January 2009

<!--[if gte mso 9]&gt; 120 1920x1200 &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt; Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]&gt; &lt;![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]&gt;--> Moms and scientists alike believe that babies in the womb can hear sounds from the outside world.  In fact, the ears develop as early as around 8 weeks! Read more

Games are a great way to have fun at a baby shower. Here are a few ideas to get the ball rolling:

Guess the Goo - Have jars of baby food and juices on hand. Take the labels off and number the jar. Write the food or drink information down corresponding the number to the jar. Have each guests try or smell the jar. Have them write down their guess. Those who match the kind of food or drink to the jar wins the game.

Create-a-Baby - Each guest is given a magazine, scissors, paper and glue. This idea is to clip baby parts from photos in the magazine to come up with a composite baby. Guests can then vote on which new baby they think looks most like the parents.

Mind the Baby - This game is a variation to Memory. You'll need baby items (no more than 10 or 15) placed onto a tray and covered with a small blanket. Uncover the blanket for two minutes, allowing the guests to see the items. Recover the tray and have each guest write down what they remember seeing on it. Remember to place a time limit on this game. Read more

Nightlights are a great gift for new parents.  Regular trips to the kitchen, the bathroom, and the baby's room throughout the night are a way of life for several months, and stumbling around through the darkness in the early hours of the morning can result in many a stubbed toe, or worse.  Leaving a bright lamp or ceiling light on is not only a waste of electricity, but also unlikely to let either the parents or child find any kind of sleeping routine.  Night lights create a soft glow to safely guide new parents around a dark house, and have also been shown to have a comforting effect on infants.

One problem with most plug-in variety of night lights is that you are limited to where they can be used.  Battery powered LED nightlights are great because they are completely portable, so they can be placed wherever they are needed most.  They can also be picked up and carried to light the way during any late night Read more