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.

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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.

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• 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.

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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.

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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.

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Audio baby monitors are still a good option for the parent who just wants to listen in for baby’s waking cries or to hear if baby has fallen asleep. They are portable, so you can take the receiver downstairs or out on the porch while the monitor end stays in baby’s room. These are good for basic sound monitoring. The clarity is good, but there can often be static and they do not allow you to go very far away from the monitor. You may, with some units, be able to go to the mailbox or to the garden depending on how far they are from the house.

But also consider the video baby monitor. Technology has finally caught up with moms’ and dads’ concerns. Not only is it possible to hear your baby in his room, but now you can see him as well. Many companies sell them and they offer varying levels of capabilities.

Geeks.com (www.geeks.com) is one company that sells a very high-end video and audio baby monitoring system. It’s called the "2.4GHz Wireless Baby Monitor Color Camera Kit w/Pan & Tilt Infrared Night Vision Camera & Handheld Monitor/Controller". This is intelligent electronic surveillance at its best. Parents now can watch their baby on a 2.4” LCD color receiver. Every move baby makes can be seen even in the daylight or the dark. Several small LED lights make it possible for baby to be viewed even in a dark room. It will record baby from up to 32 feet away. You can take the receiver end with you and transmission is clear without static. You can even use the included ear buds so no one else is disturbed by baby’s cries. One drawback is that it is only for indoor use. But most parents tend to stay in the house while baby is sleeping anyway. It does feature a two-way speaker so you can coo and talk to baby from downstairs and let your voice reassure him. If you know a parent who worries, this would make a nice baby shower gift. And it’s under $100.

There are all sorts of baby monitoring products that go from simple audio to in-shower receivers so a parent can take a shower while listening for baby. There are also monitors that pick up on baby’s sleep movements. The transmitter can be placed under baby’s mattress and if no movement is detected for 20 seconds, the monitor tone goes off. That may be too much information for some parents, but for parents of high-risk babies or preemies, this may be just the thing to reassure them baby’s ok. Another type of monitor is the window/motion sensor. For parents who worry about baby’s safety, this monitor is perfect. It will go off if any movement is detected in the room or at the window.

It’s up to you to decide how much monitoring you want to do. If your house is small and baby will be on the same floor as you for easy check-ins, maybe an audio monitor is all you need. If you have a large house or have a caregiver monitoring baby, you might want to go high-tech with a video monitor. Today’s monitors have drastically improved from the olden days. And they have actually come down to a decent price that will allow any concerned parent to own one. They make excellent new mom gifts and come in adorable shapes, colors, and styles to fit every nursery décor.

More Helpful Parenting Articles:

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Here are some baby bathing tips to keep in mind for newborns and young infants:

• The most important rule is Never Walk Away. Don’t walk away from an infant in a tub or sink for any reason whatsoever. Your Aunt Margaret can call back. The UPS guy can leave the package at the door. You are chained to the tub or sink until baby’s bath is over. Infants can drown in less than one inch of water in less than a few seconds. So, don’t be scared, but don’t be careless.
• Use warm water only. Babies have such tender skin that they can be sensitive to temperatures adults would consider fine. Use a baby bath thermometer. These come in cute shapes and you probably got one at your shower. Test the water first before putting baby in and never run the faucet directly on baby.
• It’s best to bathe baby in a sink fitted with a plastic baby bath tub. You won’t have to bend over a tub and besides, baby is too small for a full tub bath. Just clear out the dishes and place the bath tub right in the sink.
• Fill the bath water before baby gets in. Ensure that it is the right temperature (your thermometer will have markings to tell you when it’s safe) and then gently place baby into the baby bath tub.
• You only need a dime sized dot of baby bath. The less the better. It’s hard to rinse a wiggling infant, so just use a little on a washcloth. Never pour baby bath directly on a newborn’s head as it may get in their eyes and will be hard to rinse out.
• You’re there to hold the baby at all times. You may want another pair of hands there for your first few baby baths. Don’t move from baby to grab lotion or a towel. Your hands stay on baby at all times.
• Support his head and talk to baby during the bath. Most babies love their bath, but the first few times he may be cold or sense your nervousness. Don’t worry. It gets better and soon he’ll be cooing right back at you.
• You don’t need to run the faucet water over baby to rinse him. Gently clean between baby’s toes and fingers where formula or breast milk can hide and then use a plastic cup to gently run some of the tub water over baby to rinse.
• Because tiny infants get cold quickly, make bath time a fast in and out. Save the toys from the baby bath gift baskets til later. As baby gets older you can spend more time playing and splashing. But tiny infants need to be dried off and swaddled in a blanket or hooded towel before they have time to catch a chill.
• Arrange to have help getting baby dressed after the bath at least for the first few times. You’ll wrap baby in a dry towel and carry him to his changing area. Have pjs or a new outfit ready to go. You’ll need diapers, socks, t-shirt and pants along with any other layers. Be sure that you send someone to get them for you and never walk away from a baby on a changing table. Not even for one short second while you reach for a diaper. If you find you are missing something at the changing table, carry baby with you to get the item. Even the smallest of infants can fall off a changing table in a fraction of a second. Better safe than terribly sorry.

More Newborn Tips:

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Gather the following supplies: a baby bath tub that fits in the sink, a wash cloth, a bath towel or baby’s hoodie towel, and a bottle of baby bath. That’s all you need and you’re ready to head over to the sink.

Bathe a newborn in the kitchen sink for a couple of reasons. First, it’s easier for you since you won’t have to bend over a bath tub. Second, it’s easier for you to maneuver and hold on to baby in her bathtub in the sink.

Rid the sink of any dishes and then place the baby bathtub in the sink. Fill it with warm water, about two inches high. That’s all you need. You don’t want to fill the bathtub too much as babies can squirm around and also don’t need a lot of water to be washed. Their bodies are so little.

Stores do sell baby bath water thermometers. If you are a first time mom and worried about not getting the temperature of the water right, go out and get yourself one. You may have even gotten one for your shower. It’s basically just a cute shaped thermometer with markings that tell you if the water is too hot for baby. You can also test the water the old fashioned way by putting your elbow into the water. If it feels right to your elbow—not too hot or too cold—then it will be perfect for baby’s soft skin.

Place baby in the bath tub. From this point on, you are anchored to the sink. You can’t answer the phone if it rings, or the doorbell, or attend to a barking dog. Your mind is now 100% focused on baby so she doesn’t slip down into the water.

Keep your hand on baby at all times. There will only be an inch of water, but it can be enough to cause a baby to drown if left unattended. Be cautious but not terrified. You’re right there holding baby, so all will be well.

Next take the washcloth and dunk it into the bath water. Put a dime-sized squirt of baby bath on the washcloth and start washing baby. Wash her head by rubbing it gently with the soap. Then continue down baby’s body. Wash under the folds of the neck where milk can accumulate. Wash between little toes and fingers, too. Don’t turn the water on to rinse baby. You don’t want to scald her. Instead, just gently use the wash cloth to rinse her by drizzling the bath water over her.

Talk to baby as you bathe her. She’ll start to look forward to baby bath time with you. Baths can be short and sweet, and should be, for newborns. Prolonged exposure to the water will give her the chills. So dress her in her pjs or outfit for the day right away.

Don’t use a blow dryer on baby’s head. Her hair is probably so fine that it needs little more than a light towel dry. You don’t want all that hot air from the dryer to scald her sensitive skin. Comb her hair with a tiny baby brush.

When you’re all done dressing baby, lay her down on her back to sleep in her bassinette or place her in her baby swing while you go dump out the bath water. You’ll need the sink again soon and you’ll want the space cleared. Keep the bathing supplies nearby so you don’t have to run around looking for them next time.

Surprisingly, experts say that toddlers should be allowed to have security blankets if they want them. Security blankets can be a source of comfort for a toddler or a baby who can’t otherwise talk or make their requests known.

There are no health or developmental risks associated with the use of security baby blankets. Starting from when babies are first swaddled up in blankets at the hospital when they are born, blankets can bring comfort and soothe a crying baby. The warmth and coziness associated with a blanket can often stand in for mom when a child is separated from her, whether she’s a room away or away at work. Small babies need to be swaddled to keep them warm, and also to keep them from flailing their arms around and scratching themselves.

Older babies should not be left alone in their cribs with blankets due to suffocation risk.  They can certainly play with their favorite blanket on the floor or in the playpen when they are being supervised.

As children grow older, their need for the blanket changes from a desire for warmth to a desire for reassurance. As long as their blanket is nearby, they can face the first day of playgroup or meeting a new friend. Some children never take to the idea of a security blanket, while others demand to have a favorite blanket with them at all times. Beware to the mom who tries to take the blanket away to wash it! Children who love their security blankets are reluctant to give them up for any reason, even if they are covered in mud. So most parents wash their child’s blanket while the child is sleeping.

Many parents worry that their children are going to be made fun of if they carry a security blanket after a certain age.  What is that age? Is a two-year-old too old to carry a blanket? A three-year-old? Who can say?

Experts agree that if the child is entering school, it’s probably best to wean them off their blanket slowly. This can be difficult especially if their blanket has been their best friend. A parent can start asking for the blanket to be left at home during short trips to the grocery store, and then longer and longer trips until the child is finally able to board the bus for Kindergarten without his blanket.

There is nothing wrong with allowing a child to have his favorite security blanket. It’s a way for the child to deal with stress, uncertain circumstances like divorce, and many other issues that children deal with every day. The blanket may be their best source of reassurance that everything is going to turn out ok. The only time to begin to be concerned is if the child is about to head off to school where blankets aren’t allowed or he’s reached the age where other children may tease him about it.

Ask your pediatrician for advice if the baby blanket situation is getting out of hand in your house. She can offer suggestions that will allow your child to comfortably and slowly give up their attachment to their blanket. Don’t expect it to happen overnight.  Also, don’t feel like you did something wrong if your child is older and still wants his blanket. You can always arrange for your child’s blanket to be waiting for him when he returns home from school and to stay on his bed until he’s much older and no longer wants it. You can also make the blanket into a pillow or include it as part of a robe so the child can keep it forever.

Security blankets can be wonderful stress relievers for children. Discuss any concerns you may have with your doctor and you and your child will be more at ease.

First, buy a new crib. It can be tempting to take on an old or used one, but there are a few problems with that. Yes, you will be saving money, but you don’t know if important screws and safety bars are missing. Even if you’re just bringing your own baby crib down from mom’s attic, remember, in just a few years, no less decades since you’ve used it, crib safety has improved greatly. There are now standards in place that were not even considered even as recently as the 1980s. Choosing a new crib in a modern model will give you peace of mind. It’s worth the extra money. You can register for it and hope you get it for your baby shower. Or, you can just go out and pick it out yourself. Don’t worry that it’s a chunk of change. If you invest in convertible crib, you can get a piece of baby furniture that your child will use from infant to college. These cribs change from crib to day bed to full bed with just a few quick turns of a screw. Some even have nightstands incorporated in them that switch out from changing table form when baby outgrows diapers. Amazing!

As for other safety issues you should be concerned with are the spacing of the bars. If they are not close enough together, baby’s head could be caught. If you purchased a new crib, don’t worry as the manufacturers have to abide by crib bar spacing regulations.

Never put crib linens in the crib other than a fitted sheet. You may want to add bumpers and pillows and blankets which all look cute, but are actually choking hazards. Babies can get caught in and under crib bumpers and have suffocated under blankets without having the mobility to get themselves out from under them. Babies do not need pillows, so don’t feel like you’re robbing them of comfort. They are supposed to sleep on their backs to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, SIDS, so be perfectly confident in laying them on their backs without pillows to sleep.

Don’t hang a mobile over the crib that could fall and become tangled. If you want to use a mobile, make sure it’s new and secure. Older models, again, are cute but questionable as to their safety.

Adjust the crib mattress so that as baby grows, the mattress goes lower and lower. That way he can’t climb out. New cribs have adjustment levers that allow you to raise or lower the mattress for this purpose.

Use a monitor so you can hear what’s going on in baby’s room when he’s in the crib. Video monitors will also let you see him, so you’ll have another confirmation that he’s ok. If you follow common sense precautions, you’ll actually be able to fall asleep at night and leave all your worries behind.