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Babies
FREE Sample of the Enfamil Baby’s Formula
Expecting a baby? Got a baby? Know someone expecting a baby or who has a baby? Get a free sample of Enfamil Baby Formula.
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How to Save Money on Baby Care, From Juice to Food to Diapers
The myth that babies cost money tends to keep the local grocery or department store management very happy. Retailers love the parents that want things the *convenient* way, rather than the economical way. If parents were to wise up and take just an extra few moments a day, retailers would see a huge drop in profits and parents would see a significant change in savings. It doesn’t cost much to raise a baby. Little changes can save you a bundle!
In a recent trip to the grocery store, I was in the checkout line behind a new young mom and dad, holding an adorable infant. In their buggy was at least three dozen tiny little juice bottles, the smallest jars of baby food, and regular size jars of baby food. The clerk proceeded to ask the young mom what the difference was between baby juice and regular frozen juice. The young mom said that the baby juice was more diluted and was better for the baby. Hard as it was, I kept myself from laughing and kept my mouth shut.
We’ll start with the juice first. Baby juice is the same thing as concentrated frozen juice in a can, only more diluted. Both are fortified with Vitamin C. The frozen concentrate is MUCH cheaper than the baby juice, as it makes MUCH more for MUCH less. Simply mix it up according to the can’s directions, then if you are using a small baby bottle, pour it 1/4 full of the juice and finish filling the baby bottle up with water. If you are using a large baby bottle, fill it 1/3 or half full of the juice and the rest with water.
Baby food costs a lot of money. While I can understand buying the regular size jars of baby food, buying those tiny small ones is a huge waste of money. Buying the regular size ones is a better buy for your dollar. NEVER feed the baby from the jar, as the saliva really wreaks havoc on the food in a few moments time. Put out a portion on a saucer or in a bowl, and save the other part of the jar for later that day in the refrigerator. Some parents opt to make their own baby food. While I think this is great, it is more time consuming, but saves even more money for the family. If you make your own baby food, be sure it is the right consistency for Baby, and that Baby doesn’t get a lot of spices, etc.
Baby diapers must be the one thing, other than child care, that costs parents the most money. You can count on a baby being in diapers for about two years. Most parents today abhor the idea of a cloth diaper. Disposable diapers are great, and I’ll be the first one to admit that. But they can eat you out of house and home! So what’s the young parents to do? One idea is to use disposable diapers only when you go someplace, such as the grocery store. If you baby wets a lot at night, you might even want to use them at night too. During the day, around the house, put the baby in cloth diapers. You will have to change the baby every hour or two, maybe more or less, but using cloth just part of the day will result in a nice savings.
Baby clothes and such can be found used for just a fraction of the cost. Why spend all that money on something Baby will only use for a few weeks? Take the cradle, for example. Why buy a new one, when baby will outgrow it in maybe a couple of months? Baby clothes are quickly outgrown, but new ones are expensive. Again, you can save a bundle by shopping thrift stores, yard sales, and store sales.
When my children were babies, I stayed home with them. I might have worked an entire year in the past twelve years. My family has never made a lot of money. As a matter of fact, most people would consider us on the poor side. How have I been able to stay home with my kids?
I believe in saving money where it can be saved. I used cloth diapers part of the time, I use coupons when I did buy disposables, and those were the store brand rather than name brand. I diluted juices instead of buying the baby juice, shopped yard sales and thrift stores for used baby clothes and baby items, etc. And I didn’t work outside the home and pay ridiculous child care costs.
The main thing to remember when raising your baby is that *you* control what you spend. If you just want to give your money to the retailers, it is after all your money. But know that you don’t have to give away your hard earned money, if you’ll just take the extra few moments and make a few tiny changes. The money you save now, while Baby is a baby, will make a nice nest egg for special things later in life.
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Save and Smile – Baby Starter Kit
Comfort your baby with a Johnson’s Baby Relief Kit! Get one today!
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There are a lot of things to think about when there’s a baby on the way. You’ve got to come up with the perfect name for your little bundle of joy. You have to line up childcare when it’s time to go back to work, or make plans to stay home with the baby. There are clothes, diapers and supplies to buy. And there’s a nursery to decorate.
Decorating the nursery is a favorite part of new baby preparations for many parents. Until it’s done, you just don’t feel like you’re ready to welcome your child into the world. So many moms- and dads-to-be go all out, buying expensive designer cribs, bedding and décor. But if you’re on a tight budget, that’s money that could be better spent on more practical things.
That doesn’t mean that you can’t decorate your baby’s room in style, though. It just means you’ll need to go about it a little differently.
Here are some frugal tips for decorating your baby nursery:
* If there’s a certain motif you want to use in the nursery, create a baby registry and make sure that your shower organizer lets invitees know where you’re registered. That way guests will be likely to purchase the items you’ve selected in that motif. But keep in mind that if you choose a lot of expensive items, you might not get them, because your guests may be on a budget too.
* Don’t get your heart set on doing everything in a certain motif. If you don’t get all of the things you want at your shower, you might have to go with something else. If you get some of the items you wanted, however, perhaps you can buy the rest in a color that co-ordinates with them.
* Make some of the items for the nursery yourself. You could buy some fabric featuring the characters you want to feature in the nursery and make all sorts of things out of it. Curtains and blankets are easy if you have a sewing machine. You could also make decoupage wall hangings by cutting the characters out of the fabric and using Mod Podge to adhere them to a piece of wood, then top with another coat of it. And framed pages from children’s books or calendars also make lovely wall art.
* Visit consignment shops, flea markets and yard sales. You can often find great deals on gently used nursery items at these places.
* Go to outlet stores, or shop from the outlet section of your favorite online baby store. There are spectacular deals on new items to be found here. Some might have minor flaws, but in many cases they’ve simply been discontinued by the manufacturer.
Decorating your nursery on the cheap doesn’t mean it won’t be beautiful. With a little creativity, you can make it look just as wonderful as it would if you had spared no expense. And best of all, you’ll have more money to spend on diapers, formula, and those adorable baby clothes!
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Creating a Memorable First Halloween for Baby
Pictures, albums and home video may be the only way children ever know they even participated in trick or treating as a baby. Who are we kidding? We all know the fun of baby’s first Halloween or two is more for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and siblings. Here are some suggestions for saving money on baby’s first trick or treat experience as well as safety tips to make the night as fun as it can be.
Be Frugal with Baby’s First Halloween Costume
The first Halloween costume should be special, but that doesn’t mean it has to break the bank? Before you go crazy spending out of your budget for a Halloween outfit for baby, try networking with other parents. Many parents save their own children’s first costumes. They may be open to swapping costumes with you or willing to sell their little one’s old costume at a minimal cost. If this isn’t an option for you and you find you need to purchase your baby’s costume, there are lots of children’s thrift stores and boutiques that carry precious Halloween outfits in the month of October. Another option for making sure baby’s first costume is cute and inexpensive outfit is to check eBay.
Safety Tips to Keep Baby’s Safe and Sound
• Pass On Inhibiting Costume Items
Babies do not like to wear masks and most will fight and cry in discomfort if you put them in costumes that restrict their movements.
• Avoid Scary Masks and Costumes
Don’t be surprised if older babies are frightened by other people’s masks and costumes as well. This is not a time to instill fear into your baby. Sometimes adults and older children find it funny to show babies “the ropes” without realizing they can inadvertently scare infants.
• Keep Weather Conditions in Mind
When choosing your costume, keep in mind what your weather will most likely be that time of year. In the northern part of the U.S., it is not unusual for children to wear coats over their costumes. The more south you go, you may have children overdressed in 80 degree weather. That adorable fur bear or lion outfit may not be the most comfortable outfit for baby if you live in an area that’s still a bit warm on Halloween. Don’t over or undress baby.
• Give Family & Friends a Call Ahead Before Visiting
You have special people in your life that you’ll want to share baby’s first Halloween with. A phone call ahead to these people to be sure they are going to be home will help ensure that pictures (or videos) of baby with this special someone can be taken. Try and make your plans up to a week ahead. You don’t want to be disappointed later when trying to scrapbook your child’s first trick or treat experience and someone is missing.
Celebrate Baby’s First Halloween Again and Again
Just like every other first for your little one, you’ll want to keep record of his or her first Halloween with pictures, video and other keepsake items. One way you can do this is by creating a scrapbook that will preserve these items for years to come. Get creative in how you layout your album. Don’t be afraid to take pictures with props that symbolize the holiday and the season. Hay bails and pumpkins are just a few ideas; you can also check with your local craft store for other embellishments such as stamps, stencils and more.
Memories are something we all have. With some extra care and planning, Halloween and your baby’s first trick or treat experience can be most memorable for everyone involved. Who knows, that adorable first Halloween costume might find its way into the senior year book later.
No matter what costume you choose or how you remember the day, keep the tips and suggestions above in mind for a safe, happy and fun Halloween.
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The skin on your baby is very fragile, delicate and thin. This means the skin is very sensitive and can react easily to weather temperatures and also irritants. Irritants can come from a variety of substances but mainly through the chemicals contained in the products you use on baby. Avoiding these chemicals can be as easy as purchasing organic products but here are 10 other alternatives for you to try.
1. Unbleached disposable nappies.
The Choice website states: As far as dioxins are concerned, they’re a family of organochlorins that includes one of the most toxic chemicals yet made. In the past, dioxin traces were found in chlorine-bleached white paper and pulp products, including disposable nappies. However, nowadays nappies are usually oxygen-bleached (using hydrogen peroxide), which forms no dioxin.
However do we know what consequences hydrogen peroxide will bring? There are totally unbleached disposable nappies on the market that ensures your baby does not come into contact with any bleach.
2. Never use talc on baby.
Why? Contamination of wounds or body cavities with talc is liable to cause granulomas. Inhalation of talc can cause respiratory irritation. Prolonged exposure to talc may produce pneumocomosis. Talc is liable to be heavily contaminated with bacteria including Clostridium tetani, CL welchii and Bacillus anthracis, hence it must be sterilized. Mardindale 31 P1096, 1745, 1407 Organic talcs are usually made with corn flour, arrowroot and white clay and are wonderfully safe and very effective for keeping baby’s skin dry.
3. Massage oils after bathing.
Avoid mineral based oils as they contribute to the drying of the skin when absorbed. Instead use natural and organic oils that continue to soothe and moisturize baby’s skin. Try products that contain sweet almond oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil and chamomile, rose, lavender and mandarin essential oils. But remember to always do a test patch first and watch for any redness or irritation. Do not use if this occurs! You only need the tiniest amount of oil to massage into your baby’s skin, less than a teaspoon.
4. Natural bottom wipes.
Homemade bottom wipes can be made easily. Cut a roll of strong paper towel (Viva are great) in half. Take out the cardboard inner roll. Mix two cups of water with ½ cup sweet almond oil and ½ cup of organic baby wash. Place one half of the roll into a container and pour over ½ of the solution. Store in container. Or for just a wiping solution try a cup of cool chamomile tea and a teaspoon of honey mixed well. Honey is a natural antiseptic so it is great for keeping baby’s bottom germ free and will help treat existing nappy rash.
5. Soap free washing and bathing.
Newborns can be gently and easily wiped down with rose hydrosol. This is distilled water that contains healing and soothing aromatic rose extracts suitable for the most sensitive of skin types and is very economical as you only use a small amount. Older babies should be washed with organic baby washes as adult products tend to have harsher ingredients that can irritate baby’s skin. Use baby washes sparingly.
6. Washing baby’s clothes.
Always wash baby’s clothes before using and wash in pure soap flakes or a gentle skin sensitive washing solution. Do not add water softeners or conditioners as these can cause skin irritation. Dissolve the flakes in a little warm water before adding to the washing cycle. Baby’s clothes and sheets etc do not need to be disinfected, just dry in the sun.
7. Using organic baby lotion.
Organic baby lotions can be used as an alternative to massage oils and help keep baby’s skin from drying out.. However baby’s skin is sensitive so monitor the results carefully and discontinue use if any sign of redness or irritation occurs.
8. Sanitizing cloth nappies.
Washing cloth nappies at a temperature of 65 °C or hotter and then drying them in direct sunlight should eliminate any harmful germs as the ultraviolet light has a sterilizing effect and a natural bleaching ability. Natural Nappy Soak: Half fill a nappy bucket, then add a quarter of a cup of bicarbonate of soda and swish to dissolve, add 3 drops of lavender essential oil and 3 drops of tea tree essential oil. Soak nappies in this overnight then wash as per normal. Add half a cup of white vinegar to the final rinse for softer nappies. Always make sure the nappy bucket lid is firmly in place, and always out of reach of children.
9. Umbilical stump tips.
The umbilical stump must be kept clean and dry until it falls off naturally. Fold baby’s nappy below the stump so it’s exposed to the air and not to urine. Avoid bathing your baby in a bath tub until the stump falls off. Try using the hydrosol wash mentioned above. Studies have shown that leaving the stump to dry out naturally is the quickest method. Do not apply any drying agents as they can cause irritations.
10. Cradle cap care.
Cradle cap is the result of overactive glands in your baby’s scalp and is not dangerous. It looks like a crusty patch of skin. This drying has been attributed to the hormones the mother passes to her child at birth and can continue for several months. The gentlest and safest way to cure cradle cap is to wipe the area with sweet almond oil, leave it on for about five-ten minutes then wash baby’s scalp with an organic baby wash or shampoo. Do not leave the oil on the scalp as this will cause further dryness as the glands become ‘confused. Organic baby products that are totally safe to use on your baby are readily available online and through chemists. There really is no excuse to be using chemicals on your baby anymore!
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Our children are our most valuable possessions. If only it was possible to be able to watch over them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, then you would. This is most especially true when it comes to babies since they are dependent on their parents with everything that they do.
Unfortunately, parents are only humans and as such, you also get tired and will need rest from time to time. And what better way to rest than from the comforts of your room. This is where baby monitors come in handy. With these devices, you will still be able to monitor your baby even if he or she is in another room.
What Are Baby Monitors?
Basically, a baby monitor, also known as a baby alarm, is a device that can be used to monitor your children or babies even if they are located in a separate room than yours. It is a simplex transmitter and receiver system that can be used to remotely listen for different noises made by your kids and babies.
A transmitter device with a microphone is placed in the room of your baby (usually near the baby). Another device with a receiver and with speakers can be carried by you, the parents, or the baby sitter, or anyone who is taking care of the babies. With baby monitors, you can keep track of your baby’s even if you are doing something else in the proximity of your house.
Types of Baby Monitors
Baby monitors have evolved through the years. From the simple transmitter and receiver device, different baby monitors have been developed. Currently, there are two types of baby monitors: video baby monitors and audio baby monitors.
Video baby monitors, as the name implies, use video footages for overseeing events in the room where the baby is located. It incorporates the technology used by webcams in computers. Instead of only using the simple transmitter with microphone, a camera is installed with it. The receiver, instead of just having speakers, already has LCD screens installed along with them.
Video baby monitors have also taken advantage of the current technology of the Internet. With the video baby monitor installed in the room, parents can access the cameras and view the conditions of their babies even when they are at the office. All they need is a computer with Internet access and voila! Instant video feed direct from the baby’s room.
The other type of baby monitor is the audio baby monitor. This is the descendant of the basic uni-directional system used by basic and usually old monitors. These new types of baby monitors however have been integrated with new technology. Instead of just being able to hear your baby, you can now actually talk back to him or her.
There are even some devices that will let you send commands to the baby’s device to play different music to hush him or her back to sleep.
Both types of baby monitors, audio and video, can either be wired or wireless. The wireless devices may, in some cases, be more advantageous than the wired devices since you will be able to go anywhere anytime for as long as both devices are within range.
The set back of this setup though is that wireless connections seem to be more affected with different interferences than the wired devices.
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