How to Protect Baby's Hearing

Just after birth, your baby's ears should be in almost perfect working order. But in some cases they're not, and that's why experts say we should listen up from the very beginning. If your baby has undiagnosed hearing loss, it can trip up his speech development and lead to later struggles in school if, for example, he can't hear a teacher's voice above the buzz of classroom activity.

In this article, learn more about spotting problems and helping your baby's hearing.

Tweens and Eating Issues

Eating disorders are dangerous at any age, but when one isn't recognized in a child, or when treatment comes too late, the effects can be catastrophic. Children have a lower percentage of body fat, which means they get much sicker much faster than adolescents and adults. And because their bodies and brains are still developing, the most severe cases can permanently affect their development -- limiting growth potential, damaging vital organs (particularly the heart, kidneys, and brain) -- even when the eating disorder is eventually successfully treated.

Read the full article.

www.MyOrganizedChaos.net

New review and giveaway for Atterdag Kids post at www.MyOrganizedChaos.net.

Bedrooms Built for Two

Whether you need to save space or just want to promote sibling bonding, shared bedrooms are sure to see lots of late-night giggle sessions, secret jokes -- okay -- even the occasional tiff. But, as Winnie the Pooh told Piglet, "It's so much friendlier with two."

This slideshow provides several ideas of how to set up Bedrooms Built for Two!

Kissy Kissy Ba Ba Sheep

Kissy Kissy Ba Ba Sheep collection has been posted and is available at Atterdag Kids website.

9 Sure-Fire Ways To Fight the Summer Reading Slump

Are you aware of that kids can lose an upward of three month's worth of reading progress during this summer break? The famous "summer reading slide" is well documented and shows that learning declines in all kids during these lazy, crazy days, but especially in reading. Kent State education professor, Timothy Rasinski , points out that this can mean a loss of one-and-a-half years of reading achievement through the sixth grade!

But don't despair. The reverse is also possible. Reading just a few books before school starts can save kids from the summer reading loss. Studies also show that parents play a crucial role particularly on their older kids' reading attitudes and behaviors, as well as helping to find the right book to capture their interest.

Read the full article.

Learning Letters, Numbers and Colors

Toddlers are eternally curious about the world around them -- wanting to touch, play with and ask questions about everything they see. How can parents to channel this boundless inquisitiveness into learning? Of course, toddlers don't need to be subjected to structured learning at such a young age. But with a little mindfulness, you can teach your youngster how to begin to recognize letters, numbers and colors in the course of everyday play.

Here, the parents of iVillage - the #1 gathering place for parents online - share their tips for teaching toddlers in a relaxed, fun way.

Your Complete Guide to Playdates

Kids like to hang out with their pals. Parents need a break. Hello, playdates! If things go well, they can be a blast for everyone. They're also one of the key ways your child learns how to get along with others.

This article presents tips for both hosts and guests, to get your protocol down pat.

Recession uproots families, takes toll on children

Like the Great Depression, this economic downturn is wrenching lives out of shape.

But unlike 90 years ago, hunger isn't the main problem, and neither is the kind of homelessness that sent thousands of middle-class Americans into tent cities during the Depression. This time the toll is far less obvious: children are grappling with more stress at home, and low-income families, already highly mobile, are being forced to pull up stakes and move more often.

Educators and demographers say frequent moves can lower school performance and increase chances that students will drop out of school. It also makes it more difficult to provide appropriate resources to children who have learning disabilities and behavioral issues.

Read the full article....

What to Eat for Your Growing Baby

The foods you eat during pregnancy can boost your baby's health and help keep you in tip-top shape through your delivery day. Read on about why these nine super-mama foods made our list (some may surprise you). Plus, learn easy ways to incorporate them into your diet -- we've got you covered for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

When Grandparents Provide Childcare

Grandparents are more than just babysitters. They spend many hours with their grandchildren each week. They’ve gotten to know these children very well. And they have become guiding forces in their grandchildren’s lives. These grandparents aren’t technically raising their grandchildren, but they are doing important work. They are passing on family traditions, serving as trusted role models, and helping to nurture a whole generation of children.
Read the full article....

Brilliant Decorating Tips on a Budget

We all love our kids, but who wants to spend a lot of money on decor that's going to get drooled on, chewed on, sneezed on, and who knows what else? Luckily Cookie Magazine's readers shared these genius tips for kid-friendly decorating on the cheap—or free!

Read on!

New Blog Review of Atterdag Kids

My Moms View.com Review

New Lines by Kissy Kissy Premier at Atterdag Kids

Kissy Kissy Premier newest lines, Garden Butterflies are now available to preview or purchase at AtterdagKids.com. Kissy Kissy's lines are made with high quality, 100% Soft Pima Cotton, and each piece is comfortable, stylish and sure to please anyone who receives or wears them.Kissy Kissy Premier Garden Butterflies is 100% Pima Cotton.

Kissy Kissy - Fall Gardener – at AtterdagKids

Kissy Kissy newest lines, Fall Gardener are now available to preview or purchase at AtterdagKids.com. The latest lines feature exciting and fun prints made from high quality 100% pima cotton.

Pixie Lily Designer Clothing at Atterdag Kids

At Atterdag Kids we feature Designer Baby Clothes from the latest top designers like Pixie Lily. Pixie Lily provides the ultimate in high-end and luxury baby clothing. The heirloom quality layette line is a favorite of celebrities and babies alike. Classic Designs use the softest 100% Pima Cotton and are finished with signature hand-made details.

Am I Nuts? Understanding Your Pregnancy Emotions

Between soaring hormone levels and the enormous physical and emotional changes we go through when we're pregnant, it's no wonder that during pregnancy, we find ourselves sobbing, laughing, and forgetting our own name -- sometimes all within a few minutes.

In this article, find out more what to expect.

Developmental milestones for your toddler

A toddler's newly learned skills such as walking, running and climbing may make for a much more adventurous child. At the same time, your child's new awareness of the consequences of independence can result in bouts of separation anxiety.

During these months, developmental milestones vary widely. Unless your child lags in several areas or is more than a few months behind in any one area, there is little need for concern. Keep in mind that a child born prematurely may reach milestones slightly later than a child who was born full-term. By age two, both the premature child and the full-term child will even out developmentally. Beside several delayed milestone achievements, signs that a parent should be concerned might include a toddler who is often irritable, seldom smiles or makes few or no sounds.

Read the full article....

Is sass from kids of all ages out of control?

I walked into the dining room one night and asked a cheery and simple question of my seemingly well-rested 9-year-old as she sat at the table.
"Whatcha reading?" "A book," she sneered, not bothering to look up.

While people who know me might not be all that surprised by my child's capacity for a little lip, my husband's sweeter nature usually prevails. But neither of us had anticipated a teenager-y sass factor so early.

Were we the only ones with a wonderful but sometimes sassy kid? When did it begin? And most importantly, how do we make it stop while navigating that space between developmentally natural and vein-popping, consequence-inducing out of line?

As I set out in search of its origins, I quickly realized that sass wasn't just our problem. It's all around us, in toddlers to teens. And it seems to be wrapped up in the debate on helicopter parenting, aka overparenting, and what appears to be an overindulgence of an entire generation.

Read the full article.....

Boys vs. Girls: Who's Harder to Raise

I often say that I spend more time and energy on my one boy than on my three girls. Other mothers of boys are quick to say the same. Not so fast, say moms of girls, who point out that they have to contend with fussier fashion sense, more prickly social navigations, and a far greater capacity to hold a grudge. And as a daughter grows, a parent's concerns range from body image to math bias.

Stereotyping, or large kernels of truth? Read on.

Gardening With Kids

For most budding imaginations, gardens are magical places. And if you keep yours simple and choose hardy, quick-growing varietals, it can become an airy classroom. Gardening teaches kids patience, as well as where fresh food comes from. Watching tiny radishes, a bright tangle of morning glories, or an oversize pumpkin grow from a handful of seeds is thrilling to even the most indoor-centered child. Most important, early enthusiasm for plants can translate to environmental stewardship in adulthood.
Read the full article...

New Blog Reviews of Atterdag Kids Products

The Mommy Files Blog Review

Thrifty & Chic Mom Blog Review

Amazon Dream Baby Registry Sweepstakes

Enter to win a dream baby registry valued at over $3,000 in apparel, feeding, gear and nursery products from top-name baby brands like Britax, Fisher Price, Graco, Quinny, Maxi Cosi and Skip Hop, including a one year supply of Huggies Supreme diapers!

One Amazon Dream Registry Sweepstakes winner will be selected each month from May through December for up to eight chances to win.

It’s easy to participate - you simply need to create an Amazon Baby Registry and add 10 items to be automatically entered into the sweepstakes. The sooner your readers create their baby registries, the more chances to win! NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Drawings monthly. Ends 12/31/09.

For more info or to participate, click here.

Ten Smart Snacks for Moms and Kids

Making healthy snack choices for you and your kids can be the toughest food decisions you'll make all day. We asked Tanya Zuckerbrot, M.S., R.D., author of The F-Factor Diet: Discover the Secret to Permanent Weight Loss and founder of the nutrition and lifestyle website SkinnyAndTheCity.com, for her favorite nutritious snacks.

Here, the mom of three shares 10 delicious recipes for fiber-and protein-rich snacks that will keep you and your little ones full without any of the junk

Must-Read Tips for Your First Week with Baby

I'd done the necessary prep work for my baby's arrival. But all that stuff is fluff when it comes to making it through the maiden days of motherhood. That's when you need to master new skills that you can't prepare for or practice until your baby arrives, like breastfeeding, soothing a crying child, surviving on no sleep, and tackling other areas of uncharted territory. To help you ease into your first week, we've asked experts and moms who've been there how to handle the most common challenges.
Read the full article.

Made for Moms

Calling all dads and kids! Mother’s Day is approaching. These fun and creative ideas from Parents.com are sure to please any mom who receives them.

View the ideas by clicking here.

Baby Clothes – New Kissy Kissy Line at Atterdag Kids

Check out the most recent addition to our selection of high quality, trendy clothing for babies and children. Kissy Kissy Star Spangled Line of baby clothes. Check it out at www.atterdagkids.com

Michelle Obama: Her First 100 Days as Mom-in-Chief

While President Obama reaches his historic milestone, Michelle celebrates her big day, too! From vegetable gardening to rubbing elbows with the Queen, the last few months have been a whirlwind of White House activities for the first lady.

Here’s a peek at a few of Mrs. O’s achievements.

The Best Children's Audio-Books

Let's face it: You can't always find the time to read to your kids. So why not let Meryl Streep do it? Or Jeremy Irons? More and more children's titles are getting the audiobook treatment, providing perfectly edifying ways to pass time on car or plane trips (or even just while you clean out the basement). You can purchase this literary ear candy in the form of CD box sets or via download (many are available on iTunes, and nearly all can be found at Audible.com, a subscription service that allows one or two audiobook downloads per month with payment of a membership fee).

In this article, listed by age group, are 15 examples of excellence of execution in the audiobook medium.

Baby at the buzzer: Older couples race against their biological clocks to start families

Kim Harper started a career before starting a family. After graduating from Michigan State University in 1990, she traveled, earned a law degree and began working as an attorney. When Harper married in 2006, she and her husband, Jeff, hoped a baby would soon follow. A year passed; no baby.

Like many women who marry later in life, Harper didn't think much about her fertility until she'd reached the age at which many doctors warn that healthy pregnancies don't come easily.
In fact. the statistics might surprise some women.

Read the full article....

AtterdagKids.com Announces Brand New Kissy Kissy Lines Are Now Available For Preview and Purchase

AtterdagKids.com, an online retailer of high quality designer baby clothes and accessories, today announced that it has recently added the latest lines from leading children’s clothing designer Kissy Kissy to its web site. The new lines, Hot Air Ballons, Dolphins, Le Papillion and Organic Flower are immediately available to preview or purchase at AtterdagKids.com.

Alll of Kissy Kissy’s lines are perfect to stylishly outfit your favorite child, and the adorable, soft prints are perfect for the summer season. Kissy Kissy’s lines are made with high quality, 100% Soft Pima Cotton, and each piece is comfortable, stylish and sure to please anyone who receives or wears them.

Click here to view the latest lines!

Recreate Celebrity Mom Style

Love them or hate them, celebs know how to dress. This article presents easy -- and affordable -- tips from top stylists and you, too, will be ready for the camera.

Why Being Less Protective Is Better for Your Kids

What mom doesn't recognize this impulse to swoop in and make it all better? There are so many things that people forget to tell you about being a mother, and this is one of them: When our children suffer, so do we. And we suffer on a variety of levels. We remember our own bruised knees and skinned heart, and want to spare our children the same pain. And while part of us knows that sometimes, being a good mother means allowing them to fall off their bikes and to make friends with children who we suspect in our hearts will hurt them one day, the protective Mama Bear in us objects. And so we struggle within ourselves: Do we barge in and save our kids, or do we stand back and allow them to experience life's hard knocks?
Read the full article.....

Stay-at-home moms find job-hunting a challenge

Many mothers who planned to stay home to raise children say the recession has pushed them to work — or hunt for work — much sooner than expected.

At playgroups, employment firms, nanny agencies, therapists' offices and online discussion forums, married women are saying a husband's layoff, fear of downsizing or tighter household budgets have forced them to update resumes they thought they had put to rest until their kids went to school.

Read the full article.

Sibling Squabbles and Fighting

Experts agree that constant feuding won't affect the relationship children have with each other when they grow up. Siblings fight because they're hungry, tired, bored, or they want Mom and Dad's attention. Sometimes they squabble because they're simply sick of spending so much time together.

This article provides advice on keeping mundane conflicts from escalating into nasty free-for-alls.