Planning for Your Baby’s First Birthday Party

Congratulations! You have officially made it through your very first year as a parent. It’s time to celebrate the achievements that your little one (and you as a parent) have made in the past year. Keep in mind that your baby’s first birthday party does not need to be perfect or elaborate to be fun! Keeping these tips in mind when your are planning your child’s first birthday party will help ease your stress and create a great day full of wonderful memories.

Keep Your Guest List Small 

Although you may want all your friends and family to join you in the celebration of your baby’s first year, consider keeping your party small and simple. Limiting the birthday to just close family helps create a more intimate setting and helps your baby from feeling overwhelmed. Inviting more than 10 people requires more planning and added stress.

Work Around Your Baby’s Sleep Schedule 

You may find that the only time free time you get is when your child is sleeping. Although your sleeping baby allows you to socialize with other adults, the same can’t be said for other infants and toddlers that are invited. Instead of working around other’s nap schedules, aim for a party that is in the morning or early afternoon instead of the evening. Planning your party early enough will ensure that your baby is wide awake for the fun.

Don’t Stress Yourself Out 

As a new parent, don’t give yourself more work than what you need to. Whether you are returning back to work or trying to get your baby used to a new routine, make sure you give yourself enough time to get used to any change. Party planning and decorating can wait for a few weeks as you and your child transition into new routines.

Be Mindful of Other Little Ones 

If you have a few infants and toddlers on your invite list, set out some baby-approved snacks along with your adult-friendly options. You may also want to consider creating a makeshift diaper changing station, so multiple parents can change their children if need be. If you haven’t had to baby-proof every nook and cranny of your house, you may want to take the time to do so. Other children may be more prone to getting in sticky situations, so you will want to do your best to be prepared.

Take Pictures Before the Party Starts 

While you are hosting the party, you may get too wrapped up in the swing of things and forget to take pictures. Before chaos erupts, take moment to take a snapshot of your baby, you’ll be thankful you did!

This blog was originally posted on MarthaGipprich.net 

Diet Sodas are Linked to Strokes and Heart Attacks

According to a study conducted by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, drinking more than two diet sodas, or other artificially sweetened drinks, is linked to an increased risk of strokes, heart attacks, and early death in women over the age of 50.

 

In previous research, diet drinks have also been linked with stroke, dementia, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Other research has indicated that there is a relationship between diet beverages and vascular risks.

With so many negative consequences many are asking what is it about these diet beverages that leads to such harsh health problems?

Over 80,000 postmenopausal women participated this long-term national study. Over the course of about 11 years, participants’ health outcomes were tracked and the number of diet beverages they consumed a day was recorded. By the end of the study, researchers found that women who consumed two or more 12-fluid-ounce diet beverages a day, were 31% more likely to have a clot-based stroke. Additionally researchers found that 29% were more likely to have heart disease. Most interestingly of all, women who drank more than two diet beverages are 16% more likely to die before women who drink one or no diet beverages a week.

Risk for stroke and heart attacks dramatically rose for women if they had no history of heart disease or diabetes and women who were obese or African-American.

Women who were of a normal weight or who were considered overweight were no at risk for stroke. As long as the participants body mass index was under 30, there was no association of risk.

While this study and previous research helps to establish a connection between diet beverages and vascular disease, there is no causation. As of right now, these findings are purely observational and there is no evident cause and effect. Researchers are still unable to determine if the link to vascular disease is due to a specific sweetener or beverage.

Due to the lack of cold-hard evidence, many organizations deem non-sugar sweeteners to be a better alternative to actual sugary drinks. Vice president of media and public affairs for the American Beverage Association, William Dermody Jr., argues that artificial sweeteners are tool for those who want reduce their sugar consumption.

Dermody isn’t wrong by stating that diet artificial sweeteners are a great tool for those looking to loose weight. The American Heart Association issued a statement last year saying that diet drinks may be an effective strategy to promote weight loss, but only in the short term and for adults, not children.

This bog was originally posted on MarthaGipprich.com