I just signed up for this Takafulink Cerdik plan for little Izzah. It’s an education insurance plan from Prudential BSN Takaful that comes with medical coverage.

Why Takafulink Cerdik? Why not the other education insurance plan? Simple. Because I want the best for my baby.

You see, proper education is the most valuable gift that you can give to your kids. But, the education cost are increasing year by year. And, you don’t know how your life gonna be in the future.

Takafulink Cerdik Plan is a fixed contribution investment link plan that matured when your children’s ages reach 25 years old. This plan does not only give protection for the education and well-being of your children, it is also flexible enough to suit you and your children ever changing needs.

In case something happens to me (touchwood - death or permanent disability before age 60 or critical illness), the Prudential will continue the monthly contribution to my baby’s education fund until it matures at the age of 25.
 

When I was pregnant, I planned to use prefolds on my baby during the two-month confinement period. The reasons being:

• newborn baby poo and pee almost every hour or so, and need to be change frequently
• prefolds are the cheapest type of modern cloth diaper (one dozen cost about RM90 only), perfect for newborn

However, things didn’t go as planned. Engulfed with giving birth at 34 weeks, through an emergency c-section and the post-operation trauma, I totally forgot about CD-ing my baby (note: CD stands for cloth diaper).

I only started CD-ing little Izzah after the confinement period. But, I only use prefolds ocassionally as I like pocket diapers more. So, I’m going to let go @ sell half of the prefolds that I have (will write in another post).

You see, the start-up cost of using cloth diaper is not cheap. So, if you’re interested in trying out CD-ing your baby, it’s a good idea to buy second-hands first. If you like it, then you can begin building your cloth diaper stash.

So, let’s see how to use a prefold (my style). Basically, I’ll need:

• a prefold
• fleece liner (for a stay-dry feeling)
• diaper cover
• diaper pins or Snappi fastener (optional)

First, take the prefold and line it with a micro-fleece liner. Fleece liner (washable & reusable) can keep the baby’s bottom dry.

Then, secure the prefold with a diaper pin or Snappi fastener. Below, I used a Snappi.

Put the diaper cover underneath the prefold. And, secure it with the velcro closure.

If you use a wrap-style diaper cover, then you don’t need a pin or fastener.

I got tagged by Shmontel.  Nice list that you have there, dear…he..he.

Here goes my top 10:

1. Modern cloth diaper - I never thought cloth diaper could be so easy and safe to use on babies (though I’m not a cloth diaper addict yet.. experiment still in progress..ha..ha).. p/s: I’m a good mama trying to minimise chemical contact with baby’s delicate butt & *pom-pom*… kha..kha.)
2. Avent steam sterilizer - can sterilize 6 bottles in 8 minutes whoa! useful for sterilising breast pump kit too.
3. Disposable diapers - good stuff loads with chemical thingy, so shall use ocassionally only (consider opting for cloth).. essential especially for the first few weeks of birth..when the baby’s poo is the initial sticky tar-like, black substance (meconium). And, if you give birth through cesarean, you surely don’t want to deal with washing cloth diapers when you tummy feel like exploding..he..he..he
4. Baby car seat - the only safe way to transport your baby on car (after birth trips from/to hospital, travel to nursery/sighseeing/shopping/balik kampung)… if don’t want to buy one, DO rent or borrow.. you don’t want another freak accident whereby the car door got unbolted (opened) and the poor baby was thrown out to the road and get hit by a car (reported in the news months ago).
5. Diaper bag - great for stuffing-in all baby items while going out.. I love my Chubby Gubby Backpack diaper bag that comes complete with a changing mat and a bottle warmer…generous compartments too (Beware! There are lots of cute, fancy and *expensive* diaper bags out there…you might become a diaper bag addict..)
6. Munchkin 3-section serve formula dispenser (not for BF mom LOL) - perfect to bring to the nursery/baby sitter as you can ensure the correct measurement of milk for a baby’s feeding.. great for powdered milk or rice cereal (snap-tight lid and easy-pour spout)
7. Baby oil (Yuyee oil / Tenon oil) - great for massaging baby’s belly to prevent colic (angin)…I love the Yuyee oil scent.. so lovely. But, I stopped using Yuyee oil as it caused some red rashes on my baby’s belly. Now, I’m using Mustika Ratu or Nyonya Meneer Tenon oil.
8. Bumbo baby seater - brilliant invention! Uniquely designed according to the baby’s posture and enables a baby to sit upright all by herself! Love it..love it!
9. Latex baby pillow - great to prevent flat head syndrom.. I’m using a BabySafe: Newborn Pillow (specially moulded in the middle) and a Lollipop: Latex Pillow.. latex is a really good support for baby’s head & shoulder.
10. Sterimar Nasal Hygiene sea water spray - great product to loosen dried mucus in baby’s nostrils before you clean them.. better get one if your baby is making snorting sound from her nose.. works great for baby Izzah (recommended by her paed).

I’m tagging these fabulous mamas!
IntanJameel
Lovelyummi
Malaysiansupermummy
Bumpylittlebaby
Mysuperchild

Whoa! I got busy this whole week with office works (answering tons of email, financial reports and meetings). Finally, it’s time to vent off my thoughts….

The first week of the month is always the busiest time of my life. It’s time to close the accounts (those who works in accounts/finance department would surely know how it feel like… hectic like hell.. he..he).

But eh.. this week is already the third week. So, why am I still busy like a bee?

Wanna know why? It’s because I was absent from work for 4 days last week!

On Tuesday, I got caught in a flash flood at the Setia Alam exit to Shah Alam due to extremely heavy rain early in the morning. I was on the way to work (with baby Izzah as a passenger) that morning but the exit was closed. Me and other motorists were forced to take the exit to Klang. Oh gosh, I’m not familiar with Klang area!

Plus, baby Izzah started to cry. And cry some more.

Luckily, there is a Petronas station after the toll. I stopped and breastfeeded her to stop the crying. Then, me called hubby to come and show the way back home through Klang town.  And, I was on emergency leave (EL) that day.

I caught cold and cough that day. Plus, got major itchy ‘gegata’ all over my body. The next day, I was on medical leave.

On Thursday (10th July), I was on leave (already applied few weeks before) to see baby Izzah’s paed for vaccination. My baby has gained weight from 3.60kg to 4.47kg . Go girl!

My cough was getting worst so I took MC again on Friday. So, imagine the piles of work (and emails) waiting for me when I was back in office last Monday. Crazy!

The faulty aircond? Oh yeah.. it happened yesterday. I picked up my baby at the nursery in the afternoon and goodness me, the car aircond didn’t work!

No cold air come out from the aircond vent. And, baby Izzah was sweating and crying like crazy. Opening the window didn’t help as the day itself was so hot.

So, today I’m on EL again. Sigh.

Hubby took the car to fix the aircond. Turned out the compressor is damaged. And, it cost about RM2,000 to fix it. Huwaaaaa!!!

Baby Izzah likes to sit on my lap while watching the television, playing with her toys or when I read her Baby Signs books.

I love holding her on my lap but sometimes it can be tiring. And, I can’t talk face to face with her. The solution?

The award winning Bumbo Baby Seater!