I used to hate them ... babies on planes. Yep – I confess. Now that I'm a dad things are different of course. I tend to feel a bit more empathetic towards the totally stressed out parents trying to calm them down. Although I haven't actually flown with my son yet I can see how it can be tough.

To start with, when is it safe to take a baby on a plane? I know parents who have taken their babies as soon as 2 weeks after giving birth (scary thought). I've heard from others that it's probably safe after 3 months? Who knows – I guess the various ages have their advantages and disadvantages. Early on obviously babies sleep a lot more ... given the monotonous sound of a plane engine, chances are that they just fall asleep. OR they freak out because something’s wrong with their ears (pressure, high-pitched frequencies that usually only dogs can hear, etc).

DIYFather is about to launch a new innovative product for dads - "DadTxT". It's a txting service for dads-to-be and new dads who will receive a Text Message throughout pregnancy and for the first year.

DadTxt will be officially launched on Father's Day 2010 but please contact us if you'd like to know more.

-DIYFather

Congratulations to Mikaela Bowmar who won a copy of "Being A Great Dad for Dummies" in a competition Plunket ran for us this week. Her response to the funniest lines new dads came up with got chosen as the winner by Plunket's Facebook fans.

Mikeala's story: "I got two lines on a pregnancy test and my husband said, 'Oh wow, we're having twins!'. The baby turned out to be nearly 10lbs at birth so we had a running joke for a while that he ate his twin."

If you want to get your own copy of Being a Great Dad for Dummies and support Plunket, head over to the new Plunket shop and buy the book online.

Best wishes,

Stefan

Spend enough time taking care of children and it becomes an inescapable part of your psyche. It makes it way into your dreams in sometimes overt, sometimes subtle ways. Last month I dreamed that Clara was trying to get Kate to swim in a pond where a shark was swimming. I'm no psychoanalyst but I think such dreams show I have some pretty deep fears about the safety of my children. Even when your children are at school or you have a babysitter you are not free from what I have found is the most common form of parental paranoia: Phantom Cry Syndrome. Randomly, out of nowhere, you will hear your child's cry.

DIYFather.com has several articles about the benefits of using sign language with babies (see baby sign language can help with ear infections and a baby signing story). Here's a tip from signing coach Sara Bingham for how you can introduce certain signs while you're having fun in the water.

Play in the water with your baby ... in the tub or in a kiddie pool in the backyard. Remember children learn vocabulary best when you related the spoken words and signs you are showing them to sensory items, items that they are feeling while they play and interact with.

My wife recently after a couple of wines told me that because I wasn’t particularly religious and that she was, we should have a naming ceremony, instead of a christening. Now to be honest I'm not fussed about the whole thing but what I was interested in was finding people equivalent to godparents (not really sure what they are called, guardians perhaps?).

Now I don't know many people who have had a "naming ceremony" in fact besides us, NONE! I have been to a christening before but that is it really. So we decided to have the naming ceremony done by a Justice of the Peace (as opposed to priest who would do a christening). So if you are not very religously inclined a naming ceremony might be a great way to mark the occassion, potentially "appoint" some guardians and have a good old party.

If you have had one or been to one let us know!

Thanks Scott

DIYFather's second book "Being a Great Dad for Dummies" has been officially launched and is now available at high street retailers and online bookstores. Following the success of "Call Me Dad" (DIYFather's bestselling first book) "Being a Great Dad for Dummies" delivers a comprehensive no bull guide for the next generation of dads with practical information and tips from pregnancy to school-age. Here's the release description from our publishers Wiley & Sons:

Be the coolest and calmest Dad on the block!
Whether you're about to become a Dad for the first time or you're a father wishing to become more actively involved in raising your children, Being a Great Dad For Dummies is your new bible! Packed with loads of resources and tips for engaging with your child right from birth, this user-friendly guide to fatherhood is written by fathers for fathers.