Celebrity Baby Blog Reviews

My Baby Can Talk: Sign language DVD for babies

I will admit that I did NOT want to like My Baby Can Talk, sign language DVDs from Baby Hands Productions. Regular readers of this column will recall that we are teaching our daughter American Sign Language (ASL) using the Signing Time series which we love. I did not want to like another ASL series of DVDs because it just didn't feel right to cheat on our friends Rachel, Alex and Leah!

In the spirit of honest reviewing, however, I let my daughter watch My Baby Can Talk - Sharing Signs and, much to my surprise, she fell in love with it. Something about this video is like crack to my two-and-a-half-year-old and she requests it pretty often.

Set to classical music and designed to encourage interaction, My Baby Can Talk features real world images, puppet shows, colorful toys (in motion) and babies communicating with simple gestures. The toys and the puppets really didn't appeal to me because I felt like she would learn more from watching other kids and real places, however, she really responds to them (proving that I don't think like a toddler and that these people know what they are doing)! It is no wonder then that the My Baby Can Talk series has received sixteen national awards.

My Baby Can Talk is available through amazon.com as well as at Babies R Us, The Right Start and buybuyBaby among others. For a complete list of retailers click here. You can also purchase them directly from the My Baby Can Talk  site. Also check out fun resources on the site featuring detailed tutorials, background research and a video dictionary.

Exclusive for CBB Readers: Enter code celebrity-babies at checkout and get a 25% discount on all products purchased from www.MyBabyCanTalk.com!

For a personal account of why my husband and I chose to teach ASL to our daughter, click on the extended post.

Reviews Roundup: School Zone Products

Ever since I discovered the Let's Get Ready series I have become really big on educationally-themed books and toys.  Over the past year I have been fortunate enough to test out some School Zone Publishing Company products with my daughter, Catie, who is now 2-years-old.

School Zone Publishing Company has been a market leader in children's educational products for over 25 years.  A favorite among both teachers and kids, the product line currently includes almost two hundred educational products.

Here is a roundup of some of Catie's favorites:

Clever Baby Cards (6 mo+)

Even though she was older than the recommended age when we first received them, to this day Catie loves playing with these cards that promote cognitive development.  We keep these at my grandmother's house and it is always the first "toy" she reaches for when we arrive.  If you have a child that loves animals and making their corresponding sounds, this is a great choice.  Catie also went through a stage where she loved pointing to and naming colors and this was a helpful toy for that.

The double-sided cards feature bright colors, fun-to-touch textures, shiny foils, engaging sounds and sturdy, tuggable fabric.  They are designed to enhance story building, pre-reading, fine motor skills, thinking skills and visual perception. This toy, as were all the baby School Zone products, was designed in conjunction with Drs. Jerome and Dorothy Singer of Yale University.

We have the Fuzzy Animal Friends cards pictured here but they also sell Fuzzy Farmyard Friends for kids who are big on saying moooo.... These cards will cost you $15.99.

Clever Baby Cards (9 mo+)
Another one that Catie absolutely loves but that she received when she was way above the recommended age (she was closer to 18-months-old when she received them), these cards are so dear to her that she keeps them in her back-pack -- the one reserved for the kind of toys she needs to have on-hand no matter where she goes.  I will also freely admit that what I love best about this toy is that it keeps her engaged in independent play for a good fifteen to twenty minutes.

These cards are designed to teach object permanence as well as enhance story building, pre-reading, fine motor skills, thinking skills and visual perception. Though she has memorized which "friend" will be hiding under the lift-the-flap card, Catie continues to feign surprise each and every time she plays this game.  I am guessing we'll get another good six months of use out of these cards.

We have the Peek-a-Boo Bear, but they also have bunny and puppy cards.  These will run you $11.99 but are totally worth it.

Peg Puzzle Learning Cards (2 yrs +)
Most kids love peg puzzles and this is the same type of thing just that it's much more compact and since the cards are double-sided, it's like having 12 peg puzzles in one. This is another one that we often take with us out of the house because it's small and easy to keep together. The box closes shut with a magnetic clasp which is another plus because I don't have to help her open it up when she wants to play with it.

This a fun puzzle and I think you can actually get it for a child between about 18 months and 30 months because I remember Catie was already doing well with peg puzzles around that age. These puzzles help teach color and shape recognition, spatial orientation, visual perception and enhance fine motor skills.  Since the Busy Puzzle people all have occupations (you have to match the baker, for example, with the cake), they also teach social studies!

We have the Busy People Puzzle which I actually think you'd get longer use out of but if your kid has a hard time learning Shapes and Colors, you have that option too.  These puzzles cost $10.99.

Get Ready! and I know It! Workbooks (School age children)
School Zone Publishing is actually known best for its workbooks so I thought it would be great to test out one of these products.  I ended up working on one with my 4-year-old godson but liked them so much that I kept a bunch more for Catie since I'm planning on home-schooling her for pre-school.

We tested the Get Ready! Uppercase Alphabet workbook though there are many to choose from. This was a great book where my godson was able to practice his letters by tracing them, with a few activities that he could do on his own as well.  Like I said, we will definitely be going back to these in the future.

Workbooks run about $2.49 each and there are many, many to choose from.  You're best off going to the School Zone site and clicking on products for the age group you are interested in buying for.

Other great products
We also tested out the Infant Mirror Cards, the Flash Cards and the DVD Workbooks. These were all great products and I highly recommend them but because we don't get as much use out of them I didn't give them an individual review. However, I think I can easily say that you will be happy with any School Zone Product you choose. This is definitely a company I plan on buying from in the future.

For more information or to check out all the products visit schoolzone.com.

Exclusive for CBB Readers: Enter cb1207 and checkout for 10% off through December 30, 2007!!!

Me Movies: Animated adventures featuring your child as the star

When I first heard about Me Movies I wasn’t expecting much. You send in a picture of your child and they send you back a movie where your child is the star.  I figured: How good could this be? 

I was pleasantly surprised then, when I received Catie’s copies of both Bee and Me and Costume Party.  I have seriously never laughed so much in my life.

These DVDs are really well made. Each movie tells a story about Bee (the main character) and your child.  In the case of Costume Party, for example, Bee decides to throw a party for his friend Catie and he decides it should be a costume party.  So he takes Catie to the costume shop where she tries on a bunch of costumes, including a clown costume, a fireman uniform (oh how I laughed at this one) and a gorilla.  In the end, Catie shows up at the party with a “surprise” (and clever) costume for her friend Bee.  You can check out the Me Movies site for some clips of both Bee and Me and Costume Party. 

Bee and Me is for kids up to 4-years-old and Costume Party is for kids 3-7-years-old but Catie loves the Costume Party DVD so much (she is 2-years-old) that my husband was actually annoyed that it took me this long to write a review about it (I’ve had it for several months now….Me Movies staff, please forgive me as I bow my head in shame).

I highly recommend these movies as they are guaranteed to put a smile on the face of kids and parents alike.  At $29.95 they are a steal.  

Check out the selection at MeMovies.com.

 

Baby Prodigy: Helping you raise a smart(er) baby

For an interesting and different baby gift, The Baby Prodigy Company offers a boxed set series called “FUN FOR BABIES.” The set features four fabulous DVD’s including “Baby Pre-School,” “Baby Prodigy” and others hand-selected to entertain toddlers ages 3 months to 3 years. You can also get a set with the book, Baby Prodigy: A Guide To Raising A Smarter, Happier Baby, Barbara Candiano-Marcus.

The basic concept is that learning, for babies, should be fun. Baby Pre-School entertains toddlers with imaginative games like “Can you find…” and “What’s missing?” Its animated music combined with its lovable stars, Dookie and Dottie Duck, and brand new characters such as the Singing Polygons and the Barber Shop Quartet are sure to keep any toddler laughing, singing along and greatly entertained.  One of the gift-sets you can buy comes with the duck toy.

Celebrities that were gifted baby prodigy products include Angelina Jolie, Dayna Devon and Jillian Barberie Reynolds.

The products are available now at www.babyprodigy.com, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and a variety of other retailers.  Check the Baby Prodigy website for retail locations.

DVD: The Real Deal on Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding moms everywhere know that it’s more than just about the baby in those first few weeks home – it’s also all about the boobs! Breastfeeding is great for both baby and mom but it is certainly not always easy. As someone who couldn’t get her daughter to latch on for the first ten days of her life, I only wish I had gotten my hands on a copy of The REAL DEAL on Breastfeeding.

Created by two NYC moms, film/TV producers, the hilarious, hip and helpful video uses sophisticated production values (read: no cheesy-looking, frumpy moms in this video), a funky score and a bevy of experts and real women revealing the “real deal” on breastfeeding. Moms get a lactation consultant, a breastfeeding support group and a one-on-one latch-on lesson all in one 25-minute video along with some much-needed laughs.

I found myself shaking my head a lot during the video and there were times when I would have high-fived some of those moms given the chance. I thought they did a good job of showing latch and though I wasn’t a huge fan of some of the techniques (a lot of use of pillows and lifting of the breast) I think that is a matter of style. I am a personal fan of the lactation consultant, Heather Kelly, who is a NYC local as well and I thought she did a great job and was really thorough. I really do think this is a must-have if you are serious about breastfeeding, especially if it is something you didn’t grow up around.

LivTyler, Stella McCartney and Maggie Gyllenhaal were all gifted with the REAL DEAL DVD.

Order the REAL DEAL DVD through their website, www.realdealvideos.com and use coupon code CBB for a 15% discount!

The Last Unicorn on DVD February 6th!

In order to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the fantasy cult classic, The Last Unicorn, Lionsgate plans on releasing the DVD on February 6th!

The Last Unicorn:  25th Anniversary Edition DVD tells the tale of a lonely unicorn who sets out on an extraordinary quest to find her lost brothers and sisters.  Based on the novel by Hugo-Award winning fantasy author, Peter S. Beagle, this long-awaited special edition DVD is available for the first time in the United States in a widescreen version. The film is of exceptionally high quality with digitally remastered audio and video and encased in new foil packaging. 

A host of DVD special features includes “The Tail of The Last Unicorn” featurette, an interview with author Peter S. Beagle, a set-top game, a photo gallery and original theatrical trailer. 

The Last Unicorn features an all-star cast of voice talent (Christopher Lee, Mia Farrow, Alan Arkin, Angela Lansbury and Jeff Bridges) and songs performed by the band America.   

Look for it on shelves on February 6^th!

 

BabyPro: Encouraging active play through TV

We all know that children love television, so why not use the television to encourage them to love physical activities too? This is what BabyPro DVDs do. Created by a Ph.D. mom and endorsed by Olympians and World Champions, BabyPro DVDs cover nine unique sports including baseball, basketball, soccer, surfing, swimming, diving, cheerleading, dance and gymnastics.

Because babies grow and change rapidly, BabyPro’s DVDs are made to grow with them. Each video is uniquely designed with seven DVD chapters, offering as few as ten minutes of uninterrupted programming or as much as 35-minutes of full-length programming. I like this because I’m able to control how much of the DVD I actually want my daughter to see based on her attention span at that point in the day.

Celebrity parents who were given BabyPro’s DVDs include Heidi Klum, Debra Messing,
Gwyneth Paltrow, Gwen Stefani, Courteney Cox, Leah Remini, Angelina Jolie, Katie Holmes, Adam Sandler, Angela Bassett, Brooke Shields, Jennifer Garner, Nicole Ari Parker and Holly Robinson Peete.

BabyPro DVDs are available for purchase nationally at Borders Bookstore, Barnes &
Noble stores, Hastings Entertainment, and through BabyPro's website. They are also sold at The Athlete's Child, a new children's boutique owned by several of the MLB Texas Rangers' wives. The DVDs will run you about $15 each.

BabyPro is offering CBB free shipping on all purchases through www.BabyProSports.com with the code: SHIP4FREE. All orders are also shipped with a $4 gift certificate redeemable towards another purchase.

Sara Holliday’s Fitness Bundles: A great gift

Recently we wrote about what big fans we are of fitness guru Sara Holliday’s Stroller Workout for Moms. Then we found out about Sara Holliday’s “Fitness Bundles” – packages of her popular fitness DVDs – and we had to write about it  in case you are still searching for that perfect gift for the newly pregnant or post-partum woman in your life. (Note to men: this is most probably not a gift you  should be buying your significant other. Trust us when we say that it is much better received from our girlfriends who have already walked a mile in our shoes.)

Sara Holliday's Fit For Mom Series Bundles ($49.95)
This bundle includes Sara Holliday's popular prenatal and postnatal programs: Prenatal Yoga: First Trimester, Second Trimester and Third Trimester and Stroller Workout for Moms with bonus Audio CD. Also includes free baby onesie.

Sara Holliday's Fit For Mom: Postnatal Weight Loss Bundle ($39.95)
The perfect solution for moms looking to shed those pregnancy pounds. Have fun and get a workout while on the go with your baby with Sara Holliday's Stroller Workout for Moms. Busy? Sara Holliday's Postnatal Total Body Toning is the perfect workout for moms wanting to reshape their bodies with a powerful and effective 30-minute workout. Try this workout at least 3x a week and you’ll experience dramatic changes and see real results to your body in just 30 days!

Sara Holliday's Fit For Mom: Prenatal Yoga Bundle ($24.95)
Includes all three Prenatal Yoga: First Trimester, Second Trimester and Third Trimester programs -- the ONLY yoga programs tailored for each pregnancy trimester.

Sara Hollidays Fit For Mom: Prenatal Yoga for the 2nd & 3rd Trimester Pack ($19.95)
This pack includes yoga programs tailored for the second and third pregnancy
trimesters.

Sara Holliday’s Stroller Workout for Moms: Get your booty in gear

After having a baby getting back into shape is almost always on our minds but rarely does a new mother have time to make that workout a reality. If you live in a metropolitan area, you’ve probably heard about those stroller workout classes in the park. If you are anything like me however, you just can’t get it together enough to make it out the door in time to attend, nor do you have the type of baby who is willing to have mama do squats next to the stroller without some type of protestation every morning at 10am.

This is why I was so excited to receive Sara Holliday’s Stroller Workout for Moms. The 60-minute workout combines various cardiovascular and toning exercises plus yoga. It also comes with an audio CD so that you can take the “class” out on the street too. (Granted, I had a good laugh doing the exercises indoors if only because of my daughter’s confusion at having to sit in the stroller in front of the TV while I did lunges on the living room floor).

I have to say I quite enjoyed this workout and have actually incorporated it into a semi-routine. Now that the weather is perfect for outdoor exercising, I’ve been doing the audio version in the park. Yes, we do get stared at but it is something I can live with if it means I can get back my pre-baby abs some day. I don’t have a jogging stroller so the cardio is a bit hard for me to do but definitely not impossible. My favorite part is in the last ten minutes when you do some cooling down yoga. Nice!

Sara Holliday is a fitness guru of sorts with an impressive resume. She’s a certified aerobics instructor, personal trainer, a licensed massage therapist and a licensed marriage and family therapist. She’s also trained in the martial arts and is certified in Yoga.  She holds a BA in Kinesiology and is the fitness expert on KUSI-TV in San Diego. Credentials like that should have been enough to convince me that this workout would actually do the trick, but if you check out the front page of the Fit By Sara website, I think you’ll find something even more convincing: real testimonials with pictures.

Sara Holliday’s Stroller Workout for Moms is $24.95. She also has a line of pre-natal yoga DVD’s that are broken up into three trimesters so that each workout is tailored to where you are at in your pregnancy.

Sara’s DVD’s have been gifted to celebrity moms Gwyneth Paltrow, Holly Robinson Peete, Gwen Stefani, Angela Bassett and Brooke Shields.

To buy the DVD’s or for a preview check out the website: www.fitbysara.com.

Holly Hobbie and Friends: Just in time for the holidays

I had a Holly Hobbie rag doll as a kid that I adored so I was happy to find out that American Greetings, the company behind the wholesome character, has reintroduced the doll (well, her great-granddaughter) and revamped her image.  The new Holly Hobbie comes along with girlfriends Amy and Carrie and, of course, their various pets. 

Just in time for the holidays, the Holly Hobbie and Friends Design My Style doll includes an activity kit that lets girls create with beads, sequined stickers or tie-dye art. Girls can also have a fashion blast adding the beads and sequined stickers to their own hair, clothing and accessories.These are sure to be a huge hit among young girls and in my opinion, Holly Hobbie is a way cooler role model than some of the dolls that are out there right now.

Holly Hobbie and Friends also star in their own holiday movie, Holly Hobbie and Friends: Christmas Wishes, which feature songs by guest star LeAnn Rimes. The Christmas Wishes DVD would make an excellent stocking stuffer so put it on your lists!

For more information and to find out where to purchase check out www.hollyhobbie.com.

Holly Hobbie & Friends Want Real Life Stories of Friendship For "Best Friends Contest"

Most of us remember Holly Hobbie from our childhood – well she’s back! Just like the original Holly Hobbie the all new Holly Hobbie knows what it means to be a true friend. This energetic and loveable character is someone that any girl would be lucky to call their best friend.  To celebrate the release of the newest Holly Hobbie & Friends DVD, Holly Hobbie & Friends: Christmas Wishes on October 24, American Greetings Properties is launching a nationwide search for the most inspiring stories about friendship through the Holly Hobbie & Friends Best Friends Contest.

From now through November 6^th, children ages 6 to 12can submit a 250 word essay describing an experience or adventure they shared with their best friend that made them realize they were truly best friends.  The first 100 completed entries will receive the new Holly Hobbie & Friends Christmas Wishes DVD. On November 13, 2006, 16 semi-finalists will be selected and posted on hollyhobbie.com. Eight from the 6-8 age range and eight from the 9-12 age range.  Entries will be judged using the following criteria: Originality, Clarity of Thought and Appropriateness to Theme. Grand and Semi-Finalists will be selected by a panel of expert judges and Holly Hobbie Representatives. All 16 semi-finalists will receive iPod Nanos and a Holly Hobbie & Friends merchandise package for themselves and their best friends. Among these 16 semi-finalists, there will be 4 grand prize winners who will be announced on December 13, 2006 at hollyhobbie.com. The 4 grand prize winners and their best friends will receive a HP Digital Camera and printer in addition to their semi-finalist prizes.

Children between the ages of 6 and 12 can enter the contest (with parental consent) online at www.hollyhobbie.com.