Every parents' worst nightmare is their little gem sneaking off when they're out and about. Worry no more, a brilliant parent created SafetyTat, self-adhesive tattoos for your child for when they're out. I would imagine they'd be most useful for big outings (think amusement park or the zoo) or school/daycare fieldtrips. They also have tattoos for children with allergies! What a great idea!
Now that the seasons are changing and it's getting colder out, those with newborns are probably wondering how to keep their little gems warm when going in and out of places. When Z was in the infant carseat I used the Bundle Me, but Z was almost 6 months by the time it got really cold out.
Z is finally at the stage where he needs shoes because he's actually *walking*. While I have not tried the See Kai Run shoes, they are sooo darn cute! Check them out!
About a month ago we went to a Japanese restaurant and they had the coolest kid contraption! Instead of the usual wood or plastic highchair, they had the Handysitt that they quickly attached to a chair. This booster was awesome! Z fit so well in it (it's totally adjustable) and it's a great alternative to the big, bulky highchair. What's especially great about it is that it fits right onto your own chair and it looks great while being super comfy for kids. I was quite a fan.
We all know that reading to our little gems is important, but who knows just how important? I mean, half the time they're flipping through the pages faster than you can get a word in. Reading Magic, by celebrated children's author Mem Fox, is amazing! This book will give you tips on how and when to read to your child. She also explains what a difference reading aloud will make in your child's ability to learn to read later on.
After I had my little gem, Z, I was in need of HELP! Shannon Collier runs Holistic Helping Hand and she is a certified post-partum doula who comes to your house and takes care of you! Yes, you...not the baby! Actually, she did help with him a lot, but she helped *me* take care of him and she made sure I was doing okay, esp after having a c-section. She was truly amazing! It's sort of like having a baby-nurse, but she's someone you like hanging out with and will provide *you* with moral support!
As of now, most of us haven't been using our strollers for *too* long. But, when your stroller seat is looking rundown or you just want a change of scenery, BooYahBaby is just what you need! They make the cutest stroller liners, that will make your stroller look like new again! They also make beautiful blankets, bibs, diaper cases and more!
Yes, this is for real! For all of you with boys, check it out...The Tinkle Tube. "What is this?" you ask...you don't want to know! Litearlly, this is a tube for your little gem to pee in when you're out and about. I know, I know...GROSS! They actually have testimonials on their site about how wonderful this is! I'm sorry, I just couldn't resist!
Do you have friends who are super organized? You know the ones...you open up their pantry and all the jars are labeled and the boxes are lined up 'just so'? Then when you go into their little gem's room, all of the clothes are organized by color and size, and the drawers are filled with perfectly stacked little shirts and pants. Well, that ain't me!
Yes, again, I must admit how much I like Ts with funny little puns and play on words. PixieRock.com has the funniest onesies and Ts for your baby or toddler. I especially like the "I Pooed"!
Have you ever seen a baby product that you wished you had thought of? Well, here it is..."The Burpcatcher"! I'm sorry, but this made me laugh...both for it's simplicity and it's practicality! This is a burpcloth with a pocket at one end, ie, that end goes over your shoulder, so when baby spits up the burp cloth "catches" it!
Are you tired of putting shoes on your little gem's feet even when you're at home? Well, I am! I always put Robeez on Z's feet because he's king of the "sock-puller-off" club! I'd rather he could just slip on something more comfortable at home though. A friend suggested Nowa Li moccasins for babies. They're like socks but they have a soft leather sole, great for both indoors and outdoors for crawlers and new walkers! I can't wait to get a pair for Z! I've also found new ones on Ebay for less!
From the author of Babycakes comes two more of Z's favorite books. Karma Wilson wrote Bear Wants More and Bear Snores On, both about a lovable bear...in one he's hungry and the other he's sleepy. The books have repetition but also have cute stories that your little one will love (and you won't be bored of reading over and over). They were both a little long for Z to sit through at first, but now adores hearing them!
If you're looking for a cute baby gift or a special something for your little gem, you can't beat these adorable knit vegetable rattles! Great for the little ones to shake or teeth on now, and then when they're older they can use them in their kitchen! They also make cupcakes, ice cream cones, fruit and donut rattles...to name just a few (and all are equally precious).
A friend of mine, who recently had a baby, asked me what bath products I use on Z. I proudly told her that we use Burt's Baby Bees (love the scent and seems so gentle). She said, "But I'm not sure it's totally safe." HUH??? Well, she passed along the address for a website which rates the safety of beauty products for adults and has a special database for children's (and baby) products. It's called Skin Deep and it's quite informative. When I looked up Burt's it had a rating of 4 out of 10, with 1 being the safest. OY! Check it out for yourself!
A friend of mine who's a pediatric dentist told me that I should be brushing Z's 2 little teeth everyday! EEEEKK! I've been asking everyone I know what they use to brush their little gems' teeth. One friend told me about Baby's First Toothbrush. I checked it out and people gave it lots of good reviews so it looks like it's worth a try!
I know I've been talking *a lot* about sippy cups lately, but I've actually found one that Z can use! At 9 months he was having zero success with the regular sippy cups (ie, non-straw versions) but I just bought the Nuby Sport Sipper with Soft Straw and it's great! Z was able to drink from it without any trouble, probably because it's so similar to a bottle's nipple. The bottle appears to be made from a non-BPA containing material (since it's cloudy plastic) and the straw is made from silicone. At any rate, I was just happy to find a straw sippy that he could use! I bought one at BuyBuyBaby for around $3.50.
Do you find yourself searching for the perfect baby gift every time you find out another friend has a little gem on the way? Here's an adorable, yet practical gift for all new moms! The Cutest Things has a gift set that comes with 1 laminated bib and 2 burp cloths--all personalized-- for $36! You can choose from lots of colors and patterns...you can't go wrong giving this. The laminated bibs are really great too because they're soft, they wipe clean and they can be machine washed. The chenille bibs are great for the first 6 months if your baby spits up alot when eating! The site has other personalized gifts as well, but these are my faves!
Z and most of his friends are fast approaching the *sippy cup stage*. If you're not sure what kind of sippy to buy, READ THIS ARTICLE! No more 'good old' sippys (sippies?)...say hello to the sippy straws! Speech pathologists are saying this is the way to go in order to avoid lisps and other speech articulation problems later on! Many companies sell the straw sippies with no-spill valves...Safe Sippy, Nuby and many others. 
A few weeks ago a friend mentioned that sippy cups could possibly cause speech development problems in kids. Of course I freaked for a moment but wasn't real worried since Z can't even figure out how to use a sippy cup yet. However, I think The Safe Sippy is worth a try! It's BPA-free and the spout is straw-shaped which apparently is better for developing mouths. It's on the pricey-side for a sippy, but isn't your little gem worth it?
A few months ago when there was the big *BPA bottle scare* our only options for BPA-free bottles were either glass, old-fashioned Gerbers and the not so cute BornFrees. Now there's another option...and it's so cute! Green To Grow makes both 5 oz and 10 oz (regular and wide-neck) bottles that have the most darling little smiley faces on them! Not only that, but the plastic piece on the bottle is either lime green or turquoise depending on the size of the bottle! These bottles really add a little *zing* to bottle feeding!
If you ask my husband, he'll tell you that I have a soft spot for all "sayings" corny. Well, I've found some pretty cute onesies that fit the bill. One Acorn has onesies and tees with sayings like, "See you later alligator," "Silly goose," and many more. They also sell matching yoga-like pants which are too cute for words. You've gotta love it!
Does your little gem like to be swaddled up like a baby burrito? Well, Little Z *loved* to be swaddled for naps, bedtime and even spells in the swing. As he grew, two things happened. 1) He started growing out of all of his swaddle (ie, square) blankies. 2) It was getting colder and we were dressing him in warmer PJs so I was worried he would get too hot if he was swaddled.
I've already decorated Z's bedroom, but for those of you who still have yet to finish this daunting task, here's something you've got to love! Blik makes the most wonderfully funky wall decals that are totally removable. They truly make a room come alive! They come in lots of colors and designs...farms, dots, birds, zoo animals, counting sheep...it's dizzying! They'd also be great in a playroom.
Another popular teether with the "au naturel" set is Sophie the Giraffe. She's handmade "en France" of natural rubber and non-toxic food-based paints. Friends say their babies love Sophie because she's fun to chew and easy to hold!
Have you ever seen a pair of shoes that you really wanted for your little gem, but they just weren't the right color? Well, now you can design your own kicks! Preschoolians are the cutest little shoes for your pre-crawler, crawler or toddler that you can actually design yourself in custom colors and styles...or you can pick from their large selection of boy's and girl's shoes. Preschoolians offer the best of both worlds...adorable shoes (and I mean *adorable*) that are actually AMAZING for your little one's feet! They have super soft soles with lots of flexibility...which are just what little feet need! Truly gem-worthy! I can't wait to get a pair for little Z...esp since he managed to climb an entire flight of stairs today (with me right behind, of course)!
