By Yenie Swandari

Everything in the home will changes, when you bring your newborn baby home from the hospital. All of family focuses on the baby. You will always protect her/him from everything, because the first topic now is your baby’s safety.

One thing you have to concern is about caring for baby’s clothes to protect your baby’s tender sensitive skin from skin irritations, rashes, and allergies.

Choose Right Cloth Detergent

All of the babies are messy by nature. They have a “gift” of adding all sorts of stains such as formula, juice, baby food and what ever comes out of them. So, you will need the right detergent to stain removal and cleaning the baby’s clothes.

Choosing a cloth detergent that will be tough on stains yet gentle on your baby’s skin is not as simple as one might think. Harsh detergent is definitely can be easily irritated your baby’s sensitive and tender skin.

Today on the market are available several detergents that are supposedly proposed for baby’s clothing. When you looking for the right detergent for your baby’s clothes, find detergent which fragrances free, chlorine free and dye-free.

Switching On To Cloth/Fabric Softener

If there seems to be some irritation when using baby detergent, try to switching on to others baby detergent or fabric softener that does not contain colors or fragrances.

Baby Cloths

Cloth softener or fabric softener is better than an ordinary baby detergent because it come to meet the need of your baby’s sensitive skin.

Fabric softeners come in two types: sheets and liquids. Fabric softeners are designed to make clothes feel softer and smoother, help reduce static cling and simultaneously reduce wrinkles in clothing and mitigate the need to iron.

Read the Care Label

Usually, baby’s clothes come with the manufacturer’s care label for cleaning and stain removal instructions. Certify to read and follow the instruction when washing your baby’s clothes especially infant’s clothes such as diapers, onesies, sleepwear, undergarments, outfits, coveralls, rompers, bibs, socks, etc.

Also do same for any cloth that the baby comes in contact with such as sheets, comforters, blankets, towels, etc.

Get Environmentally Safe Products

You can choose an environmentally safe detergent that protects your baby and the environment together.

Wash Baby Clothes with Family Clothes.

At first just wash your baby’s clothes separate from other family member’s clothes, or even do it by hand.

But while the baby grow and with trial and error in laundering your baby’s clothes then you find out that there is no negative reaction on your infant’s skin, there is no reason to worry about this and it is perfectly safe to wash baby’s clothes and bedding along with everyone else’s.

Wash Cloths Diapers

If you choose using cloth diapers and choose to wash at home, you should be kept separate from all other laundry. Rinsing the cloth diaper in the toilet to remove solid wastes and then storing it in a covered pail until it is time to be washed.

For Extra Sensitive Baby Skin

Consult the pediatrician, if the baby does develop a rash or seems to be experiencing skin discomfort of any kind. They will determine if there is a more serious problem and will recommend that a different detergent be used.

Also, check out my other guide on Baby Stroller Accessories for Parenting Pleasure and Homemade Baby Wipes for Your Baby’s Delicate Skin.

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Taga is a multifunctional urban vehicle, uniquely designed to suit the needs of today’s parents and children.
Taga combines the benefits of a premium stroller and a carrier bicycle to create a new transportation modality.

By Yenie Swandari

Choosing the right baby gifts can be an unthinkable experience. Today, there are huge array of commercial choices available in supermarkets. But when looking for baby gift, remember to try something that parents and baby can use but not essentially afford to buy.

Here top 10 bright baby gift ideas which would make an impression for parents that can give on baby shower, birthday party or Christmas.

1. Baby Bath Kit- This baby gift idea is one of most useful items for newborn. The exclusive baby bath kit will showing that you care about the baby’s happiness.
2. Baby Blankets and Sleep Accessories – They can be found in various materials, design and colors. But it can be more unique if you give them a personalized baby blanket.
3. Baby Clothes – Today you can easily find wonderfully branded and fashionable baby clothes. It will definitely bring true appreciation from the parents, especially if it is the second child.
4. Baby Bedding Set – Baby bedding set is beautiful baby gift idea include everything such as the mattress, blanket, pillows, mosquito netting and another accessories.
   

   Diaper Cake

5. Diaper Cake – This is also a useful gift for a new baby. You can make it yourself with some simple instructions from the internet and you don’t have to spend much money on it.
6. Baby Toys – This baby gift idea never go out of style and greatly enjoyed by babies. The best and the most appreciated baby toy is a soft and plush toy like a Teddy Bear or another cute character.
7. Baby Books – The parents will thank you for this good choice, because the reading habit is best inculcated at a young age. Pick the baby books that have a lot of illustrations as pictures and colors fascinate the eyes of a baby. And make sure those books made of thick cardboard, have curve edges and good quality binding material for durability.
8. Baby Jewels – A jewel is extraordinary baby gift idea that will be precious for a lifetime.
9. Baby Monitor – Baby monitors are a perfect solution for most parents that aware of baby’s safety. It is possible to observe and detect the breathing, movements or crying of a baby audibly and even visually.
10. Baby Stroller – Baby Stroller is a must-buy thing in every new parent’s baby list. Gifting the baby stroller will save the parent’s cash and would be so much better than presenting something absolutely unnecessary.
11. Baby Sling – a sling or another baby carrier is one of the handiest ways a new mother can tote her baby around. The creatively simple design makes a mom’s arms free to do housework and the babies can be close to the parent’s warmth.

Other ideas for a baby gifts may be: a baby gift basket, Baby’s Health and Grooming Kit, a baby bouncer, diaper bag, baby bottles and so on. I hope this article useful and helpful and you will find the best one from the top 11 baby gift ideas.

Also, check out my other guide on Review of InSTEP Jogging Strollers and Jeep Liberty Limited – Other Stroller by Kolcraft.

By Yenie Swandari

Having a baby is wonderful thing for new parent. But it needs your caring, your attention and also your extra expenses. One way to increase the expenses is using the homemade wipes, which can give comfort for your baby’s delicate skin.

Similarly, the baby wipes that is sold in many stores or homemade wipes, they usually purchased as prevent skin irritation on the baby.

If you bought baby wipes in the average price $3-$5, with the ingredients such as water, chemical, alcohol and fragrance, this caused your baby skin dry. Its only need 60% of every purchased pack, if you make the homemade baby wipes. Indeed, you’ll get much more.

For make the homemade wipes, you need a roll of paper towel like Bounty or Viva, a strong plastic container with the cover, baby bath liquid and water. You can also make the wipes all organic or natural and choose by yourself baby bath liquid you like.

First, choose a cylindrical container which tall enough to place a roll of paper towels that is cut into half. The container should have fit tightly lid. By a sharp knife blade, Cut an ‘X’ opening in the centre of the container lid and also cut the roll of paper towel in two.

Mix well two tablespoons of baby-bath liquid and two cups of water in a bowl. Put the roll in the container and then pour the mixture too. Its need at least 5 minutes to soak the mixture properly with the paper towel. After that, pull smoothly the cardboard core from the paper roll so the innermost piece of paper towel will follow up. Pull the piece of paper towel through the ‘X’ slit in the lid. Finally, put the lid again on the container.

So you are now ready to use your home made wipes which inexpensive and safe for your baby’s delicate skin.

Just thought you may be interested in reading this guide: 10 Quick Steps for Getting The Best Baby Jogging Stroller and Buying Children’s Clothes That Last

By: Yenie Swandari

In the first year of their life, babies slept more often. And Baby Blanket is one of the best gifts you can give to babies. This cloth make comfortable when your baby goes to sleep.

Baby Blanket

Today in the market, there are many types, designs, and colors of baby blankets. Some brands that cost cheap, but there are other brands are less expensive, yet with a good quality of material.

The most common material used on blanket for babies is cotton that soft, comfortable, and does not shed off tiny strands of fibers. And especially when room temperature is low, it is also effective in thermo-regulating the baby’s temperature.

The swaddling baby blankets is another popular type for baby blanket. It is durable, warm also very effective in promoting a sound and uninterrupted sleep on long hours of the night. Babies can be hold in place, without being slipped out.

Other designs of baby blankets include a built-in pocket that serves as a warm pouch for baby’s feet. Other blankets types having feet that wraps the baby. It’s ideal especially when taking the baby out in a stroller or inside the car.

You can also personalize it with his or her name or nickname if you want to make your baby’s blanket a piece of memorabilia.

It is recommended that you should choose pastel colors, or light shades of colors rather than dark colors, because it adds to the comforting ambiance, and is not delicate for your baby’s developing vision. Usually, if you have a baby girl, the colors you should opt for are pink and yellow, and if you have a baby boy, you can choose colors, such as blue and green. For both genders, white baby blankets can be used.

Sizes of baby blankets also vary. But if you are going to public places, small baby blankets are ideal for a lying place for your baby in changing his or her diaper in public spots.

Article You May Be Interested In Reading : Tips to Pick A Travel Stroller and Lightweight Strollers for the Family on the Go.

By Gregg Hall

Wool Car Seat Cover

Wool is the softest and most comfortable material that can be used for Car Seat Covers and Baby Buntings. Organic cotton flannel, unbleached cotton flannel and regular cotton flannel are choice backings for wool car seat covers and baby Buntings.

Wool car seat Covers swaddle baby in security and warmth. Therefore, Wool is a “choice” material in the construction of these covers because of its softness and insulating qualities. The outer cells of the fiber repel water while the inner cells absorb moisture. As wool slowly absorbs moisture from the air, the cover becomes warmer to baby. Because of Wool’s tendency to retain moisture, Wool is naturally flame-retardant.

Many of the synthetic fabrics and “fillers” used to make Car Seat Covers and Baby Buntings do not breathe. Over time they can emit toxic fumes during the aging process, thus posing respiratory and allergic reactions as well as asthma like symptoms.

Wool is a natural fiber and naturally hypoallergenic; as are the cottons used to back Car Seat Covers and Baby buntings. It helps keep the baby warmer in cool temperatures, and cooler in warmer temperatures. Plush Merino wool provides an extremely soft surface.

Cleaning Wool

The oil extracted from the leaves of the Australian Tea Tree (Melaleuca Alternifolia) is well known to be effective against dust mites, a cause of allergens for asthma sufferers, and particularly infants. Tea Tree Oil is also noted for its general beneficial qualities such as being a natural fungicide. It also helps in the healing of wounds and reduces skin irritation. Kookaburra Woolwash also works well for laundering bed linens and clothing for asthma sufferers where dust mite feces is a critical matter.

Good “Padding” Important for Infants

A good feel with a tad of pressure would deem the use of padding necessary for Baby Car Seats, High Chairs and Infant Rocking Seats. Wool products will place a barrier between baby and the synthetic unknowns of the factory provided products.

The car manufacturer’s concerns are with the highest possible safety performance of the car seat for baby’s safety, not the health concerns that may be posed by the liners used to soften the hard plastic of such baby accessories.

Give a Gift of Wool for Baby

A gift of wool for baby whether it is a Car Seat Cover, a Bunting or a Wool Fleece Blanket is a gift of quality.

I thought You could be interested in this article: Price Categories for Baby Strollers and Create a Beautiful Baby Room on a Budget

For the eco-conscious parent, all of the gear necessary for a new baby seems excessive. After all, many of the most popular items of baby gear are simply not environmentally friendly. If you are a soon-to-be parent who wishes to “go green” while preparing for a new arrival, here are some tips you can use.

The Diaper Dilemma

The first bridge you will need to cross as a new parent is deciding what diaper type to use. For centuries before the modern parenting generation, parents used cloth diapers for their little ones, before disposable diapers hit the market.

Disposable diapers add 5 million tons of untreated waste to the landfills each year. This includes urine, feces, paper, and plastic. The diapers used by American babies take 200,000 trees a year to produce. Disposable diapers take hundreds of years to decompose, and some of the plastic parts will never decompose completely.

In contrast, cloth diapers do use water and electricity to clean, but this has far less of an impact on the environment as a whole than using disposables does. The fecal matter and urine, for instance, is sent to water treatment facilities, where it is properly removed from water through the sewage system, rather than soaking into the ground in a landfill.

But today’s cloth diapers are as easy to use as a disposable, and they are very cute too. Modern disposables come in a variety of styles, but most have a multi-layer liner that absorbs as much as a disposable diaper can. Parents no longer need to use safety pins, because the diapers are clasped with Velcro or specially designed diaper clasps. Also, babies who use cloth diapers tend to potty train quicker than babies who use disposables, because they feel the wetness in their diaper and are more willing to learn the process of using the toilet in order to avoid that wet feeling.

Organic Baby Clothing

Another consideration that environmentally conscious parents must make sir whether or not their baby will use organic baby clothing. Baby clothing is typically made from soft materials, like cotton. While these are very comfortable for baby, they can carry harmful chemicals that the fibers of the plant absorbed while it was growing and as it was treated to be made into cloth.

Organic clothing is made from organic cotton, which means it will not contain these dangerous chemicals. Not only will you be helping the environment by encouraging growers to stop using pesticides, but you will also ensure that the items that are the closest to your baby’s sensitive skin are as safe as possible for your little one.

Lotions, Soaps, and Cleaners

Believe it or not, the traditional baby lotions and soaps that so many parents use could be harmful to your baby. Many shampoos and baby lotions contain paraben, a dangerous chemical that is absorbed into your baby’s skin. The good news is that there are several “green” soaps and lotions you can buy for your little one, if you shop carefully.

Laundry detergent is another area that you might want to use some caution. Most parents buy special “baby safe” laundry detergent, but even these can contain toxic chemicals that you may wish to keep away from your baby. You can make your own laundry detergent to avoid these problems, or you could purchase non-toxic laundry detergent from an earth-friendly baby store.

Feeding Gear

One of the latest problems that researchers have found in the baby world is BPA. BPA is a chemical that is found in a variety of hard plastics, such as those that are used in bottles and other baby feeding gear. BPA is thought to increase the risk of developing certain cancers later in life. High exposure to BPA can also lead to reproductive problems.

Researchers have discovered that this potentially dangerous chemical leaks into the food that is stored in the containers, particularly if they are reheated in the microwave, which is a common way to heat baby formula.

Breast-feeding moms can protect their newborns from BPA by not using baby bottles. As a “green” parent, you will want to shop for BPA-free baby products. One option to avoid the potential dangers of BPA is to buy glass baby bottles and sippy cups that are made out of BPA-free plastic.

Article You May Be Interested In Reading : Stroller Wheel Maintenance and Revealing Review of Quad Strollers

Submitted By: Alli Ross

When bringing home your new baby, there are so many things to do in order to get ready. Making your home a safe haven for your new little one is one of the most important things you will do to get ready. Each room contains its own set of dangers. Below is a baby safety checklist to ensure that every room in your house is baby friendly.

General Safety Tips:

• Place child-resistant covers on all electrical outlets.
• Install safety gates at the top and bottom of the stairs.
• Don’t use baby walkers because they have been known to have caused serious injuries to babies. Use stationary exercisers instead.
• Keep all dangerous chemicals out of the reach of children.
• Shorten curtain and blind cords.
• Install smoke detectors on each floor of your home, especially near sleeping areas. * Be sure to change the batteries each year.
• Keep all small objects away from young children. (This includes tiny toys and balloons.)
• Use corner bumpers on furniture and fireplace-hearth edges.
• Know the names of all plants in case a child eats one of them.
• Be sure that furnaces, fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, space heaters, and all gas appliances are vented properly.
• Place screened barriers around fireplaces, radiators, and portable space heaters.
• Keep firearms and ammunition safely locked away.
• Secure unsteady furnishings.
• Check your house for lead and asbestos. If you detect either of these substances, contact a professional. Any house built before 1978 is at risk for lead paint.

Protect your kids rooms:

• Ensure that your crib meets national safety standards.
• Place guards on windows and stops on all doors.
• Make sure your baby’s crib is sturdy and has no loose or missing hardware.
• Make sure that the mattress fits snugly.
• Be sure the crib sheet fits snugly.
• Never put stuffed animals or heavy blankets in the crib with your infant.
• Never leave your baby unattended on the changing table.
• Remove mobiles and other hanging toys from the crib as soon as your child can reach up and touch them.
• Place infants under one year of age on their backs to sleep. Mattress should be firm and flat with no soft bedding underneath. * Following this advice will reduce the risk of suffocation and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
• Place night-lights at least three feet away from the crib, bedding, and draperies to prevent fires.
• Check age labels for appropriate toys.

Keep the bathroom safe:

• Put a lock on the medicine cabinet.
• Lower the household water temperature. (It should be set at 120 degrees F or below to avoid burning your baby)
• Always test the water first before bathing a child.
• Never leave your child alone in the bathtub or near any water.
• Secure toilet lids. Many young children are fascinated by putting objects inside.
• Make sure that bathtubs and showers aren’t slippery.
• Install ground-fault circuit interrupters on outlets near sings and bathtubs.

For the Kitchen:

• Keep all knives, cleaning supplies, and plastic bags out of children’s reach.
• If stove knobs are easily accessible to children, use protective covers to prevent kids from turning them.
• Never leave your baby alone in a highchair. Always use all safety straps.
• Replace any frayed cords and wires.
• Keep chairs and step stools away from counters and the stove.
• Remove all household cleaners from the bottom cabinets or put them in a cabinet that is out of your baby’s reach.

In the Yard:

• Store tools, garden, lawn-equipment, and supplies in a locked closet or shed.
• Don’t use a power mower when young children are around.
• Don’t allow children to play on a treated lawn for at least 48 hours following an application of a fertilizer or pesticide.
• Know the types of trees and plant life on the property in case children ingest berries, leaves, or other plant life.
• If you have a swimming pool, install a fence that separates the house from the pool. ( Make sure that the gate is childproof)

This list is a general guide. For more in-depth information go to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov.

Article You May Be Interested In Reading : Double Strollers : What Do You Really Need ? and How to Choose Quality Books For Babies and Toddlers

By Shelley Nash

Baby Books

Reading with little ones is so important! It starts building an important foundation for reading skills and academic success. Reading to children helps them:

• Learn to read
• Increase their vocabulary
• Improve Reading Comprehension
• Improve reading ability
• Strengthen their relationship with you

And it’s fun to read together!

So what kinds of children’s books will appeal to your baby or toddler? First, you should understand a little about their development.

If
you have a baby or toddler, I don’t need to tell you that they are always busy! They love to be active and push and pull things.

Toddlers’ language abilities are also developing, and they gather their knowledge through sight, sound, touch, smell and taste. Everything eventually goes in the mouth!

Toddlers also understand a lot more than they can tell you! They enjoy repetition. But they have a short attention span!

As you are choosing books look for…

• Brightly colored simple objects
• Simple texts and good rhythms
• Wordless books to encourage story-creation
• Textures to touch
• Flaps to lift
• Noise makers (bells, crinkly fabric, etc.)
• Indestructible cloth and board books

As you read the books with your child, you are helping them develop an awareness of the basics of reading. As you read to your children try the following ideas.

• Point to the words with your finger. This helps them learn what words look like.
• Move your finger left to right under the words. This helps them learn that we read left to right.
• Let them turn the pages. This will reinforce the left to right concept.
• Read alphabet books together. Emphasize the sounds the letters make.
• Read books with rhymes. This helps develop the awareness that sounds make up words.

By choosing good quality children’s books for your special baby or toddler, you are embarking on the beginning of a wonderful journey together. Enjoy it!

Other post you may be interested in reading : BOB – Sport Utility Stroller D’Lux and The Lany Englacha II Travel Stroller

By: Adrienne McGrory

Parenting is a new phase in a person’s life. There is a new ray of hope and a reason for living. All of a sudden, people become more tolerant towards one and all. Becoming a parent of a young one is like being born again. And such an event definitely calls for celebration. And what better way to do so than through newborn gifts ?

A new parent gifts could be something like a changing bag, which can be used to carry all the items that are necessary for the baby. Such a bestowal would be ideal for the new parents who would have to make quite a few visits to the homes of friends & family members with the baby in tow.

Or, it could also be skin care products for the new mother which would instill a sense of well-being in her which, in the ultimate analysis, would be good for the baby as well. After all, it does take a satisfied mother to bring up a healthy and happy baby.

And babies would be happy if they are pampered with gifts, even though they do not understand anything at their current states.

Bee Stroller Blanket

Among the newborn gift ideas, one can mention clothes, baby shoes, blankets and soft toys. The clothes and shoes are sometimes themed and are created conforming to the latest trends in fashion. The designs are contemporary; and the young parents can easily relate to the same. A newborn can enjoy all the latest design trends in his clothing and accessories. Then there are the baby blankets that are comfortable to touch and snug to curl into. Talking about soft toys, one can say that many of these toys on offer are being developed by the leading brands of recent times. The industry pertaining to baby gifts is a child’s play no longer.

A person, interested in knowing more about baby gifts, newborn gifts, and new parent gifts can go through the sites of established providers

Also, check out my other guide on Umbrella Stroller Review and Revealing Review Of Best Double Strollers.

Fisher-Price Rainforest Melodies & Lights Deluxe Gym

This Fisher-Price Rainforest Melodies & Lights Deluxe Gym brings the magic of the rainforest to baby with fun activities and 20 minutes of music. Repositionable toys include a soft hanging monkey, a soft toucan with jingle, an elephant with soft ears and a spinner with beads, a parrot with a paddle spinner, and a frog character mirror. 2 satin butterflies fly around above baby as colored lights pulse on and off while music plays. The large mat has a quilted rainforest scene and is surrounded by a satin border. Areas on the mat for baby to explore include a large crinkle peek-a-boo leaf with a shiny underside, sun ray ribbons, and a soft tiger tail. A large soft giraffe sits at the bottom of the rainbow arch and has 2 points on which to link toys for baby. Mom can also link the toys to any of 3 link points on the mat as well as to any of 5 link points overhead for a total of 11 places to link toys for baby.

And This is a customer review by Cousin It at http://www.amazon.com
This is such a fun gym. It kept my son entertained for quite some time even before he could roll over. It is well made and well designed. It took very little time to put together and the batteries are easy to replace. The music is similar to that on the Rainforest high chair and so are the characters. You can lie the baby diagonally on the mat so that his feet can kick or push the side pole and activate the music and lights. It also has a setting where the music and lights run without stopping for around 20 mins, and it is not horrendously irritating. There are two volume settings too. Each of the toys is a different activity and have kept my son busy for ages. Now he is spending more time on his front they detach from the gym and attach to the floor mat. A very good value for money product.

You may want to check out my other guide on Top 10 Baby Stroller Safety Tips for Parentsand Bumbleride Stroller Flyer – New 2009 Features.

By Lily Morgan

Baby Room

You have a new baby on the way, which means there are so many things to consider and do before the child even arrives home. Chief among the preparations is setting up a room for baby.

The best places to look for budget-conscious baby furniture are at swap meets, yard sales, or thrift stores. Second hand can be just as good as buying new, in most cases. One thing most people don’t consider when buying items is the amount of use the furniture will receive as the child grows. Will you be able to use the crib as a toddler bed later on when your child is ready for a “real” bed? How well will the furniture you’re getting now transition into something a small child could use? The more mileage you can get out of a piece of furniture, the more you’ll get back from your investment.

The first thing to keep in mind when designing your baby’s room is safety. If you’re inheriting baby furniture from a friend or family member, or re-using furniture you’ve had from previous children, check to make sure that everything is in perfect condition. Is the piece of furniture solid? Are there any loose screws or nails poking out? Is the finish smooth and splinter free? If the piece needs some work, are you capable of doing the fixing yourself? It may be more practical to buy something else to replace a worn item.

As we’ve mentioned before, if you are handy in the workshop or with a sewing machine, there is no reason why you can’t make some furnishings yourself. Give old furniture a new coat of paint or strip off the old paint and stain the wood. Making curtains is easy work too, and you’ll probably end up with something better than what you could buy already-made. If you know how to knit, crochet, or quilt, use the quiet months before the baby arrives to make blankets and pillows.

Keep color schemes simple. Primary colors of blue, yellow, and red are good throughout the child’s early life. Pink and blue might be nice choices in the beginning, but not as practical later on as your child grows older.

Painting a room is much easier than wallpapering, but if you want to add a little zip to solid-colored walls, consider putting up a pre-printed border or vinyl wall decorations that are easily removed later on. If you’re the artistic type, paint a mural on your child’s walls.

Decorating your baby’s room on a budget can be fun and easy with some creativity. In no time, you can have a nice-looking, functional room. And remember, safety before aesthetics!

Other post you may be interested in reading : Maclaren Stroller Reviews and How to Select a Baby Car Seat – 4 Factor You Sould Know

by Anne-Marie O’Leary

Baby Cino High Chair

Safety First

Make sure any highchair you consider has:

• A safety harness (that little fingers can’t undo) so your baby can’t climb/fall/slip out during meal times
• Stability – highchairs should rest solidly on all four feet without wobbling
• Sleek fittings – trays should be fitted without any exposed nuts, bolts or catches for your baby to injure themselves on
• Lockable hinges – if your highchair unfolds, make sure hinges lock when open so it can’t collapse with your baby in it

Where will it go?

Will it fit in the space you need it to? And, if you’ll be storing it in a cupboard/taking it out and about with you, does it fit in your cupboard/car boot?

Tray or no tray?

Do you want your baby to sit separately from you with their own feeding tray, or with you at the table with no tray? Some parents prefer to integrate babies into family meal times at the table; others find it easier to feed babies separately.

Wipe clean?

It needs to be easy to clean. And not just the seat and tray/s, but the back, legs… babies aren’t known for their table manners.

Other features to consider…

• A parent tray – a tray positioned out of your baby’s reach (usually on the side) where you can safely store bowls/cups etc while feeding
• Removable trays – these tend to be easier to clean than the fixed variety
• Wheels – great for moving your highchair around, just make sure they’re lockable for maximum safety
• Height/size adjustments – children grow quickly. Make sure your highchair will ‘grow’ with your baby i.e. the seat is wide, moves up and down the frame, and the harness straps are adjustable

Budget

Highchairs come in all shapes, sizes… and prices. The more durable the material (wood and leather will last longer than plastic and vinyl), the higher the price. Ditto the number of additional features. Decide what you need most before making your decision.

You may want to check out my other guide on Getting The Best Baby Jogging Stroller and Tips to Pick A Travel Stroller.

New Parent

If your baby is here, you have found yourself thrown into the chaos of sleepless nights, diapering, feeding, attending to this wonderful being 24 hours a day. You can see what a contrast your old life was-house clean most of the time, quiet, peaceful, restful nights, a time when you could actually focus without interruption.

1. GET THE LEAST EXPENSIVE STROLLER

With three small children (or even one) You need something that is easy to drive and which you can maneuver with one hand when needed. When the babies were younger, you discovered that you could easily attach the infant car seat to the stroller-You just fit it in facing front, and used two strips of fabric to tie the top bar (in the back position) to the handles of the stroller.

2. USE A BACKPACK DIAPER BAG

Forget the standard diaper bag. When you started out, backpack diaper bags were unheard of. Now you can purchase backpacks made to be diaper bags. Keep your purse and diaper bag items simple and organized (use ziplock baggies if you need to), and you’ll be set!

3. ORGANIZE YOUR HOME BEFORE BABY ARRIVES

It all begins with first baby. A basket in every main room for toys. A well organized changing table: we use my old vanity. Your babies could look at themselves in the mirror while being changed. Designate a place in the kitchen for bibs, baby bottles, baby dishes & utensils, etc. or they will take over your counters and drawers.

Organize baby clothes in boxes by gender, season & size in a storage area. You’ll be going through baby clothes every two or three months.

You would often have your baby rocking in the infant car seat with toys across the bar, so you never bought one of those “infant hammock seats” either. Think carefully about bringing large items into your home.

4. FIND A WAY TO GET YOUR SLEEP

There are several books out there on how to help your baby sleep through the night. I learned from experience that when I carefully followed this method the babies slept through the night, and when I didn’t, they didn’t. Every parent can relate to this, and we all need our sleep-our babies do, too.

5. RELAX AND ENJOY!

One of the best ways to enjoy your new baby is to make sure you take time for yourself, every day if possible. As you take care of your own needs, you’ll be able to better care for and enjoy your growing family. I hope these tips encourage and enable you to be a successful, joyful parent.

Article You May Be Interested In Reading : Double Umbrella Strollers – Another Type of Double Stroller and Is It a Safe Choice for Your Baby to Have a Used Stroller ?

By : Chris Peace

Educational Toys

Playing is the most important activity for a toddler. This particular stage in a toddler’s life is all about exploration, imitating, experimenting and most of all setting their own rules to help them understand how things work. All of these go a long way in developing physical, mental, language and social skills of toddlers. Some of the toddler toys and activities one could use are: blocks, music, puzzles, puppets etc. Here’s a look at how play helps a toddler grow :

Development of Physical Skills

Physical skills in toddlers are developed as they learn actions like crawling, reaching out, grasping and balance, running and climbing. These motor skills further help in the development of finer motor skills like the use of fingers as the toddler begins handling objects. Toddler toys play a very important role in the development of these very basic physical skills. Push and pull toys encourage walking, running and grasping. While toys like maracas encourage grasping. Smalltime Child has a variety of these toddler toys to choose from.

Development of Mental Skills

Problem solving is the easiest way for toddlers to develop their mental skills. Toddlers also need to understand cause and effect. Toddler toys that encourage this are activity sets like peg boards, blocks, interlocking objects, shapes etc. Interacting with objects such as these toddlers learn to recognise and understand different objects with respect to their shape, size and colour.

Development of Language Skills

Language skills develop as toddlers interact and play with others, be it their parents or peers. Development of these skills don’t necessary develop from toddler toys. They can also be developed from simple games that are played between parent and child or between child and child. These simple games can be further developed into activities like story telling. These can be in the form of puzzles that are illustrated; e.g. with pictures of animals, birds, everyday objects, numbers, the alphabet etc. Toddlers are encouraged to speak as they recognize the various shapes. Smalltime Child stocks such puzzles that one might find useful.

Development of Social Skills

Toddlers’ social skills develop mainly through interaction. Skills like cooperating, following instructions, taking turns, negotiating, playing fair are all learnt during play and interacting with others. Sharing play time experiences and toys are the most important aspect of developing socials skills. You must remember that toddlers at their age are very imaginative and can be moulded the way you want them to be. Therefore it is of the utmost importance that these playtime experiences have a positive impact on the child. This in turn leaves the child with a feeling of success. Positive feelings leads to the stimulation of imagination and creativity and help toddlers expand their thinking of the environment that they live in.

Also, check out my other guide on Lightweight Strollers for the Family on the Go and Baby Strollers – Frequently Asked Questions