Determining the Safety of Baby Walkers
For many years, baby walkers have been a huge discussion, specific to safety. In fact, so much controversy has occurred that some countries have now banned baby walkers altogether. Even so, there continues to be many questions that remain unanswered. One additional area of confusion is that baby walkers are often described as other types of equipment or toys.
For instance, one kind of baby walker is made for pushing by a small child as a play toy. One of the more popular options is a toy walker that the child can sit on and then use for carrying dolls, stuffed animals, and other toys around. A toy baby walker such as this is intended for older children, those who are already taking several steps or even walking. The reason is that these children are relatively mobile so the risk of accident is lessened.
While toys are one thing, the type of baby walker used by babies to sit, giving mom or dad a break, is what poses risk. Typically, this type of walker is round and designed so the baby can move his or her feet to move from one location to another. A baby walker such as this is intended for babies that do not yet walk, using the walker as a means of getting around but there is risk of injury.
The good news is that over the years, new safety standards have been developed and regulated. This has resulted in a change of design that includes some kind of buffer so the baby walker would stop prior to going down steps. Obviously, preventing a small baby from falling in such a way is crucial. Therefore, any parent with a baby walker should avoid using outdated models.
The way a baby walker is made gives the baby height while still being able to move his or her feet around on the floor. The benefit is that the baby now has some mobility but with this, comes the risk of the baby getting into electrical cords, pulling things off the table, getting hold of handles on hot pots, and other potential danger. As a baby grows, his or her reach increases, which puts that child in a position of experiencing head trauma. Another possible risk with a baby walker is that as they scoot along walls, little fingers and toes can get pinched.
Now, for the baby, having the ability to move around is exciting and fun. What surprises most parents is how fast a child can get from point A to point B using a baby walker. At the age that a baby is crawling, parents often see frustration. After all, the baby wants to move and move quickly.
So the question is this can a baby walker work as an aid in helping a child learn to walk. The answer is no. It is true that a baby walker will provide the child with more mobility while also building muscles from scooting around the floor. The thing parents need to remember is that getting around in a baby walker is completely different from a child standing on his or her own two feet and walking. What experts have discovered is that often, a baby that is placed in a walker will actually begin walking later than a child who is not placed in a walker.
Now, as a parent, you will need to make your own decision but we encourage you to give the baby walker a lot of thought. If you choose to use a walker, your child should never be left alone. Additionally, with your baby now gaining more mobility, take time to put locks on drawers and doors, place security gates at the entrance to any stairs, make sure electrical cords are securely hidden, and take all the precautions necessary to keep your baby 100% safe.
Baby Gear That Makes Bath Time Fun and Easy
Bathing is extremely important for people of all ages, but it sometimes can seem like quite a chore with a little one. Several advanced baby gear items available today make bathing your baby easy for virtually any member of the family and fun for everyone involved.
Fortunately for the new parents, newborns only require only a sponge bath during the first few months of life. With all the other things they need to worry about, this is perhaps the easiest part of bringing a new baby home.
After the baby reaches a few months of age and can sit up and support his own head, bath time becomes a little more interesting. Special bathtubs are an ideal baby gear item that are specially made for the precious cargo they’re made to keep safe.
The tubs can easily fit within the kitchen sink or bathtub, come equipped with a safety drain, and are built to withstand virtually any type of abuse they may come across. Most models will also have the added safety feature of being designed to prevent any accidental tilting or turning over.
Look for a bath that fits in the tub for extended use. Manufacturers are also making models which include a handy seat built into it. As baby gets older, you may want to consider a simple chair-like insert so he can really enjoy the tub. As always, safety is of utmost importance, so make sure any tub or insert you buy meets or exceeds every standard possible.
For protecting baby from burn risks or hurting himself on the bathtub’s hardware, there are helpful screen inserts available to separate his bathing area from these safety concerns. This way, mom and dad have complete control over the temperature and level of water without interference.
Babies need tons of bath time baby gear items from hygienic tools to toys that keep them occupied and happy. These can make the bathtub seem very crowded when they’re placed alongside mom and dad’s shampoo, too.
Consider installing a shelf or box made of sturdy plastic that attaches to the corner of the shower via suction cups. This can store baby shampoo, lotion, bubble bath, cotton balls and baby oil in the same place within easy reach.
Toys are very important during bath time to keep baby happy and from becoming upset about mom giving him his much-needed bath. Most babies enjoy playing in the water, but several bath time toys are available to make this time more valuable to help him learn and advance his development.
Rubber blocks in all shapes and sizes are pliable, water-safe and brightly colored to help him learn about color and textures. Books are also made with kid-friendly pictures that are waterproof or equipped with noisemakers.
Bath toys can be made as part of the bath seat as well. Some bath chairs are available with a built-in horn or squeaky button that can keep your baby occupied during the entire time in the bath.
Creating a Beautiful Baby Gift Basket
If you know someone who is having a baby and you want to do something unique and special, creating a beautiful baby gift basket is always welcomed. For this, you can take the basket to the hospital after the baby is born or have it delivered to the new parent’s home.
There are a number of things to consider for a gift basket such as this.
Obviously, the number of possibilities for a new baby is overwhelming. This is good in that putting a basket together that the baby and new parents would enjoy is fun and easy. Some of the items that you might think about adding include:
* High quality skin care products for diaper rash
* Bath toys
* Baby pacifiers
* Designer baby bottle
* Sleepwear
* Socks or booties
* Hooded towels and washcloths
* Photograph frame
* Meditation or lullaby CD
* Special gifts for mom and dad such as bath gel, scented powder, candles, etc
While these things are small and may seem unimportant, they actually will be used and they save the new parents money.
You can also make a beautiful baby gift basket on your own.
The first step is to choose a basket, something large and sturdy enough for the items. Next, add blue or pink tissue paper to line the basket or you could also choose colored shredded paper. Wonderful filler is to shred baby wrapping paper, spreading it out in the basket. Add each of the gifts to the basket. Cut a square piece of cellophane large enough to completely cover the basket. Place the full basket on top and bring all four corners together at the top, tying them with ribbons that coordinate in color. From there, you can take the basket to the hospital, presenting it to the new parents.
Now, if you make a baby gift basket but prefer to have it sent to the home after the parents have taken the newborn from the hospital, you would need to find a clean, sturdy box in which to place the basket. Place the basket inside the box, filling the empty spaces with Styrofoam peanuts to ensure it arrives in one piece. Then, use proper shipping tape so the box is secure.
Again, with a baby gift basket, you can go with a blue theme for a boy or a pink theme for a girl but yellow and green work if the baby is not yet born. Of course, these are more traditional choices so you can also choose something completely different, giving the gift basket a unique appearance. For instance, do not be afraid to think outside the box, going with bright red, dark blue or green, or even orange or purple.
Here are some tips if you want to purchase a baby gift box through the internet.
The benefit of making your own basket is that you get to choose exactly the items you want and you can create the look so it is different from anything else. However, if you have time restrictions and simply do not have adequate time to get the basket made, you can purchase one online.
In fact, ordering a baby gift basket through the internet is easy, convenient, and for some people, worth the money in that it saves them tremendous time. Today, you can find some amazing choices and some companies will allow you to choose what you want to have placed in the basket. You can even choose filler, ribbon, and basket.
We recommend you look at a number of online stores so you can see what all is available. Once you have decided where to buy, you can then go through the easy process of getting the basket created and shipped to the parents.
Baby Monitors are a Must-Have Baby Gear Item
Caring for babies is a full-time job and has been so for several generations. However, modern moms have a great advantage that grandma probably didn’t: baby monitors. These handy little devices allow mom and dad to remotely listen to and even watch baby while he sleeps or plays, keeping him safe even when they aren’t in the same room
Baby monitors are continually being updated to become more sophisticated and user-friendly. Technological advances in fields such as home security, sound technology and television have lent a helping hand to great options for ideal and much-needed baby gear.
Today, some versions even add the option of motion detectors or other sensors in addition to the standard audio and visual feeds. Soon these will also become standard applications used in for baby gear like baby monitors.
For a discount baby gear option, some parents may opt for the simpler version of baby monitors that offer only listening abilities. These monitors contain a microphone that sends any sound happening in baby’s room to the parent’s dual monitor in another room. Many of these models also allow you to clip them onto your waistband or other clothing item while you finish other chores during naptime.
Everyone loves watching television, and baby monitors are using this feature now as well. The baby’s monitor is equipped with a camera that transmits visual feed to mom and dad’s unit so they can not only listen, but also watch for when he wakes up.
In the past, older baby monitor models didn’t allow you to go very far before losing the signal between the two units. However, modern versions allow you to travel much further, and even allow you to plant those spring bulbs or trim the bushes.
If you work away from home but still want to check in on baby occasionally, consider an advanced model that can be programmed to transmit images and sound to your computer. Even if you work at home, this is a great way to combine technologies in all areas of your life, allowing for an easier transition for new parents.
Much like your home security system, you can also program these monitors to record any visual or audio feed for later viewing. This will allow you to review the footage when it’s most convenient for your schedule if there is ever a reason to suspect something of value was recorded.
This is a great way for mom and dad to keep their sanity while keeping baby safe. If your baby ever becomes ill or injured, recorded information can become extremely useful to you and the physician.
Families with several children can invest in multiple sets of baby monitors and stream feeds from every room of the house to be recorded.
Motion sensors can be uniquely set to record when a certain level of movement is detected in baby’s room. Baby monitors are the next best thing to actually being there physically, and provide a great way to warn you should anything happen that could concern you in the future.
Are Baby Slings A Good Investment?
What many parents do not realize is that baby slings have been used for thousands of years in a variety ways. In ancient times, family members would make slings by tying animal skin or cloth around the waist. This way, as they worked the fields or in some other type of job, they could conveniently and safely, bring the baby along. At that time, baby equipment enjoyed today such as car seats and strollers were not an option.
Obviously, setting the baby down on the ground to work put that child at significant risk. However, a sling would keep the child safe and secure, while also providing a warm, comfortable place for the baby to stay. Additionally, if the mother needed to nurse, she could do so without much effort.
Although we now have the luxury of innovative design and technology for keeping a baby safe at home, while shopping, dining out, at the park, and so on, a baby sling can also be highly beneficial in many instances.
For instance, newborn babies are adjusting from being in a warm and safe environment of the womb and now are learning about the real world where there are new sounds, smells, and temperatures. Going through these changes is tough for the baby so parents want to do all they can to make the transition easier. While swaddling blankets are a great way to create the sense of security while sleeping, a baby sling offers the same while the baby is being carried around.
As the baby lies in the sling, he or she is being comforted by the movement of the parent. To the child, these movements mimic movements of the womb, which provides security. In fact, babies also benefit from being in a sling when the parent is not walking around but moving. The reason is that the baby is still close to the body where he or she can feel the warmth of the parent’s skin and hear the heartbeat.
Studies have been conducted showing that babies that are carried in a baby sling actually cry less than those that do not. For the baby, stress levels are dramatically reduced and with less crying, the new parent feels more relaxed. Having the baby so close creates a greater bonding between baby and parent, helping both people gain more confidence.
One of the greatest joys of using a baby sling is the special bonding time, which can be for mother and child, father and child, and even grandparent and child. In the case of a new mom that chooses to bottle feed, this added opportunity to bond is even more important. Babies need physical contact, especially in the first month of life while transition from womb to world. Using a baby sling is a perfect solution for allowing this to happen.
Then, the baby sling also makes it easier for the parent to multi-task. While the baby is sleeping in the sling, mom or dad can do things around the house. These slings come in a variety of sizes, styles, and colors. Typically, a newborn baby would be carried in a sling so he or she is close to the parent’s chest. However, as the baby grows, the sling could be repositioned so the child is now carried around on the back or hip. Today, many baby slings and convertible carriers work with the growing baby’s needs.
Now, for parents of twins, the baby sling would still work but only one baby could be carried at once. However, if one baby were sleeping and the other one awake, the sling would be ideal. Another possibility is carrying one baby in the sling while pushing a baby stroller with free hands. To ensure each child is given the same bonding experience, the babies would simply be alternated.
Car Seats For Your Baby’s Safety
If there’s one thing that parents really care about for their baby’s safety, it’s the quality of the car seat they buy. Even so, a study done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that eighty percent of baby car seats are either improperly fitted or misused.
Widespread faults in child car safety include loose harness straps and wrongly fastened safety belt attachments. According to the NHTSA, these errors are defined as ‘critical’ since the possibility of grave injury in case of an accident is much higher than usual. So although parents think their children are perfectly safe in car seats, they could be wrong!
In any case, how can you be 100% certain that your baby’s safety is assured in the car?
First of all, you need to be sure that the car seat you buy is the right type specified for your baby’s age and weight. Make sure it’s facing the right way before you fasten it. One of your options in this case is the multi-purpose car seat, which can be safely fitted to face either direction, and is equipped for fitting changes as the baby grows bigger.
Babies who are less than a year old and weigh in at 20 lb or lower must have backward facing car seats. Also, please make a note that all child car seats must always be fitted to the back seat of your car!
Also available are infant seats for very young babies. These are essentially intended to be rear-facing, so you’re going to need a new car seat as your baby grows older. These are, however, much better for smaller babies since they form a snug fit for the baby, and are much easier to carry and store due to their size. You can even use your car seat if you go out to dine in restaurants!
Convertible car seats offer another option to parents. These car seats are adjustable to fit both babies as well as toddlers. However, they are quite heavy, and once fitted, are best left in the car. For babies, this car seat must be fitted facing backwards. And once your baby crosses the one year mark, the seat should be turned to face the front. A convertible car seat generally holds up to 40 lb of weight.
The most important factor when it comes to car seats is the fitting. The car seat holding your baby has to be perfectly fitted, and for this, you will require the instruction manual for the seat as well as the manufacturer’s fact sheet. Be very precise when fitting the seat, and ensure that it is properly done. Read the guide well, so that you can install and secure the harnessing straps properly.
If you’re not sure about the way the seat has been fitted, it’s best to get it tested by a qualified technician. If you stay in the United States, you can locate any child safety seat inspection center in your neighbourhood by visiting the website http://seatcheck.org.
If you have a cat seat which has already been used by another child, it’s imperative that you consider its age and condition. Sometimes, seats that have already passed through several babies or been in accidents are no longer safe for your baby. A car seat which has crossed the five year mark after manufacture must not be used.
When you are gifted a second-hand car seat, ensure that the manufacturer’s instruction manual is included. If it isn’t, try to get it on the web, so that you can find out if any of the seat parts are missing. If you can’t locate the manual, don’t use the seat. There’s no point in taking risks with your baby.
After all, in the event of an accident, your baby’s safety must always come first. Remember that when you’re looking for the right car seat for your baby!
Diapers For Your Baby
One of the largest business sectors in the Western World is that of baby diapers. These days, more than 95% of all parents use disposable baby diapers, which are easy to use and handier than cloth diapers! And what parents love about them is that there’s no washing of disposable diapers after use!
Disposable diapers first appeared on the market in the 40s, but took quite a bit of time to catch on, because they were very costly for the common man. Also, at that time, rich folks had quality baby care servants who did the laundering, so there was no point in buying disposable diapers. Another major disadvantage was that all baby diapers were manufactured in one size, which meant that they leaked a lot because of the improper fit.
In the 50s, disposable diapers caught on with the rich because they now came in different sizes catering to all babies. With the common man, disposable diapers only came in vogue in the mid 70s when the prices of all plastic products including diapers dropped! After this, there was no looking back, and cloth diapers were thought to be old-fashioned and unhygienic!
As the decades pass, so does the quality of disposable baby diapers improve! These days, there are different baby diapers for baby boys and baby girls. What’s more, they are extremely light-weight and more absorbent! Baby diapers which are environmentally friendly are more popular than those which aren’t. This is why most of the biggest producers of baby diapers such as Pampers manufacture environment-conscious diapers.
In fact, more and more parents are shifting back to cloth diapers for various reasons. One of these is the pertinent fact of increase in garbage all over the West. Another is the aspect of environment-friendliness. What these parents do not consider is the tremendous amount of resources they spend for washing cloth diapers: water, electricity and detergent!
However, diaper companies are also taking into account these parents who are going back to cloth diapers. These days, cloth diapers are much softer and easily washable, with cute colors and patterns. Cloth diaper pins are also much cuter! What’s more, most cloth diapers come with fastening buttons and Velcro, so there’s no real need for diaper pins!
Some cloth diapers have a disposable liner, which makes them much easier to use. Also, babies who wear cloth diapers get toilet-trained much faster, because they know how uncomfortable it is to be in a wet diaper! Babies wearing cloth diapers also tend to feel the wetness and wake up wanting to get changed.
Cloth diapers are better than other diapers as they are cause less irritation to a baby’s skin. Babies today tend to get skin problems such as eczema, so the type of baby diapers they wear really matters. This is where parents need to make the right choice of what baby diaper to buy for their baby!