Sanity saver
Dr. Harvey Karp, the man many new parents credit for keeping them sane with his “5 S’s” for soothing babies and inducing better sleep, is coming to Seattle to share his wisdom with local families and child-care professionals. Karp, the bestselling author of The Happiest Baby on the Block and The Happiest Toddler on the Block, will also give parents tools to boost toddlers’ cooperation that can “prevent 50 to 90 percent of tantrums” in a matter of days. Sounds like an evening well spent, to us. Karp will speak at the Red Lion Hotel in Seattle at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15. The lecture will benefit Postpartum Support International Washington. Tickets are $20/single or $35/couple. (Nice to know: Babes in arms are welcome.)
Got (breast)milk?
When newborn babies have trouble breastfeeding, moms have a couple of options for expressing their milk: by hand or by machine. The New York Times reports on a new study that shows moms who expressed by hand were more likely to still be nursing several months later than moms who used a breast pump. The study, out of the University of California, San Francisco, found that 97 percent of moms who expressed by hand were more likely to be breastfeeding their 2-month-olds, compared to only 72.7 percent among those who had used the machines. Those who expressed by hand were more comfortable expressing milk with others present (if you’ve ever used a breast pump, you know how awkward it can feel). And although the small quantities of milk were the same in both groups, hand-expressers were more satisfied with the results than those who may have felt discouraged by the relatively large collecting cups.
Izilla is on the move
One of our favorite local toy stores, Izilla Toys, has (sadly) closed up shop on Capitol Hill. But don’t despair: It’s still alive and kicking in its Wallingford Center location (lots of other kid-friendly shops, great free parking). Plus, owner Jude Larene has announced he’s opening The Peace Play Collaborative (The PPC) at the Wallingford Center. “The PPC will offer small and large affordable study and studio spaces for tutors, music teachers, art teachers, dance and music instructors, community leaders, etc. It also has a large rentable space for ongoing kids-related group classes and one-time events, such as parties, meetings, book clubs; the sky’s the limit!” The PPC will also offer drop-in play times for a small fee when the space isn’t reserved. That’s exciting news — we wish them luck. For more details, call Izilla Toys at 206-547-5204.
Whee! for Wee-Tots
Meanwhile, across the pond, an adorable new store called Wee-Tots has opened on Main Street in old Bellevue, right near mom faves Title 9 and glassybaby. Catering to the infant to 7-year-old set, store owner Ji-Young Lee (herself a mom to a 2-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy) has filled the modern store with a well-edited selection of higher-end baby furniture and gear (cribs, beds, strollers, car seats, high chairs, diaper bags and so on), clothing, accessories, and high-quality, eco-friendly and educational toys. “Having two children of my own, I wanted the best of what was available for them, and oftentimes, it was hard to find those things locally,” says Lee. “I wanted to open a children’s store that was known for having those unique, quality items.”
—Jane Watson