Hand me downs

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, followers and readers of this blog.

Once again, another topic on Baby and me. Heh!

I hope you are enjoying this phase as much as I do writing them!

So today, we shall discuss or rather share my opinions on hand-me-downs.

I personally love the whole idea of hand-me-downs. Firstly because I grew up in the hand-me-downs era. Everything I own, must have been my sisters' or some relatives' somewhere. And I grew up giving away my unused or outgrown clothes to other relatives too, and trust me when I say, I beamed when I see someone else down the line wore what I used to own. Really! It felt good!

As with everything else, and like my mother, it is always hard to let go. No, I mean seriously, there are some things that are just too sentimental. It comes with memories, and sometimes, with the flashbacks of how long it took to save up to buy that piece or something more to that like having worn that for the first day of school or something.

So we get a little skeptical and start contemplating then having to choose who to give it to.. I tell you, we can take forever before finally letting it go.

And so, I accepted the same for Baby M. A friend had a 3yr old daughter and loads of clothes that had overgrown, so she asked one day if I am open to accept hand me downs for Baby M. I gladly did!

So Mama asks what I do the first thing it reaches me, and so I said I usually dump it in the washing machine regardless the condition first, and inspect while I hang it to dry. A habit I had, even with those clothes I buy at the shop (even when it is brand new in plastic with tag). And she was happy with that answer. As I've shared previously, Baby M's Mama is particular with what her baby wears - as in with its cleanliness, likewise with her toys.

So everything needs to be washed thoroughly and whenever possible sanitized first. And so I happily do, afterall, it's personal hygiene, yes?

"So why hand-me-downs?",  "Can't you afford to buy one?", "second hand, for a baby, are you for real?" are just some questions that attacked me for awhile. Well no, I can easily get Baby M a wardrobe bigger than mine in a jiffy. Thing is.. babies grow too fast - like it or not! Chances are they only will wear that brand new shoe for a month if you're lucky, or maybe just twice.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with hand-me-downs as long as it still is in mint condition, with no major stains, and without any tears. A missing bow or ribbon is fine! Really, babies will always be spilling food, so what is one permanent stain of food colouring gonna harm?

As long as I've personally washed them clean, I am fine with wearing it on any baby. Yes, even my own, even if it is my very first born. I have since collected many many rompers from my friend, and oh beautiful pretty dainty dresses too! My favourite? The pile of stockings of course!!

And then I received four pairs of nice little pretty shoes! And how do I clean these, you asked? Well.. Wipe it with a lil dettol will do, or spray with sanitizers is also fine. And oh, credits to Baby M's Mama for this tip! Otherwise I'd be clueless how to clean them too. :)

Did I tell you, we also received Baby Rocker and Baby Highchair from the same friend? Nice isn't it? So we did a kind agreement that we will rotate all our baby things as and when a new baby comes. :)

Speaking of sanitization, I recently asked a few moms how frequent they sanitize thier babies' toys and play area. I received multiple answers, some said once a month, some said once a week, some said only if it looks really dirty, some extremes are everyday.

So how often do I do it? I'd say once to twice a week if Baby M is coming for the weekend, otherwise it would be maximum 3 days before she arrives to a minimum once in the morning she is coming over. I am frantic like that. And when she comes, I usually rinse off whatever toys she threw down onto the "adult" floor.

Clean freak, you can call me. I dunno if I can keep this up with my own babies when they occupy the space 24/7. I wish I can do it.

So ya, share with me how often you do it and how if you'd like. I'd love to hear from you. We can all learn from each other then.

Until I blog again (and yes, I owe you guys pictures of all the hand me downs I received!),
Wassalam,
Baby M's Mak

Mom and Baby

Assalammu'alaikum family, friends, followers and readers of this blog.

Recently, I posted a few emotional phrases on my facebook account.

One of them reads, "I am not jealous of people of wealth, who dons the LV or the Gucci, I envy not the luxurious holidays people get to go to every now and then... BUT I am jealous over the people who can stay home and be with their children, I envy moms who get to be with their child anytime they need her through their life. I had my mom anytime, anywhere, any place, for the last 29 years, and I hope for many more, because I never can have enough of her. And I want to be like my mom with my kids. I'd cry a fountain if I am not able to.. A child remains a child in every mother's eyes. And as my mother age, our roles change, I want to the one providing her, protecting her, and granting her every wish, and to welcome any tantrums that comes with it. I want to. Because even if I have done so, it is never and will never be equivalent to what she has done for me.

*Each to their own, I am in no way implementing that career moms are less of a mother. Do note, that anything a mother does, she always have their children's interest in heart. There is nothing that a mother does that does not include her child in mind.*

Subsequently I posted, in defense to those who took offence being a working mom despite the disclaimer in asterix.

The second post reads, "Career moms and stay at home mom... Both have their struggles. Both have their children's best interest in mind. Both do not have an easy life. Both just wants the best for their children. Both deserve to be respected, for being the best-est mom their children can have. You mothers are just so strong to make a decision for the best of the whole family. And I am proud of all you mothers. Worry less about what others has to say about the decisions you make, and focus on what is best for the family."

You see, I am on the neutral side. I am on all mommy's side. We all have our struggles. Who lives without any, right?

And I guess these days, you will see me post a lot about moms and babies and all topics related. Since my undertaking to care for Baby M on most weekends, I have become more and more wary about baby needs, mostly highlighted by Baby M's Mama of course.

I am so glad her mama is kind and always point out my flaws and shortfalls directly. At least I know I can do better.

We sometimes take things for granted, and she being the more experienced babysitter, and having dealt with one kid with HFMD before, the kid contracted HFMD from her brother by the way. She is more careful and cleaner than me when it comes to babies, naturally.

And I continue to learn new things from her all in Baby M's sake. So this coming Wednesday, I intend to sanitize my whole house. For some reason, hearing my friend telling me about HFMD got me paranoil. Haha. Well, it's for the good, so why not?

Sometimes, we all take things for granted. Be it cleanliness, health or safety. And I am not excluded either. Seeing neat clean individual, we would assume he/she takes care of all her belongings just as good. Sadly not everyone, sometimes people like me who couldn't really care about how we look, go without make ups, use brandless or cheap stuff, care much more about baby's welfare.

I guess it is just upbringing, or maybe education. I can't tell. I started being wary about what is out there organic that is good for baby to eat. I started being wary about how baby is carried. I started being obsessed, maybe? All thanks to my friend! I now know there are so much variety to baby food that is organic! And how much is too much.

This made me less tolerable to people who mishandle their babies and the food they feed their baby. I had to constantly close my eyes and tell myself "It is not my baby, it is not Baby M"

I almost felt like I have fits when I see someone throwing a baby in the air or shake him/her excessively with head bobbing.

"Ya Allah!!! Protect the baby!" screamed my aching heart. I had to just walk away, before I screamed this to that adult. Not that I don't care, I just had enough of people who "knows better" and refused to heed my warning, and refuse to educate themselves.

I am protective, and call me crazy if you must. DO know, that if you ever ever dare to throw my baby in the air, I will seriously consider throwing you out the window in my head many times that you might just jump yourself. Seriously... Do it to your own child, if you must. BUT don't do it to others, or at least ask their parents first. Some are not too bothered, and some do! So before you love any kid, learn to respect their parents first. Even when you wanna just give the kid an innocent candy! You never know if that kid has allergies.
Then again, I don't have kids of my own, and maybe I don't know much. True much!

If I were to have one now, I wont have anyone around who can care for her/him either. So be nice, Allah SWT knows best why I haven't had my junior yet. Stop telling people or my face that we didnt try hard enough, for Allah SWT knows best how much we have tried.

I rather focus and learn via Baby M. She taught me a lot, along with her mama. And I learn, my husband learn, we all learn.

And it warms my heart when Baby M says MMaakk, to my face, and Abbbaah to my husband. And she knows how to wave! Yeay! But sometimes she wave to the wrong direction. And oh, clap too, slowly but getting there!

And oh... the baby fan is now down to just one blade. She tore the two apart yesterday, and smiled/laughed cheekily when I caught her.

Another baby entry another day...

Wassalam,
Baby M's Mak.