Baby & Kids
These great sites bring you amazing baby and kids gear. Check out these coupons, bargains, discounts and big savings.
Daily Gift Idea- Find more below
Ballerina in A Box
$48.00
Give your little ballerina the outfit that she will love and probably will wear to tea parties, family pictures and just a staurday morning for no apparent reason at all :)
Get the details to this offer at:
Double Duty Divas Holiday Gift Guide
- Flirty Aprons for the Ladies (with pint size versions!!) Flirty Aprons offers a great selection and deals on aprons for the modern lady! They are a perfect for yourself (you have a wish list too, right?), sisters, grandmas, and best friends. To top themselves, Flirty Aprons offers children size versions of their aprons. The children size versions are just as cute as the lady versions. Plus if you order a ladies apron, you can get 40% off a children's apron! During checkout, enter the coupon code TOGETHER to receive this offer.If you have a man in your life who is the cook, don't feel left out! Flirty Aprons also offers a men's line of aprons!Read the full review of Flirty Aprons at Simply Living on a Budget.Buy It: Purchase a Flirty Apron directly from the Flirty Apron website or check out their link to find a store near you that sells them!
- Ask Their Shoes Size: Polliwalks Make a Great Gift Part shoe, part toy...these are one of Cool Baby Kid's all-time favorite products and therefore great for gifts. Read the full review on Cool Baby Kid.Purchase Polliwalks from various online retailers.
- Coffee Bean Direct: Coffee Lovers Gift Baskets Looking for an awesome gift for the coffee or tea lover in your life. Would make a great treat for the doctor's office or you kids' school.Coffee Bean Direct has variety of gift baskets available full of yummy coffee, tea, and treats!Buy It: Visit Coffee Bean Direct to purchase.
- Sew Cute Creations: Personalized Gifts The best value in personalize apparel for babies and kids that we've found. I use myself for gifts for all occasions!Read the full Sew Cute Creations review on Cool Baby Kid.Buy It: Visit Sew Cute Creations to purchase.
- Putumayo Kids Music: Gift for All Ages Perfect for any child who loves to dance; these are our favorite music CDs.Learn more about Putumayo Kids from Cool Baby Kid.Buy It: Directly on Putumayo Kids website.
- Stocking Stuffer Idea: Prima Princessa DVD Having fond memories of my own years as a "ballerina," I couldn't wait to get my own little girl in a tutu. Coincidentally, the same week that the Prima Princessa DVD arrived, my daughter received a tutu as a gift from a family member, and so naturally we put both on together to prepare for her first ballet lesson. Created by two moms and combining the Paris Opera Ballet and Students from School of American Ballet at Lincoln Center, the Prima Princessa DVD is a must for any ballerina in training. My daughter's favorite part was watching the little girls pirouette, and mine was watching her attempt to do the same. In a few weeks when we start the Mommy & Me ballet class my daughter and I will both be the Prima Ballerinas of the ball after practicing up with Prima Princessa!Cool Tip: Purchase Prima Princessa Presents Swan Lake at Amazon.com and put on your tutus!
- Gifts for Family Members: Between You & Me I've been wanting to review Between You and Me journals by Sand Dune Books for some time now. I gave the book entitled "Grandma: A Few Things I've Been Meaning to Ask: (pictured) to my mother weeks ago. It was worth the wait to to read, in her own words, answers to questions such as, "What do you remember most about being a kid, what are your favorite memories of your mother and if you felt the need to offer some advice to me what would it be?" On behalf of my own children, she completed the book as a memento they will cherish forever. Sand Dune Books also carries journal gifts for siblings, parents, children and even a family reunion version. A truly unique idea immeasurable in value, it's easy to see why people are raving about these journals. Cool Tip: Enter the code "Cool Baby Kid" in the comments section of your order to receive a 10% discount.
- Give a Gooise Gift This Christmas Goosie CardsGoosie Cards enable you to create your own custom flashcards using pictures and words/phrases you upload to their website. The resulting cards are very professional-looking, durable and cute as a button. Uploading was fast and easy, and within days my kiddos were staring at their own faces on the best looking set of 10 flashcards I've ever seen. I love Goosie Gifts even more; the package includes a sample card and coupon code packaged as adorably as the originals. Needless to say, Goosie Cards will be a no-brainer for Christmas gifts this year; they definately get the CBK "Cool & Customized" stamp pf approval!Cool Tip: Enter the code"freeship08" for free shipping this holiday season!
- The Grandparent Gift Co. When began as a mother's poem has become a lovely online boutique of unique gifts for family members called The Grandparent Gift Co. For a sentimental fool like myself it is a goldmine of treasures. Perfect for the upcoming holiday season, gifts like the Ultrasound Frame/Ornament (pictured) or Smiles for Great-Grandma Brag Book are ones they will treasure forever. Not only do I love that the company is family owned with many of the products produced in the USA, but I also find it easy to navigate with categories ranging from product types to family members or occasions. The Grandparent Gift Co. is a perfect place to pick up gifts for any family member this Holiday season!Cool Giveaways: One lucky winner will receive a $30.00 gift certificate to start shopping early this holiday by leaving a comment on this post with your favorite Grandparent Gift Co. item. Since it's launch week, we're giving away a second great prize. Also enter for a chance to win the Grandparent's Memory Book. Filled with question like "What activities did you play in high school, it is something a child will have for years to come. To enter, just leave a comment on this post with your favorite Grandparent Gift Co. item. Click here to find out how to increase your chances. Contest ends 12/3/08. Contest rules apply. Cool Tip: Use code "CUST09" and receive a free Grandparents' Little Idea Book, a $9.95 retail value, with your purchase! (Exp. 12/31/08)
- Peek-a-boo Paperie Holiday Photo Cards It's official. I will never order from the major online photo card sites again. After thoughtful outfit decisions, multiple shopping trips and countless takes (how do you get a baby and toddler to both look at you at the same time anyway?) we want holiday cards that are as individualized as our kiddos. And why not have fun making them while you're at it? I created three different Peek-a-boo Paperie holiday photo cards when one would have been sufficient, but they were all so cute I couldn't resist playing around with different cards and pictures. I will warn you though...if you're a busy mom or dad and an indecisive Libra, like myself, set aside a few minutes to explore their site because you won't want to leave! Baby on the way? Check out their photo birth announcements too.Cool Giveaway: Why can't I win my own giveaways? Who wouldn't want 40 Peek-a-boo Paperie cards just in time for the holidays? To enter, just check out their site and come back to comment about your favorite design. Click here to find out how to increase your chances. An email address is needed to contact the winner. Contest ended.
Inhabitots
- Wee Blossoms Felted Flower Hats for Fairy Loving Tots If you’ve got a little one who is overly enchanted with fairies, then how perfect is this sweet hat idea! Little ones will adore these charming flower blossom hats, and you have to admit, they’d look super adorable on a baby. Great for birthday parties, a photo opp (just add wings or some fairy-minded clothing) or use [...]
- Keep Your Tot Crusin With Manny & Simon’s Train Push Toy If your tot is in the crawling and cruising stage, push toys are perfect for playtime. Manny & Simon recently added this four-car train to their already amazing array of sustainably made wooden rolling toys. Their collection of push toys is made from 100% post-industrial recycled wood residuals and painted with non-toxic, zero-VOC paint. [...]
- PCB Exposure During Pregnancy May Harm Babies’ Immune System New research shows that exposure to PCBs may result in some immune consequences for babies. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of manufactured organic chemicals and researchers recently found that babies exposed to higher PCB levels during gestation and as newborns were born with a smaller immune organ – the thymus. At 6 months of [...]
- Susan G. Komen Issues Public Apology to Planned Parenthood It’s been a roller coaster week for Susan G. Komen and Planned Parenthood. On Tuesday, Komen cut off the funding they had been giving Planned Parenthood, which last year amounted to $700,000 – funding that was supporting breast cancer exams and breast education. Komen noted that the move was a policy issue, while Planned Parenthood [...]
- HOW TO: Make Gooey Vegan Carob Pudding
- Kids Can Take a Spin with Whirleo To Save the Planet
- Spread the Love with a Natural Wooden Love Puzzle by Manzanita Kids Your kids, and you, will fall in love with this sweet and lovable block puzzle set from Manzanita Kids. While it’s likely too late to get this in time for Valentine’s Day, this wooden puzzle set is still a great find for everyday play. It will even make a wonderful baby shower or wedding gift. [...]
- Areaware Dovetail Animals by Karl Zahn Can Be Mixed and Matched to Create New Creatures
- Celebrate the Upcoming Change in Seasons with Groundhog Day
- New Study Finds that Children’s Books Increasingly Fail to Incorporate Nature When I was a little girl, most of my favorite books had slices of nature incorporated. Pippi Longstocking climbed trees, shimmied up mountains, frolicked in the woods, sailed on lakes and had many other nature adventures. The girls of Little Women and Little House went ice skating, jumped in barns, held picnics and walked everywhere. My [...]
Nested
- Introducing The Sew Weekly From my new site. By the end of 2010, I hope to have a closet filled only with clothes that I have sewn myself (with a few exceptions). This project began in Fall of 2009 but I began documenting it...
- Molly's Sketchbook: Felt Gift Tags Molly makes extra special gift tags out of felt. Tutorial: An Easy Baby Doll Dress Whitney makes doll dressing a snap. Serging, End Finishing, etc... Advice Needed Amy Jeanne needs advice on how to finish...
- Vintage Sewing Tips Casey posted a great set of tips on sewing with vintage patterns. Especially helpful (to me at least) is the tip to trace out older pattern pieces onto sturdier paper. That way I can also mark the notches better and...
- My Letter to Tavi If you haven't seen Style Rookie, the blog of thirteen year-old fashion prodigy, Tavi Williams, then you aren't reading one of the best blogs out there. I've been reading the blog for a while but have never had the nerve...
- Halloween Success! Penelope was quite pleased with her mommy-made "Big Duck" costume.
- Sewing Lessons Long ago, when What Not to Wear was something to watch on BBC America and not TLC, I was given (or rather the fashion disaster was given) sound advice on dressing a big bosomy woman: don't wear high necklines! I've...
- Eleanor's Halloween Birthday Party One of Penelope's BFF, Eleanor, celebrated her second birthday this weekend with a Halloween themed party. Personally, Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday so tying it into a birthday party makes it fun squared. Thankfully, the shortage of cute and...
- Workday Dress #4 I've been on a sewing tear as of late. One day, a couple weeks again, I decided that I was going to start wearing only things that I made or that were vintage (with the exception of jeans, of course)....
- Feature: it's a small world birthday party Last year, moments after my daughter's first birthday party -- a Cuban theme blowout with catered lunch and rented palm trees -- I exhaustedly uttered a simple sentence to my family: "Next year is going to be a whole lot...
- Halloween Preparations I'll give you one chance to guess what costume I'll be making for Penelope this year.
Cool Baby Kid
- Q&A: What is Your #1 Favorite TV Show In our Q&A series I’m happy to answer reader questions (submit via Facebook or email) and find our more about CBK readers. Today question was tough for me since I’m a loyal Survivor fan and have been since season one. But when it comes to the show I can’t wait for the next week to [...]
- New Nickelodeon Preschool Series “Mike the Knight” Mike the Knight Clip 2 from Jessica Wilson on Vimeo. Cool Tip Enter to world of “fantastical world of castles, missions, dragons and trolls” and watch the premier of Mike the Knight Friday, February 3, 2012 at 12 pm ET/PT. Get kids excited and ready with coloring pages, puzzles and more on Nick Jr.
- V-Day, Coupons & Recipes While Cool Baby Kid offers cool picks, these ladies posts are HOT! Check out what my favorite bloggers from around the web are up to this week: Bling for Your Ears SayHelloDiamonds Giveaway – Thrifty & Chic Mom Cool & Creative Valentine Cards for Kids – Stacie Haight Connerty Men. Easier Fed Than Understood – [...]
- Layers of Love Cherry-Choco Trifle Recipe *Giveaway* Famous for ready-to-use pie fillings, for this Valentine’s Day season Lucky Leaf shares the love with yummy recipes including their Chocolate Cherry Cake with Rum Ganache and Lucky Stars Ginger Spice Apple Tart. In the meantime, enjoy Layers of Love! Ingredients 1 18.25-ounce package chocolate cake mix, prepared 1 4-serving size package instant chocolate pudding [...]
- Neosporine Essentials are Essential for Eczema Don’t let the fun alliterative title fool you, Neosporine Essentials are no joke. As a parent of a preschooler newly diagnosed with eczema, I couldn’t have been more excited to review this new line of products. Not only is the entire line of eczema care including daily body wash, moisturizer and anti-itch cream specifically designed [...]
- New Voice of Dora & Premier Week Lineup 1/30 “Dora and Diego Save Atlantis” Dora, Diego, Boots and Unicornio leave the Enchanted Forest to end an ancient feud between the unicorns and dragons and save the lost continent of Atlantis. Meanwhile, a greedy owl (voiced by Jason Alexander) is given the opportunity to act as king and watch over the forest. 1/31 “The Big Red [...]
- Premium Walt Disney World: Pirates & Pals Voyage In the midst of planning our Disney World vacation this summer, we looked at two special experiences including the Pirates & Pals Fireworks Voyage and My Disney Girl’s Perfectly Princess Tea Party. On the voyage adventurers “play Disney trivia games, sing songs and sea chanteys and savor “Wishes” fireworks lighting the night sky above Cinderella [...]
- Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Roast Dinner Recipe Making my grocery list for the week when a collegue shared this recipe with me. Grabbing the ingrediants tonight! Print Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Roast Dinner Recipe Ingredientslb small potatoes (6 to 8), unpeeled, cut into 1-inch pieces (3 cups) 2 cups ready-to-eat baby-cut carrots 1 cup frozen small whole onions (from 1-lb bag), thawed [...]
- Q&A: Disney Dining Plan Recommendations? Question We are going to Disney this year and have booked the Port Orleans French Quarter and are on the Plus dining plan (1 snack/1 quick meal/1 sit down meal) per day. Our travel agent said we can and probably should start booking reservations early, which can always be changed/cancelled later. Can you recommend some [...]
- Cool Pick: Classroom Valentine’s Day Cards With two preschoolers now in the classroom, the search for Valentine’s day cards commenced a few weeks ago. As the editor of Cool Baby Kid, my mission is always the same when looking for cool picks…find the coolest, most unique product out there and share with my readers. I looked in all of the usual [...]
Baby Cheapskate
- Top Diaper and Formula Deals of the Week [Online Deals - 2/5] Part 1 of the TDFDOW gives you online diaper deals and part 2 covers in-store deals. New to Baby Cheapskate? Welcome! and don’t forget to subscribe to the RSS feed, follow BC on Twitter, or fan BC on Facebook to get the scoop on all the deals! Note: Unless otherwise noted, prices listed include the... [Continue Reading]
- Amazon Baby Wipe Deals [2/5] Here’s a rundown of the best wipes deals I’m seeing through Amazon Mom. Prices listed are with Subscribe & Save. Free shipping. Pampers Sensitive Baby Wipes Refills, 192-Count Packages (Pack of four): .027 ea. with .50 coupon (.032 ea. without Amazon Mom) Pampers Soft Care Unscented Wipes, 720 Count: .022 ea. with .50 coupon (.259... [Continue Reading]
- Top Diaper and Formula Deals of the Week [In-Store Deals - 2/5] Welcome! This is part 2 of the Top Diaper and Formula Deals of the Week post. It covers in-store diaper, formula and baby food deals. Part 1 covers online deals. Premium Brands There was a $2/1 Huggies coupon in the 01/15 SmartSource lat Sunday (exp. 2/11). There was a KMart insert with Huggies manufacturer’s coupons in them – but due... [Continue Reading]
- Britax Frontier 85 Back Down to $190.39 If you missed it a few days ago, the Britax Frontier 85 in Livia is back down to $190.39 at Amazon. That’s a fabulous price, but if hot pink’s not your thing, Frontier 85 in Onyx and Rushmore is $212.49 at Amazon and a couple of other places. ©2005-2012 Baby Cheapskate™ Thanks for reading! For... [Continue Reading]
- 25% off at Gap.com Today Only [expired] The 25% off deal is back today only at Gap.com. Take 25% off your purchase with coupon code GAPEVENT. Excludes baby sleepwear, playtime favorites, first favorites and a few other things. Free shipping when you spend $50 or more. ©2005-2012 Baby Cheapskate™ Thanks for reading! For more, visit Baby Cheapskate's Facebook Fan Page.
- Daily Deals: Ear Thermometer, Dr. Seuss DVDs, Activity Table, More [expired] Target has some baby and kid stuff on their daily deal page today. Each of the following ships free. Braun Thermoscan Ear Thermometer: 22% off at $38.29 VTech 2-in-1 Discovery Table (shown): 30% off at $27.99 Friendly Toys Little Playzone with Sounds and Light: 23% off at $84.88 The Cat in the Hat Knows... [Continue Reading]
- Britax Car Seat Deal Round Up: Boulevard, Frontier and More We’re seeing some mighty fine deals on Britax right now, so I thought it would be helpful to list all the best deals I’m seeing in one place. The following seats are 25% to 29% off and ship free: AlbeeBaby has the Boulevard 70 in Sterling (shown) for $219.99. It’s on backorder, but is expected... [Continue Reading]
- Deal of the Day: 36% to 47% off Mountain Boy Sleds [expired] Today only, save 36% to 47% on select Mountain Boy wooden sleds at Amazon. ‘Cause even though it’s in the sixties where I am, there is snow on the ground somewhere in the U.S. … right? See more brand-new posts at BC. ©2005-2012 Baby Cheapskate™ Thanks for reading! For more, visit Baby Cheapskate's Facebook... [Continue Reading]
- BOGO Free Flip Diaper Covers Buy one One-Size Flip diaper cover get one free right now at Kellys Closet. Use coupon code FLIP4U. Choose from snap or hook-and-loop in colors Noodle or Zinnia (shown). Free shipping with your order of $49 or more. Update: Readers let me know that this deal is running at other retailers, like CottonBabies, too. Google... [Continue Reading]
- BundleMe and Hat for $29.99 Today Only Today at Kids.Woot you can get the JJCole Original BundleMe and hat for $24.99. It’s $29.99, shipped. Choose from graphite, pink, khaki or navy. Think of it as getting the hat (which retails for about $9) free, since the BundleMes alone run $27 to $29 elsewhere. ©2005-2012 Baby Cheapskate™ Thanks for reading! For more, visit... [Continue Reading]
Babygadget
- Spiketus Rex backpack It's getting to the point where my children's tastes and mine are seriously diverging. No matter how much I try to explain the sophisticated merits of gray, my pink-loving daughter is not having it. And my son? Why settle for Chuck Tailors when you can have neon green flashy alien sneaks! But one thing I think we might agree on is the Spiketus Rex backpack. The kids would obviously love the dramatic spines. While Mom likes the bold colors and funky design, AND the fact that they encourage a little use of the imagination. Not so literal in their design, they could be anything: an ankylosaurus, hedgehog, durian fruit... Available in full or half sizes in pink, aqua, orange, lime, purple, or black as well as white, green or blue gator and snake brown.
- Castello bed Here's the final one of my delicious bed finds for kids - and actually my final Babygadget post, after five solid years of weekly updates. Sadly, now that my daughter cannot be described as a baby by any stretch of the imagination, and now that the full-time job is taking so much of my headspace, I've decided to call it a day. The Castello bed is an Italian piece which I found via London store Go Modern. It's essentially attractive, though my personal preference is not for the pastel peach colour, and I must say that I find the hanging curtains just a little reminiscent of the entrance to a cold storage area. But there is much to like, from the shape to the sturdy steps. At £1,300, this would be another 'dream on' piece for me, but then so many that I've featured on Babygadget over the years have been. It's nice to know they're all archived in one place for those who might appreciate them. I'll miss scouring the web for finds like this - well, I'm sure I'll still find myself indulging occasionally. And I'll be sure to pop back to Babygadget to see what my co-writers have discovered, too.
- Toddler cutlery For the chubby-fingered toddler in your life, what better than this tubby cutlery, from Fabrikators & Josefine Bentzen? BpA, Phthalates and PVC-free, they're a safe option as well as being easy to hold. And they look fab too, coming in a choice of four zingy colours. $42.00 a set from A+R Store.
- Babawowo God forbid that the dog should feel sibling rivalry once you start having kids. Make the pooch feel like a real part of the family, with a Babawowo matching onesie and dog coat. It's silly, yes, but... no, wait, it's just silly. But hey, a lot of things are. And if you can dig that (as opposed to digging up bones), this NY-based Etsy outfit will ship you a matching set for $40.00. Pieces also available separately. Via Dog-Milk.com.
- Ink and Spindle Ink and Spindle are far far away from me here in the UK, and the majority of our readers, who reside in the USA - but my goodness their work speaks to me directly. The Melbourne company is the work of two designers, Lara Cameron & Tegan Rose, who print everything by hand. I am especially impressed with their "Pirates and Sea creatures" print (above), which is available on a onesie (AUS $49.00), blanket or just fabric. The inks are solvent-free and the fabric is organic, so maybe that can go some way towards offseting the carbon miles, if you're ordering from this side of the world. This is a charming idea, too - Ink and Spindle will send you all the material you need to sew up a quilt for your little one: eight of their prints, and a plain border fabric too. $145 Aussie dollars, which are at the time of writing very close to the US dollar in value.
- Spoon on a lanyard Ah, remember when the only thing you were interested in wearing on a lanyard was an 'access all areas' pass? Might as well face it, those days are gone: for me, lanyards are all about holding my ID for the office job. Well, your festival-going younger self would probably wrinkle up her nose at that - and equally much at this. The spoon on a lanyard is as exciting as round-the-neck action gets for the new mum, and a darn sight more useful than that backstage pass. It comes in a range of pretty colours, too.
- Dear Kids of Italy So yeah, in my hunt for a bed for Tabitha (solved in the end by some diligent eBay sniping, yay), I indulged myself a little and took a peek at some of the high-end stuff. The stuff we could never afford. What do you think of this little set-up? It's from an Italian place known as Dear Kids. They do the most desirable, solid furniture in the sorts of colours that only the Europeans ever seem to produce with any consistency, and they also sell what they call 'settings', ie an interior for an entire room. I'm not sure how safe that rail would be for a young child, but for the older kid it's great touch: it can, of course be customised to the name of choice. I'm really liking the wheels on the bed, and the storage within the steps. Talking of storage, who wouldn't die for a chest like this? I don't even have to look at the price though: we can't afford the space, never mind the Euros. There's lots more on the website, if you fancy a bit more fantasising.
- Made by Midas - the crib that turns into a toy Now that's planning ahead: you can start off with a little crib on wheels - which, like a moses basket you can transport with you from room to room - and when your child is old enough, it becomes a toy. Genius! There are two versions, the cradle which becomes a push-pram (the hood comes in many choices of colour) and the crib which just becomes a cart for toys, I guess. From Made by Midas. Visit their website if you have a few spare moments - I wouldn't want all websites to be like this, but it's quite good fun.
- Kiko I've never seen star-shaped dominoes before - but why not? It certainly takes away the image of old men playing in a pub, and puts them firmly in the 'children's toys' camp. No danger of grandpa nicking these. Also from designer Kiko Shiomi, the magnetic town scene. It comes with plain black bases that you can draw your roads on - how wonderful.
- Cool Spaces for Kids Just spotted on Etsy this beautiful, portable hop scotch mat and puppet theater by Cool Spaces for Kids. The braindchild of Capetonian stylist and author Sam Scarborough (Children’s Rooms and Cool Spaces for Kids), these creative spaces turn almost any place into instant fun.
Project Nursery
- Vote Project of the Week It’s that time again! Our team put our heads together and selected the top four picks for this week’s Project of the Week! Now it is in the hands of you all to let us know which project you “like” best. The readers’ pick will be announced on Monday! Have a fabulous weekend everyone! Owen’s [...]
- Giveaway: Pinhole Press Gift Certificate From the day my daughter was born, I haven’t been able to put my camera down. I became obsessed with capturing all of life’s moments, to the point that my family has started to call me the paparazzi. One of the biggest challenges I have is what to do with the photos other than store [...]
- Suzani for Kids Suzani is not just for adults anymore,here are some fabulous finds for ways to incorporate it into your children's decor.
- Design Reveal: Saddle Up Lil’ Cowboys We’re thrilled to share another brand new nursery design project from Little Crown Interiors. Last week, we gave Spreecast viewers a sneak peek during Project Nursery’s weekly “Dish and Design” at 11AM PST/2PM EST every Thursday. Today, we’re excited to share the entire project. Customized from top-to-bottom, we had the pleasure of working with this [...]
- Spreecast Special Guest: Caden Lane Grab that extra cup of coffee and find a comfortable spot because it’s time to Spreecast! Join Melisa and Pam’s new live video series, “Dish & Design,” every Thursday at 11am PST/2pm EST on Spreecast. They’ll be dishing about hot topics, their fabulous finds and all things design! This week we’ll be featuring special guest Katy Mimari, [...]
- January Project Gallery Winners A new month means it’s time to announce January’s Project Gallery winners. Hundreds of votes poured in, but two winners shone through in the end. Congratulations to Kimberly, party project winner, and to ashleylind, room project winner. They will both receive a $50 Visa gift card. Thank you to all our readers and finalists who helped [...]
- Wallflower Art: A Whimsical Line of Children’s Art I believe the saying goes, if you enjoy what you do, you will never work a day in your life. I couldn’t agree more. Every year, we attend different markets to exhibit Caden Lane and show off our newest additions and collections. We get to catch up with our stores, buyers and fellow vendors. It’s a small and wonderful [...]
- Operation Shower 2012: Sunshine Safari Every now and again, we like to take a break from the day-to-day operations of Project Nursery to give back to our community. That’s just what Kristin and I did last Tuesday when we hopped a plane to San Diego to help Operation Shower throw a baby shower for 40 expecting moms whose husbands are [...]
- Time Out for Our Friends Every now and then, it’s good to take time to reflect and give thanks. Our team at Project Nursery is very blessed, not only because we have been given the opportunity to do what we love but also because we get to work with remarkable companies and people. When creating partnerships, we look for companies [...]
- I’m Hooked The great challenge of having a small nursery is not having enough space to keep things organized (and you know how much I love to be organized). One of my favorite little decorating secrets is the use of wall hooks. Not only are they fun and decorative, they are actually pretty useful. Towels, sweaters, blankets [...]
droolicious
- We've Moved! image: http://www.bellgirl.com.au Don’t adjust your internets, Droolicious has a new address and a slightly new look and search. We’re very excited to have launched new software so update your bookmarks, links and anywhere else you have us saved so you won’t miss out on the best (and worst) baby, kid and parent design on the planet. Follow us here! Trying to find that awesome stroller we talked about last month? Look it up in our archives on the sidebar. Happy shopping! - April Peveteaux, Babble Blog Editor
- A Possible Cure to Are We There Yet This lap pad is perfect for car trips or air travel. With a chalkboard on one side and a notepad on the other, your little artist can draw away the hours and hopefully that will cut down on the number of times you hear "Are we there yet?". The popsicles are cute, too. The Zookies Car Lap Pad is at Oompa for $31.99. Chalk, crayons and note pad are included. Shop Oompa for more styles of Zookies Car Lap Pads.
- 7 Days of Dad: Music to his Ears He ponied up for Mother's Day, so now it's time to get cracking on how to make Dad's day. Lucky for you, we were wondering too. So we're offering up seven days of what we'll be giving the guy who reads bedtime stories and changes stinky diapers. For dads whose playlist can't handle one more "waaaah" or "why," we can help. Help him get double duty out of his iPhone or iPod with the dexim docking station that hooks right into the TV for big-screen viewing and big sound listening of your downloaded podcasts and movies. One of the most affordable options out there at just $69.95, it was easy to set up and it's versatility means it will last (it works with most generations of the iPod or iPhone). With a wireless remote for easy control from his easy chair and a recharging option as part of the docking station, the dexim will let him share his favorites with his favorite little people. Because sometimes, he just needs to block it all out, EarPollution headphones from iFrogz can help. He can design his own set (or you can plug his tastes into their site to make him a pair), but even better than the style is the sturdiness of these headphones. Made to be folded up and stowed in the bag, they can handle your toddler yanking them off of Dad's head to ask him a question or accidentally (we'll give them the benefit of the doubt) sitting on them. Loud enough to drown out the noise, with good quality sound and comfortable fit, iFrogz hops onto the list for Dad. Check out more gifts for Dad this week on the 7 Days of Dad.
- Classic Vans for Robot Fans My boy already bounces around like he's part bionic. So to ease the wear and tear on his hinges and hydraulics, I opt for tried and true brands like Vans. These slip-on robot shoes ($34) feature ankle biter 'bots in lively colors. And let's face it: Summer is not the time to fight with laces.
- We All Scream for Ice Cream This new organic t-shirt by Little Lark is perfect for your little screamer! Nothing says "summer" better than a soft serve ice cream cone. Also available as a onesie for smaller screamers. Onesies are available in cream and light blue for $26. T-shirts are available in cream, brown and light blue for $26. Check out Little Lark's incredible selection of cool t-shirts for summer.
- Our Four Best Picks for Kids' Packs Summer vacation is coming. Whether you'll be packing the kids up for a trip to grandma's or getting a vacation yourself, you can't go wrong with these picks for packing:1. Little Passenger Sparky Junior Travel Backpack - They'll be so busy making their way through the adventures in this car-shaped backpack, they'll forget to ask "are we there yet?" seventeen times over. Stuffed with their own map and road atlas, plus travel-themed playcards and activity books, there's room to add a few more of their favorites into the bag before you hit the road.TIP FOR PARENTS: Use the accompanying dry erase markers to plot your road trip route in the map so they can follow along. Sparky's see-through make-up also means they can spot their toys from the outside, leaving you to drive while they paw through their Little Passenger. Get it from CSN Stores for $23.50 with free shipping. 2. Ramblin' Kids Suitcase by the Piggy Story - Retro- and rover-licious, this hard case is made in the grand old traditions of overnight cases. And while it really is an overnight case with limited room for their goodies, I say that in the best sense of the word. Packed with a soft blanket and pillow, the Piggy Story case is covered in a fun doggy print that suits both girls and guys. Take out the pillow and blankie to pack in an overnight outfit and a few of their favorite toys, or leave them in and send them off to granny's where she has doubles of their duds anyway. The case is small enough for them to carry, and sturdy enough that it will survive the trips. Get it from The Chocolate Cake Club for $54.3. Dastardly Dragon Overnight Bag by Sassafras - Let them out of your castle for an overnight adventure with a small bag that packs a surprising amount of room. The cuddly dragon (didn't know that could happen, did you?) lets this bag double as a friend to squeeze when they're away from home at night, but it's the ample space inside the zippered body that makes this a must buy for parents. Well, that and the sparkly "fire-breathing" tongue? Get it from the Chocolate Cake Club too - for $26.95. 4. Duffel Bag, Little MissMatched - The last thing you want when you're five hundred miles from home, is to find out your daughter's sippy cup that he chucked onto the bag beside her has soaked through the bag into all of her clothes. Hello waterproof linings! It doesn't hurt that these are cute (and a little on the kooky side), but the Little MissMatched bags make it onto the list thanks to ample space for all of their clothes (I packed ten days worth in my daughter's duffel on a recent trip), handles for little kids to cart them or a strap for Mom and Dad, and a lining that helps them stand up to being dropped in mud puddles on the way into the hotel or left too close to the pool. Get one for $30 (check out the different designs). Check Out More On the Go Goodies:Five Finds for On-the-Go With Your Little Monkey
- Spit Up: What Does a $1230 Baby Spoon Look Like? How much would you spend on a baby spoon? $1? $2? $5? Maybe $9.99? How about $1230? Yeah, I thought not. Want to see what a $1230 baby spoon looks like. Just look below and check it out for free! This Diamond Sterling Baby Spoon by Christofle is made of sterling silver and features a small diamond on the handle…hence the high price tag. This spoon is an exclusive for Vivre right here if you have that kind of money in your kid’s cutlery budget.
- Personalized Stickers By Frecklebox These Way To Go personalized stickers from Frecklebox are a hit with my son who is car crazy. I’m going to use them to label his backpack and water bottles. Prices range from $3.95 for 12 stickers to $9.95 for 48 stickers.See other designs at Frecklebox.
- Pregnancy Faves and Raves: Spoiled Mama Skincare Spoiled Mama's organic and natural skincare for pregnancy, postpartum, breastfeeding and babies offers an extensive collection of skincare products for all the stages of pregnancy and beyond. I thoroughly enjoyed spoiling myself with a few of their pregnancy products!My favorite was the Massaging Aloe Leg Gel which is perfect for us pregnant women in the summer. Spearmint leaves and Peppermint oil help with circulation of swollen, aching legs and feet. Keep it in the refrigerator for a refreshing treat. Let your husband massage your legs and enjoy one of the few perks of pregnancy! The Cocoa and Shea Tummy Butter smells like chocolate and feels luxuriously rich and wonderful on the skin. The Lavender Sugar Scrub helps with circulation, deep cleans and brightens tired skin. It also smells delicious. Beautiful packages are available for gifts. Everyone deserves to be spoiled. Shop Spoiled Mama.
- Do You Dream of Electric Pink Sheep? You got your white sheep and your occasional black sheep but what little kid gets to ride on their very own pink sheep? The lucky one who gets the Electric Pink Rocking Sheep by Danish Crafts. This fluffy hot pink sheep is an adorable option for the nursery that goes beyond just the black and white. But it’s an expensive option. It goes for $575 from Vivre here.
A Life More Interesting
- Flatout Frankie Cardboard Toys – Toys that can be Painted and Drawn on Toys that can be painted and drawn on is in my opinion some of the very best toys, as they inspire children to use their imagination. Flatout Frankie makes a series of simple cardboard (100% recyclable) toys decorated with plain white minimalistic details. Currently the Flatout Frankies series of cardboard toys consists of an oven, [...]
- Jellystone Design – Jewelry for Mothers to Wear with Babies in Mind I love things designed with both a practical and an aesthetic purpose in mind. Jellystone Designs jewelry falls into this category with their jewelry which is safe for small children and looks good on mom too. The jewelry is made in a non-toxic material, child friendly shapes, several delicious colours and has a soft feel. [...]
- Halloween Pumpkins Halloween is just around the corner and if you are in the need some pumpkin carving inspiration you should check out Ray Vilfanes fantastic pumpkins. Tips on how to make your own Halloween pumpkin and free stencils can be found all around the internet – for example at Halloween Pumpkins.
- Spoonful Design – Handmade Bamboo Wall Art New Zealand based Spoonful Design develops beautiful unique wall art, that is handmade in New Zealand using sustainable bamboo and cotton thread. All motifs used for their wall art is based on Spoonful Designs own original illustrations, which I personally am absolutely crazy about.
- Freeline Skates – Skateboard-Skates Freeline Skates looks like two small pieces of a skateboard. I’ll bet it’s not exactly easy to learn how to ride these skates, but I’m pretty sure it’s more than worth it when you’re able to do some of those fancy tricks. There are two Freeline skates available at this time. The Freeline OG which are [...]
- The Ultimate Play Set – Beautiful Organic Wooden Toys from Smiling Tree Toys Smiling Tree Toys’ “The Ultimate Play Set” really is what is says – an ultimate play set. This wooden play set will make an excellent gift for a christening, for newborns and for baby- and toddler birthdays. Smiling Tree Toys wooden wonders are made out of simple shapes, which are not only beautiful, but also [...]
- Jason Freeny – Dissecting Mickey Mouse, Hello Kitty, Care Bare and Raving Rabbid Ever wonder what the likes of Hello Kitty, Mickey Mouse, Care Bare and Raving Rabbid would look like inside if they were alive? Or had been… Don’t know how Jason Freeny got the idea of dissecting toys and sculpting their bones and intestines, but turns out it’s not as disgusting as it might sound at [...]
- uimi – Merino Wool Baby Blankets uimi makes the most wonderful knitted baby blankets form merino wool. The blankets have beautiful patterns, made with different colors and by the knitting itself. Amongst uimis blankets are single colored, multicolored and double sided baby blankets. uimi is an eco-friendly Australian brand and their blankets are Australian made.
- Superheroes Superpowers Poster This is one awesome poster for the childrens room – or the office. Ever in need of a superpower just look at the poster and pick a superhero. Need someone for a meeting who can read thoughts – you’ll need to call Saturn Girl. Or beating traffic using teleportation Blink, Nightcrawler, Spot or Gateway could [...]
- Sleepy Wings – Ingenious Alternative to Swaddling the Baby Sleepy Wings is a type of clothing meant to reduce the startle reflex of babies without swaddling. By reducing the startle reflex you can prevent the baby from waking itself during sleep, keep it from scratching and pinching mommy while feeding, and keep it from scratching itself. Sleepy Wings allow the baby to sleep in [...]
The Mommy Insider
- PopCap™ Games: Not Just For Kids! After a stressful day at work or a rough morning at home with the kids, sometimes all a parent wants to do is sit down, relax and regroup. PopCap games provide the perfect stress reliever. Whether you have a Mac or PC or prefer to play games on your iPhone, iPad or Android phone, you [...]PopCap™ Games: Not Just For Kids! is a post from: The Mommy Insider. It looks like you are reading this post in your favorite RSS reader. Don't be shy..hop on over to check out our current giveaways, coupon codes, and to share your comments!
- Downy Unstopables™ Super Bowl Commercial and #TouchDowny Giveaways! I’m sure you are looking forward to Super Bowl Sunday, right? Well just remember this.. you can win some great prizes from Downy during the game. Learn more at the bottom of this post. Meanwhile, have you heard about Downy Unstopables™? Downy Unstopables™ is an in-wash scent booster that adds a boost of freshness that [...]Downy Unstopables™ Super Bowl Commercial and #TouchDowny Giveaways! is a post from: The Mommy Insider. It looks like you are reading this post in your favorite RSS reader. Don't be shy..hop on over to check out our current giveaways, coupon codes, and to share your comments!
- Review of 3M™ Privacy Screen Protector for Apple® iPad® The Apple iPad is among the most popular electronic product in history. Apple enthusiasts, workers and students love their iPad for what they can do on it. However, some iPad users are bothered because other people can easily see everything that’s on their iPad’s screen. For example, mothers playing Words with Friends might not want [...]Review of 3M™ Privacy Screen Protector for Apple® iPad® is a post from: The Mommy Insider. It looks like you are reading this post in your favorite RSS reader. Don't be shy..hop on over to check out our current giveaways, coupon codes, and to share your comments!
- Chatman – Your Child’s Internet Safety Buddy In a world connected by computers it is important to not only teach our kids how to use them, but also about internet safety. Chatman is a fun and innovative tool that will help educate and protect kids online. Chatman looks like a cute toy and hooks up easily to your computer through a USB cable. [...]Chatman – Your Child’s Internet Safety Buddy is a post from: The Mommy Insider. It looks like you are reading this post in your favorite RSS reader. Don't be shy..hop on over to check out our current giveaways, coupon codes, and to share your comments!
- For your Princess – Chelsea Baby Headband and Snap-On Bouquet My daughter loves to play dress up. She changes into ‘fancy clothes’ soon after she gets home from school almost every day. She’s not lazy about changing into her fancy clothes either! Fancy shoes, leggings or tights, a sweater, sometimes a tutu, a bit of blush, and always some sort of hair accessory. Today she [...]For your Princess – Chelsea Baby Headband and Snap-On Bouquet is a post from: The Mommy Insider. It looks like you are reading this post in your favorite RSS reader. Don't be shy..hop on over to check out our current giveaways, coupon codes, and to share your comments!
- Where To Go After Picnik Shuts Down It is always surprising when a product or service that has a huge following decides to pack it in and call it quits. Recently, Picnik joined this exclusive and, thankfully, small group. This online photo editor was the product of choice for bloggers all over the world. Bloggers not only used Picnik for perfecting the [...]Where To Go After Picnik Shuts Down is a post from: The Mommy Insider. It looks like you are reading this post in your favorite RSS reader. Don't be shy..hop on over to check out our current giveaways, coupon codes, and to share your comments!
Baby Fashion Blog - Baby Gifts & Baby Boutique Stories
- We're Moving....Creating a Dreamy New Toddler Room! Long time, no post! I have been a busy bee with working 3 full days per week as a Children's Social Worker again, pretending to be a "stay at home mom" on the other 4 days of the week and...
- Emme turns 2 with a Neverland Birthday Surprise! My baby girl is two...not so much a baby as a toddler/preschooler, but "my baby", nonetheless;) Ten of Emme's best toddler/preschooler friends joined our family for a Neverland Birthday Celebration of Pixies & Pirates! The girls donned pixie wings and...
- Cuddlebug's Baby Valentine Gifts at Polka Dot Whale! Valentine's Day is fast approaching (February 14th, to be exact), so you've got one week to get your orders in for Baby Valentine Gifts at Polka Dot Whale! We have so many sweet gifts for your sweet baby that are...
- Inauguration Speech Word Clouds - More Fun with Words Natalie's husband is popping in here today to post about Obama's Inauguration. Being a history buff, he was fascinated by these Wordle collages from our last 3 President's Inaugurations. Here's His Post: A quick follow-up from our last post. Here's...
- Fun with Words Now that Emme is starting to really use her "words" (the other day she said, "I don't know").....it reminded us of a fun web tool called Wordle. The tool takes a bunch of words or a website and creates "word...
- Merry Christmas from Polka Dot Whale & Baby Fashion Blog! The year has almost come to an end and, as usual, is all a wonderful blur.... We have been busy at home, at work and with family, busy raising Emme and busy running Polka Dot Whale. There are many highlights...
- RentAToy--An Awesome Holiday Gift for Young Families! A friend just forwarded me the link to a cool new Toy Rental Service called Rent A Toy.com... What a great holiday gift idea for any family with young children! The Rent A Toy package offers a Netflix-like service whereby...
- Holiday Family Fun! We have a December packed with fun holiday activities on the calendar! Emme is lucky to participate in fun activities everyday at her pre-school celebrating the holidays and at our Mommy & Me program, too. It is wonderful to celebrate...
- Cute Holiday Favorite Baby Gifts...Mullins Square & Pineapple Cove! Christmas and Hanukkah are right around the corner! I was feeling like I still had some time until the fun holiday art projects started streaming in from school....Goodness Gracious! I broke down and picked up some wrapping paper and ribbons...
- Natalie's Holiday Gift Guide...Do your Shoppin' at Polka Dot Whale! The elves (and I) have been busy gearin' up for busy weeks ahead in the Polka Dot Whale workshop! Check out my latest Polka Dot Whale Holiday Gift Guide featuring some of our hottest-selling baby items, all under $30....great gifts,...
organicbabynz.blogspot.com
- Raw Banana Icecream Recipe A great way to use up very ripe bananas (instead of banana cake or muffins!)you need: 20 pitted dates - chopped, 2 tablespns raw honey, 2 tablespns extra virgin coconut oil (I found this at CS organics - very quite $$ but 1 bottle will go far!), 1 teaspoon vanilla extract - I used real (not imitation) vanilla essence, pinch cinnamon, 4 cups (sliced) ripe bananas.Cover and soak dates in lukewarm water for 10 mins. Drain dates and reserve liquid.Blend dates with 3-4 tablespoons of the liquid in a blender. Add honey, coconut oil, vanilla and cinnamon and blend until smooth.Add bananas and blend until mostly smooth (can leave it a little bit chunky if desired).Transfer to a stainless steel bowl.Freeze bowl (I popped a bit of glad wrap over the top), stir a couple of times before it reaches a semi-solid state, and freeze overnight.Allow to thaw at room temp 5-10 mins before serving.Would add a photo but it was too delicious and we've eaten it all!
- Downloadable patterns It's Sunday and it's raining and I am procastinating about tidying the house!So here are some great patterns for Wardorf dolls from Dancing Rain Dolls.Also, if you missed it on Facebook, here is a pattern for an Upcycled Baby Sleeping Bag and upcycled tank top bags. Happy Crafting!
- Babywearer Knitting pattern These babywearer ponchos are hot in Europe right now and very practical if you are using a sling or baby carrier in this weather! Babywearer Knitting pattern (Little Turtle Knits.com)(thanks to Melanie for the link!)
- Hire Things! I was fortunate to meet Iona of Hirethings.co.nz, which is quite frankly a very brilliant website.Hirethings quite simply allows you to hire stuff from other people or (if you have some useful stuff at home) it allows you to hire it out to other people!You might want to hire a bouncy castle, a bubble machine, kids costumes, a buggy, high chair, baby swing, backpack, the list goes on...Environmentally friendly (big tick) and makes total sense!At Organic Baby, we are joining the party and in the next few month's we will have available for hire: The Ergo Baby Carrier and Honey Child Nappies.We'll keep you posted....
- Vintage Baby patterns Downloadable for free at - http://www.vintagepurls.co.nz/content/9-freevintagepatternsGeniune vintage including a practical baby vest pattern.I do have a love of all things vintage!
- Vintage-inspired coats These gorgeous coats are made by Bev Lees in North Canterbury, fashioned using vintage blankets and adorned with Tagua nut buttons by ecofabric. They may be purchased through our web store.
- Born out of a love for good food Let us introduce you to Onefootprint, a fabulous Wellington-based Gardening Consultancy Service which uses organic principles to empower garden owners to grow good food at home.Onefootprint was born out of a love for growing good food and a passion to eat healthy, full-flavoured, nutritious food at home. That bought a partnership between Heather Murphy - a trained chef and avid gardener, and Kate Findlay, a horticulturist and applied science student.Heather and Kate can provide personal consultation to discuss and plan your seasonal edible garden requirements, assess and co-ordinate requirements for tools, natural sprays, fertilizers, composting and irrigation and even provide 10 Seasonal recipes to match your garden.Garden Consult gift vouchers are available for special occasions like birthdays, weddings, anniversaries. new house and new arrivals!
- Preloved Pic of the Week Divine retro-styled print...from Europe!"Smafolk" sz 74cm (9-12m)$14.00 from Organic Baby
- Buttons - for style with a conscience New Product!These buttons are made in Ecuador under fair and certified (ISO 9001: safe, equitable conditions) from Tagua.Tagua (pronouced "Tah-gwa") is the dried seedpod of the Tagua palm tree (Phytelephas Macrocarpa) which grows in tropical rainforest.The buttons come in natural or may be dyed as shown by the second photo (dyed with onion skins).The buttons by "ecofabric" are beautifully presented in an button card printed in New Zealand using EA latex based toner - the most eco choice for recycling and only available from Organic Baby (we are the first stockist!)
- Preloved Pic of the Week Preloved Tummy Tub (with instructions) only $30. These normally retail at $55 Tummy Tubs are fanastic for bathtime ....developed in cooperation with midwives, the unique shape of the Tummy Tub enables the baby to relive the security of the womb, which means baby feels more comfortable, and is more likely to enjoy bath time. Baby will naturally adopt the familiar and reassuring foetal postion.No more carrying around a heavy baby bath....the shape and size of the Tummy Tub means you need less water than a conventional baby bath and water stays warmer for a longer time.
Baby Nursery Ideas Blog
- Baby Boy Nursery Ideas Pictures Baby Boy Nursery Ideas pictures and masculine baby room designs in popular themes and colors to inspire the DIY decorator.
- Baby Boy Nursery Pictures BABY BOY NURSERY PICTURES - A gallery of photos filled with baby boy nursery ideas. Baby boy nurseries decorated by moms just like you! The best boy baby room pictures
- Western Baby Decor, Bedding and Nursery Theme Ideas Cowboy Western Nursery Theme Bedding and decor. Decorating Ideas for a western cowboy nursery theme. Western baby furniture, quilts and crib sets. Vintage cowboy baby nursery decorating ideas.
- Paisleys, Stripes and Everything Nice - Chocolate Brown and Blue Paisley Print Fabric Baby Room I hope you like our Paisleys, Stripes and Everything Nice - Chocolate Brown and Blue Paisley Print Fabric Baby Room! Paisley print fabric and clever
- Green Paisley Tree Theme Baby Nursery I apologize for the fuzzy picture of our green paisley tree theme baby nursery but my photos never seem to turn out just right. But the tree wall decal
- Baby Girl Nursery Pictures Best baby girl nursery pictures. Photos of baby girl nurseries.Baby girl nursery decorating ideas, designs and decor. Elegant, cute, feminine pictures of baby girl nurseries.
- Cute Cupcake Baby Nursery Theme Bedding & Decorating Ideas for a Baby Girl Room Cupcake baby nursery theme ideas. Pictures of cupcake nursery bedding and decor that are "oh so sweet" for your baby girl's room.
- A Peachy Gray and Peach Baby Nursery for Rylee The gray and peach nursery that mom and artist, Kelli Murray, designed for her baby has many, many interesting features and mini-tableau's filled with
- NEW! Baby Nursery Theme Ideas for Baby Girl, Boy & Neutral Room Themes 100s of UNIQUE BABY NURSERY THEME IDEAS. Ideas for nursery themes with pictures and nursery decorating ideas. Modern, themed baby rooms decorations.
- Paper Nursery Lantern and Star Ceiling Mobile Instructions How to make a paper nursery lantern and star cluster ceiling mobile.
Consumer Reports
- Manufacturer recalls Bumbleride Indie and Indie Twin strollers Manufacturer recalls Bumbleride Indie and Indie Twin strollers The manufacturer of two strollers, the Bumbleride Indie and Bumbleride Indie Twin, and product safety officials announced a voluntary recall on Friday to address a problem with the front wheel that could cause the strollers to tip. It also issued a “consumer alert” about a multi-use bar that, when adjusted incorrectly, could cause an unharnessed child to strangle. The action comes days after Consumer Reports informed the company and the Consumer Product Safety Commission that we would judge both models “Don’t Buy: Safety Risk” because of our concerns about the adjustable, multi-use bar. Our tests showed the potential for an unharnessed child to be strangled by slipping under the bar, which spans the seat of the Indie and each of the Indie Twin’s seats. Friday’s recall, however, focused on the strollers’ front wheel. A CPSC press release said, “The front wheel can break at the axle hub, causing the stroller to tip and posing a fall hazard.” There have been 36 incidents of the front wheel cracking, including two reports of the stroller tipping over, resulting in minor injuries, the CPSC said. The Indie, about $500, and Indie Twin, roughly $700, are designed to be used with children up to 45 pounds and up to 43 inches tall. They can be used with various car seat models from other manufacturers. The recall affects about 28,000 units sold in the United States and 2,700 sold in Canada, all with manufacture dates from January 2009 though January 2012. The strollers were made in Taiwan. The CPSC says that consumers should immediately stop using the recalled strollers and visit Bumbleride's site or contact the company at support@bumbleridecom or 800-530-3930 to receive a free front-wheel retrofit kit. The company is also discontinuing and stopping sale of those two models, according to Matthew Reichardt, chief executive officer of Bumbleride Inc. of San Diego, Calif. UPDATE: Bumbleride Indie and Indie Twin strollers on the market now no longer have a wheel problem, Reichardt said in an interview Friday evening. Furthermore, they no longer come with a multi-use bar, he said. He maintained that when used correctly, the multi-use bar is safe. But the company removed them from strollers for sale because "we can understand there could be confusion" about their safe use, he said. The company will release a new multi-use bar in March as an optional accessory, Reichardt said. It also plans to offer an infant car seat adapter at that time. Consumer Reports will test these accessories when they become available. Safety concern On current Bumbleride Indie strollers, the bar is attached above the child’s legs, and can be set in three positions. In the highest position, it is intended as a grab bar or bumper bar for a child. In an intermediate position it acts as a support for an infant car seat. The third and lowest position is down against the seat for folding the stroller. When the bar is in the highest position, the strollers are safe to use and meet the voluntary ASTM-International safety standard requiring that if there is enough room for a child’s torso to fit between the bar and the seat there must be enough room for the child’s head to fit through, too. But with the bar in the intermediate position, our tests showed a child’s torso could fit through the space between the bar and the stroller seat—but his head might not. That poses a strangulation hazard known as “submarining.” If a child is placed in the stroller unharnessed (something manufacturers including Bumbleride and child-safety advocates urge caregivers not to do, but which some do anyway) the child could slip down and be strangled by the bar. Federal data show that this type of strangulation was responsible for at least 10 infant deaths between 1995 and 2008, the latest dates for which complete data are available, though we do not know of any deaths or injuries associated with the Bumbleride Indie or Indie Twin strollers. A small tag on the multi-use bar’s zip-on cover warns of this hazard. “Warning: When child is seated in stroller, only use bumper bar in upright position. Child can slide forward and strangle,” it says. And the strollers’ instruction manuals also state, “When used as a bumper bar, ensure that the multi-use bar is adjusted to position.” But Consumer Reports believes that some users may not read the instruction manual or notice the warning, and those who do can easily forget to adjust the bar—a foreseeable misuse. “We reasoned that parents of babies, especially twins or children close enough in age for there to be a need of a double stroller, may be rushed and frazzled,” said Joan Muratore, Consumer Reports program leader child-product tests. “They might easily forget to move the grab bar back up from the potentially dangerous, intermediate position.” To test this concern, we conducted a panel test with 20 staffers using Indie Twin strollers. Panelists (all current or recent stroller users, though not otherwise involved in our stroller test program) were given tasks that included putting a car seat with dummy into or out of the stroller, then putting the dummy in the stroller without the car seat. The manufacturer’s instruction manual was on hand. Yet few panelists read it and set the multi-use bar appropriately. On February 1, the day after Consumer Reports contacted Bumbleride about the problem with the multi-use bar, the company posted a page on its website Using the Multi-use Bars Correctly. Accompanied by diagrams showing correct use of the bar, the page states: “It has come to our attention that there is a possibility for multi-use bars included with Indie and Indie Twin models (I-110, I-205, IT-111 and IT-305) to be used incorrectly, resulting in a potential strangulation hazard.” The web page continues, “Even though Bumbleride’s packaging instructions, as well as labeling on the multi-use bar, clearly explain correct and incorrect use, we are finding that some consumers are still using these multi-use bars inappropriately.” In recent years, Consumer Reports has given the designation of “Don’t Buy: Safety Risk” to four other strollers because they’ve had grab bars or trays that didn’t meet the voluntary ASTM-International standard and were low enough to create a strangulation hazard. In all those cases, Consumer Reports notified the manufacturers and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the strollers were recalled by their manufacturers. Those strollers were the Zooper Waltz, recalled in May 2011, and the all-terrain Valco Baby Tri-Mode, the Tike Tech CityX, and the Tike Tech X3 Sport Jogging Stroller, all of which were recalled in March 2010. What you should do If you own this stroller, get and install the wheel retrofit kit, and remove and discard the multi-use bars. Be sure to secure your child or children with the stroller’s harness or harnesses, as you should always do with any stroller or high chair. Subscribe now! Subscribe to ConsumerReports.org for expert Ratings, buying advice and reliability on hundreds of products. Update your feed preferences
- Toy Fair 2012: Popar Toys brings augmented reality to paper books Toy Fair 2012: Popar Toys brings augmented reality to paper books Popar Toys, a new line from tech company Digital Tech Frontier, is taking an innovative approach to meshing book-reading with technology: Instead of bringing books to the device, a la Amazon Kindle Keyboard and Barnes & Noble Nook, it's using devices to enhance the books. We had an early look at the how it all works before Popar's debut in a couple of weeks at Toy Fair 2012. The company's paper books, most of which have an educational bent, are embedded with visual markers on each page that a webcam can read and translate to a computer screen, bringing the literature to life. In a book titled "Planets 3D," each new page brings a new 3D animation on your display: a whirling planet or a solar system that you can move and view from different angles by tilting the book. If you close the book, the animation stays on screen, which is slightly magical. Flash an included card with a similar marker in front of the webcam, and a little robot avatar reads the book aloud. Another card held under your chin dresses onscreen-you in an astronaut costume. Kids can also create videos and digital photos of themselves to keep and share. And perhaps most innovative in this day and age, if there's no computer handy, they can just read the books—no Web connection or charging needed. Each book costs $28 and comes with a software CD for PC or Mac; the target age range is 5 to 14 (though I suspect these will be bigger hits with younger kids). The company will also be offering a Starter Kit ($40) that includes one of four books ("Bugs 3D," "Planets 3D," "Princess & Her Pals 3D," or "Construction Machine 3D") as well as 12 3D cards, a Be It Costume Card—and a webcam. You can try out the Popar technology at Digital Tech Frontier's website or watch an online video demonstration on YouTube. Related: CES 2012: WowWee to debut augmented-reality AppGear toys Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure review Subscribe now! Subscribe to ConsumerReports.org for expert Ratings, buying advice and reliability on hundreds of products. Update your feed preferences
- Aveeno baby lotion recalled for suspicious bacteria levels Aveeno baby lotion recalled for suspicious bacteria levels More than 2,000 tubes of Aveeno Baby Calming Comfort Lotion are being recalled by its maker, Johnson & Johnson. According to a company press release issued on Friday, a test by the Food and Drug Administration found high levels of a common bacteria within the baby lotion. The bacteria reportedly discovered by the FDA is coagulase-negative Staphylococci, a "common bacteria often found on the skin and scalp of babies and adults, and found in commonly used household and cosmetic products, at very low levels," said the press release. The undisclosed levels of bacteria are found in Aveeno baby lotion tubes bearing the lot number 0161LK. The company said the affected tubes of baby lotion were primarily sold in retail outlets in nine states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. Although there have been no reports of illness or injuries from the affected bottles of baby lotion, Johnson & Johnson has already asked retailers to pull the item from store shelves. And while the company claims the tubes of recalled Aveeno Baby Calming Comfort Lotion are still safe to use, if consumers would like a refund, they can call Johnson & Johnson toll-free at 877-298-2525. Maker recalls 2,200 tubes of Aveeno baby lotion [CNN]Johnson & Johnson recalls baby lotion after tests discover it contains too much bacteria [UK Daily Mail] Subscribe now! Subscribe to ConsumerReports.org for expert Ratings, buying advice and reliability on hundreds of products. Update your feed preferences
- Recall: Britax child safety seat—Harness straps will not properly restrain a child Recall: Britax child safety seat—Harness straps will not properly restrain a child Britax Child Safety is recalling about 14,220 Chaperone infant car seats because a defect in the harness adjuster can result in ineffective safety harness straps, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported today. A defective rivet can cause the harness adjuster to detach from the seat, rendering the safety harness straps used to secure an infant in the seat unable to properly restrain the child. NHTSA is not aware of any deaths or injuries related to the recall. The Britax recall affects the following Chaperone infant car seat models: E9L692J E9L692K E9L692L E9L692M The harness adjuster is located at the foot of the car seat and can be accessed by lifting the fabric and checking that the adjuster is secured in place by the rivet. The recalled child safety seats were manufactured from September 2010 through April 2011. Britax intends to provide consumers and retailers with a remedy kit to ensure the harness adjuster is securely attached by Feb. 6, and will continue to replace seats with detached harness adjusters until that date. Owners of the recalled car seats whose harness adjuster is detached from the seat are advised to stop using it and contact Britax to have the issue resolved. Consumers who have a detached harness adjuster or that would like further information about this recall should contact Britax Child Safety at 888-427-4829 or www.britaxusa.com. For more information and to sign up to receive e-mail alerts about recalls for child safety seats, vehicles, and tires visit www.SaferCar.gov. Consumer Advisory: Britax Recalling 14,220 Child Safety Seats for Safety Harness Straps That Will Not Properly Restrain Child [NHTSA] Subscribe now! Subscribe to ConsumerReports.org for expert Ratings, buying advice and reliability on hundreds of products. Update your feed preferences
- Elective early birth rate reduced by many hospitals Elective early birth rate reduced by many hospitals Many hospitals have succeeded in reducing the number of babies who are delivered early without a medical reason, according to a report from the Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit watchdog organization that collects quality and safety data from hospitals on behalf of employers. In 2010 only 30 percent of hospitals that report data to Leapfrog maintained an early elective delivery rate of 5 percent or less, which experts feel is a reasonable target for hospitals. That figure improved to 39 percent of reporting hospitals in 2011. The report notes that there is still a lot of room for improvement. Further reducing the number of elective early births could potentially save the healthcare system nearly a billion dollars, and more importantly, prevent unnecessary harm to newborns. Unborn babies need at least 39 weeks in the womb to fully develop. Early birth can contribute to breathing problems, temperature instability, jaundice, infection, longer-hospital stays, and a higher risk of death. There is occasionally a clear medical reason to schedule a delivery before 39 weeks—if the pregnant mother has high blood pressure or if there are broken membranes before labor begins, for example—but it is relatively rare. “Of the hospitals that reported an elective delivery rate in 2010 and 2011, 65 percent improved their performance,” said Leah Binder, Leapfrog's chief executive officer, in a statement. “But there is still work to be done. We are seeing far too many newborns delivered early and without a medical reason.” At some hospitals, scheduling early elective births is anything but rare. The Leapfrog Group's report notes wide variation among the 757 hospitals that report data. Some of those hospitals reported that over 40 percent of their deliveries were done early without a medical indication. And there is no information on the hospitals that don't voluntarily report their data to Leapfrog. “Next we need all hospitals to make the data available to the public,” said Maureen Corry, executive director of the maternity care advocacy group Childbirth Connection, in a statement. Experts note that there are financial incentives for hospitals and doctors to intervene in childbirths, rather than let the pregnancy proceed on its own course. Some obstetricians may simply prefer to control the scheduling, so labor doesn't occur when they are unable to deliver the child. That’s why choosing a provider is so important, Corry says. Family physicians generally have lower rates of scheduling early deliveries than obstetricians, she says. And midwives generally have the lowest rates. But there are always exceptions, so talk to your provider. Some women may schedule their births for their own convenience without realizing it increases risks for their child. That's why, Corry says, “it's critical for women to be informed, know their rights, and protect themselves and their babies.” To look for your hospital's rate, see the Leapfrog Group's report. For more on maternity, see: “Back to basics for safer childbirth,” and “10 over-the-counter drugs to avoid during pregnancy.” Subscribe now! Subscribe to ConsumerReports.org for expert Ratings, buying advice and reliability on hundreds of products. Update your feed preferences
- Recall: Super Luchamania action figures—Lead paint Recall: Super Luchamania action figures—Lead paint Lee Carter Company, of San Francisco, Calif., has recalled about 7,000 packs of its Super Luchamania Action Figures, due to excessive levels of lead paint, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reported today. The surface paints on the action figures contain excessive levels of lead, which is prohibited under federal law. No incidents or injuries have been reported in relation to this recall. Sold for $12 to $14 per packet at various specialty craft stores nationwide from June 2000 through October 2011, the recalled action figures were manufactured in Mexico. The recalled Mexican wrestling Super Luchamania action figures were sold in packs of 12. The multi-colored action figures are plastic, have plastic capes and measure about 4-inches tall. "Super Luchamania" is printed on the action figures' packaging. Consumers should immediately take the recalled action figures away from children and return them to Lee Carter Company for a full refund or credit towards a replacement product. For more information, call Lee Carter Company collect at 415-824-2004, or visit www.leecartercompany.com. Mexican Wrestling Action Figures Recalled by Lee Carter Co. Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard [CPSC] Subscribe now! Subscribe to ConsumerReports.org for expert Ratings, buying advice and reliability on hundreds of products. Update your feed preferences
- Recall: Lee Carter baby rattles due to infant choking hazard Recall: Lee Carter baby rattles due to infant choking hazard The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Lee Carter Co., of San Francisco, Calif., have issued a recall of roughly 25,000 infant rattles for handles that pose a choking hazard to children. According to the CPSC, the handles are small enough to fit inside a child's throat and violate federal safety standards designed to protect children from choking dangers. There have been no reported incidents of babies choking on the rattles. Consumers, however, should immediately take the recalled rattles away from infants. The recalled rattles measure about 4-1/2 inches long, are woven from multi-colored plastic and have a bell inside. "Made in Mexico" and "Lee Carter Company" are printed on a tag on a purple plastic loop at the end of the rattle's handle. They were sold at various Mexican specialty craft stores nationwide from February 2001 through October 2011 for about $4. In addition to removing the recalled rattles from children's use, consumers are advised to return them to Lee Carter Co. for a full refund or credit towards a replacement product. For additional information, consumers should call Lee Carter Co. collect at (415) 824-2004 anytime, or visit the firm's website: www.LeeCarterCompany.com. Infant Rattles Recalled by Lee Carter Co. Due to Choking Hazard [CPSC] Subscribe now! Subscribe to ConsumerReports.org for expert Ratings, buying advice and reliability on hundreds of products. Update your feed preferences
- Recall: Travelin' Chef thermal food carriers—Damaged gel packs Recall: Travelin' Chef thermal food carriers—Damaged gel packs California Innovations has recalled about 55,000 of its Travelin' Chef Expandable Thermal Food Carriers, due to damaged freezer gel packs that pose a poisoning hazard, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reported today. Gel that contains diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol can leak out of the damaged gel packs, posing a poisoning hazard if ingested. No incidents or injuries have been reported in connection with this recall. Sold at Walmart for about $22 from August 2008 to December 2011, the recalled thermal food carrier is a four-piece set, which includes a light blue thermal carrier with black carrying handles, a medium and large plastic food container, and a freezer gel pack. Code 1-38018-69-07 is printed on a white label on the inside of the main compartment on the left hand side. The gel pack is an 8.5-inch by 8-inch, opaque blue plastic pouch filled with liquid gel. The words "Cryofreeze" and "Ice Pack/Hot Pack" are printed in white letters on the front of the pouch. The thermal carrier is 18 inches wide, 10.5 inches deep and 4.7 inches high, and made of vinyl and polyester. The medium food container measures 9.75 inches by 6.25 inches by 3.5 inches. The large food container measures 11.75 inches by 8.75 inches by 3.5 inches. Consumers should stop using the gel packs and dispose of them according to federal, state and local regulations. It is recommended that consumers contact their local waste disposal authority for instructions. Consumers may return the gel pack to Walmart for a refund of $6, or contact California Innovations at 800-722-2545 for the same refund. This recall follows an earlier one of another type of insulated lunch box also from California Innovations that included a freezer gel pack that contained diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, which can leak out of damaged packs, posing a poisoning hazard if ingested. The previous recall, which we reported, affected about 248,000 Ci Sport three-piece, expandable, insulated lunch box sets. For more information, call California Innovations at 800-722-2545, or visit www.californiainnovations.com. Food Carriers Recalled by California Innovations Due to Freezer Gel Pack Ingestion Hazard [CPSC] Subscribe now! Subscribe to ConsumerReports.org for expert Ratings, buying advice and reliability on hundreds of products. Update your feed preferences
- Expandable lunch boxes recalled for leaky cold gel packs Expandable lunch boxes recalled for leaky cold gel packs The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission has issued a safety recall notice for insulated lunch boxes with freezer gel packs from California Innovations Inc., of Toronto, Canada. The gel packs contain diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol which can leak out of damaged freezer gel packs, posing a poisoning hazard if ingested by children or adults. According to the CPSC, California Innovations has received two separate reports of a dog chewing and ingesting gel from the gel pack. One dog reportedly died from ingestion of the gel. The other was reported to have received treatment and has recovered. Consumers should immediately stop using the gel packs and dispose of them according to federal, state and/or local regulations. Consumers may also return the lunch box set to Costco for a full refund or may receive a $5 cash refund for the gel pack only by contacting California Innovations (toll-free: 800-722-2545 e-mail: ci-recall 'at' ca-innovations.com). The recall affect about 248,000 Ci Sport three-piece, expandable, insulated lunch box set, which includes the lunch box, aluminum bottle and the freezer gel pack. The lunch box of the recalled set has the code "1-61731-99-57" printed on one of the two white labels that are sewn under the white fastener inside the main compartment. The lunch box is 8 inches wide, 5 inches deep and 10.25 inches high. It is made of vinyl, polyester nylon and crushed nylon and has a logo with the words "Ci Sport" attached to the upper left corner. The lunch box has a carrying handle on the top and a mesh carrying pouch for the aluminum bottle on the side. The aluminum bottle measures 2.75 inches in diameter and 7.5 inches tall. The gel pack is a 6-inch by 4-inch transparent plastic pouch filled with blue liquid gel. The words "Cryofreeze" and "Ice Pack/Hot Pack" are printed in white letters on the front of the pouch. The lunch box was available in four colors: navy blue, red, black and denim blue. They were sold at Costco Wholesale Clubs, Leon Korol and Cost U Less stores between May 2007 and September 2008 for about $10. For additional information, consumers can also visit the firm's website: www.CaliforniaInnovations.com Expandable Lunch Boxes Recalled by California Innovations Due to Freezer Gel Pack Ingestion Hazard [CPSC]Expandable Lunch Box (Cryofreeze Gel Pack Recall) [California Innovations] Subscribe now! Subscribe to ConsumerReports.org for expert Ratings, buying advice and reliability on hundreds of products. Update your feed preferences
- Study shows that only 25 percent of tweens use sunscreen Study shows that only 25 percent of tweens use sunscreen Although melanoma is one of the two most common cancers afflicting young Americans, with sunburn at an early age almost doubling the risk for developing the disease in adulthood, the lure of tanning seems to outweigh tweens’ desire to protect themselves. A study in the February 2012 issue of Pediatrics, “Prospective Study of Sunburn and Sun Behavior Patterns during Adolescence”, surveyed 360 children in Massachusetts in 2004, when they were 10, and again in 2007, when they were 13, to determine their attitudes about tanning, sun protection and incidence of sunburn. By the time they were teenagers, only 25 percent of the study participants were using sunscreen routinely. “Sunscreen use dropped by 70 percent,” said Dr. Stephen W. Dusza, lead author of the study. “We’re not sure why.” He suggested that behavioral issues, like children wanting to enhance their tans, contributed to decreased sunscreen use. Consumers Reports recommends that older children protect themselves against sunburn by wearing tightly woven hats and clothing, as well as applying sunscreen to any exposed skin. With older children and teenagers who may not be under direct adult supervision, it’s important to pack extra tee shirts for beach excursions, as wet tee shirts won’t be as protective against UV exposure. Teenagers should also be reminded about the risks associated with using tanning salons. In general, people should avoid exposure during peak mid-day hours when there is maximum UV radiation, usually between 10 AM and 4 PM. Using your zip code, check the local UV index, to make a decision about spending time in the sun. The index indicates the strength of solar UV radiation on a scale from 1 (low) to 11+ (extremely high). Consumers Reports recommends that people select a sunscreen based on our free buying guide and our Ratings (available to subscribers). “The public health message is that limiting sun exposure is important,” said Dusza, especially “at a time when kids are flexing their independence. This is laying a foundation for what you do as an adult. Lots of studies have shown that early life exposure to intense sun is highly associated with developing melanoma later on. This is a bad time to get a lot of sun exposure. It’s an important time to practice prevention.” See our buying advice and Ratings (available to subscribers) for a wide range of products for babies and kids. Find us on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe now! Subscribe to ConsumerReports.org for expert Ratings, buying advice and reliability on hundreds of products. Update your feed preferences
CouponMountain.com: Baby & Maternity
- 25% off your purchase - Gap 2/2 Only - 6 hour flash sale at Gap.com! Take 25% off your purchase. Use code GAPHAPPY at checkout. Ends 2/2!
- 10% off plus $1.99 shipping on your order - Chadwicks Use coupon code CH42460 at checkout to get 10% off plus $1.99 shipping on your order at Chadwicks.
- 25% off $50 - The Children's Place Enter coupon code D3G2012 during checkout to get 25% off $50 at The Children's Place.
- 30% off $60 - The Children's Place Enter coupon code C3G2012 during checkout to get 30% off $60 at The Children's Place.
- 20% off everything - The Children's Place Enter coupon code E3G2012 during checkout to get 20% off everything at The Children's Place.
- Up to 60% off kids clothes - Axls Closet Save up to 60% off kids clothes at Axls Closet.
- Save up to 10% off select royal seating tables - ECMD Save up to 10% off select royal seating tables and chairs at ECMD.
- 50% off sitewide - babylegs Not into football? Skip the Super Bowl and shop BabyLegs instead! Take 50% off sitewide! Now through Super Bowl Sunday. No minimum order. Use code NOFOOTBALL at checkout.
- Free shipping on orders of $75 - Celebrate Express Enjoy free shipping on orders of $75 at Celebrate Express. Use coupon code freeship12 at checkout.
- 15% off kid's costumes - Celebrate Express Use coupon code imagine15 at checkout to get 15% off kid's costumes at Celebrate Express.
Copyright © 2008.
