Baby care - article index
Creating
Good Feng Shui in Baby's Room by: Kathryn Weber
Help
I am Pregnant and an Addict by: Patty Hone
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Creating
Good Feng Shui in Baby's Room by: Kathryn Weber
Getting ready for a new baby requires
a lot of thought and planning from what diapers the baby will wear down
to the decoration and arrangement of baby’s room. Today’s parents want
to create a haven for their little one that will help the baby feel comforted
and nurtured, as well as stimulated enough so that they thrive. Increasingly,
parents are going beyond the traditional coordinated “theme” rooms to ensure
baby has a healthy environment by incorporating feng shui.
Feng shui, the Chinese system for
arrangement and placement, so often used in businesses and homes is now
making its way into the nursery, and for good reason, too. Feng Shui proposes
that by arranging and aligning the room correctly, energy will flow better
in the room and that all who reside in the room will thrive and prosper
better than if the energy is the room was incorrect or did not flow smoothly.
Understandably, no one needs to thrive and prosper more than a baby.
To maximize the energy in baby’s
room, there are several important factors to consider, such as room location,
safety, colors, and furniture arrangement. Using feng shui in the nursery
will help to make babies less fussy, who will feel more comfortable in
their surroundings, and who will be healthy and flourish. What does it
take to accomplish this? Following some basic considerations will help
both baby and parents create a room that makes them both happy.
Select a good location for the baby’s
bedroom. A new baby should have a bedroom that is not over a garage or
has an empty space below. The bedroom also shouldn’t be located where there
is excessive noise that might keep the baby from sleeping, such as close
to a living room where the TV is on, or close to a noisy street or neighbor.
Bed placement is important. The bed
should not be against a window or be directly in line with the door. Put
the baby on a solid wall with the head of the crib against the wall, rather
than lengthwise. Make sure the baby does not sleep or is placed against
a slanted wall. These press on the baby. Avoid placing the baby against
a wall that is shared with a bathroom, toilet, storage, or utility-type
room.
Opt for soothing colors. Children
benefit from bright colors in play areas, but if these are used in a baby’s
room, infants can be over stimulated to the point that they do not rest
well. Because deep sleep in babies is necessary for healthy growth, be
sure to select restful, muted colors. Whites are excellent for children,
but avoid black and white color scheme because there is too much contrast.
Select color palettes that are close to one another and harmonious, such
as green and blue, white and beige, or pink and yellow.
Create soft movement in the room.
A room that is too still becomes stagnant and this is not beneficial for
the growth of the child. To create good, but soft energy and movement,
hang mobiles close to a window to move gently in the breeze and keep soft
music playing in the room. You can also place a small fan on a dresser
turned on low to keep air moving in the room. Avoid placing the baby under
a ceiling fan as these disrupt their body energy.
Watch for pointed objects. Make sure
there are no hard corners from dressers or changing tables pointed at the
baby’s head or body. Move these to another part of the room where they
are not pointed in the direction of the bed.
Select design motifs with care. Make
sure that designs do not have harsh points, such as arrows, crosses, diamonds,
or triangles. Nature designs are excellent and promote growth. Animal designs
should also be chosen carefully. Ferocious or aggressive animals, even
when they are made for a baby’s room, should not be chosen. Some of these
are found in jungle motif designs and include lions, tigers, bears, and
reptiles. Motifs with fish are fine as long as the watery theme is not
overly dominant. Otherwise, respiratory, lung, nasal, or kidney problems
could develop.
Keep lighting balanced. During the
day, the light in the baby’s room should neither be too bright or too dark.
Install blinds that can be lowered or raised as needed to keep the room
at a pleasant level of lighting. If the room is too bright, the baby won’t
rest deeply. If too dim, the room would be too “yin” and the baby could
fail to thrive or have respiratory problems.
About The Author
KATHRYN WEBER is the publisher of
The Red Lotus Letter (http://www.redlotusletter.com),
the Web's largest weekly feng shui ezine. She is also a certified feng
shui master practitioner whose been featured in Seventeen and Martial Arts
Professional magazines, among others, and is sought after for her expertise
with a witty, down-to-earth style.
kweber@redlotusconsulting.com
Courtesy of http://www.ArticleCity.com/
Help
I am Pregnant and an Addict by: Patty Hone
There are a lot of resources on the
internet, in books, and from the medical community on the dangers of drug
and alcohol use during pregnancy. However, there is not very much quality
information on what you should do if you have a problem with alcohol or
drugs and are pregnant. The simple answer is you need to quit. With all
the treatment programs availabele; AA, treatment facilities, therapy, self-control,
etc., why wouldn't a women be able to get help. Why would anyone use drugs
or alcohol while they are pregnant. Most pregnant moms know or have read
that using drugs or alcohol can cause numerous problems for their unborn
baby. But there are many reasons women avoid treatment.
Some do not believe they are really
an addict or alcoholic. They may convince themselves that they don't drink
or use very much or that often. The truth, if you are not capable of quitting
during a time in your life when it is most essential that you do not drink
or use, you are an addict. If you were not addicted quitting during pregnancy
would not be difficult.
Many women falsely believe that an
occasional drink or drug use is not really harmful. They may minimize their
problem and rationalize what they are doing. They may say things like well
when my mother was pregnant she drank/smoke and I turned out fine.
Sometimes a woman may convince herself
that she is done and it won't happen again. Perhaps she has used during
the first month but she will tell herself, I will get help if I do this
again. With the next time it happening repeating the same rational in her
mind, each time thinking it is the last.
Addiction is a shameful disease.
Addicts come in all forms. People with addiction can hide their disease
very well. Their friends and family may not even realize that they have
a problem. Talking to a health professional about this may be something
they are too afraid to do.
They may be afraid to talk to a professional
for fear of having an investigation by Child Protective services.
Marijuana supporters put out a lot
of false information about the risks to an unborn child. Minimizing the
dangers, even going as far as to say babies born to marijuana users are
less fussy and more content. They may choose to believe this misinformation
in order to avoid facing their addiction.
Risks of using drugs and alcohol
during pregnancy
Smoking:
Babies are more likely to be born
preterm and with low birth weight.
Alcohol:
Can cause Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
Babies born with FAS may have symptoms of alcohol withdrawal shortly after
birth. They often have a small head, small eyes, a wide flat nose, and
a small jaw. Children with FAS may have growth problems, diminished mental
capacity, and emotional problems.
Marijuana:
Can cause preterm birth, low birth
weight and some studies say it can cause attention problems in children.
Coccaine:
Babies born to cocaine users often
go through withdrawal symptoms after birth. Fetal growth may be retarded,
there is a greater risk of premature labor and abruption of the placenta.
Babies often have low birth weight, may have feeding problems, and are
at greater risk of sids. Children of cocaine addicted mothers may have
emotional problems, short attention span, and learning disabilities.
Heroin and other narcotics:
Mother is at a greater risk of having
preterm labor and having a baby with low birth weight. Babies of heroin
addicted moms may have breathing difficulties, hypoglycemia, and intracranial
hemorrhage. They also will go through withdrawal after birth.
If you need help
If you think that you have a problem
there are places to get help. Please do not wait.
One of the best places to get help
is at
Acoholic Anonymous
www.aa.org
Or you can look in your phone book
under alcoholic anonymous. Someone there will gladly help you find meeting
locations and someone to talk to.
Resources
NIDA
March of Dimes
American Council for Drug Education
About The Author
Patty Hone is a wife and mommy to
three kids. She is also the owner of Justmommies.com.
Justmommies is an online community for mommies to make friends and find
support. Please visit Justmommies at http://www.justmommies.com.
email@justmommies.com
Courtesy of http://www.ArticleCity.com/
