Sunday, September 23, 2012

How to Design a Nursery on a Budget

You don't need to break the bank to put together the perfect room for Baby.

Buy secondhand. Not everything in your baby's room needs to be brand-new. Certain items -- like the glider or rocking chair, changing table, artwork, etc. -- can be purchased in "like new" condition at thrift stores and garage sales.

Search online. Check out sites like Craigslist and eBay, where you can often find new items at discount prices.

Swap! Swapping is the new shopping -- and it doesn't cost you a dime. Sites like Swap.com, Freecycle.com, and ThredUp.com have hundreds of people looking to exchange an array of items, including baby gear.

Look for long term pieces. Instead of opting for furniture that looks like it's made for a baby's room, choose pieces that will grow with your child. Stay away from cutesy patterns (like Elmo's face on the side of the dresser) and pick timeless classics that you and your child will love for years to come.

Try wall decals.
Most of us can't afford to hire a professional artist to create a one-of-a-kind mural for the nursery. That's fine?you can find wall decals that match your room's theme and color scheme. You simply peel and stick them to the walls. Even better: They don't damage the wall or paint, so when you want to remove them, you just peel them off and toss them away.

Get personal. You don't need fancy artwork or wall hangings. Instead, frame family photos and hang them on the walls for a loving touch.

Skip the pricey bedding. Crib bumpers are now considered a SIDS risk, so there's simply no need to buy an expensive bed set for baby. All you need are some cute fitted sheets and a crib skirt to complete the look. These items can be replaced on the cheap so you can switch up the look of the baby's crib whenever you want.

Choose low-cost storage. Bring the look of the room together with decorative baskets that you can leave on the floor or even line on shelves.

Accessorize wisely. If you're looking to add colorful touches to the room, decorative knobs and lighting are an inexpensive way to add fun to the baby's room.

Advertisements: If you are interested in baby bedding sets and want to decorate your bedroom, baby boy bedding Online Store can satisfy you. You bed will be really fabulous in our baby girl bedding.
BLUE CARTOON STYLE BABY BOY BEDDING SET

Color in the Nursery - Part 2

Love color but don't know how to use it? We've got 7 easy ways to incorporate vibrant shades into your kid's room.

Feeling Blue?

Blue's definitely not just for boys. Pick a beautifully vibrant shade -- like this azure, then add pink accents and sweet accessories to girl it up.





Instant Sunshine
Take a classic nursery color like yellow and dial up the intensity. Pair it with a look-at-me hot pink and you've got a room that will make you smile on even your most sleep-deprived mornings.




Pretty Pulls

If you're not sure the whole sunshine-yellow walls thing is for you, try a low-commitment way to toy with color. These multicolored drawer pulls and bright kid art add some cheer to the walls and dresser -- and can easily be undone if you change your mind.


Advertisements: If you are interested in baby blankets and want to decorate your bedroom, baby accessories Online Store can satisfy you. You bed will be really fabulous in our baby products

9-PIECE BLUE CARTOON STYLE BABY BOY CRIB BEDDING SET

Color in the Nursery

Love color but don't know how to use it? We've got 7 easy ways to incorporate vibrant shades into your kid's room.

Chocolate Cravings

Go beyond baby blue and pastel pink when planning your nursery scheme -- don't be afraid to draw from whatever bold hues reflect your colorful aesthetic. (And here's a bright-color bonus: infants see dark and light contrast best, so you'll be creating a stimulating space to boot.) Check out these seven ideas for creating a vivid, playful, and totally-you nursery.

Brown? In a baby's room? We can just hear your mother-in-law now. There, calming blues and greens provide a counterpoint to earthy chocolate, and the deep walls contribute to a cozy, comfortable vibe. Mod plywood cutouts create interest in an unexpected spot -- the ceiling.





Primarily Yours

We love it when nothing matches but everything goes, like in this room, which mixes primary colors in a variety of shades and patterns.


Color Block

Can't decide on a shade? Pick a few of your favorites and create a color-block wall mural. How-to: Pencil in your grid with a level, then section off squares with tape. Be sure to press the edges of the tape with your nails to make sure the paint doesn't blend. Extra added bonus: You'll basically never need to paint again, since whatever bedding and accessories you use in the future are bound to match.




Tickled Pink

You're having a girl, and you do love pink. Here's a way to make pink unexpected: Pair it with a rusty orange for a slightly retro, totally chic feel.


Advertisements: If you are interested in baby bedding sets and want to decorate your bedroom, baby boy bedding Online Store can satisfy you. You bed will be really fabulous in our baby girl bedding

9-PIECE BLUE CARTOON STYLE BABY BOY CRIB BEDDING SET

Friday, September 21, 2012

Cheap and Chic Nursery Picks - Part 4

Think you've got to spend big bucks -- and shop at tony design stores -- to get a chic nursery? So did we -- until we checked out our local big-box retailer, Wal-Mart, and saw these gorgeous, mod buys from Wal-Mart. Our favorite part? Nothing here costs more than $300 (including the cribs).

Bold and Beautiful

Trust us -- you're about to spend a lot more time on the floor, so you want it to be comfy. We love how this Polynesian-inspired rug works with creamy yellow walls.





Basket Case

Celebs like Christina Aguilera love the Cariboo Bassinet -- at $300+ a pop. Get the same minimalist look for a non-celeb price with this bassinet. The suspended basket gently sways and responds to baby's movements, and the canopy can be removed.




Window Shopping

Crib -- check. Changing table -- check. Rocker -- check. Take your nursery to the next level with crisp finishing touches like this bubbly valance.


Advertisements: If you are interested in kids quilts and want to decorate your bedroom, kids comforters Online Store can satisfy you. You bed will be really fabulous in our home accessories

BLUE AND RED CARTOON STYLE BABY BOY BEDDING SET

Cheap and Chic Nursery Picks - Part 3

Think you've got to spend big bucks -- and shop at tony design stores -- to get a chic nursery? So did we -- until we checked out our local big-box retailer, Wal-Mart, and saw these gorgeous, mod buys from Wal-Mart. Our favorite part? Nothing here costs more than $300 (including the cribs).

Phat Crib

This two-toned crib combines dark chocolate brown with white, giving you lots of options to coordinate the other pieces of furniture in the room.





Pretty in Pink
This soothing, subtle bedding set -- fem without being over-the-top girly -- is so chic you'll wish they made it in queen.




Rock Star

A new-mom essential, a comfy, stylish rocker need not break the bank. Choose from an array of colors for your slipcover, add a matching ottoman, and, um, rock on.


Advertisements: If you are interested in kids bedding sets for boys and want to decorate your bedroom, girls bedding sets Online Store can satisfy you. You bed will be really fabulous in our toddler bedding sets for girls.
BLACK AND RED CARTOON STYLE BABY BOY BEDDING SET

Cheap and Chic Nursery Picks - Part 2

Think you've got to spend big bucks -- and shop at tony design stores -- to get a chic nursery? So did we -- until we checked out our local big-box retailer, Wal-Mart, and saw these gorgeous, mod buys from Wal-Mart. Our favorite part? Nothing here costs more than $300 (including the cribs).

Stick 'Em Up

The easiest way to get the look of a mural, no artistic ability required? Slap these number wall decals up for an instant wow effect. If your artfully random arrangement isn't quite working, peel them off easily and try again.





Show Your Stripes

Dress up a dresser with this sleek Jonathan Adler-esque lamp. Tip: Use it with a low-wattage bulb, so the next time you do a late-night feeding or changing, the room will be cozily low-lit.




Going Mobile

We like how this small, understated mobile blends into your overall look without overpowering everything like some of the other loud and flashy mobiles can. This one plays "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" too.


Advertisements: If you are interested in kids bedding sets and want to decorate your bedroom, teens bedding Online Store can satisfy you. You bed will be really fabulous in our boys bedding sets.
BLUE AND GREEN CARTOON STYLE BABY BOY BEDDING SET

Cheap and Chic Nursery Picks

Think you've got to spend big bucks -- and shop at tony design stores -- to get a chic nursery? So did we -- until we checked out our local big-box retailer, Wal-Mart, and saw these gorgeous, mod buys from Wal-Mart. Our favorite part? Nothing here costs more than $300 (including the cribs).

Going Dotty

We love how the yellow, green, and brown design on this bedding works for a boy or a girl. The four-piece set includes a reversible comforter (stripes or circles), crib bumper, fitted sheet, and dust ruffle (not shown).





Crib Notes

The clean lines of this crib make it both modern and classic, so you'll still feel good about it for the next kid. Extra-bonus: It's a dead ringer for mega-$$$ brand Oeuf crib -- we won't tell a soul it isn't.




Space Saver

Space in short supply? Enter this combo unit, which will grow with your kid. Now it's a two-shelf changing table, but once you're out of the diaper years, you can remove the top and it transforms into a regular dresser.


Advertisements: If you are interested in baby blankets and want to decorate your bedroom, baby accessories Online Store can satisfy you. You bed will be really fabulous in our baby products.
BLUE AND GREEN CARTOON STYLE BABY BOY BEDDING SET

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

25 Nursery Design Ideas - Part 2

Great Wall Letter Sources

Many parents agonize over what to name their new baby -- or at the very least, they go through gallons of ink writing up lists and confabbing on favorites and "can't stands." Now that you've selected the perfect moniker for your little monkey, spelling it out on the wall of his or her nursery is a stylish accent to the room's decor. You can also use these hangable letters to spell out happy messages, such as love, laugh, sing, smile, and dance.

Catfish Bite
888-228-2483
For the artistic child, you can't beat Catfish Bite's bright pieces with curlicued lettering.
www.catfishbiteoutlet.com


Craft Cuts
800-705-4020
This is a great source for basic wood letters that you can finish or paint to match the decor of your child's room.
www.craftcuts.com


Tatutina
800-257-0471
Each letter in Tatutina's "bright" and "pastel" set is painted differently; some shine with stripes and dots, and others boast hearts, flowers, or stars.
www.tatutina.com


Twelve Timbers
435-893-0175
Specializing in simple and rustic typefaces, this company's wall letters add country charm.
www.twelvetimbers.com


The Well Appointed House
This Web site offers the largest selection of wall letter styles in a variety of colors and patterns.
www.wellappointedhouse.com

5 Unusual Products

Rust-Oleum Magnetic Latex Primer
800-481-4785
Turn a wall, cabinet, or play table into a magnetized surface with this new product. The best part: You can paint over the magnetic primer in any color! (Note: Small magnets are choking hazards. Use extra big magnets that aren't a danger in little hands.)
www.paintideas.com


Mascotopia
800-399-1587
Find puzzles, building block sets, and (our fave) mobiles featuring college mascots. Junior might still be learning how to stand on two feet, but that does not mean Mom and Dad's alma maters can't be a part of his world. (For the pro fans, Mascotopia also carries Major League Baseball and NBA collections.)
www.mascotopia.com


HaPe International
262-242-5077
Along with cool educational toys and games, HaPe has created the Bamboo Collection, the world's first collection of bamboo toys. Bamboo is highly sustainable -- once cut, it grows back completely in three years -- so these toys are environmentally friendly. The Bamboo Collection offers 14 games for kids 3 years and up.
www.hapetoys.com


MemoryBorders
Follow the directions on the Web site and your digital photos will be turned into a unique wallpaper border. You can select from themed designs in the catalog, or start from scratch with your snapshots. We love the border featuring a newborn's teeny inked footprints, interspersed with the child's name and date of birth.
www.memoryborders.com


JELD-WEN Custom Carved Interior Doors
800-877-9482
Create a unique design for a child's bedroom (or playroom) door -- virtually any symbol, name, word, or image can be routed into these MDF doors, available in a variety of sizes. The door comes primed and ready to paint. Choose from 70 designs or submit one of your own.
www.jeld-wen.com

Advertisements: If you are interested in baby bedding sets and want to decorate your bedroom, baby boy bedding Online Store can satisfy you. You bed will be really fabulous in our baby girl bedding

4Pcs PURPLE AND WHITE FLORAL COTTON CHEAP DESIGNER BEDDING COMFORTER SET

25 Nursery Design Ideas

Playful Decor

You thought that decorating was fun before? Wait until you start revamping a tired old guest room for your new baby, or giving that nursery a makeover when baby is ready for a "big boy" or "big girl" room -- the colors, patterns, fabrics, and wallpapers you get to play with are 10 times more exciting than "grown-up" decor. You can let your inner artist free in a child's room, because the more whimsical and colorful it is, the more they'll like it.

And the best part: There's no rule that says your child's space has to match the rest of the house. So let go of the style rules that have ruled your roost and decorate with abandon!

Wallpapering Tips

Don't rush it. Wallpapering takes time. Plan on about four hours of wall prep, depending on the condition of the walls, and 10 hours to paper a small room.

Focus on preparation. Wallpapering over a painted wall? First, sand the wall to dull the glossiness of the paint. Wipe with a tack cloth to remove dust. Then wash the area with a strong household detergent, let dry, and start papering.

Create a smooth surface. Wallpapering over a bumpy or textured wall? You have two options: Either cover the wall to be papered with a thin coat of drywall (honestly, this is best left to the pros, or to an extremely experienced do-it-yourselfer), or simply hang wallpaper liner. Follow manufacturer's instructions and you'll have a smooth wall to be papered in a few hours.

Plan carefully. You want your last strip to end in a low-visibility part of the room, because it may be the one place where you cannot match the paper's pattern exactly. A good place for the mismatch is against a window frame, where it may be obscured by window treatments.

Get a good start. Use a plumb bob to ensure the first strip you place on the wall is perfectly straight. That strip locks in position all that follow.

Chalkboard Paint Tips

Use it everywhere. Chalkboard paint is best used on previously painted surfaces. It comes in cans or spray paint versions. Try it on walls, of course, but also on old play tables, backs of doors, or drawer fronts.

Apply it correctly. Plan to paint when the air and surface temperatures are above 50 degrees. Make sure you have plenty of ventilation, and wear a safety mask.

Plan on multiple coats. Chalkboard paint works best when you layer three to five coats painted in different directions (if using a brush). When using the spray-paint version, spray back and forth evenly to produce the best finish. If you linger too much in one spot, you'll get ugly drips!

Make cleanup easy. A damp sponge cleans up the finished surface and cuts down on chalk dust.

Add a frame. Once you've painted a wall area, you can frame it with molding or paint a border around it. This can help very young artists understand that not all wall surfaces can be drawn on. Stenciling or stamping the chalkboard along the edges is also a great way to create a frame. Simply allow the chalkboard paint to dry completely before applying the stencils or stamps.

5 Fun Art Sources

T-o-o-o Cute
404-886-2121
We love the wispy, detailed characters that artist Nicole Lathouse creates, from Bella Bug to Theodore Frog. The images captured in the framed prints are also available on infant loungewear and accessories for your wee one. Lathouse's giclee prints are surrounded by handmade painted wood frames, in various sizes, finished to impart a cottage-style look.
www.tooocute.com


Murphy Smith Designs
425-376-0252
With the motto "Art to inspire your child" and a special knack for classic storybook style, artist Roxane Murphy Smith creates pieces that you'll love long after baby is out of diapers. She also gives her painting new life on furniture and growth charts as well as canvases for wall hanging.
www.murphysmithdesigns.com


Studio Avo and Oopsy Daisy
619-640-6649
The artists represented in these partner art collections are too numerous to mention. But if we had to pick a few faves, we'd direct you to the ultra-colorful work of Stephanie Bauer, Maria Carluccio, Caroline Blum, and Max Grover.
www.studioavo.com
www.oopsydaisy.com


Muffy's Room
203-389-5865
Artist Muffy Pendergast must grin all day long in her studio, because the creatures in her paintings all seem to be smiling from the canvas, teaching us our ABCs or just being silly. Coming soon: Clothing, furniture, and other items painted with Pendergast's signature, color-saturated look.
www.muffysroom.com


American Postcard Art
941-954-3124
Get a mug of tea ready, because once you're on this site, you won't want to leave. American Postcard Art promises quality art prints made from vintage postcards. There are hundreds of topics appropriate for kids -- we noted the nursery rhymes from the early 1900s. Getting your art is easy: Follow directions on the site for choosing the finished size of the print and the desired medium.
www.americanpostcardart.com
Advertisements: If you are interested in Blankets UK and want to decorate your bedroom, comforter covers Online Store can satisfy you. You bed will be really fabulous in our pillow cases

4Pcs BLUE FLORAL COTTON CHEAP DESIGNER BEDDING COMFORTER SET

Real-Life Nurseries - Part 4

Need a little inspiration? Design-savvy parents share their nursery decorating tips. Here are our top picks.

Mia's Floral-Mod Room

Inspiration: Flowers

Location: Hazlet, New Jersey

Mom's favorite element: Ribbon mobile. Diane Desimini says it keeps Mia entertained during diaper changes. Crafty idea: Desimini created the mobile from ribbons and an embroidery hoop. Once all the elements were in place, she hot-glued the ribbons to keep them from slipping and placed another sash around the hoop.

Decorating tips: Desimini hand-painted the border on the wall to echo the pattern on the baby's bedding. "I also sewed the letters of Mia's name myself, and hung them with ribbons on tiny nails," she says.





Carson's Cowboy Room

Inspiration: Vintage cowboys

Location: McKinney, Texas

Favorite element: Three-wall mural painted by a friend. "It envelops you as you walk in the room," Kerry Doke says.

Decorating tips: "If you go with a theme, go all out," says Doke. "(A nursery) is the only place in the house you can get away with going overboard." If you have trouble deciding where to put everything, try her trick: "I cut out pieces of newspaper the size of my furniture and placed them in the room before putting the furniture in." Moving pieces of paper is a lot easier than lifting heavy objects.




Schuyler's Garden

Inspiration: A love for the outdoors

Location: Bethesda, Maryland

Favorite element: Butterflies hanging from the ceiling. Says Liz Weirshousky: "They've caught Schuyler's attention since she was born."

Decorating tips: "Blue painters' tape is a do-it-yourselfer's best friend," she says. "I always get the 2-inch-wide tape. It covers hard areas that you don't want to get paint on." She also advises use of uncommon elements. Weirshousky tacked up pieces of vertical blinds to create the illusion of a picket fence. "I drew the design on each slat and cut them out with regular scissors," she explains. "We nailed the horizontal pieces to the wall in just a couple of places and then used double-stick cushion tape to fasten the pickets to the horizontal rails."



Lily's Bright Quarters

Inspiration: Curtains

Location: Covington, Georgia

Favorite element: Bold, checkered walls

Decorating tips: For painting stripes, the key is to be exact with all the measuring, says Judy David. She first measured the center of the room to paint the yellow cloud. Then before tackling the watermelon stripes, she covered the cloud with tape. "We mixed one part paint to two parts glaze," she adds. David repainted the stripes with a wallpaper brush to give it a linen effect.

Keep sending us your photos! We'd like to add the picture of your baby's room to our collection of real-life nurseries.


Advertisements: If you are interested in baby blankets and want to decorate your bedroom, baby accessories Online Store can satisfy you. You bed will be really fabulous in our baby products

BLUE CARTOON STYLE BABY BOY BEDDING SET

Real-Life Nurseries - Part 3

Need a little inspiration? Design-savvy parents share their nursery decorating tips. Here are our top picks.

Ashlyn's Secret Garden

Inspiration: A dream garden

Location: Long Beach, California

Mom's favorite element: The tree is my favorite part of the room. "I never get tired of looking at the pink flowers and the different directions the branches run," says Ashlyn's mom Erica Kee.

Decorating tips: Erica used carpenters chalk to get such straight lines. "First we marked the top of the wall with hash marks the width of the stripes, held the string up to each hash mark, and snapped to make a chalk line. Then we went around with painter's tape and followed the chalk lines." To create the tree, she searched online for other images of similar murals for inspiration, and drew it freehand with pencil first, and then filled in with paint. "I debated about painting on the ceiling," she says, "but decided it helped make the room look bigger."

Parents.com tip: If you're going with a tree mural, give it a sense of movement by extending the branches to the ceiling, even painting right over the crown molding.





Amelia's Romantic Room

Inspiration: A love for vintage

Location: Indianapolis, Indiana

Mom's favorite element: Toile curtains. They dictate the colors and tone of the whole room.

Decorating tips: "Splurge on draperies and upholstered pieces," says Jennifer Hutton Whipple. "You'll use them for years." Whipple was fortunate to have the toile curtains made by her mom to surround the white balloon shades. She crafted a pink-and-white polka-dot organza dust ruffle for the crib and a matching chain sleeve for the chandelier. "The room is accessorized with my favorite finds from antique stores through the years," she says. "The walls are painted a neutral tan, while the ceiling is a soft pink. White crown molding was a first-time project for Dad."




Ilan's Wild Weir

Inspiration: A love for leopard prints. "I created Ilan's room around the baby bedding," says Ilan's mom, Hollie Nelson.

Location: Trenton, Georgia

Mom's favorite element: The walls

Decorating tips: The special paint treatment is Nelson's first attempt at faux finishing. "Instead of using a sponge to give the walls a shadowy look, I used a regular paint brush," she says. "I followed the same technique oil canvas painters use to paint the clouds in their landscapes."


Advertisements: If you are interested in baby bedding sets and want to decorate your bedroom, baby boy bedding Online Store can satisfy you. You bed will be really fabulous in our baby girl bedding

9-PIECE BLUE CARTOON STYLE BABY BOY CRIB BEDDING SET

Real-Life Nurseries - Part 2

Need a little inspiration? Design-savvy parents share their nursery decorating tips. Here are our top picks.

Hannah's Pink and Green Paradise

Inspiration: Twins! "The room actually came from the idea of how I would do a nursery if I were having twins," says mom Brittany Durrett. "We had two bedrooms and I wondered how it would look if we tore down the wall and had a suite. I didn't have twins," she says, "but I thought, why not tear it down anyway?"

Location: Alpharetta, GA

Mom's favorite element: The bedding. "My mom made the bedding, the wall treatments, and many other accessories in the room," Durrett says. "Everything is very special to me."

Decorating tips: "Don't rush the process," she says. "When I get an idea, I want to see the result right away. But if I had chosen the first few fabrics or accessories that I found, then I wouldn't be nearly as happy with the room as I am," she adds.





Jaxen's Cosmic Space

Inspiration: Outer space. "My husband is a space junkie, so the rocket-ship theme was a no-brainer," says mom Hope Litwin.

Location: Alberta, Canada

Mom's favorite element: The painted rocket ship on the wall and the laser projector that displays stars on the ceiling.

Decorating tips: "Be creative and don't be afraid to go over the top," says Litwin. "Kids love color and creativity, so make the room as personal as you would have liked your room to be when you were a kid."

Parents.com tip: To create a mural, sketch your design or trace an image you find on to a piece of paper, and get a transparency made at a copy shop. Use an overhead projector to display it on the wall you wish to paint, moving it farther or closer to get it the right size. Trace your design using a pencil, then paint inside the lines.




Harrison's Timeless Stripes

Inspiration: A desire for timeless decor. "We wanted a nursery that our son could grow into and wouldn't appear too babyish when he got older," says mom Julie Rurka.

Location: Raleigh, North Carolina

Mom's favorite element: The stripes! "I really like the striking contrast of the pale blue and cream with the dark brown furniture."

Decorating tips: "Plan!" says Julie. "We first measured from the floor to the section of the wall where we wanted to put the chair rail and drew a line in pencil. We painted below the line brown and above the line cream. We then went through with measuring tape and measured 10 inches apart and drew the lines in pencil using a vertical laser level. We taped up each section or stripe with paint tape and painted every other stripe light blue. We removed the tape before the paint dried too much in order to prevent the paint from peeling." She also suggests toting paint samples around wherever you go in case you see something you want to buy for the nursery. "We were able to pick out bedding without wondering whether or not the colors would match."


Advertisements: If you are interested in baby blankets and want to decorate your bedroom, baby accessories Online Store can satisfy you. You bed will be really fabulous in our baby products.

9-PIECE BLUE CARTOON STYLE BABY BOY CRIB BEDDING SET

Real-Life Nurseries

Need a little inspiration? Design-savvy parents share their nursery decorating tips. Here are our top picks.

Noah's Rustic Retreat

Inspiration: The outdoors. "We live in a log house and wanted to keep the rustic feeling," says mom Lori Mercado.

Location: LaGrangeville, NY
Mom's favorite element: The tree. "I love the silhouette look. I just freehanded it and added little birds on the branches to give it that extra touch."
Decorating tips: "If freehand painting intimidates you," Lori says, "then find an image from a book or magazine and project it onto the wall." You can do this by renting a projector that hooks up to your laptop.





Ava's Block Party

Inspiration: Texture and geometry. "We wanted to use some of the same colors that are in our main living while a lso creating a nursery that would stimulate our baby's mind with different shapes," says mom Tasha Lewis.
Location: Terre Haute, IN
Mom's favorite element: "I like all the different textures and shapes from the painted walls, hanging lamps, and the fur rug."
Decorating tips: "Look at how the rest of your house is decorated," Lewis says. "Then see if you can incorporate that into a baby-friendly space."




Maya's Modern Room

Inspiration: Modernism. "My husband and I wanted to stray away from the traditional, idea of feminine room and keep it feeling up-to-date," says mom Kim Wardell.
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Mom's favorite element: The chandelier wall decal. "It's elegant, modern, and different from any other design I've seen," says Wardell.
Decorating tips: "It doesn't have to be expensive to be beautiful," Kim says. "Many o f the items in the room are made up of repurposed furniture or items we made. An old Philadelphia library desk is now used to hold Maya's stuffed animals, the changing table is an old TV stand, and her bookcase came from my husband's family."


Advertisements: If you are interested in baby bedding sets and want to decorate your bedroom, baby boy bedding Online Store can satisfy you. You bed will be really fabulous in our baby girl bedding

4Pcs PURPLE AND WHITE FLORAL COTTON CHEAP DESIGNER BEDDING COMFORTER SET

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Smart Learning Games - Part 2

Mind and body games

From Fit by Five Preschool, Westlake, OH

Knock 'em down, count 'em up

Set up a bowling alley in your hallway with six empty water bottles and a tennis ball.

Have your child help you arrange the pins in a triangle, and count them out loud together as you stand them up.

After he rolls the ball, ask him, "How many pins did you knock down?" Then count together how many pins are still standing.

Set them back up and let him roll and count over and over.

The hidden lessons: He's honing his hand-eye coordination and learning principles of addition and subtraction.

Feelings fling

Working together, draw happy, sad, mad, surprised, and silly faces on separate pieces of paper.

Make beanbags by filling up socks with dried beans and tying them tightly (the beans can be a choking hazard).

Spread the faces on the floor.

Ask your child things like "How do you feel on your birthday?" or "What does it feel like when your sister takes your toy?"

Have her toss the beanbags to the face that matches her feelings.

Let her ask you things.

The hidden lessons: She's learning to put names to feelings, as well as practicing her throwing skills and using her writing hand.

Balancing act

Form straight, zigzag, bent, or curved lines on the floor using long strips of colored masking tape. Then come up with fun and interesting challenges like: "Walk along the straight line"

"Walk on your tiptoes on the zigzag line"

"Now, take three giant steps backward on the curved line"

See how many crazy combinations you both can come up with.

The hidden lessons: Her body is focused on balance and coordination while her brain is concentrating on following a multifaceted direction - abilities that will take her far, whether she's listening to her teacher, piecing together a Lego set, or doing her first wobbly pli¿¿s at ballet class.

Creative pursuits

From Learning, the Arts and Me Nursery at the Third Street Music School Settlement, New York City

Wonder colors

Cover a table with an old tablecloth and tape down a piece of waxed paper. Then:

Pour diluted blue, red, and yellow food coloring into bowls.

Drip a red dot onto the waxed paper with an eyedropper (for a toddler, try a plastic spoon). Have him use another dropper to squeeze a yellow dot right next to the red.

Watch the colors swirl together: orange!

Ask: What might happen to red and blue? Yellow and blue?

The hidden lessons: He's learning to associate colors with their names. The eyedropper or spoon will also fine-tune his fingers for writing.

Dance fever

Turn on some music.

Have your child make up a simple movement.

Repeat her move and add another one.

Tell her to repeat the first and second movements and add a third.

Keep going until you both break into giggles.

The hidden lessons: Improvising with you shows her how much fun cooperation can be and sharpens her ability to remember a sequence (a math basic). This is also a great way to introduce her to new kinds of music.

Advertisements: If you are interested in kids bedding sets and want to decorate your bedroom, teens bedding Online Store can satisfy you. You bed will be really fabulous in our boys bedding sets
BLUE CARTOON STYLE BABY BOY BEDDING SET

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Smart Learning Games

These great educational activities are used at innovative preschools around the country. Now you can bring the fun -- and lessons (shh!) -- to your house.

From Zoo School at the Tampa Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa, FL

Bat tag (To play with a bunch of kids)

Blindfold one child - she's the bat. The rest of the children are insects.

Every time the bat says "beep, beep," the insects call back "buzz, buzz" while moving all around her.

When the bat tags an insect, the insect has to go to the bat cave (say, the couch).

The last insect standing becomes the next bat.

The hidden lessons: Any chance kids get to work on their social skills, such as following directions and taking turns, pays off in school. Turn the game into Zoology 101 by telling them that they're mimicking echolocation, the complex way bats use sound to detect prey when hunting in the dark.

So big!

Check an encyclopedia or go online to worldalmanacforkids.com and find out with your child how tall his toy animals would grow in the wild.

Draw a line outside with chalk.

Take a stuffed animal (say, a giraffe), remind your child how tall it can grow (19 feet), and have him walk that many steps while you count together.

Mark where he stops and leave the animal there. Repeat with the others.

Study your homegrown zoo together: Which is tallest? Smallest? The hidden lessons: Measuring in this way makes numbers more tangible. Plus, he's counting, comparing, and even graphing.

Outdoor play

From Schlitz Audubon Nature Preschool, Bayside, WI

Family trees

Hike through the woods or around a park with your child to find baby trees (short, with thin trunks) and grandpa trees (tall, with fat trunks).

Find sizes in between for sisters, brothers, moms, dads, and grandmas.

Greet each new family member, and compare their sizes by giving them hugs around their trunks.

The hidden lessons: Transforming the trees into something that's the center of a toddler's or preschooler's world - family - helps them relate to nature. Wrapping their arms around trees helps them feel what small, medium, and big means.

Nature's treasure chest

When you're out: Have your child fill each compartment of an egg carton with two of the same object, like rocks, acorns, or leaves.

Back home: Look at, touch, smell, and talk about her finds.

Then dump them out and mix them up. Two- and 3-year-olds will have fun trying to re-match the pairs. Give your 4-year-old different ways to sort, such as hard vs. soft, rough vs. smooth, and living vs. nonliving.

The hidden lessons: Digging around outside gives kids a chance to explore and take small risks ("What will happen if I touch this ant?"); plus, matching and sorting are precursors of algebra and geometry.

Can you hear it?

Find a quiet spot outside where you can sit together. Close your eyes.

Use your fingers to count all the sounds that you hear in a minute.

Ask your toddler to tell you how many sounds he heard.

An older child can show you how deer and rabbits use their ears by cupping both of his hands in front of his ears to hear sounds behind him, or at the back of his ears to hear sounds in front.

The hidden lessons: Hones concentration skills and helps kids learn to pay attention.
Advertisements: If you are interested in baby blankets and want to decorate your bedroom, baby accessories Online Store can satisfy you. You bed will be really fabulous in our baby products.

9-PIECE BLUE CARTOON STYLE BABY BOY CRIB BEDDING SET

Questions to Ask a Pediatrician

10 tips to make your many well child pediatrician visits go smoothly.

Checkups are the cornerstone of good health, and in your baby's first couple of years she'll have plenty of them, as the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends at least nine from birth to 18 months. Checkups are the best way to ensure a child is growing and developing as she should. But they're more than that: Routine visits to the pediatrician give parents the opportunity to learn how to keep their kids healthy and safe and to have all their medical questions answered. 

I've been on both sides of this process, as a pediatrician who's conducted thousands of examinations over the past 40 years and as a father of eight. Based on my experience, I've come up with these tips to ensure a successful visit to the pediatrician.
Time it right Don't make an appointment that will coincide with your child's naps or meals, and avoid periods when he tends to get fussy. Feed him beforehand or pack snacks. Find out when the office is least likely to be busy, and, if possible, schedule checkups during these off-peak times so you don't have to wait long.
If you need extra time, say so A problem like poor eating habits or developmental delays may require a little more attention, so be sure to alert the office staff when you're making an appointment that you have an important issue to discuss.

Dress baby for success Avoid multilayered outfits or clothes with lots of snaps and buttons. Many toddlers don't like having their shoes taken off, so opt for slip-ons and remove them yourself before the exam.

Be your child's advocate If you know your toddler is spooked by the scale, ask the nurse to hold off weighing her until the end of the physical. If she hates to have her clothes removed, see if the doctor can perform most of the exam while she's still dressed and in your arms or lap.

Bring photos or videos Snap a photo with your smartphone to show the doctor just how bad the rash was two days ago. Or use a Flip video camera to record your baby's colicky cries. I've found these tools highly useful in diagnosing and treating patients in my own practice.

Write it down Bring a list of questions so you don't forget anything important you want to discuss. You may also find it useful to bring a pad and pen to help you remember the doctor's answers and instructions after you leave.

Speak freely There's no such thing as a silly question. If you want to know whether something is normal or whether your child should have a new test or vaccine you've read about, just ask. Part of the purpose of these well-baby checkups is to get information and reassurance from your doctor.

Prepare to report Be ready to answer questions on general topics, such as how your child is sleeping, what and how much he's eating and whether his health or behavior has changed since his last visit. You'll also be asked age-specific questions about milestones like walking and talking.

Be honest If your child isn't sleeping enough or is eating too much junk food, fess up; your doctor can make accurate judgments only if you tell him the truth.

Don't worry, be happy Mothers mirror what I call exam anxiety. Instead of being anxious yourself, quickly engage the doctor with “happy to be here” greetings and facial gestures. When baby senses the doctor is a mom-approved person, she'll be more cooperative.

Advertisements: If you are interested in baby bedding sets and want to decorate your bedroom, baby boy bedding Online Store can satisfy you. You bed will be really fabulous in our baby girl bedding.
9-PIECE BLUE CARTOON STYLE BABY BOY CRIB BEDDING SET