Since many people say the cost of having a baby is one of the main reasons they choose not to have more children, we figured this infographic was worth a look. 

Here are my methods:

• Disposable and cloth diapers (we use both)
• Store bought and home made baby food (we use both)
• Regular cribs
• Formula and breast milk (we use both)
• 2nd hand baby products (for the items which are safe the second time around)
• Budget crib bedding
• Family daycare (grandma watches the kids once a year so we can go to a movie!)
• Stay at home childcare – my husband and I are both lucky enough to be at home right now. It’s much cheaper than daycare!

Take a gander at the roadmap of baby spending and saving below and let us know in the comments: which way is best for you and why?

Click to Enlarge Image
 

This is the last baby I’ll have in a bassinet next to my bed.

This is the last baby I’ll hold sleeping in my arms.  I don’t know what it feels like to sleep with someone holding you, but it must feel next to perfect (I can tell from the way that she smiles in her sleep when she doesn’t even know what a smile means yet).

This is the last time I’ll take milestone photos, or record firsts on a calendar, or marvel at how amazing it is for her to be strong enough to sit up all by herself.

This is the last time my husband and I will look at each other from a hospital bed over a brand new person and be giddy with amazement that God just allowed us to make another human because we love each other so much.

Now I know this is my last baby and it’s hard to believe.  I always thought I’d be able to keep having more and more, that there would always be a baby in the house.  

I am trying to slow down and linger in each of these small things – the things I previously couldn’t wait for my kids to grow out of.  But now – now that I know these things are fleeting and these days are numbered – I don’t want them to be gone after all.  I don’t know what it feels like to be a mom without a baby. 

God knows best, and if He decides that our baby days are over, then I’m okay with that.  But the idea is taking a little while to get used to.

My pediatrician gave me the perfect frozen teething solution for babies and toddlers at our last checkup. 

Our pediatrician has been in the biz for quite a long time.  I’m dreading the day he retires, of course, but in the meantime I keep getting the best parenting tips from him.

With my 1 year old, Seven, who has 4 teeth so far and is cutting more, he recommended this so-crazy-it-might-just-work solution:

Give her frozen Eggo waffles to chew on.

Yes, that’s right, my doctor advised to give frozen waffles to your 1-2 year old to chew on and eat as a substitute to teething biscuits!  Of course, you have to supervise them the same as with any other solid food to avoid choking hazards.

The frozen temperature helps cool down the gums and the ridged squared off texture feels good to chew on. Plus, if your little one is able to break or bite off a piece of the waffle, it will get soft and squishy and will be easy to swallow even without advanced chewing skills.

I tried it with my daughter the very next day and it works like a charm!  It’s too bad I didn’t get this advice when my older kids were teething.  I’m so glad to have found the perfect frozen teething solution for my teething toddler, all thanks to our pediatrician – frozen Eggo waffles!  

The Perfect Frozen Teething Solution for Babies and Toddlers is linked to Works for Me Wednesday.

For everyone else, I’m about to express my frustration:  I’ve got mastitis AGAIN.  What is mastitis, you ask?  Click this link to let Wikipedia show you the painful details about what mastitis is. 

Basically, mastitis is a red, swollen and painful breast infection that causes chills, fever, sweats, loss of milk production, and can lead to a breast abscess that has to be surgically removed if not treated with antibiotics in time.

So in 4 1/2 months of breastfeeding, this is the third time I’ve had mastitis and the third round of antibiotics.  Twice on one side, once on the other.  This time, I got mastitis from going too long without pumping or feeding.  My house is being remodeled and every room of the house had people in it, even the bathroom, for hours.  There was nowhere to go to pump.  The baby got a bottle and I got full- too full.

Mastitis, the “Gift” That Keeps on Giving

After having my baby, Seven, (who is now 4 1/2 months old) I decided to try breastfeeding even though I hadn’t with the last baby.  After severe breastfeeding problems, such as Seven having a tongue tie which had to be surgically removed, I decided I would try to stick out the nursing as long as I could. Let the record show that I am NOT a fan of nursing- it’s great for other people, but not my favorite thing to do.

My OB/GYN doctor told me she had chronic mastitis after one of her pregnancies.  Interestingly enough, she said that women who have it repeatedly probably won’t have the same problem after a subsequent birth.  For the next baby, the odds are up in the air about whether you’ll be prone to it or not.

My doctor told me she was really surprised and proud of me for still breastfeeding after 2 bouts of mastitis.  Naturally, she was sympathetic when I called her to report it was back.

I went for approximately 3 months of exclusive pumping with my last baby, never breastfed, and never had mastitis.  Now I come to find out that it’s hard to shake and is recurring for many women.

What Causes Mastitis, Anyway?

I wondered what causes mastitis, and did a little research.

“Bacteria normally found in a baby’s mouth or on the nipple can enter the milk ducts through small cracks in the skin of the nipple and can multiply rapidly in the breast milk. This can lead to a superficial small area of inflammation (frequently from streptococcal bacteria) or a deeper walled-off infection or abscess (frequently from staphylococcal bacteria).”

-eMedicineHealth

So that explains why it’s more likely to occur from nursing as opposed to exclusive pumping.  There’s no bacteria contacting your breast if you sterilize your pump parts before each use.  There is, however, always bacteria on your baby’s mouth.

Now What?

I’m lucky that Seven is almost old enough to be transitioning to first foods like baby rice cereal and oatmeal.  My husband asked if I want to be done lactating after this round of “pump and dump” of my breast milk during the 10 days of antibiotic treatment. 

The answer of course is yes, because I’d love to have my life back!  Being chained to a pump every three hours can really put a damper on your lifestyle, especially in the summer and when you have other children.  Road trips, camping, conferences… I’m an active person who likes to schedule life in blocks longer than 3 hours sometimes.

However, I really want to make sure that Seven has a moderate supply of frozen breast milk to carry her as long as possible, so that’s my quandary.  I’ll deplete a lot of that stockpile over the next 10 days as I feed her from the frozen milk and throw away the fresh stuff filled with antibiotics.  (I know the antibiotic is safe for baby, but hubby and I don’t approve of giving the kids any unnecessary antibiotics.)

So time will tell what happens for me next.  I’ll make it through this course of antibiotics to clear up the mastitis infection and see how I feel about continuing to pump and nurse.  I’ll have a large relief when it’s over, but still be a little sad when the breast milk comes to an end. 

Have you had experiences with mastitis?  How many infections did it take before you stopped nursing for good?  Let us know in the comments below.

If you can’t get a good latch no matter how many times you try, and it is painful to breastfeed (a feeling that baby is biting your nipples with his gums or is clamped down only on your nipple), there may be a physiological answer: the tongue-tie.

If this sounds like your situation, it’s time to visit a lactation consultant or your pediatrician and ask them to check your baby for a tongue-tie.  You can find a lactation consultant by calling your local hospital, public health center, or La Leche League. 

Lactation consultants know how to evaluate your breastfeeding and check to see if there is an abnormality under your baby’s tongue that causes baby to be unable to raise his tongue.  This abnormality makes it physically impossible for baby to nurse with a good, deep latch.

What Does a Tongue-Tie Look Like?

You can see a baby with a tongue-tie in the photo below.  Some babies have such a tight tongue-tie that you cannot get their tongue up high enough to see it, making it difficult to take pictures.  Because of this reason, we were unable to get a photo of my newborn daughter’s tongue-tie.  Tongue-tie photo below courtesy of Qole Pejorian.

What is a Tongue-Tie?

A tongue tie is a piece of skin that connects the tongue to the bottom of the mouth.  In severe cases, a child will not be able to stick out their tongue.  If they can stick out their tongue, it makes an indentation in the middle tip of the tongue, forming the tongue into a heart shape. 

Negative Effects from Tongue Ties

• Painful or unproductive breastfeeding
• Speech impediments
• Inability to stick tongue out
• Dental problems from tongue thrusting the teeth forward
• Unable to lick ice cream cones or lick popsicles

What to Do if you Suspect a Tongue Tie

If your child has a tongue tie, make an appointment with an ear, nose and throat doctor immediately to have it clipped.  For babies, this is a quick in-office procedure with only local anesthetic.  For older children, your doctor will likely recommend having surgery in a hospital setting so that they can be put under general anesthesia and not have the memory of the tongue tie clipping.

Although I had never considered this before, human error does make it possible for an accidental breast milk switch to happen.  This can be dangerous!  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which I consider to be the utmost authority on safety:

“If a child has been mistakenly fed another child’s bottle of expressed breast milk, the possible exposure to HIV or other infectious diseases should be treated just as if an accidental exposure to other body fluids had occurred.”

The CDC offers the steps to take if your child has been accidentally exposed to another woman’s breast milk accidentally, including information about the likelihood of HIV transmission.  You can read the CDC’s article here, and it never hurts to print it out and save it in your day care file or even take a copy to your daycare.

the birth of their daughter:

Seven Magdalena Ice-Simmons

Born on January 9, 2010

at 10:45am

in Fairbanks, Alaska

Weight: 7 pounds, 3 ounces

Length: 19 1/2 inches

On my trip to BlogHer in Chicago this summer, I was able to meet with representatives from Safety 1st and check out their newest release in carseat technology, the Safety 1st Complete Air convertible car seat with Air Protect.  I was really wowed by the safety advances and was eager to try this for my own toddler, now 27 months old, and on the newborn girl I’m expecting in January.

Since the car seat is a convertible that moves from rear-facing for newborns and infants to forward-facing for toddlers, there will be no problem with me using it for both children.

Safety 1st was kind enough to send me a Complete Air carseat (in Harvest orange and brown, just like the one pictured at right) to try out for myself so I could share my thoughts with you all. 

I’ve been using this carseat for a month now, and it has seen some real-life durability issues (such as the stomach flu).  Thankfully, however, there was no accident that forced us to test out the safety features of the Air Protect cushions.

Here’s what I thought about using the Safety 1st Complete Air Convertible Car Seat over the last month:

New Air Protect Technology

What’s new in this baby, infant and toddler carseat is the Air Protect technology – in other words, it has air pillows on either side of the baby’s head to help protect against injury in a side impact collision.

Keep in mind that these air pillows aren’t airbags in the traditional sense of the word.  They don’t “deploy” as the airbags in a vehicle do.  These are “air cushions” rather, which absorb shock on either side of the baby’s head in the event of an accident.

Click here to see the video of the crash test and learn about how the air cushions work.

This carseat looks very different because of the air cushion piece that appears on either side of baby’s head.  It appears to be a more secure fit and really doesn’t leave much room for movement from side to side, which of course is the goal in reducing head trauma in case of an accident.  The pillows aren’t restrictive, though, and my son is still able to turn his head to look at and talk to his older sister in the bucket seat next to his.

Why Side Impact Protection is Important

“In a side impact crash, there is an average of just eight inches of steel protecting children in the back seat. Side impact collisions are among the deadliest type of collision for children, accounting for one in three child crash fatalities, nearly all of which are caused by head trauma.”

                            – Safety 1st website, The Impact of Side Impact

With the possible injury to a baby that can result from a side impact crash, it’s definitely worth the extra peace of mind from a parent’s perspective to have any extra protection possible.  Why use a carseat that doesn’t offer the extra protection when the technology is now available and so affordable?  It doesn’t make sense to me to go without.  I may be a hardcore frugal mom, but I will never cut corners when it comes to my children’s safety.

Other Features I Liked

The Safety 1st Complete Air carseat has a 5 point harness, which is easy for an adult to buckle and unbuckle, but wasn’t easy for my toddler to figure out.  The car seat also has a removable plastic cup holder that attaches to the left side of the car seat.  When we first opened the box, we thought the cup holder wouldn’t fit on the carseat in our minivan.  It seemed that the piece would stick out too far and touch the sliding door.  However, it fit on the carseat just fine, leaving plenty of room between the cup holder and the door.

Is the Complete Air Carseat Easy to Install?

The Safety 1st Complete Air carseat was very easy to install in our vehicle.  My husband installed it in our Grand Caravan the first time, and I installed it a second time to see how easy it was for a smaller person to put in alone.  I’m 5’1”, and maneuvering large items, such as baby car seat systems, can be difficult when you’re my size (and pregnant!). 

The simple, step by step instructions in the user manual explain how to install the carseat 1 of 2 ways: either using the LATCH system, if your car has it, or the traditional way with a seatbelt.  Our minivan does have the LATCH system, so that is what we used to connect the Air Protect car seat.  This was my first time with LATCH, since our previous car didn’t have it, and that technology seems a much more secure way to fasten a baby car seat.  With LATCH, you are actually securing the carseat to metal brackets on the floor of the car and bolted into the car’s chair.

Installation Videos: For extra help, Safety 1st provides installation videos on their site that show exactly how to install the carseat in 4 different ways:  rear-facing LATCH, forward-facing LATCH, rear-facing seatbelt, and forward-facing seatbelt.  You can watch the installation videos here or read the installation tips here with illustrations.  Their website even provides a downloadable pdf of the user manual right on the installation page in case you lose yours! 

What I really love is that they go the extra mile.  In case you still have questions about getting your carseat put in properly, they have an email and 800 number ready for you on the site.

Is the Complete Air Carseat Easy to Adjust?

This is an important question for parents, because getting the proper fit with the car seat’s safety harness is crucial to it protecting your little one in case of an accident.  With many baby car seats, the release tab (in the middle front of the base) can be very hard to use.  In order to tighten the straps, you pull the strap under the release tab.  To loosen, you first engage the release tab, then pull the harness straps out for extra room. 

The Complete Air’s release tab is very easy to operate, and I had no trouble getting it to work quickly. This is a very important feature to me since I live in the very cold state of Alaska.  Depending on the weather, my son may have a thin coat on one day, and a heavy coat with snowpants the next.  Being able to adjust the harness quickly and easily, especially when I’m standing outside in the below zero temperatures, is key.

Does the Complete Air Carseat Stand Up to Wear & Tear?

Fortunately, I was also able to test out the Complete Air car seat’s real world durability to see how well it stands up to  a tough toddler.  My son had the stomach flu -not once, but twice- since we installed the Safety 1st car seat.  He threw up on the car seat a lot, and it was a widespread vomit that covered a great deal of the seat.  The affected areas included the air cushion head piece, the removable cushion that wraps around the hip area, the cover, the sides, and more. 

As a germophobe, I insist on cleaning most things with antibacterial cleaner, such as 409 spray or Lysol cleaner.  The car seat was no exception.  The removable cushion I was able to put in the washing machine and dryer, and it came out as good as new.  For the other parts that were still attached to the chair, I sprayed it down with 409 and scrubbed it with a damp cloth.  A few spritzes with Febreze fabric refresher were able to take out the leftover odor and the carseat was like new again!  I don’t know if the fabric was treated to be colorfast, and I honestly didn’t know what would happen to the fabric when I doused it with cleaner.  However, I was pleasantly surprised at the durability and how well it stood up to heavy duty cleaning twice in such a short time period.

The dark colors of the fabric are also great for camouflaging stains from juice spills or snack accidents which your toddler may have. 

In a Nutshell

Overall, I was very happy with the quality and features of the new Safety 1st Complete Air convertible car seat.  The affordable price and crash-tested technology combine to make this car seat the only viable option when purchasing a new car seat for your baby or toddler. 

You can find the Complete Air carseat in Babies R Us, Toys R Us, and other leading stores across the country.  If your favorite store isn’t carrying it yet, call their buyer or manager and ask why.  Our babies deserve the extra protection!  I really feel this technology is such a breakthrough that it will mirror the standard integration of airbags into vehicles, and that before long, all car seats will be required to feature Air Protect technology. 

My only request is that Safety 1st incorporate the Air Protect technology into a newborn carseat carrier with a handle and a base.  These are so handy and convenient for newborns and young infants, and I’d love to see the convenience merged with the new safety feature.

The Safety 1st Complete Air convertible car seat is hereby awarded the Home Ever After Quality Seal of Approval!    

–

Safety 1st and Air Protect graphics and logos used with permission by the Safety 1st company.

Disclaimer:  In compliance with the FTC Guides, updated 10/5/09, this article has material connections.  IS World Media (ISWM) received no fees for the writing or publication.  This article is a product review conducted by Danelle Ice and is her honest opinion.  The Safety 1st Air Protect carseat was provided to ISWM at no cost by Safety 1st to facilitate the review process.  ISWM does not endorse the company mentioned above.

We cannot make claims as to the typical results users should expect from this product, as we are trying it for the first time and have no way of knowing other users’ experiences.  All claims as the the safety features and the carseat’s technology are in reference to Safety 1st’s own research and claims and can be found here: http://airprotect.safety1st.com/about.php and http://airprotect.safety1st.com/sideimpact.php. 

Dealing with Your First Night Away From Baby

If you missed Why it’s Okay to Have a Night Away From Baby, go read it now before continuing on.  Follow these tips to make your first night away from baby less stressful for everyone.

Choosing the Right Babysitter: 

• The more comfortable you are with your babysitter, the more you will be able to relax while away. If a family member is not available, ask a good friend or responsible neighbor that you trust.
• Create a ‘baby log’ to leave with your sitter. Include every detail of your baby’s daily routine, including feeding schedule, bathing routine, bedtime rituals, favorite toys or books to read, night time lullabies, diaper rash ointment, what to expect after feeding him, etc.
• In addition, leave a detailed phone list of nearby relatives to call in case of an emergency, the location and contact information of where you will be staying, pediatrician’s number and local emergency numbers.

Choosing the Right Location:  For your first trip away from baby, it is best to stay relatively close to home. A weekend in Vegas is probably not a good first choice. Instead, opt for a one-night stay at a local bed and breakfast, golf resort or spa. You will have greater peace of mind knowing that you can return home in a moment’s notice should the need arise.

Saying Goodbye:  Although it will be difficult for you to say goodbye to your baby, try to make it less of a production and more of a routine event. Babies are very intuitive and will pick up on your anxiety, so refrain from clinging and crying. Do not dwell on the fact that you are leaving your baby. Kiss him and hug him the same as you would if you were leaving to run a few errands. If you make it to the car without having a meltdown you should be fine. Remember that it is only one night away, not even long enough for your baby to miss you.

Checking In:  When you arrive at your destination, call and check in with the sitter. Leave your cell phone on so you may be contacted if necessary, but try to resist the urge to call home every 30 minutes to check up on him. This will interfere with your ability to relax and can end up ruining your trip. Emotional parents can become irrational, forgetting that they entrusted their baby with a qualified, caring sitter who will call them if something out of the ordinary were to occur.

Once you make it through this first time process, it will get easier each time and you will soon be looking forward to your little weekend getaways.

Family Friday: Time to Share!

Now it’s time for you to share your Family Friday post with the rest of us!  If you’re not sure how it works, read the directions and guidelines for Family Friday here.

Please add your family-related blog post below in the Mr. Linky. Remember, you MUST link your post back to HomeEverAfter.com. (If your link was deleted, email us.)

As soon as you bring your newborn baby home from the hospital, you’ll want to fill out a New Baby Identification Sheet.  This is a helpful paper that contains important identifying information about your child, in case they should ever be missing.

The New Baby Identification Sheet is a page you’ll be able to print off and give to the police department, investigators, etc. in the terrible case that your child is ever lost, kidnapped or abducted.  With that in mind, the sheet needs to have as much information about your baby as possible, including identifying physical marks.

Since babies and toddlers grow and change quickly, you’ll want to update your sheet at least every 3 months with current information and photos.  There is no age limit on this sheet, and you may want to consider keeping a Child Identification Sheet for each of your older children as well.

What to Put on a New Baby Identification Sheet

Creating a New Baby Identification Sheet is fast and easy, so take 5 minutes to do one right away if you haven’t already.  Here’s what you’ll need to include:

1.  Color photos. Try to avoid cute or artistic photos.  Clear, high resolution color photos are key. You’ll need to take photos that will help complete strangers recognize your child if needed.  Include at least:

• 1 face shot, taken from the front
• 1 face shot, taken from the side (a profile)
• 1 full body shot
• Photos of any identifying birthmarks

2.  Footprints, handprints, or fingerprints.  There are simple kits in the memorabilia section of most craft stores that can help you preserve baby’s handprints and footprints.  Simple black ink will do in a pinch.

3.  A detailed description of your baby’s appearance, including the following:

• Hair color
• Eye color
• Birthmarks or moles
• Height
• Weight

4.  Baby’s doctor, his/her contact information and your hospital’s name.  These are necessary in case your baby is found and needs immediate emergency attention before you can be contacted.

5.  Baby’s home address, so baby can be returned.

6.  Mother’s name and phone number.  Include work phone and cell phone.

7.  Father’s name and phone number.  Include work phone and cell phone.

8.  Other emergency contact and phone number – list as many as possible, in case you are unreachable.

9.  Vital health information about your baby, including: 

• Blood type (in case a blood transfusion is necessary)
• Medical conditions
• Allergies to medicines or materials (such as latex)
• Previous surgeries or hospitalizations your baby has had

It’s better to be prepared with the necessary information about your children ahead of time in case you should ever need it.  In a time of stress or panic, it’s not as easy to think clearly and give complete information to authorities.  Take a few minutes and put together your Baby Identification Sheet now!

Why It’s Okay to Have a Night Away From Baby

From the very moment you welcomed your new bundle of joy into the world, you have devoted every waking moment to his well being. Becoming a parent is a full time job that requires dedication, self sacrifice and unrelenting patience.

Every move you have made since the day he was born has been centered on caring for your baby. This is the very reason why it may be time for you to take a well deserved break from martyrdom and enjoy a few moments of peace and quiet!

For some parents, the thought of a night away from their little one brings a smile to their face and a suitcase to their hands. However, the majority of parents who are faced with leaving their baby overnight for the first time are met with a mix of apprehension, guilt and worry. Even those who eagerly anticipate a full night’s sleep in a distant hotel often end up questioning their decision and wondering if they are any less of a parent for electing to enjoy a selfish night away from home.

Parents need to understand that not only is it unselfish to spoil yourself every once in a while, but it actually can make you a better parent. When constantly faced with the day to day struggle of responsibly caring for your small child, parents can become worn out and run down rather quickly. Add to that the compounded effects of juggling a career and housework, and parents can become overwhelmed.

The selfless act of parenthood provides baby with everything he needs to be safe, comfortable, happy and thriving…while neglecting the parents’ own individual needs. By taking a time out from the chaos to regroup and unwind, you will return home to your baby relaxed, fulfilled and able to devote more quality time to your family’s needs. The first time leaving your baby is always the hardest.

Next week, we’ll be giving some great tips for dealing with your first night away from baby.

Family Friday: Time to Share!

Now it’s time for you to share your Family Friday post with the rest of us!  If you’re not sure how it works, read the directions and guidelines for Family Friday here.

Please add your family-related blog post below in the Mr. Linky. Remember, you MUST link your post back to HomeEverAfter.com. (If your link was deleted, email us.)

Newborn Care: Keeping Baby Clean

Caring for all of your newborn baby’s needs can be overwhelming. Many new moms wonder where they can turn for good advice on newborn care. Look no further – Home Ever After is here!

Trimming Fingernails:  Newborn babies are constantly fussing and thrashing their arms around. If baby’s fingernails are too long, she can easily scratch her face when her hands are waving around in front of her. Trimming her nails is an essential, yet nerve racking task. A newborn baby’s delicate little hands are so tiny and frail, their fingernails are almost microscopic.

Many parents elect to trim their newborn’s nails while she is sleeping. This provides the best opportunity for you to cut them while she is still. This method is not foolproof though, as babies have a startling reflex that makes them jump unexpectedly, with no warning. Take your time and cut the nails slowly, always being sure to hold baby’s hand away from her face and yours. Good lighting is key, as is a good safety clipper, available at pharmacies and baby superstores.

Cleaning Ears:  When it comes to cleaning babies ears, you should never insert a cotton swab into your newborn’s ears under any circumstances. Not only do you run the risk of inserting it too far and possibly damaging the eardrum, but if there is wax in the ear, you chance pushing it further down the ear canal, which can lead to infections down the road.

Basic newborn care for ears should consist of gently cleansing the external areas and the ear itself with a warm wash cloth or baby wipe. Stores do sell safety cotton swabs that are designed with a larger tip to prevent them from being inserted into the tiny ear canal, however washcloths can reach the same areas.

Giving Baby a Bath:  When bathing baby, whether in a baby tub or in the kitchen sink, parents must always check to make sure the temperature is neither too hot or too cold. Avoid cleansers that contain harsh chemicals and fragrances. The more natural the ingredients, the better it is for your baby.

Newborns do not need to be bathed every day. In fact, many pediatricians recommend limiting bath time to 2-3x per week to prevent skin dryness. Babies that have not yet lost the umbilical cord stump should not be bathed in water, as it is best to keep the stump dry until it falls off. Dry bathing or sponge baths work well in place of a wet tub bath when necessary.

Cradle Cap:  Read about how to treat cradle cap here.

Circumcision Aftercare:  Newborn care includes circumcision care for baby boys. Clean the area 3-4 times per day with warm water. It is not necessary to use soap. Some doctors will provide prescribe an antibiotic ointment. Apply this as directed. If your pediatrician did not prescribe an ointment, you can apply a dab of petroleum jelly at every diaper change. Once the scab falls off, special care is no longer necessary.

There’s so much involved in caring for a newborn baby.  Ready to read more?  Learn about what causes colic, colic cures, dealing with baby not sleeping through the night, and even how to get things done when you have a baby.

Adding Baby Cereal to Bottles

By the time your baby is a few weeks old, chances are someone has suggested adding cereal to her bottle to make her sleep longer at night. In fact, many parents swear by this method and encourage everyone they know to follow suit.

Yet, there is no scientific evidence to back up this claim. The medical and parenting communities actually say this practice can be harmful! Let’s take a closer look.

(There is a small group of babies who pediatricians may advise adding cereal to their bottles: babies with severe reflux. Always follow your doctor’s advice).

1. Parents claim that adding cereal to the bottle makes baby sleep longer.

Many research studies have been conducted, comparing sleep habits of babies who had cereal added to their bottle and those who did not. Under research conditions, no difference has been found. Babies will “sleep through the night” when they are ready; each one reaches that milestone at a different rate.

2. Cereal is empty calories at this age.

Babies have definite nutrition requirements. Adding cereal to the bottle only adds empty calories to baby’s diet, which isn’t a habit you want to establish at such a young age!

3. Introducing solid foods too early can aggravate food allergies.

Many in the dietetic community feel that food allergies may be triggered by early exposure to the allergen, before the body is ready to process it. Exposing a baby to grains in the form of cereal in their bottle could possibly increase the chance they’ll develop a food allergy.

4. Baby’s feeding mechanisms aren’t designed for processing solids this early.

Young babies have a reflex that pushes their tongue against whatever comes into their mouth. This is necessary for the sucking required at the breast or bottle. This reflex naturally begins to go away around four months of age, making it easier to begin using a spoon to feed baby.

Also, some babies struggle to coordinate everything required in order to suckle properly. Introducing cereal to their bottles could aggravate this, causing them to choke (and potentially aspirate cereal into their lungs).

5. Adding cereal to the bottle alters baby’s fullness cues.

Babies have internal mechanisms that regulate feeding, so they only eat what they need. Adding cereal to the bottle interferes with these mechanisms, causing them to take in more calories than necessary. Researchers fear this can lead to a lifetime habit of overeating, and could contribute to the obesity epidemic we face today.

For all intents and purposes, it appears better to save solid foods until baby is four to six months of age and ready to accept food from a spoon. You can help encourage your baby to sleep better at night by following some of the tips I’ve shared in previous articles. In the meantime, try to snuggle your way through middle-of-the-night feedings with a smile. They won’t last forever, I promise!

Disclaimer: The previous article is not medical advice from a medical professional.  Always consult your physician for medical advice in the health care and treatment of medical concerns with your baby.

How to Treat Cradle Cap

Cradle cap is a condition that most mothers are well aware of. Somewhere in the vicinity of half of all babies have cradle cap in the first few months of life.

Although not pretty, and annoying to deal with, cradle cap isn’t harmful to your baby and can be easily treated at home. Here’s a quick rundown on this common condition and how to treat cradle cap.

What is Cradle Cap?

Cradle cap looks like dandruff on an infant’s scalp. It can also appear as yellow, oily, scaly patches of skin. The dry rash often extends to the area around the ears and the eyebrows.

What Causes Cradle Cap?

Medical professionals think cradle cap is caused by hormonal fluctuations after birth. Maternal hormones circulating in the baby’s system cause glands in the scalp to go into overdrive. These glands release a sticky substance, which makes it difficult for old skin cells to be shed, so they pile up on the scalp. Cradle cap is NOT caused by poor hygiene, infection, or illness.

How is Cradle Cap Treated?

There are many home remedies for cradle cap. Often it takes some experimentation to find which method will work for your baby. Some moms swear by rubbing baby oil on their baby’s scalp, letting it sit awhile, and then using a comb or soft-bristled hair brush to loosen the flakes. You could also use olive oil as a more natural alternative to baby oil. Be sure to shampoo after using this method, as residual oil can clog the pores and cause buildup.

Another home remedy is simply to wash baby’s hair. There are mixed opinions on this method; some people say more frequent shampoos help, others say less frequent. Regardless of how often you shampoo, be sure to use a gentle formula designed for babies. Don’t use dandruff or medicated shampoo unless directed by your pediatrician. Rinse well, and use a soft-bristled brush or comb to loosen the flakes.

There are also many products on the market today designed to treat cradle cap. Many of them can be helpful. If the cradle cap becomes especially bothersome, seek the advice of your pediatrician, who can prescribe medicated shampoos and other treatments.

If the dry patches extend to the eyebrows and facial area, apply a baby-safe lotion to those spots as needed.

How Long Does Cradle Cap Last?

Cradle cap usually clears up by the time a baby reaches six to twelve months of age. Rarely will it persist into the toddler years.

Stay tuned for Life with a Newborn next Thursday for “The Real Deal with Cereal in Baby’s Bottle”.

Disclaimer: The previous article is not medical advice from a medical professional.  Always consult your physician for medical advice in the health care and treatment of medical concerns with your baby.

Baby’s First Year: Must Capture Photo Milestones

What’s the first thing people ask when talking about babies? “Do you have a picture?” Babies are probably one of the cutest things to photograph. They change so much over the first year, you won’t want to miss a thing. By planning ahead you can be sure to capture all the important milestones on film.

Investing in extra rechargeable batteries for your camera means you’ll always have fresh batteries available when you need them (just remember to keep them charged!). On my personal blog I share some great tips on photographing newborns from Professional Photographers.

Here are some newborn moments you won’t want to miss:

1. Birth/hospital stay (Include any first meetings with relatives!)

2. Religious Ceremonies (i.e. Baptism)

3. First bath

4. First smile

5. Pushing up on arms, and later all fours

6. Crawling

7. Learning to sit

8. Starting solid foods

9. Pulling up/standing

10. First steps

Use your daily activities as a guide too:

• If baby goes to daycare, include some shots of the building and his caretakers.
• If it snows, capture baby’s first experience in the snow.
• If you visit the beach, capture baby playing in the sand.

And don’t forget holiday pictures! You can dress baby up for Halloween even if she’s too young to Trick or Treat. Have your own photo shoot at home, with baby in her costume. Tuck her in an Easter basket for a great Spring shot. You don’t have to pay a fortune to get adorable holiday photographs. Use your own props and you’ll end up with much more personal memories!

By keeping your camera ready for action, and thinking ahead to the moments you want to capture, you’ll be sure to have a great photo collection of baby’s first year. Although you may still want to include some professional studio portraits, you can save time and money by staging your own photo session at home.

Stay tuned for Life with a Newborn next Thursday for Treating Your Newborn’s Cradle Cap.

Moms of Newborns: Dealing with Sleep Deprivation

Having a newborn baby goes hand in hand with sleep deprivation. There’s just no way to avoid it. Some nights are better than others, but each night includes interrupted and lost sleep.

During the worst of the worst nights there may be no sleep at all. Baby may be going through a growth spurt, have her days and nights mixed up, teething, or sick. No matter the cause, she may just simply refuse to sleep at all one night. Obviously, that means no sleep for mom and dad either.

Sleep deprivation is a serious thing. Studies have shown that people who suffer chronic sleep deprivation actually operate at a level comparable to someone under the influence! Losing sleep definitely affects mental agility and response time, but it affects your mood as well! Go one too many nights on too little sleep and you’ll probably become a bit grouchy.

To cope with sleep deprivation, most parents reach for that mug of coffee or can of soda. Caffeine will do the trick, in the short term. If you’re looking for a little longer energy boost, try drinking water and eating a healthy snack with a good mix of carbs and protein. Any form of exercise can help as well, as it gets oxygen circulating and improves your mood.

My favorite way to deal with a rough night? I give myself permission to relax the next day. I don’t worry about my to-do list or the chores I “should” be doing. I just plop on the couch and relax when I’m not tending to the baby. I may even catch a nap if all goes well. If the weather is nice I may sit on the porch for some fresh air, or open a window. But I don’t push myself. I allow myself to recuperate and recover from the lack of sleep, instead of putting too much pressure on myself to be up to speed.

If you work outside the home this can be more difficult to accomplish. How about treating yourself to lunch the next day? Or stopping for take-out on the way home? Don’t worry about the household chores that evening. Instead, soak in a bubble bath or take in your favorite TV show. However you choose to do it, giving yourself permission to relax can go a long way towards easing the fallout from a sleepless night.

Stay tuned for Life with a Newborn next Thursday with Tiffany! In the meantime, you might enjoy reading Colic in Babies – Why Does Baby Cry?

Get more mom tips at Works for Me Wednesday.

Nighttime Tips for Sleep Deprived Moms of Newborns

When there’s a newborn baby in the house, it can be easy to lose track of time. Days and nights are whirlwinds of feedings and diaper changes, every two hours or so. It’s important to try and keep some sort of routine in the house though, especially if there are other children in the family. It can be difficult, but will pay off for everyone.

What helped our family was to focus on getting through each night as peacefully as possible. Nights seem to be the worst; everyone is tired, and it’s difficult to adjust to the lack of sleep. One of the best things we did was to prepare for each night ahead of time. By setting ourselves up for success, it made nighttime feedings much smoother.

3 Nighttime Tips

1. Get diapers and wipes ready.  We cloth diaper, so I make sure I have clean diapers stuffed and ready to go. For the first few weeks I used disposable diapers, so I made sure I had them stacked near my changing area. I also make sure I have enough wipes for the night, and set those next to the diapers.

2. Have bottles ready.  If you bottle feed, make sure your bottles are clean and ready. If you use powdered infant formula, measure and fill your bottles with water so all you have to do at night is scoop the formula in.

3. Keep lights low, limit noise, and don’t interact too much with baby.  Many babies get their days and nights mixed up. To prevent this, it’s helpful to keep the lights dim at night, and the noise level low. This sends the message to baby that night is different than day, and can help baby associate night with sleep. In this regard, don’t interact too much with baby. Feed, change diapers, and snuggle, but try not to play and arouse baby any more than necessary.

By preparing yourself and helping baby differentiate night and day, you can make your night feedings go fairly smooth. I think you’ll find this will help everyone transition into a better night schedule, and get a little more rest!

Stay tuned for Tiffany’s Life with a Newborn article next Thursday – “Moms of Newborns: Dealing with Sleep Deprivation”.  If you can’t wait that long, read How to Get Things Done When You Have a Baby: The Practical Parent’s Guide now!

Get more mom tips at Works for Me Wednesday.

Newborn Care: Blocked Tear Ducts

Shortly after my daughter was born, I noticed her left eye had a lot of sticky discharge. It looked like a buildup of “sleep” in the corner of her eye. I’d wipe it away only to have it reappear a few minutes later.

The pediatrician in the hospital told me it appeared to be a blocked tear duct, and is very common in newborns (some sources report that 6 out of 100 babies are born with this condition).

Tear ducts begin in the corner of the eye and drain into the nose. In many newborns, there is a thin tissue at the end of the tear duct that doesn’t allow drainage. Since the tears can’t drain, they build up in the eye and it will appear as if the baby is crying. What I thought was “sleep” is a buildup of mucous, which is commonly seen with blocked tear ducts. It will collect in the corner of the eye and can even cause the eyelids to stick together.

A blocked tear duct will usually clear up on its own within baby’s first year. To help it along, we were instructed to wipe away the excess mucous and tears with a warm washcloth as needed. Then, massage the duct in a downward motion, starting at the corner of the eye and pressing down along the side of the nose. The combination of heat and gentle pressure can help move the fluid down the duct, and can aid in opening the blockage. I generally do this at each feeding, if I notice the eye needs attention.

If a blocked tear duct hasn’t resolved itself on its own within a year, most doctors will refer the child to a pediatric ophthalmologist. A simple procedure is performed with a tiny probe to open the duct. This treatment is successful in about 90% of cases. Very few children require additional surgery.

If your baby is born with a blocked tear duct, follow your pediatrician’s advice and treatment plan. Having a blocked tear duct can increase the chance of eye infections, so be sure to practice good hand washing and always use a clean washcloth each time you wipe baby’s eye. Soon enough those beautiful baby blues (or browns, or greens!) that you’re lovingly tending to will be focusing on you!

Stay tuned for Life with a Newborn next Thursday to learn about setting up a routine for yourself once you’re sleep-deprived from your newborn!  Get more tips to make life easier at Works for Me Wednesday.

As a side point- I have to say that I am amazed at the stamina of this woman.  She had a wonderful birth this time (thank the Lord) and said she feels great. Crystal has been blogging at and above her normal tempo, while still on a limited computer time schedule, even the very next day after giving birth!  Now, I’m not saying everyone should or even can do that (I certainly couldn’t last time), but I just wanted to say that I admire Crystal’s spirit and zest for life immensely. 

In a new article on one of her blogs, she talks about the adjustment of going from 2 kids to 3.  I’m pregnant and getting ready to go from 2 children to 3 in a few months, with what I’m hoping to be twins gestating right now! 

It really is a helpful article for anyone getting ready to add more children to their families.  She talks about planning your day:

“Having a Basic Plan for Each Day from the Beginning. While life is quite unpredictable in the beginning, I’ve found it has been very helpful to still have a basic framework for our days.  Having a plan has been tremendously helpful as I’ve been juggling all three little ones by myself for most of the day these last two weeks.” -Crystal

I also love the point she makes here, which is something that I’ve long held as a bonus of having a big family:  “I’m really beginning to see how the work load can decrease as you have more children and more willing hands to help!”

Congratulations, Crystal, on your new little one!  You can read the rest of her article here: Adjusting to life with three littles.

Photo by Flickr’s Manassas Cakery.

It is fun to see how people tell if you are having a boy or a girl, and take guesses with their own theories and past experiences. These are all mysterious and fun ways of baby gender prediction, but there is no definite way of telling if it’s a boy or girl besides an ultrasound. Although none of these baby gender predictors have any scientific basis, each one is guaranteed to have a 50% chance of being right! 

Boy or Girl – Famous Wives Tales for Predicting Baby Gender

Some people swear these methods are the real deal for how to tell if you are having a boy or a girl without having to undergo any medical tests and examinations.  Okay, let’s have some fun! Don’t be surprised if you hear 1 (or more) of these methods of predicting your baby’s gender while you’re pregnant:

1.  What is the position of your stomach? Are you carrying your stomach high, or has it dropped low? The age old theory says that if you are carrying high it is a girl, and it’s a boy if you are carrying low. However science defies this logic straight out.

2.  What color does a sample of your urine turn to when mixed with a small quantity of Drano?  Statistics do not prove this method, as the results keep varying. However, it is believed that if your urine turns a darker shade of blue or brown you are having a boy. If it turns shade a greenish brown or blue you are having a girl.

3.  How was your morning sickness at the initial stages of the pregnancy? If you used to feel very nauseous through that period then you are having a baby girl. If the nauseous feeling was relatively low you are having a boy.

4.  Have you tried the lucky charm test?  To perform this baby gender predictor, you hold a charm or a necklace over your stomach, or preferably have someone hold it over your stomach for you. If the charm swings back and forth you are having a boy, and if it moves in a circular motion you are having a girl.

5.  What foods do you crave more, sweet things or sour stuff? If you can’t have enough of the chocolates and pastries, you are said to be having a girl. If you crave for the limes and lemons, you said to be having a boy.

6.  Do you have a beautiful glow on your face and has it become round and full? The weight gain on the face speaks many stories. Some theories say if you glowing and look rosy you are having a boy, but if you feel bloated then you are having girl.

These are just different ways people through the ages have used to predict the gender of unborn babies.  If you are really interested in knowing the gender with a high degree of accuracy, you should have an ultrasound and ask your doctor the all-important question:  boy or girl?

To all you moms out there, please let us know your baby gender prediction wives’ tales!  What did people tell you when you were pregnant?  How did they guess, and were their guesses right?  Let us know in the comments!

Family Friday: Time to Share!

Now it’s time for you to share your Family Friday post with the rest of us!  If you’re not sure how it works, read the directions and guidelines for Family Friday here.

Please add your family-related blog post below in the Mr. Linky. Remember, you MUST link your post back to HomeEverAfter.com. (If your link was deleted, email us.)

It’s a very Happy Mother’s Day to me…  We got wonderful news yesterday that I’m pregnant! 

I don’t usually post personal information, but this was just so big that I wanted to share it with all my wonderful readers and friends!  My husband was cooking dinner, chopping up cauliflower, actually, when we found out the news last night. 

I’m exactly 20 days pregnant today, and my approximate due date is January 16th.  Needless to say, I’ll be hugely pregnant at Blog World Expo in October!  Strangely, this will be the 2nd pregnancy in a row that I am in Las Vegas while very pregnant (I was 9 months along last time)…

Due to this unexpected news, I won’t be able to complete the 23 pounds in 23 days challenge that I was blogging about over at DanelleIce.com.  I’ll still blog about staying fit during pregnancy and eating clean, but no rapid weight loss due to the new baby!

My wonderful husband insisted on taking me out to dinner to celebrate and then having an impromptu photo shoot of his jubilant glowing pregnant wife!  Thanks to all of the wonderful Facebook, Twitter and bloggy friends who wished us luck in our trying and prayed for us.  This is the best Mother’s Day present ever!

Colic Cures for a Crying Baby

Soothing a crying baby suffering from colic is not an easy task. When a crying baby refuses to settle down even after many attempts from the parents, it can be very frustrating and traumatic.  First, read Colic in Babies – Why Does Baby Cry? to learn what colic is and its possible causes.  Then read on to find out possible cures for colic.

How can you help your baby?

• First of all, notice the time of the day when the baby starts crying and keep a daily record. Check if there are any patterns, pertaining to reactions to the feed or sleeping habits.
• Certain foods, such as diary products, in the mother’s diet could be one of the main reasons for colic if you are breast feeding you baby. Eliminate dairy products and any other food which you think could be the reason for a while and check if your baby is getting any relief.  Make sure to only eliminate one food at a time, so you’ll know which one is responsible for the colic symptoms.
• If you are feeding your baby from a bottle, make sure the shape of the bottle is appropriate and doesn’t cause the baby to suck too much air during the feed.
• Consult your doctor if these steps do not bring relief for your colicky baby.  He or she may have other recommendations for you to try.

What are the immediate steps you can take?

• Some colicky babies calm down if they are rocked in a cradle or held in your arms while you are in a rocking chair.
• Let your baby move its legs freely. Ease the pressure on the stomach by loosening clothing or diaper tapes.
• Cajoling and carrying the crying baby while walking around can help some babies. Your body heat and soothing can help the baby ease the pain.
• You can play music or sing to your baby.
• Taking your baby for a walk in the pram/stroller or for a ride in the car could help.
• While feeding the baby, you should go slow and let the baby take its own time.
• Let your baby burp more often after and during feeds to help eliminate gas.
• Since it’s mostly the stomach of your baby that hurts, try a simple massage or a warm water sponge bath to soothe the pain.
• Holding your baby tight or swaddling/wrapping it up in a light blanket can help ease the crying.

What should you avoid?

• Don’t overfeed your crying baby, it will only worsen the situation.
• Avoid noisy places with many people, it could aggravate the colic.
• Don’t feed your baby any food products with high concentration of sugar.
• Don’t get anxious, upset or excited. A calm environment is a must for a crying baby suffering from colic.

Be calm and help your baby overcome this situation; your soothing is the best immediate cure for colic.  Remember that colic will eventually go away on its own if none of the remedies work for your baby.

Baby photo by Ollie Crafoord.

Family Friday: Time to Share!

Now it’s time for you to share your Family Friday post with the rest of us!  If you’re not sure how it works, read the directions and guidelines for Family Friday here.

Please add your family-related blog post below in the Mr. Linky. Remember, you MUST link your post back to HomeEverAfter.com. (If your link was deleted, email us.)

What is Colic?

By definition, colic is when a normal baby starts crying and screaming frequently without any identifiable reason, and this happens on a regular basis. It has been observed that the baby cries for two to three hours during different times of the day.

Babies are usually affected by colic from the age of two to three weeks and can last up to 3 months. If your baby has colic, you will be able to notice one or more of the following symptoms:

• Babies become irritable, cry hard for a long time, with any attempts to soothe the baby failing.
• The baby keeps crying for a long time and it tends to clench its fists and pull the legs to the stomach while crying.
• Colic is more common for babies who are bottle-fed over breast-fed.
• The baby crying occurs once or twice a day, usually around the same time everyday, more than often after a feed. Late afternoon and evenings are the more likely times.
• The baby seems to be in pain and uncomfortable, and has difficulty in falling sleep. Even if the baby falls asleep, it tends to get up often.
• The baby becomes fussy before and after eating.
• The baby tends pass gas often and may have abdominal bloating.

What causes Baby Colic?

The cause of colic cannot be ascertained to a specific one. The most common reason is observed to be abdominal pain due to gas problems. However, there could be other reasons causing colic in your baby:

• It could a combination of the baby’s developing nervous system and sensitive temperament.
• Problems pertaining to the baby’s digestive system, mainly the building up of gas.
• The mother’s diet affecting her breast milk: food products such as dairy products, citrus juices, or high intake of spices or caffeine could be the causes.
• If one or both of the parents have been victims of colic, the baby is more likely to be affected.

Be careful not to mistake a fussy baby as a baby with colic. A fussy baby can be cajoled and comforted to be quiet, but it almost impossible to soothe a baby suffering from colic.  Don’t miss the next part of this series: Colic Cures for a Crying Baby.  If you have a favorite colic curing method that you’d like added to the article,  leave a comment below.

Baby photo by Critical Moss.

There are many necessary and practical baby items that moms may or may not receive at their baby showers.  Many baby shower gifts are fun and cute, but moms also usually want them to help put a dent in the list of things they have to buy for the new little bundle of joy. 

From my personal experience, I know that my husband and I still had to buy A LOT of things for our son after the shower was over.  We received 4 sets of baby clippers and hair brushes as baby shower presents, but only 1 box of baby wipes!  There are a lot of cute things that don’t make the best baby shower presents; did you read the 6 Baby Shower Gifts to Leave at the Store last week?

We received too many clothes, lots of duplicate items, and almost none of the items we registered for!  Some items I initially thought I could do without, but later on found were incredibly helpful after all.  

So what baby gifts do new moms really want at baby showers?  Below we bring you the useful, the handy, and the desirable baby gifts that many expectant moms will be hoping for at their baby showers (and don’t forget the budget baby gifts too). 

Baby Shower Gifts That Moms will Love!

1.  Diapers and wipes. All sizes and brands of diapers are welcome! You’ll never have to wonder if the gift you’ve given will be returned or exchanged, because every baby needs diapers.  New parents will go through so many diapers so quickly, that having a large supply on hand will be greatly appreciated. 

Even if the parents will be using cloth diapers, it never hurts to have a few disposables on hand for babysitters, baby staying with relatives, or baby going to daycare (some of which will not allow cloth diapers still).

2.  Digital ear and forehead thermometer, also known as a temporal thermometer.  These are fantastic for checking a feverish baby while she is sleeping, since you don’t have to wake the baby.  They work in the ear canal or on the forehead, and many even have a built-in flashlight for nighttime use in the dark.  Is this a luxury? Yes, when it comes down to basic survival! A regular thermometer will do just fine, but lessening the discomfort and fuss from an already cranky, sick baby is a valuable thing.

3.  Diaper Genie and refills, or another diaper pail.  Stinky diaper pails are a thing of the past when you use a system that traps the odor.  The last thing you want during the sleep-deprived first days of your newborn’s life is to enter the nursery and smell dirty diapers! 

We live in a small house, which means we keep close quarters with the nursery.  My husband and I ended up buying our own Diaper Genie and refills (when they were on sale, of course!), but I would have much rather given up a few baby outfits to receive this gift instead. 

4.  Battery operated nasal aspirator.  The old standby squeeze-bulb nasal aspirators (fondly referred to by many dads as the “nose suckers’”) will work in a pinch, but not with much accuracy.  With a screaming stuffy baby, you want to clear the mucus out of his nasal passages as quickly as possible. A battery operated nasal aspirator will get the job done much faster and more accurately, and they’re not as invasive as the old style.

5.  Gift cards. Believe it or not, a very common question asked by our readers is this: “Is it appropriate to give a gift card or gift certificate at a baby shower?”  The answer:  Yes!  No new parent will be unhappy with a gift card, because it will enable them to get something that is  already on their list that they didn’t receive.  Aim for cards to mass merchandisers that carry a wide variety of baby clothing, baby food, diapers and baby wipes, so they’re likely to find what they need.

6.  Baby Formula.  If they’re not planning to breastfeed, having a stockpile of baby formula in the pantry can be a stress-reducer.  Formula is incredible expensive, and even if you’re buying the store brands, it can be a large added amount to your regular grocery budget.  I treasured the few free cans of formula that came from the doctor’s office, and wish I had received formula as baby shower presents.

7.  Bottles and nipples.  This item goes along with #6, in that you have to ask the mom beforehand if she plans to bottlefeed and what brand of bottles she’s going to use.  We chose Dr. Brown’s bottles for my son, which are a bit on the expensive side.  Even though we listed Dr. Brown’s bottles and nipples on our registry, we didn’t receive any as gifts.  We got by fine on a few bottles which we washed frequently, but it would have been a wonderful gift to receive a few extra sets.

There you have it- 7 great gifts for baby showers!  Since we’re on the subject of baby showers, check out our 10 ways not to break the bank when baby comes  and learn how to choose nursery furniture on a budget.

10 Ways Not to Break the Bank When Baby Comes

Having a baby can easily be one of the most expensive life changes you’ll go through. For such little people, babies seem to require very big purchases! In reality, it is possible to have a baby while staying on budget. Here are ten ways NOT to break the bank when baby comes:

1. Buy Used, When Possible.  Don’t be afraid to scour yard sales, thrift shops, and consignment stores for good quality baby items. Since babies grow so fast, these places are usually full of barely used clothing and baby paraphernalia. Just be sure to stay current on all safety recalls, especially if considering a used crib or car seat.

2. Ask For Hand-Me-Downs.  If you know someone who has a child older than yours, don’t be shy about asking for their hand-me-downs. When my son was born we had a few friends with older boys, and they provided so much clothing that we never had to buy a single outfit. That was a HUGE financial relief, and has continued to be a relief 2 years later!

3. Sample Store Brands.  If you’re using disposable diapers, they can get expensive! Try a few different store brands and see if they work for your baby. Store brands can be quite a bit cheaper, especially if you have a warehouse club in your area. The same applies for baby wipes and formula.

4. Ask For Samples. A little known secret is that your pediatrician has a stockpile of formula samples and is more than willing to give you some! If you’re formula feeding, be sure to ask for samples at each visit. Also, sign up with the formula companies for their customer rewards program. Each brand has their own “club”, and they usually send out high value coupons and samples.

5. Skip The Bassinet Or Cradle. Although super cute, bassinets and cradles are not very frugal in the long run. Most babies will outgrow a bassinet/cradle in a few months and be ready to move to a regular crib. Save yourself a few hundred dollars and just start out with the crib.

6. Skip The Fancy Crib Bedding. Crib bedding sets can easily retail for a few hundred dollars. Are they necessary? NO! Most prepackaged sets include a crib bumper, which in recent years has been declared a safety hazard. Skip the sets and just purchase a few individual crib sheets. If the thought of baby bumping his head on the crib bothers you, look into The Breathable Bumper. As for the cute blankets in those prepackaged sets? Babies shouldn’t sleep with blankets until they’re much older anyway. Save yourself the money.

7. Find A Safe Place To Change Baby. There are many frugal alternatives to a freestanding changing table. You can buy a changing pad with a cloth cover and secure it to the top of a dresser you already own. Or you can place a waterproof pad on your own bed and change baby there. You could even use the floor. You don’t need expensive furniture just to change diapers!

8. Reconsider Baby Bath Tubs. A baby bath tub is a very handy item to have, but if you’re really working with a limited budget you can easily skip this purchase. Babies have been bathed in kitchen sinks for years. As long as you keep your sink clean you won’t have any problems. Simply lay a folded towel down in the bottom of the sink before filling with water, so baby has a soft place to rest. You can bathe baby this way until he can sit up on his own. Then just move him to the regular family bathtub. (Editor’s note: Always remember to provide proper supervision and put safety precautions first while bathing baby).

9. Skip The Fancy Laundry Detergent. Advertisements would make us believe that there is only one laundry detergent safe enough for babies. And naturally, that detergent comes with a hefty price tag. You can skip this one too! Any laundry detergent labeled “FREE and CLEAR” will be fine. Even a store brand! What you’re trying to avoid is anything including dyes or scents, since these can aggravate babies’ delicate skin.

10. Buy Items As You Need Them. Your newborn baby doesn’t need a high chair. You can safely postpone that purchase for at least four months. Only buy what you absolutely need, when you need it. That gives you plenty of time to save money and search for sales or good quality used items.

Using these tips, you can easily bring home baby without breaking your bank account. I suggest making a list of what you MUST have for baby, then decide which of those items you don’t mind buying used. Figure out what items you simply must buy new. Then start looking for the best deals!  

Now that you’ve read these 10 money-saving baby tips, you may want to read about how to get things done with a baby.  How did you keep your baby costs down?   Please let us know in the comments.

Photos courtesy of stock.xchng; pregnancy photo by Benjamin Earwicker.

However, many times the items a new mom receives as baby shower gifts are not very useful, or so short-lived that they represent an impractical lifespan. 

What baby gifts do new moms wish you’d left at the store?   Personally, I wish I had gotten less baby clothes.  Baby clothes are not only expensive, but having a huge stockpile is just impractical.  I received so many baby clothes that a lot of the outfits were only worn once or not at all, which is such a shame. 

I know the gift-givers wanted to shower love on my then-unborn son and did so with oh-so-cute clothes, but there proved to be a lot of wasted money on clothing that was never even used!  

If you don’t want to be an impractical baby-gifter, read on for 6 baby gifts you can leave at the store!

6 Baby Shower Gifts to Skip

1.  Religious items.  Religious gifts can be a sensitive subject, especially if you’re not sure of the parents’ religious specifics.  It’s better to leave this one to the parents.

2.  Newborn clothes, size 0-3 months. Consider that “newborn” size is designed for babies from 5-8 pounds. Those of us having large babies (born at 8 pounds and up) may not even be able to fit a newborn outfit on them the day they are born!  The newborn size clothes may be cute, but force yourself to put it back on the rack and look for the same style in a 3-6 month size or larger.  Chant the mantra:  Babies always grow bigger, but they will never get smaller! 

3.  Coats or jackets.  As most young babies will be in a carseat carrier most of the time when outdoors, they’ll be covered up with blankets or car seat covers.  The coat or jacket to match an outfit may be very cute, but probably will not make a very practical gift. Don’t be offended if you never see the little one donning your gift of outerwear.

4.  Stuffed animals.  Unless they’re meant to hang on a wall (like a musical stuffed animal with a pull-string), don’t waste money on stuffed animals.  Babies won’t be able to play with stuffed animals until they are much older, or even sleep with them in their cribs. 

Many stuffed animals aren’t even suited for older babies or toddlers, such as those with hard plastic pieces, or small hard items embedded, such as eyes, buttons, rattles and more.  These small choking hazards can become detached from the stuffed animals while your little one is chewing on or mouthing the toy.  Better safe than sorry- skip the stuffed animals in favor of a different type of gift.

5.  Monogrammed clothes or linens.  Although the thought of a personally monogrammed item with baby’s name or initials sounds special, it might not be the most practical.  Many parents who plan on having more than one child like to keep baby items to reuse for their future children.  Another popular way to reuse these quickly outgrown baby clothes is to pass them on to friends or family that are expecting.  Their kids probably won’t look good wearing someone else’s name!

If planning on a personalized blanket or other item, it’s good to check with the parent first to make sure they haven’t already gotten one.  Some moms might not want a ton of items they have to pack away as keepsakes; one or two is usually enough.

6.  Seasonal clothes.  You can’t estimate what size a baby will be at a certain age.  Don’t buy seasonal clothing, such as shorts, bathing suits, flannel shirts, or Christmas outfits as gifts – there is no way to tell if a 9 month old baby in summertime will really be wearing size 12 months!

Since we know you want to buy a fabulous (but useful) baby shower gift, stay tuned next week for our list of 6 Must-Have Baby Shower Gifts.  In the meantime, check out our 13 Best Baby Shower Gifts on a Budget.

For more Works for Me Wednesday, check out Rocks in my Dryer. Photo by Manassas Cakery.

Remember that if you had a baby in December, you can enter to win a $5,000 US savings bond (up to $10,000 upon maturity) from our friends at Turbo Tax. All you have to do to enter is go to Cutest Tax Deduction and leave a photo of your newest "last-minute tax deduction" (baby).  You only have until January 9 to submit the photo, so do it now!

Now, for the 3 winners of these cute baby onesies (pictured at  right):

valerie2350

Andreah @ Life’s A Hoot

LynnsDecor

Congratulations!  You have 3 days to contact us with your shipping information.  Happy New Year’s Eve!

How to Set up a Nursery on a Budget

Designing the perfect nursery for your baby should be a project that you take great pride in. A baby’s nursery has the potential to grow and change as your baby does, so you want the room to work for you, not against you. As with any renovation or interior decorating project, it’s very important to establish a budget – otherwise you will just keep spending and spending until you have nothing left. Here are some tips you can use when designing the perfect baby’s nursery on a budget.

The Crib

The focal point of your nursery most often is the crib. If you are going more money on any part of this design project, spend it on the crib. It’s a fact – babies sleep a lot. Therefore, finding a crib that’s comfortable, safe and durable is very important. When crib shopping, consider looking at some convertible cribs. Many convertible cribs convert into toddler beds, which saves you money. In addition to toddler beds, you can also find convertible cribs that turn into full size beds and settees – stretching your dollar even further by lasting you for many more years. Cribs can also be handed down, just make sure that the crib still meets today’s safety standards, as set by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Changing Table

While you are free to buy a fancy changing table, it might be easier and more cost-effective to just use a dresser. Think about it – a changing table has a flat surface for changing the diaper, as well as space to store the diapers, ointments, powders, etc. A changing table may make it easier to compartmentalize your diaper changing duties, but a dresser has everything you really need. A flat surface – check. Storage space – check, just use all of the drawers. As your child gets older, you can use the dresser to keep clothes. A dresser is a more versatile piece of furniture than a changing table. The important thing to consider is how sturdy the dresser is – using an antique dresser probably isn’t the best option. A baby isn’t heavy but you don’t want to take any chances.

Finishing Touches

When it comes to putting the finishing touches onto your nursery, spruce things up with some low or zero-VOC paint. Low and zero-VOC paints are odorless and safer than standard wall paint. These special paints cost about the same as a standard can of paint so they aren’t ridiculously expensive. You’d be surprised at what a little color can do to a space! Create a little comfortable corner in your room for mother and baby, with a rocking chair, glider or even an upholstered loveseat from your living room. You can always move the chair back into the living room after your child gets older or leave it in as a reading chair. Buy a couple of inexpensive area rugs for the floor, decorative lamps, and a fun poster or two for added color and personality. If your baby has any older siblings, perhaps they can make some art for the walls. The nursery doesn’t have to be anything too fancy. It just needs to be safe and comfortable for your baby. That’s all that really matters.