Week #3 Giveaway - Sports Baby Leopard Print Carrier!

Enter to Win the fun Leopard print carrier. The SportsBaby™ infant carrier is GREAT! I used it on our vacation last winter and I was able to walk on the beach with my little one, swim in the water/beach, and enjoy all the tourist places. The innovative, patent-pending, dual-purpose soft carrier is designed for active moms and dads who live life “on the go.” It’s the only carrier on the market made specifically for both water and land use, for all types of weather and recreation. The special material makes it the most comfortable and flexible carrier you can buy. It’s the perfect choice for busy parents who want the economy of two great carriers in one, with comfort and style!

Three ways to enter:

1. Visit SportsBaby and leave a comment below with the weight limits for the carries.

2. Like our fan page on facebook Jetsetbabies or BabyShowersByMail and leave a comment

3. Leave a comment and tell us about your favorite children's book - ages 1 - 12 mths

please leave your email address or send it to me at maghan@babyshowersbymail.com so we can contact you if you win.

We will pick a winner at random each Friday afternoon.

Congratulations to Heather Harper she is the winner of the Handmade Baby Quilt!!!

Week #2 Giveaway - Handmade Baby Quilt

Enter to WIN a Handmade Baby Quilt for girl - This flower and butterfly baby quilt is a one of a kind creation, handmade by Teri Lundgren in Duluth, Minnesota. This unique design will not be duplicated.

The center of this beautiful quilt has 3- dimensional flowers, and hand-tied grass to give it texture. The inner border is designed with a stained glass look using pink and green triangles. The outer border is machine quilted with many flying butterflies and the loopy paths they make.

This quilt is made to be enjoyed and used, and therefore it is machine washable, instructions included. Made from 100% cotton and all material is pre-washed. Measures approximately 28 x 44. $130 value

Three ways to enter:

1. Select your favorite JetSetBabies item at Jetsetbabies.com and leave a comment on this blog

2. Like our fan page on facebook Jetsetbabies or BabyShowersByMail and leave a comment

3. Leave a comment below and tell us about your favorite children's book - ages 1 - 12 mths

please leave your email address or send it to me at maghan@babyshowersbymail.com so we can contact you if you win.

We will pick a winner at random each Friday afternoon.

Congratulations to Colleen Smith Newman she is the winner of the year's subscription to the Wild Animal Baby!

Givaway - Wild Animal Baby

Win a year's subscription to Wild Animal Baby. It is the National Wildlife Federation's (NWF’s) nature magazine for toddlers ages 2 to 4 years. I have two little ones that receive this magazine every month and we love it. The Animal Baby magazine introduces very young children to wildlife in ways that lay the foundation for a lifelong love of the natural world.

This magazine offers activities, crafts, recipes, and reading recommendations that build upon the content in each issue and further encourage a young child’s intellectual and emotional growth.

This would be a perfect gift for your kids or someone who has toddlers ages 2-4!

Three ways to enter:

1. Select your favorite babyshowersByMail item at BabyShowersByMail.com and leave a comment

2. Like our fan page on facebook JetSetBabies or BabyShowersByMail and leave a comment

3. Leave a comment on this blog and tell us your favorite Children's book - ages 1 - 12 mths

We will pick a winner at random each Friday afternoon.

September Giveaways

Get Ready for Fall!!! JetSetBabies & BabyShowersByMail are doing a weekly giveaway the whole month of September! Check back Monday, September 6th for the 1st giveaway!!!

Playin' It Safe at the Playground

Parents of toddlers know that playgrounds can be a great place for their little ones to enjoy much-needed physical activity, but many may be unaware of common playground hazards and safety concerns. Whether your child is a playground newcomer or a frequent visitor, you can help your toddler play it safe by learning safety guidelines and teaching them to your child.

Be Safe

Before you give your toddler access to a playground, assess the area and equipment to be sure it follows proper safety guidelines.

• The surface under all playground equipment should be soft and consist of materials such as wood chips, mulch or sand. Falling to the surface is the most common contributing factor in playground injuries.

• Evaluate the design of the playground—proper playgrounds should be built for two separate age groups: children under 5 years old and children ages 5 through 12.

• Inspect the playground equipment to ensure it is well maintained. Check that it is kept clean with no broken or rusted areas.

Any hazards you find should be reported immediately to the school or municipality associated with the playground.

Have fun with your kids. With your guidance, your toddler will quickly become a playground pro.

Snack Time

It’s 2:30 p.m. and your toddler is hungry. Instead of turning to his or her regular favorite snack, mix it up with a new variety of food that not only gives him or her added nutrients, but tastes good, too.

Snacking is an important part of meeting a growing toddler’s nutritional needs—these “mini-meals” provide active toddlers with energy throughout the day that they may have missed at mealtime.

Control your child’s portion sizes, use small bags to pack snacks for quick, easy access.

Dairy options for snacking include:
*Low-fat chocolate milk
*Nonfat cottage cheese or yogurt with fruit
*String cheese with canned or fresh fruit
*Whole-wheat crackers with peanut butter or cheese
*Yogurt with granola or fresh fruit

Some fruit and veggie snacking combinations to try include:
*Apple slices and cheeses
*Baby carrots
*Dried fruit, including raisins and plums, with nuts
*Frozen fruit bars
*Raw veggie sticks with low-fat yogurt dip, hummus or cottage cheese
*Unsweetened applesauce cups

Grains that make for healthy snacks include:
*Bagel “pizzas” with tomato sauce and melted cheese
*Baked potato chips or tortilla chips with salsa
*Flavored rice cakes, such as apple cinnamon or caramel, with peanut butter
*Graham crackers, animal crackers, gingersnaps, fig bars or vanilla wafers with a glass of milk
*Popcorn, either air popped or low-fat microwave
*Pretzels, lightly salted or unsalted, and a glass of milk

Reviewed by Katherine Pederson, M.D., pediatrician at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at St.Vincent.

Visit a local grocer when traveling abroad

Here is a fun idea for traveling to other countries or even different ethnic communities within the states. Bring your children to a local grocery store. This can be really fun and also provide you with some insite to the people and the area you are visiting.

Every time we go to Chinatown in New York City, we have to take a tour through a local grocer. Seeing the fresh fish, unique vegetables, and other foods provides a real treat for kids. My children especially love looking at the different candies and sweets and of course we always leave with some tasty treats!

Toddler Safety Near Water...

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for young children ages 1 to 4. Protect your toddlers this summer if your vacation or fun is anywhere near water.

Everyone looks forward to the lazy days of summer, and water recreation offers a great reprieve from the summer heat. It also poses certain safety risks when it comes to children—particularly toddlers.

Water, Water Everywhere

While most toddlers love the water, drowning can happen in less than two minutes. Therefore, it is important to practice splash smarts.

Protect your toddler from the water this summer by:

* Avoiding chewing gum and eating food when swimming
* Being attentive to the weather, making sure to evacuate swimming and boating areas at the first sign of a storm
* Ensuring he or she is wearing water-resistant sunscreen and reapplying often
* Having your toddler drink plenty of water to stay hydrated
* Having your toddler wear a life jacket when in the water or on a boat
* Knowing how deep the water is before your toddler jumps in a pool
* Maintaining constant visual supervision and keeping kids within arm’s reach. Also, guardians should be trained in lifesaving techniques such as CPR and have rescue equipment such as a life preserver on hand at all times in case an accident should occur
* Obeying all posted signs and rules

It is also important for guardians of toddlers to remember that at this age water can be dangerous in other places besides a pool, such as water located in buckets, bathtubs and even puddles caused by a summer rain. Also, toddlers should not be allowed in hot tubs until they can sit with their heads completely out of the water with their feet touching the bottom due to the risk of overheating.

Reviewed by Beth Rice, EMT-B CPR and Safe Sitter coordinator at St.Vincent.