droolicious : Baby Einstein

World Beat Goes Baby

Lisa Mulcahy — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 23:28:00 GMT

There are those parents that are against using TV as a learning tool, but I’m not one of them. My son is two and has been watching Baby Einstein and other educational videos since he was an infant. I think they’ve had a positive effect. Now there’s a new DVD that introduces babies to different cultures through world music.

I might pick this one up for the Easter basket. Baby Einstein’s World Music, introduces children to sites and sounds of the world. From banging a drum to shaking a maraca, little ones discover the different cultures of the world through the universal language of music. Given the cost of those Music Together and Musical Munchkins classes, $12.99, is a bargain and will probably suit your baby just as well. Get it here at Amazon.

Green “Gotta Have It” Gift

Lisa Mulcahy — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:31:00 GMT

It’s great to come across a local busines that’s making grassroots strides. That’s the story behind this Maplewood, NJ, company.

To help a newborn start off on the “green foot”, Greensender.com has introduced the environmentally friendly gift package called the Mini G Baby Package. The package includes Into the Trees, a new children’s book illustrated by Baby Einstein artist Nadeem Zaidi, organic cotton onesies and organic cotton bibs.

The Mini G Baby packages come in Deluxe ($73.95) and Premium ($39.95). The Mini G Baby Deluxe includes the original children’s book, Into the Trees, an account of a fun-filled walk in the woods on a beautiful day and beginning of a lifelong commitment to caring for the planet, three onesies and two bibs. The onesies sized at 6 months, 9 months and 12 months featuring an adorable illustration of Mini G; sitting, crawling and standing, respectively and the bibs feature Mini G at meal time; holding either a spoon or baby bottle. The Mini G Baby Premium includes Into the Trees, a single onesie and single bib. Both are packaged in a reusable snap corner basket made out of recycled paper. Items can also be purchased individually.

Big Deal: 15% off all Graco

elizabeth leach — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Babycenterstore is taking 15% off all Graco for two weeks and if you spend $59 the shipping is free. This includes strollers, high chairs, monitors, activity centers, car seats, pack and plays, etc. If you're in the market for something made by Graco, now's the time.

After the jump is a great looking pack and play in "sorbet". I wish I would have known about it before I bought mine...

The Tot Block in sorbet (above) would work so well with my Skip Hop play mat. (sigh). (I have the Tot Block in primary colors which I highly recommend.)

Shop all Graco at Babycenterstore here.

Braincandy DVDs Touch, Feel, Smell, See and Taste Their Way Into Stores

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 18:32:00 GMT

There's no evidence that Braincandy -- the surreal, sensory-based answer to visual board books -- is any better for babies' development than Baby Einstein. Braincandy does, however, beat the competition in reinforcing the idea that video time can never replace real human interaction; and as a company co-founded by an ex-Microsoft bigwig who's now seeking work/life balance as an entrepreneur, it also has a sympathetic tinge of Mommy guilt in its marketing copy.

Where Braincandy really strays from Baby Einstein is in its tone and visuals: Through its 5 Senses DVDs -- See My World, Hear My World, Taste My World, Touch My World and Smell My World -- the company shows real children using their senses to explore the world around them, and encourages viewers to interact by exploring their own worlds similarly.

The puppets and animated sequences significantly up the videos' weirdness factor, and indeed, parents may find some of the hands-on exploratory sequences closer to something out of, say, 9 1/2 Weeks. Kids, on the other hand, have no such frame of reference, and they're as likely to delight in watching the characters onscreen sniff, glop, slurp, observe and listen to the action as they are to mimic that action themselves.

Aimed at ages 6 months to 4 years (though admittedly a bit preverbal for older toddlers), the 5 Senses DVDs are available today in Borders stores everywhere, as well as at Amazon.com and through Braincandy's own online store.

Use Your Words: Your Baby Can Read!

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:59:00 GMT

While I'm withholding judgment on the program's effectiveness (having just acquired it, I haven't yet made my 15-month-old a guinea pig), the five-DVD Your Baby Can Read! system carries a slight misnomer, as the program covers not only the baby years, but the entire 3-months-to-5-years window in which children's language development is at a prime.

Developed by Dr. Robert Titzer, whose daughter reportedly was able to read more than 100 words by her first birthday after following the program's methods, Your Baby Can Read! encourages children to make associations between written words, sounds and meanings by "interacting" (i.e., clapping, waving or pointing) with language. The system's hands-on, multi-sensory approach also extends to the accompanying materials -- five double-sided word/picture cards, one wipe-off word card and an erasable marker -- and encourages active engagement and co-viewing with children. (It also teaches phonics.) The DVDs are intentionally repetitive and somewhat demanding for children to follow on their own, so for those of us who savor those 20-minute spurts of video time while we scramble to make dinner, Baby Crack this ain't.

Tried this system? Loved it? Hated it? Let me know in the comments.

Like To Shower Every Day?

Karen — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 16:02:00 GMT

Then stick your little muffinhead in this fun and exciting Graco Baby Einstein Discover Entertainer. I love Baby Einstein, and like everything else a few years after it comes out, experts are now saying those videos are no good. Well neither is water, air or pooping.

Prove the experts wrong and go have a shower while baby rocks it out with the 9 activities on board this tiny ship of fun. After a few sessions, he should be able to tackle your tax return.

On sale now for $71.99 online.