Parents Know Best

Bubbles, burps and bottles

2008-09-04T21:01:00Z

Among new parents, colic is one of those things everyone knows about but hopes to never have to deal with. That’s probably why bottles that supposedly help prevent or lessen colic have gotten so popular. With my son we focused more on BPA-free than anti-colic at first and thankfully the colic diagnosis passed us by. But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t like to lessen the amount of gas my little one gets, so when the MAM Anti-Colic Bottles from Sassy arrived in our office, I decided to give them a try.

The first thing I noticed was that all of the Anti-Colic bottles are BPA-free—otherwise I wouldn’t have even taken them home. The 5- and 8-ounce bottles feature a valve at the bottom that is supposed to create a natural flow of liquid without vacuum buildup. When washing the bottles at home, the valve made it very easy to clean since it unscrews, leaving the top and bottom of the bottle open. The bottles also feature orthodontic nipples made of ultra-soft silicone, which is said to make the transition from *** to bottle easier.

Since my 3-month-old is already on six ounces a feeding, I tried the 8-ounce bottle with him. Unfortunately, I didn’t really notice a difference in the air flow—there seemed to be just as much air as with his regular bottles. Plus the flow seemed way too fast for my little guy—he coughed and sputtered a few times, although that certainly didn’t slow him down. There are different stages of nipples with the MAM bottles and, according to their description, level one should only be used for water and *** milk. The 8-ounce bottle, I can only assume, came with a level two nipple, which was just too much. We’ve started to use Dr. Brown’s bottles since our original bottles are now too small and they do a much better job at reducing air in the bottle. I can see, however, how the MAM nipples would make for an easier transition from *** to bottle because of their shape. That was never an issue for my little guy, so I couldn’t really test that personally.

The MAM Anti-Colic Bottles retail for $4.99 for single 5- and 8-ounce bottles and $12.99 for a three-pack. For more information, visit sassybaby.com.

More than just pretty and pink

2008-09-02T19:39:00Z

The princess craze is still alive and well, but your little girl doesn’t have to just play dress-up to satisfy her penchant for all things pretty and pink. With the Pretend & Play Storyteller from Thinkativity (a new brand from Step2), your princess-in-training can create her own fairy tale story.

Just turn the story blocks to decide which princess you’d like to feature in your story, what evil creature she’s fighting and who helps her, among other choices. Each of the eight story blocks has three different sides, so you can create lots of different stories. Then, when you’ve decided on your fairy tale, push the fairy godmother button at the top of the castle to hear her read your story aloud.

I have to admit, when this toy first arrived in the office, I wasn’t necessarily excited. It looks pretty basic from the outside. However, upon trying it out, everyone in the office, including myself, completely fell in love with this simple toy. After all, what little girl wouldn’t love to hear a fairy godmother read a story that she chose.

The Pretend & Play Storyteller retails for $24.99 and is available exclusively at Target, both in stores and online at target.com, and at step2.com. Recommended for ages 2 and up.

Smell nothing

2008-08-27T19:29:00Z

Lots of products make claims about how great they work, so when ZORBX unscented odor remover arrived in Chicago Parent’s offices to try, we were skeptical. But this stuff really works.

Over the past few weeks, we tried it in public bathrooms, we tried it near the cat box, we tried it near the garbage bin, we tried it in smelly shoes, we tried it on a musty rug and we tried it around a few people who needed to bathe. Each time, the smell disappeared without that annoying flowery smell or chemical smell left behind by other odor removers in the air or wetness on the tile floor. The people we used it around never even realized we used it. This is seriously the best odor fighter we’ve tried.

This product, billed as eco-friendly, is non-toxic, biodegradable and contains no harsh chemicals, perfumes or fragrances.

A 16-ounce bottle of ZOBRX unscented costs $9.99. A five-pack of travel size bottles (great for traveling when you have to use smelly gas station restrooms) also costs $9.99.

You can find ZORBX at Walgreens, Lowe’s, Ace Hardware stores and other retail locations or online at www.zorbx.com.

Chocolate for everyone

2008-08-26T20:50:00Z

Having food allergies stinks, there’s no question about that. So when you find a company that produces delicious food that your non-dairy, non-soy, non-nut, non-you-name-it family member can and will eat, it’s hard not to rave on and on about them. This is the case for Enjoy Life in our household.

The company that is known for exclusively producing foods free of the eight most common allergies—wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish and shellfish—has begun stocking grocers shelves with three new chocolate bars that hit a homerun with our family.

Enjoy Life’s boom Choco boom bars come in rice milk, rice milk with crispy rice and dark chocolate and are dairy-, soy- and nut-free and they’re utterly delicious. Before we knew it, all three of the chocolate bars were devoured, but not before everyone had a taste. And unlike other non-dairy chocolate bars, these did not leave a weird chalky taste in our mouths.

Enjoy Life’s foods are made in a nut- and gluten-free facility, which provides us with sound piece of mind and full tummies. boom Choco boom bars are sold for a suggested retail price of $1.99 for each bar. For more information and store locations, visit www.enjoylifefoods.com.

It's all about the bag

2008-08-21T21:14:00Z

If you’re kids haven’t started school yet, odds are that first day is just around the corner. And while you might worry about stocking up on paper, pencils and pens, your kid is probably concerned about having a hip backpack. For girly-girls who like bright patterns, backpacks designed by surf photographer Aaron Chang from Office Depot might be just what they’re looking for. Besides the super-cute patterns, the bags feature heavy-duty zippers, lots of smaller pockets, inner pockets for a laptop and MP3 player (with a space for the headphones to come out of the bag and onto your kid’s ears) and wide, cushy straps so your kids can manage a heavy load without strain. The size and design make it ideal for middle school kids who don’t have quite as much homework as older high school students. Personally, I’m wondering why we didn’t have backpacks this cute when I was in school.

Aaron Chang backpacks retail for $29.99 and are available at Office Depot. For more information visit www.officedepot.com.

The pressure's on

2008-08-20T15:25:00Z

I’ve battled motion sickness my entire life--swings made me dizzy, merry-go-rounds made me sick and car trips were often uncomfortable. Maybe if I’d had Psi Bands back then I could have enjoyed the playground a little more. Psi Bands put pressure on the Nei-kuan acupressure point, located on your wrist, to relieve nausea. The bands are adjustable both around the wrist and at the pressure point. They come in cute patterns and colors, too, so you won’t mind wearing them in public. Although it’s hard to tell if the bands actually helped me read a few pages of a book on the L without feeling sick or if it was just coincidence, I’d like to think it was the bands. The company says the bands can also help alleviate morning sickness, so pregnant ladies who are currently suffering might want to give them a try.

Psi Bands retail for $14.99-$19.99 per pair. For more information, including a list of retailers, visit www.psibands.com.

Scoot your way to fun

2008-08-18T20:29:00Z

Toddlers like to be on the move, and for that reason Tonka’s Scoot ‘n Scoop 3-in-1 Ride On was a big hit with our 15-month-old tester. The truck grows with your child, converting from a push toy to a walker to a ride-on vehicle, so you don’t have to worry about your little one getting too big for it overnight. The steering wheel, which features a tooting horn, clicking directional signals and revving engine sounds, also detaches so kids who aren’t so good with the toddling thing yet can play with it separately. For those who have mastered walking, they can scoop up the three included blocks or sort them by shape on the truck’s seat. The only drawback with the Scoot ‘n Scoop is that the wheels don’t turn—forward or backward are your only movement options. Although our toddler tester didn’t seem to mind this, some kids might get frustrated.

Tonka’s Scoot ‘n Scoop 3-in-1 Ride On retails for $39.99 and is recommended for ages 9 months-3 years. For more information visit www.hasbro.com.

An "active" snack

2008-08-15T21:12:00Z

With all the “healthy” additives coming out in food lately, it can be hard to distinguish them from each other. Probiotics, for example, are popping up in everything from baby food to yogurt and are said to help promote digestive health. Probiotics are usually found in refrigerated foods, but Kraft now offers LiveActive Chewy Granola bars with probiotics and fiber.

Although digestive health is great, we were mainly concerned about how the bars taste. After all, no matter how healthy something is, kids won’t eat it if it doesn’t taste good. We tried the Peanut Butter variety (also available: Blueberry Almond and Chocolate Raspberry) and the final vote was split—one editor loved them and one didn’t really like them. Personally, I thought they were good—not great, but definitely eatable. Since the bars also contain fiber, they were fairly filling, which is a plus when looking for a snack that won’t leave you feeling hungry five minutes later. All in all, I think they’re worth trying with your family.

LiveActive Chewy Granola Bars retail for $3.59 for a box of five bars. Visit www.kraftfoods.com.

Crafts for dummies

2008-08-13T19:32:00Z

As much as I’d like to be a crafty mom, I’ve just never really had any talent in that area. If you’re craft-deficient like me, check out the Kid’s Busy Box from King Farm Creative, LLC. Each box includes 20 crafts, including a handprint sun, tissue rainbow and paper chain caterpillar, designed for young children with instructions and all the supplies you need to complete each project. Each craft is divided into plastic bags, with specific supplies for that craft in the bag and instructions attached. General supplies include Elmer’s Glue, crayons, markers, tape, paints and scissors. The crafts are all fairly simple, making it easy for kids and adults. If you’re not craft-impaired, the box can be a great thing to send with kids for a day with the grandparents or an evening with a babysitter.

The Kid’s Busy Box retails for $39.99. For more information or to order visit www.kidsbusybox.com.

For a limited time, you can get free shipping on the remaining summer Kid's Busy Boxes. Just enter in the code "FreeShipSummer" at checkout. Supplies are limited.

Stormy weather

2008-08-08T22:08:00Z

Even though my husband and I kept our little one indoors during the recent batch of storms, there have been a couple of times where we’ve had to go out during not-so-dry weather. In those cases the Bugaboo Micro Fleece Blanket has been a lifesaver. The light blanket has warm fleece on one side and water repellant micro fleece on the other, so we can throw it over the car seat and watch the water just bead away. We definitely plan on using the blanket during the winter months, too, to protect our baby boy from the cold, snowy weather we’re sure to get. From a completely superficial standpoint, the blanket also comes in 13 different colors, so you’re bound to find one that matches your baby gear.

The Bugaboo Micro Fleece Blanket retails for $39.95. For more information, including a list of retailers, visit www.bugaboo.com.

Safe skin care

2008-08-07T21:17:00Z

In my pre-baby days, I slathered on lotions and creams without any worries. Once I discovered I was expecting, though, I thought about everything I put into or on my body and how they could effect the little one growing inside me. That’s why I was happy to try the Belli Pregnancy and Motherhood lines from Belli Cosmetics—all of the products are free of paraben preservatives, dyes and synthetic fragrances. Plus the company teratology screens each ingredient to help guard against chemicals linked to birth defects.

I tried out the Stretchmark Minimizing Cream ($52), Eye Brightening Cream ($28), Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer ($6) and Elasticity Belly Oil ($42). The hand sanitizer doesn’t dry out my hands like many other sanitizers and the eye brightening cream helped me look not quite so tired during those last days of pregnancy and early, sleepless nights of new motherhood. I started using the belly oil at the beginning of my second trimester, hoping to avoid stretch marks as my stomach expanded. I didn’t use it as often as recommended, though, and focused more on my stomach when it turned out that my hips bore the brunt of those purple lines. I guess I’ll never know if I could have avoided getting any stretch marks, but now I’m using the Stretchmark Minimizing Cream to get them to fade faster. The plus side—I never had to worry about any of these products possibly harming my child.

For more information on Belli’s products, including its baby line, or to order, visit www.belliskincare.com.

Diggin' dinos

2008-08-05T19:43:00Z

Just because school’s out and summer is here doesn’t mean learning experiences for your kids need to be on vacation, too. The idea behind the Individual Fossil Preparation Kit from Dig It! The Fossil Workshop has great potential for education--each kit contains two fish fossils and tools to “unearth” them from the rocks and dirt that surround them. Not only is this a fun activity, but it can lead to some great discussions about where fossils come from, how the professionals unearth them and what fossils can tell us about the past.

Unfortunately, the idea is better than the execution. Our testing mom tried out the kit with her 9- and 11-year-old daughters and when they opened up the box they found that one of the fossils was broken. The company was kind enough to send a replacement, but that one also contained a broken fossil. The girls enjoyed digging out the fossils that were intact, but were definitely frustrated that both kits were damaged. If the company could package the kits more appropriately, this could be a great product.

The Individual Fossil Preparation Kit retails for $19.99. For more information visit www.digitfossils.com.

Update: The company saw our review and is going to change the packaging as a result, bubble wrapping all the stones and putting in additional spacers. This was a great product other than the packaging, so hopefully that problem is now solved. If you order one of the kits, post a comment here and let us know how it arrived.

Poolside fun

2008-07-31T20:35:00Z

With some particularly warm days ahead of us as July comes to a close and August begins, it seems like the perfect time to head to the pool. Although traditional beach balls and floating rafts are always popular pool toys, Waterwonders from The Goldberger Co. could become a new family favorite. These plush animals, besides being cute and water-friendly, light up when submerged. The collection includes Albert the Alligator, Shelley the Turtle, Felicia the Fish, Sinbad the Shark, Fernando the Frog and Otto the Octopus. Especially if your kids already like stuffed animals, they’ll love having animals they can bring in the pool.

Waterwonders are recommended for ages 3 and up and retail for $9.99 each. Visit www.goldbergertoy.com for more information.

Pump it up

2008-07-30T21:19:00Z

When I was registering for baby gear during my pregnancy days, I knew I needed to find a reliable breastpump for when I returned to work. Unfortunately, I had no idea which one to choose. I hadn’t done a lot of research and with the hefty price tags that accompany a lot of the electric pumps, I was terrified of making a wrong choice. Fortunately, I ended up not needing to make a decision—Medela was kind enough to send over its new Freestyle pump for me to try out. Even though I don’t have experience with any other type of pump, I have to say I can’t imagine using a different one.

The Freestyle, the first hands-free, rechargeable breastpump, was designed involving 1,000 mom testers and with all the helpful features, it’s obvious Medela listened to them. The double pump can be completely hands-free with the use of the waist belt for the relatively tiny (less than a pound) pump. It also features an LCD screen that keeps track of the time spent pumping and gives off just enough light that you can see what you’re doing but not wake the baby when pumping in the middle of the night. Other features include a memory button, where you can store the pumping strength you prefer, and 2-Phase Expression technology, designed to mimic your baby’s natural nursing pattern. I had no trouble using the Freestyle, and even better, no pain. Plus the bag that comes with the pump is so cute I’ve been using it as a regular tote even when I don’t need to bring the pump along.

The Medela Freestyle retails for $379.99. For more information visit www.medelafreestyle.com.

Chalk it up

2008-07-29T20:38:00Z

If your kids are tired of squirt guns, let them try out the new WipeOut shooter. These guns come with chalk darts that explode and leave washable chalk splotches when they hit their target. Our testing mom gave a gun to each of her three kids, ages 14, 12 and 10. Since shooting each other with guns, even in fun, is strongly discouraged in her house, she set up the accompanying targets on the fence and let the kids start shooting.

While the kids enjoyed shooting the targets, they enjoyed shooting each other even more when mom left the yard for a few minutes. However, the chalk did wash out easily and the kids, who wore the protective eye coverings that came with the guns, said the chalk darts didn’t hurt. The press information on these guns said they could be used indoors or out, but our testing mom thinks shooting chalk guns indoors would be more mess than most parents would like.

The only complaint was how quickly the darts ran out, so make sure you buy refill packs if you buy this product. The WipeOut Single Pack is $19.99, the twin pack (with two guns, targets and goggles) is $39.99. Refills run from $3.99-$6.99. The guns are available at Target or online at amazon.com.