I used to have this recurring nightmare. It involved going to Disneyland with my kids. We'd all be having fun until we got back to the stroller parking area, after a ride. I'd attempt to reclaim my stroller. Only suddenly there would be twenty other strollers parked there that looked exactly like mine. They'd have unfamiliar stains and other kids' sweatshirts in them. A feeling of panic would wash over me. The cure? BabiePlates.
BabiePlates are not the flimsy kiddo license plates of your childhood. They are oh so much cooler and more substantial. And European. Who can help but rubberneck when they see a set of cool black and white European license plates? They just smack of high end, don't they?And they allow you to immediately identify your stroller in a crowd, deter theives and provide added safety/reflection for nighttime strolls.
Each BabiePlates license plate is custom made with your child's name and date of birth. You can further customize them with a flag or even a picture of your child. Use them on your stroller or find somewhere else to hang your plates. When our kids are older and out of their strollers, we plan use the plates to decorate their rooms. In the meanwhile, my son delights in seeing his name and that of his baby brother on the double jogger. It also helps end arguments over who sits where.
So many of my neighbors have asked me where to get these that I am thinking that we will make them our new standard baby gift.
I first glimpsed Natursutten pacifiers at the Mom-2-Be show in Los Angeles and my radar was activated. There was something rather appealling about these simple, squishy binkies. No bling, no colors, but a pure simplicity that is refreshingly modern. And more importantly it was the fact that they are better for babies that caught my attention.
Non-toxic Natursutten pacifiers are made from pure natural rubber from the tree Hevea brasiliensi. The Natursutten pacifiers are softer than silicone, and they are extremely hygienic because they are molded in one piece. This means that there are no joints or cracks where dirt and bacteria can accumulate.
These pacifiers are:
*Free of Allergy causing substances
*Free of Artificial color
*Free of Cancer causing substances
*Free of Hormone disturbing substances
*Free of Chemical softeners
*Free of Parabens, PVC, BPA and phthalates
In addition to all this, the soft material and shape of the Natursutten pacifier has several advantages. The pacifier easiliy conforms to baby¹s natural mouth movements without leaving any marks on baby's sweet face. Despite the softness of the material, it is very strong and has passed strengh "stretch tests". Above all this may be the only binky on the market that is 100% natural, environment friendly and biodegradable. That's a happy mouthfull. Natursutten pacifiers are available in two shapes and several sizes, from Generation Orange online.
Once upon a time a mommy princess set out to potty train her three children. She bought them three types of potties.
The first potty was big and expensive. It had a place for a roll of toilet paper, a flip down lid and "real" flushing sounds. It played music and promised to make going potty FUN!. The second potty was sleek and modern. It converted to a stepstool. It advertised an ergonomic seat and matched the bathroom decor.
And the third little potty, looked like little more than seat with a pot. It was small, simple and humble. It had no moving parts. Only a small logo that read Baby Bjorn. The princess left this one in the corner, thinking it might come in handy in the royal car, if nothing else.
One by one the princesses' children arrived to sit upon the potties. They flushed the first potty. Repeatedly. They unrolled all the paper. They made it sing songs till the batteries wore out. They pinched their fingers in the flip down lid. They did not, however, pee.
Upon the second potty the children did a dance. Up high enough to work the sink controls they flooded the bathroom. They filled the potty's pull out container with soap and water and matchbox cars, but not with pee. They removed the ergonomic padded seat cushion and found that it actually made a fine hat.
And then one day the three children came running back to the bathroom. " Mommy, Mommy!" they exclaimed. We gotta go!". The princess had long since disposed of the first two potties and so she showed them their Baby Bjorn potties that had been stashed neatly and unobtrusively stacked in the corner. All three children sat down. With no buttons to push or songs to sing, the children were very serious. A look of great concentration came over their small faces for a moment. And then they said the magic words, that every princess longs to hear.
"I did it! I went in the potty!"
When the princess went to clean the potties, she found it was true. All three of her children had been trained upon the Baby Bjorn thrones. Soon thereafter, she banished all other training potties from the royal household. Afterall, princesses have better things to do that clean up floods and replace batteries. The Bjorn potties were comfortable, portable, and easy to clean thanks to their simple all in one construction. Their shields protected the royal floor from unwanted overflow, even when the youngest prince was in training. Their colors were many, their space needs small, and they thankfully, did not cost a royal fortune.
Princess Mommies with Style with children who are potty training - check out the classic, effective and simply designed potties from Baby Bjorn. It may well be the throne that's "just right" for your children as well. Drugstore.com currently has this potty in Ocean Blue for only $19.95, and free shipping if your order totals over $25. Otherwise Amazon.com has them for $24.95 in a rainbow of shades including pink, yellow, and green.
There's a new carseat in town! It's the Maxi Cosi Mico. Which roughly translates to "Way better than the infant carseats you had with your older kids" in my household.
Maxi Cosi seats have long been popular in Europe, where the standards for car seat safety are more stringent than here in the USA. The Mico version, now available in the USA, is actually a renamed version of Maxi Cosi's Cabrio model, a best seller in the Euro market.
It's easy to see why this cushily padded carseat is so beloved by European parents, and why they have put their trust in Maxi Cosi for one of their first "big purchase" decisions as new parents.
First there is the ease of use: We found the infant seat very easy to install with both the latch base and freestanding with a seatbelt, when needed. The latch base in particular was very secure feeling compared to other models with a base that I have tested. An indicator provides peace of mind - letting you know twhen he seat has been installed properly. The taller, narrower profile and ergonomic multi-position handle makes it easier to quickly and smoothly get in and out of cars and to tote with you. Even when tested with a feisty 11 month old along for the ride. Our volunteer rider especially loved the seat's see-through peekaboo hood. It is generous and sturdy, standing up firm to attempted abuse (our tester who had previously removed and destroyed the hoods on her other carseats). I should note that the other passengers in the backseat enjoyed the seat as well - they benefitted from the narrower profile which allows for a little more seat space for them.
Ample padding and cushioning within the seat support the youngest passengers on up to the tallest. Adjustments are easily accomplished from the front of the seat. Of course it is extremely comforting to know that the seat is lined with EPA foam and side wings that adhere to the highest protection standards for both frontal and side impact accidents.
Want to use your carseat with a stroller? Several US manufacturers are working on pairing options and Bugaboo, Valco and the Micralite Toro have already made it possible to use Maxi Cosi carseats with their strollers. And of course, this carseat pairs up perfectly with the Quinny line of strollers. Click here for my review of the Quinny Buzz - which I blamed for my present pregnant state.
I could go on and on about this carseat and what a long way it has come from the carseats of the past. The safety and convenience features are plentiful - but here are a list of my favorites:
*Side Protection System offers optimal protection against side impact
* Integrated sun canopy: always on hand and easy to store
* Practical belt hooks: retain seat belt when seating your child
* Ergonomic handle for ease and comfort of carrying
* One-pull harness for easy adjusting harness length
* Push button for easy adjusting the carrying handle
* Handy storage compartment
* Cover is easy to remove and washable
* Includes beltpads and crotchpad for baby's comfort
* Easy installation and minimum chance on wrong installation in combination with Maxi-Cosi EasyFix or Maxi-Cosi EasyBase
* Lightweight seat weight
All this said, I'll go shallow on you all again and just say this. The Maxi Cosi Mico carseat is so dang cute! It comes in a great assortment of 5 mod eye-catching colors/style that highlight your baby's personality and your hip sense of style.
So my 4-year-old is still in his Britax Marathon. I'm going to push to keep him in it as long as I can - a time which will probably be sooner than I think considering he's always over 100% on the growth chart for both his weight and height. To date, he's still within the safety limits for the Marathon but I do recognize that I'll probably have to move him to a booster in another year or two.
The whole "booster" seat thing is still a foreign concept to me. But recently I was checking out boosters, specially the Compass Booster from Learning Curve. It's hard to imagine that my child will sit in something like this some day soon.
That said, I was amazed at the simplicity of the booster. It couldn't have been easier to install, it's padded and comfortable and after testing it out in the driveway, we almost had an issue getting him to go back into his Marathon!
What I thought was really nice too about the booster was how wide and comfortable it seemed. Plus, it has two arm rests and a cup holder at the bottom of either side of the booster. (If only my driver's side seat was so plush...)
The Compass Booster is designed for children 3 to 10 years old, 30 to 100 lbs, and up to 38" to 57" tall. For older children, this is a nice booster and definitely worth checking out. You can buy it directly on the Learning Curve website or search for local retailers.
It is Halloween time. Which means lots of candy. For a parent of a child with peanut allergies, this is more frightening than any haunted house. Sawyer and Sage both have their costumes and treat buckets, but I will be closely monitoring what goes in and what they're allowed to eat.
Robin Davison knows this feeling. She has an allergic child, so she knows the constant fear and anxiety every time her child goes to the playground where kids run around on the equipment with peanutbutter sandwiches (my personal pet peeve), or to a birthday party, or basically whenever her child eats or goes anywhere while she's not there to ensure he is safe.
Because even though you tell those in charge about your child's allergies, no one is as cautious as you. Just the other day I saw Sawyer's preschool teacher bring in a container of alphabet cookies. I recognized the container as something I've had to put back on the shelf at Costco. I had to tell her that they are made on shared equipment with nuts - something she didn't know. She would have served them to Sawyer had I not just happened to see her.
That's why Davison started STAT Kids. From her website, www.statkids.com, Davison sells products that raise awareness to a child's particular issue, and which keep emergency information and medication, such as an epi pen, handy at all times.
We tried out the roomy lunch bag, which has a ginormous graphic across the top that clearly says "Peanut Allergy." Sawyer really enjoyed putting his toys in it, but we will bring it along this weekend for his lunch when we go to Day out with Thomas.
There are also red rubber bracelets - like the Livestrong yellow ones - with peanut allergy clearly written on them., which Sawyer thought were pretty cool.
And we also tried out the fanny pack that has room for an epi pen, inhaler, benadryl and kleenex when we went out of town recently. It is something that could easily be left with a teacher, coach or anyone with whom your child regularly comes into contact.
You can also by safe snack boxes, allergy alert stickers or even a personalized backpack.
What's nice about the products is they can all be tailored to your child's particular health issue: allergies, diabetes, celiac disease, asthma, or whatever you would need someone to know immediately to keep your child safe.
STAT Kids products can literally be a lifesaver. They are offering a discount for MWS readers. 10% off any purchase through November 30, 2007. Enter coupon code MWS2007 at checkout.
One ride for all, in a fabulous carseat from Jane USA
On any given day, running errands, going to school pickups, dropping off pals after a playdate or for soccer practice, I have a half dozen children between the ages of 2 and 10 in and out my car. Which is why I have quite a collection of carseats in the back - ranging from a covertible infant to toddler seat, backless boosters and a one piece booster/harness seat. The infant/toddler seat is fixed in place with the latch system but the rest all use belts and are juggled from the third row to the second, to the trunk space depending on the size and age of the passengers involved. It is, quite frankly, a pain in the butt.
But there is an end to my constant carseat shuffle with my new Team Plus car seat from Jane USA. I am thrilled to report that this one brilliant carseat quickly and easily adjusts (without unbuckling) to seat my 3 yr old, my 7 yr old, and even my 10 yr old. This carseat is not only rated for kids 30-80 lbs, it is truly fitted for them. Adjustments are quick and easy to accomplish, without removing the seat. There are multiple height and width adjustments, making for the safest ride for all sizes. If your car has reclining rear seats as ours does, you'll be glad that the Jane carseat also has multiple recline positions. Which makes for the glorious sounds of snoozing silence from the backseat, on longer trips.
Although my 70 lb 10 yr old is technically out of a carseat by law she found the Jane so comfortable that she actually asks to sit in it for longer trips. The head and back support and raised vantage point are all motivating for her to sit in what she used to disdainfully refer to as a "baby seat". All three of my children/testers confirmed that the seat was extremely comfy for them to sit in. Which means we will have to get at least one more!
The thing that I loved the most about the Jane car seat is that it is the first booster/lap belt seat I have tried that uses a lap belt (which was easy to thread and also easy for my children to fasten by themselves) but also latches into my car's latch system. Other boosters seem flimsy and unsafe by comparison, sliding all over the rear seat. It is difficult with these types of seats, to be sure that your booster will remain in the right position. This can be of critical importance, particularly in a side impact. Adding the rigid latch connectors makes the carseat outperform non-fixed seats in these types of crashes. And finally, there is the additional danger of the seat becoming a projectile object when you are driving around without a child buckled in to the seat. Ever slam on the brakes and feel an empty carseat slam into the back of your seat? Ummm... I have. It's sobering, and is what made me start putting the boosters that were not in use, into the trunk. But with the Indy Plus I am able to leave this one carseat safely latched in place, knowing I will be able to accomodate any of my kids (or their pals) in it. No more booster juggling!
The Jane USA Team Plus carseat has exceeded US safety standards and is a seat I would recommend to anyone who's child is aging out of their toddler carseat, or anyone who needs to keep a versatile second carseat in the car. You cannot go wrong. Check out the Jane USA website for information on dealers.
With my first son I didn't worry about sun exposure since he was born in the later fall. But when I found out I was pregnant and due in June (with the whole summer ahead of me and a 2 1/2 year old who loves to be outside), I knew I needed to find a product to allow me to tote around my newborn. (I was told that you are not supposed to put sunscreen on a newborn, so I needed something else!)
After looking and looking and trying out various products, I finally found the one that works for us. Sasha's Sun Covers protect a baby's/child's delicate eyes, skin and body from the harmful effects of the sun's heat, glare, cancer causing ultraviolet UVA/UVB rays, wind, dust, debris, and flying insects. They are water resistant and flame retardant. They are unique in that they protect, yet still allow parents to see in and children to see out at all times. They fit all types of infant carriers (Graco, Peg Perego, Evenflo, Baby Trend, etc) and are simple and easy to use. They are also well-priced.
I have to say that this product has been invaluable to us this summer. I have used it at parks, the zoo, the beach, the pool, in the backseat of the car... practically any outdoor place where I wanted to protect his delicate skin from the sun and bugs. My fair-skinned, red-headed child has been totally protected, safe and happy under his Sun Cover and I feel good about his safety and comfort every time I use it.
I like products that are practical and add utility. But when a practical utiliarian item gets itself all dressed up as a fashion accessory, I am in love!
Living in sunny, breezy Southern California, my children get a lot of sunshine. Too much sometimes. Few strollers shades offer complete coverage and so we have always done the blankie drape. But along comes that refreshing coastal breeze and those blankies go flying. Usually into the face of my cranky child who I have finally rocked and strolled to sleep. It's enough to make me stay at home. The stroller shades and clip on umbrellas we have tried in the past have always been unwieldy and unnattractive.
And then Bellah May came along. It was love at first sight when I saw their stroller shades. Oh the fabrics! And the clever design!
This generously sized sunshade for little ones fits over both single and double strollers. It attaches with two elastic and velcro straps, in under a minute. The shade has a flexible tubing built in that keeps it erect and up off of your kids. Even on a breezy day. It comes neatly packed up in it's own attached storage case which conveniently functions as a stroller bag - perfect to stash your keys and sunglasses - while the shade is in use. When you are done it quickly folds right back up into the case.
So your stuff is stashed and your kids are protected. But whats more, you look marvellous! Here's where the fashion kicks in and all the other moms start chasing you down the block to find out where you got that cool sunshade. No matter what color, style, brand of stroller you have, there's a Bellah May out there to pimp your ride. And because the shades are reversible, you get two completely unique looks for the price of one. It's enough to rejuvenate and make you fall in love with that hand-me-down old stroller all over again.
We tested a traffic stopping shade with a red/pony combo that worked on all three of our strollers, including a double, an umbrella and a full size stroller.
Mommies with Style save 10% off your shade when you use code BELLAHMAY.
Allergy Haven: supporting parents and kids with allergies
I have no allergies. Growing up, while my friends suffered from hayfever, eczema, whatever, I'd stand by and do my own thing. Until I hit adulthood, and I developed a garlic allergy - which isn't life-threatening and more of an annoyance. I'm lucky, I know.
And I didn't really have a grasp on what it was like to have a severe allergy, to live like that, until I met my friend Susan. Susan has 8 children - 3 stepdaughters, and five of her own. All five of the younger kids have one allergy or another ranging from seasonal to severe. She's also allergic to a number of things herself, including tree nuts. She carries a number of epi-pens wuth her at all times.
Of course she's not the only one - there are thousands of people, children, families who are dealing with severe allergies on a regular basis. So I was interested to check out this site and products - Allergy Haven.
They sell apparel for kids ("I'm not nutty, I'm peanut free"), epi-pen holders, books, pantry stickers and more. The epi-pen holders especially I thought were great - they have one for sale for Moms, and even one for kids that wraps around their waist. It has a little flap where can stash a sheet of information (info on what the allergy is) or even an inhaler, and a strap with enough space to store two epi-pens. And I love the Benadryl Plastic Container - big enough to pour in one dose of Benadryl.
So we've recently discovered the "fun" of band-aids in our house. It seems like every little bump these days is an "owie" that warrants a bandaid. And of course we have a plethora of band-aids to choose from. (Yesterday's "owie" required a Boots one.) And I can only imagine the years I have to go of bandaid-needs and more.
That's why I though this little Medibag was cute as well as functional. It's made by Me 4 Kidz and it comes stocked with 117 first aid needs including bandaids, tweezers, stickers, burn gel, antiseptic wipes and tons more. (Click here for the complete list.)
For a quick need, this is convenient. I'm keeping it downstairs in a locked cabinet (but in easy reach) and my additional kids medicine needs are upstairs.
At first I wasn't sure how I felt about this product, Walking Wings. To be honest, it seemed kind of odd to me to strap my baby up to this to help him walk. Then again, he's only four months old and won't be doing any walking for any time to come so I wasn't able to test it out.
But after reading some reviews and looking at the product in person, I can kind of see why this is appealing: it's a great product for the parent. I remember walking with my oldest son and holding his hands up for several weeks before he got to walking on his own. And walking crouched over can be uncomfortable after awhile. With Walking Wings, you don't have to bend over and they help to support your baby and direct them in how to walk.
Check it out and decide for yourself. Walking Wings have been featured on the Today Show, and celeb sighting info: according to their PR firm, Walking Wings were used by Victorica Beckham (Posh Spice) and she has recently passed her pair off to good friend Katie Holmes for baby Suri.
What do you think? Would you use the Walking Wings with your baby? Come share your insight and opinions on our new forum for Blog Comments on our discussion board.
We're in the deep freeze here in Illinois, but my three year old daughter is asking me when she can go outside and ride her tricycle. I told her she has to wait awhile until it gets warmer outside and the snow and ice melt.
Although it seems like it will never come, Spring is just around the corner and we need to be prepared.
Safety is always a priority for me, so when I spotted this Child Safety Sign, I was sold. My kids love to play in our driveway, so this sign is great to alert motorists that children are playing.
Be Alert for Billy has a BIG and IMPORTANT message for motorists that can be read from over 100 feet and the sign itself can be seen from over 500 feet away. At 31 inches tall and 20 inches wide, it is the largest sign on the market.
Exclusively at Childsafety.com and priced at $24.95, this sign is key to child safety!
Protect your kids from the sun without sacrificing style!
While we are in the dead of winter here in the Northeast, it is never too early for me to start thinking about summer! While my family and I enjoy being outdoors during the summer, I am very careful in ensuring that my daughter is well protected from the harmful rays of the sun while at the beach, pool or wherever. In the spirit of protecting my daughter’s skin and maintaining our degree of style, I am very excited to have come across the offers of DaRiMi Kidz.
DaRiMi Kidz is focused on protecting kids from the sun without sacrificing style through its own Sun Busters line of sun-protective swimwear. The company started by two Moms, one from Australia and one from the United States, each loved the sun-protective products they could get for their children in Australia but were not available in the United States. They are dedicated to education about sun protection, and they donate a percentage of their profits to organizations working to prevent skin cancer worldwide. Sun Busters swimsuits and hats for boys and girls offer a sun protection factor of 50+, wet or dry, which blocks over 98-percent of UV rays. The fabrics are also highly resistant to chlorine and salt water. Beyond the utility of the line, I was shocked to see such cool, hip swimwear! I even shopped it around to a few mommies of boys and girls alike and they were all surprised that it had such a high UPF factor and was so impressive looking. DaRiMi Kidz now also offers in the United States, Seafolly Girl swimwear, hats and accessories straight from Down Under. Seafolly is Australia’s leading women’s swimwear manufacturer, and is a brand dedicated to active beach living with a young fashion edge providing a fresh take on swimsuits hats and accessories for girl’s ages 6 months to 16 years old. Some of the Seafolly line also offers a sun protection factor of 50+. I have to say their designs are gorgeous! One of my favorites is the: Hula Hula Sunvest Set! I was really surprised when my daughter wanted to put it on as soon as I received it and she looked so cute in it!
Research shows a strong link between sunburn in children and the increased risk of skin cancer in later life-unprotected exposure to the sun in the first 15 years of life more than doubles the chance of getting skin cancer. Additional research just released suggests that sunscreens are no guarantee against skin cancer and leading researchers recommend that babies and children wear protective clothes and products. Also, infants under six months of age should be kept out of direct sun and covered by protective clothing. You shoud apply sunscreen beginning at six months of age. Children under six months of age should not have prolonged sun exposure.
With the warmer months ahead of us….it’s never too early to plan ahead for proper sun protection and with the Sun Busters and Seafolly lines, you don’t have to sacrifice style while you protect your precious kids!
According to an American Academy of Pediatrics study, "sunglasses should be worn whenever a child may be in the sun long enough to get a sunburn or tan." But, like gloves and hats, the number of sunglasses a child may go through in one summer can be astounding. Between losses and breaks, last summer we went through at least 5 pair--and that number seems pretty low.
In October, however, we found a solution. MyFirstShades has created sunglasses that use elastic to wrap around a child's head. So sunglasses are no longer falling off or being tossed aside. Instead, they're being worn. Allowing minimal peripheral light. Comfortably. We've all had glasses that are too tight around the temples or ears, the forgiving elastic that keeps the sunglasses on will form to your child's head--so there's no "too tight" pulls or strains. It also attaches with velcro, allowing for additonal tightness or looseness of the elastic.
So, now your child isn't loosing her glasses, but you're still worried about breaking them, right? MyFirstShades are rustproof and waterproof. They even surpassed standards in a drop-ball test when testing for impact resistance. And we tested it. We bumped them, pulled them, sat on them. And my kids are still wearing them.
MyFirstShades are available in a variety of fun patterns and colors. Select from sports themes to pretty flowers. Solids and patterns.
Available in sizes from infant to teen, dude, you gotta have shades. Use code MSTYLE5 at Alex & Me Company for 5% off your purchase and get Free shipping when you spend $100.
It seems like more emphasis is placed on being nice before Christmas so that Santa pays a visit, but the truth is, good behavior is always important!
My children are very good, but no child is perfect! My three-year old daughter has been whining lately, instead of just trying to talk to me about what she needs. I realize that all children make mistakes, but it's how we work through them that makes a difference. I really believe in the importance of raising well-behaved children with good character, so I set out to find something that might help me with some of the common childhood misbehaviors, such as whining.
That's when I found Timeout Tot. Timeout Tot is an award-winning behavior program aimed at nurturing character development in young children ages three to six. Timeout Tot addresses some of the common misbehaviors such as biting, tantrum throwing, grabbing, pushing, and whining.
The main character Tot, is a soft and cuddly little squirrel puppet created by a Jim Henson puppet maker. This friendly squirrel visits young children in "time out" and helps them learn right from wrong through honesty, easy-to-sing tunes, and gentle correction. Tot sees everything (just like Santa) because he lives right in the "neighborhood".
The Timeout Tots DVD is great because it shows real-life examples and the lessons are shown through role-playing. I think one of the keys in the "time out" discipline plan is to make sure that children have a clear sense of what they did wrong when they are sent to "time out" and what the correct behavior should have been. This DVD has scenes (easily selected from the DVD menu) of children acting out misbehaviors followed by talks with Tot and examples of the results of good behavior. For example, in the Whining Lesson, Tot first shows a cute little girl whining incessantly. Then, Tot shows the same little girl using her "good" voice. With the help of this DVD children, like my daughter, can paint a clearer picture between acceptable and unacceptable behavior.
Tot's Teaching Tunes CD has fun songs your child will want to join in singing. This is a great CD to play in the car or anywhere to reinforce Tot's messages in a fun and meaningful way!
Another fun and meaningful part of the program is Tot's Acorn Treat . Tot has an acorn-shaped fabric pouch that unzips to hold a special treat for Tot to hide for your child when they have been good. The acorn could be hidden under a pillow at night (like the Tooth Fairy) for a child who listens and goes to bed without fussing or it could be hidden in a child's room to find when they are cleaning up...it really can be used anywhere.
Discipline can be such a frustrating issue for both parent and child. The Timeout Tot Program can be an effective addition to your "timeout" discipline plan. Don't worry, you won't be left alone with the program, as it includes many parenting tips.
So as the song goes..."He knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake." Learn the difference between "naughty and nice" with this amazing program.
Protect your child's eyes while looking cool this winter!
I bet you always put sunscreen on your child when out in the sun this summer, right? But how many of you protect your child's eyes from the sun's harsh glare and harmful UV rays? Did you know that 80% of a lifetime of sun exposure is obtained before age 18? Now is the time to protect your child from the sun.
Baby Banz makes wonderful products to help protect your baby, toddler, or child from the harsh sun. Our favorite products include Ski Banz (pictured) which are wondeful for your 2-7 year old. They feature a wide vision lens with smooth soft nylon foam padding and a nice wide elastic adjustable strap for comfort. They are perfect for protection from sun, wind, and snow and are great for the ski slopes as well as sledding, snow tubing, and more. We also love the original Baby Banz and Kidz Banz, adorable sunglasses with a unique neoprene band for comfort and security.
Additionally, the company offers sun protective hats, sunscreen, swimsuits, and more.
Place an order for any of the Baby Banz affordable products (most items are around $15) and take $3 off your order when you use code MWS-KW. Stay safe and look cool!
Two great mom-invented products came to our aid this weekend.
Our family went to the Shedd Aquarium (Chicago) this weekend and it was a lot of fun. The one thing I dread on our little outings are the public restrooms. Yuck! I guess you could say I am a little compulsive about germs. I try so hard to keep my children from touching things in the restroom, but it's impossible! Germs are on the walls, floors, doors, toilet seat, and everywhere. Well, this weekend, it was Potty Mitts to the rescue! I placed disposable Potty Mitts on their hands and they were protected from anything they touched. Each mitt is decorated with playful bears so my kids love to wear them! Potty Mitts come in a convenient collapsible pouch for easy storage in purse, tote, or even pocket. Potty Mitts are a "must-have" for families on-the-go! So, worry no more!
After our outing we came home hungry and needed something quick to eat, so we made Macaroni & Cheese. Although this is an easy meal, it has not always been so quick. I'm sure you know what I mean. The kids are hungry and the food is served, but it is too hot to eat. So you'd have to blow on the food to cool it while your kids keep asking when they can eat. Well, I am happy to say this problem has also been solved with the Mac & Cool quick cooling dish. Now I can cool their hot foods quickly and conveniently. Simply store the Mac & Cool in the freezer so it's ready whenever you serve hot food.
Stop by Tudy's for these great products and more! Both of these products, available for under $6.00 each, are a great buy! I really think they'll come in just as handy for you as they do for me.
Has the thought of going over the mountains and through the woods, with children in tow, been really dragging down your holiday travel plans?
Well a drag is a drag, unless of course, that drag is a bag. A bag with wheels. Better yet, a hip and stylish, innovatively-cool bag with wheels that your children can drag themselves, or be dragged along on. Suddenly we're singing...
Rolling luggage for adults and kids has been around for ages. And while there are plenty of basic rolling kid's bags
out there, none of them have exactly reinvented the wheel. Untill now. Recently I've found two bags worth planning a whole trip around.
First up, we have Gogogeargoods. Designed by the wife of a chiropractor, who is dedicated to lightening school kids loads, these are about the coolest kid's bags I have seen in a long long time. They are not inexpensive, but remember the travel value, and then have a look at that cheap character backpack you got two months ago at Target. If it is anything like our Target backpacks of seasons past, it is already coming apart at the seams and has a semi funtional zipper on one pocket. Gogogeargoods bags are not those bags. They are much higher quality and made to last. After three months of hard core packed to the gills fourth-grade abuse, our bag is still rolling proud, and looking sharp. And Gogogeargoods bags are loaded with great bonus features that other bags just don't offer. Like a padded computer compartment, id wallet, keychain and matching lunch/toiletries bag with built in ipod speakers. No stock characters here. Just fabulous pucci like prints, pink satin and rhinestones (there are cool camo and skater dude styles for your boys too). Everything is quality constructed from sturdy well made parts. A little warning: you may not want to show these bags to your daughters. Because once they hear that Britney Spears little sister Jamie Lynn, aka "Zoey 101", has one, they will pester you relentlessly till you cave. Which you should! Because these bags are the cutest things ever and for once, they will haul their own stuff onto the plane. I'm gonna level with you here. I want one of these for me! Mommies with style, you're already on a roll - saving 15% when you shop for your bag at Adyson's Alley using code 212065100, now through December.
Once your school aged child is dealing with his/her own luggage, you are free to drag your toddler around. Literally. On a Trunki Case. These ingenious hard sided toddler suitcases
hail from the UK and are the sane and logical answer to the scores of toddlers I have seen perched precariously atop their parents rolling bags or luggage trolleys. Not that I have done that! Oh no, not me! Trunki cases safely do double duty as a ride on toy. So when your child tires of dragging his/her suitcase full of coloring books, ipods and other onboard entertainment necessities, they can hop aboard the gently curved saddle, hold the plastic horns, and scoot along on it. A removeable strap allows you to drag them along as well. Which just may make it possible to make it through the endless check in line without a meltdown. It's sized to take onboard but I don't recommend rolling up and down the aisles midflight. The other passengers might get jealous. Trunki cases are not widely available yet in the US, but can be had at the MoMA Design Storefor the more than fair price of $40. Make sure to check out the Trunki web site as well for lots of free travel-with-kids advice, games and "Are we there yet?" coupons to make your trip a smooth ride.
I wish you all safe passage this travelling season. Keep an eye out for us in a terminal near you. We'll be the family singing "Merrily we roll along"...
I used to have this recurring nightmare. It involved going to Disneyland with my kids. We'd all be having fun until we got back to the stroller parking area, after a ride. I'd attempt to reclaim my stroller. Only suddenly there would be twenty other strollers parked there that looked exactly like mine. They'd have unfamiliar stains and other kids' sweatshirts in them. A feeling of panic would wash over me. The cure? BabiePlates.
Once upon a time a mommy princess set out to potty train her three children. She bought them three types of potties. 
And then one day the three children came running back to the bathroom. " Mommy, Mommy!" they exclaimed. We gotta go!". The princess had long since disposed of the first two potties and so she showed them their 
There's a new carseat in town! It's the 
On any given day, running errands, going to school pickups, dropping off pals after a playdate or for soccer practice, I have a half dozen children between the ages of 2 and 10 in and out my car. Which is why I have quite a collection of carseats in the back - ranging from a covertible infant to toddler seat, backless boosters and a one piece booster/harness seat. The infant/toddler seat is fixed in place with the latch system but the rest all use belts and are juggled from the third row to the second, to the trunk space depending on the size and age of the passengers involved. It is, quite frankly, a pain in the butt. 
With my first son I didn't worry about sun exposure since he was born in the later fall. But when I found out I was pregnant and due in June (with the whole summer ahead of me and a 2 1/2 year old who loves to be outside), I knew I needed to find a product to allow me to tote around my newborn. (I was told that you are not supposed to put sunscreen on a newborn, so I needed something else!)
I like products that are practical and add utility. But when a practical utiliarian item gets itself all dressed up as a fashion accessory, I am in love!
While we are in the dead of winter here in the Northeast, it is never too early for me to start thinking about summer! While my family and I enjoy being outdoors during the summer, I am very careful in ensuring that my daughter is well protected from the harmful rays of the sun while at the beach, pool or wherever. In the spirit of protecting my daughter’s skin and maintaining our degree of style, I am very excited to have come across the offers of 
DaRiMi Kidz now also offers in the United States, 
According to an American Academy of Pediatrics study, "sunglasses should be worn whenever a child may be in the sun long enough to get a sunburn or tan." But, like gloves and hats, the number of sunglasses a child may go through in one summer can be astounding. Between losses and breaks, last summer we went through at least 5 pair--and that number seems pretty low.
I bet you always put sunscreen on your child when out in the sun this summer, right? But how many of you protect your child's eyes from the sun's harsh glare and harmful UV rays? Did you know that 80% of a lifetime of sun exposure is obtained before age 18? Now is the time to protect your child from the sun.
