Babymoon

Have you heard of a Babymoon? I sure hadn't ... until today.

A babymoon is a period of time that parents spend bonding with a recently-born baby. BUT ... more recently the term is used to describe a vacation taken by the couple that is expecting, to allow the couple to enjoy a final trip together before the many sleepless nights that usually accompany a newborn baby. Babymoons usually take place at a resort that offers spa-like services like prenatal massage.

I think it's a great idea! In a sense, we just took a "familymoon". It was our last big vacation, just Doug, Aidan and I, to California before the baby girl arrives. Since I will most like have a c-section, a scheduled birth date, I think we'll do a "home babymoon" the week before the big day clearing our calendar and enjoying some down time at home just the three of us. Even Aidan can call the shots, choosing his favorite activities, meals and movies that week. Maybe he can miss a day of school or so ...

Icky Mold!

It's no surprise that bathtub toys are prone to super amounts of icky mold that is harmful to children if digested. Here's an excellent way to clean tub toys, in a safe and environmentally-friendly way.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups apple cider vinegar (can substitute white vinegar if needed)
• .5L warm water (filtered is best)
• 2 foaming denture cleansing tablets

1

Mix vinegar and water in a plastic bucket.

2

Add toys. If they are not covered, add more vinegar and warm water.

3

Weight down floating toys if possible.

4

Soak toys overnight.

5

After toys have soaked, scrub with a bristle cleaning brush.

6

Rinse thoroughly with clean water.

7

If the vinegar soak does not remove all the mold, use another step.

8

Put the toys in another bucket, and cover with warm water.

9

Add denture tablets. Allow to soak overnight.

Source: wikihow.com

First Year Baby Food

I don't remember the timeline for introducing baby to food her first year. Thank goodness for a brochure I received at my last doctor visit!

Birth to 6 mos: breast milk and/or iron-fortified formula

6-7 mos: breast milk and/or iron-fortified formula, rice cereal, applesauce, strained and pureed bananas and pears

7-9 mos: breast milk and/or iron-fortified formula, teething biscuits, mashed potatoes and avocados, strained and pureed peaches, carrots and squash

9-12 mos: breast milk and/or iron-fortified formula, rice cakes, bite-size cheese cubes, soft tortillas, egg yolks, oatmeal, yogurt, tofu, noodles, peas, strained and pureed chicken

Ahhhh, it's all coming back to me!

Safe Sleep for Baby

One thing hasn't changed from my "baby days" eight years ago ... the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). It never hurts to be reminded ...

1. Always place baby on his back to sleep, for naps and at night.

2. Place baby on a firm sleep surface, such as on a safety-approved crib mattress, covered by a fitted sheet.

3. Keep soft objects, toys, and loose bedding out of your baby's sleep area. This includes: pillows, blankets, quilts, pillow-like crib bumpers and sheepskins.

4. Do not allow smoking around your baby.

5. Keep your baby's sleep area close to, but separate from, where you and others sleep.

6. Think about using a clean, dry, pacifier when placing the infant down to sleep, but don't force baby to take it.

7. Do not let your baby overheat during sleep. Dress him in light clothing and keep the room at a comfortable temperature.

8. Avoid products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS because most have not been tested for effectiveness or safety.

9. Do not use home monitors to reduce the risk of SIDS.

10. Reduce the chance that flat spots will develop on your baby's head by providing a lot of "tummy time" when baby is awake and someone is supervising. Also avoid too much time in car seats, carriers and bouncers.