1. Scout it out. Before school starts, take a walk or drive by the school and let your child see the route you both will be traveling each morning and afternoon. Point out the school office, the library and any other areas of the school that you can see from the street. Try guessing which classroom your child may be in and talk about what he or she may be learning this upcoming school year.

2. Start a trend of going to bed earlier every day of the week. It will be easier to fall asleep the night before the first day of school if your child has already established a habit of an earlier bedtime.

3. Visit the school website. Spend some time with your child reviewing the cafeteria menu, supply list, teacher roster and anything and everything else that may catch your child’s attention.

4. Make friends. If your child will be new to the school, call the school office a few weeks ahead and request a phone call or visit from a host family. Invite the family over for a casual dinner or dessert so your child will know a familiar face before the first day of school.

5. Don’t skip the open house. Attending this informative event is essential in order to learn what will be expected from you as parents, as well as your child, this upcoming year.

6. Get your child’s school clothes ready a week prior to the first day of school. Whether your child wears a uniform or regular clothing, have their clothes clean, ironed and ready to go. Every second counts on such a hectic morning.

7. No loitering on the first day. Walk your child to the door, help them locate their desk and lunch cubby, kiss them on the cheek and say goodbye. Avoid the urge to circle back and peer through the window to see how your child is doing. It makes it much harder on your child to say goodbye the second time around.

8. Help your child find the restroom. It’s important for a child to know where key locations are and the bathroom is top on this list.

9. Make a special breakfast. Plan a special “First Day of School” menu with your child and offer a selection of healthy choices. Set the table the night before and sit down together to eat breakfast. Attempting to slow down the pace on a busy morning will relax your child and give them time to ask you questions or discuss fears.

10. Assure your child that everyone gets a little nervous on the first day of school. Talk about what other children are probably feeling and how the feeling will pass very soon. Remind them that you will see them in the afternoon and how you will look forward to hearing all about their day.

For more great advice on life, family, kids and marriage, visit Hitched.

Diane Gottsman, a nationally recognized etiquette expert, is the owner of The Protocol School of Texas, a company specializing in etiquette training for corporations, universities and individuals, striving to polish their interpersonal skills. You can reach Diane at 877-490-1077 or www.protocolschooloftexas.com. You can also follow her on Twitter @: www.twitter.com/DianeGottsman.

feature photo from Your New Favorite Song

Until your baby is 6 months old, consult a doctor before giving her any medication at all, advises Baby Center. Once she’s 3 months old you can give a carefully measured dose of baby dose of acetaminophen, but even that is not always necessary at the first sign of fussiness.

Here are 9 types of medication that you should never give your baby.

image credit

Aspirin

Aspirin can make a child susceptible to Reye’s syndrome — a rare but potentially fatal illness. Aspirin is sometimes referred to as “salicylate” or “acetylsalicylic acid,” and is sometimes found in “children’s medicine.”  Read labels carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you’re not sure whether a product is aspirin-free.

For fever and other discomfort, ask your doctor about giving your baby acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines

Studies show that they don’t actually help to soothe symptoms of kids this age.The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises against giving OTC cough and cold medicines to babies.  And they can be harmful, especially when a child mistakenly gets more than the recommended dose.

In addition to side effects like drowsiness or sleeplessness, upset stomach, and a rash or hives, a child can suffer serious effects such as rapid heart rate, convulsions, and even death. Every year, 7,000 children under the age of 11 are treated in U.S. emergency rooms after taking too much cough or cold medication.

If your baby’s miserable with a cold, you may want to try a humidifier or other home remedies.

Anti-nausea medications

Don’t give your baby an anti-nausea medication (prescription or OTC) unless her doctor specifically recommends it. Most bouts of vomiting are pretty short-lived, and babies and children usually handle them just fine without any medication. In addition, anti-nausea medications have risks and possible complications. (If your baby is vomiting and begins to get dehydrated, contact her doctor for advice on what to do.)

Adult medications

Giving your baby a smaller dose of medicine meant for an adult is dangerous. If the label doesn’t indicate an appropriate dose for a baby her size, don’t give that medication to your baby.

Any medication prescribed for someone else or for another condition

Prescription drugs intended for other people (like a sibling) or to treat other illnesses may be ineffective or even dangerous when given to your baby. Give her only medicine prescribed for her and her specific condition.

Anything expired

Toss out medicines, prescription and OTC alike, as soon as they expire. Also get rid of discolored or crumbly medicines — basically anything that doesn’t look the way it did when you first bought it.

After the use-by date, medications may no longer be effective and can even be harmful. Don’t flush old drugs down the toilet, as they can contaminate groundwater and end up in the drinking water supply. Find out how to safely dispose of expired medication.

Extra acetaminophen

Some medicines contain acetaminophen to help ease fever and pain, so be careful not to give your baby an additional separate dose of acetaminophen. If you’re not sure what’s in a particular medicine, don’t give her acetaminophen or ibuprofen until you’ve first gotten the okay from your doctor or pharmacist.

Chewables

Chewable tablets are a choking hazard for babies. If your baby’s eating solids and you want to use a chewable tablet, crush it first, then put it in a spoonful of soft food, like yogurt or applesauce. (Of course, you’ll have to make sure your baby eats the entire spoonful to get the complete dose.)

Chinese herb ma huang (ephedra or ephedrine)

Never take or give your child the Chinese herb ma huang, also known as ephedra or ephedrine. In adults this herbal decongestant has been linked to high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, seizures, heart attack, and strokes.

Check with your doctor or an alternative medicine practitioner before giving your child any herbal products. And always let the doctor know about any herbal remedies your child is taking before she prescribes a medication.

Many herbal remedies are gentle and safe, but just because something is natural, or derived from a plant, doesn’t mean it’s safe for your child. Herbal products can cause allergic reactions, liver damage, and high blood pressure. In certain doses or when combined with the wrong medications, they can be fatal.

Source: Baby Center

Being pregnant with young children in tow can be both challenging and exhausting. Involving your kids in your pregnancy makes things a bit easier and is often fun. Here are some ways to involve everyone in the “family pregnancy” and prepare them for life with a newborn.

Arrange Baby Time

Make to be around very young babies. This lets your children see what they look like, hear how they sound, observe you holding one now and then, notice that they need comforting, and learn about nursing.

Baby Talk

Small kids: Once your belly is really big, eight months maybe, talk about the new baby. Your toddler will feel more secure if you refer to it as “Suzy’s new baby.” Let her feel kicks, help her talk or sing to baby, and stroke your belly.

Bigger kids: Tell older toddlers and preschoolers about the baby early on in the pregnancy. The older the child, the sooner you can tell him; very young children may be confused or disappointed when the baby fails to arrive the next day. With an older toddler or preschooler, try all of the toddler suggestions above, and in addition, use the diagrams in books on birth to talk about how the baby is growing, month by month. You’ll be surprised by questions like “What part did baby grow today, mom?”

Read Books about Babies

Show her simple children’s books about new babies. Show pictures of when she was a tiny baby and tell her about all the things you did for her. Say things like “Mommies hold tiny babies a lot because they need that.”

Explain Your  Moods

Depending on the age and level of understanding, tell your child why you are feeling so tired, grouchy, short-fused, impatient, and whatever else you feel while pregnant: You might say, “Baby needs a lot of energy to grow, and that’s why mom is tired and sleeps a lot…” Or, “The hormones baby needs to grow make mommy feel funny…”

Talk about the  Future

For example, let them know babies cry (some cry a lot) and they like it when you talk to them and make funny faces. Explain to them “You can help me change the diaper, bathe baby and dress baby. Babies can’t do anything for themselves for a long time, and they can’t play games until they grow bigger. They need to be held a whole lot, just like I held you when you were little.”

Hands on Demo

Usually by the fifth or sixth month, older children can feel their baby brother or sister move. During the time of the day when your baby moves the most, sit down and invite your children to feel the show. Let them guess which body part they are feeling.

image: The Johns Hopkins Gazette

Baby Bonding

Invite your children to talk to and about the baby. If you already know the gender and have chosen a name, you can encourage them to use it when referring to the baby. Or you can welcome the baby nicknames your child invents. Babies can hear around 23 weeks of age, so this is a good time for the kids to start talking to the baby so he or she will get to know them. After about three months of this, their voices will be very familiar to the baby still in utero, and bonding will already be under way. Studies show that babies tend to turn toward voices they recognize right after birth.

Little Helping Hands

Realize that it’s impossible to give other family members the same degree of attention they are used to while you’re pregnant. Sooner or later the children will realize that they must share mom with another tiny taker in the family. Fortunately, pregnancy provides you with plenty of time to prepare your older children for what life will be like after the baby arrives. Getting them used to helping you while baby brother or sister is still inside is actually another good tool for bonding. The children will have invested their time and energy already even before baby comes, and the baby will have more personal value to them.

Adapted from 10 WAYS TO INVOLVE CHILDREN WITH YOUR PREGNANCY

feature image: The Johns Hopkins Gazette

But he rose above it all, and in his speech expressed his gratitude to God and his family, and payed tribute to his own inner strength, values, and drive to succeed: “to do what is necessary… not popular.”

So what’s the secret of his success?  How did he rise above temptation, trial, and tragedy to become the first male, African American valedictorian of Booker T. Washington High, in over a decade?

Mom Logic went straight to the source: his proud mother, Paris Hardaway.  When asked what advice she would give to other moms, this is what she said:

“I would tell them to continue to support and love their kids. Let them know that if nobody else has their back, you do. Encourage them in any way, form or fashion. Say good things to them no matter what the outside world says. Every day is a fight, so stay in the fight and focus on goals and dreams. You’re there with them and you want them to see they can accomplish all they desire to do.”

I don’t know if people reading this realize how very wise she is, but I’m awed by her words- so simple and yet so powerful. What I hear her saying is that in order for a child to succeed, he needs to know he is capable of success. He needs to know that someone believes in him, and only then can he believe in himself. We as parents should always remember that it is we who build our children’s self esteem and give them confidence to succeed in life.

We salute Ms. Hardaway, and wish her son Deonte success in every way!

That’s where we, oh-so-graciously, come in, so don’t say we didn’t warn you!  Remember, parenthood is not for the faint of heart, but it will completely change your life for the better. Adapted from iVillage’s 13 Things No One Told You About Having a Baby.

The world is suddenly a Scary Place to bring up children

Second-hand smoke, deadly chemicals in your baby shampoo, vaccines that may cause autism, BPA-leaching baby bottles, lead in teething toys, and germs lurking everywhere. It may seem completely overwhelming and terrifying at first. But eventually you realize that you can’t protect your child from everything… and what doesn’t kill ‘em will just make ‘em stronger!

You are no longer the star of the show

Here’s a checklist to help you figure out what it could be:

1. Hungry

When my husband is holding a fussy baby, it’s the first thing he thinks of! “Here honey, he must be hungry!” Well, sometimes they are and sometimes they aren’t, but it’s good to recognize the signs of hunger so can feed your baby before the crying stage.

In newborns, watch for fussing, smacking of lips, rooting (a newborn reflex that causes babies to turn toward your hand when you stroke their cheek), and putting  their hands to their mouth.

I find that a good rule is to feed my baby every time he wakes up from a nap. This way, the next time he starts fussing, I know it’s because he’s tired (usually) and ready for a nap– not hungry. Trying to feed a baby when there’s something else bothering him is usually futile and ends up frustrating you and baby!

2. Dirty diaper

It’s funny, but some babies really can’t stand being dirty– or even wet. My babies are like that. Then there are others who just don’t seem to mind at all.  Either way, this problem is easy to check and fix!

3. Tired

Have you ever wondered why babies just don’t go to sleep on their own? After all, we’d give anything to be able to stop, drop, and nap any time we felt sleepy!  Instead, babies tend to fuss and cry when they get tired, and it just gets worse the more over-tired they get. Try to catch your baby at the first yawn and do whatever it is you do (rock, pat, sing) to get her to sleep.

4. Needs to burp

You don’t have to burp baby after every feeding, but it might be a good idea. Sometimes, a good burp is all he needs. Babies swallow air when they breastfeed or suck from a bottle, especially if they aren’t feeding peacefully for some reason. And we all know that having air in our tummies is not a pleasant feeling!

5. Wants attention

You fed, burped, and changed your baby’s diaper. It’s not nap time yet. So why is he fussing?  He wants some attention, of course! Babies get bored too, and need stimulation, talking to, and cuddling. They like to see your face, hear your voice, and just be held close.

There is no such thing as “spoiling” your baby, or holding him “too much.” Babies thrive on love and being close to their parents. But if your arms need a break (and you need to get the housework done), try wearing your baby in a carrier or sling.

6. Tummy-ache & Colic

If your baby is crying a lot, tummy troubles associated with gas might be the problem.  Babycenter defines colic as inconsolable crying for at least three hours a day, at least three days a week, at least three weeks in a row. For colic help, read more than 20 strategies for soothing a colicky baby.

Even if your baby isn’t colicky, an occasional bout of gas pain can make him miserable. If you think that may be the culprit, try putting him on his back, and pressing his legs up toward his tummy; or move his legs in a gentle bicycling motion.

7. Too hot or cold

Newborns like to be warm and cozy — but not too warm. The basic rule is, a small baby is comfortable wearing one more layer than you would need to be comfortable. To test if your baby is too hot, feel the back of his neck, under his clothes. If he feels overheated and sweaty, you need to remove a layer!

If baby is too cold, that might make him fussy as well. A draft or a cold wipe to the bottom might tick him off!

8. Something Hurts

There are all sorts of other “little” discomforts your baby might be enduring. The infamous hair wrapped around a tiny toe or finger might be cutting off circulation– not comfortable! Some babies are extra sensitive to things like scratchy fabric or clothing tags.

Then again, baby might be teething!  To check if that’s the reason for the crying,  try feeling his gums with your finger. On average, the first tooth breaks through between 4 and 7 months, but it can happen earlier. Find out more about teething and how to ease the pain.

9. Too much stimulation

Babies learn a lot from the world around them, but if there’s too much going on for too long, they may have a hard time processing it all.  If  the commotion, the noise, the blur of faces is too overwhelming, baby may have a meltdown.  See if you can retreat to a quieter spot and try soothing him until he’s calm again (most likely a nap is in order, too)!

10. Not feeling well

If your baby is sick, you may notice that his “sick cry” is distinct from his “normal” crying. If your baby’s crying “just doesn’t sound right,” trust your instincts and call or see a doctor.  He could be coming down with something. You may want to check his temperature  and be alert for other signs of illness.

feature image from Ed2010

While buying play-doh is not terribly expensive (just a few dollars for 4 colors), it does seem slightly wasteful to keep dishing out money for something that you could so easily make at home. Besides, your kids will love making their own playdough, and creating their own colors too. Plus, if your toddler decides to take a bite of that playdough pizza you just made, the ingredients are perfectly safe (although not too tasty)!

This easy recipe is from iVillage. We tried it at home yesterday and it worked perfectly! (Our food-coloring was kind of weak, so see if you can pick up some real strong colors next time you go to the grocery store! But we do have some nice pastel-colored playdough now.)

Ingredients:

What You Can Do to Prevent SIDS

Despite the widespread believe that SIDS is a baffling and unpredictable tragedy, there are ways you can significantly protect your baby. One thing that has been proven is that babies who sleep on their backs are less likely to die of SIDS than babies who sleep on their stomachs.  And so the “Back to Sleep” program was born in 1992, when the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) began warning parents of babies under 1 year old never to let their infants sleep on their stomachs. Since then, the rate of SIDS has dropped by over 50%.  In addition to this, Dr. Sears explains that there is a combination of many factors that lead to death: immature development of cardio-respiratory control mechanisms, defective arousability from sleep in response to breathing difficulties, medical conditions that compromise breathing, and unsafe sleeping practices.

The main risk factors for SIDS are:

• Prematurity or low birth-weight
• Smoking or taking illegal drugs during pregnancy
• Smoking around baby after birth
• Putting baby to sleep on their stomach
• Infants who are not breastfeeding
• Having little or no prenatal care
• Unsafe sleeping environment
• Overheating from excessive sleepwear and bedding
• There is no correlation between immunizations and SIDS.

Therefore, parents should follow the AAP recommendations for reducing the risk of SIDS:

• Place your baby on a firm mattress to sleep.
• Do not put your baby to sleep on a pillow, waterbed, sheepskin, couch, chair, or other soft surface.
• To prevent rebreathing (where the baby inhales the same air he just exhaled), do not put blankets, comforters, stuffed toys, or pillows near the baby.
• Make sure your baby does not get too warm while sleeping. A good temperature is one where an adult would be comfortable in a short-sleeve shirt. Do not over-bundle or over-swaddle your baby.
• Do not smoke, drink, or use drugs while pregnant and do not expose your baby to secondhand smoke. Exposure to secondhand smoke doubles a baby’s risk of SIDS, while a mother who smoked during pregnancy triples the risk.
• Receive early and regular prenatal care.
• Make sure your baby has well-baby checkups regularly.
• Breastfeed, if possible. There is some evidence that breastfeeding may help decrease the incidence of SIDS.
• If your baby has GERD (reflux), be sure to follow your doctor’s guidelines on feeding and sleep positions.
• Put your baby to sleep with a pacifier during the first year of life. If your baby rejects the pacifier, don’t force it. Pacifiers have been linked with lower risk of SIDS.

Attachment Parenting

Dr. Sears also advocates a style of caretaking called Attachment Parenting. In addition to many benefits for you and your baby, Attachment Parenting greatly reduces the odds of your baby succumbing to SIDS. For more information, read these worthwhile articles:

• 4 Ways Attachment Parenting can Reduce the Risk of SIDS
• 3 Reasons Babywearing reduces SIDS)
• 8 Reasons Breastfeeding Reduces SIDS
• Co-sleeping SIDS
• Beware of Sleep Trainers

When Stomach Sleeping is OK

Having said all that, for some babies, it is actually recommended that they sleep on their stomachs.

Premature babies or babies with breathing difficulties are put to sleep on their tummies, since the still partially collapsed lungs of some prematures tend to expand better when front-sleeping.

If an infant has gastroesophageal reflux, it is also recommended that he sleep tummy down, at least for two hours after a feeding.  Some babies sleeping on their tummies also seemed to settle better and spit- up less after feeding.

Listen to Your Baby: If your baby is just not content to sleep on his back, is it OK to put him to sleep on his stomach?  Well, because of the new research it is best to try to get baby accustomed to sleeping on her back or side. Newborn babies tend to get in the habit of sleeping the way they are first put down.  Nevertheless, Dr. Sears says that unless advised to the contrary by your doctor, it is best to let your baby sleep in a position she prefers. This means that if your baby doesn’t settle down, or stay asleep on her back or side, front sleeping is fine.  Newborn babies DO tend to prefer their tummies. “If a baby repeatedly doesn’t settle in a certain sleeping position, this may be a clue that this position may not be the safest for this individual baby. This is just one example of how babies often try to tell us what is in their best interest. Parents should not be afraid to listen.”

Just be sure to follow all the safety precautions listed above, such as placing baby on a firm mattress, not overheating the room, etc.

Another Possible Cause of SIDS

Sleep position may be important, but there is some evidence that SIDS may be related to the fire retardants in the baby’s mattress.  The reason this may be a culprit in SIDS is that an ordinarily harmless fungus (Scopulariopsis brevicaulis) consumes the chemicals used in the plasticized mattress cover. Baby’s drool, vomit, urine, and perspiration, combined with body heat, enable the fungus to grow rapidly.  When this occurs, neurotoxic gases are emitted. If baby breathes a significant amount of these odorless gases for a prolonged time, the central nervous system can shut down, causing death.

Using a mattress pad that is NOT made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) would eliminate this tragedy.  For more information, read Is sleep position really important in SIDS? Also, read about mattress wrapping, which means wrapping baby’s mattress in a polyethylene cover, to prevent your infant from breathing the gases. You can also look into an organic crib mattress, made from all-natural fibers which have not be treated with flame-retarding chemicals.

Feature image from Delio: Organic Bedding for Baby

I also don’t think Mom’s should have to duck into the nearest bathroom when baby gets hungry. Besides for the fact that it’s just plain yucky and often uncomfortable, the fact is that sometimes a private spot is just not available! So that’s why you may want to invest in a snazzy little cover-up to give you a bit of privacy when you’re nursing on the go.  It will even come in handy at home, when you have company and don’t want to miss any of the action!

Udder Covers

Great for the stylish cow–I mean woman!
Rigid neckline gives you direct eye contact with baby.
Made of 100% breathable cotton.
Stainless steel d-rings allow fully adjustable neckline.
Machine washable.

YOU CAN GET ONE FREE (just pay shipping) if you enter the code “BACKORDER” when ordering! I don’t know how long this will last, so if you want one, grab it now!

Get yours at uddercovers.com

Under Wraps Nursing Poncho

This is a great thing if you want all-around coverage!

• Uniquely designed to be worn during pregnancy, while breastfeeding or just because.
  
• Wear it while nursing or even as a fashion piece.
• Neck line design allows mom to latch baby easily without exposing anything!

Get yours here for $39.99.

Hooter Hiders

If the name alone is not enough to make you want one, maybe the buy-one-get-one-free offer will (good until June 28)!

Head Rush Nursing Covers

Breastfeeding in public can now be a pleasant experience with these lightweight, cotton, nursing cover. Plus, you get $10 off their Spring Styles!

• Complete 360-degree coverage
• Front pockets for pacifiers, nursing pads, etc.
• Lace panel in front for ventilation and eye contact.
• Burp cloth and drawstring bag included.
• Can be used as a stroller canopy and baby blanket!
• 100% cotton and machine washable.

At this stage, there isn’t much your baby can do to entertain himself. But as you know, that little guy loves attention and sometimes he just seems bored! What can you do that will keep him happy and stimulated between naps, feeding, and diaper changes?

Baby Center suggests that your best chance of doing this is to engage your baby’s senses: touch, sight (remember, your baby is still very nearsighted), smell, and hearing. If your newborn doesn’t seem to respond much, be patient. Keep trying, or wait until he seems more alert and responsive.

Here are some fun games to try!

Shall we Dance?
Close the curtains so the neighbors won’t see! Then put on some music, grab the baby (or put him in a sling) and start dancing! For a newborn you may want to start off with some gentle swaying and gliding, but as he gets bigger he’ll get a kick out of bouncing around and being swung through the air. (Just don’t shake the baby!) If your arms get tired, put baby down we he can see you and keep dancing!

Baby Center Tip: Silly exaggerated movements like jazz hands or shaking your butt are particularly funny to babies.

What does THAT do?

Gather up some interesting objects and take a seat next to your baby. Show them what it is, how it feels, what it does, what sounds it makes, etc. You can show them books too, but at this age they’re not really going to “get it.”

Baby Center Tip: Any object in the house that won’t poison, electrocute, or otherwise hurt him is fair game. Babies love egg beaters, spoons, wire whisks, spatulas, books and magazines with pictures, bottles of shampoo or conditioner (don’t leave your baby alone with these!), record albums, colorful fabrics or clothes, fruits and vegetables, and so on.

Empty the Closet
The time will come when it’s the baby emptying your closet, but for now, you decide what comes out for show-and-tell!  Your baby will enjoy seeing and feeling all the bright, slinky, soft, or fuzzy clothing.  Run silky fabrics over his face and hands, or lay something  woolly down on the floor and put him on top of it to explore.

Baby Center Tip: In a few months, your baby will want to run his hands over anything beaded, embroidered, or otherwise embellished. But for now, he may just be content to gaze in wonder.

Oooh, look at That!
The simplest stuff around your house can keep your baby happy for hours. Here are three ideas to start you off:

• Make a mobile by tying ribbons, fabric, or other interesting streamers onto a hanger and dangle them gently in front of your baby’s face.
• Take a floaty scarf and fling it into the air, letting it settle on your baby’s head.
• Take an elastic string and tie a toy to the end of it. Bound it up and down saying “Boing, boing!”

Baby Center Tip: Remember, never leave your baby alone with strings or ribbons that could encircle his neck or that he could get into his mouth.

The Diva Within
Baby’s love to hear their mommy’s (or daddy’s) voice. Even as a newborn, you may see your baby calm down when you speak, sing, or coo. Your baby may like anything you sing, but there are some classics you should get to know, like “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” and songs with hand movements — “The Wheels on the Bus,” “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes,” and “Patty-Cake,” to name a few.  Songs with silly sounds or animal noises in them are fun too, like “Old McDoanld Had a Farm,” “Witch Doctor,” or “How Much Is That Doggie in the Window?” (If you don’t remember the words to these song, try an Internet search. )

Try singing a song in different voices and pitches, use a hand puppet, anything that seems to amuse your baby. You can eve make up your own songs!

Baby Center Tip: You may have a terrible voice — but your kid doesn’t know it! Now’s the time to sing at volume 10, so set free that opera voice inside you.

Have fun!

feature image from She Knows