Fabulous Baby Rocker

Check out this fabulous baby rocker! One of the top ten computer programs ever developed .... by parents, of course.

SIGG Bottles Contained Bisphenol-A

Children's bottle maker SIGG has admitted that the epoxy lining used for years in SIGG bottles - which they secretly swapped out for a new liner last summer - contained the hormone-disrupting chemical bisphenol-A.
Parents all over the world, advocates of their supposed high quality bottles, are very annoyed with the news.
Bottles purchased before August 2008 contained the old BPA liner.
For more information click here.

Recycled Diaper Dude Bag!

This diaper bag is super cool. It is made from 100% recycled water bottles.
Very interesting concept, and beautiful! Useful design with several pockets, including insulated compartment for a bottle, and a changing pad. The designer claims it is for dudes, but it looks pretty good for moms too! Click here for more information

New Studies about Babies' Intelligence

Children under the age of 5 have a different learning process, and we tend to mislead their experiences by using our perspective as adults.
"Babies are captivated by the most unexpected events. Adults, on the other hand, focus on the outcomes that are the most relevant to their goals."
From the New York Times, this article emphasizes how babies can learn by exploring and observing the people around them.
Click here to read the full article

Focus on Bad Behavior...Big Mistake

Being a parent involves tasks we are not always prepared for. Discipline is a hot issue! Doing it right can make a big difference in both kids and parents' lives.

I've always being against yelling and spanking. Conversation and positive reinforcement are big components of my personal discipline book. It takes longer but is well worth it! However, I do respect the fact that parents have their own beliefs and choices.

There is a good article published by the New York Times in 2008 about effective discipline. "Many parents’ discipline methods don’t work because children quickly learn that it’s much easier to capture a parent’s attention with bad behavior than with good. Parents unwittingly reinforce this by getting on the phone, sending e-mail messages or reading the paper as soon as a child starts playing quietly, and by stopping the activity and scolding a child when he starts to misbehave." Click here to read the full article.

A Corn PDA.... Cool Momma Phone!

Sprint and Samsumg have just launched a green phone, a simplified version of a green Blackberry. Very nice initiative, considering how often people replace their phones. Unfortunately just a small percentage of old phones are recycled, and most of them end up in the landfill for decades.

It is a nice looking phone with several cool applications such as heavy e-mail and texting, and access to Facebook and Twitter. Sprint said $2 of every phone sale goes to the Nature Conservancy.

Check out this link for more information

Is My Baby Weird?

This morning msn.com published a great article about child development. So many parents, including me, are always analyzing their kids’ behavior, and are often concerned about what is normal and what is not.

Chances are, he or she is just unique….

I was pleasantly surprised that my kid’s obsession with electrical cords and electronic equipments is quite a standard. The link is posted below. Check it out!

Is my Baby Weird

Eco Party....Little Things We Can Do

There are many little things we can do to teach kids the art of “eco-friendliness”. We can also inspire other parents by encouraging them to be conscious about not wasting unnecessary resources.

Have you thought about making your next dinner or birthday party a bit more eco-friendly? There are several choices you can make, without being overboard! From reusable plates and cups to recycled-paper decoration and napkins. There are very classy options available in the market.

You don’t need to make the Ecology your party theme, but some hints here and there will set the tone and do great for mother Earth. It is nice to be conscious and responsible while we are having fun!

Registering for your bridal or baby shower at eco-friendly boutiques, sending recycled-paper invitations and thank you notes are also great touches! It is all about creativity, respect and fun!

Little Things, huge Impact

Little things can have a huge impact on growing kids, affecting their psychological, cognitive and social developments.

Kids tend to imitate their parents all the time, and this dynamic plays a big role in their development. What is familiar, weird, right, wrong, acceptable, impolite, etc, will be a reflection of their frame of references.

Even little things such as how our attitude fluctuates with our emotions, can affect a child’s behavior. If you are mad and tries to control your kid by raising your voice (yelling), it can be interpreted in their little minds as an effective way to intimidate and control others.

Cognitive development can also be hugely improved by parents and childcare providers with proper stimulation. The word “Cognitive” comes from the Latin root “cognoscere” meaning “to become acquainted with”, “to come to know”. Talking to them, explaining the reasoning behind actions, situations and problems can help them understand the world, and learn the “cause and effect” rule. Allowing kids to communicate their points of view brings confidence and develops their thought process.

This is our golden opportunity to maximize their development, taking it to the best possible direction!