Guest Blogger Spotlight: An NYC Adventure by Glamamom 09/29/2011

Have you ever taken the subway in New York City? Dashed through the turnstile mid-summer, getting clipped by the unforgiving mechanical doors, and squeezing past the cranky rush hour crowd only to realize the guy next to you is gearing up for an accordion concert and the train car has no air conditioning and is making all local stops?

When I first moved to NYC in 1999, despite having grown up just an hour outside of Manhattan, I didn’t know east from west, uptown from downtown. Descending beneath the streets to an underground world of screeching trains, furry inhabitants, and hurried passengers, frightened me to the core.

But alas, I had to get to work and in no time at all I got my “city legs” and the subway became my preferred mode of transportation. For all its smelly chaos, it’s inexpensive, efficient, and boasts some of the best entertainment the City has to offer.

A tried and true New Yorker can navigate mass transit with ease. They know the fastest routes and the most convenient times to travel. They know the exact spot to stand on the platform that coincides with the opening of the train doors and exactly where to get off for the nearest exit. They know where to transfer and connect, and confidently dole out directions to fellow navigators in need.

You could say, I finally got my membership card. I was a bona fide New Yawka!

Ten years later, when my son Sebastian was born, my membership card didn’t free me from that panicky fear of the subway all over again. Just bringing my little bundle of joy outside of our apartment took so much effort. The idea of schlepping him down numerous flights of stairs into the noisy chaos of the subway seemed unmanageable.

This past spring though, Sebastian’s time came– his baptism, if you will, into the most creative, hardworking, and colorful underground community in the world.

We took the F train to Coney Island to the NY Aquarium. He was scared at first but wide-eyed and mesmerized by the comings and goings, the lights and sounds.

I’ll never forget the look of wonderment on his face and how he became more comfortable at every stop, until finally he was smiling and waving at passengers as they hopped on and off. One trip and it was abundantly clear, he’s a native.

Guest blogger Jill Seiman is a city mom in the truest fashion! Between juggling the responsibilities of running her own media company and introducing her son to the wonders of the city, she chronicles her adventures in life, fashion, and motherhood on her blog, Glamamom.

Playground Chatter: Nap Tips and Tricks 09/22/2011

Getting your little one to take a nap can sometimes be a bit tricky. Some babies need to have their special blanket or they may enjoy being cradled in their parent’s arms while listening to soothing music. We recently asked our fans to share with us their tips and tricks for putting their little one down for naps and enjoyed hearing what they had to say.

Kristi said, “Swaddle and put him in his swing. He LOVES that!!”

Leilani suggested, “Rock them to sleep. My grandma and mother did this and so did I!”

Jessica commented, “Routine is my biggest tool! if they expect it the nap is not such a obstacle. Also creating a cool dark environment for nap is important.”

Kristina recommended, “Lie down on the bed/floor give soft quiet toys, lullaby snuggly toys & pretend to sleep, baby will slumber if the time is right.”

Katherine shared, “OLD FASHIONED ROCKING CHAIR…and I rub her eye brows.”

Dawn advised, “I’ve started a routine with my 13 month old twins. I tell them “You’re going to lay down, Mommy’s going to tuck you in, and you’re going to take a nap” or at the end, “you’re going to go night night”. I also find putting them down in the same time frame every day- 11am to noon for their nap and 8 pm for their bedtime. Wearing them out beforehand is also helpful. But, some kids just need to cry it out- That’s how a lot of kids let off excess energy.”

Michelle said, “I play with my daughter’s nose and eyebrows as I sing to her soft country music…works every time.”

Naiomi commented, “I have a stuffed frog that plays music for 10 mins. I tell my son it is night night time, he takes my hand and walks to his room. No crying usually at all. He is almost 15 months.”

Meredith noted, “White noise, especially thunderstorm noises, work wonders for me. I also have lavender in the room, which promotes sleep. If all else fails, the swing always works.”

Ak commented, “Well, I make sure and make morning time an active time, example, play outside, go to park etc…. Then feed him lunch so he’s got a full tummy, maybe some book/quiet time. I’ve also put up some black out curtains, keeps it not too dark, but dark enough to feel cozy. Also, if needed, I bought a noise maker. It plays ocean sounds, rain, heartbeat, & white noise so no outside noise wakes him up. These are helpful, but the one BIG way to get your lil one to nap is getting into a routine & sticking to it. Babies/Toddlers really do better when on a consistent routine. Hope this helps”.

Denise shared, “Grandma lays down with them and pretends like she is asleep and the next thing I know they are asleep”

Stephanie said, “My 20 month old son rarely has a problem going right to sleep in his own bed. If he does have trouble, I give him his favorite stuffed animal (a puppy) and tell him, “shh puppy is tired, he wants to take a nap.” “Will you lay down with puppy?” That always works. I also put some nice music on low. ”

Heather suggested “My best tip is a full tummy and a nice warm bath and off to take a nap my lil girl never turns down a bath she loves it”

Thanks to all our fans for sharing their wonderful stories with us!

Fun Activities for Newborns! 09/15/2011

While your new baby’s activities probably consist mostly of eating and sleeping for the moment, there are lots of fun things you can do to entertain him and help him start to discover the world around him. When baby is awake and calm, you can try introducing him to games that will appeal to his brand new senses. Here are a few activities you can enjoy with your newborn:

Hear
Although baby is too young to be able to hold a rattle on his own, you can still use one to introduce him to the world of sound. While baby is lying down, gently and carefully shake a rattle near one side of his head, outside of his view (don’t get too close to the ears or it may be too loud for him). Stop abruptly, then shake again. Repeat a few times, watching baby’s face to see if he perks up to the sound. If it catches his attention, repeat on the other side. Finally, shake the rattle in front of him so he can see where the sound is coming from.

Touch
For this activity, you will need a few items of varying textures, such as a silky scarf, a piece of velvet, a soft washcloth, and a fuzzy stuffed animal. When baby is in an alert state, take each item, one at a time, and gently rub his arms, legs, and tummy with it. See how he responds to each sensation. If it’s ticklish, he may tense up. If he likes it, he may smile or flutter his eyelids and you’ll know you’ve won his approval!

Smell
Babies have a strong sense of smell and love to discover new “scentsations.” Pick up a few different fruits from your kitchen, such as a banana, sliced orange or lemon, and a peach. Pass each fruit in front of baby’s nose and see how he reacts. Watch his eyes grow wide with wonder as he takes in these aromas for the first time. He may even wrinkle his nose if he doesn’t like what he smells.

See
Tie a string around a few different brightly colored stuffed animals or soft objects. While baby is on his back, hold the string and lower the object down towards him but just out of grasp. Change up the objects. Newborns see objects better close up, so he’ll be fascinated watching as each object gets closer and in focus. In a little while, he’ll start to reach for the objects.

Move
It will be a while before your little one is crawling and getting around on his own, but you can introduce him to motion, such as gentle rocking, and eventually you can try a fun activity we like to call “the slide.” Once baby has become comfortable with tummy time, place him on his belly on a soft blanket, with his arms out in front of him. Kneel gently in front of the blanket and take hold of the edge. Slowly and gently, begin to slide the blanket forward a few inches at a time. Be very careful not to pull the blanket too hard or fast.

If an activity doesn’t seem to interest baby, try again in a week or two. You may be amazed at how your little one’s interests and skills can change in a very short period of time! What activities did your newborn enjoy? Share with us in the comments!

Playground Chatter: Meeting Grandma & Grandpa 09/07/2011

Introducing the little one to grandparents for the first time is a very special experience for many new moms and dads. Watching your baby develop a bond with your own parents can be wonderful and fascinating. We recently asked our fans about the first time their children met their grandparents and enjoyed hearing what they had to say.

Kristy said, “Well my daughters met theirs at minutes old….The first was a preemie in the nicu when they met and it was priceless! My dad’s finger was bigger than her leg! Best priceless picture! The other was in my hospital room when the grandparents brought the big sister in! Priceless first kisses to baby sissy at 11 months old =)”

Kelsey shared, “My parents were in the delivery room with me when I had my daughter(their first grandchild). She was born on my dads birthday too. Now I’m having my second daughter & due around my moms birthday ”

Valerie recalled, “My son was very sick when he was born. He had Transposition of the gReat ateries. He had open heart surgery @ 6 days old. No one was allowed to hold him till he was 8 days old. We almost lost him. I will never forget my parents holding this sick precious baby that they thought they may have to bury. It was a very special moment I will never forget.”

Amanda said, “We live 6 1/2 hours away from my parents and we dont have a car so my son didn’t get to meet my parents until he was about 16 months. But he LOVED my mom, he would just follow her and cling to her all day, and my niece (who lives with my mom) was SO jealous. Lol it was so cute.”

Shasia shared, “Right before my grandpa passed he smile and at my few days old little one and was like that is my baby my granddaughter. And she put up a smile on her face as she sleep and I love that moment.. he passed away a few month after that. I love you grandpa…always”

Kassey remembered, “My mom came to visit my daughter when she was only 4 days old! Stayed a week and helped me more than anyone! My dad hasnt been able to come yet, broke his foot ”

Dana said, “After I gave birth and had my hour of kangaroo care they took my son and me to the room. Just as my mom went to pick him up a nurse started wheeling him from the room to clean him up. She said stop I get him for a minute first.”

Jessica told us, “My mom was with when he came into the world. My dad couldn’t be there for about a week cus of snow. When he was about 3 weeks old he met my dads parents. He was 1 day old when he met my moms parents. He’s very blessed to have 4 grandparents and 4 great grandparents. He is a big fan of my mom- we stop at her house and he searches every room for her if she isn’t in the living room.”

Sara shared, “My father passed away on the 1st of august and was very sick for a long time… So the first meeting was in the hospital when she was 5 days old. Granpoo died when my baby was 7 months old so she won’t remember him, but I’ll share all the stories and the love rest in peace daddy!”

Thanks to all our fans for sharing their wonderful stories with us!

Nursery Tips! 09/01/2011

Are you decorating a nursery room to welcome home your little bundle of joy?

Once you have all your nursery essentials – crib, changing table, dresser, rocking chair, baby monitor, hamper, etc. – now it’s time to have fun putting the room together! Since it can be a bit overwhelming to create the perfect environment for your little one, a check list of must-haves is very helpful in making sure you’ll have everything ready for baby’s arrival. Check out our list of recommended items:

Nightlight
A small nightlight in the room can help comfort baby so it’s not pitch dark. In addition, the extra light can be helpful when you enter to check in on your little one during the night. If baby is sound asleep, you can tiptoe out of the room without having to turn on the light.

Music
Have some soothing sounds on hand to calm baby before naptime. Our Sea Dreams Lullaby Soother attaches to baby’s crib and features 25 minutes of melodies from Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, and nature. It also has a “drift off” feature that will gradually soften the music to gently ease your little one into sleep.

Diaper Pail
You don’t want to have to carry dirty diapers from one room to another, so be sure to have a diapers-only pail next to the changing table. Diaper pails will also help contain unpleasant odors so they don’t escape.

Crib-ons
Toys such as a clip-on mirror can engage and entertain your baby while she is laying in her crib. Our interactive Lights & Melodies Mirror will fascinate her with its changing lights, music and colors, and of course, her own reflection! You might also want to try one of our plush, cuddly Melody Makers. Just clip on and pull the handle to play nature sounds and music. Eventually, baby will start to pull the handle on her own to entertain herself.

Baby Journal
Keeping a journal/notebook in the nursery can help you keep track of your little one’s schedule in the beginning. Record when baby napped or when she was fed. This can help identify and establish patterns and will also alert you to any changes.

Think Outside the Crib
Nursery playtime doesn’t have to be confined to the crib. Keep a few toys at hand in the room to sit on the floor and play with your little one. Baby can enjoy the fun features of our new Caterpillar and Friends Play Gym, a soft floor mat with motion-activated activities. The interactive Around the World Cradling Bouncer is also a fan favorite.

Share your nursery must-have items with us in the comments section below!