Summer doesn’t officially begin until Friday, and we’re already off to a buggy start. I can play connect the dots on my 9-year-old’s upper arm, and my 5-year-old has a welt the size of a half-dollar. And that’s only from playing outside one afternoon. Since I definitely get a little kooky when the bugs come out in full force, I do my best to protect my girls from these pesky critters. Because many of the leading brands I’ve tried haven’t quite lived up to the hype, I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to try something new. And I’m really glad I did. Fairy Tales Bug Bandit is my go-to weapon in the battle of the bugs. This pesticide- and DEET-free natural bug repellent
The Safe Little Walnut Archive
My 8-year-old has been taking swimming lessons this winter, and we’re hoping she’ll be able to doggy paddle by summer. One of the things about learning to swim that troubles her is going underwater. I too remember being a bit scared of that unknown (would a fish try to bite me?), but once I got past it, it was one of my favorite parts of being in the water. Well, even if your kid isn’t fearful of diving right in, but just wants to look cool when she’s 20,000 leagues under the sea, you’ll want to check out this summer’s coolest fashion accessory. Bling2O are not your average swimming goggles; these babies are spiced up with a little bit o’ bling to make your favorite
Another bone-chilling day like this, and I may just have to hibernate. At this time of year here in the northeast, thoughts naturally turn to spring and warmer weather. Even if I can’t manage to escape the cold and head off to a seaside resort anytime soon (well, I can surely visit one in my mind…), I imagine there will plenty of peeps booking their sunny getaways right about now. For those of you heading out of town with the kiddies, I envy you…and urge you to cover up. As a mom who continues to fight skin cancer (three battle scars to prove it), I keep my girls protected from head to toe, especially when the summer sun strikes. While sunscreen is strongly recommended, it
Today was my daughter’s end-of-school class breakfast, during which these rising third graders were treated to a feast of bagels, muffins, OJ and fresh fruit. Because one of her classmates has a gluten allergy, parties like these aren’t exactly cause for celebration. Rather than sample the homemade or store-bought treats supplied by the collective parent ensemble, this student must dip into his stash of wheat-free mini cupcakes that the school nurse stores for him. His mom tells me he’s gotten used to this routine by now, but that it wasn’t always easy. In fact, it was only earlier this month on Field Day that he wasn’t sure whether he could indulge in one of the parent-provided ice pops (after careful consideration of the packaging label,
Some nights, no matter how hard I try, I just can not get comfortable. No matter how many times I fluff my pillow, adjust my blankets and shift positions, I’m not feeling relaxed and ready for sleep. Surely any adult is able to relate to this scenario at one time or another (but hopefully not too often!). Now, imagine being a newborn, fresh out of the womb and feeling particularly frustrated that mom’s loving touch is no longer available 24/7 (yes, even the most dedicated of moms must sleep sometimes!). If you’ve been “blessed” with an especially fussy baby, trying to find a way to soothe your little one can be an exhausting experience. For those who have tried swaddling without much success, we beg
Does your kid give you a hard time about wearing his bike helmet? I can’t say I blame them. From the look of some of the helmets out there, I’m more in favor of the utilitarian models that ooze sturdiness over style (or lack thereof). Fortunately, with the new line of protective head gear from C-Preme, tweens won’t have to sacrifice fashion for function when biking around town. Designed for ages 10-12, KRASH helmets are the coolest thing we’ve seen in bike gear. From punk-inspired, spiky-head numbers, to cutey confectionery caps, there are plenty of choices for the most temperamental tween. And because the KRASH line is made from a soft, rubber-based materials, they’re as safe as they are slick. So, if you know any
It’s a jungle out there, especially if you’ve got little ones running around at home. When I’m making dinner, I swear there’s a stampede of elephants overhead–and not just two little girls playing. If you’re in search of a way to keep your playroom accident-free and spare newly mobile toddlers from acquiring more bumps and bruises than necessary, consider the Skip Hop Zoo Playspot. A refreshing alternative from the ho-hum hopscotch patterns we’ve seen in one too many kiddie gyms, this fashionable print may just bring out the wild child in your little monkeys. The adorable faces of a dog, bee, owl and monkey are so cute, they may be entertaining enough to coax your constant crawler into actually sitting still for more than five
Late night feedings are no picnic, and certainly not made any easier with a blistered finger. I can remember the time I awoke in the wee hours one morning to the cry of my young daughter, and stumbled into her nursery. Like so many other times, I hastily filled an empty bottle with water, mixed it with powdered formula and set it in her trusty bottle warmer. I don’t know who found it more infuriating to wait for that bottle to warm: half-asleep me or my sobbing daughter. After what felt like forever, it was ready…or so I thought. Grabbing it too fast proved to be a mistake, as I silently chided myself for burning my hand. From then on, I made certain to keep
Happy (almost) 2012! If you’ll be welcoming a new arrival into your family this year, chances are you may be registering for baby bedding. And if this isn’t your first child, you may already be familiar with the potential health risks associated with crib bumpers. They may look pretty, but are deemed unsafe by the American Academy of Pediatrics with regards to SIDS prevention . That being said, any bedding set that can pull off the look of a complete bedding ensemble–minus the actual bumpers–gets a nod in our book. Skip Hop’s Complete Sheet Collection is just that product, offering a bold printed sheet whose design extends to the mattress sides and features a contrasting pattern on top. Finished with linen piping, the 100-percent cotton,
Yesterday I was shopping at a toy store on Long Island’s North Shore when I came face to face with some rather irate creatures. It was a window display filled with Angry Birds stuffed animals, keychains and other merchandise inspired by the well-known video game. My 7-year-old, of course, was in heaven, and my 3-year-old was waving–or should I say, “flapping?”–her arms wildly, much like a little bird herself. I can’t deny this trend any longer, even if I don’t admit to playing the game myself. And while these birds have soared beyond the handheld remote and into toy stores, they’re now joining the baby world with their own new arrival: SwaddleDesigns’ Angry Birds Ultimate Receiving Blanket. This gift is sure to delight new parents