1. Flour Baby Project

2. Overview Taking care of a baby is a full time job.
For this project, you will carry around a
decorated 5 lb. flour bag for 7 days to
simulate what it is like to care for and pay
for a newborn baby.
As you care for your baby,
you will have tasks to do
along the way.

3. Assembly Option #1
One 5 lb. bag of flour (or two brown lunch bags filled with sand and taped together)
Two pairs of panty hose (choose the color you want your baby to be)
Poly fiber to make the face, arms, and legs (or facial tissues)
Optional: Yarn for hair, googly eyes, etc. A paint stir-stick taped to the back of the flour sack will help support the head. A printed color picture of a face can be placed under the pantyhose for a realistic look.

4. Assembly Option #2
One 5 lb. bag of flour (or two brown lunch bags filled with sand and taped together)
Hot glue on parts from old baby doll

5. Assembly Option #3
One 5 lb. bag of flour (or two brown lunch bags filled with sand and taped together)
Put flour sack inside a “onesie”
Stuff arms/legs with poly fiber (or tissues)
Affix a baby doll head to the “onesie”.

6. Assembly Option #4
One 5 lb. bag of flour (or two brown lunch bags filled with sand and taped together)
Decorate the flour sack to look like a baby.
Optional: Print a color picture of a baby’s face to glue to the flour sack.

7. Assembly Option #5 Remove the head of an old baby doll (a large doll).
Remove stuffing from the chest.
Pour in 5 pounds of flour.
Reattach the head.

8. Assembly Option #6
Cut open the chest of an old baby doll (a large doll).
Insert a 5 pound bag of flour.
Sew up the chest.

9. Assembly Option #7
Cut open the chest of an old baby doll (a large doll).
Insert a 5 pound weight in the chest.
Sew up the chest.

10. Required Items for Your Flour Baby
One 5 lb. bag of flour (or two brown lunch bags filled with sand and taped together)
Baby clothes (used clothes from thrift stores or siblings work fine)
A blanket (or towel if you don’t have a baby blanket)
Diapers (or paper towel and tape if you don’t have diapers)
A baby bottle (real or toy)
Baby wipes (or facial tissues)
A diaper bag (or a reusable cloth grocery bag to carry supplies)

11. Baby Beauty Contest
The best looking baby will be awarded a certificate
This certificate is good for full credit for one missing assignment
The beauty contest will be on Monday

12. Baby Book
You will maintain complete a baby book for one week with daily logs, journals, and tasks.
Daily Task Cards
Baby Book
Daily Log
Daily Journal

13. Caring for Your Baby
The project begins on Monday and ends on Sunday night.
Feed your baby every 3-4 hours
Burp the baby for three minutes after each feeding
Change your baby’s diaper every 3-4 hours
Bathe the baby each day. This is pretend. Do not actually get it wet. Bathing cannot occur during school time or sleep time.
Rock, hold, and play with your baby during the day
Keep the baby clothed and covered in a blanket at all times
Keep your baby in sight at all times. Your baby cannot be left in your backpack or at home during the school day.

14. Babysitting
You can arrange to have a babysitter if you cannot take care of your baby for a short time.
The baby may not be left with a babysitter for more than 3 hours at a time.
During this project, you can only use babysitters 6 times and no more than one time per day.
Another student may not care for your baby or babysit during the school day. If another student is caught with your baby, you will lose points.
If your baby is not allowed in class, you must make arrangements with your AVID Teacher. This will count as babysitting.

15. Child Abuse
Any kind of abuse such as throwing, hitting, or leaving the baby alone will result in a 20 point deduction per infraction. This applies to reports by any teacher, administrator, or student. The “flour” child is to be treated as if it were a real baby. You will also lose points if your friends are seen abusing your baby, so be careful who you let hold your baby.
Babies may be inspected at any time by your teacher for rips or tears in the flour sack.

16. Single Parent or Co-Parent?
Flour Baby
Random Selection
Step #1: Click on the
Spin Button
for your fate
Step #2: Click
to find out the sex, size, and weight of your baby.
Number
Single Parent or Co-Parent?
50, 70, 75, 15
Single Parent - You will care for your flour baby on your own.
45, 10 , 30
Co-Parent - Your teacher will choose your partner.
25, 100
Co-Parent - You may choose a partner from this class.

17. Random Selection of Sex, Size, and Weight
Draw a card from the hat to determine the sex, size, and weight of your flour baby. This information will be recorded on the birth certificate found in your baby book.
There are 2 cards with twins. If you select this card, you will need to make and care for two babies!