LilSugar

Babysugar Diaries: Caffeine Is My Drug of Choice

babysugar — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:00:18 -0700

Every day around 2 p.m., I feel a desperate need to drink a Coca–Cola. I don't crave the taste as much as I desire the boost in energy it will provide. Even 20 months after giving birth to my first child, my body does not jump out of bed at 6 a.m. ready to take on the day. When reading a book to her before nap time, I often find that I am the one nodding off. This is not uncommon for moms.

The National Sleep Foundation found that more moms are caffeinating themselves to make it through the day. Energy drinks, sodas and coffee are all part of a busy mama's day as she carpools, cooks, cleans and takes care of other duties.

To see what the National Sleep Foundation discovered, read more.

The NSF study found:

More than 65 percent of moms drink caffeinated beverages to get through their day.

Fast food stores like McDonald's are taking advantage of the caffeine hungry audience. The golden arches beat analysts' estimates by increasing latest quarterly profits, which are partially attributed to the rise in coffee sales. Looks like mommies may be loading up on their lattes when ordering a happy meal for junior. When baby number two joins my family, I have a feeling I'll be upping my caffeine intake, too!

Baby Wellness: No Soda

LilSugar — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:00:41 -0800

GiggleSugar tipped me off to this old ad which is frightening for so many reasons. Britney Spears aside, does anyone actually serve their baby soda? According to a study done by the University of Michigan, lil ones should not drink soda or sweetened beverages. It said:

"Soda pop fills you up with either empty calories or artificial sweeteners, and often contains caffeine. Ask any dentist: it's terrible for your teeth to have acidic, sugary liquid pass over them as you drink. Drinking lots of soda pop has been linked to increased risk of bone loss."

The study offers water as a thirst quenching alternative. As well as milk and 100-percent fruit juice.

Source

Lil Tip: Baking Soda Gets the Stinky Smells Out

LilSugar — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 04:00:14 -0700

Diaper pails aren't the only baby item that tend to stink over time. Diaper bags and hampers also absorb musty smells that grow stronger as lil ones add more items to them. Though a good scrub down or a round in the washer may rid the smells temporarily, an old-fashioned, household item will extinguish the stench.

The same inexpensive baking soda that helps keep your refrigerator and freezer odor free can also do the job in tight quarters. Simply fill a small cotton sack with the powder and a few drops of lavender oil and drop it in. If you are nervous of spills, Munchkin's Fresh Totes ($5 for two) add a decorative touch.

Bedrest Bash: Soda Bar

LilSugar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 07:00:43 -0700

Break out the bubbly! But since it's a baby shower and the mama-to-be probably isn't indulging in alcohol, opt for Italian sodas and some old fashioned floats!

All you need is some soda water, flavored Torani syrup, ice cream, root beer and twisty straws if you dare.

The blast back from the past beverages will remind you of childhood and provide the perfect refresher to go with the take-out you are eating bedside. To learn how to make an Italian soda, read more.

Pack tall glasses with ice and fill with seltzer water, then add flavored syrup to taste (usually 2 ounces). If you want to make a creamosa, blend in a bit of half and half or milk.

Cheers!

Source

Lil Tip: Baking Soda in Place of Toothpaste

LilSugar — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 03:00:00 -0800

My daughter hates the taste of most toothpaste. She says even the mild, children's versions are "too spicy." In an effort to appease her and get her pearly whites clean, I turned the task into a lil science experiment and added a bit of baking soda to a splash of water and had her mix the slightly salty paste. Then, she dipped her toothbrush in it and went to work before spitting it down the sink. The results were clean teeth, a happy preschooler and an easy transition to a more natural brand of toothpaste.

US Children Lacking Vitamin D in Their Diets

LilSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 10:00:15 -0700

Get your children out in the sun, it's the doctor's order. Following last year's report recommending an increase in children's daily dosage of vitamin D, a new study shows that about nine percent of US children exhibit vitamin D levels so low, they can be considered deficient. Another 61 percent still show levels low enough to concern doctors. A lack of vitamin D - which can be obtained from direct sunlight, fortified milk, fatty fish, or fish liver oils - increases the risk of rickets, bone problems, heart disease, cholesterol issues, and diabetes. Among the groups with the lowest levels of vitamin D are girls, adolescents, and people with darker skin. According to the reports:

The researchers and others blamed the low levels on a combination of factors, including children spending more time watching television and playing video games instead of going outside, covering up and using sunscreen when they do go outdoors, and drinking more soda and other beverages instead of consuming milk and other foods fortified with Vitamin D.

To increase vitamin D levels, experts recommend 15 minutes of direct sunlight (unfiltered by sunscreen) three times a week, eating more fortified foods like bread, milk, and cereal, and ensuring that multivitamins contain vitamin D.

The Taboo of Feeding Kids Junk Food

LilSugar — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:00:50 -0700

In the '70s and '80s, Spaghetti-Os, Twinkies, cheese in a can, and sugared cereals were tossed into many shopping carts due to convenience. But now, many of the mamas who grew up sipping soda are leading the no-juice campaign.

Women who might have licked cheddar powder off their Cheetos-stained fingers in their youth now choose more nutritious foods for their offspring. When the playground picnic table is piled high with a potluck of sandwiches on whole grain bread, fresh fruit, yogurt, and homemade baked goods, is there a stigma attached to the parent who ponies up a box of Krispy Kremes? A collective eye roll is what one doughnut-bearing mother I know received. I've since heard of moms sneaking their children sips of Sprite in restaurants and nibbles of candy bars behind closed doors to avoid being ostracized.

For the Hollywood celebmamas who don't hide their lil one's junk food indulgences from the paparazzi – think the Jolie-Pitt clan carrying chip bags in New Orleans and the rumor about the Spears-Federline boys drinking Coca-Cola in their bottles – headlines about poor eating accompanied the photos. Does a picture of a child eating from a shiny snack bag really mean that they've never downed a well-balanced meal, or has the movement toward healthy eating gotten a bit ridiculous? What's your opinion?

Bauer-Griffin

Sip and See Baby Shower: Food and Beverage

LilSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:00:00 -0700

We’re continuing to celebrate mamas-to-be this month with our extensive baby shower planning guides. This week, we fete the mama and newborn who were not ready to be the centers of attention before the birth with a sip and see shower. We've created our guest list and downloaded free invites, and decorated our space so, now its time to map out a little sustenance for our guests. Keeping the theme and guest list in mind, we've created a menu that involves a lot of sipping throughout the shower.

Open houses tend to run for long periods of time with guests coming and going so serving a hot meal isn't really an option. Instead, opt for food that is easy to eat while standing or while balancing a plate on your lap.

View 5 Photos ›

To see our entire menu, read more.

Spread: Serve a "make-your-own" caesar salad, with a platter of grilled chicken, shrimp or salmon available for a more filling main dish. A large bowl of chilled gazpacho can be self-ladled into accompanying mugs to help bring the "sip" concept to the buffet bar.
Drinks: Given that very concept, offer guests a wide variety of beverages. For non-alcoholic drinks, consider Jones Soda Company's colorful and fun flavors that complement the shower's blue and orange color scheme. Their blue bubblegum and orange and cream flavors look great on the table. Be sure to have some coffee and tea available for those arriving later in the day. For those looking for a little more punch in their cup, offer up white wine and champagne in some beautiful glasses.
Treats: Continue to celebrate the guest of honor with a selection of sweets featuring the lil one's monogram. From petit fours and mini cupcakes decorated in the blue and orange color theme to mugs filled with pudding and fruit.

Don't forget to enter our fabulous April Showers Giveaway for a chance to win a $2,500 gift card to put toward your babe's nursery and/or necessities for your child at Pottery Barn Kids!

Delilicious: Make a Kid Friendly St. Patrick's Day Spread

LilSugar — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Convincing tots to eat their greens is typically a pretty laborious process, but St. Patrick's Day may be an exception. Charged up on green celebrations and tales of St. Patrick your children just might get their dose of vegetable vitamins today. Here are some simple ideas for infusing your family meal with a little festive flare.

Dinner Menu: PartySugar suggests a delicious dinner of Green Goddess Dressing, Warm Spinach and Artichoke Dip, Pesto Pizza and Creamy Broccoli Soup. If that's far too much green for your family, make your tots the pizza with the pesto on the side. They can add the color it to their liking or choose to keep their slice plain.
Treats: Make a simple and low sugar Irish Soda Bread and decorate it with green royal icing for kid appeal. If you don't have a ton of time pick up some shamrock Sugar cookies from your local bakery or grab unfrosted cookies and frost them with your children.
Green Non-Alcoholic Beer: While the adults chug delicious beer cocktails make sure to have some equally attractive non-alcoholic beverages (we call those EANABs) on hand for your little leprechauns. Add natural green dye to Sprite, mineral water or apple juice for a virgin cocktail.
Wear Green: Don't forget to have your whole family wear a spot of green so no one gets pinched at school.

Source

Baby Wellness: Dapple Toy Cleaner

LilSugar — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:00:52 -0800

You wash your tot's hands frequently in hopes of preventing the tiniest of cold and flu germs from entering her body, but what do you do when her friend comes over with a runny nose, little cough and dirty fingers? Though her mom may wipe her nose incessantly, be sure to clean the toys they played with soon after the playdate ends.

While some mothers opt for an old fashion scrub down in diluted bleach, others look for more natural cleansing solutions. Dapple Toy Cleaner Wipes ($8) are made from fruit extracts and baking soda, meaning that no harsh chemicals are left on the surface of the toys when you are done. Phthalate, paraben, SLES and dye-free, the wipes are biodegradable and convenient to use.