Cold Weather Play – Get Started, Today!
By Jennifer
Madiar
I admit it
– home with my almost 8-month-old Jack, some days I want to take the ‘out’ out
of routine. We’ve built towers with wooden blocks, tickled the learning puppy’s
tummy and practiced crawling (and done 27 other things, then repeated them). And
there isn’t any snow outside, but it is way too cold to head to the
park. What to do?
-
Make a playdate!
Whether it’s a weekend or weekday, plan regular get-togethers with friends
and their kids. New smiles and new toys do wonders for everyone’s moods!
-
Bring the outdoors inside!
Is your garage heated? Have your baby take a dip in a small wading pool for
some serious splash time. Or set up a blanket in the living room and have a
picnic with all your child(ren’s) favorite furry friends. And when we
finally have snow? Dump some of that snow in a plastic container, have your
kids put mittens on and play with the snow (note: for most of us, this idea
will work best in the bathroom).
-
Take a day-cation!
Ditch the daily routine for a day
(or if you’re like me, arrange to travel during kids’ naptimes) and explore
a local museum. Both the Children’s Discovery Museum in Normal (www.childrensdiscoverymuseum.net)
and the Children’s Museum of Illinois (www.cmofil.com)
in Decatur have eye-catching, completely engrossing activities for kids of
all ages. A note of practicality – keep extra cold weather gear in the car
for traveling emergencies and make sure your cell phone is charged!
-
Sign up for a class!
Springfield has a multitude of class options through Memorial Medical Center
(www.memorialmedical.com),
St. John’s Hospital (www.st-johns.org),
the YMCA (www.springfieldymca.org),
the Early Learning Center (www.springfield.k12.il.us/schools/elc),
the Music Factory (www.musikgarten.org),
and Kindermusik (www.kindermusik.org).
Having a fun reason to bundle up and brave the cold gives both parents and
children something to look forward to!
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Foster your inner Anne Geddes!
Set up different photo ops inside and snap beautiful pictures of your kids.
There is no better way to learn how to use the video camera, or a real
camera, than during ‘real’ moments. Kids of all ages love hamming it up,
and when you snap that perfect pic, submit it to
www.thecutekid.com – they have a new contest each month.
For more
winter play and activity ideas, continue to visit the
“What’s
Happening” section on Springfield Moms. Also check out
www.wondertime.com,
www.parenthacks.com and
www.babycenter.com for hot ideas during cold weather. And hey – less than
five months until the first day of summer!
Coupons! Register & Save Big!
www.gerber.com
www.similac.com
www.pampers.com
Every
new mom needs to know about this. Register at these websites and you will
start getting coupons in the mail and on-line. It’s just that easy.
Formula
coupons are $5 coupons, so well worth your time. Pampers.com is a little
more involved, but still worthwhile. Inside each pack of Pampers, there is
a sticker with a code number. Enter it at Pampers.com under Gifts to Grow.
You’ll start earning points that can add up to purchases. You can pick from
a selection of books, toys and dvd’s when you register and redeem the
points.
Be prepared to spring for shipping (ours was under $5.00)
Cloth Diapers: One
Mom’s Story
by Kristen Schmid-Schurter
When my husband
went back to work after our baby was born, the second question everyone
asked was: “How are the cloth diapers going?” Perhaps they thought the cloth
diapers would go the way of my attempt at natural childbirth, where I caved
at the 11th hour and clicked the morphine dispenser like a crazed
lab rat.
My interest in
cloth diapers stems in part from my tree-hugger tendencies, and in part from
my natural cheapskate instincts. Also, my only experience in infant care was
changing and bathing my little sister, and when I was seven years old the
diaper pins didn’t faze me. Twenty-six years later they did. I tried
diapering a stuffed bear by following the Dr. Spock book illustrations. It
was so difficult, I just hoped my mom could teach me everything.
Instead she
bought a mountain of Huggies and Luvs out of sympathy for her son-in-law.
When I asked Mom to demonstrate proper diaper pin usage, my six-day-old son
kicked and screamed violently. She threw up her hands and said “I give up.
I’ve never seen anything like this. Enroll him in every physical activity
possible.”
But by then, my
husband had taken ownership of the cloth diaper challenge. He methodically
improved his diaper pinning strategies, with help from his mom and online
research, and began giving me patient tutorials.
Now, maybe
because it’s all we know, using and washing cloth diapers actually isn’t
that hard. When the diapers exceed the small pail we have – in about two
days, by three they’re a health hazard – we dump them in the washing machine
and prewash them. Then we wash the diapers in hot water with bleach,
detergent and OxiClean, and tumble dry.
We use 36 Gerber
Prefold Birdseye Cloth Diapers, which are about $12 for 12. We also have 12
slightly less expensive Gerber's Flat Fold Birdseye Cloth Diapers. They
aren’t as absorbent so they became burp cloths and diaper change pee
shields. Both kinds of diapers are available at Babies “R” Us, Target and
Wal-Mart, along with diaper pins. Babies “R” Us and Wal-Mart both have vinyl
pants. It is possible to avoid pins entirely and buy diapers with snaps or
Velcro on the Internet. Those are available online at
www.greenmountaindiapers.com ,
www.tendertushorganics.com and
www.tinytush.com
We are still at
the beginning of our diapering journey. When our son starts “stooling” we’ll
have to scrape the diaper contents into the toilet. When he gets bigger,
we’ll have to learn how to pin two prefolds together. But for now, we can
pin a pretty mean diaper. And our son’s bottom is happier in cloth.
Unfortunately, neither cloth nor disposable can reliably hold his diaper
contents.
http://www.mothering.com/articles/new_baby/diapers/politics.html
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Diaper Bags for Dads!
A
diaper bag for dudes?
Yep!
www.diaperdude.com. So long girlie, character-themed or anything that
screams "diapers are in here!" The designer of these bags is a father of
two and is keeping dads looking cool while also doing the right thing ...
spending time with the kids! Priced at around $55-$60, but they are very
hip!
Diaper Creme and
more!
All natural baby care products from Arbonne. Baby's skin is
prone to dryness and is easily irritated. Arbonne baby care products
assist the skin's ability to retain moisture. Our diaper rash cream is made
with oat flour which is highly absorbent and hypoallergenic, it is like no
other diaper rash cream out there! Connect with Springfield Mom
Natalie Allan to learn more or sample their baby care line.
More here
Expand Your Child’s World with
Activities courtesy of The Parent Help Line at St. John's Hospital
Lessons
in sports, music, drama, and art help children develop skills for life and
school. Classes help them learn talents. To prepare your pre-school or
school age child for classes or sports teams, expose her to a variety of
activities.
Encourage your child to run, skip, and freely dance to music.
Watch
with interest as your child plays “make believe” or creates and organizes
plays. Join in the fun. Toss balls to your child. Play a game of catch. Do
jumping jacks. Play sports together. Go swimming. Exercise is good.
Provide
art supplies
— crayons, markers, paper, glue and age-appropriate scissors. Encourage
your child to create art. Display your child’s art in a special place in the
home.
Play
music at home and in your car.
Have family “sing-a-longs.”
As your
child gets older, enroll him in classes or sports you think he might enjoy.
If you see him excel in a certain activity, formal classes may help him
reach a greater potential. Classes may also help a child who lacks certain
skills. A child who is shy or has trouble making friends needs activities.
Age does not always indicate that a child is ready for formal training.
A child
also needs emotional maturity to handle group activities.
Activities are great, but they should not cause stress to the child.
For more information visit
www.parenthelpline.org
Check
out Springfield Moms list of
Classes & Activities and
Sports for
kids from infants 6 months old on up!
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Eurobath, Bathe your child in
luxury
Simply the best bathtub for newborns to two years.
Forget the basic bathtubs for your shower registry. You will love this
oversize “Eurobath.” Faced one way, it cradles your infant so they don’t
slide around. Turn around and it supports your toddler with lots of room to
splash.
Find
the Eurobath locally at Babies R' Us or online at
One Step
Ahead Priced around $30
or so.
G Diapers –
New Cloth Diaper Hybrid: Details from SpfldMoms reader Bronwyn Eves
Did you know disposable diapers can take up to 500 years to decompose in a
landfill?
G Diapers are a cross
between disposable and cloth diapers. There is a reusable cloth outer diaper
with flushable inserts. The cloth diapers are made from a waterproof but
breathable fabric. They are super cute and come in fun colors. I have never
had them leak and my two-year old is comfortable in them; she rarely gets rashes
anymore. The disposable part is definitely messier than disposables and takes
some getting used to, but now I don't think twice about it. I also love that
the stink goes away and that I produce less landfill garbage. They are slightly
more expensive than disposable diapers, especially ordering them on-line and
paying shipping. I have contacted Food Fantasies about ordering them and they
are pretty certain they can. The web site is
http://www.gdiapers.com They have helpful videos on their site for how
to use and dispose of the diapers as well.
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Happiest Baby on the Block
Thanks to Becky Antonacci for
this tip! I wanted to share my new baby life-saver. It the "The
Happiest Baby on the Block" The New Way to Calm your Crying and Help your
Baby Sleep Longer"
by Harvey Karp, M.D.
It comes in a DVD and book version. I find it helpful to all new moms.
The information shows you how to calm you baby when they are fed and
changed, but they are still crying. I find it especially helpful to
breastfeeding moms who often blame themselves for fussy babies. They often
think it is something THEY did or ate. Dr. Karp helps you
understand new baby behavior and how to keep they happy." Look locally
at Best Buy or try amazon.com for purchase.
La
Leche League
http://www.lllusa.org/IL/WebSpringfieldIL.html
La
Leche League is an international, nonprofit,
nonsectarian organization dedicated to providing education, information,
support, and encouragement to women who want to breastfeed. All
breastfeeding mothers and mothers-to-be interested in breastfeeding are
welcome to come to our meetings or call one of the Leaders for breastfeeding
help and/or meeting information. Babies are always welcome at our meetings.
Meeting Information
LLL of Springfield meets
on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at St. Johns Hospital.
Carol Jo Vecchie Building, 4th Floor, Classrooms
A & B. Toddler Meetings are the third Tuesday of each month at 10:30 a.m.
Contact a Leader for more information.
Leader
Information
La
Leche League Leaders are experienced mothers who
have breastfed their own babies and who have been trained and accredited by
La Leche League International to help mothers
and mothers-to-be with all aspects of breastfeeding. They are available by
phone whenever you have breastfeeding questions or concerns.
Contact:
Michelle
217-787-7039, email
hkysns1@aol.com
or Janie
217-478-2011, email
brgschnd@csj.net
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Medela Customer Service, by Paulette Dove
I have a Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump, purchased in Feb 2004. It
worked well after the first baby (I had a very small problem, which Medela
happily solved). I recently started using it again and the yellow plug used to
tell the machine I was double pumping kept pushing out of the machine during
use. I called Medela customer service, explained my problem, and they advised
me the "faceplate" of the Pump in Style Advanced has been redesigned to solve
this problem. They sent me a new faceplate, via overnight UPS, for free (the
warranty expired long ago). Two things -- Medela has the best customer service
ever! 1-800-435-8316. If you have a Pump in Style Advanced and are having
problems, call Medela.
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Medela Quick Clean Micro Steam Bags
Thanks to Kathy Scheffler for this
suggestion! I’m
sure you’re about to ask yourself, "Where were these when I was nursing?"
These nifty bags sterilize your pumping accessories, pacifiers, and bottles in
your microwave in just seconds. For moms pumping at work, they couldn’t make
things easier for clean up. And, they’re very affordable at only $4.20 for
approximately 100 uses. Available locally at Babies R Us and Target. Available
on-line at numerous sites.
Memorial Medical
Center
217-788-3000 Numerous classics from new mom support
groups, daddy boot camp, Lamaze, infant massage, etc. Call for detailed
information.
St. John's
Hospital, Carol Jo Vecchie Women and Children's Center
217-535-3696
Numerous classes from basic baby care to breastfeeding to infant massage.
Call for information.
We have a great support page;
Click here for numerous other mom and parent groups!
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Still looking
for a nursing bra this is comfortable and functional? After a long search,
I found the best ones are Bravado bras: jog bra style, 100% cotton,
easy to snap close with one hand and seamless. They are simply the best! I
was only able to find them online; the best site to order them is
http://www.sierrablue.com/bravmatbraba.html
Good news; they
offer free shipping most of the time.
Janet Tolley, the
lactation program facilitator and labor/postpartum
doula at St. John’s would be
happy to answer your most common questions regarding breastfeeding or
doula care.
Please email
janet.tolley@st-johns.org with your questions and we will publish most
common questions in future issues. Here’s one to start.
Q.
My 16-month
old daughter is still nursing several times a day and at least once a
night. She shows no signs of weaning, is this normal? I have enjoyed
nursing, but I sometimes feel like a human pacifier (she doesn’t use a
pacifier or have any favorite blankie, etc. to comfort her).
A.
I think you
will find that a baby nurses for more reasons than just hunger as they get
older. I find from women in our support group that all babies are different
and it’s hard to compare them. Some mothers complain they miss the
closeness they enjoyed with nursing and other wonder if the baby will ever
be done. I like to encourage parents to be patient. This child will
eventually stop. They all do. But for her, right now no matter what the
reason, she wants to be close to you. Some mothers report that as soon as
they sit down the baby wants to crawl up and nurse. They have found that
standing to talk on the phone or distracting the baby with an activity can
delay a feeding.
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Ready, Set, Go! Teach Your Baby
Courtesy of The Parent Help Line at St. John’s Hospital
Babies
have many needs. Clean diapers, breast milk or formula, baths, naps, and
cuddle time are just a few of those needs. Brain development is one of
your baby’s biggest needs. Learning begins at birth. Experiences and
lots of interaction with a loving parent promote brain development. Playing
games with your baby may seem silly, but it will actually help him reach his
full potential.
Your
baby loves to look at objects, especially faces. Look at your baby often. Talk to her as you go
about your daily activities. Play “copycat” games. Stick out your tongue or
shape your mouth into an O. Watch as your baby tries to do the same thing
she sees you do. Show your baby colors and patterns. Babies under 2 months
may actually prefer black and white pictures.
When
the weather is nice, take your baby outdoors for fun and games. Fresh air and a little sunshine
are healthy and relaxing. Talk to your baby as you walk. Play “show and
tell.” Talk about and point out trees, leaves, flowers, animals and people.
Place
your baby on a blanket in the shade. Let him look up at the patterns of
light coming through the trees.
Stimulate your baby’s hearing.
Put on some music and dance or move to the music with your baby close in
your arms. Support your baby’s head at all times. Find toys that make
noise and rattles or toys that chime. Play them with your baby. She will
learn about cause and effect – shaking the toy causes it to make a noise.
Talk to
your baby with different tones in your voice. Use a high pitch and then a low pitch.
Sing to your baby.
Bath
time can be playtime.
As you securely hold your baby, use your free hand to scoop up some water
and slowly trickle it over your baby’s tummy. Show him how to make splashes
by patting his hands on the water.
Supply
baby with small floating toys that he can touch and grab.
Babies
and children learn when they play.
They thrive on being loved and being happy. Parents are their child’s
teacher. Everything you do for and with your child develops his brain,
teaches skills, and says, “I love you!”
For
more information log on to
www.parenthelpline.org
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Sibling
Rivalry? Tips for Mixing Pets & Babies
By Kim
Little
For
many of us, our family is not complete without the addition of our beloved
animals. For some, the pets came first. In our house, we adopted one dog
from the Animal Protective League; our 80-pound Labrador Buddy, and two
years later we adopted another one; 50-pound Labrador D.J. Becoming a dog
owner was a mild warm-up to our lives ahead as parents. We couldn’t come
and go as we pleased anymore. Who would come home at lunch to let them
out? Numerous items were chewed on, destroyed, peed on, pooped on, and
vomited on. Unfortunately, this still continues so we keep a gallon size
container of Simple Solution in our home.
But,
Buddy & D.J. lived the good life. Sleeping on our bed, enjoying daily
walks, and photo ops in our annual holiday card. We had playdates with a
neighbor’s dog, Roxy! I’ll admit I even created a scrapbook of our dogs.
I believe that is when I knew it was time to address my biological clock!
One of
my fondest memories of pregnancy is that both dogs loved to rest their head
on my ever growing tummy. When we came home from the hospital with our
firstborn, our big dog, Buddy, peeked his nose carefully over the pack n’
play to check out his new sister. A month into adjusting to new baby, our
dogs got into a fight in the nursery with the baby being cradled in
grandma’s arms. I rushed between the dogs to break them apart (do NOT do
that!) and got a nasty dog bite on my arm. The outburst came out of
nowhere, but it quickly reminded me that my furry-children are animals, and
my eyes were open wider for the future.
Flash-forward four years to a house filled with two preschoolers, and Buddy
& D.J. have had a lot of changes to endure. They have adapted amazingly
well. We haven’t had any more outbursts, and they tolerate being dressed
in tiara and capes and always follow “the pack” around so we all together
when at home. I do believe that having two pets is better than one because
they are able to entertain each other when we are out of the house. They
still lead the good life; fluffy beds to sleep on and lots of treats and
room to run and play. However, I am sure it’s not the same feeling of being
top dog all the time like the life pre-kids. But one of the best lessons
our pets teach our children is the power of unconditional love. That’s all
they ask from us is for love, attention…and delicious snacks!
Mixing dogs and kids can be a lot of fun, but it also is important to
remember that their animal instincts cannot be forgotten.
Here
are some tips to keep everyone safe:
-
Do
not leave your children or anyone else’s alone with your pets. Some
experts say this is advisable until age 11. You can’t predict the
child’s behavior any more than the reaction from the animal.
-
Babies tend to treat pets like toys; they need to learn how to safely
and gently pet and show love and attention to the animal.
-
Give your pet extra attention when the child is asleep.
-
Watch your pet for signs of jealously or depression.
-
Make sure your pet is getting enough exercises and is eating well.
-
If
you are bringing home a newborn, bring home blankets from the hospital
before you bring the child home, so the pet can “smell” the baby. A few
months before the baby is born, play tapes of babies crying so they can
get used to the extra noise.
-
Reference Book: Childproofing your Dog: A Complete Guide to
Preparing your Dog for the Children in Your Life by Brian Kilcommons.
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Before my second child was born, postpartum depression was the stuff of
Lifetime movies and heartbreaking news reports about Andrea Yates (who, by
the way, had an extremely rare condition known as postpartum psychosis which
is an acute form of postpartum depression.) But sure enough, it smacked me
square in the face when baby number two came along. It was almost an
insult; I had already done the new baby thing and felt I had earned my
motherhood stripes. I would soon learn that there is no real rhyme or
reason when it comes to this condition.
My mother had warned me before I had my first baby that she had needed some
“medicine” after she had my brother. I discovered as I read more that the
tendency to develop the condition can be hereditary, but
ppd can also appear out of nowhere. Back then,
I mostly wondered how I would be able to tell the difference between the
baby blues and postpartum depression (I later learned that the baby blues
will dissipate after a few weeks, while ppd
takes root and grows on beyond that first few tumultuous weeks.) The
feelings of sadness I experienced when I had my first child were profound,
but did seem to lift after a short while.
This second baby was a completely different story. With an immature
digestive system, she was unable to process breast milk and screamed her
head off all day and night, each and every day. She would literally sleep
for 20 minutes at a time. I was a nervous wreck from lack of sleep and
worry. I also had overwhelming feelings of hopelessness; I was sure things
would never get better. Then about eight weeks after her birth, I had three
different sources (my mother, a good friend and our pediatrician’s nurse)
suggest to me I might want to see my doctor for some help.
I
was a little resistant at first; I have to confess that I had associated a
stigma with any type of mood or mental disorder. Plus, I was in the throes
of a depression, which made it hard to get up the gumption to do something
about it. But I eventually mustered up the energy and courage to see my
doctor, who immediately diagnosed me as having postpartum depression. She
started me on a course of antidepressant drugs that I continue to the
present (treatment must continue for at least six months to prevent a
recurrence) and put me in touch with a wonderful therapist.
If you or someone close to you seems to be experiencing a depression after
a birth, there are several avenues of help available. Of course, a great
place to start is by visiting your physician, or at a minimum, mentioning
the difficulties to your obstetrician/gynecologist during that six-week
postpartum checkup. These experts know what symptoms spell trouble and how
to prescribe a helpful medication, if necessary.
I
know it sounds crazy to suggest you read anything when you are so frazzled
you can’t even comb your hair, but there are many terrific materials on the
subject available. I was ecstatic to find Brooke Shields’ book, Down
Came The Rain. It helped beyond words to
hear the personal experience of someone so bright, beautiful and talented.
Her bibliography led me to another fantastic, eye-opening resource:
Women’s Moods: What Every Woman Must Know About Hormones, the Brain and
Emotional Health, by Deborah Sichel, M.D.,
and Jeanne Watson Driscoll, M.D., R.N., C.S.
For me, there was a terrible loneliness associated with my ppd. I wish I
had known about a monthly support group called Out of the Blue which
meets the second Wednesday of each month from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Carol Jo
Vecchie Women and Children’s Center at St.
John’s Hospital.
It
takes guts to admit you need help. But you and your family will be happier
and healthier for it. Know that you are not alone, and that it is not your
fault.
For
more information:
www.depressionafterdelivery.com
www.4woman.gov/faq/postpartum.htm
www.postpartumassistance.com
www.postpartum.net
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Add up the cost of lost
socks and it’s worthwhile to splurge on the popular Robeez leather shoes
made especially for infants (pre-walkers). Your child can wear them with or
without socks underneath, they stay on and come in many different patterns.
A great tip came in
from Allyson Straugh: “I just recently came
across a fabulous site on ebay about a month ago. You know the robeez shoes
for babies and toddlers? Well, this lady sells super cute look-alike
‘robeez’ for a fraction of the normal cost. Her screen name is ‘shoeszoo.’
She ships same day and I have been getting my orders in approx. 4 days from
Canada! The styles are cute for boys (hard to find) and girls. I always
receive lots of compliments from parents when my son Dawson wears them.
Just an idea for parents looking to keep their kids ‘stylish’ at a cheaper
cost!”
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I ordered the Sling Tote (comes with
diaper wipe case, insulated bottle holder that removable and changing pad). It
can be worn over the shoulder, messenger style or attached to the stroller. The
quality is amazing. There are so many pockets and storage compartments. There is
even a fleece-lined pocket to place things like sunglasses or a cell phone and
you don't have to worry about scratching. The company has several diaper bags to
choose from. The price of the Sling Tote is $129.99 (you can search the store
locator on the website). It's very practical and functional but so stylish as
well.
Here's the company website:
www.fleurville.com
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Stuffed Animal Donations
Have
you been inundated with new “family members” since your child arrived – the
stuffed variety, that is?! Stuffed animals can be such cute additions to
your child’s nursery, but what happens when you receive enough for an army?
Chances are your child has attached to several of these cuddly creatures,
but if you have extras, consider these options.
-
Use
them as adorable book-ends on your child’s bookshelf.
-
Donate them to your church nursery or
other charitable organizations. Always check beforehand to see what
their policy is on accepting stuffed animals. Some places will accept
gently used. Others require new only.
-
The
Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery accepts new stuffed animals to use
with their clients, ages newborn to 6-years-old. Drop your new stuffed
animals or toys you can’t use to their home at 1011 North Seventh
Street, Springfield.
-
Sojourn’s Shelter and Service
accepts all new and gently used stuffed animals. Drop yours off at the
Shelter, located at 1800 Westchester Boulevard, Springfield.
-
Looking for other donation ideas? Check out these websites for
organizations that accept new or gently used stuffed toys:
www.projectnight.org or
www.satruck.org or
www.stuffedanimalsforemergencies.org.
I keep my video camera close at hand and I videotape my two boys Alex and
Max, several times a week. Sometimes I only tape them for a few minutes at
a time, but since I video them so often it has
become like a video scrapbook. Videotaping is a wonderful way to capture
how they grow and change. I try to catch milestones on tape, but I also
videotape every day activities like meals, bath time, sleeping and playing.
They will be 2 and 1 in September, and I have many, many hours of them on
tape. I make sure the date stamp feature is on so that I know when specific
events happened. I am taping my boys not only so we have memories of them
as they grow and change, but also so we can watch them together when they
are older, and they can see how much they are loved.
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Winter: Baby's Must-Haves! by Jennifer Madiar
These are
our “can’t-live-without-it” products to make baby’s winter even more fun!
-
BundleMe by JJ Cole:
This
godsend of a product spares you the need for blankets and coats in your
carseat, stroller or bike trailer. Available in baby and toddler sizes, the
BundleMe has a fuzzy, plush lining to snuggle in, and your bundle of joy
can’t kick it off! Machine washable, with a wide variety of styles and
colors available at Babies R’ Us, Target and a slew of online retailers
including www.babystyle.com.
-
Aquaphor:
Living with a teething, chapped baby presents joys and challenges. After
using Aquaphor, I’ve re-gifted our butt paste and donated our unopened
Balmex. Seriously, Aquaphor is the only jar of ointment you need for your
entire family! We use it for chapped lips, dry teether chins, irritated
bums and for massage fun. A 14- oz. container costs approx $17 and is
available at any drugstore or big-box retailer like Target or Wal-Mart.
-
What are
some baby-friendly products that have made your winters wonderful?
Log onto
the Family Forum and add your comments within
the “Shopping” discussion!
Baby
Registry Tips
Thanks to reader Christie Hovey for
compiling reader tips for creating a baby
registry.
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Car Seat & Child Safety
Visit our Child Safety page where you will find a list of
locations for Car Seat Safety checks in the area, recall information and
numerous tips for child-proofind and keeping your home safe.
Local Children's Haircut Recommendations
Thanks for your
suggestions! Browse through to find the option that sounds best for your
kids.
Great Clips on Iles
Harold's Barbershop
Heidi's Hair Studio
Kim Finley at A Closer Look
Krista Stuckey
at KS Hair Studio
Sheila at Shampoo
Great Clips on Iles
I had my 2 year old son's hair cut the
other evening at Great Clips on Iles (across from Montvale)
726-6332 and had a good experience. We went around 7:30PM and there was
no one else in the place. The bright colors helped keep him distracted from
the actual haircut (which he really dislikes). The stylist was very kid
friendly and let him pick out a treat (lollipop) when he was finished.
Unfortunately, I do not remember this particular stylist's name, but
hopefully the others there are just as accomodating.
I have also found going later in the evening if it is not past bedtime for
your kids is usually less crowded and things go much faster. * Marcia
Wohltmann *
Harold's Barbershop
I would like
to recommend my very own dad, Harold Guthrie, at Harold's Barbershop at
1405 Stevenson Drive, 529-2191. He has been barbering for over 35
years, and is an "old-fashioned" style barber, meaning that he doesn't do
anything fancy, but does a great traditional short haircut for boys at a
very reasonable price ($8). He also does not require an appointment - you
can just drop by at your convenience. I take my son Nicholas (3) there.
There are two old-fashioned barber chairs that Nicholas loves "riding" in
(they go up and down), my dad turns Nick Jr. or
cartoons on the TV, and Nicholas is totally preoccupied while my dad cuts
his hair. He also has one of those singing/dancing fish things hanging on
the wall that kids love to watch. His hours are 8:30 - 2:30
Tues-Friday, and 8 - 12 on Saturdays. *
Stacia Guthrie *
Heidi's Hair Studio
I take my 2 yr old to Heidi's Hair Studio at 901 Clock Tower 698-6112. My daughter
screams when I try to even brush her hair. Heidi, however, has no problems
doing anything. She has a very small room salon with any kid video
imaginable. She also has a playstation for older
kids. I highly recommend her! * Sunney
Hinman *
Kim Finley at A Closer Look
I recently
started to go to Kim Finley at A Closer Look in Sfld
(it is on South Grand) Home: 726-8729, Cell: 502-4807
. She charges $8, and
is there on Mondays and Wednesdays (including evenings). I thought she did
a great job and gave many useful hints on how to "shape" my young daughter's
hair as it grows longer. Plus she has 3 children herself so she has lots of
experience! She can be contacted at home or cell (she schedules herself)
* Kate Baima *
Krista Stuckey
at KS Hair Studio
We have enjoyed the relationship that we
have built with Krista Stuckey. She was previously in charge over at
BJ & Company’s Snips and Snaps before they converted that into a spa area.
She now has her own shop call KS Hair Studio at 901
Clocktower. She can be reached at 546-4988 for
appointment hours and pricing. She is very reasonable. We take both of our
boys to her and my husband switched over to her as well! She has a video
game system and TV for movies for children as well as the famous sucker!
* Angie Neuber*
Sheila at Shampoo
We take our
kids to Sheila at Shampoo 1007 W. Edwards (behind White Hen on Edwards
just past MacArthur) 546-0021. She is wonderful with all of them and
has some toys to play with while they take turns with their siblings getting
their hair cut. She is also very reasonably priced. * Christina Race *
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Pregnancy
Pregnancy Yoga
Doulas
Maternity Wear
Midwife Assisted Birth
Pregnancy Yoga
Prairie Heart Institue's Center for Living
offers Prenatal CNRGY Yoga classes
This class, designed specifically for the
mother-to-be, is a fusion of Pilates and Yoga. Strengthening, breath work,
and relaxation techniques will be emphasized. Participants should bring two
pillows to every class. Feb 28-April 3rd
at the Carol Jo Vecchie Center at St. John's Hospital.
Instructor Carol Dunaway. PFT, CYT and Stott Pilates.
Cost is $55. Call 544-LIVE to register & tell them you heard about it
on SpringfieldMoms.org!
Ahh Yoga is now
offering a
four week Prenatal Yoga Class on Thursday afternoons. We will
also begin to offer drop-in Kids Yoga on Sunday afternoons.
Please visit
www.ahhyoga.net or call 217-725-2373. See our ad on Mom's Choice.
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Spotlight on
Doulas
Do you know what doulas do? A doula is a professionally trained woman, usually a mother
herself, who offers physical and emotional labor support to mothers (and
