LilSugar

What Do You Know About Baby Talk?

LilSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:00:08 -0800

No doubt about it, moms and dads can hardly wait to hear their babe's first words. While there are some great things you can do to encourage language development in babies, the main thing most tots need is a little time. Before stressing about your little one's speech (or lack thereof) take this quiz to see how well you know baby talk.

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Did You Trade Dine In For Takeout After Having Children?

LilSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:00:13 -0800

Couples may enjoy white tablecloths and candlelight before baby, but after becoming parents hearing that there's an hour-long wait at a hot eatery isn't as enticing. Getting food to go allows mom and dad the chance to eat their favorite entrees without any of the worry of entertaining their tots during the experience or public mid meal meltdowns. Once you had children did you table your reservations and turn to takeout more often?

Is Birth More About the Mother or Baby?

LilSugar — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 06:00:29 -0700

A friend recently told me she was shocked that I had allowed my sisters and sister-in-law into the delivery room when I had my kids. I told her I don't think of birth as a production centered around me and my husband, but rather the baby. Each of my children was lucky enough to be welcomed into the world with their godmother present. While some ladies primp for the occasion, bring a picture to focus on or stock up on their favorite snacks for the hospital stay, I'm usually too preoccupied watching the monitors and coping with contractions. Who do you think the experience is about?
Source: Flickr User madaise

Has Your Child Slipped Into Her First Pair of Heels?

LilSugar — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:30:08 -0700

My daughter doesn't have a swank pair of custom-made high-heeled slippers like Suri Cruise, but she was gifted a bag of plastic princess ones a few years ago. Though my girl only wore them around the house to play dress up, her feet are not strangers to an arch. While shopping for dress shoes at Nordstrom, there were several wedge and tiny kitten-heel styles available in her size! Even my son has managed to tear down our hall in a pair of pumps he found in my closet. Sure, some parents encourage their tots to wear fabulous footwear starting with sassy crib heels, but most kiddos are just drawn to trying on (and wobbling around) in their mama's shoes. Have your tots strutted in shoes that gave them an extra inch or two?

Safety Gates For Design-Conscience Parents

LilSugar — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 05:00:00 -0700

Stairs are enticing for lil ones who aren't supposed to play on them. Though several LilSugar readers told us they didn't do much in the way of babyproofing their homes, safety gates are a staple for many families with steep staircases. Consumer Reports recommends using the baby gates until a child is two-years-old.

Clunky plastic varieties may dominate the market, but there are also modern gates available for more discerning mothers. The Numi Extending Gate ($98) combines a brushed metal frame with dark wooden slats to make for eye candy rather than an eyesore. Check out our other decorative picks below.

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10 US Birth Facts You Might Not Know

LilSugar — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 06:00:18 -0700

September is a big month for babies! Here at Sugar HQ, we are awaiting the births of two new Sugar babies in the next three weeks. Birthing trends in the US are tracked by each state and the cumulative data is full of surprises. Here are 10 facts you probably didn't know.

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When Should Babyproofing Begin?

LilSugar — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:00:30 -0700

Try as we might, we can't put our children in a bubble. Parents do try their best to protect their tots by babyproofing their homes with products designed to keep them safe. While 95 percent of moms and dads take safety measures after a baby's arrival, a new study reveals that half wait until their kids are mobile to do so. According to the Home Safety Council, a national nonprofit organization that works to prevent injuries in the home, "50 percent [of parents] waited until their children were already crawling and able to get into dangerous situations on their own." The Home Safety Council has teamed up with Toys 'R' Us to create a brochure with tips for creating a safe environment for lil ones from the day they are born. Did you start babyproofing your home before or after your wee one was crawling? Or did you skip the process all together?

Mommy Dearest: Baby Drools on Toy and Mom Puts It Back!

LilSugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:45:00 -0700

Mommy Dearest,

My friend and I like to take our kids shopping together once a week. The children keep each other entertained, and we get a chance to gab and buy groceries or birthday gifts and necessities. But, there's one thing that makes me uncomfortable - my friend lets her 3-year-old son and 11-month-old daughter each choose or hold on to a toy while we make our way down through the store. Then, she shelves them before check out. On our last trip to Target, she gave her teething daughter a plush toy that was covered in drool by the time she put it back. As a customer, I wouldn't want to purchase a germ infested item for my child. Do you think her practice is appropriate?

- You Play, You Purchase

To see the response from Mommy Dearest, read more.

You Play, You Purchase,

I've seen this happen a lot while out shopping with my own kids. And, it's the reason I reach to the back of the shelf when buying things like stuffed animals. I'd like to think that those that are harder to reach haven't been gnawed or drooled on. While it's one thing to let a child try a rocking horse or bike floor model, which is put out for that purpose, it's another to have them use an item as their own and not pay for it. Is there a reason your friend doesn't pack a teether or small toys in her diaper bag? Or, at a place like Target have her kiddos select something from the $1 bins to occupy them so she can also afford to make the purchases? I'd suggest those options since her current practice makes you uncomfortable.
– Mommy Dearest

Submit a question for this feature at the Mommy Dearest Group on TeamSugar.

A Sleep Doctor's War of Words

LilSugar — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite. If only those phrases were all it took to put baby down. Getting a newborn to sleep through the night is one of the most talked about issues in infant care. Parents become fiercely supportive of their chosen sleep training method and its guru. Marc Weissbluth, one of the nation's most popular pediatricians and author of Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child that advocates a modified "cry-it-out" philosophy, is using his blog to take on Dr. William Sears, author of The Attachment Parenting Book: A Commonsense Guide to Understanding and Nurturing Your Baby, which calls for soothing baby until it falls asleep.

On his blog, Dr. Weissbluth discredits several studies Dr. Sears uses to prove that "crying-it-out" actually harms a child. According to Dr. Weissbluth, the studies show that allowing a tot to "cry-it-out" does not affect self-esteem, relationships with parents or the bond between parent and child. What's your opinion on cry it out?

Seven Outrageous Items For Attention Getting Infants

LilSugar — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 06:00:22 -0700

In certain circles like Tinseltown, there's been a bit of a baby boom. While lots of folks outfit their bundles of joy in traditional garb, there are quite a few items on the market ranging from the ridiculous to the outrageous that are sure to make an infant the center of attention - for better or worse. Check out our roundup and be forewarned, the products are not for wee wallflowers!

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