Infant seats

I just found some older pictures of my son, when he still used his infant crib. I often forget how chucky he was when he was younger. He is walking now so all that excess has been dropping away.
But, the picture made me think of how much he really loved his bumbo seat. It was one of those things we bought that we said on a regular basis, "we are so glad we bought that, it was well worth the money". And they may seem a little pricey if you go hunting for one used, but they are almost indistructible so they really do hold their value.
I used to put him in the infant crib and put toys all around him. I was able to sit and relax, or read a book, a little bit of time to actually let him just play by himself and not have to hold him up.

Jenn

From Cribs to Adults

My mom pointed me to another blog that I find most intreaguing and I really don't want you all to miss out on this last article. Once we have our child(ren) we are there for life, from the crib to adulthood, and I believe that is one of those things all moms worry over...are we doing it correct?

Five Reasons to Stop Saying "Good Job!"

By Alfie Kohn

NOTE: An abridged version of this article was published in Parents magazine in May 2000 with the title "Hooked on Praise." For a more detailed look at the issues discussed here -- as well as a comprehensive list of citations to relevant research -- please see the books Punished by Rewards and Unconditional Parenting.

Para leer este artículo en Español, haga clic aquí.

Hang out at a playground, visit a school, or show up at a child’s birthday party, and there’s one phrase you can count on hearing repeatedly: "Good job!" Even tiny infants are praised for smacking their hands together ("Good clapping!"). Many of us blurt out these judgments of our children to the point that it has become almost a verbal tic.

1. Manipulating children. Suppose you offer a verbal reward to reinforce the behavior of a two-year-old who eats without spilling, or a five-year-old who cleans up her art supplies. Who benefits from this? Is it possible that telling kids they’ve done a good job may have less to do with their emotional needs than with our convenience?

2. Creating praise junkies. To be sure, not every use of praise is a calculated tactic to control children’s behavior. Sometimes we compliment kids just because we’re genuinely pleased by what they’ve done. Even then, however, it’s worth looking more closely. Rather than bolstering a child’s self-esteem, praise may increase kids’ dependence on us. The more we say, "I like the way you…." or "Good ______ing," the more kids come to rely on our evaluations, our decisions about what’s good and bad, rather than learning to form their own judgments. It leads them to measure their worth in terms of what will lead us to smile and dole out some more approval.

The article finishes by giving good ideas on how to not say "Good Job".

* Say what you saw. A simple, evaluation-free statement ("You put your shoes on by yourself" or even just "You did it") tells your child that you noticed. It also lets her take pride in what she did. In other cases, a more elaborate description may make sense. If your child draws a picture, you might provide feedback – not judgment – about what you noticed: "This mountain is huge!" "Boy, you sure used a lot of purple today!"

* Talk less, ask more. Even better than descriptions are questions. Why tell him what part of his drawing impressed you when you can ask him what he likes best about it? Asking "What was the hardest part to draw?" or "How did you figure out how to make the feet the right size?" is likely to nourish his interest in drawing. Saying "Good job!", as we’ve seen, may have exactly the opposite effect.

This was just a few sections of this article. Please read the whole thing. I believe it is VERY valuable information. READ THE REST OF THE STORY HERE Have a Great day and make sure you do your part to make Great new people. Don't just stop when you buy the best crib.

Jenn
BestInfantCrib.com

Remembering Infant crib shopping in the 80's

I remember shopping for my son's infant crib. Back in the mid 1980's There were so many to choose from and pretty expensive. My husband and I didn't make a whole lot of money back then. We ended up buying a used crib from a yard sale that we refinished ourselves, and got a mattress for a baby shower gift. This worked out great at the time.

Thinking about it now ,it probably was not such a great idea. With safety in mind. With all the great infant cribs on the market today. They are more affordable and safer. I know if I were to have grand children someday. I would suggest to my son to buy a new crib for safety reasons alone. I still have his old crib,but I wouldn't like him to use it because of the refinishing products we used. I am not in a big hurry for grandchildren yet, but I look foward to having them some day.

Melissa

BestInfantCrib.com

What do YOU want in an Infant Crib?

I write on here all the time about what I believe is important for your baby, but I'm wondering what you think. Do the tips I give take hold and you do the research I suggest to find the Best infant crib on the internet?
I would love it if all of my readers would post a comment and let me know what YOU want to know. I have loads of research and just want to know specifically what you would like to hear. So, click the comment below and let me know.
Of course, I will continue to write on the subjects I choose. And I'm sure they will be helpful to you. I just love interaction. I see people visiting my site, so I know some of what I say is sinking in, but what are you Really thinking. Did you buy your infant crib yet? What made you buy it there?

Have a great day!
Jenn
BestInfantCrib.com

Education before the crib

Some great ideas out there to help your child even before they need a crib.



You hear this all the time, but are you actually doing it? It really does work. The more you teach your baby the more you program them to lean loads of stuff all at the same time. My son is not one and a half yet and already is saying 3 and 4 sylable words, using sign language, has almost perfect rhythm with music and dancing. We are really seeing that we have him already programmed to learn quickly.
Watch more from GiftEd and I'll add more as I find it. We are not just about finding the best crib anymore, we want to help you on the entire path of your child.

Jenn
BestInfantCrib.com

After crib education

So, you've heard everything I say about cribs, but what now. I found a great blog on a revolutionary way to think about raising your children. Harvard is showing that all kids are born with the potential to be a genius, but schools are cramming our kids into conformity boxes, literally teaching our kids to NOT be all they can be.
Watch this great video on how to get your kids to be honest with you.



I love Melissa's blog and will continue to put up her ideas on how not to teach our children out of genius. (no reason to reinvent what she is already doing)

..."Like most parents you love your children. But if you are like many parents you may be doing things that hurt your children’s chances for having real happiness and success when they grow up.
And most of what you are doing is so subtle you probably don’t even realize your parenting is harming your children until someone points it out to you. So I’m going to stick my neck out and point out these common parenting errors, as well as provide positive parenting alternatives."...

For the complete article visit Melissa Greczy's blog. I haven't gotten through all of her stuff yet, but she might even have some stuff on things to do in your crib.

Jenn
BestInfantCrib.com

How to decrease infant tantrums

What do you suppose is the cause for most infant tantrums? Put yourself in their shoes... How would you feel if you wanted to eat or had a pain in your leg and you tried to tell your mother, only she didn't understand you. You keep repeating, hoping the words will come out correctly, but your tongue just isn't trained enough. Would you get frustrated? And, not knowing how to control your emotions...perhaps you would throw yourself down and start crying.
Research is showing that this really is the cause to most tantrums...lack of communication skills. So, how do we as parents combat this? Teach them something they can learn easier than spoken language. Sign language.
Sign language is great for our children for two reasons. First, it gives them a way to communicate with us sooner than if they simply wait for their tongue to cooperate. And second, they can take it into their lives and use it later, when perhaps they come upon someone who uses it as their only way of communicating. It is a second language.
Research also shows that children who know more than one language have a much greater aptitude for learning and go farther in life because of it. The more you teach a young child the more they want to learn. You actually program their brain to absorb greater quantities of knowledge.
My own son has a very limited spoken vocabulary so far: momma, daddy, more, and baba. But, his signing vocabulary is much greater: more, food, drink, please, hat, motorcycle, helicopter, bath, cracker, cookie, cereal, milk, cheese and signing video. And when we watch signing DVDs he will attempt many more signs. This allows us quite a lot of conversation to address his daily needs. He has started asking to watch his signing and reading videos now too.
This is relevant for your infant up through their toddler years. If you continue to grow their sign language vocabulary past when they begin to speak you should see a lower amount of tantrums throughout the "terrible twos".

Helping moms communicate with their children
Jennifer FitzGerald
BestInfantCrib.com

How to buy an Infant Crib on-line

With everyone going to the Internet to purchase these days it's mind boggling how many different stores you have to choose from. But how do you purchase something you have never physically touched? How do you know it's worth the money you are about to pay for it? I'm about to tell you a great way to decide on your Internet Infant Crib store, but this process can be used for just about anything.
First, go to a physical store. I know they are not going to like this, but if you really want to look at what you are about to purchase...it's the only way. Find out who physically supplies what you want in your area and then go touch it. Try it out. Use the movable parts to see how easy or difficult it is. Shake it to see how sturdy it is, keeping in mind that as your child grows they will shake it a lot. Will it stand up to a 2-year alive's wrath?
Then once you have found the make and model you think you want, go back to the Internet. Don't purchase yet though. Find all the suppliers of that crib on the Internet, the list will probably be large. Filter out the physical stores, because the idea behind buying on the Internet is, you don't want to pay for their overhead that has been worked into the price of your crib. Find the suppliers that only have Internet stores, drop-shipping companies. You list should get a bit smaller depending on the product. Drop-shipping is becoming increasingly more popular.
Now you can narrow down your crib based on price, shipping cost, warranty, and maybe even try to be Eco friendly by purchasing from a supplier that is closer to your home. This should get you to the Best Infant Crib store around the Internet.

Happy Hunting Moms
Jennifer FitzGerald
BestInfantCrib.com

Infant Crib Blog

I'm so tickled about my infant crib blog. I hope you are enjoying it as much as I am. I have included some games and a photo show of my family below. Check it out.
Just as a side note... I will be attending a great web conference and I am hoping to bring absolutely everyone I know, that will let me drag them there. It has great speakers like Jack Canfield, who wrote "Chicken Soup for the Soul", and 11 others. It is a forward thinking conference on how to live abundantly and I have been practicing this for a couple of years. Conference
Back to my blog now. If you are enjoying this, please let me know. Also, I would love any questions you have about choosing your infant crib, or anything else related to mom and baby.

Jenn FitzGerald
BestInfantCrib.com

Infant Crib Store

So, I've had my infant crib site up for a month now and not a lot of traffic yet. I'm an expert on cribs and babies, not internet marketing. I've been scouring the web to find out what I need to do. Finally I found what I think is all the info, so I posted it all in one place for everyone.
Now, you don't have to go through all the stuff I did to get people to your site. Just get my emails for some quick tips and if you want more internet marketing training, I only ask for $1. And after saving all that tme, you can spend more time deciding which is the perfect infant crib instead.

Jennifer Fitzgeral
BestInfantCrib.com

Talk to Baby in their crib

Do you want to be able to understand your baby while they are still small enough for their infant crib? I know I do. It drives me crazy to try and figure out what he wants by trial and mostly error. But my boy and I are much farther along the communication train than some.
I started putting sign language videos on for him to watch when he was about 6 months and now, at 16 months he has quite the little language box to pull from. It was one of the most exciting days so far when he signed for milk. He now asks politely for "milk please" and we are working on signing thank you, but he has vocally been saying that for a couple months.
So, the link here is really awesome, in my opinion. It is tried, tested and true to it's word...babies really can use sign language to communicate with you before they learn vocal words.
You might think, "well I don't care if my baby can sign", but let me fill you in on something...babies can understand spoken language just as early as sign language, but getting their little undeveloped tongues to actually say what they are thinking...that's a whole lot longer, and that is really frustrating to them too. Everyone tells me, "you will want him to stop talking as soon as he learns how...the whole "why" thing". But, my son talks all the time now, I just can't understand him.
So, if you want to speed up the process, and be able to talk to your infant crib size baby now...start here. It's a great alternative to regular TV. There are songs and games all designed to keep young children's attention. And if you honestly don't want your baby to sign forever, they will stop using it as they learn the vocal words, unless you reinforce their continued use.


Jennifer FitzGerald
www.bestinfantcrib.com

Recalled infant cribs

Of course, we never want to hear those words associated with our infant crib. But, it does happen and you need to get it back to them so they can fix it. Ken just found a crib at Big Lots for $99. How am I to compete with that kind of price, but he did his research and found the company is out of business and all but that one model was recalled. I don't know about you, but I would NOT buy that crib even if it were only $10.
Everyone is always looking for ways to save money, but I think most moms will agree that your infant crib in not one of those places you scrimp. Especially when you take into consideration that most cribs now are 4 in 1 furniture.

Jennifer FitzGerald
BestInfantCrib.com

Ins & Outs of Infant Cribs

So, do you really know what there is to offer with infant cribs? You might say, "they all look the same, why should I pay more". Here's the scoop.
There are four basic things to consider in cribs.
First, is what it is made of. There are wooden or metal cribs. The type of wood makes a big difference due to strength of the actual wood and how it was cut...so it also relates to the design.
Second, is the color or varnish. Color is just a preference for decor. All cribs sold in the U.S. are regulated to ensure that whatever varnish is used, it is safe for babies. And when I say safe, that means for them to chew on, 'cause they do.
Third is design, which we hit on a little already. Design helps durability, ease of use and longevity of use. This one is the most important. Children are rough on things so durability is vital. Ease of use, in my opinion, is important because if for instance, I had a c-section and had a hard time moving about for a while, and putting a sleeping baby down in a crib can be difficult if the rail doesn't come down. And longevity is about making your finances work. Children are already an added cost to our budget, but if you can utilize their furniture for many years, it makes it easier.
And Fourth, is cost. Cost varies quite a lot, but it actually all has to do with the above three considerations. Yes, you can get a crib that has longevity in mind for under $200, but I have found that the durability factor isn't quite up to par. And on the flip side, you can purchase a crib for over $1000, which might not make sense within your budget, but it almost always ensures durability, great product and lovely design.
So where do you pick your crib? That is ultimately up to you. I'm just here to help you along your process by letting you know what all the options are with infant cribs.

Jennifer FitzGerald
BestInfantCrib.com

For Mom after Infant

Are you feeling less than loving toward your signifigant other since birth? Don't worry, it's natural. Until your infant is sleeping in their own room you might notice a lack of ambition in this area. Try to make sure you are affectionate, but don't feel pressured to go beyond that if you just don't feel it.
I know he probably doesn't want to hear that, but if he really cares he will wait. Do keep in mind that it doesn't mean he doesn't care if he continually asks for it though...it's just in his nature.
Women do not usually have the need to procreate with a newborn. This is an instinctual behavior that lasts on average, up to two years. The animalistic side feels that until the child is able to sustain itself the mother can't be bothered with getting pregnant again. Our bodies are literally programmed to feed and protect them until old enough, and then, and only then, get ready for another one.
I will be adding more on this subject to my Pocketbook Series on raising a child...coming soon! You can get the first Pocketbook "Infant Crib Sleeping Guide" at my web site.

Jennifer FitzGerald
BestInfantCrib.com

Infant Crib mattresses

There are literally Loads of infant crib mattresses to choose from. Just as many as there are cribs. I have only one to offer at the moment on my web site, but I want to offer the organic kind.
Studies are showing that the non-organic mattresses may actually be the cause of SIDS. Here's the senario behind that... Child gets immunization shots, temperature rises that night while sleeping due to shot. There are microbs that feed on fire retardant bi-product producing a slightly paralysing gas as their bi-product. Under normal circumstances the gas is slight and does not effect anyone, but when temperatures are higher it increases their activity. Therefore, child causes microbs to increase activity, microb gives off more bi-product that causes more paralysis, causing children to get paralysed by microbs and cannot breathe.
I might not have it all down exactly correct, but this is the synopsis. There are two solutions to this problem:
-One, get an organic mattress.
-Or two, if you already have a non-organic mattress or can't afford the higher cost of organic, wrap the mattress is a thick plastic leaving only a portion of the bottom exposed. This keeps the gasses away from sleeping baby and still allows it to escape.

-Of course, there is a third alternative...don't get your child immunized. But, that's a whole different conversation.
As always, the decision is up to you. I just want to keep everyone informed about all the choices you have when choosing your infant crib mattress.

Jennifer FitzGerald
BestInfantCrib.com

Infant Crib Sleep Guide

This infant crib sleep guide is intended to help you through the process of ensuring your new child having a comfortable transition into their crib sleeping environment. Going from the womb to a crib is a dramatic difference for a new child and we want to help you make this the easiest transition possible. We recommend a six month to one year transition from womb to their own room.

It is recommended by most doctors not to co-sleep with newborns, as there have been incidents of children being smothered in the night by their parents’ bodies. We do suggest that you have a bassinet right next to your bed for the first month. This gives your new baby the smallest possible bed after being in the womb and it allows you to be very close for the times your little one will wake in the night.

Keep the bassinet right next to the bed and swaddle your child very tightly. When we say tightly, there can almost not be too tight. (See the 5 S’s for a video walk thru on how to comfort your new baby.) Keep in mind how tightly compacted they were inside the womb. Getting their first sleeping environment as close to this as possible will give them the security they need to begin sleeping soundly outside the womb. When your child awakes, first, try simply putting a hand on them from your bed. Often times, this will sooth them enough to go back to sleep, but do not let them cry to long, as this will lead to abandoned feelings and make your transition to crib harder.

After the first month, and once you feel they are sleeping well enough through the night that you are not needed to sooth them to sleep as often, begin moving the bassinet to the location you will want the infant crib in. Move it only one foot at a time, as small children are acutely aware of changes in their environment. Once they are in the new location for a few days, switch the bassinet for crib...

more to come, soon...

Jennifer FitzGerald
BestInfantCrib.com