American Girl Doll - worth it or over the top?

Chances are if you have a little girl or know a little girl you'll know about the American Girl Collection. 

American Girl Dolls are a collection of dolls from various times in history starting in 1764 up to today.  They are hippy girls, civil war girls, girls from the great depression and this years doll McKenna a gymnast.  Each girl has their own outfits and accessories from her era, a story book and DVD so you can get a feel of what it was like growing up in their time.

Not only are there dolls from various times in history but you can also create your own doll.  There are 44 different combinations of hair and eye colour, and skin tone to tweak your doll to look just like your child.  Not only can the doll look your child physically but you can also buy matching doll and child outfits so they can dress identical too.

So I have to say, I think initially this was a great concept.  Dolls teach children to care for another being, it's a great start in learning how to nurture and love another person.  They also help build imagination and create role playing situations, help grow fine motor skills and coordination, for example fastening the dolls clothes or putting them in and out of a stroller.  These American dolls also give an education into the history of girls over the years which I think is a really great idea.

However.........these dolls come at a price!  Including tax, an American Girl doll comes out to about $115 (but it does come with a book).  Is this too much to pay for a doll?  Are we being blinded by this company into thinking that they are worth every penny?  We can go out and buy a doll for $20 that would give the same educational value to a child and read books from history educating us on the different eras the country has passed through and how people lived. 

I personally feel that American Dolls are just 'over the top'.  And here's why.......

Last Tuesday I spent some time at the American Doll Place in Manhattan, this wasn't my first trip to the fifth avenue location (I am a nanny remember).  The child I look after was allowed to have an American Girl Doll as a 'summer gift' so off we go to NYC to have afternoon tea and bring home McKenna!

This is a 4 story building just for the American Doll company.....yes I did say 4 stories!!!  This location has so many dolls to choose from, every accessory known to dolls, story books, work books DVD's there are even pets for the dolls and pet accessories....and it is always packed (with girls and dolls dressed alike).

There is a doll beauty parlour where you can drop your doll off and choose from an array of different hair styles, for $20 you can get her hair braided by doll stylists.  The doll can also get her ears pierced here for a mere $14. 

There is a doll photo studio where you can pose with your doll for a picture that can be featured on the front of your own magazine, prices start at $23. 

At the Creativi Tees shop you can design and create your own T-shirt for you and your doll

There is a doll hospital where you can check out any medical issues your doll may have, kind of funny really .... a very serious looking woman in a white coat came out to check on one girls doll while we were there. 

There is also a bakery and a snack shop and a full restaurant where you can have brunch, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.  If you are planning on dinning there please book in advance....we tried to book for lunch 2 to 3 weeks before we went and it was FULL, hence afternoon tea!

Oh and my absolute favourite of 'over the topness' is the fact that the store has personal shoppers for you, your child and your child's doll!!!!!   WHAT??????

So, what do you think?  Is all this too much?  Over the top?  Are we completely blinded with commercialism and keeping up with the Jones'?  Or is American Girl Doll worth every penny that you can spend there?


Here's the link if you would like to check the dolls out for yourself.
www.americangirl.com

My day at Field Station Dinosaurs, Secaucus, N.J.

So today my little companion (6 yrs old) and I had a field trip to Field Station Dinosaurs just outside of Manhattan.  http://fieldstationdinosaurs.com/index

WHAT A PLACE!!!!!

When we arrived we were given a calendar of events for the day and a passport looking card where we could collect stamps after each event we went to.....this helped frame our day and give us a helpful routine which was nice....but you didn't have to partake if  you didn't want to.














It is a very lifelike setting with dinosaurs in  wooded, grass filled areas (there is only one point where I noticed Manhattan in the background.....T-Rex (I think) with the Empire State Building behind him....very surreal).  All the dinosaurs make noises and move.

Dueling Pachycephalosaurus

Apatosaurus

Stegosaurus

Pterodactyl

Apatosaurus

Our first schedule of the day was a dinosaur 'meet and greet' where they brought out 2 baby dinosaurs nestled in blankets carried by their trainers and the children got to pet them.

And a rather more rambunctious fellow (please don't ask me the names of all these beasts)

Next was the archeological dig....a huge sand area where the children are given a shovel and trowels, brushes and magnifying glasses and they dig their way through the sand to discover various fossels.

Back to the 'Outback Steakhouse' Arena for a T-Rex (I think) feeding frenzy.  A 15ft very lifelike dinosaur comes over the hill and through the grasses into the small arena to gasping children.  Really very amusing.
The children are taught about herbivores and carnivores from a very bubbly Australian name Karen (I think) who did a terrific job.

 And here are the rest of the pics I took

Captured babies

Dryptosaurus

Dimetrodon

This is the biggest dinosaur there... a 90ft long Argentinosaurus.

T-Rex

Oryctodromeus

The various shows there all have great audience participation, one includes a memory game of tools that paleontologists use (I think the Executive Producer of Field Station, Guy Gsell was the host of this game), another bares a resemblance to family feud with the room split up into teams and asked certain dinosaur questions.  It really is a very informative place, I can see it being a huge hit with school trips.

What to know before you go
We got there when it opened at 10am which I would highly recommend.
A great thing about this place is that you can take your own food and drinks in (although they have the usual junk food stands there too).
Wear good walking shoes....we seemed to do an awful lot of walking even though the park didn't seem THAT big.
Today was hot and there is not a lot of shade.....umbrellas would help and don't forget sunscreen and a hat.
The outside rooms where they housed the games were crazy hot....not a lot of ventilation, I have to think that they must be working on that.

All in all this was an excellent day out.  The place is really quite incredible.  All the young people working there were very informative and friendly and always willing to answer questions and help you find your way.
I would definitely recommend this place for anyone close enough to get there.

If you would like a little taste of Field Station Dinosaur you can watch this you tube link....enjoy!

"Rubber Duckie You're The One"

"Rubber duckie you're the one
You make my bath time lots of fun
Rubber duckie I'm awfully fond of you"

We all know the 'Sesame Street' song.....and for those of you who don't...click on the picture below.

I'm sure Ernie or his little fella who's 'cute n yeller n chubby' weren't aware of all the harmful toxins that were used to make rubber ducks back in the 70's.

Today it's a whole new ball game with parents concerns on BPA, Phthalates, PVC's and all the other harmful plastics or chemicals that are used to make children's toys.

So how can we be sure our duckie's (that most teething children will chew on in the tub) are safe?  I would say that the best way to avoid this is to take one of their teething toys that you know to be safe into the tub with them....that way if they feel the need to chomp down you know it's a safe toy that you trust.  Taking every toy out of their mouth when they are teething is going to be very stressful for both of you so it's best to be prepared!

Not only do we have to worry about what our bath toys are made of but for some, what is inside them!  Probably every tub toy you have with holes in it will contain some amount of mold.  We had a bunch of those squirty toys...little fish....and while cleaning them one night and squirting out the excess water...what looked like black soggy lettuce came out (sorry best way to describe it).  It was black mold.  This can contain e-coli and staph bacteria.  That was enough, I threw out all our squirty toys!

Boon Duckies

With a little reseach from the Better Duckie Bureau (i.e. me) I found a company called Boon who produce their ducks without BPA, Phathalates and PVC and these ducks do not hold water either and to top it off look how stylish they are!

Check them out for yourself
http://www.booninc.com/products/OddDucks/956

The downside, as you may expect is that they
come at a price, this collection of 4 is $29.99

 

 Or you can buy Bob here for $8.49

Bob the Duck by Boon

I don't know about you but I think I would rather have

 a few nice bath toys that I know are safe than a bunch

of harmful ones.  Besides, most children I know prefer to 

play with your basic cup and spoon in the tub!

 

http://slowdeathbyrubberduck.com/

If you would like to read more on the dangers of rubber ducks and everyday items, guess what?  There's a book for that....maybe even an app too....who knows?

If you decided to clean out your squirty toys,
let me know what you find!

Cloth vs disposable diapers (nappies)

I'm sure the majority of parents and child carers these days are accustomed to living life with disposable diapers.  I know every job I have worked in (par one many years ago) have used the disposable diapers.  But it appears that with the big green movement comes a revisit to the good old cloth diapers and also an update on design too.

At college we had to learn how to properly fold a cloth nappy and put it on a baby with a nappy pin and a pair of plastic pants and how to clean them properly too.....every nurse spent time in the dreaded 'sluice room'. We were taught the kite fold....as I research this subject there are now many more ways than I realized on how to fold a diaper/nappy.

Someone even dedicated an entire website to it
http://www.howtofoldadiaper.com/

new & improved diaper pants

The classic plastic pants don't seem to be around much either probably due to people avoiding plastics due to health issues.....nowadays there seem to be mostly pants made from a laminated polyester fabric usually known as PUL.  These pants fasten with snaps or hook and loop and a cloth insert is added to absorb moisture of various shapes and sizes ha ha ha.  The pants can be used a few times over before they need cleaning, simply change the cloth pads inside.

Of course there are going to be advantages for both cloth and disposable diapers and it is an individual choice as to what is best for you.  I have a friend who is expecting in September and she is going to be giving the cloth diapers a go but probably use disposables when traveling, that to me seems like an excellent solution.


If you are considering which diapers to use, maybe these advantages of both will help you decide.

Advantages of disposable diapers
-  they are easy to use....it's a one stop shop, no pad, no pants it's all in one
-  they can be thrown away therefore eliminating any nasty smells that may linger
-  no time wasted on sluicing and washing diapers
-  they are easy for travelling
-  they tend to leak less than cloth diapers
-  more readily accepted in day care


Advantages of cloth diapers
-  they are better for the environment, they cut down on a lot of waste
-  they are more affordable over the years that your child will be in diapers
-  they can be used again for younger siblings, making them even more value for money
-  no link to TSS Toxic Shock Syndrome like there has in disposable diapers 
-  studies have shown that babies have less diaper rash in cloth diapers
-  some say it's easier to potty train as they can feel they are wet


P.S.  Did you know there is also a 'diaper cleaning service' available in most populated areas now???  I don't recall that job popping up during career chats at school!

HAPPY DIAPER CHANGING!

Goldfish as a first pet (not the edible kind)

                                             It seems that a goldfish seems to be the most popular choice of a child's first pet.  I can raise my hand and say that I was one of these children.  I won 'BOD' at the local fair that came to town every summer.  I don't recall what I (or one of my parents) had to do to win him but he came home with us.  I don't think my mother or father anticipated him lasting so long...those cheap fair goldfish never seemed to but we had quite a few years worth
of joy out of 'BOD'.  


And yes, for those Brits reading this I did name him after
my favourite T.V. show at the time.....it was not after the
wine grape Mourvèdre or a hallucinogenic drug.....
but a simple little ummmm boy??? 

BTW I just have to include this link 
http://www.imaginarypress.co.uk/BOD%20PRINTS/bodprints.html
It's 50 years since the conception of BOD and the son of the creators has launched art work that I am soooo tempted to buy. 
Anyway, enough about BOD, back to goldfish (I think I may have to give BOD a post of his own later).

The advantages of having a goldfish as a pet are that they are..
- easy to take care of
- they don't require much attention (or petting)
- research shows that they are relaxing to watch
- they are relatively cheap to keep
- and if they die you can totally replace them and the child will never know    LOL
(that was a joke,  I don't recommend doing that but how children are introduced to and handle death is another post entirely)

As with any pet for a young child the adult responsible for the child is also primarily responsible for the pet.  I would recommend that the child be with you at feeding time and be taught how much food to give and also help with cleaning the tank.  We have a goldfish at the house where I work and I am responsible for the cleaning of it and general care taking of 'Goldie' (I wonder how many millions of goldfish have the same name). 

I teach my 6 year old how much food to give and there is always an adult supervising that she isn't given too much, the number 1 cause of death in goldfish is over feeding.  She watches me as I prepare the water and put the conditioning drops in and leave the water in a bowl for 24 hours to get to room temperature and then the next day helps me remove the old water and replace with the new.

Goldie has made it past her first year with us and I am glad to say she is doing well.

So if you are looking for a first pet for your child, as a nanny with 20 years experience of pet keeping, I can highly recommend a goldfish.

Holy sandcastle

When I was a child on holiday at the beach besides playing in the sea jumping waves and swimming my favourite thing to do was to play in the sand.  My brother and I would create a mud pie shop scenario and build a mass of mud pies (wet sand in balls) and then feed them to the sea.  Building sand castles with Dad was also another favourite thing to do.  We had your basic sandcastle/fort with a moat but then my dad would build aeroplanes and boats and cars out of the sand that we could sit in.  I wish I had a pic to include here....the aeroplane one definitely stands out.

Sand play is great for children.  Not only does their imagination run wild with various adventures but it's great for tactile play and the sand running through their fingers can also be very relaxing.  It is beneficial in fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, weight, volume and measuring.

If you can't get to the beach this summer or don't have access to a sand box find a large plastic tote and fill it with sand for your little ones. One of those large under the bed totes are great.  Fill it with sand, cars, cups, old yoghurt pots, small plastic animals etc and watch their imagination run wild....it will keep them busy for quite a while and can be used in or out of the house.  And don't mind the mess......it's giving them a great learning experience and keeping them out of your hair for a while!!!

If you do make it to the beach this summer and feel in need of a challenge check out http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/sns-viral-sand-pictures,0,5977808.photogallery for some inspiration for your sandcastle building.

Here are a few examples of some extraordinary sand art.
















Have fun!

The tooth fairy is LOADED!

So, apparently the tooth fairy has done some serious investing since I was a child.  That tiny little tooth was worth $5 and 2 small glass animals.  I wouldn't be surprised if somehow teeth started coming out before they were due now!

Short post today.  I have decided in order to try and get the Textile Trolley business (baby and child accessories) off the ground I am only going to post 3 times a week instead of 5.  Of course if I feel I have time and something relevant to write then you may see a few more posts pop up here and there....but right now I'm just going to slow it down a notch.

Until the next time.....

Loosing your first tooth

You can see the heart shaped new tooth poking through

Well it finally happened, the little girl I take care of lost her first tooth, she is 6 years old.  She was very nervous about the whole situation.  It had been wobbling for quite a while now but it didn't seem to be getting any closer.  I think she was worried about pain and blood and basically the 'unknown'.  It was quite an emotional ride for her, one that after it had dropped out, apparently due to 'sitting on the carpet and drinking a glass of water' she was ecstatic.  She was so happy...and kept telling me so ALL AFTERNOON.

Her mother had bought her a pretty pink pillow with a fairy on it and a pocket at the back for the tooth.....she is so excited to see what the tooth fairy brings tonight.












I tried to remember loosing my first tooth but don't seem to have any memory.  I do remember that I used to put it under my pillow, wrapped in a tissue.....Mum told me this was to protect it but I'm pretty sure it's so that she could find it!!!!!  And when I woke up in the morning I had a 10 pence coin in it's place.  I remember thinking it was magic (just like Father Christmas).

All over the world there are different traditions of what to do with your tooth when you loose it.

In Mexico El Raton, the magic mouse visits you at night while you sleep (sounds spooky) and takes your tooth from a box on the side of your bed and leaves you money.

Native American traditions include wrapping the tooth in food and feeding it to a dog, putting it in a tree and dancing around the tree, and burying a tooth near a bush.

In Costa Rica the tooth is covered in gold and made into an earring.

In Dominican Republic and Botswana they throw their tooth on the roof.


All these interesting facts come from a wonderful book called 'Throw your tooth on the roof'.
We have enjoyed reading this many times.

By Selby Beeler and Illustrated by G. Brian Karas

Do you have any tooth traditions of your own or funny stories as a parent playing the tooth fairy role?

Children left alone in cars in high heat

Over the past couple of days there has been 2 reports of babies left alone in cars in high heat.

The first I heard about was in the Indianapolis area, an 18 year old father had left his 4 month old daughter in the car in 105 degree heat, he had arrived home to a busy house and got side tracked talking to family and forgot she was in the car.  When he realized she was still in the car he rushed to save her, her Grandfather gave CPR but it was too late.  The poor little thing had suffered third degree burns on her arms and legs.....she was rushed to the hospital 2 blocks away but was pronounced dead.

Also in Indiana, on the same day, a 16 month old was found in an SUV in 105 degree heat.  The temperature inside the SUV was 124 degrees.  One report I read was that the mother had been shopping for an hour.  I have a hard time believing anyone would leave a child alone for an hour in a car intentionally....but do believe it's possible for people to be so ignorant  This little girl suffered a seizure when removed from the vehicle and was taken to the hospital where she recovered.


A few simple guidelines

Never leave a child alone in a car not even for a minute.
If you see a child alone in a hot car call 911
Keep your keys and remotes out of reach of children, teach them that a car is not for playing in.
If your child is missing first check the pool, then the car....even the trunk.

• Total number of U.S. hyperthermia deaths of children left in cars, 2012: 10
• Total number of U.S. hyperthermia deaths of children left in cars, 2011:  33
• Total number of U.S. hyperthermia deaths of children left in cars, 1998-present:  537 
• info from ggweather.com

Currently only 19 states have laws addressing leaving a child alone in a car.
California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Washington.
Only Utah has proposed legislation for it to be a crime to leave a child alone in a car.


Sorry for such a depressing post readers but these sort of accidents happen to all kinds of people, we have to pay extra attention in this grueling weather. 
Janet Fennel from http://www.kidsandcars.org/ claims that 90% of the people that leave children in cars are upstanding citizens and careful parents or child givers, the ones who usually safety proof their house from everyday dangers.

Sometimes it doesn't even take an hour in a hot car to effect a child.  We all suffer from being stressed, over tired, have changes in our schedules, and get so wrapped up in other events of the day we can all become distracted and forgetful.

So lets take a moment each time we leave the car just to double check.  It could save a life.

Protection from Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun

I think we all know that too much sun is not good for you yet a little sun does you good.  The vitamin D in the suns rays help us to absorb calcium in our body.  

Growing up in England there was not much need for sun protection.  Don't get me wrong we did have sunshine, but it was usually accompanied by rain and a beautiful rainbow.

I was fortunate enough to be able to take my holidays 'abroad' so I got to see quite a few countries and they were always warmer than England (with the exception of Scotland).  My parents were always great about protecting us from the sun though.  We had to wear sunscreen, a hat and were never allowed out in the middle of the day.

Clothing and staying out of the sun are the best ways to protect yourself from the sun's harmful rays but if you do have to spend time in the sun the following are how the experts recommend you protect yourself and your children.

1 -   Always wear sunscreen when in the sun.
Most experts agree that anything higher than SPF 30 doesn't give you that much more protection.  It is better to reapply the SPF 30 more frequently than to use a higher factor.
Always make sure that the sunscreen you choose provides a broad spectrum of UVA and UVB protection.
It should also be waterproof, and is better for sensitive skins if it is hypoallergenic and fragrance free.
For the children I take care of I like to use a stick sunscreen on their face (don't forget lips and eyelids) as it seems to prevent anything from going in their eyes.
The FDA recommend not using spray sunscreens as they are inconclusive with their research on children inhaling sunscreen and the effects it may have.  If you have to use a spray sunscreen they recommend spraying it on your hands first and then applying it on the body. 
Some pediatricians recommend sunscreens that contain the ingredients zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These ingredients appear to work faster and prove to be very effective in sun protection and claim to be less harmful than chemicals found in a lot of sunscreens.
Always do a test on a patch of your child's skin before applying it all over their body.  And F.Y.I. most experts also say that there is not too much of a difference between adult and children's sunscreens it's better to look at the ingredients instead.

Sunscreen on babies should try to be avoided.....especially under 6 months.  Try and cover them up with long light clothing and a large brimmed hat if they are to be in the sun.  An umbrella attached to the stroller or carriage will help also.  If sun screen is to be applied it is recommended to not put it on hands and arms as it can get in their eyes and mouth easily.

2 -  Try to avoid being in the sun between 10am and 4pm
This is when the sun is the strongest.  As a nanny  I find this quite impossible....if we can help it we stay out of the sun between 12pm and 3pm but it seems that there is always somewhere to go or something to do that involves being outside.

3 -  Wear a hat
Preferably with a peak or a brim that will help keep the sun out of faces and also help to prevent the scalp from getting burned.  Also wear sunglasses to protect the eyes.

4 -  Stay in the shade as much as possible.
It is still very important to wear sunscreen in the shade as you can still get burned.

5 -  Wear sun protective clothing.
This usually applies to children, very fair skinned people or people at a high altitude spending a lot of time outdoors.  Most of us don't get burned through our clothing but it is possible.  I have fair skin and have never been burned through my clothing.  I think it's a great idea for some extra protection though.  Nowadays you see plenty of shirts, shorts and swimsuits with a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor).  Choose those that are between 15 UPF and 30 UPF.

I'm curious as to how much sun you allow your children and how do you protect your children from too much sun?

To croc or not to croc......that is the question

Original Classic Clog by Crocs

Crocs......do you love 'em or hate 'em?

The little girl that I take care of loves them.
I love them for her.
There is nothing faster that she can put on her feet
when we are heading out the door.  She has bright
pink ones and they look great on her.


Crocs definitely have their advantages.  Originally created in 2002 for the intention of boating they now seem to be everywhere.  They are non slip, easy to put on and great for the beach or pool.  They offer better support and protection over being barefoot or wearing flip-flops.  The holes in them allow for air to circulate freely leaving your toes and feet sweat free and the antimicrobial properties help to prevent foot infections.   

Crocs or croc style shoes however are not good for running, jumping, climbing etc etc  They don't have ankle support and with their loose fitting they easily fall off....sneakers are a much better option if your child will be partaking in physical activities.

Another problem we find with the Croc shoes is that they don't make them in single sizes. The little girl I take care of has to wear the 'knock off' version.  We have tried year after year to get them to fit and they are either too big or too small.

Last week I tried again to see if maybe now that she was a year older she could fit into them, alas, it wasn't to be. We have however discovered a whole new shoe that actually fits better and in my opinion looks 10 times better.......allow me to introduce.......

The Jefferson by Native

           The Jefferson by Native. 
They come in a whole array of colours and SIZES!!!!
We got ours at Nordstom.  And yes they make them
for the whole family.  And they are fabulous! 
I'm going to order a pair for myself.


What's your favourite summer shoe for children?  Do you keep to sneakers or do you favour one of the following?
Keen's
Croc's
Tom's
Native
Stride rite
Whatever they are selling at Target or some other superstore, they are just going to get wrecked anyway

Whatever you are wearing I hope you and your children are blister free and enjoying the air between your toes this summer.

How to make a baby's bib stylish enough for the London Olympics

This is my first tutorial, so bare with me.  

After viewing the photos I have already concluded that I need to make myself a light box (yet another item for the never ending 'TO DO' list).  So hopefully as this blog progresses the photo's I post should be better.

How to make a  baby's bib

You will need....

2 pieces of fabric 10" by 14" (1 piece of fabric should be absorbent such as toweling, chenille)

A pattern (you can sketch one free hand, download or buy one from a store)

Thread

Pins

Scissors

A snap or hook and loop fastening

First cut out your bib pattern and then your fabric.  I always fold my fabric in half it's quicker and more accurate.

 

Place your bib fabric print side down on your backing fabric which should have the right side facing up and pin.  I used chenille as it's thick and absorbent.

 Cut out the backing so it will be the same shape as the top fabric.

Sew both bib pieces together about 1cm in from the edge.  Leave about an 8cm opening between start of sewing and end of sewing along the straight side of the bib.  This is so you can turn the bib inside out later.  Don't forget to reinforce stitching at the start and the end by stitching backwards and forwards about 1cm

It should look like this.

Clip inner and outer curves by cutting small triangles up to the stitching (don't get too close).  This will allow the bib to lie flat.  It is best to use the tips of the scissors as they give a more accurate cut and will reduce the chance of cutting through the stitching.....so make sure your scissors are sharp.

It should look like this.  I usually trim the seam allowance a little so that it cuts down on bulk.  But I never trim around the opening, I always leave the full allowance so that it is easier to sew it closed at the end.

Turn the bib inside out using the 8cm opening you left when sewing.

I like to use the wrong end of a knitting needle to push out the top of the bib, other people have told me a chopstick also works well.

Be careful not to push too hard.  You don't want the needle to rip the stitching.

Press your bib turning in a hem where the 8cm opening is.

Top stitch your bib 3-4mm from the edge.  This will close the 8cm opening.

Add a snap with a pliers style snap tool.  You can also sew a hook and loop fastening on.

https://sew4home.com/tips-resources/sewing-tips-tricks/how-apply-metal-snaps-fabric

This is the best website I have found for learning how to apply these snaps.  The instructions and diagrams on the back of the package were not all that easy to understand.

The finished snaps should looks something like this.  I used a pearl snap.

The finished product with it's matching burp cloth.  How cute is this fabric?

Click on the link below for other 'London' bibs for sale at my shop
http://www.etsy.com/shop/TextileTrolley?ref=si_shop