Baby Birth Announcements

[ Tips for keeping your baby’s brain active! - admin]

by: Ishi Bansal

Have you ever wondered why toys for babies tend to have so many bells, whistles and lights? Or why they have so many different textures, and materials and colors?

It’s almost as if we want to provide young babies with a whole world of stimulation and we can’t quite get it to them fast enough.

Play gyms or activity gyms as they are sometimes called tend to be a firm favorite with babies from newborn up to about 12 months. These play gyms and activity nests mostly come in the form of comfortable, quilted or softly padded playmats, sometimes raised at the edges with a space in the middle for baby (like a ring doughnut).

And these play gyms can be either brightly colored or in soft, pastel shades.

But don’t be fooled by thinking they are just snug and comfy resting places for babies to fall asleep in!

These activity gyms can provide a plethora of visual, audio and tactile stimulation for fast developing young inquisitive minds.

Often decorated with well known and lovable characters, Winnie-the-Pooh, Tigger, Eyore, or farm and zoo animals as well, they can consist of detachable, hanging parts for small babies to try to grasp. They tend to have parts that are crinkly, soft, scrunchy

textures for baby to touch, squeeze and stroke. Some come with bright twinkling lights and bells and others make funny sounds, or musical sounds, and some even do both.

You will often find mirrors attached to these activity gyms, so that your baby gets to find and see its own reflection, often providing hours of fun for babies and carers alike. All of this is extremely important for developing young minds.

Babies are like a sponge, they are ready to absorb whatever information they can - and boy - they can’t grasp it fast enough!

A lot of new research points to the first three years of life as being critical to a baby’s developing brain. It is a known fact that during this period, not only does the brain triple in weight but it also establishes thousands of billions of nerve connections. Astonishingly, at the age of three, a young child has twice as many nerve connections as many adults. Therefore, in your role as a parent, or primary care giver, it is of paramount importance that you recognize this and understand just how much development is taking place inside your young baby’s brain from birth until the age of three.

At birth, children have most of the neurons (brain cells) they need for a lifetime however, these brain cells are not yet linked (or “wired”) together to form the complex networks that are required for mature thought processes to take place. And what happens is that in the early years, young children’s brain cells form these connections, or synapses as they are commonly called, very very rapidly.

One of the crucial ingredients to aiding these connections to form, is experience, and repetition.

In a word, the more times you repeat something new, like showing a baby how to scrunch up a ball, the quicker these connections are formed. Therefore, it naturally follows that the more positive interaction you give an infant or toddler, the more you are helping to stimulate young brains. This stimulation causes new connections to form neural pathways and strengthens existing ones.

Playing with activity gyms, with all the bells and whistles that they offer or reading to a child, anything which allows a child to have positive, interactive processes, will aid your child’s brain development.

So, as you lovingly sit and watch your young baby laughing and gurgling on the play mat or under the activity gym - do not underestimate the power of the changes taking place in the brain, all enriching an inquisitive mind and arming it with a plethora of knowledge and understanding for years to come.

About The Author

Ishi Bansal is a mother of two and webmaster of 1st Toys Online which can be found at http://www.1st-toys-online.com

Copyright 1st-Toys-Online.com 2005

[ Cool nursery room tips. - admin ]

by: Alli Ross

Decorating a nursery for your new baby can be a fun and exciting experience. It will be the first place for your baby to dream, to experience, and to grow. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Location. Calm surroundings are critical to a newborn’s development. Avoid room’s that are close to a busy street, where there could be more noise. Will the baby’s room be on the same floor as your bedroom ? This makes it more convenient to monitor your baby. However, you can always opt for an audio or video monitor.

Time to decorate! Choosing a particular theme and design for your baby room depends on how much you want to spend, how much space you have, and whether it’s a boy or a girl. To be safe, you can always go for gender-neutral colors such as greens, purples, and reds.

Choosing a theme. Now it’s time to let your imagination run wild. To get some ideas, visit a few baby stores and check out different styles. They may even have example rooms set up that you can check out. Take a look at the following nursery themes to get a few ideas rolling.

Animals. This motif could include kittens, puppies, farm scenes, or teddy bears. This is a common theme that can easily be found in stores. You could purchase everything from the sheet and comforter set to coordinating wall hangings and wall paper.

Cartoon / TV Characters. The options are numerous here. Winnie the Pooh, Spiderman, Aladdin, Curious George, Bugs Bunny, Snoopy, and Peter Pan are just a few examples.

Noah’s Ark. This a popular theme with plenty of designs to choose from. You can accesorize with animal pictures, a nursery lamp, bedding, and even a rocking chair.

Dolphins or other underwater scenes. This theme will add a cool, refreshing feeling to your new baby room. The cool colors will also be comforting for you baby. For decorating, you could use sea-related wall hangings, sea shells, a border with waves, or even sea horses.

Crayons. Remember how much fun crayons use to be. Introduce your child to a new and creative world with this theme. You could use accents in the shape of hand prints or stencil of your choice. Place these on the walls, window frames, closet door, or even the lamp shade. Looking for the perfect paint. Crayola has come out with paints with their colors made specifically for the baby’s room.

Whichever design you choose, use inexpensive stain-repellant area rugs that can be easily replaced when you want to update the design. You’ll want a room that your child can grow into. The most important thing to keep in mind with choosing a baby room theme is make sure that it is safe and comfortable. From there, the possibilities are endless. Best of luck!

About The Author

GranMamma is the webmaster at the Baby Names Box - http://www.babynamebox.com - Where you can explore over 6,000 baby names and their meanings. Sub-categories include Disney ,J.R. Tolkien names, Fantasy and Folklore names, and many names from the literary classics. Be sure to say hi to GranMamma!

granmamma@babynamebox.com

[ Cute story about the lessons we learn from our kids. - admin]

by: Ieuan Dolby

My kid is only 6months old, yet he has taught me more than I have ever learnt in the last ten years of supposed life’s experience. It is amazing really, that one so young can teach so much, that a ball of squeaking immaturity can give and educate others who are theoretically so much wiser and more learned than an ‘incy’ bit of life that has just popped its head out for a look.

I mean he has taught me nothing startling like quantum physics or rocket science just simple things, an increased awareness of what is around me and a much better understanding of life and how people think and operate as they do! I have over the last twenty years made a career for myself in Marine Engineering, with Diplomas, certificates and degrees falling out of my ears and all backed up by a wealth of hands on experience. But all of this background was so pointless when faced with the pram that we bought!

What is a pram? A pram is a perambulator, a four wheeled vehicle for a baby pushed by one on foot”! Nothing startling there! What my son taught me was that nothing is what it seems in life and that you can have all the certificates in the world but they don’t help with prams! This thing that we purchased was so technologically advanced that it took me three weeks to figure out how to raise the seat! Eiffel and his Tower, Edison and his Light Bulb or even Ferris and his Wheel had nothing on this “Combi” invention! A fully-equipped mean machine, an all-terrain off-the road and all weather state of art vehicular transport that could fold up into handbag dimensions, perform to 80% even with flats on any two of its eight wheels and turn a circle on a dime (for this last action all wheels do have to be at peak performance). It weighed less than two kilos could shrink or expand to suit the size of baby it would carry and it was multi-directional (the baby could be pushed forwards or backwards with the flick of a switch).

After three weeks of trying to assemble the thing I eventually got it in motion. Unfortunately I was so afraid of the thing collapsing with the baby inside that I went out and bought a four wheeled monstrosity that was un-collapsible, omni-directional and could do not much more than be pushed strenuously along the road with a baby inside. It also meant that I didn’t have to carry a puncture repair kit with me!

So however educated and knowledgeable a person is: not all is as straightforward as it seems!

I love my son. He is such a character full of life and energy, full of cheek and smile!

He has taught me that adults are so bogged down with trying to wade through life that we can no longer enjoy that which is around us! We walk around and through daily life with chips, worries and problems weighing us down as if the whole world is resting precariously on our backs. Looking at my son, I realize that what we do in life is crazy; we grow older in a manner that builds problems on top of problems. We are all so desperate to be at the top of the ladder as regards material possessions or status, working harder and harder to earn the money to buy the latest in technological advance, so rushed and harried to get there before the next door neighbor that we forget what life is all about. I buy my son toys, I bought him this all singing, all dancing red thing that had mirrors and handles and all sorts of jingling things on it. The lady in the shop told me that it was the most popular toy they had in stock and that it would keep the baby occupied for hours. When I gave it to my son he looked at it with immediate wonderment, picked it up and neatly dropped it over the side of his cot! He is only six months old for ……..sake! Anyway, he dropped it, thus discarding this ultra modern toy from his life and since then he has neither looked at it nor even acknowledged its presence. He loves the remote control though, even better he loves this tiny little one-dollar squeaky toy that looks like a pregnant hippopotamus!

My son taught me that it is only our own fault that we live the way we do, burdened and weighted down. So much pleasure can be gained from so little, yet as adults we want so much more yet never quite reach a degree of satisfaction or happiness that can be maintained for longer than a day!

My son also taught me that he can fill a nappy faster than I can recover from changing the last one, babies really control their parents rather than us controlling them and screaming is the closest emotion to laughing hysterically!

My son also told me to love unhindered and without thought or care for anything else in the world.

Thanks for everything but the pram son!

About The Author

Ieuan Dolby - Author and Webmaster of Seamania. As a Chief Engineer in the Merchant Navy he has sailed the world for fifteen years. Now living in Taiwan he writes about cultures across the globe and life as he sees it.

seadolby.com

ieuandolby@seadolby.com

by: Leroy Chan

Remember how miserable you felt when you last had a cold? Can you imagine what your baby must feel when he experiences a cold for the first time?

Viruses are responsible for causing colds. Infected people spread the viruses when they sneeze or cough nearby healthy people. The virus gets into the nose and throat where it multiplies.

What Are The Symptoms?

When your baby has a cold, there will be a number of symptoms. He will be sneezing and have a runny nose. He may have a sore throat and it may be difficult for him to swallow. His glands may become swollen.

He may not feel like eating much and he could become irritable. A cough may develop. He may get a slight fever or have a body temperature of 101 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit.

When to Seek Medical Advice

If your baby is three months old or less and has cold like symptoms, you should contact a pediatrician immediately. Cold like symptoms in a baby three months old or less are misleading and could lead to a serious ailment.

On the other hand, if your child is more than three months old you should contact a doctor if you notice that he is breathing loudly and his nostrils expand out with each breath. His nails or lips are becoming blue. His mucus is thick, runny and green. He has a cough that hasn’t gone a way for more than a week. His ears ache. His temperature is more than 102 degrees Fahrenheit. He has become more drowsy or grouchy.

How to Care For Your Baby

Medical experts tell us there is no cure for the common cold. However, there are ways to alleviate the miserable symptoms your baby undergoes.

Make sure he gets plenty of rest and extra fluids. If he has a fever, give him acetaminophen or if he’s older that six months he may take ibuprofen (but don’t give it to your baby if he is dehydrated or continuously vomiting).

If your child has a cough and is under three years old, don’t give him a cough suppressing medicine unless it was prescribed by a pediatrician. Coughing rids the lower respiratory tract of mucus.

If your baby has nasal congestion, you can use a rubber suction bulb to draw out the mucus from his nostrils. If the mucus is too thick, you can apply saline nose drops to soften the mucus before extracting with the bulb. A humidifier can also be used in the baby’s room to help liquefy the nasal secretions.

Concluding Thoughts

The best way for your baby to avoid a cold is to not have him near people who are infected. But if your baby gets a cold, the best thing you can do is make it comfortable for him. Soon his cold symptoms will disappear and he’ll be back to health, that is, until the next episode. But by now you’ll be ready for that, won’t you?

To learn more about newborns and what you can expect during your baby’s first year visit: http://www.firstyearbabyadvice.com

Copyright © 2005 by NetEzShop - All Rights Reserved.

About The Author

Leroy Chan, San Francisco, California, United States
http://www.firstyearbabyadvice.com/
Leroy has built and maintained several web sites since 1997. He just became a dad and is looking forward to raising his newborn son.
articles@firstyearbabyadvice.com

by: Criss White

A person’s name is something they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. Selecting a baby’s name is an important, but often difficult decision for many parents. Follow our guide for a simple process in selecting your baby’s name.

Most people have some ideas for good baby names and have thought about it on and off throughout their entire lives. Remember that the other parent and people around you will also have opinions about baby names, so sometimes it is a good idea to consider these opinions. If by some chance you do not have enough ideas for baby names, then search the internet for a baby name directory.

Remember that your new child will be stuck with whatever name you give him or her for the rest of their lives. Common names are “normal” and “safe”, but sometimes easily forgotten, especially when you meet a lot of people all at once. Unusual names are hard to remember at first, but once remembered usually stick to memory much better. You may want to choose a name that is easily pronounced from the spelling. When trying to pick a name, decide whether you want the child to have a common name or an unusual name.

If you want a not too common name that is easy to remember, try to think of names of people that you have never met before. For example, I’ve never personally met anyone named Darien, so perhaps that name is not too common. Although this method is far from scientific, it is a good way to brainstorm.

Want to avoid common names? Check out the following website that allows you the search for the most common names by year:
http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/

Once you have a list of names, you can move onto the second step in the process - picking the best name for the baby. It should be noted that in most cases, the two people who have authority of a new baby’s name are the mother and father. The opinions of friends, family members, and other associates can be taken into account as well, but ultimately the parents should make the final decision. The name should be one that both the mother and father like. Here are some methods for selecting a baby’s name:

1) The most obvious way to select a name is to just have both parents talk about it until they reach a decision. Most parents can come to agreements this way, although others may be more fixated on their own name choices. If selecting a baby name becomes difficult, try the methods below.

2) The father picks a boy name and the mother picks a girl name before the gender of the child is known (or vice versa). If either parent does not like a name, they can veto the name. For example, if the father picks “John” for the boy’s name and the mother does not like it, she can veto. The father then has to pick another name. This process continues until both parents pick names that are mutually acceptable. This method works best for parents that are not too picky about names. Otherwise, the process could last a long time.

3) If you want to involve friends and family, what you will need to do is make a list of names. Choose the names that you are most passionate about and make the list as concise as possible. Have friends and family rate the names on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being best (or rank them from favorite to least favorite). The parents can easily print out these surveys on paper or send the by email. Total up the scores and see what people around you think.

The reach a decision, parents must agree on a process and then follow it. In summary, following these simple steps can take the stress and difficulty out of selecting a baby’s name.

About The Author

Criss White is a professional web writer on baby and new mother topics for baby and pregnancy websites. For baby shower supplies, information, and more baby related articles by this author, visit My Baby Shower Favors (www.mybabyshowerfavors.com).

Note: If you find this article useful, you may reprint it on your website, e-zine, or in your newsletter as long as the credits above remain in tact and the hyperlinks stay active.

by: Cathy Cripps

Although the exact history of baby showers is unknown, what we do know is that they are all special and the ideal way to celebrate new life. Historians have not been able to pinpoint the exact beginning of this custom but evidence has been discovered that leads us to believe that some type of baby shower took place in many ancient cultures to include the Roman and Egyptian eras.

During this time, newborn babies and the parents were presented with various types of handmade gifts. Even though we find “baby showers” occurring centuries ago, the baby shower that we know today was not popular until the end of World War II. Modern day baby showers are a wonderful time for family and friends to gather in celebration of new life.

In addition, baby showers are the ideal opportunity for the parents to be given much-needed support. After all, they have just been through an emotional and physical adventure and need to know friends and family are rallying around them. Then, there is the exciting part of the shower in which the new baby is shown off and gifts are received.

For many couples, money is tight so the baby shower is perfect for receiving baby-clothing, things for the nursery, and items such as diapers, bottles, bibs, and so on. When the popularity of baby showers increased after the war, they were traditionally given just for the mother and her newborn but not until after the baby was born.

The guests would include both sets of mothers and other close female family members and friends. However, with time this tradition changed to include the expectant father, his father, the expectant mother’s father, along with other male family members and friends. As mentioned, baby showers were originally, planned for after the birth of the baby but that too has changed.

You will now find that many showers take place prior to the baby being born for two reasons. First, because of modern technology, many couples are now choosing to know the gender of the baby before he or she is born. Therefore, the gender can be announced and gifts purchased accordingly, which eliminates any guesswork. Second, many of the baby clothes and other items commonly bought are unisex, working beautifully for both male and female so the gender does not matter.

About The Author

Cathy Cripps
Author of baby Shower Moments A to Z
http://www.babyshowermoments.com
cathy@babyshowermoments.com

by: Dominic Ferrara

When one talk about shower baby gifts, it is clear they can vary from the very practical to the extremely bizarre. If you have ever been invited to a baby shower, you know that there are two different kinds of presents you can give the new mom: the gifts that impress her and are useless, and the very practical stuff. If you choose the latter is best, as things given are useful and the shower baby gifts are about having a baby. When we speak about useful baby gifts, we refer to casseroles, or anything you can just heat up to prepare dinner, or the book “What to Expect the First Year”, in which the mother can find a lot of useful information. Commonly baby gifts can vary from extremely practical things, like disposable diapers to things that are bizarre such as a grinder for turning steamed veggies into homemade baby food.

It is normal that the preferences both of the mother and of the infant vary greatly, so that what is “essential” for one mother can be completely pointless for another mom. We will give you some examples: Diaper Genie (a fancy diaper pail), baby-wipe warmers, baby washcloths, hooded towels, Boppy pillows and baby swings. Anything that is related to feeding, like bottles, pacifiers, formula or breast-feeding supplies, breast pads, pump, milk storage bags, can be risky as a present, since it’s hard to know what a baby will like.

But here are some baby gifts that will be highly appreciated by any parent: diapers, wipes, burp cloths — quilted cloth diapers are the best, and make great dust cloths down the road, blankets, terrycloth covers for changing-table pads, crib sheets, especially nice flannel or soft jersey cotton. We can add to the list waterproof mattress pad for the crib or practical clothing in larger sizes. A lot of parents said they had too many newborn-sized outfits and too few for 6 months or older babies.

About The Author

Dominic is the author of this article. This article may be reproduced on websites subject to credit being given to the author, and a link to his website. If you would like more information go to http://www.babyshoweridea.info.

by: Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, Ph.D, ND, DACBN

Much to many parents dismay, baby acne is very common. The hormones that are transferred from mother to baby at birth and with breastfeeding can sometimes cause this annoying but painless condition. Baby acne usually appears as small whiteheads on the infant’s cheeks, chin and forehead. It may be present at birth, or it may show up after the baby is a few weeks old. If you think your baby has acne, read on to learn more about this condition and what you can do about it.

What Is Acne?

Acne is usually associated with teenagers, as it is often caused by the sex hormones that are released with puberty. But it can affect babies as well. The scientific name for the condition is acne vulgaris because acne usually strikes in plainly visible locations such as the face, neck, chest and back. It occurs when an oil gland becomes blocked.

As excess oil is not allowed to exit, the gland swells and may even become infected.

Does My Baby Have Acne?

If your baby’s skin is irritated, it could be due to a number of conditions. Baby acne usually occurs on the baby’s cheeks, forehead, chin, and even the back. The pimples are actually small whiteheads that are surrounded by red, irritated and maybe even inflamed skin. Baby acne may become more pronounced when your baby is hot or fussy, or if his skin is irritated. Common irritants include saliva, spit-up milk, soap, and clothing that has been washed in strong chemical detergent.

If your baby has tiny bumps on his face at birth this may also be milia. These little bumps are unrelated to acne and they will disappear on their own within a few weeks. Cradle cap is another condition that may be irritating your baby’s skin. However, this condition looks scalier than acne and it usually occurs at other points on the body like the top of the head and behind the ears. If your baby’s breakout looks more like a rash, it may be eczema.

What Causes Baby Acne?

There are a number of factors that may cause baby acne. As with adolescent acne, the condition can be caused by a skin irritation, certain medications, or by a hormonal change. Contact with an oil substances such as petroleum oil or mineral oil can cause baby acne. And if you are taking certain medications while nursing, or if your baby is taking some medications, this may cause a breakout. The maternal hormones that are passed from you to the baby at the end of the pregnancy could also be the cause of your baby’s acne.

Does Baby Acne Hurt?

More often than not, you will be more affected by your baby’s acne than she is. Baby acne does not itch, sting, or hurt in any way. And she is too young to notice her unsightly appearance. So it is more likely that baby acne will bother you, than your baby. However, with severe cases of baby acne, the blemishes may become so swollen and inflamed that they cause or add to your baby’s fussiness. See your health care provider if you think your baby’s acne is causing her aggravation.

How long Does Baby Acne Last?

Baby acne usually clears up within a few weeks. But it may come and go until your baby is six months old. See your health care professional if your baby’s acne is particularly severe, or if it persists into your child’s toddler years.

How Can I Treat My Baby’s Acne?

Treating baby acne is more about what you should not do rather than what you should do. Do not scrub or vigorously wash your baby’s skin. This will only cause further irritation to the sensitive skin. Wash your baby’s face with water and some mild baby soap once a day. If she has particularly sensitive skin, wash with warm water only.

Avoid putting any creams, lotions or oils on your baby’s skin. These products can also irritate acne. Use a natural fabric detergent that is made for sensitive skin to wash your baby’s clothes.

Can I Cover My Baby’s Acne With Make Up?

While it is possible to reduce the appearance of baby acne with make up, it is not advisable. Your baby’s skin is very sensitive and make up only adds irritation to this sensitive area. However, there may be special occasions when you choose to use make up to conceal your baby’s acne. A photo shoot or special family event may warrant such treatment. Be sure to purchase a organic, chemical free concealer that is made for sensitive skin and use a product that matches your baby’s delicate skin tone.

For more information on acne remedies go to http://www.acne-answers.org.

About The Author

Dr. Group, the founder/CEO and clinical director for the Global Healing Center, heads a research and development team producing advanced, new, natural health protocols and products. To learn more visit http://www.ghchealth.com.

myoung@virante.com

by Randy Wilson

Babys dresser or baby chest of drawers make up the best part of the baby’s nursery furniture collection. They are simple and make the baby’s nursery look really cute. The nursery dressers made of wood should compliment the furniture in the room quite handsomely.

While purchasing baby dressers you need to take care of some basic things. They will definitely help you make the ideal choice:

1. See that the nursery dresser does not have loose pieces of furniture or toxic materials which your baby could chew.

2. Also, though they look decorative and beautiful the designer knobs and handles that go with the wood could be a problem for toddlers who might get themselves hurt. You just have to see that the furniture that you buy is of the right kind and not having any parts that could appear to harm the child.

3. Go for a baby dresser that does not have handles that protrude out. The dressers that have legs that appear to come away from the body of the dresser could at times trip the baby.

4. Go for a baby chest of drawers that could be made of plastic (non toxic ones) or any other safe material.

You can definitely design your nursery by putting in an adequate amount of style and light. Keep an overhead light in a baby’s room. A table lamp will also illuminate the nursery brightly and adequately. Just take care that the cord and see that the lamp is out of the reach of the baby. Choose what kind of light is tolerable and suited to the child without straining its eyes.

Nursery lighting is something which will beautify your nursery dressers, but you shouldn’t use halogen lights. If they are kept upright, there is a chance of them getting toppled or knocked over, which is not good for the child. Again it is a subjective opinion but consider your baby’s safety as important.

I had gone to my friend Nancy’s home where she had just bought a baby dresser that was nothing short of incredible. The baby was smiling sweetly and looked in high spirits. It was as if the baby wanted to be in the nursery dressers. It was as if it was telling me, “Would you like to be as comfy as me?”

Nancy’s baby dressers are made of plastic with a wooden finish or coating. It compliments well with the furniture in Nancy’s room. The light for the nursery is dim, just about the correct range falling over the baby’s crib without looking overtly gaudy. She has made a great choice regarding the baby’s chest of drawers and baby dressers.

© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

About the Author
Randy is owner of How to Plan a Baby Shower where you will find further tips on baby showers and baby shower games. Randy owned and operated a very successful storefront/mailorder business from 1988 to 2003. Currently full time owner/operator of several online businesses.

by Linda Jenkinson

Add a little extra push and a jogging stroller to your exercise regime and you’ll be back in top condition in no time! As well as single seat, many companies also offer double and triple seat models that are great for twins or toddlers. Jogging strollers come in a wide range of prices depending on the brand and the number and types of features of a particular model.

Aside from price, probably the most important feature to consider when comparing jogging strollers is the front wheel size. Although you can run behind any stroller, the small tires of traditional 4-wheel models make even a fast walk into a bumpy ride for baby. Unlike the traditional stroller, the 3-wheel jogging strollers are built to travel over grass, dirt, gravel and other rough terrain. Front wheel sizes range from 20+ inches to a standard 12-inch wheel. Large pneumatic (air-filled) wheels and suspension systems provide a smooth ride whatever the terrain. For joggers who prefer off-road running, many models are available with shock absorbers to add real cushioning to the bumps and dips in your route.

One factor to bear in mind is that typically, the larger wheel types have a wider turning ratio and are less maneuverable than smaller wheeled models. Although larger wheels aren’t great for shopping the aisles in mall stores, they usually mean a smoother ride for baby over rough terrain.

•The larger 20-inch wheels are best for off road exercise and running. In addition to a more comfortable ride for baby, your exercise will feel smoother as you pass over curbs and bumps more easily.

•16-inch wheel models are probably the most popular picks for joggers and power walkers who stick to the trails. Especially important if you’re budget conscious, the smaller front wheel on these mid-sized jogging strollers make them more maneuverable for shopping but still provide baby with a smooth ride at exercise time.

•Even for a stroll through the park, you’ll find that the slender jogger design of 12-inch wheel jogging strollers is superior. For shopping, you’ll be down one aisle and down the next in a flash!
Jogging strollers are also generally built with extra safety precautions for baby. For instance, many have features like a five point harness to keep your little one snug in place, front fenders to deflect dirt away from you and your little one, and adjustable canopies to keep the bright morning sun out of baby’s eyes. Hand brakes, foot brakes, and parking brakes are also standard safety items on many jogging strollers.

Other features of jogging strollers include reclining seats that let baby sleep as fast on a morning run as he or she does during the car ride to your favorite running trail! In addition, some models have cup holders that hold water bottles for both you and baby, parent organizer trays, and pouches or pockets for storage of small items like keys, wallets, or baby toys.

About the Author
Linda is mother and grandmother of two, she is author of the
Baby Strollers Guide and the
Baby Products Guide