Babies Only

Visiting the Pediatrician is not always an easy thing to do.  But it need not be a trying time for you or your baby if you keep a few things in mind.  The times that can be most stressful is when the baby is sick or having some kind of problems.  But the well-baby visits should be a time to take in information and to ask questions.

Being prepared is the answer to making the visit to the pediatrician’s office easy for you and baby.  Between visits keep a log of question that you may think of during the day.  This way you always have a list of questions ready that you may need an answer.  The well-baby visit is the best time to bring up these questions, as you and baby are more relaxed.  Remember, your baby will react to your stress. Never be afraid to ask questions that you may have.  This is your baby and you are concerned about these matters.  As has been said many time, Babies Do Not Come With A How To Book.  And NEVER, NEVER, NEVER  let a doctor or any other medical person make you feel that any question you ask is not important.  To you it is the most important questions in the world.   Having said this, it is important to say that most doctors are very willing to answer any question that you may have.

It seems that now more than ever people (and babies) have allergic reactions to foods or things in our environment.  But there can be peace of mind in knowing what to look for.  Since babies cannot tell us how they feel or where it hurts, we as parents or care givers must be more aware of our children.

Some of the most common things that children react to are: Peanuts, Tree Nuts (almonds, walnuts, coconuts, cashews, pine nuts or pecans), Fish, Shellfish, Insect Stings or Bites, Milk, Wheat, Sesame, Medications, Latex (such as balloons, gloves or bandages).

Symptoms of an allergic reaction can be:

Skin–Itching, Hives, Redness, or Swelling of Face or Eyes.

Mouth–Itching, Swelling of Lips or Tongue.

Lungs–Shortness of Breath, Coughing, Wheezing.

Throat–Itching, Closed Feeling, Tightness, Hoarse Voice

Belly–Nausea or Vomiting, Diarrhea, Cramps.

Heart–Weak Pulse, Dizziness, Fainting/Passing Out.

For any of these reactions you should consider talking to a health care professional.  An allergic reaction that is rapid in onset may or can cause death.  Your doctor will advise you what medications to keep on hand or when it would be time to see a doctor or visit the emergency room.

Just because a baby is born a little early doesn’t mean that it can not dress fashionalbe.  Today you can fine cute and pretty clothing in the Preemie size.

We still have to remember that these babies are very delicate and that their skin needs to be protected.  So the first No No is no ruff or stiff feeling fabrics.  Most Preemie clothing is made of very soft and fine cotton knits.  This is a time that you might really think about organic cotton clothing for your baby.  Because there are no chemicals or unnational dyes in these clothes.  Thus an added protection for baby.

Pink and blue and white has always been out there in Preemie size, but now many manufacturers are responding to the cry for color.  I recently purchased some Preemie clothing is some very bright and colorful designs.  Just because these babies are small, doesn’t mean that we do not want to dress them in pretty clothes.

Colors are looking good for the baby clothes lines in the coming months.  They (by they, I mean manufacturers and designers) are mixing in coordinating colors this year that we have never seen put together.

I was at market recently buying for fall and the colors were beyond great.  I have often wondered how the manufacturers know what colors are going to be big.  I keep thinking that maybe they all get together and come up with a plan on what colors they will use in the coming lines.  This is my thinking because from every manufacturer there were color combinations of brown and turquoise, or black and lime.  Animal prints are big and are being used in all sorts of combinations.  Baby clothing today puts a whole new meaning to “little People”, as babies are being dressed like adults, just in a smaller size.  Pinks and blues are always and will always be the main colors for little babies, but now you can find baby clothes in just about every color there is.  My favorite is the browns and turquoise combinations  and I probably purchased more of it than I should have, but they were so cute.  But then, all baby clothes are cute.  I’m really looking forward to all of this fall’s fashions coming in.

Babies have soft, delicate skin. Before letting a baby come in contact with any fabric, make sure that the fabric has been washed and rinsed free of detergent. Detergent powders contain harsh chemicals. It is best to find a mild detergent for baby’s clothes to avoid any allergies or skin irritation.

Take care when choosing clothes for your baby; baby clothing should be soft and delicate and, whenever possible, choose organic fabrics. Organic cotton and other fabrics are made from natural fibers that are free of any chemicals. They are perfect for a baby’s supple skin.

A baby blanket comes in many different styles and has many uses.  A special blanket that was a gift or has a very special design or makeup may be kept as an heirloom.

If you have such a baby blanket you will want to consider several things.  Do I want to use this blanket as an everyday blanket?  Do I want to put it aside and not use it at all?  Or maybe I will keep it for special occasions.  If you decide to use it, make sure that you wash out stains immediately when you find them.  Another way you might consider using this special baby blanket is as a room decoration.  Drape it over a chair or hang it on the wall.  Look at pictures in magazines, you will see different ways of displaying.

One of the best new baby products is the First Year Feeding Seat.  Of course, it has benn on the market for awhile, but it is still one of the newer products out there and they are great.  When my children were babies, we have to be content with the “old fashion hgih chair”.  They filled a need, but they did take up room in the kitchen which sometimes was already crowded.  Thank goodness, there are people out there that are smart to come up with these kind of great ideas.

Among the features of this new type of chair is that it is easy to take with you.  Say like when you are going to Grandma”s house.  By this time in her life, the baby hight chair has gone by the wayside.  Not everything that is new is better, but in case it is.  As baby grows, you can remove the tray and pull the chair up to the table for baby to join the family for meals.  These chairs come in different styles and fabrics.  Colors and style that will blend in with your decor.  I would think twice before I purchased one that has a lot of fluff or fabrics that would not wipe off easily.  Sad to say, but babies can be very messy when learning to eat.  From the ones that I have see, the price ranges from about $25.00 to $50.00.

Now that you are in the process of purchasing your baby clothes, you may want to take a minute or two to think about the kind of fabrics that are used in infant clothing.  The fabric that you place against your new baby can play a big part in keeping him/she comfortable.  We are going to talk about the five fabrics that are most widely used in the manufacturing of baby clothing.

Cotton is the most common fabric used.  Because cotton is soft and absorbent and is gentle on baby’s tender skin.  Cotton can also be found in organic versions of clothing.  Cotton fabrics can shrink up to 10% when washed the first time, especially if you are using warm or hot water.  Now days much of clothing comes “pre-washed” and this helps much in choosing sizes.  Check the label as it will tell you if the garment is pre-washed.  Cotton is the fabric that I think is best for the newborn baby.

Cotton/Polyester Blends is great as it resists wrinkles and dries fast.   It also will not shrink.

Cotton/Spandex is a blend of fabrics that lets the garment stretch.  You will find that spandex is usually a small percentage amount in the fabrics.  Like maybe only 5%.  It is used in tights, leg warmers, and socks to name a few.

Fleece is the newest of fabrics.  We use it in blankets and sleep sacks.  It is light weight, yet warm and cozy.  It’s easy to care for as it dries quickly and does not hold stains.  It is the fabric that is replacing wool in baby clothes.

Bamboo is an all-natural fabric.  You will see bamboo when you are searching for organic clothing.  Bamboo is hypo-allergenic and anti-bacterial.  It is a favorite for infant clothing as it will adjust to baby’s temperature and is great for layering.

Of course, there are other fabrics out there.  You may find baby clothing in linens, cashmere, hand-knis and some others that are high end and high-maintenance.  But, unless you have all the time in the world or hired help, don’t even think about these fabrics.  Remember that babies outgrow their clothes very fast.  This is not the time to invest in an article of clothing that you (baby) will wear for years.

In the past, when you say soft toys, people immediately think about stuffed animals. But although stuffed animals remain popular, there are now more innovative, safe and fun plush toys that are no longer limited to stuffed animals.

Soft toys have the advantage of being lightweight with no corners or hard edges. Since infants have little coordination yet, they might fall on top of toys or drop toys on themselves. Soft toys lessen the danger that might happen. Aside from stuffed animals, other ideal baby toys you can buy are manipulative toys like plastic stacking rings and soft books with waterproof pages that are foam-filled and can even be brought to the tub while baby takes a bath.

There will be times that you need a baby gift, but do not want to break the bank or maybe you have already given the baby a gift.  A small little something for when you are seeing the new baby for the first time or a christening , or family gathering.  There are always times that “I need a little gift”, so let’s look at this.

Let’s think under $15.00 and yes, you can find great items for even less.  At my store: www.babiesonlyonline.com you will find many of these.  There is always the picture frame.  Every new parent can not have enough of these to display baby’s first pictures.  You can find cute onesies, light weight blankets, bibs and burp cloths, hair bows or headbands for the baby girl.  Soft rattlers and plush toys, or maybe a cute night lamp for baby’s room.  Maybe a baby spoon or a door hanger to let everyone that baby is sleeping.  Then there is always small items of clothes like leg warmers, or tights or socks, or hats.  How about something for the stroller like cup holders or stroller straps and other items for the stroller.  Look, see, and buy, as there are great items that can be very useful for baby and that will not break the bank.