Branding Your Baby

Finding Time As A Couple Now Baby Is Here

Are They REALLY Looking After Your Baby?

In a previous post, I mentioned that I have daughters who work in two different nurseries and I hear some worrying stories. It would seem that when it comes to looking after your baby or little one, it is all about money not a love for children.

Okay, so that is a bit of a general statement, but certainly the nurseries I have contacts in (not just where my daughters work) come back with similar tales. Here are just a few.

"Food" For Baby and Children: In one particular nursery, they grab various items from the freezer and throw it all together on one tray and "cook" it in the oven. It makes no difference as to differing times that such items should be cooked for. They all go in for the same period of time and then served up for the children to eat. There is little or no consideration for the healthy eating requirements of children.

Poor Motivation For the Key Workers: These are the members of staff who have direct responsibility for your baby or child. Generally speaking, these are the members of staff who do really care about babies and children but are controlled by managers under quite a tight regime. The managers find themselves able to pay the lowest rate possible to their staff (and sometimes below the legal requirement). It is common that new members of staff join for the opportunity to work with the children and have their childcare studies funded, but they often miss the clause in the contract that says that they will indeed be funded at no cost to the staff member as long as they remain with the nursery during studies and for a specified amount of time beyond. The result is that these members of staff can be treated abysmally as such members of staff simply cannot afford to pay back the costs of the course if they leave the nursery early. They are often put upon to work extra hours and receive extra duties for no reward. I personally know some such members who live in fear of losing their job and having to pay back the mentioned amounts.

The Number Of Staff Per Child: There is a law that covers this and it is a law that is broken in at least two nurseries I know about.

There are various other incidents I could report here, but to label all nurseries as the same would not be fair - or would it. What do you know about the inner workings of the nurseries near you? Do they take good care of your baby or child? Are you sure? Or do they do just what they have to and treat their staff as virtual slaves? Just a thought that you might like to investigate for yourself.

Do I go back to work and place my precious baby in the care of someone else?

There comes a time in many parents lives when they have to make a very important decision: "Do I go back to work and place my precious baby in the care of someone else?" It can be a tough call - or is it?

A friend of mine is currently going through this exact crisis question and this was what I said to her: "Is it essential to the financial needs of your little family for you to return to work?" If the answer to such a question is a "yes", then there is another question to be asked: "Could you change your situation at home in any way so that you do not need the extra financial income?" It may be true that a "yes" to this question would mean living within a new financial circumstance, but could it be done?

I have two daughters who work in nurseries caring for babies and toddlers on behalf of their mothers. My daughters tell me how sad they feel in that they are the ones who often witness the "firsts" of baby and childhood. It sometimes gets to the point where the nursery workers are called "mummy" by the children and the children are reluctant to go home. Careful consideration needs to be given to the question of whether or not money is more important than such things. Maybe it is. Maybe we live in a society where there no other option is provided for some mothers and I understand that. It is sometimes a sad fact of life, but perhaps even more sad is the ever weakening structure of traditional family life and the house not be filled with laughter and happiness resulting from experiencing those early special baby and childhood moments. Then as the childhood years continue to pass, will your young son or daughter be able to come to an inviting home with parents waiting to greet them and listen to them tell about their day? Or will they come home to a cold and empty house?

It is a tough call indeed. I know what it is like, I have been there and between us made our decision. It has not been about the woman of the house staying at home, it has been about that kingpin of the home who is so vitally important in many ways - the mother - being there for her children every single day. It has meant a lower income and a "lesser" house, but we definitely have a home and a welcome waiting.

Do "Babies R Us" Sell Babies?

Well, if you do a direct comparison to "Toys R Us" who as their name suggests, sell toys, isn't it logical that Babies R Us" sell babies?

Okay, so I`m kidding with you here. "Babies R Us" are all about products for your baby. Everything you could need under one roof. This is beginning to sound like and advert - it isn't. It is more about being informed if you have the opportunity to visit.

Before you visit you might like to make use of a joint arrangement with the online store - Amazon. What they have arranged is for expecting parents to build an online list or registry with Amazon that is associated with any of the Babies R Us stores throughout the country. This means that no matter where friends and relatives live, they can work with the list the expectant parents have put together and get the gift delivered. It couldn't be easier.

If you only want "the best" for baby, then you could make use of the list that Babies R Us have collated of their top sales. This generally includes educational baby toys and equipment, baby books, books for new mothers, diaper/nappy accessories, baby bouncers, play gyms, baby call nursery monitors, a changing pad, monitors with dual receivers, an infant car seat base, baby wraps, toddler rockers, baby swings, nursery care kits, feeding bottle set, and more.

If you visit "Babies R Us" online store you will be able find out about different brands of baby products. The categories provided include: gear, activity, toys, nursery, health and safety, specialty stores, feeding, bath and potty, and clothing and layette.

In a previous entry of this blog, I talked about gifts for baby and this is where "Babies R Us" can really help. They provide baby gift ideas for you to consider. A gift set is always welcome. You can take advantage of the prepacked sets that generally come as a collection of useful items in a basket. Failing that, there is always the "Babies R Us" gift certificate. Moving with the technological times, they even provide the opportunity to send a "new baby" or "pregnancy" e-card, but if that is all you do, I personally think that is cheating, but you do have the option of making it a gift certificate.

Finally, consider the "Babies R Us" resource center which is a page on their website that provides guides, checklists, articles and adviced to benefit both parents and baby. I hope you have found this information useful.

What Goes Into A Baby Gift Basket?

Whether you are planning to host that starter party for babies we know as a "baby shower" or you are going to someone else's, what is it that you should put into the baby gift basket? Putting together a baby gift basket is another way of experessing your personal affection for the baby and if going to someone else's, congratulating everyone involved on the happy occasion.

The theme of a baby gift basket is of course babies and their needs, so give some thought to items such as baby shampoo, baby powder, baby towels, baby wipes, bubble bath, and brush sets. Personally though I like to go beyond the practical and think of the baby and what they could use for fun! How about some toy to use in the bath or maybe something just to grab and screw up such as a cloth clown or similar? If you have not bought baby toys before, seek advice in ensuring the items you have in mind are suitable for the age group. You could also consider buying various baby food products, but again think ahead. Is the mother feeding the baby herself at this stage. How long will the food products last? Will they be out of date before they can acutally be eaten by the baby?

Going back to the practical theme though, consider baby clothes too, but bear in mind the taste of the parents. Is it something they would actually use or something that is personal to your taste in baby clothes? one more thing - make sure the colour suits is appropriately male or female. When shopping for presents, always look not just for presentation but for value - value for money yes, but also value to the people receiving the baby gift.

Don't forget the parents! Maybe when you are going to that baby shower party, you could add a little something extra for the mum and dad to celebrate the birth of their new baby girl or boy.

It isn't just a case of going to your local store and buying the goods. Wrapping and presenting is all important too. There is definitely a place for bows and ruffles, but consider other methods too. If you are into scrapbooking perhaps you could do a special page for them, if not how about thinking up ideas based on other crafts such as decoupage, origami, papier mache or even going further with ideas like sculpture, producing a small painting, or knitting something?

There are times when the baby gift basket is given at some alternative event such as a christening. At times like this, it might be more appropriate to give something religious or symbolic. Small bibles, silverware or jewellery that is connected with celebration would be quite suitable.

Whatever you decide to give, if you do it with care, thought, consideration and above all love, it will be well received.

Enjoy the celebration.

Does Your Baby Cry?

How does it make you feel when your baby cries? If you are not used to it, it can be pretty upsetting, but here are a few guidelines to help you focus on just why he or she might be crying.

Generally, babies don't talk - at least not as we know it! The only way they have that can adequately express they need or want something, is to cry. Your baby can suddenly burst into tears simply because baby wants attention. It makes no difference where in the world you come from, this is a universal language of crying = want/need. During those early months crying is THE communication tool.

There are those who feel that a baby may cry more during the day as a reflection of the mood or atmosphere created by the adults that are around them. Thinking about this logically, it has to have some effect on the baby. Having said that though, there are also those who believe that a baby is able to detach themselves from the world around them to some degree in order to be able to rest when they need to. We live in an age of increasing noise pollution, but babies still seem to be

able to sleep through it - once they reach that point. As time passes however - and this period of time may only be weeks - then babies sleep patterns can be interrupted just like those of the rest of us. This is a time when they become sensitive to a variety of external influences and disturbances. This is the time when crying becomes a major reaction.

Unfortunately there is no real pocket-dictionary for the interpretation of baby crying and parents can find themselves painfully trying to work out just what it is that their baby is trying to communicate. Let's take a look at some possibilities:

Maybe your baby is hungry. This is a pretty common reason for those tears, particularly in the early months. With some babies you can almost set your watch by their demands! They may even produce another audible sound - their stomach rumbling. It has been said that you can almost hear a persistent, rhythmical yet demanding pattern to the crying when they are hungry.

One of the problems with having babies is that they can't operate a remote for a television or computer games console! They get bored. After all, if you had limited mobility that prevented you from adequate movement and only able to pretty much stare at a fixed point, wouldn't you get bored? Babies not just want, but need stimulation - it forms part of their early years education. The result of a lack in this area can often result in a baby crying. So what do you do? You play and have fun with your baby. These opportunities also strengthen the bonds between baby and parents.

It should be obvious that if a baby is in pain (or uncomfortable), a crying baby will quite likely be the result. Babies are of course fragile in all sorts of ways. They are vulnerable and need protecting and watching over quite closely. A crying baby suffering pain will produce a more demanding cry - possibly screaming depending on the nature of the problem, but fright can produce similar effects. You will know when the baby is crying for such reasons. There is no mistaking it as it reaches into your soul for help.

This has not been an extensive list, but if you are new to such events, hopefully this has given you an introduction to solving the problem. If there was one last tip I would give you, it would be to be very patient with them. You may be all they have to help them begin life's path and the only tool they have to help you understand their problem is to cry. How do I know? I have had six of them and have loved them all.