Cheaper Diapers?

One of the expenses parents really feel bad about is disposable diapers. Basically, it's really buying trash, or waste. But of course, not everyone is up to the challenge anymore of using cloth ones.

So, if your baby isn't very sensitive and you want to cut down on costs but still want to stick to your favored brand, what can you do?

Well, you can try the following:

Mom Massage's Dial-a-Diaper

Multiply seller

Seller 1 at Sulit

Seller 2 at Sulit

Baby Socks with Shoe Designs

It has been established that shoes aren't necessary for babies yet and may even be harmful to their growing feet. But allowing them to go out barefoot seems a little awkward... and it can be really cold in malls or outside at night.

So what is a Mom to do?

Well... you can buy your baby some really cute Funky Feet Not-Quite Sneakers, Loafers, Flats or Mary Janes.

Or you can head to the nearest Robinson's or SM Department Store and look for Burlington socks with shoe designs. These socks can fit 0-2 years old (compared to Funky Feet's 0-12 months) which I liked because my son's feet are big and fat. And they only cost around P70.00 per pair.

Unfortunately though, there was only one design available for boys (red sneakers... Funky Feet's looks better, at least in pictures, because it really makes you think of Converse shoes). But Burlington offers many choices (most in pink) for girls. Even bright yellow socks with black Mary Janes.

Of course, once your baby starts toddling, he will really need soft shoes to protect his feet.


my son's feet with the Burlington socks


Another option is available in the form of Oshkosh socks priced at P65.00 :)

Pediatric Urine Collector

Every household with a child one year old and below (or older, depending on baby's elimination temperament) should have one of these handy at home. Babies are prone to Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) and Gastroenteritis aside from other infections due to their still developing immune system, habits, the environment and our parenting.

If baby seesm to have diarrhea, or had some blood in his stool, or is suddenly feverish, just put one on. Of course, you have to position it in the appropriate hole, and yes, you can also use it to get stool samples. Stool on a diaper will already be contaminated and it would be more tedious to catch urine or wait with a cup on your hand. Using urine collectors will also be less messy and more sterile, for everyone concerned.

Urinalysis and Fecal analysis are two easy ways to find out what's causing the illness, or to rule out the common illnesses that beset kids.

The adhesive around the hole shouldn't hurt your baby. Though it might give a different or weird feeling for the baby, it's still not enough to get your baby throwing tantrums so you shouldn't worry about it either.

Using a pediatric urine collector has been our saving grace in the instances when we had to check if our son is sick with something. When he got UTI, we just put one on him and went to the pedia and he conveniently peed while we're waiting.

Laboratories don't need a lot of urine or stool sample... unlike us who are required to fill a cup with our urine.

Pediatric urine collectors are also very cheap. They cost around five pesos (so $.25 will already get you two). If you end up never using it, not only are you lucky that your child is healthy, but you also need not cry over wasted money because it didn't cost much in the first place.

(photo grabbed from Google Images)

how to handle babies

I got these from an email and don't know who to credit (if you know, please let me know). These pics are from a book called Safe Baby Handling Tips by David and Kelly Sopp and as a new mom, I found these hilarious... and wouldn't you know, infinitely helpful too for those who don't know any better.
























































Thanks to Doc Emer who shared these with me.