As I was hanging around the house with my 2 year old little boy, we took the time to watch 123 It’s a Fruity ABC from Knowknowledge. This DVD aims to give kids an early lesson of the alphabet with fruits and vegetables as animated characters. Each lesson is based on synthetic phonics along with vivid colors and funny sounds/songs.

I’ve never really seen animated characters entirely put together using pieces of fruits and veggies, but my son certainly found it entertaining. And I would imagine that in addition to teaching kids the alphabet, the bright colors and fun shapes promote a healthy diet as well.

Overall, this is a really fun DVD for young children - It’s bright and colorful, and the unique style of characters made entirely from fruit and vegetables is truly fun to watch.

Approx. 40min | $29.99 (via Amazon.com)

What’s this? A DVD that claims to show parents the “off switch” for their baby’s crying. This DVD, The Happiest Baby on the Block - The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Baby Sleep Longer, claims just that. Most of us have tried numerous “techniques” to calm our baby to no avail. And of course we’ve all dealt with the many sleepless nights as well.

The DVD features step-by-step instructions by Dr. Karp, on how to “switch on” their baby’s powerful calming reflex. Dr. Karp has been featured on Dr. Phil, Good Morning America, and has even taught classes at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. His tips and techniques are based on research and facts and have been know to work. That’s music to any parents ears; to know there is a solution to sleepless nights or uncontrollable crying.

The DVD also contains 3 bonus chapters:

1) Dr. Karp answers questions submitted by parents about calming babies.

2) A Spanish dubbed audio track of the entire 38 minute teaching video.

3) 3 tracks of calming white-noise sound to help sooth and relax your baby

After doing my own research on this and reading numerous reviews and testimonials it’s clear that the instructions in this DVD work. There is a great FAQ on The Happiest Baby on the Block website that should answer a lot of questions any parents may have. I can’t wait to try the 5 S’s on my little one. Happy parenting.

There are numerous resources out there for parents. Whether you are an expecting parent or enjoying the first several months of you child’s life, there is a large library out there for those parents looking for ways to make their baby feel as comfortable as possible and strengthen the bond between parent and child.

For those of you that do not have the time or patience to read books, you’re in luck. DVDs like Infant Massage: Power of Touch are easy to follow and offers step by step guidance on how to rid your child of discomforts through safe, gentle massaging. According to The Chicago Parents Newsmagazine, infant massaging is proven to ease digestive problems, colic, and many other annoyances that would cause your child discomfort. “Doctors worldwide have recognized the positive impact of massage on infants’ well-being”, says The Chicago Parents Newsmagazine.

Other DVDs on the subject are available and some even cover massaging for newborns, infants and toddlers. Baby Massage Therapy: Newborns, Infants, & Toddlers version2.0, is a great DVD for those parents that want to cover all three stages in the their child’s younger years. Still not convinced? Below are a few benefits that infant massaging offers:

• Improves circulation
• Enhances senses
• Fosters trust in parents
• Reduces stress

Visit this page for a full list of infant massage benefits