Our Baby News

Think you’re done? Not so fast. The stroller was just the beginning of the traveling show. One more feature to consider, is its ability to hold an infant carrier—for those of you who think you can transfer a sleeping baby without waking him.

The choice of a car seat is less of a challenge than the stroller. There are fewer models, only about a hundred, but since they all have to conform to the same safety standards, the only ways in which they differ are cosmetics and a few conveniences. The basic types are as follows:

• Infant seat: Holds babies up to 20 pounds. There are two types: single unit or base plus carrier.

• Convertible seat: These allow you to keep it rear facing until the baby hits 20 pounds/one year old, and then can be readjusted for a forward-facing big kid.

• Toddler seat: For big kids (over 20 pounds /one year). A booster seat is recommended for children until 40 pounds.

Safety features in the strollers are always one of the most important factors in choosing the best. As usual it is the safety of the baby that is the greatest concern for any parent. However, while buying the baby stroller one should ensure that the stroller remains upright with the diaper bag hanging over the handles.

At four or five months, the range of tasks she can accomplish has broadened to include supporting her body weight with her hands on straight arms, grasping a rattle placed in her hands, and reaching for objects.

These milestones are the first major photo-ops. Not only has she grown into her face a little more and can smile for more than a split-second, but she can do all of these cute, photogenic things.

It used to be that rolling over was a near-certainty at four months, but it is occurring later these days.

The difference is sleeping on the back: Babies used to be put to sleep face down, and the push off from the arm accomplished the rollover.

These days, it is recommended that babies sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of SIDS, and they don’t have the same advantage, which makes learning this new task considerably harder.

How to Put a Sleeping Baby in a Crib (Without Waking Him Up)

Wonder of wonder, miracle of miracles!” This lyric from Fiddler on the Roof referred originally not to the wonder of a man finding a girl to be his bride, but to getting a baby to stay asleep when they actually put him down in his bed.

If you’ve let baby fall asleep while you’re lying down or in a semi reclining position, forget it.

Game’s over. You have to be at least in a sitting position that you can get out of easily.

Then, a well-placed mattress, that is, on the uppermost notch, will minimize the descent (and spare your lower back muscles).

Keep a hot water bottle under the blanket if the room (and bed) is cool. Cradle him as you’re going down so that he doesn’t feel a cool breeze across his face.

Allow a little light in the room since the dark can be scary to a baby. Don’t shut the door right away—leave it open a crack.

Car Seat  Safety : Helpful Hints

It is a safe bet that each and every day you spend a significant amount of time getting a baby into and out of a car seat. Do yourself a favor and spend the extra money to buy a model that has a detachable base (which stays mounted in the car to avoid constantly readjusting straps) and allows effortless transfer of a sleeping baby.

As for teeny, tiny babies who are swamped by straps even at the tightest settings, roll a towel and place it around the head to keep it from rolling.

To take up slack in front of his belly, roll up a hand towel and place it between belly and the front restraint plate.