Category: bath

KidzVuz Back to School Bash

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Heat wave aside, school lists and back to school bargains are starting to roll out! Thank goodness for our friends at KidzVuz, we had the chance to check out more back to school trends at their recent Back to School event.

IMG 4293

At KidzVuz’ events I love bringing along my bigger guy to help scope out all the cool stuff. This time around though, my guy was busy with summer sports, so I attended solo. Nevertheless, I met with so many great brands, two new brands had young spokespeople and entrepreneurs at the helm. 

 

LuckyBar

IMG 4305

LuckyBar protein bars was a product of a mom’s ingenuity. When one of her sons wasn’t eating much, she was elated when he ate a protein bar. Because of this, she wanted to share these bars with other families so that kids could enjoy a great tasting protein bar while placating a finicky palate. I absolutely enjoyed the Chocolate Campfire and it was no surprise that my own finicky eater devoured the LuckyBar sample I brought home. I had the chance to chat with the founder’s son, which I’ll share in another post.

Classroom Direct

 

IMG 4318

Back to school also means shopping for new supplies, not only for students, but for teachers, too! Classroom Direct is a one-stop online shop for teachers’ supplies, school supplies and other educational supplies. I loved learning that Classroom Direct has all kinds of learning resource supplies for teachers such as Common Core Curriculum kits and posters; classroom management tools such as, really cool timers, certificates and charts; and even gear and supplies for special needs students. I loved checking out the sensory animals stuffed with a beady-like material. They were a bit weighted, so toys like these double as tools for students with sensory issues. 

 

 

IMG 4320
 
 

Juicy Juice

IMG 4348

Never one to miss out on delicious snacks and treats, I loved that Juicy Juice was at the Kidz Vuz Back to School event. I loved having a chance to taste the Juicy Juice Splashers, which is a mix of filtered water and juice. Juicy Juice Splashers has 50% less sugar, no added sweeteners and definitely no high fructose corn syrup or unnecessary colors. Flavors in the Juicy Juice Splashers line up include: Berry Lemonade, Peach Mango and Tropical Twist. I had the Tropical Twist and couldn’t get enough.

IMG 4350

 

 

Zandra

IMG 4365

I have to say, meeting Zandra and testing out this young entrepreneur’s line of natural beauty products was probably the highlight of the KidzVuz Back to School event. I loved learning that she started her business after constantly asking her dad for new lip balm, and frustrated with buying her so many lip balms, he told her to research and make her own. And she did.

IMG 4383The fact that Zandra researched the benefits of natural ingredients and fragrances makes her products even better. Her big balms, sugar scrubs, soaps and lotions boast delicious scents such as: Almond Alfresco, Japanese Kumquat, Lavender Vanilla Chai, Lemon Tea Tree and For the Love of Mint. These products are currently available Be on the look out for Zandra’s Beauty Products at select retail locations and online because they are absolutely divine!

 

Philips 

IMG 4394

The Philips Sonicare Electric Toothbrush for kids is one of my all time favorite toothbrushes for my guys. The brush allows for personalization, as well as a powered, more efficient toothbrushing experience,  with upwards to 500 strokes per second. The built in timer is helpful, especially for those brushers who finish after 3 seconds of brushing. Need even more help to get the kids brushing their teeth with more care? There’s an app for that!

 

IMG 4393

 

Philips has an interactive app for kids to brush along with, to help them keep the task at hand while coaching and motivating them along the way. What’s even cooler? The Philips Sonicare Electric Toothbrush for kids has a super cool Ice Age themed brush to go hand in hand with the latest release of Collision Course. 

Mabel’s Labels

Mabelslabels

As always, KidzVuz has such a fun swag bag filled with gear and gadgets to try out on our own to share on our sites. I love that Mabel’s Labels Write Away Labels found their way into the bags. These handy labels are durable labels that can be customized by you. These writeable, self-laminating labels are perfect for when you don’t necessarily need a singular name to label your belongings. I often use these for containers that my boys use interchangeably. 

Full Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I am being compensated to share my experience at the KidzVuz BTS Event, however all opinions on NKT are my own. 

Highlights from The New York Baby Show

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Eight years ago when I started this site, I was inundated with baby gear research. Like many other parents, I spent hours researching the best products for my own baby. That research ultimately led to the creation of The Next Kid Thing.

All these years later, one of my most favorite things is attending shows, especially ones that showcase cool new gear and goodies. Last weekend, the kids and I made our way to Pier 92 for the New York Baby Show.

17615374679 4e06f16ebd b

photo credit: Momtrends

Quickly becoming one of my favorite baby shows, this year’s New York Baby Show didn’t disappoint. This year’s show featured more than 140 exhibitors for expectant and new parents to meet and learn all about. Alongside of the expansive list of exhibitors, the New York Baby Show rounded out their weekend-long show with sessions conducted by parenting experts and other informative sessions. Twiniversity and NYC Dads Group, two organizations that I proudly call my friends, were among the experts who led sessions. 

17798824382 06cb561c87 b

photo credit: Momtrends

And speaking of friends, new this year to New York Baby Show was the Blogger Lounge hosted by our friends at Momtrends. As always, Momtrends knows how to host a fun soiree; it was a treat that manis and blowouts were offered by the Glam Squad.

17614780399 6fbcede4af b

17775085836 229307a127 b

photo credit: Momtrends

Before hitting the floor at the show, bloggers were treated to lunch, some glam and had the chance to meet several brands before the show. The Blogger Lounge also provided childcare courtesy of the Nanny League, which was basically a two hour playdate for Littles.

17170905693 fa91e48ff2 b

 photo credit: Momtrends

So, while Littles was hanging out at the childcare area, Biggie and I walked the showroom floor to meet and great with the exhibitors. Biggie was my photographer for the evening, and he was able to capture photos as I networked.

IMG 6817

I loved the way many of the companies interacted with him as he took pictures, but my favorite was when we approached Canon’s booth. Canon, the presenting sponsor of the New York Baby Show, was on hand to showcase several of their latest cameras, including the beautiful and wifi-enabled 70d and T6i models.

IMG 9543

photo credit: Jack Bertram

As I spoke to one of the Canon reps to share my longtime love for their products, another gentleman was so nice to engage with Bigs. He asked to see his photos and made him giggle while I ogled.

Back to the babies: there were so many favorite brands at this show, so it was almost impossible to visit every booth. But here are just a few of the many brands that we loved visiting at the New York Baby Show:

My friends at Regal Lager had a spectrum of beautiful Cybex gear, but the innovative Cloud carseat was my absolute favorite. IMG 9597

photo credit: Jack Bertram

This thing grows with baby; it’s incredible. Love to Dream swaddles promote the arms up sleeping position that many babies naturally love. The textiles for these swaddles are so soft and pure. I love recommending these super practical swaddles and sacks to all of my new mom friends.

IMG 9599

I loved stopping by the Babyganics booth to check out their growing product line. Their sunscreens and hand sanitizers are staples in my beach bag.

IMG 9513

Shea Moisture is another personal favorite that I loved meeting. The Mommy scrub is so perfect for expectant moms and even ones who, like me, just love the smell and feel of this delicious scrub.

IMG 9518

photo credit: Jack Bertram


I was excited to see Nordic Naturals exhibiting at this show because I JUST bought their Children’s DHA liquid which comes highly recommended for kids with speech delays. I add a few drops into Little’s smoothies and voila! I’ve noticed a difference since he started the drops, and I’m thrilled that this liquid seems to be gentler on his sensitive stomach. Nordic Naturals offers a range of supplements applicable for all members of the family.

 

IMG 9526

photo credit: Jack Bertram

I met lots of newcomers at this show, which is always exciting. I can’t wait to learn more about this crib mattress, these snacks and this cool new family camp in Vermont. 

IMG 6792IMG 9536IMG 9492

One newcomer that I wasn’t able to meet was the stroller company, gb. I wanted to get a closer look at the Qbit, which appears to be a smaller stroller that would work well for city families. 

IMG 9578

 If I had an unlimited amount of time, I would have loved to walk the show for another day to meet the other exhibitors that were too busy to chat. The New York Baby Show is a fabulous forum for expectant and new families to learn, shop and engage with family-centric exhibitors. What I truly appreciate about this show is that the whole family can enjoy the day together. 

IMG 6774
The two-day format on the west side allows for show-goers to truly take in all that this show has to offer, from information sessions to visiting all the booths to taking a stroll on the test track. If you’re pregnant or have a new baby and want to check out the latest and greatest, be sure to put the New York Baby Show on the must-do list.

A big thank you to Momtrends and New York Family for having us this year. As always, I enjoyed covering this show and look forward to sharing more.
 
Full disclosure: This is a sponsored post and I am being compensated for sharing my experience. As always, all opinions on NKT are my own.

National Bubble Bath Day: Benefits of Bubble Baths for Kids

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Happy National Bubble Bath Day! After an exhausting day, there’s nothing we love more than winding down with a warm bubble bath. 

 I love bubble baths that smell fresh, but don’t have the harmful chemicals or synthetic fragrances. We’re all about bubble baths, so here’s a round up of just a few of our favorites:

 

 

NKTBubbleBathDay

 

Little Twig has a bunch of great products, but the Unscented Bubble Bath is one of my favorites. With so many unsavory additives and ingredients in baby soaps and baths, I appreciate that Little Twig products boasts nothing but the good stuff.

 

So Cozy, as we’ve mentioned before is one of our favorite lines of kid products. From the shampoos to body washes, So Cozy makes bath time fun and so easy. Our favorite for bath time that gets all the suds going is the Cinch 2-n-1 Shampoo and Body Wash. My older guy loves that it smells fresh and not so “baby!”

 

California Baby Calming

Speaking of babies, California Baby is one of my absolute favorite companies in the baby realm. I’ll always associate CB with being a new mom and bathing my brand new baby. The scents are absolutely divine and i want to believe that the Calming scent really does calm down my rambunctious little boys. CB uses only the good stuff AND they have a bubble wand in their bottle to boot!

 

 

There are so many things to love about bubble baths, namely the bubbles themselves. But truly, as some parents might agree, bubble baths have quite a few benefits.

 

 

A photo posted by Jen Rabulan-Bertram (@jenrab) onNov 11, 2013 at 6:35am PST

 

 

1. Bubble baths make bath time a fun bonding experience.

When the kids cooperate, bubble baths are a great time for imaginative play for both the kids and parents, too. We love making crazy hair and mohawks with suds, and silly facial hair too. My guys have a quirky kid shave kit they like to use during bubble baths. It’s always a hoot.

 

2. Bubble baths are great for bedtime routine.

The thing about baths: they are helpful in winding down the day and even helping to calm everyone down…again, if everyone cooperates. Taking a bubble bath gives everyone a chance to exhale after a long day and it gives the kids something to look forward to end the day.

 

3. Everyone gets squeaky clean!

The most obvious benefit of a bubble bath for kids is that everyone gets clean at the same time! When you have multiple young children, one of the best things about bath time is just throwing them all in the tub and streamlining bath time by getting the older ones to help with scrubbing the younger ones! 

 

What do your kids love about bubble baths?

 

 

16 Practical Baby Arrival Gifts

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

It’s been the year of the baby for my circle of friends and family. Between a few neighbors to close friends to one of my cousins, we’re welcoming quite a few new babies these days. In fact, I was in the midst of stalking my good friend’s Facebook page the other morning, just waiting for a baby update, knowing that she went in for a C-section.  So, I decided to write this post instead.

Between baby showers and registries, everything is preplanned and dictated, there’s not much spontaneous gift-giving going when it comes to baby, or is there? For close friends and family, baby arrival gifts are a small token to welcome and congratulate families. When gifting for baby’s arrivals, think beyond the tchotchkes and excess and head straight to the practical gifts. New parents don’t necessarily need more stuffed animals or ceramic sleeping babies, so when in doubt, give them something they will use.

After checking out remaining items on their registries, I love bringing my closest friends and relatives gifts that I’ve tried and loved. In other words: I love gifting baby products that my friends didn’t know they would need. On that end, here are just a few of my favorite practical baby arrival gifts.

NKTBabyarrivalGiftscollage

 

 


aden + anais swaddles
1. My absolute favorite gift to give friends are aden+anais swaddles. Over the past few years, this line of super soft and versatile muslin blankets has grown. They have exclusive prints for various retail partners and carry an assortment of other products such as bibs, sleeping bags and full size blankets.  But for me, the aden+anais blankets are possibly one of the most versatile baby products. I loved using these swaddles as a sunshade (sorry, not a fan of those special blankets made for carriers), as a burp cloth, nursing cover, and of course, as a swaddle blanket. Because I used these blankets so much, I made sure to have several onhand at all time. I’ve even seen babies adopt the swaddles as their lovies; that’s a true testament to how much use these blankets truly get. 

Honest New Baby Arrival Kit

2. Diapers, hands down, are one of the most practical baby gifts for new parents. On average, newborns go through 12-15 diapers a day, making them a huge commodity for new parents. If the new parents didn’t already stock up on their diapers, consider getting them a new baby kit, like the one from Honest. This kit is a sampler pack, and comes with 7 diapers, 2 small packs of wipes, hand sanitizer spray, shampoo and body wash, face and body lotion, healing balm and baby teether.  Looking to splurge or chip in for a group gift for new baby? What about a diaper and wipes bundle, which starts at $79 a month.

Food

3. A home-cooked meal is always a generous gesture for new parents adjusting to their new normal. For out of town friends or family, I usually send pre-made meals or delicious frozen meals. The less effort involved, the better. One of my favorite resources pre-made meals is Fresh Direct since they deliver to my area now. Don’t have Fresh Direct near you or the new parents? Try ordering delivery from one of their favorite restaurants. Omaha Steaks and Schwann’s are both well known delivery serves that ship to many areas.

Earth Mama Angel Baby C-Mama Healing Salve

4. For many new moms, c-sections are unplanned and usually a medical necessity. In my case, my older guy was stuck and was in fetal distress. As someone who had a difficult recovery and didn’t get much advice, I appreciated when an acquaintance told me about getting some balms and other stuff for my recovery and soothing the incision. So, for close friends who had c-sections, I like giving them healing gifts. Earth Mama Angel Baby C-Mama Healing Salve is a favorite, and one that boasts natural ingredients like calendula, st. john’s wort, olive oil and a lot of other goodness.

 

 

5. NüRoo Pocket
The NüRoo Pocket is a baby wearing shirt that promotes skin to skin contact in the newborn phase. The shirt features a cross and hug closure that provides a custom fit as your body changes and baby grows. I met the creators of this amazing product a few years back and have been smitten ever since. This pocket is much different than carriers or slings, it gives more accessibility for skin contact while giving mama some mobility.

 

6. Custom ArtCustom artwork is a rare find these days. I love personalized art as baby gifts because it’s a chance to celebrate the new babe with a unique gift. To be safe, consider getting a modest size piece that would complement nursery decor. Paper Cut ABCs custom art from Minted is a fun framed piece that would dress up a nursery or playroom. Baby’s name personalized at the bottom makes this gift that much more special. 

 

7. Photo Gift Card
With the prevalence of social media, the news of baby’s arrival is practically instant these days, complete with a photo slideshow! Call me old fashioned, but there’s nothing better than a classic paper baby announcement. While gifting a baby announcement itself wouldn’t be ideal, perhaps gifting a gift card to a photo site like Minted would be helpful for new parents. If announcements aren’t in the new parents’ realm, other stationary or printed photos of baby’s first few days would be a gift they’ll always remember. I can’t tell you the last time I had photos printed of my second son, but if I had a gift card, then my walls my be more even with both kids’ photos. 

8. Baby hat
Babies have to wear hats to keep them warm, especially fall and winter babes. Most layette outfits come with those knit hats, but a truly warm, well-made but stylish baby hats are hard to find. I particularly love the look of this sweater bear hat from Baby Gap. The gray makes is modern but neutral, and a nice change from the pinks and blues. 

9. Personalized baby robe
Bathtime is quality time for many families. For new parents, bath time takes on a whole new meaning. A fun personalized baby bath robe is a luxury, but also one that comes in handy when trying to wrangle a wet baby. The personalization on these plush robes from Red Envelope set them apart.

 

 

10.  Unicorn 
Pottery Barn has almost everything a baby and kid could ever need, including unicorns! While a unicorn isn’t a necessity, a fun playmat that isn’t a blanket always comes in handy. The unicorn is just something different and cool!

11. California Baby gift set
Chances are, the new mom received a lifetime supply of soaps and lotions at their shower—or did they? Every shower is different and every new parent is different. I had 3 baby showers, yet I didn’t receive any lotions or soaps until my friend sent me this exact California Baby gift set. I fell in love with all the different scents and I’ve been a loyal fan ever since. The thing about baby soap and shampoos, they last for awhile and smell so good!

 

12. Patemm 
We change a lot of diapers during the baby days. It helps when we have stylish, but durable changing pads to help us out! Patemm is another one of my favorite gifts. They’re a luxury, but truly different. I appreciate the round shape and ability to store items in the pockets. Since we cloth diapered, Patemm pads were always our savior.

13.  Baby medicine kit
One of the many things new parents often overlook is a medicine kit for baby.  Sure, they’ve stocked up on thermometers and lotion, but what about medicine cabinet essentials for the first few months? Gripe Water was one of the must-haves for my first baby, yet I had no idea where to get it. Now, it’s practically everywhere, but as a new mom i had no idea where/how to get this necessity to calm my baby. Think of other baby essentials that might come in handy and send them some tips while you’re at it!

14. Sweet onesies
Selfies anyone? Baby may not necessarily need another onesie, but who can resist fun catchphrases or silly slogans on baby clothing? And Instagram Star? Genius. The babies practically own Instagram on my feed! 

15. Pampering for mom
Whether it’s a beautiful nightgown with nursing accessibility or a generous spa card, mama needs a lot of loving too. If you’re family, ask to watch baby while mom naps. Make her go out for an hour to roam Target for an hour…anything, really, to feel a little “normal” helps. I personally loved getting a mani/pedi gift card, as well as comfy pjs that were incision-friendly AND nursing friendly. Belabumbum is a wonderful brand that has a beautiful range of loungewear for maternity and new mamas.

16. Baby socks
Not just any socks, but fun socks! Trumpette is best known as the novelty sock gifts for babes. I love the cute shoe designs, especially these argyle socks and loafers! Since babies don’t need to wear socks and baby socks always seem to disappear in the wash, you really can’t have enough cute little socks! One of the best things about these socks, other than being super cute, they actually stay on those baby feet!

But, as I always say to my friends, what works for me might not work for you. (In essence, gift thoughtfully and save those receipts!) Happy baby shopping!

Quirky Toy Fair Finds

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

With every Toy Fair that I attend, I come away with a good idea of the direction that toy makers are going. In terms of toys, we’re getting more tech-enabled, yet we’re riding the throwback wave.  I try to mentally catalog the cool new toys and how the kids will receive them.  As the experts say, ultimately, it’s the kids who deem the cool factor of these shiny new toys and games.

Quirkytoyfair

 

BUT…  that’s not to say that the Toy Fair showroom floor doesn’t have its crazy aspects.  There are some crazy-cuckoo ideas and then there are some crazy-cool ideas, too.  And then, there’s the quirky things that find their way home with me. And by quirky, of course I mean unique!

So, here’s a round up of a few things that I found quirky-cool.

IMG_0399

Lady Gaga Brush Buddies

Ok, so, I love Gaga.  I would go as far as saying that I secretly wish I could be one of her little Monsters.  But alas, I’ll just continue to rock out to Paparazzi full blast while carting my kids around in the car. Or maybe, just maybe, I’ll rock out to “Born this Way” as I brush my teeth. What!

IMG_0388
Brush Buddies features a replaceable brush head and two buttons to play two different songs.  Each song plays for 2 minutes, which is the dentist-recommended time for brushing teeth.  This Lady Gaga Brush plays Born this Way and, aptly, Teeth.

Rabbids

Who doesn’t need a collectible rabid, um, punk rock rabbit? Inspired by the hit video game-turned popular Nickelodeon show, Rabbids Invasion Toys embrace the quirkiness of these characters known for their wild antics.  

IMG_0397

This line, which is a part of McFarlane Toys,  features a new lineup of crazy toys that include a sound blaster, action figures, plush and blind packs such as this.  As you can imagine, each Rabbid is just as crazy as the next.

Lil Bub

Unbeknownst to me, Lil Bub is a full-blown internet sensation; as in, she has upwards to 357k followers on Instagram, 34K followers on Twitter and very own Wikipedia page—celebrity status.  Lil Bub, who was born with several genetic mutations, has a short lower jaw and toothlessness which makes her tongue always hang out.  

IMG_0392

She also has osteoporosis and short legs, which is said to  restrict her movement.  She’s doing well thanks to her owner and therapy.  Lil Bub’s story has been a heartwarming sensation; her owner has sold Lil Bub merchandise to benefit animal shelters.
Lil Bub will now have her very own plush to benefit even more great causes.  My cat has made a friend with the plush Lil’ Bub.  

 

Mad Lab from Fairy Dust

While walking the aisles of Toy Fair, I’m always on the hunt for something different, even if it’s totally gross.  Fairy Dust, makers of girly bath gels, lip gloss, sugar scrubs and DIY bath product stations often found at little girl spas, made me stop in my tracks when I spotted their bowl of eyeballs and zombie heads.  Amidst the pink and sparkly backdrop, with table after table of beautiful tubs of lotion and soap, in one corner sat a gross-looking selection of stuff that I knew my boy would LOVE.

IMG_0380  

I made my very own tub of bath gel with a green soap that pumped out like ooze, threw in a layer of sparkles, plus a few zombie heads, eyeballs and a finger for good measure.  Oh, and the finger?  It unscrews and is a bubblewand.

IMG_0383

As crazy as it looks, it was an absolute hit with my zombie and gross stuff-loving dude.  Bath time has never been more crazy.

image

Emoji Icons

Everyone loves Emojis, right?  The fact that emoticons are now embedded into our vernacular says a lot about us.  Emoji Icons extended everyone’s love for our digital expressions of emotion. They made Emojis into a bracelet that can be personalized and it features the fun little faces and even the quirky little poop icon. ha!

IMG_0390 IMG_0391

Rattlesnake Eggs

Now, this last one wasn’t a toy sample or anything.  It was actually given to me in a trade show survival kit from one of my favorites, Prince Lionheart.  

IMG_0379

The kit was so memorable and functional; I ate the granola bar and used an Advil that was included in the kit.  But the rattlesnake eggs, well, that knocked me off my socks! I got a kick out of it, for sure! If you’ve ever seen something like this before, I’m sure you know what I mean!

 

 

 

Things We Love: Fun and Colorful Goodies and Gear

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Cold, wintry days often mean monochromatic shades of gray for weeks at a time.  We’re currently craving warmth  and color on the dull days, and enjoying these goodies (and gear) that channel some much-needed cheery vibrance.

 

NKTPopsofcolor

 

EO Bubble Buddy

 

4OZ GROUP BUBBLE BUDDY Lavender Lullaby m

Winter, especially with small children in school, typically equates to germs…lots of them.  There’s been a lot of negative reports about antibacterial products lately, which is why I prefer old fashioned soap and water when it comes to hand washing.  In fact, I’m currently I’m in love with EO’s Bubble Buddy. This kid-sized foaming soap squeezes out and features natural and pure ingredients and is paraben free, polysorbate free, disodium EDTA free and sodium laureth/lauryl sulfate free. With scents like orange, coconut and lavender, Bubble Buddies makes clean up time a little more fun.

 

 

New Balance

 

Kj890s2p nb 02 i

A departure from my predictable and conservative gray New Balance sneakers, the Splatter 890v3 make quite the colorful statement for kids.  Neon colors are a resounding throwback design trend and remain a mainstay in kid style. These New Balance sneakers not only boast a brighter presence, but also feature glow in the dark details and splatter design. My boys have this style and have been sporting them when we head to the indoor playspace.  I love how the bright colors contrast against all the snow and gray landscape of winter.  Aside from the bright colors, I always love that the New Balance’s baby and toddler sizes feature a hook and loop closure.The Splatter 890v3, which was unveiled this fall, is available in toddler and youth sizes and are currently on sale.  

 

 

Play-Doh Rainbow Pack

 

PTRU1 16548277dt

A longtime fan of Play-Doh, I’ve probably mentioned how my love for this classic modeling compound has been renewed with the babe’s ongoing therapies.  Between his occupational and developmental therapy, we get even more use of Play-Doh around here.  So, between the big kid’s creative sessions and the little’s therapy, we seem to always be creating something colorful, which is why I absolutely love Play-Doh’s Rainbow Pack.  With a palette of 33 different colors, the Rainbow Pack is ideal for those open-ended play sessions where a handful of colors just won’t do.  Even better, the singular packs found in the Rainbow Pack make Play-Doh even more portable for those families on the go.  The only caveat I found for this fun spectrum of Play-Doh is the clean up and storage afterward.  I don’t like mixing the colors, so we try to preserve each individual color by wrapping each one in plastic wrap.  There has to be a better way, though.

 

Pantone

 

9781419709395

Having studied a bit of graphic design and then working closely with magazine production, I appreciate that Pantone remains the color standard.  A Pantone-influenced children’s book is an ingenious idea.  I couldn’t think of a better way to introduce a spectrum of color to young kids, than by the authority itself.  In this Abrams title,  nine basic colors and 20 shades of each are overviewed, giving toddlers and preschooler a bright primer on the beauty of color. The  puzzle element to the book gives it a tactile approach to engaging the kids even further, though unfortunately, we’ve learned by experience that these pieces are easily lost.  Nevertheless, Pantone Colors is our color theory board book of choice.

 

Ruum Headphones Hat

 

Ruumhatpurple

We’re obvious fans of Ruum Kids Wear, but when I say I love them for their unique style, I mean LOVE.  Beyond the cool, yet classic styles, Ruum has some of the best accessories to boot.  Right now, they’ve got crazy sales going on, including their winter gear.  In January and early February, I like to stock up on basics for the next size up, but I positively love this cool headphone hat.  You rarely see purple for boys, so I always love that I can turn to Ruum for boy color schemes beyond baby blue.  Best part of this unique hat, besides the fact that it’s on sale for about $3?  You can wire a pair of buds so that they actually depict the design.  Want some gloves to match? Those are $3 bucks too! Cool!

 

Hunter Kids Boots

W24133 YEL 1 1

I’m sure I’ve professed my love for Hunter Wellies before, but I’m currently loving these bright yellow boots for kids.  The fire fighter and lady bug rain boots get overplayed, so why not opt for a pair of yellow Hunters that are well worth the investment.  In addition to rainy days, Hunter boots can be paired with warm boot socks and worn in the snowy weather. If you have an older kid and need functional, colorful rain boots, check out Hunters.  These are the kind of staples that are worth the investment and hold up as hand-me-downs.

 

 

 

Kid Made Modern

 

14035813

I’ve been in love with Todd Oldham’s kid craft line Kid Made Modern since its debut at Target a couple of years ago.  From the basic colored pencil sets to the craft kits, Kid Made Modern takes craft sessions to an all new level of cool.  Santa gifted Biggie with the coolest ukelele personalization kit and comic creation kit.  It’s like Kid Made Modern can read our creative minds to combine fun, function and crafting.  I’m currently eyeing the Felt Frenzy kit, which would be a great collaborative craft with the toddler and big kid.  The colorful kid-friendly felt crafts make this kit a perfect snowy day activity.

Baby Days: Nighttime Changing Routine

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

The baby days continue to consume me, both personally and work-wise. After an informative afternoon with famed pediatrician, Dr. Harvey Karp. I was inspired to share our nighttime changing routine, one of my favorite times of the day…for more reasons than the obvious! Find out how we incorporate Stokke, Under the Nile, Badger, CJ’s BUTTer and Fisher Price into our nighttime changing routine.

Earlier this week, I enjoyed a lovely lunch with the amazing Dr. Harvey Karp of Happiest Baby on the Block. I learned so much during the candid conversation over lunch at the book publisher’s NYC office discussing his latest book on sleep. (post to come) And now, with our baby right at 4 months, naturally, there are so many changes going on. He’s turned the corner on sleep, his eating habits are more predictable and his behavior is all around fun.

As a second time mom and mom of a preschooler and infant, I’ve found that the one of the hardest aspects of motherhood is finding balance. Yesterday, for example, finding time to balance the four year old, four month old AND write in between was complicated, to put it nicely. The four year old, like most preschoolers, demanded my attention. The baby sat so quietly for most of the day, but it was the big kid who tested my patience as I tried to make deadlines. Ultimately, something gives, and every time it’s the writing…but, such is life.

And since the baby didn’t get nearly as much attention, I’m SO grateful for our nighttime routine. It’s that one time of day when it’s just baby and me, and we’re both awake, happy and usually relaxed. So, while big bro hangs with daddy, it’s just us for 30-45 minutes of uninterrupted quality time–if we’re lucky.

There’s so many elements that contribute to how fun this can be, but here’s what we’re doing right now:

1. Badger Nighty Night Balm
I can’t get enough of Badger Balm. Truly. I was first introduced to these products via Healthy Child Healthy World. The Bug Balm was the first product we used and now, swear by. And so, when my husband brought home several sample of other balms, I immediately fell in love with even more Badger Balms that I didn’t even know existed! The organic Nighty Nighty Balm is, should I say it, the bomb. In lieu of lotion at night, I use this balm, which has a soft, but wax-like consistency, to give the baby a little post-bath massage. What a life, right? I use this time to help him exercise and stretch those chubberific legs, soothe his arms and then softly massage his chest and back. His coos and smiley face is enough to keep this in my routine. The balm moisturizes well and smells unbelievable. You think the baby smell is awesome? Just add this to the mix. There’s no synthetic fragrances, just chamomile, a little lavender and more. So sweet.

2. Changing Table: Stokke Care
This solid wood changing table from Stokke was our Christmas and Birthday present from my inlaws. While this beautiful piece of furniture deserves its own post, I’ll highlight what makes this such an integral part of our routine.
The first time around, we were city parents who were starved for space. We shrugged off the need for a dedicated changing table and opted for just a changing pad that we threw anywhere to do the job. After over two years of changing anywhere and everywhere our backs ached and that changing pad was practically crumbling for so much usage and handling.

So, this time around, when we were asked what we needed, we said nothing…EXCEPT a changing table. So, why the Care? Aside from the fact that it matches our Stokke Sleepi System, it’s multifunctional and grows with the baby like several of Stokke’s other products. After the diaper-changing days, the Care can be turned into a desk. (I know, right?)  The Care changing table boasts a lot of storage space and is compatible to various heights–perfect for taller parents. (Our backs are thanking us this time around!) The side compartments are just as convenient as the storage baskets that sit atop two shelves. As a cloth diaperer, the storage area is ample for my stash, as well as our bountiful inventory of baby toiletries and acoutrements. This is my most used baby staple, and one that I’m thrilled will truly grow with us!

3. CJ’s BUTTer
Heh. I said butt. Ok, got that out… So, both of my children much like other members of my immediate family, have extremely sensitive skin. Finding a diaper rash cream or ointment that REALLY works and doesn’t use toxins or harmful chemicals can be next to impossible. Burt’s Bees is my usual go-to diaper cream; in fact, the big kid was fond of eating it when my back was turned. Unfortunately, Burt’s Bees isn’t cloth diaper friendly. Thankfully, with cloth diapering, we don’t see too much diaper rash or irritation, but it’s when we switch over to disposables when we’re on the go or on laundry days, the irritation sometimes arises. CJ’s BUTTer which I’ve always seen on cloth diapering sites as a great option for diaper ointment, was sent to me as a sample in a Bluum Box. It was love after first swipe. The ingredients are all natural, it’s made with love by a small company, it works well and can be used beyond diaper rash (for black/mixed hair to separate locks? who knew!) It moisturizes and seals the irritated areas and I love that it contains essential oils. CJ’s BUTTer is my new go-to for diaper ointment.

5. Hooded Bath Towel: Under the Nile
This thick, luscious hooded baby towel is made from organic Eygptian cotton and you can totally tell. It’s both soft and durable and surpasses the quality and texture of the thin baby towels we received from the big kid’s baby shower. We have tons of baby towels, but honestly? This Under the Nile towel is the one I grab every time.  And bonus, my photographer friend, Maegan Dougherty, who has photographed our family many times pre-baby #2, shot some pics for Under the Nile’s clothing line, which can be seen on the front page.  Nice, right?

5. Fisher Price Giggle Gang
Another stuffed toy and one that laughs? Ha! Yes…but this one is too cute to pass up. It’s just a round, vibrant plush toy that giggles when you press it’s belly and it’s contagious and chewable! I have a video review of these guys coming up, but I couldn’t not include him on here because we keep Fuzzy on our changing table to distract Mr. Squirmy baby. Laughs all around!

6. Badger Baby Oil
For our first kid’s baby shower, I received several containers of baby oil. I honestly had no idea what to use it for, so I never really used it. This time around I find myself using it as often as I can. I use it in diaper wipe solution, for dry skin patches and most often after bath on baby’s scalp to help avoid cradle cap. I use just a tiny drop and it works so well. I’ve read articles that say to AVOID using oils on the baby’s head, but alas, this is something I still do and have no issues whatsoever. With with calendula and chamomile, the Badger Baby Oil smells so lovely, I love using it at night to complement the Nighty Night balm. Bonus: I love to include it in so many of my baby shower gift baskets because it not only lasts forever, but it’s a great alternative to the more questionable products in the baby aisle.

There are so many products out there, and many more that we use, but these few just so happen to be the ones we use in our current routine. All of them are fun, sustainable and worthy of sharing!

Full disclosure: the changing table was a gift from family, but all of the other products were either items in a swag bag, samples from a company for review or samples obtained from my husband’s employer, which has no direct affiliation with NKT. As always, all opinions on NKT are mine.

Got Boo Boos? Topricin Junior is a Medicine Cabinet Staple

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

On any given summer day, like many families, we can be found outside running around, riding bikes, playing pirates or whatever the kid’s imagination may conjure up.  The occasional injury is all a part of growing up, and with all of this summer fun, bumps, bruises, bug bites and boo boos are often the residual effects.

When I was a kid, if it wasn’t my older brother breaking bones, it was clumsy me falling off my bike and getting bloody knees or black eyes.  It wasn’t the injury itself that was painful, but the aftercare that subjected the trauma and excruciating pain.  I have no idea if my mom used salt spray laced with battery acid to clean our wounds, but whatever it was, it hurt like crazy.

As a family that leans toward more homeopathic remedies, I was so glad to be introduced to Topricin Junior.  A Healthy Child Healthy World parent ambassador and a green mama, in general, I do my best to steer clear of harsh chemicals in the conventional medical aisle. (Tea tree oil is my go-to antiseptic) Even if products are geared to kids, I can’t help but question, are they really safe?

Topricin Junior from Topical Biomedics is a pain relief and healing cream that’s intended for injuries such as bumps, bruises, bug, bites and burns.  It is said to relieve muscle spasms, leg cramps, sprains and strains—minor injuries that are sustained from horseplay or sports activities.  Aside from the pain relief it provides to the younger set, Topricin Junior seems to do it without the use of harsh chemicals.

Topricin Junior is fragrance and paraben free, contains no mineral oil, lanolin, menthol, petroleum or other chemicals that may be too overpowering for our little daredevils’ skin.

And like most preschoolers in that “I Can Do it Myself” phase, my kid, of course, wanted to apply the cream himself.  Because of the safe composition of Topricin Junior, I had no worries about the chemicals, or that it would be harmful if he applied it himself.

Now, after the spill he took on his scooter the other day, I didn’t use the cream on the open wound.  I did, however, use the cream after his wound closed up a bit.  From what he described, the cream wasn’t painful when he applied it, and from what I saw, it seemed to do the trick.

I love that Topricin Jr. is fragrance free and doesn’t leave stains.  The cream uses some ingredients that are plant and vegetable derived, unlike most products that line the first aid aisles.  Topricin Jr. is easy to use, seemed to help with the healing process and most importantly, doesn’t contain all the harsh chemicals that, in my opinion, hurt a little more before and after they actually help.  Not only do I give Topricin Jr. a seal of approval, but so does Healthy Child Healthy World and PTPA.

While nothing can heal as “effectively” than mama’s kiss, a safer pain relief cream such as Topricin Jr. is a staple in our medicine cabinet.  Now, if only this cream could curb any unnecessary stunts or spills that make my heart beat out of my chest!

Find it

Topical Biomedics also offers Topricin and Topricin Foot Therapy Cream.  The creams can be found at many health and organic stores, as well as online.  Additionally, Topricin products are now available at Vitamin Shoppe, Vitamin World, Whole Foods, and Wegman’s.

Full disclosure: I received product samples to facilitate this review.  As always, all opinions on NKT are my own.

Vans to Release Hello Kitty Kicks

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

First Doc Martens, and now Vans! America’s favorite bow-wearing kitty is partnering with the preeminent skate and street shoe company for a rather girly and super cool line.

The Hello Kitty-themed Vans, available in kids and adult sizes, are set to debut June 1st at select Vans and Sanrio stores.

I’m eyeing the pink patterned slip-ons for myself and can’t wait to pick up a pair of Hello Kitty baby Vans for a friend’s tiny girly girl. They’re too cute for words!

Review: Method Disney Foaming Hand Soap

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Method, known for their eco-friendly household products, has partnered with Disney to produce kid-friendly Mickey and Minnie-themed foaming hand wash.  The Mickey and Minnie Mouse Foaming Hand Wash from Method are available in stores now.

The ingredients contained in the mouse-shaped dispenser all seem safe and “green”-er than some children’s products that I’ve seen.  And although it’s not yet listed on EWG’s Cosmetic Database, Method products seem to sway toward the good-fair ratings.

The Mickey Mouse Foaming Hand Wash does the trick, as far as getting the kid to wash his hands.  The foaming aspect of the soap and the subtle reminder of Mickey make it hard to forget to wash hands after using the bathroom.

The design of the packaging, like most Method products, is modern and aesthetically pleasing. I appreciate that the kid loves the Mouse-shape, while not compromising my modern tastes.  I usually don’t welcome too many cartoon characters in my bathroom, but how could I turn away the Mouse, when he’s all unobtrusive.

My main qualm about the Mickey Mouse Foaming Hand Wash is that the scent is a bit too perfumey and overpowering for me.  Perhaps we’re more used to unscented soaps, or something a little gentler, but I just didn’t think the lemonade scent was all that fruity.  When referencing Method’s ingredient list online, a red flag went up about the hand wash’s fragrance.  Listed as partial essential oil and partial synthetic fragrance, all I could think was, “but does it have phthalates?”  According to Method’s listing, this soap is phthalate-free, but the synthetic fragrance does make me ask a few questions.

At $4.50 for 8.5 fl oz, I would’ve loved to get a little more soap for the money.  You get what you pay for, and you can’t deny that the kids love it!  Nevertheless, we use Method products all throughout the house, and I’m sure the Mickey Mouse Foaming Hand Wash will find its way onto my shopping list.  It’s an effective, safe and fun cleaner that’s a”greener” alternative to other products geared to kids.

The Mickey and Minnie Mouse Foaming Hand Wash from Method can be found at stores that sell Method products, like Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, Harmon and Babies R Us.  You can also find it online at my personal fave online retailer, Soap.com.

Check it

New to Soap.com and want 20%?  Feel free to use this code: JENR2049
If you enter the above code at checkout, you’ll get 20% off your first order (some restrictions may apply).  Soap.com will also donate $10 to one of the selected charities.  Double whammy.

Full disclosure: I received a product sample via The Mom Blogger’s Club to facilitate this review.  As always, all opinions on NKT are my own.