Baby Shebang Part III: Items of Interest

Back in July I started this trilogy on baby gear. Despite appearances, I did not forget about it; I've just been reluctant to commit to the finality of finishing it. What if I find one more cool thing I want to add? Well, I've solved that problem by deciding to do a monthly post on all my newest favorite things. So now I can finish Shebang.

As a review:
Part I: The A-List contains my first choice stuff, the best of the best that I've found, that I use all the time, and my go-to list for baby shower gifts.
Part II: Honorable Mention includes things I do like and recommend, but don't meet all the criteria for the A-List.
Part III: Items of Interest contains things that I do not own or have not tried, but might like to in the future, like when we have another baby or when the girls are older. This post also contains websites I like to browse.

And here they are, in no particular order:

DadGear Diaper Vest (and Cargo Jacket) - What a million dollar idea! Manly baby gear for Dads is long overdue on the market - Dads are dying to be more involved without looking and feeling ridiculous. I commend the genius of these designs and highly recommend watching the demo videos on their website!

Momono by MayaLena - A kimono-inspired housecoat for a new generation of moms. Side ties allow for easy breastfeeding and give you room while you work your way back down to "normal" size. Or wear it over your clothes during other messy times to keep your clothes clean. The prints are chosen to purposely mask oatmeal/banana/spitup smears or whatever is the stain du jour. I was tempted to get one this time around, but just couldn't quite justify spending the money. I noticed, though, that the price has dropped. I think it was over $60 when I first found it; now I see it is $40 - much more reasonable.

Dressy Dribbles carseat covers - I'm a sucker for the Chinese silk look. Put super soft minky on the other side, of anything, and you've got me drooling. While the infant carseat covers are so beautiful with their matching canopies, they're not really necessary since infant carseat pads are removable and machine washable (at least on my Graco it is.) However, my toddler seat isn't removable and I'm secretly hoping that after Ginger is done with it, it will be so crusty that I can justify a slipcover. The purple Asian brocade is my favorite; I'd go with the silver/navy for a boy.

PUJ sling - I have several baby carriers: a pouch, a sling, a wrap, a Bjorn, and a backpack, to be precise. They all have their place and do a good job in some situations, but I'm still on the lookout for something better. There's no shortage of possibilities, either, but you can't buy them all! My latest interest is this sling by PUJ - simple, stylish, presumably comfortable. It's on my "when I have an extra $50 laying around" list.

Libby Dibby "Hip Reversible Skirts with Vintage Flair" - Sigh. I just love, love, love cool fabric! Here we find it in a design I like in a size that will fit me - this is a real find. These are for anybody but with wrap-around adjustable sizing, can be especially postpartum friendly. My only problem is which one to choose?

Piggy Banks from elegantbaby - There are a lot of dumb, ugly piggy banks out there. I got Hazel a cute wooden ladybug bank at World Market last summer and she loved getting spare change to deposit. It was so small, though, that it filled up fast, so I emptied it into a jar and starting searching for a real piggy bank. Paint-your-own-pottery places usually have banks so that could be a fun way to go, but for buying one, this is by far my favorite. I was thinking Christmas but decided to wait a year or two until Hazel is old enough to take better care of breakable things. Love the hand-painted polka dots!

Hipseat - I am soooo curious about this product. It looks awesome for around the house, trips down to the laundry room, and when big heavy Hazel wants to be held. Even Ginger is getting big and heavy for hip holding. But I've always got better things to do with $109 than buy this. Let me know if you ever try it.

Muslin swaddling wraps by aden & anais - I am a major proponent for swaddling babies. It has worked wonders for our family. I love the Miracle Blanket I've mentioned before, but when they're new to about 2.5 months square blankets work better. Mine are flannel which has worked out for winter babies, but these blankets are made of lightweight cotton muslin so babies don't overheat...plus of course there's the pretty fabric factor.

Some Toy Brands I Like: Haba, eeBoo, Discovery Toys, Plan Toys, Kidkraft

Some Websites I Like:
Urban Baby Runway (especially the vintage-inspired clothes and bedding)
Kool Roomz
Kate Quinn Organics
Belle and Boo
Savvy Mommy
Natural Pod
Modern Nursery

Baby Shebang Part II: Honorable Mention

Republish: Now updated with Bright and Beyond card decks (Gear section.)

Items receiving Honorable Mention are things that:
1. I have or have used.
2. May not be perfect or absolutely necessary, but
3. Make things a lot easier and/or more fun.

Feel free to use this as a baby shower gift idea list - I do.

Feeding
Mesh Feeder - Put in peeled fruit (peach, watermelon, plum, etc.) or vegetables (cooked sweet potato, zucchini, etc.) and voila - feeding fun for the beginning eater. No choking hazard, just fresh food and a big mess. Munchkin has a better design than Sassy - easier to open and close.

Food Mill - Great for quickly turning regular food into baby food - just dish up what the family's having and mill it to baby consistency.

Snack Trap - Clever little snack cup with a slitted lid that lets little hands in and somewhat keeps goldfish from spilling out. Not totally spill-proof, but better than an open container.

Clothing
Robeez & other soft shoes - For 0-6 months, I recommend Zutano booties (or similar) because nothing else stays on their feet! For 6-12 months, Robeez (or similar) are best. This is the sitting / crawling / standing / walking age, so a soft soled shoe that allows the foot to grip and feel and grow but still be warm and protected (and stylish of course) is best. Isabooties and Bobux (who claim to be "the original") are some other brands, and Target runs a nice knock-off line at half the price (though their sizes run very large.) I get most of mine on ebay.

Trumpette socks & tights - Nothing special about the socks themselves - it's just that the design, with the mary jane or ballet flat shoe look, is precious. Toddler size is best - infant size just slip off little feet. Love the tights - perfect for pre-walkers in the winter. They also have high-top looking socks for boys. And yes, I broke down and got Hazel the rain boots too!

Myself Belts are great for toddlers and young kids. Some pants just require a belt to stay up, and this belt stays in place but with the velcro closure is fast and easy to do or undo, whether it's to change a diaper of a squirmy kid or for potty training, when every second counts, or for older kids who want to dress themselves.

Bath
Johnson's Buddies - When Hazel started to have enough hair to get tangly, I started to think it's time for conditioner or something. Then I found this nice product line - made for kids but pleasantly scented (no "Whoppin' Watermelon" or "Strawberry Tsunami") and really does the job. We use the 2-in-1 Shampoo and the detangler spray.

Shampoo Rinse Cup - Someone out there's thinking! I don't know the back story but this must have been invented by a mom. I hope she's now a millionaire. Hazel still doesn't trust it, but it would work if she would sit still! Works great on Ginger. You can rinse out the shampoo without getting water on their face - of all the things I wish they'd had when I was little, this is a top one.

Toys
Exersaucer - I hesitate to recommend this product for the same reason I hesitated to buy it: what an eyesore. This is the exact kind of LPO (= large plastic object) I swore to never fill our home with. But it has earned its massive keep in the useful, safe, helpful entertainment it has provided both girls. Our pediatrician recommended it for Hazel when she was 4 months old (pictured), to strengthen back and leg muscles, and she loved it for about 5 months until she could crawl. Ginger is in the middle of the loving-it stage. I don't cringe every time I look at it anymore because it really has proved itself, but I also try to lend it out as often as possible so it's not in our place when we don't have a kid in it.

Triangular Jumbo Crayons - Easy to grip, don't roll away, extra strong, smooth color, no wrappers, solid storage case. Easily the best crayons I've ever seen! Make a great gift with Young At Art (see book section.)

Gear
Bright and Beyond Activity Cards by Paltoys - I found these sets at my favorite teacher store in Colorado and bought Age 1 to see what they were like. Rave, rave, rave. Each deck has 52 cards with a picture, activity description, and explanation of skills the activity develops. But every activity is simple, minimal mess & clean up, and quick to set up and do. Some may even say they're so simple they're "obvious" and why pay $10 for them? I'll tell you why. Because while I might come up with some of these ideas sitting in a quiet place brainstorming, it's quite another story when you're fatigued, overwhelmed, and facing a baby whose face says, "What are we doing now, Mom?" but your mind is blank. Just pull out a deck, flip through to find some kind of quick idea, and you're off. For example, squirting ketchup and mustard in a ziploc bag, sealing it, and letting him play with it in his high chair. Or putting a stuffed animal on a towel or baby blanket and, holding the corners, tossing him into the air amidst toddler giggles. We now own the baby, age 1 and age 2 decks. There is also preschool, reading, writing and math. An added plus is to keep these in my bag of tricks as a speech-language pathologist - all of these age-appropriate activities can be used or adapted to incorporate and develop speech and language skills. (*Amazon sells these with a 4-for-3 promotion, so you can stock up or buy extras for gifts.)

Patemm Pads - A mom-invented circular changing pad with pockets for wipes and diapers that comes in cool patterns (we have "the emma", large with pockets.) You don't absolutely have to have this changing pad, but the circular shape is helpful with squirmers, and we also use it as a play pad for Ginger at the park, now that she is sitting but not crawling.

White noise CD - I am a believer in the positive effects of white noise, not just for blocking out annoying and distracting sounds (like our fighting neighbors in Colorado, or the helicopters here), but also for relaxation and improved sleep. We have Restful Rain and Baby's First White Noise - love them both. It seems funny, but also smart, that they have a white noise cd for most of the machine noises babies like to fall asleep to: vacuum, dishwasher, washer, dryer, hair dryer, fan, car ride, air conditioner, shower, etc. One of these cd's with a Miracle Blanket makes a nice gift - one that will definitely get used.

Portable DVD Player - I am a terrible mother because my children watch a lot of videos and TV, blah, blah, blah. But since it is so, our portable dvd player comes in rather handy on long car rides and (hopefully) on our upcoming plane trip to Utah.

Books
Babyproofing Your Marriage: How to Laugh More, Argue Less, and Communicate Better as Your Family Grows - The title pretty much says it. What a great book for making you feel like you're part of a universal experience, rather than the worst parent (and spouse) to ever live. I think no one tells expectant parents what an impact children will have on their marriage - it can be a rather personal topic - or else if they tell them, they may not believe it. It can lead to a lot of confusion and blame once the babies come, like "What the *$%@ has happened?" I love this book for its candid, humorous, gender-balanced portrayal of the reality of family life, and the ideas it offers for improving it, before and after you have children. Every time I read a blurb I laugh out loud and loosen up - that alone has made it worth buying.

Discipline That Lasts a Lifetime - When we were expecting Hazel we went to a Conference on the Family (or something) in Denver, a cooperative production between local Catholic and Mormon leaders, and Dr. Guarendi was the keynote speaker. His philosophy and methods of discipline strongly appealed to my own parenting philosophy, which could be described as loving but practical, and this is an important book in our parenting library.

Young at Art: Teaching Toddlers Self-Expression, Problem-Solving Skills, and an Appreciation for Art - Again, the title says it. I had this from the library for about 2 months and really enjoyed the philosophy and the ideas I got. We have an entire gallery of drawings and paintings hanging in our kitchen thanks to this book's inspiration. I wish we had room for an easel so Hazel could create art whenever she wanted, but every few days she asks to paint or draw, and I try to accommodate her if possible.

OK kids, there's my second list - what do you think?

Baby Shebang: A-List Additions

Before I post my next baby gear list, I have two additions to my A-List:

Oxiclean or Zout Stain Remover Sprays - If you don't know how much these are needed, you don't have a baby. You'll find out when you do. There is no getting around the diaper explosions, and that yellow stuff is a *%$@ to get out. Especially if, like me, you can't just throw it in the washer right away. Oxiclean and Zout work miracles with these and all stains. (I found out the hard way that bananas, if you can believe it, are some of the hardest stains to get out.)

My Radio Shack Timer - I know a digital timer is not the first thing to come to mind for baby gear, but I find it indispensable. When I was working as a school Speech Pathologist I used it for timing drills, turn-taking, games, session times, etc. Now that I'm a stay-home mom my brain cannot hold important things like when the cake or laundry will be done; enter timer. With the laundry room in the basement, sometimes people are waiting so I really need to move it right when it's done. I also use the timer for 5-more-minutes warnings, alternate side parking (time to move the car), and now that we are doing some sleep training with Ginger it helps me keep track of how long she sleeps each nap. I know you would think any timer could do these things, but I've had others and this one is the best. The sound is just the right volume, the display is clear, it can stick with a magnet, stand on a surface, clip to a belt/collar, or go in my pocket.

OK, that's it for additions. Now I'll work on Part II.

Baby Shebang Part I: The A-List

There are tons and tons and tons of baby stuff out there, from carriers to carriages, from teethers to trainers. Most of it is useless, but of course most of it is also really cute. And there's obviously a market for all of it, because the stores and websites are growing exponentially. With no real or virtual barriers between my work and personal life, I am totally and continually entrenched in the world of child development and rearing. This leads to a relatively new imbalance in my interests and expertise, but all I can do is roll with it. So here is Part 1 of a three-part series on baby gear. I had to get this stuff out of swirling around in my head, and into some semblance of order.

Part I: The A-List contains my first choice stuff, the best of the best that I've found, that I use all the time, and my go-to list for baby shower gifts.
Part II: Honorable Mention includes things I do like and recommend, but don't meet all the criteria for the A-List.
Part III: Items of Interest contains things that I do not own or have not tried, but might like to in the future, like when we have another baby or when the girls are older. This post also contains websites I like to browse.

The A-List
To make this most honorable and exclusive of lists, an item must meet three criteria:
1. I have it or have used it.
2. It rises above the rest in both form and function - even better if serving more than one function.
3. I would rather not ever have to go without it.

Reference
The Baby Book by Dr. Sears - This is my #1 reference book for all developmental and health questions for age 0-2. I always consult this before calling the doctor, and it often answers my questions so I don't have to. Plus it's full of interesting things I never knew to ask.
The Happiest Baby on the Block (DVD and book) - I love this DVD. I give or lend it to everyone I can who is having a baby. It's a very well-spent $20 and 30 minutes, for great techniques for calming fussy babies that work. I also have the book, which goes into more detail than the video. Click on the link and you can watch an excerpt of the DVD. (I also have "The Happiest Toddler on the Block", but it hasn't been as helpful so far.)

Sleep
Miracle Blanket ("The Gift of Sleep") - This thing is AWESOME. I'm a big fan of swaddling for sleep, and this is the very best - it's like a baby straight jacket burrito. A little pricey but I got mine used on Ebay for less, because I wasn't sure if it would work. Next time I'd buy a new one without thinking twice. There is NO escaping, and babies sleep longer.
Amby Baby Motion Bed - When Hazel was little we didn't have room for a crib so we were looking for something compact and preferably portable that we could sleep her in safely, and happened upon this. She also had reflux, so I was happy to find something to help with that as well. What an awesome investment this was. Both babies have loved sleeping in it, and it doesn't take up too much room. Plus we bring it with us when travelling (by car; the travel bag isn't tough enough for air travel.)
Good Night, Sleep Tight by Kim West - This could also go under the reference section. Sleep training books are tricky to recommend because it seems there are so many out there, and everything works for somebody but nothing works for everybody. This worked for us. I had a couple sleep books that either didn't resonate with my parenting instincts, or provided too much or too little structure. I read an article by Kim West, loved it, and bought her book. Hazel was about 13 months old and bedtime was a nightmare every night. I stuck to The Sleep Lady's plan and Hazel was going down on her own in a few weeks. Ginger's getting an earlier start.

Feeding
Boppy - This horseshoe-shaped pillow is so popular, and for good reason. I love it's multi-functionality, too. Great for feeding, great for tummy time, great for new sitters.
Food Smock - I know, everyone's sick of me praising my friend's product. But friend or no, Hazel wears her smock every day for every meal, and never gets food on her clothes. Awesome invention, beautiful fabrics. Also great as an art & painting smock.
Bebe Au Lait - I did a review of this great nursing cover before. I still recommend it (I have Windsor.)

Clothing
Zutano booties - Out of all the fabulous and adorable baby clothes out there, only one makes my gotta-have-it A-List. For new babies (0-6 months), shoes and socks are a waste of time. Their ankles are so little, their feet so flexible, and they kick so much that everything comes off their feet. But their feet need warmth and protection. Enter these booties, which have a double cross-over snap design, so they stay on plus they come in a bunch of cute fabrics. They also have a fleece version for winter babies. After 4-6 months, shoes will stay on better, and there are lots to choose from (see Honorable Mention list.)
Diapers.com - There's nothing not to like here. Big boxes, low prices, all brands, free shipping. I would be willing to pay more, plus shipping, for this service which delivers huge, heavy boxes of diapers and wipes to my door so I don't have to lug them home. But it just so happens I actually pay less. The referral program is nice, too, and you can buy gift certificates for gifts - very practical and always welcome! Plus they've recently expanded their product line, to include refill liners for my diaper pail ($4 less than BabiesRUs!), detergent, formula, and other baby items. For $5 off your first order, use promo code DISCOMOM.

Toys
Bumbo - I cannot praise this product enough. I never had it with Hazel, and a friend lent it to us with Ginger. Next time I'm definitely buying my own. Even with the swing, bouncy seat, play gym, and exersaucer, I would not be able to take care of both kids without this. I can put it anywhere and Ginger can be up interacting with the rest of the family, during meals, bathtime, at the beach, and even down in the laundry room. Plus it's safe, smart and developmentally sound.
Nobbie Ball - Balls are always fun, versatile toys. I like this one especially because of the sensory element - fun to hold, doesn't roll to far or fast - and because you can easily inflate/deflate it with a straw, it's good across ages. I deflate it to about 2/3 and Ginger can hold onto it, get a good grip, and explore. Inflate it and Hazel and I can play rolling or tossing games.
Skwish - It's just a good toy. High quality, smart design, fun across wide age rage, encourages thinking.
Travel Magna Doodle Pro - There's nothing not to like. Here's what there is to like: mess-free artwork, lightweight & compact enough for diaper bag, take anywhere, durable, and kids love it. This was Hazel's #1 toy for at least 8 months (about 16-24 months of age). We used it in the stroller, shopping, at church, in the car, and of course at home. It kept her interested, occupied, and happy for long periods of time so I could stay sane. Everyone won.

Congratulations - you've made it through my A-List! What do you think? What's on yours? I'm always interested in parents' must-have items. Remember, though, this is The A-List. Only your can't-live-withouts. Stay tuned for Parts II and III.