There’s nothing more refreshing than a cold drink on a hot summer’s day…especially when you’ve been outdoors for hours. My 7-year-old takes a water bottle with her to camp everyday, but after so many refills, she craves something with a bit more flavor. Rather than load her down with sugary juice or lemonade, we thought we’d give coconut water, the latest fad in the beverage world, a try. But this isn’t just any coconut water, mind you. O.N.E. Kids Coconut Water with Fruit Juice is specially designed for finicky taste buds who need to rehydrate after a long day at play. Flavored with natural juices and no added sugar, this drink is packed with potassium and electrolytes to replenish growing bodies. We decided to put [&hellip
The Healthy Walnut Archive
It’s hardly Christmas, but next winter, my sister’s co-worker will be having her first baby. She has just started checking out all the baby gear she’ll want to register for, and it got us to talking about all those things she’ll need in the first few months. When my girls were born, I was fortunate enough to have a bassinet handed down from my sister. It was simply outfitted in a white eyelet bedding and a basic mattress. Today’s bassinets are not only more functional, but they aim to offer a better night’s sleep for both baby and mom. Kolcraft’s Preferred Position 2-in-1 Bassinet & Incline Sleeper is specially designed for the colicky newborn who benefits from a boosted sleeping position. This bassinet features a [&hellip
Last week, I took my 2 girls out for a bite at a kid-friendly restaurant near our home. My husband had evening plans and we were in the midst of a heat wave, so it seemed like a fine idea. I forgot how much 2 little girls can talk (both at the same time, mind you), but with a glass of Chardonnay, a bread basket full of warm pretzel sticks and coloring books for the little ladies, I was well-armed. While nibbling on our appetizer, I couldn’t help but notice a toddler at a nearby table who was having a ball. Much to his mother’s horror, he dipped every fry several times in ketchup before aiming them towards his mouth. Naturally, he missed his target [&hellip
Kids are not unlike bugs: Sometimes, they are pesky, persistent and just won’t go away when you want them to. (Can you tell we are already a few weeks into summer vacation?) But unlike with actual bugs, there’s no real repellent which, with a simple spray, you can buy yourself some alone time. So for now, we’ll just concentrate on trying to keep those pesky, multi-legged critters at bay. At my house, we go through bug spray like some people go through water. OK, well maybe not that fast, but I wind up buying a few bottles over the course of the spring and summer. I’m more mindful about what products I’m using on my kids these days (yes, even if they bug me, I’m [&hellip
Brace yourselves: Today, I took both of my girls to the beach and we managed to return home with everything we brought, along with some sand, of course. Armed with lunch, towels and a ton of beach toys, we were ready for a day of sun and fun….and for me, rescuing the requisite pail or hovel that always manages to tumble into a nearby stream that the girls love to play in, and inevitably wind up in the saltwater. (Can’t you just hear the cries of “Get it! Get it!”? I know they will haunt me in my dreams tonight.) At a moment when my daughters were play contentedly, I happened to look up and see a blue shovel floating by–one that didn’t belong to [&hellip
Never underestimate the power of media. When my 7-year-old was looking at DVDs to borrow from our public library’s children’s department, she wondered aloud, “You think they have Justin Bieber’s ‘Never Say Never?’” (Why, won’t SpongeBob do anymore?…) For those kids who need their Bieber fix comes a product we didn’t think possible: a line of singing Justin Bieber toothbrushes (yep, you read that right) that sound like the boy himself. I’m all for getting my kids to brush regularly, but this product really takes the cake–and brushes away the potential for cavities. Each song includes two Bieber songs, specifically designated for daytime and nighttime brushes: “Baby,” “U Smile,” “Love Me” and “Somebody to Love.” Whichever tune strikes your mood is, of course, up to [&hellip
On Day 2 of a super soaker rainy stretch, it’s hard to imagine we’ll soon be trading in this wet spring for sweltering heat. In my family, the hot summer sun is nothing to scoff at; my girls have unfortunately inherited my fair complexion and I make a point of slathering them in sunscreen so much that the sun’s damaging rays don’t stand a chance. Of course, when my little ladies aren’t under my wing and it’s time to re-apply the lotion, it helps to have a way to make this chore both convenient and not so involved, especially for kids. Sunbow Sunscreen Sun Sticks are handy, portable sticks that stow away easily in camp backpacks. Not only do they offer optimal protection with an [&hellip
My 2-year-old loves playing doctor, and so naturally I have been cast in the role of her most popular patient. Whether she is checking my reflexes (ow, that hurts!) or giving me a shot, it’s all for a good cause: helping her understand the value of practicing good medicine. While her older sister could not be bothered with furthering her little sister’s future medical profession, she does get in on the action with the Smart Heart Pulse Monitor. It’s a creative way to illustrate just how fast the heart pumps. Simply hold the monitor over your child’s heart and press the button. Within a few minutes, you’ll be able to hear an audio computation of how many heartbeats per minute, so you can calculate her [&hellip
When I hear my daughter utter those famous words, “I have to go to the bath-rooommm,” I cringe. Even though she’s been potty-trained for a few years now, I absolutely dread having to visit public restrooms (and what mother doesn’t)? Forget the fact that they’re filthy, smelly and always crowded; my 6-year-old still holds on to the sides of the toilet bowl no matter how often I remind her to keep her hands to herself. If you’re a mom like me who finds herself in this type of situation more times than she’d like to, you may appreciate gLovies. Aiming to keep germs at bay, these disposable hand covers are perfect for slipping on when making a pit-stop. I was never a big fan of [&hellip
As one of my favorite PSA ads professes, it’s too bad babies don’t come with an instructional manual. Do you remember what it was like to leave the hospital with your bundle of joy, only to arrive home and realize you didn’t have the slightest clue what you were doing? (I’ve been a mom for nearly seven years, and some days, I still feel that way!) To make newborn care a little less daunting comes a new book that aims to take the guesswork out of much of the day-to-day crying/burping/feeding/sleeping that has become your routine. Written by occupational therapist Megan Faure, The Babysense Secret focuses on picking up on your baby’s cues by reading her body language. Does that cry mean she’s too warm [&hellip