Dr Sears Top Ten Tips for Interactive Play

1. Floor play is fun for two in the early months. Get down on your baby's level for daily interactive playtime.

2. Visual stimulation is important in the early months. Surround your baby with black and white stripes and contrasting patterns.

3. Rhythm and music promote intellectual development. Sing, clap, and dance together everyday.

4. Ball play uses various skills simultaneously. Join your baby on the floor daily for some bouncing and rolling fun.

5. Stay animated during playtime. Exaggerate your facial expressions and voice to your baby's delight.

6. You're never too busy that you can't take at least a few minutes every day for some fun playtime for two.

7. Toys aren't just for keeping your baby busy. Nothing brings a toy to life better than a creatively involved parent.

8. Imagination opens your child's playtime to whole new worlds. Join in yourself and show your child you can be a kid too.

9. Reading to your child is a treasured bedtime ritual. Start this together time early on so your baby will grow to enjoy story time with mom or dad.

10. Bath time can be so much more than a quick wash and dry. Take your time and enjoy some splashing fun with your child.

{tips from Ask Dr Sears}

Children's Bedrooms

Some design inspiration for decorating children's bedrooms from Designers Guild Baby etoile collection.

Me Too Portable Chair

The Me Too Portable Chair is the perfect solution for travel or an alternative to the high-chair if you are tight for space. Designed to fit almost any table, this chair even and folds compactly so storage space becomes a non-issue. Made of high quality lightweight aluminum frame the whole seat weighs in at only 2 pounds, but can support child weight up to 40 pounds. Recommended for 9 months and up to 40 pounds. You can read more user reviews here.

My pouch

I started experimenting and wearing different baby carriers as soon as my baby girl Vera was born. The baby pouch is my personal favourite and I cannot imagine going anywhere without carrying Vera in my pouch. I recently started designing and making my own pouches to match my wardrobe, and to give to family members and friends. I name my pouches "Pupsik", which means baby doll in Russian. This name is inspired by Vera, who is half Russian.

Quote of the Day

A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was,the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove, but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.......

Forest Witcraft

The Contented Baby

Motherhood is an exciting journey. While it can be hard at times, I am blessed to have many friends and family to support me along the way. There are also a lot of useful resources out there to help new moms like myself. One resource that me and my husband Vitali found very useful is a book by Gina Ford named " The Contented Baby".

Gina gives a lot of useful advice on how to raise a happy baby. She gives very useful tips on sleeping and breastfeeding and advocates putting your baby on a schedule right from the start. While I do not follow her schedule strictly, I found many of the principles behind her ideas useful and have adapted them for Vera.

You can get "The Contented Baby" from local bookstores such as Borders or at Amazon.

Mon Petit Jardin nursing poncho

Besides my pouch, another product I found indispensible over the last few months as a mommy is a nursing poncho by Mon Petit Jardin. The business brainchild of my dear friends Elaine & Louisa, the poncho is perfect for feeding your baby discretely in public places. Made from soft, breathable, 100% cotton fabric.

Mon Petit Jardin currently only offers one design but promises more to come. This is definitely top on my list as a nursing "must have". Perfect as a babyshower gift.

The poncho is currently sold at a promotional price of SGD$23. Let them know you heard about them through this blog and you will get a further 10% off!

{image from Mon Petit Jardin}

Baby Changing Station

Wish I had one of these at home...

Shabby Chic

One of the first items I bought for Vera was the receiving blanket above from Shabby Chic. It was more like a "Welcome to the World" birthday gift from me. I just so love the prints they have. Made from the finest cotton ever.

Hmm...not sure why you would need the matchsticks for but pretty anyway.

{images all from Shabby Chic}

In the pocket baby harness

Despite not being able to understand a word of Swedish on this website, In the Pocket Baby looks like a brilliant "chair harness" to seat your infant in most any chair while you're out. It folds away into an easy-to-carry pouch.

Sesame Letterpress

Woodcut designs on stationary are so in now. Check out these designs from Sesame Letterpress. Perfect for birth announcements or children's birthday cards.

Little Fashion Gallery

Check this out! This cardboard bed from Little Fashion Gallery comes with a firm foam mattress and complies with all the safety and comfort standards you would expect for a baby’s bed!

Safe and stable, it has large wheels which make moving it easy. You can decide to keep it plain or you can customize it, paint it, or simply decorate it with your child’s name. ( The 2 kiddos on Sofia's bed above seem to be making out.)

Delivered flat-packed, very easy to assemble. Practical and stylish!

And I so love this pic from their website ---->

Vintage for Kids

I recently stumbled upon this website Vintage for Kids. Founder Olga Perez used to be an interior designer who started to develop a huge passion for vintage children’s furniture and fun objects for kids after the birth of her son. Besides selling vintage furniture and very nice accessories in their store in Antwerpen (Belgium), Olga also designs and produces small items for children herself. Their website is written in dutch but their pictures cross language barriers.

Happiness in a box

These pretty little things from Gobi are actually delightfully (or disturbingly) delicious! A friend of mine gave a box to me as a treat when Vera was born and I was so excited about it that I ordered almost a hundred boxes to give away during Vera's 1st month celebrations. Beautiful packaging!

Gobi recently opened a new retail outlet at Central. Be sure to check them out!

[pictures above from their Fantasy range]

Vera's First Month Announcement

Cheetah

pink with white ribbon trimming