Babies-Toddler

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24
Jun 11

Making a Kid’s Party Exciting

For small children, it isn抰 very difficult to have a kid抯 party that is fun for everyone, but as they become older, it becomes more difficult. You want to make it exciting for everyone, but you aren抰 sure just what to do. You need suggestions for things to do that won抰 bore the older children while keeping the younger children entertained.

It is usually about the age when children begin school that they start wanting to have their birthday party somewhere besides home: bowling alley, skating rink, amusement park, beach, and the like. If you are in a financial position to schedule your party at one of these places, it抯 great fun for the kids and gives them an opportunity to do something with their friends besides sit around the television or play video games all day. For those who can抰 afford a party away from home or simply don抰 want to plan that kind of party, there are other alternatives.

Most children under the age of twelve enjoy seeing a clown perform his magical tricks and make animals out of balloons. For the older child who feels he is too mature for a clown, it抯 still possible to hire a magician to come and perform some magical tricks for the children at the party. Though games such as 揚in the Tail on the Donkey?have been played for years, you can put a new twist on it with a change in the rules for prizes ?instead of everyone getting something, have 2-3 nice prices for those who are really good at the game.

If it抯 a summertime party, and you have a pool, developing some pool games can be a fun change of pace. All children love the pool, and if they can play games to win prizes, that抯 even better. You as the party planner may have some ideas of your own, but remember, making a party exciting means something different for different ages.

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23
Jun 11

Baby Halloween Costumes on a Budget

Halloween is just around the corner. Have you thought about what costume to get for your baby? Here are some cute and inexpensive ideas for baby costumes. We know not everyone has the time (and the many assistants) that Martha Stewart has, so these costumes are designed to be E-A-S-Y.

Strawberry: Dress your little one all in red. Red socks, shirt and pants. Place a green cap on her head and you’re set to go. If you’re feeling especially artistic, you can make a leaf or two out of green felt and attach it to the hat by sewing it or by using a safety pin or two. (We know you’re busy, so you might not have time to sew!)
Leopard: It’s fairly easy to find pants in leopard print for children. If you’re on a budget, you can even visit a thrift store and find pants like these. Put your child in a leopard top, too, if you can find one. Put him in a black top if you can’t. You can buy some inexpensive cat ears anywhere costumes are sold and voila! You’ll have a little leopard on your hands.
Pumpkin: Little ones look adorable dressed as pumpkins. Wouldn’t you love to see the round, smooth face of your baby peering out from a pumpkin costume? You can make one by dressing your baby in orange. Cut out triangles for a nose and eyes and then cut out a crescent shape for the mouth. Either sew the nose, eyes and mouth onto the orange shirt or use safety pins (you can put the safety pins in from the back so they won’t be very visible). A green cap for the stem is a wonderful addition to this costume.
The Cutest Witch Ever: Although you can buy these costumes all over, this one is so easy to put together. Get a small pointy black hat. Dress your little girl in a black dress with striped or wild-colored tights (for fun!). That is all there is to it.
A Cowboy or Cowgirl: Lasso up your young one for Halloween! Dress them in a cowboy hat, plaid shirt, jeans, and boots. If you can get ahold of a vest and a sheriff’s badge so much the better to convey the idea of the American West.

Choosing a costume can be so much fun. If you want to explore more budget-friendly ideas, visit a thrift store or a child consignment shop and see what they have in stock. As with baby clothes, the costumes are barely worn, yet you end up getting them more than 50% off the ‘new’ price.

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23
Jun 11

Tips to Baby Care – Things You Should Know

Wonderful moment has arrived – you had a baby! Now what? Caring for your baby is a skill, lucky us it can be easily acquired and learned. Baby care and nurturing is going to fill your days for the first few month to the maximum, and here are some tips to help you reduce stress and make parenting more enjoyable!

Talking to, touching, and holding your new baby in the delivery room is good for you and your baby.
This is a wonderful time to start breastfeeding. Tell your care giver not to let anyone else feed your baby so that your baby will only get your breast milk.
Your health care giver will examine your baby right after birth, checking appearance and color, reflexes, breathing, heart rate, and activity to see whether your baby needs any special care.
Ask to have your newborn placed beside you in bed. Touch and hold your baby, and get to know how your baby feels.
Your baby may look different from the way you expected. Ask the hospital staff if you have questions about the way your baby looks.
Ask the staff to show you how to take your baby’s temperature and read the thermometer.
All infants should be protected against hepatitis B. Some doctors recommend the first shot be given before going home from the hospital.
You should take your baby to see the doctor when your baby is about 1 week old unless you are told to come in sooner. Call your baby’s doctor right after your baby is born for an appointment.

Before you and your baby leave the hospital, a few drops of blood will be taken from your baby’s heel to check for some rare problems.

You will need a car safety seat (marked “federally approved”) to bring your baby home. It is the law-your baby must always be in an approved safety seat when traveling in a car, van, or truck. Ask your health care giver, the hospital where you deliver, or health department about programs that loan federally approved car safety seats.

If you or the baby’s father have any questions about how to pick up, hold, feed, bathe, diaper, or dress your baby, ask the hospital staff to help you. Your new baby needs all of the love and comfort you can give. You cannot love a baby too much. Your entire family can share in the joy of this love.

Caring for your baby at home …

Most newborn babies spend most of their time sleeping and eating. You want to make sure that baby has a safe place to sleep and is put to sleep in a safe position.

A safe crib will have slats no more than 2 3/8 inches apart and corner posts less than 5/8 inch high above the rails.

Baby should sleep on a firm mattress that fits tightly in the crib, cradle or bassinet.

Do not put pillows, comforters or other soft padded materials in the bed under the baby.

Put healthy infants to sleep on their backs or sides.

Keep the sides of crib raised when baby is sleeping in it.

Try to keep sleeping newborns away from pets, other children and large overstuffed toys.

Don’t let people smoke around your baby. Your baby’s lungs are delicate. Babies are not as resistant to respiratory infections as their parents.

Hopefully these simple tips will help you enjoy your new responsibilities to its fullest and fill your days with joy, not stress.

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22
Jun 11

Girls Toddler Beddings – What to Look For and What Not to Look For

When looking for toddler bedding for your girl, there are several things you might want to consider. Here’s a quick guide on the things you need to look for and the things you need not look for when buying one for your child.

What to look for:

Brand – When it comes to buying your girl her own toddler bedding, be brand conscious. It is safe to buy something that is created by a famous brand or group, or a brand that you can trust and know for a fact that other people trust as well. Don’t compromise your girl’s safety and security!

Tags – Make sure that the tag of the toddler bedding of your choice is readable and visible to every buyer. Make sure that you read through the product descriptions and claims before buying your girl’s toddler bedding. Know the materials used in creating the bedding and how durable it actually is to have a brief estimate of how many years it can be used.

Reviews – Some toddler bedding have product reviews. Trust that these came from actual customers. Most reviews will be positive though as this is a typical marketing strategy but some toddler beddings that are branded have all sorts of reviews online. Read through them carefully and educate yourself.

Quality – What materials are used in making the toddler bedding? It has to top quality and should be tailored perfectly. Again, don’t compromise your girl’s safety, security and comfort.

Functionality – How feasible is the toddler bedding of your choice? If you are considering a branded bedding to buy, most often than that is boasts of functionality.

Affordability – Even if the toddler bedding of your choice is branded and made from quality materials, it can still be affordable. It doesn’t have to be cheap though. It is affordable because when you take into consideration a lot of factors you still know for a fact that you’re spending on a good buy.

What not to look for:

Discounts – Avoid discounted toddler bedding. Chances are these are discounted because no one wanted to buy the design or style. For whatever purpose, avoid discounted bedding for your girl.

Old Stocks / Sale Items – Consider the packaging of the toddler bedding of your choice. See to it that the packaging isn’t old and that there are still stocks you can choose from. If the item is on sale and the packaging does not look very good, avoid buying it. Give yourself more options and chances to choose other toddler bedding out there.

Freebies – Don’t be engaged to buying a product only because it has a promo. Some brands will give you add-ons in order to entice you to buy their product. Sometimes you will even be surprised to discover that the add-ons are more expensive than the bedding itself. Do not be over ruled by this marketing strategy. Keep in mind, freebies mean something all the time.

Untagged / Unbranded – Avoid buying toddler bedding that do not have a brief description of the materials used. Chances are, they are not made from top quality materials. Choose a brand that is transparent to the customers and that you can trust with your girl toddler.

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22
Jun 11

Hanging Wall Letters Personalize Any Nursery

When it comes to nursery decor, letters that spell out the baby’s name make the room even more special. Whether you’re decorating your own baby’s nursery, or are looking for the ultimate baby shower or baby gift, wooden wall letters are sure to be treasured not only through the baby’s childhood, but also throughout his or her entire life. What’s more, wood letters that spell out a child’s name are the perfect gift for children, pre-teens, and even teenage girls.

Materials

When it comes to shopping for nursery letters and hanging wall letters, you have a number of options. Retail stores and boutiques offer wooden letters, but they are often very expensive and made from shoddy materials or are poorly constructed. It’s best to look for an online source that offers exquisite craftsmanship and materials, as well as a guarantee of satisfaction.

For example, many retail stores sell wood letters that are only one-eighth inch thick, whereas an online source may offer letters that are three-quarters inch thick. Similarly, the nursery letters in stores are often made from acrylic or nylon – materials that don’t have the timelessness or elegance of wood. In addition, stores often only carry one or two sizes of hanging wall letters, while an online source may offer letters in a variety of sizes that range from six inches tall to 12 inches tall.

Customization

The best sources for nursery decor letters will offer you a wide variety of customization options. For example, you should be able to choose from at least six different styles of fonts that range from the simple Times New Roman to the fun and fancy Curlz. Likewise, you should be able to choose from among more than two dozen different colors, so that the wooden wall letters can match or complement the room’s decor. When it comes to hanging options, you should be able to request either brass hooks that are attached to the letters or free ribbon. The ribbon should be 1-1/2 inches wide, and you should be able to select from among double faced satin ribbon, sheer organza ribbon, or gingham ribbon. In all, you should have over 80 ribbon choices.

Unpainted Wood Letters

Unpainted wood letters are a wonderful gift for girls, tweens, and teens. When kids use acrylic or latex paint to personalize their letters, they have the opportunity to express themselves and to proudly display their hand-painted names in their rooms. Painting wood letters is a great family craft activity as well.

Pricing

In retail stores, hanging wall letters can easily cost over twenty dollars each. When you buy wood letters from a reputable online source, however, you can get superior quality at a fraction of the cost. When it comes to painted letters, online prices can range from six-inch letters for $6.95 per letter to 12-inch letters for $12.95 per letter. Often, this includes the free ribbon of your choice. Unpainted wood letters are even less expensive, ranging from $3.95 per six-inch letter to $8.95 per 12-inch letter.

Hanging wall letters make the perfect gift, either for your own newborn or child, or for those of your friends and relatives. Just remember to go the extra step and find the best quality and lowest prices online.

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21
Jun 11

Get the Best Potty Chair

Potty training is both a frustrating and rewarding experience. It can be very time-consuming, but also will definitely pay off in the end. You have several options when comes to choosing which throne is best for your little prince or princess: tiny potty chairs, potty seats that attach to the toilet and hand-me-down potties.

Have your child sit on different seats so that you can note their size in relation to your kid’s size. The right chair allows your little one’s feet to rest on the floor so she can bear down when she has to poop. Dangling feet may slow the process.

Make sure your chair or toilet topper is stable, and that a little chair has a way to easily remove its contents. The ones that remove from the top are much easier to use than the ones that remove from the bottom. I had one that removed from the top, and I found it very simple to pick up and empty the waste into the toilet. A chair also shouldn’t be able to slide around on the floor.

Will your child like a chair that rings, plays music, or does something else when she pees or poops into it? Some children may be terrified by it and hold their bowels. Others may be encouraged by this noise. My daughter’s Royal Potty played short songs when she used it, and she danced and continued her process. Additionally, keep in mind that if parents can’t stand noise-making potties, it’s probably best to steer clear of them or turn off that function. An annoyed parent will only make the potty training process wearisome.

The toilet-topper

If you child is fascinated by the “big potty,” a potty seat that attaches to a regular-sized toilet is the way to go. You will definitely need a step stool with a firm base to go with a topper so your child can use it when she has to bear down.

Find a topper that won’t be a pain to remove and that adjusts to several different types of toilets. I have a Baby Bjorn Toilet Trainer for my daughter. Although it costs more than other toilet toppers, it has never once caused me a problem. It fits every shape of toilet imaginable and adjusts so that it tightly stays on a toilet. I bring it with me everywhere, and my daughter is not shy about going in any toilet because she has her Toilet Trainer to sit on. Also, if you have a boy, the Toilet Trainer has a raised portion in the front to catch flying pee. I have to admit that this feature has been helpful with my girl because she doesn’t always sit how she’s supposed to. I highly recommend this model.

The potty chair
If your child wants something that’s “mine,” then a standalone potty chair is best. What’s nice about a potty chair is that your child will not need your help to go. However, you have to clean up the mess. And boy is that a nasty mess to clean.

I started out using a Royal Potty, by Fisher-Price. But when my daughter started exclusively pooping in it day in and day out, I decided that there had to be a better way of training. I gradually phased it out and got her used to a big toilet. She loves being a “big girl.” Granted, I think that the Royal Potty was a great start, but the Toilet Trainer is better for the long haul.

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20
Jun 11

Affordable Baby Room Ideas

Sometimes when it comes to decorating a toddler’s room you are afraid to do anything major, interior decorating can definitely become expensive, but it doesn’t have to be major to be fun or a success. One option is to paint the room, changing the color can be fun for your child, although it can be quite the hassle. Another great way, is to simply purchase new bedding for your toddler. Alway make sure to involve the child in the decision. Allow them to join you in the shopping process. Perhaps your little one has a favorite TV show or new Pixar film. That’s almost an ingeniously easy fix. All it takes is a little searching, if the stores nearby don’t have what you’re looking for, than get online. You can find anything you are looking for. And that is a promise.?/p>

But maybe you are like my mother. She didn’t like having anything printed or branded on our beds it may growing and changing tastes difficult and expensive. Instead she would sit me down at each new bed room- we moved a lot- and she would help me look through catalogues and my favorite belongings and choose a theme. A color theme or perhaps a animal theme. We would look all over for the perfect bedding that would go along with my room. I once chose cherries. I don’t know where I got the idea but it was exciting to me. We went out and shopped all around until we found a simple bedspread that was tied with little ribbon cherries. I was so excited to take it home and decorate my room. I wanted my room painted yellow and then I accented it with reds. It did help that my mother was an interior designer by trade, I suppose.?/p>

But as I got older and had to decorate my own rooms I began to come to the assumption that the simpler the choices the better. Your little one does have opinions don’t be afraid to explore them. If they like the green grass outside, perhaps bringing it inside wouldn’t be a bad idea. Or if they really like stars, then easy, go to the store and buy a bag of those glow in the dark stars. Stick them all over the ceiling. They won’t tire of staring up at the constellations you made together. There is no room that can top one designed by parent and child. Even if they are little, and almost especially while they are toddlers. Allow them to begin to express themselves. They have very quick working little brains and they want to solve puzzles and help out especially if it is for their own room.?/p>

A simple way to make it all come together. If you do decide that painting the room is the way to go. Choose one or two of the colors in the rainbow. What ever you choose, get a couple. Then offer the child more options. If they choose green, get them a sampling of the range of green, from sea foam green, to forest green. Helping your child discover that there are even more colors out there, begins to open up a whole new world for them. This is the perfect time to create a new world for them, make it fun and stimulating and do it together.

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19
Jun 11

Real Nappies – What Are They and Are They For You and Your Baby?

Real nappies are best described as washable or reusable nappies. These nappies are usually made of cloth with some type of waterproof outer. Real nappies originate from the terry nappy which was the main nappy used by parents up to the mid seventies or early eighties.

When I discovered real nappies 4 years ago when my son was born many people did not know what they were and some thought real nappies were still just terry nappies. A lot of people jugged these nappies thinking they had to be folded, sagged, needed plastic pants and needed soaking. Some thought I was mad and just making more work. This could not be further from the truth.

Modern washable nappies are fantastic. There are many brands on the market, which are very contemporary, easy to use and perform well. From personal experience I feel that shaped nappies perform consistently to a high standard. These can come in two parts as a nappy and wrap or as an all in one nappy. To begin with there is no need to fold these nappies they are shaped ready to put on. Forget those sharp safety pins modern real nappies are fastened by poppers, applix (strong Velcro) or my favourite the ‘nappy nippa’ ( ‘T’ shaped plastic which grips the nappy and fits to baby exactly).

There is no need to soak nappies nowadays as washing machines are so efficient. I wash all my nappies at 40 degrees unless badly soiled. Dry paling is best just throw your nappies into a well-sealed bucket until ready to wash. As for washing you only talking about 2-3 extra loads a week with a set of 20 nappies. One disposable user who tested real nappies said ‘it is not harder just different’.

There are so many positives to using resuable nappies. To begin with they are cheaper you can save over ?000 (this takes into account washing costs) compared to disposables when using a lot of real nappies, savings are even greater if the nappies are used on a second or third child as I have discovered. They are easy to use just put on a wash when you run low. No rushing out to the shops due to running out of nappies and no lugging large boxes of nappies out of the supermarket. Real nappies are very soft and gentle next to babies skin.

They are so cute coming all sorts of materials, designs and colours. I was once involved in a real nappy fashion show for babies the designs were great. These nappies look so good on the bottom of a crawling baby you just cannot help but get the camera out. So real nappies are good for mum and baby what more. One of the most important advantages is that real nappies slim down the rubbish in the bin. Disposable nappies take a lot longer than a lifetime to decompose in landfill sites. Just think of how many nappies one baby could use before they are potty trained and then how many babies there are in the UK. Scary thought – is this world we want out little ones to grow up in?

Negative attitudes to modern reusable nappies are often down to lack of knowledge or use of one of the poorer quality nappies on the market (unfortunately there are a few). I cannot blame parents before and after a baby is born is a very busy time. Time is spent getting the nursery ready and buying all the equipment needed. Many would not even stop to consider the use of real nappies. Disposables are found in most supermarkets and at the forefront of nappy advertising. It is then hardly surprising that a lot of mums who go on to use washable nappies do so after their own research or recommendation.

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18
Jun 11

Tips on Finding the Perfect Baby Gift

So someone you know is about to have a baby and you need to buy a special gift. A trip through the baby departments of the stores at your local mall is likely to leave you more confused than when you began. Unless you’ve had a baby recently yourself, it’s hard to know what constitutes a really special gift. What do new babies need? What would be helpful to new parents? Here are some ideas on how to choose a memorable baby gift that will be truly appreciated.

In the old days it was enough to buy a nice rattle and a few cloth diapers as a new baby gift. But parents of today have more challenges than they ever did before, so supplies are always a great help. Diapers may seem like an impersonal gift, but believe me, they will definitely be appreciated. But before you head out to the store to stock up on Pampers, find out whether or not the new parents plan on using cloth diapers or disposable diapers. And if they plan on using cloth diapers, a really nice gift would be to pay for a month’s worth of diaper service for them. These are companies that pick up soiled diapers and deliver clean ones each week, which is a great help for parents who already have a lot of demands on their time.

A newborn baby is too young for a bouncy swing seat, but they’ll be ready for one in just a few months. These are especially handy for parents who have other young children and need someplace safe and fun to put the baby for short periods. Foot rattles are an excellent gift if you just want to spend a small amount. They serve the dual purpose of keeping a baby entertained and also helping to develop her motor skills. Not to mention keeping her toes warm! A practical gift idea is a basket of various health and safety products for infants, especially for first-time parents.

If you have a close relationship with the new parents and want to give a more personal gift, then how about a gift certificate to a spa for Mom? Something that makes her feel pampered will be greatly appreciated. And if it’s appropriate, you can even offer to babysit while she takes an afternoon off for her special time. If you’d prefer to give a gift that can be used by both parents, then there’s nothing more treasured by new parents than to leave their baby with someone whom they trust, while they enjoy an evening out by themselves.

And if none of these suggestions seem like the appropriate gift in your situation, then you’ll be glad to know that more and more parents are signing up with the baby gift registries that are offered by most department stores nowadays. You would be purchasing an item that the expectant parents have already picked out, so you know that it will be exactly the right baby gift.

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17
Jun 11

Best Baby Monitor For Transition to Crib?

Having a baby monitor at home assures many parents. I bet you too would like to experience the same convenience experienced by other parents who have employed the use of these monitors.

You can easily find these gadgets nowadays. There are a lot of reputable brands that provides easy monitoring. They range in prices and functions. Of course, the more functions integrated in it, the higher the price. The following are just some brands you can consider:

Graco Ultra Clear II 49mhz Baby Monitor
Many users have rated this brand highly. Despite the low price, it has pretty spiffy features. You can choose from 2 channels so you can pick the clearest one. Also, it uses a frequency with significantly reduced interference.

This is a sensible way of monitoring your baby if you do not want to spend too much on a monitor. It allows you to listen to the sounds your precious one makes while you are at a remote distance from your baby’s room.

Summer Infant Day & Night Handheld Color Video Monitor 1.8″ Screen
This comes with lightweight transmitter and receivers. You can not only hear your baby, you can also see them. It uses 900 MHz, a frequency that most experts suggest as it has the clearest signal. You can pick up signals using this with up to 350 feet of range.

It is a color video monitor but you can still see your baby at night with its black and white night vision. The LED sound lights integrated will clue you up that there is still activity in your little one’s room even when the screen is turned off.

Philips Avent Basic Baby Monitor w/ DECT Technology
This is a sound monitor incorporated with DECT technology. This is the technology that allows maximum privacy to your family as it reduces interference. Also, you can choose form over 100 channels so you can really use the clearest of signal. Even though it lacks the nifty features of other brands, this has been voted as the best by many consumers because of its reliability.

Summer Infant Best View Handheld Color Video Monitor with 2.5″ Screen
This is another top-rated video monitor. You can pick up signals within 350 feet of range. It has been equipped with a night vision so you can still monitor your baby at night. On top of that, you can scan the room using your receiver so you do not have to adjust the transmitter in your baby’s room at all times.

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