product reviews – The Next Kid Thing

OnTray: next best thing to an extra set of hands

June 30, 2009July 14, 2009 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

While shopping, some kids get bored, some get hungry and some just want what they can’t have. So, for those of us who try to get in and out of stores as fast as possible to minimize the chance of a public meltdown, an extra set of hands would be a big help.

ontray_buyphoto And that’s where the OnTray would come in handy. The OnTray is the brainchild of Laura Hamrick, a mom who spent a harried grocery shopping trip handing out snacks one-by-one to her three small boys, while trying to look through coupons and fill the cart. We’ve all been there.

Hamrick then devised a way to occupy her little guys with a small tray that would easily snap on and off, allowing her to shop and multi-task a bit easier. The award-winning snap-on tray can also can be used to hold coupons, keys and cell phones, making it a helpful gadget for multi-tasking parents. On the safety front, OnTray is manufactured in the U.S. of FDA-approved plastic, BPA-free and it meets all new requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.

If you’re like us and consider your stroller the shopping cart and a second “vehicle” I discovered that the OnTray is a great alternative to those snack trap cups! The OnTray snaps onto stroller handlebars, allowing toddlers to access snacks and toys easily.

Lifeway Probugs giveaway winner

June 4, 2009June 4, 2009 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

pro_berry1 Thank you to everyone for entering the Probugs giveaway! Congrats to Vanessa for winning this awesome giveaway. I’ll be in touch to get your info. A big thanks to Lifeway for the great promotion! Everyone else, please stay tuned for the next giveaway to be announced later today!

probugsgiveaway1

Mama Likey: Boogie Wipes

February 5, 2009March 13, 2009 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Over the summer, before chasing a little runny nose all day was a time-consuming activity, Jeff brought home this eye-catching lime green and orange package.
“It’s called Boogie Wipes!” he told me.
As I tucked them into Jack’s toiletry cart, I was convinced they weren’t anything of interest for us. “They look like repackaged regular wipes to me.”

Fast forward to this winter. Once the cold settled in, so did Jack’s constant runny nose. At first, I went the green route and used copious amounts of cloth diapers to wipe up his nose. Once I rubbed his nose practically raw, every time he saw a cloth diaper coming his way, he’d scream and run. Then, I went the tissue route. I had even more tears, running, screaming and clean tissues made into confetti (thanks to a defiant runny-nosed toddler.)

And that’s when I remembered the Boogie Wipes I tucked away. The packaging, vibrant and colorful, intrigued Jack immediately. Because he was distracted, I was able to open and wipe his nose without a fight. The best thing was, well, besides a painless experience (for both of us), that I only had to wipe once. With the cloth diaper and tissue, I often had to wipe multiple times, increasing the chance of the little raw, red nose. The subsequent nose wipes went just as smoothly as the first time. Perhaps it was the cool packaging, fun smell or the ease of use, whatever it was, the biggest critic was sold—of course, so was I!
So, what sets Boogie Wipes apart from “regular” wipes? Quite a bit, actually.
According to the company, Boogie Wipes is:

Made with natural saline to dissolve Mucus
Hypoallergenic
Alcohol Free
Moisturize with Vitamin E, Aloe and Chamomile
Lightly Scented
Gentle Enough for All Ages
Phthalate & Paraben Free