Getting your kids back in touch with the great outdoors can improve their health and well-being. “If you can’t get to a pond or lake, then find a puddle.” — Dr. Tedd Mitchell

Popular Styles of Save the Date Cards
Save the date cards are a great way to reconnect with loved ones who have moved away, or who live in other areas of the country or the world. Not every guest requires a save the date card. Most wedding etiquette specialists advise sending the cards only to those who live a significant distance from [...]

Freebie Coupon Corner.
Imagine Free Groceries In Your Shopping Cart. Freebie Coupon Corner. - The record-breaking snowfall in Washington may have shut down the federal government, but it s also providing a rare opportunity to enjoy the city s slopes. NBC s Brian Williams reports. (Nightly News) [...]

D&G Launch New Fragrance
Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer and Eva Herzigova represent the designer’s first perfume anthology. Tahiti’s Next Top Model In Tahiti, a spectacular contest uncovers the most beautiful model in French Polynesia. Obesity [...]

Fashion History.
100 content rich, illustrated pages of Fashion History, Costume History, Clothing, Textiles and Social History. Fashion History. - Get a star-worthy middle in 3 weeks!

At the most recent ABC Kids Expo, where I go each year to take a look at the latest and greatest in the baby gear world, one crib out of hundreds stood out in my mind. I suppose Bloom's Alma crib is rather difficult to ignore when it comes in brilliant citrus colors. There was no way I could bypass a gorgeous lime green crib paired with striking orange bedding! I wouldn't have imagined that I'd like a green or orange crib, but I did. Oh, I did.

The Bloom Alma mini crib is not all looks, though. It's a pretty cool, and different, crib concept. Most mini cribs are not designed for everyday use, which leaves parents who have small homes in somewhat of a conundrum. Use a sturdier full-size crib and stretch for the space, or sacrifice durability in the name of square footage. The Alma crib solves that problem with sturdy construction in a smaller-than-average footprint. It also folds up incredibly small, no tools required, so that you can shift the crib out of the way in a flash if you need to.

Since the Alma mini crib is on the small side, you will also need to spring for a specially sized mattress and bedding. Bloom sells accessories to go along with the Alma crib, including an attractive, over-the-crib changing table and a handy storage bag with pockets and space for the wheels to peek through. All of those extras do up the price, but it's still well within range of other good quality cribs. The Alma crib runs about $400, with the mattress adding another $150. If you're not a fan of the bold colors, Bloom also makes the Alma crib in tamer shades of gray, white and brown.

• Compare Prices on Bloom Alma Mini Crib (Pricegrabber.com)
  

Photos courtesy of Pricegrabber.com.

Hot Baby Products: Bloom Alma Mini Crib originally appeared on About.com Baby Products on Friday, February 26th, 2010 at 01:59:17.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

First birthday photo submitted by D.L.

Do you have a photo you'd like to submit for Wordless Wednesday? Take a look at the Wordless Wednesday guidelines and submission procedures, and send me your best pics!

Wordless Wednesday: These Birthday Gifts Are For Me? originally appeared on About.com Baby Products on Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 at 09:53:23.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Babylife WeeGo Glass Bottles. ©2008. Used with permission.

Glass baby bottles have, of course, been around forever. They've made a new surge in popularity after the big push for BPA-free bottles, though. After all, one way to avoid BPA in plastics is to avoid plastic bottles altogether.

How did you choose between BPA-free plastic bottles and traditional glass bottles? Plastic bottles have the advantage of being lightweight, unlikely to break, and widely available. Glass baby bottles are incredibly durable and can now be dressed up with really cute bottle covers that prevent breakage if they're dropped. Vote in the poll below and then share how you decided which bottles to use via the comments link.

Poll: Have you tried glass baby bottles?

• Yes.
• No.
• View Results

Have You Tried Glass Baby Bottles? originally appeared on About.com Baby Products on Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010 at 09:05:17.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Once you've gained a few months of parenting experience with a newborn, or you've successfully navigated perilous toddler situations, your ideas and suggestions are incredibly valuable to others. You can share your favorite baby products here, or give tips on ways you've creatively used the baby gear you chose so carefully. Help out other parents by sharing your thoughts and photos in the forms below, or browse responses to get ideas of your own.

• Must-Have Products for Newborns
• Baby Products You Won't Buy Again
• Saving Money On Baby Products
• How Long Did Your Baby Stay Rear-Facing in the Car?
• Ideal Baby Crib Features
• Baby Nursery Ideas & Themes
• Must-Have Baby Travel Products
• How I Chose a Cloth-Diapering Method
• Tried & True Baby Soothing Products
• Must-Have Stroller Features
• Favorite Potty Training Products
• Potty Training Reward That Work

Share Your Baby Gear Tips! originally appeared on About.com Baby Products on Monday, February 22nd, 2010 at 10:05:50.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's a long-running joke among parents that babies don't come with instruction manuals. Luckily, though, if you're perplexed by something your baby or toddler is doing, there's likely a book that can help you figure the situation out.

Stephanie at About.com Toddlers has a nice list of helpful books about toddlers for parents who are entering that phase with their little ones. My favorite? The Toddler Owner's Manual. The content is great, and the name is pretty reassuring if you were hoping that missing instruction booklet might someday appear.

For babies, you can also check out The Baby Owner's Manual (Compare Prices), or another of my favorites, the not-at-all-serious Girlfriends Guide to Surviving Your First Year of Motherhood (Compare Prices).

Do you have a favorite parenting book about babies or toddlers? Share your must-haves for a parenting library by adding a comment below.

Because Babies Don't Come With Instructions... originally appeared on About.com Baby Products on Friday, February 19th, 2010 at 00:25:23.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

If you have old car seats, cribs or other baby products lurking in your basement, you can get a nice discount on new gear by trading in the old stuff at Babies R Us or Toys R Us. The Great Trade-In event is going on now through Feb. 20, 2010.

Cribs and car seats are the main focus of the event, since older products in those categories might be dangerous to pass on to a friend or sell at a garage sale. However, you can also trade in high chairs, baby swings, bassinets, strollers, travel systems, toddler beds or play yards. When you bring one of these items to a Babies R Us or Toys R Us store by Feb. 20, you'll receive a 25 percent off coupon. The coupon is good only for the day you trade a product in.

Most of the major baby gear brands are included, so you can get 25 percent off some pretty sweet stuff. You can also trade in more than one product per day, and you'll receive a coupon for each item you trade. You don't have to trade for like items, either. If you bring in a car seat, you could use your coupon for a crib or stroller, for example. More details on the Great Trade-In event are on the Babies R Us website.

Need New Baby Gear? Trade Up at BRU! originally appeared on About.com Baby Products on Sunday, February 14th, 2010 at 11:31:30.

Permalink | Comment | Email this