or the subcutaneous ring block).
⢠The locker-room syndrome. Some parents choose not to circumcise a newborn so he will look like his uncircumcised dad or like other boys in a community where circumcision isnât widely practiced.
⢠A belief in a newbornâs rights. Some parents prefer to leave this important life decision up to their sonâwhen he becomes old enough to make it.
⢠Less risk of diaper irritation. Itâs been suggested that the intact foreskin may protect against diaper rash on the penis.
If you remain undecided about circumcision as delivery day approaches, read about circumcision care here and discuss the issue with the doctor you have chosen for your babyâand possibly with relatives, friends, or social media buddies who have gone either route (keeping in mind that the debate between pro and con camps can get pretty heated).
Diaper Decisions
Cloth or disposable? While you donât have to decide which type of diaper youâll use for your babyâs bottom until thereâs a bottom that needs covering (and you can always change your mind once you start changing diapers), thinking about your options now makes sense. For a heads-up on all the bottom-covering options and features out there, click here .
Choosing a Name
So, maybe youâve been settled on your munchkinâs moniker since you were a munchkin yourself. Maybe you devoted notebooks to baby names in high schoolâor later, cocktail napkins. Maybe your babyâs name became as clear as a 4-D ultrasound the first moment you learned âitâs a boyâ or âitâs a girl.â Or maybe, if youâre like a lot of other parents approaching delivery day, youâre still playing the name game ⦠late in the game.
Whether youâre looking for something classic, something meaningful, something quirky, something trendy, or something completely different, whether youâre sure youâll know the right name when you hear it or wondering if youâll ever know it, deciding what to name your baby can be a pretty daunting challenge. After all, a name is not just a nameâitâs an integral part of your childâs identity. And, it tends to stick for lifeâfrom the cradle to the playground to the homeroom to the workplace and beyond. Add to that awesome responsibility the drama and debate, which can get pretty heated between some couples (and among other opinionated family members): The name your spouse is set on may be the name youâre set against. Your cousin delivered first and took your favorite name with her. Both grandmas are lobbying for different family names. A coworker burst out laughing when you told him the name you had in mind. And the name you love best is the one youâre afraid no teacher will ever be able to pronounce. Or spell.
So get ready to run through the alphabet (and your share of baby-name apps, websites, and books) at least a few dozen times. Try before you buyâtoss around as many possibilities as you can before your babyâs dueâand donât be too quick to reject new entries (you never know which names might grow on you). It also pays to start paying attention to what parents in your orbit are calling their little ones. You may be inspired or discover that a name you were considering doesnât have that ring after allâespecially after you say it out loud a few dozen times.
Here are some more tips on choosing a name for your baby:
Make it meaningful. Have an all-time favorite actor or character from a book or film? A beloved family member or ancestor? A sports or music legend youâd love to honor? Or maybe youâd prefer to find your inspiration from the Bible or another spiritual source. Or from the location of your little oneâs conception. A meaningful name can mean more than a random oneâandattaches a special background story and historical context to a brand new life.
Consider the less