As a grandparent, your role is unique and important. You are not just “another babysitter.” You have a fundamental connection, providing the continuity between generations that your grandchild will come to understand and respect.

Take advantage of this irreplaceable role. Your involvement with your grandchild, introducing her to your own world, is especially valuable. Treasure it. Make the most of those special days when you are the babysitter, and offer to do it regularly if you’re able. Share stories with your grandchild (and read to him regularly).

At times, you may not be the actual caregiver for your grandchild, but rather you’ll take him to and from a child care center or babysitter. You can make sure he is transported safely in an appropriate restraint, and provide another set of eyes to evaluate the quality of the center or sitter, which will help your grandchild’s parents feel secure in their own choice of a child care setting.

Read Full : http://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/work-play/pages/A-Message-for-Grandparents-Who-Provide-Childcare.aspx

1. Read to baby – Whether it’s your baby’s favorite children’s book or even the sports page, your baby will love to hear the sound of your voice.
2. Take baby outside – Check out nature’s sights, sounds and textures.
3. Capture the moment – Keep the digital camera handy and don’t be afraid to use it frequently.  Baby will appreciate the photos as she gets older.
4. Give baby a massage – A licensed massage therapist can help with tips on the best approach.
5. Bathe with baby – The experience can be calming and soothing for both of you.
6. Change baby’s diaper – While not always the most pleasant for dad, helping with the diaper will give you more time with baby (and give mom a much needed break)
7. Be silly – Have staring contests, make noises and funny faces.  You’ll both share a laugh.
8. Dance together – Introduce different genres of music and have some fun with it.
9. Start a growth chart – Begin it on baby’s first birthday and make it an annual father-child birthday tradition.
10. Make it a regular occurrence – Schedule time together on a frequent basis and begin creating some memories

Starting early
You may have heard that playing music for babies, even as early as when they are in the womb, can help boost intelligence. In fact, the studies behind this are mixed and nothing conclusive is known, but there is no denying that having plenty of music in the household prepares a child to learn music when she is old enough.

During the early months of your child’s life, play music whenever your baby is wide awake. And in fact, she may even sleep well if you play some soft music in the background during sleep times. Play every kind of music that you have in the house. All will help your child develop familiarity with the diverse melodies, harmonies, and tones that go into music.

Meanwhile, even if you are not particularly musical yourself, it is a good idea to hum and sing to your child often. She will enjoy it, and it will make your household a little more fun and musical.

Introducing instruments
A good way to prepare your child for a musical life is to have musical toys in the house. But you do not have to bring into the household any of those noisy, flashy musical toys that you see at the toy store. Even to the most tolerant parent, some of these noisy toys can be quite annoying. In any case, a child who is interested in music will enjoy even the most tasteful musical toy. Small glockenspiels and keyboards, for example, are great for a start.

While musical toys are fun for children who are still young enough to be called babies, there is nothing wrong with introducing real instruments as early as it seems feasible. Many of the great musicians started playing real instruments at the age of three or four and practiced regularly even at so young an age. Of course, you do not need to make your child play or practice if he or she does not like to, but do keep in mind the importance of practice. If your child seems musically inclined, you may have to give a little extra encouragement to make sure he or she gets truly develops.

And as soon as your child is old enough to play a real instrument, you might want to invest in some lessons. Be careful with this, however, because if your child does not truly enjoy playing, lessons can quickly become a chore. Also, it is important to have a good teacher who makes practice fun.

If you do all this and your child does not seem to develop into a talented musician, do not let this bother you. Remember that a large portion of musical talent is inborn, and some kids simply are not born with it. You can still have a musical household-and who knows? If you continue to make music a central part of your family’s life, your child may develop into a late-blooming musical talent.

By Jamell Andrews on http://www.parenting-journals.com/849/children-music/

As time goes by, you will find ways to fit in your other work once baby needs have been attended to. You can always keep her with you in the kitchen in her play pen while you are cooking.

However, be attentive and make sure that she’s not anywhere near the gas or within reaching distance of pots and pans thatcould topple on her.

Make bath time a pleasure for both of you to interact and enjoy. Sing to her and tell her little stories which, even if she doesn’t understand will make an impression on her; what matters is that she hears your voice calm, loving and soothing; and know that you are the person looking after her.

This bonding is very important from baby hood because this is what will give her the confidence of knowing that she’s safe and secure when she’s growing up.

When babystarts to become aware of colors and shapes, hang little colorful mobiles on her cot, she will spend hours watching them move and make tinkling noises. You can use these times to do your laundry or ironing or attend to other household chores.

Cuddle baby whenever possible because touch is very important. Both parents should do this; even daddies, no matter how busy or tired they are. Little babies need to know all the time that you are there loving and supporting.

Soon enough you will realize that you really don’t miss all those things you used to do before baby came. You will be so engrossed in her life and enjoying watching her grow up, you will hardly miss going out, seeing your friends etc.

Beware however, that you should have your restand relaxation as well. Eat well, exercise and sleep whenever you can. Always remember that you have to be strong and healthy for your baby.

Source: Dr. Anu

• Before changing a nappy, make sure you have everything you need within arm’s reach of the change area. This includes a fresh nappy, baby cream, baby wipes or washcloths, and some water.
• Lie baby down on the change table. If she grizzles, sing her a song or give her a favourite toy to keep her entertained.
• Undress baby’s bottom half and unfasten the nappy. Cooler air on the skin may cause baby to wee, so be prepared by having a spare cloth ready. Use the front of the nappy to wipe off any poo, then fold the nappy into a tight bundle to prevent any spillage.
  

  Cleanse and apply cream:

• Gently cleanse baby’s bottom using baby wipes or a damp washcloth. Make sure you get into the crevices but avoid separating a baby girl’s labia to ‘clean inside’. Likewise, a boy’s foreskin should never be pushed back.

• To wipe the back of baby’s bottom, hold him by the legs with your fingers between his ankles and gently lift so his bottom comes slightly off the change table. Wiping girls from front to back will help avoid vaginal infections.

• Apply a dollop of baby cream to prevent against nappy rash.

The most important thing is that you make sure that you consume plenty of B12, as if you aren’t consuming enough B12, then neither is your baby. A deficient baby may experience vomiting, lethargy, anemia, hypotonia, developmental delay or regression, and an overall failure to thrive.

You also want to make sure that you’re consuming plenty of calcium, vitamin D, and zinc.

Maintain a very varied diet so that you can maintain your health and pass on good health to your baby.

Maintain a Vegetarian Diet While Nursing an Infant

If you are a vegetarian and you’re trying to get pregnant, do not fear. You can actually maintain your diet while carrying a healthy fetus.

What you will want to keep in mind is that you’re going to need to up your proteins, iron, calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12.

Depending on how long you’ve been a vegetarian, you’ll know which foods to increase in your diet. Otherwise, you will want to talk with your doctor to decide the best dietary plan that you’ll want to maintain while pregnant.

In most cases, you’ll want to make sure to find a good multi-vitamin, if you’re not already taking one.

Continue a Vegetarian Diet While Pregnant

Do not let anyone try to convince you that you have to eat meat during your pregnancy. You can maintain better health being a vegetarian while not pregnant, than any meat-eater can, and you can still maintain your health while pregnant.

In case you haven’t noticed, most toddlers don’t eat much at one sitting. Not only do their small stomachs have a small capacity, they just don’t have the patience to sit through a whole (wholesome) meal.  Your goal is to make sure that what you serve serves them well. Here are some tips on making that happen.

• Find toddler foods that multitask. If your toddler will eat only one food at a time, opt for items that do double duty in the health department, for instance, string cheese (calcium and protein), peanut butter (protein and fiber), and whole-grain bread (complex carbs and iron)
• Make drinks for toddlers real. Skip those juice “drinks” and go for the real thing instead. Milk is a nutritious choice, too, but can fill a little tummy pretty quickly after one or two cups.  For drinking throughout the day, stick to water — plain or spiked with an ounce or two of juice — which is better at quenching their thirst without filling them up.
• Snack wisely. Snacks are fine — in fact, they’re necessary for toddlers who need to replace the endless energy they burn. But instead of salty chips or sugary cookies, keep a supply of whole-grain crackers or muffins, fruit, or cut-up carrots on hand.  More good choices: low-sugar, whole-grain cereal; rice cakes; applesauce; bananas and peanut butter; a handful of pretzels.
• Go for quality over quantity. When it comes to calories, nutrient-dense foods are the way to go. That means it’s better to serve moderate amounts of nutrient-rich, higher-calorie foods (like peanut butter, avocados, and eggs) than to offer a steady diet of foods that do next to nothing for your tot’s well-being (such as white pasta, white rice, white bread).  And of course, avoid empty-calorie no-no’s (like soda, french fries, and candy).
• Ditch the distractions. For a toddler, television and toys at the table are a lot more interesting than peas and carrots. Minimize the extra noise but do engage your tot in conversation to keep him from hightailing it off the high chair before he’s done eating.
• How often do toddlers need to eat?Toddlers have small stomachs and may not be able to eat much at one time. They usually need two to three snacks during the day, along with their meals. Offer a variety of healthy snacks about mid-way between meals. Feed snacks when your child is hungry or thirsty, not for entertainment. Although milk and juice are good snack choices, don’t over do it. These foods are naturally sweet and should not be served too often throughout the day. If your child drinks too much, they may not want to eat solid foods. Other drinks like fruit crystals, pop, coffee or tea have no nutritional value and should not be given to toddlers.
• A caution about chokingWhen it comes to choking, even everyday foods need to be watched. Foods that are small, round or oval in shape, or hard to chew can choke a baby or small child by lodging in their throat and blocking their airway. Stay with your child while they eat. They should sit, not walk or run, lie down or talk with food in their mouth. It’s a good idea to learn what to do if a child chokes.

With all the many preparations you need to make to get ready for a new baby, nine months might not seem nearly enough time. One of the major things you’ll need to prepare is your home. Bringing baby home will be one of the most memorable experiences you’ll have — one that you’ll likely look back on for years to come. Preparing to bring a new baby home isn’t quite as intensive as babyproofing (which will come later), but still is necessary to make the smooth transition from a family of two to three (or more!).

Clean House

Get your home clean from top to bottom. Your extreme nesting instincts may take care of this, and you may be compelled to rid your house of all dust bunnies, organize your linen closet and clean your mini blinds. You may even find it necessary to organize your Christmas decorations. However, in most cases, pregnant women by this time are just too tired for heavy cleaning. Enlist the help of a willing husband, family members, or hire a cleaning person to help you get your house ready for bringing baby home. You’ll appreciate a clean house for the exhausting weeks ahead, and your baby will appreciate a fresh, sanitary home.

Stock Up

Get your pantry in order. Stock up on necessities, and cook a few freezer meals for those nights that you don’t feel like cooking with a newborn. Collect takeout menus from your favorite restaurants. If he doesn’t already know how to cook, instruct your husband on the finer points of mac and cheese and scrambled eggs so you can rest. While you’re shopping for food, stock up on household necessities such as toilet paper, laundry detergent and shampoo, so you’re not running out with a new baby.

Practice Makes Perfect

Test out your car seat (which you should’ve purchased weeks in advance) and stroller to be sure they fit in your car. Practice putting the seat in and taking it out. This mom learned the hard way that removing a baby seat — complete with newborn baby — from its base for the first time in freezing weather is a recipe for a screaming baby and panicked new parents.

Be Prepared

Arrange a friend or family member to take care of your house while you’re in the hospital having your baby — especially if you have a pet or other children. If you live in an area prone to snow, planning ahead to have the driveway and front walk shoveled prior to bringing baby home can avert a slip and fall with a new baby in tow.

Check your schedule and cancel any ongoing obligations you may have, such as carpool, playdates, book club, etc.

Nursery

Set up your nursery, starting with the crib. If all you’ve prepared for bringing baby home is the crib and bedding, at least she will have a place to sleep. Many an expectant couple has brought a baby home a little earlier than expected to a beautifully decorated nursery with an unassembled crib still neatly packed in its box.

Wash all the baby’s clothes in a gentle detergent a few weeks before your due date. If you’ve received enough clothes to outfit a wee little army, wash only a few onsies, socks, sleepers, etc. You may find that your baby outgrows her clothes before wearing all of her cute outfits, and unless she is a diva in training, pare down to a few essentials and let her wear her clothes more than once. For extras, keep the tags on them and exchange them if you can, save for the next baby, or keep for the purpose of regifting.

Have diapers and all the other baby accoutrements at the ready for bringing baby home. You can go as fancy as a special changing table complete with drawers or cubbies, or a simple changing pad for the floor with a tote stocked with diapers, diaper cream and wipes. Your new baby won’t care either way — as long as he’s clean, safe and dry.

Make your nest comfy. Set up your bedroom or family room to accommodate hours of nursing and rocking with a comfy place to sit, slippers, a warm blanket, reading materials and access to a phone and TV.

By. Mrs. Talwar

Kerosene is usually stored in bottles. a child may unknowingly drink some of it when the mother is not attentive.

In such case  make the child drink salt water to induce vomiting. And immediately rush to the doctor.

Source: Ms Hoor ( Health Expert)