Top Tips to Ensure Baby’s Safety When Sleeping

Top Tips to Ensure Baby's Safety When Sleeping

Another milestone has been achieved when your little one starts to roll over from side to side. And it's adorable to see just how much your baby can move around the crib once they start learning how to roll over. 

You see, it may be a physical development that your baby was able to figure out doing. But the reality is that it is something that we also need to adjust to. Parents who stay at home and dedicate their time for their kids are admirable because they can constantly have the time and access to keep checking on their little one as they sleep. Once out little tot knows how to roll over from side to side, it won't be a surprise if your little one can get into an accident.

There are many factors that may affect your child's sleep and in order to for them to be safe, we are going to talk about safety measures. What are our roles in keeping our child's safety in sleep? We have so many things to consider so please bear with us until the end.

Where should we put our babies to sleep?

There are so many choices in the market that your baby can sleep in; we just can't seem to buy them all especially if we have a small space at home. We have plenty of choices from cribs to convertible cribs, bouncers or rocking bassinets, travel cots or play mats. There are so many choices that it's difficult to weigh in the pros and cons. So, why don't we?

• Cribs and Convertible Cribs

Well, this is actually the most common idea of parents when we buy our little one a special place where they can sleep. It is wide enough to accommodate your baby from when they were born all the way to when they turn two.

• Pros: Cribs are spacious. You can buy cribs in a set with a diaper changing area, a rocking bassinet and a space where they can simply rest nice and easy. This is also a fixed bed that allows your baby to sleep undisturbed. You can hang crib mobiles on top to keep your child preoccupied as well. Actually, you can just let your child play in the crib as well. Convertible cribs are cribs that can transition to a big kid's bed. It saves money in buying a bed after your baby outgrows the crib.
• Cons: It is pretty pricey. It takes up a huge space. Some cribs have very high railings that once you put your baby to sleep, you have a hard time transferring them down to the crib to sleep. It is heavy and it is not portable. It is meant only to be in a fixed area designated for your child to sleep and play in.
• NOTE: It is relatively safe sleeping for the baby because a designated area for your child to sleep in allows lesser hazards like objects that might fall on your little one.

• Bouncers

They are small chairs that rock your child. It is meant to be a portable entertainment and sleeping center for your child.

• Pros: They can be brought anywhere around with you. You can let your child sleep in it as well while you do your things and still have a constant eye on your little one. We know you can be busy and you don't want to keep running to the nursery just to check on your baby. It also promotes great muscle development for your baby. Once your little one outgrows the bouncer, it can be a nice rocking chair for your toddler.
• Cons: It is only meant for newborns and infants. Once your child outgrows the bouncer, it has to be discarded or stored until your child learns how to sit on a chair in good behavior.
• NOTE: It is a safe sleeping place for newborns because they barely move at all. When they are able to shake their hands and start kicking, it allows the baby to rock the bouncer. However, it is not safe for your newborn to sleep in it or even stay in it for more than 20 minutes. It can cause flat head known as plagiocephaly in babies.

• Rocking Bassinets

Bassinets are way older than we think, they were initially made for newborns to sleep in safely. In fact, it also has a similar counterpart called the Moses basket. It is a comfortable basket-like cot made for the purpose of sleeping safely for baby.

• Pros: Newborns and infants are perfect for bassinets; it is more portable than cribs and much easier to deal with than other sleeping areas. It is comfortable and safe for your baby to sleep in. In fact, it promotes better sleep for newborns and infants.
• Cons: It is only meant for babies who do not know how to roll over. Once your baby learns how to roll over and sit down, the bassinet turns into a hand-me-down and the Moses basket becomes a laundry basket.
• NOTE: With regard to safety, many parents have the concern of the rocking frame and the bassinet or Moses basket to fit in properly. Some frames can topple over, compromising the overall safety of your baby. It is also not recommended for babies who can roll over because when they start rolling over, weight distribution changes which may also make the bassinet or basket to flip and fall.

Sleeping Essentials: Do our babies really need them?

Aside from the list of sleeping areas where our babies can rest in, we have one baby essential that we recommend you to have: swaddle blankets. Swaddle blankets are great for your infants to sleep in. It promotes better sleep and deeper rest allowing your infant to be less grumpy. However, they should only be used as sleeping essentials during the daytime as they may get weary of being swaddled in a tight blanket through the night.

What underlying dangers are there when our child is sleeping?

There are plenty of danger hazards that can endanger your child. If we are not careful, our child might choke from loose blankets, comforters, and other strings nearby; be squashed by heavy objects; be injured by objects that might fall on them; and even, electrical wiring if night lights or baby wipe warmer sockets are not properly positioned well.

How to promote a baby's safe sleeping environment?

For infant’s safety:

• Make sure you cover your infant with a blanket only until the chest with both arms sticking out. This allows your infant to move their hands freely and also significantly reduces SIDS.
• Use only a firm foam. Firm foams don't bend twist and sink. Using water beds, comforters, blankets over blankets and microbead sleeping areas are potentially dangerous. If your child sinks to one side and has their breathing compromised, it is an extreme NO-NO for you to use these. Plus, a firm foam also promotes stronger bone and muscle development.
• Don't use oversized pillows, bumpers, comforters, plushies and toys surrounding your infant. Your baby can't turn or roll yet so no need for these excess things. They are choking hazards for your little one. You only need a fitted sheet over the foam for a more relaxed and safe sleeping space.
• Use snug clothing. Don't let your infant or baby sleep in clothes that can easily come loose and cover their faces. Snug clothing is fine as long as they are warm and comfortable; your child doesn't need excess baggage in having a good night's rest. You can also let them use wearable blankets as well.
• Let your baby sleep on their back. That's how it is actually. If you are afraid that your baby will have a flat head, don't! You can actually turn your baby's head from one side to the other but still letting your little one sleep on their backs.

For baby:

• Bumpers. Once your baby starts to roll over or have more advanced motor skills, they are also less likely to choke since they can already move out of their way to breathe better. You can start using bumpers to prevent them from hitting the crib frames and their surroundings. Make sure that the bumpers can be tied for security.
• Firm Pillows. Although your baby can already move, you can only let your child use a firm or a thin soft pillow. Soft pillows are still choking hazards.
• Thin comforters. Once your baby grows a bit older, you can add thinner comforters. Thick comforters are still choking hazards too.
• No to oversized heavy hanging objects. Don't use crib mobiles that are heavy and have too many things on them. We recommend that you use crib mobiles with soft plushies on them and not plastic toys.

Co-sleeping: Is it a Go-Go or a No-Go?

Experts say that having a separate room for your baby is actually not a conducive environment for you and your baby. Safe sleep happens better with co-sleeping but it is recommended by most experts to co-sleep when your baby is already 6 months and more—before that, they recommend safer sleeping in a bassinet in your room. Co-sleeping has an advantage; it allows you and your baby to have skin-to-skin contact and better sleeping is induced in co-sleeping. BUT! There are big but's in co-sleeping like:

• Deep sleeper. If you are such a deep sleeper that you can sleep through an earthquake, don't let your baby sleep beside you. You are less aware of your environment that you might compromise your baby's breathing.
• The rolling pin sleeper. If you are the type of sleeper that keeps moving from left and right, then co-sleeping is not for you. You might end up rolling over your baby like a cookie dough.
• Small bed. A small bed that you and your hubby share is not enough space to add a baby. If you have a bigger bed to sleep in, there is more space for you, your hubby and your baby to move in.
• Water bed, Soft bed, and Oversized Pillows. If you love all these things, don't ever let your baby sleep beside you. These are all choking hazards that can definitely pose a great danger to your baby's safe sleeping.

RECOMMENDATION: Here at ParentsNeed, we care so much about you and your baby's welfare. Your baby's safe sleeping is our priority so we recommend that you get a co-sleeper. It allows you and your hubby to have good night's rest without running to the nursery. It also provides a better view and promotes intimate sleeping with your baby. Breastfeeding is also not a problem and putting your baby right beside you like a bedside table allows you to reach and check in on your little one.

If you do not have a co-sleeper or lack the space for one, you can get a firm foam and put it between you and your husband. A firm foam can define a space for your baby to sleep in and it allows you to have easier night time feedings with your baby. And both you and your little on can easily drift back off to sleep.​

SIDS: A Parent’s Nightmare

SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is linked to so many things and one of the culprits is co-sleeping with your newborn. It is also linked to many other factors like improper sleeping positions that can compromise your baby's breathing. Another factor that causes SIDS is overheating. It is less known to many that your baby can overheat; letting them wear breathable cotton clothing and gentle blankets allow comfortable sleeping. Wrapping them up in too many blankets can also cause overheating. Babies naturally have higher basal body temperature and making them overheat with layers after layers of clothing and blankets increases the risk of SIDS.

Baby Safe Sleeping Position: Is there a safe position for baby to sleep on?

SIDS has been said to be a direct result of improper sleeping positions for your baby. Babies should be sleeping on their backs on their first year. It allows better breathing and a more comfortable position for your baby to rest easily. It is the best sleeping position for the baby after feeding. Even if your kids prefer to sleep on the side, as long as they have mastered the art of rolling over, then you are fine. Just make sure that they have a baby safe sleep environment.

SIDS is a very unfortunate event. It is not an illness that other babies can catch. It is a mere unfortunate accident that leads to the death of a healthy baby. Many families have suffered due to SIDS and one of the best ways of preventing it is being careful in your baby's first four months. Once you are through with this using the tips we have given, then you can get in bed with your little one with lesser risks until your child is ready for their big kid's bed.​

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Top 5 Best Baby Bottle Drying Racks | 2017 Reviews

There are baby essentials that you will always need and baby bottles are one of them. However, in keeping baby bottles constantly clean and sterile for your baby, you need to find a separate place where you can dry out a newly washed set of baby bottles. You need to dry them off on baby bottle racks after you sterilize the bottles in order to prevent germs from breeding in tiny puddles inside your baby bottles.

Drying racks for baby bottles can do a better job at keeping your baby bottles clean. Getting a basket and putting your clean baby bottles nicely dried off isn't much of an assurance. Baskets are flat and bottles can easily tip over. Tiny puddles can also form and your bottles won't quickly dry off by the time your baby needs to feed. The good thing about these baby bottle drying racks is that they keep the bottles away from all the rest of our dishes. They keep our things separate and organized and easy to access.

Quick Navigation

Quick Comparison Table

Boon Grass Countertop Drying Rack

Playtex SmartSpace Drying Rack

Munchkin High Capacity Drying Rack

The First Years Spin Stack Drying Rack

Philips AVENT Drying Rack

Baby bottle dryer racks are very handy because not only do you keep it separately from the rest of your dishes, but you can keep all of your baby's feeding needs organized and properly arranged. We know ho w frustrating it can get when we lose a bottle cap, the anti-leak ring or rubber nipple that comes paired with your baby bottle. It makes you really mad whenever you lose some parts and it even gets worse when you find out that those rubber nipples are actually unique and hard to find. That's why we rounded up the Top 5 Best Baby Bottle Drying Racks that we think should be on your list of baby must-haves.

Quick Comparison Table

Boon Grass Countertop Drying Rack	Playtex SmartSpace Drying Rack	Munchkin High Capacity Drying Rack	The First Years Spin Stack Drying Rack	Philips AVENT Drying Rack
$$$	$$$	$$$	$$$	$$$
9.4 x 9.4 x 2.6"	8.1 x 7.3 x 7.7"	12 x 12 x 13"	11.5 x 11.4 x 3.1"	13.1 x 8.2 x 2.8"
1.4 pounds	1.2 pounds	1 Pound	1.4 pounds	3.5 ounces
One flat tray	One layar (two separate racks)	Two layers	Two layers	One layer

Boon Grass Countertop Drying Rack

This is a more natural take on baby drying racks, literally. You really get to use a rack that looks like lush green grasslands. It's a really unique point of view because the usual baby bottle dry racks that we see around have spires to hold on to your bottles and prevent them from tipping over. This grass baby bottle drying rack is quite a design aspect that really does the job of drying out your bottles. It is also a compact little thing to keep around your home.

The square flat pad has soft and flexible grasslike blades that act as a grip for your baby bottle items. You may think the grasses are pretty short to hold on to your big baby bottles. Actually, we thought of that too but to our surprise here in ParentsNeed HQ, the plastic blades act as grips and it secures the opening s of the bottles really well. So they don't actually easily tip over as we thought it would. It also surprised us when we tried to stuff the entire baby bottle grass drying rack with as many bottles and pump parts in it and it was able to hold two entire pumps and 13 tall baby bottles and they didn't fall off or tip over. It can even hold up to 16 bottles.

We really love the fact that you can just flip the bottles and its parts on the lawn drying rack and it dries off quickly. We had problems with other bottle drying racks that use spires. When we're in a rush and grab a tall bottle from the rack, the entire thing falls on its side and now, we have to think of fixing another mess! But not with the Boon Drying Rack. We also love it because it has other accessories to make the rack even better at handling smaller bottle parts like anti-leak rings. We like the twig tree the most, it's an extra hand for the bottle rack. It also has a cute butterfly, flower stem, and bud.

It is also very portable that you can already bring it anywhere as it is. Furthermore, we love that it is easy to clean. The bottom tray easily comes off and you can simply wash it off with soap and water. But don't put it in the dishwasher and the microwave to dry off since it's not made of silicone. Other than that, there's absolutely no reason to hate this item for. That's why the Boon Bottle Drying Rack is our definite Top Pick for the best bottle drying rack.

Details of the Boon Grass Countertop Drying Rack
Dimensions	9.4 x 9.4 x 2.6 inches
Weight	1.4 pounds
Colors	Green Grass, White Grass
Layers	One flat tray
Material Free	BPA, Latex, PVC, Phthalate, Nitrosamine
Added Features	Twig, Branch, Fly or Bud for extra storage (sold separately)

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Playtex SmartSpace Drying Rack

Baby Bottle Drying racks don't need to be huge in order to store or hold a lot of your baby's bottles. That's actually the main reason why we are so madly in love with the Playtex Smartspace Drying Rack. Unlike using plates to dry off those baby bottles, you might as well get yourself this bottle drying rack because it's practically the size of a big plate. One thing we love about this is that it separates into two different racks.

We, at ParentsNeed HQ, tried using one rack in the kitchen and one rack in the nursery. It's a really good bottle drying rack because it cleans real easy too. You just need to put it in the dishwasher and you're off to do the rest of your chores. It's also low maintenance because it doesn't come with many detachable items that need to be separately cleaned.

It has plenty of adjustable spires that hold on to your baby bottles, no matter how tall or short and thin or wide those bottles are. Your rings, nipples and bottle caps can easily be placed on the rack without you ever having to worry about losing any of them. It has separate compartments where you can simply hang on the rings, put on the bottles and sling on the nipples. It also has a holder for other stuff that you need to store.

Another thing we love about this baby dryer rack is the microfiber pad underneath the racks. The pad is highly absorbent and easily washes too. You can also wash it in the washing machine and put it in the dryer so that it will easily be cleaned and put back in place. Since the racks are pretty compact, you can also replace the pad with any rectangular plate if you think that washing the pad just takes too much effort.

For the easy storage, easy wash and double storage, we choose this as our second top Pick for the Best Baby Bottler Dryer Racks.

Details of the Playtex SmartSpace Drying Rack
Dimensions	8.1 x 7.3 x 7.7 inches
Weight	1.2 pounds
Colors	White
Layers	One (two separate racks)
Material Free	BPA
Added Features	Compact Rack

Check Price On Amazon

Munchkin High Capacity Drying Rack

It's a delight to finally have an Amazon bottle drying rack that really does more than just dry those baby bottles of your little tot. We've already gone through two awesome bottle dryer racks but you will also surely like a bottle drying rack Munchkin made. This two-layered water bottle drying rack is a real delight, primarily because of the storage. It can hold about 16 bottles and more if you have smaller bottles to store. It comes in real handy because at least you wouldn't have to keep washing plates or drying mats just for your baby bottles to drip and dry up.

You will also love the fact that once you sterilize your baby bottles, it won't mix with the rest of your dishes. It can be stored, dried and kept sterilized. This plastic drying rack for baby bottles are highly regarded because of the space conservation it can give you and your kitchen. It doesn't take up a lot of kitchen space because of the two layers of storage, where you can put your baby bottles.

You will love that this is an easy clean drying rack, where you just need to put it in the dishwasher and voila! You're done and you can start re-using it again. It also comes with a pull-out water catcher. You can either let it stay put or flip it if you decide that it's best for the water to drip to the sink. The reversible drip tray can become a drain line to the sink if you position this baby drying rack by the sink.

This rack is also uniquely customizable. The spires or pegs also collapse to give way to unused pegs from being damaged. It also allows you to drip bigger and wider bottles. One thing we really love about this is the nipple holder. The baby bottle nipples can be inserted on creases that are specially shaped to hold the nipples. One of the reasons why it's a helpful feature is that any nipple size can be inserted. That's why we put it in spot number three!

Details of the Munchkin High Capacity Drying Rack
Dimensions	12 x 12 x 13 inches
Weight	1 Pound
Colors	White
Layers	Two
Material Free	BPA, Phthalate
Added Features	Collapsible Pegs, Spinning Top Layer

Check Price On Amazon

The First Years Spin Stack Drying Rack

We have totally witnessed how great The First Years baby brand is and we definitely attest to how well the First Years Spin Stack Drying Rack does at keeping bottles stored. We love this thing because it has two layers of storage. Well, isn't that a better take on drying your baby bottles? It's way better than a long plate taking up so much space on your kitchen counter.

What we really do love about this is the fact that this First Years Drying Rack spins. We don't mean it as a plaything but just as an item that we can simply turn instead of reaching for the bottles hanging at the other side of the rack. Besides, the turny thing turns out to be pretty helpful. If you do spin it a little fast, the water droplets drop off quicker. The top layer can also be adjusted higher, or lower depending on the bottles that are underneath.

The storage is mostly the reason why love this best rated baby bottle drying rack. It can hold up to 16 bottles all at once. We mean, you don't really use that much bottles in a day, right? But nonetheless, the storage can hold up to that many. And besides, you can easily keep it well and organized so you won't end up switching unfit bottle caps and nipples with a different bottle.

You can easily leave it right beside the sink because it has a built-in water catcher that easily directs all the liquid to one side of the dryer rack. It's simply easy to lead all the water out too. It also has a small water catcher but unfortunately, it can also be a problem because if it isn't beside the sink, you need to get a pad to catch the excess water. The water catcher or tiny drip tray that comes with the bottle drying is pretty small so it needs frequent draining. You'd have the need to get a plate as a water catcher or else, you'll end up being frustrated with a puddle of water spilling on your counter.

And because of the drip tray problem, we are putting the First Years Drying Rack in spot number 4.

Details of the The First Years Spin Stack Drying Rack
Dimensions	11.5 x 11.4 x 3.1 inches
Weight	1.4 pounds
Colors	White
Layers	Two
Material Free	BPA
Added Features	Spinning top layer

Check Price On Amazon

Philips AVENT Drying Rack

There is never anything wrong when you go simple. That's the key in the Philips Avent Drying Rack. It really keeps the bottle clean, organized and well kept away from the rest of our stuff. That's one of the worries that we have as parents, keeping all of our baby stuff clean and sterilized. One of the things we really love about the Avent baby bottle drying rack is that it is really small and compact. The small rack can handle up to 8 bottles. That's more than enough for you since your baby won't really be able to use all of the eight bottles in a day.

You will also love the cute peg trees. They are just adorable looking. They look like corals straight off the ocean. They are also detachable and adjustable if you happen to upgrade to bigger bottles for your baby. You can also just remove them totally if you just want to use the drying rack. You can just remove some of them if you also need to drip off your breast pumps, as well as some of your baby bottles. Isn't that nice and handy?

It is also hassle-free when it comes to cleaning. It's totally dishwasher safe! You can just simply wash and rinse this drying rack for baby bottles with mild soap and water. You can also easily remove the drip tray and drain of the water and quickly place it back on.

The simplicity of this drying rack for baby bottles is really admirable but it does come with a slight issue. It is really light. The light weight of the rack can tip it over especially if it is full of baby bottles. It also has a problem when it comes to additional storage because the size of it won't be able to hold many bottles especially if you have plenty of bottles to dry off. But still, it's small, it's easy to bring with you if you need to travel because all the spires are detachable. And for those given reasons, we are putting this in spot number 5!

Details of the Philips AVENT Drying Rack
Dimensions	13.1 x 8.2 x 2.8 inches
Weight	3.5 ounces
Colors	white/purple
Layers	One
Material Free	BPA, Lead
Added Features	Detachable Pegs

Check Price On Amazon

Baby bottle dryer racks are just the perfect place to keep your baby bottles. They keep those needed bottles ready for feeding and pumps ready for immediate use. Your bottles are surely kept safe and clean and organized. Whichever you get for your baby, you will surely be happy with it, no matter what the cost.

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What’s All This About Baby Showers?

What’s All This About Baby Showers?

Seen most often in the USA, the tradition of throwing a baby shower for your best friend, your sister or yourself before baby turns up is something that has been in recent years more widely adopted around the world. The chances are that if you haven’t been to one yourself that you’ve been invited or at least know someone that has been. They are also commonly seen on TV, hilariously portrayed on some shows whereas most baby showers are a little more sedate /don’t involve strippers.

What is a Baby Shower?

A baby shower is basically a hen / stag night for your soon to arrive baby. It’s a last proper get together of special friends and family to toast the Mother, the new arrival to be and to have some fun! There’s no set schedule that dictates how a baby shower should run however they usually involve games (baby related), food (nibbles or something more substantial) and gifts for the baby / Mum. A baby shower is usually arranged for later on in the pregnancy.

Yay or Nay?

Some people love the idea of a baby shower! It’s probably your last proper chance to get together before baby arrives and of course who wouldn’t want to have a baby themed party? There is of course the added benefit of receiving often practical and useful gifts for baby, from cute clothing to nappies / diapers.

There are some people who really don’t like baby showers as they don’t sit right with them. They see the occasion as one put on purely to get baby gifts and dislike this much in the same way others dislike the pressure of a wedding gift list. It really is an “each to their own” thing although here at ParentsNeed we think they can be great fun!

When to Host a Baby Shower

There’s a fine art to organising a baby shower, particularly when it comes to choosing the right date. Most people wait until a pregnancy is well on its way, usually during the third trimester to organise a baby shower but of course you wouldn’t want to leave it too late and have the young Master or Miss arrive before (or during!) their party, would you? You also need to consider who will come and when is the best time to make sure key members of the group can attend. This makes throwing a secret or surprise baby shower a little more difficult!

Surprise?

Some people love surprises, some people hate them. Some people used to like them and then their pregnancy hormones got in the way and now they shudder at the idea of people surprising them. At the end of the day we’d say that given that the guest star of the occasion is the Mum, it might be best that she knows what’s going on. Anyone who is or has been pregnant will remember how feeling and looking “party ready” is something arranged with care, not something that can be pulled together at short notice after your bestie tells you the girls will be over in ten minutes. We’d go with safety in mind and make sure Mum knows what’s what in advance!

Where to Hold a Baby Shower

Some people have baby showers in the back room of a restaurant or pub with food and drinks on tap. Others go for a more intimate setting such as the Mum-to-be’s home or the host’s home. There’s no right or wrong place to host a baby shower, you could even make it a garden affair if the weather is good and you’ve a decent pop-up gazebo or similar.

What we would advise is to consider your budget (someone’s house or garden is free!), the number of people you are planning on inviting and of course the amount of space you will need to do whatever games you have planned (if you do games). Also make sure that wherever you go has easy access to a decent toilet because, well, pregnancy!

A Themed Baby Shower

Yes, traditionally a baby shower is baby themed (for reasons that don’t need to be explained). There’s no reason why you can’t theme the fun / party in the same way that hen nights are often themed though. We’re not saying that a blow up doll and tequila shots should be on the list but what about a pamper party or chocolate party? Get someone in to do skincare and make-up demos (with Mum-to-Be getting a makeover if she wishes) or something similar. This could be great if there has been a load of baby showers recently and you’re looking for something different.

Baby Shower Games

A large part of many baby showers is dedicated to fun games. These aren’t as daunting as they sound (no mini school sports day here!) and can be an absolute hoot!

Baby Bingo

There are some great templates for this on Pinterest and it’s a fun game that can be played sat down (always appreciated when you’re heavily pregnant). Make the cards as funny or as personal to Mum as you like. Make sure there’s a prize for the winner (a little bag of sweets or something will do).

Make a Baby

It sounds like a game from a whole different kind of party doesn’t it? Make a Baby involves all party goers being given a small lump of playdough and racing against a timer to create a cute baby figure. It’s guaranteed to raise a few giggles as not all of us are great with art and the host or Mum gets to choose a winner.

Nappy Races

You have your doll / teddy, you have your nappy. Ready, Set, Go! Who can successfully undress, change and redress their “baby” first (without putting the nappy on back to front or the baby grown inside out?

Find the Pelvic Floor

It’s treasure hunt time! If you can get to the venue in advance (easier if it is a home party) set up a fun treasure hunt with clues. The aim being for individuals or teams to solve riddles or similar, follow the trail and find the elusive pelvic floor / prize.

Decorate a Baby Grow or Vest

Set up a creation station for guests to decorate plain white babygrows and vests using fabric paints or pens. The results will be funny, cute, downright outrageous and hopefully there will be at least one awesome enough to go in the baby memory box (more on this later). How fab would it be if Mum and Dad dressed their new baby in these vests or babygrows at a later date for photos. The hilarity never ends!

Don’t Say Baby!

Give everyone 5 safety pins (diaper pins) to wear at the beginning of the party. If you hear someone say “baby” you call them out and get to take one of their pins. This game runs throughout the shower and whomever has the most pins at the end wins.

Nappy Messages

Open a box of first or second size nappies and give everyone a marker pen. Have everyone write a message on the back of every nappy and then put them away for Mum and Dad to find during those all-so-cute (!) 4am nappy changes. Nothing takes away the frowning caused by a mini nappy explosion in the wee hours than a hilarious nappy message from a best friend. The more silly and funny the messages the better. Mum and Dad will (almost) look forward to bum change times.

These are just a few basic games that may be played during a baby shower. A little internet research and / or a conversation or two with others who have hosted or been to a baby shower will help you decide on the best (most hilarious) yet easiest to put together baby games. Remember though that a baby shower is supposed to be a time of great fun, not an endurance sport and not a time where people share horror stories (unless they are very funny) about birth and beyond.​

Baby Shower Gifts

It is traditional to gift Mum, Dad and Baby gifts during a baby shower. How you arrange this however is up to you.

Some hosts run a sort of informal baby gift list, based on covert research into what the parents have bought already (or not). This doesn’t have to be a store-based gift list, although some opt for this for ease. It could simply be a list of things you know baby will need such as a pack of size two diapers / nappies, two packs of baby wipes, five muslin squares, a babygrow (x however many and split up between guests). Obviously you’d need to know the attendees fairly well or be confident enough to talk to them about gift buying.

Often people bring their own gifts or everyone chips in for a baby hamper / gifts / a large item such as a cot or vouchers for a Mother/Father/Baby store. How gifts are organised depends on how the host depends to handle this. On the other hand, some baby showers are gift free zones, with the aim of the party being purely a fun get-together to celebrate the upcoming birth and have a giggle before a treasured friend of family member disappears for while into the world of dirty nappies and spit ups.​

Keepsakes and Memories

Anyone with children will tell you how incredibly fast those first days, weeks and months go by. Many of you will have memory or baby boxes tucked away safe with a first curl, their baby ID and more. A baby shower is a great opportunity to help start the memory process and if you’re looking for a gift idea, keepsake gifts are always much appreciated (as long as not everyone buys the same photo album).

During a baby shower make sure there are plenty of photographs taken as this is the end of one era in one way and the beginning or another, especially if this is a first baby. That’s not to say that you’ll never see each other again, it simply means that Mum-to-Be will be a Mum (a different creature altogether) or Mum to another child! Besides, what better opportunity for a photo with your nearest and dearest than at a fun-filled baby shower.

A guest book is a must at a baby shower, or something like it. You could cut out baby shapes and provide pens for people to write a fun, cute, cheeky or heartfelt message for the parents to pull out and read later (and of course pop in the baby box!). 

A baby box is something else the baby shower party could provide. Why not have everyone write message directly onto a big keepsake box or decorate it themselves. All these keepsake related efforts will be much appreciated, trust us! A baby shower should be a fabulous milestone-type event, regardless of how low-key it is so make sure you find a way to capture the event and it’s many crazy-fun memories.

A Successful Baby Shower

A baby shower that has gone really well is one where the Mum-to-Be (and at least one or two others) have had to run to the loo because they’ve been laughing so much. It’s supposed be a time where good friends can laugh like hyenas, share stories, and generally have a hoot. We can’t think of a better way to celebrate in advance the birth of a new member of the extended family.

The post What’s All This About Baby Showers? appeared first on ParentsNeed.

How To Choose the Best Stroller – Quick Guide

How To Choose the Best Stroller – Quick Guide

When it comes to buying a stroller there a great number of things to consider. We help you break it down in this ultimate guide to buying a stroller to help you think about and decide what is right for you and your family. From lightweight holiday buggies to travel systems to top grade umbrella strollers, we’ve got you covered.

Future Use

While it’s tempting to buy for the right now, it pays to consider the future. Are you for example planning and hoping to have other children in the near future? The answer to this question might affect whether you invest in a more solid option in the hope that it will last the long haul.

You also need to consider whether you want to have a buggy for a baby, something else for when they are older / sitting up or a combination that will see them through from day one to no longer needing a stroller or buggy of any type.

Budget

This will be one of your most important considerations. When kitting out a baby for their first years there are a number of pieces of equipment that you really do need or should have, some that you could maybe do with and others which are purely fashionable, pretty, cute or the latest “in thing”. How you furnish the nursery and what stroller you buy will depend on how much you have in the bank to dedicate to that particular purchase.

Thankfully choosing the more affordable option these days does not necessarily mean settling for something not as good or suffering poor quality. Shopping around the sales, choosing brands which aren’t considered premium and yet are perfectly good will save you a decent chunk of money. That said you might be in a position to really splash the cash when it comes to your stroller. If the designer label and the iPod docking station for those long walks or jogs is what you are looking for, then thankfully there are plenty of options for you too.

New or Used

Lots of people “um and ah” about buying used pushchairs / strollers, travel systems and the like. There is nothing wrong with buying second hand and it will certainly save you some money which is important if you are on a strict budget. When looking at a second hand stroller consider whether or not linings and reins are in good condition, whether they may be removed and washed and check for overall signs of wear and tear. You might bag yourself an absolute bargain on a great condition stroller that has only be used a few times as it has been parked at the grandparent’s.

The flipside of buying second hand is that of course there may be wear and tear that you can’t see. Something advertised as “used lightly” might mean light to the seller but not necessarily to you. It’s like buying a car; you want to know the mileage before you buy so that you will have a decent idea of where things might be wearing thin, need fixing and whether or not it will last as long as you’d hoped.

Also bear in mind that second hand strollers don’t come with a manufacturer’s warranty or guarantee so if anything goes wrong or you find yourself needing replacement parts this could work out very costly and difficult to arrange (most manufacturers sell some spares such as wheels and so on but not all).

Please note: Experts advise against buying and using a second hand car seat in the interests of safety. There is no way to be absolutely sure that the car seat hasn’t been damaged. Even the smallest of weaknesses may make all the difference in the event of an accident.

Terrain

Believe it or not terrain is something you do need to consider when buying a stroller. Think about where you live and where the majority of the stroller use will occur. Do you live in a fairly urban area with lots of well-maintained paths, pedestrian areas and soft grass parks? If so your wheel choice and perhaps entire stroller outlook will be different to someone who lives in the country, spends the majority of their time in a town with wonky cobble-stones and who enjoys off-road walks and fancies giving jogging with their stroller and buggy keep fit a go.

Think carefully about this choice as thankfully there are a wealth of options and features available these days which cater for all lifestyles and geographical areas.

Accessories

Once upon a time you got a pram, it had a hood and if you were lucky a tray underneath for your shopping. These days the possibilities are endless when it comes to special features and accessories. At the very minimum you would expect your stroller to come with a rain cover and hopefully somewhere to put your shopping or changing bag.

Just a few of the features that you may expect to come across includes:

• Cup holder
• Storage area (for keys, children’s bits and pieces)
• Padded reins
• Toy clips
• Different types of rain covers (some Velcro on, some have poppers, some even have zips)
• A sunshade net or umbrella to protect little ones from the sun
• A tray or section for shopping bags or clips to hang bags from the handle (with weight restrictions and balance in mind)
• A cosy toes or other liner which keeps little ones warm and snug
• Changing bag which matches the stroller

And much, much more!

Generally speaking, the more accessories you add to your stroller the higher price tag. It is worth then considering what you do really want and need and whether some of these accessories may be purchased separately cheaper.​

More than One Child?

When looking at strollers you might be looking for one for more than one child. You might have twins or triplets or you may have a new baby with a sibling still of an age where they need to be in a stroller. This will affect your buying decision.

Consider how children grow and whether you need a buggy for two or whether a stroller with a buggy board would do the trick. This all depends on where and how you use your stroller. How long you’d expect the older child to still use the stroller before changing over to a single one is also something to think about when choosing a stroller. You might not want to spend a huge amount on something that will only be used for as little as six to eight months.

Do also consider whether you want both children side by side, in front or behind and how this will work given your lifestyle and where you walk and shop.​

Storage

Congratulations! You have purchased a mini tank that will see your child through until they are walking. Now think about where in your two-bedroom flat with little to no storage you will keep it when not in use. Folding a stroller up is a great idea for reducing its size however will you want to be constantly folding and unfolding? Some people like to be able to park their stroller up in the hall or elsewhere ready and waiting for when they want to get going.

Have a really good think about how and where you might store your stroller and bear this in mind when you look at different models.

Portability

Thinking again about how you plan on using your stroller, consider how easy it is to move around from place to place when not in use. If for example you have a new car with a small boot you might not want to look at a stroller that is very large, even when folded up.

Also consider how you will cope if you use public transport. On the bus there is usually a space dedicated for wheelchair users that strollers may be parked up in assuming no-one in a wheelchair needs it. You won’t know if this is free however until you get on and of course if someone in a wheelchair comes on a few stops down the road will you be able to quickly take everything off the stroller, find a way to safely put the baby down, fold it up, store it and get yourself sat down?

One hand closing and a small space footprint in cases like these can be a real help.

Style

A stroller isn’t a fashion accessory. Or is it? Obviously the practical decisions have to come first however there’s no reason why a pretty design and fun accessories can’t feature into your decision making. Do consider however how much you’ll love that neon green or loud or busy flower print after a couple of month.

Also, white strollers and accessories, unless they have some magical shield around them or keep-clean coating are going to look grubby fairly quickly, especially if you are going in and out of the car and like walks in the park.

Keeping up with the Jones’

At no point should your stroller buying decision take into account what other people have. Trying to keep up with other people is tiring, expensive and often disappointing. Yes, they may have a swanky pram and yes it does look pretty cool but the interest you are going to pay on credit card after charging such a huge amount will sting all the more when you realise that what works for them doesn’t necessarily work so well for you and your family.

Base your buying decision on your likes and dislikes, your own budget and enjoy a stroller that does everything you need to which makes life a lot easier. You never know, the Jones’ might have stroller-envy when they see how nice and how easy to use a stroller you’ve bought at half the price.

Review and Recommendations

With a ridiculously scary amount of strollers to choose from which one do you choose? If you follow the points in this article closely you should now be forming a list of wants and needs and have an idea of what you do and don’t want in a stroller. Add your budget into the mix and you have now reduced the number of strollers in your search to over a hundred (on the first site you’ve looked at).

Recommendations from friends as well as reviews such as this “top five umbrella strollers guide” review can be great for pointing out features (and downsides) that you perhaps hadn’t thought about, narrowing down the field considerably.

Summary

Buying a stroller is a very personal thing. What suits one home, one family and one lifestyle may not suit another. Stroller buying can also be very exciting; just make sure that you temper your enthusiasm long enough to really consider what you are looking for. Getting caught up in the excitement is a sure-fire way to find yourself with a great looking stroller which blew your budget and actually isn’t as practical as you’d hoped.

If you are looking for a stroller right now our advice is to take a deep breath, sit down with a notepad and a cup of tea and work back through the points in this article. Note down your wants and needs, consider your budget and take on board advice from friends, family, professional reviews and articles and then start looking.

Once you have your perfect stroller make sure you come back and comment below to tell us what it is and what features you like the best.

Happy shopping!

The post How To Choose the Best Stroller – Quick Guide appeared first on ParentsNeed.