Teachers and Other Caring Adults

My son had a fabulous student government teacher that believes high school is about more than algebra and college application essays. He believes that high school teachers can, and should, teach students lessons in integrity, service, and community involvement. Instead of asking continually for donations and pledges from community business owners, he constantly looks for opportunities for the students to serve the community.

Students are expected to complete at least 30 hours of community service on their own. Additionally, they complete several service projects every year as a group. The highlight of the year is the Make a Wish fundraiser in connection with Homecoming. Last fall, students hosted a barbecue and concert that raised over $2,000 so a child in the community who has leukemia could go with her family to Disney World.

But not every service should be highly visible or rewarded with praise. After we have bad weather, this teacher texts his student government students and issues an assignment: find a neighbor who needs some help and help clean up their yard.

This attitude of service has become so ingrained in my son that he doesn’t wait for a text from his teacher anymore. Bad weather or a snowy day means more than just a day to sleep in. He’s up and putting on his boots and gloves without any reminders.

This is just one example of how children’s lives have been blessed by caring adults. My neighbor hires my son to care for his pets when he goes on vacation, and doesn’t shrink from teaching opportunities. The first time my son watched the dogs, he did a less than stellar job and my neighbor kindly told him so. He hired him again, though, and my son improved, learning how to care for dogs and use training puppy pads on days when it was hard to take them out. My neighbor rewarded him with positive encouragement and a nice payment. Lesson learned. Later on he even taught him more about taking care of his dogs, including dog dental care. I hope that made an impression on my son, who thinks very little about his own oral hygiene!

Family and Community

Extended family members are a great resource for teaching kids lessons in character. We don’t have extended family close by, though, so I’ve had to create an extended family for my kids in my own community. Here’s a few of the ways we’ve found to create an “extended family” for our kids:

• Join a community church and become involved in youth activities.
• Get to know neighbors. We hold annual events, such as a Labor Day picnic, but the real bonding moments are every day happenings. We frequently sit on our neighbor’s porch visiting or inviting them to dinner. When my neighbor’s pipes froze, every person on the block was there with buckets, shop vacs, and towels. These types of activities unite a neighborhood, form strong bonds, and leave a lasting impression on kids. As P.D. James said, “What a child doesn’t receive, he can seldom give later.” Early opportunities to serve set a foundation for later community involvement.
• Regularly visit a senior citizen center. Most kids today are alienated from the older generation. We visit the local senior’s center to sing songs, help with a craft, or provide a meal. The kids were apprehensive at first, but they’ve learned to appreciate the stories and wisdom of their elders.
• Form friendships with people outside your regular circle. Most of my friends are people who I share similar interests with, but kids need to become acquainted with people from a variety of backgrounds, ages, and walks of life. I have a dear friend who is a widow that we regularly have dinner with. When my dog died, she was the first one at my door with a potted plant and a hug.

Photo by MZM-Photo

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• Have a realistic attitude about sleep. Sleeping isn’t a habit that you can force your baby into. Instead, it helps to create a secure environment that will help your baby to naturally fall asleep. Sleep should be a pleasant and secure state for your baby. Many sleep issues in children and adults start out as babies who have an unhealthy relationship with sleep due to anxiety or distractions.
• Try to remain flexible. Not every sleeping tip will work with every baby all of the time. But don’t give up hope just yet! If one method of sleep training isn’t working, then move on to another to see what works best for your baby.
• Find out where your baby sleeps the best. Some babies may sleep better in a crib in your bedroom, while other babies may do well in their own nursery. Try to tune into your baby’s needs to find out where he sleeps most comfortably.
• Start using sleep associations. The way that a baby falls asleep at night is the way that he will expect to fall asleep again when he wakes up in the middle of the night. If you rock your baby to sleep, he will need to be rocked back to sleep when he wakes up at night.
• Keep your baby peaceful all day long. If you hold and soothe your baby all day long, this peacefulness is likely to carry on into the night for a restful night of sleep.
• Use consistent nap times. Pick convenient times of day for consistent nap times for both you and your baby, like mid-morning and mid-afternoon. This will give you the opportunity to catch up on rest as your baby naps.
• Use a consistent bedtime routine. It is important to put your baby to bed consistently each night with a warm bath, lullaby, or by reading a book so that he will begin to expect to fall asleep.
• Use natural calming methods. The simple act of giving a baby a warm bath before bed will relax his muscles and his mind so that he easily falls asleep.
• Keep your baby active in the daytime. Once your baby learns that daytime is for activity, he will be more likely to fall asleep at night.
• Nurse your baby to sleep. After a warm bath, a warm bottle of milk or breastfeeding will help your baby to naturally drift off to sleep.

Photo by And3rei

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Don’t let the baby naming blues get you down! Whether you are totally stumped or just can’t come to a compromise with your spouse, here are a few tips that you can use to pick out the perfect name for your bundle of joy well before he or she born:

• What is your baby naming style? This could be where you and your spouse fall into a disagreement. Perhaps you are a traditional namer who likes Michael or Jessica. Your spouse, on the other hand, maybe a trendy namer who prefers newly popular names like Leonardo or Harper. Try to come to a compromise between the two by choosing a unique, classic name that you both can agree upon.
• Consider a gender-neutral name. If you are waiting to find out the sex of your baby until it’s born, why not consider a gender-neutral name for either sex? A gender-neutral name can be strong and unique and work for a boy or a girl. Examples include Robin, Evan, Ashley, or Reese.
• Think about your inspiration. Many people are happy to name their baby after a beloved family member, like a grandmother who has passed away. Or perhaps your religion can inspire you to name your child after a saint or after a character in the Bible. Baby names are often much more meaningful if they have inspiration behind them.
• Think twice about nicknames. Today, there are no rules when it comes to baby names. Many people choose a longer name specifically for its nickname, like Ben for Benjamin. But who says you have to name your baby a longer name first? More and more couples today are naming their baby a nickname instead of a longer name that will be shortened later. Examples include Bo, Jess, Jodi, or Katy. Think outside of the box and don’t be constrained to a longer, traditional name when you could use a shorter version instead.
• Consider an unconventional name. If you keep going back and forth between old favorites like Jennifer and Alexander, consider an unconventional name instead. It may be difficult for people to pronounce or understand an unusual name at first, but unusual names are easier to remember. Why not name your baby Ireland, Althea, Griffin, or even Selma?

Photo by ElisaVarelaT

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Developing into a tween can be a pretty difficult and uncomfortable time for any kid. Throw monumentally embarrassing into the mix and you’ll have my own tween years described in just a few words.

I distinctly remember several highly embarrassing moments from my tween years and the only way I can think of describing that time in my life is by saying my brain and my body were not working together in harmony; in fact, they weren’t even close to meeting along the same wavelength. My brain was still a blissfully ignorant kid that didn’t have to worry about anything in the realm of cosmetic appearance. It was very content in running out the door every morning throughout the summer after throwing on whatever clothes happened to be laying around my room without a second glance in the mirror. My body, however, had warped into its own wildly out of control life form without letting my brain in on what was going on.

One summer afternoon while carelessly running around in my bathing suit and jumping in and out of the local pool, my father’s girlfriend, who had taken a very active role in raising me and my younger sister throughout my tween years, mentioned the word bikini line. That is the pivotal moment when my brain had a complete and utter freakout session of monumental proportions. It could no longer deny what my body was up to and it was officially time to soak up any and all advice my father’s girlfriend, as well as my grandmother and aunt, were willing to dole out.

The same very well goes for tweens when it comes to the topic of body odor. You smell it, every adult, and perhaps even their friends, are cued right in to the rampant hormones running throughout their bodies, but they may still be blissfully ignorant. Their kid brain is still very much running the show.

Unilever, the makers behind Degree, Degree Men, Dove and Suave deodorant products, has just recently released a pretty awesome resource for parents of tweens to help parents navigate conversations about even the stinkiest of tween issues. Don’t Fret the Sweat contains expert advice, tips and personal anecdotes from a variety of different moms, educators and physicians, including Rosalind Wiseman, an internationally recognized expert on children, teens and parenting, and “New York Times” bestselling author of the book “Queen Bees and Wannabes”, which was the basis for the movie “Mean Girls”.

You will also find answers to frequently asked questions regarding tweens and their body odor, like what to do when your child is using deodorant but it doesn’t seem quite strong enough. Perhaps one of the best resources Don’t Fret the Sweat has to offer is their product matchmaker which will help you and your tween choose the perfect deodorant that will work with them to keep them comfortable, dry and smelling fresh and clean throughout the day.

“Like” Don’t Fret the Sweat on Facebook to gain access to all of this information and more. Also be sure to check out the videos below that feature several moms just like you sharing their stories and tips with Rosalind Wiseman on how to help their tweens through this body-morphing time in their lives with ease.

Disclosure: This post was written as part of a blog posting campaign with the One2One Network.

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Easter has never been more “egg-citing!” Wubzzy and his friends Walden, Widget and Daizy from the Emmy Award-winning Nick Jr. preschool TV series, “Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!” will give preschoolers and families even more to celebrate this Easter with a brand new, special seasonal DVD. In addition to the six “egg-ceptional” episodes, this DVD also includes holiday-themed coloring sheets and activity pages.

The winner of this DVD giveaway is Nicole Hatch

Congratulations!

If you didn’t win through this giveaway, “Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter” is available in stores nationwide. You can also purchase it on Amazon for $14.99.

Disclosure: Grand Communications provided me with a promotional copy of “Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter” in order to write a review, as well as the opportunity to host this giveaway.

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We have had the awesome opportunity to spread the Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! love with Woman Tribune readers since last summer. After giving away a copy of the back to school special, “Wubbzy Goes to School” and the Valentine’s Day extravaganza, “Wubbzy Be Mine”, we’re back again with a review and giveaway for a brand new, Wubbzy holiday DVD release, “Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter”.

Easter has never been more “egg-citing!” Wubbzy and his friends Walden, Widget and Daizy from the Emmy Award-winning Nick Jr. preschool TV series, “Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!” will give preschoolers and families even more to celebrate this Easter with a brand new, special seasonal DVD.

All the kooky action of Easter in Wuzzleburg comes to life in six “egg-ceptional” episodes featured on this DVD. In “Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter”, Wubbzy and his pals celebrate the first day of spring with a game of kickity-kick ball and discover new ways to decorate eggs for the annual Easter Egg Hunt. And when the holiday is suddenly cancelled, it’s up to Wubbzy to save the day!

For even more cheer, “Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter” includes holiday-themed coloring sheets and activity pages.

This charming new release is the perfect answer for families on the “hunt” for affordable Easter gifts and it is a great way for families to celebrate spring together–the Wubbzy way–with relatable, age-appropriate life lessons and lots of heartfelt humor.

“Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter” is available in stores nationwide. You can also purchase it on Amazon for $14.99.

If your child is a huuuge Wubbzy fan, there is an awesome sweepstakes going on right now that you will definitely want to check out. The “Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter” Sweepstakes is going on from now until April 10th, 2011, where you can enter to win a piece of original artwork from the creator of the show, Bob Boyle.

Giveaway

I not only had the pleasure to review this delightfully fun and absurdly cute DVD, but I also have the opportunity to give one copy away to a lucky Woman Tribune reader.

Required Entry

Leave a comment on this post telling us what one Easter tradition your family has or you had a child growing up.

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Leave a separate comment for each additional entry.

• Subscribe to Woman Tribune
• Follow @WomanTribune on Twitter
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• Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post and details about “Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter” DVD. (This entry is worth five entries, so leave five separate comments with the link to your blog post.)
• Tweet about this giveaway. Feel free to use the following tweet or write your own. (This can be done once a day, leave a link to your tweet in your comment.)
  

  Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! Win a copy of “Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter” from @WomanTribune http://ow.ly/4rHLg ends 4/7

This giveaway ends Thursday, April 7th at 11:59 p.m. ET. This giveaway is open to all U.S. residents over the age of 18 at the time of entry. The winner will be randomly chosen and contacted by email; they then have 48 hours (2 days) to respond to that email or another winner will be chosen.

Full Contest Disclaimer

Disclosure: Grand Communications provided me with a promotional copy of “Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter” and the opportunity to host this giveaway.

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Cool Diaps are stylish and affordable disposable diapers, while functioning at the same quality, if not better, than most leading diaper manufacturers. They are available in three different designs, including peace signs, happy faces and zebra print. After spending a great amount of tireless hours making sure Cool Diaps functioned on such a superior level, these diapers have a surprisingly soft outer layer, the velcro is much stronger than most leading manufacturers’ and the double leg cuff leak protection has more gathers and closed channels, which means less leakage. Cool Diaps also have a cool “blue chip” absorbency located in the center of the diaper that extends up the front and back of the diaper to help prevent leakage so your baby has the protection they need throughout the day.

The winner of the Cool Diaps disposable diapers 5-pack is Mami2jcn who left comment number 8!

Congratulations!

If you didn’t win this giveaway, or are just learning about Cool Diaps, you can purchase Cool Diaps in select Babies R Us store locations and online at www.babiesrus.com.

Each package of Cool Diaps are priced at only $8.99, regardless of size or quantity. They are available in sizes small (6 to 13 pounds), which contain 36 diapers per package, medium (8 to 19 pounds), which contain 30 diapers per package, large (19 to 30 pounds), which contain 24 diapers per package and XL (over 30 pounds), which also contain 24 diapers per package.

Disclosure: This giveaway was made possible by Cool Diaps.

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Coupons may not be the first thing parents think of when they look into their child’s eyes, but frugality is creeping up the list of important life lessons.

Most parents may not coo, “Oh, sweetie pie! I can’t wait until we clip your first coupon!” Still, those colorful bits of paper can serve as learning tools to strengthen the fundamentals of reading, math, memory and organization. Even at an early age, children can play with coupons to learn colors, shapes and numbers.

Most importantly, coupons also can serve as an inexpensive way to teach your child the value of money and the importance of investing. You can use grocery coupons as a means of turning everyday shopping trips into great learning experiences that will last a lifetime.

Here are 13 benefits you may not have considered.

1. Becoming Frugal 101

Ask Warren Buffett: It doesn’t matter whether you’re a millionaire of a dollar-aire, being frugal is a key to financial prosperity. Teaching your children how to make the most of their money at an early age is one of the best gifts you can give them. Not only will it possibly keep them out of debt in later years, but they might just end up like Buffett, donating their zillions to charity and earning a special place in heaven.

2. Identifying Colors

The first two things many children learn are their colors and animal noises. Fortunately, the best coupons can be found in the colorful Sunday paper. Newspapers print in a limited number of colors, making it easier for children to identify and match colors as you thumb through the pages in search of good coupons.

3. Learning Math

After colors often come numbers. Use coupons as lessons to help your children first learn, then hunt for and recognize numbers. Begin with single digits then move on to double digits (a 1 with a 5 makes a 15).

After addition comes subtraction. Teach them to subtract the amount of the coupon from the price of the product. This strengthens their mathematical skills while helping them ascertain what makes a deal a good deal.

Once your child has grasped these basics, it’s time to introduce percentages and decimals. Use double and triple coupons to practice multiplication tables.

4. Improving Motor Skills

Remember how difficult it was to master scissors? Help your toddler develop this delicate motor skill with a child’s pair of scissors and a sheet of coupons. It may take a long time for them to cut out a single coupon, but it will give them a great sense of accomplishment. You might want to start with online printable coupons, so you can reprint them in the event of mishaps.

One tip: Avoid unpleasant scenes by making it EXTRA clear children must ask permission before using scissors and they’re only to be used for cutting paper.

5. Organizing

Coupons are just scraps of paper you’re going to lose unless you–or a helpful, short assistant–keep them organized. Make a game of it with younger children by having them match coupons by color, pictures or product type. As children grow older, ask them to file the coupons in an organizer by category (canned goods, cleaning/laundry, etc.)

As you shop, ask your child to match the coupon to the product. It will improve their identification skills while saving you a pile of aggravation.

6. Understanding Budgets

Discuss with your children why you use coupons. What is your food budget and why? What are your family’s goals and how do coupons help you reach those goals?

Avoid going too much into detail with children. You don’t want to frighten them into thinking your family will soon be living on the street, but you do want them to understand the importance of saving and spending widely.

7. Planning Meals

Involve your children in planning family meals by searching through your coupon and recipes files to create a grocery list. This will also help limit your impulse buying and keep you on a budget.

8. Selecting the Restaurant

Teach the value of budgeting by using coupons on your next dining trip. Let your child select the restaurant by searching through circulars and restaurant coupons. Set a budget for the meal and let them decide what to order off the menu using the coupons they found.

9. Understanding Story Problems

To the mathematically disinclined (let’s not always see the same hands), story problems make absolutely no sense on paper. It’s a lot easier to understand, however, when presented as a word problem during a shopping trip.

For example: Apples are $1 per pound. How much will it cost to buy 3 pounds? Give children paper and pencil to work out problems so they can replicate their work later in school.

10. Completing Financial Transactions

Begin by letting children participate by holding coupons and handling the money to the cashier. As they progress, allow them to purchase a single item, placing their purchase on the counter, giving their money to the cashier and receiving the change. If you’re worried about holding up other shoppers, shop at a time when the store isn’t busy or use the self-checkout lane.

11. Learning Computers

While nearly 90% of all grocery coupons are issued in Sunday newspaper inserts, retailers and manufacturers are increasingly using the internet to offer such updates as mobile coupons, group-buying coupons and much more. Use computers and search engines with your child to find online coupons and promotions.

12. Investing Savings

You can really get your kids motivated to help you by letting them share in the savings earned from coupons. Let them use their extra money to buy things they want and need. Urge them to stretch their money further by using coupons when they make their purchases.

If your child is interested in making a larger purchase, like an Xbox game, encourage them to open a bank account and agree to match their savings. This will teach them an invaluable lesson about investing, although it will cost you a few extra dollars.

13. Understanding Calendars

Coupons have deadlines, which requires the use of a calendar to monitor. Pick up a freebie calendar and show your child how to find the dates on the coupons and then in the calendar. This way your children can help you sort out coupons that are expiring.

Photo by Roebot

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We first wrote about Cool Diaps, an exciting new disposable diaper, back in early January. After seeing such an increase in “designer” diapers hit the market, it was actually pretty refreshing to hear from the husband and wife team that created Cool Diaps. For one, Paige Gillingwater and Holland Henton aren’t behind multi-million dollar companies without a face, nor are they noted fashion designers looking to break into the design for baby field. They are parents of four children themselves and champion diaper-changers, so they would know a thing or two about the need for quality and functional disposable diapers that don’t carry a hefty price tag because of a logo or brand of box you pull your diapers from.

Cool Diaps are stylish and affordable disposable diapers, while functioning at the same quality, if not better, than most leading diaper manufacturers. They are available in three different designs, including peace signs, happy faces and zebra print. After spending a great amount of tireless hours making sure Cool Diaps functioned on such a superior level, these diapers have a surprisingly soft outer layer, the velcro is much stronger than most leading manufacturers’ and the double leg cuff leak protection has more gathers and closed channels, which means less leakage. Cool Diaps also have a cool “blue chip” absorbency located in the center of the diaper that extends up the front and back of the diaper to help prevent leakage so your baby has the protection they need throughout the day.

The best part about Cool Diaps is, of course, the price. Each package of Cool Diaps are priced at only $8.99, regardless of size or quantity. They are available in sizes small (6 to 13 pounds), which contain 36 diapers per package, medium (8 to 19 pounds), which contain 30 diapers per package, large (19 to 30 pounds), which contain 24 diapers per package and XL (over 30 pounds), which also contain 24 diapers per package.

You can purchase Cool Diaps now in select Babies R Us store locations and online at www.babiesrus.com.

Giveaway

Cool Diaps has given us the opportunity to give away a 5-pack of these new disposable diapers to one lucky Woman Tribune reader.

Required Entry

Leave a comment on this post telling us what excites you the most about Cool Diaps.

Extra Entries

Leave a separate comment for each additional entry.

• Send in a Cool Diaps proof of purchase.
  The first 100 people to send in their Cool Diaps proof of purchase between today and Tuesday, March 8th will receive a $4.00 redemption in the form of a Toys R Us/Babies R Us gift card. Scan and email your proof of purchase to customerservice@cooldiaps.com and you they will send you your $4.00 gift card. (This entry is worth five entries, so leave five separate comments with the link to your blog post.)

• Follow @CoolDiaps on Twitter
• “Like” Cool Diaps on Facebook
• Subscribe to Woman Tribune
• Follow @WomanTribune on Twitter
• “Like” Woman Tribune on Facebook
• Tweet about this giveaway. Feel free to use the following tweet or write your own. (This can be done once a day, leave a link to your tweet in your comment.)
  

  Win a 5-pack of stylish, affordable @CoolDiaps diapers from @WomanTribune http://ow.ly/48JUN ends 3/12

This giveaway ends Saturday, March 12th at 11:59 p.m. ET. This giveaway is open to all U.S. residents over the age of 18 at the time of entry. The winner will be chosen via random.org and contacted by email; they then have 48 hours (2 days) to respond to that email or another winner will be chosen.

Full Contest Disclaimer

Disclosure: This giveaway was made possible by Cool Diaps.

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During back to school season, we hosted a great giveaway for children, specifically for children who would be entering school for the first time this year. Our “Wubbzy Goes to School” giveaway went over very well and we’re super happy to have the opportunity to give away another Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! DVD to one lucky Woman Tribune reader.

“Wubbzy Be Mine” is an irresistible compilation of three episodes from the Emmy Award-winning Nick Jr. preschool TV series just in time to Valentine’s Day, featuring the series’ well-loved characters, Wubbzy, Widget, Walden and Daizy. In “Mr. Valentine,” Wuzzleburg’s trusty mailman falls ill on Valentine’s Day and Wubbzy steps in to deliver all the valentines, but he soon discovers there are none for him. To Wubbzy’s surprise, his pals personally deliver his valentines, saving the best for last! In “Cupid’s Helper,” Cupid pays a visit to Wuzzleburg, but loses his prized bubble-blower. When Wubbzy finds it, he starts blowing bubbles bringing together some of Wuzzleburg’s oddest couples. And, in “My Speedy Valentine,” the third love-filled episode on the new release, Wubbzy and his pals try to find the fastest way ever to make their own valentines, but something keeps bugging Walden.

Giveaway

Thanks to Grand Communications, we are giving away one copy of “Wubbzy Be Mine” along with five packets of Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! candy hearts.

Required Entry

To enter to win a copy of “Wubbzy Be Mine” all you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling us what your plans for Valentine’s Day are.

Extra Entries

Leave a comment for each additional entry.

• Subscribe to Woman Tribune
• Follow @WomanTribune on Twitter
• “Like” Woman Tribune on Facebook
• Tweet about this giveaway. Feel free to use the following tweet or write your own. (This can be done once a day, leave a link to your tweet in your comment.)
  

  Win Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! DVD “Wubbzy Be Mine” for Valentine’s Day from @WomanTribune http://ow.ly/3TACL ends 2/12

• Leave a comment on any other Woman Tribune post and come back here and leave a comment telling us what post you commented on
• Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post and details about “Wubbzy Be Mine”. (This entry is worth five entries, so leave five separate comments with the link to your blog post.)

This giveaway ends Saturday, February 12th at 11:59 p.m. ET. This giveaway is open to all U.S. residents over the age of 18 at the time of entry. The winner will be chosen via random.org and contacted by email; they then have 48 hours (2 days) to respond to that email or another winner will be chosen.

Full Contest Disclaimer

Disclosure: Grand Communications provided me with a promotional copy of “Wubbzy Be Mine” and the opportunity to host this giveaway.

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Black Lab Products, the same company that made the amazingly cute and functional Spread Heads for toothpaste and condiments, have created a new line of disposable diapers, Cool Diaps, that feature both very cool designs and an awesome price tag.

Cool Diaps come in a variety of three different designs–peace signs, happy faces, and a zebra pattern–and regardless of the quantity you purchase these diapers in, they cost just $8.99. They are perfect for every day use, not just because it will take you a good, long while to even begin getting tired of looking at the vibrant designs, but also because of just how financially accessible they are for most parents.

These disposable diapers were created by Paige Gillingwater and Holland Henton, parents of four kids and champion diaper changers. They created Cool Diaps because they couldn’t find a disposable diaper that they wouldn’t mind looking at day after day; because they couldn’t find one, they decided to make their own.

Cool Diaps will not be available until January 26th, but when the time comes for them to be released, they will be sold exclusively at Babies R Us for a limited time. They will be available in sizes small (6-13lbs), medium (8-19lbs), large (19-30lbs), and Xlarge (over 30 lbs). The good news is that right now, you can get a free sample of Cool Diaps (located at the bottom of the page) to try out before going out to buy them when they go on sale.

If you try Cool Diaps, be sure to come back and tell us how they worked out for you and your baby!

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ABC talked to Dr. Jatinder Bhatia, who chairs the nutrition committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics and is also the chief of neonataology at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, among others. Dr. Bhatia claims that parents are putting their infants and 1-year-olds on diets because of history of obesity in one parent or another. ABC also described the diet one parent, Jodi Hasan, has put her baby on. The diet itself is fitting for any child, a well-balanced diet of fruit and vegetables and no junk food.

While the well-balanced diet is fitting and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it, the reason behind Hasan putting her child on a diet is a bit more troubling. She claims that she doesn’t “want her to have any of the problems that I had: the self-consciousness, health issues. I want her to have good self-esteem.”

All parents want their children to be healthy and happy; to have high self-esteem and to not have health issues at the hands of their daily diets. However, a child mimics the attitude and relationship that they see their parents having with food. If they see their parents obsessed with weight, and more-so, obsessed with the weight of their child, that child will also become obsessed with their weight and will have low self-esteem because of what they have picked up through their parents.

An extreme case of fat phobia in small children recently made headlines in Washington state. Parents Britainny and Sam Labberton were convicted of starving their baby out of fear she would become “fat” like her father. They were charged with criminal mistreatment after the infant gained just 1 pound in her first two months of life and the child’s bottle was found to contain traces of laxatives. After the child was placed in foster care and had gained weight, court documents showed that the mother’s reaction was, “Oh my God, she’s fat … I have a fat baby.”

While this is an extreme case and most parents wouldn’t think of putting laxatives in their infant’s bottles in fear of their baby gaining weight, the fat phobic fear is still very much there in even the milder cases where parents are vocal about the fear they have of their child being “fat.” It must also be noted that there is a very big difference between a baby being healthy and having those delicious rolls of fat on their legs and arms that we have come to collectively swoon over, and a baby being overweight for their age, or “obese.” Pediatricians are well-equipped to know the difference between healthy “fat” and obese and more parents should leave a diagnosis of obesity to their pediatrician instead of taking it upon themselves to determine what they are personally comfortable with.

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• Never let children carve pumpkins. Adults carving pumpkins should remember to use specifically designed carving knives, rather than kitchen knives, as they are less likely to get stuck in the thick pumpkin skin. Carve the pumpkin in small, controlled strokes, away from oneself on a strong, sturdy surface.

• Carving knives should be kept in a clean, dry, well-lit area. Any moisture on the tools, hands, or table can cause the knife to slip, leading to injuries.

• Should a pumpkin carver cut a finger or hand, make sure the hand is elevated higher than the heart and apply direct pressure to the wound with a clean cloth to stop the bleeding. If continuous pressure does not slow or stop the  bleeding after 15 minutes, an emergency room visit may be necessary. Additionally, it may be wise to follow-up with a hand surgeon to make sure everything is okay and nothing needs repair.

• Be considerate of fire hazards when lighting jack-o-lantern candles or use non-flammable light sources, like glow sticks or artificial pumpkin lights. Alternatively, try painting pumpkins for a fun, creative option and remove the risk of carving.

• Halloween costumes should be light and bright, so children are clearly visible to motorists and other pedestrians. Trim costumes and bags with reflective tape that glows in the dark.

• Costumes should be flame-resistant and fit properly. Be sure the child’s vision is unobstructed from masks, face paint or hats. Costumes that are too long may cause kids to trip and fall, trim or hem their costumes as necessary.

• Children should wear sturdy, comfortable, slip-resistant shoes to avoid falls.

• It is important that children walk on sidewalks and never cut across yards or driveways. They should also obey all traffic signals and remain in designated crosswalks when crossing the street.

• Trick-or-treaters should only approach houses that are well lit. Both children and parents should carry flashlights to see and be seen.

• Be aware of neighborhood dogs when trick-or-treating and remember that these pets can impose a threat when you approach their home.

• It’s also a good idea to carry a cell phone while trick-or-treating in case of an emergency.

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Pediatricians, moms and authors, Laura A. Jana, MD, FAAP and Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP offer a wealth of “parent-tested, pediatrician-approved” advice in Heading Home With Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality, Second Edition (American Academy of Pediatrics, September 2010). Available on the American Academy of Pediatrics official Web site for parents, HealthyChildren.org. Also available in bookstores nationwide. Here they answer a few questions from fellow moms:

Question: The new recommendation for rear facing car seats is two years now, not one year. There are moms out there who say, ‘no you switch them as soon as they start kicking the back of the seat, because if there’s an accident they’re going to break their legs’ or ‘I don’t want my seat to get dirty’.

Dr Jana: I’ve actually spent several years as an Instructor in child passenger safety. So there’s almost nothing that we haven’t heard before along those lines. Specific to your question about breaking the legs if they’re going to touch the seat… crash dynamics tell us that when a car is in a crash, everything moves towards the point of the crash, which is usually the front of the car. If they’re in a rear facing car seat, their car seat presses their whole body into the car seat as it moves towards the front of the car. Yes, there is some rebound to the seat, but if you’re in a serious enough crash, even if your child is protected in a car seat, what do you want to protect more, their head and torso or their legs? That becomes a very easy choice in terms of why we keep rear facing longer. Technically the recommendation is to keep kids rear facing as long as possible within the limits of their seat. The bare minimum is 1 year and 20 pounds, and then I always add on; and I don’t know a parent, who when it comes to the safety of their child wants to settle for the bare minimums.

In Heading Home with your Newborn, even though we already had an extensive section on car seat safety in the First Edition, the field has changed so much that we did a huge update on that section of the book with the absolute latest in child passenger safety recommendations. In a book that is meant for new and expecting parents about newborns, we give parents an overview of car seats in general, knowing that it may be the last time that parents read about car seats. We obviously spent the most time on infant car seats and making sure your baby is secured correctly in an infant car seat, because we’re talking about newborns, but we give parents a perspective of what is in their future, because really parents should be dealing with car seats for the next 10-12 years.

Dr Shu: I think where parents might be nervous about something happening to the legs are mostly a theoretical risk. We really don’t see reports of damage to the legs from rear facing car seats, where we do get reports of whiplash and brain damage and death from babies who are forward facing.

Comment: Most instruction manuals should have a set height limit for rear facing.

Dr Jana: In fact you can find those limits on the boxes when you’re walking the aisles of the store. They all very clearly say, once you know what to look for, they will all say ‘rear facing height and weight limits for seats that are meant to be used, rear and forward facing’. The other thing for parents, and partly why we were committed to including that big picture view is, there are some seats that may say they can be used up to 80 pounds, but they’re talking about the entire life of the seat, but rear facing can only be used up to a certain weight, and then it has to be turned face forward. That is something that people want to take into account when they’re buying car seats. If they want to be able to use this longer rear facing, then one of the criteria is to buy a seat that has a higher rear facing height and weight limit.

Question: Are the latch limits in the car seat manual or are they in the car manual?

Dr Jana: You need to look at both, because cars can have limits. Every vehicle has its own individual uses and cannot use recommendations for the vehicle itself. We felt it was so important to include these as a substantial chapter of the car seats, because if you’re going to pick the single most important thing in terms of preventing unintentional injury to children, all the way up to the age of 14, it is going to be motor vehicle crashes.

Question: Do you recommend in your book that parents go ahead and go to the fire station or someplace where they can have their car seat checked out once they have it put together?

Dr Jana: Absolutely, and we tell people where to go on the website, to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, to go find by zip code where your closest fitting station is.

If you’d like more information about caring for your infant visit Heading Home with Your Newborn at HealthyChildren.org.

*This post is sponsored by the Role Mommy Writer’s Network.

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Pediatricians, moms and authors, Laura A. Jana, MD, FAAP and Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP offer a wealth of “parent-tested, pediatrician-approved” advice in Heading Home With Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality, Second Edition (American Academy of Pediatrics, September 2010). Available on the American Academy of Pediatrics official Web site for parents, HealthyChildren.org. Also available in bookstores nationwide.

The following is an excerpt to help you navigate those first crucial weeks of parenthood and caring for a newborn:

The Many Colors of Poop

Long after adjusting to parenthood and your role as principal poop watcher and wiper, you may still find yourself fretting over changes in the color of your baby’s poop. In reality, once your baby has pooped enough to get rid of the tarry meconium, all the varying shades of yellow, brown, and even green are considered perfectly acceptable. Mustardy yellow is the color of choice for most breastfed babies, and yellow-tan with hints of green for those who are formula-fed. Being presented with a changing palette of colors is not uncommon, however, particularly later on down the road when your baby is introduced to such things as solid foods and snotty nose colds, both of which can add new shades and substance to the mix.

Black, White, and Shades of Red
There are a few colors of baby poop that, should you see them, always warrant discussion with your baby’s doctor.

Red. Seeing red can mean blood, especially in the newborn period when your baby isn’t eating or drinking anything red-colored that could be mistaken for blood when it comes out the other end. Blood should not signal you to panic immediately, but you should bring it to the attention of your pediatrician, who will be able to help you sort out the cause. It is possible for babies to swallow some blood during delivery that presents itself shortly thereafter–either in the baby’s spit-up or poop–but, nevertheless, any amount of bloody poop should be evaluated because it can also be a sign of a problem.

Black. Black-colored poop sometimes represents old blood because blood is known to turn from red to black over time in the intestinal tract. Remember that this black color alert does not apply to your baby’s first few meconium bowel movements, which you can fully expect to be black and tarry looking.

White. White poop is quite rare, but needs to be brought to the attention of a doctor ASAP because it can be caused by an underlying liver problem. The earlier it is addressed, the better–either for peace of mind or medical management.

*Book excerpt from Heading Home with Your Newborn (Second Edition/Copyright 2010/American Academy of Pediatrics).

The Heading Home with Your Newborn excerpts are sponsored by the Role Mommy Writer’s Network.

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The baby aisle of any store can be a bit intimidating in terms of the plethora of choices you will have when looking to buy what you originally thought was one, simple product. If you’re brave enough to walk into a infant, baby and toddler care specialty store, multiply the amount of choices you will have by a couple hundred, at the very least.

One of the simplest and fundamental products you will need when it comes to infant and baby care is diaper rash cream. Simple and fundamental! But again, so many companies have come out with their totally awesome, better than that other stuff cream that it is not a weird sight when you see parents standing amongst the shelves of diaper rash cream, maybe three or seven different boxes and tubes in their hands, reading the list of ingredients on the back trying to make up their minds on which will get the job done while, of course, not overspending for something that will probably do the same job. This simple and fundamental product, and others just like them where there is a severe case of choices, is one product I would ask for some input on.

I know, how horrible is that? “Hi, can you please tell me what your favorite brand of diaper rash cream is because I cannot make up my mind!” This is one of those times where I am oh so glad that I have a great group of other bloggy friends who aren’t shy when it comes to sharing their honest opinion on just about everything and one of the most raved-about diaper rash creams that seems to have delighted a great deal of parents across the board is Boudreaux’s Butt Paste.

Boudreaux’s Butt Paste was formulated by a pharmacist with a great deal of input from a respected pediatrician in order to provide an effective diaper rash cream. It has been seen on the Oprah Show, Today Show, While You Were Out on TLC, in People Magazine and many, many more. It treats diaper rash and soothes irritated skin and is made of 16% Zinc Oxide and Peruvian Balsam. It’s super convenient for all parents; it goes on and cleans off easily, it has a skin protectant, it has a pleasant scent and it’s available in handy travel sizes to keep in the car or in your purse or diaper bag in addition to the full size tubes and they also come in 16oz jars.

I know that I don’t go out on a limb when it comes to new products or products I’ve never experienced for myself before unless it has come recommended by someone I really, really trust and know I can take their opinion to the bank. So, you can get yourself a free sample of Boudreaux’s Butt Paste just by visiting their website!

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Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! is an Emmy Award-winning Nick Jr. preschool TV series that is super cute, engaging and encourages young viewers to embark on new, exciting adventures. Each episode has a lesson or teaches social skills like sharing, listening, compromising, helping and appreciating others and self-awareness.

In “Wubbzy Goes to School”, the cute and quirky bendy-tailed character is nervous about going to school for the first time and because he knows best, as all kids tend to think they do, he decides that he will learn everything he needs to know all by himself. Wubbzy realizes that he can’t teach himself everything and even worse, he has no friends to play with, he gives school a shot and realizes it isn’t so bad after all.

Because the first day of school–not to mention all the preparation leading up to it–can be an extremely hectic, stressful and downright scary time; especially if your child is just starting school and doesn’t know what to expect or even why they have to go in the first place, I was really happy to be able to host this giveaway and get this DVD out to someone who will undoubtedly get a ton of use out of it. So, the winner of our “Wubbzy Goes to School” DVD giveaway is…

pixie13 who left comment number 25!

Congratulations, pixie13!

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Practically everyone knows about Mom Central and the variety of blogs full of expert advice, opinions from real parents and of course, the amazing community run under their banner. We like Mom Central a lot, we participate in the community, in their awesome Twitter parties and write about them fairly often. Well, considering moms have been having a blast over at Mom Central for such a long time, it was only natural for them to branch out some more and have a little nook for all the dads.

Dad Central Consulting is a division of Mom Central just for all the dads out there who are pretty spectacular and eager to connect and engage with each other while building brands. On Thursday, August 26th from 12PM to 1PM EST (that’s tomorrow, folks!) join Dad Central for the Power of Dads Twitter party. The focus of the Twitter party will be discussing how becoming a dad has influenced what you buy, why you but it and who you trust for advice. As an extra, special perk for participating in the party, Dad Central will be giving away six $50 American Express gift cards during the party. To join in on the Twitter party, just search for and use Twitter hashtag #PowerofDads. Also, make sure you’re following @DadCentral and @MomCentral for the discussion and chance to win prizes.

If you’re a blogging dad and want to get involved with Dad Central, join the Dad Central Blog Roll. If you want to be considered for getting to test and review cool new products and take surveys for the chance to win prizes, join the Dad Testing Panel and if you’re on Twitter, join the Dad Twitter Team! If you’re on Facebook, you may also want to join the Dad Central Facebook page to stay up to date on all things Dad Central, participate in discussions and more!

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The first day of school–not to mention all the preparation leading up to it–can be an extremely hectic, stressful and downright scary time; especially if your child is just starting school and doesn’t know what to expect or even why they have to go in the first place. As a parent, you want to make sure that when you get your child to their classroom on that fateful morning, you can turn around and walk out the door knowing full well that you eased your child’s fears and anxiety about school and got them excited to learn new things and making new friends.

Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! is an Emmy Award-winning Nick Jr. preschool TV series that is super cute, engaging and encourages young viewers to embark on new, exciting adventures. Each episode has a lesson or teaches social skills like sharing, listening, compromising, helping and appreciating others and self-awareness.

In “Wubbzy Goes to School”, the cute and quirky bendy-tailed character is nervous about going to school for the first time and because he knows best, as all kids tend to think they do, he decides that he will learn everything he needs to know all by himself. Wubbzy realizes that he can’t teach himself everything and even worse, he has no friends to play with, he gives school a shot and realizes it isn’t so bad after all.

In addition to the back-to-school episode, the DVD also includes an episode about making friends and acceptance after the larger-than-life new student named Murphy joins the class. Wubbzy finds that good friends can come in all shapes and sizes. Additional episodes include “Gotta Dance”, “Wubbzy the Star”, “You Gotta Have Art” and “Magic Tricks”. There are also a slew of bonus features on the DVD, including a photo gallery, coloring and activity sheets and more.

Giveaway

Thanks to Grand Communications, we are able to give one Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! “Wubbzy Goes to School” DVD away to a lucky Woman Tribune reader.

Required Entry

To enter to win the “Wubbzy Goes to School” DVD, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling us one back-to-school memory you have either from your own school days or your child’s. [REQUIRED]

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  Win Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! DVD “Wubbzy Goes to School” from @WomanTribune http://t.co/OL4fAdx ends 8/25

This giveaway ends Wednesday, August 25th at 11:59 p.m. ET. This giveaway is open to all U.S. residents over the age of 18 at the time of entry. The winner will be chosen via random.org and contacted by email; they then have 48 hours (2 days) to respond to that email or another winner will be chosen.

Full Contest Disclaimer

Disclosure: Grand Communications provided me with a promotional copy of “Wubbzy Goes to School” and the opportunity to host this giveaway.

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“Women are realizing more and more that you don’t have to settle, they don’t have to fiddle with a man to have that child. They are realizing if it’s that time in their life and they want this part they can do it with or without that.”

Many have been commenting on what the movie is really saying about society, but this commentary goes back as far as when other movies of the same type came out; movies like like Baby Mama and Miss Conception. But one person in particular had quite the negative reaction to Aniston’s comments about women having children without fathers being in the picture; and that person is none other than Bill O’Reilly.

O’Reilly is under the impression that Jennifer Aniston is some gigantic role model amongst children and commented saying, “She’s throwing a message out to 12-year-olds and 13-year-olds that, ‘Hey you don’t need a guy. You don’t need a dad.’ That is destructive to our society.”

When I heard about this comment, the first thing I thought of was “Why would 12 and 13-year olds need a guy in the first place? At that age, you kind of want them to stay far, far away from guys”, but perhaps he just meant that Jennifer Aniston is out there saying that kids don’t need any kind of male figures in their lives whatsoever. Even so, that’s a pretty big slip up on O’Reilly’s part. Secondly, what 12 and 13-year-olds know who Jennifer Aniston is or what she is doing or what movies she is in? I really don’t think they care much about Jennifer Aniston and I was assured in my thought about this when Beth Feldman of Role Mommy came out and said the same thing.

But let’s get down to the real point of this topic–Do children of single mothers suffer more than if they were brought up in a household with a father present?

Susan Newman, a social psychologist and author of the book Parenting an Only Child commented on O’Reilly statement saying,

“The traditional family that we have always known as mom, dad and two kids is no longer the traditional family. … Children of single parents do just as well as kids who have two parents. There’s nothing in the research that says having a baby by yourself is a terrible thing.”

Carl Pickhardt, a parenting expert and psychologist also commented on where Bill O’Reilly’s comments were coming from and what to take away from them, saying that while fathers are important in a child’s life, what it is even more important and downright crucial is “the quality of parental commitment to raising that child after it is born. … It is a prejudice that single parents — mostly moms — are deficient parents. In fact, they are among the strongest and most resourceful parents I see.”

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Creating a comfortable, safe and stylish nursery doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. All it takes is some simple research, good advice and a plan to get you started and you can’t go wrong. You probably already have a few ideas for the decor, and have thought a little about cribs and other furniture. Here are a few more things to keep in mind.

Do start out by making a plan. How do you want the nursery to look? Will the colors and decor blend with the rest of the house, in keeping with current trends? Or do you prefer a colorful room, busy with children’s characters? Remember that it will always be easier to create a new look by swapping out art and toys than it will be to paint over a bright wall color. A clean and simple design, embellished with changeable design elements, will ensure that the room can grow with your child.

Don’t make the nursery an obstacle course. It’s tempting when you’re pregnant to buy lots of fun gadgets and cute furniture, but keep in mind that the nursery needs to be a functional room. A crib that converts to a toddler bed, a changing table, a small dresser and a relaxing chair are all you really need. If the nursery is large you can certainly add a rocking horse or other decorative items, but keep in mind that the room should be open and accessible. If the room has little or no closet space, look for furniture with built-in storage. Otherwise, be sure to stash all of your supplies in the closet and up off the floor. You should have unhindered access to the crib and other furniture, and not be in danger of tripping over anything when you walk in the room.

Do load up on supplies well before your due date. Check the Sunday paper for coupons, keep an eye out for sales and sign up online with manufacturers of baby products. Your nursery should be stocked with plenty of baby wipes, diapers, diaper cream, lotion and powder. Don’t forget the hand sanitizer for yourself, and a bottle of rubbing alcohol for swabbing the umbilical cord.

Don’t settle for a cheap chair. Skimping on a chair will cost you in the long run. You will be spending many exhausted hours in your nursery chair– make sure it’s one that will provide plenty of back support and cushioning. It’s also a good idea to look for features such as recline and swivel, and for locking mechanisms, all of which make resting (and standing up) while holding a baby much easier. You can customize a Storkcraft glider and ottoman to fit your nursery decor, or choose one of the styles available in-store if you’re pressed for time. The advantage of choosing a quality custom chair is that it will fit effortlessly into your living room, or your next nursery, when the time comes for it to be moved out of the baby’s room.

Do outfit the baby’s room with organic bed linens. You don’t have to pay a fortune for exotic or expensive brands. Most retail stores now carry cute and affordable bedding made with unbleached cotton that is produced without the use of chemical pesticides. You can be confident that your baby is sleeping in a healthy environment, free from harsh chemicals, and you don’t have to break the bank.

Don’t paint the walls with standard paints. They contain substances known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which emit toxic fumes. Low or no VOC paint is available in all price ranges at home improvement stores and at many large retailers. You can find it in any color, or you can have it custom mixed to suit your design plan. A popular trend for nurseries is to paint the lower and upper parts of the walls in different colors. Even if you choose colors that complement the rest of your house, this fun design idea can help to make the nursery unique. Whichever color you choose, be sure to paint the nursery at least a month before your due date to ensure that any fumes will have dissipated before you bring your baby home.

Do look over the nursery one last time with safety in mind. Get down on the floor and consider the room from a baby’s perspective. Are there lamp cords within reach, or other electrical cords that could be pulled down? You should conceal them behind furniture. Also remove any curtains or blinds with cords that might present a risk of strangulation. Have you fitted all of the electrical outlets with plastic covers? Those little holes are enticing to little fingers.

The most important item on your to-do list is to get started. Your pregnancy will be over before you know it, and taking care of a new baby leaves little time for anything else. If you plan ahead and take some time every day to work on your nursery then you’ll be able to breathe easier in the days leading up to your baby’s birth. And you’ll both come home to a nursery that is functional, warm and welcoming.

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The back to school season is already in full swing and now that you may have a lot of your kids’ back to school shopping completed, it’s time to start thinking about how you can support their education aside from the new clothes, shoes, backpack, lunch box, pencil cases, folders, notebooks, protractors and the rest of the supplies they need throughout the school year.

Box Tops for Education is a great way to support your child’s education. Just buy some of your favorite items at the store, like Betty Crocker cake mix, Pillsbury Toaster Strudel Pastries, Yoplait Kids Yogurt, Hamburger Helper, among many others, clip the Box Tops for Education coupon off of the package and send them in to your school’s Box Tops coordinator. With over 20 great brands and more than 40 products participating in Box Tops for Education, it won’t be very hard to find items you and your family will love and support education at the same time. Each Box Top coupon is worth 10 cents for your school. It doesn’t take long for those Box Tops to add up and the money collected from them goes towards school field trips, activities and supplies your child’s school needs to continue giving them the best education possible. Don’t have a child currently enrolled in school? That’s okay, collect Box Tops and save them for a friend or family member who does.

As if it weren’t already super easy to collect Box Tops for Education, Walmart is making it even easier! From August 3rd to August 31st, head over to your local Walmart to find 4 Box Tops on participating General Mills products and earn even more cash for the participating school of your choice. Walmart is already helping families save on all of their back to school supplies, so it’s only natural for Walmart to also help you save and earn more with the Box Tops for Education brands you love.

Giveaway

To help families save money on their groceries and earn more cash for the participating school of your choice, General Mills is giving away a $25 gift card to Walmart through the awesome folks at MyBlogSpark.

Required Entry

To win the $25 Walmart gift card all you have to do is leave a comment telling us what General Mills Box Top item you plan to purchase at Walmart during the month of August. [REQUIRED] For a list of participating General Mills products, click here [PDF]

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  Win a $25 Walmart gift card and earn money for your school with Box Tops @WomanTribune http://ow.ly/2mlFz ends 8/13

• Leave a comment on any other Woman Tribune post and come back here and leave a comment telling us what post you commented on.
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This giveaway ends Friday, August 13th at 11:59PM EST. This giveaway is open to all US residents over the age of 18 at the time of entry. The winner will be contacted by email and has 48 hours (2 days) to respond to that email or another winner will be chosen.

Full Contest Disclaimer

Disclosure: General Mills provided me with a $25 gift card, information and giveaway through MyBlogSpark. All opinions expressed throughout this post are 100% mine.

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If you’re one of the thousands of bloggers heading to the BlogHer conference in New York City this weekend, be sure to stop by thredUP’s booth (#1812) to help make a big difference for underprivileged kids this back to school season.

The average American family spends more than $1,000 every year on children’s clothing. thredUP has made it easier than ever to save time and money on children’s clothing by creating a national network of parents and caregivers that can trade boxes of new and gently-worn children’s clothing. Just put up a box of clothing you would like to get rid of and choose a box within thredUP’s network that you would like to receive. thredUP will even pick up your box of clothing for free and the only thing you pay for is the shipping cost of your box when it is picked by someone in the network.

thredUP is helping families across the country save time and money and they have recently partnered with Cradles to Crayons, an organization dedicated to providing children ages 0 to 12 some of the most important basics of life like clothing, school supplies, toys and much more–free of charge.

If you will be at BlogHer this weekend, make sure you set a few minutes of your day aside to stop by the thredUP booth and make a Green School Year Pledge, vowing to reduce, reuse or recycle kids clothing and school supplies this year. For every signature thredUP receives $1 will be donated by thredUP to Cradles to Crayons. If you aren’t going to BlogHer this weekend, you can still help Cradles to Crayons by making a transaction on thredUP.com.

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Parent’s Choice formula just got a brand new makeover and has been totally re-branded. Bright Beginnings available at diapers.com is the same quality of infant formula that you already know and swear by from Parent’s Choice, but the new, bright blue can and playful, fun and colorful new logo and name, make it hard to mistake for any other brand of infant formula on the shelves.

Bright Beginnings infant formula contains all of the nutrients, vitamins and minerals your infant needs for excellent growth and development during their first twelve months. Bright Beginnings Premium formula is said to be nutritionally equivalent to the national leading brand formulas currently on the market, but what makes this brand better than others is that it is much cheaper. A 23.4oz can of Bright Beginnings Premium is priced at $14.99 on diapers.com and there is also a customer offer available for $5 off any one diaper or formula product with coupon code FIVEBABY and 10% off almost the entire stock of items available on diapers.com with coupon code 10PERCENT. That is pretty awesome, especially when so many families are continuously looking for ways to stretch their dollar.

If you’ve been on the lookout for a quality infant formula full of all of the nutrients your baby needs at a price you need, you’ve just found it and not only that, but be sure to stock up sooner, rather than later, to take advantage of diaper.com’s current customer offer.

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Jeans aren’t the only thing gracing disposable diapers as of late. Diaper giant and fashion designer Cynthia Rowley, has created a line of designer diaper for Pampers that are being sold exclusively at Target.

Cynthia Rowley Cruisers come in 11 different designs full of playful colors, plaids, stripes, prints and patterns. They are sold in sizes 3 (26 count) and 4 (23 count) and can be bought in either a package for girls or boys for $14.99.

The word on the street around the blogosphere is that these diapers are incredibly cute, great quality, durable, didn’t leak and absorbed moisture away from their baby’s skin. But when you break it down, these designer diapers carry that word designer for a reason. They cost 57 cents (26 count package) and 65 cents (23 count) per diaper. When you’re changing six or more diapers a day, that isn’t a very wise spending habit to get yourself into, especially considering mainstream Pampers Cruisers retail for $4 less than Cynthia Rowley’s collection.

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