Do Children Actually Learn from Educational Toys?
Many baby toys claim to teach a skill, be it better reading or math ability, a larger vocabulary, or problem-solving skills. Parents, it appears, are buying into these claims, as sales of educational baby toys went up six percent last year. At the same time, though, experts are questioning the claims behind educational baby toys, particularly if children actually learn anything from them.
While skills can be learned in a number of ways, there’s essentially two basic approaches: classroom learning style with a direct goal or intention, or indirect discovery and explanation. Many educational toys, including Baby Einstein and Your Baby Can Read, take the former approach. While the educational claims of expanded vocabulary of Baby Einstein were disproved, plenty more toys assert similar results. At the same time, measuring how much a child learned from a particular toy is difficult.
Even if studies cannot be performed on all educational baby toys out there, the advertisements claiming increased learning can. Targeting both parents and their children, marketing for such toys is unregulated. Russ Heimerich, spokesman for the California Department of Consumer Affairs, stated about this issue:
“Nobody checks the ads and says, ‘No, you can’t say that.’ That would be prior restraint. Unless it’s doing someone harm or grossly misleading, you have to give the benefit of the doubt to the people making the claim.”
That’s not to say that no baby toys are educational. Rather, toys without a specific purpose, such as blocks, may be better at teaching that a video geared toward learning words or math. Such toys specifically focus on exploration and creativity, and a child ends up learning both mental and physical skills as a result. The Early Years Institute President Dana Friedman stated about choosing baby toys:
“Generally speaking, the simpler the toy, the more complex the play. The more complex the toy, the more simple the play. You want to find toys where children have options for what they do with it. If it’s a toy that can only be used in one way, don’t get it.”
Babies Recognize Sharing and Fairness by 15 Months
How many times have you heard a small child say, “That’s not fair!”, and you answer back with, “Life’s not fair”? While children may not understand that fairness is not absolute, they understand the concept from an early age. A recent study from the University of Washington shows that babies as young as 15 months old recognize fairness and understand sharing.
Before, scientists recognized that 2 year old children understood fairness, but now the study indicates that younger children are aware of the concept. The first part of the University of Washington study involved showing 47 babies a video of food being unevenly distributed between two people. Then, the same group was shown a similar video of food being divided evenly. For this portion, babies – who supposedly pay more attention when surprised by something – stared at the video of the food being unevenly divided.
The second part of the study involved more interaction between the researchers and the babies. A child was given two toys, and the researcher indicated that he wanted to have one. Two-thirds of the babies offered to share a toy. A portion of these offered their preferred toy, and the researchers recognized them as “altruistic sharers.” Other babies who shared their least preferred toy were labeled “selfish sharers.”
Based on the two studies, babies dubbed “altruistic sharers” were more likely to stare at the video of the food divided unevenly. “Selfish sharers” were more likely to pay attention to the video of the food divided evenly. Jessica Sommerville, who led the study, mentioned about the results:
“Our findings show that these norms of fairness and altruism are more rapidly acquired than we thought. The infants expected an equal and fair distribution of food, and they were surprised to see one person given more crackers or milk than the other.”
Baby Showers for Fathers-to-be Gaining in Popularity
Why is a baby shower only about the mother? A father shouldn’t be left out. Although co-ed baby showers are becoming more common, diaper parties – or showers just for the father-to-be – are also increasing in popularity, according to a piece in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
A diaper party is essentially a casual event for the father-to-be. Male friends come by – usually to his house but a restaurant is also a possibility – and give packs of diapers. The men, then, spend some time playing games – but standard card games instead of the typical baby shower bingo – or have a barbecue.
Parents spend, on average, $70 on diapers per month, and while a diaper party is helpful in building up this supply, the event isn’t solely for gathering more baby basics. Rather, such parties get the father involved in parenting early on and prepare him for parenthood.
But, while a diaper party may not have all of the trimmings of a baby shower, diapers can be offered in a few ways. On a basic level, a man can show up to the party with a basic pack from the supermarket. On another, he can come with a diaper cake.
Is a diaper cake’s appearance too festive for a laidback diaper party? A diaper cake’s use extends far beyond its bright design. Rather, many high-quality diaper cakes are made out of 80 to 150 diapers, which parents will end up using eventually. Additionally, the outside of the cake may be decorated with various other basic baby products, such as clothing, blankets, or toys, which will also be used later.
If you’re looking for a diaper cake that stays within the theme of the diaper party, consider a neutral or sports style from Rattlecake. While not overpoweringly pink yet not too blue for a baby girl, such diaper cakes are practical and can blend in at a diaper party.
How to Carry a Baby in a Sling
Carrying children in slings creates a better bond between the parent and child, insists supporters of babywearing, but at what cost? A recent article in Australian newspaper The Age draws attention again to the fact that, if a baby is carried incorrectly in a sling, he or she can suffocate to death. The newspaper quotes experts telling parents to be watchful of their babies in slings.
As The Age mentions, not all parents are aware of the safety hazards of baby slings. Still, the Australian Competition and Consumer Committee, which issued the warning about slings, is developing safety standards for these popular baby carriers.
As we discussed before, baby carriers can face forwards and backwards, but how a baby is positioned is crucial. If you own a sling and are uncertain about how to use it, keep in mind the following points, courtesy of New York Times’ Motherload, and watch the video below:
• The baby should be in the same curved position as it is in your arms. The sling should not be loose enough that the baby moves away from the parent.
• The baby’s head should be close enough for the parent to kiss without bending.
• The sling must be tight enough around the parent and baby.
• The baby’s face should always be visible – never covered by fabric.
• When using the sling, parents should not feel back or neck pain. Otherwise, the carrier is being worn incorrectly.
A bond between the parent and child is important but not at the expense of the baby’s safety. Although instructions may not accompany a sling, find out beforehand how to position and carry a baby. If you need visuals for the steps above, watch the following video below for putting on a baby sling and positioning your baby inside:
Right and Wrong Ways to Carry a Baby?
Filed under: Baby Gear, Baby Health, Parenting, Premier Baby Stores
Who knew that the way a child faces you affects their development? According to a recent piece in The Daily Mail, just facing your child forward and away from the mother makes the baby “suffer” and become an anxious adult. The same rule applies to parents using strollers.
According to Professor Catherine Fowler, parents who have a child face forward are “cruel and selfish”:
“Imagine if you were strapped to someone’s chest with your legs and arms flailing, heading with no control into a busy shopping center – it would be terrifying. Outward-facing baby carriers and prams give babies a bombardment of stimulus, creating a very stressful situation. In not considering our baby’s perspective, we are inadvertently quite cruel to children.”
At the same time, others decree that a baby facing its mother too much gets bored and needs to see the world. Seems like whatever a parent does, it’s wrong.
On one extreme is the Swedish woman in Massachusetts who left a baby in a stroller outside of a restaurant for 10 minutes and is currently being investigated. Yet, the woman claims that this practice is common in her home country.
The other is the trend of babywearing. A child, in a sling, is carried close to and facing his mother. According to a piece about babywearing from The Lufkin News, the child bonds better with its mothers and, as a result, cries less and is more restful. The mother, as well, has her hands free and is able to do daily tasks while carrying her child.
No matter if you agree with these experts or think their results are just more for parents to worry about, several options for carrying a child are available. Dada Baby Boutique, for instance, offers baby carriers that range from slings to wraps, and products allow a parent to face a child backwards or forward.
Should You Bring Young Children to Restaurants, Bars, Concerts?
In July, McDain’s Restaurant in Monroeville, Pa., decided to ban children under 6 years of age. Their reasoning? Children disturb other customers and are loud. Because children, unlike the elderly, are not a protected class, banning them is legal.
Parents, of course, disagree. Such rules, they argue in an editorial from PennLive.com, will reduce business and ultimately punish responsible parents.
But, at the same time, what constitutes a “responsible parent”? One who takes a child outside when he or she starts screaming? One who makes sure a child behaves well around adults? Or one who does not take his or her children to adult-oriented places and events, such as concerts and bars?
Tony Hicks, a writer for the Costa Contra Times argues for the former. Detailing his experience at a recent Katy Perry concert, which, in design only, appears kid-friendly, Hicks takes a stance that some spaces, such as concerts late at night, simply aren’t for young children – who should be in bed, rather than be brought along. Additionally, he states that toddlers and young children should not be exposed to the drunken and disorderly behavior, drugs, and sexual atmosphere of many concerts:
The bottom line is that some concerts shouldn’t be open to kids of a certain age. I could see taking a 12-year-old to Katy Perry; maybe even a 10-year-old. But 2 and 4? That’s why they have “Sesame Street Live,” the Wiggles, “Disney on Ice” and Justin Bieber, who’s kind of like a Muppet with better hair. Kids aren’t supposed to be our little party buddies. They’re supposed to be home, getting a good night’s sleep. They have plenty of time to get their eardrums blown out at concerts later in life.
Do you agree with Hicks, that some spaces should be reserved only for adults? Should children always be brought along? And, should restaurants be put in the same category as Slipknot or Katy Perry concerts?
Would You Buy a $1,500 Stroller?
We’re late on this news, but even up to this point, parent blogs are still discussing the outrageous-seeming baby product, the Bugaboo Donkey Stroller, priced at $1,500. Is a stroller really worth that much, and what does this Bugaboo design have that plenty of other strollers do not have?
An article in Slate breaks it down. The author claims the Bugaboo stroller has a suspension and breaking like a bicycle – how many brands can claim that? But at the same time, should a stroller be priced as high as a bicycle?
Then, there are the claims behind many high-end strollers: The child will sleep better, the stroller will fit through any aisle. Even if a high-end stroller can do this, is it really worth $1,500?
At the same time, baby products range from affordable items to designer baby furniture and Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bags, and the Bugaboo Donkey stroller is the top of the latter category. If you are striving for status, even baby products, why not purchase a $1,500 baby stroller?
What are the advantages of purchasing a high-end stroller? No matter the name, more expensive strollers tend to be designed better, and for your child, what is more important than safety? On the other hand, “design” might not be the suspension and brakes and is, rather, the stroller’s look. Classic pram-style strollers made a comeback a year or two ago, as parents were influenced by a celebrity trend. The look of an old-fashioned carriage seems to be the driving force behind the pram trend – not additional safety features.
On the other hand, safety does not always need to come with a high price tag. High-quality suspension systems are not always followed by a $1,000-plus price tag. While you may need to do some searching, do not assume always that a higher-priced stroller is safer for your child.
Are Your Baby Can Read Advertisements False, Deceptive?
You have likely seen the commercials for Your Baby Can Read, perhaps during the day or late at night in a series of infomercials. If you’re one of the few parents that has not caught a glimpse of these ubiquitous advertisements, watch below:
Recently, however, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission against Your Baby Can Read, claiming the educational toy’s advertisements are false and deceptive.
The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, last decade, crusaded against Baby Einstein, another line of educational baby toys claiming to boost a child’s vocabulary. Parents who purchased Baby Einstein were refunded, after multiple studies disproved the educational toys line’s claims. In fact, as we discussed before, children who used Baby Einstein had smaller vocabularies than those who learned words solely from interacting with parents.
Beyond calling Your Baby Can Read’s advertising tactics “deceptive,” the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood states the educational toys are harmful, as they require a young child to sit in front of a computer or television screen. Although Your Baby Can Read incorporates some interaction, it takes a similar approach as Baby Einstein does.
Your Baby Can Read, obviously, has a counterargument. They state one million parents have bought their products and are satisfied.
But, at the same time, just as much if not more parents purchased Baby Einstein and studies proving the ineffectiveness of this toy line resulted in refunds.
In terms of using educational toys for babies and toddlers, which work better? Is it possible to teach a child under two years of age to read? Or, as many toys designed for children at this age are geared toward motor skills, should parents be more concerned with other stages of development?
What Happens If My Baby Products Are Recalled?
Filed under: Baby Gear, Baby Safety, Baby Sleeping, Baby Toys, Parenting
Drop side crib
In the event of the recall you should find out if the manufacturer will be sending out safety kits to correct the hazard. If not, a newer baby product needs to be purchased.
Always think about recalls beforehand and send in a registration card for the baby product. You never know when it will come in handy.
A product recall, on the other hand, is often a last resort, one taken as the result of multiple injuries or deaths. Like we saw with drop side cribs, many brands were recalled over the past decade for entrapment, suffocation, or strangulation-related deaths. Enough brand recalls over time resulted in the government banning the product from stores, daycares, and any location needing cribs.
Before you hear about a product recall, check the baby toys and furniture yourself. U.S. News & World Report gives the following suggestions for parents:
• Toys should not be able to fit in a child’s mouth.
• Always look for broken parts on the toy and around you home.
• Keep toys designed for older children out of reach.
• Avoid motorized toys, cords and strings, and balloons.
• Find out if the toys are safety tested.
• Always throw away the packaging.
Take a similar approach with baby furniture. Look for suffocation hazards inside a crib, such as stuffed animals or bumpers. Check the durability of hardware. If any item in the nursery has a cord, keep it as far away from the crib as possible.
What a Baby Costs, and How You Can Save
Recently, U.S. New & World Report ran an article about the practical side of parenting: financial planning when you expect to have a baby. They claim that a baby is typically $12,000 for the first year for middle-income families. Who knew such a small and defenseless being could cost as much as one year’s worth of a state college education?
All aspects of having a child need to be put into your budget, and the U.S. News article advises you not to go overboard before you have your baby. For a brief summary, the article makes the following points:
• Minimize purchases before you have the baby.
• Stay with the basic items (diapers, clothing, a blanket, and car seat)
• Only use one sleep area.
• Used products end up costing you more in the long term.
• Convertible baby furniture lasts more than a year.
• Certain baby products, such as changing tables, large strollers, and convenience items, are not always necessary.
• Look for substitute products around your home.
• Accept baby gifts.
• Babies only need a week’s worth of clothing.
• Find places to trade lightly-worn baby furniture with other mothers.
• Babies are different shapes and sizes, and any furniture or products (swings, bottles) need to fit them.
We have discussed ways to save with a baby on multiple occasions, and the U.S. News article reiterates many of these points: Look for secondhand items and convertible furniture. Even though the economy has strained or significantly changed a couple’s finances, budgeting even with a new baby is still important. Realizing that children will grow quickly and always thinking about and planning the basics are necessary for staying financially afloat.
The key, as we have mentioned, is thinking ahead: How long will my baby need this? How long is this furniture designed to last? Is this practical or a novelty item? As with all purchases, stop and think before you buy.