Preparing for the arrival of your baby can be overwhelming and confusing!  It is a good thing moms have nine months to prepare!  Below are some suggestions to planning for the birth of your baby to ensure you are prepared and to give mom peace of mind!

*Know the route to the hospital where you will deliver; even if you are home birthing ,know the route to the hospital in case of emergency

*Prepare home birthing area if needed (sheets, towels, blankets, water pool, etc)

*Attend a childbirth class to know what to expect

*Purchase the crib and accessories such as bumper pads, sheets, mobile, blankets etc.

*Buy the appropriate car seat (rear facing) and make sure you have it installed properly. You may also want to buy your front facing toddler car seat at this time so that you’re prepared for your quickly growing little one

*Make a list of baby names.  Consulting baby name books and websites is fun!  

*If your baby is a boy, decide ahead of time whether or not to circumcise.  Discuss with your OB or pediatricain what to expect.

*Make the decision to breastfeed or bottle feed, or alternate between the two

*Choose a pediatrician and discuss care with them.  Many doctors will allow and encourage you to make an appointment to “interview” them before your delivery.

*Pack a hospital bag for yourself and the baby, complete with blankets, diapers and his/her “going home” outfit.  Don’t forget to pack items for mom for during and after delivery!

*Purchase a book on parenting; this is especially helpful for the first-time parents

*Make sure you have the necessary toiletries at home such as baby-powder, diapers, baby wash, thermometer, layette items, wipes etc.

*Wash all the baby’s bedding, clothes, etc. baby’s skin will be delicate and anything his/her skin will touch should be washed in mild detergent.  Dreft and Baby All are great detergents to use for baby clothes.  Don’t forget to wash any items that will touch baby’s skin.  This includes, sheets, blankets, burp cloths, bibs, etc.

When you have kids you want to give them the world and every thing else, but it gets expensive and a little ridiculous. However, as they grow out of their clothes, shoes and toys, getting them into new ones does not have to bust your budget. Check out some of the online auction sites, like Mommy Auctions, for great items and better prices than regular retail.

Many people think “second-hand”, and have visions of torn and ratty clothing, stained furniture and broken toys. If you find an honest and reliable online auction, you’ll find people are selling quality products that are inexpensive, not cheaply made. By shopping resale, you can expect to save big off the original retail price. Many of the items are only worn a handful of times, or played with once. If you look closely, you may even find new stock with the original tags. Many times children’s clothing gets grown out of before it’s ever worn.

When shopping for resale items, you’ll want to keep in mind not only the money saved, but also the functionality and safety of the merchandise. Before you buy ask about the seams in clothing. This is where you’d find the most wear and tear. Also look for stains. If you’re good with a needle and thread, and stain removal, chances are you can get an even more discounted price on something that’s not in the best shape. When buying toys look for broken parts, missing pieces, and jagged edges. You don’t want a disappointed or injured child. However, most online auctions sites discourage any listings involving damaged goods, so this isn’t a typical risk when buying online.

As children’s interests develop and they become active in sports and other extracurricular activities, the cost of keeping them in uniforms can be prohibitive if you buy from brick and mortar traditional retail stores. Many online auction sites have sporting equipment, uniforms, skates, tap shoes and leotards that show no wear.

To encourage reading, one needs access to books. You can access your public library, but can incur late fees or purchase fees if you misplace or damage the books you check out. When you buy them from online auction sites, they are yours to keep. Baby can enjoy them until they wear thin, and if they become a favorite, you don’t have to worry about returning it.

Online auctions provide a great alternative for parent’s of growing and active children. With the auction sites you can buy not only what you need, but what you want, too. Your children can stay on top of the latest fashion trends, wear name brands and participate in their preferred activities. Using online auctions you can spend less and buy more.

Have you been scouring the net for the best Black Friday deals and coupon codes for this holiday shopping season? Well, this is the place for you! Check out the amazing deals available this Friday only on MommyAuctions.com:

GymboKids is offering:

10% off all previously loved baby, children’s, and maternity clothing

Enjoy combined shipping on all orders!

From Our Dresser to Yours is offering:

Free first class shipping on one item

OR 50% off one priority shipping item

You can also enjoy combined shipping prices!

Appalachian Blossoms is offering:

Custom Labeled Body and Linen Sprays 4 ounces for $3.00 per bottle - choose your own scent, picture and text
Linen and Body Spray in 100 scents, $2.50 each
Sparkling lip gloss, great stocking stuffer, $2.00 each
Slimline lip gloss, $1.50 each
Sparkling Vanilla Snowflake Body Spray $1.50
Beautiful Dog Christmas cookies - 7 for $5.00 (plus, free personalization)
Dog “Gingerbread” Houses - $5.00 each (plus, free personalization)

Simply Casual Kids is offering:

30% off everything in the store!

Tickled Pink Doll Clothes Boutique is offering:

20% off any purchase!

Creative Party Cards is offering:

50% off everything!

Baby Oh Baby Boutique is offering:

FREE Shipping for anything over $75

OR 10% off all orders $74.99 and under

Cuddling Baby is offering:

Mei Tai or Podaegi carriers with $1 Shipping in the US only, $5 to Canada, and $7 International
Simple Creations is offering:

Buy 4 Just Right Potato Sacks, get 1 FREE

Buy 2 custom woven headbands, get 1 FREE

Spend $35 or more and get FREE shipping

Create Photo Cards 4 U is offering:

FREE matching thank you cards to all custom invitation orders

5% off all holiday greeting cards

April’s Auctions is offering:

50% off ALL Buy Now auctions - shipping excluded

Christy’s Cuties is offering:

10% off and a free VOTIVE candle for every purchase $10 or more

MORE TO COME!

Remember that our sellers all offer different ways of paying, so please check their listings or stores for payment preferences (Paypal, Google Checkout, RME, Money Orders, etc.). Enjoy holiday shopping and remember to always check back since our moms post new baby clothing, kids clothing, toys, maternity clothes and so many other great things daily!

 

Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes, LLC is a home-based children’s consignment shop specializing in gently used and NEW children’s clothing, maternity, toys, provisions, outerwear, shoes, books, videos, and much more. The majority of our clothing is Boutique or Name Brands like GAP, Gymboree, Old Navy, Children’s Place and Crazy8. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NOVEMBER STORE OF THE MONTH!

*Tell us about yourself: your family, interests, hobbies, education, etc. I have been married for 8 years to the best husband a woman could ask for. We have two beautiful children. Kalista 5yrs and Riley 1.5yrs. My main hobbies are just finding some “me” time. Being a SAHM can be challenging and you need time away ;o) I have a degree in Marketing & Graphic Communications and was a Graphic Designer for 5 years before having my first child and deciding to stay home. Once my children are both back in school I will pursue it again…but for now I am just staying home with them and driving school bus. *How long have you been selling on MA? How did you discover MA? Good question…I think it is going on 10 months. And I discovered MA through one of my chat groups where someone had suggested it…and I am glad they did *What type of inventory do you sell? What is your favorite item (s) to sell? Mainly children’s clothes, shoes, toys, books and outerwear. I used to own a children’s consignment shop…so I have a lot of inventory to get rid of.  My kids have a lot of stuff too. As for favorite items to sell…I really don’t have a favorite. I guess it would just be whatever goes…less for me to store! *What is the best part about selling on-line? The best part is I am my own boss and I can do the amount of work I want to do when I can and want to do it *What advice would you give to new sellers just starting out on MA? You won’t regret it! It is a nice supplemental income for those “extras”. Don’t expect to “get rich quick”, but you will steadily build clientele and be happy you did *Anything you would like to highlight about your store: inventory, customer service, sales, specials, new items, etc.? Please come in and snoop around…and all reasonable offers, and even some not so reasonable offers, are not refused! Thanks, Gretchen, for sharing a little about yourself and your store.  Click on the logo at the top to shop for great deals!