Vaccines

This has got to be one of the most controversial child topics of our time. As I spent countless hours deliberating over vaccines and my precious little angel, a dear friend came to the rescue.

She recommended The Vaccine book by Dr. Sears. Whether you are pro-vaccine, anti-vaccine or somewhere in the middle - this book if chock full of factual information. It also proposes an alternative vaccine schedule for those not wishing to inundate your child with multiple vaccines at once.

Child Development

Ever wonder which milestones your child should be achieving at a given age? I came across this page on The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. The Positive Parenting section provides easy and quick tips for positive parenting and milestones. Enjoy!

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/child/

Diaper Bags

Remember when time seemed unlimited? It was then that I spent countless hours looking at diaper bags - before my first baby was born, of course. The world of diaper bags can really make your head spin. Here's the scoop:

*If price is not an issue, my absolute favorites are: Mia Bossi, Nest, Storksak and Coach (their overnight bags can double as diaper bags).

*Still fashionable and reasonably priced bags include: JP Lizzy and OiOi.

*For those of us that need to stay under $100 for a diaper bag, try the following: Skip Hop, an over-sized hand bag or a knock-off designer bag.

*For men, I'd definitely recommend Diaper Dude. Their bags are masculine and functional.

Here are some sites that have a fairly comprehensive list of designer diaper bags

http://www.diaperbagboutique.com/
http://www.rosenberryrooms.com/diaper-bags.html

Diaper Cakes

Diaper Cakes are a great touch to any baby shower. They offer a unique and practical gift for the parents to be, as well as second as a table decoration during the shower. You can either make your own or purchase one.

I have made many diaper cakes and absolutely love the creativity involved. If you are a perfectionist, beware that making your own diaper cake takes patience and time. I would allocate at least 4 hours for the task if you are making it by yourself. Otherwise, grab a bottle of wine (or sparkling cider for non-alcohol drinkers) and some friends - and make a night of it. You will be surprised at how rewarding it is to make such a special gift for a friend.

Purchasing a Diaper Cake:

Today, there are many sites from which you may purchase a diaper cake. Here are a few. If you do not like what you see, I'd recommend searching the web for 'buy a diaper cake'. If you intend to make your own diaper cake and need ideas, take a look at those available for purchase. There are many amazing diaper cakes out there!

http://www.babyshowerstuff.com/diapercakes.html?gclid=COSrqb-XxJkCFSVM5QodoRb7tg

http://www.forestandzoe.com/categories/bloomers-diaper-cakes.htm?gclid=CJiiq8WXxJkCFUJM5QodRXTRtQ

http://www.toysrus.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=diaper%20cakes&origkw=diaper%20cakes&f=Taxonomy/TRUS/2255957&sr=1

Making a Diaper Cake:

I've used this site to make my own diaper cake and modified where I felt necessary:
http://www.plan-the-perfect-baby-shower.com/diaper-cake.html.

Here's the list of items that I used to make one of my diaper cakes:

Babies R’ Us:
66 Diapers (Pampers Swaddlers Newborn)
Princess Booties
1 15 oz. bottle Johnson and Johnson Baby Lotion or Shampoo.
1 4 oz. bottle (Dr. Brown’s)

CVS:
1 pack assorted colored rubber bands of different sizes
1 pack small, thin pony tail holders without metal (to hold the diaper together when rolled. I think the pack should come with about 35-38 pony tail holders.

Michaels:
1 roll 1” thick ribbon. I used pink satin ribbon with curly q’s on the sides.
2 rolls ¼ “ thick ribbon. I used pink irrodescent ribbon.
1 roll ¼ “ thick ribbon. I used pink satin ribbon.
Butterfly with clothespin. I used a pink, sparkly butterfly with jewels on it.

JoAnn’s Fabrics:
1 stem of orchids (contains 4 separate orchid flowers) for the cake topper. I used white orchids with purple/pink centers.
1 bunch of petals for decoration around the cake.

Baby Shower Considerations & Checklist

Baby Showers are truly special events. They are a time filled with much joy and anticipation for new parents and their loved ones. Proper planning is key to a fun-filled event. I have compiled a list below of items to consider during your planning process.

#1. Determine who (if anyone) will help you host the baby shower. If there are people willing to help, then delegate! Trust me, you will welcome the extra sets of hands. If you are concerned about a consistent look and feel to the party, then I'd suggest delegating with specific instructions.

#2. Will you invite only women or both men and women. I suggest asking the mama to be for her input on this one. If men will be attending, you will want to ensure that there is lots of good food and drinks available!

#3. What is your budget? Be honest here. The worst possible feeling is wanting to do more than your budget allows.

#4. Remind the proud parents-to-be to register (if they intend to). You will need to include registry information in your invitations.

#5. Create your baby shower checklist. The following checklist is a great starting point. You can add or remove items as you feel necessary:
http://www.babyshower101.com/baby_shower_checklist.html

Baby Furniture

I must admit that when I saw pictures of Jennifer Lopez's nursery, I definitely had nursery envy. It embodied all of the style and elegance that I had wanted for my angel's nursery. Of course, the price tag was another story! While my little peanut's nursery has not cost us a fortune, it is still sweet.

Just a little side note: If you are going for an elegant look, little touches such as a chandelier and silk drapes can make all of the difference. Now back to furniture...

*If price is not an issue, I absolutely adore Bratt Decor, especially the Chelsea, Casablanca and Venetian collections.

*More affordable, yet stylish and high quality lines include: Baby's Dream, Capretti, Munire and Pali.

*A very affordable, stylish and good quality line is Bonavita. I personally selected the Bonavita Cabana set in Antique White. I am very happy with both the quality and style.

Baby Names

Giving your child a name is one of the most special gifts that you will ever give, as it will last a lifetime! I suggest spending quite a bit of time ensuring that you pick the perfect name(s). Here are some helpful tips in deciding on a name:

#1. Does the origin and meaning matter to you?
#2. Do the initials spell out anything that could be construed as negative?
#3. Does the name lend itself to derogatory nicknames?
#4. Most important, are you proud of the name that you selected?

Here are some sites with Baby Names and their Meanings:

http://www.babycenter.com/memberbenefits/name.htm?scid=GOO:BCSITE:SEARCH:babynames:bab&ef_id=1039:3:484850c73a6a5ba57878a6ad36b379d5_1302007622:jx7v3Eo-JyIAAAKVROQAAAAB:20090327225027

http://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com/