Breastfeeding and Baby Tidbits

There are literally hundreds of things to do before baby comes, buying baby products shouldn’t add to your stress, but help relieve it some. Unfortunately though, everyone and their mothers (literally) have tons of unwanted advice on what to buy for baby; that could really stress a parent out. Don’t think this article is going to be much different. Well, maybe a little different, you came HERE remember? But we’re not going to bother you with anecdotes or show your spouse naked pictures of you at three months old. What we are going to do is offer a few suggestions with the “whys” for you to consider. Hopefully, unlike the three hour conversation over how castor oil was great, this might help you out some.

Strollers are a must. You won’t find a supped up stroller out there with a speedometer and heads up display so baby has a clear shot with its missiles but there are options. Light strollers vs. heavy strollers are the main concern. Here’s what you need to look at: lifestyle. Are you a take baby around the block kind of person or do you plan on drives to the park or beach? Light strollers are great because they’re smaller and store in the house easier, and let’s face it; you’re going to have plenty of clutter in your future. A lot of the heavy strollers are actually car seats as well, that halves the amount of space needed in a way and the extra storage space is nice for juice and toys during extended time away from the house.

Believe it or not, of all the baby products out there, diapers are the most controversial. The two choices are cloth and disposable. Cloth diapers are better for the environment and don’t fill up landfills. But they’re cloth, so you have to wash them. Disposable diapers are disposable, oddly enough, and for your baby and you it’s all fire, change and forget. Whatever your choice is remember two things: makes sure the diaper is snug but not too tight and that if the diaper has a 25 lbs limit that is the BABY’S weight limit, not the amount the diaper will hold.

Play pens will not only protect your baby, but protect your sanity. Laying your baby down on the floor where Balto can clean up baby’s face, or clean out baby’s diaper, is not a good idea. It’s also drafty down there. A good idea in the world of baby products has come to light in the last 150 years. It’s called a playpen. Use it well and use it often. All domestic playpens are baby tested and mother in-law approved. It will protect baby and give them much needed time to learn how to roll over and later “cruise”. Plus it will keep Uncle Phil from stepping on your little one.

While playpens are great and will help keep you sane and baby safe, they are not beds. Oddly enough the industry has come up with some other baby products for this: beds. A bassinet is a nice way to go for infants and is highly recommended up to 4 months. After that, start looking for other options. The best bet would be a bed with high rails. This will keep your little escape artist from climbing over and falling out later in their lives.

Blankets are an important concern as well. How many blankets do you need and what types are best? The answers to both of these questions are: all of them and yes. Different baby blankets have different uses. A nice warm fleece is great for cold weather and generally a good choice, however in a hot car on a summer day? No. Use a nice thin linen type blanket. Blankets are also great catch alls for your baby. By that we mean is your baby will use it as a best friend, cover, shade and a bib. It’s for the last function that you really should consider getting as many blankets as possible and always keep extras on hand.

There are many bottles on the market; some haven’t changed in ages while others could nearly advertise as “same baby bottle the NASA uses.” Go with what makes you comfortable. A lot depends on your baby’s eating/drinking habits. Just remember that heat and rubber nipples are a bad idea. The rubber in the nipples can become brittle and break off. The possible hazards are obvious. This issue is more prevalent with cheaper made bottles, but all nipples have this possible hazard when exposed to extreme heat like a dishwasher.

Baby products have been developed enough over the years that there are probably more choices than what is healthy for a new parent’s sanity. The best bet is to look at your own lifestyle and go from there. If you travel a lot with baby, think pockets. If you’re homebodies, then think light. Either way, it’s a learning experience and not one you’ll ever get back when it’s done, so enjoy!

Zeeman Haus enjoys writing articles online on a variety of subjects. You can check out his latest website on Playard Bassinet which reviews and lists the best playards with bassinets for your baby.