Baby Week Tip: Diaper Changing

I was kind of disappointed with myself. When I had decided to invite the whole team to contribute a tip or idea centered around baby week I thought I would have much more ideas then I did. You would think that after having 2 babies I might have some, but I really drew a blank.

This is what I came up with to share.

I don't know about any of you, but getting my just shy of 1 year old to stay still during a diaper change is nearly impossible. He twists over and is on his way long before I can even get a wipe out.  So, what I have found to work is changing him on the floor. I put him between my legs and then put my feet on top of his arms. I don't have to press hard at all, just enough to pin him down. Then, when I lift up his legs, he isn't going anywhere. He surprisingly doesn't get upset like he does if I am wrestling him around with out pinning him. I hope this helps anyone out there.

Please don't use this picture of my little guy. Thanks!

We here at The Polka-dot Umbrella would LOVE some helpful hints regarding babies seeing we are all new Moms and one will be down the road. If you have a baby helpful hint, please send it our way by making a comment!

Baby Week: Memory Box

I am the only one of The Polka-Dot Umbrella ladies that doesn't have children.  So the extent of my knowledge is giving gifts.  A couple years ago, one of my friends was expecting.  For the first little while she had to be on bedrest.  I felt so bad that she was just sitting at home bored.  So I started to rack my brain about something I could make her.  I came up with a memory box.  I always have the best intentions of scrapbooking, but my pictures just end up sitting in a box.  So I thought, why not make that box a pretty one!

Another one of my friends is pregnant, and I figured, why not continue the tradition.  She just found out she is having a boy so we had to make a blue box for her little man!

This would be a nice gift to give at the beginning of the pregnancy.  This way they have a place to keep all the fun little memories throughout the whole journey.

   

First, I bought a paper mache box from a craft store.  I had a 40% off coupon so this box only cost me $6. Not bad, right?!  Once I had my box, I measured it and cut my paper to the right size.  I used spray glue to stick on the paper.  After I decorated it with stamps and stickers, I Mod Podged the whole thing.  Once it was dry, I added the items I didn't want covered with Mod Podge, like the string and metal work.   

This was super simple and fun to make.  I love coordinating all the colors and designing it how I want. 

Here are some ideas for what you could put in it. 

• Ultrasound (pictures or DVDs)
• Shower invitations
• Pictures
• Gift lists
• Fabric scraps
• Announcements
• Notes

 I hope this inspires you to make your own memory box, either as a gift or for yourself.  I am sure you can all see the potential.  Happy baby week everyone!

PS - Don't forget to enter our giveaway!

Baby Week: Little and Big Sibling Shirts

I am at a point in my life where most of my friends are having their 2nd babies, when just a couple years ago everyone was having their first. I love giving something to the family even if it isn't their first baby arrival. This makes things a little tough, because what I usually make, nursing covers, car seat cover, baby slings and things to that sort, are not needed. I have come up with something that I have enjoyed giving for the second bundle of joy: big sibling, little sibling shirts. The mothers adore these, and the big sibling loves having something to celebrate the new arrival as well. These shirts are perfect for when the big sibling comes to the hospital, as well as fabulous for pictures when baby comes home. Personal, useful and inexpensive.

Here is what I did to make this set:

• I purchased some plain shirts. I love walmart shirts for appliqueing, very inexpensive and I think they are well made, not to thin.
• I pulled up on a google image search 'bird', found one I liked and sized it to what I wanted in Microsoft Word and then printed it out. I cut it out and then used it as a stencil.
• I went through my scraps and cut out my birds.
• I used double stick fusible web to stick the birds to the shirt, using the directions on the package.
• I did a tight zig zag stitch all the way around the birds and their wings.
• Then, with a pen, I wrote 'Big Sister', and drew the birds legs and beak. Next, I used embroidering floss, and stitched over my pen marks using back stitch.
• Finally, I sewed on buttons for the birds eyes.

There really are so many options of what you can do to make this gift personal.

Here are a few more ideas:

For boys, how cute would it be to do a big truck and a little truck?! Lainey Bug Lane has a darling truck shirt that she made.

These Mary Jane shoes that Make It and Love It put together are darling. You could do a big pair and a little pair.

Sticking to shoes, for a boy and girl sibling, how about a sneaker (representing the boy) and a mary janes (representing the girl)? You could make a freezer paper stencil and use black ink on white shirts to be unisex. One Crafty Mama put these darling shoes together.

Even though this is a very simple gift, I think it shows in a big way that you care.

PS- Make sure you enter our give-away! You can win any item FREE at Paper Cotorie! There will be 3 winners.

Also, do you want a free Photo Journal? They are giving out 1 free Journal until tomorrow! Go here!

Baby Week

Are we ever excited about this upcoming week!  From March 28th to April 2nd we'll be posting some of our best baby ideas.  Be sure to check back every day this week too see what each member of our team has to share on the topic of all things baby!  You'll find some great sewing projects, baby gifts and more.

PS - The cute, fat faced baby in our picture is one of our own team members.  Any guesses as to who it was?