New Kissy Kissy Lines Posted at Atterdag Kids

Now Available! New Kissy Kissy lines that have been added are "Anchors Away", "Cottage Rose",  “Purple Rose”, and  "Mini Floral ". Pictures below are previews of lines.

A guide to naming your baby

There's no way around it --- every baby needs a name! It isn't always an easy decision – everyone has input on the names you choose. This article presents 12 real-mom tips to make the process a fun and easy one.

Tooth Fairies: Tooth-Care Tips for Kids

While it may never be a blast for kids to brush their teeth, it doesn't have to be eat-your-brussels-sprouts awful, either. When they're infants, of course, you're steering the cavity-prevention ship, and "fun" isn't necessarily on the itinerary. As they get a little older and you want them to start learning good dental habits, things get trickier. But if you equip yourself with the latest gadgets, some yummy tooth goo, and a few classic motivational tricks, you can keep your children intrigued just long enough for them to shift into autopilot.
Read the full article!

Growing Up in the White House

While the new First Family is marching in the inaugural parade—carpenters, decorators, and movers, will be hard at work boxing up the Bushes and transforming the East Wing into the new Obama family home. What will life in the White House be like for Malia and Sasha?

A glimpse at the lives of other president's kids gives a sneak peek at what lies ahead.

Top Parenting Trends of 2009

For many of us, it is hard to believe that 2009 is upon us. But a new year brings new trends!

From elephants in nurseries to the Obama girls, find out about what people will be buzzing about in the year ahead.

Beautiful Baby Search

Live with Regis and Kelly is partnering with Gerber in a search for Beautiful Babies! Enter and your baby has the chance to appear on the cover of Parenting Early Years win $125,000 towards a college scholarship.

An additional $100,000 will be divided amongst 4 runners-up, to be used toward a college education. And, all 10 of semi-finalists will be awarded a year's supply of Gerber products customized for their child using the Start Healthy Stay Healthy nutrition plan, which helps provide nutrition guidance from birth to preschool.

All submissions must be received by 5pm ET on February 13th, 2009

Enter here!

Top 10 Kids' Health Issues to Watch

As 2008 comes to a close, Akron, Ohio, Children's Hospital has compiled "10 Kids' Health Issues to Watch" in 2009. This year's list includes both mental and physical health issues. However, one common thread factors into many of these issues and so became the country's focus of attention: the economy. The financial crunch, here and around the world, will undoubtedly affect the physical and mental health of parents and kids throughout 2009 - and beyond.

Will You Be a Good Mother?

Will I make a good mom? The question crosses many a woman's mind at some point in her life. Goodness knows, there are enough reasons for trepidation. Loss of control. Fear of sacrificing your own ambitions for your child. Fear of turning into your mother. Worries about how your relationship will change. Fear of realizing, too late, that you just aren't the type to be called "Mama."

It's easy for your imagination to run amok. You can't peek into a crystal ball to see whether you're cut out for the job. Your life, however, is rife with clues. Here, how to read them --whether you've just given birth or are waiting for your first baby.

Read the full article.

Tackle the Family Budget

The days of obsessively checking your tech stocks have likely given way to the somewhat more pressing need of getting through the day with the baby. Until you are able to emerge from the fog, make sure you're taking care of these bare-minimum money-saving strategies and getting any outside help you need.
Read the full article.

Child-Care Choices Guide

You've placed a want ad for Mary Poppins, but you're not sure of the best answer to your child-care prayers. Is a nanny your best bet? Would a daycare center better suit Junior?

This Child-Care Choices Guide offers the pros and cons of different scenarios to lead you to the best solution for your family.

Your Baby's First Holiday

You know your baby is the best gift you've ever gotten -- but how do you make this special time of year special for someone who won't even remember it?

You'll remember, so go for the magic. Here's what to do -- and what to skip -- for baby's first holiday.

Families with Style: What We're Doing for the Weekend

Before having kids, a "stylish" weekend probably included sleeping late on Saturday, taking in the latest movie or new cultural exhibit, throwing (or going to) a fab party and winding down with a long, leisurely brunch on Sunday.

While you may never get back that sleeping-in part, and the "fab" party may involve a trip to Build-a-Bear, family weekends can be as noteworthy as those from your pre-kid days ‑- with a little planning.

Read the article here!

Just Had a Baby? A Six-Week Survival Guide

Plenty has been written on just how to make it through the first few disorienting weeks at home with a newborn. The problem is, at the center of that maelstrom, who has the time to read all of it? This postpartum survival guide culls Fit Pregnancy's favorite experts' tried-and-true tips about how to make the best of this challenging rite of passage.

Here's what you'll need to know.

New Kissy Kissy Lines Now Available at AtterdagKids.com

Now Available! New Kissy Kissy lines that have been added are "Summer Safari", "Ready Set Go", and and "Garden Delight". Pictures below are previews of lines.

Update: Links to products above:
http://www.atterdagkids.com/p-3103-kissy-kissy-garden-delight-footie.aspx

http://www.atterdagkids.com/p-3118-kissy-kissy-summer-safari-footie.aspx

http://www.atterdagkids.com/p-3107-kissy-kissy-ready-set-go-footie.aspx

Dressy Baby Holiday Fashion

Dress your baby up this holiday season. Browse this list of cute outfits and accessories for kids of all ages, as well as holiday tips at Parenting.com.

All the Trimmings! Included in the list is Baby LuLu’s Frances Rosy Dress in Blue. You can find out more about this and other designer baby clothes at AtterdagKids.com

The Balancing Act: What Kind of Mom Are You?

Are all Moms alike? We don't think so. We think each Mom has her own style of balancing life and work, kids and career, food and fun, home and office. What kind of Mom are you? How do you find the balance?

In the questions in this quiz, you are going to find out. We discovered four different general types of Moms who find the balance of their lives in different ways. We think you'll recognize yourself and some of your friends in these different groups. Then we'll suggest some resources to help you be a better Mom, based on your way of balancing the many demands on the modern Mom.

Take the quiz!

Winterize Your Baby

Children under 5 get an average of eight viral infections per year, most of which occur between October and April. Why viruses (and bacteria) prefer the cold months is still not completely understood, but it probably has much to do with the fact that people are confined together indoors with less fresh air, allowing germs to hop from host to host.

It's inevitable that your baby will have his share of runny noses, sore throats, and sleepless nights this season -- and remember, his sick spells have nothing to do with your parenting! The good news: There are a few things you can do to minimize his risk and maximize his immunity.

Find out more by reading the full article.

Just in Time for Christmas: New Baby LuLu lines added at Atterdagkids

Get your Christmas shopping done early!

Some of the new additions recently added to Atterdag Kids Designer Baby Clothes collection of Baby Lulu collection is the Baby LuLu Round Flower Julia 2 PC Set is 100% Cotton with Aqua Trim and Felt Flower.

These make perfect gifts!

Best Toys of 2008: Babies & Toddlers

The holiday season has arrived! To help in your shopping this year, the staff at Parents.com tested hundreds of toys to find the ones they know your kids will love.

Read this article to check out the baby and toddler toy picks for the hottest gifts. You can just shop, wrap, and relax!

Your Child's Top 10 Nightmares and Dreams Explained

If your child has a bad dream about bugs in her bed, would it surprise you to learn that she may be upset about having a new sibling? You can learn a great deal about your child's thoughts and feelings, and how to best comfort her, by discovering the hidden meanings behind her dreams.

In this article, get interpretations of your child's most common dreams and nightmares from dream expert Gillian Holloway, Ph.D.

Hollywood's 10 Hottest Tots

These babes may be raised by celebrity royalty, but they earn their own silver spoons. To determine which tykes were tops, Forbes looked at both press clippings and blog presence for more than 50 A-list tots (5-years-old and younger) over the course of a year. Then, with a whittled down list, they reached out to Los Angeles, Calif.-based polling firm E-Poll Market Research for both awareness data for the kids and consumer appeal rankings for their celebrity parents.

View the list!

How to Help Your Kids Understand Time and Plan Ahead

While the passage of time feels subjective to all of us, it's especially baffling to young children. They don't yet have the skill of estimating how long activities will take. And they're only beginning to come into contact with the devices we grown-ups use to track time. (Did I really just spend an hour and 45 minutes on the computer?)

This article presents some ways to help your kids become more patient, handle long waits, and prepare for the next activity.

5 Toddler Travel Problems, Solved

You've heard the horror stories. But traveling with your 1-year-old can actually be fun -- if you're prepared. In this article, check out expert answers to five common travel problems and discover how to keep your toddler comfortable and entertained on the go.

Are your kids ready to stay home alone?

When is it okay to begin leaving your child at home alone? The answer really is different for every child. In general, children under 10 should not be left on their own, and babies and younger children should not be left alone even for a few minutes. Before leaving your kids at home alone, make sure that they are mature enough to be on their own (even if only for a few hours).

This article presents some questions to ask yourself.

You're Fired: How to Break Up with Your Sitter

There are times when, despite your best efforts, a babysitter just isn't right for you and your family. But breaking up with a caregiver can be as difficult as leaving a high school sweetheart.

However, avoiding miscommunications from the get-go, and you may never have to fire your sitter at all.

Read the full article.

7 New Mom Sleep-Saving Tips

It's understandable if the term "walking zombie" describes you during your new mom days. As you recover from pregnancy and childbirth, you're nurturing an infant who wakes up several times a night feeling hungry (or wet or colicky or disoriented) and needs you to be awake too. Luckily, this is temporary. Once your baby can sleep through the night, you can return to a regular sleep schedule. But most infants won't for least seven to eight weeks, often longer.

The good news: You can almost always sneak in sleep. These sleep-saving moves will show you how.

Health Update: Babies and Kids Need More Vitamin D

Children aren't getting enough vitamin D, according to a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which says children need double the previously recommended amount. The group is advising that all children -- from newborns to teens -- get 400 international units (IU), the equivalent of drinking four 8-ounce glasses of fortified milk every day.

Is your child getting enough? Find out more by reading this article.

The Secret to Better Grades

When you see the latest spelling bee champ crowned on TV, or hear about a kid earning a perfect score on the SATs, you probably assume the winner studies all day...or is just a born genius. In fact, there's usually something else at work. These kids, with their parents' help, have unlocked the secrets to being super-motivated students. They like to study, they like to achieve — and they know how to get results.

In this article, they spill their best strategies to help your children love learning and excel in school (and their future careers).

Baby Nursery Setup Tips

For most parents it can be an enjoyable experience to set up a baby nursery. A baby nursery will provide a safe corner for your baby to romp and play. For this reason, it is important that you put in adequate thought and care into setting up your baby's nursery.

This article presents some things you will require to furnish a baby nursery.

The Pregnant Woman's Guide to the Gym

This much is certain: The gym is a great place to be pregnant. If one cardio machine or strength exercise isn't comfortable, there's always another one to try.

However, now that you're expecting, navigating the gym can be extra-tricky. This article presents the goods on what's safe (and what's not), plus the best classes, cardio and weight training for pregnant women.

Green Your Halloween

Halloween is a time to frighten your fellow man, but it is also a time that can be frightening to the environment. Luckily the National Geographic Green Guide has a few quick, easy and efficient tips to curb your waste while maintaining that Halloween spookishness.

Click here for our green tips.

The Best Pregnant Celebs of 2008

Pregnant is the new black. There's never been a more fashionable time to be preggers as some of the biggest celebs in the universe are rocking the baby bump.

Check out the gorgeous pregnancy photos of the best pregnant celebrities and celebrity moms o see what they're having, when they're delivering, and what they're wearing.

Babysitter Solutions: No Pizza Allowed!

Ever feel nostalgic for the days when pizza and sundaes were a special treat for kids during a babysitting job? Most of you probably remember babysitting gigs of old, where you could pig out with the kids and not feel guilty because it was a "date night." These days, with the childhood obesity trend, food scares, rising numbers of child allergies and an increase in lifestyle choices, feeding the kids has become just plain complicated.

Use the following tips to exercise control over what your kids eat — without driving your sitter up the wall.

50 Simple Ways to Make Your Baby Smarter

Infant-development experts believe that the first years of a child's life are a prime time for learning, but sometimes it may be hard to think of new ways to stimulate your baby.

This article provides fun -- and scientific -- activities that will inspire you.

Kids can be easy prey for identity thieves

Because identity theft is typically associated with financial matters like the misuse of credit cards, most people don't consider the possibility that their child's personal information could be stolen and misused. But more than 34,000 reports of identity theft reported to the Federal Trade Commission from 2005 to 2007 concerned children younger than 18.

Because children don't have complex financial lives, there is less opportunity to notice that something has gone awry than for adults who try to access loans, mortgages and credit cards - one major factor that plays into child identity theft going undetected for years.

Learn more on protecting your child’s identity.

Our Space

With a little one on the way, it's time for you to start thinking about where all her stuff will go. But instead of designating just one space or room for it all, you can tastefully incorporate baby's furniture, toys and other necessities into your home without making it look like Romper Room.

Here are some ideas that will show you how to blend adult furnishings and traditional nursery pieces for a cohesive family space.

Safe Sippers

If you've been following the headlines, you've learned by now that many bottles and sippy cups are made from polycarbonate plastic, which contains bisphenol-A (BPA), a synthetic estrogen that studies have linked to an increased risk of obesity, attention-deficit disorder, brain damage, and even cancer. Safe beverage containers are made from glass, steel, or BPA-free plastics like polyethylene or polypropylene (are typically opaque or labeled with a #2, #4, or #5).

Cookie Magazine puts these toxin-free brands to the test to help you find the best.

Pregnancy Nutrition Made Easy

Pregnancy is not the time to omit any of the major food groups, such as carbohydrates, or to put yourself on a weight-loss diet. Instead, focus on developing healthy habits. If your current diet is less than stellar or if you feel overwhelmed by all the food advice directed at mothers-to-be, work with a registered dietitian to get personal, individualized nutrition instruction. There are so many vibrant, energizing, and scrumptious new foods to enjoy during pregnancy, and many women find that they stick with their improved eating habits long after their babies are born.

Read through the information in this Plum Magazine article to determine what nutrients you need and how to get them.

Biggest Toy Recalls of 2008 for Babies and Toddlers

Dangerous toys products for babies and toddlers continue to make headlines. As a parent, you need to make sure the toys your little one is playing with are safe.

This article lists the biggest toy recal s of 2008 (so far!) for babies and toddlers. Check it out to see if you recognize anything , and if you do, toss it from the toy box.

The Scoop on Day Care

A few months ago, headlines shouted that child-care centers contribute to children's disruptive behavior—an effect that lasts through sixth grade. The news, gleaned from a long-term National Institutes of Health-funded study, made lots of us nervous. Yet those headlines didn't tell the whole story (what else is new?) and perhaps didn't even tell the right one.

What did the study really reveal? Read on.

Halloween Party Planning Ideas

Are you trying to organize the best Halloween party that will be talked about for weeks after your special event? Don't fret... Here you'll find fresh tips and ideas from party planning to Halloween themes that will guarantee your guests have fun.

Mix and match these tips to fit your preference and check your haunted house or party setting over for any hazards your guests may run into. For a safe Halloween party, plan ahead and remove any possible dangers.

Make sure your little one is the best dressed baby for Halloween! Check out Kissy Kissy's adorable Halloween attire.

Start School With a Smile: What To Do When Young Children Cry About Going

At schools across America, teachers see two types of first–year students: one quickly adjusts to school and begins to enjoy it, the other cries each day at the door.

By applying some easy–to–follow guidelines outlined in this article, parents can help their youngsters belong to a very lucky group– students who start school with fun instead of fear.

10 Steps to a Green Nursery

Move over pink and blue—green is in!

New parents have plenty of options today when it comes to creating a safe and sustainable nursery for their little one.

This article presents 10 potential problems when setting up the nursery — and 10 smart solutions for avoiding them.

Shrinking packages, pricier foods fluster parents

Kids may be worried about homework, teachers and that pesky bully this school year. But parents? They're leery about lunches.

With food prices rising and packages shrinking, parents are wondering how they'll stretch their food budgets. Children are going to get an unwitting lesson in economics, analysts say, as parents change their food-buying habits to keep costs down.

This year's lunchroom will be less about convenience and more about the bottom line, said Marcia Mogelonsky, senior research analyst with Mintel International in Chicago. Parents will be shopping for deals but still wanting all the basics — fruits, veggies, proteins and fun things like chips and cookies. It won't be easy, she said.

Full article….

6 Ways to Streamline Bedtime

Moms are served a lot of mush about bedtime. It's supposed to be this golden time together, with your cherub so darling in footed pj's, sweet toothpasty breath bestowing a sleepy good-night kiss. Yes, it's delicious. But sometimes the magical moment doesn't come until the tail end of the interminable saga.

This article presents 6 ways to end bedtime battles with a nightly routine that works for your kids (and you).

Grown-ups show own bad behavior at kid parties

In this age of hyper-planned children's parties, it's not just the kid who pokes his finger in the frosting who has become a party pooper - it's his parents, too.

Occasional etiquette missteps are usually greeted with patience. Busy parents don't expect perfection from one another. But serial offenders have some parents steaming, a situation that puts their kids in an awkward position.

If you're a parent or grandparent who spends time on the preschool party circuit, here are some thoughts from the experts on how best to navigate this social scene.

Kids' Allowances: Expert-Approved Real-World Approaches

Allowances have long been an American family fixture, and for good reason. Experts say that giving kids a set sum of cash to manage regularly helps them learn to handle finances capably as adults.

What some parents have realized is that kids will do stuff for those dollars, and in today’s tough economic times, many moms and dads like the idea of teaching kids that money comes attached to obligations.
Read the full article.

Top 12 Pregnancy Fears (and Why You Shouldn't Worry)

It's only natural to worry a bit throughout your pregnancy -- after all, this whole baby thing is new, nail-bitingly unpredictable, and you just want so badly for it to go perfectly. And guess what? It usually does. Here, doctors explain the real facts about the things that freak you out most.

Read on -- and heave a huge sigh of relief.

The Magic of Play

It may seem obvious that kids need to play. Trouble is, a lot of what passes for play lately doesn't quite cut it. "Playing" organized sports, for instance, isn't child-led or open-ended -- two key traits of true play. Neither is "playing" computer games -- and today's kids spend more time with computers, TV, and game screens than on any other activity except school and sleeping. Even babies miss playtime while watching "brain-building videos," going to classes, or being dazzled by toys that do the talking (and thinking) for them.

This article presents how to help your kids have the right kind of fun -- age by age.

Go Back to School In Style with Mimi & Maggie

Ready or not, August has arrived and the time to go back to school is approaching quickly! US Magazine recently featured the hottest fashions for kids today, and one of the highlights was Mimi & Maggie's Artist Smock dress (pictured).

Be sure your little one goes back to school in style! Check out all the fashionable clothes that Mimi & Maggie offers at AtterdagKids.com.

Baby Shower Etiquette

Throwing a baby shower is an honor and lots of fun, but can also be stressful. Many people may be involved with different opinions on how the baby shower should be thrown.

This article includes some of the more common baby shower questions that are asked, and provides tips to help make your baby shower a major success.

Baby Lulu at Atterdag Kids

Shop Baby Lulu Fall Collection Coco Bean now at AtterdagKids.com

Handling Unwanted Pregnancy Comments

It begins as soon as you announce your pregnancy: the unsolicited comments from family members and friends -- even strangers -- about everything from what you should be eating to which hospital has the best delivery rooms.

Here's how to say "mind your own business" nicely.

Yoga and Pregnancy

Yoga works great for pregnancy. That’s wonderful and TRUE. But do you know how?

Yoga has 5 vital tools for pregnancy. When followed together, they work wonders on your health and your capability to have a smooth pregnancy.

Smooth pregnancy and a natural childbirth are just some of the benefits of yoga. But more importantly, yoga does wonders on the physical and mental development of the foetus.

Ensuring a healthy baby is every woman’s dream and yoga helps you do just that. So what are these 5 tools?

Click here to find out.

5 Health Problems the Doctor Might Miss

It's unfortunate that it can sometimes take so much time (and so many doctors) to get to the bottom of a child's health problem. The good news? There are things that you, as a mom, can do to speed up the process.

This article discusses 5 common conditions, and how you can help the pediatrician catch them.

Baby-Care Basics: Essential Skills for Every Brand New Parent

It used to be a new mom spent several days in the hospital after giving birth learning how to take care of her baby. But today, many mothers go home exhausted 48 hours after delivery. “The teaching that used to take place during those longer hospital stays isn’t getting done, and mothers are too tired to read the discharge instructions the hospital gives them,” says Suzanne Corrigan, M.D., clinical associate professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. “If it’s just you, your husband and the baby at home, you need all the help you can get.”

As a new mom, you can circumvent this trend by asking for help, both at the hospital and at home, and by reading up before you are discharged, starting with this baby-care primer. But don’t get so anxious and bogged down in the practical details of caring for your newborn that you don’t savor the special moments that happen every day. Relax and enjoy your time together.

Read the full article.

Knocked-up Knockout Laila Ali

It's hard to keep up with Laila Ali. The boxing champ and daughter of the legendary Muhammad Ali is all over the small screen these days: as a co-host for American Gladiators, a correspondent for The Early Show, and host of The N's Student Body, a new show about changing teens' lives. In a rare slow moment (she was trapped in a makeup chair and surrounded by curling irons), Laila took time to dish about her latest role: mom-to-be.

Read the full article.

14 Festive Baby Shower Games

Throwing a baby shower can be stressful – there are so many details to take care of and you want it to be just right for the mom to be and the guests.

A great way to liven up a baby shower is to play a few games, and have prizes for the winners. Parents.com consulted shower-planning gurus (and got creative) to find the best games and activities that will wow your guests.
See the list now!

The Best Babies in Hollywood: The Top 9

The Summer of the Baby is in full swing. This week alone welcomed two new arrivals from Nicole Kidman and Matthew McConaughey (not together, silly, that'd be weird). Plus, Angelina's just given birth to twins.

With so many awesome moppets, it's hard to decide which ones to love the most. So e.Online is here to help! They have boiled the A-list baby pool down to nine that sport a certain spritely magic—and not just the biggest paydays for magazine covers. We left No. 10 open for you to decide.

So which hot tots made the cut? Click here to find out.

Taming your toddler

For those times when your kid goes from zero to possessed in 60 seconds—and you feel like you're yelling at 160 decibels—top psychologist Alan Kazdin, Ph.D., a professor of psychology and child psychiatry at Yale and director of the Yale Parenting Center and Child Conduct Clinic, offers some soothing (and surprising) advice, gleaned from his work with thousands of patients.

Click here to read the full article.

Baby Summer Safety Guide

There you two are at the park, coated in sunblock, fully hydrated, enjoying the clouds and the birds and the swings when a bee sticks his behind in your sweetie's chubby thigh and ruins it all. So how do you keep your baby safe on the beach, at the park, and in your own backyard?

This guide provides tips so you can sidestep the season's safety traps, and find out what to do if any bees (or jellyfish or sand throwers) try to cross your path.

Baby crazy: How did a nation become obsessed with Shiloh, Suri?

Celebrity babies are hot.

With bidding for exclusive photos of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's unborn twins reaching a reported $15 million, gossip magazines running the latest news on their daughter Shiloh's potty training and temper tantrums (Nanny tells all!), People granting cover-story status to new moms ranging from the famously thin (Nicole Richie) to the downright obscure ("Full House's" Jodie Sweetin), we're a nation on a first-name basis with the offspring of the rich and famous.

All of which raises an obvious question: Why? Why do we suddenly care so much about the blankets-and-binkies set?

Full article...

Today's fathers are choosing to be more involved with their children

Dad, you've always been great. But now, you're so much better. The proof is in the amount of time you spend with your kids.

The typical dad devotes 6.5 hours per week to his kids, according to a University of Maryland study. That's still not as much as mom's 13 hours, but it's more than double the time fathers spent with children 30 years ago.

Obviously, much of this societal shift comes from the proliferation of dual-income households. Dad isn't the breadwinner like he was a few decades ago, so duties are split. In addition, three times as many dads stay at home than they did a decade ago. That number still has room to grow: A University of Missouri-St. Louis study found that 25 percent of married women out-earn their husbands.

Full article.....

Kids' clothes straight from the runway

Los Angeles kids are dressing more like parents these days as celebrity small pints set the fashion. In the last few years, the obsession with dressing little kids like Dogtown skaters, Malibu moms and even Upper East Side socialites has hit a new, Suri-high level.

More clothing companies than ever are producing what the rag trade refers to as mini-me clothes on every price level.

American designers are turning out Lilliputian renditions of clothes that sail down the runway each season. European design houses that have a long tradition of producing children's clothes are paying more attention to their kids wear lines. of just churning out jumpers in Burberry checks or Missoni waves, they're making children's clothes that look like grown-up togs in teeny-tiny sizes.

Read the full article by clicking here.

Visit ZaraBella.com to see the latest designer baby clothes!

Baby Bucks

In a climate where everything from box office hits to traffic stops makes headlines in blogs, newspapers and celebrity weeklies, it comes as no surprise that the more substantial life events of an A-lister -- say, the birth of a baby -- constitutes news.

Time and again, the if-you-build-it-they-will-come approach to covering the birth of celebrities' babies has worked, but why? While there are some fans who might rush to an online baby registry and buy a token of congratulations, history proves that far more people will rush to a newsstand and part with a few hard-earned dollars so they may catch a glimpse of Celebrity X's little miracle.

Full article.

10 Best Towns for Families

When Americans choose an area to live in, most of us yearn for the same things: fewer crowds; less concrete and hassles; more serenity, nature, and neighbors we can count on. That's why Family Circle singled out these small cities, where living costs, commute times, and crime rates are low, and the educational and cultural scenes are way above average. In all of them, moms and dads are stepping up to help their children thrive; they volunteer in schools, coach sports teams, and keep bike trails clean. As the people in these top towns will tell you, life is good. And if your community isn't among the winners, read on to learn ways you can make it warmer and friendlier.

Here are the results of Family Circle's extensive research: Perfect places to call home.

Is it possible to train for the perfect birth?

A growing number of mothers-to-be are choosing to be active throughout their pregnancies, undergoing sometimes punishing regimes in a quest for the perfect - quick and easy - birth. The move is supported by doctors - this year medical charity The King's Fund claimed half of all maternal deaths in childbirth involved women who are overweight or obese.

But can exclusion diets, protein counting, self-hypnosis and strict gym plans guarantee moms-to-be a pain-free labor?

This article interviews three women who went into training for motherhood to describe their pregnancy and then reveal whether the birth went to plan.

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!)

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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

Learn from the stars! Drop that baby weight

It’s hard enough to lose weight after having a baby, let alone if you’re a celebrity and doing it with the entire country watching your every move. The four women featured in this article did it successfully, and if you are pregnant or just had a baby, there are many ways to take off the extra pounds in a healthy, effective way.

Check out the article today!

The 10 Safest States for Kids

Of course, one of your top priorities as a parent is to keep your kids safe. It's never an easy job, but it could be a lot harder depending on which state you live in. Troubled by the fact that more than 5,600 kids die from injuries every year, Parents Magazine recently launched an exclusive three-month investigation of how safe it is for children around the nation. The verdict: It truly depends on where you live. After crunching the numbers on more than 30 criteria that involved protecting children from accidents or violence, we uncovered big differences that could impact your child's health.

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Splish Splash

We make sure what goes into our children’s bodies is healthy, but what about all those lotions, creams and washes that go on our kids? Alan Dattner, MD, New York holistic dermatologist, and founder of www.kiwimagonline.com , says, "Infants and children easily absorb chemical substances into their skin, and these are incorporated into their growing tissues." According to Dattner, ingredients like mineral oil (clogs pores), artificial color (potential allergen) and talc (lung irritant)—all common additives to mainstream children’s body care—should be avoided. "Exposure may be in small amounts," he adds, "but it can continue year after year, and we don't know the long-term effects."

So how can you tell if a product is safe? Click here to find out.

Multiple babies call for more household planning, flexibility

For most parents, hearing that they are having multiples is "joy mixed with terror mixed with moments of calm," says Patricia Malmstrom, co-author of "The Art of Parenting Twins" and director of Twin Services Consulting, a support Web site for parents with multiples. After absorbing the news, Malmstrom says, many parents-to-be find themselves "scrambling to find balance in the midst of a very unstable feeling."

Much of that scrambling centers on how to keep a household running smoothly - or just running - with two, three or more babies crying at once.

Read the full article.

Oh, baby! Look at you now in designer duds

While many adults find it difficult to dress fashionably, consider the plight of the toddler. There's nothing but applesauce-stained synthetic fabrics in their closets, and until those chubby fingers learn to fasten their own buttons, little girls are at the mercy of Mom.

However, as the average age of parents gets higher, they seem to be spending more money on their children's clothes. Mothers who have never owned Burberry items are splurging on designer plaid kilts for their kids.

Read the full article.

Check out Zarabella.com's large selection of designer baby clothes!

The Truth About Pregnancy Dreams

Catching a decent night's sleep when you're pregnant is tough, especially when your nights are filled with hormonally charged dreams that can be comforting, scary, or just plain weird.

Katie Smith, of Denver, recalls being awakened by the kookiest dream in her first trimester: "I was running down the freeway with my jogging stroller, chasing after a pickle. I finally caught up with it in the pickle shop and took it to the counter, where I realized I didn't have a quarter to pay for it. As I searched the stroller and my pockets for money, I woke up and went to the refrigerator to eat some pickles."

Indeed, Moms-to-be have a lot on their minds, and it surfaces during sleep. Here's what those wild visions might mean.

Celebrity tots get magazine bucks worth drooling over

They don't call 'em "bundles" for nothing. If you're a celebrity with a baby bump, what to expect when you're expecting is mega money - if you're lucky enough to sell their pictures.

We're headed into a bumper season of baby buggies. Halle Berry has welcomed daughter Nahla last Sunday, the day after Jennifer Lopez prepped month-old moppets Max and Emme for their first photo shoot.

While J.Lo's love don't cost a thing, the snaps of her duplicate darlings sure do. Estimates run from $4 million to $6 million for the cover shoot that hit People.com at 7 a.m. Thursday morning.
In 1953, the first cover of TV Guide boasted newborn Desi Arnaz Jr., only the son of the most famous woman on television.

In the half-century since, fascination with celebrity families has swollen to third-trimester levels.

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Health & Your Family

Today's families are especially hard-pressed. From endless information on the Internet to headlines that seem contradictory at every turn, it all can be overwhelming and confusing.

That's where relationship expert Dennie Hughes comes in. Having written the RelationTips column for USA WEEKEND over the past seven years, he has read thousands of letters from readers looking for ways to resolve personal issues. Many of those letters are from parents; some even come from kids. To give his readers the most up-to-date answers, he read dozens of magazines, websites and news releases, and I talk to experts in different fields. And one thing is clear: Matters of the heart often are triggered by those of the body. Our emotional health is intimately connected to our physical well-being.

Take a look at this article -- maybe you'll discover some ways to help your family grow more healthy, both inside and out.

Unique Baby Announcements

Your little one has finally arrived, and now it is time to let everyone know! This article details out a variety of unique baby announcements. Choose the best from the following categories:

Custom Announcements
Most stationers offer a range of standard announcements that can be personalized with different paper, colors, typography, and illustrations or motifs. Delivery time averages two to three weeks.

Preprinted, Off-the-Shelf Announcements
With space for all the vital statistics, preprinted announcements require a little more effort than custom-made cards. But they are typically less expensive and don't involve a wait for delivery.

Not Now, We're Bonding

When baby arrives, so do the guests. How do you get what you need—and discourage what you don’t—in those first few weeks at home? Let’s face it, babies are magnets. It’s like Bill Gates announcing he’s giving away Microsoft shares to all comers—the hordes descend. But, after 40 weeks of pregnancy, interminable hours of labor, and that long final push or C-section, you’re not exactly in party mode. How do you cope? Know what you need—and what you don’t need. Then make a plan to whip those visitors into shape.

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The Magic of Play

Today we call unstructured fun "free play." But many kids don't get nearly enough of it anymore, a growing chorus of child-development experts is warning. It may seem obvious that kids need to play. Trouble is, a lot of what passes for play lately doesn't quite cut it. "Playing" organized sports, for instance, isn't child-led or open-ended -- two key traits of true play. Neither is "playing" computer games -- and today's kids spend more time with computers, TV, and game screens than on any other activity except school and sleeping. Even babies miss playtime while watching "brain-building videos," going to classes, or being dazzled by toys that do the talking (and thinking) for them.

Nobody's suggesting that playtime should be another "to do" penciled on a parent's list and programmed into a child's day. Just the opposite, in fact. Providing it is as easy as stepping back and encouraging what comes naturally to your child, age by age.

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Babytalk Baby Tracker

Your baby probably already has his own little routines -- you just might not be able to see them yet. That's why Daniela Montalto, Ph.D., a pediatric neuropsychologist at New York University's Child Study Center developed this daily log exclusively for Babytalk readers. Use it to keep track of your little one's sleep, feeding, playtime and more. All you have to do is circle or "x" out the blocks of time for activity. For example, if he naps from 7am to 8am, circle or cross out those numbers. For time that begin on the quarter or half hour, simply write in "15" or "30" in the space above. In a couple of weeks, you should begin to see some patterns emerge -- and to make it easy on yourself, print out several copies now so you have enough to last you at least a month.

Get the Babytalk Baby Tracker!

15 things you need to know to care for Baby

Forget sugar and spice and everything nice. Your little one is a lot more complicated than that. USA WEEKEND wants to make sure you have a recipe for success, so each year we sift through the most recent scientific studies and research to compile this list of the 15 most important findings you need to know. From getting Baby to love her green beans to avoiding tooth decay, we've got you covered so your child can be the focus.
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