MarloElaine » Baby Things

Calling All Hip Moms and Babies!

Elaine — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 03:03:38 +0000

Calling all hip moms and babies! I’ve just discovered a new store perfect for all the fashionable and budget conscious moms out there! I’m so excited to share the site and my purchases with everyone!

Hip Moms and Babies is an online store featuring Maternity and Nursing products. Hip Moms and Babies was created by Zeka, who is a mother of three and also a Pediatrician/Neonatologist. She has gathered a collection of really cute clothes and accessories for pregnant women, nursing moms, infants, and toddlers, as well as pumping supplies, organic bath products, baby slings, natural soy candles, etc.

Each “Hip Moms and Babies” item has a several photos with detailed descriptions. Many offer tips on how to utilize the product best. The site is based in the Philippines, so prices are listed in Philippine Pesos (P or PhP) which are approx PhP40/42 = $1.00 US. Click here to convert from PhP to USD. The price of each item is in the description or the photo title. They accept Paypal and are happy to ship to the US through FedEx, DHL, or UPS.

So far I have purchased two Transition Tubes and a Diaper Clutch.

The Transition Tubes are only P250 each, or about $6.25! I chose Charcoal Heather and Dusty Rose. They are so comfy and provide great nursing coverage when wearing regular shirts. Nursing moms will no longer be limited to those expensive nursing tops! These are also great for pregnant women who find that regular or even maternity shirts don’t quite cover up their bellies. They can also be used like a belt to hold up loose pants. Most styles are available in both 13″ and 15″ sizes. Zeka described it perfectly when she wrote, “It’s the perfect accessory and wardrobe extender you will need for pregnancy and after the baby.”

DIAPER CLUTCH

The Diaper Clutch in Pink with Brown trim was a great deal at just P600, approx $15.00. I use it to hold three diapers and a stack of baby wipes. When folded, it looks just like a regular purse. When opened, it converts to a generous changing pad that wipes clean easily. It can be carried alone or inside a diaper bag.

NAPPY CLUTCH

My sister-in-law purchased the Nappy Clutch and loves it. She said it’s the perfect size for diapers and wipes and fits nicely inside her purse. She only paid P750, or about $18.75.

If you have any questions about a product, shipping, or currency conversion, post a message on the site or e-mail hipmomsandbabies@gmail.com for a very prompt response from Zeka. I hope you will take the time to browse the site and pass it on to all the Hip Moms or Moms-to-be that you know. I’d love to hear what you think in the comments section!

Diaper Bag Necessities

Elaine — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 18:15:45 +0000

Getting out of the house on time with a toddler and a baby takes a lot of preparation. We always bring a fully stocked diaper bag with us wherever we go.

We find it easier to restock the diaper bag as soon as we come home, that way it’s easier to remember what needs to replaced. Plus, it allows us to be semi-spontaneous. Just grab the bag and the kids and go!

A few months ago, Parent Hacks had the idea to poll their readers on what were the contents of their diaper bag. We decided to take it a step further after seeing our good friend, Erwin published a photo of the contents of his backpack. We’ve taken a picture of everything found in our diaper bag!

Diaper Bag Contents

Items for Baby:
Cloth bibs
Burp cloths
Diapers (2-3)
Baby wipes
Lap pad
Change of clothes (Onesie, socks, hat, pants, long sleeve shirt)
Blanket (in case baby gets cold or wants to play on the floor/glass)
Infant Motrin & syringe, Tylenol Suppository & lubricant
Thermometer
Bulb syringe & saline water
Infant feeding kit (2 oz water, bottle with 1 scoop formula, 1 nipple)
Cherrios and crackers – snacks for baby

Items for Toddler:
Diapers (2)
Baby wipes
Lap pad
Change of clothes (t-shirt, socks, pants, long sleeve shirt)
Children’s Motrin & Syringe
Snacks (fruit snacks, cheese crackers, raisins, etc.)
Bibbity Bib or disposable bib
Toys, Crayons, & Paper

Items for Mom:
Extra t-shirt
Bottled water
Snacks (granola bar, beef jerky, etc.)
First Aid Kit (Band Aids, alcohol pads, antibiotic ointment, gauze, etc.)

I often take just the essentials from my purse and put them into the side pocket of the diaper bag so I don’t have to keep track of two kids and two bags: cell phone, wallet, keys and gum.

How about you – what’s in your diaper bag?

Sophie, the Climbing Toddler!

Elaine — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 06:50:43 +0000

This is Sophie on top of Sammy’s desk.

Sophie loves to climb. She climbs stairs, furniture, boxes, Sammy’s step stools, whatever she can! She reminds me of a story my own mom used to tell me about when I was Sophie’s age….

When I was growing up, we lived in the top floor of a three-flat apartment building. I loved to look out the window, but I was so short! I pushed chairs, boxes, anything I could get my hands on so that I could climb up to the window. Once my makeshift staircase was finished, I climbed to the top, pushed out the window screen, and sat in the window sill with my feet dangling out of the third floor window.

Shortly afterwards, the phone rang. It was a neighbor alerting my mom to the legs sticking out into the sky. My mom snatched me from the window and dismantled my staircase. My dad then installed bars in that window so that my stunt could not be repeated.

Nowadays, there are safety devices you can buy to protect children from climbing out windows without blocking fire escape routes. We considered buying the Window Guard that allows the window to be opened, but can be removed easily by parents in case of emergency. Instead, we installed the Window Wedge that prevents the window from being opened more than a few inches. It was very easy to install and inexpensive.

Sophie knows how to climb up the stairs, but not down yet, so every staircase in our house has the Safety 1st Security Gates installed at the top and bottom floors.

We’ll be ready for her when she starts trying to climb up to the window.

You can see her in action in this video:

Stuff Your Baby Doesn’t Need

Marlo — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 06:18:38 +0000

Ben of Open Switch (the creative genius behind ~~this great Wordpress~~ the Unsleepable theme) posted a list of 6 Baby Accessories You Don’t Need. The six items he writes about in his blog are:

Diaper Genie
Boppy
Baby Bathtub
Bottle Warmer
Baby Wipes Warmer
Shopping Cart / High Chair Cover

I have disagree with number two though, the Boppy pillow. It is needed if you want to multi-task while snuggling with your sleeping baby. Elaine had found a new use for the Boppy Pillow a few months ago. I’ve seen her check emails, pay bills, even post blog articles while baby Sophie is sleeping comfortably on the Boppy pillow.

One other item which has to be on the list is: Baby Water! Who is the marketing genius behind that concept? They simply slap on a cute picture of baby and tell you it’s good for your baby but do not say why. Some other brands advertise that fluoride has been added, but isn’t that already in your tap water? We just use filtered tap water when we mix Sophie’s formulas. Don’t be fooled, save your money for diapers and wipes.

How We Started Our Playgroup

Elaine — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 19:04:03 +0000

Every parent needs a good support system, especially stay at home moms. In addition to our family and friends, we have a weekly playgroup that we have grown to love. I look forward to our playgroups just as much as the kids, if not more. They add some structure to our week and provide adult conversation with someone other than my husband!

I first met the other families at my local libraries. My suburban library has a weekly program called “Wee Read for Infants.” A neighboring library has a similar weekly “Baby Time” session. Both are free, with no registration required. They had a similar format of singing songs, reading books aloud, and then free play with library toys and books.

My son Sammy and I were regularly attending both of the baby story times every week. Sometimes I would strike up conversations with other parents by asking about pediatrician recommendations, where they went for their children’s haircuts, or the always popular, “He/She is so cute! How old?”

A small group of moms tended to gravitate toward each other every week. For a while, we would see each other every Monday at one library, then every Friday at the other library. We decided to meet on Wednesdays as well.

First we met at public places like the park, the pool, the zoo, or even the shopping mall. Once we got more comfortable with each other, we started inviting each other into our homes for lunch and play time. With four families in the group, we each host about once a month. We still meet at outside locations when the mood strikes us.

We ended up changing our regular date to Mondays, since most of our kids were starting to outgrow story time. I still try to take Sammy and Sophie to the library for Friday story time as much as possible. At 7 months old, Sophie is starting to enjoy the stories and the other babies. Sammy and I still enjoy meeting new people in a familiar environment.

If you want to start a playgroup yourself, I recommend starting with the local libraries. Other good places to meet fellow parents are: La Leche League meetings, park district children’s classes, local parks, kiddie play areas in shopping malls, or any place that children like to hang out.

Ideally, the playgroup will consist of children about the same age, but that does not have to be the case. As long as the kids play nicely together and the parents get along, it could be the start of many beautiful friendships!

Once a playgroup is well established, it can branch off into a monthly Mom’s night out for movies, restaurants, game nights, or any kind of grown up activity! It could even turn into a babysitting co-op, where families take turns watching each others’ kids, avoiding costly babysitting fees.

Do you have your own playgroup? We’d love to hear your suggestions for meeting other parents or playgroup activities!

Five Helpful Websites for New Parents

Elaine — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 00:23:37 +0000

I have come up with a list of my five favorite websites for new parents. We are eagerly awaiting four new babies to join our extended family in the next few months: one in October, two in November, and one in February. Sammy and Sophie will have so many playmates! We’re so excited!

1. Baby Center has been my favorite website since I first became a parent. It has a lot of interesting and helpful articles that are conveniently categorized by child’s age. It is also very easy to search by topic. The site sells baby related items and offers a baby registry. My favorite feature is the e-mail newsletter that they offer. “Personalized specifically to either your due date or your child’s birth date, our most popular weekly e-mail series helps you track your baby’s developmental milestones as they happen.” I receive weekly e-mails tailored for each of my children.

2. La Leche League is kind of a support group created for nursing moms and moms-to-be who are planning on breastfeeding. I use this site when I have any questions related to nursing my baby, but also to find out when and where my local LLL chapter is meeting. Though they do offer a membership to join, you are not obligated to pay to attend the meetings. It is a great place to meet new people, especially if you’re looking to start up your own play group for your kids! I recommend moms-to-be to start attending the monthly meetings before they deliver their baby. The other members are great resources for breastfeeding information as well as pregnancy and parenting advice.

3. Lansinoh is an excellent product for women who are just starting to breastfeed. It is a soothing lanolin ointment that protects sensitive skin and does not have to be removed prior to breastfeeding. Even if you don’t purchase this product, I still recommend subscribing to their Nurture Note newsletter. According to the site, “you will receive a weekly e-message with words of encouragement, support and helpful information for the first 12 weeks of breastfeeding, and once per month, thereafter, until your baby’s first birthday.”

4. Pregnancy Weekly is a great site when you are pregnant. It allows you to “track your pregnancy week by week with your pregnancy calendar, count down to your due date, and connect with other moms in your birth club community” either online or via e-mail subscription.

5. MarloElaine.com We can’t end this list without a shameless plug for our site! Be sure to check out the articles tab along the top of the page for the following topics: Top 10 Must Haves for Breastfeeding Moms, Umbilical Cord Blood Banking, and especially Top 10 Must Haves for New Parents.

These are the websites I recommend. What would you add to this list?

Teaching Sophie Baby Sign Language

Elaine — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 06:15:42 +0000

When our son Sammy was a baby, we taught him baby sign language to help him communicate. We were baby signing long before it was popularized in the movie Meet The Fockers. We were very pleased with Sammy’s response and are now teaching Sophie how to sign.

By the time Sammy was just 7 months old, he knew the signs for “milk” (open and close one or both fists), “eat” (bring fingertips to mouth and tap lips), and “open” (holding out an open hand). Though he could say the word a few words already (Mama, Dada, and up), he quickly learned to say and sign many more words. His favorite signs were “more” (putting the fingertips of both hands together) and “all done” (bringing both hands together horizontally, then spreading them apart). Sometimes he still uses the “all done” sign over two years later!

We used a signing system loosely based on American Sign Language, as described in the book Baby Signs: How to Talk with Your Baby Before Your Baby Can Talk, New Editionby Linda Acredolo and Susan Goodwyn. The same authors have come up with an entire program, and is detailed in the book Baby Signs: The Complete Starter Kit and on http://www.babysigns.com/. Another helpful website about baby sign language is signingbaby.com.

I recently discovered another book that I’m using to teach Sophie baby signs. It’s called Let’s Sign : Every Baby’s Guide to Communicating with Grownupsby Kelly Ault. This book has cute illustrations and shows step by step drawings of how to do the signs. It is organized into three chapters: Mealtime, Playtime, and Bedtime. Sammy enjoys looking through this book and helping teach his little sister how to communicate.

So far Sophie has mastered the sign for “milk.” She uses the sign when she wants to nurse, or whenever she sees a bottle. I’ve even seen her make the sign while she was sleeping! Right now we are working on “eat” (tapping the thumb and fingertips to the lips several times), “Mommy” (open right hand with thumb touching chin), and “Daddy” (open right hand with thumb tapping right temple several times). Daddy even made up a few silly signs for “Sammy” and “Sophie.”

Some people worry that encouraging signing will delay infants from learning to talk, but this is simply not true. There are many studies out there that show that babies who learn baby sign language start to talk sooner and have a better vocabulary than those who did not sign. Using baby signs decreases the baby’s frustration by allowing him (or her) to express to others exactly what he wants. This is especially important in baby’s first year of life when he wants to communicate, but does not yet have the ability to speak clearly. Though the infants will only use baby signs as their main form of communication for a few months, I strongly believe it’s worthwhile.

Top 10 Must Haves for Breastfeeding Moms

Elaine — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 01:35:19 +0000

As my soon-to-be-new-mom friends are approaching their delivery dates, they will each have to decide if they plan to breast or bottle feed their new babies. It is a personal choice, but highly recommended by pediatricians and budget conscious parents. I was only able to give Sammy mother’s milk for two months, the majority of it pumped and fed to him through a bottle. Sophie is now six months old and almost exclusively nursing! I’m not sure how much longer we will continue, but as long as both of us are still comfortable, I see no need to start buying formula and washing bottles.

I have compiled a list of items that I think every Breastfeeding Mom should have. Even if you buy every item on this list, I believe it is still less expensive than a 6-12 month supply of formula, bottles, etc.

1. Nursing Tank with Shelf Bra – I bought one of these from Motherhood Maternity. I liked it so much that I bought several more in different colors. I like them because they offer belly coverage when pulling up shirts to nurse. The modest nursing mother is no longer limited to expensive nursing clothes if she doesn’t want to expose a lot of skin while nourishing her baby. I wear mine under maternity shirts, button down shirts (leave the top buttons closed for more coverage), or any loose fitting top.

2. Nursing Bra – While I usually wear one of my many tanks, I have several nursing bras. I use the traditional nursing bra when I need more support, want something less bulky, or am wearing a nursing shirt. I don’t recommend buying nursing bras online, unless you are already familiar with the specific item. I purchased several that had inconvenient nursing openings or simply didn’t fit right despite a sizing chart on the website. I prefer nursing bras that have one hand cup closures, no under wire, and wide shoulder straps. Keep in mind that the nursing bras that slip over the head with no back closure make for more comfortable sleeping.

3. Washable Cotton Nursing Pads – These nursing pads are supposed to be better for your skin than the plastic lined ones because they allow the skin to breathe. Plus, you can just wash and reuse them! I toss mine in the washer in a mesh laundry bag and hang them to dry. The only drawback is the occasional leak through the pad. Sometimes I use two if there’s a chance I might soak through the first one. These have no adhesive to hold them in place, but I have not had a problem when using them with nursing bras or tanks.

4. Disposable Nursing Pads – These are very thin, absorbent nursing pads with a plastic backing and an adhesive strip. While they may prevent embarrassing wet spots on shirts, these will leak along the edges when full. In a bind, I have been known to substitute a diaper cut in half (one half for each side) -very absorbent, but bulky. Pantyliners or maxi pads would probably work too, if necessary.

5. Nursing Shirts – These are cleverly designed shirts with nursing openings for easy access to breastfeed or pump. Just like the nursing bras, I have not had much luck shopping online for nursing clothes. The sizes posted are often not accurate, and the nursing openings are not always as described. For some reason, the same maternity stores that carry up to size 4x for pregnant women do not even carry XXL for nursing women. Nursing clothes can be fairly expensive, especially if buying an entire new wardrobe. If you can sew, look for patterns to make your own nursing clothes.

6. Nursing Gowns – These are basically over sized t-shirts or sleep shirts with two slits cut down the middle for easy access to the milk supply in the middle of the night. I have several of these that I wear every night, and sometimes I even change into them before napping with Sophie. I love them because there are no buttons or clasps or anything to mess with in the dark. One of my nursing gowns even came with a matching infant gown!

7. Lanolin based breast cream – I was very lucky to have been given several samples of Lansinoh cream in the hospital. (Be sure to ask your nurse or lactation consultant for some!) I applied it liberally after every nursing and pumping session for the first few weeks after delivery. It soothes sore or cracked skin and does not need to be washed off before baby nurses again. Lansinoh.com has a very informative website, and also offers free weekly e-mail messages of breastfeeding encouragement and advice tailored for you and your baby.

8. Breast Pump – Essential for any mom planning to go back to work, pump milk for Dad to bottle feed, or even to pump and dump after consuming alcohol, medication, or other things baby might be sensitive to. Since Sammy was premature, we had to rent a hospital grade pump by Medela. (Incidentally, our insurance refused to pay the rental fees.) For Sophie, we were fortunate enough to borrow a Medela Pump In Style from a friend. Though they recommend not sharing the accessories such as the pumping kit between babies, I sterilized all of Sammy’s old pieces and had no problems.

9. Nursing Necklace – These are necklaces designed to be played with and pulled on while baby is nursing. Why on earth would you want that? To keep baby’s hands busy so he or she doesn’t constantly push up your shirt, pull off your nursing blanket, or worst of all, pinch you! While I don’t have a traditional nursing necklace, I use the Tiffany platinum necklace and cross pendant I received for my very first Mother’s Day from Sammy and Marlo. As an added bonus, I also hang my wedding ring on the chain for Sophie to play with, since I cannot yet fit back into it.

10. Pacifier – I don’t believe in “nipple confusion,” nor do I like people who condemn new mothers for trying to pacify their screaming infants. I used to work as a nurse with premature infants who were very sick. Sometimes swaddling, feeding, or even holding the infant was not possible, leaving a pacifier as the only option to soothe them when they were in pain or upset. Many of these babies were able to successfully nurse from their mothers without any hint of nipple confusion. More important than my own opinion, the American Academy of Pediatrics is now endorsing routine pacifier use to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The Parent’s Choice Wee Soothie Pacifier is the brand our children prefer.

New use for the Boppy Pillow

Elaine — Fri, 26 May 2006 06:01:47 +0000

My 5 month old daughter loves to fall asleep in my arms or lap, especially after nursing. The only problem is, she wakes up and cries the instant I try to put her down. I was getting so frustrated because I was trapped on the couch, unable to get anything done at my computer desk. My temporary solution is to remove the armrests from my computer chair so that I can sit comfortably with a Boppy Original Pillow around my waist. Once my little one falls asleep, both of my arms are free to type, read, make phone calls, eat, etc.

If she does stir, I can swivel my chair with my feet for a pseudo-rocking effect. She also responds to “Pop Goes the Weasel;” for some reason it’s the only song that can put her right to sleep.

As soon as my butt is asleep, I know that it’s safe to put her in her crib for the night and time for Mommy and Daddy to go to bed. Earlier I said that this was a temporary solution. Just a few days ago, our little one slept in her own crib for the first time ever! Last night she slept by herself for six whole hours! Hopefully soon she’ll learn to fall asleep by herself in her crib and give her parents some much needed alone time.

Update 7/13/06: ParentHacks.com sent quite a bit of traffic to this post. Thanks for featuring our article, ParentHacks. Be sure to check out their site for more helpful tips.

Top 10 Laundry Tips for Children’s Clothes

Elaine — Fri, 26 May 2006 03:57:05 +0000

During my second pregnancy, I unpacked all of my firstborn’s baby clothes that I had so carefully boxed away two years earlier. I was so disappointed to see so many stains from spit up, baby food, and… well, never mind! I realized that I had learned a lot about laundering children’s clothes in the last two years. I thought I’d share these tips with all you parents out there.

Keep a bucket of water and half a scoop of OxiClean in the laundry room for soaking heavily soiled items until you are ready to run the washing machine. On laundry day, drain the bucket and place the wet clothes in the washer. If your washing machine has a “Drain/Spin” or “Rinse/Spin” setting, use that to remove as much of the dirty water as possible. Add the remaining laundry & the detergent after the initial spin cycle is completed.

Pre-treat all stains with Spray N Wash or or similar product. Place in the soaking bucket if you’re not going to wash the item right away.
Add a scoop of OxiClean along with the detergent to keep clothes looking new.
If you avoid bleach and hot water, you can don’t need to separate whites & colors. I just wash all the baby and toddler laundry together.
Unscented laundry detergents work just as well as those marketed to babies. Some infants are even sensitive to the “baby scent” added to certain products. The same goes for OxiClean vs. Baby OxiClean.
Do not use fabric softener or dryer sheets on children’s clothes. This removes the flame retardant coating placed by the manufacturers.
When baby spits up (or worse) on Mom or Dad, treat the soiled clothes just as you would the children’s. Pre-treat, soak, etc.
For newborns and those with sensitive skin, wash parents’ shirts, infant bedding, baby towels, and anything that comes in contact with baby’s skin just as you would the infant’s own clothes.
Use the extra rinse option, if your machine has it.
Add bedding, towels, or your clothes to the children’s clothes if you don’t have enough to run a full load.

See also Tip #5 of Top 10 Must Haves for New Parents. Do you have any other great laundry tips? We’d love to hear them!