If you’re still on the fence about whether to breast or bottle feed, The Lullabelly Belly Blog can help you decide – we’re moms too who appreciate all things baby! 

We all know breast is considered best for baby as far as nourishment goes, but what you might not know is that breast milk has some other added benefits that have nothing to do with feeding time.

Experts say that breast milk may be better than hitting up the drugstore for common ailments.  Just a few drops of breast milk can help clear up the following:

Unstuff Noses – Skip the saline drops!  Instead, squirt two drops of breast milk into each nostril and clear out the mucus with an aspirator.  Exposure to your milk’s antibodies may help relieve irritation.

Correct Conjunctivitis – For mild cases of pinkeye, two drops of in each infected eye twice daily proves to be an effective antibiotic.

Cleaning Ouchies – Clean cuts and scrapes than dab on some breast milk instead antibacterial cream.

Itchy Scratchy Relief – Use a cotton ball to blot dry spots of eczema with breast milk, which is a great lubricant.

Oh and if your baby suffers from a mild case of diaper rash, breast milk has been known to heal tushies slightly faster than zinc oxide ointments. 

Breast milk really is liquid gold!

Tip! To help relax and stimulate milk production, pop on your Lullabelly musical belt’s headphones and listen to your relaxation playlist. You can use your Lullabelly even when you’re not pregnant – it’s easy to attach to your rocking chair and then listen away!

You create a registry, ready the room and make sure you have all of the best gear and baby products before the baby arrives.  However, a step a lot of couples miss when preparing for baby is getting their finances and life provisions in order before junior comes along.

This is probably because this type of baby planning is not nearly as sexy or fun as decorating a nursery, but it should be done and is a very important aspect of being a responsible parent. (Oh man, when did we grow up?!)

Dealing with money matters early in pregnancy will allow for more time to focus on being a parent when baby is born and you’ll get the tough questions answered and out of the way. Whew!

Here are the to-dos you should consider:

Ensure Proper Insurance:  Establish health and life insurance policies (or adjust existing ones) to accommodate for baby.  Remember you’re not the first person in the world to have a child, so no matter how bureaucratic insurance companies can be, they still have standard protocols in place for families with new babies that should ease some of the process.

Will It That Way: Although a morbid thought, putting a plan in place in case your plane goes down is important.  Work with a lawyer to draft a will, he or she will know the tough questions to ask you so that all your affairs are in order including designating a legal guardian and a trustee to handle any money or assets in your place.

Saving Your Pennies: If you haven’t been a big saver, now is the time to change your ways.  College is expensive.  Putting aside a few dollars for baby’s education now will ease the blow later.  Consider setting up auto-payments from each paycheck into a separate college account or look into a 529 plan, which is a popular tax-advantage savings plan specially designed for a child’s future education.

And while you’re at it, don’t forget about your own future.  You won’t be able to work forever, so having a proper retirement plan in place now is a good idea too. After all, you don’t want that baby taking care of you in your old-age. No way!

As a new mom-to-be you should be fully aware that you are in for a whole world of poop when your baby is born. Babies poop a lot in those first few weeks (in fact, it would seem that every fart is accompanied by some poo). So enjoy the quiet time you have relaxing with your Lullabelly music belt now, soon you’ll be doing a lot of diaper changes.

Also, be prepared for what baby poop looks like. Don’t expect a nicely formed bowel movement. Oh no. Baby’s first poop will be dark, greenish-black and gooey (it looks kind of like tar). This is called meconium, and it’s made up of all the delicacies your baby has been swallowing for the last nine months like amniotic fluid, bile, mucous and dead skin cells. Sounds tasty, doesn’t it?

After the first few dirty diapers, baby’s poop will switch to a mustard-yellow with some tiny seeds in it if you are breastfeeding. If baby is drinking formula, the stool may be yellow, brown or green and may have a stronger smell to it.

All of these colors are perfectly normal, but if the poop is hard and pebble-like, has blood in it or is white, call your doc.

And that’s the scoop on newborn poop.

When I was pregnant with my first baby I went on a quest to find the perfect diaper bag. It needed to be the ultimate combination of functional and chic.

Although this purse was holding a bit more than just my wallet and some lip-gloss, I didn’t want it to be boring and drab. I wanted a diaper bag that was fab.

Consider the following when choosing your ultimate diaper bag:

Size – How big do you need it to be? Will you be carrying around your loot too? The bigger the better – you can never have too much cargo space.

Straps – Do you prefer a stylish shoulder bag, or do you want something a little less high maintenance like a messenger bag or backpack? I’ve even see women rock a stylish fanny-pack.

Pockets – A bag with lots of outer pockets means you won’t have to go digging around for pacifiers, bottles, keys or your cell phone.

Note, it doesn’t have to be branded a diaper bag to be a diaper bag. A large tote, or roomy purse can do the job just as well.

About the Contributor: Amy G. is the mom to two beautiful baby girls (two and a newborn). She is a regular contributor to The Belly Blog, a blog for pregnant women and is sponsored by Lullabelly, a prenatal musical belt.

If you’re getting a jump-start on decorating your baby’s nursery before its arrival, one of the first things you’ll want to tackle is the paint job.  Although completely DIY, painting a room is no small feat (and, in my expert opinion, should be Dad’s job – of course supervised by Mom). 

Here are a few of the Lullabelly team’s tips for properly painting the nursery:

Mom, Sit This One Out! – Fight your urge to nest and put the paintbrush down.  You could get hurt painting and it’s not safe for you to be inhaling fumes.  When the room is being painted, try to stay out of the house and open up windows while the walls dry. Come in every so often to show your support, compliment your husband, and catch any mishaps before they turn into big messes. (IDEA! Use this time to enjoy brisk walks while you and your baby listen to your playlist on your Lullabelly musical belt.)

Use Safe(r) for Baby Paint – Aren’t we lucky that we live in a time where paint manufactures offer low or no volatile organic compound (VOC) paints?  These paints emit little or no fumes, reducing health risks to mom and baby.  Look for these types of paints when choosing a paint brand.

Decide on Cool Colors – Can’t decide which color to use.  Here are a few ideas: 

            Green – This is the first color baby can see and it’s gender neutral.

            Orange – The latest in nursery trends, this color is warm and comforting.

            Blue – Got a boy bun in your oven? Go with blue, which is soothing for baby.

            Yellow – Also gender neutral, yellow can be stimulating, so try a toned down version for baby’s room. 

                             Try pairing it with gray for a really modern look.

Create Sheen and Shine – High gloss, low gloss, no gloss? Paint finishes can be overwhelming, but try paint with an eggshell finish.  It has a low sheen and is known for being more durable than flat paint.  It’s easier to wash (when your baby’s mess isn’t just contained to the changing table – trust us, you’ll find poop in the strangest of places) and is more resistant to scuff marks.

Have any tips for painting the baby’s nursery? We’d love to hear them so share away in our comments section!

We’ve all heard the truism that you only turn 16 once. You only turn 18 once. You only turn 32 once. But, of all the ages, you really only turn 1 once. The first birthday is a special time for parents, family members and friends to reflect on the past year that the little ball of joy has been in their lives and to make memories that they will share with the birthday boy or birthday girl in the future.

If you’re struggling to think of how to make your baby’s first birthday as special as the occasion demands, here are a few tips.

Guest List

The first birthday should be shared between the parents, family members and close friends of the family. Don’t stress out about whether or not to invite your coworkers, church group, college roommate or the person who makes your coffee every morning. Stick with close friends of the family and the immediate family members. Inviting other babies is not necessary but if one of your friends or family members happens to have a baby, encourage them to bring their child. A good rule of thumb for figuring an acceptable number of children to invite is to take the age that your child is turning — in this case one — and add one to that number. So two babies should be the max number of tiny guests at the party. Otherwise your child might feel overwhelmed.

Menu

I’ve heard some parents wonder aloud if their child can handle cake on their first birthday. Unless your child has an allergy that would keep them from being able to digest it, cake should be fine. If you’re looking to keep things healthy, try making mini carrot cupcakes or bran muffins with icing and sprinkles on them.

Activities

Your child probably hasn’t mastered the finer points of pin the tail on the donkey so allow them to play with their favorite toys and, of course, leave time for them to be held by all their friends and family members. For the older guests, make a station for birthday cards. Your child will be able to open a card from their first birthday each year. This is a great way to commemorate the first birthday.

Melissa is a guest blogger who likes to write about party planning and how to throw the perfect themed birthday party using Mario Bros party supplies. 

Are you expecting a little one in 2012?! If yes, congrats! 

Whether this is your first baby or fourth, one of the top questions you’ll surly be asked is, “Do you have a name picked out?”

Well, do you?

The name game can be the most fun or most challenging part of having a baby (depending on who you ask).   Parents-to-be want to find the perfect moniker to bestow on their little bundle.

If you’re looking for some help, Nameberry.com has created a list of 12 popular name trends for 2012.  The list includes a mix of uniquely-spelled traditional names, old-standbys and some new ones with a “heroic” twist.

Here are some hot categories to get you inspired:

Modern Heroes – Think about your favorite superhero, character from a book, movie, sports professional or maybe a hero in your real life.  You don’t have to stick to the first name, surnames make great first names too. The possibilities here are endless.

Same But Different – Some names are popular for a reason.  Often it’s because they are well liked by a wide range of parents and are significant of current events (Isabella and Jacob). You may love a popular baby name, but still want your child to stand out from the pack. So put your own spin on it. You can mix it up with a creative way to spell the name – “Ashley” becomes “Ashli”, or put a slight variation on it – “Emma” becomes “Emmaline.”

Oldies But Goodies – Thought you’d never see the day when Betty, Henry and May would be stylish again? Well, it’s time to turn to the glamour and simplicity of old Hollywood where traditional names are now hip and oh-so-retro-cool too!

Want to read more about 2012 name trends? Click here!

Trust us, you’ll be getting gifts galore before and after your little one arrives.  A lot of those gifts will be cute little outfits that you can’t wait to dress baby in, many will be non-essential items like tutus and fancy dresses, which aren’t very practical for a newborn baby.  Plus, family and friends tend to buy clothing a few sizes up when gift giving and that means your tiny infant might not be able to fit in those clothes right away or the season might be off when it finally fits (i.e., your baby can’t wear a sweater in June!). 

If this is your first baby (or maybe your second but born in a different season), you’ll need to be prepared with some essential basics for baby’s wardrobe.

So what do you need to have on hand once you bring baby home from the hospital?  The Lullabelly team has put together a list of essential clothing items you’ll want washed and waiting for baby’s arrival.

 1.)  Lap Tees and Long Sleeve Shirts

2.)  Hats

3.)  Bodysuits

4.)  Pants or Shorts

5.)  Sweaters or a light jacket (depending on the season)

6.)  Socks

7.)  Swaddle Blankets

8.)  Sleeping Gowns/Footie Pajamas

9.)   Mittens (the kind that prevent baby from scratching his or her face)

10.) Rompers

Remember to keep it simple.  You’ll be changing diapers frequently so convenience and ease are keys to success.

You’ll also be doing tons of laundry and baby grows so fast, so don’t invest a lot of money in a lot of outfits.  Buying three to four of each piece with a few “going out” outfits should cover you until they grow into the next size.  One-piece shirts and socks are perfect for warm weather.  In colder weather, bodysuits with a pair of pants and socks work well.  Pajamas with feet are easy year-round option too.

If you are more the fashionista type and can’t stand the thought of a plain, white onesie – there are plenty of pieces made stylish with stripes, colors and patterns. Remember, basics don’t have to be boring! Have fun… but don’t go overboard on non-essentials!

You’ve decided to find out the sex of your baby and want to share the news with family and friends.  Why not invite them over for a piece of cake, specifically a gender reveal cake.

Gender, or baby reveal, cakes are the latest trend in finding out if baby is a Jack or a Jill.  

Here’s how it works:

An expecting couple goes to the doctor for the 20-week ultrasound.  The doctor makes the determination, but instead of telling mom and dad-to-be at that moment, the answer is sealed in an envelope. 

Mom and dad take the envelope to a baker, who opens the envelope and dyes the batter of a custom-made cake pink or blue (depending on what’s in the envelope).  Once the cake has baked and cooled, a thick layer of frosting is added to make sure that what’s inside stays covered.  

Once properly decorated, the cake goes back to the parents who can cut it open on their own, or serve up a few slices at a small gathering to find out the answer.

It’s a fun and delicious way to discover what lies below for your bundle of joy.