Windsor Changing Table with Cabinet/ Antique Walnut

 

 The Windsor Changing Table is space saving innovation. Changing table features three drawers and two cabinets that are great for extra storage of blankets, sheets or towels. It could also become a dresser for a smaller nursery saving you some space. A large changing area on the tabletop fits a standard changing pad. The Windsor Changing Table is made of Eco-friendly Hardwood and shipped fully assembled, one less piece of furniture to try to figure out for your expected precious one's room. It is available in three of our durable high build finishes and is certified non-toxic.

Pack Your Bags, You're Heading to the Hospital!

You are getting so close to that big day. As it approaches, make sure that you are prepared for your hospital stay. Who knows how long you will be there. Labor can be 5 minutes for could be longer than you care to sit in one place at one time. Think about some of the things that you will want while you are there. 

You will probably want to have two bags with you. One bag should have items that you need before labor and the other bag should have things that you'll need after.

You probably should have everything ready to go by the time you reach eight months because you don't know when your baby is going to decide to come into the world.

Here's a list of things recommended by experienced moms:

For labor

• A picture ID (driver's license or other ID), your insurance card, and any hospital paperwork you need
• Your birth plan, if you have one
• Eyeglasses, you wear them. Even if you usually wear contact lenses, you may not want to deal with them while you're in the hospital.
• Toiletries: Pack a few personal items, such as a toothbrush and toothpaste, lip balm, deodorant, a brush and comb, makeup, and a hair band or barrettes. Hospitals usually provide soap, shampoo, and lotion, but you might prefer your own.
• A bathrobe, a nightgown or two, slippers, and socks. Hospitals provide gowns and socks for you to use during labor and afterward, but some women prefer to wear their own. Choose a loose, comfortable gown that you don't mind getting dirty. It should be either sleeveless or have short, loose sleeves so your blood pressure can be checked easily. Slippers and a robe may come in handy if you want to walk the halls during labor.
• Whatever will help you relax. Here are some possibilities: your own pillow (use a patterned or colorful pillowcase so it doesn't get mixed up with the hospital's pillows), music and something to play it on, a picture of someone or something you love, anything you find reassuring. If you're going to be induced, think about bringing some reading material because it may be a while before labor is underway.

For your partner/labor coach

• A camera or video camera with batteries, charger, and memory card (or film or tape). Someone has to document the big event!
• Toiletries
• Comfortable shoes and a few changes of comfortable clothes
• Snacks and something to read
• Money for parking and change for vending machines
• A bathing suit. If you want to take a bath or shower during labor, you may want your partner to get in with you to support you or rub your back.

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information paraphrased from babycenter.com

 Windsor Convertible Crib:
 The Windsor Lifetime Crib is a beautifully crafted piece of baby furniture for your child. Our cribs are made to exceed all safety requirements and to beautify any nursery.
 

• The Windsor Convertible Crib grows seamlessly throughout a child's life by evolving from crib to toddler bed to full size bed.
• An adjustable height mattress renders a drop down side obsolete, making it easier for parents to lay down a sleeping baby undisturbed.
• The traditional mission style with a slightly arched back panel gives the Windsor Crib a tasteful look that would act as the focal point of any nursery.
• Converting the Windsor to a toddler bed gives your baby one big step toward a big kid bed.
• The conversion rail kit is a simple and cost effective solution to extending the life of your crib through your child’s college years by becoming a full size bed.
• The Windsor lifetime crib is made of our durable Eco-friendly Hardwood and refined in three of our high build Five Step Finishes.
• The Windsor Convertible Crib surpasses US Safety Standards.

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Chemicals That Pregnant Women Should Avoid

When you are getting ready to have a baby your lifestyle will change. During your pregnancy your diet will directly effect your baby. everything you eat, drink and breath. A lot of the things that you eat and drink are not dangerous to you, but can be devastating to your developing baby. Here are some things to avoid during your pregnancy.

Fish and Seafood High in Mercury

Especially the fish that are larger fish that are high on the food chain and accumulate greater amounts of mercury. Mercury has been shown to cause brain damage in developing fetuses and can also cause developmental delays. Sushi and shellfish are also not recommended. There is a risk of bacterial infection associated with it.

Unpasteurized Dairy Foods

Unpasteurized milk and imported soft cheeses such as brie and feta cheese should be avoided because of the risk of a bacteria called listeria. Listeria poisoning can be dangerous or fatal to a fetus. Eat hard cheeses for the duration of your pregnancy to avoid risk.

Raw Sprouts and Unwashed Fruits and Vegetables

Raw sprouts and unwashed vegetables and fruits can potentially contain salmonella or E. coli bacteria.

Certain Meats

Processed and packaged lunch meats, including hot dogs and sausages, can also potentially contain listeria. Undercooked beef, chicken and eggs can be contaminated with bacteria such as E. coli or salmonella, so choose and cook your food well.

Alcohol

It's best to avoid alcohol entirely during pregnancy. Even moderate drinking can affect your baby's brain development. Large amounts of alcohol during pregnancy can result in fetal alcohol syndrome which can result in brain damage, low birth weight and facial deformities.

Caffeine

Caffeine, although widely consumed, is a drug. It can cross the placenta and affect a baby's heart rate. Recently a study found that as little as 12 oz. of coffee per day may slow fetal growth.

Pesticides

Pesticides contain chemicals that attack the nervous system of insects to kill them.  Take precautions to avoid contact with fertilizers, insect repellent and bug sprays as they will also harm your baby.

Lead

Lead is very toxic to unborn children. Avoid renovating during your pregnancy, as lead can be released during construction or demolition. This can increase your chances of exposure without you even realizing it.

Plastics

Certain plastics that contain Bisphenol-A, which is a plasticizer used to make vinyl flexible, have been shown to mimic the hormone estrogen. Excessive exposure has been linked to low birth weight as well as hormonal and metabolic problems.

Smoking

Duh! Lung and heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and other diseases are linked to smoking. Women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to have babies with low birth weight, congenital heart defects, asthma, allergies, and other deformities.

Synthetic Household Cleaners

Avoid inhaling harsh synthetic household cleaners such as ammonia. Switch to using non-toxic household cleaning products and detergents.

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Information paraphrased from livestrong.com

Six Steps to Help Mama Sleep

After a long hard struggle my wife is on the final stretches of the pregnancy. We are so excited! We are due on the 23rd of April. For Shelley, this can not come too soon. 

The worst part for Shelley seems to be falling asleep and staying asleep. In the stressful life of a mom to be, every minute of sleep counts. Here are some way that you can help that beautiful woman to get some shut eye as she approaches the due date.

3rd trimester

The most challenging period for a pregnant woman to get some sleep is the third trimester. The growing baby pushing on her bladder, the struggle to find a comfortable spot to sleep in and just the thought of preparing for a new baby are some of the variable that keep mama sleepless.

A budding karate star kicking and punching away can also keep mom awake. The baby will be moving a lot and as it grows, the movements are much more noticeable. Something as small as the baby getting hiccups can disturb even a deep sleeper.

Because the legs are carrying the excess weight, they have a tendency to cramp later at night when she tries to relax.

To reduce the amount of effect this has, here are six sleep promoting tips for the expectant mother.

1. Try sleeping on your left side. Sleeping on the left side promotes good circulation to the fetus, uterus and eventually back to the heart.
2. If you start showing signs of Restless Legs Syndrome you could have an iron deficiency. It would be best to consult your doctor
3. Using a body pillow could help by adding support for the belly.
4. No soda! carbonated drinks can cause dehydration which will lead to more cramping.
5. Do something to distract your weary mind. Read, watch TV, clean, Listen to music or take a bath before trying to go back to sleep.
6. A good stretching routine before going to bed can help to loosen the muscles and help them relax to keep from cramping.

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In all seriousness

My last few posts have been a little serious, so I just wanted to lighten things up a bit and talk about some of the awesome things that my wife and I are going through here in the last month of her pregnancy.

Dry run

The best thing that we have done in the last few days was to take our practice drive to the hospital. Just taking that drive made the whole experience that much more real. Shelley tried to make it as real as possible by screaming out "Rob it really hurts. Just go around that old lady. Just go, just go, JUST GO!!!" We made our drive in 11 minutes and 28 seconds. That will be some of the most exciting minutes of my life.

So frustrating

One of the most frustrating things for me has been the stubbornness of our baby. Even in the womb, the child is proving that it is going to do what it wants to do. Shelley, of course, always feels the baby moving, but as soon as she puts my hand on her stomach... dead still. Then the other day I felt a lot of big movements and as soon as I grabbed the camcorder... baby stopped.

Throughout the entire pregnancy this child has teased me. This lets me know that we are going to be the best of friends.

Hero

About 2 weeks ago or so Shelley started really getting uncomfortable while sleeping. Tossing and turning has become very difficult. One night she was getting restless and turned in our bed. I was dead asleep, but the movement woke me suddenly. Unfortunately the following result ensued.

I threw my arm up over Shelley and yelled "AAAHHH!!!" I thought that I was awaking to an earthquake. She looked at me and queried "You ok?" Embarrassed, I rolled over and went back to bed. I then made the mistake of telling her why I reacted the way I did. I thought it was heroic. She thought, "I feel like an earthquake?"

Just love

This has been such a fun experience going through all of the highs and lows, joys and scares of having a baby. I am so blessed to have gone through this experience with my best friend. I have nothing but love for my beautiful wife and I can't wait for our baby to arrive.

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 No More Bumpers, Parents Prevent SIDS

I can tell that I am preparing to be a brand new over-protective father, because my mind always tends to wander to what could happen to my baby that is due next month. As a protective person I'd like to shield my child from all of the dangers in the world. I know I won't be able to do that, but there are some things I can do, especially for my helpless newborn. I recently read an article stating that bumpers are no longer accepted as ok.

Whereas the American Academy of Pediatrics previously has warned about "puffy" bumpers, the academy is now recommending against all kinds of bumper pads for cribs. Bumpers are another item that can put your child at risk for suffocation.

Also the stuffed animals, blankies, and pillows can be cute accents for the crib, but they should all be removed while your newborn is sleeping. 

Pediatricians recommend that parents either use breast feeding or pacifier use to lower the risk of SIDS. Using a pacifier can keep baby from sleeping too deeply.

“Current research shows that the best way to reduce the chance of SIDS is to create a safe sleep environment for a baby: alone, in their own sleeping space with no other people in the crib or bassinet; on their backs on a firm sleep surface; and in a crib or bassinet free of pillows, blankets, bumpers, sleep positioners, and other objects,” the FDA says.


Most of all, we at Cribs for College just want you to keep your baby safe. Love your little ones. Come visit our website for some beautiful, quality and safe cribs.

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Drop-side cribs ban takes effect, users have time to comply

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission voted to give a number of manufacturers and providers of drop-side cribs used for infants and babies more time to comply with stronger safety standards for the sleeping beds, which take effect Tuesday.

Under the new rules, the sale of potentially dangerous drop side cribs will be banned and retailers and manufacturers will be required to include stronger mattress support, more durable crib hardware, and rigorous safety testing of cribs before selling to individuals, said Yvonne T. Maddox, deputy director of the institute, in the statement released Monday.

Problems with the harmful cribs stemmed from gaps that form between the crib mattress and drop side rails due to errors in assembly or installation; these are also caused by wear or malfunction from use by individuals. The problems result in infants being trapped in the gap, who in fact may suffocate. Since 2000, drop side cribs have been linked to at least 32 infant deaths in the United States, according to the CPSC.

The ban on the manufacture and sale of drop-side rail cribs will go into effect today, although hotels, motels and day care centers are being allowed to use the drop-side rail cribs until December 28, 2012.

The extension also gives crib rental companies, child care facilities, such as family child care homes and infant Head Start centers, and places of public accommodation, until December 2012 to comply with the new mandatory standards for full-size and non-full-size cribs, in order to update their inventory with compliant cribs.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants not share a bed with adults or other children and should sleep in a separate but nearby place, such as a crib that meets safety standards to prevent the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, a leading cause of death for infants between one to 12 months old, the group says.

Make sure that you take the necessary steps to protect your baby. Get a strong, sturdy cribs that will protect your baby while it sleeps. I can think of nothing worse than having my baby suffer and potentially get hurt by something that I could have prevented.

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Information paraphrased from http://www.ibtimes.com

Your kids know you better than you think

Somehow, Children are so observant that they can pick out the smallest details in some situations, yet they are completely oblivious to other things. One thing that children seem to notice is everything about their parents. Whether it is something that you actually want them to notice or not. One funny example that I saw was on America's Funniest Home Videos years ago. Here's a look at that:

When I was little I had a fail safe so I would never get lost. Whenever I was away from my mom in the grocery store, or somewhere with a lot of people, all I had to do was listen for her cough.

It wasn't really a cough as much as it was her clearing her throat. either way, I could her her clear her throat and recognize that it was her from 5 isles away. I still use this whenever I am looking for my mother today. Like a bat, I think I could locate her without eyesight.

Is there something that your kids noticed about you? Maybe the shutting of a car door in the driveway signals the kids that Daddy is home or mom shuffles her feet so the kids know it's her approaching. Whatever it is, we would love to hear about any of the things that you noticed when you were young or something that your children have noticed about you. Leave us some comments. :-)

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Part 4: Answers to Why my baby is crying 7-12

7. Your baby might be too hot or too cold

Your baby likes to be kept warm, but can easily become too hot. As a rule, they’re comfortable wearing one more layer than you need to be comfortable. Babies probably going to get more angry about being too cold than being too warm.


8. It may be something small

Some babies are extra sensitive to things like scratchy clothing tags or fabric. And they can be very picky (understandably) about subtleties ranging from the position they're held in to the bottle you offer.

9. Baby may be teething

If you can't figure out why your baby is crying then you might try running your finger along their gums. You may be surprised by the nub of a baby tooth.

10. Your baby wants less stimulation

There is much more stimuli in the world than there was in the womb. Sometimes it just gets overwhelming. Some babies like to be swaddled because it makes them feel secure. If your baby doesn't like swaddling, fine a serine place to allow him/her to calm down.


11. Your baby wants more stimulation

Because this can be exhausting, one thing that you may try is wearing your child in a front carrier. Plan plenty of activities. Hang out with other parents with babies. Go on regular outings to kid-friendly places, whether that's your local playground, a children's museum, or the zoo. 

 
12. Your baby may not be feeling well

The cry of a sick baby tends to be distinct from one caused by hunger or frustration. If your baby's crying "just doesn't sound right," trust your instincts and call or see a doctor.

 

What to do if your baby's still crying

Full tummy? Check. Clean diaper? Check. Fever-free? Check.
If you have checked for everything on this list... You're a parent. Babies have there own reasons sometimes for crying. There is no one baby that is exactly the same as the other. You may just need to wait it out. If things become too frustrating, take a break. Allowing your baby to cry for a couple minutes while you gain your composure can be the best scenario sometimes.

Thank you for stopping by. Mention this post and your favorite baby memory in an email to rob@cribsforcollege.com to get 10% off of your next purchase.


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Info paraphrased from babycenter.com