Posted: 08 Sep 2009 08:57 PM PDT

Joy of learning always beats genius as a straight flush beats a pair of eights.

Recall an episode from The Paper Chase. It begins, "I'm a genius you know." Ford declares the fact flatly. Not bragging. Just reporting.

"My college roommate was a genius," Hart says, tentatively sipping his drink. "Certified genius. IQ off the top of the chart. Matter of fact, he was the one who first told me about Harvard Law." Hart looks Ford right in the eye. "We took the LSAT and applied to Harvard. He didn't get in, and here I am drinking with you." Hart, the simple Midwestern boy, shrugs. "Genius," Hart shrugs again.

At Harvard Law, in Berkeley graduate programs, in Cambridge undergraduate programs, the geniuses frequently number among the first to flunk out. Students with insatiable curiosity and a passion for learning complete their degrees and advance in their professions. The Baby Einstein DVD series promotes children's passion for discovery and learning.

Baby Einstein DVD does not make geniuses.

No, no matter how many times you replay each and every award winning Baby Einstein DVD, the series will not make your child a genius. It will, however, spark his curious, inquiring mind and inspire him with a lifelong passion discovering the wonders of the great big world all around.

They insist. They come right out and declare it. They do not hesitate. They agree, and they take a firm stand. Artists, writers, editors, producers, directors, and consultants on the series flatly assert a Baby Einstein DVD does not make your baby smarter. Watching and listening to "Baby Mozart" will not assure Junior's admission to Julliard. Watching "Baby Wordsworth" will not empower Junior to attend Cambridge and become Poet Laureate. Watching the entire boxed set will not prepare Junior to unlock the secrets of the universe.

The people at Disney who collaborate on these remarkable videos do insist, however, their collection will forge an unbreakable bond between you and your child, and it will inspire Junior with a lifelong desire to discover and learn more. Educators will testify they prefer one child with a love of learning over a school bus load of geniuses. The Baby Einstein DVD series promotes pure joy, unspoiled delight in learning about all the amazing things the world holds in store.

How to Hold Your Nursing Baby

Posted: 08 Sep 2009 08:38 PM PDT

Breastfeeding may be a natural way to feed an infant, but the actual process of breastfeeding doesn't always feel so natural. It takes time, patience and practice to get the hang of nursing. Find a hold that works for you and your baby, and you both will surely be happier.

The cradle hold

This hold works exactly like it sounds. You cradle your baby, supporting his head in the crook of your arm. You will need to rest your arms on armrests or pillows because this hold can be tiring on the arms. Rest your feet on a stool or other raised surface so as to avoid slouching over your baby. Put him on your lap or a pillow with his face, stomach and knees facing you. His spine should be resting in your forearm.

The cradle hold works great for full-term babies, but can be difficult for mothers who had a cesarean because of the pressure on their abdomen.

The cross-over

Similar to the cradle hold, the cross-over means that you use your arm opposite the breast your baby's nursing from to support his head. Your baby's chest and tummy should directly face you.

Small babies and those with trouble latching on may find this hold to be easiest.

The football hold

Once again, this hold works exactly as it sounds. You place your baby under your arm, as if your holding a football or purse. The baby will be on the same side that you're nursing from. His nose will be level with your nipple, and his feet will hang toward your back. Place your arm on a pillow so you can support your infant's head and back side. Be sure not to push your little one toward the breast. Only support him.

This hold works well for mothers who've had a cesarean, have large breasts, flat nipples, or for those with twins.

Reclining

To nurse in the reclining position, put several pillows behind your back, one between your bent legs, and rest your head and shoulders on a pillow. You want to have your hips and back in a straight line. Cradle your baby's head with the hand under your body, or use your top arm to cradle your baby. Use a pillow or rolled blanket to keep your baby propped up, if needed. He should not have to struggle to reach your breast.

This hold works nicely for women who've had a cesarean, difficult delivery, or those who want to relax during nighttime and daytime feedings.

Bumpo Potty Seat Review

Posted: 08 Sep 2009 08:36 PM PDT

Enjoy potty training with Bumpo Potty Seat!

We all know that it is hard to have potty training especially when you are a first time mom. You need to have the patience to let your child learn it.

Potty training is very challenging to every mom that is why I am sharing my experience with Bumpo Potty Seat. I am sure that after reading this you would love to purchase one too.

I have been thinking of the easiest way to teach my daughter Abby her potty lessons. I was able to purchase this Bumpo Potty Seat and find it cool. At first Abby was a bit scared to use it but I told her that it is safe to use and also some tricks to make her feel comfortable with it. Every time she will use it I sit with her and tell her stories and we will both laugh. After quite some time, she learned to be comfortable with it; the material is soft on the skin and the potty seat itself is perfect.

One day I just found Abby sitting on her seat and I was so shocked. I asked her "why didn't you call me?" She just smiled at me. Wow isn't that amazing that she learned it faster than I expected?

It really amazed me and since then she learned her potty lessons. I am always checking her seat and I am always surprised that she just finished it.

I had a good time using this this product and it never disappointed me. I recommend this Bumpo Potty Seat to all the worried moms out there.

In Search of a Spill Proof Cup For Toddlers

Posted: 08 Sep 2009 08:33 PM PDT

It is every mother's dream: a sippy cup that does not spill, can go in the dishwasher, does not fade or degrade, and is still appealing to their child. Finding a spill proof cup that works, and continues to work after being used and washed every day, is hard to do.

There are many kinds of sippy cups, and toddlers may, in fact, need to use each of these different kinds throughout their transition to a normal cup. If you are breastfeeding your child during his or her first year or beyond, it is a good idea to occasionally use a bottle with them so that they are still able to use one well when it comes time to wean. If you bottle feed your child, moving to a sippy cup is easier, but by no means fool proof.

The first step is to find a spill proof cup that has a nipple similar to that of a bottle - in other words - soft. There are several brands that make these cups in bpa-free materials: nuby, playtex, gerber. By one of a few different brands and test them over the course of a week. You may have a child who does not care what kind of texture the cup has. You may have an extremely picky child and need to experiment with even more brands.

After a few months, you can gradually move to a spill proof cup that has a hard top and spout. There are some brands that work better than others for this: the Safe Sippy Cup is perhaps the best, along with the KleanCanteen, and the First Years Take and Toss cups. The First Years Take and Toss cups are great because they are cheap, recyclable, bpa-free, and designed to be thrown away (but recycled!) after a few months. KleanCanteen and the Safe Sippy are much more expensive, so they work better for use at home where the risk of losing them is far less. Take and Toss cups are ideal for keeping in your car or diaper bag, or for taking with you when your child insists on bringing a drink in the car.

The cups mentioned here are the most spill proof ones out there, if such a perfect dream is really possible. However, what matters most is your child's comfort level with the cup, so do not be afraid to experiment and try a few different brands.

Baby Name Wizard Review

Posted: 08 Sep 2009 08:19 PM PDT

This book is my favorite mom-to-be gift! What do you need in a baby name book? Sure, meanings can be fun and country of origin can help weed out certain things, but what we were most interested in was what connotations certain names bring to people.

How popular is it? -- This book has charts that show you a name's popularity over the last 100 years.

What other names are like it? -- This book groups names by era, sound group, and other associations. (What other book has groups like "Surfer Sixties" or "Timeless"?)

What names will fit with the other names in your family? -- This book has "sibling names" for each name. This was a great jumping-off point for our baby name hunt. Frequently I liked a name, but my husband didn't, so I would look at the sibling names and eventually we found names - for all three kids - that we both love.

What nicknames are common for this name? - This book suggests the good and the bad that may result from tagging your baby with a particular name. One helpful tip: take a long, hard look at your child before saddling them with a name they can never live up/down to!

As a writer, I also use this book for name ideas for my characters, especially when I'm writing about an era other than now. When was a name most popular? When did a certain name come into use? It simply makes my stories ring a little more true.