Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s decides to open the presents, she grabs the present she wants to open and reads the number out loud. As soon as someone receives bingo, they win the game and the prize.</p>
<p><b>What&#8217;s the baby item:</b> You will need various baby products and a blindfold. A bag of baby items are placed in front of the Mommy-to-Be for her to take one item out at a time blindfolded and tell the baby shower guests what item she has in her hands. This is really fun baby shower game when you choose some crazy baby toys or products.</p>
<p><b>Complete the Baby Rhyme:</b> You will need a book containing baby rhymes. The host will read out loud to all the guest a part of the rhyme, which is to be completed by the other women.</p>
<p><b>How&#8217;s the Baby:</b> Ask all guests to bring a baby picture of themselves before the shower. Have all the pictures in a collage and draw lines for people to fill in who they think the babies are out of the people at the shower. If most guests don&#8217;t know each other, just have the pictures of the mother, mother-in-law, sisters, and Mommy-to-Be. See how many people guess right. You can make copies of the baby picture collage to see how many can guess right.</p>
<p><b>Baby Scrambler:</b> Another fun game is to choose 25 baby related items and scramble the spelling. For instance, pacifier can be changed to reiifpca. Ask the guests to unscramble the words. The one who gets the most right in five minutes receives a prize.</p>
<p><b>Name that Baby Song:</b> You will need a pad of paper and pen for each guest. Have each guest write down all the songs that have baby in their titles, like baby love, Santa baby, one for my baby and so on. Allow five minutes for this game. This baby shower game can be made more difficult by asking who also wrote the songs.</p>
<p><b>Dirty Diaper Circle:</b> You will need a diaper, chocolate and music player. Although one of our &#8220;dirtiest&#8221; games, it is one of the favorites. The host takes a diaper that has been &#8220;fixed&#8221; with warm chocolate in the right place and have the guests pass it to the person next to them is in a circle. When the host stops the music, whoever is holding the diaper is out of the game.</p>
<p><b>Pacifier in the baby&#8217;s mouth:</b> You will need a blindfold, a baby picture and a pacifier drawing for each guest. Tape a picture or drawing of a baby on the wall and have the blindfolded women try to tape the pacifier as close to the mouth of the baby as possible. The one who gets the closest ones.</p>
<p><b>Blindfold Diapering:</b> You will need a blindfold, baby doll (life size) and diapers. One of the funniest games. It calls for the guests to be divided into teams of up to five people. Each team has a doll, blindfold and diapers. The object is for each participant to place the blindfold on, take the current diaper off the doll and place the new one on while blindfolded. After the first person completes diapering, they run to the next teammate who places the blindfold on and has to do the same. The first team to finish diapering wins!</p>
<p><b>Baby Tic-Tac-Toe:</b> You will need a large erasable board to use for the tic-tac-toe board, writing utensil, and baby facts. Baby shower guests are divided into teams and are ask to answer a question about a baby fact. If they get the answer right, they get to choose a space, like the classic tic-tac-toe game.</p>
<p>The baby shower games are a very important part of your baby shower. You want to do everything you can to ensure the baby shower games are enjoyed by all and are a huge success. Here&#8217;s some tips for ensuring your baby shower games are successful:</p>
<p>a.	Be sure you have writing utensils for everyone <br />b.	Wrap games prizes <br />c.	Make sure to have extra prizes in case of tie games</p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Porter">Sarah Porter</a><br />Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Baby-Shower-Games,-Prizes-and-Invitations&amp;id=972667">EzineArticles.com</a><br />Provided by: <a href="http://neohdtv.com/">Digital TV, HDTV, Satellite TV</a></p>
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		<title>Healthy Activities For Toddlers</title>
		<link>http://www.411mommy.org/healthy-activities-for-toddlers/</link>
		<comments>http://www.411mommy.org/healthy-activities-for-toddlers/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:44:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Babies]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.411mommy.org/healthy-activities-for-toddlers/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It's no secret that children of today are less active than they have ever been. Childhood obesity is on the rise and so is juvenile diabetes. It's important to have kids involved in activities that will keep them moving and active, rather than spending all of their time in front of the TV or playing video games.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It&#8217;s no secret that children of today are less active than they have ever been. Childhood obesity is on the rise and so is juvenile diabetes. It&#8217;s important to have kids involved in activities that will keep them moving and active, rather than spending all of their time in front of the TV or playing video games. That means starting with healthy activities for toddlers that will become a normal part of their daily routine as they grow older. You can use your toddler&#8217;s natural interest in learning to create daily activities that will help them grow in every way.</p>
<p>Target fine motor skills: Toddlers have the energy and curiosity to make trying new more advanced activities fun. These are the years when learn hand to eye coordination, so seek out activities that help them practice fine motor skills. Activities like stacking blocks, finger painting, or working a simple puzzle will help your child expand her fine motor skills. While this type of play doesn&#8217;t look like much, your toddler is developing the muscles and coordination that will later help her to hold a pencil and eventually write her own name.</p>
<p>Keep it simple: Activities that keep your toddler healthy and engaged don&#8217;t need to be complex or elaborate. Most toddlers will play with just about anything! Most toddlers explore enough on their own to provide them with the exercise they need to stay healthy. All they need is the opportunity, and a safe place to play. Encourage your toddler to explore by offering a safe environment and a selection of interesting objects to explore. If you baby-proofed when your child was born, it is probably time to take a fresh look at your home-toddlers can get into more trouble, and reach more areas than infants can!</p>
<p>Play with others: Children who don&#8217;t have others to play with are less likely to be active. Consider joining a play group, or visiting a park or playground. The change of scenery will give your toddler lots of time to explore, and you may make a few new friends as well!</p>
<p>Play with your toddler: A bonus to taking on the position as your toddler&#8217;s fitness guide is that you can reap the benefits as well. Toddler love to play tag and you can enjoy a quick game of tag with your toddler every day. You don&#8217;t have to be able to run fast to play and your toddler will love the individual time that he or she gets with you.</p>
<p>Practice gross motor skills: Another way to keep toddlers on the move is to have a ready assortment of balls of all sizes. Provide age appropriate basketball goals, plastic bats, and any other sports equipment you can find. They will spend hours throwing, kicking, and hitting things across the back yard. The movements that your toddler will make will keep him fit-and help him develop the gross motor skills he will need as a &#8220;big kid&#8221;.</p>
<p>Work together: Avoid the temptation to put your toddler on the back of the bicycle or in the stroller and take off for your own exercise routine. Find healthy activities for your toddler&#8217;s benefit and yours as well. It may take a little longer to make it around the block, but if you let your toddler lead the way, a simple trot around the neighborhood will do you both a world of good.</p>
<p>Adopt healthy attitudes and habits yourself, and bring your toddler along for the ride. The healthy habits you instill in her today will stick with her, and foster a lifelong love of fitness and exercise.</p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Denise_Sanger">Denise Sanger</a><br />Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Healthy-Activities-For-Toddlers&amp;id=2721072">EzineArticles.com</a><br />Provided by: <a href="http://beadingnecklace.com/">Beading Necklace</a></p>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Baby Shower Games, Prizes &amp; Invitations</title>
		<link>http://www.411mommy.org/baby-shower-games-prizes-invitations-12/</link>
		<comments>http://www.411mommy.org/baby-shower-games-prizes-invitations-12/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:44:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Babies]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.411mommy.org/baby-shower-games-prizes-invitations-12/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The baby shower games played at a baby shower are usually one of the most memorable experiences during the pre-baby events. However, to ensure the games are successful there should be some thoughtful party planning. Before starting the games, it's a good idea to go around the room and have everyone introduce themselves and their relationship to the Mommy-to-Be.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The baby shower games played at a baby shower are usually one of the most memorable experiences during the pre-baby events. However, to ensure the games are successful there should be some thoughtful party planning. Before starting the games, it&#8217;s a good idea to go around the room and have everyone introduce themselves and their relationship to the Mommy-to-Be.</p>
<p>Here are some of the more popular games you can play during the party:</p>
<p><b>Guess Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s Tummy Size:</b> You will need some string / yarn and scissors for this game. Have each participant pull the yarn to the size they believe would fit perfectly around the Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s center of her pregnant tummy. After everyone cuts their string, compare the results to the Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s actual tummy. Give a prize to the guest who is the closest! This game is an ole favorite and will be enjoyed by all.</p>
<p><b>Say &#8220;Baby&#8221;:</b> You will need baby safety pins or another type of baby object you can place on a string for each guests at the shower as well as string or yarn, enough for each woman to wear as a necklace. Have each guest place the necklace with the baby safety pins around her neck when she gets to the party. The rules for this game are given at the beginning of the baby shower. Whenever someone says the word &#8220;baby&#8221; during the shower, any woman who calls it out gets a pin from the other woman who stated the word. At the end of the shower, the woman with the most pins wins a prize.</p>
<p><b>Naming Baby Items:</b> You will need a pad of paper and pen for each guest. Have each guest write down as many baby products as they can name, such as bottle, blanket, pacifier, etc during a five minute period. This sounds easy, and IS at first, but during last few minutes, the participants will start racking their brains for more baby items. The guest with the most baby products named will win and receive a prize.</p>
<p><b>Make The Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s Baby:</b> You will need baby magazines, scissors, glue and paper. Divide the guests into teams with each team having three members, and give each team some baby magazines. Ask each team to cut out pieces of different baby qualities and put together a picture of what they think the Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s baby will look like. Ask the Mommy-to-Be pick the baby she likes the best. Prizes will go to the winning team. This is another of the most popular games.</p>
<p><b>Guess The Gerber&#8217;s:</b> You will need Gerber&#8217;s infant food, pads of paper and pens. You will need to take the labels off of the baby food jars and have the guests at the baby shower guess the food, i.e. carrots, peas, sweet potato. This game usually has ten different jars or more of different baby food. The winner is the guest with the most correct guesses.</p>
<p><b>Guess the Number of Safety Pins:</b> You will need a lot of safety pins and a jar. Pass a jar full of baby safety pins around so all the guests can view it. Each guess will then guess the number of safety pins they think are in the jar. The one who guesses the closest wins a baby shower prize. This another game favorite.</p>
<p><b>Place The Baby On The Mommy-to-Be:</b> You will need cutouts of a baby, tape and blindfolds. This is a version of Pin The Tail on the Donkey, a game kids love to play. Blindfold each guests and give them a paper baby to place the baby as close to the Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s tummy as possible. The one who gets closest to placing the paper baby on the pregnant tummy wins.</p>
<p><b>Bottle Races:</b> You will need several baby bottles with milk. Have each guest take a bottle filled with a milk (you may substitute milk for another liquid) and suck the bottle as a baby would. The woman who drinks the most during an allotted time wins the baby shower gift. This is always a laughter filled game.</p>
<p><b>Baby Bingo:</b> You will need pens and bingo cards. Before opening the gifts, number each gift on the box starting with one. If you know that 35 people will be attending the shower, pre-print bingo cards with numbers 1 through 35 and randomly place them on 35 cards. When the Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s decides to open the presents, she grabs the present she wants to open and reads the number out loud. As soon as someone receives bingo, they win the game and the prize.</p>
<p><b>What&#8217;s the baby item:</b> You will need various baby products and a blindfold. A bag of baby items are placed in front of the Mommy-to-Be for her to take one item out at a time blindfolded and tell the baby shower guests what item she has in her hands. This is really fun baby shower game when you choose some crazy baby toys or products.</p>
<p><b>Complete the Baby Rhyme:</b> You will need a book containing baby rhymes. The host will read out loud to all the guest a part of the rhyme, which is to be completed by the other women.</p>
<p><b>How&#8217;s the Baby:</b> Ask all guests to bring a baby picture of themselves before the shower. Have all the pictures in a collage and draw lines for people to fill in who they think the babies are out of the people at the shower. If most guests don&#8217;t know each other, just have the pictures of the mother, mother-in-law, sisters, and Mommy-to-Be. See how many people guess right. You can make copies of the baby picture collage to see how many can guess right.</p>
<p><b>Baby Scrambler:</b> Another fun game is to choose 25 baby related items and scramble the spelling. For instance, pacifier can be changed to reiifpca. Ask the guests to unscramble the words. The one who gets the most right in five minutes receives a prize.</p>
<p><b>Name that Baby Song:</b> You will need a pad of paper and pen for each guest. Have each guest write down all the songs that have baby in their titles, like baby love, Santa baby, one for my baby and so on. Allow five minutes for this game. This baby shower game can be made more difficult by asking who also wrote the songs.</p>
<p><b>Dirty Diaper Circle:</b> You will need a diaper, chocolate and music player. Although one of our &#8220;dirtiest&#8221; games, it is one of the favorites. The host takes a diaper that has been &#8220;fixed&#8221; with warm chocolate in the right place and have the guests pass it to the person next to them is in a circle. When the host stops the music, whoever is holding the diaper is out of the game.</p>
<p><b>Pacifier in the baby&#8217;s mouth:</b> You will need a blindfold, a baby picture and a pacifier drawing for each guest. Tape a picture or drawing of a baby on the wall and have the blindfolded women try to tape the pacifier as close to the mouth of the baby as possible. The one who gets the closest ones.</p>
<p><b>Blindfold Diapering:</b> You will need a blindfold, baby doll (life size) and diapers. One of the funniest games. It calls for the guests to be divided into teams of up to five people. Each team has a doll, blindfold and diapers. The object is for each participant to place the blindfold on, take the current diaper off the doll and place the new one on while blindfolded. After the first person completes diapering, they run to the next teammate who places the blindfold on and has to do the same. The first team to finish diapering wins!</p>
<p><b>Baby Tic-Tac-Toe:</b> You will need a large erasable board to use for the tic-tac-toe board, writing utensil, and baby facts. Baby shower guests are divided into teams and are ask to answer a question about a baby fact. If they get the answer right, they get to choose a space, like the classic tic-tac-toe game.</p>
<p>The baby shower games are a very important part of your baby shower. You want to do everything you can to ensure the baby shower games are enjoyed by all and are a huge success. Here&#8217;s some tips for ensuring your baby shower games are successful:</p>
<p>a.	Be sure you have writing utensils for everyone <br />b.	Wrap games prizes <br />c.	Make sure to have extra prizes in case of tie games</p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Porter">Sarah Porter</a><br />Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Baby-Shower-Games,-Prizes-and-Invitations&amp;id=972667">EzineArticles.com</a><br />Provided by: <a href="http://betterdollar.com/payment/us-dollar-credit-card/">US Dollar credit card</a></p>
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		<title>Help Toddlers Deal With Fears</title>
		<link>http://www.411mommy.org/help-toddlers-deal-with-fears/</link>
		<comments>http://www.411mommy.org/help-toddlers-deal-with-fears/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:50:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Babies]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.411mommy.org/help-toddlers-deal-with-fears/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Many fears are simply outgrown as the toddler matures into a more confident and worldly preschooler. But others persists throughout early childhood, and - if they can't deal with them- sometimes into adulthood.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Many fears are simply outgrown as the toddler matures into a more confident and worldly preschooler. But others persists throughout early childhood, and &#8211; if they can&#8217;t deal with them- sometimes into adulthood. Gently helping toddlers face what scares them is the best way to ensure that today&#8217;s fears won&#8217;t continue to hold them back tomorrow. Help your toddler work through fears :</p>
<p><strong>Illumination. </strong>An older toddler might be reassured by a simple, rational explanation. For example, you may silence a fear of sirens by explaining that &#8220;Fire trucks have to make a loud noise so cars and people will get out of the way and let them get to the fire in hurry. It&#8217;s a good, loud noise.&#8221; For a young toddler, who may not be able to grasp even a simple explanation, a demonstration may be the route to reassurance. For instance, a toddler who&#8217;s afraid of going down the drain with the bath water may feel better about bathing after a little display of what can and can&#8217;t go down drains (water and soap bubbles can, rubber duck and children can&#8217;t). A toddler afraid of the vacuum may be relieved to see that through cracker crumbs can be vacuumed up, a toy truck, a block, and Mommy&#8217;s foot can&#8217;t be.</p>
<p><strong>Indirect exposure. </strong>A toddler who&#8217;s afraid of being flushed down the toilet may gain confidence from being read a storybook about a child who uses the toilet and lives to tell about it. A toddler who&#8217;s afraid of fire engines may benefit from looking at a picture book about firefighters or a visit to the fire house. A toddler who&#8217;s afraid of dogs may find four footers less foreboding after seeing a placid movie about a girl and her dog. Toddlers who are afraid of a natural phenomenon, such as thunder, may become less fearful after being read a simple book that explains it. Avoid books, pictures, or movie, however, which might intensify a toddler&#8217;s fear. No amount of girl-dog bonding is going to soften a toddler&#8217;s reaction to ferocious attack scene &#8211; even if it&#8217;s a bad guy who&#8217;s being attacked.</p>
<p><strong>Exposure and desensitization at a distance. </strong>Holding a toddler who&#8217;s afraid of a vacuum cleaner at the other end of the living room while Daddy vacuums, or standing with a toddler who&#8217;s afraid of draining water at the doorways of the bathroom while the tub empties, may help him face the fear at a safe distance. Similarly, it may help to let a dog-fearful toddler watch a playmate frolic with a neighbor&#8217;s dog, near enough to hear the giggles and see the glee, but far enough so that there&#8217;s no imminent threat.</p>
<p><strong>Increased control with closer exposure. </strong>Fear tends to make anyone at any age feel out-of-control. So helping your toddler to gain some measure of control over the feared object or situation may take the edge off the fear. For example, experimenting with turning a vacuum cleaner on and off may help the fearful toddler see that the control lies in the human hand, not the dust-sucker. Riding on the vacuum when it&#8217;s unplugged and silent may also be reassuring.</p>
<p>Set up a toddler who&#8217;s afraid of the dark or of monsters with a &#8220;prop&#8221; or two to increase his sense of power and control: a flashlight, a friendly night-light, a teddy-bear sentry under orders to chase away unwelcome visitors, a magic word that banished night creatures, or a magic monster-repelling potion of water in a spray bottle.</p>
<p><strong>Ventilation. </strong>We all feel better about our fears when we talk about them, same as toddlers. Ask him to talk and express about all of his fears while you listen to him with full of understanding.</p>
<p><strong>A sense of humor. </strong>Although, parents are not allowed to make fun of child&#8217;s fears, some of relaxing techniques for reducing tension are very useful to calm toddler from his fears.</p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dini_Kusuma">Dini Kusuma</a><br />Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Help-Toddlers-Deal-With-Fears&amp;id=2442325">EzineArticles.com</a><br />Provided by: <a href="http://instantpot.com/">Programmable Multi-cooker</a></p>
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		<title>Baby Shower Games, Prizes &amp; Invitations</title>
		<link>http://www.411mommy.org/baby-shower-games-prizes-invitations-11/</link>
		<comments>http://www.411mommy.org/baby-shower-games-prizes-invitations-11/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:50:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Babies]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.411mommy.org/baby-shower-games-prizes-invitations-11/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The baby shower games played at a baby shower are usually one of the most memorable experiences during the pre-baby events. However, to ensure the games are successful there should be some thoughtful party planning. Before starting the games, it's a good idea to go around the room and have everyone introduce themselves and their relationship to the Mommy-to-Be.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The baby shower games played at a baby shower are usually one of the most memorable experiences during the pre-baby events. However, to ensure the games are successful there should be some thoughtful party planning. Before starting the games, it&#8217;s a good idea to go around the room and have everyone introduce themselves and their relationship to the Mommy-to-Be.</p>
<p>Here are some of the more popular games you can play during the party:</p>
<p><b>Guess Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s Tummy Size:</b> You will need some string / yarn and scissors for this game. Have each participant pull the yarn to the size they believe would fit perfectly around the Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s center of her pregnant tummy. After everyone cuts their string, compare the results to the Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s actual tummy. Give a prize to the guest who is the closest! This game is an ole favorite and will be enjoyed by all.</p>
<p><b>Say &#8220;Baby&#8221;:</b> You will need baby safety pins or another type of baby object you can place on a string for each guests at the shower as well as string or yarn, enough for each woman to wear as a necklace. Have each guest place the necklace with the baby safety pins around her neck when she gets to the party. The rules for this game are given at the beginning of the baby shower. Whenever someone says the word &#8220;baby&#8221; during the shower, any woman who calls it out gets a pin from the other woman who stated the word. At the end of the shower, the woman with the most pins wins a prize.</p>
<p><b>Naming Baby Items:</b> You will need a pad of paper and pen for each guest. Have each guest write down as many baby products as they can name, such as bottle, blanket, pacifier, etc during a five minute period. This sounds easy, and IS at first, but during last few minutes, the participants will start racking their brains for more baby items. The guest with the most baby products named will win and receive a prize.</p>
<p><b>Make The Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s Baby:</b> You will need baby magazines, scissors, glue and paper. Divide the guests into teams with each team having three members, and give each team some baby magazines. Ask each team to cut out pieces of different baby qualities and put together a picture of what they think the Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s baby will look like. Ask the Mommy-to-Be pick the baby she likes the best. Prizes will go to the winning team. This is another of the most popular games.</p>
<p><b>Guess The Gerber&#8217;s:</b> You will need Gerber&#8217;s infant food, pads of paper and pens. You will need to take the labels off of the baby food jars and have the guests at the baby shower guess the food, i.e. carrots, peas, sweet potato. This game usually has ten different jars or more of different baby food. The winner is the guest with the most correct guesses.</p>
<p><b>Guess the Number of Safety Pins:</b> You will need a lot of safety pins and a jar. Pass a jar full of baby safety pins around so all the guests can view it. Each guess will then guess the number of safety pins they think are in the jar. The one who guesses the closest wins a baby shower prize. This another game favorite.</p>
<p><b>Place The Baby On The Mommy-to-Be:</b> You will need cutouts of a baby, tape and blindfolds. This is a version of Pin The Tail on the Donkey, a game kids love to play. Blindfold each guests and give them a paper baby to place the baby as close to the Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s tummy as possible. The one who gets closest to placing the paper baby on the pregnant tummy wins.</p>
<p><b>Bottle Races:</b> You will need several baby bottles with milk. Have each guest take a bottle filled with a milk (you may substitute milk for another liquid) and suck the bottle as a baby would. The woman who drinks the most during an allotted time wins the baby shower gift. This is always a laughter filled game.</p>
<p><b>Baby Bingo:</b> You will need pens and bingo cards. Before opening the gifts, number each gift on the box starting with one. If you know that 35 people will be attending the shower, pre-print bingo cards with numbers 1 through 35 and randomly place them on 35 cards. When the Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s decides to open the presents, she grabs the present she wants to open and reads the number out loud. As soon as someone receives bingo, they win the game and the prize.</p>
<p><b>What&#8217;s the baby item:</b> You will need various baby products and a blindfold. A bag of baby items are placed in front of the Mommy-to-Be for her to take one item out at a time blindfolded and tell the baby shower guests what item she has in her hands. This is really fun baby shower game when you choose some crazy baby toys or products.</p>
<p><b>Complete the Baby Rhyme:</b> You will need a book containing baby rhymes. The host will read out loud to all the guest a part of the rhyme, which is to be completed by the other women.</p>
<p><b>How&#8217;s the Baby:</b> Ask all guests to bring a baby picture of themselves before the shower. Have all the pictures in a collage and draw lines for people to fill in who they think the babies are out of the people at the shower. If most guests don&#8217;t know each other, just have the pictures of the mother, mother-in-law, sisters, and Mommy-to-Be. See how many people guess right. You can make copies of the baby picture collage to see how many can guess right.</p>
<p><b>Baby Scrambler:</b> Another fun game is to choose 25 baby related items and scramble the spelling. For instance, pacifier can be changed to reiifpca. Ask the guests to unscramble the words. The one who gets the most right in five minutes receives a prize.</p>
<p><b>Name that Baby Song:</b> You will need a pad of paper and pen for each guest. Have each guest write down all the songs that have baby in their titles, like baby love, Santa baby, one for my baby and so on. Allow five minutes for this game. This baby shower game can be made more difficult by asking who also wrote the songs.</p>
<p><b>Dirty Diaper Circle:</b> You will need a diaper, chocolate and music player. Although one of our &#8220;dirtiest&#8221; games, it is one of the favorites. The host takes a diaper that has been &#8220;fixed&#8221; with warm chocolate in the right place and have the guests pass it to the person next to them is in a circle. When the host stops the music, whoever is holding the diaper is out of the game.</p>
<p><b>Pacifier in the baby&#8217;s mouth:</b> You will need a blindfold, a baby picture and a pacifier drawing for each guest. Tape a picture or drawing of a baby on the wall and have the blindfolded women try to tape the pacifier as close to the mouth of the baby as possible. The one who gets the closest ones.</p>
<p><b>Blindfold Diapering:</b> You will need a blindfold, baby doll (life size) and diapers. One of the funniest games. It calls for the guests to be divided into teams of up to five people. Each team has a doll, blindfold and diapers. The object is for each participant to place the blindfold on, take the current diaper off the doll and place the new one on while blindfolded. After the first person completes diapering, they run to the next teammate who places the blindfold on and has to do the same. The first team to finish diapering wins!</p>
<p><b>Baby Tic-Tac-Toe:</b> You will need a large erasable board to use for the tic-tac-toe board, writing utensil, and baby facts. Baby shower guests are divided into teams and are ask to answer a question about a baby fact. If they get the answer right, they get to choose a space, like the classic tic-tac-toe game.</p>
<p>The baby shower games are a very important part of your baby shower. You want to do everything you can to ensure the baby shower games are enjoyed by all and are a huge success. Here&#8217;s some tips for ensuring your baby shower games are successful:</p>
<p>a.	Be sure you have writing utensils for everyone <br />b.	Wrap games prizes <br />c.	Make sure to have extra prizes in case of tie games</p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Porter">Sarah Porter</a><br />Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Baby-Shower-Games,-Prizes-and-Invitations&amp;id=972667">EzineArticles.com</a><br />Provided by: <a href="http://instantpot.com/technology/how-electric-pressure-cookers-work/">How Electric Pressure Cookers Work</a></p>
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		<title>Toddler Sleep Problems &#8211; Solved!</title>
		<link>http://www.411mommy.org/toddler-sleep-problems-solved/</link>
		<comments>http://www.411mommy.org/toddler-sleep-problems-solved/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:50:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Babies]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.411mommy.org/toddler-sleep-problems-solved/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By the age of three a toddler requires eleven hours of consistent, quality sleep. Toddler sleep problems stand in the way of consistent quality sleep and this can lead to health issues such as a lower immunity, temper tantrums, a slower brain function, and a poor diet, to name a few. For many toddlers just the mention that "It is bedtime" sends them into sheer disarray.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>By the age of three a toddler requires eleven hours of consistent, quality sleep.</p>
<p>Toddler sleep problems stand in the way of consistent quality sleep and this can lead to health issues such as a lower immunity, temper tantrums, a slower brain function, and a poor diet, to name a few.</p>
<p>For many toddlers just the mention that &#8220;It is bedtime&#8221; sends them into sheer disarray. (1)Crying and a defiant attitude usually accompany this disarray. This is the start of the bedtime nightmare for parents. (2)The continuance of their crying or temper tantrum once they are in bed. (3)Getting them to stay in bed without screaming after the parent leaves the room. (4)Not getting out of bed in the middle of the night, when they wake up. With these areas under control toddler sleep problems will be solved and parents will have a pleasant, warm and cuddly bedtime, free from screaming, night waking, and health issues.</p>
<p>1. Shshsh&#8230;. Don&#8217;t say the words &#8220;Its bedtime.&#8221; or anything even close to. Instead use atmosphere and quality time with your toddler to let him know it&#8217;s time to wind down. This manipulation should begin 20 minutes BEFORE the time you put in place for your toddler to be in bed.</p>
<p>Create a cozy, calm and quiet atmosphere. Dim the lights, watch a little Animal Planet and cuddle with your toddler. A baby massage is a wonderful relaxation technique for both parent and toddler and can be done as part of the winding down process.</p>
<p>2. Find and Remind. On the way to his room, think of something fun and exciting for your toddler to do the next day. It could be an afternoon of play dough fun, or perhaps he has a party to go to, or finger painting, or a play in the park. Remind him of it. A little secret: tell him you are looking forward to doing it with him (ensure that you are able to do this. Otherwise do not offer this statement.</p>
<p>3. The Bedroom: short and sweet. This is an area many parents get wrong. At bedtime your toddler&#8217;s bedroom should be within the same atmosphere as when you were winding him down. Prepare his bedroom before you start the winding down process. Bedroom atmosphere encompasses a night light and soft music.</p>
<p>The time you spend in your toddler&#8217;s room after he is in bed needs to be short and sweet. Sit on edge of the bed next to your toddler and read a story, softly. Stroke his hair or use his favorite toy. Quietly remind him of the fun that awaits him the next day if he gets a good night rest. Mention that you are also very tired and heading off to bed. Kiss him goodnight and off you go.</p>
<p>4. When he starts to cry, tell him you love him and you will check on him in a bit before you go to bed. Ignore his crying. While in his room do not appear stressed. Know in your mind that all will be well. Your toddler will feel this and it will help him adjust to his new bedtime routine.</p>
<p>In 9 out of 10 cases your toddler will fall asleep very shortly. However, if you prolong your time in his room and show your fear of his crying he will recognize this and use it as a tool to get you to stay until he falls asleep, which causes him to stay awake longer, lessening his sleep time and lessening parents&#8217; free time.</p>
<p>It is imperative parents ensure toddler gets quality and quantity sleep every night. Techniques must be held to on a nightly basis in order for them to take a strong hold and be effective. All good things come in time, fixing toddler sleep problems is no different. The rewards for toddler and parents is worth the effort.</p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=M_Jayne">M Jayne</a><br />Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Toddler-Sleep-Problems---Solved!&amp;id=1919071">EzineArticles.com</a><br />Provided by: <a href="http://betterdollar.com/duty-tax/duty/">Duty tariff</a></p>
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		<title>Baby Shower Games, Prizes &amp; Invitations</title>
		<link>http://www.411mommy.org/baby-shower-games-prizes-invitations-10/</link>
		<comments>http://www.411mommy.org/baby-shower-games-prizes-invitations-10/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:50:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Babies]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.411mommy.org/baby-shower-games-prizes-invitations-10/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The baby shower games played at a baby shower are usually one of the most memorable experiences during the pre-baby events. However, to ensure the games are successful there should be some thoughtful party planning. Before starting the games, it's a good idea to go around the room and have everyone introduce themselves and their relationship to the Mommy-to-Be.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The baby shower games played at a baby shower are usually one of the most memorable experiences during the pre-baby events. However, to ensure the games are successful there should be some thoughtful party planning. Before starting the games, it&#8217;s a good idea to go around the room and have everyone introduce themselves and their relationship to the Mommy-to-Be.</p>
<p>Here are some of the more popular games you can play during the party:</p>
<p><b>Guess Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s Tummy Size:</b> You will need some string / yarn and scissors for this game. Have each participant pull the yarn to the size they believe would fit perfectly around the Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s center of her pregnant tummy. After everyone cuts their string, compare the results to the Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s actual tummy. Give a prize to the guest who is the closest! This game is an ole favorite and will be enjoyed by all.</p>
<p><b>Say &#8220;Baby&#8221;:</b> You will need baby safety pins or another type of baby object you can place on a string for each guests at the shower as well as string or yarn, enough for each woman to wear as a necklace. Have each guest place the necklace with the baby safety pins around her neck when she gets to the party. The rules for this game are given at the beginning of the baby shower. Whenever someone says the word &#8220;baby&#8221; during the shower, any woman who calls it out gets a pin from the other woman who stated the word. At the end of the shower, the woman with the most pins wins a prize.</p>
<p><b>Naming Baby Items:</b> You will need a pad of paper and pen for each guest. Have each guest write down as many baby products as they can name, such as bottle, blanket, pacifier, etc during a five minute period. This sounds easy, and IS at first, but during last few minutes, the participants will start racking their brains for more baby items. The guest with the most baby products named will win and receive a prize.</p>
<p><b>Make The Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s Baby:</b> You will need baby magazines, scissors, glue and paper. Divide the guests into teams with each team having three members, and give each team some baby magazines. Ask each team to cut out pieces of different baby qualities and put together a picture of what they think the Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s baby will look like. Ask the Mommy-to-Be pick the baby she likes the best. Prizes will go to the winning team. This is another of the most popular games.</p>
<p><b>Guess The Gerber&#8217;s:</b> You will need Gerber&#8217;s infant food, pads of paper and pens. You will need to take the labels off of the baby food jars and have the guests at the baby shower guess the food, i.e. carrots, peas, sweet potato. This game usually has ten different jars or more of different baby food. The winner is the guest with the most correct guesses.</p>
<p><b>Guess the Number of Safety Pins:</b> You will need a lot of safety pins and a jar. Pass a jar full of baby safety pins around so all the guests can view it. Each guess will then guess the number of safety pins they think are in the jar. The one who guesses the closest wins a baby shower prize. This another game favorite.</p>
<p><b>Place The Baby On The Mommy-to-Be:</b> You will need cutouts of a baby, tape and blindfolds. This is a version of Pin The Tail on the Donkey, a game kids love to play. Blindfold each guests and give them a paper baby to place the baby as close to the Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s tummy as possible. The one who gets closest to placing the paper baby on the pregnant tummy wins.</p>
<p><b>Bottle Races:</b> You will need several baby bottles with milk. Have each guest take a bottle filled with a milk (you may substitute milk for another liquid) and suck the bottle as a baby would. The woman who drinks the most during an allotted time wins the baby shower gift. This is always a laughter filled game.</p>
<p><b>Baby Bingo:</b> You will need pens and bingo cards. Before opening the gifts, number each gift on the box starting with one. If you know that 35 people will be attending the shower, pre-print bingo cards with numbers 1 through 35 and randomly place them on 35 cards. When the Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s decides to open the presents, she grabs the present she wants to open and reads the number out loud. As soon as someone receives bingo, they win the game and the prize.</p>
<p><b>What&#8217;s the baby item:</b> You will need various baby products and a blindfold. A bag of baby items are placed in front of the Mommy-to-Be for her to take one item out at a time blindfolded and tell the baby shower guests what item she has in her hands. This is really fun baby shower game when you choose some crazy baby toys or products.</p>
<p><b>Complete the Baby Rhyme:</b> You will need a book containing baby rhymes. The host will read out loud to all the guest a part of the rhyme, which is to be completed by the other women.</p>
<p><b>How&#8217;s the Baby:</b> Ask all guests to bring a baby picture of themselves before the shower. Have all the pictures in a collage and draw lines for people to fill in who they think the babies are out of the people at the shower. If most guests don&#8217;t know each other, just have the pictures of the mother, mother-in-law, sisters, and Mommy-to-Be. See how many people guess right. You can make copies of the baby picture collage to see how many can guess right.</p>
<p><b>Baby Scrambler:</b> Another fun game is to choose 25 baby related items and scramble the spelling. For instance, pacifier can be changed to reiifpca. Ask the guests to unscramble the words. The one who gets the most right in five minutes receives a prize.</p>
<p><b>Name that Baby Song:</b> You will need a pad of paper and pen for each guest. Have each guest write down all the songs that have baby in their titles, like baby love, Santa baby, one for my baby and so on. Allow five minutes for this game. This baby shower game can be made more difficult by asking who also wrote the songs.</p>
<p><b>Dirty Diaper Circle:</b> You will need a diaper, chocolate and music player. Although one of our &#8220;dirtiest&#8221; games, it is one of the favorites. The host takes a diaper that has been &#8220;fixed&#8221; with warm chocolate in the right place and have the guests pass it to the person next to them is in a circle. When the host stops the music, whoever is holding the diaper is out of the game.</p>
<p><b>Pacifier in the baby&#8217;s mouth:</b> You will need a blindfold, a baby picture and a pacifier drawing for each guest. Tape a picture or drawing of a baby on the wall and have the blindfolded women try to tape the pacifier as close to the mouth of the baby as possible. The one who gets the closest ones.</p>
<p><b>Blindfold Diapering:</b> You will need a blindfold, baby doll (life size) and diapers. One of the funniest games. It calls for the guests to be divided into teams of up to five people. Each team has a doll, blindfold and diapers. The object is for each participant to place the blindfold on, take the current diaper off the doll and place the new one on while blindfolded. After the first person completes diapering, they run to the next teammate who places the blindfold on and has to do the same. The first team to finish diapering wins!</p>
<p><b>Baby Tic-Tac-Toe:</b> You will need a large erasable board to use for the tic-tac-toe board, writing utensil, and baby facts. Baby shower guests are divided into teams and are ask to answer a question about a baby fact. If they get the answer right, they get to choose a space, like the classic tic-tac-toe game.</p>
<p>The baby shower games are a very important part of your baby shower. You want to do everything you can to ensure the baby shower games are enjoyed by all and are a huge success. Here&#8217;s some tips for ensuring your baby shower games are successful:</p>
<p>a.	Be sure you have writing utensils for everyone <br />b.	Wrap games prizes <br />c.	Make sure to have extra prizes in case of tie games</p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Porter">Sarah Porter</a><br />Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Baby-Shower-Games,-Prizes-and-Invitations&amp;id=972667">EzineArticles.com</a><br />Provided by: <a href="http://betterdollar.com/duty-tax/duty/">Canada duty tariff</a></p>
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		<title>Toddler Toys Can Help Tots Behave and Develop</title>
		<link>http://www.411mommy.org/toddler-toys-can-help-tots-behave-and-develop/</link>
		<comments>http://www.411mommy.org/toddler-toys-can-help-tots-behave-and-develop/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 06 Feb 2010 14:48:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Babies]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.411mommy.org/toddler-toys-can-help-tots-behave-and-develop/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The growth and development of every person is highly individualized but the principle behind remains the same for everyone. From infancy, the child will become a toddler going to the preschool stage and so on. When a child reaches one to three years old, he is now called a toddler.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The growth and development of every person is highly individualized but the principle behind remains the same for everyone. From infancy, the child will become a toddler going to the preschool stage and so on. When a child reaches one to three years old, he is now called a toddler. At this stage, parents and caregivers should understand the behavior of the child. Toddler toys are helpful to asses the growth of the child. With the help of toys, parents and other adults can easily guide the children by providing adequate discipline and attention.</p>
<p>Toys and Toddler&#8217;s Behavior</p>
<p>Some parents say that their children are misbehaved but the truth is that&#8217;s how the child behaves in that certain stage. A toddler always says NO and parents at times punish their children because of disobedience. They do not recognize that the child&#8217;s behavior is normal. Sometimes, all they actually want is to exercise their freedom to choose and the best you can do here is to offer them choices. For example, offer him a robot or a ball. Let your child decide on what he wants to provide him with some control. Try to apply this principle when you offer foods or clothes to your children.</p>
<p>Toddlers are also outstanding for the rituals and routine they perform. When it comes to training them to eat proper food, you can use toddler toys to teach them about food. Play foods are good toys to use for this kind of training. When it comes to toilet training, toddler toys can also help. Put some interesting toys in the toilet that will make your tot comfortable and interested when you are toilet training him.</p>
<p>Toys and Toddler&#8217;s Autonomy</p>
<p>This is the positive effect if the child is righteously cared for. For this to be achieved, parents should recognize that the word &#8220;NO&#8221; by a toddler signifies something. This is the attitude of a child who wanted to choose for his own. He wanted to be independent even in simple decisions that he make. In taking the toddler for shopping, let him decide on what he wants. Bring him to a store where toys cost less so that your child could still choose his favorite toy without bragging your budget.</p>
<p>If autonomy is not achieved, shame is a possible result. It becomes a manifestation when the child is not allowed to perform independently. Toddler toys like toys that encourage tots to pretend and imagine are good toys that allows toddlers to think on their own, and act independently. When you hear them talking to their toys, refrain from correcting them now and then when you hear them say something not factual to their toys. Let them play; the best you can do is to play with them and go along with the world they have created with their toys.</p>
<p>A toddler&#8217;s attitude can be hard to understand. But, there is help for parents who want to deal with the issue accordingly; toddler toys are great tools to help train and teach toddlers.</p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rachel_Nunez">Rachel Nunez</a><br />Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Toddler-Toys-Can-Help-Tots-Behave-and-Develop&amp;id=1902776">EzineArticles.com</a><br />Provided by: <a href="http://wealthynetizen.com/">Wordpress plugin expert</a></p>
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		<title>Baby Shower Games, Prizes &amp; Invitations</title>
		<link>http://www.411mommy.org/baby-shower-games-prizes-invitations-9/</link>
		<comments>http://www.411mommy.org/baby-shower-games-prizes-invitations-9/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 06 Feb 2010 14:48:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Babies]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.411mommy.org/baby-shower-games-prizes-invitations-9/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The baby shower games played at a baby shower are usually one of the most memorable experiences during the pre-baby events. However, to ensure the games are successful there should be some thoughtful party planning. Before starting the games, it's a good idea to go around the room and have everyone introduce themselves and their relationship to the Mommy-to-Be.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The baby shower games played at a baby shower are usually one of the most memorable experiences during the pre-baby events. However, to ensure the games are successful there should be some thoughtful party planning. Before starting the games, it&#8217;s a good idea to go around the room and have everyone introduce themselves and their relationship to the Mommy-to-Be.</p>
<p>Here are some of the more popular games you can play during the party:</p>
<p><b>Guess Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s Tummy Size:</b> You will need some string / yarn and scissors for this game. Have each participant pull the yarn to the size they believe would fit perfectly around the Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s center of her pregnant tummy. After everyone cuts their string, compare the results to the Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s actual tummy. Give a prize to the guest who is the closest! This game is an ole favorite and will be enjoyed by all.</p>
<p><b>Say &#8220;Baby&#8221;:</b> You will need baby safety pins or another type of baby object you can place on a string for each guests at the shower as well as string or yarn, enough for each woman to wear as a necklace. Have each guest place the necklace with the baby safety pins around her neck when she gets to the party. The rules for this game are given at the beginning of the baby shower. Whenever someone says the word &#8220;baby&#8221; during the shower, any woman who calls it out gets a pin from the other woman who stated the word. At the end of the shower, the woman with the most pins wins a prize.</p>
<p><b>Naming Baby Items:</b> You will need a pad of paper and pen for each guest. Have each guest write down as many baby products as they can name, such as bottle, blanket, pacifier, etc during a five minute period. This sounds easy, and IS at first, but during last few minutes, the participants will start racking their brains for more baby items. The guest with the most baby products named will win and receive a prize.</p>
<p><b>Make The Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s Baby:</b> You will need baby magazines, scissors, glue and paper. Divide the guests into teams with each team having three members, and give each team some baby magazines. Ask each team to cut out pieces of different baby qualities and put together a picture of what they think the Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s baby will look like. Ask the Mommy-to-Be pick the baby she likes the best. Prizes will go to the winning team. This is another of the most popular games.</p>
<p><b>Guess The Gerber&#8217;s:</b> You will need Gerber&#8217;s infant food, pads of paper and pens. You will need to take the labels off of the baby food jars and have the guests at the baby shower guess the food, i.e. carrots, peas, sweet potato. This game usually has ten different jars or more of different baby food. The winner is the guest with the most correct guesses.</p>
<p><b>Guess the Number of Safety Pins:</b> You will need a lot of safety pins and a jar. Pass a jar full of baby safety pins around so all the guests can view it. Each guess will then guess the number of safety pins they think are in the jar. The one who guesses the closest wins a baby shower prize. This another game favorite.</p>
<p><b>Place The Baby On The Mommy-to-Be:</b> You will need cutouts of a baby, tape and blindfolds. This is a version of Pin The Tail on the Donkey, a game kids love to play. Blindfold each guests and give them a paper baby to place the baby as close to the Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s tummy as possible. The one who gets closest to placing the paper baby on the pregnant tummy wins.</p>
<p><b>Bottle Races:</b> You will need several baby bottles with milk. Have each guest take a bottle filled with a milk (you may substitute milk for another liquid) and suck the bottle as a baby would. The woman who drinks the most during an allotted time wins the baby shower gift. This is always a laughter filled game.</p>
<p><b>Baby Bingo:</b> You will need pens and bingo cards. Before opening the gifts, number each gift on the box starting with one. If you know that 35 people will be attending the shower, pre-print bingo cards with numbers 1 through 35 and randomly place them on 35 cards. When the Mommy-to-Be&#8217;s decides to open the presents, she grabs the present she wants to open and reads the number out loud. As soon as someone receives bingo, they win the game and the prize.</p>
<p><b>What&#8217;s the baby item:</b> You will need various baby products and a blindfold. A bag of baby items are placed in front of the Mommy-to-Be for her to take one item out at a time blindfolded and tell the baby shower guests what item she has in her hands. This is really fun baby shower game when you choose some crazy baby toys or products.</p>
<p><b>Complete the Baby Rhyme:</b> You will need a book containing baby rhymes. The host will read out loud to all the guest a part of the rhyme, which is to be completed by the other women.</p>
<p><b>How&#8217;s the Baby:</b> Ask all guests to bring a baby picture of themselves before the shower. Have all the pictures in a collage and draw lines for people to fill in who they think the babies are out of the people at the shower. If most guests don&#8217;t know each other, just have the pictures of the mother, mother-in-law, sisters, and Mommy-to-Be. See how many people guess right. You can make copies of the baby picture collage to see how many can guess right.</p>
<p><b>Baby Scrambler:</b> Another fun game is to choose 25 baby related items and scramble the spelling. For instance, pacifier can be changed to reiifpca. Ask the guests to unscramble the words. The one who gets the most right in five minutes receives a prize.</p>
<p><b>Name that Baby Song:</b> You will need a pad of paper and pen for each guest. Have each guest write down all the songs that have baby in their titles, like baby love, Santa baby, one for my baby and so on. Allow five minutes for this game. This baby shower game can be made more difficult by asking who also wrote the songs.</p>
<p><b>Dirty Diaper Circle:</b> You will need a diaper, chocolate and music player. Although one of our &#8220;dirtiest&#8221; games, it is one of the favorites. The host takes a diaper that has been &#8220;fixed&#8221; with warm chocolate in the right place and have the guests pass it to the person next to them is in a circle. When the host stops the music, whoever is holding the diaper is out of the game.</p>
<p><b>Pacifier in the baby&#8217;s mouth:</b> You will need a blindfold, a baby picture and a pacifier drawing for each guest. Tape a picture or drawing of a baby on the wall and have the blindfolded women try to tape the pacifier as close to the mouth of the baby as possible. The one who gets the closest ones.</p>
<p><b>Blindfold Diapering:</b> You will need a blindfold, baby doll (life size) and diapers. One of the funniest games. It calls for the guests to be divided into teams of up to five people. Each team has a doll, blindfold and diapers. The object is for each participant to place the blindfold on, take the current diaper off the doll and place the new one on while blindfolded. After the first person completes diapering, they run to the next teammate who places the blindfold on and has to do the same. The first team to finish diapering wins!</p>
<p><b>Baby Tic-Tac-Toe:</b> You will need a large erasable board to use for the tic-tac-toe board, writing utensil, and baby facts. Baby shower guests are divided into teams and are ask to answer a question about a baby fact. If they get the answer right, they get to choose a space, like the classic tic-tac-toe game.</p>
<p>The baby shower games are a very important part of your baby shower. You want to do everything you can to ensure the baby shower games are enjoyed by all and are a huge success. Here&#8217;s some tips for ensuring your baby shower games are successful:</p>
<p>a.	Be sure you have writing utensils for everyone <br />b.	Wrap games prizes <br />c.	Make sure to have extra prizes in case of tie games</p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Porter">Sarah Porter</a><br />Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Baby-Shower-Games,-Prizes-and-Invitations&amp;id=972667">EzineArticles.com</a><br />Provided by: <a href="http://digitalcameratimes.com/">Digital Camera News</a></p>
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