Archive for the ‘Baby Nursery’ Category

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Expectant Mommy Shopping Essentials Checklist

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

Are you expecting? Not sure how to stock up for the little one on the way? Here are some shopping essentials that every new mom should have on hand before baby arrives.

Knowing what items to shop for is tough when you’re expecting, which is why every expectant mommy needs a shopping essentials checklist before baby arrives. Although you’ll receive plenty of baby basics from family and friends at your shower and after baby is born, it doesn’t hurt to have certain things on hand yourself. You never know what you are going to get or what you’re going to need more of. Just because you create a registry for your shower doesn’t necessarily mean every item you request will be accounted for, so it’s a good idea to stock up on certain items yourself.

Use the following expectant mommy shopping essentials checklist to get ready for baby’s arrival:

Hygiene essentials—All of those little hygiene items will really come in handy from day one. You’ll need everything from baby nail clippers and shampoo to skin cream, and don’t forget to research the best brands for baby’s sensitive skin.

Diapers, diapers, and more diapers—No, you can never have enough diapers. Just assume you’ll receive tons of diaper products from your shower. However, pick up a few packs yourself while you’re at it, because they will go fast!

Nursery essentials—Some nursery essentials you’ll need to have on hand include basic furniture pieces, including a crib, dresser, and changing table. There are tons of options out there now that include cribs with built in drawers and even side changing table consoles that are attached to the actual crib.

Transportation essentials—You’ll also need a high-quality, convenient, comfortable car seat for your child, as well as trays and storage accessories to feed baby while you are on the road. Don’t forget diaper and duffle bags as well. Convertible car seats are especially helpful as they can accommodate your child as he or she grows.

This expectant mommy shopping essentials checklist can help get you started as you begin shopping for the little one on the way.

Posted in Baby Nursery, Caring for Baby, Parenting, Pre-Birth, Pregnancy | No Comments »

Returning to Work? Find the Right Child Care Provider for Your Baby.

Monday, January 23rd, 2012

Returning to work after having a baby can be hard. Your little one is everything to you and you want to be sure that the person caring for your baby is deserving and capable. Here are some simple tips that can help you find the right child care provider for your baby.

If you’re like most parents, you understand just how important it is to find the right child care provider for your baby. You may worry about all of the horror stories you’ve heard about child care providers that have been abusive or neglectful. And while these cases are rare, they do happen.

In your heart, you also know that no one could ever give your baby what you can, but you want to find someone that can offer as close to that as possible. If you are trying to find the right child care provider for your baby, use these helpful hints.

Begin Your Hunt Now

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when trying to find the right child care provider for your baby is starting your search later as opposed to sooner. The sooner you start, the more selective you can be about your child care choices. By giving yourself an ample amount of time to find the right child care provider for your baby, you can also avoid making split minute decisions.

Use an On-line Child Care Review Site

On-line child care review sites contain reviews from other parents. They can be an invaluable tool when trying to find the right child care provider for your baby. These reviews should give you an idea as to whether or not other parents have been happy with the level of care their children received from potential child care facilities.

When looking at reviews, try to remember that a bad experience can happen to anyone, and sometimes disagreements about minor things can fuel bad reviews. However, if you’re noticing, that the facility has more bad reviews than good, consider it a red flag.

Visit the Facility Unannounced

One of the best ways to determine if a child care facility is honest and upfront about their care is to arrive unannounced. Avoid high-traffic times, like parent drop offs and pick-ups, but try to visit at times that might be busy for the children, such as lunch time, mid-morning, and after school. This should give you a pretty clear indication of how they handle children when parents aren’t around, which is something you need to know when you are trying to find the right child care facility for your baby.

Posted in Baby Nursery, Baby Safety, Caring for Baby, Child Care Providers, Day Care | No Comments »

How to Determine if Your Baby is Hungry

Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

The first few weeks of parenthood are an adjustment, to say the least. Your entire life is altered by the tiny, wrinkly body you tote everywhere. There are so many things to learn. One of those big learning struggles is learning how to determine if your baby is hungry. These tips will help you know when to feed your baby.

Not sure how to determine whether your baby is hungry or not? Feeding a newborn can be tricky, whether you’re breastfeeding or bottle feeding. Extreme sleepiness and fussiness can further complicate the issue. Learn how to determine if your baby is hungry before the crying starts and save a little of your sanity.

A Sleeping Baby Does Not Mean a Satisfied Baby

Newborns will often sleep right through their hunger, only waking when they are really hungry. By this time, your infant is probably screaming and almost inconsolable. The crying can give your baby gas, which will only make the rest of your day a more difficult. Waiting until your baby is extremely hungry can also make for poor weight gain and even weight loss. So how do you determine if your baby is hungry when they are sleeping? Watch for these signs:

Lip smacking in their sleep

Suckling motion in their sleep

Restlessness without waking

Digit sucking in their sleep

These signs don’t always mean that your baby is hungry, but more often than not, in those first few weeks, this is how your baby will let you know they need to eat while they are still sleeping.

Other Signs That Your Baby is Hungry

There are other methods for determining if your baby is hungry. If you are holding your baby and they turn towards your nipple with their mouth open, they are hungry. Newborns are instinctively drawn to the breast, so this applies to newborns that are formula fed as well.

If your baby is inconsolable, they may be hungry, even if they just ate. During growth spurts, babies eat more. But remember, a fussy baby is a starving baby. It should not take your baby crying to determine if your baby is hungry.

Posted in Baby Nursery, Caring for Baby, Feeding | No Comments »

Dos and Don’ts for Your Baby’s Bed

Sunday, January 1st, 2012

Whether your baby is sleeping in a crib, a bassinet, or a co-sleeper, there are things that your baby will need for their bed and other things that they will not. Use this list of dos and don’ts for baby’s sleeping area.

Dos and don’ts for your baby’s bed go further than just style and taste. They are also intended to help keep your baby safe. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, otherwise known as SIDS, continues to happen to an alarming number of infants each year. And while no one really knows what causes it, there are some things that experts know can contribute to the problem, which is why we are offering our list of dos and don’ts for your baby’s bed.

Don’t: Use Stuffed Animals, Pillows, or Crib Bumpers

This “don’t” for your baby’s bed is essential. No matter where your baby is sleeping, you should never place stuffed animals, pillows, crib bumpers, comforters, or any other soft, plush item in their crib. Infants do not have the head and neck strength to pull their faces out of these items, which can lead to suffocation. If you need to use a blanket, go for a thin blanket and tuck it under the mattress and place baby at the foot of the bed under it.

Do: Use Fitted Sheets

Fitted sheets for your baby’s crib will help keep your baby’s mattress clean and will give your baby a soft surface to sleep on. These sheets are also less likely to come off of the mattress and pose a risk to your baby, making it another important item on our list of dos and don’ts for your baby’s bed. You can find a wide range of fitted sheets in a variety of colors and themes. Just be sure that you check the sheet daily to ensure that it is safely secured.

Don’t: Buy a Crib without Checking it Out

Older cribs may not meet current safety recommendations. Some cribs, particularly those with drop rails, have been recalled. Before you purchase a crib, make sure that you check for recalls and distance between the slats (no bigger than 2 3/8 inches). Also, avoid cribs that have any missing slats, missing hardware, or damaged parts. This tip on our list of dos and don’ts for your baby’s bed is extremely important for safety.

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Posted in Baby Items, Baby Nursery, Baby Safety, Caring for Baby, Cribs, Post Birth | No Comments »

Caring for and Choosing Your Baby’s Pacifier

Thursday, November 10th, 2011

While not all infants take well to pacifiers, others cannot live a day without them. But before you purchase a pacifier, there are some basics you should know about caring for and choosing your baby’s pacifier. Find out more here.

Caring for and choosing your baby’s pacifier may seem like a simple and straightforward task, and it is—if you know a few basic rules. Lack of knowledge, however, can result in a number of complications, from bacterial infections to choking hazards and even pacifier rejection. To prevent these common pacifier issues, among many others, follow these simple tips and guidelines that can help you in caring for and choosing your baby’s pacifier.

Caring for and Choosing Your Baby’s Pacifier: Selecting the Right Pacifier

First and foremost, you need to know how to choose the right pacifier for your baby. Every baby is different and preferences will vary. Breastfeeding babies may prefer different types of pacifiers than bottle fed babies, but a breastfeeding pacifier may not always be preferred by a breastfed baby, or vice versa. For this reason, you should purchase a wide range of pacifiers before your baby is born. Buy one of each type: orthodontic, standard round, latex, and silicone.

All pacifiers you choose should be for babies 0-6 months. Pacifiers should also have ventilation holes to allow saliva to disperse away from baby’s face. Mouth shields should also be at least 1 ¼ inches to prevent your baby from being able to put the entire pacifier in his or her mouth. Failure to follow this guideline can result in choking.

Caring for and Choosing Your Baby’s Pacifier: Cleaning

Before your baby uses their pacifier for the first time, it should be washed in very hot, soapy water. After that, normal washing should suffice. You may also want to soak the pacifier in equal parts vinegar and water daily to prevent fungus buildup. If your baby drops his or her pacifier on the floor, you can simply rinse it in hot water.

Caring for and Choosing Your Pacifier: Replacement

Your baby’s pacifier should be replaced as soon as it starts to show any signs of wear and tear. This can include spots on the nipple that look weak, separation of the nipple from the mouth shield, and holes or bite marks in the nipple. Replacement is an important part of caring for and choosing your baby’s pacifier for both safety and sanitary reasons.

Posted in Baby Items, Baby Nursery, Baby Showers, Post Birth | No Comments »

Nursery Toys and Items that Keep Your Little One Active

Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

Looking for nursery items that help support and stimulate growth and development for your new baby? Check out these nursery toys and items that will help keep your little one active.

During the early stages of your little one’s life, various nursery toys and items can help keep them active while encouraging growth, development, and stimulation at the same time. While your baby is an infant, development happens fast and the early months of life are crucial as he or she learns motor skills and other important aspects of physical, social, and mental development.

Here are some common nursery toys and items that are designed to keep your little one active, entertained, and constantly learning:

Active Gyms—You’ve probably seen these all over your favorite baby retail stores. If you were lucky, you likely received one as a gift at your baby shower. If you’ve yet to fill your baby’s nursery with an active gym, though, it’s time to consider purchasing one or acquiring a used one from a friend or family member. Active gyms are equipped with all kinds of sensory areas for your baby to touch, play, and listen to, and they usually come with a prop pillow that helps encourage tummy development as your baby twists, swerves, and rolls to reach the toys around and above the gym.

Walkers—Walkers are classic nursery toys that help your baby learn to use their feet to pull and walk themselves, with the help of a support seat. They keep your little one active and most of them are designed with trays next to the seat that have built-in toys and sounds to keep your baby entertained.

Swings and Bouncers—Swings and bouncers can be both soothing and entertaining, and both help keep your baby active with different toys for sensory stimulation. They also encourage various physical movements and motor development skills and can be placed in your nursery and taken with you for on-the-go needs as well. Keep swings or bouncers at the top of your list when searching for nursery toys and items that will keep your little one active.

Posted in Baby Nursery, Furniture & Toys | No Comments »

Popular Themes for Your Baby’s Nursery

Thursday, September 15th, 2011

Decorating your baby’s nursery can be really exciting. If you are struggling with choosing a theme, however, it can become rather stressful. If you are struggling, stop stressing and check out some of the most popular themes for your baby’s nursery.

Popular themes for your baby’s nursery can give you some really great ideas if you are having a hard time making a decision. You can follow the themes exactly or you can use them as a springboard for your own ideas. There are even some that you can mix and match to give your baby the perfect nursery theme. The choice is ultimately yours. Just remember to have fun!

Vintage 

Vintage themes have only made the list of popular themes for your baby’s nursery over the last few years. Despite this fact, they have quickly made their presence known. Vintage chic, vintage owls, classic vintage and more are all classified as vintage themes, making this one of the most versatile popular themes for your baby’s nursery.

Winnie the Pooh

Winnie the Pooh is one of the oldest popular themes for your baby’s nursery. This fuzzy little bear was created in the 1920’s and has graced nurseries with his presence for decades. To add to the fun, you can choose the Disney version or the classic version. If you choose this is your favorite of the popular themes for your baby’s nursery, you definitely won’t have to worry about limited choices.

Animals

Animals have inched their way into the list of popular themes for your baby’s nursery as well. There are safari animals, jungle animals, owls, monkeys and more. You can mix and match or you can stick with just one. To complete the look, you can even add a tree wall decal for your baby’s animals.

Teddy Bears

Who doesn’t love a cuddly, snuggly teddy bear? Teddy bears have been popular for quite some time. There are patchwork teddy bears, teddy bear friends, pink teddy bears and blue teddy bears. You can add in butterflies and birds or do the teddy bears alone, making this member of the popular themes for your baby’s nursery perfect for any baby.

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Choosing the Crib Style for Your Baby’s Nursery

Thursday, July 21st, 2011

With so many choices out there, new parents can really have a hard time sorting through all the different crib styles. Here is a list of the most popular styles, along with some important information you will need to know about each one.

Choosing the crib style for your baby’s nursery can seem pretty overwhelming, especially if you don’t know much about cribs. There are multiple styles, designs, and colors, but what is even more important is the way they are used. The following is a list of the different types of cribs and how they are used.

Conventional Crib

When choosing the crib style for your baby’s nursery, you are likely to find many different conventional cribs in a variety of colors, designs, and price ranges. When looking at these cribs, especially used cribs, keep in mind that the drop-down railings have been banned in the United States because of safety issues. Conventional cribs, while generally less expensive than other types of cribs, can only be used until your baby is reaching the toddler stage.

Convertible Cribs

When considering the convertible crib style for your baby’s nursery, you will have to know what the conversions stand for. 2-in-1 cribs can convert from a crib to a toddler bed. This will allow your child to use the same bed until they are too big for the toddler bed. 3-in-1 cribs generally convert from a crib into a toddler bed and a toddler bed to a twin or full sized bed. However, there are convertible cribs that also convert into a daybed in addition to or in place of the twin or full sized bed. Convertible cribs are generally more expensive than conventional cribs.

Little Miss Liberty Cribs

Little Miss Liberty Cribs are definitely the most unique crib style for your baby’s nursery. However, they are also the most expensive. They come in round designs and are extremely elaborate—perfect for a little princess. If you can swing the cost and want something really unique, then you should definitely take a look at this crib style for your baby’s nursery.

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Items You Need for Your Baby’s Trip Home

Monday, July 4th, 2011

Packing your diaper bag for that first trip home can seem overwhelming. Learn what you need for your baby’s first trip home from the hospital.

It can be difficult to choose which items you need for your baby’s first trip home, especially if you are a first time mother. Luckily, there are many mothers that have come before you who can offer you advice. Additionally, this checklist can help you make sure that you are as prepared as possible for your little one’s arrival.

When to Pack the Bag

You should pack your diaper bag at least two weeks before your baby’s due date. However, if your doctor has indicated that you may be delivering early, you may want to choose your items much sooner. It is best if you pack everything in a diaper bag. The hospital will most likely provide you with a diaper bag, but you will have new items to bring home from the hospital. Use the hospital diaper bag to store these extra items, and use your bag to store items you need for your baby’s trip home.

Items for You

It is easy to get excited about packing for your new baby, but don’t forget that there are items you need at the hospital as well. Socks, a comfortable change of clothes, undergarments, a nursing bra, a toothbrush, soap, shampoo, conditioner, and a camera are just a few of the items that you will want to bring for yourself.

Items for Baby

Most of the items you need for baby’s trip home will be worn on the day you bring them home. This includes an outfit to wear home, some socks, a hat, and a receiving blanket. If the weather will be cold, you will need a heavy blanket as well. However, there are also a few items you will need for your time in the hospital. These include extra hats, baby mittens, and an outfit to wear for pictures.

In addition to all of the items you need for baby’s trip home, you may want to pack your baby’s baby book and things to keep you occupied during your hospital stay.

 

Posted in Baby Nursery, Post Birth, Pregnancy | No Comments »

Three Things Every New Mom Needs to Do Before Baby Arrives

Thursday, June 30th, 2011

Preparing for motherhood can be overwhelming, but starting with the essentials is a great way to feel more prepared.

There are a lot more than three things to do before your baby arrives, but certain tasks are more immediate than others. Getting ready to bring a baby into the world is an exciting time in your life, but it also makes you think of the hundreds of things that you need to add to that lengthy to-do list in order to get ready for your little one’s arrival. To get you started, here are three essential things that every mom needs to do before they bring their baby home.

Decorate the Nursery

Nesting is a normal part of expecting. If you haven’t already, you’ll probably be on a mission to start picking out nursery items and colors for the walls. If you want to feel instantly more prepared for your little one’s world debut, then start decorating the nursery. Even if you’ve already painted or picked out the furniture, start adding extra touches to make it more cozy and more personal, such as picture frames, wall décor, and curtains.

Start a Baby Bank

Whether you use a plastic piggy bank on the baby’s new dresser or you go to the bank and open up a fund, starting a baby bank is the perfect way to prepare for your child. Whether you save up pennies or you are able to put hundreds of dollars away, saving a fund for your baby before he or she even gets home will make you feel more prepared, regardless of your budget allotment ad financial situation.

Establish a Legacy

No, your baby’s legacy won’t be left overnight, but you can start building your child’s legacy before they are even born by choosing a good, solid name for them. Research your family history, talk to your family members about names, and study the meanings of the names you like. Deciding on a first and middle name that represents your family is a surefire way to feel like you are getting started on the right foot when it comes to preparing for motherhood. Any new mom can do these three things before baby arrives.

 

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