The 10 Child Safety Devices You Need in Your Home

Did you know that you can childproof your home for a fraction of what it would cost to have a professional do it? Child safety devices are available at hardware stores, baby equipment shops, supermarkets, drug stores, home and linen stores, and through mail order catalogues.

Here are 10 child safety devices you need to help prevent injuries to young children.

1. Safety latches and locks — use on cabinets and drawers to help prevent children from gaining access to medicines and household cleaners, as well as knives and other sharp objects.

Look for safety latches and locks that adults can easily install and use, but that are sturdy enough to withstand pulls and tugs from children. Safety latches are not a guarantee of protection, but they can make it more difficult for children to reach dangerous substances. Even products with child-resistant packaging should be locked away, out of reach. A safety latch or lock usually costs less than $2.00

2. Safety gates — use to help prevent falls down stairs and keep children away from dangerous areas. Look for safety gates that children can't easily dislodge, but that adults can open and close without difficulty. For the top of stairs, gates that screw to the wall are more secure than pressure gates.

New safety gates that meet safety standards display a certification seal from the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). If you have an older safety gate, be sure it doesn't have "V" shapes that are large enough for a child's head and neck to fit into. A safety gate will cost from $13.00 to $40.00

3. Doorknob covers and door locks — use to help keep children away from places with hazards, including swimming pools. Be sure the doorknob cover is sturdy enough not to break, but allows a door to be opened quickly by an adult in case of emergency.

By restricting access to potentially hazardous rooms in the home, doorknob covers could help prevent many kinds of injuries. To prevent access to swimming pools, door locks should be placed high out of reach of young children. Locks should be used in addition to fences and door alarms. Sliding glass doors, with locks that must be re-secured after each use, are often not an effective barrier to pools. A doorknob cover usually costs about $1.00 and a door lock usually costs $5.00 and up.

4. Anti-scald devices — use for faucets and shower heads and set your water heater temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to help prevent burns from hot water. An anti-scald device will cost from $6.00 to $30.00

5. Smoke detectors — use on every level of your home and near bedrooms to alert you to fires. Smoke detectors are essential safety devices for protection against fire deaths and injuries.

Check smoke detectors once a month to make sure they're working. If detectors are battery-operated, change batteries at least once a year or consider using 10-year batteries. A smoke detector usually costs less than $10.00.

6. Window guards and safety netting — use to help prevent falls from windows, balconies, decks, and landings. Check these safety devices frequently to make sure they are secure and properly installed and maintained. There should be no more than four inches between the bars of the window guard.

If you have window guards, be sure at least one window in each room can be easily used for escape in a fire. Window screens are not effective for preventing children from falling out of windows. A window guard or safety netting usually costs from $8.00 to $16.00.

7. Corner and edge bumpers — use to help prevent injuries from falls against sharp edges of furniture and fireplaces. Be sure to look for bumpers that stay securely on furniture or hearth edges. A corner and edge bumper usually costs $1.00 and up.

8. Outlet covers and outlet plates — use to help protect children from electrical shock and possible electrocution. Be sure the outlet protectors cannot be easily removed by children and are large enough so that children cannot choke on them. An outlet cover usually costs less than $2.00.

9. Carbon monoxide (CO) detector — use outside bedrooms to help prevent CO poisoning. Install CO detectors near sleeping areas in your home. A carbon monoxide (CO) detector usually costs from $30.00 to $70.00.

10. Cordless phone — use to make it easier to continuously watch young children, especially when they're in bathtubs, swimming pools, or other potentially dangerous areas. A cordless phone costs $30.00 and up.

You don't need to spend a lot of money to childproof your home. But you do need to do it now.

Need to buy or create the picture of a baby footprint?

To be blessed with a little baby boy or baby girl is a miracle. It doesn't matter whether it is your first child or number five, it is still a fantastic feeling to hold that little human in your arm.

Some point in time you might want to share this special feeling with family and friends and you are therefore thinking of having a party to celebrate. It doesn't have to be a special occasion for inviting family over to show them their new family member.

When inviting you can naturally get on the phone and call them. It is fast but not very creative and surely it is not a thing they'll remember for the time to come.

Another route that you could take was to create an invitation for this party or get-together. To decorate this invitation what would be better than to actually make them unique and personalized by your baby. That would surely be a memory to keep for the grandparents.

A picture of a baby footprint would be a unique and personal way to decorate the invitation. But why stop there? You could easily apply that to lots of other things. Put a footprint on a cup, the plate, the candles etc. Only the imagination sets the limits.

Now you might think that it is easier said than done and that is true. But that doesn't mean that it is hard to create a picture of a baby footprint. It is actually quite easy to do when you know what to keep in mind before you start the process.

If you're not a creative person or you done feel that you have the time to do the unique pictures or baby prints you're in luck. More and more sites around the internet and in local stores sells pre-made decorations and invitations.

While they still look great and cute and are still affordable they are not unique and your friends and relative will surely not keep them as a memory of the party you held for your newly born child.

So whether you go one route or the other is up to you but if you choose to create your own unique invitations and/or decorations then make sure that you think the whole process through. Even though it is a simple process there are still a lot of things to consider when creating a picture of a baby footprint.

Tofu For Baby - Discover How This Amazing Food Can Benefit Your Baby's Diet

Tofu - that's just for vegetarians, right?

Wrong.

Tofu is a highly nutritious food that, rather than being seen as just an alternative to meat, should be included in your baby's diet on its own merits!

Tofu is part of the legume family. It is fermented soymilk curd - the process by which it is made compares to the way that cheese is made from milk. Tofu is a rich source of protein, calcium, iron, fibre and fatty acids - key components for good nutrition.

There are two basic types of tofu - hard/firm tofu, often used in recipes that needs a consistency which holds together well - and soft or silken tofu, generally used for desserts, smoothies, soups and sauces.

Fresh tofu has a sweet aroma when opened - any sour odour would indicate that it is stale and should not be used for your baby. It will keep for seven days in the refrigerator and should be placed in an airtight container of water. It is, however, essential that the water is changed on a daily basis. Tofu does not freeze particularly well - upon defrosting it becomes somewhat spongy in texture and appears discoloured.

You can introduce this versatile and healthy food to your baby once he/she is at least 8 months of age. (It is important, however, to be aware that soy is a potential allergen. When introducing it to your baby for the very first time, watch carefully for any signs of an allergic reaction. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, stuffy or runny nose, watery or red eyes and wheezing. Should you ever suspect your baby is allergic to a particular type of food, then contact a medical professional immediately).

It is very easy to incorporate tofu into your baby's diet because it has very little taste of its own. Instead, it absorbs the flavours of any foods it comes into contact with.

Initially, you could try blending tofu with cottage cheese or avocado, for a simple, nutritious meal. Soft tofu creamed with fruit would make a delicious dessert for baby. Alternatively, tofu can be cut into chunks and served to your baby raw, as a healthy finger food.

Taking into account tofu's extensive nutritional properties, along with its versatility, it would clearly provide a very worthwhile boost to most babies' diets.

Breastfeeding and Sibling Rivalry

Introducing a newborn brother or sister into a family can be an extremely exciting time for everyone involved. But it can also cause feelings of loss for younger children and they can react destructively. Understandably, younger children may feel put out and threatened by the new addition to the family. And family life can become fraught.

So, how can you make the new arrival less of a threat to the family?

Firstly, acknowledge to yourself and to your other children that they may feel a bit displaced when the new baby is introduced into the fold. If you intend to breastfeed your new baby, then explain to your children that you may not have as much time to spend with them as usual but reassure them that a routine will eventually become established and things will return to normal.

Try to involve other siblings as much as possible in the day to day care of the baby. You could nominate one to fetch baby wipes and nappies whilst another may be allocated the job of getting the night-time baby-gro. Or perhaps let them help with bathing the new baby. This will allow your other children to feel involved and important.

When you are breastfeeding the baby explain to your children what you are doing. If they are very young perhaps show them pictures of babies being fed by their mothers, including baby animals. Remind them that they were once breastfed by you too, if that is the case.

Some children will mimic what they see their parents doing so try not to show surprise if you witness a child breastfeeding her favourite teddy bear. Instead encourage her to tell you all about her baby.

Don't go into a different room to breastfeed your new baby as this implies that there is something wrong with what you are doing. Instead, as you breastfeed the baby, encourage your children to watch how the baby is drinking your milk and explain that it will make the baby healthy and strong. In so doing you will allow them to accept breastfeeding as normal.

Whilst breastfeeding you may find that very young toddlers crave your attention and may literally be hanging off you! Prepare for this by getting a few books or jigsaws ready in advance. When it is time to breastfeed the baby, read a story to your other children or encourage them to draw you a picture or do a jigsaw. This makes them feel valued and involved.

If siblings are bickering a lot with one another and you find yourself losing your temper with them try to take some time out. And when you have calmed down explain to them why you are tired. Ask them to understand that you are not really angry but that you need a rest.

Some toddlers vent their frustration on the new baby by nipping him or pulling his hair. You must explain in terms your children can understand why this is unfair and encourage them to do nice things instead such as helping to dress or bathe him or fetching some little toys instead.

If you are aware of how your children may react to a new sibling you can ensure that things progress smoothly by preparing them well in advance of the birth. Encourage your children to see the new baby as a family member who is looking forward to coming to live with you. Show them pictures of new babies and babies breastfeeding. If possible, bring them to visit someone who has a new baby and better still someone who is also breastfeeding.

Be careful to make time for other children in the family once the baby arrives.

Siblings can be hard work and sibling rivalry a nightmare, but you can make life easier for yourself and for them with careful advance preparations.

Baby High Chair Guide

There are many different types of high chairs such as the very convenient ones like the on-the-go booster seat, the euro highchair two, the transition highchair, the chicco polly high chair, the sit 'n secure, bumbo baby sitter, and much more. You should do a high chair review to find the best baby high chair for your child.

The Chicco Polly high chair is a very lovely Italian high chair that is loaded with a lot of features such as a three-way footrest, armrests that lift up, and an adjustable leg rest. This chicco polly high chair is for infants only ages six months and up and it can hold up to thirty seven pounds. Put this furniture near the dinner table and it will suit your toddlers needs.

This booster seat is for youth like nine-month infants and up and can withstand up to forty pounds. The on-the-go booster seat deflates and compresses for easy packing. It also weighs less then two pounds so it is very light to carry. This booster seat is very comfortable and it inflates at the parents touch while keeping your youth content. The on-the-go booster seat has some cool features like a storage pocket to store food or what knots, wipe clean vinyl cover, and a shoulder strap for easy portability. The on-the-go booster seat is a inflatable booster seat that has handles so it is portable that is why it is called the on-the-go booster seat. It is ranked as one of the top booster seats and high chairs for those mother and fathers who are on the road a lot.

The bumbo baby sitter is another interesting chair that is only for infants that can hold their head up. This bumbo baby sitter is a soft, comfortable chair that is molded to support his or her back and sides. It also has passive restraints that help keep him or her from sliding forward. This baby sitter can support weight that is between nine to twenty two pounds. Look for a cushion that is going to prop up your toddler during those growing years.

The euro high chair two is a high chair that is three things in one. This is a high chair for your baby, and then converts into a booster seat for your toddler, and then it can be a chair for your teenager. The euro high chair two only takes about fifteen minutes to twenty minutes to assemble. This high chair is also a wooden chair that supports youth that weighs between eighteen to one hundred and fifty pounds. This euro high chair also comes with many different features such as a removable safety bar, an anti-skid feet, built in stabilizers, a seat cushion, and a five-point harness to make it very safe for your child. This high chair is for only those infants who can sit up on their own.

A Baby Gift Basket Can Be A Perfect Present

When a close friend or relative is having a baby, there are always presents and baby shower gifts to think about getting. The new mother is going to have an intense period of adjustment before she gets settled into the routine of having another human being to look after, so she will need all the help possible from family and friends to make that transition as easy and memorable as possible. This should be a celebratory time for the new family, not a time of worry or stress, and a gift basket to commemorate the new addition can be just the thing to brighten their spirits even more, and maybe even supply them with some things that will end up coming in handy.

A baby gift basket can be one of the easiest way for you as the gift giver to be creative, and show the person your giving it to just how much you care about them. Instead of one big gift, you get to give out a plethora of trinkets, toys, and other fun items, wrapped together in a beautiful package which, in itself, can be a gorgeous thing to receive. A popular thing to do when buying a gift basket is to let the company who makes it fashion the wicker basket as a bassinet, within which are all the things you want to bestow upon the new child, making your gift all the more thoughtful and appropriate. Better yet, there are so many companies out there that are experts at making these sorts of things, so even if you're not exactly Martha Stewart yourself, you can let an anonymous craftsperson make it seem like you should have your own cable show.

Within the gift basket, you'll want to include the basics, those simple bare necessities. This means, teddy bears and or dolls are a given, as any parent will know a young child can never have enough teddy bears. If you want to be gender specific, you can go for the standard pink or blue color palettes to appease notions of femininity and masculinity, but many people nowadays are shying away from such black and white notions of sex, so your best bet is probably to stay as neutral as possible. This also means that you can go nuts and include just about anything in the toy department that you want to give the new baby. No longer do Tonka trucks mean 'it's a boy' nor do Raggedy Ann dolls indicate the infant is a girl, so take advantage of this freedom in creating a truly unique and baby gift basket. Baby oil or baby wipes can be the new parent's dream as well, since they'll surely be running through plenty of both, so don't be afraid to include the practical as well as the sentimental.

In addition to the variety of contents you can include in your basket, you also have the luxury of having a wide range of prices and sizes to choose from, as crafting gift baskets for babies is a burgeoning market right now baby. Obviously, if the expecting mother is only a co-worker or a casual acquaintance, you don't want to present them with an elaborately fashioned and ornately packaged baby gift basket, as you'd probably be shelling out more money than you really want to spend. A nice, small gift basket can say everything you want to say, and do it in a classy, memorable way, without costing you the proverbial arm and leg.

Getting the Baby Nursery Walls Ready

When planning your baby nursery, deciding on paint colors and then preparing and painting the walls is a major part of the design process. You will want to choose paint colors that go well with the theme or design scheme that you have decided on for your baby's nursery. The best way to do this is to take a piece of the nursery bedding to the paint store with you to pick out paint samples. You may want to bring home the samples you choose to see how they look in the room. Sometimes the room's lighting will affect how the colors look, so doing this may save you the trouble of repainting the room if you are unhappy with the results.

If time allows, it is best to paint the nursery at least a month or two before the baby is expected. This allows time for the room to air out. You may also want to consider choosing paint that has no or low VOCs (volatile organic chemicals). These types of paints may cost more but it is worth the additional cost since they will omit little or no fumes unlike normal paints.

If you want to get creative when painting the walls, you can try faux painting techniques such as sponging and ragging. Another idea is to stencil designs on to the walls that match the theme you have picked for the room. If you have an ocean theme, fish stenciled on the wall would look really cute. You can buy all the supplies you would need for stenciling or faux painting at your local home improvement or paint supply store.

Of course, you are not limited to paint when deciding what to do with the baby nursery's walls. Wallpapers, wallpaper borders, and murals are all great options for the nursery walls. Wallpaper and border can sometimes be found to coordinate with your chosen nursery theme. Sports, airplane, nautical, animals, Precious Moments, and Winnie the Pooh are just a few of the themes that you should easily be able to locate wallpaper or borders for.

If you want to go with a wall mural for your baby nursery, there are several routes you can take. You can purchase a mural that can be put on the wall the same way wallpaper is. You just assemble the mural piece by piece like applying wallpaper. Another option available is paint by number mural kits that you paint on yourself. If you don't want a mural that covers the whole wall, peel and stick decals are a great option. You can often find them to match many nursery themes. The last option is to have a muralist paint the mural. This can be quite pricey though unless you or someone you know is a gifted artist and able to do it.

Whatever you decide to do with your baby room walls, remember to take into consideration what you plan to do with the rest of the room's décor. Having walls that complement the room's theme and design will bring the whole room together.