Packing Smart for Famiy Trips This Summer

Starting June 15 -- just when we're taking off on long-planned vacations -- American Airlines will charge $15 each way for the first checked bag and $25 each way for the second checked bag, assuming you are flying domestically on a discounted ticket and are not a top-level frequent flier. So what's the good news? First, we do have summer and time with the kids to look forward to. We've got plenty of ammunition now for why our teenage daughter can't bring every pair of sandals she owns on vacation this summer, and why the 4-year-old can't bring his entire collection of dinosaurs, including the big ones.

We're all going to have to pack smarter -- even the kids. Read the full article!

Baby Steps: Get Ready for Walking

Walking is a baby's first big, well, step into toddlerhood. While those thrilling moments may still be a few weeks or months away, you can help him prepare for the big day. "Children love push toys because they allow them to move around in a way they couldn't before," says Tanya Remer Altmann, M.D., a pediatrician in Los Angeles. "Plus, they can help your prewalker find his balance."

Check out more reasons why push toys are a perfect match for your little one right now.

Celebrities and their baby business

Most expectant parents, concerned about the possibility of a miscarriage, wait until after the first three months of pregnancy to share the news with family and friends. But discretion is nearly impossible for those in the media spotlight.

In late December, Nicole Kidman, who had a miscarriage during her marriage to Tom Cruise, denied that she is expecting a baby with husband Keith Urban -- only to confirm it a week later. Jennifer Lopez, who welcomed twins with husband Marc Anthony in February, announced she was pregnant in November following denials by the couple.

Even so, attempts by celebrities to keep their pregnancies private doesn't stop celebrity magazines and gossip Web sites from issuing reports to the contrary.

Read the full article....

Parents juggle kids' wants, needs

Parents in all income brackets have the shaky economy on their minds, but in this spendy era of the $900 baby stroller and the ultra-birthday party, are they resisting the urge to splurge on their kids? Many acknowledge there's a blur between "necessities" and "luxuries" for their young ones as prices soar for everything from gas to milk. Indeed, some parents will always be able to afford designer-wear for toddlers and fancy cell phones for grade-schoolers, but more average earners are considering scaling back.
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Hey, baby

There are many factors to consider when naming your baby: family history, unfortunate nicknames that could result and, perhaps most important, what celebrity comes to mind when people hear the name.

Which got us wondering: Does a celebrity's popularity affect how many babies are named after him or her? To find out, we looked at a few years' worth of statistics from the Social Security Administration database -- which ranks the most popular baby names, from 1 to 1,000.

Here are some of the notable ups and downs.

Forget cutesy -- decor for baby grows up

Oh, baby, baby, baby.

Forget the cutesy teddy bears, and ditch the washed-out pinks and barely blues. Nurseries are going chic.

Matchy-match newborn nursery themes are being replaced with more modern and sophisticated motifs, while traditional pastels have morphed into bold brights and geometric patterns.

And parents-to-be, once obsessed with making the space perfect for a baby, are now opting to create a longer-term decor, one that not only blends with the rest of the house but also will be suitable as their newborn grows into toddlerhood and beyond.

Read more by clicking here.

The 2008 Golden Pacifier Awards

Every year Babytalk honors the newsmakers who look out for the little people -- babies, that is!From hands-on Hollywood dads to marathon moms, see who Babytalk thinks deserves a standing ovation.

Then, let us know what you think by voting for your favorites and telling us who we left out. (Self-nominations are welcome!)

Read more!

Celebrity Kids' Clothes: What Celebrity Kids are Wearing

Ah, the fabulous lives of celebrities and their kids. Celebrities are notorious for dropping large amounts of money on themselves, but they also spend lots and lots of money on their children. Celebrity kids have wardrobes packed with designer labels and funky, fun mini-fashions. Some of the outfits that these kids wear may cost more than your monthly car payment, but not all of these famous kids' fashions are over-the-top expensive. Some online boutiques are selling mid-priced items that are fun, fashionable, and affordable, so any kid can be dressed like a celebrity kid.

Full article....

Kiddie couture: Baby clothing is growing up

Designers of women's wear are increasingly turning their attention to the youngest consumers, one retail sector that hasn't hit a wall. Retailers say parents often want brands they wear themselves -- or wish they wore. When it comes to baby, apparently nothing is too extravagant. Sales of clothing for children younger than 3 spiked by 11.3 percent last year, while apparel sales overall rose only 2.9 percent, according to NPD Group, a market research company in Port Washington, N.Y.

Click here to read the full article.

Check out ZaraBella’s extensive selection of designer baby clothes.

8 Ways to Be a Better Parent

You want to be the kind of parent who takes the time to instill in your child good manners, habits, and behavior. But how? And with controlled chaos ruling the day, every day, when?

Relax: Good parenting happens in real time, on the spot, and in the moment. The trick is recognizing those moments when your actions and reactions can help your child learn and grow in the best possible ways. Here's help from top parenting experts -- and a few real moms.

Celebrity baby showers are going high-end

Last December, Jennifer Lopez tailored a wish list with local baby shop Petit Tresor that would make Santa squirm. A $3,495 enameled Silver Cross Balmoral stroller topped her registry, along with a $289 suede play mat and $349 cashmere outfits. Jessica Alba -- like Isla Fisher, Christina Aguilera and Naomi Watts -- all registered at ultra-chic Bel Bambini in West Hollywood for the $249.99 Svan high chair. What do high-end registries mean for the rest of us?

Read the full article...

What To Pack In Your Hospital Bag?

You’re in the final stretch, with only a few weeks to go before your due date. Now’s the time to pack a bag for all the essentials you’ll need during labor and after your baby is born.

This article by the Bumble Collection presents a list to help you remember everything you’ll need. It’s a good idea to have your bags packed by the time you are about 36 weeks pregnant, so that you’re not rushing around in early labor trying to get everything done then!

Hospitals vary in their policies about what you are allowed to bring with you when you have your baby. You may want to take a few items from home, such as your own pillows or cushions, to make the environment more personal and less clinical.

So, what to pack? Read on...

Star Moms' Weight-Loss Secrets

When it comes to losing weight after having a baby, most celebrities don't mess around. Blink and you may miss the time it takes many famous new moms to make the transition from bulging baby bump to red carpet ready.

That can be frustrating for the typical woman to watch. After all, she may not have quite the same resources available to the stars but wants just as badly to reclaim her body.

If you're a new mom eager to get in shape again, experts say there are a few things you can learn from the stars. While not all of their methods are worth mimicking, many are tried and true and could help you achieve notable results.

Full article....

Building a good relationship with your child's caregivers

Your work isn't over just because you've found your dream preschool or daycare center. In fact, it's only beginning. Your child's caregivers are counting on you to keep up your end of the bargain — they keep your child safe and secure while you're at work, and you agree not to take advantage of them.

This article provides some pointers on building a good relationship with your child's caregivers.

Damon, Moore put baby hand-me-downs on eBay for charity

Matt Damon's diaper bag, Julianne Moore's high chair, Elisabeth Hasselbeck's car seat and other celebrity baby hand-me-downs are going up for auction on eBay.

Famous parents donated their used baby items to Johnson's Celebrity Hand Me Down Auction, which will benefit such charities as March of Dimes, Save the Children, Zero to Three and Baby Buggy. The online auction begins April 29 and ends May 9.

Damon provided his black, messenger-style baby bag while Moore, a mother of two, donated a beachwood highchair that she calls her daughter Liv's special "sit at the table with the grown-ups" chair. Mariska Hargitay from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit gave an Adidas track suit outfit worn by her son, August.

Other celebrities participating in the auction include Shark actress Jeri Ryan and recent mother Elisabeth Rohm.

Source: USA Today

View the latest fashions in designer baby clothes at www.ZaraBella.com

Mother’s Day Gifts for New Moms

You've been a total Super Mommy, what with birthing the baby and all, logging scads of late-night feedings, and blowing about 10 million giggle-inducing raspberries. You deserve a little treat for yourself if you ask us.

Check out Parent’s Magazine’s picks for the coolest, how-have-you-lived-without-this gifts for new mamas. Print out your favorites to leave strategically around the house to give hubs the hint you want a little post-baby bonus, or make use of our send-to-a-friend feature (click the link in the upper right) to give a little nudge.

Good baby-product buying takes a strategy

Just because baby superstores have products stacked to the ceilings doesn’t mean most of what they stock is worth buying. In fact, parents should pass by much of it.

That’s the advice coming from Heather Maclean, who has made a business of cutting through the clutter of baby merchandise. The mother of three’s new book, “The Baby Gizmo Buying Guide,” doesn’t list branded items but guides parents through what kind of merchandise to buy to handle everything from sleepless nights to playtime during their child’s first years.

There is a lot to mull, given that $8.9 billion in baby products sold last year, according to the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, a trade group for the industry.

This article presents some excerpts from an interview with Maclean, who also helps run the Baby Gizmo Web site.

Baby Branding: Naming Little Tykes Today Can Be As Stressful As a Marketing Campaign

Somewhere between cooing over ultrasound images and registering for a bottle warmer or Diaper Genie, the debate begins.

Emily or Ethan? Christopher or Chloe?

Relatives lobby for old family names. Parents flip through books, checking into the old Irish meaning of the name Liam.

It used to be easier than this. But many of today's parents are planners. They track their baby's expected weekly progress in the womb through books and Web sites, and are enrolled in parenting classes by the second trimester. Coupled with the weight placed on first names in modern America -- your neighbor isn't Mrs. Johnston, but Shirley; a cashier looks at your credit card and calls you Doug rather than Mr. Smith -- choosing a name can be one of the most stressful prenatal tasks.

Click here for the full article.

The Most Expensive Celebrity Baby Photos

Never mind the baby's name or gender. These days, the real question surrounding A-list births is which tabloid will get the pictures first. It's an industry. Celebrity weeklies, forced to compete with a swarm of entertainment shows and tabloid-style blogs, all chronicling the minutia of celebrity life, have gone into a frenzy for exclusives. The result: The amount they're willing to pay for snaps of private moments has skyrocketed. And entrepreneurial celebrities stepping in to maintain control of--and profit from--their exposure, only fuel things further.

Click here to read the full article.

Hollywood Moms Glow With Hot Fashions

Imagine you're an expectant celebrity mom, eight months pregnant with a big belly and swollen ankles, but the paparazzi are following your every move so walking around in a smock and sensible shoes -- like the rest of us -- just won't do. Luckily, the baby boom in Hollywood has prompted another boom of sorts: maternity clothes offered from top designers.

Read the full article.

Check out the hottest fashions for kids at Zarabella.com.