LilSugar

Toss, Keep, or Donate? What to Do With All That Stuff Your Baby Outgrows

Kate Stahl — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:48:26 PDT

One universal truth all new parents quickly learn: babies require a lot of stuff. And while you'll probably use almost everything you put on your registry - and buy even more once your bundle arrives - your little one outgrows once-vital bottles, onesies, baby food, and that infant car seat incredibly quickly. So what to do with all that leftover (and sometimes super expensive) stuff? Simply follow our handy guide to determine whether to toss, keep, or donate!

How to Get Your Toddler to Say Bye-Bye to Bottles

Kate Stahl — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:47:02 PDT

My daughter recently had her one-year checkup, and only one part left me slightly terrified. Not the fact that she is now weighing in at more than 26 pounds (no wonder my arms are looking pretty good these days). Nope, the scariest part was when my pediatrician informed me it was time to get rid of her bottles. I nodded my head and smiled, but my internal dialogue sounded something like this: "Sure, doc, and then I'll happily resign myself to a life with a child who never naps and screams herself to sleep at night."

While giving up the bottle is an important developmental step with long-lasting health implications, would my daughter really be willing to give it up? I'm happy to report, with a little research and some dedication, we're (almost) bottle-free only two weeks later. If you're in my boat, keep reading for some simple, but effective tips to get your baby off the bottle quickly and pretty painlessly.

Source: Thinkstock

7 New Baby Bottles For 2012

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 11:32:34 PST

The average baby bottle is about to get a modern makeover! Most moms don't equate technology and baby bottles, but as with most baby products, the two worlds are colliding. From new bottles designed for breastfed babies to bottles that avoid plastic and glass altogether, take a look at seven bottles that will be hitting store shelves this year!

Cute Alert! Animals Getting Their Drink On

PetSugar — Mon, 23 May 2011 11:40:53 PDT

Humans may have to give up their formula habit when they reach a certain stage of development, but it's perfectly acceptable for animals to hit the bottle at all ages. If you are in need of a midday smile, drink up these touching pictures of cuties quenching their thirst. Sometimes you gotta let loose and party like an animal.

When Did Your Tot Give Up the Bottle For Good?

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 13 May 2011 08:16:21 PDT

Bottoms up! Doctors have long advised parents to make the switch from bottle to sippy cup around a tot's first birthday, but now they have a research behind them.

In a new study in The Journal of Pediatrics, researchers found that kids who continue to use a bottle as their primary source of liquids at two years, and those who are put to bed with one, are 33 percent more likely to be obese at five-and-a-half years old. According to the researchers, lil ones come to rely on the bottles for comfort or convenience, rather necessity, "Prolonged bottle use may lead to the child consuming excess calories, particularly when parents are using the bottle to comfort the child rather than to address the child’s hunger or nutritional needs."

Making the switch to a sippy cup can be an arduous task that some parents put off out of fear of their children giving up milk altogether. When did you make the switch?

The 5 Best Bottles For Breastfed Babies

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:35:47 PDT

Breastfed babies don't only take their milk from the breast. While lactation consultants suggest waiting at least three weeks before introducing a bottle, breastfeeding mamas often abide by their own schedules. Finding a bottle that truly mimics the motion, flow, and feeling of the breast is often the hardest part of making the switch. Check out our picks for the most breast-like bottles on the market and let us know which one you (or your children) prefer.

Pepsi Unveils 100 Percent Plant-Based Bottle

Susannah Chen — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 10:40:27 PDT

Pepsi isn't just making a killing off of the past - it's also banking on the technology of the future with a new plastic bottle made completely out of plant material.

The company claims it has "cracked the code" on a first-of-its-kind bottle made from switch grass, pine bark, corn husks, and other materials, and it purportedly looks, feels, and protects the drink in exactly the same way as traditional plastic packaging. It beats out the carbon footprint of competitor Coca-Cola's PlantBottle, which is only 30 percent plant-based.

Pepsi is even thinking further ahead: in the future, it plans to use orange peels, potato scraps, and other leftovers from its food enterprises in its new plastic bottles.

Source

Best of 2010: Our Favorite Baby Products

LilSugar — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 02:05:00 PST

Every year there's an avalanche of new baby products that promise to be the best on the market. Sometimes they are, but often times they don't live up to the hype. Among all of the products we test, there are those worthy of winning the LilSugar Editors' Picks of the Year. Here are the 2010 winners!

Little Vignettes With Glass

Casa Community — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 05:00:28 PDT

Here's a post from CasaSugar Community member JolieElise from the Lovely Little Vignettes group:

Above my kitchen sink I've a little gathering of cobalt blue glass. Wine, water, and coffee bottles gathered around a vintage vase create a nice splash of color when the sun shines through.

For another glass vignette from JolieElise,

Below is my bathroom window treatment.... a bit unusual. Wine bottles create a privacy screen without blocking out all of the light

Be sure to share photos and details about your own home décor arrangements in the Lovely Little Vignettes group!

Pura Kiki Offers a Stainless Steel Option to Plastic Bottles

babysugar — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 09:00:54 PDT

Could stainless steel replace plastic baby bottles? From stainless steel water bottle company Pura, Pura Kiki is a colorful line of baby bottles ($16 each) that convert into sippy cups. They're BPA-, phthalate-, and plastic-free, making them a seemingly safe option for new mamas. Unlike breakable glass bottles, stainless steel can be dropped or thrown and still be no worse for the wear. The bottles are compatible with most major brand's nipples (including Born Free, Dr. Browns, and Think Baby) and can be converted into sippy cups with a simple switch of the nipple. To monitor a lil one's liquid intake, the bottles feature interior markings rather than the traditional exterior versions. Would you switch to stainless?