Kansas State Baby Items

Can't go wrong with Kansas State Wildcats.  I have to say I wish I had some of this when my daughter was younger but some of it, I can still can get.  I really want the crib sheet set.

 

   

   

   

 

  

Various Husker Items

All these items and more can be found on Amazon.com.
Can't find a certain NU item you're wanting, try here.

                    

                    

          

How To Give Baby A Bath

Until the cord stump falls off and the circumcision and belly button heals, a sponge bath will be needed.  The baby can't be bathed more than 2-3 times a week because if more often the baby's skin can dry out too much.  At about 6 months, the baby can be bathe more often.

When getting the bath ready for the baby, make sure to have all of your supplies within reach.  Put about 2-3 inches of water in the bottom of the sink or baby tub.  Babies cool off faster than us so much to sure to put her straight in the water and keep her warm by pouring water over her with water from a cup or by ringing a wash clothe over her.  Make sure to keep the water away from her face.  

Wash her hair with a wash clothe or a soft brush and make sure to even go over the soft spot.  If is recommended to washing the body from the head down.  The last step for bathing is taking a cotton ball and washing the eyes inside out.

After the bath is done, wrap the baby's head and body up in a towel.  You can set the towel up on a counter, so it's ready to put the baby on it.

From BabyTalk Dec/Jan 2012

Baby Shower Gifts 2

As I'm wracking my brain, I'm trying to take pictures of gifts for baby showers.  As I'm realizing, there is a lot of stuff you can get that will be great for the mother and baby.  (Mostly the baby!)

Diapers

A floor mat great for tummy and floor time.  Toys are able to hang from it.

Books

Toys

If baby is receiving formula, this is great for on the go.

Rattles

Teethers

Receiving blankets

Pacifiers

Diaper rash cream, toothbrush, baby powder, lotion, hair and body wash, toothpaste, sunscreen

The obvious here, however when I got my comb and brush, some nail files came with them.

Bathing hat to keep water out of the eyes.

Baby's First Shoes!!

Money bank

Baby book

Wipes

First year

These are cards that you can pin up into a mobile or just to show the baby.  

Gives them something to look at.

Silverware travel kit

Bibs

Diaper bags.  And yes, I even use the my little pony backpack since Savanna is older 

and doesn't require as much when we go somewhere.

Hooded towels and wash clothes.

Baby Shower Gifts

I have a baby shower coming up in April.  I'm excited about it and thought I would share some great baby shower gifts.  There are tons of things you can do for baby showers and for me, I have a hard time trying to picking exactly what I want to get.  I plan on doing more but this is what I got done so far.

Photo albums are great.

Spoons and little bowls.  The bowls I got have little lids.

Bottle brushes.  Savanna had to help with pictures.

Headbands for a girl and a little bag to put them in.

HATS!!  I love hats!

Slept Like A Baby

As parents, we all know what it's like to have a baby.  And when we sleep well, we use the phrase slept like a baby.  I honestly don't think I have ever used the phrase.  But I was looking on facebook and I came across these pictures and just had to share it on my blog for people to have a laugh.  I can't tell you the last time I could sleep in until 9 in the morning.

I do not own these pictures.

Babies and Animals

I hated when people told me to worry about my cat and that I might have to give her up.  This being based on the fact that it had be known for cats to be attracted to the milk breath of the baby and the cat laying on the baby.  I was also dreading the possibility of Savanna being allergic.  I never once had to worry about my cat though.  Before we had Savanna, I let her sleep in the bassinet and when the crib was put up, I let her sleep in that as well.  That changed when Savanna came along.  Pandora wasn't allowed to sleep in those things.  When Pan, as she is nicknamed, would jump into the crib with Savanna, we made her get out.  This was of course after taking pictures which I could not resist at 3 AM.  But even when she jumped into the crib, she never once laid on top of Savanna.  She laid kind of near Savanna but either at the head or feet of Savanna.  

As Savanna has gotten older, I have let Pan lay with Savanna.  I think it was like a couple weeks ago, I laid a sleeping Savanna next to a sleeping Pan.  Pan got out of the crib when Savanna pounced after Savanna had woken up from her nap but I also know, I don't have to worry about Savanna at this point with Pan attacking.  Pan knows well enough just to get up and walk away, which is nice.  It might have helped that Pan has had kittens for she seems to have some kind of patience.

When Savanna was born, I took a couple of receiving blankets with me to the hospital.  I had to take two blankets because my dog Miley was staying with friend of ours.  One of the blankets came home to Pan and the other went to Miley.  I really don't know if that helped but that is what we did so Pandora and Miley could smell Savanna's scent.  I had wrapped both blankets, (at different times) around Savanna while at the hospital.  I had heard this tip from a person.

I have to say, Savanna has enjoyed Pan.  They play while Savanna is standing next to a chair and Pandora is sprawled out in a chair.  (Pan has seemed to take a liking to this one chair lately.)  When Savanna starts getting too rough or Pandora gets annoyed, Pandora jumps over the baby gate into the kitchen and Savanna tries to follow her.  Now just to get Savanna to say kitty.  That would be nice!

The 3 pictures above were taken when Savanna was less than a month.

Savanna was about 2 mths old and pic was taken on my bed.

Savanna was about 3 mths old and this was taken on my bed.

Scout

I did notice that there are 18 different pages to print.

My neighbor bought Savanna this Scout Leapfrog dog for Christmas.  We honestly have had a blast and I now have started leaving in Savanna's crib for a "timer" as she goes to sleep.  This dog does multiple things.  I had to download a program from Leapfrog's website so I can plug Scout into my computer so it can say Savanna's name, favorite food, favorite animal, and favorite color.   It had options to pick music that it would play.  I have included pictures so you could see the menus.  I have Scout play at bedtime for it has the option of playing 2, 5 and 10 minutes of bedtime music and then says goodnight to Savanna before it starts to play the music.  I was going to post videos of it playing some of the songs but it's really hard to know when the songs are going to play.  I did include the lyrics to one of the songs that has Savanna's favorites and name.  Scout is suppose to help with scheduling but I have yet to figure that part out.  I like Scout and would recommend this product for other people.  I actually think Savanna likes to go to sleep listening to him.

Lansinoh Breast Milk Storage Bags

I have a great baby sitter.  It was brought to my attention that the bags that I had frozen my breast milk leaked when she thawed them.  She had learned to start watching the bags.  There was one day that I had to run over my lunch break because I thought that my baby sitter had enough milk.  It turned out that she only had like 4 oz.  I like to leave enough milk with her just in case if Savanna wants 2 bottles while I'm working.  She told me at that time that another bag had started leaking and she caught in time.  (I like to think we are both together in seeing breast milk get wasted.  It breaks our hearts to even see 2 onces go down the drain.)  She won't be using the brand that I use because of the problem I'm having with these bags leaking.

The brand that I use is Lansinoh which I consider a "name-brand".  I have told Savanna's father about this problem and he says that he hasn't had a problem with them while thawing them.  He also doesn't think that the problem is with how long they have been in the freezer, the problem lies in the way that the bags were made.  So not sure what's up with the bags but I thought I would pass this problem I have had on.

What to Take to Daycare/Sitter's

There comes a time when a mother has to return to work after the baby is born.  When that time comes, you will need to make sure that your baby has everything that he/she will need if your child is not going to be able to stay home with a sitter. I have made a list of things that you will need.

*A change of clothes and socks

*Bottles

*Breast milk or formula

*Diapers

*Wipes

*Diaper rash cream

*Baby powder

*Baby food when the time comes

*Baby Snacks

*Tylenol or teething medication

*Blanket

*Jacket or coat

*Hat

*Car seat

These are all things that I send over with my daughter when she goes to the babysitter.  There may be other things I am missing but this is really all I send over.  Some of these things your sitter may have like the blankets.  I send one over right now because the blanket I send over goes over the car seat when my daughter goes out with the babysitter.  It is nice to send the car seat because I understand that my sitter may need to run errands.  When Savanna gets out of the pumpkin seat as I call it, I will still need to send the other car seat over.  Even if your sitter has a child of its own that uses wipes, you will still need to send wipes with your child.  Those do add up when they get used for more than one poopy diaper.  Now I know I'm probably forgetting a couple of things but this is really all I send over for the babysitter to properly care for Savanna.  

For me, I'm able to leave a whole bag of diapers, food, wipes, and clothes at my sitter's house.  She likes it this way because moms don't have to worry about packing a diaper bag and she doesn't have to dig in a diaper bag to fine food and so on.  I have been known to leave my breast milk in her freezer because why take it home when Savanna is coming back over the next day.  All this though is really up to what daycare and the sitter's rules or what they want are.  

Gerber Arrowroot Cookies

I'm always trying new food with Savanna.  I was at our local Hy-Vee store and got a bag of arrowroot cookies.  Savanna tried them and loved them.  I tried one and I told Jesse that I can just buy girl scout short bread cookies or any kind of short bread cookies and she can eat it.  They have about the consistency as a short bread cookie and Savanna did really well with them.  So I have to say, it might be worth the $2.50 to buy them or I can buy short bread cookies out of the cookie isle and still be okay for there is more in the packet for th $2.50.

Teething Gels and Tablets

I have gone 8 1/2 months and 3 teeth without teething gel or tablets.  I had read somewhere that the FDA hadn't approved teething gels with benzocaine.  As a mother that of course worried me.  Of course though, some of the testing by the FDA hasn't always been done the right way.  But any who, I was recommended by my baby sitter to not rely on tylenol and go with the tablets and/or gel.

I was kind of hesitant and decided I had better just go ahead and get out to Target since I needed diapers and that is the only place now I can get them unless I go with Pampers and pay more.  I went through the baby section and couldn't find anything but teethers.  I went to the pharmacy and asked the pharmacist what kind of teething things she could recommend.  She showed me the three items that she had.  It was two types of baby gels and baby oral gel swabs. The swabs were about $5 and only had 18 swabs.  Didn't really care for that because of how much I was going to get.  They though may be good for traveling.  One of the gels was for about $4.75 or $4.99 and then the other was for about $5.99.  The reason the other was a higher amount was because it was Hyland's Natural Teething gel.  It's suppose to be all natural.

I finally found the teething gels and tablets back in the baby department and there wasn't much of a selection.  I could have gone to Walmart but I didn't want to have to take the time to stop somewhere else, let alone the Walmart that is in our area.  Sometimes we have to wait 20 to purchase 3 items. 

Savanna has tried the tablets and they work.  It takes a little bit for it to kick but once it did for her, she was able to calm down and go to sleep.  It doesn't put her to sleep but the pain was gone so she could. I have to say I like the tablets and they weren't hard to give.  The tablets dissolve in 5 seconds when I put them under Savanna's tongue.  I have to say, these are a lot easier to give than tylenol.

Animal and Baby Fun

So you see the photo I posted?  That is what my blog is about.  I saw it in the magazine "Babytalk" edition February 2012.  When I was pregnant with my daughter, people knew I had a cat and dog and told me to be really careful with them.  They both have adjusted well to having Savanna around and Miley, my dog, is liking the perks of it.  Miley gets fed the scraps that my best friend's kid will throw on the floor and whatever Savanna won't eat.  (My best friend's kid is a year old than Savanna and feeds herself.)  My cat has yet to care about what Savanna is eating.  What cat in their right mind would eat applesause and oatmeal?  I can tell you that Miley has yet to tell me when Savanna has a poopy diaper.  Miley will smell and see what's going on when I change Savanna's diapers which will sometimes make it difficult to change diapers because Savanna wants to play with Miley.  Miley does help keep Savanna entertained at times for Savanna will be very attentive to what Miley and my cat, Pandora, are doing.  As to "skipping the toys".  We will see.  I don't think I will ever let Miley walk, I mean Savanna walk Miley. 

My Reasons For Breast Feeding

I breastfeed my daughter.  We are now going on 8 months of doing it and at this point I have yet to give her formula.  It wasn't easy at first and to be honest it was a little bit embarrassing to me.  To be honest, it wasn't until the past few months I have gotten over being embarrassed hence me writing this article.

There were a few reasons that went into making this decision.  Probably the number one reason is the cost of formula.  Yes there are government assistance but even from people I have spoken to told me when their baby got to be a little older, sometimes they would have to buy another container of formula or so every month out of their pocket.

Another reason I chose to  go with breastfeeding had to do with the fact that it cuts the risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer.  The longer you go breast feeding the lower you reduce your risk.

With breast feeding, I have enjoyed a little more sleep at night but not much.  I still have to get with my daughter and feed but I don't have to take the time to mix up a bottle and feed it to her.  I maybe get 5-15 minutes more of sleep with breast feeding each time I get up with her.  I also don't have to listen to her cry.  As she has gotten older, I don't bother changing her diaper in the middle of the night so that cuts out another 5-10 minutes that I would otherwise have to spend doing that.

I have enjoyed breast feeding.  I have seen the results as Savanna had doubled her weight by 3-4 months which normally doesn't occur until about 5-6 months.  I have noticed the time that it takes for me to feed her.  Yes it may take a little longer but it's a great excuse to get out of cooking supper or doing dishes.  My boyfriend has been really supportive of it with me and he is even glad that I was able to feed Savanna in this way.  It's hard work and there were times that it was hard.  It's really not for the faint in heart or for people who don't have a lot of support.

Parent's Choice

I bought some Parent's Choice diapers recently because they were cheap.  I got 180 for $25.  I found out my daughter is allergic.  I'm thinking, "Oh great.  I can't return them because I have already opened the box and I can't find my receipt."  I call the number that is listed on the box.  Someone finally answers after being on hold for 5 minutes.  The gentle man on the line asked how he could help and I just simpled stated that my daughter is allergic to the diapers.  He then proceeded to gather my name and mailing address.  He then told me that a report needed to be sent to the FDA and that a gift card would be sent to me that I could use on anything at Walmart and should take about 2 weeks to arrive.  I asked the gentleman about the other diapers I currently have.  He told me that if the manufacturer wants the rest back, they would contact me in 3 weeks.  After that I call, I took a survey about how the call was and if I would ever buy Parent's Choice again.  I have to say in my case, I'm happy with the choice that was made and how the situation was handled.  Great Job Parent's Choice!!

Reading Magazines and Books

So I read whatever I can about babies.  I have learned alot through doing this but also have learned that there are some things that will never apply or just no good information to my daughter and I.  Whenever I'm talking to my babysitter, sometimes I will mention what I have read and she told me once, "You read too much."  So with my talking to her, I've learn many things that magazines and books will never tell you.  

With teething, doctors will tell teething doesn't cause diaper rashes.  You talk to someone else, they will tell you teething does.  You may get told that the top teeth will come in first.  For a baby, the bottom teeth will come in first.  For the little things, it's ok if the information isn't accurate.

A few weeks ago, I was telling my babysitter all that I read about breast feeding and how long the milk is good for.  But in my reading, I have seen contradicting information.  I was told that fresh breast milk is good for about 24 hours.  I had read somewhere that it was good for 3-4 days.  It's just interesting to me, how I can read one thing and be told another.  

And so in my search to learn how to write and try to make some money at it, (I'm really not going to lie), I want my writing to benificial for people.  Even if it is some grandma of a new grandchild, I want the person who ever is reading it, be able to take something from it.  For a person who read whatever she could find on breastfeeding and then about babycare, I was able to walk away from the article knowing something knew or had  new idea to try with Savanna.