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Articles & Fun Stuff
We will be sharing articles and other assorted goodies here on a regular basis, so feel free to drop by anytime.
ARTICLES
A unique and personal baby gift for those on a budget
This is a baby gift that is actually more for the parents than the baby, and any new parent will be sure to thank you for it.
Food!
After our daughter Samantha was born, my sister-in-law Sandra came to visit one day with a cooler full of food. She brought us 4 - yes 4 - frozen lasagnas among other things. Each lasagna was enough for three meals, so we were set to eat for a good while. Not to mention that Sandra is an awesome cook. :)
Now we received many beautiful baby gifts when Sam was born, but I have to say that this was probably our favorite. There is nothing better than knowing you have a meal ‘at hand and ready to eat’ for those days when you just aren’t able to cook.
Not to mention how easy a baby gift this is to create. All you need to do is either a) whip up something that you can freeze and can be prepared/reheated easily or b) if you don’t like to cook (like me) buy some healthy frozen entrees from a local store.
And best of all you don’t have to spend lots of money on this unique baby gift, with a little elbow grease in the kitchen you can create a beautiful ‘gift meal’.
To take it one step further, you can offer to come in and actually prepare the meal and serve the parents in house. Make lots to ensure leftovers for another meal or two, and don’t forget to clean up. ;)
An ideal baby gift to be sure, and one that will be appreciated.
Dining out with babies
For some parents the thought of going out to a restaurant with a baby (or two!) can be a very scary thought. With a little preparation beforehand dining out with a baby can be a pleasurable experience.
Here are a few tips that have really helped my wife and I when we dine out with our two young daughters - who are two years old and four months old.
Nap or Bedtime: When does your little one go down for a nap or go to bed at night? When going out to a restaurant ensure that you are not too close to your little ones nap or bedtime. As little ones get tired they are less patient and will act up much more which could lead to a less than enjoyable experience for you and other diners.
Snacks: Bring different snacks that your little one likes and are easy to pack. We like to bring crackers, cheese, or sliced apples for our two year old to eat when we get to the restaurant and are waiting for our food. Also, many restaurants have a poor selection on their kids menus – pizza, chicken fingers and hamburgers seem to be pretty common and isn’t all that appealing in most cases. If need be, bring enough food from home for baby to eat as a meal, or plan to have them share from whatever you are eating.
As our four month old is breastfeeding my wife brings along her Hooter Hiders Nursing Cover to discreetly breastfeed when she gets hungry. This is one of the greatest things ever and as it comes in some really cool patterns so people barely notice that our daughter is breastfeeding.
Cups, Utensils and Bibs: Some of the items that we always have on hand are cups with lids as many restaurants serve milk or other drinks in a smaller glass with either no lid or one that doesn’t fit very well and can easily come off and make a mess. You may also want to bring along a small fork and spoon for easy eating and also a bib to keep your baby clean.
Chairs: Without a doubt one of the best things that every new parent should have is the Bumbo Seat. When our first daughter was between 6 months to a year she wasn’t quite big enough to sit in a high chair but too big to sit on our laps. The Bumbo Seat allows you to put your little one snuggly, comfortably and safely beside you without worrying about them slipping out of the chair.
Wipes: Having some wipes to clean up your little ones face and hands is a good idea. We like to bring a washcloth that we can just wet (with the water glass on the table) vs. the very chemically disposable wipes that we buy in stores.
Diapers: Having a few extra diapers on hand is always a good idea. You never know when baby might need to be changed. On that note, it seems that most restaurants only have change tables in the women’s washroom, so if the guys are taking the kids out alone this may cause a problem should they need to be changed.
Change pads: Even though change tables are available in most restaurants we always ensure that we have a change pad to put on the change table to keep our daughters just a little cleaner.
Checklist of Items for New Baby's Arrival
The birth of a child is one of the greatest moments in a person's life. There are many things that you will need to do to prepare for your new baby's arrival. So many in fact that it can leave a new parent's head spinning and their wallets empty.
What is really necessary to buy? What can you do without? Below is a list of the items that we used with both of our girls and highly recommend. I've also made note of some of the more popular items that people buy that may not be necessary.
Baby's Room
1. Crib, Crib Mattress and Crib Sheet - our girls slept in our bed for the first 6 months, so we actually didn't use the crib at first... so no rush to get a crib if you plan on co-sleeping or using a bedside bassinette
2. Dresser - for all those cute baby clothes that you will be getting as gifts!
3. Nightlight - so you don't bang your knee on the dresser when you go in to check baby at night
4. Lamp - for some nighttime stories before going to sleep
5. Books - we started reading to our older daughter long before she 'understood' it
6. Rocker and Ottoman - makes reading a story together so much fun!
7. Change Table - it can be hard to try to change baby on a table too low or too high - can give you a sore back!
8. Diapers - but of course! You may want to consider cloth diapers if you have the time and energy to do that extra laundry
9. Diaper Wipes - we use disposables, although some people will get a bunch of those baby washcloths and use those.
10. Diaper Bin (with tight lid) (We actually rarely use our diaper bin, it is really just a glorified trashcan, so you may want to save a couple of dollars and just buy a good trashcan instead.)
11. Diaper Ointment - keep those baby bottoms super soft
12 Sleep Vest - a really nice alternative to a baby blanket, which is easily kicked off by baby in the night
Feeding
1. Nursing Pillow - so mom is comfortable while nursing!
2. Breast Pump - for those times when mom just needs a break or has to go back to work.
3. Bottles - make sure they are BPA free! Lots of great alternatives on the market these days
4. Formula (if not breast feeding) - doesn't hurt to have some around even if you are nursing, just in case you need it.
5. Booster Seat - Don't waste your money on a high chair that is going to take up lots of room in your kitchen. A booster seat that sits on a chair costs less and does the same thing.
Clothing
1. One piece outfits (also known as onesies) - babies will live in these in the early months, so much easier than trying to put on a two piece outfit on such a wee baby
2. Socks and Shoes - probably won't need shoes so much in the early days, but socks are a must
3. Teething Bibs - so you don't have to change baby's wet clothes throughout the day once she starts drooling
4. Hat - especially in cooler weather!
5. Sweater - ditto
6. Jacket - double ditto
7. Laundry detergent for sensitive skin - some babies can be really sensitive to the regular chemical detergents out there
Going Out
1. Car Seat - keep baby safe!
2. Diaper Bag - your home away from home when you have a baby, make sure to get a big one and something that looks cool so you don't mind carrying it around
3. Change Pad - you never know what is on those change tables in public restrooms, eek
4. Baby Carrier - gives you an extra hand or two, and babies generally like the closeness
5. Stroller - make sure it's a good one (ie: a Phil and Ted). A lot of the standard strollers are really tough to maneuver
6. Bumbo Seat - great for when going to a restaurant or for at home when you need to put baby down for a minute
Fun Stuff
1. Play Arches - great for them to kick with their feet and fun to watch!
2. Swing - good place for baby to hang out for a while
3. Newborn Toddler Rocker or Bouncer - especially once they are older, toddlers love to rock, bounce, dance, move, groove
4. Wagon for going out for walks - a nice alternative to the stroller
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