Category Archives: Music & DVD

Being Dad – An inspirational DVD for dads and moms-to-be.

Dad, Music & DVD

BeingdaddvdBe informed & be inspired by Being Dad.  Being Dad, the only DVD of its kind, offers expecting Dads more information than any book can explain and best of all it’s all from a man’s point of view.  Featuring interviews with new dads from all over the country, and easy-to-understand advice from experts, this DVD is one that expecting dads won’t mind watching time and time again. In fact, expecting dads will find Being Dad exceptionally entertaining, relieving, a
nd maybe a little shocking at times.  Relieving some fears and possibly bringing on new fears, Being Dad is an honest walk-through experience of expecting and new dad’s lives.

I was shocked that the actual birth of a baby was shown on Being Dad.  I knew the birth of my two children wasn’t the most beautiful sight in the world, but I NEVER imaged that the birth of my children was anything like the jaw dropping, mind blowing ‘action’ I saw in this movie.  Tim confirmed that indeed the birth of my two children was exactly like what is shown in Being Dad.  You definitely don’t want your kids in the room during certain parts of the movie. 

Shorter and less painful than the average labour, Being Dad is an 80 minute-DVD that will take expecting Dads through a miriad of emotions from happy to sad to ‘holy cow, what’s happening to my wife’?

Available at: Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com

Price: Approximately $26.99

Stardust Lullaby 2 CD set

Bedtime, Music & DVD

Stardustlullabycd My brain tends to be a big mess of chaos between the hours of 6a.m. to 9p.m..  Maybe it’s a parent thing.  Maybe it’s an "I operate a business from home" thing, or maybe it’s a "My almost 2 year old daughter climbs all over me while I am trying to work" thing.. or wait, maybe it’s all three!?!

Stardust, a lullaby CD set created by award winning singer/songwriter siblings, seems to magically lull Madelyn to sleep within 10 minutes of being put to bed.  I love it!!

In addition to helping little one’s get to sleep, the soothing collection of traditional and original lullabies creates a relaxing environment for those of us who need to release ourselves from ‘the chaos that is parenting’.  I have one CD in Madelyn’s room and one in the kitchen.  Between cooking dinner, emptying the dish washer, and eating, and homework, the kitchen is where I get the most stressed.  Now I just hit play on the CD player and wah lah.. my stress induced high blood pressure plummets and I am able to concentrate on the task at hand while Madelyn dances to the music.  With over 2 1/2 hours of music, you don’t have to worry about hearing the same song several times in one sitting.  Every song has a corresponding instrumental version which is perfect for times when your child wants you to sing her to sleep.

Stardust was awarded the iParenting Media Award in January 2008.   I highly recommend that you buy this CD set before buying other lullaby CD’s. You will not be disappointed.  There is a reason this CD set is titled Stardust, audible chocolate for sweet dreams.

Listen to music clips and learn more about Stardust here.

Baby’s First Moves: a Baby Einstein DVD

Age 0-1 year, Age 1-3, Music & DVD

BabyeinsteinbabysfirstmovesdvdSometimes I just can’t think of anything to do to entertain Madelyn. We read books, we play ring around the rosie, but she wants more.  That is where ‘active learning’ movies like Baby Einstein DVD’s come in really handy.  When I am out of energy or need to do something around the house, I know that I can rely on Baby Einstein DVD’s to occupy Madelyn for a little while even with her short, toddler attention span.

Baby’s First Moves delights Madelyn every time she watches it and I enjoy the music while I am cleaning or just trying to catch my breath from a busy day playing ‘let’s run around the house while we scream and laugh’ with Madelyn.  Baby Einstein videos incorporate colorful puppets, real babies, and images which change often so as to keep baby’s attention.

This video features babies and toddlers rolling, playing peek a boo, clapping, stomping, twirling, and more.  During some segments, the narrator tells us what the baby is doing. For example, while a baby is rolling, she will say ‘roll’.  Parents are often shown interacting with their baby or toddler which inspires me to do the same with Madelyn.  When watching Baby Einstein videos Madelyn and I interact with each
other more than when watching Clifford or Arthur for example.  The simple moves, enthusiastic sounds and encouragement from parents shown in the movie give me the extra push I might need to interact with Madelyn at a time when I might otherwise be cleaning or trying to rest. (ha!)

Learn more, read more reviews and buy your Baby’s First Moves DVD here

We will be giving away five copies of the newest addition to the Baby Einstein DVD collection (the title is a secret) very soon! Subscribe to our newsletter using the box in the upper left column to be notified when we start the giveaway contest for the Baby Einstein DVD’s.

Care for Kids DVD: $19.99

Music & DVD, Safety

Careforkids
Nothing will happen.. You’re going to be fine..  That won’t happen to you..

I can’t tell you how many times I heard those three statements.  Then I had a bad car accident. Six years later, I had another.  ‘It’ did happen to me and it happened when and where I least expected it.  It can happen to you too and you don’t know if ‘it’ will happen in the car, in the kitchen or the bathtub so you have to be prepared.   I don’t like saying it, but it is a fact that more children die each year from preventable injuries than from all childhood illnesses combined.  That’s huge!

Did you know that 60% of poisonings in children ages 5 and under are not from pharmaceuticals but cosmetics, cleaning substances, and toys?  I didn’t know that until I was introduced to the ResponsibleFamily.com website and their Care for Kids DVD. 

The Care for Kids DVD covers medical emergencies, demonstrations in a hospital/doctor’s office setting, and step by step instructions for caring for injuries.

This is a great DVD to have on hand and to share with friends, family with kids, and Grandparents.  I feel more confident in treating Sebastian or Madelyn’s injuries after watching Care for Kids than I did before.  Parents can pop the DVD in the player and spend 30 minutes making sure
that the babysitter knows when to call 911 and what to do in the
meantime.

One thing I wish was covered on the DVD is CPR.  I understand their point of wanting parents to take a CPR class but for those who haven’t, can’t or won’t, CPR instruction would be great.

Icon_website2_2
Responsible Family

The Adventure of Bento Babeys

Age 1-3, Age 3-5, Age 5-7, Age 7-10, Books, Music & DVD, Store Reviews

Bentobabeys
Do you know what your baby is doing in her spare time?  Did you know there are babies with secret karate skills?  I bet not!  Mikey, Shonda, Pedro, and Sahi, are four very special babies with karate skills that keep the city safe while we sleep at night. Isn’t this every child’s dream?  I think this is an awesome concept because this type of story that we read to our children usually focuses on adults being the "hero", not other children. The Bento Babeys book can be a great educational tool as well as a wonderful confidence booster.

The book comes with a colorful figure for each character so your child can play along with the story or make up her own stories using the characters in the Bento Babeys book. What a great idea!

A CD featuring songs with easy to understand lyrics and music that your child will love comes with the book.

Sebastian, my seven year old, loves anything to do with martial arts. When I got the Bento Babeys book to review on The Mommy Insider, he was so excited.  He loves the figures and really enjoys the CD and best of all, he actually WANTS to read the Bento Babeys book and share it with his classmates at show and tell.

Sebastian really appreciates the section of the Bento Babeys website where the facts about each ‘babey’ are told. Apparently, his favorite character Sahi once ate a fuzzy caterpillar which made her throw up! It’s funny things like this that make Bento Babeys easy to related to and enjoyable for children.

Where to buy: Bento Babeys