When it’s time to go shopping for your unborn baby, you’ll quickly learn that you can quite literally spend thousands of dollars on your baby, and there will still be items you didn’t get. Every baby needs clothes and blankets, but aside from that, what else do you need? Some might argue that you need everything, but the basics will do. However, if you want to make your life a little bit easier, here are a few items you might want to invest in.

A pack-n-play is the first item. This is really nice if you ever want to go anywhere and need a portable bed for your baby. It also doubles as a playpen if you need somewhere to put your baby, but don’t want him on the ground. Throw a few toys in the bed and set baby in with the toys. Two of the four sides are made from a type of mesh material, so baby can see out of the bed and watch what’s going on.

There are quite a few designs you can choose from. If you want one that baby can use from birth until he’s a toddler, you might want to consider getting one that has a bassinet attachment. The bassinet is really convenient during the time that baby is too small to roll over. Also, the play yards that come with a bassinet often come with a baby mobile, so baby can be enjoy it while he’s awake as well.

Another item that will make your post-baby life easier is a baby pouch. When baby comes your life is guaranteed to get busier because you’ll spend so much time rocking, cuddling, and nursing or feeding your baby. Baby pouches enable you to carry your baby wherever you go, without using your arms. The pouch baby carrier wraps around your baby, creating a pouch sling. You simply set your baby in the sling and go on your merry way. These pouch slings make it much easier to get things done or to wander around the store.

The last item you’re definitely going to want to consider is a baby bouncer. A good bouncer will have a few different sound options such as music, womb sounds, or nature sounds. It will also have a vibrate option. This option may help calm your baby down when he’s crying. Bouncers are perfect because they’re lightweight and can be moved anywhere in the house. They also come with toys across the top so baby will stay occupied while you do what you need to do.

While the options for baby supplies are absolutely endless, there are a lot you can live without. The ones mentioned above, however, are designed to make your new life as a mother easier.

Kat Hafen writes and contributes for many baby, child, family and parent online publications including HugaMonkey. Kat is an avid Pouch Sling supporter because of the positive impact it can have on babies. For more information regarding Pouch Slings, visit HugaMonkey.

[tags]pouch slings, pouch sling, baby pouch, baby pouches, pouch baby carrier[/tags]

We’ve always heard that an effective way to get your baby to bed easier and earlier is to establish a routine that helps your baby know when it is time to wind down and get ready to sleep. But how do you know what activities you need to do to send that signal to your baby?

Developing your bedtime routine will be different for every set of parents and babies, but there are a few things that are universally calming for baby and can help you when you’re ready to create your own bedtime routine. Here are some things to try when you want to get baby to sleep.

You’ll need to feed your baby before putting him or her down for the night. Make sure that this last feeding is quiet and calm. It is ideal to make sure that this last feeding takes place near the bed that your baby will be sleeping in. Try doing it with dim lighting, where the noises are quiet; you may even try playing a lullaby CD or some classical music to put your baby into a more relaxed state.

Many mothers swear by the art of baby massage to get their babies to sleep at night. It is easy to do and can work wonders in making baby sleepy. Start with some calming lotion; lavender-scented lotion is said to especially calming, and begin massaging your baby in slow circles. Begin with the feet and work up through the legs, torso and through the arms and hands.

This massaging can relax your baby and prep them for slumber. If you want to learn more about the art of baby massage, check it out on the Web for techniques and tricks.

Make sure that your baby is cleaned and ready for bed. Some may choose to give their babies a quick nightly bath to get them ready for bed, but just making sure they’ve been changed on your changing pad before bed can make for a more restful sleep for you, especially if your baby is sensitive to having a wet diaper.

Simply making sure that your baby’s diaper is dry and he is in a clean outfit to sleep in can help make him more comfortable and be more restful. Try keeping some lotion handy near your changing pad so you can combine changing him with a quick massage, and he’ll be asleep before you know it.

Kat Hafen writes and contributes for many baby and parent online publications including HugaMonkey. Always on a quest for the best diaper gear, Kat can point out a great Rumble Tuff changing pad. For more information regarding Rumble Tuff changing pads, visit HugaMonkey.

[tags]Rumble Tuff changing pad, Rumble Tuff changing pads[/tags]

Your friend is expecting her first little bundle of joy, the baby shower is coming up, and you have absolutely no idea what to get her. You want your gift to be useful, original, and something that shows that you care about her and her little one, but don’t really know where to start. Here are a few really fun, useful items that are perfect gifts for baby showers.

A diaper cake is always a fun gift. These are not edible cakes, but are extremely useful for the new mom. A bag or two of diapers make up the base of the cake. The diapers are folded or rolled and tied together to create the cakes tiers, which are then connected to each other.

Oftentimes people will weave small gifts in with the diapers, or decorate the cake with them. Usually these items are pacifiers, toys, bottles, or even clothes. Whatever is small, cute, and useful. You can find instructions for making these online, or you can have a professional make them. Either way, they make a great gift.

Another extremely thoughtful, wonderful gift is a newborn sling. The mother is already buying so many things for her baby - sometimes newborn slings are a wish but not a reality. These slings enable the new mom to carry her baby close while she’s working around the house, making dinner, or even shopping, but her arms and hands will be free. Things are guaranteed to be easier for the new mom if she has something like this in her arsenal of caring-for-baby items.

A diaper bag is the next great gift, and it’s even better if you’ve stuffed a few things inside it such as a bottle, some pacifiers, a portable wipe case, and maybe an inexpensive outfit. When you go to buy the diaper bag, look for something trendy.

Women today want to look classy and functional. It’s difficult to achieve that look with Winnie the Pooh hanging from your shoulder. Today, you’ll find diaper bags designed with the look of a purse, but the functionality of a diaper bag. Your friend will love this gift, if it is designed with her as a mother and a woman in mind.

You have an unlimited supply of items you can choose from for shower gifts. A good rule of thumb is to look for something that will be useful to the mother, or something that is so incredibly adorable you simply can’t pass it up. She’ll love that, too.

Remember, odds are she’s just happy she’s getting a shower, and if you show up with a cute, small gift she’ll simply be happy you came to celebrate with her in her joy.

Kat Hafen has written many baby and parent themed articles and blog posts. Newborns are a special interest area and Kat has become a fantastic resource for newborn topics including newborn slings. Visit HugaMonkey for a $25 newborn sling.

[tags]newborn sling, newborn slings[/tags]

Though children can be potty trained before their first birthday (and often are in the majority of the world) it is far better to wait until both parent and child are ready than it is to start before either one of you are able to commit.

An unsteady start can lead to an unwelcome extension of the overall process, leading to a less than agreeable period for the entire family.

Wise parents pull the trigger on potty training only when they are sure they can commit to a consistent set of patterns, and feel they are carrying the emotional and physical capacity necessary to see the process through to the end.

Remember, just because your child has demonstrated signs of being ready to start potty training, does not necessarily mean you are also ready as a parent.

Make sure you are able to clear your schedule as much as possible before you start. Choose a time when family routine is least likely to be fractured with house guests, long trips in the car, a household move, or any other outsized disruption. Make sure the family is not pre-occupied with other major commitments such as work, or a heavy school load from an older sibling.

Holidays or long weekends are both ideal times for parents to start the process.

Select your language with consideration. Determine ahead of time what words you are planning to use to describe the various body parts, urine, and bowel movements. Try to steer clear of like dirty, naughty, or stinky when describing their waste.

These terms are negative and can make your child feel unnecessarily ashamed or self-conscious.

Always treat bathroom eliminations in the simplest, matter-of-fact manner possible.

In the beginning of the toilet training process, explain to your child that it is time to place their #1 or #2 in the potty. Remind, whenever they feel the need to go they should hold it in just long enough to walk to the potty, sit down, and release. Discuss the numerous benefits of successful potty training with your child. Even at an early age, this is language they can understand: no more diaper rash, interruptions from their play to change a diaper, and the perpetual joy of always being clean and dry.

Also, clearly explain that toilet training is an important stage of growing up.

Use dolls or action figures. Sit a favorite doll or action figure on a pretend toilet, while explaining that the baby is going pee-pee in the potty. Put diapers on his favorite teddy bear and then graduate the stuffed animal to underwear.

Introduce a book or video so your child can see other children learning to use the potty. There are plenty of materials available online, at the local library, or in your favorite bookstore. And just as some adults enjoy reading materials while sitting on the toilet, favorite books can help their minutes fall from the clock a lot quicker.

Pick a day when you plan to start toilet training, circle it together on the calendar, and count the days until the day is finally there. Celebrate as soon as it is.

Make potty training fun, and it will be something you remember forever. Make it a chore, and it will be something you can not wait to forget!

Sean Platt offers plenty of potty training help, tips, tricks and advice to help parents determine the best time to start potty trainingtheir children. Visit him at PottyTrainingPower.com today!

[tags]potty training, potty training readiness, potty training toddlers[/tags]

Most people have seen a baby that becomes more excited over a box and wrapping paper than the actual gift inside. Even as a child goes into the preschool years, it can still be economical to provide activities that entertain and educate.

Preschoolers are beginning to learn the joy of being creative and using their imagination. Try providing your child with several different kinds of puppets and even a puppet stage made from boxes. Your child can enjoy hours of creative play with a box full of dress-up clothes, shoes, hats, and other accessories. Shopping at a thrift store for these items can keep costs reasonable. The thrift store is also a great place to look for a simple play kitchen or picnic basket filled with plastic plates and cups. Magazines are fun to cut apart and make a puzzle or collage.

There are also easy activities to help your preschooler develop intellectual skills. Using assorted small items from around the house, have your child sort by size, color, or shape. Beads can also be used for sorting and color recognition. Try stringing the beads on pipe cleaners or shoelaces. Since these sorting activities use small objects, they are not intended for children under age three. Memory games can be made using photos of family, friends, and pets. A grocery store trip can be turned into a fun learning experience. Glue pictures of food on to index cards, and have your child look for the items while shopping.

Physical activity will help develop your preschooler’s motor skills. Take your child outside and play with hula hoops, bubbles, a variety of balls, or a child-sized gardening set. Throw bean bags at a target or into an empty laundry basket. While you are inside cleaning, give your child their own basket filled with supplies such as a spray bottle, cloth, sponge, and small broom. On a rainy day, make a line of pillows to crawl, jump, or roll over. Turn some music on, and have fun dancing!

With a little creativity, inexpensive items can be transformed into enjoyable activities. These simple ideas can be used to create many fun experiences with your child. Not only will these ideas be fun but they may even create memorable moments that you’ll be taking about for years. Cherish every moment as you’ll never know what the future may bring or what events will mold your child into their future self.

Kevin Andersen is the owner of Personalized Storytime Book and specializing in customer children’s titles such as the Little Mermaid Book.

[tags]preschooler, activities, fun, children[/tags]

What is the first thing you notice when you see a newborn baby? Usually you notice the face, the hair, or the eyes. What about the smell? A newborn baby literally smells as if he just fell out of heaven. They’re all clean and perfect, right down to their tiny toes. Most parents want to keep them that way. Here are a few things to remember when it comes time to groom your little bundle of joy.

First is the umbilical cord. You will find conflicting advice on how to care for this, but regardless of what you’re hearing from the many experts around you, it’s a good idea to clean it every time you change the baby. Some parents use rubbing alcohol on the end of a Q-tip to dry it out faster, but that’s not necessary. Just keep it clean. It should fall of within two weeks.

When bathing your baby make sure you clean behind his ears, in his armpits, and under all that delicious fat on his neck. Milk tends to pool up in these areas. It will sour, making your baby smell sour, and it will often create friction in the site, which causes sore skin for your baby. Keeping these areas clean will make life better for both you and your baby.

After you’re done bathing your baby and before you get him out, grab your baby hooded towel and hold the hooded corner beneath your chin, letting the rest fall onto your chest. When you pick up baby, simply set him on your chest and wrap one of your baby hooded towels around him. You won’t get near as wet as you could have, and baby will have very little time to be exposed to cold air.

Fingernails and toenails are another area that require a bit of maintenance. Baby’s fingernails will grow very fast and he will scratch himself over and over until he gains complete control of his hands.

Instead of covering his hands with mittens making him unable to use his sense of touch as a way of learning, just keep his fingernails clipped short. When he is awake, he will squirm away from you and the clippers, but if you wait until he’s asleep the job will be much easier, even enjoyable because you get to really inspect your baby’s tiny fingers.

While it may seem like a lot of work to keep your baby well groomed, you’ll both be happier because of it. He’ll be more comfortable, which makes him cry less, which makes life easier for you. It’s truly a win-win situation.

Kat Hafen writes and contributes for many baby and parent online publications including HugaMonkey. Always on a quest for the best baby bath gear, Kat can point out a great hooded towel. For more information regarding hooded towels, visit HugaMonkey.

[tags]hooded towel, hooded towels[/tags]

For some people, keeping a clean house is a breeze. For others it’s a little more challenging, especially after baby makes his appearance in this world. Let’s face it, babies take a lot of time and use a lot of stuff. The result of this is often a messier house. Thankfully, there are a few tips and tricks you can do to make things just a little bit easier.

Get yourself a few sock bags or a lot of pins. Baby socks have a tendency to disappear even more than adult socks do. If you don’t separate them before they go into the washer, you’ll spend a lot of unnecessary time searching for mates after they get out. Or worse, you won’t have socks when you need them. If you get about three sock bags and always put your baby’s socks in them as soon as he is finished wearing them, you’ll never waste your time searching for socks that you probably won’t find.

Changing pad covers are another way to save a little bit of time. When you use your changing table, you always run the risk of the pad getting soiled. If this happens and you have a changing pad cover, you can simply remove the cover and throw it in with your next batch of laundry. You won’t have to scrub anything down, just let the washer take care of it.

One of the major complaints of motherhood is that the new baby soils and stains everything. All of the outfits that you love will probably be thrown up or pooped on at one point or another. If you want to save the outfits, but don’t want to spend forever scrubbing the stain out, don’t wait to treat the stain. Apply a stain remover to the clothes and then let them soak in a mix of water and oxy-clean. Wash them after they’ve soaked for a few hours. Do not dry the clothes until you’re sure the stain is gone. Once they’ve been dried, the stain is set.

The last great way to save yourself some time is to plan your meals in advance. Initially, this will take time because you’ll have to come up with a few meals you can rotate, but after you’ve decided on the menu, making dinner will be much easier. Each morning you can simply glance at the menu and that night you make what you have planned

There are plenty of tricks like these out there. Talk to your girlfriends and mothers that you know. Chances are they’ll have a few. Apply the tricks to your life, and you’ll soon find that some things are easier to do.

Kat Hafen writes and contributes for many baby and parent online publications including HugaMonkey. Always on a quest for the best baby diaper gear, Kat can point out a great changing pad cover. For more information regarding changing pad covers, visit HugaMonkey.

[tags]changing pad cover, changing pad covers[/tags]

When you plan for your newborn baby you quickly learn that there are endless amounts of products out there you can buy to help you with your baby. That being said, which products do you need? Which ones can you live without? Above and beyond the basic necessities, such as diapers, clothing, bottles, and pacifiers, here are a few items you may want to consider. They’re not essential but they’ll make your life a lot easier.

The first is a swing. The rocking motion calms baby down, often putting him to sleep when he’s tired, and you can lay him in the swing, rather than on the floor or the couch, when you want to put him down. There are quite a few different models available. Unless you want to frequently replace batteries, it’s good to invest in one that plugs in.

These can be harder to find and a bit more than the others, but they are worth it. Also, look for one that swings from front to back or side to side. Your baby will probably have a preference, so you want to have that option available.

The next is a newborn sling. While you are guaranteed to survive if you don’t have this product, life will be easier if you do. Your baby will love to be close to you. You’ve been his inseparable companion for nine months, now he has suddenly been separated from you. That’s a hard pill to swallow for a baby. Newborn slings allow you to carry your baby around like you would if you were cradling him while still maintaining the use of your hands. They can be lifesavers, as well as timesavers.

The next highly useful item that you may want to invest in is a Bumbo. When baby is starting to get bored with lying on his stomach or back, but too floppy to sit up without assistance, it can be really helpful. The Bumbo is a little seat that fits your baby’s body so he can sit next to you without your assistance. And absolutely wonderful when baby gets bored. Just don’t leave him unattended as there are no straps to strap him in. It’s designed to be used near Mom.

While you will be able to survive without these products, if you invest in one or more of them, chances are you’ll be glad you did. Most mothers use at least one of these, and most of them would put one or all of them on the essentials list. If you’re going to splurge and aren’t sure what to splurge on - look no further than here. Any one of these will be worth the investment.

Kat Hafen has written many baby and parent themed articles and blog posts. Newborns are a special interest area and Kat has become a fantastic resource for newborn topics including newborn slings. Visit HugaMonkey for a $25 newborn sling.

[tags]newborn sling, newborn slings[/tags]

When getting ready for a new baby, there is no bigger task to tackle than getting the nursery ready. There are so many options and things to think about, but you want to get it done as soon as possible, because you never know when the baby might arrive.

Getting the nursery is also a good distraction from the general aches, pains and mood swings of pregnancy, and may give you a project to keep your mind off of the anticipation of having a new baby. Here are some fun and practical ideas for getting your little one’s nursery ready.

Choose a color palette. Remember what colors are interesting to babies. If you want your baby to be engaged while in his or her room, choose a color palette that provides contrast, such as black and white, brown and blue, pink and brown. Babies can focus most easily on contrasting colors, and your baby will love looking at the walls. If you want the bedroom to be a quiet, calming place, try pastels that are more soothing to a baby’s eye. Pastels are also great for unisex bedrooms; yellow and green are great pastel colors that work for either sex.

Choose a crib very carefully. A crib is the most important part of the nursery. You need to choose a crib that is very safe. Ask the salesperson about any recalls involving the brand of crib that you are considering. Also, the slats in the crib should not be any wider than the diameter of a soda can. Any larger than that, and the crib is unsafe as a child could get their head and neck stuck in the open spaces. And when there’s a will, there’s a way. Consider your options when choosing a crib and pick one that is safe, but that you love as well.

Stock your nursery full of all of the supplies that you need so that you can keep them close at hand. Things like diapers, wipes, baby powder, changing pads and blankets are all important to keep by the crib and changing table. Changing pads are also great for changing baby around the house.

Finally, add some elements to the room to personalize and decorate it. Framed prints that you love are beautiful, and spelling your child’s name on the wall is especially popular. Make the nursery an inviting place for your child to grow in.

Kat Hafen writes and contributes for many baby and parent online publications including HugaMonkey. Always on a quest for the best baby diaper gear, Kat can point out a great changing pad cover. For more information regarding changing pad covers, visit HugaMonkey.

[tags]changing pad, changing pads[/tags]

When you have a new baby, depending on the season, you may be wondering what the best way is to change them into clothes that keep them the most comfortable. Because babies cannot tell us how comfortable they are, so it’s up to us as parents to follow our baby’s cues to make sure they are dressed appropriately.

It is important to remember that the clothing that might be comfortable for you will not necessarily be comfortable for your baby. Try a few different options and be flexible, and you’ll notice that your baby is always comfortable.

In the indoors, as long as your home is warm enough, you should be able to get away with putting your baby in a couple of layers. A good idea is change your baby on your Rumble Tuff changing pad into some pants, a bodysuit and a long-sleeved shirt or sweater on top. That way, when you sense that your baby is getting too hot, you can remove a layer.

You can also add a layer as needed. If it’s summer and your home is particularly hot, it is possible that your baby will only need a bodysuit to be comfortable. Look for sweating to tell if your baby is too warm.

Outside, you want to be sure you have plenty of options. Make sure to bring an extra outfit and your Rumble Tuff changing pad in your diaper bag to be ready for any situation. If it is cold, dress your baby in appropriate layers and remember a coat and a blanket.

If it is the summer, remember that your baby should be wearing a hat to shield the sin, as well as weather appropriate clothes. In your diaper bag, you should bring some other layering basics so you can add clothes or remove them as needed.

Nighttime is especially important to dress your child appropriately. A light sleeper is great for all-purpose nights, but you can add a blanket sleeper if it is cold. Remember that it is not recommended to have blankets in a newborn baby’s crib, so dress your baby so that he or she will be warm enough without one. In the summer, if your home is warm, a bodysuit with socks may be your best bet.

You will be able to tell by touching your baby to see if their skin is warm or cool. Play it by ear, be flexible, and be ready for anything.

Kat Hafen writes and contributes for many baby and parent online publications including HugaMonkey. Always on a quest for the best diaper gear, Kat can point out a great Rumble Tuff changing pad. For more information regarding Rumble Tuff changing pads, visit HugaMonkey.

[tags]Rumble Tuff changing pad, Rumble Tuff changing pads[/tags]