Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Favorite Baby Shower Gifts - Part II

Here's the second half of baby shower gift suggestions that your fellow Baby Blog Addicts submitted. Yesterday we posed the question, Should you take the advice of the Honeycutt family who said, "stick to the registry"; Danielle who said, "a maternity massage" for the mommy-to-be; or Karen who said, "the Ultimate Crib Sheet"?

I think it really depends on the recipient. If they have a large family and lots of friends who will give them practical, then go for pampering for mom. If not, you may want to stick with practical and the registry.

Here's the rest of the list:

7. I just had my baby shower last week and received the most unique gift - a custom made canopy for the bugaboo I had purchased...The company is called bonnebonnets...they have other very cool patterns and prints. Definitely the best baby gift so far! - Brooke

8. Ditto the massage .. or better yet, FOOD! I found a take out service who went to a number of restaurants in my friend's area and would deliver them to her house. Nothin' like a gift certificate for food. - Anonymous

9. A good friend gave me a gift card to our favorite take-out place nearby-- so after my mom left and the frozen food I'd stocked-up was gone, my husband could run by on the way home and pick up dinner. Since she doesn't live nearby and couldn't bring dinner over herself, this was a great idea." -Anonymous

10. Hi! I'm French and we don't have baby showers here. Usually people give you presents after the birth of the baby wich is great too, but you never get to make a list though. So usually you end up with far too many three months clothes and none in one year, but honestly, the cutest thing I had was that someone bought me (!) a present, not to the baby. That was so cute! - Matilou

11. Shameless plug for my new online boutique. Check out Jackaroos Boutique for personalized baby blankets, bibs, burp cloths and loveys...great shower gifts!

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Favorite Baby Shower Gifts According to BBA Readers - Part 1

A few weeks ago we asked you to share your favorite baby shower gifts. If you are reading this so you can buy the perfect gift, you will probably get even more confused now. Should you take the advice of the Honeycutt family who said, "stick to the registry"; Danielle who said, "a maternity massage" for the mommy-to-be; or Karen who said, "the Ultimate Crib Sheet"?

Here are some favorite baby shower gifts according to our BBA readers. We'll post the rest of the list tomorrow:


1. A tie between our baby bjorn and our stroller for most used (for both babies). A favorite was a handmade star book of nursery rhymes. -Bridget

2. I loved anything monogrammed. My most pratical gift was a HUGE crock pot at one of my baby showers! -Nikki

3. My best advice is to STICK TO THEIR REGISTRY! I liked a few of the unique items I got, but I really NEEDED bottles, blankets, pacifiers, sheets, etc.! I didn't need a cute baby frame.:) -Honeycutt Family

4. My favorite gift was The Ultimate Crib Sheet. It lays on top of your mattress and secures on to the rails of the baby crib. If your baby spits up in the middle of the night, it takes ten seconds to fix the situation. -Karen (I agree with Karen. In fact, I once featured the Ultimate Crib Sheet on BBA).

5. Oh, but for a good friend, I think a maternity massage is a great gift. You know you'll get something for the baby when (s)he arrives, and mom will definitely appreciate the massage. I loved mine! -Danielle

6. I usually try and tie in a cute item with a registery item. I've done closet totes (Target for cheap in the closet organizer section) with bath necessities. I've also put together a basket with bottles for baby and bottles of wine for mom. I personally loved my diaper caddy (pottery barn) that was stocked with newborn diapers, diaper cream, wipes, etc. -Aimee

Check out Favorite Baby Shower Gifts Part II here. Thanks for the great ideas!

Don't miss our BBA QUADATHON - July 20 -August 1.

Today's Headlines

>> Amy Poehler, real-life baby mama...
>> Halle Berry shows off her post-baby bod...
>> Victoria Beckham turns to red chili to boost fertility...
>> A new measure in fertility testing...
>> FDA reevaluating position on BPA compound in plastics...

Monday, April 28, 2008

Pamela Paul on How Marketing Has Hijacked Parenthood

Pamela Paul worked in marketing for seven years before becoming an author and penning books on starter marriages and porn. But it wasn't until she had her daughter (she's now the mom of two, 3 years old and 17 months) that she realized how marketing has hijacked parenthood.

She writes about the mysterious lure of $800 Bugaboo strollers, wipe warmers, and baby sign-language classes in her new book Parenting, Inc.


Click here for Nancy Shute's interview with Pamela Paul.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Introducing Jackaroos Boutique

In addition to our family's personal blog and BabyBlogAddict.com, we've added a new web-based venture to our lives and I'm excited to share it with all of you!

JackaroosBoutique.com is my own online boutique offering custom clothing and gifts for babies and children. I personally make all of the blankets, bibs, burp cloths, loveys, dresses and john-john rompers using boutique-style fabrics. Each can also be customized with an embroidered name to make it even more unique.

Of course, I couldn't launch Jackaroos Boutique without its own blog, so I've added another blog to my life. Check out the Jackaroos Boutique Blog to see my journey and to keep up with my new items.

**Get 10% off your first purchase by helping me spread the word. Just add a link to us in your own blog's side bar - either a text link to www.JackaroosBoutique.com or a banner link (html code in box below). Then send a short note to jennifer@jackaroosboutique.com with a link to your blog (I won't publish your link anywhere) and I'll send you a 10% off coupon code.

To add the Jackaroos Boutique banner including a link to JackaroosBoutique.com, just cut and paste the following code into your blog's sidebar:



It will look like this...
Jackaroos Boutique Logo for link

Ben & Jerry's Annual Free Cone Day

Mark your calendar for Ben & Jerry's Annual Free Cone Day this Tuesday, April 29th. Check out their Scoop Shop Locator and click "shops that participate in free cone day" to find the nearest one to you.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

"You're A Good Mom"

I read this great write-up in the April 2008 issue of Parenting magazine. It's from a new book by Jen Singer that is out this month called, You're a Good Mom (and your kids aren't so bad either): 14 Secrets to Finding Happiness Between Super Mom and Slacker Mom.

Here's what she says about what today's parenting lingo would have meant to our moms:

  • Floor Time - Time spent waxing the kitchen floor while the kids amuse themselves in the playpen.

  • Time-Out - A short break during a sporting event, or taking a break from the laundry to watch Days of Our Lives.

  • Kindergarten Readiness - Your kid's fifth birthday.

  • Use Your Words - "Knock it off, kids!"

  • Quality Time - Reading the paper in the car outside the theater where the kids are seeing The Bad News Bears.

  • Teachable Moments - School.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Today's Headlines

>> Alex Rodriguez, wife welcome second baby girl...
>> Can mom's diet determine a baby's sex?...
>> Safety is key when making food for baby...
>> Preparing your child for today’s world: 10 tips...
>> Green parenting - Even busiest moms, dads can make eco-friendly...

Blog Designer Spotlight: Blogs by Danielle


Here is another great blog designer. Blogs by Danielle offers whimsical and unique blog designs. Her site is very easy to use. She walks you through the ordering and payment process and then shows her beautiful portfolio of blogs that she has designed.

For $60, you can get a complete blog makeover. $30 gets you a creative blog header. Returning customers get a discounted rate of $50 for a blog makeover. Danielle loves to give back too. Check out her charity work and donations listed on her site.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Fun For Earth Day

I was looking for some fun Earth Day activities for kids and came across these simple ways to foster a love of the great outdoors.

The suggestions range from something as easy as making the most of walks (playing "I spy" on a walk) to planting a mini garden with your children. Check out the short list here.

More U.S. Retailers Give BPA The Boot

Toys 'R' Us announced today that it will phase out bottles and other "baby feeding products" containing BPA by the end of the year. Wal-Mart last week said that it will stop selling baby bottles made with BPA by early next year.

Stanford University pediatrician Alan Greene, author of Raising Baby Green, encourages parents to reduce their children's exposure to BPA. "I wouldn't use it for my children," says Greene, a father of four.

Greene says parents can avoid BPA by choosing glass bottles or shunning plastics labeled with a number 7 recycling code. Some bottles, such as BornFree, Medela and Adiri, are now marketed as BPA-free. Greene notes that BPA is found in a number of products, including the linings of formula cans. Because BPA may be less likely to leach into dry products, powdered formula could be a safer choice than liquid, he says.

Monday, April 21, 2008

BumpyName Orbit Labels

Throw away the markers for labeling your kids' sippy cups. We have better and cuter options for you. A while back we featured Baby Labels on BBA. Now, here's another way to label your kids' sippy cups.

BumpyName Orbit Labels are a great solution for labeling bottles, sippy cups, snack containers and other drink containers. I haven't used them yet, but I've heard a lot of great things about them from other moms. They are non-adhesive, so you can use them to tag different items, but if you want to keep them on the same cups and containers all the time, they are also dishwasher and microwave safe.

$12.95 will get you four custom labels and you can get a four pack of two-line custom labels for just $1 more. The two-line labels are also great to list a food allergy below the child's name as a reminder to child care providers.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

The "Green" Side of Parenting

Earth Day 2008 is Tuesday. What better time to discuss the "green" side of parenting?! On The Early Show Saturday, Jeanie Pyun, editor of the new environmental website Sprig.com, offered advice to parents on bringing up kids in an eco-sensitive way, and one that would have them become eco-friendly themselves.

Is going green really better, healthier, for your baby or young child? Find out more from The Early Show's report.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Website Spotlight: The Craft Crow

Some of you may be just recovering from winter, I'm already thinking about how hot the summer will be here in the South.

Here's a fun blog of great crafts for rainy days and the upcoming hot days of summer. The Crafty Crow features lots of creative activities and links to other creative sites too. They even have a breakdown in the right column by child's age, so you can easily find age appropiate crafts with the click of a button.


Tuesday, April 15, 2008

"What To Expect" Gets a Makeover












It's 2008 and you are pregnant. Who do you relate to more - the girl on the left who hasn't lost her sense of style or confidence or the one on the right in the rocking chair? Obviously, the version on the left is a much better representation of pregnant women today. I actually can't believe the third edition with the woman in the rocking chair was published in 2002. I even remember thinking that it looked like it was from the 70's when I read it during my own pregnancy in 2005.

America's best-known pregnancy advice book, "What to Expect When You're Expecting", has undergone a makeover on the front cover and on the inside. Check out this article to see what has changed in the 4th Edition. Here's a hint: you might be relieved to know that the newer version is "more reassuring, more positive, more empathetic than ever". They've also moved "a lot of the scary stuff" to a back section.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of The Beatles

I was lucky enough to get a copy of the Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of The Beatles CD to review. Rockabye Baby! transforms timeless rock songs into beautiful instrumental lullabies.

I always love to read the "About Us" story for companies like this. The label was born in L.A. out of a "need to make children's music cool - not only for babies but for their parents too." And they have succeeded! I love this CD. I played Disney and classical lullabies for Jack when he was a baby. After a few nights, each of those CDs got a bit old. How cool would it have been to have a few of these Rockabye Baby! CDs to throw into the mix?!

I personally loved the Lullaby Renditions of The Beatles CD with the songs "Yesterday", "Hey Jude" and "Here Comes the Sun" to name a few, but there are so many other CDs that you can sample online and order. In fact, Lullaby Renditions of Green Day, the Rolling Stones and U2 earned 2007 Greatest Product Awards from iParenting Media. Check out their extensive list of albums.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Natural Toys at Toys "R" Us


Toys "R" Us has introduced a line of new natural toys. They are crafted from natural, replenishable materials and are forest-friendly, eco-friendly and safer for your children's world, according to Toys "R" Us.

These remind me of the toys we played with as kids. It looks like there is no need to worry about lead paint either, since they aren't even painted. At $9.99 - $24.99 each, they are reasonable too.

Today's Headlines

>> Full House's Jodie Sweetin has a baby girl...
>> Cate Blanchette has baby Ignatius...
>> Baby boy delight for TV star Kerry Katona...
>> Woman says she got the wrong baby 25 years ago...
>> Baby sent home from hospital with wrong family last month...

Friday, April 11, 2008

Free Potty Training Success DVD

Pull-Ups is giving away free Potty Training Success DVDs. All you need to do is fill out a quick form online to register and you will be sent the DVD in 4-6 weeks, while supplies last.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Blog Designer Spotlight: Blogs for a Cause

I've come across a few blogs designed by Blogs for a Cause and realized it needed to be featured here in our blog designer spotlight on BBA, so all of you can check out these great designs too.

For $20, you can get a new template while 100% of your money goes to help 2 charities through Blogs for a Cause. Check out Nikki's welcome message from her launch in November where she talks about her upcoming humanitarian trip to the Dominican Republic for the month of July.

Nikki has quite an extensive list including 4tunate, the Murray Crew Quads' Blog, who we featured on Baby Blog Addict last July.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

'Days to Disney' Widget

I've seen lots of vacation countdown tickers on blogs, but just discovered this fun one for a trip to Disney. This cute Disney vacation countdown widget is in the famous mouse's ears.

You might just have to plan a trip to Disney, so you can add the cute widget to your blog!

Blog: Your Baby Is Off the Charts!

The Poop: What is it about baby percentiles that can turn parents and grandparents into obsessive braggarts (or is it just me)? Do percentile reports at the doctor's office leave you feeling validated -- or not -- as a parent?

Monday, April 7, 2008

Book Review: Parenting, Inc.

The New York Times reviews Pamela Paul's new book, Parenting, Inc:


Paul has tapped a real concern. An entire industry preys on parental anxiety, and succumbing to it, we risk raising children who don’t know what to do with “free” time and who will measure their value by what they can buy. Most parents will recognize a bit of themselves in Paul’s introductory complaint: “No matter what I do, someone else seems to be doing enviably more or improbably less, and either way, their child and family seem all the better for it.”

Today's Headlines

>> Quick action saves baby born in toilet...
>> Baby born with two heads doing well...
>> Baby shower invite throws man for loop...
>> Smoking raises heart defect risk in babies...
>> Family ignores Jamie Lynn Spears on birthday...
>> Jessica Alba's baby shower...
>> Madonna to adopt Indian baby...

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Mother's Day Spa Outing

Mother's Day is five weeks away, but it's not too early to let your husband and kids know what you want. How about a relaxing day at the spa with your girlfriends?

My girlfriends and I are planning a girls' spa day on the Saturday of Mother's Day weekend. We've reserved Sunday for our families, but on Saturday, it's just the girls. We're each on our own scheduling our appointment(s) for that day. We'll have lunch together at the spa cafe' at noon and then hang out in the spa either before, after or all day.

Did I mention it's at the Ritz? A spa day at the Ritz-Carlton sounds indulgent, right? Well that depends on what we get. Sure we can each spend up to $500 for a spa day package, but we can also get away with a $40 manicure that gives us complimentary use of the rest of the spa facility all day long (sauna, whirlpools, relaxation rooms, etc.), making it a luxurious yet reasonable Mother's Day gift.

Do you have any Mother's Day gift ideas to share? Let us know in the comments.

Friday, April 4, 2008

Costs Associated With Baby Making

With so many fertility options available – all with varied costs – it can get overwhelming. SheKnows.com uncovers the big words and oftentimes, big costs, associated with baby making.

The article highlights the costs associated with IUI, IVF, GIFT, ZIFT, egg donation and surrogacy and alternative treatments.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Child Safety Products That May Cause Harm

Diane Debrovner of Parents magazine explains how common safety products may actually cause more harm than good. Check out why these nine products are risks and then you can put the recommended safe stratgies into play if you have any of the products.

1. Plastic outlet covers
2. Bath seats and rings
3. Wipes warmers
4. Crib bumpers
5. Seat-belt positioners
6. Bed rails
7. Sleep positioners
8. Syrup of ipecac
9. Baby rearview mirrors

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

It's A Girl For Giada DeLaurentiis

Today contributor and Food Network fixture Giada De Laurentiis is a first-time mom: Jade Marie De Laurentiis Thompson was born on Saturday afternoon, weighing 5 lbs., 13 oz. She arrived five days ahead of her due date.