I found a great list of items that you should bring with you to the hospital when you are about to deliver.

1. Snacks, labor can take a while and you will want to have something that you like to eat not just something that your hubbie or partner can pick up around the corner.

2. Water, if you are used to your filtered water at home, then you better bring some of it with you. Otherwise you’ll be left drinking stuff that looks like water but doesn’t taste like water.

3. Lollipops or sucking candy, to keep your mouth moist.

4. Lip Balm, to keep your lips moist.

5. Your labor coaches favorite snack, reward the one that is helping you out.

6. Your pillow, there’s nothing like putting your head down on your own pillow.

7. Slippers and warm socks, in all likelihood the hospital is going to be cold and feet are hard to warm up once they get cold. Make sure to keep your feet warm…

8. Camera, or video camera, even if you aren’t going to get pictures of the pop itself, you’ll want to get a shot of your husband passed out on the floor.

9. Ipod/MP3 player, tunes- you gotta have the tunes.

10. Infant car seat to bring your baby home safely.

I believe everyone who is having a baby should get a copy of The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Baby Sleep Longer by Harvey Karp, M.D.
My super busy husband has good intentions but is having a very hard time reading the list of books I wanted him to read before our Baby-Sprout enters the world. Since we only have 7 weeks left, I am almost positive he is not going to get through his reading list so I am going to write short book reports for him. This report contains basic information from the book, which I think my husband should know, but does not even come close to being a full book report. So if you find the information here helpful, please pick up a copy.

Dr. Karp believes that babies are born too early. We often divide up our 9 months of pregnancy in three trimesters. Dr. Karp says babies are meant to have 4 trimesters but because of their head size they must be born 3 months too early. Since they are born 3 months too early, us as parents should try to make our babies surroundings as close to how babies would be if they were still inside the womb to make them calm.

To achieve that he suggests 5S’s. These are

1. Swaddling -Most parent-to-be comes in contact with the term swaddling during their pregnancy. There are numerous versions of swaddling blankets out there. We registered for the SwaddleDesigns Organic Ultimate Receiving Blanket – Natural with Trim. Dr. Suggests that we swaddle our baby in a tight bundle because that makes them feel like they are still inside the womb where they were continuously in a tight space. He has illustrations on how to swaddle the baby in the book in pages 115-118. (we have the book which was published in 2002) Some common mistakes that parents make when swaddling is not wrapping the baby in a tight bundle, swaddling a baby with bent arms, letting the blanket touch they baby’s cheek, and allowing the finished swaddle to pop open so let’s keep that in mind.

2. Side (or Stomach) – After swaddling your baby in a tight bundle, Dr suggests you put baby either on her side or on her stomach to calm them down. He says this might be because how babies are positioned while they are inside their mommies, or because being on their back sets of baby’s Moro(Falling) reflex. Dr. Karp suggests holding the baby in a reverse-breast-feeding hold, football hold, or over-the-shoulder hold (Illustrations on pp. 134-135) However, when babies are put to bed babies should sleep on their backs to avoid SIDs(Sudden infant death syndrome).

3. Shhh – Making white noise with your mouth. Since babies were surrounded by constant noise while they were in mommy’s belly, Shh noise you make will help baby calm down. Dr says Shh can be pretty loud. In fact it should match the the level of baby’s cry.

4. Swinging – Use motion to calm the baby. So he suggests jiggling the baby. (very different than shaking the baby which causes whiplash in babies and cause Shaken Baby Syndrome) Dr. Karp Suggests the Windshield Wiper tehnique. (you can find it on pp. 164-166)

5. Sucking – Dr. Karp says Pacifieres are ok. He does list some concerns in using pacifiers, such as nipple confusion, chemical contamination, not sweetening the pacifier, keeping it clean, not hanging the pacifier around baies neck, and he says to get rid of the pacifiers when baby reaches 4-5 months.

He says the combination of all 5S’s will help the baby calm down, and if you are not successful after first try that does not mean your baby is not responding. So Sunshine, memorize these techniques and let’s put them to use!

Bring the family for games, storytimes, activities, and more! Show the kids your skills at “Hokey Pokey” or just sit and enjoy a storytime together

While you’re enjoying the event, kids get a free cookie with any large beverage purchase at our Seattle’s Best Coffee cafe.

There are 3 borders in the west LA area.

Santa Monica
1415 Third Street Promenade Santa Monica, CA 90401
310.393.9290

Westwood – LA
1360 Westwood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90024
310.475.3444

Century City
10250 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90067
310.552.1411

I was at the Hollywood Bowl last night and at their store saw Baby Loves Jazz book series for babies and kids. So this morning I googled for them so I can get them for my Baby-Sprout who is due in 7 weeks, and want to share my findings with you. The ones I saw at the Hollywood Bowl store were books with accompanying CDs, but after today’s research I found that they also have the ones with just the music on CDs.

Here are the titles:

• On the Road (Baby Loves Jazz) (Book)
• Nursery Rhyme Jazz (Baby Loves Jazz) (Book)
• Louis Lion Sings Good Night: Baby Loves Jazz (Book)
• Philly Joe Giraffe’s Jungle Jazz: Baby Loves Jazz (Book)
• Miles the Crocodile Plays the Colors of Jazz: Baby Loves Jazz (Book)
• Ella Elephant Scats Like That: Baby Loves Jazz (Book)
• Duck Ellington Swings Through the Zoo: Baby Loves Jazz (Book)
• Charlie Bird Count to the Beat: Baby Loves Jazz (Book)
• Mingus Mouse Plays Christmastime Jazz (Baby Loves Jazz) (Book)
• Greatest Hits, Vol. 1-2 (Audio CD)
• Baby Loves Jazz: Go Baby Go! (Audio CD)

Claire’s is an accessory store. They carry earrings, bracelets, necklaces, rings, body jewelry, hair stuff, make-up and lots of other things.

Oh and you can also get your ears pierced free at the store when you purchase a starter kit for about $35.

Build-A Bear Workshop is an international store where you and your little ones can go and create a unique bear that fits your personality.

Here’s the process.

1. You pick a bear or animal. (without the stuffing)

2. You choose a sound that will make you smile when hugging your new bear.

3. You get a cute stuffed heart for your new stuffy, and a person on staff helps you stuff your bear.

4. Your new friend gets all stitched up.

5. You name your bear and register your bear so you can find your bear when it gets lost.

6. You can accesorize your bear with various items at the store.

And the bears / animals are super cute. My husband hard a difficult time leaving, had to run around and hug all the animals to see which one was softest. Maybe I’ll get him one for his B-day.

At gymboree newborn babies to kids up to 5 years of age can socialize in a safe and stimulating environment. Their activities range from play and learn, to school skills, music, art, sports, and family music.

There are several classes available for each of the age groups so check out the schedule around your area.

At Westside pavillion, the fees are

45 min class – $74/month

60 min class-$84/month

120 min class – $168/month

Membership fee – $35

$10 discount per month off any 2nd concurrent class or sibling enrollment.

$10 discount per month after 6 month continous enrollment.

This toy store inside Westside Pavillion has Toys, Puzzles and Action Figures for kids of all ages. They allow kids to touch and try them while they are visiting the store, so parents can be assured that their little ones will like the toys they are buying.

They also offer complimentary gift wrapping.

I’ve been told that studying music develops a child’s brain. I’m conflicted on that opinion. Some of my best friends are musicians many of the are extremely smart and witty, others- not so much. Ah maybe we’ll just play that off to the unusually high amount of drugs the “not so muchers” did. Anyway, this place looks pretty neat, and their prices aren’t too bad. An 8 week course will cost you $225 which is like what $28 per session. They cover Piano, Guitar, Violin, drums and percussion. Their classes are designed to get your child some experience with a variety of instruments before they choose an emphasis. They also provide single instrument classes. If i was going to get my child lessons i would start with piano. My reasoning- it will give them a grasp of pitch. Also- if you have a piano at home- keep it tuned for your kid otherwise you’ll screw up their pitch for years to come.

Check out Music Stars & Masters

They are on the second floor next to Nordstrom

(310) 470-1400

Kids clothes, kids clothes, kids clothes. If i had to describe it i would say its more alternative kids clothes. It’s not your usual pink dresses and rugby polo jerseys. This is rocker gear. They sell pacifiers from Juicy Couture and concert tee’s from famous rock bands. There’s even a mini Harley motorcycle in the window which, i didn’t ask but, i bet is for sale.