Getting Your Kids to Drink {More} Water

Do you have this problem at your house?  You can't get your kids to drink more {or maybe even any!} water?  I used to have that problem.  My son really just didn't drink much. Period.  But after seeing him always want to drink from my glass, I thought I should get him something of his own.  Something he thought was...cool.

So, here it is, plain and simple: mini water bottles.  They're just his size, and the big step here that I think you can't overlook is putting them where your kids can get them themselves.  So we stocked half of our fruit/produce drawer in the fridge with them.  This way, our little guy has his own special water bottles, and he can get one for himself whenever he wants {when do Mom & Dad ever let you do that?!??}.

Hope this helps all you who are currently struggling with this problem as we were. :)

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Mommyhood-ism #3: I'll Take Mine with a Side of Guilt, Please.

Well, maybe "please" isn't the right word here.  But Mommyhood definitely IS ordered with a side of guilt!  If you've been a Mom for probably, ohhhhhhh, a few mere seconds, you already are starting to realize this!!

I'm not sure why this is, but it most truly is.  From the moment we first get our precious baby in our arms and try to sleep that first night, we get a pang of guilt.  At first, it's because we just want to sleep, but this new being is demanding we feed them seemingly all the time {equals guilt}. Then, we simply must do the dishes and can't pick little Joey up every time he cries {equals guilt}.  Fast forward a few more months, and we are trying to cook dinner and little Joey is now upset because we can't continually play with him {equals guilt}. Now little Joey wants "Toy X," and we can't afford it {equals, yup, you guessed it: more guilt}.

Do you see where I'm going with this?  And I hate to be the bearer of {more} bad news, but according to my mom {who has 4 children in their 30s and 40s}, this only persists.  Whaaaaaaaaaaat?  You've GOT to be kidding me!  What a cruel joke to play on mothers!!

But, alas.  T'is true.  So I tell you this not to make you feel bad, but just to let you know THAT IT'S NORMAL!  Every Mom feels this, and if they say they don't, well then, they're lying!!  My remedy for it?  Join a playgroup and vent with other Moms who are going through those very same trials you are!  I promise ~ you'll feel better!!

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The Mommy's Guide to Pesticides

So I recently blogged about discovering {thanks to a dear friend ~ thank you, Ruth!!} the Environmental Working Group's website and how you can use it to check all your cosmetics, sunscreens, etcetera, to find the ones with the least harsh & fewest chemicals.  What I also mentioned was that they also advise on both the dirtiest and the cleanest produce you can buy for your family.  So that's what I wanted to talk to you about today!

The EWG has what they call the "Dirty Dozen" and the "Clean 15," referring to, of course, the dirtiest and cleanest or produce.  Why does this matter?  Well, pesticides "can cause lasting damage to human health, especially during fetal development and early childhood."  And now that studies have lasted long enough, scientists know the long-term consequences they can cause.

What I found particularly interesting is that people who eat 5 fruits and vegetables a day from the "Dirty Dozen" list consume about 10 pesticides per day versus those who eat from the "Clean 15" who ingest fewer than 2 pesticides daily {according to EWG research/website}.  So there really is a significant difference here, especially when you start multiplying those numbers by each day.

They do advise that washing helps a little, and so can peeling; although the problem with peeling, of course, is that many nutrients are in the skins of produce, so you ideally don't want to waste the skins.  A good approach, in my opinion, would be to buy organic when possible.  Use the list below {provided by EWG site} to help you on your future market trips!

Dirty Dozen {Buy these organic}

Celery

Peaches

Strawberries

Apples

Blueberries

Nectarines

Bell Peppers

Spinach

Cherries

Kale/Collard Greens

Potatoes

Grapes

Clean 15 {Lowest in Pesticides}

Onions

Avocado

Sweet Corn

Pineapple

Mangos

Sweet Peas

Asparagus

Kiwi

Cabbage

Eggplant

Cantaloupe

Watermelon

Grapefruit

Sweet Potato

Honeydew Melon

Visit the EWG website to print off your own guide {wallet-sized!}; I have it printed already and just keep it in my purse for market & grocery store trips.  Or, if you have an iPhone, they also have an app you can download for easy reference from your phone when out shopping.

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Is your family's sunscreen safe?

So, if you're like me, you assume that when you purchase something that has the word "baby" in the title, it's safe to use on baby, right?  Well, perhaps.  And perhaps not.  Ugh. I know.  Just goes to show we can't buy into the marketing these companies send us.  Just one more thing for us Moms to research, right?

But I have some good news!  One of my friends recently introduced me to the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) website.  EWG is a nonprofit group that provides the results of their research to find healthy choices for everything we purchase to ultimately protect the public health and environement.  They offer oodles of information on what is safe ~ from lotions and makeup to deoderant and the produce we purchase for our families.  They are a one-stop shop for checking all the products you already have, and for finding safe ones to purchase in the future.  Meaning healthy choices for you, and a very small time commitment in which to find them!

The EWG rates everything on a 1-10 scale, with 0-2 being "recommended," 3-6 meaning "{use} caution," and 7-10 being "avoid."  And, according to EWG's website, there is currently a "surge in exaggerated SPF claims above 50 and new disclosures about potentially hazardous ingredients, in particular recently developed government data linking vitamin A to accelerated growth of skin tumors and lesions."  Scary stuff.  So, the main precaution here is finding products with the fewest chemicals possible that could penetrate the skin. Regarding sunscreens, here are a few from their "recommended" list:

*Alba Botanica Sun, Mineral Sunscreen Kids, SPF 30

*California Baby Sunscreen Lotion No Fragrance, SPF 30+

*Goddess Garden Natural Sunscreen, SPF 30+

These all rank 2 or less, and there are many, many more options on their website.  Interestingly enough, if you're like me, I found most of these to be brands I'd never heard of before, but the redeeming part is that once you click on any of the sunscreens, the EWG site provides a link you can click to find online retailers who offer these products.  Oh, and one other word of caution is that you can't think that just because it's a certain brand, it's safe to use.  For example, some of the Neutrogena sunscreens rank as "3" and some as "7"!!  Huge variety - so be sure to check each specific type.  And to make it easier while going out shopping, there is an 2010 Sunscreen app for your iPhone if you happen to have one.  So, there's no excuse not to get out there and find some of these!!

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Mommyhood-isms #2: Make Time.

You've probably heard the phrases, "Families Who Play Together Stay Together" or "Families Who Play Together Grow Together."

And while I couldn't agree more, I sometimes find it difficult to find time for this.  All the demands of being a mother {well, I don't want to stereotype here, but this is at least true in my circle of friends!} ~ from house chores to child care to cooking and running errands, it's exhausting.  Add in the fact that most mothers also work yet outside the home, too, and that makes for one exhausted mama!

But.  And this is a "big but" {no pun intended!}.  You simply MUST make time for your children.  Now, we can't actually make time in a literal sense, of course.  But could you imagine? "Dear God: Today I'd please like 26 hours in my day.2 extra hours for uninterrupted sleep today. Thank you. Amen."  So, I've been making a conscientious effort to spend more time playing with my kids. How?  Well, I've been cleaning less for one thing.  And if you knew me personally, you'd realize what a neat-freak I am, and that letting some cleaning go is actually a really big feat for me!  So things aren't always clean.  So what?  In fact, when I told my husband that I really needed to clean because I'd waited longer than normal to do it, he was like, "Really?  I hadn't noticed."  Hmph.  So all my effort cleaning goes to waste you're telling me?  Even more reason to do it less and put that effort into something that counts: family time.

Another suggestion would be to take 10 minute breaks here and there {whether you're a student studying, cleaning, working from home, etcetera} to spend one-hundred percent focused time on your children.  Get into their world and really just be with them.

I promise it will all pay off in the end.

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Hot Car {Tragedies}.

If you got the latest Parents magazine recently, you {hopefully read and} were reminded of how children can die {quite suddenly!} in cars when left inside them.  The weather only needs to be about 75 degrees or higher outside in order for this to happen! In just 30 minutes, the temperature inside a car can raise 35 degrees higher.  And don't think that if you live in a cooler climate, you're safe.  Because this can also happen to kids who are overly dressed or blanketed, too. 

What happens is that the child cannot self-regulate his temperature, which rises uncontrollably, and the child dies of hyperthermia. And all can happen in a matter of just 15 minutes.  And cracking the windows does not resolve this, either.

What's interesting is, that it isn't typically "bad parents" that this happens to. Often times, as observed by responders to these situations, it's the "good" parents to whom this happens.  And the tragedy doesn't profile either ~ it happens to people of all races, genders, incomes and the like.

It breaks my heart to hear about this, of course, and it really upsets me when people say things like, "How stupid do you have to be to forget your kid in the car!?"  My child having survived his own near-death tragedy {although not from a hot car, as we're addressing today}, I realize how quickly things like this can happen.  Even to the best of us.  The culprits that you'll typically see with this scenario is a change in daily routine, lack of sleep & stress.  It's like one Mom said, "...all it takes is one sleep-deprived parent and one sleeping baby."  I think we can all relate to that scenario.

So, I bring this to you not to scare you {okay.  well, maybe a little!}, but to prepare you to make sure this doesn't, no, can't, happen to you!  "How?" you ask?  Read below {as taken from Parents magazine}:

*MOST IMPORTANTLY {in my opinion!}: Place your cell phone & purse {anything you really "need" when you exit the car} on the floor in the backseat by your little one.  


*Put your younger (or more quiet) child behind the front passenger seat.  You're more likely to see them there, versus when they sit directly behind you.

 *Keep a teddy bear or other stuffed animal in the car seat when it's empty.  When the child is in the seat, move the animal to the front seat of the car, so you are reminded that baby is with you.


*Have your nanny/babysitter/teacher call you right away if your child isn't dropped off as scheduled.


*Make a habit to always open the back door of your car after you park.


*Never assume that someone else has removed your child from their car seat - always check yourself.


*Invest in the Cars-N-Kids monitor that plays a lullabye when the car stop and a child is in the seat (carsnkids.com).  Or the ChildMinder System sounds an alarm if you walk away and leave your child in the seat (babyalert.info).

For more information on tips to avoid hyperthermia and other car dangers with children, visit Kidsandcars.org.

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{Bulk up} on Fresh Produce.

We as mothers know how important as ever it is to get the fruits and veggies in our little ones, but we also know how expensive that can be.  And in this economy, unfortunately healthy eating often goes by the wayside.


So one solution I've heard of {and thought about doing, but haven't yet pulled the trigger on!} is joining a food co-op.  That is, an organization that groups people's resources {a.k.a. money} together to be able to buy bulk amounts of {fresh, might I add!} fruits & veggies.  You get loads of fresh produce at a fraction of the cost of what you would pay at the grocery store.  Why?  You're buying in bulk and often times buying directly from the farmers themselves.  And all you need to do is pay the fee and pick up your produce.

I know there is the "Bountiful Baskets" co-op in Arizona, if you'd like to check it out!  And if you live elsewhere, just do an online search for "food co-op" with your city listed behind it, and you should be able to find some results.

Also, if any of you are involved in one, please let me know how you like it, and if you'd recommend it!

Have a fabulous day, everyone! :)

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Passage of the "Nee-Nee."

Oh, how good it feels to get rid of "the nee-nee" in our house.  I'm talking about my son's pacifier.  I'm not exactly sure how we acquired that name over here.  I know we started by calling it his "Nookie" {after the brand, "Nuk."}, but it affectionately became known as the "nee-nee" thereafter.  I presume because my son {at the time} couldn't pronounce the word "nookie."  Anyhow.  At 3 years of age, he finally has given it up.  And, much to my liking, it was done very easily.

Now, we had pretty well weaned him of it {he used it only for naps & bedtime}, but still...the thought of trying to rid it completely was daunting.  Afterall, you never know what kind of fight lies ahead of you!  How it worked over here was that he began chewing on them.  And as soon as a hole developed, we'd throw it away.  I just told him that once there was a hole, it could grow bacteria and make him sick, so we had to throw it away.  When we finally got down to the last one, he actually chewed the nipple off {yikes!}.  So that took care of that.  No more "nee-nees" meant no more "nee-nees."  Simply as that.  He did ask for it the first night without it, but that was the last I heard of it {whoo-hoo!}.

Now, I know some of you struggle with this very same issue - ridding the "nee-nee." I know this because I've heard story after story about how to do it and WIN the battle!  Apparently it's not usually a very easy task, so I wanted to bring to light some ideas I've heard of ~ ones I considered using myself if need be.  Thankfully, we didn't get to that point, but just in case you do, here they are:

A) Throw a "Bye-Bye, Pacifier" {or whatever term you may use!} Party.  My brother used this one with his daughter when she was 3 1/2 {I'd think do the "half" birthdays is best, so as not to confuse with the actual birthdays}.  They invited her friends over, had a cake & everything {in fact, it was a Barbie cake, with Barbie holding her pacifier!}.  After the cake was eaten, my niece simply threw the pacifiers in the trash, saying "goodbye," and that was it.  She was done, cold turkey.  A bit of a production for this solution, but possibly worth every penny!

B) Cut off the nipples.  Now, I find this solution a bit extreme myself because there's no expectation of them being ruined.  All of a sudden, they're unusable, and your little one's not only miffed but probably also terribly upset!  However, if you don't want to beat around the bush {or spend any extra money, for that matter}, this might be a good solution for you.

C) Donate them to a new baby who needs them.  Tell your little one that a new baby {maybe a friend's baby} has come along and now he/she needs them.  Have your little one take over the news as a special gift.

D) Binkie Fairy.  I thought of this one on my own...not sure how well it would work since we didn't actually need to do it over here, but perhaps you might give it a try and let me know how it goes!  Anyway.  The concept is like that of the Tooth Fairy, of course.  Only this fairy comes to take all your nee-nees and leaves coins for them instead.

E) Trade for Toys.  Gather up all the pacifiers you have, and take them to your child's favorite toy store.  Have your child pick out a new toy and "pay" for it with the pacifiers {talk to the clerk beforehand to let them know what you're up to}.

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Happy New Year!

So with the New Year comes a time for rejuvenation, new {dare I say} resolutions, and, well, new life, right? So I was thinking, why not get some advice from all you seasoned parents out there to pass on to all those new {or soon-to-be} parents! Here's what we want to know:

*What is the best pregnancy advice you have for a soon-to-be new Mom or Dad?
*What is the best infant advice you can tell new parents?
*What is the best toddler advice you have for those dealing with the
terrible 2's and 3's?

And just to make this even more fun and interesting, let's start off the new year with a FREE GIFT for the best piece/s of advice we receive! I'll choose the winner/s at the end of January, and they'll have 48 hours to claim their prize from Adam's Blankie and/or Gourmet Play!

Fixing Boo-Boos in Style

No child (or parent, for that matter) likes experiencing the pain from a boo-boo, of course, but perhaps a little stylish rescue from Mom or Dad would help lessen the pain. I know it worked for me as a kid!

Start with an "Owie-All-Gone Bag" from Adam's Blankie. You can custom order these in any designer cotton fabric available from their shop, and they come in three sizes - small, medium or large. Store them in the freezer and then pull out when the owie beckons. The pain will go away and all in stylish, mod fabric, without any chemicals or the sting of ice. The better bang for your buck is that the medium and large-sized ones also double as heat therapy packs, meaning Mom & Dad can use them, too, to relieve aching muscles & cramps!



Then you can apply any number of designer bandages out there. You've probably seen some basic character-themed ones in your local grocery or drug store, but check out a few sites listed below for vintage ones like Pac-Man & Peanuts along with your kids' favorite foods like pickles, bacon or sushi!


Pac-Man bandages from Thisnext.com


Sushi bandages from PerpetualKid.comMonkey bandages from Mcphee.com



Cupcake bandages from PerpetualKid.comBacon & Eggs bandages from Thisnext.com

Once the bandage is ready to be removed, you can do so in a painless manner by dousing a cotton ball in some baby oil (or olive oil, if you don't have some baby oil in the house) and then rubbing it over the bandage until it falls off!

The only trouble now? Preventing boo-boos your child inflicts on purpose, just for the sake of some fashionable first-aid!

Telling Time Toddler-Style

So one of the latest temper-tantrum causers in our household is learning patience, and of course, I know I'm not alone in this! The difference between minutes, hours, weeks and months really means nothing to a 2-year old, so you must explain how long they must wait for something in their own discernible terms.

"Little" Waits
What I've found is best is explaining all the processes, events, etcetera, that must take place before whatever it is they're waiting for will happen. If you need to prepare dinner, but Johnny insists you stop and sit down to play trucks with him, try explaining all the steps you must do to prepare this meal to him. For example, "Johnny, I'd love to sit and play with you, but first I must wash and cut the potatoes, then add the cheese & spices...."). Go on to say that once you reach such a point (e.g., putting the casserole in the oven), you can sit and play with him. For short-awaited events, you can also try setting a timer for them to watch so that they can "see" their time to play with you advancing.

"Big" Waits
Is your 3 year old anxiously awaiting an upcoming trip? Try explaining what will happen on the days prior to this event (e.g., "Today we're going to do "x, y & z," then we'll go to bed tonight. Tomorrow we'll do "a, b & c" and so on. Of course, not mentioning something they're excited for too far in advance is also a good idea!) Another option for distant events? Do it like you do at Christmastime: make a paper-link chain (also a great craft activity to do with the kids!), with each link representing how many days until you go to Disneyland, for example. Each day she can remove a link from the chain, and this will give her not only a great concept as to how long a day actually is, but she can feel good about seeing the links disappear and move that much closer to her great anticipation of the (dreaded & dizzying!) "tea cup" ride!

Books to Help
There are several kids' books out their on this topic, as well. You can try reading "The Pigeon Wants a Puppy," "Lucy's Secret," or "Green Yellow Go! Nat Knows Bananas."

Help Your Kids Learn to Love Veggies

There comes a time when most children reject vegetables as an even remotely close edible option for dinner! (Some kids even reject them right out of the womb!) It's funny how their taste progresses...I remember my son absolutely loved his pureed peas and squash as an infant. Then, in an instant, one day he decides he won't tolerate them. It's maddening for parents, of course, especially when the pediatrician keeps asking about how the veggies are going, right?

I tried sauteeing the vegetables in butter, and adding some brown sugar to cooked carrots, or topping broccoli with melted cheese, but I'm telling you - these "tricks" just did NOT get past my son! (If you find they work for you, though, by all means....!) The one thing I DID find that worked was investing in a juicer. Now I can sneak in any old vegetable, as long as it's with enough fruit! I usually do some apples and oranges alongside veggies like carrots & celery -- you'd be surprised what you can get away with! You really can toss just about any fruit or vegetable in there (except bananas), so you don't have to follow a receipe, per se, although most juicers do come with a recipe book with some great mixing options.


Another alternative, or perhaps, just an "enhancer," if you will, would be purchasing "Henry and the Hidden Veggie Garden." It's a book written by actress and mom Kimberly Williams-Paisley, in an effort to get her own kids to eat their vegetables. Henry rejects vegetables by hiding them under his napkin, but after a visit to his aunt's farm, he discovers something that changes his perception of vegetables. You can purchase the book for only $5.00 at www.loveyourveggiesgrants.org - a small price to pay for investing in your child's health!

Just a few more days before we draw the lucky winner for the children's ironing board set! Make sure to check out the "give-aways" or post from 6/22 to enter for your chance to win!!

Conquering the Monsters in the Closet

So if you are the parent of a toddler, you may have already started hearing about how he's scared of the "monsters in the closet" (or under the bed, or behind the door...you name it - they're there!). As adults, of course, we know that these monsters really don't exist, but try proving that to your 3-year old (remember how REAL they seemed to you when you were that little?!)! Of course, it's totally natural, and often times actually good that they have fears (they NEED to be afraid of a hot stove/growling dog/creepy man to keep safe, afterall, right?), but when fears arise, regardless of them being irrational or not, of course we only want to soothe our children and make the fear just go away.

Coping Skills & Physical Aides
With younger kids, say 2 or 3 years old, they are often afraid of things they simply don't understand. So if they hear a thunderstorm, for example, it might sound scary to them, and so they'll be afraid of it. One strategy for this would be to find some books about "happy" thunderstorms, for example, or just to get yourself excited about the storm when it comes and try explaining why thunderstorms are good and that you actually like them! Make sure you don't make them feel silly about being afraid, but let them know that their fear is just a misunderstanding, and that reasons "x, y, and z" are why they needn't be afraid of the storm. For the common fear of the dark, a night-light works wonders, of course. For smaller & tangible things they might fear, you might want to try putting physical "protectors" over the culprit. If kids can just see the protector, that will usually cure the problem. This theory goes hand-in-hand with the generalization that physical items kids can hold on to give them comfort. Take the lovie/security blankies you see many small children carrying around themselves, for example ~ they're an easy, practical solution that bring many kids comfort at a very economical price. (Check out Adam's Blankie for some designer knottie ribbon sensory blankies!)

Facts & Steps Taken
As children get older, their fears become less abstract and more about experiences in life that have already happened to them or their friends, or that they've seen on the television perhaps. One example might be dealing the with death of a grandparent. Psychologist Vicki Panaccione, Ph.D., says it is healthy to discuss death, and that explaining to your child that you intend to live long, and that you've done such things as eating healthy, exercising, for example, to help make sure that happens, will comfort them. For tragedies they might witness on the t.v., you could first and foremost, make sure you know exactly what t.v. shows they're watching, and limit the "scary" things (news being one of them!). But, as we all know, we can only keep them from hearing about and seeing things for so long, so if they've already witnessed a scary hurricane on t.v. that wiped out a town, explaining the rarity of the event, along with explaining steps you've taken to help stay safe should it happen to your family, are helpful.

*Don't forget our current FREE GIVE-AWAY going on - register for your chance to win a children's wooden ironing board set!! (see "give-aways" or post from 6/22)!!!

Lessons a Mommy Can Learn from Her Little One

So of course we as parents have so much knowledge, skills & life lessons to teach and pass on to our children. BUT, what about lessons they can teach us? I found these quotes from a Parents magazine, and thought they were so adorable and insightful so wanted to pass them on to you. Just imagine your little one saying (or thinking) them...they're just so precious and really make you think.

"Love me, even when I'm naughty. I'll only be this age once."
"Be patient. I do everything for a reason, but I don't know enough words yet to give you an explanation."
"Don't expect too much from me. I want to do what you ask and make you happy, but I'm still little."
"Keep your promises. It's all about trust. When I'm a teenager, you'll understand why it's so important."
"Let me do it. I know you can do it faster and better, but sometimes experience is the best teacher."
"Stop freaking out about the mess! There's always time to clean - but how often do we get to make mud pies?"
"Don't try to reason with me when I'm having a tantrum. Trust me - I can't hear you over my own screaming."
"Don't let me think that you're perfect. I feel a lot better knowing I'm not the only one who makes mistakes sometimes."
"Set limits. I can't actually eat a whole box of cookies - I just want to see if I'd get away with it."

(by Mary Mohler)

Binkie & Tooth Fairy Pillows

All right. Any parent out there who has had to tear their 2 or 3-year old child away from his or her "binkie" (pacifier) knows how difficult this dreadful time is for both child and parent alike. "Why can't there be an easier way to do this?!" you ask.

Adam's Blankie has your answer:

Binkie Fairy Pillows

When the time arrives that you think is paramount for weaning your child from his binkie, you are to wrap up as a gift and present your child with the Binkie Fairy Pillow. Upon opening, explain to your child that he is a "Big Boy" now and that his binkie is now needed for the new babies being born who don't have binkies yet. That night, have your toddler place his binkie into his new Binkie Fairy Pillow and then have him hang it from his doorknob. Explain that the "Binkie Fairy" will come that night and in exchange will bring him a toy! In the morning, your toddler awakens with sheer delight that he has both helped a newborn find comfort in his old binkie (well, okay. this part might take a while) and that the "Binkie Fairy" has gifted upon him a new toy!

This very pillow can later double as the Tooth Fairy Pillow. This time, though, your child is placing her missing tooth in the pillow for the "Tooth Fairy" to take in exchange for some coins.

"Sounds good. So how much do the
"Binkie Fairy" and "Tooth Fairy" bring to kids these days?"

Good question! Obviously this will vary by household, but a survey done by Parents magazing in late 2008 showed the following averages for teeth and other items:

Tooth Fairy - $1/tooth
Allowance - 50 cents- $1 per week for each year of age
Party present - $15 for preschooler
Teacher Gift - No consensus. Parents recommended $10 giftcard to Starbucks or $20 giftcard to bookstore.
Babysitting - $8-$10/hour for suburbs, and up to $20/hour in big cities (e.g. New York)

To purchase the Binkie Fairy/Tooth Fairy pillow, please visit Adam's Blankie.

I'd love to hear how this goes if you do it! email me at adamsblankie@gmail.com

Best Baby Shower Gifts for 2009

When it comes to purchasing a gift for a baby shower, we all want our gifts to be special, unique and undeniably adorable, eliciting the best round of "oooh's" and "aaahh's" from the crowd. But how does one go about digging through the gobs and gobs of choices out there with minimal time on all our hands? Well, I've saved you all the legwork, and have compiled what I consider to be the best baby shower gift ideas for 2009, and they fit any budget, ranging from just $5.50 to $150.00 Here they are, in random order:


Personalized Alphabet Book
Every baby needs a new book, and better than just any old book out there, why not give him or her one that will not only begin to teach the basics and be beautiful to look at, but also personalized with his or her name on the cover. What a true treasure to hold on to forever! The recipient can also choose the exterior color of the book (green, blue or pink), choose the option to add spanish, french or italian to make the book bilingual, AND choose hard or soft cover. You can order the book from www.sweetartsdesign.com.


Owie-All-Gone Bags
I love this idea for taking care of baby's bumps & bruises they undoubtedly will collect when learning to walk and bumping into everything in sight! You can toss the small ones in the freezer and pull them out at the drop of a hat to use to soothe baby's owies, and all without the sting of ice and in sleek, sophisticated fabrics! Check Adam's Blankie to purchase.


Baby Silk Delicate Skin Comfort
This liquid powder goes on like a lotion and then transforms into a silky powder that is designed to keep baby's crevices cool and dry. The powder contains marine silk, vitamins E and B5, aloe, shea butter, corn starch and licorice extract to refresh the delicate skin of baby. It is hypoallergenic, contains no mineral oils, has not been tested on animals, and is made in the USA. Find the powder at www.mdmoms.com.


Monkey Organic Hooded Towel
This hooded towel comes from 3 Sprouts, is organic, and comes in your choice of gray or yellow. Measuring 29"x29" and running you $37.00, the towel is absolutely adorable!


Lovie (Security) Blankies
These are fantastic gifts for baby, as they are constructed with ribbon loops to help keep baby stimulated and soothed at the same time. Babies loves to feel & rub the ribbons between their fingers, not to mention they find the both the sight of the ribbons and the sound of them rubbing together fascinating! They are handcrafted with designer cotton fabric on top and plush minky for cuddling on the back. These are truly a multi-functional blanket that every baby should have, and at 12"x12" square, they're the perfect size for small hands. They come from Adam's Blankie in all styles and colors, and if you don't see what you're looking for on the site, they also welcome custom orders!


Going Green with Baby
Get this book from Amazon for only about $17.00. It's a great guide for all baby products & finds out there. As one Mom puts it, "This book is a great resource! It covers everything an environmentally responsible mom needs to know when making green choices- from how to be green on a budget, to why certain products/ingredients are better than others, to where to find the products you want."

BabySitter Notes
I use something very similar to these babysitter notes all the time whenever we get a babysitter for our son. The topics listed ensure you won't forget anything the babysitter needs to know, including your phone number/s, what's for dinner, what time bedtime is, and what is and is not okay. Sure, we could all print something similar off our computer at home, but these are conveniently made in a notepad style and ready to use at any time, not to mention they look cute. The notepad includes 50 sheets and is only $8.


Rockstar Bib & Burp Set
Among the many chic and modern baby choices for bibbie and burpie sets ($22.50) from Adam's Blankie, this set is a favorite for boys in particular. It is handcrafted, made of 100% designer cotton fabric on top and a plush chenille on the back for extra absorbancy. They also close with a strong pearl snap for both a designer look and longevity of use (they don't use velcro, because velcro wears down over time, not to mention baby can pull a velcro bib off!). So forget the plasticky types that are uncomfortable and totally unnatural, and go for something ultra mod, sophisticated, natural & plush with this choice! Check their website for more options for girls, boys and for those friends not finding out the gender, as well!


Glass Baby Bottle & Siliskin Protectors
With all the concern over unnatural chemicals (BPA) leaking out of plastic bottles and getting into baby's system, I highly advocate considering glass bottles as an alternative. You may be asking yourself, "Yes, that sounds wonderful, but what about them breaking - aren't they impractical??" Well, that's a fantastic question & concern, and my answer to that would be the bottle protectors from Siliskin. While they won't absolutely prevent the bottles from breaking, that is the idea behind them, and if they do happen to break, the protectors will likely contain any glass shards within the "wrapper." They are also dishwasher safe and come in a palette of soothing colors. You can click here for more reviews, or check out Amazon to purchase.
Adiri Natural Nurser Bottle
When we had our son, I never knew these existed (or maybe they did, but I didn't know it!). At any rate, I LOVE the idea of them, as they seem like they would make the transition from nursing to bottle-feeding so much easier. You can find them for about $12.99 from Babies R Us.


Plush Teething Giraffe Rattle
Here is not only an adorable stuffed animal baby can touch & tote around by him or herself, but it is also a natural teether AND rattle ($12.00)! Adam's Blankie carries a variety in many designer fabrics, but this one in particular is special with its black, red and white colors, in that they are the first colors baby's eyes can recognize! Use the rattle as a gift-topper for a package for the baby shower, and later as a decoration in the nursery in addition to its purpose as a rattle & teether!


Lullaby Exercises DVD/CD
Here's a fabulous gift from Chicks-n-Chickens for every Mom who swears they'll be getting into those "pre-baby jeans" in no time! The set includes a 35-minute DVD with high-energy music and a "sleep" mode CD to cool things down and send baby into naptime.


French Dried Lavender Sachets (3)
Lavender is known for soothing people in general, and this does include babies, of course! What a great idea to give to Mom for use in baby's diaper drawer, clothing drawers, closet, diaper bag, wet bag, or laundry! What I especially love (besides the $5.50 price for a set of 3) is that they are one hundred percent natural (versus some room sprays out there laden with chemicals), contain no fillers, and you can choose the fabric in which they are handcrafted! Check Adam's Blankie for choices & purchasing - custom orders are welcome from any of their fabrics on hand! (P.S. I'd also advise getting a set just for Mom to have for herself during those rough first couple months!)


Kiddopotamus Tiny Diner Portable Placemat
We got this for our son, and I cannot begin to tell you how many times we got asked where we got this thing! It's an absolute must for outings with your little one, and makes clean-up a snap, not to mention you don't have to worry about baby getting into all the germs on the table!


Beaba Babycook
I wrote about the Babycook ($150.00) last week, but couldn't resist bringing it back to our "best of" list for shower gifts for 2009 because I think it is such a gem! It saves Mom time, takes the place of a few kitchen gadgets she'd otherwise need to do what it does, and makes healthy food for her baby right in her own kitchen!


Sterling Silver Hand-Stamped Necklace
I purchased one of these from SilverMePendants and absolutely love it! I realize this is, of course, not a gift for baby, but I'm a huge advocate of gifting something just for the Mom-to-be at a shower...any one out there who has given birth knows she absolutely deserves it, after all! Get it custom made with the baby-to-be's name hand-stamped on the pendant, and embellished with a (birthstone) swarovski crystal or sterling silver heart. Mom can enjoy the necklace both before and after baby arrives, keeping her baby close to her heart!

Any of the aforementioned gifts would make fantastic gifts, I'm certain! You can feel confident you've purchased something both exquisite, practical or beautiful with any of these selections.

Stay tuned for how to host the best baby shower ~ tips & how-to's coming this Monday, May 25th!