Sometime during your pregnancy you will start the search for the perfect car seat for your baby. Today, hospitals won’t allow you to leave without one. The hard part is that there are so many choices, that fit so many different budgets, that it can be a difficult decision to make. Do you need the one with the drink holder, do you need a convertible, and what is a LATCH system? Online research can only make things more confusing as the reviews of every product are seemingly positive and boasting that the product as ‘the best.’

Truth is, buying a car seat doesn’t have to be a difficult. If you follow these 5 tips for buying a car seat, you will get the perfect one for your car, your baby and your lifestyle! And if you plan on putting your car seat on a registry, follow these tips and ask specifically for a certain make and model.

1. Don’t buy a used car seat or accept a hand-me-down. Unless you were the original owner, you should never buy a used car seat. For one thing, newer models adhere to newer safety standards. And you need to be kept informed of any recalls on car seats. Plus, if parts are missing you might never know it, and missing parts can compromise the safety of the seat. There are plenty of car seats to fit all budgets to make sure that you get a new car seat that puts safety first.

2. Look for seats that have some longevity. Infant car seats will have to be replaced when your baby faces forward and reaches 20 pounds. Front facing seats may not fit a growing toddler. In other words, you don’t want to be replacing your car seat every year. There are many seats that work from infancy up to 8 years old. They may seem bulky and big at first, but your baby will grow quickly, and you will save money by not having to buy a new seat each and every year.

3. Make sure the car seat is easy to wash! As your baby gets older, they will spill things and spit-up, diapers will leak, and stains will build up on the car seat. All of the coverings should be washable, and you should make sure you can find replacement covers online to increase the longevity of your car seat. If the seat is too difficult to wash and clean, chances are you will end up throwing it away at some point.

4. Before buying a car seat, try it for a fit in YOUR car. Many baby stores will allow you to take a demo model out to your vehicle to snap in the car. Some seats will fit great in your vehicle while others won’t. If you have an older model car, buying a seat with a LATCH system will not work. The best car seat in the world won’t be worthwhile if it doesn’t fit well into your vehicle.

5. Check out www.seatcheck.org before purchasing or making a final decision to make sure that there are no recalls, or safety warnings on the seat that you chose. This is a non-biased, safety based organization that gives detailed information about car seats.

Whatever car seat you choose, get it into the car as soon as possible so everything is in place when the time comes! You don’t want to be struggling with directions and seatbelts when you are in labor. Use the instructions that come with the seat, as well as the owner’s manual for your car to get the perfect fit. Many areas have organizations who run car seat checks to be sure yours is installed correctly – take advantage of this service.

Tell us how your car seat search is going.

Written By Stef, Mom of 4 @Momspirational

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

You’re nearing the end of pregnancy, and everyone is asking what you need for the baby. You have registered at the popular baby superstores for items you’re not even sure you’ll need. Now what? A traditional baby shower will help you assemble many of the basic supplies you need or want for your baby. A Blessingway, however, will supply YOU, the mom-to-be, with the emotional fuel you need for labor, birth and early motherhood.

A Blessingway is rooted in many native traditions, but has evolved into a ceremony that can be adapted to any religious or cultural beliefs to help a woman prepare emotionally and spiritually for the birth of her baby. It is a way to shower a new mother with support to start her journey of motherhood on the right foot. Guests are smoothing the way for her with stories, advice and positive inspiration.

While you likely won’t plan your own Blessingway, here are some tips to share with friends and family for planning an event that will be a cherished memory after the birth:

• Consider the guest list carefully to include only those closest to the mom-to-be, other women whose opinions she values and trusts, and around whom she can relax and feel comfortable.
• Keep the mother-to-be’s cultural and religious traditions in mind, and tailor any ceremonies to her. For instance, if she is a devout Catholic, ask her which prayers are most meaningful to her and incorporate those into the celebration.
• Pamper her. The mom-to-be should be the center of attention at a Blessingway. Give her a foot bath and massage with aromatic lotion or oil, adorn her with a crown or necklace of flowers, cover her baby belly or her hands and feet with henna designs, brush and braid her hair, etc. Be creative. Ask her ahead of time what makes her feel most relaxed, and use that to create a ritual tailored specifically to her.
• Share stories. Let other mothers talk about their experiences of childbirth and mothering. Instruct everyone ahead of time to keep the tales positive – this is not time for horror stories. Passing along birth wisdom is a precious gift in and of itself.
• If you include gift-giving, ask guests ahead of time to bring symbolic tokens to support the mother-to-be as she enters labor or as she makes the shift to parenthood. For instance, have each mother bring a bead, and create a necklace for the mom to use as a focal point in labor. Save the gifts from the baby registry for later!
• Always end with a feast. This is a great time for partners to join the celebration, since the shift to parenthood will happen to them, too! You could ask each guest to bring their favorite dish, or you could create dishes from symbolic foods to celebrate the coming birth.

Use your imagination – you cannot do it wrong – and honor the mother-to-be with the unique gift of a Blessingway.

Written by Michelle: IBCLC, writer, editor, childbirth instructor, and mother to 4 busy kids

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

It may seem that choosing a place for your infant to sleep is a given.  After all, isn’t that what the crib you bought is for?  The truth is that during the first few months of life, your baby will be calmer and sleep better if they are in a womb-like environment and closer to YOU. This is where a bassinet, cradle or baby Moses basket comes into play. Leave the big crib in the nursery and find one of the hundreds of adorable baby bassinets to keep your baby in close quarters.  Many have traditional handles perfect for toting baby from one room to the next without waking them. And the best part is you can keep your baby in the bedroom with you so you will be sure you will hear every sound and sniffle your baby makes during the night.

According to experts, a baby basket or bassinet in the room WITH YOU is safer than bed-sharing. It will help you sleep soundly at night, as well, because you will feel more relaxed. If you are planning to breastfeed, getting to your baby quickly helps them ease back to sleep more efficiently (Which also means you can get back to sleep more quickly).

When looking for a baby basket or bassinet, the key is to find one that is both sturdy and easy to clean. Make sure that the mattress is removable and well-fitted, and that you can find tight fitting sheets for the mattress. Some of the baby baskets or bassinets have legs or wheels which mean that you can transport them around the house without waking the baby. Even though your baby will not be rolling over or moving much in the very beginning – you want to make sure the walls are high enough to provide safety to your baby. Keep in mind babies can use their reflexes to scoot their bodies around in sleep; so, you may notice your baby against the side of the bassinet after a short while (which is why you should be sure to never leave your baby unattended on an adult bed or couch.)

Certainly, you will need that beautiful crib in the nursery at some point. There will come a day in the next few months where the nursery will be alive with the sounds of a baby. What most new parents don’t realize, however, is that leaving the baby in the nursery, even with a baby monitor, causes a lot of stress and many trips up and down throughout the night, especially in the first few weeks after birth. If you haven’t had your shower yet, check out a bassinet or Moses basket, and put it on your list. Even though it will only be useful for a very short time, it will definitely make your life easier.

Written By Stef, Mom of 4 @Momspirational

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

Baby showers are an important occasion in the social calendar of a mum-to-be. As the organiser, you want to make sure the event goes above and beyond her expectations. Having a theme can help to tie an event together. It’s important to plan the theme before sending out the invitations, so that they can correspond with the theme and give guests an idea of what to expect.

Boy/Girl Theme – If you know the sex of the baby, then this a great way to tailor the baby shower. Go for blue decorations for a boy’s shower, and pink for a girl’s. Make sure the invitations, cake, decorations, balloons and party favours all tie into the colour scheme. For a little boy, you could have toy boats and train tracks as part of the decor. For little girls, you could opt for floral decorations and some dolls to add to the effect. Even if the sex of the baby is unknown, you could still utilise the boy/girl theme by having a mixture of pink and blue decorations – and a lot of question marks.

Bookworm – When you think back to your childhood, one of the things that stands out most is probably your favourite books. From bedtime stories with your parents, to learning to read, our childhoods are filled with books. You could ask each of the guests to bring a copy of their favourite childhood book. You could even theme the party around the mum-to-be’s favourite childhood book. There are so many beautiful and colourful children’s books to choose from, and you can pick copies up for next to nothing at your local charity or thrift shop. For decoration, you can display inspirational quotes from children’s story books.

Baby Animals – Baby shops across the world are filled with animal themed products. From circus bedding, to farmyard dinner plates, you can get pretty much anything adorned in animals. Animals are a great theme for a baby shower, and it’s really easy to find inspiration. Baby animals are particularly relevant at a shower – so fill the walls with lambs, kittens and elephant calves. The great thing about this theme is that any decorations can be passed on to the mum-to-be to use in the nursery. A great centrepiece for this theme, would be a giant stuffed animal that could be given as a gift too.

Vintage Tea Party – Since the mum-to-be can’t drink and baby showers tend to take place in the afternoon, why not celebrate with a vintage inspired tea party? Think bunting, mismatched cups and saucers, and cupcake stands for decorations. For food, serve cucumber sandwiches, mini cupcakes and a victoria sponge. Ask guests to dress in vintage inspired dresses to match the surroundings.

Mocktail Party – Indulge the mum-to-be’s decadent side by hosting a mocktail party. There are loads of amazing recipes to choose from, and you certainly won’t miss the alcohol. Fruity, fizzy and milky – there are lots of different types of mocktails so try to offer a selection at the party. For the decorations, try to dress the venue like a fancy cocktail bar (or, even better, have the party at a fancy cocktail bar). Mood lighting, background music and bold colours will look great with this theme. Make sure you have all the right glasses, garnishes and decorations to make the mocktails feel extra special.

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

Baby showers aren’t just about eating cake, playing party games and aahing over tiny baby grows. They’re about helping the mum-to-be to prepare for the birth and life as a new mum. As the big day approaches, many pregnant women start to feel scared or apprehensive about the birth. Make sure you use the baby shower to focus on the birth, and how great the mum-to-be in going to do. Below are some baby shower traditions that focus on the mum-to-be.

Belly casting

Much as she may say she hates it now, she will one day look back fondly at photos of her bump. By creating a belly cast, you can give her something more solid to remember it by. Belly casts can look great as ornaments, vases and garden planters. You can make the belly cast as part of the shower. Or, you can ask the mum-to-be to make the cast in advance, and then have the guests decorate it at the shower.

Henna bump art

Made famous by Alanis Morissette in 2010, henna bump art is a great activity for a baby shower. The mum-to-be will be able to relax while the henna is applied, and then admire the work after it’s done. Henna looks great and you can achieve very detailed and beautiful designs with it. You could also give each of the shower guests a small henna tattoo on their wrists in a show of support for the mum-to-be. This will remind them to think of the mum-to-be during her last few weeks of pregnancy. Take some photos of the henna bump art, and be sure to frame the best one and give it to the mum-to-be as a reminder of the party.

Beaded bracelet

This is a great way to help the mum-to-be feel supported during labour. A bracelet is made at the shower, and the mum-to-be should wear it during labour to remind her of her strong support system of friends and family. You can ask each guest to bring a bead to form the bracelet, or provide modeling clay and ask guests to make them at the shower. If any guests are unable to attend the shower, they should send their beads in the post before, along with a message to be read out on the day.

These are just a few traditions that are popular across the globe. You can adapt and change them to suit your mum-to-be. The important thing is that the mum-to-be leaves her shower feeling loved, supported and confident about the birth and motherhood.

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.