Parenting & New Baby Advice Blog

Archive for the ‘Safety’ Category

When a new baby is on the way, you may start to get a bit overwhelmed about what you actually need and what is just a nice addition to your supplies and furniture. If this is your first baby, you may wonder where to turn for this type of advice. If you're just shopping for a baby gift and don't know the difference, well then keep reading! Either way, it's great information to have.

You definitely need a crib for your baby to sleep in. She’ll probably sleep in the crib until she is about two. But when baby comes home from the hospital, she will be a precious little ball of cuteness. That crib is going to seem so big and maybe her room is down the hall from yours. That’s when a bassinet or Moses basket comes in handy.

A bassinet is going to be your best friend during the first few weeks of baby’s new life. She will sleep in it during the night and also during the day. It’s a secure place to put her down when you have to run to get the phone or if you want to change her diaper quickly without running upstairs. The bassinet is designed to go next to your bed while you are sleeping. The reason for it is so that baby can be near you without being in your bed. It’s not advised to put a small baby in bed with you as she can become entangled in covers. It’s safer to have her near you by the side of the bed.

The bassinet will be right near you so when baby cries during the night, you can get to her quickly. Nighttime feedings are easy when you have baby right there. You can even bring bottles into your room at night filled with sterilized water and keep the powder for the formula all measured out in a plastic container. Mix the bottle and you don’t have to run to the kitchen in the middle of the night. And if you are breastfeeding, you’re already there to feed baby when she cries.

The Moses basket is a different story. They sure are cute. These little woven baby baskets have a liner and are designed to hold baby in a comfortable place when she is tiny. The name of the basket is derived from the type of basket Moses from the Bible may have been placed in when he was floated down the river. The problem with the Moses basket is that it rests on the floor. If you have pets or other children, that’s probably not the safest place for a sleeping baby.

There are some good uses for the Moses basket, however. If you want to go out to eat with a friend, bring along the Moses basket and baby can sleep at your feet in it while you eat. But you can also use your stroller for that as today most come with a car seat that sits on top for this very purpose.

Another use of the Moses basket is in the home while no one but you is around. If you’re going to be doing laundry, baby can sleep in the basket by your side. When in doubt about which to buy, however, it's safe to say go with the bassinet.

Related Articles:

• Choosing a Baby Crib
• Ways To Put Babies To Sleep
• Tips for Introducing the New Baby to Your Pet

Every generation of mothers has wanted to feed their babies the very best quality for everything. Whether it's all about organic baby blankets, organic baby clothes or maybe you want to offer your baby organic food. It’s only natural, and today more than ever moms want to feed their baby food that is free of pesticides and chemicals. So what are your options for when baby starts eating baby food? Do you just grab something off your plate and mash it up? Do you run into the grocery store and grab what you can find? Relax knowing your choices are many and there are also modern conveniences designed to help you feed your baby the best foods with the least additives.

Make it Yourself

If you are concerned about your baby eating only organic produce, you’re in luck. Today it’s easy to shop at food stores that sell purely organic produce. Where before organically grown food was hard to find and extremely expensive, you can now find organic marketplaces inside just about every grocery store. There are also stores like Whole Foods or the local health food store that sell certified organic products. The best source is from local farm markets. Most neighborhoods now have them. Stock up on what’s in season and preserve for later.

You can ease your fears of what may have been sprayed on your baby’s food by grinding organic produce yourself. After you’ve brought home carrots, peas, corn and other healthy organic choices, simply wash them and put them in a food processor to mince. You can also purchase a hand-turn food mill designed for making baby food. It’s best to serve the food right away, but if you want to store it up for later, you can easily freeze it. Get a clean ice cube tray and pour individual slots full of the minced veggies. When you need to feed baby, pop one out and defrost it in the microwave. It’s cheaper and healthier than processed foods. And you know exactly what’s in it. You can also do the same with organic meats that you cook yourself and grind. They’ll freeze up too in ice cube trays. Just be sure that after they are solidified in the trays that you place them in freezer bags so they won’t discolor and pick up freezer odors and tastes.

Buy Organic

Again, today’s moms have it good. You can now purchase a line of fully organic baby food at just about any grocery store. In fact, there are many brands that specialize in 100% certified organic baby foods. It may be slightly more expensive than traditional jarred baby food, but if that’s what’s important to you, go for it. You may be pleasantly surprised at the quality and variety offered.

Do you have to go organic?

Today’s baby foods are under strict guidelines from the Food and Drug Administration. So, you can rest assured that the pre-pack baby food you see on the shelves is healthy for your baby. So, no, you do not have to go organic unless you want to. Your family’s lifestyle will dictate how you feed your baby. Do you all eat nothing but organic? Then get baby started on it early. It’s never too early to get baby interested in healthy food choices. It will make it easier for her later on to choose wisely when you’re not there to assist her.

Related Articles:

• All About Organic Food
• More on Organic Food

At some point in your baby gear shopping days, whether for you or for a baby gift, you will encounter the dilemma of the car seat. Which one is best? What should you look for? Should you take a used one that your sister’s kids have outgrown? New moms and dads can rest assured that there is plenty of help available for choosing the ideal car seat.

• Each state has its own regulations, but all agree that you need a car seat, and a properly installed one, before you can leave the hospital with your baby. It used to be that the proud mom would swaddle baby up in her arms in the front seat while dad slowly drove home. Those days are gone in favor of car seats that protect infants. Not only are these seats safer in case of a collision, but they also prevent baby from distracting you while you’re at the wheel.
• In most cities the local police will help you install your car seat safely. Take your car and the seat down to the station before you have the baby and have it installed properly. It’s not a bad idea to do this up to two weeks or more before delivery just in case you go early.
• Should you take your sister or a friend’s old car seat? Experts discourage it. Even though most seats are still safe after being used, there’s no guarantee that they’ll be 100% perfect. Don’t take any chances. This is one area you might want to splurge on. Get a new seat complete with instructions. You’ll sleep better at night.
• Look for an infant car seat that is also convertible to a toddler car seat. Most every store has them now. The bottom will serve as the base. The top portion is a detachable bucket type seat with a handle for you to lift baby in and out of the car in. You install this type of seat so that baby is riding with her face towards the back seat. These rear-facing car seats have been determined to be the safest for infants. Once your child is 20 pounds and one year old—she must meet both requirements—you can turn the seat around so she is facing forward. But experts suggest leaving baby’s seat rear-facing until she outgrows the weight limit listed on the seat’s packaging. Most rear-facing seats will allow a child up to 30 pounds to stay rear-facing. Read your manufacturer’s instructions carefully and save them so that you can refer to them as baby grows. Don’t turn the seat around until your baby safely meets all the requirements of a front facing rider.
• Never put a car seat in the front seat of a car that has air bags. It is unsafe. Baby should ride in the center of the back seat if at all possible. It’s the safest place.
• Other things to look for are washability. You’ll want a car seat that has a cover that can be easily removed for cleaning. Babies often spill milk or food in the car and you need to be able to remove the cover to properly clean it.
• Make sure your seat has tethers and anchors. New car manufacturers now are all required to be equipped with the necessary accommodations for baby seat installation. Ask your car dealer (or check your owner’s manual) for the exact specifications your car has for car seat installation. Most times it’s a metal D-ring that’s installed at the top of the back seat so that you can attach the clips from your car seat for a secure anchor.
• Don’t go for cute over comfort. Baby needs a padded seat and you need a belt that adjusts from the front, not the back of the seat. So if you fall in love with a pink polka dot car seat with no padding that only adjusts from the back, pass on it. Save cutesy for your baby wagon. You’ll save yourself months of aggravation. You want to be able to get at that seatbelt from the front and adjust it as baby grows.
• Go brand name if you can. You’ll rest easier knowing you’ve chosen a brand that you trust. Again, if you can, this is one area that you want to get the very best available.

Related Articles:

Choosing the Right Babysitter

Baby Teething Timetable

Tips for Introducing the New Baby to Your Pet

If you’re compiling your baby gift registry, add a couple safety gates to it. It’s never too soon to start thinking about safety. If you have any kind of stairs in your home, you’re going to need to gate them off as soon as baby starts moving around on his own.

Gates are inexpensive now and come with many ergonomic features. Gone are the days when you had to climb over a waist-high gate and risk falling down the stairs yourself. Now, safety gates are available with walk-through options. You lift a childproof handle and walk through the gate. Close it shut after you and the stairs are safe. Find gates at a home store. Opt for ones that do not have metal closures that can pinch little fingers. Secure them to the wall whenever possible and don’t rely on the kind that suction on. Babies get stronger and an ill-fitting gate can easily topple over giving baby access to dangerous territory. Even if it means putting a few holes in your banister or walls, it’s worth it to know that your gates are secure.

If you’re going to use a larger room for baby’s play area, you’ll also want to gate off any openings to other areas of the house. It’s not just the stairs that prove hazardous. Babies are naturally curious and will meander anywhere they can looking for adventure. You can never leave a baby or toddler alone to go answer the phone or throw in a load of laundry. You’ve got to secure the entire area in order to keep baby safe. Remove any dangling objects and cords from the gated area as well. Baby may attempt to grab onto anything he can to get up and over the gate.

If you have pets, you have another challenge before you. You want to keep your beloved dog or cat in the house, but you don’t want any accidents with baby around. Dogs can easily be discouraged from entering the room baby is in. Just make sure the gate you choose is sturdy and tall enough to prevent either your baby or your dog from jumping or climbing over. Most dogs will easily get the idea and not whine or scratch to be let into the area. If you’ve got a stubborn dog on your hands who refuses to stay in his own area, you might want to consult a veterinarian who can advise you on training tips. Make sure you give your pet enough room of his own so he won’t feel banished. And spend time alone with your pet so he doesn’t feel left out.

Cats are their own unique creatures. They refuse to acknowledge gates or barriers. If you have a very young child, assume that he will be interested in the cat. Anything that moves is going to catch baby’s attention. So what to do with your precious feline while baby’s up and playing? You’re going to have to choose one or two rooms for your cat to roam in. The rest of the rooms will have to remain closed off. This may seem harsh if your cat is used to free reign of the house, but it’s for baby’s safety. Even the most well-behaved cat will scratch when his tail is pulled.

More on Baby Safety:

• Safety and Health Considerations at Playgrounds and Pools
• How To Babyproof Your Home

When you’re shopping for baby’s crib, you want the very best. You also want to make a smart choice that will make the most of your money. That’s where the genius of the convertible crib comes in. It’s the perfect choice for stretching your dollar beautifully. Why by a single function crib when you can have a convertible?

What is a convertible crib? It’s a crib that is able to grow with your child. It starts out as a standard crib, often with a trundle storage drawer underneath. Then, as your child grows, it converts to a toddler bed. Anyone who has shopped for a toddler bed knows that they are usually poor quality plastic with very few choices available. With the convertible crib, you change a few screws, move a few bars and you’ve got yourself a brand new toddler bed that perfectly matches the decor you already had. And you don’t have to outlay any more cash or spend time shopping for a toddler bed.

But that’s not all a convertible crib does. After your toddler has lovingly used the toddler bed configuration, it converts to a day bed. All with a few quick switches. This allows you to keep the same room decor and have a place for your growing preschooler to sleep. She’ll love holding her baby blanket watching her toddler bed turn into a big girl bed. And you’ve not only gotten another bed out of your investment, but you’re also taking up the same amount of space the crib and toddler bed did. No need to rearrange the room or figure out how to get a bed into the existing layout. Just reconfigure with all the same pieces and you’re ready to go.

Because you’re using the existing parts and pieces, most convertible cribs reconfigure to include a safety rail for your toddler. Then, when the daybed configuration comes into play, the mattress is low enough for your growing youngster to climb in and out of by herself.

Some models of convertible cribs offer a fourth configuration. The headboard and footboard are existing pieces of the set and you add a single mattress. Now you’ve really got a bed that can grow with your child from birth to college.

The convertible crib is an ingenious invention. It saves resources, money, shopping time, and room. It’s a new parent’s dream come true. Your child will love watching as her bed magically takes shape to a new and fascinating piece of furniture. You can use your existing linens and mattress too.

You may invest a little more for a convertible crib than for a standard one-use-only crib. But it’s very little at that. For the quality construction and amazing reuse of the parts, you’re getting a good 20 or so years out of one piece of baby furniture. When the standard crib has had to be moved out of the nursery in other households to bring in a new bed, you’ll still be using your old favorite piece of furniture quite happily.

Modern parents have many more choices than parents of even just one generation back. Now, parents can spend their money on other baby necessities or sock it away for a rainy day. The convertible crib makes baby’s bed from newborn to first or second grader a delightful part of the decor.

Related Articles:

• Nursery Theme Ideas for Girls
• Baby Crib Safety
• Guidelines for Crib Safety
• How to Make a Baby Mobile