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Thursday, 14 August 2008 18:00 |
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In anticipation of the arrival of a new baby typically friend
will have a baby shower for the expecting mother. This is a
special celebration of motherhood that is typically held around
three months before the baby is due. However now and days some
people are even having baby showers after the baby is born.
There are benefits either way.
It is customary for guests to bring some type of gift to the
baby shower. These typically are something for the mother or
baby. Picking these gifts can be a lot of fun for guests. It can
be a real joy to think about the future baby and his/her mother
and things they might like. Shopping for toys, diapers, bottles
or other such baby items can be enjoyable.
However picking just the right gift can be difficult also. You
want to find something that the mother too be or baby will use
and something that they do not already have. This can pose a
difficult problem. Here are some suggestions to picking the
perfect baby shower gift. Tip #1 Buy something practical -Things
that the all babies use frequently can be very practical and
ensure that what you buy is useful. Things like baby ointments,
baby lotions, diapers, wipes, baby power, and other stuff. By
placing these all in a cute basket it will scream baby shower
gift! Buying a baby shower gift this way you can be sure that it
will be put to good use. All babies need diapers and they go
through them at an amazing rate. In fact this can be a huge
expense for the new family. By buying useful objects like
diapers, ointments and other functional products you will help
defray some of the cost and the parents will think of you every
time they change a diaper.
Tip #2 Buy something that is fun for the baby - Another fun tip
and easy gift is to buy something that is fun for the baby like
a toy. Today they have tons of great toys that vibrate, play
music, and have colorful lights. These are all great toys and
very helpful for the babies brain development. The more babbies
explore and play the faster their brain connections develop. So
not only will you be giving a fun gift you will be helping the
child develop their brains. Things like swings, bouncy seats,
high chairs, rockers or small soft play toys can all be great
gift ideas. Tip #3 Buy some clothes - This one can be a very fun
gift. It is hard for anyone to resist the cute little clothes
that babies wear. Just imagining those small feet, hands and
body filling the tiny clothes can be a joy in itself. When
buying clothes it is better to stay with pretty practical things
to ensure that the baby will get to wear it a few times. Things
that need to be dry-cleaned, ironed, or etc probably will not
ever be worn by the bay because of the extra time and effort
required by the mother to use these clothes. Also buying clothes
in medium sizes or a variety of different sizes. Typically a
family will get tons of clothes that are for newborns. That is
what everyone like to buy as they imagine the baby. However to
be unique and provide something that is useful at the same time
buying clothes that are 3 to 6 or 6 to 9 months can be fun for
the parents and make for a unique gift.
Tip #3 Buy something that is practical for mom - Buying gifts
for the future mom can also be a lot of fun and very practical
and something you can be sure they will use. Things like a
diaper trashcan that keeps the smell of dirty diapers down, a
sling to carry the baby, or a diaper bag can all be helpful. The
mom to be has the hardest job of all. She will be getting up at
all hours of the night to feed and comfort the baby along with
being overwhelmed at having to take care of a brand new life.
Giving some gift that can help make her life easier is often
very appreciated. Tip# 4 Buy something just for mom - Yes a baby
shower is supposed to technically be for the baby. However moms
are often nervous about the new life that will be coming to them
and also can feel very exhausted from both the pregnancy and the
delivery of a new baby. Buying a gift for her can be something
that gives her a little boost. Things that will make mom"s life
a little easier are always appreciated. A gift certificate to a
local mall so mom can get away for a break and do a little fun
shopping is often very appreciated. Other options for mom might
include gift certificates for food, especially from places that
deliver will typically be used. Even cooking a dinner for the
future parents can be incredibly helpful. Also to unwind a
subscription to a magazine can be a nice gift for a mom.
By following these tips you can find a fun gift that will
celebrate the mom to be and the baby that is on it"s way into
the family. This can be a very fun time and while shopping for
such gifts can be difficult at times if you go early and think
about the suggestions above and just have fun and find what you
like the gift is sure to be something that the mother and baby
will be happy to receive and use frequently.
Remember that a baby shower is a special time for the parents,
mother and baby to be welcomed into the world. It is a great
chance to boost the mother to be and prepare her for the hard
work of being a mother. It is also a wonderful chance to
celebrate the birth of a new life. Babies are so cute this can
be a fun time for everyone. To ensure that you get the right
baby shower gift take your time, relax and follow some of the
suggestions above.
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Monday, 11 August 2008 16:01 |
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Nothing reflects changing times and changing cultures more
accurately than popular baby names. For example, in 2004, the
name "Mohammed" entered the top 20 list of popular baby boy
names in England and Wales for the first time. This shows the
rapid growth of the Muslim community in the UK over the past
generation.
The changes in popular baby names
This is quite a radical change and if we look at the most
popular baby names in the UK over the last century there are
other major changes. Compare the 2 following lists:
Popular baby boy names - 1904:
1. William, 2. John, 3. George, 4. Thomas, 5. Arthur.
Popular baby boy names - 2004:
1. Jack, 2. Joshua, 3. Thomas, 4. James, 5. Daniel.
As we can see, the only name that has stayed in the in the top 5
over the last 100 years is "Thomas". At the same time, the name
"Arthur" has completely disappeared from the top 100 list.
If we look at the lists of popular baby girl names, the changes
are even more spectacular:
Popular baby girl names - 1904:
1. Mary, 2. Florence, 3. Doris, 4. Edith, 5. Dorothy.
Popular baby girl names - 2004:
2. Emily, 2. Ellie, 3. Jessica, 4. Sophie, 5. Chloe.
Anyone know any girl under the age of 10 with the names Doris or
Dorothy?
Parents tend to be a lot more adventurous when naming their baby
girls, which is why the girls" lists tend to show much more
variety and individual baby girl names move up and down the list
more frequently. Popular baby girl names are perhaps the best
indicator of popular culture, for instance, the UK"s 2005 list
has seen the name "Keira" rise 13 places to 38, and the name
"Scarlett" jump 25 places to 47 - based on the popularity of
Hollywood actresses, respectively Keira Knightley and Scarlett
Johansson.
The difference in boys and girls is even more obvious when you
look at the very top of the list of popular baby names; "Jack"
has been the most popular baby boy name in the UK for the last
11 years, whereas the most popular baby girl name has changed
from "Chloe" to "Emily" to "Jessica" between 2001 and 2005.
Popular baby names - the US experience
Interestingly, in 2004, the most popular baby girl name in the
US was exactly the same as in the UK - "Emily". However, only
one other name (Olivia) appeared on both lists. The more
consistent approach to naming baby boys is again confirmed - 4
boys names appear on both lists (Joshua, Daniel, William and
Joseph). Of these, "Joshua" is the highest placed on both lists
- number 2 on the UK list and number 3 on the US list.
Amazingly, if we go back 100 years, we see the same patterns.
Once again, the most popular baby girl name in 1904 is exactly
the same in both countries (Mary), with few other similarities.
However, 3 of the top 4 baby boy names are the same (William,
John, George) with "William and "George" being the top 2 on both
lists, just in a different order.
The differences between baby boy naming and baby girl naming is
even more obvious in the US - 7 of the top 10 most popular baby
boy names in 2004 were biblical names, including the top 4 -
"Jacob", "Michael", "Joshua" and "Matthew". Only one girl"s name
(Hannah) in the top 10 has a biblical connection.
In fact "Michael" - my own name - provides a great insight into
both the changing times and the more conservative baby boy
naming attitudes in the US:
* During the 1910s it appeared in the decade"s list of most
popular baby names at position 436.
* Over the 1920s, it rose to position 52.
* Over the 1940s it entered the top 10 at position number 9.
* Over the 1960s, it became the most popular baby boy name
* It remained in the number 1 position during the 1960s, 70s,
80s and 90s - 40 years at the top!
* Since the beginning of the new decade (2000s) it has fallen
slightly to position 2.
Mighty "Mo"
But what"s the latest on "Mohammed"? Well, having reached
position 20 in the UK 2004, it actually dropped to position 23
in 2005. Hmmm...was 2004 just an unusual year? Well, no not
really - if you look further down the 2005 list you will also
see "Muhammad" at position 56 and "Mohammad" at position 70.
"Mighty Mo" is on the move...
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