Beanie Hats On Sale This Week!
Since the beanie hats have gotten such an enthusiastic response, I've decided to put them on sale this week. These are so cute, and it is extra fun that they come in sizes all the way from baby up to size 7! Check 'em all out here. These ship out fast, so you can still get them in time for Christmas!
Countdown to Christmas Activity Book!
This collection is just the kind of thing I like to do with my children. It's fun. It's interesting. The stories are great, and will also expose my children (and me!) to some old-fashioned language and concepts. The crafts look fun and manageable. Now that I've got this resource I'm looking forward to December 1 so we can get started with it. I really think that this is going to be our most fun December ever!
I strongly encourage you to go check it out for yourself. Amy has her book on sale at a GREAT price right now, PLUS she has an extra freebie book for you as well. You can see sample pages of the book and a list of stories, etc. here. I feel like this is going to be a wonderful thing for my family, and think it will be for your family too! :)
Beanie Hat Giveaway
This week's featured giveaway is a fun beanie hat from my boutique!
Last year I got beanies for my boys ages 4, 6, and 7 (at the time). (YES! These hats come in sizes for older kids too!) They loved their cool new hats, and are still excited about them. Now they call them their "DJ Hats" and think they are really stylin' when they wear these (which they do, even around the house).
These hats are well-made and have held up great for my sons.
I love it that these hats were created by a couple of new parents that wanted a fun, cool look for their baby. Made in the USA!
Here are some of the available styles:
Here's what you can win:
One free beanie hat of your choice.
How you can enter to win:
Visit my site and take a look at the beanie hat styles. Leave a comment telling me which beanie hat is your favorite. If you don't have a blog that I can contact you through, please leave your email address for me or else you can't win. :) (**I've had a lot of people recently that have blogs but the profile is not public, so I am not able to find those blogs, which means I can't find you, which means you can't win. Please make sure I have a way to contact you.)
*Want to get an extra entry in this giveaway? Blog about it at your own blog, including a link back to this giveaway so others can join in the fun! Leave a comment with your blog URL so we can see what you wrote. :)
*Get an extra entry in this giveaway when you follow me on Twitter! (just leave another comment, once you're a "follower" telling me your Twitter name)
*Get another entry in thie giveaway when you join The Baby Boutique place on Facebook! (leave another comment once you've joined, telling me your Facebook name)
*Get another entry for subscribing to The Baby Boutique newsletter here. (You'll get two free ebooks when you do!) Leave another comment letting me know you subbed.
*Get another entry for Subscribing to our RSS feed. Leave a comment letting me know you did.
The fine print:
Winner must have a US address.
The winner will be announced on:
One winner will be chosen randomly on Saturday, November 29, 2008.
Christmas Sale Starts NOW!
Prices will be in effect until December 1, while supplies last!
Apples and Pears, Morning Glory, and Crib Bedding Sets all on Sale!
(*These products normally NEVER go on sale. Enjoy this opportunity while you can!)
Baby Kaed Diaper Bags--Gift with purchase!
We are unable to put Baby Kaed bags on sale, but we can offer you a gift voucher!
Purchase any Baby Kaed bag, get a $35 gift certificate to The Baby Boutique at Womb's Window! (gift certificate will be sent to you by email after your purchase)
Purchase the 12 DVD set of Grandpa Read's Quiet Time Tales ON SALE, and get the music CD FREE! (Free CD will come automatically with your purchase. No need to use a coupon code.)
All Clear Bag Systems just $39.99! Perfect for those of you that will be traveling with children this holiday season.
Now is the time to stock up on SuperMom vitamins, which are perfect for you whether you need prenatals, postnatals, or just a good multi-vitamin to give you the energy to keep up with the kids! Also on sale at the lowest price ever is our SuperDad vitamins and SuperKids liquid multivitamins. Get off to a healthy new year by stocking up now!
See all of our sale items here.
Sale Prices and offers will be in effect until December 1. (Except Grandpa Read special, which ends Friday, November 28)
12 Days of Christmas Giveaway!
Quick! This offer ends Friday!
So many people have been delighted to find out about Grandpa Read's Quiet Time Tales. This 12-volume DVD collection features classic children's stories read to your children by the friendly Grandpa Read. Each DVD is approximately 60 minutes long and features four stories plus an original song.
From now until Friday I have a special offer for you:
Purchase the 12 DVD collection for the discounted price of $129.99 (regularly $149.99) and you will receive the Quiet Time Tales Music CD FREE!
What is Preventing Your Baby from Sleeping Through the Night?
By Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution
Here’s something that may really surprise you: As much as we may want our babies to sleep through the night, our own subconscious emotions sometimes hold us back from encouraging change in our babies’ sleeping habits. You yourself may be the very obstacle preventing a change in a routine that disrupts your life. So let's figure out if anything is standing in your way.
Examine Your Own Needs and Goals
Today’s society leads us to believe that “normal babies” sleep through the night from about two months; my research indicates that this is more the exception than the rule. The number of families in your boat could fill a fleet of cruise ships.
“At our last day-care parent meeting, one father brought up the fact that his two-year-old daughter wasn’t sleeping through the night. I discovered that out of 24 toddlers only six stayed asleep all night long.” …Robin, mother of thirteen-month-old Alicia
You must figure out where your own problem lies. Is it in your baby’s routine, in your management of it, or simply in the minds of others? If you can honestly say you want to change your baby’s sleep habits because they are truly disruptive to you and your family, then you’re ready to make changes. But if you feel coerced into changing Baby’s patterns because Great Grandma Beulah or your friend from playgroup says that’s the way it should be, it’s time for a long, hard think.
Certainly, if your little one is waking you up every hour or two, you don’t have to think long on the question, “Is this disruptive to me?” It obviously is. However, if your baby is waking up only once or twice a night, it’s important that you determine exactly how much this pattern is disturbing to you, and decide on a realistic goal. Be honest in assessing the situation's effect on your life. Begin today by contemplating these questions:
- Am I content with the way things are, or am I becoming resentful, angry, or frustrated?
- Is my baby’s nighttime routine negatively affecting my marriage, job, or relationships with my other children?
- Is my baby happy, healthy, and seemingly well rested?
- Am I happy, healthy, and well rested?
Once you answer these questions, you will have a better understanding of not only what is happening with regard to your baby’s sleep, but also how motivated you are to make a change.
Reluctance to Let Go of Those Nighttime Moments
A good, long, honest look into your heart may truly surprise you. You may find you actually relish those quiet night wakings when no one else is around. I remember in the middle of one night, I lay nursing Coleton by the light of the moon. The house was perfectly, peacefully quiet. As I gently stroked his downy hair and soft baby skin, I marveled at this tiny being beside me—and the thought hit me, “I love this! I love these silent moments that we share in the night.” It was then that I realized that even though I struggled through my baby’s hourly nighttime wakings, I needed to want to make a change in our night waking habits before I would see any changes in his sleeping patterns.
You may need to take a look at your own feelings. And if you find you’re truly ready to make a change, you’ll need to give yourself permission to let go of this stage of your baby’s life and move on to a different phase in your relationship. There will be lots of time to hug, cuddle, and love your little one, but you must truly feel ready to move those moments out of your sleeping time and into the light of day.
Worry About Your Baby’s Safety
We parents worry about our babies, and we should! With every night waking, as we have been tending to our child’s nightly needs, we have also been reassured that our baby is doing fine — every hour or two all night long. We get used to these checks; they provide continual reassurance of Baby’s safety.
“The first time my baby slept five straight hours, I woke up in a cold sweat. I nearly fell
out of bed and ran down the hall. I was so sure that something was horribly wrong. I nearly wept when I found her sleeping peacefully.” …Azza, mother of seven-month-old Laila
Co-sleeping parents are not exempt from these fears. Even if you are sleeping right next to your baby, you’ll find that you have become used to checking on her frequently through the night. Even when she’s sleeping longer stretches, you aren’t sleeping, because you’re still on security duty.
These are very normal worries, rooted in your natural instincts to protect your baby. Therefore, for you to allow your baby to sleep for longer stretches, you’ll need to find ways to feel confident that your baby is safe—all night long.
Once you reassure yourself that your baby is safe while you sleep, you’ll have taken that first step toward helping her sleep all night.
Belief That Things Will Change on Their Own
You may hope, pray, and wish that one fine night, your baby will magically begin to sleep through the night. Maybe you’re crossing your fingers that he’ll just “outgrow” this stage, and you won’t have to do anything different at all. It’s a very rare night-waking baby who suddenly decides to sleep through the night all on his own. Granted, this may happen to you—but your baby may be two, three or four years old when it does! Decide now whether you have the patience to wait that long, or if you are ready to gently move the process along.
Too Fatigued to Work Toward Change
Change requires effort, and effort requires energy. In an exhausted state, we may find it easier just to keep things as they are than try something different. In other words, when Baby wakes for the fifth time that night, and I'm desperate for sleep, it's so much easier just to resort to the easiest way to get him back to sleep (rock, nurse, or replace the pacifier) than it is to try something different.
Only a parent who is truly sleep deprived can understand what I’m saying here. Others may calmly advise, “Well if things aren’t working for you, just change what you’re doing.” However, every night waking puts you in that foggy state where the only thing you crave is going back to sleep—plans and ideas seem like too much effort.
If you are to help your baby sleep all night, you will have to force yourself to make some changes and follow your plan, even in the middle of the night, even if it’s the tenth time your baby has called out for you.
So, after reading this section and you’re sure you and your baby are ready, it’s time for you to make a commitment to change. That is the first important step to helping your baby sleep through the night.
This article is a copyrighted excerpt from The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night by Elizabeth Pantley, copyright 2002
Website: http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth
2009 Family Dear Calendar
If you are a fan of the sweet, homespun look of Marmee Dear's lovely store, you will loooove her all-new 2009 Family Dear Calendar! Each month features adorable and heartwarming pictures from vintage storybooks. Too cute!
This big 17" x 22" calendar has nice, big spaces to write in and is printed on sturdy paper stock to keep it looking good and holding up all year long.
Right now Marmee is offer a special deal for my readers! Use coupon code EJ2009 and you will get FREE SHIPPING on your calendar (or go ahead and order several for Christmas gifts).
You can check it out and order here.
Enjoy!
Making the Holidays Family Friendly
Check out this new release ebook from my friend Penny Raine! It's at a super low price right now, too. :)
Ultrasound Shirts--A Giveaway!
We had so much fun giving away an Ultrasound Shirt back in the summer that we decided to do it again, since these shirts would make great Christmas gifts!
This week's featured business: UltrasoundShirts.com
Ultrasound shirts is a business owned by Erin Groff, a mother of two little girls. She shares how she was inspired to start her business:
Here's what they're giving away:
One free ultrasound shirt for an adult, and one for a child. There will be two different winners this week.
How you can enter to win:
Leave a comment telling me which ultrasound shirt you would want and why. (If you choose an adult shirt in your comment, you'll have to pick an adult shirt if you're the winner. If you choose a child's shirt in your comment, you'll have to pick a child's shirt if you win.) If you don't have a blog that I can contact you through, please leave your email address for me or else you can't win. :)
*Want to get an extra entry in this giveaway? Blog about it at your own blog, including a link back to this giveaway so others can join in the fun! Leave a comment with your blog URL so we can see what you wrote. :)
*Get an extra entry in this giveaway when you follow me on Twitter! (just leave another comment, once you're a "follower" telling me your Twitter name)
*Get another entry in thie giveaway when you join The Baby Boutique place on Facebook! (leave another comment once you've joined, telling me your Facebook name)
*Get another entry for subscribing to The Baby Boutique newsletter here. (You'll get two free ebooks when you do!) Leave another comment letting me know you subbed.
*Get another entry for Subscribing to our RSS feed. Leave a comment letting me know you did.
Something for everybody: FREE SHIPPING on orders of $50 or more for the entire month of November, plus you can get an additional 15% off your purchase by using coupon code 'giveaway' during checkout. What a great deal for those of you that want to get an extra special gift for the expectant moms, grandmas, and siblings on your gift giving list!
The fine print:
See UltrasoundShirts.com to choose from in-stock styles and colors only. Prize can only be awarded to someone with a US address.
The winner will be announced on:
One winner will be chosen randomly on Saturday, November 22, 2008.
We have a winner!
Thanks to all of you for participating. Come by tomorrow for another giveaway!
Paci Clip Winner is....
You can all let your blog readers know that we have weekly giveaways here at The Baby Boutique Blog. :)
Giveaway: Clear Bag System for Traveling with Kids
This ingenious product is perfect for families on the go. If you have ever had to travel with children, and deal with all of the regulations about what size containers of shampoo, lotions, or liquid medications you can take on the plane, you know that it can be a real nightmare. So often people end up traveling with a motley collection of junky plastic containers in a ziploc bag that is always ready to burst open at the wrong time!
The Clear Bag System has been a popular one with jet-setters all over the world, and now they are bringing their style to the younger set! With designs ranging from petite polka dots, stars, or hearts, all the way to the fun and bold frogs, ladybugs, and bumblebees, there is such to be a collection that is perfect for the little traveler in your life.
This week one lucky winner will get a Clear Bag System of their choice!
Here's what you need to do: Go check out the Clear Bag Systems at the boutique, and then come back here and leave a comment telling me which style is your favorite, and where you have traveled (or plan to travel) with children.
*Want to get an extra entry in this giveaway? Blog about it at your own blog, including a link back to this giveaway so others can join in the fun! Leave a comment with your blog URL so we can see what you wrote. :)
*Get an extra entry in this giveaway when you follow me on Twitter! (just leave another comment, once you're a "follower" telling me your Twitter name)
*Get another entry in this giveaway when you join The Baby Boutique place on Facebook! (leave another comment once you've joined, telling me your Facebook name)
*Get another entry for subscribing to The Baby Boutique newsletter here. (You'll get two free ebooks when you do!) Leave another comment letting me know you subbed.
*Get another entry for Subscribing to our RSS feed. Leave a comment letting me know you did.
The Fine Print: This giveaway is for one Clear Bag System from The Baby Boutique at Womb's Window. This giveaway is open to USA residents only. If you don't have a blog that I can reach you through, be sure to leave an email address. If I can't contact you, you can't win!
The winner will be announced on Saturday, November 15.
Wonderful Sounds for Sleep
By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of the No-Cry Sleep Solution
The environment that your baby enjoyed for nine long months in the womb was not one of absolute quiet. There was a constant symphony of sound -- your heartbeat and fluids rushing in and out of the placenta. (Remember those sounds from when you listened to your baby’s heartbeat with the Doppler stethoscope?) Research indicates that “white noise” sounds or soft bedtime music helps many babies to relax and fall asleep more easily. This is most certainly because these sounds create an environment more familiar to your baby than a very quiet room.
Many people enjoy using soothing music as their baby’s sleep sound. If you do, choose bedtime music carefully. Some music (including jazz and much classical music) is too complex and stimulating. For music to be soothing to your baby, pick simple, repetitive, predictable music, like traditional lullabies. Tapes created especially for putting babies to sleep are great choices. Pick something that you will enjoy listening to night after night, too. (Using a tape player with an automatic repeat function is helpful for keeping the music going as long as you need it to play.)
There are widely available, and very lovely, "nature sounds" tapes that work nicely, too, as well those small sound-generating or white-noise devices and clocks you may have seen in stores. The sounds on these -- raindrops, a bubbling brook or running water -- often are similar to those sounds your baby heard in utero. A ticking clock or a bubbling fish tank also make wonderful white-noise options.
“I went out today and bought a small aquarium and the humming noise does seem to relax Chloe and help her to sleep. I didn’t buy any fish though. Who has time to take care of fish when you’re half asleep all day?”
Tanya, mother of 13-month-old Chloe
You can find some suitable tapes and CDs made especially for babies or those made for adults to listen to when they want to relax. Whatever you choose, listen to it first and ask yourself: Does this relax me? Would it make me feel sleepy if I listened to it in bed?
If you must put your baby to sleep in a noisy, active house full of people, keeping the tape running (auto rewind) will help mask baby-waking noises like dishes clanking, people talking, siblings giggling, TV, dogs barking, etc. This can also help transition your sleeping baby from a noisy daytime house to which he’s become accustomed subconsciously to one of absolute nighttime quiet.
Once your baby is familiar with his calming noise, or music, you can use these to help your baby fall back to sleep when he wakes up in the middle of the night. Simply sooth him by playing the music (very quietly) during the calming and falling-asleep time. If he wakes and cries, repeat this process.
If your baby gets used to his sleep time sounds you can take advantage of this and take the tape with you if you will be away from home for naptime or bedtime. The familiarity of these sounds will help your baby sleep in an unfamiliar environment.
Eventually your baby will rely on this technique less and less to fall and stay asleep. Don’t feel you must rush the process; there is no harm in your baby falling asleep to these gentle sounds. When you are ready to wean him of these you can help this process along by reducing the volume by a small amount every night until you finally don’t turn the music or sounds on at all.
Babies enjoy these peaceful sounds, and they are just one more piece in the puzzle that helps you to help your baby sleep – gently, without any crying at all.
Excerpted with permission by McGraw-Hill/Contemporary Publishing from The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night by Elizabeth Pantley, copyright 2002
Website: http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth
I'm So Excited About Grandpa Read's Quiet Time Tales
Do you miss the simplicity of shows like Mr. Rogers and wish you could find something comparable for your children today?
Grandpa Read's Quiet Time Tales is the answer! These beautiful, friendly, and gentle DVDs share classic children's stories with your children in a way that will delight them.
Each 60-minute (approx.) DVD features Grandpa Read, who reads 5 classic children's stories with your children, as well as illustrations and an original song. Grandpa is accompanied by his faithful canine companion Champ, and some special fish friends, Sparky and Wanda.
My very energetic little boys are ages 5, 7, and 8 and they loved watching the sample story and songs. The warmth, humor, friendliness, and classic stories was just the sort of thing I was looking for!
What a wonderful gift for a family with young children, or for a new big brother or sister that needs a calm and enriching activity to do while mommy feeds the new baby! I plan to use these as a quiet educational activity for little boys who need something worthwhile to do when I help other siblings with their school work. :)
Enjoy a discounted price as we accept pre-orders for a limited time. Products will be shipping in early December, so you will be sure to have them by Christmas.
You can now watch a 12 minute sample video here. Gather up your children and enjoy!
Free Christmas ebook
And the winner is....
Personalized Paci Clip Giveaway!
We all know how important it is to the little ones in our life to keep their pacifiers close at hand. These awesome paci clips come in a bazillion different ribbon choices, and can even be personalized to make 'em extra special. I also love paci clips for keeping toys close at hand.
One of my favorite things about my boutique is that almost everything that I sell is made or designed by a stay-at-home mom in the USA. These paci clips are made by a cool gal named Laurie, who got started on her design because she saw a need for a paci clip that was sturdy and functional, while also being stylish and personalized. My customers looooove these clips and keep coming back for more.
This week one lucky winner will get a personalized paci clip of their choice!*
Here's what you need to do: Go check out the paci clips at my site, and then come back here and leave a comment telling me which ribbon choice is your favorite. I know it'll be hard to choose, but do your best. ;)
The Fine Print: This giveaway is for one personalized paci clip of the winner's choice. *Collegiate ribbons are not included. (sorry!) This giveaway is open to USA residents only. If you don't have a blog that I can reach you through, be sure to leave an email address. If I can't contact you, you can't win!
The winner will be announced on Saturday, November 8.