Momessentials

Stokke Tripp Trapp

I love my Stokke Tripp Trapp!!!!

If you are looking for a high chair that is made well and will last a lifetime look no further.....The  Tripp Trapp is a unique chair as it starts off as a high chair for babies, but unlike any other high chair it grows with you all through adulthood.  It has an adjustable seat and foot rest; it  is very stylish and comes in a variety of colors with different cushions as well.   The chair is purposely designed without a tray so the babies can eat at the same dinner table with the rest of the family.  

 

My boys have been sitting in  Tripp Trapps since they were about 6 months old.  They love the chairs -  Whether it is to eat a meal or just to color at the table.  The best part about the chairs is they are so easy to clean, especially when they drop food or spill something.

Maxi-Cosi Perle stroller: Big Features, Little Package

When traveling, my rule is, “never pack what you can’t carry.” With two kids in tow, that means I have to maximize my gear-efficiency. Of course a light-weight stroller helps the cause, but that usually means you give up some features of a full-size stroller or stroller system. Enter the new, clever and fabulous Maxi-Cosi Perle™. A light-weight Umbrella Stroller with full-size features, and then some. Choosing from one of four bold color options may be a challenge, each is true to the Maxi-Cosi style with chic and comfortable design. We love the above-and-beyond features of this stroller. Most notably, the Perle is compatible with the Maxi-Cosi infant car seat, creating a full travel system with no additional accessories or adapters to purchase. It also has an amazing multiple-position recline, with an easy to reach strap mechanism that brings the seat to a near-flat position. Add to this an adjustable leg rest for the ultimate in comfort for nappers and riders newborn to 50 pounds. While storage space is traditionally scant in light-weight strollers, the Perle offers an easy to reach, good sized storage basket underneath, as well as large storage pocket behind the canopy for parent essentials. The Perle not only has the often-missed parent cup holder, but even has a cup holder and small storage pocket for the passenger! The sun canopy with peek-a-boo window offers a bit more coverage than other umbrella strollers, the rain shield is quick and easy to use, and the 5-point padded harness is incredibly easy to adjust and accommodates taller children with the three-position height adjustment. The aluminum frame is sturdy and one hand easily maneuvers, folds, locks and unfolds the stroller. The carry handle is perfect, and I can now pack and carry, a full featured stroller!

 

stacrobats by Kushies

  It always amazes me when I find a really cool toy with a lot of functions, bells and whistles, that I just can’t wait to get home to my kids….and then they push a few buttons and walk away. I try to re-capture their interest and show them all the fancy features but they keep walking away. When you boil it down, many do the same thing; sing the alphabet, recite colors, numbers, shapes, and hum a song or two.  Do we really need to stock one in every corner of every room? How easily I forget about the most entertaining function of all: Imagination. It can entertain a child for hours, and so can the eye-cathching stacrobats by Kushies. These are 5 magnetic figures and 3 magnetic balls designed in a bright and colorful circus theme that can stack, arrange, or anything your imagination comes up with on their performing platform.

The first thing I noticed when I looked at the zippered storage case is the “1-100 years” age recommendation. I can report that the 1-67 year olds that played with it in my test lab..er…home…love it. It is one of my 16 month old’s top 5 right now. It is portable, lightweight, and she loves nesting the toys into the bag. She loves simply holding the perfectly sized figures, shaking, rolling and throwing the balls, and setting the figures in handstands on the balls. She loves nesting everything inside the bottom of the platform. She loves sticking them all together and pulling them all apart. It really is amazing to watch her practice her new skills with the stacrobats. My 6 year old instantly ignores his video games for hours whenever we pull these out. He built things with the stacrobats – he stacked them in the shape of a house, the letters of the alphabets, towers, bowling pins, and so much more. He puts on a show for his sister with them. He sets them up as soccer players and refs their soccer match. Wow! What an imagination!

WubbaNub

 The WubbaNub was born from two innovative parents who found themselves holding a soothie to their baby's mouth for an entire trip away. The design is simple: a one-piece silicone pacifier sewn in to a soft, cuddly plush animal. The plush is the perfect size for baby to hold or to lay on baby's chest, keeping the pacifier close by. I just knew my little one would love her  WubbaNub Plush Animal Pacifier and I was right. The adorable animal plush satisfies her need to wrap her fingers around something and the soothie attached to it satisfies her need to suck. By attaching the paci to the plush, WubbaNub also satisfies a parents need to keep the pacifier from being spit across the room or dropped with each yawn. I love the variety of cute animals; with friendly faces and stimulating, vibrant colors. They also make great companions for older babies. While relatively easy to clean, I'd love to see a version that allows parents to detach the pacifier for sterilization or to replace with a favorite brand.

Boogie Wipes

Boogie Wipes are the latest innovation in a moist wipe product for busy moms, dads & kids.  With added saline, they offer quick, gentle, effective relief of stuck on Boogies (mucus) caused by the common cold & allergies.

As a mom of 3 my kids always seem to have a cold and they hate blowing their nose...   Boogie Wipes makes it easier because my kids love the smell of them, especially the grape scent.

Boogie Wipes can be purchased at most Kids stores and on Amazon.com

Bug Pod

Are your bath toys getting moldy and gross?  Do you need storage for your bath toys?  

One of my favorite products is the Bug Pod by Boon.   I use this to store my kids toys and helps keep them clean and organized.   The Bug Pod joins has a drainable scoop for collecting and rinsing toys and a wall-mounted base for storing bath products.  It Attaches to the bathtub wall with either super-strong adhesive strips or screws.   The Bug Pod does not come with toys, but you can get the bath goods, designer toys, and scrubbies separately.

fresco by bloom

     My daughter loves the feeling of being held up high - so an alternative to my husband holding her in our living room - we put her in the fesco chair by bloom.  fresco bloom is the only contemporary chair that stays with baby from birth to school age.  Currently we use the chair in the cradle position  - she looks so comfortable resting in it and is completely safe as she is strapped into the safety harness.  In a few months we can switch the chair into the feeding position - (which im so excited for that stage!). It comes with a supersized adjustable feeding  tray which is great for us as we no longer have a kitchen table as Samanthas room used to be our dining room.  The fresco has a 360 degree swivel seat for easy access,  and has an easy-lift height adjustment allowing infinite positions.  The seat upholstery comes in a bunch of vibrant micro-suede colors as well as more understated colors in leatherette.

          

Organically Grown Baby

 

"Wow" was my pure reaction when I felt Organically Grown's layette line. It not only felt soft and plush, but also had that high-quality cloth feel of well-made European lines. I also like the fact that this "green" line did not go overboard by making their clothes look organic (you know, that soft brown with a grainy look). The layette line is well-designed in every respect. This company's goal was to make a difference to the environment by producing high-quality organic products. They succeeded easily in that endeavor, and in the process produced a line that will put a smile on a mom's face when she slips the soft, organic cotton over sensitive baby skin that deserves no less.

Sparkabilities

The Sparkabilities DVD series is based on the Playwisely developmental system and is designed to entertain your baby and develop essential learning skills - attention, recognition & memory. I had the opportunity to meet the founder of the PlayWisely system, Coach Patty, and see her in action – it is amazing to watch. This science-based system is taught the same way the brain learns. It is not about making genius babies – it is about developing cognitive skills and “sharpening the neurosensory skills that assist your child in learning.” My daughter “asks” to watch it all day. She spazes out over the videos and interacts with them. I can almost see the cognitive wheels turning in her head. The DVDs were created for specific developmental stages. They are more than entertaining – they are engaging, interesting, and uniquely brain-based.

   

Complete Family Thermometer

The Safety 1st ProGrade™ Health Complete Family Thermometer is the first thermometer that can be used orally, rectally, or under the arm. It features an auto-sensor which recognizes which tip is attached to the thermometer.  The thermometer also recalls the last 10 readings for temperature and time.

I used this last week when Cooper was sick -   It was really very cool and easy to use.   The fever bar lit up to notify me that he had a fever and as soon as I was finished a clean me alert came on.

The thermometer is compact and is great for travel.  There are many other cool features -  Who knew so much could be in a thermometer...  You can purchase the thermometer at Babies R Us