Archive for November, 2008

Best 6 Pacifier Safety Tips

by JB Anthony

Not all babies need or like to have pacifiers but for some, a pacifier can be a source of comfort. In any case, if you do choose to get a pacifier for your baby, there are a couple of safety tips that you need to consider.

Don't Accessorize

Most pacifiers that have been directly released by companies have been made with an eye on safety features. The worst mistake that any parent could do would be to accessorize pacifiers or buy ones that have been modified or accessorized.

Examples of these decorated pacifiers are those with decorative stick on jewels or dangling attachments on the pacifier guard or handle. Pacifiers of this kind being sold by merchants have already been recalled but some parents might still attempt to do the decorating themselves. Decorations on a pacifier could become detached and may become choking hazards.

Don't Attach on Baby

Parents can sometimes find it cumbersome for pacifiers to fall off easily from babies' mouths. Thus, they are sometimes tempted to attach them on their babies with either a pin, a plastic chain, or a string. Resist the urge to do this. Your baby could find a way to open a regular pin and get injured or worse, he might just ingest a detached pin. A string or ribbon on the other hand could become entangled and could strangle your baby.

Check the Pieces

Pacifiers can have multiple pieces. In such cases, make sure that you've checked all its assembled pieces together and that they're properly and firmly attached. You should test the nipple in particular by tugging at it. A teething baby might suck too aggressively and detach the nipple, thus making it a choking hazard. Watch out for recalled models especially among multiple piece pacifiers.

Do Not Make Your Own

It is not safe to alter or change anything into a pacifier, just like it is not safe to put accessories on one. Do not attempt to reconfigure old nipples or pacifier parts into another pacifier. Your creation might not hold together well enough, and you may thus end up with a bunch of choking hazards. Store sold pacifiers have been carefully designed and tested to withstand repeated sucking and biting and should therefore be the only items that can be safely used.

Steer Clear of Liquid-Filled Pacifiers

Pacifiers with well-tested liquid may rupture. Avoid buying these kinds of pacifier especially if you have a sharp baby biter. Your baby could bite through the nipple and get all the liquid out. You should also avoid coating pacifiers with sugar, honey or anything sweet. This would encourage your baby to gnaw harder on a pacifier and may bite through it or develop an attachment for it.

Buy Standard Size

Standard-sized pacifiers usually have a stopper or shield that is more than one inch across an average baby's mouth. This is to prevent your baby from ingesting the whole pacifier and choking on it. The shield however should have small holes on each side to allow moisture out and air onto your baby's skin.

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Birth Month Flowers Can Add to the Baby Shower Theme

by Edie Mindell

Flowers add a special touch to any event, especially celebrations like baby showers. While some choose a type of flower to match a color scheme, others like to use the baby's predicted birth month flower, or even the flower of the month in which the baby shower will be held. Whether you decide on flowers according to the baby's birth date, or simply pick the ones that you love the most, this article will break down the significance of each month's flower.

A great idea might be to choose different flowers based on their meaning and make a beautiful flower arrangement pattern for the shower. There are beautiful baby shower centerpieces that are made from baby clothes called baby bouquets that have to be seen to be believed make unique arrangements. These are some of the best baby shower ideas to be invented in the last few years.

January's flower is the sweet and sassy carnation. The carnation exerts beauty, distinction, gratitude, fascination, and admiration; the pink carnation in particular represents "a mother's love." Soft and gentle on the outside but strong and durable on the inside, the carnation is the perfect flower to represent the bittersweet paradox relating to the first month of the year. The carnation's scientific name, Dianthus, directly translates into "flower of love." This flower is one of the oldest cultivated flowers in the world, yet one of the most popular today.

February is the month of love and warmth, and this month's flower, the iris, denotes deep and profound notes. The iris' three upright petals each have a meaning; the first is faith, the second is valor, and the third is wisdom. Gracefulness, majesty, and dignity characterize the iris' presence. Purple, the color of royalty, makes February's birth flower extravagant and majestic; the iris is truly the flower of splendor and grandeur.

In March, spring begins to arise with bright cheers and rays of sunshine. The daffodil is dainty and yellow, and is the flower that follows after and breaks winter's cold atmosphere, bringing warmth and joy to the world. The daffodil is the symbol of rebirth, new beginnings, and a fresh start. Daffodils exert happiness and exhilaration to the world, and fill the earth with light and brightness.

April is a paradoxical month, with both rain showers and sunlight. The daisy's character parallels this paradox, in that it is a feminine yet childlike flower. The legend of the history of daisies is that this precious flower originated from a nymph who transformed herself into a cute-but-not-loud flower, in order to run away from unwanted attention. The daisy is symbolic of eternal youth, playfulness, and a charming child-like character.

The best things about May are the beautiful lilies that decorate beautiful landscapes of the earth. Lilies are sweet and humble; they do not ask for attention but their unconventional beauty inevitably gets compliments and praise. Lilies symbolize virtue, purity and honor.

The middle of the year calls for June's sunshine, warmth, and gorgeous roses. Roses are the universal icon for love and passion throughout the world. Roses depict beauty and perfection, and they reveal a touch of mystery. Each and every petal is as gracious as the next, and the rose surely stands out in a bouquet.

Whichever flower, month, color or any other category you choose for baby shower planning, you are assured to have a colorful, fun event for celebrating the newborn baby's birth!

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