Growing Your Baby - Parenthood from Pregnancy to Pre-school » Expecting moms

Baby Registry Etiquette – Expectant Mom

Lisa — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 05:14:53 +0000

Years ago it was viewed as rude to go to a store and request items that could be purchased for a new baby. Now it is seen as helpful for guests that would like to make sure they get you a gift – you are going to use.

Picking out what your child is going to need before they have even arrived is a big task and it can be overwhelming, especially if you are a first time mom.

Here are some tips that may help you register for your baby:

Know What You Want – Do some research before you head to the store. Read reviews and see what other moms are saying. Know which bouncer, swing or stroller you are looking for. Seeing so many products in one place is confusing, which may cause you to pick out something that looks good as opposed to something that IS good.
Take Your Time – The whole registry doesn’t need to be done in a day. You can make a few trips to the store to complete the list. Start by doing gear (stroller, swing, bouncer, bassinet and exersaucer) one day, the nursery another and layettes and accessories on a third visit.
Be Modest - Just because other people are buying you gifts, it doesn’t mean that you can ask for more than what you need. Remember that too much gear will clutter up your house.
Register Early - A safe time to register is around 28 weeks. By that time you will know that your baby is developing well and that gives your guests a few weeks to decide on what to get. Showers are normally held between 32 and 36 weeks.
Keep Your Registry To 2 Department Stores – It is confusing for your shower guests and family to have to go to more than 2 stores to find your gift. If you want a specialty item from a third store you may want to suggest it to your parents or purchase it yourself.
Do NOT request cash gift cards – If your friends and family want to give a cash envelope at your shower, they will. It is a bad idea to suggest that anyone wishing to get you a gift should do cash or a gift certificate at a particular store.
Keep it simple - Request gift sets as opposed to single items (thermometer, nail clippers and medicine dropper, spoons and bowls). Having friends and family who don’t have babies search high and low for individual items will just frustrate them and cause them to abandon ship. Bath sets, feeding sets and safety kits usually come with all of the necessary pieces.
Ask for what you need – A baby shower is usually thrown to get you started, not to set you up for life. Keep your requested items to the first 9 months of your baby’s life.

Getting started:

Here is a list of items you may need to get started:

5-7 sleepers
5-10 onesies
2 newborn hats
1 sweater
2 hooded towels
10 wash cloths – to get started 10-15 more as baby gets older
baby wash, bum cream, lotion
thermometer, nail clippers, soft hair brush
infant Tylenol (dye free)
Diaper bag
2 sheets for crib
3 light blankets
change pad cover
2 heavy blankets
3 -4 burp pads
4 bottles – even if you are breastfeeding

Baby Gear:

Crib and a good mattress
Car Seat
Monitor
Change table
Bath Tub

EXTRAS:

Stroller System with car seat
Playpen
Swing
Bouncer
Baby Carrier
Electric Breast Pump
Mobile

Resist buying too many items for 0-3 months. You baby will grow out of that stage VERY quickly.
Buy nicer clothing in sizes 6-9 months. The weight gain will start to level out by then and your baby will be able to use these clothes for longer that a few weeks.
In order to save time and money, you can wait a few months to purchase items like the highchair, exersaucer and developmental toys.

Should Pregnant Women Be Able To Park In Handicapped Parking?

Lisa — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:32:47 +0000

A Southern California lawmaker is proposing to the state Legislature, that women in their third trimester of pregnancy should be able to park in a spot reserved for the disabled.

AB 1940 would declare all women in their final three months of pregnancy, and through their first two months after giving birth, as having a “temporary disability.” They could then pay $6 to the Department of Motor Vehicles to access any disabled spot in California marked with a blue and white wheelchair symbol for that five-month period.

The proposed law, similar to a measure that failed four years ago, is drawing criticism from some advocates for the disabled, who say blue-zone parking is in short supply; from women’s rights groups, who dislike labeling pregnancy as a disability; and from a coalition of ob-gyns, who encourage their patients to exercise.

“Overall, physicians want pregnant women to be active, so this bill is actually counterproductive,” said Shannon Smith-Crowley, legislative advocate for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists chapter in California.

I agree with the women’s rights groups. Who thought of this?? It makes us all look incompetent. Women have been getting pregnant for centuries and haven’t needed to park closer to the store…

Being pregnant is not a handicap and I think most expectant moms know that.

Besides, many stores across North America offer expecting mom parking spots close to the door. Isn’t that good enough?

SOURCE

Lemons To Cure Morning Sickness?

Lisa — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 02:04:23 +0000

Can a simple lemon cure morning sickness?

That answer is yes according to Dr Green, author of: Dr. Robert Greene’s Perfect Hormone Balance for Pregnancy: A Groundbreaking Plan for Having a Healthy Baby and Feeling Great

He says that:

Keeping a lemon handy at all times and sniffing it when you feel nausea coming on can help curb morning sickness. “The part of our brain that is most directly connected with the nausea center is our sense of smell,” he says.

Just as certain smells make you feel sick during pregnancy, Dr. Greene says the strong, cleansing fragrance of a lemon can rapidly help nausea subside. “If you ignore and don’t correct nausea during the first trimester of pregnancy, that increases the risk of preterm labor and blood pressure problems in the third trimester,” he says.

SOURCE