Like breast-fed twins, bottle-fed babies can follow a staggered or simultaneous feeding schedule. Some mothers prefer to feed their babies one at a time so they can easily focus on each baby. Ann Tran, mother to twin boys, found that “feeding both at the same time was difficult. We actually staggered their feedings one after another. That may seem tedious, but that ensured that each child got individual attention and ate as well as he could.” While staggered schedules may work well for some families, some twins prefer simultaneous feedings. Faith and Hope came home on a staggered schedule, but it was not long before they made it clear that they wanted to eat together.
Feeding presents a special opportunity to bond, and I found it impossible to bond with one baby while the other screamed throughout her sibling’s entire feed. I learned rather quickly the art of bottle-feeding both babies at once. You can easily bottle-feed your twins simultaneously by sitting each child in a car seat or bouncy chair. Make sure both babies are tilted upward at a thirty-to-forty-five-degree angle and not lying flat.
Face both seats toward you, off er a bottle to each baby, and… presto! Instant happy babies! Bottle Feeding with Love Breast feeding naturally creates an atmosphere for bonding. However, some babies cannot nurse on the breast for one reason or another.
If your babies require bottle feeding, you can still create intimate moments of connection with your babies as they eat by using some of the following tips: Feed y our babies in a quiet place where there are no environmental distractions. That way, you can focus on each other. Look lovingly at your twins. Gently talk to them, and tell them that you love them. You can softly sing to your babies while feeding them.
If feeding one at a time, hold your baby close, skin to skin, and gently stroke your baby’s head or hand. Do not feel bad if you wanted to breast-feed but were unable to. Remember that a mother’s love for her babies is more important than any feeding technique. Your love will traverse any distance that a bottle may seem to create.
In 2009, chain stores across the nation showcased new and/or updated versions of gazebos. With reasonable prices and offerings of gazebos from the low end to the high end, customers were able to ‘window shop’ and selectively decide on the outdoor gazebo of their choice. Some of the big chain stores that carried gazebos this year were:
– Home Depot under the Hampton Bay Label
– Sears under the Garden Oasis label
– Lowe’s under the Garden Treasures Label
– Kmart under the Martha Stewart Brand
In addition to these stores, Target, Big Lots, Kohl’s, Menards and BJ’s gave customers a lot of variety when it came to choosing their gazebo.
This year, it seemed, bigger was definitely better. The trend seen from these retailers’ gazebos were bigger and taller gazebos, offering larger space to accommodate more people. Gazebo frames became more sturdy and stronger than gazebos manufactured in the past. To create a more spacious feeling, corner columns were designed instead of L-shaped corners. Fancy designs such as leaves and flowers were integrated into the frame of the gazebo, adding a unique flair. Gazebos were also seen having different colors available for customers in order to match their outdoor decor. This year’s sizes range from 8×8, 10×10, 12×12, 10×12, 10×14, 8×10, and 9×13.
When it came to gazebo pricing, low end, low quality gazebos ranged from $99 to $199 during seasonal clearance. Gazebos that were medium grade, made with stronger frames and contained more ornate designs were priced from $200 to $399.99. Lastly, high end gazebos that included mosquito netting, privacy curtains, lanterns, plant stands, and plant hooks ranged from $400 to as high as $1200.
With all of the gazebos out there to pick and choose from, the covering, or canopy of the gazebo, still lacks the quality one would expect from purchasing a low end and even a high end gazebo. A strong and sturdy canopy should accompany a strong and sturdy gazebo frame. Instead, canopies are still made from light weight polyester that will fly off the gazebo. Canopies are prone to fading over time due to sun exposure, meaning they do not contain any UV protectant. In addition to fading, these canopies were prone to thinning out and ripping if there was a slight wind or heavy rain.
As customers were complaining of cheap and poorly made canopies, Garden Winds decided to provide gazebo owners with a replacement canopy that was durable and would last longer than their original canopy. Made of a thicker fabric, these replacement canopies provided shade when needed because Garden Winds’ canopies contain a UV protectant to shield from the sun.
Garden Winds has a wide selection of universal and custom replacement gazebo canopies available. Their online shopping site is easy to use and directs you to the exact replacement canopy for your gazebo. You can shop for your replacement gazebo canopy by store, manufacturer, or model number. With experience and knowledge obtained from gazebo owners, Garden Winds helped them enjoy another day outdoors with a replacement canopy for their gazebo.
Armed with this review of 2009 gazebos, you are now ready to shop and make an informed decision for your backyard or patio!