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November 17, 2007

The Crib Mattress Debate. What Do I Buy?

 

My customers have the hardest time deciding on which crib mattress to purchase. We do our best as retailers to sell them a high quality product that will be safe for baby and easy on the wallet. I am probably not a great sales person, because I don't sell people the most expensive mattress out there. I am a parent, so I know that there are items that are worth the extra money and items that are not.  Mattress prices run all over the place. Good mattresses usually start at $100.00 and go up from there. There are mattresses that are worth a few extra bucks because they offer a safer, healthier sleep environment. You must be careful and single them out with some of our guidelines below. 

 

Crib mattresses are used for a short period of time, maybe 3 to 4 years. A crib mattress should be new for each baby. Studies have shown a reduction in SIDS when new mattresses are used versus previously used mattresses. The second feature to check is that the mattress should be nice and firm. Push down on the corners. If the corners push down easily, then your baby could roll into that gap and get trapped. The firmest mattresses are foam or have the highest coil count. The high coil count will run up the price. Try and stay around 200+ coil count for a firm mattress. What is the mattress covered in? Vinyl is the most common covering but if you can afford latex or cotton, these can be healthier options. Keep a waterproof cover on every mattress you use to keep the mattress clean and free of bacteria. 100% cotton is the best option.

 

Now there are some excellent mattresses out there that cost a bit more but are the healthiest option for your baby. Naturpedic makes an excellent fully organic and waterproof mattress that has been endorsed by all kinds of Health related organizations including First Candles the national SIDS alliance. These mattresses will set you back at least a couple of hundred dollars at the minimum but you can rest assured that your baby is sleeping on the healthiest option on the market. Colgate makes various forms of crib mattresses with high coil count and superior quality. Check out the ellabellakids.com website for these options or visit the manufacturer’s website directly.

 

 

Posted by Alissa Wolbach at 05:54 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

October 30, 2007

Dining In Or Out With Baby

Svan High Chair 

Dining in or out with baby can offer some challenges… and Kodak moments. When starting to shop around for a high chair, Ellabellakids.com can help. High chairs are usually utilized around 4 months when baby is starting solids. A traditional high chair with tray is used for a year or so depending on the child’s development. Convertible high chairs last much longer, well into youth. Check for specific features, how much you want to spend, how long you want the high chair to last, and the space of your dining area.

Zooper Peas and Carrots High Chair 

When purchasing a high chair for your kitchen, look for a 5 point harness restraint for safety and a chair that is relatively stable. Toddlers will start climbing at one point and you don’t want the chair to tip. These are main high chair safety concerns. Other things that will make life easier is, easy to clean padding, a dual tray that can be thrown in the dishwasher, reclining back, wheels for portability, and adjustability of the chair up and down for easy spoon feeding. Some high chairs fold up relatively flat while others remain bulky. Depending on the size of your kitchen space this may be an issue.

High chairs can be very inexpensive, or can cost and arm and a leg. Just make sure you look very hard at the features above to make the best choice. You start paying more for name brands, wood, and convertible features. Some of these features are well worth the price. A good value for a full featured high chair is the double tray, polly high chair by Chicco, for approximately 130.00. http://www.ellabellakids.com/chicco-2pad-highchair.html. The Stokke Tripp Trapp or Svan High Chairs (pcitured at the top of this article) are great wooden high chairs that convert into youth chairs. Prices for these chairs range from $199.00-$250.00. http://www.ellabellakids.com/02112-2.html

Chicco Travel Seat

 

 

Don’t have a lot of space, so want a space saving solution? Chairs that are great for eating “out” are the travel table chairs. There are many brands, most providing the same features at a similar price. We really like the Chicco travel chair or the Zooper table chair. Both are around $40.00, fold up with ease, and attach securely to most tables or counter tops. This is a cleaner and more convenient option for restaurants or small kitchen spaces. http://www.ellabellakids.com/chicco-travel-hook-on-highchair-with-travel-bag-in-explorer.html

Don’t forget some great feeding accessories like splat mats, bibs, smocks, and anti slip table wear. http://www.ellabellakids.com/feeding.html

Posted by Alissa Wolbach at 08:45 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

October 23, 2007

Protect Baby This Winter

 

 

 

With winter upon us, parents have to take additional precautions to keep our young children protected and safe from the harsh elements. Ellabellakids.com has some winter weather information and tips to keep our youngest children safe and healthy during the frosty season.

 

Babies do not regulate their temperature as well as adults. They tend to need about the same amount of layering as adult to stay comfortable. Signs of being too cold are mottled skin or very pale skin. Signs of being to hot are rosy cheeks and perspiring around the back of the neck. Pay special attention to how you dress your baby during these cold months. Be sure to cover the head, hands and feet adequately. Be sure to change diapers frequently, especially cloth. Cotton gowns that cap the hands and enclose the legs and feet work well for newborns. Swaddling blankets or sleep sacks keep the baby warm, prevent the blanket from getting over the head, and help to regulate baby’s temperature.

 

For sleeping during the cool months, babies should be put into some sort of wearable blanket to prevent SIDS and help regulate their temperature. There are a few different brands on the market but ellabellakids.com likes the Sleep Sack by Halo or the Guardian Sleeper. The Guardian Sleeper comes in bassinet size and crib size. They work by attaching to the end of the mattress. The baby is put inside the blanket where there is a piece of fabric that prevents the baby from moving under the blanket. The blanket is equipped with 2 thick Velcro straps that work as a swaddle to keep baby secure and prevent baby from rolling into the bumpers or sides of the crib. The fleece Guardian Sleeper acts as a sleep sack, a swaddle, and a device to keep baby from inching into the sides of his sleeping area. A great product endorsed by doctors and midwifes everywhere. http://store.ellabellakids.com/guardian-sleeper-bassinet.html

 

Car trips and trips outdoors, call for even more time and preparation. There are things you as a parent can do to protect your baby while keeping life simple.  Car travel can be challenging in the winter months. Your newborn should NOT be wearing bulky winter gear in their child restraint because it prevents the straps from running securely over the child’s body. What to do? Bundle baby in the proper indoor attire and add a warm hat and a car seat blanket. A product called the JJ Cole Infant Bundle Me is a wearable blanket for the infant car seat. This is a soft, heavy, fleece blanket that attaches securely and easily to any make or model of infant car seat. It is 100% washable and very cozy with a zipper for easy access to the baby. JJ Cole even makes a cute shearling hat for baby’s unprotected, bald head. Check these products out at http://www.ellabellakids.com/jj-cole.html to purchase or to get more information.

 

Another great baby product to keep baby protected from the elements, is the NEW UppaBaby Baby Bubble http://www.ellabellakids.com/bubble-3-in-1-infant-car-seat-protector.html. The UppaBaby Bubble shields baby from sun, wind, rain and insects. It fits on most any make and model of infant car seat and just POPS up like a tent. It is completely see through and ventilated but has multiple layers of protection from all our seasons’ elements.

 

 Winter can be a pain but it can be made more simple and safer with the use of a few great products and some good, old fashion common sense. Email customerservice@ellabellakids.com with your comments or winter suggestions and we will be sure to post them.

Posted by Alissa Wolbach at 01:31 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)