Parenting & New Baby Advice Blog

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So you’ve just had a little bundle of joy and now want to host a baptism? Great! Why not make your own invitations? If you can carve out a little time while baby is napping, you’ll have enough time to make cute invites yourself.

Start with a theme. It may be white since baptism garments are white. But you can also do pink for a girl or blue for a boy. Yellow works well too. Think about the type of party you are going to have. Is it very big or is it just the immediate family? That will help you decide on what sort of invitations you make. Do you have baptism favors in mind? Match your theme to those.

A smaller party can mean just a handful of invitations. You might just want to take an adorable photo of baby, glue it to card stock, and then write around the edges the date and time of the baptism. In this case, you probably won’t need to include directions and there’s not much you’ll have to write. You’ll have these made in no time. Copy baby’s photo on a color printer if you don’t have time or don’t want to go out and get prints made.

The second option is one where you’re inviting lots of people. Try to automate as much as you can so that you’re not up until midnight gluing and writing. One very sweet idea is to make a christening gown template and cut it out of lace. This can work for a baby girl, but remember, in the olden days, boys wore christening gowns, too. So having a piece of lace won’t look odd even if you did have a boy.

You can pick up a curtain panel cheaply at a discount store that is made out of white cut work or lace. Just place a template in the shape of a t-shirt on it and cut out. It will look like a christening gown when it’s pasted onto a piece of white card stock. Use any other color card stock for a contrasting color. Don’t glue the whole piece of lace down. Just glue it down at the neck and sleeves. This will allow the body of the dress to puff out a little when it’s pulled out of the envelope. It will look more realistic if it’s flowing and not flat on the paper.

Print your invitation specifics on your computer printer so you don’t have to write everything. Glue the printout to the back of the card with a few small dots of glue. Don’t soak the whole card with glue or the paper will crinkle and buckle.

That’s all you need to do! Stick in directions or give the exact street address of the church and you’ll be all set. You won’t even lose a wink of sleep and it couldn’t be cheaper or easier to make these one-of-a-kind invitations.

If you have a boy and don’t want to go with lace, get white satin fabric and cut out a t-shirt and little shorts out of a template and glue those down. Many little boy baptism outfits come with short pants and a shirt, so it will mimic what he’s going to wear. You might also add a blue or pink ribbon to accent the outfit on the card.

More on Baptism:

• What to Give Your Godchild as a Baptism Gift
• How to Choose Your Baby's Godparents
• Baptism Gift Ideas for Baby

A first birthday party should be an event to remember; not only are you celebrating your baby’s first birthday, you are celebrating your first year of parenthood!  Both are more than worthy of a party.  You’ve thought about the theme, the colors, the decorations, the cake – now what about the favors?  These can add a personal touch to your party, and they can help you thank the guests who have made this party so memorable.  Put your party hats on and take a look at these great ideas.

Animal Crackers. Whether you are one, five, or fifty, Animal Crackers are a crowd pleaser.  They make excellent, affordable first birthday party favors that your guests can enjoy after the party.  A health snack, these crackers are also easy on the budget, especially if you buy in bulk from a vendor like Amazon or Costco.  You can also make your own and use cookie cutters to cut them into animal shapes – or any shape that suits your theme.  You can find recipes at AllRecipes.com, Epicurious.com, and other recipe sites.  You can then package them in cute party favor bags.

Balls. You can hand out beach balls, squishy balls, bouncy balls, playground balls, punch balls or balloons, koosh balls, and other fun choices. These old favorites are great for your developing one year old as well as older children who may be in attendance.  You could also hand them out as prizes for games you play during the party (for older children).

Bath Squirters.  These are perfect for kids, and if you want to include the adults, try the variety of fun, bright rubber ducks available today.  For kids, branch out from ducks with other animals, boats, sea animals, dinosaurs, Dora, Yo Gabba Gabba, and other favorites.

Board books. Depending on the number of children in attendance, board books make excellent favors.  Toddlers are curious about the world, and books are one of the ways they explore it.  You can find great books by top children’s authors like Sandra Boynton for about $5.  This can be pricey for a big party, but just right for your little one and a few close friends and family members.  Coloring or activity books are a good alternative for older children or a smaller budget.

Fun Sippy Cups or Reusable Water Bottles. Hydrate your guests with cute theme-related cups or water bottles. Base Brand, for instance, offers a pack of 5 10-ounce water bottles with fun, kid-friendly designs and colors.  This is a practical favor and one that will, hopefully, get a lot of use.

Favors for Adult Guests. A one year old’s birthday party is likely to be attended by mostly adults, and it is easy to incorporate your baby theme with an adult-appropriate favor.  One idea is to get a package of baby socks and fill them with candies, like Hershey Kisses.  You could also put those empty baby food jars to good use.  Wash them out thoroughly and fill with candies.  Tie with a ribbon, and you have an easy, inexpensive favor. Same goes with cookie favors, decorate them accordingly and package them in colored cling wrap or baggies.

A child’s first birthday party is indeed a momentous occasion, but it should also be a fun, simple one.  Keep favors easy-going and stress-free.  You have plenty of birthdays to worry about themes, favors, games, and other party staples; for now, just enjoy your baby’s smiles as she plays with balloons, sample their first bite of cake, and open their very first birthday gifts.

More of Baby's Firsts:

• First Easter Baby Gifts
• Baby's First Christmas Gift Ideas
• Baby's First Birthday Gift Ideas
• First Birthday Party Decoration Ideas

Many times when a couple has their first child, they have no idea what to call the new grandmother and grandfather. If it’s the first grandchild in the family, there may be no precedent set. So the selecting falls to either grandma or grandpa themselves or the couple.

Many times a tradition in the culture will dictate what a new grandmother is called. Nowadays, great grandmothers are often healthy and involved with the family, so new names may need to be chosen for the next generation of grandparents.

If you don’t have a name ready for what your children will call grandma, don’t panic. After all, your child won’t be able to talk until he’s almost two. So you do have some time to think about it. Ask your mom or your husband’s mom what she’d like to be called. Many times they will have already had a name in mind that they dreamed of hearing a little voice call them. If it’s ok with you, use it. No need to ruffle feathers.

If you have siblings who are also going to be having children soon, ask them for input. What would they like their children to call your mom someday? You will all be using the same name for grandma, hopefully, so decide together.

Often kids when they learn to talk will make up their own names for their grandparents. It might sound like babble to you, but grandma swears she heard Bambi and that name is going to stick. You can make up your own name, too. Anything goes. As long as everyone likes it, there’s no limit.

Here are some names you might choose to go with: gramma, gram, grannie, grandmother, grandma, nana, grandmom, nonni, nona, mimi, mammaw, mommom, gitchey, lolly, nooni, toots, mayzie, abuela, mormor, teta, soosa, cece, gadget, grams. These are just a few of the names that different cultures and different groups choose to call grandmothers. You can name your mom anything you like as long as it fits. But just remember that it’s going to stick for a long while. And the other kids will have to use it, too.

There are books about just exactly this topic. Find a good one on how to choose a grandmother name. You’ll find great ideas like groomoeder (Dutch), Savta (Hebrew), Oma (German), Grandmere (French), YaYa (Greek), Nenek (Indonesian), Tutu (Hawaiian), Baba (Bulgarian), Babicka (Czech), Bomma (Flemish), Meme (French Canadian), Lola (Filipino), Mummo (Finnish), Bubbie (Yiddish) and Nonna (Italian). Just make sure you decide on some form of the word before Grandparent's Day! What will you put in the card?

Even if you pick the perfect name and everyone loves it, be prepared to have baby’s sweet voice change it into something different. His version of Babicka could sound nothing like the original word. In fact, it will put a unique twist on grandma’s name and will probably stick.

Today with grandmothers becoming even more involved in raising their grandchildren, the name that is chosen will surely be one of love, admiration, and respect. And most likely it will be chosen by the first grandchild when he’s old enough to utter his first syllables. Look forward to that exciting time and enjoy hearing his little voice call out for his grandmother. No matter what he happens to call her.

More Grandma Articles:

• Create a Book of Stories about Grandma and Grandpa
• A Dear Grandma Letter
• Great Gifts for Grandparents
• Hug in a Card ? Grandparent?s Day Craft

As your children grow, so too does the stress of making each birthday party perfect for them.  Instead of worrying about the perfect decorations, tableware, food, and favors for your one year old, make your theme fun and stress-free.  We hear of celebrities splurging on pony rides, clowns, ice sculptures, petting zoos, and other extravagances, but don’t feel pressured to overspend.  The truth is your child will have a great time with the simplest of decorations, and let's be honest - they'll probably be most interested in their first birthday gifts anyway!

Why not decorate the guest of honor’s throne?  In this case, that is your baby’s high chair.  He will be eating what is likely to be his first piece of cake, and anyone who has ever attended a first birthday party knows that mess is one guest that never turns down an invitation.  A great way to reduce mess and add to the festive atmosphere is to try a birthday highchair set.  Hallmark, for instance, makes a Pooh-themed set which features a plastic mat for under the chair, as well as a banner that can be attached to the front of the tray.  You can always make your own using a plastic mat in the color or pattern of your choice.  You can make a banner using construction paper and stencils.

Any party supply store, online vendor, like Amazon, or box store will carry decorations, and often they come in packages.  You can get a banner, wall cutouts, and centerpieces for one low price.  This is a great way to relieve the stress of decorating for a party.  Simply open the package, and your party is nearly complete.  You can also buy each piece separately to avoid it looking too “matchy.”

You can supplement your party package with colorful streamers, balloons, and even festive rice paper lanterns.  Choose bright, primary colors, which are attractive to babies and small children.  This way, you can mix and match decorations without clashing.  Red tableware looks great with blue streamers and yellow balloons.  Rice paper lanterns are a hot party accessory now, and there is no reason why your one-year-old can’t be trendy!  The adults will enjoy the chic look, and your child will love the colors and patterns that these lanterns come in today.

Your child’s stuffed animals can make a great addition to your party decor.  Not only will it look adorable, your child can play with the decorations.  For a beach-themed party, set out plastic pails with shovels and other sand toys.  Your birthday boy or girl won’t mind that there is no sand; they’ll have fun playing with the toys anyway, and it will help add the fun in the sun look you want.  Plus, you can hand them out as favors to the other children in attendance.

A poster featuring your child’s favorite characters or interests is a great way to add life and vibrancy to the walls for the party.  A cute Pooh poster or one that features jungle animals will be a bright focal point, and one that your child can enjoy in his room after the party.

When decorating for your child’s first birthday party, there is no doubt that you want it to be special.  And it will be!  But special does not mean expensive.  Simple balloons and streamers can provide all the decoration your child needs.

Related Posts:

• First Easter Baby Gifts
• Inexpensive Kids Birthday Party Locations
• 5 Step Birthday Party Planning for Kids

Most people wonder what the use of a teether is. Until they see a teething baby. Then it becomes clear. Babies need to chew on things. It’s part of how they learn about their world. It’s also a soothing way for them to get through the difficult process of cutting new teeth. Chewing on something will help their aching gums to feel better.

You can find teethers of every shape and size. Today’s teethers often come in shapes that look so much like regular toys you’d never guess that they even are teethers. But some of the best teethers are liquid filled. They are great because you can freeze them in the freezer. When baby chews on the cold ring or shape, the iciness is just enough to soothe the pain of teething. The liquid inside is harmless and it is designed to withstand constant biting. They are washable and refreezable, so they are perfect.

Choose a teether that will be easy for baby to handle. Chubby little fingers need objects that are easy to grab, like a ring. If it’s too heavy or bulky, baby won’t be able to pick it up. Check the safety of the teether before giving it to your baby. Make sure it has no BPAs, the harmful material in some plastic. Make sure any paint or coating is non-toxic and can’t chip off. Also, check where the teether is made and whether it is up to snuff on U.S. regulations for safety. Be careful with any from overseas that may not have to adhere to the same standards to be sold.

Teething toys actually help baby’s brain to develop. They will encourage baby to check out his environment, explore, and exhibit curiosity towards objects. These are all great ways for him to develop ideas about the world around him.

You can get soft or hard teethers and either solid or liquid filled teethers. Try a few different kinds to see which your baby prefers. It may be that one day he prefers to chew on a teether blanket and the next day he’s grabbing for a gel-filled one. It’s fine to alternate as long as each choice is proven safe for use with babies.

The age that your child may start noticing and wanting a teether can vary. Some babies want them at eight months and others later. It depends a lot on when he gets his first teeth and how fast his teeth come in. If it’s very painful for him to teethe, he may want to chew on a teether all day. Those are times when you can ask your pediatrician whether it’s ok to give him something like Anbesol to soothe his gums.

Teethers are great for distracting babies, helping to alleviate tooth pain, and allowing babies another tool for exploring their world. Choose a teether based on the style you like as well as what baby seems to gravitate towards. There’s always a new model coming out and you'll have plenty to choose from.

If you are giving a teether as a baby gift, ask the parents what kind she might like or buy a few types so the parents can experiment with the different textures and brands.