Baby Blog

Choosing the Right Daycare

2011-02-24T12:58:00.000-08:00

Once you’ve made the decision to return to work after your baby has been born, it’s time to start searching for a daycare center. This can be an emotional time for you, and sometimes overwhelming especially if there are numerous daycare centers to choose from.
Here are a few tips you can use to help you choose a daycare provider that’s right for you and your child:

The first step is to get a list of daycare centers in your area. Check your local yellow pages, online, or get some recommendations from other parents.

Find out of there are any openings available for you to enroll your child.

Are there any age restrictions?

Write down the locations and hours of operation for each daycare center on your list.

What is the cost to enroll your child?

How many other children are currently attending and what are their ages?

Are healthy meals and snacks supplied by the daycare center?

Once you’ve narrowed your search down to a few daycare centers, it’s time to ask some important questions to ensure that you’re choosing the right daycare for your child. Here are some questions to keep in mind when visiting or speaking with each daycare center.

Is it clean and safe for your child?

What is the ratio of caregivers to children?

Are the children at the daycare actively engaged in activities and do they seem happy and well taken care of?

Are there plenty of educational toys and activities for the children?

Are the caregivers warm and friendly? How do they interact with the children?

Ask the daycare administrator for some background information on the staff, especially regarding licenses or degrees.

Ensure that the daycare staff have received the proper training and have good credentials and experience.

Are there safety exits in case of a fire or other emergency?

Once you’re satisfied that you have the answers to these questions, you should be able to determine which daycare center is the best choice for your child. The closest daycare may not always be the best, and the most inexpensive option may not always be the best either.
You’ll know what’s best for your child, and which daycare center will be the most suitable environment for him to be in while you’re working.

The Scoop on Giving your Baby Juice

2011-01-02T12:54:00.000-08:00

Many moms like to think that as soon as their baby turns 6 months of age, they should start giving them juice. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, juice is not necessary for an infant.

Here’s why:
Because of the sugars in juice, it can cause diarrhea.
Too much juice can cause a child to be overweight or obese.
Juice contains sugars and acids that can cause tooth decay.
Giving your baby too much juice can hinder growth and development, and can cause malnutrition and anemia due to lack of nutrients like proteins and complex carbohydrates.
If you are still breastfeeding, juice can cause your baby to nurse less.
If You Must Give Your Baby Juice…

Although juice contains Vitamin C and other nutrients, you don’t want to give them too much. It should never be considered a supplement. If you must give your baby juice, consider these guidelines. Choose juices that are 100% juice and not fruit medleys or cocktails. Check the nutritional labels to make sure.

Wait until your baby is at least 6 months old. But even then, babies at this age still do not require it.
Dilute juice by at least half and half with water. Most grocery stores have a baby aisle with juice specially diluted for babies. These juices also contain more Vitamin C than regular juices, but are also more expensive.
Never give your baby juice from a bottle. And never give them juice from a cup to suck on all day. This can cause tooth decay.

Don’t give your baby juice at bedtime.
Babies shouldn’t have more than 150ml (one half cup) of juice a day.
Instead of giving fruits in liquid form, try giving them real fruit!
If your baby is thirsty, give them water instead. If your baby doesn’t like water, try flavoring the water with a little bit of juice. If you start feeding your baby water from the beginning, they won’t naturally prefer juice instead of water.

The Thinkbaby Trainer Cup with Handles is one of the best sippy cups for picky babies who refuse to drink out of any other sippy cup.

Most importantly is that these sippy cups are BPA free!

Weaning Baby From the Bottle

2010-06-24T12:28:00.000-07:00

Here’s how I successfully and easily weaned my babies from the bottle. It was quick and painless!

Weaning baby from the bottle can be difficult for both you and your child. By following these tips, the transition of weaning your baby from bottle to cup should be a lot easier on you both.

Why and when should you wean your baby off the bottle:

Your child should be sitting on their own, eating from a spoon and showing interest in solid food when they are ready to be weaned. Meals and snack times should be consistent to help your baby get into a feeding routine. The longer your baby is fed from a bottle, the more likely they are to develop tooth decay and improper dental development.

By not weaning your child, the solid foods they should be eating during the day are replaced with milk. While milk does provide some nourishment, it does not provide enough for a growing baby or toddler.

Parents are finding that the Thinkbaby 9oz Trainer Cup with Handles are the best sippy cups for picky babies who refuse to drink out of any other sippy cup. Most importantly is that these sippy cups are BPA free!

Things you should know before weaning your baby from a bottle:

When you decide to wean your baby, make sure there is nothing else going on at the time – like renovations, a new baby, moving, etc. This can cause distractions and make the weaning process longer and a lot more difficult. Never let your baby use the bottle as a toy or pacifier. If your child only associates the bottle with eating and not as a toy or form of comfort, they will be less concerned with the transition. This should be implemented from the first time they drink from a bottle.

When feeding from the bottle, always hold it yourself. I never let my daughter hold the bottle, and weaning was a snap. I learned this trick from my mother who did the same thing with myself and my brother. We were also weaned quickly and easily. You can read more about how I prepared my kids for the transition from bottle cup here.

Your baby may need some extra comfort and attention during this period, so be prepared to give them the extra attention they need to help them overcome the transition phase. You may want to introduce a blankie or stuffed animal for them to comfort themselves.

When you and your baby are ready to wean from a bottle to a cup:

Introduce a sippy cup at around 6 months of age. Your baby will probably use it as a toy for awhile which is fine. Every few days, re-introduce the cup and by 8 – 10 months, they should be able to drink out of it fairly well.

As soon as you start the weaning process, stay consistent. It is extremely important that you stick to your plan or the process will just continue to drag on. Once your child is familiar with a cup (around 8 – 10 months), use it for one feeding each day for a week. The next week, replace another bottle with a cup. Do this each week until your baby is completely weaned from the bottle. Remember to stay consistent.

Feeding your baby from a cup can take a lot longer than a bottle, so you must be very patient. As long as you keep cool and persevere, it will pay off in the end.

Things you shouldn’t do while weaning your baby off the bottle:

Never feed your baby juice from a bottle. Juice should also not be fed by cup while weaning, or your child will expect it instead of milk. Feeding them juice will only prolong the weaning process. Don’t switch back from cup to a bottle if you are getting frustrated. This will only confuse your baby and make the weaning process even longer.

Tips for Bathing Baby

2010-05-24T12:45:00.000-07:00

Baby’s First Baths

Your baby’s first bath can be a special moment for you. It could also be scary. Newborns are so tiny and slippery, it’s hard to hold on to them while they squirm, especially when they’re wet and soapy. You may also have plenty of questions about your baby’s first baths, like where do you wash them? Do you put them in a tub, or do you give them a sponge bath? How do you clean their umbilical cord area? How warm should the water be? What things do you need to have on hand while bathing your baby? First of all, deciding to give your baby a tub bath or sponge bath while their umbilical cord is still attached is ultimately up to you. Some hospitals suggest sponge baths, while others say it is perfectly fine to give them a tub bath. If you’re unsure, ask your baby’s doctor to see what she recommends.

Sponge baths

You may decide to sponge bathe your baby until the umbilical cord falls off. Make sure you bathe your baby in a warm room without any drafts. Have a soft washcloth and a pail of lukewarm water ready. Also have some towels or blankets handy to cover the areas of your baby that aren’t being washed.

Tub baths

It can be awkward to bath your baby in a big tub, so many parents use the sink or a plastic tub to bath their baby for the first few months. I chose to bath my baby in the tub after I purchased a Baby Bath Seat. You should never, ever leave your baby alone in the tub, even with the bath seat. If your baby is left in less than an inch of water, he can still drown.

Bathing Your Baby

Have everything ready before you put your baby in the tub. Soap, lotion, washclothes, toys, towels and a clean diaper and change of clothes should be within reach while bathing your baby. Fill the tub or sink with about 2-3 inches of lukewarm water. To be on the safe side, you can test the water temperature with a thermometer. It should be about 90 degrees Fahrenheit. You can get a bath seat with temperature strip built in.

Some babies love being bathed, others not so much. If your baby fusses at bath time, ease him slowly into the water feet first. Once in the water, keep a wet washcloth on his stomach so he doesn’t get cold, and regularly pour more bath water on his tummy to keep him warm.

Before you get any soap in the bath water, wash baby’s face with a washcloth. Use one corner for one eye, and another corner for the other eye. For the rest of his body, use a mild soap. Make sure to get in the creases of his neck, armpits and genital area. His hair can be washed with a mild soap as well. Don’t forget to wash behind his ears.

Before lifting your baby out of the tub, make sure you have a good grip on him. Their soft skin is especially slippery when it’s wet and soapy. Dry him off with a soft towel and apply a little baby lotion if you like. Now get a diaper on as soon as possible before he gets pee everywhere!

Protecting your Baby from the Sun

2010-05-24T12:36:00.000-07:00

If your baby is six months or younger, you’ll need to protect them from direct sunlight at all times. If they’re older than six months, they can handle a litte more sun, but you still need to be very careful as they sunburn a lot faster than adults. Protecting your baby from the sun will prevent sunburn as well as long-term damage such as premature wrinkles, aging, and more serious effects like melanoma.

As long as you follow these guidelines, you can still venture out into the sun with your baby and enjoy the good weather: Talk to your doctor about using a sunscreen on your baby. They should be able to recommend one that’s safe, but be sure to test it on a small area of baby’s skin before applying it all over.

t’s best not to be out under the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun’s rays can be most damaging. Find a cool, shady spot so your baby is never in direct sunlight. If there isn’t one, an umbrella should work find. Wide brimmed hats will keep the sun off their head and face if you’re walking in the sunshine.

Protect your baby’s eyes with a cute pair of little sunglasses with UV protection. They’re safe as well as adorable if you can manage to keep them on their face long enough. Keep your baby’s sensitive skin protected with light-colored, tightly woven clothing. Staying away from reflective surfaces such as water and concrete should also help minimize any chance of sunburn.

When Should Baby Wear Shoes?

2010-04-24T12:49:00.000-07:00

There is actually a bit of controversy about this question. Some pediatricians recommend that your baby not wear shoes until at least 15 months of age. Others feel that a child should start to wear shoes as soon as they’re walking.

Why should your baby wear shoes?

You have to consider where your baby is walking. If they are cruising around your own home, then there is usually no need for shoes. But what about outdoors? Obviously you wouldn’t want your child running around barefoot on cement or in the dirt. Babies should be wearing a firm shoe in this case to prevent injuries (and dirty socks).

Shoes are also protection from sunburn, cold weather, scratches and bumps. Plus they are just way too darn cute! Just make sure that when your baby has the opportunity to go barefoot, take their shoes off. And don’t keep shoes on for too long at a time.

What kind of shoes should your baby wear?

If you do purchase outdoor shoes for your baby, make sure they fit properly. Their tiny toes should not be cramped. Also, make sure they are flexible enough that their feet can still wiggle in them.

Whatever you decide to do, make sure it’s for the best interest of your child. Don’t make them wear shoes all the time for the sake of looking cute. Barefoot is best at home, and when they are outdoors, make sure they have a soft sole for the most natural fit.

After hearing so many moms raving about Robeez footwear I decided to check them out for myself. I absolutely love them. They are SO ADORABLE!

I find that Robeez are really hard to find in the store (and the selection sucks) but Amazon has a large selection. These make really great baby gifts as well if you know anyone who is having a baby soon.

These little shoes are the closest thing to your baby going barefoot, but with the protection they need from cold floors or rough surfaces outside. They also provide better grip on smooth surfaces, like a kitchen floor. They’re also great because they’re the only shoe I’ve found that actually stays on my baby’s feet.

The frugal parent will be happy to know that babies will outgrow these shoes before they wear out. They are extremely durable.

Childproofing Your Kitchen

2009-06-24T12:51:00.000-07:00

Your kitchen can be a very dangerous place for your child if it isn’t properly baby proofed. Here are some important tips you should follow to prevent kitchen accidents.

1. Use outlet plugs. This is must. These handy little plastic covers plug right into your wall sockets. It’s important to get the best possible plugs available since those little fingers can get quite good at pulling out the cheap ones.

2. Lock cabinet doors – I couldn’t live without the latches that keep drawers and cupboard doors closed. They’re easy to get into for adults, but impossible for little hands to open.

3. Keep cleaning supplies away. Even if you use latches on your cupboard doors, it’s better to be safe than sorry and keep your cleaning products out of your child’s reach. I keep mine in the cupboard above the sink.

4. Use oven and fridge latches. It’s amazing how easily your little one can open the fridge and oven doors. Without me knowing it, my daughter had snuck into the fridge and taken an entire carton of eggs out, then broke them all over the basement. I’ve had a latch on my fridge ever since!

5. Common sense. Regularly sweet and mop your kitchen floors, and keep the counters clear of things like sharp knives or heavy appliances that can be pulled off.

I’ve used quite a few different child proofing products, and I’ve found that Safety 1st is one of the best and least expensive.