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UrbanBaby Picks

Slow Down, You Move Too Fast

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

Time mag coverFlash back to physics class a few decades ago. Newton’s third law of motion states, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” The same can be said of parenting philosophies. “The Case Against Over-Parenting: Why Mom and Dad Need to Cut the Strings” is the cover story of the Time magazine issue hitting newsstands today. The piece examines the transition we’re seeing from full-speed-ahead helicopter parenting to “slow parenting,” aka “simplicity” or “free-range” parenting. Hey, we already have a slow food movement and even a beverage called Drank that’s supposed to “slow your roll.” It’s about time we eased up on what Time editor-at-large Nancy Gibbs calls “the almost comical overprotectiveness and overinvestment of moms and dads.”

Gibbs writes, “We were so obsessed with our kids’ success that parenting turned into a form of product development … college deans described freshmen as ‘crispies,’ who arrived at college already burned out, and ‘teacups,’ who seemed ready to break at the tiniest stress.” Now, as with fashion and fine food, “less is more.” And we have the Great Recession to thank, at least in part, for solidifying this new, relaxed parenting mindset. A CBS News poll found that since the onset of the recession, “a third of parents have cut their kids’ extracurricular activities.” Both parents and kids seem to be benefiting from this sort of forced schedule reliever and streamlined lifestyle. A Time poll last spring revealed that nearly four times as many people said their relationships with their kids have gotten better as said they’d deteriorated.

The article also gives a nod to the importance of play “as an essential protein in a child’s emotional diet.” The freedom for kids to explore on their own sans constant structure and enrichment activities is what helps them learn essential life skills such as flexibility, resilience and leadership.

Many of us could use a stint in the sandbox.

Mamatini

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

mamatiniMamatini. The name sounds like a product that should be front and center in the upcoming Sex and the City 2 movie, now that at least two of the fab four (maybe more?) have kids.

Mamatini is a doctor-designed drink for breastfeeding women. Think of it as a healthy sports drink for the lactating crowd. It’s loaded with vitamins and only 20 calories. Mamatini contains herbs - fenugreek, fennel and ginger - to stimulate milk production and increase energy levels. Women have used fenugreek for centuries to cope with breastfeeding issues, and the herb, a member of the peanut family, is a staple in Indian curries.

Mamatini is the brainchild of former venture capitalist and mother of three Erica Duignan Minnihan. Minnihan was sick of brewing fenugreek tea at all hours of the night and decided to collaborate with her kids’ pediatrician (her mother!) to develop a ready-made drink that would make postpartum life just a tad better. This “ginger-mint herbal infusion” beverage is sweetened with a touch of cane sugar.

It bridges the gap until you’re ready to go back to cosmos.

Available at drinkmamatini.com.

Join the Club

Friday, November 13th, 2009

Project of the Month ClubYour DC gets an incredible present haul around her birthday and Christmas/Hanukkah. But too much of a good thing can be overwhelming. Too many gifts, too little time, too small an attention span. So spread the wealth.

The founders of Project of the Month Club understand present pacing. Club members receive a different self-contained art project every month. That means they send you everything needed to complete the project. No need to go scavengering for your own Elmer’s. You can select from different categories, including Mix ‘n’ Match (step stool, game board, craft caddy) for kids ages 4-8 and Master Builders (woodworking) and Future Designers (jewelry kits, perfume, purses) for slightly older kids. Coming soon: Pint-Sized Painters and Seismic Scientists. If a monthly project seems like too much of a commitment, you’ve got other membership options: bi-monthly, quarterly and 4-in-a-row.

It’s just like a wine club. Sort of …

Visit projectofthemonthclub.com.

Standing Room Only

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

Puj TubDelivering a baby is enough of a shock to your system. No need to sign on for any additional physical discomfort (translation: pain).

That’s where the new Puj Tub comes in. It allows you to easily bathe Junior in the sink and eliminates the need to contort yourself into unnatural positions in order to lean over a regular bathtub while holding a slippery newborn. The Puj Tub fits into any sink. So you just step right up and wash. The PT has medical grade, warm foam to cushion your little seven pounds of bliss. It’s non-toxic, antibacterial and anti-fungal as well as hypoallergenic. The sleek design of this modern bathing pod is, in and of itself, a work of art; it folds flat so you can hang it to dry.

This is one hot tub.

Available at pujbaby.com.

Tine Out

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

Tinytongs

For many families with toddlers, a fine dining experience, sans three-quarters of the meal ending up on the floor, is out of the question. But a finer dining experience? Definitely doable.

Tinytongs can help your DC clean up her act. The child-size tongs are easy to manipulate (via a pincer grasp) and perfect for “bridging the gap” between the time a kid eats with her fingers and the time she can actually master traditional utensils. Tinytongs have proper tensioning for a child (12 months and up), gripping ridges and a non-slip grip. Made from polypropylene and TPE over-molding, they have all the right “frees;” they’re lead-, BPA-, Phthalate- and PVC-free. Another plus - you can throw these babies into the dishwasher. No special cleaning rituals required. Lastly, tinytongs are available at recession-friendly prices: $7.99 for a single, $24.99 for a four-pack.

Bon appetit.

Available at tinytongs.com.

A Sound Investment

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

C’mon - Renee & JeremyCloying, cringe-inducing, a colossal waste of time. All of these describe a decent percentage of the children’s music making its way onto DVDs every year. The real gems have what’s called cross-generational appeal, meaning you can enjoy the songs together with your DCs. The best of this class are even iPod-worthy.

Renee and Jeremy produce the kind of music that falls into this last category. The L.A. duo’s second children’s album, C’Mon, will be released next month, and it’s the type of CD deserving of a pre-order. With their soothing vocals and an upbeat-but-relaxed, folk pop style, their music is reminiscent of Carly Simon and James Taylor of years past. You won’t mind hitting replay a few times. Packed with songs you and your brood won’t want to “skip,” standouts include It Makes You Feel Good, BFF, Rely, Share and the album’s title song. The lyrics are simple and child-friendly without being patronizing. They talk about dreaming, playing hide ‘n’ seek, being a friend, and feeling good about everyday, little accomplishments (something more of us should take to heart).

Bring it on.

C’mon is available on barnesandnoble.com. Download a free song from C’mon at reneeandjeremymusic.com.

Ain’t No Einstein

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

It was the shot head ’round the world for anyone who’s done diaper duty in the past decade or so.

This past weekend, the New York Times reported that Walt Disney is offering refunds for Baby Einstein videos purchased after 2004, an action Times reporter Tamar Lewin writes, “appear[s] to be a tacit admission that they did not increase infant intellect.” Plenty of us bought these things, even before the 2004 cut-off date. (Baby Einstein was born in ‘97.) The Times referred to a 2003 study which indicated that a third of all American babies ages six months to two-years-old had at least one Baby Einstein video. Nevermind that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time for kids under two. In 2006, the group Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, led by director Susan Linn, went to the Federal Trade Commission to “complain about the educational claims” made by Disney and Brainy Baby. So the companies stopped using the word “educational” in connection with their marketing. Not satisfied, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood passed along their research to a team of public health lawyers who in turn threatened a class-action lawsuit against Disney for “unfair and deceptive practices” if full refunds weren’t forthcoming.

Last month, Disney stepped up and began offering the refunds - $15.99 per video for up to four B.E. videos. In a statement on Baby Einstein’s website, the company’s general manager, Susan McLain, attacked Linn writing,”Unfortunately, with Susan Linn’s latest stunt, we cannot be silent any longer. Linn’s obvious dislike for Baby Einstein has now turned into a sensational, headline-grabbing publicity campaign that seeks to twist and spin a simple, customer satisfaction action into a false admission of guilt.”

Maybe we should stop being so obsessed with IQ and start appreciating EQ, the emotional intelligence side of the equation, which some researchers say is a far better predictor of future success.

Timing is Everything

Monday, October 26th, 2009

Buy KetchupTime. We can waste it, lose track of it and supposedly make and buy it. But even with our ability to function 24/7 and our mastery of multitasking, even as the owners of the latest and greatest electronic organizers, we can’t add more time to our days (except for next Sunday when we turn back the clocks). There’s no app for that … yet.

Enter Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon: A Guide to the Best Time to Buy This, Do That and Go There. The book by veteran journalist Mark Di Vincenzo recommends ideal times to eat, travel, shop, visit the doctor and a whole lot more. Below are just a fraction of of Di Vincenzo’s “bests”:

Time to have a baby shower - Four to six weeks before the due date.

Place in the sibling order to be born - First. Research shows that firstborns spend about 3,000 more hours with their parents between the ages of four and 13 and that helps explain why many are successful later in life.

Season to be potty-trained - Summer. Fewer clothes to peel off Junior as you run him to the bathroom.

Month to get pregnant - August. Di Vincenzo admits this one is debatable but reasons that if you get pregnant in August, you won’t be pregnant during the hot summer months and you’ll be over morning sickness once holiday party season rolls around.

Day to give birth - Any day but Saturday and Sunday. Hospitals aren’t fully staffed on the weekends.

Time of day to have a prescription filled at the pharmacy - Late morning.

Time of day to buy shoes - Late afternoon when your feet are swollen.

Time to throw out make-up - After six months.

Time to apply for a passport - Fall (Get moving!). The State Department isn’t receiving as many applications.

Time of year to buy condiments - Mid-May to early June. Companies that make these products offer deep discounts then; they’re hoping you stock up on their stuff and won’t have a need to opt for a competitor’s ketchup come the height of barbecue season.

To quote Styx and Charles Dickens, “These are the best of times.”

Available at amazon.com.

A Mother of a Movie

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

MotherhoodUma Thurman’s character Eliza Welch doesn’t fit the typical New York mom stereotypes. She’s not a sanctimommy (although a blogger calls her one) with a holier-than-thou attitude, organically stocked pantry and belief that chocolate is an addictive drug. Nor is she a hire-a-village (nannies, tutors, life coaches) type. And that’s refreshing.

Eliza is simply another harried parent trying to make it through the day with all the pieces of her family intact. Motherhood takes us through “a day in the life of Eliza” as the SAHM blogs, gets ready for her daughter’s birthday party, navigates playground politics, wades through her cluttered apartments and tries to find a parking spot, a few sample sale bargains and her identity. Oh, yeah - she’s also attempting to land a new writing gig to help her return to some semblance of her pre-kids self. In a nutshell, although she sports a series of beyond-horrendous moo moos, Eliza is a woman with whom many of us can identify. Thurman has some touching moments with ER alum Anthony Edwards, who plays her onscreen DH. And Minnie Driver has comedic kick as Thurman’s BFF. But the standout scene belongs to newcomer Arjun Gupta as the easy-on-the-eye, Indian messenger who delivers so much more than just an envelope (not what you’re thinking!). Spoiler alert: It’s one hell of a dance scene.

Motherhood manages to hit the high and low notes of parenting, plus many in between, sans the saccharin and nary a housekeeper in sight.

Motherhood opens today in NY, L.A., Chicago, San Francisco and Boston.

Easy Rider

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

Early RiderBack in the 18th century, our relationship with the Brits wasn’t so hot - the whole American Revolution thing. But today we’ve got a lot to thank the UK for: Maclaren strollers, fax machines, penicillin, steel-ribbed umbrellas (a.k.a. bumbershoots), Burberry and Jude Law, to name a few. Now we’re getting some new hot wheels from across the pond.

Early Rider, already popular in Europe, is a light-weight, learner bike specifically geared toward toddlers and preschoolers. It’s got no pedals. Kids ride it Fred-Flintstone style, walking and jogging along, coasting when they feel like it. The point of the bike is to concentrate on learning to balance; kids can work on gross motor skills and gain self-confidence before throwing in pedaling. These British bikes weigh between seven and 11 pounds. All three versions of the Early Rider are made from Forest Stewardship Council sustainable birch, have an embossed flame and faux leather seat pad. Of course, with a bike this good-looking, Junior will need suitable headgear to match.

That’s when you turn to Nutcase, a Portland-based helmet company. They make a line for kids (toddlers to age 5) called “Paint Fight” Little Nutty bike helmetLittle Nutty. Each helmet is made from an ABS shell and with an EPS shock-absorbing liner. The helmets are one-size-fits-all and have a spin-dial fit system. One of the company’s co-founders was a creative director at Nike. No wonder these helmets have got such great visuals. The newest Little Nutties are Flower Power and Paint Fight (pictured), but you’ll also want to check out the 8 Ball, Dots and Urban Caution designs.

Ride, baby, ride.

Early Riders are available at earlyrider.com, and Little Nutty helmets at nutcasehelmets.com.