Posted: 29 Aug 2009 10:01 PM PDT

Handmade baby bedding just might be the special items that you are looking for when you are working to personalize your baby's room. Many parents say that among the many joys of being a mom is selecting your baby's linens for your new little one. Taking that one step further and creating handmade items especially for your child give their new room that extra special treat.

Besides buying baby bedding in a pre-selected package, you also have the option to personalize your baby's bedding or even create them from scratch. This is a huge satisfier for many moms and dads alike. Many parents love to not only give their little ones the comfort and security in the bedding, not just by purchasing the lines in a pre-selected package but by personally sewing and creating the bedding as well. There is just something really special about handmade baby linens.

Not to worry, if this is something that you'd like to tackle, there are many baby bedding patterns can definitely help you in achieving this goal. Let's talk a little about how you could get started with creating your own customized baby bedding.

Crib sheet patterns are one easy thing that you can easily work with and basic sewing instructions are available that can teach you how you can design the crib sheet with lively baby items, such as colorful fish, bold hearts or even geometric objects from left over fabrics. To get started, you will need fabric of your choice for the crib, thread, a pair of scissors, needle and a sewing machine.

Let's get started with some very basic instructions. Begin by removing a 9 square inch from each corner of your rectangle fabric. Then sew the right side corners together. Since these are the pressure points that need to survive the wear and tear when you take the sheets off the mattress, it is best for you to sew it twice. Once you've reinforced the corners, fold the raw edges under and sew all the way around the crib sheet with a zigzag serger or stitch. You have the liberty not to feel the pressure of creating perfect stitches since this is the part which will be tucked under the mattress away from other people's prying eyes. Thankfully, that takes a little pressure of the new mom to be who is just trying to create something individual and beautiful for their baby. Now find the center of your elastic, and sew it into the corner of your corner seam. When you sew from the center seam, make sure that you stretch your elastic and use a zigzag stitch so there will be stretch in your thread.

And now, you now have a crib sheet. With the left over fabric, you might try to draw some fish, hearts or other geometric figures and sew them onto your crib sheet as customized designs. Be creative! Have fun!

When it is all done, give it a gentle wash and make your baby's bed and await your little one's arrival. Choosing a handmade baby bedding pattern that will be custom designed just for your baby, will definitely help to give you a boost of pride as you prepare your newborn's nursery.

Exploring Art With Toddlers

Posted: 29 Aug 2009 12:51 PM PDT

It is natural and even instinctive for children to want to express themselves through art. As children advance in age and artistic skills, they may need more guidance in terms of specific projects and expected outcomes.

When working with younger children like toddlers, less is more. This is true for both materials and structure. The best way to let a toddler explore their creative side is to give them 3-5 different colours (they will most likely end up using only one!), a sheet of paper and plenty of attention!

The aim is not to guide their activity but to be with them while they are exploring and make positive comments throughout. Resist the temptation to impose your interpretations on what they are doing, instead ask them to describe what they are drawing and you may be surprised what they come up with. Toddler art can be very abstract and what starts out as a picture of a car can easily end up more like a plate of spaghetti!

Some toddlers have a shorter attention span than others and may bore quickly and move onto something else. If this happens it can help if you start drawing on another piece of paper and talk about what you are drawing. If small children are having difficulty holding the crayon or marker (the chubby ones are best for little chubby hands!), you can put your hand over theirs to help guide them, but let them determine the movements.

I don't think you can over-praise your toddlers artistic efforts - feel free to gasp in amazement at their masterpiece! When your little one sees their efforts pinned on the wall or fridge they will be encouraged to create more. Asking them from time to time to tell you about the picture can also produce interesting new interpretations and encourage them to express themselves verbally. They may put even more creative effort into their next piece!

Happy exploring!

How to Choose Your New Baby's Bedding

Posted: 29 Aug 2009 09:32 AM PDT

Your nursery decoration is certainly incomplete without appropriate baby bedding. With their beautiful designs and colours, baby bedding sets can also add a feeling of warmth and coziness to your nursery.

Babies spend a great amount of time sleeping or even just lying down. These days, there are a wide variety of choices available in infant crib sets, cots and cot beds. These are also available in varied budgets and themes as well. With so many choices it's no wonder new parents get overwhelmed and confused and bedazzled by the array of choices available. Moreover, the onslaught of good advice from relatives, friends can really bewilder even the most logical minds.

In days gone by, baby bedding used to just comprise of a cot, a crib and a blanket. However, these days these beddings have scaled new heights of sophistication, fashion and price. Some of these baby beddings are not really designed for a baby; they are designed to impress the adults! Hence, it's important to distinguish between beddings with frivolous decorations and practical baby beddings.

Your baby bedding should be comfortable. It's important to keep in mind that the bedding should be made of a soft fabric as the skin of a new born baby is quite thin a delicate. Moreover, certain fabrics may even irritate a baby's skin and cause rashes. Most experts recommend that the bedding fabric needs to be made from 100% pure cotton. Here are some more pointers which can help you to choose a good baby bedding which will also enhance your nursery decoration:

- Bedding Sizes: The right size makes all the difference when it comes to crib bedding. Hence, you need to ensure that the bedding you buy fits the mattress snugly. When you go to buy baby bedding remember to take the measurements of the mattress with you to avoid any errors. These days' bottom sheets generally come with fitted corners which are great for ensuring that the sheets don't slip.

- Extra bedding: It's essential that you have at least one extra set of bedding. Accidents do happen and you really wouldn't want your baby sleeping on a damp bed. So make sure you have plenty of extra bedding of both top and bottom sheets. - Easy to wash: Baby beddings should be easy to wash. Though a lot of fashion magazines or catalogues may tempt you with great designs, make sure that the bedding is easily washable and can be popped into the washing machine without any worries. Finally remember, choosing the right baby bedding will make sure your baby has a comfortable sleep and can make all the difference between easy and difficult sleep routines!

Baby Crying Driving You Crazy?

Posted: 29 Aug 2009 08:01 AM PDT

Do you think you are going insane with your babies crying? Good news, most babies cry the most during their first three months of life. So you could be on your way down the hill very soon. This might scare you but a baby's "normal" crying could last from an hour to all day!!

Babies have the ability to shut off all noise that they can hear so that they can sleep but this only last for the first six weeks. The babies ability to shut out noise weakens after about six weeks making it more prone to waking such as noise, movements, etc. When the baby is awaken the only thing it can do is cry.

Your baby could be crying for any number of reasons. The most common reason for a babies crying is hunger, especially during the first few months of life.

Is your baby bored? You would be bored laying in a car-seat all day. They are crying for attention. Your friends may say you are spoiling your child and giving them negative reinforcement by picking them up when they are crying but babies need a lot of attention when they are small.

Is your baby in discomfort or pain? Crying is the only way that the baby can tell you that something is wrong. Face it, when we as adults are in a lot of pain, we cry. Our tolerance level has grown though. Your baby is trying to get your attention to let you know something is wrong and for you to fix it. There will be different sounds to your babies crying. You will eventually learn what each cry means. A screaming cry is known that a baby is in pain. A howling cry is thought to mean that the baby is bored.

Not to worry if you feel like you are going to lose your mind during your child crying stage. It will soon pass. You could help feel comfort by talking to other mothers and see what they are going through. Log on to a forum and read other mothers questions and stories. This could help you feel much better that you are not alone and that there are other mothers out there that are going through the exact same thing as you are. Get together with other moms and see what they are going through. It will probably make you feel better.

Saving Money on Baby Supplies

Posted: 29 Aug 2009 07:19 AM PDT

Whenever we can save a few bucks here and there we know we're doing well. Although, if we have children, that is a must. Saving money is hard when the economy is doing bad, and when we have our endless bills to pay. So, if you're looking to save more money when it comes to your little one there are ways of doing so! Keep the money in your wallets, and start spending less on your baby with a few of these tips!

Coupons - You should always use coupons on everything you buy. You can save money on diapers, food, and endless baby supplies. There are a lot of great coupons out there so check your Sunday newspapers, and look at websites that supply coupons.

Re-use - If you've had children in the past, don't be afraid to re-use the baby items. Re-use cribs, strollers, play pens, etc.

Shopping - When you go shopping, try looking at thrift stores, and garage sales. You will be amazed at what you can find there. Some of the items still have price tags on them and were never used or worn.

Diapers - When it comes to diapers, always make sure you use coupons. Although, if you have a really hard time affording disposable diapers, consider using cloth diapers for your baby.

Baby food - Baby food can also add up over time. You can easily make your own baby food if you use a food processor. Getting fresh produce can be a healthier and fresher way to feed your baby. Not to mention, making your own baby food is cheaper.

Saving money on your little one is a very easy thing to do if you think about. Think of all the things you buy, and then figure out a way to save money on those items. For a few examples, consider the ones above!