Tag: reviews

Glop & Glam: natural hair products for kids

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

June will always remind me of the end of the school year AND many, many dance recitals. Standing in some barren classroom, alongside of other ballerinas prepping for various performances, my mom would perfect my bun atop of my head and spray—and spray—until every strand of hair was perfect.  With all those girls (and guys) in my dance school spraying away, we sure went through a lot of AquaNet.  We, alone, are probably to blame for the hole in the ozone.

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Well, thank goodness times have changed. Kids who have ballerina buns, cheerleader ‘dos or maybe fauxhawks to perfect, there’s a new line of natural hair products specifically targeted to them. Recently rolled out, Glop and Glam is a line of natural hair products, formulated without harsh chemicals and preservatives that are often found in many adult hair care products. G&G Hair Products are free of Paraben and formaldehyde (Hydantoin DMDM). The products tout natural extracts like Aloe, Echinacea (A E C), and Camellia Oleifera leaf extract (Green Tea) that are said to moisturize and add gloss and texture.  G&G might be intended for kids, but they’re suitable for grown-ups, too.

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G&G sent me some various samples to take a look at and review. Upon opening the box, I was taken aback by the gorgeous packaging. I’m such a nerd for cool packaging, as I’m sure you’ve already figured out! Each product had its own cool scent. Our favorite, however, was the Hair Glop Banana Spike Molding Putty.

glop_banana_tLast week, the boy had a go-see in the city, and after trekking in the rain and sitting in his stroller all morning, his hair was a crazy mess (He has hair like his mama.) I pulled out the Molding Putty, and it worked wonders with his damp, tangly hair. With just a few finger swipes from the container, the boy’s longish and uncontrollable hair was tamed again. It gave his fine-looking, yet thick hair some texture, without making it look overdone. I see a lot of boys wearing the spiky look lately, and this putty would be suitable for creating that look. The putty allowed for his hair to still be pliable, yet hold a definitive style. I loved how the putty was light and not sticky or greasy at all. The banana scent was subtle and not overpowering, again light enough to use for a kid. Every day isn’t a hair product kind of day for us, but when the situation calls for it, without a doubt, the Molding Putty comes in handy.

I tried out the Glam Chocolate Controller on myself and thought it would be suitable for longer hair, even those with hair that has a tendency to frizz. This scent was sweet and yummy, but again, nothing over-the-top.

With the unique packaging, fun scents, light and natural composition, Glop and Glam is a fun and natural alternative to adult hair products. I can definitely see my Tween nieces, nephews and teenage niece using Glop and Glam products regularly.  G&G hair products for kids is sold online and can be found at hair salons; most products are in the $15 price range.

Would you like to try it out for your kid?  I have the Glam Chocolate Controller and Glop Chocolate Cream samples up for grabs.

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Take a look at Glop and Glam products and tell me what products your kid might enjoy and comment below.

For extra entries:

1. Tweet

2. Share

3.  Tell me what is the scent of the leave-in conditioner and detangler mist.

4. Become a fan of NKT on Facebook!

Good luck and please leave a comment for each entry.  This contest will end on July 8th.
**********This contest is now closed**********

Spotlight: Green to Grow

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Always on the lookout for the Next Big Thing for kids, I find myself researching incessantly, not only new products, but also news that’s relevant to parenting and kids. Even before I started NKT, I tried to keep abreast on topics pertaining to the environment and especially reports about BPA. With Chicago voting to adopt a ban on the sale of baby bottles and sippy cups containing the chemical BPA, and other areas moving in a similar direction, huge strides are being made.

As they say, necessity is the mother of invention, or in this case, innovation and ingenuity. Citing the growing need for more BPA-free products, Michael Ritterbrown and his wife, Shelley launched Green to Grow, a line of award-winning baby bottles. Like most modern parents, they sought safe alternatives for kid gear and weren’t willing to sacrifice sensibility, thus Green to Grow was sprouted to fill that void.

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I initially spotted Green to Grow bottles at Buy Buy Baby and was immediately intrigued by the modern, yet simplistic appearance. Green to Grow kindly sent me a sample to review in detail; specifically, they sent the 5 oz. Wide Neck Bottle.

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Flippin’ sweet

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

We have a blue rhinoceros hanging in our bathroom—a cute, blue rhinoceros to be exact.

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FlipperWe were recently sent a Flipper Toothbrush Holder to try out, and it’s been a fun accessory for our toothbrush-loving tot.

Our guy enjoys brushing his teeth so much, but he doesn’t get the importance of keeping the toothbrush sanitized in the bathroom or that you can’t clean the windowsill with it, either. In fact, he conveniently hides his brush in his toybox, or better yet, under the couch after he’s finished. (yuck!)

The Flipper has helped to remedy this problem. The animal-themed toothbrush holder wards off nasty bacteria, while the handy suction cups on the back provide an easy-to-find placement on our bathroom mirror. So, what was once a problem, the Flipper now makes for a fun addition to the little dude’s toothbrushing experience–no more playing “let’s find the kid’s toothbrush in the toybox” anymore.

Also, since we travel frequently to visit family back in Virginia, the Flipper is compact enough as a toothbrush cover, too. I’m all about multi-purposing gadgets!

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The functional toothbrush holder works well with standard kiddie brushes, but we just so happen to use the Hasbro Toothtunes at the moment. Because that toothbrush is a little bulkier, the Flipper doesn’t close all the way, but it still holds well on the bathroom mirror! It’s fun, functional and a great addition to our toothbrushing routine.

I bet kids of all ages and their parents would enjoy the functionality and fun of the Flipper Toothbrush holder.

Flipper offers various animal designs, as well as several other functional products. The Flipper can be bought at stores such as Urban Outfitters, Babies ‘R’ Us, Target and Amazon.

Update:  want a Flipper for yourself or your kiddo?  please use the code “next kid thing” for a 10% discount on their site!

Video Review: LeapFrog Text and Learn

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

A couple of weeks ago, while visiting our neighbor, I watched our kid from across the coffee table as he stared at our friend’s Blackberry.

He eyed it, then looked up at me.

Eyed it, then looked at hubs.

He knew exactly what he wanted, and nothing was going to stop him.

And then, he lunged for his electronic prey.

With the swiftness of a gazelle, I shooed his tiny paws and averted a would-be Blackberry disaster.

Like most kids, our little guy is absolutely fascinated by electronics.  Cellphones are everyday fixtures and of course, mom and dad are both iPod devotees and laptop junkies.  It’s no wonder he’s always trying to snatch up our expensive electronic gadgets the minute we let our guards down.   All he wants to do is “play” like mom and dad.  But unfortunately, his kind of “play” often ends with a cellphone buried in a bucket at the bottom of the toybox for 4 days.

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But alas, leave it to LeapFrog:  the forward-thinking developer of children’s products recently released a couple of toys that address the would-be electronic gadget disasters.  In fact, they even commissioned some research to delve further into the topic.

LeapFrog recently commissioned a “Save Your PDA” survey, conducted by Harris Interactive, which found that when kids have access to their parents’ PDAs, shenanigans often follow. Kids apparently are dropping their parents’ PDAs into the toilet (7%) and garbage (9%). They are also changing settings (32%), smearing food on the keypad or screen (23%) or placing calls (51%) to folks parents may not be too thrilled to talk to unexpectedly–such as mothers-in-law, bosses or people overseas. For a little extra excitement, 16 per cent of these unwanted calls were to 911. A lucky 12% of parents, though, found out about new features on their PDA, thanks to their children’s “exploration.”

We identify with so many of these, but most notably, we’re part of the 12% that learned about new features.  Not surprisingly, we can’t replicate those new-found functions!

As electronics like Smartphones and PDAs become a mainstay in our lives, LeapFrog designed My Pal Scout and Text and Learn with curious kids in mind.

lfMy Pal Scout is plush puppy that sings and plays games with kids 6 months and up.  Scout can be personalized with kids’ names and favorite items via USB connection.

Text and Learn is a kiddie version of a PDA that even boasts a Qwerty keyboard.  While it might not be able to log on to Gmail or save data like the real thing, the Text and Learn encourages basic computer skills and preschool learning with games like letter matching and shape identification.

Check out my first video review to learn more about Scout and the Text and Learn.

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Got Probugs? review + giveaway

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

I’m like a kid in a candy store whenever we stroll through our local health food store.  With every trip, it seems like there’s a new brand or new packaging that catches my eye—Lifeway Probugs Organic Whole Milk Kefir is just one example.

As the organics and natural foods market continues to surge with so many parents filling their grocery carts with healthier foods these days, products that have been around for a long time are becoming more mainstream—and for good reason.

U.S. sales of organic food and non-food products reached $24.6 billion in 2008, growing 17.1 percent over 2007 sales, despite tough economic times, according to a new study by the Organic Trade Association (OTA).

I think our family certainly contributed to that statistic, especially now that we put much more thought into what and how we eat, now that we have a kid.  Even though I’d never heard of it until the kid came along, kefir is a product that’s become a staple promic4in our home—Lifeway Probugs Organic Whole Milk Kefir to be more specific.  The best description I could find was from an LA Times article that describes kefir as a tangy fermented milk drink and a pro_berrycousin to yogurt.  It’s the healthy drink that has been credited with the  longevity of people in the Caucasus.  And, it seems like I’m not the only one who’s noticing kefir these days.  Kefir may have originated centuries ago, but it’s now making its way to  mainstream grocery stores.

So, what is it with kefir?

Considered a superfood by Dr. Perricone, one of Oprah’s doctor friends, kefir and other fermented and cultured foods is said to be “functional” foods—or in this case, 10 live and active cultures.  As in, probiotics.
pro_orangeYou’ve heard the buzz about probiotics, I’ve even blogged a little about it in the past; but in case you haven’t heard, probiotics are good bugs—good bacteria that help boost your immune system, among other health benefits.  But as a mom, especially with the unavoidable worries about the Swine Flu, finding a food that boosts immunity is certainly something I am always willing to add to my grocery list.

I’ll be completely honest, you can’t miss the vibrant Probugs packaging.  Resembling a modern looking juice pouch of sorts, Probugs has this awesome spout feature that helps contain leaks.  The front of the package boasts their bug character, Polly the Probug, that I’m sure most kids can appreciate.  So, on first impression, you have this cool package that’s clearly targeted to kids.

Jack drinking ProbugsSome people buy portable yogurt, we buy Probugs.  The kid sees it in the store and squeals, just like he does when he sees Elmo.  We introduced Probugs when many people introduced baby yogurt, and since then, it’s been considered a treat, when really, it’s a healthy alternative to other snacks.  Once we restock the Probugs stash, it never lasts.  The kid finishes it, almost in one slurp–he loves it that much.  The fact that the kid loves Probugs is huge, but I consider it a treat because it’s healthy, organic, helps boost immunity and aids with digestion.  Lifeway Probugs Organic Whole Milk Kefir is yet again, another one of those products that I continually rave about.

As much as we love this product and how cool the nozzle is, I have to say that the individual packaging was a concern because as much as possible, I try to minimize our waste.  I try to limit our juicebox purchases and other individual packaged products and opt for bulk containers.   But after reading on the back of the package about Lifeway’s social responsibility, my concerns were offset after learning that the company uses renewable energy—a truly green tactic that I think more companies should follow.

Lifeway Probugs Organic Whole Milk Kefir comes in  kid-friendly flavors—Orange Creamy Crawler, Sublime Slime Lime, Goo Berry Pie—and can be found in many health food stores and grocery stores including Whole Foods.  In addition to Probugs, Lifeway has a lineup of kefir, yogurt, pudding and cheese that’s ideal for everyone in the family.
pro_lime And speaking of Whole Foods, if you’re in the Chicago area be sure to check out the Whole Foods Lincoln Park Kids Weekend on June 6th and 7th.  In addition to all the kiddie activities, Polly the Probug will be hanging out.

Oh, the awesomeness doesn’t end there.  Lifeway is graciously giving one Next Kid Thing reader a fabulous giveaway—a variety bundle of Probugs Organic Whole Milk Kefir—one 4-pack of each flavor (that’s three, 4-packs in total!)

To win it:

Visit Lifeway and tell me what product(s) you would like to try and why.

For additional entries:

1. Tweet about this giveaway

2.  Share this product review on any social netoworking site

3. Sign up to receive my updates via email.  (If you already receive it, just let me know!)

Please add a comment for each of your entries. The giveaway ends on June 3 at 11:59 p.m.

Happy Wellness Wednesday and good luck!

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

Y Water? Why, of course!

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

What do you get when you combine a nutritious drink that can be multi-purposed as a toy? Well, besides my kid’s sippy cup.

I’m talking about Y Water.
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On first impression, I was so intrigued by the eye-catching packaging. It’s almost like abstract art that contains a kiddie drink. In a similar vein of the wildly popular Vitamin Water, Y Water drinks, which are aimed at kids, are organic, low calorie beverages with vitamins and minerals. Y Water which hit the shelves in 2008 comes from Venice Beach, Ca. Y Water can be bought at various Whole Foods and health food stores on the West Coast, and seems to be making its way here on the East Coast.

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Bumkins Natural Collection

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Last week, I talked a bit about the significance of organic cotton, and how the softness and natural aspects make them so great for baby and kid products. Perhaps some of my favorite baby staples that we still use on a day-to-day basis are our Bumkins organic burpcloths, bibs and washtowels. In the abundance of bibs, towels and other baby textiles that we own, the organic terry bibs and cloths, with their pastel-colored satin and cotton trim on this collection make the Bumkin products quite distinctive.

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The quality of Bumkin products, in general, have always stood out to me; however, among all of our other baby textiles, the Organic Collection truly stand out because of the soft and plush feel.  I try to stay away from loud patterns, especially when the boy was an infant.  It always seemed like most bibs were mini-billboards with their cute sayings and characters, so I loved the neutral color of Bumkins bibs, particularly the chin bibs which look like a collar/halfbib.  The were small, but did the trick for mealtimes when we were dressed up or out and about.  Soft and functional, all the bibs and burpcloths are thick enough to absorb whatever comes our way. The bibs feature a velcro closure that can withstand even the strongest bib-resistant babe.

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From gentle newborn spongebaths to toddler repurposing—even after digging in the dirt at the park—the washcloths continue to serve us well at bathtime and for general cleanups.  Because of their natural color and distinctive feel, it never fails, I instinctively pull the Bumkin Organics before any of our other washcloth.  The Bumkin burpcloths (which we’ve repourposed as small towels) and washcloths are definitely a mainstay in our kiddie arsenal.

In addition to various other great kiddie products, Bumkin has a penchant for gorgeous packaging, so be sure to check out their giftsets if you’re on the market for baby gifts!

Goodies
And just for Next Kid Thing readers, just enter Nextkid09 for free shipping with any $50.00 order.  The coupon expires 4/30/09 and applies to ground shipping only.

BornFree unveils Eco-Friendly recyclable bottles

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

BornFree products just got a little greener:  the company now offers a new line of Eco-Friendly Recyclable bottles.  Back in December, I had the opportunity to participate in a panel of moms to weigh in on one of the brands that I consider synonymous with eco-friendliness and BPA-free baby products.

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BornFree gained popularity in the mom community just a few short years ago as the research and BPA findings in baby bottles picture-1became more rampant.  As with any tried and true product, I saw moms in my circle of friends and family spread the word about BornFree and soon, many families replaced their existing bottles with BornFree products.

So, what exactly is the Eco-Friendly bottle?  Essentially, the Eco-Friendly Recyclable bottle is the same as the original bottle, but in addition to being Pthalate, PVC and BPA-free, the bottles can be recycled when you no longer have use for them.  When you’re done with the bottles, you can just send them back to BornFree for recycling into their other products lines. Ingenious!

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