LilSugar

Did You Wash All of Your Baby's Belongings?

LilSugar — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 04:00:29 -0700

Motherhood and all the dirty wash that comes with it have made me long for a house with a laundry room! But, back in my pre-baby days, tossing stuff in the washer and dryer was more of a twice-weekly occurrence. Though lots of mamas-to-be clean all of their impending baby's belongings before their first wear, I must confess I never did. And, my kids never had any skin issues or irritations to show for it. Once they wore or used an item, I did launder it with a non-toxic detergent specifically for babies. Did you clean before or after?

Source: Flickr User meemal

Helpful Hints For Sleep Deprived New Mamas

LilSugar — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 04:00:00 -0700

Once you're a parent, you never get the same quality of sleep again. Well, maybe when the kids move out. Whether you are up feeding an infant or keeping your ears open for signs of a restless tot, you've kissed your hours of deep shut eye good bye. But, there are a few ways mamas with brand new babes can help themselves adjust and deal with sleep deprivation. Check out our slideshow for some tried and true tips.

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What Do You Prefer: Newborn Gift or Fresh Dinner?

babysugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:00:18 -0700

Pop the cork - the baby has arrived! Celebrating the newborn life often begins with balloons, bubbly, blooms and a written sentiment or two. When the visitors start arriving at the new family's doorstep, they often come bearing gifts of layette, blankets or tiny toppers. Others show up with trays full of lasagna and other prepared meals so that the recovering mama can focus on her newest addition instead of the messy kitchen. Obviously both are appreciated and icing on the cake, but which type of gift do you think most mums prefer?

How Soon After Delivery Were You Up and About?

LilSugar — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:30:20 -0700

Up and at 'em! Forget lounging around in some old sweatpants and being waited on hand and foot after delivering a baby. New mamas are wheeled out of the hospital faster than you can say "discharge papers" and are on their feet in no time.

While some mamas opt for help from family, friends, or professional nurses once they get home, 65 percent of LilSugar readers were on their own when it came to tending to their baby. Regardless of the amount of support they receive, new moms seem to be out and about faster than ever.

Just eight days after giving birth to Sparrow James Midnight Madden, Nicole Richie was seen chasing daughter Harlow around a Beverly Hills shopping mall, and over the weekend, she went for a walk and coffee run with her boyfriend Joel Madden. How quickly were you up and about in public after delivering your lil one?

Photographer Sets New Standard For Newborn Portraits

LilSugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:00:30 -0700

Show me a new mama and I'll show you a woman with a brag book filled with precious photos of her newborn. There's no denying that parents love to show off their kids, be it via images on their phones, albums in their Facebook accounts or photo albums bursting out of their bags.

While snapshots on the ol' digital camera may work for some moms, others turn to the professionals for a portrait that can become the centerpiece of their rooms. For years, Anne Geddes' whimsical shots of babies incorporated into nature were the standard by which photographers shot their subjects, but following an appearance on The Today Show, a Nebraska shutterbug with a knack for photographing sleepy newborns in some adorable poses is creating a stir. Tracy Raver's calming photos of weeks-old babes are the result of warm studios and bellies full of milk, allowing the artist to carefully maneuver the tots into her signature poses. Raver told viewers her trick was to photograph babies before they turned one month old, because that's when they get a bit feistier and can throw off a session.

Did you turn to the professionals to photograph your newborn, or did you stick with family snapshots?

Photo courtesy of Tracy Raver and Kelley Ryden Photography

Adorable Announcements Fit For Baby

babysugar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 07:00:53 -0700

Your newborn is so stinkin' cute you could scream, but you'll probably have to settle for a mailed announcement instead. Look on the bright side - it's loads more efficient and with all of the adorable and affordable options, it's a no brainer.

Trusted oldies like Tiny Prints are still making a variety of fab prints though they've got competition with new houses churning out precious patterns for wee ones. Check all of them out in the gallery below.

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Some Moms Fudge the Truth At Baby Check-Ups

LilSugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:00:55 -0700

A baby's first year of life is full of milestones that often make their way into the baby book – from the first smile to the first steps. Along the journey, infants visit their doctors often for checkups. Aside from the vaccinations that occur, mamas usually look forward to finding out their children's height and weight and to discuss any concerns. Nurses tend to ask a series of questions about the kiddo's development - everything from, "Is he sitting up on his own?" to, "Is he following objects with his eyes?" A friend recently told me that sometimes she fibs her answers. If she's not sure, she says, "Yes," and then races home to see if he can do it. Do you tell the truth when asked about developmental milestones at your baby's checkups?
Source: Flickr User maessive

Do You Steal Beauty Products From Your Baby?

LilSugar — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:00:27 -0700

Our girl Bella may not have a baby, but that doesn't stop her from buying goodies from the kiddie aisle. She says it saves her a couple of bucks on beauty treatments, but lots of moms are guilty of borrowing an item or two from their tots. Baby wipes are great stain removers, mild detergents work wonders on hand wash adult apparel and calendula cream cures even mommy's skin issues. Tell us from gummy vitamins to fuel a tired parent to fine tooth combs for the perfect part, what do you use from your child's closet or medicine cabinet?

How Much Do You Know About Infant Car Seats

LilSugar — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 07:00:54 -0700

Lots of parents use their infant car seats for more than shuttling their wee ones around town. Babies sleep, eat and even relax in the slouched seats, but this may not be the best idea.

A new study in Pediatrics suggests that these car seats may put newborns at risk for decreased oxygen levels. According to researchers, when placed in car seats, baby's heads tend to turn and this positioning can affect the amount of oxygen their brains receive. Doctors are suggesting that parents limit the amount of time lil ones spend in the seats, urging them to limit their use to travel, and not for overnight sleeping.

Before changing your car seat habits, take this quiz to see how much you really know about them.

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Possible Policy Change Regarding Circumcision

LilSugar — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:15:18 -0700

Should the government help decide if your son is circumcised? Ten years after the American Association of Pediatrics issued a policy statement suggesting that circumcision of newborn boys is not necessary if they are taught proper hygiene, the Centers for Disease Control is considering making the procedure routine in an effort to prevent the spread of HIV.

After studying the effectiveness of circumcision in reducing the spread of HIV in Africa, US officials are looking into changing their recommendations by the end of the year. The biggest obstacle in their decision is that "there is little to no evidence that circumcision protects men who have sex with men from infection."

lilsugar readers have talked about their views on circumcision, but would a new CDC recommendation and a reversal of the AAP policy change your mind?