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.

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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.

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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.

 

 

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master wordsmith

 The Playful Walnut, The Traveling Walnuts
Jul 272011
 

How good are you at Scrabble? Can you polish off the Sunday Times crossword puzzle in an afternoon? If so, maybe KaBAM wouldn’t faze you. But if you relish a good challenge and want to test your spelling smarts with your kids, I invite you to get a copy of this word-building game and see just how vast your vocabulary is. My daughter and I have been playing KaBAM for the last few weeks and I must admit to being stumped on more than occasion. The concept is simple, but trying to win is anything but. Players draw cards, each containing one or more letters, and then must add a minimum of one letter to create a new word. Once you know a word, shout it out and collect both cards. Whoever accrues the most cards by the time you’ve gone through the entire deck wins! Sounds easier than it looks, I assure you. Assuming I have more than 30 years reading experience over my 7-year-old, I figured I could sit back and politely “let” her win a few rounds. But the truth of the matter is I was scratching my head over words I could make using odd letter combinations. Sure there are plenty of no-brainer answers when slamming down cards containing an A and PR (“pray,” for one, as in who knew I’d need to call upon a higher power to bring me luck during this game). But how about when you draw cards like TI and OU? The rules say you can’t change the order of a letter combination to come up with an answer. Let’s just say my daughter racked up quite a few points in this game. KaBAM is a great way to keep kids’ minds active during those lazy summer months when reading falls by the wayside. It’s one that we’ll definitely be taking with us on vacation. Now excuse me while I go catch up on my reading…the dictionary, that is.

In a Nutshell: Scrabble buffs meet their match with this engrossing word-building game that truly puts your working vocabulary to the test.

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epidermis envy

 Gear for Baby Walnuts, The Playful Walnut, The Traveling Walnuts
Jul 212011
 

In my family, if you were said to have ‘thick skin,’ it meant you didn’t let things get to you. I’d like to think that over the years, I’ve developed quite a few layers that have enabled me to withstand criticism…at least for the most part. Growing a protective shell doesn’t happen overnight unless, of course, you’re a turtle. And when you’re a new parent shopping for baby gear that will stand up to wear and tear, this animal’s tough exterior comes to mind. How fitting that Kolcraft’s TurtleTot Activity Center is centered around this very creature. The newest stationary activity center to come to town, it features Toby TurtleTot who sits amidst a group of playful pals–a worm, butterfly, bee and rattle–inviting your little one to experience sounds, lights and movement. Much like the turtle itself, the TurtleTot center is durable and strong, designed to be folded up and taken with you. If you’re in the market for a safe spot for your baby to enjoy and explore, then take this turtle along for the ride.

In a Nutshell: Baby gear designed to withstand hours of play and travel, the TurtleTot Activity Center is ready for action.

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books on board

 The Smart Walnut, The Traveling Walnuts
Jul 082011
 

My 7-year-old is zipping through a bunch of books this summer with a mission in mind: She’s trying to earn enough minutes so she can take advantage of our local library’s summer reading club contest. If she logs enough time, she’ll score tickets to a juggling show. To this 7-year-old, there’s nothing as thrilling as live entertainment…unless, of course, it’s a new Wii game. My hope is that once the show has come and gone, she’ll still be just as excited to keep reading, especially when we head out on vacation. To help keep kids on the go psyched about books, PBS Kids and JetBlue are running a Soar With Reading program that provides traveling families with plenty of incentives for hitting the books. Just by visiting the Soar With Reading site, parents can download a free reading activity kit, create a summer reading list for their kids and track how much they’ve read. And for any families traveling JetBlue this summer, child passengers can receive in-flight activity kits to keep them occupied and entertained. As anyone who’s ever flown with a young child knows, that’s worth its weight in gold!

A Walnut Nugget: To help promote the Soar With Reading program, one lucky Talking Walnut reader will win a JetBlue backpack containing an activity, a new children’s paperback and a Steve Songs CD. The winning entry will be randomly drawn. This giveaway closes on July 8, 2011 at 8 pm EST. Good luck!

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eye candy

 Gear for Baby Walnuts, The Accessorized Walnut, The Traveling Walnuts
Jul 072011
 

Have you ever had a day like this? My family and I were briskly walking the streets of midtown Manhattan when, out of nowhere, the rain came pelting down. The forecast had called for “a chance of showers,” but this was a full-blown soaker. Not only did I forego raincoats for my daughters in favor of sweet cardigans to go along with their summer finery (OK, so they were simple sundresses, but you can feel my pain), but we only had one umbrella between the four of us. While my 7-year-old and I ducked under the umbrella, my husband braved the rain with my 3-year-old strolling along. The only one who didn’t appear to be miserable was the little one, as she closed out the rest of the world by pulling her stroller’s raincover over her head. As we hurried along to our destination, I couldn’t help but think how much nicer it would be to ride under a cover that had a little more pizzaz to it. After all, a child is gazing up at the top of raincover…shouldn’t all that alone time give her a chance to set her sights on something colorful, the stuff that dreams of cotton candy and lollipops are made of? It’s why I so love the new Dylan’s Candy Bar Buggy from Maclaren. Not only does this stroller offer a smooth, comfortable ride, but now your little one can nestle right along with some sweet treats. Outfitted in a mouth-watering, candy-colored motif, this buggy boasts a rainbow-hued striped hood, coordinating seat cover and, best of all, a raincover that is a feast for the eyes as it is for the tummy. It’s one stroller that is as playful as it is practical. (And it’s not the first time we’ve seen something in the kids’ arena with the Dylan’s Candy Bar stamp on it; the limited edition buggy joins a craft/toy line from ALEX Toys that is equally enticing.) After all, isn’t it nice to feel like a kid in a candy store, especially on a drab, rainy day?

In a Nutshell: How sweet it is! A candy-colored stroller is a child’s delight–and it satisfies this mom’s craving for comfort and creativity.

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bag it

 Gear for Baby Walnuts, The Traveling Walnuts
Jun 152011
 

Lots of traveling moms I know complain about how annoying it can be to schlepp their kid’s car seat through the airport. I don’t envy them; the few times we’ve done it, my husband’s wrist looked like he was suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. If you’re planning to fly the friendly skies anytime this summer, you won’t have to struggle with the bulk of a cumbersome seat, thanks to the new Britax Car Seat Travel Bag. Designed to fit most standard car seats, this sturdy bag features carry handles and padded shoulder straps, so you can carry it backpack-style. Or, if you’re so inclined, use the built-in wheels and pull it behind you. Worried that you’ll lose your gear at the baggage claim? A handy luggage tag lets you proudly ID this bag as your own. The other passengers will surely be envious of your smart packing. And now Dear Old Dad won’t have to kill himself maneuvering Junior’s through Terminal B. The Britax Car Seat Travel Bag will be available in July.

In a Nutshell: Excessive baggage is never fun, unless it means smoother traveling. This car seat bag will take you from plane to automobile faster than that attendant at the Hertz car rental window will.

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kiddie to go

 Gear for Baby Walnuts, The Safe Little Walnut, The Traveling Walnuts
Jun 012011
 

As the school year winds down, that can only mean one thing…No, not you pulling your hair out because the kids are driving you crazy (already!). It”s time for that annual rite of passage: the family vacation. While gas prices aren’t anything to sneeze at, lots of people I know are still planning on hitting the road with the whole gang at some point this season. Some will be taking longer car rides across state lines, while others are looking into a few long weekend trips. If your car is anything like ours, fitting two kids in the backseat, let alone a third child, doesn’t allow much wiggle room–or rooms for all those travel toys. That’s why we are loving the Bubble Bum booster seat. It’s a portable, foldable lightweight seat that doesn’t eat up precious space, and provides a comfortable ride for the child who’s always feeling crowded out. It differs from other standard booster seats because of its seat belt positioning clips instead of arm rests, and has passed all the U.S. and U.K. motor vehicle safety regulations. What’s also really cool about the Bubble Bum–besides the name, of course–is that it inflates easily and when it’s not in use, just deflate it and store in your glove compartment, travel bag or even your purse. Now your kids have even more room in the back for all those souvenirs…

In a Nutshell: Gas up the car and pack those snacks and card games. With this one-pound booster seat, your kid will proudly call this seat his own, even if he can’t call shotgun. The Bubble Bum is designed for kids ages 4-11 who weigh between 40-80 lbs.

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soak up the sun safely

 The Healthy Walnut, The Safe Little Walnut, The Traveling Walnuts
May 172011
 

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 SPF 45, but they come in kid-friendly designs (yellow formula featuring SpongeBob and pink in a Dora the Explorer motif). I used to roll my eyes at character-influenced products, but in this case, if it helps my 7-year-old remember to take her SpongeBob stick out of her bag and use it, I’m all for it.

In a Nutshell: It may be OK for a sponge to soak up some rays, but when it comes to kids and the sun, the two work best in moderation–and with the proper protection. This sunscreen stick aims to keep kids covered, so they can enjoy the summer without the sunburn.

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