If you’re a new parent, you probably have your child’s diapering area set up appropriately. Diapers and wipes – check. Diaper cream – check. Baby powder – you may want to hold off on. Although baby powder is sold with baby essentials and has that sweet smell that few can resist, it’s one of those items that just isn’t necessary. In fact, baby powder can be possibly harmful, especially to a young infant.

Traditionally, baby powder has been used on infants to keep the skin soft and dry, thus fighting off diaper rash. Even though it feels and smells good, pediatricians do not recommend the powdery stuff and neither does the American Academy of Pediatrics. Since baby powder is expelled into the air, your little one can breathe it in and irritate his or her lungs. This may lead to further breathing difficulties down the road.

Although baby powder isn’t recommended, you don’t have to throw away that bottle quite yet. First, make sure that it is made from cornstarch instead of talc, as many are. Cornstarch is better for the skin and the lungs, and isn’t inhaled as easily. Second, you can use the baby powder in skin folds and creases that may be subject to irritation. Just make sure you don’t let the powder build up in the skin creases and that you don’t shake the powder near baby’s face.

And of course, when setting up your diapering area, you now know that you don’t have to include baby powder into the mix.

If you do have several bottles laying around from your child’s welcome home gifts, consider using the baby powder for other applications. For example, baby powder works great when at the beach and you need something to get the sticky, wet sand off your feet. Or if you’ve skipped a shower (or two), toss some in your hair for a refreshing lift. Baby powder can also be used on oily spots and spills, as it absorbs the oil.

Image: mothersspace.in

Although the standards for crib safety are always changing, many parents still use secondhand cribs from previous siblings or other children. After all, cribs are only used for a few short years, if that, so why spend the big bucks on a new one?

While it’s ideal to buy new because of the safety regulations, this isn’t always practical for families. And thanks to the Internet and resale websites, buying used cribs has never been easier. If you plan to buy a used crib, take these precautions to ensure the safe sleeping of your little one.

1. The crib should not have dropside rails. Although once popular, these cribs are being recalled all the time and are actually being banned in upcoming models.

2. The hardware should be secure. Make sure that the bolts are tightened and screws are secured into place. If anything looks loose or eroded, skip it.

3. The mattress should fit snuggly within the crib with no gaps. Kids are known for wrangling their way into tight spaces, so make sure this won’t happen with a tight fit.

4. The width between the crib slats should be 2 3/8 inches apart or less. This prevents kids from getting their head stuck through the posts, yet is large enough that arms and legs won’t become wedged between the bars.

5. Check the recall list. Before you settle for anything new, make sure the crib isn’t one of the millions that have been recalled. A quick search online will do the trick. If possible, get all the paperwork and see if there is an extended warranty.

Of course, buying new is always best, especially as higher standards are implemented into crib safety. A popular alternative are the convertible cribs, which can be converted into toddler and day beds for more use and economic value.

Image c/o: kalanicrib.info

Whether for yourself or as a gift, choosing the right infant blanket can be an overwhelming task. After all, there are tons of products on the market, spanning all price points and even pushing the limits of the imagination! Luckily, there are really only three factors to consider when making this decision: size, fabric, and the pattern or colors.

Consider the size

You should determine what size blanket you want based on what you will use it for. If it is a receiving blanket or one to be used for swaddling during the baby’s early months, then you will probably want something smaller. However, if you intend for the baby to use it for longer, then larger is better.

Pick a functional fabric

Short and simple, the best fabric for baby blankets is cotton muslin. It is versatile, durable, soft, and you can even buy organic cotton muslin for parents who prefer to keep their baby away from synthetic fibers. Although flannel and wool may make sense as a layering blanket in very cold climates, parents will get the most use out of a cotton muslin blanket because they can use it during every season for almost every purpose.

Have fun with patterns and colors

This choice is up to you! If you know the gender of the infant, it can be fun to get something pink or blue. Some parents prefer to avoid these gendered colors or they are waiting until birth to find out the baby’s gender – in these situations, you can choose from a variety of fun patterns or gender-neutral colors. The options are abundant, and there is no wrong answer!

Sometimes, consumers can get confused when people use multiple terms to describe the same product. Although there are many products that use the word “wrap” in their name, generally speaking, an infant wrap is another way of referring to a swaddling wrap or a swaddling blanket. No matter which way you refer to these products, they are something that every mother wants and will use!

What is an infant wrap anyway?

An infant wrap is a blanket used to wrap, or swaddle, the baby during the first few months and up to a year after he or she is born. The wrapping technique is referred to as swaddling and is thousands of years old. By keeping the baby’s arms and legs pressed gently against his or her own body, swaddling promotes better rest and longer periods of uninterrupted sleep. Additionally, this method of wrapping the infant helps the baby stay warm and comfortable in the crib or bassinet.

In order to facilitate this method of wrapping the baby, infant wraps have the following characteristics:

-          Square or rectangular shape

-          Small enough to wrap the baby without extra cumbersome fabric

-          Lightweight fabric to keep the baby from overheating

-          Stretchy fabric to ventilate the infant and help with swaddling

-          Often made from cotton muslin

Every mother wants an infant wrap. In fact, this is a great gift to give anyone who is pregnant or has recently had a child because most moms can use several infant wraps!

There are many reasons why a mother would want a breastfeeding cover. Moms enjoy the fact that a breastfeeding cover offers some privacy when they are nursing in public or even in their own homes when other people are around. Although they love the opportunity to bond with their child, nursing can be a challenge when the baby is hungry and privacy is unavailable.

Some mothers point to the fact that their other children or their children’s friends are confused when they see the mother nursing, so a breastfeeding cover offers a way to avoid that discussion until a more appropriate time.

A more discreet way of nursing

Although moms have been throwing a blanket over themselves and their infants for years, today’s breastfeeding covers are a step above a baby blanket. Some of the advantages include:

-          Neck straps to keep the blanket in place even if the baby kicks or you shift position

-          Stain resistant fabrics

-          Stiffer top sections to keep the top open, allowing for eye contact between mother and child as well as ventilation

-          Use the cover as a stroller cover or as a diaper changing surface

While the primary reasons many moms point to for purchasing and using these covers is to promote their own privacy, this is certainly not the only use for these versatile blankets. Don’t drive yourself crazy with a baby blanket – get a breastfeeding cover and make this time more enjoyable for yourself and your baby.

Baby blankets come in all shapes, sizes, colors and fabrics. With so many choices, how can you decide which one is the best for your infant? The best fabric often depends on the use of the blanket and the climate where you live.

Here are some popular fabrics and the pros and cons for baby blankets made from them:

• Wool. Wool blankets really only make sense in places where the temperature is consistently low and the weather is harsh. They are too rough to go next to baby’s sensitive skin but can be used when layering in very cold conditions.
• Flannel. Flannel can be made from wool, wool and synthetic fibers, or wool and cotton fibers. Like wool in its pure form, it is best used in cold climates because it can overheat babies when the temperature is warmer. Although these blankets are good for layering, flannel blankets would not be recommended for an all-purpose baby blanket.
• Faux fur. While faux fur may seem silly to many parents, it is popular with some moms because it has a soft texture and fun appearance. Today’s faux fur is made from cotton but can be difficult to clean and keep sanitary.
• Fleece. Fleece is made from processed polyester, making it a synthetic fiber than many parents prefer to keep away from the baby’s sensitive skin. Again, this is a good material for layering blankets, but not for a baby blanket.
• Cotton muslin. This is the preferred fabric for baby blankets because it is not synthetic, is relatively economical, can be easily washed and sanitized, and is very soft to the touch. This is the most popular choice for baby blankets and the only one sold by Luna Lullaby.

A new mother’s best friend

Sometimes it seems that there are an infinite number of infant products on the market, especially blankets. With so many different types of blankets, and often with so many names for the same blanket, it is easy to get a little confused and overwhelmed. One type of blanket that is particularly important and useful is the receiving blanket.

These blankets are the ones used to “receive” a newborn infant after he or she is born. As infants have been in the womb for the previous nine months, they can initially have a little trouble regulating their own body temperature after birth.

Purpose of the receiving blanket

A blanket helps keep them warm as they adjust to life outside of their mother’s body. Often, hospitals will offer new mothers their own blankets so that the newborn is wrapped in something sterile and appropriate. However, some hospitals will allow the parents to use their own blanket. In either case, receiving blankets are used throughout the infant’s first months, usually until he or she outgrows them.

Receiving blankets can be differentiated from other blankets by the following characteristics:

• They are soft and lightweight
• They are usually square shaped to make swaddling easier, although some are rectangular instead
• They are smaller than other baby blankets because they are intended to wrap the infant without being overly cumbersome
• They are thin to facilitate layering so that the baby will be comfortable in a range of temperatures.

Toddler formula taken off the shelf

According to the latest announcement from the company’s spokesperson, Mead Johnson will be phasing out the production and sale of a product called Enfagrow Premium. This chocolate flavored beverage was intended to function as a “formula” for toddlers, full of vitamins disguised by a sweet flavoring.

Enfagrow Premium was marketed toward children who are picky eaters and may not get the vitamins and nutrients they need otherwise. However, the product was quickly targeted by popular parent blogger Marion Nestle who said that it would encourage children to crave sweet foods and beverages rather than developing a broader palette.

In this way, the product was encouraging childhood obesity by encouraging the harmful sugar and fat addiction that is currently plaguing the young people in America.

The medical community weighs in

These opinions reflect the position of the American Academy of Pediatrics which posits that feeding kids excessive amounts of sweet foods and beverages encourages them to prefer sugary foods over nutritious ones. The Academy recommends that parents and guardians limit the sugar intake of toddlers to encourage healthier choices and the development of a more rounded palate.

When announcing the end of this particular product, the spokesperson for Mead Johnson was careful to say that the company stands by the product as nutritionally superior to other beverages on the market for children but that the negative attention it had received was taking away from the products strengths. He did not acknowledge that it could be harmful to the development of healthy eating habit for children over the long-term.