Baby Care
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How To Lose Weight After Pregnancy
In: Pregnancy
5 Feb 2010Obese women who gain more than the recommended amount of weight during pregnancy are much more likely to retain a portion of that weight one year after they give birth, according to a new US study. It followed 1,656 obese pregnant women and found that most of them gained too much weight during pregnancy, then, on average, kept on 40% of the weight one year after they gave birth.
This study defined excess weight as more than 6.8kg (15 pounds), which until recently was the minimum amount of weight gain recommended for obese pregnant women by the US Institute of Medicine. The NHS points to 7–12 kg (about 1.5-2 stones) as being a healthy amount of weight to gain in pregnancy with women carrying multiples expected to gain more. Any more than this and you may compromise your and your baby’s health – extra weight gained in pregnancy puts you at a higher risk of pregnancy and birth complications like diabetes, pre-eclampsia, a bigger baby, and a caesarean delivery.
The study found that, on average, women retained 40 percent of the weight they gained during pregnancy one year after delivery. Compared to women who gained less than the recommended 6.8kg, women who gained 6.8-11kg (15-25 pounds) were twice as likely to retain 4.5kg (10 excess pounds); women who gained more than 35 pounds were nearly eight times more likely to retain at least 15kg (10 pounds). The study also found that younger women and first-time mums were most likely to gain too much weight.
The study underpins that obese women (those with a body mass index, or BMI, of 30 or more) should take steps to control weight gain during their pregnancies, since once your baby is born, it’s much harder to change eating habits and start an exercise program.
Try these tips for controlling pregnancy weight gain:
* Eat regular meals and small healthy snacks between meals – research shows that this eating pattern may be better for pregnant women than the traditional three large meals way of eating.
* Avoid junk food and keep snacks healthy. Fresh fruit is one of the best snacks as it’s packed with vitamins and fiber (great for helping to relieve constipation).
* Reduce your fat intake to less than 30 percent of your daily calories.
* Reduce your consumption of sweets and sweetened drinks.
* Keep a food diary to check for nutritional adequacy and portion management.
* Eat only 100-300 extra calories per day beyond what your calorie needs were before you became pregnant.
* Exercise for at least 30 minutes on most days (ask your midwife if you’re at all unsure about what you should be doing in regard to exercise).
All You Need To Know About Placenta
In: Pregnancy
4 Feb 2010
The placenta sounds like a planet from another solar system and looks like an alien life form. But it has a very important job to do. It is your baby’s life support system whilst in the womb and not only supplies your baby with everything she needs, but also keeps anything harmful out of her way.
For the first 12 to 13 weeks the placenta is developing rapidly inside you and attaches itself to the lining of the uterus. Some scientists think that this is the reason some women feel very drained in early pregnancy. Their bodies are not only creating a tiny baby, but it’s life support system too. First and foremost the placenta helps your baby to breathe. Each time your heart beats, blood from your arteries flows into the placenta so that oxygen and nutrients flow to your baby. It also carries waste products like carbon dioxide away from your baby. The success of the placenta functioning properly depends on a good supply of maternal blood. If the maternal blood supply is reduced, the mother smokes for example or is suffering from pre-eclampsia, the blood flow to the placenta is reduced and this can have an effect on your growing baby.
As well as linking your blood supply to your baby’s, the placenta also keeps the two blood supplies completely separate, even though only a thin membrane separates the two. This is important because the maternal and foetal systems must not mix. The placenta keeps any harmful substances away from your baby as well as protecting her against infection. The placenta can’t always distinguish between what is good and what is bad, which is why pregnant women are advised not to drink, smoke or take drugs during pregnancy. Some viruses can pass to your baby from the placenta. German Measles or Rubella can be particularly dangerous if caught by the mother and can lead to defects such as blindness, deafness and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) in your baby. It is important to ask your GP before you plan to get pregnant whether you have been immunised against Rubella or not.
The placenta also secretes hormones such as chrorionic gondotrophin, progesterone and oestrogen that all help to maintain your pregnancy and also help to prepare your breasts for breastfeeding.
During the last stages of pregnancy, antibodies will pass from you to your baby via the placenta, which will help to protect her for the first three months. After that her own body will start to build up immunity from what she is exposed to on a daily basis.
Once your baby is born, the placenta’s job is done. As the cord is cut and clamped the placenta can be delivered, as it no longer supplies your baby with all she needs. The delivery of the placenta is called the ‘third stage’ of labour. Some women choose to have a managed third stage and others choose to have a natural third stage.
A managed third stage is when the mother is given an injection (usually syntometrin or syntocinon) into her thigh to speed up the delivery of the placenta. The mother won’t have to push as the midwife will usually wait for a contraction and gently pull on the cord, or press the abdomen until the placenta comes out. With this option the placenta comes out very quickly after birth, usually in about ten minutes.
Some mothers prefer a natural third stage, which is when the mother waits for the placenta to dispel by itself. This can be immediate or can sometimes take over an hour. Breastfeeding your baby can help to dispel the placenta because nipple stimulation releases oxytocin, a hormone that helps with uterine contractions.
Once the placenta is out it will be examined to see if it is complete, that all of it has come out and what state it is in. The state of the placenta can tell the medical team a lot about the condition of your baby at birth.
In rare cases the placenta can become trapped and the mother may need an operation to remove it under epidural for pain relief.
The placenta is amazing. It protects, nourishes and provides everything for your growing baby. The placanta will do all it can to protect your baby so if you get a glimpse of the alien-like organ, remember to say thank-you for looking after your little one for all those months.
Tips For New Mums
In: For Mothers
25 Jan 2010No-one told you but the first few months are tough. Rest assured they get easier but our survival tips for new mums will speed up the process!
Round-robin dinners
If your friends ask what they can do for you in the early days, get them to do a round-robin of dinners for the first couple of weeks. It’s so exciting waiting for the dinner to turn up and people usually prepare their most decadent meals. It’s better than eating in a restaurant every night. And you’ll find even if your baby has been an angel all day, from 5 – 7 is witching time for many newborns.
Power naps
Business people may think they are the ones who invented these but new mothers have always done them. Don’t always do chores when the babe goes down. Have a rest and don’t feel guilty about it. If you’re not the type to nap during the day just read a book but give yourself a break. It is not a luxury, it’s an investment. Remember they are here to replace you!
Get a house clean
If you don’t normally have a house cleaner, get one for the first three months (they may never leave) – hire a local teenager to do it, they are much more affordable. It will help your sanity. There is nothing more annoying than nursing constantly on the sofa and having to stare at un-vacuumed rug and stains which never go away. You immediately forget about them, the moment you get up.
It takes a village
Do hand your baby over to a trusted family member or friend from time to time and go for a walk or do something for yourself, have a massage or just go to a cafe and stare into space for half an hour. You will return SO much better off, again in love with your baby with energy to spare.
Get out of the house!
Take advantage of all the baby-friendly activities out there and get out the door! A walk is one of the best things you can do for everyone’s health. One of the best inventions in recent years are mother and baby cinema outings. No one minds if a baby is crying because they all will at some point and the movie is loud enough to drown out most of it. Heaven.
Travel the world
This may sound like madness, but in the early days, especially if you are nursing, your baby is incredibly mobile. Don’t take much with you – they no doubt have babies where you are going – just get on a plane and make that visit to relatives. Things like jetlag don’t affect the babe at all, your hours are up the spout anyway. Once your baby is more mobile, grabbing at every passing ornament at granny’s house, that’s a bad time to travel. Then you get people to come to you, because you have the place all set up and you don’t have to worry about any breakages.
What you wear matters!
Do invest in a new interim wardrobe after the baby is born. Nobody wants to see those maternity trackies ever again. Okay it may be sacrilege to buy some size 16 outfits, but look on the bright side, you can wear them early on in your next pregnancy! And you’ll feel like a new woman.
Lighten up!
If you were a perfectionist before, give it up. You have lost certain control of your life for quite some time to come. Yes, you can have a routine, and babies by and large respond well to routine, but there are times when they literally spit the dummy and decide it’s a good idea to wake at 2, 3 and 4 am – a growth spurt we like to say – and there’s not a darn thing you can do about it.
A non-baby task
Do take on a bit of work: it may sound crazy but take on a work project with a long lead time and it gives you a point of focus. The upside is you are earning some money again so you can buy that much lusted over pair of jeans for your new post-baby body. There is no downside.
Remember to enjoy your baby!
Remember to take time to enjoy the baby – this may be tricky in the first few weeks but you will regret it if you don’t take time to just play with the baby every day. Don’t set off in the morning with a long list of things you want to achieve. If you can get one thing done in a day you are doing well, give yourself a big pat on the back.
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- Tags: baby, baby care, mother care, tips for new mums
How To Wean Baby From Night Feeding
In: Baby Feeding
8 Jan 2010
Anyone who’s sat with a teething baby can tell you there’s no surefire way of helping a baby go to sleep. For exhausted parents during the day, getting a child to sleep through the night is vital. After months of nursing, you can begin weaning your child at night, but if you start before your baby is ready, you’ll be waking to the hungry screams of an infant. Experiment with sleeping habits and routines to find what works. You can’t make schedules for sleeping babies, but you can note patterns in the times your baby is most likely to be sleepy.
After the first six months, night weaning is an option. Check with your pediatrician.
Create the Right Environment
You can’t train a child to sleep through the night, but you can make sure conditions are right for sleeping. The room should be quiet, dimly lit, warm enough but not stuffy. You may unwind by rocking, singing, a warm bath or by lying together on your bed or couch. Modern toys and bed options promise to put the baby to sleep for you, but you also need a loving routine. You can incorporate the breathing or singing teddy bear into your child’s nighttime, but first create the security and calm that helps your infant sleep.
Change Your Own Plans before Trying to Change Your Child
Sometimes a baby won’t go to sleep because he just isn’t tired! Parents may try to get a baby to sleep because they’re wiped out, or have a meeting or need to take an important call, but these attempts will fail if the baby isn’t sleepy. To maximize your child’s chances of sleeping through the night, arrange your own schedule around the times your baby sleeps naturally. If you’re breast feeding, you may find you child dozes off after the second feeding of the day, but is wide awake for the third. Plan your free time after the second feeding. Change your own plans before trying to change your baby’s instincts: you can reason and plan, but your baby can’t.
When Do Babies Sleep through the Night?
Some babies start sleeping all night at around five or six months: others will wake frequently even once they’re toddlers. The child’s temperament has something to do with it: some kids are more restless and more easily awakened than others. Some children always struggle with sleeping, and unfortunately, the more stressed parents become by not getting any sleep of their own, the more turmoil is created in the child. Get as comfortable as possible, and wait it out.
Routines and Crying It Out
Creating habits around bedtime helps your child learn to wind down: a routine of a snack, a story, a cuddle and a song sets the expectation that now is the time for resting. Taking turns with your partner to put the baby to bed means you can spell each other from night to night, and your child won’t associate only one of you with going to sleep. The more people who can successfully put the baby to bed, the better!
Some experts have advocated letting the baby “cry it out”, and for some babies, this works. You put the child down and leave the room; the baby cries for a few minutes and then drifts off to sleep. But some children become more and more upset: when this happens, he can work himself into a rage. If your baby cries for more than ten minutes after being put down to sleep, you will have to try another tack.
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- Tags: Baby Weaning, night feeding, weaning
How To Choose A Babysitter
In: For Mothers
6 Jan 2010All parents need a little time off now and again.
In order to feel comfortable about leaving your baby you need to choose a good babysitter that inspires your confidence.
Many parents rely on family members to care for baby when they will be gone, but you can’t always depend upon your relatives. How do you choose a person to look after your baby?
The Interviewing Process
One of the first steps in choosing a person to watch your baby when you are not at home is the interview process. Be sure you ask for references and follow up on checking them.
You should rely on your instincts when it comes to feeling comfortable and secure in your choice of a babysitter.
You want someone that is warm, caring and flexible. What are the prospective babysitter’s views on discipline? Is the person comfortable and happy around children?
You also will need to discuss the babysitter’s rates. Another factor to consider is the babysitter’s transportation. Will they need to be picked up and dropped off or will they be using their own steam to get to and from your home?
Explain thoroughly what you expect the babysitter to do in case of an emergency. You should provide them with contact information for you, your pediatrician and perhaps another relative that can be reached in case of an emergency.
Tell the sitter about your routines with baby. Do you read to baby at bedtime? Convey your feelings about television shows that you want or don’t want your child to be exposed to.
Discuss your disciplinary measures and consequences that will ensue from disobedience.
What to Provide for Your Babysitter?
In order to perform duties to the best of their ability you must provide your babysitter with specific information. You want to leave your phone number, address and full name.
Though this may seem obvious, if an emergency should occur your babysitter may blank out on this information. Leave the telephone numbers of the fire and police department as well as your pediatrician’s telephone number.
Don’t forget to leave information about where you will be so that you can be reached. The address and phone number should suffice.
If you want a family member, friend or neighbor to be contacted in case of an emergency, leave the names, addresses and telephone numbers of those people. Finally, tell the babysitter when to expect your return.
Having someone dependable, fun and creative watching your baby will give you some degree of security when you are going out whether for business or for pleasure. A good babysitter is worth their weight in gold.
Christmas Food Ideas And Recipes For Babies
In: For Mothers
28 Dec 2009These Christmas baby food ideas and tips for the holiday season will help you make baby’s first Christmas extra special!
Your baby’s first Christmas is simply a magical time – for him AND for you! It’s a time to introduce your little one to the wonderful traditions you grew up with and an opportunity for you to re-create wonderful memories from your own childhood.
Christmas dinner for baby can be put together quite easily from your meal, which is traditionally full of healthy veggies – but exactly what you give your baby depends, of course, on his age and stage of development.
Remember: Your baby should be at least 6 months of age before you introduce him to solid foods, unless your doctor has recommended starting earlier.
And, even though it’s Christmas and you’re anxious to include your baby at the Christmas meal, you should still introduce new foods separately and with the consent of his doctor.
This is to prevent and identify food allergies and digestive problems.
Here are some recipes.
1.Turkey
Turkey can be given to your baby from 7 months of age. Here’s a simple Christmas baby food recipe using turkey – remember to cook your baby’s veggies without salt.
1 large turkey slice
1 cooked potato
1 medium cooked carrot
2 cooked broccoli florets
Blend the turkey in a food processor with water or homemade stock until fairly thin. Then add the potato (which will thicken the mixture) and the remaining veggies and puree to the desired consistency. Older babies, already comfortable with finger foods, can be given this meal cut up into bite-sized pieces.
2.Gravy
Commercial gravies tend to be high in salt and are unsuitable for babies. If you would like to create a healthier gravy to accompany these Christmas baby food recipes, then simply take 4 oz (about 1/2 cup) of your cooked veggies and puree with 8 to 12 fl oz (around 1 to 1/2 cups) of the meat juices from the pan (assuming that your meat was not heavily seasoned with salt). Puree them together and serve – you can adjust these quantities to create a thinner or thicker gravy if you prefer.
Another option is to combine arrowroot with homemade chicken stock (1 tbsp arrowroot per 8 fl oz (1 cup) of stock). Pour into a small saucepan and heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens. For a more robust flavour, stir in 1/2 tsp tomato puree.
3. Cranberry Sauce
If your baby has already been introduced to a wide range of solid foods, then it should be fine to add a little cranberry sauce to his holiday meal. But don’t overdo it, as cranberries can upset a sensitive tummy.
4. Potatoes
Depending on where you are in the world, the way in which potatoes are cooked for the Christmas dinner can vary. In the UK, roasted potatoes are common – whereas in the US, most families serve mashed potatoes.
In either case, make sure that any potato you give your baby is free from salt.
5. Chipolatas In Bacon
Also known as ‘Pigs in Blankets”, these are almost a staple of the British Christmas dinner. But they are not suitable for young babies, as these processed meats contain too much salt.
6. Bread Sauce
Bread sauce cooked to a traditional recipe will contain milk, so it would not be suitable if your baby is sensitive to cow’s milk or if a family history of dairy allergy exists. Otherwise, a little creamy bread sauce with baby’s Christmas dinner would be fine and would make a lovely dip for veggies if he is finger-feeding.
Involving Baby In Christmas Celebrations
In: For Mothers
23 Dec 2009The Christmas holiday period is a time when for millions of families the daily routine is likely to change, sometimes drastically or sometimes just a little. If you have a new born, or very young, baby in the house, do not believe that they will not be aware of what’s going on just because they are lazing around in their crib sleeping most of the time. They will be aware of differences in their environment, so it is a good idea to think about the well being of the baby in advance, and plan your Christmas period accordingly.
Probably the first sign that something different is going on in the home will be the Christmas decorations and ornaments going up. While the baby may seem oblivious to all commotion and activity as the decorations go up all around, there is a good chance that a baby who has lived in the house for a few months will be very aware of them, even if they cannot focus on the detail of the decorations themselves. This is a good time to get the baby involved in Christmas, right at the start, by letting them lie in the room being decorated while they are awake. Let them watch the rest of the family as they hang the Christmas tree decorations and lights, and all the other ornaments. Once in a while, take over an ornament that is bright and let her see it up close; find some that make a noise, and let her hear the gentle sounds up close. Nothing too noisy, of course, that will scare the baby, just the gentle sounds. Also, pick her up and take her up close to hanging ornaments. That will help the baby feel a part of what is going on, even if they do not have a clue what it is all about.
If your Christmas holiday is being spent at home, then the routine with the baby need not change too much. If you are expecting a lot of guests, though, then it may be rather different, so try not to forget to plan for the baby too. If you are getting caught up in a frenzy of cooking and other preparation in the days before Christmas, and on Christmas morning, then try to involve the baby just a bit, by allowing her to lie in the kitchen with you, or in whatever room the preparation may be going on. Remember, your baby will sense stress and anxiety in the parents, so it is best to allow plenty of time for your preparation so that you are not too rushed and stressed out.
If the baby is used to having a lot of people around, then she will probably not be too disturbed by the sudden influx of visitors. Even then, remember she needs peaceful periods, and when she joins the throng while awake it is worth keeping an eye on whether she is becoming overwhelmed by too much boisterous attention, especially as the alcohol may flow later in the day, or sooner in some cases. Always remember, your baby just needs love, warmth, care, food and security, so as long as you remain conscious of those things at all times, then your baby can enjoy Christmas as much as you, even though she may not be able to tell you so.
If you are going away, then the routine upset will be greater, so it may not be quite so easy for baby or parents. Everything mentioned above for staying at home still applies, and the travel preparation should be no different than for an ordinary trip away. However, take extra care and ensure you have everything that you will need for the baby while travelling and away, listed well in advance and organised in plenty of time. Depending on where you live, there may not be shops open on Christmas Day, and Christmas Eve shopping may be a stressful nightmare for you and the baby. So, it is well worth getting yourself, and your baby’s, things well organized in advance.
Christmas should be a great time for you, your family and your baby. Much will be just as normal, but it is always worth remembering that she will be aware of anything that is different, whether in surroundings, tension levels, or sounds. If you are breastfeeding, you should be aware that what you eat and drink will provide her milk.
So long as you remain aware of those things, and act accordingly, your baby will be happy, and have a good grounding for getting more involved next Christmas.
Make The Most Of Baby’s First Christmas
In: For Mothers
22 Dec 2009Baby’s first Christmas is certainly an event to be treasured. Here are some creative ways to record your first holiday together.
1. Make or buy a personalized ornament. Hang an ornament painted with your baby’s name and birthdate. Every year you can take out this ornament and remember your baby’s first Christmas.
2. Create your first annual photo ornament. Place your baby’s picture in a tiny frame and hang from your Christmas tree. Do the same thing next year and hang the two ornaments next to each other. As the years go by, you’ll have pictures of your baby from each Christmas.
3. Make a Christmas stocking from your baby’s sock. Hang an adorable miniature Christmas stocking next to yours. Decorate it with your baby’s name and the year of his first Christmas.
4. Save your baby’s first Christmas outfit. Dress her in adorable green and red Christmas clothes. These can get stored away and revisited whenever you feel like reminiscing. When you come across it again next year, you’ll realize just how much your child has grown.
5. Give your child a Christmas-themed stuffed animal. There are miniature Santas, reindeers, angels, and elves. As your child grows, you’ll always have it around reminding you of your baby’s first Christmas. It might even become your child’s best friend for a while.
6. Make or buy a personalized Christmas blanket. You can store this with your child’s first Christmas clothes and or hang it on the wall in your baby’s room — assuming you can persuade her to let go of it.
7. Give your baby a Christmas music box. These are treasures that can last a lifetime. He’ll want to fall asleep every night to the peaceful Christmas music. 
8. Take plenty of pictures. Get pictures of your child’s face when he first sees the Christmas lights or when he gets his first present. Make sure to also get pictures of your newly formed family.
9. Write a letter to your child. Even though it’ll be a while before your child can read it, this letter can mean a lot to you for years to come. In your letter, tell your child how happy you are to be celebrating your first Christmas with her. Thank her for her first Christmas present to you–being born.
10. Start a Christmas scrapbook. Decorate the cover with your child’s name and birthdate. Fill it with some of your Christmas pictures and any Christmas cards to your baby. You can also write a short description of your baby’s first Christmas — what you gave him, what he ate, or what he found scary — and add it to your scrapbook.
Baby Christmas Gift Ideas
In: Baby Gifts
18 Dec 2009
Christmas is approaching nearer and people are concerned about Christmas gifts they are going to give their nearest and dearest. Nowadays when the market is overloaded with different products it becomes quite a challenge to make a good and appropriate choice, especially for those who want to please little children. Very often you find yourself in a difficult situation trying to choose a gift for a little one though you know it has to be a toy or the like, some adorable items that a baby can play with and have fun. It is wrong to think that any bright toy given to a baby can delight him or her. This can sound incredibly but some children can be very picky and even express their dissatisfaction if they don’t like the gift. Children are perfectly frank and they are far from saying “Oh? It’s lovely, I could not even dream of it” if they really don’t like it.
And now, on this Christmas Day your lovely little children are looking forward to receiving outright baby Christmas gifts.
How to cope with the exacting task
Let us think over what baby gifts our children are looking forward to getting from you. Your child’s nursery is certainly overfilled with different kinds of toys and now you have to find something stunningly interesting to make your darling really happy not only that day but the days after. This gift should be interesting to the child and at the same time help to develop the baby’s activities. It is very important to choose a toy or a game according to your child’s age and interest. For example newborns and toddlers do best with the bright coloured toys and the combination of black, white, and red is recommended for holding a baby’s attention. Toys with melody or motion can delight little ones very much. Any of the toys chosen for a baby should encourage physical activity. So think of the baby’s safety, the toy should be of high quality it should not contain choking hazards and sharp or pointed detail. 
Choosing gifts for children a bit bigger you have to know exactly what they want, at least what they are interested in. If your daughter does not play with dolls but prefer cuddly toys, do not try to change her buying a doll. In this case the doll can be looked all over and put aside. Piles of unnecessary toys do not help your child to develop. There is nothing more disappointing for children than getting wrong gifts.
Diapers and Baby clothes
Frankly speaking giving a child baby clothes will not impress him or her very much but the parents can be very thankful for such baby Christmas gifts. If you made up your mind to give baby clothes you have to be forward-looking too. Here are some gift suggestions.
It would be very nice if you know exactly what item of clothing the baby needs but if not you will never go wrong giving diapers, the reason is simple; diapers are always in use and relatively expensive that is why many parents would appreciate the gift of diapers. Diapers can be given to the baby in her or his current size, or in a larger size that parents can use them when the baby grows a bit. As babies grow quickly and are in and out of clothes in no time. Consider buying some baby clothes for the following season. For example, if it’s currently winter, buy some cute spring outfits.
Tips On Choosing Baby Cribs
In: Baby Furniture
17 Dec 2009During the first year of life, your baby will spend up to 70% of his or her time in the baby crib you choose. The baby crib is one of the most important investments you will make before your baby’s arrival.
Here are several useful tips to help you choose the best crib for your baby.
1. Safety
What to look for:
* The distance between slats must be no more than 2 3/8 inches (6 centimeters) to protect infants from falling out and toddlers from trapping their heads between the slats.
* The side rails that lower should have at least two locking devices to prevent older babies from releasing them.
* When a side rail is lowered, its top should be at least 9 inches (23 centimeters) above the mattress support. To protect older babies, the top of the raised side rail must be at least 26 inches (66 centimeters) above the mattress support at its lowest position.
* If the crib has corner posts, they must be either flush with the top of the headboard and footboard or very tall – over 16 inches (41 centimeters). Anything in between is a potential strangulation hazard.
* Get the firmest mattress you can find. Don’t rely on manufacturers’ labels – test it yourself. This is extremely important because soft mattresses may play a role in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
* Be sure that the mattress fits snugly in the crib. This keeps a baby from slipping in between the mattress and the crib sides.
* Evaluate a used crib with extra care. There may be too much space between slats, or elaborate cut-outs in the headboard and footboard that can trap a baby’s head. A crib made before 1978 may have a finish that contains lead, so a crib that has been in the family for generations may not be the best one to use!
2. Convenience
You will spend a great deal of energy lifting your baby in and out of the crib. Look for a crib with a drop-side and adjustable mattress height to make this task easier. You may also want to look for a crib with rolling casters. These will allow you to move the crib around easily should you wish to do so.
3. Where Will Baby Sleep
Baby’s intended sleep location is a big factor in determining which crib is right for you. If you want baby to sleep in your room you may want to consider a small baby bed. Your options include a bassinet, moses basket or cradle, all of which can be used until baby is four months old. Alternatively there are longer-term options such as the Amby bed or the co-sleeper (bedside crib).
If you want baby to sleep in a separate nursery room, a good idea is to place a moses basket inside the full size crib. This way baby gets the security of a small baby bed while getting used to his own space.
4. Size and Shape Count
If you have a small baby nursery to work with, you may want to consider a mini crib or a corner crib instead of a regular rectangular one. Both of these options save a considerable amount of space. On the other hand, if you have a large nursery room, a round crib placed in the center can be more interesting than a standard crib against the wall.
5. Right Price
A good baby crib needn’t cost you an arm and a leg. Your baby budget will be stretched thin enough over the coming months without paying too much for your crib. There are great ways to save money when you go shopping. Here are some examples:
* Shop the sales by signing up for newsletters at your local stores and online retailers.
* Think e-Bay. You can often get a brand new crib straight out of the box at a highly discounted price.
* If you shop online look for free shipping options.
6. Take Baby’s Growth Into Account
It may seem like a long way off now, but it won’t be long before your baby becomes a toddler and needs to move out of the crib into a bed. Will you be having another baby to take over the crib? If not, consider a convertible crib that will grow with your child.
7. Choose Your Finish Carefully
Make sure you have a plan for your baby nursery before you decide on the finish for your crib so that it forms part of the overall design. Here are a few more tips:
* If you have a small baby nursery, stay away from dark furniture, as it will make the room feel smaller.
* If you will be passing this crib on to a second baby, stick with neutral, unisex colors that will go with any theme or color scheme.
* If you choose a convertible crib, consider what finish will go well in a toddler and a teenager’s room.
Have fun! Baby Shopping is one of the perks of being pregnant!
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- Pregnancy (33)
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- Alissa: I always tend to feed the baby just before I go to bed, this gives that extra hour of sleep I need. [...]
- bassinet: I've always heard that music was very beneficial for babys but to read a list of the benefits is ver [...]
- Lizaa: Baby massaging is one of the best ways of bonding between the parent and the child. It also helps re [...]
- Larry: Part of my baby's bedtime routine is dancing to themes from cartoon shows 'til it tires her out. : [...]
- Verna: I highly recommend a sound machine. White noise machines work great for babies and children. We sta [...]
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