How is it that we are only one month into the new school year and we’ve already hit a wall when it comes to packing healthy snacks? We try to be creative in this house, when we have a few minutes to spare, and have put together trail mixes of apricots and walnuts. (And of course, cheddar crackers in the likeness of SpongeBob are often a hit.) But when I start to hear the words, “Goldfish, again?” from my 5-year-old, even I cringe. That’s why I was more than willing to taste-test the new line of Organic Fruit Snacks from Tasty Brand. I was immediately lured by the Organic Fruit Gummies, having been a Gummi Bears fanatic as a kid myself. But better than the [&hellip
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Unless you’ve been living under a rock, BPA is one of those buzzwords most parents are familiar with these days. (And if you’re admittedly not on the ball, it stands for bisphenol-A, a harmful plastic substance frequently used in baby bottles and sippy cups.) Acronyms aside, all you really need to know is that it’s best to avoid kids’ products that aren’t touting themselves as BPA-free. Considering the dizzying array of choices on store shelves, I know I feel more comfortable turning to a brand whose name I’ve known since I was a child myself. Thermos has come out with a line of drinking cups with a name that you’ll love to say almost as much as you’ll love the products themselves. The Thermos Foogo [&hellip
Baby chairs are typically low to the ground, keeping little one’s vision at eye level with, well…the floor. The Fresco Fiamma chair from Bloom offers a refreshing perspective that puts your baby right up where the action is. In a show-stopping red contemporary design that’s practically museum-quality, this limited edition seat is the latest version of the company’s Fresco Loft, an adjustable seat that is perched high off the ground and can be reclined to fit a newborn and then adjusted for a school age child. Because of its wide range of height adjustments, the Fresco Fiamma can work at a counter top, dinner table…wherever you are dining–even al fresco, as the name suggests. Plus this seat can swivel at 360 degrees–pretty cool for a [&hellip
No matter how spacious your home is, space-saving products are always a hit with moms. (Just take a look around your house to see just how many kid items have “taken over” your surroundings. See what I mean?) So when a company designs a product that’s not only practical, but stylish, it’s a real win. The minui HandySitt Chair falls directly into this category. This high chair is extremely forgiving when it comes to taking up space, especially in the kitchen where it seems you can never have enough room. The chair can be attached to most dining room chairs, transforming them into high chairs that can accommodate older children as well (up to 5 years). Because it’s compact and portable (weighing in at just [&hellip
Much to my surprise, now is the time to begin brushing my 1-year-old’s teeth. Even though she only has six of them–yep, we’ve been counting–the American Dental Association advises starting good brushing habits at the sign of the first tooth (we’re already behind–gasp!). At a time when everything under the sun is finding its way into my daughter’s mouth anyway, it only makes sense that her first toothbrush be an appetizing one. That’s why I really like the clever design of the Baby Banana Brush from Kushies. The curved handle helps me fit the brush easily into her mouth, while letting me keep her secure. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that my daughter loves bananas. The eye-catching, sunny-yellow design might “appeal” to the more reluctant [&hellip
Yes, it’s true: Proper hand-washing has become the stress du jour for our families. After last season’s swine flu outbreak, it’s one practice we can’t emphasize enough in our households, no matter how many kids you have or how old they are. While we can’t watch their every move when they are at school or at a friend’s house, we can influence this good habit at home. Many preschoolers/kindergartners are being taught to sing “Happy Birthday” while washing their hands, so they’ll know how long to do so. But if your little diva turns into….well, a diva when it’s time to wash up for dinner, Disney Musical Hand Wash Timers from Healthy Hands can help get the job done. Out in time for National Clean [&hellip
Fess up: when you went to the bus stop this morning, were your pajamas hidden under your raincoat? The answer may, in fact, allude to the type of mom you are–or at least, if you are a slave to fashion. Clotheshorse or not, if you’re a fan of those women magazine-style quizzes that determine your personality from answering a few telltale queries, check out the BabyBjorn Motherhood Identity one and see how you rate. By responding to a few short questions, you’ll can enter to win a new BabyBjorn Baby Carrier Synergy (left) or a BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light. It’s all part of the excitement surrounding the opening of the new motion picture, “Motherhood,” starring Uma Thurman, next month in theatres across the country. You [&hellip
How crushed I was when my 15-month-old ruined a monogrammed bib that a friend had given as a baby gift. By “ruined,” I mean a stain that wouldn’t just come out, no matter how much we “Shout”ed it out, as my 5-year-old has dubbed our official spot removal treatment. (Of course, why anyone would give a pristine white bib as a gift is beside the point.) And then when the sleeves on one of her cutest shirts–outfitted with little red anchors–was covered in fruit sauce, I realized that this ship too had sailed. Aren’t bibs supposed to prevent, or at least minimize, clothing disasters? That’s why I was intrigued by Baggino’s Learner’s Bib,which feature an extra long front and long sleeves for extra protection. At [&hellip
When I think of all the hats we mothers assume each and every day–cook, laundress, chauffeur, playmate…the list is endless–I forget that magician is sometimes part of the job description. Why is it that kids will do just about anything if you turn it into a game? (At clean-up time in our house, we call it a “picking up party”…) So as the new school year gets underway, I feel as though I must stand on my head for my 5-year-old to get ready. What I don’t need to coax her into doing, luckily, is slathering on some lotion after bathtime. I can’t figure out if it’s the cool name or the great smell, but eco.kid’s Potion Lotion does the trick. This lotion for kids [&hellip
Any idea how many masterpieces your little Picasso has churned out over the course of her young life? Now is your chance to take your child’s best work and enter it into ALEX Toys’ Ready, Set, Create contest. Kids ages 3-5 are encouraged to submit photographs of their original artwork — everything from crayon drawings to model clay sculptures is eligible– for the chance to win one of three ALEX Toys: the Floor Standing Easel and Paper Roll, Little Hands My Tabletop Easel and Little Hands My Giant Busy Box. And moms, if you’re particularly pleased with the makeshift studio you’ve fashioned out of your kitchen countertop, mesh baskets for all those supplies and egg cartons you’ve recycled into very hungry caterpillars, you have an [&hellip