Everything Get Ready for Baby Book: From preparing the nest and choosing a name to playtime ideas and daycare--all you need to prepare for your bundle of joy Book

Top Ten Things Expectant Parents Need to Know     xii
Introduction     xiii
Your Baby's Future...and Past     1
You're Pregnant! Now What?     2
Start Spreadin' the News!     4
Revisiting Your Family Tree     5
Babies in Your Family History     8
Myriad Myths and Timeless Tips     9
Make Some New Traditions     10
Journaling: Pregnancy in Your Own Words     13
A Million Little Thoughts     14
One Month     14
Two Months     15
Three Months     16
Four Months     17
Five Months     18
Six Months     19
Seven Months     21
Eight Months     22
Nine Months     23
Taking Care for Two     25
Healthy Eating During Pregnancy     26
Getting Enough Exercise     29
Exercises for Labor and Delivery     32
Hormones and Emotions     33
Getting Enough Rest     34
Building a Support Network     35
Making a Birth Plan     36
Screening and Diagnostic Tests     38
Getting Ready     40
Preparing the Nest     41
Location     42
Decorating the Nursery     42
Baby Equipment: What You Need to Buy or Borrow     46
Baby's Basic Layette     52
Shopping for Baby     53
Toys for Baby's First Six Months     54
A Beautiful Reward     56
Naming Your Baby     57
Where Do You Start?     58
Choices, Choices     58
Family Ties: Junior, Senior, III, Etc.     60
Names and Stereotypes     60
Exploring the Possibilities     61
Choosing a Middle Name     66
To Tell...or Not to Tell     67
Baby Safety     69
From Baby's Perspective     70
Your Shopping List     70
So, You Think It's Safe...     71
First Aid     72
Home, Sweet-and Safe     77
Lead and Asbestos Dangers     78
Equipment Safety     79
Used Crib Safety Tips     81
Other Equipment Concerns     83
Think Toy Safety     86
Old-and Dangerous     86
Once Baby's More Active...     88
Your Baby's Pediatrician and Other Medical Concerns      89
Finding a Good Childbirth Class     90
Finding and Choosing a Pediatrician     91
Ask Questions     92
What Happens at the Early Checkups?     93
Well-Baby Checkups and Immunizations     94
Building a Good Working Relationship with Your Pediatrician     96
When to Call the Nurse     97
Common Ailments     98
More Common Problems-and What to Do     101
Only the Best for Baby     102
The Blessed Event     103
Great Expectations     104
What to Pack for Yourself     104
Packing for Baby     105
The Breech Baby     106
Birth-and How You Get Through It     107
Where Are They Taking My Baby?     110
Working with a Doula or Midwife     111
When Baby's Late     112
What If You Need a C-Section?     112
Postpartum Issues     114
When to Call for Help     115
Beginning a New (and Separate) Life     116
Sharing Baby     117
Adjustment Issues for New Moms     118
Separation Anxiety-How to Get Through It     119
Build Your "Village" and Keep It Thriving      120
How to Interview a Babysitter     121
Tips for Sibling Adjustment     122
Helping Pets Adjust to Baby     125
Adjustments to Your Relationship     127
Leaving the Cocoon     128
Daycare     129
Start Planning Now     130
Daycare Centers     130
Family Daycare     132
Clean, Safe, and Happy     134
Child Care in Your Home     135
Do Your Own Background Check     137
The Final Choice Is Yours     138
Stay Connected     139
Bonding with Your Baby     141
Will You Bond?     142
What Baby Really Needs from You     142
How Babies Learn     143
Baby Quality Time     144
What to Say When You Talk to Your Baby     145
Using Baby Sign Language     147
How to Have a Well-Adjusted Baby     147
Baby's Personality     148
How to Start (or Be in) a Playgroup     149
The Upset Baby     150
Is Baby Overstimulated?     151
Caring for Baby-and Staying Fit     153
Breast or Bottle?     154
Breastfeeding-What You Should Know     154
Is Baby Getting Enough Milk?     156
Make It Easier on Yourself     158
How to Make Breastfeeding Work for You     159
Formula Feeding     161
Graduating to Solid Foods     163
Tackling the Diaper Dilemma     165
Making a Splash with Baby's First Bath     167
What about Mom?     168
Getting Baby to Sleep     171
A Major Issue     172
The Baby Sleep Cycle     172
Other Reasons Baby Can't Sleep     173
Do Babies Dream?     175
Colic and Related Sleep Problems     176
Should You Stay or Should You Go?     177
Relaxation Techniques to Improve Sleep     179
The Latest on SIDS     181
Get on a Schedule     182
Traveling with Your Baby     183
Gearing Up for Travel     184
Places to Go, People to See     185
Your Baby, the Road Warrior     186
Feeding Your Traveling Bundle of Joy     188
Flying the (Baby) Friendly Skies     189
Baby-Friendly Hotels and Motels     191
Travel Warnings     191
Home, Sweet Home     192
Dads Are Special Too     193
Adjusting to "Daddyhood"     194
Helping Before Baby     195
After Baby Arrives     196
Staying Involved While Working     197
Bringing Work Home     198
Mr. Mom     199
"Daddy and Me" Activities     201
Going Back to Work     203
The Work-Guilt Paradigm     204
Financial Considerations     205
Work-Life Balance Programs     206
Finding a "Family-Friendly" Company     207
Starting a Home-Based Business     209
Juggling Family and Work     211
Five Steps to Better Time Management     212
Choosing Your New Business     213
Getting Social     215
So Happy Together     216
Time for "Mommy and Me"     217
Parents' Night Out     219
Staying Social     220
Story Hours     221
Playgroups     222
Family-Friendly Baby Stuff     224
Playtime with Baby     227
New Baby Games     228
Nursery Rhymes     230
Classic Fun     235
Baby Toys     237
Baby Yoga and Massage     238
TV Time with Baby     238
Enjoy Yourselves!     239
Capturing Baby's First Year     241
Putting It All Together     242
Baby's Firsts-in Real Time     243
Making a "Baby's First Year" Scrapbook     245
Other Creative Ways to Immortalize Baby     246
How to Write Your Baby's Story     247
Baby's Growth Stages: What Happens When     248
The Journey That Lies Ahead     251
Cyber Babies     253
Help That's 24/7     254
Pregnancy-Related Sites     254
Birth Story Sites     256
Newborn and Beyond     257
For More Information...     260
Cyber Shopping     262
Stay Safe!     263
Additional Resources     264
Bibliography     268
The Practical Side of Pregnancy- A Nine-Month Checklist     271
Baby Names     275
Index     295