Babies and Infants

As a parent, you provide the best you can manage in material things for your infant. From the baby crib, the baby bedding, the baby clothing and the very food your baby eats, you use only organic products to protect your baby from harmful chemicals.

Did you know that the smoke from tobacco contains over 4,000 different chemicals. At least 43 are known carcinogens (cause cancer in humans). I strongly support an individual’s right to make choices in his/her life, but, if you have an infant in the house, I very strongly suggest that you not allow anyone to smoke in the house.

Smoking is an addiction. We know that babies can be addicted to drugs when they are born if their mothers indulge while carrying. Perhaps a baby can become addicted if he is constantly exposed to cigarette smoke.

There are a number of ways to present a blanket as a gift that will make an impression. If you want to present a blanket as a special gift, there are some creative, unique ways that you can decorate the blanket so that it will be sure to become a family heirloom rather than a rag used to wash the car. Embroidered baby blankets are an inexpensive way to be sure that your gift is a winner at the party.

You can pick up a kit that includes all the embroidery thread, needles and fabric that you will need or you can buy some flannel, binding and pick your own motifs. Embroidered pictures of animals or any characters that might reflect the theme of the nursery are a nice touch. It’s also nice to have the baby’s name and birth date on a corner of the blanket.

If you aren’t into baby crafts, you can buy personalized blankets online at many baby boutiques but you will need to order several weeks ahead of time because blankets are popular gifts and most stores have a backlog of orders.

Many baby stores offer baby gift sets that come with an elegant blanket, a rattle or some other crib toy and a matching bib. Gift sets always make a lovely presentation but are often expensive. Why not gather your own baby items and make your own for a cheap price?

No matter what kind of baby blanket you decide to buy, you can rest assured that it will be appreciated and well used.

A newborn infant sleeps most of the time.  However, an infant needs frequent feedings, so the sleep periods may vary quite a bit.  My daughter slept through the night when she was only a few days old.  I was nursing her and she was a very calm baby, but she woke in the morning crying.

She was so hungry she couldn’t get enough fast enough.  She nursed for longer than usual then spit up most of what she had eaten.  She was hungry again.  Finally, she calmed down and slept.

I decided then to set the alarm and get her up to eat.  After that, I did not let her sleep more than four hours at a time until she was really old enough to sleep through the night. 

Her baby crib was in the same room so we did not disturb anyone with our nightly feedings. 

You might believe that it is best to get a crib mattress that it fire retardant. But, have you heard of the dangers of the chemicals used to make the mattress fire retardant?

A toxic, chemical laden mattress can cause irritation to a babies nose, throat, and eyes. The chemicals can cause asthma like reactions or difficulty with breathing. This could be a major factor in SIDS. Many studies have confirmed the link between SIDS and chemicals.

I recommend an organic mattress that uses Wool, which is naturally fire retardant, so it does not require toxic chemicals.

Times are tough and money is hard to come by. But if you want your baby to grow up and have the opportunity to go to college, start putting away now. Even small change can add up in seventeen years and could make the difference.

A student desk can make a great changing table, with or without a hutch for extra storage. Or a changing table for an infant can be the dresser your child will need when he becomes a teen. It really does pay to plan ahead.

Another way to plan is to buy a good solid hardwood crib that converts into a full size bed. A sturdy toddler mattress will last for about the next six years before you have any additional expense.

With your baby is spending a lot of time sleeping on his or her crib mattress, a good quality mattress not only makes your baby more comfortable, it provides the proper support for growing bones.

If considering a foam mattress, make sure the foam is very dense to provide the best support for your baby.

If considering an innerspring mattress, make sure it has a high coil count, which makes the mattress firmer.

Keep in mind firm is best! (Unless your doctor tells you differently)

Be sure the mattress is the right size.  While most standard cribs measure 51 5/8 x 271/4 inches and almost all mattresses are a standard size, older cribs may be a different size.  You should not be able to put more than two fingers in between the edge of the crib and the crib mattress.

It starts in the crib. The baby exercises his legs by holding on to the crib railing and jumping up and down on his bed. This is fun. Between 12 and 24 months, his legs are strong enough and he is daring enough to stand on his own and take a step or two. He is now officially a toddler.

The urge to investigate and learn is greater than his fear of falling and getting hurt. Even if a fall sets him back a day or so, he’ll be right back up and at it again, looking, tasting, smelling, and touching everything in reach. He’ll be moving to a toddler bed where he can have greater freedom and the move itself can build his self confidence.

A toddler mattress is built strong enough to withstand his energetic bouncing and playing through toddler hood into childhood at about the age of 5 or 6.  A good mattress is a good investment.

How do you know your baby needs changing? Some people try to see if the diaper feels heavier. Of course if it smells like there is stuff in it, it’s due for a change. I’ve found that the only way to be sure if the diaper is wet is to do the old finger test through the leg of the diaper.

Some babies don’t produce as much liquid as others, but even a little urine in a diaper can cause diaper rash over a period of time. Check often. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

In some cultures and in days of old, babies were left undiapered, exposed to the elements. When doing laundry was not a simple task, a diaper might be hung out to dry. Fortunately, we now have better ways to solve the diaper problem.

Unfortunately, some diapers and baby wipes on the market today may contain chemicals that can irritate a baby’s tender skin. Baby Clothing such as Organic Cotton Diapers do not contain chemicals and only pure, natural, undyed cotton material touches your baby.

Many parents spend a long time picking out just the right baby crib only to throw any old bedding onto that crib. But parents should be just as selective with their bedding products as they are with the furniture. After all, not all crib sheets are created equal. Some have a much higher thread count and are, therefore, much softer and more durable. Some are easier to wash than others and only stand to improve with multiple washings. All of these factors should be considered when purchasing bedding for your newborn’s crib.

In addition to picking out sheets made with a high quality fabric, parents should ensure that the sheets they purchase don’t end up creating more work for them. With that in mind, purchase sheets that are hypoallergenic, so you don’t have to worry about the sheets collecting dust mites that can ultimately make your newborn sick. And, of course, make sure you can simply throw them in the washing machine. Your kid’s sheets are bound to get dirty, and you don’t want to take the time to deal with finicky cleaning processes.

Immunity is a medical term that describes a state of having sufficient defenses in the body to avoid infection or disease.  An infant’s exposure to chemicals can deplete the body’s defenses, making the infant susceptible to diseases and allergies.

An infant receives a certain amount of immunity from his Mother through breast milk. Some professionals believe that an infant does not have the defenses necessary to benefit from a vaccine until about 6 months of age.  Many parents are concerned about vaccinations and should thoroughly investigate the pros and cons before making a decision.

In any case, avoiding chemicals such as formaldehyde, which is used in the production of wrinkle resistant cotton, is the best way to protect your infant.  Organic cotton is produced without the use of chemicals.  Organic cotton baby bedding is the answer.  Crib sheets and blankets of organic cotton will provide an environment for your infant that will help to keep him healthy.