Fall Clothing For Baby: 5 Basic Must-Have Items

Fall is here...and that means dressing up baby in warm and fuzzy clothing! I was trying to find information about fall trends for baby clothing, but couldn't really find anything, so I can probably assume that anything that goes for mama can be applied to baby as well. However, there are 5 basic must-have items that baby should have in the fall wardrobe...

1) Jacket - If there's one thing that baby can't do without, (Well, any member of the family for that matter!) it's a jacket.  I would recommend buying a jacket that's hooded for those windy days or nights.

I love this plush hooded jacket pictured here which is available from ELLOS, a Swedish online clothing catalogue.  They offer clothing for everyone in the family, not just babies.  By the way, what's nice about ELLOS is that they have a "Buy now pay later" option, which is perfect for holiday shopping.  Get more information.

2) Rain boots - If baby has started walking, rain boots are an essential item. Babies and toddlers seem to always have fun stomping around in puddles!

3) Tights or leggings - Keep babies' legs warm when they're crawling around on the floor. Yes, there are tights for little baby boys too.

4) Beanie - If you don't have a jacket with a hood, make sure to keep those little ears warm with a beanie!

5) Sweater - This item, like the jacket, is probably a given. A fall wardrobe just would not be complete with at least one cozy sweater for baby.

What about you?  What do you think are the basic must-have items for baby's fall wardrobe?

Babies Can Support Breast Cancer Awareness Month Too

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month in the United States in which education and campaigns are promoted to increase awareness and raise money for the cause. This is also a time for women to be reminded and aware of breast cancer detection and prevention.

You’ll often see brands and companies promoting breast cancer products with the pink ribbon; one of the most popular products being the breast cancer tshirt, but babies can help support the cause too! I like this cute pink baby onesie with the “Crawlin’ for a cure” slogan which can be purchased at CafePress.com (available in green and blue too).

Mamas can also support the cause with these tote bags. It can be used as a diaper bag or a shopping bag to carry baby food or formula home from the grocery store…

I believe that breast cancer is something that women can prevent by eating healthy foods, staying away from microwaved food, reducing stress by exercising frequently, and using natural or organic skin care products.
For the sake of your baby, really give some thought to your lifestyle and be more mindful of what you put in or on your body.

Have you experienced breast cancer? How did you overcome it?

Fun Activity For Baby's First Birthday

After writing up the post yesterday about what baby could wear on his/her first birthday, an idea came to me for a fun activity to do with the kids who are attending the birthday festivities. The adults can join in on the fun too if they want to! You can even do this on any other given day if you're in a creative mood and just want to design your own baby's clothes.

The idea is to set up a onesie or t-shirt craft station.  Purchase t-shirts or onesies in white or a light color and fabric paint at an arts and crafts store. Another option is fabric paint pens if you want less mess and clean up. Either the kids can decorate their own t-shirt or a sibling's onesie or the mommy or daddy can decorate their baby's onesie. It's a fun activity that will make the party memorable for everyone. You can even have everyone who attended the party help decorate a onesie for your baby. Each person draws something on it -- a star, heart, flower, or whatever inspires them!

When shopping for partyware for this special occasion, you also may want to consider buying a plain white table cloth for guests to doodle or draw on using the paint or markers.   Then you can keep it as a momento and bring it out as decoration for every birthday party....

Baby Swimming Items to Make Mommy's Life Easier

If there’s one thing that babies should learn how to do, it’s swimming. In some parts of the world summer is still in full swing and everyone is enjoying leisure times by the pool or at the beach. If your baby knows how to swim, it makes that time by the water more relaxing. It’s never too soon to start teaching your baby how to swim. Remember that for 9 months babies practically lived in a fluid-filled womb, so they can handle a little water!

There are companies like Konfidence.co.uk that specialize in offering various baby swimming items such as swim floatsuits, sun protection clothing, wetsuits, and even beach boots. I would recommend the baby’s first swim pack. There are three different sets of swim packs available (Bronze, Silver, and Gold) which can include just about everything you need for a day at the pool or beach with the baby.

One item that is a must, though, is the swim nappy (pictured here). It’s doubly secure, reusable, eco-friendly, and perfect for preventing “accidents” in the pool.

In addition to offering baby swimming items, the Konfidence website is also a great resource for baby swimming information. If you live in the UK, there are also links to baby swimming schools and other associations.

Babies Love Halloween Costumes Too

Halloween is coming up soon, which means it’s time to start thinking about what costume your baby will be wearing. Just as much as kids and adults like to wear costumes or fancy dress outfits for Halloween or a themed party, it seems like babies enjoy dressing up as well.

We like to think that our babies’ costumes are a reflection of their personalities, but what we choose probably represents more who we are and what we like. Whatever they do wear will be cute no matter what, though. What baby doesn’t look cute dressed up in a fun costume?

My all-time favorite is the pink baby bunny costume like the one pictured here from alteredimagefancydress.com. It’s perfect for Halloween, Easter, or just for fun. Looking at your baby wearing this just makes you want to hug him/her all the time! Baby animals or insects seem to always be popular costumes. I often see infants and kids dressed up as ladybugs, monkeys, and cats on Halloween.

So, what costume will your baby be wearing for Halloween? 

Quick tip: Don’t forget to take a picture of your baby in his/her costume! Make sure to frame or hang up the picture somewhere to remind you of how cute your baby can be - especially when they get a little older and maybe start to get on your nerves :)

What to Wear For Baby's First Birthday?

When your baby has his/her first birthday, it’s definitely a special occasion, so of course you’re going to want to find the perfect outfit to wear if you’re throwing a party for him/her. And even if you’re not going to throw a first birthday party, at the very least will want to take pictures on this special day, right?

You could just dress up your baby in any nice outfit - which is fine - but I think for an occasion like this, something unique or even personalized will make it even momentous.

Animal print is big right now, so your little baby girl could wear something like this Bonnie Baby zebra print jumper set...




If your baby boy will be celebrating his first birthday during the fall or winter months, I think this is just the cutest little Zutano striped zip front sweater...




After you have the birthday outfit picked out, it's time to plan the party! Here are a few quick tips:

• Play fun, upbeat music to keep everyone in a happy mood.

• Have plenty of toys as entertainment for infants and little kids.

• If you don't have enough toys to go around, make sure the first birthday party supplies include toy party favors.

• Keep plenty of paper towels handy for accidents and spills.

Most of all, just have fun and enjoy this precious time with your baby!  After all is said and done, all that matters is that your baby is happy and having a good time. 

Guide to Easy and Inexpensive Wall Decor For Baby’s Nursery or Kids Rooms

Photo Credit:  brightstarkids.com.au

Contrary to popular belief, decorating your baby’s nursery or kid’s room doesn’t have to be hard, expensive, or laborious. You just were not blessed with the genes of an artist and it’s just not in your budget to hire someone to paint a fun mural on the walls. Here are a few ideas and tips for easy and inexpensive wall decor for your baby’s nursery or kids rooms...

Wall Stickers
Fun and chic wall decor can be a snap with baby and kids wall stickers. Simply peel, stick, and you’re done! Most wall stickers can be easily removed and reused whenever you want to redecorate. You can even use wall stickers on furniture, doors, or windows as well.

Canvas Art
In less than 30 minutes you can hang personalized canvas art that will bring color to any room. You can hang three canvases in a row to create a fun story and add instant pop and pizazz to a baby’s nursery. To make sure that the canvases are aligned right, use a string as a guide and tape each side of the string along the wall. Once the string is in a straight line, hang the middle canvas first, and then hang the other canvases on each side of the middle one.

If you’re looking for inexpensive wall decor, check out Bright Star Kids. From butterflies, boats, monkeys, to dinosaurs, they have a wide range of wall stickers, canvas art, and labels for kids.

Kids' Own Art
One of my favorite easy and inexpensive wall decor ideas is to buy blank canvases and paint at a local arts and crafts shop and have your kids create their own paintings. If you’re decorating a baby’s nursery, you can dip your baby’s hands and feet in the paint (make sure it’s non-toxic and safe for skin) and make hand and feet prints on the canvas. Not only will you have unique wall art, but you’ll have a keepsake!

Do you have any other ideas for easy wall decor?