plus 4, Bassinets - To Use Or Not to Use? That is the Question!

Bassinets - To Use Or Not to Use? That is the Question!
Tips For Buying Your New Baby's First Bathtub
Uncommon Baby Names You Can Consider
Top Rated Infant Car Seats
Tips to Find the Perfect Baby Car Seat

Bassinets - To Use Or Not to Use? That is the Question!

Posted: 29 Oct 2009 07:34 PM PDT

I recently looked into pregnancy forums to see what pressing questions expecting mothers have about bassinets and bassinet safety. Here are the top three frequently asked questions followed by some hopefully helpful and informative answers for those of you expecting!

Question #1 - Which is better to use - a bassinet or a crib?

This question has neither a right nor a wrong answer. The choice between using a bassinet or a crib is really up to personal preference. There are many pros to choosing a bassinet, however, and here is a list of the most common benefits:

• You can keep baby in your room for convenient night feedings (whether you nurse or not)

• You can keep baby right next to your bed for easier recovery after a C-Section

• Bassinets are portable

• Chores are easier to accomplish when you have baby in the room with you to check on, rather than having to stop your chores and leave the room to check on baby

• You can develop sounder sleeping babies when you have them sleeping in a room that has activity in it as they get used to sleeping through noise

• Bassinets offer a smaller, more confined space that comforts a newborn baby in sleep

• Parents feel more comfortable and have less fears when their baby sleeps in their room during the night

Question #2 - How do you transition your baby from a bassinet to a crib?

This, again, becomes an issue of personal choice; however, this time it becomes the personal preference of your baby.

Although the sky could be the limit in this topic, I have assembled a list of tips that will surely soothe 99% of babies in the bassinet to crib transition.

• Swaddle baby tightly to imitate the confined cocoon-like feeling a bassinet helps imitate

• Move the bassinet into baby's nursery to sleep in before actually transitioning the baby to her crib

• Try lying baby close to the side crib bumpers when you lay her down to help her feel close and confined to a side barrier

• Attach a musical mobile to the crib

• Play lullaby music on a CD

• Sing to baby while letting her grasp your finger as she falls asleep

Although this may not comfort all babies, trying these suggestions may just solve your problem in a hurry!

Question #3 - Is it safer to have a newborn baby in a bassinet instead of a crib?

Three guesses what my answer will be! You got it - not technically; however, there are a few safety issues that can be addressed with the use of a bassinet:

• If you have baby in a bassinet in the room you are occupying, whether it be at night or during the day, you can immediately hear and respond to any emergency or situation that may arise

• Having baby next to you at night means that you can quickly check on them without even getting out of bed. This in turn translates to better sleep for you, which is always safer â˜º, but also translates to checking on baby more often since it can be done by simply opening your eyes.

• Finally, having baby in the same room as you means that she doesn't have to work up into an angry tantrum before being heard, meaning that you can respond to a calm baby's needs, instead of a screaming baby's needs. Also, it has now been proven that babies that are allowed to cry for long periods of time are actually destroying brain cells, and that is the last thing I want happening to my newborn baby.

• Bassinet safety is based on using new, undamaged equipment. The CPSC has reported a study that found that approximately 50 infant deaths per year are caused by using old, borrowed, or heirloom bassinets or cribs. The dangers occur because the pieces may have been manufactured prior to publication of the most up-to-date bassinet safety standards and regulations, or they may just be used and abused in ways that can't be seen with the naked eye. Parents, you wouldn't use an old and used car seat, would you? The same principle applies.

Bassinet safety is always dependant on your particular item, however. Remember that any crib or bassinet that has been recalled needs to be immediately disposed of so that no chance of baby injury can occur.

Hopefully this helps to answer the most questioned topics involving bassinets and bassinet safety. I should mention in closing that the only con to using a bassinet is that you may spend money on an item that is not absolutely necessary - depending on how you look at it. Again, even this statement comes down to your point of view and personal preference.

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Tips For Buying Your New Baby's First Bathtub

Posted: 29 Oct 2009 06:59 PM PDT

Are you having a baby? There are many things to consider and many things to buy. However, one thing you don't want to forget is your baby's bathtub. Your baby needs a bathtub so you can bathe your baby safely. Here are a few tips that can help you out as you buy your new baby's first bathtub.

First of all, make sure that the backing is slip resistant on the tub. This way your baby can't easily slip down into the water, which could be dangerous.

You also want to ensure that the baby bathtub you purchase is made out of plastic that is sturdy and thick. This way it doesn't buckle when you put the bath water and the baby into the tub.

Ensure that the tub you choose has a smooth edge as well. You don't want any rough edges that could end up cutting your baby.

It's nice to find a bathtub for your baby that has some storage spots. This makes it easy for your to store the soap and your shampoo so you have easy access to it when you are giving your baby a bath.

You'll also want to make sure that you avoid products that have a foam cushion. While you may think this is comfortable for your baby, they could pull the foam apart and try to eat it, which would end badly, so just skip that cushion.

After you pick out your baby's first bathtub, make sure that you never let your baby stay unattended in that tub. In just seconds your baby should drown, so make sure you are always there while they are getting a bath.

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Uncommon Baby Names You Can Consider

Posted: 29 Oct 2009 06:07 PM PDT

Having a child is probably the greatest accomplishment in the world for most people. Naming newborn children is an important, rewarding, and fun part of life. A name gives a child an identity that will be a part of them for the rest of their lives. Even though Americans no longer attaches significance and meaning to a name for the most part; names still have meaning and relevance.

The Past is Here Again

Modern American names in the 21st century seem like they're mimicking the names of the early American settlers. For example, Jason, Michael, Ethan, and Joshua, are popular boy names in 2008 that were well in use during the 17th and 18th centuries in America. The same holds true for females. Abigail, Isabella, and Elizabeth were all well known early American names and in 2008 these names were in the top 10 for girls. A lot of the names from the past are still with us to this day and it seems like many Americans are going back to the old world names and are using them with more frequency.

Unusual Titles

Names such as Jayden, Bailey, Addison, Nala, Xavier, and AJ are some of the most unusual names in American society. Though these names aren't as popular as the traditional one's like William, John, and Olivia they are still popular within cultural subgroups within the United States. Ethnic groups do use unique names that are not common for self identification. Cultural groups in the US also have their own unique way of naming their children. For example, movie stars name their children with extremely unusual names like Moon Unit or Moxy Crimefighter.

Names are for identification and they also will help to give a person a sense of identity in the world. So if you have the privilege with naming a child make sure you take the time to think though what kind of name that you're going to give your baby and make sure you at least understand what it means.

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Top Rated Infant Car Seats

Posted: 29 Oct 2009 05:54 PM PDT

Although there are hundreds of different car seats to choose from, three have risen above the rest. The seat that has been reviewed by many and receives top scores is the Graco Snug Ride. With all of its great features, the fact that it is relatively light to carry definitely adds points to its already great report. The Baby Trend Flex Loc also scores high points because of its performance in crash testing. And finally, the Graco Infant Safeseat Step 1 is all the rave of parents with heavier babies. It allows babies up to 30 pounds to still have the ability to use a rear-facing seat.

The Graco Snug Ride is not only easy to install in the car, but it also has been tested regularly in car crash tests and has performed outstandingly. This car seat also has many patterns that you can choose from, depending on your style. The Baby Trend Flex Loc is known for its odd triangular shaped handle - though many have commented on its comfort, despite its uniqueness. This baby seat also has an adjustable crotch strap, which is rare to find on other baby seats. The Graco Infant Safeseat features a wide array of colors and designs, though it does receive criticism for its bulkiness in carriage.

These three seats boast a relatively average price for such excellence. The Graco Snug Ride costs about $80 - $150, while the Baby Trend Flex Loc is about $90, or a little more, depending on pattern. The Graco Infant Safeseat, the most expensive of the three, costs about $130 to $190 dollars.

Car seats are important investments in the life of any child. The Graco and Baby Trend brands have soared beyond the competition in creating seats that not only are safe, but also are trendy and, economical. They are to be congratulated.

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Tips to Find the Perfect Baby Car Seat

Posted: 29 Oct 2009 05:54 PM PDT

Shop Online

The best way to shop for any product these days is through the internet. It will allow you to research many different brands, as opposed to just two or three manufacturers that you might find in a store. This lets you compare prices, features, and even reviews, without busily driving from store to store or listening to salespeople who do not have your best interest in mind. There are a variety of websites which list many different types of baby car seats and will help you in your search for the perfect seat.

Features

Once you get a feel for the price range of baby seats, pay close attention to the options. Many seats have similar construction but are priced very differently based on the additional features. Determine which features you need and which ones you can live without. This will save you money in the long run, as you won't be paying for extra options that you don't need. Don't succumb to slick advertising, think in terms of practicality and figure out what's important to you. Remember, with a baby car seat, safety is always first, so don't let yourself be distracted with bells and whistles.

Buy from a reputable source

Once you've gone through options, pricing, and reviews, and selected which baby car seat you'd like to buy, it's time to make your purchase. If you've chosen to shop online, you'll notice that there might be several different vendors that all sell the same product, at varying prices. Don't make the mistake of instinctively choosing the cheapest supplier. Take a few moments to read reviews from past customers and see what they have to say about customer support, product quality, and shipping times. This will prevent you from being caught in an unfortunate situation if your product arrives damaged, defective, or not at all. Get as much information on the company as you can. There's one simple thing that you can do to prevent any misfortune: listen to past customers. Read their reviews and let the experiences of others guide you in your search. Take these simple steps, and you'll be on the road to making a smart purchase that you won't regret.

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