Pregnancy - November 2008

What’s Kickin’ News You Can Use

C hecklist

Diaper Duty

With all the gear options available, even diapering can seem confusing. Simplifying baby prep is the inspiration behind The Baby File, a book of lists and worksheets by Amanda R. Dobbins. She hopes to save other moms-to-be from her own inefficient system—sticky notes with shopping lists, which she never had when she needed them. Here’s what she recommends buying to comfortably diaper baby:

CHANGING TABLE and pad with covers—at least 2—or a bureau and a changing pad to place on top.

DISPOSABLE OR CLOTH DIAPERS. Have a week’s supply on hand; you can expect to go through 10 to 12 diapers a day.

DIAPER PAIL, for disposables. “Don’t rely on the standard trash can. You definitely want some kind of diaper pail that hides the odor,” Dobbins says.

DIAPER BAG OR BIN, for cloth. A diaper service may provide this at an additional cost.

Brace Yourself
Looking forward to
going out without
baby this holiday
season? Here’s how to
budget for childcare—
before you drop
dough on gifts.
Care.com now
offers a Babysitter
Pay Calculator that
provides suggested hourly rates in a given zip
code, based on the sitter’s experience and your
family size. Remember: If she has to do dishes and
laundry or pick up your kids from another location,
the pay should be higher.
To find the calculator, go to care.com, click
“Child Care: Babysitter and Nanny Services” at
the bottom, then choose “Articles and Resources”.

V itamin

In 2007, the Department of Agriculture DIAPER COVERS OR WATERPROOF PANTS, for cloth. _gave _its _food _program _for _low-income(Some newer types have impervious outer layers, so check _Heroes_moms _and _kids, _known _as _WIC, _its^yours.)first overhaul in 30 years. The biggest _{DIAPER CREAM.}c hange: The addition of produce and whole grains to the items available for pur- WIPES. Buy unscented for newborns and expect to use c hase with federal vouchers.

100 to 150 in the first week; thick paper towels and a spray All along, a charity called Nourish America bottle can work as well. When it comes to extras like a wipe has been helping fill in the nutritional gaps by providing daily warmer, Dobbins cautions, “Remember that anything you build multivitamins to needy children in 37 states. Now, to get families into the diapering routine, you have to keep up.” off to a healthy start, the non-profit is expanding its reach to pregnant women by offering prenatal vitamins and information about eating right in pregnancy as part of its Healthy Moms and Babies program.

The private sector has joined in, too—pharmacies in all Meijer shopping centers now offer free prenatal vitamins as part of the Michigan-based chain’s goal of helping its customers stay healthy. To find out more, go to nourishamerica.org and meijer.com.