The Traveling Walnuts | The Talking Walnut

smart from the start: Similac baby bottle

Jan 102012

Talk to any new mom, and she’ll tell you she doesn’t feed her baby with just any old bottle. If she considers herself an A-list mom who wants the healthiest/safest things for her little one (and what mom doesn’t?), she’s probably done her research and figured out which crib promises the best night’s sleep, which stroller has the smoothest ride and which bottle reduces spit-up and fussiness. Now, thanks to the advent of the Similac SimplySmart bottle, the homework has been done for you. The makers of the well-known powdered formula brand have taken their expertise in feeding and applied it to their first-ever baby bottle, designed to make feeding a more enjoyable experience for moms and their babies. At first glance, you’ll notice the SmartClose, a blue shield that takes the mystery out of determining whether or not the top has been properly closed (translation: fewer leaks). Inside the bottle you’ll notice a clip-on contraption, the EasyMix, which ensures that powdered formula and water have been properly combined (simply shake or swirl the bottle, and the EasyMix does the rest). On top of the extra-wide opening for easy cleaning and extra-large, easy-to-read numbers (in ounces), we love the On-the-Go powder cap, which is sold separately and lets you take enough formula in a sealed cap that snaps right on to the top of the bottle. Similac was a brand I trusted as a new mom; I’ve no doubt the SimplySmart bottle will make an ideal companion to the formula line.

In a Nutshell: Bottle-feeding just got a whole lot smarter with the Similac SimplySmart bottle. Whether feeding on the go or right at home, this innovative bottle has all the makings of a smooth meal.

big apple bundle-up: maclaren buggy blanket

Gear for Baby Walnuts, The Accessorized Walnut, The Traveling Walnuts

Dec 132011

Baby, it’s cold outside…In the next couple of weeks, we’ll be taking in the sights and sounds of the season–and that means dressing for the weather. A huge fan of layers, I always seem to outfit my kids as though they are headed to the tundra instead of suburbia. But regardless of whether you’ll be strolling city streets or hiking through the hills, if you’ve got a little one in tow, that extra layer of warmth will come in handy. This winter, we’ve got our eye on Maclaren’s buggy blankets . These ultra plush, generously sized throws are a love letter to the cityscapes in which they are detailed. From London to Sydney, New York to Paris, each reversible blanket features a detailed map of four of our favorite capital cities that make us feel as refined as these throws are sophisticated. Not only do they keep your baby well-covered as she traverses the globe, but their lively layout may just keep her preoccupied while waiting in line at Macy’s holiday windows. Our favorite, of course, is the NYC blanket, with its flip side paying homage to Lady Liberty. NY may be the city that never sleeps, but maybe tucked inside this snuggly stroller blanket, your baby will give you the greatest gift of the holiday season: some shut-eye. Happy Holidays, and to all a good night!

In a Nutshell: Who says a baby blanket can’t make a fashion statement? This stylish one looks and feels great when you’re out on the town.

Tags: baby gifts, buggy blanket, Maclaren, NYC baby products, stroller blanket

down under snuggling: wallaroo bundle

Gear for Baby Walnuts, The Traveling Walnuts

Nov 292011

One of the most useful, unexpected baby gifts I received was a baby footmuff. I don’t recall the brand or name, but I do remember taking one look at this strange contraption and thinking, “Yeah, right. I don’t think I’ll be taking that out of the box anytime soon…” Little did I know that when my daughter’s first winter arrived, I’d be struggling to fit her puffy coat inside her car seat straps day after day. I imagine wrestling a crocodile was easier than this! After many failed attempts at getting her in her seat without any tears, I had a lightbulb moment and quickly ran upstairs to unpack that suddenly practical present. This is genius, I thought, as I carefully stripped off her bulky coat, zipped her upside in the footmuff and topped her off with a pom-pom hat. Voila! Baby is bundled, and not a tear in sight. So naturally, when I came upon the newest baby product in this space, I nearly shed a tear myself (one of happy memories, that is). The name alone, the Wallaroo Bundle, conjures up images of a baby kangaroo, all safe and warm in her mama’s pouch. A smart alternative to a traditional blanket, this fleece baby cover works inside most strollers and car seats. Just pull the drawstring cord to secure a comfortable fit. No more wiggly, cold toes peeking out. What’s more, you can also add the Wallaroo Bundle as a layer to your front carrier and wear it–something we haven’t seen before. It’s the perfect excuse to snuggle close with your little one…as if you needed any reason.

In a Nutshell: Don’t fuss with a bulky coat and blankets for your baby this winter. Brace the chill with a Wallaroo Bundle, and your baby will be as snuggled as can be.

Tags: baby blanket alternative, baby cover, baby footmuff, baby gear, FullBelly Baby, Wallaroo Bundle

keep on strollin’/buggylove

Gear for Baby Walnuts, The Green Walnut, The Traveling Walnuts

Nov 222011

I don’t care if my daughter is closer to 4 than 3 years old; I’m not ready to part with her stroller just yet. A trusty, solid ride, her Maclaren Volo goes wherever we go, and has lasted us 7 1/2 years…and counting. While this stroller has seen its fair share of country roads, sandy beaches and other landscapes, it’s naturally had a few bumps and bruises along the way. If your pocketbook tells you that you’ll be hanging onto your own set of kiddie wheels for a while, it helps to maintain the look and feel of a sweet ride. Apparently, the folks at BuggyLOVE had this in mind when they created their line of organic stroller cleaning products. Whether the culprit is dried spit-up, caked-on formula or grimy sidewalk residue, this sweet-smelling kit is tough on stains, but gentle on little noses. Making a diaper change on the fly? Spray down your stroller seat with FreshLOVE and prove that poop can, indeed, smell like roses. FabricLOVE takes the sting out of stained stroller seats with a clementine-scented spot remover spray (if my 3-year-old could eat this stuff, believe me, she would). For the squeaky wheel who always gets the grease, there’s WheelLOVE and finally, PolishLOVE to keep them looking (and smelling) like new.

In a Nutshell: Take good care of your ever-trusty stroller with these natural cleaning products, and chances are you won’t need to replace it until the last baby is all grown up.

just getting warmed up

Feeding the Little Walnuts, Gear for Baby Walnuts, The Traveling Walnuts

Oct 282011

The first time we took my baby daughter on a long road trip, I dreaded the moment we’d have to pull over and stop to feed her. I kid you not, I must have spent the better part of the car ride wondering aloud if the bottle warmer we had just bought would actually work, whether it would fit into our car’s adapter outlet properly and how long it would take to heat up her formula. (Yes, you can feel sorry for my poor husband; I do, too–in retrospect.) As luck would have it, my concerns were right on the money: after sitting in a fast food parking lot for what felt like forever, the bottle was only mildly warmed. But, if we didn’t get back on the road fast, my ever-patient spouse warned, we’d get caught up in rush-hour traffic. Torn between giving my young daughter formula that was room temperature at best and heeding my wise husband’s sage advice, I fed her in a hurry…but without much success. She only drank a few ounces before turning her head away and letting out a disgusted cry. Believe it when I say I felt her pain–and it was a long time before we took another road trip. Today’s moms don’t have to wrestle with such aggravation when feeding their baby on the go, thanks to Toasty Bottle . This baby bottle warming set that works without the hassle of batteries, car adapters or hot water is almost too good to be true. Simply remove the plastic packaging from the warmer and pull off one side of the adhesive strip. Next, wrap the warmer around your filled bottle and attach the adhesive to the warmer. Now, open the Velcro enclosure on the Toasty Bottle holder and place your wrapped bottle inside. The warming packets retain heat as soon as they are exposed to the air and stay hot for less than 30 minutes, giving your baby plenty of time to eat–and burp. Rest assured that the warmer packets use natural ingredients like iron powder and salt, so you don’t need to worry about any harmful chemicals coming into contact with your baby’s bottle. We can’t say the same for the high level of road pollution on the LIE, but that’s another story…

In a Nutshell: Get your baby to her destination safely and on a full stomach with this no-fuss, no-muss bottle warming system.

Tags: bottle warmers, bottle-feeding on the go, feeding accessories, Toasty Bottle, travel-friendly bottle warmer

words with little friends

The Playful Walnut, The Smart Walnut, The Traveling Walnuts

Sep 192011

My 7-year-old has just started getting the hang of Hangman. I knew that day would be coming once coloring books and makeshift games of Tic Tac Toe on restaurant playmats quickly lost their allure. Now that she’s become a solid reader, it’s a great way to build on her growing vocabulary and keep her motivated to read for pleasure. For kids who love a good game of words, but may not be ready for Scrabble, comes Flip to Win Hangman , a portable game that works just as well while waiting for dinner to arrive, as it does traveling to Grandma’s. I like that kids can turn over each letter possibility as they fill in the corresponding answer on the dry-erase board; having the alphabet front and center jogs little brains that are doing their best to guess the possible answer. Easy wipe-on/off will have you playing this game over and over, so now you don’t have to feel so guilty about playing Words with Friends as much as you already do.

In a Nutshell: Hung up on Hangman? This version works nicely for younger kids wanting to impress Mom or Dad with their budding vocabulary. Oh yeah, and they want to be able to beat the pants off you, too.

Tags: educational toys, Flip to Win Hangman, Hangman, learning toys, Melissa & Doug, Words with Friends

jr. armchair traveler

The Playful Walnut, The Traveling Walnuts

Sep 122011

I don’t think my family will be jetting overseas anytime soon, but giving my kids a taste of world cultures is something I’d love for them to experience. Because Japanese take-out doesn’t exactly do the trick on its own, my husband queues up the Internet radio to a lite-rock Tokyo station. Let’s just say eating sushi will never be ho-hum again. When mealtime is through, we love to crank up the CD player with other types of ethnic music meant for tender ears, like European Playground from Putumayo Kids. My 3-year-old loves to bang on her instruments in a rhythm that is clearly her own, and I can’t help but marvel at her ability to tune out the world–and tune into the beat. I love the fact that we can now extend our cultural music jam session into playtime with Putumayo Kids’ new series of coloring and sticker books . Each of the themed coloring books feature over-sized pages with cultural landmarks and plenty of space to add a personal touch to these masterpieces. In the Europe Coloring Book, there’s a page to design your own world flag, with a facing page containing various country flags for inspiration, and another page to create a European landscape. The sticker collection books are equally imaginative, boasting fold-out pages of scenery that kids can decorate with reusable stickers. Available in a sturdy hardcover format, these books work well in the car or wherever else kids are on the go.

In a Nutshell: Expand your kids’ horizons with culturally-influenced coloring and sticker books that travel well.

Tags: Putumayo Kids, Putumayo Kids' coloring books, Putumayo Kids' sticker collections

traveling companion

The Playful Walnut, The Traveling Walnuts

Aug 102011

We’re slowly starting to pack for our annual summer vacation with the kids later this week. For me, that means double loads of laundry, unearthing our travel bags and figuring out how few toys I can get away with packing. If you’re traveling with a little one, you’re already loaded down with enough baby gear to outfit a mansion–forget about the toys! I tell my girls they’re each allowed one special, can’t-do-without plaything, and then the rest is up to me. (Let’s see how well that one works). If you have a little person in your life embarking on her first journey, be it by car, plane or cruise ship, you won’t be able to resist My Little Suitcase . Brought to you by The Baby Bunch, the same company whose baby gift line The Talking Walnut has raved over, this charming little luggage is stocked with a passport cover, cotton sleepsuit (available in sizes 6-12 months) and matching plush bear. We’re a stickler for creative packaging and imaginative design, and this gift has it…right down to the detailed luggage tag. My Little Suitcase comes in green, blue or pink, and makes for a unique send-off for any little traveler. Bon voyage, baby!

In a Nutshell: Precious cargo gets first-class treatment with this adorable travel gift for your favorite passenger.

Tags: My First Suitcase, The Baby Bunch, travel toys

stow and stroll

Gear for Baby Walnuts, The Traveling Walnuts

Aug 022011

My mom is heading to California today to visit my brother. Before she left, we were talking about just how many families she’ll be seeing on her flight to family-friendly San Diego. (Hopefully, no one will be kicking the back of her seat for next five hours…) As anyone traveling with young kids can tell you, schlepping through an airport is no picnic. And if you’ve got a baby in tow, anything that helps make your trip a bit more bearable is worth its weight in gold. The QuickSmart Backpack Stroller is the answer to the over-packed parents’ prayers. It’s a lightweight (less than 9 lbs.) stroller that comes pre-assembled (finally, one less thing to put together!) and folds up in four relatively quick steps. Once the stroller is compact, it stows in an included backpack and you’re ready to make it to your connecting flight. The best part? The bag fits the carry-on criteria, so it goes from overhead bin to airport terminal in a matter of minutes. We love the fact that you can beat everyone else to the baggage claim…including the kid who’s been kicking the back of your seat since Cincinnati.

In a Nutshell: No matter how great a deal you got on those tickets, traveling with kids is still no bargain. This wearable stroller means you don’t have to break your back while dashing to your gate.

Tags: Backpack Stroller, QuickSmart, stroller, traveling with kids

u.f.o. baby

Feeding the Little Walnuts, Gear for Baby Walnuts, The Healthy Walnut, The Traveling Walnuts

Jul 282011

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 more than once and before long, the table space in front of him looked like a war zone after a bloody battle. Keeping kids occupied before their food arrives is one thing; keeping them and the table relatively clean is quite another. The Neatnik Saucer is one mom’s solution to this dilemma. Having become increasingly frustrated about cleanliness while eating out with her new baby, she designed this portable product that is a high chair cover and baby playmat in one. The saucer comes in two parts: a chair liner that fits inside a standard restaurant high chair and a lightweight tray that fits over and suction cups to the table, giving your child a clean, secure play to eat, color and enjoy her meal. We favor the saucer’s extended sides that prevent food or small toys from dropping onto the floor–how many times can you play pick-up after all?–and that it wipes clean and folds up easily. I’m guessing the mom we saw at dinner would have benefited from the Neatnik Saucer; those fries fast became Unidentified Flying Objects.

In a Nutshell: Less messy mealtimes are on the menu with this on-the-go feeding accessory. This is one saucer that’s out of this world.

Tags: eating out with kids, feeding accessories, high chair cover, Neatnik Saucer

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