Bulldogs.

Believe it or not, these are ideal pets for kids.  Their short, sturdy build makes them a terrific match for any toddler who loves to climb, push, pull, and prod the dog.  Bulldogs do not tend to be excitable, another very important quality to look for.  They are typically not high energy and have a short coat of hair so they will not be terribly high-maintenance.  If you barely have time to bathe and play with your own kids, this dog won't add to your burden!  Bulldogs are generally obedient, gentle, and friendly to kids and other pets.  Plus, who can resist that wrinkly face?

Collies.

Though they require more grooming, and you will likely have more dog hair adhering to your clothing, collies are a great fit for families.  They are gentle and can be easily trained. They tend to be protective of their owners, and owners' children.  One caution: they may try to herd your family!  If you curb this behavior when your collie is a pup, it will not become a nuisance.

Newfoundlands.

This is the gentle giant of the canine world.  They are often referred to as “nature's babysitters” because of their wonderful, patient, and gentle demeanors.  One trait common to newfies is that they think they are lap dogs.  They love to hang inside and be with the family.  Newfoundlands shed, require grooming, and may bump into things in small rooms – but they are lovable, protective, and loyal.  This is a dog that will lie at your feet or jump into a lake to save you.

Irish setters.

If you have a lot of space and an active family, an Irish setter may be a great addition.  They like to play, run, and exercise every day, so they are not ideal for busy families who are gone for long periods of time.  On the other hand, if you have a yard and want to use it, this red-coated beauty is social, easy to train, and wonderful with children.

Golden retrievers.

Among the most popular of breeds, the golden retriever is also very energetic and requires exercise and space.  They are great for kids because of their legendary patience, kindness, and gentleness.  Retrievers are smart and have a great disposition.

Labrador retrievers.

These are also very popular, and for good reason.  They are smart, loyal, gentle, patient, dependable, protective, and gorgeous!  They are a bit bigger than golden retrievers, and both breeds will need brushing.

Poodles.

If anyone in your family has allergies, a poodle is a great choice. They shed very little, and they make wonderful playmates with their patience, good attitude, and love of playing.

The right dog for your family may be on this list – or it may not be. It may be a mutt.  Even more important than the specific breed is the demeanor of the dog.  Is he good with children? Does he mind if your toddler pulls on his fur?  Do you like him?  Does he like you?  Your family's dream dog may be a poodle or it could be a pit bull.  In any case, balance the breed’s tendencies with the dog's own qualities and behavior when making your choice, and always make sure he meets the family before you make any final decisions.

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The benefits for your child are equally important to saving money: cloth diapered babies tend to have less diaper rash and skin irritation and they will probably be potty-trained before their disposable diaper-wearing peers.

If you are hesitant to use cloth because you fear sticking your baby in the hip with a big diaper pin or you wonder if you'll be able to wrap them correctly in order to prevent leakage, don't worry. Today's cloth diapers are much more parent-friendly and easy to use.

There is no doubt about it: diapering technology has advanced.  While it means drier bums, it can also mean intimidation for new parents.  How do you start?  Which fabric is best?  Do you need liners, doublers, or both?  And what in the world is an AIO or an AI2?

The first step is to learn about the different kinds of cloth diapers.  This isn't your grandma's square of linen anymore; you have incredible options, including:

• All in One (or AIO).  This diaper includes all the parts you need, such as an inner soaker and waterproof cover.  They are relatively easy to use and do not require additional supplies.  Many people consider them just like disposable diapers in terms of ease – the only difference is you wash it instead of throw it away!  On the con side, these take longer to dry and they can cost between $16 and $30.  Remember, though, you can use the same diaper for years.  BumGenius is a highly recommended brand, particularly their organic AIOs.
• All in Two (or AI2).  Because AIOs take so long to dry, AI2s can be a great choice.  They come apart to speed up drying times.  You simply fasten the soaker, or the inner absorbent part of the diaper, to the outer cover.

The downside to both AIOs and AI2s is that they are quite expensive because you have to have enough on hand to last until you do washing next.  Having 10 – 20 $30 diapers is a big upfront expense.  But there are some other options.

• Prefolds. These are the least expensive option.  They look like squares of cloth but have prefold seams to help make diapering a bit easier.  You fold them into a rectangle and put them inside a diaper cover (which are inexpensive and can be reused between changings). You then fasten the cover, and you are done.  You can also skip the cover and fasten the cloth diaper with a Snappi. Prefolds can be used throughout your child's diapered life – and beyond.  They can be used as diapers, liners, and soakers, as well as baby bibs (or mainly burp cloths) when thoroughly cleaned.
• Pocket diapers.  These have a waterproof outer layer and then a layer of suede cloth or microfleece inside.  In between the layers, in the pocket, you can put whatever you want for lining and increase absorbency if you need to.
• Fitted diapers. These have elastic and fasteners built in so you do not need snaps or Snappis. You will need a separate cover.  These are like a combination of prefolds and pockets.

Most parents use a combination of these options.  For instance, they may use prefolds at home and then use AIOs, AI2s, or pocket diapers for going out or when a babysitter or less experienced diaperer is watching the baby.  ClothDiapersMadeEasy has a convenient chart to help you determine how many diapers you need, depending on which option(s) you choose.

The “how” is slightly different with each type of diaper.  AIOs, for instance, work just like regular disposables.  Prefolds are probably the most intimidating at first, but you just need to practice – and invest in a few great covers and a diaper pail with liners. You can find some great video tutorials on YouTube, like the one shown below.

The most important tip is do not be intimidated.  You will soon find that it is easy to use cloth diapers, even prefolds.  You may have some new parent mishaps at first, but everyone does – even those who use disposable diapers!

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So, who gets invited to this big day? It will depend on how you want to do it. First off, you’re going to pick two people to be god parents. These are typically the two closest members of your family—one male and one female. But it can also be anyone you choose from a close family friend to a cousin. It is considered an honor to be chosen as a god parent, so no one is likely going to turn your invitation down. Just be sure you choose someone trustworthy and who you know will be in your life forever.

The Catholic tradition baptizes babies. Other faiths have adult baptisms if they have them at all. So, it’s a cultural as well as a traditional custom used by only certain religious groups. When thinking about inviting people to the actual ceremony, consider their religion as well as their relationship to you. You want to include everyone from your immediate family as well as the people closest to you in your family. Aunts, uncles, cousins and other close family are always invited.

When it comes to your friends outside of your family, consider a few things. Will they have to travel a far distance to make it to the baptism? Will they be uncomfortable in your church if they are from another faith? Will it pose an inconvenience to them to have to make arrangements to come (are they ill or unable to travel)?

Most times it’s more a factor of how many people your event hall or home can hold rather than a person’s situation that will dictate who you invite to a baptism. For instance, if you’re having the reception at your house and only have room for 20 people, you’re going to have to start cutting some of your friends out. However, if you have a hall booked and can accommodate any number of people, go ahead and invite everyone you want. If someone is unable to travel, they can politely say no. They will usually send a baptism gift anyway even if they can’t make it.

You need to invite everyone to the actual baptism as well as the reception. The highlight of the day is seeing the baby get baptized. Many people have the event catered afterwards, but you can cook everything the night before and refrigerate it. When everyone gets to your house, just start warming things up. You can also decorate your home, and/or prepare baptism favors for your guests.

Baptisms are sometimes held on Saturday mornings so as not to interfere with the normal Sunday mass schedule. But you can ask at your church if Sunday afternoons are offered. Sometimes it’s easier to have it on a Saturday rather than a Sunday when people have to be up early for work the next day. But it will depend on when your church offers baptisms.

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Many baby showers are held at someone’s home. This could be the home of the mother of the guest of honor or her mother in law. Proud Grammas to be often want to host a shower and will offer their houses. That’s one place to start.

If you don’t have the room at your own home, consider having it out at a local coffee house or tea room. A coffeehouse is a great atmosphere because it’s casual and low key and you can often make yourselves comfortable in a small section of the room. You won’t have catered fare, but if you want to have coffee and pastries without having to pay a rental fee or serve an expensive restaurant meal, this may be the place for you. Just be sure to check it out with the coffee house’s manager. You may even find they’ll make you a special dessert or throw in a little something extra for you.

A tea house is ideal if you can find one. They are rare in some areas and plentiful in others. If you are fortunate enough to live near one, set up your date and you practically have the whole party done for you. The atmosphere at a tea house is cozy and the food is bite sized. Depending on the tea house, you can also order more of a family style lunch or bigger sandwiches. They may even have a full menu you can choose from with heartier fare, but most ladies enjoy sipping tea with small cakes and finger sandwiches. Center your baby shower theme around whatever you are having there to work with.

If none of these options work for you, check out a local community center or historical site. Community centers are there for you, the community, to use. Many charge nothing or just a nominal donation fee. Many historical museums have rooms for the public to use. Aquariums and zoos do as well. You can set everything up and then enjoy the museum or aquatic or animal life too.

Many other venues exist that don’t charge a high fee, if anything at all. Having a baby shower at a restaurant during a non-busy time can almost ensure you the place to yourselves. Have it on a Wednesday afternoon or on a Friday at 11:00. If guests can’t take the time off, choose a weekday time right after work when the restaurant will still be less crowded rather than a Saturday or Sunday.

There’s no limit to the ideas you can come up with when you really start thinking. Don’t forget about beach side clambakes or outdoor parks if your climate allows for it. Set up the feast on picnic tables and play Frisbee and bring all the kids. Don't forget the baby shower favors! It can be a fun day that includes everyone.

For other ideas, ask recent moms at the park or playground where their baby showers were held. You may just hear of a place you never knew existed. It’s worth it to ask for word of mouth recommendations. You never know what may turn up.

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Baptism and christening are both rites of passage and rituals that take place in a variety of faiths.  John the Baptist baptized his followers in the River Jordan; Jesus is the most famous of those baptized.  The ceremony symbolizes the baptism gift of washing away of sins.  A christening, on the other hand, has traditionally been a naming ceremony which welcomes the baby into the church.  Most parents today do not delay naming their baby, so the actual meaning of a christening is changed.  Today, it is not an official naming as much as a welcome to the church.

The differences between a christening and baptism are related to the specific faith.  For Catholics, Lutherans, and Episcopalians, for instance, baptism and christening are one and the same.  The baby is sprinkled with water to wash away original sin and become an official part of the church.  In this case, baptism and christening really are interchangeable terms.  One does not happen without the other.

In religions that baptize and christen when children are newborns or babies, the two ceremonies are intertwined.  In other faiths, baptism and christening are distinct and separate.  According to the beliefs of religions such as Baptist, Evangelical, or Methodist, babies are not baptized.  Why?  Because, in their view, it has no effect or meaning.  A baby cannot consciously choose whether he wants to follow Christ; it is his parents’ decision at that point. These faiths site the Bible, saying there is no mention of infant baptism. John, as we recall, baptized an adult Jesus.  These churches baptize older children and adults because of the ability to make that commitment.

The ceremony of baptism itself is also different.  Typically, the person being baptized is submerged in a river or pond.  Some churches have baptism tanks instead, which are similar to small pools.  At a christening/baptism for a baby, the priest sprinkles water over the baby’s forehead.  This ceremony uses water much more symbolically – and sparingly.

For many faiths, christening and baptism are part of the same ceremony, welcoming the baby into the faith.  For others, baptism must be a conscious decision, undertaken to affirm a commitment to Christ.   While some churches baptize babies, all will baptize people who want to be welcomed into the faith, regardless of age.  Even in the Catholic Church, which baptizes and christens infants, there are adult converts who are baptized.  In other churches, people are considered reborn when they undergo baptism.

After the ceremony or service, many times family and/or friends get together at the home of the baptized baby and share in a meal, open baptism gifts and even receive baptism favors.

Whatever the age, the symbolism of baptism is similar.  It involves the washing away of sins and a commitment to following God and the teachings of the church into which one is baptized.  Today, many people who aren’t particularly religious are continuing the tradition of baptism and choosing godparents in order to help their child grow up with a strong sense of morals and support.

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Think about your child’s age and level of understanding. If you’ve got a four year old, now is not the time to take out medical charts and extensive textbooks. A simple answer will do. To a small child, this question bears no more weight than, “Why is the sky blue?” So don’t feel like you have to give a scientific explanation. Here are some things you could say:

• Babies come from God. They are his special gift to moms and dads.
• Babies come to moms and dads when they love each other very much.
• It’s a mystery. Isn’t it amazing that babies grow in a mommy’s tummy and then one day they’re born?
• A baby is a sibling gift - a play mate, and a best friend.

Chances are these responses will be enough to satisfy your small child. If it’s not enough and your child persists in asking, you can say something like:

• A baby is half mommy and half daddy. See how you have brown eyes? They are just like daddy’s. See how your hair is curly? It’s just like mine.
• Sometimes babies are born into a family and sometimes they are adopted. We are going to have our own little baby who will look like us because she grew in my belly, but the Randalls down the road have adopted a baby. Nice people can choose to bring a baby into their homes if they aren’t going to have one of their own.
• God is the only one who can make a baby. He has special powers and he creates a new human being where there wasn’t one before. He’s awesome, isn’t He?

If you have an older child, gauge just how much information will be right. If you have a fourth grader, it’s probably still not appropriate to get out the charts and diagrams. You can be more direct about your conversation, but don’t list body parts and internal organs. You may puzzle your child and leave them more confused than they were before. For an older child, you can simply say:

“Babies come from mommy and daddy when they love each other. Mommy and daddy loved each other and we made you. Now we want to make another baby to share our love with and grow our family. Won’t it be fun to have a brother or sister?”

There may be additional questions. Try to answer them in a way that makes both you and your child comfortable. Remember, she’s just curious. So treat every question with great care and don’t dismiss her questions as a nuisance or unimportant.

For older children, you can seek out books that are appropriate for their ages. Chances are they will have gotten some of the information from school health classes, but they are looking to you for your version to see if it lines up. Many books will show photos of a baby in the womb that they will think are really cool. Start there.

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If your child did the biting, you’re going to have to step in and be a strong parental influence. If it’s a young child, you need to figure out if he is teething. Teething can hurt sometimes so much that the child just wants to bite something to make the pain go away. It’s a natural reaction to the pain. You need to do everything you can to reduce the child’s pain including using teething rings that you can freeze (so they cool the gums) and if a doctor advises you, a pain reducer like Anbesol.

Whether your child is teething or older and bit for no reason, you must have the child apologize at once for the bite. Have him apologize to the child he has hurt. If the child is too young to understand, also have him apologize to the parents of the hurt child. It will make everyone feel like at least you addressed the problem. If it happens at a party, you may want to leave immediately after the apology to show everyone how seriously you have taken the situation. If you stay, you may give the impression that it wasn’t such a big deal and the incident may happen again.

When you return home, you need to speak to your child in a firm voice. Be strong, but don’t yell. It won’t help the child understand what he has done any better if you say it in a loud voice. Resist the urge to lay down a huge punishment without talking about things first. Older children can understand what they have done better than younger children, so determine the punishment by age. If a fight over a beloved baby teddy bear or other toy caused the attack, the toy should be removed for a time to show the child you mean business. You can return the toy to the child when the incident has passed and you feel he understands what he did wrong.

A teething child often can’t control his impulse to bite, so deal with it accordingly. But an older child of the age of reason does have control over his actions. Sit him down and ask him if something is bothering him. It may have been a one-shot deal where he wanted to see if he could get away with biting, or he may have acted rashly over a prized object he wanted.

Many times a bite happens once and then never again. If you notice your child has bitten someone (including you) more than once, it’s time to seek help. Ask your pediatrician what to do and what could be causing the behavior. Sometimes children under stress will act out by biting. A child who continually bites needs help, not a spanking. Don’t treat a violent behavior with more violence. It will only make the situation worse. Instead, seek professional advice.

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Spa Time

Nothing soothes the soul better than a day at the spa. If you know an expectant mom who’s feeling uncomfortable or is in pain, treat her to a neck massage or a facial. Just be aware that she may not want to be in a salon where a lot of manicure or hair chemicals are being used, as they can be toxic for pregnant women to breathe. If the spa has a back room that they use for massages, she should have no problem there and can enjoy relaxing. If you’re at all unsure if she’ll love and use your gift, give a gift certificate that she can use any time before or after the birth.

Child-Free Time

If the expectant mother has other children, why not offer to watch her children for the afternoon so she can rest, shop, or just have time for herself? This is one gift that will be priceless to her and she won’t turn down. If her children are older, you can offer to pick them up from school and take them to the mall or out to eat to give mom some alone time.

Cozy Time

An expectant mother would love a pair of cozy slippers and a lush bath robe. She can wear them now and take them to the hospital for the birth as well. Other pampering products she can cuddle up with include a soft blanket (the ones with arms are really handy), a beautiful, soft pillow, a new book or just a nice spa gift basket. These are especially good presents if you’ve got a mom who’s on bed rest.

Dinner Time

As soon as the baby comes, there will be a whirlwind of activity. Why not give an expectant mom a few nights off from cooking? You can give her meals you’ve made (or purchased) that can be frozen and used whenever she needs to prepare a quick supper. Vary your choices so she’s not eating the same thing every night for a week. Your thoughtfulness will be much appreciated.

Little Extras

Depending on whether the expectant mother is having her first child or her fifth, you can vary your gift ideas. If she’s a newbie, give her a bunch of magazines on babies and parenting. She’ll love to have the info. If she’s a seasoned mom, give her a few magazines for pure enjoyment on any of her favorite topics.  Offer to do a mom’s grocery shopping for her. If she’s got someone else to handle that, show up with a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread every so often. It’s hard when you’ve got a new baby on your hands and run out of staple groceries. Anything you can do to make her life easier will be a blessing to any expectant mother. Even offering to drive her to the doctor appointments towards the end when she’s feeling uncomfortable and can’t get around so easily will be greatly appreciated.

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You definitely need a crib for your baby to sleep in. She’ll probably sleep in the crib until she is about two. But when baby comes home from the hospital, she will be a precious little ball of cuteness. That crib is going to seem so big and maybe her room is down the hall from yours. That’s when a bassinet or Moses basket comes in handy.

A bassinet is going to be your best friend during the first few weeks of baby’s new life. She will sleep in it during the night and also during the day. It’s a secure place to put her down when you have to run to get the phone or if you want to change her diaper quickly without running upstairs. The bassinet is designed to go next to your bed while you are sleeping. The reason for it is so that baby can be near you without being in your bed. It’s not advised to put a small baby in bed with you as she can become entangled in covers. It’s safer to have her near you by the side of the bed.

The bassinet will be right near you so when baby cries during the night, you can get to her quickly. Nighttime feedings are easy when you have baby right there. You can even bring bottles into your room at night filled with sterilized water and keep the powder for the formula all measured out in a plastic container. Mix the bottle and you don’t have to run to the kitchen in the middle of the night. And if you are breastfeeding, you’re already there to feed baby when she cries.

The Moses basket is a different story. They sure are cute. These little woven baby baskets have a liner and are designed to hold baby in a comfortable place when she is tiny. The name of the basket is derived from the type of basket Moses from the Bible may have been placed in when he was floated down the river. The problem with the Moses basket is that it rests on the floor. If you have pets or other children, that’s probably not the safest place for a sleeping baby.

There are some good uses for the Moses basket, however. If you want to go out to eat with a friend, bring along the Moses basket and baby can sleep at your feet in it while you eat. But you can also use your stroller for that as today most come with a car seat that sits on top for this very purpose.

Another use of the Moses basket is in the home while no one but you is around. If you’re going to be doing laundry, baby can sleep in the basket by your side. When in doubt about which to buy, however, it's safe to say go with the bassinet.

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Birth announcements are designed to help you spread the good news.  Actually, in today’s fast-paced world, spreading the news is usually taken care of instantaneously with delivery room pictures snapped with cell phones and shared via email or Facebook.  Proud parents post pictures from the hospital, giving their loved ones a look of the new baby more quickly than has ever been possible. The role of the birth announcement, then, is a little more formal and traditional.  For those without cell phones and Facebook accounts, it provides the anticipated information about the baby.  For others, it provides a real photo that can be hung up, taped to the refrigerator, shared at work, or put into an album.

The announcements are typically sent between two and six weeks after the birth of the baby.  If they contain a photo, they are typically sent sometime within the first two months after the birth.  Sending them out as close to the birth as possible is always a great idea, but it is certainly understandable if you lag behind. You have a good excuse!

It can be helpful to have some elements of your announcements chosen before the baby is born.  You obviously can’t have them printed because you’re missing the most vital information and, of course, the baby.  But you can decide on your wording and templates.  Do you want to go with the traditional postcard style, or will you opt for a modern option like tea birth announcements or birth announcement honey? After your son is born, you can simply insert the photo, then add the relevant information, and print.

Babies tend to bring out the sentimental side of people, particularly the proud new parents.  Wording can range from very simple and concise to poetic or religious to sweet and sappy.  The key is to choose or create wording with which you are comfortable.  If you are very sentimental and verbose, “We announce the birth of our son,” that may be too curt.  If you are more reserved, rhyming couplets may not be ideal.

Here are some samples for all styles:

• It’s a boy!
• After nine months, we are happy to say, It’s a boy, and he’s ready to play!
• Our family rejoices as a new life’s begun, We are richer with the birth of our son.
• Baseball, football, soccer anyone? Look out, Little League, here comes our son!
• Our little boy is as cute as a bug. We can never resist giving just one more hug.
• We joyfully announce the birth of our son.
• We are proud to introduce our son…
• Double the trouble, double the fun,
• We’re proud to welcome our second son!
• Our home has grown by two feet!
• We made a wish and he came true.

No matter what your wording, make sure to include the vital information that your friends and family want.  The wording will only add to the charm of your announcements.

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