You are likely to be carrying a boy if:
• Your baby’s heartbeat is lower than 140 beats per minute
• you’re carrying all out front
• you’re carrying low
• you look at yourself in the mirror for at least a minute and your pupils dilate
• you crave salty food or protein, such as cheese and meat
• your feet become cold more quickly than before you were pregnant
• you tie your wedding ring to some thread, hang it over your stomach and it moves in circles
• you lie on your left side when sleeping
• you eat a clove of garlic and the smell seeps out of your pores

You are likely to be having a girl if:
• Your baby’s heartbeat is faster than 140 beats per minute
• you’re carrying all round
• you’re carrying high
• you suffered morning sickness during your first twelve weeks
• you look at yourself in the mirror for at least a minute, but your pupils don’t dilate
• you crave sweet things, such as juice, fruit and sweets
• you tie your wedding ring to some thread, hang it over your stomach and it swings from side to side
• your skin is soft
• you eat a clove of garlic, but you don’t smell of it

Your baby may be ready to start solids if she is able to hold her head up. It is important that your baby is able to maintain a steady, upright position in order to take first foods from a spoon. Your baby needs to be able to sit well when supported. She should be able to move food to the back of her mouth and swallow. As your baby learns to swallow efficiently you may notice her drooling decrease. At six months your baby may even have a tooth or two.
Most babies are ready to eat semi-solids when they’ve doubled their birth weight, which may take place before or around their sixth month. You baby will display curiosity about what you’re eating. They will reach out to try foods travelling from plate to mouth.

There are a lot of items that you’ll need for when the baby arrives, but with such a wide array of items available, what do you actually need?
Babies don’t actually need every item that is available. The following are what might be considered the essentials.
It may sound obvious, but you will need a good supply of nappies. A newborn baby can go through 12 in a day, so for disposables you should buy in large numbers. Equally, for reusable nappies, it is a good idea to always have a full day’s supply ready at all times, so get at least 24. In addition to this, you might want a bucket for soaking reusable nappies, while for disposable nappies, nappy bags are a must (you could reuse carrier bags for this purpose).
You will also need something in which to transport your baby, whether it’s a pram, pushchair or a combination of the two. For the first three months, you will need something where your baby can lie flat as this will protect their spine.
There are other important considerations when buying a pram. Does it need to fit in the car? Will you have to carry it upstairs? Where will it be stored? In addition to this, you should always ensure that you buy a quality product. You will want something that is sturdy and easily manoeuvrable. You may even want to reuse the pram for future children.

Every baby is different and so develops in a different way, but the following is an overview as to how your child will learn and develop.
From about two weeks old, your baby will start to pay attention to your face and about a month after this will start to recognise you. Even at this early stage, a baby will develop different sorts of cries, which will have different meanings, such as indicating thirst or tiredness.
In the first month a baby will typically sleep for around 15 or 16 hours a day, although this is not a rule. Some babies sleep for only around nine hours a day.
Between three and six months, the baby will start to take hold of objects with their hands and will also put them in their mouth. They will also be able to hold their head up when sitting.
You will also start to hear a greater range of sounds during this period, such as laughter, squeals as well as different combinations of vocal noises as the baby experiments with their voice.
Crawling tends to begin during the six to nine month stage. Sometimes the baby might crawl backwards, while other babies don’t crawl at all, but shuffle on their bottoms. By around nine months the baby is likely to be able to pull them self up and stand while holding onto something.

Fevers are very common in babies and more so during their first 6 months. Your baby’s raised temperature is their body’s natural way of fighting off an infection. Babies can be naturally warmer than adults but if their temperature is over 38°C or 100.4°F it is officially a fever.
The first thing you need to do to help baby is to check your baby’s temperature. You can use an ear thermometer as these are a reliable, baby-friendly way to take temperature. If they do have a fever, there are various ways you can help bring their temperature down.
* Take off a layer of their clothing.
* Offer your baby cooled, boiled water to stop them becoming dehydrated.
* Keep their room at a comfortable temperature