Archive for the ‘BabyBox’ Category
It’s that old piece of furniture that sits quietly in the corner. It’s the old heirloom that you inherited from your great grandmother when you got married and moved into your first home. It’s a tired collection of wood and glue but it means a lot to you and you just can’t bear to part ways with it. After all, it’s the bassinet your grandmother slept in for her first few years. So what can you do to breathe live back into that beloved piece of family history?
The reasons behind restoring an old piece furniture can be as vast as the amount of old time vintage antique shops that litter the eastern seaboard. To each person who has that well worn item stored away deep into the recesses of their seldom visited attic there is a potential for restoring the memories of love ones long gone and the luster of a once prized family heirloom. Often, as time rolls by the memories of childhood slip into a forgotten realm and the hustle and bustle of today becomes the focal point of the mind. It’s only when that person ventures into the attic to search for some other less important misplaced item that those memories come back in a flood as they stand in amazement of that old piece of furniture that they had long forgotten about.
If you’ve ever been that person, you surely know the feeling that rushes back as you remember the day it was handed down to you. The proud feeling that you were remembered or the touching embrace as you hugged the frail person who cared for you as a child and has now realized that you are the rightful caretaker of the items that mean the most to them in life. Whether it’s that old bassinet, or a well worn hutch, the desire to see it preserved will begin to haunt you until you give in and start the process of restoring that beautiful piece of art.
Where do you begin to start the process? This item is one of great importance to you and you want to ensure it’s properly restored to its rightful luster. The process of restoring furniture can be a rewarding one but success is dependent on the degree of restoration, the particular piece you are restoring and the education level you have with restoring.
The right place to begin in the process is to determine what the value of the piece is. This is not crass but a 200 year old antique worth $10,000 is not all that uncommon to show up in a forgotten attic and when it happens it’s best to seek out a qualified artisan that is skilled in the art of restoring valuable antiques. If anything, a qualified artisan can assist you with the best process to take to ensure the piece stays as valuable as it can. If the item is not as valuable as that colonial antique you can likely seek the assistance of your local wood worker supply store. This writer has relied on friends at Woodcraft for countless assistance over the years.
If you want to go at the process alone you’ll find that the hours you spend on that beloved piece will melt away and they usually end up being the most rewarding hours you’ll spend as an adult. You’ll often become one with the furniture as you relive all of the memories that make that piece of furniture so important to you. With countless online resources aimed at first time restorers you’ll find numerous places more then willing to help you make all of the critical decisions on what to do.
Also, keep in mind that the patina that a price of furniture obtains over the years can be a large part of the character and removing that character can all but ruin the real appeal of an heirloom. Before you pick up that paint stripper think to your self. Does the actual wood and glue mean the most to you or does the wear and tear caused by years of love mean more to you. Answering that question should tell you what steps you should take before you proudly display that heirloom where the world can see it!
Kimberly Green has inherited many beautiful family heirlooms and has recently refinished 2 bassinets that have been in the family for years.
Buying baby furniture can be overwhelming. There are so many styles and options. But one thing that is most important is that the furniture needs to be safe for your baby. Cribs are involved in more infant deaths each year than any other nursery product. Know what to look for when buying a crib.
First check the corner posts on the crib. The best option is corner posts that are flush with the headboard and footboard. At most, they should extent 1/16” above the top. They should not be long enough for clothing worn to get hooked on.
Check that the mattress support hangers can be completely secured to the frame by either bolts or closed hooks. Regularly check the crib’s hardware to make sure none of it has loosened something that can happen with a child bouncing on the mattress.
If you’ll be using bumper pads, check them out carefully to have the following features: tie or snap in place, fit all the way around the crib, have straps/ties in each corner, in the middle of the sides along the open rails and should also have ties at the top and bottom edges. (Be sure to remove the bumper pads when your child can stand in the crib. Otherwise they might use the pad as something to step on if they want to climb out of the crib.)
Once you get the crib and mattress home, discard all plastic. Never use any part of the plastic, including the bag covering the mattress, as the plastic could cause suffocation.
Because of the potential of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), use a firm, flat mattress in the crib and lay your baby on their back. Instead of using a blanket that can get wrapped around the baby, use a one-piece sleeper with legs and arms.
When arranging the baby furniture in the nursery, keep the crib away from any window. Any windows that have blinds or draperies also have cords that could cause strangulation. And the screen of an open window is not strong enough to prevent a child from falling out.
If you put your baby to bed with a pacifier or teether, never tie it around their neck. When you are ready to put your baby down to sleep, there should be nothing around their neck and that includes bibs and necklaces.
Make sure the side rail is fully locked when raised. Put the mattress in its lowest position once your child can stand in the crib by itself. Remove any and everything that they could possibly stand on to try and climb out including any stuffed animals or toys.
Climbing out anyway? Then keep the side rail down. It’s a lot less further to fall than if the side rail is up.
And finally, keep in mind that any baby toy/mobile/gym that stretches across the crib is wonderful for your infant but can become a strangulation hazard once your baby gets older and more active.
Kimberly Green is a mom and has researched, in depth, baby safety when buying baby furniture
When planning for a new baby, there is so much to consider. Once you get the basics covered and are on to the nursery, you will find there is even more to consider even when just choosing crib bedding.
When it come to about crib bedding your first thoughts may be about which colors to choose or if you should go with a theme bedding. No matter what you settle on, one thing you should never settle for is quality.
First and foremost, consider safety. Even though most, if not all crib sets comes with additional blankets, comforters, pillows and even baby bumpers, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises “Remove pillows, pillow-like bumper pads, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, stuffed toys, and other soft products from the crib.” Several infant crib deaths have been attributed to these items. With this in mind, instead of spending money on crib bedding sets, it might be better to invest money in quality sheets and other nursery accessories. If you’re set on the beautiful comforters that come with crib bedding sets, you always display it as a wall hanging.
Many parents think that a crib bumper is a must have. Unfortunately several documented infant deaths have been specifically attributed to crib bumpers. However, there are safer options to consider. One option that is becoming increasingly popular is a mesh bumper. Mesh bumpers are made up of breathable material that allows air to circulate to baby while keeping his or her limbs contained within the crib. Listed below are a few more reasons why mesh bumpers are a better option:
• Traditional crib bumpers should be removed from the crib when baby begins to pull up or stand. This extra padding may provide the baby with the extra boost needed to escape from the crib and suffer an injury from a fall.
• The breathable fabric reduces the risk of suffocation, re-breathing, and nasal/oral compression.
• Mesh bumpers secure with velcro rather than dangerous ties. Documented deaths have occurred due to strangulations by bumper ties.
• These products are able to be machine washed and dried.
When choosing crib bedding make sure you are aware of what the fabric is made out of and how it is sew together. Some baby bedding is sewn with nylon thread, which is very poor choice. Nylon thread can melt in the high heat of a dryer. Bedding sewn with cotton or cotton blend threads will be safer and much more durable.
Avoid the type of designs that are known as ‘stamped designs’ as these types of designs are merely patterns that only are on top of the fabric and they will not hold up in the wash. As different pieces of the set are laundered more frequently, some will fade faster, giving a mismatched look to the bedding set. Your best bet is to find crib bedding with patterns on the material that are actually woven into the fabric.
Now that you have knowledge regarding safety and material, let the fun begin choosing the crib bedding best suited for the new arrival!
K. Green has a great deal of experience with children and babies, being a mother herself. She has had to buy crib bedding on a regular basis and knows which companies have the highest quality.
When a baby is born, or about to be born, family members and friends love to give baby gifts to commemorate the occasion. However, this is not the only time when baby gifts are given. This article will cover the significance baby gifts.
There are many occasions to give a baby gift. The new arrival of a baby, a baby’s christening, baby birthdays and celebrating special milestones that a baby achieves are just a few of these occasions. Baby gift giving usually starts with a baby shower before the baby even arrives.
The first few baby gifts are usually those that are given to assist the baby’s parents. A baby shower is a traditional event that is held some period of time before the baby’s arrival. At a baby shower, many traditional gifts are given, such as; baby blankets, diaper bags, lotions and powders, sweaters, hats, all in ones, sleepers, socks, and baby booties. These baby gifts are much appreciated by the parents to be because they help the new parents get ready for their baby’s arrival and prepare them for bringing their baby home.
Baby gifts can have a significant meaning to the family as they commemorate a special day in a baby’s life and can become cherished family heirlooms. There are any keepsake baby gifts such as; a bracelet with the baby’s birthstone, a beautiful music box that will delight the baby for years to come, or even a handmade blanket. This also applies for baby’s christening gifts. These types of baby gifts are cherished family mementos, kept for years by family and many times are passed down from grandmother to mother to daughter, grandfather to father to son or between siblings.
You can find baby gifts that are perfect for any occasion. Baby gifts can be educational or a soft and snugly toy that will comfort baby. It is also a good idea to occasionally give baby gifts that are purely practical, such as baby clothing or gifts that are beautiful and decorative, such as an embroidered baby blanket. Those gifts too can be heirlooms that are passed down from generation to generation.
You don’t need a reason or an occasion to give a baby gift. Babies and parents appreciate baby gifts at any time. Babies grow at a fast rate; therefore they outgrow clothing rather quickly. Babies are continually developing and exploring the world around them and educational baby gifts are always welcome no matter when they’re given. Babies also have basic needs that must be met and practical gifts such as diapers and bibs are needed constantly.
Remember, it doesn’t matter if you’re a new parent, a grandparent, aunt or uncle, a next-door neighbor or friend of the family, baby gifts are a great way to tangibly demonstrate your love and affection for the baby.
Author Kim Green has children as well as nieces and nephews and has experienced not only receiving baby gifts but buying them as well.
It’s the first challenge as a new parent; keeping your baby safe at all times. As they grow older this challenge will all but become impossible. However, while they are still infants it’s relatively easy to keep them warm and safe with the perfect crib bedding while keeping them in style.
Baby crib bedding has always been looked at as comfort for a newborn child. Simply accessories that keep your baby warm, snuggled and cozy. However, baby crib bedding also keeps your child safe. It’s the first line of defense between a baby and the cold world that surrounds it. Bumpers help to protect the baby from the bars used to keep them safe in their crib. If you didn’t have baby bumpers the risk of a child getting their arms or legs stuck between the rungs would drastically increase. They serve as a necessity due to the increased safety that they supply to a child.
Baby sheets are not only designed to add extra warmth to a baby’s crib it is there to protect them from the mattress and plastic mattress protector that is usually made of cold plastic to keep urine from getting into the mattress in the unfortunate event the diaper fails to hold.
A warm cozy blanket is obviously a safety measure that a baby will grow to love. It’s obvious benefit is the fact that it keeps a baby warm on those cold nights. It also serves are a sense of comfort for the baby. Many parent swaddle their babies to give them that warm cozy feeling that they had before they were born. In some cases, a child becomes very attached to their nighttime blanket. A certain character from Charlie brown comes to mind.
The benefit of baby crib bedding is obvious when you think of it in the contest of safety, warmth and comfort. However, it’s important to keep in mind that quality baby bedding will always offer higher values and comfort than economy bedding. It is almost always made of thicker material; higher thread counts and fewer dyes that will help to keep your baby warmer and safer. Higher quality bedding will also pay for itself because it will withstand the wear and tear that a growing baby will put on it. Lower cost economy bedding will wear out quickly and usually you’ll replace it more times than spending a few extra dollars on quality bedding.
Along with safety, parents are seemingly always looking to enhance their baby rooms with fashion. There are many baby crib bedding companies that not only focus on safety, they blend it with fashionable designs to fit just about every decor. Blending your child’s room with the household is always a key to happy living environment for your baby because it gives them a sense of security. Also, many parents give a themed look to their child’s room so it’s vital that crib blends in nicely and doesn’t stand out as an after thought. In most cases, the crib is the focal point of a baby’s room. This makes sense, after all the precious cargo inside of the baby crib is the focal point of the household.
If your goals are to enhance safety or to blend your baby’s room with the decor of your home, quality baby crib bedding will be a focal point that will help you enhance both needs It’s easy to see where this department should not be overlooked to ensure your baby safely sleeps in style!
K. Green has a great deal of experience with children and babies, being a mother herself. She has had to buy crib bedding on a regular basis and knows which companies have the highest quality.
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