http://articles.newbabybasketsdirect.com/rss.xml A blog about newbabybasketsdirect.com daily 365 1901-01-01T00:00+00:00 http://articles.newbabybasketsdirect.com/?a=35688 <p>by Gregg Hall </p><p>Crib Safety<br /><br />When you have a baby there are many things you need. You need clothes, bottles, diapers, wipes, a crib, and many others. This can be overwhelming when you stop to think about everything you need for such a small person. The cost of these items may be a concern to parents. Many places sell second hand baby items, you can even go to garage sales too. Most of these things will still be in good shape and you can find some great deals. <br /><br />Secondhand<br /><br />You can probably find anything you need for your baby except maybe diapers and wipes somewhere they sell secondhand items. One thing we advise would be to not buy your crib second hand. A baby spends a lot of time in his crib. Buying a new crib is a much better choice, they do use them until they are at least one year of age.<br /><br />Safety Standards<br /><br />The safety standards for cribs have changed over the years. If you get an older crib it may not meet today's safety standards. The crib rails for instance need to meet measurement requirements. If the crib rails are too far apart the infant may get his head stuck between the bars. However, if the bars are too close the infant may get his arms or legs stuck between the bars. There should also be enough space between the top of the rail and the top of the crib mattress to minimize the risk of the child climbing over the railing and falling out. <br /><br />Bumpers <br /><br />The purpose of the bumper in the baby crib is to prevent the baby from getting hurt on the crib rails. Bumpers are made of fabric with soft filling to protect your child. If your child rolls over and bumps his head it wont hurt as bad, it also prevents the child from getting his head stuck between the bars. Even though it is designed to protect the child, you need to make sure it is secured to the crib properly to prevent suffocation. If the bumper is too loose the child could become entangled in it and suffocate. <br /><br />Blankets and Pillows<br /><br />These cute bedding sets you can buy usually come with matching pillows and blankets to match the bumper and crib sheet. Although it may look cute, they also pose a risk of suffocation. The child may become entangled in the blanket and may get it wrapped around his head or other body parts and cause an injury or suffocation. With a pillow it may hurt the babies neck, or if the pillow ends up on your babies face it may also cause suffocation. <br /><br />Sleepers or wearable blankets that form to your babies body are suggested to keep your child warm. These two items will keep the child warm without the risk of suffocation. You may need to check on your child throughout the night to make sure he is not getting too warm. <br /><br /><br />Just remember that when purchasing a crib it is well worth the investment to buy a new crib. With a new crib you are insured that all the parts are there, it will be assembled correctly if you follow instructions, and that it meets today's safety standards. You may also choose to buy those cute bedding sets, who could resist them. Just remember that it is a good idea to remove the pillows and blankets when the child is sleeping, and to double check to make sure the bumper is on securely to prevent injury or worse. Taking these few simple steps and precautions will make you sleep better knowing your child is safe. <br /><br />Blankets, pillows can be great for decoration, but they should be removed when it comes time for baby to go to sleep. Bumpers should be fastened properly and double checked at the baby's bedtime each night. During colder nights, parents put their babies in wearable blankets that form right to the baby. There is no risk of the baby becoming entangled in the wearable blanket. Parents should check on the baby during the night to insure that he does not get overheated when wearing the very warm blankets. <br /><br />With a few little steps, parents can insure safety with their baby's crib bedding. However, they need to remember to avoid using older baby cribs. Older cribs do not always meet today's safety standards. They often do not come with instructions and missing a minor detail in the instructions could be disastrous. In order to assure your baby's safety in a crib, it is very important to consider turning down the second hand offers from your friends and family and buy new. The investment will be worth the peace of mind in knowing that the baby crib you chose is safe and secure.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as New Baby Gift Baskets at <a href="http://www.newbabybasketsdirect.com/">http://www.newbabybasketsdirect.com</a></p> 2006-09-09T15:40-04:00 http://articles.newbabybasketsdirect.com/?a=35687 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>Car Seats<br /><br />When you have a baby you need to make sure that your baby is safe wherever you are, and the car is no exception. You need to make sure you have the proper car seat for your child, and that it is installed properly. This is very important to ensure your child's safety in case of an accident. <br /><br />When you leave the hospital they will make sure you have a car seat for your child, and may even check to make sure it is properly installed in the car. Some hospitals are even giving car seats to parents to ensure the child's safety. If you decide to get your own car seat instead of the one provided you have a variety to choose from. <br /><br />Infant Car Seat<br /><br />The newest style of infant seat has a base that is buckled in the car and stays there. The carrier itself snaps in and out of the base in the car. This makes it easy to get the child in and out of the car without having to mess with a seatbelt every time. With this type of car seat you can leave the baby in the carrier and take the whole carrier into the store or house with you. This is especially helpful with newborns. As the child gets older you may choose to take the child out of the carrier and leave the carrier in the car. <br /><br />Convertible Car Seat<br /><br />Next you will need a convertible car seat. This car seat is used once the baby is one year old and meets the height and weight requirements. Convertible car seats may be placed in a forward or backward facing position. The seat will need to be facing backward if your child outgrows his infant seat, but is not yet old enough to sit facing forward. <br /><br />When choosing a convertible car seat you have many options. First you can choose if it has the five point harness, or if it has and over the head latch. You can also choose the color and it may even come with a cup holder. No matter which type of convertible car seat you choose, it can be used until your child weighs 40 pounds. <br /><br />Booster Seat<br />After a convertible car seat you will need a booster seat. The booster seat can be used until your child weighs 80 pounds. There are different types of booster seats. The first type is a small base that the child sits in, which allows them to use a regular seatbelt. The other kind may be a convertible seat that is also a booster seat. When the child outgrows the convertible seat, you take the straps off and use the regular seat belt instead. The child is still seated in the actual car seat, just with different straps. <br /><br />Just remember that no matter what type of car seat you use it is for your child's safety. The child always needs to be seated in the back seat until they are 12 due to the air bags. Make sure you take the time to buckle the seat and your child in properly to insure they are safe.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as New Baby Gifts at <a href="http://www.newbabybasketsdirect.com/">http://www.newbabybasketsdirect.com</a></p> 2006-09-09T15:37-04:00