Archive

Archive for January, 2009

DNA Testing Has Different Faces

January 30th, 2009
by Patricia Denny

A lot has been made about the different faces of dna testing on television and in the movies, and while the forensics element of the procedure is one of the more valuable advances that the science has made, there are other areas where the results have been able to better the lives of people.

Paternity Testing

This is one of the most common types of dna testing and the variations include in home paternity testing and paternity testing before birth. While these are common procedure presently, they have evolved from earlier forms of techniques. There are various forms of the present day versions that have been designed to accommodate a variety of different needs but the results for court ordered paternity testing have a probability of 99.99% or greater for inclusion of the biological father and probability of 0% of the subject not being the biological father which is a 100% exclusion.

Other DNA Testing Procedures

Of course there are other methods where dna testing procedures are used and these include Infidelity testing. In our modern world the percentage of spouses and people in otherwise committed relationships that cheat on each other is high, and even the suspicion that your significant other might be unfaithful is enough to cause a serious strain on the relationship.

Thats where the science of dna testing comes into play again. Its important to know that traces of any amorous activity can be left on even the most common objects like gum or cigarette butts, and even more damaging traces can be found on things like bed linen and undergarments.

Semen can remain in the vagina for days after intercourse and even last as dried stains for years after contact.

Forensics

One of the more celebrated relatives of the paternity testing procedure is are the forensics variety. These are the varieties that have gained a more international following due to their high profile in crime work and as such, they have been instrumental in changing peoples lives. There are a variety of places where a good sample can be taken and these areas include common object like stamps, a toothbrush and even bed linens.

Its essential that you find the right facility that can deal with all your paternity testing and dna testing needs. For that, youll want to be aware of all the credentials that each place has as well as the paternity testing areas that they are familiar with.

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Bunk beds, best space saver

January 28th, 2009
by John Smith

Majority of times, you will find that bunk beds are mainly used by people who want to save space. Bunk beds are made primarily for that purpose! By stacking two beds on top of each other, you save the amount of space you would have needed for two twin size beds. When added to a children’s room, a bunk bed will give your kids much more room to place in. Believe it or not, many adults have opted for bunk bed when space a little hard to squeeze in. Small apartments and condominiums in big cities will have you scratching your head when you need to fit your king size bed in!

Point being, bunk beds are used for the great purpose of saving space. But, is that the only reason why you should get a bunk bed? No way! Many parents are buying bunk beds for children for the purpose of having a fun bunk bed that their children can enjoy. First of all, not only do bunk beds save you lots of space, but bunk beds can save you money. The cost of a twin over twin bunk bed is roughly $575 for a nice sturdy, quality one. That is two twin size beds for $575. If you separate the two twin bunk beds which are common nowadays, you have two physically separate twin size beds.

One question though, How much is a good single twin size bed you inquire? A lot of that I’ve seen have price tag of roughly $350-$475. You do the sums. For a hundred additional, you can purchase yourself an excellent bunk bed that serves as two twin beds as well. Subsequently, amongst all the marvelous nice-looking bunk beds that are being manufactured these days, people have additional excuse to get a bunk bed adding up thrill and shine to their boring room, bunk beds can add a little class and extravagance to your room that you could have been wanting.

Lastly, even if your children are not in dire need of extra play space, children simply love bunk beds; the bunk bed in itself serves as a play space! Children love sleeping in an elevated bed where they can overlook their domain. You will definitely not have a hard time convincing your children of getting a bunk bed. So with the great reasons you have, why not opt for a bunk bed? You save money, you save space, and you make your children very happy! It is really a win-win situation!

Once you have decided to buy bunk bed for your kids, the big question is to find one at a right price. Nowadays your best bet is to buy online; These online shopping sites are cheap as they have no warehousing cost and cater to large customer base there by saving by purchasing more from the manufacturer, Benefits of which are passed on to the customer. They have wide variety of good quality twin over twin bunk beds like a Cherry – Cinnamon Bunk Bed. Also for all your efforts you will save your time and your money.

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Personalized Baby Gifts

January 15th, 2009

Luxury Baby Gifts – What better way to show how much you love that brand new baby, than buying a luxurious stroller, or baby bedding, or other luxury gift?

There is nothing more special than the birth of a baby and people love personalized gifts. And there are almost endless choices of things that can be personalized. Some companies offer free personalization with the gifts, while others may charge a per line cost. There are even simple ways to personalize some gifts yourself with a simple permanent marker or paint pen.

Here are a few gift ideas that will be sure to be favorites for years to come:

Blankets – baby blankets are something you can never have too many of around. A handmade blanket is a special keepsake, and if it has the baby’s name on it, it’s even more special. It is fairly easy to embroider or use non-toxic fabric paint to put the baby’s name and birth date on a purchased blanket as well.

Clothes and Bibs – a cute top or bib with the baby’s name on it is a nice gift. It also helps with the early questions of “Is it a boy or a girl?”

Piggy Banks – a classic gift for a new baby is a piggy bank. This is a gift that the child will use for years to come.

Picture Frames – picture frames are a nice addition to the nursery, or other rooms of the house and a great way to show off those precious newborn pictures.

Hand and Foot Prints – who wouldn’t love a framed picture of the baby’s foot or hand prints? These make wonderful keepsake gifts for the parents. There are also kits where you can make impressions of the hands and feet in a plaster of Paris plaque.

Dishes – another classic gift idea is a dish, cup and silverware set with the baby’s name printed on the set.

Books – a personalized storybook is a wonderful gift that children will love as they get older. There are several companies that will add your child’s name and some information about the child to make the book a “one of a kind.” Sometimes they can even incorporate a photo of the child in the illustrations.

Decorations – there are many different room decorations, including stools with puzzle letters of the child’s name, wall plaques, and a wide variety of accessories that can be personalized that are also something that will quite often grow with the child.

Baby Gifts

Nestle Baby Formula

January 14th, 2009

Breastfeeding is best for both mom and baby, but sometimes, nursing is just not possible, or it’s not enough.

In those few cases, Nestle baby formula may be what your baby needs.

10 cans of Nestle GOOD START GENTLE PLUS Infant Formula
US $20.00 (0 Bid)
End Date: Sunday Mar-14-2010 19:14:33 PDT
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Parents looking to supplement their breast milk with baby formula will love Nestle Good Start featuring DHA & ARA. The patented two step process found in this baby formula starts with gentle 100% whey protein, the highest quality protein used in infant formula. The gentle whey is then broken down into smaller, easy to digest comfort proteins. Nestle Good Start is iron fortified and provides complete nutrition with levels of protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals recommended for baby’s first year. This baby formula from Nestle will support brain and eye development in baby’s first year. Breast milk is the ideal choice for baby, but a baby formula from Nestle can be a fantastic substitute. Please consult a doctor before using any baby formula.

Good Start Supreme With Iron Powder Infant Formula

Nestle Good Start Natural Cultures Infant Formula with DHA & ARA, Powder, 12-Ounce Can (Pack of 6)

Nestle Good Start Supreme with DHA & ARA – (Case of 6) 12.9 oz cans

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Baby Feeding , , ,

Eight Ways To Name Your Baby

January 14th, 2009

There are simple (but not necessarily easy) ways to choose a name for your baby. There are also complex, involved ways. And there are certainly more than 8 ways that parents have used to decide on a name. If you’ve been at it awhile, you know finding a just-right fit when it comes to choosing a name can be a challenging process. Maybe these suggestions can help sort things out a little.

A NAME YOU’VE ALWAYS LOVED

1. Perhaps you went to school with a Miranda who had a great personality, good looks and was an A student. Since then you’ve never met a Miranda you didn’t like. You like the sound of Miranda. You like the fact that it derives from the Latin mirandus which means “wonderful.” There are no gender issues with the name. It’s exclusively feminine. And you like the way it goes with your last name. No naming book is necessary for you. For your baby girl’s name, it has to be Miranda. So the first way – a simple, no-fuss way – to name a baby is simply to choose a name that appeals to you.

A NAME THAT’S BEEN IN THE FAMILY

2. There’s been a Rodney or a Stan in the family for generations. You’d like to preserve that continuity. Suggestion #2 as a way to name a baby is to choose a family name. Happily, you’re not hampered by a strict protocol for naming your baby, the way it used to be in many cultures. The Scottish naming pattern in the past, for example, meant that the first son was named after his father. The second son after his mother’s father. The first daughter was named for her mother’s mother, and the second daughter named for her father’s mother. Since families were much larger just a few generations ago, naming patterns could be quite elaborate.

A NAME THAT REFLECTS YOUR ROOTS

3. Most of us will automatically consider ethnic names without even realizing it since they are a part of the culture we live in. It’s not likely that a Russian is going to choose a Japanese name and vice versa. Since most of us have ethnic pride and want to connect and preserve our ethnic roots, the names common to our culture are the obvious choice. Just be careful when considering an ethnic name that it compliments the last name. Patrick sounds better with O’Brien than, say, Juan does. How to name a baby suggestion #3 is to explore your ethnic roots. Branch out from your family tree and learn a little history of who your people are and the names they’ve used and loved.

A NAME BY THE NUMBERS

4. If you have a lucky number or believe that the universe is guided by numerical patterns, numerology might be a method to consider in choosing a name. According to this metaphysical science, all numbers have a vibration that indicates our potential attitudes, talents and traits. Numerologists work with a “core” digit by reducing double digits to a single number. So, there are only 9 personality numbers. In one system of numerology, (There are several including the Pythagorean, Chinese and Chaldean system.) for instance, say you like the attributes that are associated with the number 5 which are adventure, excitement and change. You would then calculate the core number of your last name and choose a name that, when combined with the surname, would equal 5. Of course, numerology can be much more elaborate than this, bringing in energy balances, formulas for blending harmonious and disharmonious aspects and Master Numbers that aren’t reduced.

A NAME IN HARMONY WITH THE STARS

5. Do you read your horoscope every day and think there just might be something to the notion that the planets influence our lives? Then consider consulting an astrologer to suggest a name. Or you could choose a name, according to the birthstone, the flower or colors associated with your baby’s birth month. For example, the daisy is associated with the sign of Taurus. Jasmine is associated with Gemini, and the diamond birthstone is associated with Aries. Additionally, archangels are supposedly associated with astrological elements and act as guardians to those born in their assigned month. Their names would also make interesting name choices:

Anael (ah-nay-el) — Libra
Cassiel (kass-ee-ell) — Capricorn
Raphael — Gemini and Virgo
Sachiel (sa-chee-ell) — Sagittarius
Gabriel — Cancer
Samael or Samuel — Aries
Michael — Leo
Uriel — Aquarius
Azrael (AZ-ree-ell) — Scorpio
Auriel — (or-ree-ell) — Taurus
Asariel — (ah-sah-ree-ell) Pisces

A NAME LIKE NO OTHER

6. If you’d like to give your baby the ultimate gift of individuality, you could invent a name. You don’t need to make up a name full of x’s and z’s that sounds like it came from another planet to be creative. Just recombining common syllables can lead to some interesting alternatives. For example, take the syllable “Ca” and combine it with “rinthia” and an unusual, beautiful new name appears, Carinthia. “Ja” + “kira” for Jakira. “Te” and “ger” for Teger. This seems to work better with girls’ name as the naming climate today is generally more tolerant of unusual girls’ name, but boys’ names can benefit from a fresh twist as well. If you do go the creative route, most of the experts warn against just changing or complicating the spelling of a name. After all, whether you spell it Tyson, Tieson or Tisen, it’s the same name.

A NAME THAT HONORS SOMETHING OR SOMEPLACE

7. Honoring a person, a place, or even something intangible that is important to you is another way to choose a name. It could be a place you love, like the ocean or a meadow, or a meaningful city — maybe Odessa, if your great grandparents immigrated from around the Russian Black Sea area. If you visited Chennai in India and found the city uplifting and spiritual, it would be meaningful to you and your child too, once she was old enough to enjoy the story of how her name was chosen. If music is your life, Allegro which means to play a piece briskly and full of energy might be worth considering.

A NAME THAT CONTAINS AN ESSENCE

8. We all can agree that choosing a name carefully is important. After all corporations will spend lots of money and sometimes months or years deciding on a logo or name. A name that sums up exactly the mood and feeling of their image. But, for some, what a name contains goes well beyond image. Nameologists or name “profilers” believe names contain an energetic cache that can affect our finances, our health, our happiness, basically all aspects of our lives. If you believe that subtle energies like sound and vibration are more important than people give them credit for, you might consider consulting a namelogist for help in choosing an “energetically correct” name.

Naming styles change and lots of parents aren’t satisfied sitting down with a name book, starting at A and 140,000 names later, ending with Z. So today’s baby naming books (and websites) have changed too. The up-to-date guides are much more targeted. You can find baby name lists now with names from Shakespeare’s plays, celebrities’ baby names, soap opera names, cowgirl and cowboy names, cool names, names from folklore, mythological names and the names of the saints. With so many things to consider, it’s a good thing pregnancy lasts nine months!

About the Author – L. Duriga is the webmaster at www.traditional-baby-names.com where you’ll find the best-loved, most popular names of all time.

Baby Articles

Quick Stress Relief Tips For Mom

January 14th, 2009

Stress is a part of our lives. It’s unavoidable, no matter whether you are a working parent or not. That just adds another source of stress to what may sometimes seem an unbearable load.

Here are a few quick tips on how to deal with situations that commonly stress us all.

  1. Avoid putting pressure on yourself - Don’t have unreasonable expectations for your life or career. When setting goals, take into account that Man’s best plans can often go awry. Don’t count yourself out as a failure if you’re behind schedule. Remain dedicated to your plans, while remembering that all things take time, and may require adjusting of the outcome or approach.
  2. Organize yourself - Sit down with a notepad and pen, and list all your commitments. Write them into a spreadsheet if necessary. The sheet isn’t big enough? Maybe your load of commitments is. Prioritize the important and essential things in your life, and decide how much of you there is to spread around. And don’t forget to save some for yourself!
  3. Remove yourself from confrontations - Kids or co-workers, the principle is the same. When your stress is at the point where you cannot be coherent, or deal with the other person, no matter how big or small in a reasonable manner, then you need a break to cool off. Explain that to your child, regardless of how young they are. Toddlers will be reassured that you still love them, and older children will gain an appreciation of the stresses of parenting, if you simply say that Mom is tired, and needs to think about this and come back to it when she’s calmer. Deal with co-workers the same way. Just say that while there are a lot of valid points to the discussion, you need time to organize your thoughts and ask for the opportunity to re-visit the subject at a later time.

Tips For Mom

Luxury Baby Strollers, Bedding, Toys and More

January 13th, 2009

Luxury baby gifts for the holidays make memorable gifts. If you are looking for luxury baby gifts for Christmas this is your lucky day.

There are commemorative luxury baby gifts that will brighten baby’s first holiday season. Try a personalized silver picture frame. You will be able to have the baby’s name and date engraved on this luxury baby gift.

Shop for a polar fleece blanket for baby’s first Christmas. These luxury baby gifts keep the tiny ones warm and snuggly throughout the holidays and all winter long.

Music boxes make lovely luxury baby gifts. These music boxes are finely crafted and some are even handmade. You can find these luxury baby gifts that play many different songs and are decorated with really cute animals, storybook characters, and more.

Some luxury baby gifts include baskets with Christmas themes. You may find such luxury baby gifts in these baskets as personalized Christmas ornaments, videos, holiday clothing, blankets, bibs, and toys.

Speaking of toys there are luxury baby gifts that educate and help children learn many things. There are luxury baby gifts like dolls and stuffed animals.

If you are interested in finding luxury baby gifts made from silver you can choose from jewelry, table wear or ornaments. Most of these luxury baby gifts can be engraved which will add a personalized touch to the gift.

You can find luxury baby gifts at retail and specialty shops. You might also want to look in catalogs that feature luxury baby items. For the best choice of luxury baby items you may want to shop online. You will find a stunning array of luxury baby items on the web.

These luxury baby items make fantastic gifts that will be long remembered and appreciated. Give luxury baby gifts to your family and friends and you will be giving the best gifts imaginable.

Craig Thornburrow is an Author and Business Owner. Find all you need to know about Baby Gifts at http://www.FunkyBabyGifts.com

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Baby Gifts

Introducing the New Baby to Your Older Children

January 13th, 2009

Bringing a new baby into the world is a wonderful experience. It can also be trying and difficult if you have other children at home. As you prepare for the birth of your new baby, here are some things you should keep in mind about introducing the new baby.

Equal Treatment - It is hard not to constantly dote on the new baby once you’re home. Be cautious about spending so much time with the new baby that you inadvertently ignore your other children. Try to set aside special time with each child. Talk about their day at school, or extracurricular activities they are involved in. Spend your special time focusing only on that particular child.

Reminisce – Now would be the perfect time to get out the picture albums and baby books from your older children. Set aside a special day just to go through the books. Talk about how you felt when each child was born. Share funny stories with them. Recollecting fond memories will bring your family closer and will show your other children that they are just as special as the newborn.

Get Them Involved – Let your children be involved in the caretaking of your new baby. Give each child a special responsibility. One child might be in charge of gathering the diaper-changing necessities, while another is in charge of warming the bottle. Your older children can take turns feeding the baby. Let your children be involved; however, don’t force them to participate if they don’t want to at first. Sometimes it takes a few days for children to “warm up” to the idea of a new baby being in the house.

Be Patient – Some children don’t take too well to a new sibling but be patient and know that you are doing the right things and that your older child will soon come around. Eventually your children may even be such good friends that you won’t even remember this time.

Family

Avent Isis Breast Pump Review

January 13th, 2009

Product Name: Isis Breast Pump
Submitted by: Lindsay; Averill Park, NY
Rating: 8
Where to buy: Amazon.com

Description: This manual pump is comfortable and easy to use; it is not noisy or expensive. A silicone diaphragm creates a vacuum for reliable suction. The pump is compatible with all Avent bottle systems, making it easy to express milk directly into a bottle.

Review If you want a quiet pump, this is the pump for you. It’s not noisy or expensive and is reasonably comfortable. Easy to assemble and clean and very quick.

The Philips Avent Isis On The Go Set Includes one Avent Isis Manual Breast Pump, two 4-oz AVENT Natural Feeding Bottles, two 9-oz storage containers, eight Ultra Comfort Disposable Breast Pads, one insulated micro fiber tote and two cool packs for breast milk storage

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Breastfeeding, Product Reviews

To the Mom at the Gas Station This Morning

January 13th, 2009

I was parked at the gas pump behind you, minding my own business, filling my tank, probably sharing your annoyance with the escalating gas prices we are all dealing with today. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw you hang up your gas pump, and walk into the gas station. It wasn’t until I heard your baby crying that I gave it a second thought.

Okay, maybe she wasn’t technically a baby. My guess would be about 2.5 years old? Old enough to realize she was alone in your car, and old enough to get herself into trouble.

Not old enough to protect herself from a stranger, or any other dangers that she might encounter.

This is no small gas station. Your car was not parked close to the door, where you could safely watch her out a window, and come to her aid in a matter of seconds. Your car windows were down, where anyone could have reached in, or your child could have possibly even gotten out on her own. Maybe you left the windows down for her because it was hot outside? But by doing so, you left her exposed to other possible dangers.

Although I was already late for work, when I finished pumping my guess, I sat in my car and kept my eye on her until I saw you walking back to your car.

There’s that old saying, “It takes a village to raise a child”. Today, I felt like it was my turn to help with this child, to be part of the “village”, even if it was as subtle as just watching from a distance to ensure her safety for a mere 5 minutes out of my day.

Maybe you were late for work also, and it was quicker for you to run in without having to pull her out of the car to go with you. Maybe you are a stay-at-home mom who is overwhelmed with caring for your children, and walking into a gas station alone is the only break that you can sneak in. Maybe your child was sick, and you didn’t want her to spread her germs to other children. Maybe she had a temper tantrum, and you needed a “time-out” before dealing with her. There are a million other reasons why you might have chosen to do this today, but are any of them important enough to take this kind of risk?

You are not a terrible mother. And I am not judging you. I am just hoping to to get you to think twice before making this choice again. Most likely, you are just like the rest of us – you read about tragedy in the newspaper and see it on the evening news, but you think it will never happen to you or your family.

Unfortunately, it CAN happen to you. It can happen to your own child, your family, your friends, or your neighbors. Please don’t ever again make the assumption that your young child will be safe when you leave her alone, in an open vehicle, with strangers & their cars all around. How would you feel if something did happen? If your car was stolen while your child was in it, would your reason for leaving her in the car be important enough after the fact?

That’s a guilt that no mother should have to live with. Below are some websites that you may want to read today:

- Kids In Cars

- Kids And Cars

You are not alone…. Unfortunately, all kinds of parents do this all the time; yet when discussing this among our peers, nobody admits that they do this. That’s because we know it’s wrong to do.

Watch around you as you go about running your errands, chauffeuring your children around, commuting to and from work….You’ll see it happen, probably quite often. Many times, you’ll even see the parent looking around, with a guilty expression, to make sure nobody is noticing. Yes, we know it’s wrong. But many of us still do it… Children are our most precious cargo, but in an instant, they become an inconvenience that gets left behind in the car to save a few seconds of time.

When you observe another frazzled parent making this same mistake, it will be your turn to step in and provide a watchful eye for a few moments out of your day. You could also print out a few copies of this information sheet to share with other parents.

Together, we can spread the word about the dangers of leaving young children unattended in cars. A gentle reminder might be all that other mom or dad needs today. You may help prevent a future tragedy for an innocent child.

About the Author: Valerie Zilinsky, Roseville, MI US valerie@raisingourkids.com Valerie Zilinsky of Michigan is a mother of four…… two children, the family dog, and her biggest kid of all – her husband. She is also the proud co-owner of both http://www.RaisingOurKids.com and http://www.Mom2MomList.com.

Baby Articles