You have been waiting for this month since the first trimester began and you got your positive pregnancy test! At the end of this month you will be holding your precious baby in your arms. But are you ready for all that labor and delivery will bring?

You have probably had at least one baby shower, or if you already have kids you had several “left over” items you can use for this baby. Before you bring the baby home there are several essentials that you want to make sure you have waiting for you.

Infant/Convertible Car Seat
There are no ifs, ands or buts when it comes to having a car seat to bring your baby home in. If you have your baby in a hospital then you will not be allowed to leave the hospital without having your newborn secured in a car seat.

There are two types of car seats you can buy for your baby. One is an infant car seat. It is specifically designed to hold babies up to approximately 22 pounds and 26 inches, and being portable so you do not have to disturb a sleeping baby to get him out of a car. They are also convenient because you can strap your baby in while in the house and then just lock the car seat in the base.

The other type of car seat you might buy is a convertible car seat. This kind stays in your car all the time, but is designed to face backwards until your babies first birthday, and then sit forwards until your baby is about 40 pounds. Some convertible car seats can hold your baby till they are about 60 pounds.

Supplies
Before you head to the hospital, you should make sure you have your house well stocked on all the supplies you will need when you bring your baby home, so that you do not have to run to the store immediately. Make sure you have plenty of diapers, diaper rash ointment, baby powder, diaper wipes, wash cloths, scratch mitts, and gowns for your baby to sleep in. You will be tired upon arriving home from the hospital so having the supplies close at hand will help save time and save your energy.

A Place for Baby to Sleep
Make sure you have a plan for a place to lay your baby to sleep. There are many choices out there. You may choose to co-sleep with your baby in your bed. If so you might want to buy a sleep positioner to help keep your baby safe. Other choices for sleeping arrangements include a crib, a bassinet or a travel yard. Bassinets are designed to keep your baby close by you and can often be moved throughout the house.

Travel yards are often designed with built in bassinets that can be removed when the baby outgrows the weight limit. Travel yards are nice because not only can they be taken around the house, but they can be packed up and taken to Grandma’s for the day. Some babies will remain in a travel yard until they outgrow it and move into a toddler bed.

The majority of babies are placed in a crib at some point, whether it is when they are first brought home, or when they outgrow a bassinet. The crib is normally the center of a nursery, and can come in many styles and colors. Crib bedding that you pick will lead to the entire design of your nursery.

Baby Bath Tub
You want to make sure when you bring your baby home that you have a safe place to bathe him or her once the umbilical cord falls off. Newborns are too small to be placed in your bath tub and they will need support to keep from falling over. Some people choose to set their baby in a sink. If you choose to use the kitchen sink, you will want an infant bather to set the baby in, so that your baby doesn’t fall over. You can also set the bather up in the bath tub as the baby gets bigger and wash him there. There are several different types of baby bath tubs normally ranging between $10 to $40.

There are probably other products that you will find that you can’t live without once you get your baby home. If you find that you have forgotten something don’t panic. If possible send out a friend or family member to pick up the item for you so that you can concentrate on settling in with your new baby.

By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of Perfect Parenting

Situation: It never fails, when we’re on vacation, the rains hit. We’re all stuck in the hotel room, and inevitably everyone gets grumpy. How do we keep the kids happy if this disaster strikes again?

Think about it: To quote the insightful words of William Shakespeare, “Nothing is good or bad, only thinking makes it so.” Hey, you’re still on vacation, no one has to go to work, or go to school, and you don’t have to cook and clean. You can still find plenty of ways to enjoy the time.

Solution #1: If you read this book before you left, you’ve packed some indoor activities. If not, venture out to a local store, and buy a selection. It will be the best money you spend on the trip. A few ideas are: paint by number sets, Legos TM, balloons, head sets with music and books on tape, puzzles, clay, and hand-held computer games. One toy that’s a hit for many kids from about age three to ten is a selection of plastic miniature animals or bugs. Many kids will play happily with these for hours. There are many favorite games that are made in small travel size versions, such as checkers, chess and even Monopoly TM. Check out the local toy store.

Solution #2: If you’re lucky enough to have a kitchenette in your room, allow the kids to play house. Let them use the dishes and supplies. Cleaning up the mess is worth it, since this activity will keep them busy for long periods of time. Even better, let room service take care of the mess and give them an extra tip.

Solution #3: Let the kids build a fort using tables, chairs, blankets and whatever else they can find. Let them play, eat, and even sleep in the fort. Need I say it again? The mess is worth the hours of happy playtime.

Solution #4: Fill the bathtub with water. Toss in anything you can find that can be used as water toys, such as cups, plastic dishes, and empty shampoo bottles. Let the kids enjoy playing in the water and don’t worry about the splashing.

Solution #5: Play “Easter Egg Hunt” using coins. Hide them all over the rooms and let the kids find them. Have a scavenger hunt, or a treasure hunt.

Solution #6: Set up a beauty salon. Let the kids practice hairstyles, paint each other’s fingernails, and put on make up.

Solution #7: Let the kids play dress-up with your clothes, if you’re comfortable with the idea. Have a fashion show. Put on a play. Have a concert.

Solution #8: Let them play in the rain! Just dry them off and give them some hot chocolate when they come in.

About the Author:
Elizabeth Pantley is the author of several books, including Gentle Baby Care : No-cry, No-fuss, No-worry — Essential Tips for Raising Your Baby, The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night, Kid Cooperation (with an introduction by William Sears, MD), Perfect Parenting, as well as her latest The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers and is also president of Better Beginnings, Inc. She is a popular speaker on family issues, and her newsletter, Parent Tips, is seen in schools nationwide. She appears as a regular radio show guest, and has been quoted in Parents, Parenting, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, American Baby, Working Mother, and Woman’s Day magazines. Visit Elizabeth’s web site http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth.

Not only do you have to remember safety during the summer when your baby is by a swimming pool, you also have to make sure you are aware of the every day water dangers that surround your baby at home. There are as many as 400 accidental drownings a year, almost half of which occur in a place other than the backyard pool. They are all easily preventable if you are just aware of your surroundings and of what you can do to protect your baby.