Babies and Infants

Merino wool comes from merino sheep. Merino wool is soft and finely crimped.  Merino is now commonly used in textiles but originally denoted wool from Merino sheep raised in Spain.  Merino sheep of equal quality are also raised in Australia and New Zealand.  Organic merino wool is wool from merino sheep that have been raised organically.

O-wool is a registered trademark of the Vermont Organic Fiber Company.  They produce wool yarn from organically raised sheep.  They manufacture their wool using 100% NOP (National Organic Program) certified organic wool.

So whether your baby blanket is from organic merino wool or O-wool, you can be assured your baby is safe from harmful chemicals.

WC Douglas, M.D. recently wrote that Mattel and Fischer-Price, makers of toys, are now allowed to skip a new safety measure intended to stop the possibility of lead found in children’s toys.

How do they do that?  The new safety measure requires companies to have products tested by an”independent” testing facility.  Mattel and Fisher-Price have requested that the testing be done in their own laboratories, some of which are located in China reports Dr. Douglas. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has approved their request.

When shopping for anything from baby cribs to toys it is a good idea to look for the statement that certifies the product is made with non-toxic materials.

The number of adjustments a crib manufacturer builds in a crib determines the height of the mattress in the crib.  A crib may have as few as three or as many as eight height adjustments.

In the crib, mattress height adjustments allow you to set the mattress at a height that is best for your baby.  Set the mattress at the top for a newborn, and then, as the baby grows, lower the mattress. It is important to lower the mattress as your baby grows to keep him from climbing over the rail.

A baby crib built of sturdy, solid hard wood will last for years.  A convertible crib, converted into a toddler bed or into a day bed, also needs to have height adjustments so each can adjust to a height that best suits your child.

We all wear tee shirts.  They are comfortable, cool in summer and help keep you warm in winter. Colder weather is coming. If you have a newborn baby, an infant tee shirt with long sleeves is just the thing at this time of year to help keep her warm.

A soft, silky tee made of 100% cotton is stretchy and your baby can wear one for months.  When the baby is very small, you can pull a long sleeve down to cover her hands.

When it’s cold, I sleep in a tee.  Organic cotton contains no chemicals, so I know I’m not breathing in any bad stuff while I’m sleeping.  Your baby doesn’t need the chemicals used to process most cotton fabrics, so you might want to try organic infant clothing.  They come in a variety of colors.

A changing table is nice and can have a hutch added later for more storage. A baby changing dresser takes up less room and can also be used for storage.  Changing dressers make changing your baby easier than trying to change her on a bed our couch.

When choosing your changing dresser you want to make sure it has a large enough top to accommodate a changing pad.  The pad will help protect the top of the dresser and makes your baby more comfortable during changes.

Modern cribs have slats that do not allow an infant’s head to slip through.  However, a bumper and a washable bumper cover protect the infant’s head from bumps and help to keep drafts directly away from the infant.

Not only does the bumper serve a practical purpose, but it can be used as a decoration.  A bumper with a bright cover adds to the decor of the crib.  Also, the bumper can continue to decorate a toddler’s bed or day bed.

Because infants are susceptible to chemicals, I suggest that the bumper and crib bumper cover be 100% organic cotton. Organic cotton is washable and dryable and durable.

When deciding on whether to buy a crib blanket or receiving blanket, you might want to consider the size.  Receiving blankets tend to be smaller than a crib blanket.  The receiving blanket makes it easy to swaddle your infant to keep him warm and cozy.  But when the infant gets bigger, the blanket will not cover him as well.  Crib blankets are larger and will be able to be used for a longer time.

There are some receiving blankets that are larger to allow them to be used even on the crib.  But in general you want to make sure the blanket is large enough to be tucked in when used on the crib to keep your baby from getting wrapped up in the blanket.

Tagua nuts are the fruit of the ivory-nut palm ( Phytelephas macrocarpa ), which flourishes in tropical America from Paraguay to Panama. Tagua is known in the trade as vegetable ivory. The ivory nuts, white or cream in color are very hard and make for a good button. In the past, great quantities of tagua nuts were exported to the United States and Europe for the manufacture of buttons and other small items. The use of tagua was largely supplanted by less expensive synthetic materials.

Organic infant clothing usually use tagua nut buttons, because they are natural and not made from synthetics.

You might read about using a frozen washcloth on the infants gums to help relieve teething pains. Any frozen item needs to be insulated to keep the extreme cold off of the skin. Also, areas exposed to extreme cold from frozen items can be damaged if exposed for over 15 minutes in an hour even with the insulation.

I recommend either refrigerating or removing the washcloth before it has frozen if placed in the freezer. Placing the cloth in a bag or container can keep it from picking up odors. Just like when buying your baby crib sheets, you want the washcloth to be organic to reduce chemical exposure.  Just dampen one end of the cloth and refrigerate.

I have been talking with a few friends who did not buy the kit that goes with their convertible cribs.  They are now having to check to see if they can still get one for the crib they have.  For this reason I recommend you buy the kit when you buy the crib.

Furniture styles change and so do crib’s.  The conversion kit might not be available when you are ready to start converting your crib.  I would also recommend buying a crib that converts to a toddler bed, not just a day bed.  You will find it hard to find a toddler conversion kit if your crib is not already set for this.