Starting family mealtime early

Maybe I sound old-fashioned, but I am a BIG believer in family mealtime. Growing up as an only child, there was no option to have a separate kids’ table or kids’ meal, and I ate with my parents nightly—always in the dining room, and never with the television.

So when I started my own family, this was high on my list of priorities, and I figured—and research has suggested—that starting family meals early is the best way to ensure their success. The Stokke Trip Trap chair has been a huge help in making family mealtimes work for us, and its clean-lined design and ergonomic contours blend easily at our kitchen or dining room table.

We had started with a typical high chair when my son first began eating solids, and believe me, they do have some fantastic benefits. Being able to take the top off a tray and stick it in the dishwasher, for one. Or simply wiping down the plastic seat cushion after a particularly messy meal.

But once we got our Trip Trap, mealtimes just seemed so much more interactive. Henry was able to be pushed right up to the table, which made for more cleanup, sure, but also meant he was learning to eat with us, next to us, and like us. I realized that that very alluring plastic tray, despite all its convenience, was more like a barrier between us. And while the plastic seat was easy to clean up, who would want to eat dinner sitting on cold, wet plastic—while strapped in, no less! The cushions that come with the Trip Trap chairs are soft cotton, and have lately been sporting some super-hip patterns. And they’re easily machine-washed—they clean up well and don’t shrink.

We’ve just gotten our second Trip Trap chair for Sophie, who has been indignantly climbing up onto Henry’s and refusing to get off for months now. She was using Henry’s old high chair—money is tight in this economy, so we tried to make due, but we soon realized it was an investment well worth making. They will both be able to use them for years—the chairs grow with your child and can even support an adult weight. Both the seat and footrest adjust so that your child can be at the perfect height, and the footrest curbs restlessness at the table—i.e. no more swinging legs and fidgeting.

And we now have our family dinner times again, with everyone pulled up around the table, joining in conversation.

Jane

Spring is here!

Spring is here, and that means outdoor play is at its peak. After months of being cooped up inside, all of us are itching to get out into the fresh air. Someone once said to me when we were in the market for a new house that the difference between having a yard and not with children can make or break your sanity. But even if you live in a condo or a high-rise, there’s always a bit of green to be found, and I suggest spending as much time in it as possible, both for you and your kids.

Anything that not only gets kids outdoors into the fresh air but also gives them some exercise is a big plus in my book. The Plasma Car has to be my all-time favorite ride-on for kids—easy enough for a three-year-old, but challenging enough for bigger kids, it will keep them entertained for years and get them asking questions about motion and energy.

Another great option is the Skuut Balance Bike. The Skuut is a wooden bike with no pedals, just front and back tires and handlebars. Children use it by kicking off the ground and pushing, or scooting, themselves around while steering. They’ve got similar models in Scandinavia, where bike riding plays a central role in kids’ lives and is an important means of transportation. These balance bikes help young children to learn the all-important skills of balance, steering and coordination before they worry about pedaling, and makes the transition to regular bikes easier.

I also love to encourage my kids’ interest in nature, and the Schylling Explorer Net is perfect for chasing butterflies or fireflies, while the Farmer Garden Tote features child-sized gardening tools, including a watering can, to foster the nurturing of your backyard garden.

And of course, what would outdoor fun be without water toys? The Prime Time Toys Max Liquidator Eliminator Water Shooter is just tons and tons of fun. It looks like one of those foam noodles, but when you pull on the back section, it loads up with water, and then shoots it up to 30 feet. That’s all the way across a swimming pool!

So get out there, and enjoy the weather!

Jane

Simple yet ingenious - Haba Toys

There is something so pleasing about German-made Haba toys. I love a simple toy that not only appeals to me and my aesthetic, but also grabs kids’ attention. From the sweet clutching toys, sized just right for babies, to the ingenious Stableware Tower—on sale now at goores.com—there’s always just enough of a surprise to make you smile.

The infant toys are one of my favorite gifts for a baby shower or a welcome gift for a new baby. They’re simple toys that you can see little ones interacting with right away, and many of them will engage babies just a few months old.

In addition to the wooden clutch toys—which she quite literally clutched and turned around in her hands to keep herself occupied for ages—my daughter loved the rustling foil rattles, like the Beetle Anton with his smiling face; as well as the Rattling Caterpillar, which features a stretchy body with different sized and colored links, as well as a ring that was great as a teether. The natural beech wood is environmentally friendly and safe, and Haba uses water-based ecological solvent-free lacquers for its painted toys.

Many of the Haba toys also have several components. The Stacking Ball Allegro is not only a perfectly sized first ball for baby, it also comes apart to become a stacking toy with five soft pieces that stack on a fabric core.

And Haba’s range of products goes on as kids get older, always with a focus on creativity and imagination. The Indian Summer game is a great example—entertaining for kids as well as adults, it stimulates creativity and problem-solving skills, and provides hours of fun. And how many products can you say that about?

Jane

Are drop-side cribs becoming a thing of the past?

JPMA & Top manufacturers to possibly change crib standards eliminating the drop-side crib design.

In an article released by the Chicago Tribune on Wednesday, The Tribune reports that major manufacturers signed off on a proposal that would ban drop-side cribs in the United States after repeated recalls, entrapments and deaths. While this is close to what actually took place, make sure you understand the whole picture before you go back to your retailer to return a drop-side crib you recently purchased.

Drop-side cribs have been the main stay in crib design for as far back as most people can remember. These cribs allow the user to lower one side for easy access to the child. Most of the crib manufacturers that supply the specialty stores make a very safe, sturdy and reliable product that can last for generations.

As manufacturers have been forced to keep prices low from many of the mass merchants the quality has suffered and led to poor designs and cheap products that simply don’t hold up. As a result over 6 million cribs have been recalled over the past 2 ½ years. These cribs are the inexpensive (cheap actually) cribs sold primarily at mass merchants and some online retailers.

There is not an official ban at this time. ASTM, a voluntary standards development organization, has proposed that their subcommittee charged with addressing crib issues consider revisions to the standard that could eliminate functioning drop sides from all cribs. This would reduce the possibility of faulty hardware or improper installation on the drop sides of the cribs. This would be a modification of the voluntary ASTM F1169 standard for cribs.

In a press release issued Wednesday, the JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association) states "Despite some misinformation circulating in the media, the ASTM Cribs Subcommittee has not officially accepted any proposals nor have any official actions been taken at this point to modify the standard. Rather, a proposal was submitted for discussion by members of the subcommittee to modify ASTM Standard F1169 to address the issues related to the misassembly of drop sides, missing components, and other issues that may result in failures in drop side cribs.”

There is still a lot of discussion to be had and research to be completed before any formal change to the voluntary crib safety standard. A task force needs to be formed to address the technical concerns with such a change to the standard can be made. This task force will report to the subcommittee which addresses crib issues. If accepted, the changes will need to go through the ASTM consensus process to the entire Consumer Products Subcommittee. At that point, if it makes it through all that successfully, the revised standard would then officially eliminate traditional drop side cribs.

As you can see we are a long way off of any official change to the current standard. The safest place for babies to sleep is in a crib that meets current safety standards. Like car seats, this is one are is not worth skimping on to save a few dollars. Spend a little more for a good crib from a reputable manufacturer whether it is a drop side crib or one with a lifestyle design.

Richard Goore

Goore's for Babies to Teens

Starting family mealtime early

Maybe I sound old-fashioned, but I am a BIG believer in family mealtime. Growing up as an only child, there was no option to have a separate kids’ table or kids’ meal, and I ate with my parents nightly—always in the dining room, and never with the television.

So when I started my own family, this was high on my list of priorities, and I figured—and research has suggested—that starting family meals early is the best way to ensure their success. The Stokke Trip Trap chair has been a huge help in making family mealtimes work for us, and its clean-lined design and ergonomic contours blend easily at our kitchen or dining room table.

We had started with a typical high chair when my son first began eating solids, and believe me, they do have some fantastic benefits. Being able to take the top off a tray and stick it in the dishwasher, for one. Or simply wiping down the plastic seat cushion after a particularly messy meal.

But once we got our Trip Trap, mealtimes just seemed so much more interactive. Henry was able to be pushed right up to the table, which made for more cleanup, sure, but also meant he was learning to eat with us, next to us, and like us. I realized that that very alluring plastic tray, despite all its convenience, was more like a barrier between us. And while the plastic seat was easy to clean up, who would want to eat dinner sitting on cold, wet plastic—while strapped in, no less! The cushions that come with the Trip Trap chairs are soft cotton, and have lately been sporting some super-hip patterns. And they’re easily machine-washed—they clean up well and don’t shrink.

We’ve just gotten our second Trip Trap chair for Sophie, who has been indignantly climbing up onto Henry’s and refusing to get off for months now. She was using Henry’s old high chair—money is tight in this economy, so we tried to make due, but we soon realized it was an investment well worth making. They will both be able to use them for years—the chairs grow with your child and can even support an adult weight. Both the seat and footrest adjust so that your child can be at the perfect height, and the footrest curbs restlessness at the table—i.e. no more swinging legs and fidgeting.

And we now have our family dinner times again, with everyone pulled up around the table, joining in conversation. Ours usually starts with, “So what was your favorite part of today?”

Jane

The Art of Swaddling

One of my favorite gifts to give to first-time moms is a swaddle blanket. When my son was first home from the hospital, in those early weeks that seemed to go on forever, it was our one salvation. It’s a simple invention, nothing more than a blanket with positioned Velcro closures, but as any new mom will tell you, anything that keeps your baby happy—and sleeping—is worth its weight in gold.

There’s something about being wrapped up tightly that sooths newborns—they’re still not used to this big, wide world and all the room they have. And swaddling helps reduce the startle reflex, which is often a culprit in waking newborns.

Our choice was the Swaddle Me blanket in microfleece, but today, there are plenty of options, depending on the time of year your baby is born and your own sense of fashion. One of my favorite new choices is the super-soft bamboo option like Eazz Wrap or Beba Bean, both of which are environmentally friendly and available in a variety of colors. Halo, the creator of the its much-loved Sleepsack, (the only product that carries the gold seals from First Candle/SIDS Alliance), now offers a swaddle option, the Sleepsack Swaddler.

For parents with a strong fashion sense, the Swaddle Designs Ultimate Swaddle Blanket is available in hip designs like Mod Circles, Fresh Dots, or Dots and Hearts. And for those with a sense of humor—and boy, will it help, as you embark on the crazy ride of parenthood—Sozo always comes through. They’ve introduced their first Swaddle Set, complete with a coordinating bumblebee cap.

And sure, you could always go the low-tech route and struggle with trying to get a receiving blanket to fold perfectly into the swaddle wrap technique that the labor and delivery nurses at the hospital make look so easy, but trust me, at 3 a.m., you’ll be glad you made a small investment in an easy-to-use-even-when-you’re-sleep-deprived swaddle blanket, no matter what the print or material.

Jane

Is Cold Season Over Yet?

Of all the things people try to prepare you about before you have kids, the number of colds that will make their way through your household each winter is not one. Especially since my son started preschool, it seems that every winter is just a series of one cold leading into the next—some worse than others. The crankiness, sleepless nights and just general fatigue that go along with these colds is just one more thing in the not-so-glamorous aspects of child-raising.

But probably my least favorite part of cold season is the crusty, snotty noses that mar the faces of my otherwise adorable children. And Sophie, my youngest, especially hates, hates, hates to have her nose wiped.

So of course I was excited when I found Boogie Wipes, a simple but brilliant invention that combines the convenience and moisture of baby wipes with added saline to gently remove boogies—crusty or not. At $3.99 they’re a lifesaver, and if you have a child with allergies, I imagine you won’t want to live without then.

Jane

The Ultimate and Modern Styled Safety gate - The Metro Gate from Kidco

As the mother of two small children in a two-story house, I know just how important safety gates are. And I’ll say, for one thing, that anywhere you use them on a regular basis—the top of the stairs, for instance, or the kitchen—go ahead and install the permanent type. I spent a few weeks trying to make do with the easily removable tension rod type, and quickly realized that a) I was wasting precious time adjusting it and getting it set up right each time, and b) they’re too easy for a larger child to dislodge.

This was back when my son was small and I was pregnant with my daughter, and we were in the process of selling our house, so not attaching a safety gate to the wall was a priority. We also lived in a single-story house at the time, so things like stairs weren’t an issue.

When I was first shopping for gates, we had several choices in terms of the functionality and appearance of safety gates—some are wood, some are plastic, some are metal, and there are numerous ways that they can open (you’ll soon notice this when you go to a friend’s house with a different model of gate and find that to the novice, they’re not only child-proof but adult-proof as well). But none of them have been very, well…attractive. Now, don’t get me wrong here—safety gates will always be a utilitarian product first and foremost. They’re there to serve a purpose, and that’s to keep your small children (or pets) from areas that may not be safe for them.

But let’s face it, ladies—the kids stuff is already encroaching on our sense of style, right? The toys, at least, can be picked up and put away to make room for a dinner party, but the gates…well, they’re attached to the wall, and often right in the middle of our gorgeous kitchens that we spent all that money remodeling!

So I wanted to share with you this new sleek, modern gate from Kidco. The Metro blends effortlessly with today’s décor, especially for those of us who’ve redone our kitchens in all stainless steel. The two-way door features a built-in pressure indicator and tension lever, and installs in minutes. Kidco has spent a lot of time coming up with all sorts of baby items to make life easier and safer for today’s parents, from feeding ideas to safety to travel beds, but this is one of my most favorites. Why shouldn’t we have a choice in how our safety gates look? Just because we’re concerned about safety doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice style—car seat manufacturers have that figured out already, and it’s nice that safety gates are finally catching up!

Jane

Less is More with the Combi Coccoro

I’ve always been a big believer that less is more, but never more so than now, with two small children and all the stuff they accrue. When I was pregnant with my son four years ago, I was determined that I’d make it through with a convertible car seat and skip the infant seat. Well, that lasted about a week before I realized that 1) he looked very small in that big seat, and 2) having a lightweight, portable seat really was important, especially when he fell asleep in the car.
Today, our Subaru is packed in the back seat with two Britax Marathons—great car seats, and I love the prints: Henry is sporting the Cowmooflage, and Sophie went for the Couture pattern. They’re fabulous seats, have excellent safety ratings, and seem to be comfortable—not that I’ve tried them out myself, mind you.

But I just came across these fabulous new seats from Japanese manufacturer Combi, and I’m quite smitten. It’s about time someone stepped up to the plate in designing a car seat that doesn’t take up half your back seat. The Combi Coccoro is small and lightweight (only 11 pounds—great for travel!), and comes in seven happy colors with scrumptious names like Carrot Cake, Cherry Pie, Strawberry Shake, Key Lime, Hazelnut, Cool Mint, and Chestnut.

So the fashion is there—fantastic. And I’ve mentioned how light they are—11 pounds is pretty easy to move about if you’re switching cars, having Grandma pick your kid up from daycare, or traveling by plane. But here’s the truly amazing thing about the Coccoro—you can fit THREE car seats in the back seat of a compact car!! No more of this, “Well, we’re having a third, guess we’ll have to succumb to the minivan” mentality. That’s right THREE Coccoros will fit in the back of a Toyota Corolla!

Now, this also means that when you have only two car seats in the back, an adult can fit between them—not the case in my car now. When we travel with my mom, we must either take two cars (locally), or rent a minivan (long-distance), just because our car seats take up so much room.

The Coccoro is also a convertible seat, meaning you can use it in the rear-facing position from birth and then turn it to face forwards once your little one turns 1. And is has this sweet insert for the littlest ones called the Mommy’s Lap Insert, which keeps your baby snug and comfy.

The Coccoro is arriving this month at Goore’s, and I tell you, if I was starting out with my first now, it’s the car seat I’d choose.

Jane