Posts filed under 'baby gear'

Sipping Safely

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We’ve found another kids cup to love: The Safe Sippy by Kid Basix.

Bret Plate, a father of two, was worried about the toxic components of plastics and how they may leach from his kids’ drinking cups and into their beverages. In search of a better alternative, he designedbeverage container of food-grade stainless steel, inside and out. All plastics used on the product are certified or tested free of BPA and pthalates (the company says it pays for independent lab tests to ensure the cups are free of these substances). The interior no-spill valve is made from silicone. Why are there no plastics on this cup, then? As the company says, nobody wants to sip on a steel straw.

The no-spill valve isn’t absolutely leakproof; the company admits that while the valve will prevent major spills, there still will be drips and dribbles when the cup is inverted. I haven’t found a perfectly hermetically sealed sippy cup, so I can live with a few drips. And I appreciate that this one’s easy to put together, and has saved us from those leaks caused by “assembly-mom error.” The removable outer sleeve adds a nice grip-factor for kids, especially if you choose not to use the sleek little handles, and also insulates cold drinks from their little mitts.

The Safe Sippy is easy to clean, and is dishwasher safe. We wash ours the fast, easy and green way: in the recommended solution of baking soda, vinegar and hot water, the same way we wash our other stainless steel containers.

And, well, the cup’s styling is just plain cool. It comes in three great color combinations: stainless steel and orange paired with bright blue, turquoise or hot pink. In fact, it’s so cool, my kids fight over the single Safe Sippy we have. Guess I should finally purge all those plastic cups and stock my shelves with these.

Mama Kate

Add comment August 18th, 2008

Hip kid’s chair you won’t want to hide

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Modern Tots has the fashionably mod kids chair you have been looking for and it is called the Cubino Chair.  It’s hip’s answer to the puffy character driven seating that is available at most kids stores…

This little chair can add pizazz to any one of your rooms while affording your child some pint-sized seating accommodations. 

Completely removable and washable seat covers—need I say more?

Mama Jen

Add comment August 3rd, 2008

Toddler pianists?

myfirstpiano_sm.jpg     HipBabyGear.com has the most adorable little piano available in pink white or red to get your toddler started tickling the ivories!

This little piano will not only look good, it will help your child explore their musicality!

This site also carries my favorite gift to my friends who are having little boys…Pee Pee Tee Pees!!!  Never heard of ‘em???  Absolutely invaluable to parents of baby boys!!!

Mama Jen

Add comment July 14th, 2008

Quality wooden outdoor games from Oompa

With all of this wonderful warm weather, outdoor games are a must!  Oompa Toys has some phenomenal wooden games (and various other items of phenomenal quality)  for your toddlers that are sure to be a hit with them and the grown-ups!  These games are something that can be passed down through multiple generations and always remain popular.

Check out this cute little croquet set!  Fun, colorful, and will help kids learn hand-eye coordination while having a blast!
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For those who have tiny people who want to play golf just like daddy or mommy, check out this adorable mini golf set.
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I am especially fond of the Goblin Catch Ring Toss…Just the look of it makes me want to giggle and start tossing rings at the little guys!
ha4800.jpg  Mama Jen

Add comment June 30th, 2008

Wonder Kids has pesonalized bath capes for you little superhero!

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Look at these amazingly cute, cute, CUTE bath capes!  I absolutely love the idea…functional, imagination inspiring and fashionable!

These 100% terry cloth bath capes drape over your shivering little superhero and button in front so your little one can run around hands-free and warm!!! These would solve a big problem in our house—chattering teeth because our daughter’s towel—even though it has a hood— falls off, or is flailing wide open while she is destracted with some fun task her hands have gotten her into.  A button would fix that in a heartbeat!

This Chicago based company that hand makes these capes, will emblazon a bath cape for your child and ship the item out two weeks or less from the time of order. 

Mama Jen

Add comment June 11th, 2008

Kice Kice is Nice Nice!

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Kice Kice is a clothing boutique for kids with a big conscience.  The gorgeous, artfully designed clothing is 100% certified organic and sweatshop free.

Kice Kice is created by twin sisters in Southern California who both have art backgrounds—it shows in their clean, modern, whimsical designs.  The clothes all are comfortable which leaves lots of flexibility for play.  I don’t know about how it goes in your house, but my daughter insists on “cozy clothes” which is her definition for soft cotton clothing with elastic…I agree! 
                                               kicekicepants.jpg  Mama Jen

Add comment June 3rd, 2008

Girl’s Crib bedding sale

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Luca Bleu is having a crib bedding sale for girl’s!  Check out the beautiful designs available for all those spring chicks that are ready to hatch!!   Enter promo  BED20 to receive 20% off of your purchase.  Yea!

Mama Jen

Add comment May 14th, 2008

The Sweetleaf Baby collection from Thymes

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Being a product junkie myself, I naturally continued the habit for my daughter since she can’t very well be one on her own yet.  Thymes, a Minnesota based company has a new collection of products for babies called Sweetleaf Baby.

The Sweetleaf Baby collection is formulated to be oh so gentle on that new skin you’ll be pampering.  The scent is light and airy with hints of lavender, chamomile.

The gift set is so wonderful with a refreshning hand sanitizer, diaper balm, cute yellow washcloth  and nursery mist…mmmm!  Perfect!  The massage oil I tried is delectable—not too greasy, great smelling and paraben free which is fab!

Happy pampering!!

Mama Jen

Add comment May 5th, 2008

Which Sunscreen is Best for your family?

sun.jpgThe most important skin cream you can use is SUNSCREEN!   The sunny time of year is here or approaching, depending where you live, and the Environmental Working Group  conducted the first-ever study on the efficacy and safety of sunscreens out on the market..  Those found to be effective and safe might as well be considered samples from the “Fountain of Youth.”

EWG stepped up because, “After 29 years of debate, the government has failed to set mandatory sunscreen safety standards. In August 2007 FDA proposed first-ever UVA standards for sunscreen, but the rules are not yet finalized. In the meantime, companies are free to make claims about product quality.”  Scary!

To see how your sunscreen stacks up, which is healthiest and most effective, visit EWG’s Skin Deep.  While you’re there, check out any of your products for their safety as well as this handy-dandy parents’ buying guide.  Parenthood is so busy that it is wonderful that this site has sussed out the good, bad and the ugly for us! I love this site!

Mama Jen

Add comment April 21st, 2008

Home Safety: Products that help Prevent burns from Hot Water and Fire in Your Homes

house.bmp  Two products I have come across look like great ways to dial-up safety measures in your home.

Hot Stop has faucet, shower head, and shower-head/faucet combos to protect your family from scalding hot water.  You can turn your water heater to a setting below 120 degrees F, but that isn’t a sure-fire way of knowing how hot your water can get.  These products , that were featured on the Today Show will cease the flow of water in the event that it reaches an unsafe temperature.  I found a link to a horrible tragedy I heard of in the last two weeks, and surprisingly it occurs more frequently than we think. 

Definitely check your water heater’s thermostat, manual, and look into installing these devices in your home.  If you are currently building, you can request that safety units be installed “behind the scenes.”

I also received a link recently to this video which shocked me out of my socks! Every parent should see this video— Most kids don’t wake for fire alarms! 

They will, however, respond quickly to fire alarms that use the voice of their parent to deliver the warning.  I found some of these types of alarms at Amazon  and a price comparison at Nextag where you can record the more effective “familiar voice.”  Pricey, but safety and piece of mind are invaluable! I am sure after more looking, deals on these items can be found.  Just make sure it allows you to record your own voice.  For a more formal study on this phenomenon, here is a Pediatric study that was published on the matter as well.

Feel free to leave a comment with your safety tips!

Mama Jen

Add comment April 14th, 2008

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