Useful things for parents to know.

Teething can start from birth up to 21 years (your wisdom teeth). No-one knows why it causes pain but for some babies it can be an absolute misery.

Signs of teething are red cheeks, a slight temperature, pulling at the ears, dribbling, a tendancy to gnaw absolutely anything and often distress. It seems to be worse at night, but if you have suffered from toothache it always seems that way. Here are a few things that may help:

Freeze the corner of a flannel and give it to them to gnaw on.
Gentle massage of the gums helps.
Rocking and comfort will help a distressed baby.
Use infant paracetamol to help relieve discomfort and lower a temperature.
Give them toys they can chew.
Be supportive and patient - not the easiest to do when you've only had a couple of hours sleep, but babies do pick up on stress.

Changing a nappy (UK) or diaper (USA) has to be one of the things about babies that parents hate the most. My husband was a clasic male; if the baby had a wee, fine, but anything else and he backed away in horror! And changing a nappy doesn't come easy; you've got a wiggly baby, bodily fluids that you really don't want to get involved with and the smell.......! Still, it is a part of parenting that we have to face, so here are some of my tips to help ease your way through that nappy change.

Firstly make sure you have everything to hand; wipes (or cloth and water), clean nappy, nappy bag and even clean clothes for you baby.

Your changing station should be comfrtable for you, but at a safe height for the baby. Don't forget even newborns can wriggle and roll.

Remove the nappy, gently. If you're using disposables try folding the rough velcro type strips back onto themselves; this saves them from sticking into your baby.

Watch out! If you've got a boy then they normally like to spray you as soon as their nappy comes off. You can use the dirty nappy to wipe off the worst of the mess, if needed.

Clean your baby thoroughly. I used water and cotton wool when my babies were very young as I found wipes too harsh for their skin. The best way to keep control of your baby during a nappy change is to hold them by their ankles so you can lift their bums up from the dirty nappy. Make sure, if you have a girl, you wipe from front to back.

Make sure they are completely dry. Some parents like to use powder but it is not something I would recommend. Neither of my boys suffered from nappy rash, I just made sure they were always dried very well each time their nappy was changed.

If you need to apply cream to a sore bottom, do so. Check in the creases by the groin as these can become sore if left damp.

Then you need a new nappy. Disposables look difficult and there is a definite knack to them but don't worry. The bit with the tabs goes under the bum, pull the rest of the nappy up between the legs (making sure the picture on the nappy is on the outside!). There should be a visable strip on the front to attach the tabs to. Don't make it too tight, you should be able to get a couple of fingers in the front of the nappy. But make sure it is tight enough so that it wont slip off.

Then make sure you wash your hands!

Nappy changing comes with practice, like most of parenting, and by the time your little one is ready for a potty you should be a dab hand at it.

Like childbirth, breastfeeding is the most natural thing in the world; but, like childbirth, it is not always easy or even possible without help. Today women are encouraged to breastfeed their baby as it gives them a head start with immunities to illness, helps prevent eczema and asthma and creates a bond with the mother. Yet when I was born my mother was considered strange as she wanted to breast feed me and refused bottles.

Some women choose not to breast feed for cosmetic reasons, for financial reasons or for medical reasons. But that is the thing - breast feeding is a choice, and not necessarily the right one for everyone. If you are hoping to breast feed, are currently breastfeeding or even if you are not planning to breast feed I have put up a few pointers that may help you and your decsion.

Firstly get all the advice you can. Ask your midwife, consider La Leche or even courses or groups. Breast feeding can be difficult and painful if done incorrectly.

Make sure it is the right thing for you to do. If you are on medication or taking drugs, if you are suffering from post natal depression, if you are unwell then breast feeding is probably the wrong thing for you. Don't stress if you can't or don't want to breastfeed your baby; as long as it is being fed and looked after that it the most important thing.

Drink lots of fluid. A breast feeding woman needs double the normal amount of water recommended.

There is no proof that you need to avoid certain foods when breastfeeding - babies are breast fed around the country by mothers with varied diets and they have no ill effects.

If you get sore breasts try cabbage leaves - the type that make cup shapes from their leaves. Placing a cold, uncooked cabbage leaf on your breast will help sooth it - yes, it really does work!

When setting yourself up for a feed get everything you need to hand: TV remote, book, water, snack etc. Then settle back and enjoy it. You may find it is the only time you can get off your feet so make the most of it!

Don't let your baby snack. A good feed should last your baby for around two and a half to three hours.

It comes to us all; toilet training, potty training, getting your child out of nappies (diapers), getting your child to stay dry throughout the night. However you phrase it toilet training is a big milestone in a child's (and parent's) life. Whether you look forward in anticipation of ridding your child of nappies, or are dreading the thought of the mess and inconvenience that comes of potty training, how you deal with making the transition from nappies to pants can make all the difference to your child; indeed, if handled incorrectly, toilet training can lead to future toilet problems for your child.

Remember you're not alone - every other parent is going through, or will be going through the same thing as you. And if your child isn't ready then don't force them. Every child develops at a different rate; if your little one isn't quite ready just step back and give them space. You can start as many times as you like, getting the right time is the most important thing of all.

As a mum of two I've had to deal with this problem and thought you might like a few tips that helped me stay sane!

Never attempt to start potty training if you have any other big upheaval coming up in your life - moving house, having another baby, getting married, starting a new job.

Get a potty for the bathroom, and one for the living room - sometimes you child just wont be able to hold on until he gets to the bathroom!

If your child forgets or doesn't make it on time, don't make a big issue of it. The more you get stressed over mess and dirtied clothes, the more your child will become self conscious, leading to problems at a later date.

Try to make it fun. You can put something in the potty, such as Cheerios, for your little boy to aim at! They love being able to 'hit the target'.

Remind them about the toilet, frequently! At this age it is all too easy for your little one to become distracted, only realising they need the toilet when it is too late. Ask before they you out, ask them when you're at the supermarket (or anywhere else with public toilet facilities).

Always keep a spare set of clothes handy for those 'little accidents'!

Your child will be dry during the day quicker than they will during the night. Don't expect miracles.

Boys will take longer to toilet train than girls - they have to learn both standing up and sitting down.

Keep your cool. You will both get there and, like most stages in parenting, you will soon be able to look back on this time and smile - until your next child comes along!

Colic in babies can be distressing for both baby and parent. There seems to be no fast and hard reason for colic to appear; it can come out of the blue at about two weeks of age and can last for up to five months. During this time you will have an often inconsolable child that will cry constantly. It is an exhausting condition for which there is little medical help, and is often overlooked by health professionals. But if you have ever had a child who has suffered from colic you will understand the helplessness and distress a parent will feel.

Here are some signs that your baby has colic:

Distressful crying' with the baby screwing up it's face as though in pain.
Baby will pull it's knees to it's chest.
Baby will frequently pass wind, and will seem relieved by it.

However if your baby is crying and shows signs of illness, is losing weight, stops suckling or has diarrhorea or dry nappies you should contact your health professional for advice.

I found a few ways to help calm my fusyy boys when colic was griping them:
A warm bath soothes an aching belly
Gentle baby massage
Gentle baby exercises
Gentle rocking
Frequent winding.

Not all tips will help your baby, and you may find some that will work that I have not mentioned. However, I would advise that you take a look at this site; the advice that we got certainly helped us:

Baby signing is a way of getting your child to communicate with you from as early as eight months old. At this age your child is beginning to understand words and their meanings but it will still be at least a year before they can begin to make themselves understood. The frustration a child feels when they have to repeat themselves and stumble over pronounciation often comes out as tantrums and can lead a developing child to hide their anguish in silence.

Baby signing runs on the same principle as signing for the deaf; hand gestures and expressions making up words and often sentences. You could use your own form of baby sign but I would advise that you stick with a recognised form such as Makaton or ASL; you wouldn't want to see that the word you've been teaching for Mummy actually means toilet!

Signing with your child won't come immediately, but you will be surprised at how quickly they will pick it up, and even begin to overtake you in the knowledge. But once learnt, signing becomes an invaluable tool in your child's future; it has been linked with an increase in understanding mathematics and language in children. Not only that but you will have at least an extra year of communicating with your child, and an extra chance to bond with your loved one.