Skip the High Chair

You may want to skip over the high chair when you are registering. Instead, check out the infant to toddler feeding seat from The First Years. It's much more compact, it's portable and it grows with your child, so instead of buying a high chair and a booster seat (and later storing both in the attic), you can just get the smaller feeding seat from the get-go.

We went the route of the high chair and booster seat and it worked for us the way our kitchen and dining room were set up, but I can easily see how skipping the high chair altogether could be a better option for some. What do you think?

Pets and Infants

They can coexist under the same roof. Of course children come first, but there’s no reason that the family pet has to suffer. There are many things you can do to peacefully and safely introduce a new baby and a pet as you grow your family.

Baby Sign Language Grows in Popularity

Just a few years ago baby sign language seemed like a novelty. Now signing has become mainstream. Studies have shown how simultaneously learning two spoken languages at first delays talking. But research also shows that teaching baby sign language can help toddlers talk sooner and maybe slightly boost their IQ.

Free Book: What to Expect the First Year

Simply sign up for Balmex offers and receive a FREE copy of What To Expect the First Year. Check it out. I'm beyond the first year already, but it sounds like a pretty good deal if you don't mind filtering through more email and snail mail.

Teething Isn't Fun for Baby or Mommy

There's a newsflash. And what about Daddy? Yeah, it's a field day for us. Headlines and articles like this drive me nuts because the writers act like there's only one active parent in most babies' lives. At least it offers some tips and suggestions for dealing with the difficult time.

Unborn Baby Saves Mom's Life

Parents always say their children are angels, but it isn't often an unborn baby gets credited for saving her mother's life.

And Baby Makes Nine...

This group tops the Brady Bunch by three.

Hot off the Wire...

LUTZ, Fla. (AP) — More than 500 visitors showed up at a Baptist church Saturday for what is being billed as Tampa Bay's Biggest Baby Shower. The community came to support Ben and Karoline Byler, who are expecting sextuplets sometime in the next three weeks. According to the Florida Department of Vital Statistics, the Byler babies will be the first sextuplets born on record in the state.

Baby Survives Five-Organ Transplant

Doctors at New York Presbyterian Hospital are celebrating a successful five-organ transplant that potentially saved the life of an eight-month-old boy.

Today's Headlines

>> Tom Brady Welcomes Baby Boy...
>> Baby Alfie Was Born at 30,000 ft...
>> Jaime Pressly Loses Baby Weight with Cabbage Soup...

Recipe: Pizza Pinwheels

Here's a follow up to Melissa's request on our forum for toddler party foods. I suggested making turkey and cheese pinwheels which got Melissa thinking. She went to allrecipes.com and found an easy and delicious recipe for Pizza Pinwheels.

1 (8 ounce) can refrigerated crescent roll dough
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
24 slices pepperoni
1 (14 ounce) can pizza sauce

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

2. On a large baking sheet, pinch the 8 crescent roll dough triangles into 4 rectangles. Layer each rectangle with 6 slices of pepperoni and even amounts of mozzarella cheese. Roll tightly lengthwise and slice each into 4 or more pieces.

3. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Serve with pizza sauce for dipping.

Melissa said, "The kids and adults loved them! I doubled the recipe and still returned home with an empty dish. Allrecipes.com is a fabulous website for finding recipes. There are several search options. My favorite is one where you can type in the ingredients you have on hand and it will provide you with a list of recipes that call for those particular ingredients."

Now that's the kind of recipe finder I need. Thanks for the update, Melissa!

Click here for more of our recipe posts.

Baby Talk is Universal

According to a new study, the relationships between sounds and intentions are universal, and thus, should be understood by anyone regardless of the language they speak.

Website Spotlight: Babystrology

We've already featured a couple of options when it comes to pregnancy tickers - lilypie.com and baby-gaga.com.

Babystrology offers another free ticker to add to your blog. Due to popular demand, they even added multiple support - twins, triplets, quadruplets, quintuplets, and more.

You thought you spent a lot of time checking your favorite baby blogs...now babystrology even offers Baby Games like the PeePee TeePee Launcher to use up even more of your free time. Remember the creative Pee-Pee TeePee for boys that we featured a couple of months ago? Now you can play the game.

Baby Adoption

Infertility often leads couples down the road to adoption. As this family found out, the process is costly and priceless.

>>Take a look at the adoption discussion in our forum.

Toddler Party Foods

Melissa needs some ideas on our forum and I'm sure the feedback will help all of us when we host kid-friendly parties.

She says... "My husband's coworkers are always hosting what I like to call "driveway" parties, and expect everyone (even those with little ones) to attend. The problem is that the parties are never kid friendly. They've planned another party, so I would like to provide some kid-friendly foods for the toddlers to enjoy. I mean, do they really expect a two year old to eat ribs and stuffed jalapenos? Does anyone have suggestions for great party food for toddlers? Also, any ideas for keeping them entertained and out of the street would be appreciated."

Help Melissa out on her post! Feel free to reply as a guest or register for our Baby Blog Addict forum to offer other suggestions or seek advice from other parents.

Domain Name Frenzy

Before officially deciding on a name for a child, a lot of parents are checking to see if the domain name is available first.

Website Spotlight: Diapers.com

Did you know that August is the month most babies are born? For the month of August, diapers.com is offering at least 20% off newborn size diapers. And, as always, shipping is free on orders over $50 and get 5% back on orders over $75.

PLUS, get an extra $5 off your first order by entering our Referral Code: BlogAddict on the shopping cart screen.

I know my grocery shopping trips would be much easier if I didn't have to add diapers to my cart every trip. I'd love to get diapers, wipes, formula and the other baby necessities they sell shipped directly to my door!

Will Older Child Make Room For Baby?

What's the best age separation for acceptance? How do you convince a resistant child that a new sibling is a good thing? Find out more here.

Mom Delivers Rare Identical Quadruplets

A 35-year-old Canadian woman has given birth to rare identical quadruplets at a Great Falls hospital. Autumn, Brooke, Calissa and Dahlia were born about two months early and were conceived without fertility drugs.

According to their perinatologist who delivered the girls, the chances of giving birth to identical quadruplets is about one in 13 million. Medical literature indicates there are less than 50 sets of identical quadruplets, said Dr. Jamie Grifo, director of the NYU Fertility Center in New York.

The article states that the parents declined to be interviewed by The Associated Press and have been a little bit shy about the press. I guess they don't have a baby blog for us addicts!

Another Interesting Baby Name...

A chinese couple, looking for a distinctive baby name, has settled on the 'at' symbol. That's right, they want to name their baby @. And get this--the couple were cited Thursday by a government official as an example of citizens bringing bizarre names into the Chinese language.

Check out the 200+ articles written about this unique naming attempt.

Addicts and Future Addicts Come Clean

>> Addiction Stories (The Malone Quads from Georgia, but currently in Arizona awaiting delivery)

The Malones told us their baby blog addiction story, now it's your turn. Send your stories to editor@babyblogaddict.com.

Today's Headlines

>> Nirvana baby finds exposure a bit odd...
>> Baby naming goes high tech...
>> Boy 'Hero' Helps Deliver Baby Sister...

Bib Alert

Inexpensive vinyl baby bibs sold at Toys R Us stores may contain lead.

Another Addict Comes Clean!

>> Addiction Stories (Laura in Tennessee)

Laura admitted her problem, now it's your turn. Send your stories to editor@babyblogaddict.com.

Think You're Ready for the Baby?

Think again. Parenting Magazine has put out a new book that focuses on 'must haves' for the newest member of the family.

Some of the suggestions include: a place for the baby to sleep, a place for diaper-changing, a place for cuddling and feeding and a way to keep tabs on the baby when you're not in the room. It lists plenty of both expensive and inexpensive items on which you can blow your cash.

Baby Einstein Fights Back

Remember the recent news about popular baby videos possibly hindering development? Well, that got the Baby Einstein people good and pissed. Now they want a retraction from the University of Washington, the school that put out the controversial press release.

Mattel Recalls 9M More Toys

Mattel recalls millions of Chinese-made toys that contain magnets that can be swallowed by children or could have lead paint.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission said that magnets can come loose and be swallowed in more than 7 million Polly Pocket toys, 680,000 Barbie and Tanner sets, 1 million Doggie Daycare sets and 350,000 Batman figures. The surface paint on 250,000 Sarge cars from the movie "Cars" were also added to the recall.

Update...

>> Beautiful Babies (Ian and Noah in Alabama; Rebekah, Asamenew, Thomas and Xavier in North Dakota)

Send yours to editor@babyblogaddict.com.

Wanted: Addiction Stories

Come on Baby Blog Addicts, there hasn't been a new addiction story posted here in a while. Check out the Addiction Stories section then let us know when you realized you were addicted to baby blogs. If you haven't seen the link here on the front page, it's on the right side under "Addict Links."

Send your stories to editor@babyblogaddict.com.

Stressed Moms and Sleepless Babies

A mother’s anxiety or depression during pregnancy may affect her child’s sleep patterns early in life, a new study suggests. More...

Video: Sleepy Baby

This video is quietly hilarious. The sleepy baby's brother is oblivious to the fact that the kid is trying to nod off next to him.

Crocs

We are nearing the end of summer, but I still wanted to post something about Crocs. They are the best shoes for kids. Jack has worn his light blue Crocs (size 6-7) all summer. They are so practical - easy to put on and durable for everyday, the pool, the beach, you name it. I also love the girls mary janes too, especially in cotton candy pink and celery. Check out all the options available for the whole family.

Elliot's Preemie Tees

Elliot's Preemie Tees offers a special line of clothing for micro preemie and preemie babies who are in the NICU or who have been sent home on monitors. The owners' grandson, Elliot, was the inspiration for the clothing line. According to their site, "these babies need clothes that are easy to put on and take off around all the wires, tubes and cords. If this describes your situation then take a look around – I think you will like what you see!"

Predict Your Baby's Gender

Why rely on ultrasounds when you can use a Chinese Lunar Calendar to predict your baby's gender? Find the mother's age at conception and the month in which conception occurred. The color of the intersecting box tells you if it will be a boy or a girl.

The calendar predicted a baby boy when I was pregnant and it was right! Was it right for you?

The Blogger Spelling Test

Thank goodness we don't get graded on blog spelling. I consider myself to be pretty good at spelling and grammar, but I only scored an 87%. I just knew I would get a 100% until all of the options started to look right. Take the quiz for yourself, then post your results on your own blog or in the comments section here.

I Scored an 87%!

When in doubt you can always use spell check on your blog posts or turn to m-w.com (Merriam-Webster's online dictionary), if you want to get an "A+" in blog spelling.

Headlines

>> Idol hopeful auditions, then has own Idol (baby)...
>> Car stolen with baby sleeping inside...
>> British woman gives birth to three identical baby girls...

Baby Named 'Superman' After '4Real' Rejected

A New Zealand couple was told by the government registry that they could not register the name "4Real", because it included a digit. However, the family has refused to let the law or good taste get in the way of their choice, insisting they will continue to refer to their two-month-old son as 4Real. In the meantime they plan to officially name him Superman.

'Genius' Videos May Hinder Skills

University of Washington researchers warned in a report released Tuesday that Baby Einstein, Brainy Baby and other videos for infants may make a child slower in picking up vocabulary in the first two years of life.

Every hour babies spent watching videos, they understood an average of six to eight fewer words than a baby who didn't watch the programs, researchers found.

Baby Einstein said its products were designed to spur interaction between parents and their children, not as solitary experiences.

Burkett Quad Squad...*Updated

Last week's post announcing the birth of the Wilkinson Quints and Steece Quads generated a comment from the Burkett Quad Squad. They said:

"What great families!!!! We've been following them both for a while now, and have 4 of our own who will be here any day. As if you don't have enough blogs to read, you can keep up with us at http://thequadsquad.blogspot.com/. Great site! God bless!"

I've been following the Quad Squad blog ever since they shared it with us last week and it looks like today is the day for Benjamin, Baron, Anna & Allie to make their arrival. Our thoughts and prayers are with them for a healthy delivery.

*The quad squad blog has been updated with the arrival of the babies:

Benjamin Russell - 3lbs. 4.5oz. 15.5 inches born at 3:50 pm
Allie Grace - 2lbs. 12oz. 15.75 inches born at 3:51 pm
Anna Ruth - 3lbs. 5oz. 16 inches born at 3:52 pm
Baron Ross - 3lbs. 2 oz. 16.5 inches born at 3:52 pm

According to their father, "All 4 of them cried as they came out. It was beautiful!...Thanks for the prayers! Keep praying!"

Website Spotlight: Baby Cheapskate

Wanna save money on baby stuff? Baby cheapskate has done all the work for you. Check them out for coupon codes, diaper and formula deals and affordable baby products.

Healthy Ways for Babies to Play and Learn

The Munchkin Fresh Food Feeder, The Musical Inchworm, Babysilk Babysafe Sunscreen Towelettes, the Strollometer, Erba Organics and Discover & Play Colour Blocks are among the items recommended to keep your newborn safe and smiling.

Baby Photo Contest

Tom Arma, the most published baby photographer in the world, and BuyCostumes.com have announced a national search for the Tom Arma Baby and Toddler of the Year. Photo contest grand prize winners will be selected in time for Halloween 2007.

Go to this website to enter.

Want to Feed Your Kids for Free?

Check out mykidseatfree.com to find out which restaurants in your city offer Kids Eat Free specials. Search your state and city here.

Quints and Quads!

QUINTS - On Tuesday, July 31, Rachelle and Jayson Wilkinson and big brother Riley and big sister Kaiya welcomed quints (that's five babies!) at 34weeks gestation. The five babies collectively weighed over 21 pounds and actually set a record for total infant weight. Check out wilkinsonquints.com for their story. You can also look back and follow mom Rachelle's blog and dad Jayson's blog.

I was just introduced to the Wilkinson Quints' blogs yesterday, and was amazed by their story (what higher order multiples' story isn't amazing, right) and the fact that she was able to carry her quints until 34 weeks! Let's help to welcome the Wilkinson quints to the world:

Kassidy - 5 pounds, 1 ounce
Kaydence - 3 pounds, 6 ounces
Rustin - 4 pounds, 15 ounces
Kyndall - 4 pounds, 2 ounces
Ryder - 3 pounds, 15 ounces

QUADS - Then yesterday, Wednesday, August 1st, Suzanne and Joe Steece welcomed their quads (that's four babies) at 30 weeks 1 day. I've been following The Life of Suz throughout her pregnancy. They are such an amazing couple and definitely have a sense of humor that will come in handy when raising quads. Don't miss their "I'm having QUADRUPLETS??!?!?!" post. Here are their quads, one-by-one:

Andrew - 2 pounds, 8.6 ounces
Savannah - 2 pounds, 14.8 ounces
Ethan - 2 pounds, 7 ounces
Benjamin - 3 pounds, 4 ounces

It sounds like both families are blessed with love, prayers and support from family, friends and even strangers. I'm sure they would welcome continued thoughts and prayers from all of us baby blog addicts too.

Fisher-Price to Recall Nearly 1M Toys

Toy maker Fisher-Price is recalling 83 types of toys - including the popular Big Bird, Elmo, Dora and Diego characters - because their paint contains excessive amounts of lead.

The recall involves 967,000 plastic preschool toys made by a Chinese vendor and sold in the United States between May and August. It is the latest in a wave of recalls that has heightened global concern about the safety of Chinese-made products.

Check out the Consumer Product Safety Commission's website for a complete list of the products in this recall.

Update...

>> Addicts Across America (Prattville, AL)

Come clean and admit you're a Baby Blog Addict! Send your first names, city (optional) and state to editor@babyblogaddict.com.