Have you ever wondered what exactly is up with Tips For Planning Great Baby Showers? This informative report can give you an insight into everything you've ever wanted to know about Tips For Planning Great Baby Showers. 
Baby showers are parties thrown for friends that are pregnant. This practice has significantly changed over the course of the years and has gradually become more and more elaborate and planned. 
Baby showers can make an expectant mother feel more secure in the fact that her friends are all pulling for her and giving moral and financial support. Usually the baby shower is organized by non-relatives. But today, there is isn't abnormal to find family members, support group members, church friends and pretty much anyone except the expecting mother. 
Inviting the Guests
Who should you invite? Usually, the guest list will only include those nearest and dearest to the expectant mother. It wouldn't hurt if she gets a first look at the guest list so that she can suggest who should be invited. If you are planning a surprise baby shower, you will have to do a little research on who should be attending instead of running the list through the expectant mother. 
If the child is not a firstborn, you may opt to keep the number of guests down to the closest to the mother. Firstborn baby showers tend to have a larger guest list since it is, after all, the mother's first time. 
The thing to remember is that the nature of baby showers is intimacy. So, for any baby shower party, try making the gathering one of intimate friends. 
If you base what you do on inaccurate information, you might be unpleasantly surprised by the consequences. Make sure you get the whole Tips For Planning Great Baby Showers story from informed sources. 
You could use informal ways to invite these guests: email, phone and others. Invitation cards and other letters are the best way, however, as they provide a tangible, traceable evidence of invitation. Plus, it is the most sure and formal way to invite a person – and in many cultures – the only way. 
What About the Guys
The nature of the party is probably going to tend towards the feminine side; if the organizers of the party have a provision for this, then inviting men would be fine. It also depends on the men, since the party may dwell on topics such as pregnancy, children, and other motherly topics, they might not be that excited to join. All in all, it depends on the preference of the organizers.
Venue
Anywhere! As long as it can keep with the placid and fun nature of the occasion, any place would be fine. The more usual places on baby shower lists are backyards, formal halls, restaurants, and basically any room that has the amenities to make a baby shower successful. Just make sure the venue is not crowded and stressful to the mother-to-be. It also pays to make sure the venue is set long before the actual baby shower happens.
When to Throw a Baby Shower 
Usually this is one or two months before her due. The baby shower is the perfect time to get your friend baby needs and stuff she may not have had time to purchase yet. It has to be well-timed though – not too close to the due date, and not to far as to whittle down the excitement. 
Baby showers are a pleasant surprise to expecting mothers. It takes a lot of the stress of expecting a child off of their minds and provides a means for friends to show support and concern (and of course, baby gifts) to expecting friends. 
A properly coordinated baby shower will be greatly appreciated and forever remembered by mothers long after they have delivered their children. 
I hope that reading the above information was both enjoyable and educational for you. Your learning process should be ongoing--the more you understand about any subject, the more you will be able to share with others. For more information go to href="http://baby-showers-revealed.blogspot.com¨ title="Baby Shower">Baby Shower


The Beauty and Benefits of Breastfeeding
In recent years, there has been a lot of debate surrounding the issue of breastfeeding. While the decision to breastfeed is a personal one, there are countless benefits for both mother and child that ought to be explored. One of the most significant reasons to breastfeed your child relates to the quality of food your child is ingesting. Although baby formula may meet the nutritional requirements of children, it is not the ideal food for babies.
According to the World Health Organization, Breastfeeding is the absolute best source of food for babies. Commercial baby formula is comprised of countless preservatives and by-products of other food production techniques that have no proven benefit for your child. Formula is also extremely high in fat content, and leads parent to believe that their child is thriving because he or she is gaining weight. This is not necessarily the case.
Breast milk, on the other hand, has undergone millions of years of development in the laboratory of Nature. Countless studies have proven that there is no reasonable substitute for Breast milk. Breast milk has the amazing ability to transform and adapt to the needs of your baby at various stages of development.
Colostrum is an amazing example of the way a woman's body produces the perfect food for baby. It is the first liquid produced by a mother, usually beginning a few months before delivery. It differs slightly in appearance than breast milk, in that it is thicker and has a yellowish tint. It has a high concentration of antibodies, which helps newborns fend off illness and disease and build strong, stable immune systems. It is extremely easy for babies to digest, and it also has a laxative effect to help ease digestion.
Studies have also shown that there is a direct relationship between breastfeeding and a child's cognitive ability and intelligence. Simply put, breastfed babies have higher IQ's than their bottle-fed peers. Some studies have concluded that the longer a child is breastfed, the higher IQ he/she will have. Other studies have shown that breastfed children have a lower incidence of ear infections. This is significant when one considers the overuse of antibiotics and antibiotic resistant disease.
Food allergies are another important consideration for new parents. Breastfed babies have a much lower chance of developing food life-threatening food allergies. As a consequence, the have an even lower chance of developing related illnesses such as gastrointestinal disorders, diarrhea and vomiting. Breast milk protects babies from food allergies because it has a high concentration of the immunoglobulin IgA. IgA works by binding to foreign proteins and preventing them from entering the child's bloodstream. Children do not begin to produce IgA of their own until approximately 8 months of age.
Other studies have concluded that breastfeeding can also protect your child from diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis and Leukemia. New parents should explore their options carefully, and make educated decisions regarding their child's health and well being. Speak with your Pediatrician, or contact your local health unit, for more information. The choice you make will affect your child's health for the rest of his or her life.

Rachel Thompson is the proud mother of two young children, and a regular contributing writer for thebabydepartment.com – a wonderfully informative online resource for parents, with information about breastfeeding, car seats, baby supplies and more.


ARTICLE: A Child's Thanksgiving Tree
A Child's Thanksgiving TreeBy Amanda Formarohttp://familycorner.comJust mentioning the word "Thanksgiving" often conjures up memories for many.Traditions are relived and new ones are born on thisjoyous family holiday. Why not start a new one with your children with this funand simple activity.To make your own Thanksgiving Tree you will need the following:Materialssheet of white poster boardpenciltempera paint, markers or crayonsconstruction paper in red, yellow, green and orangemarkersscissorsglue or tapeglitter glue (optional)Variation: This project can also be easily adapted to a cork board(see photo) by simply using colored push pins to match the leaves.Use brown construction paper to make the tree trunk.You may draw the tree trunk freehand or print out our templateby clicking here:http://www.thefamilycorner.com/family/leisure/thankstree.shtmlAt the top of the posterboard, entitle your tree "Smith KidsThanksgiving Tree", inserting your family surname in the title.With a pencil on poster board, draw a basic tree with a branchfor each child in the family. If you only have 1-2 children, it mightbe fun to include two or three branches for each child.Using tempera paint, markers, or crayons color the tree trunk brown.On red, orange, green and yellow construction paper, trace 10 copiesof each child's hand. Cut out and give each child their "leaves".Each child writes one thing that they are thankful for on each leaf(grown ups can help if needed!). You may decorate the leaves withglitter glue if you like. Next, tape or glue the leaves onto theirdesignated branches.This makes a great activity to keep kids happy during a large familygathering. Hint: Make the base ahead of time for quick start up.Hang up the Thanksgiving Tree where the whole family can see it.Makes a great conversation piece! Later, after dinner, have thechildren present their tree to the family gathered around. Eachchild tells what they are thankful for and why.For added fun, make additional posterboard bases up ahead oftime so that the rest of the family can add their leaves as well.Have supplies at the ready!Amanda Formaro, PresidentPhone 702-433-6009 * Fax 702-433-2040FamilyCorner.com Magazine, Inc.http://www.familycorner.comCheck out our sister site for allyour "Family Cooking Made Easy"!MomsMenu.comhttp://www.momsmenu.com