Infant Car Seat Covers

Homemade Toys

admin — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:17:36 +0000

How often have you seen this happen around the holidays? The parents have spent a small fortune on the latest, greatest toy. After a few grins and giggles, the parents take the toy out of its huge box and proceed to put it together. In the meantime, the child finds the box to be quite fascinating. By the time the toy is fully put together, the child is so engrossed in the box that he or she has no desire to play with the expensive toy.

This scenario is replayed in house after house across the country. The lesson is, children are easily entertained and homemade toys can be created from every day materials that can easily keep their attention. Here are some ideas for easy to create homemade toys.

One idea for a homemade toy is a cardboard box car. Take a large cardboard box and cut a hole in the top and cut out the bottom. Decorate it like a car, using paper plates for the wheels and steering wheel. Your child will enjoy “driving” this car around the house!

Create a hand made bubble blower out of a toilet paper roll. Wrap the roll with aluminum foil. Make the bubbles by mixing liquid dish soap with water. Dip one end of the roll in the mixture and blow gently through the other end. You should be able to easily create very large bubbles!

Create a scoop ball game out of a one-quart plastic milk jug. Cut the jug in half and save the handle side. Toss a ball back and forth and use the jug to catch the ball.

Model planes can be made out of the Styrofoam trays that meat is packaged on. Cut out a body, wings and tail shape. Use a knife to cut a slit in the body for the wings and tail. Because the Styrofoam is so light, these planes can soar for a decent distance.

A personalized homemade toy is the homemade puzzle. Have your child create a drawing or other piece of art. Glue the artwork to a piece of cardboard. After it is dry, turn the cardboard over and trace out puzzle piece shapes. Carefully cut out these shapes. Your child will have fun putting together his own artwork. Store the puzzle in a Ziploc bag.

A homemade beanbag toss game is another fun and active toy to create. Take a sturdy piece of cardboard and cut holes in it to make the targets. Be sure the holes are large enough that the beanbag will fit. Then make some beanbags. Take scraps of material and fill them with beans or pasta. Hand sew them shut. Have your child decorate the target and assign points to the holes. Then have fun tossing the beanbags at the target!

Whatever toy you decide to make, be sure to include your child in the process of making the toy. Not only will you create a fun toy, but you will also create life-long memories with your child. Using what would be trash to make a fun toy also helps to protect our environment.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Toys [http://toys-guides.com]

A Car Seat For Your Baby

admin — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:51:13 +0000

Why do we need car seats for babies?

Baby car seats are a matter of law in the UK since 2007. However, this is not just another “petty” law targeting motorists. Every year in the UK, 30 children (under 12) are killed while traveling in cars, with another 7000 injured. The proper use of baby car seats would have prevented many of these deaths and injuries. An unrestrained child (including children using adult seat belts or being held on parents lap) can be thrown forward with a force greater than 60 times their own weight, potentially seriously injuring other occupants and with a high risk of being ejected from the car through a window, often with horrifying results. The only safe way for a child to travel in a vehicle is to be secured using a car seat specifically designed for their weight and size, ensuring that the seat is fitted correctly.

Choosing the best car seats for baby. The first thing to remember is that the features you look for will change as your baby grows. For a newborn baby a rear facing seat will be required, progressing to a forward facing seat for toddlers and finally a booster seat for young children.

Rear-facing seats for baby are designed for infants under twelve months, sometimes referred to as “newborn baby car seats“. The seat has to be big enough to support the baby’s head, neck, and spine. If you find that the baby’s head is higher than the top part of the seat, then you need to get a bigger size. There is a choice between 3 and 5 point harnesses, 5 point harnesses offer slightly better protection but are very restrictive.

Forward-facing seats are for when when your baby is 12 months or older (or is too big for rear facing seat). Remember that if forward facing seats are fitted, they must be in the back seat, or in newer cars, the front air bag must be deactivated. Otherwise the impact from the air bag could seriously hurt or even suffocate your child in the event of an accident.

Finally booster seats are for children who have outgrown. These seats are designed just like adult seats, you simply fasten and adjust the belt just like you would your own seatbelt. Just ensure the strap goes over the shoulder and not the neck.

Nowadays there are a range of accessories and add-ons available for baby car seats. Such as convertibles which can be used a strollers, covers for seats, sun shades, activity toys which attach to the seats to keep baby occupied. These all cost extra but many parents feel the expense is justified with greater convenience and comfort.

When deciding which car seats to purchase for your baby, try reading the many online reviews on different seat manufacturers and models, such as Bebe, Graco, Maxi Cosi and Recaro.

Baby and Parenting

Sheepskin Seat Covers – Are Sheepskin Seat Covers a Good Choice For My Car Seats?

admin — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 17:34:49 +0000

What is your best option when purchasing seat covers for your car? Actually sheepskin seat car covers are great for your vehicles protection. They actually keep you comfortable all year around. They do this because of the unique way that the sheepskin is able to breath much like a living thing. Do you know why really lush grass feels so good under your feet? Its because the blades of grass all work together to keep air flowing between them. This airflow keeps the blades of grass healthy. When it rains the blades of grass direct the water to the roots while the airflow keeps the grass supplied with oxygen. This is very similar to the way sheepskin works to keep you comfortable. The strands of wool all work together to keep airflow between them. The density of the wool keeps it from getting flattened out when you sit on it. This keeps air flowing between each strand of wool which in turn keeps you nice and comfortable in the summer. This is much different with a material like cotton or polyester that will flatten out when you sit on it. with these materials there is no space for air to move because it flattens when you sit on it. If there is no air circulation between you and the material you are sitting on then this will only cause perspiration.

Perspiration will cause you to be hot and uncomfortable. Sheepskin is always comfortable because even though the fleece is strong enough to stand up to your weight it is extremely soft. This softness along with the ability to keep air moving under your weight will keep you comfortable and keep the seat temperature at a constant level all the time. Of course during the cold winter months, sheepskin car seat covers are perfect for giving you that same soft comfort plus warmth because the wool doesn’t hold a cold surface temperature like vinyl or regular leather will. Sheepskin will quickly absorb your warmth and stay at that constant comfortable temperature all the time.

Moreover, while your seat covers are protecting you, they will add resale value to your car by protecting your expensive upholstery from wear and sun damage. The natural oils in sheepskin will actually improve the durability of leather sheepskin over time, making sheepskin seat covers a great investment.

Lets Do A Price Comparison. Take a 2003 Nissan Altima, no integrated seat belts, no integrated armrest, no side airbags. Make a call the a Nissan dealership and ask for the price of their replacement seat covers. Here is the results you will hear from their end of the phone.

Nissan OEM – Replacement leather seat covers cost around $2,050.00 for the pair of covers for the front bucket seats!
Nissan OEM – Replacement cloth seat covers cost around $2,200.00 for the pair of covers for the front bucket seats!
Ready made All Sheepskin covers cost around $279.99 for both bucket seats.
Ready made deluxe super fit covers cost around $179.99 for both bucket seats.
Tailor made All Sheepskin covers cost around $479.99 for both bucket seats.
Tailor made Deluxe Super fit covers cost around $339.99 for both bucket seats.

These numbers are true – I welcome you to call your dealership and ask for the price of the replacement covers for your car and then compare them with the prices from any sheepskin seat cover dealer. Remember these are high quality Australian Merino Sheepskin that will last for years and years.

There are many more benefits from using sheepskin seat covers. Sheepskin will not give off a static charge. Seat covers made from other materials actually hold in static so when you touch your car getting in or out you get a super charge. All natural sheepskin actually releases this static on it own. To make this simple, sheepskin will not shock you in the winter.

Sheepskin also absorbs your sweat immediately. This sounds bad, but the sheepskin doesn’t keep the moisture. The air flowing within the sheepskin fibers dries the moisture quickly so you never feel the moisture on your skin or clothing. Sheepskin is gentle on your skin because it contains oils. Not nasty oils that feels bad, but oils very similar to the same oils made by your very own skin. Sheepskin will actually help heal skin sensitivity because of these essential oils. Sheepskin also naturally resists dirt and debris. The fibers stand up erect causing dirt to loosely fall between the fibers. The lanolin oil in natural sheepskin provides it with the ability to keep its self clean. Because of these properties sheepskin mostly only needs to be brushed periodically to keep it nice and clean.

Sheepskin is just simply comfortable and durable. You will be surprised at how cool they are during the warm and hot months. If you have ever had regular leather seats you know how they will get crack lines in the seats, even if you put protection on them regularly. Sheepskin is made up of a much more pliable leather that will not crack, even after years of use. Sheepskin also has the fleece on top of the leather. This sheep fleece is very dense, but super soft. This is what gives sheepskin its amazing abilities. The density of the fleece keeps a space between you and the actual leather lining, this space allows air to continuously flow between you and the seat. This air flow is what keeps everything comfortable all year long. This space and airflow is also what helps the leather last as long as it does. Sheepskin is really a remarkable material!

Why use sheepskin seat covers? Sheepskin is a no brainer when it comes down to seat covers. Sheepskin will out last just about any other material. Sheepskin will cost much less than most other materials, with the exception of the cheap store bought covers made from cotton and polyester blends, which do not last long enough for you to get your monies worth from them. Sheepskin is super comfortable, very affordable and looks great also. You can’t go wrong with sheepskin. Many people are skeptical because they think they will be hot. This is just not the truth. The truth is when these skeptical people try sheepskin they turn into the very ones that promote it. I should know I was one of them.

Hello

My name is Terry Matthews
I own and operate multiple online businesses. Im learning as I go and hope to share what I learn with others.

At Seat Sheepskin Covers we specialize in the finest genuine sheepskin seat car covers you will find anywhere. Our sheepskin car seat covers is a great investment at a fair price. If you find a better advertised deal just let us know and we will match it. We will work hard to keep you the consumer happy.
Come give us a visit
http://www.seatsheepskincovers.com/seatcarcovers.html

You can also follow my journey to being a business owner here http://seatcarcovers.blogspot.com/

Where to Find Cheap Car Seats

admin — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 06:00:06 +0000

People you know

One thing about children: they don’t stay small for very long. In fact, most people don’t have small children long enough to wear out a car seat. This means you have a good opportunity to get a seat cheap by buying someone else’s after they are done with it. Friends, coworkers, and relatives are great sources to get a seat second hand. But don’t forget, it’s up to you to make sure the seat you buy complies with all laws that apply. It’s not a good idea to buy used from someone you don’t know, but if you know the person very well, and the car seat’s history, you should be fine.

Online

A lot of people don’t take for granted the cheap prices online. If you’re looking to find a cheap baby seat, check out websites like Amazon.com. They are known for having almost everything, and everything that a great price. There are several websites out there that can help you find the perfect seat for your little one at an affordable price.

Check online auction sites

eBay is still a well recognized place for buying all sorts of stuff on the cheap. If you don’t mind signing up for an account, this is a great way to find a deal right from home. Car seats are just one of the things you can buy there. You will see options for new seats in various conditions. One thing is for sure, you are almost certain to find one cheap. While they’re not supposed to be selling car seats that are recalled or do not comply with current legal requirements, you’d better double check. You want to make sure your young one is safe in any seat you buy.

Buying a car seat isn’t easy, but finding one cheap is! Consider a few of these tips above and start getting the best deals on everything you buy!

Find the best baby car seats at FindMyCarSeat.com, as well as more of my work.

Custom Car Seat Covers and Car Seat Warranties

admin — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 04:17:03 +0000

Everyone wants to pamper their little one. It doesn’t matter that the baby won’t know or that your toddler could care less. As a parent, especially the first time around, we want and buy everything for our child. This includes fancy bedroom linens that in hindsight we spent WAY to much money on, an over the top wall mural that the child will grow out of by their 2nd birthday and countless other useless “necessities”. As a parent I did all of these things. But when it came to practicality, I balked at the price and reasoned with myself why I did not need such an expensive item. Then I came up with said item, out of necessity of course, and cannot understand why everyone is not jumping through hoops to claim it. Well, the reason has come to my attention; warranties. It is all about what a manufacturer says in their manual. Now, don’t get me wrong, I completely understand why warranties are in place and that they need to be followed. I also realize that what a manufacturer says voids the warranty is not necessarily in the best interest of anyone but themselves. For example, a child car seat.

The manufacturer says that putting ANY item that did not come with the seat voids the warranty. which is a total of 1 year (tell me who gets a new car seat every year just to keep the warranty?). So I want to know, what are all these accessories for children’s car seats doing on the market. Right off the bat I can name head rests, seat warmer covers, shoulder straps, body positioners…the list can go on for miles. So why is it that a car seat cover is so controversial? It works the same as the manufacturers cover, just cuter more fashionable and fun. It interferes no more than any of the above mentioned items yet it gets parents in a tizzy. I think that people need to lighten up. Most of the items made for kids are by moms, who always have the best for children, yours and theirs, in mind.

Choosing Baby Car Seats

admin — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 02:59:57 +0000

Choosing safe baby car seats is one of the most important tasks that parents and caregivers have. When driving or operating motor vehicles with infants and children onboard, it is imperative that children are safely secured in baby car seats that have been placed in the vehicle correctly. Car seats are the only tool that your vehicle has to provide protection for your child should your vehicle be involved in an accident. Choose baby car seats that have been tested and meet all current safety requirements as determined by law. Safe car seats are ones that have been installed in the vehicle correctly.

One of the greatest advantages of modern baby car seats is the fact that they can be bundled with a stroller or pram. This makes the car seat versatile and allows the mother or caregiver the flexibility of transporting their baby easy and effortlessly. Some car seats will fit snugly on the handlebars of the stroller or pram and can be easily lifted back into the vehicle. This is excellent when baby is sleeping and you don’t wish to wake him or her up, especially since babies often fall asleep during car rides. With these systems, you don’t have to worry about lifting baby out of his or her seat and then trying to put the baby in the stroller without waking him or her up. By simply releasing a button on the car seat, you can lift the seat away from the base and then place the baby and car seat on the stroller.

In addition to baby car seats being safe and installed correctly, they must also be comfortable. Your baby will be spending a lot of time in his or her car seat and may spend many hours sleeping or napping. It’s important to make sure that the car seat provides adequate head and neck support and offers extra padding.

It’s also a good idea to check for ergonomic features in the car seat. Ergonomic baby car seats are designed to ensure that babies rest comfortably and won’t suffer any discomfort to their bodies while residing in the car seat.

Not only must baby car seats be safe, installed correctly, and comfortable but you will also need to take into consideration how you can clean the car seat. Car seats that have easy to remove padded covers make it simple and easy to clean up any spills or food debris. This is especially important once your child reaches toddler age and begins eating in his or her car seat. Make sure to regularly launder the car seat covers and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for doing so.

If you have any questions regarding properly installing the car seat you should contact the manufacturer. Baby car seats save lives, but only when they are installed correctly. Unfortunately, many statistics show that the majority of vehicle operators fail to install their baby car seats correctly. Always make sure that the car seat is installed according to the manufacturer’s standards and recommendations.

Baby’s Mart provides baby car seats, pushchairs, strollers, and travel systems that are not only safe, but comfortable as well. Visit the site to see the full line today.

Sheep Skin Seat Covers Add Warmth and Protection – Also Natural Comfort While Driving

admin — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:16:55 +0000

Sheep skin seat covers are great to not only protect your seats but also to add warmth and even coolness. They come in a wide assortment of quality, shape and of course, size.

Many of the sheep skin seat covers are going to come full length while others are only going to cover the seat and the back rest. It’s all according to how much money you want to spend and whether you want natural colored or dyed.

Care of your sheepskin seat covers is also not difficult but should be done with care. If you have spent quite a bit of money on your sheepskin covers you should probably take them to a professional cleaner as they can extend the life of the cover. Many of today’s sheepskin covers are also machine washable but shouldn’t really be put in the dryer. You may want to take a brush to your covers to keep the nap on your sheepskin nice and fresh. Just don’t brush them too hard or rough as this can actually pull the fibers out of the skin of the cover.

Also you may want to have your sheepskin covers dyed to match the colors of your vehicle. You can either purchase them in the color you want or take them to a professional leather dyer. This will give you the best opportunity for an exact match to your cars interior.

You can also find sheepskin accessories for your vehicle as well, such as sheepskin steering wheel covers which of course are very comfortable to drive with, especially in the winter. Look to those sheepskin accessories that compliment your vehicle’s color schemes or match it by having it professionally dyed.

You can also shop for your sheepskin seat covers online which just may offer you the best chance on price as well as quality. Remember you get what you pay for and sheep skin seat covers are no different. Leather quality does depend on price, and you do not want a strange smell coming from your seat covers should they retain any moisture. Also make sure there is a warranty or a guarantee if you are purchasing online. You’ll want to send them back if they are not the quality or the color you want.

You will need to know the type of seat that is installed in your vehicle such as a bench seat, captains chair, high backed bucket seat, or perhaps those with a head rest. You may also look into the make and model or your vehicle to find out what type of seat cover you need. Many are custom made for each individual vehicle so you don’t have to worry about whether it will fit or not.

Look for sheep skin seat covers to protect your vehicle seats and also offer you a bit of natural comfort while driving. Find out more tips about sheep skin seat covers at http://seatcovers.referenceguidetips.com

Fun Car Seat Covers Can Spice Up Your Ride

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:17:07 +0000

Installing car seat covers is a great way to spruce up the interior of your car without spending a lot. It’s amazing how old, faded and stained upholstery can be made to look new again in just an hour or two. Many can be washed which is a good benefit if you have dogs and kids. They don’t have to be bland and basic either because many manufacturers offer fun car seat covers.

You can find these covers for just about any make or model of vehicle and the fabric options are just about endless. They come in a wide variety of fabrics and colors. The most common fabrics are cotton, leather, sheepskin and polyester. The fun part comes in when you see all the interesting designs available like camo, animal print, Hello Kitty, Tinker Bell and even logos of your favorite NFL team.

Many people buy these covers for new vehicles as well. If they have dogs or kids they have protection from stains and tears for the expensive to replace original factory seats. Sports fans love them too because they can show their allegiance to their favorite teams. Hunters like the camo covers for their trucks and SUVs.

The two main types of covers are universal and custom. The universal variety are basically one size fits all so they might fit good or not so good depending on your expectations. Custom covers come in different sizes made to fit specific cars and trucks so you know they will fit perfectly. The great thing about the custom covers is that they are designed to fit just about every model of car, van or truck.

A very popular material used in car seat covers is sheepskin. Sheepskin is a good all weather fabric because it’s cool in summer and warm in winter. They also feel good against your back and are great for long trips. Sheepskin is also washable.

In today’s economy many people are keeping their older model vehicles longer and putting a few bucks into them to make them look better as well as run better. Car seat covers are definitely the easiest, quickest and cheapest way to re-do the interior. And with all the options available with fun designs, fabrics and colors you will discover what fun car seat covers are all about.

To find a great selection of car seat covers, visit FunCarSeatCovers.com where you will find customer reviews and comments too.

Choosing Booster Seats for Your Growing Baby

admin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:00:11 +0000

The first thing you need to consider when selecting child safety seats is the need to pick a seat that best fits your baby according to her age and height/weight. Once your baby outgrows her rear-facing safety seat (for infants under the age of 1 or the weight of 20 lbs) and her front-facing safety seat (for children ages 1-4 and weighing 20-40 lbs), there’s no time to wait – it’s time to buy her a booster seat. Booster seats are seats that allow your child more freedom of movement while providing protection that is midway between the absolute restraint offered by the infant seat, and the more breathable restraint offered by the adult seatbelt.

Booster seats are considered the middle ground between infant car seats and “grown-up” seatbelts. Boosters are basically for “big kids.” But did you know, there’s even another group of children who are too large for booster seats and too small for adult seatbelts – these children are called “tweens.” They’re usually from age 8-12, and one of their most remarkable habits is not wearing any sort of safety restraint – and riding in the passenger side of the car, yet!

The term “tweens” was coined by marketers, but the dangerous habit of riding without a booster seat was discovered by the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety (ACTS), a group of child safety advocates. After filing a report on this matter, ACTS proceeded to launch an interactive website at http://www.tweensafety.org and distributed a “tip sheet” for parents of tweens, calling on them to be good adult role models when it comes to traffic safety and accident prevention.

For the most part, tweens may be grown up enough to benefit from adult seatbelts – they just don’t want to. Well, at that age they must be sick of infant and child restraints by now, shouldn’t they? Tweens want their own space, and parents would do well to respect that if they wish for their children to appreciate the importance of safety on the road. The best thing that parents of stubborn tweens could do is not to nag, but to periodically remind the child about the value of wearing car belts. But above all else, they must be responsible and to buckle up habitually. Soon enough, their tweens will learn how to follow their example.

Until your child reaches the delicate “tween” ages, it would be good to invest in good booster seats – ones that are comfortable, stylish, and perfectly suited to the sizes of both your child and your car.

Infant-carseat.com provides you with information on baby car seats, booster seats, infant car seat cover, car seat reviews and car seat safety ratings. Come take a look at http://www.infant-carseat.com/

Newborn Baby Checklist – A Complete List of Newborn Needs For the New Mom

admin — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:34:08 +0000

The long awaited day is almost here! Soon you will hold a precious baby in your arms, and you want everything to be perfect!

Bringing home a newborn baby, especially when it is your first, can be daunting. Such big changes and unknowns can cause a new mom stress. “De-stressify” your preparation with this newborn baby checklist. It will help give you the confidence to know you are prepared!

The following newborn baby checklist can be used as a guideline in the quest to be prepared for your new arrival. While no checklist will have you prepared for EVERYTHING (like finding out your mother-in-law will be coming to “help” for a few weeks), this one ought to come close!

Clothing – Newborn babies grow into the next size very quickly! Don’t go crazy purchasing the tiny newborn clothing items, or you may find that your baby has outgrown them before he/she has even had a chance to try them on! By the time your baby is about 8-9 pounds, you will need the 3 month old clothing (these will last until your baby is about 12 pounds). Some larger babies even skip the newborn size altogether!

The quantities listed here are based on the assumption that you will be washing your laundry at least 2 times per week.

5-10 newborn sized outfits
2 sweaters
5-7 sleepwear
2-4 wearable blankets or sleep sacks
4-6 onsies
dress clothes
2 pairs of mittens (for preventing scratches)
hats – one for warmth and one for shade
snowsuit – do NOT use when your baby is in his/her car seat
6-10 pairs of socks (more is better because they are so little that they get lost or “eaten” by the washing machine)
accessories – such as shoes, hair decor, jewelry
mild laundry detergent

Bathing and Grooming – When my first baby was born, we had very little in the way of baby supplies – and nothing for bathing. Do you know what we discovered? We didn’t really need much. He got perfectly clean when I bathed him in the bathroom sink and washed his hair with the kitchen sink hose.

So why did I include most of the following items in this newborn baby checklist? Convenience. There is a LOT to be said for convenience when you have a newborn baby in the house!

baby tub or baby bathing sponge
4 baby washcloths
2 hooded towels
baby lotion
baby brush
infant nail clippers
baby shampoo/body wash
bath thermometer

Nursery Items – A beautifully decked-out nursery is a fun way to prepare for your new baby. Giving the baby’s room personality and then putting away the items he/she will be using makes it start feeling like he will REALLY be arriving soon! Consider:

dresser
baby size hangers
rocking chair
cd player with soothing cds
night light
nursery decor – wall hangings, window coverings, bed skirt

Diapering – “Changing a diaper is a lot like getting a present from your grandmother – you’re not sure what you’ve got but you’re pretty sure you’re not going to like it.” (Foxworthy) No baby checklist would be complete without “covering” this.

wet wipes – either commercial or home-made
changing table with a water-proof pad
3 washable changing pad covers
hand sanitizer
diaper rash remedy
wipe warmer
diaper disposal or diaper pail with liners
basket or diaper holder for keeping diapers orderly
If using disposable diapers:
10-12 disposable diapers per day
OR

If using cloth diapers:
24-36 cloth diapers
8-10 diaper covers
inserts and liners
diaper pins if the chosen system calls for them
diaper sprayer

Feeding – After you have decided whether you will be breastfeeding or bottle feeding, you will want to consider which items you will need to assist you in growing a healthy baby.

3-5 nursing bras
nursing pads – washable or disposable
breast pump
nipple cream
breast milk storage containers
breast feeing pillow
nursing cover
10 burp rags

bottles (BPA free) – start with just a few until you know what your baby will prefer
nipples (clear silicone)
formula – don’t stock up until you know it will “agree” with your baby
10 burp rags
bottle brush
bottle warmer
drying rack
sterilization bags

Sleeping – Newborn babies spend about 18 out of every 24 hours sleeping. At least some of that time you will want to put him/her down to tend to your own needs. Your baby’s safety during that time is paramount. Providing a safe, comfortable, familiar place to sleep will help your baby establish good sleeping habits which will in turn facilitate YOUR sleep. You will need:

sleeping place – crib with mattress, portable crib, bassinet, Moses basket, or co-sleeper
2 mattress pads
3 fitted sheets
6-8 receiving blankets
baby monitor
a small fan for air circulation and white noise

Traveling – Whether it is across town or across the country – you will want to show off your baby (or at least re-stock on diapers). Traveling with a newborn is more complicated than grabbing your keys and walking out the door, but you will be prepared for any trip if you have:

car seat
diaper bag
replacement car seat cover
stroller
baby sling or carrier
blankets of varying thicknesses
car seat travel bag for air travel
portable crib

Health – No one likes to think about their baby becoming ill, but sooner or later it is bound to happen. Be prepared by having the following items on hand:

nasal aspirator/bulb syringe
petroleum jelly
digital thermometer
rubbing alcohol & q-tips (for umbilical cord care)
infant acetaminophen – use with newborns only under advisement of your pediatrician
saline nasal spray
a great pediatrician
Don’t forget to add your baby to your health insurance policy!

Safety – Your newborn won’t be mobile for a few months, but you will want to have safety items in place well before that occurs.

safety gates
corner/edge bumpers
safety locks
outlet covers

Development and Entertainment – Most of your newborn baby’s early development will come from the cuddling, singing, talking, and interaction provided by the ones who love him/her the most. A few items that will stimulate and entertain him/her while you are occupied will be beneficial to you both.

baby mobile or a plastic mirror for the crib
a few toys of differing textures
baby swing and/or baby bouncer
baby book for recording all of the milestones

A common “rookie mom” mistake is caring for her baby to the exclusion of caring for herself. Don’t forget to make “mommy care” a priority, too. Add your favorite bubble bath to your newborn baby checklist – and then use it!

Laurie Grismore is the busy mom to 8 great kids ranging in age from 2 to 15. She is the owner of http://www.My-Newborn-Baby-Care.com a site devoted to educating and encouraging parents in caring for their newborn babies. Check out http://www.my-newborn-baby-care.com/newborn-baby-checklist.html to find a printable checklists along with great tips and practical advice for making the first weeks with your newborn baby go smoothly.
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