Thursday 5 April 2012

High Chairs


Clearly you wont need a high chair straight away, but while your in this whirlwind buying frenzy you might as well get one now. Considering your baby will most likely use their high chair at least once a day everyday until they are about three years old it is a good idea to do a bit of research.


·         Fold Flat - First you need to think about how much space you have in your house. High chairs normally take up a lot more room than a standard chair, and you cant push them under a table either, or they would be a low chair and that would kind of defeat the whole object! There are lots of chairs on the market that fold flat, look for one of these if you don’t have an awful lot of space.

·         Tray or No Tray? – Many highchairs come with either an integral tray or a removable tray. I found that having a tray is a lot better as it puts the food in the right position for your child and makes it easier to reach. Also most trays have some kind of lip around the edge to help food bowls from being pushed off, and believe me this will happen a lot!.

·         Wipe Clean Surface – This is essential as your chair will get covered in food practically every time your child has a meal.

·         Height Adjustability – This can be useful if you will be positioning your child in different locations to eat and want them to be at the same level as everyone else, for example we sometimes let our daughter eat in the living room and we can lower her down to the same level as everyone else sitting in sofas and comfy chairs.

·         Ability to Recline – We found that this was a useful feature when our daughter was young and still having milk from a bottle, although now that she is older we do not use the feature at all.


Monday 2 April 2012

Feeding (Part 3)

Bottle Insulators
You will definitely need a few of these they are insulated covers that go over your bottles and keep them warm for quite some time.


Bottle Brush

Fingers just wont do the job here, buy a brush and save yourself some effort.


Bibs

Make sure you get lots and lots and lots of bibs. Dad TIP: You will probably want to buy some nice cute bibs which is fine, but also buy a big pack of cheap plain no-nonsense bibs for everyday use as you will find that often a bib gets so messy that the only sensible thing to do with it is throw it in the bin.


There are a few other things that you may want  to buy, but it really does depend on your personal preference. We bought an electric bottle warmer which is a device that you put a single bottle onto, and after about 15 minutes your bottle is at the correct temperature, I used it once!
We were also bought a travel bottle warmer as a gift, which is essentially a small flask, with a large cup over the top of it. The idea is that you fill the large cup with the hot water from the flask and place your baby bottle in the cup of hot water, we used this practically every time we were out with our daughter.

Wednesday 28 March 2012

Feeding - Sterilising (Part 2)


Steriliser 

You will need to sterilise all your bottles, teats, spoons etc. every time they are used, as your baby does not have a very good immune system, and this helps to stop your baby picking up any unwanted germs. The general advice is to keep sterilising until your baby is a year old so you will be doing a lot of sterilising, so it’s a good idea to choose the right system for you. There are two ways of sterilising, the first is to use a sterilising solution, these usually come in the form of a tablet that you dissolve in water and you place your items in this water for about 15 minutes. The second way of sterilising is with steam, where your items are immersed in steam for about 5 minutes. To make things more complicated there are a few different ways of implementing the steam method. You can buy an electronic steamer, this is a bit like an electronic food steamer but for baby bottles. An electric element heats up a small amount of water and steams your bottles for a set amount of time, they usually have a timer that will beep after about five minutes, and automatically shut off the steam for you. Another system is the microwave system, which is a similar to the electric system, but instead of an electric element that heats up the steam you put the whole thing in the microwave which in turn heats up the water. The last method is a steamer bag which is a plastic bag that you fill with your bottle and some water, and again put in the microwave to generate the steam.


The main features of each system are show below:-

o   Tablet Solution :-
o   Easy to use
o   Takes a long time (about 15 minutes).
o   Can be carried out anywhere, i.e. where there is no microwave or electricity.
o   Can sterilise all your equipment in one go.
o   Need to keep stocking up with tablets.

o   Electric Steamer :-
o   Takes up space on your kitchen worktop.
o   Very quick (about 5 minutes).
o   Most expensive option.
o   Can sterilise all your equipment in one go.
o   You can store your bottles inside of the steriliser.
o   Can usually be bought as part of a system, i.e. along with bottles, spoons, brushes etc.
o   Very easy to use, can be turned on then left alone.

o   Microwave Steamer:-
o   Not as easy to use as the other two, as you have to carry the whole thing in and out of the microwave.
o   Cheaper than an electric steamer.

o   Microwave Steamer Bags:-
o   Small and compact system, doesn’t take up any space in the kitchen.
o   Each bag can only be used about ten times
o   You cannot do multiple bottles in one go.
o   Good for travelling (as long as there is a microwave where you are travelling too).


Feeding - Bottles (Part 1)


Now I am not going to go into the discussion of whether you should be breastfeeding or not, this is a personal choice and all I would say is that whatever feels right usually is right. So if you are going to be bottle feeding here’s what you will need.


Bottles 

 Make sure you buy at least four bottles, as you will be constantly washing and filling them so the more spare bottles you have the better. As your baby wont be drinking too much milk in one go you can start off with the smaller bottles if you like, but you will eventually need to replace them with bigger bottles after about six months. You need to decide on what type of bottle/teat system you will be using, there are many different brands out there, but remember that the teats are graded in terms of the babies age.

DAD TIP: Try to get teats that have an air-inlet valve these allow the air to enter the bottle as the milk comes out of the bottle, helping things flow nicely.

Friday 23 March 2012

Travel Equipment - Car Seats (Part 3)


 ‘Buckle Crunch’. So firstly let's try and describe buckle crunch.

Let's pretend you had a pencil and you wanted to break it. If you pulled it from one end and a second person pulled from the other the chances are the pencil would not break. Now if you placed the pencil in both your hands and "snapped it" the pencil would of course break immediately.
In theory we have described "buckle crunch", except you need to replace in real life the pencil with the buckle located on the cars seat belt.
In normal passenger usage the force in a accident is applied down a seat belts length but when placed around a car seat sometimes the seat belts buckle lies across the frame of the child cars seat. In event of an accident the seat is then thrown against the seat belt buckle and it can burst open as the force is going "across" as opposed to "down".
In practice however many car seat fitters definition of buckle crunch varies.
Some people consider that even if the buckle touches the frame of the car seat that is enough to consider the child's car seat as being unsafe in the car.

Other people are more tolerant and define buckle crunch when the buckle lies across (or nearly across) the car seats frame.
In short this is a matter of opinion but everyone would agree if the buckle is laying across (or nearly across) the car seats frame it is without question unsafe to be used in the car you are trying to get it to fit.


We started out with a group 0+ baby carrier which was part of a travel system, and then moved on to a group 1 seat when our daughter was about 13 months old. The new seat has a nice recline feature, so that when she falls asleep in the car, which is quite regular, we can recline her so she is nice and comfy and isnt slumped forward.]

DAD TIP: Try and go for a baby carrier that has a base that you fix permanently in the car. This means that everytime you take your baby in and out of the car (which will be a lot), all you need do is click the carrier into its base, rather than mess about with a seatbelt everytime.

Wednesday 21 March 2012

Travel Equipment - Car Seats (Part 2)


A few things to look for when choosing a seat are:-

  • 5 point safety harness which fits snugly - baby and younger children’s car seats come with an integral, adjustable safety harness. It needs to fit very snugly over the shoulders to meet the buckle coming up between the legs.

  • One-pull harness - the easier all straps on a car seat are to adjust, the more likely you are to fit it correctly. Many harnesses are now designed to adjust by quickly and easily pulling one single adjuster strap until the harness is a snug fit.

  • Tamper-proof buckle - this is coloured red to make it easy to spot and is easy to release in an emergency by an adult, but designed to be difficult for young fingers to undo.

  • Padding - all baby and child car seats should be well padded for both comfort and added protection. The shell should be sturdy (though it may be lightweight) and contoured.

  • Weight - if you're going to be using it with different cars or carrying your baby in it, a lighter model may be best.

  • Seat covers - many car seat covers are removable for machine washing.

  • Choice of positions - forward facing seats (from 9kg up) may have the option to recline or lie flat, which is a bonus if you want your baby to sleep on longer trips.

  • Installation - most seats need an adult lap and diagonal belt to secure them, although some forward facing seats can be secured with just the lap belt in the middle of the back seat. It is best to try the seat in your car before you purchase it, if it doesn’t fit correctly then don’t buy it.
Watch out for Part 3 which will explain 'Buckle Crunch'


Tuesday 20 March 2012

Travel Equipment - Car Seats (Part 1)



This is one of the most important things you will buy, the hospital wont let you take your baby home unless you have a proper car seat.
Car seats come in different sizes, and it is your babies weight that dictates what type of seat you will need, the different groups are shown below:-



Group
Child Weight
Approx. Age of Child
0
Birth to 10kgs/22lbs
Birth to 6-9 months
0+
Birth to 13kgs/29lbs
Birth to 12-15 months
0+ & 1
Birth to 18kgs/40lbs
Birth to 4 years
1
9-18kgs/20-40lbs
9 months to 4 years
1 & 2
9-25kgs/20-55lbs
9 months to 6 years
2
15-25kgs/33-55lbs
4 to 6 years
1,2 & 3
9-36kgs/20-79lbs
9 months to 11 years
2 & 3
15-36kg/48-79lbs
4 to 11+ years




Clearly some car seats are designed to span more than one group which means that you can use them for longer before upgrading to a bigger seat.
Most people start off with what people tend to refer to as a ‘baby carrier’ this is a car seat that has a handle over the top of it that allows you to detach it from the car and use it to carry your baby around in. Now if you have opted for a travel system this will also attach to your pram frame.
 It is worth pointing out at this point that it is not recommended that you keep your newborn baby in a car seat for too long as it is much better for you baby to be lying flat for proper lung development. As soon as you are able to take your baby out of the car seat the better, even if they are sleeping it is better to transfer them into a Moses basket rather than let them sleep in the car seat.
DAD TIP: Bear in mind that boys are generally a lot bigger and grow faster than girls. Our friends son outgrew his 0+ baby seat after about six months while our little girl didn’t outgrow hers until about 13 months.


Monday 19 March 2012

Travel Equipment - Pram



Ok now you’ve kitted out your nursery, there are a few more things that you are going to need, so lets start with a biggie, the pram. This an absolute minefield so here’s a few pointers:-

·         Size is important – You need to know what size the pram is when folded.
o   Umbrella Fold - When folded these types are very compact and are useful if you are going to be putting it into a small car or taking it on a bus. However these types of pushchair tend to be more suited for older babies as most of them do not allow your baby to lie flat.
o   Flat fold – Most Travel Systems and larger wheeled prams and pushchairs only fold in one dimension and are generally a lot more bulky. 

·         Travel Systems – These are all in one solutions. Most travel systems have a car seat that can be lifted out of the car and attached to the pram frame. This can sometimes be a godsend as there will be many times when your baby falls asleep in the car and you don’t want to disturb them. Many systems also have a separate pram/cot that attaches to the main frame and allows your baby to lie flat. This cot/pram section is then converted to a more traditional pushchair seat when your child gets a bit older.

·         Wheels
o   4 or 3 – Having tried both I could not notice the difference between the two, so this one is really down to personal preference.
o   Big wheels or small wheels – Part of this argument stems back to the size debate as the big wheeled versions also tend to be the flat fold versions. The big wheeled prams are definitely easier to wheel, as the large wheels offer less resistance. If you intend to do a lot of ‘outdoorsy’ walking,  ie on the beach, through the woods, over gravel then a large wheeled pram is the only way to go. There are lots of models which offer a compromise of small wheels at the front, and big wheels at he back, which is useful as if the going gets really tough all you need to do is tilt the pram backwards onto the back wheels while you get through the rough stuff.
·         Suspension – Again if you are intending to do a  lot of countryside walking over rough ground then suspension really does make a big difference.
·         Storage – I would recommend that you get a pram that has as much storage as possible. You will not believe just how much stuff you have to take with you when out with your baby, and your pram will quickly become your ‘packhorse’!
·         Footmuffs – I know what your thinking, what an earth is a footmuff!. Its essentially a cosy little sleeping bag that attaches to the pram to keep your baby nice and warm. They are quite useful but don’t worry if your pram hasn’t got one as you can always snuggle them up with a blanket or two.
·         Raincover – Most prams will come with a Raincover, but you can always buy a separate one relatively cheaply, so don’t worry if it doesn’t.

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Friday 16 March 2012

Kitting out your Nursery - Bathtime

Bathtime

I would recommend that you buy a small plastic bathtub to bathe your baby. It saves a lot of water compared to filling the main bath. We also bought a large flat sponge that our daughter would sit on making it nice and comfy, but its not essential. Its also good that you can use the bath anywhere you like,
DAD TIP: We tended to use the bath on the floor in the nursery as its then easy for both parents to sit either side of the bath and both help out. And certainly for the first few months it’s a lot easier to bathe your child with both parents.

That's the last of my "Kitting out your Nursery" blogs for the time being, I hope it has helped some people focus on what they need to buy to prepare for thier first baby.

Look out for my next blog which will focus on Travel Equipment.

Kitting Out your Nursery - Nappy Changing Area

Nappy Changing Area
Now I have to break it to you that you will be changing nappies, lots of them. So it makes sense to have a good work area to do this. You can buy purpose built chests of drawers with an integral changing area at the top. However we found that a traditional chest of drawers with a baby change mat on the top was sufficient.
Make sure that you buy a wipe-clean foam baby change mat that has nice high curving sides to it. This helps to stop baby from rolling around and makes the job a lot easier.
DAD TIP: Use the top drawer for things such as nappies, wet wipes cotton wool, lotions etc. so that everything is to hand when you are changing the nappy.


Comfy Chair

If you have the space it is a good idea to have a comfy chair in the nursery. We used ours most nights once our daughter had moved into her own room for night time bottle feeds.


Wardrobe

Never underestimate just how many clothes you will acquire for your baby, especially in the first year when not only you are buying baby clothes, but all your relatives, friends workmates, neighbours etc. So a wardrobe is good idea to store all those clothes and blankets.
DAD TIP: Don’t bother buying clothes hangers, most of the baby clothes you buy will come with hangers, we bought hangers and now we have a big carrier bag full of spare hangers!



Nappy Bin

It is a good idea to have a bin for all your nappies. You can wrap your dirty nappies in plastic ‘nappy bags’ and throw into a normal bin. Or you can buy a special nappy bin that has an integral system that seals the nappies in plastic automatically. The second system is a lot more convenient but bear in mind that you need to replace the ‘plastic bag cartridge’ every so often which normally costs in region of £5, whereas you can buy a bag of 100 ‘nappy bags’ for about  50 pence.

Thursday 15 March 2012

Kitting out your Nursery - Baby Monitors

Kitting out your Nursery - Baby Monitors

Baby Monitors

I would certainly recommend that you get a baby monitor for the peace of mind that it gives you. What you get generally depends on how much money you want to spend but here are a few pointers:-

·         Digital or Analogue. Having used both I would say always go for a digital monitor. You don’t get the annoying fizz crackle with digital that you tend to get with analogue which can be very annoying. Also the sound quality is much much better. They are more expensive, but I think that some things are worth spending a bit more money on and a baby monitor is certainly one of those.
·         Video function. I never went for a video option but sometimes I thought that it would have come in handy for those times when you hear some noises coming from the nursery but don’t want to go in and investigate for fear of disturbing your little one.
·         Movement sensors. These consist of a mat which is placed beneath the bed sheet and alarms if your baby stops moving/breathing. I didn’t have one of these but if you are the sort of person that is a born worrier, and you think you will be kept awake at night worrying about the safety of your little one then I would recommend that you get one of these.
·         Other options. Our monitor has a night light on it which we use every night, also it is able to play five different lullabies which we have used on many occasions. Another useful feature is a room temperature gauge, ours let us know what the temperature was in the nursery and displayed it on the parent unit.