LilSugar

Lead Testing Law: Kid Friendly or Are You Kidding?

LilSugar — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 10:00:23 -0800

H.R. 4040, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), was passed by Congress last year and requires retailers to test merchandise for lead. This pertains to any item for children 12 and under including toys, clothes and jewelry. It goes into effect on February 10, 2009 and while many parents champion the measure to keep kids safe, opponents are upset that it may put second hand, consignment and independent handmade retailers (which are popular in the current economy) out of business as testing products can be pricey. What's your opinion?

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It's Raining Girls! Jude Law Welcomes a Daughter

babysugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:50:52 -0700

First Sarah Michelle Gellar, then Ellen Pompeo! It's raining girls among the Hollywood elite. Just two months ago, we learned sexy man Jude Law was expecting another child. And just like that, she's here! Though he has reportedly not been involved in the pregnancy, he has maintained financial responsibilities to his baby mama, Samantha Burke. Congratulations to the new mother and papa Jude!

Lil Links: Jude Law to Be a Daddy Again

babysugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:00:49 -0700

Jude Law was informed that a woman he was with at the end of last year is pregnant - PopSugar UK
Katherine Jackson, the 79-year-old mother of Michael Jackson, will raise Michael's children - Celebrity Baby Scoop
David Duchovny, Tea Leoni and kids bond over the Beatles - Celebrity Baby Blog
What's in that bottle? - Parentdish
Baby mama surrogate finder application for the iPhone - CafeMom
Are sonogram cakes a do or a don't? - Momversation
Angie Everhart talks pregnancy and what it's like to be a pregnant model - Fit Pregnancy
When life revolves around nap time - The Poop
Birth announcement from fellow mommy blogger Candy Kirby..."she's hee-eeere! - Laughing Stork

Family Ties: My Father In-Law's Visit

babysugar — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 05:00:22 -0800

My father-in-law had his mother-in-law in town last weekend so he decided to pay us a visit. I, being a lucky soul, love my in-laws to bits and pieces and was thrilled to hear he was coming. Grandmas are always praised for their tenderness, caring, and endless desire to change diapers. Be our guest! But, this sometimes leaves Grandpas lurking in their shadows. read more

When Grandpa showed up without Grandma, it gave him time to shine. I've always been a fan of his, but this visit made me realize why I love him and his son so much. Watching them play with our daughter made me laugh and smile to no end. My father-in-law was an incredible role model for my husband who is also an amazing dad. For that, I want to give him props. We hear terrible in-law stories too often. Here's to father-in-laws around the world who go unrecognized. BRAVO!

Some ways Grandpa can spend quality time with Baby:

Go to music class, gym class or storytime
Take baby out for a walk
Take baby to the park for a swing ride
Read to baby

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Safe Haven Law: What Should Nebraska Do?

LilSugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:24:28 -0700

Parents in a panic sometimes abandon their infants in unsafe environments. To avoid that practice and ensure the safety of the babies, many states have safe haven laws that allow moms and dads to drop their offspring off at specific destinations like hospitals without the fear of being prosecuted. Nebraska recently instituted such a law in July, but extended the age range to include all minors. And, as a result 17 children including teenagers and one from out of state have been relinquished.

ABC reported:

"Safe haven legislation is designed to prevent infants from being left outside or left unattended," said Nebraska Gov. Dave Heinman. "Safe haven laws were not designed to allow families having difficulty with older youth and teenagers to abandon their children or responsibilities as parents."

Do you think Nebraska should tighten its terms to only infants?

Does Mother Know Best, Even If She Breaks the Law?

LilSugar — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:00:29 -0700

As moms we get an onslaught of advice from our peers, parents, pediatricians and just about everyone in between. But, when it comes to the law, there's not much room for flexibility.

And, in one case my mother's intuition (and plain ol' common sense) told me I knew best.

A few months shy of his first birthday, my son's legs were so long that they were squished up the back of the chair in his rear facing car seat.

He'd shriek in pain when he stretched because he was crammed in such an uncomfortable position. And, being that he was the size of a child six months older, I turned his seat forward. To see what happened, read more.

California's strict car seat law requires children to weigh 20 pounds and be one-year-old before they ride facing forward. I knew that The California Highway Patrol could issue me a ticket if I got pulled over, but felt it was worth the risk since my lil guy's legs would likely be broken if we got in an accident with him facing backwards.

Have you ever broken a law believing it was in the best interest of your child?

Eight–Year–Old Boy Wants To Go To Law School . . . Now

babysugar — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 05:00:04 -0800

When we asked you if you would let your child pursue a career, you were pretty split on the issue. In Olympia, Washington, the 10–year–girl needed her parents to accompany her through her work day. However, things are different in Brazil.

To see what a boy genius is up against, read more.

The New York Times reports that an eight–year–old Brazilian boy passed an entrance exam for Paulista University Law School. Problem is the institution is keeping him from attending as they want him to first complete grade school and high school.

While the child is obviously bright beyond his years, it doesn't seem to be an unreasonable request to have him finish the regular academic regimen. He'll likely breeze through ten years of schooling in no time! But, his papa doesn't agree. He's taking it to court to let the judges rule on the decision.

In the meantime, the Education Ministry has been asked to bar elementary school students from taking the test.

Tell us, do you think it's irrational to ask the tot to finish his regular schooling?
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Sugardaddy: Jude Law

LilSugar — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 13:30:17 -0800

While he may not be fiancé material and is fiercely protective of his brood around shutterbugs, there's no denying that golden-boy Jude Law is one handsome daddy. The 34-year-old father of Rafferty, Rudy, and Iris is a double threat who showcases his acting chops on the silver screen and his parental skills at the park.

I first laid eyes on the blue-eyed Brit while watching The Talented Mr. Ripley, but fell for the two-time Oscar nominee with his portrayal of Graham, a widower and dad in The Holiday. The sweet scenes between the real-life daddy and his on-screen daughters were enough to play even the most hardened of heartstrings.

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Modeling After Others Mamas: Do You Fear Influences?

babysugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:30:40 -0800

If Lila Hack wasn't born crawling with a swagger, she is sure to learn it just by watching her mum. Model mother Kate Moss threw her godchild, 9-year-old Iris Law (daughter of Jude Law and Sadie Frost), the soiree of her dreams - a catwalk party. A well-known woman in the fashion world, the leggy Top Shop designer brought gobs of clothes, hairdressers, and makeup galore for the little darling and her pals, which happened to include her own 7-year-old daughter Lila Hack. Done up to the nines, it was then time for the youngsters to learn how to strut their stuff. While it may sound fun and fancy, one might wonder what kind of influence it has on the impressionable youths. One source said:

All of the girls at the bash wanted to be Kate. She brought along lots of clothes for them and the girls had their hair and make-up done especially. . . . Kate also presided over all of the accessories to make them look as catwalk-ready as possible. She was teaching them how to master her famous hip swagger and her "I don’t care look."

My hang-up? I always want my child to care. Would you allow your tot to attend a model party?

Is Your Fearless 3-Year-Old Destined For a Life of Crime?

babysugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:30:20 -0800

Mamas of fearless children often encourage their wild child's eager behavior, but a new study may have them trying to instill a lil fear factor into their lives. Results from a 20-year study show that children who lack the ability to fear may have a dysfunction with their amygdala - the part of the brain linked to fear conditioning, emotions, and one's mental state. Researchers found children who showed no fear were often more likely to go against authorities and find themselves in trouble later in life. In cases where children may show a lack of respect for rules or even the law, parents can help coach their child into a more stable state. According to the study's research associate Yu Gao:

Some at-risk children between the ages of 3 and 5 who have benefited from those programs, which include sound nutrition, adequate physical exercise, and cognitive brain stimulation, had shown an improvement in brain functioning by age 11 that reduced the chances of criminal behavior by 35 percent 20 years later.

While it is not a black and white determining factor, it does bring some interesting insight into the workings of lil brains and what we can do to help steer them clear of harmful habits.