Get Baby Summer Ready

Spring is kicking into full gear for most areas of the country all though this year has been a cold one for some places, Summer is right around the corner and there's no time like the present to get your baby's wardrobe organized and ready for summer.

Take an assessment of what you have and in what sizes.  You may not need to buy a ton of new outfits as some clothes still fit beyond their labeled size but if they are separates, you might need to swap out a new pair of shorts for that cute polo that came with different pants as they pants may no longer fit but the top still might. 

Make a fun day out of this project by doing baby catwalk, put some fun music on and let baby help.  I know for my daughter, there are few things more fun than playing in a pile of clean clothes.  Don't worry about the mess until you are all done and be sure to keep things in different bins - keep for summer and store away.   

Desginer Baby Clothes - Top 5 Brands

As a lover of designer clothes, there is no doubt that I am a lover of designer baby clothes too.  Now, I don't like the price for designer baby clothes, but there are honest ways around that and I have never been one to let a price tag keep me from getting what I want.

Some of my favorite brands of baby clothes are Polo Ralph Lauren.  I love the brand, but what I like most about their baby clothes is they are not cutesy or plastered with cartoon characters or silly fonts in bright colors, they are tasteful, simple and elegant and that is a style I like for myself as well as my baby.

Hartstrings is another designer brand I like, they have some of the cutest dresses and being they are found predominantly on the East Coast, they are also a little more sophisticated than our West Coast brands.

Naartjie, and Janie & Jack are two others I really love. They have cute prints and patterns and 

classic styles.

How to Shop for Deals on Baby Clothes

Baby clothes are adorable. There isn't much cuter than a little baby girl all dolled up in dress or a little baby boy wearing a tiny polo or seersucker vest.  But, paying full retail for baby clothes is almost a sin in the world of knowing moms.  Sure if you are giving a gift and you want them to have the full value of a return then you might consider buying something a full pop, but otherwise there is just no reason to pay full price on baby clothes.

To make the most of the sales, you need to have a plan.  You need to be diligent to stick to your plan but flexible to take advantage of an opportunity when it rises.  Some stores like Naartjie have weekly sales where you can find recent and select outfits at 40% off.  This is instore only, but it's often worth the trip.

Save your favorite sites to a bookmarked folder and pull these up frequently or better yet make sure you are signed up to their mailing lists.  They want you to buy and retailers really don't care anymore if they have to give up some of the profit margin if it means getting you in the door or to their site.

Bib Binky - Two Products in One

I love baby products that serve multiple purposes.  There are so many products that have such a short life span in the world of baby's development, so when a product comes along that elongates the time frame that you can use it, it is music to my ears. 

My baby has never been addicted to her pacifier, but it does help soothe her when she is going down for naps or wakes up from them and sometimes in the car.  I came across this bib, lovey, pacificer combo and it's great for car rides when she likes to throw her pacifier or anything else in her reach, but then gets upset when it is gone. 

Well, this little godsend prevents that whole cycle from happening. It's super soft too and comes in great designs and colors.  The best part is it's not expensive either.  It might be a little pricey if you think of it as just a pacifier, but since we use the bib and the whole thing like a soft lovey, it was well worth the investment.

I got mine on Zulily for $13 - best money spent in a while.  This is a great gift for new moms and makes a perfect baby shower gift. 

Protective Swimwear for Boys

Finding comfortable swimwear for babies can be a challenge, but it is not impossible.  Most babies, if introduced to water in a calm, gentle, supervised environment can learn to swim as young as three months.  If you are in a indoor swimming pool, you'll want to look for suits that are comfortable and the right size, allowing baby to kick and paddle without being constricted by his oh so cute outfit.  If you are going to the beach or outside in a swimming pool, you'll want to make sure that you get something that offers him protection from the sun yet is still comfortable.

Baby rash guards are great because they offer maximum protection from the sun.  Their skin is so delicate and sun damage or painful sun burns can easily be avoided by offering baby the proper protection with both sunscreen and protective swim wear.

This cute little number is ideal for dapper young boys and it's at a great price.  I found this one at Nordstrom's but I believe this brand is carried at other places too.

Cute and Practical On the Go Lunch Box

Pottery Barn Kids has some of the cutest stuff for babies and kids, one of my favorite gifts we received for my daughter's birthday was one of their adorable lunch boxes.  Made of soft yet strong 600-denier polyester fabric, the lunch box is perfect for toting around her lunch and snacks whether we are heading for a short day trip or going on a longer stint, it's the perfect size.  

It's got a nice molded interior that has a moisture resistant coating and a BPA free liner, which is great for keeping things in their place and it's super easy to clean.  I simply wipe everything down with a damp cloth and a little anti bacterial wash and it's good to go.  

It's got a nice mesh liner to keep napkins and silverware separate and it's perfect for hot or cold food storage.  The size is truly ideal and the print is too cute - whimsical butterflies.  If you want to make it more personal, you can always upgrade and get personalized embroidery done.