LilSugar

Economy Causes Parents to Cut Costs While Potty Training

LilSugar — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 04:00:35 -0700

Prepare for some potty emergencies. Parents are willing to try most anything to toilet train their children quickly. Since the economy is sagging, some mothers are even cutting costs by taking their tots straight from diapers to underwear. Disposable training pants like Huggies Pull-Ups and Pampers Easy-Ups can set a family back up to $100 per month.

According to The Nielsen Co., "Sales of disposable training pants declined 3.2 percent to $731.2 million for the 52 weeks ending June 13 and the number of training pants sold is down 10 percent." This is the first time in the 20 years since the diaper-like pants were introduced that sales have declined, leading many industry experts to blame the economy.

Ecomomics: Have Tough Times Brought Out Junk Food?

babysugar — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:00:15 -0800

In these tough economic times, many families are struggling with putting healthy food on the table. A nutrient-rich, vegetable-filled salad with meat often costs significantly more than a fatty meal from the McDonald's dollar menu.

Parents trying to curb their food budget find that cheaper food prices translate to higher saturated fats and food coloring. In a price war, Kraft macaroni and cheese will almost always beat out the organic wheat pasta and marinara sauce. While many tots may rejoice in the presence of junk food, mommies might cringe with every lil bite they take.

Has your grocery list changed since the economy started to tumble?
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Tell Mommy: Do Your Kids Have a Budget?

babysugar — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 05:00:00 -0700

Suze Orman may be the money guru of today, but sometimes I think she took a page from my parents' handbook on raising financially responsible children. Growing up, my folks paid us for hard work done around the house and allowed us to spend it how we wanted. My chores included cleaning my room, making my bed, helping with dinner, doing dishes, and other things that eased the burden on my mom and step-dad. As we grew older, my sister and I had to set up a budget for our monthly expenditures. Based on our needs and wants, our parents devised a monthly allowance for us. It taught us both that perhaps a Polo shirt wasn't as necessary as the cheaper version available at Target.

Tell mommy, do your kids have a budget?
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How Is the Economic Situation Affecting Your Spending Habits?

babysugar — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 08:00:04 -0700

The current economic roller coaster has many of us taking a second look at our account balances on a daily basis and thinking more carefully about the prices of the things we purchase. A recent trip to the grocery store made me realize that I often "splurge" on items that I don't necessarily need. With Halloween and the holidays right around the corner is the state of the economy affecting how you spend on your family?

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Tell Mommy Your Thoughts on Paying Cash For Extra Credit

babysugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:30:52 -0800

Would you work a little harder on a task at the office if your boss offered to give you a bonus upon completing it? Many would answer that question with a resounding, "Yes." What if that same situation was applied to schools with teachers and their students? Kids earn extra credit points a number of ways but one North Carolina school came under fire for offering its pupils 20 test points (10 points to be used on two tests of their choosing) if they brought in a $20 donation to the school.

Like many schools across the country, Rosewood Middle School is facing tough economic times and was looking for innovative ideas in fund-raising. After the parent advisory board came up with the concept and then the principal endorsed it, it looked like the fund-raiser was a go, but it never actually took off. The state education officials got wind of the practice and stopped it before it was ever set in motion. They believe it is teaching children the wrong lesson - that grades can be bought. Instead of cash, they insist the students should be rewarded bonus points for knowledge gained, not green paper. In defense of the program, Principal Susie Shepherd made the point that two test bumps won't make a difference in a student's final grade but that the money would have been helpful in upgrading the computer lab and their classrooms.

Do you agree with the state education officials or do you think the fund-raiser was a legitimate way to get kids involved in the school's improvement efforts?

Five Economical Ways to Spend Time With Your Spouse

LilSugar — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 06:00:44 -0700

Once kids are in the mix, it can be difficult to squeeze in alone time with your spouse. In these tough economic times, the babysitting fund is often the first cut from the budget. Find time for your relationship by testing out one of these tricks with your partner. Check out our slideshow for five options that won't break the bank!

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Lil Links: Eco-Friendly and Economical Maternity Wear

LilSugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:00:04 -0700

Eco-friendly and economical maternity wear - Inhabitots
Wall paintings by Ami Suma -Ohdeedoh
Jen and Ben arrive at LAX - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Jenny McCarthy teams up with WWE to raise money for autism research - Celebrity Baby Blog
The last movie you saw in a theater - The Poop
Do sugarless gummy bears fight cavities? - Parent Dish

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!

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Thoughts on the Homeless American Girl Doll

babysugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:00:08 -0700

I'm all for exposing my child to the different walks of life. One of the reasons why I believe in the public school system is that children can get a taste of the real world by making friends with different socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds. Taking kids along to volunteer can open their eyes and show them how good it feels to help those less fortunate. Having said all that, I'm not sure where I stand on the newest addition to the American Girl doll lineup.

As the economy has suffered, more children have become homeless. As a way to teach children about the unfortunate plight of some youngsters, the toy makers created a limited edition "homeless" doll named Gwen. I understand the concept and think it could be a great talking point but it does seem a tad ironic that the pretty lil blonde lass costs $95. While that's the going rate for the highly coveted dolls, it seems the company could have helped the homeless cause even more if they made the proceeds go directly to a homeless cause, say one that might actually help homeless children even. What's your take on the latest American Girl doll?

Would Economics Influence Your Decision to Raise Baby?

LilSugar — Tue, 19 May 2009 14:00:00 -0700

One loving mother of three did something she never imagined - she put her fourth baby up for adoption. Struggling to make ends meet raising her teenagers as a single parent, Renee Siegfort, 36, did what she believed was in all of her children's best interest when she found herself unexpectedly pregnant again - she found a family to raise her infant, Joie. While the decision was heart wrenching, a recent report said that it is not uncommon as many moms are considering adoption due to the economy and the fact that raising children is so expensive. Some placement agencies are seeing anywhere from a 10 to 30 percent increase in inquiries. In the same article, a rep for the National Abortion Federation said their phones were ringing off the hook. Would finances influence your baby-raising decision?