Baby Gift Baskets FAQs
Q: When Is It Too Young For Babies To Wear Jewelry?
A: What is the appropriate age for giving a baby jewelry. She's just an infant, is she too young for diamond baby jewelry such as bracelets, diamond earrings, or other forms of jewelry?
Diamonds are a girl's best friends, but how old must she be to receive baby jewelry? In many cultures, the day she is born isn't too soon. But in the U.S.A., many people still hesitate to give young children jewelry. One reason is due to probability of having it lost and yet other concerns center around safety factors.
The concern lies with the choking hazard associated with children putting small objects in their mouth like earrings. This is a real concern with real consequences.
On the other hand, Americans also love to dress their babies in mature outfits suggestive of their older siblings and parents. As such, the outfit is seldom complete without earrings or a bracelet.Fortunately, there is a middle ground. Manufacturers make baby jewelry with the safety factor in mind. They fasten beads together tighter, and make earring backs that are harder to remove than what is found on some jewelry for adults.
Better made jewelry is only half the answer. If parents choose to allow their babies to wear jewelry must do their part, too. They must safeguard their children by never leaving them unattended while they are wearing jewelry and take extra care that the children never put jewelry in their mouths.
If the parents are willing to take responsibility for the extra care that must be taken, there is no reason baby jewelry can't be worn by even the youngest of infants.
Q: How Do I Encourage Reading At A Young Age?A: Raising A Reader
Children learn to love the sound of language before they ever notice the existence of printed words on a page. They coo or babble when you talk or sing to them, and as they grow, rapidly pick up the concepts and words they hear used. Reading aloud with children is an essential component to language development and is one of the most important activities for preparing them to succeed as readers.
As parents and caregivers, you can help lay down the foundation for a love of reading and nurture children's development. Here are some things you can do to raise a lifelong reader:
Talk, Sing, and Play
Babies delight in hearing language. Talk as you do simple everyday things together: recite nursery rhymes, and do finger plays, games and action songs.
Make Time to Read
Try to read with your child every day at a regularly scheduled time. If possible, choose a time when you can be relaxed and not rushed. If you have more than one child, spend time reading with each child separately, especially if they're more than two years apart. On days that are particularly hectic, bring a few books when you take children along on errands. Taking time to read to children on a regular basis sends the message that reading is worthwhile.
One More Time...PLEASE?!
As every adult who cares for children knows, they often ask to hear the same story again and again. They delight in knowing what comes next and often learn a favorite book so well that they can "read" it on their own. That favorite story may speak to your child's current interests and emotional needs, so it's important for the adults in their lives to be patient during this phase. Young children are eventually ready for different stories if they are continuously exposed to a variety of books.
Slow Down
It's not just what you read to children, but how you read that matters. If adults rush through stories or read without enthusiasm, children quickly lose interest. Try to read with expression and use different voices for the characters. Reading at a leisurely pace with occasional pauses gives children time to take in what they hear, mull it over, and imagine the people, places, and events. Pose a question or make a remark that will prompt the child to think, express himself, or relate the story to his own experiences. It's also a good idea to follow children's cues. Sometimes they are caught up in the story and don't want stops and detours along the way.
Choose Books with Care
Reading together often, you learn a lot about the kinds of books your child likes and understands. Visit the local library and involve your child in deciding what to bring home. Selecting books that relate to what's happening in the child's life at that time is a good way to ease transitions and allay fears about upcoming events. Topics such as potty training, new siblings, adoption, or moving to a new home are covered in a variety of books that are written specifically for young children.
Surround Children with Reading Material
In addition to library books, children also like having some books of their own that they can read whenever the mood strikes them. Affordable used books can be found at yard sales, thrift stores, secondhand book stores, and public library book sales. Consider subscribing to a good children's magazine—children love having something come in the mail just for them!
Don't Pressure Children About What or When to Read
Nagging children about their reading habits may cause them to resist reading all-together. Some school-age children choose to read only comic books or fan magazines after their homework is completed. Try not to criticize—after all, they are reading. If a child makes a mistake when reading aloud, don't interrupt. If the mistake doesn't change the meaning, let it go.
Show That You Value Their Efforts
Nothing is more important for fostering readers than showing genuine enthusiasm. Ask your child to read to you, a younger child, or a special visitor. Talk with him about what he is reading and respond positively.
Q: What Are Some Helpful Parenting Books?A: Books for Parents
Babyhood by Penelope Leach (Alphred A. Knoph)
Discovery Play by Dr. Steven Shelov (Ulysses Press)
How To Have A Smarter Baby by Susan Ludington-Hoe and Susan K. Golant (Bantam Books)
Learning Early by Dorothy Einon (Checkmark Books)
Moms, A Personal Journal by Paula Hagen and Vickie LoPiccolo Jennett
Parenting Guide to Your Baby's First Year by Anne Krueger (Balentine Publishing Group)
Right From Birth, Building Your Child's Foundation for Life by Craig T. Ramey Ph.D. and Susan L Ramey Ph.D. (Goddard Press)
The Baby Book by William Sears M.D. and Martha Sears R.N. (Little, Brown and Company)
The First Twelve Months of Life by The Princeton Center For Infancy and Early Childhood (Bantam Books)
Your Are Your Childs First Teacher by Rahima Baldwin (Celestial Arts)
Your Baby & Child, From Birth to Age Five by Penelope Leach (Penguin Books)
Your Baby's First Year by The American Academy of Pediatrics (Bantam Books)
Your Baby's Mind by Dr. S.H. Jacob (Adams Media)
Your Child at Play: Birth to One Year by Marilyn Segal Ph.D
What to Expect the First Year by Arlene Eisenberg, Heide E. Murkoff and Sandee E. Hathaway (Workman Publishing)
Q: What Are Recommended Books For Babies?
A: Books for Babies
Baby Animals Black and White by Phyllis Tildes (Charlesbridge Publishing)
Baby's Animal Friends by Phoebe Dunn (Random House)
Baby Faces by Margaret Miller (Little Simon)
Black on White by Tana Hoban (Greenwillow)
Colors by Robert Crowther (Candlewick Press)
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown (Harperfestival)
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney (Candlewick Press)
I Love You, Little One by Nancy Tafuri (Scholastic Trade)
I love You As Much by Laura Krauss Melmed (Tupelo Books)
My Peter Rabbit Cloth Book (A Beatrix Potter Cloth Book) (Frederick Warne & Co.)
Pat the Bunny (Touch and Feel Book) (Golden Books Pub Co Inc.)
Red, Blue, Yellow Shoe by Tana Hoban (Greenwillow)
Colors (Slide 'N' Seek) by Chuck Murphy (Little Simon)
Tomie's Little Mother Goose by Tomie DePaola (Putnam)
Touch and Feel: Baby Animals and Farm Animals by DK Publishing
What is That? By Tana Hoban (Tupelo Books)
White on Black by Tana Hoban (Greenwillow)
Wow! Babies by P. Gentieu (Crown Publishers)
Q: How Do I Find Great Gifts On A Budget?A: Baby gifts are truly a joy to give. But how do you find just the right present at just the right price?
When you're buying gifts for babies, the most important thing to do is think about the parents' needs:
· Make it personal.
Think about the new parents' interests. What kind of lifestyle do the new parents lead? How do they spend their free time? What do they read? Where do they shop? Answering these questions will lead you to the best gifts for babies.
For example, if their home is decorated with antiques, they may prefer a keepsake, like a pewter cup or silver photo frame.
Whereas parents who love reading "People" magazine might want something trendy that all the celebrities are buying for their babies.
· Show you understand what the new parents are going through.
A coupon to babysit is not only a unique baby gift, it shows you understand exactly what the new parents need most right now.
Other thoughtful presents include: a homemade lasagna (so the new parents don't have to cook) and a special sibling gift for the new big brother or sister.· Go the extra mile in giving.
Be sure to include a return slip, batteries (if the product or toy uses them), and your contact information, including your address.
The contact information is one of the things new moms appreciate most, because it makes writing thank-you notes so much easier!
Q: How Can I Make My Own Baby Gift Baskets?
A: Unique Baby Gift Baskets You Can Make Yourself!Want to give something creative, but not too expensive?
These unique baby gift baskets are not only fun, they're practical, and inexpensive, too!
You put them together yourself. But don't worry. You don't have to be Martha Stewart to make these unique baby gift baskets.
Start by going to Michaels or your neighborhood craft store and buying an inexpensive basket or cardboard box.
If you decide on a basket, Michaels sells a special kind of shrink wrap cellophane you can seal with a blow dryer. It's super easy to use.
It comes on a roll, like wrapping paper. You wrap it around the basket, sealing at the bottom. Then get out your blow dryer, point it at the cellophane wrapping, and voila! You have a professionally shrink-wrapped gift basket in seconds!
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