Perfect Baby Tips

Yesterday's post, When to get started on baby food, addressed food for babies ages 4 to 6 months.

When your baby is 7 to 10 months old, you can start trying bite-sized foods, such as Cheerios, pieces of bread, well-cooked pasta, avocado, cheese, and meats cut up for easy chewing. Your pediatrician will be your best source of advice about what to feed your baby and when, and what to do if you hit a snag—if, say, your baby rejects certain foods or suddenly starts eating less (not unusual when a baby is teething). (Learn more about food choking hazards for babies and young children.)

At each well-child visit, starting at about 4 months, you’ll probably get a new list of foods your baby can eat and a list of what to avoid, such as peanut butter. (It’s generally a no-no until at least age 2.) You may be told to introduce foods one at a time to make sure your baby isn’t allergic to them. Always supervise your child when he’s eating. (See our full report on high chairs.)

Some more baby food tips:

• Let your pediatrician be your guide about what to feed your baby and when to move to the next stage.
• Compare the ingredients and nutritional value of commercial baby food and always check “use-by” dates listed on the label or lid. If the date has passed, don’t buy or use the food.
• All baby food jars have a depressed area, or “button,” in the center of the lid. Reject any jars with a popped-out button—an indication that the product has been opened or the seal broken. Do the same for any jars that are sticky, stained, or cracked.
• If budget is the bottom line, buy the cheapest baby food according to your baby’s age and stage by comparing unit prices in the store and stocking up on sale items.

For more information about baby products and care, see the latest edition of Consumer Reports Best Baby Products, also available in bookstores nationwide.

Yesterday's post, When to get started on baby food, addressed food for babies ages 4 to 6 months.

When your baby is 7 to 10 months old, you can start trying bite-sized foods, such as Cheerios, pieces of bread, well-cooked pasta, avocado, cheese, and meats cut up for easy chewing. Your pediatrician will be your best source of advice about what to feed your baby and when, and what to do if you hit a snag—if, say, your baby rejects certain foods or suddenly starts eating less (not unusual when a baby is teething). (Learn more about food choking hazards for babies and young children.)

At each well-child visit, starting at about 4 months, you’ll probably get a new list of foods your baby can eat and a list of what to avoid, such as peanut butter. (It’s generally a no-no until at least age 2.) You may be told to introduce foods one at a time to make sure your baby isn’t allergic to them. Always supervise your child when he’s eating. (See our full report on high chairs.)

Some more baby food tips:

• Let your pediatrician be your guide about what to feed your baby and when to move to the next stage.
• Compare the ingredients and nutritional value of commercial baby food and always check “use-by” dates listed on the label or lid. If the date has passed, don’t buy or use the food.
• All baby food jars have a depressed area, or “button,” in the center of the lid. Reject any jars with a popped-out button—an indication that the product has been opened or the seal broken. Do the same for any jars that are sticky, stained, or cracked.
• If budget is the bottom line, buy the cheapest baby food according to your baby’s age and stage by comparing unit prices in the store and stocking up on sale items.

For more information about baby products and care, see the latest edition of Consumer Reports Best Baby Products, also available in bookstores nationwide.

Yesterday's post, When to get started on baby food, addressed food for babies ages 4 to 6 months.

When your baby is 7 to 10 months old, you can start trying bite-sized foods, such as Cheerios, pieces of bread, well-cooked pasta, avocado, cheese, and meats cut up for easy chewing. Your pediatrician will be your best source of advice about what to feed your baby and when, and what to do if you hit a snag—if, say, your baby rejects certain foods or suddenly starts eating less (not unusual when a baby is teething). (Learn more about food choking hazards for babies and young children.)

At each well-child visit, starting at about 4 months, you’ll probably get a new list of foods your baby can eat and a list of what to avoid, such as peanut butter. (It’s generally a no-no until at least age 2.) You may be told to introduce foods one at a time to make sure your baby isn’t allergic to them. Always supervise your child when he’s eating. (See our full report on high chairs.)

Some more baby food tips:

• Let your pediatrician be your guide about what to feed your baby and when to move to the next stage.
• Compare the ingredients and nutritional value of commercial baby food and always check “use-by” dates listed on the label or lid. If the date has passed, don’t buy or use the food.
• All baby food jars have a depressed area, or “button,” in the center of the lid. Reject any jars with a popped-out button—an indication that the product has been opened or the seal broken. Do the same for any jars that are sticky, stained, or cracked.
• If budget is the bottom line, buy the cheapest baby food according to your baby’s age and stage by comparing unit prices in the store and stocking up on sale items.

For more information about baby products and care, see the latest edition of Consumer Reports Best Baby Products, also available in bookstores nationwide.

Best appliances for back to school. The "dorm-room refrigerator" moniker shows how closely compact refrigerators have become identified with college life, but only some of the models we tested made the grade. Only two refrigerators we tested had freezer sections that were able to keep frozen confections from turning to mush, and one model flunked basic refrigeration. Learn more about the best appliances for back-to-school.

Best wheels for teen drivers. When shopping for a car for that young driver, look for ones with advanced safety features such as electronic stability control and curtain airbags as well as good crash-test results. Learn more about the best cars for young drivers.

Learn more about backpacks, back to school clothes, and more in our Back-to-school Guide.

Make life easy for baby and you. Since most babies dislike having anything pulled over their heads, look for garments that are easy to take off and put on, with front-opening or side-snap tops. Snaps are easier (and faster) than buttons. Quick access to the diaper area is essential, so opt for snap-open legs or loosely elastic waists. Velcro closures are quick and convenient. (Before washing, close them so that they don’t fill up with lint and threads and lose their holding power.)

Comfort is everything. Check the seams on the inside of the garment. They should be smooth, not rough, and lie flat rather than sticking out. Don’t buy clothes with tight elastic bands on arms, legs, neck, or waist; they can irritate your baby’s skin and restrict circulation. Bypass anything that could be scratchy—unpainted metal zippers, appliqués, or snaps with rough or uneven backings. If an appliqué is made of heat-welded plastic, check for rough edges on the back.

Look out for choking hazards. Give sequins, buttons, and snaps a quick tug to make sure they can’t easily come off, posing a choking hazard. But don’t pull so hard that you weaken the attachment in the process. And recheck after each washing.

Soft, durable fabrics are best. Apparel labels must state fiber content and care instructions. All-cotton knits may look large when new, but they can shrink as much as 10 percent with repeated washing. Polyester/cotton blends are less expensive than pure cotton or organic cotton and more resistant to wrinkles and shrinking. Avoid thin, semitransparent items or garments with poor finishing such as unclipped thread. Although babies grow fast, you’ll need clothing that’s durable enough to last several months.

See our post on buying used children's clothing and our newborn clothing checklist for more information.

Traveling with kids is no fun, at least not to me. Call me inflexible, but to me, a vacation has always been an experience that’s more fun and pleasure than work, and traveling with kids flips that equation.

I adore my 4-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son, and want them to be happy. But their idea of a good time is as simple as going to the park for an open-ended afternoon, having my full attention while I sprawl on the floor and show some interest in what they’re doing, or going to the local diner for their favorite foods and people-watching. And when they’re happy, it makes my husband and me happy. So we may as well stay home!

After reading my colleague Tod Marks’ excellent Money blog on how to take advantage of staycations, I ran home full of ideas to start planning my family’s next one in August. Hope it offers you as many good ideas as it did me. And check out blogs like this one from Informers Corner for more local, low-cost activities. If you have other ideas, share them here!—Artemis DiBenedetto

Take advantage of freebies and coupons. If you don’t mind getting your name on mailing lists, call the toll-free customer-service lines or register at the Web sites of formula, baby-food, and disposable diaper companies for their parenting newsletters and new-parent programs, including coupons and free samples. Even if you don’t register, you may get them anyway. Somehow, when you have a new baby, word gets out.

Consider a discount club membership. At places like Costco or BJs Wholesale Club, you’ll reap discounts on everyday items you’ll use a lot, such as disposable diapers, baby wipes, and laundry detergent. Sign on for the loyalty savings card program at your drugstore and supermarket and you’ll receive discounts that can rack up savings.

Buy as your baby grows. Except for the basics like a car seat, clothes, and a crib, don’t buy baby products until you’re sure you’ll need them. The wait-and-see approach gives you time to check with friends about their experiences with specific baby products and ultimately can save you money. You may be able to borrow some items. Others might not seem necessary once you understand what your baby’s needs are.

Watch for sales. Retailers such as Toys “R” Us, Babies “R” Us, and BuyBuyBaby routinely put out newspaper inserts and in-store fliers with big savings on brand-name baby items.

Go online. If you shop online, compare prices of cribs, changing tables, and hundreds of other baby products quickly by logging on to a shopping Web site such as www.bizrate.com, www.epinions.com (which also offers product advice from fellow parents), www.nextag.com, or www.shopping.com. For additional savings online, log onto sites such as www.couponcabin.com for online coupons from major e-tailers. Be mindful of shipping costs—they can sometimes wipe out any savings.

Consider buying some items used. Gently used baby clothes and toys can sometimes be found in thrift stores, online, and at yard sales at a small fraction of their original retail prices. But some items such as car seats and cribs always should be purchased new to ensure they comply with updated safety requirements and have no hidden flaws.

Weigh warranties. Hold on to warranty information so you can refer to it if there’s a problem. You may find a warranty being used as a sales tool. Some less expensive but adequately firm baby mattresses, for example, offer no warranties, while top-of-the-line models may have a “lifetime guarantee.” Is that protection you need to pay for? You’ll find the answer in the crib mattress chapter of Consumer Reports Best Baby Products.

Power your showers. Be sure you get the gifts you want and will use. Explore the marketplace yourself and then register with retailers that stock your choices, including major online merchants, like Amazon.com. Don’t hesitate to request practical items. Although frilly baby clothes are often a gift-giver’s first choice, a supply of diapers or formula can mean much more. Register for and request bigger-ticket gear too, like a stroller, play yard, or changing table.

• Hold on with both hands.

• Sit in the center of the swing.
• Never stand or kneel on a swing.
• Don’t swing on your stomach.
• Don’t play with the chains; they can pinch fingers.
• Stop the swing before getting off.
• Tell the person pushing when you want to get off the swing.
• Don’t push other children in the swing.
• Let only adults push you.
• Only one child is allowed on a swing at a time.
• Don’t play with the swing when someone else is on it or when it is empty.

For more baby and child safety advice, see our Guide to Childproofing & Safety, as well as the latest edition of Consumer Reports Best Baby Products, in our bookstore.