Reuse or buy new?

By Krista

Got another bun in the oven? Now what? Should you reuse some of your previous products, or scrap it and start over? Why not do both? Baby gear is constantly evolving, changing, AND being recalled. What was the latest and greatest gadget one baby ago could now be completely yanked from shelves. With a little research and proper planning, getting ready for your second, third, or fourth (whew) bundle can be a breeze.

First, get savvy and take inventory. Prepare your “reuse or buy new” list by considering safety, emotion, and usability. Some items may represent an emotional connection. Maybe you have beautiful memories of rocking your first born wrapped in a special blanket and envision passing it on to them to celebrate the birth of their first child? Certainly, these items fall into the emotional category and you will want to put these aside as special treasures. Don’t forget to consider connections your child may have towards a precious item. They, just like you, may have special memories toward a stuffed animal or pillow. The thought of handing these items down to a new baby might cause unnecessary sibling conflict. Involve your children in these decisions prior to bringing home baby and avoid tantrums and strife.

However, car seats, high chairs, cribs, and larger more expensive items are ripe for the reusing! An absolute MUST is a visit to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website. Research all items you intend to reuse and make sure they haven’t been recalled since your last trip down baby lane. If your item passes muster, complete your own safety check by ensuring all parts are still working properly and not in need of repair.

Finally, don’t discount usability. We have all purchased products that, simply put, we hated. True lemons that drove us mad when we first used them and are sure to aggravate us again. Make life easier and consider replacing these items. A newborn takes enough energy, fighting to collapse a stroller shouldn’t. If cost is a concern, try selling items that didn’t work for you and put your funds towards the purchase of something more user-friendly.

All this being said, getting ready for a new baby is a personal experience. Many moms opt for all new, while others find reusing the comfortable way to go. Recently I’ve spent many blissful hours going through our old baby items and reminiscing. Some items need replacing while others bring joy to my heart knowing they get one more round.

Preparing for a new baby is a blissful experience to be treasured. So, congratulations to all the expectant Smarty moms and enjoy the process regardless of what side of the “buy or reuse” fence you’re on!

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Trusting your instincts

By Krista

Before I became a mom, I would roll my eyes when my own mother would spout out the words, “a mothers intuition”. What did that mean? How could she just “know” something wasn’t right? Well, four years and four kids later, I believe (and strongly) in a “mothers intuition”. Twice now, my intuition changed the course of my life . . .

One year ago (practically to the day), I started to feel very nervous about my pregnancy. I was carrying a precious baby girl who was due to join our family in the fall. I loved her and felt her every move. Until one day, when her movement became erratic and just plain “off”. I called the doctor and they told me to count her kicks, which I did. She passed this “test” with flying colors and I went on throughout my day. But, not really. In my heart, I felt something wasn’t right. Why did she stop moving for so long? Why did her kicks come and go? Was this normal because she was getting bigger, or was this a sign that something was terribly wrong? My “motherly intuition” nagged me for days. Finally, I insisted I come in for a stress test so the doctors could see on a monitor what I was feeling internally. It was too late. My daughter she was gone from us forever.

That late September day, I vowed never to trust anyone over my “intuition”. After all, my feelings might be wrong, but what if they are right? In this case, they were right and I paid a hefty price for not being more aggressive about following my “intuition”. I’m not saying I could have stopped the horrible tragedy that was ahead of us, I’m just saying I might have been able to do something. What . . . I’m still not sure.

A year later, I followed my instincts (which sent me straight to an emergency c-section where I delivered our twin boy and girl). During this pregnancy I was aggressive, over-involved, and to the point of almost demanding. I requested stress tests even when the doctors didn’t think it was necessary. It was necessary to me. I also requested ultrasounds constantly so I myself could see the heartbeats and flow of blood in and out of their cords. I was my biggest advocate and I was the one who caught a near deadly mistake.

A week ago my twins were born. I went to the doctors office for my weekly stress test. My sons heart rate wouldn’t stay stable. The doctors claimed it was my own heart beat being picked up on the screen, not his. This answer did not sit well with me. Maybe this was the case, but maybe not? I went into Labor and Delivery to be checked out. They couldn’t find his heart rate but kept trying and trying with the monitor. I finally told the nurse they needed to do an ultrasound to see him closer. She was somewhat take aback. I insisted. What they found changed the course of my life, forever. Our son, Quinn, had almost no fluid left. This should have been picked up on the three ultrasounds I had the previous week, but it wasn’t. The doctor looked me straight in the eye and called an emergency c-section. Low fluid can result in umbilical cord injuries. The twins were born hours later.

They are here, early, but here. Our daughter spent five days being cared for in the NICU, our son nine. But, they are here and healthy. My intuition saved them. So, never, ever doubt what your heart says. The worst case is that you could be wrong, but what would happen if your heart was right? As a mother you need to be in charge of your life. Taking charge sometimes means being aggressive when the moment is right.

Smarties, follow your “motherly intuition” . . . it might change the course of your life.

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Bald is Beautiful

By Lisa K

There is a gene that my family passes from generation to generation, and it isn’t eye color or freckles or even our sense of humor. It’s the bald gene.  You don’t see many kids with this trait, but when I see another big baldy I always smile, knowing this mom probably experiences what I do each and every day.

You see, my daughter Katherine is 9 months old and does not have any hair. She somehow has less hair now than on the day she was born.   And the reality is that this isn’t going to change any time soon. It’s not unusual to see a bald baby in the first 3 to 4 months, but after that it gets tricky.

Katherine is getting bigger, has eight teeth and is looking more grown up.  She is a big beautiful baby and people can’t easily identify her age because she has no hair. 
 
And people are constantly confused about her gender.  Sure my baby is wearing all pink, but with that short haircut, she must be a boy.  “Oh, he’s so cute, or how old is he?” will be asked in every grocery checkout line or park I enter.  Again I can only assume this is because people can’t quite figure out why I have a giant bald baby in my stroller or grocery cart. Even the director at my daycare slipped the other day and said –wow he’s getting big. Then she looked at me and realized – oh crap that’s Lisa and her daughter is Katherine.

I would put a bow in her hair to help someone identify the gender more easily, but I can’t, she’s bald.  And I don’t mean she has short hair that I can’t put pig tails in. I bought those tiny bows that close with Velcro that only take a few strands to hold in place and I can’t make them work.

My husband really hates when people confuse his baby girl for being a boy and I see him stop at the sections of the store that have bows for little girls and he always flips over the package hoping to see something besides a clip there, some magic invention that will allow him to attach the pretty contraption to the head of his bald baby girl.  It’s just not in the cards.
 
Katherine will eventually turn one and be a giant bald walking baby.  I anticipate her hair showing up somewhere between 18 months and 2 years of age.  That’s when mine arrived.  It’s my gene that has people rubbing her dome and asking where her hair is. I don’t care, I think bald is beautiful.

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Bye, Bye Dora!

By Susan B, Charlotte Smarty Pants

Dora the Explorer has been an unofficial part of our family for the past 3 years. All of this came to a grinding halt last week when I had a little “run in” with Dora. I strive to deal with conflict by addressing it instead of sweeping it under the rug. So, here goes…

Dear Dora the Explorer,
You need to remove the Dora cupcakes recipe and video from the Nick Jr. (see Noggin) website and also stop talking about them on TV.

After seeing a promo for your cupcakes on Nick Jr., my daughter bugged me for weeks. Everyday, it was: "Mommy, are we going to make the Dora cupcakes today?" I thought she would forget if I simply ignored her. She did not. I finally cracked.

Let me put it bluntly, Dora: these cupcakes were a total P.I.T.A. Your recipe says 70 minutes and that is a total crock. Admittedly, I'm a bit slower than your average professional cupcake decorator. But, c'mon, Dora. It took me more than 70 minutes to get everything prepped and mixed. Plus, this doesn't even count the time it takes to mix, bake and cool the cupcakes.

The entire process from buying the ingredients to piping out the hair to baking the cupcakes to dying the icing the correct color to decorating the cupcakes was very stressful!

I need you to know that before this unfortunate event, you were a she-ro in our house. We were all big fans of yours.

I'm concerned that you are being misrepresented. I recommend that you contact your people at Nick Jr so that you preserve your good name and save some other poor mom from falling victim to this scam.

I hope we've all learned from this and can move forward.

Dora, saying goodbye is always hard and I'm sorry it had to end this way. It pains me to tell you this but my daughter has moved on to the Disney Princesses.

Goodbye, Dora.

Susan Bowman, scarred for life

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Developmental "Red Flags"

By Dr. Kurt Klinepeter, Brenner Children’s Hospital
Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician

Many parents worry at some point whether their child is developing normally and when they should be concerned about sitting up, walking, talking and interacting with others. It is commonly stated that children, and particularly siblings, should not be compared to each other. However, because children’s developmental skills develop in an orderly and predictable manner, it is quite possible and appropriate to compare children to the skill set they should have at any age and to be aware of developmental “red flags”.

Gross or large motor skills are the primary developmental skills in the first 12-18 months of life. Even newborn infants should demonstrate some head control. The 5-6 month old is holding his or her head up, popping up on his or her arms in prone position, and starting to sit with support. By 8-10 months of age, infants should be sitting independently and developing mobility (scooting, crawling). They are usually pulling up by at least 12 months of age and walking with, and then without, support a few months afterwards. Muscle tightness, weakness, or any unusual movements are a developmental red flag. The rate of motor progress can vary, but the key is steady progress over time.

Infants develop reaching, grasping, and transferring skills by 8-10 months of age. Most are able to self feed by 12 months of age with further refinement of self-help skills thereafter. Most 2 years-olds help with dressing and bathing. The range of toilet training is 2 to 4 years of age. Toddlers know what to do with a crayon -- making a stroke by 2.5 years-old and a circle by 3 years-old. True handedness is not usually apparent until 3 years of age. Early handedness (right or left), particularly in the first year of life is a developmental red flag.

Babies are social and demonstrate responsiveness to others by 6-8 weeks of age. Their eyes track together by 3 months of age and they are able to localize to voice or environmental sounds by 8-10 months of age. Any failure to respond to visual stimuli by 3-6 months of age or auditory stimuli by 8-12 months of age is a developmental red flag.

Young babies produce vowel sounds and then babble (consonant-vowel sounds) beginning at 6-8 months of age. Failure to babble by 12 months of age is a concern. Single words occur at least by 12-18 months of age. Thereafter, speech/language development literally explodes. Typical two year-olds have a multiword vocabulary and are putting words together. No expressive language by 2 years of age is a developmental red flag. Even limited language should be noted by 2 years of age and closely tracked since speech/language delays are the most common developmental disorder in young children. Children should be talking in complete and lengthy sentences by 3 years of age and in paragraphs with the ability to relate a story by 4 years of age. Speech sound development is not complete until 6-7 years of age. This means that young children predictably mispronounce certain speech sounds. By 3 years of age, approximately 75% of speech production should be understood in a typically developing child. If you find that you are still “interpreting” for your child after that point, a speech/language evaluation may be needed.

Children will look at something that is pointed out to them by 15-18 months of age. Failure to seek, share, and be motivated by social interaction (wanting mom and dad’s attention) after 18 months of age is a developmental red flag.

The bottom line is that children grow and progress in a steady fashion within age appropriate ranges. Any loss of developmental skills at any age is a developmental red flag. Trust your instincts. As a parent you can best serve your child by fostering a good relationship with your child’s pediatrician or health care professional and discuss any questions or concerns that you have at your child’s well-check visits. Development is easily screened in the primary care office and, if necessary, you and the provider can discuss whether a referral for assessment is indicated. Developmental disorders occur frequently and it is well known that the key to the best possible outcome is to identify and treat as early as possible.

Brenner Children’s Hospital houses the only medical and developmental evaluation clinic in the region for developmental delays and disabilities. For more information, call 336-716-2255.

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When Is the Best Time of Year to Have a Baby?

By Rachel H

Both of my children celebrated their birthdays this month. Their birthdays are just a few days apart, and my husband and I both have birthdays in August, so our summers have always been a lot of fun. It got me thinking about what times of the year are the best times to give birth.

In a perfect world, we’d count back nine to ten months from the month we’d like to give birth, and try to conceive somewhere in that area. But in the real world with miscarriages, infertility, and just bad luck, unfortunately we know that cannot always happen so easily.

Just for kicks and giggles I thought it would be fun to have our readers chime in with their thoughts on the best time of the year to give birth. I will share my viewpoints on June, since I have double the experience with that one!

“Pros” of giving birth in the month of June:

~ You can pretty much do anything you want for birthday parties as they grow older – indoor, outdoor, pool, backyard, etc.
~ It is exactly halfway through the year after Christmas, so just as everyone gets tired of their gifts from the holidays, you are ready to re-stock with presents and weed out the ones that they haven’t played with since December.
~ You don’t have to invite the entire class to a birthday party if you don’t have the funds or the space. No one is talking about the party at school and hurting other kids’ feelings!
~ As far as pregnancy, you get to have a summer baby without carrying an extra 30 pounds throughout the entire summer.
~ When you are preggos, you get to wear a bathing suit and be perfectly comfortable with how much weight you have gained because you are pregnant and you are SUPPOSED to be fat this summer!
~ After the baby arrives, there is not too much of a chance of getting stuck indoors with nothing to do and no visitors. Everyone is out and about, germs are not in full force, and you & baby can get out as well!

“Cons” of giving birth in June:

~ Kids don’t usually get to celebrate their birthday on the actual day at school.
~ Since June is close to the cut-off date for Kindergarten Registration, you will have to deliberate over whether or not to send your child to Kindergarten the fall after they turn five, or wait a year and send them to readiness instead. (Both of mine went straight to Kindergarten after turning five that June, but many of their friends with June birthdays did not.)
~ As far as pregnancy, you don’t get to hide under big sweaters if you are uncomfortable with your weight gain.
~ After you have the baby, you still have two months of summer left where you really don’t want to be caught dead in a bathing suit with your pre-pregnancy body.
~ If it is not your first child, you don’t get the few hours of solitude when the older one is at mom’s morning out or school.

After weighing out my thoughts above, I think June is a great month to give birth!

Now it is your turn to chime in. Please share the month(s) you gave birth and explain why that month is or is not a great month to have a child! If you are unsure how to leave a comment, click here.

Don't forget to register to win a pair of Orthaheel flip flops - a generous offer from Fleet Feet of Winston-Salem. You must be a Triad Smarty Pants newsletter subscriber to be eligible to win. This promotion ends Friday, June 25 and TWO winners will be announced shortly afterwards - just in time for you to sport these sandals at the pool!

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Smarty Summer Treats

By Dana D, Charlotte Smarty Pants

It’s never too early to find a new way to beat the summer heat, right? Last year, I bought BPA free popsicle molds and we have used them all summer! If you haven’t purchased some yet, I highly recommend it! We have made so many different kinds of popsicles and the kids love them. They love the handles and shapes of the molds. You can make natural popsicles free of food colorings, high fructose corn syrup, etc… We freeze smoothies, orange juice and just about anything the boys like to drink.

Here’s an easy suggestion, add orange juice to the mold and then drizzle vanilla yogurt into it. Freeze and viola! There you have our version of the beloved orange creamsicle. See below for a few suggestions on where to buy the BPA free molds. We bought ours from Crate and Barrel last year and it is the Tovolo brand. Unfortunately, they are no longer selling these molds. I did find them on Amazon but they don’t specifically state they are BPA free. They appear to be the same exact molds we have so I would consider it to be a safe option. There are a couple of other BPA free popsicle molds listed below as well.

Tovola molds

Norpro molds

Soft landing molds

On a side note, we have been trying to eliminate all disposable items and one annoying thing was plastic straws. I have found a couple options that have worked really well for us. Again, one of my favorite sites, The Soft Landing, has the perfect solution. By the way, all their products are PVC, BPA and phthalate free. The sip-a-bowls and cups are fantastic! They have a built in straw and this totally eliminates the need for a straw. They are going to be carrying stainless steel reusable straws soon as well. Love these! If you can’t wait then you can buy them on Amazon. They are the Bendy stainless steel straws by RSVP.

Perfect, since they are reusable and BPA free. There are bamboo, paper and glass options as well but I think this is the best choice. I just don’t trust my little ones with a glass straw in their mouths. It makes me cringe to think about it. So you can use the reusable straws for your smoothies at home or a cocktail in the evening. Either way, feel good about beating the heat and limiting what ends up in the landfills. With these two changes in your household you will save money and provide healthy nutritious snacks for your family. You must check out The Soft Landing for an easy, easy site to safely feed your loved ones.
Please share any recipes you have for homemade popsicles that your family can’t do without!

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Do You Deserve a Push Present?

By Rachel H

A few weeks ago, a group of my girlfriends got into a discussion about "push presents." If you have never heard this term before, it refers to a gift given to a mom (usually by the dad) after giving birth to a child. These presents are traditionally jewelry or a trip.

Well, the discussion got very heated with many different opinions and I could not believe how passionate some people were about this topic! Wow! We had one end of the spectrum with mothers who felt that the gift was well-deserved after nine months of carrying the baby and hours of delivery. They felt that the gift was not only deserved, but expected.

Then we had a group who thought the push present was the most ridiculous thing they had ever heard of and that the child should be present enough. This group also felt that the final "gift" of pregnancy was something that was deserved by both parents, and that a healthy child was a perfect gift.

But what about the people who tried umpteen times to have a baby and went through years and years of heartache? Another group of my girlfriends thought this group deserved a present.

Then there was my friend who said the husband was the one who deserved a gift for putting up with her crankiness for nine months!

Needless to say, I thought this would be a perfect hot topic for today. I would love to hear what you all think about a push present. Have you heard of this before? Or better yet, had your husband heard of this before? Did you get one? If so, what was it? It you didn't get one, were you disappointed?

Chime in below and if you are unsure of how to leave your comment, click here to find out how. And PLEASE remember to treat others' comments with respect! Remember ... to each his own!

Tomorrow is your last chance to register for our bonus giveaway with "Send Out Cards". Everyone wins, so why not sign up? You could save more than $50 in greeting cards. Click here for all the details.

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Baby Shower Gifts to Make Momma Smile!

By Rachel H

When your first friend finds out she’s pregnant, it creates a snowball effect. Before you know it, everyone is having babies, which also means everyone is having baby showers! Whether you are attending a shower for a first-time mom, a veteran mom, or a mom of an adopted child, you want your gift to be one that is not only appreciated, but remembered!

I have gathered an assortment of unique baby shower gifts that I wanted to share with you. I also emailed a few friends, and want to thank to Ann, Sally and Angie for telling me about your favorite gifts that you received at your showers!

Readers, please add your favorite gifts at the end of this post!

The Ultimate Crib Sheet
I never had one of these, but I must have missed out. The sheet snaps on so that you don’t have to pull everything apart when you change the crib sheets. And we all know that the changing of the sheets happens way more often than we would like! No need for a mattress cover when you use this.


The Floor Nanny
We did a giveaway with this product last summer and it is still one of my favorite things for new moms! This is a great group gift. We gave one to a friend of mine who had twins, and I cannot tell you how cute those little babies looked all snuggled up in this Floor Nanny. It is a safe place for babies to sleep, play, and explore while Mom gets things done!

Personalized Items
You can choose an item off the registry, or pick up a blanket, bib, burp cloth, onesie, etc. to have it monogrammed. This adds such a special touch to a gift and makes mom smile the first time she sees her baby’s name written on something! A few of our favorite places to have outside items monogrammed are Designs N' Stitches in Greensboro, The Logo Shop in High Point, Patti McCormick in Winston www.mimismonograms.blogspot.com (Pmccormick@triad.rr.com), Monogramming Momma Melissa Maltzahn in Winston (mamaltzahn@gmail.com), and Harry Smidgepodge on Main Street in Jamestown (336-254-8328). PLUS, I got a sneak peak at the Buckhead Betties sale, which starts tomorrow, and they have the most adorable bibs and other baby items that can be monogrammed on the spot at the sale! Stock up on some shower gifts while you are there!

The Padalily
I mentioned this in my show and tell blog a few weeks ago. This is a carseat handle pad that keeps your poor arms and hands from hurting while toting around your bundle of joy. They are adorable and come in an assortment of patterns. You can check them out on the website above, or they are also sold all over the Triad in boutique shops like Hip Chics, Gazoodles, Polliwogs, Splurges, and Taji Baby.

Childcare
This is a great gift for moms who are having a second or third child. You can make a coupon book with coupons for babysitting from you, or pick up a gift certificate from an hourly child care center like BiziKidz, KidSpot, or Drop-N-Play. We reviewed a few of these in this blog. * Note that the W-S BiziKidz is now KidSpot, but the GSO and Burlington BiziKidz are still available.

Meals
Homemade meals from friends are great once the baby arrives, so at the shower you can choose to have guests sign up for meals and dates to deliver. Another option is gift certificates from Dream Dinners, Sociale Gourmet, or Let’s Dish.

Spooneez
These are the coolest way for moms to tote spoons, and other feeding accessories without leaving a huge mess in the bottom of a diaper bag! Spooneez come in travel size (which are even great for toothpaste and brushes), mini size, and even matching bibs! You can read more about Spooneez on the website above or our previous blog here.

Stationary
If mom already knows the sex and/or name, personalized stationary is the way to go! Calling cards, thank you notes, note cards, tags, etc. are all available at local stationary stores. I also loved the "Notes for Babysitter" notepad with our last name on it. So cute!

Coming home basket
This is a fabulous idea from the group. Each guest is asked to bring one specific item baby needs...Vaseline, cotton balls, alcohol (rubbing), teething ring, outlet covers, diaper rash cream, comb, tylenol, ibuprofen, baby vicks, clippers, travel wipes, disposable baby spoons, nursing journal, formula travel dispenser, sunscreen, car shades, the list goes on and on. These are all combined into the “coming home basket” and presented to mom at the shower. It saves a ton of money for the mom to be and she will already have the emergency stuff you didn’t know about!

1-800-diapers
Why not schedule a delivery for the mom to be? You can never, ever, have too many diapers! If you have used this service below, let us know what you thought about it by commenting below.

A Big Ol' Tub of Jelly Bellies
Costco is one of my favorite places ever, and they carry this huge tub of Jelly Belly candy. What could make mom happier than a sweet treat to satisfy those cravings? You can also play a "guess the number of jelly bellies" game with this and give a prize to the winner at the shower.

Of course gift cards for the store where the mom-to-be is registered are always much appreciated. If you are currently expecting your first child, scroll down the left side of our website and click on the “pregnancy,” “age 0-1” or “gear” categories for links that will give you more great ideas of baby items that are must-haves! We have some fantastic ideas to put on your registry.

We would also love to run a few blogs on unique and creative baby shower ideas. Have you thrown a shower that was truly unique? Have you come up with different games other than the usual measuring the belly with toilet paper or taste-testing baby food? If so, we would love for you to be a guest blogger on TSP! Email us at triadsmartypants@gmail.com and we'll get you started!

And of course, tell us about your favorite baby shower gifts by leaving a comment below!

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Cord Blood Banking

By Dana D, Charlotte Smarty Pants

As a pregnant woman, I see advertisements all the time for cord blood banking. I am nearing the end of this pregnancy so I am definitely more aware of this because I haven’t really decided what I am going to do. It all seems a little controversial. I did not do this for my twins and I always felt a little guilty about it. My OB at the time didn’t recommend cord blood banking. He said that we were better off putting that money toward the boys’ college education. It was all very new at that time and he didn’t feel there had been enough research. He also had made a good point that there was no regulation in regard to these banks and who knows if they would even be around in a few years. This seems to be the general consensus among physicians. I have spoken to several obstetricians who feel the same way. I have also read several articles where the American Medical Association was cited as saying it feels it could be a waste of money.

All of the above concerns private cord blood “banking“. It appears everyone is in “favor” of donating the cord blood to a public “bank” if you will. Cord blood can be used to treat a variety of diseases, for example leukemia, but again, many Ob’s say it hasn’t turned out to be as successful as they had anticipated. There is around a one in 20,000 chance that you would use this for your child. The cost is thousands of dollars. They say the real value is donating to a public bank that can be utilized by many.

Of course, the private cord blood banks play and tug on your heartstrings. It makes me feel terrible to think, “what if something happened to one of my children and I hadn’t banked the cord blood?”

I am reaching out to you Smarties to see what your views and opinions are regarding this topic. I would also love to hear why you did or didn’t store the cord blood. Again, donating the cord blood is highly recommended if you don’t bank yours. It appears that a high percentage of mothers are unaware of this option and the majority is discarded as medical waste. We would also love to hear what bank you used if you did bank your cord blood and why you chose that particular one. There are several out there these days.

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Lyndhurst Gyn ... Like a Family

By Guest Blogger Beth W

My journey with Lyndhurst Gynecologic Associates began 18 years ago as I was prepared to get married and realized my days of visits to the pediatrician were over. I needed an OB/GYN. My fiancé was coaching YMCA basketball at the time and this “cute first grade girl” whose dad was a doctor (Dr. Pollard) was on his team. He said I should give him a call…and the rest is history.

After three years of marriage it was time to start a family. Dr. Pollard was encouraging. We thought, “Great ! Let’s do this!!” Well, of course, as many of you know, it was not that easy. So a year later we were referred to Dr. Parker and his WONDERFUL nurse, Kathy Poole, who are the infertility gurus at Lyndhurst. After two years of pills, shots, dye tests, etc., we got the news that we were going to be parents. This was how my journey and relationship with Lyndhurst began. There were the girls in the insurance department who were so kind, and we became friends on a first name basis. There was Linda at check out who would cheer me up when I would walk out in tears. And there were many others who were always there with a smile, comforting hug, and an encouraging word.

Those next nine months were filled with fear, questions, elation, and many emotions. The staff at Lyndhurst was always patient and caring. Dr. Parker and Kathy Poole took the time to make me feel like I was the only patient they had. On December 12, 1997, Dr. Parker delivered our son, Jim!! My first stop after leaving the hospital was Lyndhurst, so I could show Jim to my Lyndhurst family.

A year later we wanted to go for number two! It was back to the “infertility gurus” to start the process again, and to our surprise, it happened quicker and easier this time This comforted pregnancy resulted in the birth of our daughter Maggie, born January 3, 2000. This birth was just as wonderful as my first, but was followed with a horrible dose of post partum after coming home from the hospital. How could this be? My life was complete. I remember Dr. Parker and Dr. Pollard calling to check on me, and Kathy Poole coming to my home to make sure I was OK. Once again “my Lyndhurst family” rallied around me.

When our children were three and one my husband said let’s go for number three. At that point I was feeling overwhelmed with motherhood and because it was so easy to get pregnant the second time I said let’s wait. I thought it will not be a problem to get pregnant, so a year later we decided it was time.

Or course, it did not come easily and once again I found myself in the throws of that painful journey of infertility. For three years, “my Lyndhurst family” was there again to walk with me. I kept thinking I should not feel this way, I have two beautiful children, but sometimes I felt like it was even harder this go around. Kathy was there every step of the way. She listened to me cry, justified my feelings, and went with me to get cokes at The Loop, dinners at Diamondback, and long walks. She listened and encouraged me. I became very close to many other staff members at Lyndhurst as well. After those three years of trying, we decided to call it quits. I still did not feel like my family was complete but we knew we had done all we could medically and financially. Over the next 8 months I found myself sad about not being pregnant and also missed “my family” at Lyndhurst.

Well, we all know that God can have a sense of humor and my husband had always been adamant that he did not want children after he was 40. Well, with his 40th birthday only two weeks away, I discovered I WAS PREGNANT. No doctors or drugs were needed. Two days after his 40th birthday, we were getting ready for church when Kathy called from work and asked if I wanted to come in and see if we could see a heartbeat. Of course, I was out the door as quick as possible and told my family I would see them at church.

It was pure joy to lie on the exam table and look at the little heart beat blinking at me. As we were finishing up, I hear Kathy say oh my gosh and panic overtook me, what she said next was, look here and look here... two heartbeats. A double portion, twins!! When I arrived at church all my husband and I could do was laugh!!!

The next eight months were pure bliss as we waited for the twins to be born. On September 9, it was a big party in the OR. It was by far the most memorable day of my life. All my favorite people were there. Dr. Parker and Dr. Pollard were there to deliver, Dr. Washburn was on call and came in to “hang out” Kathy Poole, was there to video, and that “cute first grader”, Dr. Pollard’s daughter took the day off from med school to be there. Around noon our identical daughters were born. We had not picked out names yet and my husband has always been insistent on using family names. We stayed true to that tradition, because as I have said, Lyndhurst became family and one of the twins, Kathryn Chandler, is named after Kathy Poole.

Almost four and a half years have passed since that day, and my visits are not as frequent to Lyndhurst, but they remain family. My twins and I like to go by from time to time to get M&M’s from Kathy Poole or candy from Ms. Pam. Dr. Parker’s daughter is our twins #1 babysitter, and my two older children were in Dr. Pollard’s daughter’s wedding last year. Looking back, there were days that it was hard to put one foot in front of the other as I yearned to have children. Yet, if I had not gone through those experiences I would have never developed the friendships at Lyndhurst Gyn. I do not know if there are many doctors’ offices like this one, but I do know that Lyndhurst is truly a special place!!!

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Breastfeeding Classes

By Rachel H

Breastfeeding: Keeping it Simple
Sign up now for classes beginning in 2010 at Lyndhurst Gynecological Associates.

The class is taught by Lauri Cox,FNP, IBCLC. It is designed to help you achieve breastfeeding success. You will learn the basics of breastfeeding, answers to common questions, and solutions to common problems...

Classes are as follows:
February 6th, 9 a.m. – 12 noon
April 10th, 9 a.m. - 12 noon
May 1st, 9 a.m. – 12 noon
June 12th, 9 a.m. - 12 noon
July 10th, 9 a.m. - 12 noon
September 11th, 9 a.m. - 12 noon
October 23rd, 9 a.m. - 12 noon
December 4th, 9 a.m. – 12 noon

Location:
Lyndhurst Gynecological Associates
2927 Lyndhurst Avenue
Winston-Salem, NC

Cost: $ 25

Please call Lauri Cox for registration details @ 336-462-2986 or email lcox@lyndhurstgyn.com. Space is limited.

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What I Didn't Do the Second Time Around

By Jenny D., Charlotte Smarty Pants



I just had a beautiful baby girl, Annie, in September. Three years and one week after my first girl, Zoe. And the second go around, I noticed that I did things a little differently, actually there were some things that I didn’t do at all.

With Annie, I didn’t worry about all of the gear. I used a diaper bag for about 4 weeks, but it was half the size of my first one, and all I included was a couple of diapers, wipes, and changing pad. With Zoe, I had enough stuff to last us through the weekend if I ever got stranded at the mall for that long.


I don’t worry about schedules. Annie slept through the night early on, but now she has decided to wake up at 3:00 in the morning. With Zoe, I would have been worried that I was doing something wrong, but this time, although I am exhausted, I love seeing her smile at me when I give her a bottle in the middle of the night.

I don’t worry about keeping the house so quiet during naptime. When Zoe was a baby, you could hear a pin drop anytime she was asleep. You quickly realize that it is virtually impossible to get your older child to be quiet when the baby is sleeping, so your newborn learns to sleep through anything.

I guess I just don’t worry as much overall. And it shows. Annie is a laid back baby, and I am sure that it has something to do with the fact that I am more relaxed. And because of it, I have enjoyed every minute of the newborn stage. Having gone through it once before, I am aware of how quickly they change, so instead of wondering when I am going to get my life back, I just sit and stare at her happy little face as much as I can.

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Shopping for a Stroller? Read This!

By Katie M

Let me start out by saying, “Don’t do what I did!” When I had my first child almost six years ago, I did not put any emphasis on buying a good stroller. I don’t think I even registered for one, and despite the fact that we received enough gift cards from Babies R’ Us to more than pay for a great stroller, we opted to use that money towards other things we thought were more important (probably diapers!).

Buying a stroller is an overwhelming process, to say the least. There are so many considerations, styles, prices, brands, and features that your head will spin! If you are trying to keep your research simple, I would suggest starting your search with the Baby Bargains book, www.consumerreports.org, and by simply talking to professionals at stores like Babies R’ Us. If money is not a concern, you can always check out the latest models at trendy baby boutiques too.

The following is my story which offers some suggested brands and styles, and some to steer clear of. Regardless, hopefully my decisions – and lack of – will better help you in your stroller search.

Like I mentioned above, I did little research on strollers before Emily was born. I did look at some “travel systems” because it seemed like everyone I knew had one. But I never thought they looked user-friendly and I am not the kind of person who deals well with lots of buttons, snaps and instructions when I need something to work quickly and often. As luck would have it, Jen P (of Charlotte Smarty Pants) let me borrow her Baby Trend Snap N’ Go stroller the whole time Emily was in her infant car seat. The Snap N’ Go (or similar model like the Graco SnugRider), in my humble opinion, should be on the top of every new mom’s must-have lists. Not only are these “frames” super inexpensive (between $50 and $60), but they’re incredibly light, and a cinch to pop open, fold up and put in the back of your car. They also have plenty of room below for storage, and some even come with cup holders for mom!

Then when Emily grew out of the Snap ‘N Go, my husband’s sister passed down her Maclaren stroller which, to me, was just a glorified umbrella stroller. Again it didn’t matter to me at the time because as new parents adjusting to living on one salary, we were both immensely grateful not to have to invest in a new stroller. So we stuck with the Maclaren.

However, not getting a more functional stroller was a huge mistake on my part. Don’t get me wrong, Maclaren is a great brand. As far as convenience, it was the ticket. Super light. Easy to fold and unfold. Not bulky at all in the back of a car. But the stroller we had wasn’t suited for what we needed it for. It was better for quick trips with the baby or as a back-up stroller when traveling (it works great in aiports!). On top of that, it had no tray for sippee cups or finger foods. And for some reason, our stroller had no storage. None, zip. Not sure if the lack of the tray and storage bin was because it was an old model, or a result of it being a hand-me-down. (The models on its web site look much more functional than what I had).

But the worst part of our stroller: Emily was constantly in the reclined position and I couldn’t adjust it otherwise. So as a result, she never became a “stroller baby” – something that drove me – and my mom – crazy because it was impossible to take her shopping – or anywhere in a stroller – for more than 15 minutes.

Then my son came along. He too used a Snap ‘N Go, and then we moved both kids into a Joovy Caboose stroller - our mode of transport for nearly two years. I think the tandem model is a novel idea, however, I’m not sure I’m sold on Joovy. Maybe it’s just my stroller, but more often than not its wheels are IMPOSSIBLE to maneuver.

So what should you consider when buying a stroller? Obviously don’t follow my steps! According to Consumer Reports.org, you should consider the following:

1. Select the stroller yourself. Only you know what will work for you, and what you feel comfortable with.

2. Know your lifestyle, and use that as a guide. Obviously if you live in a busy city, you'll need a stroller that folds quickly and is compact. Here in the Triad, you could probably go for a bigger stroller. Or if you’re athletic, you might want to consider a jogging or all-terrain stroller.

3. Don’t go by price alone. Lots of variables go into the price and you need to determine what’s important to you first, then consider the price. Bigger-ticket strollers might have more amenities than lower priced models, but those less expensive strollers may serve you just as well. The average price of a good-quality stroller starts at about $250.

4. Take it for a test drive. Even if you plan to buy online, find the model in a local store and take it for a spin. Compare maneuverability and ease of use. Make sure the height is suitable for you – and your spouse. Give it a jiggle and make sure the frame feels solid.

5. Take your baby’s age into consideration. Remember newborns can't sit up until about six months old, so be sure the stroller reclines for babies of this age.

6. Check certification. Make sure the certification sticker shows that the stroller meets the minimum requirements of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) voluntary standard, and that its manufacturer takes part in the certification program administered by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). Companies that are certified are: Baby Trend, Britax, Bugaboo, Delta Enterprise, Dorel Juvenile Group, Evenflo, Go-Go Babyz, Graco, Hauck Fun for Kids, J. Mason, Joovy, Kolcraft, Maclaren, Mia Moda, and Peg-Pérego.

7. Evaluate the warranties and return policies. Your best bet is to purchase the stroller from a store, catalog, or web site that offers a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee.

And what are the hot sellers? According to the latest Baby Bargain book, the following are their favorite picks:

Mall Crawlers
Baby Trend Snap N’ Go ($60) or
Graco SnugRider ($60)

Travel Systems
The authors actually advise against these models, but if pushed they recommend Chicco Cortina ($300)

Second Strollers
Evenflo X-Sport Plus ($50) or
Chicco C6 - also known as Capri ($65)or
the Maclaren Volo ($100 - $130)

High-end picks
Baby Jogger City Mini ($230)
or Maclaren Techno XLR ($350)

*Baby Bargain also gives picks for other types of strollers, including urban jungle, green acre, exercise, and double strollers.

I hope this information helps. Let us know what your favorite stroller is, and why!

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Smarty Pick for a Diaper Bag

By Ashley H, Charlotte Smarty Pants

As a first time mom, the diaper bag was one of those baby items that I took some time in selecting. For me personally, it needed to be affordable, roomy (for twins), functional and stylishly simple so my husband could share in lugging the load with me (i.e. no adorable swirly-girlie polka dotted fabric). I settled on the Pottery Barn Kids Ultimate Diaper Bag and have no regrets!

I love the padded messenger bag style of my diaper bag, it allows me to handle the twins hands free or wear it just over one shoulder. Options, I love options. The two exterior pockets were great for the bottle days & are still fabulous for throwing in two sippy cups and getting out the door. This bag is made of rugged, wipe-clean polyester and has magnetic pocket closures for one-handed use. Inside it's roomy with lots of pockets and comes with a wipe-clean changing pad. It's a bag that Marcus or I could carry and we've been perfectly happy with it from day one. Now just two short years later they no longer carry it (that's PBK for you), but I think their new Camden bag is somewhat similar.

Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to a diaper bag. What features and options did you look for, and what's your overall Smarty diaper bag recommendation?!

Don't forget to register for our October Giveaway - a $250 package from Zoe Zen Photography. Click here to learn more about Zoe Zen and register.

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BPA-Free Pacis By Request!

By Jenny D, Charlotte Smarty Pants


Many of you asked us to do some Smarty research on BPA-free pacifiers and teethers. Well, here you go! Here's a list by brand:

BPA & Phthalate Free Pacifiers:
- Playtex: Playtex “Binky” (one piece silicone pacifier), Binky Most Like Mother Latex Pacifier, Binky Most Like Mother Silicone Pacifier, Binky Angled Pacifier, Ortho-Pro Pacifier
- Gerber: NUK Original, NUK Classic, NUK Nautical
- The First Years: Soothies Silicone Paci’s, Safe Comfort, Ultra Kip
- Vice Versa Binky w/ Case
- Natursutten Natural Rubber Paci
- Evenflo: Mimi Soft Touch, Mimi Premium, Mimi Neo One-Piece, Vizion, Fuzion and Illuzion
- Gumdrop Silicon Pacifiers

Quick note: if the nipple of the pacifier is made of latex or silicone, the nipple is BPA-free. Some pacifiers, like Avent have silicone nipples, but the handle and front plastic contain BPA. I have also read to choose silicone over latex because of possible carcinogens found in latex (except in Natursutten).

Here’s a general list of pacifiers to avoid:
-Avent
-Gerber: Natural Flex, NUK Button pacifier, Gerber Round Soft Center pacifier, Gerber NUK Fashion Silicone
-Evenflo: Vizion, Fuzion, Illuzion (only those not labeled as BPA free)
-Munchkin
-Sassy/MAM
-Nuby
-Razbaby Keep-it-Clean

BPA & Phthalate Free Teethers:
- Sassy: Sassy Jelly Fish Teethers, Sassy Coolin’ Teether, Sassy Chilly Dilly Daisy, Sassy Teething Feeder, Sassy Teach Me Toothbrush Set, Sassy Teething Tunes, Sassy Gummy Guppy, Sassy Earth Brites Natural Wooden Toys, Sassy Buzz n’ Bites teether
- Luv n’ Care Icy Bite Teether
- Nuby: Nuby Jiggle Giggle Teethers, Nuby Nibbler, Nuby Ice Gel Teether Keys on a Ring,
- Bug-A-Loop Teether, Nuby Icy Bite Teether Rings, Nibbler, Nuby Kool Soothers, Nuby Pur Icy Bite Teethers, Nuby Fun Teethers, Nuby Fun Links and Fun Links on a Ring
- Je Je Vibrating Teether (rubber)
- Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether, Vullie Chan Pie Gnon Teethers, Vulli Vanilla Flavored Chan Pie Gnon, Vulli Cool It Soother Chan Pie Gnon, Vulli Vulli Musical Fruit Keys, Vulli Rattle Key Chain, Comfor & Joy Teether (not yet available)
- Gentle Vibes teether
- Fisher Price: Laugh & Learn Learning Keys, Rainforest Monkey Teether,Rainforest Giraffe Rainstick Rattle, Miracles & Milestones Musical Zebra, Miracles & Milestones Sunshine Activity Ring, Miracles & Milestones Penguin Water Teether, Lil’ Laugh & Learn 1-2-3 Puppy Rattle
- Combi Teethers
- Bright Stars: Chill and Teeth Tubes, Licensed to Drool, Rattle and Spin teethers, fun links
- Gerber: Cooling Gum Soother, Cool Fish Soother, Cool Ring Soother, OrbiTeether
- Learning Curve: Cool Triangle Teether, Floating Friends, Soft teething beads, First Keys
- Camden Rose: Maple Teether and Waldorf Cheery Rattle/Teether

We hope you find this information helpful. I pulled this information from several websites and blogs, but I think the Soft Landing Blog has a pretty extensive list of non-toxic products. Let us know if you have any other tips to share!

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Breastfeeding: One of the most important decisions a new mom makes

By Cherrie Welch, M.D., M.P.H. Neonatologist and Pediatrician at Brenner Children’s Hospital

One of a mother's first decisions is "Should I breastfeed my new baby?" There are many opinions as to what choice a new mom should make. As a pediatrician and neonatologist, I am always encouraging new mothers to breastfeed their infants. In my opinion, it’s one of the most important first decisions a new mom makes and can significantly impact how a baby develops and grows.

There have been numerous public health campaigns to increase awareness of the health benefits for breastfeeding mother and baby diads. In spite of these efforts, only 60%of mothers nationally even attempt to breastfeed and many fewer continue breastfeeding their infant for six months ... the minimum time recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

To highlight just a few of the benefits, infants who are breastfed are less likely to develop infections during infancy, as well as a variety of other serious disorders throughout their lifetime, including:

 Type 1 diabetes
 Type 2 diabetes
 Lymphoma and leukemia
 Obesity
 High cholesterol
 Asthma

In addition, children who were breastfed have been found, on average, to have a slightly higher IQ than those children who were fed only formula.

Researchers at Brenner Children’s Hospital, part of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, continue to study the health benefits of mother’s milk, particularly for infants born prematurely. A study is currently underway to investigate the effects of omega-3 fatty acids, an important component of breast milk, on the developing gastrointestinal tract. Another study is being conducted to determine the effect of breast milk on the maturation of brain waves in preterm infants.

New moms should seek the advice of other breastfeeding mothers, their primary care physicians and lactation consultants to help with feeding issues during the early months. Stick with it. New moms who learn to breastfeed and continue for a month are on the road to success.

Another potential issue is milk production. It is very rare for a mother to physically not be able to breastfeed her infant. One potential reason for an inability to produce milk is prior breast surgery, although many women who have had breast surgery can successfully breastfeed. If a woman can physically not produce milk, then, of course formula or pasteurized human milk from a donor milk bank are acceptable alternatives. Frustration with breastfeeding can also contribute to a mom’s ability to continue to breastfeed, as well as lack of sleep and the demands of caring for a newborn. A lactation consultant can provide tips on how to overcome these issues and help a new mom on her way to successful breastfeeding.

For women with large or inverted nipples, there are now several aids available to help the baby latch on and lactation consultants can teach mothers how to use these. If the baby cannot latch on with these, a mother should consider pumping her breasts and providing the breast milk via bottle. One of the many great things about breast milk is that it is free!

One of the main factors influencing a woman’s decision to breastfeed is the support she has from family and friends to do so. Most mothers make this decision during, or even prior to, the pregnancy. However, research has shown that mothers who initially decide against it can be encouraged to successfully breastfeed and thus provide their infant with all of the known, and yet unknown, benefits of nature’s best infant nutrition. Some breast milk is better than none. Many mothers see breastfeeding as an all or nothing game, but infants can attain benefit from even small amounts of their mother’s milk.

And just because a mother wasn’t successful breastfeeding her first child, does not mean that she shouldn’t try breastfeeding subsequent children. Each child is different. I would encourage new mothers to try again. They might be surprised with the results.

It takes patience and a willingness to try, but the rewards are endless.

Share your thoughts with us!

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Review of Reusable Swim Diapers

By Dana D, Charlotte Smarty Pants

I hope you all are enjoying summer and some days at the pool or the beach. If you have little ones still in diapers, the pool or beach can be daunting especially when it comes to potty time. What is the best way to handle the mess? I wanted to recommend an easy way to help eliminate waste, Reusable swim diapers. I hope that many of you are already using them but for those of you who aren't, I will tell you about my favorite.

There are several options, I have even purchased a reusable swim diapers at Target last year. My absolute favorite though are the Imse Vimse swim diapers. They are lightweight and will not weigh your child down in the water. They have the cutest designs and even have adorable matching shirts for girls. We have the turquoise sea animal design and love it! They dry very quickly and don't soak up all the pool water along with the baby mess. That being said, they are not the most absorbent diaper but swim diapers aren't supposed to be absorbent they are just to contain messes. So do not forget your plastic diaper cover while at the pool. When in the yard or at the beach we don't use the plastic cover and have had no issues.

By using reusable swim diapers you will be doing your part for the environment and saving money by not buying those expensive disposable diapers. When using those I have only ended up with a mess instead of preventing one. Many pools also don't allow disposable because of the problems in containing the mess. Check out Wildflower Diapers for the Imse Vimse brand. Great prices and fab designs!

Have you tried these? Let us know what you think!

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Crib Sheets Designed for Easy Washing

By Jenny D, Charlotte Smarty Pants

I am amazed by all of the new baby products that continue to be introduced to make mom’s life easier. When I was pregnant with Annie last year, a friend of mine gave me the Ultimate Crib Sheet. She told me that I couldn’t live without it. And she was right. I had never heard of it before and forgot what a pain it truly is to change crib sheets. (See photos - the first one is a closeup of snaps on Ultimate Crib Sheet. The second one is of Annie's Crib featuring the Ultimate Crib Sheet).

The Ultimate Crib Sheet is designed so that you don’t have to remove the bumper pad or mattress every time you need to wash your crib sheet. It fits a standard crib mattress by lying on top of your fitted sheet and snapping to the rails of your crib. It allows your decorative sheet to show on the sides of your crib, so you don’t have to sacrifice style for function. The Ultimate Crib Sheet is a sheet on top, padding in the middle and vinyl next to the mattress. It is comfortable and absorbent, and it can handle four cups of liquid. And best of all, you rarely, if ever, have to take your regular crib sheet off. I recommend getting two so when it comes time to wash, you can quickly unsnap and snap another one on. This product lists for $18.00, but unfortunately only comes in white.

I looked into two other options, but I don’t have any personal experience with the Sheet Saver or Clouds and Stars sheets.

The Sheet Saver costs a lot less, two for $13.99. This sheet does not have all of the features of the Ultimate Crib Sheet. It is a quilted cover that ties to crib rails. It does not have the finish of a sheet on top and is not waterproof which was the biggest complaint that I found when researching. But it can function as a quick changing pad and comes in various colors to match your current bedding.

Clouds and Stars offers Quick Zip sheets that snuggly fit your mattress, but allows you to unzip just the top panel of the sheet for washing. This product is intended to replace a crib sheet, not work with it like the Ultimate Crib Sheet and Sheet Saver. These sheets are easy to use, pretty, and the only option that is truly decorative. A Starter Set sells for $32.99 – 35.99 which includes the zipper base and zipper top. You can buy an extra zipper top, which is highly recommended for $17.50. From a look standpoint, Clouds and Stars sheets are the best of the three because you are not covering the top of your decorative sheet, and it comes in solid and gingham colors to match any décor. Clouds and Stars also offers Quick Zip Play Sheets, Twins Sheets and Mattress Pads in several sizes.

If you have any experience with any of these crib sheet options, please let us know.

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Beach Tips for Crawlers

By Jenny D - Charlotte Smarty Pants, and Rachel H

Jenny D: We just got back from our annual beach vacation. And as much as I love this annual trip, this year I was a little weary about Annie. She is 10 months old and not a great age for the beach. I remember three years ago at the beach when her sister was 10 months as well. It took us fifteen minutes to get sunscreen on and then I didn’t want to put her swimmy diaper on until we got to the beach so that she wouldn’t pee all over me. We would drag the picnic blanket, towels and toys and get set up on the beach. I would change her into her swimmy and the minute that I set her down on the blanket, she would crawl onto the sand, rub her face with her hands, get sand in her mouth and eyes and be done with the beach.

I mentioned this story to one of my friends and she offered up a great solution for non-walking toddlers at the beach. I took her advice and purchased a blow-up baby pool and SPF umbrella. We blew up the pool when we got down to the beach, set up the umbrella so that it covered the pool and had my three year old and her cousin fill up buckets of water for the pool. We placed Annie in the pool, out of the sun with a bunch of toys. It was like being in a bathtub and she just loved it. She sat in it for two hours and I got to relax in chair right next to her reading my book and watching Zoe play in the sand. It was the most relaxing beach trip yet. So relaxing that I forgot to take a picture of Annie in her pool (unfortunately, no fun picture for this post). I can’t tell you how many people walked by and admired her little set up. What a life!

Rachel H: I, too, remember having a crawler at the beach. It makes me cringe to think of their little knees dragging in the sand! Ow! Another idea that worked for us was using a large pop-up tent (pictured above). We took that to the beach and set up the Pack-N-Play underneath it. Babies can play in there for a while, or even nap if you are lucky! As you can see from the picture, we still take the tent to the beach now that our kids are older because the adults like to be in the shade as well!

We also liked to use an old sheet to spread out on the sand instead of a towel. It gave them a lot more room to crawl around without having to get into too much sand. It’s easy to shake out when you leave, too.

One more idea is to take an umbrella stroller (the inexpensive ones that you can purchase for about $10) down to the beach with you. We took one with us when my daughter was a baby because we had it in the car and it freed up some hands by piling bags in it. But then it ended up being the main attraction of the day as my two-year-old son decided to push my daughter up and down the beach on the wet sand. They had so much fun and my daughter laughed the entire time. My son thought he was hot stuff because he finally got to push the stroller without fear of running into a million things!

Got more ideas? Please share your tips with us for keeping your crawlers entertained on the beach!

Smarties, don't forget to sign yourselves up for the fabulous FREE family portrait session with Andrea Halsey Photography. This promotion ends at Noon on Friday, July 17 and the winner will be announced on July 19. You must be a Triad Smarty Pants newsletter subscriber to enter. Just click here to register. Good luck!

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