swings

When Is It Time To Retire the Baby Swing?
Baby

How Did You Know It Was Time to Retire Your Baby Swing?

The swing has swung!
by

The swing has swung! While women swear by the baby swing because it gives a new mama a bit of freedom — she can hop in the shower or just rest her hands for a few moments — no piece of baby gear can be all together trusted (even under a parent's close watch) for too long. Well before he reached the weight capacity, my older son reached out of his swing and extended a long arm toward the floor. The gesture almost sent him out of his seat. Fast forward a few years and my lil guy made like Houdini the other day and freed himself from the harness. Then, he attempted to slither free from the moving chair. How did you know it was time to put the old swing away?

Newborn Necessities
Baby

What's the One Newborn Item You Can't Live Without?

When women are expecting their first child, they have a checklist of everything they need for baby's arrival.
by babysugar

When women are expecting their first child, they have a checklist of everything they need for baby's arrival. Receiving blankets? Check. Bottles? Check. Car seat? Check. But when the second baby enters the picture, mommy ditches the list and just tries to make it to the hospital on time. Having just experienced this, I was physically ready and more mentally prepared for the second child's debut. Blankets shmankets — just deliver the baby and get me home!

Obviously I needed the diapers, a car seat and bottles, but if I could only pick one superfluous item, it would be the Fisher Price Nature's Touch Baby Papasan Cradle Swing ($140). From day one that device has served my son and me well. Initially, he slept in it and gazed at the moving birds. As the months passed, he began chilling in it while I showered, cooked, cleaned up or played with his sister. When he was fussy and didn't want to nap in his crib, he snoozed away in the swing. While I would be challenged to choose between the swing and his Fisher Price Nature's Touch Baby Papasan Seat, I'm pretty sure the swing could serve both purposes.

Which baby gadget could you not live without?

Haba Ship's See-Saw
Toys

Toy Box: Haba Ship's See-Saw

Spring has officially sprung and it's time to get those sails aflutter.
by

Spring has officially sprung and it's time to get those sails aflutter. If you find yourself far from the salty ocean water, let your lil ones set sail as they glide through the air on Haba Toys Ship's See-Saw ($250). The indoor swing holds up to two toddlers (weighing up to 75 pounds) and can be installed in any ceiling stud.

Watch as your tots embark on an adventure for lost treasures or use their imaginations to feed off Captain Hook and his band of pirates. The ship even comes with an anchor for tots to throw down when they reach their "destination."

Lil Tip: Work Out at the Park by Pushing Swings
Behavior Tips

Lil Tip: Work Out at the Park by Pushing Swings

Keep your arms and kids in motion at the playground!
by

Keep your arms and kids in motion at the playground! The other day my daughter and a friend wanted to fly like fairies in the baby swings and needed someone to help them get air. Using my left arm to push my daughter and my right to push her friend, I got a rhythm going until about 20 minutes later when they finally tired of the activity. When we were leaving I noticed my arms were a bit sore and asked our in-house fitness guru, FitSugar about recommending it as a tip for moms who find themselves hanging out in the sandbox. She said it's a great exercise and to do squats if you want to add a lil more to your workout.

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