How often should I bathe my baby?

Although some parents bathe their babies every day, until yours is crawling around and getting into messes, a bath isn't really necessary more than once or twice a week. (Just wash his face frequently and thoroughly clean his genital area after each diaper change.) When you do bathe him, you may find it a little scary to handle your wiggly little one when he's all soapy and slippery, so keep a good grip. Most babies find the warm water very soothing.

Where should I bathe my baby?

Instead of using a standard bathtub, which requires you to kneel or lean awkwardly over your baby and gives you less control over his movements, it makes sense to use the kitchen sink or a small plastic baby tub.

What's the best way to give my baby a bath?

Here's how to do it and what you'll need to make baby-bathing easy. With any luck, his bath will become one of the most enjoyable parts of your days together:

1. Assemble all necessary bath accessories.

2. Fill the tub with 2 to 3 inches of water that feels warm but not hot, about 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius).

3. Bring your baby to the bath area and undress him completely.

4. Gradually slip your baby into the tub, using one hand to support his neck and head. Pour cupfuls of bath water over him regularly during the bath so he doesn't get too cold.

5. Use soap sparingly (it dries your baby's skin) as you wash him with your hand or a washcloth from top to bottom, front to back. Wash his scalp with a wet, soapy cloth. Use a moistened cotton ball to clean his eyes and face. As for your baby's genitals, a routine washing is all that is needed. If dried mucus has collected in the corner of your baby's nostrils or eyes, dab it several times with a small section of a moistened washcloth to soften it before you wipe it out.

6. Rinse your baby thoroughly with a clean washcloth.

7. Wrap your baby in a hooded towel and pat him dry. If his skin is dry, or if he has a bit of diaper rash, you may want to apply a mild lotion after his bath.

Talking the talk..(2-year-old time line)

Your 2-year-old now

Your preschooler's vocabulary is on its way to becoming dictionary-thick. The typical 24-month-old knows about 50 to 75 words and is working the next big milestone: stringing them together into phrases and sentences. Two-word noun-verb sentences are typical at 2: "baby sleep" and "want milk." He'll probably begin expressing himself in longer sentences as the year goes by. If your child uses fewer than 20 words, he should be tested for hearing problems.

First sentences tend to be short (two to three words) and to the point: "Mommy help." "Play ball Daddy." Or a preschooler may echo a group of words she hears often, like "Go bye-bye" or "All gone."

Some ways to encourage your 2-year-old to speak in sentences:
• Expand on her bare-bones phrases in your reply: "You want Mommy to help you put your sock on." "Okay, Daddy will play ball with Lucy."
• Don't correct her grammar. Casually repeat the sentence using the right words, but it's way too early to point out mistakes.
• Don't insist your child repeat a full, proper sentence. Prompting, "Can you say, 'Mommy, help me with my sock?'" only disrupts the flow and frustrates your child.
• Read often in an interactive way, asking your child questions about what he sees on the page or what he thinks will happen next.

Your life now

If you're feeling like the clutter around your house is growing right along with your child, you're not alone. Not only do preschoolers continue to acquire toys at an alarming rate, but more and more they — blocks, puzzles, car collections — come with multiple parts, which preschoolers love to dump out and mix up. Individual bins for each type of toy help keep things organized. (Empty diaper-wipe boxes are an inexpensive way to keep track of smaller parts.) Save yourself clean-up time by putting out only one or two bins of toys at a time. This keeps the toys more interesting — and the floor tidier, too.

EARTH HOUR

VOTE EARTH

YOUR LIGHT SWITCH IS YOUR VOTE

This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming.

For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.

This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol. It is the chance for the people of the world to make their voice heard.

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.

In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. Over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday.

We all have a vote, and every single vote counts. Together we can take control of the future of our planet, for future generations.

VOTE EARTH by simply switching off your lights for one hour, and join the world for Earth Hour.

Saturday, March 28, 8:30-9:30pm.

A year wiser2..

Like i promised this morning,here r the post..hehe!!

Today,i am a year older..but hey number is juz number rite?..heheh!!I used to get real excited about birthdays, because we (hubby n me) would go and celebrate kat maner2... When I was in primary school, I remember my birthday would fall during puasa and raya.

And i already got two prizes from dear hubby n beloved papa.papa gave me barang elekrtik jenama LG n hubby bagi perfume beyonce gitu..heheh!!em..the best birthday ever..n pagi tadi maser aku nak pegi skolah,ada satu sampul surat pink n it says something sweet on it.biler bukak tgk,rupanya hubby aku bagi kad n it was wonderfull..raser nak nangis jer..coz i fell in love with the words inside..tq hubby.and ingat nak gi celebrate my birthday kat maner2 this weekend or maybe today..

hepi sangat dapat kad ni..sengih sampai telinga..

fell in love with the words written in it..

cake birthday pun ada gak..

By the time i write this post,Syahmi has fallen asleep,so tak sempat nak suap cake ni kat dia..nanti kena simpan skit untuk anak teruna aku tu.aku n hubby tak makan pun lagi cake ni..tq hubby for the cake..

Why is it so important?

What types of play are best for my child?

It depends on the stage of development. Since play is the tool your child uses to learn about the world, the skills she's working on right now are your biggest clues to choosing the best activities. For instance, if your 12-month-old is exploring cause and effect, play a simple version of hide-and-seek under tables and chairs. If at 20 months she's obsessed with climbing stairs, find a set where she can practice under your watchful eye.

Here are some guidelines for the types of play your child may be most interested in at different stages, according to Catherine Marchant, a play therapist at Wheelock College in Boston:

Social play
Interacting with you and others is important throughout the first year. Infants like to smile, look, and laugh. Older babies enjoy games such as peekaboo and itsy-bitsy spider.

Object play
Touching, banging, mouthing, throwing, pushing, and otherwise experimenting with things is fascinating for the 4- to 10-month-old set.

Functional and representational play
Pretending to use familiar objects in an appropriate way — pushing a toy lawn mower over the grass, or calling Grandma with a hairbrush, for instance — is the height of fun for 12- to 21-month-olds as their imaginations begin to blossom.

Early symbolic play
This type of play, common around the age of 2, creates something out of nothing. Your child might play with a shoebox as if it were a school bus, complete with motor noises, for example, or pretend to eat a plastic ring, insisting it's a doughnut.

Role play
Around 30 to 36 months your little actor will begin taking on new roles. Playing doctor, teacher, or mommy is common now.

How can I make the most of my child's playtime?

Try these suggestions:

Think of playtime as more than toy time. Playing is really any enjoyable activity that involves people, objects, or movement. Everything from blowing bubbles at each other to singing songs to splashing in the tub to chasing each other around the room qualifies. If you've ever seen a 1-year-old enthralled with a cardboard box, you understand how wide the parameters are.

Play along with your child. You're the ultimate plaything, and any activity will seem more fun if your toddler can share it with you. Talk to her while you play and you'll help boost her language skills.

Introduce play activities when your child is happy and rested, suggests Marilyn Segal, a developmental psychologist and author of the Your Child at Play series.

Stop when your child's had enough. Children have different thresholds for stimulation. When yours seems bored, fussy, or tired, it's time for a break.

Give your child a chance to play alone and with others. Both types of play are beneficial.

Let your child choose activities and control the direction of her play. You can suggest new things or present new options, but your child should be the boss. After all, play is about fun, and if there's one thing your child is an expert at already, it's having a good time.

a year wiser...

wait for the next post - a year wiser2

Wulan?

I watched Wulan on astro channel 615 this evening n it was a fascinating movie.love the song too.wanna share this song with all of u..

Reflection

Look at me
You may think you see
Who I really am
But you'll never know me
Every day, is as if I play apart
Now I see
If I wear a mask
I can fool the world
But I can not fool
My heart

Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?

I am now
In a world where I have to
Hide my heart
And what I believe in
But somehow
I will show the world
What's inside my heart
And be loved for who I am

Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me?
Why is my reflection
Someone I don't know?

Must I pretend that i'm
Someone else for all time?

When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?

There's a heart that must
Be free to fly
That burns with a need
To know the reason why
Why must we all conceal
What we think
How we feel
Must there be a secret me
I'm forced to hide?
I won't pretend that i'm
Someone else

For all time
When will my reflections show
Who I am inside?
When will my reflections show
Who I am inside?