Pageant Dresses For Your Princess

Children's pageants can be a fun and exciting opportunity for young girls to develop confidence and poise at an early age.  Not everyone realizes that pageants have evolved drastically past the traditional and superficial "beauty contest," and into very well organized programs that specifically target the growth of a number of very important skill sets.  Each catagory of a pageant has a purpose that goes far past the contestant's aesthetic qualities. 

The most basic of pageants normally includes at least one interview portion, a talent competition, and a formal wear competition. 

The interview is, in my opinion, the most useful catagory.  In most cases with older age groups, the interview is done privately with the judges.  Children are scored on their ability to articulate intelligent and well thought-out answers to a variety of questions.  The ability to be confident and cool under interview pressure is a skill that will aid your child enormously in the real world.

The talent competition is a great catagory because it gives your child a chance to perform in front of an audience.  The benefit to having them performing at such a young age is that they will likely be showing off a talent that they are very proud of, so it will be fun for them!  This is a great way to reinforce positive feelings about being in front of large groups at an early age.  Not everyone is a natural born performer, so this provides the chance to put more introverted children in a friendly environment where they can learn that they have no reason to be afraid of an audience, and they can overcome some of their shyness. 

The formal wear competition is perhaps the most fun for little girls because it's basically the greatest game of dress-up they've ever played.  What little girl doesn't love trying on mommy's pretty shoes and jewelry?  Well, in a pageant they get to wear their very own formal outfit!  In the formal wear portion, the children will most likely be asked at least one question on stage, and they'll get to answer while feeling beautiful in their pageant gowns.  This is great for self-esteem and it's excellent practice in public speaking, which is something they will no doubt have to do at some point in their adult life. 

At Sophia's Style, we carry a vast array of gorgeous girls pageant dresses.  If you're entering your girl in a children's pageant, you're going to want something beautiful, so she can feel like a princess and have fun.  Pageants can get pricey, even if you get sponsorships, which is why Sophia's Style is a great place to go for pageant dresses.  We have quality gowns at reasonable prices. 

This blog was first posted at Trendy Girls Fashion Blog.


Jessi

When to call the doctor for your baby

It's normal for new parents to worry about their baby's health. Even if you can see that your newborn is strong and sturdy, babies are small and vulnerable and need our protection. But how do you know when something's really wrong?
You know your baby best, so trust your instincts -- and call the doctor if something doesn't feel right. Here are some key areas to keep an eye on.

Temperament

If your baby seems like his usual playful, happy and is feeding well, he's probably not seriously ill. A baby who has a runny nose and a big smile is probably not as sick as a baby who has a runny nose and is lethargic.

Unusual crying

If your baby suddenly starts crying more than usual and you can't comfort him in the usual ways, or if his cry is weak or unusually high-pitched, he may be seriously ill. The opposite is also true -- if your baby seems unhappy and doesn't cry but is unusually inactive and difficult to wake up, call your doctor.

Appetite

How hungry your baby is will vary from day to day. But if he's hungry he should feed vigorously. A baby who tires easily from sucking or loses interest in nursing or feeding may be sick. Also, if you notice your baby spitting up more than usual, with more effort, or if the spit-up is greenish in color, call your doctor.

Abnormal bowel movements

Young babies, especially breastfed babies, often have very soft or liquid bowel movements. But if the stools become extra watery, your infant may have diarrhea.
Monitor his bowel movements and see whether the diarrhea continues. Make sure he's breastfeeding or bottle-feeding as often as usual so he doesn't get dehydrated. Your baby should wet a minimum of six diapers a day. If he seems lethargic and stops having bowel movements or begins to have small, hard, or dry bowel movements or if his stool is streaked with blood or mucus, or has the consistency of jelly, call the doctor.

Difficulty breathing

If your baby's breathing is labored or if he's having trouble breathing at all, get help immediately.

Fever

Although fever in a baby is a signal that he's sick, the fever alone usually isn't worrisome. A baby can have a low-grade fever and be seriously ill, or a high fever and be only mildly ill. But if a baby under 3 months of age has a fever of 100.4 degrees F or higher, he should be examined. If an older baby has a fever but appears completely well otherwise, observe him for a day to see whether he develops other symptoms.
If you're still in doubt, call your healthcare provider anyway. It's important for you to get peace of mind, and it never hurts to check with your doctor.