Babys First Year

Baby Furniture for Frugal Families – Ideas to get you thinking frugally before rushing out to purchase furniture for your baby’s room.

Popular Nursery Theme Ideas for Baby Boys – The ultrasound showed that a bouncing baby boy is on the way. Now you need to prepare a room in which he can grow and have adventures.

Popular Nursery Theme Ideas for Baby Girls – You’ve found out that your precious bundle of joy will be a girl. Pictures of pink and frills suddenly fill your head. But, decorating for a little girl doesn’t have to be limited to pink.

During the Cold Age, the babies of cavemen were brought into a harsh world with none of the amenities available today. Fast forward to the 21^st century and your baby now has a countless variety of baby furniture at your disposal from electronic baby monitors to hi-tech diaper disposal systems. However, the dazzling array of baby furniture available can be confusing for new parents. So here are the basic essential baby gear you should have on hand:

• Baby Cribs – While your newborn can sleep in a comfy basket or even your bed, a crib is an essential part in your baby gear repertoire. Cribs come in all sizes and shapes. Pick one that will last your baby a long time. Plastic cribs are easy to clean and move. Wooden cribs are more aesthetically pleasing but are also more expensive.
• Federal law mandates that your baby be fastened in a car seat while traveling in a vehicle at all times. Therefore, you should definitely run out and find a suitable car seat before the baby even comes. Car seats also come in a variety of sizes. Pick one that will expand with your baby!
• Plastic bathtubs – This essential piece of baby equipment will save you from loosing all your hair. It’s perfect for a messy, wiggling baby and also very handy for a soothing bath.
• Baby Strollers – For a newborn or baby, getting fresh air out in the sun does wonders to development and health yet a toddler stroller is a big no-no. Your baby should not sit up in a stroller so find one that reclines.
• Carrier/Slings – For any busy or active mom, a body carrier for your precious baby is a must. Not only is a sling useful for keeping your baby close at hand but also frees you to finish all those exciting errands . Just make sure you get a durable one that fits snugly.
• Changing Tables – While a changing table is not necessary baby equipment, it’s very handy for changing messy diapers and keeping all your baby supplies without soiling your kitchen table. Many modern changing tables also include extra space for feeding and even storage.
• Swings – A swing is a godsend for soothing and calming your baby. The gentle swinging will quickly serenade your baby to a peaceful sleep. It’s definitely a worthwhile investment that will keep your hair in place for a couple more years.
• High chairs – wonderful when your baby sits up and wants to participate in family meal time

Baby Furniture

When new parents think of purchasing items for the nursery, the thought of buying baby furniture typically causes a new parent to panic. Visions of future credit card debt can make any new mom or dad break into a sweat.

However, there are ways to cut corners, and make furnishing the baby’s room less expensive. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking frugally before rushing out to purchase furniture for your baby’s room.

Baby Crib – New parents may think they need both a bassinet and a crib. The frugal shopper will choose to skip the bassinet, which is typically viewed as a luxury. The crib is a necessity, but the bassinet is only used for a few months, and is then stored in the garage.

When shopping for a crib, keep your eyes open for a bargain on a convertible style crib, which can transform from a crib, to a toddler bed, and then a full size bed. If you can invest in a convertible crib, it would alleviate the cost of a bed in the future.

Of course, co-sleeping is even more affordable than buying a crib or a bassinet. The decision to co-sleep can eliminate the expense of a crib all-together or delay the expense until you have time to shop around and find a bargain.

Baby Dresser – Baby’s dresser is an item that can oftentimes be picked up at a yard sale. Thrifty shoppers know that purchasing a full-sized dresser is more economical than buying a small dresser. Remember that you will eventually have to turn the baby room into a child’s bedroom, and a smart investment now can grow with your child through the years. Don’t be afraid to buy an older dresser. An older dresser can be as good as new with just a coat of paint, assuming all hardware is working well.

Changing Table – The changing table is a luxury for the frugal shopper. Check places like the Salvation Army and Goodwill as well as yard sales. These tables are often discarded when the baby outgrows them. Another option for a frugal changing table is to convert a full-size dresser into a changing table. If you search online, you can find instructions to easily turn your dresser into a safe place to change your baby. The changing table is an item some moms choose to do without, and, instead, set a blanket on the floor to change their babies on.

I am sure in a perfect world, we would all appreciate the luxury of going out and buying everything we need at a baby boutique. However, the reality is that baby does not need the most expensive furniture. Your baby needs only one thing, and that is you.

Baby Furniture frugal baby furniture

Perhaps more valuable than finding baby formula coupons for brand names is knowing that all baby formula including generic brands are essentially the same.

Due to heavy FDA regulations, the price of baby formula will not affect the quality so rest assured your baby will be getting a great balanced diet with all the necessary nutrients regardless of where you get the formula. With the advent of the Internet, no longer are you stuck browsing through the Sunday newspaper (although it’s still a very lucrative source) for baby formula coupons.

If you’re really in a tight financial spot, try the Department of Health and Social Services. Many such agencies and organizations provide a great amount of aid and help in paying for all your baby supplies. You might even be able to just pick up some no-strings-attached quality baby formula.

Baby Feeding

Do you have questions about your baby’s feeding? When should she eat? Should you feed him on a schedule? When should you introduce solids? And how about types of formula that suit your baby? Here you’ll find resources that will help you in your decisions.

Switching from breast to bottle-feeding? Here are baby formula resources – Resources for locating information on infant formula, including guidelines on nutritional value, brand selection, storage, and preparation of baby formula.

Secrets to Finding Baby Formula Coupons – Baby formula coupons are available: arm yourself with the best tips to finding baby formula coupons.

Baby Formula Recalls – If you want to stay informed about baby formula recalls, make sure you bookmark this page: we will be updating it as soon as a new baby formula recall comes along.

Free Baby Formula – A Bona Fide Free Lunch? – Is there such a thing as free baby formula? Click here and find out all about it!

Organic Baby Formula: Truly Healthy? – Is organic baby formula best? Learn the facts about organic baby formula here.

Baby – New Born Constipation – Is the food you feed your baby making them constipated? How do you know if your baby is suffering from constipation? And do you know what to do if he/she is?

Baby Feeding

Colic is still a mystery to Doctors. They still do not know what cause colic in babies. They will tell you that there is no known cure for colic. I have always heard of colic, and heard from mothers that have dealt with this problem. I have never had to deal with a colicky baby, until my fourth child Nicholas was born. Colic is hard not just for the mother, it is hard on the whole family.

There is no tried and true method to dealing with a baby who has colic. A crying baby is the hardest thing a parent has to deal with. The crying will stop eventually. There are some things that you can do to help with these crying spells your baby is going through. Here are some things you can try that I have found that works with my son Nicholas.

1. Try walking with your baby. This can be tiresome ,but it may be the only thing that works for your baby. Hold your baby with his/her tummy against your tummy. My son tends to have gas while he is screaming, and I have found that this helps with his gas, as well as his crying. Sometimes he even stops crying for a little while.
2. Push your baby in a baby stroller. Sometimes this helps with my son. Take a short walk and see if it helps your baby to stop crying. It may not work, but it’s worth a try anyway.
3. Rock your baby. I have a rocking chair my baby’s bedroom, and when I rock him he stops crying and most of the time falls asleep. I think it is the closeness he feels when I rock him.
4. Put your baby in his/her car seat and take a drive somewhere. I have done this many times. This option may not be an option if you do not have a car, or it could become a habit. Look at it this way; which would you rather do; hear a screaming baby, or drive for awhile?
5. I have not tried this and do not recommend this unless the baby is supervised by an adult. Many mothers I have talked to say this worked for them. Place your child in his/her car seat on top of the dishwasher or washing machine and turn it on for a cycle or two.
6. Try singing to your child, or turning a radio or a TV on to music. It may or may not stop your baby from crying, but it could calm him/her down a little bit. My son calms down when I put country music on.
7. Have your spouse take the baby for awhile. If you are the only person your baby will let hold him/her, try to away for a little while. Have a friend or relative help by watching your child for you.

Make sure you get some sleep whenever possible. I often have my sister come to my house and watch my kids while I take a nap. This way you won’t be so tired when dealing with a screaming baby all night. My husband also takes the baby when he does not have to go to work. It helps when you are not so tired.

Remember the crying will not last forever. Even if nothing works for you, there is an end insight. Before you know it all the crying that your baby has done will be replaced with smiling, gurgling, and he/she will be a happy baby. My son is now 3 months old and he is not crying as much as he did two weeks ago.

If you feel you could use some support in dealing with your colicky baby. here is an online support group for parents, family & friends of colicky babies.

About The Author: Tina Barraclough is a stay at home mom and owner of http://best-home-based-business-idea.com Visit her website for Business Opportunities, free e-books, Business Articles, etc.

Baby Care

During an infant and toddler’s first years, major developmental milestones are reached. In fact, at times it seems that babies grow and accomplish at rates incomparable to other times of life. During the first years of life a newborn will learn how to crawl, walk, talk, solve problems, express themselves and create loving relationships. Baby care during this developmental stage becomes increasingly important, to ensure that babies are provided with the optimal tools necessary to grow and flourish.

Perhaps the most essential and overlooked baby care necessity in early life is companionship. Infant’s minds and subsequent emotions and attachments form at a very early age. If children are neglected early on, they will develop self defense mechanisms to protect them from hurt and abandonment later in life. Baby care during the early years must incorporate an adequate amount of touching, hugging, caressing and loving.

A parent truly can’t spoil an infant. Infant care needs are perhaps the greatest of all other ages. Only during early infancy is a baby truly helpless; they rely on their caretakers to feed them, change them, love and protect them.

As children grow and develop, they begin to form opinions and preferences of the world. They start to understand relationships, and how their behavior affects the behavior of others. The more attention, love and affection infants and young children are offered early on, the more likely they are to form healthy and beneficial attachments and relationships with others later in life.

Naturally, baby care also requires that a baby’s or toddler’s basic needs are cared for. This includes the need for proper hygiene, entertainment, stimulation and socialization. Children who are raised at home exclusively should be afforded the opportunity to meet with other children to learn how to socialize and interact with others. Developing this skill early on will only help your baby to develop the tools necessary to interact with others once the school years begin.

Young children are impressionable and easily influenced. They learn from observation and often will take up the bad habits exemplified by others. Thus it is important that babies are exposed to caring caretakers early on, and proper role models.

Aside from the emotional perspective, babies will, of course, need someone to help change their diaper, feed them, bathe them and cuddle with. These basic necessities are often the first considered when the concept of baby care comes to mind. Baby care items include shampoo, soaps, diapers, wipes, and lotions all formulated with sensitive skin care needs in mind. Burp cloths, bibs, endless onesies, digital thermometers and rattles also often come to mind as traditional baby care items. There are even special nail clippers designed with baby’s sensitive and soft tiny nails in mind. Among the top items that parents put on their list of must-haves regarding baby care include the following:

• Baby bath tub

• Bottles

• Diapers (cloth or disposable)

• Baby Mobile

• Bibs

• Baby Swing

• Crib

• Mattress Pad

• Changing Table Pads

• Diaper Ointment

• Baby Soap

• Changing Table

• Car Seat

Of all of these items, the car seat is perhaps the most essential. You won’t be able to leave the hospital without one. No matter how short the drive, a baby can’t be toted along without being strapped in an age appropriate car seat. Most babies and young children should remain in some type of car or booster seat until they are large enough to fit in a regular seat and use an adult seat belt. For most children this is easily accomplished when they are 80 pounds or more.

Caring for a baby requires much consideration and a few key items. Be sure to consult with other parents to gain their take on what items they found most beneficial during baby’s early years.

Baby Care

A baby shower can be a truly memorable and extraordinary event. Of course, you’re expected to bring a gift for the lucky about-to-be parents. Baby Shower Gifts can either be very lame or valuable so here are a few valuable tips to make sure yours will be the latter.

• Stay away from ordinary, standard baby shower gifts like blankets, bottles, toys as others will no doubt flood the party with such mundane gifts
• Get the parents a nifty, helpful baby gadget or gear to make their lives easier like a next-generation baby monitor or diet recorder system.
• Opt for memories rather than material goods. Get them a Memory
• Gift certificates, although not exactly thoughtful, can be very useful and appreciated.
• Chip in with a few friends and buy them something truly memorable or useful.
• Offering to baby-sit for the frazzled parents also can’t hurt !

And remember, being there for the lucky family is the best gift of all.

Luxury Baby Gifts – What better way to show how much you love that brand new baby, than buying a luxurious stroller, or baby bedding, or other luxury gift?

Baby Shower Gifts – Learn what gifts are the best for that upcoming baby shower.

Baby Shower Thank You Cards – Help the new mom with her Thank you cards by having them ready for her at the end of the shower.

Baby Shower

Free baby formula: can you get it? Is there really such a thing as a free lunch? Perhaps not in our capitalistic society yet many new parents are very tempted by the idea of saving some money. Free baby formula would be great, as a new baby already will make a huge dent your pocketbook (don’t forget about college!). Here are some helpful pointers to find that elusive free baby formula:

• Never try to make homemade baby formula. Although it may sound very tempting, even by following a recipe to the exact letter, your batch will probably not contain the sufficient nutrients your baby needs which can lead to malnourishment and weight loss. Store-brought formulas are carefully regulated and prepared by exacting FDA standards.
• Never mix regular cow’s milk with your baby formula or feed it straight to your baby. It’s very hard for a baby to digest and does not contain most of the nutrients needed for a balanced diet.
• So it seems the only true free lunch is through corporate handouts. Try a sample, but you’ll probably end up buying a whole box of your own unless you’re willing to surf the Net all night (hmm, a nifty idea if your baby’s up !

Baby Feeding

It is true to say that a lot of people begin to get the scrapping bug after their child/children are born and usually their first attempt at scrapbooking is making a baby album.

Having a child is one of the most important events in our lives and baby’s first year is a busy, lively, ever changing journey of discovery. It is full of important milestones…

No wonder then, as parents we want to capture and record all those many memorable moments – preserving them in scrapbooks is a great way to safely keep and cherish those memories for years to come.

One timeless and extremely popular baby scrap booking idea is to make an album that consists of ‘firsts’. This is a relatively easy and flexible theme to follow, especially for someone new to scrapbooking and is a great way to create enchanting baby scrapbooks.

This kind of album usually consists of a scrapbook arranged in chronological order with individual layouts showing special and notable moments in your baby’s life.

New babies are so photogenic it’s hard to resist capturing all the big and little things that make up their day-to-day lives.

No doubt you will have lots of pictures to sort through – so here’s a small list of ‘firsts’ to give you some ideas for organizing your photos:

• sleep/nap
• bottle/breast feed
• diaper change
• dressed in their first outfit
• ride in a car seat
• smiles
• bath
• trip out in the buggy
• solid food
• teeth
• sitting up
• drinking from a cup
• feeding him/herself
• crawling
• walking with the furniture
• steps/walking on their own
• hair cut
• Halloween
• Christmas

To add a little more interest to your album try and vary the layouts, for instance make some events into double page spreads. Such as coming home from the hospital or bath-time, which always presents an opportunity for some great photos!

Give your pages a personal touch by adding some memorabilia, using a pocket envelope, to your layouts – like the birth announcement or maybe a lock of hair from their first hair cut.

If you are new to scrapbooking and you’re unsure about starting out on your new album then a good choice would be to buy yourself a baby scrapbook kit. These kits contain everything you will need to begin scrap booking and are a great shortcut to creating super layouts that you can be proud of.

You can also enhance your pages with some of the many baby-related products that are available on the market. Decorate your layout with an adorable or cute baby scrapbook paper.

Then, embellish your page with some charming baby scrapbook stickers like rattles, booties, bibs, bottles etc and when they’re done display all of your beautiful pages in a lovely baby scrapbook album.

Go on… give it a go. Make yourself a baby scrapbook to savor and keep all those incredible memories. You’ll find it’s much more than just a scrapbook – it will become a precious family keepsake that you’ll treasure forever.

Baby Articles baby scrapbooks, scrapbooking baby's life

A baby sleep pillow can serve as far more than a mere source of comfort for your child. Baby pillows can serve as small treasures: treasures that will last a life time. More than a decorative touch to any child’s nursery, a baby sleep pillow can be stored away and saved as a “memento” that reminds you of your child when they were small.

As your baby grows older and comes to age he (or she) will look with a chuckle at his favorite accessories when the world was his playground.

Baby sleep pillows come in all shapes and sizes. No matter what color your nursery may be, you are more then able to find baby pillows that match the room’s décor. Moreover, if you are looking for something extremely personal, you can easily have personalized a baby sleep pillow made for your child’s room. You can custom order baby pillows in pink or blue, in a variety of sizes and you can have your baby’s name embroidered on the service of the pillow. You can be limited to eight letters on your custom ordered baby pillows so if your child’s name is long, you may want to have your baby pillows customized with a nickname. You will find that most customized baby pillows are easily washable and are made of 100% cotton flannel.

If you are concerned about allergies, you can also purchase baby pillows that are made of all natural materials. Such pillows are made from all natural cotton and no bleaching agents are used. Moreover, the fill is made of organic wool and cotton and you can order the pillows online and have them delivered to your home.

If you are overly concerned with what baby pillows might be made of, you may be better off making your own. You can select the fill and fabric yourself and there are patterns available on the Internet for you to follow. In fact, you may find that you enjoy making baby pillows and you can then start a small online business selling them if you so choose.

About the Author:

Kevin McShore is a contributor to the helping baby sleep blog.

Baby Nursery