Babies can quickly suffer the short- and long-term damage of sunburn and heat stroke, so keeping your baby safe in the sun is crucial.

Sunburn can cause pain, fever, and dehydration.  And just one sunburn during childhood raises the risk of melanoma (the most deadly type of skin cancer) as well as wrinkles later in life.

Keep your baby completely out of the sun as much as possible before 6 months of age. When you do go outdoors, be particularly careful in the early months about taking all the following precautions.

The sun is strongest between 10 and 4 o'clock, so when you can, time your stroll or outside play with your baby earlier than 10 or later than 4. When you do venture out, keep in mind that the sun's rays bounce off surfaces like water, snow, cement, and sand.

But your baby can also get burned at other times of day and on cloudy or cool days. Why? Because it's not the heat of the sun that burns the skin but the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays.

UV rays can damage the skin at all times of day, all year round, even in the middle of winter. And a baby's thinner, more delicate skin is especially vulnerable.

You can't feel these when they hit your skin, but you'll see the effects later. (It can take several hours for the redness and pain of a mild first-degree burn to appear.)

Keep your baby in protected spots  

                                                                             

Use the sunshade on your baby's stroller or carriage whenever you're outside. Consider buying an inexpensive (less than $20) pop-up stroller shade that has built-in UV protection and fits over your stroller's canopy to shelter your baby's whole body.

Try to keep your baby in the shade – under a tree or umbrella, for example. You may be surprised to learn that shade provides only partial protection against UV rays. Without sunscreen or other protection, even a baby in the shade can get sunburned.

If you're longing to spend your day at a beach or park, an outdoor sun tent with built-in UV protection can keep your baby cool and protected.

Cover your baby's arms and legs in lightweight, light-colored clothing. Light colors reflect the heat and keep skin cooler than dark colors, which absorb heat.

Fabrics with a tight weave protect skin better than loosely woven fabrics. (Hold the fabric up to the light. The less light you see shining through, the tighter the weave.)

You can find clothing such as swimsuits and T-shirts made from fabric with sun protection built into it. These products can be a little pricey, but they might be a good investment if you often find yourself outdoors with your baby.

Whether your baby is bald or has a full head of hair, a hat is a must. Choose a hat with flaps in the back for neck protection and a brim that's wide enough to shade the face. A brim that protects the ears is better than one that protects only in front.

If your baby will wear them, try a pair of UV-protective sunglasses.  

Choose a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Look for the words "broad spectrum" on the label. "Broad spectrum" means the product protects against both UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays are more likely to cause sunburn and wrinkling, while UVA rays cause damage deeper in the skin.

Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before heading outdoors, and reapply it every two hours. Make sure you cover all exposed areas of your baby's skin, including the tips of the ears, the back of the neck, and the tops of the feet.

If your baby goes into the water, reapply sunscreen as soon as you towel him off – even if it's been less than two hours since you applied it.

Protect your baby from the heat as well as the sun

To avoid heat stroke:

Tote sunscreen in your diaper bag, along with a hat and little sunglasses, if your baby's willing to wear them.

You might also tuck in (or stow in the car) an extra long-sleeved, long-legged, lightweight outfit for more protection on the go. It may come in handy when you decide to stop at the park on the way home and your baby isn't covered up.

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Choosing to throw a friend or coworker a baby shower, can be a huge help for the expecting mother. We all know how expensive a new baby can be. Babies need an entire wardrobe and furniture, just for them. That is a big deal, and as exciting as it is, it can be overwhelming. The expecting mother will appreciate anything she gets to help her out, with this daunting task. A baby shower allows friends and loved ones to show their support for the new mother. Bliss Baby & Maternity

Part of hosting a baby shower includes keeping everybody entertained. There are several books available that provide suggestions for games. You can tie the games into the theme of the baby shower if you would like. Games should be entertaining and quick moving in order to be the most successful.

Another part of hosting duties will include refreshments. You can choose to have the baby shower at your home, or rent an area in a restaurant. Choose what is best for your budget. Refreshments can vary from simple appetizers and a cake or to a lunch or dinner party. You can purchase plates and other serving pieces to coordinate with your theme. Cake toppers and other decorations can be bought at the same time with the rest of your decorations. This is a very good idea to ensure your decorations all coordinate.

As the hostess of the baby shower, you have a big job ahead of you as well. You will need to plan a time convenient for the expecting mom, and preferably before the baby is born. If you know what kind of nursery theme the baby will have, you can plan a baby shower around that theme. This is like a two for one deal! You can use decorations and party favors that will double as gifts for the new baby.

Several places offer the ability to personalize the party favors given at baby showers. This will make the baby shower more personal, and provide lifetime keepsakes. If the mother to be already has a name picked out for baby, you can get some excellent gifts specially designed. A new Stroller by JJ Cole or new baby items would be a wonderful addition to the new mother's baby items.  A really neat gift is a personalized new mom necklace for the new mom or a mother's bracelet.  

If you have a special theme in mind, you can find plenty of decorations and party favors in one place. Some great party favors can include photo frames, candles, or even key chains. The possibilities are endless. An ideal party favor should be something the guests will use and enjoy. Make sure you purchase a few extra party favors, just in case you have unexpected guests. 

If you go to www.blissbabyandmaternity.com and enter MOM20 you will receive a 20% discount!

Men and women often say that before they got married and had children, they were able to go out and savor their evening. When the children start coming along and careers start getting in the way, it can quickly become very difficult to have any time left over for romance. Perhaps a change is in order if you find this occurring. In order to maintain an happy and health marriage it is vital to be able to spend time alone together. And that doesn’t imply that you should bring your kids with you every time you go out. The happiest couples are generally the ones who take the time to go out on a date (without the kids) at least a few times each month. While you are out you might ask yourself exactly what do we do with the kids? In case you have never used one before, think about the benefits of babysitters, friends, or family members.  

Leaving your baby for the first time can be stressful it is the best thing that you and your husband can do for your relationship.  Just make sure to find a reliable person that you trust like a parent, a sibling or a close friend that has had children and know how to take care of them if they are colicky or fussy.  Leaving your young ones in someone elses care is normally filled with dreadful thoughts and fears. These are valid concerns so you need to ensure you are comfortable leaving.  You can actually get out and rekindle your relationship while having the confidence of knowing a qualified individual is watching the your new baby or young children.  

The simple truth is that parents need a break occasionally. If you give all of your focus on your kids 24 hours of the day, you can get pretty tired pretty fast. It’s sad to say it, but after a couple of months of the exact same routine, you can quickly become very unexcited about the task of parenting. For many parents, a weekly date night makes the joy of parenting all that much sweeter throughout the rest of the week.

Some great date night ideas to consider are to get a couples massage or pedicure.  Go bowling or to an arcade to play games together.  Wine tasting is always  a fun and relaxing time as well.  Ice skating or roller skating or even just going for a bike ride or a walk.  A cooking class or there has been wide spread attention given to the wine and canvas classes where you can enjoy a glass of wine and paint a picture.  Many of these classes offer a separate option for couples so they don't end up with the same painting.  I actually have one of these scheduled for my husband and I in June.  I can't wait.  Playing pool and darts are always fun as well.

Whatever you decide, make sure that you both make the time to pay attention to each other and not get caught up in the day to day activities.  Enjoy the baby and the kids but make sure to continue to enjoy each other's company on a one on one basis.  You won't regret it.

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