Mother’s Day Present Ideas

We love Mothers!  This year’s Mother’s Day falls on May 13th, and often times it is difficult to come up with a good idea for gift.  We’re here to help you out.

Cheap Personalized Baby Blankets

When it comes to shopping for personalized baby blankets, the price tag can add up in a hurry.  You can easily spend $50, $75, $100 or more on this personal gift, especially if you are in a pinch for time.  Often times, when you buy online, you find a lot of a sites selling the blankets who also add additional costs.  For example, you might have to pay extra for a message, or for a certain font, or for Priority shipping.

At Blanketmybaby.com, we are constantly working on improving our personalization blanket options for our customers, and we are trying to do so without breaking the bank.  One of our most popular options for personalization our Angel Dear blankies.  These security blankets are a bit smaller (12 x 12 inches), but they are intended to be a comforting friend for a child.  The blankets have a cute animal head and also a cuddly blanket portion, which make them irresistible with babies and toddlers.  We offer personalization on a wide assortment of Angel Dear blankets, for a price that won’t break the bank.  You can get these lovies on our site for $13, and have it personally embroidered for $12 more.  So, the entire lovable gift is priced at a reasonable $25.  Here are a few options:

We have a huge assortment of Angel Dear lovies that include tigers, lions, bears, monsters, kitty cats, dogs, monkeys, giraffes, zebras, hippos, elephants, mice and more.  It’s like your own little personalized zoo!

Beyond our Angel Dear personalized blankets, another good option if you are looking for a gift on the cheap is our Swaddle Designs lovie line.  Although the cost is cheap, these blankets are high quality and adorable.  In fact, they are the choice of several celebrities, including Angelina Jolie.  We have several Swaddle Designs styles to choose from, and everyone can be embroidered with a font and thread color of your choice.

We have several different styles to choose from:

White Mini Mod -

Polka dots -

Plush Dots -

and many more.

These blankets go for $14.95 on our site, which is already a 12% discount savings on the regular retail price.  For personalization, these serve as a cheap option for a total of $26.95.  You certainly are not breaking the bank with these options, and they will be a huge hit with whoever is receiving the gift.

So, if you need a baby shower gift for cheap, or any other personalized gift for a baby, be sure to check us out.  We offer excellent gifts at affordable prices.

Review from the Bragging Mommy

Moms everywhere are taking notice of BlanketMyBaby.com and our great baby blankets.  The latest mom to provide a glowing review of our blankets is Bragging Mommy Heidi over at TheBraggingMommy.com.  Heidi did a review on our personalized blankets by Swaddle Designs.  These blankets are an affordable an excellent gift for your own child or for a baby shower.  And if you don’t want to crochet your own baby blanket, then we recommend going with a personalized baby blanket.  The embroidery is a great way to show extra thought and care while saving you time of having to make your own baby blanket.

If you are a mommy blogger and you are interested in reviewing one of our products, contact us at customerservice@blanketmybaby.com.  We are happy to provide you with a sample of our products to review and spread the goodness of BMB to all of your lovely fans and followers.  We’re happy to get the word out about our great blankets and products.  We’ve been satisfying happy mommies and babies since 2008, and we are constantly improving our product line and service to  our customers.

Thanks, and hope to hear from more mommy bloggers soon!

Glenna Jean Crib Bedding

Blanket My Baby is now offering baby bedding from Glenna Jean!  We have worked a deal out with this phenomenal manufacturer of luxurious baby bedding to bring you their top products at excellent prices.  We are offering discounts and sales on all of our bed sets.  Currently, we are offering four and five piece bed sets, but if you want to accessorize with the pillows, mobiles, curtains, chairs and everything else, just let us know.  We are working furiously hard at uploading all of these terrific bedding sets and bringing them to you on sale for low prices.

Below, you’ll find a picture of the Glenna Jean Ava crib bedding set.  This luxurious crib set normally sells for $577, but we are bringing it to you for 10% off at $519.  If you find a lower price on the internet for this bed set, we’ll match it.  Now, you can have the luxury and style of a celebrity nursery with this beautifully hand designed, Made In America bed set.

Enjoy!  And look for more Glenna Jean bedding sets to come out soon!

Personalized My Blankee Stroller Blankets

Our customers have been asking for them, and now they are here.  We now have the wonderful chic and luxurious My Blankee blankets in stroller size that are available for personalization.  Our Dot Velour blankets, which are our bestselling My Blankee blankets can be embroidered with your child’s name for an extra touch of love.

The blankets are a large 30 x 35 inches for much more cuddly goodness.  Previously, our security sized blankets were available for personalization, but now we have expanded our selection to include these larger blankets.  Take these stroller blankets for walks, to the park, or just for playing around the house and tucking you in your crib.

We offer the blankets in blue, pink, or green perfect for boys, girls or a surprise gender neutral baby.  Shop for you or for a loved one today!

The Cost of Not Being a Stay At Home Mom (Infographic)

If you are a SAHM, you’ve no doubt probably run the numbers.  Is it more cost effective for you to work in the “real world” to bring in a second income to the family?  Or, could it actually make more sense for you to be a stay at home mom?  For this calculation, you have to be able to analyze the cost of the services you are performing as a stay ah home mom.  The infographic below does an excellent job of just that.

I think any mom can relate to the multiple hats and multiple responsibilities you have throughout the week including housekeeper, CEO, psychologist, facilities manager, computer operator, daycare teacher, and more!  So, if you are feeling down, take a good look at this infographic and evaluate yourself properly.  Don’t ever let anyone tell you that your job is not a “real job”!  Value yourself properly moms.  Your job is essential for the running of the family.

p.s. – The below analysis shows nothing about an income you can make at home.  So, if you are a SAHM who has found a job working from home, then just add that income to the bottom line.

(Click on the image to enlarge).

Via: DegreeSearch.org

At Blanketmybaby.com, we love all things moms, dads, babies and families.  Anything that can make families stronger, we want to promote and share.  Go moms!  Go families!  We love to be a hub for awesomeness to share about families, like the infographic above.  We also do baby blankets.  If you need a cute gift for a family member or friend, check us out.  We do personalized blankets too.

4 Safe Sleep Tips for SIDS Awareness

If you know anything about Blanketmybaby, you know that we love, love, love aden + anais blankets.  For our baby, we used them for everything.  They are excellent swaddlers.  They are great for a burp cloth when needed.  Perfect for a play blanket or a stroller blanket.  They are multi-functional and amazing.  And, they come in 4 packs, which are super helpful because you always have one handy.

Not only are they great blankets, but aden and anais is also excellent at getting out awareness for SIDS.  Recently, aden + anais wrote an excellent article about SIDS awareness.  Since October is SIDS Awareness Month, we thought it would be really helpful to pass on.

October is SIDS Awareness Month – Educate Parents on Safe Sleep Tips

Many people are aware that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but did you know that it is also Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month?  SIDS awareness and education should be very important to any parent.  This month, and every month is a great time to educate parents and caregivers on the importance of safe sleep for baby.

When talking about SIDS, it is important to understand that nothing can be done to prevent SIDS, however parents and care givers can reduce SIDS risk factors.  On October 18, 2011, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) came out with an updated study about SIDS risk factors; click her to view the full study. Educate caretakers on the following risk factors:

1. Room-sharing without bed-sharing

You’ve probably heard statements such as, “We shared our bed with our children and nothing happened”. However, there is a surplus of research that shows bed sharing with an infant is dangerous.  There is NO research that shows bed sharing reduces the risk of SIDS.  Here is a link to over 20 research studies that have shown a direct link between bed sharing and infant death (you must be signed in to Facebook to view the studies).  In the October 18^th study, the AAP stated “The baby should sleep in the same room as the parents, but not in the same bed (room-sharing without bed-sharing).”

2. Always place baby on his or her back for every sleep time.

Since the AAP recommended that all babies should be placed on their backs to sleep in 1992, deaths from SIDS have declined dramatically.  This rule still holds true today.  Keep in mind that swaddling a newborn helps to keep them on their backs while sleeping, however if baby is old enough to turn over, they should no longer be swaddled.  Instead consider a sleeping bag or sleep sack.

3. Remove all lose bedding, bumpers and toys from the crib.

According to the AAP, there is no evidence that bumper pads prevent injuries, and there is a potential risk of suffocation, strangulation or entrapment.   For warmth and comfort consider a wearable blanket such as the aden + anais® classic and cozy sleeping bags.  Sleeping bags eliminate the need for loose blankets in the crib.

4. Don’t let baby get too hot.

Overheating is a SIDS risk factor.  Many people think that babies need to be bundled with hats and blankets.  Dress your baby in as much or as little clothing as you would wear.  Keep in mind that the AAP recommends that while baby is sleeping, room temperature should be comfortable for a lightly clothed adult or approximately 61-67 degrees Fahrenheit.

Support SIDS research every month and remember that a portion of all aden + anais® swaddles and sleeping bags go to the CJ Foundation for SIDS.  Learn more about risk factors or print a down-loadable PDF with safe sleep tips for your customers.

Personalized Baby Blankets Video

We just created a new video to showcase our personalized baby blankets.  Check it out on Youtube or on our home page.  In the video, we show some of our personalized blankets from My Blankee, Angel Dear and Swaddle Designs.  We also show some of our personalized baby pillows.   Let us know what you think of the music.  Too cheesy?  Either way, we hope it helps your shopping experience be even better!

How Online Reviews Can Help Your Local Business

If you are a local business, you know that online reviews can make or break you.  Check out this awesome infographic that gives some pretty telling statistics.  Be sure to understand the power of reviews and then develop a strategy to obtain them, and dominate on Google’s local search.

The best tip to get great reviews?  Be great!!!

[540SEO::SEO experts and local search optimization specialists]
Add this graphic to your site.

Summer in Seattle

My wife, Emil and I have spent the last three weeks in Seattle, and it has been amazing.  We have never been to the Pacific Northwest before, and we have just been soaking it all in.  Fortunately, we’ve been able to stay with some amazing friends out here.  They have been tremendous hosts and have pointed to all the great things there are to do out in this wonderful playland.  A brief list of the attractions we have attended:

• Ballard Locks
• Golden Gardens
• Safeco Park
• Mt. Rainier
• Chateau St. Michelle Vineyard
• Bremerton Ferry
• Hood Canal

And in Portland:

• Food network restaurants!
• More Vineyards
• Mt. Hood and the Fruit Loop
• Voodoo Doughnuts

We’ve definitely been making the rounds.  And even better than all the sites has been hanging out with the other families out here.  It’s strange in a place like Seattle, where there are actually more dogs than kids.  When we take Emil out in public, we get a lot of weird looks, but no one ever looks down at a dog.  Funny.  And our friends have 8 kids among them, so it’s a bit counter-cultural.  To us though, it’s been an amazing learning experience to be around these families who have a passion and a vision for their family, love their kids, build businesses and serve the Lord.

Here are is a Facebook album to some of our journeys.

And below, you’ll find some more.  Emil is getting super close to being able to walk.  He has gotten so much more sturdy on two feet, while out there.  I think being around some kids that are slightly older than him have really pushed him in his development.