Baby Blog - MyPreciousBaby.com

Disney Baby Enstein DVD Refunds

2009-10-24T15:10:00.004-04:00

Remember those Baby Einstein DVDs that are all the rage among new parents? Well Walt Disney is now offering refunds of $15.99 for up to 4 DVDs per household for the Baby Einstein DVDs due to prompting from Susan Linn, director of Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. Ms. Linn targeted Disney's Baby Einstein and another company named Brainy Baby through a complaint filed with the Federal Trade Commission, and her urging led to the word "educational" being removed from the two company's DVD advertising. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time at all for children under 2, and some studies have shown that exposure at young ages can be potentially harmful and lead to attention problems in children in the future.

Ms. Linn didn't think that removal of the word "educational" from the product advertising was enough, so last year she got together with some public health lawyers and together they threatened to file a class-action unfair and deceptive practices lawsuit against Disney unless they agreed to give back the full purchase price to everyone that bought the videos since 2004.

Disney has since agreed to refund the money, and as part of their "enhanced consumer satisfaction guarantee", they are allowing previous purchasers of Baby Einstein DVDs from June 5, 2004 through September 5, 2009 to exchange their video for a different title, receive a discount coupon, or get $15.99 each for up to four returned DVDs up until March 10th 2010. Disney is not requiring a receipt.

For more information on how to get your refund, visit the Disney site here: http://babyeinstein.com/parentsguide/satisfaction/upgrade_us.html.

Warning: Children's Cold Medicines

2008-10-28T17:02:00.000-04:00

So your little one has got a cold and you want to relieve their symptoms as quickly as possible, right? Of course you do, as all parents do; but recent studies have shown that children's cold medicines are NOT safe for children under the age of 6. From what I understand, the drug companies that have marketed these children's cold products were given permission by the FDA to make their own determination as to what age group the medicines would be safe for. As a result, the determination that the drug companies have made is that 4 years old is a safe age to take these cold medicines, but most pediatricians would not recommend giving these products to your children before the age of 6. That's not to say that sometimes it is warranted to give these products to your children, but please ALWAYS consult with your physician before you do so. It has also been found that most of these products are not effective for young children, so there is really no benefit to giving them to your child, in addition to it being risky.

So, please, before you give your child any over-the-counter cold medicines, check with your family physician or child's pediatrician -- it could save your child's life.

Sneeze and Smile

2008-06-21T14:42:00.001-04:00

I ran across an ad today from Kleenex (yes, the tissue company) showing where you can create your own tissue box design for only $5! You can add pictures and text, and I thought this would be another unique and cute way to announce your baby's birth, first birthday or for any other of life's precious moments. Only one downside -- it will cost you about $6 for shipping and handling. They said it will cost the same amount to send 1 box or 6 boxes, so it would be the most economical to order 6 (and at $6, I definitely would!). Bulk pricing is also available. You can find out more on the MyKleenexTissue.com website.

Record Breaking Twins Born

2008-06-20T13:30:00.001-04:00

A woman in North Carolina apparently just gave birth to twins that weighed a combined weight of over 23 pounds! She gave birth via c-section (of course!), but I can only imagine what the pregnancy was like! It is reported that these twins are the largest set of twins on record for at least the past 100 years. I'm happy to hear that the babies and momma are doing just great and wish them all the best in the future. You can view a picture slideshow of the babies here, courtesy of WXII News in Winston-Salem.

Combi Car Seats Recalled

2008-06-20T10:47:00.000-04:00

Combi USA has recalled over 67,000 child car seats because federal tests have shown that the seats may separated from their bases during a front end collision. Combi has said that it is safe to use the Combi Centre and Combi Shuttle models without their base, and that there have been no reports of injuries received.

If you have one of these car seats, then you may obtain a retrofit kit by calling Combi at 1-800-543-7734 or by requesting one via the Combi website. Please be aware that the kits may take up to 8 weeks to get to you.

The Importance of Milk in Your Child's Diet

2008-03-10T23:23:00.004-04:00

Does your child sweat at night or maybe a little abnormally during the day? I don't mean like if your child gets a little to warm under the covers while sleeping or after participating in an energetic activity, but more of a profuse sweating that occurs while sleeping that soaks a pillow or just pours off of their body. If so, this may be a sign that your child has a Vitamin D deficiency that may be a sign of rickets.

WHAT IS RICKETS AND WHO IS AT RISK?

Rickets is a bone-deforming disease that causes bowed legs, knock-knees, or other deformities of the legs and skeleton. Because the US government has required that milk, cereal, and other foods be fortified with vitamin D due to an epidemic of rickets in the 1930s, rickets is fairly rare in the United States; however, if your child cannot drink milk due to a lactose intolerance, milk allergy or just plain dislike of milk's taste, getting Vitamin D is not always that easy. Infants that are exclusively breastfed are also at a risk for rickets, because breast milk in itself does not provide adequate dietary levels of Vitamin D. In addition, infants and children that do not get enough exposure to sunlight are at increased risk for rickets.

DAILY MILK REQUIREMENTS

As mentioned above, milk, cereals and other foods are fortified with Vitamin D, so try to get your child to intake the required daily allowance as much as possible. If your child doesn't like plain milk, consider giving them flavored or chocolate milk, or other typically milk-based products such as yogurts, puddings and cheeses. Not all pre-packaged cheeses or puddings are fortified with Vitamin D, however, so be sure to read the food labels to ensure you are getting Vitamin D rich products. One way of ensuring your pudding has Vitamin D value is to buy a boxed pudding mix and make it with milk. If your child has a lactose intolerance, consider buying a lactose-free milk or soy milk, both of which are typically fortified with Vitamin D. Again, be sure to check the labels.

For children 8 and under, 2 cups of milk or milk-based products should be consumed daily. For children over 8 and adults, the requirement is 3 cups daily.

The USDA has come up with the following chart that defines what combinations of food are equivalent to 1 cup of milk (click the image to enlarge it):

One Cup of Milk Equivalents - Courtesy of MyPyramid.gov

As sunlight is also a big source of Vitamin D, be sure your child gets exposure to sunlight as much as possible, and use the minimum amount of sunscreen required to protect your child from UV rays to reduce the risk of underexposure to sunlight.

Since the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises that infants be kept out of direct sunlight and wear protective clothing and sunscreen when exposed to sunlight, the AAP recommends a daily supplement of vitamin D for breastfed infants beginning within the first 2 months of life unless they are weaned to receive at least 2 cups of vitamin D-fortified formula per day. Ask your pediatrician about vitamin D supplement requirements for your infant.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information regarding milk and other food requirements in your daily diet, visit the MyPyramid.gov website.

You Go, J Lo!

2008-02-23T23:12:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to say "congrats" to Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony on the birth of their precious baby twins! I know it was a long time coming! I'm happy to hear that it was a healthy delivery. I wish you both the best!

Baby Teething Jewelry

2008-02-23T22:57:00.000-05:00

While browsing the net the other day, I ran across the website SmartMomJewelry. This retailer sales cute, hip jewelry for moms (or anyone for that matter) that their baby can actually teeth on! I thought it was cute as it comes in an array of colors, and a great idea, because how often are you holding your baby and they happen to put your necklace or bracelet in their mouth? This retailer also offers teething bracelets that are equally cute.

For more information on baby teething jewelry, visit the SmartMomJewelry website.

Evenflo Infant Car Seat Recall

2008-02-02T11:06:00.000-05:00

Evenflo announced yesterday that they are recalling several of their infant car seats due to the realization that some of the infant car seats may become separated from their base during an accident. The models affected are the Discovery Infant Car Seat Models 390, 391, 534, 552. Consumers are instructed not to return the car seats to retailers, but rather contact Evenflo for a free supplemental dual-hook fastener that has proven that the seat remains attached to the base in the event of an accident. If you have one of these infant car seats, please contact Evenflo via the information below for more information regarding the recall and to request your supplemental fastener.

Evenflo Infant Car Seat Recall Infomation

Request a Supplemental Evenflo Fastener

Is Your Baby Producing Breast Milk?

2007-11-14T23:51:00.000-05:00

If so, don't be worried -- this is normal. When you are pregnant, there are all sorts of hormones that you produce, some of which are passed on to your baby. Sometimes those hormones cause your newborn baby to appear to grow breasts and produce milk, but this is only temporary and will subside in a short period of time. This happens to both boy and girl babies alike and is normally not painful to your baby; however, if you are concerned that your baby is experiencing pain, see your pediatrician.

Fun Educational Reading and Toys

2007-11-13T15:23:00.000-05:00

When choosing activities for your child to do, you want to pick something that is fun and educational, but no so challenging that your child will get discouraged and not want to try it again. There are lots of toys and activities that fit into this category -- one of which is Highlights Magazine and Highlights Toys.

Highlights has been around for over 60 years and has provided children with fun and educational reading experiences about science, other cultures, math, the environment, health and more. Highlights was originally geared toward elementary school-aged children, but they have recently come out with a new magazine that is aimed at the 2 to 6 year old and preschool crowd - High Five. This magazine has all of the fun, creative and educational activities that everyone has come to expect and love from Highlights over the years, but on a level that the younger readers would enjoy and understand. Of course, if you have older children, the traditional monthly Highlights magazine is a wonderful read for them as always.

In addition to the magazines that Highlights offers, they also have a wide variety of educational toys for children of all ages to play with. You can view a sampling of the items in the Highlights Toy Catalog here; they are currently offering a special where you can get up to $20 off your purchase!

You can view a sample copy of the High Five magazine or Highlights magazine here. Highlights is currently offering a great deal where you can get a free Sticker Stories book or Hidden Pictures 2008 Calendar with your subscription as well -- an added bonus for your child to enjoy on top of an already great magazine. Subscriptions make great gifts!

The Basics of Booster Seats

2007-11-11T10:23:00.000-05:00

By Jayne O'Donnell

I know, I know. Getting a 6-year-old who has been riding in the car like a "big girl" to go back to a child seat would be no easy task. But now there's considerable evidence that keeping older kids in booster seats until they reach small-adult size reduces injuries and saves lives.

Still, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says fewer than 7 percent of the 20 million U.S. children ages 4 to 8 are riding in booster seats. That's a frightening statistic when you consider that more than 500 children in this age group are killed in car accidents each year, and thousands more are injured. Safety experts say many of the deaths and injuries could be prevented by the proper use of booster seats.

Understanding the Necessity
When children wear adult safety belts too soon, their internal organs can be injured if the belts ride up and slice into their stomachs in a crash. If shoulder belts are put behind their backs, their torsos can jackknife forward, increasing the chance of head and abdominal injuries. More than 80 percent of 4- to 8-year-old passengers in 30,000 car crashes studied by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm Insurance were improperly restrained in adult-size safety belts. And the results were often tragic.

Autumn Alexander Skeen lost her 4-year-old son in a crash when an adult seat belt failed to keep him inside the car. Skeen is now a spokeswoman for Ford Motor Company's educational campaign promoting booster-seat use. "No parent should ever know the pain of losing a child, especially if death or injury is easily preventable," Skeen says.

A Simple Solution
Booster seats raise children up off the seat to position them in adult belts properly. These special seats are recommended for kids who weigh 40 to 80 pounds and are intended for use in the back seat of vehicles that have three-point lap/shoulder belts. (Remember, children younger than 13 should never ride up front in a car that has front air bags.) Children can usually safely use adult belts in the back seat once they reach a height of four feet nine inches and weigh 80 pounds.

Booster seats are available at many major department stores and at Web sites and superstores that carry children's products. Your vehicle's manufacturer or your insurance company may also be able to make suggestions about where to buy a booster seat in your neighborhood. Some insurance and car companies even have special programs that offer the seats for free or at a discount.

Jayne O'Donnell, is a Washington, D.C.-based reporter whose automotive expertise and investigative reporting skills have helped break some of the biggest auto-safety stories of the past several years.

Teach Your Child to Read With Phonics

2007-11-10T00:21:00.000-05:00

It's never to early to teach your child to read. With all of the competition that your child will face as they get older, giving them as much as a head start as possible is something you want to be sure to do. The article below discusses teaching your child to read with the use of phonics. This is very important, as reading is a foundation that when learned early in life, will benefit your child tremedously. I hope you enjoy the article.

Learn to Read with Phonics:
A Good Tool
by Cathy Caughman

More Details at: http://www.talking-letters.com

Because early childhood is an exciting and stimulus pacted period of our lives, children need and even demand information, tools for making sense of their world. Children know that that is where the secrets are hidden. Children are wondering why mom is smiling while she sits with that book all by herself.

Children show, very early, in their drawings that symbols are becoming very important to them. They recognize that symbols have meaning. Look closely, you'll see a cross, a sun shape, a line, a circle, a broken line. Because the child is physically able to produce these symbols, his brain is ready. This is the perfect time in a human's life to present his language. The next step is order, taking those symbols and giving them meaning, sound, and phonics.

A good tool is a satisfying possession and that is exactly what owning a word structure is, a good tool. Phonics strengthens us because the tools provide a guide to deciphering the written word. Once the child has learned the sound for each consonant and vowel he is ready to spell with the written symbol the object that he has seen. I see a dog, I can spell d-o-g. He can see the word dog and can decipher the word to read dog.

A strong foundation gives the confidence to successfully tackle unfamiliar words. Spelling will become easier with an understanding of phonics. The phonics knowledge you give your child will follow him throughout his life.

About the Author
Cathy Caughman, Signal Mountain, TN, USA
info@talking-letters.com
http://www.talking-letters.com

A teacher since the 70's, Cathy Caughman is co-founder of the Mountainwood Learning Center in Signal Mountain, Tennessee. The highly acclaimed Center uses the "Talking Letters" program to teach phonetic reading skills to 3 and 4-year-olds. Their time-tested, proven system for teaching children to read is now available on DVD at www.talking-letters.com.

Hey Moms -- Blogging Pays!

2007-11-09T00:00:00.000-05:00

It is just amazing how the internet has become a revenue stream for so many people! I was reading an article the other day about a mom in Scotland that created a blog she wrote on motherhood when she had her baby 18 months ago and now she has a book deal to publish her blog!

I also saw on the nightly news the other night how two moms in Northern VA decided to create a podcast of their conversations that they called Mommycast -- next thing you know, Dixie paper products heard their podcast and offered them a $200,000 sponsorship to be displayed on their website and heard on their podcast!

One more blog money making opportunity I've heard of is with a site named PayPerPost where you sign up to provide reviews of other blogs and websites on your blog; the companies or site owners requesting the review pay you for the review. One blogger has earned over $15K reviewing sites!

The bottom line is, if you want to earn money online, blogging is definitely a great way to do it!

AquaDots Recalled

2007-11-07T22:15:00.000-05:00

A couple of days ago I wrote about Toys R Us listing the top toys for the 2007 holiday season, and one of the items was AquaDots by Spinmaster. Well, today Aquadots were recalled and shipments of the product are being halted due the finding that when the beads (or dots) were ingested, children were having reactions similar to those of people that have been given the date rape drug and were becoming unconscious, comatose or having seizures. This recall is due to the fact that an approved process for making the toy beads was not followed and an unauthorized chemical was used to spray the dots. For more information on the AquaDots recall, click here.

Top Toys for the 2007 Holiday Season

2007-11-05T23:36:00.000-05:00

The votes are in -- Toys R Us has come up with their annual "Fabulous" list of hot new toys for the 2007 holiday season -- and they are (drumroll, please!):

Amazon.com Widgets

Your Kid's Favorite Videos On Your PC

2007-11-04T17:01:00.000-05:00

Have you ever been on a trip and don't have your kid's favorite videos handy, but you do have your laptop? Well Amazon.com has a pretty neat service called Amazon Unbox. With this service, you can download some of your child's favorite videos to watch right on your computer via the Amazon Unbox Player. Popular programs such as Dora the Explorer, Cyberchase, Yogi Bear, Scooby Doo, The Wiggles and more are available for instant download for just $1.99 per episode. Plus, these are not rentals, you own these episodes once you purchase them for your child to watch over and over again (like you know they do!) I have used this service to download Cyberchase and Arthur videos for my son and he loves it -- they even had some episodes that he had not seen before on TV. To see an example of some of the items offered on Amazon Unbox, select any of the shows below, then press the play button to view a sample.

Amazon.com Widgets

Free Toy Video Demos on Amazon

2007-11-03T18:03:00.000-04:00

Can you believe it? There are only 51 days left until Christmas and Thanksgiving is around the corner too! It's time to start Christmas shopping now for the perfect toys for your child so you can beat the last minute holiday rush!

With so many toys out there to choose from, have you ever wanted to see how a toy works before you bought it? Well Amazon.com has come up with a great tool just in time for this holiday season that offers just that type of service. Amazon has come up with toy video demonstrations of some of the most popular baby and kids toys that you can preview before you buy them! Even if you don't buy from the Amazon site, this is a really cool tool that you can use to help you make your decision on if the toy you are thinking about purchasing is the right toy for your child. Visit Amazon.com today and view the videos -- you won't be sorry; Happy Christmas toy shopping!

Cheap Educational Kid's Toys

2007-11-02T23:37:00.000-04:00

I just love Chick-Fil-A! Not only do they have great chicken sandwiches, but they also have cool educational toys for toddlers and kids in their kid's meals. They offer items such as children's software, children's look and learn books, educational CDs and more. One of the best things about these items is that you don't have to buy a kid's meal to get them. You can visit the Chick-Fil-A website and go to their shop and purchase the items directly! Most of the items are under $6 and are very interesting to the kids. Visit the Kid's Meal Premium section of the Chick-Fil-A online store for their current offerings. Happy shopping!

Sick Baby? When to Call the Doctor

2007-11-01T23:34:00.004-04:00

It's that time of year again when colds abound and babies unfortunately sometimes get sick. It's always disheartening to see your precious baby in a miserable state, and you of course do everything you can to get them immediate relief; however, it's important to know when you should call your baby's doctor. The Mayo Clinic has come up with the following quick, useful listing of baby ailments and recommendations on when you should call their doctor.

Sick baby? When to call the doctor

Your baby can't tell you when something hurts. Sometimes normal fussiness and mild illnesses are tough to distinguish from more serious problems. Here's when to call the doctor — and when to seek emergency care.

Making the call. Occasional illnesses are usually nothing to worry about. But if you're concerned about your baby's crying or your baby isn't eating, sleeping or behaving like usual, a call to the doctor may be in order. Be on the lookout for specific signs and symptoms:

Changes in appetite. If your baby refuses several feedings or eats poorly, contact your baby's doctor.

Changes in mood. If your baby is lethargic or unusually difficult to rouse, tell the doctor right away. Also let the doctor know if your baby is persistently irritable or has inconsolable crying jags.

Changes in skin color. If your baby's skin becomes yellowish or you notice a bluish color around your baby's lips or nails, contact the doctor right away.

Tender navel or penis. Contact the doctor if your baby's umbilical area or penis suddenly becomes red or starts to ooze or bleed.

Fever. Mild fevers are common and usually harmless, but it's important to keep an eye on the thermometer. Contact the doctor if your baby is younger than age 2 months and has a rectal temperature of 100.4 F or higher or if your older infant has an oral or ear temperature of 102 F or higher.

Diarrhea. Breast-fed babies typically have soft stools. Contact the doctor if your baby's stools are especially loose or watery for six to eight diaper changes.

Vomiting. Occasional spitting up is normal. Contact the doctor if your baby begins to spit up a large portion of every feeding or vomit forcefully after feedings.

Dehydration. Contact the doctor if your baby doesn't wet a diaper for six hours or longer or if the soft spot on top of your baby's head seems to sink. Crying without tears also warrants a prompt call to the doctor.

Constipation. If your baby suddenly cries during a bowel movement, passes bloody or jelly-like stools, or has fewer bowel movements than usual for a few days, contact the doctor.

Upper respiratory infections. Contact the doctor if your baby has a cold that interferes with breathing or feeding, or if the cold is accompanied by severe coughing or discolored phlegm.

Ear pain. Contact the doctor if your baby pulls at one or both ears, fails to respond to loud sounds, or has drainage from one or both ears.
Rash. Contact the doctor if a diaper rash or patch of eczema becomes red and raw, or if your baby suddenly develops an unexplained rash — especially if the rash is accompanied by a fever.

Eye discharge. If one or both eyes are pink, red, swollen or leaking sticky fluid, contact the doctor.

Minor injuries. As your baby gains mobility, he or she will become more accident-prone. If you're unsure how to treat a minor cut, bruise or burn, call the doctor for advice.

Above all, trust your instincts. If you think you should call the doctor, go ahead.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

Sometimes there isn't time to call your baby's doctor. Seek emergency care for:

Bleeding that can't be stopped

Poisoning

Seizures

Trouble breathing

High fever

Head injuries

Sudden lethargy or inability to move

Choking

Unresponsiveness

BE PREPARED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS

Whether you contact your baby's doctor or seek emergency care, be prepared to help the medical staff understand what's happening with your baby. Expect questions about:

Your baby's symptoms. Why did you decide to seek medical attention now?

Your baby's medical history. Does your baby have any known allergies? Are your baby's immunizations current? Does your baby have any chronic conditions? Has your baby been exposed to illness at home or elsewhere? Has your baby been injured?

Changes in your baby's feeding and bowel movements. Have you noticed changes in your baby's eating or drinking patterns, in the number of wet diapers, or in the number and consistency of bowel movements?

Changes in your baby's temperament. Has your baby ever acted like this before? What concerns do you have about your baby's behavior?

Changes in your baby's temperature. Does your baby have a fever? What is your baby's temperature? How did you take your baby's temperature?

Home remedies and medications. Have you tried any home remedies or given your baby any over-the-counter or prescription medications? If so, what, how much and when?

Knowing the answers to these important questions will save you and your baby's doctor time — and stress — during an office visit or emergency situation.

Online Baby Birth Announcement Ideas

2007-10-28T23:42:00.000-04:00

Congratulations! You’re a new parent and you’ve brought your precious, beautiful baby into the world. You want to shout from the rooftops that you have this wonderful bundle of joy and you are so proud! You have seen or heard about online birth announcements before, and realize that they are a quick, easy, and no hassle way of spreading the news of the birth of your precious baby. Below we’ll outline ways you can share your baby photos online or create your own online birth announcements.

The easiest way to create an online birth announcement is to go to a site that already has birth announcement templates for you to choose from. There are free birth announcement websites where all you do is upload a baby photo and some information and you are set to go, and there are other birth announcement websites that present you with the opportunity to create mini-journals of your baby, usually for a fee. There are sites that specialize in birth announcements that spotlight your religious preference or even for your favorite sports teams. From traditional to unique and even humorous, there is a birth announcement service out there for everyone.

Sharing Baby Photos Using a Free Online Photo Album Service

Another method for creating your own birth announcement website is to use one of the free photo album services offered online. For instance, iPhoto for Apple users provides the ability to upload pictures from a digital camera directly onto your own Apple hosted website.

Another online service, Shutterfly.com, lets you create customized baby announcements, share pictures online with friends and family, and create unique photo keepsakes and gifts such as coffee mugs, mousepads, calendars and more. Right now, they are offering a special where you can get 15 FREE prints just for trying Shutterfly's service.

With your digital camera, you can also upload your pictures to Wal-Mart.com where you can view the pictures and even send your baby photos to your local Wal-mart store for photo processing in an hour so you can get photo prints for your own offline baby photo album.

Sharing Baby Photos with Your Digital Camera Software

Most of the digital camera manufacturers come with their own software that allows you to share photos also. For instance, HP offers a Share-to-Web software application allows you to upload your photos from your digital camera to a unique website that you can give out to your friends and family. HP’s software also gives you the ability to email the photos without sending them as attachments or sending them as thumbnails attached to the email.

Sharing Baby Photos Over Instant Messenger

If you want instant gratification, the Yahoo! Messenger service now offers the ability to send pictures over your instant messaging program so you can just upload your baby photos and send them instantly! Visit http://messenger.yahoo.com for further information.

Nifty Baby Crib Blanket

2007-10-27T10:39:00.000-04:00

While browsing the internet, I found a nifty new product that a mom created -- the SnapCozy crib blanket. This blanket gives your baby the freedom to move around while asleep, without becoming uncovered. The new baby blanket also has a special seam sewn into it that prevents the baby from sliding their head under the crib blanket. This offers a great alternative to baby blanket sleepers. It retails for around $70. You can find more information on the SnapCozy crib blanket by visiting the SnapCozy website.

Feeling All Alone Out There? Don't!

2007-10-26T23:01:00.000-04:00

Have your kids ever done something that makes you feel like "I've got to be the only one out here that is going through this!" Does your baby do something unique that you just have to brag about? Are you a stay at home mom with very little social outlets and wish you had a group of other moms to bond with? If so, then maybe you should try a new social newtorking site for moms - CafeMom. CafeMom offers forums and message boards for moms to discuss things they have in common, as well as features such as a marketplace where you can buy and sell items such as used baby clothes and equipment, toys or anything you can think of. Registration is free and easy, so go ahead, get networking with other moms today!

Bumbo Baby Seats Recalled

2007-10-26T00:04:00.000-04:00

If you are using a Bumbo baby seat, be aware that they have been recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission due to 28 reported cases of baby head injuries, some including skull fractures. This is apparently due to the the baby seat being placed on elevated surfaces (such as kitchen tables) and the babies then moving in a manner which makes the seat unstable. The full story regarding the Bumbo seat recall can be found here.

Baby Pacifiers -- Do You Use Them?

2007-10-25T22:37:00.001-04:00

From what I understand, there is a lot of debate regarding whether the use of baby pacifiers is ok, or whether it does harm to your baby. Since babies are born wanting to suck and the sucking seems to soothe them, I personally don't see the harm in using them. I actually tried to use one, but my son wouldn't take it; however, I know people that swear by using pacifiers and wouldn't be caught without one. If you're undecided, the Mayo Clinic has come up with a useful list of do's and don'ts of using baby pacifiers that may assist you with your decision.

Interactive Birth Announcement Journal

2007-10-24T14:14:00.000-04:00

I just found a cool website that offers a creative, fun and FREE way to share the birth of your new baby, and all of the precious moments and events of your child’s life thereafter; OurStory.com. This site offers the ability to generate a timeline of your special events, complete with pictures, video and descriptions that you provide. You can then send email notifications to relatives, friends and other people that you would like to share your event with, and they can even comment on your event and it will become part of your timeline (of course, you decide who gets to see and comment on the events in your timeline). In addition to those great features, you also have the option of displaying your timeline on your own website or blog, and you can download a backup copy of your timeline to your computer to burn keepsake CDs and memory books. These make great personalized gifts!
Plus, the possiblities for this service are endless, as they can also be used to share events such as adoptions, reunions, marriages, family vacations, family experiences, dating, home purchases, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, proms, memoirs, family recipes, achievements, retirements, and more.

Like I said, the best thing about this service is that it is completely FREE! The registration process is really quick and easy too; all you have to do to sign up is provide a first and last name, username and password and you’re all set! I highly recommend this service, but don’t just take it from me, Parenting magazine gave this service a thumbs up as well. I started my own timeline today; you can see my example below. Happy Announcing!

Start your own timeline at OurStory.com

If Laughter is the Best Medicine...

2007-10-24T08:45:00.000-04:00

Then this baby will be well forever! I found this cute baby video on YouTube and just had to share it. Watch it once and it will lift your spirits!

Caution -- Raisin Bran Causes Habitual Lying!

2007-10-22T23:03:00.000-04:00

The other day, my seven year old son was eating a bowl of Raisin Bran (his favorite cereal I might add) and reading the box. After a while, he looked up at me with a serious face and said with all sincerity, "Mommy, I know I lie sometimes, but I can't help it -- I love Raisin Bran and it says right here on the box 'Two Scoops, Excellent Source of Fibber' ".

Consider yourself warned :-)

Suri Cruise is Spoiled -- Stop the Presses!

2007-10-22T22:14:00.000-04:00

I recently read an article mentioning that a close friend of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes has said that their daughter Suri is spoiled and gets whatever she wants most times. And this is shocking news because... oh wait, it's NOT shocking! This is the first baby for Katie and Tom (together) and there is bound to be a little "giving in" every now and then. How many of us parents have had moments where it was just easier to give in than have a "mental meltdown" from the temper tantrum that ensues when our child doesn't get their way? I applaud those of you who are saying "I never give in", but also ask you to please check your nose for a little sudden growth that has bound to have happened as a result of such a bold statement! :-)

Of course, giving in to a child ALL of the time is not healthy for the parent or the child, but every now and then, giving in as a "sanity saver" is not only OK, but human. So go ahead Tom and Katie, keep sanity alive!

Do Cute Kids Get the Benefit of Better Parenting?

2007-10-22T21:55:00.000-04:00

Apparently so... or so a Canadian researcher from the University of Alberta has concluded. It appears that Dr. Andrew Harrell observed several families with siblings around the same age in a grocery store over a period of time and found that the "cuter" a child was, the more likely the parents were to strap the child into the shopping cart and keep tabs on them, whereas their "not as cute" siblings were allowed to wander off further in the store and not garner as much attention.

Of course, when the observations were mentioned to some of the parents, the parents said they loved and treated all of their children the same. Dr. Harrell is unconvinced.

So You Think Your Labor Was Hard....

2007-10-01T11:48:00.000-04:00

I just read a story about a woman in Russia who just gave birth to her 12th child -- and if that weren't enough, the child weighed 17 pounds! Of course, the child was delivered via c-section, but still, oh baby, what a baby! You can read the full story here.

A Mom's Day in 2 Minutes - Must See!

2007-09-29T21:04:00.000-04:00

I ran across this video the other day and thought AMEN! this is what it's like to be a mom! A woman has managed to condense down into 2 minutes most of the things a typical mom would say during the day. The video is hilarious!

A Mom's Day in 2 Minutes

The $4 Million Photo Birth Announcement

2006-06-08T21:44:00.000-04:00

Of course, I'm talking about the debut of Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt in People Magazine. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt reportedly sold the rights to publish photos of their daughter, Shiloh for an estimated $4 million dollars. In line with their generousity and philanthropy, they have said they will donate the money to a charity organization.

Only celebrities as big as Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt could garner such a big bounty for a photo birth announcement. It's nice to see that they are going to put the money to good use by helping the less fortunate.

Congratulations on the birth of Shiloh Brad and Angelina!

Breastfeeding Your Baby

2006-06-01T21:33:00.000-04:00

The studies are overwhelming - if you are physically able and willing to breastfeed your baby, it's the best food for baby's early days of life. That doesn't that your baby won't thrive perfectly well on formula if that's what you need use, but simply that breast milk is preferable if at all possible. Although this article is written specifically about breastfeeding, many of the suggestions made here will also apply to bottle-feeding, so read on!

For the first few days of baby's life, mum produces a substance much thicker and creamier than milk, which is called colostrum. Even if you don't nurse your baby, see if you can collect some of this colostrum through expressing, as it's wonderful food, full of nutrients and other good stuff for baby. If you're nursing, it will most likely be that you need to feed your baby frequently, and on demand, for these early days.

When babies are born their digestive system is very underdeveloped, and it takes a little while for baby to get used to having food pass through his system. Many babies seem to automatically regular their intake of food, almost as if they know their stomachs need time to get then hang of food. Small, frequent feeds helps get the digestive system up and running without overwhelming it.

After about 1-2 weeks, the baby's digestive system should have settled down, and you can start to work on creating a feeding routine. Most new babies work well on a schedule of feeds every 3-4 hours. Now, this doesn't mean that you start a stopwatch at the end of one feed, and refuse to feed baby again until the correct amount of time has passed! It does mean, though, that you can try and plan your day with a view to needing to feed your baby at about those intervals. Also, if baby grumbles in between feeds, it's worth trying to find other ways through it, stretching the gap between feeds, until you reach somewhere around 3-4 hours. Apart from anything else, this means that you're not tied down to always feeding baby. It also means that your body gets to rest and make more milk, and baby's stomach is given time to digest each feed before having another one.

If you find that baby just can't seem to go 3-4 hours between feeds by the time he's a month old, it may be worth checking this with your health professional. Not all breast milk is the same, and it may be that either you're not producing enough to keep baby satisfied, or perhaps that the milk's quality isn't quite sufficient for baby's needs. Sometimes in this type of situation a little supplementation may be required. Only do this with guidance, however.

From this point on almost every baby comes up with its own schedule for feeding, but the first big advance is to go without a night feed. You can progressively work on moving the last feed at night to around 10.00 or 11.00pm. Initially that means you'll get woken for a feed around 2.00 or 3.00am, and again for an early feed around 6.00 or 7.00am. The good thing, though, is that at some point the 3.00am feed will stop, and you'll be able to get a stretch of unbroken sleep for 7-8 hours. Bliss! Of course, the first time it happens, you'll probably wake up at 4.00am anyway, and race into baby's room in a panic because you're sure something's happened to him!

You can start to think about introducing solid foods somewhere around 6 months of age. Sometimes you can start a little earlier, and sometimes you need to wait another month or two. But that's a topic for a whole new article!

One of the most important things to remember in breastfeeding is YOU. If you're tired, or unwell, or stressed, your body will struggle to produce enough high quality milk to feed your baby. It's vital that you eat well, rest whenever you can and just generally look after yourself. Both you and your baby will be much happier that way.

For more useful breastfeeding hints, visit Info About Baby You can sign up for a FREE Baby Tips newsletter at Baby Tips Newsletter. The author's book about babies is available at Baby's First Year

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Heather_Owens

Your Baby's Physical Development

2006-05-31T22:57:00.000-04:00

The Pathways Awareness Foundation has developed a guide that details how your baby should be developing over the 15 months of their life. The Assure the Best for Your Baby's Physical Development checklist details Typical Speech Development, Typical Play Development, and Typical Physical Development for your baby up to 15 months. The guide also details things to be aware of that your baby may not be following a normal development cycle.

While this is a guide to raise awareness on typical infant development, please raise any concerns that you may have with your pediatrician, as each child is different and what is typical for most doesn't especially mean that your child has a disability or deficiency because they do not fit typical criteria.

For more infomration on the Pathways Awareness Foundation, visit them at http://www.pathwaysawareness.org or call them toll free at 1-800-955-CHILD (2445).

Baby Jolie Pitt Born

2006-05-29T23:22:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt on the birth of their daughter, Shiloh Nouvel. Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt was born in Namibia and is being offered Namibian citizenship. Shiloh is a biblical name and meas "the peaceful one" in Hebrew.

The press has been kept at bay for the birth so the couple can retain their privacy. I feel this is absolutely wonderful! I so appreciate seeing a celebrity such as Angelina Jolie with such a caring and philanthropic heart. I truly believe that she has found her calling in life and is making and will continue to make a huge difference in the lives of so many unfortunate, needy people. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have also reportedly given over $315,000 in donations to help the less fortunate children in the African nation with health care and schooling.

Once again, congratulations to and best wishes to a most deserving couple on the birth of their precious baby, Shiloh.

Baby Blues Parenting Comic Strip

2006-05-27T00:41:00.000-04:00

I was searching on the internet today and found this cute website that offers a humorous depiction of parenting woes and kid perspectives in a comic strip. The website is Baby Blues and when you need a chuckle, check it out.

Child Safety Seats -- Forward or Rear Facing?

2006-05-17T23:37:00.000-04:00

A controversy of the positioning of child safety seats has been sparked once again, this time by Britney Spears.

Apparently Britney was caught driving the highway with her 8-month old infant riding forward facing in his child safety seat. In the state of California where Britney lives, the law requires that infants under 6 years old and weighing under 60 pounds be restrained in a child safety seat in the rear of the car, which Spears had complied with. However, part of the California child safety seat law also requires that the federal guidelines regarding the positioning of child safety seats be complied with as well, and that law suggests that infants ride in the the back seat of the car in a rear-facing position; Spears had her baby facing forward.

At one time or another, most parents probably made the mistake of not having their child in the recommended safety seat position; to ensure you have your child in the proper seat and position, be sure to check the child safety seat manufacturers recommendations, your state law, and the federal law. If after checking those resources you are still puzzled, your local fire and police departments can assist you with getting your safety seat positioned safely and securely in your vehicle.

Choosing a Baby Stroller

2006-05-16T22:08:00.000-04:00

With all of the different types of baby strollers on the market, it can be quite a chore deciding which one to buy. Are the type of mom that has a daily exercise routine that you can't bear to give up, but you still want to find time to expose your baby to the beautiful sunlight? If so, maybe a jogging stroller would be the right choice for you. Are you the type of mom that always has lots of places to go and things to do with baby in tow and you need the flexibility of a fold-and-go baby stroller that you can just open and close with the switch of a button? Then maybe a baby stroller travel system is the right choice for you.

Whatever your needs, there is a baby stroller for you. ConsumerReports.org has put together a wonderful article that addresses most of the important things moms are concerned with when buying a stroller -- cost, safety, reliability and usability. You can view the ConsumerReports.org article, "Strollers: How to Choose" by clicking here.

Happy stroller shopping!

Designer Babies

2006-05-16T00:15:00.000-04:00

It appears that parents are coming from all over the world to the US to take advantage of new technology that will allow them to choose the sex of their babies. This baby gender selection service costs around $19,000, and I guess these parents consider that a small price to pay to guarantee a baby boy or baby girl.

I have to admit I was pretty set on having a baby girl for as long as I can remember and always dreamed that I would have a daughter, but when I found out I was having a son, I was just so elated to be having baby that the fact that it was a little boy didn't matter. I am so happy with my baby boy that I can't imagine what life would be without him.

The fact of the matter is that there is already free baby gender selection, and it is determined by God. God knows exactly if we should have a baby boy or baby girl and why, even if we don't.

Happy Mother's Day!

2006-05-14T19:13:00.000-04:00

To all of the mother's out there in cyberspace, MyPreciousBaby.com wishes you a very Happy Mother's Day!

Did you ever wonder where Mother's Day originated from? Well, I was, and found a really good historical background on this wonderful holiday on Wikipedia's Mother's Day page. It was interesting to see that there is some sort of Mother's Day celebration all over the world at one point or another, but not surprising; I mean, without our mothers, where would we be? :-)

Baby and Infant Crib Safety

2006-05-13T23:30:00.000-04:00

How safe is your baby crib? The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that if your crib doesn't meet the following specifications, you should throw it out:

1. A firm, tight-fitting mattress

2. No loose, missing, or broken hardware or slats

3. No more than 2 3/8" between the slats (about the width of a soda can)

4. No corner posts over 1/16" high

5. No cutout designs in the headboard or footboard

Also, be sure that your crib bedding doesn't contain soft materials or objects like pillows, quilts or comforters.

When using blankets, make sure they are tucked in around the crib mattress so that the infant’s face is less likely to become covered by bedding. Infant sleep sacks are a wonderful alternative to blankets and offer the right amount of warmth without the risk of the baby's head becoming covered.

For more information on baby safety in general, visit the Parenting Center at the American Academy of Pediatrics website.

Most Popular Baby Names - 2006

2006-05-12T17:04:00.000-04:00

It appears that Emily and Jacob are still the most popular baby names, according to the Social Security Administration. This is Emily's appearance on the most popular baby names list for the 10th year in a row!

It appears that while Jacob has not had the running that Emily has, it is one of the most popular biblical baby names with Michael, Joshua, and Mattthew being equally popular.

Are you looking for the most popular baby names? If so, visit the MyPreciousBaby.com top 100 baby names page for lots of baby name resources.

Baby TV is Here!

2006-05-11T18:05:00.000-04:00

I read today that a cable channel dedicated to round-the-clock programming for babies is debuting today! The channel, BabyFirstTV, is available for DirectTV subscribers for $9.99 a month; cable subscription options are coming soon.

BabyFirstTV is said to have 80% original programming, and they will supplement with content from DVDs and book reading segments.

Interested? You can read the full article on this here.

Celebrity Babies

2006-04-20T21:12:00.000-04:00

They're all over the place! Celebrities having babies -- I can name five right of the top of my head -- from Gwenyth Paltrow, to Brooke Sheilds, to Katie Holmes, to Gwen Stefani, to Angelina Jolie, it seems to be baby time in Hollywood. So why does this seem like such a noteworthy phenomenom and capture the interest of women everywhere? I guess because it is something that most women can relate to, and that you don't need a lot of money or fame to feel like you are part of the "in" crowd. You hear about their apprehensions of motherhood and pregnancy stories and can easily relate. You can even find out the latest celebrity trends in buying baby clothes and baby products and sometimes even be able to buy the same item because they aren't that out of reach financially.

I suppose the most popular baby of the moment is Suri, the baby girl conceived by Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. There was lots of talk around the "silent birthing" technique they planned on using during the delivery that stirred up a bunch of controversy, but in the end, don't we all just want to have our birthing experience be the best that we can have for both ourselves and our babies? Maybe silent birthing is something foreign to most women outside of Scientology, but hey, if it got Katie through the birthing process with a minimal amount of stress and she, Tom and baby Suri are happy, then it was the right choice for them. We all have done things at times that seem unconventional to most, but work just perfectly for us and our families.

In the grand scheme of things, watching celebrities going through pregnancies can be interesting and entertaining, but doing what is best for yourself and your family is what counts most.

Baby Eczema Problems?

2006-04-04T21:54:00.000-04:00

When my son was born, he had dry patches of skin on his face that really seemed to bother him. He would try to scratch his face, but because he was so young, he wasn't quite coordinated enough to do it. Of course, I didn't want him to poke himself or accidently scratch his eyes, so I put those cute little baby mitts they gave me at the hospital on him.

I took him to the doctor and found out that he had baby eczema. I don't have a history of eczema in my family, but found out that it is quite common among newborns and children typically grow out of it. The doctor prescribed some hydrocortisone cream for him, but I really didn't want to use that since it had some steroidal components and my son was just a few months old. I went to a determatologist to get a second opinion and they suggested that I try Aquafor, Eucerin, Cetaphil, Gold Bond or good old fashioned vaseline. I tried them all, and they worked for a while, but not really long term. I then read up on a product line called Pure Baby that sold eczema baby bath, eczema cream and cradle cap shampoo. I had the hardest time finding it but finally found it in a Rite Aid drugstore. So many people swore by it that I just had to try it. Well, I tried it and it worked really well and provided my son with lots of relief, at least for a while.

After trying all of those remedies, I broke down and used the hydrocortisone cream. I must admit, it did work, and I only had to use it for a few applications, every now and then. It provided the greatest relief for my son out of all of the products that I tried.

Have you had a similar problem? What did you find was the most effective treatment?

Baby Einstein DVD and Video Review

2006-04-01T20:28:00.000-05:00

Created by Julie Aigner-Clark, a mother and teacher, the Baby Einstein series is an extremely popular collection of classical music and stimulating images of brightly colored toys and known objects that aid in the audio presentation of child-friendly arrangements and sound effects.

The Baby Einstein Product Line

The Baby Einstein product line consists of educational videos, dvds, music cds, books and toys, all aimed at giving your baby a head start in their life and stimulating their intellect. Listed below are descriptions of various educational products offered in the Baby Einstein product line.

The Baby Einstein DVD and Video Collection

The Baby Einstein DVD and Video collection offers a wide variety of stimulating pictures and images that teach likenesses, categorizations, groupings and families, with wonderfully soothing background music, usually classical in nature.

For example, the Baby Einstein "Baby Noah" DVD features animals in their natural habitats from different parts of the globe. From elephants and tigers in savannahs, to penguins, caribou and polar bears in the north pole, to koala bears, lizards and kangaroos in the outback, Baby Einstein showcases both adult and baby animals in their natural surroundings.

In between the live animal images, there are colorful, playful puppet shows and lift-the-flap book-style images that show storybook images of some of the showcased animals along with their names.

The Baby Einstein Music CD Collection

The Baby Einstein Music CD collection offers mentally stimulating, yet calm and relaxing musical concertos by some of the most renowned classical music composers such as Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart. Each Baby Einstein CD is focused on a certain genre and encourages the development of your baby's verbal ability, spatial intelligence, creativity, intuition, and memory. There are music CDs that include nursery rhymes, lullabies and even foreign languages to stimulate your baby’s intellect.

The Baby Einstein Book Collection

The Baby Einstein Book collection consist of books that stimulate babies both mentally and physically. For instance, the Baby Einstein Chunky Board Book Collection features a beautiful collection of babies in art, illustration and pictures. The Babies Chunky Board Book shows Baby Einstein characters in colorful, joyful scenes and allows your baby to look at images of other babies like themselves. The Baby Einstein Birds Chunky Board Book celebrates birds in and out of their natural environments. The Baby Einstein Cats Chunky Board Book introduces your baby to different types of cats inside and outside of the home. The Baby Einstein Dogs Chunky Board Book presents your child with images of dogs in cute and delightful scenes being man’s best friend.

Baby Einstein also offers books that include other unique items such as mirrors, shapes, textures, and puzzle pieces, all to stimulate your baby in a positive, educational manner.

The Baby Einstein Toy Collection and Other Educational Items

In addition to the Baby Einstein DVD, Book and Music collections, Baby Einstein also designs toys such as puzzles, balls and learning cubes to enhance your baby’s learning. One wonderful item that Baby Einstein features is a Discover & Play Activity gym that features Baby Einstein characters on a mat that your baby would lay on with delightful plush characters hanging above. The gym also features a star-shaped light that dances to classical music playing in the background. The activity mat is also so wonderful that it earned the National Parenting Center Seal of Approval in 2003.

Baby Einstein also offers other educational baby items such as flash cards, alphabet and number building blocks, and melody mirrors to name a few, that will keep your baby happy with hours of play, educational learning and enjoyment!

Have you bought any Baby Einstein products? What is your impression of them?

Cesarean Section (C Section) or Vaginal Birth?

2006-04-01T00:45:00.000-05:00

I was watching the Today Show yesterday morning and they were doing a piece on how cesarean sections (also known as "C Sections") are on the rise. The rise seems to be resulting from women wanting more control over when they actually have their babies, rather than medical necessity. When I was pregnant, I had high borderline high blood pressure and my doctor decided to induce me three weeks early. The inducement didn't go quite as planned, and since they had already broken my water and I had only mild contractions, they decided that they would have to do a c-section. I had read stories previously about women having c-sections and that only half of them got numb with the epideral and they felt the pain, and I wasn't crazy about having it. But to my pleasant surprise, the c-section went flawlessly and painlessly. I remember being awake and feeling a little out of it from the pain killer they gave me, but other than that, it went very well. I was in out within 25 mintues with no complications. My doctor was very pleased with the results, and I was too. I had a healthy baby boy and all was well.

My recovery went smoothly, and my doctor actually used surgical tape on me, so the tape just came off naturally by itself; I didn't have to have any stitches or staples removed. I do remember the ride home from the hospital over some bumpy roads being uncomfortable, and going up and down stairs wasn't the most painless thing in the world, but hey, I had just had surgery, what did I expect? :-)

My C section was not a planned or by choice, but I don't blame women who want to have them voluntarily. As a matter of fact, I was so pleased with my C section, I have actually thought that I might just have my next child that way as well. I do, however, wonder what a vaginal delivery would have been like.

What do you think? Have you had a C section voluntarily? If so, would you recommend it to other mothers?

Selling Baby Clothes on eBay

2006-03-29T20:24:00.001-05:00

Need Extra Money? Buy and Sell Your Gently Used Baby Clothing, Car Seats, Strollers, Toys, Books and Products on eBay!

So, you had your precious baby, and you couldn't resist -- all of those cute and beautiful baby dresses, rompers, suits, jean sets, christening gowns, onesies and unique designer baby clothes (like Tommy Hilfiger) that called to you when you were in the Gap, Old Navy, Osh Kosh or Little Me. Not to mention the countless baby clothes that relatives gave you that weren't quite your style, or too big or too small for your baby and still have the price tags on them, never worn.

Well, if you have these baby clothes taking up lots of space in various closets and dressers around the house and thought you would just have to take a loss on these baby items, think again! There is a thriving used baby goods market on eBay, the world's biggest yard sale, garage sale and online auction. If you've got a used baby item, chances are you can sell it on eBay. There are sections on eBay for used baby boy and baby girl clothing for each stage of your baby's life -- 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 2T, 3T, 4T, and 5T. Not only that, but you can also sell your maternity clothes on eBay too!

Have an old car seat, stroller, old or antique baby toys that aren't being used anymore? Have unused diapers, baby bottles, breast pumps or baby toys that have not been used? You can also sell these items on eBay. I have even seen listings for unused leftover birth announcements! I'm telling you, if you've got it, you can sell it on eBay.

Best of all, the process for listing your baby items is easy. All you need to do is sign up to be a seller (it's free), take photos of your items and post them, write a description and you're in business.

Now that we've talked about the benefits of selling your baby clothes online, let's talk about the other side of the coin, buying gently used baby clothes and baby items online. Just as you are selling nice gently used baby clothes, other moms around the country are selling their baby clothes and baby items at bargain prices. Since babies and kids grow so quickly, buying used baby clothes and even used car seats, high chairs and strollers can be a great way to get nice beautiful clothes and baby accessories and save money at the same time. Buying used baby items is just as simple as selling them, if not simpler. Just sign up as a buyer (its free also), search eBay for the baby item you would like and place a bid. Don't want to wait for an auction to end or really want that baby item you see? Search eBay for items with the "Buy It Now" logo and you can just select the baby item and pay for it outright. It's just that simple.

Ready to start buying or selling or even just want to see what's online? Even if you don't want to bid on, buy or sell anything now, you can register on eBay for free (it only takes 2 minutes) so when you want to sell in the future, you'll be all set! The registration process is quick and easy. Visit eBay for more details.

Breast Milk or Baby Formula?

2006-03-28T13:19:00.000-05:00

For me, it was baby formula. Not because I was too lazy to breastfeed, was afraid of the pain or didn't try, but not only wouldn't my baby latch on as much as I tried, when I used a pump to try and extract breast milk, I found that I just wasn't producing enough to sustain my baby. I was very disappointed when I couldn't breastfeed. I had read all of the articles talking about how breast milk is best and provides all of these nutrients and antibodies that formula doesn't, how babies and children who breastfeed are less likely to have ear infections, and sometimes seem to be smarter. Not to mention the fact that I wanted to have that maternal bond with my child that I heard other breastfeeding mothers talking about. Yes, it was a disappointment, but it wasn't the end of the world. Baby formulas have come a long way since I was a baby, and they have all kinds out there for babies with special conditions like lactose intolerance, acid reflux or that have extra nutrient needs. My son actually was lactose intolerant, so I was really happy to see the lactose free formulas on the market. I used the Enfamil LactoFree; but Similac also makes a lactose free formula, as do many of the other baby formula manufacturers.

There were also several choices in how I could get the formula -- ready-to-feed, instant powder, concentrated liquid, or even individual travel packs. I have to say I especially liked the convenience of being able to use the ready to feed formulas where I could just open the can, pour and feed (although it was definetely not the most economical option) and the travel packs came in handy when I had errands to run or went on trips.

All in all, I was pretty satisfied with baby formulas. What has your experience been?

Cloth Diapers or Disposable Diapers?

2006-03-27T23:07:00.000-05:00

For me personally, I really liked the disposable diapers. There are lots of brands to choose from like Pampers, Huggies, Luvs, White Cloud, etc. My preference was the Pampers because I liked 1) the velcro-like closure (where if you close it the wrong way, you don't rip the diaper trying to correct it, not to mention when you just need to do a peek-a-boo to see if a change is needed!), 2) the softeness of the diaper to the skin, and 3) I just loved the powder-fresh scent that the diapers had (I know that when you first bring your baby home, the diapers aren't so offensive, but believe you me, after a while, when you're changing diapers 6 to 10 times a day, you prefer a pleasant whiff when you can get one!)

I can't really judge how cloth diapers are in comparison because I never used them. I hear they are more cost effective, but it just seemed easier to buy the disposable ones. Of course there is the whole environmental issue, where disposable diapers are filling up landfills, but you just don't tend to think about that when you have to change a dirty diaper! What do you think? Which one do you prefer?