LilSugar

Lil Tip: Bouncing Balls

babysugar — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:00:03 -0700

You've probably seen the birthing videos of laboring women using large exercise balls as a prop to help them through contractions. When I went into labor, I sat on the bad boy hoping for relief. Unfortunately, it gave me the opposite sensation.

However, I found a better use for the bouncing tool. During one of my early-morning feedings, I sat on the ball for a change of pace and quickly found that my newborn loved to be bounced to sleep. Sometimes it was the only cure for her fussing. My husband and I have been preaching to new parents about the importance of an exercise ball ever since. So far, all our friends' tots are fans. And, it doesn't hurt that mommy gets a little glute and hamstring workout at the same time!
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Lil Tip: Exercise Ball

LilSugar — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 04:00:36 -0800

If there's one practical piece of workout equipment to purchase after you bring home baby, it's an exercise ball. The soft bouncy ball ($15-26) can be used for strengthening abs and hard-to-reach muscles as well as improving balance and coordination. Best of all, unlike pricey treadmills and elliptical machines, even if you don't end up using the ball, lil ones love to tumble around with them.

Sports Drinks May Do Kids Good on the Field

LilSugar — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 05:00:00 -0700

The combination of organized sports and hot weather can provide a dangerous on-field combination. Parents know that water is the best hydrator, but several studies show that kids don't drink enough of it when participating in athletic activities - even if it is readily available.

In one study, when both water and a sports drink such as Gatorade or Powerade were available, kids "eagerly downed 91 percent more than when offered water alone." These statistics are leading researchers to suggest providing lil ones with carbohydrate- and electrolyte-filled drinks, as long as they are on the ball field:

"When kids do intense exercise in the heat for numerous hours, I would encourage the use of sports drinks," says Douglas Casa, an associate professor of kinesiology at the University of Connecticut and the lead researcher for most of the sports camp studies. "They will likely drink more of a flavor they like as compared to water, and will benefit from the carbs and electrolytes."

Once the game is over, stick to water - the high sugar content of sports drinks has been tied to childhood obesity and tooth decay. Do you quench your child's thirst with sports drinks?

Halle Berry Talks About Motherhood to Harper's Bazaar

LilSugar — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:30:00 -0700

Hollywood glamour girl Halle Berry seems to have softened since becoming a mom. And we're not talking about her banging postpartum bod that she revealed just months after her daughter, Nahla Aubrey, was born. The Oscar-winning actress appears to be a bit more content with her life. She recently talked motherhood and family to Harper's Bazaar. Here are the highlights:

On her postpartum bod: Having a baby takes so much from you. It's the most glorious thing you'll ever do, but the aftermath is not so glorious! So now I'm having to exercise, eat a little bit differently, take a lot more vitamins.

On Nahla being biracial: Nahla will grow up in a completely different America. Obama is someone who's more like her than not, who shares her history. Hopefully she'll grow up in a world where it'll be easier than I had it. I had a rough time. I was accused of stuffing the ballot box for my high school prom-queen election because they couldn't believe the only black girl in the school won.

On being fulfilled by family: I used to work a lot because I had nothing better to do. What I've learned, especially by having a baby, is that you can't bring that stuff home anymore. For example, I was alone filming Monster's Ball. I was married to someone else, and he wasn't really around much. Thank God that was only a 20-day shoot.

To see the rest of what Halle had to say, read more.

On Nahla's beauty: Let her be sweet because I believe beauty is as beauty does. My hope is that she is sweet and kind because no matter how beautiful you are, ugly ain't cute.

On having more children: Yes. My pregnancy was amazing. I was happy that whole time, I felt good, I had energy, I was like Superwoman. I wish I could feel like that for the rest of my life, that's how fantastic it was.

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Lil Find: Hamusuta

babysugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 09:00:55 -0700

Like man, every child needs a best friend. But right now having a pet dog isn't an option in my home. And, before I go out and buy my daughter an animal of appropriate size, I'm thinking about spending $12 for a Hamusuta.

Hamusuta the Happy Hamster runs inside (or outside) his exercise ball with a realistic rodent scurry. I can hardly wait to get one to see my wee one's reaction. And there's no food or poop scooping required - just three AAA batteries! I think Hamusuta might become my best friend.

Does anyone else have an "alternative" pet?