Ask Baby Kid

We're Moving: Stay Tuned!

noreply@blogger.com (CoolBabyKid) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:09:00 +0000

Smart Baby Kid and Ask Baby Kid are combining with their "mama" site this summer. While there will not be new posts on these sites, we promise to update you when we've finally moved. In the meantime, you can subscribe to Cool Baby Kid (www.coolbabykid.com) by RSS or email which is where we are moving to get updates on what's happening with the Baby Kid Blogs. And also watch out on the "mother site" for the biggest giveaway we've ever done coming up in the next few weeks. Big changes, big giveaways, and as always some of the best baby and kid picks, tips and giveaways on the web!

Featured Blog: The Mom Nerd

noreply@blogger.com (CoolBabyKid) — Sat, 23 May 2009 19:22:00 +0000

The Mom Nerd blog is a little bit of everything. Books, kids, crafts...

Parenting Tip: I am a mother of four boys ages 8, 4 and twin 21 month olds. So as a mother I know, Phew! But my best tip to all of the other parents out there is that the most important thing for your children to know is that you love them. And that you shouldn't be as hard on yourself as parents usually are.

Blogging Tip: My best blogging tip, huh? I think that would have to be that as much as we love to have readers and reach an audience, blogging should be for you. I think it is a wonderful way to open yourself up, learn more about who you really are, and hopefully touch others along the way. My children are such an enormous part of my life that I find when I'm blogging I often talk about other things. It is amazing to me how many truly amazing people I have met that I would never have otherwise. What an amazing world we live in with the opportunities that we have.

Follow on Twitter: Momnerd

Photoshop Tip: Resize Pictures Using Transform

noreply@blogger.com (CoolBabyKid) — Sat, 09 May 2009 10:00:00 +0000

I'm by no means a Photoshop expert. For years I didn't use it for anything other than re-sizing and add text to pictures. But a working knowledge of Photoshop can be handy to a blogger and so, over the last year, I've learned a few things that have helped alter banners so I don't have to keep bugging the ever-talented graphics designer Gisele with little fixes. So in a series of mini-tips geared to bloggers with little or no Photoshop knowledge, I'm happy to share my knowledge if it's helpful in any way.

Photoshop Tip: Use "Transform" to easily re-size images and keep their dimensions. (In other words, not make them look screwy.) Just hit Ctrl and T or Edit and Transform to bring up the transform tool. Next, hold down the shift bar in order to keep the dimensions as you re-size. Finally, just hit Enter to apply the changes. I won't even tell you how I re-sizes images before learning this little trick courtesy of super smart artiecht-in-training, Ricky.

Get Ready For Giveaways!

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Candice) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:35:00 +0000

MomMostTraveled.com is hosting a giveaway carnival that will begin on Monday, May 4.
This is to fill the void left by the recent cancellation of the Bloggy Giveaways carnival!
There is still some time for you to prepare a sweet giveaway to draw traffic to your blog!
Go check out the Give It Away Now! carnival details, and get ready for a fun week of giveaways galore!

Trying New Things...with Food

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria Arya) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Not everyone will have the chance to travel to China, but you might have a place to get some authentic Chinese cuisine within just a few miles of your home. Culture, food, and language are so intertwined; I find it difficult to learn about one aspect of a country without gaining a bit of understanding about the other two. Visiting “ethnic” restaurants with your children is a wonderful, hands-on way to teach them about the world. “Foreign” food might seem threatening or scary, but there is always something to be found that will appeal to the least adventurous of taste buds. The Kids Most Traveled have enjoyed Chinese, Filipino, French, Japanese, Indian, Italian, Kenyan, Lao, Mexican, Peruvian, Turkish, Thai, and Vietnamese food at restaurants owned and run by proud natives. I’ve never been to Canada, but I have been to a Canadian bakery. Consider me cultured!

Webisode 4 follows the Mom Most Traveled family on a visit to an authentic Chinese restaurant. These dishes are similar to what you would find in the north eastern part of China. These restaurant owners are from Liaoning.

I welcome your feed back. What should we eat next?

CanCan is a world traveling Mama of two! CanCan recently partied with elephants in Chiang Mai, Thailand. She shares her family travel tips, enlightening webisodes, and amazing product reviews and giveaways at www.MomMostTraveled.com.

What Should I Look for in a Double Stroller?

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria Arya) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:00:00 +0000

When I found out I was pregnant with my second my daughter was 12 months old, and I knew I needed to find a good double stroller, there was no way I was going to be able to live without one. So, for the next 7 months I researched double strollers until I found one that I felt would fit my lifestyle. So, which one did I finally go with? The Phil and Ted's Sport with Doubles Kit. I like it, and have used the heck out of it, but not every stroller fits every family, so here are some things you should ask yourself before buying a double stroller.

* What is the age difference between my kids?

If you have a smaller age gap between your kids (say 2 under 2) you will need to make sure the stroller you get is good for at least a couple of years and is comfortable for both kiddos. Look for seats that adjust separately, sunshades that adjust separately, and things like that. If your kids are more spread out, you might want to look for a double stroller more in lines of a sit n stand. Your older kiddo probably won't want to always be in the stroller and so you will probably really only need a double stroller for long trips (if this is the case invest in a single stroller for the new baby).

* Where do I live and what am I going to be using the stroller for?

If you live in a city and do a lot of traveling on public transportation like the metro, etc, you are going to want a light weight double that is front to back. There is nothing more embarrassing than not being able to get your stroller through the door of a store or cafe or into the elevator in the metro (but air filled tires are a REALLY good idea for city dwellers!). If you don't live in a bigger city and you are going to be using your stroller a lot, it doesn't really matter if you get a front to back or a side by side, but you will want to look for air filled tires (makes the ride smoother) and you are also going to want to look for shocks if you are going to be using the stroller on rough terrain.

* Are my kids attached? Will the like sitting next to each other or in front and behind each other?

Some kids don't like sitting next to their brother or sister, and they tend to fight. If this is true getting a side by side isn't the best idea. If you have twins or two kiddos who really like seeing each other and being able to touch each other, a front to back is probably not the best idea. My girls like to see and play with each other, they are always near each other. I have both a side to side and a front to back. When they are in the front to back there is a lot of whining, twisting, and "I want to see Evie". But, where they are in the side by side they play, share food, and keep each other occupied.

So here are some of my stroller suggestions:

* EasyWalker Duo- a side by side, great wheels and shocks, fully adjustable seats and canopies, roomy, easy to maneuver. I HIGHLY recommend this!

* Phil and Ted's Sport with Doubles Kit- a front to back, convertible from single stroller to double, easy to use, comfortable.

* Joovy Sit n Stand- a sit n stand type stroller, good for larger gaps between children.

How can I keep all of my children's books organized?

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa, Multi-Tasking Mama) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 11:56:00 +0000

This is a great question. Reading to your child is such an important activity. It is a great time for bonding, it's educational and instills a valuable habit in your child's life from a young age. But, books can become clutter very easily. What is a parent to do?

~Organize books by category. In our home for instance, the reference books and books related to my business are kept in the office. The books we read as a family have a home in the family room and the books my kids like to read are on a bookshelf in their bedrooms.

~When children are small, the books for their age are typically more durable and can be kept with their other toys. However, you can begin instilling a respect for books even at a young age by having a special shelf or place just for books. This gets children in the habit of putting books away in a safe place right from the start.

~Resist the temptation to own every book you like to read. Sort down to your favorites and the most useful and most read. Then visit the library, used book stores, book swaps, etc. to get new reading material frequently that does not end up needing a home in your home! My old mom's group used to have regular book swaps where we could all trade in the books our kids had grown tired of for titles we hadn't read yet. Books your children have outgrown can be donated to thrift stores, daycares and women's shelters.

Happy reading!

Written by Melissa, Multi-Tasking Mama

Featured Blog: One Stop Boy Shop Blog

noreply@blogger.com (CoolBabyKid) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:08:00 +0000

Check out One Stop Boy Shop blog where it's all about the boys!

Parenting Tip: No muss, no fuss at bedtime makes great sleepers. I've never rocked my babies to sleep (I rock them any and all other times though!), I don't read bedtime stories (I read ANY other time, and at least 6 books to them per day, they LOVE books) and I put my boys to bed while they're awake. I'm frequently complimented on how easy my kids are to go to bed. I attribute that to 2 things: I have good sleepers and 2: No muss no fuss!

Blogging Tip: Blog about what you know and what you love. Stories that inspire you will come easily. I often just jot thoughts down as "drafts" so that I can remember what inspired me and then I come back and edit them before posting them. I also blog about my dream store "One Stop Boy Shop" which I'm working hard to make a reality. As a mom to 3 boys who has discovered first hand how difficult it is to find cute boy items my dream is to offer these things from my store where I can keep the quality high and the price low. I like having a place to let my customers know about sales, and new products that doesn't spam their inbox.

Baby Kids' Thoughts: Now that we've added a boy to our family, I can understand the need for a place all boy since there really is a lot of girlie stuff out there. We've also reviewed One Shop Boy Shop (the shop) on Cool Baby Kid...check it out.

Earth Day Extravaganza Eco-Friendly Giveaways

noreply@blogger.com (CoolBabyKid) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 21:44:00 +0000

Dexter's Super Savvy Mommy is having an Earth Day Extravaganza I don't want any Ask Baby Kid readers to miss. She's giving away thousands of dollars in prizes during the month of April with new ones every day! This is a blog party definitely worth checking out. A review blog on the rise, Dexter's Super Savvy Mommy is just that. Here's a sneak peek at some of the prizes coming up in the next week...

April 2-Eden Fantasys-Glass Toy
April 3-Sprig Toys-Whole Sprig Hollow Set
April 4-Ruby Pinwheels (2) $100 gift certificates and an Erbaorganics Travel Kit
April 5-Kid Basix (3) Safe Sippy Cups
April 6-Bobux-Soft Soled Shoes
April 7-Laura's Lean Beef $25 Gift Certificate
April 8-Sage Creek Organics-3 pack of organic washcloths

How can I match colors on my blog?

noreply@blogger.com (CoolBabyKid) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:43:00 +0000

Let me preface this "mini-tutorial" with some background. I've had Photoshop for years, just started to use it for anything more than re-sizing pictures in the last year and everything I know about Photoshop I've googled. Since I only learn what I need to know, it came as a total surprise a few months back to discover the purpose of the eye dropper tool. Simple but so useful to a bloggers. Get this...you can open an image, click the eyedropper icon in your tools, click anywhere on the image you want to discover the its color and voila, the color code appears like magic! Believe it or not when previously designing banners or latching titles for the site I would "eyeball" it, but no longer. Imagine that.

Featured Blog: Cool Mom Guide

noreply@blogger.com (CoolBabyKid) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 20:58:00 +0000

Follow Julie Maloney as she tries to remain cool in the eyes of her children on Cool Mom Guide.

Parenting Tip: My best parenting tip is to be open about what your kids have to say. If they know you'll be quick to judge, they won't be so quick to confide.

Blogging Tip: Show your friends love. Promote blog peace. We all have something different to say and we all have something of value. Let's help each other out, show the link love and participate in the memes and contests!

Baby Kids’ Thoughts: Julie lost 60 pounds using the Wii Fit and says “My whole life I struggled, and if we can all start to feel good about ourselves while playing a video game it's a win-win situation!” She created The Wii Mommies in the process and is truly an inspiration!

Follow Julie on Twitter, fav her on Technorati and Digg

It's a Blog Popz Twitter Party & 6th Blog Pop!

noreply@blogger.com (CoolBabyKid) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:42:00 +0000

It's time for a Blog Popz Twitter party, and we're not fooling around! Bloggers, pops, prizes, special guests....it'll be a blast. Join us on April 1st from 9-10 p.m. EST to pop and be popped. Just like popz themselves, our Blog Popz Twitter Party is about sharing sites we love, thanking blog mentors and networking with new bloggers.

Thank you to Simply Heaven Lollipop Shoppe for being the Blog Popz Twitter party sponsor!

To Participate:

1. Be sure you're following these Blog Popz Candy Store owners on Twitter:

@coolbabykid, @ellieandeve, @ohana_mama, @BridgetteLA, @terpsichore

and special guest @3kidsandus

2. On April 1st at 9:00 p.m., join us on Twitter. Use hashtag #blogpopz in your tweets to follow the conversation. We suggest using www.tweedgrid.com, www.tweetchat.com or a similar program to follow along more easily.

3. Before the party, give at least one Blog Pop to anyone you'd like. You can get detailed instructions on how to give popz, register for prizes and more at www.blogpopz.com.

4. During the Popz Twitter party prizes will be given away every 15 minutes...just follow the instructions to win.

Exciting Announcement!

A 6th Blog Pop and Candy Store will be added to Blog Popz. Vote on the right sidebar for which op you'd like to see added to Blog Popz family of pops.

We're looking forward to popping with you!

Featured Blog: The Fashinoista and Foolishness

noreply@blogger.com (CoolBabyKid) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 11:12:00 +0000

Jamie at The Fashionista and Foolishness blogs about her journey in parenting for children, ages 13-1, yup hormones to poopy diapers!

Parenting Tip: Cut yourself some slack. We are not perfect we are all human. You will make mistakes. Learn from them, grow from them. When you get stuck ask for HELP!

Blogging Tip: Look around. Get involved. Blogging has opened my eyes in so many ways. From getting to know myself better, to tips and tricks from other bloggy moms, to an outlet for frustrating and staying in touch with family and friends.

Baby Kid's Thoughts: Anyone who can manage four kids and a blog deserves to be featured! Great parenting advice I will personally take. On a side note, I love the pearls. Visit The Fashionista and Foolishness or add @kidsmeandrawiii on Twitter and say hello.

How Do You Help Your Daughter - and Family - Manage Sibling Rivalry?

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria Arya) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 00:07:00 +0000

by: Elizabeth Donovan from Parenting Pink

It’s about that time of day again, when the screaming, yelling, hitting, and the ever-so-popular hair-pulling, drowns out any chance you had to make dinner- or keep your sanity. “She hit me first mom!” is usually followed by “She started it!” By the end of a busy day, your patience is wearing thin and you may find yourself suddenly having the desire to jump in the car and drive somewhere far, far away from the chaos.

Sibling rivalry is part of the deal parents sign when they enlist in having more than one child. It’s as common as apple pie and juice boxes in every American household across the United States – and the world for that matter. Developmentally, sibling conflicts are necessary for children to learn how to compromise and work through their differences – characteristics that will serve them well throughout their lives. But just because it’s “good for girls” to settle their sisterly differences doesn’t mean that every fight is healthy or that tired, overworked parents want to deal with constant bickering from the moment they step foot in the house.

So try these battle-tested tactics to help call an end (or near end) to girl fights.

Calling a Truce:

* Teach girls to settle things on their own. Encourage your children to work things out without your intervention. Let them know ahead of time that this is the expectation and that there is to be no hitting, biting, property damage, or name calling. The more you get entrenched in the argument, the more your children will call for you to solve their problems. Parents should not referee unless the disagreement turns physical.

* Fair is Fair. Remain a neutral country– like Sweden. Your girls will come to you with the “who started it first” argument to try to persuade you to take sides. Don’t buy into it. Treat your children fairly. Try to ask each one to listen to the other’s complaint. Help them discuss the issue together, but do not take sides unless there is a blatant violation of the rules. By remaining neutral, you can better help your children learn how to work through their differences by coming to a solution that is their own.

* Set Ground Rules. While it’s important to allow your children to settle their differences on their own, there should also be ground rules for arguments. You should never allow your children to hit, pinch, damage property (such as breaking items), or call each other names. If this occurs, step in immediately. Such behavior can potentially damage a child’s self esteem.

* Seeing is Believing. Children often imitate what they’ve been taught at home. Be aware of how you argue in front of your children. If they see the occasional fight that ends peacefully, that’s fine, but refrain from screaming, cursing, or getting physical. Your daughter will follow your example, so set a good one.

* Encourage Cooperation. Play games and do projects as a family. Talk with your children about the benefits of cooperating with each other.

* Forgo Favoritism. When punishing your children, it should be done as a group instead of individually. Most of the time it’s impossible to tell who started the argument and choosing a side will only serve to promote sibling rivalry by showing favoritism. If one gets sent to her room, then the other child should too. Resist their pleas of “it’s not fair.” Treating them equally is the fairest thing you can do.

* Give them kudos when they cooperate. It’s important to praise your children when they share and get along together. Let them know that you are proud of their behavior and give them lots of attention for it.

How can I keep my kid toys organized?

noreply@blogger.com (CoolBabyKid) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 10:00:00 +0000

As a professional organizer, I get this question a lot. First thing is first: The big deep toy chest just doesn't work for keeping kids toys organized. Why? Because you can't have the same place for everything especially if you are going to try to find the tiny little army men among the big remote control trucks. Just like when organizing a kitchen keep like toys with like. Group them by set and by size. Avoid using containers with lids, especially if you have small children. Taking off the lid to put something away is just an extra step that will probably decrease the chances that your kids are going to put things away. See through (clear) containers are good for small toys such as matchbox cars, Barbie doll clothes, etc rather than taking the time to label the containers. If your kids like to play legos or Barbies are everywhere than invest in a container on wheels so they can put away the toys where they are playing with them. Does anyone else have good suggestions for organizing toys?? Or specific questions about organizing toys? Please share.

Melissa, an Ask Baby Kid expert, creator of Multi-tasking Mama and owner of Organized Life by Design, LLC answers your organization questions.

Featured Blog: Pretty Pink Momma

noreply@blogger.com (CoolBabyKid) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 03:38:00 +0000

Kimberly at Pretty Pink Momma finds cool stuff, ideas, websites, products for moms, babies or toddlers and shares them with others.

Parenting Tip: Don't sweat the small stuff. I think that routines are important but there is always room for changing the routine to have some fun with friends and family. I know some moms that freak out if their child doesn't get their nap at exactly 2 p.m. or they revolve their schedule and everyone else in the family's' schedule around nap time and snack time. I think it is much better to just adapt daily to what you need to get done. A routine is awesome when you can follow it but don't freak if you need to make other plans once in awhile. Children are way more flexible than most parents give them credit for.

Blogging Tip: I am relatively new to blogging so my best tip is really just to read other people blogs and show interest in them. If you show interest in other peoples thoughts they will check you out and maybe they will become a fan of yours.

So You Want to be a Baby-Wearer?

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria Arya) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 12:07:00 +0000

I happen to be a big fan of babywearing, but this is one a recent thing since with my first, Ellie, I never really got into it since I didn’t know much about it. But, when Eve came along and didn’t like being up down, or put in the stroller, or a bouncer, or anything else, I decided it was time to get educated…QUICK. So, I am putting that knowledge to good use and passing the info on to you.

Why Babywearing? Babies like to be held, well most do anyway, and in order to get stuff down around the house or in order to play with your other kids, there needs to be a way to hold your baby while making it pretty “hands-free”. In comes babywearing; you can get stuff done, still have your hands, bond with you baby, and comfort him or her at the same time. A win win situation if there ever was one. I have found that there are THREE main categories of products that are great for babywearers, and here they are:

POUCH: This is a single piece of material that has been stitched together to form an over the shoulder holder with a pocket where you put the baby; you wear it like you would a messenger bag, over one shoulder. I have found that the pouch is great for small babies, say newborn through 3 months (newborn carry) and it is also great for babies who can sit up on their own and have good head control (hip carry). What to look for: good material with a little give, tight stitching.

• Pros
o Easy to use and very easy to store; doesn’t take up much space in a diaper bag.
o Affordable and there are a great many choices out there.

• Cons
o Have to get the size right since it is not adjustable.
o Not great for wearing more than 30-60 minutes at a time.
o Some pouches have too much padding

RING SLING: This is a single piece of material that has rings sewn in, which allows
the wearer to adjust to his/her comfort. Again, this is worn over the shoulder and the material spreads out to distribute weight throughout the shoulder and back. I have found the ring sling to be great for all ages, I have even been know to carry my two year old, Ellie, when she gets tired or is feeling a little neglected since Eve gets to ride all the time. There are multiple ways of carrying your child with the ring sling. What to look for: re-enforced stitching around the rings, fabric fits snugly but not tightly through the rings, easy to adjust, a little padding in the shoulder area (bonus).

• Pros
o Easy to use and very easy to adjust; fits most body types and can be custom made to specific requirements.
o You can find a good quality ring sling for very affordable prices.
o Variety of styles, colors, and sizes.
o Distribute weight well

• Cons
o Bigger than a pouch; not as easy to stuff into a diaper bag
o Shoulder can still get sore or tired after more than an hour or two of wear.

CARRIERS: This category includes everything that doesn’t fall into the pouch or ring sling category, things like the Baby Bjorn and Ergo Carrier. Carriers generally provide a little bit more structure and support around the back, hips and shoulder area and many come with accessories and other add-ons to make like cushy for your little one. I love some carriers and I really dislike some; it basically depends on how they are made and how well they fit and carry weight. Some carriers fit a certain body shape better than others. What to look for: some padding around the shoulder area, easily adjustable straps, a strap wrapping around your back and hips.

• Pros
o Generally very comfortable with a lot of padding and support.
o Good for long time wear.

• Cons
o Must find a carrier that fits YOU.
o The good carriers are generally in the $100 range, maybe a little more.
o Some carriers have been shown to not be great for baby’s back and hips, make sure you do your research!

You may have noticed that I have left out WRAPS. This is because I haven’t had the greatest of luck with wraps, although I know a great many people swear by them. You can find some great information about baby wearing online and I am always more than willing to answer any questions that you may have!!!

Some I like:
• Ergo Baby Carrier
• Hotslings
• Little Monkey Pouches
• Maya Warp Ring Sling

Mom Faves: Share Your Cool Mom Finds & Network Too

noreply@blogger.com (CoolBabyKid) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 11:00:00 +0000

When I first found MomFaves on Twitter, I was distressed. A networking site I didn't know about? How was that possible? Turns out it was recently launched. Whew. Not completely out of the loop, and it's a good thing because MomFaves is cool. Once I got over the initial jealousy that such a good idea wasn't mine, I started to use the site. (What? You'll be jealous too!) One word, addicted. Basically you can submit a favorite anything...website, product, charity, TV show, place, recipe, etc. Then by voting on others' favs, users can check out what moms love. Part social network, part activity, and part social shopping site, MomFaves can't really be categorized. Connect with friends, especially coolbabykid, join MomFavs groups, vote on favorites and add your own. For isntance, I've recently added Gap Kids, Gipsy Kings and Coach. I'm not sure about you, but bewteen a full time teaching job, two little kiddos and three blogs I don't have a ton of time. (i.e. currently blogging at 12:02 a.m. and have to get up for work in 5.5 hours) But this is worth adding to your routine. Have you Mom Faved yet? What do you think of the site?

Featured Blog: A Parent's Life to Behold, Through the Eyes of Insanity and Bliss

noreply@blogger.com (CoolBabyKid) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 10:20:00 +0000

A tongue-in-cheek look at her, experiences in mommyhood, A Parent's Life to Behold, Through the Eyes of Insanity and Bliss is our newest Ask Baby Kid featured blog.

Parenting Tip: Laugh, and your children will laugh with you. Love, and your children will do the same. And most importantly, hide your own stash of cookies, cakes, or whatever sugary substance you love in a secret compartment, and eat it when they aren't looking...

Blogging Tip: Write down every idea and/or theme you get the minute you get them, even if that means getting out of bed at 2am and banging it out loudly on your laptop, or using lipstick to write on your arm while driving, or writing it on the back of the cereal box you are about to buy, or, just have pen and paper handy. Writing is a passion of mine, and now, with my lap top attached to my, lap, I am indulging my obsessive blogging hobby to the point of promoting a new-found independence in my children, which is uh, something they need to acquire anyway.

Find On: Facebook

Baby Kids' Thoughts: I agree wholeheartedly with Kim's blogging tip. I sometimes wish I could have a recorder with me every second of the day since ideas come in all shapes and sizes and at different times. Other thoughts, I dare you to not play with the scroll feature on this blog..so cool. Check it out and you'll see what I mean.

How do I use Twitter?

noreply@blogger.com (CoolBabyKid) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:47:00 +0000

First of all, what is Twitter? On this social network, microblogging site, you can send mini-updates, connect with friends, promote posts, or get & give advice. I will admit to Twitter confusion when first jumping on the bandwagon last year, so hopefully this tutorial will answer some of your basic questions about Twitter.

1. Create an account using the name you'd like to publicly appear as you Twitter.

2. First stop, change your avatar. Go to "Settings" and change your picture. Later on you can personalize your Twitter even more by customizing the background. Also be sure to update your profile by including a one line bio and your blog or business URL.

3. Find friends by clicking on "Find People" and using your email to see who you know that is already connected with Twitter. If there are people or businesses you suspect may be using Twitter, search for them using "Find on Twitter." You can try this out by searching for "coolbabykid." :)

4. Go back to the homepage by clicking "Home" or the "Twitter" icon on the top left of the page. Try it out by sending a message with what you're up to and clicking "Send." This update can be anything from "Using Twitter for the first time," to "Making a grilled cheese sandwich with my daughter," or "Looking for someone to help me figure out vlogging." Twitter is versatile and can be used to connect with friends (virtual or otherwise) or network for business, but usually ends up being a combination of both.

5. When you scroll over others' responses a screen will pop up with a little envelope and an arrow below it. The envelope is for "Direct Messages" which only the person you direct message, or DM, will see. Clicking the arrow allows you to respond to that person, or @ them, but everyone will see your response. On the right sidebar you can see your @ messages and direct messages as well as a list of the people following you and other goodies.

6. The most confusing aspect of Twitter for me when first getting started was understanding who sees what messages...only your followers will see your updates, and in order to DM someone they must be following you. One way to find people to follow and converse with is to click on others people's @ messages and read their profiles.

7. Confused yet? Take it step by step, try a few updates, send me a message and let me know what you think!

Featured Blog: LA Story

noreply@blogger.com (CoolBabyKid) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:21:00 +0000

Laura from L.A. Story writer about her toddler daughter and explores Los Angeles one baby step at a time.

Best Parenting Tip: When traveling by car to a vacation spot, be sure to have your digital camera handy. If you get stuck in traffic, keep kids occupied by having them point out interesting parts of the scenery, and click away. For bigger kids, test their memory of what was in the picture they wanted you to take. For younger kids, have them describe the colors and shapes in the photos.

Best Blogging Tips: Be pro-active. In addition to scouring the web for new and interesting blogs/mom blogs, join in the discussion. Leave comments and questions. Often, other webbies will see your name/URL and want to investigate your site, too.

Baby Kid Thoughts: As a senior editor at Variety, Laura's super cool job and unique blog style are always fun to check out. From LA? Then it's a must-read!

Introducing the Ask Baby Kid Expert Panel

noreply@blogger.com (Victoria Arya) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:13:00 +0000

If you see this logo around the blogosphere, it either means you're visiting a blog once featured on Ask Baby Kid or you're in the company of an Ask Baby Kid expert! With so many questions to be answered, despite what I tell my husband, I actually don't know everything...or even close. After searching high and low for the perfect panel of moms to help answer questions about parenting and blogging, I'm happy to introduce the Ask Baby Expert Panel who will be tackling your questions:

Ask a Teacher: Cecelia, Baby Kid Blogs

Ask a Shrink: Elizabeth, Parenting Pink

Ask a Gear Extraordinaire: Victoria, Life Starring Ellie and Eve

Ask a Mom of Multiples: Liz, Goddess in Progress

Ask a Family Travel Expert: CanCan, Mom Most Traveled

Ask a Blogging Expert: Courtney, Mom Giveaways

I am so happy to have these talented ladies on board...be sure to ask a question; it can be for a specific panelist for in general and we will do our best to answer!

Blogging & Your Little Black Book

noreply@blogger.com (CoolBabyKid) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 10:37:00 +0000

When I get questions about my "best blogging tip" it's always hard to narrow down to one or two guidelines that mom blogs should follow. I considered, of course, the importance of networking and social sites. Creating valuable content, editing each post...there are many strategies for any blogger to be successful at their trade. But one I've overlooked for far too long is the importance of keeping a "little black book." Months after becoming a blogger, and wanting to communicate with the companies I worked with on reviews, it occurred to me I was not gathering contact information. It took hours to backtrack, pull up old reviews and find contact information about each company. Learn from my mistake, I began to keep email groups for every company and blogger you work with on reviews, cross-promotional campaigns, or in social site like Twitter. An obvious tip, perhaps, but one that has nonetheless transformed the reach of my audience each time a new idea hits, like Blog Popz. So keep that little black book and guard it well as you move from mom blogger to mom problogger status!

How Do I Become a Review Blogger?

noreply@blogger.com (CoolBabyKid) — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 20:41:00 +0000

1. Decide on a blogging platform (Blogger, Word Press, Moveable Type, Typepad). Simplistic, but this article by Technology Evangelist may help. I use Blogger myself.

2. Create a blog using a customized design template to stand out from the crowd. You can always start with a free template and pay for one as your blogs becomes successful. I'm more familiar with resources designed for Blogger and while Mashable has a great list of free Blogger templates, you can find many others by Googling "free blog template" or "free blogger template" as long as you don't mind spending time sifting through ones that aren't actually free. My designer, Gisele Jacequnod, has the sweetest collection of free templates for both Blogger and Wordpress.

3. Find other blogs in your genre and begin looking at them. What kinds of plugins do they use? What ideas can you get for your own blog? How will your stand out from the crowd? Subscribe to these blogs and begin to read them regularly to get insights for your own blog. Also, begin adding to your blogroll those you love the most.

4. Add your blog to directories, both general ones and some in your particular niche. Technorati should be your first stop but others such as Blog Catalog, Blogarama, and Blogflux are great ways for readers to find you. Here are a few other blog directory lists from Search Engine Journal and Google.

5. Keep posting. While getting the word out about your blog remember to write and post regularly, at least a few times a week. Start reviewing what you already love and don't worry about getting products samples just yet. You need to develop your writing style and blog first, so review things you own and love to get started.

6. Networking come next! This is essential for improving your blog rank, developing the blog itself and becoming recognized in your niche. Use sites like Entrecard, Twitter, Facebook, Stumble Upon on a regular basis. Here's a list of 50 social sites just to get your started from Inside CRM.

7. Read sites about blogging and get more ideas on how to improve your blog. Schedule into your blog routine regular times for improvement. My personal favorites are Problogger, Mashable, and Blogger Buster. You can find a more comprehensive list in my blogroll.

8. Now for the fun part. Review bloggers must decide up front the terms of their reviews. Will you review both good and bad? Personally, I only review products I have used and love which is why I require a product if I don't already own the item. If I don't love it, I let the company know and send it back if possible. However, I don't write negative reviews. As for samples...you should wait until your blog is established, making it a worthwhile endeavor for companies. But do not apologize for asking for samples. After all, eventually you will run out of your own products, and review blogging would be an expensive habit if you purchased every one you wanted to highlight for your readers. On the other hand, do approach companies you legitimately think are a good fit for the blog and offer your services as a promotional tool in exchange for product.

9. One surefire way to bring in traffic is to run giveaways on your site. Often companies are willing give products to give away to your readers. Check out Cool Baby Kid for an example of a contest. Offer extra entry possibilities which help promote your site. List the contest with sites like Prizey or Online Sweepstakes. I prefer to have the company ship direct since shipping costs add up quickly.

10. Finally, once you're established and as you work to improve your blog, think of ways to separate yourself from other blogs in your niche. For instance, I recently launched "Blog Popz," a blogger recognition program. Rather than a Valentine's gift guide which I knew other mom blogs would already be creating, I tried to think of how to have some fun with Valentine's Day while keeping it unique. Fantasy Book Lists is an example of brand new blog doing everything right.

Keep posting quality content and reading Ask Baby Kid and you're blog will be off and running in no time!

Featured Blog: Mom Giveaways

noreply@blogger.com (CoolBabyKid) — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 10:42:00 +0000

Find giveaway and contest listings for moms at Mom Giveaways.

Parenting Tip: Always stay firm and consistent in your discipline.

Blogging Tip: Comment on other blogs, be friendly, and make sure you feel approachable. I'm at stay at home mom to two kids and also blog at A Mom Speaks and Faith Approved. You can always follow on Twitter too.

Baby Kids' Thoughts: If you run giveaways on your site, get to know Courtney since Mom Giveaways is one of the biggies. The site brings Baby Kid contests substantial traffic and am eternally grateful to her for helping to get the word out about the neat stuff companies generously donate for prizes. You can submit a giveaway by completing a short form and even have the ability to upload a picture with your post.