Baby Phase Is A Magical Time
Enjoy each and every moment with your baby, since the days pass quickly.
This advice is given by the well-slept, veteran parent to the bleary-eyed, new parent, who responds with a glazed smile and a nod.
Between diapers, feedings and sleep deprivation, the moments of undisturbed enjoyment between parent and baby seem fleeting.
But, there’s help for parents to make the most of their baby’s first two years life: the book, “365 Days of Baby Love,” ($12.95, Sourcebooks) offers activities to bond parent with baby, amid the daily routine.
“The magic of childhood lies in the everyday moments,” write co-authors Sheila Ellison and Susan Ferdinandi in the introduction. “This book will give you ideas of ways to spend magical time together.”
As educators and parents, Ellison and Ferdinandi give dozens of playful ideas, inspirational quotes and practical advice throughout the book, written in the style of a day-by-day calendar.
Rather than adding burden to busyness, the guide is meant to inspire parents and caregivers to play, grow and explore with their child as he or she moves through the stages from birth to age 2.
“Write a birthday letter to your baby every year,” is one activity on Day 60. “Explore the baby’s world on your hands and knees,” Day 113 suggests.
There are 26 sections of ideas covering such topics as bedtime, dramatic play and movement. There are suggestions for mom and dad to take time out for themselves. The book also covers practical issues like sex after baby, weekend escapes and sibling jealousies.
An ideal baby shower gift, “365 Days of Baby Love” is available at area bookstores, or by calling (800) 432-7444.
Infant safety booklets
Is your house baby-proof? What toys are appropriate for newborns? Which formula is right for your infant? These and other questions are answered in four free booklets available from the Consumer Information Center.
One booklet covers safety checklists for each room in the house. A buying guide lists appropriate toys for children from birth to 12 years old. A third booklet discusses giving medicine to your child, and the fourth provides information on infant formulas and breast-feeding.
Receive the four booklets by sending a $1 check (for shipping and handling) to: Baby Safety, Consumer Information Center, Pueblo, CO 81009.
Child seats at wholesale prices
To promote safety, Midas automotive stores are offering the Century 1000 STE child safety seat to consumers at the wholesale price of $42.
When the child seat is no longer needed, return it to any Midas store and the $42 will be credited toward future automotive services.
This offer is part of a nationwide program, Midas Project Safe Baby, which has distributed more than 150,000 child seats since it began in 1993.
Midas also offers a free 10-minute video and brochure, “Tips for Safer Travel with Children,” to illustrate the correct use of child car seats.
To obtain the video and brochure, call (800) 868-0088, or write to: Midas Project Safe Baby, 500 N. Michigan Ave., No. 200, Chicago, IL 60611.
, DataTimes MEMO: The Family Track is a weekly column of notes and information for families. Send items to Lynn Gibson, Features Department, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615, or fax (509) 459-5098.