Good Baby Stuff that Babies Love - Family - Babies

34...35...36 weeks... Well, that's the total number of weeks my baby is in me before he decides to pop out earlier. Welcome to this world, my little darling baby. Once the gynaecologist told me of your existence, mommy has been looking out for good baby stuff especially for you. There is so much stuff you need, where and how should I commence?

Prepare a list of baby stuff! Then I can monitor and keep track of the baby stuff easily. For first time moms like me, a list can help me stay organised as everything is new and there is a zillion tons of baby stuff to get ready. I am happy that I can collate this baby stuff list after asking for my good friend's help. Hopefully this list of baby stuff will be valuable for moms-to-be.

Checklist of Baby Stuff to Buy [ For first-time moms ]

Stuff for Baby's Room

Baby Cot

Mattress (3" or 4")

Blanket

Bumper

Pillow/bolster case

Bedding set (2-3 sets)

Mattress protector

Cupboard/Chest of Drawers

Changing table (optional)

Musical mobiles (optional)

Head support (optional)

Baby's Clothing

Mittens/Booties

Face towels ( Extra soft )

Pilchers (pants worn over nappies)

Bibs (3-5 pieces)

Long pants (4-6 pieces)

Rompers (4-6 pieces)

Short sleeve shirt (4-6 pieces)

Shorts (4-6 pieces)

Baby cap (2-3 pieces)

Handkerchiefs (8-10 pieces)

Socks

Bodysuits

Long sleeve shirts

Sleeveless shirts

Receiving blanket

Nappy liners

Flannel cloth/diapers cloth (to swaddle baby)

Stuff for Baby's Bath

Large Bath towel

Baby wipes

Bath tub

Anti-slip mat

Baby changing mat

Baby soap/bath gel

Baby shampoo

Baby oil

Anti-nappy rash cream (Desitin Creamy)

Cotton buds

Cotton balls (sterile ones for cleaning baby's eyes)

Cotton balls (normal ones for wiping baby's bums)

Bath thermometer (optional)

Bath sponge (optional, small cotton handkerchief would suffice)

Stuff for the Care of Baby's Umbilical Cord Stump

Sterile cotton swabs

Sterile swab applicators

Cord spirit

Sterile container for cord spirit

Laundry Stuff

Basket for baby laundry

Buckets with lids

Baby clothes detergent/softener

Multi-Clothes hanger for drying mittens/booties/handkerchiefs

Stuff for Feeding Baby

Milk bottles (Buy BPA-Free bottles only. This is to prevent chemical leakage which can get into your baby's body.)

Bottle teats

Bottle scrub brush

Milk containers

Warmer cum carrier bag

Bags/milk bottles to store expressed breastmilk

Large pan/pot (for sterilising)

Tongs (to handle hot bottles)

Electric Steam Steriliser

Electrical Hot Flask (auto boil) for quick access to boiling water for making formula milk (optional)

Miscellaneous Baby Stuff

Safety pins

Nail clippers

Thermometer (to use when baby is unwell)

Thermometer (Check room temperature)

Zip lock bags for checkups and outings

Sterile thermoplastic tray with swabs & swab sticks

Polythene bag for soiled diapers

Dish/ container (to wash baby's face)

Woodward's Gripe Water

Pacifiers (optional)

Baby Accessories

Stroller

Baby carrier/ Baby sling

Car seat

Playpen

Rubber protectors for bedroom doors

Highchair

Walker

Bouncer

Stair/door gates (If you want to separate your baby & pets)

Baby Toys & Play Stuff

Baby gym

Rattle

Mirror

Stuff for Mommy Care

Maternity Dress/top/bottom

Pyjamas with front opening for breastfeeding

Breast pump

Anti Stretch mark creams

Nursing bras

Maternity bras

Nipple cream for crack nipples

Nursing pads

Disposable panties

Cotton panties (larger size when reach later stage of pregnancy)

Maternity sanitary pads

Panty liners

Bedroom slippers

Painkillers (with doctor's prescription only)

Stuff for Mommy Nursing Needs

Nursing Bibs

Steam Sterilization Set with tong

Cooler Bag

Breast pump

Oh my!...the list of baby stuff is so lengthy, please feel free to inform me if I have missed out on any essential stuff. As there is a large number of baby stuff to buy, I think it is good to start shopping during the second trimester, maybe around the fifth month of pregnancy. This is so called the honeymoon period of the pregnancy journey. Thus, if you are in your second trimester, it is time to put on your shopping shoes to get those really good bargains for those baby stuff you've intended to buy.

Cost savings will be very effective by waiting for annual sales and baby fairs. You can get good discounts when buying big ticket baby stuff like stroller, breast pump, steam sterilizer, car seat and a good baby latex mattress which provides good ventilation and doesn't leave compressed marks when your baby gets heavier.

Even smaller baby items can amount to quite a considerable sum too. That is why it is advisable to plan your purchase of all those baby stuff carefully. Due to wear and tear, baby bottles and teats have to be changed every three to six months. The expenses of buying disposable nappies can be high especially during the early few months of a baby. A breastfed baby can have up to 7-8 soiled nappies in a day. That would means changing up to two hundred nappies in a month! You can consider using re-usable nappies to save money and protect the environment simultaneously.

In addition, there is another baby stuff which I avoid using is the disposable baby wipes. In this way, my baby's skin will not be exposed to unnecessary chemicals from the baby wipes. I choose to use the most natural way to wash my baby's soiled bums. All I need is a bottle ( shaped like a sprinkler ) filled with water. I will spray water on my baby's buttocks (placed the soiled diapers underneath to absorb the water) to wash off the stools. Then, I will use a few cotton balls or tissue paper to wipe my baby's bums dry. However, I will still use the baby wipes when I'm outside and cannot have access to any clean water.

I consider the best way to clean my baby's soft and delicate skin is to use as little chemical agents as possible. Our baby skin has a protective layer, using excessive amount of chemicals will erode this vital protective layer. By adopting this chemical-free approach, I will try to use all those good baby stuff which will bring benefits to my baby in the long run. I'm sure you will do that too as all mothers will only want the best for their precious baby.

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Used Tennis Balls - what are they good for? - Shopping

The humble used tennis ball can have tons of possible uses, several clear, several less so. Read about some examples of the things that you could do with a load of used tennis balls:

Doggy Toys

Little evident, this one- but dogs simply like to chase and fetch tennis balls. If similar to our canine friend, your dog savors tennis balls to play with- chase, fetch and bring- but has a regrettable capacity to loose them when out on a walk around the block, you may have as well searched for an inexpensive substitute. Our four-legged friend is in love with his tennis balls and will always carry one to drop at your feet when it's walk time. He loves to chase them when thrown for him, or better, when flung with a type of plastic ball flingers it is possible to buy. Unfortunately, he likes to carry them whenever he's got them- and then loves to drop them when we aren't watching, preferably in some impenetrable undergrowth! The net consequence is- we forever need more! We've tried low cost tennis balls from toys shops, but he is a huge dog and a few squeezes of his jaw tends to pop these apart at the seams, which renders them useless and I also fret they might prove dangero us to him if he went on to chew them. The solution I stumbled upon is to purchase second-hand tennis balls- I had no idea there was a market for such things! We usually keep a ample supply of used tennis balls available- our canine friend tends to lose them after some time and used is such a lot less expensive than new. You will find that used good quality brand tennis balls are better value than new inferior quality balls- the dog tends to destroy them rapidly. Make absolutely certain they do not sit down and chew them- they're fun toys, not enjoyable dog chews!

As Practice Balls

Used tennis balls may have lost some of their rebound in comparison with new, but likely still have some life remaining in them for practice. Attempt a bounce test, in comparison to a new ball and utilise those that apparently have some life remaining in them. Naturally, used tennis balls are great for a 'knock- around' in the park.

Great for Children and Seaside Sports

The humble used tennis ball is also great for just basically playing with- games of catch, piggy in the middle, seaside cricket and rounders all spring to mind- and becasue they are so affordable it doesn't actually matter if Pops hits it into the sea and manages to lose it. Again.

In The Tumble Dryer

Yes, really. Tennis balls added to the dryer with the clothing can help to soften the clothes. They are reportedly particularly good for downy items. I have also noticed it claimed that they even help capture animal hairs from the clothes in their fuzz. Perhaps they might even go in the wash to help agitate the clothes and trap hairs there?

Protecting Hard Flooring or Lowering Noise

If you have hard floors, especially wooden ones, you'll know that some chairs moved carelessly could mark the flooring. Also, they could make a lot of noise- chairs pushed back on a tiled floor for instance. If this is an issue for you, take a suggestion from the school class room- and fit used tennis balls to the legs of your chairs. No more noise, no more damage. To achieve this, create a cross shaped cut in the top of a tennis ball just large enough to take the chair leg, and press the ball on to the leg. Do this for each and every leg and muffle the chair! Be careful, however, as tennis balls are tough and take a lot of cutting. I'd suggest drilling a hole in the top of the ball to start with(employing a hss drill bit) making it easier to get a knife in to cut the cross shape. Use a craft or utility knife with a sharp blade to make the cuts.

Caring for hard floors

You know the way in which some shoes and boots can leave black marks on a hard floor(I have seen this with both laminate wooden flooring and quality vinyl) that can be delicate to get rid of? Well, the ubiquitous tennis ball is handy here too- that fuzz makes a wonderful light scourer- rub gently and see the mark lift away. To make it even easier- create a cross shaped cut in your tennis ball(as described previously) and fit the ball over the top of a broom handle. So you can sweep up, then flip the broom over and make use of the tennis ball to rub at obstinate marks, all without bending down! Almost definitely there has to be numerous other things that you can do using a used tennis ball, but there's a starter for ten.

Finally- how about using them to offer a home for a field mouse? The BBC reported this is what was happening to used tennis balls from the Wimbledon championships Maybe your pet mice or even your hamster would find something comparable fun?

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Tennis Ball Machine - Sports - Tennis

Are you a beginner trying to learn the ropes of tennis, or a tennis veteran trying to improve your game? If so, then maybe you could improve with the aid of a tennis ball machine. A tennis ball machine is a device is set up on the opposing court and acts as a server, serving tennis balls for you to return. Tennis ball machines can vary price based on a number of different factors such as size, speeds, ball capacity, oscillation and many other features.

When looking at a tennis ball machine, the first thing that comes to mind is, "Wow, those things look way to expensive for me." The truth is that a lot of tennis ball machines can be purchased on a budget of less that $500.00. If you have a budget significantly higher than $500.00, then there are more advanced machines that can be purchased, some running between $10,000 and $20,000. However, some of the more expensive machines are entirely unnecessary for individual use; depending on your budget, you should look for a tennis ball machine that fits your needs but does not exceed them with all sorts of unnecessary features.

There are so many different features that are associated with tennis ball machines, varying depending on how nice the tennis ball machine is. One feature is adjustable speed settings, typically meaning that you can adjust the tennis ball machine to serve as slow as 15 miles per hour to as high as 95 miles per hour. Some tennis ball machines boast an oscillation feature which means that you can set the machine to serve each ball at a different location each time. Some machines also allow you to set different heights and change the serving intervals, while some have long lasting battery life and can even are remote controlled depending on what you get.

If you are a beginner at tennis, then you should set the machine up to serve the ball in one location because you may not be apt to handle running around and returning the ball. You may also want to set the machine to serve the balls at a slow to moderate speed, because if you are not ready for a 95 mile per hour serve then the machine could become dangerous, so try slower speeds before you advance to higher speeds. If you are already pretty good at tennis, then having the ball served in different locations and at different angles may prove to be an advantage; you may also be able to handle a faster serve. It all really just depends on you and what you can handle; you just need to know what your limits are.

A tennis ball machine can help you learn the game of tennis or help you improve your game, regardless of the reason; a tennis ball machine is always a great investment if you can afford it. Some tennis ball machines can hold a large amount of tennis balls, which can prove rather expensive when you have to buy the tennis balls; so try and see of you can make a deal with the person selling you the tennis ball machine to see if he or she will throw in the tennis balls. Now get out on the court and play a round.

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The History Of Tennis Balls - Sports - Tennis

A tennis ball is very distinct and are used by millions of children and adults all over the world for playing tennis, naturally, but many, many other less formal games as well. They are not just the correct size for tennis, presumably anyway at 2.7 inches or 6.7 centimetres in diameter, but they also fit neatly into a hand or a dog's mouth. Consequently people use them for playing catch, for various games of softball like rounders and for throwing for the dog to bring back.

While I was a child, all tennis balls were white, but now you would be very hard pressed indeed to find a white one if, if indeed it is at all possible. Nowadays, all tennis balls are day-glow colours like yellow, green and orange. Presumably this modification was carried out for the purpose of visibility on the TV screen.

The word 'tennis' comes from the French - 'Tenez' (pronounced 'teney'), which meant 'Take up Position' or simply 'Start'. The origins of tennis were almost certainly well over a thousand years ago, when it was played by monks. The racquet or racket was the palm of the hand and the ball was wooden.

No-one is really certain whether the next innovation was to wear leather mitts or to change the ball to leather, but whichever it was, there was obviously a move to make the game less painful. When the ball was changed from being wooden, it was made of animal skin, most often leather, sewn up with sinews and stuffed with anything that came to hand, such as straw, wool and hair - animal and human.

The thing is that these early wooden and leather balls did not bounce, so the game was very different back then. Eventually, the monks began using 'racquets', but they looked more like bats than modern day tennis racquets.

In Disraeli's book, "Sybil" (1845), the story line reveals how Lord Eugene De Vere was to go to Hampton Court to play tennis, so the game was a recognized sport then, but it took until the late Nineteen Century for the game that we know today to become formalized by a set of rules. In 1874, Major Walter Wingfield was granted the patent for the rules and apparatus of 'lawn tennis' and not much has altered since.

The next year tennis courts were set up in the USA and then the game of tennis spread like wildfire. Wingfield laid down the rules of the game and the sort of equipment to be used. The game has not altered much since then basically, but it has changed a lot nevertheless. The shape of the court is different now and science has been applied to the apparatus to improve it.

The original ball in the late Nineteenth Century was manufactured of solid rubber and so would have been quite weighty, but at least it did bounce which immediately made the game more interesting and more lively. A bouncing ball turned tennis into a more interesting game to play and a more interesting game to watch. The rubber ball permitted tennis to become a spectator sport that people would pay to watch.

Contemporary tennis balls have a rubberized skin, which is around eighty percent rubber, filled with air and covered by a layer of 'hairy' felt. The felt is vital because it gives the surface of the ball more grip and can standardize the bounce as well. It also gives the ball a more predictable flight path even in the presence of wind.

The last feature of modern tennis balls is the air inside. This can either be pressurized or non-pressurized. Pressurized balls give a better bounce while new, but they lose pressure over time and so are less consistent, whereas non-pressurized balls actually get better slightly with use, which is considered a benefit.

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Used Tennis Balls - what are they good for? - Shopping

The humble used tennis ball can have tons of possible uses, several clear, several less so. Read about some examples of the things that you could do with a load of used tennis balls:

Doggy Toys

Little evident, this one- but dogs simply like to chase and fetch tennis balls. If similar to our canine friend, your dog savors tennis balls to play with- chase, fetch and bring- but has a regrettable capacity to loose them when out on a walk around the block, you may have as well searched for an inexpensive substitute. Our four-legged friend is in love with his tennis balls and will always carry one to drop at your feet when it's walk time. He loves to chase them when thrown for him, or better, when flung with a type of plastic ball flingers it is possible to buy. Unfortunately, he likes to carry them whenever he's got them- and then loves to drop them when we aren't watching, preferably in some impenetrable undergrowth! The net consequence is- we forever need more! We've tried low cost tennis balls from toys shops, but he is a huge dog and a few squeezes of his jaw tends to pop these apart at the seams, which renders them useless and I also fret they might prove dangero us to him if he went on to chew them. The solution I stumbled upon is to purchase second-hand tennis balls- I had no idea there was a market for such things! We usually keep a ample supply of used tennis balls available- our canine friend tends to lose them after some time and used is such a lot less expensive than new. You will find that used good quality brand tennis balls are better value than new inferior quality balls- the dog tends to destroy them rapidly. Make absolutely certain they do not sit down and chew them- they're fun toys, not enjoyable dog chews!

As Practice Balls

Used tennis balls may have lost some of their rebound in comparison with new, but likely still have some life remaining in them for practice. Attempt a bounce test, in comparison to a new ball and utilise those that apparently have some life remaining in them. Naturally, used tennis balls are great for a 'knock- around' in the park.

Great for Children and Seaside Sports

The humble used tennis ball is also great for just basically playing with- games of catch, piggy in the middle, seaside cricket and rounders all spring to mind- and becasue they are so affordable it doesn't actually matter if Pops hits it into the sea and manages to lose it. Again.

In The Tumble Dryer

Yes, really. Tennis balls added to the dryer with the clothing can help to soften the clothes. They are reportedly particularly good for downy items. I have also noticed it claimed that they even help capture animal hairs from the clothes in their fuzz. Perhaps they might even go in the wash to help agitate the clothes and trap hairs there?

Protecting Hard Flooring or Lowering Noise

If you have hard floors, especially wooden ones, you'll know that some chairs moved carelessly could mark the flooring. Also, they could make a lot of noise- chairs pushed back on a tiled floor for instance. If this is an issue for you, take a suggestion from the school class room- and fit used tennis balls to the legs of your chairs. No more noise, no more damage. To achieve this, create a cross shaped cut in the top of a tennis ball just large enough to take the chair leg, and press the ball on to the leg. Do this for each and every leg and muffle the chair! Be careful, however, as tennis balls are tough and take a lot of cutting. I'd suggest drilling a hole in the top of the ball to start with(employing a hss drill bit) making it easier to get a knife in to cut the cross shape. Use a craft or utility knife with a sharp blade to make the cuts.

Caring for hard floors

You know the way in which some shoes and boots can leave black marks on a hard floor(I have seen this with both laminate wooden flooring and quality vinyl) that can be delicate to get rid of? Well, the ubiquitous tennis ball is handy here too- that fuzz makes a wonderful light scourer- rub gently and see the mark lift away. To make it even easier- create a cross shaped cut in your tennis ball(as described previously) and fit the ball over the top of a broom handle. So you can sweep up, then flip the broom over and make use of the tennis ball to rub at obstinate marks, all without bending down! Almost definitely there has to be numerous other things that you can do using a used tennis ball, but there's a starter for ten.

Finally- how about using them to offer a home for a field mouse? The BBC reported this is what was happening to used tennis balls from the Wimbledon championships Maybe your pet mice or even your hamster would find something comparable fun?

iAutoblog the premier autoblogger software

Tennis Ball Machine - Sports - Tennis

Are you a beginner trying to learn the ropes of tennis, or a tennis veteran trying to improve your game? If so, then maybe you could improve with the aid of a tennis ball machine. A tennis ball machine is a device is set up on the opposing court and acts as a server, serving tennis balls for you to return. Tennis ball machines can vary price based on a number of different factors such as size, speeds, ball capacity, oscillation and many other features.

When looking at a tennis ball machine, the first thing that comes to mind is, "Wow, those things look way to expensive for me." The truth is that a lot of tennis ball machines can be purchased on a budget of less that $500.00. If you have a budget significantly higher than $500.00, then there are more advanced machines that can be purchased, some running between $10,000 and $20,000. However, some of the more expensive machines are entirely unnecessary for individual use; depending on your budget, you should look for a tennis ball machine that fits your needs but does not exceed them with all sorts of unnecessary features.

There are so many different features that are associated with tennis ball machines, varying depending on how nice the tennis ball machine is. One feature is adjustable speed settings, typically meaning that you can adjust the tennis ball machine to serve as slow as 15 miles per hour to as high as 95 miles per hour. Some tennis ball machines boast an oscillation feature which means that you can set the machine to serve each ball at a different location each time. Some machines also allow you to set different heights and change the serving intervals, while some have long lasting battery life and can even are remote controlled depending on what you get.

If you are a beginner at tennis, then you should set the machine up to serve the ball in one location because you may not be apt to handle running around and returning the ball. You may also want to set the machine to serve the balls at a slow to moderate speed, because if you are not ready for a 95 mile per hour serve then the machine could become dangerous, so try slower speeds before you advance to higher speeds. If you are already pretty good at tennis, then having the ball served in different locations and at different angles may prove to be an advantage; you may also be able to handle a faster serve. It all really just depends on you and what you can handle; you just need to know what your limits are.

A tennis ball machine can help you learn the game of tennis or help you improve your game, regardless of the reason; a tennis ball machine is always a great investment if you can afford it. Some tennis ball machines can hold a large amount of tennis balls, which can prove rather expensive when you have to buy the tennis balls; so try and see of you can make a deal with the person selling you the tennis ball machine to see if he or she will throw in the tennis balls. Now get out on the court and play a round.

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Facts about Tennis Balls - Sports - Tennis

Tennis balls are inflated, felt-covered rubber balls of approximately 2.7 inches diameter. The usual color of a tennis ball is yellow, although it may give the impression of being green due to its fluorescent nature.

History of Evolution of Tennis BallsEarlier, tennis balls were made of a variety of material, such asLeather and stuffed with hair or woolStomach of a sheep or goat, wrapped with wool and tied with a ropeAnimal furPine woodRope made from the intestines and muscles of animals

However, the modern tennis ball seems to have directly stemmed from those made in the 18th century. Strips of wool ( inches in length) were tightly wound around a nucleus made of cork. Then a string was tied around that ball, after which the entire thing was covered and sewn with a white cloth. Tennis balls with a cork core and a cloth covering is still used in the original game of tennis, now known as, Real Tennis.

Modern tennis balls are made from vulcanized rubber (rubber cured with sulfur), a compound that is highly durable and strong, with the right consistency. The most expensive ingredient in a tennis ball is felt, which can be adjusted in different ways to alter of the ball's properties. Steaming the felt heightens the nap and makes the substance fluffier. This increases the ball's wind resistance and control, while reducing the bounce and speed. A compact nap causes a tennis ball to skip on striking the racket or hitting the ground.

Types of Tennis BallsThe two main type of tennis balls are:Pressurized - Such balls have a hollow core, filled with nitrogen. The pressure lasts for approximately a month, after which the ball becomes 'dead'. Pressureless - This type of tennis ball has a solid core and is suitable for those training themselves in the game. The ball does not lose its bounce easily. However, there are chances of the felt wearing off soon.

Some other kinds of tennis balls are:Regular duty tennis balls - These are meant for use in indoor and clay courts.Extra duty tennis balls - These must be used on grass and concrete tennis courts. If used on clay, the ball might get too fuzzy.High altitude tennis balls - These are used in high altitude regions, such as Denver, where the land is 4000 feet or more above the sea level. Regular balls have greater bounce at elevated levels.

To purchase superior quality tennis balls at reasonable rates, visit

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