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Win this Scandinavian-Designed Tot to Teen High Chair ($189 WIN IT!)

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It’s Day Two of our Bellyitch’s Favorite Things Giveaway

Today, we’re sharing our love of this very creative high chair that grows with your baby from infancy to adulthood:

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Unlike traditional high chairs that are big, bulky, and cost a ton of money, the versatile Abiie Beyond Junior Y High Chair will grow with your child. It’s a chair that’s guaranteed to last a lifetime. Simple to convert, this beautifully crafted, all-in-one high chair can transform into an adult size seat in less than 20 seconds. It’s an inexpensive and long lasting gift that new moms or parent will appreciate and love.

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Created by highly skilled engineers, the 2015 gold medal winner of the National Parenting Publications Awards, is a practical solution to daily-life situations. From holiday festivities to birthday celebrations, you’ll be ready to welcome any extra guests with Abiie Beyond Junior Y High Chair.

Abiie Beyond Junior Y is a one-time purchase that can last a lifetime and is loaded with features:

  • Easy to transport

    With Abiie’s compact design, traveling is hassle-free.

  • Cleaning is easy – Comes equipped with waterproof seat cushion and one-hand removable tray that can be easily thrown into the dishwater.

  • Anti-microbial heat sterilization – Keep your child’s environment hygienic and safe.

  • Dual restraint system – Adjust for a 5-point harness or 3-point harness.

  • Go green – Material is biodegradable and recyclable making it eco-friendly.

  • Toxin-free – No harmful substances* such as BPA and Phthalate.

The Abiee chair retails for $189 but given that it will have multiple, life-long nullity, that’s a perfect price point! You can WIN you very own chair by entering our contest below!

abiie High Chair ($189)

4 Tips for Parenting A Curious Child

A high level of inquisitiveness is one of the more common signs that your child is gifted, which is a blessing for most parents. Still, the never-ending flow of questions from a curious child’s mouth can be a challenge at times. Learning how to deal with the special needs of an inquisitive child without squelching her natural curiosity isn’t always easy, but it is possible with a bit of dedicated attention.

1. Encourage Her Natural Curiosity

It can be tempting to lay ground rules regarding how many questions your child can ask, and it’s easy to even become so frustrated with the constant requests for information that you shut down completely. It’s important to keep in mind that if the special needs of your child aren’t met, she could begin to shut down altogether and fail to realize her full potential. Nurturing the thirst for knowledge will increase your workload as a parent, but it’s also one of the best ways to ensure that she stays engaged and eager to learn. Rather than discouraging your child from asking so many questions, look for ways that you can nurture her inquisitive nature.

2. Talk About Privacy and Respecting Boundaries

Curious kids just want to know more about the world around them, and they’re not always burdened by the knowledge of social mores. As a result, it’s not uncommon to find yourself making apologies for hurtful or rude questions that your inquisitive child asks without realizing that she’s violating the social contract. Making sure that you take time to discuss the importance of respecting others’ right to privacy and maintaining some boundaries can help cut down on these embarrassing situations. Letting your child know that it’s okay to ask touchy questions when it’s just the two of you will satisfy her urge to discover new things without subjecting unwitting friends and loved ones to a barrage of delicate questions.

3. Find Toys and Games that Fuel Her Inquisitive Nature

The technological advances in the toy industry aren’t restricted to shoot-’em-up video games. There’s a wide selection of toys and games designed to foster learning and knowledge in kids that can help encourage a habit of independent learning. When your child is able to find some of the answers to her questions or access new information on her own she’ll be able to take pride in her accomplishments while you escape at least a few of her questions about the world.

4. Make a Habit of Looking Up Answers Together

It’s embarrassing to admit that you don’t know the answer to a child’s question, especially if it happens on a regular basis. Rather than becoming frustrated as a result of your humiliation or offering an incorrect answer as a means of buying some silence, why not make a habit of finding the answers to her questions together? You’ll be able to make sure that the information your child finds is accurate, she’ll begin to learn the basics of independent research and you’ll be able to learn a few things in the process.

After Baby, this App helps Extended Families Schedule Casserole Delivery

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A relatively new desktop app is on the market for brand new moms who may need support from family and friends after having her baby. One of our blogger reviewers and blog friends just had her baby and she had a very difficult delivery.

A lot of people have generously offered to make her family meals while she spends an extended time in recovery. But, as you can imagine, that is a set up for more food than one can eat and a lot of spoilage and thrown out casseroles.

Enter Meal Train. Family, friends and colleagues can organize and schedule meals for a new mom, or anyone who is dealing with surgery recovery or an illness. It’s relatively simple to set up an account and sign up.

The company estimates that 2 million people from 40 different countries use the service each month. Plans start at free. There is a $10 plan for those that want to make arrangements for more than meals: childcare, housework, visitors, meals, lawncare, rides. Finally, there is an option for those organizing potlucks as well that is free!

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Here is a NBC Nightly News report about the service:

Trend: More Parents are Opting for Wood Floors in Nurseries

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There is a current trend in baby nurseries: wooden floors. Traditionally, it may have been thought that carpeted nurseries are best with the thinking being that carpeted rooms are cozier and warmer. Also, carpet is a natural shock absorber for when baby starts to clumsily toddle about and have slips and falls.

But the fact is that carpet is also great for trapping allergens which are not necessarily great for a newborn’s lungs.

Wall-to-wall carpeting is difficult to clean and can quickly become a haven for dust mites, mold and mildew–less than ideal for those suffering from allergies or asthma. What’s more, new carpets, especially those made of synthetic fibers like nylon or polyester, often contain VOCs and other toxic chemicals that could make your little one sick.

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hardwood floors

More families are going for wooden floors, in particular hardwood floors. They have a classic and clean look and are ageless. Furthermore, many wood floors are durable and can stand the test of time. To handle the time when baby starts crawling about, a rug, which can be removed and cleaned regularly, will come in handy.

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bamboo

An eco-friendly option is bamboo floors. That material is less expensive to hardwood floors. Per about.com, Bamboo is the ideal renewable resource, taking only 5-7 years to reach maturity.  The site notes that bamboo is naturally pest resistant, requires no dangerous pesticides and ensures a completely organic product. Because bamboo fibers can be spun into the softest of cloth, as a flooring material, it is harder, more scratch resistant and less prone to warping than hardwood . Score one for bamboo!

cork

Cork is one of the most eco-friendly materials. It is naturally anti-allergenic and anti-microbial. It is warmer and softer than wood flooring, cork provides a comfortable, safe play surface for your little one, cushioning their falls and eventually their footsteps—a feature you’ll appreciate more and more as your little one grows.

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Cork comes from the bark of the cork oak tree. The bark, which is harvested without harming the tree, takes only 3 to 4 years to grow back, making the practice highly sustainable. Organic cork does not emit harmful VOCs and is even energy-efficient, providing excellent home insulation.

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Why This Toy Won for Most Oppressive and Destructive to Young Children

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Why start as a teenager when you can start building insecurities in your child at the tender age of 3? Sounds crazy, right? Well, that is the message that some may take away from this year’s winner for the most oppressive and destructive toy for young children: a make up kit targeting 3-year old’s.

Each year, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood awards The TOADY (Toys Oppressive And Destructive to Young Children), acknowledgment of toys that “stifle creativity, lionize brands, and promote screen-based entertainment at the expense of children’s play.”

CCFC selected six exceptional finalists for 2016 and this year, Lulu’s Pink Fizz Beauty Essentials Little Bow Chic Collection 11 piece makeup set won.

In addition, the products has a list of  eight ingredients known to be toxic or carcinogenic, as per the Breast Cancer Fund’s report! Yikes!

1. Talc: Talc may be contaminated with asbestos. Contaminated talc has been classified as carcinogenic by IARC. Inhalation of talc may cause respiratory distress, mesothelioma, and inflammation. Application of talc near the pelvic area can lead to irritation, infection, and inflammation. Talc may also be associated with ovarian cancer.

2. Mineral Oil: Mineral oils are used in personal care products as skin conditioners, hair conditioners, and solvents. Mineral oils are derived from crude oil, and mildly refined mineral oils always contain significant amounts of polycyclic aromatic carbons (PAHs), which are likely carcinogenic. The NTP considers PAHs as a class to contain reasonably anticipated carcinogens. Untreated and mildly treated mineral oils are classified as known carcinogens by IARC and the NTP.

3. Titanium Dioxide: A suspected or known carcinogen.

4. Propylparaben: Parabens are potential endocrine disruptors due to their ability to mimic estrogen. In cell studies, parabens have been found to weakly bind to estrogen receptors. Studies demonstrate that at sufficient concentrations, parabens can increase cell proliferation in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, which are often used as a sensitive measure of estrogenic activity. Propylparaben is also a reproductive toxin as it affects the male reproduction system and reduces sperm production and testosterone levels.

5. Fragrance (Parfum): The constituent ingredients in fragrance are not listed on product labels or disclosed to consumers by companies and manufacturers. The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) lists almost 3,000 chemicals that have been used in fragrance. Ingredients like acetaldehyde, benzophenone, dichloromethane, styrene and titanium dioxide are suspected or known carcinogens. Chemicals like benzyl salicylate, diethyl phthalate, and propyl paraben are endocrine disruptors. Others are allergens, skin irritants, and toxic to the liver, lungs, and kidneys, among other organs.

6. Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer: The European Commission on Endocrine Disruption classifies styrene as a Category 1 endocrine disruptor. Furthermore, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classify it as a reasonably anticipated human carcinogen. If ingested, styrene can be toxic to red blood cells and the liver and if inhaled, it is toxic to the central nervous system. Exposure to solvents including styrene can result in an increased risk of breast cancer.

7. Silica Dimethyl Silylate: Silica may be toxic to the liver, respiratory system, and kidneys.

8. Tosylamide/Epoxy Resin: Epoxy resin is most commonly made with bisphenol A (BPA). This can result in some residual BPA contaminating the product but not being listed on the label. BPA is a synthetic estrogen that is recognized as an endocrine-disrupting chemical because of its effects on hormone systems. Studies raise concerns that exposure to even low doses of the chemical can cause adverse health effects. These include abnormalities in breast development that can increase the risk of developing breast cancer, and harmful effects on reproductive development, prostate weight, testis weight, puberty onset, body weight, metabolic and immune system functions, and gender-related behaviors including aggression and some social behaviors.

Okay now…

h/t Tree Hugger

These 10 Tricks Will Help You Get Your Child to Try New Foods

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Kids simply can’t get the nutrition they need by existing on a diet that consists solely of macaroni and cheese or chicken tenders, nor can they acquire healthy eating habits, but it can sometimes seem impossible to convince them to give unfamiliar foods a try. Because working healthier fare into your child’s diet is so important to his health and the formation of dietary habits he’ll carry with him for the rest of his life, the time you spend helping your child try and appreciate new foods is sure to be an investment that pays off in spades.

  1. Start Early – When children are routinely introduced to new foods from the time that they first begin eating solid fare, they’re less likely to regard unfamiliar items with suspicion. Attempting to change your child’s diet becomes more of a challenge as she gets older, so it’s best to start as early as possible.
  2. Introduce New Items When Kids Are Hungry – Just as adults are more likely to spend more money at the grocery store when they’re hungry, kids will find new foods more appealing when their tummies are rumbling. Limiting snacks before mealtimes to encourage a good appetite will make the process of introducing new foods much easier.
  3. Don’t Force the Issue – Resorting to threats of reduced privileges or punishment when a stubborn child refuses to try a new food will only make him more resistant to unfamiliar dishes, so it’s best not to force the issue. Sometimes foods will need to be introduced several times before kids will accept them, so try to convince your child to simply taste a new food, rather than insisting that he eat every bite unwillingly.
  4. Offer One New Food at a Time – When new foods are served alongside familiar favorites, kids won’t feel as if they have no palatable options on their plate. Keep the number of new dishes to a minimum, and allow your child to branch out into uncharted territory with a safety net of sorts in place.
  5. Be Persistent – Rather than giving up on a new food the first time that your youngster refuses to try it, make an effort to persistently introduce a new food until it becomes more familiar. When they realize that everyone else at the table is enjoying a particular item on a somewhat regular basis, curiosity may win out over stubbornness and suspicion.
  6. Model Adventurous Eating Habits – It’s hard to convince your child to try new foods when you’re stuck in a dietary rut yourself. Remember that kids’ behavior and habits are often the result of mimicry, and make a point of modeling adventurous eating. Being openly excited about the prospect of a new dish can help to foster the same excitement in a child.
  7. Let Little Ones Choose New Foods – Allowing your child to choose his own new vegetable from the produce section will make him more eager to try that item than he might be if it were simply presented to him. Consider taking your child to the grocery store or produce market with you periodically, encouraging him to choose a healthy food item for inclusion in that night’s meal.
  8. Get Kids Involved With Meal Prep – Helping to prepare a meal gives kids a sense of pride and ownership, making them eager to test the fruits of their labor. Giving your child an age-appropriate task related to the preparation of the new food item you plan to introduce is an effective and exciting way of fostering a sense of culinary adventure, and perhaps a love of cooking as well.
  9. Think Twice About “Sneaking” – When you’re desperate to get some healthier, fresh fare into your child’s diet, the prospect of hiding vegetables in familiar foods can be tempting. While this practice does effectively provide the nutritional value of fresh vegetables, it does nothing to help your child learn healthier habits or gain a more adventurous attitude.
  10. Presentation is Key – Kids are attracted to fun shapes, bright colors and appealing presentation. Where a mound of steamed carrots might be boring and unappetizing, steamed carrots that were first cut into interesting shapes might be a treat. Experimenting with new ways of preparing and presenting foods can help your child feel more interested in them than he would be with a traditional appearance.

Unless you’re blessed with particularly adventurous eaters, introducing new and unfamiliar foods to your child will require a certain amount of patience and acceptance. He may not touch his parsnips the first five times you serve them, but they will become less threatening to him when they’re a regular dinnertime guest. Keeping your frustrations in check and encouraging your child to try new things without threats or coercion is almost always the most effective approach to expanding his palate.

This is Your Source for Teacher Holiday Gift Ideas

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The end of the year is coming and so it winter break! If your child or his/her class are thinking about gifting their teachers (or teachers) something as a small token of gratitude and holiday gift, you might be scrambling. Besides checking out my video and blog post that I put out each year with gift ideas, here is a list of 24 blogs posts others have made with some very very creative, awesome and easy to put together ideas in them!

Tag the parents you know in this post and see if any want to go in on a gift to save time and money. Also, you room mothers out there looking for ideas, you’re bound to find something useful in this list! check it out and hurry! We’ve only got a few weeks left! EEEEK!!!

Handmade

If you have a ton of teachers to buy for then spending $10 to $20 per teacher on gifts may not be feasible.  Here are five bloggers that have come up with some handmade gifts that any teacher will be happy to receive.

Store-bought

Don’t have time to make a handmade gift this year?  Check out these five blog posts for ideas on things that can be store-bought for the teachers you love this year.

Class Gifts

Going in together as a class can be a much easier solution when it comes time to purchase a gift for a teacher, and will allow you to purchase a bigger gift. Include the students in making something that she’ll always be able to remember her students by.

Child Made

Teachers love to receive notes and the like from their students, but if you would like to take it one step further, here are some gift ideas that the kids can make.  Check them out on these five blog entries.

Personalized

It’s not unusual for teachers to receive generic gifts from their students. Instead of getting your child’s teacher a basic, off-the-rack gift, why not get something that is personalized for her this year to show her how special she is to your child?  These five blogs will give you some ideas on what to get or what to make.

Last Minute

Running out of time to buy a gift for your child’s teacher?  Here are some ideas for quick gifts to give to your kids’ teachers on the following five blog posts.

Here’s What the Average Family Spends on Help During the Holiday

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The holiday season also involves things like tipping and spending extra money on childcare during holiday parties and times mom and dad are away from home. The household assistant site care.com conducted a survey of families to determine what the average expenditures are, what people are tipping their nannies, babysitters and other home helpers and to generally gauge the temperature of the average American family’s spending habits during the holidays.

The 2016 Care.com holiday care cost survey determined that the average family spends $14.40 per hour on a babysitter; $17.45 on a dog sitter; $17.34 per hour on a cat sitter; $17.48 per hour on event or party help; $16.33 per hour on a personal shopper; $18.88 per hour on a house sitter and $14.98 per hour on a housekeeper.

The outcome of the survey, as compared to last year’s, reveals some other illuminating insights:

Holiday Budgeting

Nearly 1 in 3 people (32%) don’t budget for holiday expenses, and 48% of those who do say they go over budget. 80% of people who go over budget say they spend an extra $100 or more. Although 80% say they would use budget tactics to save money during the holidays, only 49% do so.

Holiday Gifting & Tipping

81% spend money on holiday tipping, compared to 69% in 2015, and approximately half (49%) spend $500 or more on holiday gifts. While 60% plan on spending the same amount on holiday tips in 2016, 24% plan to spend less or not tip at all and 17% plan on spending more this year. Of those who plan on spending more on holiday tips, 42% expect to spend $100 or more extra compared to last year.

Holiday Help

More than half of people (54%) wish they could hire help during the holiday season to make it easier, and 59% would be willing to do so if it meant they’d have less stress and more time. The top 3 types of help that people feel would make the holidays easier for a family are a housekeeper, babysitter, and errand runner/task master. To help save on costs, the top 3 budget tactics people would use to save money when hiring holiday help are cohosting a party to save money on entertaining, splitting the costs for a babysitter to watch the children, and splitting the costs for a housekeeper to clean up post-event.

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Here are some suggestions the site offers families for managing holiday help:

When to Hire a Holiday Babysitter? The weekend two weeks before Christmas is the most common weekend of the year for parents to hire a babysitter in order to attend a party. That means Saturday, December 10 will be the night where babysitters will be most in-demand this holiday season. Holiday babysitting jobs are posted an average of 5 days in advance – two days longer than typical babysitting jobs – which means parents looking to attend festivities should start searching for a babysitter by December 4 at the latest.

How Much Are Families Paying for a Holiday Babysitter? Here’s where families can save a little money for gifts and entertaining. The cost of a holiday babysitter is actually less than the rest of the year. The national average hourly rate for a babysitter in December is $14.40 compared to $15.05 for other weekends. Parents living in San Jose, CA, New York, NY, and Portland, OR aren’t quite as lucky as they’re the top three most expensive cities to find a babysitter for a holiday party.

When to Book a New Year’s Eve Babysitter & How Much to Pay? “Our data shows that New Year’s Eve is the second most popular babysitting night after Valentine’s Day. With half of New Year’s Eve babysitting jobs posted within four days before the holiday, we recommend booking child care sooner than later to avoid scrambling for last-minute quality care,” said Katie Bugbee, senior managing editor of Care.com.

In 2015, the average hourly rate of a New Year’s Eve babysitter was $14.34, a 10% increase from 2014. Topping the most expensive metro for New Year’s Eve babysitters is Portland, OR, while 3 out of the top 10 metros were located in California (San Jose, San Francisco, and Los Angeles).

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Pet Care 

When to Hire a Pet Sitter? During November and December, pet sitting jobs make up a larger share of pet care jobs than at any other time of the year. Throughout the year, the most popular day for pet sitting jobs to begin is the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, which will be November 23, 2016. 43% of Thanksgiving pet sitting jobs were posted more than three weeks before Thanksgiving and 13% were posted the week of Thanksgiving.

How Much Are Families Paying for Holiday Pet Care? From taking care of toilet-trained cats to brushing an Australian Shephard before bedtime, families are willing to pay top dollar for pet care. Thanksgiving pet sitting jobs for dogs and cats had the highest hourly rates at $17.45 and $17.34. Beyond dogs and cats, families looking for people to take care of their fish pay an average of $17.09 per hour, and the rate for taking care of birds was $16.54. Although pet sitting jobs are temporary, lasting an average of 4 days, they pay 10% more than dog walking jobs ($18.10 compared to $16.43). During the holidays, Thanksgiving pet sitting jobs last an average of 4 days, while in December, pet sitting jobs last an average of 6 days.

Do Dogs Have New Year’s Resolutions? Either pet parents are extending their health resolutions to their four-legged family members or they’re avoiding the outdoors in January. In 2015, the most popular day for dog walking jobs to start was the first Monday of the New Year. January is the top month for pet care jobs that involve walking, play and exercise, with 56% asking for play and exercise, compared to 51% for the rest of the year. In addition, Care.com found that for every 4 degrees further north in latitude, dog owners can expect to get 3 fewer applicants on average.

About the Care.com 2016 Holiday Data

Care.com data, such as hourly rates and advance booking averages, are based on 2015 member behavior on the site. The Care.com 2016 Cost of Holidays Survey captured responses, which were recruited from Care.com, from nearly 1,200 people in the United States during the months of September and October 2016.

Viral: Kids Narrating thisNativity  Story is The Best Thing Online



Cutest thing you’ll see in a long time this Christmas humorous video season:

The Southland  Christian Church of Lexington, Kentucky released a  very cute and funny video portrayal of the nativity story.

They had kids narrate the story and a team of actors perform it with the children narrators as voice overs, complete with their mispronunciations, modern twists and spin. Since being published

Check it out. It’s worth it!

#GivingTuesday: How Your Kids Can Participate

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As Cyber Monday sunsets and people are wrapping up or enjoying their Black Friday deals or the great things they got from local merchants on Small Business Saturday, non profits nationwide now prepare for Giving Tuesday.

The global event is in its fifth year and is celebrated each year the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. It is the brainchild of 92nd Street Y, a cultural center in New York City and the United Nations Foundation.

Giving Tuesday is intended to be the launch pad for the charitable giving season. While the time period around the holidays is often about celebrating Christmas, Ramadan, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and other holidays that involve gettting gifts, it is also a season for sharing and giving.

Thus the name #GivingTuesday is  appropriate and is observed each year by giving to nonprofits, charities and other organizations that are raising funds, including schools, churches and other charitable groups.

Beyond just collecting monetary donations, a lot of local orgs organize food and coat drives and many individuals celebrate it by committing random acts of kindness such as paying for the drink of the person behind them in the coffee line at work.

In 2015, 700,000 people from 71 countries came together to donate $116.7 USD million in cash. An additional $1.08 million USD was spent on gifts.

Children can give by  volunteering at their local shelter or food bank or doing something nice for elderly neighbors like mowing their lawn, shoveling snow from their driveway or helping them with groceries.

At home, younger kids can acknowledge the day by helping out with a chore like folding laundry, helping to cook dinner, or even reading to a younger sibling.

To help spread the message, snap a photo of your kids doing something good and use the hashtag #GivingTuesday to spread awareness and encourage others to get into the spirit as well!

Parents can use the day to donate to their area school, youth camp or other organization that works with families.

photo: Screengrab YouTube

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