Tag Archives: baby

Gerber Be Our Baby Photo Search 2014

YOUR Cutest-Baby-In-The-Universe Could Win $50,000 With The Gerber “Be Our Baby” Photo Search!

Gerber Baby Photo Search 2014

Gerber Be Our Baby Photo Search 2014 

If you’re a new parent, or even an experienced parents with older kids, you’ve worn the shutter button out on at least one camera.   Or perhaps the home button on your smartphone is showing sings of wear due to the pressure of your finger tap, tap, tapping it in order to take a mad amount of photos of your baby or child to share with the world on social media.  If you’re old-school, you have scrapbooks full of printed photos of your kids in which case I hope you keep that book on your coffee table for friends and family to see because goodness knows they are a rarity these days.

Why do we snap so many photos of our kids when they are baby’s, I wonder?  I am sure of a couple of reasons.  First, your baby is the cutest baby in the world and you want to document her cuteness for the world to see.  Second, deep down inside, we all want our baby to be a model.  I wished this for my son when he was an infant and worked for it.  Sebastian made it into a newspaper ad for a major department store and I couldn’t have been a prouder mom.  The work involved in coordinating modeling jobs and actually following through with them, with a baby for pete’s sake, is insane though, so that didn’t last long.  Back in the day when my son was an infant, Facebook wasn’t around so I took to online ‘cutest baby photo searches’, to share photos of my son.

I majored in photography in college, believe it or not, and had a few tips and tricks up my sleeve when entering Sebastian into photo searches when he was a baby.  While I don’t have quick access to those photos to share with you in this post, because they are 14 years old and not on this computer, I do have a few of Madelyn that I think are super adorable and might have entered into a photo search if I had thought of it.  I wouldn’t have entered the photo in the bottom right corner because I think the reflection is an unnecessary addition but I think the photos is so darn cute – I had to include it.

Cute baby photo search sample photos

Here are a few of my favorite baby photo tips:

  • Go for great lighting!
  • Make sure the background is not distracting.  No crazy wallpaper and despite how cute you think a background of a bed of colorful flowers is, that may not be the best choice for a photo search photo.
  • Your baby should be the clear focus on the photo.  Try to leave pets and siblings out of the photo.
  • You can never take enough photos.  The more to choose from the better!
  • Submit a photo of your baby that shows emotion.  Almost all winners of baby photo searches are smiling.

Enter your baby and they could win!

Through November 12, 2014, you can enter your baby to win the Gerber.com/Photosearch!  Simply upload your favorite recent photo (no more than 30 days old) of your Gerber baby, up to 48 months of age.  Your baby will have the chance of winning the Grand Prize of $50,000, one year of Gerber food and the possibility for your child to star in a future advertisement for Gerber as the 2014 spokesbaby!  While you’re on the site, check out the previous entrants and winners.  You’ll drool over them.. or maybe that’s just me. 🙂  You can be a part of the voting process as well!  Anyone can cast a vote for the six milestone categories and the Gerber panel of judges will select the Grand Prize winner from all eligible photo entries in January 2015.

Milestone Categories in which you can enter your baby’s photo include Birth+, Supported Sitter, Sitter, Crawler, Toddler, Toddler 2+.
The photo you enter for one of the 6 Milestone prizes can be any photo of your child taken within the last 30 days. Pictures will be judged on (1) visual appeal of the child in the photo; (2) expressiveness of the child in the photo; and (3) consistency with Gerber’s heritage and mission.
Learn more and follow Gerber on Facebook and Instagram.

 

Choose a Magical Christening Gift

disclosure

Christenings are a wonderful time for loved ones to come together, and, for many, can be a first chance to celebrate the arrival of a brand new family member. They can be a great source of new family heirlooms.

Some of my kids favorite ‘toys’ are the ones that I played with when I was a child.   There is something about seeing and touching a toy or anything for that matter, that’s been in the family for years that puts a big smile on a face.

Ernest Jones Christening Gifts

Christening gifts are commonly of a religious theme, but a gift that very young children can understand, such as one that relates to one of your  favorite classic story’s when they’re older, may be just as thoughtful.  To give a gift that will be remembered for years to come and add to the fairytale of a just-beginning childhood, we have some magical suggestions from Ernest Jones’ Christening collection.

As an established British jeweller, ErnestJones.co.uk offers gifts that are beautifully crafted and made from the finest materials, and giving a gift from Ernest Jones also means giving back: the company also partners with and supports Marie Curie Cancer Care.

The Hansel and Gretel money bank is a gift that is likely to become a part of the new baby’s room as he or she grows up. The gift of a bank is a wonderful way to become a part of the child’s growing-up years, as a place to store allowance, count and save money, and learn its value early on.  Made of unbreakable pewter, the silver gingerbread house’s candy swirls and adorable children is sure to become part of childhood for the new baby, if not a precious keepsake for mom.  I would love to have this bank for myself! I think it’s gorgeous and it brings back some great childhood memories.

Another great gift that is sure to become woven into fond childhood memories is the Fairytale Frog Prince tooth box.  Whether this friendly frog is to become guardian to a child’s first baby tooth, a place to be visited by the Tooth Fairy, or just an endearing nightstand addition, this smiling pewter frog and his bejeweled crown will definitely be cherished for years to come.

The Thumbelina mug is a perfect little gift for a perfect little girl. This flower-shaped mug is crafted from pewter, and, peeking between the petals, we catch a glimpse of the future faerie princess herself. This adorable and whimsical take on the traditional pewter Christening cup is a very thoughtful way to renew something time-honored in the first few months of a bright new life.

The Royal Selangor pewter Cinderella clock is a gift that may one day even bring fairytale magic to math. A fantastic addition to any nursery, this is a gift that is sure to remain a part of the new family’s life for years to come.

Even if you don’t live in the UK, you will find fabulous gifts ideas on the Ernest Jones website!

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What is RSV and How Do I Protect My Children?

Did you know that RSV affects two-thirds of all infants by age one and almost 100% of babies by age two?

100% of babies by the age two?! to me that number is very scary! When my kids were little I had no idea what RSV was.  It wasn’t until my sister called me and said that my niece was in the hospital with RSV that I started researching RSV to learn more about it and find out how to protect my kids.

What is RSV:

RSV disease, or Respiratory syncytial virus, is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia in children under 1 year of age in the United States.  The RSV season typically runs from November through March. RSV typically causes mild to moderate cold-like symptoms, but in some babies it results in a serious respiratory infection. Those most at risk for severe RSV include premature infants, as their lungs aren’t fully developed and they have fewer infection-fighting antibodies than full-term babies.

Below are symptoms of severe RSV infection that require immediate medical care:

  • Coughing or wheezing that does not stop
  • Fast or troubled breathing
  • Spread-out nostrils and/or a caved-in chest when trying to breathe
  • Bluish color around the mouth or fingernails
  • Fever (especially if it is over 100.4°F in infants under 3 months of age)

An estimated that 82% of U.S. children aged six weeks to six years old, spend some amount of time in child care. Whether its one day a week or 5 days a week, the risks of spending time in a daycare or pre-school setting are the same — increased exposure to contagious germs and viruses. Daycare increases this risk of RSV spreading as children are constantly sharing toys, tables and high chairs as well as eating and napping in close quarters.

Parents of preemies should be informed of the dangers of RSV, as well as the risks that certain child care settings can present. If possible, parents of high-risk babies may want to consider alternate options, such as nannies or in-home daycare centers, where exposure to dangerous germs can be minimized. Regardless of child care settings, it’s important for parents who believe their child may be at high-risk for RSV to speak with a doctor about prevention.

Because RSV can live on surfaces (doorknobs, countertops, toys, bedding) for several hours and is often spread through touching, hugging and kissing, all parents should take steps to prevent the spread of the virus.

Here are some ways that you, your child’s caregiver and loved ones can help prevent the spread of RSV:

  • avoid RSV by cleaning baby's pacifierWash your hands and child’s hands
  • Keep toys, clothes, blankets, and sheets clean
  • Clearly mark  bottles/sippy cups by putting labels on them to help caregivers make sure that the babies are drinking out of their own bottles/sippy cups
  • If your baby uses a pacifier make sure it is cleaned regularly
  • Avoid crowds and other sick children during RSV season
  • Avoid exposure to cigarette smoke

For more helpful information about RSV visit www.RSVProtection.com and follow #RSVProtection on Twitter.

“I wrote this review while participating in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of MedImmune and I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.”

5 Products To Organize Your Child’s Closet

I am having surgery next week and I swear I am going through a ‘nesting phase’ just like I did when I was pregnant with both of my kids.  I am cleaning and organizing like no one’s business.   If you don’t already know what the pregnancy nesting phase is, you can learn more about the nesting phase of pregnancyhere.  I’m scrubbing baseboards, cleaning the grout in the bathrooms, painting scuff marks on the walls, and more!

I am trying to get the kids closets organized before my surgery because besides my husband being in charge of getting the kids dressed for school in the morning, my mother and sister will be here to help with the kids in which case they will most likely be exposed to the chaos that is my kid’s closet’s and I’d prefer to know that their closets are clean and organized.
When not cleaning today, I have been looking at closet organizational products at The Organized Parent and below are a few that I love!

You can get 15% off these products and anything else at The Organized Parent by using promo code: OP069!


Closet Dividers Set by O.R.E. Originals

Closet Dividers Set by O.R.E. Originals

Cost: $5.99 – $11.99 for a pack of 5

What is if for?Seperateing clothes by size or by season, or you can even use them to seperate clothes to giveaway from clothes to keep.
A fun, award-winning way to keep your child’s closet organized by age range, clothing type, or day of the week. Set of 5.


Joey & Jane Days of the Week Organizer by Kangaroom

Joey & Jane Days of the Week Organizer by Kangaroom

Cost: $20.95

What is if for?

Help your kids get ready faster in the morning. These unique hanging shelves hang from any size closet rod and have five separate compartments for outfits for every day of the school week, after school activities and sports uniforms. They also have elastic side pockets for shoes, socks, underwear and accessories. Pre-printed days of the week labels, activity labels, and blank activity labels are included so each unit can be customized to fit your needs.


John Classic Filebox 6 Hanging Files by Bigso Box of Sweden

closet box for organizing children's art work

Cost: $25.95

What is if for?

You know, all the art and class work your child brings home for the first few years of her schooling career?  You keep it all!  I interviewed Lisa Loeb and asked her how she chooses which of her daughter’s art pieces to keep and she said that she keeps the pieces that are most original.  So, sort through your child’s school and art work after school every day and keep those that you feel your child will enjoy seeing the most when she’s older, slide them into this box and get them out years later.  You and your child will share smiles and laughs when you look back at her Kindergarten art work.

 


10-Shelf Hanging Bamboo Organizer by Honey Can Do

10-Shelf Hanging Bamboo Organizer by Honey Can Do

Cost: $27.95

What is if for?

Organize your child’s shoes!

This organizer has 10 reinforced shelves for great capacity and hangs easily from your child’s closet rod using two steel hooks.

This hanging organizer can also be used for small bags and accessories.


Large Laundry Bag by Buckhead Betties

Large Laundry Bag by Buckhead Betties

Cost: $12.59 – sale!

What is it for?

Children’s clothes are shorter than average.  So why do we use a traditional laundry basket that takes up so much floor space on the floor of our kids closets?  I’d rather have room for my daughter’s toy organizer, stuffed animals, etc than just one laundry basket.  Even large loads of laundry can fit in this bag. This durable cotton canvas tote protects your delicates from the elements with a coated interior.

 


 

This is not a sponsored post.  I just love The Organized Parent and want to share some of their great closet organizing products with you!

 

Original Animal Art Baby and Toddler Apparel from Lucky Duck & Friends

Mommy’s of new baby boys and girls will love Lucky Duck & Friends unique, one-of-a-kind baby onesies.
My kids wore onesies almost every day of their first year of life.  Onesies are easy to put on, allow for quick and easy diaper changes, are available in a variety of colors and designs, and best of all.. Lucky Duck & Friends offers parents the most adorable designs on baby onesies that I’ve seen in a long time!

Check this one out..

Deer baby onesie by Lucky Duck & Friends

Pippa with Lucky Duck & Friends is an artist who specializes in one of a kind baby and toddler clothing that is unique because all of the designs on her baby clothes are taken from Pippa’s unique acrylic animal paintings and then digitally printed on the clothing.  Unique right?  Other prints include an elephant, penguin, duck, and lion cub.  Pippa’s designs capture the carefree and loving nature of kids.  Her designs remind me how innocent little baby’s are.

This baby onesie (Baby White Onesie with Original Animal Art – Deer) has an original image that is based on one of Pippa Scott’s unique paintings.

Lucky Duck & Friends baby onesie
Thank you to our model Elyrika!

Lucky Duck & Friends’ baby onesie features:

  • 3 snap bottom closure for easy opening
  • Ribbed color and leg cuffs
  • 100% ringspun cotton

Lucky Duck & Friends original baby clothesLucky Duck & Friends baby onesies are available in 6, 12, and 18  months sizes.
Priced at just $20 you can stock up on these unique, adorable, outfits for your baby.  I think all of the designs are all pretty gender neutral so even if you don’t know if you are having a boy or girl, go ahead and buy a few of these onesies.  Your baby will look adorable in any of them!

Lucky Duck & Friends baby clothes make unique and cute gifts for expecting and new moms.  I was at the Atlanta Baby & Child Expo yesterday which is where I found this beautiful baby girl Elyrika who modeled the Lucky Duck & Friends baby onesie seen in the photos above.  Several moms and a couple of dads asked if I was selling the onesies.  They would have bought them right there on the spot if I had been!

You will also find beautiful greeting cards, presentation boxes, and youth apparel with Pippa’s artwork printed on them, on the Lucky Duck and Friends website.

Connect with Lucky Duck and Friends

Alicia Hagan, Editor

Disclosure: I received the onesie above for purposes of this review.  I was not required to write a review and all opinions are 100% my own.  I only write about and feature products that I would buy for myself or my family.