• Big Day Books – Clever Parents Feature Story
• Visit the Big Day Books website.
• Clever Parents Feature Story: How Clever! Remembering the Details During the Baby Daze
• Baby Daze – Clever Parents Column
• Visit the Baby Daze website.
• Visit the Halo SleepSack website.

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As you count the days until your new baby arrives, you’ve probably had a recurring thought running through your mind, “when can I sleep on my belly again?” If you haven’t been thinking that, perhaps you’ve been wondering if there is anything else you can do to prepare before delivery-day.

Maybe, just maybe, you’re starting to feel a little anxious about the new world of parenting that lies ahead. Take a deep breath, put your swollen feet up on a chair, and relax. There are a few tips on how to organize the time you have BB – Before Baby.

Many expectant moms have a good amount of nervous energy during their third trimester. Some call it “nesting”, some call it “when is this baby coming out?” but whatever it is, let’s put it to good use.

A womb with a view
You may already have your nursery ready. You might have had it ready since the stick turned pink. If this is the case, then you’re in great shape. However, maybe you still have boxes of your college text books lying in “the baby’s room.” If that sounds familiar, now is a great time think about getting the room ready.

Some people choose to have the crib and other furniture all set up right away while others will prefer to have it delivered after the baby comes home. It’s all about your preference. But, if you are thinking of painting, recarpeting, or some other decorating touches, now is a time to get that done. If you are having furniture delivered, it’s good to have that assembled to make sure there are no problems.

Take a test drive
You’ll be surprised how many different kinds of strollers, portable cribs, and diaper pails are available for you to purchase. Take the time to try out any equipment you are purchasing. One person may love how easily a stroller folds, while another may find it maddening. Better to find that out now.

When buying a stroller, make sure you think about what use it will have (out of town travel, street-usage, small aisles in a supermarket) as well as who’s using it. Walk behind it, do your feet kick the axles? Do the hands reach the handles easily or is it an uncomfortable stretch? Is there a cup holder for your latte mochachino? You and your stroller will be constant companions, so don’t skimp on the evaluation.

Once you bring the stuff home, spend time with it. You’d be surprised how complicated (and frustrating) it can be to fold a stroller or set up a pack ‘n play or empty a diaper genie. If you’re under a time crunch or sleep deprived it can be nearly impossible. Turn it in to a game, see how fast you can set up the portable crib or fold the stroller. Invite your friends over and make a night of it. Or, just practice a few times and be done with it.

Embrace your inner Emily Post
The third trimester is a great time to write any “thank you notes” you have pending. Have a thesaurus handy so you can look up synonyms for words like “cute” “thoughtful” and “cherish.” You will get more gifts after the baby arrives, so if you can clear the decks of all your thank you notes now, it will lessen your load later.

Create a starter kit
There are many items that you’ll use with a new baby that you probably never had in your house before. A suction bulb, diapers, rectal thermometers are just a few of the unique products that are good to have handy. A trip to the local drug store can get you fairly well equipped with a starter set of infant acetaminophen, diapers, wipes, thermometer, diaper cream and so on. Having them on hand, as opposed to rushing out in the middle of the night is certainly something anyone can appreciate. One extra tip, every baby’s bottom is different, so try out a few brands of diapers, some will fit your baby better than others and are better at containing the much-feared “blow out.”

Remember, a little organization and preparation can go a long way in helping any new parent feel more in control and, in the end, a little more sane.

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THE ORGANIZED PARENT: Successful Parenting Through Organization
Lynne Tapper, author of baby daze, the ultimate toolbook for new parents

© baby daze 2006 All Rights Reserved

The first few months with a new baby run you through the full range of emotions and states of being. Elation, exhaustion, exhilaration, frustration, astonishment that you can love a small being so deeply and sleep-deprivation are just a few. When you become a parent, no matter how much preparation you’ve done, your life as you know it will never be the same. You’re navigating uncharted waters in your own experiences, despite the fact that legions have come before you.

With such a monumental life change, it’s no wonder you want to remember the details. From the fundamental things that help you understand your baby’s eating and sleeping habits, to making sure those gifts received in the woozy hours and days following the hospital trip are not forgotten, to the milestones you want to record forever. Thankfully, two very Clever Parents have come to the rescue of fried parent brains everywhere with a tool to combat the baby daze®.

baby daze® is an easy-to-use logbook for parents to track the basic details of your new baby’s life. A tracker, not a keepsake book, the baby daze® organizer helps bring peace of mind during the early, anxious days of parenting by recording details like when your baby eats, sleeps and poops. Divided into several easy-to-follow tabbed sections, the conveniently-sized log book contains forms and space to record feeding and diapering, sleeping, gift tracking, medical, contact information, Sitter Slips®, a food diary and milestones.

Not surprisingly, co-founder Lynne Tapper is a professional organizer by trade. With the arrival of her daughter in 2001, the baby daze® organizer seemed like a natural evolution. Co-authored by Lynne and her husband Leland Brandt, thrilled customers have this to say: “baby daze is in my top 5 things a new mother should have,” “the only person more impressed with baby daze then I was the pediatrician,” and “I think if I didn’t have baby daze, I may have broken down and felt out of control”. Here at Clever Parents, we think the baby daze® organizer is a must have on your short-list of baby gift ideas (in fact, we lament not having the tool book when our boys were born!).

Learn more about baby daze® and buy the organizer at www.babydaze.net.