Silikids: review and giveaways

With all the news involving BPA lately, this company is one that shows the direction that the baby gear market is heading.

In light of the growth of environmental awareness and social consciousness, especially among new parents, many of us seek safer and much more sustainable products. Silikids, founded by two moms who, in a search for alternatives, decided to turn to silicone, one of the safest and most durable materials on earth, into a product line for children.
After recognizing the lack of hygienic, practical and non-toxic products Giuliana Schwab and Stacey Feeley founded Silikids. They have created a unique line of mom-inspired products, which are germ, mold and toxin-free, hypoallergenic and made entirely out of silicone.
Silicone is a non-porous material made from sand, which is unique for its hygienic, safe, durable and green benefits. Silicone is more frequently being used in children’s products, and is already commonly used for baby bottle nipples, pacifiers, teethers and baby spoons.

The Silikids collection currently includes:

·         Siliskins-silicone sleeves for 4- and 8-oz. bottles (bottles included)
·         Silibibs-soft and easy to clean bibs made entirely of silicone
·         Silipads-silicone kneepads for crawlers and toddlers

sleevehi

sleeve

silibibs

silipads

I had the chance to check out these products, and I was so impressed. The quality and durability are absolutely what I look for in the products that I normally buy.  The functionality and eco-friendliness are clear cut selling points, too.
With many families shying away from questionable plastic baby bottles, glass bottles are once again a popular alternative.
The Siliskin sleeves for glass baby bottles are a protective sheath that helps prevent the bottle from breaking. In addition to being functional, they’re fun and colorful, too!

The Silibibs are easy to clean bibs that are a great alternative to the flimsy plastic bibs out on the market. In addition to catching crumbs, many of those plastic bibs catch their fair share of germs if they’re not cleaned properly! These silicone bibs are a safe bet.

Even though my kid is beyond the crawling phase, I appreciate the innovation of the Silipad silicone kneepads. Bumps and bruises are part of our daily routine, but we could’ve definitely used these in the crawling days to cushion little knees from those hard surfaces.

All Silikids products are priced at less than $25.00 and are dishwasher safe, washer/dryer friendly and can be boiled for sterilization. These products which are fairly new to the market can be found at various stores and online retailers.

I have an orange pair of the Silipads and two 4 oz. sized Siliskin sleeves up for grabs.

Want to win it?

Visit the Silikids site and leave a comment with the products you’d like to try.

For additional entries: blog, tweet, stumble or share the news of the Next Kid Thing’s official launch on any social media site.   Please leave a comment for each additional entries.

*****This contest is now closed******

Peter Rabbit skincare

The children’s classic book and well loved character, Petter Rabbit now has a line of organic baby products.  The Peter Rabbit branded baby products from Econatura includes baby shampoo and wash, baby conditioner, baby body oil, baby lotion and Intense Therapy Cream for Baby. The products have been developed from plant-based formulations, are hypo-allergenic and contain natural antioxidants, making it a great option for children and even sensitive adults.  Check out the ingredients here.
The Peter Rabbit Econatura line, which was awarded 2008’s “Best Baby Line” from Natural Solutions magazine, are available exclusively at Whole Foods.

peterrabbit

Goodies: Visit Econatura’s site to get a coupon for $2 off of Peter Rabbit organics.

Read this: Easter basket books

With the Easter Bunny hopping around this weekend, surely he or she might need some last minute alternatives to the 15 lbs. of jelly beans and ultra-glow Peeps.  It’s my thinking that if the Easter Bunny fills up our guy’s basket with cool books, that will only leave enough room for 5 or 6 Mini-Eggs. (The way I see it:  the less chocolate that find their way into the basket means less chocolate to find their way into my mouth.)  There are so many classic books for the Easter Bunny to choose from, but there are also some newer books to check out too!  Here are a few suggestions on some fun treats of the book variety.

Duck! Bunny! By Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld
The eye-catching illustrations make Duck! Bunny! one of my new favorites.   With the use of fun optical illusions, this book debates whether the animal in question is indeed a duck or a bunny.  It’s a short and sweet story that kids of all ages would find funny.  Is it a duck or a bunny?  What do you think?
Check out Chronicle Books’ YouTube teaser for the book and you decide!

DuckRabbit

Orangutan Tongs: Poems to Tangle Your Tongue By Jon Agee
Orangutan Tongs is a witty book filled with tongue twisters and play on words.  It’s a fun collection of phrases and silly subjects to entertain kids and parents alike.  If you love clever kid reads, how could you not be a fan with text like, you know New York’s unique, but did you know that unique New York’s also pretty chic?

orangutan

The Dumb Bunnies’ Easter By Dav Pilkey
The Dumb Bunnies are at it again!  This time, they’ve got their holidays all mixed up!  On December 24th, they’re cutting down their Easter tree–wait a minute!  Check out the Dumb Bunnies’ ridiculous adventures and find out why they’re for the Easter Bunny to drop eggs down their chimney!
Here’s the thing:  the Dumb Bunnies books by the same hysterical author that brought us Captain Underpants has a gift for making kids laugh with his book.  Some parents may not be fond of the “Dumb” descriptor for these silly bunnies, but c’mon, it’s harmless fun.  On his site Pilkey says it best:

The only thing that all human beings have in common is our endless capacity for doing dumb stuff.

dumbbun

All in a Day by Cynthia Rylant (Author), Nikki McClure (Illustrator)
By the Newbery Medal-winning author, Cynthia Rylant, this book has a simple but very important message–to make the most of each day.   The illustrations, cut-paper art and text are equally appealing to both parents and kids, making it a perfect read for any age.  At times like this, isn’t it all about living life to the fullest while embracing what each day has to offer?

allinaday

Where are Baby’s Easter Eggs? By Karen Katz
Karen Katz’s books are a big hit in our house.  So much so, they’ve been read and flipped through so much, the pages have become so tattered from all the page-flipping excitement.  The colorful and sparkly surprises that can be found when flipping the flaps is what keeps these books at the top of our reading regimen.  Where could those Easter eggs be?

Baby

Baseball and Build-A-Bear

In honor of opening day, check out the fun selection of MLB-themed gear Build-A-Bear has to offer.  My fave, of course, is Curly Teddy in Mets gear.*

metsbuildabear
Build-A-Bear Workshops has teamed up with MLB once again to offer a families another way to cheer for their favorite baseball teams with Build-A-Bear Workshop Day at various ballparks, in addition to new team-branded merchandise.  On Build-A-Bear Workshop Day at the Ballpark, fans will receive exclusive team-branded stuffed animals while supplies last. Each furry friend comes with a free virtual gift redeemable at buildabearville.com, the Build-A-Bear Workshop virtual world.


Check your favorite team’s website for dates and details, but here are a few scheduled Build-A-Bear Workshop Game Day Giveaways:

Pittsburgh Pirates
Sunday, May 17 at 1:35 p.m.
Sunday, September 20 at 1:35 p.m.
New York Mets
Saturday, August 1 at 7:10 p.m.
Kansas City Royals
Sunday, May 17 at 1:10 p.m.
St. Louis Cardinals
Sunday, August 2 at 1:15 p.m.
Chicago Cubs
Saturday, May 30 at 3:10 p.m.
Friday, July 24 at 1:20 p.m.
Cincinnati Reds
Sunday, August 30 at 1:10 p.m.
San Francisco Giants
Saturday, May 30 at 6:05 p.m.

Goodies:
Score your own Curly Teddy or get one for your little baseball fan with this $5 off coupon.  Expires April 19, 2009

(Fellow Mets fans:  the choking hazard warning to the right of Curly Teddy is referencing small pieces included with the toy–NOT the game 😉  It’s a brand new year, a brand new ballgame…and a brand new stadium!)

aden + anais sale, launch week and a giveaway!

Since I’ve been busy working toward officially launching The Next Kid Thing, I thought I would let everyone know that we’ll be having a launch week! While I continue to figure out the details for launch week, which is tentatively set for April 13-17, I will be doing a lot of cross-promoting on the 2 blogs. So, please forgive me on the occasional duplicate post, but with cross-promoting comes fun goodies!

popup-winter-lime-brown

aden + anais is having a sale on their Winter Warmth and Dream blankets. I first spotted aden + anais, the makers of the gorgeously soft muslin blankets and wraps, at Buy Buy Baby. Their very cool packaging stands out, as do their beautiful blankets. You really can’t have enough soft, well-made blankets for your babe. Not to mention, how perfect are these for shower gifts! To find out more about muslin wraps and what makes aden + anais products so special, be sure to check them out here. Now, onto the sale…the prices are as follows:

Winter Warmth Swaddles on sale for $29.95 (normally $49.95)
Dream Blankets on sale for $39.95 (normally $59.95)
Visit adenandanais.com and enter promo code “wintersale” to receive the discount.


And lucky for you all, aden + anais is giving away one of their winter warmth blankets!

Want to win it?

Visit aden + anais and tell me what style you love. Click here to add your comment to my blog at Babyrific.


for additional entries:

1. Tweet about this giveaway and mention my this new site, the Next Kid Thing.  You can use the button below (2 extra entries)
2. Blog about the Next Kid Thing (2 extra entries)
3. Stumble this post
4. Sign up to receive my updates via email.

Contest ends April 13th at noon

Please add a comment for each of your entries over at Babyrific. Please note this contest is hosted at my other blog, Babyrific. Comments added here at Next Kid Thing will NOT be counted.

UBP’ 09

Ultimate Blog Party 2009

I had a great time at the blog party last year, so I thought I’d join in on the fun, but with my new blog. I haven’t officially launched this blog yet, so I thought the UBP would be a great time to take it for a spin AND offer a great giveaway!

I’m Jen and this is my new blog, the Next Kid Thing.  I blog regularly at my personal blog, Babyrific.net and have been working on this site for quite awhile.  I’m married to a hysterically funny dude who is an all-around awesome guy. I’m a mom to a 1.5 year old, and recently left the rat race to figure things out on my own…to pursue my next big thing, if you will.

As I mentioned in a previous post, this blog follows the latest kid trends with a magazine-type flair. From babies to big kids, from books to apps, from features to reviews, the Next Kid Thing is your go-to source for all things kids and the modern-minded grownups that love them.

Come in, check things out and enter to win some great all natural children’s bath products. Be sure to visit often for more great giveaways, reviews and news, including products from BornFree, Bugaboo and many more.

Review + Giveaway: Nature’s Baby Organics

Bath time in our house is sweet splendor. Any time the bathroom door is opened, the boy frantically signs and asks, “Bah, bah, bah?” For as much as he loves baths, I might love great bath products even more.

I recently had the chance to try out Tangy Tangerine Bubble Bath by Nature’s Baby Organics. Upon pouring the bubble bath into our trusty duck tub, I fell in love. In contrast to the questionable bath products out on the market, Natural Organics is line that was created by a mom who sought a more natural and wholesome alternative to the harsh chemicals. Like most parents, creator Adena Surabian wanted a product that incorporated the best natural ingredients for her babes. Because most of the natural lines that were already on the market didn’t meet her needs, Adena created her own.

“From the essential oils to the cleaning agents, every ingredient would be from nature’s laboratory-safe, pure, and 100 percent derived from nature. Thus, Nature’s Baby was born.”

1301bb-tt-250px-1Lucky Jack, he was born into a family with problematic skin. You name it, one of us is probably afflicted by that skin condition. As a tiny tot, Jack started to show the same signs, which is again, the main reason why I try to use natural products. Nature’s baby Organics fit the bill.

The bubble bath has a sweet, yet subtle citrus smell. Instead of it being overly fruity, it’s refreshing. This bubble bath doesn’t glop out like bubble baths you’re familiar with; it has a liquid consistency, flowing with all kinds of natural goodness. This isn’t the kind of bubble bath that has crazy suds the minute you turn on the water. Jack and I have to get the bubbles going by splashing, but in the end, the bubbles last a long time. The kid can spend hours on end in the tub if he could, but even after a longer bath, Nature’s Baby Organics doesn’t dry his skin out at all. The bubble bath left him feeling clean and without a soapy residue at the end.

As a big proponent of natural products, I love that this bubble bath touts 70% certified organic ingredients and is paraben free, SLS free, 1-4 Dioxane free, synthetic fragrance free, gluten free & vegan.  To check out their list of ingredients go here.

In light of the recent report about carcinogens lingering in those other bath products, Nature’s Baby Organics is a breath of fresh air. I love the fact that it’s a family-run company, and one that incorporates natural and many organic ingredients in their bath products. Because of all of these great qualities and more, Nature’s Baby Organics has become a staple in our home.

Nature’s Baby Organics has generously offered a coupon code as well: when you purchase online, use the code, Mommies to receive a 15% off discount. Even better, Nature’s Baby Organics has kindly offered my readers a great giveaway–choose any of 3 of their products.

Want to win it? Here’s how:

Visit Nature’s Baby Organics and tell me what 3 products you would like to try and why.

For additional entries:

1. Tweet about this giveaway (use the buttons below for easy access)

2. Stumble this post

3. Sign up to receive my updates via email.

Please add a comment for each of your entries. The giveaway ends on April 3 at 12:00 p.m. (fine print:  travel and gift sets are not included in this giveaway.  This giveaway cannot be shipped to P.O Boxes, Hawaii, Puerto Rico or Alaska.)

**This contest is now closed.**

Study sheds light on bath products

There’s a new report out that reveals some daunting information that will make you want to think twice about your babe’s bath products. Oh no, what now, right?

whats-going-onThe Campaign for Safe Cosmetics published a report that says several children’s bath products are contaminated with the cancer-causing chemicals formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane. This isn’t the first time you’ve probably heard similar information; a study came out in 2008 that focused on organic personal products. However, this new study called, “No More Toxic Tub,” is the first to document the widespread presence of both formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane in bath products for children, including baby shampoos, bubble baths and baby lotions. The group says Formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane are known carcinogens; formaldehyde can also trigger skin rashes in some children. The report said that unlike many other countries, the U.S. government does not limit formaldehyde, 1,4-dioxane, or most other hazardous substances in personal care products.

Just a few of the products tested are:

  • CVS Baby Shampoo (CVS/Pharmacy)
  • Suave Kids 2-in-1 Shampoo – Wild Watermelon (Unilever)
  • American Girl Real Beauty Inside and Out Shower Gel – Apple Blossom (Bath & Body Works)
  • Equate Tearless Baby Wash (Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.)
  • Grins & Giggles Milk & Honey Baby Wash (Gerber Products Company)
  • Huggies Naturally Refreshing Cucumber & Green Tea Baby Wash (Kimberly-Clark)
  • Sesame Street Bubble Bath – Orange Mango Tango (The Village Company)

To see all of the products tested and results go here. Per usual, there’s no need to be alarmed, so don’t go and toss out all of your bath products. The big picture here is, it’s all about being smarter consumers and to be aware of what you’re buying and using. I mean, who doesn’t want the best for their kid?

Once again, I’ll take the opportunity to tout the awesomeness of natural products. With this latest report, I thought I’d share some alternatives to the more questionable products that were included in this latest study.

These are my top picks:

Read More

Mama Likey: Boogie Wipes

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.”

Boogie-Horizontal-logo-Stuffy

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.)

Jack loves Boogie WipesAnd 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

Read More