Beginner's Guide to Babies

Month Eleven Milestones

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Eleven month old babies can usually say "mama" and "dada" discriminately, and they can understand the word "no". They can clap their hands and wave bye-bye.

Month Twelve Milestones

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A twelve month old baby may take one or two naps per day. By now, he has tripled his birth weight and is 29 to 32 inches long. He can bang two objects together, and he can put objects into a container and then take them out. He can voluntarily let go of things, and he can shake his head to signal "no". He loves opening and closing cabinet doors and he can crawl very well. He cruises along the furniture and walks with help from an adult. He likes to "dance" to music and can say "mama" and "dada". He's interested in books and he might be able to identify some things. He might start to understand simple commands. He's afraid of strangers. A twelve month old will share his toys, but he wants them back. He might form an attachment to a certain item, and he pushes away what he doesn't want. He likes to push, pull, and dump items, and he can take off his hat and socks. He understands the use of certain objects. He will begin to test parental responses to his behaviors. He will extend his arms or legs when getting dressed, and he can identify his own reflection in a mirror.

Sources:
www.med.umich.edu
www.parenting.ivillage.com

How important is choosing a baby name?

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After you find out you have a new member of your family on the way, the initial joy will wear off and the reality of the responsibility and decision making you have in front of you will set in. You'll have to decide whether to breast or bottle feed; to use disposable or cloth diapers; how to decorate the nursery; what toys to get; what kind of education your child will get; what parenting styles you'll use and the list goes on and on and on.

One of the more enjoyable - and most important - decisions you'll make is what to name your child. You may have some ideas and mind - some mothers pick out their children's name when they are a child - but it's important to consider this decision. It will, after all, have a lasting effect on your child his or her entire life.

A name can tell a lot about a child's heritage and background. Some parents take the time to consider whether their potential name choices could end up in a nasty playground teasing. What does the name rhyme with?

Take some time to seriously consider what you want your child to be known as throughout his or her life. For a deeper look at what your choice could mean, read the book Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner.

Should I choose a popular baby name?

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One of the most common places to start looking for a baby name is a list of most popular names, such as the one at the U.S. Social Security website,

These lists will give you a fairly accurate portrayal of what parents in the United States are naming their babies, although it is noted that each unique spelling of a name counts as a different name.

You can see compiled lists from previous years, by sex and state or from across the country. For example, in 2003, the Top 10 most popular boy and girl names in the country were:
1. Jacob 1. Emily
2. Michael 2. Emma
3. Joshua 3. Madison
4. Matthew 4. Hannah
5. Andrew 5. Olivia
6. Joseph 6. Abigail
7. Ethan 7. Alexis
8. Daniel 8. Ashley
9. Christopher 9. Elizabeth
10. Anthony 10. Samantha

For comparison, here is 1999's US Top 10:
1. Jacob 1. Emily
2. Michael 2. Hannah
3. Matthew 3. Alexis
4. Joshua 4. Samantha
5. Christopher 5. Sarah
6. Nicholas 6. Ashley
7. Andrew 7. Madison
8. Joseph 8. Taylor
9. Daniel 9. Jessica
10. Tyler 10. Elizabeth

Overall, the names really didn't change much over that five year span of time. All of the boy names popular in 1999 were still popular in 2003, only in a slightly different order. For girls, the same is true, except the names, Sarah, Taylor and Jessica have been replaced with Emma, Olivia and Abigail.

On the Social Security website, you can also type in a specific name and see where it ranks now and track its popularity over time. For example, when you type in "Ella" you see that in 1990, it was the 864 most popular girls name out of 1000. In 1995, it was number 688, in 2000, it was 268 and in 2003 it was number 44. Therefore, if you wanted something a little different for your daughter, Ella may not be as unique as it was 10 years ago and you may want to keep that in mind.

Popular child naming trends tend to be cyclical. For example, names that were popular in the early part of the 1900's are becoming more popular again. That may explain why there are more and more Emma, Ella, Olivia and Abigail's around than were heard of in previous decades. If that trend holds, you may soon see a boom of Barbara, Linda, Carol, Joan, Ronald, Donald and Thomas's in nurseries across the country.

Should I pick a name with meaning?

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A trend that is becoming more popular again is picking a baby name that has a particular meaning. While a lot of people go through life not thinking about what their name means, others take great pride in knowing the origin and meaning behind their name.

While there are many ways to find the meaning of names, some of the most popular ways are through websites, such as ParenthoodWeb.com. Here, you can search meanings several different ways. You can enter any name and the meaning will come up or you can type in words and phrases in a meaning and you will get a list of names. You can also search for names by origin (Biblical, Danish, English, Chinese, etc).

For example, typing in the word "strong," will bring up a list of names that includes: Anders, Bogart, Brianna, Bryant, Charles, Ethan, Kale, Megan and Virgil, as well as several pages of others. If the meaning "strong" associated to the name of your child is important to you, you should be able to find a name that fits your life and liking.

How does naming children work in other countries?

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Other countries have a stricter attitude towards naming children than is found in the United States. In Asian countries, no new characters are allowed to be created without approval from the government. Therefore, parents have a pre-approved list of characters in which to derive a name.

Lists of names are not unique to the Orient. Many countries in Europe have them as well. Swiss born children are also named using a government-approved list. Foreign born parents are granted some leeway, but natives are held strictly to the list.

Although naming children after family members is common in the U.S., it seems to be much more common in other cultures, such as in Italy. If your heritage is Italian, naming after family might be a nice way to honor a family member and your heritage at the same time.

Should I get my family's opinion?

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One of the larger debates among new parents is whether or not to share your name choices with friends or family before the baby is born. There are some points to consider while making this decision. Would you be offended if someone told you what they honestly thought of the name you loved? Would you be comfortable using the name if someone scoffs at it?

People tend to be much more opinionated about your name choices while the mother is still pregnant. Once the baby is born and named, most people have sense enough not to question it out of respect for the child and the parents.

If you think your feelings would be hurt if someone doesn't like the name, it might be best to keep your choices to yourselves until the baby is born. This is especially so if you have decided against using a family name when family names are traditions on either side of family.

How does naming children work in other countries?

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Source:
http://www.mormonchic.com/mommy/baby-names.asp

Setting a Schedule for Your Baby Overview

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We've all heard that we should put our babies on a schedule. And it's actually pretty sound advice. If you've tried taking care of your new baby without a schedule, you may have realized that he's ready to eat every 20 minutes. Sleeping is all messed up. And through all this craziness, your days and nights are blurring together. Once you have established a schedule with your child, you'll see that he is much happier and it is much easier to deal with parenthood. Your baby starts to get a feel for when to eat and sleep, and when he cries at a certain time, you can pretty much tell what's wrong. This guide will further discuss how to set a schedule for your baby, what to expect, and other related topics.

What the Doctors Say

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Most doctors agree that it's beneficial to put your baby on a schedule. However, for the first several weeks of the baby's life, he should be allowed to eat and sleep whenever he needs to. These first weeks are hard for Mom as the baby's internal schedule may have no pattern that can be followed.

By about six to 12 weeks, most babies settle into a daily routine and become more predictable. Of course, this pattern may vary, so allow some wiggle room as your baby grows and changes. Some babies will be easy to get into a schedule, while others will be harder. Some babies are just more irregular, and Mom may have to step up and make some parts of his life as predictable as possible. If you don't set a schedule for your baby, he will have a tough time figuring things out, learning about life, and trusting that his needs will be met. So even if you're not organized in any other area of your life, you should be organized about your baby's schedule.

Setting a Schedule for Naps

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If it's nap time and your baby doesn't seem ready for sleep, you might try playing some soft lullaby music or putting him in a swing. As you do this more often, it will become routine. The routine will then become a natural sleep-inducer. No matter what you choose to do to help your baby sleep, do it in the same order so that your baby knows it's nap time. One mother says she doesn't do anything creative to denote nap time, but she does the same routine in the same order every day: takes her baby to the nursery, turns on the white noise machine, closes the blinds, changes the baby's diaper, and lays her down in her crib.

It's also a good idea to put your baby down for a nap at the same time every day, and to allow him to sleep for about the same amount of time every day. Babies thrive on routine and reliability. As a general rule, newborns need three daily naps that total about seven hours. Babies who are six months old and older need two naps that total about three to four hours.

Setting a Schedule for Play

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With play, how you do it is more important than when you do it. Babies learn from repetition, so it's useful to do the same activities in the same order. This will make play more fun and educational for your baby. For example, when you want to introduce a new book, begin with a familiar one. This way, your baby will be more receptive to the new book. And don't skip any songs that are in your regular routine, even if you think your baby is ready to move to a new song. Sing a familiar song first, and then sing the new one.

It's fine to initiate play whenever your baby seems to be in the mood, but the ideal times are usually right after breakfast and in the middle of the afternoon, when your baby is fed and well rested. Play sessions should last from ten to twenty minutes. If your baby seems to become uninterested or is looking away from you, it's time to stop. Some people find it helpful to begin with more stimulating activities such as playing with toys that make sounds or light up. After that, start leaning toward quieter play, such as reading, so that the baby realizes that play time is almost over. Some moms use a short baby video to signal the end of play time. This can be a good way to help the baby wind down.

Setting a Schedule for Exercise

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A daily walk outdoors will do both you and your baby good. You'll get some exercise and a break from being cooped up in the house, along with some quality time with your baby. The baby will get some fresh air and stimulation which is safe and good for him. Just make sure he's dressed appropriately and shielded from the sun.

The thought of bundling up your child and packing everything you might need into the stroller could be a little daunting at first, but you'll learn to enjoy it. Moreover, your baby will likely enjoy being outside. It's a different environment from being at home all the time, and that stimulation can help develop the brain.

Setting a Schedule for Baths

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A bath is a good way to prepare your baby for bed. Even though he only needs to be bathed twice a week, it could be beneficial to make bath time a part of your daily routine. If you do choose to bathe your child daily, use soap sparingly and rinse it off immediately so that your baby's skin won't dry out.

Most babies love the water and having Mom wash them, but some are scared of baths. If this is the case with your child, make bath time fun by using specific toys that are reserved just for the tub. Games will help too, such as "this little piggy" when the baby's toes get wet. You can also bond with your baby by wrapping him in a towel and holding him close, or by giving him a massage. Involve Daddy as well by giving him a special job. Maybe he could put the lotion on the baby and then dress him in his pajamas. Babies will enjoy knowing that this is Daddy's special time with them.

Setting a Schedule for Bed Time

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Some children will struggle with going to sleep, while others will just go right down. It doesn't matter what strategy you try to get them to sleep, this is a reality. One thing you can do to help, though, is to stick to a set bed time. This will help your child sleep better and longer. Having a regular bed time is the key to establishing a regular sleep cycle. Experts suggest putting the baby down as early as possible. A good bed time is between 7:30 and 8:00 since babies need nine to eleven hours of sleep.

Try to make the bed time routine peaceful and predictable. Once again, do things in the same order each night. You might want to try rocking, caressing, singing, playing soft music, or using a white noise machine. These activities can help signal to the baby that the day is over and it's time for bed. It's not a good idea to nurse or bottle feed your baby to sleep; this will prevent him from being able to soothe himself if he wakes up during the night. Instead, hold him until he is settled, then let him fall asleep by himself in the crib.

Sources: