Last fall, after the birth of granddaughter Charlotte, I wrote a column about all the elaborate and expensive equipment parents “must” have in order to properly take care of a baby nowadays. The point was that “back in the day” we raised kids with just a pair of hands, some cloth diapers and a prayer, and they not only survived, but thrived.<\/p>\n
Today I sing another tune. Here in Texas to help out with grandchild No. 10, Kinsie Kae, born July 19, I’ve come to marvel, appreciate and, in some cases, crack up at a few baby care inventions from America’s most creative entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n
“…a diaper called Pampers Swaddlers has a ‘wetness indicator.’ No more sticking your finger up the diaper leg into who knows what.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Soon after I arrived, I was sent on an errand to a store called BuyBuy Baby (the name alone should get business’s highest award for clever branding). But then, as I gazed around the massive 20,000-plus-square-foot store, my jaw went slack. Wall to giant wall were items I couldn’t imagine Kinsie needing. She only weighed 6.5 pounds.<\/p>\n
But sure enough, being so tiny, she did need some preemie diapers. Shouldn’t be hard. A diaper is a diaper, right? As it turns out, not so.<\/p>\n
If you’re a parent old enough to remember how we used to check if the baby’s diaper was wet, this will blow your mind: a diaper called Pampers Swaddlers has a “wetness indicator.” No more sticking your finger up the diaper leg into who knows what. When a yellow strip on the outside turns blue, your baby needs a change.<\/p>\n
I had to patronize BuyBuy Baby more than once, each time seeing new items. I checked out the pacifier aisle. Who could imagine that a little rubber nipple with a plastic holder had so many variations? Since Dr. Brown’s brand was the only one that made a preemie size, that choice was a snap. Baby bottles were another story. After reading enough labels to earn a Ph.D. in infant farting, I settled on Dr. Brown’s gas-inhibiting six-part baby bottle system, which I would like to loan a few men I know.<\/p>\n
Falling back on old habits, I began boiling water to sterilize the new bottles. My daughter-in-law Marcie was kind. “This is really simpler,” she said, showing me a gallon-sized plastic package that I had almost thrown away. “Just put the bottles in this bag, add two ounces of water, zip it up and microwave on high for a minute and a half. Everything will be sterile.”<\/p>\n
Medela’s ingenious Ziploc bag system is called quick cleanTM<\/small><\/sup> micro steam bag and can be reused up to 20 times per bag, with one bag holding up to two bottles and accessories, and a couple of pacifiers.<\/p>\n
When I had my babies, we didn’t have monitors either, but now these baby wakeup warning systems are commonplace. Summer Infant Inc. makes a little color video\/audio camera system that includes a wireless remote monitor about the size of a smart-phone that allows mom to walk to the basement to do laundry with no worries. <\/p>\n
Another one of my favorites for $7.99 is a baby food dispensing spoon called Squirt by Boon for babies 4 months and older. Put the pureed food into this 3-ounce bulb then pop on a plastic spoon. Just squeeze the bulb and out comes carrots or peas right onto the spoon for a no-mess feeding anywhere you may be. <\/p>\n
And finally, another must-have that we never had – a product that keeps washing to a minimum: disposable changing pads. These are 16-by-20-inch absorbent sheets that can be used for diaper changing, burping and feeding (for any age?). The backing prevents furniture or laps from the formerly inevitable poo stains. <\/p>\n
With these new inventions, having babies is so easy, I almost wish I could have another one myself. But don’t tell my children. They’re ones who will choose my nursing home – maybe sooner than later.<\/p>\n
Note: It’s only the freedom provided by our nation’s sometimes demonized free enterprise system that creates the atmosphere for entrepreneurs to succeed. Let’s keep it that way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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