• Bathing Walnuts Archive

    TGIF! With the first week of school under our belts, the weekend can’t come soon enough. After figuring out how to make umpteen binders fit in one backpack without busting the seams, working out the kinks in an illogical bus route and filling out all that bloody paperwork, I’m ready to head back to the beach and pretend that it’s still summer vacation! No one ever said navigating the long and winding road of parenthood would be easy, but wouldn’t it be nice if you had some sort of road map to get you over some of those bumps all the way? Since that won’t be happening anytime soon, we think we’ve found a handy ‘cheat sheet’ of sorts that can cover some of that [&hellip

    Read More...

    I always loved taking a bath…until I had kids. My visions of soapy, rubber duckie bath play quickly vanished, and were replaced with a grim reality: Bending over that deep bath tub to wash a little babe became back-breaking work. And trying to hold on to a squirming baby with one hand, while opening up a towel to bundle her in? Good luck with that. Finally, someone has invented a baby bathtub worth splashing about. Angelcare’s Near & Dear Bather is an upright, foldable tub that’s designed to sit inside a full-sized bath. Made from a quick-drying mesh material, it stands in a locked position, offering your baby a safe and comfortable spot in which to bathe. What’s great about this tub is that you [&hellip

    Read More...

    When my girls were babies, tub time was awesome: the squeaky toys, the sweet-smelling soap, and of course, all those bubbles. It was a blast…until, of course, it was time to get out. It wasn’t that my girls protested too much, but rather that I couldn’t quite get a handle on them (literally). Even more challenging was trying to open up a big bath towel and then transfer them out of the bath. I either had to lay them down on the floor (ouch!) or gamble with an unsafe spot (on top of the clothes hamper? No thank you!). Thanks to a newly invented mom product, this dilemma is no longer an issue at bathtime. Shaikoo is billed as a hands-free baby towel and it’s [&hellip

    Read More...

    If your baby’s first bath was a momentous milestone, imagine what her first shower will be like someday. My own daughter’s transition from bath to shower was a bit late in the game (she was especially fearful of the water continuously hitting her face), but if Rubber Duckie & Friends had been around, the experience probably would have been a lot less traumatic…for both of us. Playfully designed in the likeness of a rubber duck, frog or other smiling-faced animal friend, this removable head attaches easily to any shower arm for an independent shower-taker, or it can be used a handheld sprayer for parents unsatisfied by emptying cups of water over their child’s head. It comes with all of the essential materials (a wand, 6-foot [&hellip

    Read More...

    Since Christmas, my 5-year-old has been washing her hands to the tune of “Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer.” After months of washing along to “Happy Birthday,” she was looking for a change of pace (aren’t we all?). All kidding aside, I’m impressed that she continues to follow the 20-second or longer hand-washing rule; the time-honored parenting trick of making a game out of something mundane works well for this child. Of course, not every kid is easily swayed by songs and rhymes; her 9-year-old sister prefers a quick wash–so fast, I wonder how she could possibly get clean? And don’t get me started on brushing her teeth…Joining the ranks of frustrated parents everywhere comes a new product that gives kids an incentive to get their hands [&hellip

    Read More...

    Two weeks into January, and the winter weather has covered everything from an ice storm and subzero temps, to an unseasonal tempest that hints of an early spring. Today brings about a cold, damp rain…but I’m still debating whether I should put away my flip flops. If this roller coaster of a winter is any indication of the next few months, then we’ll glad hide out at home with a hot cup of something and a leisurely soak in the tub. If your version of reality hardly lends itself to undisturbed mommy time, then at least you can make bathtime for baby a little more fun –and less of a chore for you. One product we’re raving over is the brand-new Skip Hop Moby Waterfall [&hellip

    Read More...

    My 5-year-old still loves playing in the tub, but I must admit that I tire quickly of mopping up the soapy aftermath. Her latest “trick” is floating miniature bunnies on a foam board and having each one “dive” off into the sudsy depths below. Fun for her, not so much fun for my ever-expanding laundry pile. When we found out about a new toy that balances playtime in the bath without compromising mom’s sanity (too much), we were all over it like a dirty kid on soap. The Tubby Table is the ingenious invention of two moms who’ve ‘been there, done that.’ It’s a colorful tabletop surface that attaches to the bottom of your tub via suction cups, keeping it safe and secure in one [&hellip

    Read More...

    After an enjoyable afternoon at the beach yesterday, my girls were more than thrilled at the prospect of a pre-dinner time bath. Washing off the salty, sticky remains of the day was the perfect way to cap off a fun day spent digging in the sand, splashing in the frothy surf and covering each other with seaweed (not exactly a day at the spa, even if the elements were the same). As they tracked a truckload of sand upstairs, I knew an early bath would be inevitable and for them, cause for jubilee. Truth be told, fresh from the bath is when I like my kids the best. They smell so sweet, it’s hard to imagine these devilish creatures could change their tune in a [&hellip

    Read More...

    As the school year begins to wind down, we’re slowly getting into summer mode. I’ve stocked up on sunscreen, filled out the camp paperwork and have already tried out my new beach radio that I got for Mother’s Day (it suits me perfectly…). Because my 9-year-old will be spending plenty of time in the swimming pool, I know her hair will be taking a beating. So when we got our hands on Swimmers’ Shampoo from Circle of Friends, I knew it would be another good match. This clarifying shampoo is designed to remove chlorine and product build-up, and is especially gentle on young tresses. One whiff of this shampoo, and you’ll wonder exactly where this pleasant scent originates from. Made with banana, kiwi, guava and [&hellip

    Read More...

    My 4-year-old just got invited to another Hello Kitty party. This is one cat that gets around–and I’m not talking about my daughter! Last week, we told you about a Hello Kitty rain gear line that definitely put a much-needed spring in our step, especially after a long, cold winter. We knew that little girls would be all over that line…but now we’re finding that Hello Kitty has new mom appeal, too. One of our favorite lux baby brands, aden + anais, is introducing a limited-edition collection of Hello Kitty soft goods no baby girl should be without. The 100-percent cotton muslin line consists of a swaddle 3-pack, dream blanket, snap bib 3-pack and hooded towel/wash cloth set–all adorned with the famous cat motif. Whether [&hellip

    Read More...