v 5 issue 2: Baby Essentials

We have hand-picked our latest favorites when it comes to baby essentials for this issue. These items are certain to make your life with baby a lot easier!


Cover by Alexi Killmer










1 No more kicking off blankets! This SwaddleDesigns zzZipMe sleep sack keeps your little one warm so you can have a more restful night plus reduces the risk factors associated with SIDS. The patent design opens from top and bottom for easy access. available in 2 sizes for the perfect fit. Both $36. Enter code: Tots for 10% off your total purchase.

2 Maximize the longevity and comfort of a stroller through the protection of a liner. Tivoli Couture offers luxury liners which can be purchased with matching blankets to maximize style. With or without a memory foam insert, these liners provide the ultimate in comfort, and easily slip into today's popular strollers to keep crumbs and spills off seats! Enter code: TTW15 for 15% off purchases.

3 The Snuggle Bug Bagz is made specifically for babies of 0-16 months. Each zip blanket bag is lined with organic sateen or minky fabric and is available in a multitude of colors and styles. Designed with a cut out for a three point seat belt harness, so baby can stay covered up while in the stroller, car seat, baby swing....Enter code: snugbug for 10% off your purchases.

4 The Noobee from Pookafun contains a slew of activities for children of all ages. From white, black, & red contrasts to letter identification, this book alternative has numerous activities and vivid colors scattered throughout the band of soft fabric. Easily folds into a pseudo-book for compact storage and promises years of on-the-spot, age appropriate entertainment.

5 Exercise can be difficult to fit in with a hectic schedule, but this DVD/CD set may be just what you've been looking for. The DVD begins with the "groove" of a fast-paced baby settling routine and cools down to gently send baby off to "sleep". The 35 minute DVD comes with an audio CD, so you can "enjoy" the benefits of the original soundtrack on-the-go @ chicks-n-chickens.com.

6 Pockets galore and a roomy interior make the weekender bag from Kalencom a must have. Hidden behind decorative buckles, trim, and stitching is a deceivingly large interior lined with maximum organizational capabilities. Each bag comes with a matching insulated bottle holder, zip bag, and coordinating changing pad.

7 Experience the benefits of baby-wearing with the most recognized baby wrap on the market. The Moby Wrap is made of slightly stretchy 100% cotton fabrics in a plenitude of colors and prints. Specially printed, UV protected, and organic styles are available.

8 Jot all baby's information down in one handy, well-planned log for future referencing. Rosie Bear's Aunt Lala logs come in handpicked designs sure to tickle anyone's fancy. Includes 90 pages of daily logs, "ouchie" pages for medicines administered, a growth chart, and an emergency contact page. Great for keeping track of doctor's visits! Enter code: TOT for 10% off your total purchase.


This weeks mom tips:
Greener, cleaner, and sure to please...our mom tips are tops!
Cleaning Tip: If you have stainless steel appliances, you'll love this cleaning tip. Simply take a small amount of baby oil, apply to a cleaning rag, and rub onto your stainless steel, top to bottom. Tried, tested and true, this trick will get rid of those annoying streaks other cleaning solutions leave behind!

Financial Tip: If you have debt on which interest accrues, then remember this simple fact: The sooner you make a payment, the less interest you're going to pay. So, to save on interest, make payments every week or every other week rather than every month. You will pay off your debt sooner and pay less interest, all while paying the same amount every month.

Green Tip: Summer's heating up, and we've got a refreshing idea that will put your empty milk and soda bottles to good use! Fill your empty bottles with tap water, freeze, and use them to keep things cool on your next picnic.

Parenting Tip: This tip is simple: children remember the positive and encouraging things you say to them, and replay them when faced with self-doubt. So, say something positive to your child whenever the opportunity presents itself, it will do wonders for their self-esteem. Especially helpful is identifying specific character traits that you admire in your child; unlike praising them for a specific action, praising them for a specific character trait gives them self-confidence in a variety of situations.


How Much Sleep Does Your Baby Need?
When you bring home that newborn from the hospital, you soon realize that sleeping like a baby doesn't mean what most people usually take it to mean. Babies need a lot of sleep; however, it takes time before they can sleep through the night. The amount of sleep children need changes as they get older. While every child is different, there are some basic guidelines that can help you know if your child is getting enough sleep during that all-important first year.

Newborn - When you first come home with that baby, you may feel like you are in a constant cycle of feeding and napping. This is completely normal. Newborns will sleep about sixteen hours a day, spread out in about two hour segments around the clock. When the stomach is still so small, babies need to eat frequently, especially if you are nursing. It is a good idea, especially when you first get home from the hospital, to nap during the day when the baby naps. You will be on their sleep schedule for a while.

Some nursing mothers use a co-sleeping method so that they lose less sleep until the baby begins to sleep through the night. By keeping the baby close, they feel secure and aren't waking up frightened during the night. If you are bottle-feeding, you might try taking turns with the feedings with your partner, so both of you get a little more sleep.

One Month - By the time the baby is about one month old, they are starting to be awake more, as they are learning about the world around them. They will usually sleep about fifteen hours a day, with around six hours of that time during the day. You will quickly pick up on the cues that the baby is ready for a nap; some will fall asleep shortly after a feed or even while they are feeding.

Three Months - Now is the time that every parent lives for: the baby normally begins to sleep through the night. By about three months, their stomach has grown and they can eat more, so they can sleep longer at a stretch during the night. They still sleep about fifteen hours, but their naptime decreases to about five hours. Not every child will start to sleep through the night right at three months. Some take a little longer. When you start to introduce some solid foods, that also usually helps the baby begin to sleep longer at night.

Six Months - At six months, babies drop to needing about fourteen hours of sleep each day, with only about four hours at naptime. However, sometimes at about six months, infants will still wake up during the night. If they are sleeping in their own room, they will wake and realize that mom is not right there. Sometimes they will go back to sleep, but sometimes they just need to know you are there.

Nine Months - Nine months is another milestone. By now, they should be sleeping through the night regularly. While they still need about fourteen hours of sleep, they begin to nap less. They may only nap about three hours during the day.

Twelve Months - By the time the baby is about a year old, they will normally be sleeping about thirteen hours a day. They will sleep about ten or eleven at night, with a two or three hour nap during the day. Some children may not want to even nap at all. They are too busy exploring their world, but it is still a good idea to try to encourage naptime.

As with most growth milestones, no two children are exactly alike. Be flexible, but still try to ensure that your baby is getting enough rest. It will make life easier for all of you

v 5 issue 1: Birthday Bash

Tot Trends Weekly turns 4 years old!

In this weeks issue we share some favorites for celebrating your little ones birthday in style. Plus: Summer reading recommendations.

Cover by Robin Long









1 Start it off as a party decoration and reuse it in the bedroom for a truly adorable room makeover. Three circus inspired pennants are accompanied by eight coordinating fabrics for a total of nine feet in length. An Old School Acres design exclusive to the Baby Gardner. Enter code BGTOT for 10% off your purchases thru 8/31/09.

2 Gorgeous! Birthday girls from 3-6 months all the way up to 6 years can make this outfit all their own. Comfortable, cool cotton is hand-made into the sweet cocoa skirt and matching tank set. Available @ Dolce Baci Boutique. Enter code: code TotTrends20 for 20% off purchases thru 7/31/09.

3 Monkey See, Monkey Do! The perfect chenille bib for baby's first birthday. Hand-appliqued with your choice of an initial or age. Reversible with Velcro closure. Swing on over to Lollipop Kisses for this and more. Enter code: TTW10 for 10% off orders $75 or more thru 8/31/09.

4 Slice up the fun of a birthday party any day of the week. Children will have tons of fun reusing this 22 piece wooden birthday cake set from Pink Taffy Designs. Assembled like a puzzle, each set includes four slices of cake with candles, a serving tray, and a slicing knife.

5 Froggy is a courtin' birthday cards and he found just the right thing over @ inababycarriage.com. Cards are made of quality, double-sided 5" x 7" cardstock with envelopes included. Each design is beautiful, so good luck choosing one! Enter code TTW09 for 10% off total purchase thru 8/30/09.

6 The possibilities seem limitless @ bug & goose when it comes to options for a personalized tee. However, once you get focused, a few quick clicks will get you a birthday boy's (or girl's) t-shirt personalized with an appliqued number in your choice of heather gray, baby blue, or navy. Enter code: Trends15 for 15% off purchases thru 8/03/09.

7 A cupcake and single candle are baked onto a long or short sleeved tee for a delectably delightful first birthday tee. With colors bursting in fun, baby can celebrate all year long. Find it @ ambajam. Enter Code: TTCupcake15 for 15% off all cupcake shirts thru 8/19/09.

8 One pretty basket purse is treated to flowers and bugs. Tuck in a few treats for a mighty fine present, use it to store party accessories, or make just the basket a gift. Either way the birthday girl will love to hold onto this Nantucket Basket purse from Up My Sleeve. 20% off purchases thru 8/2/09. Just mention this ad at checkout.


Simple Suggestions to Care for your Skin
Skincare sounds like a big job but it doesn’t have to be. You don’t need fancy products to make your skin healthy. Some of the best ways to care for your skin are also the simplest and can be done with very little hassle.

Healthy skin is a sign of a healthy body. When something is wrong internally, it will show in your skin. Pimples and blackheads signify that something is off balance internally. Lack of proper vitamins can lead to dry skin. Maybe you have noticed that your skin shows what you try to hide.

There is hope for you and your skin. Skincare begins at the basic level. Before you apply makeup or other products, care needs to be taken to get your skin in the best shape possible. Here are a few suggestions to help you do that.

1. Drink plenty of water each day. Water gives your body an internal shower. The body is around 90 percent water anyway. It takes a lot to replenish what the body uses and what you lose everyday through perspiration and urination. Nutritionists recommend eight to ten glasses but you can drink as much water as you can handle. Water moisturizes the skin from the inside.

2. Exercise. This may be easier said than done for moms with small children. Give baby a day out with a jaunt in a jog stroller. Even if you are walking, these strollers are designed to absorb shock so baby stays comfortable. Exercise improves circulation, oxygen utilization in the body and flexibility in the muscles. It also helps you to maintain a healthy weight.

3. Sleep. Lack of sleep doesn’t just scramble your brain. Skin begins to show signs of stress. During sleep, the body’s cells go to work repairing damage done during the day. Without restorative sleep, you don’t get an internal body makeover. For your skin, this means wrinkles, dry patches and a dull sheen. Exercise also helps you sleep deeper and more restful. If your kids wake up early in the morning, prepare to go to bed when they do to get at least seven to eight hours a night.

4. Eat more raw foods. Processed foods contain chemicals and preservatives that the body was never meant to digest. Maybe that is why we suffer such stomach upset from certain foods. Foods in their natural state like fruits and vegetables are power-packed with nutrients to meet your daily needs. Instead of a glass of apple juice, reach for the apple itself. You’ll ingest a good amount of fiber to keep you regular and less hungry as you run after your kids.

5. Use sunscreen when you head outdoors. Even thirty minutes in the park can damage your skin without sun protection. It can lead to wrinkling and age spots. Carry sunscreen in your purse for the kids and apply it to your skin as well. For kids, an SPF or 45 or higher is great.

Want to keep your skin looking great? Try these suggestions and reveal the natural glow in your skin.


Summer reading with Tundra Books
Research shows that children and adolescents that read over the summer months have a leg-up at the start of the school year. A good book can also take your child to far-off places, soar their imagination, and make summer vacation a blast.

We have chose to review some our favorite Tundra Books. Tundra Books is Canada’s oldest English language children’s publisher. Over the years Tundra has been dedicated to helping people tell their own stories, to introducing gallery artists to young children, and to keeping in print the books children love, so they can share them years later with their own children.

The Lime Green Secret
Written by Georgia Graham

Fran is so excited about being chosen as flower girl for her sister’s wedding. As she stares in awe at the flower-girl attire the temptation is too great and she gives in and puts on the entire wedding outfit piece by piece as her imagination and adventures take her on an unstoppable journey days before the wedding. This book brings little girl’s fantasies to life with unpredictable results. Age: 4-7


Big and Small, Room for All
Written by Jo Ellen Bogart
Artist Gillian Newland

A captivating look at how a child, fits into the great, big universe around us. Explore the size of objects and their place in the universe. This book places the immensity and wonder of space in perspective so young readers comprehend they are part of creation, and a small part of all that exists. Age: 2-5


Bradley McGogg, the Very Fine Frog
Written by Tim Beiser
Illustrated by Rachel Berman

Bradley McGogg, makes his home in the bog where there are plenty of yummy bugs for a frog to feed on. Upon finding his pantry bare one day, Bradley decides to meet his neighbors, in the hopes that they will share some of their favorite meals with him. But this “bog frog” soon finds that not all animals eat alike. Age: 2-5


Here a Face, There a Face
Written by Arlene Alda

Search for faces in unusual places. Faces are found on buildings, in trees, mailboxes, and fountains. Funny, grumpy, comical, or sad, they are almost anywhere a child’s imagination wants to go. The easy-to-read text makes this book perfect for the young readers. Age: 3-8

v 4 issue 47: Make Mine Organic

This weeks issue is totally non-toxic from organic clothing to respect for our environment, now that's peace of mind!


Cover by Gina Oh










1 Simple to use and utterly organic. Just tuck baby into the center pocket & fold over each flap which is secured in place with Velcro. This is one swaddle baby can wiggle in, but won't want to wiggle out of. - babybonkie.com.

2 Combed cotton thermal (organic of course!) comes to life when it meets merma pillar. Choose from 4 colors of fabric and add the merma-critters of your liking. Make it organic and any way you like. Free white/natural hat with purchase thru 7/17.

3 DJ Nappy spins outs the Zzzz, but Gizmoroo pumps up the jam by throwing in colors of orange, brown, & blue. Earth friendly and funky. Comes as a tee, or snap it up with a onesie. Enter code: TTWREVIEW for 15% off your total purchase thru 7/20.

4 Ooh, the benefits of bamboo: anti-wick, anti-microbial, hypo-allergenic... Topped off with a pair of big loving eyes, this towel captures the sweetness & gentle nature of both the panda and the fabric. One of many great products from BamBoo Hugs. Enter code: TOTS for 15% off your purchases

5 Absorbent and absolutely adorable. Wrap baby up in a fully enclosed bamboo hooded robe after a tubbie for gentle-loving cuddling sessions. So cute you won't want to take them out. bamboobino.com.

6 The kaleidoscope button romper is a playfully printed piece...full of color & fun. Slightly cinched at the waist with buttoned straps and a shorted bottom half. Find this soy & organic blend fashion statement @ babystar. Enter code: 20twinkle09 for 30% off your total purchase, thru 12/31/09 WOW!

7 When a plain old bodysuit has got you down, spice things up with a few ruffles. The skirted bodysuit from B nature isn't your average summer attire...it's cool, flirty, organic fun. Enter code: TTWaug for 10% off your purchases thru 8/31/09.


This week’s mom GREEN Tips:
Shopping for Organic Food on a Budget Tips:

Focus on high-pesticide count foods first. The most common conventional fruits and veggies that contain harmful chemicals and pesticides include apples, potatoes, nectarines, and spinach. Plan on spending a little more than usual on these items, and cut back on others to balance your budget.

Which conventionally-grown fruits and vegetables are okay if organics are not available? Check out this guide to fruits and vegetables containing the most pesticides @ foodnews.org

Become a bulk buyer. This is especially useful when you're buying whole grains and lentils that can be stored easily for a few months. Bulk buying programs are also available at many coops and natural food stores, so don't be afraid to ask about discounts. This is a great way to incorporate healthy whole grains in your diet if you're not already eating them.

Choose natural or generic over premium brands. This is easier to do at supermarkets such as Trader Joe's and even Whole Foods in some cases. Look for the store's brand over the premium for savings, and take advantage of manufacturer coupons whenever possible.


Green Cleaning Supplies:
How green are your green cleaning supplies? Manufacturers of commercial cleaning products are not required to list all of the ingredients used. So, while the new green products may be less toxic, that does not mean they are non toxic. In order to find the greenest and least toxic of the commercial cleaners available, read the labels. Learn what the warning labels mean. Don't assume that all of the environmental and health claims made by these products are true. Check the ingredients list. You can also check out the Eco Label center at GreenerChoices.org to see how a particular product rates.

We recently had the opportunity to try out some Eco Mist Solutions products and absolutely love their Kitchen cleaner. It is totally unscented, non toxic and made with plant based ingredients. Now that is a cleaner you can trust!

Teaching Kids to Respect the Environment
One of the best ways to get your kids to respect the environment is to show them the impact of their actions on the world around them. Our children have key role to play in protecting the future of our planet. As we teach our children about the world we need to teach them about their role as stewards of the earth. Kids appreciate that kind of information especially when they feature prominently in the information being presented.

One example of how we can start teaching children to respect the environment in simple and tangible ways is to examine the way we dispose of our garbage. Garbage disposal is a chore many kids are given because it is simple to do – carry the garbage out to the curb. Why not introduce your kids to the whole concept of what we do with garbage so that they might think twice about how they discard items, especially recyclable ones.

Kids should be informed that our garbage can hurt us. Certain chemicals if disposed of incorrectly can be released into the environment and contaminate our air, water, and possibility the food we eat. Examples are thermostats that contain mercury, oil paints and pesticides. Examine with your child the household items around your house that may be hazardous to the environment if not disposed of correctly. If unsure about some products, talk to the retailer or read product labels carefully to find out if safe disposal methods are recommended.

Encourage your kids to recycle paper and all other recyclable items around the house (look for the recycling symbol that is on many items, like plastic containers).

Discuss the fact that the country is running out of landfills and scientists are still trying to find safer and more affordable ways to burn garbage. Our best strategy is to reduce what we throw away and reuse or recycle as much as possible.

Teach your kids about the products that pollute our environment like our cars and get into the habit of walking or riding a bike to destinations, whenever possible. The next time you decide to buy a car think about the eco-friendly hybrid car (powered by gas and electricity) and involve your kids in the research process for your next eco-friendly vehicle.

When you are outside with your children take the time to highlight the distinct beauty of nature. Point out to your children the picture perfect blueness of the sky on a clear, bright day. In early spring find where lilacs or other pungent and lovely spring flowers are growing, and encourage the kids to sniff the unique scents of these spring treats. Cultivate a love for nature by awakening in your children an appreciation for the natural world.

With these tips, your children will learn to not only embrace nature but will grow into adults that will respect the environment because they know, understand and appreciate what is at stake. Your kids will develop an appreciation of their responsibility not just as conscious inhabitants of earth but as caring stewards who respect the grandeur and balance of Nature.