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.

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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.

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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.
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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.
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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.

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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?
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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.

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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.

Recent Blog Reviews of Atterdag Kids Products

BeeswhoBuzz.com
Cach Cach Tiger Activity Blanket
Designer Baby Clothes – Me Too and Cach Cach Footie

Jamie's Precious Peas
Me Too Alma Skirt and coordinating Me Too Bonnie Top

The Funky Monkey
Their Mimi and Maggie Meadow Sweater is gorgeous….

Frugal Mommy of 2 Girls
Atterdag Kids – Easter Week

Mommies with Style
Kissy Kissy is Softy Softy

Go Green to Save Green

Don't believe the frog--it is easy being green, and you don't have to spend a small fortune to do it. We've got everything you need to be both eco- and wallet-friendly, and at minimal cost to you--in some cases, even free!

Read more....