LilSugar

Texts and Tunes: Rockabye Baby Christmas Rock Classics

LilSugar — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:00:41 PST

Have yourself a merry lil Christmas without putting "Jingle Bells" on heavy rotation on the stereo. For everyone who wants to fill their homes with a little joy for their bundle of joy this time of the year there is Rockabye Baby: Christmas Rock Classics ($11). I'm already a big fan of the Rockabye Baby series, so I knew the holiday album would fit nicely in our family music collection. The lullaby renditions of less traditional holiday songs such as Smashing Pumpkins' "Christmastime" and "2000 Miles" from The Pretenders are a soothing way to calm your babe and make it a silent night.

The Gifted Dad: Daddy-To-Be

LilSugar — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 05:00:45 PST

Presents for new parents are usually geared toward mom and baby, but expectant dads shouldn't be left in the dark. Give the daddy-to-be a few gifts that will have him prepared and excited for the impending arrival.

An expectant father is not always ready to give up his music collection for Baby Einstein and Barney. With the Rockabye Baby albums, he'll really be able to rock his lil one to sleep.
When dad's on duty he's not going to be thrilled to take your Petunia Pickle bag to the park. The Diaper Dude looks like a messenger bag, but is equipped to carry bottles, diapers, and other baby essentials.
Paternity leave doesn't hold a candle to maternity leave. When daddy is back at his desk dreaming of his bundle of joy, he'll love a digital photo frame to remind him of one of the reasons he's working so hard in the first place.

Buzz Gift Guide: Cool Stuff For Kids

BuzzSugar — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 06:30:10 PST

Welcome back, folks, to my Buzz Gift Guide series for all the entertainment lovers in your life. Last week I tackled the adults in the family, and today I'm focusing on the budding pop culture nuts in your life.

I'll admit, I would have killed for these gifts as a kid, and I'd probably treasure them as an adult were I to receive them (what can I say? I'm a child at heart). Take, for example, this amazing service from FAO Schwarz to create your own Muppet! You can play around with the different combinations online or order a special gift kit. I bet any little puppet-loving child in your world would think it's a pretty spectacular gift.

Speaking of Muppets, I really think each generation should be exposed to Fraggle Rock, which is why this complete DVD series is so cool (um, I might buy it for myself). If that special little person in your life is a Pixar fanatic, then this DVD set is for them. Finally, for those musically inclined kiddos (and parents), check out the Rockabye Baby series in which you can find lullaby versions of songs by the Beatles, Coldplay, Metallica, Bob Marley, Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, the Cure, you name it. Now that's one hip baby.

Make Your Own Muppet at FAO Schwarz ($90-130)	Rockabye Baby ($13.99)
Pixar Ultimate Collection ($109.99)	Fraggle Rock: The Complete Series Collection ($89.99 )

Check out HolidaySugar for all of our holiday coverage and gift guides.

Texts and Tunes: Rockabye Baby

babysugar — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 07:00:42 PST

We’ve all heard rumors that the music of Mozart and Bach helps stimulate a baby's brain. And sometimes waltzing to Requiem does help send baby to sleep. But, it's also a good time to introduce baby to some good ole' rock n' roll.

Rock the cradle of love to some sweet tunes from Rockabye Music ($17). The Rolling Stones, Nirvana, Bob Marley, and Coldplay are just some of the bands whose music has been converted into soothing lullaby renditions.

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!

Babycotpod's Metro Swinging Crib: Ga Ga or Gag?

Rebecca M Gruber — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 08:35:22 PDT

Rockabye baby! Babycotpod, the futuristic baby crib design company, has introduced its latest entry to the world of modern nursery design. Resembling a cradle more than a crib, the Metro ($575) merges a wooden frame (available in light, dark, or white finishes) with a white swinging bed. Between the crib's wide slats, the company injects a rainbow of colors in the form of acrylic panels. Unlike traditional box-like baby cribs, the Metro features warm, curved slats to comfort newborns.

This isn't the first time Babycotpod has given us a contemporary crib to ogle - its egg-like Cascara crib caused quite a stir last year. Would the Metro crib work in your nursery?

What Will and What Won't Help You Drift Into Dreamland

Heather Dale — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 03:07:14 PDT

Whenever I need my sleep the most - whether it's when I'm stressed or overtired - is when I have the most difficulty falling asleep. And we all know that not getting enough sleepy time is a recipe for disaster. It's frustrating to say the least, and I feel like I've tried every tip and trick to relax and calm my mind, from hot baths and reading, to taking melatonin and drinking herbal teas. Do you have any tried, tested, and true tricks that work for you? Now it's time to take a closer look at some remedies to see if they actually work!

Counting Sheep: As fun as it is to imagine furry sheep while lying in bed, this old wives' tale technique of helping you fall asleep is actually a myth. A study at Oxford University showed that people who counted sheep (compared to those who did nothing at all) actually took longer to fall asleep. What they did find though is that visualization of a relaxing scene helped insomniacs fall asleep 20 minutes sooner. Researchers believe that counting sheep is ineffective because it's too boring and participants stop counting. In comparison, imagining yourself on a tropical island is engaging enough to concentrate on until we tire ourselves out. A separate study showed that insomniacs usually focus on worries before bed, and things they did during the day. Which is why it's important to really wind down and focus on positive, calming thoughts.

Keep reading about other remedies.

Texts and Tunes: Humpty Who? Gives New Parents a Leg Up

babysugar — Mon, 24 May 2010 06:00:43 PDT

When I was expecting my first child, I would daydream about sitting on my glider and lulling my lil one to sleep with the classic nursery rhymes my mother sang to me. In the days after my son arrived, he was serenaded with Rock-a-Bye Baby and Twinkle Twinkle until my mama went home and then I drew a blank. I only wish Humpty Who? ($9) had been around back then – it would have cut my long distance bill in half. The collection of 80 songs, rhymes and finger games is a virtual crash course in the tunes that have soothed generations of babies before us. Complete with explanations about the songs and an accompanying CD, the book is a must have for any new parent who is making their way through the bleary-eyed days of a new addition to their family.

A Kid Friendly Tribute to Michael Jackson

babysugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:30:35 PDT

A controversial entertainer who certainly had some quirks, Michael Jackson was a superstar who will be sorely missed by millions. John Mayer may have said it best when he twittered:

I think we'll mourn his loss as well as the loss of ourselves as children listening to Thriller on the record player. Dazed in the studio. A major strand of our cultural DNA has left us. RIP MJ.

Michael Jackson gave children of the 80s the soundtrack to their childhood and the trademark dance moves to go along with it. To make sure younger generations don't miss out on his legacy, here's a list of kid friendly songs from the deceased artist as well as some from his Jackson 5 days that can play tribute to the King of Pop, rest his soul.

"The Love You Save"
"Man in the Mirror"
"Rockin' Robin"
"Shake Your Body"
"I Want You Back"

To see the rest,