Baby Gear

I was ordering a gift for my nephew on Amazon the other day and I had to add something to my order to qualify for free shipping. On my travels I came across these great baby toys. Inspired by nature, Sassy Earth Brights ™ include a variety of rattles with nature themes such as Spring Bouquet, Wooden Dove, Lil’ Twig Rattle and Cherry Tree Rattle.

I purchased the Dove because I thought it was so cute. The rounded, wing-shaped opening is sized perfectly for baby’s small hand, encouraging him to grasp the dove. The bright tail feathers offer a variety of textured fabrics for baby to explore and crinkle when touched. At less then $5.00 for a wooden baby toy that can become a keepsake, I thought it was a steal too!

baby toys, toys, baby gear, baby toy reviews, toy reviews, sassy, Sassy Earth Brights

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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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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Parachutes are great for kids of all ages. Infants love to lay down and have the parachute go up and down as they watch the show. Toddlers love to be dragged along on them or run under as the parachute falls.
This parachute for kids is worth its weight in fun and is great for physical coordination!

These parachutes are $29.95 fo rthe medium - 11 1/2 ft - 8 Handles and
$57.95 for the large - 19 1/2 ft - 12 handles.

Have your children lie on top of it and makes waves by pulling the parachute up and down around them.
Bounce balls on top of it.
Kids love to run underneath and switch places with others, Number each child around the circle- and then call out a number.

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If I don’t go into labor sooner, I will be having this baby via c-section this morning. Since I won’t be around for a while, while I take care of my newborn and five year old twins, I decided to share with you some of my favorite baby gear. Here are some reviews on things that I cannot live without and things I know you will enjoy:

I love this monitor and will use it for years, they are not just for newborns!

There is nothing like a good swaddling baby blanket.

This nest egg has helped me sleep at night which is a luxury when you are nine months pregnant. I think it will be a great help with breastfeeding too. Go get your own with the coupon, even if you are not pregnant this is great for kids or for travel!

We are trying to be more green in our house and what better timing then when a new baby comes!?

I love these products for Mom. The names and packaging are so cute that I would buy them for that alone! They really smell good too.

I think this is great for the summer. I know I would have to get it if I lived in a state that was hot all year round.

I love this thermometer and couldn’t live without it. Plus it is so much cheaper then it was new to the market and I bought it!

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Being “green” is becoming more and more important in our home. We are trying to buy BPA and polycarbonate-free pacifiers, toys and bottles, we are trying to conserve water and use Earth friendly cleaning products. This Easter will be no different, we will try and be more environmentally aware with our gifts for our kids. Here are some green Easter ideas for you:

Organic Bunny onesie. This onesie is so cute and perfect for Easter. Also comes in sweet pea or peanut for $24.00.

Wooden Eggs. Use these to play “kitchen”. Made of solid wood, non-toxic color and they are made in Germany.

Easter soap! Fun, different and cheap at $4.50.

Ponytail holders. So cute and perfect for all year round in your little one’s hair. Perfect price at $3.85. The best part? They are handmade.

Bunny Hat. If I wasn’t pregnant I would get pregnant just to buy this hat for a baby! Adorable handmade hat for infants or toddlers. Pick from pink or blue ears. They also have the hats in oatmeal. For a 2-4 years hat it is $26.00.

Veggies! These are adorable organic toy veggies for baby. Who can resist the broccoli?
Made with 100% organic cotton and are $6.50 each veggie.

Fair trade animals. These hand-knit animals from Peru are so sweet for little hands. Each set comes with three animals and can be hung so you can use them as ornaments or as a mobile for baby!

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My kids love the idea of getting things in the mail. Their grandparents in Florida regularly send them boxes of treats so every time the UPS man comes here they think it is for them! They now also love getting cards because they get stickers or money from family. Now they love drawing pictures and mailing them to family and friends.

This Wool Felt Mail Box for kids three and up would be perfect for my kids. It includes a mailbox, a flag, drawstring 12 x 16″ mail bag, shipping box,
3 postcards, 2 envelopes, 6 stamps, 6 address labels, and 6 messages. They all piece together with velcro. This is pricey at $59.99 and if you were a little handy with a sewing machine I am sure you could make something just like it for a fraction of the cost.
My review of this toy? Great idea, easy to play with, uses imagination and kids of various ages would like it but very expensive.

For younger kids this mailbox would be good. A spinning bee makes electronic buzzing sounds when your child bats at him. Your child can mail and retrieve “letters” from the box. We all know how much kids love opening and closing things and this would keep them entertained. Little Tykes toys are also mostly made in the U.S. and are well made.
This toy is also expensive at $99 and is really just for younger kids, I would think after 24 months old this wouldn’t hold much interest.

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We all know babies and kids come with a lot of gear, not to mention toys. I have had to put a ban on all stuffed animals early on in my kid’s life. I am about to ban all new toys from entering this house because we just have so much. Some are favorites that are used day after day, others were not a big hit and have been sent to the basement for a garage sale.
What if your kids got to try out a toy before you bought it? Or what if you could rotate toys every month so they always have something new to play with?

That is the idea behind the new service babyplays which is a toy rental company. Think of it like a netflix for toys. Here is how it works, you select one of the four plans they have, then select as many toys to add to your wish list as you like.
You will receive toys from your wish list within a few days and you can keep the toys for 30 days or longer. When you are ready to get some fresh toys, place the toys that you wish to return back then drop off at any UPS location, when they receive your returned toys, they send out the next ones you have in your wish list.
They say they Clorox wipe all toys once they come back and replace the batteries. The toys they have are for infants up to five years old.

I am not sure about this service, I would feel like I have to clean the toys as soon as I got them. I know my kids would love having new toys every month but would that just add to the “gimme” mentality and short attention spans that kids seem to have these days?
Plus, would you be willing to pay $36.99 a month for it?
Is this new service a good thing or another expense?

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Looking for something to get that small love of your life? Maybe it is your baby’s first Valentine’s Day and you want to dress him or her up in something special. I have some ideas for the tiny love in your life.

Check out this Valentines set for infants or toddlers (six months to 2T). It is rumba styled pants with an elastic waist and a t shirt all are 100% cotton. Very cute handmade item for $39.00.

Match that outfit with these handmade booties. For infants 0 -12 months and are so adorable. They are red polka dot booties with dark chocolate brown lining for $23.50.

These ponchos have been on my “must have” list for some time. they are made for our cold weather babies and are premium polar fleece with imported French rococo ribbon and pom pom trim. Get them with free shipping for $52.50!

What about an organic plush animal? They are lightly stuffed and perfectly sized for baby’s hands and made of 100% organic cotton with natural cotton filling. Chose from a a small or large bunny or bear.

For a more upscale gift why not a sterling silver monogrammed heart rattle? Heirloom-quality sterling silver baby rattle which is monogrammed will be a keepsake for baby. Perfect for a new baby or baby shower gift as well. This is $65 for non personalized and $75.00 for personalized.

Lastly, these personalized long johns are so cute! These long johns are 95% cotton, 5% polyester have snaps down the front and along the legs. They embroider the button-up back flap with any name, up to 9 characters. It comes in pink or red for $21.99.

[tags[ Valentine's Day gifts, baby valentines day gifts, baby gifts, baby gear, baby shower gifts, personalized rompers, monogrammed rattle, Valentine's Day [/tags]

I never had any problems with my kids at bedtime for the first few years of life. When I separated my twins into their own rooms, suddenly my son was scared of the dark. Really it just turned out to be a delay tactic to stay up a little bit longer every night, but it worked. We tried a bunch of different things to make him feel better. The cat sleeping with him, the bedroom door open, the closet light on, etc.
If I had found this glow bear I think this would have done the trick!

Glo-e bear is a light up snuggly bear. It lights up in seven different colors! Use the magical wand to activate the bear. It automatically turns of in fifteen minutes, just enough time to let your little one fall asleep. It comes in your choice of colors, white or pink (the pink is $3.00 extra). If you are not crazy about the bear or have more then one child, they also offer a puppy, a monkey or a heart or square pillows. At 21.99 it is not much more expensive then a regular stuffed animal.

This might just get your kids wanting to go to bed at night. Even if your little one is a great sleeper, this is a nice gift for Valentine’s day, Easter or a birthday for kids of all ages.
Or, you can go a more traditional route and just get a personalized night light that is monogrammed or with just an initial!

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I love toys that last. Not only quality wise but will keep kids coming back day after day. There is nothing worse then wasting money on a toy that breaks right away or your kids don’t even really like. I would rather spend more for a good quality toy that lets my child use imaginary play then a lead filled silly character something-or-other.
If you are concerned about toy safety, and you should be, these toys I am spotlighting are all designed in Europe and most are manufactured there as well.

Babies to kids love putting things in and out of a certain spot. Repetitious play is essential to development. This first play set fits the bill. Made for babies six months and up, this play set is perfect for little one’s hands. It comes with a soft bear blankie, a wooden cat rattle, wooden mouse rattle, and a soft bunny rattle, all stored in this zippered-carrying house. Put them all in the house and you have a great toy to travel with!
They also make a castle complete with a king and queen, a dragon a fortress with drawbridge on the outside and a beautiful palace on the inside. It comes with a mirror, squeaker, hologram foil and velcro fasteners. This is also for six months and up.

If you are looking for something a little smaller, try this little elf that will attach to a stroller or a car seat. This is also cheaper at $21.99.

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More baby gear recalls!
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled about 28,000 Infantino® Lion Teethers. The plastic nose on the lion can detach and pose a choking hazard to young children. Infantino has received eight reports of this happening, including one where a child gagged on the bitten-off nose. These were manufactured for Infantino in China.

These teethers were sold nationwide from June 2006 through December 2007 for about $5 each. If your child has one of these teethers, take it away immediately and contact them for a replacement or a product of equal value. If you need more information or want to report your recalled product, call Infantino at (888) 808-3111, or visit the web site at www.service.infantino.com.

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I love deals and being a stay at home mom, I have to find good deals to help my husband’s paycheck last even longer. Babies, though small, sure cost a lot of money. Any deal I can get, I appreciate it. Today I will be sharing some deals I have found on the internet recently.

If you are looking for bedding for your nursery or child’s room, check out Pottery Barn kids clearance items.
If you like Talbots, Talbots kids is having a great sale on kid’s clothes right now. Check it out.

Are you in the market for a stroller, Maclaren has strollers on sale right now at babye-store.com. From single to twins strollers they have great prices. I love Maclaren and would never buy another brand of stroller.

Morganandmilo.com has great shoes for kids and right now they have a bunch on sale.

Do you need something inexpensive for a child’s birthday or baby shower? try these sailboat bath toys or letter link crabs.

Always check out babycenter.com for great deals. Right now they have sale and clearance items for up to 70% off. They have gear, clothing and toys on clearance.

Buy discounted arts and crafts or school supplies for kids here. You can also stock up on birthday gifts for kids on this one stop web site.
For daily deals in your area on all baby and children’s gear, check out deals on craigslist.com, freecycle.com and ebay.com.

Check out my other site for the latest news on children’s vaccine recalls!

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Looking for a ride on toy for your little one this holiday season? Kids all love toys that they can ride on and go or push. My kids each had one they would ride around the house forever in. We had another hand me down for the outside. They still will get on any ride on they see, even if they don’t fit!

This is the Radio Flyer Big Flyer. Classic radio flyer made new for your little racer. It has three adjustable seat positions to grow with your child and it is for children three years to seven years. It is perfect for the racing fan. This is reasonable at $49.99.

For younger kids let them get the hang of a ride on with this Fisher Price Baby Gymnastics Bounce and Spin Zebra. This rocks and spins 360 degrees. It has lights and music and locks into place until child is safely on the zebra. It is for babies 12=36 months, great for babies first Christmas.

Every child I know LOVES the Little Tykes Coupe. This one is kid’s favorites, Dora the Explorer. This is a lead free toy! It is $59.99 for kids 18-36 months.

We can’t leave our Diego fans out! This ride on is just like the ones my kids had in the house. The kids could ride around my house safely and they loved opening and putting stuff in the seat and taking it out again! It is very sturdy and you cannot beat it for $29.99. This one has a horn but my daughter’s had music that was so loud I had to put tape over the speaker. That is my only complaint about these sit on or push cars.

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Every parent I know is concerned about lead in children’s toys, baby gear and accessories for kids. I know I have been going through my cabinets, throwing away plastic cups and plates and trying to replace them with safe products. It will make me sick to throw away all the sippy cups and bottles I have saved for this baby. Never mind all the baby toys I have saved that I now have to test for lead. Every week up until Christmas I will list some safe toys made for babies and toddlers and none of them will be made in China.

This Nest Jax toy cube is made from sustainable materials including organic cotton and recycled wood. Made in India through a fair-trade partnership. Perfect as a toy bin in a child’s room, closet or as a hamper. This comes in orange, green, pink and purple.

This Nest Seat is great for one or two children. It has interlocking parts to share with a friend or sit alone. Better then a bean bag chair and more durable. Made from sustainable materials including 100% certified organic cotton and is also made in India through a fair trade partnership.
It comes in orange, purple and green.

Little Tykes 5-in-1 Adjustable Gym is perfect for babies from birth to three years old. It adjusts into twelve different positions and for five different stages of development.
Little Tykes makes over 70% of their toys in the U.S. and tests everything it sells.

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