Exersaucer Triple Fun Jungle is a developmental wonder for your baby

News For Parents -  As your baby grows and begins to progress through stages of development, one of the hardest tasks as a parent and perhaps source of costliest mistakes is deciding which activity centers and playsets to purchase for your child.

Sometimes you will find yourself buying two products that overlap, sometimes you’ll find yourself in a situation where you might need something extra as your baby enters in between periods of growth.

One item that is a must have for babies is an exersaucer, from Evenflo.  They’re great playsets that encourage lower muscle development, head and neck muscle development, motor skills and basically introduce your baby to a new world of using their bodies in ways they never knew before.

Evenflo makes many exersaucer models, but the one we chose was the Evenflo ExerSaucer Triple Fun – Jungle because it starts out as an activity mat, which then can be converted into a fully functional exersaucer and finally to a creative learning center once your child can walk on their own.

The activity mat setup was simple.  It’s basically a soft green leaf shape mat that attaches to the two activity bars from the exersaucer and a great secondary activity mat for a finished basement or upstairs play area for your baby.  The mat itself is very basic and you probably want a nice activity mat in the begining as your primary play area.

Once your baby can support their head, neck and back, they are ready for mom and dad to conver the matt into the exersaucer.   Setup was not a snap and does require a screwdriver, patience and close attention to the manual.    There are spring loaded legs were the most difficult part of the setup only because you have to match the springs exeactly in the right locations inorder to make sure the legs of the saucer can’t  buckle and move while your child is jumping around.   Other than the spring assembly, installation was  a snap.

Why is this exersaucer better than the rest?  It’ simply has more activities for your child with two overhead activity bars and removable and interchangeable components all around your baby.  Our baby started using his exersaucer this week and has been going absolutely bonkers with it, in fact when his time is up, and we take him out he has a fit because he wants to stay in.   Maybe when his muscles are a bit more developed, he can spend more time, but we can tell that his new favorite place to be is in his 3 in 1 jungle.

Once your baby outgrows the exersaucer, the unit turns into a stationery play center in which the child can move about and play at different areas in S shaped activity desk.  This product will last through the whole first year of your child’s life opposed to other systems that they will outgrow once they start walking.  It’s great for 1-12 month olds.

Our baby playing in the Evenflo Exersaucer Triple Fun Jungle.

Graco ComfortSport Convertible Car Seat with Graco Pedic Foam

From the Manufacturer
When it comes to convenience and versatility in a convertible car seat the Graco® ComfortSport¿ is a real winner. The ComfortSport¿ convertible car seat, with a 5-point harness and energy absorbing foam liner, is the perfect transition car seat for when your little one has outgrown their Graco® SnugRide® infant car seat, but should still be riding rear-facing – the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping your child rear-facing till at least 20 lbs and one year of age. The ComfortSport¿ convertible car seat can be used rear-facing up to 30 lbs and then after that turn it around and use it as a toddler seat up to 40 lbs. Your child is sure to love the plush, comfy seat with detachable head pillow and the compartments for storing drinks and stuff and you’ll love the ease of the front-adjusting harness straps and the EZ Wash Pad!

When your baby grows too big for his infant seat, but is too small to face forward, this “in between” ca (more…)

Kolcraft Tour Sport Umbrella Stroller with Adjustable Canopy

From the Manufacturer
This stroller is the one for quick trips. It has a convenient gear bag and parent cup holder. It comes with reclining padded seat back for naps. The sun shade canopy adjusts to block the sun. The storage bag holds all your gear. This stroller contains cup holder and shock absorbing front swivel wheels.

Kolcraft Tour Sport Reclining Umbrella Stroller This umbrella stroller is the perfect solution for those quick trips. The Tour Sport Reclining Umbrella Stroller features a convenient gear bag and parent cup holder. The sunshade canopy adjusts to block the sun and provide protection against the sun’s harmful rays. The padded seat back reclines, perfect for nap time! This stroller features shock-absorbing front swivel wheels and a three-point harness for safety.

(more…)

Positive Parenting with a Plan (Grades K-12): F.A.M.I.L.Y. Rules (Paperback)

Review
“An absence of structure afflicts a vast number of contemporary American families. There are many sources of this dreadful phenomenon including substance abuse, mental illness, divorce, illegitimacy, financial pressures, and moral inadequacy, to name just a few. Whatever the primary sources of the lack of family structure may be, the absence of structure itself invariably leads the family further down the spiral of despair, dysfunction, disease and delinquency. Dr. Matthew A. Johnson (”Dr. J.”) and his F.A.M.I.L.Y. Rules parenting system offer a powerful alternative to family chaos. F.A.M.I.L.Y. Rules presents a solid and coherent structure for families in need. In this book, he first presents a philosophical and intellectual framework for F.A.M.I.L.Y. Rules and then presents the system itself in an absolutely clear and straightforward manner. F.A.M.I.L.Y. Rules is a product of who and what “Dr. J.” himself is, a child of a family with problems, an outstandi (more…)

Stop Negotiating With Your Teen: Strategies for Parenting Your Angry, Manipulative, Moody, or Depressed Adolescent (Paperback)

A psychologist offers peace-making strategies for parents who don’t know where to turn. The sullen, withdrawn, sarcastic teenager. The defensive, wary, and helpless parent. This book builds a bridge between the two sides–with practical and supportive advice on how to: * Contain conflicts before they escalate into violence * Break through the teen’s verbal intimidation * Avoid futile arguments * Turn confrontation into communication * Stand firm against teen rage * Manage teen manipulation * Build the teen’s self-esteem * Talk to teens when no one knows what to say For ever parent who’s screamed, what am I going to do with you?, this book finally provides the answer.

About the Author
Janet Sasson Edgette has been a practicing clinical psychologist for the last fifteen years, providing services to children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. She speaks nationally to mental health professionals on adolescent therapy, and has written for severa (more…)

Parenting Children With Adhd: 10 Lessons That Medicine Cannot Teach (APA Lifetools) (Paperback)

Kids with ADHD need to be loved and shown how to become successful adults. Unfortunately, their lack of attention and restlessness often get in the way. Parents of these kids try so hard to stay connected and remain patient in the face of daily frustration. However, it is an incredible challenge to remain positive and involved when your child does not respond to the kinds of strategies that work for other children. Without guidance and systematic treatment, these bright, inquisitive children are unlikely to graduate from high school, are more prone to use illegal drugs, and struggle to maintain employment as adults. Parenting Children with ADHD: Lessons That Medicine Cannot Teach gives parents a framework for building a successful parenting program at home. Drawing from his experiences in evaluating and treating thousands of children and teens with ADHD, Vincent Monastra presents a series of ten lessons that are essential for promoting the success of kids with ADHD. In si (more…)

The Kazdin Method for Parenting the Defiant Child: With No Pills, No Therapy, No Contest of Wills (Hardcover)

From Publishers Weekly
Kazdin, director of the Yale Parenting Center and Conduct Clinic as well as president of the American Psychological Association, claims his method works with no pills, no therapy and no contest of wills. Instead, Kazdin uses a practical, science-based method of dealing with behavioral problems in children that relies on positive reinforcement and a reward system. Kazdin doesn’t dwell on the scientific research (it seems the reader must trust him on this), though he claims his method works about 80% of the time with serious problems and therefore should have even greater success with everyday behavior glitches. He outlines a plan to help parents focus on the positive opposite (in other words, what they want the child to do) and then takes them step-by-step through a process of praise and reward. Though Kazdin’s approach seems complicated at first, his easygoing and often humorous tone gently guides readers through an array of problem scenarios, includ (more…)

Heading Home with Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality (Paperback)

Review”The perfect resource for first-time parents who find themselves wishing their new baby came with an instruction manual.”  —Calgary’s Child”Includes a refreshing mix of practical parenting tips alongside medically sound advice.”  —Staten Island Parent”Offers insights in an authoritative, accessible, and lively guide.”  —Treasure Valley Family”This wonderful book has all the information new moms and dads need.”  —SeacoastOnline.com”The docs’ lighthearted approach…will surely offer consolation to first-time parents who find themselves overwhelmed.”  —Charlotte Parent”This funny yet sage book shells out tons of advice.”  —ePregnancy”Smart advice to get you through those first nerve-racking months.”  —Parents 

This comprehensive guide for new parents finding themselves overwhelmed dealing with the reality of parenting provides “parent-tested, pediatrician-approved” advice to allay their fears. Written in a compassionate yet authoritative to (more…)

Parenting Teens With Love And Logic (Updated and Expanded Edition) (Hardcover)

Review
Cline and Fay know teenagers well, and the book is engaging. The parenting pearls in the last third of the book are worth the price of purchase. Read it carefully; the book is short on “bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” and long on “do not exasperate your children.” — Daniel R. Vander Ark, Christian Home & School Magazine, March/April 1993Cline and Fay know teenagers well, and the book is engaging. The parenting pearls in the last third of the book are worth the price of purchase. Read it carefully; the book is short on “bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” and long on “do not exasperate your children.” –Daniel R. Vander Ark, Christian Home & School Magazine, March/April 1993
–This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Parents need to teach their teens how to make decisions responsibly–and do so without going crazy or damaging the relationship. This book empowers parents with (more…)

Parenting With Love And Logic (Updated and Expanded Edition) (Hardcover)

From Library Journal
Psychiatrist Cline and educator Fay’s “Love and Logic” parenting method advocates raising responsible children through practice. “Helicopter” parents hover around their children while “drill sergeant” parents give orders to theirs, they claim. Neither of these styles permits children to learn how to make choices and learn from the consequences. The result is that as early as adolescence these children too often make bad decisions. In the context of a healthy, loving relationship, “Love and Logic” parents teach their children responsibility and the logic of life by solving their own problems, providing skills for coping in the real world. After laying out the principles of “Love and Logic,” the authors provide “parenting pearls,” which are strategies for applying the method to actual situations such as back-seat battles in the car, homework, and keeping bedrooms clean. The narration, performed by Tim Kenney and Bert Gurule, is clear and energetic. This (more…)

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