Father’s Day ideas from radio’s Ernie D

Usually, I don’t like to copy/paste reasons for doing anything from a manufacturer. However, these reasons just...

It’s almost always a good idea to shop used, especially for kid stuff, since they grow out of it so quickly. However,...

We recently tried the Homedics Restore Water Purifier and Sanitizer. Based on the included documentation, it’s a good choice if you have concerns about the cleanliness of the water in your area. At the same time, we found there was no discernible taste difference between water purified by the Biomedics model versus our old fashioned Brita filter. The Homedics “machine” is a new water filter on the market and provides both Brita-style filtering of water as well as ultraviolet light sanitization. The Homedics unit is proven to kill 99.9999% of bacteria, 99.99% of viruses and 99.95% of microbial cysts every time with a special UV bulb that will always deliver the required kill...

Finally someone has come up with the ultimate service for new parents who have no time, no clue, but lots of coin. Gifted At Birth (giftedatbirth.com) sends you everything you need to take care of baby every week, for three months after the baby is born. They’ll even help you choose the right items for your lifestyle (green, idiot-proof….). All this for the low low starter price of only $124. If you live in Manhattan, a postpartum doula wiil come to you to explain how everything works, including the baby. Outside the diamond-studded boundaries of NYC, however, it will be a burly UPS guy who won’t have a clue. You have to admire the moxie of a company that can make the promise...

Christmas (ugh!) will be here before you know it, so let me be the first to suggest taking that photo this weekend instead of waiting until late November. Our budget doesn’t allow a pro photographer this year and I like to think of myself as pretty handy with a camera. I know at least I can take a picture as well as the photo guy at the department store. With new digital cameras that take 100s of photos for free, there’s no reason most people can’t do this as well. My wife always loves the finished product, but she always laughs at me for two things: my equipment and my setup. First, she thinks it’s amazing that I bother with a tripod and also that I clean my lens obsessively...

I met Gina Wismiller at the ABC Kids Show a few weeks ago and I liked her product because it resonates with the situation in our house. My daughter is nine years old and still plays around like a kid. She likes to wear dresses, but like any kid, she wants to be ready to take advantage of any climbing/jumping/tumbling activity. However, when she’s wearing a dress or skirt, that’s not possible. Therefore, she’s quit wearing the skirts and dresses in the closet, much to the disappointment of my wife who spent money and time finding them for her. Enter the Monkey Bar Buddies, a kind of over the underwear short that girls can wear under their skirt. Part of the magic is in the name...

Another excellent article by Jane Brody of the New York Times on the importance of talking and communicating with your baby, including looking him or her straight in the eye. Prior generations didn’t have distractions like iPhones and Blackberries and parents talked to their kids. Now, we have to avoid the temptation to text, and talk instead. Ms. Jacoby’s general advice to parents: “Reward your little one’s communicative attempts with your heightened attention to his/her conversation. Be prepared to put down your cellphone and look them squarely in the eye as they share their thoughts with you.” Communication begins as soon as a baby is born. The way you touch, hold, look at and...

The start of a new school year also brings the start of cold and flu season, exacerbated by slimy fingers touching everything in sight. If your child is sick, how do you know when it’s time to rearrange your schedule and keep him or her home from school. Every situation is different, but you can start by asking these five questions 1. Groggy and listless? If your usually happy camper doesn’t seem like himself and it’s hard to get smile, let alone a giggle, this is a good indicator that this isn’t a normal day. 2. Lack of appetite or thirst? If your child really wants to eat or drink nothing at all after a full night’s sleep, this isn’t normal and it’s...

What’s good for the head may be bad for the sperm, says a new study in Fertility and Sterility. Half of the users of Paxil, out of 35 men tested, showed DNA damage to their sperm. DNA damage in turn would result in decreased fertility.The study author, Dr. Peter Schlegel, M.D., thinks that all selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may have this effect since they work in similar ways. Hope-to-be dads should discuss their use of these drugs and the possibility of temporarily stopping their use while trying to get pregnant with their partner.

Singledad.com founder and member, RJ Jaramillo, gives single parents advice on the fundamental items for every single parent family kitchen. Go here to read the rest: Cook like a Dad Part 1: Kitchen Fundamentals

WeParent president, Talibah Mbonisi, gives single parents advice on co-parenting. I remember the bad old days of kid-exchanges in friendly locations like the Waffle House parking lot. We’d start off with cordial greetings, but before long, we’d find our way into the downward spiraling discussion of what clothes I had packed. Go here to see the original:  Battling Over Bitty Briefs: Ah, Co-Parenting

Dating expert, David Wygant, gives single parents advice on dating. Here’s something he said to a recent client who was very anxious about approaching women. He was also very nervous about what would happen if he did approach them, and about how they would react. Go here to read the rest:  Where’s My Reward?