Prince Lionheart® was started in a garage by Tom and Linda McConnell in 1973 making hand crafted rocking horses. Today the company is known all around the world for having high quality, innovative products.

Success Through Play™ will be highlighting 2 products from Prince Lionheart® today which mimic the womb.

The Original Slumber Bear with Silkie™ (USA)/The Original Tummy Sleep™ (Europe)

Actual sounds recorded INSIDE a mother’s womb lull baby to sleep in minutes! Since 1978, Slumber Bear has been helping millions of newborns sleep in maternity hospitals and homes worldwide. Sound box has a 5 minute auto-shutoff timer to save batteries, with sound and motion sensors that reactivate recording when baby cries or the bear is moved.

The Silkie™ is a natural bonding aid that retains parents’ scent and reassures Baby of their presence.

The WashPOD™

The WashPOD provides a better way to bathe your little one in an environment that emulates that of a mother’s womb. The baby in the WashPOD will naturally convert into the fetal position. Because this is such a familiar feeling it will quickly soothe, calm, and relax the baby and allow them to bathe without feeling out of their element.

PURCHASING:

Please visit www.princelionheart.com to locate a retailer in your country.

Success Through Play™ comments:

We are delighted to kick off our “Products that Mimic the Womb” Segment with 2 unique products from Prince Lionheart®. The first product, The Original Slumber Bear, was invented by a doctor and has been used successfully in maternity hospitals worldwide since 1978! This well designed bear is stimulated by both sound and motion, so if your baby starts crying or kicks the bear, the womb sounds will be reactivated; a feature which sleep deprived parents will truly appreciate. The Original Slumber Bear™ comes with a Silkie™, the natural bonding aid! Mom can place the Silkie inside her clothing for a few hours so that the Silkie™ will absorb her scent. The Silkie™ is essentially a lovey that babies can use to comfort themselves.

We handed over the Original Slumber Bear™ to first time parents who were struggling to soothe their 5 week old baby. These sleep deprived parents were very eager to try this product. The parents observed that their newborn would transition into a calmer state when the Slumber Bear played the intra-uterine sounds. This coupled with other techniques such as rocking, swaddling and singing helped their baby to fall asleep more easily. They felt relieved that they add an additional tool to use, to help calm their baby. The parents were counseled about the importance of establishing a sleep routine and they were taught when it is appropriate to stimulate your baby and when it is not. Dad worked long hours and would come home in the evening and play with the baby and excite the baby to the point where the baby was getting overly tired and cranky. This pattern of stimulation contributed to their baby’s colic and fussiness. Dad was shown how to spend quality time with baby while being careful not to overstimulate their. The addition of a clip on night light was given to mom and dad so that when baby needed to be fed or changed during the night, the lights could be kept dim and baby would not become overstimulated. Recognizing that newborns can only stay awake for approximately 45 minutes before getting tired and needing to sleep is helpful in avoiding an overtired baby, which leads to additional fussiness.

The WashPOD™ is recommended by midwives and physicians for babies aged 0-6 months.

Its unique shape is designed to mimic the womb, making bathing less stressful for baby. It is designed to position your newborn in a flexed position similiar to that of being in a womb which should soothe and comfort him. Baby is able to sense the close dimensions of the tub and this provides his body with feedback about his position in space. The flexed position and womb like design of the tub should make bath time a pleasant experience. We distributed this product to a family who have recently welcomed their 2nd child. They started bathing their baby, aged 3 weeks in the WashPOD™ and haven’t looked back. “I only wish that I had purchased the WashPOD™ with my first baby”. The shape makes so much sense to me now….I forget that he was crunched up in a tight space floating in amniotic fluid for so many months”=. “What I really like is that our baby doesn’t thrash around in the WashPOD™ as he had done in a regular tub. He seems at ease in the WashPOD™. We follow his bath time with a soothing massage which he loves and then it’s off to bed for the little one”.

Caution:
*Never leave baby unattended during bath time.
*Hold and Support at all Times.

Tip:
*Gather everything that you will need for bathing your newborn FIRST so that you can give him your undivided attention.
*Turn the phone to voice mail and minimize any further distractions before you give your baby a bath.

We would like to thank Prince Lionheart® for sending us a sample of each product featured for this review. We hope to review additional Prince Lionheart® products during 2008.

For view the full Prince Lionheart® range which is available worldwide, please visit:

www.PrinceLionheart.com

Transitioning from the Womb to the World is one of the first challenges for a baby. Parents can help make this transition easier through a variety of different methods and products. Dr. Harvey Karp named the first 3 months of a newborns life the “4th trimester” and offers a variety of techniques for soothing your newborn. It is important to keep in mind that each baby is unique and it is key for parents to learn to read their baby’s cue, to help determine which methods and products are best. Experts agree that it is usually a combination of several methods and products that will help to accomplish this task and that there is really no one “magic bullet”.

Each of the products that we will be highlighting for the remainder of this month are based on the experience of the fetus in the womb. The fetus experiences a variety of auditory, tactile, vestibular and proprioceptive stimulation in the womb. Join us as we bring you a unique products that mimic the womb.

Success Through Play™ Magazine interviewed Yanic Smit of Netflorist.

Can you tell our readers about Netflorist?

NetFlorist is South Africa’s largest flower and gift online retailer. We’ve started our floral journey on the 1st of February 1999 and have since delivered over 500 000 bouquets, arrangements, hampers & gifts to loved ones, friends and associates in South Africa and around the world. NetFlorist see flowers and gifts as an expression on an emotion and we pride ourselves on delivering beautiful flowers and gifts on behalf of our customers. To buy from NetFlorist one simply needs to browse through their online catalogue at www.netflorist.co.za or phone their Call Centre at 0860 200 600.

Customer satisfaction is NetFlorist’s top priority. To ensure that the customer is king, NetFlorist have a 100% guarantee disclaimer and a fully operational Call Centre to support with customer queries.

Can readers who live outside of South Africa log onto your site to send flowers etc to friends/family in South Africa?

The expat market is one of NetFlorist’s key clients. Especially South Africans who live abroad and have the need to send gifts, flowers to friends and family back home. It is very convenient to all South Africans who live abroad to make use of NetFlorist.

Can you personally recommend a few of your items for the 2007 Holiday Season?

Yes, it is summer in South Africa and therefore the Cocktail range is always a nice gift for someone.

We’ve also extended our jewelery range and Swarovski did come on board. This is the perfect gift for the festive season.

Success Through Play™ comments:

Holiday Gift Ideas 2007

Netflorist offers a wide array of beautiful flower arrangements and gifts to suit every budget and special occasion. Let that special person in South Africa know that you are thinking of them this holiday season. We have selected our Top 10 Picks from Netflorist for the 2007 Holiday Season.

1. For Christmas:

Christmas Prime Time

2. Sweet Treats for the Kids this Holiday Season:

Kiddies Sweet Surprise

3. For the New Baby:

Just Beginning

4. For the Health Conscious:

Large Fruit Crate

5. The Modern Women:

Fairground

6. For any occasion:

Moonlight and Romance

7. For someone that loves to shop:

Handbag Posy

8. The Coffee Enthusiast:

Gourmet Coffees in a Hat Box

9. For the Chocoholic:

Brownies in a Hat Box

10. For the Picnic Lover:

Sunset Picnic Case

To view the full range of flowers and gifts from Netflorist, please visit:

www.NetFlorist.co.za

“The IKEA® vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people. We make this possible by offering a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible will be able to afford them.”

IKEA® has stores in 37 countries around the world and offers Swedish designed products at bargain prices.

Success Through Play™ will be highlighting the following IKEA® products that are sure to make great Holiday Gifts this Season, without breaking the bank.

Push/Pull Toys from IKEA®

Toddlers will require fairly good balance skills before they will be able to use pull or push toys effectively. Pull Along and Push Toys such as these ones from IKEA® are wonderful for encouraging gross motor skills; your toddler will be motivated to walk more. Your toddler will be using many additional skills such as refining his balance skills, using eye hand coordination, motor planning and upper extremity strength and endurance all while having fun!

The MULA Push Along Toy
is designed by Francis Cayouette. The small figures jump up and down when the toy rolls forward/backward. Suitable for children ages 18 months and older.

The colorful characters will delight your toddler and will provide positive reinforcement for him to continue walking. The handle is nicely sized for a toddler hand and will allow him to grip the handle with comfort and ease.

The KLAPPAR GRODA and KLAPPAR FISK PULL-ALONG TOYS – are suitable for ages 18 months and up, are beautifully made and compare with many other higher priced European Pull Toys.

The delightful faces of the fish and the frog will endear your toddler and these will soon become his/her new best friend that he will want to take for regular walks. The fish and frog are brightly colored and feature traction on their wheels to help make gliding smoother. Your toddler will be excited to see the fish and frog open and close their mouth when your toddler takes them for a walk.

KLAPPAR GUBBA

*Designed by Francis Cayouette

*Recommended for children 3 years and older.

Many toys on the market are passive toys; high tech battery operated plastic toys which require very little participation on the part of your child. We commend IKEA® for developing toys which promote active participation: fine-motor dexterity and imaginative play. Your child will have a wonderful opportunity to improve his hand strength, eye-hand coordination, refine his bilateral hand coordination, pronation and supination of the wrist, develop motor planning skills, visual-motor development and higher level functions: logic, problem solving, reasoning, judgment, concentration all while having so much fun playing with KLAPPAR GUBBA.

The KLAPPAR GUBBA is an outstanding developmental construction set that your 3+ year old will love. This toy is a bargain in every sense of the word. This construction set is bright, colorful and beautifully made. The toy arrives with a book which features 6 designs that can be constructed with this toy. Older children will be able to work through the book to build each design. Challenge your child’s creativity and imagination by encouraging him to make his own unique designs. Highly Recommended.

LEKPLATS Playmat

*Designed by Annie Huldén

*Slide protection underneath; reduces the risk of slipping (backing)

*Length: 4 ‘ 5 7/8 “
*Width: 5 1/8 “
*Height: 5 1/8 “

*Machine wash, warm 104 F (40°C), delicate cycle.

The LEKPLATS play mat is a steal for the price and can be used in so many ways in your child’s room/family room. The design of the mat will capture your child’s imagination and will provide the backdrop for many wonderful magical adventures – pretend and imaginative play. Your child can take his vehicle collection and use the mat as a “track”….just follow the road! This activity will help your child to refine his eye-hand coordination and is a great activity that can be pulled together in seconds! Encourage verbal skills by asking your child to tell you about the places on the mat (hotel, etc) and discover the mat together.

We would like to thank IKEA® for sending us samples of the above toys for this review. We plan to feature additional IKEA® products in March 2008 (Baby Shower Gifts). If you haven’t discovered the Childrens’ Section at your local IKEA®, rush over there now!! Kids can play in the play area and have a great time “testing out the IKEA® childrens’ range”. IKEA® simply offers customers outstanding value for their hard earn money and we applaud IKEA® for designing quality, developmentally stimulating European quality toys at rock bottom prices. Look no further then the isles at IKEA® to outfit your child’s play area and the money that you are saving can be invested into his college fund!

On the IKEA® website, you are able to check the stock availability in the store nearest you, which will save parents a great deal of time and frustration.

To find an IKEA® in your area, please visit:

www.IKEA.com

Founded in Boulder, Colorado in 1988, Gaiam is a provider of information, goods and services to customers who value the environment, a sustainable economy, healthy lifestyles, alternative healthcare and personal development. Gaiam (pronounced “guy-um”), is a fusion of the words “Gaia” and “I am” Gaia, mother Earth, was honored on the Isle of Crete in ancient Greece 5,000 years ago by the Minoan civilization. This civilization valued education, art, science, recreation, and the environment and believed that the Earth was directly connected to its existence and daily life. The concept of Gaia stems from the ancient philosophy that the Earth is a living entity. At Gaiam, we believe that all of the Earth’s living matter, air, oceans and land form an interconnected system that can be seen as a single entity. The word Gaiam represents planetary awareness, preservation and support of the interconnectivity of all living things. By nurturing, protecting and respecting our planet, its natural resources and its inhabitants, we enrich our own lives and those of future generations.

By offering information, products and services under Gaiam’s name or recommendation, we are working to become the source for individuals and businesses interested in natural health, ecological lifestyles, personal growth and sustainable commerce. We offer the highest quality branded products and services available, many of which are exclusively produced for Gaiam. Our merchandising strategy is based on extensive research, customer suggestions and recommendations, attendance at global industry trade shows, and working with vendors and industry leaders on product development. We are committed to enhancing our reputation in the marketplace by continually improving our services to you.

NEW Bamboo/Organic Cotton line

What was the inspiration behind the creation of this fabulous eco-friendly bamboo line?

We developed this line to in response to consumer demand for fashion-forward AND eco-friendly fibers. While we have, for years, been the leader in fitness clothing in organic cotton/spandex blends, we also saw the need for versatile pieces outside the fitness arena – although this fiber would also be very effective in a fitness line.

Our versatile natural wardrobe collection is about loving who you are and how you show up in the world. You’ll find both easy to get inspired about when what you’re wearing makes the world a better place. It’s about choices…if you can have an eco-friendly alternative for a fashion item, who wouldn’t make that choice?

Our organic clothing is made from today’s most exciting earth-friendly fabrics – including hemp, bamboo and soy-blend pieces that will surprise you with their ultra soft hand and modern lines, as well as luxurious natural silk from fair trade groups and our signature 100% pure organic cotton/spandex line for yoga and fitness.

Bamboo/Organic Cotton Clothing Our newest eco-friendly fabric innovation, this luxuriously silky knit is made from 67% fast-growing and sustainable bamboo, 30% organic cotton and 3% spandex.

What can we expect to see from Gaiam in terms of Bamboo fabrics/products for 2008?

Because this line has been so successful this holiday season, we expect to increase the assortment significantly for our Fall 2008 line. Look for more bottoms and new and fashion-forward tops to represent what’s hot in the marketplace. These pieces will be launched in August 2008.

2007 Bamboo Collection from Gaiam

Chelsea Top

This versatile, fashion-forward top is beautifully detailed with tonal stitching around the scoop neck and a gathered front that creates flowing effect. Hip length.

Babydoll Top

The easy-to-wear favorite grows up with a clean, unconstructed fit and V-neckline. Figure-emphasizing empire waist; hits at hip with dropped hem.

Swing Top

Hip and comfortable, this A-line style tank is stylish belted over leggings and makes a chic swimsuit coverup. Hits at top of thigh; rounded hem.

Bella Skirt

Slip this graceful skirt over your unitard and you’re ready for anything. Drawstring waist; knee-length asymmetrical hem. Made from 67% sustainable bamboo, 30% organic cotton, 3% spandex. Black or claret.

PURCHASING:

Gaiam.com

Gaiam.com ships to addresses in the 50 States, U.S. Territories and U.S. military installations.

Success Through Play™ comments:

We are pleased to bring you the 2007 Bamboo Collection from Gaiam. This line is stylish, fun, flirty and oh so comfortable! This gorgeous line of apparel will flatter all figures and the bamboo/organic cotton material will feel heavenly against your skin. Bamboo material boasts impressive properties including being antibacterial, thermo regulating, eco-friendly and sustainable, as the bamboo fibre is a renewable natural resource. The lack of chemicals used in production means they are suitable for the most sensitive skins.

This line is particularly flattering to those who are in the early stages of their pregnancy, as well as moms who are in the “4th trimester” and need to find transitional clothing. The fabric is silky and soft and drapes beautifully against the skin. This line is available in a range of vibrant colors.

Our test panel were eager to try on the clothing. Feedback about this new line was phenomenal. Our test panel found that they could easily dress up each piece by adding some accessories and felt stylish and comfortable wearing eco-friendly apparel. One panel member exclaimed: “I used to associate eco-friendly clothing with uncomfortable, outdated and frumpy styles….not anymore”.

The Bella Skirt was a favorite piece and will make a great key piece in your wardrobe this Spring. The Swing Top won rave reviews for it’s comfort and versatility. The Chelsea Top has a gorgeous scoop neckline and slimming cut which is sure to draw attention! The Babydoll top has a forgiving empire waistline which flatters everyone!

This new line from Gaiam will excite prior customers and entice new ones. Gaiam plans to continue expanding it’s bamboo line in 2008 and we can’t wait to see the new styles for fall 2008.

We would like to thank Gaiam for sending us samples of their new Bamboo line.

Gaiam is a lifestyle company which supports Green Living, Yoga, Fitness and Organic Products. You will find the perfect gift this Holiday Season on the Gaiam site. To learn more, please visit:

www.Gaiam.com

ChocoPerfection is a sugar free European chocolate bar that is made from all natural sweeteners. The natural sweeteners are chickory root and plant fibers. These sweeteners have a glycemic index of zero and have no affect on blood sugar. In addition, each ChocoPerfection bar provides 14g of prebiotic fiber.

ChocoPerfection was created as an all natural alternative to sugar free chocolate sweetened with maltitol, an artificial sweetener with a glycemic index ranging from 39 to 51. Maltitol also has a laxative effect and contains zero fiber.

PURCHASING

ChocoPerfection bars are available at approximately 345 health food stores, mostly in the Northwestern U.S. Most efficient is mail order, where the makers of ChocoPerfection offer a 100% Guarantee that you will LOVE their products or a full refund will be issued upon request. The website for ordering is:

www.chocoperfection.com

ChocoPerfection is available in Canada through the LowCarb Grocery in Toronto, but it is not distributed in any other countries currently.

Success Through Play™ comments:

Chocolates are synonymous with the Holiday Season. We are delighted to introduce you to a unique chocolate bar called “ChocoPerfection”. We would like to thank Low Carb Specialties for sending us a generous box of samples, which arrived beautifully packaged . ChocoPerfection bars are available in both dairy and non dairy options and we opted to test out the dark variety (non dairy).

Many health conscious readers have written in complaining about the poor selection of sugar free chocolate bars on the market, largely due the fact that most sugar free chocolate manufacturers use sweeteners such as malitol, which commonly causes gastric distress and has a higher rating on the Glycemic Index Scale. The ChocoPerfection Bars on the other hand use plant based sweeteners such as Erythritol and Oligofructose (derived from the chickory root plant). Erythritol is not known for causing gastric distress and is rated as having a zero glycemic index. Oligofructose is a prebiotic fiber with many health benefits. “Prebiotic” refers to the stimulation of health promoting bacteria in the intestinal tract. How many chocolate bars on the market do you know of that actually contain fibre? Each bar of ChocoPerfection has 14 grams of prebiotic fibre.

We didn’t have to look far to find a group of people who were eager to test out the ChocoPerfection bars! One bite into the bar left our taste testers speechless and then we heard comments such as “this is the creamiest, most delicious non dairy chocolate bar that we have ever tasted!”. “This is heavenly,” exclaimed a group of testers. The ChocoPerfection bar melts beautifully in your mouth and the dark chocolate version reminded us of a dairy bar, with it’s rich and creamy texture. Everyone will appreciate this delicious, seductive high quality, healthy chocolate bar.

We have experienced outstanding customer service from Low Carb Specialties and we know that you will be pleased with your purchases from them. Chocolates are the ideal gift for really any occasion and ChocoPerfection are the healthy choice to choose this Holiday Season.

For more information, please visit:

www.lowcarbspecialties.com

November has come and gone and the winter is upon us. We would like to welcome all of our new readers who log in from every corner of the world. If you would like to be notified when a new article is published, you can sign up for a free email subscription. Our RSS subscriber feed is located at the top right corner of our homepage. The Holiday Season is in full swing here at Success Through Play. During the month of November, 2007 we brought you Part I of our special Holiday Gift Ideas segment. Here is a list of articles that we published during this past month.

*To-Go Ware®

*2007 Bumbleride Flyer & Indie

*Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker

*Fleurville® Sling Tote

*SwaddleDesigns

*PlanToys Holiday Gift Ideas

*The Bamboo Bump

*Automoblox® Cars

*Manhattan Toy® Holiday Gift Ideas

*Svan® High Chair/Youth Chair

*Kindersack by Passport Baby®

*Sling Diva: Carry Your Baby… and Steal the Show!…

What can you expect during the month of December? We will publish Part II of our Holiday Gift Ideas segment and then move onto “Products that Mimic the Womb”. We have a exciting line up of articles for you.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish our readers a very Happy Hanukkah/Merry Christmas/Happy New Year over this Holiday Season.

Success Through Play™ is delighted to bring you this exclusive interview with Sling Diva, a UK based Babywearing company. Sling Diva provided a complimentary babywearing consultation to one of our readers and gifted her with a wrap.

Can you tell us about Sling Diva?

Sling Diva is a small business run by a certified babywearing consultant Jin-Hee Choi, Classical Singer and Mum to Kai and Toru. Sling Diva’s mission is to help parents and their babies discover the fun, convenience and beauty of babywearing.

At Sling Diva we stock a range of the best and most beautiful slings and carriers including: Gypsy Mama, Didymos, Oopa, Bara Barn, and Catbird, all of which we have used and loved with our own kids.

What was the inspiration behind the creation of your company?

I wanted to focus on bringing babywearing to a more mainstream audience. I live in London where parenting trends are set – London mamas and papas like to be ahead of the game!One of my aims was to highlight that babywearing can be for everyone,whatever your lifestyle. I know that there is a strong “natural”,”alternative” image behind babywearing and I felt the need to bring the concept to a hip, urban audience too!

I have always felt that new mothers could really benefit from face-to-face *in person* assistance, which is what inspired us to train to become Babywearing Consultants. We believe that it is through *quality*babywearing classes lead by trained consultants that the practice will become more widely accepted and mainstream. With Baby Yoga and

Massage so popular amongst parents today, it is only a matter of time before babywearing becomes as commonplace!

Wearing your gorgeous baby in a gorgeous sling brightens your day and make you feel beautiful – who can argue with that?

Congratulations on becoming a certified Babywearing Consultant Certified from Trageschule in Dresden, Germany. What did the training involve?

The training took place over three weekends, spread over four months. I traveled to Germany in February 2007 to take the Basic course – the first of a three-part training. The course introduced and immersed us in the philosophy of Babywearing Consultancy:

*Precise wrap tying methods,sensitive communication skills and building a relationship with the
client.

* Ulrike walked us through the wrap-tying, explaining step-by-step, the optimum methods for the basic carrying variations: Front Wrap Cross Carry, two Hip Carrying Variations, and the Basic Rucksack Carry.

*I thought I was a pretty good babywearer before I went to Germnay, but it was Ulrike’s
methods that *really* brought out the Sling Diva in me! *

The second course, I took in March a mere two weeks after the first! Building upon what I learnt in the Basic course, this Advanced course focussed on more complicated carrying variations. In addition I was required to develop my own teaching methodologies for working one-to-one as well as teaching small groups. I even had homework to complete between the courses! The scientific background behind babywearing,was covered in great detail: the particular characteristics of the newborn infant that makes babywearing such a vital practice for optimum
development.

Crucially though, what Ulrike showed me to be vitally important, is that it is not enough to simply *know* the benefits, it is not enough to think yourself an A+ babywearer;

*if you want to work with parents and their babies, if you want them to leave your class feeling like they’ve learned something new, and feeling good about themselves, then you must know the right ways of communicating this information.

* Sensitivity, empathy, and an equal relationship are what make teaching successful for both pupil and teacher.

When Ulrike found out that I was expecting, she offered to travel to London to complete the final part of the training: Certification. For this I had to complete a practical examination of our tying methods, give a 15 minute talk about a babywearing subject, carry out sample consultations with mothers and their babies, submit written reports, and create step-by-step photographs of each carrying variation. Phew! It was hard work but unbelievably enjoyable and I felt an enormous sense of achievement at having completed and passed our training.

Please can you tell us more about your consultations. If a UK reader is interested in scheduling one with you, what kinds of things will you go over in the hour ?

– In 1 hour we cover 1 carrying variation. With beginners and those with very young babies I always start with front carrying since this is the most useful and suitable way to carry an infant. It’s also the simplest way to begin learning.

– I tend to start with wrap basics: explaining how best to tighten the fabric evenly (rail-by-rail) as well as what qualities to look for in a wrap (diagonal weave, non-toxic dyes etc)

– I cover correct positioning for hip and spine development, including how to ensure both the baby and the wearer are comfortable for extended periods.

– I use specially-made weighted *and jointed *babywearing dolls and my clients are always free to practice with the doll before trying things out with their own precious baby.

– I also teach the other sling styles: Ring Slings and Pouches, as well as Mei Ties.

– I hope that parents will find my consultations give them the skills and confidence to to carry their babies in comfort and style!

Do you ship exclusively within the UK?

At present we ship to the UK, Europe and other Worldwide destinations excluding the USA and Canada. We continue to hear much praise for your company!

What do you attribute the Success of your company to?

My love for babywearing and my wonderful family and their patience, and the perhaps most importantly the quality of the products we offer and the amazing benefits that babywearing brings to the lives of parents: it’s infectious and news travels fast in this city!

What advice do you have for first time parents who are interested in Babywearing and are overwhelmed by the choices out there?

There are loads of articles out there on the many benefits of babywearing and this is wonderful! – it is always good to be well researched; yet there is no better way to decide if babywearing is for you,than simply trying it.

Go on – give it a go!

Test out a few different brands, discover what works for *you* and *your* baby.

Always remember that new skills take time to master, but for the beautiful feeling of carrying your warm and contented baby, in ease and style…It’s worth it – we promise!

Success Through Play™ Comments:

A few months ago, we received an email from a brand new mama, Nina, living in London who had recently given birth to her first baby. Her baby was very colicky and she was desperate to find a way to soothe him! For those parents out there who have personally experienced what it’s like to have a colicky baby, you will surely understand the parents frustration and desire to calm their baby. Nina had tried Cranio Sacral Therapy sessions and a host of other methods with no luck. Nina had not tried babywearing and we decided that we would introduce her to it!

Babies who are carried in a soft carrier cry far less than babies who are not carried in the soft carrier and the addition of the proprioceptive, tactile and vestibular input to the baby provides a calming effect. Since the parents were based in the UK, we contacted Sling Diva, who came highly recommended by our readers. We explained to Sling Diva that we had a reader in London who needed help with her colicky baby and was interested in learning about babywearing. We received a prompt response from the owner, Jin-Hee Choi who said:

“I’ll make sure she gets all the assistance she needs”.

Jin-Hee is THE expert when it comes to Babywearing and is certified as a babywearing consultant. Jin-Hee has 2 children of her own and her personal experience of babywearing combined with her professional training, make her an outstanding resource for new parents. There is certainly a learning curve to babywearing and having an experienced teacher on hand is truly invaluable!

Jin-Hee welcomed Nina with open arms during the consultation and was warm, friendly and empathetic to her needs. Within the course of the hour, Jin-Hee explained some basic babywearing concepts and taught Nina how to wear her baby in a wrap. Throughout the consultation, Nina reports that Jin-Hee was patient, kind and very knowledgeable. Jin-hee gave her excellent hands-on instruction and by the end of that hour, Nina felt fully confident with the method of tying the wrap. Jin-hee kindly gifted her with a beautiful Gypsy Mama Wrap.

In the weeks following the consultation, Nina wore her baby in the wrap and she noticed a dramatic reduction in her baby’s fussing and crying when she wore him in the wrap. Nina and her husband were impressed. Their sense of relief was evident and they were so grateful for the assistance that they had received from Jin-Hee. Nina and her husband felt confident going out to see a play, and Nina wore her baby in the wrap, while he slept soundly. Nina continued wearing her baby in the wrap when she saw how soothing it was for him.

We would like to thank Sling Diva for helping Nina and her baby. If you live within the North London area and would like to learn more about Babywearing, why not schedule a consultation with Sling Diva? Sling Diva is now offering workshops! Click here for details. Readers living/visiting London can visit the Sling Diva Shop. There you will find a gorgeous selection of carriers and accessories, including the gorgeous mommy necklaces which we have featured. Finding the right carrier for you and your baby can be tricky, so why not enlist the help of professionals. We would not hesitate to recommend Sling Diva! We wish Sling Diva continued success. Thank you for helping parents and their babies to discover the beauty of babywearing.

For more information, please visit:

www.SlingDiva.co.uk

Passport Baby® Founder Melissa Atherholt, Mother of three and commercial real estate professional in Washington, DC, wanted to offer kindersacks nine years ago when her cousin, living in Germany, introduced her to the product. However, full-time work and Motherhood left no time for a new venture. But, it was Motherhood that gave her the inspiration to create the company in late 2000. She learned how inferior and potentially dangerous traditional blankets can be for infants.

Atherholt’s two month old daughter pulled the crib blanket up over her head, and although it was frightening at the time, she didn’t realize just how dangerous it could have been until she started researching for Passport Baby. Then, when her daughter turned two year’s old, she would cry 2-3 times each night just because she was cold from kicking off her covers! Kindersacks solve both of these problems. The research continued…

She discovered that virtually 99% of children in Germany and Holland alone use kindersacks every time they go to sleep and European SIDS groups endorse the concept of baby sleeping bags. Several European countries are at the top of the list for lowest SIDS rates in the world!

As her two children grew and began to play together, Atherholt found herself with more time – enough to locate the very best manufacturer, hire patent attorneys, register trademarks, research applicable laws, etc. So, Passport Baby® was born.

Atherholt flew to Europe, negotiated exclusivity from the leading manufacturer, and now Kindersacks are available for everyone. We feel certain that Kindersacks and our other innovative products will soon become nursery essentials!

What are Kindersacks?

Kindersacks are baby sleeping sacks that are basically a wearable blanket. They have no sleeves and ample room in the armholes to allow the proper air circulation around the baby. Passport Baby offers many varieties of warmth, i.e. quilted kindersacks have polyfil for added warmth, the natural terry with organic cotton lining is heavier, therefore warmer and unquilted kindersacks are great for warmer nurseries, climates or even babies that tend to sweat at night.

Organic Cotton Terry Kindersack – Oeko-Tex certified

This is a classic European design kindersack. The natural terry is inherently warm because it’s thicker/heavier than other cotton fabrics and it will withstand the vigorous washings that this garment takes. The lining is all natural oeko-tex certified cotton. This kindersack is available in all sizes and it’s a great every day warmth for most babies.

PURCHASING:

Passport Baby® Kindersacks
Home of Kindersacks – The Original European Baby Sleeping Sack since 2000!
Keep Baby Safely Warm & Cozy all night long!
www.PassportBaby.com www.Kindersack.com
1-800-893-WARM
USA 011-301-668-0644
P.O. Box 323
New Market, MD 21774
Fax: USA 301-668-7188

www.PassportBaby.com or www.Kindersack.com – it’s the same site but some people think Kindersack.com is easier to remember. Passport Baby® ships Kindersacks all over the world! We have had orders from Japan, Poland, Switzerland, Australia and many others. Even though Kindersacks are from Europe, many of the European buyers love the prints that we offer so they buy from us and ship there!

Success Through Play™ comments:

We are very pleased to highlight Passport Baby® today. We have experienced outstanding customer service from this company and we won’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone. We have chosen to highlight the Kindersack from Passport Baby®, due to it’s immense popularity with our readers. We would like to thank Passport Baby® for sending us a beautiful Organic Cotton Terry Kindersack which is Oeko-Tex Certified for this review. The kindersack by Passport Baby® is of a very high quality – designed and stitched very well. They are made in the Netherlands, one of our favorite countries in the world. Rest assured that you are buying a quality product that will last. The lining of the Kindersack is smooth and will feel great against your child’s skin. The outer fabric is a lush, organic cotton terry which will provide wonderful tactile feedback to your child, when he or she touches the beautiful Kindersack.

The Organic Cotton Terry Kindersacks thick fabric will keep your child warm during the winter months. The beauty of the Kindersack is that it eliminates the need and danger of blankets, so your child stays comfortable and safe throughout the night.

We distributed this sample to a family who have a 2.5 year old daughter, Hannah. Up until this point, her parents hadn’t thought to use a Kindersack and had been relying on blankets, which clearly weren’t working. Hannah would kick the blankets off during the course of the night and would cry out as she was cold and needed assistance. Mom or Dad would routinely need to come over and tuck her in again. Now that Hannah was using the Kindersack (which she instantly loved!), there were no blankets to kick off during the night and both Hannah and her parents couldn’t have been more pleased. Both Hannah and her parents slept more soundly and as a result, they were all far less irritable during the day. Mom and dad exclaimed: “The Kindersack has changed our life! It’s true, the Kindersack works miracles”. Mom loved the high quality Kindersack and commented on it’s durability. “It’s so simple to zip Hannah into her Kindersack, it’s genius!”.

Passport Baby® offers a full range of beautiful Kindersacks in a range of colors, fabrics and designs and are available in a variety of sizes (babies, toddlers and young children). The prices are very affordable, given the outstanding quality of the product and will make an ideal Holiday Gift this season!

Please visit www.PassportBaby.com to see the full catalog.

Manhattan Toy® was founded in 1979 by Francis Goldwyn (grandson of motion picture studio owner Sam Goldwyn). The company pioneered the use of non-traditional fabrics in toy design and introduced delightful new body styles in soft toys. Although Goldwyn is no longer involved in the ownership of Manhattan Toy®, they remain true to his vision of marching to the beat of a different (toy) drum. Manhattan Toy® offers a full range of innovative toys.

We will be highlighting the Dress up Pup™ and NooBoo Pound a Sound™ today.

NooBoo Pound a Sound™

With each thump of the soft hammer, baby hears a variety of sounds or gets a pop-up surprise. Battery included.

Dimensions: 3″ H x 8″ diameter

Age:9m+

Dress up Pup™

This pup is a happy camper when he’s helping children learn about everyday activities like tying, buttoning and snapping. Each piece of his outfit is removable, right down to his hiking boots, and there are surprises to discover in his pockets.

Dimensions: 16″

Age: 18+ months

PURCHASING

Visit www.manhattantoy.com to find a retailer in your country. Online shopping is also available .

Australian consumers may be referred to www.kaleidoscope.com.au for assistance in finding Manhattan Toy® retailers.

Success Through Play™ comments:

The NooBoo Pound a Sound™ is a delightful toy that will make a wonderful Holiday Gift for the baby in your life! The bright and contrasting colorful patterns will attract your babies interest and hold his attention. Solidly constructed, this innovative base features a raised, bumpy texture on the sides and underside of the toy which will provide tactile stimulation to your infant! Encourage your baby to explore this wonderful texture!!! The soft hammer is simply adorable and sized perfectly for little hands. Baby will love pounding on the base which produces up to 5 different sounds (auditory stimulation) when each stimulus is activated by the hammer. Baby will have the opportunity to work on his eye hand coordination, motor planning and hand strength while having so much fun. There is also a pop-up surprise which is revealed when baby lifts the flap! Baby will have the opportunity to practice his newly developing fine motor skills while lifting the flat! The base features colorful ribbons which are sure to capture his attention, as well as a variety of different textures all providing tactile feedback. We really like the NooBoo™ line from the Manhattan Toy Company and know that you will too! Parent panel feedback from this toy was very positive. “My 1 year old daughter’s face lights up when I bring out the NooBoo Pound a Sound™. She smiles and giggles when she pounds a sound and I can see how her coordination is improving over time by using his toy”.

Dress up Pup™
Parents often tend to do too much for their child, particularly when it comes to self help skills. The Dress up Pup™ introduces your toddler to dressing skills in a fun manner. The Dress up Pup™ will encourage your toddler to start practicing these skills so that over time, he becomes more and more independent in the area of dressing skills. This bright and colorful pup is sure to become your toddlers best friend. The Dress up Pup™ allows your toddler to undress and dress him (waist coast and shorts), tie and untie his laces, button and unbutton his waistcoat, snap and unsnap flaps, fasten and unfasten the velcro tabs as well as practice zipping and unzipping. This pup features a compass in his left pocket and a yellow, crinkly bone in his right pocket. Parent feedback of this Pup was phenomenal. “The Dress up Pup™ is my son’s new favorite friend. He loves to practice his dressing skills on the pup and he is now starting to transfer these skills into his own morning routine.” The Dress up Pup™ enables your child to practice his/her find motor skills in a fun and creative way and will make a fantastic holiday gift!

To see the full catalog of toys that Manhattan Toy® offers, please visit:

www.manhattantoy.com

We would like to thank Kathy Fowler for her assistance with this article. We will be featuring additional Manhattan Toy® products during March 2008, Baby Shower Gift Ideas so please stay tuned.

We would like to wish all of our readers who are celebrating Thanksgiving a very Happy Thanksgiving. Be sure to visit us again on Friday, November 23rd, 2007 when we will be reviewing the Svan High Chair.