Thursday, May 31, 2007

Dad's Accusation: Mom Is 'Hogging' Baby

Below is a question posed to Dr. Gail Saltz, a Today Show contributor, on MSNBC.com...

"We have a new baby, our first, and I find my husband is competing with me over the baby. He accuses me of “hogging” our daughter. I work nearby, so I am able to go home for lunch. When we go out, we fight about who gets to carry the baby. When she cries, he wants to hold her, which keeps her awake. I want to let her alone, so she will fall asleep. He also interferes with how I look after the baby. He doesn’t do diapers or any of the menial jobs like bathing or cleaning up. He says he gets to spend very little quality time with the baby, but doesn’t realize I am a working mother and feel the same way. I feel that I am being robbed of motherhood. My husband is in a bad mood much of the time, so it is hard to communicate. How can I rein in my growing annoyance about this?" — Mommy Nearest

> Click here for the response.

Updates...

>> Beautiful Babies (Ace - Dallas, TX)
>> Addicts Across America (Dallas, TX)

Website Spotlight: The Khaki Patch







Kid's art by Mary Katherine Segrest of The Khaki Patch. She can match your baby bedding or design something that you have in mind to match your child's room!

Forum Milestone

We've surpassed 1000 hits on the Baby Blog Addict Forum with 14 registered users and 91 articles in just over two weeks!

Join the popular discussions below or start your own.

Benefit of becoming a registered user - Each time you log in, you'll notice that the categories with the yellow folders contain posts that you haven't read yet.

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Today's Headlines

>> Baby name optimization...
>> Baby biz coming to Restoration Hardware...
>> Parents banking umbilical cord blood...
>> Foods for a baby with diarrhea...
>> More recommended baby books...
>> Couple posts billboard in hopes of adopting baby...

The Blog Addict

I came across this illustration and just had to post it. I know I can relate and I'm sure all of you baby blog addicts can too.

Baby You're a Star

Calling all baby blog addicts to enter your baby in the Baby You're a Star contest. Babies 2 to 24 months are eligible to win. The grand prize winner gets a $10,000 college scholarship, $1,000 in Evenflo products and becomes the "face of Evenflo."

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Nursery Rhyme Tease















From Nursery Rhyme Tease, here's a creative gift idea that encourages reading and looking cute! You get a nursery rhyme story book and matching tee in a unique snap vinyl case. Choose from Three Little Pigs, Wheels on the Bus, Hey Diddle Diddle, Humpty Dumpty, Itsy Bitsy Spider or, my personal favorite, Old MacDonald (E-I-E-I-O).

What a creative way to encourage reading!

Tips for Stay-at-Home Moms

Tips for keeping the sanity when transitioning from working mom to stay-at-home mom:

1) Socialize
2) Get dressed
3) Stay informed on current events
4) Get out of the house

To share your own SAHM tips, check out our forum.

Monday, May 28, 2007

Blog Tip: Add Image to Header








Learn how to add an image to your blog's header from a screencast created by a fellow blogger.

If you have any blog questions or suggestions, check out the new Blog Help category on our forum.

Pint-Sized Seating

Kid's chair is only $6.99 at The Container Store. It's stackable and comes in orange, blue, pink and translucent.

Soft Drink Dangers

New research from a British University reveals a health scare over soft drinks. A common preservative found in drinks such as Fanta and Pepsi Max has the ability to switch off vital parts of DNA. The problem - more usually associated with ageing and alcohol abuse - can eventually lead to cirrhosis of the liver and degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's. The findings will also intensify the controversy about food additives, which have been linked to hyperactivity in children.

Sunday, May 27, 2007

Today's Headlines

>> Baby needs a new pair of shoes...
>>
Baby care items spout big business...
>>
Similac recalls some baby food...
>>
Baby delivered in less than two minutes...

Baby's First 24 Hours: Adjustment Time

After months of anticipation, your baby's birthday has finally arrived. Your baby is safely in your arms. Now what? Don't expect your baby to look like the adorable babies in the magazines. Newborns are wet, tiny, and often quite grumpy about their trip through the birth canal (or birth via C-section).

Study: Heavy TV Viewing Under Age Two

About 40 percent of 3-month-olds watch television or videos for an average of 45 minutes a day, or more than five hours a week, according to the first-ever study of the viewing habits of children under the age of two. The study, by pediatric researchers at the University of Washington, also found that by age 2, 90 percent of children are watching television for an average of more than 90 minutes a day.

Adoption Resources

Baby blogs are very popular and special for families who adopt. We've had a few friends lately who have extended their families by adopting beautiful children and have shared their journeys from paperwork to the first meeting on their blogs for their friends and family to experience the joy along with them.

Here are some top resource sites listed in the June 2007 issue of Parenting:

Here's a blog post I found on What Made You Decide to Adopt.

Let us know if you have any other good adoption resources.

Website Spotlight: babystyle




Friday, May 25, 2007

Babies Only Look Clueless

Soon after birth, infants are keen and sophisticated generalists, capable of seeing details in the world that are visible to some other animals but invisible to adults, older children and even slightly older infants.

Docs Deliver Baby on Delta Flight

Two doctors on a Delta Air Lines flight from Germany delivered a baby in the aisle of the plane and resuscitated him when he wasn't breathing.

Toddler Activities

Melissa asked a great question on the forum: "...Does anyone have any suggestions for fun activities, centered around music, that I can do with my 2 year old at home? Suggestions not related to music are welcomed as well."

Here are a few music ideas I suggested:

1) Xylophone - Fill 3 or more drinking glass with different amounts of water. Gently tap each one with a wooden spoon. Ask him if the glasses with the most water sound the highest or the lowest. Get him to make up his own song by tapping different glasses.

2) Maracas - Buy toddler size maracas or you can make them. Put raw pasta, like macaroni, or beans in a 2-liter jug, milk jug or even a sippy cup.

3) Play music and let him dance around. Tell him when the music stops, he should stop and sit down. When it starts again, he should dance around again.

Non-music activity:
Gardening - Plant sunflower seeds with kids at the beginning of the summer and watch them grow. Take their picture with the growing sunflowers each week. Maybe even have the child hold a paper with the date and week of growth. By the end of summer, the sunflowers may grow to be taller than the kids.

Chime in with your own ideas for creative toddler activities.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Baby Labels

I love labeling everything, so when I came across Baby Labels, I knew I had to get some for Jack. Their products include custom waterproof labels for plastics, labels for clothes and bag tags.

I purchased one set of 80 waterproof labels and love them. I just stick them on his sippy cups and food containers for Mother's Day Out and best of all, they are dishwasher safe. The custom labels especially came in handy when we went to the beach and three of the kids had the same type of Nuby sippy cups.

If you have any ideas for labeling, please let us know in the Forum under Product Reviews.

Today's Headlines

>> Gestures help infants recognize different languages...
>> Boosting your child's brain power...
>> Have baby, then report to jail...
>> Sheryl Crow shows off adopted baby...
>> Making baby food...

Top 5: Names By State

You've seen the top 100 names each year, but have you ever seen it broken down by state? Check out this list of the five most frequent given names, by State, for male and female births. You can also get more in depth with the top 100 by state.

Here's a snapshot from different regions of the U.S. in 2006.

Girls: Alabama

1) Madison
2) Emma
3) Anna
4) Emily
5) Hannah

Girls: California

1) Emily
2) Isabella
3) Ashley
4) Mia
5) Samantha

Boys: New York

1) Michael
2) Matthew
3) Joseph
4) Anthony
5) Christopher

Boys: Illinois

1) Daniel
2) Michael
3) Jacob
4) Alexander
5) Joshua

Updates...

>> Addicts Across America (Del Rio, TX)
>> Beautiful Babies (Gracie - Georgia)

Blog Watch

>> 10 signs that you may be a blog addict
>>
Alcohol and your baby's health

Prenatal Smoking Exposure and ADHD

A new study says that prenatal exposure to smoking in the mother’s womb puts genetically susceptible children at an increased risk of ADHD.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Today's Headlines

>> Baby born in Wal-Mart restroom...
>>
Snacks to help baby...
>>
How to tell the world a new baby is coming...
>>
Baby #2 for Tom and Katie? ...
>> Mom takes baby along on drive-by...
>> Establishing baby's bedtime routine...
>> 60-year-old delivers twins...

Website Spotlight: CuddleBee






New Guidelines for Expectant Moms

The American Heart Association has released new recommendations to help women reduce the risk of giving birth to children with heart defects. The four key recommendations boil down to: talk to your doctor, take a daily dose of folic acid, avoid people with the flu and review all medication use with your doctor even if it is over-the-counter.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Today's Headlines

>> Fears grow over certain plastic baby bottles...
>>
Woman delivers second roadside baby...
>>
Common baby myths...
>>
Budget-busting babies...
>>
Keeping baby safe while traveling...
>>
Turning a nursery into baby heaven...
>>
Mom takes baby on midnight burglary...
>>
Have baby, lose job?...
>>
Nicole Kidman wants a baby...

Addict Shout-Out

Another one comes clean with a Baby Blog Addict confession at GeekyHousewife.com. Luckily, she found our site before it was too late.

"Now I read up on the lives of these people that I don’t know but really enjoy it. Apparently I’m not the only one who does this, which it is a great relief to learn others read baby blogs. They have launched a website called BabyBlogAddict.com where fellow baby blog addicts can come together to discuss their common interest. You can also find product reviews and other useful information. I think the idea behind their website is really fun and a great idea."

Blog Watch

>> Baby whistles in the womb
>> Milestones that matter most
>> On the road with baby

Video: Breakdancing Baby

Updates...

>> Beautiful Babies (Page and Emma - Dallas, TX)

Monday, May 21, 2007

Today's Headlines

>> Why kids need their dads...
>> Being a great mom...
>> 'Stillborn' baby comes alive at funeral...
>> Apples and fish during pregnancy help baby...
>> Eva Longoria talks about her baby plans...
>> Britney Spears to design baby clothes...

Top 5: Books to Read to Babies












1) The Rainbow Fish - Marcus Pfister
2) The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Eric Carle
3) Good Night Moon - Margaret Wise Brown
4) Pat the Bunny - Dorothy Kunhardt
5) Ten Little Ladybugs - Melanie Gerth

From About.com

Updates...

>> Addiction Stories (Raesmom in Mississippi)

Come clean...admit your addiction!

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Site Relaunch

We know it's only been a week, but we thought for simplicity sake our site about baby blog addicts should be built on an actual blog. This setup will make it easier for us to update the site on a more regular basis and organize archives and other sections more efficiently. All the important links, including Addicts Across America, Addiction Stories, Beautiful Babies and Forum, are still here and located on the right side of the page.

Your submissions are still important to us, so keep 'em coming. Please continue to spread the word about BabyBlogAddict.com as we grow more every day.

Today's Headlines

>> Firefighters help deliver baby boy...
>> Where did all the babysitters go? ...
>> Baby's skin a big worry for parents...
>> Supermodel Eva Herzigova expecting...

Happiest Baby on the Block

The best DVD that my husband and I watched while I was pregnant was Happiest Baby on the Block. Dr. Harvey Karp teaches how to calm your baby with the 5 S's: swaddling, side/stomach, shushing, swinging and sucking. He really is amazing. His suggestions are especially good for colicky babies, but they really apply to all babies in the first few months of life. I actually checked the DVD out from the library and now recommend it to all expectant parents.

Feel free to make comments here or go to the parenting section on the forum to discuss it.

Updates...

>> Beautiful Babies*
>> Addicts Across America (Maine)

*A few readers let us know the e-mail address we were using for the Beautiful Babies section was not working. If you sent a picture that hasn't appeared on the page yet, please send it again. The new address to use is editor@babyblogaddict.com.

Website Spotlight: Lilypie.com





Check out Lilypie's tickers for pregnancy countdown, adoption, trying to conceive, birthdays, wedding and anniversary.

*Update 10/07 - Lilypie now offers mini-tickers (half-width option).

Video: Baby Falls Asleep After Eating

Addict in the Oven

>> Cherie Wright in Virginia - 12/21/07 (#2)

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Website Spotlight: Diapees and Wipees







Website Spotlight: Janie and Jack

Baby Blog Addiction Stories

Malone Quads in Georgia (currently in Arizona for delivery)...
You guys have a great site! I too before starting my own blog became addicted to reading these stories! We're 33wks here in Scottsdale AZ.(114 degress today) We are due 8/20. But I bet you guys knew that already. Continued success!

Laura in Tennessee...
Hi, my name is Laura and I'm a blog addict. I admit it and the first thing to addiction is admitting it right?!? Anyway, I have made lots of "blogging friends" since I have started! I love looking at other blogs and love it when people stop by to look at mine! After taking care of my 1 year old and husband of 3 years, I spend pretty much 90% of my "free time" on the computer looking at updating my site or looking at other blogs... now if that's not an addiction I don't know what is!!

Amy in Alabama...
I confess...I am hooked on blogs. It doesn't even matter to me if I don't know the people. I just love linking over to other blogs from people that I do know. I feel like I have a "spying" addiction.

Vera's Mommy in Alabama...
I am a friend of Millers Mommy and I too am a Blogger Addict. I have had so many family members and friends start blogs too! We are one big happy blogging family! Love the site and will visit it daily!

Cassie in Texas...
I am a total baby blog addict! It all started when a friend of me pointed me towards the McNulty's blog (the quads...I) went to high school with there momma! Soon after I started a blog of my own kiddos! I love finding new blogs with kiddos and seeing what they are doing and how similar or different mine are! Thank god for the entertainment of blogs!!!!

Millersmommy in Hawaii...
I'm just glad to know I'm not the only addict out there. I love babies and kids so much and love to see what other babies are doing. And I too have found old friends in the blog world. This site is a great place for all the baby blog addicts to unite.

Cherie in Virginia...
I'm Cherie, and I'm a blog junkie...OK, so I admit it...I've visited blogs of people I don't know and even their friends who I don't know either! I used to think "those" people were crazy, but when things get boring late at night, what else is there to do?!?! Jennifer Walker and I laughed about it over the weekend--how we can spend so much time blog-hopping! So I came to realize how bad it really was when I stepped of the plane in Richmond yesterday and recognized someone from Sherry's blog! In Virginia, nonetheless! Now, I've never even met Sherry (but I'm sure she knows all about Sarah from her Aunt Angelle!) much less this family, who I'm sure thinks I am insane! And then there is Heather from Utah--never met her either! She's a friend of a friend of a friend--you get the picture. Anyway, she has absolutely, hands-down, the best ideas for crafts, gifts, parties. This is one of the most creative people I've never met! I could go on and on, but I won't bore you. So for all of you who've I never met and don't know (and even those that I do), leave me a comment and let me know how you found our blog! I promise I won't call you a "blog stalker!"

Sarah in Mississippi...
I started a blog for my son last year and quickly became a certifiable baby blog addict. I spend at least 45 minutes a day checking out 10...or maybe 20...blogs. It's ridiculous, but I'm hooked. Jennifer in Alabama...When I come across a new baby blog, I like to go to the archives and look at the first post to find out their story. I've been known to get hooked and read through up to two years of posts in one night. It's like a good book that you just can't put down. Yes...I'm a blog addict.

Anonymous…
I spend about an hour of my day blog-hopping. It's a glimpse into other people's lives - who wouldn't be interested. You can be nosy without anyone knowing!!

Kirk in Texas...
I see all these people from college and love to catch up, though we don't even know each other any more.

Raesmom in Mississippi...
My baby blog addiction started innocent enough. I started reading one blog because the family had the same due date as we did. Now I check that blog at least once a week to see what their little one is doing. From that blog I hopped to other baby blogs. I never thought I'd be one of those parents who would like to listen to other people brag on their kids but I really do.

Welcome!

If you're here, there is a reason. You are a baby blog addict. It's nothing to be ashamed of; there are tens of thousands of people just like you.

It starts innocently enough: you're on the computer, the kids are in bed and it's late. You click on your sister's blog to read about your niece taking her first steps, but before you know it you've clicked through to another blog...and another and another and another. Now it's two hours later and you've read an entire blog about a family you've never met. You don't know the mother, but you know she tried for a long time to get pregnant, dealt with infertility issues and eventually had twins! You cried, you laughed and were moved.

Somewhere along the way, you became addicted to baby blogs. Don't worry. You're not alone. And we're fueling the addiction. - Scott, Jennifer and Jack