Posts Tagged baby travel
When Panic Strikes: Baby’s First Day Home from the Hospital
Posted by in Pregnancy on November 12th, 2009
Why did the staff let me leave the hospital with this helpless little creature? These were the thoughts I had the day baby and I came home from the hospital. Here I was, totally responsible for the health and well-being of this newborn who was so very different than the cherubic babies I had babysat long ago! Suddenly I realized I was the parent with all the answers. I found that even after giving birth I still did not have much confidence in my parenting ability. I couldn’t imagine how my mother did it? I did not believe I could come close to her capability level? I felt like I should be panic stricken.
I found that placing my baby into the car seat was quite a feat. We had bought the best baby travel system we could find. It had a car seat that detached from its base to become an infant carrier; it also attached onto a stroller base, giving a three-in-one bonus. The previously perfect infant seat seemed to have grown to huge proportions once our new baby was lost in it! Certainly she was safer in my arms than all alone in that car seat! Logic and my husband managed to convince me to let go. Since they have limited muscle control, newborns end up scrunched down into one corner of their car seat. My husband calls it the “amoeba” stage. You can purchase additional padded support for your baby for use with the first weeks of “amoeba life”.
Once we were home, I struggled with needing to rest and wanting to be with our baby. Plus, she seemed constantly hungry. It was quite challenging to find a place in our home for nursing while we were both learning the process. Every new mom simply needs to try different positions. Some people use ring slings, fabric carriers that allow you to carry the baby around with you. This can be a great way to position baby for nursing if you can find the right adjustment for you. My ring sling was a wonderful hands-free carrier. After some trial and error over several feedings, I found the rocking chair to be my best option for nursing.
Babies need to have their diapers changed just about every time they eat, and even sometimes in between meals. The output capacity of a newborn rivals even the most efficient factory. I had chosen to use Fuzzi Bunz cloth diapers. The adjustable elastic really helped in the learning stage for me and my baby. Those early days of a “liquid only” diet produce some interesting diaper “issues.” Some of the biggest diaper challenges occurred on that first day. Frequently, quick changes of clothes are what you need! No matter how good the cloth diapers were, they only worked as well as my attempts to fasten them. And if you do not fasten them in time…they will not work at all!
The first days home begin an entirely new, fantastic chapter in your life. Constant shifts and changes become the norm. Your abilities will be constantly tested. I constantly called on all my resources, pretending to be as capable and in control as my mother. One day I realized she had probably been pretending as well – that day I realized I was a parent too.
Maria Cummings is a mom that has devoted herself to helping kids and families in the community. As Manager of Bustling Baby, Maria enjoys sharing her experience of natural parenting with new parents and supports parents in finding the best natural baby products, such as Fuzzi Bunz cloth diapers.
Article Source: When Panic Strikes: Baby’s First Day Home from the Hospital
Grandparent’s First Overnight Visit with Grandbaby
Posted by in Babies on October 27th, 2009
Letting grandma care for my daughter for an overnight visit was intended to provide me rest. I had never been away from my daughter for any length of time in her short four month old lifetime. For over a month, my mother had been asking to keep her for an overnight visit, and I could not put it off any longer. After getting all our gear ready for the trek to grandma’s, I felt like I needed a vacation. And I had never been away from my baby overnight.
Mother had already purchased some baby items to keep are her home, but she did not have everything necessary for an overnight stay. The possibilities raced through my mind. It would be a good idea to let her use the baby travel system, including the car seat and the seat base. It would need to be installed in her car before we departed. As we all know anything can come up even if you are not planning on going anywhere. So into my van went the stroller, car seat and base.
My baby rarely falls asleep in he crib, so even though my mother has a play pen which could be used as a crib we did not need it. Our normal routine sees me putting her into one of my ring slings and wearing her around my house until she falls asleep. After she has fallen asleep, I carefully move her to her crib. So, I packed up a ring sling and planned to show my mom how to use it.
My husband and I decided to use cloth diapers during the pregnancy. Cloth diapers were used with my older siblings but I was a disposable diaper baby. She likened my cloth diaper decision to going in reverse. I tried to explain to her about how diapers stay forever in a landfill and that cloth diapers had changed so much since her day, but she still did not get it. For the overnight trip I was going to bring along my Fuzzi Bunz cloth diapers so that she could see how easy they were to use. I packed the cloth diapers as well as a wet bag so that I could show my mom how much they had improved from the old style cloth diaper.
By the time I was done packing my mini van I needed a rest, but it was time to leave. My mother and I spent over two hours going over everything after heading to her home. I took my cue to leave when she asked me whether or not I thought she had ever taken care of a baby. I had taken everything I could to make the overnight visit easy on my daughter and on my mom. I went home and got ready to go out to dinner with my husband. I could not stop thinking about my baby and the resulting stress had me calling my mother almost ten times in the first two hours. The visit went very well and all my worry was for naught. My little girl slept through the night for the first time ever, and my mom had a great time taking care of a little baby again.
Maria Cummings is devoted mom that works to help kids and families in the community. Manager of Bustling Baby, Maria loves to share her parenting experiences with new parents and assists parents in finding the best baby products, such as Fuzzi Bunz diapers.
Article Source: Grandparent’s First Overnight Visit with Grandbaby
Easy Gift-Giving With Online Baby Gift Baskets
Posted by in Babies on October 19th, 2009
While the mom-to-be is getting ready for the arrival of her new baby, you also want to start preparing a wonder baby shower gift you want to give to her. Baby gifts are usually adorable and they come in various choices in the market. However, deciding which one to pick can make your head spin, and you might end up complaining how tricky that task is. Fortunately, baby shower gift-giving made easy by the Internet. Anyone who has Internet access at home or office can easily find, select and order baby shower gifts in no time.
Online baby gift baskets, in particular, are perhaps the most popular online baby shower gifts that many people would opt to give. Especially if you are a novice gift-giver, purchasing a baby gift basket online is something that you need to consider to make your gift-giving a success.
Of course, you can always make your own baby gift basket at home, but if you think you can’t, feel free to make a baby gift basket choice online. You can find online brochures of baby gift baskets featuring a selection of artistically creative containers filled with numerous baby gifts that both the parents and baby would surely adore. All sorts of baby items and accessories from layettes, bath supplies, baby dishes to toys and nursery furnitures make great fillers in a gift basket.
Baby gift baskets that are available online also come in different themes, and you can even personalize your choice by including the name or initial of the baby. Themed gift baskets usually focus on something specific. For example, a bath-themed gift basket will only limit to bathing supplies of babies such as bath towel, baby shampoo and soap, rubber duckies, rash creams, baby lotion, baby hair brush set, and the likes. There are other possible themed baby gift baskets such as feeding-themed, playtime-themed, baby-travel-themed gift baskets.
Baby gift baskets that are available online also include wonderful keepsakes ideas for the parents as well. You can find baskets that consist of personalized picture frames and photo albums, scrapbooks, baby hand and/or foot print, keepsake boxes for first baby haircut and tooth, and other items that will help the parents keep the precious memories and milestone alive for years to come.
You might ask yourself how online baby gift baskets will be delivered to recipients. Online shopping of baby gift baskets or any gift baskets can be delivered to anywhere across the globe. Depending on how far the place where a gift basket will be shipped to, the receiving time or days may vary, as well as the shipment cost.
Online baby gifts such as baby gift baskets are ideal baby shower presents to go for. Aside from those items, you can also find various choices of baby shower supplies such as baby shower favors, invitations, decorations, games and the likes, if you happen to be the host of the shower as well. With the help of the Internet, almost everything is possible!
Jnet is an author for a variety of lifestyle issues and topics including weddings. If you’re looking for personalized baby gift baskets, visit the website Prettybabygifts.com and browse their extensive collection. Find baby gift baskets more online!
Article Source: Easy Gift-Giving With Online Baby Gift Baskets
Baby Cots – Things You Need to Know Before You Buy
Posted by in Babies on October 3rd, 2009
With the variety of baby cots, cotbeds, and baby travel cots available on the market, knowing what to expect when shopping for a cot makes the selection process much easier. Most baby cots and cotbeds are made from wood and come in various colours, such as natural, brown, and white. Although cot styles may vary, many have evenly spaced bars or slats around the entire cot and others have evenly spaced bars on the sides and solid back and front ends. For the safety of the child, the bars should not be farther than 45 mm to 65 mm apart.
Some cots or cot beds have one or two dropsides. These slide down when prompted from the cribs’ exterior and should be secure enough to prevent a baby from moving them. A dropside makes putting babies in and taking them out the cot easier. Along the top of the dropsides or crib sides, some baby cots have a plastic teething rail for a baby’s teething pleasure.
Many baby cots and cot beds are available with height adjustable mattress bases. The base of the cots or cotbeds can be lowered as the baby grows. When the baby is small, the base should be as high up as possible, making the baby easier to access. Later, the base can be moved down for the baby who has begun pulling up in the cot and for one who is cruising.
Cot beds are a good investment because they convert into beds. They make the transition from baby cot to cotbed easier for toddlers. Usually, converting a cot to a bed involves removing the dropside from the cotbeds. Sometimes one of the dropsides can be replaced with a shorter safety railing to prevent falls. Depending on a child’s size, a cotbed can be used for over four years. Before purchasing a cotbed, it’s important to make sure the warranty covers more than two years.
Once a baby cot or cotbed is purchased, the proper mattress must be purchased too. All mattresses do not fit every cot. It’s important that the mattress isn’t too small for the cot. It should fit perfectly and securely in the cot, so a baby’s body parts don’t get caught between the mattress and the cot.
After purchasing a cot and mattress, some families invest in a baby travel cot too. A variety of baby travel cots are available. Some come with netted tops and others have handles to make them easier to tote. Because of the collapsible sides and fabric of some, a travel cot can be used as a mobile sleeping area in the home or used as a bed for a baby when traveling. A portable baby travel cot can be used for play and rest. In many cases, with a push of a few buttons, the travel cot can be broken down and loaded into the trunk of a vehicle and used as a sleeping cot or a playpen once you reach your destination.
Baby cots, cotbeds, and baby travel cots should make sleeping safe and comfortable for babies. In addition, purchasing the right cot should make life with a baby easier and more peaceful for parents. Selecting a cot should not be a random act but one that is based on research. Most importantly, before anyone purchases a cot, he or she should make certain the baby cot conforms to the current BS EN 716 safety code.
John Lewis offer a range of baby products including; baby cots, baby travel cots and cotbeds from leading brand names.
Article Source: Baby Cots – Things You Need to Know Before You Buy
Baby Safe Travel Tips
Posted by in Babies on August 3rd, 2009
People prefer to enjoy their weekends or week-long vacations with their families by planning a family travel or other out of town trips. However, few parents hesitate to go out on travel trips considering they have a baby. It takes a lot to take care of a baby on the trip. Even while traveling, one must be careful to have proper baby travel gears. Both newborns and babies between 2-5 years of age should be given special attention when you travel.
Here, are few infant travel tips for a baby safe travel.
The stroller choice asks for lots of attention, choice should be made on basis of a chosen mode of travel. Stroller should have strong wheels, and dual lock brake system. The cover of the same should be made up of a good fabric.
For an infant, you should either buy a seat or have the baby sit on your lap.
Kids below the age two can enjoy their air travel as long as they stay on your lap.
During your road trip, you should always ask for safety seat for your baby. Safety seat for your baby plays a very important role for a baby safe travel.
Traveling on an airplane is not so good for a baby. While takeoff and landing, imbalance in air pressure may cause an ear popping, this is the biggest concern of parents. Something that we can do for infants is nurse or feed a bottle when air pressure changes. Parents should always keep baby items, like dry diapers, toys, while traveling. If your child is suffering from asthma, fever, or common cold, you should see to it that they keep their mouth open. This can give a better feeling to your child. For a baby safe travel, you should feed your baby properly before you start traveling; also provide your baby with other comforts necessary for it.
Apart from mode of travel you use, the most important thing to be taken care is choice of hotel you make. Few hotels may provide old and soiled play-yards for babies to sleep in, exposed wires and outlets, poor vent coverings or many other safety risks. You should always take care when you choose a hotel for your stay.
Try to bring along a port crib or the popular Pack ‘N Play convertible playpen/crib in your travel bag. The advantage of this is that the baby will be able to sleep in a familiar environment.
It has been said that, safety begins with hygiene. Always bring a good supply of antiseptic wipes and alcohol swabs to wash not only hands, but also any objects that will be touched by you or your baby.
For a baby safe travel, you must remember to carry other baby items like baby blanket, changing pads, baby clothing, and feeding bottles, along with baby travel gears.
Eric is author of this article on Infant friendly.
Find more information about Family travel here.
Article Source: Baby Safe Travel Tips
