Do we need a baby monitor in our small apartment?

Lola H

My husband and I are in the process of registering for our first child. When the baby's born we'll be living in an approximately 1,000 sq ft apartment. Is a monitor necessary?

Answer
I would. You dont need anything fancy just a cheap one for 20 or 30 bucks. My house is about 1200sq ft and only one story but it comes in handy when you want to take a shower and baby is sleeping 3 rooms down and you cant hear over the water otherwise. It also came in handy for my husband during the nights. Even though he was only a few doors down my husband is a heavy sleeper and it helped wake him up when he was crying. Little things like that.

I want to get a baby heart monitor doppler. Any recommendations?

bubzaboo

Which brand have you found works well and from how many weeks could you hear the baby heart beat?

Answer
ebay gtek baby Doppler 60-70 buck and work wonder i herd my baby at 9 weeks

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Baby monitor with camera?

Love

I'm having my first child in December and my mom and I are looking at baby monitors and we found on that had a camera and shows you a live image of the baby. My mom was pretty impressed by this as they weren't around when I was a baby. But they are outrageously priced! I think she wants to get one for me anyway, as this is her first grandchild and my mom's the type to spend way too much. So I was wondering does anyone else have these? Worth the price? Are they any good?

Answer
I actually did this, but I used a wireless ip camera. When my son was 9 months old we had to move from a condo to an apartment with no washer/dryer hookup. So I had to leave the apartment to do the laundry a couple doors down and needed a way to see what my son was up to in between loads. I agree that the video monitor setups are very steep. And something worth noting is that every single one I've seen on shelves is not a secured network. So that video signal is open for others to view nearby. I use(d) a dlink IP cam that is networked securely to my home wireless network and accessible via smartphone. It cost about 30 bucks and 15 minutes of setup and I was up and going. I've had this setup for almost 3 years now and it's been helpful. I don't think I've had any memorable absences, but it's a nice piece of mind to make sure my son was sleeping safely when I had to leave the apartment for a moment.

What is the best baby Monitor I should buy/register for?

TB Expecti

Please, any suggestions???

Answer
Really, just buy/request the middle of the line - whatever that may be. We spent 45 bucks at Target and it is perfect for our needs. Models change so frequently - ours was safety first.

In the end, consider your needs - how far away will you be? Will the radius of the baby's room to say your living room, kitchen, etc be covered? Are there two channels in case one is 'occupied' (ours picked up the neighbor's kid so wee switched channels and we were fine.) Do you need a portable unit? Ours has the base - for the baby's room, one that we keep in our bedroom, and a spare unit that you can either plug in or put batteries in for mobility.

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What's the best way to get rid of stretch marks after having a baby?

best baby monitor for your buck image

CrazyAsian

Had a baby about 6 mnths ago and I was looking for the best way to get rid or shrink my stretch marks..

Answer
There are a few ways to do it, either you can use the DIY method or try those proven treatment creams out on the market.

Try to massage the area with the stretch marks about three or four times a day with moisturizers that contain cocoa butter or shea butter as a prime ingredient. This hydrates the skin, making it more pliant. Again, this is most effective only in the initial stage.

If your stretch marks are already pass the initial stage (when they are red, purple, pink, or brown, depending on the color of your skin) and become white or silver (usually with deep indentation), then it would be far more difficult to minimize them, but not entirely impossible to "remove" them. But before you begin searching for these treatments, try to read more information on these topical treatments first.

Many are advertised to "repair" stretch marks, but few have actually been proven to be effective. Here's some that are available on the market:

a) Wheat germ oil - may help improve stretch marks in their early phase.

b) Glycolic acid - increases collagen production; can be administered in higher doses by a dermatologist (usually costs a few hundred bucks and requires a few visits before you see results)

c) Vitamin C - certain formulations might increase collagen production, but they'll only help with early-stage stretch marks; for best results, combine with glycolic acid.

d) Relastin - the effectiveness of this product is unknown and unverified.

e) Peptide-containing products - these "repair" creams are ineffective; there's no evidence that they work.

f) Retinoids - they're fairly effective in increasing collagen and elastic production in the early stages, but they should be avoided if you're pregnant or nursing; they're more effective when used in combination with glycolic acid.

I would recommend treatments that are using "100% natural ingredients" such as aloe vera. Aloe vera has been shown in clinical studies to have a positive effect on wound healing and holds anti-inflammatory properties.

As stretch marks start out as microscopic tears in skin layers due to overstretching of the dermis, aloe vera helps heal these small wounds without causing scar tissue to form, effectively preventing the appearance of stretch marks. Aloe vera has been used for thousands of years by the Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Indians and Chinese to decrease the appearance of scars and to moisturize and heal skin. The extracts from the aloe leaf protects skin from environmental factors and promotes skin regeneration.

My friend recommended me this and I have been using for a few weeks now, have shown some positive results but I am monitoring the progress since the product have a 90 days return policy. For more details, you can check out the site here >>> http://is.gd/NHQQ

You can also read more about stretch marks on wiki below:
http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Stretch-Marks

:)

What is the best option for removing stretch marks?

Knock On M

A friend called me today asking me about the best option for removing stretch marks. In fact, she gave birth to a baby girl less than one month ago and now she is concerned about the marks that are on her abdomen.

I know that there are hundreds of products on the internet, but we don't know which one to choose. Please let me know if some one has used a specific brand and it has proved beneficial?

Thank you,

Answer
Dear,

There are a few ways to do it, either you can use the DIY method or try those proven treatment creams out on the market.

Try to massage the area with the stretch marks about three or four times a day with moisturizers that contain cocoa butter or shea butter as a prime ingredient. This hydrates the skin, making it more pliant. Again, this is most effective only in the initial stage.

If your stretch marks are already pass the initial stage (when they are red, purple, pink, or brown, depending on the color of your skin) and become white or silver (usually with deep indentation), then it would be far more difficult to minimize them, but not entirely impossible to "remove" them. But before you begin searching for these treatments, try to read more information on these topical treatments first.

Many are advertised to "repair" stretch marks, but few have actually been proven to be effective. Here's some that are available on the market:

a) Wheat germ oil - may help improve stretch marks in their early phase.

b) Glycolic acid - increases collagen production; can be administered in higher doses by a dermatologist (usually costs a few hundred bucks and requires a few visits before you see results)

c) Vitamin C - certain formulations might increase collagen production, but they'll only help with early-stage stretch marks; for best results, combine with glycolic acid.

d) Relastin - the effectiveness of this product is unknown and unverified.

e) Peptide-containing products - these "repair" creams are ineffective; there's no evidence that they work.

f) Retinoids - they're fairly effective in increasing collagen and elastic production in the early stages, but they should be avoided if you're pregnant or nursing; they're more effective when used in combination with glycolic acid.

I would recommend treatments that are using "100% natural ingredients" such as aloe vera. Aloe vera has been shown in clinical studies to have a positive effect on wound healing and holds anti-inflammatory properties.

As stretch marks start out as microscopic tears in skin layers due to overstretching of the dermis, aloe vera helps heal these small wounds without causing scar tissue to form, effectively preventing the appearance of stretch marks. Aloe vera has been used for thousands of years by the Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Indians and Chinese to decrease the appearance of scars and to moisturize and heal skin. The extracts from the aloe leaf protects skin from environmental factors and promotes skin regeneration. My friend recommended me this and I have been using for a few weeks now, have shown some positive results but I am monitoring the progress. since the product have a 90 days return policy.

Feel free to check out my blog here for more information:
http://cureforstretchmarks.blogspot.com

Take care... ^(@___@)^

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What items can i buy for a newborn that is coming in February now?

best baby monitor for your buck image

KidKurious

My babys coming in February 2009. I had an idea to buy things like diapers, formula. wet wipes etc. a little every week, so that by the time the baby is born, i will have a stockpile of things so I wouldnt be spending so much later on.

what can i buy now that will last the next few months (little things not a crib or car seat of course) that will last?

Answer
little things 2 buy as u go...girl or boy?

baby kit with thermometer, clippers, hairbrush, comb ,etc--some of these can be bought 2gether or sep

baby monitor
onesies
socks
receiving blankets (would only buy a few if u r having a shower)
baby washclothes/towels
passys
avent formula divider cup 4 when u r out and need 2 feed baby; can be switched 2 a snack cup later
if ff bottles
bottle brushes
drying rack
dr brown's formula pitcher--great 2 keep out bubbles instead of shaking
snuzzler
swaddle me, by kiddopotamus, only 10 bucks at babies r us--easier and baby cant kick out
bibs
couple thicker blankets
diaper bag
a few sleepers with material suited 2 your area--good 4 baby 2 wear at home if cooler, onesies better if it is warmer in your home
crib sheets
waterproof lap pads (gerber is my pref, carters didn't seem as well made)
waterproof mattress protector
if u will be getting a bassinet and/or play yard u can buy wp pads and sheets 4 them
and 4 crib, check out 'the ultimate crib sheet'
bouncy seat/swing--prices vary greatly and u could get them 2nd hand
boppy--good for feeding either way, holding, baby sitting in, tummy time
boppy covers--cotton ones are cheaper and they fit better
changing table pad and covers
bins or baskets to organize things under table
baby hangers, baby hangers with the clips for outfits
clothes hamper
diaper genie2
refills
small infant toys
teether toys
wipewarmer
diaper depot
baby meds--generics are cheaper and just as good--tylenol, mylicon for now
desitin regular, not creamy (more zinc oxide than anything else i can find)
frag/dye free laundry detergent and baby wash
don't buy too much formula in case u need 2 switch :)
play mat with a toy bar, prices vary greatly here too
mirror for baby in car so that u can see them in your rearview
sunshades for car windows
lingerie bag for washing those little baby socks
baby sleep sacks
hand mittens so baby doesn't scratch their face up
hats since it will be cold and babies esp lose a lot of body heat through their head
*not sure where you are, but when you buy up diapers, make sure that wherever you buy them will let you exchange them for a diff size if needed after their return period is up bc it is gonna be a while before you know exactly what size you will need the most of...i bought the huge boxes at babies r us bc per diaper they were the cheapest i could find and i asked and they said it would be ok to exchange and i had too and they let me, walmart will too, but they don't carry the big boxes..by buying the big boxes of swaddlers, i save a ton! i looked at the grocery store and luvs would be more expensive per diaper if i bought them there, i guess bc they didn't have the big boxes, but i have never seen a big box of those anywhere
if you are having a shower you may get most or all of this stuff at your shower, so if you are having one, i would hold off on things that you wouldn't want duplicates of that you can't return....some things, doesn't matter, you will use them eventually, others, not so good...alll i can think of right now...LOL, sorry for the book, but i hope it gives you some ideas, most aren't necessitites, but are really nice to have..good luck

How to care for baby turtles?

Tarra C

We have 2 baby belly slider turtles, whats the proper way to care for them such as what to feed them, how often to change the water, how often to feed them, etc.

Answer
See safe feeding list at bottom for food. If you have a good filter (see below canister filter) you will only have to do 20 % water changes once a month (adding water when needed) and break it down once a year. This also depends on size of tank. Certainly if it looks dirty clean it. A good link on filtration,
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Articles/filtration.htm Do browse the other articles for lots of other great info!!

You will need:

1.You need the biggest tank you can afford upfront. A good rule of thumb is 10g per inch of shell, so no a 10g would not be fine unless you have a 1in hatchling, but it won't last you long so it doesn't make sense to buy small. Sliders can easily grow 12 in or more with proper care! If you can't afford a large tank, there are other options, a kiddie pool, a preformed pond liner, a rubber maid tote etc. Turtle tanks / the side cut out is a waste of money. Also Sliders like deep water so fill the tank!

2. You need a UVA/UVB light the box must say UVB and it must emit at least 5% UVB but 10% is best.

3. You need a Heat/Basking lamp, this can be a clamp lamp from a hardware store for 5 bucks and a household bulb.

4. You need a Basking spot. This needs to be a place for the turtle to come completly out of the water to dry off and sun himself. You can use a log, a platform, a dock, a ramp, etc as long as the turtle can fit on it comfortably. Basking temps need to be high 80's low 90's.

5. You need good filtration. Turtles are messy. Shoot for 2x the gallon size but more is good too. For example if you have a 40g get a filter made for an 80g or bigger.

6. Submersible heater. Depending on where you live, you may need a heater, the water temps should be mid to high 70's if you cannot achieve this w/out a heater, then get one.

7. A thermometer so you can accurately monitor the temps.

8. Substrate, you may use substrate but do not buy gravel!! Turtles can and will eat it. Usually with dire consequences. A good alternative is river rock bigger than the turtles head upgrading if needed.

9. Decorations/plants (llive or real as long as not toxic see safe plants under food below) a place to hide. This are not absolutly needed but plants and other hiding places reduces stress.

10. A good herp vet. If you want to be a responsible pet owner, you need a good vet BEFORE trouble happens. http://www.anapsid.org/vets/index.html

11. Food, turtles need a varied diet and need to be fed in the water;

Hatchlings
Hatchlings should be fed everyday for the first year of their lives. They should be given as much as they can eat in 10 to 15 mins time or as much as you could fit into their head if hollow. You can feed them all of it at once or you can slit it up into 2 feedings.

Hatchlings tend to be more Carnivorous than adults, so make sure to check out the suggestions of live and protein-rich foods below for how to supplement accordingly. (Make sure you still give fruits and veggies at this stage!)

Juveniles/Adults
Once your turtle reaches the 4" mark, we recommend that you change their feeding schedule to every other day. Giving them greens or live plants in between.

Adults tend to become more Omnivorous, so make sure to check out the suggestions of fruits and vegetables below.

Vitamins and Calcium
You should supplement your turtle's diet with both vitamins and calcium, every third feeding or once a week. To give them vitamins many people will give them a Vitamin Bath once a week. You can also either soak the pellets in a liquid vitamin or dampen them and roll them in a powder vitamin before feeding.

It is recommended you have a light that supplies UVA and at the very least a 5.0 UVB output. The UVB is necessary for the absorption of calcium and vitamin D3. Turtles need both calcium and Vitamin D3 for strong bones and shells.

**Feeding Tip Feedings should be done in a separate container so that you do not have to frequently change the water nor the filter media.


Common Diet Errors

Feeding Cat or Dog Food
Despite what some pet store employees may tell you, turtles should not be fed dog or cat food (Sounds insane, but we've heard it!)

Pellet Only Diets
Pellets provide many benefits, but variety is key!
Supplement their diet with veggies, live foods and some fruits. Check out our safe list below.

Giving in to Beggars
Turtles will always beg whether you give in or not- they know you are the supplier of food!
Supplement between feedings with greens or live foods they have to chase to eat. ( Iceberg lettuce is a common filler that doesn't contain much nutritional value, but will keep them content.)


Safe Feeding List

Commercial Foods (This is just a few of them on the market)
* Tetra Reptomin
* ZooMed's Aquatic Turtle Food
* Exo Terra
* Wardley's Reptile Premium Sticks
* HBH Turtle Bites

Frozen/Canned (For treats)
* Spirulina-enriched Brine Shrimp
* Bloodworms
* Plankton
* Krill
* ZooMed's Can O'Crickets, Grasshoppers, or Meal Worms

Live Foods (Carnivorous)
* Guppies or Rosies Reds (no goldfish they are too fatty and have very little nutritional value)
* Crickets (Gut-Loaded)
* Pinhead Crickets (for smaller turtles)
* Earthworms, Night Crawlers
* Ghost Shrimp
* Aquatic Snails/Apple Snails
* Slugs
* Wax Worms, Super Worms

**Be careful about Wild-Caught foods, they can carry parasites that can be transferred to your turtle. Freezing Wild-Caught foods for a month will help to kill off some parasites.

Fruits (small amounts for treats only)
* Apples
* Bananas
* Grapes
* Melon
* Tomato
* Strawberries

**Should be cut up in small, bite-size or match-like sticks that will be easy for the turtle to bite into and not choke on.

Veggies
* Squash
* Zucchini
* Carrots
* Greens- Red Leaf, Romaine, Collards, Kale, Dandelion Greens

**Stay away from Spinach. Make sure to cut the veggies in bite-size or match-like sticks so your turtle can eat them easily. Iceberg lettuce is a good filler, but contains little/no nutritional value!

Aquatic Plants
* Anacharis
* Duckweed
* Water Hyacinth
* Water Lettuce
* Water Lily

12. A good forum where you can get advice, support and help. I'm partial to the one I belong to lol http://www.turtleexchange.com/forum/

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What are the eating habits of a baby turtle and other things I should know about turtles?

What is the best option for removing stretch marks?

best baby monitor for your buck image

Knock On M

A friend called me today asking me about the best option for removing stretch marks. In fact, she gave birth to a baby girl less than one month ago and now she is concerned about the marks that are on her abdomen.

I know that there are hundreds of products on the internet, but we don't know which one to choose. Please let me know if some one has used a specific brand and it has proved beneficial?

Thank you,

Answer
Dear,

There are a few ways to do it, either you can use the DIY method or try those proven treatment creams out on the market.

Try to massage the area with the stretch marks about three or four times a day with moisturizers that contain cocoa butter or shea butter as a prime ingredient. This hydrates the skin, making it more pliant. Again, this is most effective only in the initial stage.

If your stretch marks are already pass the initial stage (when they are red, purple, pink, or brown, depending on the color of your skin) and become white or silver (usually with deep indentation), then it would be far more difficult to minimize them, but not entirely impossible to "remove" them. But before you begin searching for these treatments, try to read more information on these topical treatments first.

Many are advertised to "repair" stretch marks, but few have actually been proven to be effective. Here's some that are available on the market:

a) Wheat germ oil - may help improve stretch marks in their early phase.

b) Glycolic acid - increases collagen production; can be administered in higher doses by a dermatologist (usually costs a few hundred bucks and requires a few visits before you see results)

c) Vitamin C - certain formulations might increase collagen production, but they'll only help with early-stage stretch marks; for best results, combine with glycolic acid.

d) Relastin - the effectiveness of this product is unknown and unverified.

e) Peptide-containing products - these "repair" creams are ineffective; there's no evidence that they work.

f) Retinoids - they're fairly effective in increasing collagen and elastic production in the early stages, but they should be avoided if you're pregnant or nursing; they're more effective when used in combination with glycolic acid.

I would recommend treatments that are using "100% natural ingredients" such as aloe vera. Aloe vera has been shown in clinical studies to have a positive effect on wound healing and holds anti-inflammatory properties.

As stretch marks start out as microscopic tears in skin layers due to overstretching of the dermis, aloe vera helps heal these small wounds without causing scar tissue to form, effectively preventing the appearance of stretch marks. Aloe vera has been used for thousands of years by the Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Indians and Chinese to decrease the appearance of scars and to moisturize and heal skin. The extracts from the aloe leaf protects skin from environmental factors and promotes skin regeneration. My friend recommended me this and I have been using for a few weeks now, have shown some positive results but I am monitoring the progress. since the product have a 90 days return policy.

Feel free to check out my blog here for more information:
http://cureforstretchmarks.blogspot.com

Take care... ^(@___@)^

Should I upgrade my computer or can you give me tips?

Dylan

I've been having issues with my computer for awhile as far as gaming goes. I bought my computer strictly for gaming purposes, but I'm having issues with all of my games. V-sync is my main issue, because with it off the screen tears terribly and with it on there is very slow mouse lag. I want to call the guy who made my computer and ask him, but doesn't know much about gaming. What I need to know is if something in my computer may need an upgrade because it might be conflicting with the graphics card. Anyway I'd really like if you could answer this with detail, because I've already asked this many times and most of the answers are very unhelpful and conflicting. Computer Specs below.
Graphics: ASUS Nvdia Geforce GTX 660
Ram: 8gb DDR3 PC3-10600, DDR3 PC3-12800, DDR3 PC3-14900, DDR3 (non-ECC)
Processor: AMD A8-3870 APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics 2.99GHz
Motherboard: msi A7MA-G55
Monitor: 1600 x 900 60hz
Power Supply: 550W
Hard Drive: 1T
Internet Speed: 8063 Kbps / 1147 Kbps
IOS: Windows 7 Ultimate

Answer
There are several issues w/ v-sync. First off is that the higher the frame rate the better the mouse response even if that frame rate is higher than the monitors refresh rate. Once you enable v-sync the computer keep the frame rate at speeds that can be multiplied into 60 using whole numbers. That means 15, 20, 30, or 60FPS(40 might be possible to but I dont remember.. If you keep dipping below 60 you will hit the 30cap or 40 if it exists.

What you should try right away is turning off v-sync then go into the nvidia control panel and force adaptive v-sync. It will enable v-sync at 60fps but disable it when under 60fps. This will keep you from getting screwed into a 30fps speed.

There may be some tearing at low frame rates but should be minimal.

All those v-sync modes work by dropping frames so your card is doing the work of a higher frame rate but then having frames discarded to ensure it can easily be synced with the 60Hz refresh rate of your monitor.

If you are going to upgarde anything it needs to be your video card. The 660 is not an enthusiast card. Get a amd 7950 at the least or a 7970 or gtx670 or gtx680.

You can sell your current card to recoup some cash. I am a nvidia fan and at the time I bought my gtx670 it was a better performer per dollar than what AMD offered but now the tables are turned. AMD offers the best bang for the buck by far. A 7950 will eat yout card for a late night snack.

The rest of the system is great. If you have not overclocked your processor than do so now. A 20% boost should be as easy as stealing candy from a baby cat that doesn't like candy. You can certainly get more than that but surely 20% is stupid easy.

Hope this helps

------
Also in response to the Intel recommendation and hd recommendation those guys don't need to be spending anymore time in the computer section answering questions.

you already stated the issue v-sync or tearing so checking your HD is just silly. As for the Intel bit the 3rd gen i7 is the last 1155 chip so any i5 chip and board you buy now will not be able to be upgraded at all n the future.

I have a i5 3570k at 4.5GHz and a GTX670 that is overclocked to get about 20% more performance and even that struggles at 2560x1440p resolutions. At 1600x900 there would be no problems.

Also a few other things DO NOT use anti aliasing except for fxaa and txaa. MSAA is to demanding for that video card and will severally reduce frames rates. Disable motion blur as it reduces frame rates and the quality of the scene. In nvidia control panel turn on anisotropic sample optimization, set texture filtering quality to high performance, enable trilinear optimization, turn on triple buffering and set vertical sync to adaptive.

Try the game with the trilinear optimization on and off and see if you notice a difference. Also find out if your monitor can be overclocked and if so by how much. If you can get your monitor to run at 75hz that will increase your mouse performance quite a bit with vsync on. If you can hit 90 even better.

Good luck and sorry about all the idiots. You wont get a better answer than this one on this site.

Join a computer forum like overclock.net or overclockers.com

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How to care for baby turtles?

best baby monitor for your buck image

Tarra C

We have 2 baby belly slider turtles, whats the proper way to care for them such as what to feed them, how often to change the water, how often to feed them, etc.

Answer
See safe feeding list at bottom for food. If you have a good filter (see below canister filter) you will only have to do 20 % water changes once a month (adding water when needed) and break it down once a year. This also depends on size of tank. Certainly if it looks dirty clean it. A good link on filtration,
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Articles/filtration.htm Do browse the other articles for lots of other great info!!

You will need:

1.You need the biggest tank you can afford upfront. A good rule of thumb is 10g per inch of shell, so no a 10g would not be fine unless you have a 1in hatchling, but it won't last you long so it doesn't make sense to buy small. Sliders can easily grow 12 in or more with proper care! If you can't afford a large tank, there are other options, a kiddie pool, a preformed pond liner, a rubber maid tote etc. Turtle tanks / the side cut out is a waste of money. Also Sliders like deep water so fill the tank!

2. You need a UVA/UVB light the box must say UVB and it must emit at least 5% UVB but 10% is best.

3. You need a Heat/Basking lamp, this can be a clamp lamp from a hardware store for 5 bucks and a household bulb.

4. You need a Basking spot. This needs to be a place for the turtle to come completly out of the water to dry off and sun himself. You can use a log, a platform, a dock, a ramp, etc as long as the turtle can fit on it comfortably. Basking temps need to be high 80's low 90's.

5. You need good filtration. Turtles are messy. Shoot for 2x the gallon size but more is good too. For example if you have a 40g get a filter made for an 80g or bigger.

6. Submersible heater. Depending on where you live, you may need a heater, the water temps should be mid to high 70's if you cannot achieve this w/out a heater, then get one.

7. A thermometer so you can accurately monitor the temps.

8. Substrate, you may use substrate but do not buy gravel!! Turtles can and will eat it. Usually with dire consequences. A good alternative is river rock bigger than the turtles head upgrading if needed.

9. Decorations/plants (llive or real as long as not toxic see safe plants under food below) a place to hide. This are not absolutly needed but plants and other hiding places reduces stress.

10. A good herp vet. If you want to be a responsible pet owner, you need a good vet BEFORE trouble happens. http://www.anapsid.org/vets/index.html

11. Food, turtles need a varied diet and need to be fed in the water;

Hatchlings
Hatchlings should be fed everyday for the first year of their lives. They should be given as much as they can eat in 10 to 15 mins time or as much as you could fit into their head if hollow. You can feed them all of it at once or you can slit it up into 2 feedings.

Hatchlings tend to be more Carnivorous than adults, so make sure to check out the suggestions of live and protein-rich foods below for how to supplement accordingly. (Make sure you still give fruits and veggies at this stage!)

Juveniles/Adults
Once your turtle reaches the 4" mark, we recommend that you change their feeding schedule to every other day. Giving them greens or live plants in between.

Adults tend to become more Omnivorous, so make sure to check out the suggestions of fruits and vegetables below.

Vitamins and Calcium
You should supplement your turtle's diet with both vitamins and calcium, every third feeding or once a week. To give them vitamins many people will give them a Vitamin Bath once a week. You can also either soak the pellets in a liquid vitamin or dampen them and roll them in a powder vitamin before feeding.

It is recommended you have a light that supplies UVA and at the very least a 5.0 UVB output. The UVB is necessary for the absorption of calcium and vitamin D3. Turtles need both calcium and Vitamin D3 for strong bones and shells.

**Feeding Tip Feedings should be done in a separate container so that you do not have to frequently change the water nor the filter media.


Common Diet Errors

Feeding Cat or Dog Food
Despite what some pet store employees may tell you, turtles should not be fed dog or cat food (Sounds insane, but we've heard it!)

Pellet Only Diets
Pellets provide many benefits, but variety is key!
Supplement their diet with veggies, live foods and some fruits. Check out our safe list below.

Giving in to Beggars
Turtles will always beg whether you give in or not- they know you are the supplier of food!
Supplement between feedings with greens or live foods they have to chase to eat. ( Iceberg lettuce is a common filler that doesn't contain much nutritional value, but will keep them content.)


Safe Feeding List

Commercial Foods (This is just a few of them on the market)
* Tetra Reptomin
* ZooMed's Aquatic Turtle Food
* Exo Terra
* Wardley's Reptile Premium Sticks
* HBH Turtle Bites

Frozen/Canned (For treats)
* Spirulina-enriched Brine Shrimp
* Bloodworms
* Plankton
* Krill
* ZooMed's Can O'Crickets, Grasshoppers, or Meal Worms

Live Foods (Carnivorous)
* Guppies or Rosies Reds (no goldfish they are too fatty and have very little nutritional value)
* Crickets (Gut-Loaded)
* Pinhead Crickets (for smaller turtles)
* Earthworms, Night Crawlers
* Ghost Shrimp
* Aquatic Snails/Apple Snails
* Slugs
* Wax Worms, Super Worms

**Be careful about Wild-Caught foods, they can carry parasites that can be transferred to your turtle. Freezing Wild-Caught foods for a month will help to kill off some parasites.

Fruits (small amounts for treats only)
* Apples
* Bananas
* Grapes
* Melon
* Tomato
* Strawberries

**Should be cut up in small, bite-size or match-like sticks that will be easy for the turtle to bite into and not choke on.

Veggies
* Squash
* Zucchini
* Carrots
* Greens- Red Leaf, Romaine, Collards, Kale, Dandelion Greens

**Stay away from Spinach. Make sure to cut the veggies in bite-size or match-like sticks so your turtle can eat them easily. Iceberg lettuce is a good filler, but contains little/no nutritional value!

Aquatic Plants
* Anacharis
* Duckweed
* Water Hyacinth
* Water Lettuce
* Water Lily

12. A good forum where you can get advice, support and help. I'm partial to the one I belong to lol http://www.turtleexchange.com/forum/

What's the best way to get rid of stretch marks after having a baby?

CrazyAsian

Had a baby about 6 mnths ago and I was looking for the best way to get rid or shrink my stretch marks..

Answer
There are a few ways to do it, either you can use the DIY method or try those proven treatment creams out on the market.

Try to massage the area with the stretch marks about three or four times a day with moisturizers that contain cocoa butter or shea butter as a prime ingredient. This hydrates the skin, making it more pliant. Again, this is most effective only in the initial stage.

If your stretch marks are already pass the initial stage (when they are red, purple, pink, or brown, depending on the color of your skin) and become white or silver (usually with deep indentation), then it would be far more difficult to minimize them, but not entirely impossible to "remove" them. But before you begin searching for these treatments, try to read more information on these topical treatments first.

Many are advertised to "repair" stretch marks, but few have actually been proven to be effective. Here's some that are available on the market:

a) Wheat germ oil - may help improve stretch marks in their early phase.

b) Glycolic acid - increases collagen production; can be administered in higher doses by a dermatologist (usually costs a few hundred bucks and requires a few visits before you see results)

c) Vitamin C - certain formulations might increase collagen production, but they'll only help with early-stage stretch marks; for best results, combine with glycolic acid.

d) Relastin - the effectiveness of this product is unknown and unverified.

e) Peptide-containing products - these "repair" creams are ineffective; there's no evidence that they work.

f) Retinoids - they're fairly effective in increasing collagen and elastic production in the early stages, but they should be avoided if you're pregnant or nursing; they're more effective when used in combination with glycolic acid.

I would recommend treatments that are using "100% natural ingredients" such as aloe vera. Aloe vera has been shown in clinical studies to have a positive effect on wound healing and holds anti-inflammatory properties.

As stretch marks start out as microscopic tears in skin layers due to overstretching of the dermis, aloe vera helps heal these small wounds without causing scar tissue to form, effectively preventing the appearance of stretch marks. Aloe vera has been used for thousands of years by the Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Indians and Chinese to decrease the appearance of scars and to moisturize and heal skin. The extracts from the aloe leaf protects skin from environmental factors and promotes skin regeneration.

My friend recommended me this and I have been using for a few weeks now, have shown some positive results but I am monitoring the progress since the product have a 90 days return policy. For more details, you can check out the site here >>> http://is.gd/NHQQ

You can also read more about stretch marks on wiki below:
http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Stretch-Marks

:)

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Whats the best baby monitor under 50 bucks?

Q. We are hoping to find one that will work well in my 2 bedroom apartment that's not fuzzy. We just recently purchased a safety 1st monitor from walmart and its horrible! I couldn't imagine sleeping with all the fuzz.

A. I think i have the same one as the women above BUT i don't really recommend it. MOst of the times it's great but sometimes it's horrible. I think it catches signal from cell phones or even computers because even BEFORE my phone sounds off when i receive a text message the monitor makes a fuzzy light beeping noise. I actually still like it thought because it came with 2 portable monitors and the one to put in your baby's room has a night light that you can leave on or turn off. I paid $30 for it. Here it is: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=7977222

I would assume that the newer Fisher Price monitor but the one that comes with only 1 works better, this one: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10727389

Also the lights light up red when there's sound and that's what i liked the most about it! When i thought i heard something i would just wait to see the red lights and that's how i knew if it was my son or not.

Original Question

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