LilSugar

Baby Bump: Register in Person

LilSugar — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:00:39 -0800

Your first child brings on a lot of other firsts: morning sickness, maternity clothes, baby showers, and selecting baby gear! Some mommies register for their new arrival, and one piece of advice for picking items for your wee one is to go in person.

The Internet is fabulous, but when it comes to your newborn's goods it's helpful to head on over to the store. All those toys, swings, bassinets, and decorations look a lot different when you see them first hand, and since you are about to acquire a lot of gear, you want to make sure you actually like the stuff you get. It's better to take care of the legwork before baby is born, than lug him or her back with your returns after.

Thinking she had outsmarted the system by sitting on her couch and shopping, my pal registered online. Then, she spent a good deal of time exchanging goods once the gifts poured in. Learn from a fellow expectant mommy's mistake and do it right the first time.

Did you register in person or online?

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Did You Register For Your Baby?

babysugar — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:00:28 -0700

The concept of a gift registry makes sense - visit your favorite stores, make a list of all of your gift preferences and have friends and family buy them for you so you don't have to spend your time returning unwanted and duplicate items. Wedding registries are common practice these days, having been around since Chicago's Marshall Field's department store created them in 1924.

If first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in a baby carriage, it is no surprise that baby registries were the next thing. Every time a celebrity announces she is pregnant there seems to be news about whether she has registered for pink or blue items. With so many bottles, cribs, swings and baby carriers on the market, it is no wonder pregnant women state their preferences.

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Baby Registry Tips

LilSugar — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 15:00:47 -0800

I didn't know about baby registries until I was pregnant with my daughter, but since I like the surprise involved in opening presents, I never put a list together. Lately, it seems like more and more stores are registry ready. From Pottery Barn Kids to Babies "R" Us, and Giggle to Amazon, everyone is in on the action.
Here are my must haves for any child's registry:

Britax Boulevard Car Seat - Since you can't drive around with baby without one, I recommend this one ($299) that provides side impact protection for children who are 5 to 65 lbs.
Nano Highchair - I have an old-fashioned wooden highchair, but after cleaning all the nooks and crannies after each meal, I'd much prefer The Nano ($180). It's simple design looks easy to wipe down and you can fold it up to store between feedings.
Baby Einstein Musical Motion Activity Jumper -My son leaped like crazy in this brightly colored musical contraption ($80) until he walked at 10 months.
Baby Einstein Neptune Ocean Environment Play Gym-Baby can travel under the sea during tummy time and play with plush aquatic friends on this mat ($70).
Fisher-Price Ocean Wonders Aquarium Cradle Swing - This swing ($100) lulled both my kids to sleep and was light enough to move around the house so I could keep an eye on them while I tidied up or showered.

Muslin Baby Blankets Grow in Popularity

babysugar — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:00:29 -0700

When choosing a baby blanket, mamas look for something soft, warm, and functional. One that can help swaddle your tot into a tight burrito and also fend off a chill as they relax in their swing. When choosing our six favorite baby blankets, LilSugar readers echoed our love for Aden and Anais' cotton muslin blankets.

The 100 percent cotton wraps, which are stretchy, breathable, and versatile enough to use for swaddling or draping over a stroller when a baby is resting, have become a must-have item on many mama-to-be's baby registries. Their growing popularity has spurred a number of new companies to enter the muslin blanket market, each with their own unique patterns and designs to appeal to every mom out there. Here are some of the new ones we have seen on store shelves.

The Five Best Baby Bottles

LilSugar — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:45:37 -0800

Most babies put back a lot of bottles in their little lifetimes, so moms, especially first-timers, want to figure out which brands are best. Some companies cater to tots moving from breast to bottle, while others boast to be made of more pure components. Like children, the feeding contraptions come in all shapes and sizes. Some infants reject one brand and latch right on to another, so we've tested numerous lines and rounded up five of the very best bottles on the market. Check out our picks and let us know which one you (or your children) prefer.

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Baby Shower Gifts That Will Wow the Crowd

LilSugar — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0800

I love the element of surprise! That's probably why I didn't find out the sex of my children while pregnant or set up a baby registry. When invited to a shower, I like to give an unexpected gift and leave the swing, bouncer and crib sheet offerings to other guests. Here are a few of my favorite recent finds. Source: Flickr User clevercupcakes

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Lil Links: Try These Tasty Recipes For a Spooky Spectacle

babysugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:30:16 -0700

18 spooktacular recipes - Parenting
Jenna Elfman drags out her non-maternity gear in a mini - Celebrity Baby Blog
Registry must haves for moms-to-be - Fit Pregnancy
Oye! She's still using a sippy cup in grade school - CafeMom
Holly Robinson-Peete wishes the Travoltas spoke out earlier about autism - ParentDish
Salma Hayek says the pregnancy glow is a lie - Celebrity Baby Scoop
The baby manicure tragedy - The Laughing Stork
Help find these recently missing children - Mom Logic
Do you write down what your kids say? - The Poop
Mother-daughter relationships - Real Simple

Interesting to Ridiculous Baby Shower Gifts

LilSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:05:16 -0700

One woman's gag gift is another mother's treasure. While baby showers are a fun way to fete the expectant mama, they also help her load up on loot like practical baby necessities. Though most guests gravitate toward the basic and budget-friendly items on a mom-to-be's registry, others try to wow the crowd with the most outlandish gifts they come across. From garish clothing to utterly ridiculous items, we've rounded up some interesting selections.

To see our entire list of unique baby shower gifts, read more.

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Website lil Loves: MealBaby

LilSugar — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:00:12 -0700

The days and weeks after welcoming a new baby into your home are like a dream. The sleep deprivation and round the clock feedings often mean that homemade meals are sparse and takeout becomes the norm. MealBaby is an online meal registry where family and friends can sign up to make and deliver meals to new parents. For loved ones who live too far away to deliver a homemade meal, the site offers up the opportunity to purchase gift cards to national chain restaurants as well as the opportunity to donate money to Feed The Children, a non-profit organization that provides food for hungry families around the world. If you're too busy to set up the registry on your own, friends can do so for you - which might make a fun addition to a baby shower!

Baby Bump: Belly Tattoos

LilSugar — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 10:00:00 -0800

Pregnancy can be a time of indecisiveness for women. Some waffle between baby names, what entree to order off a menu or items to add to their registry. So if you want to adorn your burgeoning belly with some art, but haven't been able to make a commitment to one design or another - the temporary tattoos at Mother Ink are perfect. Made from FDA-approved vegetable inks and manufactured in the USA, the company's seven designs will give you plenty of opportunities to show off your belly as the weather warms up. Each round tattoo is designed to be placed around your belly button and last for a few days.