French Toast Friday

French Toast Friday recently emailed me to tell me about their wonderful kid's name frames. I think these are a great way to spruce up and personalise your kids bedrooms. The wooden frames are 7 inches by 5 inches and are backed by scrap book papers. More designs can be found here. Click here for more details on how to order one.

If you are happy with your order and would like to get more for your home or as a gift for friends, we are happy to let you know that French Toast Friday will be offering Pupsik blog readers 10% off your second purchase. Thanks!

Doll Houses

I had blogged about these magical doll houses at Laissezfaire. There are three different room sizes and 4 different wall colors to choose from. You can even get modern furniture and dolls for decorating and playing. Available at Hase Weiss, a Berlin-based kids toy and furniture company.

I also love another simpler dollhouse design by Designer Jeanette. The Constantine Dollhouse designs are handmade with plywood and Unica wallpaper. You can even make special color requests. Available at Kidsmodern. (Via Design Crush)

Best bibs recommended by Dr Moz

Yay! Dr Moz has answered my question on what bibs to get for Vera!

Remember, if you have a question to ask Dr Moz, just send your "Dear Dr.MOZ" letters to themoose (RemoveThis) @ drmoz.com

Thank you Dr Moz!

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Question

Dear Dr.MOZ,

What do you do with a baby (i.e. Vera) who doesn’t like to wear bibs when she eats? Do you know of any cool bib gadget out there that will be fun to wear, easy to clean and difficult for babies to remove themselves? Thanks again!

Best,
Mommy Vera
www.pupsikstudio.blogspot.com

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Answer

Hello Mommy Vera,

It’s common for babies and toddlers to get fussy when they are getting jostled around for feeding, and luckily there are a collection of bibs on the market that help simplify the process. Here are three comfortable bibs that are hard to remove, and easy to clean:

3 Dr.MOZ Favorites

* A Better Bib has built-in sleeves, so Vera may not know she’s wearing a bib. There are a variety of styles to choose from with these 100% cotton bibs and they are machine washable. (available at A Better Bib’s website)

* The Crum Chum covers baby from chin to toes and is designed especially for feeding baby in highchairs and on the go in strollers or car seats. The larger coverage will make it more difficult to pull off than a standard bib, and you’ll love the huge “pucker pocket” that will catch food that would normally cover Vera’s legs. (available at Let Babies Soar)

* Bumkins Sleeved Bib could be the perfect combination of the first two bibs because it features sleeves, waterproof fabric, and a large catch-all pocket. Vera won’t be able to reach the tied strings in back, and you’ll appreciate knowing that Bumkins’ proprietary fabric is PVC free! (available at Bumkins.com)

In addition to using a wearable bib, you might also want to try putting the bib on Vera five or ten minutes before feeding time. By the time Vera is placed in a highchair, she may already be comfortable with the bib and less likely to want to pull it off. Thanks for the great question, and don’t forget to check back to see if our readers have other ideas in our comments bubble above!

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

Ask Dr Moz

I was absolutely delighted when Dr Moz sent me an email yesterday telling me about their new blog. Besides having lots of wonderful parenting tips and resources, this blog has a cool section called "DearDrMoz" where you get to throw any questions related to general health, newborns, lifestyle issues, or the best gifts and gear on the market. All you have to do is send Dr Moz an email (themoose@drmoz.com) with “Dear Dr.MOZ” as the subject heading and the selected questions will be posted with answers every Friday of the week.

Ok, Dr Moz. My first question for you is...

"What do you do with a baby (i.e. Vera) who doesn't like to wear bibs? Vera ends up all dirty whenever she eats and Mommy is overwhelmed with the laundry that appears after each meal. Is there a cool bib gadget out there that will be fun to wear, easy to clean and difficult for babies to remove themselves? Thank you in advance for answering Mommy Vera's question, Dr Moz."

Pupsik and Dr Moz are exchanging blogroll links so that our readers can cross the continents to see what each corner of the earth has in store for modern parents. You can find the link to their blog on the left column, under PUPSIK friends. Enjoy!

Baby SOS

Vera would usually protest by crying a little when we put her to bed at night. Today, she was unusually silent so we decided to check in on her. Turns out that she was sending out a distress signal from her bed.

Cheburashka and Krokodil Gena

Daddy grew up with this cartoon during communist Russia. It is the story of a Russin Goblin called Cheburashka. Mommy and I don't understand a word of it but we think the music is lovely!

Kids Factory

I posted these rooms I found at Kidsfactory on my design blog at Laissezfaire. I really think these are probably one of the most enchanting rooms for children I have ever come across. It is so lovely to grow up in a room where it seems like nothing is impossible...where one can dream and have your imagination take you as far as you would like to go. There are lots more inspirational images and even a 360degree panorama of the rooms here!

(via Emma's blog)

Noonoo

I just love these comfort blankets by Noonoo. The original idea for the Noonoo© comfort blankets was developed by a mother for her toddler son when she recognised that she needed to fulfil his desire for ownership of whatever he set his sights on. The very first Noonoo© comfort blanket was made for him as a practical and tangible object, something he could call his very own, and do with what he wanted!

Good news! You can buy Noonoo in Singapore at The Children's Showcase, Loewen Gardens (entrance via Ridley Park). They are open M - F 11am - 5pm and Saturday from 10am - 2pm. For more information contact Andi at 9830 5356, E: andi@cradlenall.com. Thanks for letting us know Andi!

Parents.com

We are a firm believer that children learn the most through play. I came across this article at Parents.com called "Let's Play" and thought I will share it with other moms and dads. Apparently, these baby games will boost your infant's smarts and emerging social skills. Even if it doesn't, it is still fun!

Parents.com is an amazing online resource for parenting. It is packed with loads of information from pregnancy to bringing up teens. Do check it out!

Organic baby

Vera goes shopping in Daddy and Mommy's organic grocery bag.

For nolstalgic sake!

I had this Snoopy Sno Cone Maker when I was growing up. This gadget comes with a metal ice shaver, one syrup bottle (the jolly snowman) one package of unsweetened soft drink mix, paper cups, scoop and instructions. It was the closest thing I had to snow and homemade ice kachang in Singapore. If you are looking for a gift for a 5-8 year old, think this will be perfect! Anyone had this when they were young too?

Vera's latest pics

Dear Family and Friends,

We have posted the latest pictures of vera here. Do check it out if you are interested!

Daddy and Mommy

Happy and Sad

9 month old Vera really amazed us today by showing us how emotionally sensitive she is to music. She loves happy songs and would clap to the tune. She also enjoys music by Bach and will sit and listen quietly on her own when we play the CD. However, we never knew she would cry when she hears a sad tune...until today. In this video, you can watch her reactions when she hears Daddy hum a sad tune from "Letters from Iwo Jima". Click on image above to watch.

Yellow Pages Booster

I saw this in the Straits Times Life this morning and thought it was pretty cute. A seat booster designed like the Yellow Pages to give junior a little boost at the table! This version is made from light-weight, soft, durable, form-fitting foam. Kids from age 3 will happily rise to the occassion.

Foldschool

I am always on the lookout for creative ways to play with Vera. Really think these cardboard toys by Foldschool are so fun and creative! Created by a Swiss-based architect Nicola Enrico Stäubli, Foldschool has downloadable patterns and a manual to create cool DIY cardboard furniture for kids.

Quote of the week

"Children are likely to live up to what you believe in them."

Lady Bird Johnson

Goosie Cards

Check out these first and only custom flash cards for children! Designed by a mom, Goosie flash cards was created out of her desire to teach her child about their family through family photos. Her company and brand is built on her philosophy and belief in the ability of parents to inspire learning in their children through sharing experiences together. I especially like the idea of making Goosie cards of your baby to teach them about their body parts from head to toe.
Every card is unique with your favorite, real life photo and text and laminated to keep clean! And you can keep the cards as a picture memento of your child when he/she grows up!

CooshBaby™

Good news for eco-friendly folks out there. CooshBaby™, a baby brand made from 100% certified organic cotton, has arrived in Singapore! Recently launched, their online shop offers high quality, stylish certified organic cotton apparel and accessories for adults, children and babies. For those of you not familiar with organic cotton, these fabrics are basically made from cotton grown without the use of pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, sewage sludge, irradiation or genetic engineering. Perfect for babies or adults with sensitive skin.

Just love these adorable designs...
(above) CooshBaby™ Kimono Long Sleeves Top (SGD $31.40)(above) CooshBaby™ Singlet Bodysuit With Signature Print (SGD $34.40)

From now till end August, CooshBaby™ is offering Pupsik blog readers 10% off + free shipping for purchases made online. Just email Jae (jae@cooshlife.com) to order and mention Pupsik to get your discount! Thanks Jae!

Nursing hat

OMG! This has got to be the cutest thing ever! A nursing hat by MoBoleez that allows you to nurse your baby discretely in public. How clever! Founded by Diane Sam, this nursing mother of two wanted to design something unique and fun in support of the breastfeeding mom. Available in many lovely colours.

Smiling for the camera

Picture of Vera taken at the wedding of Daddy and Mommy's good friends, Seiwei and Steph, over the weekend. For more pictures, click here.

Seimi Bassinet

What a beautiful bassinet by Seimi! Lightweight and transparent, you can place it next to your own bed and you can watch your baby's sleep. Perfect for small apartments that won't fit a crib.

Grace & Go onesies

Check out the cute graphics on these onesies! By Grace & Go.

standing on my own

double click to view video

Have you seen a baby panda?

Reading Car Manual

Double click to view video.

Flip-flop socks

As Vera hasn't started walking yet, we usually let her go barefooted when we go out and put on socks for her when it gets cold. Less restrictive for the tiny feet in this hot weather. Just found these flip-flop socks and thought they were ultra cool! Available at redenvelope.com.

More pics of Vera (by popular demand)

The Balmoral Pram

I was wondering just the other day whether they still made these kinds of prams. Oh yes, they do at Silver Cross! Once the most sought after carriages for Europe's royals and aristocrats, this British company has been building its reputation as the premiere carriage / pram company for over a hundred years. With its steel bodied frame, polished chrome chassis and hand-spoked wheels, this vintage pram (called the Balmarol pram) is designed to transport your baby in luxury It is a celebrity favorite with Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna, Julia Roberts, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Tori Spelling. (via)

Smurfs - Baby Smurf Is Missing

Smurfs used to be the reason why I woke up on Sunday mornings. I like that they all have different personalities, although I realise now that there are a lot of generic smurfs who just run a round and do what they are told. My heart goes out to the smurf that always got kicked out of the community for expressing himself too much.

Janine Stow Photography

Classic and timeless photography by Janine Stow. Janine likes to work with families in the comfort of their surroundings, rather than a studio, as children tend to be more relaxed in a familiar environment. She also feels that the photographs will be more personal if they have a familiar background such as a home which would serve as a reminder of your children at that place and time in their lives. Do check out Janine's website for more wonderful pictures. A beautiful way to capture the memories of your child.