Baby Activities: Ten Fun Things To Do With Your Baby

Posted by TinyTotties on 3. July 2009 10:37

Babies are a lot of work. I should know: I raised two babies. My kids are now in elementary school, and while life is certainly easier, I do miss that magical first year. Sure, I changed lots of diapers and slept very little, but I also got to cuddle with them and play with them and see myself through their adoring eyes.

There are lots of fun activities to do with your baby. These are my favorite:

1. Baby Massage. I loved massaging my babies. It’s a wonderful way to enhance the emotional bond between you and your and baby and to help your baby calm down and relax. Ask your pediatrician for details on how exactly to do it. Do remember to respect your baby’s preferences: most babies enjoy a massage, but some don’t. Other babies become easily over-stimulated so a very short massage works best for them.

2. Peekaboo. This game has been around for a long time, and that’s for a good reason: it’s fun for baby, and it also teaches him the important lesson that objects still exist, even when they’re out of sight. Playing is easy: hide your face behind your hands, then uncover your face and say, "Peekaboo!"

3. Stacking games. When baby is around six months old, she’ll love stacking objects, then knocking them down. Blocks and rings work well, as do everyday household objects such as cereal boxes. Stacking objects promotes your baby’s fine and gross motor skills and her eye-hand coordination. Knocking them down helps reinforce the concept of cause and effect.

4. Filling and dumping. Your baby can occupy himself for a long time filling objects, then dumping their content. Just take him to the local playground, have him sit in the sandbox with a shovel and a bucket, and show him what to do. He will catch on quickly. Filling and dumping helps develop hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.

5. Slow down! When my first baby was born, I used to carry her in the baby carrier while running errands. It was a great experience, but I basically carried on with my usual hurried pace while my baby was close to me.

   When she was about six months old we hired a nanny. One summer morning we all went outside together, the nanny carrying my baby in the baby carrier. I was amazed to see my wonderful nanny walking slowly and making lots of stops along the way, allowing my baby to touch trees, smell flowers and point to interesting objects. My nanny taught me the value of slowing down and allowing baby to experience things along the way.

6. Look at picture books together. This will teach your baby that books are fun. If you name the objects you see in the book, it will also help develop his vocabulary. Older babies enjoy flipping through the pages by themselves, which also reinforces fine motor skills.

7. Dance together. Afternoons used to be long when my babies were very young. Especially winter afternoons. One of my favorite ways to handle these long afternoons was to put on some music, hold my baby in my arms and dance away. This also a great exercise!

8. Bubbles. I’m not sure what it is about bubbles that makes them so fascinating for babies, but both my babies loved bubbles. Sometimes when they were fussy I would take them outside to the yard, where we would sit on the grass and blow bubbles. Watching those bubbles was all it took for them to transform from fussy into happy babies.

9. Exercise together. Exercising with your baby means you can get back in shape while spending quality time with your baby. One great exercise: lay on the floor holding your baby above you. Slowly lift your baby up in the air, and bring her back down again. You are essentially using your baby’s weight to build muscles!

10. Just talk! Even if your baby can’t talk yet, she loves to interact. Having a conversation with your baby is so much fun: look her in the eyes, and say something. Then pause and let her respond. Remember: it will take her a few more seconds than it would take an older child to form her response. Depending on her age, she may smile or coo or make other noises. Now you can say something else. This conversation can go on for at least ten minutes, and provides your baby with an important lesson in communication.

 

Do you have a fun activity that you do with your child? Please let us know by posting a comment.

Baby's First Year: Developmental Milestones

Posted by TinyTotties on 19. June 2009 08:33

The first year of your baby’s life is nothing short of amazing. I sometimes look back at the first year of my own children, who are now in elementary school, and I realize that during that year, they completely transformed. They started out as screaming, demanding little creatures, whose entire purpose in life, so it seemed, was to eat, soil their diapers and sleep. But during that magical year, they became smiling, happy little people, who love to communicate and crave interaction and social attention.

Baby’s first year is characterized with many developmental milestones. Here, I am going to highlight the ones that were the most fun and exciting for me, as a parent, to watch.

1 Month old

By this age, your baby will prefer the human face to other shapes. He may also turn towards familiar sounds or voices. These are your first clues that the screaming bundle you brought home from the hospital is going to be a social human being some day!

2 months old

She smiles! This is probably one of the most exciting milestones. Her smile is not very focused. She smiles at anyone, not just at you, and her smile is more of a reflex than a genuine smile, but it is still exciting and heartwarming, especially after two long months of sleepless nights.

3 months old

By this age, your baby begins to develop a social smile. His smile is no longer just a random reflex. He actually smiles at familiar faces. Another very cute milestone typical for this age: you will see your baby “exercise” by kicking his legs energetically.

4 months old

Your baby is becoming more and more fun to be around. He’s not limited to lying down anymore: he can roll over, and sit with support. He also babbles and makes new and changing noises. By this age, he can sleep for stretches of six hours, which makes your life much easier, especially compared with the 1-2 hour stretches of the first few weeks.

5 months old

It’s great fun to watch your baby as she experiments with the principle of cause and effect. One morning, when she shakes her rattle, it makes a noise. This is interesting! Now she shakes it again, on purpose, delighted with her ability to produce such an interesting sound. What else can she make happen?

6 months old

Your baby is curious and active. When you hold him in your arms, he’s probably not leaning against your body anymore, unless he’s tired. He’d much rather look around, reach and grab interesting objects.

7 months old

Playing peekaboo with your baby is one of the highlights of this age. But no worries: if you’re too busy to play, your baby will happily play all by himself. I once caught my baby placing a towel over her face, then removing it. She did it several times, obviously experimenting with the concept of “peekaboo.”

8 months old

Your baby has a will of her own, and she now has ways of showing it. A baby this age will turn her head away when she’s not hungry anymore. Trying to get one more spoon into her? Good luck with that. When she’s full, she stops eating. Don’t you wish you were like that?

9 months old

His fine motor skills are improving fast – he can now pick up tiny objects using his fingers. During mealtime, he’s even more independent than before. He’d much rather feed himself, and often tries to grab the spoon when you feed him.

10 months old

What a relief. As your baby begins to understand the concept of object permanence, your trips to the bathroom are no longer causing hysteria. Your baby finally understands that even if he can’t see you, you still exist. In the past, he believed that when you went out of sight, you completely disappeared, never to return again.

11 months old

She’s almost not a baby anymore. Very soon she’ll be a toddler. Indeed, she now understands the concept of ‘no’; claps her hands; waves bye-bye; and calls "mama" and "dada." Independence is very important to her now: my daughter used to brush her own hair, using the wrong side of the brush. She also used to make frequent attempts at getting dressed by herself. None of her attempts were successful, but she always kept trying.

12 months old

Congratulations! You’ve survived the first year. But you must admit: all those sleepless nights were worth it. Your child is more fun to be with than he ever was before. He smiles, laughs, and communicates, even though he doesn’t really talk yet. Perhaps he can walk, or maybe he still needs your help walking. He can identify himself in a mirror and loves to see his own reflection. He also loves putting objects into containers and then taking them out and can occupy himself doing that for long stretches of time.

Happy birthday!

Baby Gear: Twelve Essential Items To Buy Before Baby Arrives

Posted by TinyTotties on 2. June 2009 10:18

One of the most overwhelming aspects of preparing for the arrival of a new baby is the seemingly endless list of stuff you’re supposed to buy. Of course, getting the nursery ready is great fun. But when the list of things to buy seems to grow longer by the minute, preparation for baby can make even the most organized parents feel a bit out of control, especially during rough financial times, when people are trying to avoid buying unnecessary items.

This list of twelve essential baby items will help you focus on what’s really important. These items need to be there before baby gets home, or in the case of a car seat – before baby leaves the hospital. There’s a lot to buy beyond this list, of course, and I wouldn’t dream of depriving you of the wonderfully creative process of buying nursery accessories that will transform it into a beautiful and welcoming place for your new baby. But here, I’d like to focus on the essentials.

1. Car Seat. You won’t be able to leave the hospital without it, so this should be the first item on your list. For information on car seat safety, consult the American Academy of Pediatrics Car Safety Guide for Parents.
2. Crib. When choosing a crib, make sure it meets the latest safety standards and especially that there are no more than 2 3/8 inches between the slats.
3. Crib Mattress and a Mattress pad. Choose a mattress that has good back support and is not too soft. Squeeze the mattress at the edges and center to make sure it’s firm. It’s a good idea to protect the mattress with a waterproof mattress pad.
4. Crib bedding and a baby blanket. You will need a minimum of 2 fitted crib sheets and 2 blankets.
5. Layette. The basic newborn wardrobe should include six cotton onesies, or bodysuits. Buy just two in 0-3 month size, and four or five in 3-6 month size. Your baby will probably grow out of the smallest size after the first month. Get long-sleeved onesies if it’s winter, and short-sleeved onesies if it’s summer. You’ll also need six pairs of cotton pants with an elastic waist; six pairs of cotton socks; three receiving blankets; a sweater and a hat; and at least 12 burp cloths to protect your own clothes (an old T-shirt is fine). 
6. Diapers and diapering supplies. You will probably need around 70 disposable diapers per week for the first six weeks, then 50 per week; alcohol-and-fragrance-free wipes; a diaper rash ointment; and a diaper pail for soiled diapers.
7. Bathing supplies. A baby tub is convenient, but not absolutely necessary. We used the sink when our babies were tiny. You do need gentle baby soap; a tearless shampoo; washcloths and bath towels; and rounded-tip nail scissors.
8. Diaper bag. A roomy, well-stocked diaper bag is not a luxury: it’s a necessity. It’s good to have one ready so that you can just grab it whenever you leave the house with baby. A well-stocked diaper bag should include a few diapers, wipes, a diaper rash ointment, a towel or pad for diaper changes, a few ziploc bags for soiled diapers and dirty clothes, a change of clothes for baby, bottles and formula if you’re bottle-feeding, and Baby Tylenol.
9. A baby carrier or sling is great because it keeps your baby close to you while freeing your hands. I found that my babies were a lot happier during the first few months in a baby carrier. Later on they learned to like the stroller – but not before the age of nine months. Of course, each baby is different.
10. A stroller. Choose a model that’s lightweight yet stable and can be folded easily. I see lots of fancy strollers out there that may be all the rage fashion-wise, but to me they look heavy and impractical.
11. Feeding supplies. If you’re breastfeeding, you should buy a breast pump and a couple of bottles in case you need to be away from your baby for a few hours; if you’re bottle-feeding, you’ll need 12 bottles, bottle nipples and covers, and baby formula.
12. Basic medical supplies. Thermometer - a digital thermometer that you can place under your baby's armpit is easy to use; Baby Tylenol; rubbing alcohol to wipe around base of umbilical cord; infant sunscreen for babies over 6 months. You will also need a bulb syringe nasal aspirator to suction excess mucus from baby's nose  (this is just as fun as it sounds!), but you typically get that at the hospital.

Obviously, there are many more items that are not essential but are nice to have, such as a baby monitor, a baby swing, and a rocking chair. This list is a great way to make sure you have all the essentials. Once you have those, you can add from the “nice to have” items as your budget allows.

Sleeping Through The Night: Will It Ever Happen?

Posted by TinyTotties on 27. May 2009 12:11

Yes, it will. But you need to be patient.

Newborns sleep a lot: 16 or more hours a day, but often in stretches of just one to two hours, whether day or night. A more consistent sleep schedule, where most sleep happens during the night, will gradually develop as your baby's nervous system matures and as she is able to go longer between feedings, usually when she’s around 2 months old.

Most experts agree that when babies are around 6 months old, they are capable of sleeping through the night, but you’ll need to adjust your expectations: “sleeping through the night” at this age means 5-to-6-hour stretches, which may not be YOUR definition of "sleeping through the night."

At this point, and possibly earlier, there are several things you can do to encourage your baby to sleep for longer stretches during the night:

1. Create a clear distinction between day and night. During the day, expose your baby to lots of natural light. Play and talk with him and keep him active. Conversely, when he wakes up at night, keep the lights dim, care for him with minimal fuss and put him right back to sleep. This is a good way to teach your baby that daytime is for fun and interaction, and nighttime is for sleep.
2. Follow a consistent bedtime routine. When my kids were babies, we used to give them a warm bath each night. After their bath I used to nurse them, sing a lullaby and put them in their crib. Throughout this routine, lights were dim and we kept very quiet, signaling it was the end of the day and the beginning of the night. If you’re consistent, your baby will lean to associate this routine with going to sleep.
3. Make sure the conditions in the nursery promote sleep. Baby bedding and your baby’s pajamas should be soft and comfortable – never scratchy; the room should be relatively dark; and room temperature should be pleasantly cool – not too hot or too cold. Many parents keep the baby’s room too hot, especially during the winter.
4. Place your baby in bed when she’s drowsy, but awake. See if she falls asleep on her own. Let her fuss and whine a little if she needs to, but do go to her if she starts crying. Our own policy was that we never allowed our children to cry themselves to sleep, but this is of course a very personal decision.
5. During the night, if baby moves or stirs, don’t rush to her right away. Sometimes babies move or makes noises, then go right back to sleep. Rushing to them and fussing over them encourages them to fully wake up and to view night as a chance to play and interact with you. Trust me, you do NOT want that to happen.

Most importantly, keep things in perspective! Those first few months of sleep deprivation are tough, but as someone who has survived it, I can tell you with confidence that you learn to manage and that your body does adjust to functioning on less sleep.

Sooner or later, almost all babies do sleep consistently through the night. Our children started sleeping for longer stretches (5 or 6 hours) when they were around nine months old. By the time they were two years old, and done with teething, they started sleeping consistently for 8-10 hours.

Remember that even when your child starts sleeping through the night, there will be many setbacks, especially when she is sick or scared. Sleep deprivation is part of parenting a young child, just like kissing their boo-boos and admiring their artwork. The calmer you are about it, the easier it will be for you to handle those sleepless nights.

Personalized Children's Artwork

Posted by TinyTotties on 7. May 2009 01:07

The nursery looks fabulous. The crib is beautiful; the gorgeous bedding set matches the lampshade and the very handy toy bag. The hard, yet satisfying work of decorating your child’s room is finished.

Or is it?

The nursery or the playroom are not truly finished if the walls are bare. Bare walls are cold and uninviting in any room, and even more so when it comes to children’s rooms. But where can you find artwork that’s modern, non-kitsch, bright and colorful, appropriate for a child’s room AND affordable? And do you even dare to ask if it can be personalized too?

Normally I would have to say that no, you can’t find modern art for kids that can also be personalized. But recently I happened to come across some fabulous products by Hip Kid Art, a mom-owned company that offers modern, affordable personalized canvas art for children.

So if you’re a mom or a mom-to-be who’s trying to put the finishing touches on your child’s room, or if you’re looking for a truly unique baby shower gift for your pregnant friend, you’ve come to the right place.

Personalized Canvas Art For Children

Hip Kid Art features original, modern custom canvas designs that can be personalized with your child’s name, or any other message. The canvas is wrapped around a wooden frame and arrives ready to hang in any nursery or playroom. Each custom piece is available in two sizes: 12x12 and 24x18.

Some designs are “boyish.” I like the Go Car Go design, with its bright red and blue colors. Can you imagine how nicely it would go with the On The Go Crib Bedding Set?

Another favorite for boys is the Trike design, which features sky blue and fire engine red graphics with your child’s name in navy - classic colors for any tyke’s room.

Some of the designs are decidedly girly, without losing their clean lines or modern edge. The unique Watermelon design, a reddish-orange canvas with black white and marigold flowers, takes the usual flower motif and manages to turn it into something different, edgy and modern yet fun and girly. The Lavender Flowers design is similar, with colors that are more traditional and “girly.”

My absolute favorite for girls is the Chocopink Squares Canvas Wall Art. In fact, this design is so simple and gorgeous, I can totally see myself using it in other rooms! This design will look absolutely fantastic with the Soho Pink 9 Piece Crib Set by JoJo Designs.

If you prefer a more gender-neutral approach to decorating the nursery, you will love the Lollipop design, which features a simple white lollipop drawing and personalization in navy on a sky blue background.

Another great gender-neutral option is the Rings design, a lively design featuring circles in blues and browns, with a touch of pink.

Personalized Wall Plaques For Children

Each of the lovely Personalized Wall Plaques by Kimberly Petruska Designs can be personalized with a child's name, birth announcement, or inspiration message. They come in a variety of colors and designs, and at just $29.95 per plaque offer an exceptionally affordable way to personalize your child’s room.

The plaques measures 8" x 10" and may be purchased with a frame or a hanging ribbon. They are also available in a 5" x 7" size with a ribbon.

The very popular Pink Zebra design caught my eye immediately. I love the bold color combination, and the added sparkle around the name. This design coordinates well with the Zebra - Pink 9 Piece Crib Set by JoJo Designs.

I also ADORE the Paisley Peace design, with a hand-painted name, which features colorful paisleys on a chocolate background with a glittered Peace sign. I find it hip, modern and simply fun to look at. If you prefer more “grownup” designs, you will love this one.

For boys, I really like the Sports Wall Plaque with Hand-Painted Name. It’s a classic, timeless design and it also goes exceptionally well with the All Star 9 Piece Crib Set by JoJo Designs. Another great option for boys is the Rick's Motorcycle with Hand-Painted Name design, which was designed by bike builder Rick Petko from the popular "Chopper" TV Show and bears his signature. For just $37.95, it’s a unique, decidedly “grownup” look and a wonderful addition to your little boy’s room.

 

Wall Letters: Beautiful and Educational

Posted by TinyTotties on 8. April 2009 10:26

Look around your child’s room. Something still missing? Here’s a great suggestion: hand-painted wooden wall letters. Beautiful, durable and high-quality hanging wall letters give the nursery room an extra flare and are the perfect finishing touch to any child's room.

Wall Letters Are A Beautiful Decoration

Wall letters are a great way to personalize your child’s room. If your kids share a room, wall letters can be used to personalize each child’s space within that room.

Wall letters are typically large (we offer them in sizes 6", 8", 10", 12", and 14"), bright and pretty. They add a lot of character to the room as the eyes are typically drawn to them when people enter the room.

Wall Letters Are Educational, Too

Wall letters are not just a pretty decoration: they are also educational. Wall letters can help your child learn to recognize letters and spell his name. Wall letters can also help reinforce foreign language skills, such as Spanish or French, should you choose to spell out words in that language.

While the obvious choice for most parents is to use wall letters to spell their child’s first name on the nursery’s wall, there are other fun options. “RAINBOW” and “PRINCESS” are popular choices for girls’ rooms, while “STARS” and “COWBOY” are great choices for boys. Or try “PLAY” or “FUN” in your kids’ playroom. You can also use wall letters to spell out your own special message, such as “WE LOVE YOU” or “SWEET DREAMS.”

Our Hand-Painted Wall Letters

Tiny Totties are proud to offer a brand new selection of hand-painted wooden wall letters. Our wooden wall letters can be used for your baby's nursery, your child's room, or their playroom. They are original works of art and are carefully hand-painted.

Themed Wall Letters

Our wall letters by Kreations 4 Kids are especially unique in that they are hand-painted to match some of our bedding set designs. For example, our Little Ladybug Wall Letters, which are absolutely adorable by themselves, beautifully complement our Little Ladybug 9 Piece Crib Set.

For little boys, try our All Star Wall Letters. This sports-based theme will look great in any boys’ room, and especially in a room that features our All Star bedding theme.

Another favorite for girls is the Pink Zebra Wall Letters – these are simply perfect when paired with the Pink Zebra bedding theme. 

Custom wall letters

If you have a specific design in mind, we also offer a custom letter option where you can specify any pattern, theme or color and we can create those for you.

With this option, you are in complete control of the style and design of your order. We make these letters especially for you according to your specifications, including size (available sizes are 6", 8", 9", 10", 12" and 14"), font and color. We can match your existing bedding and nursery decor. The possibilities are endless: Just tell us what you want and it's yours!

The process is easy: once you place your order, we ask that you email us your pictures and descriptions to letters@tinytotties.com. To keep communication open, we also ask that you include your phone number so that we can contact you if we have any questions about your design.

Beautiful, high-quality custom hanging wall letters add a touch of class to any room. Order yours today.