Baby Gear Archives

DIY Baby Mobiles

Mobiles are an awesome way to get the nursery decorated, and also serve the purpose of entertaining and calming your baby. They stimulate the infant’s mind, and it gives them something to look at besides the ceiling as they fall asleep. You don’t have to go out and buy a fancy mobile; in fact, I’ve seen tons of beautiful homemade ones on Etsy and Pinterest. Check out this post by Nicole at The Kavanaugh Report for some DIY, Montessori inspired baby mobiles:

Munari Mobile – uses styrofoam balls and black and white designs

Octahedron Mobile – consists of three octahedrons made from metallic paper (typically Red, gold, and blue) and hung at different levels

Dancer Mobile-looks like people dancing in the wind; use shimmery, sparkly paper and string!

Shares 0

How To Save Big On Diapers

by Kathy T.

Having a baby is ridiculously expensive, ya’ll. A normal case of diapers is like $15. And one tiny little can of formula will cost you about the same. And you go through those every week or so. Government programs like WIC and Snap can help if you’re really struggling, but if you don’t qualify, then it can be hard paying for all of it. That’s why I’m always looking for ways to save! Check out this post by Heather Schisler at Passion for Savings for how to save the most when buying diapers:

-Start stockpiling them as soon as you find out that you’re pregnant

-Compare diapers based on unit price

-Look for coupons and buy online

-Sign up for rewards EVERYWHERE, like Target, Kroger, Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid

-Hoard coupons like a madman and stack them when you can

Photo Credit: Sellers Patton

Shares 0

Why Every New Mom Should Add A Playpen To Their Baby Registry

by Kathy T.

Being a parent is hard work: especially when your baby learns how to use his legs and becomes a toddler. Chasing them all over the home, keeping them out of dangerous areas, and the constant vigilance you have to keep over them is extremely exhausting. A huge part of keeping your sanity at that stage is by setting up an area where kids can safely play. That’s why play pens are such godsends! That, and they have so many other uses. Check out this post by Rachel at A Mother Far From Home for why you need a play pen on your baby registry:

-Napping in other areas of the house when room sharing with sibling

-Safe independent playtime

-Corraling kids when you need to get other stuff done

-Family homes: bring the play yard to grandma’s so the kids have somewhere to sleep if they are sleeping over

Photo Credit: Jelene Morris

Shares 0

Essential Baby Safety

by Kathy T.

Having a baby can make you a little crazy- everything you have in your home is now a potential hazard. While it sounds kinda paranoid, it’s actually true. I have an almost-two-year-old running around everywhere, and I have to be extra vigilant with keeping things out of his reach. However, some companies take advantage of this by selling new parents safety devices they don’t actually need. For tips from a second time mom, check out this post by Hillary at The Colemines. Here’s the gear you’ll actually need:

-A baby gate for stairs, halls, and anywhere else you don’t want your tike to go

-A car seat that meets and exceeds all safety regulations

-Cabinet locks

-Furniture straps to keep heavy shelves from falling over

Photo Credit: Donnie Ray Jones

Shares 0

Ways To Use Baby Wipes

by Kathy T.

Baby wipes are seriously magical. I didn’t know how magical until I lived with a baby, but those things have a million uses. They can clean up any mess that babies make, you can use them as makeup removers, toilet paper, or even magic erasers. Seriously. Go get a pack of them right now, even if you don’t have a baby. Check out this post by Jillee at One Good Thing By Jillee for more uses for baby wipes:

-Wipe down the inside of your car

-They get sand out of everything! Bring a pack to the beach

-Remove pen, pencil, and crayon from any surface

-Substitute “tide pen”- wipe makeup and deodorant stains off clothes

-Clean off pet paws, noses, and fur

-Temporary frizzy hair tamer

Photo Credit: Abi Porter

Shares 0

Road Trips With Toddlers

by Kathy T.

This Thanksgiving, I’m going up to Kentucky with my entire family to spend the day. That means I’ll be sitting in a car for two hours with an almost-2-year-old. Usually, he’s a great car rider. He likes to look out the window, talk, and sleep. But of course, he’s at that age where he gets a little antsy and wants to get out of his seat- especially on long trips. If you’re going even further this weekend, you’ll need to read this article by JJ at the Belly Itch Blog for tips on keeping toddlers happy in the car:

-Set clear expectations for behavior

-Make sure electronics are fully charged

-Bring plenty of snacks, and eat often- they are a great distraction and keep away hungry crankiness

-Bring a goodie bag filled with games and activities

Photo Credit: Zach Alexander

Shares 0

Keeping Babies Warm In Winter

by Kathy T.

Everyone knows how important it is to keep infants and toddlers warm at night. With temperatures getting colder every day, the necessity is even greater. Babies like to toss and turn, so keeping them tucked in with only a blanket is often not enough. Some kids are Houdinis who can even wiggle out of their pajamas! Luckily, this post by Carrie at Carrie This Home is here to save the day. Check out these tips for keeping your little ones warm and toasty during those long winter nights:

-One piece footie pajamas- hands down the best and most versatile way to keep babies and toddlers warm at night

-Fleece blanket tucked in- for toddlers only

-Wearable blankets- are a great option for babies/toddlers who move around a lot at night

-Layers

-Turn up the heat if it gets extra cold.

Photo Credit: Brad Brundage

Shares 0

How To Clean Mattress Stains

by Kathy T.

It’s not a pretty subject, but if you’re a parent, you’ve been there. If you’re expecting, get ready. Every parent has had a mattress get peed on, and has had to clean it. It’s just a fact of life. But figuring out how to clean it (REALLY clean it) can be a bit of a head scratcher. After all, you can’t just throw an entire mattress into the washing machine. But you want to make sure it is stain free and sanitized. Well, this post by Kristin at Yellow Bliss Road is here to save the day! Here’s what you do to get urine stains out of a mattress:

Saturate that mattress (or the stains at least) with vinegar. You can use a spray bottle or just gently drizzle it right on. Let the vinegar sit for 5-10 minutes.

Using paper towels, soak up the vinegar. Sprinkle baking soda all over the mattress, and let sit for a few hours. Then vacuum! No more stain!

Photo Credit: Emily May

Shares 0

Child Proofing Hacks

by Kathy T.

When your baby starts walking, you have to ratchet up the “watchfulness” level to 100. They will be into every nook and cranny of your house, getting into dangerous things you didn’t even know you had. You can try to prevent this by installing locks on cabinets, and adding padding to sharp corners. But, that can get expensive quick! Check out this post by Rachel Miller at the Kids Activities Blog for clever ways to baby proof your home without going broke. (I had a friend who cut up dollar store pool noodles and then stuck them to the edges of her fireplace for padding!):

-Decorate your socks with fabric paint to help them grip the floor.

-Now this idea is GENIUS! Use innertubes around your bookshelves to help “fence” the books in place. No more books tossed all about the room by your kiddo.

–If you don’t have fancy locks for a cabinet, have no fear. Go dig around in the cookie cutters, we bet one will fit.

Photo Credit: eyeliam

Shares 0

Gross Things That New Parents Learn About Babies

by Kathy T.

When you’re pregnant, you’re probably so busy preparing for labor that you may come across some unexpected things when the baby actually arrives. Yes, you set up the nursery, have a stockpile of diapers and formula, and you’ve educated yourself on how to actually take care of a newborn, but you still may be in for some surprises. Babies come with their own set of medical weirdness- stuff that may make you think there’s something wrong with them-even though it’s totally normal. When you’re a new parent, any one of these things may seem like a huge crisis, but they happen to almost everyone. Here’s some of the less glamorous things that come with a newborn, from Parents.com:

-My baby’s head looks strange: cone-shaped heads and squashed facial features are a normal part of delivery. Give it time, and your baby will look more like an angel and less like a troll.

-My baby has a blister on his lips- this is a callus that can be formed from sucking on a bottle or a nipple.

-My baby’s skin is flaky- it’s normal for babies to shed the outer layer of their skin (it protected them from fluid in the womb). Don’t pick it- it will go away in a week or two.

I’m not going to post them all here, because frankly, they’re a bit gory. However, I definitely encourage all new and expecting parents to read the full article!

Photo Credit: Seattleye

Shares 0