Baby Gear

The nickname we gave my son very early on is the “rooster”> He is up at the crack of dawn every single day. Not only that but he wakes up his twin sister every morning also. We tried putting him to sleep later, and that jsut does not work, he would wake up at the same time and now he was not getting enough rest.

Enter the Good Nite Lite. The Good Nite Lite is a patent pending, behavioral modification device designed to promote a child’s ability to get the rest that is critical for healthy development.
The concept is simple: you set the time and an alarm for when you want your child to wake up. When it’s dark, the light shines blue and displays a happy moon face, so that your child knows it is still sleep time.
At the preset time, the light will turn yellow and show a cheery sun face letting your child know it is okay to get out of bed.
There are buttons on the back allow you to change settings. You can set the time five minutes back each day or each couple of days until your child is waking up at the desired time.

The light costs $34.99 and is a great way to reinforce good sleeping patterns. The clock is geared for children between the ages of 3 and 5 years of age who are just starting to grasp the concept of day and night.
My son loves this clock in his room and it has given my son, my husband and I and his baby brother (who shares his room right now) an extra hour or so of sleep.
I love this clock and will recommended it to any parent of early risers!

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The one thing every parent has a problem with at one time or another is meal time. Whether it is a child who doesn’t want to sit at the table, one who always wants to eat with their hands, or a child who is a picky eater parents can all relate to meal time dilemas. I have found some funky dishware that may help with your troubles.

Trebimbi has flatware and dish sets that are colorful and adorable.
Each Puppet Club Table Set includes a child-sized spoon, fork and knife, eggcup (so cute and may just get my kids to eat eggs!), bowl and mug that are really adorable.
Made in Italy, each cutlery piece has a stainless steel body and a colored polypropylene handle. Each piece has a cute smiling face and the pieces can be locked together like a string of paper dolls for easy storage or for fun at the table before dinner.
All of these are dishwasher safe and are recommended for kids two to six years old.

They are not inexpensive at $44.99 but may be worth it if it helps you get the little ones to eat. Amazon has a ton of different styles and colors.
I have not used these but they seem cute enough and could very well be worth the price tag, I would love to hear from someone on how they hold up and if their children love them.

trebimbi, kids, toddlers, mealtime, dish sets for kids, feeding kids, parenting, reviews, trebimi puppets club

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.
All of the products produced for the Spring 2009 season have been tested by certified laboratories approved by the CPSC. Furthermore, all products sent before 2009 are also in compliance with CPSIA standards.
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!

safe toys, stuffed animals, zoobies, zoobie babies, toddlers, baby gifts, gift ideas for kids, baby gearm, toys, toy reviews

I am always looking for new, great baby gear to review. I am always open to hearing about a new gadget, toy, clothing or gear that children and their parents would love!
If you have a product you would like to have reviewed here or on my other site www.parentingourchildren.com just send me an email using the contact Erinn button on the right hand side!
You can also always send suggestions on things you would like to see me review in the future!

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Breastfeeding has been a little challenging to say the least. The baby and I have had to work at it. Getting comfortable for me was one of the hardest things to do. I would find myself with backaches and tension in my shoulders from feeding him improperly. Enter the appropriately named My Brest Friend deluxe pillow and all of that is gone.

Every parent has a boppy and the boppy has its place, to help hold the baby or for the baby who is new to sitting up alone, but the Brest Friend pillow is specially designed for breastfeeding. It has a wrap around design that helped to support me and my aching back so much, especially when I nurse at night in bed. It has a velcro adjustable strap that you can adjust with one hand and arm rests for your arms. The pocket is wonderful to keep my utterly yours breast pillow and a burp cloth handy.

Don’t get me started on the fabric, it is soft and wonderful! There are so many fabric types and patterns to chose from. If it gets dirty just take off the slip cover and throw it into the wash it will come out as good as when you put it in. I love this pillow and I credit it and the web site support on breastfeeding with really helping me with nursing. If you know someone who is breastfeeding or you are planning on it, I highly recommend this great pillow.
You, your baby and your back will thank me!

My Brest Friend, nursing, pregnancy, nursing pillows, breastfeeding, infants, baby gear, baby gear reviews, feeding your baby

As a mother I love giving and receiving special and unique gifts for children. They are always the gifts you remember where and who they came from and keep them for years and years. Lisa Callanan and Christina Tedesco met through their two little girls and decided to start a business together: 2 Little Stars.

The great women at 2 Little Stars can create a gift that is unique and personal to your own ““little star.” From personalized shirts, burp cloths, fabric headbands and gift sets you will have no problem picking out an item or pattern to suit the child in your life. 2 Little Stars offers a variety of choices that are so stylish you will want them all. They have everything from dots and flower patterns to stripes and sports themes.

We were lucky enough to try out the Ryan tag blanket. It is so soft and adorable I want one of my own! My baby loves it and uses it for nap time and play time! This is perfect for traveling or for Grandma’s house. It held up to a washing and is a generous size at 18″X18″.

I already have my eye on the adult initial tees, the kid’s personalized shirts and the initial pony tail holders for my daughter! Check out 2 Little Stars and tell me what your favorite item is from their site.

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My children each had a ride on and they loved them, but I didn’t. The thing I didn’t like about them is the same problem all parents have with toys, they were too loud with obnoxious noises and songs. Kids love to be able to get on something and ride it, and do it over and over and over.

< This radio flyer inchworm is adorable though! It is for ages 2-5 and it weighs only 8lbs. Bounce up and down to make the inchworm move.
Most store have this available or you can order it from www.redwagons.com and they have it available to ship now.
Better yet? No noise besides tons of laughter!

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I recently came across Bummas which are an alternative to baby wipes. The are sold in sets containing ten 100% cotton/velour terry cloths. They are a generous 5″x7″ size. These cloths are easy to clean, you can just toss them into the washing machine when they are dirty.

From their site:
• Eliminates the use of talcum powder.
• 100% Cotton - Woven Velour Terry Cloth.
• Variety of color combinations for nursery themes.
• Handy 5” x 7” size.
• Durable. Just throw them in the washing machine and use them again.
• Won’t pill, shrink, or fade
• They will last until your little one is out of diapers and beyond!

I think these would be great for baby’s with sensitive skin. You can use these as washcloths or small burp cloths too. They come in different color sets for boys, girls or neutral. Has anyone used these cloths and what do you think of them?

Bummas, newborns, sensive baby skin, baby wipes, diaper changing, infants, babies

From the Munchkin site:
The Snack Catcher - No more spilled snacks on the floor or car seat. Our clever Snack Catcher cup keeps bite-sized snacks inside the container until little fingers pull them out. Even if it tips over! The soft flaps make it easy to access and the little finger cleaning bumps are a special plus for keeping nearby surfaces cleaner. This is one snack holder that will catch your attention…and keeps messes to a minimum!

Domed container holds 9 oz. of dry snacks
Protective bottom keeps tabletops scratch-free
A place to write child’s name on the bottom
Pack of 1 or 2 Snack Catchers

The Mighty Grip™ 10 oz. Straw Cup is a must have for families on the go. Just think, a toddler cup that won’t spill when it falls…not even the slightest leak out of the straw. Thanks to our brilliantly designed straw valve and uniquely contoured shape, this cup and its contents will stay put in little hands. The straw is made of soft silicone for comfortable drinking. Cheers to care-free sipping!
Holds 10 oz. of liquid
Top rack dishwasher safe
For kids 2+ years

Munchkin offers many products not just for feeding baby but for the bath and more. Munchkin seems to be sold everywhere and I am pleased to say now offers many BPA free products (which is all I buy).
I would love to know what Munchkin products do you own and how do you like them?

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There are so many baby lotions, shampoos and creams on the market it is hard to find one that is right for your baby. I never liked anything that was overly perfumed or heavy. The one brand I found myself keep returning to was Aveeno Baby.

Aveeno baby is tear free and gentle on my baby’s skin. The baby wash and shampoo rinses clean and is made with natural oat extract. They make a creamy wash for dry skin or eczema which I have used for my daughter’s dry skin patches. My favorite of all these products is the soothing bath treatment which is made with natural colloidal oatmeal. I have used this for my kid’s diaper rash, bug bites or rashes and it works.

I also love Method brand baby care products. What baby care products are your favorites?

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My kids have been potty trained for about three years now, but when I first trained them I worried about our long trips to my hometown. I bought one of these portable pottys.

They come with liners with an absorbent pad on the bottom, when you are done the sides tie up and throw it away!
I haven’t been able to find replacement bags but I use small garbage bags and you can use any sort of sanitary pads in the bottom if you are worried about leaks.
It is convenient for long trips, for the beach or anywhere the bathroom isn’t close enough or available at all.
It comes with a carrying case and fits nicely in my trunk. I don’t go anywhere without it still, because my son is notorious for telling me he has to go to the bathroom 3 seconds before he actually does!

If you travel often this is a great investment.

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Congratulations to Dave, Jessica and Dave for winning the shoes from See Kai Run!

Keep reading www.reviewingbabygear.com and www.parentingourchildren.com for more great articles, amazing giveaways and honest reviews in 2009!

I am a stroller fanatic. I have had A LOT of strollers come through this house. If I haven’t owned them, I have tried them out in the store and checked them out online. You never want to go cheap with a stroller you will be using it very often. If you buy the right stroller one is all you will need.
If you are a stroller novice you will want to read this article, or if you have a pregnant friend or family member pass it along. This is a great what you need in a stroller.

What you need for a newborn:
Because your baby can’t sit up yet, a fully reclining stroller is best, or if you want buy a stroller with a travel system (A car seat, stroller and base). A bare frame that will support your infant car seat.
I love the infant head/neck insert some stroller come with but you can always buy that separately if your stoller doesn’t have one.

What you need for a long term stroller:
A big canopy is a must! To protect your baby from sunlight or weather.
Easy to open and fold Look for something you can do with one hand so you can do it while holding your baby.
Adjustable handlebars are a great feature in a stoller. It is a must have on my list because my husband is very tall and most strollers are uncomfortable for him to push.

Make sure you look for a stroller that meets the American Society Testing and Materials and that is certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association. Test drive a stroller before you purchase it, wheel it around the store, test the brakes and make sure it will fit in your trunk.
Lastly you can check out Consumer Reports for stroller safety.

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