baby’s nap. Unless baby’s room is far away from yours, there is no need
to keep it by your bedside at night. You will hear your baby cry during
those hours. During the still of the night, the monitor can magnify every
sound your baby makes, robbing you of needed sleep. The last thing your
child needs in the morning is a cranky parent.
Car Seat
A car seat should be functional not only for your infant but also for your
toddler. Think long term when you make this investment. Some car seats
are very stylish and work fine for your infant but may not be practical for
a growing toddler, thus necessitating the purchase of a second car seat.
An infant younger than six months does not have strong neck muscles, so
you want to prevent his or her head from rolling from side to side while
driving. This can be accomplished by rolling cloth diapers or receiving
blankets and using these to support each side of your baby’s head, or you
can purchase special inserts made for infant car seats that accomplish the
same purpose.
Crib
Cribs, cradles, and cots are not products of the industrial revolution as
some might guess. They have been used by parents for millennia. For
example, three ancient Mediterranean societies (Greek, Roman, and
Hebrew) all used cribs for their babies.
The cradle, which is an infant crib with rocking motion, gained
popularity in the Middle Ages. Eventually it became a status symbol of
wealth. The use of cribs and cradles has not been limited to Europe or the
Mediterranean basin. Mothers in primitive settings even today hang cribs
from the ceiling of their huts, where they can gently rock their babies as
they pass by. For twentieth-century parents, the crib is one of the most
basic pieces of baby furniture they will own. Give thought to the one you
will buy or borrow. After all, nearly half of your child’s existence for the
first eighteen months of life will be spent in it.