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January 2003

Happy New Year to all our loyal readers of MyBabyConnection.com
Newsletter!


Here is what you’ll see in this issue of MyBabyConnection.com Newsletter
1.Feature Site of Month: Southern Living AT HOME
2.Article: How to Protect Your Baby’s Skin this Winter
3.Ad: The MOM Team
4.Article: Mutual Resolutions: Looking Back to Look Forward
5.Ad: Bunny Creek.com
6.Motherhood Quotes
7.Ad: My Cute Child.com

Please support our sponsors above. MyBabyConnection.com would like to
thank them for making this monthly newsletter possible!

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FEATURED SITE OF THE MONTH: Southern Living AT HOME
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**About Southern Living AT HOME**
ATTENTION MOMS ~ Home Based Party Plan Business Opportunity
JOIN US in making direct sales history with Southern Living At HOME
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are owned by AOL/Time Warner. We are looking for people to join us all
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VISIT www.southernlivingathome.com/barbodonnell to learn more!

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HOW TO PROTECT YOUR BABY'S SKIN THIS WINTER
By Maureen Connolly for Your Baby Today

Winter can do a number on a baby's sensitive skin. Things like dry
indoor air and chilly outdoor temperatures can lead to chapping,
redness, and irritation. Dr. Terri A. Kahn, section head of pediatric
dermatology at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, recommends the following
for keeping your baby's skin healthy:

·Practice Smart Bathing. Daily bathing is fine as long as you follow a
few rules. For starters, use tepid water and a lipid-free liquid
cleanser, such as Dove or fragrance-free Cetaphil. (Soaps containing
lipids are made with detergents, which remove a barrier on the skin that
helps to hold in water.) Since dry, indoor air can trigger outbreaks of
eczema, a condition marked by areas of red, scaly, itchy skin on the
face, elbows, knees, and neck, Dr. Kahn says you'll want to use an
antibacterial soap to help avoid secondary skin infections. Two good
antibacterial cleansers are Cetaphil and Oilatum AD.

To avoid zapping moisture from your baby's skin, don't keep him in the
bath for more than 10 minutes. And once he's out, apply a moisturizer
within three minutes to help lock in water. (Be careful to avoid the eye
areas.) Good choices include Cetaphil and Vanicream for sensitive skin,
Lubriderm, Aveeno lotion, and even Vaseline or Crisco shortening. "These
last two products are also great for the diaper area since they provide
a protective film that helps prevent irritation," says Dr. Kahn. "Just
be sure to toss tubs every three months since they can build up with
bacteria."

·Use TLC for Runny Noses. If a cold has left your little guy's nose
constantly running, avoid chapping and irritation by applying a small
amount of Vaseline or Aquaphor to the area just below the nose a few
times per day. (These two products also work well at removing dried
nasal mucus -- a.k.a. "crusty boogies" -- that accumulate below the nose
overnight or during a nap.) When wiping the nose, use a tissue made with
moisturizing lotion, such as Kleenex. Since infants with eczema may
carry a staph bacteria in their nose, if you notice scabbing around the
nostrils and mouth following a runny nose, call your pediatrician who
can prescribe a topical antibiotic to help clear the infection.

·Don't Overheat Your Infant. Babies under 6 months can't regulate their
body temperatures as well as adults, which is why you'll want to dress
them in one layer more than what you're comfortable in. However, an
infant that is overswaddled or who has too many layers will become
overheated, which can irritate the skin, and lead to prickly heat.
Prickly heat causes little red, itchy, pus bumps on the upper trunk and
body folds. These often clear up in a few days. In the meantime, give
your baby some relief by applying a cool wash cloth to the affected area
and allowing skin to get some air.

·Take Care with Clothing. If your infant is prone to eczema, you'll
definitely want to take the following precautions (even eczema-free
infants will benefit from these tips): Try to choose dye-free clothing
and avoid synthetic fabrics. White or pastel-colored, cotton clothing
are best for baby. Wash clothes with a detergent-free cleanser such as
Dreft. Don't use dryer sheets, which leave an irritating film on
clothing. If you want to use fabric softener, add it to the rinse cycle
and double rinse.

·Report Problems to Your Pediatrician. If you notice any raw, weeping,
broken down areas of skin, these are signs of infection. Call your
pediatrician who can prescribe a topical or oral treatment.

Maureen Connolly is the managing editor of Your Baby Today. She's mom to
Jack Henry, 2.

The content on these pages is provided as general information only and
should not be substituted for the advice of your physician.

© Studio One Networks


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MUTUAL RESOLUTIONS: LOOKING BACK TO LOOK FORWARD
By Elizabeth Wells for Real Families, Real Fun

Reminders of the holidays - shopping bills, tight waistband, and
fruitcake - are still ever-present. Thus, 'tis not too late to make or
change your new year's resolutions. Before you plunge into February,
take a quiet moment with your spouse to count your blessings and
consider your future.

Reserve a block of time (at least two hours) so the two of you can
reflect and record the things you value. Start by recalling the people
who touched your lives over the past year. Next to their names, write
down the ways they enriched your life. The immediate list will probably
include family, longtime friends, new acquaintances, and neighbors.
Don't forget to include those who provide you and your family with
services (teachers, pastors, work peers, etc.).

Next, think about the material possessions you have - things that keep
you warm, healthy, and comfortable. Write down "home" even if your
family has outgrown it and a move is on the horizon. If you celebrate
your current blessings, you'll find comfort in knowing that your needs
can be met today, tomorrow, and throughout the year.
Remember to include the primary blessings like health, love, employment,
and friendship. One couple felt overwhelmed with gratitude and abundance
when they reviewed their list. "We really discussed how lucky we are to
have good health and each other," said Lynda Hannan of Ohio.

Then, turn your attention to the future. Create individual lists of the
things you hope to accomplish in the following year, and take turns
explaining your list. When finished, the other partner should
acknowledge in a positive manner the hopes expressed. "When I see my
partner's goals, it's a little surprising look inside him!" said a wife
from South Carolina. "For example, I never would have thought that
learning the piano was a goal of his. It makes me happy that he, too, is
interested in music and willing to work slowly at a new skill."

Some goals may require help and support from the other person. For
example, if one spouse wants to lose 15 pounds, the other may offer to
watch the kids while he or she exercises - and will resist bringing home
a five-pound box of chocolates for Valentine's Day.
Elizabeth K. wrote that setting a goal "makes it more important for us
to dedicate some effort toward achieving it." She and her husband prefer
fine tuning areas of their lives instead of "drastic resolutions that we
may or may not keep." For instance, one of their resolutions is to plan
family game night or Friday celebrations when they are "feeling caught
up in commitments that take away from family time."

The Hannans said that they are going to meet every Saturday morning to
prepare a menu for the week and grocery list, in hope to eat better and
get into shape.

To share your goals with your spouse creates a support system. When the
going gets tough, as it invariably will, your spouse can encourage you
to not give up. The time you two spend recounting your blessings will
give you ammunition for bolstering hope.

A New York couple said the project was a great way to reconnect for the
coming year. "My husband said it made him very grateful. I was happy to
do this with him. I was reminded of how he is a man of few words," said
his wife. "I think this was a very good end-of-the-year project. I
wouldn't know what he was thinking if not for this project."

TAKE IT FROM ME:
About ten years ago, my spouse found Stephen Covey's Seven Habits of
Highly Effective People a great way to prioritize and list goals for
himself, both short term and long term. I hadn't been a goal setter
until recently and I found that it definitely helps put things in
perspective. Having set a goal makes it more important for us to
dedicate some effort toward achieving it! --Elizabeth K.

© Studio One Networks

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MOTHERHOOD QUOTES

"Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide
forever to have your heart go walking around on the outside of your
body."
- Elizabeth Stone (writer)

A good mother is like a quilt, she keeps her children warm,
but doesn't smother them.
-Author Unknown
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March 2003 will be the next drawing for the:
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-FREE CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM from MyLittleSteps.com
-CUSTOM BABY BLANKET embroidered with MyMiracleBaby (value is $60)
-YOUR BABY’S FEET INKLESS SYSTEM from MyBabyFeet.com (value $26)

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If you have any questions concerning this newsletter or above articles,
you can e-mail me at
newsl-@mybabyconnection.com


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author to reprint any of the above information.


Michelle Floyd
www.MyBabyConnection.com
Connecting YOU to the Best Baby Sites on the web!

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