LilSugar

The Gifted Baby: Two-Year-Old

LilSugar — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 04:00:00 -0800

Two isn't terrible! The key to entertaining a rambunctious two-year-old is patience and a steady stream of back-up ideas to prevent meltdowns. Look for toys that keep children active as well as items that let them explore their creative sides.

Among our choices for lil two-year-olds are:

Kitchen play items like grocery carts, play food, and cash registers allow toddlers to imitate adult behavior, while increasing vocabulary and introducing numbers.
Easels, like the Melissa and Doug Deluxe Standing Easel promote independent play, while allowing children to draw, paint and play with chalk.
Radio Flyer's Little Miss Scooter, which also comes in red, will be a hit on the playground while teaching lil ones about balance and stability. Just don't forget to purchase a helmet to go with this gift!
The PlasmaCar is one of the coolest products on the market. Unlike other toddler ride-ons, it does not have pedals. It uses natural forces of centrifugal force and gravity to zoom around the playground.
Unlike an easel, Aquadoodle's Draw N' Doodle Mat will not make a mess of your home. Using nothing but a water-filled marker, tots can draw on this mat as often as they like, without ever having to replace their canvas.
If green markets are more your thing than grocery stores, check out the Market Stand complete with bins and baskets ready for imaginary play.

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The Gifted Baby: 18-Month-Old

LilSugar — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 10:00:06 -0800

Ready. Set. Go! Just try to stop a curious 18-month-old. Finding toys that capture their attention is quite a task so look for items that help develop their fine motor skills.

The Fropper is sure to bring out the giggles as tots hop and bounce their way around the room.
One of the hottest toys of the holiday season, Elmo Live is as close to the real thing as you can get. This version tells jokes, sings songs and perfectly imitates one of our favorite Muppets.
Get your lil one cooking with a tabletop kitchen. This Countertop Stove is part of Pottery Barn Kids' line of Eco-friendly wooden products.
Introduce toddlers to the world of arts and crafts with Crayola's TaDoodles Crayon Buddies, which are designed to fit right into the palms of their hands.
Encourage building and fine motor skill development with the Clipo Creativity Table that offers countless ways to create new things.
Take a page from your childhood and introduce your tot to the current version of the sit-n-spin with the Spin Around.

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The Gifted Baby: One-Year-Old

LilSugar — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:00:29 -0800

One-year-olds are on the move! Whether they are already walking or on the verge, their increased confidence makes them inquisitive of the world around them. When shopping for gifts for tots seek out toys that help them explore their surroundings. Here our some of our favorite picks!

A wooden pull along toy like the Quack Pack Pull Along Toy from Apple Pie that wiggles as the toddler pulls it on its way.
A five-in-one activity cube like the Busy Body Cube from BabyStyle, which features mazes, beads, magnets, clocks and puzzles to keep lil ones entertained for at least a few minutes!
The LeapFrog Fridge DJ introduces numbers, letters and popular children's songs while displaying the characters on its screen. Best of all, it attaches to any magnetic surface, so it can entertain babes while their parents complete kitchen tasks.
Melissa and Doug's line of large knobbed puzzles are a great introduction to puzzles and can help lil ones stay put for a few minutes at a time.
Bring out the athlete in your toddler with the Little Tikes Little Champs Sports Center. The perfectly sized basketball hoop is a great way to introduce a variety of sports.
Push toys encourage tikes of all walking abilities to get up and go, which is why I love this BabyStyle Wooden Jeep. Made of natural rubber wood and featuring rugged tires, the car can be used inside and out.

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The Gifted Baby: Six Month Old

LilSugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 05:00:26 -0800

Babies may like the wrapping paper better than the present, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't put thought into their gifts. Six-month-olds are really beginning to explore their surroundings so it is a great time to introduce them to toys that stimulate their senses.

Whether the tot needs a distraction in his high chair or if he just likes moving things around, the Double Bubble Suction Cup Maze will keep him entertained while developing his hand and eye coordination.
Leapfrog's Baby Tad helps introduce the alphabet to lil ones and is easy for them to use. It attaches directly to strollers and car seats, preventing baby from throwing it on the ground.
Babies love music, so the lights and sounds that come out of the Fisher Price Little Superstar Sing-Along Stage should keep a babe's attention for a while. The toy is designed to grow with the tot, from just listening to singing along and performing in front of the mirror.
The Playskool: Busy Basics - Busy Ball Popper is a bit noisy, but loads of fun. The sound of the balls popping out of the machine and the chaos they create will keep your little one mesmerized for hours.
The six-month-old in your life is teething, the Winkel Toy is the ideal gift to keep him happy. With tons of soft tubes and a rattle to make noise, your tot will have plenty to gnaw on.
Like stacking toys of yore, the Safari Animal Stacker teaches size and sequencing with the added fun of six plush jungle animals.

Did You Have a Gut Feeling About Your Baby's Sex?

LilSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:00:16 -0800

Expectant women are full of anticipation before meeting their wee ones. One of the most suspenseful moments is when the gender is revealed - be it in the delivery room or the ultrasound. Before that moment arrives, some women believe they already know if their child is going to be a boy or girl. Be it mother's intuition, a gut feeling, or old wives' tales about gender, some mamas-to-be have a sixth sense when it comes to their babe. Do tell, did you guess your baby's gender correctly before you saw the evidence?

Homemade Baby Succotash

Lil Community — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:00:32 -0800

This recipe comes from the group The Children's Table from member lauren.

I have an amazing brother and sister-in-law, who had their first child this last year and in hopes to make sure my niece's diet is full of healthy and tasty things, they have been making homemade baby food. They received the Beaba Babycook as a shower gift and trust me they have been using this handy contraption nonstop! I am sure you could make the same recipe on the stove but this definitely, in my aunt opinion, makes it much easier!

To get the recipe, read more.

Homemade Baby Succotash
Recipe from Cooking for Baby: Wholesome, Homemade, Delicious Foods for 6 to 18 Months

Ingredients

1 tbsp unsalted butter
1 cup lima or butter beans, frozen
1 cup corn kernels frozen
1/4 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp salt

Directions

With the beaba babycook, steam the frozen lima beans and corn kernels. Save the liquid in case, so it can be added back for a smoother texture.
Remove the stemming bowl from the beaba and place the cooked beans and corn in blender portion. Add the butter, salt and paprika and stemming liquid, if needed. Quickly blend to the desired consistency.
Let cool and feed your cute babe!

Print recipe with images | without images
Do you have a favorite product or recipe that your tots love? Share it with other lunch making mamas in The Children's Table group over in the LilSugar Community!

The Gifted Child: Gifts For a Newborn Baby

babysugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:00:12 -0800

The best holiday present of all is a newborn baby! While you can't go out and buy a baby, you can buy things to doll them up in and entertainment tools to light up their wee eyes. Spoil babies rotten with some of these wooden treats, musical toys, and sassy threads. Baby may not get what's going on, but he'll love the attention being paid to him.

If you like it then you should put a name on it. Make it known that he is one unique child by giving him a present with his moniker scrawled across it. A baseball bat, a train, or a fuzzy topper will make for precious gifts with extra meaning. Snugglers will appreciate a cuddly blanket for a posh snooze in the crib while snowbound babes will enjoy a sled made just for them.

Even Teen Burglars Have Soft Spots For Babies

babysugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:15:03 -0800

Tonight on the 6 'clock news - thieves feeding babies. Sounds crazy but that's what happened to a family in Indianapolis. While two high school students were robbing a house, a baby started to cry. Either out of the kindness of his heart or his desire to hush the baby (I'm putting my money on the latter), the 18-year-old thief warmed up a bottle of milk and allowed another child in the house to feed the wailing babe. Unfortunately the rest of the story is not so delightful. He held a gun to the head of the father of the family and threatened to kill him. In the end, it was his aunt who turned him in to the authorities. Thankfully everyone is safe and sound, especially that scared baby.

Will You Tune In For Platinum Babies Tonight?

babysugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:00:46 -0800

It's time to bust out those rhinestone studded pacifiers and mommy's bottle of bubbly... it's the premiere of Platinum Babies on WEtv! While some mothers would rather watch the funds for these extravagant nurseries and baby showers go to more philanthropic causes, others are fired up to watch the extravagant mums-to-be indulge themselves. Will you tune in for the guilty pleasure?

Join our group of Television Moms over in our LilSugar Community!

Trendtotting: Baby Eggi For Lil Chicks

babysugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:00:35 -0800

I don't know much about the Korean language but if it's as logical as this one word, I have a feeling I'll like it: eggi means baby. I love the simplicity and cuteness of it, much like the company that includes it in their brand: Baby Eggi.

A clothing label made just for kiddos, Baby Eggi is sweet, sassy and cool all in one. The stylish 3-button bell sleeved jacket is easily one of the most chic pieces of apparel I've seen for wee ones and its price tag is quite reasonable at $48. Young lads will look dapper but sporty in the long-sleeved jersey button-up that is suited for a dressy occasion or a roll in the mud. New moms, who are known to be dazed and confused, will enjoy the days-of-the-week onesies that will help keep her mush mind in line.

If mommy needs to legitimize her shopping cart, she might feel better knowing that Baby Eggi donates 20 percent of its net proceeds to partnering children's charities. Oh, and they're offering a 15 percent discount to our LilSugar readers for the entire month of November. Use the code LILSUGAR09 at checkout. Happy shopping!