Today’s Rocking Chair-Gliders - A great place for middle-of-the-night feedings.

Every new parent wants to make their new baby as comfortable as they can at all times. But the newborn’s comfort isn’t all that matters. New moms and dads will spend many hours throughout the day and night feeding and soothing their baby. So a comfortable and supportive chair can make everyone happier.

Traditionally rockers have been the answer. You may have even gotten the one your mother used when you were a baby handed down to you. But the truth is that even when you add new cushion backs and seats, a spindle back with hard wooden seat and arms is hardly what you would prefer for a middle-of-the night feeding, when both you and your baby need comforting.

Today’s rocking chairs are both stylish and comfortable. They feature heavily cushioned alternatives that let you glide back and forth for hours with hardly any strain on the lower ack. Many parents prefer the smooth movement of the glider because it combines the soothing, rocking motion of a rocker with a more comfortable chair for both mother and baby. Plus, gliders come in a variety of styles and colors to match the personal style of the nursery or family room.
We offer a variety of glider types and styles at A Room Of Their Own from manufacturers who have established reputations for building quality, affordable baby furniture.

Best Chairs Storytime Series
Best Chairs feature hand-crafted tailoring, with selected hardwoods and premiere cushioning that new moms and dads will appreciate for years to come. All-steel encased ball bearings and engineered lubricants work together with their revolutionary "long-glide" design for smooth, comfortable glide action. Their pull-handle lock prevents the chair from gliding for easy entry/exit and allows you to lock the glider in the "far-back" position for a nice reclining feel. No matter what style, finish or fabric you choose Best prides itself on having one of the fastest turnaround times in the furniture industry.

Dutailier
Dutailier glider furniture is known in the industry for its mechanical and technological innovations. Many of their available designs feature the sleigh back style that many modern families prefer, as well as several unique product features - with ergonomic back, gliding and adjustable ottoman, a unique base and swiveling mechanism and its ability to glide while reclining.

Dutalier furniture is built from solid wood (birch, maple or beech) except for the sides and some assembly components. They use veneer for the sides of the furniture to ensure that it won’t warp or crack over time.


Dutailier offers the widest selection on the market with more than 125 fabrics and 20 finishes.


Little Castle Furniture Company
Little Castle offers upholstered swivel gliders and children’s furniture that are great for a new mom-to-be looking for something comfortable and stylish to add to the nursery or who want a special sitting area just for their little one. Little Castle specializes in upholstered swivel gliders that feature taller backs to support the head and neck during those late-night feedings as well as higher arm rests designed to support the arm while nursing. And when your little one has outgrown the comfort of mom and dad’s lap, a Little Castle swivel glider will transition easily to the family room.

Don’t forget to think beyond the nursery when selecting your glider style and fabric.
If you plan to use the chair in another room after your baby moves into big kids furniture, you should think ahead so that the fabric and style is compatible with your den/rec room/man cave, or wherever it might eventually wind up.

We invite you to visit our A Room Of Their Own showroom today to see the variety of styles and fabrics we offer. And if you are looking for a gift for family or friends, remember that we offer gift certificates.

Planning Your Nursery – Creating a Safe Haven for Your Baby

Have you looked at your baby’s room from a safety perspective? If not, now is a good time. Your baby will be rolling around, reaching and crawling before you know it. So being prepared is the best way to keep your nursery safe.

Start by looking at the room from the baby’s perspective.
Get down on your hands and knees and look around. You should easily spot the obvious hazards – outlets should have safety covers, electrical cords and dangling curtain cords should be tied up or fastened to the wall or furniture with cord sleeves or duct tape.

Other potential hazards aren’t always as easy to spot. Try to arrange your furniture to fit in front of or over heating vents that can get hot or are open for small hands to reach into? Baseboard heaters and radiators should be covered with screens to prevent baby from crawling or accidentally rolling into a hot surface. Use a cleat wrap for excess window covering cords.

Make sure your cradle, bassinet stand and crib are sturdy and stable.
That cute bassinet stand or cradle that you bought at a craft fair or yard sale may look great in the room, but make sure it doesn’t wobble, is well sanded to avoid splinters and is soundly constructed before trusting your precious little one to it. Be very cautious with antique or hand-me-down cribs. Manufacturers are building cribs much safer today than they did before, with careful attention to slat spacing, type of paint or stain used and other design characteristics, such as rounded edges and corner posts. We recommend JFMA-approved cribs and furniture for a safer sleep environment.

Follow some basic rules for crib safety.
When your baby is old enough to sit up, move the mattress to its lowest level and remove bumpers and pillows that could be used for climbing. If you attach a toy to the side of the crib, make sure it is placed on the wall side of the crib. Your crib sheet should have elastic all the way around and fits snugly around the mattress. Sheets that can pull loose present a choking hazard. Avoid pillows, quilts, and thick comforters during baby’s first year, as these can pose a suffocation risk until you child is strong enough to push themselves away and over.

Buy a changing table that is concave to discourage rolling while you are changing their diaper.
Many changing tables come with straps, although many babies resist them because they are uncomfortable. Even if your baby allows you to strap them down without too much of a fuss, you should never take your eyes off of them. The changing table requires vigilance at all times. Be sure to keep all creams and other baby care items out of reach, preferably at their feet.

Be mindful of where you hang pictures and mirrors.
The wall above the crib or changing table may be ideal from a decorating standpoint, but is not the best option for safety.

Make it a top priority to create a hazard-free nursery for your baby. Your baby will spend 70% or more of their time in this room during the first year. And, because the nursery is the only room in the house where your baby will be left unattended, it requires special attention.

For more tips, here’s a link to an e-book How to Protect Your Baby In The Nursery that we’ve found particularly helpful.

But remember, no matter how safe you think you’ve made your baby’s room, there is no substitute for vigilance and supervision, especially during the first two years of their life.

New Georgia Booster Seat Law Effective July 1

A new law signed by Gov. Nathan Deal requires that all children under age 8 must be properly secured in an approved car seat or booster seat while riding in passenger automobiles, vans, and pickup trucks. The new law raises the previous requirement of under age 6 to under age 8 and is designed to protect children from abandoning their booster seat when many are too small for lap and shoulder belts to fit properly.

However, children under age 8 whose height is over 4’9” or 57” are exempt from this new law. If a Parent or Guardian has a written statement from a Physician that the child has a physical or medical condition that prevents placing or restraining them as required by law, they are also exempt.

Exceptions: A child under age 8 and weighing at least 40 pounds is not exempt from other seat belt laws. They may use a lap belt only instead of a car seat or booster seat when the vehicle is not equipped with lap & shoulder belts; or when all passenger seating positions with lap & shoulder belts are being used to restrain other children. In this case, the placement of car seats / boosters seats should be evaluated to determine if they can be repositioned to provide the best protection for all children being transported.

Fine: The law provides that any person transporting an unrestrained child may receive up to a $50 fine and one point. If that offender has a second conviction, the fine may double up to $100 and two points. One citation may be written per child unrestrained or improperly restrained.
If you, or anyone you know, has questions about this law or needs advice or assistance with car seats or booster seats, ask one of our sales associates at A Room Of Their Own. We’re here to help.

Hello, Jacob. Bye bye, Elvis. The Most Popular Baby Names of 2010

If your child is named Jacob, Isabella or even Sophia, chances are pretty good that someone in their kindergarten class will have the same name.

But if you named your little one Elvis, he probably won't encounter another similarly named friend.

The Social Security Administration has released the most popular baby names of 2010. The names that topped the list have been consistent for several years, but they are joined by some new and surprisingly trendy choices, such as reality TV star names. The administration also notes that some names we've been used to finding at the top dropped a few spots last year.

Jacob held on to the number one spot for the 12th consecutive year, and Isabella is the number one girl’s name for the second year in a row.

Sophia jumped from number four to the second-place girls' spot. Joshua, however, didn't fare as well, sliding down the list from number six to 11. Although Elvis' hits topped charts for years, the name never secured a top spot, even though it has consistently held a place among the top 1,000. But for the first time in 55 years, Elvis has left the birth certificate records building.

Interestingly, a study that goes beyond the top 10 names shows something Americans may or may not want to admit: We love to name our babies after reality show stars. In 2010, the top 1,000 names includes Maci (MTV's "16 and Pregnant" and "Teen Mother" star Maci Bookout), and Khloe (think Khloe Kardashian). Historically, famous people's names often get the spotlight for a few years, but Khloe has been climbing steadily for the past three years, and Maci was the fastest-growing girl's name in the country in 2010.

One other naming trend for Americans seems to be rhyming. In 2010, there are 41 names that rhyme with Aiden (currently holding the number nine spot) in the top 1,000, including many variations of Jayden and Brayden.

It will be interesting to see if William moves up on the list following the royal wedding? And will Catherine, Kate or Pippa become what the naming experts call a "rising star"? Only time and lots and lots of babies will tell.

Here are the top 10 names for 2010 in each category:

Top 10 Names for Boys
1. Jacob
2. Ethan
3. Michael
4. Jayden
5. William
6. Alexander
7. Noah
8. Daniel
9. Aiden
10. Anthony

Top 10 Names for Girls
1. Isabella
2. Sophia
3. Emma
4. Olivia
5. Ava
6. Emily
7. Abigail
8. Madison
9. Chloe
10. Mia

(To see the full list of 50 names for boys and girls, click here.)

How to know if a movie or book is age appropriate for your child?

As we get ready to enter the summer movie season, many parents wonder whether a movie is age-appropriate for their child. How does a PG rating differ from a G rating? What about language? Are there scenes that may upset my child and cause nightmares?

No rating or rating service can answer all of those questions, but we recommend that you start your investigation by visiting the Common Sense Media website.

Common Sense Media (CSM) is a national organization led by concerned parents and individuals with experience in child advocacy, public policy, education, media and entertainment. The members of their staff represent leading research, academic and policy institutions as well as the business community. Their members have a broad range of views and backgrounds, but they all share a passion for media and for kids.

The mission of CSM is to improve the lives of kids and families by providing trustworthy information, education, and an independent voice to evaluate movies, games, apps, websites, TV shows, books, and music.

Many children spend more time with media and digital activities than they do with their families or in school, which profoundly impacts their social, emotional, and physical development. As a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization, Common Sense Media rates media based on age appropriateness. They rely on developmental criteria from some of the nation's leading authorities to determine what content is appropriate for which ages. The goal is to give parents a broad range of information so that you can decide what works for your family. Every family and every kid is different — but all families need information to make good media choices.

Is It Age Appropriate?
For each title, the CSM Decider Scale indicates the age for which a title is either appropriate or most relevant and assign an ON (age appropriate), IFFY (somewhat edgy for the age), or OFF (not age appropriate) rating.

Is It Any Good?
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. We think you want to know how enjoyable something is before paying for something that will bore you to tears. In some cases, they offer this evaluation based on parents’ ratings as well kids’ ratings.


Why They Rate Something ON, IFFY, or OFF for an Age
Right below their ratings you will find a Content Grid with icons that highlight specific content concerns—both positive and negative—along with in-depth explanation on the rated content. See recent rating of the hit movie, Rio, below:


No matter how much we limit their exposure, our kids are influenced by the media they see, hear, and interact with. That’s why at A Room Of Their Own, we want you to know about ways you can decide on the media you want to expose to them.

Tips on choosing the right car seat.

Choosing a car seat is one of the most important purchases you'll make. At A Room Of Their Own, we recommend that you follow the American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) guidelines for car seat safety that are based more on size and weight of your child than on age.

All infants and toddlers should ride in a Rear-Facing Car Safety Seat until they are 2 years of age or until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat’s manufacturer. Many parents have traditionally used their child’s one-year birthday as a time to turn the car seat around, but studies have shown that most infants are still too small at this age to ride as safely in a front facing seat during a vehicle crash. And remember that Georgia law requires that an infant be in a rear-facing seat for at least one year and must weigh at least 20 pounds.

Use a three-point harness as long as possible. It is best for most children to ride in a seat with a harness to at least to 4 years of age. If your child outgrows his seat before reaching 4 years of age, consider using a seat with a harness approved for higher weights and heights.

School-aged children should use booster seats up to age 12, depending on their size and weight. Children whose weight or height is above the forward-facing limit for their car safety seat should use a Belt-Positioning Booster Seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly, typically when they have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are between 8 and 12 years of age. The owner’s manual that comes with your car safety seat will tell you the height and weight limits for the seat.

Here are a few other basic points to make the search a little easier.

• First, buy a new car seat, not a used one. Technology is constantly improving, so this is not the time to cut corners and take a hand-me-down. Plus, you can't be sure if a used seat has already been in a crash or has been recalled.
• When shopping for a newborn, look for an infant-only, rear-facing seat. Young babies fit in these best, and because these seats come with carry handles, they make a new parent's life much easier.
• Look for a car seat marked "JPMA-certified". To narrow your search, you might also read real-people reviews on Web sites such as www.epinions.com. Books like Consumer Reports Best Baby Products are also helpful. And we hope you will ask one of our sales associates at A Room Of Their Own for opinions and feedback we have received from other parents.

Once you've bought a seat, you're not done -- now you have to install it and make sure it fits well in your particular car. Check with your local hospital or fire station to find classes on how to properly install your seat.

Is your child ready for a big-kid bed?

Every child is different, but most toddlers are ready to make the transition to their very first big kid bed between the ages of 18 months and 3 years.

Many pediatricians advise to keep your toddler in a crib as long as possible, but if he or she starts to climb over the rail or repeatedly expresses a desire to move into a big-kid bed, it is time for the transition.

Here are several thoughts to make that transition easier on you and your toddler.
1. Make the move a fun event for your child. Get your child involved in the selection of his bed as well as the new bed covers and sheets. The emotional reinforcement of being involved in the decision help to build self-esteem and satisfaction with the result. You may have to guide their thinking to avoid something you know will be a short-lived fascination. Thomas the Tank Engine can be the best thing ever for a two-year-old, but quickly become too babyish if teased by older siblings or friends. Whatever design you decide on, a great way to reinforce the decision is to make a big deal about showing grandparents and guests his new bed.
2. Choose a bed that is your toddler will not quickly outgrow physically or emotionally. While theme beds designed for toddlers are colorful and fun to look at, your toddler can outgrow it quickly. If you choose a theme bed, look for something generic, like a race car or princess bed. If you choose a twin or double bed, make sure you attach a guardrail so she doesn't roll out of bed. Bunk beds can be fun for children, but doctors suggest they should not sleep in the top of a bunk bed until they reach 6 years old.
3. Consider buying a bed that adjusts in height as your toddler grows. At A Room Of Their Own, we offer twin and full size beds from Young America by Stanley with a dual height adjustment. Start with the bed at a low height. As your child grows, the bed can be raised to a more comfortable height that will also allow room for a trundle or storage unit underneath.
4. Time the move so that it does not coincide with other big events that are happening in your toddler's life. Too many changes at one time can disrupt a child and have an adverse effect on their sleep habits. Try not to combine the move with other big events, like the first day of preschool or the birth of a new sibling. Instead, transition her into a big bed a couple of months in advance.

Once your new bed is delivered, make it a point to stick with their usual bedtime routine. While it is tempting to lie down with your toddler as he or she falls asleep, this habit is hard to break once started. Keep things as normal as possible to ensure a smooth transition into their new big-kid bed.

At A Room Of Their Own, we have arranged the big-kid section of our store to showcase vignettes where your child can imagine how their new bed might look at home. As always, we encourage you to ask questions and have your child “test drive” options before buying. We’ve found that children are much happier with their new bed when they are actively involved in the selection and decision process.