Written by Clint, November 25th, 2009
HugaMonkey baby carriers are featured in this year's Utah Baby Guide.
Found on page 23 of the guide along side one of our Utah based competitors who focuses on posh baby gear. HugaMonkey's has always been focused simple, practical and affordable elegance. We've created a special Why HugaMonkey page with more details about why we think the HugaMonkey is the way to go for moms.
Written by Clint, November 25th, 2009
HugaMonkey creator and founder Leah Higginbotham was recently recognized as a top 100 mom entrepreneur! Mompreneurblog.com had this to say about Leah, "She’s definitely a Mama CEO to watch for – lots of fun with tons of wisdom!"
Details: http://momprenaireblog.com/top-100-mom-entrepreneurs-leah-higginbotham-and-jyl-johnson-pattee
Written by Clint, October 29th, 2009
Last night (10/28/2009) the Orem, Utah Chamber of Commerce held their annual Halloween mix and mingle complete with a costume contest. HugaMonkey had a good showing with all in attendance donning a costume! When it was time for the contest, HugaMonkey stepped up and won both prizes one for adults and one for kids under 12!
HugaMonkey founder and creator, Leah Higginbotham sported her homemade costume themed "Gone With the Wind" and won the price for best costume in the adult competition. Alex Eagar, the son of HugaMonkey co-founder, Clint Eagar - wooed the judges with his rendition of "Scarecrow Man".
Winning the costume competion scrored HugaMonkey two wonderful gift baskets from Great Harvest and complementary tickets to The Magic of Timothy.
Written by Clint, September 14th, 2009
Rules are Simple, Prizes are Awesome
Rules
Prizes If We Get 500 or Fewer Entries
- Most Cutest: 2 HugaMonkey Baby Carriers and 10 Baby Song Downloads
- 2nd Most Cutest: 1 HugaMonkey Baby Carrier and 10 Baby Song Downloads
- 3rd Most Cutest: 1 HugaMonkey Baby Carrier and 10 Baby Song Downloads
- All Cute Baby Belly Entries: 1 Baby Song Download
Prizes If We Get 1,000 or More Entries
- Same as above but more free stuff
- 4th Most Cutest: 1 HugaMonkey Baby Carrier and 5 Baby Song Downloads
- 5th Most Cutest: 1 HugaMonkey Baby Carrier and 5 Baby Song Downloads
- 6th Most Cutest: 1 HugaMonkey Baby Carrier and 5 Baby Song Downloads
More Rules, Well Clarifications Really
- The decoration must be on a pregnant belly, dudes can enter, just not as themselves, it doesn't have to be your belly, if necessary, make a new friend
- Nothing risque or explicit, we'll just delete these, so please don't
- Free baby carrier means any baby sling on HugaMonkey.com up to a $30 retail value
Written by Clint, July 2nd, 2009
Whether they are squeezing the bottle of lotion all over the floor or unrolling toilet paper, little kids love exploring their big world one mess at a time. Learn some tips on how to control and survive the chaos.
Trying to keep your home neat and under control while there is a toddler around can seem like a hopelessly lost cause. The minute you tidy up the toys or fold a stack of laundry, another mess is waiting to be tackled. Your child's messiness can get so bad at times; that you might thinks she's trying to make you crazy! But 1 year olds are simply making discoveries in their world the only way they know how, by getting into their surroundings, literally. This makes a lot of cleanup for mom and dad! Combine curiosity with wanting to be independent and lack of fully developed manual skills and you can count on plenty of mishaps! While messy play is beneficial, it doesn't mean that you should let your child run wild. Check out a few common toddler disasters and learn how to set limits without stifling development.
UNROLLING TOILET PAPER
Toddlers get a kick out of watching toilet paper come undone and pile up. Rolling it back up is a pain for you but it may help to realize that this messy activity requires a pushing and throwing motion that builds your child's fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Limit the Mess - Let your toddler have her own roll of toilet paper in a different color or pattern, and only keep it half full-less for you to roll back up. Make sure she knows that this roll belongs to her to play with, but that the others are off limits. You will have to help her roll it back up still, but this will help prevent unexpected surprises in the bathroom. An alternative is to have her play with balls instead. Pushing, rolling and throwing them will develop the same skills-minus the mess.
DRAWINGON WALLS
Written by Clint, July 1st, 2009
Babies grow much faster in their first year of life than at any other stage. Following, some of the most common size and growth concerns are covered.
During the fist 12 months of your baby’s life, some incredible changes will occur. This will be a period of amazing growth. By the time you are proudly sending out his first birthday invitations, he will have tripled his birth weight and grown about ten inches. This development will be hard to see on a day to day basis, but will be well noted at his regular checkups. Your baby’s weight, height and head circumference will be closely monitored to make sure he’s growing at a healthy rate. You will probably have lots of questions about how your child is doing compared to other babies his age.
You’ll remember your baby’s birth weight forever but it really is temporary. Newborns typically lose up to 10 percent of the weight in their first week. A healthy baby will then begin to gain a half an ounce a day (a pound or so a month) for the first 6 months, then the rate will slow down a bit. Babies that are born preterm grow at a slower rate and don’t generally catch up until about age 2.
At first, breast fed babies may not gain weight as quickly as formula fed babies. Many women don’t produce a great quantity of breast milk early on, but it’s ok because early breast milk is rich and babies are born with natural fat stores that will sustain them. If your Doctor is concerned that your baby isn’t gaining enough weight from breastfeeding alone, she may recommend supplementing with formula.
Written by Clint, June 30th, 2009
Here are a few important tips and expert opinions for starting your baby on solid foods.
You're likely to receive more advice and help regarding the first few months of parenthood than you will know what to do with. Those well-intentioned family, friends, and neighbors will no doubt have many stories and advice to help you get your baby going on the transition of getting your baby ready for solid foods. How do you know whose advice to take? When is the right time?
No one can tell you when it's the right time. This one comes down to you trusting your instincts and paying more attention to your baby's cues than that calendar everyone keeps reminding you of. That's not to say that first feedings don't come with a healthy measure of trial and error as well.
MAKE YOUR BEST GUESS
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you offer nothing but breast milk or formula until your baby is at least 6 months old. Your neighbors and grandma will tell you 3 to 4 months. On average, most babies start solids between 4 and 6 months of age.
Look for some of these cues from your baby to indicate if your baby is ready for real food:
- Baby is able to eat sitting up and has good control of her head.
- Baby is showing an interest in the food on your plate and grabs at your fork or your food.
- Baby's tongue does not stick out; she can keep food in her mouth, and move it to the back of her mouth and swallow it. This indicates a loss of tongue-thrust reflex.
- Her mouth opens easily when a spoon touches her lips or if food is being offered.
- Baby wakes often at night or wakes earlier and earlier in the morning after having a regular sleep routine.
TAKING THE PLUNGE
Written by Clint, June 23rd, 2009
If your four-legged first child has a wet nose and gives sloppy kisses, he may need some help adjusting to baby number two.
It may surprise you to know that your pet may have been the first to notice that there was a change in you at the beginning of your pregnancy. Pets are very in tune with their owners and can sense when things have changed. They will notice the change in hormone levels with an owner that they are really attached to. They may not understand what is actually happening and it is our role to make the adjustment a positive experience.
It’s common for pets to become more affectionate during your pregnancy. This positive attitude should carry on into baby’s arrival. In most cases it is estimated that about 98% of dogs will get along with a baby. There are a few dogs that will not get along and if you are in any doubt, you should seek the expertise of a dog trainer.
Still, there is plenty you can do on your own to get your pet adjusted to the baby yourself. The key is the introduction.
- Give your pet a chance to be well behaved when your baby comes home.
- Set up the nursery and put baby items around your home before your delivery so that they are familiar things to your pets.
- If anything in your pet’s routine is going to be different after baby’s birth, such as where they are to fed or where they will sleep, make the changes before the birth.
- Send your partner home with a cap or blanket that smells like your baby if time permits, and have him hold it while your pet sniffs the item.
- If your pet has annoying habits like excessive barking, resolve the issues before the baby arrives.
- A dog that is trained to obey basic voice commands is an easier dog to control when you’re busy with your baby.
Written by Clint, June 23rd, 2009
Have you brought home a little nocturnal critter from the hospital? Following a few simple and surprising tricks can help to keep everyone rested, rational and sleeping through the night as soon as possible.
TOO TIRED TO SLEEP
For the first 6 months of life, babies need and average of 13 hours of sleep each night. Don’t be fooled into thinking that skipping a nap will mean a longer and better night’s sleep. It could mean just the opposite. An over-tired baby can have a difficult time settling down at night. What’s worse, an exhausted infant often suffers from a more fitful sleep, with more waking throughout the night, causing a pattern that’s hard to break and pretty unpleasant to manage. So keep to those daily naps-you’ll all be happier for it.
STAY ON TRACK
By engaging with baby in the middle of the night, you are actually telling him that it’s playtime, not sleep time. Instead, let your actions speak the language of sleep during those wee hours. Keep the lights low, avoid eye contact, say little, keep him warm on the changing table with a blanket, and make sure it’s all business. This way, everyone gets back to bed as soon as possible and your baby learns the difference between night and day.
DADDY GETS A TURN
When you are weaning your baby off of late night breastfeeding, send daddy in for a turn at diaper changes. This way, your baby won’t see or smell mommy and think it’s time to eat. It won’t happen right off, but eventually your baby will realize that his dad isn’t equipped for feeding and won’t bother to wake in the night. Having a turn with the night time visits will give dad a chance to step into your slippers.
MAKE SOME NOISE!
Written by Clint, June 22nd, 2009
Whether you are planning on breastfeeding or formula feeding your baby, or a combination of both, you’ve probably already got a selection of bottles, nipples and storage containers in mind or on your registry list. Nowadays, bottle safety is getting a lot of attention, so how do you know which products to choose? Which ones are safest for your little one?
Baby bottles are typically made of plastic. Plastic bottles may seem like the safer choice for babies, they are, after lighter and less breakable than glass. But plastics contain chemicals, some of which may be transferred into baby formula or breast milk.
A common plastic used in making baby bottles is called polycarbonate, which can release a hormone-disrupting chemical, Bisphenol-A (BPA) into the bottles’ contents, particularly during sterilizing and heating on the stove-top, but also just at room temperature. Bottles that have become scratched or damaged can leach up to nearly double the amount of new bottles.
Animal studies have shown that Bisphenol can interfere with development and can cause irreversible damage. These studies showed, in some cases, precancerous tumors and urinary tract infections. And the earlier the exposure, the greater the damage. Laboratory evidence suggests that exposure to BPA could be linked to breast and prostrate cancer, diabetes, obesity, neural, immune and reproductive problems, ADHD, early onset of puberty and autism.
Plastic bottles can also be made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), also known as vinyl, and the most toxic for IQ deficiencies, learning disabilities, impaired hearing, and reduced attention spans, as well as other behavioral problems. Soft PVC which had been used in the past to make nipples, pacifiers, and teething toys contains phthalates, hormone disrupting chemicals used as plastic softeners.
Written by Clint, May 21st, 2009
From time to time we get asked for a printed paper packing slip. Well, we don't do these for several reasons.
- Printing stuff is mega-lame, saving paper is way cool!
- Only 1 in 100 people actually look at them.
- It costs more, if you want to pay for shipping we'll be happy to include a packing slip! But since free shipping is way totally cool, we wont' be printing packing slips
You can always check your order status and details in your HugaMonkey account.
Written by Clint, March 24th, 2009
Want a little help with getting the house clean or the yard work done? There are many local businesses out there that specialize in custom yard care and anything from a heavy spring cleaning to light weekly house work. Many of these places offer great service, but it can be pricey. Then after the work is done, it may not be to your satisfaction. A simple solution? Recruit those kids! Yeah, right!
This is not such a crazy and unthinkable idea. Kids are natural pleasers and are happy to offer their expertise if they know it is needed and appreciated. I have found that while my kids don't love to do chores, they are willing to help out if they know that how much they are contributing. A little bit of a reward goes a long way to recruiting cooperation. I don't really like the idea of bribery, but when you call it a reward, I'm all for it. After all, a clean yard and home are reward in itself for mom and dad, so why not reward our kids for their efforts?
The first part of getting your kids to want to help is by making cleanup time fun. There are quite a few songs that go along with cleaning time and as silly as they sound, they actually do make putting toys away seem pretty fun. For older kids, let them listen to their own kind of music, whether on the stereo or on their personal music players via headphones. Rocking out to cool tunes makes (almost) any job go a little faster!
Working together as a family shows teamwork. If you bark orders at your kids to get their chores done while you are watching TV, the kids are not likely to want to jump into action themselves. If you tackle a batch of laundry or a sink full of dirty dishes together, work can become a fun way to communicate and appreciate each other's efforts.
Written by Clint, March 24th, 2009
If you are like most proud parents on the planet, you are well aware of and love every one of your children's art projects. Well, there are a few that are stretching the imagination at love, but most of us appreciate the creativity and excitement in sharing the masterpiece.
I have given birth to five little creatures that know how to use a crayon and markers. A couple of these have turned their colorful imaginations into creations that actually resemble something, while the others have gone for the more abstract form of art. No matter our interpretation, our kids have used one of the most basic forms of self expression by creating artwork. My favorite pieces are the holiday crafts that the kids come home from school with. The cute little matching Pilgrim and Indian couples, the various ornaments including the paper lanterns and light-bulb Santa's at Christmastime, to snowflakes, hearts glued to doilies covered with 10 layers of glitter, shamrocks, Easter eggs-the list is endless. But the Holiday art is by far my favorite!
I know a woman who had 7 children beginning in 1967 and has saved much of her children's artwork. She still brings out a chosen few to decorate her home with at each Holiday. Now the grandkids can see their own parents' artwork from "way back when".
As you are aware, we cannot save all these little gems of talent. I have tried several different ways to appreciate, save and preserve my kids' projects. I have been given the thumbs up on some ideas and been given a very crusty look by the artist on others. I have spoken to friends and family who have given me their favorite ideas too. So read on and try a few ways to show off the art that is so important to our children's self esteem.
PLACEMAT TABLE ART
Written by Clint, March 18th, 2009
Finding the time for fun, quality time with our families is becoming more of a challenge every day! From piano lessons, soccer practice, karate class and play dates, to weekend errands and office work at home, time is something we all seem to be short of!
Dinner time is often overlooked as beneficial quality time. We tend to think of dinner as an end of the day necessity to rush through before checking homework, brushing teeth and reading stories before bed. Families are looking to carve out ways to get in some relaxing time with kids and spouses and don’t realize that one of the most perfect times to visit and catch up with one another is already a scheduled time of day-Dinner time!
The benefits of sitting together as a family for dinner are many. Toddlers and younger aged kids feel the rewards of family dinners by being part of a group in close quarters. Passing items of food, taking turns talking and sharing comments are ways that children feel a sense of belonging. Young kids learn a sense of good nutritional habits, literacy development and communication skills. Older kids and teens learn tolerance and compassion for family members. The time teens spend with family members in a positive environment such as dinner time greatly reduces the factor for adolescent tobacco, drug and alcohol use. Other benefits for adolescents include better grades, higher self esteem, reduced risk of dangerous friendships and relationships; they are more likely to be more motivated, they are more likely to say that their parents are proud of them and can open up and discuss important matters with their parents.
Written by Clint, February 27th, 2009
Toothaches are not fun! Imagine what our little babes feel like when their mouths are battling with an emerging tooth. We as parents want to do everything we can to soothe any discomfort for our babies.
Babies begin teething on average between the ages of 6 to 8 months, but this can vary depending on your child. Signs that your baby may be getting ready to teethe are red or swollen gums, extra drooling, putting their fist-or anything-in their mouth, decrease in appetite, increased fussines and disrupted sleeping.
Unless you give your baby something to chew on, he will put just about anything within reach in his mouth-that's just what they do! There are endless remedies to try from homeopathic and natural ingredients, to over the counter medicines.
HOMEOPATHIC IDEA - I love the idea of anything natural or homeopathic. There is a great product called teething sprinkles, which is a medicine that is in very fine powdered form and can be easily rubbed on babies' gums and dissloves almost instantly. Babies like this because it usually comes in yummy flavors and can be given without the baby even hardly noticing that you've given them anything!
Rubbing vanilla extract on the gums is something that works great too.
COLD IDEAS - Putting a teething toy in the freezer to make it cold is a tried and true method of soothing painful gums. Wet the corner of a soft cloth and freeze it for your baby to suck on. An ice cube wrapped in a cloth works well. A whole carrot is something that my babies loved to gnaw on and it stayed cold for quite a while.
DISTRACTIONS - Doing things your baby loves-singing, massage and baths are ideas to distract a baby in distress. Going for a walk or car ride or just playing might help.
OTC PAIN RELIEF - Gels and drops have worked for many teethers. Be very cautious about the correct dosage when giving any types of medicines.
Written by Clint, February 27th, 2009
Desperately Seeking Sleep!
You listen in disguised disgust as your new-mom friends boast about how their new babies sleep through the night and have since 3 weeks old!
This is all fine and great for those lucky few, but what about the rest of us?
Think about where your baby slept while in your stomach. Her bed was in constant motion, gently rocking her to sleep with a never-ending food supply. Babies have alot of adjustments to make when they arrive and sleep can be frustrating for them.
TIPS FOR SLEEP TRAINING
BEDTIME ROUTINE - You may think that babies are born with broken internal clocks, but at about 3 weeks of age, babies can begin to recognize routine. Evenings are typically the time when the family is all around and this can be overstimulating to babies. Set aside a specific time for bathing and a massage and a make this a regular bedtime routine.
PUT TO BED WHILE STILL ASLEEP - If your baby always falls asleep in your arms, she will think that her bed feels wrong. If you fell asleep in your bed and woke up on the floor, would you be likely to fall back to sleep there? Most likely not. Make sure your baby is full and comfortable, then let her settle down in her own bed.
SMELL OF MOM - Smell is one of the strongest senses, for babies especially. This is one of the most basics of bonding. You snuggle your baby close when feeding and comforting and they are surrounded by mom's familiar smell. A small blanket or very small stuffed animal that smells like mom and placed in bed next to your baby may be very comforting.
A FULL TUMMY - At evening feedings, make sure baby eats until she is satisfied. After bathtime, offer more food and let her decide when she has had enough. A full baby is a sleepier baby and will go for longer periods without waking for a feeding.
Written by Clint, February 25th, 2009
How exciting to have a new baby! I can guarantee that you will never be free of things to do as a new parent, but there will be times when you are downright bored! This goes for baby too. At around the age of 4 to 6 months of age, many babies begin to need more stimulation.
Why does it happen at this age? By this time in their lives, babies begin to sleep less and their attention spans have become longer. Their vision has improved as well as their sense of hearing. They love to be stimulated by sight and sound and show a greater interest in their toys and surroundings. A toy that may have been overlooked a week previously, may suddenly become something he is fascinated with. Odd little noises can bring on a fit of giggles or hold a babies' interest like never before.
Babies can also begin to sit up or be propped up and can interact with his surroundings. Many babies are fascinated by television, being in the kitchen watching mom or just being able to watch whatever routine activities are being done by family members.
I always carted my babies around to whatever room I was in for different chores. If I was folding laundry, I would put the baby in her bouncy seat right where I was working. If I was in the kitchen cooking or doing homework with other kids, baby was right there either on the counter or the floor where she could be part of the action. Babies are often curious and just being able to interact with other family members can be stimulating to them.
Other very normal daily activities can be fun for baby. The grocery store is full of sights, sounds and smells. The park is a great way to get some fresh air and get baby used to the outdoors.
Baby Swim classes are offered at many local rec centers or public swimming pools. Baby Yoga classes are a great way to bond and exercise together. Baby Sign Language classes or books can be a great learning tool and can stimulate early learning.
Written by Clint, February 25th, 2009
One of the first questions you will be asked upon declaring your pregnancy, after "When is your due date?" is "Do you have names picked out?" This is one of the funnest parts of expecting a baby. Not only have you created this little one with your DNA, but you can help to choose his or her identity by the name or names you bestow upon them. Undoubtedly, you want your child to be unique, and they will be. A name can and sometimes does precede us, so choose wisely.
Though a sense of humor is a great character trait to possess, I would strongly suggest curbing the urge to be funny in this particular instance. Working with the public over the years as a waitress among other jobs, I have come across some pretty silly names. I remember waiting on a customer and asking how he was doing that night. He told me that he was fine, really. I wasn't sure if he was being sarcastic or not, but his wife told me the story-their last name is Fine. So even if they aren't in fact fine on a particular day, they really are Fine. Last names aren't given to us by choice, so work with what you've got. I don't think it would be very nice if your last name was say, Case, to name your son Justin. There are undoubtedly hundreds of stories about humorous name choices, but I have chosen a few of my favorite examples to share with you.
Written by Clint, February 25th, 2009
As a proud mom of five, some of my very most exciting memories are of those first hours after my babies were born. There may not be anything more precious than a newborn baby, just minutes old, being handed to you in that heavenly hospital bundle-the Swaddle. I always felt like I was a natural baby-saddler and felt confident in my ability to expertly wrap my babies and calm them right down. I'm not a self-proclaimed expert on any subject, but I will admit that I have given a few swaddling pointers-which seemed to work, by the way. A swaddled newborn baby is like the perfectly wrapped gift - it's all about the presentation.
Swaddling dates back to beginning of time and refers to wrapping a baby tightly in a receiving blanket or swaddling cloth. The idea is that while the little one is confined inside the womb, there isn't much space for sudden jerky movements. Once they make their arrival, babies commonly have a very normal Startle Reflex. These jerky and uncontrollable movements can often frighten a baby and waken them. As new mothers know, it is heartbreaking to hear your babies' startled cry from being awakened from sleep. Not to mention how frustrating the crying is for us.
Swaddling helps to soothe the baby and can help them to be calmed more quickly and to sleep deeper and longer by making these jerky movements less common during sleep. Studies have shown that babies who are swaddled at night are more alert and attentive during the daytime and that they have a decreased risk of SIDS. Anything that can be done to reduce this risk brings priceless peace of mind.
A concern of some experts is that too heavy a material used for swaddling may decrease the babies' ability to breathe and may make them too warm. These are both SIDS concerns as well. Using a lightweight cotton or muslin fabric is often recommended to decrease these risks.
Written by Clint, February 16th, 2009
I agree with Leah. Lets take my favorite example for this thought. Ice Cream, you see, I really don't get the point of cheap/awful tasting ice cream. If you're going to eat a food with absolutely no redeeming qualities from the standpoint of nutrition why go cheep.
Cheep is as cheep does but, and cheep is okay for four year old birthday parties. But when you're going to site down and fill up a bowl with some ice cream please, oh please make it count, go for Hagen Daas or Dreyers or Ben and Jerry's. This way your mouth is sure to have a real treat, you're stomach will thank you too!
BTW: My favorite is the slow churned strawberry from Dryers - divine!
Written by Clint, January 20th, 2009
A short time ago I wrote about some of the fun things that come along with being a Daddy. Here is one more.
A few days ago I was helping my little girl Evelyn put her jammies on, she is big enough that I don't have her lay down but stand and put one leg in at a time. We did so and her feet wouldn't come out the bottom, you know how that is I'm sure. Well, she says, "Come on feet!" - as if willing her feet to come through the leg holes. I must say that is one of the funniest things I've heard come from a little monkey.
Truly a great day to be Daddy!
Written by Clint, December 31st, 2008
Yesterday afternoon I decided to take time off from my work and go sledding with my kids.
Around the corner from my house at the elementary school there is a very nice sized hill that is a community favorite for sledding.
Not being a big winter fan I really look forward to the days when I can get out with my monkeys and play. Their smiles, giggles and laughter made my day - truly this is the important stuff in life.
So my call to all is go sledding if you can!
Written by Clint, December 24th, 2008
It seems like everyday in the news we hear of more and more US companies either laying off or going under or being charged with crimes. The root of all of this as I see it is the love of money and profit. Now, I'm not saying that money or profit is bad, quite the contrary, money has is place and needs to be used as a tool for freedom but not as an end unto itself.
So what is with corporate America making their employees work on Christmas Eve - lame and unproductive in my book. This as another symptom of the love of money and profit for the sake of money and not as means to provide a life worth living.
Guaranteed every worker in America that is being required to work today is griping about it and wishing they were home with their families.
What say you?
FYI: HugaMonkey is off this week and most of next, even our manufacturing and fulfillment house Rumble Tuff is taking a couple of weeks off!
Written by Clint, December 17th, 2008
Let me just say that I love the internet. It is a great resource. And I'm loving that many stay at home moms are choosing to continue their college education online. My wife is a stay at home mom, who is currently bombarded with the little ones and we are both looking forward to her finishing up her bachelors degree.
I found this great resource that maps out all kinds of online degrees and the schools that offer them, it called degree search.
Written by Clint, December 3rd, 2008
Thanks to all of you for your enthusiasm over our Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales - they were a huge success.
One a more serious note, there are times when I'm ever so glad to run an online store and not the traditional drive-up-find-a-place-to-park-push-and-shove-and-wait-in-line kind of stores. I was very saddened when I heard of the security guard death at a Wal-Mart (not speaking ill of Wal-Mart here). What is especially sad about this is the family of this fellow lost their loved one right before Christmas, I can't imagine a worse time to lose a loved one, not that there is a good time to lose a loved one.
Online stores are great in that there are never any lines, never any pushing and shoving, and I don't think anybody ever died while staffing an online store - I hope I'm not coming across as flippant about this serious issue, this is surely not my intention. I'm just so shocked and appalled at how some people behave.
Hopefully we will all take issue at what has happened this year and evaluate if we are part of the problem. I agree with Nicole Maestri in her blog post Will Wal-Mart worker death change Black Friday? I especially like what Professor Thistlethwaite said about this year, "Black Friday, I realized today, means death by consumerism."
So folks lets watch a bit less TV and spend more time reading and talking and playing.
Written by Clint, November 26th, 2008
This Friday (11/28/2008) HugaMonkey is hopping on the Black Friday bandwagon and having a killer sale - 20% off on all baby slings!
This includes an additional 20% off clearance rack baby slings!
You still get free shipping!
You will need to use coupon code happyfriday during checkout to get the deal!
Written by Clint, November 19th, 2008
A couple of days ago Dylan wrote about some of the frustrations of being a parent - and don't I know it. Last night my wife and I were watching the Cosby show, IMO one of the best shows ever! The episode discussed exactly what Dylan mentioned in his post about, "being with your wife, alone, is like an eclipse". Cliff and Claire were "done" with their kids for that day and need to escape. So Cliff reserved a fancy restaurant and a hotel room for them to go and spend the night!
How does this relate to reasons to love kids!
Upon returning home Claire was refreshed and welcomed the demands of motherhood and all of the crazy silliness that is associated with it. I had the pleasure of witnessing some of this random silliness just this week.
My son, Christopher was asked, "do you want chocolate milk or orange juice with your dinner?" just then his friend came in and asked him to walk him home up the hill, this was a great opportunity for Chris because he loves to ride his bike down the hill. So Chris put on his helmet and road home with his friend. When he returned after about 10 minutes the first thing out of his mouth was, "chocolate milk!"
My top three reasons to love kids:
- Unexpected silliness
- I'm totally awesome to them, even though I'm a nerd to all adults who know me!
- Hugs and snuggles
What are your reasons for loving kids? Share in the comments.
Written by Clint, November 12th, 2008
Over the last several months we've been working hard to bring additional value to each baby sling we make. We've been able to keep the price low on our awesome baby slings even though costs continue to rise! In light of this we've decided to discontinue some of our baby slings.
You can get one for a great deal by visiting our baby sling clearance rack. Check back often, each day we will list a sling for up to 45% off!
Thank you so very much for all of your support and wonderful feedback.
Merry Christmas - Listening to Johnny Mathis singing "Silver Bells".
Written by Clint, October 1st, 2008
Seemingly every culture has independently come up with some form of babywearing, dating back hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Take the asian baby carriers for example.
The Koreans invented the podaegi, and others have come up with the similar Hmong carrier and Chinese bei bei. Japan traditionally used an obi, or sash, for a wrap carrier, and the onbuhimo became popular about 70 years ago. You can see variations of these basic designs everywhere from Australia to Sweden to Africa.
Clearly, I’m not the only one who’s felt like my arms fell off after holding a baby for hours on end. I take comfort in the fact that babies were just as exhausting to mothers all across the globe, for thousands of years. In honor of these mothers, I would like to explore the Chinese mei tai baby carrier.
The mei tai was traditionally just a square piece of fabric, with four equal-length unpadded straps that would be twisted together and tucked into place. Being the wusses that we are, Americans have adapted the carriers to have more padding and longer straps for a more wrap-like method. The things really are amazing. To quote Wikipedia: “Mei tais are suitable for front or back carries with children ranging from birth to as heavy as a parent can support (usually between 35 and 45 pounds is the upper limit of comfortable wearing, but in emergencies and demonstrations, small adults have been worn. Wraps can be used through the same weight ranges.)” Anybody else get a kick of that image? I wonder what specifically classifies a “small adult,” and I hope to high heaven that I never have to wear one. Still, it’s nice to know I’ve got the option.
Written by Clint, October 1st, 2008
I’ll be honest. Most of these babywearing contraptions on the market today freak me out. They seem too complicated, and I have no idea how to use the rings and straps and tails and harnesses and folds and…well, you get the idea. But today I stumbled across the MangoBaby website, specializing in mei tai carriers. While the site was pretty wordy, and the diagram of the carrier looked a wee bit complex for my baby-challenged brain, I found myself really enjoying it all. It seems simple enough to use, with two shoulder straps and two lower straps. They’ve got optional strap extensions, and have tried to preserve the integrity of the asian carrier tradition. They’ve even got pockets for your keys and cute embroidery and detail. I particularly enjoyed the “instructions” page, with its accompanying disclaimer and precautions. Most of what they say is common sense, ie: do not exercise while wearing your baby. (That’s a lovely visual.) One of their “tips for success” is to “practice with a doll or pillow until you are comfortable with each step.” It’s nice to know I’m not the only idiot out there who can’t figure out how to carry a baby on the first try. Most of the fabric patterns are darling, reminiscent of both Chinese and Japanese designs. I was totally digging this site, and on a fair way to purchasing one of their products, until I clicked the dreaded “add to cart” button. $89! Wow! If you’ve got the cash, go ahead and shell it out for the cute prints and snug design. Us poor folk will have to keep shopping, or end up making our own the way so many of these baby carrier companies started out in the first place.
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