Finding newborn baby clothes has never been easier. From stores such as Target and Wal-Mart to designer stores like Ralph Lauren and Saks there are plenty to choose from to suit your budget. But how easy is it to find are baby clothes for the preemie baby or low birth weight baby?
I have a friend in the UK who had a preemie in the 1980s and the only store she could find premature baby clothes was in London about fifty miles away from where she lived. She visited the store and bought some clothes but they were very expensive and the choice was very limited. Fortunately she had friends and relatives who could knit and sew and they made some clothes for her son and she also bought some baby doll clothes.
With the advance in medical techniques, early babies in the industrialized countries have a greater survival rate than they did even twenty or thirty years ago. And with more and more IVF treatment there are probably more multiple births and these babies tend to have a lower birth weight. So you would expect that finding newborn baby clothes small enough for these precious little miracles would be much easier.
While some of the high street stores do carry a small range of premature baby clothes these are few and far between and it is still the case that for a greater choice you will need to go to a specialist baby store. Probably the best place to look is on the internet. There are far more outlets on line and they do not just sell preemie baby clothes but also diapers and other things you will need for your precious bundle.
Now that there are more and more realistic baby girl dolls and baby boy dolls there is a far greater selection of doll clothes that you can buy but be sure to make sure these are nice and soft without harsh seams to prevent damaging baby's delicate skin. Another alternative is to make your own clothes. Again the internet is a great source for patterns a lot of which are free.
Premature babies sleep a lot more than full term babies so for everyday wear newborn gowns or tee shirts are ideal clothes as they are comfortable and make diaper changing easy. You will obviously want a few cute outfits for those precious photos. Babies grow very quickly so in no time you will be buying cute newborn baby clothes to bring your bundle of joy home in.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Changing Baby Clothes And Changing Advice
Just like trends in baby clothes have changed over the years, so has the advice and products available to pregnant women. Even compared with thirty years ago, when I had my children, there is so much more known about what you should and should not do during your pregnancy. For instance, pregnant women were advised not to smoke when I had my children, but there was not the same advice about not drinking. Fortunately I was sick with just a few sips of alcohol from early in my first trimester so I cut it out totally until I stopped breastfeeding.
A healthy diet is obviously a must and the same was true during my pregnancies but we were not as aware of things to be avoided as today’s new moms are. Obviously far more research has been done on foods not to eat such as soft cheeses like feta, brie and goat’s cheese because of the risk of listeria or not eating under cooked or raw eggs because of the risk of salmonella or even fish such as tuna, swordfish and grouper because of the high mercury content.
We were also not made aware of the all the extra vitamins and minerals necessary to maintain mom's health as well as that of her unborn baby. Yes we knew to eat food rich in iron to prevent anemia and because it was vital to baby's growth but we were not as aware of the importance of folic acid as moms-to-be are today. Nowadays in addition to your diet there are nutritional supplements available to ensure that your body gets the vital ingredients so that you have a healthy pregnancy. There are lots of places to get information (online, books and your doctor) on what vitamins and minerals are important for you and your baby during pregnancy.
It is not just dietary advice that has changed over the years, so too have the number of products available to make pregnancy more comfortable. Maternity clothes no longer consist of just smock tops and dresses to hide your "bump" but are now modern and trendy and designed to proudly emphasize your growing stomach to the world.
But it is the availability of things like pregnancy pillows and support belts that I think I would have found a great help. The pillows look so comfortable and anything that aids restful sleep and helps relieve back ache by supporting your bump thus enabling you to find a comfortable position gets my vote. And the belts takes the pressure off your back when standing or walking.
In some ways I envy today’s moms because there is far more information available for them to help ensure they have a healthy baby and all the conveniences the twenty first century has to offer to make life easier for them both before the baby is born and afterwards. But just like millions of other women over the years we managed with the knowledge we had at the time and I am just thankful that my husband and I were blessed with two healthy children.
A healthy diet is obviously a must and the same was true during my pregnancies but we were not as aware of things to be avoided as today’s new moms are. Obviously far more research has been done on foods not to eat such as soft cheeses like feta, brie and goat’s cheese because of the risk of listeria or not eating under cooked or raw eggs because of the risk of salmonella or even fish such as tuna, swordfish and grouper because of the high mercury content.
We were also not made aware of the all the extra vitamins and minerals necessary to maintain mom's health as well as that of her unborn baby. Yes we knew to eat food rich in iron to prevent anemia and because it was vital to baby's growth but we were not as aware of the importance of folic acid as moms-to-be are today. Nowadays in addition to your diet there are nutritional supplements available to ensure that your body gets the vital ingredients so that you have a healthy pregnancy. There are lots of places to get information (online, books and your doctor) on what vitamins and minerals are important for you and your baby during pregnancy.
It is not just dietary advice that has changed over the years, so too have the number of products available to make pregnancy more comfortable. Maternity clothes no longer consist of just smock tops and dresses to hide your "bump" but are now modern and trendy and designed to proudly emphasize your growing stomach to the world.
But it is the availability of things like pregnancy pillows and support belts that I think I would have found a great help. The pillows look so comfortable and anything that aids restful sleep and helps relieve back ache by supporting your bump thus enabling you to find a comfortable position gets my vote. And the belts takes the pressure off your back when standing or walking.
In some ways I envy today’s moms because there is far more information available for them to help ensure they have a healthy baby and all the conveniences the twenty first century has to offer to make life easier for them both before the baby is born and afterwards. But just like millions of other women over the years we managed with the knowledge we had at the time and I am just thankful that my husband and I were blessed with two healthy children.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Baby Boys Clothes, Baby Girls Clothes And Getting The Best Value For Money
For most moms, baby boys clothes (or baby girl clothes!) for that newborn baby are seldom a problem. The excitement during the months leading up to the birth of your child usually means that you have time to plan and get things ready. At the same time, friends and family are almost as excited as you are - so they either buy sentimental gifts, new clothes or look through their baby's wardrobe and find baby clothes to hand on to you.
When the first few weeks have passed by, though, and your newborn baby is suddenly a lot bigger, you find that keeping up with his or her growth is a constant battle. And replacing really good and hardly-worn clothing is expensive.
So how can you minimize the costs and get the best value for money when you do need to buy new baby boys clothes or baby girls clothes? Here are some thoughts for you to keep in mind when the time comes:
When the first few weeks have passed by, though, and your newborn baby is suddenly a lot bigger, you find that keeping up with his or her growth is a constant battle. And replacing really good and hardly-worn clothing is expensive.
So how can you minimize the costs and get the best value for money when you do need to buy new baby boys clothes or baby girls clothes? Here are some thoughts for you to keep in mind when the time comes:
- First and maybe the most obvious: An excellent way to save money is to shop for baby clothes during big sales events at the stores because you can pick up some good bargains. Another good place to look is on the clearance rails which many retailers have, particularly when they are restocking for a new season.
- Always buy a larger size than your baby actually needs because babies grow so fast. Clothes that fit perfectly now are almost certainly going to be too small in a few weeks. Buying baby clothes in a larger size will extend the amount of time they will be wearable so that you will need to buy less often.
- Strange though it may sound, give some thought to the time of year before you do actually buy. If you are "buying ahead" as recommended above, think about the clothes labels that give size in terms of a baby's age, such as 9 or 12 months. Then consider what the weather or temperature will be like by the time your baby will be that many months old. This will help you to buy clothes that not only fit, but will also be suitable for the time of year.
- If you have ever struggled to get a wriggling or crying baby dressed, I am sure that you can recall the difficulty of using baby clothes with back openings or ones that go over the head and you probably agree that these are not a good idea. They also wear and tear quicker. Front opening outfits with either poppers or Velcro fastenings save you and your baby a lot of stress.
- Accept new and even used clothes (as long as the used clothes are in good condition, of course). If one of your relatives has older children, they may want to give you the baby clothes that they have finished with. These may even include new clothes that their baby didn't wear. This is a great way to save money, especially if they're things you were planning to buy yourself.
- Take a look at recovering some of the money you've spent on baby boys clothes or baby girls clothes when your child has grown too big for them. You could try to sell them at a yard sale, on eBay or maybe even a thrift shop. Sure, you're not going to get a huge amount of cash this way but at least you'll get something back.
- Not directly related to saving money, but something that can help to extend the life of your baby's clothes, is making sure that you have more than enough outfits. No matter how careful you are your baby is going to spill food down his clothes or dribble or be sick on them. If you have enough changes of clothes to deal with these messy accidents and you can avoid washing them constantly, they will last longer.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Baby & Toddler Clothes - Taking Care Of Them
Raising a family is undoubtedly one of the most difficult jobs in the world (and you can't find a user manual that tells you exactly how it works for every child!) and complexities even extend into the question of baby & toddler clothes. As science and technology has become more knowledgeable about skin allergies and sensitivities, some experts raise the question about using specialized detergents formulated exclusively for use on baby & toddler clothes and even crib sheets. But is it really necessary to go to this trouble and expense to take good care of them?
Obviously this adds yet another item to the list of expenses that parents take on when they start a family - as if it is not enough of a financial burden already. Setting up the nursery, buying a crib and a stroller in addition to the baby clothes, diapers and so on is followed by additions to the weekly budget including food, medical costs and other expenses. So how essential is it to add an extra and expensive detergent to the list?
Big companies have spent a lot of marketing money and worked very efficiently to exploit the idea that extra care is needed for baby clothes. Specialized baby clothes detergents are very similar to standard products. And often those that cause your baby's skin to become irritated could also do the same for your own skin. So why not try a detergent for the whole family that has no added coloring or perfume and is gentle?
Also remember that textile and clothing manufacturers use chemicals in preparing their clothes for final presentation out in the stores and these chemicals are known to be irritating to many people, so you should make sure that all new baby clothes and bedding are given a careful wash before you first use them. The same is true of used clothes that are given to you by your family members or your friends - a gentle wash before first putting them on your baby will minimize the risk of any rash developing. And of course a doctor or nurse should be asked to take a look at any rash that does develop.
The idea of using a specialized detergent for baby & toddler clothes has gained ground relatively recently and it was almost unknown until the last part of the twentieth century. But it is worth asking why a separate detergent is required when babies and toddlers come into contact with your clothes that are laundered in regular family detergent. Toddlers and babies are frequently held and cuddled closely, and their heads and faces touch your clothes also, don't they?
So in most cases the only articles of baby clothing that require separate washing are cloth diapers. Don't wash these with regular clothing, instead rinse them in the toilet bowl to dispose of any solid waste and then store them in a bucket with a lid on until they are ready for washing. Add in a couple of drops of tea tree oil to provide a deodorizer and disinfectant.
If you do use fabric conditioner in your laundry routine, try to make sure that you use one that is specifically prepared for sensitive skin and this should avoid irritation to your baby's skin. You can buy washing detergents that contain fabric softeners but if you are in doubt it is better to avoid them altogether.
And think carefully about how you dry your clothes. Babies and toddlers grow quickly and soon their clothes become too small - but you can minimize this problem by choosing the appropriate tumbler dryer setting. Use a low, gentle heat setting and this will limit the amount of clothing shrinkage.
Above all else, remember that modern babies are just as strong and tough as they have been for centuries - so putting their clothes in with the family laundry load is highly unlikely to cause too much harm!
Obviously this adds yet another item to the list of expenses that parents take on when they start a family - as if it is not enough of a financial burden already. Setting up the nursery, buying a crib and a stroller in addition to the baby clothes, diapers and so on is followed by additions to the weekly budget including food, medical costs and other expenses. So how essential is it to add an extra and expensive detergent to the list?
Big companies have spent a lot of marketing money and worked very efficiently to exploit the idea that extra care is needed for baby clothes. Specialized baby clothes detergents are very similar to standard products. And often those that cause your baby's skin to become irritated could also do the same for your own skin. So why not try a detergent for the whole family that has no added coloring or perfume and is gentle?
Also remember that textile and clothing manufacturers use chemicals in preparing their clothes for final presentation out in the stores and these chemicals are known to be irritating to many people, so you should make sure that all new baby clothes and bedding are given a careful wash before you first use them. The same is true of used clothes that are given to you by your family members or your friends - a gentle wash before first putting them on your baby will minimize the risk of any rash developing. And of course a doctor or nurse should be asked to take a look at any rash that does develop.
The idea of using a specialized detergent for baby & toddler clothes has gained ground relatively recently and it was almost unknown until the last part of the twentieth century. But it is worth asking why a separate detergent is required when babies and toddlers come into contact with your clothes that are laundered in regular family detergent. Toddlers and babies are frequently held and cuddled closely, and their heads and faces touch your clothes also, don't they?
So in most cases the only articles of baby clothing that require separate washing are cloth diapers. Don't wash these with regular clothing, instead rinse them in the toilet bowl to dispose of any solid waste and then store them in a bucket with a lid on until they are ready for washing. Add in a couple of drops of tea tree oil to provide a deodorizer and disinfectant.
If you do use fabric conditioner in your laundry routine, try to make sure that you use one that is specifically prepared for sensitive skin and this should avoid irritation to your baby's skin. You can buy washing detergents that contain fabric softeners but if you are in doubt it is better to avoid them altogether.
And think carefully about how you dry your clothes. Babies and toddlers grow quickly and soon their clothes become too small - but you can minimize this problem by choosing the appropriate tumbler dryer setting. Use a low, gentle heat setting and this will limit the amount of clothing shrinkage.
Above all else, remember that modern babies are just as strong and tough as they have been for centuries - so putting their clothes in with the family laundry load is highly unlikely to cause too much harm!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Baby Boy Clothes, Baby Girl Clothes and Vacations
Let's digress from the baby boy clothes and baby girl clothes subjects for a moment or two and think about a topic that's very important for all families - vacations. But when you've read every travel blog you can find, the idea of traveling off to faraway places may at first seem to be a daunting prospect, given all of the things you have to consider. It doesn't need to be, though.
Alright, there are lots of things to think about and in fact it's more than just a question of how many baby clothes to gather together. And whether you are visiting relatives or flying to some exotic paradise you need to make the experience as stress free a time for both mom and baby.
So what items are essential when traveling with a baby and do you need to take everything but the kitchen sink?
Your destination and mode of transport will have some impact on the amount you need to pack for baby. Here are some tips on some things you cannot leave home without and how to keep baby safe.
First of all, let's consider baby clothes:
One final piece of advice I would like to add - please keep babies out of the sun whenever possible. And this is worth emphasizing and repeating: sunscreen should never be used on babies younger than six months old and even infants older than six months should spend no longer than a few minutes in the sunshine. The sun will penetrate whatever baby clothes you put on them, so take lots of care.
Alright, there are lots of things to think about and in fact it's more than just a question of how many baby clothes to gather together. And whether you are visiting relatives or flying to some exotic paradise you need to make the experience as stress free a time for both mom and baby.
So what items are essential when traveling with a baby and do you need to take everything but the kitchen sink?
Your destination and mode of transport will have some impact on the amount you need to pack for baby. Here are some tips on some things you cannot leave home without and how to keep baby safe.
First of all, let's consider baby clothes:
- The amount of baby clothes you need depends on the facilities at your destination. Obviously if you are visiting relatives there will presumably be laundry facilities so you may not need to pack the baby’s entire wardrobe. If you are staying in a hotel you may need more clothes as not all hotels have laundry rooms. A lot of vacation rental homes have washing machines and tumble dryers but you would need to check this out at the time of booking.
- If you are going to a very warm, sunny climate make sure you have plenty of dark or brightly colored baby clothes that are made of closely woven fabric. These will help to block the harmful rays of the sun and protect your baby's delicate skin. Having some long sleeve garments is also advisable. Make sure you have at least one sun hat that covers the back of the neck, tops of the ears and shades the eyes. For older babies, sunglasses are a good idea.
- Your final destination and how long you are going for will determine how many diapers you need to take with you. Unless you are visiting a remote desert island chances are there will be a store where you can buy what you need.
- If you are breast feeding then you will have no need to pack formula for your baby. For those babies that are bottle fed, packing enough formula for the duration of your vacation is essential unless you know in advance that the particular brand you use is available at your destination.
- For those infants who are also on solid foods it is a good idea to try to research whether you can get their favorite varieties local to where you are staying if it is an area you are unfamiliar with.
- A sterilizer and bottle warmer are essential for your young baby. Check out the facilities at your accommodation to see if these can be provided or if you will need to take your own.
- For those families who are driving to their destination, a car seat is absolutely essential and if you are in your own vehicle you will already have one installed. For those families who are flying and maybe hiring a car on arrival, it may be less expensive to take a car seat with you rather than renting one with the car.
- Obviously when traveling with a baby, whether by car or plane a stroller is a must. If you are going somewhere sunny make sure the stroller has a canopy and maybe also a parasol to keep your baby in the shade.
- Update: we've just seen this blog that has a great baby/backpack carrier - take a look:
The Dear Dr.MOZ Baby Blog » Dadanana Baby and Toddler Backpack Carrier - Baby news, baby blogs, baby gear, and baby shower gifts!Finally you need to consider what other items are essential:
- No matter where or how you are traveling you will need to take some favorite toys and books to keep your baby amused.
- Don't forget that favorite blanky or security blanket to ensure baby settles more easily in a strange environment.
- Make sure you take any medication, especially prescription medicine, you think you may need for your little one as these may not be readily available. It is also a good idea to take a baby thermometer with you.
- Whether you are traveling by car or plane don't forget to pack your diaper bags with everything you need for the journey such as bottles, toys, pacifiers a change of clothes.
One final piece of advice I would like to add - please keep babies out of the sun whenever possible. And this is worth emphasizing and repeating: sunscreen should never be used on babies younger than six months old and even infants older than six months should spend no longer than a few minutes in the sunshine. The sun will penetrate whatever baby clothes you put on them, so take lots of care.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)