Baby’s First Beach Trip! 06/29/2010

Are you busting out baby’s first swimsuit this 4th of July? You’ll see a look of sheer amazement on her precious face when her tiny feet touch the sand for the first time. Letting your lil’ one splash in the water encourages sensory discovery so your first trip to the beach can be a great chance to stimulate her curiosity and start exploring. Here are a few tips for making your lil one’s first seaside adventure truly nourishing experience.

Exploration from the comfort of your beach blanket:
There are so many opportunities for discovering new things on your baby’s first beach trip. Start out from the comfort of your beach blanket.

First, let your baby touch everything to get acquainted with the different textures and sensations. She’ll probably be both confused by and fascinated with sand. Let her move at her pace. Start by placing sand on her chubby little leg then hold her and let her gently feel the sand as she pretends to walk. The warm feel of the sand will spark her curiosity.

You can also make a patch of wet sand and explore how the sand turns harder. She may not be able to communicate, but the intrigue in her eyes will let you know that she’s completely engaged.

Once she’s comfy with her beach surroundings you can send daddy to collect seashells and together feel the different ridges and shapes. Look at the beauty in their color together and if you happen upon a sand castle definitely stop by and explore with your little one.

OK let’s get her ready for the ocean! Grab 2 small beach pails. Fill 1 with warm ocean water and 1 with cool bottled water. Show her the different water temperatures by dipping her little fingers from a cup of cool water to a cup of warm water. The sensations will intrigue her and get her ready for more water!

Taking the big dip:
Most parents agree that you should wait until your baby is about 6 months old before exposing her to the ocean. Her delicate immune system is still developing and needs to be protected. To be sure, check with your pediatrician before you head to the beach. Once your baby old enough you can start having so much fun exploring the ocean together.

On your first trip you won’t want to go in too deep. Babies are still developing trust so take things slowly. Sit on the edge of the ocean with your little girl on your lap and just watch and feel the waves together. With each incoming one your baby will begin to giggle as she splashes around. While the two of you are playing, try blowing bubbles on the water’s surface to get her giggling even more! She may not be able to imitate you just yet, but she’ll have a ball and be so curious about these new things going on in the water.

Another fun idea is to tickle her senses with fun floatables. You can bring anything that floats and show her as it bops along the water’s surface.

The new wet sensations will spark her curiosity about that place she only sees on Baby Neptune .

Remember 2 safety things moms & dads-keep track of your tot’s temperature. She could get cold quickly if the water is below 85°F so if she starts to shiver, take her out and towel her off right away and always hold your baby, never let her more than an arm’s length!

Chill beach together time:
After all of your playful beach time your little one will need a nap so cuddle up under your cabana grab your Splash and Giggle Bath Book Water, Water Everywhere and read to your lil one.

There’s still one more chance to introduce her to the wonders of the beach. Listen to the ocean sounds together. The lulling sound of waves coming are a great natural soother. You’ll just watch as she drifts off to sleep so happy after an afternoon of beach adventure.

The information contained on this page is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice.

Our Funny Baby Photo Contest Winners 06/24/2010

Thanks so much for sharing photos of your adorable babies for our Funny Baby Photo Contest. We loved them all! Congrats to our winners Aiden, Jonah and Shaelyn and your proud parents!

We honestly couldn’t stop grinning and giggling at the hilariously awesome moments that you captured so, now, it’s time to pass them along. Sit back and prepare for cuteness overload!

Get Loud! Inspire Baby’s Inner Rock Star 06/21/2010

Remember the joy of banging on pots and pans or the squeak of grass when you blew on it as a kid? Today is World Music Day, so it’s time to make some noise! Making music is an awesome way to play with your baby (and kick start your own creativity by turning almost any household item into an instrument). Here are a few starters:

Shake It Like You Mean It
Have an empty water bottle and some dried beans? Then you can have a maraca in under a minute. Put a handful of beans (you can use rice or small stones as an alternative) in a water bottle and secure the lid tightly so your mischievous lil’ one can get shaking. Introduce your little guy to rhythms by first showing him different shakes and then letting him rock out.

Baby Boomer
Get your little guy behind his first set of drums today. Head into your kitchen, grab an assortment of pots and lids from your kitchen and lay them out on the floor (leave the good stuff behind, though). Grab 2 wooden spoons- one for you, one for baby. Show him how to bang on the pans. He’ll be giggling and banging along as you play with different sounds. Who knows you- may have little drummer boy in the family!

Zany Xylophone
You may remember from science class (or any boring business banquet) that different levels of water in glasses make different notes. Grab 5 glasses with different shapes and sizes. Fill each glass with a different amount of water (but keep it low to prevent spills). Place the glasses in a row and tap your wooden spoon lightly against the glasses to let him hear the different pitches and sounds. Once you’ve engaged his curiosity (and gotten over how cute he looks completely wowed by what he hears), pass him the spoon and start making music together.

Homegrown Harmonica
A comb and a piece of tissue paper can become baby’s first harmonica. Fold a piece of tissue paper over the toothed side of a clean comb, covering the comb as completely as possible. Now hum against the paper (like a kazoo). You should be able to make different sounds and your cutie will be giggling for sure. What’s even more awesome? This instrument can go straight in your bag for music on the go.

Jingle Bells
If you have small bells around and a small length of ribbon (or even an extra shoelace), you’re well on your way to making a set of jingletastic shoes for baby that will make music with every step! String one bell with ribbon and tie to your baby’s shoe. He can dance around and have fun with the music he’s making.

Want to one up baby’s musicality? Play along with our new Baby Einstein Sing and Play CD! to keep baby dancing and get him acquainted with classics like Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes and Old Macdonald. The punk rock can wait til he’s a teenager.

Get more ideas from Baby Einstein fave, Julie Clark.

Dads Need Love, Too 06/18/2010

We know the scenario well: it’s two days before Father’s Day and the last thing you’ve had time to do is run out to buy the big guy in your life something to say thanks for being an awesome dad. But (clichéd or not) the best gifts really do come from the heart, and your hubby will likely get more happiness from a day spent with you than any tool, tie or gizmo you could grab off the rack. We have a few ideas to get you started.

#1. The Great Outdoors
A trip to the park with both your favorite guys (big and little) will be a chance to enjoy quality time together and make new memories (and getting a giggle yourself watching them get dirty exploring). Take it one step further by giving Dad a picnic fit for a king. Capture the day’s adventure with a digital camera and print it out for your hubby as a special momento of the day.

#2. Breakfast in Bed +1
There’s nothing a new dad loves more than baby and bacon! So why not surprise your man with breakfast in bed? Slip away while he’s still snoozin’ and fix his favorite breakfast. Grab baby from his crib and make it a family affair. With nowhere to go just lie back and enjoy bonding (and the bacon!).

#3. Sowing the Seeds of Love
Planting a tree is a great way to spend the day busy outdoors as a family to create something you all can enjoy. As you start work together, explain what you are doing step by step. Let baby feel the textures outside and maybe even get a hand on his first tool (with supervision, of course). You’ll be able to watch the tree grow with your baby and you can always remember Daddy & Me’s first handy man job.

Have an idea you’d love to share with other moms? Tell us at our new Facebook Page!

Happy Father’s Day to all of the new dads out there!