v 5 issue 2: Baby Essentials

We have hand-picked our latest favorites when it comes to baby essentials for this issue. These items are certain to make your life with baby a lot easier!


Cover by Alexi Killmer










1 No more kicking off blankets! This SwaddleDesigns zzZipMe sleep sack keeps your little one warm so you can have a more restful night plus reduces the risk factors associated with SIDS. The patent design opens from top and bottom for easy access. available in 2 sizes for the perfect fit. Both $36. Enter code: Tots for 10% off your total purchase.

2 Maximize the longevity and comfort of a stroller through the protection of a liner. Tivoli Couture offers luxury liners which can be purchased with matching blankets to maximize style. With or without a memory foam insert, these liners provide the ultimate in comfort, and easily slip into today's popular strollers to keep crumbs and spills off seats! Enter code: TTW15 for 15% off purchases.

3 The Snuggle Bug Bagz is made specifically for babies of 0-16 months. Each zip blanket bag is lined with organic sateen or minky fabric and is available in a multitude of colors and styles. Designed with a cut out for a three point seat belt harness, so baby can stay covered up while in the stroller, car seat, baby swing....Enter code: snugbug for 10% off your purchases.

4 The Noobee from Pookafun contains a slew of activities for children of all ages. From white, black, & red contrasts to letter identification, this book alternative has numerous activities and vivid colors scattered throughout the band of soft fabric. Easily folds into a pseudo-book for compact storage and promises years of on-the-spot, age appropriate entertainment.

5 Exercise can be difficult to fit in with a hectic schedule, but this DVD/CD set may be just what you've been looking for. The DVD begins with the "groove" of a fast-paced baby settling routine and cools down to gently send baby off to "sleep". The 35 minute DVD comes with an audio CD, so you can "enjoy" the benefits of the original soundtrack on-the-go @ chicks-n-chickens.com.

6 Pockets galore and a roomy interior make the weekender bag from Kalencom a must have. Hidden behind decorative buckles, trim, and stitching is a deceivingly large interior lined with maximum organizational capabilities. Each bag comes with a matching insulated bottle holder, zip bag, and coordinating changing pad.

7 Experience the benefits of baby-wearing with the most recognized baby wrap on the market. The Moby Wrap is made of slightly stretchy 100% cotton fabrics in a plenitude of colors and prints. Specially printed, UV protected, and organic styles are available.

8 Jot all baby's information down in one handy, well-planned log for future referencing. Rosie Bear's Aunt Lala logs come in handpicked designs sure to tickle anyone's fancy. Includes 90 pages of daily logs, "ouchie" pages for medicines administered, a growth chart, and an emergency contact page. Great for keeping track of doctor's visits! Enter code: TOT for 10% off your total purchase.


This weeks mom tips:
Greener, cleaner, and sure to please...our mom tips are tops!
Cleaning Tip: If you have stainless steel appliances, you'll love this cleaning tip. Simply take a small amount of baby oil, apply to a cleaning rag, and rub onto your stainless steel, top to bottom. Tried, tested and true, this trick will get rid of those annoying streaks other cleaning solutions leave behind!

Financial Tip: If you have debt on which interest accrues, then remember this simple fact: The sooner you make a payment, the less interest you're going to pay. So, to save on interest, make payments every week or every other week rather than every month. You will pay off your debt sooner and pay less interest, all while paying the same amount every month.

Green Tip: Summer's heating up, and we've got a refreshing idea that will put your empty milk and soda bottles to good use! Fill your empty bottles with tap water, freeze, and use them to keep things cool on your next picnic.

Parenting Tip: This tip is simple: children remember the positive and encouraging things you say to them, and replay them when faced with self-doubt. So, say something positive to your child whenever the opportunity presents itself, it will do wonders for their self-esteem. Especially helpful is identifying specific character traits that you admire in your child; unlike praising them for a specific action, praising them for a specific character trait gives them self-confidence in a variety of situations.


How Much Sleep Does Your Baby Need?
When you bring home that newborn from the hospital, you soon realize that sleeping like a baby doesn't mean what most people usually take it to mean. Babies need a lot of sleep; however, it takes time before they can sleep through the night. The amount of sleep children need changes as they get older. While every child is different, there are some basic guidelines that can help you know if your child is getting enough sleep during that all-important first year.

Newborn - When you first come home with that baby, you may feel like you are in a constant cycle of feeding and napping. This is completely normal. Newborns will sleep about sixteen hours a day, spread out in about two hour segments around the clock. When the stomach is still so small, babies need to eat frequently, especially if you are nursing. It is a good idea, especially when you first get home from the hospital, to nap during the day when the baby naps. You will be on their sleep schedule for a while.

Some nursing mothers use a co-sleeping method so that they lose less sleep until the baby begins to sleep through the night. By keeping the baby close, they feel secure and aren't waking up frightened during the night. If you are bottle-feeding, you might try taking turns with the feedings with your partner, so both of you get a little more sleep.

One Month - By the time the baby is about one month old, they are starting to be awake more, as they are learning about the world around them. They will usually sleep about fifteen hours a day, with around six hours of that time during the day. You will quickly pick up on the cues that the baby is ready for a nap; some will fall asleep shortly after a feed or even while they are feeding.

Three Months - Now is the time that every parent lives for: the baby normally begins to sleep through the night. By about three months, their stomach has grown and they can eat more, so they can sleep longer at a stretch during the night. They still sleep about fifteen hours, but their naptime decreases to about five hours. Not every child will start to sleep through the night right at three months. Some take a little longer. When you start to introduce some solid foods, that also usually helps the baby begin to sleep longer at night.

Six Months - At six months, babies drop to needing about fourteen hours of sleep each day, with only about four hours at naptime. However, sometimes at about six months, infants will still wake up during the night. If they are sleeping in their own room, they will wake and realize that mom is not right there. Sometimes they will go back to sleep, but sometimes they just need to know you are there.

Nine Months - Nine months is another milestone. By now, they should be sleeping through the night regularly. While they still need about fourteen hours of sleep, they begin to nap less. They may only nap about three hours during the day.

Twelve Months - By the time the baby is about a year old, they will normally be sleeping about thirteen hours a day. They will sleep about ten or eleven at night, with a two or three hour nap during the day. Some children may not want to even nap at all. They are too busy exploring their world, but it is still a good idea to try to encourage naptime.

As with most growth milestones, no two children are exactly alike. Be flexible, but still try to ensure that your baby is getting enough rest. It will make life easier for all of you