LilSugar

Celebrate National Handwriting Day With Cursive Practice

LilSugar — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 02:05:15 PST

Your little scribe may be thrilled to be home from school today, but don't let her get away with skipping her cursive work. Today is National Handwriting Day, and a fitting opportunity to encourage your child to practice her writing skills (even if some schools favor typing these days). Celebrate the joys of unique penmanship today and everyday with creative canvases - from keepsake journals, notepads to erasable chalkboards. Practice makes perfect.

Clockwise from right: A simple Composition Book ($4), Secret Message Writing Set ($8), Removable Chalkboard Wallies ($20), One Line a Day Journal ($17) and a Chalkboard Placemat ($16).

LilSugar Readers' First Purchases For Baby

babysugar — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:30:27 PST

The excitement of a new pregnancy can send parents-to-be on immediate shopping sprees. While some are armed with lists of necessary items to stock their nurseries, others splurge on a few fun items to help get them in the baby frame of mind. We asked our readers to tell us about their first purchases for their baby-to-be and received a wide range of answers. Check them out here.

What Was the First Baby Item You Purchased?

babysugar — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 07:00:03 PST

Nine months is a long time to wait for a baby. From the moment the stick shows a pregnancy sign, mamas-to-be enter the magical world of babydom where they are surrounded by a bevy of onesies, rattles and nursery furniture that are just begging to be bought. Like kids in a candy store, pregnant women often can't keep their hands off of all of the goodies they see for the new addition to their family.

Deciding where to start is a fun dilemma to have. Some expectant moms run out to buy that first pair of baby booties as soon as the doctor confirms the pregnancy. Others wait to dive right into the gear and come home with the stroller they've been eyeing for some time.

Tell us, what was the first item you bought for your baby-to-be?

LilSugar Readers' 10 "Nonessential" Baby Items

babysugar — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 06:00:12 PST

The baby stores and magazines are filled with items that claim to make a new mom's life easier and a baby less fussy. Some of those items are essential for the first year. But first time mamas often fall into registering and buying things that they never end up using, or that their babies don't enjoy. We asked our LilSugar readers to tell us about their baby gear regrets, and we got some great feedback. Check out what items moms suggest leaving on the store shelves next time.

What's the Newborn Item You Regret Purchasing?

babysugar — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 09:00:00 PST

When a mama-to-be strolls the aisles of a baby emporium for the first time, everything looks enticing. Armed with friends' recommendations and the latest issue of Consumer Reports, a pregnant woman thinks she knows exactly what she needs. But, once the lil one arrives and the new mom gets in her groove she is likely to find that some of the items she swore she would need are not perfectly suited for her tot.

When expecting my first child, a car seat manufacturer had just introduced their latest and greatest infant seat. It claimed to hold babies up to 30 pounds and sure that I was going to give birth to a giant I quickly registered for it. What I didn't realize was that a car seat that holds such a big baby is bound to weigh a ton itself, and once you add a baby, it is virtually impossible to carry more than a few feet.

What is the baby item that you regret buying?

LilSugar Readers' 10 "Must-Have" Items

babysugar — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:30:00 PST

Aside from the obvious - diapers, layette, and a bed of some sort - mommy may not need a whole lot to get through newborn life, but there are quite a few things that will make her life easier and more enjoyable. When we asked our LilSugar readers to tell us their newborn essential item, we got some responses worth sharing. Check out what goods moms think are crucial to survival and let us know what you can't live without!

Are You a Crocs Mom?

babysugar — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 06:00:53 PDT

Love 'em or hate 'em, they're everywhere! Crocs have taken tot toes by storm and are still growing and gaining popularity and not just in America. The Japanese are infatuated with the porous rubber shoes as are other cultures. The initial design suited gardeners and the like just fine but the business got sassy and added Mary Jane and ballet flat styles to the mix. Easy to slip on and keep clean, they can also be hazardous in certain situations. They are slippery when wet and they have been known to cause some trauma on an escalator or two. So tell us, are you a Crocs lovin' mom?

10 Products and Inventions That Make Most Mommies Cringe

LilSugar — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:00:29 PST

For every lifesaving mommy product on the market there's another one that makes moms wonder: Are you kidding me?! I've put together some of my favorite, mind boggling, cringe-inducing and playgroup diving products. Check out the lineup. I dare you.

Lil Find: Babbaco

babysugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:00:53 PDT

When it comes to baby products, it seems that everything has already been invented. Cushions for car seat straps, mixers for bottles of formula, swaddle blankets for dummies, and loads of other contraptions. So when I see something totally new and creative, I tend to have a, "Why didn't I think of that?" moment.

That's what I thought when I saw these funtastic car seat covers from Babbaco ($88). New moms frequently take their newborns on strolls and cover their infant seats with blankets in hopes of shielding their offspring from direct sunlight, loud conversations, or inquisitive strangers. Along comes a gust of wind and the blanket flies off into the wind along with mommy's plan. Created by mother Jessica Kim, the sprightly covers have an elastic bottom that offers babies protection and privacy. And, unlike blankets, two peepholes allow mommy to keep an eye on her little cocoon nesting without interrupting the wee one's slumber.

Mommy's Lil Helper: Protecting Your Tot's Tush

babysugar — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 07:00:43 PDT

Airport, mall and restaurant bathrooms often offer the appropriate amount of space to do a quick change, but their cleanliness is not always top–notch. Leave the germs behind by using a large biodegradable Clean and Green Changing Table Cover ($5/pack of eight). Having used blankets and plush teddy bears to keep my wee one's head from touching the surface of public changing tables, these eco–friendly disposable pads
would have been a welcome addition
to my diaper bag.