Flying with a baby or toddler comes with some unique challenges. How do you keep your baby or toddler comfortable on the flight? What do you do if your baby needs to have his diaper changed? How much stuff should you take with you for the baby, and will taking a lot of stuff increase the overall price of your trip? These are all questions you might be asking if you’ve never flown with your baby or toddler before. Fortunately, we’re here to answer many of those questions and help you fly as comfortably with your little one as possible. Here are some tips to help you fly with your baby or toddler:

1. Book a flight in the morning – Fewer people fly in the morning, so the airport and planes will be less crowded then. Plus, babies are usually in better moods in the morning than in the evening, when they’re tired and fussy.

2. Print out your boarding passes at home – There is no need to put your baby or yourself through the misery of waiting in a long line at the airport to get your boarding passes. So, print them out at home.

3. Consider purchasing a seat for your child – Children 2 and under can usually fly for free on a plane if they sit on their mom or dad’s lap. However, you may want to spend some extra money to reserve a seat for your child. That way, you and your baby will feel less cramped on the plane. Most airlines will even let your baby have his or her own seat for half of the price of a regular plane ticket. Explore your options, and keep in mind that your baby will need to ride in a car seat, unless he or she is on your lap. Since your baby or toddler is probably used to riding in a car seat, he or she will most likely feel safer riding this way on the plane.

4.  Leave things like diapers and other baby supplies at home – Most airlines will charge you to take extra baggage, and hauling around a lot of stuff just isn’t as comfortable. Consider bringing enough diapers and wipes for the day of your flight and purchasing new diapers and wipes when you reach your destination.

5. Consider your alternatives to flying on a regular plane – Flying on a private jet charter, for instance, will be a lot more comfortable for you and your baby or toddler. You’ll be able to fly in a private atmosphere. So, if your baby starts to cry, you won’t have to worry about disturbing any other passengers. Plus, there will be a lot fewer sights and sounds on a jet charter to upset your baby.

Don’t skip your trip just because you’re apprehensive about flying with your baby or toddler. Try out some of the tips above, and enjoy your vacation with your baby in tow!

Author’s Bio: Logan is a guest blogger who writes about international travel, family travel, and when to consider flying on a private jet charter.

Your first name was chosen by your parents, perhaps during your mother’s pregnancy or maybe even before your conception. One thing is certain, this name has been yours since the day you born when it was immediately attached to your surname. This means that your name remains unchanged for the rest of your life – from the day you enter this world until the day you leave, like a label, sharing the brightest and darkest moments of your existence.
But this notorious first name is much more than that: it is an intricate part of you, and defines not only your personality but also your destiny.
That is why it is fundamental to know as much as possible about one’s first name, just as it is important to know oneself, and thereby become the master of your destiny and enjoy a life that is filled with success, fulfillment and as many happy moments as possible.
Well, that is the question; do you possess such knowledge about the origin and meaning of your name? For example, did you know that the first name DREW means « brave » and reveals somebody who as a child needs to be surrounded by others and feel secure, demanding plenty of attention and affection, and who in adulthood will appreciate the company of others; sociable and extroverted, this will be a sentimental soul, a romantic who dreams about meeting Prince Charming?
Now that you understand the importance of the first name in a person’s life, are you prepared to choose your future child’s first name at random?

Thanks to the web site www.first-names-meanings.com, you can now browse an immense database of first names for free, from the most common to the most unusual, thereby accessing studies carried out by an expert in numerology.
It is the largest and most comprehensive online directory of first names in existence to date, which also offers services such as a study of compatibility between first names, a classification of first names in terms of preference with the opportunity for visitors to vote for their favorites and a free horoscope.
Without further ado, we invite you to come and quench your thirst for knowledge and get to know yourself, your friends, families and loved ones a little better or choose a name together for the baby whose arrival you are so eagerly awaiting.
Best wishes,
names meaning

Secret Tips and Knowledge

What would a how-to book be without insider’s tips?

You’ll likely find some of these to be common-sense; though a few may surprise you. As you succeed in planning and carrying out your baby showers (you’ll be so good at this people will want to consult your services!) your list of dos and don’ts will increase.  Keep a journal handy to jot these insights and experienced down as you go.

Perfect Planning goes without saying (but let’s say it anyway, since we’re all here together!).  PLEASE PLAN AHEAD!

You may be one of those people who tend to have a flair for pulling things off, and often, for pulling them out just in the nick of time.  If this sounds like you, then you should really take note: PLEASE PLAN AHEAD!

Baby showers have a lot of variables that come together to determine whether if it is a success or not. You will know from reading the first section in this book, everything from choosing the time of year for the shower, to the amount of time to “RSVP” the invitations, are things that can influence the shower. If something is wrong in any of these elements, then they will almost certainly influence the overall baby shower experience.

So how do you deal with this?  Simply by planning ahead.

Have a plan – write it out! – See what you have to do- and in what timeframe.  If you need help, then talk to the mother-to-be.   If you need assistance making a decision – such as who to invite – then get the help that you need.  By planning, you’re able to see what you need to do, and therefore, you can go ahead and do it.

The other side to this, when you don’t plan, you are almost certainly going to overlook a detail or two.  At the time, they may seem minor (“do I really need to follow-up with people who haven’t RSVP’d the invitation?”).

Yet once the shower actually happens, if there are flaws, they will be exposed.

If you aren’t a good planner, then here’s your opportunity to become one.  It’s not that hard at all; it just requires a little effort (that goes a long way!).

Perfectly Decorating

One of the most memorable things about the baby shower will be the decorations.  They might seem like yet another minor detail in a sea of details, but they will be something that people notice, and indeed, remember.

You don’t have to go overboard on the decorations, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money.  In fact, the biggest investment here will probably be your time.  Simply choose the decorations that reflect the theme that you’ve chosen.

Know Your Limit: And Do the Catering Right

Perhaps more than ever before, people are very serious about what they eat; and what they don’t.  For instance, many Catholics don’t eat red meat on Friday.  As such, if the guest list included people who you knew followed this practice, you would simply include non-red-meat alternatives, such as seafood.  Or if your guests were Jewish, you wouldn’t serve pork.

While these cultural catering rules still certainly apply, more people these days are choosing to eat based on lifestyle choices.

Many people, for example, don’t eat foods that contain saturated fats, or many people don’t eat foods that are high in carbs, or proteins.  There are also many more practicing vegetarians in the western world right now; and that, too, can be a little confusing.  Some people who describe themselves as vegetarians will eat fish.  Some will drink milk.  Some won’t eat cheese or honey.

Now, don’t worry: you don’t have to serve dozens of kinds of food!  The idea here is simply to be aware that in the world today, people are much more informed about what they’ll eat; and what they won’t.

So when you make your catering decisions, try and think outside of the box.  For example, if you’re ordering little finger sandwiches, it may be wise to have cold cuts on a separate plate that people can pick and choose from at their discretion.  Those who don’t want cold cuts (for any reason, including taste preference) can simply not pick them up.

Also consider the types of foods that you offer.  If your guest list is going to be predominantly filled with senior citizens, foods like celery – which is murder on dentures! – isn’t a good idea.

Before we go onto the next do, please take a moment to consider whether you’ll have alcohol at the baby shower.  Now, this book is not a legal guide and nothing within it, naturally, should be seen as legal advice.  However, according to media reports, there have been some cases where people at parties consumed too much alcohol and, as a result, injured themselves and other people.  This is tragic enough, but to add even more unhappiness, the party hosts were also seen as partly liable.

Or, like many people, you can just choose to have an alcohol-free baby shower and not give it a second thought!

Don’t Want It All Night? Set a Time Limit

Baby showers are wonderful events filled with relaxing laughter and shared positive emotions.  Yet all good things must end at some point. Right?  Or rather, all good things should come to an end while they’re still good things.

You should have a clear end-time for the baby shower.  This allows guests to efficiently plan their day, and it also gives everyone a chance to leave at the same time and not appear impolite for “having to run and miss all of the fun”.

While you’ll certainly want to usher the baby shower through its various phases (such as moving from games to food with enough time for people to eat), the important thing here is that the baby shower should end on time.

Embarrassing Moments? Games To Avoid

We’ve come a long way from charades.  Now, there are shelves full of games specifically designed for adults.  Some of these games, as you can imagine – are of the… well, they can be a bit racy.  And they can ask awkward questions and inspire awkward moments.

Now, you simply don’t want the word “awkward” to be anywhere near your baby shower.  So to help do this, ensure that the games you choose are suitable for everyone and won’t lead to awkward situations.

Also, some games, like Twister, aren’t typically enjoyed by people who may be obese, or who are afflicted with a physical limitation.

For example, if one of your guests is confined to a wheelchair, then having a game that requires mobility – like Twister, or a rousing rendition of musical chairs – can be very awkward.  It can hurt feelings.

Naturally, you won’t know, for instance, that one of the guests had a very scary piñata experience as a child, and therefore runs out of the room screaming when she sees one of them flying through the air.

So what should you do when you can’t know everything that there is to know?

Simple: just have a few options.  Keep a few back-up games handy, just in case you detect that people are uncomfortable with the choices.

Making Sure Everyone Is Seated

Some people like eating while standing up; particularly kids, who always seem to be on the go and ready to do the next thing.  Some of them even eat while doing something else, like walking or talking on the phone.

However, your guests aren’t going to be that frenetic with their movements.  They’ll likely want to peacefully sit down and eat; and that’s why you must make sure there are enough seats.

This is an oversight that a lot of very well-intentioned baby shower producers make.  The thing is, it’s sometimes very hard to envision just how much table and chair space is necessary.  A room may look very spacious, but fill it with 15 people or more, and it can become very cramped.

Again, the solution to this is in the word plan.  Take a good look at the space in which the baby shower will take place.  Literally count the number of sitting spaces, and the number of table spaces.  If there aren’t enough of both to comfortably serve the number of people attending, then you need to do something about this.

Fold-away tables and chairs that can be brought out and then put away when the food is finished provide a good solution to this problem.

Or, if the weather is nice, you can maybe count on doing things outside.  If you do this, however, keep in mind that some people may still want to eat inside.

So if you don’t really have enough space, then take steps to find more space; or, at the very least, don’t serve foods like soups that require a stable eating area.

If you absolutely can’t find enough space for all of the guests, choose foods like dry sandwiches that people can eat as they stand, or sit on a stairwell.

Hosting a Baby Shower Together?

This term doesn’t actually mean that couples should be invited to baby showers.  Rather, it refers to the husband of the mother-to-be inviting his friends to the baby shower.

A very good trend over the last generation or so is that more men are participating in the whole childbirth experience.  In this light, it’s not strange to imagine that men are participating in baby showers in unprecedented numbers.

The decision to have men at the baby shower is a decision that, naturally, would be made by both would-be parents.  It’s nothing that the baby shower producer (you!) should assume; because there may be pros and cons about the wisdom of this co-ed option.

If you decide to invite men, then ensure that this is reflected on the invitation.  Also, keep in mind that many men consider Sunday to be a holy day—football reasons!!! During football season (October through to January), Sunday is a very important day for many men; and showing up to a shower might be the last thing that they want to do.

So just bear this in mind, and if you have to do things on a Sunday

Also keep in mind that some of the feminine elements of a traditional baby shower – such as, perhaps, the Tea Party theme – should probably go out the window if you’re doing things as a couple. Find something entertaining and, if at all possible, gender neutral.

To Sum Everything Up

You now know more about planning the perfect baby shower than most people ever will.

For instance, you now know the importance of planning everything from the timing of the shower, to the food being served, to whether there’s enough space for people to eat and sit comfortably.

You also know about themes and games that can make the baby shower a memorable one for all.  And, of course, you know about some of the essential dos and don’ts that can make all of the difference whether a baby shower succeeds.

Remember, as we pointed out at the very beginning of this book, your vision here in planning the perfect baby shower should be a flexible vision; there is no guaranteed prescription that will magically lead to the perfect experience.

However, by following the proven, simple, and clear advice in this book, you’ll put yourself way ahead of the pack and truly hit the ground running.

Good luck, have fun, and remember: baby showers are about sharing good times and having fun!

And don’t forget to keep a journal of your experiences – both positive and not-so-positive.  This can serve both as a priceless memento of your baby shower experience, and as a very useful tool for you as you go to your next baby shower; or help someone plan their perfect event!

For more info and tips visit my Facebook page here

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Hosting The Baby Shower

So, where are we?

You’ve worked out when to have the shower, who to invite, and whether or not you will use a gift registry.  So that’s all there is to it, right?

Err…Nope!

Actually, you’ve done quite a bit of work (applaud yourself!).  But there’s still more work to do.  Now you’re really into the zone, and it’s time to figure out what you’re going to do at the shower.

Now, this may seem like a strange section.  After all, people will show up at the shower, they’ll hug, smile, laugh, cry (joyfully, of course), and have a good time.  That part is taken care of.  Yet there’s more to it than this.

In addition to all that above, you are going to want to have things for your invitees to do, and for them to drink/eat.

Let’s look at each of these important aspects below.

What you can do: You could have a Theme

If you haven’t been to a baby shower or it’s been a while, here’s some useful information for you: themes are in!

This means that more and more people are having certain styles, or themes, of baby showers.  The sky really is the limit on what theme you could use. I mean anything that you can imagine, provided that it’s realistic and within your budget.

To create a theme, simply have the following items that reflect what you’ve chosen:

You could make/print the invitations around your chosen theme (e.g. Alice in Wonderland)

The place where you are holding the baby shower could be decorated with items reflecting the theme like posters and balloons.

The food (discussed further in this book) would be based around the theme.

Now, just in case you want to get your creative juices flowing, some suggested themes are provided to you below.

A Tea Party

Like the tea parties you played when you were a child?  You’d get together with your little friends, or your teddies, and together you sat down and enjoyed a pleasant and light-hearted chat over a cup of tea!

To enjoy this theme, simply re-create that vision of when you were young.  Invite all of your stuffed animals, and have them sit in chairs around the area where the baby shower is being held.

This theme is sure to bring back a lot of warm memories for all of your guests; because most of us did play at tea a few times. You could also ask each guest to bring a teddy!

Theme: Celebrity

How about dressing up and pretending to be a celebrity?

The celebrity here, I’m afraid, isn’t going to be you (sorry), or even the mother-to-be.  It’s going to be her baby!  You could even make a big “Hollywood “sign!

And the invitations, too, can be publicity releases instead of traditional invitations, announcing the coming out of Hollywood’s next rising star.

And the cake could be shaped like a star! All of these little elements will make the shower fun and give energy to the baby shower.

Theme: Literary Baby

How often we found ourselves curled up reading that very first book that made such a positive impression on our growing imaginations.

A literary theme baby shower calls for each guest to bring as well as their gift, a special book from their childhood; something that inspired them  after all of these years.

It’ll be a number of years before the baby learns to read any of the books, however they will serve as a library that the child can grow into, each book being chosen with such great care and affection.

 Let’s All Get Involved! Games

Baby showers are ideal places to play games.  They not only help break the ice and get people laughing, but baby showers are about having fun, better than working, right!

There are several games that you can play, like charades, or trivia games. How about going to your toy store for some ideas?

Game: The Winning Plate

This neat little game involves what most people love in life: food!  Simply put a picture of a baby beneath one of the plates that will be handed out to guests as they eat.   Don’t tell anyone that the picture is there; just let them eat.  When the eating part of the event is coming to a close, tell your guests to peek under their plate, and give the lucky guest who has the picture a prize!

Game: The Price is Right

People seem to love this game; because it’s based on what many feel is the best game show of all time: The Price is Right!

Simply buy some baby items, like nappies, baby food, a dummy, or anything that can be found in an ordinary shop. Then, have the guests place bets on how much they think everything cost.  Reward each winner with a prize, or points, and then total up the points at the end.  The winner of the overall game can then win a prize.

Game: That… Was ME?

This is fantastic!!

Invite each guest to bring a baby picture of them.  Collect the pictures, and put them on a giant board.  During the baby shower, allow guests to go up and have a look at the big board of pictures.

Give each guest a piece of paper and a pen, and have them write down the names of who they think each picture is (put a number beside each picture so that they can be referenced).

At the end of the game, reveal the answers and see who has the best eye!  This game is not only competitive, but can be very funny!!

Let’s Eat!!

The first thing to know is that a full course meal really isn’t typical for a baby shower. Instead, finger-foods, and munchies like crisps are more common.  A cake is also rather common, as are ice creams and. If you’re going to splurge on any of the items, then going a bit extra on the deserts is usually considered the more acceptable approach.  After all, who doesn’t love cake?

Also, the foods in the baby shower can tie into the theme.  If the theme is celebrity, for example, then the sandwiches can be in the shape of little stars.  The foods don’t have to reflect the theme; which means that you shouldn’t feel bad, if you can’t find a way to make little star-shaped sandwiches. However, if you can tie everything together, it will make your baby shower that much more memorable an event for the guests, and the parents-to-be.

Having a wide selection is also important; and we discuss this in some detail in the “Insider’s Tips” section of this book.  Suffice it to say, try and have enough variety to account for tastes and dietary preferences.  Nowadays, the wise approach is often to allow guests to do a little bit of preparing themselves.

The same goes for deserts.  While it’s wonderful to have rich cake and tasty pies available, it’s always nice to offer fruit as an alternative.  Some people may not want to (or may not be allowed to!) consume that many calories, or enjoy that much sugar.

Part 3 Will Be On Friday

One of your best friends in the whole wide world has just announced that she’s pregnant.  Naturally, you’re pleased as punch!  It’s hard to imagine that, in just 9 months or so, your special friend is going to be a mother!

As you let the amazing news sink in, your friend is looking forward to the exciting new journey that involves: the countless trips to the doctor, the morning sickness, the ultrasound testing, the roller coaster of emotions that will spark countless mood swings!!!

Your world, however, is totally different. You’re thinking of the baby shower and how to plan a baby shower or what on earth is involved in one! And that has you worried.

Keeping you up at night I’d imagine!!!

Well, worry no more!  In front of you right now is “How to plan the Perfect Baby Shower”.

Read on and you will learn all you need to know to throw a perfect baby shower.

You’ll learn about the elements of:

• Planning a Baby Shower from the Ground Up

• Managing a Baby Shower from Start to End

• Other Tips, Strategies, and Suggestions

Don’t worry if you’ve never organized a baby shower before.  This article is designed to be easy to follow (well that’s my intention anyway!)

In fact, if you aren’t careful, you may just become a baby shower specialist, with people calling you up and asking you for your advice and insights.  Now would that be fun?

As you read and follow the tips, keep at the back of your mind– there’s always an element of uniqueness to every baby shower.

In this book you will be gently advised to approach your baby shower project a little differently.

Putting together a baby shower, in the way you might put together a recipe – adding ingredients exactly as they’re listed and ending up with a predictably tasty dish – you use the advice in here as a guide for creating a magical day for the mother-to-be, and for all the caring friends who will attend the baby shower.

Some of the ideas might not fit with what you’re trying to do, or what can be done (such as some of the baby shower games we talk about).

Remember: Baby showers are supposed to be fun and special events.  They aren’t meant to be stressful, and the last person who should feel stressed is you!

Now that you have this book, pulling together a memorable baby shower might be the easiest thing you do all year

How to Plan Your Baby Shower and Who will host the Shower?

This has always been a strong debate, sometimes arguments – that can actually become quite emotional – to determine whether or not a relative should throw the baby shower.  Traditionally, the view has been that a relative should NOT throw a baby shower, because it can appear that the relative is requesting presents.  Yet traditions change, and there are times when a sibling, or a cousin, or an aunt might be the ideal and somewhat convenient choice.

So what should you do?  To answer this, we can respond with the best, and sometimes most unsatisfying answer of them all: it depends.

Sorry, but it really does depend.  If you come from a traditional or conventional background, it may be wise to see that a non-relative is in charge of the baby shower.  In addition, even if you, personally, are comfortable with a relative throwing the baby shower, some of your friends – who may be less comfortable with it than you – may object

Perhaps the most practical advice I could give is, if you can pleasantly not ask a relative run things, then that will likely be the best route to go.  However, if that’s just not possible, plausible, or preferred, then don’t feel like you’re someone from outer space because you’re related to the mother-to-be.

More and more people are breaking with the tradition or the conventional way of doing things, especially since they feel that the embarrassing thought of a relative “asking for gifts” just doesn’t exist anymore.

Gifts (which we talk about further on in this book) are rather important to baby showers; I’ve never heard of one being held without gifts.  Since that is the case, whether a relative requests them from those attending the baby shower, or a non-relative requests them, arguably isn’t important to those attending.  They’re likely focused on what the baby shower should focus on: the mother-to-be.

Now, here’s something amusing that you should know about.  Some people may not want to run the baby shower!!  It’s assumed that if you’re reading this, that you’re quite happy with the assignment, and you’d like to do some quality – and easy! – research so that everything goes off without a hitch.

A baby shower is a wonderful event that should be filled with lots of laughter, love, and most likely a few tears (of happiness).

But putting a baby shower together can take a fair amount of time.  Not a lot of time however, when you compare it to a wedding for example or even a holiday.

If you’re about to ask someone to plan one for you, then please bear this in mind, this person should know that they’ll need to do a little bit of work (but it’s a whole load of fun….promise!!!!)

And if you’ve been asked to put together a baby shower, this article will help you vastly. I could also say that, nothing is stopping you from asking some other friends to help you with some of the work like preparing food, refreshments, and helping with decorations and games.

How Soon Should the Shower Happen?

As usual, there are a few different opinions when you should hold the baby shower.  Luckily, however, these views aren’t as debatable as they sometimes are when it comes to whether a relative or non-relative should hold the baby shower (as we discussed above).  So don’t worry; this is a rather easy and straightforward challenge to solve.

Now, there isn’t a clear answer to that question: when should the shower happen?  The answer to this will almost always depend on the mother-to-be, the guests, and other issues.

So rather than giving a straight answer here – let’s just look at the variables.  Once you know these, you’ll easily be able to figure out when the baby shower should be held.

The Mother-to-Be

Let’s start with mother-to-be.  She may decide when she wants one, and as I’ve found out, mothers- to- be should be heeded at all times!!!

The father-to-be might also provide input here, which would be fantastic and he should be part of the whole decision making process (we take a closer look at “couples” baby-showers later on in this book).

What kinds of things might influence a mother-to-bes’ choice when the shower should be held?  Some of them prefer to have the shower when they’re showing; they feel that when there’s something to see it would be more appropriate

In practical terms, this means that a shower might be held well into the second trimester, or into the third.

The Guests

December is a season for parties and events, as a result, it may be better to not hold the baby shower during this time of year, as it could influence people whether they could attend (or be able to relax when they attend, because they know that there will be more “get together” to go to after the baby shower!).

Furthermore, if you live in a wintry climate, it may be a pleasant idea to not have the baby shower in the dead of winter.  True, life does go on in the middle of January and people go to work and do many of the things that they want to do (go shopping, go to restaurants, and so on), but if it makes absolutely no difference to you and the mother-to-be (and/or the father-to-be) whether the baby shower is held in late January or late April, then it may be advisable to choose the latter; simply for climate concerns.

The Gifts

This is one that most people don’t think about until someone brings it up. Fortunately for you, you’re getting a sneak-peak at that thought well before someone at the baby shower asks it!

As we all know, some people prefer to give gender-specific gifts, people who want to give baby blue gifts to an impending son or pink gifts to an impending daughter.

So if the gender is known and is not to be kept a secret then it would be great to let all friends know before they go out to buy gifts.

Normally the 9^th week mark, the sex of the child is known, so any time after then is the perfect time to hold a baby shower (assuming, of course, that the parents-to-be want to know!).

Post-Birth Baby Showers

Some people are surprised to learn that many baby showers happen after the baby has been born.  Actually, this is quite common because, in addition to having the shower itself, this timing affords guests the wonderful opportunity to actually see the baby.

Holding a post-birth shower may also work out better in light of other factors noted above, such as climate, and preferences of the parents-to-be.

Sending out Invitations

Here’s where some people dread being in charge of a baby shower, WHO DO I INVITE?!!

A good rule of thumb here is to work with the mother (and ideally, the father) to-be in order to decide who should attend, and who should be left off the list.  This is a delicate scenario and can cause a number of major headaches!

The problem is, simply, that while it would be ideal to invite everyone who would want to attend, that’s just not practical; either financially or in terms of planning. Decisions will have to be made, and if you can work with the parents-to-be to make these decisions, the chances of making wise ones will increase.

Once you’ve figured out who to invite – the next step is to send out the invitations.  Ensure that you do this well in advance of the baby shower.  There are two major reasons for this.

Firstly, you want to give your guests enough time to let you know if they have something planned on the baby shower date. And, if they wish, move those plans in order to attend.  If you don’t provide them with enough notice, they might not be able to.

Secondly, you want to give people enough time to reply back to you. Some people are not organized as you are! and as such they might not reply straightaway.  As such, you want to give them a bit of time.

Now, there’s another issue here that we should discuss.  Some people think, that if you don’t reply, that means you aren’t attending.  That’s actually not totally correct.  RSVP doesn’t mean (even in the French language from where it comes) that someone is going to attend.  It simply means: please get back to me on this.

So what’s the problem? It’s that it can be a little disastrous to assume that if you don’t get an RSVP, that people won’t attend.  Because some people will just “show up”, and when you say that you thought they weren’t coming because they didn’t “reply”, they may frown and say what we’re pointing out here: RSVP, itself, doesn’t mean yes or no.  It just means: please respond.

Naturally, of course, people should reply as soon as and let you know if they’re going to come. It’s the nicest thing to do. But “being nice” is one of those “eye of the beholder” terms; and people who haven’t invested several days of their life to putting a memorable baby shower together may not realize how impolite they are being by just showing up, unannounced.

So how do you work this one out?  Well, like all good solutions: you head it off before it becomes a problem!

While you want to have all of your guests RSVP, you should make it totally clear that you’d like an answer regardless of whether they will attend or not.  To that end, depending on the size of your baby shower guest list, you should include a self-addressed stamped envelope and a note with each invitation that says something like this:

“I would be very grateful if you could reply to this invitation as soon as convenient and return in the enclosed self-addressed envelope. Thank You and we look forward to seeing you there.”

You can create any variation of this as you want.

Now, if your baby shower guest list is smaller phone them instead and ask if they are attending. If you have the time and the ability to do so (e.g. the guest list is small enough for you to manage), this is the preferred method.  It gives your invitees the opportunity to ask pertinent questions, such as whether the mother-to-be is in any gift registry.

Let’s talk about this right now.

To Gift Registry or Not to Gift Registry

This is another one of those fun decisions that involve the mother-to-be, and probably the father-to-be, as well.  Gift registries are, generally speaking, wonderful inventions because they solve a lot of confusing problems, such as:

•             What will the parents-to-be want as a gift?

•             What gift items have already been purchased by other invitees?

•             What price range is appropriate?

So with all of this evidence, why might someone not use one?

Well, there are few reasons.

The simplest reason is one is that some people don’t want to limit the things that guests might buy; especially if some gifts aren’t typically found in stores that offer registries.  For example, some artistic guests may want to create something for the baby; perhaps wooden mobile, or a beautiful picture to hang in the baby’s room.

These kinds of items can’t appear on a gift registry; and so parents-to-be might wish to avoid using one.

Another reason is cost.  Depending on the number of people invited to the baby shower, and presuming that those that have been invited attend, there may be a slight embarrassment if the registry contains gifts that might be outside of a person’s price range.  This can indeed be awkward.

For example, if 20% of the gifts in the registry are below, say, $30, there is some possibility that these ones will be snatched up first; thus leaving a latecomer to buy something more expensive, or risk buying something that isn’t on the registry at all and therefore might not be wanted by the parents.

To help deal with this situation, you can informally ask that people club together to buy the more expensive items, like a crib or a stroller.  This way, your guests can still stay within their budget, and purchase something that the parents want, and need (since babies are very expensive!).

Remember, of course, that if you choose the registry route, that you provide all the necessary details.  It would be best to include your phone number so if anyone has any questions about gifts or the registry they could ring you to ask.

The guests that are struggling with the expensive gifts will probably call you around the same time, and you can then suggest that they all club together and purchase an expensive item.  Voila: problem solved!!

Part Two Is Coming Wednesday!

If being cooped up in the house all winter had you and your baby stressed out, now is a great time to invest in a travel system so you can begin the summer with an outdoor adventure! Travel systems are car seat and pram combinations that make traveling with your baby a bit less stressful, but there are so many systems available, it can be challenging to determine the best one for you. Here are four different options to get you and your little one out of the house:

The first is Monty Midnight Travel system from Obaby. With this travel system, you can easily transfer baby from car to stroller and back again. It includes a stylish design, a roomy basket underneath for treasures, and a reclining seat for your baby’s comfort. It is reasonably priced and can be purchased online at www.tesco.com.

If you really want to travel in luxury, you may want to invest in the Orbit Baby Stroller Travel System G2. This high-end system includes state-of-the-art safety, a smooth, shock absorbing ride, eco-friendly fabrics, one-handed folding, and a special base that allows you to install the car-seat from any angle. You will be the envy of mothers everywhere if you pick this travel system up on www.amazon.com.

A third option for your fashionable baby is the Bugaboo Cameleon, one of the only pram systems that allows your baby to lay flat on their back. The Bugaboo Cameleon has seemingly endless positions for you and your baby with just an easy push of a button. It also includes a rain cover, a mosquito net, and machine-washable fabrics. This beautiful travel system makes adventures fun and easy! You can find yours at http://www.babyboom2000.co.uk.

Finally, if you want to consider a travel system that will take you through summer and into potentially snowy adventures, the Graco Stylus Travel System will do that and more! This adorable travel set includes a footmuff to keep your baby’s toes warm and a rain cover. With an excellent safety rating and a reasonable price, you will be out of the house and discovering the world in no time. You can purchase yours at http://www.babythings4u.co.uk.

Getting outside with your baby is a stimulating and healthy way to help your baby discover the world and a travel system makes it less stressful for mommy! Bon voyage!

Employment trends have shifted sharply over the past fifty years. Frustrating situations arise for women working in a male dominated environment. The following is a list of how some women have overcome barriers in order to achieve success in a male dominated environment.

• Female Brain Drain.
  The idea that women opt out of the workforce to focus on children and family is a myth. In reality, the decline of women in the work force can be attributed to the overall difficulties currently facing the labor market.

• Understanding Why Women Sell Themselves Short
  Professional women and entrepreneurs with control over the amount they may charge for their services tend to charge less than men. In the process, they are more likely to sell themselves short. While some attribute this to women selling themselves short, in reality, it is due to women being more reluctant sacrifices. This can include failing to adjust prices for goods and services to match market trends in fear of sacrificing clients.

• Educational Opportunities: More Readily Available and Geared Toward Parents
  Education grants are widely available for single mothers at various post-secondary institutions. Single mothers are make up a unique category of students who are eligible for financial assistance from both the government and private corporations.

Maintaining Financial Freedom for New Parents

For many women, motherhood is full of joy and rewards; however, parenting can become very stressful and expensive, especially during the child’s early years. Frequently, single mothers are expected to support themselves and their child. Single parents experience some of the most challenging hardships in life, with a majority of them resulting from financial woes. Financial problems are impossible to ignore, especially if the mother does not receive support from the child’s father. Let’s face it, it is harder to balance life and work being a single mom. The degree of financial assistance available to single mothers, may depend on the cleanliness of their credit score.  Fortunately, there is assistance available designed specifically with single mothers in mind.

Financial Readiness and Insurance
Financial security is a constant source of worry for many parents, with single mothers in particular. Below are some tips designed to assist single mothers, and can help a parent decide on which measures need to be taken to help her to seize control of her financial future.

• Medical Health Insurance The cost of prenatal and post pregnancy costs are the cause of constant stress for many parents. If possible, select an insurance provider who can provide prenatal care, testing and newborn needs. It is difficult to obtain affordable health insurance plans while pregnant; however, cheap insurance quotes are available for children which will offset the costs of newborn care. Local child health insurance programs are available as a low cost alternative which are designed to provide mothers and newborns with low fee coverage throughout the duration and after the pregnancy.

• Reduced Income and Maternity Leave
  It is federal law to be allotted a certain amount of time for maternity leave; however, whether a woman chooses to take maternity leave is solely her choice. For women who do decide to take maternity leave, they should be aware of the resulting loss of income associated with taking time off work.

• Life and disability insurance. It is strongly recommended that new parents consider investing in long-term disability and life insurance for their child. This will ensure that the child’s future is secured in case the worst should happen. Cheap medical insurance are available for both parents and children. The most affordable form of life insurance is term life insurance, which guarantees the receiver a certain premium. Certain employers and larger companies will typically offer long-term disability insurance. Contact a financial adviser for assistance in making the most appropriate financial investments.

Taking a family holiday is a fun way to grow closer as a family and to create memories that will last for years. Unfortunately, many popular holiday locations and activities utilize a great deal of resources that wear on the environment. Families who are conscious about being responsible with their use of the earth may want to choose alternate holidays that are eco-friendly. Here are some ideas for unforgettable holidays that the whole family will love.

Bicycle Tours

When it comes to pollution, one of the biggest culprits is transportation. With many vehicles leaking harmful exhaust fumes into the atmosphere, it does not seem responsible to cause more of these emissions during a holiday. Touring a location by bicycle is a healthy alternative to using a motor vehicle. Many touring agencies offer guided tours. Families can try one of these or rent bicycles and explore the area alone. Either way, traveling by bicycle offers a fresh perspective on a location that other visitors may not have. Travelers should do research to find which accommodations within your holiday site are the most environmentally responsible.

Holiday Parks

Families looking for low-cost and eco-friendly accommodations should stay at a holiday park. With numerous sites and types of lodging, holiday parks are a great way to enjoy nature, local sites and the company of family while still being mindful of the earth. Many family holiday parks offer simple yet comfortable accommodations with access to utilities including water for showering or washing clothes. Many holiday parks have entertainment blocks that include theaters, shopping centers and restaurants. Camping sites are also available at most parks. Families who have the opportunity for long or frequent holidays could consider leasing a permanent site at a holiday park.

Holiday from Home

If they are on a tight budget, families can create an environmentally sound and surprisingly fun holiday right from home. During the holiday, family members can inform friends that they will not be accepting calls or visitors in order to set apart that time specifically for their family. Most people have not actually experienced everything that their own location has to offer. A little research will uncover museums, restaurants or other establishments that will reveal a different side of home. Families who walk or take public transportation can eliminate extra fuel emissions that result from traveling in a motor vehicle.

Ultimately, it is not necessary for families to utilize a great deal of money or resources to experience a memorable holiday. Try one of these ideas or brainstorm with your family to come up with your perfect eco-friendly getaway.

About the Author

 This article was written by Phill representing www.holiday365.co.uk.

Starting a blog is a very exciting venture but knowing where to start is extremely difficult. Who am I suppose to believe on the web? Everyone is trying to get my money one way or another. I wanted to post an in depth description on where to start…

Before I go any further I do want to let you know we are affiliates for both companies I talk about below. That being said I 100% believe in both and would not recommend a company I did not believe in!

Keyword Research

So you have an idea on what to blog about. The next thing is to know if people are searching for that, is there a niche for me? There are many keyword research programs out there today. For example Market Samurai is a great piece of software you can purchase that will give you detailed reports on what people are searching for, how competitive it is etc. If you do not want to pay for that you can use the google keyword research tool. Just google it and you can start playing around with it. It is not as detailed as Market Samurai but you can at least get a sense of what people are searching for and how competitive it is.

Domains

You got your idea on what you want to blog for, now it is time to setup your domain. You want the main words in the domain. For example, we have “babyblog” in the domain and it has helped our rankings (mostly because when people link to us, our link has babyblog in the domain name). You can use Bluehost, which you can find your domain for a very low price and which leads me into the next step…

Hosting

Your domain has been bought now you need to host it as well and Bluehost will do that for you. More and more bloggers I see are using Bluehost, that must be a good sign! If you don’t know what hosting means, it is basically where all your information is being stored.

WordPress

What CMS (content managing software) do I want to use. I have used Joomla and I will never and I mean never go back! I am totally in love with WordPress! Use it! You will be thanking me. Now for the more complex parts… Installing WordPress to your domain can be a little frustrating but Bluehost has GREAT directions on what todo with installing WordPress. Follow their directions to the ‘T’! This is what Bluehost says on their website

WordPress Hosting BlueHost has been a recommended hosting provider on WordPress.org since 2005! WordPress is invaluable web software (CMS) that allows you to create either a website or a blog (or both) in very little time. Install WordPress with a click of a button at Bluehost! WordPress is so accepted on the Web that search engines have special algorithms to catalog WordPress sites.

 

 

 Theme and Framework

You now have your blog looking site up on your domain, congrats!!! Now it is time to start making your site amazing looking and that starts with StudioPress (this link is for the pro package but go to themes to see the individual ones). They have many different themes (templates) for your website. If you want something more blog looking, they have that. If you want a website looking like a business, they have that as well! What many people don’t really think about is the Framework of the website and StudioPress has an absolutely amazing piece of software called Genesis. This will help you get ranked well in google with basically not doing much along with having a clean code and clean website!

This can be a little complicated when going to their site. They have multiple Themes, but you have to buy the Genesis Framework to make any of the Themes work. Now most themes come with Genesis. You can also get the Pro Package which includes ALL the themes, lifetime support and lifetime updates!

So there you have it! You have your domain, hosting, CMS, theme and framework all set up! Congrats! Now is the hard part, GETTING VISITORS TO YOUR SITE!

It can be very expensive to build an entire wardrobe for a new baby without careful planning ahead of time. Another major challenge associated with baby clothing is the speed at which the baby will grow. Fortunately there is a simple solution for both of these dilemmas. Do a little bit of shopping around for favorite styles, and then purchase multiples in different colors of all larger sizes. The baby will grow into and out of each of them before you know it! Planning ahead and having wardrobe basics ready for the next two years will ease a lot of stress along the way as the baby grows.

Some of the best brands for quality and inexpensive infant apparel are Rabbit Skins, Bella, and Apples & Oranges. A lot of the products of these three brands are soft and breathable 100% cotton so the baby is comfortable. Most styles are available in standard sizes such as 3-6 months, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months, to cover the first two years. Certain styles are available in wide varieties of colors. The Rabbit Skins 3401 short sleeve t-shirt comes in twenty-five colors, so it is perfect to stock up with multiples.

Two more important basics for a baby’s wardrobe are the creeper and the romper. A creeper is also commonly called a onesie.  The shirt essentially extends past the diaper and it closes with snaps or buttons between the legs. Creepers are very useful because they can be worn as an entire outfit, or worn with pants, shorts, or a skirt for a more complete look. Creepers can be found as basic short sleeve tops, or as other varieties like the Bella 103, a long sleeve thermal creeper. Rompers on the other hand have pant legs attached. The fabric is longer and has more buttons or snaps to attach the front and back. All rompers, like the Apples & Oranges KA120, are perfect for wear either around the house or outside the home.

Another way to expand your baby’s wardrobe is by adding embellishment to some of the shirts and onesies. Embroidery, iron-ons, and special fabric paints are all perfect ways to dress up some of these closet staples for even more variety.

So leave the bulk of the fancy outfit buying to excited relatives and friends, and plan ahead by stocking up on the basics in various styles and colors. This is a guaranteed way to de-stress about building any baby’s wardrobe!

This guest post is written by Patricia Rafferty from Shirtsinbulk.com