What Does My New Baby Really Need? A Guide To Shopping For Your New Baby

What is it do I really need to buy for my new baby? While writing my latest book found at www.CareForMyBaby.com I found that this is a question a lot of new moms must ask themselves. Having a new baby is a huge expense, and it is hard to stay on budget when you see all of the cute outfits in the stores. While all of the tiny things are really tempting to buy, please keep in mind that babies grow really fast. One of the biggest mistakes that new parents make is over shopping for clothes. Remember, you will probably keep baby in a lot during those first few months so cute outfits with matching hats and shoes may not get any use. Plus if you are going to have a baby shower you will receive a lot of cute outfits fit for your little bundle of joy. Below is a list of things that I put together as a guide for you to use while doing your shopping. Remember to do your shopping after your baby shower this way you will only buy what you need.

Health and Safety

digital thermometer nasal aspirator infant acetaminophen drops baby monitor night lightBaby Care Products baby shampoo/baby wash diaper cream baby nail clippers or safety scissors baby oil/lotion baby brush and comb a couple of pacifiers (even if you don't plan to use!)

Layette and Diapering

newborn diapers/cloth diapers/wraps or set up diaper service baby wipes and/or extra baby washcloths diaper pail burp cloths or extra cloth diapers gowns/kimonos or newborn sleepers (4-6) receiving blankets (4-6) swaddling blankets (2-3) crib blanket or quilt newborn socks or booties (4-6 pair) newborn cap (1-2) hooded bath towels and wash cloth 4-6 T-shirts or all-in-ones 1-2 sweaters or bunting (depending upon season)

Baby Equipment

baby carrier (sling, wrap or pack carrier) infant seat (have to bring it to the hospital!) stroller or carriage bouncer seat or swing diaper bag

Furniture and Accessories

co-sleeper/bassinet/cradle or crib mattress, waterproof pads, at least two sheets and other bedding changing table or other safe changing area mobile for the crib and/or changing area changing pad and 2 coversNursing Necessities nursing pillow washable or disposable nursing pads rental, electric or manual breast pump and storage bottles or bags if you plan to pump milk feeding bottles (2-4 4 oz to start), nipples, and bottle brush if you plan to use bottles

Below you will find a short list of things new moms will need to have on hand.

New Mother Care

sitzbath herbs big box of extra-long maxi pads for locchia nursing nightgown or comfy cotton pajamas small tube of modified lanolin or other product to soothe sore nipples nursing bras (1-2 comfy nursing bras plus a sleep bra to take to the hospital -- you can get more when your milk comes in, in case your size changes)

Other Good Ideas

pick out birth announcements (address envelopes before baby comes, if possible) make a Belly Cast to remember this amazing time!

Also a good thing to know is that some of these accessories and gadgets are fun to have. Some of them even help make your life easier. However these are not must haves, all your baby really needs is your love and affection and your baby will grow and flourish. Remember you must have a car seat for baby, because the hospital will not let you leave without it! Plus you want to protect your little miracle in any way possible. Relax and enjoy this time with your precious baby because this time will never return.

If possible line up friends and family who will bring meals or come help you out at home after the baby is born (and a good friend to coordinate) and/or hire a doula to help. This way you can spend even more time just worrying about the baby, while someone else worries about YOU!

Baby Expense - When Money is Tight, and Baby's on the Way...

As you probably know, baby expense should be high on your list of things to plan for, before the baby comes. There is no cheap way to have and raise a baby: it takes sweat, work, lots of cash, patience, and more to have a happy, healthy baby. Some studies suggest that you will spend anywhere between $150,000 and $200,000 for your kids by the time they are 18 years old, not including private schools, special lessons, or college.

But if you waited until you had enough money, time and energy to have your baby, you would probably end up without any children. Here you'll find a few ways to ease the finances, so that you can enjoy your new bundle of joy.

1. Get health assistance - if you don't have health insurance, and can't afford it, doctor's bills can ad up really easy. But there are options out there for people just like you. This baby expense will probably be one of your biggest, so don't be afraid to ask for assistance if your family needs it.

2. Breastfeed your baby, if possible. It's free, it's convenient, and it might help against breast cancer. It's recommended as being the best form of nutrition for baby.

If you can't breastfeed, don't feel guilty. Try to apply for WIC (Women, Infants, and Children): http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic, a program designed to help middle and low income families with educational resources and food. You can also save money by buying formula in bulk, clipping coupons, and accepting free samples whenever they are offered. This is a baby expense you can't do without.

3. Diapers - Some diapers are better than others, but most are basically the same. Store brand disposable diapers can be just as good as the name brand, for several dollars less than their name brand counterparts. You can save even more, if you use cloth diapers instead of disposable. As with breastfeeding, it's a little more work involved, but well worth it.

4. Diaper Rash Prevention - instead of taking action after your baby got a diaper rash, prevent it with a drop of olive oil applied to their bottom every time you change their diaper: it works wonders (you should check with your doctor first).

5. Baby food - When it comes to baby food, a blender is your best friend: it will help you keep this baby expense at its lowest. Not only is it much cheaper, but it's so much healthier! Save the little baby food jars for quick trips, or special occasions, and give your baby pureed food made by you. You can cook a week's supply on the weekend, put the blended vegetables in the ice cube tray, for a few hours, and then place them in a freezer bag. Depending on your baby's appetite and age, you can microwave one, two or three cubes before meal time. It's quick, healthy and inexpensive.

6. Clothing - There is no need to buy expensive designer clothing for you little one. Do you think anyone will really notice that your baby is wearing Tommy Hilfiger? Babies look cute in anything: don't waste your money! You can get most of your baby clothing at yard sales or second-hand stores.

7. Toys - they are big business, but you don't have to feel pressured to get the latest and most expensive models. My kids were happy with everyday items as their toys: empty shampoo bottles (make sure they are cleaned and rinsed very well before handing them to your baby), plastic bowls, plastic containers from food products (margarine, sour cream , etc.) that they could stack up, etc. Also, buy some toys that will help with your baby's development, are durable, and are age appropriate: a baby expense worth the money.

8. Wills - Get a will or update your old will. Name a guardian for your child and the trustee of your child's inheritance (often but not always the same person). Without a will, the court will name these individuals and also split up your assets in accordance with state law which may not be the way you would wish. Please don't try to avoid this baby expense: your kid's future might depend on it. A simple will that includes a trust for minor children costs between $150 and $250.

Baby Monitors

The first baby monitors were really just a small intercom you hung by your baby's crib so you would know if they started crying. Advances in design and technology have improved and so have the baby monitors you can purchase.

Baby Monitors are used by millions of families every year to help watch over their newborns and older babies. Some now sense movement, sound, and some even have visual monitors for watching over your newborn baby. Here are some of the monitors that I find to be very useful.

What are some of the features I should look for in a Baby Monitor? 1. Whether it has one receiver or two or more is one feature to consider. Having more than one receiver for the Baby Monitor, means you don't have to carry it from room to room with you. You can have one receiver for the baby monitor in your bedroom, one in the kitchen, one in the bathroom, and so on. 2. Is the receiver for the Baby Monitor battery operated or electric? Baby Monitors that run on batteries should also have an AC Adapter. If the batteries go dead, a nice feature is one that alarms you to that fact. Otherwise, you will just think the baby is being quiet, when in reality, you are no longer monitoring the baby. 3. Another option to having more than one receiver is to get a Baby Monitor with a belt clip, so that you won't forget it when you go from room to room. 4. The receiver should be portable and lightweight. 5. The range of the monitor is also important. Some have only a range of 100 feet, while other Baby Monitors have a range of over 400 feet. 6. If it has more than one channel, then there should be an easy way to change channels and the volume control feature on most Baby Monitors is essential. Some really don't have one. 7. Try the Baby Monitor out in the store if they will allow you to. The Baby Monitor's sound should be very clear from a distance. If there is a lot of static or the sound is very poor quality, the Baby Monitor isn't for you. 8. Surface mounting options for your Baby Monitor are important as well. The ability to mount it in more than one way should be included. Clips, suction cups, and other mounting options make using your Baby Monitor easy.

We hope the Tips on buying a Baby Monitor are helpful to you. There are more tips for buying a Baby Monitor at http://babyport.info/38570.php This is an important purchase for your baby's safety and for your piece of mind. I do not recommend you buy the Cheapest Baby Monitor you can find, nor do I recommend the Most Expensive baby Monitor you can find. I recommend you buy the Baby Monitor with the features that suit you and your baby's needs.

Baby Showers - Poems To Use At Baby Showers

Poetry is such vibrant means of communicating. It is one's creative way of expressing emotion, intellect and aspirations. It is filled with sentiment and mirrors the individual's true inner being. Such channel of expression is befitting an equally elating occasion: the anticipated arrival of a newborn. Here are ways of incorporating poems into the momentous event, the baby shower.

Invitation Poems

Poetry about babies can give the baby shower invitation added charm. Think of what it feels like to have a baby, the hope of anticipation and the fulfillment of birth. Include in the poem how you'd like those wonderful feelings to be shared with the guest being invited. Finally, to give the invitation a customized appeal, include the invitation details in the poem, carefully spreading the details, all throughout the verse, if possible.

Thank You Poems

Thank you poems are creative ways of expressing love and happiness for the future newborn. With the upcoming occasion, there are many things to thank for: having God's blessing in such a feeble form or having the support of family and friends while playing the waiting game. Mom-to-be can deliver the thank you poem. If it is a co-ed baby shower, the Dad-to-be can do the honors.

Another way of saying thank you is through the baby shower thank you card. This is sent to all guests who gave gifts for the occasion. Include a short rhyme on how blessed the baby is for having guardians as loving as the guest who sent the gift. Then end by thanking them for it.

Poems for Baby Shower Activities

It is unusual to have a baby shower and poetry reading in one, but it is an idea that can work among a very strong lyrical society. Most poets are very comfortable in expressing and conversing in verses, and if the future parents are poets themselves, then a poetry reading baby shower is not a bad idea. Who knows… they maybe anticipating a future rhymester!

To Continue Read This Article Go Now To http://www.babyshowerportal.com/Add-Vibrance-With-Baby-Shower-Poems.html

Buying A Baby Monitor - What To Look For

There is nothing more important in the world than the safety of your child. It is a given that you will worry about your newborn at night, when you are out, even if he/she is at home with a baby sitter or another family member. But there is no need to worry because there is a simple, affordable solution to your problem. Use a baby monitor! This is a wonder device that comes in many different configurations that will ensure you can keep tabs on all the activities of your baby. So what exactly is a baby monitor?

Basically, a baby monitor is a device that monitors the activities of the baby while you are otherwise occupied. There are audio and audio-visual baby monitors as well as specialized ones that can even sense the body movements of the baby. These baby monitors are available in many brands and models, but it is advisable to buy only the best quality you can afford to ensure accuracy and reliability. There are certain points that you must keep in mind before choosing a baby monitor.

Look for the following features before buying the baby monitor:

1) There are two types of baby monitors, wireless and plug-in. It is recommended that you buy the wireless one, as this one ensures mobility and freedom to use outside of the house. If you buy the wireless baby monitor, you get more flexibility and you are not stuck to only one location. Also, you can take it out with you in the range specified and monitor the activities of your baby while finishing your other chores.

2) Make sure the size of the baby monitor that you buy is not too large. Get a smaller size so that it can be easily clipped or tied to your belt. The portable baby monitors usually come with belt-clips. Size does not factor in much when the goal is to have a clear picture when buying a baby monitor that includes video. These audio-visual baby monitors are usually more bulky.

3) Instead of getting an audio-only baby monitor, it is better to go for a baby monitor with a camera, so you can actually visualize your baby's activities. These come either black & white or color (usually color costs more). Picture quality varies, especially in low-light conditions. Since your baby is probably going to be sleeping in a darkened room, check that the low-light picture quality is sufficient.

4) Make sure that the microphone that is attached to the camera is ultra sensitive so that you can even hear a pin drop. This is of utmost importance, even more so than the quality of the picture display.

5) Check whether the monitor has other accessories like an alarm clock to remind you of the baby's feeding times.

6) It is important that your baby monitor has a good range so that you will be able to travel a longer distance and yet keep a check on the activities of your baby.

7) Rechargeable batteries are a must. It's best if the baby monitor has a low battery indicator.

8) Buy a baby monitor with multiple channels so you can choose an interference-free channel to transmit on. If your neighbor has a baby monitor, buy a brand that is different from his to ensure that the signals don't get mixed up. Depending on the frequency of other household appliances such as cordless phones and wireless internet routers, you may need to buy a baby monitor that operates in the frequency zone different from your phone or router.

9) Some more expensive models include motion sensors that can detect if the baby has stopped moving for a period of time in order to prevent SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). For the ultimate peace of mind, get a baby monitor with this feature.

9) Last but not least, check the UL (Underwriters Labs) mark before buying. This ensures UL evaluation for safety.

Apart from these features, you should also utilize recommendations on the performance of the baby monitor from published reports and user comments. This is more important than going by the brand name since some manufacturers produce different models that perform better than others in their product line. Do not focus solely on the cost. Keep in mind the quality. Generally, the baby monitors will start from about 30 to 40 dollars and can go up to 150 dollars or more.

Do yourself a favor and buy the best quality baby monitor you can with the most features.

Helpful Tips For Planning A Wonderful Baby Shower

A baby shower can be one of the most thoughtful gifts you can offer a new parent. Baby showers are a lot of fun, and can be a good first memory for the new parents. And of course, the obvious plus to the parents to be is all the great baby loot they get as well. Well planned baby showers can help save new parents a ton of money on baby necessities, often taking a lot of financial stress and worry away from them. There is nothing like finding out you are expecting, then your next thought being how can we provide everything a new baby will need.

As with planning any event or party, one of the most important things is organization. Having a clear plan and sticking to it will help ensure things go well, and that you, the host, can enjoy the baby shower along with the guests and new parents. You should also enlist all the help you can get, including any willing family members, friends, or co-workers that would like to help with hosting the shower. Having plenty of help will help take a lot of the stress off one person, and will also make it easier on everyone's wallet by all chipping in together.

Once you have decided to host a baby shower, and have enlisted all the help you think you will need, the first thing you should all do is sit down together and plan out a budget. Since all the hosts usually share the expense of the shower, they should all be included in the budget meeting. One of the first things to keep in mind when planning the budget is how many people are expected to attend. The more guests you have, the more party favors, food, utensils, etc. that you will need, thus making expenses rise. You should also decide where the shower will be located at, someone's home, a local restaurant, or favorite place. Some hosts will actually rent out a space for the shower, which isn't very cost effective, but can be good if you are expecting a large crowd. At this time you should also start to think about what type of food will be served, what type of games and party favors you will have, and they type of decorations you would like. Many baby shower hosts will go with a theme just to make things easier on the planning end of things, but keep in mind the parents needs and preferences when selecting one.

After the budget meeting, you should probably begin thinking about the guest list, as you will need to know an estimate of how many people to expect before any real planning can begin. Include the parents family into the planning of the guest list to ensure no one is left out on either side. Accidentally leaving someone off the invitation list can cause a lot of hurt feelings, and detract from the fun for the parents to be. Unless you are planning a surprise shower, it may even be a good idea to ask the prospective parents who they would like invited to the shower just to be absolutely certain you do not miss anyone.

Invitations should be sent out about a month before the date of the shower, to give everyone ample time to RSVP, and allow plenty of time for them to adjust work schedules to attend, purchase gifts, etc. Depending on your theme and budget, you can either purchase invitations, or make them yourself. There are lots of resources available online that can help you with making and printing off your own shower invitations, and many of these end up being more personal and nicer than the invitations available for purchase. It all depends on how much time and resources you have available to invest. Along with the shower invitation, you may want to include a list of items that the parents need, or a note telling guests where the parents have registered. This helps ensure that the parents get items they need and want, which is the whole intent of a shower after all. You may also want to purchase or make thank you cards for the mom at this time, as she will probably be too busy or not feel like doing this herself.

You should try to tailor the menu choices to suit the number of guests you expect, and maybe a little extra just in case. Depending on the time of day the shower is to be held, you may decide to do a full meal, or just snacks and finger-foods. Depending on the number of guests expected, you may come out better budget wise to have the shower catered, or have it at a local restaurant so you have someone to do the hard work for you. Either way, you should put a lot of effort into planning the menu, as it is a big part of a good baby shower.

Plan your decorations and games according to the baby shower theme if you have one. If you are on a tight budget, you can make a lot of your decorations yourself, using either clipart that you can find online, or just printing out some things that match your theme. There are many ideas for baby shower games online, but it is important to keep your guests in mind when deciding on the games to be played. Not everyone enjoys that type of thing, or being in the limelight.

The baby shower is a good time to welcome the new baby, and also make the parents to be feel loved and special as well. Few parents forget their baby shower, as it is often one of the first times they get together with family and friends to talk about and share information about their new little one. Make sure you take lots of pictures, to help preserve these memories for years to come.

Appropriate Gifts For A Baby Shower

Celebrating the upcoming birth of a child by arranging a baby shower has become more and more popular. What better way to celebrate the arrival of a new little person to the world, than to have a nice little party for close friends and family.

It is customary to bring the new parents and their baby some gifts on this joyous occasion, and in this article we will look at some appropriate the gifts that will prove truly useful.

When buying gifts for a child, toys are usually the first thing that springs to mind. However, there are also many other items that are suitable. Also, remember that baby shower gifts need not only be for the baby. It is equally thoughtful to get something for the parents to be.

Buying toys

If you have decided to purchase a toy, or at least something playful, consider buying something that is educational and will boost the baby's brainpower. There is a rich selection of classic baby books and educational cd's and DVD's to choose from. For example, the Brainy Baby and Baby Einstein DVDs are highly recommended. And a visit to the local bookstore will surely provide you with many great alternatives. You may even find that some of the favourites from your own childhood are still available in reprinted edition, as well as books from many new authors. Choose books with many bright and bold pictures in them.

As for actual toys, there are many entertaining alternatives available. If you find something you like, you can certainly buy a toy for older babies that the baby can use when it grows a bit older. But just to be safe, stick to the toys for kids aged 3 and under.

Practical gifts for baby and parents

Some people are under the impression that a gift can't be something "useful and boring". However, while something like disposable diapers may not be the most fancy gift to give for a baby shower, it would definitely be a most thoughtful gift and most appreciated.

Diapers are expensive and babies will use them up very quickly. The new parents will appreciate them. Even those parents who opt to use cloth diapers may also find disposable diapers useful when travelling. A tip when buying diapers, pick the larger size ones instead of newborn diapers. After all, babies nowadays grow very fast and the newborn-size diapers may not be useful for very long. And while you are at it, why not thrown in some baby wipes as well.

Since hygiene is so important for little infants, a nice selection of baby bathroom essentials would also make a very thoughtful present. This does not have to be "boring" at all, as there are many things like cute baby puppets that may also double as scrubbing tools, or bubble bath with a soothing lavender scent will make bath time an entertaining experience for both the baby and parents. A hooded towel and some sweet smelling baby cologne or lotion is also suitable bath time goodies gifts.

Other usable items are pacifiers and bottles. However you should be aware that some babies prefer to use only a particular brand or shape for these items. If the parents-to-be have specified in the baby registry a brand or shape of bottles, nipples, and pacifiers, these items may be a safe choice for a baby shower gift. Otherwise, just steer clear from these baby items.

Finally, clothes is something that every baby needs - and will grow out of quickly. For this reason it may be a good idea to choose somewhat larger sizes than newborn sizes. Knowing the season the baby will arrive, and if at all possible the baby's gender, is also most helpful in choosing the clothes that will be just right.

If you, in spite of all these ideas and suggestions, can't come up with anything that you think would make an appropriate gift, a last resort could be to simply give the new parents a gift certificate for buying what they want themselves.

Overall, it is also a good idea to speak with some of the other guests of the baby shower well before the event takes place. You wouldn't want EVERYONE to bring disposable diapers, would you?