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Dressing for Two

By Jennifer Madiar

Are you, have you been, or do you know someone who adores being pregnant and dressing for two?  While I have a handful of friends who actually love clothes shopping throughout their pregnancy, I admit I am on the opposite end of the continuum.  I fear clothes while pregnant (when really, isn’t this an opportune time to cover every ounce of my flesh?) and am hesitant to spend money on a temporary wardrobe when I’m unsure as to when and where my body will gain weight.  Now pregnant with my second baby, I am learning to embrace my now-little-but-soon-to-be-major bump and have realized that when I wear well-fitting, cute clothes, I actually don’t mind being pregnant … I adore it!     

LOCAL Consignment Stores

• All About Kids, 939 Clock Tower Drive, Suite C (Across from Bike Tek)  Springfield  217-787-8616.  Click here for a 10% off coupon.

• Kids Closet, 130 John St, Rochester; 217-498-9434.  Click here for a $5 off coupon.  

• The Clothing Rack, 271 S Sherman Blvd, Sherman; 496-3633.

Specialty Retail Stores

Eye Candy by Brandy, 3307 Robbins Road, 217-787-9677; custom designs available upon request.  More about Eye Candy, click here.  

Motherhood Maternity, White Oaks Mall, (217) 726-7368.

Department Stores

Wal-Mart Supercenter, 2760 N Dirksen Pkwy, (217) 523-2847

Target, 3445 Freedom Dr, (217) 698-3182

Kohl’s, 2901 S Veterans Pkwy, (217) 698-0540

Gordman’s, 3231 S Veterans Pkwy, (217) 793-2676

Meijer, 4200 Conestoga Dr, (217) 547-2400

K-Mart, 3250 E Clear Lake Ave, (217) 544-3735 and 2500 Wabash Ave, (217) 787-0434

JC Penney, 1201 S Dirksen Pkwy, (217) 789-0848

Sears, White Oaks Mall, (217) 698-7774

Bergners, White Oaks Mall, (217) 793-2010

Old Navy / Bloomington, 1615 E Empire St, (309) 661-1821

Gap / St. Louis, Galleria, (314) 863-8526.

H&M / Schaumburg, Woodfield Mall, (847) 995-8030

 E-Tailors

www.babystyle.com – A one-stop ‘shop’ for all things mom and baby.  Great pieces for post-delivery, too.

www.bellydancematernity.com – An extension of a wonderful store in Chicago and a plethora of brands!

www.anntaylorloft.com – Who knew? One of Ann Taylor’s best secrets … maternity wear for the office!

www.oldnavy.com – Great selection of affordable, stylish clothing.

www.gap.com – Larger selection of maternity wear than you’ll find in any store, with the exception of the Michigan Avenue location in downtown Chicago.

www.2chix.com – Sassy shirts for moms and dads-to-be.

www.lucy.com – Retailer with a slew of Chicago-land area stores and a variety of active wear basics.

www.nordstrom.com – Higher-end maternity apparel consistent with what you’d find in stores.

www.kristak.com – Chicago boutique with prices to match…tres chic!  

www.duematernity.com – Wide variety of styles and prices – there’s something for everyone here!

www.mimimaternity.com – the “Gap” of the Motherhood Maternity brand…great pieces for everyday wear.

www.apeainthepod.com – the “Banana Republic” of the Motherhood Maternity brand…one step up from Mimi Maternity and the perfect stop for a special occasion purchase.

www.shopmama.com – online outpost of the growing, upscale maternity chain, “Hot Mama.” 

 Helpful Hints

·         Embrace hand-me-downs!  Everyone has fashionable friends (Thanks Kim!  Thanks Angie!) who have several items they’re likely to loan you.  At least half of my maternity clothes are on loan to me, and borrowing from friends – or even just trying before you buy – can save you time and money.

·         Size up!  While some consider it truly fun to buy maternity clothes, consider shopping at your favorite regular stores but buying clothes a size or two larger than normal.  This may require some serious dressing-room time, but you also will be able to wear these ‘normal people clothes’ as your body transitions post-delivery … and maybe avoid that feeling of “ugh, I have a two-month-old, but I’m STILL wearing maternity clothes!” 

·         Never underdeliver!  Find comfy bras, underwear and support that maximize what you’re wearing on the outside.  Do get measured for bras from time to time throughout your pregnancy, and remember that even celebs have secret help like Spanx, Bella Bands, and post-pregnancy, Tauts.  

Happy shopping … and here’s to many months of dressing your beautiful bump!

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Beware Baby-Buying Binges

First-time parents often fall prey to masterful marketing and overbuy, only to discover they might have saved hundreds of dollars without collecting unnecessary items.  When cleaning out the storage room, we discovered a collection of several frivolous items including a lotion warmer and a Kangaroo backpack!)  Email us about those baby purchases you most regret, or gifts you wish you'd returned for diapers, and we'll share them here.

Coupons! Register & Save Big! www.gerber.com www.similac.com www.pampers.com

Every new mom needs to know about this.  Register at these websites and you will start getting coupons in the mail and on-line.  It’s just that easy. 

Formula coupons are $5 coupons, so well worth your time.  Pampers.com is a little more involved, but still worthwhile.  Inside each pack of Pampers, there is a sticker with a code number.  Enter it at Pampers.com under Gifts to Grow.  You’ll start earning points that can add up to purchases.  You can pick from a selection of books, toys and dvd’s when you register and redeem the points. 

Cloth Diapers:

For cloth diapers: check out local mom, Judy Percy's business for Cloth Diapers, Baby Slings and much more at Faithful Baby

One Mom’s Story by Kristen Schmid-Schurter

When my husband went back to work after our baby was born, the second question everyone asked was: “How are the cloth diapers going?” Perhaps they thought the cloth diapers would go the way of my attempt at natural childbirth, where I caved at the 11^th hour and clicked the morphine dispenser like a crazed lab rat.

My interest in cloth diapers stems in part from my tree-hugger tendencies, and in part from my natural cheapskate instincts. Also, my only experience in infant care was changing and bathing my little sister, and when I was seven years old the diaper pins didn’t faze me. Twenty-six years later they did. I tried diapering a stuffed bear by following the Dr. Spock book illustrations. It was so difficult, I just hoped my mom could teach me everything.

Instead she bought a mountain of Huggies and Luvs out of sympathy for her son-in-law. When I asked Mom to demonstrate proper diaper pin usage, my six-day-old son kicked and screamed violently. She threw up her hands and said “I give up. I’ve never seen anything like this. Enroll him in every physical activity possible.”

But by then, my husband had taken ownership of the cloth diaper challenge. He methodically improved his diaper pinning strategies, with help from his mom and online research, and began giving me patient tutorials. 

Now, maybe because it’s all we know, using and washing cloth diapers actually isn’t that hard. When the diapers exceed the small pail we have – in about two days, by three they’re a health hazard – we dump them in the washing machine and prewash them. Then we wash the diapers in hot water with bleach, detergent and OxiClean, and tumble dry.

We use 36 Gerber Prefold Birdseye Cloth Diapers, which are about $12 for 12. We also have 12 slightly less expensive Gerber's Flat Fold Birdseye Cloth Diapers. They aren’t as absorbent so they became burp cloths and diaper change pee shields. Both kinds of diapers are available at Babies “R” Us, Target and Wal-Mart, along with diaper pins. Babies “R” Us and Wal-Mart both have vinyl pants.  It is possible to avoid pins entirely and buy diapers with snaps or Velcro on the Internet.  Those are available online at www.greenmountaindiapers.com , www.tendertushorganics.com  and www.tinytush.com

We are still at the beginning of our diapering journey. When our son starts “stooling” we’ll have to scrape the diaper contents into the toilet. When he gets bigger, we’ll have to learn how to pin two prefolds together. But for now, we can pin a pretty mean diaper. And our son’s bottom is happier in cloth. Unfortunately, neither cloth nor disposable can reliably hold his diaper contents.

http://www.mothering.com/articles/new_baby/diapers/politics.html

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Diaper Bags for Dads!

 A diaper bag for dudes?  Yep!  www.diaperdude.com.  So long girlie, character-themed or anything that screams "diapers are in here!"  The designer of these bags is a father of two and is keeping dads looking cool while also doing the right thing ... spending time with the kids!  Priced at around $55-$60, but they are very hip!  

Diaper Creme and more!

All natural baby care products from Arbonne.   Baby's skin is prone to dryness and is easily irritated.  Arbonne baby care products assist the skin's ability to retain moisture. Our diaper rash cream is made with oat flour which is highly absorbent and hypoallergenic, it is like no other diaper rash cream out there!  Connect with Springfield Mom Natalie Allan to learn more or sample their baby care line.   More here

Expand Your Child’s World with Activities   courtesy of The Parent Help Line at St. John's Hospital

Lessons in sports, music, drama, and art help children develop skills for life and school. Classes help them learn talents. To prepare your pre-school or school age child for classes or sports teams, expose her to a variety of activities.

Encourage your child to run, skip, and freely dance to music.

Watch with interest as your child plays “make believe” or creates and organizes plays. Join in the fun.  Toss balls to your child. Play a game of catch. Do jumping jacks. Play sports together. Go swimming. Exercise is good.

Provide art supplies ­— crayons, markers, paper, glue and age-appropriate scissors. Encourage your child to create art. Display your child’s art in a special place in the home.

Play music at home and in your car. Have family “sing-a-longs.”

As your child gets older, enroll him in classes or sports you think he might enjoy. If you see him excel in a certain activity, formal classes may help him reach a greater potential. Classes may also help a child who lacks certain skills. A child who is shy or has trouble making friends needs activities.  Age does not always indicate that a child is ready for formal training.

A child also needs emotional maturity to handle group activities.

Activities are great, but they should not cause stress to the child.  For more information visit www.parenthelpline.org

Check out Springfield Moms list of Classes & Activities and Sports for kids from infants 6 months old on up!

Eurobath, Bathe your child in luxury

Simply the best bathtub for newborns to two years.  Forget the basic bathtubs for your shower registry.  You will love this oversize “Eurobath.”  Faced one way, it cradles your infant so they don’t slide around.  Turn around and it supports your toddler with lots of room to splash.

Find the Eurobath locally at Babies R' Us or online at One Step Ahead  Priced around $30 or so. 

G Diapers are a cross between disposable and cloth diapers.  There is a reusable cloth outer diaper with flushable inserts.  The cloth diapers are made from a waterproof but breathable fabric.  They are super cute and come in fun colors.  I have never had them leak and my two-year old is comfortable in them; she rarely gets rashes anymore. The disposable part is definitely messier than disposables and takes some getting used to, but now I don't think twice about it.  I also love that the stink goes away and that I produce less landfill garbage. They are slightly more expensive than disposable diapers, especially ordering them on-line and paying shipping. I have contacted Food Fantasies about ordering them and they are pretty certain they can. The web site is http://www.gdiapers.com  They have helpful videos on their site for how to use and dispose of the diapers as well.

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Happiest Baby on the Block

Thanks to Becky Antonacci for this tip!  I wanted to share my new baby life-saver.  It the "The Happiest Baby on the Block" The New Way to Calm your Crying and Help your Baby Sleep Longer"

by Harvey Karp, M.D.   It comes in a DVD and book version.  I find it helpful to all new moms. The information shows you how to calm you baby when they are fed and changed, but they are still crying.   I find it especially helpful to breastfeeding moms who often blame themselves for fussy babies. They often think it is something THEY did or ate.   Dr. Karp helps you understand new baby behavior and how to keep they happy."  Look locally at Best Buy or try amazon.com for purchase.

La Leche League

http://www.lllusa.org/IL/WebSpringfieldIL.html

La Leche League is an international, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization dedicated to providing education, information, support, and encouragement to women who want to breastfeed.  All breastfeeding mothers and mothers-to-be interested in breastfeeding are welcome to come to our meetings or call one of the Leaders for breastfeeding help and/or meeting information. Babies are always welcome at our meetings.  Meeting Information  LLL of Springfield meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at St. Johns Hospital.   Carol Jo Vecchie Building, 4th Floor, Classrooms A & B.  Toddler Meetings are the third Tuesday of each month at 10:30 a.m.   Contact a Leader for more information.

Leader Information  La Leche League Leaders are experienced mothers who have breastfed their own babies and who have been trained and accredited by La Leche League International to help mothers and mothers-to-be with all aspects of breastfeeding. They are available by phone whenever you have breastfeeding questions or concerns. 

Contact: Michelle 217-787-7039, email hkysns1@aol.com or Janie 217-478-2011, email brgschnd@csj.net

Medela Customer Service, by Paulette Dove

I have a Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump, purchased in Feb 2004. It worked well after the first baby (I had a very small problem, which Medela happily solved).  I recently started using it again and the yellow plug used to tell the machine I was double pumping kept pushing out of the machine during use.  I called Medela customer service, explained my problem, and they advised me the "faceplate" of the Pump in Style Advanced has been redesigned to solve this problem.  They sent me a new faceplate, via overnight UPS, for free (the warranty expired long ago). Two things -- Medela has the best customer service ever!  1-800-435-8316. If you have a Pump in Style Advanced and are having problems, call Medela.

Thanks to Kathy Scheffler for this suggestion! I’m sure you’re about to ask yourself, "Where were these when I was nursing?" These nifty bags sterilize your pumping accessories, pacifiers, and bottles in your microwave in just seconds. For moms pumping at work, they couldn’t make things easier for clean up. And, they’re very affordable at only $4.20 for approximately 100 uses. Available locally at Babies R Us and Target. Available on-line at numerous sites.

For many of us, our family is not complete without the addition of our beloved animals.  For some, the pets came first.  In our house, we adopted one dog from the Animal Protective League; our 80-pound Labrador Buddy, and two years later we adopted another one; 50-pound Labrador D.J.   Becoming a dog owner was a mild warm-up to our lives ahead as parents.  We couldn’t come and go as we pleased anymore.   Who would come home at lunch to let them out?   Numerous items were chewed on, destroyed, peed on, pooped on, and vomited on.  Unfortunately, this still continues so we keep a gallon size container of Simple Solution in our home.   

But, Buddy & D.J. lived the good life.  Sleeping on our bed, enjoying daily walks, and photo ops in our annual holiday card.  We had playdates with a neighbor’s dog, Roxy!   I’ll admit I even created a scrapbook of our dogs.   I believe that is when I knew it was time to address my biological clock!   

One of my fondest memories of pregnancy is that both dogs loved to rest their head on my ever growing tummy.  When we came home from the hospital with our firstborn, our big dog, Buddy, peeked his nose carefully over the pack n’ play to check out his new sister.   A month into adjusting to new baby, our dogs got into a fight in the nursery with the baby being cradled in grandma’s arms.  I rushed between the dogs to break them apart (do NOT do that!)  and got a nasty dog bite on my arm.    The outburst came out of nowhere, but it quickly reminded me that my furry-children are animals, and my eyes were open wider for the future. 

Flash-forward four years to a house filled with two preschoolers, and Buddy & D.J. have had a lot of changes to endure.  They have adapted amazingly well.   We haven’t had any more outbursts, and they tolerate being dressed in tiara and capes and always follow “the pack” around so we all together when at home.  I do believe that having two pets is better than one because they are able to entertain each other when we are out of the house.   They still lead the good life; fluffy beds to sleep on and lots of treats and room to run and play.  However, I am sure it’s not the same feeling of being top dog all the time like the life pre-kids.   But one of the best lessons our pets teach our children is the power of unconditional love.  That’s all they ask from us is for love, attention…and delicious snacks!    

Mixing dogs and kids can be a lot of fun, but it also is important to remember that their animal instincts cannot be forgotten.   

Here are some tips to keep everyone safe:

• Do not leave your children or anyone else’s alone with your pets.  Some experts say this is advisable until age 11.   You can’t predict the child’s behavior any more than the reaction from the animal.  
• Babies tend to treat pets like toys; they need to learn how to safely and gently pet and show love and attention to the animal. 
• Give your pet extra attention when the child is asleep.
• Watch your pet for signs of jealously or depression.
• Make sure your pet is getting enough exercises and is eating well.
• If you are bringing home a newborn, bring home blankets from the hospital before you bring the child home, so the pet can “smell” the baby.  A few months before the baby is born, play tapes of babies crying so they can get used to the extra noise.
• Reference Book:  Childproofing your Dog: A Complete Guide to Preparing your Dog for the Children in Your Life by Brian Kilcommons.

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Sling Tote

I ordered the Sling Tote (comes with diaper wipe case, insulated bottle holder that removable and changing pad). It can be worn over the shoulder, messenger style or attached to the stroller. The quality is amazing. There are so many pockets and storage compartments. There is even a fleece-lined pocket to place things like sunglasses or a cell phone and you don't have to worry about scratching. The company has several diaper bags to choose from. The price of the Sling Tote is $129.99 (you can search the store locator on the website). It's very practical and functional but so stylish as well.

Here's the company website: www.fleurville.com