Baby Zone

Eco Friendly Children Clothes, Go Organic!

2011-05-20T21:50:00.000-07:00

It is a familiar idea that numerous customers feel that natural, eco kids’ clothes are not trendy and is synonymous to covering your child in a coarse woven sack. The word "natural" has been related with uncomplimentary brands like "hippie" style fashion in the past, but has made remarkable progress in recent years, getting the support of clothing manufacturers and retailers.

The word “organic” has since been ignited in the consciousness of people over the years. More people have already been in the hip of all things organic but a lot of people also do not fully understand the definition of such a word and why organic garments are better for children.

You may be familiar with the notion that organic clothing is good for the environment, but do you really understand why it is good? Some of your friends may buy eco kids’ clothes for their children and may trust that all organic products and materials are safe but don’t fully understand what makes them stand out.

Take this as an example, we have cotton garments. Eco kids’ clothes that are made with organic cotton do not use pesticides and other toxic chemicals during their production. With the absence of these chemicals, your garments can be very beneficial to your child’s health and will eliminate the problem of skin allergies.

The United States EPA even released a statement citing seven of the most used insect killers in refining cotton as a known human carcinogen. It is not astonishing because numerous insect and bug killers were industrialized back in the World War II as a chemical weapon.

Investigations indicate that only ten percent of the insect killers or pesticides being used on cotton are efficient. The rest of it oozes into the earth and pollutes the water thus devastating the surroundings and harming the environment. As you support organic farming, you also support new innovations and farming techniques to produce organic crop. A lot of these farmers are heads on to what we call of "green" technology and with the methods to relieve the pressure that conventional cotton produces on the surroundings.

Buying garments for your child that are not eco kids’ clothes and are made out of conventional cotton does not really make you a bad parent. However, it’s always a good idea to be mindful about the importance of other options that are available. As you comprehend the importance of organic materials, then you have a better shot of making a good difference in your child’s future.

by: Kaylen Powers

How Musical Toys and Outdoor Toys Aid a Child’s Development

2011-05-20T21:01:00.000-07:00

There are many toys that are not actually called educational but certainly help to increase a child’s spatial or motor skills in some way as well as creating an opportunity for their imagination to work overtime.

Outdoor toys such as balls and skipping ropes not only provide the opportunity for healthy exercise, but can be used in any number of imaginative games. In addition, balls help to develop small motor skills and even gross motor skills as the child grows older. They can be kicked, thrown and bounced in any number of ways and even just learning how to pick up and hold a small ball often fascinates a toddler who can only just crawl.

Many outdoor toys such as sand-pits, pools or outdoor tables with sections designed for water play can enhance your child’s play time as well as their motor skills and teach them things about gravity that they do not even realise they are learning.

Musical toys are usually indoor toys and these too can be considered educational in that they aid a child’s development in many ways. First they have to learn what to do to make the toy play music. This could be as simple as pushing or pulling buttons or levers on a musical table designed for toddlers. The reward for learning what to do is the music which is often accompanied by flashing lights or other noises besides musical ones.

But it is not only the fun of learning what to do to hear the noise that is educational, but often what they hear teaches them something too. For instance, they can learn colours and numbers as well as their ABC from such musical toys. Hearing rhymes or simple songs over again also helps them to memorise words.

Musical toys for older children often require children to develop small motor skills to be able to play with them. Some toys such as xylophones can be used by littlies as they happily dong away without needing to know how to play a tune; then they can be used by an older child who is able to read the booklet to learn how to play a recognisable tune.

by: Child Specialist

How to take good baby photos

2009-08-08T03:05:00.001-07:00

Get Close
Don't stand the other side of the room or garden. Take a photo and fill the camera with their face! If you're taking photos of people different heights then engineer it so their faces are close together.
Don't include everything. Child on a swing photo doesn't need to have the entire garden in, perhaps just the bars of the? Kids on bikes don't need to get all the wheels in.
Don't say cheese
Kids don't need to use cheesey expressions. Chat to them so they forget you've got a camera there
Get your jokes book out and make people smile.
A centred photo might be boring, try moving the focus into a corner more -
Backlighting can help alter the mood of a photo. Check where the sun is out of doors. Experiment
Learn to use your camera's functions.
Take lots of pictures - easier with digital
Have fun taking the photos - and don't forget to be in some!
Don't spend all the holidays taking pics. You should enjoy yourself without a camera sometimes!
Sleeping babies can look lovely!. Move hands to be by the face
laying your baby on his/her tummy or side, facing the camera can result in good pics - mind you don't have them in bright outfits which will distract

Think: Baby alone . Baby with parents. Baby exploring the world!
These three types of photo will give you plenty of thoughts on how to compose pics.
Don't overcrowd the photos. Dont try and take photos of everyone at the same time.

baby names

2009-08-07T03:34:00.000-07:00

The popularity of biblical baby names is at an all-time high. In 2006, eight of the top ten boys’ names, and two of the top ten girls’, were biblical in origin. Parents today are looking not just for a classic name, but for a name with real meaning and spiritual depth.

As you look at popular biblical names, and imagine one for your baby, the origin and meaning of each name is an important consideration. We are taking a look at six of the most popular biblical baby names. They are all wonderful choices, and have been trusted by generations of parents who are looking for a special name that will provide their child with a solid spiritual foundation for life.

Currently, the most popular boy’s name is Jacob. It is the Anglicized version of the Hebrew name Ya’akov. Most experts agree the meaning of the name Jacob is “held by the heel, supplanted or protected.” This comes from the biblical text that says Jacob, the younger twin brother of Esau, was born “gripping Esau’s heel.” At one point, as they grew older, Jacob tricked his blind father into believing he, Jacob, was Esau, and he received the father’s blessing in place of Esau, thus “supplanting him.” Another source gives the meaning of Jacob as “may God protect,” but this seems to be a minority view. Jacob is one of the towering figures of the Old Testament, whose sons and grandsons became the ancestors of Israel’s twelve tribes.

Another popular biblical boy’s name is Joshua. The meaning of the name Joshua is “the Lord is salvation.” The Hebrew equivalent is Yehoshu’a. Many people feel that biblical names convey a spiritual meaning in addition to the literal meaning of the name. In Joshua’s case, that spiritual meaning is “bold leader.” He was the one chosen by God to succeed Moses as leader of the twelve tribes of Israel, a role that he fulfilled to the utmost, securing Israel’s position in the Promised Land.

The name Daniel, meaning “God is my judge,” is another enormously popular biblical baby name. The Hebrew equivalent is Dani’el. In addition to being an important Old Testament prophet, Daniel is famous for surviving in a lion’s den, where he had been mistakenly thrown by King Darius of Babylon. When Darius saw Daniel was protected by God, he ordered that his people should pray to the same God.

Boys’ names are more prevalent than girls’ names in the bible, but this does not mean that there aren’t plenty of biblical girls’ names. There are!

Abigail is a popular girls’ name today, and a well-known biblical name. It is the Anglicized form of the Hebrew name Aviga’yil, meaning “father’s joy,” or “my father is joy.” In the bible, Abigail is described as beautiful and intelligent. She prevents David from seeking retribution against her husband, who had needlessly insulted and provoked David. Shortly thereafter, her husband “turned to stone” and died, and Abigail became the wife of David.

Many parents have chosen the biblical name Hannah for their daughter in recent years. It is the Anglicized version of the Hebrew name Chana or Chanah, meaning “grace, gracious, or merciful.” In the bible, Hannah prays to God for the gift of children, and her prayer is answered, when she becomes the mother of Samuel. Out of respect for God, Hannah takes Samuel at the age of three to live with the high priests, and visits him each year. For her selflessness, she is rewarded by God with five more children.

One of the best-loved biblical girls’ names is Sarah. The Hebrew meaning of Sarah is “princess” or “noble,” certainly a beautiful meaning for a little girl! The equivalent name in Hebrew is Sara. She was the wife of Abraham, and like Hannah she prayed for many years to be able to have children. She conceived late in life, and gave birth to Isaac. Through him, and through her grandson Jacob, Sarah became the matriarch of the Jewish people.