If anyone is looking to buy a Britax car seat for your baby-sprout here is a great chance to get it at a discount. Through May 9th, Amazon.com is having a Britax Car Seat Sale. When I had to buy a car seat for my little bean, I skipped the infant car seat and just purchased the Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat and added a Kiddopotamus Snuzzler Complete Head and Body Support for support. She is now 6 months old and it has worked pretty well. Since I don’t believe taking a infant out unless it is absolutely necessary, we didn’t need the infant carrier type of car seat. I just used the Balboa Baby Adjustable Sling to carry her when I needed to. If I had to change one thing, I think I would have bought Ergo Baby Carrier instead, since it’s getting harder to use the sling as she gets bigger. In all honesty though, I might not be using the sling correctly. Happy shopping!

Hockey, figure skating and all sorts of fun. check them out.

Culver Ice Arena, LLC
4545 Sepulveda Boulevard
Culver City, California 90230
(310) 398-5718 – recorded message
(310) 398-5719

I found this gymnastics school in Culver City. I plan on visiting and writing a review. For now its just a link

In honor or Earth Day, I am writing about green toys that I would like to get my little bean sprout. Whenever I see a toy made with plastic I have always wondered about the chemicals that might be in it, so when I saw these toys I had to know more.

I personally like toys from Plan Toys, Melissa & Doug and Haba. I thought green doll house from Plan Toys was adorable, educational and earth day appropriate.

Here are some online retailers where you can get safe earth friendly toys.

• Oompa
• Wooden Toys
• Moolka
• Gummy lump
• Kangarooboo

Happy Earth Day everyone!

We live in sunny California, and sometimes it gets really freakin hot here. Today is one of those days. I’ve seen a lot of advice on how to keep your baby cool in the summer. Most of the standards involve things like: don’t put the socks on, keep them in the shade, open the windows, put in thin covers, etc…

I’ve got a couple that I haven’t seen around as much.

Take her to the mall. That one rules. not only does it get your bean cool, it lets you go shopping. I love shopping.

Take her to coffee bean, okay I know its the same thing as taking her to the mall, but here its more specific, because here you get to have tea, or coffee.

Most importantly, don’t sit in at night when its cool outside and hot inside. Let your bean enjoy the cool night air. Watch out for bugs though.

As to keeping daddy cool there is only one answer: Beer!!!!!

I came across LIKEaBIKE on the web today and thought this would be a great gift for a child who wants to ride a bike like his/her mommy or daddy but not yet old enough to do so.

For a toy bike, it’s definitely on the expensive side but when it is not being used it will look great as a decorating piece for your house.

How to Choose the Right Public School for Your Child

Tuesday, May 5th 7:30pm

Featured Panelists:

• Robert Burke – The Open Magnet Charter School
• Patricia Escalante – El Rodeo Elementary School
• Phillip Hollis – Marquez Charter School
• Jeffrey Kaufman – Warner Avenue Elementary School
• Pam Marton – Community Magnet Charter School
• Pat Samarge – former principal, Franklin Elementary School
• Brenda Weinstock – Marvista Elementary School
• Lana Brody – Moderator

SOME TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED:

• What is the difference between charter schools, magnet schools, and other public schools.
• Who is eligible to attend and what is the process for applying.
• Is the API score a good indicator of a school’s performance.
• What is the difference between public school education versus private school education in LA.

Admissions into Private Schools – What You Need to Know

Tuesday, May 19th 7:30pm

Presented by:

An Esteemed Panel of Admissions Directors – Get insight and advice directly from Admissions Directors to help you calmly navigate your way through the process.

SOME TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED:

• Preparing for the Process (i.e., how to find out what a school is really about, the need to tutor or not, whether there is a “feeder” or “right” preschool, the best way to prepare for the interview, whether or not to hold back a child);
• During the Process (i.e., the extent of follow up, whether to state a first choice, whether  board member assistance or letters of recommendation are essential, whether it is acceptable to apply to both traditional and developmental schools); and
• After Letters Are Sent (i.e., how a wait list works, what to do or not if on one, process of learning about a decision, what options remain if not accepted).

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED – SPACE IS LIMITED

Luxe Hotel, Brentwood (The Luxe is located at 11461 W Sunset Blvd, near the 405 Sunset exit and entrance) $40 per person per lecture; $75 per couple $75 per person for both lectures; $120 per couple for both lectures

If you have questions contact Morgan Smith
at morganann129@gmail.com or call 310-614-8221

Register Online here

I’ve fond my bed space shrinking. You see my kid is a roller. She rolls and squishes and rolls and squishes, and my wife separates me and my little bean. (She calls it the border- because she doesnt trust her little bean anywhere near a sleeping bear). So beanie rols and rolls and squishes and squishes which results in- “Move over, move over”- so I do. Then i wake up in the morning on a sliver of the bed. Bear no like!. But then I look over and Beanie and my wife are sleeping looking so cute and I figure its worth the soar back, aching back, oh my back. Your so lucky I love you guys.

For the last few months my little bean won’t fal asleep in my arms.

Mom’s shoulder = out cold.

Grandma’s shoulder = practically dead

Granpa’s shoulder = snoring like a whale (do whales snore?- well if they do- this is what she sounds like)

Needless to say, I found this not only a little bit frustrating, but also a bit hurtful. Whats wrong with daddy’s shoulder? There was my dillemma, how do I bond with my beanie? I’ve tried lots of things over the last few weeks: rhythmic walking, rhythmic patting, shushing loudly, shushing softly, sinking, etc etc. To tell the truth I finally gave up, and just let my wife put her to sleep. If my wife had trouble I wold just say “give her to the Pros, Grams and Grmaps”.

Today I was determined to do it though. I first strated with playing with her forever and ever. She loves it when I zoom my hands in and out and wiggle my fingers. This lasted for thirty minutes. She wasn’t anywher near tired. I then walked around with her for a while. I admit i got tired and passed her to my wife. However, she had to write a blog post so she passed her right back. I knew my mission. I had to put her to sleep this time. I grabbed her and slowly walked around and patted her back softly. I turned all the lights down and lifted her up higher on my shoulder than usual. I also leaned my head up against her sholder. As soon as I did that I felt a thud and a little exhale. I thought to myself. “I think I got it!” And I did. She fell asleep, i sat down in the rocking chair and she snored away for an hour.

I feel much better about myself now. For those dads out there who are having trouble my advice is stick with it. Don’t get frustrated it will happen.

Everyone knows little babies have extremely sensitive skin. When I was preparing for my baby sprout I was convinced that Kiehl’s was going to be the right brand for my little one. After all, my extremely picky sister- in-law used it for my nephew and he had/has gorgeous skin. I bought their cleaners for the body, cleaner for the face, diaper rash cream, and their baby cream. All of their products do not have a strong scent so it was a plus for me. But when I started using their baby cream on my little one, she had some breakouts so I stopped using it. To this day I use their cleaners and the diaper rash cream and I am extremely poor (since they are really pricey) but very happy with the result. If you are looking to buy Kiehl’s products in the Los Angeles Area and save some money, go get it at Blooming’s which is located inside Koreatown Plaza. (Koreatown Plaza is located on the corner of Western and 9th st. in Koreatown) Blooming’s always pays the sales tax for you so you can save almost 10% if you are buying from them.

Since my bean’s skin didn’t agree with the Kiehl’s lotion, I started reading through mommy chat rooms for the right lotion for her. Lots of moms who had babies with sensitive skin raved about Cetaphil Cream. So I switched. I liked the price too. (much cheaper than Kiehl’s) Her skin got better within couple of days so I was pretty happy with it. As I was reading more on chat rooms, I found out that it had some chemicals that might not be so good for such a young baby so I switched again. I didn’t have to switch to a new one because it was working fine for my bean sprout but after hearing that it has chemicals I just wasn’t too comfortable using it on my little precious bean.

There are so many organic lotions out there but based on the convenience factor (if I forget to order it online before it runs out I can run to the closest Whole Foods and pick one up) I have been using California Baby Moisturizing Cream for the past 3 days and so far and my little one’s skin and I are both happy.

So future mommys who are reading, you might have to go through a couple brands of lotion before you settle on one, so don’t stockpile on lotion before your baby sprout is born. I learned my lesson.