Ten Tips for Naming Baby

Perhaps one of the most rewarding stages of pregnancy is picking a name for your baby. Choosing a name for your child is often a neat but frustrating experience. The name you choose is the name that your child is forced to live with, which comes with a lot of pressure. Here are 10 tips to consider when choosing a name for your baby.

Don't let others influence your choice of a name


Everyone you come into contact with will have an opinion on the name you choose, and if you happen to take everyone's opinions into account, your child may end up with no name at all. Therefore, it is best to keep the name a secret until birth.

Think about problematic initials in a name 


When thinking of names, the initials are most likely not something thought about, but should be. A friend recently picked a name for her daughter, realizing later that her initials were O.M.G., which may not look very good when monogrammed on a towel.

Make sure the name is pronounceable


Going through life constantly correcting others on the pronunciation of your name can become frustrating,  and your child may not be thankful later on in life.

Think about teasing at school


Children can be brutal at times, as is their nature. Giving a child a name that rhymes with a something foul will not be in your child's best interest.

Know what the name means


It would be best to give your child a name that stands for something strong, such as Dustin, which means "brave warrior". The alternative could be Byron, which means "small cottage or house."

Figure out the spelling of a name


The spelling of a child's name could very well separate the Emily's from the EmmaLeigh's.
Spelling on its own can make a name more unique than those already thought of. Be careful when choosing spelling, though, because some spelling differences can change pronunciation.

Nicknames are inevitable


More often than not, children are given nicknames. Thinking about the nicknames that may come out of  the name you choose may help the decision-making process.

Being unique is fine, but classic names work well


There is a fine line when choosing a unique name. If going in this direction, you must choose a name that is unique on its own, but is not too unique that it may take away from the character of the child. Classic names are classic because they have been tested and are well-liked by many.

Start early when picking names


Naming your child should start early on in pregnancy, such as within the first trimester. This is because names that sound good at the time may not sound good later on and starting early leaves plenty of room for change.

Pick a name both you and your spouse agree on


Both the mother and father should agree on the best name for your baby is to be confident in your decision. If you have done the research, though about it, and done the best you can, it's a wonderful gift both you and your child.

Source: Kristen Brenner

BABY ACTIVITIES : 5 activities to stimulate your baby's vision

                   

From the time your baby is born, his vision is maturing and developing. His vision is only partially developed at birth. He can see, but what he sees is not as clear or complete as an adult's vision. His retina, which helps distinguish color and light, is not fully developed. This is why you might have heard that newborn babies see in black and white. As your baby growth and matures so do the sells in his brain that are responsible for vision. Encouraging your baby to use his vision will help in vision development and will help stimulate visual part of his brain to thrive. Some time during the first few months of life your baby will begin to track object with his eyes. You should consult your doctor if he is not tracking by the time he is three months old. Here are some visually stimulating activities that you can do with your baby to help improve his vision and encourage visual maturity.

1. Look at black and white (or high contract) board books together. If do not have a black or white board book you can make your own with cardstock paper and black markers. High contrast colors, like black and white, are easier for your baby to see. The more your baby uses his vision to see things, the more his vision will thrive.
2. Purchase a mobile or car seat toy with stripes and high contrast. Stripes attract baby's attention. In fact, if you have your child's visual activity screened while he is a baby, the doctor's office will likely use black and white stripes to measure your baby's acuity. Babies will naturally look at stripes. Very thick stripes are easy for baby to see but as the stripes get get thinner they become more challenging for babies to see. By measuring how well your baby can see different striped cards your doctor can have an idea of how well your baby can see. Stripes are great for improving your baby's vision. Try to find toys, car seat covers, or even bedroom decor or clothing that contains black and white , red and black, or other contrast bright colored stripes.
3. Encourage play with bright colored rattles or toys. Jingle a bright colored rattle in front of your baby. Let her practice listening to the sound the rattle makes and following the rattle with her eyes. Eventually as her vision improves she will try to reach out and grab the rattle or toy.
4. Play with mirrors. Place the mirror about 8-12 inches away from your baby to start with. Newborns can only focus on objects thst are about 8-12 inches away. If you bring things too close or too far away it may be harder for your baby to focus on it. You can use handheld mirrors or purchase a mirrored activity toy for your baby to play with.
5. Play peekaboo or hide and seek with your baby. You can play by covering your face with your hands and then saying "peekaboo" or once your child gets older you can cover a toy with a blanket and see if your baby can find it. 

Source: Justmommies.com

BABY LEG WARMERS

Leg Warmers are brilliant!
They are soft and stretchy making nappy changing quicker and easier. They keep the nappy area loose and free, making them comfortable for baby and reducing leaking from the nappy.
Leg Warmers are brilliant for protecting crawlers or unsteady toddlers knees (or elbows) whilst leaving baby's feet free to grip the surface.
Leg warmers are brilliant for potty training children as there is no pulling clothes up and down in a rush.
They are suitable for summer use and perfect to keep in your changing bag to slip on with a skirt or shorts if the day gets cooler or in the evening . Also great under trousers on a cold winter's day.
Leg warmers come in one size and are soft and stretchy enough to fit most newborns and children up to around the age of 4 years to the top of the thigh to above the knee, will fit most 4 to 8 years olds below the knee or on the arms.
Great for keeping little footballers' or dancers' leg warm! Available in a huge range of colours and patterns to coordinate with any outfit.
Made from a blend of 80% cotton, 18% polyester, 2% spandex making them stay soft and stretchy. Machine washable.
There are so many lovely patterns to choose from.