Heather Gibbs Flett - Stuff Every Mom Should Know

Babies dont care where they go, and thats why you should do what you want to do when you have a little one. Get out of the house and introduce your cutie to the world! Daily outings will help you get comfortable with skills like changing a diaper in public, feeding your baby away from your house, and using a car seat and other gear.

Here are five easy activities to do with your baby in tow.

Meet a friend at a caf. Park your stroller next to you and order a hot chocolate to enjoy over conversation. Before you leave, purchase some pastries for that nights dessert.

Go window shopping. Head for a favorite neighborhood or shopping center and get some in-the-field practice using a stroller or soft carrier. If you see a childrens shop, go in and ask whether they have a changing table or nursing chair. That way, youll know where one is when you need it.

See a movie in the theater. The first showing of the day is typically pretty empty, and some theaters even offer special screenings just for moms and babies. Be prepared to feed your baby to keep her occupiedand to step outside should she fuss loudly enough to disturb other patrons.

Visit your partner at work. Youll get a lunch date out of it, and your partner will get a chance to show off your new bundle of joy to colleagues.

Take in a museum exhibition. It doesnt matter if its art, science, or automotive history; your baby just wants to be with you, wherever you go.

Swaddling is like baby origami. The goal is to wrap her up in surroundings so snug and womblike that she cant wake herself up with flailing arms and legs. Yes, she will fight it. But, ultimately, she probably will love it. And you will, too, because when she sleeps, you can sleep.

Take a perfectly square blanket (at least 40 inches on each side) and lay it on a flat surface.

Fold down corner A at the top so that the new edge is a little wider than her shoulders.

Lay her on the blanket with her neck at the crease, her head above it, and her shoulders on the blanket.

Place her right arm comfortably flat against her body. Secure her right arm by tightly wrapping corner B across her torso and tucking it under her left armpit, with the excess fabric secured underneath her body.

Bring corner C upward over her feet.

Swaddling is like baby origami.

Bring corner D across your babys chest. Ensure that her left arm is secure under the fabric. Tuck the excess fabric underneath her.

Voil. You have made a burrito baby. Use this technique at naptime, bedtime, or whenever you want a non-flailing infant to snuggle with.

Note: Swaddling is not recommended for use in car seats or for babies who are advanced enough to roll over.

How to Feed a Baby

Until your baby turns one year old, baby milk (either breast milk or formula) will be the primary source of nutrition and calories. But an all-liquid diet cant last forever.

When to start? Your pediatrician will have specific guidelines about the when and the what, but here is our mom-to-mom guideline on starting solid food: when your baby can sit up independently and starts grabbing for your spoon when you eat.

Yes, runny is considered solid. The funny thing is that solid food is not very solid at all. At best, its a thin runny porridge. Babies need practice and exposure to turn their palates on to more tastes and textures. The important thing to remember is to keep this experience positive. Follow your babys lead on quantity and stop when he seems to have eaten enough. Your first spoon-feeding sessions may last only a few minutes. Think of them as experiments that are as much an opportunity for him to learn to move food from the spoon to the back of his mouth as they are about becoming familiar with new textures.

First foods. One very basic first food is iron-fortified rice cereal. Add breast milk or warmed formula to the cereal, in the ratio of 4 tablespoons of baby milk for 1 tablespoon of cereal. Offer your infant small servingseven as little as 1 to 2 small spoonfuls. Remember, learning to eat takes practice.

Increasing your babys diet. Introduce other solid foods gradually, waiting a few days or a week before trying something new. Make sure your baby is having no adverse or allergic reaction to one food before introducing another. Contact your doctor if diarrhea, vomiting, or a rash develops in response to particular foods. And, no, sticking out his tongue and spitting out the food does not count as an adverse reaction. Thats just poor baby table manners.