Babies Only

For years parents and caregivers have had the problem of how to keep baby warm at night.  We all now know that loose blankets in the crib are not a good thing.  So what do we do?  Well thankfully someone came up with a way to keep baby warm, confortable, and al safe.  The answer is sleepsacks.   And these were not around when my children were babies.  I remember getting up at night to go into their room and check to see if they were still breathing.  I never told anyone this, but I worried about SIDS.  Something that we didn’t know much about then.

But not we have an answer to this problem.  SLEEPSACKS.  Babies Only has always carried sleepsacks, but now we have added the Halo line to our store.  The Halo sleepsack unzips from the bottom for easy diaper changes, has generous room for kicking, but can’t be kicked off as baby sleeps.  They are sleeveless in design that allows for ventilation and reduces the risk of overheating.  We even have an organic cotton one that is cute and still gives you the 100% organically-grown cotton without all the chemicals.

You can’t beat a SALE.  Check out our baby clothes that are on sale now.  You will find great bargains.

Many of these items can be worn now and well into the spring.  This give you a real bargain.  Babies don’t carry over their wardrobe year to year.  As you know, they out grow their clothes every few months.  So, anything that will wear a little longer is a very good thing.

This comes from the American Academy of Pediatrics.  Tips for parents and care givers to help your baby survive and thrive:

You should not smoke while you are pregnant and babies should not be exposed to second-hand smoke after they are born.

Always place babies on their BACK at nap and nighttime. Siode and tummy sleep positions are not safe choices.

Us a safety-approved crib with a firm, tight-fitting mattress, covered by only a sheet.

Do not use blankets in your baby’s crib.  Layer clothing or us an infant sleep sack to keep baby warm during sleep.

Remove all soft bedding and other soft items from the crib before placing a baby to sleep.

do not fall alseep with a baby in an adult bed or on a sofa—place them alongside  your bed in a separate, safe sleep area.

Babies should not sleep on soft surfaces (quilts, sheepskins, waterbeds, sofas, chairs, etc.).

take care not to overheat babies with too much clothing or room temperature.  68 to 72 degrees is recommended.

Use a pacifier at nap and nighttime for the first year.

I agree with these tips and every parent needs to be aware specially the first year of baby’s life.  This is the time when most SIDS deaths happens.  I remember getting up in the middle of the night and checking to see that my baby was OK.

Baby blankets are on the must have list when you are having a baby.  A blanket can provide security as well as keeping the baby warm.  Baby blankets come in 3 types: the swaddle, the sleep sack, or the flat blanket.

When you are purchasing either of these styles, keep in mind the room temperature where you will use this blanket.  Babies will get warmer faster than adults.  If the baby is born in the warmer months or you live in a warmer climate think about blankets that are made from natural fibers.  Such as cotton.  Also consider using this style of blanket in the stroller or car seat.

Sleep sacks are recommended by the Consumer Products Safety Commission for sleeping.  These too come in different fabrics colors and prints and weights.  The same applies to these as the flat blanket.

When it comes to baby products most of us have heard of CPSC, but what is it really.  The consumer Product Safety Commission was established by Congress in 1972, as the federal regulatory body tasked to protect babies, children, and families from unsafe consumer products.  The CPSC has it’s headquarters offices in Bethesda, Maryland, with laboratories in Gaithersbury, Maryland.

Inez Tenenbaum appointed by the president for a seven-year term is the Chairman.  Vice Chairman is Thomas H. Moore.  Nancy A. Nord, Robert S. Adler, and Anne M. Northup serve as commissioners.  In addition, there are about 100 CPSC investigators, compliance officers and consumer information specialist throughout the country in communities where you live and work.

Money to support this commission is a direst appropriation from the general fund of the Treasury.  Appropriations available for 2010 was $118,200,000.00.  The requested amount for 2011 is $118,600,000.00. The amount of money takes up a lot of room on paper, but is a small amount if it saves the lives of our babies and children.  This is one appropriation that I fully support.

We have listed baby products in earlier blogs that the CPSC has listed as recalls.  In 2011, CPSC’s work will shift from developing CPSIA mandated rules to enforcing these rules.  The number of rules mandated by CPSIA during 2009 and 2010 is more than double the number of rules promulgated by the commission since 1990 – a dramatic increase in enforcement  responsibility.

Their Hot Line number is 800-638-2772.  The General Information number is 301-504-7923.

Baby blankets are a must when you are having a new arrival to your family.  They come in many different styles and colors. There is more to color now than ever before.  The traditional pink, blue, and neutral yellow or green, while still available, have been pushed aside for the new bright and modern colors.  Such as bright pink, turquoise and brown.

Many are artfully decorated with appliques and machine embroidery.  Ranging from the traditional baby designs to the modern.  The snuggle and plush blankets have replaced the traditional heavy weight blankets. Sleep sacks have also been add to the blanket line.  If you are looking for the traditional or for something special, it’s out there.  You can find baby blankets in knits, plush, cottons, organics, flannels and polyester.  The choice is yours. Happy Shopping.

SIDS is something that we do not like to talk about, but it is out there and every parents needs to know the things that help prevent this horrible thing that can take our precious baby from us.  Many things are know about SIDS and yet many things are not known.  We do know that certain products contribute to SIDS.  Amount them is baby clothing, bedding, smoking, room temperature and a pacifier.

Let’s start with baby clothing.  Dress baby in light clothing to keep from overheating.  If in cooler weather, use a sleep sack as a safe way to add warmth.  No extra blankets are needed.

Room temperature is important.  Keep it at a moderate temperature ( a little cool).

Smoking is not good for anyone, so it would be especially bad for baby.  Do your best to keep your baby from being around someone that is smoking or a home that has a smoker in it.

A pacifier for baby while in the crib has been shown in studies to reduce SIDS.

Put baby to sleep on its back.  I know that this is not what Grandma will tell you, but this is what all medical people say.  When it comes to SIDS, we want to do all and anything that will protect our precious baby.