Thursday, May 20, 2010
Baby Safety And SIDS
SIDS means Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It is a unexplained infant death in the first year.
Many instances of SIDS occurred when the infant is in the crib And some people refer to this as "crib death." But the crib does not cause SIDS.
Facts About SIDS
Doctors and nurses don't know what causes SIDS, but they do know:
* SIDS is the leading cause of death in babies after one month of age.
* Most cases of SIDS happened for babies who are between 2 to 4 months old.
* There are more SIDS in Winter months.
* Infants sleeping on their stomachs are more likely to become victim of SIDS than those sleeping on their backs.
* African American babies reported double the cases of SIDS death. American Indian infants have 3 times the chances of SIDS death.
Though then experts do not know all the possible causes of SIDS death, there are certainly some good measures and practices that can greatly reduce the chance of SIDS death.
How to Lower The Risks of SIDS Death?
* Place your infant to sleep on the back. At nighttime and nap time
This is the one of best way to greatly reduce the risk of SIDS.
* Place your baby on a firm baby mattress, such as in a safety-approved crib.
Do not put the infant on mattress that are too soft. The same go for sofas, water beds, or other soft surfaces.
* Clear the baby crib or cot of all fluffy and loose bedding.
Also all stuffed baby toys, pillows, quilts, and other soft items.
* When the baby is sleeping, make sure that the face and head is uncovered.
Also check to ensure that the mouth and nose is not covered by the blanket or any other soft bedding. Use sleep clothing with no other covering over the baby. If you need to have baby blanket, you want to be sure that the baby is "feet-to-foot" in the baby crib. This means that the baby's feet are near the end of the crib, the blanket not higher than the shoulder, and the blanket is tightly tucked around the baby mattress.
* Don’t smoke before or after the birth of your baby.
Make sure that the baby crib area is a a smoke-free zone. And make sure no one is smoking near the baby.
* make sure your baby baby dont get get overheated when sleeping.
Make sure that the infant is kept warm when sleeping, but not too warm. Your baby's room should be at a temperature that is comfortable for an adult. Avoid putting many layers of clothing or baby blankets on the baby. This can overheat the baby.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Convertible Baby Crib - Is It Better ?
Before the baby arrive, you want to make sure that the baby crib is ready. This is an important piece of furniture as the baby would spend more than half the time in the crib. Studies had shown that the baby's growth and development is very much linked to the quality of sleep that it is getting You really want your baby to fall asleep easily inside the crib and remain so for a long time not disturbed. A lot of sleep is good for the baby. Besides, this would also be a great relief to the mom to get a nap for herself or to attain to other chore.
A convertible baby crib is gaining more popularity since it was first introduced a few years back. A convertible crib is specifically developed to cater for the baby's use from an infant to a toddler, and even a teen. Although the initial investment is higher, it would work out cheaper in the long term. It also eliminates the need for storage space.
There are always a few add-on options when you are getting a convertible baby crib. Some of them give you the Upton of adding another small drawer at the side to keep the baby stuffs. You can add mattresses to the adjustable mattress height. There are also other matching changing table and dresser to compliment the baby nursery. And other baby bedding and accessories to make the baby's room a setup for dream.
The negatives of the convertible crib, other than the price, is that there are more parts to it. Hard wares, railings, mattresses and bedding, all add up to the initial cost. And with more parts to assemble, there is the problem of missing pieces and parts not properly assembled. The moving parts may also post the baby to more hazards. You should weight these carefully before you buy a convertible crib.
Beside, you will be stuck with the same crib for many years. The baby crib design may be out of fashion. And if you really want to purchase a newer design , you would think again for the investment you had already made.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has some clear regulation on crib manufacturers. And most new convertible crib comply with the latest regulatory guideline. However, as a parent, you want to educate yourself with this knowledge and standard so that you can buy with the confident that your kid's safety is not compromise.
Depending on the type of design and functionality, the average price for a normal convertible crib is about two hundred to a thousand bucks. It is always good to start shopping early, so that you are well aware of the various type of design options and the price range.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Baby Blankets and Baby Bedding
Baby blanket is a baby constant companion and the design is always very cute. Babies love to cuddle in their blankets as it provide them the sense of security and comfort. Beside protecting them from the cold outside.
You should always look for a blanket that is soft. As the baby's skin is delicate and easily irritated. You want to make sure that the blanket is large enough to cover the entire baby's body. However, a blanket that's too long is likely to become hazardous in the baby crib..
Baby blanket is made from a variety of fabrics. Fleece blanket is a popular choice as it can be wash easily and dries quickly, Fleece blanket is good for keeping the baby warm in winter. but it is really too hot to be used in Summer.
Cotton blanket washes easily and is also quite lasting. Cotton allows the skin to breath and it has the property to absorb moisture. Cotton is a organic fabric. It is not exposed to harmful pesticides which may harm the baby's skin. Cotton blankets is great in moderating the baby's immediate environment and keep the baby cool in summer and warm in the winter months.
Cashmere is a luxurious material and is a lot more expansive. It has a very nice texture and is soft and warm. The negative of this material is that it is more work to maintain as it has to be hand washed. This is really a lot of work and may not be worth the effort.
Shopping for baby blankets can be really fun as they come with super cute design. If you want a sweet and happy theme, you should go for light and pastel colors. It is also more practical as they show dust more readily. Although stronger and brighter colors may be good to stimulate your baby's senses.
When choosing a baby blanket, you want the design and color to bland with the baby crib bedding and nursery. Take note that some baby bedding are gender-specific. If you are not sure if its a boy or a girl, you should select one that is meant for uni-sex.
In conclusion, you should chose a baby blanket that is:
* Soft and smooth
* Washes easily
* Right size
* Warm but not hot
* Design that matches
If you know what you want, buying a baby blanket can really be a lot of fun. This buying guide is mean to help you focus on what to buy when shopping for a baby blanket. And you should be able to buy one that's is sweet and cute as well as useful and practical.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Baby Sleeping bag - Buying Guide
Good night sleep is essential for a baby’s well-being and growth. As a parent, you want to make sure that the baby get the best quality sleep so that they are happy and grow well.
Why use baby sleeping bag instead of blanket?
One of the main reason that doctor recommend baby sleeping bag is to ensure that the baby is properly covered while sleeping and also to reduce the risk of suffocation. Babies at young age tend to toss and turn a lot during their sleep and the blankets may get kicked away or end up covering their face. They may end up sleeping in a position that is either risky or bad for their development.
The baby sleeping bag reduces the chance of the baby movement while sleeping. It is harder for the babies to turn in the sleeping bag. Just make sure that the sleeping bag is the right size, of the appropriate material and that the baby is properly zipped up before you put him or her down in the crib. Studies found that sleeping bag helps baby to sleep longer and more soundly.
Baby sleeping bags come in a variety of sizes. The normal size range is 1-6 months, 6-18 months, and 18-36 months. It is best that you have your baby with you when buying the bag to ensure that the size fit properly. Neither too big nor too small.
The next thing you want to check is the “tog rating” of the sleeping bag. Tog rating is a measurement of thermal resistance, or how well the sleeping bag keeps out the cold and ensure that the baby is warm and cozy inside.
The most common rating of a baby sleeping bag is 2.5. This will keep the baby comfortable when the outside temperature is at 10-20 deg Celsius. So this is good for all year round. In the summer at between 21-25 deg Celsius, you should be looking at a tog rating of 1.0. And above 25 deg Celsius, a tog rating of 0.5.
While you want to keep the baby warm inside the sleeping bag, you don’t want the baby to be overheated. A good sleeping bag would provide the right temperature inside, help to absorb the moisture inside and thus keeping the baby dry and comfy.
In most cases, synthetic materials are not good for absorbing moisture. These include: polyester, rayon, carbon fiber and spandex. Most baby sleeping bag made of synthetic fiber material absorb less than 1% of its weigh in moisture.
Cotton is a good material for baby sleeping bag. Cotton is natural, soft, good for keeping warmth and has excellent moisture absorbing property. There are various type of cotton and they are generally acceptable. However, beware of processed cotton that is shiny and resemble satin. They tend to have a very low moisture absorption property.
Wool is another excellent fabric for baby sleeping bag. There is a type of wool known as Merino Wool. Extensive scientific research shown that Merino Wool can absorb twice the amount of moisture and sweat compare to synthetic fabric. This material is effective as it can release moisture quickly. And with this quality Merino wool is able to create a micro climate inside the sleeping bag and regulate a comfortable temperature for your baby. Merino wool is able to absorb up to 35% of its own dry weight in water. A happy baby is one that gets a lot of quality sleep.
Getting a good baby sleeping bag will surely help to ensure that the baby will sleep and grow well and that the parents are also getting the rest that they deserve.
Posted via web from Baby Baby
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Crib Beddings - Shopping Tips
Shopping for a crib bedding could possibly become overwhelming, if you are not sure what are the features to look for This article will enable you to get hold of a crib bedding that not only looks great but one that the baby is going to enjoy.
Before you are totally lost in the unlimited variety of design and crib bedding add-on, give some thought as to what you should have in the infant's room. Take into consideration the style and the color that would match that of the new born's room. You should not have to decide yet as you will be confronted with lots of choices when you get started to do the real purchasing. Your original thought would help to set the direction, but your final purchase may be quite different.
The most important requirement of a baby crib set is the crib sheet and also blanket and there are a variety of material for the baby's crib bedding and blanket. In general, organic cotton and wool usually are excellent choices. You would like the bed linens set to be plushy as the infant skin is simply sensitive and readily irritated by rough surface. Taken a look at the bed linen instruction and purchase one that is not difficult to maintain and easily wash.
Infant blanket would need to be light-weight mainly because a thick blanket can certainly contribute to irritability to the infant. In some cases this could possibly pose the increased risk of suffocation. A good quality blanket must be smooth and also cozy for the infant to hug in his or her nap and always maintain the new born's body temperature in a good comfortable range, not too warmth or cold. In wintertime, flannel bedding set could be a very good solution. Otherwise, you can certainly have the baby dress in a sleeper to make sure that there are a couple of layers of air to keep the infant from the frigid weather.
The next product you will want to consider is the baby's crib fender. The crib fender is normally custom made to cushion your new born's head and limbs from bumping against the cot, as well as protect the newborn from getting trapped in between the gaps. Child's crib bumpers have loads of types and pattern and a related design can greatly improve the look and feel of the toddler cribs.
Do take note that a couple of toddler safety organizations advise against the use of crib bumper considering the fact that this could quite possibly create a lot more risk to the toddler. In the event that a crib bumper is a must-have, do some research and look for the hazard signs.
There are actually heaps of other bedding gear you can get to complete the look and feel of your baby’s room: cushions, comforters, doll bags, wall decoration, throw rugs and much more. How extravagant you would prefer your newborn room to be is really up to you as there is tons of of goods and ideas. It is useful to determine early regarding what are the essential items. Baby bedding sets are sweet and adorable but refrain from making impulsive buy just basing on the design. A quality bedding set is one that’s is safe and always keep the little one warmth and contented in dreamland