Find info on your childrens health

By the time you find out youre pregnant (pregnancy test $15) to the time junior blows out the candles on his first birthday cake (cake $20), parents can expect to spend upwards of $18,000. And thats on baby’s first year alone. By the time junior reaches 18, the average middle-income family will spend $160,140, according to recent government calculations. That doesn’t even touch college tuition. Ouch!

Children are priceless, but raising them is probably the most expensive thing a parent will ever do.

But there’s good news. One of the few times companies are eager to hand out free things is when someone is having a baby!

When author, Sue Hannah found out that she was expecting twins, she couldn’t wait for their arrival. But feeling the financial strain that goes along with being a new parent (times two), she was definitely a little nervous.

Desperate to find extra help for her expanding family, she contacted almost every company that manufactured baby items. She scoured through parenting magazines, searched the Internet and made phone calls until her husband thought she was suffering a pregnancy-induced craze. He claimed she couldnt get something for nothing. Boy, was he wrong!

She was surprised to find out that many companies offered free stuff to new and expecting parents–and with no obligation to buy anything! She received hundreds of dollars worth of fabulous freebies for herself and her babies, including free diapers, baby wipes, baby food, baby bibs, bottles, free gift packs, parenting starter kits, free parenting videos and software, coupons, parenting books and magazines, and tons of free samples in the mail, all from well-known companies like Huggies, Gerber, Heinz, Nestl Carnation, Johnson & Johnson, and many more.

“It was really exciting to receive free stuff in the mail”, says Hannah. “These companies were eager to respond to my requests for free samples and promotional items and within a couple of weeks of contacting them, my mailbox was flooded with valuable free stuff–and with no obligation to buy anything! I could hardly wait to see what my mailman brought me in the mail each day! I filled up three large storage bins with free stuff for my twins, and saved a ton of money!

After receiving a flood of free stuff in the mail, Hannah decided to compile her contacts and listings into an awesome book, Free Stuff For Baby!, consisting of toll-free numbers that parents could call to request free stuff, company addresses where parents could write to request free stuff, as well as Internet websites where parents could register online to request free stuff for themselves and their baby. And what a success that book has been! Hannah has recently appeared on several television programs promoting her new book, including, “Northwest Afternoon” (KomoTV/Seattle), “Your Morning” (Comcast), Canada AM, Breakfast Television”, to name a few. Her articles have appeared in tons of parenting magazines, including Fit Pregnancy, Today’s Parent, Work & Family, and many more!

For those new or expecting parents who are reading this article today, Hannah has offered to give you a sneak preview of her new book, “Free Stuff For Baby!”, in the form of an awesome, 101-page e-book called “The Best of Baby Freebies”, that contains hundreds of listings of companies that offer free stuff to new and expecting parents in the U.S. and Canada….FREE!! Details are available at the website. www.Free-Baby-Samples.com

Hannahs final words of advice: “Join as many mailing lists as you can to take advantage of what these companies have to offer. Enjoy your baby. Cherish every moment!

Note: When contacting these companies, ask to be put on their mailing list to receive free promotional items for new and expecting parents. If you are expecting multiples, be sure to mention that in your correspondence with them.

Check out Sue Hannah’s website at www.Free-Baby-Samples.com, where you can sign up for these and many other free baby offers online. Simple, Fast….and FREE!!

1. Pampers (Procter & Gamble)
In the United States or Canada, call 800-543-0480, 800-726-7377
U.S. Website: http://www.us.pampers.com/en_US/home.do (click on “JoinPampers.com”)
Canadian Website: www.pampers.ca (click on coupons and special offers)
Call the above-listed number to be put on the company mailing list to receive sample products and disposable diaper coupons. Call again after the baby is born to receive further offers. Pampers will also send out occasional mailings and coupons at the different stages of your babys development. When you register online at Pampers.com, you will receive a free newsletter, a $10.00 New Registration Coupon Book, private product previews and samples from Pampers, as well as special offers from other Procter & Gamble brands.

2. Huggies (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
In the United States or Canada, call 800-544-1847
www.Huggies.com
Call, or sign up online to join Huggies mailing list for new and expecting parents where you will receive coupons for Huggies diapers, wipes, and other promotional items and free samples that they are offering at the time.

3. Johnson & Johnson
In the United States, call 800-526-3967
In Canada, call 800-361-8068
U.S. Website: www.johnsonsbaby.com
www.babycenter.com
Canadian Website: www.jnjCanada.com
Parents can call the above-listed number to receive a free Baby Care Basics brochure with valuable coupons, as well as to receive occasional mailings from time to time with further offers from Johnson & Johnson. You can also attend at the Johnson’s Baby Website to sign up for their free personalized newsletter, as well as special offers. When you sign up, you will automatically be entered for a chance to win a diaper bag filled with $50 worth of Johnsons Baby products. There is one winner each month. Good luck! Residents of Canada can call Johnson & Johnson to receive a New Parents Pack with free samples, coupons, and literature.

4. Bright Beginnings
www.brightbeginnings.com
Bright Beginnings, the fastest-growing baby formula in the United States, is offering a free sample of Bright Beginnings baby formula, coupons & more. Residents of the U.S. can sign up online at the Bright Beginnings website.

5. Nestl Infant Nutrition
In the United States, call 800-242-5200
In Canada, call 800-387-5536
U.S. Website: www.verybestbaby.com
Canadian Website: www.nestle.ca (click on Good Start Magazine)
Call to join Very Best Baby to receive a free 6-month subscription to The Very Best Baby magazine, as well as to receive free money-saving checks for Nestle Infant Nutrition products. You can also register online to join the Very Best Baby at the above-listed Website. When you register online, you can choose to receive an assortment of free benefits.
Residents of Canada can call the above-listed number to receive a FREE subscription to the Nestl Baby Magazine for expecting and new moms. Along with your free magazine subscription, you will receive valuable coupons, free samples of infant formula and baby cereal (if you choose), plus information and savings on special products for new parents. You can also subscribe online to the Nestle Baby Magazine by visiting the website listed above.

6. Similac Welcome Addition Club
In the United States, call 800-BABYLINE (press #1)
In Canada, call 800-518-CLUB
U.S. Website: www.welcomeaddition.com
Canadian Website: www.welcomeaddition.com (click on “Join the Club”)
Call the above-listed toll-free number, or attend at the Website listed above to join “The Similac Welcome Addition Club”. Member benefits include money-saving discounts, free samples of Similac Infant Formulas, periodic newsletters containing expert pregnancy and parenting advice, or other gifts. Residents of Canada can call the toll-free number, or write to the address listed above to join the Welcome Addition Club to receive coupons, free samples, and a free gift for your baby.

7. Enfamil Family Beginnings (Mead Johnson Nutritionals)
In the United States, call: 800-BABY-123 (press #6)
In Canada, call 800-361-6323
U.S. Website:www.enfamil.com
Canadian Website: www.enfamil.ca
The Enfamil Family Beginnings program is a free program that is brought to you by Mead Johnson. Call the above-listed toll-free number to take part in the program and receive valuable retail checks and special offers. You can also register online at the above-listed Website to join the Enfamil Family Beginnings program.
Attend at http://www.enfamil.com/enfamil8.html/ to print out a page to pack in your suitcase and give to your nurse at the hospital when your baby arrives to receive a free diaper bag and other free samples.(Offer available at participating hospitals.)
Residents of Canada can call to receive discounts on baby formula, and to join the Enfamil First Connections” program. When you join Enfamil First Connections”, you’ll receive a keepsake box with a free product sample and coupons, informational brochures, & more. You can also register online at the above-listed Website to join Enfamil First Connections.

8. Gerber Products Company
In the United States & Canada, call 800-4GERBER
U.S. Website: www.gerber.com/mygerber/register.asp
Canadian Website: www.gerbercanada.com
Call to receive coupons for baby food, a free informational booklet, and a free baby spoon. Check out Gerbers Website to receive up to $50 in valuable coupons for Gerber products, special offers, free samples and more when you join Growing Up Gerber.

9. H.J. Heinz Company
In the United States, call 800-USA-BABY (press #2)
In Canada, call 800-565-2100
www.heinzbaby.com
Call the above-listed number to receive a free feeding booklet with discount coupons, as well as other free promotional offers from Heinz. Residents of Canada can call the above-noted number to participate in the Childrens Miracle Network program, a label-saving program where you can collect and send in the labels/box tops from any Heinz baby product. Through the Childrens Miracle Network, Heinz will make a donation of 6 cents for each label collected to a local participating childrens hospital.

10. American Baby Magazine
U.S. Website: www.freebiesquest.com(click on “baby & toddler”)
Get a FREE subscription to American Baby magazine! Are you a new or expecting parent? Do you know someone who is expecting a baby or who has a baby under 1 year of age? Check out Hannah’s website at www.freestuff4baby.com for tons of baby freebies and parenting resources!

_____________________________________________________

***For more baby freebies, don’t forget to check out Sue Hannah’s website at www.Free-Baby-Samples.com where parents can sign up for these and other terrific baby freebies. SIMPLE, FAST…..AND FREE!!!

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We all hear about baby showers for expecting parents, but what about for adopting parents? An adoption baby shower is more than acceptable – it’s encouraged! Adopting parents have the same needs as any other new parents would, but with a few minor considerations.

You should steer clear of planning a surprise celebration on the day the family brings their child home. This can be a very emotional time – the new parents and child (especially if the child is older) will need a period of adjustment. It is very important to be sensitive to their needs. In this case, delivering care packages and planning your celebration for a later date would be acceptable and appreciated. Be sure to talk with the new parents and find out what their wants and needs are before you set a shower date.

Your shower invitations should be sent out three to four weeks in advance, and should include the time, date, and location of the shower. Don’t forget to set an RSVP date with your telephone number and address. If it is at all possible, include the child’s birth date, as well as when he or she was officially adopted or welcomed into the home of his or her new parents. This will help your guests to pick age appropriate gifts. In the case of foreign adoptions, you could also add information about the birth country to inform your guests.

As with other baby showers, the theme for an adoption baby shower should be the same. However, if the child that was adopted is older, you should tailor your party to suit their age and favorite things. For example, a small girl might love everything that involves the Disney princesses and may go absolutely crazy over the color pink. In turn, an older boy may be fascinated by soccer and anything green. Don’t be afraid to be a little creative to help make the party a special celebration to welcome the new child into your circle of family and friends!

Baby shower games are important too! However, stay away from games that are maternity-related. It’s very important that you keep in mind that you are celebrating the gift of adoption. Your games help set the tone of the party, and should be mixed in with any other activity going on. An average shower lasts about two hours, so look at playing two to three party games. If the new parents are adopting an older child, make sure your games reflect that as well. One great adoption party activity is to organize a Welcome Book for the new child. Ask guests to bring pictures of themselves and their families to assemble into a scrapbook page they will create at the shower.

All of your shower decorations will naturally depend on the style, theme, and number of people attending. Balloons and streamers are standard, but there are a lot of creative and fun ideas to make the party extra-special. You’re truly only limited by your imagination here.

If the adoption is an international one, you could use decorations that reflect the child’s place of birth, and include recipes from his or her home country. For guests, it will be a learning experience.
As with decorations, party favors should match your shower theme and party size. Your favors can be used as place settings, prizes, or they can be handed out at the end of the party. A very popular idea for adoption showers is a special program for guests to keep. Written inside should be commitments to the child from his or her new parents, poems about love, family, and adoption, and prayers for the future.
When labeling your favor, keep in mind that your party is, again, in honor of an adoption, not a birth. Your wording on gift tags should reflect that.

Adoption is a very exciting time for the new parents. A baby shower or welcome party allows friends and family members to share in on the family’s joy. When you host or even attend such a party, it is very important to know the needs and wants of the parents. Be sure to know ahead of time how old the child is. Find out if the parents have registered anywhere. Parents who are adopting should be reminded that they can actually register for older children as well as newborns.

By planning and hosting an adoption party, you are helping the new family formalize the acceptance of their child into their circle. You will be creating an occasion that will be documented for the child to look at in the future and remind them how much they were welcomed and loved from the start.

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Baby shower planning is a very big ordeal. You have all things prepared: food, fun, games, and the program. But wait, you forgot something critical. The party invitation! You basically forgot something really important when holding a party. What good is a party if there are no guests?

Creating party invitations may take some time if are choosy with words. Selecting the best wordings for the invitation is imperative as this sets the tone of the party. If the partys theme is casual, you definitely can relay that in the invitation. Knowing which theme party you want can be used as guidelines in picking out the right words for your invitation. Fun themes like teddy bear and balloon party requires humorous and informal wordings.

You can make use of poems, famous quotes, or you can create your own too. There are several websites that offer sample wordings you can adapt for your invitation. Make a quick search and pick the catchiest wordings that you can emulate in your invitations. It can either be a general one or gender specific. Just be sure that you know ahead of time what gender the baby has.

Using baby rhymes would be a superb idea in your baby invitation. Placing the names of the expecting parents will give the invitation a personal touch. You can also put in song lyrics that are popular with kids and even nursery rhymes. Famous kiddie rhymes like Humpty Dumpty, Baa Baa Black sheep and Hickory, Dickory, Dock can add spice to your invitation too.

The main things that your baby shower invitation should include are the name of the guest of honor, the date, time, and where it will be held. If the venue for the party is quite unfamiliar to the guests, make a simple sketch to guide them to the right place. These key information are needed, and make sure that they are printed big and clear.

Dont forget to place in the invitation whether the event will be a surprise or not. If the party is going to be a surprise, your guest should be informed to keep it secret. You would not want any guest sending in advanced gifts for the party and spoil the plan.

Another important thing to place on the invitation is the RSVP or Regrets only note. Dont forget to place your phone number in there too of course, as guests likely will contact you their response as you requested them to.

You might want to add a registry list or the gifts you wanted your guests to bring. This is very practical if you dont want to end up having three or four strollers which you may not use. Guests would love it if their gifts would be appreciated and would not end up just being set aside.

As important as the wordings, the presentation of the invitation speaks too. Follow the theme if you have one. If you select angels, place cute pictures of these on the invitation cover for the desired effect. If you dont necessarily have a theme, then just select pictures that relates to a baby. Colors are important too. Use blue for boys and pink for girls. Invitations are there to create impression and entice your guests to come in this very special day. So unleash your creativity, get that pen and have fun writing.

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Many stores offer baby gift registries where the expecting parents can register and can make a list of what they require for their coming baby. To create your own customized baby gift registries could be an exciting event for many of the soon-to-be mothers. Most often, women register in their fifth or sixth month of pregnancy but they prefer to wait to a bit closer to their due date or until right before their baby shower.

Gift registries are basically an expectant mothers wish list where they can register for anything and everything that their heart desires. Using baby registries is a perfect way whereby friends and family can get for the expectant parents whatever they want and need for their new little one. If it is their first baby, they will need many things or almost everything as compared to their second or other child. Would be mothers can register for gifts to stock the nursery like furniture and baby bedding, adorable baby clothes or baby essentials like diapers and bottles. Baby registry can therefore make the lives of the expectant mother and her baby much easier with anything from necessities to luxuries.

Other benefit of a gift registry is that it is easier to find something within your budget if you are searching a gift for the mom-to-be. If the mom-to-be has a baby shower, it is possible that the name of the store where they have registered will be included in the invitation. And if it is not then you can always ask the hostess of the shower whether or not the mom-to-be is registered somewhere.

Many mom-to-be are involved in many different circles where they have more than one baby shower, they have one at work, one with friends, one with family and therefore it is important not to duplicate gifts. No one has the time to exchange things and therefore if you purchase an item from the registry you know for sure that the expectant mom does not receives two of the exact items.

Many retailers also offer their baby registries online and therefore online registries are increasingly popular and with some good reason. Registries make the gift buying process easier on your guests and shopping online also enhances the convenience.

For further information, visit customgiftbasket.info

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