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Community Corner

Mom's Talk Q&A: It's My (Baby's) Party And I'll Buy if I Want To

A weekly column on issues in mothering. Ask away, moms!

Q: I’m in the throes of planning a birthday party for my soon-to-be-three-year-old, and I’m feeling overwhelmed and confused about all the choices out there. Which is better, a play space or a party at home? Should I offer cupcakes or cake or both? I know my son probably won’t remember the party, but what can I do to make it special and fun for everyone? 

A: There’s no doubt about it, planning a party can take a lot out of you and what you can do and how you do it definitely depends on your child’s age. For example, I kept the celebration very simple last year for my daughter’s first birthday party. Since most of her guests were barely walking, we had it at my home (which was equipped with a gated play area). Lunch was a simple meal of pizza and puffs, followed by milk and cake. For the entertainment, I hired the guitar player from our class at the JCC. This year, the much bigger—and groan—more expensive festivities will encompass a party at a local tot hot spot incorporating games, songs and dance. At the party, the kids will snack on a wrap or pizza (Yes we’re having it again. What can I say? My child loves pizza), followed by ice-cream and cake, and as they leave they’ll be handed a goodie bag chock full of cool party favors like coloring books, stamp pads, and stickers.  

Picture Perfect Party Planning from a Pro in the Know: For detailed photos of themed parties such as Abby Cadabby, Elmo and Curious George and party trends for toddlers and adults check out www.catchmyparty.com. Jillian Leslie, the site’s creator, offers a few tips here on how to throw a great party for toddlers:

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For the Best Time Out: Keep the party short, an hour-and-a-half to two hours tops.     

Pick a Dream Theme: For small parties of eight to 10 children, choose an activity such as a formal tea party, cooking party or a mad scientist party (with yummy experiments).

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Décor Allure: Themed party printables (banners, signs, tags and cupcake toppers) are an easy and inexpensive way to add an extra special touch to your shindig.

Set a Mood With Food: Cut sandwiches into fun shapes using cookie cutters, or place food inside individual boxes or bags and call it a picnic lunch.

Little Sweets Are a Treat: For dessert, choose cupcakes over cake. They are simply easier for little hands to manage. If you must have a cake, think about ordering a small cake for the "impact," and providing cupcakes for the guests.

A Plethora of Party Places To Touch All The Bases      

  • Be the star of your own birthday production or have a dance fever party at Incredi-Bills in Maywood www.incredi-bills.com; 973-337-8362
  • Enjoy an ice-cream party with games, dancing and singing at Little Scoops in Closter www.littlescoops.com; 201-768-6900
  • Kids work on their physical agility and stamina while having fun at the gym at JW Tumbles in Park Ridge www.jwtumbles.com; 201-453-3010
  • Choose from Fire Truck, Princess, Dinosaur, and Safari-Adventure themed parties at The New Jersey Children’s Museum in Paramus www.njcm.com; 201-262-5151
  • Inflatable slides, bounce houses, and obstacle courses challenge and delight your child at Screamin’ Parties in Paramus www.screaminparties.com; 201-444-8883

Facing a Car Seat Conundrum

Q: I am concerned because last month the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released new car seat recommendations instructing parents to keep their child in a rear-facing car seat until he is two years old, or until he reaches the maximum height and weight for his seat. I just recently turned my 15-month-old’s car seat around when he reached twenty pounds per the AAP’s old criteria. So…do I need to turn the seat back around yet again?

A: I feel your pain. I turned my daughter’s seat around right after she turned one (she also weighed more than twenty pounds, and I noticed that her long legs had been tightly pressed to the back of the car seat, clearly making her uncomfortable).  

Please keep in mind that a recommendation is just that, a recommendation. It doesn’t mean that it is going to be legally enforced, but it is certainly worth rethinking your decision in light of the new information, namely that a rear-facing child safety seat does a better job of supporting the head, neck and spine of infants and toddlers in a crash, because it distributes the force of the collision over the entire body.

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