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.

Journey Gym Workout Giveaway

Wanted to share a sweet giveaway to all of our readers.  Today I would like to introduce you to the fitness product called Journey Gym which is a complete, light-weight, compact, uni-sex gym that can be used at home, at the office or while traveling. It is truly the gym that can go with you anywhere at any time! The Journey Gym can help you obtain a total body workout and everything you need is included with the Journey Gym.

You can find all the contest details here or check out http://www.journeygym.com/.

Baby Character and also Persona Could affect Little one’s Snooze

Nature means what sort of kid effortlessly responds in order to circumstances and also toys, your ex feeling, the girl capability to relaxed their self and also her action stage. Numerous research workers believe that temperament is actually organic which means this is the place a young child can be born being and it is not only a results of his natural environment.

The little one’s temperament will affect which in turn slumber training approach a parent or gaurdian may well decide to help their particular child sleep greater. A new little one’s character and character will determine whether a new no-cry slumber instruction strategy will take An hour as well as Three months as well as, in the event that choosing a cry-method, whether or not he could be they more probable be sad for five moments or A couple of hours.

In the first next day of they’re given birth to, how an infant behaves for you to getting moist, starving or even worn out may not be just like a the next door neighbors baby. Exactly where one newborn may be low-key and never end up angry yet another infant may possibly shout noisally. Re-decorating precisely why 1 slumber coaching technique is helpful for several infants and will not work for other folks.

About three typical personality and also character kinds are listed below which has a brief synopsis involving how you can impact the infant’s snooze.

Intensity
A child or even toddler’s strength is how firmly the lady sentimentally responds for you to a thing. This may be in a great way or a poor way. Since high-intensity children react firmly, it means they could be squealing noisally along with pleasure or perhaps weeping noisally because they’re damp. Regarding babies who are low depth, it may well mean these people hardly ever be sad or even hassle when they’re not comfortable.

Precisely how may any little one’s intensity impact her rest? If a kid is a reduced strength child, which means that it might really be much easier to place child along sleepy, however alert coming from a very young age and aid your ex discover how to get to sleep by herself.

If the baby is really a high strength newborn, it will be challenging to abandon your ex disappointed with regard to anything at all lengthier than the usual couple of minutes while she’s youthful. A new high-intensity child may get far more upset whenever your woman awakens involving sleep menstrual cycles and should not get back on rest. This may also be more difficult throughout the bedtime routine to help you ease a higher intensity infant ahead of rest. When trying to work with a no-cry rest education method, a top strength infant will more than likely nevertheless cry therefore it may become quite difficult playing the yelling baby even though attempting to bust slumber associations and it’ll certainly be a good deal more difficult to stay with it any time she gets angry. If employing a sobbing rest coaching approach, assume noisy as well as lengthy reactions along with screaming.

Determination
A new baby’s perseverance is the place very easily or perhaps challenging he is able to quit a job in case instructed to be able to and how strong-willed they’re if they obtain approach on something. Determination may possibly disclose itself every time a child really wants to health professional and he will not acquire zero for an solution with no erupting inside tears and won’t settle down with some other relaxing approach.

Precisely how may a baby’s persistence impact her sleep? If the child can be a less chronic newborn, which means that it probably are not difficult to get better slumber from the girl. Normally, much less prolonged babies and toddlers take simply no with an solution and do not continue to be angry extended when there are adjustments. Nearly all mothers and fathers will certainly should just commit to producing changes in order regarding newborn slumber switch the signal from come about.

If your infant is a very prolonged child, it’ll be more difficult to get more cooperation away from your ex any time he’s his or her mind set about some thing. When employing a no-cry rest training strategy, it’ll probable be more difficult than others using a smaller amount persistent infants. In case settling on utilize a crying rest instruction strategy, assume extended weeping fits, unfortunately. Depending on their level of intensity, this will likely or perhaps is probably not difficult to acquire through.

Perceptiveness
A new infant’s perceptiveness is when significantly a kid updates items like individuals, colours, as well as noises. A perceptive little one may possibly forget directions or instructions provided to the girl simply because something more important provides trapped your ex attention. Additionally, the girl may possibly detect lots of things which other folks might not exactly, say for example a rock in the turf that will additional children might wander prior. Perceptiveness along with distractibility isn’t the just like ADHD.

How may any baby’s perceptiveness influence his / her snooze? Your little one’s perceptiveness will certainly nearly all affect snooze in terms of napping, exercises. Any night light in the intelligent child’s place also affects his or her get more sleep of computer would likely on the cheap intelligent youngsters. When performing your bed time regimen, your child will not be capable to comply with multi-step guidelines, and will usually benefit from damaging the routines directly into smaller steps.

Chances are your woman will take more time to fall asleep compared to a kid who’s less intelligent mainly because the girl notices a lot more within the room. For that reason, an even more perceptive infant should be place down for sleep at the very least 10-15 units earlier to allow for all of them time and energy to relax.

It is important to know that a parent or gaurdian can easily find out and also realize their particular little one’s character and also foresee exactly how he will respond to specific things. Mom and dad whom realize their particular newborn or kid’s character can help to keep the youngster in such a way that work well effectively with that their character. Once mothers and fathers recognize their own little one’s character, it will also help reduce many of the stress related for you to assisting their baby discover how to sleep far better given that they will not continually be trying to figure out why he or she is re acting a certain method. Although a child’s temperament is organic, it does not mean that just what mothers and fathers accomplish makes no difference. Mothers and fathers should be able to point out their kid’s talents, aid comprehend his own temperament, and also aid him learn to deal with his or her own responses as they gets older. To try to make him overlook his / her temperamental features is not just very hard, this instructs your ex to not become herself.

Although feel the just choices insufficient sleep or even sobbing out, there are a variety associated with selections for educating an infant to fall asleep. Looking at any little one’s temperament will assist to decide the process ideal to teach a child healthful sleep habits.

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Last Day to Enter Our Contest!!!

We are giving away a 4 pack of aden and anais blankets and you only have hours left to enter our contest!  The entry gates will close at the end of the day, and then it’s all up to who can get the most votes for their cutest baby.  So hurry!

First prize gets a 4 pack, and we will feature their baby on our home page!  Second prize gets a picture of their baby.  3rd place gets and Angel Dear lovie.  Lots of ways to win, but you have to enter.  So, enter, tell your friends.

You can enter from the banner below, or go to our Facebook page to enter. http://www.facebook.com/BlanketMyBaby?sk=app_95936962634

Items to Consider when buying Children`s Furniture

A child`s bedroom is often more than just a place for them to sleep, it is the first space that becomes their own, somewhere to spend quiet time alone even if the moments spent there are just a few minutes long.

When it comes to choosing furniture for their room it is important to consider both the practical needs of the space and the aesthetics, to create a calm atmosphere conducive to sleep and to make the most effective use of storage for toys and clothing whilst maximising floor space to give the child room to play.

The furniture you select needs to fit comfortably in the room, so the first thing to consider is the size of the room. A bed is essential and so is a cupboard of one kind or another for storing clothes. Some rooms have space for both a wardrobe and a chest of drawers whilst smaller rooms will benefit from storage under the bed.

When choosing a bed consider how long you intend your child to sleep in this one for, will it be a small bed which will be suitable for a few years or do you want to choose one which will last plenty of years with a replacement mattress whenever required? There are all sorts of beds to choose from these days, made out of wood or metal, painted or natural finish, with built in storage underneath, simple in design or with fancy head and foot boards. Bunk beds are popular for children sharing a room and four poster beds with pretty curtains make a lovely feature for a girls room.

Storage comes in all shapes and sizes. Wardrobes with drawers at the base are a neat option for getting all the clothes in one piece of furniture and in terms of hanging space it is possible to select full length hanging throughout or to have half the space for hanging clothes and the remainder divided into compartments or with shelving.

If you are choosing a chest of drawers find one with smooth runners which makes it easy to open and close to make life easier for your child.

A bedside table may be a luxury in a smaller room, but these little units are ideal for a night light and bedtime drink and offer storage space too which is ideal for your child`s special things whether these are the book they are currently reading, trinkets or secret diaries. Desks are the same in many respects, offering a surface to work on and storage for small items.

Free standing book cases make it easy for young children to reach books and choose them for themselves and hanging shelves make great storage space for books or other items without encroaching on floor space.

As the bed is the only must have item it is probably best to choose this first. You can select other items of furniture which match or coordinate with childrens beds and give your children the ideal room.

Swaddling Video Tutorial

If you are a new mom or dad, you may have heard the word “swaddling”, but you have no idea what that means.  If you are anything like me, you may have absolutely 0 baby experience on the day your baby is born.  I had never changed a baby’s diaper in my life!  But fear not, through the magic of the internet, anyone can become an expert!

Swaddling takes a little bit of practice, but it is well worth it.  The whole idea is placing a baby inside of a blanket that makes them feel like they are snug, as if they were in their mother’s womb.  While they are still little, this helps them sleep, which every mom and dad could use a little help in.  Below, is a swaddling tutorial from one of our friends.  It’s a wonderful job with a secret, two blankets.  It adds the extra support for your little baby burrito.  Enjoy the how to swaddle a baby tutorial.