LilSugar

Announcing a Pregnancy: I'm Going to Be a Dad

LilSugar — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:02:01 PST

When British photographer Tom Robinson found out he was going to be a father, he couldn't wait to share the news with friends and family. "It's generally a good idea to wait until the three-month scan before telling people you're going to have a baby, just to make sure everything is OK. I'm terrible at keeping secrets, so after only a few weeks I told my boss at work that I was going to be a dad and his reaction was so priceless, I instantly knew I had to capture the reactions of my close friends and family," Tom said. "We hadn't been trying for a baby and I was 29, which for London is fairly young to have a child, so I knew I'd get some good reactions." And thus "I'm Going to Be a Dad" was born.

Keep reading to see how Tom's family and friends reacted to the news!

Source: Tom Robinson Photography

Baby's Here! 9 Creative Birth Announcements

Nicole Abbott — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:59:15 PST

Mommy and daddy aren't the only ones who have been expecting the stork's arrival, so announcing baby's debut is big deal to new parents. Lots of mamas prefer to go with a custom birth announcement as unique as their new baby - and nothing says custom like letterpress announcements or photo birth announcements. Click through to check out nine creative custom birth announcements for a little inspiration.

Where Is He or She Now? An Update on the Great Genderless Baby "Storm" of 2011

Natasha Dantzig — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 07:13:46 PST

Boy or a girl? Generally one of the first questions parents answer about their lil ones, it's the one that Toronto parents Kathy Witterick and David Stocker opted to skip completely when their baby was born nearly one year ago, on New Year's Day. Named Storm, an appropriate moniker for a child that was the subject of more than a little controversy, the baby's parents publicly announced that they would not be revealing Storm's gender in The Toronto Star. Unsurprisingly, the family has faced its share of haters, critics, and detractors over the past year who feel that the family is more than just wacky - that they're doing actual psychological damage by imposing their extreme beliefs on their innocent lil ones.

Today, as Storm's first birthday approaches, the lil one is thriving. With two doting older siblings - including big brother Jazz, whom his parents identify as "gender independent" thanks to his affinity for pink, fairy birthday parties, and dresses - and a community of supportive friends, the family is sticking by their commitment to raise their children with "the freedom to choose who they want to be, unconstrained by social norms about males and females." What do you think? Inspiring trailblazers or irresponsible parents?

Steal the Look: Amy Brinkley's "Up All Night" Nursery

Nicole Abbott — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:24:27 PST

We're hooked on Up All Night, and we don't appear to be the only ones! The new show is gaining fans left and right for their spot-on - and hilarious - portrayal of life as new parents. Chris and Reagan Brinkley are just like us, but more funny - and with a beautifully decorated midcentury modern home!

Scenes that take place in the Brinkleys' nursery are scarce, but we played a little game of I Spy and found some fabulous items in their baby's room. Click through to see more pictures and get the scoop on the Up All Night nursery.

All photos courtesy NBC/Bravo

Best of 2011: What Was Your Favorite New Baby Toy?

Nicole Abbott — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:02:46 PST

Lots of new toys for baby hit stores this year - did any of them make it to your little one's toy box? Eco-conscious new mamas loved the new Plan Toys' Baby Activity Gym ($60) and the P'kolino Fishing Hole Size Sorter ($25). Little tykes were delighted by the Fisher-Price Little People Wheelies Zig the Big Rig ($30), while pint-sized Sesame Street fans went ga-ga for Let's Rock Elmo ($49) and Count and Crunch Cookie Monster ($23)! So which new baby toy did your little one love the most? Let us know or add another toy in the comments.

10 Great Gifts For Brand Spankin' New Mamas

Natasha Dantzig — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:03:10 PST

Ask most new mamas what they really want for the holidays, and chances are you'll get one answer: a full night's sleep! While that's something nearly impossible to deliver to new parents, it is possible to provide some much-needed relief and relaxation during the waking hours.

Click through for a selection of items that will bring a smile to any new mama's face, even through her haze of sleep deprivation!

Bye-Bye Rock-a-Bye: Cool Music For Baby

Nicole Abbott — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 11:25:08 PST

Bye-bye rock-a-bye! Mama may have had the coolest tunes on her music player before baby, but now, not so much. If the thought of hearing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" for the 15th time straight makes you want to bury your head in the sand, maybe it's time for a music upgrade. Check out these cool tunes for baby and get the best of both worlds - real music with kid-friendly lyrics!

Too Cool For School? A Gift Guide For Baby Hipsters

LilSugar — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 10:02:44 PST

Everyone knows one: that baby with the super cool hipster parents who are all about obscure bands and ironic facial hair. It's hard enough to shop for adult hipsters, but what do you get the lil versions? Hand-rolled cigarettes just won't do.

We told you about books for hipster tots; keep reading for a selection of presents sure to delight the most discerning of babies.

10 Wacky Baby Products to Leave Off Your Registry

LilSugar — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 07:03:58 PST

Tinkle tubes? Potty mitts? Nope, these aren't props from an SNL sketch mocking the absurdity of the baby product industry; they're actual items.

After talking about how exhausting new parenthood is, one of the ideas that's constantly hashed out is the sheer amount of stuff that babies require. Some of that stuff is, of course, nonnegotiable: the baby needs somewhere safe to sleep, diapers, bottles, and clothes. Then there's all of the other stuff. Gear our mothers somehow lived without that we've come to rely on - video monitors, white noise machines, and smartphone apps that can do pretty much anything except nurse the baby. Here's where things get a little weird: amidst the many useful and innovative items introduced every year, there are a handful that range from being totally unnecessary to downright bizarre.

Click through for a selection of baby gear that might leave you scratching your head.

Make Bath Time Fun With These 9 Bath Toys For Tots

LilSugar — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 06:35:07 PDT

It's bath time, baby! Bath time can get very mixed reactions from babies. Some little ones are born water lovers while others cry so hard that mama's afraid neighbors might call the police. Either way, bath time toys make the experience much more enjoyable for both baby and mom. Check out these nine fun toys that will have your kiddie splishin' and splashin'!

Dunck Bath Toys ($10 for set of 3): Multipurpose bath toys! Dunck stacking bath toys by Skip Hop provide endless fun and function in the tub. Mama can rinse baby's head with one dunck duckie while baby stacks, pours, or floats the others.
Sophie the Giraffe Bath Toy ($17): Baby's favorite giraffe gets a floatie! Sophie the Giraffe is one of the most popular toys for babies - and now she's ready for some bath time fun. She even squirts water when squeezed!
Tub Time Tea Party Set ($10): Mommy says it's bath time, but your little girl wants to host a tea party. Now you can do both! This tea set includes a teapot, sugar bowl, sugar cubes, and two tea cups.
Girl's Tub Toy ($5): A dolly for bath time fun! No need to explain to your little one why her doll can't take a bath with her with this little bath time friend.
Foam Butterflies and Bugs ($24): Turn tub time into a garden adventure with these easy-to-apply and -remove designs. From flowers to butterflies, the colorful foam icons stick to the side of tiles and tubs.
Silly Squirts Bath Toys ($11 for set of 4): These cute little squirts aren't your average bath toy. The top twists off for easy cleaning, and you can mix and match them to create hybrid bath time friends!
B. Fish & Splish Boat Bath ($30): All aboard for loads of bath time fun! There are 13 toys in this set that are ready for an underwater expedition - and when the bath time fun is over, everything stores below deck.
Boon Scrubble Bath Toys ($10): Fun in the tub with BPA-free toys! Tots can scrub in the tub with this set of three interchangeable bulbs and textured attachments that unscrew for easy cleaning. Just fill the toys with water and squeeze for lots of bath time laughs.
Snail Stacker Bath Toy ($10): Rub-a-dub-dub, there's a snail in the tub! This smiley snail has three stackable rings and a flower on top that doubles as a squirt toy.