Working Mother Magazine Features Baby Planners

Bliss is thrilled that Working Mother Magazine featured an article on Baby Planners in their March 2009 issue.

Highlighting this new niche is very exciting. Bliss is here to here to serve executives, doctors, and busy moms taking out the stress of preparing for baby, and while on maternity leave. Bliss is a member of the The National Baby Planner Association (NBPA).





Read more at Working Mother.

Green Friday for Parents!

Well, another Friday is upon us and another Green Friday post is here. I have read and experienced the fact that children really take pride in what they can do themselves, so my husband and I decided that our children would really benefit from helping in a garden, a very small garden. On Sunday we decided as a family that we were going to plant our very own garden and grow our very own food. We took the children to our local store and purchased all of the things that we would need to plant our garden. We let them help us pick out the soil, fertilizer, plant food, seeds that they wanted to plant, tomato plants, and of course some Dora and Diego gardening tools.



After dinner on Sunday, we all headed out to the backyard to start our garden. Our garden is a tiny little garden because our kids are just 2 and 3 years old. I think that the best part of planting the garden for the kids was being able to play with the dirt AND water at the same time. My son who is 2 is not quite ready to really understand how things grow, but he sure loves helping water the plants. My daughter, on the other hand, is 3 and a half and she really gets it. As we were planting the garden on Sunday, she went into a little speech about how our plants were going to need sunshine, water, and LOVE! How sweet is that! I have to admit that I am pretty excited about our little garden. This is the first time I have had a garden and I am certain that I am going to learn just as much as my kids do. And I must add that I am definitely looking forward to a "fresh-from-the-garden" tomato sandwich in about 10 weeks!



So here are the things I am hoping to teach my preschoolers:

1. That food doesn't come just from the supermarket.

2. The responsibilities of caring for a garden that will need to be tended to daily (with our help of course).

3. Patience as gardens do not grow overnight.

4. Most importantly, if you take care of the earth, the earth will provide yummy treats for us to eat!



I know that this post isn't exactly on the "baby" front, but I hope that you can use this information to get your family outside and planting something. Whether it be a small flower, a small garden, or even a tree, this will prove to be a great experience in teaching your children how to care for the earth. Happy Green Friday!



T

Get Packing Part 2 - Packing for the Expecting Dad

So I made the list of what the mom-to-be needs in her delivery bag. Well, I have heard from many of you that I need to include what to pack for the dad-to-be.

So here is my top ten list for dad.

1. Chargers (for the camera, video camera, ipod, phone).
2. Warm clothes such as a sweatshirt or light jacket. The mom-to-be is usually so hot during labor, that the A/C is cranked up and poor dad is shivering.
3. Pj’s if dad is planning on spending the night at the hospital.
4. Toiletries such as deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush.
5. Pillow and blanket, much more comfy than the sheet the hospital will give him.
6. Snacks so that he does not have to keep leaving the room because he is starving. Pack snacks that you really do not like, since the preggers can not eat during labor.
7. Names and phone numbers of people that are on your calling list. As well as a calling card, if the hospital is strict about mobile phone usage.
8. Magazines for light reading.
9. Labor support tools such as massage oil and massage tools.
10. Pain relief medication in case of a headache. Trust me, you won’t want to complain and no one will be worried about your headache, because really who is in more pain. You or your lovely wife giving birth!

Hope this was helpful! I would love to hear your comments, or if you think I left anything out.

Best,
T

Green Friday!!

Welcome back for another Green Friday! This week we are going to go to the basics of going green. We know that it is not always easy to go completely green and we are here to help you choose the shade of green that fits your baby and your lifestyle. During this months conference call with the National Baby Planners Association we found that one of the most common questions we get asked as Baby Planners is what is the most important ways to go green. After hearing what other baby planners and Brenda Berg had to say, these are the three most important ways to go green with your baby according to us here at Bliss.

1. Feeding: Organic foods are more expensive so you can check out the top items to buy organic. Here are the foods that consumer reports says to buy organic: Apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach, and strawberries. Even after washing these items when purchased non organic, they had higher levels of pesticide residue. Here are the foods consumer reports says that is safe to buy non organic: Asparagus, avocados, bananas, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet corn, kiwi, mangos, onions, papaya, pineapples, and sweet peas. Consumer reports found that these produce are rarely grown using pesticides.

2. Sleeping: With most of baby's time being spent sleeping in their crib, we feel that an organic or natural matress is definitely worth the investment.

3. Diapering: There are so many choices available now to parents who want to be more eco-friendly with diapers. You have the option of chlorine-free diapers, diapers with flushable linings, and of course cloth diapers which have become incredibly easy to use.

For those of you who are trying to find a way to be a little more green, congratulations and remember that everything you do helps, even if you feel like it is a small contribution. Have a great weekend and we look forward to seeing you back for another Green Friday next week!

T & T

Get Packing Part 1 - Essentials for Labor, Delivery, and Hospital Stay

We get this question all the time. What should I pack in my hospital bag? At the hospital where I delivered my children, the hosptial did provide me with a few neccessities that I did not have to bother bringing myself. I treated my hosptial stay as if I was going to a hotel. Really, if you go in with that mindset it is not so bad. There is room service, housekeepers, and your own personal concierge…ok maybe that is pushing it, but the nurses are very helpful.


Now I did end up having a c-section with both deliveries, and so I did ask a panel of moms what they thought was a necessity for labor and delivery. For check in, be sure to have your drivers license, insurance card, and admission forms.


Here is my essential list for labor, delivery, and hospital stay:

Labor

• A copy of your birth plan (though do not get disappointed if your plan does not go the way you expect it to). The key is to be flexible to a certain degree, and in the end you want a healthy baby.


• Your own delivery gown. I wish this was an option with my deliveries. You will feel so much prettier bringing your own gown, especially in all the pictures. Check out http://www.dearjohnnies.com/ for some trendy looking gowns that the celebs choose to wear.


• Slippers or non slip socks.


• Your iPod if you want to listen to music while you labor.


• Candles and/or aromatherapy to make your sterile room a bit more relaxing.


• Sugar free hard candy or lollipops (your mouth gets really dry).


• Lip balm (your lips get dry as well).


• A pony tail holder or hair band, so that you can push your hair away if it starts to annoy you.

After Delivery

• Camera, videocamera (do not forget to make sure everything is charged and you have extra batteries just in case).


• Healthy snacks because you will be hungry. For those having a c-section, you will be on a clear liquid diet for the first 24 hours.


• Up to date phone book.


• A phone card, just in case your hospital is strick about mobile phone usage.

Hospital Stay

• Your toothbrush/toothpaste, deodorant, and other necessities. If you are picky go ahead and bring soap, shampoo, etc.


• Your makeup bag.


• Hairbrush and other items such as hairdryer or flat iron.


• Bathrobe.


• Disposable underwear. Trust me on this one. My hospital provided the underwear, pads, and soothing items. You might want to check on this with your hospital, since sending out your hubby to buy these items could be frustrating.


• Slippers or non-skid socks.


• A good nursing bra is a must on your list. Bravado Designs makes the best nursing bras on the market.


• A nursing cover so that when your family and friends come to visit, you can continue to nurse with confidence. Check out the nursing covers from bebe au lait.


• A nursing gown or pj’s and a robe. I liked my nursing gowns and pj’s from Japanese Weekend.


• Magazines. Forgot about reading books. You will want something light to read.
  An outfit to wear home. Most likely you will look about 5 months pregnant with the water retention and other extra fluids and lbs floating around. Bring something loose and comfy.

For baby

• Adorable going home outfit, make sure you have a hat.


• Receiving blanket.


• Be sure that the baby carrier seat has already been installed in your car.

Best,

T

Green Friday!

Hello all! Well, another Friday is upon us so here is this week's going green blogpost. On Monday we met with Brenda Berg from Scandinavian Child and had a wonderful time getting to know her, her team, and most importantly the amazing products her company carries. I was definitely most impressed with the Svan highchair. This highchair is absolutely amazing! I love it because it is adjustable and supports the weight of a 6-month old up to an adult! I have been struggling with finding the perfect chairs for my children. My daughter, who is 3, does not need to be restrained with any type of harness at the dinner table, but she does need to be elevated so that she can reach the table. My son, on the other hand, DOES need to be restrained in his chair so that he will stay at the table, yet he is too big to still sit in the highchair that we have. So at my house we have a highchair, two booster seats, two chair boosters that go under the chair to lift the chair to table height, and a toddler chair. To say the least we have not quite figured out what is going to work best for our kids, until now!

Here are the features of the Svan highchair according to the website http://www.scichild.com/ :

• Adjustable seat depth and footrest


• Wooden tray and dishwasher-safe plastic tray cover included


• Brings child to the family table; converts to Youth Chair


• Ages 6 months and up


• Available in 5 finishes


• Constructed of sustainable birch wood, phthalate-free and bisphenol A-free plastic and PBDE-free foam


• Optional high-quality, washable cushion in a wide variety of colors


• JPMA certified to meet ASTM F404

This chair seems to have the best of all worlds. It is eco-friendly, mom-friendly, and the children seem to love this chair too. Not to mention that there are many different finishes and cushion colors to choose from. The chair cost around $250 and you don't have to buy any other chairs, booster seats, or crazy contraptions to lift your chairs. After this one purchase, you are done!Bliss Baby Planners are very excited to be preparing our first order of these highchairs. Check them out on their website http://www.scichild.com/ and let us know if you are interested in ordering a Svan for you little one. Have a great weekend!

T

Love these Labels

After a year and a half of taping labels to my children's sippy cups for their parent's morning out program, I have found some amazing labels. The Inchbug Bumpyname Orbit Labels are awesome! Thanks to these labels, there is no more sticky residue left on my children's sippy cups from where the labels have peeled off. These labels are plastic labels the fit around just about any bottle or sippy cup. They are made of non-toxic materials and are dishwasher and microwave safe. The best part.....you can have them custom-made with your child's name on it. At an incredible price of $12.95 you can get four of these labels with your child's name on it. Oh yeah, for you parents that have children with allergies, you can order the two line labels for $13.95 for four labels and have your child's name and allergy on the label. Pretty amazing if you ask me. I ordered the labels for my children before Christmas and I have loved them! I am actually getting ready to order another set for each of them. They don't move, they don't fade, and nothing gets stuck underneath them. They also allow your kids to have a little more grip on their cups or bottles. Check them out on their website http://www.inchbug.com/. Here is a picture of them. I definitely think that you will not be dissappointed if you get these labels! I know you will LOVE them!





T

Green Friday

Hi all! We would like to welcome you to what we call Green Friday. It is our hopes that every Friday will hold a different eco-friendly post. We understand that there is a wide range of areas that you can become more green in, but we will give you some different ideas on how to go green with your baby. It will be our goal to give you eco-friendly ideas that will be easy to do and to add to your everyday life. After all, as parents we seldom have too much extra time to put into something new, even if it does help the earth.

Today's post is just simply going to be about making your own baby food. I know, for some of you it just seems like it would take up too much time that you don't have. As a matter of fact that was the way I looked at it with my first child. After having my daughter, I felt like I barely had time for myself, much less preparing baby food for my new little bundle. So I did like most parents do and just bought the organic packaged baby food at whatever store I was shopping at when I needed it. However, after my son was born I found that even getting to the supermarket with an infant and a toddler became so challenging that I decided I was going to have to get creative. At that point I decided that one thing I would try was making baby food for my son at home. I was able to buy the organic fruits and vegetables that I needed during my weekly trip to the supermarket (while my husband stayed home with the kids). I could then come home and make the baby food while the children were napping and have it all completely finished and ready to store before they were awake. They sell containers that you can fill with the baby food and freeze it until you need it. That means you can make baby food at one sitting to last for weeks. All you do when you need it is pop out the little frozen baby food cube and let it thaw.

If this isn't something that you have put much thought into, you really should look into it. There are so many things in stores now that help make it even easier, but all you really need is a food processor or blender. I was amazed at how much money I was saving by not loading up on 20+ jars of baby food everyweek. In my opinion, if I can save money while benefitting the earth, it is definitely worth a try!

Tips for finding a daycare/preschool

Whether you are looking for a daycare for your newborn, or a morning out program for your two year old, trying to find a caretaker can be stressful. Keep in mind that the really good daycares and preschools get full fast, and a lot of times will require waiting lists. If you are looking for a daycare for a newborn, start looking during your 2nd trimester of pregnancy. It is important to find the right center from the beginning, since your child will probably attend the daycare until they start elementary school. Bliss Baby Planners has put together a list of tips to make your search a bit easier.


Tip #1- Compile a list of daycares/preschools


When looking for the right daycare, you can not beat recommendations from family and friends. We are now living in the Recommendation Age. We do not want just information, but referrals! It is always good to get an insiders perspective of the good and the bad of the facility, which is sometimes not obvious when you visit the school. Parents that can’t stop ranting on how much they love a school is always a good indicator.


Tip #2 - Determine your schedule


Are you looking for full day or half day program? What time does the center open and close? Also, consider time in transit. Will it be easier to have the daycare closer to your home or to your work place? Are they open during the holidays throughout the year? Drop off and pick up policies?


Tip #3 - What are the schools credentials?


The National Association for Early Childhood Education (NAEYC) is a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to high-quality early childhood education. You can check out their website at http://www.naeyc.org/accreditation/ to help you reach a decision. Having a license is not enough. All daycare programs that have more than 12 kids are required to have a license. This ensures that the program has met all minimum health and safety standards. The center should be willing to share their license with you on demand, or have it posted for you to see.


Tip #4 - Ask about the staff


You will want staff that are qualified and genuinely care about the well-being of the children. Do they have elementary education certification? Ask about the child to teacher ratio. Ask about the turnover rate. Have all the staff had criminal record background checks? Is the staff trained in CPR and first aid? Children need consistency, and so you do not want a school that is constantly changing. Happy staff means happy teachers!


Tip #5 - Schedule a visit


You should meet with the school’s managing director and/or the owner. You should get a tour, but also request to observe a classroom for 30 minutes. Make sure it looks clean and tidy. Is there enough room for the children to move around and interact. Is there a playground? Does everything look safe? Where do the children eat? Sleep? Diaper changes? Sinks in the rooms for handwashing? Discipline policy? Sick child policy? Do the kids look happy in the rooms, or do they seem neglected? Do the teachers talk down to the children or are they eye level?



In the end, go with your gut instinct. You will know! And you should be 100% convinced about your decision. If you have even the tiniest bit of doubt, talk it out and see what is it that is your concern.



We had a client who had checked out schools and put down a deposit to a particular daycare before we met her. She was 95% sure that the school was great. After we met, and she told us about the daycare, but still had a few reservations. The client was feeling the time crunch since her baby was due in 6 weeks. We told her what we had learned from our own personal experiences and other clients. She was now unsure about the facility. We gave her a list of daycare recommendations to check out, and told her what to ask and look for during the tour. After our conversation she found a school that she was 100% sure about sending her baby. It was more convenient to her and her husband. It was cleaner. Lower turnover rate, lower ratios, and she knew that it “felt right” after she made the decision. She lost the deposit that she had put for the first school, but she was so happy and had peace of mind after switching schools that the money did not matter.


Best,
T