LilSugar

Lil Tip: Help Your Child Adjust to a New School

LilSugar — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:00:24 -0800

The Obama girls started their new school, Sidwell Friends, yesterday. While most students don't ride to school in a motorcade flanked by the Secret Service, a mid-year transition can be difficult for any child. As Malia and Sasha move into their new digs, the White House, they will also be forging new friendships and getting familiar with their surroundings.

If your tot is adjusting to a new educational environment, help them along by hosting a party so they can get acquainted with their peers, reaching out to other parents in the PTA and keeping the lines of communication open in case your youngster wants to chat.

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Too Old For the Bottle?

babysugar — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 09:00:04 -0800

At my daughter's one year appointment, my doctor told me it was time to change over to sippy cups and leave the bottle behind. Luckily for me, it was an easy transition.

The almost two–year–old Suri Cruise is one celeb tot that still totes a bottle. Does your babe still hit the bottle?

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10 Clocks to Get Kids Up and Out

LilSugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:00:40 -0700

Up and at 'em! While some kids are up with the birds, others seem to need a splash of cold water to wake from a sound slumber. Help transition your children to getting up on their own with a personal alarm clock. From cute characters to ones that require your tot to chase them, there are a wide variety of tickers to make the process fun.

To see more pics of our fun finds, read more.

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Deciding on a Bottle For My Baby-to-Be: Weil Baby

LilSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:30:10 -0700

Bottoms up! When it comes time to move baby from breast to bottle, there are a lot of options on the market. When my son was born, I swore by a barely known brand of bottles that quickly gained momentum after the Bisphenol A scare called BornFree. The non-toxic containers didn't leak and had sippy cups made in their likeness so my child was able to easily transition to a big boy cup at about 4 to 5 months old. While I'm still a fan, there's a new line on the market that I'm equally impressed by and considering for my baby-to-be - Weil Baby. Having read a few of the renowned health experts books, I was anxious to check out Dr. Andrew Weil's bottles, training cups, brushes, and silicone nipples and pacifiers. Though creating modern eye candy wasn't his intent, the line's ergonomic lines will be popular with design conscious parents as well as eco-friendly families. Made from glass and Tritan, a clear BPA free material, the bottles ($18 - $19 for a 2pk) have a built-in venting system (no tedious washing!) that helps eliminate gas bubbles and colic in kiddos. The goods are sold in recyclable packaging so you can also feel good about lessening your wee one's carbon footprint.

Hit the Books Before Heading to Class

LilSugar — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 04:00:29 -0700

Get ready for some reading, writing, and arithmetic before classes resume. Children starting school for the first time may need some preparation for the big day, and cracking open a book about the process may ease the transition. Donald Crew's School Bus will help kids get familiar with the vehicle that will be picking them up and dropping them off each day, while Norman Stiles's On My Very First Day of School I Met . . . will get children excited about friends and objects that can be found in a classroom. Check out some of our other back-to-school books below.

Mommy Dearest: Should Twins Be Separated in School?

LilSugar — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:00:37 -0700

Mommy Dearest,

My 5-year-old twins are entering kindergarten next month and I was just contacted by their new school regarding their class placement. We kept the girls in the same class during nursery school and it worked well for them in terms of their learning, meeting new friends, and having each other to lean on. But as their pre-K year came to an end, their distinctive personalities came through. While one was outgoing, the other complained that her sister was leaving her out of activities. Do you think it would be best to separate them going forward?

– Twin Thoughts

To see the response from Mommy Dearest, read more.

Twin Thoughts,

Your girls sound like they have come into their own. Perhaps the new school year is an opportune time for the transition, since they are already distinguishing themselves from each other. Before making the final decision, you might want to sit down and discuss the option with them and ask for their input. You may also consult an expert for a second opinion or other mothers of multiples who have gone through this already.

– Mommy Dearest

Submit a question for this feature at the Mommy Dearest Group on TeamSugar.

Mommy Milestones: Accomplishments Women Should Celebrate

LilSugar — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 06:00:00 -0700

Mothers fawn over their children's accomplishments, but the proud parent often forgets to pat herself on the back for getting through a certain phase of life. Women throw themselves into raising their offspring so when dramatic transitions occur, they should celebrate. Check out our list of amazing milestones that all mamas of young children should honor!

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Has Jon Gosselin's Behavior Changed Your Opinion of Kate?

LilSugar — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 05:00:00 -0700

Divorce changes people. The life transition brings out the best and worst in husbands and wives and separating in the public eye makes the situation more difficult. When the Gosselins initially split, Kate took a big hit from media headlines that scrutinized everything from her haircut to the way she was raising her children. Now, Jon has become the tabloid cover boy with his purchase of a swank bachelor pad and photos of him out partying with twentysomething arm candy. Kate has since taken on more of a homemaker role. Has this affected your opinion?

Making Room For an Adopted Family Member

LilSugar — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:00:25 -0700

Newborn adoptees can be anywhere from hours to weeks old when placed with the families that will raise them so the process is similar to bringing home a baby from the hospital. Moms and dads who opted for an international adoption process or are adopting older children may be faced with some challenges as all parties mesh into a family. Here are some tips for easing that transition.

Make the child's room a safe place for them by surrounding them with familiar sights, be it photos of their hometown, a favorite stuffed animal or blanket they brought with them, or CDs filled with music they may have listened to prior to entering your life.
Give the child time to understand who the new family is before allowing others to spend excessive amounts of time in your home. Avoid overnight guests for the first month or so until the tot is comfortable with the people he sees on a daily basis.
Many internationally adopted tots were not properly nourished in their birth countries and can take to sneaking and hiding food out of fear. Allow them to keep some snacks in their room to help establish trust and show them how easily accessible the kitchen is at all times.
Give the child choices in terms of the food that she eats and the clothes that she wears. Initially she may feel that she was forced into this new relationship. By giving her choices, she will feel that she has some control of her situation.

Families of adoptees will experience the same joys and frustrations of other parents throughout their lives, but they will also face some unique challenges, particularly if their children are from different backgrounds. For tips on how to handle these situations, read more.

Study the cultural holidays of your child's native country and incorporate them into your own life – be it Chinese New Year, Korea's Children's Day, or the country's independence day.
Expand your culinary horizons and learn to make some popular dishes from the tot's birth country.
Consider learning the language of the adoptee's birth country, or better yet, learn it with your child.
Be prepared for a lifetime of insensitive questions from outsiders who want to know why your child looks different than you and even how you came by your child.
Consider taking a trip to your child's birth country and help them trace their roots. Inevitably, your child will want to know more about where they came from and such a trip can be educational and inspiring for everyone involved.

C Is For Cherishing Cars

babysugar — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:00:02 -0700

Much to mama's chagrin, c is not for cocktails. Well, at least when it comes to nursery decor, and anyone who thinks otherwise might want to read Sippy Cups Are Not For Chardonnay. Much like the non-drinking transition during pregnancy, switching from butterflies to cars requires a shift in gears. Leave the fancy flutter behind and press full steam ahead toward the checkered flag.

Indulge in the silver plated Reed & Barton race car or canvas racetrack wall art. Accent the room with street-filled pillows, car and truck bedding, vrooming storage bins, and decorative lamps. Wee ones will be thrilled for the new rides in their room. Now . . . on your marks, get set, go! And don't forget to come back for D.

Disney Cars Trinket Box - $37.99	Car Personalized Plaque - $45.00
Someday Inc. Watercolor Inspired Personalized Frame - $34.00	From The Dept. Of Motor Vehicles Throw Pillow - $35.00
Racing Stick Ons - $40.00	Cocalo Baby Scooter 3-Pc. Wall Plaque Set - $32.99
Transportation Signs - $19.95	Car Wall Clock - $89.00
Racetrack Canvas Reproduction - $127.00	Lambs & Ivy® Lil' Hi-Way Hamper - $27.99
Kids Line Big Rigs Boa Blanket - $14.99	Disney Cars Tool Box Storage - $54.99
Disney Cars Wall Pockets - $54.99	Banian Crazy Cars Quilt - $59.99
Disney Cars Desk Organizer - $74.99	Admit One Wall Art - $119.00
Step2® Stock Car Convertible Bed - $339.99	Delta Disney© "Cars" Art Desk - $49.99
Little Tikes Disney Pixar's Cars the Movie Lightning McQueen Sports Car Twin Bed - $349.99	Cars and Trucks - $399.00
Whistle & Wink Cars and Trucks Twin Bedding - $745.00	Race Car Growth Chart - $189.00
Cars Lamp - $70.00	4-in-1 Ride On Car by Chicco® - $69.99