Tuesday Tours: What’s Happening on the Web
February 10, 2009 By 8 Comments
Welcome to “Tuesday Tours: What’s Happening on the Web” where I serve as your tour guide and showcase the best contests, freebies, deals, and reads for moms on the web…all in one convenient location.
Contests
Viv’s Cool Mom Reviews is giving away an iPod Touch (the ultimate iPod). Enter before Feb. 13.
Two more opportunities to win See Kai Run shoes! Enter at Our Happy Happenings before Feb. 13 AND at Mogul Baby before Feb. 16.
More iPod Touch fun! Enter to win yours over at To Think Is To Create prior to Feb. 14.
I love Old Navy. How ’bout you? Enter to win a $50 gift card to Old Navy over at There Once Was A Girl before Feb. 14.
Just in time for Valentine’s Day! Win one of two $100 gift cards to ProFlowers over at This Week for Dinner (my new favorite “foodie” blog). Deadline: Feb. 15.
Submit a photo of your messy car to Mom Central’s Moms and Cars Photo Contest and you could win a $50 gift card to Amazon.com. The post went live on 02-02-09 and there are currently no entries so your chances are good. Deadline: Feb. 16.
Talk about a useful giveaway (my favorite kind)! A $50 gift certificate to diapers.com is up for grabs over at Momtrends. Deadline: Feb. 28.
Good Reads
Jennifer James of Mom Bloggers Club does it again! She’s the queen of providing relevant, useful articles about blogging and her most recent one is no exception: 3 Secrets to Successful Mom Blogging.
Being a mom isn’t always easy. In fact, sometimes it’s downright hard (and unbelievably exhausting). Steph {Adventures in Babywearing} tells it like it is in her recent post: Dear Stay At Home Working Mom. And Darcie {Such the Spot} wrote beautifully on the topic this past week as well: Finding Me.
Have you heard all the buzz about Blissdom? You know, the blogging conference that was held in Nashville this past weekend. Read “re-caps” from the event over at Musings of A Housewife.
Yahoo News reports: Body Language Reveals Wealth. Apparently, people with higher socio-economic status are “more rude when conversing with others.”
Ceceila {Ask Baby Kid} answers the question: How can I obtain a blog conference sponsorship?
Need to know how to deliver a baby in an emergency? It’s really simpler than you may think. Read Dr. Dave Hnida’s step-by-step instructions: How To Deliver A Baby In A Library.
Miscellany
Jo-Lynne’s been raving about these Trademark Logo Knit Pants from Aeropostale and I’m tempted to buy a pair for postpartum wear (they’re on-sale for $12.99!). I wish they came in Navy, Black, or Maroon though…
Nightline just aired a great segment about what Unicef, Pampers, and Salma Hayek are doing to fight Tetanus in Africa. It’s only 8 minutes long and is super powerful. It’s especially moving when Salma breastfeeds a malnourished African baby boy.
Applesauce muffins with cream cheese frosting. Mmmm. {Via Marvelous Kiddo}
This just in: Starbucks is going to start selling value meals for $3.95, beginning March 3. Whatdoyathink?
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*** If you have a contest or an announcement that you think might be a good fit for Tuesday Tours, e-mail me at stephanie@metropolitanmama.net.
High-Tech Baby Gadget: Safety 1st’s Video Monitor
February 9, 2009 By 322 Comments
There are many things that I love about our house. The “split floor plan” isn’t one of them.
It seemed like such a great idea when we bought our house pre-baby. We knew we would probably have kids in this house, but we naively thought that it wouldn’t be a big deal to walk down the hall to our slumbering baby (after, of course, he/she slept through the night each and every night without stirring). HA!
Fast-forward several years and we now realize a lot of things. One such thing is how scary it is to have a baby/toddler all the way on the other side of the house. Perhaps that partly explains why our daughter slept in our room until about age one. It just seemed calmer that way, more peaceful.
Now, she’s 2 and in her own room. But we still use a baby monitor every single night. We like the reassurance of knowing that we’ll hear every bump and whimper.
And we like being able to “peek” in on her from time-to-time too, thanks to Safety 1st’s High-Def Digital Color Video Monitor. The monitor currently has a 4 out of 5 star ranking on Amazon.com and is loaded with features including a 1.8″ high-def color screen, a WiFi Friendly Digital 2.4Ghz frequency, and a Battery Conservation Mode.
PROS
This monitor is lightweight, compact, and easy to set-up. The handheld monitor is not bulky and can be easily carried around the house or out in the garage. It truly is wonderful to be able to “see” our daughter rather than just to hear her – it’s nice to know if she’s sitting up or if she bumped her head, etc. And it’s pretty amazing that we can see her at all – since we keep her room pretty dark at night.
CONS
Although the monitor boasts that it is high-def, don’t expect it to look like your favorite HD television shows. The camera works best when it’s up-close and in the light (a crib with a dim light on is probably the ideal scenario). If you want a full-room shot or a shot of your toddler’s twin bed, it still works…but the picture is grainy (in low light) and sonogram-quality (the colors are anything but vibrant).
OVERALL
Now that we own a video monitor, I really wouldn’t want to go back to just the audio style. It’s so convenient to peek in on our daughter from the next room. And I think having a “visual” allows us to avoid walking in and waking her up unnecessarily because we can see if she’s just stirring in her sleep…or if she’s wide awake.
WIN IT! One winner will receive a High-Def Digital Color Video Monitor by Safety 1st ($259.99). To enter, leave a topic-related comment on this post prior toTuesday, February 17 at midnight (Don’t forget to follow the rules…all generic comments like “Enter me!,” “Love it,” and “Cool stuff!” will be disqualified.). * Winner must provide a U.S. mailing address.
*UPDATE* The winner is #163 Damselfly. Congratulations!
Slumber Parties…the early 90′s and now
February 9, 2009 By 100 Comments
I still remember the first slumber party that I hosted at my house. It was my 10th birthday.
I wore my purple shirt and black leggings. Alison and Cynthia and Wendy were there. We had pizza. We watched movies. We drank fizzy root beer floats in plastic cups. We played Girl Talk.
Everything seemed so important back then. The party details. The all-important outfit. The guest list. The pajamas I would wear that night. At 10, I wanted to fit in, but I also wanted to stand out. That – perhaps – is the ultimate paradox of preteen culture.
LittleMissMatched is a company that understands that part of the psyche of tween girls quite well. They sell crazy and creative bedding sets, socks, clothing, and stationary sets…specifically for girls…specifically designed to “stand out.”
LittleMissMatched is especially famous for their zany pajama sets, which are striped, starred, and polka dotted in vibrant colors. And – of course – they never match! The sets are available in sizes 2T-12 and retail for $25-$30. My daughter has the green/purple pair (pictured) and they’re very fun…and cozy and sturdy too!
GIVEAWAY
If you know a girl in the 9-12 age range, then you’ll be excited to hear that LittleMissMatched has offered to give one of you their 96-page Pajama Party In A Box – “an activity book for girls that is a guide to every step of the pajama party process: how to find a theme; how to make your own invitations, party favors, goodie bags, and decorations; what to serve, including fun recipes; plus games and crafts.” And it’s more than just a book. It comes with a stationary set, stickers, scrapbooking paper, an autograph album, and more.
YOUR TURN: Let’s talk about slumber parties! What age is best to begin this practice? What super duper party planning tips do you have? As a parent, do you delight in slumber parties…or dread them?
WIN IT! One winner will receive a Pajama Party In A Box kit ($15.95), courtesy of LittleMissMatched. To enter, leave ANY topic-related comment on this post prior to Tuesday, February 17 at midnight (Don’t forget to follow the rules…all generic comments like “Enter me!,” “Love it,” and “Cool stuff!” will be disqualified.). * Winner must provide a U.S. mailing address.
*UPDATE* The winner is #27 Jayne. Congratulations!
5 More Weeks…and we’ll be witnessing a miracle
February 9, 2009 By 107 Comments
Our baby is due in 5 weeks. Soon – very soon – she will be here in my arms. I’ll be able to look into her eyes and smell that sweet baby scent on the top of her head and soak in the magic of the miracle of life.
I’ve been trying to mentally prepare myself for the birth. The recovery. That state of oblivion and wonder and exhaustion.
In the beginning, I know we might not be sleeping much. Babies, after all, eat throughout the night…and wake up to explore the world. And I’m not one to “schedule” my baby or to “sleep train” or anything like that. In fact, I think it’s sometimes extremely healthy for babies to wake up in the night. It may not be easiest for the parents, but – as is true in so many situations – what is easy is not always best.
That said, we’ll definitely try swaddling our baby in the early weeks and months because swaddling has been proven to help babies sleep longer and to decrease the risk of SIDS. Our firstborn certainly seemed to enjoy the snugness of being wrapped tight in receiving blankets. My husband was our “resident swaddler” because he just had a knack for it. I tried, but somehow my swaddles never seemed as perfect as his.
This time, I’m excited to try the Miracle Blanket, “a revolutionary swaddle blanket” that is designed to:
- Help ease fussiness
- Help prevent facial scratches
- Help babies sleep better on their backs
- Help stop twitches that wake your baby
- Make breastfeeding easier
Plus, the Miracle Blanket uses no buttons, straps, snaps, zippers, or confusing adjustments. It looks about as simple as simple can be. “The Miracle Blanket makes it easy to get the perfect swaddle every time, even in the dark.” That easy part appeals to me.
As does the 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. If you don’t absolutely love it, you can send it back and get a refund…no questions asked.
Available in 12 different colors/patterns, the blankets retail for $29.95.
YOUR TURN: Did you/do you swaddle your baby? Have you tried the Miracle Blanket?
WIN IT! One winner will receive a Miracle Blanket in the color/design of his/her choice. To enter, leave a topic-related comment on this post prior to Tuesday, February 17 at midnight (Don’t forget to follow the rules…all generic comments like “Enter me!,” “Love it,” and “Cool stuff!” will be disqualified.). * Winner must provide a U.S. mailing address.
*UPDATE* The winner is #13 Christine Jensen. Congratulations!
Fevers Are Our Friends…Sometimes
February 8, 2009 By 265 Comments
If you’ve perused my “Favorites” page with all of my favorite blogs and websites, then you know that I’m a huge fan of the Sears family of pediatricians. They’re “naturally-inclined” and not afraid to question the status quo…and they dole out medical advice that I can feel good about taking to heart.
In preparation for this post about the Exergen TemporalScanner, I decided to bring you some basic information about fevers – what is considered a “high fever,” when to call the doctor, etc. – courtesy of the Ask Dr. Sears website:
ARE FEVERS DANGEROUS?
No. Many parents have a misconception that fevers are a bad thing and a sign that there is some serious underlying illness. This simply is not true. Fever is a normal and healthy response of the body to an illness. The body’s immune system releases chemicals that raise the body temperature. This is part of the normal infection-fighting process.
WHAT TEMPERATURE CONSTITUTES A FEVER?
- Normal temperature – 97 to 99 degrees (36 to 37.2 Celcius).
- Low-grade fever – 99 to 100.9 degrees (37.3 to 38.3 Celcius).
- Common fever – 101 to 103.5 degrees (38.4 to 39.7 Celcius).
- High fever – any fever over 103.6 degrees (39.8 Celcius).
WHEN NOT TO WORRY
- Low-grade fevers are generally not serious, are easily treated, and can wait until the morning to be evaluated by your doctor.
- Fevers of 101 to 103 (38.4 to 39.5 Celcius) are also generally not serious and can wait until morning to be evaluated (there are some exceptions…).
- High fevers of 104 (40 Celcius) or higher that quickly come down to 100 or 101 (37.8 to 38.3 Celcius) when treated are also generally not serious and can wait until morning (there are some exceptions…).
WHEN TO PAGE YOUR DOCTOR
- If your infant is 6 weeks or younger, and has a fever of 101 or higher, this is considered a medical emergency.
- Infants age 7 weeks to three months with a fever over 101 warrant an appointment with your doctor within the next several hours.
- If your child of any age is lethargic, irritable, exhibits signs of meningitis, or has a temperature of 104 or higher that won’t come down even after being treated, then you should page your doctor.
To read the full article (it’s a “goodie”), click here.
To take your child’s temperature quickly, painlessly, and comfortably, consider investing in an Exergen TemporalScanner. It’s a “a totally non-invasive system with advanced infrared technology providing maximum ease of use with quick, consistently accurate measurements.” Just swipe the scanner across your little one’s forehead (or your own)…and a temperature will appear in seconds (In fact, this method is so gentle that you could probably take your baby’s temperature in his/her sleep). I just took mine and the display screen promptly told me that my temp is 98 degrees. I expect that the temperature is correct since the scanner has been proven to be more accurate than ear thermometers by a Harvard Medical School Study.
The scanners retail for between $30-$50 (depending on where you shop) and are available at Walmart, Babies R Us, Costco, and other big box shops.
WIN IT! One winner will receive an Exergen TemporalScanner. To enter, leave a topic-related comment on this post prior to Monday, February 16 at midnight (Don’t forget to follow the rules…all generic comments like “Enter me!,” “Love it,” and “Cool stuff!” will be disqualified.). * Winner must provide a U.S. mailing address.
*UPDATE* The winner is #148 Bess. Congratulations!
Natural Cold Remedies for Kids
February 8, 2009 By 295 Comments
Coughy. Stuffy. Sneezy. Wheezy.
What do you do when one of your little munchkins gets a cold?
Before turning to medications (which we have *never* administered to our 2-year-old daughter and which we rarely use ourselves), I always try to think of home remedies first.
Dr. Alan Greene, one of my favorite “celebrity” physicians and author of the incredible book Raising Baby Green, has an excellent article entitled Alternatives to Cold Medicines on his website.
I especially appreciated this quote: “It’s worth remembering that what we think of as cold symptoms are mostly tools the body uses to get rid of the virus. A low-grade fever…activates our immune system. Congestion is the dilation of blood vessels, bringing needed supplies to the scene of the battle. Coughing and sneezing forcefully eject the virus from the body. Fatigue helps you get the rest you need to heal. The goal of any treatment is to gently do what it takes to make a child comfortable while the body does its healing work.“
In essence, our bodies take good care of us. We don’t need to immediately turn to cough syrup. In fact, Dr. Greene doesn’t recommend over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for kids under age 6.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has a similar stance: “The AAP strongly recommends that over-the-counter cough and cold medications not be given to infants and children younger than 2 years because of the risk of life-threatening side effects. Also, several studies show that cold and cough products don’t work in children younger than 6 years and can have potentially serious side effects.“
Greene recommends Vitamin C, plenty of rest, and humidified air as three great ways to treat colds…naturally.
Vicks offers a wide variety of humidifiers for you to choose from if you decide to use humidified air as a remedy.
We have the Vicks GermFree Humidifier (which has a 4 1/2 star rating on Amazon.com and retails for $99.99). It features a pure sanitized warm mist that kills up to 99.999% germs, mold, and bacteria in the water, plus 2 tanks for easy filling and longer run times. Vicks actually has a total of 6 humidifiers to choose from. Fortunately, we haven’t had to use ours yet (we’re all pretty healthy around here), but I will definitely turn to it next time we get the “ah-choos” or the “runnies” in our house.
Vicks also sells a wide variety of thermometers and vaporizers.
WIN IT! There will be three winners. Each winner will receive one Vicks SpeedRead Thermometer (~$7.99) and THREE Vicks Soothing Vapors Plug-In Waterless Vaporizer and Nightlights (~$5.99 each). To enter, leave a comment on this post prior to Monday, February 16 at midnight (Don’t forget to follow the rules…all generic comments like “Enter me!,” “Love it,” and “Cool stuff!” will be disqualified.). * Winner must provide a U.S. mailing address.
*UPDATE* The winners are #148 Elizabeth Crawley, #138 Monique Rizzo, and #288 Esther. Congratulations!
