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Boba Wrap: Review & Giveaway

Jessica C — Sun, 20 May 2012 01:10:57 +0000

Have you ever needed to do dishes, eat food, drink some water, or fold some laundry but couldn’t because your baby needed held 24/7? That’s me. When my daughter was born, I always heard horror stories regarding colic. We thought we had the perfect child during the first 2-3 weeks of life. She didn’t cry a lot except when needing to be fed or changed and she didn’t require a lot of holding. As she entered into her fourth week of life, things all of a sudden changed. She started crying all the time, needing to be held more, feedings were becoming worse with reflux and things still needed to be done around the house. I didn’t do much research on baby carriers when my daughter was a newborn, I just chose one and wore it. She was born at 36 weeks and only weighed in at 4lbs 15oz. She didn’t require constant holding until she was 7lbs+ so a carrier worked out wonderfully for us during these times. I ended up babywearing until she was eight months old and my back/body just couldn’t carry her anymore.

My son is now three weeks old. He was born weighing 5lbs 13oz, lost some weight and has gained some back – but not near the 7lb mark needed for most carriers. With a 2 1/2 year old daughter who requires a lot of play time, I knew I would need something to be hands-free but still be able to hold my three week old son. I did research this time around. Most carriers still requires a 7lb weight limit. I have read reviews/raves about wraps. Therefore, I researched the best wraps – which there are plenty out there. The two most popular wraps are the Boba Wrap and the Moby Wrap. I read forums, weighed pros/cons, and even asked mothers at play-groups to find out which wrap was the best. After thorough research and many nights pondering the pros and cons, I chose the Boba Wrap.

The Boba Wrap we received to review is 100% organic cotton. The difference between the Boba Wrap and other wraps on the market is the fabric. This is the reason I chose the Boba Wrap. The Boba has a heavier higher quality knit, which means more durability, stability, and support while holding your little one. The wrap adjusts perfectly to your body without any guessing games. As mentioned on their website:

The material of other wraps is less dense than the Boba Baby Wrap, and there actually isn’t so much elasticity to it. It’s more a t-shirt kind of material that only stretches one way and bags out (like a stretched out t-shirt) after you take the baby out of the wrap, so you have to tighten it and retie it. The Boba Baby Wrap bounces back and clings to your body and your baby.

I wanted the best, easiest, and most durable wrap while holding my newborn. Now, I am going to be honest and say that it took me a couple of hours to figure out how to actually use the wrap when following the directions in the booklet. I am more of an audio learner than a visual learner, so I did find a video on YouTube to learn how to use the wrap. After watching the video a couple of times, I feel like a Boba-Wrapping pro. I also watched a video on how to do the newborn hold with the Boba Wrap and can click here to watch that video. I practiced using the Boba Wrap and learning how to tie it multiple times before actually using it with our newborn. So, practice, practice, practice until you feel comfortable. I used baby dolls – big and small, along with stuffed animals before I placed my newborn into the Boba. Now, I feel super comfortable putting the Boba Wrap on and wearing my newborn.

Some of the benefits of the Boba Wrap include:

*No pressure points on your baby – no pressure on developing hips or spines like other hard baby carriers which place pressure on your baby’s pelvis

*No baby is too small – the baby wrap is designed for the tiniest of babies

*Natural sleep solution – no plastic, no music, no bouncy seat-just you- calming and soothing your baby with your warmth, your voice, your scent, your movement and your heartbeat. There is no more natural way to put your baby to sleep

*Discreet nursing is no problem – no need to take the baby out of the wrap baby carrier or use any special attachments for privacy

We started using the Boba Wrap when our little man was 5lbs 11oz. I started using it around the house at first to fold laundry, color with my daughter, or read books. Now, I am confident to use it while grocery shopping or playing with my daughter at the park. I have found it is easier to put the wrap on at home over the clothes I will be wearing and just wear it while out and about with my children. The wrap actually comes with a storage bag, so it’s easy to place into the car where it will always be handy. Although I do not breastfeed, I have bottle fed our newborn while in the wrap especially when I didn’t want to take him out in crowded places. I have also discovered that you can put pacifiers in the middle panel while baby is not using them. We are always losing pacifiers, so this was a great way for us to have easy access to the pacifier and tuck it away when not in use. I have really enjoyed the freedom I have with the Boba. I can complete chores, spend more time with my daughter, and still have the opportunity to hold my little one. The Boba has been a blessing and I definitely recommend it to any parent. Since my husband isn’t a “baby-wearer” I didn’t have the opportunity to review how the wrap would work with mother and father, but the Boba website states that the wrap is designed for adult bodies of all types and works great for both mom and dad.

The Boba Wrap retails for $48-$65 and can be purchased online and in stores. Pajama Mommy is participating in a giveaway with other bloggers where you as a reader can have the opportunity to win a Boba Baby Carrier!

GIVEAWAY

Enter for your chance to win a Boba Baby Carrier and one of two Boba Wraps! All products can be seen at www.bobafamily.com. With Boba products it is easier than ever to enjoy Freedom Together as a family and Boba wants YOU to get a chance to use their products. To enter to win, “Like” them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/boba) and for an additional two entries, follow them on Twitter (www.twitter.com/boba).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I did receive the Boba Wrap free in order to try the product and form an opinion for this review. I was not compensated in any other manner. The opinions expressed above are my own any claims should be verified on the sponsor’s site.

STDs and the Consequences on Teenage Life

Jessica — Fri, 04 May 2012 12:58:02 +0000

In the majority of the cases STDs or sexually transmitted diseases can be contacted through oral, vaginal or anal sex. There are also some that can spread through touching someone else’s genitals. In case you would like to make sure that you don’t contact STDs, then you shouldn’t have sex.

If you are sexually active, condoms can protect you against some of the STDs, but not all of them. In case you suspect that you have contacted something, you should get tested immediately. The majority of the STDs are more common among teenagers than older people.

Chlamydia
According to official information, teenagers are more likely to contact Chlamydia than older people. Teens can be infected through oral, vaginal or anal sex. The bad thing about the disease is that usually it doesn’t have any symptoms. Nonetheless there are some girls who have a burning sensation when urinating, vaginal discharge or abdominal pain.

In case of guys there could be a burning sensation when urinating or a discharge from the penis. Chlamydia is easy to cure with the help of antibiotics. To decrease your chances of contacting Chlamydia you should be properly using a condom during intercourse.

Gonorrhea
Just as in the previous case, teenagers are more likely to have gonorrhea than adults. There are a lot of infected people who don’t show any symptoms of the disease. Nonetheless the symptoms could include a burning sensation when urinating or defecating.

There could be some other symptoms as well, such as a yellowish discharge from the penis or vagina, bleeding between periods and abdominal pain. Just as Chlamydia, gonorrhea can also be cured with antibiotics and the best way to avoid it is to use the condom properly during intercourse.

Herpes
You could contact the infection through the mouth, genital area, rectal area, thighs or buttocks. All that is needed for this infection to spread is the body parts to get in contact with someone else’s skin. The symptoms that you could have look like open sores, bug bites, jock itch, burns, irritations or other kinds of infections. Although there is no actual cure for herpes, you could keep it under control with the help of medication. Several outbreaks could occur in a year, and this is when other people can get infected.

Genital warts
Genital warts are also known as human papillomavirus and it is considered to be the most common STD in the U. S. In case women get infected by HPV, it could cause cervical cancer. It is transmitted through sexual intercourse, and there are numerous infected people that don’t even know they have it.

It is easy to control and treat in case your doctor finds it. Symptoms include growths or bumps in the rectal or genital area. However, there are vaccines that can protect people against some forms of HPV.

Author Bio: Liza is an avid blogger and freelance writer. She loves writing on health – women’s health and pregnancy, to be more specific. Don’t forget to check out her Women Health articles on womenhealthzone.com, where she writes on topics relating to Women’s Health, Anemia, Depression, Women’s reproductive health, Women’s self care, among others.

Please Ask Me about Books!

Jessica — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:56:10 +0000

I write picture books. Before I was published, I worked as a children’s bookseller and in the children’s room of a library. I live and breathe children’s books — and sometimes I forget how overwhelming it can be for someone to walk into a store or library (or surf a website) and pick out books for their children. So I’d like to take this opportunity to let you know that we want to help. Children’s booksellers and librarians really really want you to find the best books for your family. We love to talk about books, we like a challenge, and our greatest satisfaction is to send you home with a book you’re excited to read. No, I take that back. Our greatest satisfaction is when you come back, say your child adored the book we sent you home with, and you ask for our help to pick out another. So PLEASE ask us questions. Let us make your life easier.

You’ve probably bought books online. Who hasn’t? But if you’re looking for great books for your children and you’re lucky enough to live near a bookstore, especially an independent (non-chain) bookstore, consider heading over there. Children’s booksellers read widely, keep up with reviews, and hear what other customers are saying. We can get you beyond the bestsellers and help you find something that’s just right. Indie bookstores often have other perks too — they keep track of gifts you’ve bought (and wrap for free, which can be a huge help during the holiday season), they hold in-store book fairs to benefit your local school, and they hold weekly story times for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Independent bookstores usually have websites for online ordering, too, when you’re just too busy to get into town. To find a store near you, visit www.indiebound.org.

Bookstores and libraries also host children’s authors. Usually these events are free. And they are often much more than read-alouds. Illustrators give drawing demonstrations or do hands-on activities. Writers talk about how a book gets made, show lots of visuals, and hold themed parties. And perhaps best of all, they give children the chance to ask their favorite authors questions about their books! When I was a child, authors seemed very mysterious. I look at the children who come to events, watch them interacting with writers and illustrators, and wish I could have done that as a child.

Now I’m an author myself. In the past year and a half, I’ve had three books published, and for each one, I’ve gone to stores, libraries, and schools to talk to children about writing, give writing workshops, and answer questions about my books. And I want you to know that I still really want to talk to you and your children. There is still nothing better than seeing children get excited about a book (bonus when it’s a book I wrote, of course). So please, don’t be afraid to Google the authors of the books you read. Check out their websites and Facebook pages. See if they will come to your school or your town for a visit. Send them your child’s questions, or encourage your child to write his or her own letter. I can’t speak for all children’s authors here. Some are so inundated with mail that they can’t answer it all. But many of us would love to hear from you. We’d love to help your family connect with a book.

Bio: Jane Kohuth graduated from Brandeis University with a degree in English and Creative Writing and from Harvard Divinity School with a Master’s Degree in Theological Studies. She has worked as a Jewish educator, a children’s room library assistant, a writing teacher, and a children’s bookseller and organizer of author events. Jane’s first book, Ducks Go Vroom, was one of Parents Magazine’s 20 Best Books of 2011. Her picture book Estie the Mensch is a PJ Library selection. Her new book Duck Sock Hop will be published by Dial in May 2012 and she’ll be holding real live sock hops in stores and libraries. She also visits schools to talk to students about writing and to run writing workshops. To find out more, please visit her website, www.janekohuth.com.

Divorce is never easy.

Jessica — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:11:11 +0000

When I filed for a divorce from my husband, I thought I had it all figured out. I would get a job, pay for my divorce and raise the kids on my own. It all sounded good, at first. I never once stopped to think things through, to travel alternate paths.

My attorney took payments and when all was said and done, he sat me down in a chair to ask if I was sure that this is what I wanted. Divorce is such an ugly mess. He held onto my money and paperwork until I was certain this was what I wanted. In fact, he was even the person who recommended my husband and I try marriage counseling before going through extremes.

My husband and I had problems with communication, his job insecurity and his mental health problems. We could have easily filed for divorce, walked away from each other and split custody of the kids, but then we would have been giving up. Our goal was to give it another go, but slowly and with the help of counselor.

While marriage counseling or temporary separations may not work for everyone, they did for my family. For some couples, divorce is the only solution. That being said, I highly recommend obtaining a good attorney when the time comes. If you’re from Michigan (like myself), you’ll want an excellent attorney who knows Michigan divorce laws and if you’re from Arizona, you’ll want an attorney who knows Arizona Divorce Laws. It’s important you have someone that has your best interest at heart, especially when it comes to children, your assets and your future.

Steps You Can Take to Prepare Your Body for Pregnancy

Jessica — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:35:48 +0000

A healthy pregnancy is important for a healthy baby. And a healthy body is important for a healthy pregnancy. If you are thinking of becoming pregnant, there are a number of steps you can take to make your body healthy and better prepared for pregnancy. Often, these steps involve making sure that your hormones are balanced so that you create a healthy and fertile environment for conception.

Here are a few steps you can take to prepare your body for pregnancy and to improve your fertility:

Eat a Healthy Diet
What you eat has a significant impact on your hormonal balance and your overall health. Known hormone wreckers include alcohol, excess caffeine, sugar (including artificial sweeteners), hormone-laden meats and dairy, and processed foods.

Try to focus on eating a diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables, preferably organic. Choose lean proteins that have not been treated with hormones or other chemicals. Drink a lot of water, and reduce or cut out caffeine and alcohol.

Following these simple rules for your diet will not only improve your fertility, but it will also make your body stronger and healthier for pregnancy.

Choose Healthy Supplements
There are many supplements you can take that specifically help to both balance hormones and to prepare your body for pregnancy. Maca (a root used in South American cultures) and Vitex (from chaste berry) have both been touted as fertility-promoting supplements for their properties that help balance hormones. Both can be taken in powder or pill form.

Red raspberry leaf tea has also long been touted as a wonder tea for pregnancy, from conception to post-partum care. The tea is said to have a toning effect on the uterus, helping to strengthen the muscles to both support a healthy pregnancy and to encourage a speedier delivery with fewer complications. Experts recommend drinking a few cups a day from pre-pregnancy all the way through breastfeeding.

Exercise
Exercise is the foundation for good health, and it is critical to a healthy pregnancy. Make sure you are exercising at least a few times a week to help you get pregnant and sustain a healthy pregnancy. Exercise will not only make your body stronger, but it will also help you to reduce stress, improve your mood, and balance your hormones and other chemicals in your body.

You don’t have to run a marathon to be healthy. Walking a three to five times a week is enough to put you on the road to fitness and to reap all the benefits of exercise.

Get Plenty of Sleep
Getting 8 hours a night (or more) isn’t just for beauty! Getting enough (quality) sleep is essential to maintaining health, reducing stress, and even improving fertility. Sleep deficits have been shown to reduce fertility, increase stress, and impair healthy functioning of many of the body’s systems. Make sure you get enough sleep each night to ensure optimal health! (Catching up on the weekends doesn’t count…)

Reduce Stress
Stress is a silent killer. It affects every system of the body negatively. Your body’s stress response was designed to save you from dangerous situations – like being eaten by a bear, not being berated by your boss – but chronic exposure to stress has a debilitating effect on the body.

When you experience a stress response, your body shuts down basic “non-essential” functions such as digestion and ovulation. Yes, ovulation. Chronic stress has a direct impact on your fertility. After all, if you’re about to be eaten by a lion (the type of situation for which this system evolved), you don’t need to worry about making babies.

Improve your fertility and your overall wellness by eliminating stress where you can. Find ways to relax through meditation, exercise, increased sleep, and even a healthy diet.

Getting pregnant requires a lot more than making sure you know when you’re ovulating. You must ensure that your body is prepared by following a healthy diet, exercising, reducing stress, and getting enough sleep. Doing so will ensure that your hormones are in the right balance for fertility and that your body is healthy and strong to sustain a pregnancy.

About the author:
Sarah Rexman is the main researcher and writer for BedBugs.org. Her most recent accomplishment includes graduating from Florida State, with a master’s degree in environmental science. Her main focuses for the site involves teaching people how to eliminate a whole bed bug population as well as showing them where to find a bed bug exterminator.

Father’s Day Gift Guide: Front and Back Snugli

Jessica C — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 23:37:56 +0000

When I was first pregnant with my daughter, I knew I wanted to be a “baby-wearing mama.” I read all the pros to baby wearing, which included health benefits for mom and baby and bonding time. I even convinced my husband to do baby wearing, as it was easier and simpler when taking walks around the mall, or grocery shopping. Sometimes a stroller just wasn’t a choice for us and more of a hassle. With my daughter, we had slings and carriers. We preferred the carriers, our daughter just didn’t look comfortable in a sling and I didn’t like the way her head would touch her chest when being worn a sling. Our carriers where pink or had a girly design to it. My husband didn’t mind wearing the carriers geared toward mommy as we had a daughter. Today, I am nine months pregnant with a boy. This time around, we have been purchasing gender neutral items and more “boyish” colors. I know my husband has enjoyed the change in colors and I wanted him to be able to baby-wear our son in a more gender neutral/boyish color.

We chose the Front and Back Snugli as an option for a carrier and it’s perfect for our Father’s Day Gift Guide. The Front and Back Snugli:

*Fits babies 7-32 lbs
*Has comfortable padded shoulder straps
*Breatheable fabrics
*Easy to clean
*Adjustable back straps
*One-handeded buckle for ease of use
*Adjustable seat
*Lumbar Support to distribute weight to hips

Since baby boy hasn’t made his arrival yet, we actually attempted to use the Snugli on our daughter.

sorry for the blackout, we don’t expose our faces

She is 2 1/2 years old and 24lbs. We were not able to use the carrier for her as the carrier would not close with her in it. When attempting to use the carrier with her and multiple teddy bears and baby dolls, we discovered a lot about the Snugli we liked and disliked.

PROS:

Most carriers aren’t designed for a man’s body, it’s more geared toward the woman. The Snugli fit my husband’s body well and the straps were easy to adjust. The one-handed buckle was easy to operate and open to place our daughter inside. The adjustable seat has two adjustments that are snaps. The snaps were easy to adjust for our daughter, as she is on the bigger side. If you were using the carrier with an infant, you would want to keep the snaps on the highest level. We really liked the breathable fabric, the ability to fold the neck support down for baby to see whether being carried forward facing in front or on the back, and the lumbar support for baby.

CONS:

Even though there are two seat adjustments that grow with baby, the actual inside of the carrier doesn’t adjust. Therefore, we weren’t able to figure out how a larger baby could fit on the inside as the width stayed the same. Our daughter’s weight is 24 pounds and we weren’t able to fully close the carrier with her in it. We followed the directions and looked over all the adjustments and still could not figure out how to make the width wider for the carrier to actually close. Also, my husband found it difficult to adjust the carrier around his waist. You will need a second person to help you with the back adjustments so baby will be safe in the carrier.

OVERALL:

I believe the Snugli is a great carrier for the newborn/early baby stages. As baby grows, I believe the Snugli might be a little more difficult to use especially with the width adjustment. The price for the Snugli is less than half the price (retailing at $59.99) of most carriers, so the purchase ability is definitely more beneficial for most parents. We plan on using it for the newborn stages when our baby boy arrives.

How to Financially Prepare for Your Baby

Jessica — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 20:02:10 +0000

Now that you have a kid, it’s time to trade in that 5 year old convertible get a minivan. Bringing a child in this world is hard enough on your health and sanity; don’t make things worse for you and for your partner by acting more immature than your kid. Parenthood changes people; it brings a whole new perspective once you have accepted that a person’s life is literally in your hands. For a couple of months or even years, you are at the beck and call of that child’s every whim. Unless you are planning to be a no-good dad or an irresponsible mom (which you shouldn’t be doing!), you have to be there for your child. Things have to change around the house, and it starts with you: mom and dad.

Prepare for the baby cost.
Once you bring home your little bundle of joy, expect that you will have to shell out more money than usual. Things to add to your money expenses are: milk formula, baby clothes, diapers, food and toys. Food, diapers and formula will have to be replenished on a weekly basis, sometimes even twice a week. These are the important things that you will have to buy on a regular basis. Parents always want to have the best for their kids but if they cannot afford to get the best formula or baby food, you can always improvise. Breastfeeding is still the way to go and mashing up fruits and vegetables is way better than buying the top of the line baby food. It helps to be creative in order for you to work around your budget.

Baby’s stuff doesn’t have to be brand new.
The excitement of being a new mom and dad will make even the most hardcore penny pincher splurge while shopping for the baby. You don’t have to buy baby shoes and clothes every time. Babies grow fast during the first months, and if you bought 10 pairs of shoes, chances are; some of it won’t be opened because they no longer fit your child. There are stores that sell quality baby items that won’t cost you much. The local church usually has baby clothes available. If you’re lucky some of them may even be unopened, like the aforementioned shoes. Breast pumps can cost a pretty penny because even if mom decides to breastfeed, she has no assurance that she’ll produce milk in the long run. If you have friends or relatives that have baby things that are no longer being used, you can ask them. Babies cry because they’re either hungry, sleepy or have wet themselves not, because they’re not wearing the latest designer clothes.

Medical bills are expensive.
Having a health care plan is important to help you prepare before the big day comes. Aside from that, would-be parents should have saved up for incremental hospital payments, during and after going into labor. A hundred bucks or more for 9 months should net you at least $1000 dollars when the baby is about to come out. You should also make sure what your plan covers, because finding out that the hospital you chose is not accredited by your insurance can wipe the smile out of your face even after holding your kid for the first time.

Plan for the future.
Even though your baby still hasn’t learned to talk, it’s always advisable to start choosing a nice college plan early on. Planning ahead is always a great policy. It will save you the stress of worrying where you get the money to pay your kid’s tuition. Choosing a college plan should be scrutinized very carefully because you will be making payments for your child’s future. The thing to consider first and foremost when choosing the right educational plan is stability. There are lots of companies offering lower rates easy payment schemes but as parents you should really be careful where you’ll be putting your hard-earned money. Stability always trumps convenience and affordability, with regards to insurance and educational plans. Secondly, you should also think about how much of your monthly income you will put in the plan. This is more of a budgeting decision that parents should know. It is suggested that you should put in at 10% of your monthly income because it won’t be too high to make a dent in your finances and is not too low to have a good plan.

About the Author: Johann is a marketing consultant for Purechecks, a company where you can order checks online that have a personalized design.

Start Planning Now to Protect Your Kids from the Dual ‘Summer Slide’

Jessica — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 20:31:04 +0000

Working parents are already lining up child care plans for the summer. While they’re at it, educators say all parents of school-age children should also plan for preventing the dreaded summer slide.

“The ‘summer slide’ is the information and skills children forget during summer break from the end of one school year to the beginning of the next school year,” says Carrie Scheiner, who created Exploracise (www.exploracise.com), to provide parents and educators with award-winning products and programs that combine learning, exercise and healthy lifestyle choices.

The education slide is well-documented by numerous studies, which were synthesized in the 1990s by Harris Cooper, then a professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He found that children could forget one to three months of learning over the summer.

“While some people are aware of the learning loss, many aren’t aware that children tend to gain weight more rapidly when they’re out of school,” Scheiner says, citing a 2007 study by Paul Von Hippel of Ohio State University. “He found that kids, especially those at risk for obesity, gain as much weight during the summer as they do all school year.”

What can parents do to keep young brains and bodies engaged in healthy ways over the summer? Scheiner offers these tips:
• Journal current achievement levels. How do you know if your child is affected by summer slide if you don’t remember where they ended the year? Create a summer journal and, in the first few pages, document what they most recently learned in their major subjects. Were they adding and subtracting double-digit numbers? Doing long division? What were some of their vocabulary or spelling words? Throughout the summer you can track their progress and, at the least, maintain those levels – or maybe even move on to more challenging material.

• Try a weeklong educational day camp. We all want our kids to have fun during the summer, and they can. Enroll in the fun, active day camps that focus on art, music or swimming. But toward the end of the summer, have your children attend one week of math camp and one week of reading camp as a refresher.

• Feed the brain during free time. Kids have a lot more free time in the summer. With fewer scheduled activities, even kids who attend a camp may have more time to hang out in the evening. How can you feed their brain during this extra time? Visit the library and check out print books, audio books, educational DVDs, and even educational computer games. Many websites offer activity ideas that you and the kids can enjoy together. For instance, a free e-book, “10 Top Fun Wise Games: Making Learning Math Fun” is available at www.exploracise.com.

• ACTIVE-ate the brain. Getting active exercises both the body and the brain. Just like our body needs exercise to stay healthy, so does the brain to keep those neurons firing. Encourage kids to stay active and play outside during the summer and allow only limited, scheduled times for sedentary activities like video games or TV.

About Carrie Scheiner
Carrie Scheiner was inspired by her own children to develop the first Exploracise® program that creatively teaches math facts during a complete workout. Ms. Carrie created the award winning Exploracise® products and programs by bringing her math education background, passion for helping children and corporate expertise together to develop solutions for quality screen time, increased physical activity and kids education. Carrie Scheiner earned a bachelor’s degree in math with a minor in secondary education, and a master’s in statistics from Rutgers University.

7 Techniques for Keeping Your Kids Safe at Home

Jessica — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:00:16 +0000

You’re a cautious parent. You don’t let your children wander too far when you’re at the grocery store, and you have talks with them about stranger danger. You’ve helped them get into the habit of checking both ways before they cross the street, and running with scissors is straight out.
While we tend to feel like our homes are a refuge from the world (and they certainly should be) we often don’t think about the dangers our children can face while inside those familiar walls. There are a number of important steps you need to take in order to keep your kids safe at home, as well. Some include:

Secure your home’s exterior. There are nefarious people out there who want to take your stuff and harm your family. Most of us go through life, thankfully, without ever actually encountering them. However, home invasions do happen. You need to make sure that your home is safe from predators. Home security cameras, surveillance equipment, and a high-quality home security system can all help to make your home a safer place. Today’s home security technology can even allow you to remotely access cameras in your home via your smart phone or computer, making for some truly useful options.

Identify and secure dangerous objects. Obvious you’re not going to leave a cleaver laying on the carpet just inches from your now-crawling baby. However, you might not think about storing that knife somewhere out of reach of your toddler. It’s not just knives, either; you need to think about the various appliances and electrical equipment you might have in your home. Just because you have outlet covers on all of your outlets doesn’t mean your little one can’t reach over and start chewing on the cord to your lamp.

Beware of falling objects. That lamp can pose another threat, as well. Even if your child is too old to decide to chew on the cord, he could trip on it and bring the lamp crashing down on top of his head. The same goes for that TV on a stand. Consider attaching your television securely to the wall with mounting brackets, and make sure anything that’s heavy isn’t stored in a precarious positions where it could be tipped over or fall from a height.

Be picky about who cares for your child. It’s a startling and sad fact: the majority of non-parental abuse cases that wind up occurring in our society come not from strangers, but from friends and family. Think carefully about who you let watch your child. If there’s a doubt in your mind, follow your instinct. You can also add another layer of protection here by popping in on a babysitter unannounced, or even by using your home security or “nanny cam” cameras to keep an eye on things while you’re out.

Shield your children from the worst of the Internet. There was a time when Internet filtering software couldn’t keep up very well with the creativity of adult-related websites, spammers, and more. Today, however, you have plenty of options. It’s not hard at all to lock down your computer and restrict it to family-friendly sites. Do keep in mind that children are clever, and that sometimes they’ll try to find a way around these measures.

Educate your child about safety issues. From a young age, parents are in the business of helping their children learn about safety. Simply saying “No!” when the child reaches for an outlet is, in some ways, doing safety training. As your children grow, talk to them about what to do in certain safety-related situations. Help them understand how and when to use 911, and how to get help in an emergency.

Have and practice a disaster plan. Your children should know what to do if there’s a fire in your house. Talk about how to recognize if there’s a fire on the other side of a doorway. Arrange a safe meeting spot for when there’s a disaster. Have drills at least a couple of times a year where your family enacts what they would do if an emergency hit. It might feel a little bit corny, but the fact is this kind of preparation can save your child’s life.

Our instinct, of course, is to wrap our children in bubble wrap and hide them away. While good parents know that’s not the right thing to do, they also do what they can to insure their children’s safety both inside and outside the home.

Author bio
Greg Robinson is the Social Media Coordinator at Vuezone.com, a completely wireless personal remote video monitoring network that is often used as a pet cam, nanny cam, or just to keep an eye on what you care about most while you’re away.

Simple Interventions that Help Parents Educate Children with Autism

Jessica — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:00:11 +0000

Parenting a child with autism can be both rewarding and stressful. While parents know their child best, they may not be aware of easy-to-use interventions that can help make a meaningful difference in their child’s behavior. Parents who educate themselves about tools for teaching children with autism also help alleviate many of the stressors that are common in a family with a child with autism. Below are some simple interventions that parents can use throughout the day.

1: Support Pivotal Response Treatment
One of today’s most popular and effective treatments for children with autism, Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT), uses natural learning opportunities to target and modify key behaviors, leading to rapid and sweeping behavior changes. Now parents can learn all the basics of PRT and support this treatment for their children with The PRT Pocket Guide: Pivotal Response Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorders, a quick and practical guidebook by PRT developers Robert and Lynn Koegel. Packed with helpful tips and vivid examples based on actual children, this concise how-to guide reveals the secrets to motivating children with natural reinforcers, reducing disruptive behavior, encouraging communication and social initiations, helping families weave interventions into daily routines, and more.

2: Increase attention
The ability to focus on a specific task to completion is a foundational skill for life. Whether it is cleaning up their room or calling a friend for a play date, children rely on direction from others and the ability to execute those directions within themselves. Parents can help increase their child’s attention span and ability to follow directions with the software program, HearBuilder Following Directions Home Edition. Created by Super Duper Publications, it covers 40 basic concepts that help children ages 4-9 (grades PreK-3) improve their ability to listen to and follow directions while they play fun interactive games. This researched-based program automatically adjusts the difficulty level based on the child’s performance in the program.

3: Sustain engagement
As many children on the spectrum tend to focus on their own individual interests before those of others around them, it is imperative that parents and family members create positive memories and engage in activities that will cause their child to develop a vested interest in the world around them. Games can be a great way to engage a child, but oftentimes can be confusing and overwhelming for children with autism. With MagneTalk Turns and Topics, a magnetic board game for children with autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), children are able to have fun, increase concentration and communication skills, and learn basic game playing. The game offers four magnetic boards that increase in difficulty.

4: Use interests as a learning tool
Many children with autism develop an acute curiosity in a specific topic, interest or subject area. Engage your child in meaningful play by using her natural fascinations and interests as an opportunity to learn. One common fascination in children with autism is trains. Author and inclusion expert Paula Kluth has created a book that teaches vocabulary by using a child’s fascination with trains in “A is for ‘All Aboard!’” Published by Brookes Publishing Co., the book includes steps for using the book as a teaching tool as the child’s skills progress.

5: Foster social skills
Developing key social skills and the ability to relate to others requires age appropriate and contextual dialogue. Often children with ASDs have a difficult time developing these skills and lacking these skills prevents them from interacting with peers and the world around them. With the Practicing Pragmatics App, children learn age-appropriate behaviors and responses through social skills questions about politeness, solving problems, feelings, giving information, requesting information, telephone skills and staying on topic.

By learning how to support the treatments your child receives and how to best expand their learning throughout the day, you are ensuring that you will have happy and stress-free days with your child.

Do You Think Your Baby’s Got Bounce? Enter to win $500 towards Higher Education

Jessica C — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:36:57 +0000

When my daughter was six months old we purchased an Exersaucer for her. She loved to bounce and enjoyed all the activities on the Exersaucer. It was great for cooking time, entertainment, and for her to “exercise.” Now with baby number two on the way, we will be purchasing another Exersaucer just for him.

In honor of its new ExerSaucer Jump & Learn, Evenflo is calling all moms, dads and caregivers to submit videos of their little tikes jumping – in or out of an ExerSaucer – for a chance to win an ExerSaucer Jump & Learn Jam Session and $500 towards higher education (children 4+ months to walking age will be a natural in this contest, because let’s face it…babies love to jump!).

Just like the prize package, the new ExerSaucer Jump & Learn line is designed to help ‘jump start’ baby’s future by helping him reach his developmental milestones with new jump and spin actions that strengthen neck, back and neck muscles. For parents who can watch their cute, little kangaroo jump all around, this is their chance to have ultimate bragging rights.

At the end of the contest, the video with the most votes will win, so it is important to share your submitted videos with friends and family to help ‘jump start’ your own chances of winning! Come back daily to vote on your video, see other cute competitors, and learn savvy parenting tips and tricks on the EvenfloBaby Facebook wall.

Entry into this contest is as easy as 1-2-3:

1) Visit the EvenfloBaby Facebook page “ExerSaucer“ tab (http://on.fb.me/H9b2a6)

2) Register, accept contest terms/conditions and upload a short video of your child jumping in or out of an ExerSaucer (videos should feature children 4+ months to walking years of age, and be less than 3 minutes and 80 MB)

3) Vote!

The Evenflo’s ExerSaucer ‘Jump Start’ Video Contest is open NOW and closes at 11:59 p.m. Eastern on April 30, 2012. No purchase necessary to win.

Information provided by Evenflo. There was no compensation for publishing the information.

Disney Baby Celebrates 1 Million Facebook Likes/Sweepstakes

Jessica C — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:01:18 +0000

Disney Consumer Products announced that its Disney Baby Facebook page has reached and surpassed more than 1 million Likes in just fourteen months, making Disney Baby the fourth most popular baby brand on Facebook. To celebrate this social media landmark, Disney Baby will release a special tribute video to thank its Facebook community and after much demand is also launching a new Facebook sweepstakes series with coveted Disney Baby products as prizes. To further engage its loyal Facebook community, Disney Baby also
announced the addition of its new Disney Momgineers tab, making the Disney Baby Facebook experience more interactive, conversational and informative.

For more about the weekly prizes and video, please visit http://www.facebook.com/DisneyBaby.

copied press release

Helping Children Succeed.

Jessica — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 14:48:36 +0000

Growing up, I was always a fairly above average student. I was interested in learning and had a passion for finding answers/solutions to things that I did not already know. It was not until I hit junior high that I began to struggle and lose my way. I was still excelling in my History, Spanish, English, most of my Science and other non-mandatory classes. Math had become my enemy and my teachers did not make it any better. They were not there to help struggling students, they were there to help those that were already succeeding.

After the first quarter of the school year was over, I finally reached out to my parents. I wanted to be certain that I could not do this on my own before involving them– stupid choice. My parents were more than happy to help me and started “shopping” around for after school math help programs, tutors or extra instruction I could take to help me along the way. They went so far as talking to the principal to see if I could step down from that math class into a less intense one.

Should my children encounter the same struggles I was having in school, I am fully prepared to get them the help that they need. In fact, they already play around with the program I was looking at using- Dreambox. They absolutely love this program and so do I. It’s super educational, easy to use and fun at the same time. I highly recommend it for those you who are concerned or just want to help encourage your child’s love of learning.

It’s not the easiest thing in the world to admit that you’re struggling or that you need help, but trust me, it’s worth it in the long run. When I look back at my junior high years or even high school years, I can honestly say that I’m glad I admitted that I was struggling and needed the help. Having someone tease me about needing help is way less painful than not getting the help that I need. Had I not stepped up to the plate and said something, I would never have finished my college courses. Heck, I’m not even sure I would have MADE it to college.

If you are struggling with homework or know someone that is, please find them help. They will thank you later, I promise!

Table for Six an Interesting Dating Service

Jessica — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:10:51 +0000

Sometimes I get so caught up in my day-to-day life that single life seems like a distant memory. However, I’m very aware that some of my single friends would like to move into a committed relationship.

So it was with quite a bit of excitement that I read an email from my friend Susie who lives in Mountain View. She messaged me a few weeks ago that she was trying out a new dating service. I was especially pleased because Susie is quite shy and I knew that she was having a lot of trouble making that first step into dating, much less finding a committed relationship.

The program is called Table for Six. Instead of throwing two people who’ve never met each other together on a “date” and hoping that they hit it off, Table for Six organizes dinner parties for six local singles who they match according to ages, interests, professional backgrounds and relationship expectations.

The idea behind the program seems pretty sound and from all of the Table for Six reviews that I’ve read, is successful. Table for Six allows people to get to know each other in a relaxed setting, together with a friendly group. That way, if sparks fly between two participants, they can continue dating on their own. And if there is no chemistry between any of the six participants, they’ll all move on to another dating encounter with other people.

Susie said that she’s already met someone special. I’m planning on telling my other California friends about the program.

The Top Five Ways to Get Kids Ready for School

Jessica — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 16:37:45 +0000

Every parent knows the anxiety that comes with having children. After all, they don’t come with instruction manuals and while there are a host of resources available to parents, everyone will wonder if they are doing everything right. As the time gets closer to sending them off to school, mothers and fathers want to know what they should do to prepare their children for this transition. There are many simple, fun things to do, so read on!

1. Talk to Your Children–All the Time!
This is of the most important things a parent can do. It has to start from infancy and keep on going. It doesn’t matter that little ones can’t talk back at first. They learn by example and if they are immersed in rich conversations with their family members, they’ll pick up what they need to know, and lay the groundwork for healthy relationships throughout elementary, middle and high school. As they start asking millions of questions, parents need to keep answering. Also, if close friends and family members remark about a child’s speech being unique, parents need to be proactive and ask their family doctor about recommendations for an evaluation and services. Free services are provided for children up to school age and then by the school once they begin. The earlier any problems are corrected, the better, so that your students can be able and confident once they get to school!

2. Go Places
Children need to be exposed to new activities and environments before heading to school. Mini-field trips can happen on a regular basis. Simple things like the post office and the grocery store are great to show them the world. Taking a walk around the neighborhood and talking about what they see will give them background knowledge. Go to the fire department or the shopping mall. Take trips to the city and the country. Let children go to the park, museums, and the movies. Take them somewhere to listen to music, such as a concert. Visit the library. Give them knowledge to take with them to school, so that they will not only be comfortable in a new situation, but curious about new situations.

3. Read
Reading to children every day is essential. It helps build the awareness and skills needed to be successful. At least 20 minutes daily is recommended. Even if they are antsy, make sure to take the time. Instead of food or video games, give books as gifts for special occasions. Visit the book store and a story hour. Make a big deal about reading at home. Let children see the adults reading as well. A bed time story is a great tradition that can continue for years.

4. Color, Draw and Write
Make sure children have access to writing and drawing materials. Model it for them, sit down and color with them, and talk about the letters, colors, and numbers as they come up. Get children’s scissors and glue sticks in on the act too. Let them be creative and make projects. They’ll start building skills and knowledge so they have a creative foundation to build upon in school, and the confidence to express themselves freely.

5. Play
Children learn through play. They need to spend as much time as possible being active. Make sure they get outside on a regular basis for fresh air and to keep their bodies healthy. It will help keep parents in shape as well. If weather doesn’t permit, still take time to play inside as well. Children will grow even when amusing themselves.

Tim Heitzman spends his time writing, traveling, cooking & frequenting www.travelinsurance.org.

After-Dark Treats For You (and your partner)

Jessica — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 16:29:32 +0000

The joy you get from being a mother is unparalleled, but there are times when you want time to yourself, or between you and your partner. Being a mom is hard work, and the need to cut loose and treat yourself grows with each passing day. Buying a gift for you could be the way to treat you, but, if you’re in a relationship, there’s no reason why your man should miss out. Purchasing something like crotchless knickers could be the answer.

Gifts for the bedroom like sexy lingerie or more risqué items like rampant rabbit vibrators might seem inappropriate, but part of being a good mom is being able to relax and make time for you and your hubby. Adult gifts can be bought from an online store such as Ann Summers, all of which are designed to spice up any relationship, no matter how stale it may have become.

Purchasing anything you think will enhance your love life is worth a shot. Sex toys, lingerie and even sexy board games and literature might have been made solely with women in mind, but there’s no reason why your husband or boyfriend can’t share in the fun. For example, using sex toys during foreplay is one way where you can both use them.

Stores like Ann Summers often have a reputation for selling sleazy products that don’t fit in with the fabric of family life. Opposition to them can be fierce, as Police are investigating a fire that gutted a ‘marital aid’ shop in Syndey, Australia. However, many of them sell products which are comfortable, great to look at and, most importantly of all, fun.

Crotchless knickers, if made with the finest material and in the right colours, can look incredibly alluring. Why not buy a pair for a special occasion such as Valentine’s Day or even an anniversary? Your partner is more than likely to show their appreciation. The same goes for other items of lingerie like bras, panties, thongs and more unusual items like basques and corsets.

Having children is usually seen as a sign that their mother’s sex life is over. However, this isn’t the case. If you have young kids who have early bedtimes, then there’s no reason why you and your loved one can’t indulge in a little love. While kids need attention, you need some too, and buying adult gifts for yourself could be the answer.

Disney Baby Finding Nemo Bath Tub

Jessica C — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 01:05:10 +0000

Disney products has always been my favorite, even as a child. I remember having Mickey and Minnie toys while growing up and have always loved the Disney movies. My mom started collecting all the Disney VHS tapes when I was younger and now that I have a two year old daughter and a baby boy on the way, I am able to share the Disney adventures with my children. My daughter already enjoys Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Finding Nemo, and all the classics such as The Lion King, Cinderella, and Bambi. With my daughter, we decorated her room and bought girly baby gear. We are excited to welcome a baby boy into the family and have decided to go with an underwater theme for his room and baby gear.

In February Disney Baby announced their expansion into Mealtime, Bathtime, Nursery, and Apparel. From Simba in the Nursery to Nemo in the tub, the adorable all-new collections are organized around the key moments in mom and baby’s day to make everyday moments even more magical. Some products included in the new expansion are:

Lion King 4-Piece Crib Bedding Set

The Lion King 4-piece Crib Bedding Set by Kisline includes an appliquéd quilt, a 4-piece bumper, a dust ruffle, and a 100% cotton crib sheet. Each piece helps tell one of Disney’s most beloved stories through unique patterns, prints and designs.

Winnie the Pooh Bouncer

This adorable Winnie the Pooh and Friends Bouncer features a large seat and deluxe fabrics to make Baby comfy and cozy while she bounces. Bouncer comes equipped with seven melodies, volume control and vibration with auto-shut off as well as soft hanging characters.

Minnie Mouse Stroller

This plum colored Minnie Mouse lightweight stroller by Graco features a one second, single step fold that makes life on-the-go a lot less hectic, while Minnie makes it a lot more adorable too. And since the stroller can accommodate your “mini mouse” as she grows (up to 50lbs), Baby will “stroll in style” for years to come. Plus there’s a parent tray, so the everyday essentials can come along for the ride.

My favorite time is bath time with my children. I enjoy the quality time and the bonding experience with bath time. My daughter has been bathed every single night before bedtime and it has been a routine that has stuck in our family. Bath time relaxes her, helps her wind down, and get prepared for bed. We have a routine of bathing, lotion/massage, reading books, and singing songs before we lay her down in bed. We want to continue the same routine with our baby boy. Therefore, I absolutely fell in love with the Disney Baby Finding Nemo bath tub.

The Finding Nemo bath tub is made by Summer Infant and features a soft, newborn sling that can be removed as your baby grows, a fun and engaging toy bar with removable hanging toys, a water wheel and a parent assist tray for easy storage of bath time necessities. The bath tub can be used from birth to toddler stages.

My daughter instantly fell in love with the tub and hopped in it to give it a test. Of course at her age and being used to the big bath tub, bathing her in the Finding Nemo Bath Tub would be difficult, even though she is two years of age. The tub was easy to put together and the sling was sturdy enough to hold a good amount of books, toy blocks, and other items my daughter could find to place on top of it. The tub is designed with Finding Nemo characters is blue in color which can be neutral for a boy or a girl and the toy bar features a squirt toy, a waterfall wheel and a toy that creates a waterfall effect for baby. One of my favorite features is the parent assist tray. Not only does the parent assist tray hold necessities for bath time, but it also helps with rinsing.

When being used with a toddler, the toy bar actually folds down and toddler can still interact with the toys. My favorite features while being used with a toddler is the soap holder. The turtle hanging from the toy bar with the waterwheel attached becomes a soap holder when being used with a toddler. Even though my toddler would not be comfortable being bathed in the Finding Nemo Bath Tub (or any toddler bath tub for that matter), I do believe we will attempt to use the Finding Nemo Bath Tub until he’s at least 12 months of age. Of course, if he enjoys it, we will keep him in there even longer.

Of course, as a parent we always need to remember the “Dont’s” of using a bathtub with our children.

*Do not put more than one inch of water in bathtub
*Do not leave child unattended
*Do not pick up bathtub by toy bar – the toy bar will actually come off if you attempt this

DO have fun with your baby/toddler, let them interact with the toys and make bath time a fun, exciting adventure for the both of you.

Disclosure: I did receive the Born Free Classic Bottle Gift Set free in order to try the product and form an opinion for this review. I was not compensated in any other manner. The opinions expressed above are my own any claims should be verified on the sponsor’s site.

NIET – Insuring Our Children’s Education Gets Better

Jessica — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 20:18:43 +0000

Our children’s education is a prime concern for everyone, including both for parents and members of the larger community. We all want to ensure that our community provides the best advantages for our youngsters. Many of us have our own ideas about how to improve educational facilities and facilitators while others simply watch from the sidelines. Providing a sound education is the best way of guaranteeing that each child has the resources to reach his or her greatest potential.

A new national initiative is drawing attention to the possibilities that open up when efforts are made to build educators’ teaching skills and reward successful teachers for a job well done. This initiative, “The System for Teacher and Student Advancement” (TAP) employs innovative methods which aim to attract talented teachers to the classroom and retain them in their roles as educators. Education reformer Lowell Milken initiated this creative program which subsequently merged with the National Institute for Excellent in Teaching (NIET), a recognized teacher support organization.

Among the strategies that TAP utilizes to attain its goals include helping schools to reorganize the daily schedule in order to facilitate peer planning sessions among teaching staff, facilitating peer mentoring among teaching staff and providing opportunities, such as career advancements, so that teachers continue to grow as professionals in their field.

The TAP system is based on research and utilizes proven strategies to assure success. The TAP assessment tool, Teaching Skills, Knowledge and Responsibility Standards, evaluates students’ academic growth in schools where TAP is implemented. Teachers receive compensation when their students demonstrate improvement and earn additional salary when they accept added roles and responsibilities within the school.

The news media seems to focus on the failings of our educational system. Hearing about a program that works is like a breath of fresh air for the entire community.

What You Can Learn from Girl Scouts Selling Cookies

Jessica — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 09:22:02 +0000

Often, parents claim the title of head salesperson when their children start a fundraising campaign. But according to Maribeth Kuzmeski, a stack of order forms can be a great opportunity to help your child learn a variety of valuable skills—if you help her to take the lead herself.

The campaigning begins around this time every year. (And no, we’re not talking about politicians.) They take over storefronts, go door-to-door, and post mouthwatering photos on Facebook, mounting a sales effort that no cookie-loving human can resist. You guessed it: It’s Girl Scout cookie time, otherwise known as the annual fundraiser during which parents of Girl Scouts make it a personal goal to outsell their competition…other parents of Girl Scouts.

And no, that isn’t a typo. Just a bold declaration of reality, says Maribeth Kuzmeski. The truth is, sometimes parents miss out on teachable moments for their kids because it’s easier (and dare we say it, a source of personal satisfaction?) for them to take the reins.

“I had always taken for granted that parents would be the real driving force behind most youngsters’ sales until I heard what a friend did with her six-year-old’s Girl Scout cookie campaign,” shares Kuzmeski, author of the new book The Engaging Child: Raising Children to Speak, Write, and Have Relationship Skills Beyond Technology (Red Zone Publishing, 2012, ISBN: 978-0-9717780-3-0, $18.95). “Then I realized that this annual race for cookie orders could be a great opportunity for parents to teach their daughters the fundamentals of effective communication.”

Giving parents the tools they’ll need to help their children develop a strong ability to connect with others is the focus of Kuzmeski’s latest book. As a bonus, the author’s seventeen-year-old daughter, Lizzie, wrote the last two chapters. They are meant to be read by Lizzie’s fellow teens and tweens in order to provide a peer’s perspective on the elements of building and maintaining real relationships in a wired and fast-paced world.

“The next time your Girl Scout brings home order forms, don’t sell the cookies for her,” Kuzmeski recommends. “Instead, look at the sales campaign as an opportunity to help her develop connecting and relationship-building skills that will serve her well throughout her life, long after her cookie-peddling days are over. And keep in mind that the benefits I’m talking about aren’t limited to Girl Scouts and cookies, either—they apply to any fundraising campaign that any child might participate in.”

Here are six important lessons you can teach your daughter thanks to Girl Scout cookies:

Master the art of the sale. First, make sure your daughter understands all the products she’s selling. In this case, just know the names of each cookie and a little bit about them, as well as the price of each. Of course, there are different age ranges of Girl Scouts, so if your daughter is very young, it’s okay to supervise and help her as she makes her pitch. You’ll notice that she’ll get better and better at making the sale every year!

“Help your child practice an elevator speech during which she describes her favorite cookie to a potential buyer, then quiz her on the other types of cookies she’s selling,” Kuzmeski suggests. “Then teach her the basics of taking orders, like making change, collecting contact info, etc. Knowing how to pitch her product and wrap up a sale will be a huge boost to her self-confidence. And customers will be impressed by her initiative, too!”

Face-to-face connections provide the best results. One Girl Scout parent posted a photo of her adorable kid holding a box of Girl Scout cookies on Facebook and simply collected all her daughter’s cookie orders that way. But when you take this path, notes Kuzmeski, your child misses out on learning how to really connect with people in person.

“No matter how all-encompassing technology becomes, I believe that all of life’s key interactions—personal and business—will continue to happen face-to-face,” shares Kuzmeski. “Your daughter is in a great position to develop her communication skills, because most people love talking with kids, so her interactions with potential customers will be positive. This will give her a chance to get to know her neighbors and work on her face-to-face communication skills.”

Understanding the mission is key. People tend to do their best work when they are driven by a purpose that is bigger than themselves. And that applies to kids, too! Teach your Girl Scout that she isn’t just selling cookies for the sake of selling cookies. It’s to support the Girl Scout mission.

“Explain to your Girl Scout that selling cookies helps to make it possible for her troop to do all of the activities she enjoys,” Kuzmeski recommends. “Make sure she understands where the money from the cookies goes, and that she can explain this to potential customers. Perhaps she could share her favorite things to do with her troop!”

Phone skills still matter. It’s not always possible to make every sales pitch face-to-face. But instead of going the social media route, put your daughter on the phone. This is a great opportunity to help her fine-tune her phone skills and manners.

“Help her figure out a phone script in which she asks important questions,” says Kuzmeski. “She should lead off with, ‘Is this a good time for you?’ Then, have her explain what she’s selling, for how much, and when it will be delivered.”

Responsibility is in the details. Selling Girl Scout cookies doesn’t end when you tally the order on your sales sheet. It ends when the cookies are successfully delivered to the customer.

“Teach your daughter that it’s very important that she makes sure everyone’s order is correct and that each one is delivered to the right customer in a timely fashion,” stresses Kuzmeski. “Making sure that all loose ends are effectively and efficiently tied up is another skill that will serve her well throughout her life.”

Creating customer loyalty can have a big payoff. Once the cookies are delivered and all the money has been collected, work with your daughter to create a customer loyalty list she can use next year. Help her make a list of special details about each customer so that she can refer to it when making the rounds the next year.

“For instance, she might say, ‘Mrs. Smith, it’s Girl Scout cookie time again! Oh and by the way, how’s your dog? I’ve wanted to get a Pomeranian ever since I met Fluffy,’” Kuzmeski suggests. “When she remembers unique things about each customer, your daughter will be excited to see them again. Plus, she’ll learn that when you take the time to nurture relationships, they become easier and more fun to manage.”

“Make sure your daughter understands, every step of the way, that it isn’t primarily about how many cookies she sells,” Kuzmeski concludes. “It’s about learning to build relationships. The added bonus, of course, is that when she takes this approach, she really will see results. And she’ll have the great feeling that comes with knowing the victory isn’t Mom’s or Dad’s…it’s all hers.”

About the Authors:
Maribeth Kuzmeski, MBA, CSP, is the author of six books including The Engaging Child, …And the Clients Went Wild! (Wiley), and The Connectors (Wiley), and is a frequent national media contributor and international speaker. Maribeth and her firm, Red Zone Marketing, Inc., consult and train businesses from financial services firms to Fortune 500 corporations on strategic marketing planning and business growth. She has personally consulted with some of the world’s most successful CEOs, entrepreneurs, and professionals. Maribeth lives in the Chicago, IL, area with her husband and two teenagers.

Lizzie Kuzmeski is a teenager and a natural connector. She enjoys theatre, horseback riding, and, yes, Facebook.

mimijumi: “Very Hungry” Bottle Giveaway

Jessica C — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:00:15 +0000

Many mothers look forward to breast feeding, I know I did with my first child. I purchased all the necessities: breast pump, bottles, nursing pads, nursing cover, and nipple cream. I never knew breast feeding would be an adventure for my daughter and I. My daughter was born a preemie. Therefore, she really didn’t have a sucking reflex and it was hard for her to latch. Even though I was able to breast feed with a nipple shield, it was easier for her to take from the bottle. Once the bottle was introduced, she started to refuse the breast because of nipple confusion. It was a roller coaster road for us and I ended up giving her formula and a bottle for the rest of her babyhood stage.

Now that I am pregnant with baby number two, breast feeding is an option I am considering. This time around, I’m not totally committed to it as I know the possibilities of having issues with breast feeding. But, to prepare myself, I have been looking into bottles that will cause less nipple confusion. I was introduced to the mimijumi “Very Hungry” bottle and had the opportunity to review one. The mimijumi is designed by a physician father and a psychiatrist. The mimijumi is manufactured in Austria, made from Swiss polyamide plastic and German medical grade silicone to ensure a toxin free feeding experience without BPA, lead or other contaminants. The nipple is soft silicone, colored to resemble skin, and has an integrated ventilation system to aid in baby’s digestion. I was very impressed with the quality, design, and durability.

First off, the design of the nipple mimics the shape of a breast nipple. When drinking from the bottle, baby will latch on to the nipple of a mimijumi just like they would latch onto their mother’s breast. My favorite part: baby must latch on to the nipple to make the bottle express milk, exactly what happens during breast feeding. After trying many bottles with my first child, none of them had this amazing feature to help mom’s who struggle to breastfeed.

My second favorite feature is the super wide mouth on the bottle which makes it easier for pouring and for cleaning. I compared the mimijumi to Avent bottles, and the wide mouth definitely helps with less spillage especially when it is late at night and you are trying to prepare a bottle for a hungry baby. Also, the wide mouth feature makes it easier for cleaning. My husband has larger hands than I do and scrubbing the inside of a bottle can be difficult without a bottle brush. The mimijumi is wide enough for him to wash the inside of the bottle with a washcloth and dish soap.

Lastly, the mimijumi is extremely durable. We tested the durability on our two year old daughter. When our daughter was younger, we were always replacing nipples during teething stages. She would bite into the nipple and the nipple would tear causing us to replace them more often than we wanted. When the mimijumi arrived, I let her explore the bottle herself. She chewed on the nipple and pulled it with her teeth, after five minutes there was no damage. I was extremely impressed and it was definitely approved for our household.

mimijumi has partnered with Pajama Mommy to giveaway two mimijumi bottles to one lucky reader! The “Very Hungry” baby bottle (8oz) and nipples retail for $14.99 and the “Not So Hungry” baby bottle (4oz) retails for $14.99.

Disclosure: I received one mimijumi bottle free in order to try the product and form an opinion for this review. I was not compensated in any other manner. The opinions expressed above are my own any claims should be verified on the sponsor’s site.

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Finding Your Prince in a Sea of Toads: What Dads Wish They Could Tell Their Daughters

Jessica — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 11:00:29 +0000

While most dads would rather watch a Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants marathon than talk to their teenage daughters about sex and relationships, Dr. Kenneth Ryan, father of three girls, never runs away from the talk. As a relationship expert, Dr. Ryan seeks to help parents have normal, comfortable conversations about these important life topics. No one feels the pain of a bad boyfriend more than the dad so start talking before she has a boyfriend – before her mind turns to mush.

According to Dr. Ryan, one of the most common mistakes parents tend to make is lecturing instead of conversing. Since parents often feel strongly about the issues, we sometimes try to hammer home our point without really listening and understanding what our daughter is thinking. Ask open ended questions that begin with what,why and tell me.

Another common problem is awkward conversations. Nobody wants awkward conversations, but what can you do? Discussing touchy topics can be less threatening if you talk about a celebrity or a person you both know rather than yourselves. Honesty and humor are essential. Teens can smell BS from a mile away so give it to them straight. She wants and needs the truth. Don’t take yourselves too seriously. A light touch makes conversations more fun and encouraging. She must know, without a doubt, that you are on her side.

The third mistake dads make is assuming their daughters will not listen to them. Unless your relationship has gone seriously toxic, most children really do care what their parents think. However, sometimes it takes them a while to process challenging ideas. We don’t want our daughters to go out and make big mistakes because we didn’t have the courage to tell them the hard truths. Your own mistakes in life do not disqualify you from sharing your wisdom and insight.

To get the conversation started, share one of these concepts with your daughter and ask what she thinks of it. Does she agree or disagree? Why? What examples has she seen in people around her?

1. Lips are your secret weapon – Learning to converse easily with guys is one of the most important skills you can learn. Guys like being with girls who make conversation easy and interesting. Conversation is a skill you can learn just like playing the piano. If you practice, you can get good at it.

2. Fateful Attraction – Attraction cannot be forced or faked but it can be influenced. Physical attraction will fade if you do not have an attraction based on character and personality.

3. Dump the guy Humanely – Men want to know the truth so if it’s not going to work, tell him so he can deal with it and move on. He would rather know where he really stands than get dragged along. Sandwich the bad news between a couple of compliments. Be gentle but direct.

4. You can’t put a condom on your heart – Contrary to popular opinion, your heart is at just as much risk as your reproductive system. Since you can’t put a condom on your heart, safe sex is a myth. A girl’s heart is at much greater risk than the guy’s.

5. Sex is like Duct Tape – Sex is meant to help one couple bond together permanently for life. Each time it is used outside of marriage, it loses some of its stickiness.

6. Guys say “love” to get sex. Girls give sex to get love. Sorry girls, sex won’t buy you genuine love. It is very easy for men to have sex without love or commitment but women violate their own inner voice of sanity and femininity when they have sex without commitment. His self esteem may go up but yours will go down. Perhaps it’s not fair but that’s how it is.

7. Sex causes blindness - Sex helps married people overlook each other’s faults. Unfortunately, it has the same effect on single people, often causing them overlook critical flaws and make a poor choice of who they marry. Does he truly love you or does he love having sex with you? That’s the million dollar question and sex can give both of you fuzzy vision and confusion. “Keep your eyes wide open before marriage and half shut afterward” – Ben Franklin.

8. Intended for pleasure – Sex is part of the superglue of marriage. Surfaces must be clean and dry for good adhesion. Marriage is tough and you need as much going in your favor as possible. If you ruin the magic of sex by treating it like a meaningless toy, you are heading into marriage with one strike against you. Sex is a big deal in marriage and you need the magic.

9. Never buy a swimsuit at a Hardware store – Your shopping instinct easily steers you away from the hardware store when you need a new suit but your man instinct is letting you down if it takes you to bars and clubs with the hope of finding good husband prospects. It’s a needle in a haystack if you are hoping for a quality hubby. Flashy moves and smooth talk won’t mean a thing when your kid is throwing up in the middle of the night.

10. Lifestyles of the Rich, famous and confused – Famous people are no smarter than you when in comes to relationships. In fact, they are more likely to have a warped perspective of reality. They are not necessarily a reliable role model and they won’t tell the interviewer the real problems in their life. Smiling celebrity photos today, divorce tomorrow.

So…Don’t run away from the conversation, get one started.

About Dr. Kenneth Ryan

Dr. Ryan is a relationship expert and author of Finding Your Prince in a Sea of Toads: How to Find a Quality Guy Without Getting Your Heart Shredded. He and his wife have counseled engaged couples about sex for over 10 years. (www.FindingYourPrince.com)

ChildMinder Smart Clip System Review and Giveaway

Jessica C — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 04:12:51 +0000

Have you ever heard on the news about a child being left in the car and a fatal accident occurred? As a parent, you think “that could never happen to me,” or “I would never leave my child in a car!” In the past year, there have been two incidents in my hometown where a child was left in a car with the temperatures above 90 outside. Being a parent myself, I grieve for the families. Did you know with both incidences, a parent was not the person who left the child in their car? With both incidences it was a grandparent. I was reading a news article where one of the grandparents said she forgot the grandchild was in the car because she was not use to having the baby in the car with her, it was actually the first time. She started off with her normal morning routine of getting ready, going to work, and forgot to drop the child off at daycare.

The stories break my heart. Therefore, I was more than willing to spread the word about a new device, The ChildMinder Smart Clip System. The ChildMinder System will greatly reduce the opportunity for a child to be left in a vehicle.

WHAT IS IN THE BOX?

The ChildMinder Smart Clip System comes with two pieces and two batteries. One of the pieces in the system is the Smart Clip. The Smart Clip will replace your child’s safety seat chest clip with the Smart Clip. This process says it takes three minutes to install. It did take us a little longer, because we had to find our manual to remove the car seats safety seat chest clip. Make sure you read the manual on your car seat and do not attempt this yourself. The Smart Clip will not compromise the integrity your existing child safety seat. The clip is extremely light weight and our child did not know any difference with having the Smart Clip on instead of the existing safety chest clip.

The second piece to the system is the key ring alarm. The key ring alarm is a small, light weight alarm that fits on your key ring. The key ring takes less than one minute to install and doesn’t hold down your key when in ignition. The system will come with two batteries to get you started.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Now, you are probably wondering how this system works. First off, the Smart Clip is activated once it is fastened. Therefore, if you walk away from your vehicle for more than six seconds and at fifteen feet, the key alarm will be activated and will let remind parents/caregivers of the child being left in the vehicle.

You are probably thinking “I’ll never leave my child in the car.” It can happen and 33 children died of hyperthermia in 2011 alone because of being left in the vehicle. I am a stay at home mom and I am used to having my child attached to my hip. On the other hand, it’s uncommon for my husband or my mom to have our daughter in the vehicle with them. Therefore, purchasing the ChildMinder for a caregiver, nanny, mother in law, friend, or relative isn’t a bad idea even if as a parent you think you would never do it.

Disclosure: I received the ChildMinder Smart Clip System free in order to try the product and form an opinion for this review. I was not compensated in any other manner. The opinions expressed above are my own any claims should be verified on the sponsor’s site.

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Pajama Mommy and ChildMinder are giving away ONE ChildMinder Smart Clip System!

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Eat a Nutritious, Well-Balanced Diet and Lose Weight during Breastfeeding

Jessica — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:26:42 +0000

Women carry the ability to produce breast milk to feed their infants. Breast milk is perfect for infants and gives them a marvelous, healthy start in life. Breastfeeding women require an increased amount of nutrients and calories in maintaining their breast milk supply. Breastfeeding women should always eat healthy with including protein, grains, fruits, vegetables and sometimes a multivitamin in their diets. Breastfeeding moms have to keep in mind that everything they bring into their bodies should be in conjunction with a healthy diet for their babies. The problem sometimes stems with breast feeding moms forgetting themselves in the equation.

I want to examine women’s nutritional needs that are breastfeeding and provide practical suggestions for vitamin supplements, drink recommendations and useful guidelines for helping breastfeeding moms lose the extra baby fat. I will touch upon foods, drinks and medications that should be limited while breastfeeding your child.

Breastfeeding and nutrition
One must always keep in mind while breastfeeding that nutritional and energy requirements exceed that of women who are not breastfeeding. Do you remember when you were expecting and you were consistently told “You are eating for two?” Well, breastfeeding is no different. Women who breastfeed typically require a higher calorie intake daily in obtaining the proper food to feed their babies on a daily basis.

How many fluids can I consume daily?
You are not alone with wondering how many fluids you can consume daily while breastfeeding. This issue proves popular with the population of breastfeeding moms. It proves prudent to say that women should drink when they are thirsty (this does not apply to alcohol, sugary beverages and energy drinks). Ensure you reduce daily caffeine intake. Caffeine has been known to make babies cranky, and this can make for a cranky mom.

Losing weight while breastfeeding
Most women will lose the extra weight gained after pregnancy. Some women lose the weight slowly with others experiencing a longer time to lose weight. Moderate exercise with adjusting to smaller eating habits will not affect the amount of breast milk you provide for your baby.

The following are excellent exercises that you can do with your baby that can help you lose weight while breastfeeding:
• Stroller walk/jog – Babies need to get out of the house just as much as mom does. Take the baby and put him or her in the stroller. Go for a walk with pushing the stroller and let the baby relax and enjoy the fresh air.
• Dancing with baby – Take a “snuggie” and put the baby inside. These products position the baby close to your body while placing them in fixed positions. Put on your favorite music and moderately dance. The baby is happy and mom is happy with listening to her favorite music. Tons of mothers have claimed that this practice puts their babies to sleep.
• Bench pressing with baby – Simply lie on your back and secure the baby above your chest. Your arms should prove straight. Lower your elbows and keep your arms to your side. Extend your arms up and repeat.

Foods to avoid or limit while breastfeeding
When the doctor informs you that you have to increase your calorie intake in order to produce healthy milk for your baby, this should never involve eating binges and eating virtually everything in sight. While breastfeeding your baby, you should ensure to eat foods that are beneficial for not only you, but the baby. There are also foods and beverages that one should avoid while breastfeeding.

Eating fish
Let us face it, fish is considered a delicacy with some, and it proves ok to eat fish but in moderation. The huge concern about breastfeeding mothers eating vast varieties of fish is that shellfish (popular with for anyone who enjoys Cajun food) and nearly all fish contain traces of what is called “mercury”. The average woman who is not breastfeeding does not have to concern themselves with the “mercury” factor, but for breast feeding women mercury can increase health risks for your baby.

It has been recommended by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) that breastfeeding or pregnant women:
• Avoid eating Mackerel, Tilefish, Swordfish and Shark. The fish contain high levels of mercury when compared to other popular fish delicacies.
• Breastfeeding moms can eat shrimp, light tuna, salmon and catfish. Avoid white tuna because it contains a higher level of mercury.

Other foods
Other foods to be avoided during pregnancy are soft cheeses, meat spreads and deli meats. The reasoning for this is due to what is called listeria bacteria. Listeria can cause illness in adults, and it can prove fatal for infants in the womb. If you are breastfeeding, there is no need to worry about Listeria because it cannot be passed through breast milk.

Vitamin requirements while breastfeeding
If you eat well-balanced meals and snacks, you typically will not require a vitamin supplement while breastfeeding. Let us face it, not everyone can eat healthy, and if this applies to you, then it is highly recommended that you ask your doctor, and pediatrician about taking a vitamin supplement to make up for nutrients not received on a daily basis for you and your baby.

Calcium
Breastfeeding can cause a temporary reduction in bone mass. You can make up for this loss with consuming more calcium while breastfeeding. Do not worry about the decrease in bone mass because as soon as you stop breastfeeding, your body will adapt and recover the mass lost during this period. Some wonderful sources of calcium are dairy products such as milk, yogurt, spinach, cottage cheese and hard cheese.

Iron
Women who have not been diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia after giving birth and who breastfeed typically do not have menstrual cycles up to six months after delivery. If this is the case, iron supplements are not administered. On the other hand, women who are diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia require iron supplements. These supplements are sometimes over the counter or doctor prescribed.

Vitamin D
Breastfeeding women need minimally 800 IU daily of vitamin D. This proves beneficial for women who live in areas where the temperature proves cold, and dark. Milk is a significant source of Vitamin D and women can take a calcium supplement plus vitamin D supplementation to obtain the necessary nutrients warranted for breastfeeding.

Safe medications while breastfeeding
Medications are generally safe while breastfeeding, but there are exceptions. It proves best to consult a doctor about the possible implications of taking any medication (prescription or non-prescription) while breastfeeding.

Medications to avoid while breastfeeding
It has been proven that some medications can be hazardous to your baby while breastfeeding and should be avoided at all costs. Illegal drugs are not safe for breastfeeding mothers or any one for that matter. Women who are habitual drug users are asked by medical professionals not to breastfeed their babies. The reason behind this is because the drugs can be passed to babies during the breastfeeding process. It is advised that women who breastfeed avoid using illegal drugs. Breastfeeding mothers are warned against the repercussions of using certain birth control pills when breastfeeding their children. There are types of birth control that doctors prescribe to breastfeeding moms; progesterone-only birth control pills, injections and IUD’s have been found to affect milk supply.

Tobacco products
The repercussions from second-hand smoke have been in the limelight often in society. In the past, second hand smoke was not considered a health risk. Research has proven that second hand smoke can cause a variety of ailments that can be passed through the milk supply to infants. Ailments such as ear infections, bronchitis, SID (Sudden Infant Death), asthma and other serious ailments prove dangerous and sometimes fatal to breastfeeding babies. You must stop or minimally reduce your tobacco dependence in order to reduce the health risks involved for your baby.

Alcohol
Do not ever drink alcohol while breastfeeding your baby. If you do drink alcohol during this period, there is a small percentage of alcohol that can be transferred to the baby. Other medical sources have suggested that women can drink alcohol as long as they reduce the drink to one serving of alcohol while breastfeeding. If you enjoy drinking alcohol, you discuss this topic in full with your doctor.

Breastfeeding your baby is a joyous occasion and proves ideal for bonding with your little one. Please ensure that you take specific notes of the information in this article. Where this article is written as an unofficial guide to help breastfeeding mothers, do not overlook the opportunity to communicate with your doctor if you have any questions.

Author Bio: The article is written by Jeffery Morgan, Jeff is a health enthusiast and also and has great knowledge of diet and nutrition, If you want to know more about cardio, weight loss, weight gain then you should refer to how to get ripped fast and Get This Ripped.

Navigating a High Risk Pregnancy: My Personal Experience

Jessica C — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:49:16 +0000

With my first pregnancy, I was always worried about something happening to my baby. It took us three years to conceive and after a miscarriage, I was extremely cautious of everything I did. My pregnancy was going smoothly until I hit 29 weeks. At 29 weeks I went into unexpected pre-term labor. I didn’t know it was labor, as I was only experience dull cramps and discomfort – I just thought it was another blessing we receive during pregnancy. I was placed on strict bed rest for nine weeks and delivered my daughter one month early. She weighed in at 5lbs 1oz and was 4lbs 15oz when we brought her home. Not only was she early, but she was tiny and the size of a 33 weeker instead of a 36 weeker.

Today, I am 27 weeks pregnant with baby number two. I was immediately placed on 17p shots, which is a progesterone shot to help with irritable uterus and to strengthen the cervix. I receive these shots weekly, directly in the bum. The only side effects I have received are itchiness and soreness, other than that the shots have been working great. I do experience contractions a lot one to two days before the shot but once I receive the shot, I am good to go until the next one is ready. We are hoping to keep baby number two in utero until 38 weeks. I have been on pelvic rest for four weeks, but bed rest hasn’t been applied to my daily life yet!

Every year, 1 million U.S. women with high-risk pregnancies are placed
on bed rest to protect their developing babies. Despite that, every
year, about 500,000 newborns – one of every eight – arrive too
early, according to the Centers for Disease Control

Here are some tips from Kelly Whitehead regarding bed rest and pregnancy:

• TRY TO ENJOY BEING PREGNANT. Don’t miss out on this experience
because you’re high-risk. Do the normal prego things, even if you
have to modify them: Shop online, get a belly cast, shoot
expanding-belly photos, and savor those kicks and body changes.
Don’t forget or stop dreaming about the actual birth and your
desires for what it will be like. I regretted missing out on so much
while carrying my daughter. Rather than enjoying the pregnancy, I kept
focused on the end and my hope she would survive.

• DON’T LET YOUR EMOTIONS BECOME YOUR ENEMY. Say goodbye to guilt
– this is not your fault! It’s okay to be bitter, angry and upset
at the world, and to hate “normal” pregnant women, but it isn’t
going to change anything. So go get mad, yell, and cry, and then move
on.

• PELVIC REST SOUNDS EASY, BUT IT ISN’T. It’s not fun being
forced to become a nun, so don’t. There are still ways to enjoy
intimacy; you just need to get creative. Think high school –
remember how much fun necking was? Try body oil, a massage…whipped
cream? Sexy lingerie is still hot, even if you’re pregnant. Flaunt
your new assets – they surely went up a cup size or two.

• EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT YOUR SITUATION. Don’t go reading about
every other possible scenario out there; you don’t need to worry
about problems that aren’t a likely issue for you.

• ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE. It may sometimes feel as though people
have forgotten about you, but the reality is they’re busy and they
have no idea what’s it’s like for you. If you want company, reach
out and invite someone over.

Research scientist Kelly Whitehead wrote a book called: “Why Me? Understanding and Managing a Potential Preterm Pregnancy,” which is backed by fetal and maternal medicine specialist Dr. Vincenzo Berghella, a top pre-term birth researcher. Whitehead’s first child died following his premature birth. During her next pregnancy, she spent 4½ months in bed worrying over and trying to protect her daughter.

As a mom, you will do anything and everything to protect your children and I am blessed to be able to go through a second pregnancy.

President’s Day Fun Facts for Kids

Jessica — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:00:20 +0000

A minimum of 300 billion portraits of Abraham Lincoln have been created – that’s how many pennies have been made since 1787.

Sixth President John Quincy Adams had a pet alligator that lived in a bathtub at the White House.

The first President born a U.S. citizen was Martin Van Buren. His birthday was December 5, 1782, making him the first president born after the Declaration of Independence was signed.

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were the only presidents to sign the Declaration of Independence, and they both died on its 50th anniversary, July 4, 1826.

Nine presidents never attended college, including Washington and Lincoln. However, Lincoln was an avid reader and self-educated.

At 6′ 4″, Abraham Lincoln was the tallest U.S. President. The shortest, James Madison, was 5′ 4″ tall.

When he became President, George Washington had only one tooth. He wore dentures made of human or animal teeth, ivory and lead, but never wood.

George Washington is the only president that never lived in Washington, D.C. during his presidency.

Andrew Jackson was the first president to have been born in a log cabin, and the first to ride a railroad train.

Ronald Reagan was the oldest president inaugurated (age 69); the youngest was John F. Kennedy (age 43).

Fun facts are courtesy of KiddieAcademy.com.

The Mommy Hook: Best Stroller Accessory Review & Giveaway

Jessica C — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 02:02:14 +0000

As a mom, I feel like I do not have enough hands to tackle everything I need to do, especially when running errands with a baby. When we found out we were pregnant with our first child, we were always researching the best products to have. We purchased a travel system we ended up disliking because the basket was too small for storage. Our diaper bag wouldn’t even fit. Therefore, I was left carrying a diaper bag, shopping bags, and sometimes a baby in a carrier. Shopping was definitely not a fun experience for us. I never heard of The Mommy Hook when we had out first child, but when registering for baby number two I seen it on the Walmart Registry. I placed two Mommy Hooks on our registry, one for a stroller and one to have for a shopping cart. Luckily, two weeks after registering, I was blessed with the opportunity to review The Mommy Hook myself. Talk about being ecstatic.

First off, The Mommy Hook is a stroller hanger (or cart hanger) that holds your necessities and allows you to have free hands. The Mommy Hook is made out of aluminum, not plastic, so you don’t have to worry about it breaking.

The Mommy Hook does hold a decent amount of items. I wasn’t brave enough to put too much on ours, as our stroller is very light weight at less than eight pounds. We used The Mommy Hook on a Peg Perego Aria with our two year old in it. I started out with just placing her diaper bag on the hook and then became brave enough to add a shopping bag, along with my purse. Just be careful when putting too many items or heavy items on The Mommy Hook, because you do not want your stroller to flip. Always remember to take The Mommy Hook with items off the stroller first before removing your child. Otherwise, the stroller may flip backwards.

One of my favorite features is the fact you can carry the items from stroller to vehicle without having to remove them from The Mommy Hook.

With baby number two on the way, The Mommy Hook is definitely going to be beneficial for my husband and I. With two children, The Mommy Hook will give me free hands, the ability to shop, the ability to tend to children, and even baby wear our son without having to worry about carrying shopping bags or diaper bags. The Mommy Hook is a definite must have!

Disclosure: I received one Mommy Hook for free in order to try the product and form an opinion for this review. I was not compensated in any other manner. The opinions expressed above are my own any claims should be verified on the sponsor’s site. Images are from The Mommy Hook website.

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SheaMoisture’s Organic Baby Collection

Jessica C — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:00:30 +0000

I was blessed with a daughter who has extremely sensitive skin. Since day one, she would break out in a rash if we used any fragranced products on her skin. After ditching the fragrance and buying fragrance free products, we discovered that almost every single product we purchased would break her skin out. We did a lot of research on baby products and realized we needed to switch to the organic/natural line for her skin. Over the past two years we have tested our many products with a love/hate relationship for many. As parents, we have noticed that many organic products have a weird smell to them, wouldn’t lather properly in the bathtub or on her skin. When I was contacted regarding SheaMoisture’s Organic Baby Collection, I knew it wouldn’t hurt to try it out.

The SheaMoisture’s Organic Baby Head-to-Toe Wash & Shampoo retails for $9.99 and can be purchased at Walgreens. Product information includes:

-Shea Butter: Deeply moisturizes and heals dry skin with its high content of fatty acids and vitamins
-Argan oil: High in vitamin E, this rare oil softens and renews the skin
-With frankincense & myrrh: Given as a gift of beauty throughout history, these precious extracts repair and rejuvenate skin
-Suitable for all ages
-No parabens, phthalates, paraffin, gluten, propylene glycol, mineral oil, synthetic fragrance, PABA, synthetic color, DEA, or sulfates
-Cruelty free, no animal testing
-Made in USA

My favorite features are:

-Made in USA
-Organic
-Suitable for all ages

We used the SheaMoisture’s Wash and Shampoo last night during our normal bath routine. The wash smells very pleasant and it isn’t too strong. I noticed after the bath you couldn’t even smell the wash on my daughter’s skin, which was a plus for us. We were still able to smell the wash on her hair, as we did have to apply more to her hair to lather it well. I also noticed that you will have to use a bit more wash than a regular body wash, in order to lather and clean, but this was perfectly fine with us. The wash/shampoo did leave her hair kind of tangly afterward, so I hope one day a conditioning product will be added to the SheaMoisture’s Organic Baby Collection.

The SheaMoisture Organic Raw Shea Chamomile & Argan Oil Baby Healing Lotion retails for $9.99 and can be purchased at Walgreens.

Product Features:

The SheaMoisture’s Healing Lotion was by far my favorite product we tried. First off, I love that the smell isn’t too strong and can be used for a girl or a boy. The texture is thick and creamy, lathers on nicely, and left toddler’s skin with an exfoliated feeling. We did shake the bottle as directed and apply from head to toe. The lotion did not leave any rash, or residue on her skin. I even used the lotion on my hands, which are currently extremely dry from the weather, and my hands felt soft and smooth all night. The bottle is large enough to last for months with a baby. With adult use from head to toe daily, I see the bottle lasting 1-2 months. I love the fact that the lotion is free of any chemicals and made in the USA. I will be using the same lotion on our baby boy due in May, as I am confident it will be great for his delicate newborn skin.

Disclosure: I received the Baby Wash & Shampoo along with the Healing Lotion for free in order to try the product and form an opinion for this review. I was not compensated in any other manner. The opinions expressed above are my own any claims should be verified on the sponsor’s site.

The Molar Muncher Review: Toddler Approved!

Jessica C — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:00:46 +0000

My daughter was a late teether. She got her two bottom teeth when she was over a year old. Then, teeth started coming in left and right. I thought our teething days were over until she started to cut her “eye teeth” recently. I figured since she was used to the teething pain from before, she would handle the “eye teeth” pretty well. I was wrong. She has been extremely uncomfortable, refusing to eat, and having difficulty sleeping at night. One finally broke through and we have three more to go. Therefore, I was ecstatic when I found out about The Molar Muncher. Even though it’s called a “Molar Muncher” it has been a life saver in the household for her “eye teeth.”

Here are the features of the Molar Muncher:

-First product to soothe entire gum line simultaneously
-Avoids nipple confusion during breast feeding
-Designed to prevent tooth displacement
-Single piece construction with no crevices where germs can hide
-Hands free and lightweight to soothe gums while they play
-Dishwasher safe
-Medical grade non-toxic silicone
-Soothes all stages of teething
-Refrigerator safe – DO NOT FREEZE
-0 – 24 months
-USA and International Patents Pending
-Made in the USA

My favorite features are:

*Made in the USA – always a plus in our household
*Refrigerator Safe – the coldness helps with my daughter’s teething
*First product to soothe entire gum line simultaneously

My daughter is 25 months old, so she is over the recommended age of 0-24 months. She has also been pacifier broken since she was 16 months old. I was extremely nervous giving her The Molar Muncher, because I didn’t want her to regress back to using her pacifier on a daily basis. Luckily, it was easy to give to her and even easier to take away. I let her use the The Molar Muncher 2-3 times a day for 15 minutes. I do stick the Molar Muncher in the refrigerator to help soothe her gums. So far, The Molar Muncher has held up great with her constant chewing and biting on it. I haven’t seen any teeth marks and it seems to be helping her with the teething process. Not only will be using it during these long months of the “eye teeth” but we will be using it again for her molars.

The Molar Muncher retails for 12.99.

Disclosure: I received a Molar Muncher for free in order to try the product and form an opinion for this review. I was not compensated in any other manner. The opinions expressed above are my own any claims should be verified on the sponsor’s site.

Old School Manners Lost in a Digital Age

Jessica — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:00:29 +0000

As we move to a more digital age, where most interactions occur online instead of offline, there appears to be a shift in what is considered “good manners” and “bad manners.” While we aren’t looking to enforce the strict etiquette rules of Emily Post, I think that today’s youth may be learning habits that will hurt them in the long run. So which manners are being lost in an age where we email more than we write? Let’s take a look at just a few of them.

Terse Emails

There are two types of emails – formal and informal. Knowing which email to send is important because a terse email to a business associate can be seen as rude. When you are emailing someone you don’t know very well, or in cases where you know formality is crucial, be sure to start emails with their name and end emails with yours. Email shouldn’t be seen as an extension of instant messaging unless you instant message with the person you talk to on a regular basis. You should avoid using acronyms and shorthand, typing out all words instead of relying on shortcuts learned from texting on your phone. With your friends, anything goes, but with strangers or business associates, formality is necessary. Here are a few more tips on how to properly construct an email.

Thank You Letters

In years past, whenever you received a gift, it was important for you to craft a well thought out thank you note. The purpose of the note was to show your appreciation for the gift and the note was something tangible the recipient could hold and read. It didn’t have to be fancy or especially long, but their prevalence when it comes to wedding gifts and baby shower gifts is a sign of their importance. Thank you letters are but a small token, but one step better than an email.

Pay Attention

When talking to someone, give them your full attention. Don’t look at your phone, don’t check your phone, and don’t even take it out. When you check your phone, you’re telling someone that your phone, or something happening on your phone, is more important than them. Would you bring your laptop to lunch and check sports scores at the table? Probably not, the same common sense rule applies to your phone (which is probably as powerful as a computer anyway). Your phone should remain in your pocket or bag at all times.

These are just three of the things I’ve noticed in my years in the digital age. I may call them old school manners but that’s only because I see all the transgressions today, they’re as relevant right now as they were five, ten, or even twenty years ago.

NUK TrendLine Review and Giveaway

Jessica C — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:00:47 +0000

When my daughter was born two years ago, we purchased numerous bottles and pacifiers on the market. We had many issues with the bottles not helping with gas and spit-up and the pacifiers were too big or shaped awkwardly to fit in her mouth for long periods of time, such as the 3-4 hour stretch mothers long for in the middle of the night. After our search for pacifiers and bottles, we ended up liking the NUK pacifiers, Avent Bottles and when she became old enough to drink out of a sippy cup, NUK was also our number one choice.

Therefore when making our registry for baby number two, which is a boy, NUK pacifiers and Learner’s Cups were placed on our registry. We knew what worked for us with our previous child, so we didn’t want to try anything different four our baby boy. Weeks after placing the items on the registry, I came across an email regarding NUK’s new 2012 product line. Their new 2012 product line is the TrendLine design. The TrendLine design is perfect for both genders and the designs are absolutely adorable. You will be able to find the TrendLine design on NUK pacifiers, bottles, and learning cups.

I was blessed with the opportunity to review a NUK TrendLineLearning Cup, TrendLine matching pacifiers, and the Camo pacifier for our baby boy.

First off, I love NUK pacifiers because of their design. We never had an issue with red marks around the mouth from baby sucking on the pacifier. Also during the breastfeeding stages NUK pacifiers have never caused nipple confusion for us, because the natural shape mimics the shape of the mother’s nipple during breastfeeding. The pacifiers are absolutely adorable, I love the new Trendline design, the ABC design along with the “BOY” graphics are perfect for our little man. My favorite is the Camo pacifier. As an army wife, we are always purchasing items that represent the army/camo design and NUK did an awesome job incorporating the Camo design onto a pacifier. Of course, all NUK pacifiers are BPA free and promote proper teeth alignment.

The new Trendline Learner’s Cup has many features including:

-Flows easily when sipped
-Helps make the transition from breast to bottle to cup easier
-Spill-proof soft spout – designed to be gentle on gums while teaching baby to drink from a spout
-Extra-wide neck for easier cleaning & filling
-Easy-grip handles, ergonomically shaped with anti-slip soft grips, make it easy for baby to hold
-Available in silicone, 5oz

My favorite features are:

-Wide Neck Design: makes it easier to clean
-Alignment: The handles are easy to align up with the spout so drinking out of the cup is easy on baby

Disclosure: I received a TrendLine Learner Cup and pacifiers for free in order to try the product and form an opinion for this review. I was not compensated in any other manner. The opinions expressed above are my own any claims should be verified on the sponsor’s site.

GIVEAWAY

NUK is generously giving away the Trendline Collection to one lucky reader of Pajama Mommy Community! One lucky reader will receive the TrendLine Learner’s Cup with matching pacifiers.

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