Cloth diapers and disposable diapers are so very different from each other that is makes it an easy choice for any parent involved. If you want to save money, cloth is the way to go. If you don’t have time to wash the cloth diapers etc., then disposable is the way to go. It really depends on the lifestyle of the parent and what will work for him or her.

Pros of cloth diapers

• Environmentally friendly
• Help potty train toddlers
• Are more comfortable than disposable
• They are very efficient

Cons of cloth diapers

• They are messy
• Can be expensive but they are cost effective
• Time consuming
• Inconvenient

Pros of disposable diapers

• Very convenient
• Are inexpensive if you go the store brand route
• Effective if your child is in child care since many centers demand disposable diapers
• Diaper rashes are less likely to appear
• Makes traveling much easier

Cons of disposable diapers

• Must be purchased on a regular basis
• Environmental concerns
• Cannot be used for other purposes while cloth diapers can be used as burp cloths, cleaning cloths, etc. after the baby outgrows them.
• Children tend to get potty trained later than those in cloth diapers.
• Some chemicals in disposable diapers could harm the children wearing them. Toxic shock, allergies, etc., are just a few of the concerns out there.

What are you currently using with your newborn or preemie? Cloth or disposable? Maybe you have tried both. Which one is easier and more economical? We would love to hear from you.

Source: eHow

Image: Wikimedia Commons

If you are a parent of a newborn or preemie, you are well aware of all the adorable clothing out there – especially shoes. But do newborns and preemies really need to wear them? Technically, they do not, not with all the baby booties and footy pajamas available. Do the shoes look absolutely adorable on them? Oh yes for sure, you can’t deny that. But is it really comfortable for them or economical, for that matter?

I remember getting all the trendy newborn shoes for my baby girl and being so very excited to put them on her. The compliments were worth it, but after a while I came to realize that really, my sweet baby just did not need to wear those shoes. After all, they will eventually kick their little feet so much that they will fall off. I had this happen on several occasions. I think people can save a significant amount of money if they just didn’t buy baby shoes, especially brand name shoes. When my first baby was born, a friend of mine went out and purchased $60 newborn Nike tennis shoes. Isn’t that just crazy? Not just that my friend would buy those but the fact that a major brand such as Nike would actually sell shoes for that price for newborns. They are obviously going to outgrow them quickly and since they can’t walk, the shoes will be brand new and never have a wear or tear. I have held onto those cute little pink and white Nikes as a keepsake but really, is it just a waste of time and money?

What do you think? Are newborn shoes really worth the money or are we just wasting our time, money, and efforts with something our little ones could care less about? Let me know your thoughts!

Blog Sponsored By: Luna Lullaby

Image: Wikimedia Commons

For new parents, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) lurks in the backs of their minds until their children reach their first birthdays. A lack of answers is what makes SIDS so scary and what keeps researchers motivated to find these answers.

In 1997, the Back to Sleep Campaign was launched, encouraging parents to place their little ones on their backs to sleep. Since this campaign was started, the rate of SIDS has dropped by half. But there is still much to be learned about SIDS and researchers are now pointing toward gender.

About 60 percent of SIDS cases are baby boys. A new study published in the magazine Sleep suggests that infant boys are more easily roused while sleeping when they’re 2 to 4 weeks old, prompting parents to place them on their stomachs to sleep easier and longer. However, it’s this type of heavy sleeping that puts babies more at risk.

By the time male infants are 2 to 3 months, there is no significant difference between baby boys and girls. Researchers and pediatricians continue to educate parents on the importance of putting their infants on their backs to sleep. Medical experts in this field are always conducting studies, as they feel that the more information they have to educate parents, the more likely parents will be to cooperate.

Not only does sleeping on the belly cause a longer, deeper sleep that puts babies at risk, but studies indicate that babies aren’t getting enough fresh oxygen when sleeping on their bellies. The oxygen is recycled and doesn’t allow the baby’s brain to be alerted that something isn’t right.

For now, it’s important for all parents to place their children on their backs to sleep. When your little one starts rolling over however, you don’t have to worry about the sleeping position that he or she ends up in. And by the time your child reaches his or her first birthday, the risk of SIDS is gone.

Other ways to help decrease the risk is by putting your child to bed with a pacifier, turning on a fan or opening a window, breastfeeding and eliminating smoking and drinking.

Image c/o Officer

It’s a common question for parents: Will my baby’s eyes stay this color?

For many, the sparkling, baby blue eyes that many newborns are born with are adored by parents, with the hope that their baby’s eyes will stay the same color. It’s hard to know exactly what your child’s eye color will end up being, but you can expect it to darken over the coming months.

This is because the iris, which is the colored part of the eye, will continue to darken over the first 9 months. This doesn’t necessarily mean that your little one won’t have the same eye color as he or she does now, but chances are likely that it will darken somewhat. The irises will never lighten however, so your baby won’t end up with lighter eyes.

Children born from African and Asian descent generally have brown eyes that stay brown. Caucasian babies on the other hand, are often born with steel grey or dark blue eyes. Some continue to stay a steel grey or blue color, while others evolve into green, brown or hazel by the time the 9-month mark rolls around.

What happens if your child ends up with blue eyes and you and your partner both have brown? No need to worry about where the sparkling blues came from, as blue eyes come from two recessive genes. So in this case, you and your partner both possess the recessive gene for blue eyes. But remember, brown eyes are dominant genes, which means your next baby could very well have brown peepers.

Image c/o hiren.info

When my son was born in 2008 at 38 weeks, he was considered a full term baby. But when the National Center for Health Statistics released its final birth data for the same year, they coined the new term “early term”.

Early term describes any newborn born at 37-38 weeks gestation, in between the preterm and full term stages. Why the need for this new terminology? Studies show that babies born during this period are more at risk for certain disorders, including autism and dyslexia. Furthermore, early term infants have a higher incidence of respiratory complications that can increase the risk for childhood asthma.

Indeed, there isn’t much control for many of these babies who simply choose to come a bit early. And while the majority of early term babies are born just fine, there is a growing concern over the higher-than-ever Cesarean section rate. The majority of scheduled c-sections are performed at 39 weeks or less, increasing the rate of early term infants.

Yet just like babies who choose to enter the world early, many c-sections need to be performed early for health concerns affecting mom or baby. Experts encourage doctors and expecting moms to rethink elective c-sections or early inductions, giving unborn babies as much time as possible in utero, provided the baby is thriving. Every week is critical to an infant’s development, and at this point, important organs including the brain are still developing.

Image c/o Melimama

If you are a new mom deciding to bottle feed your preemie or newborn, you may be wondering what type of bottle would be good for your sweet new addition. Let’s take a look at the few brands of bottles out there that are ideal for preemies and newborns:

Types of bottles

• Playtex Drop-In bottles – You can push out all the air and the bags are collapsible. They are BPA free.
• Gerber NuK Orthodontic with air vents – these bottles are designed for healthy gums. The air vent reduces gassiness.
• Dr. Brown bottles help with acid reflux.
• Avent bottles cut down on painful gas and the nipples range from slow, medium, to fast flow.
• Green to Grow bottles are BPA free.
• Dr. Weil bottles are made out of glass and are perfect for stages 1-4.

If you are unsure what BPA is, it is an industrial chemical used to make plastic resins. The BPA-free bottles mentioned above go the extra mile for the health of your baby.

What type of bottle did you use for your preemie or newborn? Was it a type of bottle not mentioned on the list above? We would love to hear from you.

Image: Wikimedia Commons

When it’s time to welcome home your sweet new baby to your family, a lot of adjustments will need to be made, especially if the newborn is a preemie!  So many questions have probably flooded your mind, questions like: “what should the thermostat be set at (if it’s in the colder months)? Or, “what kinds of cleaning products are safe to use around the house with a preemie?”. These are all excellent questions and ones that may be answered by your child’s pediatrician. 

Though some of the questions do relate to the health of your preemie, what about the questions that deal directly with your preemie like; “How do I bathe my preemie?“  Here are a few detailed tips for how to bathe your preemie effectively but safely according to Meriter.com.

How to bathe your preemie

• Always find a warm place in your home to bathe and be sure to have these supplies: Baby bathtub, towel, two washcloths, a very mild soap and baby shampoo, new diaper, clean clothes and a blanket.
• The bathtub should be filled with warm water.  Be sure to feel it to make sure it is not too hot.
• While washing your preemie’s face, make sure your baby is covered to avoid chills. 
• Clean your preemie’s outer ears and ear folds with a washcloth.
• To wash your preemie’s head, keep him covered and hold his little head in a football hold and gently wash with shampoo.
• Remove your baby’s clothing and diaper to begin bathing his whole body.  Wash the diaper area first before placing your preemie in the baby tub.  It is also recommended to keep your infant covered and safely positioned in the bathtub if he is having a hard time with the bath itself.  Going in stages may be helpful.
• If possible, have someone help you wash your baby, since doing it alone can be difficult and risky.
• After drying off your preemie, dress him in a clean diaper and clothing, then bundle your sweet baby.

*Oils and lotions are not recommended for preemies.

If you are a parent of a preemie, do you have any concerns about bathing?  If so, please feel free to share with us.  Or, maybe you have some helpful tips that are not listed above.  We would love to hear from you.

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Source: Meriter

Bringing home a newborn is a challenging task in its own. However, bringing home a preemie… well, that poses a whole new set of worries for new parents. One of the most critical factors in caring for premature babies is paying close attention to their health and nutrition and making sure to take baby to the pediatrician often.

You may find yourself overwhelmed at the thought of selecting a pediatrician that you feel you can trust. Don’t worry – these doctors are highly trained in this field. Before selecting your pediatric care center, it is a good idea to visit several in your area so you canvrest assured you made the right decisions.

Here are a few things you may want to ask the staff (or even the doctor if he is available to speak):

• Do you have separate waiting rooms for children that are sick and healthy children? (This lowers your baby’s chance of becoming ill at a time when his immune system is not fully developed.)
• If I have an emergency after hours, how long will it take for me to get a response if I call your answering service?
• Do you put a strong emphasis on nutrition for premature babies?
• Does your office provide referrals to specialists or early-intervention programs?
• Will the same doctor be seeing my preemie at every visit?

It is always a good idea to ask your OBGYN if they know of any good pediatricians that they may be able to recommend. Also, check with your insurance company to get a list of providers in your area that are covered under your baby’s insurance.

Image c/o www.bakersfieldmom.com