LilSugar

The Little Girl, The Doll and The Wardrobe

LilSugar — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 04:00:18 -0700

Give your girl and her dolls a wardrobe of their own! Before tossing the playthings' clothing and accessories in another plastic tub, consider investing in an authentic doll chest that will neatly hold the items and allow lil hands to access them without dumping everything on the floor. Like the trunks our mothers and grandmothers used generations ago, these armoires are designed to showcase the dolls' precious duds while teaching their owners about the importance of caring for their things. Whether opting for a wicker hamper ($65) or a sturdier wooden piece, these keepsakes create order and are easy on the eyes.

Breastfeeding Doll: Kid Friendly or Are You Kidding?

LilSugar — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:00:20 -0700

Teaching children about the birds and the bees is no longer a formal chat that happens during the tween or teen years. Many mamas choose to introduce the concept when a sibling makes her debut. Fourteen percent of lilsugar readers say they'd purchase a birthing and nursing doll ($90) to educate their kiddos about the miracle of life, while 43 percent of our mamas would invest in a Boobie Buddy ($55) or nursing doll. Now, a Spanish manufacturer has created an even more hands-on toy called Bebé Glotón ($62), a doll that comes with a halter top that allows children to "nurse" the baby. What's your opinion of the product - is it any different than buying your tot a bottle-fed babe?

The Earth Friends Educate The Next Generation

LilSugar — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:50:00 -0700

There are plenty of dolls on the market made from eco-friendly materials, but how many help parents teach their tots about the importance of being eco-conscience? The Earth Friends ($64) may be pricey, but they get to the point. The nine boy and girl dolls are made completely from organic and recycled materials. With organic cotton hair, a cotton and hemp blend for skin, organic and recycled cotton clothes and recycled plastic containers for stuffing, the plush toys even come in 100 percent post-consumer-waste recycled cardboard boxes.

Each doll also has a backpack filled with a real Douglas Fir tree planting kit. Instructions explain to budding environmentalists that the tree will create shade and a habitat in the future, helping generations to come. If you love the green theme, but are looking for something a bit more budget friendly, check the other options at various price points.

Tattooed Barbie: Kid Friendly or Are You Kidding?

LilSugar — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:38:54 -0700

Some mothers ban Barbie because they believe the toy sets an unrealistic standard of beauty for their daughters to live up to . . . not to mention the buxom blonde's feet aren't firmly planted on the ground. But to celebrate the beloved doll's 50th anniversary, Mattel has a new version out on the market that plays into pop culture - Totally Stylin' Tattoos Barbie ($20). Lil ladies can use the tat gun to position a variety of body art pieces - including a "tramp stamp" with Ken's name - on Barbie's plastic bod. What's your opinion of this product?

lil Find: Kammi Teething Doll

LilSugar — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:00:50 -0700

I'm a big proponent of homemade teethers like cold food, but natural remedies aren't practical when you're on the go. These Kammi Teething Dolls ($20) offer a simple solution to soothing baby's ailing gums. They look a bit like cotton gnomes, but the terrycloth dolls are crafted out of knots. You just dampen the knots, store the doll in the freezer for a while and then let baby bite away. The best part? The dolls can be machine washed.

Wee Are the World: Karito Kids

LilSugar — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:00:12 -0800

While American Girls tell the stories of our nation through the eyes of little girls growing up during different eras, another brand of dolls celebrates the world's cultures. Karito Kids is a line of six dolls ($100 each) and accompanying books ($11) that showcase different cultures. Representing African-American, Caucasian, Latin and Mediterranean ethnicities, the life-like dolls each come with a storybook about their character, which includes a journal entry.

When purchasing the dolls, you have the opportunity to help introduce the concept of charity to your lil one. Each package comes with a code that can be entered online to activate a donation of three percent of the retail cost to one of four charitable causes - home, health, food or school.

Lil Links: First Lady Not a Fan of Malia and Sasha Dolls

LilSugar — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 11:00:55 -0800

Michelle Obama is not a fan of marvelous Malia and sweet Sasha dolls - ABC News
Kate Hudson says Ryder taught her how to say no - Celebrity Baby Blog
Liv and Milo strut their stuff - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Risk management: when is it okay to bend the rules? - Fit Pregnancy
Families clamor to adopt abandoned newborn - Parent Dish
San Francisco kids write letters to Obama - The Poop
Shapewear for the mummy tummy - Alpha Mom
Pregnancy sex: a lot or not - Cafe Mom
Our we overscheduling our kids? - Momversation
Family balancing: should we tinker with nature? - Health

Kid Friendly or Are You Kidding: Teen Malia and Sasha Dolls?

LilSugar — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:11:21 -0800

They say kids grow up fast, but Ty, the toy company famous for making Beanie Babies, has given Malia and Sasha Obama a lil push. The manufacturer is now marketing dolls in the supposed likeness of the 7- and 10-year-old first daughters. Only instead of capturing their classy and age-appropriate essence, the young ladies were made to look like identical teenagers. What's your opinion - would you buy these for your child?

Texts and Tunes: Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

babysugar — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:00:19 -0700

As a child, when I heard the opening notes of "I Know an Old Lady (Who Swallowed a Fly)" I would be rolled on the floor in fits of laughter. The Pete Seeger song was a staple in our home and we played it until the tape wore out. I recently introduced the folk tune to my daughter, who thinks it is one of the silliest stories she has ever heard.

So when I came upon this set ($50) that includes the old lady and the eight insects and animals she eats to get to the fly, I knew I'd found a winner. We can now act out the story as we read along with the accompanying book. I foresee many belly laughs in our future.

Breastfeeding Dolls: Kid Friendly or Are You Kidding?

babysugar — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:00:20 -0700

Bringing home baby when you've already got a toddler brings on a whole new world of issues - envy being one of them.

When a mother nurses her newborn, the older tot often feels left out. A Boobie Buddy ($55) may help alleviate that problem. Crafted with magnetic parts, the mama doll and baby doll can attach to each other at various points, just like mommy and baby. Do you think taking the focus off of the mother is a good thing, or is it too creepy?