OXO baby and toddler products are great!

We love the whole line of new baby and toddler products from OXO. Thoughtful design and created to be practical and useful, all of OXO products, including the Sprout Highchair shown below, are our new favorites at Real Baby!

                      

                                  

Helicopter Parents!

As a parents we are inundated with information regarding the safety and well being of our children. What is right?, what is too much?, what is not enough?.  It can become a little overwhelming if you let it, and I have seen the growing trend of over worrisome parents.  The term is not new, but lately I hear it being thrown around like candy at a parade , "Helicopter Parent."

We all know one, have at least seen one, or perhaps are a bit of one.  Overly protective, concerned about every move on the playground, every interaction and every single grade and assignment at school.  I am not here to judge, but merely observe. I believe that being involved with your child and staying involved is paramount to a healthy upbringing. Sometimes we all need to pump the brakes a little.

When i was a child the term used daily in parental conversation was "latchkey."  I was one of those who arrived home after school to an empty home every day.  I believe that my generation of Latchkey parents has evolved into the over protective hovering parent as a mechanism for making up for what we thought we lacked as children.

Just a thought I had while drinking my coffee this morning.  Here are some articles on the subject including a quiz to see if you are a helicopter parent.  Let me know what you think about the subject?

Time Magazine

Babyzone- Quiz

Ny Times

US News

We are nominated  this year on Denver  channel 7 A list.  We love winning things!  Please vote for us Here!

Mimi - 6.23.11

Slow day for foot traffic but busy day checking in Ugly Dolls, Baby Banz, Belly Bandits and some fill in Zutano.  John was in for Annie again today....she's still recovering from the flu (yuckers!).  Store looks nice and full lately.  I showed a few folks some strollers and helped with gift ideas.  We sold two G-Luxes today too. I'm back in tomorrow morning....see ya then!

Obit Adds Colors!

New colors are available for your orbit stroller!

Splash some color on your Orbit Baby stroller.this sunshade and upholstery set is available in 9 different colors!!
• provides you with a full extra set of upholstery and matching sunshade
• convenient for parents: easy to swap out and machine wash
• works only with Orbit Baby Stroller Seat G2
• state-of-the-art ventilation system uses perforated foam and wicking fabric
• eco-certified fabrics that are safe for your baby and safe for our planet
• Buy it HERE!
  

Cool Baby Pics!

 A Friend of mine stumbled across these fantastic photos.  The mother, Adele Enerson,  has taken the time and creativity to photograph her sleeping baby in some very original and thoughtful settings. She Says," This blog is my maternity leave hobby. While my baby is taking her nap, I create scene around her and take quick snap photos. I use only few minutes per picture, including creating idea, implementation and editing, 'cause I don't want to disturb her sleeping and most of my time is for my family. My camera is small and inexpensive Canon IXUS 750.  


Below are a few examples of her work. you can see more here at http://milasdaydreams.blogspot.com/p/about-blog.html

My personal favorite!

Surfs up !

Parking Space Day In Boulder!

Walk & Bike Month holds ‘Park(ing)’ Spaces Day June 17
Boulderites to claim parking spaces as ‘no parking zones’

On June 17th from 10 am – 2 pm, bicycle and pedestrian-friendly Boulder businesses will commandeer 18 parking spaces on “Park(ing) Spaces Day.” Businesses and workplaces will transform a street or private lot automobile parking space into a “park” area for the day.

There will be Park(ing) Spaces to  play games, kick back and read a book, lounge on some rolled out grass or patio furniture, practice yoga, walk your dog, get a massage, drink some tea or just hang out and chat with other visitors in overstuffed chairs for a little while to take a break.  Real Baby will have a jumping Castle so Bring the kids!

Park(ing) Spaces will average eight feet by 17 feet.

This is a light-hearted attempt to raise awareness of a serious issue, the trade-off of space allocated for automobiles versus space for human activities. This event symbols our desire to rethink how we use our streets. This is a big part of what Walk & Bike Month is all about, raising awareness for a more sustainable community.

2011 Park(ing) Spaces Locations and Addresses

Park(ing) Space Sponsor	Park(ing) Space Location
Ají	1601 Pearl Street
Boulder Green Streets	1035 Pearl Street
Chipotle	919 Pearl Street
The Cup	1521 Pearl Street
Frasca Food & Wine	1738 Pearl Street
Full Cycle on Pearl	1795 Pearl Street
Momentum	1625 Pearl Street
Page 2	6565 Gunpark Drive
Real Baby	1505 Pearl Street
Smooch Frozen Yogurt	1926 14th Street
West End Suites	1035 Pearl Street

Summer Safety Tips !

Here is a list of summer safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics.  When I read the section on strenuous activity for my children I realized I fall short in the hydration department. Perhaps thats why my son said his head hurt the other day after two plus hours at the skate park in the blazing sun.   More water!



FUN IN THE SUN 
Source: http://www.aap.org/advocacy/archives/tanning.htm
Babies under 6 months:

• The two main recommendations from the AAP to prevent sunburn are to avoid sun exposure, and to dress infants in lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and brimmed hats that shade the neck to prevent sunburn. However, when adequate clothing and shade are not available, parents can apply a minimal amount of suncreen with at least 15 SPF (sun protection factor) to small areas, such as the infant's face and the back of the hands. If an infant gets sunburn, apply cold compresses to the affected area.

For All Other Children:

• The first, and best, line of defense against harmful ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure is covering up. Wear a hat with a three-inch brim or a bill facing forward, sunglasses (look for sunglasses that provide 97% -100% protection against both UVA and UVB rays), and cotton clothing with a tight weave. 
  
• Stay in the shade whenever possible, and limit sun exposure during the peak intensity hours - between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
  
• On both sunny and cloudy days use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater that protects against UVA and UVB rays. 
  
• Be sure to apply enough sunscreen - about one ounce per sitting for a young adult. 
  
• Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.
  
• Use extra caution near water and sand (and even snow!) as they reflect UV rays and may result in sunburn more quickly.

HEAT STRESS IN EXERCISING CHILDREN
Source: http://www.aap.org/policy/re9845.html

• The intensity of activities that last 15 minutes or more should be reduced whenever high heat and humidity reach critical levels.
  
• At the beginning of a strenuous exercise program or after traveling to a warmer climate, the intensity and duration of exercise should be limited initially and then gradually increased during a period of 7 to 14 days to acclimatize to the heat, particularly if it is very humid.
  
• Before prolonged physical activity, children should be well-hydrated and should not feel thirsty. For the first hour of exercise, water alone can be used. Kids should have water or a sports drink always available and drink every 20 minutes while exercising in the heat. Excessively hot and humid environments, more prolonged and strenuous exercise, and copious sweating should be reasons for children to substantially increase their fluid intake. After an hour of exercise, children need to drink a carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage to replace electrolytes lost in sweat and provide carbohydrates for energy.
  
• Clothing should be light-colored and lightweight and limited to one layer of absorbent material to facilitate evaporation of sweat. Sweat-saturated shirts should be replaced by dry clothing.
  
• Practices and games played in the heat should be shortened and more frequent water/hydration breaks should be instituted. Children should seek cooler environments if they feel excessively hot or fatigued.

POOL SAFETY
Source: http://www.aap.org/family/tipppool.htm

• Never leave children alone in or near the pool or spa, even for a moment.

• Install a fence at least 4 feet high around all four sides of the pool. The fence should not have openings or protrusions that a young child could use to get over, under, or through.
• Make sure pool gates open out from the pool, and self-close and self-latch at a height children can't reach.

• If the house serves as the fourth side of a fence surrounding a pool, install an alarm on the exit door to the yard and the pool.

• Keep rescue equipment (a shepherd's hook - a long pole with a hook on the end - and life preserver) and a portable telephone near the pool. Choose a shepherd’s hook and other rescue equipment made of fiberglass or other materials that do not conduct electricity.

• Avoid inflatable swimming aids such as “floaties.” They are not a substitute for approved life vests and can give children and parents a false sense of security.

• Children ages 1 to 4 may be at a lower risk of drowning if they have had some formal swimming instruction. However, there is no evidence that swimming lessons or water survival skills courses can prevent drowning in babies younger than 1 year of age.

• The decision to enroll a 1- to 4-year-old child in swimming lessons should be made by the parent and based on the child’s developmental readiness, but swim programs should never be seen as “drown proofing” a child of any age.

• Whenever infants or toddlers are in or around water, an adult – preferably one who knows how to swim and perform CPR – should be within arm’s length, providing “touch supervision.”

• Avoid entrapment: Suction from pool and spa drains can trap a swimmer underwater. Do not use a pool or spa if there are broken or missing drain covers.  Ask your pool operator if your pool or spa’s drains are compliant with the Pool and Spa Safety Act.  If you have a swimming pool or spa, ask your pool service representative to update your drains and other suction fitting with anti-entrapment drain covers and other devices or systems. See PoolSafely.gov for more information on the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act.

• Large inflatable above-ground pools have become increasingly popular for backyard use. Children may fall in if they lean against the soft side of an inflatable pool. Although such pools are often exempt from local pool fencing requirements, it is essential that they be surrounded by an appropriate fence just as a permanent pool would be so that children cannot gain unsupervised access.

BOATING SAFETY
Source: http://www.aap.org/family/tippslip.htm

• Children should wear life jackets at all times when on boats or near bodies of water.

• Make sure the life jacket is the right size for your child. The jacket should not be loose. It should always be worn as instructed with all straps belted.

• Blow-up water wings, toys, rafts and air mattresses should not be used as life jackets or personal flotation devices. Adults should wear life jackets for their own protection, and to set a good example.

• Adolescents and adults should be warned of the dangers of boating when under the influence of alcohol, drugs, and even some prescription medications.

OPEN WATER SWIMMING

• Never swim alone. Even good swimmers need buddies!

• A lifeguard (or another adult who knows about water rescue) needs to be watching children whenever they are in or near the water. Younger children should be closely supervised while in or near the water – use “touch supervision,” keeping no more than an arm’s length away. 

• Make sure your child knows never to dive into water except when permitted by an adult who knows the depth of the water and who has checked for underwater objects.

• Never let your child swim in canals or any fast moving water.

• Ocean swimming should only be allowed when a lifeguard is on duty.

We Love The Svan High Chair!

Grows With Your Child – The award-winning Svan High Chair is designed to grow with your child from six months to adulthood. With a few simple adjustments, it converts from a high chair into a booster chair then into a full-size chair for teens and adults. Ergonomically Designed – The Svan High Chair is ergonomically designed with a fully adjustable seat depth to provide optimum torso support. The seat and footrest heights are also adjustable, allowing the chair to be pulled directly up to the dining table. Safe– The Svan High Chair is JPMA and ASTM certified and CPSIA compliant,  ensuring the best in quality and safety for children.

Environmentally Friendly – Constructed of sustainable wood, with lead-free finishes, a BPA and phthalate-free tray cover and an optional chair cushion made of PBDE-free foam, the Svan Chair is healthier for your family and the environment.

New Information about swaddling your child

Leading Medical Experts and Researchers Agree

It is Important for Babies to Have Access to their Hands

Hand to Mouth is a Natural Reflex

• The normal infant has been observed post delivery 

 to get hands to his mouth within 30 min

• Infants are equipped with the hand-to-mouth reflex 

 also known as the Babkin reflex

• Many babies suck their thumbs or fingers inutero 

Baby able to Self-Soothe by Sucking

• Sucking is the most organizing behavior of the newborn

• Provides for state (sleep/wake) control

• Enhances the maturity of the baby including hand movements and gastrointestinal function

Early Communication

•Baby cues caregiver when hungry by rooting (sucking vigorously) on hands or fingers

An important baby friendly issue – hand position for the baby when swaddled. Leading researchers agree that it is in baby’s best interest to have access to his or her hands when swaddled.

Every baby is unique. Ask your pediatrician about swaddling your baby. Different techniques work for different babies. If your baby happens to get his or her arm(s) out of the swaddle and is unhappy that way (some babies are content with arms out), you may want to try another technique. You may want to try swaddling with one hand up by face and the other down across the tummy or down by leg with elbow flexed, alternating arms each time you swaddle. The third choice is to swaddle with both arms down, keeping the elbow joint flexed and allowing more time out of the swaddle.

Infant researchers state it’s in baby’s best interest to have the baby’s hands accessible to face, however it is your decision as a parent to choose how and if to swaddle your baby.

Our Friend Sophie Is Turning 50!

          
Our friend Sophie the Giraffe is having her 50th birthday next week!  She has made many children and especially their parents very happy for many years. Happy birthday!

Put on your cleats son and get in the game!

We sell allot of items at Real Baby.  These baby cleats will not be one of them. I just found these and had to share. I love them and find them completely ridiculous at the same time.  What do you think? If you have to have them you can find them at firstcleats.com.

Owls are Cool!

We Love owls. Who doesn't! Owls are the new black. I heard that squirrels are the new owls...Anyway, We love this bedding set from Skip Hop!  Bring a touch of nature into your nursery with this bold colored bedding set.  This set includes a 250 thread count cotton sateen comforter with embroidery and a cotton-linen applique, printed bumper, crib sheet, and a cotton-lenen crib skirt. It looks great on the Oeuf Sparrow crib!

Clementine Art

Springtime in Colorado is always unpredictable. The day may begin at 70 and sunny and turn windy and cold by noon. So, when a play date at the park is always threatened by a chance of a shower or even a snowstorm I find it imperative to my well being to always have a back up plan. Throw down a piece of paper on the kitchen floor with some paints and brushes and you’ve bought yourself at least a half hour of pure kid bliss. Better yet let them stick their toes in it and let them paint an entire piece with their feet! 

Clementine Studios based out of Boulder makes the most amazing eco friendly and non-toxic art supplies for kids. The hues in their paints and molding clay are incredible like those crayon colors I always gravitated towards as a child. Even their packaging is produced from recycled and reusable materials.  So, when your child decides to find out exactly what the paint tastes like you can feel better knowing that a little organic defoamer (aka vegetable oil) never hurt anyone.

This blog was posted by our friend Nicole at Mish+Mash Homemade. In keeping with the sprit of yesterdays blog about cooking with your child, Mish + Mash Homemade helps parents craft inspired homemade food for baby,toddler, and beyond.  Visit there site and get cooking!

Teaching Your Child to Cook

I spend allot of time in my kitchen.  Preparing, chopping, sauteing, broiling, pan searing, plating,  I love it all. I learned to cook at an early age,  mostly out of necessity. A single mother with two jobs and four children made for some hungry moments.  I believe the firs thing I cooked on my own was either a coffee cake with cinnamon walnut topping, or a fried bologna sandwich. Whichever came first I was extremely proud of my accomplishment.

I loved watching my mother cook.  She spent time showing me the basics, and let me help her prepare meals when ever I asked. My favorite experience was shopping with her at an outdoor market located downtown. An old world style open market with local vegetables piled high, fresh fish displayed in all their glory on beds of clean shaved ice, every cut of meat imaginable, including cured meats hanging high above for all to see. The sights, sounds and smells of the market were intoxicating to me, and created in me an appreciation for food and for cooking.

My Children hover around me in the kitchen while I cook and I love it. letting them get involved has opened their eyes to many different types of food, some of which I would not have even considered eating when I was a their age. I have found that my son and daughter's palate has  has grown since they started learning in the kitchen. If they help me wash the broccoli, put it in the steam basket, set the flame to it, and touch it with a bit of salt and butter, they take pride in the process and ownership of the meal they helped create. The best part is they eat it and enjoy it!  Fish, greens, whole grains and vegetables become and adventure and children become curious about how things taste when they help create it.

So many other benefits surround getting your children active in the kitchen. They learn self confidence, creativity, knowledge of where food comes from, time management, organization, and even basic science.   So take your child shopping, get them involved in the kitchen and teach them the joys of food!

Gender Reveal Parties are Blowing up!

 Boy or Girl?

Every where I look, be it a blog, facebook, magazines, or even television , I am seeing the popular new trend of gender reveal parties.  Heres how it works. At the couples 20 week ultrasound, the technician is asked to write down the gender of the baby, put it in an envelope and seal it.  The envelope is then given to a family member or baker who will make the cake and die the inside of the cake the corresponding color to reveal the sex of the baby. The couple cuts open the cake, and at last everyone gets to know the gender of the child.

At first, I rolled my eyes at this idea. Gathering people for this seemed odd.  But then, I thought back to when we found out the gender of our first child and how fun it would have been to share the experience with our friends and family.  It is a moment you remember forever,  so why not have a party to celebrate!   All the games and wives tails can be played out at this party, just like at a baby shower, but made more fun by finding out the answer as soon as the cake is cut into.  I say yes to gender reveal parties!  Now I just have to get invited to one! Would you have a gender reveal party?  Have you been to one? Let us hear about it...

The Bunky Bed!

Why didn't this bed exist when I was a kid? Sleepovers would have been so much more fun! Sorry to say that Real Baby can't gets it hands on this bed, but thought it was so cool, that we needed to share!


The Bunky bunk bed, conceived by designer Marc Newson for Magis, an Italian furniture company, uses just four different pieces that can be easily stacked one on top of each other. You could move this bunk bed around the room to keep your kid happy, especially if he or she is waiting for one of his or her best friends for a sleepover. The Bunky is a modular design that will also let you use each of the two available beds as single beds, and the four pieces part of the Bunky are all built from rotational-moulded polyethylene. The surface presents no sharp edges, it’s easy to clean and each bed comes with perforations under the mattress that let the air flow for good ventilation

The  Luxo collection from Bloom

Luxo sleep baby bed is a beautifully designed cot bed that allows your baby to sleep in style from newborn up to 5 years old 

luxo’s gently curved ends cocoon sleeping baby & have been intentionally designed to promote air flow – extremely important for baby’s safety 

equipped with fixed side rails, luxo has an adjustable mattress height for use in bassinet position & easy access to baby 

luxo boasts no-tools rapid assembly, & its patented design allows folding for storage when not in use (between babies) 

crafted in birch wood from sustainable sources & with stainless steel detailing luxo brings a little luxury to the nursery for your little one

I love JJ Cole products. They are thoughtful, well designed, practical and not to spendy. The nursing cover featured in this video is a perfect example .  Check out this nursery full of JJ cole.

Music benefits everyone, especially Children

• Growing Up, Growing Musically

  When I was very little I remember hearing rythm in music. I would see it as colors when I closed my eyes. I still do to this day. Music has always been a huge part of my life. I constructed drum kits out of kitchen utensils, pots and pans, and stacks of magazines all throughout my earliest years. It was fun and  empowering, and my mother encouraged it, even though the racket I was making must have been intolerable.  I encourage my children to listen, to sing, to dance, and to play music whenever and wherever they can.  Here is some information I found that  may encourage you to get your children moving to the beat of their own drum.
  Research shows that kids who are actively involved in music (who play it or sing it regularly):
  • do better in reading and math when they start school
  • are better able to focus and control their bodies
  • play better with others and have higher self-esteem
  
  
  You've probably noticed that your preschooler can keep a steady beat. You can help your child practice this skill by encouraging listening for beats — and determining if they're steady or not — in everyday objects. For example, point out the noise a kitchen clock makes and ask your child if it is a steady beat; then ask if a sound like a car horn or a dog barking has a steady beat. Practice clapping or tapping the beats to favorite songs and encourage your child to copy you.

  Let's Dance

  The simplest thing you can do is put on music and dance with your child. Vary the rhythms and tempo of your body with the music. Practice "copy dancing" where you invite your child to imitate your movements and then let him or her lead as you follow.
  You also can make the musical experience more visual through movement and a few props. Scarves can show ascending and descending pitches — raise the scarves up over your heads as you sing up the scale and then drop them down the floor as you go down. Or have your child walk on tiptoes when you listen to high, quiet music, and stomp his or her feet to louder, slower music.
  Combining music and movement helps preschoolers learn to control their bodies. They learn to move fast to fast music, and more slowly to slow tunes. They also can learn the hand movements and simple dance moves that go along with rhymes and songs. Learning physical control is an important developmental step and can help build concentration skills and self-control later on.

  Time for Instruments?

  Although some music-instruction programs are geared to preschoolers, most kids at this age will enjoy a more casual introduction to musical instruments. Provide a rhythm stick or a set of bells to hold in each hand and encourage your child to keep the beat while you listen to a song.
  Here are some ways to give kids opportunities to be musical:
  • Sing or listen to music in the car, while you're doing chores, and while your child is playing. Keep a basket of musical instruments where kids can get them. Consider buying a kid-friendly CD player your child can operate and keep in his or her room.
  • Make sure your child's preschool offers chances to sing and play simple instruments, to move to music, and to create music. Ask the teacher what songs they regularly sing so that you can sing them at home.
  • Enroll your child in a preschool music class. If you don't know where to begin, ask the music department at your local college for suggestions.
  • For a special treat, take your child to live musical performances, especially ones designed for preschoolers. Museums, libraries, and bookstores often host performances by children's-music artists. Outdoor concerts are also a good bet for preschoolers because they can dance and move around without disturbing anyone.
  And after you've seen a concert together, encourage your child to give a performance for your family at home. He or she can even cut out construction paper tickets and get dressed for the occasion. At showtime, take your seat and get ready for a great show!