Have you heard the latest?  Teaching your baby sign language not only has some wonderful benefits, but may even increase your baby’s IQ! Imagine how frustrating it can be for a baby to express his or her feelings without vocalization.  This frustration inevitably leads to crying, and often temper tantrums.  But this can be avoided with some simple sign language shared between you and your baby. Try some basics with your baby.  For “mother,” place your thumb on your chin, leaving your fingers spread wide apart.  If you know the letters in sign language, you can sign “milk” by alternating your hand between the letters “C” and “S.”  But since many of us don’t know sign language, it is often easier to make your own signs. Try some simple words that you think your baby may need to express.  Some examples are milk, more, eat, drink, diaper, hot, cold or tired.  For “eat,” try rubbing your hand in circles on your tummy.  Use your imagination, trying signs that will be easy for your baby to understand and master.  As you offer your baby milk, make the sign for milk while saying the word milk.  Soon your baby will begin to sign back to you. If your daycare is beginning to use sign language, they are probably using a standardized form of American Sign Language.  You can find videos, flash cards and books that will teach you basic baby sign language at book stores or on the internet. Infant sign language is known to reduce baby’s frustration, increase IQ, teach creative thinking and to promote current and future develop of language skills.  And just imagine how you will feel when your baby makes a sign for “nurse” or “milk” before he or she can even speak!

As you may know, morning sickness can be anything from a slight nuisance to something that stops you completely in your tracks.  From lemon juice to potato chips, you have probably heard many homegrown “cures” for morning sickness. The latest buzz from folks we have talked to describe a happy relief from morning sickness in the form of a doctor prescribed concoction.  Our first mom explained her OB/GYN placed her on a regimen of 25 mg Unisom coupled with 25 mg of Vitamin B-6.  Upon hearing this, many more chimed in at the success of this familiar combination. Although Unisom will make you sleepy, most mothers-to-be favored the sleepiness over the nausea – every time.  Of course, you should never take anything while pregnant unless under the watchful eye of a physician. So if morning sickness is bringing you down, talk to your doctor about Unisom and Vitamin B-6.  For additional tips on relieving morning sickness, visit http://www.beginnerbaby.com/morning-sickness.php.