In general, we believe that the less TV Pooky watches, the better. While it’s often tempting to pawn her off on Elmo when she’s cranky, we’re trying to avoid the trap of using the TV as a pacifier. So far, I think we’re doing an okay job. That being said, one of the most useful baby products we’ve come across involves sitting Pooky in front of the tube. Pooky is actively using her brain when she watches Baby Signing Time; we can almost see the little wheels turning in her head.

We started using sign language with Pooky even before getting these videos, and found it to be incredibly useful. Through signing, she was able to communicate her basic needs clearly and quickly, allowing us to respond and avert many major meltdowns. That fact alone made signing with baby worthwhile. Still, by the time the Baby Signing Time videos arrived, we were nearing a point of diminishing returns. Since neither of us speak sign language, and since we didn’t have a ton of time to research signs to teach her or a systematic approach to expanding her sign language vocabulary, we were kinda stuck.

What Baby Signing Time offers is an easy way for baby and parents to learn together. The lessons are all song-based, and each centers around a different theme. For example, one song covers food and drink, and includes the signs “eat,” “drink,” “banana,” “cracker,” “cereal,” “water,” “milk,” “juice,” and “finished.” After a few viewing sessions, Pooky has actually learned each of these and uses them regularly. Other songs cover family members, animals, transportation, clothes, owies, please-thank you-sorry, and bed time.

The songs are so catchy, and so effective, that as soon as baby hears the opening bars she gets excited and starts signing. When we play the accompanying CDs in the car, she’ll sign along as well. Even if she’s in a particularly cranky mood, she’ll calm right down and focus on the songs. She has even started trying to sing along, which she hasn’t done with any other music. It’s amazing to see her open up to new ideas.

The result of all this has been a deeper, more rewarding level of communication with Pooky. To see beyond her immediate needs and into her idle thoughts (she’ll even sign absent-mindedly as she daydreams) is pretty awesome. Communication between us now flows much more easily in both directions, and we love it.

Baby Signing Time is a two-DVD set that can be purchased, separately or together, with or without the accompanying CDs, at the Baby Signing Time website. Prices: Entire set for $49.99; one DVD + CD for $28.99; one DVD for $19.99; one CD for $9.99.

We’re always on the lookout for entertainment that Mom, Dad and Baby, can all enjoy. I suspect that once Pooky is old enough to start making specific demands about what to watch and listen to, we’ll be stuck with Barney (or something similarly aggravating). So, while we have the chance, I’d like to listen to children’s music that’s actually, you know, good. Maybe in doing so we can even steer her away from the awful purple dinosaur.

Based on a recommendation from Lexie Barnes, we recently picked up the album “Here Come the ABCs,” by They Might Be Giants. I had a good feeling about this one from the start. They Might Be Giants is one of those bands that I always meant to become a fan of, but never actually did. Apart from a few stray songs that showed up years ago on mix tapes (remember mix tapes?!), I’m embarrassingly unfamiliar with their body of work. The little I do know, though, I quite enjoy.

Turns out this is no exception. Ms. Barnes says she always keeps it in her car, and I think it’ll take up a permanent spot in ours as well. The band’s offbeat sense of humor and disarmingly off-kilter singing voices invite the listener to join in the alphabet fun. These guys are not the too-cool-for-school sorts in the slightest; they get a big kick out of letter puns and vowel humor, and their zest is infectious. With titles like “Who Put The Alphabet In Alphabetical Order?” and “Pictures of Pandas Painting,” how can you not smile and chuckle? You can’t. Beneath the fun and clever letter-themed lyrics is some excellent music. I imagine they could change the kid-oriented lyrics and this would pass as a regular ol’ They Might Be Giants album. I betcha not one fan would complain.

You can find this album on Amazon.com, and it’s quite reasonably priced.

One thing that bugs me about the toys and music marketed to babies is that so much of it looks, feels and sounds the same. It’s not that I mind the pastel baby aesthetic, it’s just that once in a while I want something a little different for me and my baby. What I love about Carole King’s children’s album “Really Rosie” is that while babies and kids can appreciate it, it still sounds like a Carole King album. (If you haven’t listened to the grown-up-oriented “Tapestry”, you should stop whatever you’re doing right now and find a copy. Seriously.)

Throughout “Really Rosie,” we tag along on Rosie’s imaginary adventures as she meets Dracula, directs movies, creates her own cast of characters, and finds all sorts of ways to bring excitement to her day. With lyrics by Maurice Sendak (“Where the Wild Things Are”), the album never lacks for creative imagery, and Carole King provides Rosie with the perfect voice to match, filled with childlike enthusiasm and wonder at the world. Together, the words and music stand up admirably to repeated listenings. Most importantly, Pooky loves it.

You can find this album at Amazon.com, but it’s not cheap (it seems to be out of print in the US). You can also get it for much less through iTunes, although then you miss out on the cool Maurice Sendak illustrations.