Sugar Plum Dreams

Raising a child is always an adventure, and in your home, the rules of parenting are no different. Whether you like it or not, your child is going to get into just about anything. After all, the whole world is just full of surprises! While they indulge their curiosity however, you can be sure that you’re keeping them as safe as can be. Here are some easy ways to secure and childproof your furniture just in time for your little arrival:

Test It

When checking to see if a piece of furniture or electronics should be tethered or secured in, give it a rock to see if a toddler’s weight could cause it to topple. If it can, it’s time to break out the drill and some secure fasteners. Also, give your cabinets and drawers a test. If you think your child can get into them, secure them properly.

What’s On Top

Take notice of what’s on top of your furniture. If it’s in your toddler’s reach, it may be better to move or remove it now. Also, try not to put things like remotes or toys on top of furniture. These must-have items may encourage your child to start climbing – a recipe for injury.

Corners

Sharp corners are a huge culprit for injury, especially when children are learning to walk or play. Choose rounded furniture pieces or put protective padding on yours. Use velcro in case your child removes the padding while playing.

Tempered Glass

If you do opt to have glass pieces in your home, choose tempered glass, as it shatters into tiny pieces rather than large, jagged shards when broken. This can reduce the risk of your child getting serious cuts should an accident happen.

According to a recent article in the New York Daily News, a study published in the Journal of Human Capital reports that children who were breast-fed as infants were more likely to perform better in high school as well as attend college. Coauthors Joseph Sabia, assistant professor of public policy at American University, and Daniel Rees of the University of Colorado, based their research over one hundred children from over fifty different families.

Sabia said that a couple of different factors may account for why breast-feeding increased the likelihood that the kids would do well in high school and then go on to college.

“Good health and improved cognitive ability can predict academic success and both are associated with breast-feeding,” said Sabia in an interview with Reuters News. “Improved health in childhood and adolescence, and improved cognitive ability could be the pathways through which breast-feeding may have long range educational benefits.”

Dr. Alan Mendelsohn, a developmental-behavioral pediatrician and an associate professor of pediatrics at the New York University School of Medicine, also feels that this study is great news for mothers looking to prevent depression while encouraging a bond with their children. He theorizes that the reason breast-fed babies perform better in school may be because their mothers bonded more with them during breast-feeding, thus reducing their risk of suffering from post-partum depression.
Whether it’s through mother and child bonding or the likelihood of more beneficial nutrition, breast-feeding is a valuable and intimate activity that every mother can share in with their child.

We’re always looking around online for the best in baby and children’s clothes, and we just love the designer kid’s clothes and organic baby clothes at Love Bug Clothing Co! Their kid’s clothing is so hip, and it’s refreshing to see such a fun clothing company like Love Bug!

Check out their “We are HOT in Hollywood!” blog post - it’s great to see their site is getting more exposure, and with awesome kid’s shirts like the Neptune Zoo Love Dove Tee, we can see why!

We also love their post, “Cool Kids Clothes for Girls This Summer!” - it can be so difficult to find clothes to keep kid’s feeling cool and looking cool in the summertime, so thanks for the tips!

Be sure to take a trip over to Love Bug Clothing Co, and tell them we said hello!

When you’re looking for the perfect gifts, toys, nursery décor, or child care products, where do you go? Do you ask your friends? Look for deals? Talk to your pediatrician? There are plenty of options to find out what children’s products work best, but when you really need a solid opinion from a Mom’s point of view, there’s only once place to go: Cool Mom Picks.

Cool Mom Picks is a source for Moms looking to track down cool stuff that can help make life easier. Founded by two determine mothers that wanted to give others like them the chance to find great deals on really cool stuff, Cool Mom Picks is a great place to look for fabulous reviews and upcoming hit products before they even go mainstream. With tons of articles and suggestions on how to solve some of life’s biggest little issues (like what to get Dad for Father’s Day and how to entertain your kids while making cupcakes), this site is sure to become a bookmarked favorite on your browser. Did we mention that they also list a variety of products to make your life easier?

We at Sugar Plum Dreams know the importance of Moms networking and socializing with all the other busy Moms out there. It’s vital to keep up with the times in terms of new and exciting issues relating to children and parenting. Many times parents like to reach out to others for support and guidance.

We recently connected with the lovely Mothers over at Babies & Moms Radio. Their site provides great resources and reviews for parents with children. The real-life friends at Babies & Mom discuss various topics of raising children to baby product reviews to their chocolate addiction. They also host their own podcast for listeners interested in the topics of parenting for birth and beyond. We love their Tips & Picks page.

Join the lovely ladies at BabiesAndMomsRadio.com for comfort, humor, encouragement and so much more! Tune into their podcast during your morning commute, or receive podcasts via email and listen at your own convenience. Babies & Moms Radio is truly a great source for any parent.

Listen live now at BabiesAndMomsRadio.com or send them an email, they’d love to hear from you!

Baby showers can be tough occasions to shop for, especially if Mommy and Daddy don’t know if baby is a boy or a girl! To solve the problem of surprise baby showers, SugarplumDreams.com offers these five fantastic Baby Shower Gifts that are sure to delight any baby:

Little Giraffe Satin Chenille Blankie

Super soft chenille and cool, sleek satin makes this baby blanket a must have for any newborn. Choose from eight elegant colors to find the perfect fit for baby’s nursery.

3 Marthas Duck Bath Set

A lovely hooded towel and washcloth with ducky accents makes this fun and playful 3 Marthas Towel Set an ideal fit for baby’s bath time.

Mustela Newborn Set

Pamper baby with lotions and potions to delight baby’s soft, delicate skin. This baby care set by Mustela has everything you need to make baby sparkle.

Fly Me To The Moon Frame

This incredibly special and beautiful frame by Smile for the Birdie is the perfect gift for any expecting couple.

Skip Hop Diaper Bag

This vibrant red Skip Hop Diaper Bag is perfect for packing along everything you need to take care of baby on the go. A great gift for busy Moms and Dads!

For years, doctors have recommended that pregnant women boost their folic acid intake as to prevent spina bifida and other birth defects. But according to recent research, folic acid is now more important than ever. Reports have surfaced that this essential nutrient can help to prevent premature birth as well as heart defects, which is great news for mommies everywhere!

Folic acid is an artificial version of folate, a B vitamin found in leafy green vegetables, citrus fruit and dried beans. Everyone needs regular folate because it’s important for healthy cell growth yet the body doesn’t store up enough of it. But pregnant women need extra, even before they may know they’ve conceived.

According to the Associated Press, researchers in Texas analyzed thousands of pregnancies, only to find that women who reported taking folic acid supplements for at least a year before becoming pregnant cut in half their risk of having a preemie baby. At the same time in Canada, researchers looked at over one million births in Quebec since 1990, finding that since Canada mandated folic acid fortification in many foods, the risk of heart defects has decreased dramatically. Both reports offer insight into the benefits of folic acid, yet the question still remains: can older women take folic acid safely?

That question will continue to be researched as more doctors look deeper into the effects of supplements on pregnancy.

The question of exercise during pregnancy has been long debated, but some recent studies are showing great health benefits from exercise during this special time for mommy and baby.

Dr. Raul Artal, from the Saint Louis University School of Medicine told BabyChums.com, “We know that women who exercise during pregnancy have less chance of developing certain conditions like gestational diabetes,”

“Not only that, exercise maintains musculoskeletal fitness,” said Artal. “Women can cope with the anatomical and physiological changes of pregnancy better when they’re in good shape. They also tolerate labor better and recover more quickly from delivery. Women should be encouraged to continue living an active lifestyle.”

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has also recommended that women aim to do at least half an hour of moderate exercise every day during pregnancy.

But what exercises are okay? What ones should be avoided?

For starters, check with your doctor before starting any exercise program, as there are many factors to consider including level of fitness before pregnancy. Certain activities should be avoided during pregnancy, such as scuba diving, skiing, horseback riding, gymnastics, and high impact sports. Weights should not be lifted above their heads, and there should be no strain to the lower back. Some approved exercises include yoga, light dancing, swimming, walking, and aerobics – as long as it’s approved by a doctor.

Unfortunately, many newborns develop the dry, flaky scalp that we all come to dread. Dandruff or “cradle cap” is a common but easily treated condition in infants. Just take some of these suggestions from the National Library of Medicine on how to soothe your baby’s cradle cap:

1. Use a brush with very soft bristles or your fingers to gently rub your baby’s scalp each day. This will boost circulation and help scaly patches of skin fall off. Make sure you wash the scalp thoroughly to remove all soap.
2. Wash baby’s head each day with a gentle soap until cradle cap subsides. Then shampoo about twice weekly.
3. Before shampooing, rub a bit of mineral oil into baby’s scalp and cover it with a moist, warm washcloth to encourage scaly patches to fall off. Leave it on for up to an hour, making sure the cloth stays warm.
4. If cradle cap doesn’t improve or baby continues to react to scalp itchiness, see your pediatrician about a topical lotion or cream.

When you’re a baby, there’s nothing better than the voice of your mother soothing you to sleep with a little song or nursery rhyme. Many years down the road, you’ll still be touched by your mother’s love whenever you think of these clever and fun stories and will look to pass them on to your own children. At SugarplumDreams.com, we know how important story telling can be to a child and we do everything we can to indulge imagination. To pass on something special to your child, consider teaching him or her this classic nursery rhyme. It’s Mother Goose approved and one of our favorites!

Winken, Blinken, and Nod one night sailed off in a wooden shoe,
Sailed off on a river of crystal light, into a sea of dew.

“Where are you going, and what do you wish?”
The old moon asked the three.
“We have come to fish for the herring fish that live in the beautiful sea;
Nets of silver and gold have we!”
Said Winken, Blinken, and Nod.

The old moon laughed and sang a song,as they rocked in the wooden shoe,

and the wind that sped them all night long, ruffled the waves of dew.
The little stars were the herring fish that lived in the beautiful sea.
“Now cast your nets wherever you wish—Never afeard are we”;
So cried the stars to the fisherman three: Winken, Blinken, and Nod.

All night long their nets they threw to the stars in the twinkling foam—
Then down from the skies came a wooden shoe bringing the fishermen home;
T’was all so pretty a sail it seemed as if it could not be,
And some folks thought t’was a dream they’d dreamed
Of sailing that beautiful sea—but I shall name you the fisherman three:
Winken, Blinken, and Nod.

Winken and Blinken are two little eyes,
And Nod is a little head, and the wooden shoes that sailed the skies
is the wee one’s trundle-bed.
So shut your eyes while your mother sings
Of wonderful sights that be, and you shall see the beautiful things
As you rock in the misty sea, where the old shoe rocked the fisherman three:
Winken, Blinken,and Nod.