Tip #34: List of foods to buy organic for your baby (and you!)

We are at the stage of introducing solid food and I have heard a whirlwind of information regarding carrots and nitrates (part of the information says No carrots! Some say carrots after six months! Others say all the info on nitrate poisoning is really a concern regarding well water and very high exposure to children less than three months of age). Anyway, I decided it was time to look up the Environmental Working Group's list of the 'Dirty Dozen'..fruits and vegetables you are better off buying organic due to their high absorption of chemical fertilizers (one of those is carrots).

• Peach
• Apple
• Bell Pepper
• Celery
• Nectarine
• Strawberries
• Cherries
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Grapes (imported)
• Carrot
  
• Pear
  

Tip #31: Babyproofing with plaster walls

Pre-1950 it was common for inner walls to be built using a lath and plaster process. Sometimes, to keep the plaster affixed to the wall boards, horsehair was used, and so now this is sometimes also called horsehair plaster and it's ubiquitous in Arlington (at least in east Arlington, where we live). If you've ever tried to attach a load to these walls (even a small load you know wouldn't be a problem in drywall), the plaster crumbles and leaves a large hole. This means if you want to attach furniture to the wall using straps, in order to keep it from toppling over on a baby using it to pull up, you need to find a stud. Studs are 16" apart and not necessarily in a convenient place for your furniture. Instead, you can use an L-bracket on each side of your piece of furniture and drill one side into the furniture, and the other into the baseboard. This will guarantee a solid connection to the wall without relying on studs. However, make sure to use caution when it comes to top-heavy items.

Pics and how-to's coming later. We'll be implementing this process soon!

Source: Neighbor

Local Resource: Car seat inspection

In the past, parents have been able to head to a local police department (of any neighboring town) and have their car seat installation inspected for safety. Unfortunately, budget cuts have caused stations to limit access to residents, or disband it entirely. Check out this article. The moral of the story, call your local department first. If they won't do it, then you can go to Children's Hospital in Boston and pretty soon Isis Maternity. See this handbook on inspection stations and tips. Also, this page contains local events for inspection.

Tip #23: Line the baby bath tub with a wash/burp cloth

You can line your baby bath tub (if you use one) with a wash cloth or burp cloth to make the bath tub less slippery and more comfortable for baby.

Source: Grandma

Tip #14: Consider stroller compatibility when purchasing a car seat

There are so many factors that go into your decision to buy a particular stroller: size, price, weight, maneuverability, ease of folding, etc. One thing we didn't consider pre-baby was how our carseat was going to fit into that decision. We bought the carseat based on safety record and ease of use only to find out that it doesn't 'officially' fit any of the strollers we were interested in. It turns out it does 'unofficially' fit them however, so in retrospect I think we would still go with our same decision.

If you would rather not be caught unawares, check out this compatibility guide.

Another great tip from my brother- and sister-in-law is to consider buying a used seat from Craigslist if you want something for the stroller. If you aren't taking it in the car, then buying used is fine!

Tip #11 - Use a dishwasher basket for hard toys and bottle parts

You can purchase dishwasher baskets to keep all those little bottle parts in one place while you sanitize them on the top shelf of your dishwasher. We actually have two, one is by the sink collecting dirty parts, while the other is getting washed and/or drying in the drying rack. This isn't an endorsement for a particular product, but here's an example at Babies R' Us. These baskets are also great for holding those small teething and hard plastic toys your baby loves to play with while they get sanitized on the top rack.

Source: Grandma set this up while she was here taking care of grandson.

Recall: Kolcraft play yards

From another blogger, I saw Kolcraft play yards have been recalled. Details here.

Tip #8: Use cotton washcloths or paper towels instead of wipes

Related to Tip #7, one way to minimize baby's exposure to harmful chemicals is to replace conventional wipes with cotton washcloths (great if you already wash cloth diapers) or your favorite soft paper towel. Simply place some water on these just before using, I keep a water bottle at the changing station. There's also a lot of do-it-yourself suggestions on the web for creating your own paper-towel wipes using a little bit of oil. Just search for "Make your own diaper wipes".

If you go the simply water route and you have a temperature sensitive baby, you can put warm water in one of those coffee thermoses with the pump feature and have warm water at the ready. Always make sure water going into the thermos is less than 98degrees Fahrenheit for safety.

The bonus of cotton wash cloths is given their size one will usually do for even the largest diaper blowout! Costco carries white cotton washcloths in packs of 24 that are a great size. Then you only need to carry the more expensive wipes with fewer harmful chemicals in the diaper bag (or go the do-it-yourself route).

Tip #7 - Look at chemical compositions in your baby products

It's easy to forget that the baby products we rely on daily are packed full of chemicals, dyes and perfumes. Some of these may be harmful to baby. Check out the Environmental Working Group's Cosmetics Database to determine if your diaper rash ointment, baby shampoo, baby wipes or other products have chemicals in them that you would rather not expose your little one to.

Tip #2: Improve car safety

If you have an SUV or a car with an open cargo hold, install a safety net to keep projectiles (could be your dog or your groceries) from launching over the seat towards your child in the event of an accident.

Source: Instructor of a Mommy and Me class