Baby Gear

File these baby slippers under “waste of money”. Heelarious are baby high heeled slippers for infants. Available in hot pink and black patent and zebra and leopard satin these heels are $35.00 a pop. These are being billed as “her first high heels” are meant for babies under six months old and as a joke and not intended to be walked in (the heels collapse if pressure is put on them).

I am not sure what is worse spending $35 on crib shoes for a baby who will grow out of them in a matter of weeks or spending all that money as a “joke” crib shoe. What do you think? Would you buy them for your pint size fashionista or would you file that under “thanks but no thanks!”?

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Since having my third child I have had to simplify many things in my life. One of them being all the baby and kid stuff I have to lug around from house to the park/party/mall/anywhere. I hate carrying a purse and diaper bag especially because I hate my current diaper bag. Enter the Diaper Doodie.

The diaper doodie is a diaper changing accessory. It is a luxuriously soft changing pad that folds up to hold 3-5 diapers and a small pack of wipes! I love supporting mom invented products and this product is a great idea. It folds up simply and is easy to use and pack. They come in eight great designs and colors and each has a minky interior with a soft cotton exterior. They are each $36.00 and can be purchased online. These are not just for new moms this would be great for a mom of an older child who is potty training or for a moms who don’t have to carry a big diaper bag anymore. Great for all moms!

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I was lucky enough to try some bamboo clothing for baby K from Bamboosa. Bamboosa makes clothing out of bamboo fiber blended with organic cotton for everyone in your family. The material is so super soft, it is hard to tell it isn’t silk! Bamboo is also anti-bacterial, breathable and biodegradable and Bamboosa uses eco-friendly dyes and 100% recycled paper in their packaging.

Bamboosa has an adorable assortment of products for your baby. Everything is super soft, easy to wash and is perfect for baby’s skin. I love the products so much I have to order the fine jersey sleep slip for myself as well as crib sheets for my little one.

Bamboosa is a sweatshop-free company, and all its clothing is produced in a factory in Andrews, South Carolina. Why it took so long for bamboo to be a resource in making clothing, I am not sure but I will be purchasing bamboo clothing from bamboosa for my whole family. This is great for my older son who has very sensitive skin.
If you are looking for a baby gift idea, check out their great baby gift sets or purchase a gift certificate for a new mom or as a gift for anyone on your list. You will not be disappointed with bamboo clothing or Bamboosa.

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The bioME 5 Animal Alphabet Project was created by two architectural designers who are inspired by the visual learning processes inherent in all children. They have recently launched a line of infant wear. Their new onesies, sized 3-6 months and 6-12 months, are shrunken down versions of their popular toddler tees. You will feel great dressing your kids in this line of environmentally friendly clothes, they are made with 100% certified, undyed and unbleached organic cotton made in sweatshop-free facilities in the U.S. Their packaging is environmentally friendly also, your items come in biodegradable plastic bags that take less time to biodegrade in the landfills.

Now for the fun part, each shirt teaches children about the animals that are printed on their shirt along with the corresponding letter. Each name of the animal is The reading theme printed upside down so the child can read their own shirt easily. How cute is that?

We have the jaquar onesie for baby K and he looks so cute in it. It washes well and it is super soft. These shirts come in sizes 3-6 month up to 6T. I think they run a little small so if you are in doubt, I would buy a size up. The baby is a little young to read but my older two love to read the upside down letters on K’s shirt. I am going to have to buy them each one because they love animals and they love K’s shirt.

Both the original tees and the new onesies include large letters and exciting animals in vibrant colors. Both the short sleeve tees and the onesies retail for $32, and shipping is free on online orders. Hurry, right now the long sleeve tees are 50% off!

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I am always looking for a great baby gift. Sometimes you don’t know what the parents already have or you have to wait until the baby is born to go out and get a gender appropriate gift. I found a wonderful baby gift for a boy or a girl. This grow a tree kit that includes everything you’ll need to plant a tree for the new arrival that will grow up right along with the baby. It comes with baby tree seeds (blue spruce), decorative tin pail, fertilizer stick, tree protector, mulch, tree stake and a ceramic plaque for engraving baby’s name in a beautiful gift box.

You will feel great about giving this gift, it is an environmentally friendly product, but a portion of the proceeds is also donated to organizations dedicated to the planting of trees and the development of wildlife habitat.
The price is great at $19.99.

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I love personalized items and I especially love them for my kids. Plus, what child doesn’t love something with their name on it? This makes the company Two Tinas perfect one stop personalized shopping.
I am in love with the my name stroller blankets by Two Tinas. They have designs that are so fun and grow with your child. These are not just baby blankets. They also carry extra sweet, monogrammed blankets in great patterns. All Two Tinas blankets are custom monogrammed with baby’s initial so delivery can take a couple of weeks. Blanket size is approximately 29″x29″. They wash well and are perfect for a stroll outside, a nap or tummy time inside.

Two Tinas also carries personalized onesies. These are so soft and are made with pre-shrunk cotton with whimsical designs like a crown or angle wings on the back (my personal fav). Two Tinas are hot and they have something for every baby. Perfect for a new baby or for your own little prince or princess.

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If diaper bags are the new designer handbags then strollers are the new, hottest cars. Moms no longer are willing to carry around an oversized, pastel diaper bag, and we don’t want a bulky, heavy, ugly stroller. Strollers are not just for the babies that ride in them anymore, if you are not aware of this fact, just look around the playground or mall. Strollers are getting lighter, faster and are mush easier to use.
Now I have found the Cadillac of all strollers, the Bumbleride.

I had the pleasure to try out the new Indie all-terrain stroller that is lighter and more compact than its cousin the Bumbleride Rocket is. I thought this stroller would be bulky and heavy and that could not be farther from the truth. The Indie is only 20 lbs, one of the lighter all terrain strollers, so it was perfect for everyday use, and use it every day we did!
We took this stroller everywhere, to the mall, to a Earth Day fair, for long walks around our neighborhood and we even circled the house in an effort to get our baby to sleep! This stroller handled better then any other stroller I have ever used including the overhyped Peg Perego and my beloved old Maclaren.

Just chillin’ in my awesome stroller

The aluminum frame, great seat padding and 12″ air filled tires make the ride smooth and easy to maneuver on our cracked sidewalks as well as off road. What takes a stroller from “okay” to “amazing” is the features and the Bumbleride is full of them. The Indie comes with: a padded handlebar to hang toys from, a footmuff to keep the little one warm, dual ratcheting canopy to keep sun off of the baby, adjustable handle height (a must for my 6 foot 2 inch husband), cup holder and oversized basket. The brake is easy to use and the Indie folds up so compact, perfect for any trunk space or storage area! The seat even reclines completely flat or in three other angles.

Check out their web site for all the amazing color choices, and styles of strollers. What makes their web site so special is that it has great features like a gallery and a faq section, but also a great video showing you how easy it is to use the stroller and all of its features.

I have had many strollers in my five years of being a mother and this by far is the best. I have never received compliments on my stroller before using the Indie but we had many people comment on it and ask what type it was and where they can get one. I should get a commission!
Overall, I could not recommend this stroller enough, I loved it, my husband loved it, our baby loved it and so did the many strangers on our outings. I can never go back to any old stroller now! Go Bumbleride!

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While I wanted something to clean my newborn’s bottom with, I didn’t want all the alcohol that comes with many wipes on the market. I have made my own wipes, but with three kids I need a lot of wipes every day.
Pampers Sensitive Wipes seem to be the best choice for me.

I want something gentle to wipe the baby’s face with and also the occasional dirty feet of my older two, as well as clean the bottom well. I was afraid this would be too thin or delicate, but it stood up. This is also fragrence free, which is great.
We keep them by the changing stations, in the kitchen for food messes and in our diaper bag. Buy them in bulk like we do!

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Yes, I can buy any shoes for my kids at any store, but I chose to seek out great shoes for my kids. Shoes that are well made, comfortable and cute, just like my kids! Enter Bugaboo shoes, whose shoes fit into all of these categories!

They are made with great quality leather, pliable soles, with velcro straps for kids to put on their shoes by themselves. Perfect for growing feet. They offer shoes in great colors and styles. Each are light weight so it is easy for new walkers and runners to maneuver in. The shoes come in toddler sizes 3 to 6.5 and children’s sizes 4 up to 12.

My daughter loves her Sherry shoes in pink and had received many compliments on them in her travels. I already have my eye on these Chase shoes for my son and I know my daughter would love these sandals!

Want a pair? Get free shipping when you enter “Bugaboo” as the coupon code!

What do you look for in shoes for your kids?

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We recycle in our home and have been for many years. Recently my children asked me why we put certain things in our “other” trash can. I explained recycling to them and then I wondered what exactly is our recycled material made into? I wanted to find out for my kids as well as for myself. I found many things on my travels that are tagged with “made with recyclable plastics” and I feel great about not only buying those items but my recycling efforts!

Now the little red wagon has “gone green” too! This is a green radio Flyer. This great wagon is made from 100% recycled post-consumer HDPE (plastic milk jugs). Over 230 milk jugs were diverted from landfills to make each Earth Wagon. The green and tan colors are infused throughout the boards so color won’t scratch off and painting is never needed.

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There are a ton of bibs on the market today, but they are usually the same old thing. Dabib is different, it has a unique “scrunch collar” that minimizes leakage of liquids and solid foods onto the baby’s clothing. Any mother knows this means less stains on clothing and that means less laundry! Dabib is made with super absorbent micro fiber terry front and a waterproof back.

DaBib was just chosen by San Francisco Daily Candy edition as one of only five MUST have items for new moms. In order to celebrate, www.dabib.com is offering a coupon for reviewing baby gear readers, 10% off purchase with code MOM2008 but it expires on June 30 so act fast. Also, order 3 or more bibs and get free standard shipping (continental US only).

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It seems to be hard these days to find great baby and kid clothing that doesn’t have some saying that is not appropriate for kids, or is unique. I love finding great clothing for my kids but I am not willing to break the bank to do it either, especially the way my kids grow! Regular readers will also know how I love mom owned businesses. Ooh La La Mama has great clothing for kids and was created in the end of 2006 by wife and husband team, Cindy Parker and Scott Stoughton.

What makes Ohh La La Mama clothing are so unique for kids are the front and back (they use a full-color printing process that is really pretty and extends to both the front and back) real photo designs and fabulous graphics. Finally your kids can be as hip as you wish you were! Perfect for my pint size fashionistas!
My kids love the clothing as much as I do because the ply-cotton blend is soft and comfortable. My son loves his shirt because “it is a cool rock ‘n roll shirt!” my daughter loves her dress because it has a “heart on it and pretty sleeves!”. The onesies are so adorable, my baby looks so cute in it.

These are works of art not just shirts. Check out Ooh La La Mama for your own children’s clothes, a great baby shower or birthday gift for that edgy and different style. Go order some great apparal (from 3 months to size 6) and enter their photo contest for a chance to win $250 of clothing for your little one! I am off to upload our pictures today!

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I have found with this new baby of mine, that he is not an easy sleeper. He is not one of those infants that you can put him down and he will just sleep. After 5-10 minutes in anything he cries. Vibrating seat? Boring. Swing? Okay for a while but then he is done. I wondered how I would ever get this baby to sleep and then I found pippalily slings.

Pippalily was started by a mom whose daughter always wanted to be worn. She couldn’t find the unique and stylish slings she wanted so she made them! These slings are pouches so they are easy to get baby in and out and there are no rings to adjust. Those rings confuse me anyway.
I love that this sling had a deeper “seat” for the baby. It makes me feel that my baby is more secure.
I wear my baby all the time at parties, to the park, it is easy for me to use, K loves it and I have my hands free for my other two kids.

The thing I love most about these slings is that all of the fabric and patterns are simply gorgeous. The silk brocade is fancy enough to wear to a wedding or any other event as well as to the playground. I have received so many compliments on my Chocolate Brown Dragon sling! I love the Morning Glory Coral sling too. I want them all!

Get one for your husband for Father’s Day! Pippalily makes great slings in a masculine camouflage print or a plain black cotton sling. Don’t know how to use a sling? Don’t worry they have instructional how-to videos online for you.
These are going to be my new gift to get for baby showers.

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I always remember how my mother would trot us out to our local Stride Rite every August to buy my sister and I new shoes for school. She would always tell us how important good shoes are for growing kids. There are so many shoe brands for kids out there now, and finding one that is really great is not that easy. I have found that one for you.

Eleven Shoes are some of the best kid shoes I have ever seen. Eleven is a sister company with See Kai Run, another great children’s shoe company. See Kai Run shoes are made for prewalkers and walkers, infants and toddler sizes 3-9, but Eleven shoes are for older kids with sizes 9-1.
Every Eleven shoe has its upper and interior lining constructed from premium leather this is just so soft. That coupled with the padded insoles, makes the shoes breathable and comfortable for your children. The styles are timeless and classic and it is great quality footwear.

What I also like about this collection is that I think some of the shoes would be great for either a boy or a girl. That means hand me downs of the Rio shoes my daughter has to her little brother. We have received many compliments on these shoes since my daughter started wearing them. The only thing I don’t like about Eleven shoes is that they don’t come in my size, I would love a pair! Go get your kids a pair or three, these are great for back to school, and I know you are counting the days until that!

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I am not a fan of most stuffed animals. My kids have a few that they are attached to and a few that they like but never play with. I hate to have things that just collect dust and are just taking up space. I have found a stuffed animal that is more though, one that is very special. Zoobie pets.

Zoobie was started by two brothers on a quest born out of a desire for innovation and a love of children. With a tag line of: Play. Sleep. Love. how can this company not be good? These are no ordinary animals, each pet is a plush toy, a soft pillow and a comfy blanket all in one!
Just detach the velcro and unzip a zipper and your stuffed animal can change into a pillow or blanket and back again. It is easy to use and safe for children.

How perfect is this for children to travel with? Instead of packing a lovie, a blanket and a pillow, you have it all in one with these soft, lovingly made zoobies. The signature faces on each animal all contain micro beads, making them extremely soft and each animal has its own definitive extra-soft-to-the-touch body texture, making for exceptionally comfy pillows. The inner blankets are made of extra soft and warm coral fleece.
Choose from a ton of different animals from either the zoo collection or the safari collection.
My only problem with this toy is that my two older children each want one of their own! This makes not only a great gift for a new baby but kids of all ages will love it too!

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