Top 3 Developmental Tips

1)  For face time coo and smile at your baby (best time first thing in the morning). Don't turn on the lights so that your face is what she is looking at, not the lights.

2) Do tummy time as frequently as possible- doesn't have to be for long periods of time.  A suggestion is to do some tummy time after each diaper change.

3) Although they may not look like they are getting anything from the reading- they are absorbing all the language, rhymes, and pictures.

check out the full article at http://blogs.babycenter.com/mom_stories/3-top-development-tips-for-your-baby/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Weekly e-mail custom to your baby's age!

I very much look forward to my weekly email from babycenter.com talking about the developmental milestones of my baby at each week.  It also has great links to articles that may be of interest to you at that point in your baby's life.

If you haven't done so already:
sign up at www.babycenter.com- go to the pregnancy week-by-week sign up- it also asks for your baby's birthday if the baby has already been born.  I used this in my pregnancy as well and it was a nice little gift to myself each week to know how far I had progressed; the same applies to your baby's development....each week is a great feat!

Quality Time- Baby Massage

You've made it through the week- yeah! Now you can hopefully spend some precious weekend time with your little one.

 One way to really spend quality time is through baby massage.  It's not only proven to help you bond with your baby, but it has many health and relaxation benefits as well. I find the best time to for me to give my little one a massage is after her bath because she is very relaxed.

This video clearly shows the various techniques.


Baby Care:
How To Massage Your Baby For Health And Happiness

**Note please contact your pediatrician if you are at all concerned before giving a massage.

5 Ways to Make Life Easier Before Your Baby Goes to Daycare

Dropping your baby off at daycare for the first time?- No mother will ever tell you it's easy, but you will learn as time goes on that they are growing and happy and the whole family appreciates the routine and time with other children and care-givers.  I have put together a list of the 5 essential things you can do to make your life a little easier before taking your little one to daycare for the first time.


1) Take out that black sharpie and label absolutely everything (clothes, socks, hats, bottles, diapers, wipes you name it)!
Note: Most daycare centers have you bring extra clothing, jackets/sweaters, and socks in case they get soiled so label those too. (UPDATE: to help with this, check out the waterproof labels post- diswasher & washing machine proof!)

2) If you're formula feeding and are worried about how your daycare provider
 will measure it out, I suggest buying a travel formula dispenser (example in below picture from Babies R Us) so all they need to do is open one slot and add the formula to each bottle. 

The dispensers I have http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3502347

These can be used as snack dispensers later on when your baby starts to eat.   

3) Print out a 1 page sheet explaining your baby:

• the things she likes
• what soothes her when she's upset
• her eating/napping schedule (if she has a set schedule)
• how she prefers to be fed & burped.

4) Get 1 or 2 comfy sheets to be used for daycare. 

I got these velor ones (only $15 dollars and they are super soft) http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3565865

*At the end of each week you bring them home to wash. 

5) Invest in pants that have feet and some comfy sweatshirts.  Baby socks tend to fall off and you don't want your little baby's feet cold (in the winter and the summer with the a/c on).   Comfy hooded sweat-shirts are my choice if your daycare provider chooses to take your little one outside you don't have to worry about them forgetting a hat they can just put the hood on. 

Add a hoody on a cold day and this is the perfect little daycare outfit (this outfit is from www.landofnod.com)

*I love dressing my little one up, but for daycare it's nice to know that she's comfortable- I use the fancy outfits on the weekends.

Making the decision to work or not?

 Okay you're nearing the end of your pregnancy or you've just had your baby.  Now to make the ever important, life-changing, grueling, stressful, heart-wrenching decision on whether you want to go back to work.  The truth is it doesn't have to be a permanent decision it can be constantly evolving.

This article really lays out what you need to consider before making the choice for the first time.
To work or not? - MSNBC article

I plan to go over these with my husband sometime this week.

Welcome from us!

 

I'm the proud new mother of a beautiful baby girl. Having just recently gone back to work, she has started daycare. Evolution of a Working Mom guides you through the daily antics involved in being a mom and working at the same time. Experiences in the past few months have truly enlightened me to the hardships and rewards involved in this fabulous adventure!

*For the purposes of this blog I will be referring to the feminine when talking about babies, but the majority of topics are for both boys and girls (if you have a baby boy just substitute "him" for "her" when you're reading).