Teeny Manolo

I know that there are adults out there who do not like baths. I am not among them, although I readily admit to taking very few baths. But the idea of a bath is absolutely smashing.

Most kids I know like taking a bath, and part of that is having some good bath toys to play with whilst waiting for all the bubbles to pop. And, if you have a reluctant bather, then enticing them with some really good bath toys just might convince them to spend more than five minutes in the water. Minus the screaming, too, of course.

Boon Bath Goods Soft and squishy contemporary toys that don’t absorb water, thus lessening the mildew factor. Comes with fifteen bath appliques, three silicone balls, and two mini-scrubbies.

Tub Tunes Water Drums Floating drumset allows you to change the pitch by adjusting the water level. Too cool!

Floating Blocks Use the board provided to stack blocks, and it even comes with its own mesh bag for storage. Which is always handy.

Rub a Dub Stickers for the Tub Twenty seven foam cutouts of cars, trains, and motorcycles allow for lots of creative fun. Also has a mesh storage bag.

Crayola Bathtub Crayons Allow your young Picasso to use the entire bathtub and surrounding walls as their canvas! I speak from personal experience in saying they come off easily with a tiny bit of elbow grease.

Crayola Floating Art Desk Or if you prefer to keep them limited, this is just the thing. Has a built-in storage compartment for the crayons. Crayons included.

Crayola Bathtub Tints They will love watching these tablets fizz (a la Alka Seltzer) in the tub, changing the color of the water. Use the single colors, or mix to create new colors. Non-irritating and will not stain the tub or the kid.

Shaving in the Tub A must for any boy that wants to be just like Daddy. Get your camera ready for this one.

Bathtime Kitchen Sink Help develop motor skills with eight different activities including scooping, pouring, straining, and squirting. Comes with a terry cloth scrub brush and storage bag.

“Sea” Bath Squirties What is bathtime without some squirties? These are definitely the cutest ones around.

I’m already on my trip, but I can assure you that I overpacked.

I am going to stand up right here an now and admit to you all that “Hello, my name is Glinda and I am an overpacker.”

In this day and age of charging for extra baggage on flights, this is not a good thing.  Not at all.

However, every time I underpack, I find myself in dire need of something.

On my engagement trip to San Francisco, it was pants. Even in August, San Francisco is c-c-c-cold.

On a trip with a toddler, it was a particular type of diapers.  And nothing sucks more than having to hunt for a specific item in unfamiliar territory.  Just for expediency’s sake, I’m sure I spent more than I would normally be comfortable with.

And, we have all had to make that unfortunate trip to the hotel gift shop, and then forking over eight bucks for a tube of toothpaste.  A small tube of toothpaste.

But not Glinda.  Not since what our family has labeled “The Swim Diaper Incident” has she been without anything that she needed, anytime, anywhere.  Even on a trip to the park, I will pack everything I think we could use.

Often I am mistaken for a pack mule, but I’m ok with that.

Boy Scouts got nothing on me.

Chemicals, chemicals, everywhere!  A lot of them under or non-regulated, or even some that are considered safe, but then whoops!  We find out years later that they weren’t so great for anyone after all.  There is particular concern for chemical exposure to children, simply because of their higher skin area to body mass ratios as compared to adults. 

So, one way to ease your fears is to buy products that are organic.  I know that I try to whenever possible, simply because I don’t trust our government to protect our children from harmful chemicals.  And I’m not even a Republican. 

These products are all-natural or organic, or in some cases both, so use with confidence.

California Baby Calming Baby Shampoo and Body Wash

Can be used by adults with sensitive skin as well!

California Baby Calendula Cream

Perfect for many skin conditions, ranging from diaper rash to cradle cap and everything in between.

California Baby SPF 30 + Sunblock Stick

This sunscreen does not contain potentially harmful ingredients found in many bestselling sunscreens. If you feel like getting annoyed, go read this article.

(more…)

When I first heard of this product, I thought it was a joke. Surely there was no one drunk/drugged/forced at gunpoint at Nickelodeon to sign on the dotted line for this concept.

But, scarily enough, it’s legit. In what is sure to go down in the annals of marketing history as the worst brand placement ever, I give you:

Yes, a rectal thermometer that plays music. Specifically, the signature theme of Spongebob Squarepants.

Years from now, there will be hordes of young children who will cry whenever Spongebob comes on, and yet have no idea why.

It’s that time again! When the flowers are blooming, the weather turns warmer, and you can finally kick those kids out of the house!

Here are some fabulous things to keep them occupied through the long summer months…

Megaland I am liking quite a few things about this toy. First, children from 36 months to 8 years can play in it! Now perhaps an 8 year old is too cool to play with it, even if it lasts until 6 years, that’s still a bargain! Also, it can be configured in many ways, so if your kids get bored easily, it can be changed.

Naturally Playful Woodland Climber. Are you a bit weary of your child trying to climb up your counters, cupboards, or onto your sofa? Then this toy just might do the trick. Step 2 makes some great, long lasting toys.

Naturally Playful Sand and Water Activity Center I can speak from personal experience when I say that my son loved this toy. It’s better than a regular sandbox in two ways. 1. They don’t get sand in their pants. 2. They can do what every kid loves to do, mix sand and water, and did I mention not getting sand in every crevice?  Also comes with a lid that stays on tight, keeping out bugs and rain.

Blast Pad Missile Launch System Some rocket launchers are difficult to use, somewhat dangerous, and easily broken. This one beats them all. Not a whole lot of effort to launch, but they go up satisfyingly high!

Ultimate Beach Ball Sprinkler Perfect for those days when you are feeling slightly lazy. Just fill up the ball and let the kids do all the work! Wait, but isn’t that almost every day?  Or is it just me?

Splash Balls Sprinkler Sprays tons of water every which way! More unpredictable (and therefore, better) than the sprinklers that just sort of rotate around in a circle.

Naturally Playful Picnic Table with Umbrella Got one or more kids? Do they have any friends? Then an outdoor picnic table is a great solution to the dilemma of letting dirty kids in the house to have a snack. I also have personal experience with this table, and not only is it “pretty,” it is sturdy and well made. It seems a bit expensive, but it is well worth the money.

Neat & Tidy Cottage Looking for a playhouse, but need to pick yourself up off the floor from sticker shock? This cottage is a bargain for the price compared to other playhouses with similar features. It also has that all-important kitchen.

Radio Flyer Pathfinder Wagon We also own this wagon, and it rocks. Are we noticing a trend, here? Hey, when possible I like to speak from experience. With seatbacks, seatbelts, real rubber wheels and cup holders, this wagon is one sweet ride!

Push Around Buggy If your child is not yet able to propel themselves around in the Cozy Coupe, then this is your solution. Yes, you have to do all the work, but isn’t it worth it? Also comes in pink!

I am convinced that fostering an early love of the outdoors, plants, animal life, and gardening is essential for a child. Engaging in growing live things, digging in the dirt, and experiencing all of the life outside of the house can only be beneficial in helping them understand how to care for the earth, and by extension, other people as well. As the current stewards of the planet, we are only as good as what we teach our children.

Here is some great stuff to get you started, if you haven’t already.

Butterfly Garden- This kit has all you need to grow caterpillars into beeyootiful butterflies before their very eyes!

Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with Children- From a detailed resource list to craft ideas to how to grow a “moon garden,” this book gives parents and children a great start on working together in the garden.

Kid’s Tote with Gardening Tools- This adorable tote with three gardening tools is sure to get them excited!

Kid’s Gardening Tools- This pint-sized tool set will make them feel all grown up!

Seymour Mfg Co #WB-JR Junior Wheelbarrow- Because what kid doesn’t want to dump stuff from a wheelbarrow?

Gardening Wizardry for Kids- Focusing mostly on indoor projects, this book helps kids to understand gardening fundamentals. Contains crafts and experiments, too!

Alex Toys Garden Apron- An apron is a must for all kids mucking around in the dirt, and this one is from a favorite manufacturer of mine.

A Kid’s Herb Book- Want to grow an edible herb garden with your child? This book is the perfect guide.

Sunday Afternoons Kid’s Play Hat UPF 45- Functionality wins out over looks with this hat. It has that essential neck flap as well as those all-important vents. But at least it comes in lots of colors!

Really expensive dress? Check.

Really expensive white dress? Check.

Sandals? Check.

Sandals with no socks? Check.

Sandals with no socks that in no way match the dress? Check.

Are we ready for a day at the dirty, sandy park? Yessirree!

Babies and kids are big business. That’s why there are a million different toys and safety items and educational thingamajigs and anything else that you can think of just for them.   Products are trumpeted as the latest and greatest, things that you just can’t live without.  But is that really true?

Some of these I sort of covet, but wonder if they make life simpler or just that much more complicated.  Are the concepts revolutionary, or just a way to get you to spend some money? Are they truly useful, or are they just products that prey on parental insecurities?

Shampoo Rinse Cup- Instead of a regular cup, this one has a soft, flexible edge to keep the water and shampoo out of eyes.  Ummm, how about just being really careful? Although if you have a child that screams bloody  murder when water gets on their face, it might be worth it. Although you should discount any future competitive swimming career.

Snack Catchers- I can see why people would like these because they are reusable, but they also seem to possibly go a bit overboard.  Don’t say the name of this too fast, though, it could come out a bit raunchy. 

Babeebrite Hands Free Mobile Light- This is touted for those 3am diaper changes or for checking on your baby in the middle of the night.  It could be the best thing ever, or just another gadget that becomes too much trouble when you can just get a soft night light.  Nobody expects a 3am diaper change to be perfect, anyway.

Auto Seat Back Protector- Whatever happened to the good old days when parents would just scream at their kids to stop kicking the back of the car seat, or so help them God, they would pull over?

Child Locator- For twenty bucks, this device will enable you to track your child up to 150 feet away and through concrete walls.  In one sense, I think parents should obviously keep track of their kids, but for certain events, I could possibly see the usefulness of this. 

Juice Pal- Keeps those annoying juice boxes and pouches from being squeezed too tightly by little hands and spurting all over your beige carpet.  I can see where this would come in handy, but kids aren’t supposed to drink a lot of juice, so I’m conflicted.

Inflatable Bathtub Liner- You inflate this with a separately sold pump (because with an infant you just have so much extra time for blowing up liners!) and you simply line the tub so that your child won’t hurt his/her self on the sides of the tub.  It isn’t designed to keep your child from slipping in the tub, so I don’t quite see the point.

Crustless Sandwich Cutter-  All right, I have to admit I’m a fan of the cute little shapes, but is this truly necessary?

DaysAgo Digital Day Counter- I for one remember being extremely sleep deprived in those infant days, but was I so far gone that I needed to stick a digital counter on my food to tell me if it was still any good?  And you have to set the thing to boot. 

Stroller Safety Flag- Attach this to your stroller, and everyone will see you!  How about just being very conscientious when pushing your stroller, whether it be in a crowd or entering an intersection? And don’t they know that people already avoid women with strollers like the plague?

I would love, love, love to know what you all think of these.

Oh yeah, I can totally see Gwen Stefani and JLo sending the assistants out to buy this stuff (then having their PRs “leak” it to the media). Once superpremium pablum hits the market, L.A.M.B. Chops are just a business plan away from being a reality.

Image stolen from Worth1000.com’s Photoshop contest If Babies Ruled. Voting (and entering) is enabled for another two days, so click early, click often. If you’re decent with the Photoshop, give it a whack yourself.

As anyone with a baby with a healthy set of vocal chords can attest to: what baby wants, baby gets. In this contest what baby wants is control of the world and adults are out of the picture ENTIRELY. In short, create a world where babies rule.

The rules of this game are thus: Create a scene as a baby would like to see it as shown in the wonderful themepost by Phantazmo. No “adult” adult things, you perv.

Hit List: Do NOT use images of actual babies or children. No kidding. Even if you have a model release - no images of children. That’s your challenge!

No cliches, please. As always, quality is a must. You’ll have 48 hours for this contest, so make your submission count.

We can’t keep the whole blogosphere to ourselves, and we can’t put these topics any better than these guys did, so we are simply handing you a heaping helping of links from around the parentblogosphere and instructing you to enjoy them responsibly. Post in moderation. Wait one half-hour before swimming or operating heavy machinery.

Mini-Me fashion designers from Harper’s Bazaar (Sassybella) Mini Lagerfeld? The corruption of innocence was never so fabulous, darling.

Prepare for the Monday Melee! (Fracas) Your syllabic resonant consonants will never be the same.

Rosette Nebula (Maya’s Granny) My God! It’s full of stars!

Heart-Shaped Nebula (Smoke & Mirrors) What’s at the heart of the universe?

Notes to a Stressed Past Self (Work it, Mom!) Now who do we get to deliver it?

Tadpolecast (Petite Anglaise) The Tadpole sings in tongues.

Are You Kidding Me? (WhiteTrash Mom)  St. Mary’s Academy of Stupidity

Back in My Day, a Man Was a Man and a Stroller Was a Stroller (dadsmacker) and we had to tame them ourselves, uphill in the snow

Which Celebrities are Packing a Passenger? (Celebrity Baby Scoop) And Colin Farrell has alibis for all of them

Wheel Chairs for Iraqi Kids (lilSugar) Donations accepted

Lessons from a High School Dropout (Fluttering Butterflies) Some lessons you learn too late

Bra-vo! (Kvetch Blog) Somebody’s girl has a head start on the superfantastic life

This is How New Parents Spend Friday Night (dooce) The human brain goes missing when it comes in close proximity to a chubby baby