Show Mom How (Parenting Magazine): The Handbook for the Brand-New Mom

Moms-to-be or new moms will find humor, help, and inspiration in Show Mom How, a fully illustrated, step-by-step guide to everything a mom needs to know from pregnancy through baby’s first year. Show Mom How brings the parenting expertise of Babytalk magazine to the award-winning Show Me How series—one part how-to guide, one part graphic art showpiece, and one part pure inspiration. From sensible to sweet to downright silly, 166 things every new mother needs to know--one step at a time. In a series of nearly wordless, highly informative step-by-step activities, moms-to-be get the inside scoop on pregnancy and parenting with details on key aspects of new motherhood, including: - Sharing the news of a pregnancy - Decorating the nursery - Swaddling a newborn - Coping with teething - Celebrating a birthday - Inducing labor naturally - Trimming baby's nails - Painting under plastic wrap . . . and much, much more. Presented in a bold new visual style that draws on the best of information technology and graphic-novel communication, Show Mom How brings moms the knowledge they need in a stylish, fun format. Packed with useful hands-on tutorials, Show Mom How is also a parent-tested resource that will prove indispensable in any number of situations, from the bedroom to the kitchen to the playground.

SHOW MOM HOW

SHOW

MOM HOW

THE HANDBOOK FOR THE BRAND-NEW MOM

SARAH HINES STEPHENS

hold a hopi sunrise blessing celebrate an orthodox baptism have a red egg and ginger party perfor m a yoruba blessing stage a hindu naming ritual name baby the egyptian way ready your troops keep visits safe and sweet

introduce baby to your pet make a birth announcement swaddle an infant set up a nursing station breast-feed a newborn position baby for breast-feeding nurse on the go

pump at work

57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64

65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72

nurture

know when you’re ready get ready to get pregnant eat right to conceive follow your fertility get in position to conceive try for a boy

try for a girl understand conception recognize signs of pregnancy share the news

eat right for two soar as a super mom-to-be track baby development read a sonogram manage mor ning sickness minimize swelling ease aches and pains avoid indigestion sleep comfortably stretch out in cat-cow pose flex in cobbler pose feel good in pigeon pose feature your bump keep your bump under wraps make a 40-week plan understand an epidural set up a water birth deliver by cesarean section

have a hypnobirth avoid unwanted touching

do it while pregnant feel sexy in your new shape pamper yourself

mellow out with meditation connect with your unbor n baby read baby’s movements read your bump divine gender celebrate your belly cast your belly prep the nursery stock up for baby tie a no-sew blanket decorate a nursery with stencils baby-proof your home induce labor naturally induce labor with acupressure pack a bag for labor deliver a baby in a taxi bond after birth read newbor n markings dress baby for homecoming hold a new baby stimulate your newbor n heal at home plant a placenta

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56

prepare

baby care

pregnancy

planning

fun and

games

make baby laugh

stimulate early vision

play with your baby

roll up a boo-boo bunny

tackle tummy time

promote sitting up

encourage rolling over

strengthen with elbow stands

support a wheelbar row

make a texture tag blanket

use a texture tag blanket

play hide-and-seek

play peekaboo

play patty-cake

shake things up

move to the music

help baby crawl

encourage walking

spot movement milestones

distract baby at the store entertain baby in an audience keep baby calm in a long line put baby to work at the office make a banana octopus cut a puzzle sandwich engage baby’s senses share a park playdate make messy art make a tiny handprint paint under plastic wrap paint with water sew a cute hooded towel have bathtime fun play itsy-bitsy spider make a baby-sock puppet put on a puppet show read with your baby build language skills

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129

130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148

play

73

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85

86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98

ease engorgement

treat a blocked duct

heal cracked nipples

bottle-feed a baby

war m a bottle

burp a baby

change a diaper

pack a diaper bag

handle diaper disasters

soothe a crying infant

massage a colicky newbor n

cut teething pain

freeze a teething treat

wind down for bedtime troubleshoot sleeping issues fake a clean house

do yoga with your baby gently massage your baby care for the cord sponge-bathe an infant bathe a baby take baby’s temperature trim baby’s nails clean baby’s gums treat cradle cap prevent diaper rash

99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110

soup up your stroller work out in a park blend up mushy food manage mealtime freeze baby food feed finger foods eat out with baby take a car trip stock your trunk for trips travel by air

take care of yourself soothe with aromatherapy

149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166

lear n animal signs take a spring stroll have fun in the summer sun fall into autumn adventure

go for a winter wander make housework fun play airplane bounce baby on your lap build a boxcar build, crash, kick, and roll take great baby pictures capture the moments swing with a retro baby mosh with a punk baby

go green with an eco baby chill out with a hippie baby tur n sleeves into pants celebrate the big one

10

79

Prepare all you want (#25), but as the mother of two I can assure you that nobody is ever really ready to have a baby (#1) The second you reveal you are pregnant (#10), people will offer unsolicited advice Sometimes this can be a great thing (#55) Other times, not so much (#30) Here

is my best piece of advice: trust your instincts From

the moment you hear your baby’s heartbeat (#14), feel her move inside you (#36), or gaze into her eyes for the first time (#50), nobody will know your baby (or your body) like you do You are

your own parenting expert So listen to your feelings (#34), roll up

your sleeves (#79), ask for help if you need it (#63), and

don’t forget to enjoy the ride (#106)!

a note from sarah

ready your troops share the news

change a diaper

48

123

143

81 29

have bathtime fun build a boxcar

SARAH is a mother, children’s author, and gardening instructor who has built her share of cardboard boxcars (#157) and

enjoyed some serious bathtime frolic (#143) After attending eight births (#48, #26) and giving birth twice (#29), she still can’t quite get over the fact that we all arrive in this manner Though her kids are now school-age, Sarah can still play a mean game of peekaboo (#123) and handle whatever life throws her way (#81) She would like to thank her momtourage and the best baby-daddy in Oakland for everything, always

pack a bag for labor

have a hypnobirth

43

44

how to use this book

In the pages that follow, virtually every piece of essential infor mation

is presented graphically In most cases the pictures do, indeed, tell the

whole story In some cases though, you’ll need a little extra infor mation

to get it done right Here’s how we present those facts.

tie a no-sew blanket

decorate a nursery with stencils

Position ruler.

Cut a square at each cor ner.

Stack them.

Cut two pieces of fleece Cut to create fringe Cut fringe on all sides Knot every other fringe pair Flip; knot remaining pairs.

Pour paint into tray.

Secure with painter’s tape.

Position the stencil.

Clean the surface Dip brush tip into paint Dab to remove excess Apply paint over stencil Remove stencil; let wall dry.

make a texture tag blanket

4 ft (1.2 m)

3 ft

(1 m) 4 in (10 cm)

4 in (10 cm)

½ in (1.25 cm)

MEASUREMENTS When

measurements matter, find

them right in the box

MORE INFORMATION Follow the * symbol to lear n more about the how and why of the given step

For your safety and your baby’s, always paint in

a well-ventilated area and use low VOC paint.

paper towel

ICON GUIDE Throughout the book, handy icons show you just how it’s done Here are the icons you’ll encounter.

Check out the timer to lear n how much time a relatively short task takes

2–3min

SAFETY NOTES When doing the ac tivities in this book, always take care to ensure that you and your child are safe Keep these guidelines in mind:

• During and after pregnancy, consult a physician before attempting any activity involving physical exer tion, or whenever your condition could impair or limit your ability to engage in an activity

• Do not leave your child unattended, even for a brief moment, during any activity Be particularly cautious when participating in any activity involving water because of the risk of drowning

• Keep small items, such as coins and candy, out of baby’s reach An item smaller than 1¾ inches (4.5 cm), such as a latex balloon or piece of paper, is a choking hazard A good rule of thumb: if

it can fit through a toilet paper roll, it is not safe for play

• Also make sure that any string is no longer than 7 inches (18 cm) Never leave your baby unattended with ribbons or strings, as they could pose a str angulation hazard

• Before tr ying an ac tivity, assess whether it’s appropriate for your child’s level of development Use writing and crafts materials that are nontoxic and have been approved for your child’s age

• See #45 for tips on making your home safer for baby; for example, remove crib mobiles once your baby can push up onto hands and knees

All infor mation in this book has been carefully researched and fact-checked However, the publisher makes no war ranty, express or implied, that the infor mation is appropriate for every (or any!) individual, situation, or purpose, and assumes no responsibility for er rors or omissions You assume the risk and full responsibility for all your actions, and the publishers will not be held responsible for any loss or damage

of any sort, whether consequential, incidental, special, or otherwise that may result from the infor mation presented Just between us, though, you’re probably safe making a blanket (#43)

CROSS-REFERENCES When one

thing just leads to another, we’ll

point it out Follow the links for

related or interesting infor mation

The calendar shows how many days, weeks, or months an activity requires

Look to the ther mometer to lear n the temperature needed for a given action

Repeat the depicted action the designated number of times

Phew—fumes! Open a window before perfor ming this activity

Just how hot, you ask? Cook over low, medium, or high heat, respectively

TOOLS Everything you’ll need

to perfor m an activity appears

in the toolbars Having a hard

time deciphering an item? Tur n

to the tools glossary in the

back of the book

ZOOMS These little circles

zoom in on a step’s important

details, or depict the step’s

crucial “don’ts.”

make a texture tag blanket