Wednesday, April 24, 2013

What do I really need for the baby shower registry?

Q. I am getting ready to my baby shower registry and I have a small two bedroom 800 Sq ft apartment. What do i really need for the baby and what can I live without. How many sets of clothes do I need to register for and which clothes. Do I need a frilly dress for a newborn? Do I really need a changing table or a changing pad or will a towel do? What size clothes should I register for? Is 30 newborn outfits enough? What is the minimum number of outfits needed? What clothes should I buy? Will a bumbo seat really help me? Do I register for a front or side swinging swing? Do I really need a bassinet? Does my kids need toys if so what? Is there a product that prevents infant roll over? I will be breastfeeding but I am going back to work after 6 weeks, how many bottles and what kind of pump do I need? Is there any additional bottle and breastfeeding supplies needed. Do I need special linens for the crib? Do I need a crib or will a pack and play work? Does the baby really need separate towels and wash cloths or can I just use mine. Do I need baby shampoo or is Dove good for us both. What do I do with the dirty diapers? Is cloth or paper better? How many cloth dapers do I need? Is there a way to make my own wipes? What about home made cloth diapers is there a pattern out there and what kind of cloth is used?

A. This isn't the site I found when I first did my search for what stuff I needed for a newborn but this is a good one that I found just now and I listed it as my source. Now to answer some of your questions it's better to get a baby their own towel's and wash cloth's cause a baby's skin is sensitive and have them be actual baby towels and wash cloth's (the fabric should be much softer then regular towel's and wash cloths). I plan on using nipple similar bottle tips but you can use any you want (keep in mind a baby is picky). Also your baby can end up long or smaller then expected so not wise to buy clothes early into the pregnancy. You only need crib bedding if you plan on using a crib (they will be the only ones to fit a bed of that size) and don't need them to be organic or anything unless you insist on it. babies are sensitive way more then adults so you need to use shampoo and soap meant for babies. Also you need to use unscented laundry detergent, no need to be meant for babies just dye and perfume free. Cloth diapers are better for the environment and save money due to being reusable but the choice is really up to you. You would need over 3 cause they will go through a lot in a day and they need to be washed in order to be used again. I personally never planned on making my own wipes so couldn't tell you if you can but they do have really good disposable ones that are safe for sensitive babies skin. Any type of pump works the manual one is the cheapest cost wise. You can just use a crib if you have the room a bassinet is only useful if you can't fit a big crib in your room and want the baby to be in the same room that you sleep in. Toys are good for development so do suggest getting some though a newborn will only have use for one if it sings. They do have blankets that wrap around your newborn and act like a dress without a hole in the bottom.


What is the best teething toy to give my infant?
Q. Those plastic rings you put in the fridge are not working.

A. The Best Teething Toys

By Miebeth Bustillo-Booth, ChildTrek Founder

Natural & Wood Teethers
The best teething toys are made of natural materials like wood. Wood is naturally anti-bacterial. (That’s why there are wooden cutting boards.) So it is self-cleaning. Wood is hard and will help ease teeth in. But not all wood toys are ideal. The best wooden teething toys are either unfinished or lightly finished with beeswax, water-based stains, or other non-toxic paints. It’s best to gain the manufacturer statements to this effect. At ChildTrek, only toys that have met or exceeded safety standards are available.

Great Teething Toys
Grabbing Toy Giraffe with Wooden Teething Ring by Kathe KruseConsider the Infant Grabbing Toy Mah or Giraffe by Kathe Kruse. They are made out of non-porous beech wood, lightly finished with beeswax, and made using non-toxic dyes. There are no harmful chemicals to leach out while your baby gnaws on the hard wood. The wooden ring is extra large for easy handling by small hands. The lamb and the giraffe can be removed for machine or hand wash. And they are completely adorable!

The Grabbing Star Red or Blue also by Kathe Kruse has a wooden teething ring and interesting textures for early learning stimulation. A special feature is a velcro loop at one of the star ends so that it can be fastened as a stroller toy. This achieves a couple of things: the teether is always nearby and it doubles as a grabbing toy. Smart!

Girali Rattle by SelectaThe Girali Rattle by Selecta, aside from being a practical teething toy, is uniquely beautiful. It is made of native woods from Germany and finished with beeswax and non-toxic paints - completely safe for your baby.

Also, it’s hard to beat the Cherry Rattle by Camden Rose. It is lightly finished with beeswax. Its contoured design makes for interesting tactile stimulation. Its gentle rattle is soothing. As a teether - it is naturally hard to facilitate teething. Watch as your baby gnaws on this beautiful toy for hours.

Cold and Soothing
Organic Vegetabe Teethers by Under the NileOne of my personal favorites for the summer are the organic teethers by miYim and Under the Nile. Take the Bunny, Elephant, or Bear teether. Dampen, not soak it. Put it in the freezer. Then let your baby gnaw on this cool toy to help soothe tender gums. Do the same for the Fruits or the Vegetables by Under the Nile. Besides gently soothing for your baby, you are teaching your baby to “eat” his or her fruits and veggies!

Vary Teethers
It’s best to keep a few different teethers around that have varying textures and hardness. Some teeth come in easier than others. The molars, for example, are especially hard on infants.

Check out ChildTrek’s selection of ideal teething toys.


ways to get prepared for a baby?
Q. I don't know the sex yet and i'm only 5 weeks and 6 days. But i'm planning on keeping this baby.

A. Make friends who will help! Get your extended family involved.
Learn positive coping mechanisms for hard feelings now, because when you are cranky tired and can't get a break, you will need a positive way to cope.
There are probably 6 general things you need for good health: 1. nutrition 2. avoid toxins 3. quality sleep 4. exercise 5. positive social interaction 6. positive coping skills for dealing with stress.

Nutrition is more than just getting the RDA of all the minerals and vitamins you need; it is also about not getting too much of certain ones. Some need to be in the proper ratios and proportional to others. Eating a raw vegan diet of organic vegetables and greens is an easy way to get all you need without getting too much. But taking a multivitamin, you can get too much iron or vitamin A, for example.
Part of nutrition is having a gut that can properly digest and absorb nutrition, so understanding how to fix the common problem of gut dysbiosis can help tremendously. Here is a newsletter that helps explain it: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1B6JbDMF1hDCpFMY2VI2IlvlZ7_ddKhuNN6JVzo03_iA/edit?hl=en_US

Avoiding toxins is part of nutrition, but it also involves not smoking nor drinking alcohol. There is an epidemic of depression and anxiety in the world today and a lot of it is caused by the neurotoxin fluorine being present in air pollution. Fluoride is even added to water in the guise of preventing carries. But fluoride is a neurotoxin which is used in pesticides, rate poisons, anti-depressant drugs, and anesthetic. Because incidental exposure is so high and because it is cumulative, it is worth it to avoid it where ever possible.

I could go on and on about health, but to further answer your question, there are some things you may want to acquire in order to make your life easier when the baby comes out. Obviously you will want a crib, sheets and blankets, diapers, diaper genie, changing table, stroller or carry-all, car seat, play pen, toys, clothes, etc. You don't NEED all these things, but they do make taking care of a baby seem easier and safer. But you will need space to keep all this stuff as well. If you don't have a spare room to make the baby's room, then it will be better to figure out how to make your existing space work before acquiring a lot of stuff. You can use your dresser top for a changing space, but you will need to keep it cleared off. Clear off your bathroom sink if you plan to use that for giving the baby a bath, otherwise you will want to acquire a plastic tub designed for that.
A lot of these items can be obtained second hand cheaply or even free from various charities or individuals. Safety items such as car seats have expiration dates because over time the plastic can turn brittle.
To mentally prepare, you will want to learn some meditation and self discipline. Here is a link to a good description of one meditation: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GYTh2zd0KamjfPPi6H2GRcNbQeyeNi5w-SsctBOme4U/edit

I hope you think it common sense, but you would never spank an infant. You can learn about when is the appropriate time and the proper way to use corporal punishment to discipline by reading "Discipline with Love" by Dr. James Dobson. Hitting a child in anger is abuse, but spanking a 4-year old to teach obedience is loving. It's important to know the difference. Failing to teach a child to respect authority by the time they are 5 years old can result in a lifetime of problems. Reading this one short book can help you avoid years of frustration.
There are other great books: "What to Expect When You're Expecting" etc.
Learn everything you can, but don't worry. Many people have successfully raised children with no helpful books or specific gear. The most important thing is to keep a can-do attitude.





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