Graco Travel Systems Win with Moms and Dads

Baby travel systems have become very popular among all sections of our society for simple reason that they are convenient for both mothers as well as for the infants. A Graco travel system is an ideal baby travel system in which a baby can enjoy moving from place to place as well as the occasional nap. On a hot summer’s day, instead of holding your baby in your arms where she will feel all sorts of inconvenience, you can use Graco travel systems which are provided with accessories to keep the baby in a comfortable condition.

You may be aware of how hot and uncomfortable you will become after carrying an infant close to your body for even a short while. Your baby may be able to easily sleep while held in your arms, but after a short time you will be worn out!

If your relatives or an au pair or babysitter spending much time watching your child, including driving them from your home to theirs, they will appreciate the safety and convenience of a travel system. Along with your baby, the person who is looking after her can enjoy the ride since he or she need not carry the child all along the ride. The Graco car seats are built with quality materials to protect your young baby from sudden movements while traveling. These complete travel systems are a favorite among the majority of moms, since they are confidant that infants are enjoying the travel in them.

Included as part of a Graco travel system is the Graco snugride car seat, as well as number of other accessories. These are only a few of the beneficial features. The Graco travel system has wheels that both lock and swivel as a safety measure. Both you and your newborn will enjoy ease and comfort when you place your baby in one of these great carriers.

Safety of a Homebirth

Having your baby at home? Who does such things?  Didn’t that only happen back in the early days of our country when doctor’s had to go out to the prairie and deliver babies?

Not so.  There is a growing group of women who realize the benefits of a homebirth and having your baby at home.

It is called midwifery the practice of having your baby at home.  Although not doctors or nurses, people in this line of work called midwifery are professionally regulated.  I myself have seen the steady rise of homebirths through my practice as a San Diego certified midwife.

The people, generally women, who perform this line of work are called homebirth midwives.  Midwives is a more common term that people are familiar with and means a person who attends childbirth and provides support during labor and delivery.

Now why a midwife is usually not a doctor or nurse is because the practice of having your baby at home, or midwifery is generally the belief that pregnancy and birth are natural normal events.  This is in stark contrast with the medical model which relies on medicine to assist and improve the pregnancy and delivery.

That out of the way, lets take a look at why women are having their babies at home.  What are the reasons why women are choosing homebirths?

First off, with the continued presence of the midwife, the length of labor can be reduced.  Most women do not know that pain medications, although they do help with pain, actually makes the labor slow down.  This really causes more pain and the labor actuallly lasts longer.

Second, the techniques of midwifery actually reduces the likelihood of the need for forceps or other operative devices during delivery.  The process of naturally allowing the birh and delivery to occur is what causes the reduction of the need for those devices.

Third, cesarean delivery possbilities are reduced.  Most cesareans that happen in labor were because it was thought that a vaginal birth was not possible.  Either it was the baby’s safety that was in mind or the mother’s safety.  When in reality the complication was created because the natural birth process wasn’t allowed to happen.

These are just 3 of the benefits of having a natural birth at home.  There are plenty more benefits, but most women would agree for pregnancy these are 3 huge benefits. 

So although, most might consider it strange to want to have a child at home, studies have shown that allowing the natural birth process to happen is safer for the mother and the baby.  With over 300 births attended as a homebirth midwife in San Diego, this has proven to be the case time and time again.

12 Cloth Diapers Answers Every Parent Needs To Know

Cloth diapers (also known as reusable nappies, washable nappies and cloth nappies) are much easier to use than you think. Here are answers to some frequent questions about using cloth diapers.

What do I do at change time?

If the diaper is just wet, all you need to do is take it off, throw the liner away (if disposable) and place the diaper and reusable liner in your diaper bucket instead of in the bin.

If the diaper is dirty, the poo can be thrown away down the loo (far more hygienic than putting it in the dustbin) and the diaper placed in the bucket.

Liquid poo can be washed off by holding the diaper under the flush of the toilet before being dealt with in your normal way.

Are they difficult to put on?

No, not at all.Shaped diapers or all-in-ones are the simplest to use and need no folding – simply place them on just as you would a disposable.Terry or flat diapers do need to be folded but the amazing invention of the Nappi Nippa means no pins are needed.

Will our house smell?

Only if you leave lots of dirty diapers hanging around for days.  Just think of how your bin smells with a couple day’s worth of dirty disposables in it, with real diapers, the poo is flushed down the loo straight away, so you won’t suffer from this problem.If you like, you can place a few drops of essential oil on a cloth that you keep on the top of the bucket.

Will I have to do lots of washing?

All families have lots of washing, so to include a few diapers isn’t really that much extra work.When you are ready to do a normal wash, simply take the diapers out of the bucket and place them in the washing machine, it is as easy as that.

Putting diapers into a modern machine with its fast spinning is a far cry from having to put them through the twin tub and mangle that your mother may have used.

Diapers can be washed at 60c and some even use 40c with the odd hotter wash to keep away stains.

The easiest way to dry diapers is on the line with the rest of your washed clothing (or on a radiator during the winter) but I to fluff them up by putting them in the dryer for 10 mins with bath towels after taking them off the washing line.

Will I get dirty placing them in the washing machine?

No.  The poo will have been disposed of, so you are only dealing with a little wee.If you wet pail (see below) you can use a mesh type bag to store the diapers in, so you just need to pick that up and put it in the machine.  Dry pailing is even easier to do.

What is the meaning of ‘pailing’?

Basically, storing used diapers in a bucket.Wet pailing involves placing the diapers into a solution of water and diaper soak or similar or just plain water.

Dry pailing is very simple – just drop the used diaper into the bucket and replace the lid.

Don’t all the washing powders harm the environment?

Yes and no. Yes, as all detergents can cause some damage (this can be limited by using non-bio or eco-friendly products) but no to the extent that this is still much better than using disposable diapers.

Will I have to change diapers more often?

Not really.Advice states that you should change your baby’s diaper every 4 hours during the day (more often for newborns), so this remains the same.

Won’t my baby get diaper rash?

Diaper rash happens when bacteria in the poo reacts to the ammonia in wee.The best way to prevent diaper rash is to change frequently (every 4 hours or so) and let fresh air access the diaper area.

The lock away moisture core in disposable diapers makes parents change less often and their very design stops air from circulating.Most real diaper designs are breathable, allowing air to circulate, resulting in a healthier bottom.

What if I go out for the day?

Many parents use real diapers even when they go out and just take a slightly bigger bag with them. Other parents have a stock of eco-disposables to use for day trips or when they go away.

What about nightime?

Again, some parents use eco-disposables overnight or add booster pads to the cloth diaper.

Will they leak?

Not if they fit properly.A well fitting cloth diaper with a wrap if appropriate is no more likely to leak than a disposable.We advise that you try a sample kit to make sure you buy the right diaper for your baby.

Pointers for Ordering Child Crib Bedding for Your Little Angel

What do you think about when somebody says toddler bedding? The basic bed sheets that go with your adult bed can be used even without you thinking about its requirement. Would it be expensive to buy bedding especially made for toddlers, and what is the purpose of doing this? You will definitely have a lot of questions you want answered. Here are some fast answers to the most common questions people have.

You may ask yourself if it is necessary to purchase toddler bedding. Bedding made for a toddler bed needs to be bought for toddlers. A crib or playpen is too small for your growing child to sleep in. Because of this, you need to make sure your toddler bed is wrapped with high quality materials that fit properly. But, if you have a standard size convertible or toddler bed, it is possible to reuse your baby bedding crib sets.

Can I just take a normal bed sheet and modify it to fit a toddler bed? No, you should be sure to purchase bedding specifically designed for toddlers rather than just an ordinary bed sheet. Aim to provide maximum comfort for your daughter while she sleeps. Regular bedding may irritate a toddler’s skin, as it is still more sensitive the the average adult’s skin. If the sheet placed on your toddler’s bed is too big, it can become easily disorganized during the night and disturb her sleep.

Are there many different options for toddler bedding? Yes, there is a myriad of bedding choices available to you. Toddler bedding is widely available from most stores and websites that sell baby bedding. You need not worry about redecorating your child’s entire room, as in most cases you will find a toddler variety of the crib bedding already being used by you. Maya toddler crib bedding sets is a popular toddler version of Trend Lab’s Maya crib bedding. Bedding for toddlers comes in various styles, colours, designs and more in order to be especially designed for toddlers’ appeal and needs.

Does it cost a lot to buy toddler bedding? The cost of toddler bedding depends on many factors, including the quality of the materials that are used to ensure your child’s comfort and safety. If your child won’t long be in a toddler bed, there are different, more inexpensive bedding sets.

How many toddler bedding sets should I purchase? Practically-speaking, you probably do not need more than two sets–one can be placed on the bed while the other is being washed. It isn’t necessary to buy large amounts of bedding sets for an only child. But if you have children under the age of 4, you have the option of purchasing two bedding sets and using them later with the other children.

Your top priority should apparently be the coziness of your children.  Hence, shop leisurely for your baby’s bedding and ensure that the standard and smoothness of the materials truly impress you. When you know your child is in a very comfortable bed, you can have peace.

Child Boy Baby Bedding Sets Suggestions

While you’ll doubtless be excited about the arrival of the addition to your family and the preparation of the nursery, the decision of which theme to use can be a difficult one. If you have not set up the baby’s nursery yet, the best place to start is by choosing bedding and then using the bedding as a starting point to decide how to decorate the room. Here are a few ideas to help you pick a theme for your bedding.

When you plan to buy baby bedding, this is an excellent spot to begin as boys are inclined toward bold and strong color schemes. You can never choose colors that are too bold. One such set is made by Trend Lab. It has a chocolate and navy coloring and is called Prep School Blue crib bedding set. The colors are a mixtures of caramel, chocolate, blue and white.

Animal themes are famous among both boys as well as girls, but the actual choice of animals varies according to the gender. Animal theme preferences differ between the genders as girls like cute, cuddly things while the boys prefer larger wild animals. For an infant boy a Noah’s Ark theme is nice. If you want a theme that will grow with your son choose a jungle theme instead.

Every little boy loves to play cowboy, so this would be a good theme. If your choice is a cowboy-themed room, there are many choices in traditional “Western” fabrics like denim, plaid, ultra-suede, or leather. Frequently, there are overall patterns of sheriff’s badges, stallions, and covered wagons on such crib sets. In cowboy themes fleece and flannel are favorite fabrics for baby blankets.

When older men can enjoy sports, why not little boys? When choosing team-specific bedding, the parents usually choose the team that is their favorite. Some can be more specific, with bedding sets that feature solely baseball, football, and soccer images. Perhaps the best theme choice for your son is sports, in general. You never know which he will prefer as he grows older, and the room can grow with his interests.

You have an alternative for buying baby bedding, if you are preparing to have many children. Choose a set that is not gender and age specific; such that, along with your son, other babies can use it too. By doing this, every child will have the ability to pick their own room theme when they are 3 or 4 and start to express their own likes and dislikes. Geometric designs, alphabet and numbers, or even famous animated figures like Winnie the Pooh would look great on unisex bedding materials.

You should give it some careful consideration if you’re planning to buy boy baby bedding. It may be tempting to buy frilly bedding for an infant but when he gets older, you will have to replace it, so buying something more masculine would be more economical in the long run. Most toddler beds use standard sized crib mattresses, so a great solution for parents that are thinking ahead are 3-in-1 cribs that convert to toddler beds.