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We all know how important it is to wear sunscreen.  This is especially true when it comes to baby’s sensitive skin.  But what exactly are you putting on baby is equally as important.  The Environmental Working Group – ewg.org – rates sunscreens from Best to Worst and it’s worth taking a look before you head down he coast for your winter holiday.

Explore EWG’s 2011 Sunscreen Guide…

EWG’s 2011 sunscreen guide rates more than 1,700 sunscreens, lip balms, and SPF moisturizers and makeup. Only about 1 of every 5 sunscreens passes the test. Learn why so many brands fail and what you can do to stay safe in the sun.

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It’s great news to find out that you are pregnant. Well, second to hearing the grand proposal of a lifetime.  After a successful wedding ceremony, hearing that your love has borne fruit is the icing on the cake. For first time expecting mothers, it can be crazy to research all the right toys and things a baby will need . Moms-to-be need to list down all the things the baby would need at the soonest possible time so that little by little, each item can already be purchased and readied for the baby’s arrival . But there is another easy way to almost have it all, without getting too much headache over it. The solution is to hold a baby shower party! The only headache mom-to-be would have is the menu she would have to prepare on that day and that is easier for her. For those attending find the perfect gift – personalized baby gifts.

Now the burden of searching and looking for baby stuff is passed on to the invitees .  But another concern is raised. How will the baby shower go about? The best answer there is, is to have a theme that would guide the flow of the baby shower. Choosing and picking a theme can be fun, and there are a number of ways to do it . Do you want it to be based on color? In case you already know the gender of the baby, pink or blue is used to universally represent a baby girl or a baby boy. Or baby items such as a pacifier or a baby bottle? How about character-themed baby shower such as the Sesame Street, Power Puff Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory or the Looney Tunes? It could also be a time-of-the-day baby shower whereby each invitee is tasked to bring something the baby would need or use during that time of the day.

From www.personalized-engraved-gift.com, it suggests wonderful baby shower gift ideas such as  a baby gift basket, a layette gift set, vital baby equipment, beautiful baby linen, a baby massage set, or a baby gift certificate.  every gift idea can be unique . For the baby gift basket, some ideas they suggest is to create your own baby gift basket or go for the classical clothing baby gift basket where you can never go wrong. You can also go for the psonalized baby gift baskets, all kinds of fun crazy gift baskets . They also have different suggestions for baby girl and baby boys. For the complete descriptions for each item, just visit their website and read on to find fantastic baby gift ideas.

After the baby shower is over , take stock of what is already there and not . For those items still missing from your list, make the necessary arrangements to have it readily available once the baby arrives.

Just some last few tips for a successful baby shower: have it four to six weeks before the due date, decide on a theme, write down the guest list, set the tone and size of the baby shower, plan the games, choose the food , create baby shower party favors, and last but not the least, set the time and location, if it will not be held in your residence. Remember, baby showers are a fun way to welcome the baby that would be coming soon enough.

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Keep It Safe For Your Young Ones At Home

This article about home protection for your child is brought to you by BatteryOperatedKidsCars.com. If you’re looking for a fun toy that will keep your child entertained for years to come, visit our website and take a look at the large variety of battery operated kids cars offered.

It is one of the greatest moments in many people’s lives once they become parents for the first time. It signifies the start of a new way of living and although children bring you joy and happiness there is also the reality of recognizing you are responsible for their safety and well being. It is advisable to make sure that your home is devoid of things that may cause injury or harm to your young child. Listed here are some pointers for what you can do around your house to keep your children safe and accident free.

One of the main steps for a child is when they begin to become mobile, be it creeping, crawling or walking. This is the point in time when you can feel you need eyes in the back of your head given that the natural curiosity of children can put them in all sorts of danger. If you have a multi-story home, it is vital that you have a stair gate for both the bottom and top of the stairways. If you have a fire place, you want to be sure that you have some type of guard to surround it.

Even though it is obvious that we need to keep prescription drugs away from the reach of children, we also need to make sure that they also don’t have access to cleaning products and other hazardous materials. It is not possible to put everything out of reach therefore simple child safety cupboard locks can be fitted where necessary. You’ll be astonished at all the different types of safety locks and guards that are available. It is likely you want to do an inventory of your home to see what could be potential hazards. When you have your list of things, you can then go out and find things that can protect your child. The original efforts are well worth it since it will give you peace of mind in the end.

The windows and doors to your home are also a concern and you need to make sure that these can be locked securely. It is usually important for a house to have working smoke alarms and this is especially the case when you have young children. If there ever is a fire inside your home, having the smoke alarm can save you and your children. The task is to employ a proper escape route but at least your smoke alarm works.

Along with thinking about the inside of your home, you should also make any changes to your garden that are required to make it child friendly. This is especially significant if you have a garden fish-pond. The perfect answer is to fill the pond in thoroughly. Unless you want to fill the pond up, then you will have to have your pond fenced.

These are merely a few of the things you need to complete to keep your home secure for your children.

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Big Dipper Baby Food

How does organic baby food differ from what I can get at Safeway?

Our food is Fresh, which makes it as close to homemade as you can get without actually making it yourself. There are a lot of recent studies too that reveal that many common brand name baby foods that you find on the shelves use fillers, ie flours, and heavily dilute their product with water. This can reduce the nutritional value of the product as well as make it difficult to identify reactions to food that your baby may have because these ingredients generally aren’t listed.

Will my baby like it?

One of my driving motivations is the idea that healthy eating habits start with the first bite. Think of how many times you’ve heard how people never like spinach, beets, brussel sprouts, parsnips, and many other veggies because of how they were prepared when they were young. Imaging the possibility of choices that your baby could grow up to make if they grew up knowing and enjoying these foods and more because they were prepared well and introduced early.

Can’t I just make this at home?

You can make your babies food at home. We find that many parents WANT to make their babies food, and do make some of it. But it is hard to find the time/energy/creativity to

a) Make food that your baby will eat

b) Provide balanced choices,

c) Create and introduce new flavors that meet the previous criteria-especially the older they get.

The list goes on. We want to provide a great option for parents committed to these standards.

I don’t eat organically, why should my baby?

For starters, your baby is just starting off! Think about it, first bites, ever! They are living examples of how you are what you eat. Look how far they’ve come in just 4-6 months off of milk alone! What they eat and drink affects everything. Knowingly putting a spoonful of food into their mouth that contains chemicals that WILL be harmful to them in one way or another just doesn’t sound like a choice many people would make very often, if at all, if they really thought about it. And, our food is not just about being organic. It’s also about not being off of a shelf. Think of how you would feel if you ate nothing but canned food for 4-6 months straight.

Organic baby food is more expensive than is regular baby food, does that mean that organic baby food is better?

Well, yes! Organic regulations limit potentially harmful chemical use so that you don’t consume them. I think it is simple. And for now, Organic ingredients cost more; hence the baby food does to. Organic takes more work to grow (without the heavy use of herb/pesticides), is an expensive certification, and more. The hope though for all, I believe, is that by supporting organic now, while it is more expensive will someday help bring it down enough that it will not take personal sacrifice ($$) to make the healthier choice.

Does Big Dipper cater to babies with allergies?

WE are very happy to work with parents/children with allergies. We are available to customize a program for your infants/toddler and at our store, we offer a wide selection of puree’s in hopes that anyone will be able to find at least a few things that support their dietary needs. We rarely use milk products in our purees. Instead we love making and cooking with freshly coconut milk. It adds great flavor and a delicate sweetness that babies and parents both enjoy.

How do I maintain my baby’s organic food when I get it home?

Our food lasts in your fridge up to 4 days, and in your freezer up to 3 months! We suggest purchasing a variety of flavors, keeping a few ounces of each in the fridge that your child will enjoy over the next few days, and putting the rest in the freezer portioned out into meal sizes (generally 4oz). A lot of people use ice cube trays, seal them tightly in saran wrap, then pop a cube out and defrost when its meal time! Basically you treat it the same as you would your homemade food.

What ages do you serve?

WE serve infants having their first bites (as early as 4 months). We always have 1-2 single ingredient puree’s that are great for starter foods, as well as 2-3 other puree options each day that are sure to include greens, protein, and many other essentials! Our menu changes on Monday and Friday, but we are always layering in newly developed purees.

We offer 1-2 ‘stage 4′ options as well, soft foods with more texture then puree’s. AND, we have kids meal boxes-basically great entree options that are a sure bet (usually pasta or chicken w/sides) for parents to pick up when they need some help with dinner, or their child’s school/camp/daycare lunch, or to have stocked in the fridge as a backup meal. We offer 1-2 items every day, ranging from Chicken Teriyaki with Brown Fried Rice to Noodle Kugel, to Mac and Cheese with White Beans and fruit salad.

Do you deliver?

We do delivery. We have a regular delivery service on Sunday’s, but are happy work out a customized program for families, day-cares and schools.

Where can I find out more about Big Digger Baby Food?

Until our website is up, we are all over our Facebook page – Big Dipper Baby Food! We update our menu’s there, answer questions, have specials, promotions, etc. Also, anyone can call us at 415-879-0433. We’re happy to answer any questions.

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FUN meals for kids

Preparing meals for kids is difficult especially these days when children love to go for those colorful breakfast cereal products because of their favorite cartoon characters on the package. Many even combine toys for their fast food meals to get the interest of little ones. Others design their chow into alphabets or creatures to steal their interest.The meal that turns on their mind most likely wins the heart and bellies of these kids.

It could be so simple if only your children liked eating fruits, veggies and other nourishing meals essential to their growth. This involves a little more discipline to develop and why not a healthy serving of FUN for their eating experience to go smoothly. Check out some of the FUN meal strategies you can make for the kids.

• Try giving their snacks with exciting names that they can remember.
• The meal they eat ought to come in kid-sized amounts so they would not shed their appetite by being way too full of the same stuff.
• Give them a range of unique textures such as crispy vegetables, saucy pastas, tender chicken and frosty milk shakes.
• Cook colorful dishes that appear in several sizes and shapes try out mixing the vegetables or shaping their bread into stars.

Recall when we were kids when all of us just loved to assist our dad and mom do stuff. This can be utilized to grab their focus to take healthy and balanced meals. We can easily involve them in preparing their food so it would be a lot more interesting for them. Below are great tips for your food session with the kids:

• Work with basic ingredients that children can handle like milk, flour, eggs and fruits.
• It ought to be very simple to put together to allow them to help.
• Impart them with safe chores like mixing greens, washing fresh fruits or measuring the milk. Leave the slicing and cooking element for yourself.
• It ought to be quick to put together so they will not get tired and lose their eagerness.

It’s easy to produce these FUN meals for kids we just have to think like children again! We must know the way to capture the imagination of our energy loaded little tots. You may also use food as a incentive for playing games, using this method they will think that eating vegetables is a prize for a job well done. After some time you don’t have to pressure them to eat their celery or their wheat bread, it would just come naturally. If we put a little effort into cooking our kid’s meals we could include healthy food to their diet effortlessly.

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Buying toys and plush animals for children isn’t always easy. No longer being children ourselves, it’s hard to get into the head of the modern child and understand what they would enjoy. This is especially true if we don’t have a lot of experience with kids, and so we often bemoan the lack of guidelines for what to look for in the toy section. Toy stores and toy sections rarely have knowledgeable staff, and all the toy label itself will have is the general information that tells us what ages the toy is safe for. We often end up buying the so-called “must have” toy of the season, either because it has been heavily advertised, or because that’s what the sales person tells us is the “hot” toy. But how do we know this “must have” toy is right for child we’re getting it for?

That is why we have developed these five guidelines that will help you decide which stuffed animal is the right one to give for a gift. Read on, and make your gift giving experience much easier.

1. Age

Age can be a good indicator in as that it can tell you how specific you have to be. If you’re getting a gift for a toddler, practically any stuffed animal is good, as they haven’t developed specific tastes yet. But if the child is older, it’s probably a good idea to ask their parents if they are really into a particular animal. For example, they could love whimsical creatures such as unicorns, or they might love jungle animals, such as a stuffed lion. Remember, most older children have very developed likes, so it doesn’t hurt to do a little research by talking to someone close to them.

2. Safety

This is a critical consideration. Always make sure that the toy you buy is safe, especially if the child is very young. If the child is under three years of age, any toy with small parts or sharp edges is a big no-no. For example, make sure that the nose and eyes of a stuffed animal won’t easily fall off and give the child something to choke on.

3. Gender

There are very different toys marketed for little boys and little girls, so always consider gender when getting a gift. Girls often prefer plush animals that are colorful, cute, and sweet. These could include cute teddy bears, little chipmunks, a plush cat, or a plush dog. Boys often enjoy stuffed animals that are a bit mightier, with an edge of danger. These include stuffed lions, stuffed tigers, or a big grizzly bear.

4. Quality

This ties in with the issue of safety. If a toy is not high-quality, you run the danger of having a safety issue. A poorly built or stitched toy could allow parts to come off, and cause the possibility of choking on little pieces. Also, just imagine how sad a child would be if they got attached to the stuffed toy you bought them, and then it falls apart! Don’t sacrifice quality for price. Remember, there are plenty of high quality stuffed animals out there that you can get a good deal on.

5. Purpose

The last guideline has to do with the purpose you have when giving the gift. Maybe you want to give them a bed time toy, or you want to get them something with some educational value. Educational toys feed a child’s curiosity. Just imagine getting them a stuffed lion or stuffed tiger with the purpose of feeding their curiosity on the natural world. Or maybe you know that they are having a hard time lately. Get them something comforting, such as a cute teddy bear or a sweet stuffed toy pet. You can combine the function of the present with the child’s personality and needs, getting them a great gift.

So as you can see, there are five easy guidelines to follow when getting a gift for a child. Don’t just buy the newest “hot” toy with no forethought. Consider age, gender, safety, quality and the function of your gift. Getting a fantastic present doesn’t have to be difficult when you have these great guidelines to follow!

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How to Build A Puppet Show

Ready to spend a fun day together with your kids? Then hop to this great family activity that will keep you and your little ones busy and smiling. To create your own puppet show you need a short story, some plush animals and a bit of creativity. The props are easy to improvise once you have the right mindset. It only takes a bottle cap to create the porridge bowl that Goldilocks ate from. So, start imagining and create and amazing puppet show for you and your family.

Are you looking for something fun to do for your kids while their stuck inside because of bad weather? Many of us would prefer to keep them away from the television, but that means we have to keep them busy. Luckily, there’s a really fun idea: build a puppet show. Rather than just reading a story aloud, acting it out with puppets is a great way to create a fantastic memory for your children. And most importantly, you’ll get to spend more time with your kids! And once their older, they’ll be challenged to put on one of their own!

Goldilocks and the Three Bears Puppet Show

Luckily for us, creating a puppet show doesn’t have to be horribly complicated. In fact, you don’t actually need to go out and buy puppets. Most children already have stuffed animals and dolls, and they’ll be thrilled to see their favorite toy staring in a puppet theatre! Costume their toys with your own accessories, such as jewelry, hats, glasses, and anything else you can think of. Be inventive when it comes to other props by using plastic tableware, boxes, etc.

The Characters

Let’s say you want to re-create a favorite fairytale, such as “The Story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” Obviously, you’ll need a Papa Bear, a Mama Bear, and a Baby Bear. This is easy as long as you have three teddy bears of varying sizes. Then dress the bears up accordingly. Take the smallest bear and give him a little hat or tie a pacifier around his neck so that he’s obviously baby bear. As for the parents, give Mama Bear a necklace or little bow, and to Papa Bear add a pair of old glasses. Then you will need Goldilocks. She can easily be recreated with any blond doll, in fact a Barbie would work just fine.

Believe it or not, you don’t need the intricate strings of a professional puppeteer. Instead get a ruler, stick, or maybe even a pair of chopsticks, whichever you have on hand. These can then be taped to your puppet’s bodies so they are easy to maneuver. This can also make them more stable and less likely to flop around.

The Props

Next, it’s time to find the appropriate props. First you’ll need to represent the table of the three bears. You could use a small box, or even a piece of Tupperware. Then place little “bowls” on them. Use the wrappers from Ferrero Rocher or Reeses chocolates, as they have the right “bowl” shape. Or you could use the caps of a couple of water bottles. Then, to create chairs, use foam water glasses. Cut Mama Bear’s seat by an inch so that it’s smaller than Papa Bear’s “seat”, which you will leave alone, and then cut the cup for Baby Bears seat by 2 inches, so that it is the smallest seat of all. Foam is a particularly good material, because it’s easy to “break” the chair when Goldilocks sits down in it. The beds are just as easy to create. All you need are some napkins and tissue arranged on one side of the room, cut down into three descending sizes. And so there you go! You’ve got all the props you need to put on a great show, and it was easy!

So there you go. You’ve got everything you need: the puppets, the props, and a great classic story. Whether rain or shine, this is a truly fun way to entertain your children. As long as your child has toys around the house like stuffed animals, you can create anything!

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