"A new baby brings a lot of joy and hope to a family. It also brings some uncertainty. You may be concerned that your home is too small, or that you need a larger car, among others. Whether you are expecting your first or your fifth child, chances are that you need baby gear! There are hundreds of different items that you need when the baby arrives, and it is important to remember that stocking up doesn’t mean you have to clean out the bank account. If you do a little bit of research beforehand, you can get everything that you need at a fraction of the retail price. My favorite money saving tool is the e-coupon. You can sign up for e-coupons at a variety of different retailers, and start savings instantly.
The first question that a new parent-to-be asks is “what gear do I need?” There are many things that are convenient to have, and many things that are a “must have.” Once you distinguish between the two, you can start stocking up on the “must haves”. I recommend that you start shopping for bargains early on in your pregnancy. You will save more money, and eliminate the last minute rush that many parents undergo. Most baby sites will provide you with a checklist of the baby “must haves.” Print this list out, and then begin to compare prices and makes and models.
Every parent-to-be is on a budget. The trick is to make the most out of that budget. First consider looking at local yard sales for various baby gear. You can often get some cheap deals, on things that are in good shape. If you are looking for some really good deals, go online. There are hundreds of different baby sites, which offer many products at deep discounts. If you use an e-coupon service, you can get coupon codes to save even more on the items that are “must haves.” Most of these services are free to use, and can save you hundreds on your favorite baby gear. You may also try an auction site like EBay. I have found some great deals on items that you need everyday, like bottles and bibs.
Shopping for baby on a budget can be a lot of fun, if you approach it correctly. Create a list of the items that you want to shop for, and stick to it. Look for discounts and deals both locally and online. In no time, you will have a nursery full of baby gear ready and waiting for your new little bundle of joy! Congratulations and happy shopping!"
Blue Dot Diaper Bags
Friday, February 20, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Baby Diapers: Disposable Or Cloth?
Diapers made of cloth are a reasonably priced method to start your small kid on with potty training. Diapers that are disposable are uncomplicated and trouble free, nevertheless they get to be a lot costly over the two, three, four or possibly even five years when your kid could do with diapers. Diapers made of cloth are similarly easy to work with.
Quantity needed
The foremost thing to find out is "the number of diapers I will need”. This will count on how frequently your kid has to be cleaned up and how frequently you would like to wash the diapers. You would have to multiply how frequently you would like to clean the diapers by the number of times in a single day you usually have to clean up your kid. You certainly would want five to ten diapers as a stockpile.
The extra supplies
Once you have got the quantity of diapers that you would require, a number of additional provisions such as covers and pins will be desirable. They both can be purchased where diapers are put up for sale. You can make use of the 'plastic pants' as wraps or purchase special wraps sold in online stores. You would require a location to pile up the dirty diapers as well. Nearly all parents make use of a diaper container, but a few of them fill up the washer and put every one of the diapers inside the washer and simply operate the machine at the ending of every day.
Diaper container
There are 2 kinds of diaper containers that you can make use of - a dry container and a wet container.
A dry container is simply a diaper container that is vacant. You can simply put your dirty diapers inside the container. Nearly all parents will put in diapers along with BM inside the lavatory or the basin prior to putting in the container. You can make use of baking soda in order to help out with the stench. The wet technique consists of a vinegar and water combination to counterbalance the ammonia. You would prefer to look for the combination that is just perfect for you.
Cleansing
You can cleanse diapers in the similar detergent you make use of for your kid’s laundry. Make use of something that is mild on your kid’s skin. You should cleanse using hot water and rinse using cold water. Do not make use of liquid cloth softener. It would hinder with the diaper’s capacity to soak up. Do not make use of bleach.
If there are marks that you would like to make an effort and get rid off, hang up the diapers in the sunshine. You may dry diapers made of cloth in the dryer. Never make use of a cloth softener dryer sheet. Just like liquid cloth softener, it would minimize the soaking up of the fabric. You would also desire to stay away from Ivory Snow and Deft for cleansing the diapers made of cloth. Despite the fact that these are good for the baby's clothes, yet they consist of fabric softeners.
Best of luck for your new journey. Thank you for maintaining the surroundings hygienic and harmless.
Quantity needed
The foremost thing to find out is "the number of diapers I will need”. This will count on how frequently your kid has to be cleaned up and how frequently you would like to wash the diapers. You would have to multiply how frequently you would like to clean the diapers by the number of times in a single day you usually have to clean up your kid. You certainly would want five to ten diapers as a stockpile.
The extra supplies
Once you have got the quantity of diapers that you would require, a number of additional provisions such as covers and pins will be desirable. They both can be purchased where diapers are put up for sale. You can make use of the 'plastic pants' as wraps or purchase special wraps sold in online stores. You would require a location to pile up the dirty diapers as well. Nearly all parents make use of a diaper container, but a few of them fill up the washer and put every one of the diapers inside the washer and simply operate the machine at the ending of every day.
Diaper container
There are 2 kinds of diaper containers that you can make use of - a dry container and a wet container.
A dry container is simply a diaper container that is vacant. You can simply put your dirty diapers inside the container. Nearly all parents will put in diapers along with BM inside the lavatory or the basin prior to putting in the container. You can make use of baking soda in order to help out with the stench. The wet technique consists of a vinegar and water combination to counterbalance the ammonia. You would prefer to look for the combination that is just perfect for you.
Cleansing
You can cleanse diapers in the similar detergent you make use of for your kid’s laundry. Make use of something that is mild on your kid’s skin. You should cleanse using hot water and rinse using cold water. Do not make use of liquid cloth softener. It would hinder with the diaper’s capacity to soak up. Do not make use of bleach.
If there are marks that you would like to make an effort and get rid off, hang up the diapers in the sunshine. You may dry diapers made of cloth in the dryer. Never make use of a cloth softener dryer sheet. Just like liquid cloth softener, it would minimize the soaking up of the fabric. You would also desire to stay away from Ivory Snow and Deft for cleansing the diapers made of cloth. Despite the fact that these are good for the baby's clothes, yet they consist of fabric softeners.
Best of luck for your new journey. Thank you for maintaining the surroundings hygienic and harmless.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Cloth Diapers – A Thing Of The Past?
New parents have heard the argument time and again from their own parents or grandparents. “You young people don’t know how good you have it with those disposable diapers for your babies! When you were a baby I had to use cloth diapers on you and they smelled terribly, I had tons of laundry to do, I stuck myself with pins, and I walked uphill in the snow both ways to get to the diaper service…” and so on. The fact is that, less than thirty years ago, disposable diapers were considered something of a luxury while today they are the norm and people using cloth diapers for their babies are considered to be strange. There are several reasons that modern parents may choose to utilize cloth diapers instead of disposables, however, and in some circles cloth diapers are making a bit of a comeback.
Affordability
The biggest personal reason that a parent may choose to clothe her baby’s bottom in cloth diapers as opposed to Pampers or Huggies is financial. Cloth diapers are simply cheaper than disposables, even if the parents are paying a diaper service to haul away the soiled nappies and bring fresh ones each week. In most cases the makers of disposables would win over a number of holdout customers if they could figure out a way to make their products cheaper.
Environmental Concerns
Disposable diapers are made primarily of plastic surrounding a pad of absorbent cotton. It is well known that plastic doesn’t biodegrade very well at all, which means that our landfills are stacked with diapers that are going to be with us for centuries to come. While many people believe that the convenience offered by disposable diapers outweighs this fact, environmentalists believe that by using cloth diapers they are just doing one more thing to “do their part” to protect and preserve the Earth for future generations.
Modern Developments
Those argumentative parents and grandparents may still have a thing or two to say to the modern parents who do choose to use cloth diapers because the cloth diapers of today are very different from the ones that they were using on their kids and grandkids way back when. Gone are the days of complicated folding methods and misplaced safety pins. Today’s cloth diapers are pre cut and shaped to cover baby’s nether regions quickly and easily. They also come with Velcro fasteners or snaps for ease in fastening. Best of all, many now have available a flushable, biodegradable paper lining that will catch solid waste, allowing it to be easily disposed of in the toilet so soiled and smelly diapers don’t sit around and there is no messy job of rinsing the solids away.
Cloth diapers are, in many ways, a thing of the past, but they are by no means gone forever. For the parent with financial or environmental concerns they are still a very viable option for clothing the bottoms of their babies. Regardless of clothe or diposable the need for a diaper bag still exists.
Affordability
The biggest personal reason that a parent may choose to clothe her baby’s bottom in cloth diapers as opposed to Pampers or Huggies is financial. Cloth diapers are simply cheaper than disposables, even if the parents are paying a diaper service to haul away the soiled nappies and bring fresh ones each week. In most cases the makers of disposables would win over a number of holdout customers if they could figure out a way to make their products cheaper.
Environmental Concerns
Disposable diapers are made primarily of plastic surrounding a pad of absorbent cotton. It is well known that plastic doesn’t biodegrade very well at all, which means that our landfills are stacked with diapers that are going to be with us for centuries to come. While many people believe that the convenience offered by disposable diapers outweighs this fact, environmentalists believe that by using cloth diapers they are just doing one more thing to “do their part” to protect and preserve the Earth for future generations.
Modern Developments
Those argumentative parents and grandparents may still have a thing or two to say to the modern parents who do choose to use cloth diapers because the cloth diapers of today are very different from the ones that they were using on their kids and grandkids way back when. Gone are the days of complicated folding methods and misplaced safety pins. Today’s cloth diapers are pre cut and shaped to cover baby’s nether regions quickly and easily. They also come with Velcro fasteners or snaps for ease in fastening. Best of all, many now have available a flushable, biodegradable paper lining that will catch solid waste, allowing it to be easily disposed of in the toilet so soiled and smelly diapers don’t sit around and there is no messy job of rinsing the solids away.
Cloth diapers are, in many ways, a thing of the past, but they are by no means gone forever. For the parent with financial or environmental concerns they are still a very viable option for clothing the bottoms of their babies. Regardless of clothe or diposable the need for a diaper bag still exists.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Potty Training Your Baby From Age 3 Weeks
A new mom will quickly learn when baby is telling her that he is tired or hungry. Baby will also tell you when he is about to soil his diaper - or 'eliminate' in the jargon. The signs are usually a grunting and moving into a certain position. My son used to get this far away look on his face and he would be very noisy so that everyone around him knew what was on the way!
Many moms in America are now practicing 'elimination communication' whereby they watch baby for signs that he is ready to 'eliminate' and then dangle him over the toilet or a potty. The technique does require virtually constant observation of the baby but apparently baby soon learns the procedure and knows that if he grunts hard enough it saves him having to sit around with a diaper full of you-know-what!
The savings achieved through having to buy far fewer diapers are considerable, and of course you would be doing your bit to help the environment.
Potty training at the 'traditional' age of around 2-3 can be a real battle and a scary time for a kid. My daughter stubbornly refused to use either a potty or the toilet for weeks and finally succumbed only when we bribed her with the promise of a new dolly! Starting much earlier would spare you both but the technique does require constant attention and, for this reason, some experts 'pooh-pooh' the idea (sorry!) of starting potty training so early. Heather Welford of the National Childbirth Trust believes most parents will be too busy to watch baby all day and says 'I think it will always be something practiced by a minority of parents doing it for ideological reasons such as being closer to the baby or to help save the environment'. Two good reasons I would have thought.
As you start potty training you will need a Diaper Bag
Many moms in America are now practicing 'elimination communication' whereby they watch baby for signs that he is ready to 'eliminate' and then dangle him over the toilet or a potty. The technique does require virtually constant observation of the baby but apparently baby soon learns the procedure and knows that if he grunts hard enough it saves him having to sit around with a diaper full of you-know-what!
The savings achieved through having to buy far fewer diapers are considerable, and of course you would be doing your bit to help the environment.
Potty training at the 'traditional' age of around 2-3 can be a real battle and a scary time for a kid. My daughter stubbornly refused to use either a potty or the toilet for weeks and finally succumbed only when we bribed her with the promise of a new dolly! Starting much earlier would spare you both but the technique does require constant attention and, for this reason, some experts 'pooh-pooh' the idea (sorry!) of starting potty training so early. Heather Welford of the National Childbirth Trust believes most parents will be too busy to watch baby all day and says 'I think it will always be something practiced by a minority of parents doing it for ideological reasons such as being closer to the baby or to help save the environment'. Two good reasons I would have thought.
As you start potty training you will need a Diaper Bag
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Time to Change
Diapering a baby is a necessity but to look at it as a daily chore would probably rob one of the magic between guardian and child at changing time. It is indeed a special time for parent and child. The parent feels the intimate act of diapering is an exhibition of love and affection. To a child, diaper changing time brings love, reassurance and security.
With the right sequence of diapering, the baby enjoys and experiences the basics of health and safety. The parents also get in the right rhythm with the baby. Generally, it helps in the child's growth, as slowly and steadily a child learns to be independent.
Diapering should be a teaching tool which can be used successfully to help children learn to be hygienic. It can also be the first step to toilet training. Moreover, with the passing of time, children often learn to be more responsible doing the diaper-changing themselves without the intervention of their parents.
In a word, diaper changing helps children be conscious about their bodies. Parents should encourage their children to actively take part in diaper changing making it a fun-time to enjoy.
One should be cautious about diapers as they need to be spotlessly clean and dry. The diapering surface may be a little elevated, but you need to be careful not to leave the child alone on it. Talcum powders, as a rule, should be avoided. Unknown ingredients in them may cause undesirable irritation on the tender skin of a baby. Always wash hands and make sure you clean the baby's genital areas well when changing diapers.
With the right sequence of diapering, the baby enjoys and experiences the basics of health and safety. The parents also get in the right rhythm with the baby. Generally, it helps in the child's growth, as slowly and steadily a child learns to be independent.
Diapering should be a teaching tool which can be used successfully to help children learn to be hygienic. It can also be the first step to toilet training. Moreover, with the passing of time, children often learn to be more responsible doing the diaper-changing themselves without the intervention of their parents.
In a word, diaper changing helps children be conscious about their bodies. Parents should encourage their children to actively take part in diaper changing making it a fun-time to enjoy.
One should be cautious about diapers as they need to be spotlessly clean and dry. The diapering surface may be a little elevated, but you need to be careful not to leave the child alone on it. Talcum powders, as a rule, should be avoided. Unknown ingredients in them may cause undesirable irritation on the tender skin of a baby. Always wash hands and make sure you clean the baby's genital areas well when changing diapers.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Potty Training
Ah, potty training!
Go to a local bookseller and you will find dozens of books on the subject. Search the Net and there are thousands of websites with information on how to do it stress free. There are even people who are capitalizing on a parent's frustration with potty training by offering to do it for you, for a hefty sum! I honestly can't imagine anything more unseemly than paying someone to teach my child to "go".
Ewwww!!!
I have successfully potty trained 3 kids so far using this method.
I seem to be the envy of the playgroups when other Moms see that my 3 year old son has been in whitey tighties for over a year. My oldest was also 2 when he potty learned.
For me, potty training starts with a newborn. Now don't get me wrong...I do diaper my babes (unlike the native African mothers who wear their babies on their backs and who, to avoid being soiled on, learn to read their babies' cues so well that they know when their newborn needs to be held over a bush...no, I'm not kidding!) but I have always used cloth diapers, which encourages babies to train early. I'm not a longhaired, barefoot, off-the-grid hippie (not that there's anything wrong with that, but you're more likely to find me in Doc Martens than Birkenstocks!) but I have been cloth diapering since the beginning.
It has saved me hundreds and hundreds of dollars, but I also like the fact that my babies begin to make the association with the uncomfortable wet feeling and the knowledge that they can prevent it. Most babies will wake up dry in the morning at several months of age, demonstrating that they are physically able to "hold it". In my opinion, Pull Ups are evil and yet another invention that some clever businessman came up with that parents now think is a necessity. Along with formula, baby swings, and the like. Pull Ups just enable a 5 year old to keep soiling himself. Research has shown that cloth diapered babies potty learn several months earlier than disposable diapered babies.
So here's Grandma's recipe (and I do owe it to my Mother, like most of the good stuff I know about parenting) for easy potty training, even if you choose not to cloth diaper.
Let your baby come into the bathroom when you go. That way, they know what's going on in there. You don't have to get graphic, just talk to them about what toilets are for. If you are a woman at home all day with boy children, encourage Daddy to show 'em how it's done. You don't want them thinking that if they go on the toilet their equipment will fall off, like Mum's obviously did. Strange, but true...some tots will come to this conclusion.
Buy 3 or 4 of those cheap little molded plastic potties and put them around the house. At least, one in each bathroom and one in the kitchen or the room where you spend the most time with your child. Stick a towel underneath for the sake of your carpet if said child is a boy. Speaking of boys...you can take advantage of nature here by keeping an open mind. I know at least one boy who was trained when his Mom let him go off the side of the deck.
The summer that your child is closest to two, take two days and don't leave the house. Let your child run around naked from the waist down, with a big tee shirt on top so that private parts stay private.
Every 10 minutes, place the child matter-of-factly on the pot. DO NOT ASK inane questions like "Do you need to go potty sweetie pie!?" We are talking about dealing with a two year old here! Just do it like it's the thing to do, and don't ask permission. Don't force it, and if he/she wants to get up right away, let him or her.
If you have a resistant child, set a timer to go off every 10 minutes. It's amazing what a child will do when the power dynamic is taken away. When the "potty timer" goes off, it's time to sit on the pot!
Use praise but don't go overboard. Act like this is the expected thing. Be cool. Say "You put peepee in the potty, just like Mommy and Daddy (and big brother, and your older play group friend...3rd parties are gold here!!) do.
Don't make a big deal out of what's happening. Don't spend hours reading potty training books or videos to the child. Again, be cool. If you make it into a big deal, your child will be more likely to dig in and resist.
Have some "big boy shorts" or "big girl panties" that you know your child will like, perhaps that you have picked out together, ready for the end of the two days. Your child will be less likely to have accidents if s/he is going to mess up their new undies.
When the inevitable accidents happen, don't scold. Be patient and gracious. This is part of the job. Remember that even if you decide to spring for carpet cleaning, you will still come out ahead if you don't have to buy diapers for another year or two!
Diapers and Potty Training
Go to a local bookseller and you will find dozens of books on the subject. Search the Net and there are thousands of websites with information on how to do it stress free. There are even people who are capitalizing on a parent's frustration with potty training by offering to do it for you, for a hefty sum! I honestly can't imagine anything more unseemly than paying someone to teach my child to "go".
Ewwww!!!
I have successfully potty trained 3 kids so far using this method.
I seem to be the envy of the playgroups when other Moms see that my 3 year old son has been in whitey tighties for over a year. My oldest was also 2 when he potty learned.
For me, potty training starts with a newborn. Now don't get me wrong...I do diaper my babes (unlike the native African mothers who wear their babies on their backs and who, to avoid being soiled on, learn to read their babies' cues so well that they know when their newborn needs to be held over a bush...no, I'm not kidding!) but I have always used cloth diapers, which encourages babies to train early. I'm not a longhaired, barefoot, off-the-grid hippie (not that there's anything wrong with that, but you're more likely to find me in Doc Martens than Birkenstocks!) but I have been cloth diapering since the beginning.
It has saved me hundreds and hundreds of dollars, but I also like the fact that my babies begin to make the association with the uncomfortable wet feeling and the knowledge that they can prevent it. Most babies will wake up dry in the morning at several months of age, demonstrating that they are physically able to "hold it". In my opinion, Pull Ups are evil and yet another invention that some clever businessman came up with that parents now think is a necessity. Along with formula, baby swings, and the like. Pull Ups just enable a 5 year old to keep soiling himself. Research has shown that cloth diapered babies potty learn several months earlier than disposable diapered babies.
So here's Grandma's recipe (and I do owe it to my Mother, like most of the good stuff I know about parenting) for easy potty training, even if you choose not to cloth diaper.
Let your baby come into the bathroom when you go. That way, they know what's going on in there. You don't have to get graphic, just talk to them about what toilets are for. If you are a woman at home all day with boy children, encourage Daddy to show 'em how it's done. You don't want them thinking that if they go on the toilet their equipment will fall off, like Mum's obviously did. Strange, but true...some tots will come to this conclusion.
Buy 3 or 4 of those cheap little molded plastic potties and put them around the house. At least, one in each bathroom and one in the kitchen or the room where you spend the most time with your child. Stick a towel underneath for the sake of your carpet if said child is a boy. Speaking of boys...you can take advantage of nature here by keeping an open mind. I know at least one boy who was trained when his Mom let him go off the side of the deck.
The summer that your child is closest to two, take two days and don't leave the house. Let your child run around naked from the waist down, with a big tee shirt on top so that private parts stay private.
Every 10 minutes, place the child matter-of-factly on the pot. DO NOT ASK inane questions like "Do you need to go potty sweetie pie!?" We are talking about dealing with a two year old here! Just do it like it's the thing to do, and don't ask permission. Don't force it, and if he/she wants to get up right away, let him or her.
If you have a resistant child, set a timer to go off every 10 minutes. It's amazing what a child will do when the power dynamic is taken away. When the "potty timer" goes off, it's time to sit on the pot!
Use praise but don't go overboard. Act like this is the expected thing. Be cool. Say "You put peepee in the potty, just like Mommy and Daddy (and big brother, and your older play group friend...3rd parties are gold here!!) do.
Don't make a big deal out of what's happening. Don't spend hours reading potty training books or videos to the child. Again, be cool. If you make it into a big deal, your child will be more likely to dig in and resist.
Have some "big boy shorts" or "big girl panties" that you know your child will like, perhaps that you have picked out together, ready for the end of the two days. Your child will be less likely to have accidents if s/he is going to mess up their new undies.
When the inevitable accidents happen, don't scold. Be patient and gracious. This is part of the job. Remember that even if you decide to spring for carpet cleaning, you will still come out ahead if you don't have to buy diapers for another year or two!
Diapers and Potty Training
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