Jumat, 16 Desember 2011

baby's first nike

Baby's first Nike's may be absolutely adorable, but are they necessary? According to most experts - and not just modern ones but for at least the last thirty years - babies don't need shoes till they're up and walking around. Even at that point, it's good for the little tikes to get in lots of barefoot time so they get used to their balance and how their little toesies work.

Still, by the time they're spending more time on their feet than on their knees, it's time to get them into a pair of shoes, if for no other reason than to protect those feet from stubbed toes and other injuries. So, what sort of shoes should you wrap those precious feet in?

Certainly NOT the old-fashioned hard-soled leather lace-up shoes that were meant to 'train' baby feet to grow properly. Pediatricians recommend soft shoes that move with baby's feet. The soles should be non-skid to prevent falls, but flexible enough that they bend as baby steps out on his own. Skip the high-tops, unless they're flexible enough to bend with baby's ankles and feet. Choose natural materials that breathe to keep feet from sweating and becoming uncomfortable.

The proper fit for baby's first shoes is also important. They shouldn't bind or chafe anywhere, so shop when you've got plenty of time to let the little one walk around the store wearing the shoes you're thinking of buying. Slip a pinkie in at the heel while baby is standing - there should be enough room between the shoe and the munchkin's heel to allow your pinkie or a pencil to slip in easily. Also tie and untie the shoes a couple of times - if you choose lace-up shoes - to make sure that the laces are long enough to tie easily. Laces aren't a necessity, though. The experts are about evenly divided on whether tie shoes or Velcro are better, with no clear-cut 'best'. Choose whichever you like best. Laced shoes are a lot more likely to be left on - but Velcro encourages independence because it's so much easier to master.

Besides picking a time for your shopping trip when you have time to let your baby walk around a bit, time your visit to the shoe store for after a nap, when the little one is well-rested. Keep in mind, too, that baby's feet swell a little in the late afternoon, just like yours do. Shop later in the day to make sure that you get shoes that will fit at all times of the day.

As your baby grows and gets more active, check the fit of his shoes at least once a month. You can plan on buying new shoes about every three-to-six months just due to average growth, but also be prepared to replace shoes if they're worn, the soles are cracked or they have holes in them.

And if you have your heart set on Baby's First Nikes? Shop around - you're sure to find them.

baby last name

It's overwhelming enough to decide on a perfect first name for your baby, but if you're not considering its effects on your baby's last name you may be setting him up for future disaster. It's easy to overlook how the combination of your baby's first name and last name will work together. Let's look at a few pointers in this area.

Perhaps the most obvious place to start is using a duplicate name for your baby's first and last names. William Williams or John Johnson for example. These names may cause some flack for your child going through school or they may provide a way to really set them apart. Mitch Mitchell, for example, was a famous drummer with Jimi Hendrix.

Common words as last names can present problems. My last name is Byrd and I have to think twice about names so my baby doesn't end up with a silly name. Be especially aware if your last name is slang for something vulgar. You can be sure your child will never live down a name like Richard Johnson once they hit high school.

Next, make sure the first name you pick doesn't end with the same sound that your last name begins with. For example, when saying Mark Kogan aloud, it sounds like Mark Ogan or Mar Kogan. And John Nolan becomes Jaw Nolan or John Olan. Just a small point to check for once you're pretty certain on a name.

Also make sure that shortened first names don't clash with your baby's last name. Edward Jed will most likely shorten to Ed Jed which has a silly sound to it. The classic prank phone call name Ben Dover is the result of a shortened first name as well.

Any name you choose can be made fun of somehow, but these are just some ways to make sure you avoid the most obvious mistakes. Above all, be sure to say your baby's whole name outloud so that you can evaluate its entire sound. Good luck finding that perfect name for your baby!

baby names

Okay, you only get to do this once so let’s get it right. Remember that it’s not about you! Your little boy or girl is going to have to live with this name for the rest of their life. If they change it on their 18th birthday, you probably did a bad job of naming your baby.

In this article, I’m going to take you on a tour of the Internet as I look for baby names. I’ll be your guide, so sit back and relax. I know what I’m doing here. Trust me.

Before we start, though, no drinking on this tour. It results in baby names like Justin Case, Sandy Castles, Paige Turner, Rusty Hook, Shaunda Lear, Candy Kaine, or others just as bad. As a matter of fact let’s start out by searching for what not to name your baby.

So, you want to be original. Great. Remember, your kid’s gonna be mad when he or she finds out there were much better choices! Ok, that’s not bad enough? Well there are websites that make fun of bad baby name choices too. Some quotes from websites about people’s baby name choices.

These are actual questions posted on the Internet about naming babies;

I love this one “I once met a lady named Rodana. I think she runs a successful Internet business.”  In her spare time she destroys Tokyo.

And this one too. “I've suggested to my sister that she name her little girl to be - Manchester. She's not sure about it but she's considering. What do you think?” “Clever. Like being named Pittsburg or Schenectady. Kid'll grow up to be beaten to death by Liverpool fans.”

“We'd kind of like something that sounds good with Mikayla (our 3-year-old).” “Dear God, they're tailoring them into box sets!”

“What about the name skylar or raven?” “Thanks, 14-year-old-Goth-girl!”

“What about Bubba for a boy. a great unusual name “ “Since when did your Ozark shack get Internet access?”

“Do you like the name Alexia? I think it’s exotic and all 3 of my other girl’s names begin with an A too.” "Though Alexia sounds like a pretty name for a girl... alexia is actually an inability to read, caused by brain damage." “So maybe she should another A name. Something pretty, like Amnesia.”

“I am not pregnant yet but thinking about names...I just thought of the name Lourdes Solange. This baby will be 75% latina and 15% european :)“ “...and 10% polyester”

...and finally “Anyone ever thought about Sierra Joy? I love the name, but husband is less than thrilled with it.” “But he'll love the pine-fresh scent!”

And for all the geeks, nerds, and Internet junkies out there, yes, the Internet and your computer can conspire to name your baby for you! Try this one for unique baby names. http://www.babyzone.com/babynames/nameinventor.asp I just love the categories, “baby boy names”, “baby girl names”, and “baby boy or girl names” for those parents who want to name the baby before it’s born and before they know what sex the baby will be.

That website makes up names each time you click the links. Okay, this website doesn’t exactly prove that technology is an actual improvement to our lives, but wait! There’s more! This one claims to have 11,000 names from origins all around the world so you'll surely find exactly what you're looking for. http://www.babynamesworld.com/names1/name-generator.html
This one is a little better at names that reflect different cultures. http://www.baby-name-generator.com/Names.html But Teutonic names? Are there still people who claim the nationality “Teuton”?

Okay, now, let’s try to get serious about naming that baby.  Now this article gives good, sensible advice about choosing baby names. http://www.babyport.info/776.php and if you are still intent on being unique, read this first, http://www.babyport.info/59689.php

If you are gonna have twins, not that I advise it, here is another good article about naming your baby twins. http://www.babyport.info/3647.php

I hope this little tour has helped you with naming your baby and that you have enjoyed the trip. Please look around and make sure you have all of your luggage and babies with you as you leave. Good luck on naming your baby!

baby name meaning

Speaking as a Michael (a Hebrew name, meaning "Who is like God"), I'm really proud of my name. And I think that I - mostly - live up to the title!  Of course, my mother would probably disagree; I think the phrase "little devil" would probably pass her lips if she was describing me during many stages of my childhood.

 But then, my mother has her own issues; apparently her name (Kathleen) is a Celtic name meaning "Little Darling".  Hmmm, that isn't the way I used to think about her during those regular occasions when she was punishing me for my "not like God" behaviour…!

And that's the fun of baby name meanings - parents make naming decisions based on many, many different reasons, including family traditions, religion, culture, uniqueness and "it just sounds really nice."  But - in the Western world - we rarely do any real research into the history or real meaning of baby names.  So when the poor/lucky child finally finds out the meaning of his/her "really nice sounding" name, the results can be interesting, ironic, unfortunate or just sometimes hilarious.

You can have a lot of fun thinking up family/friends names, finding out the meanings and trying to make a connection between the two.  For example, my eldest brother Clive is apparently "a cliff dweller", which is coincidental, since he lives at the top of a very long steep hill! Or why not play the game with celebrities - consider the following:

Badu (as in r n'b singer Erykah Badu): African name meaning "Tenth born child"

Winona (as in actress Winona Ryder): Sioux name meaning "Firstborn daughter"

Aaliyah (the late r n'b singer): Arabic name meaning "High, exalted" 

Hilary (as in actresses Duff/Swank): Latin name meaning "Cheerful"

Some cultures have very interesting traditions when it comes to baby name meanings. For example, Hindu names usually have connections with very positive things such as truth, beauty, happiness, blessings, etc, or one of the Hindu gods.  In the Sikh culture, girls traditionally have the middle or surname "Kaur", meaning "Princess", whilst the boys have the middle or surname "Singh", meaning "Lion".

An African friend of mine once mentioned that many Africans are given a second name corresponding to the day of the week on which they were born.  I think is a really nice tradition, but in my case, my middle name would be "Sondo" (born on Sunday)!! Hmmmm… 

Whatever type of name you have chosen, or are thinking about for your "bundle of joy", its worth doing a little research into the meaning. And it's never been easier, with the wealth of Internet resources and books available, including my own site at www.all-about-baby-names.com, which is jam-packed with resources, tips and information on baby names, baby name meanings and baby products.

Your search may yield some surprises; for example, the lovely-sounding name "Malory" is French and means "Bad luck". You could get round this by spelling it "Mallory", but this means "Without good fortune" in Old German!

Alternatively, you may end up a little confused by different meanings of the same name; for example "Leah" is a beautiful girl's name, but what does it mean?  Well…

"    In Hebrew it means "Cow" or "Weary one" - uugghhh!
"    In Greek it means "Glad tidings"
"    In Assyrian, it means "Mistress, ruler"

And a final warning: if you are planning to go for a funky, unusual-sounding name, be sure to avoid "Bacia," - its Ugandan meaning is "Family deaths ruined the home!"