Babies
Welcome to Babies, Bumps, Mums and Dads, and Nannies and Grandads.
We hope you like our site. Here you will find lots of advice about babies and being a parent: making babies, pregnancy, the birth, and looking after your new baby. There are lots of articles about having a baby, illnesses you should know about, and tips on making life easier for you and your pride and joy. There are tips too on working from home. You don't need telling that having a baby is expensive, especially the first one; so spend your money wisely. Many Mums contribute to the family budget by working at home while their baby is young, we tell you what works and the things that don't. There's also help with choosing a baby name and name meanings - choosing a name for your baby is one of the most important things you will do for your baby other than giving her life itself.
If you are expecting your first baby then your life is going to change in so many ways. Planning ahead will help you ease into your new life, so get reading!
Boy or a Girl?
If you are expecting a baby do you know whether it will be a boy or a girl? If you can work out when baby was conceived then the ancient Chinese may be able to tell you! It's a bit of fun - or is it? Both our kids turned out as predicted, and when we try it on friends they score well above the 50% correct that you would expect! Then find out about the characteristics of babies born under the relevant zodiac sign and Chinese year sign! Don't believe in star signs? Ok, but I bet you can't resist reading about your baby's!
Save Money By Spending Wisely
You don't need telling that having a baby isn't cheap, especially if it is your first. So save money where you can. Household bills for example: do you trust one of those 'price comparison' websites which are really just brokers working on commission? Or do you trust Which? Magazine which is truly unbiased. You can also get a Cashback card that will give you back 5% of all you spend on your shopping at Boots, Mothercare, Sainsbury's and lots of other major stores.
Working From Home
You are going to be home for a while so why not earn some money? Lots of people work from home. We wanted to be there as much as possible while our kids are growing up, so we tried a few ways to earn money. Avon, Kleeneze, stuffing envelopes, you name it! We found them a waste of time. Then we found one that did work and we have given up our 'proper' jobs! No more commuting, whoopee!
Baby Names
Need help choosing a name for baby? We have lots of articles that we hope are both amusing and helpful. It is said that a name is the most important thing you will give your baby apart from life itself, so take your time before you make up your mind. Do you go for a traditional name? Or do you want to be different? Read about the pros and cons.
Latest News
Sex every day keeps sperm healthy
Scientists in Australia have found that daily sex is good for a man's testicles and is recommended for couples wanting a baby. Regular sex clears the sperm from a man's testicles and prevents the build-up of DNA damage. So go on, force yourself! But don't get too carried away as sex more than once a day risks a man's sperm count falling to a low level.
Pregnant women can now hold a model of their unborn baby thanks to an invention that uses data from MRI scans and ultrasound. Jorge Lopes, a Brazilian designer, uses 3-D printing technology to create the plaster models, which go on show from today at an exhibition at the Royal College of Art in London.
The invention has already attracted the attention of medical experts. “For doctors this is a fantastic development and it is absolutely unique,” said Stuart Campbell, head of obstetrics and gynaecology at King’s College London and a pioneer of the use of ultrasound diagnosis in the 1980s.
Professor Campbell is keen to use the technology as an educational tool for expectant parents and to help mothers who have difficulty bonding with their babies. It could also allow parents better to understand physical abnormalities that are diagnosed during pregnancy.
Fall in Number of Stillborn Babies
A "substantial" fall in the number of stillborn babies has been revealed in a new report. The rate has dropped significantly since 2002 when 5.7 babies in every 1,000 were stillborn. The figure in 2007 was 5.2 per 1,000. Most parts of the UK are also experiencing the lowest death rate for babies in the first month of life since 2000 at 3.3 per 1,000 births.
There is a significant difference in the age ranges. Women over 40 are at most risk of having stillborn babies, whilst younger women aged under 20 had the highest number of babies who died during the first month. The 'safest' age to have a baby is 30-34.
