LilSugar

Tell Mommy: What Was Your Child's First Word?

LilSugar — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:00:12 -0700

"Dada" often comes out of the mouths of babes before "Mama," but for every child whose first word is "mommy" or "daddy," it seems there's another tot that picks a random one like "truck" or "ravioli." Both my daughter and son's first words were "Hi," which leads me to believe that they will be incredibly friendly people, or just that my husband and I use the greeting all too often. As parents we eagerly await the thoughts that spill out our children's mouths. What was your child's first word?

Source

Add Your Lil Cutie to Your Community Account!

LilSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:30:44 -0800

Nothing makes a mother's day like seeing her mini me's mug. Share pictures of your kiddos by adding them to your profile! And let us know what makes your tot unique from their favorite foods to their first words and what they like to do for fun. Follow these simple steps to add your child or children to your profile. The bonus of adding your children to your account is an automatic membership to the Kids group in the LilSugar Community where you can meet other mamas and their youngsters!

Mommy Dearest: How Should I Deal With Gender Issues?

babysugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:45:44 -0800

Mommy Dearest,

I have a 4-year-old little girl who seems to fit into the stereotypes surrounding children her age; she loves princesses, makeup, and playing with baby dolls. In an effort to get her to branch out, I have signed her up for soccer with other boys and girls her age. At first, the playtime was terrific - boys and girls running elbow to elbow. Then the coach decided to split them up by gender. Kids generally play with their own sex, so I understood his rationale for dividing them, but at this past practice he decided it was time for the boys to play football while the girls still kicked the ball around. When one of the girls asked the coach why the boys got to play football, he said, "The boys have gotten really good at soccer so we're letting them play football. You guys still need to work on your soccer." All of the mothers on the sideline gasped. While the coach may be right, he is already starting to pigeonhole them into the stereotypes that we moms are trying so hard to avoid. They are such an impressionable age and they are already starting to hear that boys are better than them. I would like to talk with the coach about it, but I don't seem to have the right words. Do you have any advice?

- Antistereotype Soccer Mom

To see Mommy Dearest's response, just read more.

Antistereotype Soccer Mom,

Parents are often conflicted with how to share a gender-divided world with their children. It is commendable that you are trying to take actions to show your girly daughter the other facets of life that don't include tutus and lip gloss, but you may find that not everyone is like minded. It seems the coach could use some, er, coaching in stereotyping. He is probably used to straight talk and may appreciate the candor of a sideline mommy. Rather than make a big issue out of it, I'd simply tell him you want the girls to have the same learning experience as the boys. The larger concern at hand would be how he manages to tell the girls about their routine. I would ask him to explain to the girls that they are equal to the boys and ready to roll with the flag-football punches.

- Mommy Dearest

Submit a question for this feature at the Mommy Dearest Group on our new community page.

What Do You Know About Baby Talk?

LilSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:00:08 -0800

No doubt about it, moms and dads can hardly wait to hear their babe's first words. While there are some great things you can do to encourage language development in babies, the main thing most tots need is a little time. Before stressing about your little one's speech (or lack thereof) take this quiz to see how well you know baby talk.

Take the quiz

Lil Links: Forget the Cookies, Go For Spooky Crayons

babysugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:30:46 -0700

Make spooky crayons with cookie molds - Inhabitots
Sparrow swoops his first cover of People - Celebrity Baby Blog
Top babymoon destinations for expectant parents - Cool Mom Picks
ABC pancakes are a cinch and so fun - CafeMom
Is salt a four-letter word in your home? - ParentDish
It's a girl for The Office's Amy Ryan - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Is autism genetic? - Health
Get cracking on holiday planning to these rad ski resorts - Momologie
Mom serves up toilet fresh candy . . . for real - MomLogic

The Difference Between First, Second, and Third Babies

LilSugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:00:06 -0700

The game telephone may have been popular back in grammar school, but grown women get all kinds of information passed to them via email or word of mouth. Some forwards ring more true than others. If you want to share those sentiments or any of your own realizations about motherhood, join The Mommy Club over in our LilSugar community. User Bluesuze posted this one about subsequent kids that is sure to tickle your funny bone!

First baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN
confirms your pregnancy.
Second baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.
Third baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.

Preparing For the Birth:
First baby: You practice your breathing religiously.
Second baby: You don't bother practicing because you remember breathing
didn't do a thing.
Third baby: You ask for an epidural in your eighth month.

To see the rest, just read more.

The Layette:
First baby: You prewash newborn's clothes, color coordinate them, and
fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau.
Second baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard
only the ones with the darkest stains.
Third baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?

To see what happens when it comes to worries and swallowing coins, read more.

Worries:
First baby: At the first sign of distress - a whimper, a frown - you pick up
the baby.
Second baby: You pick the baby up when their wails threaten to wake your
firstborn.
Third baby: You teach your 3-year-old how to rewind the mechanical
swing.

Pacifier:
First baby: If the pacifier falls on the floor, you put it away until you
can go home and wash and boil it.
Second baby: When the pacifier falls on the floor, you squirt it off with
some juice from the baby's bottle.
Third baby: You wipe it off on your shirt and pop it back in.

Diapering:
First baby: You change your baby's diapers every hour, whether they need
it or not.
Second baby: You change their diaper every two to three hours, if needed.
Third baby: You try to change their diaper before others start to complain
about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.

Activities:
First baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, and Baby
Story Hour.
Second baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.
Third baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaner.

Going Out:
First baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call
home five times.
Second baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a
number where you can be reached.
Third baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees
blood.

At Home:
First baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.
Second baby: You spend a bit of everyday watching to be sure your older
child isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.
Third baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children.

Swallowing Coins (a favorite):
First child: when first child swallows a coin, you rush the child to the
hospital and demand X-rays.
Second child: when second child swallows a coin, you carefully watch for
coin to pass.
Third child: when third child swallows a coin you deduct it from his
allowance!!

Source: Flickr User MyAngelG

Jennifer Connelly's Kids Are Free to Curse at Home

LilSugar — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:20:55 -0700

When a child first curses, it's how parents handle it that makes all the difference - some are shocked while others choose overlook the slippage. There are even moms and dads that allow their kiddos to express themselves with four-letter bombs in certain circumstances.

While Jennifer Connelly, mom to Kai, 12, and Stellan, 6, sat down with Jimmy Kimmel last night, she tells him that she is adamant about making sure her kids are well-disciplined and polite, but that she has given in to use of curse words in certain contexts. According to the actress, words that are considered "forbidden" in most homes are tolerable in hers, as long as they are not directed at an individual and they are not used in public forums. Do you have different sets of rules for inside and outside the home?

The First Day of School: Harder on Mother or Child?

babysugar — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:00:03 -0700

"I just need one more kiss goodbye. One more hug. OK, last kiss . . . I promise!" While a mommy hopes her child will run into the classroom with curiosity, she also hopes to hear those words when dropping her tot off for the first day of school. But mama better take a good look in the mirror because chances are she's the one that will have the tougher time letting go.

Famous for portraying high-school student, Kelly Taylor, actress Jennie Garth admits that she is the one who hides in the back of the classroom before leaving her daughters on the first day of school. At T.J. Maxx's Save the Children's Back-to-School Program, the 90210 actress spoke about sending her youngest child off to pre-k:

I am the mom that stays in the back hiding. She's going to school where my other two daughters went to school, and they let me stay as long as I need to. It's not even about Fiona, it's about me and getting through my separation issues.

With her new acting gig, the mama of three might be able to use her onscreen "high school guidance counselor" title to impart some knowledge on her lil misses . . . and herself! When it comes time to drop off, tell mommy who has the harder time waving adieu?

Lil Links: David Beckham's Greatest Achievement Is His Family

LilSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:15:33 -0700

David Beckham says his greatest achievement is his children and family - People
Sarah Michelle Gellar rocks the short maternity mini - Celebrity Baby Blog
Real talk: I miss wearing my babies sometimes - Cafemom
Two moms talk about giving up custody of their children - Cookie
Scott Baio and family show off their Baby Couture - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Growing up is tough on mom - Parenting
Life after the six-week no-sex window - Alpha Mom
My child's first five words - The Poop
One dad's journey with his autistic son's phobia - ParentDish

The Summer Season Itch: Sea Lice

LilSugar — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:00:13 -0700

Just the word lice makes a mom itch. Parents normally reserve their fear of infestation for the school year when notices are slipped into backpacks or during the warm months when camps send warning. Trips to the beach aren't normally on a mother's radar because the lice kids acquire there isn't the head-to-head type, but rather sea lice, tiny irritations from ocean larvae, also known as seabather's eruption. According to WebMD:

Shortly after being stung, a swimmer may complain of skin discomfort. The rash develops in a few minutes to 12 hours after swimming. The rash consists of raised, hard or soft bumps, or blisters of different shapes and sizes that appear very red and may be extremely itchy. The larvae can become trapped in the fabric of a swimsuit, under swim caps and fins, and along the cuff edges of wet suits and T-shirts. The rash often appears in areas of the body that were covered.

Thimble jellyfish and Sea anemone are usually the offenders. While sea lice normally goes away within two weeks without medical treatment, there are suggestions for how parents can treat their children at home. To see the recommendations, read more.

Do not rub your skin. If larvae are on your skin, rubbing will cause them to sting.

Remove your swimsuit as soon as possible. Since larvae can become trapped in the fabric of your suit, it is important to remove a contaminated suit to prevent more stings. If possible, rinse your suit in household vinegar or rubbing alcohol. Wash your suit in hot, soapy water and dry it in a dryer, if possible, before you wear it again.

Shower with fresh water. Apply soap and vigorously scrub your skin. Do not shower with a contaminated suit on. If larvae are trapped in the fabric of a suit, a freshwater shower will cause the larvae to sting.

Take an antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine or chlorpheniramine, or apply hydrocortisone cream (1 percent) to help control itching. Note: do not use the cream on children younger than age 2 unless your doctor tells you to. Do not use in the rectal or vaginal area in children younger than age 12 unless your doctor tells you to. Also, don't give antihistamines to your child unless you've checked with the doctor first.

Use an ice pack to help relieve pain.

Keep the rash clean. Wash it every day with soap and water.