Each child is a highly evolved perfect soul,
here to teach us the path through lessons,
the lessons in spirit,
lessons in touch,
lessons in sounds,
lessons in sights,
lessons in love,
lessons in choices,
lessons in exploration,
lessons in inspiration,
lessons in boundaries,
and all you need is time and love (the rest will come naturally), allowing baby to explore,encouraging, helping before frustration, listening, mimicking, and realizing inspirations.So much emphasis is placed, in the market shoppers of society, for a necessity of toys( I truly am aghast at the piles of toys in American children's rooms)and the toys are not the focus, they are merely a tool for learning, social interaction,and playing with basic needs.You are the guide to this Baby Buddha life.
Every step can be a positive step with the conscious choice to make it so.
Conscious choices will empower you to become the parent you dreamed of having,the parent you want to be.

Of course, there are many choices you will make when investing in your child's environment. I wish this process to be where you use your clearest judgments.

When you consider buying used and new baby items,
what should you look for?

Safety,
all parts should be in good working order and identify what is missing and promptly replacing those pieces, carefully notice the paint or varnish,if it is chipped it will require a sanding and a new coat of paint
(and beware of lead paints and harmful chemicals in varnishes),is their a possible choking factor: inevitably your baby will find a way to get it in their mouth.

Durability,
Is it strong enough?Will it wear down? Will that food tray latch after 100 uses?

How can a parent know the answers to the beginning of so many questions??
Nobody knows everything they need to know, I surely did not, and that's a wonderful aspect of parenting, because you are always learning.
Ask a mother or a father with babies, grow in your community,
parents need support network to make it through the times of frustration and wonder.

Basic Needs should not be assumed, they should be taught.
I really feel a need for their to be parenting courses required of every new parent to be. How else will parents know how to deal with all of babies needs?How else could parents meet other new parents?.

A baby needs
all of their needs met continually and routinely.
It takes more of your time than most full time jobs,
and the rewards leave you rich with humanity.
Babies need nails clipped ( I prefer to use animal print emery boards and safety clippers), ears should be swabbed with cotton very gently(not entering the ear canal), folds and creases in skin should be cleaned with natural soaps,dried, and salved, diapers should be cotton( this will help so much on your environment and potty training)- my son was out of diapers after 1 1/2 years, and every schild is different.
Care for diapers requires immediate attention.
IF diapers are left in a pile, unsoaked, then UREAwill grow.
The solution is simple-
all you need is a bucket, baking soda, and cold water.
soak those diapers after every change.
Rinse several times in fresh solution.
Hang to dry in the outdoor breeze.
Your baby will love the feel of cotton diapers, and you can feel good about breaking the cycle of landfills, saving money, and boycotting the plastic wasteful diapers!!
All clothes-mamas, papas, babies, and blankets- should be washed with phosphate/chemical free detergents, or if you are on a tighter budget-use baking soda. They are most compatible with babies skin and smell great!

Bath time is a fun time for babies and parents!
The flow of water around their tender bodies is similar to the womb of mama, and also gives babies an experience that brings awareness to their bodies, through touch, and sound, and sight.
I prefer to use castile soaps with added essential oils, like Dr.Bronner's, because they are toxic free.
I believe the experience of bathing with your baby will make this a comfortable experience for both parent and child.
Bath toys are fun to have, especially a fun washcloth that looks like a fish,or natural sponges.It is inevitable, if you have any plastic toys,they will end up in the tub, too.
As your baby grows from infant to toddler,
they will enjoy longer baths and want toys that will allow them to pour and strain and dribble.

Discipline your baby?
There is simpler, natural way to redirect negative attention.
Through careful guidance at this formative age,
you can practice the patience of noticing when intervention is needed, and allow your baby and yourself space for clearing heads. This way you can be the instrument of your child's choices, and not a frustrated parent.
Stern may be overdoing it, but a strict consistency is the key to success.

Feeding your Baby Buddha must be carefully considered.
During the first year,a babies digestive system is still forming.
Anything you feed, or you eat-for nursed babies,can become an allergy later.
Honey has natural bacterias, which make it very dangerous for a developing digestive system (before age 1), and very beneficial for an established digestive system (age 2 and up).
I truly believe mother's milk to be the best food for your baby for the first year.
Jethro Kloss suggests, in his book,"Back To Eden", that Slippery Elm tea is a perfectly good substitute for formula.
Other benefical herbs mentioned for babies:
lemon balm, chamomile, dill,and fennel
After 10 months, both of my babies began eating organic sweet potatoes, applesauce, and rice milk.
I feel that a mother should nurse as long as it is comfortable for her.
After the age of 2, your child's digestive system can handle just about anything.
Please avoid feeding your child salty, oily, or sugar/high fructose corn syrup sweetened foods or beverages,parboiled, enriched,or conventional foods.
Go Organic!