Most women should begin getting at least some exercise within six to eight weeks after bringing baby into the world. Of course, you should consult your doctor if you have any conditions which might hinder you from getting exercise, but for most of us, we are ready to start getting into shape by the time baby is two months old.

One of the best ways to give yourself some exercise while also providing a great experience for your baby is taking your baby for a walk. The exercise is great for you, and the fresh air is good for both of you.

One of the first things you should do, preferably before you actually have the baby, is choose a good stroller that is comfortable for you. There are many different kinds of strollers, and They’re not exactly one size fits all. Things you should consider when choosing a stroller include where you will be using it (on a sidewalk? In the mall?) and how well it fits your height.

Small umbrella style strollers are great because they store away easily and don’t take up much space. But unless you’re on the shorter side, you don’t want to bend over and push them for any significant amount of time.

Your best bet is to find a stroller with adjustable handles so that you can set them at a comfortable angle. Ideally, you should be able to stand up straight while you are pushing baby’s stroller, rather than having to stoop down or hunch your shoulders.

If you are planning on using your stroller on the sidewalk, it’s best to use a walking or jogging stroller. These strollers are typically larger and have three wheels which resemble bicycle tires. The larger tires allows you to push the stroller over uneven surfaces better without jostling yourself or the baby.

Of course, even with a jogging stroller, you should try to keep to relatively level surfaces. Too much bouncing around isn’t good for you or the baby, especially when you are first starting out and baby is only two or three months old. Try to find a smooth sidewalk. If the sidewalks in your neighborhood aren’t well kept, consider driving to a park and walking there.

One of the nicest things about taking baby for a walk is that it is an activity which can be enjoyed by the whole family. Mom and dad can take turns pushing the stroller. Older kids might even enjoy taking a turn at taking baby for a walk. If you have another toddler, you can always put him in a double stroller with your baby. Or, if you prefer, your older child can walk along with you.

Every baby is different, and that’s no more true in any area than it is to the area of feeding. Nighttime feedings, in particular, can be very different from one child to the next. One baby may want to be fed several times each night, while another may be able to sleep through a good portion of the night without a nighttime feeding after as little as two or three weeks.

By the age of six months or so, most babies will be sleeping at least six hours at a time at night. This gives you both time to recoup and rest. Some babies, however, won’t want to give up that nighttime feeding.

There are a number of possible reasons why your baby might not want to give up nighttime feedings. In some cases, his little tummy just isn’t big enough to hold enough food to get him through. That’s usually not the case when you’re talking about a child of six months of age or older, however.

For older babies, needing a nighttime feeding is more often about being comforted. Your baby needs reassurance at night, and while she may indeed eat during those nighttime waking hours, chances are she would be just fine without eating.

For many babies, it’s simply a matter of waiting until he’s ready to do away with those nighttime feedings. However, if he seems to be hanging on, there are some things you can do in order to start breaking him of the habit:

• Start by encouraging your baby to self-soothe. When your baby wakes up crying, give her an extra minute or two to fall back asleep. Some nights she will, most nights she won’t. Give her the time to try, at the very least.
• When you do get up with your baby, don’t immediately rush to feed. Even if he’s acting like he’s hungry, try rocking, holding, snuggling and soothing your baby first. If that doesn’t help, then you can consider feeding.
• Make sure your baby doesn’t go to bed hungry. Feed her about an hour before bed. That will make sure her belly is full, but also give her time to start digesting and to have a bowel movement, if necessary, which can help keep her from waking up.

If there’s one thing that we truly know about babies it is that they like to suck. A baby comforting herself via sucking on her thumb is so common as to be cliché. From the beginning of time, babies have been sucking their thumbs as a means of comfort. It’s normal and natural for babies to do this, and it’s not unusual by any means.

While the thumb has been around for a long time, the pacifier is a relatively new occurrence. Babies can also use a pacifier to help themselves calm down. The modern idea of the pacifier has been around for more than a century, appearing in the early 1900s. Before that, parents would use any number of materials for baby to suck on, including things like cloth and even silver.

For many babies, sucking is comforting. A baby’s instinct is to suckle when he’s hungry, of course, but also when he is tired or when he is stressed. Most infants will fall asleep suckling. When babies get older, sucking can still help to soothe. You can’t and shouldn’t feed a baby every time he tries to suckle, because sometimes he’s not hungry but rather just needs comfort.

Most of the time sucking on a thumb or a pacifier won’t cause any permanent damage. Most dentists believe that there’s no danger to the teeth unless your child is still sucking by the age of four years old or so. If that’s the case, you might think about doing something to break the sucking habit.

Experts aren’t always in agreement about whether sucking a thumb or sucking a pacifier is better for your baby. Chances are pretty good your baby prefers one or the other anyways. While there is some evidence to suggest that thumb suckers may maintain the habit longer than babies that use pacifiers, it isn’t set in stone. There is also some research that suggests a pacifier at nap time may reduce the risk of SIDS, although more research in that area is needed.

If you’re concerned about your baby’s sucking habits, talk to your pediatrician. She may be able to offer some helpful advice.