Unique Baby Gifts Create Lifelong Memories

Unique Baby Gifts Create Lifelong Memories

By: Chris Robertson

The anticipation that accompanies pregnancy and the birth of a baby are life-changing events. When a close friend or family member is expecting, you want to give a memorable gift. Yet, it's not always easy to come up with ideas for unique baby gifts. Here are some ideas to fuel your imagination:

Baby Gift Baskets

When it comes to baby gift baskets, forget the basket part. Instead, consider an overstuffed canvas tote bag that will allow the new mother to carry all the essentials. She'll appreciate a terry cotton baby bathrobe with gingham trim, an adorable roll neck baby sweater, and two thick diaper burp cloths embellished with ribbon around the edge. For an extra touch, have each item personalized with the baby's initial.

Baby gift baskets can also include a special treat for the new mom and dad. In addition to a plush baby blanket and a baby warm up suit, why not include a baby hand or baby foot print maker and a U2 CD that transforms the bands' classics into lullabies? Throw in a hot fudge sundae kit for two, and the new parents can enjoy a private celebration.

Diaper Cakes

No, you don't eat diaper cakes - but you will be talking about them for years to come. Perfect as a baby shower centerpiece or as a baby gift, a diaper cake is made from 40 diapers tucked into a three-tier "cake" and decorated with gorgeous toile, ribbon, and bows. Diaper cakes, which you can easily find online, come in a wide variety of decoration schemes. Some have a Gund stuffed bear attached, while others might incorporate silk flowers, a frog rattle, or a bracelet charm in the center of the primary bow. There's no question that diaper cakes are the ultimate unique baby gifts.

Personalized Baby Blanket

Every mother knows that her baby's favorite blanket holds more meaning than virtually any other gift. What begins as a means for swaddling a baby becomes an integral part of a toddler's life. His or her blankie brings security and comfort, and often softens the transition from crib to bed. As her child grows and the favorite blanket goes through hundreds (or thousands!) of washings, a mother still treasures whatever remains of the blankie. Whatever remains of that special blanket is kept and handed down for generations.

That's why a personalized baby blanket is among the most treasured of unique baby gifts. Select a high quality, soft blanket and have the baby's name and birth date embroidered on it to create a memorable gift that is certain to last a lifetime.

Christening or First Communion Dress

A christening gown or first communion dress are among the most unique baby gifts available. These momentous occasions call for special clothing that will be cherished for years to come.

Monogrammed Clothing

A beautiful baby outfit is that much more special when it bears the baby's name. Consider having that dress, short set, or even a gorgeous bib embroidered with the baby's initials or name.

Going that extra step and finding truly unique baby gifts will ensure that your thoughtfulness is appreciated now and for years to come.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/family/article_2655.shtml

Ready, Set, Shop (Safely)!

Ready, Set, Shop (Safely)!

By: Valerie Nay

During the hectic holiday season, many of us get so busy juggling the school events, parties and other extra activities that we can forget some basic personal safety rules. Shopping is a huge focus for most of us during the next few weeks and a few seconds thinking about these simple safety reminders could make a big difference for you and your family this year.

The first thing to remember is that December days are some of the shortest days of the year. Even if you schedule your shopping trip right after work, it is likely to be dark.

* Remember to stay as visible as possible in parking lots. Wear something light colored if possible and be extra careful when stepping out from between parked cars.

* Avoid using your cell phone in dark parking lots so you can stay aware of what is going on around you, including traffic and other potential personal dangers.

* Always try to walk to and from your car with one other person. If you are shopping by yourself, try to walk near other shoppers in parking lots.

* Most malls have security officers. For women especially, if you are weighed down with packages and leaving the mall alone at night, ask if a security officer can accompany you to your car.

* Avoid dark hallways (that often lead to restrooms, unfortunately) and other deserted areas of the mall or department stores near closing time.

Most of these precautions apply during the day also but we should all be extra alert and careful at night. Other suggestions from safety experts include:

* Only use ATMs located in highly visible, well-lit areas and try to have someone accompany you when making withdrawals after dark. Be aware of what is going on around you. Cancel your transaction if anything suspicious happens.

* Avoid juggling too many things at once. Kids, packages, coffee, and cell phones at the same time can not only distract you from whatÂ's going on but send a signal to thieves that you might be an easy mark.

* It may sound too easy, but during this hectic time you might want to write down where you parked your car, or even take a picture of the area where you parked if your cell phone has a camera built in. The last thing you want to do is wander around looking for your car when you are weighed down with shopping bags. Beyond being frustrated, it could be dangerous.

* Always have up-to-date emergency contact information with you, just in case.

When shopping with kids:

* Point out the security guards so they know where to go for help if they get lost.

* Avoid shopping cart injuries by staying with the cart at all times. According to one report, over 21,000 kids are hospitalized each year after theyÂ've fallen or jumped from shopping carts.

* Check for loose or dangling items of clothing (both your own and your kidsÂ') before stepping on an escalator.

Remembering these shopping safety tips could make a big difference during this crazy time of year and help you avoid injuries, scares or worse. Passing these reminders along will help keep family members, friends and other loved ones safer, too.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/family/article_2677.shtml

How To Choose The Best Furnace Filter

How To Choose The Best Furnace Filter

By: Bill Whitworth

It may be difficult to imagine, but houses have lots of dust and selecting the best furnace filter is very important to air quality. Indoor air, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is two to five times more polluted than the outdoor air. But the reason most people are not aware about this is because microscopic size dust particles are present in the home - not visible to naked eye. Typically, they are suspended in the air due to their small size and the electrostatic charge that they carry. 99% of dust in the home is made up of the tiniest particles, and these are able to even by-pass the bodyÂ's system like the nose, and the windpipe. Even the body is designed to filter out only particles greater than 3-5 microns in size and keep them away from the lungs.

A typical house contains dust from pollen, spores, pet dander, lint, bacteria, etc. Even regular home activities like cooking or dusting add to the dust in the air inside the house. Such dust particles results in irritation of eyes and on entering the respiratory system, may cause respiratory disorders, damage to the lungs, or in unique cases, even cancer. For more information regarding furnace filters visit http://www.webproducts.com/Categories.bok?category=Furnace+Filters.

In order to keep the quality of the air inside the home healthy, good quality furnace filters for your furnace unit should be used. There are various types of filters available on the market. These can be disposable, reusable or refillable. TheyÂ're usually made from materials like fiberglass, metal, man-made or natural fibers. The efficiency of a filter is decided by fiber size, fiber density, airflow rate and particle diameter. Different types of filters available in the market are:

Panel Filter- These types of furnace filters commonly consist of 1Â" fiberglass filter installed in the ducts. However, these furnace filters are not very effective in removing dust from the air, as its primary function is protection of the internal fan and minimizing dust on the heating coil. These are a very basic filter and can trap only larger particles from the air.

Washable/Reusable Filters- These are meant for extended use, and with regular cleaning and maintenance serve a very long life. Their downside is that it is nearly impossible to get completely cleaned and therefore adds resistance to the airflow. These types of furnace filters are also not very effective in trapping very small particles.

Pleated Filters- These are a modified kind of panel filters that have pleats or folds to increase its surface area. This design change makes it more efficient at trapping dust particles due to increased surface area. However, here too, the furnace filter starts resisting airflow once it starts collecting dust particles and thus should be replaced regularly.

High Efficiency Pleated Filters- These filters have an additional component of electrostatic charge that is designed to capture extremely small particles and various allergens, which make-up 99% of the particulate composition of the air. However, even these should be changed at regular intervals to maintain the air quality, and the airflow. Alternatively, refillable furnace filters are also available in this type.

High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filters- These are extended filters that are able to remove sub-micron particles with high efficiency. HEPA filters have corrugated separators that have the core filters folded back and forth over it. This gives strength and also facilitates air passage between the pleats. However, these types of filters are not designed to fit most of the standard furnaces, as they require a separate system that includes a fan and a filter.

The actual filter that is suitable for your house depends on a lot of factors. First of all, it should be compatible with your furnace dimensions. If you live in a high pollution area, you should consider High Efficiency Pleated filters or HEPA filters. These are also recommended if any of the family members have allergies to any form of dust. For other regular purposes, Pleated filters should work fine most of the time. Care should be taken to maintain your furnace filters properly and change them when required. We spend a good part of the day in our homes, so itÂ's important to maintain healthy air inside our house.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/family/article_2678.shtml

A Pediatrician on Helping your Kid with ADD/ ADHD

A Pediatrician on Helping your Kid with ADD/ ADHD

By: Alvaro Fernandez

Today we interview Dr. Arthur Lavin, Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Case Western School of Medicine, pediatrician in private practice, and one of the first providers of a Working Memory Training program for kids with attention deficits. Dr. Lavin trained with esteemed Mel Levine.

AF (Alvaro Fernandez): Dr. Lavin, thanks for being with us. Can you explain the source of your interest in brain research and applications?

AL (Arthur Lavin): I am fascinated by how the mind works. How can neuroscientists' increasing knowledge improve kids' lives?

AF: Some readers may think that a major part of the problem we face today is that kids are simply "lazy". What do you say to that?

AL: I have never met a lazy kid. All people want to succeed, in life if not in school. The ones that are labeled as "lazy" are typically ashamed of their lack of capacity to deal with demands, and resort to evasive strategies.

AF: You mention a "lack of capacity to deal with demands". Is that gap growing?

AL: Yes. I can see how complex homework assignments are these days even in 3-4rd grade. Kids need to plan and prepare a whole matrix of tasks that require good organizational work to complete. They need to sequence what they do today, tomorrow, the day after. The major difficulty, for which such young brains may not be fully ready, is to deal with an overwhelming amount of information and demands.

AF: that seems to imply a higher need for good executive functions than years ago. A kid needs to have good working memory to retain, prioritize and sequence much information into actionable plans, and then execute them. We know that a common problem with many kids with diagnosed attention deficits is, indeed, working memory (the ability to hold in mind and manipulate several units of information). Can you explain what you see in your work with schools?

AL: I am afraid that many schools are too quick to diagnose ADD/ ADHD and consider drugs as the only potential intervention. The label itself can be misleading and counterproductive. School psychologists have wonderful expertise in evaluating subject-related problems and describing attentional deficit symptomatology, but are not trained or asked to complete neuropsychological profiles of a child's cognitive functions. Up to a point, many kids with attention problems would benefit from educational, not medical, interventions to improve cognitive functions such as working memory. I am seeing it first hand, having used a Working Memory Training program with 15 pre-screened kids: 80% of them presented a substantive improvement. With 50%, the results we have seen have been dramatic.

AF: Please give us some examples.

AL: Let me give you 3 vignettes, all 3 with diagnosed attention deficits.

Patient 1: 11-year-old boy, very impulsive, even on medication. Doesn't do homework, constantly forgets chores. After the 5-week program, he is able to sit down and listen instructions, engaging in fewer arguments with his parents. He can do better mental math- for the first time in his life able to do so without using his fingers. He finds that following school and doing homework is easier, grades have improved dramatically.

Patient 2: 16-year-old girl with ADD. She has trouble executing homework, often telling parents she had done it when she really hadn't. Her parents thought she liked to lie. Yet, when I talk to her, she is clearly more ashamed than dishonest. The working memory training program helps her develop a much improved perception of time. For example, she starts to manage her shower time better, being aware of when 5 minutes have passed-instead of spending 30 minutes in the shower, as before. Much improved school work, lying at home has dropped dramatically.

Patient 3: 19-year-old boy in college, who often became paralyzed when he was faced with complex challenges. He had a tough time with the cognitive training program, but after a while he started learning new strategies and developing self-confidence, and showing marked improvement. Now, he can break complex tasks into manageable pieces . His attentional deficits appeared to threaten his opportunities in his family business. Unable to keep track of change at the cash register, lines at the business would grow and customers get angry, leaving him out of consideration for key start-up employment in the business. Now he can manage day-to-day challenges such as these, and the door to being part of the family business is now open. He can sequence tasks and execute then with a clear plan in mind, without being distracted and losing sight of that plan.

AF: Dr. Lavin, this is all very exciting news. Thank you very much for your time.

AL: Thank you.


Copyright (c) 2007 SharpBrains

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/family/article_2638.shtml