What is there to say about this set, except get it (especially if you have a picky toddler). Read more

Tags: toys, food

There are a bunch of products that we have gotten that I think are fantastic, fun, totally useful or all of the above. Of course, I haven't yet finished the reviews but am working on them (I'm slow, I know). I've decided to post the product photos and links for anyone who is interested, and I will be sure to get those reviews up as soon as I can. In the meantime, feel free to contact me if you have any specific questions about any of the products I linked to.

You can see all the products at the bottom of the Product Reviews page.

Tags: website

This is a Sesame Street pop-up book by Che Rudko and Tom Brannon which we just bought one weekend on a trip to the campus bookstore. My younger son has been resisting having his teeth brushed recently (he loved it when we first started doing it), and I thought he might enjoy seeing Elmo do it, seeing as how he has an Elmo toothbrush and all, and calls it Ah-mo. He also says buh shhh (with a 1-2 second delay between the sounds), which I think means brush. In any case, it was worth trying. Read more

Tags: books, Amazon

Okay, so I spent way too much time on this - but I thought the Product Reviews page was too text-heavy. I added a selection of product photos and links to hopefully help make it easier to navigate. Come check it out - suggestions are always appreciated!

Tags: website

In preparation for or trip to Hawaii, I knew that as a last resort for keeping the kids busy on the plane, we'd have to pull out the "big guns," otherwise known as movies. In order to do so, we'd have to use headphones or earbuds so as not to disturb the other passengers (I've been on flights where people watch movies or play video games without headphones, and it can be pretty annoying). I didn't think the boys would like using earbuds (which is all we had at home) so I went on the hunt for some kid-appropriate headphones. Read more (photos too)

Tags: travel

I just went online to place an order for a Peanut Shell sling (see my review here) for one of my good friends who is due any day with baby girl #2. While I was there, I noticed they were having a big Mother's Day sale, with a discount of 40% through May 13, using code MOTHERSDAY (case sensitive) at checkout. Such a deal, since I was going to buy it anyway (I love it when that happens!).

This is pretty huge, since the slings are kind of pricey, so it knocks off a nice chunk of change (and offsets the flat $8.50 shipping charge). The only catch is that the sales using the code are final (I hope it fits and that you like the pattern, Sofi - if it doesn't, I'l take care of it!). I actually ended up selling mine on craigslist for half my purchase price when I was done with it, so I imagine that if it doesn't work out for some reason (sizing or whatnot), it will be easy to find someone who can use it.

Tags: gear, clothing

I'm not a regular coffee drinker (I might have one or two cups each week) but my husband has coffee daily. We haven't really been able to find the perfect coffee system, but I thought I'd give this a try, especially since it was available at Costco (if we hated it, we could easily return it).

The major impetus for choosing this machine was the ease of use (practically no cleanup, at least on a per-use basis), and the ability to make smaller servings. We've tried a variety of different methods, and had settled on the french press. But as fast as it was to boil water and press coffee, I wanted to look for something faster (I can't stand to waste any more precious minutes than we have to). Read more

Tags: Costco, food

A while ago, I reviewed the Peanut Shell sling. I just got emailed a coupon code for it (rare) and thought someone out there might find it useful. Use code Spring2008 to save 15% off your order. The code is case-sensitive and can be used once, through April 15, 2008.

Tags: gear

Amazon.com just started a sale on Britax products, which, as many of you know, almost never go on sale. This sale applies particularly to items sold by Amazon and not a third-party seller. Amazon has very competitive prices and free shipping, so check it out if you are in the market for a new car seat (they also have strollers too, but I don't have any experience with them).

We have Britax Decathlons for both boys (fortunately we scored excellent deals on these), and really like them. If you have older models, don't forget to check out their recall (which is hardly a recall, since they just send you these tiny plastic rivets to stick in the bottom of the seat). They are very well-made car seats, and I always feel safe buckling them in. The boys also find them to be very comfortable. The only potential downside is that they are rather large and heavy if you need to move them around a lot. Fortunately, we hardly have to. And since they can be used for kids up to 65 pounds, we'll be able to use them for quite some time.

The sale lasts through March 2, 2008.

Tags: safety, gear, Amazon

Save $15 instantly when you spend $49 or more on select Nivea, Aquaphor, and more products. Enter code Feb8Nive at checkout. Expires February 29, 2008.

I usually have these on a subscription from Amazon to save 15% off their regular low prices. However, this is a better deal, since on a $50 order, it's like saving 30%. And Aquaphor (click for a review) is a staple in our house, so I'm definitely taking advantage of this promotion. I'll just skip this month's shipment, which is easy to do.

I know some people think it's horrendously overpriced (it is) and is the same as Vaseline (it's not, but they are similar). We have tried both and find that Aquaphor is better. Both boys have fairly sensitive skin and eczema (M is growing out of his but A has a fair number of itchy days). When we recently had to go to the allergist to see if it was food-related, the doctor told us that Aquaphor provides additional hydration as well as a barrier to moisture loss, while Vaseline just provides the barrier. I don't know if this is actually scientifically proven, but in our own trials of usage, it works better.

Whether or not it's worth the price difference, we'll that's probably up to each person to decide. It's not a small difference either. But we think it is worth it, and budget for it accordingly (who really needs a flat panel television anyhow? My ten-year-old 25-inch model is still chugging along). When we need to use a lot or expect to have to reapply often, we use Vaseline on top of a lighter layer of Aquaphor. But for the most part, we prefer to use Aquaphor.

Tags: Amazon

This is a great series of soft books by Roger Priddy for the youngest of readers. We've actually got several of them but "Squishy Turtle and friends" is a household favorite. Book Review

Tags: books, Amazon

Before the new year, I posted about this recall for the eeBoo Tot Tower nesting block set. I just received an email from them today (it took just over a week for them to reply) which directed me back to the eeBoo site, where they have since set up an electronic form for people to fill out regarding the replacement (it'll take them 2-3 days to respond to your submission). Rather than returning it back to the store where I bought it (online at babystyle.com), I have the option of shipping it (prepaid) directly back to eeBoo for a replacement and a small gift for my cooperation.

I just filled out the e-form, and will update again once I hear back. I think they will email me a prepaid UPS form to send it back. It's nice that they provide the shipping label, as it is totally a pain (and can be quite costly) to ship toys back when they are recalled. In many cases, it's not even worth it, and you pretty much have to toss the toy in the trash/recycling bin.

One thing kind of irks me about this replacement process. I bought the eeBoo blocks for $19 (full price I believe - the horror!), and the replacement is a matching game that retails at $12. I think that the replacement item should be comparable to (or even valued at more than) the recalled item. Just a courtesy and fairness thing, you know?

Tags: toys, safety

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with eeBoo, issued a voluntary recall of the popular Tot Tower toy blocks because the plastic covering can detach from the blocks and can be a choking hazard.

We have these blocks (the ABC ones), but fortunately the boys haven't chewed on them much. In any case, I just sent an email to eeBoo and will update once they write back. I think you have to return them to the store or send them back to eeBoo (which is a pain). Recalls should be made easier for consumers, especially with the recent frequency.

You can contact them by phone or email (safety@eeboo.com)
(800) 791-5619 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday

More details can be found on the CPSC recall page.

Tags: toys, safety

I'm not a huge fan of battery-operated toys, but The Playskool Busy Ball Popper is one of the few exceptions. It's a pretty well-designed, fun toy. Read more (and check out some new photos of the boys while you're there).

Tags: toys, A, M, Amazon

We got this Big Bobby car for A on his first birthday, and can't say enough great things about it. Read more

Tags: M, A, Costco, toys

Last year, we decided to try to start sending out holiday cards, which has always been difficult for me to do consistently. I usually end up having a stack of unwritten cards around New Year's, and then I give up. I understand why everyone with kids sends photo cards. They grow so much over the year. The only problem for me is that I think nice holiday cards are too expensive, often costing $2-3 per card. Which means spending a small fortune each year (not including postage), depending on how many you need to send.

I had a free sample of 20 cards from Shutterfly last year, so I decided to give them a try. They made beautiful cards - we were very pleased. But they were a bit out of our budget. If I wanted to have nice, professional looking, cardstock-quality cards, I'd totally order from them. I've ordered enlargement prints from them, as well as photo books, and they make good stuff. Shipping adds up though. My pick for prints and enlargements is Costco. They just have amazing prices and a rock-solid guarantee. They have holiday cards too, but they have very limited layout designs, and they are basically photo prints with a designed template on them. And frankly, I wasn't as impressed with their layout choices as I was with those from Shutterfly.

Determined to have a stylish, yet affordable holiday card, I decided to turn to Adobe Photoshop Elements. We've always been fortunate enough to have access to it, and it is a great tool to have for anyone who needs a bit more flexibility with photos and layouts. I created a basic 5x7 layout and pasted our photos on there, and voila - a custom card for a fraction of the cost. Granted, they were still only 5x7 prints and not cards, but it was a good compromise for us. We included a brief update letter (cheesy, but what can you do?). And the price was right - only 39 cents per print and free shipping (or option to pick-up directly at the Costco warehouse).

This is what we sent out last year:


It actually doubled as a nice photo for me to carry around in my white coat pocket to glance at from time to time during the day while I was on the wards.

I am putting the finishing touches on the card for this year, which will be a similar style, but blue. Hopefully I will have them mailed out by the end of the week. I'll post it later this month.

For those of you who'd like to try it out, Shutterfly has two promotions going on right now:

20% off calendars and photo books. Coupon code 33AF-CLBK (expires 1-3-2008)

20% off $40. Coupon code 32AF-11DR (expires 12-04-07)

Tags: holiday, Costco

If you're looking for a great present for a toddler, or tired of shopping for an appropriately sized (and comfy) backpack for your preschooler, look no further. Read more

Tags: gear

When M was a week old, his pediatrician said the best advice he could give us was to make a handprint and/or footprint before he got too big. It was one of the best pieces of advice we've gotten. Read more

A

Tags: photography

My handy-dandy dish soap dispenser was cracked during the move, so I had to order another one. I'm relieved that Amazon still carries it, since it truly is amazing (so much so that I am posting about it again). Try this out, and you'll never go back to anything else.

Tags: Amazon

There have been many toy recalls this year, especially with all the concerns about lead in products from China. I have a hunch that many more toys are contaminated with high levels of lead (and have been for years), but have just not been appropriately tested.

In any case, we don't have these blocks, but I do know several families who do. Apparently, it's the blue block that is the culprit. You can find more details here and check to see if your product is affected here. I'm trying to be extra careful about what A puts in his mouth these days, since I really have no idea which toys are actually safe. He's much better now than he was a few months ago (he was practically tasting everything in sight), thank goodness.

Tags: toys, health, safety

I just got this via email. I have yet to check whether the two that we own are affected, but it seems quite likely considering we bought them both last year. There is a repair kit that Britax will send you once you determine that your seat is affected, but it involves gathering some information from the label on the back of the seat (easier to do with A's seat, as it is still rear-facing). I'm too lazy to go look it up right now, but I'm planning on doing it before I leave this morning, so that we can get the repair kit sent soon. Apparently, it just consists of two extra rivets to insert in the bottom of the seat. I don't think this is a major safety issue (you can probably keep using it until the repair kit arrives) - it seems more like a preventive measure to make sure your adjuster strap stays aligned and it's not too difficult to adjust the harness.

Britax Decathlon Child Restraint Model Numbers beginning with E9L47 Manufacture Dates: February 12, 2005 – July 31, 2007

Charlotte, NC, August 2007- Britax Child Safety, Inc. has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in some Britax Decathlon child restraints.

Under certain circumstances, when the harness adjuster strap is pulled from an extreme side angle, the bezel may separate from the child restraint shell allowing the adjuster to move out of position inside the shell housing. Under these circumstances, caregivers may experience some difficulty while trying to properly adjust the harness. There have been no reported accidents or injuries.

The affected child restraints should not be returned to the Britax retailer. Britax will provide a free repair kit and detailed instructions to all owners beginning August 17, 2007. After August 17, 2007 consumers that have an affected Decathlon and have not registered their child restraint should contact Britax at www.DecathlonRecall.com to order a repair kit.

Visit the Britax site for more details, or go straight to the recall form.

Tags: safety, gear

Mattel just recalled a bunch of plastic preschool toys due to potential lead toxicity. The toys include products from their Elmo, Dora, and Diego lines (so if you have a toddler, there is a good chance you own one of these). Recalled products have a specific production date, and there is a tool online to help you figure out if your toys are affected (by purchase date). We have one of them (Elmo Giggle Doodler), but I can't quite remember when I bought it. In any case, they must be getting a bunch of inquiries, since the site server has been busy and I haven't been able to request additional recall information.

With the recent uproar about toys with toxic lead levels (particularly those made in China), it's hard not to wonder if we own many more toys with lead-based paint. I did buy some lead test kits recently, but I haven't had a chance to use them yet. I think I will start testing the boys' favorite toys, and I'll post what I find out.

You can see the list of affected toys here. And keep trying if it says the server is too busy.

Tags: toys, health, safety

I've gotten several questions about what baby carriers I used with the boys (Baby Bjorn, Ergo, and Peanut Shell). We were lucky enough to borrow the Baby Bjorn from a friend, and while it was great when M was little, both J and I agreed that it really hurt our backs once he got bigger (over 15 pounds). Also, the minimum weight requirement was 8 pounds (M was not 8 pounds for several weeks after he was born). The Ergo is a great carrier overall (the weight is on the hips), but can be bulky to carry around (and needs a separate insert for newborns). This review is for the Peanut Shell sling, which I bought when A was born. Read more

Tags: gear

A while ago, I reviewed our kids' tub, the Primo Euro Tub. I highly recommend it, if you have the space to store it. Despite the fact that our bathroom is tiny, we have room under the sink (there is no cabinet). The tub also has a hole for hanging. M is using the grown-up tub and showering now (but he often still likes to stand in this tub), and A uses this every day.

I also reviewed the baby monitor that we have, the Angelcare Movement Sensor and Sound Monitor. It really works, and has given me a lot of peace of mind. We are still using it for A, and I can't say enough good things about it.

They are both now available at Amazon.com (tub here, monitor here). In fact, they are both on the baby product bestseller list. This is where I'd buy them now if I had to. Amazon has really great prices, free shipping (over $25), and no tax. If you have Amazon Prime, you get free two-day shipping. Also, there is a current promotion for the Angelcare Monitor (until August 15, 2007), where you get a coupon code (placed in your Media Library) for a free 20-page casual photo book (a $12.99 value) from Shutterfly. Not bad. I've purchased other items with similar Shutterfly promotions in the past, and it's totally legitimate, not to mention a really nice bonus.

If you are planning on buying the tub and it is under $25 (the prices can fluctuate a little bit), and you don't have Amazon Prime, I'd pick up a small board book to make the regular free shipping (it's a big tub, and shipping can add up).

Tags: Amazon, gear

Like for most baby-related items, I was pretty overwhelmed when I started shopping for high chairs. There are just so many brands and styles that it was mind-boggling to sift through all the products. It can be really frustrating, when you want to make the right purchase, but have little to go on. Most of our friends had gone with traditional standing high chairs, but we had the particular problem of having very limited space (and a tight budget). After using this Chicco high chair with both boys, I can honestly say that even if we had more space and an unlimited budget, I would still buy this chair. Read more

Tags: gear, food

When we decided to get M an art easel for his second birthday last fall, I started looking at all the possibilities out there. There are so many brands and models for sale and a wide range of prices, so it was after a lot of research that I decided to go with this one. Read more

Tags: toys, Amazon

The Consumer Product Safety Commission just recalled the soft blocks on this activity center, which we have (and love). The bulletin can be found here. You can go to the Graco website to request a free replacement, and in the meantime, remove the original blocks off the toy.

Tags: toys

When I was shopping for play pens for M, I was bothered by how small most of the standard "Pack 'n Play" pens seemed. So when I came across this 38" x 38" square one from Graco, I was hooked. Brief Review

Tags: gear, toys

J has meticulously reviewed some of our more gadgety purchases (Zooper Boogie, Burley Solo) and now he's done a fantastic job with our biggest purchase so far (other than the car): our new digital SLR. We went back and forth about whether or not to get it, since it was a pretty hefty purchase (total cost of everything together came out to over $1000). Most of the time, our shopping habits have been dedicated to saving time, money, and space, but this was indeed a splurge, if you will. That said, I have not once regretted this purchase, even with the high price tag. It's a long-term investment that I feel will give us visual treasures to keep, long after the boys are grown. From day one, we have noticed a drastic improvement in the quality of our photos, especially indoor ones. But even the outdoor ones were superior. And with an active toddler and soon-to-be crawling baby, our point-and-shoot just wasn't working well in all circumstances. I was tired of getting blurry shots, or clear ones with a washed-out flash look. We still find it useful to have the small camera (Canon Elph), as it's handy when we don't bring the SLR with us. The Elph takes good photos in ideal lighting conditions (sunny day, outdoors) while the SLR does well overall. Most photos on this site were taken with the SLR (we bought it in November). Any early photos of A or M were taken with the Elph.

To give you an idea of the difference between the two cameras when it comes to outdoor conditions, take a look at these pictures of M riding a tricycle at daycare. Short of doing a side-by-side comparison experiment of the two cameras, it was the best example I could come up with of the subtle but (what I believe to be) striking difference in clarity and background blur (bokeh). I realize that they weren't taken the same day and with the exact same lighting conditions (however, coincidentally, M is wearing very similar clothing), but you'll get the idea.





See how the first shot is grainy and somewhat plain? Most everything is in focus, but he doesn't really stand out against the play structure behind him. In the second photo, there is some blurring of the background and he seems to stand out more. The colors also seem a tad more vibrant in the second photo. There's nothing wrong with the first photo at all, but it just looks somewhat average compared with the second one. This is an example of a subtle difference we've noticed in our photos. We are quite amazed with some of the striking "winners" we've taken as well - some of them come out looking like they were taken by professionals (which, believe me, we are not).

Here's one you've seen before, the first photo of M I took with the SLR:




And this indoor photo could never have been taken without flash on the Elph:


A few things I wanted to mention that I like about the new camera, before you get into the more technical things. It's fast - no more delay between the time you press the shutter button and the time it takes the photo. That's more important now that M is running around. Also, it's pretty easy to use, even for me. I'm sort of a technology junkie, but not so much with cameras. We've taken thousands of new photos with the SLR (really) and had many more keepers than we ever had with the Elph.

In any case, you can read all about the details in J's comprehensive review.

Tags: Amazon, Costco, photography

We bought this play gym when M was one month old, and are still putting it to good use today. Brief Review

Tags: toys, Costco

We bought this DVD last summer, when M started expressing an interest in learning the alphabet. Brief Review

Tags: Amazon

Pancakes are a given most weekends in our household, and these transportation-themed molds make breakfast even more fun to eat. Brief Review

Tags: food

This is a terrific board book that I got for M early last year, and he's loved it from day one. Book Review

Tags: books, Amazon

M is starting to get a bit old for this toy, but he still likes to play with it anyway. We got the LeapFrog LeapStart Learning Table for him when he was about 8 months old, and it has consistently been one of his favorites since. We're hoping A will love playing with it too. Brief Review

12/4/06 update: Looks like Amazon.com has sporadic stock inventory on this right now, but there is a very similar (and apparently bilingual) version which looks almost identical this this table (maybe a newer model?) here (it is sold by Target, so shipping charges will apply). I'd also consider this one if I had a bit more space.

Tags: toys, Amazon

We got this Triple Hit Baseball toy for M's second birthday and have used it a few times already. We all enjoy this toy. Brief Review

Tags: toys, Amazon

Over the next week or two, I'm going to try and review M's favorite toys. Not just the ones he has and likes to play with, but the ones he really loves. I'll start with the LeapFrog Farm Magnetic Animal Set, available for about $13 from Amazon.com. Brief Review

Tags: Amazon, toys

M learned how to drop small toys behind the sofa yesterday, and it's been hard for us to fish them out. While it's kind of irritating, he's very cute about it. I'll say to him, "M, I don't think Mommy can reach it," to which he'll reply "M reach." He'll stick his little arm behind the sofa and try to reach the toys, which is pretty funny.



We end up trying to hook them from under the sofa with the end of an umbrella handle, but it can be quite difficult. And it's a pain to move the sofa, since we have a sectional that has to be dismantled to be moved (EKTORP from IKEA). So I mentioned to J that we should get one of those grabbers that people use to pick up things on the floor or reach up into high cabinets and he thought that would be handy. So, I searched for "grabber" on Amazon.com and a few clicks later, found this PikStik Lite for about $7.



At 32" long, it easily reaches into most places that we need to get to, and it seemed like a low-risk investment at $7. Since I have an Amazon Prime trial right now, there was no minimum for free 2-day shipping, and in fact, we received it today after placing the order yesterday. It's very lightweight and seemingly fairly sturdy. It has a decent grip strength too, and I was able to fish out a tiny stuffed bird toy from behind the sofa in one try. The jaws rotate too, for added flexibility. I wish I had it when I was pregnant and had to pick up socks off the floor or climb up on a stool to reach items in the upper kitchen cabinets. I'm sure we'll find this to be very useful. In fact, I think I'll go try to fish out that sock that fell behind the dryer a few weeks ago.

Tags: Amazon, M

How much is peace of mind worth to you? How about $90? This is probably one of the best baby products we own. Read more

Tags: safety

There are a few things that I think are essential buys for new parents and this bath tub is one of them. Read more