Fun And Interesting Maternity Gadgets

In this electronic age, there seems to be a different gadget or 'app' for everything. There's the DVR that records shows digitally to watch later. There's the automatic cat litter box and, a personal favorite, the single-cup coffee maker that uses pods or K-cups to make different flavors. On this tip, I've found a few gadgets for new and expectant mothers. Some of them are electronic while others are simply fabric, but all of them can make your life as a new mother easier.

If you have a problem with shirts and jeans not covering your belly anymore or riding up or down when you sit, you may want to try what's called a 'belly band'. It's basically the same as the 'Trendy Top' on those offer commercials, but they're sold in a variety of speciality and big-box stores. In addition to adding a bit of extra 'coverage' to areas that are now bigger than they used to be, they can be used for the 'layered look' without the bulk. For more information about these and other wearables, check out http://maternity.about.com/od/accessories/tp/Bumpgear-101.htm.

Recent studies have shown that babies can learn and hear music in the womb. While I don't know the science exactly, gadgets such as Baby Plus use a series of 'lessons' that emulate the mother's heartbeat. As your baby hears these beats and the differences between them her growing senses are being sharpened, making her more alert and receptive to learning later on. While your child won't come out speaking fluent Chinese (sorry), she'll still be ahead of the curve. For more information, check out http://babyplus.com.

I'm sure you've heard all the statistics about car seats not being installed correctly and wondered if you were doing it right yourself. Well, now you don't have to wonder because the Prodigy Infant Car Seat Base features a display that walks you through installation and lets you know if everything is done correctly. The seat itself has a unique belt-tightening system so you can attach the seat to the car with one hand. I don't know about you, but I've had to contort myself and use both hands enough times to appreciate this function! The harness can also be adjusted with one hand as your child grows rather than having to thread and re-thread multiple belts. For more information and even a film demo, visit http://www.summerinfant.com/Products/Travel/car-seats/Prodigy-Infant-Car-Seat-Base-Gray.aspx.

Finally, for those who like to share their most 'intimate' moments with the world, there's the Kickbee. It has sensors that, in some way I don't understand, uses Bluetooth to post the kicks on Twitter. The fact that it also makes you aware of the baby's movements is helpful in tracking its health and including Dad in on the fun, which was part of why expectant dad Corey Menscher created it. It has a Macintosh operating system, so it can't be too bad! You can read more about it here-http://walyou.com/who-says-baby-cant-twitt/.

As you can see, there are all kinds of 'gadgets' out there to help new and expectant parents with the new details in their lives. Some of the gadgets make sense; others, not so much. Oh, well; at least they're interesting.