Savvy Moms Diaper Bag Checklist

If you have ever experienced being in public with your little one and realized upon diaper changing that you forgot to pack wipes…then you are not alone.  Unfortunately, we have all run into these little mishaps, that had we been prepared would have avoided  a baby melt down or embarrassing moment.

Provided below is a diaper bag packing list.  Following this list will help better prepare you for any circumstance so that you and your baby can enjoy your time out.

-5 to 7 diapers, depending on how long your outing is.  (Rule of thumb is to pack 1 for every 2 hours that you plan to be out)

-Wipes

-Diaper Rash Ointment

-Changing Pad

-Extra Pair of Clothing (In case of leaks)

-Zip Lock Bag (for soiled clothing or diaper)

-Baby Sunblock

-Hat (Appropriate for weather)

-2 Bottles or cups

-Can of formula (or can pre-measure bottles with formula)

-Water

-Jar Food with Spoons

-2 Bibs (they tend to get messy fairly quickly)

-A Blanket

-Pacifier

-Teething Ring

-Favorite Toy

-Book

-Band Aids

-Hand Sanitizer

-Antibiotic Ointment

-Tissue

- Baby Tylenol (for teething or fever)

Precious Baby, Precious Skin

Being an adult, we sometimes forget the troubling path that our skin has taken.  Whether you dealt with acne, eczema, rashes or any other skin ailment, everyone has experienced some form of skin problem.  Just like teenagers and adults, babies are just as inclined to have an assortment of skin conditions as well.  A baby’s skin goes through a number of changes in the first few days and weeks of life.  Some common skin conditions that babies experience are as follows: millia (blocked oil glands), these appear as little white bumps on a baby’s face.  Bumps will usually disappear within a few weeks.  A baby can also have what is called “baby acne” and will appear on the baby’s face longer, but will eventually disappear.  Reason for this is due to the last couple of weeks of pregnancy.  The mother’s body naturally releases hormones, which tends to be the case of “baby acne”.  Babies can also get a rash on face, neck and armpits.  Every couple of days, gently wash your baby with a light shampoo with moisturizer and apply a small amount of baby oil and your baby’s skin condition should clear right up.  Babies have also been known to have blood vessel lines on back of neck or darker skinned babies can have “mongolian spots” (dark grey-blue spots on back).  Both of which need not concern you for they are not harmful and will fade overtime.

Baby skin problems can also occur from a baby’s environment.  It is estimated that 10-20% of babies may experience eczema at some point during their infant years.  Eczema is a red, itchy rash that can appear anywhere on the baby.  Some irritants that have been known cause it are things liked detergent, fabric softener, saliva or allergies.  There are easy treatments for this that your doctor can prescribe that will clear everything up.  Common practices to limit the appearance of eczema is to limit the bath’s you give your baby and when you do bathe your baby, use just water.  I would also recommend using an allergenic or baby detergent for clothes and avoid fabric softener.

Diaper rash is another skin condition that can occur to your baby.  It appears as a red, bumpy rash.  It can cause diarrhea, yeast or bacterial infection.  It causes pain and discomfort to your baby but can usually be treated at home with a diaper rash cream.  Some practices to avoid diaper rash is to change your baby’s diaper more frequently, use water and a washcloth instead of wipes when cleaning and apply ointments and petroleum jelly to the diaper area.  If none of those treatments work, then it is extremely important to make a doctor’s appointment and seek treatment.

Also keep in mind that weather can play an effect on your little one’s skin.  Too hot and your baby can break out into a heat rash.  Too cold and your baby can break out into a rash as well.  Just remember that a baby’s skin is a little more sensitive than yours in the beginning stages.  Also keep in mind that everyday tasks and products that do not effect us as adults can be extremely irritating to a baby’s skin.  Careful attention to your baby’s comfort and health will make for a happier baby and a happier experience.

Sticky Fingers Recipes – Roast Pear and Banana Baby Puree

Ingredients:

2 Bananas cut into cubes

2 Pears, peeled and cut into wedges

Process:

-Preheat oven to 375 degrees

-Place the bananas and pears on parchment paper on a baking sheet

-Bake for 25 minutes

-Put into a food processor and puree

-Cool for 10 minutes and then serve

*You can also try to spice up the dish with a dash of nutmeg or cinnamon.  However, it is recommended by doctor’s to wait until you baby is of 8 months old before introducing spices.  So as not to upset the child’s digestive track and stomach.

Bon Appetite!

Tiny Tot Quiz Tuesday – Are You Preparing a Healthy Lunch for Your Child?

1) Do you make your lunch from scratch or do you buy pre-prepared?

a)Scratch

b)Pre-prepared

2) When packing a “sweet” snack, do you pack a:

a)Fruit

b)Cookies

3) Which would you include in your child’s lunch:

a)String Cheese

b)Yogurt

c)Chips

4) Do you vary your child’s lunch:

a)Yes

b)No

5) Which beverage are you more likely to pack:

a)Milk

b)Water

c)Fruit Juice

6) Which Bread are you more likely to use:

a)Whole Wheat

b)White/Roll

c)Bagel

7) Do you include the 4 food groups into your child’s lunch:

a)Yes

b)No

Results:

If you choose “a” for most of your answers then Great Job!  You know the importance of providing a healthy meal for your child.  Packing a lunch with the four food groups and essential nutrients (calcium, vitamins A,B,C and D) can keep your child strong and healthy, as well as create a healthy eating habit that they will carry out the rest of their lives.

If you choose “b,c, or d”  more times than you choose “a” then you might need to re-evaluate what you are making for your child’s lunch.  Diet plays a huge roll in your child’s development.  Their are certain nutrients that are essential for their healthy growth.  I know that at times, getting your child to eat healthy could be challenging, but if you slowly start to incorporate some healthier choices than over time they will not even miss the “sweets” and grow a new fondness for the healthier items.

Savvy Sleeping Techniques for Baby and You

Having a baby is very exciting and yet can also be very draining and challenging.  One key challenge that gets parents talking is the art of creating a sleep routine that works well for both parents and baby.  Provided are some proven sleep techniques that have worked on infants and toddlers throughout time.

Create a Secure Environment-  By creating a secure environment, you will help your baby to develop a healthy attitude toward sleep.  You baby will correlate a secure state of peace with sleep,  which will allow your baby to comfortably accept bedtime rather then resist.  If you teach your baby to accept the restful attitude towards sleep when they are young, then they will sleep better as they get older.  There are a number of ways to create a secure environment.  You could put your baby to sleep on their back, do not use a pillow and ensure that their mattress is firm or flat.  Keep the crib away from windows, radiators, direct sunlight and lamps.  This will keep your baby at a safe and comfortable temperature.  These are just some suggestions.

Decide Wear Baby Sleeps Best-  Some babies sleep best in their crib in their own room.  Some want to be in their parents room or next to mom.  You’ll have to make the judgement of where you are willing to have your baby sleep.  Realistically, most parents will use various sleeping arrangements at various stages of your infants first two years.  Try to be open and understanding of your baby’s developmental needs while still implementing routine.

Associate a Variety of Sleep Patterns with your Baby-  If your baby goes to sleep a certain way, then when they awaken they will expect to go to sleep in the same way.  If you rock your baby to sleep and they awaken in the middle of the night, then they will want to be rocked back to sleep.  This can interfere with your sleep habits.  You will want to incorporate a variety of sleep habits so that your child will not just associate one habit to sleep but instead have many different options to fall back to sleep without waking you up.  Two great techniques to suggest are:  The Parent-Soothing Method and the Self-Soothing Method.  Parent-Soothing Method involves a parent or care giver to help make baby comfortable through the transition of awake to sleep.  Methods used are rocking, nursing, singing etc…This technique is great for building parent-infant trust.  Self-Soothing Method allows the baby to be put down awake and allow the baby to go to sleep on their own.  This allows baby to associate with sleep without parent comforting.  However, this method is a little tougher.  It might take a couple of nights to adjust to this technique, just keep in mind that this might not work for high-need babies.  Use your best judgement, don’t overlook basic needs or become desensitized by your baby’s cries.  There is a reason for their crying, it is their way of communicating.

Develop Consistent Sleep Routines-  Babies with consistent bedtime rituals usually go to sleep easier and stay asleep longer.  Familiar bedtime rituals set your baby up for sleep.  You will want to start the sleep associations early in your child’s infancy.  One example of a bedtime ritual would be to bathe your child, brush teeth, put on pajamas and then read a story.  This gives them ample time to prepare for sleep without feeling pressured or anxiety.

Try Soothing Sounds to Sleep To-  There are some studies that have shown that sounds such as a fan, an air conditioner or vacuum create a white noise that lull’s your baby to sleep.  Other sounds that work could be a fish tank, a ticking clock or running water.  There are also a variety of CD’s for purchase that play white noise.  All of these sounds remind baby of the sounds that were heard in the womb which helps comfort your baby to help induce sleep.

You may know of some other techniques that help your baby to sleep at night.  It is a chemistry, what work’s for one parent may not work for another.  The key point to stay focused on is to create a nighttime ritual that consoles and comforts your baby to create a healthy sleep attitude that will last a lifetime.  Your baby will view nighttime sleep as a pleasant and secure state to enter and remain in.  This will allow you to get the much needed and appreciated sleep so that you can fully enjoy each other during waking hours.

Name Game Wednesday (Letter E, #1)

I know that picking a baby name for your new arrival can sometimes be hard.  Especially trying to get both parents to agree on one.  Just for fun, on most Wednesdays  I will put out one girl name and one boy name with origin and meaning for you to ponder and get ideas from.  You might even be introduced to a name that you like and never thought of : )

Ethan

Gender – Boy

Origin – Hebrew

Meaning – Strong, firm, impetuous

Ethan means strong and optimistic, solid and enduring.  The name appears 8 times in the Hebrew Bible.  It was the 4th most popular boy’s name in the U.S. in 2006.

Emma

Gender – Girl

Origin – German

Meaning – All-containing, universal

Emma might be a form of Erma.  It is translated as “whole” or “universal.”

Tiny Tot Quiz Tuesdays – Are You a Bathing Pro?

Are you a pro at bathing your baby?

1)   What do you do if there is a draft in the room where you’re bathing your baby?

a)   Stay in the room and let your baby adjust to the temperature

b)   Adjust the heat to eliminate the draft or move the bath to another room

c)   Postpone the bath until draft subsides

2)   The best way to wash your baby is with a :

a)   Loofah

b)   Water Gun

c)   Washcloth

3)   The best way to wash your baby is from:

a)   The feet up

b)   The neck down

c)   Spots where baby is dirty

4)   Use one of the following to clean your baby’s eyes:

a)   Q-Tips

b)   Cotton Balls

c)   Your Finger

5)   What would you use to dry your baby?

a)   Gently dry your baby dry with a towel

b)   Rub your baby with a towel to dry quickly

c)   Let your baby air-dry

6)   The most important rule of bathing is:

a)   Stop bathing immediately if baby is upset

b)   Never take your hands off your baby once the bath has started

c)   Don’t forget the rubber ducky

7)   It is ok to use powder on your baby’s skin:

a)   True

b)   False

8)   How often should you give your baby a bath?

a)   Everyday

b)   2-3 times a week

c)   Whenever baby is stinky

Answers:

1)   b

2)   c

3)   b

4)   b

5)   a

6)   b

7)   b

8)   b

Results:

Bath-Time Beginner (1-3 answers right) –   You will need to brush up on your bath-time knowledge.  There are some basics that you should know regarding how often you should bathe your child, what soup to use and how to dry them.  Do not feel embarrassed, a lot of new parents do not know until they have had children.  You can always use family, friends and doctors as useful resources of information.  the more you know, the better the experience will be.

Intermediate Bathing Boss (4-6 answers right) –   You have a good handle on bathing basics.  Just remember to refresh on some bathing tricks.  The more comfortable you are during bath time, the more relaxed your baby will be.

Advanced Baby Bathing Warrior (7-8 answers right) –   Congratulations!  You bathe your baby like a pro.  You have educated yourself on the proper techniques of bathing your baby and have obviously listened to the advice that you have been given.  You will keep your baby safe and create a lasting bond.

Inquiring Minds Want to Know What Celebrities are Expecting

-Uma Thurman is expecting her 3rd child with Arpad Busson.  She already has 2 children with ex-husband Ethan Hawke.

-Kourtney Kardashian is expecting a little girl, her 2nd child with Scott Disick.  She is due in July.

-Jason Lee is expecting a 3rd child with wife, Ceren.  They are expecting a boy in June.

-Jessica Alba is expecting her 2nd child with husband Cash Warren.

-Kate Hudson with her 9 month boyfriend, Matthew Bellamy, are expecting their 1st child together.  She already has a 7 year old son named Ryder from her former marriage to Chris Robinson.

Diaper Cake 2

Going to a baby shower or first birthday and not sure what baby gift to get…may I suggest a Diaper Cake.  Not only is it a great gift, but beautiful and economically helpful.  Baby diapers are one of the biggest material costs that a parent will spend on their baby for the first three years.  A mom can easily go through 4,000 diapers annually.  That is why giving a diaper cake as a present to a new mom is such a wonderful and useful gift.

Not only is it fun to give the gift that you know will be used, but it is also fun to make.  The creative possibilities are endless.  You can make the diaper cake gender specific, themed, colorful, musical, playful, big or small.  You can use blankets, bib’s, clothes, plush toys, rattles, teethers, pacifiers, ribbon, flowers or anything else.  Before you begin, you should ask yourself the following questions:

1)   What size do you want the diaper cake to be? (1 Tier, 2 Tier, 3 or 4)

2)   What theme do you want the diaper cake to be?

3)   How much do you want to spend on making the diaper cake? (You should pay     attention to this detail.  It is easy to overspend on cute baby items)

Items that you will need:

-50-60 diapers (Huggies or Pampers, size 1 or 2 are both great choices)

-Clear rubber bands (will be used to secure each rolled diaper)

-Tape or glue gun

-Ribbon (1″ to 1 1/2″ to wrap around each tier)

-Base (you can use a cake board found at most craft stores or sturdy cardboard cut into a circle)

-2 paper towel cardboard rolls (1 to attach to the base to wrap diapers around and the other to be used to wrap diapers)

-Tissue Paper (to decorate and cover the base and cardboard tube)

-Baby Items (clothes, blanket, shoes, rattle, teether, pacifier, bibs etc…)

-Decorative Accents (ribbon, bows, flowers etc…)

Directions:

1)   Center cardboard tube on base with glue or tape (allow to dry if glued).

2)   Wrap base and tube with tissue paper to mask the cardboard.

3)   Take your diapers, roll them and then secure each with a rubber band.  You will then stack the rolled diaper in an upright position around the tube on the base.  Continue to add more diapers until they extend out to your desired size (usually around 30 diapers are used).

4)   You will then put a rubber band around the 30 diapers in the first tier to hold them in place and secure them to the cardboard tube.

5)   Repeat that process for the second tier that will be stacked on top of the first tier, but use less diapers (usually around 20)

6)  If decorating a third tier, repeat process and use 10 diapers that will be stacked on top of the second tier.

7)   After tiers are built and rubber banded.  Use the decorative ribbon to wrap around each tier, covering  where the rubber band is that is holding all the diapers to the base and tube.

8)   Now you can start adding decorations to the diaper cake.  You can place the items anywhere that you would like.  One suggestion would be to tie a ribbon around each item that you want to attach, that way you can super glue the ribbon on the item to the decorative ribbon wrapped around the diapers.  This will prevent the items from falling off or ruined by the glue.  You can also stuff items in the top hole of the cardboard tube attached to the base.

That is all there is to it!  Once completed, you can wrap the diaper cake in tulle or a cellophane bag tied with a ribbon and tag.  The finished product looks fantastic and is sure to put a smile on any mom or recipients face.  If you feel that you do not have the creative talent to put together a diaper cake and would prefer to buy one instead.  May I suggest www.mybabybuddy.com as a great site to purchase a diaper cake or baby gift.

Top Tips of Planning for a New Baby

Having a child is such an exciting time for parents.  You will have fun picking out baby clothes and furniture.  Selecting baby names and decorating the nursery, but there are also some other things that you should consider and schedule.  Such as  how the new addition will affect the household…your husband, the siblings and household pets.  It is important to talk about the addition of a new baby  with your children.  Right from the beginning, you want to ensure your children that even though there will be some minor changes within the household that they are still loved and important.  It is common for siblings to sometimes feel neglected, ignored, frustrated or envious of the baby.  But if you include them in the process of expecting and helping with the new baby, it will give them a sense of purpose, as well as provide the love and attention that they will be needing.  Have your child help decorate the baby’s room, go to your prenatal visits, give your child a doll to practice caring for an infant,and  read books about being an older brother or sister.  Always try to keep to a routine and arrange special times in their schedule that is just for you and your child.  By preparing your child ahead of time, you will help promote an important relationship between the new baby and child.

Another consideration when expecting is how to keep your child safe in a vehicle.  Proper use of car safety seats will help keep your new baby safe.  Just remember that car seats for infants up to 20 lbs should always be in the back seat and face the back of the car.  Never place a rear facing car seat in the front seat with air bags.  Always adjust the seat and straps to fit your baby so that they do not slip out.  I recommend using a seat upholstered in fabric as opposed to vinyl which can be uncomfortable, sticky or hot in warm weather.  For more information regarding seat safety, please check out the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  www.nhtsa.dot.gov

Now about doctor’s.  When choosing a pediatrician, you need to consider location and office hours.  Your baby will require frequent check-ups, so you will want a doctor that is closer to your home.  Do a lot of research when selecting a physician.  This will be someone who most likely will care for your baby throughout their growing stages, so you want to trust and feel comfortable with your doctor.  Make appointments to meet with doctors, attend open houses or get recommendations from friends and family who have a doctor for their children.  Check out The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for referrals of certified practitioners.

For those moms that are working, make sure to plan and put in a request for  maternity leave.  Under Federal law, most workers are entitled to up to 12 weeks of unpaid maternity leave.  But keep in mind to check with your company and policies regarding maternity leave, pay, benefits etc…  For more information on your rights, please check out the Department of Labor, www.dol.gov/esa/whd/fmla.

The last piece of advice that I would recommend is looking into parenting classes.  They are a great way to prepare for your labor and delivery, as well as give insight of what to expect as a new parent.  Many classes will go over infant care, bathing, breast-feeding and other useful information.  They will also touch up on things to keep in mind while caring for your infant, for instance…sleep.  Many parents will soon find out how easily it is to lose sleep.  But it is crucial that you formulate a plan with your spouse, family and friends to ensure that you get an adequate amount of much-needed rest each day.  You will also be surprised how everyday tasks such as cleaning, laundry and cooking will be interrupted or postponed.  So again, reach out to family and friends to help out.  Just remember that this is an exciting time and with the right planning and preparation, you will be able to enjoy every moment of it.