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Nursery Theme Ideas for Baby Boys

The ultrasound showed that a bouncing baby boy is on the way. Now you need to prepare a room in which he can grow and have adventures. You may want to stimulate his very active imagination along with his very active play. However, sometimes it’s wise to create a cozier, less stimulating room, so your baby boy is easier to put to sleep at night. You can adapt any of the themes below to be perfect for your baby boy.

Cars

Cars are a tried and true theme for a boy’s room. You can find pages of wallpaper borders with cars in every color scheme. There are car shaped beds and other accessories that will fit into the theme as they grow older. An area rug with streets printed on it is a perfect addition. It is sure to become a favorite as your son gets older.

Trains

Little boys seem to love trains. Decorating the room with toy trains is a perfect fit. Some people have even built a suspended track around the room for a decorative and fun accent. Thomas the Tank is a very popular and natural way to add to your train themed room.

Boats

Boats are another good theme for a boy’s room. You can find inspiration for your room by examining the simple designs of signal flags to life preservers. Pirates would also be a great addition to a boat themed room as pirates are very popular with little boys.

Sports

A sports-themed room is very easy to set up for a baby’s nursery. Combine items from football, baseball, basketball, soccer and hockey – which are all easy to find. From preprinted wallpaper and borders to stencils and even actual balls and other equipment, decorating the room is a snap. If mom or dad has some trophies from their glory days, these would make wonderful accents. Of course, you can always find banners and posters from your favorite teams to add even more visual appeal to your baby’s room.

Characters

Popular shows such as Bob the Builder, Blue’s Clues, Diego and Sesame Street offer bedding sets and accessories that will make decorating very easy for the baby’s room.

Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy

You are probably fully aware of what kinds of food you SHOULD eat during your pregnancy. But did you also know that what you DON'T eat at this time can be just as important?



Fish

While it’s true that fish is an excellent source for iron, protein, and omega 3 fatty acids, there are some fish that may be dangerous to eat while pregnant because of their high content of mercury. These fish may contain a high amount of mercury:

• Swordfish
• Shark
• King mackerel
• Tilefish

The FDA says it is safe to eat 12 ounces a week of the following:

• Shrimp
• Canned tuna
• Salmon
• Pollock
• Catfish
• Albacore tuna and tuna steaks should be limited to 6 oz a
  week.

Avoid eating raw fish to avoid getting bacteria or viruses.




Meat and Poultry

Make sure all your meat and poultry is fully cooked in order to prevent ingesting bacteria like E coli. Cook the meat until the juices are clear, but also use a meat thermometer to make sure. Meat should be cooked to 160 degrees.



Dairy Foods

Eating unpasteurized dairy products is definitely not on your pregnancy diet. Before eating, check the labels on the following list of soft cheeses to make sure they are not made with unpasteurized milk.

• Brie
• Feta
• Camembert
• Roquefort
• Mexican cheeses
  

Caffeine

Drinking too much caffeine daily can affect your baby’s heart rate and breathing, as well as the baby’s weight at birth and the measurement of the head. Your doctor may want to put a limit on your daily caffeine intake.

It has also been suggested that drinking too much herbal tea while pregnant my cause contractions and therefore cause an increase in the risk of miscarriages or premature labor.




Alcohol and Drugs

Because of the risk of fetal alcohol syndrome, miscarriage, and stillbirth, there is no tolerance for drinking alcohol while you are pregnant. And, of course, avoid illegal drugs. Even over-the-counter medications should be run by your doctor before you take them.

Remember, it is important to know what kinds of foods to avoid while being pregnant. It is just as important as knowing what kinds are good for you.

Baby Bjorn Active Carrier

Product Name: Baby Bjorn Active Carrier
Submitted by: Dana Irwin; St. Louis, MO
Rating: 8
Where to buy: Amazon.com

Description: A front pack carrier for infants through 23 lbs. It straps onto your body so you are hands free. Your baby can face outward or towards you. Has support straps in the back to help distribute the weight.

Review: You mean I can actually do the laundry and take care of a fussy infant all at the same time? Great for hands free productivity! And most babies love it. They get to be close to their caregiver while all snuggly and secure. No assembly required. It is so easy to work. No confusion here. Straps are made so you can put baby down even while they are sleeping and not disturb them. Great design. It is a simple look, not gaudy in design.

This is also good to use when you don't want to take a stroller (ie. on a hike, a craft fair, etc.) The back support strap is great for extra back support. Friends of mind have the original and claim the active carrier is much better because of the support strap. Your back is still a little achy after using it for awhile but I don't know that you can expect anything less...you are lugging some extra weight around. It is an expensive but very good buy if you will get your use out of it.

Scrapbooking: Pregnant Belly Pics

Becoming a mother is the most blessed event in a woman’s life. Feeling the movement of another life inside of your body cannot be expressed in words. Every day brings a new challenge and a new discovery about your baby that will bring joy to your heart.

Let your pregnancy be a time of being proud of your expanding belly. Many men have said that their wives/significant others were never more beautiful than when they were carrying a child. So show off that big ball of baby!

Picture Ideas:

• Keep a photo record of each month of pregnancy by taking a belly shot. It seemed to me as if my belly grew overnight. But, pictures will tell the true story.
• Take a camera to the doctor’s office with you at your monthly visits. Each time he rubs the gel on your belly to hear the heartbeat, take a picture. When you go for your ultrasound have the technician label the baby’s anatomy on the printout so that you can keep it to show friends and family.
• Let daddy put his hands and ears to your belly to feel and hear his child. Ask someone take a picture to remember this bonding moment. If this is not your first baby, have your other children stand next to you or get a picture of them snuggling on your belly.

Scrapbooking Ideas:

• Don’t throw away the reminder cards for your doctor’s visits. Keep them to go along with the belly pictures you took each month. Incorporate the ultrasound picture into your scrapbook, too. Scrapbook paper with storks carrying babies would make a neat background for your belly photos.
• Frame your pictures with colored cardboard to make them stand out. You may need to design more than one page for all of the monthly belly photos. When your child grows older and looks back over these photographs, he will see how much he was loved – even before birth.

Baby Shower Favor Ideas

Remember going to birthday parties as a little kid? You always came home with a goodie bag. Sometimes it would contain candy or bubbles or a pinwheel. It was so fun to go to a party for someone else's birthday and come up with a little present for yourself.

Bring a present – get a present. We still get to do that as grown-ups … only now we call them "favors."

It's a nice gesture to have something that your guests can take home with them after the festivities are finished. If your shower will be like most, you'll probably play some silly games. No game would be complete without prizes or favors.

It's a good idea to have a little something for everyone to take home. Here are a few ideas:

• How about a little tin candle with a custom label that reads "Your friendship lights my day. Thanks for being part of my special day"?
• Most everyone likes chocolate. Little boxes of chocolate that read, "You're so sweet. Thanks for coming to my baby shower." Or a little package of nuts wrapped in tulle, "You're nuts. But that's why we're friends – thank you for coming to my shower."
• Lotion is always a good little favor for women. Be careful not to get something too fragrant – as some people are bothered by strong scents.
• A small gift booklet with the inscription on the inside cover: "I appreciate your wisdom and support of my new baby." Or "Thanks for all times I've cried on your shoulder, I appreciate you." Or if you don't feel very sentimental how about simply: "Thanks for coming to my baby shower. June 1, 200x"

The truth is that it doesn't really matter what you offer as a favor. It's a small token of your appreciation for the time your friends devoted to celebrate your baby.

Using Creative Art for the Nursery

When decorating a new arrival’s nursery, you don’t have to stick to the usual teddy bears and pastels. There are so many more options available today. Research has shown that bright colors, especially black, red and white, are better for eye development in the early months. Big bold shapes are also good, as they help with focusing.

Here are a few creative art project ideas you can easily make for the baby’s nursery.

Fabric Letters
Get some red, black and white fabric and cut out shapes, numbers and letters – or the child’s name -- and arrange them on the walls. Try to use fabric that doesn’t fray (ask the clerk at the fabric store for assistance in the choice). By soaking the pieces in liquid fabric starch (a spray starch works well), the pieces will stick to the wall after it dries, without damaging the surface. This is great to use in an apartment where you may not be able to use nails.

Handprints and Footprints
Decorate the room with the baby’s handprints and footprints. Make a stencil of the print, or if the baby cooperates, actually put the paint on baby’s hands and feet and press on the walls. Each month, you could make a new set of prints to add to the design, to watch your child’s growth. Write your baby’s age on each footprint, so you can see the change.

Family Photo Tree
Paint a simple tree on one wall. Collect nice pictures of the family: parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins. Hang them on the tree. There are a lot of attractive and inexpensive picture frames that would work nicely. If you don’t want to purchase frames, you could even use different color photo mats, and use those to attach the pictures to the wall.

Wall Quilt Collage
Collect baby wallpaper samples to create a “wall quilt” collage. Lay the wallpaper pieces out, and try to use as much of a variety as possible to create a nice pattern. Options: If you’re in an apartment, the samples can be attached to poster board and then hung on the wall. Or, instead of using wallpaper samples, gather the cards from your baby shower and use those instead. “Frame” the art with ribbon to make it look like quilt binding.

With a little time and creativity, it doesn’t have to cost a small fortune to have a unique nursery.