Baby Shower

Girl Toddler Shoes

For many ladies, their happiest day was when they were told they were pregnant for the first time.  Now that the joy has cooled off a little, start planning for the arrival of your lovely baby.  Among the decisions you have to make now is where and how to buy the best clothes for your baby, including the best baby shoes.  But ladies that had the right guide didn’t find it difficult to decide the right shoes and clothes to get for their babies.

As varied as babies are, so are there varieties of baby shoes.

Just as adults have many popular design of shoes, so do babies; such as sneakers, leather, hi-tops and even boots.  For those crazy about popular brand names there also exist baby shoes made by brand names such as Adidas, Nike, etc.  Take your time to carefully look through as many baby shoe styles as you can before deciding on which to choose.

(Also have fun with your children read about family outdoor games at the Marriage and Fmilies Blog.)

I don’t blame the many expecting mothers that wonder why not just pick any baby shoe when there are so many available.  What many expecting mothers fail to realize is this, the right baby shoes can help a child’s early days of walking. 

Also, ask the experts in baby shoes and they will tell you that the types of shoes to buy should be those that are made with real leather and natural ingredients because these are perfect for keeping the toes and feet of babies cool and clean.  Stay away from those types of baby shoes that cause too much moisture in the socks and in the shoes of your baby; these cause serious discomfort and sometimes infection. See also the Choosing Baby Shoes Size 0 article on the Kids to Teens blog.

If you are still very heavily pregnant and can’t go outside your home to shop for your baby shoes, the Internet is there to browse and find the right baby shoes.  No matter how unique you want your baby shoes, you can find the particular one you want on the Internet, if you search long enough; and within a short time it will be delivered right at your doorstep after ordering.

Why mothers are outfitting their toddlers in all natural clothing

Organic products are popping up everywhere these days. There are specific regulations out there when it comes to labeling something as organic. When something is organic this means it is grown in such as way that protects the earth and its inhabitants. You can now find organic food at every major grocery store. This availability is the result of consumer demand.

 Health is the main reason people choose organic products. People who buy organic are often concerned with the health of the environment as well as the health of their family. Buying organic is part of a commitment to a healthier world. There has been a slow learning process when it comes to the importance of buying organic food and the dangers of pesticides and other chemicals. The awareness of the importance of organic clothing is fairly new. One of the biggest crops for the production of clothing is cotton. Because cotton is not grown for food there is less focus on the chemicals used in its production from the field to the factory.

 All types of chemical are used to grow cotton that leach into our water and impact other crops used for food. There is also little concern about the safety of farmers exposed to hazardous chemicals when cotton is growing and harvested. It has been estimated that a pound fertilizer used to create a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. The process of turning raw cotton into clothing often uses several other hazardous chemicals.

 Now think about your baby’s soft and precious skin. A baby’s skin will absorb things easier than an adults because it is more porous. This means that baby’s are at a greater risk when exposed to clothing produced with harmful chemicals. Choosing organic baby clothing for your children will lower their exposure to harmful toxins. The cotton used to make baby organic clothing is farmed in a safe and sustainable way. This can improve the health of the earth and farm workers as well. Choosing organic baby clothes is making a positive impact on your children and the world.

CPSC on lead poisoning

The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) was formed in the 1970s and for more than 30 years, it has taken the responsibility of safeguarding consumers against the dangers of suffering injuries that results from the use of consumer products. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) was signed into the United States law to further strengthen the safety measures required in consumer products.

Most recently, through the law, the Commission has planned to further reduce children’s exposure to lead. Lead poisoning may result in irreversible brain damage, kidney problems and may even be fatal. Towards the end of the 1970s, the problem was so serious, that millions of children in America had been tested that they had elevated blood lead levels that were deemed unhealthy!

The Commission observed the graveness of the situation and have concluded that any children’s product that contains more than 600 parts per million (ppm) of lead in any part of an accessible product would be seen as dangerous. Which means that any children’s product from toys to baby nursery bedding which contains more than 600ppm would be dangerous for children under the CPSIA.

The CPSC has also defined that any person at the age of 12 years or younger would be seen as children under the law and all products that were made with the objective of marketing predominantly to these group of children will have to adhere to it.

This law also applies to all baby nursery bedding, nursery decoration, toys and children’s products that were manufactured before the date of the law that was implemented. The Commission also requires all goods that were manufactured after 90 days since the establishment of the rule to be tested by an accredited third party. This is to assure that the manufacturers comply to the safety regulations that the Commission has implemented.

Futhermore, the Commission has shown their determination in making all products extremely safe for use by intending to drop the limits to 300ppm in August and further reduce it again in 2011 to a level which is seen reasonable according to the technology available by then. However, with the rapid advancement of technology, all toys and baby nursery bedding might contain only traces of lead and would be extremely safe for use in the near future.

The Differing Costs of Child Care Facilities

There is a little doubt that a great percentage of working parent’s wages goes toward child care facilities. Parents need someone to take care of their children while they are working but sometimes wonder how they can ever afford to pay out such high fees. The differences in charges vary from city to city, but no matter where the family is located, it sometimes causes doubt as to whether or not the second parent is simply working to pay for childcare. There are many things that can affect the cost, so before you begin looking, you need to be aware of the basics.

Child care facilities differ across the country. In more urban areas the costs will be higher but you can expect more from the preschool. The higher income areas will have private schools that reflect this level of affluence. Some are well worth every penny, as they provide services above and beyond those typically found in small towns where the wage level is low.

Infants are charged a higher fee than toddlers. The reason being infants require more care and more staff to oversee than older children. Child care centers must pay close attention to the staff-to-infant ratio to ensure that the infants are receiving the highest possible care they can give. Changing diapers and feeding bottles is much more time consuming than working with a potty trained toddler who can feed him or her self.

Other factors that can change pricing between the differing child care facilities is how many services are being offered. A babysitter in your home will usually not provide the extended hours most working parents require. If you have hours that extend from the typical 9-5 work day or have a long commute, you will need a daycare center that has extended hours of pick-up and drop-off. Also, the more added benefits, such as providing meals and snacks will affect the price of too. Many centers now offer activities based on the child’s age such as computers, foreign language and even martial arts or gymnastics. Many centers allow the parent to elect these options for an additional fee but some are building them into the curriculum and daily activity list.

Before you begin searching through the available child care facilities in your neighborhood, first ask yourself what you want in return for your money. Do you want advanced education and extras such as dance classes or computer instruction? Each of those extras in the classroom equate to extra money you will have to pay out of your wallet. If you cannot afford those, there are still quality childcare centers that can take care of your child and provide a safe haven for him or her to play and learn.

How do the Chinese Name their Babies?

How are Chinese baby boys and Chinese baby girls named? A variety of methods exist. The hopes of the parents play a big role in naming Chinese babies. The person’s name continues to remind him of his parents’ expectations.

Generally speaking, these aspirations can usually be classified into six categories. They are moral accomplishments, intelligence and scholarly achievements, health and beauty, wealth and position, safe and smooth life and independence and willpower.

Some families name their children based on the birth order of the siblings. Some families have age-old traditions that have been handed down from generation to generation, which guide how the babies are named. These infants are named by using a system that is unique to each family — one that has been defined by his or her ancestors.

Yet another method is by naming after historical events or to reflect historical background common in Chinese history.

The last method is based on astrology. With the astrological method, a child’s name may be determined according to the time, month, and season of his birth. The child’s birth year animal signs may also determine the name. The Five Elements may also play a role in the names.

There are additional subtleties to the technique of naming Chinese baby girls and Chinese baby boys, because parents have varying goals for their daughters and sons.

Good moral character and dedication to self, his nation, and its people are the qualities that are expected of a good man. This man must bring his family honor by being wise and capable, ambitious, healthy and strong.

For this reason, a Chinese baby boy may be named in a way that brings honor to a special ancestor as well as continuing the family tradition and business. In addition to honoring the ancestor, Chinese baby boys may be named in a way that indicates high hopes, nobility of character, strength of will, strong determination, a sense of responsibility, physical strength, a wealth of vitality, a broad-minded viewpoint, outstanding wisdom, and the desire to be of service to ones’ people and country.

What about Chinese baby girls name? Their parent’s aspiration include being filial, virtuous and chaste. They should love their brothers and sisters, take care of their family and good at housekeeping. They should also have inner beauty combined with intelligence, grace and get on harmoniously with their neighbors.

As such the method of naming baby girls includes those that promote feminine values such as virtue and tenderness, feminine beauty, intelligence and wits, grace and elegance.

It should be clear to you now!

Baby Shower