LilSugar

5 Things to Do Before Introducing Pup to Your New Baby

Nicole Abbott — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:08:23 PST

Adjusting to life with a new baby at home can be hard on everyone - especially your pet, if he isn't prepared for all of the changes that come with an infant in the house. Mama-to-be may be worried about how to make the transition as smooth as possible for her canine baby - and there's lots she can do to help.

Click through to check out this list of five things to do before introducing your dog and new baby to ensure a stress-free start to a lifetime friendship!

Lil Gift Guide: Best Gifts For Newborns!

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 08:32:10 PST

Baby may have already been gifted a ton of toys when she was born, but that doesn't mean she doesn't deserve some additions over the holidays. A few fun items to add to the toy box will help keep lil ones stimulated and growing and give mama a few moments to catch her breath during the day!

Eebee's Shape Stacker ($34) is a fun alternative to traditional stacking rings. With it's colorful arms and legs, the pieces can be placed almost anywhere! MiYim's organic Cat in the Hat stroller toy ($15) is made from cotton that's untreated, unprocessed, and unbleached and is a sweet way to introduce tots to the iconic literary figure! Robeez's recently introduced layette line is full of super-soft pants, onesies, and matching shoes. This Monkey Bodysuit and Pant Set ($35) will keep lil ones warm and snug throughout the day. Stuf's Stripes six-inch toy ($13) uses high-contrast colors and geographic patterns to help tots' developing eyesight. Petit Tresor's Monkey Mat ($89) is perfect for tummy time and general playing around with its plush fabric and cute details.

Itchy Baby? 5 Products That Provide Eczema Relief

LilSugar — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 05:40:02 PDT

Are you itchy, baby? Eczema is an inflammation of the skin, characterized by redness and itching, and about one in five babies is diagnosed with the skin condition before their first birthday. Now that Fall is officially here, lower temperatures and indoor heating can dry baby's skin - causing eczema flare-ups - and mama will try just about anything to make it feel better. Check out these five tried-and-true products to help give your munchkin some much-needed relief!

Babyganics Bye Bye Dry Eczema Lotion ($7): Au naturel! Bye Bye Dry is a natural, nontoxic solution that provides relief from baby eczema. It's safe and gentle on your little one's skin and soothes baby's eczema itch.
Baby Naturals Baby Eczema Cream ($6): It's super rich! This rich moisturizer specially formulated for babies with eczema nurtures baby's dry skin, soothing it from redness and itching.
Excederm Soothing Baby Oil ($12): Oil up! The key to eczema control is moisture - and nothing delivers maximum moisture for dry, delicate skin than baby oil. It's nonirritating formula makes it ideal for children of all ages.
Cetaphil Restoraderm Body Moisturizer ($15): Moisture for all! This doctor-recommended lotion - for anyone 3 months of age or older - repairs and protects the skin’s natural moisture barrier. It's also free of fragrances, parabens, and nut oils.
Aveeno Baby Soothing Bath Treatment ($4): Bath time! This soothing treatment is made with colloidal oatmeal - proven to relieve irritated skin - and a special moisturizer that forms a soothing milky bath for baby.

10 Classic Books For Every Newborn

babysugar — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:50:47 PDT

Studies show that babies who are read to and sung to at an early age will demonstrate higher reading skills than other children. While many parents don't think a newborn is paying attention to the texts in their early days, getting them into a routine of reading will be worth the time spent in their infancy. These are 10 books every newborn nursery should have on the shelves.

Shutterbug: 10 Pictures to Take During Baby's First Week

Rebecca M Gruber — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 04:31:00 PDT

Hello, paparazzi! Once the craziness of baby's first day subsides, mama will be a bit more aware of the people and events surrounding her. The immediate days following a lil one's birth are full of milestones that everyone will enjoy looking back on as the tot continues to grow. From the trip home from the hospital to baby's first bath, here are 10 must-take photos for baby's first week of life!

Source: Flickr User koadmunkee

Shutterbug: 10 Pictures to Take on Baby's First Day

Rebecca M Gruber — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 04:31:04 PDT

That baby ought to be in pictures - lots of pictures! Baby's first day will seem like a blur to everyone involved in the lil one's birth. For some moms, it takes looking back at photos of the day to actually recall some of the events. Before handing your camera over to a friend or relative who's promised to capture it all, make a list of the pictures you want to ensure they are recorded before everyone falls off to sleep. Here are our top 10 must-take photos on baby's first day.

Source: Flickr User Emery Co Photo

Babies' Apgar Scores May Be Tied to Future Educational Success

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:30:17 PDT

Did your tot cram for her first exam? You might hope so! Immediately after birth most babies undergo the Apgar test with doctors and nurses observing the lil one's appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, and respiration. They're graded on a one-to-10 scale with babies landing in the eight and above range deemed healthy tots. But what happens to those tots that score below the healthy range?

While monitoring and light therapy may be used on infants in the hospital, a new study finds that the lower scores stick with kids later in life. According to a new Swedish study, kids who had Apgar scores of seven or below "had roughly double the odds of attending a special school because of cognitive deficits or other difficulties" later in life. The scientists behind the study think that the reasons for the low score could impact future brain activity. Do you put any weight behind the study?

Long Live the Pink and Blue Striped Hospital Blanket

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 07:16:26 PDT

What's with the standard-issue pink and blue striped baby blankets? Throughout much of the country, the large, white flannelized blankets featuring bright pink and blue stripes are the first thing a newborn is wrapped in. They're not the softest, most luxurious, or even organic, but whether babies are born in hospitals in New York, San Francisco, or cities in between, I've seen hundreds of photos of just-born babies all tightly swaddled in the ubiquitous wraps. They've even won a cult following among moms hard-pressed to find another large, soft, and lightweight blanket that conforms to a swaddle so easily.

Now baby's first blanket will be immortalized by none other than NPR. The network has launched a campaign seeking out photos of newborns wrapped in the pink and blue striped blankies, asking listeners to share their own photographs on its site for a salute to the requisite wrap.

Do you have one of these blankets in your stash?

Source: Flickr User juhansonin

Pink Joins the Night Owl Club With a Sleepless Baby

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 11:34:23 PDT

You'll never look at sleep the same way again! One of the biggest shocks of new parenthood is the varying levels of exhaustion a mama can function on after countless nights of calming a crying baby.

Yesterday, Pink joined the club, tweeting

yeah!!!!!!!! up all night!!!! reliving my past... i've just replaced techno music with ocean sounds- glow sticks with night lights.

Other moms have attempted to describe their exhaustion in hastily drawn images, like Amber Dusick whose What it is like to (not) sleep at night post on her Parenting. Illustrated With Crappy Pictures blog may be one of the most accurate (and hysterical) depictions I've ever seen.

What's your best tip for overcoming a sleepless night so you can still function the next day?

Source: Parenting. Illustrated with Crappy Pictures

How Soon Did You Take Baby Out?

Rebecca M Gruber — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 11:24:33 PDT

Lil Willow's already a beach baby! Pink joined her husband, Carey Hart, her own mom, and 10-day-old Willow Sage for a walk and photo session along Malibu's pristine beaches yesterday. The new mama was spotted happily engaging in her new photography habit, while the new dad carried the tot close to his chest in an Ergo baby carrier.

The breezy walk probably provided the new family with some much needed fresh air, but the singer is already catching flack for this, and for a previous stroll she took last week. It seems some mamas don't think it's appropriate to take a newborn out in public. Last year, Dr. Oz told us:

I would not take the child out. There's no reason to expose the child to illnesses which they can easily weather as they get older . . . In the first couple weeks, I'd limit visitation to very close relatives who are healthy and people can come and look at the child, but they just should avoid touching the child.

When did you first take your tot out in public?