Having a Baby This Christmas??

Ho, ho, ho! Expecting a little extra-special gift this Christmas season? That's great! Congratulations! If you've been reading my ebooks or ezines for awhile, you know that I'm a huge proponent of singing to your unborn child. Normally I talk about singing traditional lullabies, but really, it's not so important what you sing as it is just that you sing something soft and gentle in your own voice to your own baby. I think that things like "Silent Night, ""White Christmas," or anything slow and soft and sweet is absolutely fine!
Don't worry that your unborn or newborn baby might be critical of your voice. All babies love their mother's voices so just sing with love and baby will really respond positively! If you have questions, just email me!

Medicines you should never give your baby

Babies and children are much more likely than adults to have adverse drug reactions, so giving your baby prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medication is serious business. (In fact, until your baby reaches her half birthday, consult a doctor before giving her any medication at all, other than a carefully measured baby dose of acetaminophen once she's at least 3 months old.)Here are eight medicines you shouldn't give your baby:
AspirinNever give your baby aspirin or any medication containing aspirin. Aspirin can make a child susceptible to Reye's syndrome — a rare but potentially fatal illness. Don't assume that the children's medicines found in drugstores will be aspirin-free. Aspirin is sometimes referred to as "salicylate" or "acetylsalicylic acid." Read labels carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you're not sure whether a product is aspirin-free.
Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines In October 2007 a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committee voted to recommend that these medicines not be given to children under 6 years old. Pediatricians have complained for years that these medicines aren't effective and reportedly have caused dangerous side effects such as seizures, hallucinations, and even death. So if your baby's miserable with a cold, try other options, like a humidifier and plenty of liquids.
Anti-nausea medications Don't give your baby an anti-nausea medication (prescription or OTC) unless her doctor specifically recommends it. Most bouts of vomiting are pretty short-lived, and babies and children usually handle them just fine without any medication. In addition, anti-nausea medications have risks and possible complications. (If your baby is vomiting and begins to get dehydrated, contact her doctor for advice on what to do.)
Adult medicationsGiving your baby a smaller dose of medicine meant for an adult is dangerous. If the label doesn't indicate an appropriate dose for a baby her size, don't give that medication to your baby.
Any medication prescribed for someone else or for another reason Prescription drugs intended for other people (like a sibling) or to treat other illnesses may be ineffective or even dangerous when given to your baby. Give her only medicine prescribed for her and her specific condition.
Anything expired Toss out medicines, prescription and OTC alike, as soon as they expire. Also get rid of discolored or crumbly medicines — basically anything that doesn't look the way it did when you first bought it. After the use-by date, medications may no longer be effective and can even be harmful. Don't flush old drugs down the toilet, as they can contaminate groundwater and end up in the drinking water supply. See what our expert says about how to safely dispose of expired medication.
Extra acetaminophen Some medicines contain acetaminophen to help ease fever and pain, so be careful not to give your baby an additional separate dose of acetaminophen. If you're not sure what's in a particular medicine, don't give her acetaminophen or ibuprofen until you've first gotten the okay from your doctor or pharmacist.
Chewables Chewable tablets are a choking hazard for babies. If your baby's eating solids and you want to use a chewable tablet, crush it first, then put it in a spoonful of soft food, like yogurt or applesauce. (Of course, you need to make sure your baby eats the entire spoonful in order to get the complete dose.)
A cautionary note Some herbal remedies Many herbal remedies are gentle and safe, but just because something is natural, or derived from a plant, doesn't mean it's safe for your baby. Herbal products can cause allergic reactions, liver damage, and high blood pressure. In certain doses or when combined with the wrong medications, they can be fatal.Check with your baby's doctor or an alternative medicine practitioner before giving your baby any herbal products. And always let the doctor know about any herbal remedies your baby's taking before she prescribes a medication.

How much do you know about newborns?

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- It's hard to believe now, but once upon a time, Michelle Duggar was a new mom. Now the Arkansas mother is famous for having 17 children, but she can still remember how her first child had a huge belly button when he was born 19 years ago.
"I was like, 'Something is wrong with my baby!' " says Duggar. "It was kind of a shock."
But Duggar's pediatrician explained that Joshua's bulging belly button was nothing to worry about. He told her it would probably go away by his second birthday, and indeed it did. That's why Duggar didn't panic when her fifth child, Jessa, was also born with what's technically called an "umbilical hernia." (Click to see an umbilical hernia)
Huge belly buttons, acne befitting an adolescent, and swollen breasts (on boys, too!) are just a few of the surprises that sometimes await parents. "I can get some really panicked parents," says Dr. Laura Jana, pediatrician and co-author of "Heading Home with Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality." "There are many things that look so dramatic, but actually are perfectly normal."
Here, from Jana and other pediatric authorities, are five newborn shockers that really are nothing to worry about
Baby acne
Jana says she gets lots of phone calls about baby faces full of zits, which usually happens when a baby is 3 or 4 weeks old. "Baby acne can be very dramatic and very red, and all over the face," she says.
It's also normal, harmless, and usually goes away. Baby acne occurs when hormonal changes stimulate oil glands in the baby's skin, according to the National Institutes of Health. It usually goes away on its own with a few weeks. "Parents sometimes want to wash it with soaps or astringents," says Jana, who advises them just to leave it alone. (Click here to see baby acne)
Big baby boobs
Again, hormones are the culprit here. A baby who's been bathing in mom's hormones for nine months can sometimes come out of the womb with enlarged breasts -- even boys. (Click here to see what they look like) Sometimes even a little milk comes out (called "witch's milk"). Both conditions go away in a few weeks and are of no concern, according to the NIH.
Crossed eyes
Jana, and her coauthor, Jennifer Shu, say parents also worry about crossed eyes. In the first six weeks of life, many babies cross their eyes. If it goes on past six weeks, call your pediatrician, advised the Children's Medical Center of Dallas, Texas.
Cradle cap
Being a parent of a newborn is stressful enough -- imagine looking down and seeing thick, scaly patches on your baby's tiny, delicate head. It's called cradle cap (Click here to see it) and it's harmless, pediatricians say.
According to the Mayo Clinic's Web site, cradle cap usually goes away within a few months, but can look pretty unsightly in the meantime. The Mayo Clinic advises washing your baby's hair once a day with mild baby shampoo, and loosening the scales with a small soft-bristled brush before rinsing the shampoo.
Third nipple
Some parents are shocked to see their baby has a third nipple. But according to the NIH, they're actually fairly common. Small and not well formed, a third (and perhaps more) nipples can be seen below the regular two.
The NIH's Web site says no treatment is needed, and no need to worry -- the extra nipples will not develop into breasts at puberty.
So if your baby has one of these conditions and you're still worried -- even though you realize that it's probably not a big deal, call your pediatrician, advises Jana. "To be respectful, don't call at 2 in the morning. But you should call," she says.
Jana says it's normal to still be concerned after your doctor has said everything's OK.
Sharon Roth was so worried about her son Peter's huge belly button when she took him home from the hospital that she e-mailed a photo of it to her pediatrician, Dr. Lance Goodman, who was on vacation in Europe.
"He e-mailed me back saying it was fine, and I felt better," says Roth, who lives in Boca Raton, Florida.
Peter is now 6 weeks old, and even though Goodman has reassured her many times, she still feels uneasy about his belly button, which she says is the size of a large strawberry.
"Dr. Goodman told me it will go away. I hope it's soon," she says.