UltimateMama, your sneaky chef, has a nice, quick trick for you regarding yogurt…let’s call it UltimateMama’s sneaky yogurt tip.

If your little one only likes flavored yogurt (vanilla, berries, pear, apple, peach, etc.) and you are concerned about the high sugar content there is a way to satisfy both of you.  Just take a small spoonful of the flavored yogurt and mix it with plain yogurt and your little one may not even notice the difference. For added pizazz sprinkle a little cinnamon on top!

UltimateMama wants to introduce you to Chef Daniel Angerer, a NYC father who is the owner and executive chef of Klee Brasserie.  He also makes cheese … from his wife’s breast milk (take a look at his blog).  Of course this special cheese is not a menu item yet. 

Now, that is an interesting use of liquid gold!  UltimateMama will take a pass….

UltimateMama wants you to realize how lucky you are to look down into a baby girl’s eyes and just cuddle her in your arms. You know that you will do your best to mold her to become a strong, educated individual.

Check it out – The Economist (issue March 6th-12th 2010) has a cover story titled “Gendercide – What happened to 100 million baby girls?”

UltimateMama loves the idea of teaching responsibility to young children.  Assigning small tasks or little jobs to your youngster is an easy way for you to teach them to be responsible.  Older children may love the idea of job charts but younger children may just like the independence of completing a spur of the moment task you assign to them.  Many young children are filled with pride when they complete a job that they have seen their mommy, daddy, or older sibling do before! 

Keep in mind that the idea is not to overburden or overwork your youngster but to teach them in a fun manner!

UltimateMama suggests the following little jobs for preschoolers or young children:

– Fish feeder

– Watering the plant

– Napkin helper (at mealtime)

– Table wiper (after meals or snacks)

– Mail helper (carrying it to the home)

– Laundry helper (putting their clothing in their laundry basket or even teaching them to fold a washcloth)

– Weather helper or Meteorologist (look outside with them and discuss how the weather forecast appears)

– Calendar helper (talk about the date, day, month, year, significant events)

– Librarian (putting their books on the bookshelf)

– Prayer leader (saying grace at mealtime)

– Time keeper (teach them how to tell time)

– News reporter (discuss timely events with them)

http://npaper-wehaa.com/nyf#2010/02/?article=773979

New York Family, March 2010 » Page 58

House Rules

How To Design A Family-Friendly Apartment That Doesn’t Sacrifice On Style

Can you have a home you love that suits your tastes and style while also accommodating your children and all their toys, gear, and messes? We think so, with a little thoughtful planning and care. To get you started, here are a few ideas from some design experts.

Design A Kid-Friendly Kitchen

In many households, the kitchen is the center of activity—making it even more essential that the room be family-friendly. Robert Dobbs, a certified kitchen and bathroom designer with Elgot, a design company based in Manhattan, says families looking to remodel their kitchen may want to consider “U-shaped kitchens, [because they] work well to keep kids on the opposite side of the island [and away from the cooking area].” Also, Dobbs says to be sure to “leave [ample] space between open oven or dishwasher doors and cabinets,” as this helps enable safe passageway through the kitchen. When it comes to flooring, solid wood or laminate floors are both resilient surfaces that make for easy clean-up, while cork is another good option because it makes standing for long periods of time easier on your feet—and on a baby’s crawling hands and knees. For people with small kitchens, Dobbs says internal storage options like pull-out pantries really maximize space.

Choose Sensible Carpeting

When choosing a carpet for your living room, comfort, maintenance, and aesthetics are all important factors that come into play. “From a health standpoint, wool, cotton, and silk are natural fiber options that are free of any harsh chemicals,” explains Angela Gruszka of ABC Carpet & Home. She recommends these rugs to families with young children or babies, and wool or sheepskin rugs to families with children a bit older, as these rugs are “extremely durable and easily cleanable.” Steven Forrey, sales manager at The Rug Company, agrees, favoring Tibetan wool rugs—particularly for families that are seeking minimal upkeep and maximum décor. Boasting incredibly high-quality wool, these rugs are stain resistant, durable, and natural. As a final precaution, go barefoot in carpeted areas. Leaving your shoes at the door will ultimately shorten your housecleaning by a considerable amount, saving you time and money when it comes to maintaining the space.

Pick Out The Right Couch

Above all, invest in durable seating. “A coffee table from Ikea is just as good as a table from any other place,” says Debbie Wiener, author of “Slob Proof! Real-Life Home Decorating Solutions.” “But you can always tell a bad sofa from a good one.” When shopping for a sofa, make sure it has a strong frame, a cushion with down and a thick fabric. “We almost always recommend slipcovered sofas,” offers Leigh Oshirak, director of marketing and public relations at Pottery Barn and a mother of two. Next time your child spills pasta sauce or apple juice, she suggests a simple way to cut down on cleaning time—and the bill: Simply unzip the slipcover and throw it into the washing machine. Jonathan Balthaser, manager of Rico, a Brooklyn-based furniture store, suggests an alternative. “Whenever parents come to our store, we always recommend leather or Ultrasuede as the upholstery,” he says. These materials boast durability and are easy to clean. Rest assured that any child-inflicted stains should not leave permanent damage.

Have A Thoughtfully Lit Home

Kimberly Oliver of Design Within Reach cautions parents to avoid floor lighting or unsteady table lamps that can be knocked over. Instead, select pieces with a heavy base that will remain in place. Or, says author Wiener, swap floor and table lamps for overhead lighting, which prevents broken lamps and stained shades, and gives your family more room to play. If you’re showcasing family pictures, track lighting is a great option, according to Fred Katz, owner of Lightforms Inc., because the lights spotlight select areas on the wall. Another fixture to consider is an immediate over-the-shoulder light for reading. This works well in situations where one of the kids wants to watch TV, but another prefers to read a book. The overhead light won’t illuminate the entire room, allowing your kids to stay engaged in the program—and on good terms with each other.

Invest In Furniture That Grows With Your Child When Danielle Hansmeyer, SVP of Restoration Hardware Baby & Child, was pregnant and looking to buy furniture for her nursery, she found that there was a “void in the market for good quality, sophisticated design at a reasonable price.” She returned from maternity leave with a slew of ideas, creating the store’s Baby & Child line, which recently launched. It features an assortment of convertible cribs, elegant bedding, bathroom accessories and more that Hansmeyer says are “subtle, but fun” and “seamless with the rest of your home.” Check out the cribs that convert into a toddler bed and “big kid bed,” and changing tables that transform into dressers in styles “that are pretty timeless.” As Hansmeyer notes, “Being able to buy something that will live with your child for 10 years” is worth the investment. G

—Reported by Kristen Duca, Jordana Jaffe, Darcy Newell, and Kate Willard

According to a story in the Telegraph super-mega-technology giant Apple has admitted to using child labor at its factories that produce its iPods, iPhones, and computers.  Just something to think about before making that next purchase…

UltimateMama hates germs.  Whenever her children get a new toy, book, puzzle, or stuffed animal she tries her best to disinfect the item.  After playdates, she has been known to wipe down all of the toys that the kids played with to rid them of germs.  Trust UltimateMama, wiping down toys is a lot more fun than wiping down a sick child's nose! 

Try to keep your child's toys clean. 

UltimateMama offers up few tips on safe ways to disinfect toys (remember, read all labels first!):

– Stuffed animals:  Read the labels first but many can be washed in the washing machine. Skip the dryer though and just air dry the object.

– Teething rings:  Many teething rings can be washed in the dishwasher on the top rack.  Make sure you read the labels first.

– Board books, wooden puzzles, blocks:  Ultimatemama either uses soap and hot water or disinfecting wipes to wash board books, wooden puzzles, blocks, and other plastic toys that of course do not have batteries.

*** Note:  Some parents swear by disinfecting with bleach. Once, UltimateMama tried to bleach a denim skirt and ended up destroying the skirt's material and her bathroom rug. Alas, UltimateMama has never used bleach again and probably never will! But, if it works for you then go for it!