Happy New Year!

As the holidays turn into pleasant memories and the New Year gets up to speed, it’s time for fresh starts and different ways of looking at life. In our January issue we present some welcome stress relievers for new parents feeling a bit overwhelmed with the new addition to their family. We also help you out with hints on how to save a little extra cash, which is helpful advice for anyone trying to make ends meet in the current economy. Add in our cost-right product recommendations and you’ll be off to a great start in 2009!

Nine Money Saving Tips for 2009

In the current economic environment, everyone is looking for ways to save money. This goes double for parents who want to provide the best for their children now, but also save for their future. These nine tips can help you on your way.

1. Eat more meals at home. While it’s tempting to think you are saving time and energy by eating out; getting the family gathered together, into the car, out of the door, and into a restaurant often takes more time and always costs more than making a meal at home. Fancy four-course meals aren’t necessary. Most children prefer simple foods that make cooking easy. The internet is full of family-friendly recipes and shortcuts that will help you put together a healthy meal in a short amount of time.
2. Open your own Gift Bank. Children often receive more presents than they can appreciate during a birthday or the holidays. Putting a few items aside into a special box or hidden in a closet can help extend the joy, brighten up a future rainy day or let you have a nice reward handy when your child excels; all without having to do additional costly shopping yourself.
3. Open a savings account for your child. With the youngest of children, deposit all gifts of cash and checks into the account. As they get older and begin to understand what money represents, allow them to spend a portion of it on something they pick out for themselves. Place the remainder into their account and be sure to involve them in the process with a trip to the bank. They’ll find it fascinating to watch the account gain interest over time, and you will both appreciate the extra funds in the future. It’s never too early to learn the importance of saving!
4. Keep a budget. This piece of advice is one of the most important. Whether you are a single parent or a double-income-earning couple, all adults in the household should be aware of how much money is needed to keep things running smoothly and still allow for some savings to be put away. Knowing how much money comes in versus how much goes out helps you to live within your means and stops you from making that unnecessary impulse purchase.
5. Love your library! Libraries aren’t just about books anymore. Why rent or purchase DVDs and videos when you can take them out from your local library for free? Most even offer an online catalog where you can sign up and get an email when the video becomes available. Many libraries also offer free reading groups, art classes and other programs that can help both educate and entertain your children for little to no cost.
6. Set up a hand-me-down network. As a young parent, you’ll find yourself gravitating towards other parents for advice and company. Passing along clothing is a great way to get the most use from products and make friends in the process. Children grow out of clothes so quickly that they’re usually still in great shape and could easily last through several other children. This tip works great for toys and other items as well, but speaking of clothing…
7. Don’t be sucked in by luxury brands. We won’t deny that they look cute and can cause envy amongst your friends, but purchasing expensive clothes that will only be worn once or twice doesn’t make good financial sense: especially if you are trying to save for your children’s future. If you are determined to raise a brand-conscious baby, start by looking through consignment shops where the prices are much more reasonable than those found in a department store.
8. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. This earth-conscious mantra can help you to save serious cash. Spills are a frequent occurrence in any house with young children, so reduce your use of expensive paper towels by having several washable towels on hand instead. Another cleanup tip: Don’t discard those burp cloths you received at your shower just because your infant no longer needs them. They make great, reusable napkins for older children. Before going out to buy something new, think first about what you already have that might suit the purpose: it’s better for both the environment and your wallet!
9. Just say No. Learning to say, “No.” is one of the most important lessons for every parent. When confronted with an impatient or demanding child on your next shopping trip, resist the urge to quiet them down by purchasing whatever they’ve asked for. While an occasional healthy treat in the supermarket won’t hurt, giving in to every demand when you’re out shopping reinforces a bad habit and costs you additional cash. As your child gets older, explaining the reasons you are saying no also helps install a healthy attitude towards shopping.

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Stress Relievers for New Parents

Becoming a parent is an exciting moment in your life. While this is something that you’ve been looking forward to for a long time, many new parents find themselves overwhelmed by the sudden changes and new duties that parenthood brings. Feeling stressed is a natural response to all of the demands that a new parent faces, but there are some simple ways to help reduce your stress levels and allow you to enjoy this exciting phase of your life.

First and foremost, make sure you’re getting enough sleep. It may be tempting to try and stay awake while your baby sleeps in order to get more chores done, but taking a quick nap will help re-energize you. If you’re too keyed up for sleep, calm yourself down by spending the time treating yourself to a chapter in your favorite book or some other quiet activity that you enjoy. A little “me time” helps to bring down stress levels and allows you to more fully enjoy the times you are awake with your new baby.

Another good tip may seem obvious to some, but many parents do not make use of it. Find out if there are any parent/baby classes in your area and sign up. These classes encourage you to attend with your child so there’s no need to find someone to watch over the baby. As a bonus, the other attendees are used to the demands a new baby makes and won’t get upset when your little one decides that feeding time is NOW. If a class seems too formal for you, a similar way to connect with other parents and learn new tips and tricks is through a more casual parenting group in your area. While there won’t be a formal leader, meeting with other parents helps you de-stress by allowing you to share your experiences with others who are going through the same things. It’s also a great way to meet new friends for both your baby and yourself!

Finally, we could not talk about stress reduction without mentioning exercise. A moderate amount of exercise each day can reduce stress levels significantly and has the added bonus of improving your physical health. It may be the last thing on your mind as you run around trying to meet your baby’s needs, but remember that a stress-free parent is the best present you can give your little one.

Ideally you’ll have quite a few people eager to help watch the baby so you can take a half hour off for exercise, but if you can’t get away from the baby, take the baby with you! A simple half hour stroll around your neighborhood can do wonders. With winter in full swing, it may be tempting to use the bad weather as an excuse to stay indoors and on the couch, but most local malls welcome walkers to use their facility for free in the hour before opening. There’s no reason why you and your baby shouldn’t join them. As with any advice about exercise, be sure to consult your physician to make sure the level of activity is appropriate for you.

Taking time out for yourself, meeting with other young parents, and exercising can all help reduce stress levels, but the best advice for any young parent is to let go of the perfect picture you may have had in your head before the baby arrived. Every baby – and every family – is different, and trying to achieve perfection will only cause additional stress. Celebrate the messes as well as the triumphs and you will be well on your way to being a happier parent.

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4 Products Priced Right for 2009

Funsport^® Play Yard

The Cosco^® Funsport^® Play Yard is a fun place for your child to spend time and an easy way for you to keep your little one close by. With wheels for portability and an easy push-button fold, it travels easily around the house. There is even an accessory bag to help bundle together items from inside the play yard and easily carry them with you as you move from room to room or from house to car!

Click here for more information.
Available at Babies “R” Us and online at www.babiesrus.com.

Flat Fold High Chair

The Flat Fold High Chair by Cosco combines the convenient storage you need with the features you look for in a high chair. There’s a 3-position adjustable tray which allows you to give your child the proper fit and a 3-point harness to help keep him secure. The built-in cup holder helps prevent spills while the built-in footrest keeps little legs from dangling. With the easy-wipe seat pad and compact fold, you’ll find it easy to cleanup and store it away once mealtime is done.

Click here for more information.
Available at Babies “R” Us and online at www.babiesrus.com.

Sprint^™ Travel System

Travel is easy with the Sprint^™ Travel System by Cosco. This travel system features an Infant Car Seat with Side Impact Protection and a LATCH equipped, stay-in-car base. Once out of the car, the stroller provides smooth travel with a large storage basket ideal for larger items and a parent-assist tray which includes drink holders to keep coffee, tea or even a cell phone handy. Your child won’t feel left out with his very own tray that includes a cup holder. When you’re finished strolling, the 1-hand fold makes storing the stroller simple.

Click here for more information.
Available at Babies “R” Us and online at www.babiesrus.com.

Gentle Motion Swing

The Cosco^® Gentle Motion Swing is ideal for lulling your baby to sleep or keeping her happy while awake. The 3-position recline and five swing speeds allow you to adjust the swing to the level that’s right for your little one. The swing folds easily for storage and includes convenient carry handles so that you can take it with you wherever you need to go. There’s a handy tray for snack time and in case of a spill, the machine-washable seat pad makes cleanup a breeze!

Click here for more information.
Available at Babies “R” Us and online at www.babiesrus.com.

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CLICK HERE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN ONE OF FIVE COSCO^® FLAT FOLD HIGH CHAIRS!

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Congratulations to Our Winners!

Each winner received one of our fantastic Safety 1^st® ProGrade^™ Soft Solution^™ Roller Shades! Click here to check them out and buy one!

Alice Weiss
Burlington, NJ

Kate Hetu
Middleborough, MA

Kim Farraj
Englewood, OH

Kimberly Baker
Cheektowaga, NY

Brenda Weller
Lake Ariel, PA

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Spotlight on the Fournier Family

This month we turned the spotlight on Joe Fournier, a Package Engineer at Safety 1^st. Joe’s wife Chan and son Brock came in to visit our office over the holidays. Brock impressed us all with his energy and happy attitude so we asked Joe to tell us a bit more about him.

Brock’s full name is Brock Tonsai Fournier. “Tonsai is the name of an island bay located off Phuket, Thailand where we stayed once. Brock is a character from his older brother Johnny’s favorite show as a kid: POKEMON. It’s cool to watch the show and hear my son’s name all the time, but it wasn’t chosen solely because of the show. We also chose Brock because it’s a strong first name. ”

Brock is seven years old now and is really enjoying the new Nintendo DS he received from Santa, but he likes having fun outdoors as well, especially with his dad. “We do a lot of stuff on the local bike path in the summer and he even attends Car Shows with me.” The cold New England weather doesn’t keep them inside. “We go sledding and play in the snow a lot. He wants to learn to snowboard this year!”

Currently Brock rides in style in the Scenera^® Convertible Car Seat by Cosco, but the family’s been a fan of our brands for quite some time. Joe let us know that, “We also used a Safety 1^st baby monitor when he was little…before I even worked here.”

We ended by asking if the Fournier family had anything big happening in 2009. “We’re planning to go to Disney World; he is the perfect age to enjoy it.” We wish them, and all of our readers, a fantastic new year full of fun adventures!

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If you have any questions regarding Safety 1^st products please contact Dorel Juvenile Group Consumer Relations at consumer@djgusa.com.

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