Eco-Clothes for Tots: Sprout
Friday, February 15, 2008
Want eco-friendly clothes for your growing toddler? Sprout Kids Clothing are made with 70% bamboo and 30% organic cotton.
We love this tee for tots. So cute!
Labels: babies, must-haves baby, toddlers
posted by Jennifer James @ 8:17 AM,
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Children and Cholesterol Screening
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia says children as young as two should get annual screenings for high cholesterol because the risk for heart disease can start in young bodies even if children are not overweight.If a child has a family history of high cholesterol, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia recommends children undergo a cholesterol profile after overnight fasting.
"Although the most common reasons for high cholesterol are poor diet, being overweight, and not getting enough exercise, some apparently healthy children inherit high cholesterol levels from their parents," said Julie Brothers, M.D., medical director of the Lipid Heart Clinic at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "Overall, we’ve noticed an increase in children’s cholesterol levels the past several years and this is a disturbing trend."
More physical activity coupled with a nutritious diet can lead to lower cholesterol levels in both children and adults. It is imperative to get any high cholesterol under control in order to avoid early heart disease and heart injury.
Labels: babies, baby health, toddler health, toddlers
posted by Jennifer James @ 7:50 AM,
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New Finds at Giggle.com
Friday, January 25, 2008
We love these plush, whimsical toys for tots from Giggle. Retails for $14.00
Two-Dees Dog
Labels: babies, toddlers, toys
posted by Jennifer James @ 12:17 PM,
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Political Tees for Babies, Kids
Monday, January 14, 2008
We love these political tees for tikes from Babesta.com! If you're looking for off-beat, hip clothes for your kids be sure to keep Babesta.com on your lists on online favorites.
We are blatantly pro-Barack Obama here. And now that BET founder Bob Johnson spewed hate towards Barack over the weekend, we're even more in his corner. Now, your kids can be, too.
Barack Obama tee or onesie$20.00
If you love Hillary, you're in luck, too. Your kids can don a Hillary Clinton for President as well. This tee also retails for $20.00.
posted by Jennifer James @ 7:40 AM,
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Secure Attachment Can Prevent Nightmares in Preschoolers
Friday, January 11, 2008
Do you have a child who has frequent nightmares and restless sleep? Chances are she showed signs of restlessness and uncontrollable crying as early as five months old. Researchers have defined a link between preschoolers who have nightmares and their temperament during infancy. Canadian researchers followed 987 children from infancy to 6 years. Most of the children had an occasional nightmare, but those who had nightmares more frequently were considered "anxious" or difficult babies by their mothers."In this study, "bad dreams" as early as the age of 2.5 were predicted by signs of anxiety at the ages of 5 months and 17 months, explained Dr. Tore Nielsen, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Montreal."
This study raises the age-old advice to calm crying babies to make them feel more secure and bonded with their caregiver. Nielsen suggests forging an early bonding atmosphere of "secure" attachment during infancy.Labels: babies, sleep, toddlers
posted by Jennifer James @ 9:39 AM,
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Backyardigans Mania
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
If you have a little one who loves The Backyardigans they will definitely love the coming weeks and months because Nickeoldeon is rolling out a CD, a T.V. movie and a national live 50-city tour that begins in March. Here's the rundown:"Tale of the Mighty Knights," premiering Monday, Jan. 14 (7 p.m. - 8 p.m. ET/PT
In "Tale of the Mighty Knights," royal knights Uniqua and Tyrone are ready to do mighty deeds in service to their King (Pablo). It seems like a pretty simple task until the King asks them to babysit an egg, which grows legs and runs away! A rock opera soundtrack moves the action along as the knights pursue their egg in Goblin Land and encounter a grabbing goblin (Austin), through Fairyland where they meet a tiny and mischievous fairy (Tasha), and finally to Dragon Mountain where they face a mighty baby dragon (Adam Pascal). Will the knights conquer their greatest challenge yet?Backyardigans Live! Tale of the Mighty Knights: Starting March 28, 2008
During Backyardigans Live!, Pablo, Uniqua, Tasha, Tyrone and Austin will need the audience's help as they face a mighty dragon and return the egg to the king. The stage show will have the entire family singing, dancing and laughing along to songs from the rock opera.
Other scheduled tour stops include: New York, NY; Boston, Massachusetts; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Baltimore, Maryland; Camden, New Jersey; Atlanta, Georgia; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Tampa, Florida, San Antonio, Texas; and Houston, Texas. For schedule information visit www.nickjr.com.
The Backyardigans: Born to Play CD
On Tuesday, Jan. 22, Nickelodeon and Sony BMG release the ultimate playtime playlist as The Backyardigans: Born to Play CD hits retailers nationwide. The third CD from the hit series features 22 new tracks, including six songs from "Tale of the Mighty Knights." Joining the backyard gang in the studio are celebrity guest artists Alicia Keys, Cyndi Lauper and Adam Pascal. Alicia Keys lends her unique R&B vocals on "Almost Everything is Boinga." Cyndi Lauper reminds us to think pink on the jazz-tinged "Lady in Pink," and Adam Pascal powers the Zepellinesque rock-opera ballad "Not an Egg."
The Backyardigans airs regularly weekdays at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET/PT on Nick Jr.
(Source)
Labels: kids, kids entertainment, toddlers
posted by Jennifer James @ 7:16 AM,
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You Heard It Here First: Pacimals
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Tons of press releases find their way into our inboxes, but rarely do we click right over and then immediately request the product.Pacimals is one of the cutest baby products we've seen in a long time! Pacimals are pacifiers with stuffed animals attached so babies and toddlers can better hold them and keep their pacifier in.
We haven't received our sample yet, but did receive a postcard saying samples will be sent out later this month.
In the meantime, we couldn't hold in this secret much longer.When we receive our sample we'll post a review right away. But we know we're going to love them and so will you. Pacimals come in five adorable animals with three more coming soon.
On the Net: www.pacimals.com
Labels: babies, toddlers, toys
posted by Jennifer James @ 10:45 AM,
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Turn TV Off to Teach Toddlers New Words
Thursday, December 27, 2007
When it comes to toddlers learning new words they learn best from people, not Teletubbies.Research consistently shows children under the age of two do not acquire new and more language skills via television programming, even though there are a new host of educational shows and networks targeted to the wee generation.
Marina Krcmar, associate professor of communication at Wake Forest University says, "With the tremendous success of programs such as 'Teletubbies' that target very young children, it has become important to understand what very young children are taking away from these programs," Krcmar said. "We would like to think it could work, that Teletubbies and other programs can teach initial language skills. That is not true."
For optimal language acquisition toddlers must be in active engagement with a language teacher --you, the parent -- every day by talking, doing everyday activities together, and through reading on a daily basis.
"During the early stages of language acquisition, and for children who still have fewer than 50-word vocabularies, toddlers learn more from an adult speaker than they do from a program such as ''Teletubbies,'' Krcmar said.
Did you know: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no television for children under 2?
Labels: education, toddlers, TV
posted by Jennifer James @ 8:55 AM,
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Rounding Out the Weekend: Wooden Toys To Swoon Over
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Pastel Toys -- Elephant
With all the toy recalls this year you cannot go wrong choosing wooden toys for your children. We recommend Pastel Toys from giggle because they have movable wheels, come in four animal choices -- horse, elephant, dinosaur and giraffe -- are colored with milk paint for extra safety, and are quite adorable.
Plus, each Pastel Toy is handcrafted by disabled adults and all proceeds go to sustain their non-profit community. It's a win-win for everyone!
posted by Jennifer James @ 5:57 PM,
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Are You Making Your Toddler Fearful?
Thursday, December 20, 2007
A new study out of Switzerland reports maternal modeling may be relevant to the development of children's fearful reactions. Swiss researchers showed 71 toddlers either a plastic spider or snake and either a plastic flower or mushroom and their mothers were told to give a negative or positive expression to whichever object their child was shown. After a one to ten minute delay, when the child was shown the same object again, their mothers were told to make a neutral expression. Invariably, the toddlers all showed fear to the object their mother showed fear toward initially even if the object was a
flower or mushroom. The researchers concluded that toddlers pick up and mimic their mother's reactions to fearful stimuli, regardless of what it is. It's widely understood that our children, especially our babies and toddlers, learn everything about the world through us. Have you noticed your baby or toddler react to situations just the way you would?
Don't forget we're giving away two Lands' End diaper bags. Click here to enter.
Labels: babies, breaking research, toddlers
posted by Jennifer James @ 12:55 AM,
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Miss Lori's Campus
Friday, December 07, 2007
If you have little ones who are big fans of PBS Kids, then no doubt they have come to love Miss Lori and her sidekick Hooper. Lori Holton Nash was recently bestowed the honor of becoming the first host of PBS Kids and now she has another wonderful addition to add to her list of accomplishments: Miss Lori's Campus: Music 'n Movement Together.Miss Lori's Campus: Music 'n Movement Together is
an addictive (really, it is) compilation of children's songs that will get your toddler up and moving to the beat of the music and dancing to the beautiful music that Miss Lori makes. Miss Lori's Campus encourages kids to be active, sing along, and dance through sixteen songs that teach colors and snippets of foreign languages and also helps young kids use and expand their imaginations. And for the final song, Miss Lori winds down the up-beat CD with "Goodbye Lullaby", which nearly put us to sleep and will definitely get your little one primed for a nap.Where to buy: Wal-Mart. Retails for $9.88.
Labels: babies, entertainment, toddlers
posted by Jennifer James @ 10:48 AM,
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Wallsy Tales for Your Baby's Nursery
Monday, December 03, 2007
It's great to be living in a time when you can decorate an entire baby's nursery without paint, a hammer, wallpaper, or an expensive muralist. These days you can put up ine
xpensive Wallsy Tales in minutes and they won't even leave residue on your walls.Wallsy Tales are extra large 3-D characters that stick right on a baby's bedroom wall. Dan Dalion stands three feet tall. Each Wallsy Tales theme covers 30 square feet of wall coverage. The characters are also completely movable, even when they've already been placed allowing you to modify the theme as often as you'd like. The entire zoo theme retails for $159.99 and is available on ToysRUs.com. Each theme also comes with a free storybook that you can read to your child about the characters on their wall.
Labels: babies, must-haves, toddlers
posted by Jennifer James @ 3:44 AM,
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My Mommy's Tote
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Your toddler will love playing "mommy" with My Mommy's Tote. Inside of the whimsical, make-believe tote is everything a mother uses on a daily basis and all the things children wish they could get their little hands on. Your child will be able to engage in interactive play with a pretend laptop, pint-sized calendar, keys, credit card and pen, among many other items. Made of heavy cardboard, My Mommy's Tote is very durable and each page flips out to reveal a brand new surprise about a mom's busy life that your child can use to imitate your day-to-day mommy lifestyle. In addition to the above items, there is also a dry-erase board with a marker inside that kids will love to draw on, along with interactive tools to help your child learn their numbers and letters while pretending to be mommy.
A bit of a warning, though: If you have more than one child be sure to buy multiple My Mommy's Totes because all of your children will want to get their hands on their own. Buy My Mommy's Tote on Amazon.com.
Also Available
My Granny's Purse
My Grandpa's Briefcase
Labels: education, must-haves, toddlers
posted by Jennifer James @ 6:43 AM,
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Do You Have a Little Biter?
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
I'm lucky. Neither of our daughters were biters. Well, I take that back. Both of them tried to bite me when they were still breastfeeding, but you know what? Mama don't play that! They learned early on not to bite with a tiny pat on their diapered heinies. But biting for some preschoolers is a phase they acquire and eventually grow out of, but poses monumental problems for parents, especially when their little mini-munchers like to take bites out of other kids and adults.
No Biting, Louise
(Harper Collins Children), a cute tale about a dinosaur who likes to bite everyone, is an excellent teaching tool for parents to help children understand that biting is not acceptable. With a heart warming, gross (kids will love it) ending, children who bite will see that, like Louise, they do not need to hurt others by biting, but biting into food only will suffice.Click here to learn more about the author, Margie Palatini, and the illustrator, Matthew Reinhart/
Labels: biting, books, preschoolers, toddlers
posted by Jennifer James @ 5:55 PM,
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The Only Baby and Toddler Book You'll Ever Need
Thursday, August 30, 2007
In my time as editor of MommyToo.com I have seen my fair share of baby and toddler books, but none of them compare to I'm a Mom! Now What?I'm a Mom! is packed with every parenting tidbit and morsel of information you will ever need to properly care for your baby. Additionally, every single developmental stage for your baby is laid out in minute detail with recommendations, advice and assurances for some of the smaller things that new parents tend to fret over, but are all a part of a child growing up.
Boasting over three hundred pages with an easy-to-use table of contents page, thorough index, how-to photographs, and color coded informational charts, you will turn to I'm a Mom over and over again for all the advice you'll need to raise a happy, healthy baby and remain sane in the meantime.
Click here to buy I'm a Mom! Now What?
Labels: babies, books, toddlers
posted by Jennifer James @ 4:04 PM,
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The Latest Maisy Tale
Saturday, August 25, 2007
I cannot tell you enough how much I love Candlewick Press. They are a children's book publisher that really knows and understands children and what they enjoy in a book. Their books, everything from board books to teen novels, are quite simply phenomenal. They are a world class children's book publisher in my opinion. You should check them out.Candlewick has a brand new Maisy book out, Maisy Big, Maisy Small: A Book of Maisy Opposites, just for children between the ages of two and five. The vivid colors and simplistic, yet lovable illustrations make reading Maisy books a complete joy for parents and children alike. And, the writing allows beginning readers to gain a valuable sense of accomplishment long after they have put a Maisy book down.
Maisy Big, Maisy Small will help your young child grasp opposites in an enjoyable way, while they also learn and read key vocabulary words. Maisy Big, Masiy Small retails for $15.99.
Buy Maisy Big, Maisy Small (Maisy)
posted by Jennifer James @ 4:20 PM,
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Television and the Under Two Set
Friday, February 23, 2007
These days I watch television and so do my children, who are eight and six. But when they were babies and toddlers, there wasn't a sole television in our house. My husband and I just weren't having it. There was -- and is, for that matter -- to much garbage and sexually suggestive stuff on television, even in commercials. I couldn't take it and as a sensitive mom of little ones, I refused to let my girls take in mindless entertainment. That was years ago, now there are whole television channels devoted to "teaching" the under two set everything from shapes and colors to letters and numbers.This article, Diaper Demographic, which ran in the Washington Post this week dissects these channels whose sole market are children two and under. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has long recommended that children under the age of two not watch television at all. And researchers from Harvard have said when babies watch television, there is typically no parent interaction going on, so what's the point? On the other hand, some psychiatrists have claimed television does no harm to children and watching the tube can indeed help them learn.
So, bottom line, is it safe to let your babies and toddlers watch television? Ultimately, it's your call as a parent. I happen to agree with the AAP. In my opinion, TV is simply unnecessary for children this young. What do you think?
Labels: babies, education, health, toddlers, TV
posted by Jennifer James @ 10:45 AM,
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