ParentDish

Co-Sleeping Benefits for Baby and Parents

Megan Koester — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 17:46:00 EST

Co-sleeping can help the entire family rest easier. Credit: Getty

Co-sleeping -- when infants sleep in the same bed as one or more of their parents -- is gaining popularity in the United States.

When done safely, it can be a great way to get your baby sleeping through the night, and can make it easier for nursing moms to feed their infants while building a strong bond.

Here are four benefits of co-sleeping with your baby. For more information on the benefits of co-sleeping, visit Cosleeping.org.

1. Those who champion co-sleeping say it promotes bonding between babies and parents. One of the ways it does so is by making it easier for new moms to breast-feed. Frequent breast-feeding is necessary to develop the minds and motor skills of infants, and feeding them often is paramount to ensuring proper development. One study, Mothering reports, found that co-sleeping doubled the number of times infants were breast-fed through the night and tripled the duration of each breast-feeding session.

2. Co-sleeping can help prevent SIDS. Lying next to your baby in bed means you can watch your baby sleep, and the more supervision you give your infant, the less likely he or she is to succumb to the syndrome. A study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission found that just 1.5 percent of babies who die of SIDS do so while in adult beds.

3. Mothering reports studies have found that children who co-sleep with their parents develop higher self-esteem and less anxiety and guilt later in life than their crib-raised peers.

4. Co-sleeping with children can mean the whole family sleeps better. The sooner you respond to your baby's cries, the sooner you can fulfill his or her needs and get everyone back to sleep. Studies have found that new mothers get more sleep when they co-sleep with their children.

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Nursery Sets Shopping Guide

Megan Koester — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 03:35:00 EST

Filed under: Babies, Baby Essentials, Decor, Gear Guides: Pregnancy

Nursery 101's nursery set makes shopping simple. Credit: Amazon.com

When you have a new baby in the home, your heart may be full, but your pocketbook is probably empty. Clothes, accessories, diapers, nursery furniture, crib bedding ... the shopping list can seem as long as the nights you spend rocking your fussy wee one to sleep.

But since your newborn can sleep up to 18 hours a day, nursery shopping should be at the top of your list. Buying a nursery set is a quick and easy way to set up your child's room. The nursery sets on this list fit all price ranges and decors, and most include free shipping to your home. Get ready to strike another task off that list.

DaVinci Jenny Lind 3-in-1 Stationary Convertible Mobile Wood Crib Set with Changing Table in White, $287.96: The spindle details on this nursery furniture set give it a traditional look, while the crib's brass caster accents add to the set's classic charm (and make it easy to move your baby around). The crib can be transformed into a toddler-sized bed with an optional conversion kit, and the mattress can be adjusted to four levels to accommodate your baby's comfort. The crib's matching changing table also includes a waterproof changing pad.

3-Piece Nursery Set: Crib, Changer and Mattress, $299.99: This hardwood, classic nursery set was originally $699.99, but is now more than half off. It includes a crib, mattress and changing table (buying a set with a mattress is a huge coup, as most nursery sets don't include them). The crib converts to toddler daybed, too -- a nice bonus.

Nursery 101 Baby's Room Deluxe 3-Piece Convertible Nursery Set, $329.99: This simple, clean and modern three piece set comes in a variety of colors to compliment any decor (white, dark walnut and classic cherry) and includes a bed, four drawer dresser and changing table. Best of all, it's on sale for half of its original list price.

Europa Baby 2-Piece Nursery Set - Geneva 4-in-1 Convertible Crib Set in Classic White, $346.90: If you're trying to create a modern style nursery, the elegance, color and design of this set will more than fit the bill. The crib converts into full size bed with a headboard and footboard, and the mattress can be positioned in three ways. The changing table also has a safety strap and an open area underneath for storage.

Sorelle Petite Paradise 4-in-1 Convertible Crib and Complete Nursery, $379.99: This complete nursery kit includes a four-in-one convertible crib, four drawer chest, dressing table, hamper and toddler rail. Its unfussy construction and flat white color scheme are simple and appealing, and its price includes free shipping.

Pali Novara Forever Crib & Double Dresser, $1209.99 ($2,249.99 for set with armoire): There's a reason why the bed in this set is called the "Forever Crib" -- these heirloom quality pieces are designed to last for generations. Sleek and stylish, this furniture will fit your decor until your child graduates high school, and beyond. The craftsman style set is available in vintage cherry and mocacchino colors, and the crib converts to full-sized bed. The company's green, too: It uses non-toxic, water-based paints and glues in all its pieces.

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Travel Crib Safety Tips

Megan Koester — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 16:25:00 EST

Filed under: Babies, Baby Essentials, Gear Guides: Pregnancy

The Baby Bjorn Travel Crib is easy to set up. Credit: Amazon.com

Just because you have a baby on your hands doesn't mean traveling is no longer an option. However, you do need to be prepared for all the challenges the road -- and your youngster -- are sure to throw at you.

Sippy cups, toys and blankets are essential items to take on any trip. But, if you're a family of real jet setters, getting a travel crib for your little bundle of joy is a must, as well. Of course, not all travel cribs are created equal, and crib safety is something you need to keep in mind. Here are some tips on making sure your child is safe away from home.

Collapsed cribs can be dangerous, so always set your travel crib up properly to prevent it from collapsing. Make sure to lock the top rails of the crib. Don't use travel cribs with rotating hinges in the middle of each top rail, as they present collapse and choking hazards to infants.
The right travel crib also should have the right sized mattress, which needs to run flush against the sides of the crib so your baby doesn't get caught between the mattress and the crib itself. Make sure it's a tight fit.
If you prefer to use a hotel or motel crib instead of purchasing your own travel crib, use caution. A study by the Consumer Product Safety Commission found that 80 percent of hotel cribs were unsafe. Many hotel cribs are poorly maintained and use adult-sized, rather than crib-sized sheets. Using adult-sized sheets in cribs can suffocate infants. If you are going to use a hotel crib, make sure to bring crib-sized sheets with you just in case.
Travel cribs should hold nothing but the baby. Infants may use toys to try and pull themselves out of the crib and they may get tangled up with accessories. Don't hang anything off of the side of your travel crib, either, as anything loose can become a strangulation hazard.
Check the mesh walls of the crib for tears or holes once you've set it up; any loose fabric could become a choking hazard. The openings in the mesh itself should be less than a quarter inch in diameter. If the crib has slats instead of mesh, the openings should be less than two and three-eighths inches in diameter to keep your toddler in place.
Never leave the side of a mesh travel crib down -- children can get trapped in the pouch of fabric that's created when the side is down, which can cause suffocation.

Remember, the right crib, set up and maintained properly, can be extremely safe and convenient. If you're in the market for a portable crib, the Baby Bjorn Travel Crib, $219.95, is highly rated. It only weighs 11 pounds, takes seconds to set up and is incredibly safe and easy to use.

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Personalized Piggy Banks

Megan Koester — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 16:08:00 EST

Filed under: Babies, Baby Essentials, Decor, Mommy Musts, Gear Guides: Pregnancy, Gear Guides: Babies

A sweet piggy bank will make a mom-to-be squeal with delight. Credit: Getty

Ca-ching! Who doesn't love the sound of coins clinking as they drop through a piggy bank slot? Cute, cool and memorable gifts, the only thing that can make a piggy bank gift even better is to personalize it.

A "baby's first piggy bank" is a wonderful way to commemorate a new birth, and there are several unique, traditional and off-the-wall suggestions that would make great birthday gifts for older children, as well. Here are a few of our faves.

Personalized Girls' Dragonfly Piggy Bank, $19.95: Personalized baby gifts show the new parents you care about their bundle of joy. This sweet, pink ceramic piggy bank is covered with hand-painted flowers and grass and can be personalized with up to 10 letters of a little girl's name.

Boys' Personalized Piggy Bank, $46: This cute little boys' personalized piggy bank is hand-painted, emblazoned with baseballs and tied in a blue bow. The bank comes gift-wrapped and with a card for you to further personalize as you wish.

Girls' Personalized Piggy Bank, $46: Pink, hand-painted and decorated with daisies and a pink bow, like the the bank for boys, it comes gift-wrapped and with a card for you to personalize.

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Maternity Clothes Must Haves

Megan Koester — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 10:03:00 EST

Filed under: Just For Moms, Babies, Fashion, Gear Guides: Pregnancy

Tunics, such as this style from Old Navy, are maternity must-haves. Credit: OldNavy.com

You're swollen. You're getting bigger by the day. And the last thing you want to do is try on clothes you're going to outgrow practically before you can even get them home. But buying maternity clothes doesn't have to be a total drag.

So, how do you make sure you're covered for those nine months without breaking the bank? Follow our list of inexpensive must-have pieces. The five items on this list are versatile and cheap maternity clothes that are designed to accommodate your growing belly. Best of all? Each piece is less than $20, leaving you extra cash to buy baby clothes.

1. Tunics

Gathered Scoop-Neck Tunic, $9.50: Every mom-to-be needs a few flowing tunics, and, at this price, you can afford to buy more than one. This tunic is made out of soft jersey, is bright and bold and is available in solid and stripe prints.

Elbow-Sleeve Lace Trim Tunic, $19.99: Clean, basic and stylish, this white tunic classes things up with a mandarin collar and lace trim. It can be dressed down with jeans or dressed up with slacks, and its band below the bust accommodates a growing tummy.

Long-Sleeve Striped Tunic, $19.99: This long sleeve, jersey knit tunic can be worn on its own or layered with a cardigan or jacket.

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Baby Blankets: Unexpected Uses

Megan Koester — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 16:15:00 EST

Filed under: Babies, Baby Essentials, Mommy Musts, Gear Guides: Babies

Baby blankets can be used for much more than snuggling. Credit: Getty

That Linus van Pelt was on to something. Every baby needs his or her own blanket (or two, or three), which makes it a good thing that baby blankets are among the most common gifts given to parents of newborns.

If there's one thing infants excel at, though, it's growing. And, just like with clothes, babies grow out of their receiving blankets quickly. But even if your infant hasn't yet outgrown his or her blanket, baby blankets don't need to just be used at naptime. Finding a left-of-center use for baby blankets isn't tricky; it just requires a little bit of creativity.

Taking heed of the five unexpected uses for baby blankets on this list will help ensure you get the most out of one of the most popular baby gifts.

1. The Multi-Purpose Tool. Above all else, your baby's blanket is a soft and comfortable piece of cloth. Keeping this in mind, it can be used for any number of purposes, from an emergency changing pad to an outdoor nursing cover. Place it over your baby's head in a rainstorm or fill it with your baby's toys and tie it up like a bundle to use it as a carrier. The possibilities are endless. Just use your imagination, and remember, you can always toss the blanket into the washing machine if it gets dirty.

2. The Sun Protector. Do you like to take walks with your baby but hate it when the sun gets in his or her eyes? Protect your bundle of joy from the elements by using a baby blanket as a stroller awning.

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Baby Gift Ideas for Multiples

Megan Koester — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Babies

Multiple babies mean multiple cuteness -- and multiple gifts. Credit: Getty

The old Doublemint slogan, "Double your pleasure, double your fun," doesn't just apply to chewing gum.

In the past few decades, instances of multiple births (twins, triplets and beyond) have been on the rise, and multiple births are all the rage in the media -- from Nadya "Octomom" Suleman's octuplets to Jon and Kate Gosselin's famous brood of eight (including their set of sextuplets).

Multiple births are intriguing, but they also require more -- and specialized -- gear. So, what baby gift ideas make the grade for moms of multiples? Giving new parents of multiples a present from this list of baby gift ideas will earn you kudos times two. Or three. Or four ...

Boy/Girl/Boy Triplet Onesies Gift Set, $27.99: These soft and adorable bodysuits are made especially for sets of triplets that are comprised of two boys and one girl. They come in a variety of cute phrases including, "Yes! We're Triplets!" "Got Triplets?" "Triplets Rock!" and "Womb Mates." This cheeky baby gift idea will certainly tickle the new parents' funny bone.

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Best Baby Gifts for the Adoptive Family

Megan Koester — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Babies

Madonna holds hands with her adopted daughter Mercy. Credit: Amos Gumulira, AFP / Getty Images

Stories of celebrity adoptions make headlines in the entertainment media: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Sandra Bullock, Madonna and others have opened up their hearts and homes to adopted children.

Congratulations are most certainly in order when a family adopts a new child, but it can be tough to find the best baby gift to commemorate their new bundle of joy.

You don't need the resources of a celebrity to give a unique and heartfelt new baby gift, and this list of great baby gifts for adoptive parents will give you a few ideas to properly honor the beginning of a brand new family.

I Wished for You: An Adoption Story, $11.48: This book will make great bedtime reading for the new parents and their adopted child. A Mom's Choice Award Recipient and selected as Book of the Year by Creative Child Magazine, it follows the story of a mama and baby bear as they snuggle and talk about how they became a family. In the process, it answers many of the questions adoptive children may have. It's simple, heartfelt and beautifully illustrated.

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Baby Gifts Online: The Best Sites

Megan Koester — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Babies

Save time by purchasing great baby gifts online. Credit: Getty

Trying to navigate your way through all the online baby gift sites can be trickier than figuring out how to get a newborn to sleep for four hours straight.

However, once you find the best sites for buying baby gifts online, you can save a lot of money -- and keep yourself from suffering from information overload.

The following guide will help you find thoughtful, unique baby gifts online for everyone on your list.

The Baby Bunch: The Baby Bunch's primary product (and biggest seller) is its baby bunch bouquet. Featured on the "Martha Stewart Show," the company turns a complete outfit for newborns -- including a bib, T-shirt, hat, onesie and socks -- into a beautiful bouquet that will win rave reviews from new moms. Available in a variety of colors and styles, and in both natural and organic cotton, The Baby Bunch also offers more unique newborn gifts, from sets of onesies boxed as cupcakes to vases full of rompers twisted to look like lollipops. Moms also are covered at The Baby Bunch -- tasteful baskets full of kitchen and garden accoutrements will make her bloom with joy.

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Unusual Baby Gifts That Tell a Story

Megan Koester — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Babies

Consider baby gifts the parents will love, such as this "Rock" shift gifted to Tracy Mourning, wife of Alonzo Mourning, last year. Credit: Astrid Stawiarz, Getty Images

Bunny rabbits, princess pinks and teddy bears -- oh, my. Sure, baby-specific prints and styles can be, shall we say, sweet? But many new baby gifts end up feeling cold, impersonal and leave the personalities of parents by the wayside.

And, let's be honest here, the newborn baby has no idea it's being swaddled in cutesy clothes -- but Mom and Dad sure do.

Unusual baby gifts can show new parents how much you care about them and that you remember their lives before baby. The personalized gift ideas on this list will inspire you to create (or buy) your own unique baby gifts that celebrate the creation of a new family, while not forgetting the parents' cool pasts.

Our Family History book, $12.50: This book provides a place for parents to design their family tree and store treasured information about family memories and achievements. A great gift for first-time parents, it includes sections for photos and can be kept in the family for generations to come.

T-shirt quilts: One of the cutest and most unique ways to create a completely personalized baby gift that reflects the history of the parents is through the making of a T-shirt quilt. Old concert shirts or college and high school shirts can be used to create a baby blanket that tells a story. Patterns for T-shirt quilts can be found online. If you're not particularly crafty, though, you can also have websites such as T-Shirt Quilts or Nana's Quilting do the heavy lifting for you.

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Baby Girl Gifts for Non-Girlie Types

Megan Koester — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Babies

Not all baby gifts have to be pink or blue. Credit: Getty

When it comes to baby girl gifts, three words immediately spring to mind: pretty, pink and princess. But not all baby girls need to be wrapped in ribbons and frills.

For some new moms, in fact, nothing's more dreaded than the "three Ps." They may be the obvious choice, but the best baby gifts always come out of left field. Finding gender neutral new baby gifts for girls can be difficult, though. Sometimes it seems like the only options available are "Mommy's Little Princess" bibs and flowery onesies.

But if you're on the lookout for a non-traditional baby girl gift, we've tracked down some great options.

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