LilSugar

Let Them Eat Cake...And Candy Canes!

LilSugar — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 06:00:23 -0800

I've never bought into the whole concept that candy makes kids hyperactive so I've never denied my children sweets when it came to holiday festivities. But, now there's reason for the moms who do attribute their tykes' energetic behavior to treats to relax. This Christmas, let your lil one have a candy cane. Guess what myth topped the list of holiday myths? To find out, read more.

On the subject of sugar making kids hyperactive, one report said:

The researchers cite 12 controlled studies that couldn’t detect any differences in behavior between children who had sugar and those who did not. Even when kids had a diagnosis of hyperactivity problems or were said to be more sensitive to sugar, they did not behave differently whether they ate sugar-laden or sugar-free diets. In fact, the biggest effect of sugar may be on parents. Parents rate their children as being more hyperactive if they are told the child has consumed sugar - even when the child hasn’t really had any sweets.

Slice of the Yule log, sweetie?

Source

Go Ahead - Play With Your Food!

LilSugar — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 05:00:08 -0700

Parents may not be keen on their kids playing with food at the dinner table, but when it comes to tykes setting up a little restaurant or grocery store, things are more hands on. Food play encourages creativity and the more realistic the food looks, the better.

San Francisco-based Sweet Meats creates plush "pillows" designed to look like popular cuts of meat, including T-bones, pork chops and ham bones ($65 for the set). The adorable fleece toys are made from 100 percent recycled materials and colored with recycled AZO-free dyes. Ideal for carnivorous families wanting to encourage their kids to try new foods, the company also plans to introduce a plush bacon line this Summer.

Two Sweet Sisters Skater Shoes

LilSugar — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:00:29 -0700

Though doctors agree that barefoot is best until your lil one is walking, mamas can't wait to dress up their baby's feet with adorable shoes that reflect their personality. If all of the character-driven shoes on the market make you want to reconsider covering your tot's toes, check out Two Sweet Sisters shoes ($32). The soft-soled kicks are made from handcrafted leather and feature a layer of foam between your child's feet and the floor. Available in an array of colors for both boys and girls, the shoes' Velcro closures make them easy to slip on and off, which is key when dealing with a squiggly infant.

Go Green: Sweeten Your House with Sweet Grass Farm

babysugar — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:00:31 -0700

Don't you want your baby's room, or whole house for that matter, to smell fresh and clean?

Steer clear of toxins and other chemicals by spritzing a little Sweet Grass Farm ($6) on your lil love's linens and threads.

The all–natural spray is made with lavender oil that helps neutralize odors while sprucing up the air with a delicious calming scent. And if your tot breaks out in a rash, it'll be one less product to fret over.

Survey Finds That Moms Say Having Baby Younger Is Better

LilSugar — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 04:00:21 -0800

Does the age of a mother matter? A new working moms survey conducted by our friends over at The Bump and ForbesWoman had some rather interesting results when questions about age and motherhood were posed. Here are some of the highlights:

76 percent of respondents feel that the "sweet spot" for a working woman to have or adopt her first baby is between ages 25 and 34. And 42 percent thought that 25 to 29 was the best time.
82 percent of moms who had their first child from 25 to 29 were content with the timing of their first child - the most of any group
35 percent of moms who had their first child at 30 to 34 wish they had their child at a younger age.
57 percent of moms who had their first child at 35 to 39 wish they had their child at a younger age.

How old were you when you became a mom and was it your ideal age?

Storybook Masks Bring Books to Life

babysugar — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:00:58 -0800

There's a reason classic storybooks continue to resonate with lil ones. The sweet tales, with their fun characters, colorful story lines and ultimate morals, have educated generations of tots.

Getting tykes interested in the classic characters can be a tough sell. Given all of the products associated with the movies, television and video games they watch, it can be hard to convince a wee one to follow a classic tale like Goldilocks. With EQD's storybook mask sets ($12), traditional books and songs come alive. Each set includes four or five foam masks that can be used to act out the traditional tales or sing along to the nursery rhymes. Perfect for dress-up, impromptu plays and even classroom story times, the sets include such beloved stories as Cinderella, Three Little Pigs and The Ugly Duckling.

Baby Cow Organics Keeps Lil Hides Soft

babysugar — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:15:15 -0800

Organic baby products are a dime a dozen these days. Everyone thinks they can cash in on mamas' desires to give their lil ones all natural products, but some just don't get the job done.

Discerning parents, like the celebs who frequent the ultraposh SoHo House private club and hotel in New York and London, have been treated to the luxe products created by the Cowshed spa for years. Now, ordinary moms (like us) can grease up our tots with the same organic goods. The company was kind enough to send me the line to test out. Baby Cow Organics is made from sustainable resources and uses 100 percent natural essential oils, such as lavender and meadowfoam. We checked out the Frothy Hair & Body Wash and the Full Body Cream and were impressed with both the sweet and subtle scents and the product's quick absorption. For mamas-to-be, the spa's Udderly Gorgeous line includes rich stretch mark balms and oils, in addition to body washes made from sea buckthorn oil, carotenes, and minerals all designed to relax and moisturize pregnant skin.

LilSugar Community: When Should She Floss?

Lil Community — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 05:00:00 -0800

This post was submitted by Betty Wayne in The Mommy Club group.

My four year old is good at brushing; I give her teeth a quick brush myself if she's had lots of sweets, but mostly she does it on her own. My concern now is flossing. Her mouth is too small for me to stick my fingers in there and really teach her how to do it; I give her a piece of floss to play with and run between her front teeth just to get her used to the idea of flossing. Any suggestions for how or when I should go about teaching flossing? Am I waiting too long? Also, can anyone recommend a good mouthwash for children? Any advice on children's dental hygiene would be appreciated. Thank you!

Talk about motherly things on your mind at The Mommy Club group over in the LilSugar Community.

Texts and Tunes: Sweet Alphabet Book

babysugar — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:00:16 -0700

A is for Apple, B is for Bear and C is for Cat. Sound familiar? After a while, all the alphabet books start to look the same. Sweet Art Design has a new twist on an old story.

Parents seeking to raise a multilingual child may find this book ($27) an entry to the languages of love - French, Spanish and Italian. Each letter is presented to the reader in English and another tongue with crafty and vivid illustrations that catch the young reader's attention. "Qu'est–ce qui commence avec la lettre B? What starts with the letter B? Un balloon qui flotte haut dans le ciel. A balloon that floats high in the sky."

While I try not to judge a book by its cover, which is available in green, pink or blue, the lovely binding declaring it "Chloe's Alphabet Book" makes it irrésistible.

5 No-Bake Valentine’s Day Treats For Tots

LilSugar — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:30:49 -0800

Every mama wants to show the little loves of her life extra heart around Valentine's Day, but most mothers don't have time to make decadent desserts. I'm bringing back some of my simple kid favorites - sweet Valentine's Day-inspired brownie bites and pudding treats - this year because they were such a hit! These simple no-bake (unless you want to) and no-fuss treats are perfect for school parties, playdates, or a family Valentine's Day fete and offer an inexpensive, semi-homemade alternative to candies or store-bought goodies. Check out my five favorite recipes.

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