Back pain is pervasive throughout the adult population. It is one of the most common reasons to visit a doctor. Young children are suffering from back pain much earlier than previously reported, and the use of overweight backpacks is a major contributing factor. In addition to overloaded backpacks, improper wearing of them may predispose a child to various health problems. Back pain usually results from repetitive loading as well as improper mechanics, not to mention kids are getting weaker and less physically active, leading to the child’s inability to handle the load of the backpack.

Does your child complain or exhibit the following signs and symptoms? Read the rest »

A Pod for your Pea: The PeaPod Plus is a long-lasting (birth – 6yrs!), lightweight, sleeping/play tent that’s a must for traveling families (from Boston Mamas).

Photo Bags Galore! Put your Child on your Handbag at Snap Totes: Snap Totes might just be Classy Mommy’s all time favorite gift to give or receive if you are looking for both a functional and special memento. Every size bag, clutch or purse you might desire – including diaper bags (from Classy Mommy).

The Nursing Mom’s Wrist Watch: The Nursing Bracelet from Go Baby is the nursing Mom’s wrist watch. It is an adorable, fun bracelet to help mom keep track of the time she last nursed and on which breast (from Healthy Bump). Read the rest »

When my oldest child went to kindergarten, I fretted for weeks about whether or not he should take the school bus. I think what terrified me the most was that he would be out of my control. I later learned the school bus is the safest way to get your child to school – here’s why:

The Stats
Statistics show that the safest way to transport a child to school is in a school bus. Fatal crashes involving occupants are extremely rare events, even though school buses serve daily in every community – a remarkable 8.8 billion student trips annually. Every school day, some 440,000 yellow school buses transport more than 24 million children to and from schools and school-related activities. Said another way to give perspective to the huge magnitude of pupil transportation, the equivalent of the populations of Florida, Massachusetts and Oregon ride on a school bus twice every day – almost always without a serious incident. Read the rest »

First, let me preface this subject by a statement that all medical professionals and researchers can agree upon: ANY fruit and vegetable is better than none, regardless of whether it is organic. The vitamins and minerals in fresh, frozen, dried, or canned produce are essential to human life. Protein in plant-based foods, meats, poultry and fish is the building block of our genetic and physiological make up. But are organic foods a better choice? The easy answer is yes, especially for infants and young children. Read the rest »

Calling all hot mamas: It’s still scorching hot outside, but what a better way to dream of cooler days than by picking up a few essential items for your own wardrobe for fall?

Maybe you’ve had your eye on a cropped jacket, a flattering wrap top or dress, a pair of skinny pants or a fun and flirty skirt and haven’t had time to do any shopping for yourself. It’s time.

A couple of years ago a girlfriend of mine turned me on to Etcetera – a women’s clothing line that offers a good mix of casually elegant mix and match pieces that you can dress up or down – that really does make it easy to look great. Read the rest »

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a fun, friendly mom to address all of those questions that invariably crop up when you have children? How can I help my child stop whining? What are some tips for disciplining in public? Why are time-outs not working? Clever Parents is thrilled to announce that Kimberley Blaine, former preschool teacher, licensed child development therapist and founder of TheGoToMom.tv, an online how-to show for families of young children, is joining the Clever Parents team as a Video Correspondent. Watch the latest Clever Parents vidcast to find out what Kimberley is going to share with Clever Parents viewers. Plus, a clever and environmentally-friendly apparel line for kids and a fun mix and match puzzle for preschoolers.

Watch vidcast #31 featuring Kimberley on Clever Parents TV. Read the rest »

Looking for a clever and environmentally sound way to make learning the letters of the alphabet fun for your kids? Pick up an alphabet tee or two from bioME 5, an eco-friendly apparel company focused on using fashion as a tool for learning. bioME 5, which takes its inspiration from the earth’s biomes, produces a line of 100% organic alphabet tees each emblazoned with a single letter, superimposed with a wild animal representing the letter (’B’ for bear, ‘J’ for jaguar, ‘O’ for octopus…). The animal name is cleverly printed upside-down below the larger letter on the shirt, giving the child wearing the shirt the best vantage point for reading. Read the rest »