Simple Handcrafted Baby Shower Ideas
You just found out one of your very favorite gals in the whole world is expecting a wee one, and you’re simply ecstatic. You know you want to throw her the absolute best baby shower ever, but you don’t have a lot of money to spare. Times are tough, and you have your own family to take care of. But there’s no need to fret. There are many beautiful, and simple, favors and decorations you can do yourself and save money. While the thought of do-it-yourself projects might sound intimidating, it’s really nothing to get worked up about. All you need is a babyshower theme and some time, and you’ll be good to go.
Gender Based Colors
If you know the sex of the baby, it can be easier to come up with a theme for the shower. But there are plenty of options for unisex baby showers as well. Animal themes can be used for either sex, and they open the door to many fun possibilities when it comes to favors and décor. If you’d rather not have a very specific theme, simply choose a color or two to coordinate everything around. Yellows and greens are typical for unisex showers, but there’s no need to feel limited. If the mom-to-be has a favorite color or has chosen a specific theme for the baby’s nursery, use that. But remember, anything goes. Just have fun coming up with an idea that fits both mother and baby.
Décor
When it comes to décor, the possibilities are endless. Create a banner with ribbon and cut-outs that spell out the baby’s name (if you don’t know the name, just put ‘Baby’ and the last name of mom). Purchase blank onesies and decorate them to hang on the wall. If you enjoy being creative, use puff paints to create fun designs on them. Otherwise an iron-on transfer or other appliqué will look great. One of the best centerpieces for a baby shower, and one that’s practical too, is a diaper cake. It doesn’t have to be anything phenomenal. Just roll diapers and tie with ribbon in several tiers. Add in shoes or bows, baby toys, whatever you’d like to add flair to the cake.
Food and Treats
Chocolates and cookies are some of the easiest and most versatile favors. They can be made into any shape and/or color you desire. Even plain cookies or chocolates can be wrapped in cellophane and tied with a colorful ribbon to match any theme. If you should decide to give out cookies, attach a shaped cookie cutter to the bag or box. Candles, soaps, and lollipops are favors that are also relatively easy to make and can be designed to emphasize the shower theme. It all depends on your artistic skill set, patience, and the amount of time you have.
Whatever you choose, remember that not everything has to be 100% perfect. The mom-to-be will be very appreciative and feel loved knowing you took the time to put things together for her. No one is going to notice minor mistakes or flaws. Everyone will be too busy fawning over the pregnant belly and cute baby gifts to worry about any of the other minute details.
Andrea Boley is a writer and blogger with Storkie.com. She has been writing articles and blogging for over 10 years and is always happy to share her passion for life and experiences through her work. Her educational backgrounds in psychology and journalism have given her a solid foundation from which to draw experience and expertise in an array of topics.
Take the Stress Out of Preparing for a Newborn
Being a first time parent is both an exciting and stressful time. While you’re waiting for your little baby to come into the world, you’ll probably receive lots of advice (mostly unsolicited) from other parents, family members, your mother-in-law, and complete strangers. Some of it will be good, and some will be absolutely ridiculous. The important thing to remember is that you’ll do fine as long as you keep things simple and focus on keeping your baby safe and healthy.
One of the first things expecting parents stress about is preparing their home for the new arrival. They repaint, mop the floor five times a day, set up a nursery in full, and more. But the reality is that a newborn won’t have a huge impact on your home—at least not at first. So you don’t need to go overboard all at once. There are a few things a baby needs right away, and they are:
A Safe Place to Sleep
Considering that most newborns will sleep 18-20 hours a day, this is the most important thing to prepare. But you don’t necessarily have to worry about a crib at this point. All you need is ia small portable sleeping solution, like a bassinet that you can park next to your bed for the first few weeks. You’ll be feeding every few hours at night anyway, so just keep the baby by your bedside until he or she starts sleeping for longer periods of time. That’s when you’ll need to set up the crib in the nursery.
A Place to Be Changed
Newborns only do three things for the first few weeks: eat, sleep, and poo. Having a designated changing area is important to keep your baby clean and happy—as well as keep your house clean and tidy. You can put the changing table in the baby’s room next to the crib (If you have purchased one already). Make sure you stock it with diapers, wipes, powder, diaper rash cream, and either plastic bags to put the messy diapers in or a diaper pail.
A Place to Eat
Your baby won’t be eating out of a highchair for a long time, so it’s important that you create a comfortable place to feed your baby. A soft recliner or rocker in the baby’s room is great for daytime feedings, and nighttime feedings can be done right in your own bed. Moms: You’ll be spending a lot of time in this place for the first few months, so make sure it’s comfortable, useful, and pleasant. There is nothing worse than sitting in the same uncomfortable chair 5 times a day to feed your baby.
Eventually, there will be other things you can do, but may not matter until your baby is a few months old and can crawl, like setting up the crib, vacuuming the floor, and childproofing your cabinets and drawers. For the first few months, your baby won’t even be able to roll over, so small objects on the floor won’t be a problem, but once they can roll over and start crawling, you’ll soon see how much trouble they can get in—and how much they’ll want to put in their mouths.
Once your baby is at the point of crawling, you should be vacuuming and cleaning your floor regularly, as well as moving anything you don’t want destroyed to places above waist height. But these concerns are still a few months off. Take these first few weeks to relax and spend time with your baby. You can save baby proofing until it really matters.
This post was written by guest author Edwin who blogs over at Yourlocalsecurity where you can find more home safety tips.
See the article here:
Take the Stress Out of Preparing for a Newborn
Summer Problems Caused By Nature
Guest post by Eirian Hallinan
The sun is shining, the days are longer and you have waved goodbye to coughs and colds but summer brings its own little irritations. Here are some tips to help.
Sunburn
This is caused by too much exposure to the sun and creates a red and painful skin ailment that can lead to serious skin conditions. Prevention is everything and children should never be exposed to direct sunlight so remember to keep them covered. Loose, light and comfortable clothes are just as cool and offer more cover than strappy summer tops, so are safer. Always put a broad brimmed hat on your child in the sun. Use a high factor sunscreen – at least 30 SPF and reapply it every couple of hours and after swimming. Avoid the sun during the hottest part of the day and keep your child in the shade as much as possible. If your child does get a bit red, give him plenty of water to drink and sponge him down with tepid water. Then cover him with lots of aftersun cream and keep him out of the sun for at least 24 hours.
Stings/Bites
These are usually small, red and itchy bumps that can be painful. Sometimes you can see a hole in the centre of the lump and a sting sticking out of it. Children usually get them if they disturb or are attacked by an insect like a wasp, ant or horsefly. A sting or bite can be quite scary and painful for your child so reassure and comfort him. If the pain or discomfort persists antihistamines and anti-itch ointments can help which are available at pharmacists. If the bite or sting worsens then it is advisable to take your child to the doctor to check if an infection has developed. If your child has difficulty breathing, his tongue swells or you suspect some kind of allergic reaction call emergency medical help immediately.
Nettle Rash
This is a group of itchy, reddish swellings and can often disappear in hours but then reappear somewhere else on the body. It is also known as hives or urticaria. Nettle rash is not caused by stinging nettles although a brush with them can be one of the causes. There are several possible causes although it isn’t always obvious which one it is. It can be a food allergy (for example, to strawberries), pollen, a jellyfish sting, an insect bite or too much sun. It usually passes in a few hours but if you are concerned then seek medical advice. Make sure you check with your doctor before giving your child medication but calamine lotion can be soothing and antihistamines reduce itching and rashes.
Hayfever
This is officially known as allergic rhinitis and is an allergy to airborne pollen from grass, flowers or trees. It causes sneezing, a runny nose and itchy eyes. More common in children over seven years of age but can affect younger children too. There are many medications available but check with your doctor as to what may suit your child best. If your child is really struggling your doctor may prescribe a nasal spray. Generally, the best thing is a long-acting, non-sedating antihistamine syrup and look for suitable medicines containing loratadine or cetirizine.
Prickly Heat
This is also known as heat rash or miliaria. It is a red and itchy rash along with a prickly sensation, hence the name. It occurs during the hotter months and is thought to be caused by blockages in the sweat glands. Young infants and babies are more prone to prickly heat because their sweat glands are not yet fully developed. It can appear anywhere on the body but more commonly on areas that are exposed to the sun or in folds of skin. It is irritating for children but not a serious condition. It usually disappears in a few days. The best thing you can do is keep your child cool if they are suffering from an outbreak of prickly heat. You can place them in a cool bath and pat them dry. Dress them in light, cotton clothes that enable their skin to breathe. Synthetic clothing won’t allow this. If your child is really irritable and unable to sleep then an antihistamine syrup should help.
Eirian Hallinan is Parenting Journals’ newest team member. She believes healing naturally first, especially when it comes to infant colic.