Monday, November 15, 2010

Baby Check List, Checklist before your Baby Arrives, List of Items Before your New Born Arrives, NewBorn Checklist, Things to be Purchased before Baby is born

Baby Check List,  Checklist before your Baby Arrives, List of Items Before your New Born Arrives, NewBorn Checklist, Things to be Purchased before Baby is born


Baby Clothes Checklist !

The following Baby Clothes Checklist will really help you to get organised. Print a copy and  check the items off of your checklist ! 

6-8 undershirts / vests

2-4 receiving blankets

1-2 double receiving blankets

4-6 sleepers

1-2 sweaters

1-2 shawl or cotton blanket

1-2 pairs booties

1-2 caps

4-6 pairs socks

1-2 pairs scratch mittens

1-2 Side-snap tees

1-2 Bodysuits

2-4 Rompers

2-4 Bibs

6-8 Hangers

1 Dozen Cloth Diapers - see Diaper section

Baby Toys Checklist
Baby gym

Crib mobile

Stuffed animals

Doorway jumper

Walker

Puzzles

Bouncer

Rattles

Board books

Play yard

Activity mat

Letter blocks

Swing

Activity center

Rattle

Music / Cassette tapes

Tape player

Soft / material books

Toy Box

Wooden Toy

Development Chart to select Baby Toys
Age in Months
What babies are able to appreciate

Mental and Movement skills

Choose an appropriate Educational or Interactive Toys
Newborn - 1 month
Soft Music - High contrast patterns and faces - Will cry if over or under stimulated. Will be alert for every one in ten hours.
1 - 2 
Soft Music - Visual stimulation - Follows sounds and objects
2 - 3 
Recognises faces and sounds - Discovers hands and feet - ability to grip objects developing - likes high contrast images
3 - 4 
Starts to explore by taste - follows moving objects - able to bear some weight on legs
4 - 5 
Shows interest in colors - Starts to show preferences - Grips and moves objects
5 - 6 
Able to concentrate on one toy at a time - can roll over
6 - 7
Starts to understand what to do with objects. Can shake a rattle or other toys - Responds to himself in a mirror - rolls in both directions
7 - 8 
Realises that an object may be behind something - loves playing peek-a-boo - sits independently - reaches out for objects - tries to crawl
8 - 9 
Starts to crawl - Understands the concept of building objects - moves an item from one hand to the other - starts to imitate sounds
9 - 10 
Understanding some language phrases - starts to build, stack and disassemble toys - points - stands with support
10 - 11 
Understanding of words continues - starts to build, stack and disassemble toys - able to pick up smaller items - walks holding on to furniture - likes to play hand games
11 - 12 
Understanding of words continues - able to climb - enjoys and initiates play with others
Baby Toys - Interactive Toys
Using the above development chart will enable you to make a choice of the most useful interactive toys. The level of interaction will clearly depend on the development level of the infant. The very best ' interactive toys ' are the baby's parents! Interactive games like peek-a-boo or hand games like Itsy Bitsy Spider or Here's the Church, Here's the Steeple will bring hours of interactive entertainment and pleasure to both parents and babies. Social, mental and movement skills will all be encouraged by the the number one ' interactive toys ' - the family! A real 'must' when considering interactive toys is the use of Nursery Rhymes - Visit the following site for some reminders and a whole host of fascinating information about Nursery Rhymes - History and Origins 


Bottle Feeding

6 - 8 4oz. Bottles

6 - 8 8oz. Bottles

Fast Flow Nipples

Slow Flow Nipples

1 - 2 Bottle brushes

4-6 Bibs

4-6 Burp pads

1 Sterilizer Kit

1 Bottle Warmer

2 - 3 Disposable Bottle Kit

1 Food Grinder/blender

1 case of formula 

Breast Feeding

1 Breast Pump

1 Nipple lotion

2-5 pairs breast pads

2-3 nursing bras

2 - 3 Bottles for storing milk

1 - 2 Bottle brush

Solid Feeds

1 - 2 Feeding Fork

1 - 2 Feeding Spoon

1 - 2 Feeding Bowl

1 - 2 Training cup

1 - 2 Feeding bowl 

Useful information about Breast Feeding
Some useful information about breast feeding:

  • Many babies are hungry every two hours. Breast-feed every 2-3 hours or on demand
  • Milk production - The more your baby breast feeds the more milk you will produce
  • A healthy diet. You need 400 to 500 more calories than you did to maintain your pre-pregnancy weight.
  • Drink at least eight, but no more than 12 cups of liquid a day
Useful information about Solid Feeding
Some useful information about solid feeds:

  • Diluted Juices are introduced at the age of 1 month
  • Undiluted Juices are introduced at the age of 2 months
  • Introduce semi-solid foods at the age of 4 months or weighs 6kg or by the age four months
  • First introduce rice cereal at 4 months
  • Introduce mashed fruits at 4-5 months
  • Introduce mashed vegetables by 5-6 months
  • When solid feeding is established ensure a daily intake of 500 -750ml milk
  • Introduce Yolk of egg by 6 - 7 months
  • Introduce minced meat and fish by 9 - 10 months
Bathroom requirement when bathing baby 

Toilet locks

Non slip mats

1 Water thermometer

1 pair Blunt nail scissors

1 Toothbrush

1 Comb & brush

1 First-aid kit

Disinfecting hand soap

Bathing Baby

Bathing 

1 Infant Plastic Bathtub

5 - 6 Hooded towels

2 - 4 Washcloths for bathing baby

1 Bath mat

1 container Bathing baby body wash

1 Baby Bathing lotion

1 Baby Bathing oil

1 Baby shampoo

Assortment of Bathing Toys

Bathing Baby 

Bathing Health and Care
The Health and care of your baby boy or girl will be a major priority. The bathing related items listed above will ensure that your bathroom has all of the basic requirements to help you with the health and bathing care of your new arrival. Telephone numbers of Doctors and other Health care professionals need to be at hand for any emergencies - It might help to put a copy of these in your medicine cabinet. 

Health and Baby Bathing Safety Considerations

Detailed below are various Bathing Safety Considerations which must be adhered to in the bathroom and when bathing babies:

  • Water Temperature - Make sure the hot water heater is set at 120 F or below to avoid any risk of burning or scalding when bathing
  • When water or bathing is involved there is always a risk of drowning. Never leave your baby unattended in the bathtub
  • Slipping and falling - Place a bath mat on the bottom of the tub to reduce this risk
  • Risk of cuts - Use a soft cover for the faucet to reduce this risk
  • Stinging eyes - Use a shampoo shield to reduce this risk
  • Accidents - Use locks on the toilet and cabinets
  • Poison Hazards - Put all medicines and tablets on a high shelf or cabinet and for extra safety put a lock on the bathroom cabinet
  • Bathing Baby
A Baby Travel Checklist !

The following Travel Checklist will really help you to get organised. Print a copy and  check the items off of your checklist ! 

Car Seat / Infant Seat

Front/back Carrier

Stroller

Car / travel toys

Portable travel crib

Diaper bag

Car sun shades

Child view mirror

Travel toy organizer

Head support

Car seat strap covers

Diaper bag

Snack containers 

Baby Safety and Home Protection Checklist !

The following Safety and Home Protection Checklist will really help you to get organised. Print a copy and  check the items off of your checklist ! A new arrival in the family means that you will have to start looking at your home with a keen eye for Baby Safety and Home Protection. Detailed below are Household items which will assist you in this task. This important aspect of parenting can sometimes be overlooked as so many elements of Safety and Home Protection do not apply until the baby starts to become mobile - but just by glancing at the checklist you will see that this is not necessarily so. Put aside just an hour of your time and look at your home and its potential pitfalls and dangers and concentrate on what you will need to do to ensure you have done everything in relation to Baby Safety and Home Protection.
Baby Safety and Home Protection - Health and Care
The Health and care of your infant boy or girl will be a major priority. The items listed above will ensure that your home is filled with all of the basic requirements to help you with the Baby Safety and Home Protection of your new arrival. Telephone numbers of Doctors and other Health care professionals need to be at hand for any emergencies - It might help to put a copy of these in your medicine cabinet. 

Safety and Home Protection - Helpful Hints
Every room in your house has a potential safety hazard. We have therefore put together a selection of hints under various categories related to your home.

Baby Safety and Home Protection - Stairs

Should your home have stairs there are some basic Safety and Home Protection criteria that you should apply : 

  • Ensure that there are no loose carpet fittings and that the stair rails are secure - do not forget the risks to anyone carrying the baby (Never carry hot drinks when carrying a child )
  • Install mounted safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs - do not install the old style accordion gates as a baby could get caught in these
  • Remember there are other areas that might be hazardous -  for instance a laundry room or an older child's bedroom 
  • Install a Smoke detector
  • Install plexiglas on stairs to prevent a child from squeezing through
  • Baby Safety and Home Protection
Baby Safety and Home Protection in the Nursery
Detailed below are various Safety and Home Protection considerations which must be adhered to in the nursery:

  • Heaters. Do not place portable heaters near the crib
  • Install a Smoke detector
  • Install carbon monoxide detectors at least 15 feet away from fuel burning appliances
  • Windows. Do not place a crib next to a window that has blinds and therefore cords once again the possibility of strangulation must be considered
  • Loose objects such as lamps, plants or ornaments. Do not place a crib near any objects that the baby could pull on top of him
  • Check all furniture and lamps for stability
  • Shelves. Do not place a crib under shelves - once again loose objects could fall on her
  • Ensure the crib and crib mattress fits snugly
  • Ensure the crib meets the regulated safety standards
  • You should only be able to slide one finger between the mattress and the rails
  • Set the mattress on the lowest level of the crib to prevent a growing infant from climbing out
  • Crib bumper - ensure it is secure on all sides to avoid any possibility of baby's head getting caught.
  • Remove the bumper when baby's able to stand
  • Any type of crib attachment should be installed on the wall side of the crib
  • Never put pillows or stuffed animals in the crib
  • Mobiles should be removed when the baby is 5 - 7 months old
  • Use plugs in unused outlets
  • Place guards on windows
  • Cords from all electrical equipment such as phones and  lamps should be safely out of reach
  • Baby Safety and Home Protection
Baby Safety and Home Protection in the Bathroom

Detailed below are various Baby Safety and Home Protection considerations which must be adhered to in the bathroom and when bathing babies:

  • Water Temperature - Make sure the hot water heater is set at 120 F or below to avoid any risk of burning or scalding when bathing
  • When water or bathing is involved there is always a risk of drowning. Never leave your baby unattended in the bathtub
  • Slipping and falling - Place a bath mat on the bottom of the tub to reduce this risk
  • Risk of cuts - Use a soft cover for the faucet to reduce this risk
  • Stinging eyes - Use a shampoo shield to reduce this risk
  • Accidents - Use locks on the toilet and cabinets - Toilet lids should be locked closed
  • Poison Hazards - Put all medicines and tablets on a high shelf or cabinet and for extra safety put a lock on the bathroom cabinet
  • Remove all soaps, razors and shampoos from around the edge of the bathtub
  • Make sure bathroom doors can be unlocked from the outside in case your child locks one from within
  • Never leave a bath tub with water in it
  • Baby Safety and Home Protection
Cloth Diapers
2-4 dozen cloth diapers

4-6 waterproof covers

1 diaper-pail

3 packs disposable baby wipes

4 - 6 safety pins

1-2 dozen washable liners

1 changing table with waterproof pad

10 plastic pants

1 Diaper-rash ointment

3 - gallon diaper pail

Travel Tote bag / kit


Disposable diapers
3 packs disposable diapers
3 packs disposable baby wipes

Safety pins

Vinyl pants

1 Diaper-rash ointment

Disposal system

1 changing table with waterproof pad

Travel  Tote bag / kit

A supply of Cloth diapers is also recommended

Diaper changing frequency

Changing frequency will obviously vary but a good guideline is that typical baby uses between 8 - 12 per day. Change baby's diaper's each time he or she wets. The frequency required for diaper change can be used as a good basis to determine the minimum amount of diapers required if there are budget constraints. It is also useful when determining a cloth diaper's washing schedule. The change frequency relates to both cloth and disposable diapers. 

Cloth or Disposable Diapers ?

The answer is that you will probably use both types on your baby but will have a preference for either the cloth or the disposable types. Factors to take into consideration when making your decision:

  • Cost
  • Convenience
  • Environmental and chemical issues - disposable diapers 
  • Washing and soaking requirements - schedules and time factor
Types of Cloth Diapers
  • Flat cloth diapers - Least expensive, fits all sizes
  • Pre-folded diapers - Saves time
  • Fitted diapers - Easy to use, requires different sizes
  • All-in-one daipers - Simplest to use, do not require separate covers, requires different sizes
Disposable Diapers
  • Disposable diapers disadvantages - More expensive than cloth, requires different sizes, buying and storage issues, disposal issues
  • Disposable diapers Advantages - Greater convenience, faster to change diaper, saves time and chores
Diapers - How many changes? 

Babies will require a change about 7000 times over a 2 year period!
  • Number of diapers per day - Varies between 8 and 12, average about 10 diapers per day
  • Number of diapers over a 2 year period - Approx 7,200 !
Diaper Cost comparison - Cloth -v- Disposable
  • Cloth Costs - Varies according to type and quality of cloth - Approx $150 - $580 
  • Disposable Costs - Varies according to type - Approx cost per month $60 - $70 Over a 2 year period approx cost $1550
Cost comparison - Diaper Service

There are various Service companies available in many locations. The usual service offers a weekly pick-up. The diapers are washed, dried and folded. Return Delivery.

 

  • Diaper Service Costs - Varies but average $120 set-up fee
  • Service Costs - Approx cost per month $60 - $80
  • Service Costs - Over a 2 year period approx cost $1650

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Diaper Change

Changing baby. How to change a Diaper? The method of changing is dependent on the type of diaper's used - the easiest and quickest change is by using a disposable.
  • Prepare all items required for the change and clothing change, if required
  • Make sure all items to hand
  • Place baby on changing mat
  • Remove lower clothing
  • Remove soiled diaper
  • Clean baby
  • Apply diaper rash ointment
  • Put diaper on baby
  • Dispose of soiled items
Diaper-Rash - Information

This kind of rash is an extremely common problem but can be distressing as the rash looks so incredibly sore.

  • What is diaper-rash? - It's a reddening of the skin in the diaper-area 
  • What produces the rash? Bacteria which develops in the moist, warm conditions
  • What effect does the bacteria have? Urine and bacteria mix to create ammonia which burns the baby
  • Does the type of diaper's have any effect? No, diaper-rash occurs in both cloth and disposable diapers
  • What causes the rash? The rash may be caused by any number of things such as perfumed soaps, detergents and some citrus fruits
Diaper Rash - Prevention and Treatment
The following routines can be followed to reduce the instances of diaper-rash:
  • Change baby's diaper each time he or she wets
  • Avoid perfumed detergents or fabric softeners in your wash
  • Avoid perfumed soaps
  • Wash your hands after every change to prevent the spread of infection
Diaper Rash - Treatment
The following routines should be followed to treat diaper-rash:

  • Use plain warm water to clean the infant after each change
  • Ensure complete dryness before applying a clean diaper
  • Use stay- dry liners
  • Ensure that the baby is given a couple of hours each day without lower clothing to allow the air to dry the skin and reduce irritation from diapers
  • Apply diaper-rash ointment as per the instructions
  • If the rash persists after period indicated on the diaper-rash ointment instructions consult your doctor or medical professional

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