Making Valentine's Day Special For Kids

Valentine's Day is not just a day for couples, it's a special day for kids too. It's a great day to celebrate and do something as a family, especially since it falls on a Saturday this year. Are you doing something special with your kids tomorrow? Let us know in the comments below and you may give fellow baby blog addicts some great inspiration.

Here are a few ideas:

1) Picnic at the park with the whole family. Bring out the blanket, pack lunches and spend a couple of hours just hanging out and playing at the park (leave the computer and cell phones at home).

2) Make an art project, go to a bounce house, go to the zoo. What's your child's favorite thing to do? Let them decide and make it a family day at their favorite place.

3) Bake with your child. Let them mix the ingredients and really get dirty and have fun with it. They'll love to give a gift of cookies or cake to mommy, daddy, grandparents or the neighbors.

4) Take them to the movies, even if it's their first. Are you wondering if your toddler is ready for the movies? Maybe Valentine's is the day to find out.

Here are some other ideas from e-How on How to Make Valentine's Day Special For Kids...

DIY Valentine's Cards for Kids

These examples are kid friendly, easy and inexpensive.

Website Spotlight: Peek-A-Boo Paperie

We'd like to introduce the newest BBA advertiser, Peek-a-boo Paperie. The idea was born when the owner, Jill, set out to design a birth announcement for her niece that really reflected her little personality. Her niece was introduced to family and friends as being "Born to Rock." In the process of creating her announcement, Jill discovered a passion for designing cards that are fun, whimsical and really speak to the animated nature of babies.

Peek-a-boo Paperie is also the first birth announcement site where parents can literally drag photos of their babies onto the announcement and resize/rotate the photos online. This way parents can see how their photos will appear in the announcement as well as pick and choose which photos they want to use.

Website Spotlight: Daddy Diaper Changing Toolbox

Another new BBA advertiser is Daddy Diaper Changing Toolbox. Check out their ad in the right sidebar.

Not only is today's Dad willing to help with late night feedings and diaper changes, he is willing to be a part of the celebration to welcome the arrival of your bundle of joy!

Chris Hartsfield went to his first couples baby shower in October of 2007. At the shower, he was blown away by all the gifts given for the baby and mom, but nothing for dad other than his favorite beer in the fridge.
Although Chris was happy to be a part of the shower, he wished that there had been something more to acknowledge and celebrate fatherhood. This inspired Chris to design the Daddy Diaper Changing Toolbox, the box that changed it all. Chris wanted to provide Dads with a chuckle as well as arm them with everything they would need for their very first diaper change, and he did this with practicality in mind. All of the comic extras in the toolbox are actually useable. For example: a functional toolbox and tongs for the grill. Chris put his ideas into action and collaborated with Julie Etzkorn to start Fun Stuff 4 Babies.

Mark your calendars! On November 12th, we'll start a contest to give away a Daddy Diaper Changing Toolbox.

Popsqually + Co. ~ 15% OFF For BBA Readers

It's October, so most of us are in the Halloween mindset. However, it's not too early to start thinking about Christmas and holiday gifts, especially with Popsqually + Co.'s early bird discount.

They have given an exclusive offer to BabyBlogAddict readers for 15% off Popsqually + Co. purchase for any orders (except Christmas cards, but those are still too cute to pass up) placed before November 1, 2008! Just include coupon code BBA15 when placing your order!

Don't miss their adorable holiday tags! It's all part of their holiday collection.

Mom-preneur Shop-a-Thon for Christmas Gifts!

Check out Tip Junkie's Mom-prenuer Shop-a-thon. She is featuring LOTS of amazing mompreneurs who sell unique, fun, and creative gifts that you can purchase for your friends, family and yourself this holiday season. Be sure to place your orders now and support these amazing women.

Halloween Money-Saving Tips

Halloween Safety Tips

Here are a few ideas for protecting kids' teeth and eyes.

Halloween Costume Contest

Send us a picture of your Halloween cuties (babies, kids and families in costume). We're giving away Two Custom Books from Blurb.com ($29.95 each) and a new diaper clutch from JackaroosBoutique.com, so it's worth sending us pics of your costumed cuties!

We'll also be posting some entries over the next few weeks, so you may even get to see your cuties featured here on BBA. Check out some of the entries so far.

Here's a flashback to last year's winners of the First Annual BabyBlogAddict.com Halloween Costume Contest.

The Murray Crew Halloweiners

The Three Amigos - Luke with his dogs Holly and Gretta

Halloween Baby Parade

Above: some fun Halloween costume ideas. Below: the opposite end of the spectrum. Poor, miserable babies.

Places to Shop for Infant/Toddler Halloween Costumes

Halloween is so much fun because you get to dress your little ones in costume. Our son Jack was only two weeks old for his first Halloween and he was a Chili Pepper. To this day, he is still known as a "Little Chili Pepper" to some.

There are so many costume options out there. You may even want to go with a theme for the whole family. Here are some sites with cute costumes:

• Baby Style - I think Baby Style has some of the most unique costumes. However the costumes all look very warm which is great if you are in the North...not so great if you live in the South where the temps could still be in the 80s on October 31st. Current promotion - Get 20% off select costumes plus free shipping with code BOO20.


• Pottery Barn Kids - pricey, but adorable (pictured above). Current promotion - 20% off all Halloween. Free shipping on costumes and treat bags.


• Baby Center - up to 50% off Halloween costumes. Save an extra 15%. Ends Monday. Click here for details.


• One Step Ahead


• Oriental Trading


• Costume Express


• Lillian Vernon


• Buy Costumes


• Ty's Toy Box Costume Shop

...and the list could go on. Please feel free to share your own ideas in the comments below.

Once you decide on a costume, google it so you can find the best online deal. You may be able to get a better deal than the site you found it on or it may come in different styles and in a different thickness that would work better for your climate. Don't forget to check the shipping charges too. Sometimes a website offers a better price on the costume, but the shipping is outrageous; but some sites offer free shipping.

Halloween Onesies and Tees for Twins and Singles

Check out these cute baby and kids’ Halloween onesies and tees from TrendyTwinShop.com. Then browse the rest of their site for some adorable "coordinating couture for twins, siblings and more."

Preemie Halloween Costumes

Elliot's Preemie Tees introduces preemie Halloween costumes. All the nurses in the NICU plus your family and friends will go crazy over your adorable ghost, pumpkin, bumble bee, tiny princess, ladybug, dinosaur or space alien. How special of Elliot's to create something as memorable as a first Halloween costume for your little one!

More Halloween costume ideas to come...

Where to Shop For Halloween Costumes

Where do you shop for Halloween costumes? Send us the links to online stores or the best brick and mortar stores for halloween costumes for children or the whole family. We'd love for you to fill us in on special deals available too (coupon codes, % off, free shipping).

We'll share your suggestions with fellow baby blog addicts next week, so send in your suggestions soon or post them in the comments below.

Easter Basket Ideas That Won’t Rot the Kids' Teeth

Easter is just a week and a half away and...OK, OK...I know I'm beginning to sound like an anti-sweets mom after my Valentine's Day ("Alternative to Sweets") post and now this Easter one. But I'm just offering alternatives to the same ole basket full of candy that you give and get everywhere you turn on holidays like Easter.

It’s true that filling an Easter basket with chocolate and candy are an easy way to commemorate the holiday but there are other ways to have a great Easter basket that your kids will love! Check out DotComWomen for a few ideas.

This was a picture of my son's Easter basket last year. He loved the "Little Bunny: Finger Puppet" book, the blue Crocs and his Superman pjs. You can also see a little bit of chocolate peeking out. He did get some M&Ms and a small chocolate bunny, but I think he liked the non-chocolate items best!

The alternative baskets are also a great idea for babies (who can't eat real food yet) and children who have food allergies. Have fun being creative!

A Sweet Alternative to Sweets

If your child goes to daycare or preschool, they will inevitably consume more than their fair share of sweets on Valentine's Day and come home with even more sweets packed in goody bags from all their friends. You might be guilty of contributing to this over-indulgence too by baking cookies, heart-shaped muffins or giving those boxes of sweethearts candy.

How about giving Valentine's Day happies that are not edible on Valentine's Day, but will be a great parent/child project on a future day.

One idea is to give a heart-shaped cookie cutter with a cookie recipe attached for each child. Here are some cookie cutters:

• Heart Comfort Grip Cutter by Wilton for $2.99.


• Set of 6 Graduated Heart Cookie Cutters for $11.99 on Amazon.com. That's about $2 each if you give one to each child.


• Heart-Shape Cookie Cutter and Recipe Favors 12 ct. for $20.99 from Target. I think this is a wedding favor, but it would be great for Valetine's Day treats too. It even comes with a sugar cookie recipe already attached.

The silicone heart pans are a little more expensive, but would be a great teacher gift. Check out this one for $7.49 on Amazon.com.

Lots of these are available online or at Target and Wal-Mart, but check out craft stores too - Michaels, Joann's, Hobby Lobby. Shop soon so you don't have to scramble at the last minute or stress if they run out before you get there.

Here are some recipe options to attach to the cookie cutters: Super Easy Sugar Cookies from Easy Kids Cookie Recipe or choose your own cookie on Cookies for Kids from BetterRecipes.com.