Baby Sleep

Sleep sacks can be a safer alternative than quilts when it comes to keeping your baby warm at night, but as with anything connected to your precious new infant, you should learn all the pros and cons of these wearable baby blankets before trusting your child with them. This article will briefly summarize what to look for and look out for when it comes to sleep sacks, but by all means talk to your family doctor, friends and family to fully inform your own purchasing decision.

As you prepare for the arrival of a first baby, you try to learn everything there is to know by the time the baby is born. Don't sweat it too much -- some things can't really be learned until you have a real live baby, and swaddling is one of those things. It seems charming and maybe even a bit antiquated, but there's a reason mothers all over the world have been swaddling their babies for thousands of years: it works. Swaddling calms infants and helps the baby to sleep. Of course, there are always some rebellious infants who won't have it, and that's OK, too. But it's a good technique to learn soon after your baby's birth, and one that many parents put to good use.

So, what is swaddling, exactly? Simply put, it's wrapping tightly with cloth -- a lightweight blanket, usually, that may be secured with swaddling bands. In some cultures, especially in the past, infants were swaddled nearly all the time during the first year; in modern Western cultures, swaddling is mainly done to put the baby to sleep and/or to sooth a crying baby until about 3 to 6 months of age (though swaddling older babies is not unheard of).

The Basic Technique

Most new parents learn to swaddle from a nurse or midwife soon after their baby's birth, using a thin cotton flannel receiving blanket. If you want a hands-on demonstration and it hasn't been offered, ask. Most hospitals swaddle to put the newborn baby to sleep, as do many birthing centers and midwives, and watching it being done by an experienced swaddler is the first step to having it become second nature to you.

Stick to a thin cotton or muslin blanket for swaddling -- it's not only easier, it's safer, since heavier blankets can cause dangerous overheating. Swaddling a baby is a lot like wrapping a burrito (if beans and rice could kick and scream): place the blanket on a flat surface in a "diamond" position, with the top corner turned down. Set the baby in the center and fold one side over and under, followed by the bottom corner, followed by the other side, tucked securely. As you learn to do it more quickly, it becomes easier.

Baby Wraps

An alternative to traditional swaddling to help calm and put your baby to sleep is to use one of the many wraps designed for easy swaddling that are on the market. These are not only convenient, they are a safe choice; while properly swaddling a newborn has been found to be safe and beneficial, improperly swaddling can increase the risk of SIDS if the blanket is too loose or heavy enough to cause overheating. Wraps reduce these risks, so don't hesitate to try them, especially if you can't seem to get the hang of traditional swaddling techniques. Easy-to-use options include the Miracle Blanket, SwaddleMe, Swaddlepod, and the Cozy Cocoon. Another option is the versatile HALO Sleep Sack, a zip-up baby blanket with a detachable swaddle band, created specifically to reduce SIDS risk, with a portion of the sales going to the First Candle/SIDS Alliance.

Having twins can be overwhelming -- especially when it comes to planning your nursery. Two times the babies means twice the decorating. Fear not, whether you're having two girls, two boys, or one of each, we've got the perfect tips and picks for baby crib bedding sets for twins.

Sophisticated solids:
Solids don't have to be boring. When you're having twins, you'll have a lot going on. Create a nursery that is calming. Chose baby crib bedding sets with modern, subtle details, in updated colors and comfy, cozy fabrics. Matteo Home offers beautiful baby crib bedding sets in colors like sage, celedon and plum. The simplicity will keep you from getting sick of it in six months.

Go custom:
Let's face it, sometimes you can shop and shop and shop and still not find the exact thing you're looking for. Don't stress yourself out -- you'll get enough of that when the babies come. There are several online retailers that now offer custom baby crib bedding sets. Try the Warm Biscuit Bedding Company, whose fabric choices range from whimsical to graphic. Javis Davis will also sew you a specialty crib bedding set. Mix and match their quirky patterns for something totally unique.

Reading baby books to your baby is a wonderful way to share your love of reading, and it boosts listening, memory, and vocabulary skills as well as teaches your baby about communication and storytelling. Perhaps the best thing about reading baby books to your baby is the connection of what your baby loves the most -- hearing your voice and being close to you -- with books, instilling a love of reading from an early age.

First published in 1947, Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown is a classic baby book still enjoyed today. It tells the story of a little rabbit who is getting ready to go to sleep by saying goodnight to everything in sight. A fun activity to do while reading this baby book is to look for every item the rabbit says goodnight to, including a mouse who appears throughout the story. Comforting and magical, this book is worth reading over and over again.

Famous for its large and colorful illustrations, The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle recently celebrated its 40th anniversary by releasing a pop-up version of this modern classic baby book. This story follows a week in the life of a caterpillar who eats his way through fruit and then devours everything from a cupcake to a sausage to a cherry pie. Eventually, at the end of the story, he makes the transition into a butterfly, a tale that will enchant and delight your baby.

Featuring simplicity at its best, Go, Dog. Go! by P.D. Eastman is filled with all sorts of dogs - big dogs, little dogs, black dogs, white dogs -- which represent the diversity of life and help children to learn about differences. This baby book is straightforward and a bit silly, but the colorful illustrations reflecting exactly what the text says make this book a great first reader for every child.

The magical silliness of Dr. Seuss is evident in Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You: Dr. Seuss's Book of Wonderful Noises, one of the most fun baby books to read aloud to your baby. Your child will love hearing you make the "klopp klopp klopp" noise of horse feet and the "grum grum grum" noise of a hippopotamus chewing gum, and you will enjoy hearing the squeals of laughter from your baby as you make all of Mr. Brown's wonderful noises.

Babies love to look at other babies' faces, so you know Mrs. Mustard's Baby Faces by Jane Wattenberg will be a hit with your baby. This baby book folds out like an accordion, featuring laughing babies on one side and the same babies crying on the other side. The brightly colored and graphic backgrounds in each picture add to the visual stimulation. There is no text, so this baby book can be creatively interpreted by you and your baby.

Another baby book with few words, Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann tells the story of a zoo keeper closing up for the night, while a sneaky gorilla follows him and lets all of the animals out of their cages to follow the zoo keeper home. The story is told almost completely through pictures that are filled with funny details you will enjoy pointing out to your baby.

For kids with allergies, nursery bedding is a very important consideration, as is what is in the bedroom itself. Young children spend 10+ hours a day in their bed, with their noses snuggled close to the things around them. Here are some tips to help make young allergy sufferers more comfortable while they sleep.

1. Encase your child's mattress and pillow with a special cover that keeps dust mites, mold, pet dander and other allergens at bay. The Protect A Bed AllerZip mattress cover keeps allergens away and also is waterproof to protect the mattress from nighttime accidents. If your child is sensitive to chemicals, there are Organic Cotton sheets that can withstand frequent hot water washings. This kind of nursery bedding is free from chemicals and dyes that can be aggravating to some children.
2. Keep plush toys to a minimum in the bed. If your child needs a special toy to sleep with, find one that can be washed weekly in hot water to keep it free of allergens. According to Achooallergy.com, Gund brand stuffed animals are good for this purpose. Add this cute monkey to your nursery bedding.