new parent checklist
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Planning a baby shower can actually be done without breaking a sweat only if you would keep the following ten items in mind:
- In today’s world, anyone can host the baby shower including the family members. However, as a rule, the on who hosts is the one who would pay for the expenses. If this might seem to be too much for you, you can always seek out friends and relatives of the mom-to-be to share with the expenses.
- Create first a list of people you would be inviting, the food that you
would be serving, the party favors you would be giving away, and the prizes for the games. This would help give you an idea how much money you might be spending.
- Choose a date that is not too far and yet not too near to the mom-to-be’s due date. The most common practice is to have it during the 7th month. If this is no longer possible, it would be better for you to hold off until the mom has given birth.
- Go for a theme that fits the personality of the new parent, most especially the mom-to-be. Get in touch with your inner child and let your creative juices flow when planning the invitation layout and the decorations as well as the party favors that would be given.
- Your menu should depend on the time of the day the baby shower would be held. Do not put too much emphasis, however, on heavy meals as baby showers do not generally last very long. Your best option would be to go for finger foods.
- Make sure that the games you would be having for the baby shower is something that most guests would be willing to try. Take into consideration the age group of the guests. As much as possible, involve the mom-to-be in the games.
- Do not forget to document the moment. Load up on films and/ or batteries so that your camera or videocam would not conk out in the middle of the party.
- In order to help your guests find the right gift for the mom-to-be, have the latter sign up for a baby registry. This way, she avoids getting two or more of the same item as well as items that she does not really need.
- One of the must-haves in a baby shower is the cake. If you want to go more creative on this one, you can just have a diaper cake which you can later on give to the mom. For the guests, you can give them cupcakes should they really want the real thing.
If you are having a hard time deciding what party favors to have for your baby shower, then Simply Unique Baby Gifts has just the right answer for you.
Tags: Baby Shower, baby shower party favors, baby shower tips, new parent checklist, New Parent Tips, Party Favors
A baby shower is a great time for the new parents, most especially the new mom, to share her joys. This event can be made even more special with a properly planned and executed series of baby shower games. Here are some of the games that the new mom as well as the guests would truly enjoy:
- “Name” Trap – Upon arriving, give your guests a name tag with a funny baby name and an item to hold which they need to protect. Tell
them that they need to address each and everyone only with the name indicated in their name tags. Anyone who calls another guest by name would have to give up the item that they are holding to the other person. The guest with the most number of items wins the game. Suggestion: You can use edible party favors such as gingerbread or cookies as the item that the guests need to hold.
- Name That Baby Item – Choose 5 guests and have them blindfolded. Place in front of them a number of baby item which they have to name within a specified time frame. The guest who is able to name the most number of items wins the game. Suggestion: You can have the mom-to-be take part in this game to make it more exciting.
- Picture Perfect – Group your guests into three. Give each one three baby magazines where they would cut out baby qualities that they think the baby might have. They would then need to put all of this together. Have the mom-to-be decide which picture she thinks looks the most like her baby.
- Paci-Pass – Group the guests into teams of 4 to 5 people. Have them stand in a straight line facing you and then give each one a straw. The aim of this game is to see which line would be able to pass the pacifier the fastest without using their hands, only the straw.
- Milk Bomb - choose 5 to 6 guests and have them stand before a table where powdered milk, water and baby bottle can be found. Within a specified time, have them mix a milk and then drink it from the bottle. The first one to finish gets a prize.
If you do not have an idea where to get a good game prize or material, Simply Unique Baby Gifts carries a wide range of baby shower party favors that you can use as game materials or as prizes.
Tags: Baby Shower, baby shower party favors, baby shower tips, new parent checklist, New Parent Tips, Party Favors
Starting your baby on solid food can be one of the most awaited milestones in a parent’s life, so exciting that some parents take a number of things for granted.
Here are some tips to keep in mind to make starting on solid foods a breeze:
- If your little on is under the age of three, as much as possible, avoid giving them berries, hard candies, medium to larg chunks of meat, nuts, olives, and raw carrots. Keep in mind that, although your baby can already chew, there is still the possibility of him or her choking.
- Make sure you check first with your doctor if you can mix cow’s milk with your baby’s cereals. There have been reported cases of allergies as well as adverse reactions in infants ingesting cow’s milk.
- Do not sweeten your baby’s food unless he or she shows sign of dissatisfaction with the unsweetened variety.
- Introduce vegetables first before fruits to keep your baby from going after the sweet taste of fruits.
- Introduce meat when your baby is already 8 months or older. This is also the case when it comes to eggs and other dairy products.
Keep in mind that whatever taste preferences your little one would develop during her early years would be with her throughout her life, so you should choose her food well.
Make sure you keep a baby bib handy at all times when feeding your little one as your first few attempts at feeding her would definitely be a messy one. Simply Unique Baby Gifts’ has a great line of baby bibs which you might want to try.
Tags: baby bib, new baby checklist, new baby tips, new parent checklist, New Parent Tips, newborn baby checklist, newborn baby tips
As fragile as your little one might seem to be, you still have to make sure that you trim his little fingernails every now and then. This is because your baby’s fingernails tend to be sharper than yours and could easily scratch his skin and yours. Here are some things to keep in mind to make your “trimming” session a bit easier:
- The best time to have your little one’s nails trimmed is when he or she is asleep or after your little one has taken a bath when his nails are the softest.
- In order to avoid nicking your baby’s skin, make sure that you use baby scissors or clippers. Pull the finger pad away from the nail and then start cutting.
- When doing the fingernails, make sure that you follow the curve of the finger. On the other hand, cutting the toe nails would mean cutting straight across.
- If you are afraid of nicking your baby’s skin, you can also go for an emery board. Slowly file away the excess nail of your little one.
- As much as it is the easiest thing to do, do not bite your baby’s nails into shape. By doing so, you only run the risk of transferring infection as well as a host of other microorganisms to your baby.
If you need to clip your baby’s nails while he or she is awake, you would need something to distract him. Simply Unique Baby Gifts has a complete line of baby toys that you can use to get your baby’s attention.
Tags: baby toys, new baby checklist, new parent checklist, New Parent Tips, newborn baby tips, newborn checklist
Not every woman has been born with a motherly instinct. Most usually only develop this gut-feel skill over time. If you are a new mom, figuring out when your baby is sick and when he is just being plain fuzzy can be nerve-wracking.
Well, worry no more. Here are some signs that your baby is sick and needs your immediate attention:
- One of the things that you need to pay particular attention to is your baby’s pattern of behavior. Any change in the pattern – for example, your baby’s been crying a lot or your baby is too quiet – should be a cause for concern.
- A flushed skin as well as the appearance of rashes can also mean that your baby is sick. The same goes for glassy and dull eyes.
- If your baby has a persistent cough or appears to have difficulty breathing, then you should get in touch with your doctor within 24 hours.
- Vomiting as well as a change in the eating pattern of your baby could signal an ailment. This is especially the case with projectile vomiting or a vomit that shoots from your baby’s mouth. When this happens, get in touch with your doctor. Keep in mind that vomiting can cause your baby to become dehydrated.
- Lastly, an increase in your baby’s temperature is a definite sign that your baby is sick.
If your baby has fever and shows sign of chills, keep him warm by wrapping him in a baby blanket and holding him. Do not leave your baby in a crib with the blanket on as this might suffocate him. Simply Unique Baby Gifts has a complete line of baby blankets that you can use to keep your baby warm.
Tags: baby blanket, new parent checklist, New Parent Tips, newborn baby tips, newborn checklist, sick baby, tips
Not many people are aware that breastfeeding a newborn can be quite a challenging task. That is why we are featuring here some tips to keep in mind during your first few baby feeding sessions:
- Although most parents tend to make their baby feed on a specific time, it is better to feed him or her only when the little one shows sign of hunger. Usually, this would be about every two to three hours. This would get lesser and lesser as your baby grows old so you need not fret about it too much.
- In line with the above, you have to learn to read your baby’s cues. Fuzziness and lip movements (sucking motion) could signal hunger while refusal to latch on to your nipple can be a sign that your little one is already full.
- Make sure that your baby has the chance to burp. If he or she is having a hard time doing so, you can assist our little one by massaging his abdomen. Burping allows him to release any gas that he might have ingested during breastfeeding.
- Treat feeding time as your chance to get close to your little one. Since
each session may last for a few minutes, make sure that you secure a good place and a good position.
- When your little one is already 5 to 6 months of age, you might want to start him or her on solid food. Start with soft solids such as ashed vegetables, rice, and yogurt mixed with fruits.
If you find yourself needing to breastfeed your little one in public, you might want to try Simply Unique Baby Gifts’ complete line of baby blankets and towels to provide you some privacy.
Tags: baby blankets, baby towels, new parent checklist, New Parent Tips, newborn baby tips, newborn checklist
Many first time moms would really love it if babies came with instruction manuals. Unfortunately, they don’t. This does not, however, mean that baby care is more of a headache than precious moments. Here are some tips to keep in mind to keep the whole process a breeze:
- Make sure that you get enough sleep after you’ve come home from the hospital. As much as you might be tempted to be always by your baby’s side, it still better to catch some sleep as often as possible.
- Baby supplies should be within your reach. This would lessen the need for you to run back and forth when changing your baby’s diapers, giving him or her his bath, and putting him to sleep. In some ways, this also prevents accidents from happening.
- Do not be afraid to try different soothing techniques. Keep in mind that each baby has their own soothing technique that works for them.
- Hospitals and nurses would most probably teach you how to swaddle
your baby. This is one of the skills that you need to pay particular attention as this would prove to be a great way to keeping your baby from being fuzzy and crying a lot. Swaddling your baby actually mimics the feeling that they have while they were still inside your womb.
If you are in need of stylish baby blankets for swaddling your little one, Simply Unique Baby Gifts has a complete line of baby blankets featuring different designs.
Tags: baby blanket, new baby checklist, new parent checklist, New Parent Tips
At some point in your life as a new parent, you would find yourself getting literally tired of all the baby caring activities that you do. It is in times like these that you might want to move your baby to his or her own room. Here are some tips on how you can do it seamlessly:
- Make sure that you make no changes in the sleeping schedule of your child. Any variation might cause him to be fuzzy leading him to cry a lot especially when left on his own.
- Consider placing the crib in your room first until he or she gets used to sleeping in it. Once he is used to the idea of sleeping in a crib, you can easily move the crib to your little one’s own room.
- During the first few weeks after you have moved your baby to his own room, make sure that your baby can easily see you even when he or she is lying at his crib. This gives the little one the feeling of security.
- Putting toys as well as a mobile can help capture the little one’s attention. This would give you time to sneak out unnoticed.
- If you need to be away for long periods of time or if it is already time for the baby to sleep, make sure that you leave in his or her crib some of your unwashed clothing as well as pillowcases. Since babies have a keen sense of smell, doing this tricks them into thinking that you are just nearby.
You can make your baby’s move to his or her own room even more comfortable by providing him with cozy crib beddings. Simply Unique Baby Gifts’ has a full line of crib beddings, from traditional designs to contemporary ones.
Tags: crib beddings, new parent checklist, New Parent Tips, newborn baby tips, newborn checklist
