Parenting and Babies: Baby Talk Blog

We all know how important blankets are to babies. That’s why baby blankets are one item that I always splurge on. While I was looking for the perfect blankey for my little girl, I came across the Luxe Duo Blanket from Little Giraffe and I was simply amazed.

These blankets combine either blue, pink, or celadon chenille with beautifully rich mocha faux-fur, and they look fantastic. They’ve got a fabulously elegant look that’s both modern and classy. And these blankets are soft. When I cuddle up with my baby in one it feels like I’m snuggling a cloud. And best of all (because we all know how messy a baby can be), they’re a snap to clean. I just pop mine in the washer and dryer and they come out feeling softer than ever.

So if you’re looking for a baby blanket, look no further—these blankets are simply perfect!

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If you’re looking for the perfect blanket for your baby, then you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the options out there. Colors, sizes, types, materials…there’s so much to consider! Here’s a little guide I came up with for exactly what I look for in a baby blanket.

1) Material—obviously, it’s got to be soft. I love chenille and satin, as well as faux-fur. All are great options, as is organic cotton for the environmentally conscious.

2) Color—the color of a blanket determines how the baby will respond to it. Cool pastels are more conducive to rest and relaxation, while deeper, richer colors are more eye-catching and elegant.

3) Size—you want to make sure that it’s big enough to cover your baby without being overwhelming. Something around 30” x 30” ought to be about right for a baby, while something smaller like 14” x 14” is better for a travel blanket.

4) It absolutely has to be machine-washable.

5) For an extra little personal touch, you might consider monogramming with your baby’s name or initials.

Hope this helps! If you have suggestions for anything that should be added to the list, let me know.

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When Kidorable President Jonathan Domsky and his wife Liping Yang founded the company a decade ago, they knew that they were on to something special. In part due to Yang’s ability to employ her inner child to come up with innovative and attention-grabbing designs, the company’s first trade show was a major success, and Kidorable has been producing the highest quality children’s raincoats, boots, backpacks, and much more.

Kids love the eye-catching, engaging designs that set off their imaginations, while parents love the durable construction and unbeatable quality of Kidorable products. Even as other manufacturers and retailers have experienced tough times, Kidorable has continued to grow and prosper, with the brand name gaining strength and being asked for by name in stores across the country. The company’s stylish designs have even inspired a number of knock-off companies, just as with fashion icon Louis Vuitton and other purveyors of high-end fashion items.

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These simple, plush baby blankets by Coyuchi are available in four attractive colors and are woven into a pleasing snowflake pattern. They’re soft, durable, and machine-washable, using natural, non-toxic dyes. Best of all, Coyuchi blankets are made from the finest certified-organic cotton, grown on farms in India and manufactured using all ecologically sound practices. The blankets are pre-shrunk to maintain their size, and are available in white, natural, baby blue, and chartreuse.

At 36” by 46”, these blankets are big enough to wrap your baby comfortably, but small enough to travel with or keep in the car. And they are so soft. I felt one myself and wanted to curl up with it and fall asleep right there!

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Study after study shows that children who play, know, and appreciate music have enhanced cognitive abilities, are better and faster learners, and do better in school. So there’s no reason not to teach your child the joys of music as early as possible. The Schylling Baby Grand Piano is perfect for this.

With its solid wood construction and beautiful, distinctive design, this piano is eye-catching as well as educational, and with its 19 3/4" x 22 1/4" x 19 1/2" dimensions, is perfectly sized for your youngster. Recommended for ages 4 and up, the Schylling Baby Grand Piano comes with matching bench, sheet music and stand, as well as a colored key chart to help your little composer learn the fundamentals of music.

With this Baby Grand Piano from Schylling, it’s never too early to give the gift of music!

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In a study published by Scientific American, researchers have made a hugely important discovery about how to encourage children to stay motivated and continue to do well in school.

Although many parents’ instinct is to emphatically praise their child’s innate intelligence, this study shows that this can actually promote an unhealthy mindset that can lead to a lack of motivation and effort later in school. What happens is that children believe that they do well in school without effort because they are naturally gifted. They see hard work as a sign of lower intelligence, so when they are forced to confront a difficult problem or assignment, they see it as a challenge to their ego. This can quickly lead to demotivation and falling grades as soon as the child transitions to a level that is more challenging for them.

The solution? Change the child’s mindset. If, instead of being praised for success due to natural intelligence, children are taught that their success was due to their effort, they will see challenges as a positive experience to be confronted and tackled, as opposed to an affront to their intelligence. Researchers have definitively proven that cultivating this ‘growth mindset’ has significant positive effects that are both immediate and long lasting. Grade-school children will be more motivated to take on a challenging math problem, and college students will be more persistent in studying through a difficult class.

Luckily for parents, this is not an inaccessible miracle cure. Simply by shifting the subject of your praise from natural intelligence and talent to hard work, persistence, and effort, a parent can cultivate a mindset that will help their children throughout their entire lives—from preschool through college and into the workplace. Click here for the full article.

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It’s long been known how valuable puzzles are for stimulating cognitive development and hand-eye coordination in young children. Different types of puzzles with different levels of difficulty are great for children of all ages. With that in mind, Melissa and Doug, a company that’s been making fine children’s products for over twenty years, offers a fantastic collection of puzzles for babies and very young children.

One of their most popular is this Vehicles Chunky Puzzle. The Melissa & Doug line of chunky puzzles is perfect for babies and toddlers because its large, easy-to-grasp pieces are perfect for little hands and stimulate the development of motor skills. The puzzle set includes nine pieces, each of which can also stand upright to be played with: three train pieces, an airplane, a police car, a fire truck, a school bus, a sail boat, and a cruise liner. Each piece also has a full-color image underneath.

Check out the full assortment of Melissa & Doug Kids’ Puzzles here.

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It was a week before our family’s first road trip, and I was worried sick about how the kids would be in the car. They’d never spent that much time on the road before, and I was racking my brain (and the internet) for ways to keep them rested, quiet, and happy. I thought about what would help me if I was the one sitting in the back seat for hours on end, and I realized—they just need the perfect pillow!

What I found may not be perfect, but it’s as close as I can imagine: the Little Giraffe Satin Nap Pillow. It’s sized perfectly for naps or travel, and I can tell you first hand that it works great in a car. It’s made from silky smooth satin and feels fantastic on your skin. And since I was worried about carsickness, I made sure they were machine washable. Let me tell you—two of these made eleven hours in the car a lot smoother!

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While searching around the internet for wooden toys for my two-year-old, I came across the website of a German manufacturer called HABA. HABA, which stands for High Quality Products and Age Appropriate Materials (in German of course!), not only makes some fantastic wooden toys, but is also a company that I can really get behind.

HABA is super environmentally friendly, and also treats its employees really well. Their corporate philosophy seems truly enlightened, and they’re dedicated to making classic toys that will not only be fun but also mentally stimulating. All their toys are made from all-natural European wood, and they don’t have any sort of synthetic materials or dyes or anything nasty like that.

Check out some great HABA wood toys here.

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Children love wood toys. They spur their imaginations and foster their creativity, making them use their minds while they play. One purveyor of wooden toys that’s been getting a lot of attention is Melissa & Doug, whose line of wood toys has been satisfying children and parents alike for over a decade.

Started in Doug’s parents’ basement in 1988, Melissa & Doug released its first wood toy in 1991. Ever since then, children have enjoyed countless hours of play with Melissa & Doug wood toys, and parents have loved their excellent craftsmanship and all-natural materials. The company found success and quickly expanded, winning parents’ choice and toy of the year awards as well as endorsements from everybody from Oprah Winfrey to The Wall Street Journal.

Nowadays Melissa & Doug sells everything from food toys to puzzles to trains and vehicles and more. All of the products are manufactured to exacting standards, and toys made of wood are naturally germ-resistant and long-lasting. Melissa & Doug continues to gain loyal customers and expand its business, promising to stay on the cutting edge of children’s toys.

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I’ve been a parent for seven years now, and I’ve bought more toys than I can count, from hot wheels to Barbies. I like to think I’ve gained a little bit of knowledge in the field. What I’ve found is that one type of toy never fails to deliver—here’s why your wooden toys are your best bet:

1) They hold a child’s interest for years. While they might want that snazzy new gadget they see in commercials now, chances are they’ll lose interest quickly and move on to another toy. Wood toys don’t have this problem—because they foster the imagination, they have an appeal that is much more lasting than other toys’.

2) They’re all-natural and chemical free. I have no problem letting my youngest chew on these toys, because wood is naturally-germ resistant and doesn’t have any nasty synthetic materials or anything like that.

3) I have never seen one of my children’s wood toys break or need replacing. They seem to last forever, and have a timeless appeal that makes them perfect to pass down from generation to generation.

4) They’re much more mentally stimulating than most of the toys that come out today. Toys like train sets and ball tracks really encourage kids to build and experiment, and they’re learning constantly while they play.

5) Wood toys play well with others! One of the most common ways for my kids to let their imaginations loose is to combine their trains sets and other wooden toys with legos, action figures, dolls and anything else they can find.

Of course, not all my children’s toys are wooden. But the wood ones are definitely their favorites, the ones that they cherish the most, and the ones that they will continue to play with for years to come.

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Your child may be super-excited about the new backpack you just bought them, but they’ll soon dread wearing it if it causes fatigue or muscle pain. Here are three things to look out for in order to make sure your kids’ backpack isn’t hurting your child.

1) Positioning—The backpack should be worn below the shoulders, so that it rests on the hips and pelvis. Getting a backpack that’s specially designed for your child’s age or grade level will help assure a proper fit, which should be adjusted with the pack’s straps and belts.

2) Loading—First of all, make sure you do not overload your child’s backpack with unnecessary weight. Objects that can just as easily be carried in-hand should be. Make sure heavier objects are packed close to the body.

3) Posture—Children don’t know how to adjust their own posture, and what they don’t know can hurt them. Watch out for signs of fatigue and poor posture, such as the head drooping downwards, for this can be a sign of over-exertion on the back and spine.

Checking on all these areas will help to assure that your child continues to love carrying their supplies around in their backpack, and that their backpacks aren’t causing them undue stress and pain.

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I was searching the internet yesterday, and I found what could be the cutest thing ever created. Little Giraffe, who also makes my favorite baby blankets, has come out with a hooded towel and matching pants that turns baby into a cuddly, adorable little animal. They’ve even got soft, fuzzy ears! And it’s made from their super-soft Luxe faux-fur that is completely irresistible.

They’re totally practical too—they’re easily machine washable and dryable and the pants have a bit of extra room around the seat so that babies can wear them over their diapers. They come in some great colors, too. I’ve already ordered two for my little girl—I can’t wait to see her in them!

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Your child’s first backpack is an important decision: it lets them carry all their first school supplies around, feel like adults, and showcase their personality to the world. Here are a few things I’ve found to be important in preschool backpacks.

1) Size—Obviously, they need to be big enough to carry everything a preschooler needs. But preschoolers aren’t carrying around textbooks quite yet, so it should also be small enough to be easy to carry and fit in a cubby.

2) Comfort—Your little one isn’t going to want to wear it if it isn’t comfortable! Padded shoulder straps help a lot.

3) Durability—It’s more than worthwhile to make sure that your child’s backpack is durable and well-crafted. These backpacks can last for years if they’re treated right. It’s also good to make sure they’re easily cleanable—you never know what kind of spills might happen!

4) Design—Children love a backpack that will let them show off their personality. So skip the boring backpacks and go for more interesting designs. These Stephen Joseph preschool backpacks have everything from pirates to monkeys to princesses, and they’re just as cute as can be!

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Everybody knows how much kids love to play grown-up. Nothing helps children feel more like adults than their very first backpack. But a backpack can do more than just hold school supplies—it’s a great way to let your child display his or her personality!

Stephen Joseph toddler backpacks are all about self-expression. They’ve got two great lines of high-quality packs, both with innovative and adorable designs. The Stephen Joseph Go-Go Backpacks feature a simple one-pocket design, and is made from durable, easily washable vinyl. Stephen Joseph Quilted Backpacks are made from a soft, quilted material and feature both a drawstring and magnetic snap, as well as a zippered outer pocket.

Both these backpacks come in a huge variety of child-tested designs, and your toddler is sure to find one to fit his or her personality. They’re also both sized perfectly for a toddler or preschooler—they’re big enough to carry everything they’ll need, but small enough to fit comfortably in a cubby or small locker. To make your little one’s first backpack truly special, you can even have it monogrammed with their name or initials. What child wouldn’t want to trot off to their first day of school with one of these adorable backpacks from Stephen Joseph?

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