LilSugar

Six Swank Bouncer Seats

babysugar — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 06:00:34 -0700

When mama needs to jump in the shower or prepare dinner, a bouncy seat can be as good as a babysitter. Parents who love such contraptions, but detest primary colors, teddy bears and plastic are in luck as some of the high end baby companies are producing aesthetically pleasing options to appease a swank parent's decor craving. Check out my slideshow to see some of the hippest baby bouncing seats on the market.

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Portable Pottys That Work at Home and On the Go

LilSugar — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:00:44 -0800

The right gizmos go a long way when it comes to potty training. The simple toilet paper saver will defend against a trip to buy Costco's entire toilet paper supply and portable pottys will come to the rescue when your little one has to go in and out of the house.

While many families opt to install small, potty training seat covers on their home toilets, small and portable plastic pots offer a squatting spot whenever and wherever your tot needs it. Be it your home bathroom, grandma's place, or the back of the SUV (hey, it happens!).

The colorful Baby Bjorn Potty Chair ($30) is a favorite among seasoned potty trainers, but there are more fancy options like mini urinals or less expensive pots from stores like Ikea or BabiesRUS that offer the same comforting and liquid containing support.

Mommy's Lil Helper: Peekaru

babysugar — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:00:48 -0800

Prepared for this bundle of joy, I recently spruced up my Baby Bjorn for the inevitable new mommy errand running. Just like last time the rain has started and the Winter chill is settling in, but I'm not going to let it stop me from getting outside for a sanity check.

I'm ready to rock the Baby Bjorn with the nifty contraption called the Peekaru ($80). Eighty-five percent of the Peekaru vest is made from recycled high quality Polartec fleece and is Oeko-tex Standard 100 making it Eco-friendly for mama and baby. Available in five practical hues, the cozy vest zips up over most baby carriers, has pockets for stowing small accessories, and a peep hole for the wee one's noggin.

I Tote My Tot in a . . .

babysugar — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 11:00:02 -0800

Many women love the feeling and ease that baby carriers offer. Mamas don't have to worry about managing a stroller or keeping both hands busy.

Slings are timeless but in recent years, inventions like the Baby Bjorn, Snugli, Ergo, and other carriers have flooded the market place making it tough for a mom to select one.

Did you have a baby carrier? If so, which one?

Pacific Coast News

Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me: Potty Training

babysugar — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 10:00:16 -0800

Apparently it's time for my babe to start potty training. I feel like I did when I was first pregnant – totally lost. I wasn't sure if I should get the potty that sits on the ground or the kind that fits over the regular seat? Clearly there are drawbacks to both.

The former option means I go from changing dirty diapers to cleaning out a toilet. Not much of a step up, even if it's only a phase. The latter would require me to take the seat on and off every time she uses it because we are a one toilet family. That wouldn't be much fun either.

I went shopping and heeded to the store clerk's advice and purchased the $25 Baby Bjorn that sits on the ground. She said the other type is better once tots are a lil bigger and can sit on the adult toilet.

All of this potty talk makes me dizzy. I'll update you on my progress, but if you have any advice, please dish it in the comments section.

Lil Links: Use and Reuse Blackboard Pumpkins

babysugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:30:25 -0700

Super cool blackboard pumpkins - CafeMom
It's a girl for Bill Hader - Celebrity Baby Blog
The black Barbie has hair issues - ParentDish
The Gossip Girls take over Barneys in a Bjorn - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Simple and clever ghost garlands - Alpha Mom
Should the US have stricter IVF laws? - The Mommy Files
10 surprising ways you put yourself at risk for swine flu - Health
Cutest baby in America revealed - Parenting

Cybex 2.Go Combines Best of All Baby Carriers

LilSugar — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 04:00:30 -0700

Wear your baby in style! Though Baby Bjorn made carriers mainstream, companies like Ergo, LilleBaby and Belle, not to mention all of the sling manufacturers, have given mothers many options.

When we took our first look at the European import Cybex last Spring, we were interested in the 2.Go baby carrier – a cross between the Baby Bjorn and Ergo that comes in bright colors. Working with orthopedists and midwives, the company designed the carrier to place 70 percent of the weight distribution on the hips, rather than the back and shoulders. With five different carrying positions – allowing parents to use it when their child is between eight and 40 pounds – the 2.Go proves versatile.

To see what really impressed us, as well as some photos of how the 2.Go works, read more.

The 2.Go's seat and headrest can be expanded to accommodate growing bodies - with a simple unzip, the seat converts into the spread-squat position that doctors recommend for infants. The zipper can also be closed to move the hips closer together for older tots. The well-padded straps didn't dig into my shoulders and the removable bib made for easy laundering. The all-in-one carrier also makes it an economical purchase for mamas tightening their purse strings!

Rating:

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What's Your Worst Mommy Travel Story?

babysugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:30:41 -0700

Forget snakes. I'm scared of babies on a plane - especially my own! A year ago, I would have felt confident passing on travel tips for flying with infants as my daughter was a dream baby barely making a peep for 6-hour flights. But as we've all learned, just when you think you've got it down, the world turns upside down and mama's back to square one. I had the, ahem, pleasure of flying with my family for the weekend and experienced some of the most grueling hours of parenthood yet. My lil guy is a sweet laid back angel on land but without a crib or the room to move, he turns into a screeching wiggle worm who can't get comfortable and lets everyone around him know it. He didn't actually cry or have a complete meltdown but it was enough to make the eyes roll and comments fly.

To see what made me want to pull my hair out, just read more.

In the end, it was the Bjorn and a trip to the bathroom that saved us from helter skelter. I strapped his chubby legs into the carrier and took him to the lavatory where I sang lullabies and caressed his brow. The trick was keeping the door shut without locking it. Locking it enables the bright fluorescent lights, which startled my already hyper child, but leaving the door unlocked allowed other passengers to believe the room was available. After 10 minutes of planting my foot at the door, swaying and soothing, he finally drifted off to dreamland. I made my way back to the seat and rested for an hour before he was startled all over again. Thankfully the end was near and we all made it to our destination alive and well, let's just say alive.

What's your worst travel story? Do tell in our The Mommy Club over in our LilSugar Community! Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

Krazy For Kokopax Carrier!

babysugar — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:00:00 -0700

My weekly trip to the grocery store can be harried with a two-year-old and an infant, but if I can put one of them on my back then life is easier. When Kokopax sent us a backpack to review, I jumped at the opportunity to test it out and lighten my load. A fan of the classic Baby Bjorn, I wasn't sure that Kokopax would make chores any simpler than the front baby carrier. Certainly the Bjorn and other models like it allow for closeness and warmth, but the Kokopax gives mom the freedom to hold a full load in her arms while baby sits pretty behind her.

Mommy Preview: Cybex Baby Goods Enter USA

LilSugar — Tue, 19 May 2009 07:00:38 -0700

One of Europe's leading baby goods manufacturers, Cybex, is making its first foray into the US market this Summer. Led by an 18-year veteran of the industry, who created the leading car seat in Germany and relaunched Maclaren in that market, Cybex plans to begin introducing its urban, fashionable strollers, car seats and baby carriers to specialty retailers in August. We were invited to a sneak peek of the line, and found it to be design-conscience and functional. Though many of the pieces appear to be similar versions of Maclaren, Baby Bjorn and Phil & Ted products, it is obvious that the designers had moms in mind with the color combinations and features. Check out what they will be offering.

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Babies R Us First Stages 3-in-1 Potty - $12.99	BabyBjorn Potty Chair - White - $27.99
Kolcraft 1-2-3 Learn With Me Potty Chair - Sesame Street - $25.99	Safety 1st Pretty In Pink Comfy Cushy Potty - $16.99
All-in-One™ Potty Seat & Step Stool Pink - $16.99	BabyBjorn Potty Chair - Green - $27.98
Summer Infant Step-by-Step Potty - $29.99	Summer Infant 3 Stage Reward Potty Trainer & Step Stool - Pink - $21.99
Baby Bjorn Potty Chair - Pink - $24.95	Safety 1st Comfy Cushy 3-in-1 Potty - $17.99
Visionaire Peter Potty Toddler Urinal - $39.99