Increase your chances of having a baby

When you have decided you want a baby, get your body ready:

* Take folic acid in supplement form, 400mcg a day, or it can be found in some foods like cornflakes.

* Cut down on your caffeine intake.

* If you've come off the pill, there's some dispute about how long you should wait before trying to conceive, but it's probably best to wait 2-3 months.

* The man should take zinc supplements to increase the strength and numbers of his sperm

* He should also increase his vitamin D intake - drink milk.

* Cut down on alcohol. Even 2 pints per day will, on average, reduce your baby's weight by 6.5 ozs.

* Stop smoking. Just one more reason to do so!

* Keep the sperm cool - ideally 2-3? cooler than the rest of the body. Avoid tight underwear and tight jeans. Try boxer shorts, they may not be the latest in designer chic, but they help the testicles to stay away from the body and stay cooler.

Have sex at the right time..

.. and frequently. To stand a chance of conceiving, live sperm has to fertilise an egg at the time of ovulation - usually around day 14 of your period. Sperm will usually live for 3 days so will hang around waiting and your timing doesn't have to be exact. You can get ovulation predictor kits from your chemist.

What's The Best Position?

It doesn't really matter, although with the woman on top you may be reducing your chances of conceiving.

Be Patient

You can be doing everything right but you won't necessarily conceive in the first month. In fact you probably won't. Success is closely related to age:

* Women aged 20-25 have a 1 in 4 chance of conceiving,

* With women aged 30-35 the chance drops to 1 in 7, and the success rate falls as they get older.

On average it will take a couple in their early to mid-twenties five cycles to conceive, and a couple in their early thirties ten cycles. One in ten couples have to wait more than a year before they succeed.

What If It's Not Working?

If you have been trying for a baby without success:

* Keep a temperature chart. After ovulation the woman's body temperature rises by about 0.2?C and maintains this higher temperature until her next period. By measuring temperature as soon as you wake and entering the reading on a chart, you can see when you ovulate. Ideally you want to have sex just before then. You can't turn the clock back of course, but the chart will tell you whether you ovulate at the same time each month and, if so, you can plan for the following month. The temperature rise is small and you may feel more confident with an ovulation kit available from your chemist.

* try to lower your stress levels. Stress can affect either partner and may reduce your chances of conceiving. Try to have a few days away from work just before ovulation is due.

* if you have been unsuccessful for a year or more it is worth talking to your physician.

Choose a great baby shower theme

Though a theme isn’t necessary for a successful baby shower, it can be a great way to pull a baby shower together. Unsure of what games you should play? Can’t choose between different food spreads? Pick a baby shower theme and all of these aspects of the baby shower will become clear. Here are just a few to choose from.

Hollywood Themed Baby Shower

Your invitations can look like movie tickets. Your games can focus on celebrity and movie trivia. You can even ask your guests to dress up as movie stars, if you like! And of course, hot dogs and popcorn are one choice for your guests or you could go the opposite direction with fare that a healthy minded Hollywood mom would love.

Tea Time Baby Shower

If you’re having a ‘girls only’ baby shower, a fun way to celebrate the new little one is to host an afternoon tea. Decorations need be no more than what your living room already holds or you may opt for a tea house instead. Food can include finger sandwiches, scones, jam, and of course, a variety of tea for each of your guests to choose from. Accentuating the Victorian aspect of a traditional tea is another option as is heading to the other side of the world for a traditional Japanese tea theme for your baby shower.

Stock The Shelves Baby Shower

All new moms will need baby food, diapers, wipes, bath supplies, formula or bottles – and lots of them. Pick one of these as your theme and ask everyone to bring one as their gift or, if it’s a small item, in addition to their gift to the baby shower. Make sure to specify brand or style if the new mom has a preference, especially with formula. If you choose diapers, designate different guests to bring different sizes. The little one won’t be little for long!

Time To Take Care of Mommy Baby Shower

The last thing a new mother wants to do is worry about the basics after she brings home her newborn. Ask everyone to bring something to the baby shower that will help Mom in the tough weeks following the birth. Some ideas include: frozen casseroles, gift certificates for maid services or offering of your own cleaning or babysitting services. Mom won’t feel like socializing, nor will she likely be comfortable giving up her new addition for a whole night out, but if you come over regularly so that she can shower and nap - that is a gift worth more than gold.

Tips on buying baby slings and baby carriers

The baby sling has been used for centuries, and has recently gained great favor among modern mothers. It's felt that a small infant has more privacy with a sling (Actress Keri Russell says her sling is her baby's "paparazzi shield"!), and it's especially useful for nursing mothers.

There are several important things to consider when choosing a sling or front carrier. First, check the sling to see what size / weight it is rated for. Is the sling padded? Padding is excellent for protecting toddler's sensitive legs. When debating between baby carriers and baby slings, keep in mind that front carriers are designed for infants from 8 to 25 pounds, while baby slings can be used for preemies all the way up to toddlers at 35 pounds.

For soft carriers, make sure that it's washable and has adjustable straps. This allows you to keep the same great fit as your baby grows. Your baby should fit snugly, and have good head support, and their weight should be evenly distributed. Only use a carrier to move the baby about when you are walking. Never use it to transport the baby on a bike, in a car, or any other means of transportation. Check the carrier from time to time for any damage: things like a ripped seam, a missing or loose snap or strap, or a place where the fabric has worn through and a sharp edge is protruding.

Some car seats convert to lift-out-and-carry baby carriers. While these can be heavy and bulky, some mothers prefer them to traditional carriers. Many are designed to snap into a car seat base, or into a stroller. Only use those types of models together. Never take a base from one model (maybe that someone has given you) and try to rig up something to hold your carrier in it. In an accident, the carrier will break free, and your baby will become a projectile! If you own a new car, never put your baby's carrier / car seat in the front. In the event of an accident, the airbags could cause serious injury to your child.

In the case of a backpack carrier, consider getting one that can be worn on your back, side or front. It gives you more options depending on the age and temperament of your child. Some carriers provide a sun shield (which doubles as a rain guard) as an added bonus. Remember, the heat of the sun is much more damaging to an infant's head than an adult's. You want your baby's weight evenly distributed, so get a backpack carrier that's adjustable. Make sure the fabric is washable, and easy to remove; filthy cloth is a breeding ground for germs. Follow these tips, and your baby will stay safe and healthy and so will you.