September 03, 2006

Baby Quilt Patterns

When a couple is expecting their first child they are inundated with gifts. Diapers, toys and clothes usually flow in abundance. But some of the most treasured items can’t be purchased. They are made with love by the grandparents or aunts of the new arrival.

One of these things may be a home made blanket for the baby. With hours of love, time and skill invested in it, a baby quilt becomes an heirloom that is often passed down from one generation to the next; choosing baby quilt patterns becomes part of the process.

Trains, planes, the alphabet, ships and ducks are often found on baby quilt patterns. The patterns give the quilter a general idea of what they need and also detailed instructions on how to complete the project. If you’ve never tackled the task of making a quilt you might need to first consider taking a lesson to bring yourself up to par.

Most communities offer local citizens the opportunity to take different classes that may interest them. In some places this may include a quilting class. For a person thinking about making a baby quilt this is a perfect resource.

Some programs offer the participants the chance to bring in their own supplies and patterns. This is perfect for someone considering baby quilt patterns. You can sew the quilt you want while at the same time learning. The instructor is there to guide you every step of the way.

If you don’t have any idea of what design you want, consider going to a fabric store and looking through their selection of baby quilt patterns. If it is your first attempt at quilting, choose a simple pattern. This might be something like the sky with some white clouds. Many people decide on a patchwork design even for baby quilt patterns. You can do this in different shades of either pink or blue. If you don’t know the baby’s gender, than white or yellow is a safe choice.

After learning the basics of quilting you’ll have the skills you need to complete any of the baby quilt patterns you see. A really nice gesture is for several women in a family to contribute to the project. If you want to do this, simply photocopy the baby quilt patterns you are using and when the quilt is passed around, everyone will know what to do.

The new parents will be overjoyed by the thoughtful gift and it will remain a treasure long after the baby has grown.

Posted by KeyWestPublishing at 02:34 PM | Comments (0)

June 11, 2006

Baby Shoes

It's weird how much effort people put into baby clothing, when the fact is that babies are not themselves that fashion conscious of creatures. Oh, sure, they will cry if they are wearing the shirt that they don't like, but all you really have to do is spin them around, or show them something shiny and reflective, and they will begin to giggle and drool just as cheerily as ever. Nonetheless, even baby shoes are a hot topic today among parents.

They will buy all kinds of baby shoes, including baby sneakers, and little ballet shoes, as if the babies were about to go run track, or do a graceful leap through the air. The strange fact is that babies shoes come in almost as many varieties as do adult shoes, and can be every bit as expensive.

Of course, I suppose that the function of baby shoes is a little different than those of adult shoes. With baby shoes, there are a few basic things that they need to do. They need to protect the feet, and hold up to crawling around, and possibly a bit of drool. Adult shoes go through much more than this, often miles of walking every day, to say nothing of running, dancing, and various other activities. The fact is, almost any baby shoes will hold up just fine when the baby is young enough, and not yet walking. Therefore, the other function of baby shoes is just to look cute to the parents, and to their friends to whom they will be showing off the baby.

There are many ways that cuteness is accomplished with baby shoes. One of them is simply through the miniatureness of everything. If you look at babies closely, they are not really actually very attractive creatures. They are pudgy, their heads are too big, and they drool and snot all over everything. So the real thrill that people get out of babies is just that they are tiny, and somewhat odd versions of us. It is the same thing with baby shoes, which look like smaller, pudgier versions of the footwear that we wear on our feet every day. Along with this cuteness, there are certain designs that are more popular among baby clothes, including baby shoes, than among adult clothing. Things like butterflies, hearts, and especially little cute baby animals make a very popular design for decorations on baby shoes.

Posted by KeyWestPublishing at 03:24 PM | Comments (0)

Baby Monitors

Recently, my wife and I had gone to visit a couple with whom we were regular bridge players. They had recently had a baby and our weekly bridge sessions had gone on a hiatus. Now, almost four months later, we were re-starting the session. Having tucked her baby to sleep, the mother came to the bridge table to join in the game with gusto. We were enjoying ourselves thoroughly when suddenly there was a high pitched noise of a child wailing.

I was utterly startled. Even as the mother rushed upstairs to check on her baby, I was left wondering if it was just me, or had we hear the baby wailing crystal clear from a considerable distance on a different level of the house? Seeing my startled and mystified expression, the husband broke into laughter and explained that it was the remarkable effect of the new contraption they had gotten to monitor their baby. It was what was known as a baby monitor.

Now, I too have a child. But the baby monitor we use is called a maid. And she is a very efficient one at that! But seriously, the only kind of baby monitor I had heard about or seen was the one in the infant’s ward of maternity hospitals. And even there, the monitor was only used to monitor the vital signs of sick babies. Was there something I was missing, or perhaps, unable to see?

Seemed like it, as the husband began to explain all about baby monitors. The baby monitor, according to him, was an indispensable two way radio that was commonly used to monitor infants. Many parents have faced the problem of going about their household chores as the baby lies in another room, seemingly asleep. But they have often discovered that there’s a constant tussle between managing e baby and managing the chores.

Choosing the chores over the baby leaves them feeling like they aren’t there when needed – whether for a nappy change, feeding time or just to pat the baby to sleep. And the problem remained till some innovative soul came up with a simple and effective baby monitor.

A typical baby monitor is a two part gadget. One part is the transmitter, that can be kept near the crib of the baby and the other part is a receiver that is carried around. This way, no matter where in the house you are, if your baby makes a noise, the baby monitor will let you know. Sounds simple right? One wonders why nobody ever thought of it earlier. But it does get better.

Newer version of baby monitors come with multiple receivers that can connect wirelessly with your existing sound system to keep you posted. And some of the technologically advanced baby monitors also come with an in-built camera for you to not just hear your baby, but to see it too. So even if it is moving around and not making a sound, you can still rush to comfort it. Some invention this! I resolved then and there that although my first born was not monitored constantly, I would ensure that my next child would have the facility of growing up with a baby monitor.

Posted by KeyWestPublishing at 03:21 PM | Comments (0)