baby - Can Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) be Prevented?

Sudden Infant Death Syndrom (SIDS) is every parent's nightmare. The notion that your precious baby might die in his sleep strikes a cold hand of dread for all new mums and dads. SIDS is the sudden death during sleep of an apparently healthy child, under the age of one. A diagnosis of SIDS can only be applied after adequate post mortem investigations reveal no other causes. SIDS could be said to be a sudden death during sleep for no apparent reason. Medical researth has been extensive over the last few years. The experts have identified a number of "risk area". You can reduce the risk of SIDS substantially by following their guidelines. It is impossible to predict if a child will succumb to SIDS. Medical research has failed to pinpoint a single exact cause but it has indicated various "risk factors" Knowing where the risk are can help you to eliminate them and thereby reduce the risk of SIDS by up to 75%. Use these guidelines to help provide a safe sleep environment for your baby. Put your baby to sleep on his back. The back to sleep campaign is thought to have reduced Sudden Infant deaths by between 50 - 75%. This is fairly new advice. Older mums (like me!) were probably told to put babies to sleep on their stomachs. However, medical opinion is unanimous. Putting baby to sleep on his/her back is the single most important thing you can do to prevent SIDS. Use a firm Mattress with a fitted sheet Do not put baby to sleep (even for a nap) on soft surfaces such as water bedst., sofa cushions, sheepskins or sleeping bags. Remove all soft things from the crib/sleep area away fluffy blanket, pillows, soft toys, duvets etc Keep baby's face uncovered. Make sure that baby's face stays uncovered and that blankets cannot shuffle up during the night. It is better to use sleep clothing rather than blankets. If you do use blanket make sure that you place baby at the foot of the crib (with his feet to the bottom) and the blanket firmly tucked under the mattress and no higher than baby's chest. Do not smoke Do not smoke during pregnancy and do not allow others to smoke round your baby. Sleep near to your baby. It is suggested that you should keep baby in the parent's bedroom until 6 months old. It is NOT intended that you share a bed with your infant. It is hard to follow the SIDS prevention rules in an adult bed. The mattress is usually too soft and the pillows and fluffy bedding provide addition risks. If you use a pacifier for sleep or nap times do not reinsert it once baby is asleep Do not allow your baby to overheat The room should be at a temperature that is comfortable for an adult. Do not use too many clothes or blankets. Make sure everyone knows these prevention tips. Some of this advice is new (especially back to sleep) and older carers may not know. It is important that everyone who looks after you baby is aware of the steps to keep your baby safe. Lack of sleep is the one of the hardest aspect of new parenthood. Getting baby off to sleep can be a major headache. The primary goal is to get baby to sleep quickly - and to sleep safely through the night. Sleep Baby Sleep is an advice website. You will find article to help with all aspects of baby sleep. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Debbie_Walker baby - Cheap Baby Shower Favors - A Cute (and Inexpensive) Way To Go Cheap baby shower favors are the way to go to help you throw an inexpensive, yet classy baby shower. A cheap baby shower doesn't necessarily mean a plain or boring baby shower. Au contraire, with a few cute ideas of some inexpensive baby shower favors, you can save money and still have a darling baby shower. Anyone who has ever planned a baby shower is all too familiar with how much it can cost. Sure, the baby shower invitations don't cost that much, the decorations are a reasonable expense. But when you start adding it all together, it can get a little too expensive. You have the invitations, decorations, food, centerpiece, games, prizes, favors & a gift! It all starts to add up pretty fast. So, Where to Cut Costs? One of the best ways to save money at a baby shower is to buy or make cheap baby shower favors. Baby shower favors are a "Thank you for coming" item or memento that you give to each guest for coming to the party. They don't need to be expensive or elaborate; a little something sweet and thoughtful would be perfect. How to Make Cheap Baby Shower Favors Cute and Memorable? The single most important & meaningful touch that you can give to your baby shower favors is attaching a cute, heartfelt note to each favor. Use a fun thank you poem or a sweet note like, "Thanks for celebrating Julia's little boy blue! The baby shower wouldn't have been the same without you!" A simple, meaningful note will make your baby shower favors worth a lot more than an expensive, impersonal party favor. Here are some simple & sweet ideas for cheap baby shower favors: ? Scented or decorative candles ? Baby bottles filled with candy or chocolates (maybe Hershey's Hugs and Kisses?) ? Cookie Mix ? Bread Mix ? Soup Mix ? A Little Fruit Basket ? Novelty Soaps (in baby shapes, e.g. rubber ducky, baby bootie, pacifier, etc) ? Personalized candy bars ? Scented body lotion (Little bottles cost less than $1) ? Fun Hair Products ? Scented Hair Spray ? Fun Lipstick ? Cookies, brownies, anything tasty! ? Stationary - Any and all themes (baby, country, angels, stars, Winnie the Pooh, etc,) ? Diaper Candy Cups ? Nuts ? Scrapbooking Supplies - This is a fabulous idea for shower favors because you can inexpensively put together several different items to make a little gift basket. You can put as much or as little as you want/can afford. A helpful hint: Buying your favors in bulk and/or at a dollar store is a great way to save money on your favors (and other party items too). Favors you can eat are always a hit! Anything edible is usually a great idea for cheap baby shower favors, and are good for both the mind AND the body, 'cause they taste so good! Send your guests home with a little something sweet. Once you have chosen your party favors, wrap them in clear cellophane bags (which are very inexpensive at any craft store) and tie them with a cute strip of ribbon. Then add a simple & sweet note, and Voila! You have darling (and cheap) baby shower favors! With the ideas above, it is obvious that cheap baby shower favors can still be cute and fun! Remember that baby shower favors are a simple gesture of gratitude towards your guests for coming, so they don't need to be fancy nor expensive. Whatever favors you decide on, your guests will appreciate them and will have a cute (and inexpensive) favor to remember the baby shower by!