Lucy & Jessica

A slide show of Lucy Pinder & Jessica-Jane Clement. Put together by ILScxbab

5 Tips to Potty Training Your Child

Potty training a child is one of the most exciting milestones of a young parent's life. I have potty trained three children, both boys and girls and they have all potty trained in different ways. Each child has their own unique personality and learning style so it was interesting to me as a Mom to watch them all pass through this milestone in their development.

As you begin to think about potty training your child, the first thing to remember is, don't get stressed out. They will not be wearing diapers to kindergarten. With that being said, here a re a few practical tips that will get you and your child started on the right foot.

Step 1 - Don't wait too long. Get them used to the idea of the "potty" early. Keep a small potty on the floor in the bathroom that they can sit on before and after baths or whenever you are using the bathroom. They may be completely clothed, but the simple act of sitting down on the potty gets them used to the idea early on. Our first child was not comfortable at first sitting up high on the traditional potty, so the small stable seat on the ground gave him the security he required. They will be observing your own bathroom habits as well. You will notice their curiosity kick in quit young. I think our first was saying "potty" at 1 although he didn't begin training until his 2nd birthday.

Step 2 - Your child is smart. Don't underestimate what your child can comprehend. They are learning new skills and new words and an astonishing rate. They are able to understand the concept. They may not have the muscle control for some time, but they have the cognitive ability to understand what is happening with the potty. Give them some visual clues. Show them what goes in to the potty and give the opportunity to flush afterwards. At times, I would even put the contents of their "dirty" diaper into the potty to show them where it goes. These are all important clues that are helping their brain assimilate information that will help them be successful in their training.

Step 3 - Stay in Control. We call this "potty training" because they are training for something. They are working on learning a new skill, not waiting until they have the skill perfectly accomplished before the undertake it. Parents and children can get a little lazy or busy and forget what needs to be happening. In our family we set up a little system to help us remember to use the potty. With 3 young children and home schooling, we all get busy and forget the task at hand, so I use the timer method. I would set the timer at different intervals to remind us when to use the potty. That and I would make sure to give them enough water throughout the day to give the opportunity to practice. The first day of training I did about 15 minute intervals to get used to the idea of pulling up and down their pants, getting on the potty and the muscle memory needed to go when needed, as a voluntary response and not an involuntary response. The second day we increased the time and the third day a bit more time was added. We still had accidents, but tons of underwear sitting on the back of the toilet helped us move through the accidents with ease.

Step 4 - Be consistent. Once you have decided to start. Don't stop when it may be hard, or it is taking your child longer than all of the little stories you hear form friends or on the internet. Some kid's potty train in a day, or three days or some take months of reminding and practice just because of their particular makeup. Keep up with the training of skills, like, how to pull their pants on and off, change themselves, wash their hands and get on the potty themselves. You will see that consistency pays off in the end. I would carry a travel potty in the car with me, so that we could quickly use the potty when we were at stores or traveling, so we didn't have to visit a dirty bathroom that was unfamiliar. That helped us stay consistent and flexible at the same time.

Step 5- Give it time Our first child potty trained in a week both 1 and 2, our second child (a girl, potty trained in a day on 1 and then 6 weeks later on 2 and our third child has taken a couple of weeks. This is partly because he is a boy and partly because he is the third. Never the less, they are all well adjusted potty trained kids. I have found the process of potty training, is one of teaching a parent how to be patient and teaching a child how to be independent. Isn't that a metaphor for all of parenting? Most of all, enjoy the process, it won't be long before they are asking for the car keys and these will be found memories you look back and cherish.

Amber Bishop is the co-founder of [http://www.SmartMoms-SmartBusiness.com] and http://www.smartmoms.freeforums.org online resources for work at home moms. She is also the owner of http://www.homeschool-diva.com She stays home and home schools her three children will building a successful home based business.

Spring 2009 Designer Diaper Bags Review and Trends

Spring is now in full bloom and that means lots of new babies. Time to take your baby out on a stroll in the park or head over to the mall for lots of fun shopping. We have looked at over 50 new designer diaper bags from 12 manufacturers for Spring 2009 and will select the most exciting ones to review individually. There are a great number of solid colored bags but the theme this spring are bright colors and floral patterns and many A-rated celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, and Heidi Klum are already seen in these gorgeous new designs. These are the hottest new trends in the world of designer baby bags!

We have seen that with the Storksak Rococo and Bloom bags which feature elegant flowery designs as a retake on their popular Elizabeth and Emily baby bags. They also launched a Storksak Jess diaper bag line which is a more compact size bag which many have clamored from them, and at a $155 price point, perhaps as a nod to these economic times. Other designers took this opportunity to launch an entire new collection such as Timi and Leslie which showcased 18 new designer diaper bags. This collection has a stable of six black bags but 12 are bright colors with many stripped patterns that matches current baby bag trends. Amy Michelle which produces wonderfully original and gorgeous designs came out 9 new designs. The Gladiola Baby Bag looks just like a designer handbag, something you buy at the handbag rack of a high-end department store.

Kalencom takes the cake for Spring 2009 with its gigantic new launch of their entire line-up retooled totaling 280 new diaper bag designs! There are over 25 base colors used in conjunction with over 500 color trims to make up this group of bags. The Kalencom bags come in all sizes that you can imagine including messenger, hobo, tote and shoulder bags. There are all different types of straps and flaps featured from short to long, smooth to textured, and zippers to buckles. The vast majority of these new Kalencom baby bags come with a wipe-clean changing pad. Best of all, they are priced below $90, an absolutely value for such stylish diaper bags loaded with accessories. There is simply too much to say for this new line, you will have to check out the new Kalencom collection visually for yourself. Look at them today!

Overall, this has been an impressive spring for diaper bag designs as we have seen a vast increase in design and colors. We are impressed by the creativity and charm of these new bags. Of course this continues the long trend of increased diaper bag design and selection. No longer is it standard that a diaper bag is a mere necessities holder for moms, they are now fashion statements and even dads are getting in the fray as evidenced by the Brad Pitt Baby Bag!

Cora Lee is the owner of Blissliving, widely known for diaper bags such as the Angelina Jolie Diaper Bag, Heidi Klum Nest Diaper Bags, baby gifts, and unique personalized mothers jewelry. Check out the brand new Kalencom collection consisting of 280 styles today! For additional ideas on designer diaper bags, visit http://www.BlissLiving.com which has over 550 designer diaper bags to shop from; BlissLiving.com has been listed as one of the highest rated sites by the Better Business Bureau, with double AA ratings, for five years in a row.

Katy

crazy girl in muh apartment ....help

Hair Bows For Baby Girls - Different Designs and Kinds of Bows

Let's talk about baby hair bows that would make your little girl look like a princess!

If you want your precious one to look like a princess once again, try using a hair bow to adorn her silky smooth hair. It will surely do the trick because hair bows come in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes and you can choose those that suit her and let her smile like a princess ready to pose for a portrait.

Different kinds of bows

There are so many options for your baby girl in terms of shape and size of the bow. The following are some good examples:

• Bumble barrette bow- Newborns and toddlers can wear these bows. It is a French clip usually embellished with a flower pattern or a hair band decorated with a sequined strawberry or a flower or a bunny.


• Itty bows- These bows measure somewhere around 2 to 2 ½ inches and are made on alligator pinch clips. They are available in various prints and colors. These are made on such smooth ribbons that the baby hardly feels it's there.


• Toddler Bows - These are made for the sweet older babies who are just learning the ways of the world. Especially made for them are hair bows which come in bolder colors of bright pink and fuchsia.


• Headband Bows - These can be worn by infants, toddlers and preschool girls alike. The bow is made of ruffle ribbon, is 3 inches wide and is carefully placed on the headband. It can be made with two layers of ribbon to have more loops or you can buy a korker headband so the bow looks fluffy but not frayed.


• Single Bows- They can be just simple or you can make them attractive by adding more loops or by attaching them to a headband. You may select from a wide variety of colors that would make them go with most of your baby's dresses.


• Loopy Bows - Usually made of long ribbon, they require around 3/8" of ribbon. Korkers can be added to them for a fuller look.


• School Team Cheer Bows- If your little girl acts as a cheer leader for the school team; you can buy for her a three color scheme hair bow. It can be made of korkers or ribbons or a combination of both. You may attach it to a French clip or alligator clip.


• Gymboree Bows- You can buy these as a single bow or a headband set. They look very cheerful in all rainbow colors. You can loop them in the pattern of Tiger Love or Sugar Cookie or Bubble Fun.


• Janie and Jack Bows- These bows are made in line with the Janie and Jack Flair line. It is made with 11/2" of ribbon and only the two loops on the top are 7/8". The combination of red and white looks really amazing.


• Holiday Bows -They are usually the ruffle ribbon hair bows that give a fluffy look for your baby. The satin and big bows will not encourage your kids to wear and play around.

Dressing up your little bundle of joy for a formal gathering is a treasured moment you can share with your kids. Make your little missy stand out from the crowd with baby dresses and hair bows. If you want to learn more of tips on baby hair bows visit www.AngelHeadbands.com.

A Daddy Baby Shower - New Twist on the Old Baby Shower

Try something new, a Daddy Baby Shower. Even though no one would realistically expect a new daddy-to-be to sit around with his closest buddies, opening baby shower gifts and playing party games while oohing and aahing over the imminent birth of his child. That doesn't mean that Dad can't have a baby shower-type celebration. Daddy deserves to celebrate the birth of his child, too!

Of course, the term baby shower does invoke visions of baby themed parties. Like the one described above when planning a baby shower. So perhaps "baby shower" is not an appropriate name for this get-together. Why limit yourself with a label, anyway? Call it a "celebrating-Jim's-impending-fatherhood" party, if you want, instead of baby showers for dad.

Here are a few suggestions to make this type of party one for daddy-to-be to remember:

Play Games:
Well, not baby shower games. But you can play poker, horseshoes or even a game of shirts-n-skins football in the back yard.

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry:
Have tons of fattening and not-good-for-you foods. Make spareribs, cheese steaks, wings, and anything else you can eat with your hands and make a mess with. The wives won't be there to complain and you can grunt all you want. Have some beers (or soda if you prefer) and barbecue.

Last Night Out:
Take the dad-to-be out for a night on the town to rival his bachelor party. Do some bar hopping, play some pool, shoot some darts, and don't go home until you are kicked out of at least three places. Keep Dad safe, though, and designate someone to stay sober and make sure everyone gets home in one piece. You might also want to check with mom-to-be to make sure she is okay with this plan. She is, after all, pregnant and might not be all that amenable to the last-night-out-before-fatherhood party.

Gifts for Dad-To-Be:
Let the official baby shower take care of the baby necessities. Give Dad gifts for himself, or gifts that he would have chosen for the baby. Buy him a diaper tool kit, complete with goggles, rubber gloves, tongs, clothespin, and of course, diapering essentials, or a Daddy Gear diaper Bag.

Gag gifts are fun, too. Or you could buy clothing for the new baby with Dad's favorite sports team's logo or matching Dad and Baby t-shirts. Think about necessities like batteries, too. Most likely they won't be on Mom's registry, but all parents know that batteries are a hot commodity in any house with children. Be creative.

And don't forget that Dad might need some reading material to get himself up to date on the latest parenting trends. Consider getting him a book on fatherhood, funny or otherwise, or maybe a magazine subscription for daddy, such as American Baby Magazine.

Ask other new dads to think about what toys or objects were particularly helpful when their little ones were inconsolable, and either buy or recommend them for the times when dad-to-be is home alone with Junior.

Comfort Dad:
New Dads are usually pretty stressed out about what there life is going to be like after the new baby comes. Be prepared to have guests tell funny and helpful stories about their own experiences with becoming a daddy. Make it a point to reassure him that his wife is not really crazy, she is just hormonal and this, too, shall pass.

Remember, daddy baby showers don't have to be like the traditional shower, or even called a shower, but you can have one for dad just the same.

© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

Randy currently has websites dealing with Baby Furniture Reviews and Shaving & Hair Removal.

Huggies Supreme Diapers Will Help You Win the Diaper Wars!

Each parent can attest to the fear of the two a.m. scream. One day I woke up from a nap myself to find my son happily smearing poop all over his crib. A good diaper will keep incidents like this to a minimum.

The diaper Territory - Bring You Poop Shields!

The first time a poop explosion happened in my house, my husband got the brunt of it. My husband was taking a shift of night duty when my son was a few weeks old. When he heard our son crying, he went over to his room to see what was going on. Hoping to not disrupt our son more than necessary, my husband turned on a night light and prepared to change our baby's diapers. He lifted my child onto the changing table and removed his diaper. Quickly grabbing a new diaper, my hubby started to lift my son's legs to put on the new diaper. He quickly wiped my boy spotting that my child might have already pooped a little. However, that was just the beginning of a big mess. My son, not wearing his diaper, let loose and made a big, big mess... all over my husband! If only he had been a little faster or a little slower in removing and replacing the diaper.

Getting Ready For More

After trying a number of different brands of diapers with my son, we found that there was definitely variation in how they fit. More than just a good fit, we wanted something that could catch all the poop he could excrete, without leaking. Huggies Diapers supreme worked the best for us. It was the only diaper that had explosion-stopping elastic powerful enough to keep him clean. The Huggies leak lock system seemed to actually do its job.

Engaging The Enemy - The True Test Of The Huggies Supremes

So, we were using our box of Huggies Supreme Diapers and we wanted to put them to the test. My boy was half a year old when he tried to check our diaper choice. {The magic? His first sample of prune juice! I guess I should admit to triggering the episode - I gave him his first taste of prune juice!|He had attempted prune juice for the 1st time. In less than 4 hours, I smelled a stink emanating from his diaper. "This will be the true test," I thought! I put him on the changing table and slowly started to remove his diaper... I was expecting a smeary mess all over his clothes.I had been fully expecting to see feces inside his garments. I was SO relieved to see it had all stayed INSIDE the diaper! Almost all of the poop had soaked into the LeakLock area and with a few wipes my child was as good as ever.

Is the Diaper War Over?

I don't know if you'll like the Huggies Diapers Supreme brand as much as we do, but my husband won't let me buy the cheap store brands any more - we're sold! We have faced many other poopy diapers since we first put the Huggies to the test The Huggies diapers do the job consistently, and rarely do we have any kind of leaks or messes. If a leak occurs, it's usually due to the fact that we hadn't changed the diaper in a while and it was already pretty full of pee. Now Brian is ready to potty train, so we're going to give the Pull-up's a try next. If you're not happy with your diapers, I encourage you to do what I did and try a lot of different brands. I think you'll notice a difference, but depending on your baby and his diaper habits, you can see if Huggies Supreme diapers are the winner for you or not!

As you can see, I have been very pleased with the Huggies Diapers line of diapers, but it may not be right for you. Huggies diapers have a lot of different brands and sizes to choose from. I would suggest trying Huggies if you're still looking for the right diaper for you. You can visit my http://www.HuggiesDiapers.org to find out how to save money by ordering online.

Essential Winter Wear Clothing for Your Toddler

Every day is an adventure for both new parents and toddlers. There are always new experiences waiting to be discovered, and nothing can be more fun than your toddler's first few winter months. While it can be quite exciting, as children love to play in the snow! However, it can be quite a concern for some parents as children do not really have what it takes to brave the snow on their own. They need to be protected so that they can be warm and toasty even while playing in the cold. This is why winter wear is so important for children.

Long under garments is one of the most basic things your toddler will need. They create the base for all the other layers of clothing you will put on your child. They cover the whole body so that you can be sure that your kid keeps warm all the time. For parents with toddlers who still wear diapers, a toddler snowsuit with a flap at the bottom will help speed up those diaper changes so they won't be a hassle. You can choose them in a variety of designs, and they are no longer the bulky garments they used to be. They come in different thicknesses, so you can choose which one is right for your child.

Toddler snowsuits are also necessary, because not only do they keep your child warm; the garment keeps your child dry as well. This is necessary to retaining precious heat during those winter months, so it's a must! Furthermore, they are very comfortable to play around in. They come in different amounts of insulation, depending on what your child needs and what he can handle. Avoid putting your child in snowsuit that is too bulky and will make it too hard for the children to walk around in.

Gloves, scarves, winter hats, and other accessories are an option for your child. However, if your child is too small, he or she may not be able to winter gloves just yet. Scarves should also be just the right length so that it doesn't become a hazard. Meanwhile, hats are essential as they keep the head warm. Make sure you get one that can cover the ears to keep them warm. Something in fleece or wool would be great, as they can really keep your kid warm. Beanies are a great kind of winter hat that works well with toddlers and small children as they do not easily fall or slip off.

When it comes to children, you can buy them all the winter clothing you want. But remember, it is not recommended that they spend extended periods of time in the cold winter snow. Even if they have the thickest layers of clothing, if they are exposed too much, they are at risk of getting sick. Have them take short breaks once in a while to warm them up with a cup of hot chocolate. After playing outside, give them a hot bath to chase away the cold.

Kids Snow Boots, Snowsuits, Mittens and Gloves & Winter Wear! Huge Selection - Major Brands - Best Prices!

Crazy Chix -- Diapers

5.1 out of 2.

The Best Toys For Nine to Ten Year Old Girls

Girls around the ages of nine and ten-years old are very interested in imitating their moms. This means they are interested in looking like a girl by wearing makeup. They are also interested in pampering themselves, such as receiving manicures and pedicures. For girls at this age buying them beauty supplies is a great gift idea. You can buy girls this age makeup, nail polish, lotions, body washes, spray-on glitter, and many other beauty supplies. You can also buy them the tools that they would need to use various beauty supplies or even beauty supply kits. To get even more creative you can buy them kits that allow them to make their own bath beads, lip glosses, etc.

Another idea that you can use for girls who are nine to ten years old is buying them cupcake makers or ovens that they can bake in. Having baking toys will allow them to cook in the kitchen with mom or even bake a cake or two while having a slumber party. The baking toys come with a variety of desserts that your child can bake, and there is no mess involved. If you happen to run out of the baking packets that come with the toys, you can buy refill packets. Being allowed to buy refill packets extends the life of the toy and the refill packets are a great gift by itself. Some of the baking toys even come with baking tools that your child can use to decorate the desserts that they made; this also allows them to practice using tools that you would normally use in the kitchen.

Stuffed animals are another great choice among girls this age, just not only ordinary stuffed animals. Girls this age will enjoy ordinary stuffed animals because they can cuddle with them and display them in their room. There are also stuffed animals that you can purchase that come with a secret code. The code allows you to adopt the animal on the internet. The website that you go to allows you to play games, feed and play with your pet, bathe and groom your pet, and many other fun and exciting things. You can choose from a variety of different types of animals and try to collect them all.

Dolls that sing are another great choice for girls in this age group. These dolls give your child a chance to sing along to their favorite songs from some of their favorite movies. Many of the dolls are interactive; a microphone that comes with the doll can be passed back and forth between the doll and your child. When singing where your child leaves off the doll will pick up from and start signing. You can also purchase play sets for the dolls, these are sold separately. The play sets allow your child to act out scenes from their favorite movies, with the correct characters from the movie.

Doll heads that allows your child to do their hair or put on their makeup is another option for girls in this age group. The doll head is going to allow your child the chance to practice different beauty techniques on their dolls before they try it on themselves. It will also give your child an idea about what is involved when it comes to putting on makeup and styling hair. Some of the doll heads even come with hair that can be cut and grown back.

Choosing the perfect gift for a girl in this age group can be hard; if you know, what they are interested in the choice will be easier.

Beverly Frank is mom to two young kids and a writer. Visit http://www.surfnetparents.com for more parenting advice and ideas.

Women Wearing Wedding Diapers?!

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